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Social Ahmadiyya Eid-Ul-Fitr

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Alhaji Maulvi Mohammed Bin Salih, the Ameer and Missionary-in-Charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, has called on all to pray for peace ahead of this year’s elections, devoid of violence and disturbances.

 
“Let’s consider and tolerate people who belong to other political parties and avoid tendencies that will cause disunity in our country.

 
“We are looking for the good of the country, not individuals,” he said.

 
The Ameer made the call on Thursday in a sermon to mark this year’s Eid-Ul-Fitr celebration in Accra.

 
He called on the Muslim community to avoid indiscriminate sex to protect the rights of children in society.

 
He said the country’s streets were inundated with children who did not know their parents, which affected their identity and survival in society.

 
He said, “Every child has the right to socialisation. It is the right of every child to have an identifiable father and mother.

 
“The child has the right to education, health, food, clothing, and accommodation,” he said.

 
Alhaji Salih said anyone out of whose actions, a child cannot boast of his or her identifiable blood parentage and cannot find the rightful place in society committed a sin.

 
“Invariably, such children grow to develop inferiority complexes, become social misfits, and start feeling like unwanted outcasts,” he said.

 
He stressed that a society where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer cannot be called a welfare state; rather, it was a state that infringed upon the rights of the citizens.

 
Fasting, he explained, helped to remove and minimise the pains and sufferings of humanity and makes us fit to face hardships.

 
He said Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V, the Spiritual Leader of the World-wide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, at the closing ceremony of the 91st Annual Convention, admonished all Ahmadi to demonstrate empathy and consider the sufferings of others as their own.  
 

China and Russia stand for global governance reforms 

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China and Russia have renewed their anti-Western confrontation during high-level meeting in early April 2024 in Beijing. China demonstrates greater readiness to team up with Global South to “promote reforms in the global governance system” while Russia vehemently confronts “Western-led bloc” during talks in Beijing. But both further pledged to strengthen multilateral strategic security coordination in BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) association and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization across Europe. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said China and Russia would defend a multipolar world as opposed to unilateral order.

Lavrov arrived there shortly after Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who also wrapped up her visit to China on April 8. The significance of Lavrov’s April trip to Beijing was for Moscow to consolidate ties and in forging with developing countries in the Global South which widely seen as coordinated attempts to counter the Western-led global order. China and Russia are leading the construction of a new order and also working at the frontline to reshape global architecture. Despite the fact that Western and European powers are experiencing falling influence, China has more economic footprints than Russia. Across the global China’s economic influence and impact are visible than Russia.

Obviously, Russia has taken the most difficult task – reminiscent of the Cold War, and needs to take concrete steps for its economic aspects of the multipolar become practical reality rather remain as mere rhetoric. The fundamental interests of bringing developing countries into their fold for photo opportunities after the comical display of projects. Undoubtedly, Russia’s approach brings only little concrete results relating to badly-needed economic development, investment in infrastructure and the agricultural sector to ensure food security, and providing finance for its African partners. In practical terms, Russia has to jostle for the same global competitive economic influence. Financial institutions within the Eurasia region and that of BRICS New Development Bank have to operate more broadly in order to catch up the similar scope of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

In fact, China has a comprehensive economic plans for Europe and Africa. The United States, meanwhile, is also stepping up strategic coordination in the Asia-Pacific with an eye on Russia and China. The leaders of Japan and the Philippines headed to Washington for a three-way summit and the US, Britain, and Australia are considering cooperation with Japan under the Aukus security pact.

As expected generally, Lavrov in deed reiterated the excellent points that have dominated his previous speeches: that China and Russia to increase strategic coordination with Russia within multilateral frameworks to “promote reform” and make united stand to reform West-led international system.

“China has always attached great importance to the development of Sino-Russian relations and is willing to work with Russia to intensify bilateral communication, strengthen multilateral strategic coordination in the BRICS association and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, demonstrate greater responsibility, unite the ‘Global South’ countries … and promote reform of the global governance system,” state broadcaster CCTV quoted Xi as saying.

The media reports have repeatedly emphasized that Russia and China’s trade has increased. Bilateral trade between Russia and China has increased to an estimated $230 billion. And that China and Russia will continue to … advocate inclusive economic globalization, jointly oppose unilateralism, protectionism, fence-building and decoupling, and work together to maintain the stability of international industrial and industrial chains.

