Category: General

Bongo (U/E), May 17, GNA – Vocational and skills training is key to reducing unemployment among the youth and growing the local economy for poverty reduction, Ms Dorcas Apoore, Executive Director, Advocacy for Social Inclusion and Girls Education (ASIGE), a Non- Governmental Organisation, has said.

She therefore called on the governments and other stakeholders to focus on providing enabling environment for young people to learn handiwork to empower them economically and contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Apart from the fact that people will be trained, who will in turn train others, they will also be creating jobs for those who they will be buying their raw materials from and this will contribute to the development of their communities, the region and the country, and reduce unemployment,” she said.

Ms Apoore made the call at Bongo in the Upper East Region when ASIGE with funding from the Paul Hodges Trust, a United Kingdom based organization, enrolled 22 out-of-school teenage mothers in the region into various vocational skills training.

The vulnerable girls who would go into learning smock weaving, dressmaking, hairdressing and welding for a period of three years had their fees paid in full.

They were also provided with all the learning materials needed for the training.

She said ASIGE established in 2014, worked to address challenges confronting women and young girls especially those living in rural communities through the empowerment of about 429 women to weave internationally demanding baskets and provision of over 2,000 sanitary pads to school girls in both Upper East and Upper West Regions.

Ms Apoore noted that her outfit and its partners had in the past three years enrolled over 70 teenage mothers into various vocational skills training and called for support to scale up the project to benefit many vulnerable girls to help reduce unemployment and poverty.

“We have a big dream of reaching out to over 5,000 young women and girls in the next 10 years by giving them skills in handiwork and basketry, so we are appealing to donors and other stakeholders to support us realise this dream and create decent jobs for young people,” she added.

Madam Rita Abamah, the Girl-Child Education Officer in charge of Bongo District, advised parents not to abandon their teenage girls who dropped out of school because of pregnancy, instead, they should be encouraged to learn a trade.

That, she said, would provide economic independence for their wards and help them make up for missing out on formal education.

Pognaba Christiana Nge, Paramount Queenmother of Bongo Traditional Area, lauded the efforts ASIGE to reduce unemployment in the region and encouraged the beneficiaries to take up the training seriously to empower themselves.

Ms Jamila Ayamga, one of the beneficiaries who enrolled to learn welding thanked ASIGE and its partners for providing them the opportunity to learn a trade.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, May 17, GNA – The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has allayed fears of imminent shortage of fuel following reported shortage of petrol and diesel at some filling stations.

The Authority said though some oil marketing companies recorded shortages at some of their outlets, there was no shortage of petroleum products in the country as speculated.

It said as of Monday, May 16, 2022, the quantity of diesel available could ‘feed’ the country for up to four weeks while the quantity of petrol in the country’s reserve could last for about six weeks.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr Mohammed Abdul-Kudus, Head of Communications, NPA, said there was no need for panic.

He said the Authority had put adequate measures in place to ensure constant supply of fuel to meet the demands of consumers.

“Between now and the next four weeks we can’t ran out of diesel in Ghana,” he assured.

Mr Abdul-Kudus said per the NPA’s schedule, importers were allowed to import fuel into the country on quarterly basis, adding that the schedule for the last quarter would end in June, 2022.

“We work according to schedule. We don’t want at a time where there would be too much fuel in the system or less oil in the system. So we have given them (the importers) the period where they are supposed to come and discharge,” he said.

“This particular quarter ends in June. We have available vessels ready to supply, including what is already in the system, which is enough to satisfy the people of Ghana,” Mr Abdul-Kudus added.

Motorists last week expressed fear that the country had been hit by fuel shortages following reports that some filling stations had ran out of the commodity.

Analysts have warned that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war could lead to scarcity in petroleum products as more countries applied economic sanctions against Russia- the third-largest oil producer, accounting for about 11 per cent of the world’s crude oil supplies.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, May 17, GNA – Southampton’s defender, Mohammed Salisu is set to honour call-up to play for the senior national team, the Black Stars.

  

Over the years, Salisu, who is an influential addition to Southampton’s setup has declined call-ups under Coaches Kwesi Appiah, Charles Akonor and Milovan Rajevac due to personal reasons.

However, information pieced together by the GNA Sports indicates that, the player would soon play for Ghana, but it is unlikely he would feature in the Ghana-Madagascar 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium on Wednesday, June 1.

The GFA President, Kurt E.S Okraku visited some players in London including Salisu and Thomas Partey, and the source revealed that the President was in talks with the player to rescind his decision to not play for Ghana.

According to the source, talks are far advanced to get the 23-year old to play for the senior national team, especially when Ghana wants to get its best arsenals for international competitions including the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

The source added that, some players in the Black Stars would also add their voices to influence the player into the team.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Lipilime, (UW/R), May 17, GNA – Kuoro Mohammed Bein Dajan, newly enskinned Chief of Lipilime, has appealed to the government to help the community with reliable water supply.

