Day: June 14, 2024

The Nkwanta South Municipal Fire Service has a sensitised staff of Beyond the Word Ministry on fire safety measures.

The sensitisation was part of their institutional engagement in the Municipality in reducing fire outbreaks in both corporate institutions and industries in the area.

Mr. John Sonutse, Nkwanta South Municipal Fire Service Safety Officer, took the participants through topics, including types of fire outbreaks, causes, preventive measures and the use of fire extinguishers.

He also took them through first aid firefighting equipment for timely intervention during fire outbreaks both at home and the workplace.

Mr. Sonutse urged the participants to take the training seriously and always take fire safety into consideration in their daily activities.

Mr. James Afriyie, Nkwanta South Municipal Fire Public Relations Officer, advised that all electrical cords must be properly checked and worn-out electrical components replaced to avoid any triggers that might cause fire outbreaks.

Mr. Bright Kwadwo
Owusu Nyasemhwe, the Chief Executive Officer of Beyond the Word Ministry, appreciated the effort of the fire service officers on the training and assured them of the Institution’s commitment in ensuring that all safety measures on fire outbreaks w

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, the First Lady, has urged a united front to fight HIV stigma, promote human rights, and ensure fair access to HIV prevention services for all. She emphasized that issues such as discrimination, stigma, lack of access to healthcare, and socioeconomic disparity need to be addressed for Ghana to achieve effective HIV prevention.

‘These barriers do not only worsen the spread of HIV but also perpetuate inequality and injustice, it is imperative that we address these barriers head-on with courage and determination if we are to succeed in our mission,’ she said.

Mrs Akufo-Addo was speaking at the 2024 National HIV Prevention Summit in Accra on Thursday. She said eradicating HIV stigma and discrimination called for a coordinated effort from all facets of society. The summit was on the theme ‘Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges, Uniting for Effective HIV Response’

Mrs Akufo-Addo stressed the need to give communities the knowledge, resources, and support they need to take charge of their hea
lth and well-being and protect themselves and their loved ones from HIV.

She said society must urgently and fully implement HIV prevention measures and make sure that everyone who needs them receives them.

Innovations in HIV prevention for all categories of persons currently include long-acting injectables, the vagina ring treatment and prevention of mother-to-child transmission protocols, which have been enhanced with highly effective antiretroviral medications and point-of-care screening devices.

Dr Kyeremeh Atuahene, Director General of the Ghana AIDs Commission said the fight against HIV and AIDS response was at a crucial stage, with scientific tools and proven strategies to eliminate the disease readily available to combat global economic challenges.

Insufficient financing, noncompliance with preventive measures, and persistent stigma and discrimination, he claimed, were preventing Ghana from providing the basic HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support services that are required to bring the epid
emic under control by 2030.

Dr. Atuahene said HIV is acquired and transmitted daily in every community in Ghana.

‘We have to talk about HIV prevention because new infections are very high since the sexual behaviours that drive HIV transmission and acquisition are increasingly pervasive with rising levels of high-risk sexual activities among both men and women in every region,’ he said.

Dr. Atuahene said Ghana must prioritize the HIV prevention roadmap to establish a comprehensive national approach for preventative interventions and programmatic scalability, which would help the country to meet the 2025 Global AIDS Targets.

He said in efforts to reduce new infections, the GAC intends to provide people-centred prevention models of care to those at high risk of acquiring HIV.

This year’s HIV Prevention Summit is expected to create a platform for stakeholders to develop a national agenda to prevent the disease.

Dr Atuahene said the summit would finalize the milestones developed by the national HIV preventio
n coalition during the 2025 HIV Prevention Road Map Review and Milestone Setting Workshop earlier in the year.

‘Considering this, the summit will explore innovative technologies, and foster collaborations to strengthen HIV prevention strategies in Ghana while solidifying accountability mechanisms for HIV prevention progress,’ he said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Tamale District Court (1) has sentenced a man to a jail term of six months in hard labour without the option of a fine for stealing power (engaging in illegal electricity connection).

