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Developing your leadership skills impact positively on society – Rev. Tutu

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Reverend Philip Tutu, the Country Director of Global Leadership Summit (GLS) in Ghana, has called on Ghanaians to develop their leadership skills to help impact society positively.

He said leadership development, especially in adolescence and young people, was critical as it did not only enhance self-esteem and self-worth but also open a window of flourishing and impactful adult life.

Rev. Tutu made the call at the 2021 Global Leadership Summit at Our Lady of Grace Senior High School (SHS) at Mamponteng in the Kwabre East Municipality of the Ashanti Region.

The programme organised by the management of the school for SHS three graduates and staff members aimed at sharpening their leadership skills to enable impact positively in their societies.

It also aimed at providing young people with enduring leadership tools to shape their paths and career to inspire themselves and other people in their communities.

Rev. Tutu said the GLS refilled the hope of people, especially those who are on the verge of giving up on their great sacrificial works.

Rev. Tutu said going forward the GLS would be extended to other SHS in the region to have a positive impact on the students and the society as a whole.

Craig Groeschel, one of the speakers, who talked about expanding leadership capacity, said to grow your capacity, every leader must endure pain, uncertainty and chaos to help move his or her organisation forward.

The Headmaster of Our Lady Grace SHS, Rev. Father Sylvester Frimpong, said the School would host the GLS annually to help impact the students positively, adding that “leadership is a process, not an end.”

He advised the students to reflect on the lessons learnt to make a positive impact wherever they find themselves after school.

The Headmaster also advised the students not to keep bad company but to stand out as individuals to become great people in society.

Mrs Miriam Diana Abagale, the Secretary of Saint Bosco College of Education, Navrongo, speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), lauded the management of the school for organising the programme.

She said the GLS would help the students and the youth to become better leaders and contribute t the country’s growth and development.

Miss Rodeline Opare, an SHS three graduate, commended the school for organising the programme, adding that the programme had sharpened her leadership skills.

Pharmacist allegedly commits suicide at Abura-Dunkwa

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A 25-year-old Pharmacist, Felix Abagi, who works with the Pharmacy Department of the Abura-Dunkwa Government Hospital, has been found dead in his room at Abura-Dunkwa in the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District of the Central Region.

A police source confirmed the tragedy and explained that the victim was found dead in the early hours of Sunday, October 10, 2021.

Mr Abagi’s co-tenants discovered his body after they woke up to a pungent smell emanating from his room and broke into it only to find his decomposing body dangling on a rope tied to his ceiling fan.

According to co-tenants, the deceased was last seen on October 7.

The body has since been deposited at the Cape Coast Teaching hospital mortuary for autopsy.

NDC suspends Central Region Communication Officer

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The Central Regional branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has suspended Mr Kwesi Dawood, the Regional Communications Officer for alleged misconduct.

Mr Dawood has been accused of alleged incest and abortion with his biological daughter.

Mr Kojo Quansah, the Regional Secretary of the NDC, confirmed the suspension in an interview with the media in Assin-Fosu on Monday.

He said Mr Dawood’s suspension was in line with the Party’s Constitution on misconduct and anti-party behaviour.

“Now, we want to put it on record that Mr Dawood is suspended as the Regional Communications Officer until further notice,” he said and noted that the NDC could not pretend to be unconcerned about the incident.

Mr Quansah said the decision was taken after a thorough investigation and information from the Ghana Police Service, the victim and the mother, stating that “the NDC will not cover up anything.”

He said as a leading political force in Ghana, the NDC regretted the alleged act and expressed strong optimism in the Party’s unflinching quest to, at all times, uphold the rights and freedoms of all manner of persons without prejudice.

“The Party is not pleased with the alleged misconduct of Mr Dawood because it vehemently frowns on such attitudes, especially in his former capacity as the Regional Communications Officer.

“Though the alleged incident concerned one person, its rippling consequences cast a slur on the Party and its leadership,” he stated.

Mr Dawood was reported by his former wife to the police for allegedly having sex with his daughter multiple times, leading to a pregnancy.

He allegedly contacted a quack doctor, who performed an abortion on the victim.

