Category: General

The Sunyani Municipal Adolescent Parliament has called on the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to support young people to easily access condoms and contraceptives to promote safe sex.

They also called for intensified sex education, proper use of contraceptives, and access to family planning services.

That would greatly control the rising cases of teenage pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections and unsafe abortion in the Municipality.

The Adolescent Parliament is one of the critical components of a three-year Resilient City for Adolescents Project, (RC4A) being implemented by Global Media Foundation (GLoMeF), in partnership with Indigenous Women Empowerment Network and Citizens Watch Ghana, both NGOs.

It is a platform for the adolescents in the Sunyani Municipality of the Bono Region to influence governance and demand accountability as part of the implementation of the 300,000-pounds sterling project, being funded by the Swiss Bortnar Foundation, which seeks to improve ad
olescent lives.

Members of the ‘Parliament’ have been carefully selected from various communities in and around Sunyani to meet occasionally to deliberate on issues and embark on advocacy to influence decision-making in the area.

Daniel Sarkodie Frimpong, the ‘Speaker’ of the 23-member Parliament, which covers 19 constituencies, made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the sidelines of sporting activities organised for the members.

GLoMeF and the project implementing partners organised the games to promote and deepen friendship, unearth and nurture the sporting talents of the young people.

Speaker Frimpong indicated that though Parliament was strongly against pre-marital sexual practices, many of the young people in the municipality were engaged in active sex, hence the need to supply them with contraceptives.

That would enable those who could not control their sexual desires to protect themselves, and thereby control teenage pregnancies, contributing to high school-dropout rate
and impeding girl-child education in the municipality, he said.

Speaker Frimpong said with safe sex girls would also be able to further their education and grow into responsible adulthoods and become societal assets, and not liability, regretting that early ‘breaking’ of girl’s virginity was becoming a burden in the society.

He observed that parental neglect was fueling alcoholism, sexual perversions, drug abuse, internet scam, sports betting among the youth.

‘I think some parents have failed in the proper upbringing and development of their children. Instead of drawing their children closer and listening to them, they have chosen to pursue their life careers to the detriment of their children’s wellbeing.’

Master Frimpong, a-15-year-old student of the Abesim St. James Seminary and Senior High School, reminded parents that those who neglected their children brought burden to themselves, and implored irresponsible parents to change.

Mr Raphael Godlove Ahenu, the Chief Executive Officer, GLoMeF, said the R
C4A project sought to identify and tackle emerging challenges confronting adolescence in the municipality.

Prizes ranging from sanitary pads, detergent, toothpaste and brushes, reading and learning materials, trophies to medals were presented to deserving young people who participated in the games: football, sack race and athletics.

Source: Ghana News Agency

World Vision Ghana, has commissioned Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), and educational facilities in the Agortime-Zoipe District of the Volta Region.

The facilities included eight solar-powered water systems, equipped with standpipes and taps in eight communities, serving five schools and five health facilities, and nine institutional toilets; six water closets for health facilities and three KVIPs for schools.

The rest are, five multi-purpose information poles to enhance communication in five communities, and pavilions as child and youth resource centres in four communities to offer a safe and secure environment for children to learn.

The beneficiary communities included Segbale, Asafokope, Agorhokpo, Sarakope, Sileandre, Keyime, Dohia, Yevi, Kpetoe, Akpokope, Afegame and Wedzedeke.

The facilities were commissioned by Madam Laura Del Valle, the Country Director of World Vision Ghana, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, Volta Regional Minister and traditional leaders within the district.

Over the course of its f
our years of operation in the district, World Vision Ghana has carried out a number of initiatives aimed at improving the lives of the people, including community engagement and sponsorship programme, reading improvement and skills enhancement, and healthy environment and wellness.

The reading improvement and skills enhancement (RISE) initiative seeks to improve children’s reading abilities while the healthy environment and wellness (HEAL) project concentrated on improving water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) conditions.

The community engagement and sponsorship programme foster collaboration between World Vision, donors, and the community to produce long-lasting results for children’s well-being.

