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Kumawu roads have not been abandoned –Prez

By
MAXWELL OFORI
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President Akufo-Addo in a picture with the Kumawumanhene, Barima Safo Tweneboa Kodua

Contractors working on road projects in the Kumawu constituency will remain on site till all the projects are completed, the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assured.

He gave the assurance during a meeting with the Omanhene of the Kumawu Traditional Area, Barima Safo Tweneboa Kodua at Jubilee House yesterday.

The chief had accompanied the Member of Parliament-elect of Kumawu, Ernest Yaw Anim and some party executives from National, Regional and Constituency to show appreciation to President Akufo-Addo for supporting the MP to win the seat.

President Akufo-Addo in a photograph with the MP on his left chief on his right

The Chief, in his remarks, had mentioned “rumours” about contractors abandoning the projects after the election and that he would “have been surprised because I know the President cannot do that to me.”

ASSURANCE

President Akufo-Addo in his remarks assured the chief that “the people who have come to do the work will stay and finish the work before they move. There won’t be a question of election gimmicks. That will not be in my case, and it will not be correct. So, Nana you can be rest assured.”

President Akufo-Addo, in congratulating the Kumawu MP-elect, indicated that the by-election “has given a signal to the entire country about how elections should be done.”

COMMENDATION

President Akufo-Addo asked him to ensure that his stay in the August House will benefit the people of Kumawu who voted for him. He commended all the party followers whose contributions led to the victory in Kumawu.

The National Chairman, Stephen Ayensu Ntim, who led the delegation, said they had come to officially introduce the MP-elect to the President before his swearing in today in Parliament.

The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, who is the leader of the Majority Group, told the President that they had oriented Mr. Ernest Yaw Anim ahead of his investiture today.

The General Secretary of the ruling NPP, Justin Kodua Frimpong, assured the President that the party will work to win the Assin North seat as well.

Court tells 3 soldiers: you have waived your rights for cross-examination

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Court Complex

Three out of the five soldiers- Corporal Seidu Abubakar, Lance Corporal Ali Solomon and Corporal Sylvester Akanpewon who are standing trial with one senior police officer and three civilians in the alleged coup plot case have had their rights for cross-examination waived by the High Court hearing the case.

Their rights were waived when they failed to personally cross-examine the third accused (A3), Bright Alan Debrah Ofosu, after Warrant Officer II Esther SaanDekuwine’s counsel, MrLamtiigApanga,had taken his turn.

According to the accused persons, they needed the assistance of lawyers to conduct the cross-examination on their behalf, since they can’t do it on their own and,therefore, pleaded with the court for adjournment.

However, the court, presided over by three justices – Afia Serwaa Botwe-Asare, HafisataAmaleboba and Stephen Oppong- held yesterday that the three applications for adjournment cannot be granted because they had already been cautioned for having one Counsel representing all of them.

Victor Kwadjoa Adawudu, until March this year, was representing five of the accused persons, which the court deemed as conflict.

Mr Dawudu was representing Corporal Seidu Abubakar, Lance Corporal Ali Solomon, Corporal Sylvester Akanpewon, DonyaKafui, aka Ezor, as well as Bright Alan Debrah Ofosu.

Nevertheless, A3 and MrDawuduparted ways and currently being represented by Rita Kutin Ali, a lawyer from Legal Aid Commission. However, because of the former Counsel’s relationship with Alan, he could not have cross-examined on behalf of the four others.

Although Mr Dawudu attempted desperately to intervene, the court said it has already ruled on the subject matter.

The court explained that it was not going to grant the accused persons application for adjournment because they were continuously warned from the onset about the dangers of one counsel representing several clients in a case and a reason they must conduct their own cross-examination.

The court has adjourned the next hearing to today.The accused persons were 10 in number, with the first accused (A1), Dr Frederic Mac-Palm now deceased.

The accused persons were; Dr Frederic Mac-Palm (medical doctor), DonyaKafui, aka Ezor (blacksmith), Bright Alan Debrah Ofosu (fleet manager), Johannes Zikpi (civilian employee with the Ghana Armed Forces) and Colonel Samuel KodzoGameli.

The rest are; Warrant Officer II Esther SaanDekuwine, Corporal Seidu Abubakar, Lance Corporal Ali Solomon, Corporal Sylvester Akanpewon, and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Dr Benjamin Agordzo.

