Lesotho Wire

The Rural Initiative for Self-Empowerment Ghana (RISE-Ghana), has launched a campaign dubbed ‘Good Dads,’ to promote Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) and nutritional needs of adolescents in three districts in the Upper East Region.

The ‘Good Dads’ campaign is intended to highlight the efforts of fathers who are advancing the rights of adolescents in terms of safeguarding their SRHR and nutrition, so that they would be equipped to champion these rights for adolescents at the community level.

The launch of the campaign involved 45 fathers, drawn from Bawku West, Bongo, and Kassena-Nankana West Districts, who were trained on the SRHR and nutritional needs of adolescents to enable them lead radio discussions in their communities while safeguarding adolescents from sexual and any form of abuse.

It formed part of its project, ‘Advancing Adolescent SRHR within the Sahel and other emergencies in the Upper East Region,’ being implemented in the three districts with funding support from UNICEF.

The proj
ect aimed at assessing the availability and effectiveness of SRHR and nutrition services in communities to improve multi-sectoral collaboration, coordination, and feedback for improved outcomes.

Alhaji Awal Ahmed Kariama, the Executive Director of RISE-Ghana, said because of the Sahel crisis in Burkina Faso, many people in their border communities migrated into Ghana and that had put pressure on the health facilities and other social amenities in these host localities.

He said amid these challenges, the health and nutritional needs of adolescents were not being addressed, and there was the need to initiate deliberate steps to champion their needs to enable them grow and develop their full potential.

‘At the end of the day, we want to ensure that these adolescents are not vulnerable to sexual abuse, malnutrition, or sexual predation, among others, and that is why

we have trained these stakeholders to help the adolescents understand their sexual rights and how to access services,’ he added.

He reiterated t
hat safeguarding adolescents was a collective responsibility and the role of parents, particularly fathers, was critical and urged them to live up to their responsibilities for their full development.

Madam Veronica Togbe, a Social Development Officer at the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, on the topic: ‘Adolescent Rights and Safeguarding,’ said parents needed to create a cordial relationship with their children.

She said that would enable the children to feel secure and comfortable while remaining transparent on issues affecting them, so they could be guided.

Mr Peter Gbandaan, a participant, said the training was enlightening, ‘It has opened our eyes to the blind spots we never noticed especially on where fathers limit caretaking to only providing food and shelter. Now we have been exposed to the fact that it goes beyond that, and we need to get involved’.

He called on his colleague fathers to show commitment to the needs of their adolescent children to prevent them being carried
away by bad peer influence.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The need to intensify public education on statistical literacy in Ghana cannot be overempahsised, as this will help address the underutilisation of data among the populace.

Professor Atinuke Olusola Adebanji at the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), said stakeholders in public education should launch a nationwide campaign on statistical literacy, emphasising its relevance in helping the public to understand complex issues and make informed decisions.

Speaking at her professorial inaugural lecture at the KNUST in Kumasi, Prof. Adebanji said comprehensive statistical literacy programmes should be implemented in schools and universities.

‘Integrating statistical concepts into various subjects to develop analytical skills from an early stage of children’s education is the surest way to developing practical interest in the subject,’ she said.

Again, broad reach and influence could be ensured by utilising a variety of media outlets and com
munity involvement events.

The lecture was titled; ‘Facts from Artefacts: A Journey in Statistical Inquisition’.

Prof. Adebanji indicated that early acquisition of analytical abilities could be facilitated for children by incorporating statistical principles into diverse topics.

That strategy would make sure that statistical literacy was ingrained in the educational process and produced a data-savvy generation.

In addition, collaborations could be fostered between government agencies, academic institutions, and private organisations to develop and share resources that promoted statistical literacy.

‘Combined knowledge and resources will yield projects and tools for education that are more successful,’ she said.

‘Partnerships can also make it easier for statistical literacy initiatives to adapt to the changing needs of society and the workforce.’

Prof. Adebanji said creating chances for lifelong learning guaranteed that statistical literacy would always be a top concern for educators and the public.

Co
nferences, workshops, and internet resources could facilitate lifelong learning by keeping people up to date on new statistical techniques and their uses.

She said by implementing an all-encompassing strategy, Ghana could provide her people with the knowledge and abilities they needed to function in a society.

‘This is becoming more and more data-driven, promoting a mindset that values statistical literacy and makes use of it to make well-informed decisions.’

She recommended that organisations provide training programmes for professionals across various sectors to enhance their statistical literacy, enabling better decision-making and problem-solving.

At the community level, local workshops and seminars could be organised to educate members on basic statistical concepts, empowering individuals to critically assess information and make informed choices.