Analysts say China holds the upper hand in the relationship with Russia, with its sway growing as Moscow’s international isolation deepens following its invasion of Ukraine. That asymmetry is still “changing in China’s favour” as it enables Moscow “to continue the war by providing very necessary materials for the Russian war machine”, Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, told AFP.

“Integrating Russia’s economy, brainpower, and military technology into… a Chinese-led order with Eurasia at its geographic heart, is the only way Russia can sustain its confrontation with the West,” he wrote in Foreign Policy magazine this week. “China has stronger bargaining power and many more options than does Russia, and its leverage over its northern neighbour is growing all the time. Russia is now locking itself into vassalage to China.”

In this couple of years, their contacts have grown closer since the start of the ‘special military operation’ in neighbouring Ukraine. China and Russia hold permanent seats on the United Nations security council and working together to block initiatives by the United States. Last year, China worked on peace plan for Ukraine which Russia considered as “inadequate” for attaining the long-term solution to Russia-Ukraine crisis. It therefore means that China’s peace proposal has found little traction and lack of vision for the future resolution. Both still hold the view to formally organize another round of peace talks.

Russian experts interviewed by Vedomosti financial newspaper explained that Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov went to Beijing preparing for the official visit for President Vladimir Putin planned take place in May. If it happens, it would be the president’s first foreign trip since his inauguration. The two countries have navigated a difficult political landscape as they try to boost economic ties. The Moscow-Beijing’s priorities also cover bilateral cooperation and international security issues, including the Ukraine crisis and the situation in the Asia-Pacific region.

Under the strong leadership of President Putin, the Russian people will have a bright future. Over the past decade at least, under the the leadership of China, Russia has admittedly achieved considerable successes. And China would continue supporting the Russian people to follow a development path that suits their national conditions, and supports Russia in combating terrorism and maintaining social security and stability. As a force for peace and stability, China indicated that it would stick to playing a constructive role on the international stage…and would never add greasy oil to the flames. In a nutshell, both Russia and China renewed the joint pledge to stand “back-to-back and shoulder to shoulder” against any destabilizing attempts by the United States and Europe in this emerging multipolar world.

Source: thebftonline.com

Ghana has not granted approval for 14 GM seeds for cultivation – NBA

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The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) says it has not granted approval for the seeds of 14 genetically modified (GM) products to be cultivated in Ghana. 
  
The authority, which is responsible for the regulation of GM and its related products, instead said it has only registered 14 GM products to be imported into the country.  
  
A statement signed and issued by Mr Eric Amaning Okoree, Chief Executive Officer of NBA, and copied to the Ghana News Agency explained that any entity interested to import any GM products into the country is required to get an import permit from the NBA to be able to do so. 
  
It said the 14 approved GM products are also not for cultivation but “they are for the purposes of food, feed or processing.” 
  
“They have been registered to allow for importation for those purposes by individuals or groups interested in them. Any entity interested will require an import permit from the NBA to be able to import them for use in the country. Therefore, the NBA wishes to state categorically that those events or products have not been imported into the country for food, feed, or processing yet,” he explained.  
  
The statement noted that NBA as the government agency responsible for the regulation of GM and its related products has laid down procedures in line with Biosafety Act, 2011 (Act 831) and with international best practices in deciding on any application brought before it. 
  
 “Authority therefore wishes to assure Ghanaians of the safety of GM product(s) that have received the NBA’s approval; notably the Bt Cowpea submitted by SARI and the fourteen (14) events submitted by Bayer West-Central Africa S.A and Syngenta South Africa which are intended for food, feed or for processing.” 
  
The statement explained that the 14 approved products, made up of eight maize and six soybean events are not intended for cultivation. 
  
“They are, rather, grains for direct use as food, feed or for processing as stated above. This approval was granted under Section 13 of the Biosafety Act, 2011 (Act 831) and Regulation 15 of the Biosafety (Management of Biotechnology) Regulations, 2019 (LI 2383) following the evaluation of data and information supplied by the applicant and a thorough risk assessment by the NBA Technical Advisory Committee (TAC),” the statement added.  
  
It explained that having received the applications for registration, the Authority evaluated the events in line with available data provided by the applicants in line with the authority’s mandate and regulatory processes. 
  
The statement expressed the concern that the call to reject any GM seeds that would be supplied was “unfortunate”, adding “The NBA recognises the need for Ghanaians to adapt to the emerging plant breeding technologies in the agricultural space for sustained crop improvement and food security. 
  