The following are the questions and answers (Q&A):

Q. At the last adjourned date, you informed the court that you know A6?
A. Yes.

Q. How do you know her?

A. In the year 2017, because of the kind of work I do, which I normally give vehicles to drivers. So I happened to meet this gentleman who per the company’s arrangements, he needed someone to stand surety for him.

So this gentleman indicated to me that Madam Saan is his sister and she will stand surety for him. And per the arrangements, I have to check where the guarantor lives. He took me to her at Teshie military camp.

Q: So from 2017 to date, you have known Madam Saan?
A: Yes.
Q: Is it your case that besides being the guarantor for the driver, you became friends?

A: Yes and it was also because she hails from my mother’s hometown and I have always wanted to learn the language. So I always visit her now then.
Q: Do you know she is a soldier?

A: Yes I was told.
A: What is her function in the military?
A: I remember I asked her and she told me she is a Caterer.

Q: Now, it is alleged that you introduced A1 (Dr MacPalm) to A6, is that the case?
A: That is true.

Q: What was the purpose of this introduction?
A: After I got to know her, she always complains about health issues and most of it was about fertility problems. So I told her I have a doctor friend who can help her.

Q: Now, it is alleged that you and A6 met with A1?
A. Yes.
Q: What was the subject of discussion?
A: I introduced A1 to Madam Esther Saan and the discussion was about her health issues with A1.

Q. Do you know a gentleman called Sulley Awarf?
A. Yes.

Q. Had there been an occasion you, Sulley Awarf, A6 and A1 met?
A. I met with Sulley Awarf and A6 but A1 was note there.
Q. Where did you meet?

A: We met at Teshie.
Q. Can you tell the court where you met?
A: We met at Next Door Beach Resort.

Q: What was the discussion about?

A: I spoke to them about TAG and I requested for their support. After explaining to them the mission of TAG, Madam Saan asked the expertise I needed from them and I explained to her that it is about security and in case we don’t understand anything on that subject we will consult them, in order to help us create public awareness.

Q. It is alleged that you and the other accused persons with specific reference to A6 planned to overthrow the government?
A. That is not true.

Q. Beside the meeting or meetings held between you, Sulley Awarf and A6 at the Next Door Beach Resort, what other encounter did you have with A6 in respect of the allegation you are facing in this court?

A. There are no other encounters in that regard, although we met on other occasions for family things.
Q. Is it your case that besides the meeting that happened at Next Door Beach Resort, A6 did meet in any of the meetings?

A. I never met with A6 to discuss anything concerning the allegation. I remember when I met my sister somewhere in July 2018, I had some challenges, which made it difficult for me to make calls on mtn. So I stopped contacting my sister for almost a year.

It was after I was arrested that I met her again and we were both shocked and she asked whether I was in Ghana or travelled because I usually travel a lot.
Counsel: That would be all for A6.

Court calls A7 to cross-Examine A3. Adawudu stood up to intervene but the court declined, since Mr Adawudu is in a position of conflict. Thus, until March, this year, he was representing A3, now in the box. He cannot in such circumstances turn around to cross examine him because of lawyer-client privilege among others

A7: I want to plead with the court to be given some time to seek the assistance of a lawyer who can do the cross examination on my behalf.
Court: This is nothing new. We have called your attention to it so many things. When it is Mr Donya’s turn, an Ewe interpreter was called for him to conduct his own cross-examination.

Counsel: Respectively my Lords, if I may be heard.
Court: The court has just ruled.
Counsel: He is my…

Court: The application for adjournment is refused.
A7: I’m still pleading with the court.
Court: We will consider you cross-examination waived and moved to the next

person. Do you have any questions?
A7: I can’t cross-examine.

Court: The application for A7 is refused to examine.
A8 (Ali Solomon) called to cross-examine.
A8: My Lord, I also need to get a lawyer. I contacted a lawyer and he said I needed my lawyer to clear me.

Court: The last time I checked, you said Adawudu was on his way coming. Solomon, are you going to cross examine Mr Debrah or not?
A8: I will but I’m not prepared.
By the court, no adjournment shall be granted and that is why A2 was asked to conduct his own cross-examination. …should A8 fail to cross examine, we will consider him to have waived his right. The right to cross examination is waived.