His Worship Justice Derrick Annan, Magistrate of the Court, in addition to the six-month jail term, also slapped the convict, Wahab Shizaf, who hails from Bulpela, a suburb of Tamale, with a fine of 500 penalty units amounting to GHc6,000.00 to be paid to the state.

Also, the convict will pay GHc10,096.55, the sum of estimated power (electricity) stolen from the utility provider Northern Electricity Distribution Company Limited (NEDCo).

The Magistrate, in reading out the sentence, indicated that if the convict failed to pay the fine of GHc6,000.00, the fine shall automatically convert to an additional jail term of seven months thereby making his cumulative jail term 13 months.

The convict, Wahab Shiraz, pleaded guilty to the charge of ‘interference with electricity distribution system’ contrary to Rule 41(2A) and 1(6) o
f the Electricity Supply and Distribution Rules 2005 (L.I. 1816), and was convicted on his own plea.

Wahab Shiraz’s activities were discovered in December 2023 during the mop up leg of the Mass Revenue Mobilisation Exercise Phase three, an initiative undertaken by NEDCo, to help curb the rising illegal connections menace in Tamale.

Wahab Shiraz was issued an illegal connection notice to report to the NEDCo office for the necessary investigations, but he failed to show up.

NEDCo was, therefore, left with no option than to fall back on the justice system for redress.

The matter was reported to the Police in Tamale, who after investigations prosecuted the culprit.

Miss Esther Yirbom, Counsel for NEDCo, speaking at the precincts of the court after proceedings, urged members of the public, especially those engaged in illegal connections, to take advantage of the initial amicable resolution avenues such as owning up, paying for power stolen, signing a bond of good behaviour that NEDCo provided to illegal conne
ction suspects since they might serve as mitigating factors should the matter end up in court.

She emphasised that those avenues did not extinguish the offence committed but might help reduce the punishment prescribed for such crimes by law.

She advised members of the public to desist from all forms of illegal connections to escape the fate that befell Wahab Shiraz.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Market Queens in the Greater Accra Region have pledged to support the ‘See Something, Say Something’ Campaign by sharing security-related information with security agencies.

They have also promised to spread awareness on the campaign for the citizenry to be well informed.

The Market Queens made the pledge on Thursday during a sensitisation session with the Ministry of National Security in Accra.

In May 2022, the ‘See Something, Say Something’ campaign was launched to encourage citizens to play active roles in the protection of the peace and stability of the country.

The campaign aims to empower Ghanaians to be more conscious about their own security and enhance their relationship with State security authorities.

Citizens are to dial ‘999’ to report any suspicious or unusual activity happening within their communities.

Callers are not obliged to disclose their identity.

Since its inception, the Ministry of National Security has extensively engaged citizens, school children and various stakeholders, thr
ough awareness creation campaigns.

As part of the campaign, citizens are encouraged to use the acronym ‘S.A.L.U. T. E.’ to gather information and report suspicious activities.

‘S’ in ‘S.A.L.U.T. E,’ means the size of the item or specific features of the item/person involved in a suspicious activity.

‘A’ stands for suspicious or criminal activity being carried out. ‘L’ for the Location of the activity.

‘U’ stands for the uniform being worn by the suspect. ‘T’ for the time or period of the day the incident happened and ‘E’ for equipment being used to carry out the criminal act.

Madam Mercy Naa Aforowa Needjan, President of the Greater Accra Market Traders Association, praised the Ministry of National Security for counting them as important stakeholders in enhancing Ghana’s security.

She urged traders to be ambassadors of security in the marketplaces and expose evildoers in society.

The traders, during the interactive session, asked security personnel to ensure their anonymity to deepen trust between them
and the populace.

‘On many occasions when we report evil doers to the police or security personnel, they end up releasing them and disclosing our identities to these people thereby putting us in danger. If the security agencies want us to share information with them, they should protect our identities so that we can trust them,’ they said. 