 “We wish to reiterate the fact that the improved yield and sustained food security will rather inure to the benefits of farmers rather than impoverish them as being speculated by a section of the media. Again, there is a robust biosafety system in place to ensure the safety of GMOs officially released in the country.”  
  
Below is the full statement from the National Biosafety Authority 
  
RE: GHANA COMMERCIALISES 14 GENETICALLY MODIFIED EVENTS 
  
 The attention of the National Biosafety Authority has been drawn to some inaccurate media reportage about the NBA’s registration of 14 novel GM events in the country.

While we appreciate the various concerns raised, the NBA wishes to state that the approved events are not for cultivation. They are for the purposes of food, feed or processing.

They have been registered to allow for importation for those purposes by individuals or groups interested in them. Any entity interested will require an import permit from the NBA to be able to import them for use in the country. Therefore, the NBA wishes to state categorically that those events or products have not been imported into the country for food, feed, or processing yet. 

 
It is important to note that the NBA as the government agency responsible for the regulation of GM and its related products has laid down procedures in line with Biosafety Act, 2011 (Act 831) and with international best practices in deciding on any application brought before it.

The Authority therefore wishes to assure Ghanaians of the safety of GM product(s) that have received the NBA’s approval; notably the Bt Cowpea submitted by SARI and the fourteen (14) events submitted by Bayer West-Central Africa S.A and Syngenta South Africa which are intended for food, feed or for processing.

  
Registered products are not seeds for planting but for food, feed, or processing  
The 14 approved products, made up of eight (8) maize and six (6) soybean events it must be emphasized are not intended for cultivation.

They are, rather, grains for direct use as food, feed or for processing as stated above. This approval was granted under Section 13 of the Biosafety Act, 2011 (Act 831) and Regulation 15 of the Biosafety (Management of Biotechnology) Regulations, 2019 (LI 2383) following the evaluation of data and information supplied by the applicant and a thorough risk assessment by the NBA Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).

  
Risk assessment and Findings  
Having received the applications, the Authority evaluated the events in line with available data provided by the applicants as stated above and, on the Biosafety, Clearing House (BCH), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Biotrack Product Database and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations genetically modified food platform to determine the under listed conditions:  
  
a. Development of the modified events including the molecular biology data that characterize the genetic change,

  
b. proximate analyses; major constituents (fats, proteins, carbohydrates) and minor constituents (minerals and vitamins),

  
c. composition of, and nutritional information (including anti-nutrients) on the GM products compared to their conventional counterparts).

  
d. the potential for causing allergic reactions.

  
e. microbiological and chemical safety of the event(s)

  
f. the potential for the production of new toxins in the events(s), and,

  
g. the potential for any unintended or secondary effects.

 

The NBA wishes to state categorically that after a thorough risk assessment and evaluation, there were no adverse findings with any demonstrable history of biosafety concerns. For the records, countries like Argentina, Australia, Uruguay, Singapore, Thailand, USA, and South Africa among others have already given similar approvals and have confirmed same to be as safe as their conventional counterparts.

 
 
Cowpea released on blind side of Ghanaians consumers

 
 
There was enough room for public participation by the public especially farmers in line with Section 42 of the Biosafety Law (Act 831). The Authority also duly published in the Ghana Gazette of June 25, 2021, the Confined Field Trials, and July 26, 2022, Issue 123 the Environmental Release notification.

The Daily Graphic edition of Thursday, June 22, 2023, also published the notice of environmental release. There was therefore enough public consultation prior to the approval.

 
 
Call to reject GM seeds

 
 
The call to reject any GM seeds that will be supplied is unfortunate. The NBA recognizes the need for Ghanaians to adapt to the emerging plant breeding technologies in the agricultural space for sustained crop improvement and food security.

We wish to reiterate the fact that the improved yield and sustained food security will rather inure to the benefits of farmers rather than impoverish them as being speculated by a section of the media.

Again, there is a robust biosafety system in place to ensure the safety of GMOs officially released in the country.  
 
The NBA wishes to assure Ghanaians that the Act 831 will be effectively implemented to safeguard the environment and health of Ghanaians.

The NBA will continue to monitor for any unapproved GMOs in the country and follow up on the performance of those GMOs already approved in the country.  
 