According to a petition submitted by the victim’s mother, Mavis Ayitey to the Central Regional Police Command, the suspect had allegedly engaged in the act since the girl was 15.

She is now 16 years,

“The father, Mr Dawood, has been forcibly having sexual affair with the daughter since at the age of fifteen years (Incest) and even had an abortion with her and warned her not to inform anyone else he will make her life miserable,” the petition read in part.

According to details contained in the same petition, the victim who could not bear the pain of the father’s actions anymore, on Friday, August 24, 2021, confided in her school’s Housemaster.

The school official then invited the girl’s grandmother, with whom she was staying at Swedru and informed her about the victim’s ordeal, and they reported the case to the police.

Police court media support to fight crime and provide security

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The Central Regional Police Command has appealed to the media to assist with information on criminal activities to provide maximum security to residents in the region.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Kwadwo Antwi Tabi, Regional Police Commander, who made the appeal, noted that drivers aggressively Overspeed made unnecessary overtaking on the Accra-Cape Coast-Takoradi highway.

He expressed optimism that the presence of the Police on the road would serve as a warning to drivers and ensured that they adhere to road traffic regulations.

To ensure professional conduct of the Police while on the road, DCOP Tabi said senior Police officers would be deployed to supervise the junior ones to ensure that the right thing was done.

He said the Police, in collaboration with the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) and other road safety agencies, would continue to educate and remind drivers and road users of their responsibilities.

DCOP Tabi also expressed worry about the increasing number of chieftaincy disputes in the region and urged aggrieved parties to use the constitutionally recognised institutions such as the Regional and National House of Chiefs to address their grievances.

To stem the rate of crime in the communities, DCOP Tabi said the command would increase foot patrols and ensure that the Police were more visible in the communities, stressing that with increased Police presence in the communities, it would be difficult for criminals.

He said the Regional Police Command was on a high alert and vigilant following the demolishing of the Budumburam camp, knowing that some of the criminals would move to other parts of the country.

DCOP Tabi assured residents of maximum Police protection, adding that with proper monitoring and supervision, the spate of road accidents and crime in the region would soon reduce.

He, therefore, appealed to the public to volunteer information to the Police when a crime was committed to helping in investigations.

DCOP Tabi said it was the civil responsibility of every citizen to ensure security in their communities.

Chamber of Mines supports Green Ghana project with more than GHc700,000

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The Ghana Chamber of Mines Monday presented a cheque for GHc778,657.00 to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources towards the implementation of the Ghana Green initiative.

The Green Ghana is an initiative of the Ministry to restore the degraded forest cover caused by the activities of illegal miners.

The project was launched nationwide on Friday, June 11, 2021, with the planting of over seven million tree species.

The Ministry has targeted to plant 20 million trees next year, hence the Chamber’s support to realise that vision.

Receiving the dummy cheque at the Ministry in Accra, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Minister, reiterated government’s commitment to greening Ghana and making illegal mining a “no go area” in the country.

He inaugurated a joint committee comprising technical experts from the Ministry and the Ghana Chamber of Mines to deal with mining matters and related issues with dispatch.

The Committee will discuss and proffer solutions to mining industry concerns and issues regarding policy formulation and implementation as well as directives and legal regimes.

It is co-chaired by a Deputy Minister in charge of Mining, Mr George Mireku Duker, and Mr Edwin Acquaye, a member of the Finance and Budget Committee of the Chamber.

The Committee will also consider the concerns of government as well as its proposed strategic initiatives on the business and operations of mining companies and agree on their resolution and ramifications on the mining industry.

Additionally, it will agree on the approach that will enhance the outcomes for the State whilst at the same time not adversely impacting the competitiveness and attractiveness of Ghana’s mining industry.

Other members of the Committee include Mr Martin Ayisi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Mr Benjamin Aryee, Ministry’s Advisor on Mine, Mrs Juliet Manteaw-Kutin, a member of the Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee of the Chamber, and Mr Sulemana Koney, Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber.

Mr Jinapor said the Ministry viewed the Chamber as a partner to ensure the concerns of industry players were smoothly addressed while resolving emerging issues promptly.

Mr Eric Asubonteng, the President of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, assured of the Chamber’s determination to providing the requisite support to realise the Green Ghana initiative.

