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Late MCE of Krachi East to be buried May 11

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Government,  in-collaboration with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and late Krachi East Municipal Chief Executive (MCE’s) family, has announced funeral date for Mr Bernard Aborkugya Mensah.

The final funeral rites will take place in Dambai Community-One residence  from Friday May 10 to Saturday May 11, 2024.

A thanksgiving service would be held the next day on Sunday May 12.

Mr Christian Domeakor, a family member, confirmed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) after the one-week observance held on April 17, at English Arabic School park in Dambai.

Mr Gyamfi Boateng, the constituency chairman of the NPP, said that the period of mourning and lowering of the party’s flags had been extended until after the funeral.

He said that the road leading to the MCE’s residence would be draped in red and black colours as well as the national flag to symbolize that  Ghana has lost a great leader.

Meanwhile, this is the second time the Municipality lost two MCE’s while they were in office.

The event is expected to draw Ghanaians from all walks of life, especially government officials in Accra, surrounding towns to pay their last respect to the late MCE.

ARC to target swing constituencies – Dr Foster

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Dr. Michael Abu Sakara Foster, Founder of the National Interest Movement (NIM), has disclosed that the Alliance for Revolutionary Change (ARC) intends to field independent parliamentary candidates in many swing constituencies. 

According to him, the Alliance had identified several constituencies with a swing voter base that are not dominated by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) or the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and can be won by independent candidates. 

“Given the resources that we have, we cannot fill all the parliamentary seats in the country…. but to focus on using strong and self-made people who are in contact with their communities with swing voter base which gives them a better chance of winning” 

Dr Foster made the disclosure while speaking to the media in Accra about the Alliance’s attempt to identify self-made people to run as independent candidates in various swing constituencies around the country.  

He said that the NIM has identified at least seven constituencies with swing voter bases where its candidates are expected to contest, while the Movement for Change (M4C) is also expected to run as independent candidates in other swing seats. 

On April 4, 2024, the Movement for Change, founded by Alan Kyerematen, and the National Interest Movement, led by Dr Michael Abu Sakara Foster, announced that they had reached an agreement with several political entities and individuals to form a grand alliance to contest the 2024 general elections. 

The Alliance, named the ‘Alliance for Revolutionary Change’ (ARC) “will aggressively mobilize Ghanaians from across the country, particularly the youth and women, irrespective of their religious, political, and ethnic affiliations, in a grand coalition to elect the first Independent Candidate as the President of the Republic of Ghana,” a statement said. 

The Alliance said when voted into Government, it would focus on “breaking the cycle of poverty and reset the country on a new path to prosperity.”  

It also said it sought to end the dominance of the duopoly of the NDC and the NPP in Ghanaian politics, insisting that the two Parties had failed to address the fundamental challenges of development of the country after 32 years in government. 

The alliance said the divisiveness in Ghanaian politics, and the ‘Winner takes all’ syndrome, as well as the lack of continuity in the execution of government projects, which have been associated with the duopoly, “have brought untold hardships on the good people of Ghana.” 

It assured that “The Alliance will work towards forming an all-inclusive Government of National Unity with representation from Political Parties, the Business Community, Farmers and Fishermen, Labour Unions, Faith-Based Organizations.” 

Ghana to participate in 2024 Junior Athletics Championship in Ivory Coast 

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Ghana’s Athletics team is currently in Cote D’ Ivoire preparing
for this year’s Junior Athletics Championship at the Stade Felix Houphouët
Boigny. 

The athletes, who were drawn from various Senior High Schools andathletic clubs would compete in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 110m Hurdles, 400m
Hurdles, High Jump and the relays.

Team Ghana is confident of giving their opponents a tough
competition with hopes of ending the contest in style.  

On the side of unearthing young athletes at the
various senior high schools, leadership of Ghana Athletics recently met the
Ghana Education Service to discuss development collaboration between the two
bodies. 



3rd Edition of IFBB West Africa championship slated for 27 April

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The 3rd edition of the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation (IFBB) West Africa championship is slated for April 27, 2024, at the Ga Mashie Hall of the Trust Sports Emporium, in Accra.  

A total of eight countries made up of 35 athletes have confirmed their participation in this year’s competition. 

Mr. George Fousta Baffoe Vice President of the Ghana Bodybuilding and Fitness Association (GBFA) said this year’s championship would be better as compared to the previous years.  