A9 called to testify
A9: My Lord, I pray that you give me time to look for a Counsel to do the cross-examination for me. I tried to contact a lawyer but he told me that I need to get clearance from Mr Adawudu, but I was not hearing from Mr Adawudu.

Court: A9 will cross-examine or not
A9: My Lord, I will do that but I can’t do it on my own.
Cross-examination by Kumivi Dotse
Q: Mr. Debrah, did you indicate in your evidence-in-chief that you didn’t know

A10 at all?
A: Yes, but he is somebody I used to see on TV and Facebook.
Q: You also did indicate that during your interrogation you were shown A10 picture and asked to identify?

A: Yes.
Q: You were the administrator of a page called of TAG executive?
A: Yes.
Q: One of the persons on that page was a certain Dr Sam?
A: That is true.

Q: At one point in time, the said Dr Sam was removed from the page, is that not correct?
A: That is so. I removed him from the platform. I was instructed by Dr MacPalm.

Q: Can you share with the court why you removed him from the page?
A: He went against the roles governing the page. We first drew his attention and urged him to apologise and retract those comments but refused, so Dr MacPalm instructed that I removed him.

I remember he even called me and Dr MacPalm and we had a conference call. During the conference call, I remember Dr MacPalm asking him to apologise but the conference call turned confrontational and degenerated into insults. And that was why Dr MacPalm asked that I remove him and report him to the police.

Q: What happened to the recording?

A: When I was arrested Chief Inspector Nkrumah said my phone would be used as an exhibit. When the exhibits were brought before the court I realised my phone was not part of it so I informed my Counsel, then Lawyer Adawudu, and he promised to follow it up.

So it was just last year that Chief Inspector Nkrumah called me and handed over the phone to me, but it was off.

Q: What happened to the recording?
A: After switching it on, I realised the recording and other information on the phone had been deleted.
Q. So it is your case that that the recording was deleted as part of other information on your phone?

A: Yes.
Q: Apart from Dr MacPalm and Dr Sam, do you also remember the other person on TAG Executive platform?

A: It was myself, Dr Sam, Dr MacPalm and Mr Kofi Amoah. We were the ones who formed Take Action Ghana. Later we added one lady by name Miss Awindor and one gentleman called Kofi Amoah.
Q: Is it your case that A10 was not one of your members on TAG Executive platform?

A: Yes.
Cross-examination by DPP
Q. Mr Debrah, can you tell the court your date of birth?

A. 22/10/1988.
Q. Where were you born?
A. I was born in Accra.

Q. In your investigation caution statement, Exhibit AB, which you wrote yourself on the 22/9/2019, you gave your age as 21 years in your own handwriting?

A. Unless I have a look at the witness statement. I have seen it and critically looked at it, you will notice that it is 31 but I was asked to correct it to 21.

I remember when I was sent to BNI, at the entrance, I mistakenly wrote 1998 instead of 1988, when I later wanted to correct it, they did not allow me and I also thought it was not a big deal.

Q. do you have a Ghanaian passport?
A. Yes.
Q. What is the date of birth on your Ghanaian passport?

A. 1988
Q. You told the court that you were a fleet manager, can you explain what you meant?

A. What a fleet manager does is to take care of all the vehicles that go out, those that need servicing on site.
Q. What company?

A. Smart Company limited.
Q. Who does the Smart Company Limited belong to?
A. It belongs to a woman called Boadu and I was also a shareholder.
Q. What percentage of shares do you hold?

A. 50%
Q. About how many vehicles does Smart Company Limited have?
A. 32 cars and they were all bought by the company.

Q. You have stated to the court again that your were the administrator of the Take Action Ghana group platform?
A. Yes.

Q. And you were also the Secretary?
A. Yes.

Q. You were also the administrator of the executive platform?
A. That is so.
Q. You were the one who could admit and take out members.

A. Yes, but I added Dr MacPalm.
Q. You were very well aware of the objectives of TAG, which was stated in the exhibit platform as outlined variously in Exhibit AE?

A. They were objectives suggested by Dr Sam and it was one of the reasons he was removed from the platform. The objective of TAG is what is at the Register General.

Q. Now, from line 27 to 34 and the following page from about 10 to line 37, the discussion on the platform was to mobilise the masses in a historical… and civil uprising that would bring about a new constitution and would shut the current government down?

A. All these were written by Dr Sam but we did not approve of it because it was against our rules of engagement and one of the reasons we deleted him.