 

Stakeholders must help deal with transit cargo diversion – GRA

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The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has called on stakeholders to help curb diversion of transit cargoes as the practice leads to a loss in revenue to the country.


Mr Fechin Akoto, the Acting Deputy Commissioner of the Suspense Regime, GRA-Customs Division, said it was the Division’s objective to ensure cargo diversions were rooted out completely.


At a stakeholder engagement in Tema on the securities of transit cargo, Mr Akoto said the clearing agents had agreed that there was no cargo diversion.


During the engagement, the stakeholders discussed overloading and over-gauging of transit vehicles, shedding of overloaded transit vehicles resulting in malfeasance, and weight declaration on trucks by agents at transit terminals.


Other issues discussed were the containerisation of higher-risk goods, the monitoring of transit goods along the corridors to the exit points, and the introduction of SIGMAT (the ECOWAS Regional Network for Transit Trade) to strengthen transit goods.


The meeting also served as a platform to highlight challenges of transistors of goods from the ports to their destination.


Mr David Songotu, the Transit Manager, Tema Port, called on stakeholders to collaborate to ensure that transit trade accrued the actual revenue needed for the country.


He added that many people worked in the transit trade; therefore, the need to encourage its growth.


Mr Albert Annan, the Oti Regional Maintenance Manager, Ghana Highways Authority, cautioned transit truck drivers against overloading.


“When the trucks are not overloaded, all of us will be safe on our road; the more you overload, the more you reduce the lifespan of the road infrastructure, and the more we spend more money on maintenance.”


Mr Emmanuel Kuagbelah, the Deputy Operations Manager at Ghana Link, said the engagement would facilitate the clearance of goods at the ports of Ghana.

Council of Catholic Women donates to asylum seekers at Tarikom

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The National Council of Catholic Women, in partnership with the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women of Navrongo-Bolgatanga, has donated food and other items to asylum seekers at Tarikom, a refugee reception and resettlement centre in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region.

 
The donation, worth about GH₵11,500 consisted of bags of rice, maize, millet, groundnut, gallons of cooking oil, vegetables and other local ingredients.

 
Other items included liquid soap, bathing and washing soap, footwear, clothes including African print, toilet rolls and toothpaste.

 
The donation, which coincided with the celebration of the Eid-ul-Fitr, was part of the activities and mission of the Catholic Women to support vulnerable and displaced persons, particularly women and children to live dignified lives.

 
Currently, about 1,129 asylum seekers are being hosted at the Centre due to fctivities of violent extremists in some parts of Burkina Faso, which compelled many to seek refuge in Ghana.

  
Most of them are women and children.

 
The Council of Catholic Women comprises representatives of the various women groups in the Catholic Church who work to support, empower and educate Catholic women in spirituality, leadership and service and provide relief to vulnerable people in society.

 
On the sidelines of the exercise, Dame Cecilia Asobayire, the National President, National Council of Catholic Women, told the Ghana News Agency that one of the thematic areas of the Council was to support women and the less privileged.

 
Most of the asylum seekers were Moslems, and it was refreshing for the Council to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr with them, she said.

 
“We know they are really traumatised because they have left their homes forcefully and some of them are separated from close relatives and don’t even know when and where they can find them.

It is really difficult to live in a strange place,” she said.

 
“So, we the Council of Catholic Women think that by doing this we will be able to transform some lives, bring some joy and inner peace to them so that they will know that they are not alone.”

  
Dame Asobayire reiterated the fact that women and children suffered the most in times of violence, which the youth were often used to perpetuate.

 
“We need to speak to our fellow women, to speak to our children so that they do not allow people to use them to perpetuate violence,” she added.

 
She appealed to other humanitarian, civil society and non-governmental organisations and philanthropists to assist the asylum seekers to live dignified lives.

 
Mr Adam Mohammed, the Camp Manager, Tarikom Resettlement Centre, thanked the Council of Catholic Women for the gesture and said it would complement the humanitarian efforts made so far. 
 

Manasseh, others have no evidence to support publications-Witness tells Court

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A witness has told an Accra High Court that Manasseh Azure Awuni, an investigative journalist, and four others have no evidence to support their publications against Lighthouse Chapel International (LCI) and its founder.