He said, “We have eight countries; Tanzania, Niger, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Togo, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and host nation Ghana, seeking for honours, but we are yet to hear from Nigeria”. 

He said it was a great feat to have that number of countries confirming their participation in this year’s competition.  

Mr. Baffoe said Ghana would be represented by 15 athletes in traditional bodybuilding, Men Physic, Female Bikini, and Men Classic Physique adding that the event would be supported by Iron Man Supplements. 

“We are delighted that we a collaboration with Iron Man Supplement, who haveb been supporting us every year and expressed appreciation to them. 

“We have been able to get seven athletes who are now professional, and they all passed through our ranks. We are confident they would give us medals in major international events soon. 

Dr. Samuel Adjei, Technical Director of the Association, urged Ghanaians to come in their numbers to support team Ghana to victory. 

Mr. Samuel Baah, Brand Ambassador of Iron Man Supplement said the company had been supporting bodybuilding over the years, and they would continue to support the association for the development of the sport. 

Attorney General orders the release of Naa Okromo to family

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The Attorney-General’s Office has advised that Naa Okromo, the girl allegedly married to a 63-year-old Gborbu Wulomo at Nungua in the Greater Accra Region, should be released to the family today, April 18, after the parents had signed a bond.

The bond is to ensure that the parents observe the child protection laws and protocols while she is in their custody.

At an emergency press briefing in Accra on Thursday to update the media on its investigations, Madam Dakoa Newman, the Minister Designate for Gender, Children and Social Protection, said the Ministry’s investigations revealed that the girl is 15 years old; born on 18th July 2008.

She said the Social Welfare Department had taken the girl through counselling while medical assessment conducted on her showed that she was a virgin.

She also had no emergency health concerns and was hale and hearty, the Minister-designate said.

She said the decision to release the girl to the parents was in her best interest in order to continue her education.

It was also in accordance with Section 2 and 5 of the Children’s Act 1998 (Act 560).

Meanwhile, Mr Alfred Tua-Yeboah, the Deputy Attorney General, said the Attorney-General’s Office had taken full delivery of the docket regarding the matter and instructed its officers to review it to ascertain whether, indeed, there was marriage and any cause for prosecution.

On March 30, 2024, a viral video surfaced on the social media showing the marriage ceremony between the Gborbu Wulomo, Nuumo Borketey Laweh XXXIII, and Naa Okromo in Nungua.

That sparked public condemnation as they believed the act violated the girl’s human rights and dignity as Ghana’s child protection laws and international conventions frowned on abuse of children’s rights.

Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng, the Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, said its investigations revealed that there was no marriage between Naa Okromo and the Gborbu Wulomo.

He said the ceremony that took place on March 30, 2024 was just a ritual to elevate Naa Okromo to the status of a Queen Mother.

In answering questions from journalists whether some of the country’s customs and traditions should be reviewed, the Chieftaincy Minister answered in the affirmative, saying they must be in line with the country’s laws.

African Governments urged to tackle economic factors fueling human trafficking 

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Dr Anna Mensah, Lecturer and Research Associate, Faculty of Academic Affairs and Research, Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), has urged African governments to address economic factors that make people susceptible to trafficking. 

“The places we seek to travel to for greener pastures are not all that rosy. But because we find ourselves in unfavourable situations, we feel elsewhere is better. If the systems can work and provide economic stability, we can fight against the vulnerability that makes people smuggled or trafficked,” she said. 

Dr Mensah made the call in Accra on Thursday during a presentation on Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling. 

The presentation was part of the KAIPTC’s two-week Maritime Security and Transnational Organised Crime training for security personnel and maritime experts. 

The Course is being sponsored by the German Government. 

Dr Mensah said human trafficking was the third most lucrative or profitable globalised business enterprise. 

She said that, according to the International Labour Organisation, the “industry” earned several billion US dollars worldwide annually. 

The business of trafficking persons from Africa to Europe has a turnover in excess of an estimated $300 million per year. 

Dr Mensah said human traffickers may be part of local, national, or international criminal groups or networks of organised crime. 

She said people were often “trafficked” by someone they knew such as parents, spouses, uncles, aunts, other family relatives, boyfriends, girlfriends, neighbours, friends, or acquaintances. 

Dr. Mensah stated that, while most victims were believed to be women and children, men and boys were also trafficked and exploited for forced labour, organ harvesting, and sexual exploitation, among other things. 

