Day: March 12, 2024

Mr Godfred Nti Anewu, the Assin Central New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate (PC), has presented 15 bags of sugar to the Muslim community in the area to commence the holy Ramadan month of fasting.

The bags of sugar were presented on behalf of the PC by Alhaji Hamda Mumin, Nasara Co-ordinator of the Party in the constituency.

According to Alhaji Mumin said the gesture was in support of the Muslim community as they embarked on a spiritual cleansing in the holy month of Ramadan.

He pleaded with them to also pray for the constituency, the country and leadership at all levels so that they could give off their best for the people.

Iman Iddrisu of the Assin Fosu Central Mosque, who received the items, expressed his gratitude for the donation and said it would be distributed accordingly.

Areas to benefit include the Assin Fosu Zongo community and Muslims in Assin Central.

The donation, he indicated, would go a long way to help Muslims in this month of Ramadan.

Ramadan is the ninth month on the I
slamic calendar and observed with fasting and prayers by all Muslim faithful around the world to commemorate Prophet Mohammed first receiving the Holy Quran.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Women from Doba in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality and Kandiga in the Kassena-Nankana West District have appealed for the preservation of the prevailing peace between the two communities in the Upper East Region.

They said the communal conflict that ensued between those communities had left deep cuts in their memories and deformed those areas, which should not happen again.

‘We have lost our loved ones, our sons and husbands have been killed, houses have been burnt and this should not happen again, we need to sustain the peace that we have because we are one people,’ they said.

Poganaba Mavis Amenga-Etega, the Queenmother of the Kandiga Community, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, noted that women and children suffered the most during the conflict and urged stakeholders to work together to maintain the peace.

‘Pregnant women could not access healthcare, our children could not access education, many people have lost their businesses, and our community has been backward in terms of development, a
nd we need this peace to get back on our feet,’ she said.

Madam Martha Akawegre from Kandiga noted that unlike before, members of the two communities could visit each other without fear and called for peaceful coexistence to accelerate development.

Madam Patience Abosenka from the Doba community explained that many people lost their houses and livelihoods during the conflict and were finding it difficult to rebuild.

She appealed to the Government and other organisations to support such families to get back their livelihoods.

It would be recalled that Doba and Kandiga were involved in a communal conflict that lasted almost three years due to a misunderstanding over a piece of land leading to the loss of lives and destruction of property.

The communities smoked the peace pipe in 2023 after the intervention of a team of traditional leaders, led by Naba Atogumdeya Akwara II, the Paramount Chief of the Sirigu Traditional Area.

Some women, known as ‘Poyaasi’ and ‘Isi’ formed by the Sirigu Women’s Organisation
for Pottery and Art (SWOPA), a non-government organisation, played critical role in the peace process.

‘Poyaasi’ in the Gurune Language refers to women married in a particular community while ‘Isi’ refers to their children (both boys and girls) born in the marriage and therefore the Poyaasi and Isi concept was to promote intercommunity ties for sustainable peace.

Currently the chiefs and people of the two communities interact and engage in social and economic activities and visit each other’s communities freely without fear.

The people engage in farming activities, traders’ access markets, and children attend school freely within those communities.

The Poyaasi and Isi organised food and cultural festivals, which brought together chiefs and people to fraternise.

Ms Bridget Adongo Akasise, the Manager, SWOPA, commended the people for smoking the peace pipe and the women for sustaining activities that continue to unite the communities.

She said SWOPA with support from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives,
formed the ‘Poyaasi’ and ‘Isi’ to implement a peace project in Doba, Yua, Kandiga, Mirigu, Nabango and Sirigu to support peace efforts.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The African Young Entrepreneur Federation (AYEF), a subsidiary of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), has launched the maiden edition of the Ghana-African Trade Queen concept in Accra.

The queen concept, which was under the theme: ‘Beyond Beauty, Fostering Trade,’ is aimed at ensuring that many young African ladies are empowered to trade seamlessly with other ladies on the African continent.

Mr Siita Sofo Hissan, the President, AfCFTA Young Entrepreneurs Federation (AYEF), speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), stated that Ghana has won the bid to host over 20 young entrepreneurial ladies from some selected countries on the African continent.

Mr Hissan noted that the main event would commence in July 2024, adding that it would go a long way to empower young women to venture into entrepreneurship and trade with other ladies from other African countries.

According to the AYEF president, most of the informal trades in Africa were done by women, stressing that it was time to formalise such tra
des and to adequately equip African women with the needed skills to trade effectively amongst themselves on the continent and even beyond.

He said that the African Trade Queen pageant would not only showcase the beauty of the participants but would also look beyond the physical and intellectual beauty of the women, saying it would showcase the various business prospects on the continent, which would in turn propel development and make the future very bright for African young women entrepreneurs.

He said the event would economically empower the ladies and therefore called on the major stakeholders within the trading and tourism industries to support the event and make Africa economically viable for all as far as trade was concerned.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ms Adi Roche, the Founder of ‘Chernobyl Children International’ and Mr David Spurdle, the Founder of ‘Stand by Me’ have jointly received the Ahmadiyya Muslim Peace Prize.