In a defamation suit against Awuni, the Media Foundation for West Africa, its Director, Sulemana Briamah and Edwin Appiah, a co-editor (defendants), a witness of LCI, Mr Marcel Aboagye, testified that the defendants had failed to present any evidence to the court in support of several defamatory allegations made against the LCI in their published articles titled “Darkness in a Lighthouse.”


At the General Jurisdiction Court (a division of the High Court) presided over by Justice Joseph Adu Owusu Agyemang, Mr Aboagye stated that the defendants’ articles claimed that LCI owed several former church pastors over 42 years of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributions.


The witness, pointing to the SSNIT Investigative report dated August 20, 2021, stated that SSNIT cleared LCI of those allegations.


According to the witness, the allegations were false, and the defendants presented no evidence that LCI owed former pastors any SSNIT contributions.


During cross-examination, the witness claimed that the defendants falsely published articles claiming that former pastors Larry Odonkor, Edward Laryea, Seth Duncan, and Faith Fiakojo were exploited by the church to build worship centres and schools in Wa, Kade, Paga, and Fumbisi with their resources.

The church then illegally took over the buildings.


The witness referred to a mail from 2008 that announced the policy and indicated that as part of the policy, LCI will continue to buy and build church buildings.


The witness testified that the defendants’ exhibits provided no evidence to substantiate the allegations that the facilities depicted in the publications were built with the personal resources of those pastors.


According to the witness, LCI built those structures with its own resources, and in the case of Wa, the buildings referred to in the articles as having been put up by Larry Odonkor with his finances were constructed by the Church long after he had left the Wa Mission.


The witness went on to say that the publications falsely claimed that one of the former pastors, Seth Duncan, had attempted suicide three times due to maltreatment by the church.
The witness said that LCI never mistreated Seth Duncan.


According to the witness, Seth Duncan’s attempt to commit suicide was unconnected to the church.


The witness told the court that the defendants formed a “unholy alliance” with the former pastors and published those pieces out of malice.


The matter has been adjourned to May 13, 2024.

Fidelity Bank reaffirms commitment to empowering women-owned businesses

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Fidelity Bank, Ghana’s largest privately-owned bank, has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs by providing with continued cutting-edge financial and other services to make them succeed.


Nana Esi Idun-Arkhurst, Divisional Director, Retail and Business Banking at Fidelity Bank gave this assurance at a Women in Business Dialogue Series held in Accra under the theme: “Investing in Women-Owned Businesses for Ghana’s Transformation Agenda: A Call for Action.”


She reiterated the Bank’s support to making women business investor-ready and credit-worthy, while urging women entrepreneurs to be disciplined from the inception of their business, regardless of its formality.


That, she said, required that women-entrepreneurs built trust and credibility with potential investors or financial institutions, including having proper documentation of their business.


“Whether seeking credit, equity, or grants, investors want to see tangible evidence of the business’s prospects and financial viability,” the Retail and Business Banking Divisional Director advised.


Ms Idun-Arkhurst stated that sometimes, what the business needed was not money, but financial, investor and market readiness.


“Focus on building a strong customer base, obtaining necessary certifications, and ensuring your product meets relevant standards. This will position you for success when seeking financial support,” she advised.


Ms Idun-Arkhurst noted that it was important for businesses to understand market dynamics and position themselves to meet international standards and be able to export to other parts of the world.


She stated that the Bank’s ‘Export Club’ initiative, a collaborative programme with the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters, had been designed to support businesses to meet global standards and expand market access.


“Knowing customer preferences and international export standards is vital; don’t assume your product will succeed everywhere. Some may have very specific requirements. Knowing these nuances is essential for successful exporting,” she said.


Ms Idun-Arkhurst encouraged women entrepreneurs to take advantage of available resources and capacity-building programmes provided by the bank to gain valuable knowledge and skills, apart from the financial support.


She said: “Fidelity Bank, for example, offers the Fidelity Young Entrepreneurs Fund, which provides loans at concessionary interest rates, technical assistance, and capacity building specifically for women and youth-led businesses.”


She also urged women entrepreneurs to sign up to the Bank’s recently launched bridge-in-agriculture programme with the MasterCard Foundation, aimed at empowering women and youth in the agricultural sector.


On technology, Ms Idun-Arkhurst encouraged the women to increase their pace in embracing digital marketing tools in today’s business landscape.


“This is our time as women entrepreneurs! The business landscape has evolved. Embrace technology, leverage available resources, and confidently take advantage of the vast opportunities that exist,” she said.
“Fidelity Bank stands beside you, offering the resources and support you need to succeed in the ever-evolving business world,” she said.


