Lesotho Wire

A day’s zonal workshop on Securing Ghana’s Stability during the Elections 2024 against Serious and Organised Crime (SOC) has been held for youth leaders, to deepen their understanding on these issues.

It was also to enhance monitoring mechanisms, and garner commitment from youth and political actors to combat crime, reinforcing the country’s governance framework against illegal funds to minimise corruption.

Youth leaders from various groups including Political Parties from the Northern, Savannah, Upper East and Upper West Regions participated in the workshop.?

It was organised by the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), and Africa Centre for Energy Policy with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.?

The workshop forms part of the ‘Safeguarding Ghana’s Stability in the Face of Serious and Organised Crime (SOC) Threats during the Elections 2024 project,’ which was aimed at deepening public understanding through the media, enhance monitoring mechan
isms, and garner commitment from both the public and political actors to combat the menace.

Mrs Mary Awelana Addah, the Executive Director of GII, expressed worry about the monetisation of elections in the country, saying the situation was becoming very disturbing, as some members of the public were now demanding monetary favours before taking part in the electoral process.?

A recent study conducted on the cost of politics in Ghana by the Centre for Democratic Governance (CDD-Ghana) in collaboration with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, complained about the progressive rise in the cost of contesting elections in the country.

?The report had cited individuals who funded political parties and campaigns for candidates, who were found to have engaged in criminal activity within the scope such as illicit mining referred to as ‘galamsey,’ illicit oil distribution (bunkering), unethical business practices, procurement violations, and bribery connected to contract awards.

Mrs Addah called on youth leader
s to put aside their perceptions and work together to secure the country’s stability and help in combatting crime threats in the elections 2024.

Madam Beauty Emefa Nartey, the Executive Secretary, GACC urged youth leaders to commit to a personal difference and change, encouraging them to reject, refuse and report corruption.?

Ms?Bernice Agboli, an Investigator at the Northern and North East Regional Office of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), spoke about EOCO’s mandate, appealing to the public to report people suspected of engaging in criminal activities to help prevent such acts.

The youth leaders resolved to report all suspicious cases to appropriate institutions such as EOCO and Financial Intelligence Unit to effectively investigate and prosecute offenders.?

They also pledged to educate and sensitise the youth in their communities on crime to ensure that they were well informed about it.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), has condoled with the late Kwabena Kwakye’s family and the management and staff of Oman FM, following his death on Wednesday, February 14.?2024.

Mr Martin Kwabena Kwakye, the Director of Oman FM at Kencity Media Limited, fainted at his workplace and was rushed to the University of Ghana Medical Centre, where he died hours later, according to his family.

The family, along with the management of Kencity Media Limited, set Saturday, March 9, to mark the one-week observance of the late journalist.

The GJA, led by its President, Mr Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, expressed condolences to the bereaved family and assured them of the media’s support during and after his final funeral rites.

‘GJA is his largest family, and we shall give all the necessary support as an Association. We pray for God’s strength and peace upon the bereaved family, especially his immediate family,’ he said.?

Mr Dwumfour, recalling some pleasant memories of the late journalist, stated that Mr Kwakye had
a calm disposition, held on to high professional standards, and served as an inspiration to both the young and old.

‘His contribution in shaping society and deepening our democracy cannot be questioned. The late Kwabena Kwakye has paid his dues in expanding the frontiers of building an upright nation,’ the GJA President said.

Mr Yaw Owusu Ansah, the family’s spokesperson, stated that his death came as a shock because their family members had grown to be around 80 or 90 years old; nonetheless, they had strengthened themselves in God to do the right thing and see him go.

He said the late Kwakye’s impact on society ‘gives us confidence and hope that he fulfilled his Godly mission, particularly with how he identified, moulded, raised and transformed people to become what they never knew they could become.’?

Mr Albert Asomaning, Accountant, Kencity Media Limited, said the late Kwabena Kwakye had an impact on journalism work with his invaluable experience, and his legacy will go on.?

‘We have lost a leader, me
ntor and an inspirer. We are calling on families, friends and sympathizers to remember Mr Kwakye’s family in prayers and join us during the one-week observance.’?

The late Martin Kwabena Kwakye, popularly known as Wofa KK, is a seasoned journalist with over two decades of experience.?

He had worked with Adom 106.3 FM, a subsidiary radio station of the Multimedia Group Limited. Before his death, he was the host of Oman FM’s political show ‘Boiling Point.’?

Mr Kwakye was born on October 18, 1970.?

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Catholic Professional Guilds (CPG) launched a welfare scheme to cater to the needs of its members and dependents.

The scheme, underwritten by Enterprise Life Insurance, offers policyholders benefits ranging from GHS10,000 to GHS15,000 upon bereavement or severe illness.