Special Prosecutor drops charges against Mahama Ayariga, Marfo

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The Special Prosecutor has dropped the charges against Mahama Ayariga Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, with Kenerick Akwasi Marfo, a car rental dealer, over allegedly using his public office for private benefit in the purchase of brand new and second-hand Toyota Landcruiser vehicles.
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This was after the Special Prosecutor, Mr Kissi Agyebeng, had entered a nolle proseque before an Accra High Court.

He told the court that upon further scrutiny, the Republic deemed it unable to prove its case based on the available evidence on the standards of proof on criminal bases – “that is, to prove a case beyond reasonable doubt”.

“The present case appears certain to suffer the same fate as Case No. FT/012/2019, the Republic versus Hajia Hawa Ninchema and Six Others, which was dismissed on 7 May 2021 on a
submission of no case to answer,” he said.

Mrs Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, the judge who presided, after listening to the Special Prosecutor, duly discharged the MP and the car dealer.

Mr Ayariga, who had been facing two separate actions by the State, was acquitted and discharged in the first case – The Republic v. Hajia Hawa Ninchema & Six Others in respect of alleged procurement breaches in the purchase of an ambulance for his Constituency.

Mr Ayariga, on 11 August 2019, was also charged on five counts of using public office for private benefit, using public office in the purchase of brand new and second-hand Toyota Landcruiser vehicles.

Mr Marfo was also charged with one count of collaboration with a public officer for the public officer’s private profit.

The cases were initiated by Mr Agyebeng’s predecessor, Mr Martin Amidu, who resigned his position.

“The OSP is a specialised prosecutorial anti-graft agency. We prevent, investigate, and prosecute
cases involving corruption and corruption related offences,” an official statement issued to the media said.

“We also trace and recover the proceeds of crime. Under the leadership of the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, the OSP is the OSP is poised to make corruption a costly venture in Ghana.”

Government urged to complete Labour Market Survey

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Associate Professor Anthony Simons, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa has urged the government to complete the Labour Market Survey (LMS) and to compensate university teachers adequately.

He said the current salary levels of university teachers were problematic and required urgent attention to help attract and retain qualified staff.

Mr Simons said this when he delivered a talk on the “Challenges of the Single Spine Salary Structure: The Case of the University Teacher’s,” at the 20th UTAG Biennial National Delegates Congress held at UMaT.

He said at the time of migrating the University lecturers onto the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS), the group foresaw the creation of future distortions.

He said the inequities had led to agitations by the various labour unions, including UTAG, which went on strike from August 2 to 22, 2021, with adverse consequences on the 2020/2021 Academic Calendar of Public universities.

Mr Simons said the agitation had become a complicated one and presented no easy solution.

“Following the migration of UTAG members onto the SSSS, Government issued a White Paper on the Market Premium in April 2013, which, in effect, put a freeze on the Market Premium until the Government and the Employer, conducts an LMS, he explained

“This is incongruous to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Government and UTAG. It is sad to state that to date, the Government has not been successful in conducting the LMS, resulting in the erosion of the salary of the University Teacher.”

Mr Simons emphasized that the 2004-2008 roadmap sought to improve the levels of remuneration of the senior members of public universities to a minimum of the cedi equivalent of US$1,500.00 by December 2008 to cover Basic Salary and Various Allowances.

The allowances included Professional Allowance 200 percent of the Basic Salary) and non-taxable Special Book Allowance (US$600.00 paid annually).

He further said “UTAG was required to embark on industrial action annually before restoration to the US$1,500.00 could be achieved for a given year. Thus, the expected salary of the university teacher, as per the roadmap, was not achieved.”

Ad-hoc measures, like the Non-Basic Salary Allowance, Mr Simons mentioned, were unattractive and that some young lecturers had resigned and migrated abroad.

He said the present salary disparity between Articles 71 and 190 office holders was too wide and efforts must be made to close the gap as recommended in the Prof. Yaa Ntiamoah-Baidu Presidential Committee on Emoluments Report.

He urged UTAG which now has its leadership at UMaT to continue to be proactive and remain resolute at the negotiating table, adding that “At all times, remember to consider the plight of the general membership in every deliberation with the employer.”

Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Minister of Education, said the university was a critical partner in producing Ghana’s human resources to the growing economy.

Sekondi-Takoradi Marathon fixed for Sunday, December 26

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The 2nd Edition of the Sekondi-Takoradi Marathon (STM) has been fixed for Sunday, December 26, 2021, in the Western Region of Ghana.

The event, under the auspices of the Western Regional Coordinating Council (WRCC) would be part of the activities marking the annual “Tadi Bronya” which is characterized masquerades festival.

This year’s STM would as well commence at the Essipong Stadium through some principal streets in Sekondi-Takoradi and finish at the Market Circle will cover a distance of 21-Kilometers (Half Marathon) according to a statement from organisers.

Under the organisation of leading marathon organisers in Ghana; Medivents Consult in partnership with local partners Total Marketing and Tours Limited (TTML) seeks to deliver one of the best marathons in the country.

The organisers would announce further details of the event as they seek to stage a memorable event in the region.

William Amponsah won the maiden edition of the competition last year with a time of 1:02:51, one of the best records in the country after throwing off challenges from local and international athletes.

In all, over 1,000 participants including professional athletes and athletes from the security services, race lovers, and keep fit clubs all over the country including international athletes are expected to participate in the race.

The Sekondi-Takoradi Marathon, though just a year old, it is one of the biggest and well-organized marathons in the country.

Many Ghanaian children are under constant cyberattacks – Police

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The Cybercrime Unit of the Ghana Police Service has raised concerns over the growing number of Ghanaian children, especially girls under 16 years, falling prey to persistent online bullying and attacks because of their vulnerability.

“Each day we receive cases reported by parents or by victims of sexual exploitations online and even stark pornography…it is very serious, very alarming,” Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) John Aduko said.

Some victims eventually committed suicide because of offences such as stealing, extortion, fake information, false news, information theft, and hacking as well as unlawful interference with digital gadgets such as mobile phones.

ASP Aduko, who is the Deputy Director, Cybercrime Unit, was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the sidelines of the celebration of this year’s International Day of the Girl Child at Akuapem Mampong in the Eastern Region.

Plan International Ghana organised the cybersecurity programme as part of activities marking the UN day with the Mampong Demonstration School for the Deaf on the theme: “Girls get Equal Freedom Online: Freedom from Cyber Bullying.”

It is aimed at promoting digital learning schools and boosting the confidence of girls as well as ensuring their safety, security and protection online.

Research shows that the most used social media platform in Ghana, as of the third quarter of 2020, had WhatsApp topping with 83.9 per cent, followed by Facebook 70 per cent, YouTube 69.7 per cent, Instagram 56.3 per cent and Facebook messenger 47.6 per cent.

Telegram was 40.8 per cent, Snapchat 37.2 per cent, Twitter 36.2 per cent, Tiktok 34.0 per cent, Pinterest 16.1 per cent, google hangouts 12.7 per cent, LinkedIn 11.6 per cent, and skype 9.7 per cent.

ASP Aduko said criminals used WhatsApp to deceive their victims, especially young girls, starting with Facebook to make a friend request and eventually move their prey onto WhatsApp to perpetuate their illegal acts.

He said the criminals would engage their victims nicely and in due course exploit their sexual images that were then used to blackmail victims, who later suffered psychological disorders and committed suicide.

“We have a lot of these victims, some of them keep it to themselves, and others try to commit suicide. Most suicides we hear about our little ones are because of these activities,” he added.

Aside teenage girls, ASP Adoku said many adults and professionals including celebrities, police, military, journalists, parliamentarians, teachers, ministers, bankers and nurses were also targets for the climbing cyberattacks.

He said Ghana had a robust legal framework to protect children’s rights, but harmonised efforts involving parents, teachers and all other stakeholders were needed to reinforce it.

Mr Adoku advised the public against accepting a friend request from unknown persons on Facebook as criminals or occult groups use that to recruit unsuspecting victims.

He called for investment in efforts to help teenagers, particularly girls, to appreciate the advantages and disadvantages of using the internet and staying safe on it, rather than banning students from using handsets.

“We can’t do away with the internet and computers and mobile phones, we need to educate our children more about the good aspect,” he said.