Madam Laura Del Valle, World Vision Ghana’s Country Director, said the success of these projects would not have been possible without the crucial assistance of officials from the region and the district.

She said that the solar-powered water systems, which cost $360,000 to build, had provided safe water to 15,93
7 people, including children, in eight communities, eliminating the need for children and their families to make long trips to obtain safe water, and freeing up children’s time for school.

The Country Director said the institutional toilets which cost $114,000 and included three KVIP for schools and six water closets for healthcare facilities, would allow 771 school children to use an improved latrine and an average of 1,635 clients or patients to access improved sanitary facilities at the health institutions.

She said the solar-powered multipurpose poles, which they installed in various communities in partnership with THEOVISION and which cost $11,500, would enable 2,311 children to study at night, promote child safety messages and environmental stewardship to more than 23,000 households.

Madam Del Valle said they were pleased with the progress made as a team in empowering communities and attaining sustainable development for all.

Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, Volta Regional Minister, expressed gratitude to Wo
rld Vision Ghana for its effort in providing the residents of the Agortime-Ziope District with clean water, sanitary facilities, and hygiene supplies.

He said Agortime- Ziope was one of the districts in the region where access to potable water was scarce despite the numerous interventions put in place over the years.

The Regional Minister said due to the nature of the land, it was quite difficult to drill boreholes and obtain good yields and that attempts to drill boreholes yielded no results in most cases.

He said the Goal Six (6) of the Sustainable Development Goals talked about the provision of clean water and sanitation and this goal was critical as the fulfillment of it would facilitate the achievement of other Goals by 2030.

He said access to water, sanitation and hygiene were some of the basic needs of humanity and a fundamental human right and yet many people were unable to access them, noting that the challenge posed by these, and the lack thereof should be of grave concern to all.

Togbe Agbale
II, Chief of Agorhokpo thanked World Vision Ghana for its support through a variety of initiatives that improve the lives of the people leading to positive transformation and enhanced standard of living.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry and Member of Parliament for New Juaben South, Michael Okyere Baafi, was scolded in a viral video, by a Muslim leader for supposedly engaging in religious politics.

It is not clear what the deputy minister said but Garkuwan Gababas, an advisor to Zongo Chiefs in the Eastern Region, could have none of his comments.

In the said video clip, Garkuwan Gababas could be seen telling the MP that he does not support his attempt to mix religion and politics.

‘You spoke and we listened to you. But I don’t support what you said. This is because we don’t want to mix religion with politics. It is not good to mix religious crisis with politics.

‘Today, the census shows the population of Christians is greater than that of Muslims. So, if we Muslims are saying we want a Muslim (leader) we are looking for a problem for ourselves. So, let us stop talking about Christianity and Islam in politics,’ he said in Twi.

The advisor added, ‘Let us think of the person who would be good for
us so we choose that person. The person God chooses for us would be the right person for us… If you (politicians) come to us just market your candidate. But if you go on the religion tangent, you are creating a problem for us.’

Okyere Baafi, however, explained that his comment had been misconstrued by Garkuwan Gababas.

He said that it was never his intention to engage in religious politics.

‘I’m not a Muslim but I’m always here with you. I come to make donations to you and so, we are not talking about conflict. Don’t misinterpret what I’m saying,’ he said.

Source: Ghana Web

The Nkwanta South Municipal Assembly has presented monetary assistance to 73 persons living with disabilities.

The recipients were people who had participated in a training organised by the Assembly in employable skills such as the manufacturing of detergent, shower gel, and liquid soap.

Mr Felix Owusu Gyimah, Municipal Chief Executive of Nkwanta South Municipality, said the goal of the financial assistance and skill development programme, was to help the recipients become self-sufficient and financially independent.

He said the government cares about the welfare of persons with disabilities and would keep helping them to reach their full potential.

The MCE said the assembly would keep an eye on the business of the beneficiaries to make sure the goal of uplifting and empowering them comes to fruition.

