Category: General

The Ghana Police Service on Monday, arrested suspect Mark Forson in connection with the murder of Dr. Christopher Adu Boahen in Accra.

A statement issued in Accra by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Grace Ansah-Akrofi, Director, Public Affairs, said March 17, 2024, the Police received a complaint from some relations of the deceased that he had been found dead in his room under suspicious circumstances.

It said a team of Police investigators and crime scene experts immediately visited the scene to commence investigation, leading to the arrest of the suspect.

The statement said the suspect was in custody and would be put before the court while the investigation continues.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The European Union Ghana Agriculture Programme (EUGAP) has ensured reliable access to finance for 16,000 women through the Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs), to accelerate their progress in agricultural businesses.

The EUGAP revealed this in a press release copied to the Ghana News Agency, in solidarity with an International Women’s Day event at Dapuoha, a suburb of Wa Municipality, saying, it placed high importance on assisting women in agriculture to thrive.

It said the inclusion and support would help minimise the barriers that hindered women-led agribusinesses and women’s participation in decision-making processes in the agricultural sector for national development.

EUGAP, tapping into the theme of the annual celebrations which is ‘Inspire Inclusion,’ shined a spotlight on the importance of investing in women in agriculture, noting that celebrating their achievements, would minimise the challenges that retard their progress.

The release said for that reason, the EUGAP presented citations
to honour eight women groups for their sterling contributions to agriculture in the region and the country.

Again, the theme for the Wa celebration which was: ‘The inclusion of Women in Agriculture: The need to increase their access to investment,’ reflected EUGAP’s commitment to invest and accelerate the progress of women in agriculture, it said.

It recognised that although women had long been the backbone of agricultural production, yet they continued to face barriers and challenges with investment and resources that hindered their full inclusion and progress.

The release said EUGAP’s commitment to investing and accelerating women’s progress in agriculture would be achieved through its various interventions including capacity building on sustainable farming, agribusiness empowerment and creating opportunities for women to access finance for their agricultural activities.

Mr Matthias Berthold, the Project Manager of Resilience Against Climate Change (REACH), had said there was the need to tailor investme
nts in the agriculture sector towards women.

‘As we celebrate International Women’s Day, let us be reminded that women’s lesser access to and control over agricultural inputs, remains a challenge and contributes to lower agricultural productivity for women.

‘It is well worth empowering female farmers as a means of increasing household productivity; either prioritising women for new investments or re-allocating existing resources,’ he said.

The release said a radio discussion to highlight the contributions of EUGAP in accelerating the progress of women in agriculture, and a panel discussion featuring resource persons from Sinapi Aba, Ministry of Gender, Chamber of Commerce, and the Department of Agriculture were undertaken to commemorate the day.

Panelists addressed key areas such as breaking down barriers, empowering women, ensuring equal access to resources, and women’s empowerment.

It said the event also showcased success stories of women who had benefitted from EUGAP’s interventions and made significa
nt contributions to the agricultural sector.

Source: Ghana News Agency

As part of the commitment to empowering young women, staff of Standard Chartered Bank held a mentorship session for 350 teenage girls in Accra to mark International Women’s Day.

The interactive session brought together participants from the Nima Cluster of Schools and St. Kizito Basic School as resource persons shared inspiring stories and useful professional and life tips.

International Women’s Day is celebrated March 8 annually to honour the achievements and contributions of women. This year’s celebration was themed: ‘Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress’.

The session at Nima formed part of Standard Chartered Bank’s employee volunteering programme. At the gathering, some staff members highlighted aspects of their life and career development journey and how teenagers could navigate the path to adulthood.

The employees encouraged the students to set clear goals and work towards their aspirations, irrespective of setbacks and again urged the girls to resist the ‘temptations’ of adolescence.

The volunteeri
ng initiative, according to the personnel, was also part of efforts to create positive social change and invest in women to accelerate growth.

Standard Chartered Bank has over the years demonstrated readiness to support women to achieve personal and professional aspirations, while contributing to the creation of a more equitable and prosperous world for women.

The Bank’s initiatives, such as the ‘Goal’ programme, uses sports to build life skills in adolescent girls for the future. More than 12,000 young girls have benefited from the programme over the past six years in the Eastern and Greater Accra Regions.

Standard Chartered Bank’s long-term goal aims to promote gender equity by increasing participation of women in the economy and helping to unleash the financial potential of women and small businesses.

The Bank provides holistic support to women at various stages through different initiatives, and actively promotes gender equity within its workplaces, communities, and clients fostering a culture of incl
usion and opportunity.

Source: Ghana News Agency

By Charity Nginyu

In a bid to display gratitude and generosity, former students of Lourdes College have come together to honor one of their own, Pa Joe, a dedicated night watchman who served the institution for 41 years.

The Ex-students embarked on a project three months ago to rehabilitate Pa Joe’s home, ensuring his comfort and well-being in his retirement years.

This was upon discovering that Pa Joe’s living conditions were not as comfortable as they should be. The alumni sprang into action to remodel his house.

The result is a stunning transformation including a modern bathroom and toilet, both indoor and outdoor kitchens, tiled floors, and a satellite dish providing access to 452 channels of entertainment.

