Category: General

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration on Monday held a flagraising ceremony to mark the 2024 Commonwealth Day.

The event, held at the forecourt of the State House in Accra, was on the theme: ‘One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Commonwealth’.

Mr Kwaku Ampratum-Sarpong, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, hoisted Ghana’s flag, while that of the Commonwealth was hoisted by Madam Harriet Thompson, the British High Commissioner to Ghana.

The second Monday of March is Commonwealth Day, a day to celebrate the Commonwealth of Nations and its 56 member states.

The theme for this year’s celebration emphasises the need for the 56 member countries to work together to build resilience, unlock potential, and leverage the Commonwealth Advantage.

Mr Ampratum-Sarpong said the theme for the weeklong celebration highlights how the 56 member countries must harness their strengths by building resilience, unlocking potential, leveraging the ‘Commonwealth Advantage’ an
d fostering a connected, digital Commonwealth.

He said this transformation was vital to ensure a resilient common future where no one was left behind.

‘There are even more reasons to celebrate this year. Our Union is commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the signing of the London Declaration on 24th April 1949, which heralded the birth of a modern Commonwealth,’ he said

The Deputy Minister on behalf of the Government and People of Ghana extended his hearty congratulations to the entire Commonwealth family and fraternity.

He said Ghana’s relationship with the Commonwealth was both historical and deeply rooted in mutual respect and understanding.

Ghana joined the Commonwealth upon gaining independence in 1957, becoming the first majority-ruled African member of the Commonwealth.

‘We have been an active member, contributing to and benefiting from this unique family of nations,’ he stated.

‘Our shared history and common language have facilitated close cooperation on various fronts, from education and healt
h to governance and economic development.’

Mr Ampratum-Sarpong said the Commonwealth had been instrumental in the development of its member states, particularly in Africa.

He said through technical assistance, capacity-building programmes, scholarships, and youth empowerment programmes, the Commonwealth had played a pivotal role in enhancing human capital in Ghana and across the continent.

Programmes like the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan have enabled countless Ghanaians to pursue advanced education and professional development, enriching our nation with their skills and expertise upon their return.

He noted that Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration recently formally announced her interest in the position of Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.

He said the selection of a new Secretary-General would take place at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) on 22nd October 2024 in Samoa, to replace Baroness Patricia Scotland, who
se second and final tenure expires at the end of 2024.

He said Madam Ayorkor Botchwey had outlined a six-prong strategy if elected as the Secretary General to reposition the Commonwealth into a more resilient and robust organisation capable of handling the challenges of our common future.

The six thematic areas are Trade and Investment, Youth education, Skills, Innovation and Start-ups, Mobility and Labour Market, Climate Change, Small States as well as Managing resources for an effective Commonwealth Institution.

King Charles III, the Head of the Commonwealth, in a speech read on his behalf by Madam Harriet Thompson, the British High Commissioner to Ghana, said: ‘We must find ways of healing, and to support each other to pursue solutions.’

‘I cannot say often enough that it is by coming together that we create the best chances to improve our world and the lives of people everywhere’.

He said over the years countless people across the Commonwealth had been inspired to form their own Commonwealth Associat
ions from lawyers and accountants to business and trade networks, and many more besides.

Madam Patricia Scotland, Commonwealth Secretary-General, in a speech read on her behalf by Mr John Obeng Apea, Head of Mission, Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, said over the course of 75 years, the Commonwealth family of nations had grown in scale, strength and experience.

‘Our inbuilt relationships are unique and extraordinary, drawing together one third of humanity, across five continents and six oceans, with an astonishing diversity of thought, tradition and experience, and 1.5 billion people under the age of 30.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

Some exhibitors at the just ended 28th Ghana Trade Fair Exhibition hosted at the West Hills Mall, have said the fair although good for the promotion and sales of their products, should have received more publicity.

This year’s edition of Ghana Trade Fair Exhibition organised by the Ghana Trade Fair Centre (GTFC) at the West Hills Mall, began on March 1, and ended on Thursday March 7.

The fair was to create opportunity for companies especially local manufacturers and industries to promote their businesses outside their shops and business centres.

It was under the theme; ‘E-Commerce: Key to SME Growth for Economic Development.’

Some traders said the fair was a good platform to promote their products but required more publicity.

They expressed delight that the fair had created the platform and opened future opportunities for them which will translate into increased sales as their products, particularly local ones were showcased to the Ghanaian public and other clients.

An exhibitor, Roselyn Nutakor, Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) of Nuna Glamour, a local clothing manufacturing said this year was her fourth time of participating.

She disclosed that the fair was a good platform and that had helped her to maximise sales and called for more publicity in future fairs.

According to her, most people who patronised their products trooped in out of curiosity but ordinarily, were unaware of the exhibition.