He said that would help reduce the burden women go through before getting water. “There is the need for my community to be provided with a Small-town Water System given the fact that the projected population of my community should be about 3,000”, he said.

The 35-year-old vulcanizer made the appeal during his enskinment and outdooring as the Divisional Chief of Lipilime in the Sissala West District.

The outdooring ceremony was in the presence of the Paramount Chief of the Gwollu Traditional Area and other high-profile chiefs.

Kuoro Dajan thanked the kingmakers for selecting him to lead the community.

He emphasised that the limited number of functional bore-holes were located at distances that were more than three kilommeters from home, compelling some of the women to resort to other unwholesome sources of water making them vulnerable to water-borne diseases.

The newly enskinned chief said, “I am encouraging the youth to take advantage of the vast land to engage in farming”.

He appealed to the government to review its flagship agricultural programme of Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) by making fertilizer, seeds, and other inputs readily available for the 2022/2023 farming season.

Kuoro Dajan said it was important for the community to be captured under the One-Village-One-dam policy being implemented by the government.

On health, he appealed for the upgrading of the Lipilime Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound into a Clinic with Midwives to reduce the traveling stress pregnant women go through to access antenatal and skill delivery services.

Kuoro Kuri Buktie Limann Ⅳ, the Paramount Chief of the Gwollu Traditional Area, admonished the newly enskinned Chief to be the servant of the people and not lording the position on them.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Professor Abednego F. O. Amartey was among distinguished personalities honoured at the fifth edition of the UPSA Classic Awards held on Saturday, April 30 at the Kofi Ohene-Konadu Auditorium.

Prof Amartey was presented with an honorary award for his tremendous work in putting the University at the forefront of academic excellence and also for preparing UPSA students into globally competitive graduates through his student-centered leadership and institutional drive.

In his acceptance speech, the Vice-Chancellor expressed his heartfelt appreciation to Exclusively Classic Events & Media Services, the organisers of the awards scheme for the recognition.

He commended them for their good work and devoted service to the University through the establishment of the Classic Awards to honour outstanding students and staff.

Prof Okoe Amartey added that the annual campus-based awards scheme goes a long way in motivating recipients to do more while encouraging others to aim for such recognition.

“When you do your best in whatever field of endeavour, society will surely recognise you,” he said. “So make sure you always do your best even when no one seems to be watching because hard work pays.”

Prof. Amartey urged the students to always strive for excellence in their academics and professional pursuits, stressing that attaining excellence is paramount in every professional endeavor.

For her part, the Registrar of UPSA, Dr. Koryoe Anim-Wright who was also presented with an honorary award for her sterling leadership cautioned students to be circumspect about their use on social media.

She urged them to remain focused on their academic work.

“Have fun on campus but make sure you enjoy your books so when you leave the school, the success you would enjoy is the [result of what] you sacrificed while in school,” she advised.

Other high profile award recipients included Prof. Ernest Kofi Abotsi (Dean, UPSA Law School), Mr. Mawuli Feglo (Dean of Students), Dr. Mrs Fidelis Quansah (Dean, Faculty of Management Studies), Prof. Raymond Dziwornu (Dean, Faculty of Accounting & Finance) and Mr. Lexis Tetteh, a lecturer.

All award winners were all presented with citations of honour for their remarkable service and devotion to enhancing students’ academic experience and welfare.

The UPSA Classic Awards is an annual campus-based awards gala organized by Exclusively Classic Events and Media Services (ECEMS). The awards ceremony seeks to honour distinguished students and faculty who are excelling in their fields of work. It is co-organized by the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) of the UPSA.

Source: University of Professional Studies

Over 20 table tennis clubs are set to participate in the first ever table tennis knockout championship slated for Saturday, 28th May, 2022 at the Accra sports stadium.

The championship which is being organized by the Greater Accra Table Tennis Association is aimed at igniting the game at the grassroot level and propel the various teams ahead of the commencement of the regional league later this year.

The exercise will feature both service and civilian clubs within the province.

The civilian clubs will include Pot sports, Madina Table Tennis Club, Devine travel and tours club, Tesano table tennis club, Diamond table tennis club, Kings royal academy, Asoba foundation, Ping Hopes foundation among others.

Ghana Navy, Army, Prison Service, Police Service, Immigration, GRA and Fire service will make the service clubs.

The winners of the knockout championship will walk home with medals, trophies and cash prizes.

Source: Modern Ghana

Accra, May 17, GNA – The Embassy of the State of Palestine to Ghana says it welcomes the broad international condemnation of the killing of Aljazeera Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and demanding that Israel be held responsible.