Furthermore, the renovated home has been furnished with essential appliances such as a fridge and TV, three bedroom sets, and a double bunk for his grandchildren. A fully installed solar panel system, complemented by Eneo electricity has been installed to ensure a reliable power supply, while outd
oor bathroom facilities and a backup water tank provide added convenience.

In addition to the physical upgrades to his home, Pa Joe was also granted a lifetime pension, the exact amount of which remains undisclosed for security reasons. He received a complete set of utensils, bedding, towels, and special outfits, ensuring his comfort and dignity are upheld.

As the finishing touches are put in place, anticipation builds for the grand celebration planned for Palm Sunday, where Pa Joe will have the opportunity to celebrate his 85th birthday and 55th wedding anniversary in style. The event will also mark the unveiling of his newly renovated home, as well as the formal recognition of his service by the Vatican.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Alhaji Ibrahim Issaka Kayaba, the Zongo Chief of Nkwanta in the South Municipality of the Oti Region, has led the Muslim community, in special prayers for the restoration of peace and unity of the area.

The town was immersed in ethnic misunderstandings and clashes among the Adeles Challas and Akyode groups, resulting in the deaths of 16 people and the destruction of properties.

During the prayer session, worshippers prayed fervently for an end to the violence and for all parties involved to come together in a spirit of reconciliation and understanding.

The Zongo Chief stressed the importance of unity and tolerance in times of conflict and the community to set aside their differences and work towards building a more peaceful and inclusive society.

Alhaji Kayaba appealed to the government to review the curfew period, stating that it affected the Ramadan prayers in the area.

He said during the Holy month of Ramadan, Muslims fasted from dawn until sunset and engaged in extra prayers and spiritual activities,
however, with the current curfew in place, many were finding it difficult to attend late-night and congregational prayers at the mosque.

In acknowledging the importance of the curfew in ensuring public safety, Alhaji Kayaba urged the government to consider the religious needs of the community members during this sacred time.

Mr Felix Owusu Gyimah, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) in the Nkwanta South Municipality, who participated in the prayers urged the people to embrace peace to rebuild the community for development to thrive.

‘I pray for a successful tenure in office and, most importantly, for a peaceful Nkwanta, where every individual can thrive and all potentials can be nurtured.,’ he said.

The MCE also urged the parties involved to exhibit positive attitudes in all their daily activities to confirm to the government the current peace in the area to warrant the review of the curfew.

Source: Ghana News Agency

A Pre-Northern Ghana Development Summit (NGDS) Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) forum has been held to discuss and agree on the best way to present a coordinated CSOs front during the annual NGDS.

It was also to discuss and adopt a plan for post NGDS accountability and follow up on actions and commitments, as well as discuss ways of improving development coordination and effectiveness in northern Ghana among CSOs primarily but also between CSOs and other actors.

The day’s event, held in Tamale, and attended by local and international CSOs, NGOs and community-based organisations operating in the five regions in northern Ghana, was organised by STAR Ghana Foundation, Oxfam in Ghana, ActionAid Ghana, Norsaac, and Ghana Developing Communities Association (GDCA).

It was on the theme: ‘Coordination of Northern Ghana’s Development: Challenges, Opportunities, and the Way Forward’.

Alhaji Ibrahim-Tanko Amidu, Executive Director, STAR Ghana Foundation, speaking during the forum, emphasised the need for more colla
boration and coordination amongst CSOs and NGOs in the north to make them effective in advocating changes in the development landscape.

When the Mole series were revived in 2019 and rebranded as the NGDS, stakeholders, especially CSOs, had expectations that this would be a platform for coordination of efforts on northern Ghana’s development, mutual accountabilities among CSOs themselves and collaborating with and holding government and other stakeholders (including development partners) accountable for their commitments towards the development of northern Ghana.

However, after four successive NGDS, CSOs, especially in northern Ghana and other stakeholders are concerned that the summits (NGDS) are not living up to this expectation, and that the summits are becoming more of an annual routine and talk-shop than being a space for coordination in a manner that will set a bold and strategic agenda for northern Ghana’s development.

They are equally worried that post summit actions and momentum between summits are
not pursued or sustained, with the submits missing the marks for mutual accountabilities on northern Ghana’s development, hence this Pre-NGDS, CSOs forum.

Alhaji Osman Abdel-Rahman, Executive Director, GDCA, said the importance of the forum was for state authorities to understand that CSOs and NGOs worked to complement the state to deliver development to the people.

Alhaji Abdel-Rahman said, ‘We need to demonstrate that as CSOs, we work to ensure state actors live up to expectation.’

Mr John Nkaw, Country Director, ActionAid Ghana, said the organisation was happy to be connected with the forum and would work with all partners to ensure its success.

Mr Mahamud Mohammed, Head of Governance Programmes at Oxfam, Ghana, who represented the Country Director of Oxfam in Ghana, said the deliberations at the forum showed the commitment of CSOs and NGOs towards the development of the northern part of the country.

He urged them to continue to work together to ensure success.

Source: Ghana News Agency