Q. That could not have been true because on Exhibit AE, there was no displeasure registered to what Dr Sam had said.

A. That is true and it was the reason why we took him off the group.
Q. Rather Dr Sam was commended by Dr MacPalm as reflected on the last two lines. Read it?

A. Reading: “…” If you continue on the next line, Dr MacPalm asked that we find time to meet and deliberate on the issue. It was Mr Amoah who drew his attention and I also called Dr MacPalm attention and that was why we agreed to meet.

Q. After you have gone…phase 1 and phase 2?
A. That is not true, when we met Dr Sam, Dr MacPalm and another person I don’t remember, we threatened to take him off the page…

Q. You are being untruthful because at this point, Dr Sam was not in Ghana; he had travelled to the US?

A. He was in Ghana and was living at Teshie-Nungua Estate.
Q. He was not in the country?

A. I remember Dr Sam was in the country. My car broke down and he was the one who drove me to my house at East Legon. I told this court that I was introduced to Dr Sam in Ghana at Alajo but we did not travel abroad to meet him.

Q. In fact, from page 12 on Exhibit AE on pages 7 & 8 line on the bottom, it was rather Dr Sam who cautioned that certain words like revolution should be taken out.

A. It was Dr Sam who authored that statement so he could not have been the same person to have cautioned us.

Ekumfi to bid farewell to departed chiefs on June 17

By
AGNES ANSAH
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The four late chiefs

Communities in the Ekumfi Traditional Area have started preparations towards the holding of the final funeral rites for four paramount chiefs who ‘went home’ some years ago.

Leadership of the traditional area have put together a number of activities in preparation for the final funeral rites of Nana Akyin VI, Nana Akyin VII, Nana Benyiwa IV and Nana Benyiwa V on Saturday, June 17, 2023 at the Royal Palace grounds at Ekumfi Abiram.

According to the Omanhene of the Ekumfi Traditional Area, Odeefuo Akyin VIII, the rites and celebration is well deserved, considering how well these two chiefs and queens have served their communities and the nation as a whole.

He noted that Nana Akyin VI, for instance, was the first President of the Central Regional House of Chiefs and served for 14 years. He was also one of the first chiefs to be appointed as the Chairman of Presidential Commission, when Ghana became a Republic.

This achievement, according to Odeefuo Akyin VIII must be celebrated, hence the grand funeral rites to bid all of them farewell.

As a result of this, all communities in the Ekumfi Traditional area are expected to observe some days of silence in reverence to the chiefs. The inhabitants, including churches, are banned from organising burials or any activity intended to disrupt the solemn atmosphere in the Traditional area.

Also, inhabitants in every community making up the traditional area are expected to clean up their vicinities on June 9, this year, as part of preparation towards the rites.

From Saturday, June 10 to Friday, June 16 all communities making up the Ekumfi traditional area are expected to, amidst drumming, singing and dancing,  march to Royal Palace Grounds (RPG) at Ekumfi Abiram to  pay homage to the stool.

On Saturday, June 17, which is the great day itself, inhabitants of all the communities will troop to RPG to bid farewell to the four chiefs and queens.

Some dignitaries expected to grace the occasion are the President of the National House Chiefs, Ogyeahohuo Yaw Gyebi II and the President of the Central Regional House of chiefs, Odeefo Amoakwa Buadu VIII.

From the government side, the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng and the Central Regional Minister, Madam Justina Marigold are also expected to grace the accession.

On Sunday, June 18, 2023 inhabitants of surrounding communities are expected to gather at the RPG again for a Thanksgiving service to climax the celebration.

Ada chiefs want Akufo-Addo to clamp down on illegal miners

By
MAXWELL OFORI
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illegal mining (galamsey)

The Chiefs of the Ada Traditional Council have asked the President to provide state security at the Ada Songor salt project to curb activities of illegal salt miners thwarting the progress of the project.

The Chiefs confessed to the tremendous development the Ada enclave is witnessing, owing to the salt project and expressed concern that it might not last long if the illegal miners are not stopped.

“The harm these illegal salt mining activities pose to the Songor Lagoon is far-reaching” and added that “Your excellency, help us have the state security agencies act swiftly to curb and bring to order those in the Ada traditional area who have taken the law into their own hands and have total disregard for the law.”