‘This proactive approach aims to foster sustainable businesses and enhance the livelihood of PWDs.’

Madam Sherifa Sekyere Tijani, the New Patriotic Party’s Parliamentary candidate for Nkwanta South, praise
d the government’s plan to assist people with disabilities and emphasised the need for additional assistance for them.

She said it was important to empower PWDs to enable them to contribute to the development of the municipality.

Madam Tijani also promised to prioritize the interest of PWDs, when voted as Member of Parliament come December 7, 2024.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Participants at the Seventh Biennial Social Science Conference at Winneba in the Central Region have recommended further research to explore the effects of COVID-19 on the various facets of society.

They also resolved that collaboration between Research and Industry needed to be strengthened to enhance synergy and effective coordination of research ideas.

The recommendations were in a communique issued at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), signed by Prof Anselm Abotsi, Dean of the Faculty of Social Science Education (FSSE), during a two-day conference at the UEW.

It was hosted by the Department of the FSSE UEW on the on the theme: ‘Bringing the Grown to Town; Governance, Society and Post-Pandemic Adjustments.’

The communique called for continued funding from government, industry and research bodies to expand the scope and scale of research at the various levels.

The participants, drawn from diverse institutions and countries, shared research findings on various topics of global relevance includi
ng, ‘performance expectancy and efforts expectancy.’

There was also a robust engagement of intellectuals, lecturers, scholars, experts and practitioners in the social sciences, humanities and allied courses.

Prof Victor Antwi, Pro Vice-Chancellor of UEW, who chaired the conference, extended compliments from Prof Joseph Jobson Mitchual, Vice-Chancellor of the University, to the FESSE for organising the conference.

It formed part of the university’s core mandate in generating a data driven conversation through research and advocacy.

He highlighted the appropriateness of the conference theme, which sought to examine post pandemic adjustments through governance and societal lens.

He applauded the presenters for their dedication and commitment to research, given the challenges in securing funds, long tenure of research processes and other competing activities.

Prof Peter Quartey, the Director of Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research, University of Ghana – Legon, delivered the first Keynote a
ddress on the topic: ‘Ghana’s Economy and the Post COVID Adjustment.’

He revealed that between 2004 and 2013 the nation’s GDP was 4.1 percent even though emerging markets and developing economies grew by 6.4 percent.

Unfortunately, the challenges and vulnerabilities developing countries faced were visible before the pandemic, as real GDP growth rates suffered a sharp decline in 2014 and did not recover till 2016 when a marginal growth was recorded.

He said Ghana’s post COVID-19 GDP growth rate had been rising and there was significant expectations of recovery, albeit with a low projected growth in 2023 (3.8 percent), saying the country seemed to have borrowed beyond its sustainable threshold with no buffer to absorb major shocks.

He recommended the creation of a fund to service debts from 2025, the broadening of the tax base to rope in the informal sector and the need to rationalise government spending to ensure value for money.

Prof Samuel Kobina Annim, the Government Statistician, who spoke on: ‘Bringi
ng the Statistical Grown to Town, Governance, Society and Post Pandemic Adjustments’, admonished academics and the public to be active participants of the data revolution as current developmental challenges required data driven discussions and solutions.

He advocated support and collaboration in building capacity in data and statistical literacy as well as liberating data for transparency and accountability.

There was the need for an understanding of emerging issues like mapping pandemic hotspots and severities, adaptations and infrastructural support like the recent undersea cable damage and internet disruptions as well as cost efficiencies during pandemics, he said.

Prof Samuel Kojo Kwofie, the Head of Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Ghana, who delivered the second keynote address, titled: ‘Bringing the grown to town; The Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI),’ explored the implications of machine learning and AI to understand societal issues on agriculture, health care, education and
humanitarian aid.

He recommended the creation of supportive policies, regulations and robust infrastructure, development of AI ethics review committee, provision of state, private, local and inter-nation funding, as well as scholarships and training opportunities for Ghanaians.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahigbah, believes that the youth of Ghana must vote for Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in the 2024 elections.