During a presentation at Christ the King Catholic Church in Accra, three premium beneficiaries received a total of GHS 35,000 to attend to various needs.

Rev. Fr. Dennis Opoku, Chaplain of the Association, advised members to discard negative perceptions about insurance and welfare schemes.

He said insurance was ‘a risk worth taking’ and members should take up the policy personally and for relatives.

‘As a church, we believe in quality and professionalism and that is why we have aligned with this policy…don’t look at the money you’re giving out but the better future you are building for yourselves,’ Rev Opoku stated.

The policy offers gold and platinum packages with annual premiums of GHS360 and GHS480, respectively. Benefits range fr
om GHS54,300 for gold and GHS82,500 for platinum.

Mrs Adwoa Pinaman Acquah, Managing Director of Weston Insurance Brokers, assured members of quality and timely service delivery, noting that there was no ‘waiting period’ on the policy, developed exclusively for Association members.

She thought the welfare scheme would prevent the church from incurring extra costs for parishioners in unexpected circumstances.

The ceremony was attended by Mr Bernard Atta-Sonnu, Chairman of the CPG Council, Mr Edward Ayem, CPG Coordinator, Mr Nana Akwasi Oduro-Akuoko, Senior Manager, Inclusive Insurance at Enterprise Life, and other CPG members.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Fidelity Bank, through its customer experience team, has embarked on philanthropic initiatives to mark the National Chocolate Day celebration.

The initiatives included the donation of GHS 10,000 and two boxes of locally made chocolates to the New Horizon School, a special event honouring mothers of children with disabilities and a generous contribution to Cosmos Centre for Children with Special Needs.

The bank also marked the day at the Cosmos Centre for Children with Special Needs in Dormaa Ahenkro, where a donation of items valued at GHS 10,000 was made to support efforts of providing specialised care for children with special needs.

These initiatives highlighted the Bank’s longstanding commitment to inclusivity, empowering the less fortunate, and community development.

Speaking at the New Horizon school, Madam Comfort Amoo, Head, Customer Experience, said, the donation demonstrated Fidelity Bank’s longstanding commitment to inclusion, empowering the less fortunate, and community development.

‘Building
an inclusive future where everyone has access to opportunity, regardless of ability, is a core value at Fidelity Bank.

‘Our enduring support for New Horizon exemplifies our commitment to this principle. The interactions and conversations we share with the students here are truly enriching, reminding us to return each year and offer our love and support,’ she said.

She noted that the National Chocolate Day and the month of love presented the perfect opportunity to share those moments with the New Horizon family.

Jocelyn Adoboe, Deputy Principal (Academic Section) of New Horizon Special School, expressed gratitude to the bank for its continuous support.

‘From supporting us through challenging times to offering this generous donation, Fidelity Bank truly embodies the spirit of partnership. This combination of essential materials and the engaging chocolate experience perfectly represents ‘learning through joy.’

Beyond chocolate delights, Fidelity Bank’s Accra Sector recognized the remarkable resilience of mo
thers raising children with disabilities. A special luncheon and donation event held at the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) offered the women a moment of respite, connection, and support.

Mrs. Hannah Awadzi, Executive Director of the Special Mothers Project, commended the bank for its commitment to inclusivity and urged further engagement with issues affecting children with disabilities.

Meanwhile, Majorie Quansah, Corporate Social Responsibility Co-Ordinator of the bank, said the National Chocolate Day presented an opportunity to ‘spread kindness and make a positive impact in the Ghanaian communities.’

‘At Fidelity Bank, we believe in using such occasions to create meaningful connections.

‘Through our various initiatives, like those at New Horizon School and Cosmos Centre for Children with Special Needs, we aim to brighten lives and empower individuals. We are proud to contribute to a more inclusive and compassionate society,’ she said

Source: Ghana News Agency

The 2024 Aboakyer Festival of the chiefs and people of Effutu, Winneba in the Central Region has been launched with a call on citizens to stay united for the development of the area.

Under the theme: ‘Promoting tradition and development through Aboakyer celebration,’ the festival would commence on Saturday, April 27 and climax on Saturday, May 4 with a grand durbar.

It will start with a Gospel musical show and clean-up exercise at various communities and homes.

Other activities lined up to spice up the event include a health walk, regatta, tug-of-war, marathon race, bicycle racing, football tournament, cooking competition and parading of gods by the two Asafo Companies.

On Friday, May 3, the traditional military would march through the principal streets of the Winneba township to provide security and ensure peace as the Asafo Companies enter their ancestral forests on Saturday dawn to catch a live bushbuck for the ceremony.

