Home Blog Page 2491

Gov’t courts queenmothers support to fight galamsey

By
admin
-
0
Mr Jinapor in a group photograph with the Queen Mothers

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Jinapor has appealed to the Queenmothers constituting the Asanteman Traditional Council to assist government in the fight against illegal mining in their various traditional areas.

According to him, the fight against illegal mining is a collective one and as such cannot be won without the efforts and support of important stakeholders like Queenmothers, as he believes in the power women wield, especially those with traditional authority.

“If you want to conquer the world let the women lead and you will have the world under your feet,” he added

Speaking at a meeting with the Queen mothers in Kumasi on the sidelines of his one day tour of the Ashanti Region yesterday, Mr Jinapor said “I have been here to court the support of the Otumfuo and the Chiefs of Asanteman and it will be unacceptable on my part not to court your support, because without you, we cannot win this fight.”

He bemoaned the troubling destruction of lands and natural resources of the country, particularly the river bodies, and pleaded with the Queenmothers to find ways that will help government fight the destructive menace.

He reiterated government’s stance on mining activities in general, saying that “government, as I have always said, is not against mining, we love our gold and other minerals and the jewellery we make out of them, but what we are against is the illegal way of going about the act and is what we want you to help us fight against”.

The Lands and Natural Resources Minister assured the Queenmothers of government’s support, adding that he will ensure the Minerals Commission provide them with needed resources to engage in the combat against illegal mining and also assured to engage them in the Green Ghana Project in the coming year.

The Queenmother of Asante Mampong, Nana Agyakuma Difie who spoke on behalf of the Queenmothers’ assured the Minister of their support and rallied the other mothers to support the government to fight the menace, as she indicated that if the Natural resources deteriorate it will go against them and their generations

He requested the minister to support the Queenmothers with all resources they may require to respond to their fight against the menace.

The Queen mothers, who were drawn from Bono, Ahafo, Bono East and Adansi collectively, thanked the lands Minister for the meeting and gave their comments to corroborate the plea made by the Mampong Queenmother on their behalf.

The meeting, among others also discussed the planting of Rosewood in large quantities and the effort of government to partner Queenmothers of the Asanteman Council to pilot the planting of bamboo and their active involvement in the 2023 Green Ghana Project.

Bright SHS adjudged Best Private School

By
BERNICE BESSEY
-
0
Abuakwa North MCE (2nd from right ) presenting award to the President of Bright SHS

The Ghana Education Service (GES) and Abuakwa North Municipal Assembly have honoured Bright Senior High School in Akyem Kukurantumi as the “Best Private School” in the Municipality.

The award comes months after the West Africa International Press Limited adjudged the school as the Best Private School in Ghana, 2021, at the Heroes of Distinction Conference and Awards held in Accra.

At a colourful ceremony over the weekend, which was attended by chiefs, a Judge, parents, old students in various the universities, colleges, and corporate institutions, a citation and plaque award were presented to Bright Senior High School for its sterling academic excellence.

The citation, signed by Alhaji Umar Babs Bodinga and Abena Gyamera (Ms), Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) and Municipal Education Director respectively, read as follows; “The academic performance of students who graduate from Bright Senior High School has never been in doubt.

The school has consistently churned out scholars who excel in the West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The number of candidates who have passed out from the school since 2012 to 2021 amounts to 7,072.

The records are, indeed, very beautiful, in terms of results and overall academic performance. Discipline too is [the] hallmark of this great school, and every student who has passed through the four corners of the school can testify.

It is, therefore, not surprising when Bright Senior High School was awarded by the West Africa International Press as the best Private Senior High School in 2021. The Abuakwa North Municipal Assembly is very proud of you. Ghana Education Service is proud of you.

Ghana is very proud of you for all the successes and honour you have chalked. You have made Ghana, Eastern region and Abuakwa North Municipality very proud.”

MCE Remarks

The MCE for Abuakwa North, Alhaji Umar Babs Bodinga, explained that the Municipal Education Oversight Committee (MEOC), which he chairs, thoroughly assessed the academic performance of second cycle institutions in the Municipality, which unanimously established the consistent outstanding performance of Bright Senior High School in the West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in the past three years under review, hence the honour.