Fidelity Bank’s participation in the Women in Business Dialogue Series aligns with its ongoing dedication to fostering a more inclusive and prosperous Ghana, she noted.


Ms Idun-Arkhurst indicated that by equipping women entrepreneurs with the knowledge and resources they need to thrive, Fidelity Bank would be contributing to Ghana’s overall economic transformation agenda.

Deplorable Bonuama roads hinder delivery of quality healthcare services

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Mr Emmanuel Badiena, District Health Director of Wassa Amenfi Central Municipality in the Western Region, says the inaccessible Bonuama roads is affecting the quality of health services.

 
He said this during the donation of an ultra-modern ambulance, health screening exercise, and water storage plant by Kasapreko Company Limited and German Development Cooperation to the Bonuama community.

 
According to Mr. Badiena, the road leading to the Bonuama Polyclinic, the biggest health facility in the district, was unmotorable, denying thousands access to quality health care services.

 
The Bonuama Polyclinic, built by philanthropist Dr. Kwabena Adjei, Group Chairman of Kasapreko Company Limited, has state-of-the-art medical equipment used for surgeries, among many other medical services.

 
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency on the sidelines of the donation of an ultra-modern ambulance and health screening exercise, Mr. Badiena stated the Bonuama Polyclinic was vital in the provision of health care services to the people of Wassa Amenfi.

 
However, he stated that the 15-km untarred road was making it difficult for people to access services, especially in cases of emergency.

 
Mr. Badiena pleaded with the government to come to their aid and construct the Bonuama road to make it easier for people to seek health care in the district.

 
He also urged the populace to make good use of the facility to help improve their well-being, thus going for regular checkups, among other services.

 
Dr. George Benneth, Medical Superintendent at the Bonuama Polyclinic, stated that the road connection to the community was not in good shape, making it difficult for people to access the health facility.

 
“The Bonuama roads need fixing to enable efficient delivery of health care and also deal with emergency cases with the newly acquired ambulance,” he said.

 
Dr. Benneth was grateful to Kasapreko Company Limited and German Development Cooperation for the donation of their new ambulance, which he said would aid their services.

 
Mr. Vicent Ackah, the Assemblyman for the Anyinabrima Electoral Area, bemoaned the bad state of the roads in Boanuma and surrounding areas, calling on the government to salvage the situation.

 
“The Bonuama community also deserves better roads considering the growth of the area, especially with the establishment of the polyclinic.

 
“We want to plead with the government to come to aid its people so that the polyclinic can be accessible to surrounding communities because of its modern facilities, “he said.

 

Women must avail themselves for cervical cancer screening – IMaH Medical Officer

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Women have been encouraged not to shy away from cervical cancer screening.


They should not also use cost as an excuse, life cannot be quantified, Dr. Mrs. Anita Owusu-Afriyie, a Medical Officer in the Oncology Unit of the International Maritime Hospital (IMaH) in Tema, has stated.


“Screening is less expensive as compared to the cost of treatment if one fails to undergo screening, which most often leads to early detection and prevention,” Dr. Mrs. Owusu-Afriyie said during her interaction with officials of the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) in Tema.


The CDA Consult, which is a development communication advocacy non-governmental organisation, is rallying stakeholders towards a relentless national advocacy campaign to battle cervical cancer.


It aims to bring together health professionals, human rights advocates, gender activists, religious adherents, and communication practitioners to embark on a new model of advocacy.


Dr. Mrs. Owusu-Afriyie, therefore, advised women aged 21 and older to undergo cervical and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) screenings for early detection, as cervical cancer is a killer but early detection would save lives.


She explained that the HPV could be contracted through any form of sex, vaginal, anal, or oral, as well as through an affected penis or vulva.


She said untreated warts could also lead to cervical and penile cancers; therefore, any detection of warts on the private part must be taken seriously and reported for treatment at the hospital.


She added that the cancer could spread to other organs of the body, such as the spine, lungs, and liver, among others.


She encouraged women to examine their vulva when bathing to identify early if any wart starts growing there to report.


Dr. Mrs. Owusu-Afriyie said other symptoms included painful sex, post-coital bleeding, spotting in between menses, and offensive vaginal discharges.