A statement issued in Accra said the awardees received the Prize for their exceptional support to orphans and underprivileged children around the world.

The award was part of the 18th National Peace Symposium held by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in London.

The theme for this year’s symposium was ‘Building a Sustainable Peace’ highlighted the key solutions to achieving lasting peace in the current light of ongoing global conflicts.

The international event was attended by Senior Members of Parliament, Faith Leaders, Business and Diplomatic communities and representatives from over 28 countries.

Ms Roche said, ‘The Ahmadiyya Peace Symposium allows us to renew our commitment to humanity and by extension to each other. We are taking a side – we are on the side of peace with justice.’

His Holiness, Hazrat Mirz
a Masroor Ahmad, the Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, who was the keynote speaker emphasised the need for nations to exercise justice to avoid a global conflict.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim community is dedicated to establishing peace, promoting inter-faith dialogue, and protecting the basic human rights of people around the world.

Previous recipients of its Peace Award include Peace Activist and Hiroshima survivor, Setsuko Thurlow, and former mayor of Hiroshimi, Tadatoshi Akiba.

Source: Ghana News Agency

A driver, who stole GHC162,500.00 worth of clinical items belonging to his boss has been sentenced to four years imprisonment in hard labour by the Accra Circuit Court Four.

Solomon Kofi Addo Yeboah conspired with one Alhassan, who was also employed by their Pakistani boss and is currently on the run, to steal the items.

Yeboah simply admitted that he conspired with Alhassan, thus, he was sentenced to two years for conspiracy and four years for stealing but sentences are to run concurrently.

Police Inspector DaCosta Bobie Ansah told the Court presided over by Mrs Kizita Naa Koowaa Quarshie that Rab Naweiz Khan, the complainant is a Pakistani and a businessman residing at Tse Addo, La, a suburb of Accra.

He said Yeboah, the convict, also lived at Kasoa, as Alhassan, a cook to the complainant, is now at large.

Police Inspector Ansah said Yeboah and Alhassan worked in the complainant’s company that ‘deals in clinical equipment.’

He said on January 18, 2024, Yeboah and Alhassan did conspire to break into th
e complainant’s warehouse located at Tse-Addo and made away with 50 pieces of ultrasound paper notes, five pieces of Diathamy machine, four pieces of suction machine, two ultrasound printers and one computer.

The prosecution said the next day, the complainant lodged a report with the La Police, leading to the arrest of Yeboah whilst Alhassan bolted with the goods.

During the investigation, Police had information about where the items had been kept by Alhassan at Weija, the Court?heard.

He said the Police proceeded to the said location to retrieve the items.

After investigation, Yeboah was charged with the offences and put before the Court as efforts were underway to arrest Alhassan, his accomplice, the Police said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Madam Elizabeth Kessewa Anim-Adjornor, the Jasikan Municipal Chief Executive in the Oti Region, has commended Plan International Ghana for its role in advancing the development of the Municipality since 2021.

Plan International Ghana advances course of development in Jasikan Municipality

She said the organisation had contributed immensely to the development of the area and pledged the Assembly’s commitment to ensure proper usage and maintenance of the facilities constructed by the organisation.

Madam Anim-Adjornor said this when Mr Constant Tchona, Plan International Ghana Country Director, led a delegation from Plan International to pay a courtesy call on her at the office.

The delegation was in the municipality to assess the impact of the various projects executed by Plan International Ghana, especially in the Atonkor-Buem community.

The delegation comprised twenty-one Plan International staff from the United Kingdom, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands, the United States of America, Japan, Switzerland, K
enya, Australia, and Senegal.

The delegation and the Assembly discussed the transformative impacts of Plan International Ghana’s initiatives on Child Protection, Education, Girls and Youth Empowerment, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) on the municipality’s progress.

Mr Lawrence Ncube, Plan International’s Chief People Officer, on behalf of the delegation, expressed gratitude to the Assembly for its dedication and commitment to Plan’s initiatives in the municipality.

He called for more continuous and sustained collaboration to address issues affecting the vulnerable, especially girls.

At the Atonkor-Buem community, the delegation was greeted with a vibrant cultural display, including dancing and singing, and with joy, the community adorned each member of the delegation with a beautiful Kente stole as a token of gratitude for their visit.

Nana Asiedu Adjeidu IV, Chief of Atonkor-Buem in the Jasikan Municipality of the Oti Region, also thanked Plan International Ghana for its commitment to accelerating
the development of the area.

He said the organisation’s dedication to enhancing the well-being of the people through its various life-changing projects was remarkable and deserved commendation.

Nana Adjeidu lauded the positive changes witnessed, especially in areas such as adolescent girls’ empowerment, gender-based violence prevention, and improved sanitation.

He said projects being implemented by Plan had improved the livelihoods of the?people, including the Village Savings and Loans Scheme, which, he noted,?had boosted the economic prowess of community members.

Others included the donation of textbooks, exercise books, and other learning materials, which enhanced teaching and learning, and water, sanitation, and hygiene initiatives had led to increased access to water and improved sanitary conditions.