Nene Abram Kabu Akuaku III, Paramount Chief of Ada Traditional Area made the appeal during a call on President Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House, Accra, on Monday.

Nene Abram Kabu Akuaku III, who is also the President of the ATC told President Akufo-Addo that since the government granted the license for commercial investment in the salt project, the  area had seen progress in the development and commercial production of the mineral in the Songor concession.

In his response, President Akufo-Addo was elated at the testimonies of the chief.

“I’m impressed and happy about the message that you have brought here to us in Jubilee House today,” he said.

President Akufo-Addo reiterated the point that the benefits of the project transcend the Ada township, adding that if fully developed, has the potential to make a major contribution to the economic fortunes of the country.

On the issue of the state providing the projects with security, President Akufo-Addo bought into the request. He opined that, the resolve of the chiefs to help the project succeed merit their plea.

He assured the chiefs that he would take the matter up with the security agencies to ensure that “miscreants, people who do not have the welfare of the community at heart, but only their individual pockets are brought to book and disciplined.”

Editorial: Teacher motivation – corporate bodies should emulate Mireku Duker’s example

By
THE CHRONICLE
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Editorial

It is undeniable fact that teachers have played and continue to play a major role in the human resource development of this country. All the current crop of politicians, academicians, business executives just to mention a few – all passed through the hands of teachers.

Without the teacher at the Basic and Senior High Schools (SHSs), this country cannot produce the needed human resource to manage the national economy. It is upon the basis of this, that the government decided to institute the National Teachers’ award to reward our hard working teachers at the pre-tertiary level.

Much as this policy of rewarding teachers by the government is commendable, it is impossible for the government of the day to appreciate the good works of all teachers across the country. In other words, the award scheme for teachers to get national recognition is so competitive that only a few of the teachers will be rewarded.

The best way to address this problem is for the government to decentralise the award scheme, where each district, municipal and metropolitan assemblies are allowed to reward teachers in their local area.

In our opinion, therefore, this huge gap that has been created can only be filled by the private sector, which also benefits from the fruits of our hard working teachers.

It is in the light of the above that The Chronicle is happy that the Member of Parliament for Tarkwa-Nsueam, Mr Mireku Duker, has taken it upon himself to reward teachers in his constituency.

A story The Chronicle carried yesterday indicated that he has instituted an award scheme to reward hard working teachers in the Tarkwa-Nsueam municipality.

The award scheme started last year and this year, the winner was given a brand new salon car, worth $14,500. A total of nineteen teachers received various awards, ranging from Chest Freezer, 50 inch LED Television and Citations.

This is no doubt a laudable initiative and The Chronicle is happy with the bold statement from the Legislator that the award has come to stay in the constituency.

As noted by Mr Mireku Duker, promoting quality education should not involve only the construction of modern buildings and providing learning materials. We also need to take into consideration the welfare of the teacher, who is going to mould the children into future leaders.

Despite billions of dollars that Ghana as a country continues to sink into education, most parents aspire to send their children to private schools, which appear to perform far better than the public sector schools. Interestingly, most of the teachers in these private schools are not even trained, yet they are performing better than the trained ones in the public schools.

This, we believe, boils down to supervision and motivation of teachers in the private schools. If this is the reality on the ground, it confirms our position that promoting quality education does not lie in the provision of infrastructure alone, but also taking care of the welfare of the teacher.

It is the hope of The Chronicle that corporate bodies and individuals will emulate the example Mr Mireku Duker has set in Tarkwa-Nsueam by instituting similar schemes in their areas of operation to motivate teachers to give off their best.

This is the only way we can help to improve on the quality of education in the country.

Ahafo Regional NADMO embarks on monitoring and compliance exercises

By
FRANCIS OWUSU-ANSAH
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Director of Operations for Ahafo Nadmo, Murtala Mohammed(l) giving out directives

The Ahafo Regional National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has embarked on monitoring and compliance exercises in Tano South Municipality.

The officers visited fuel stations, gas stations, sawmills, hotels and sachet water-producing facilities at Bechem, Takyimantia and Derma.

The Director of Operations for Ahafo NADMO, Mr Murtala Mohammed, advised the various companies that it is more imperative to put out proper safety measures to protect their firms than to let their negligence cause man-made disasters which could heavily affect the facilities beyond repairs.