He believes that the young and energetic Bawumia has a plan for the country’s youth, and making him President will help them.

In a post shared via X, Ahiagbah explained that voting for Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who intends to implement bold solutions, will make Ghanaian youth competitive in the job market.

Riachard Ahiagbah’s post on X reads, ‘Digital Bawumia will give our youth the edge to compete globally. As President, Bawumia will partner with the private sector to train 1 million Ghanaian youth in information technology skills, such as software developers, to provide job opportunities worldwide. This will enable Ghana to take full advantage of the 4th industrial revolution. It’s possible!’

Source: Ghana Web

The Sunyani Municipal Adolescent Parliament has called on the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to support young people to easily access condoms and contraceptives to promote safe sex.

They also called for intensified sex education, proper use of contraceptives, and access to family planning services.

That would greatly control the rising cases of teenage pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections and unsafe abortion in the Municipality.

The Adolescent Parliament is one of the critical components of a three-year Resilient City for Adolescents Project, (RC4A) being implemented by Global Media Foundation (GLoMeF), in partnership with Indigenous Women Empowerment Network and Citizens Watch Ghana, both NGOs.

It is a platform for the adolescents in the Sunyani Municipality of the Bono Region to influence governance and demand accountability as part of the implementation of the 300,000-pounds sterling project, being funded by the Swiss Bortnar Foundation, which seeks to improve ad
olescent lives.

Members of the ‘Parliament’ have been carefully selected from various communities in and around Sunyani to meet occasionally to deliberate on issues and embark on advocacy to influence decision-making in the area.

Daniel Sarkodie Frimpong, the ‘Speaker’ of the 23-member Parliament, which covers 19 constituencies, made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the sidelines of sporting activities organised for the members.

GLoMeF and the project implementing partners organised the games to promote and deepen friendship, unearth and nurture the sporting talents of the young people.

Speaker Frimpong indicated that though Parliament was strongly against pre-marital sexual practices, many of the young people in the municipality were engaged in active sex, hence the need to supply them with contraceptives.

That would enable those who could not control their sexual desires to protect themselves, and thereby control teenage pregnancies, contributing to high school-dropout rate
and impeding girl-child education in the municipality, he said.

Speaker Frimpong said with safe sex girls would also be able to further their education and grow into responsible adulthoods and become societal assets, and not liability, regretting that early ‘breaking’ of girl’s virginity was becoming a burden in the society.

He observed that parental neglect was fueling alcoholism, sexual perversions, drug abuse, internet scam, sports betting among the youth.

‘I think some parents have failed in the proper upbringing and development of their children. Instead of drawing their children closer and listening to them, they have chosen to pursue their life careers to the detriment of their children’s wellbeing.’

Master Frimpong, a-15-year-old student of the Abesim St. James Seminary and Senior High School, reminded parents that those who neglected their children brought burden to themselves, and implored irresponsible parents to change.

Mr Raphael Godlove Ahenu, the Chief Executive Officer, GLoMeF, said the R
C4A project sought to identify and tackle emerging challenges confronting adolescence in the municipality.

Prizes ranging from sanitary pads, detergent, toothpaste and brushes, reading and learning materials, trophies to medals were presented to deserving young people who participated in the games: football, sack race and athletics.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Nana Amankwaah Kodom I, chief of Adumasa, has cut the sod to begin the construction of a modern market for the Senfi community in the Bekwai Municipality.

The project, expected to be completed in three months’ time, will comprise of 50 lockable stores, washrooms, and a car park.

It will replace the old market, which is in a very deplorable state.

Nana Kodom, speaking at the ceremony, said the new market had become necessary since the community was expanding and needed a very convenient place to carry out economic activities to improve the living conditions of the people.

He said markets help boost economic activities and stressed the need for the residents in the area to support the project to ensure its early completion.

Some of the market women expressed joy and thanked the chief for his timely intervention to put up a new market for them.

They said the new market would enhance convenience and boost economic activities of the people in the area.

Source: Ghana News Agency