The MCE stated that the excellent academic performance of students of Bright Senior High School leapfrogs rankings of the Municipality in the WASSCE and other quality educational ratings indexes in the country.

Alhaji Umar Bodinga emphasised, for instance, that “the school’s recent performance in the 2022 WASSCE result, where 77% of the candidates had from 6As to 8As has raised the image of the Abuakwa North Municipality.”

The MCE, therefore, made a personal pledged to support three brilliant, but needy, BECE candidates from public basic schools in the Municipality to continue their education at Bright Senior High School to enjoy quality education, and excel in their academic exploits.

Regional Education Director

Eastern Regional Director of Education, Margret Nsiah Asiamah, in a speech read on her behalf by Mr. Jonathan Ntow, commended the founding members of Bright Senior High School for advancing quality education in the region.

She stated that liberalization of the education sector allowing private participation has enabled private schools to immensely contribute to quality education in the country over the years, a feat that cannot be told without mentioning contribution of Bright Senior High School.

“The emergence of Bright Senior High School as the Best Private Senior High School in Ghana for the 2021/2022 academic year is an indication of it consistent outstanding performance demonstrated over the years” She said.

The Regional Director of Education spurred up management and Staff of the of Bright SHS to sustain the academic gains and glean innovative ways to improve upon it regardless challenges that confront  private education in the country.

Vice President of Bright SHS

The Vice President of Bright Senior High School, Mr Dominic Acquah, in his address commended the MCE and the Ghana Education Service for acknowledging the hard work and accomplishments of the school.

He stated that in spite of challenges in running private education institution in Ghana, Bright SHS continue to excel academically due to huge investment in infrastructure and quality teaching and learning.

Touching on the academic feat of the school, Mr. Dominic Acquah explained that in 2017, the school presented 887 candidates to write the WASSCE which 12 obtained 8As, 435 had 7As and the rest obtained 6As to 4As.

In 2018, 15 candidates out of 1,365 presented in the WASSCE obtained 8As whilst 681 had 7As with the rest securing between 6As and 3As. He said the school in 2020 presented 1,158 candidates which they passed with A1 to C6.

In 2021 when few candidates of the school had standoff with WAEC invigilators over intimidation leading to sudden relocation of the examination center from the school to OPASS, out of the 837 candidates who wrote the WASSCE, 10 had 8As, 216 got 7As and the rest got 6As to 8As.

Then finally, in 2022 WASCE results released recently, 77% of 853 candidates who wrote the WASSCE exams had 6As to 8As.

The Vice President of Bright Senior High School reiterated call to government to include outstanding private SHSs in the Free Senior High School education policy to ensure equity and fairness while ensuring that education thrive in the country.

He argued, private schools continue to contribute enormously to quality education and job creation in the country therefore the need to be factored in policy interventions of governments.

Dream, Explore, Discover -Akufo-Addo challenges youth

By
MAXWELL OFORI
-
0
President Akufo-Addo (middle), Chief of Staff (2nd right), Second Lady (2nd left), Sports Minister (1st left), A member of the HoSA Scheme in a photograph

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has challenged the youth of the country to continue to dream, explore, and discover their potentials. According to him, the youth could do and be anything they wanted if they put their minds to it.

The President was speaking on Monday at Jubilee House during an event to present gold awards to 200 young people for successfully completing the prescribed activities of the Head of State Award-Ghana Scheme.

In his address as the Special Guest of Honour, President Akufo-Addo hoped the knowledge they had acquired would not be the end of the road for them, but that they would put into practise what they had acquired.

He repeated a quote by H. Jackson Brown Jr., which said: “Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do, than by the ones that you did do. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the Trade Winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover.”

EMPOWERING THE YOUTH

The President noted that empowering the youth through social innovation and entrepreneurship had the “incredible potential” to solve problems at the grassroots level if the young people were given a robust platform to connect and act.

He observed that the aspirations and needs of young people, and their ability to meet their full potential, remained largely unmet, due to the myriad of economic challenges.

President Akufo-Addo emphasised that the development of Ghana demanded the active participation of the youth.

He also said that, for young people to be in the position to drive this nation to where it ought to be, it was imperative that they were equipped, trained, supported, and given a level playing field.

“We need to create avenues that will enable them to explore, be innovative, and use creative ways of solving societal problems to ensure the development of this nation,” he added.