“I am highly disappointed that all sawmills we visited are not complying with the safety measures. The workers were not wearing safety boots, safety hand gloves and safety spectacles which can save them from an emergency calamity”, he said.

“The positioning of the emergency assembly points were nothing to write home about; however I have tasked the respective managers to provide all the necessary safety equipment to their workers as soon as possible because we shall come back for another monitoring”, he added.

The Head of the Rapid Response Unit for Ahafo NADMO, W.O Abdulai Bawah, also stated emphatically that NADMO’s vision is to build a disaster resilient Ghana of which Ahafo region is not exempted therefore, the organisation is poised to ensure that all safety precautions are in place to help protect lives and properties.

“We shall not relent on educating the public from preparedness to response, recovery, prevent misfortunes, and create awareness in prone communities and institutions on all disaster types, especially industrial disaster, ” he said.

The NADMO operations team educated the various institutions within Bechem and its environs on a professional approach to disaster management systems.

Youth in Asunafo South receive skill training

By
FRANCIS OWUSU-ANSAH
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Mr Adusei (r) presenting apprenticeship fees to master trainers

200 selected youth from various communities in the Asunafo district in the Ahafo region have been enrolled into apprenticeship and skills training programs.

 

Various skills such as dressmaking, hairdressing, electrical, tiling, carpentry and masonry among others were chosen.

In addition, machines and equipment to be used to acquire the training were given to them and their apprenticeship fees paid.

 

Addressing the gathering, the District Chief Executive for the area, Mr Frank Adusei Poku, admonished the beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity and learn hard to acquire the needed skills for their future.

 

He further explained to them that the government takes technical education and skills training very seriously, which is why it has made it free under the Free SHS Policy.

 

“As an appointee of this administration, I have also made it my focus to enhance skills training  that’s why a TVET School is under construction at Kwapong, which when completed will augment what we are doing- providing the necessary skills for our youth’’, he said.

 

In attendance were the Ahafo regional minister, Mr George Boakye and the Sompahene of the area, Nana Yaw Boakye.

The regional minister advised the beneficiaries to make good use of the equipment to enhance their living conditions.

Ghanaian Science Teacher ventures into large scale ginger, carrots production 

By
SEBASTIAN R. FREIKU
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Joseph Ofori Amanfo - Scientist cum farmer

Mr. Joseph Ofori Amanfo, a Physics and Integrated Science teacher of the Hwediem Senior High School in the Ahafo region has embarked on large scale cultivation of ginger and carrots.

He says the production of ginger and carrots is his contribution towards growing the economy from the global economic downturn through agriculture.

Teacher Amanfo, operating E. Boakye Company Limited as a business entity has cultivated 11 acres ginger and two acres of the first phase of a 10 acre carrot project.

The company’s farms are situated at Kofiase in the Mampong constituency of Ashanti and has opened an office and a distribution point at Asore Nkwanta or Columbus Junction at Medoma in the Tafo Municipality in Kumasi to supply the produce to clients including restaurants, retailers, and breweries.

The company, which is capable of supplying a 1,000 bags of ginger currently, would also focus on export and intends to buy quantity of the product from farmers who want to sell out their produce to the company to boost its export drive eventually.

Ofori Amanfo, is a product of Prempeh College. He trained as a Electrical and Electornic engineer at the then Kumasi Polytechnic (now Kumasi Technical University) in 2006 before pursuing a course of study in Physics and Mathematics at the University of Ghana, Legon in 2015.

He is currently a second year Post graduate student in Nuclear Science and Technology at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi.

Bagbin tasks IPU members to ensure equality opportunities for women

By
ERNEST BEST ANANE
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Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin - Speaker of Parliament

The Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has urged Inter- Parliamentary Union (IPU) across the globe to act collectively to ensure that no one, especially women and girls, are left behind in any aspect of their national life.

According to him, there would be a time when women and men would enjoy the same rights and opportunities across all sectors of society, including cultural, social, political and economic decision-making.

Speaker Bagbin is of the view that there can be no peace without justice and the much talked about peace, prosperity and sustainable development will continue to elude the world without gender equality.

Addressing the 145th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) assembly in Kigali, Mr  Bagbin stated that since women constitute the majority of the world’s population, their interest must equally find expression in whatever we do, adding that this is a sine qua non to ensuring a more resilient and peaceful world.

“The reverse produces an antithesis – a polarised, divisive, bitter, poor, unjust, undeveloped and war-prone world,” he said.