Latifa, a member of the Atonkor-Buem Adolescent Club, delivered a passionate speech underscoring the transformative impact of Plan International Ghana’s projects on the lives of girls in the community.

She highlighted advancements in rights awareness, reproductive health education, and academic performance among girls, attributing these positive changes to Plan International Ghana’s initiatives.

‘Girls now feel safe and protected. We now live in a safer and more hygienic environment. We thank Plan International Ghana for impacting our lives. We call for more support,’ she said.

Representatives of the community structures, including the Champions of Change, Community-based Child Protection Committees, Village Savings and Loans Associations, Natural Leaders, and the Water and Sanitation Management Team, took turns to recount the impact, emphasising the tangible improvements brought about by Plan International Ghana’s interventions.

Mr Constant Tchona, Country Director of Plan International Ghana, thanked the chief, elders, and community members for committing to the organisation’s programme with open arms.

‘Strong leadership in the community has paved the way for the success of Plan International Ghana’s
projects here in Atonkor-Buem. It is important to sustain the gains. With further cooperation, we can continue to work for the protection of all, especially girls,’ Mr. Tchona said.

The visit culminated in a tour of Plan International Ghana-sponsored facilities, including a Drop-in-Center and a Mechanized Water System in the community.?

The Drop-in Centre, constructed in 2021 under the ‘Be Smart’ Project, provides shelter and support services for various vulnerable populations, including adolescents.

The centre offers a safe and welcoming environment where individuals can access essential resources and assistance.

The Mechanized Water System, commissioned in October 2023 under the Integrated Package for Sustainable Development (IPADEV), serves more than half of the community, ensuring their access to clean and safe water.

The project seeks to contribute to creating a resilient and protective environment both at home and at school for better health and learning outcomes for children, especially girls.

S
ource: Ghana News Agency

Traders at the Keta Market in the Volta Region are appealing to the authorities to reconstruct the facility into a modern market to enhance business operations.

They called for a facelift of almost all structures in the market, including the stalls, which they said must be reconstructed into two or three storeys.

Among the anxiliary facilities should be a clinic to provide emergency healthcare on market days, an educational centre, probably a crèche, to cater for the children, and modern washrooms.

The traders made the appeal in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) upon a visit to the market last week.

‘The Keta Market is one of the oldest markets in Ghana so it deserves to be better than its current form,’ one woman said.

Madam Rejoice Adzo, a former Assembly-member and Market Queen, appealed to the Government to restore the market to its past glory.

‘This market was a colonial market. People from Northern Volta, Togo, and Dzemeni used to come here to trade but it is not like that anymore. The
Government must help us to restore it to its former glory,’ she said.

Meanwhile, some drivers have also appealed for the renovation of the town roads, especially the one linking the market, complaining that its bad nature was impeding their work.

‘We suffer when bringing traders here on market days. So, we sometimes drop them off at Tayagagbor (quite a distance from the market) because the potholes are affecting our tires,’ a driver lamented.

The Keta Market is one of the oldest markets established in the Volta Region around the 15th Century, which attracted people from far and near to trade in fish, salt, and vegetables, being the major commodities produced in the area.

It has, however, deteriorated in recent times until the Keta Municipal Assembly renovated some sheds with its internally generated fund in 2021.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Sheikh Sulemana Gomna, a 68-year-old Educationist, has been outdoored as the new Kadjebi District Chief Imam in the Oti Region.

The retired Educationist succeeded Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Salifu-Gundogu, the late District Chief Imam, who died in October 2023.

The new District Chief Imam had his basic school education at Kadjebi and proceeded to Qatar for his Secondary education in Qatar and tertiary at the Qatar Islamic University in Doha.

Before the coronation held at the forecourt of Kadjebi Central Mosque, Alhaji Haruna Danjumah, the Zongo Chief, said the installation event came at the appropriate time as Monday, March 11 marks the beginning of their Ramadan Fasting.

He asked the new Chief Imam to impart the in-depth knowledge he had acquired to the younger generation.

Alhaji Danjumah also advised him to let unity be his hallmark and rally all Islamic clerics in the Zongo communities to work with him.

Alhaji Alsumah Ural-Jamah, the Oti Deputy Regional Chief Imam, said the ceremony should remind them of
what happened during the installation of the first successor of their beloved Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W).

Okyeame Baa Danso, the Okyeame (linguist) to Kadjebi Adontenhene, called for peace in the Muslim communities as they could not develop in a state of anarchy.

Sheikh Sulemana Gomna, the new Chief Imam, in an acceptance speech, thanked everyone for his coronation and appealed for their support to rule well.

He said he was not affiliated with any political party and that his sole aim was to support the development of the Kadjebi District.

Sheikh Gomna, a retired Headmaster of the Kpando Arabic and English Basic School, praised the late Chief Imam Muniru, saying he once secretly told him that his time would come, and truly it had come.

The Kadjebi District Police led by Supt. Gyan-Mante Frempong, the District Commander, provided security during the coronation to ensure peace and order.

Source: Ghana News Agency