THE AWARD SCHEME

The Head of State Awards Scheme is a youth development programme that seeks to challenge young people through a balanced programme of voluntary activities.

A non-competitive programme, the scheme helps unearth the potential of young people in diverse disciplines and allows their achievements to be recognized internationally. It is open to young people aged 14 to 24, regardless of their background or circumstances.

The President is the chief patron of the scheme. President Akufo-Addo congratulated the gold award winners and called on the nation to offer them all the encouragement and support they needed to grow into responsible adults.

President Akufo-Addo was excited about the award scheme’s global youth mobilization and digital award projects, which enabled social entrepreneurship and put youth in the driver’s seat to improve their own lives and societies.

The President reiterated that his administration was a “firm believer in the infinite potential of young people, that is why the government’s interest in young people has been a priority over the past six years.”

He called on the youth to take advantage of the ‘You Start’ flagship programme which has set aside GH¢10 million to support young Ghanaians who intend to start their own businesses or improve their existing businesses.

Editorial: Bawku Conflict: National Security must buckle-down

By
THE CHRONICLE
-
0
Editorial

Asaase Radio, an Accra-based private radio station, reported on Monday, this week, that, at least, eight people had been reportedly killed in a reprisal attack at Bawku in the Upper East Region.

Several others sustained various degrees of gunshot wounds, following renewed fighting between two feuding tribes.

The radio station quoted its sources as saying the conflict began on Saturday, December 17, 2022, after an elderly man and his son were reportedly attacked by faceless individuals at Sinateng, a suburb of Bawku.

The death of the elderly man, the report continued, caused a reprisal attack on the night of the same day, resulting in the killing of five others. Two more deaths were also recorded on Sunday, December 18, 2022, from a spill over, despite increased military-police patrols in the Municipality.

“The fight was serious on the ground. Bullets were just flying everywhere. Even the security agencies could not patrol on the ground, so they used a jet fighter,” a resident, who spoke on grounds of anonymity, told the radio station.

On the same day, Citi FM, another Accra-based radio station, reported during its mid-day news that the gun-toting men opened fire on some of the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) sub-stations, causing a disruption in power supply to Bawku and its environs.

According to history, the Bawku conflict is as old as Ghana. In other words, the conflict started in the colonial era, and has been going on up till date.

Successive governments have failed to resolve the impasse, because it involves two different ethnic groups, apparently fighting over land and supremacy. 

The Chronicle is, however, worried over the new twist to the whole conflict – deliberate shooting of a NEDCo transformer to cause a blackout – so that the perpetrators could execute their criminal agenda. In our opinion, this is a clear case of terrorist activity and we urge our National Security Ministry to sit up before something horrible happens.

We also advise National Security to do thorough investigations to establish if terrorist group or groups had not already infiltrated the Bawku conflict, and is using it as a camouflage to launch attacks on us, as a country.

We are raising all these alarms, because we still can’t fathom why the Northern Electricity Distribution Company’s installation should, all of a sudden, become a target for an attack by those perpetrating the crime in the name of ethnic conflict.

NEDCo is a state-owned power distribution company that certainly has nothing to do with the Bawku conflict, so why attack it? The idea, we believe, was to cause a blackout (the perpetrators) so they could execute whatever agenda they have against the state.

This is the reason why we are calling on the intelligence gathering agencies to buckle-down and ensure that criminals do not use the conflict as a ruse to inflict more pains on the people of Bawku, and Ghana as a whole.

The same searchlight should also be thrown on Bator, in the Volta Region, where six people were recently slaughtered in the name of a chieftaincy dispute.

It is interesting to note that it was the same geographical area where a group of people claimed to have seized, in the run up to the 2020 elections, and declared it the Republic of Western Togoland.

Certainly, there cannot be smoke without fire, hence our clarion call on the authorities to focus their lenses on that area as well.

The earlier action is taken to stem the tide, the better, because ethnic conflicts are contagious and can spread quickly across borders.

Oseikrom Dawuro newspaper launched

By
RICHARD OWUSU-AKYAW
-
0
Mr.Alex Osei Owusu , the CEO of Oseikrom Media launching the Oseikrom Dawuro Newspaper in Ashanti region, Kumasi.