Mr. Francis Ameyibor, Executive Director, CDA Consult, called for stakeholders to support public advocacy to save lives: “We must encourage all, especially women, to participate in screening.”.

He also appealed to corporate bodies, public and private institutions to support and organise free breast cancer screening for their staff as a way of promoting holistic health among workers.


Mr. Ameyibor said studies indicated that lack of knowledge about cervical cancer among Ghanaians had served as a barrier to cervical cancer screening, hence the urgent need to scale up advocacy and public awareness about cervical cancer vaccination, prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment.


“Though cervical cancer is usually prevented, long-term screening and treatment are required for success. Many low-resource areas lack screening and treatment services due to a lack of government support.


“Our vision is to scale up the advocacy campaign for cervical cancer vaccination to be administered free and to hold public education across the 16 regions of Ghana to educate the public, particularly women, on the importance of vaccination,” he said.
Mr. Ameyibor said as part of the advocacy, CDA Consult would collaborate with health professionals and institutions for the establishment of the Cervical Cancer Prevention and Training Centre (CCPTC) to train and equip middle cadre workers (mostly nurses and midwives) to deliver critical cervical pre-cancer screening and treatment services in many areas of the country where no such screening activities have previously occurred.


He commended the Eastern Regional Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education and the National Insurance Commission, through whose support “the Eastern Region must rise against cervical cancer” was launched recently.

Ja Rule partners Pencils of Promise to build classroom block in Ghana

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Jeffrey Bruce Atkins Sr, an American hip hop artist popularly known as Ja Rule, cut sod on Wednesday for the construction of a six-unit classroom block at Nuaso Anglican Primary School in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region of Ghana.  
 
The project is being executed in partnership with the Pencils of Promise, a non-profit organisation founded in the United States to increase access to quality education for children.  
 
Ja Rule, accompanied by his wife, Mrs Aisha Atkins, said he was extremely happy to be part of the ground breaking ceremony and to contribute to the construction of the school project.  
 
“For me, education is the pillar of community,” he said.  
 
He added: “I know that this is going to be an opportunity that will last for many many years to come. This is just the beginning of something very special.” 
 
“Ghana, I appreciate you all. Thank you for accepting me as your brother.  
 
“I will be back when the school opens up, to come and speak and greet all the kids and eveybody that’s here,” Ja Rule assured, adding that, he would continue to partner Pencils of Promise to embark on more philanthropic causes in the country.  
 
Ms Kailee Scales, Chief Executive Officer, Pencils of Promise, speaking at the ground breaking ceremony, said all children should be given the opportunity to get the education they deserved and learn in a safe environment so they could become empowered and responsible citizens. 
 
 “We are not just constructing physical structures, we are building the pillars of knowledge and hope. Every brick laid symbolises the commitment to ensuring that learners in this community have access to safe and high quality education,” she said.  
 
She explained that Ja Rule and Pencils of Promise would bear 80 per cent of the cost of construction of the classroom block whilst the community would bear the remaining 20 per cent in the form of labour, food for workers and some materials.  
 
Mr Samuel K Tettey, Lower Manya Krobo Municipal Director, Ghana Education Service, said the infrastructural challenge facing the school came as a result of heavy rain storm that ripped off the entire roofing of the old classroom block, which was used by the pupils.  
 
That, he said, had led to the running of the shift system in the primary school for the past four years, reducing instructional hours by half, and promoting truancy and other social vices among the pupils.  
 
“The completion of this six-unit classroom block with ancillary facilities will not only help solve the infrastructural challenge as far as this school is concerned. It will also reduce to the bearest minimum the attendance challenges. Our children will do the full instructional hours to compete with their mates in other schools. Truancy, school dropout and other vices will be a thing of the past,” Mr Tettey noted.  
 
He expressed profound gratitude to Ja Rule, Mrs Atkins and the Pencils of Promise for coming to the aid of the school.  
 
Mr Tettey assured that the Chiefs, Municipal Assembly, and people of Lower Manya Krobo and Nuaso community would give their full support to ensure a successful execution of the project.  
 
Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, noted that, following the launch of the Year of Return in 2019 by the Government, several prominent personalities from the United States had visited Ghana.  
 
He thanked Ja Rule for giving back to society and urged other performers in Ghana and abroad to emulate such actions.  
 
He encouraged Ja Rule to bring more diasporians to Ghana to experience the love and help develop the country.  
 
 
 
 

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