She said that the victims were usually in vulnerable situations due to poverty, unemployment, despair, debt, and illiteracy, with most recruited in bars, cafes, clubs, discos, and other public places. 

Others are done through informal networks of families and friends; advertisements offering work or study abroad; agencies offering marriage or travel abroad; purchase of children from their guardians; complete coercion through abduction or kidnapping; online/social media recruitment, amongst others. 

Dr. Mensah stated that victims of human trafficking frequently suffered from starvation, trauma, despair, social rejection, socially transmitted diseases, nightmares, suicidal thoughts, a lack of education, betrayal and trust issues, promiscuity, injuries, and/or death, among other things.  
 

She said support and protection services should be provided for victims of human trafficking and emphasised that policymakers should prioritise sensitisation programmes to enlighten the citizenry on the subject. 

Dr Mensah also called on stakeholders to enhance coordinated trafficking efforts through multi-agency collaboration. 

“They must integrate crime threat assessment into mission-planning assessments, mandate review processes and training. It is also important to improve the collection and analysis of data on trafficking in the region,” she added. 

Dr. Mensah suggested that authorities should track and seize the proceeds of trafficking to cripple the business. 

She also called for the swift and commensurate prosecution of offenders. 

NCCE encourages students to concentrate on their education

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– Mr Robert Ekow Ewur, the Central Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has advised students to focus on their studies rather than indulge in anti-social vices which could jeopardise their future.

He said concentrating on their education would help them acquire knowledgeable skills to become responsible and possible mentors in the future.

Mr Ewur made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, after an engagement with the Civic Education Club members of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW).

He said the engagement was part of the Commission’s visit to its Civic Education Clubs in schools in Winneba to encourage them on the need to continue studying the 1992 constitution, to broaden their understanding in democracy and nation building.

He said the NCCE was an independent, non-political governance institution set-up under Article 231 of the Constitution with the mandate to promote the sustainability of Ghana’s democracy.

“We also inculcate in the citizenry, awareness and appreciation of their rights and responsibilities through civic education,” he stated.

Mr Ewur explained that the NCCE Act 1993 (Act 452) enjoined the Commission among others, to inculcate in students the need to realise their roles as future leaders and to actively take part in consolidating Ghana’s Democracy and National Stability.

He said currently the Commission had over 6,000 members of Civic Education Clubs in Basic, Secondary cycle and Tertiary Institutions across the country.

He advised members of the clubs and Ghanaians irrespective of their religious, ethnic or political backgrounds, to uphold peace and unity in all their endeavours towards the sustainability of the country’s democracy and to facilitate national development.

TEWU women urged to promote inclusivity in higher education

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The women’s chapter of the Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU) has been charged with championing equal access to higher education to promote inclusive democratic governance.

The women were urged to advocate for the rights and representation of marginalized groups, including women, minorities, and persons with disabilities, in all aspects of academic and administrative activities. 

Professor Alice Constance Mensah, Dean, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Accra Technical University, gave

the advice at the 8th Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the Women’s Committee of the TEWU of Trade Union Congress (TUC)-Ghana in Kasoa in the Central Region.

The conference was on the theme: ” Fostering Partnership for Equitable Education Delivery in Ghana: The Role of TEWU Women.”

She urged women to advocate for gender equality within higher educational institutions, ensure equal opportunities for women in leadership positions, promote decision-making processes, and ensure access to resources. 

The Professor charged the women to actively engage in networking with other stakeholders, including government agencies, non-profit organisations, and international partners, to foster collaborative partnerships aimed at improving higher education delivery. 

Mrs Mensah encouraged them to participate in capacity-building programmes to enhance their leadership and negotiation skills, enabling them to effectively represent their union in partnership discussions and contribute meaningfully to decision-making processes. 

She explained that education was the single biggest transformative factor for the individual and society, adding that a nation cannot thrive in this technological age without quality education.

She called on authorities to address inequality in access to high-quality education, which had reinforced societal inequalities and marginalised disadvantaged communities.

“TEWU women and in general have a big task in ensuring that education becomes equitable, accessible, and of high quality to all manner of

people, which will bring about the needed development and advancement that we all expect,” he said.

Madam Rebecca Ama Yankson, National Chairperson, TEWU Women’s Committee, underscored the importance of the event to reflect, evaluate, and chart a course forward for the great Union.