Neenyi Ghartey VII, the Paramount Chief of the Effutu Traditional Area (Effutu Om
a Odefe), entreated the people to do away with all their differences and work together to make the festival a success.

He said the importance of the festival to their native land could not be overemphasised, as it showcased their rich Asafo, religious and cultural tradition and tourism.

‘As a multifaceted festival, we pride ourselves on the fact that Aboakyer is open to participation by all guests from across the world, to have their fair share of the joy and excitement that comes with it’.

He said it was for these reasons that all the natives must properly and fully get involved to receive their guests.

Neenyi Ghartey urged his people to allow the Guan Spirit in them which had the hallmark of high hospitality, love and care, to drive this year’s celebrations.

He urged service providers in the hospitality industry in the area to let their services be excellent to boost the local economy and called on the business community to support the celebration.

The Effutu State celebrates the festival annually as
a moral and spiritual obligation to their ancestors, deities and the land.

During the festival, the two Asafo companies, Tuafo Number One and Dentsefo Number Two enter their ancestral forest to catch a live bushbuck to be presented to the Oma Odefe (Paramount Chief) who sits in state to receive homage.

He steps on the animal presented by the group with the first catch, three times to signify acceptance by their god, Penkye Otu.

The Effutu Aboakyer is an ancient rite to the god, Otu, celebrated to commemorate the safe migration from the ancient Western Sudan Empire to the present occupation Effutu enclave and in appreciation for a good harvest.

It is historically known that their priest instructed them on behalf of their god, Pentye Otu to offer a young member of the Royal Family every year to appease the god.

Due to the harsh nature of the sacrifice, the people pleaded with Otu for an animal rather than human sacrifice, a substitution of a wild cat was accepted, to be provided alive and beheaded before t
he god.

However, many people lost their lives to capture a wild cat, and the community, again appealed to Otu and the offering of bushbuck was accepted.

Alhaji Zubairu Kassim, the Effutu Municipal Chief Executive, assured the gathering of the Assembly’s commitment to support the Traditional Council for a peaceful and successful celebration.

He advised the people to sidestep any nefarious activity that would mar the celebration.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Catholic Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga has charged major stakeholders in the North East Region to work collectively to preserve the peace in the area before, during and after the 2024 general election.

There had been relative peace and harmony in the area for some time despite a few disturbances in recent times and it was therefore urgent for stakeholders to support the security services to maintain law and order, especially in the run up to the election.

Dr Joseph Bangu, the Director of Good Governance, Justice and Peace Directorate of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Catholic Diocesan Development Organisation (NABOCADO), a development wing of the Diocese, made the call at a regional level stakeholder forum on conflict prevention and peacebuilding at Nalerigu in the North East Region.

The forum formed part of the Integrated Peacebuilding for Improved Food and Nutrition Support project, funded by MISEREOR, a German Catholic Church Organisation, aimed at contributing to building peace structures at the communit
y, district and regional levels in the Upper East and North East regions.

It was to afford the stakeholders the opportunity to build network and brainstorm strategies to improve regional security, prevent conflict in election 2024 and threats from the Sahel region to promote peace and protect livelihoods.

It brought together representatives from the National Peace Council, security agencies, National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), and traditional and religious leaders, among others.

Dr Bangu explained that apart from the threats of terrorism, land and chieftaincy disputes that posed significant threat to the peace of the country, the 2024 election was predicted to be keenly contested and could breed conflicts in certain areas.

He, therefore, urged stakeholders to view peacebuilding and conflict prevention as a collective responsibility and work towards its promotion to sustain development.

‘The main strategy to peacebuilding is information sharing and building trust, we should be able to trust on
e another that when one gets information and brings it forward it would be acknowledged because networks are important sources of information,’ he added.

Dr Bangu said NABOCADO had been working in the last seven years building community and district level structures to contribute to conflict prevention and that the regional level engagement would help consolidate the gains made.

Mr Haruna Ibrahim, the Executive Secretary, North East Regional Peace Council, said the Council had already identified some hotspots in the region and efforts would be intensified to nip any violent activity in the bud before the elections.

Mr Wilberforce Zangina, the North East Regional Director, NCCE, noted that education and awareness creation was key to promoting social cohesion and urged the traditional and religious leaders to use their influence to support the peacebuilding process.

Naba Haruna Nasinmong Laar II, Chief of Gbankon, said utterances by politicians were major causes of conflict during electioneering and advised
them to be measured in their campaign to preserve the peace.

Mr Yidana Zakaria, the North East Regional Minister, in a speech read on his behalf, commended NABOCADO for contributing to maintaining the relative peace in the region and urged the stakeholders to work together to cement the successes chalked.

Source: Ghana News Agency