Mrs Akosua D. Ntim Sekyere, Coordinator of the ‘See Something, Say Something’ Campaign, said Market Queens were important stakeholders in promoting security because of their influence on traders.

She said they had the potential to rally traders in support of any government agenda, hence the decision to involve them in the campaign.

Mrs Sekyere said the campaign was a national agenda devoid of political colours, ethnic or religious affiliation and urged the citizenry to embrace the campaign.

‘This is a national campaign which seeks to secure our national security. Given what is happening to neighbouring countries and elsewhere within the Sub-region, we want everybody o
n board including the market community.’

‘Due to the nature of your work, you engage with lots of people and see many things. You are well positioned, and we count on you to help us with valuable information to enhance our security,’ she said.

The Coordinator cautioned against prank calls and abuse of the toll-free line.

She advised parents and guardians to pay attention to their wards’ engagements with people especially on social media to protect them from radicalisation.

Radicalisation is when someone starts to believe or support extreme views, and in some cases, then participates in terrorist groups or acts.

It can be motivated by a range of factors, including ideologies, religious beliefs, political beliefs and prejudices against particular groups of people.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has called on political parties, youth groups, and Traditional Authorities to be cautious in acts that would invite violent extremists into the country to cause havoc and mar the peace being enjoyed.

Ms Kathleen Addy, Chairperson of the Commission, said though Ghana had a proven track record of holding successful elections since the start of the fourth Republic, it had always been accompanied by ‘a lot of tensions.’

This, she noted, coupled with existing land and chieftaincy disputes in some communities and the external threat in the subregion, including violent extremism, made it crucial for stakeholders to be wary and not engage in acts that would escalate these conflicts to create room for the activities of violent extremists.

‘This year’s election is peculiar due to the external threat in the subregion, and today we want to make the point that this year’s election, more than ever, we need to foster a culture of tolerance so that violent extremists and
other marlin forces do not take advantage of our vulnerability stemming from the political season.’

Ms Addy made these remarks when she addressed stakeholders at the fifth National Dialogue on ‘Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism’ (PCVE) at Nalerigu in the Northeast Region.

It was held on the theme: ‘Promoting a Culture of Tolerance: A Catalyst for Peaceful Elections Amidst Threats of Violent Extremism,’ with a national working theme as ‘Together we can build Ghana, so get involved.’.

The interparty national dialogue meeting formed part of the European Union-sponsored project dubbed ‘Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism’ being implemented by the NCCE in the North East, Upper East, Upper West, Northern, Savannah, Bono, Bono East, and Oti Regions.

The Chairperson noted that ‘violent extremists thrive where there is existing conflict’ and urged the stakeholders to inculcate a culture of tolerance to promote peace for sustainable development.

She emphasised that 70 per cent of the country’s po
pulation was below 35 years old and was usually the target of the violent extremists due to their socioeconomic vulnerability and called on them to guard themselves against being used to cause violence.

‘Let’s not shed blood because of elections. It is not worth it,’ she stressed. 

Reverend Father Clement Aapengnuo, Team Leader, CONGINTA-Ghana, a Non-Governmental Organisation, indicated that issues of tribalism could fuel activities of violent extremism, adding ‘There is only one humanity in this world. Let’s all be right and let the community spirit thrive.’. 

Mr Seidu Bismark, National Security Officer, Savannah Region, called on the public not to trade their votes but rather to demand accountability, as ‘politicians will always recoup the money they invest while the larger population remains marginalized.’

Dr Yidana Zakaria, the North East Regional Minister, commended the Commission for the initiative to inculcate in the citizenry security consciousness.

He emphasised that ‘Ghana is bigger than any po
litical party, and we must all act together to preserve the peace of this country.’

Mr Sulemana Steven Sullaey, Chief of Youth Affairs, Nayiri, thanked the Commission for its effort in promoting peace and called on the youth to be peace mediators and desist from acts that will destabilise the country.

Source: Ghana News Agency