“It is when they inculcate the positives in them that we can then tell them how the negative aspect can affect their lives.”
Mrs Gifty Ashun, the Akuapem-Mampong North Municipal Girl Child Education Officer of the Ghana Education Service, blamed the rising teenage pregnancies on an uncontrolled monitoring mechanism for girls.

She urged parents and guardians to monitor their teenage girls closely online to help them benefit from the rich information to improve their lives.

Highlighting social media importance during the COVID-19 lockdown, she said education materials or information were shared on the platforms, and instead asked that electricity and computers or digital equipment be provided to schools.

Mr Benjamin Akuamoah Boateng, Team Lead, Eastern Location, Plan Ghana, said school children needed digital gadgets and the internet for learning activities and should not be deterred from getting information online.

He said the internet contained a lot of good information but there were equally “a lot of misinformation and disinformation” but that should not deny girls from using it to improve their learning.

He expressed the commitment of Plan International Ghana to support digital learning, particularly among girls, in the country.

International Day of the Girl Child is celebrated on October 11, each year, a day declared by the United Nations to raise awareness of gender inequality facing girls.

This inequality includes areas such as access to education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care, and protection from discrimination, violence against women and forced child marriage.

Plan International Ghana commits to supporting digital learning among children

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Mr Benjamin Akuamoah Boateng, Team Lead, Eastern Location, Plan Ghana, has expressed the commitment of the international organisation to promoting digital learning among Ghanaian children, especially girls for their holistic growth and development.

He said school children needed digital gadgets and the internet for their learning activities and should not be deterred from getting information online.

“As an organisation, we strongly believe and we are committed to ensuring that our girls access information from the internet, especially about their sexuality and health rights,” he said.

He was speaking at an event preceding the celebration of this year’s international day of the girl child at the Mampong Demonstration School for the Deaf in the Akuapem-Mampong North Municipality of Eastern Region.

Plan International joined the Demonstration School for the Deaf that has an enrolment of about 800 for the global commemoration on the theme: “Girls get equal freedom online: freedom from cyber bullying.”

It aimed at promoting digital learning in schools and boosting the confidence of girls as well as ensuring their safety, security and protection online for better information access for learning.

“We are also committed to ensuring that we promote digital learning among children, especially girls, so when it comes to resourcing the children they can be in a better position to access the internet; we are for it.”

“We want them to leave the school premises well-equipped to start life,” he added.

Mr Boateng said the organisation last week was signing a petition globally for the protection of girls online, saying, “There is no way our girls should feel deterred or discouraged from accessing information just because there is a lot of misinformation or disinformation on the internet.”

He said public discourse should not be focussed on unnecessary things on the internet to deter young people from making use of its benefit but the discourse should be directed at discussing the usefulness of the internet and how to protect the security and safety of children.

“Yes, there are a lot of useless things there on the internet, but there is also a lot of useful information that we also need, especially for their learning, for their growth and development.”

He said the 2021 theme was informed by the fact that it was about time, “We promoted digital learning among children.”

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) John Aduko, Deputy Director, Cybercrime Unit of the Ghana Police Service, expressed worry over the growing cases of cyberbullying of young girls and called for concerted efforts to tame it.

He said many victims commit suicide because of offences such as stealing, extortion, fake information, false news, information theft, and hacking as well as unlawful interference with digital gadgets such as mobile phones.

He noted that continuous public education and involvement of parents and guardians could mitigate the situation to allow children, particularly girls to use and stay safe on the internet which has become indispensable in daily life.

“We can’t do away with the internet and computers and mobile phones, we need to educate our children more about the good aspects,” he said.

Mrs Gifty Ashun, Akuapem-Mampong North Municipal Girl Child Education Officer of the Ghana Education Service, attributed the increase in teenage pregnancies to a lack of monitoring by parents.

She called on parents and guardians to monitor their teenage girls closely online to help them to make the best out of it to improve their academic work.

The International Day of the Girl Child is on October 11 each year, a day declared by the United Nations to raise awareness of gender inequality facing girls.

This inequality includes areas such as access to education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care, and protection from discrimination, violence against women and forced child marriage.

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