The event, which is being held under the theme: “Gender equality and gender-sensitive parliaments as drivers of change for a more resilient and peaceful world”, has attracted over 1,200 delegates, including Speakers and Deputy Speakers of Parliaments, representative of diplomatic corps and international observer bodies.

Mr. Bagbin stated that given the current demographics of more than 50 per cent of the global population being females, their equal participation in whatever society does is an imperative to ensure inclusive and responsive governance.

He said gender equality, when promoted through gender-sensitive, parliaments would be one of the most reliable and effective drivers of change for a more resilient and peaceful world.

Mr. Bagbin noted that, it is against this background that Goal Five of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target seek to ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision making in political, economic and public life.

He said Ghana’s Parliament is the heart and life blood of democracy and good governance, hence its composition ought to be a true reflection and a mirror of the people it represents.

This, he said, means all the people must be equally represented, heard and given equal opportunities.

Mr. Bagbin told the assembly that parliament itself could play a significant role in the creation of a gender-sensitive institution and that parliaments could remove barriers to the full participation of all sections of society, such as women, the youth, physically-challenged and minorities through legislation and policy adaptation mechanisms.

He disclosed that, in executing its mandate, a gender-sensitive parliament ought to ensure that policies and legislations are well scrutinised and subjected to gender analysis to include the articulation of the interest of all groups.

Mr. Bagbin said Ghana had definitely made conscious effort to support gender equality since 1958 and that her Parliament had been working to ensure the realisation of that goal, adding that the need to be a driver of change through a number of policy measures has not been lost on Ghana’s Parliament.

He said the efforts of Ghana towards the emancipation of women and the girl-child started from the creation of a desk in the Office of the President to the setting up of a Secretariat and from the creation of National Commission on Women and Development to the establishment of a full-blown Ministry of Gender and Children.

African leaders must promote peace & unity –ECOWAS Queen mother  

By
admin
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Nana Kyeremaa Abrafi-Koto

The Queen mother of ECOWAS nationals working and living in Ivory Coast, Nana Kyeremaa Abrafi-Koto, has challenged African leaders to make the unity of the African continent a priority.

According to the Queen Mother, African leaders have the best of opportunity to use culture and tradition to speed up the promotion of unity, peace, stability and harmony on the continent.

Addressing a durbar of chiefs and people to climax this year’s ECOWAS FESTIVAL, dubbed “FENA 2023” in Abidjan last Sunday, the Queen mother appealed to governments within the African continent to make the four decade unity campaign previously waged by free fighters, Pan Africanists as an uncompromising agenda.

“The campaign to unite Africa obviously must be supported by all nationals of the continent,” she said.

The Queen mother of ECOWAS noted that there couldn’t be development in Africa without unity and that integration remains an amplifying avenue for building bridges and speeding up the process of development in Africa.

“We have to do everything in our capacities as governments, traditional rulers, to unite our people and ultimately the continent. We cannot grow and compete globally if we are disintegrated.

“The Chinese and Indians are united and still hold the cultural purity of their tradition and heritage, therefore, they are able to compete globally. We must do same as Africans,” she suggested.

Nana Kyeremaa Abrafi-Koto, who gained the ECOWAS Queen mothership in Ivory Coast through her benevolent social activities in support of ECOWAS nationals working and living in Ivory Coast observed that the only inspiration required to push Africa to unite, was through cultural activities.

She lauded the various African Embassies in Ivory Coast for backing her up to influence the establishment of this unique festival.

She also praised the administration of His Excellency Alassane Dramane Ouattara, President of Ivory Coast for creating an enabling environment for foreigners to stay and work in Ivory Coast.

The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Ivory Coast, Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani, who brilliantly initiated the festival to bring together different nationals of the sub-region to celebrate on one stage and to take stock of activities commemorating African unity.

He applauded the Queen mother for identifying herself with the Ivorian government and for working to promote cultural diversity, development and tourism.

He said the Ivorian government recognises her singular effort and would support her in various ways to continue to play that crucial role in influencing the unity and progress of Africa.

According to Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani, the Prime Minister of Ivory Coast, Patrick Jérôme Achi and President of Ivory Coast Alassane Dramane Ouattara were all happy with the positive impact Nana Kyeremaa Abrafi-Koto was making in Ivory Coast and Africa in general.

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