 The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said, “despite the live testimonies and the evidence documented by audio and video that proved that Israeli forces committed the crime of executing the martyr Abu Akleh, the Occupying State (Israel) continued its disinformation campaign.”

  It claimed : “The Israeli occupation was spreading lies and fabrications with the aim of absorbing wide official and popular reactions to the crime, especially whenever it notices wide international reactions” to the act.

Israeli forces are suspected to have shot dead Al Jazeera’s journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Abu Akleh, a longtime TV correspondent for Al Jazeera Arabic, was killed on Wednesday while covering Israeli army raids in the city of Jenin in the northern occupied West Bank. 

She was rushed to a hospital in Jenin in critical condition, where she was declared dead shortly after, at 7:15am (4:15 GMT), the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

  Abu Akleh was wearing a press vest and was standing with other journalists when she was killed.

Another Al Jazeera journalist, Ali al-Samoudi, was also wounded by a bullet in the back at the scene.

  Israeli riot police at the funeral of the slain journalist pushed and beat pallbearers, causing them to briefly drop the casket in a shocking start to a procession that turned into perhaps the largest display of Palestinian nationalism in Jerusalem.

  Mr Abdulfatah A. K. Alsattari, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Ghana, while narrating circumstances leading to the killing of the Aljazeera Journalist at a media briefing on Monday said, it was absurd for some persons to conceive the thought that Palestinians killed their own.

  He said an investigation by Israel, however, transparent, would not be acceptable as thousands of such cases had gone uninvestigated or improperly done, and, therefore, called for an impartial and independent investigation by the International Community.

  The Ambassador condemned attacks on pallbearers and others during the funeral of the journalist, describing it as “terrible”.

 He said, “they were afraid of her when she was alive, they must still be afraid of her even in death, and perhaps the over 40,000 people – Muslims and Christians – who showed up at the funeral.”

  “Shereen lived in our heart; we saw her on the TV every night when she reported, ” he said in a doleful voice.

  Mr Benjamin Kumbuor, former Minister for Defence, who knew the slain journalist and had met her on three separate occasions, including attending a Catholic Service together in Ghana, said “I got attracted to her because of her deep insight in international law…”

  “There is one statement she made in one of our interactions which has been puzzling me since news of her death broke – If you do not fight impunity from a distance, you should not be surprised to find impunity on your door steps the next day,” he said, adding that in her quest to fight impunity, she had to pay the highest price for it.

  Mr Kumbuor said for those who encountered her, they had lost an internationalist, a comrade and someone who had a human feeling for all struggling and oppressed people of the world. 

  Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu and Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said Shireen Abu Akleh’s journalistic work was admirable as she showed respect for fact, tremendous courage and distinguished herself in war reporting – an area otherwise perceived as preserve for male journalist.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Biniam Girmay won stage 10 of the Giro d’Italia on Tuesday to create history as the first Black African to win on any of the three grand tours — but his celebrations were cut short by a champagne cork.

Girmay was struck by the cork in his face when fumbling with a magnum bottle on the winners’ podium, leaving him rubbing and holding his left eye as he tried to continue with his celebration.

A champagne cork can fly at up to 50mph as it leaves a bottle and Girmay appeared deeply agitated as he was led into an ambulance and taken to hospital.

The cyclist had placed the magnum on the floor and bent over it as he undid the binding before the cork flew off hitting him from close range.

The 22-year-old Eritrean had proven too strong for Dutch ace Mathieu van der Poel, who threw up his hands in resignation after a long struggle for the line at Jesi.

Van der Poel hugged Girmay at the line after giving him a sporting thumbs up while he watched his rival race to victory.

While multiple tour winner Chris Froome was born in Kenya and Daryl Impey of South Africa has won stages, Girmay is the first Black African to do so.

“I watched the Giro as a kid on television and then went out riding with the dream of one day taking part,” Girmay said, before his podium accident.

“We write a little piece of history every day,” he added.

“I’m really happy about what I did today, I don’t have the words to describe it. Thanks to my team who controlled the race from early on.”

The Intermarche rider signalled his coming of age in March when he became the first African to win a one-day classic at Gent-Wevelgem, when still just 21.

He first shot to attention at the world championships when he became the first Black African man to feature on the podium when he came second un the under-21’s at the 2021 event in Belgium.

He has already racked up eight wins since turning professional in 2020.

Spain’s Juan Pedro Lopez of Trek retained the race lead as the main contenders in the overall standings all finished together.

Stage 10 left Pescara with a potential for a mass bunch sprint, but the pure sprinters such as Mark Cavendish and Caleb Ewan were dropped when the pace picked up in the hills.

Cavendish and Ewan have a better chance when Wednesday’s stage 11 takes a pancake flat 203km run to Reggio Emilia.

Source: Modern Ghana