‘These seminars guarantee accessibility and efficacy in communicating statistical literacy to a wide audience by customising the content to address real-w
orld circumstances and incorporating fun techniques like gamification components.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

The South Dayi District Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr. Mathias Segbefia, has called on students to develop interest in the study of the 1992 Constitution to broaden their horizon on governance and constitutionalism.

He said adequate knowledge of the Constitution by the people would help ensure that citizens knew more about their rights and responsibilities to fully participate in the governance processes of the state and contribute meaningfully towards its development.

Mr. Segbefia said these during an engagement with the students and Civic Education Club (CEC) members of Kpeve Senior High Technical School (SHTS) at Kpeve in the South Dayi District of the Volta Region.

The District Director stressed that understanding the Constitution by all would help the people to defend and protect it at all times.

He underscored the importance of the formation of CECs in educational institutions and noted that activities of the Club would motivate students to develop interest in th
e Constitution from early stage in life which would enable them to become very patriotic.

Mr. Segbefia said understanding of the Constitution would also enable citizens to know the rules, demands and ethics of democracy and would make meaningful contributions to nation-building.

Mr. Joseph Mawuena, the Assistant Headmaster of the School, encouraged the students to enroll as they could benefit and become good citizens.

Mr. Wisdom Amedi, Kpeve SHTS CEC Patron, said, ‘CEC is the mother of all Clubs due to its considerable capacity building of students on rights and responsibilities as citizens.’

The NCCE conceived the idea of the Formation of Civic Education Clubs (CECs) at a consultative meeting on Civic Education in Accra in March 1996.

CEC is a voluntary and non-partisan study group on the 1992 Constitution which imbued in its members a sense of Civic consciousness.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Hohoe Magistrate’s Court has granted a GHC10,000 bail to Korkuvi Atiga, a farmer, with one surety over allowing his domestic animals to stray into neighbours’ farms, causing damage to their crops, among other things.

Atiga pleaded not guilty to the charge and will reappear on March 14, 2024.

Mr Frank Azila-Gbettor, prosecuting, told the court, presided over by Mr John Evans Ocran, that the accused person lived at Fodome Lormnava, a farming community in the Fodome Traditional Area of the Volta Region.

He was engaged in the rearing of domestic animals including sheep and goats in the community, prosecution said.

In October 2021, the Environmental Health Officer of the area received a series of reports from the community that Atiga had released his animals, which strayed into farmlands to destroy crops of neighbours.

He said an officer of the Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit visited the community to educate the accused person to construct a pen for his animals and refrain from releasing them to
roam the community.

The officer also noted that Atiga did not take good care of the animals, which made offensive noises at night when mating, disturbing the sleep of community members.

The accused person was educated to repair his damaged pen to safely keep the animals but failed to heed the advice.

The Municipal Environmental Health Unit then instructed the Unit Committee members to capture any stray animal in the community, but the members faced resistance from the accused person.

However, the unit committee members were able to arrest five stray sheep belonging to the accused person on August 14, 2022, but the issue was resolved after he promised not to repeat the offence.

That withstanding, the nuisance continued until October 17, 2022, when his stray sheep, three, were caught and transported to the office but Atiga again asked for pardon and was forgiven.

On December 26, 2023, a community member arrested three stray sheep on his farm and deposited them at Fodome Helu police station, which were lat
er brought to the Environmental Health Unit at Hohoe.

Prosecution said five days later the accused person asked his wife to retrieve the animals, but the officer asked Atiga to report to the office himself to meet with the farmer to assess the cost of damage to his crops.

Atiga failed to report to the office and continued to let his animals loose without any regard for advice, leading to his summons to the court.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Vice President, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has applauded the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission-Ghana for their immense contribution in education and health, enhancing national peace and development.

The Vice President, who is also the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), made the commendation at the opening ceremony of the 91st Annual National Convention (Jalsa) and the 100 years of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission-Ghana at Gomoa Pomadze near Winneba Junction.

The 91st Convention (Jalisa) on the theme: ‘A Century of Islamic Revival in Ghana,’ commenced on Thursday, February 22 and would be climaxed on Saturday February 24.

The Vice President was accompanied by Mrs Justina Marigold Assan, Central Regional Minister, Mr. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Majority leader, Mr Asamoah Boateng, Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ministers of State, and many others.

It was also attended by members of the Mission from the 16 regions of Ghana as well as Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Benin, Togo, Italy and Uganda.

Alha
ji Dr Bawumia said 100 years of sowing the seed of Islam in the then Gold Coast, underscored the extent to which the Ahmadiyya community was fostering universal brotherhood in the country in line with the values of Islam.