She said the GTFC could improve by building on the awareness and publicise and the fair more in subsequent years.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The women’s wing of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ahafo Region has hailed Dr Freda Prempeh, the Member of Parliament for Tano North Constituency, for her exceptional contributions to the growth of the party in the region.

Though the MP lost the constituency’s Election 2024 parliamentary primary, Mrs Philomena Nnuro, the Deputy Ahafo Regional Women’s Organiser of the NPP, said the party owed the MP an appreciation for her commitment to unmatched support towards the course of the party.

Mrs Nnuro gave the commendation when Dr Prempeh, also a former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, donated 15 brand new motorbikes to the wing at a short ceremony held at Duayaw-Nkwanta, the constituency capital.

With the machines, she said, the wing would be able to intensify the 2024 electioneering campaign, get to the hard-to-reach communities in the region, and propagate the achievements of the government to win the votes of the masses at the grassroots level.

Mrs Nnuro stressed that the women’s wing and t
he NPP in the constituency and the region, in general, needed the support of the MP if the party could widen its vote margin and maintain the constituency seat in the Election of 2024.

She said until the party brought everybody on board for a vigorous campaign, it would be difficult for the NPP to make the ‘breaking the eight’ mantra a reality by increasing its presidential votes.

Mrs Nnuro, therefore, called on all supporters and members of the NPP to bury their differences, forge ahead in unity and endeavour to tackle emerging internal problems proactively to ensure a formidable front, ahead of the Election 2024.

‘Going for the next Presidential and Parliamentary Elections, the Ahafo Region still needs the support of experienced people like Dr Prempeh in the electioneering to enhance our election victory,’ she stated.

On her part, Dr Prempeh assured the wing of her continuous support in the campaign so that the party would not only win the presidential election but also maintain the constituency parliam
entary seat.

The MP said the level of development projects brought to the constituency had well-positioned the party to maintain the constituency seat and cautioned the women’s wing against complacency and apathy.

‘I am still lobbying to put up an additional 11 development projects in the deprived communities before I exit in January 2025,’ she stated.

Source: Ghana News Agency

A 15-year-old, Junior High School (JHS) three pupil of the Blessing Academy at Afasebong, in the Atwima Kwanwoma district got drowned in the Dwahyen River at Takyiman New site, on late afternoon, Saturday.

The pupil, whose name was not given by Mr Emmanuel Amankwah, Head Teacher of the school, for some reason, said the pupil asked permission from the school authorities to buy food from outside the school on Saturday, afternoon.

However, he said on reaching the bridge over river Dwahyen, the pupil met some friends who were swimming in the river and invited him to join and swim.

According to Mr Amankwah, upon getting into the river the pupil got drowned and his friends could not save him because they were also drowning when they tried to help him.

The friends raised alarm but when some masons who were working on a nearby building in the area got to the scene the boy had already been swept away by the river.

When Ghana News Agency (GNA) got to the scene in the evening, some good Samaritans were trying to re
trieve the body from the river but to no avail.

Nana Afriyie Takyi, Nifahene of Atwima, who poured libation at the river to ensure that the body was brought to the riverbank also confirmed this to GNA.

The Denkyemuoso Police Command visited the river in the early hours of Sunday and saw the body at the riverbank.

The body has since been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) for autopsy.

Meanwhile, Atwimahene, Nana Antwi Agyei Brempong 11, had advised parents to ensure that their children do not loiter about aimlessly.

He also called on private schools that have boarding facilities to ensure that the children were well-catered for and were safe in their care.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Residents of Nkroful community in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis have expressed concern over the recent intermittent electricity power outages in the area.

According to them, the situation was affecting their businesses, and caused damage to their home appliances.

Mr Frank Coffie, a resident, who could not hide his frustration, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that the situation was worrying, and that authorities must fix all underlying issues to help stabilise power supply.

He said: ‘The authorities are not being transparent to us on the cause of the issue, because the way our lights go off unannounced, they must give us a timetable so we can plan ahead of time.’

Maame Ama, another resident, also lamented over the situation, and said it slowed their businesses.

‘We all know ‘dumsor’ is back, so I do not know why our leaders have decided to keep mute on it. At least they should release a load-shedding timetable for us to plan for our daily activities,’ she added.

The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropol
is has recently been experiencing long hours of power outages, especially in the evenings.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is scheduled to launch the ‘Ghana card number at birth’ initiative on Thursday, March 14, 2024.

It would be launched at the Ga North Hospital at Ofankor in the Greater Accra Region to pave the way for every child born in Ghana to receive a unique identity number.

The Ghana card will, however, be handed over to the child when he or she attains 15 years.

The initiative is christened: ‘Ghana card number at birth,’ which is being championed by the Office of the Vice President.

It formed part of efforts by the Government to ensure that every Ghanaian has a Ghana card to enable them to access basic social services with ease.

So far, the National Identification Authority has registered 17.5 million Ghanaians onto its biometric data register.

Source: Ghana News Agency