“We recognise the vital role that TEWU women play in promoting equitable education delivery in Ghana, hence our commitment to fostering partnerships that would drive positive change in this crucial aspect of our society. 

“We aim to do this by working together with all our sister teacher unions and various national women’s committees for effective outcomes,” she said.

Mark Dankyira Korankye,General Secretary, TEWU of

TUC-Ghana, advised the women to strive hard and acquire higher education to be empowered and become masters of their own to drive the needed development in the country.

He encouraged them to take advantage of the educational space and make themselves relevant and competitive to be fit for purpose in the emerging economy.

Mr Ambrose Yao Kwadzodza, National Chairman of TEWU of TUC-Ghana, congratulated the women for their selfless efforts in driving forward the Union and the nation as a whole.

He assured the women of the leadership support needed to promote innovative ideas and ensure the growth of the union.

Mrs Harriet Botchway, Acting Head of Gender and Child Protection, Department of TUC-Ghana,

reaffirmed their commitment to empowering TEWU women and creating an environment where they were valued and provided with the needed support to address systemic barriers that hinder their advancement.

Jhay Bhanks reveals track list of his debut EP album

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Ghanaian Hip Hop music sensation, Mr Bennett Bright, known as ‘Jhay Bhanks’ in the music industry, has revealed the track list of his debut Extended Play (EP), “Your Tape, My Tape”.

The EP is set to be released on Friday, April 19, 2024, and will be available across all streaming platforms.

The hip-hop sensation took to his social media handles to announce and create awareness for the EP, which included two songs titled “Cold Street,” produced by Anyemi Beats, and “Takashi,” by DJ Titan.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Jhay Bhanks stated that he wrote and recorded the tracks on the EP and believed it would make waves with impressive streaming numbers after its release.

He said the EP titled: “Your Tape, My Tape,” was his maiden one for this year.

The hip-hop sensation explained that the first song, “Cold Street,” lyrically speaks about how tough and challenging the street was, hence, the need to hustle for daily bread.

The second song, titled, “Takashi,” also talked about the ability to work hard with a focus on the streets to achieve an aim.

He said the inspiration behind his music was about him not giving up in life and on his vision in builds his music career through hard work. He said the tracks were made up of a good melodious rhythm, which would thrill music lovers, and hoped that they would impact the lives of people on the streets

AG office advice to the release of girl

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The Attorney-General’s Office has advised that Naa Okromo, the girl allegedly married to a 63-year-old Gborbu Wulomo of Nungua in the Greater Accra Region, should be released to the family after the parents had signed a bond.

The signing of the bond is to ensure that the parents observe the child protection laws and protocols while she is in their custody.

At an emergency press briefing in Accra on Thursday, to update the media on its investigations, Madam Dakoa Newman, the Minister designate for Gender, Children and Social Protection, said after the Ministry’s investigations, it came out that the girl was 15 years old, and born on 18th July 2008.

She said the Social Welfare Department had taken the girl through counselling while medical assessment conducted on her showed that she was not pregnant, was still a virgin and had no emergency health concerns.

The Minister said the decision to release the girl to the parents was in her best interest to enable her to continue her education.

It was also in accordance with Section (2) and (5) of the Children’s Act 1998 (Act 560), she said.

Meanwhile, Mr Alfred Tua-Yeboah, the Deputy Attorney General, said the Attorney-General’s Office had taken full delivery of the docket regarding the matter, and instructed its officers to review it to ascertain whether, indeed, there was marriage and any cause for prosecution.

On March 30, 2024, a viral video surfaced on social media showing an alleged marriage ceremony between a 63-year-old Gborbu Wulomo, Nuumo Borketey Laweh XXXIII and a 12-year-old girl, Naa Okromo in Nungua.

This sparked a public condemnation of the alleged marriage by the public and some civil society organisations calling for the prosecution of the chief and his elders.

They believed that the act by the Gborbu Wulomo had violated the girl’s human rights and dignity while the country’s child protection laws and international conventions frown on abuse of children’s rights in terms of child marriage.

Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng, the Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, said its investigations revealed that there was no marriage between Naa Okromo and the Gborbu Wulomo.

He said the ceremony that took place on March 30, 2024, was just a ritual to elevate Naa Okromo to the status of a Queen Mother.

In answering questions from journalists on whether some of the country’s customs and traditions should be reviewed, the Chieftaincy Minister admitted that some of the customs and traditions should be reformed to be in line with the nation’s laws.

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