‘This occasion of thanksgiving to Almighty Allah, demonstrate the Ahmadiyya community’s profound gratitude to Allah for the immense favour on us and the creation of an environment that has facilitated the propagation of the message of Islam Ahmadiyya,’ he stated.

He said thanking Allah and commemorating of 100 years, offered them the unique opportunity to recall and emulate the devotion and sacrifices of the early pioneer missionaries.

He urged them to continue to live in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Sunar of the Holy Prophet Mohammed, contributing in diverse ways towards the development of the country, which they had done in the past 100 years.

Maulvi Naeem Ahmad Cheema, Missionary in charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Ghana gave a brief account of how th
e Mission started in the country a century ago by a Missionary, revered Maulana Abdul-Raheem Nayyar of blessed memory who travelled by sea and settled at the then Saltpond Sea Port, where he sowed the seed of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission.

He stated that Jalsa was an occasion for the expression of gratitude to Allah for all the favour showered upon them that had brought them that far.

He appealed to Muslims, particularly the youth to remember that the name Islam, which the holy Prophet Mohammed himself gave to their religion, meant peace and defined who true Muslim was.

He explained that a true Muslim through his tongue and hand kept mankind safe as well as blood and property.

Maulvi Cheema said the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community had grown from its humble beginnings into a full-fledged religious body to be reckoned with in the country.

‘For us therefore, this hundred years mile- stone is a good reason enough to express our gratitude to Allah, through whose grace we have made phenomenal progress in both our sp
iritual and mundane endeavours,’ he stated.

According to him they had contributed significantly to the development of the country in all spheres of life, including service to humanity.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, the Most Reverend Henryk Mieczyslaw Jagodzinski, has called on world leaders to work collaboratively to curb activities of violence extremists.

He said that would help reduce the number of displaced persons resulting from extremists’ attacks and related violence.

He expressed worry that many vulnerable people including the poor and needy continued to seek refuge outside their home countries creating a sense of a hopeless future for them due to attacks from violent extremists.

He said there was need for accelerated efforts to promote participation at all levels.

‘When people of goodwill,… are involved in community life it will be possible to stop any extremist,’ he said.

The Apostolic Nuncio made this call when he visited and interacted with the asylum seekers being hosted at Tarikom in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region as part of his visit to the Catholic Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga.

Apart from interacting with the asylum seekers to get first-hand informa
tion about the situation at the Reception and Resettlement Centres, Most Reverend Jagodzinski also celebrated a Holy Mass to pray with and for the asylum seekers.

He donated hygiene materials such as boxes of washing and bathing soap, toothpaste, and brushes among others to the asylum seekers.

The Apostolic Nuncio explained that issues of the poor and vulnerable were of great concern to the Holy Father, Pope Francis and he had established a special office termed as ‘Dicastery of Integral Human Development,’ to work towards finding relief for people who were suffering.

Most Reverend Jagodzinski commended the government of Ghana and other stakeholders including the host communities for accepting and hosting the asylum seekers and called for stronger partnership to help them live dignified lives.

‘It is very sad when you are forced to leave your home, but this should encourage us not to be in despair but to trust in God and His mercy,’ he encouraged the asylum seekers.

‘I also encourage people who have some
thing to give, to come and support the asylum seekers.’

In the early parts of 2023, multiple suspected terrorists’ attacks on Bugri, Zoago and Zabre, all border communities in Burkina Faso compelled more than 4,000 people, at the time, to flee to Ghana and spread across several communities in Bawku Municipal, Bawku West, and Binduri Districts.

The UNHCR, UN Refugee Agency in collaboration with the Ghana Refugee Board led a comprehensive humanitarian response leading to the relocation of the asylum seekers to Tarikom where 12 hectares of land had been provided.

Through collaboration with agencies of the government and other organisations such as World Vision, Navrongo-Bolgatanga Catholic Diocesan Development Organisation among others, the UNHCR constructed reception and resettlement centres with various amenities for the asylum seekers.

Mr Djerassam Mbaiorem, the Head of UNHCR in charge of Upper East and Upper West Regions, said about 15,000 asylum seekers had been recorded in the two regions and out of th
e number, 8,000 were in the Upper East Region.

He said, currently only 1,100 asylum seekers were at the resettlement centre although both reception and resettlement centres had the capacity to contain about 7,000 people.

‘The rest are in other areas and do not want to come. Ghana has an open policy for asylum seekers, but the Government determines where you should stay due to security reasons and where they need to stay is Tarikom, so we are working with the Ghana Refugee Board, regional authorities, and other stakeholders to encourage the rest to come,’ he said.

Source: Ghana News Agency