Oseikrom Dawuro, a social newspaper which seeks to throw light on social events in the Ashanti Region, has been launched with a call on the newspaper industry to be technology savvy to stay relevant in the industry.

The printing industry has also been urged to have a strong presence on social media, else risk losing patrons.

Speaking at the maiden Kumasi Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Clinic 2022, where Oseikrom Dawuro, which would be published on a monthly basis, was launched, Mr. Alex Osei Owusu, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the newspaper, which is an offshoot of Oseikrom Media, argues that the Ghanaian media landscape was saturated with politics, which had led to a rise in political stakes in the country, hence the formation of Oseikrom Dawuro.

Osei Owusu indicated that politics has somewhat divides the country, and so Oseikrom Dawuro decides to pay attention to social events such as festivals and funerals which unitd communities.

He disclosed that the Kumasi-based media outlet would concentrate on social events, entertainment and sports, citing festivals, funerals, and birthday celebrations among others as a prime example. He, therefore, urged residents of the Ashanti Region to patronise the Oseikrom Dawuro newspaper.

On global change in business trends, Osei Owusu stated that the world was changing, and this change was being felt in the business arena as well.

This change, he added, had led to the formation of Business Corporation, where business operators collaborate to create a market and benefit on mutual grounds.

On his part, Mr. Joseph Boakye Darkwah urged business owners to pay attention to book-keeping, since it was a challenge for so many business operators.

According to him, proper book-keeping would assist business owners on how to pay their taxes to determine their profits.

Obuasi Assembly, MP bridging infrastructural gaps in schools

By
ERNEST BEST ANANE
-
0
Ongoing project
Assembly Block under construction

The Obuasi Municipal Assembly, in collaboration with Mr. Kwaku Kwarteng, Member of Parliament (MP) for Obuasi West, is working to close the infrastructural deficit of schools in the Obuasi Municipality.

Mr. Elijah Adansi-Bonah, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Obuasi, who disclosed this, stated that the decision by the Assembly to improve infrastructure in schools in the Municipality was yielding positive results, as many of those that were left behind could now boast of a lot more.

He told the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, during a day’s tour of the Obuasi Municipality, Obuasi East, Akrofuom and Adansi Asokwa districts, that the Social Enterprise Development Foundation of West Africa (SEND) suggested that some 5,403 schools in Ghana were in critical condition, with another 2,417 still under trees, needing a total of GH¢3.5 billion to fix the educational gaps.

The Regional Minister, as part of the tour, visited the Obuasi Municipal Assembly to inspect ongoing works on the administration block, the newly constructed Obuasi Central Clinic, funded by the Minerals Development Fund, the 12-unit Methodist classroom project, funded by the DACF- RFG, and the Obuasi Trauma and Accident Center.

The MCE noted that he deemed to be a personal project to replace old school blocks with new ones, for which reason he had decided to channel more resources into educational development.

He said the Municipality had, since 2017, embarked upon a lot of educational projects, including completion of a 12-unit Kokoteasua School block, 3-unit block for Adaase School with ancillary facilities, renovation of Presby, Salvation and New Nsuta schools, as well as new school blocks at Obuasi Methodist, Bogobiri School, Sanso School and Bidieso School, among others.

Mr. Adansi- Bonah reiterated his commitment to making judicious use of the Assembly’s resources by channeling them into transformational projects.

At the Trauma and Accident Center, the Project Manager, Frank Godwin Acquah, estimated work done to be 45% and gave the assurance that construction works was on schedule and would be completed within the stipulated 30 month period.

At the end of the tour, the Regional Minister expressed satisfaction with work done in the districts, but was quick to add that some Agenda 111 projects and Assembly blocks for some new districts had delayed, and promised to take the matter up to salvage the situation.

PFJ market receives mixed reactions in Kumasi

By
RICHARD OWUSU-AKYAW
-
0
Prospective buyers inspecting plantains which were on sale at the PFJ market at Kumasi Jubilee Park

The Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) market, which has been set up in the Ashanti Regional capital of Kumasi has been met with mixed reactions.

Whilst a section of the public has embraced the exercise by the Ministry for Food and Agricultural, others belong to the contrary.

On a visit to the maiden PFJ market in the Ashanti Region, which is located at the Jubilee Part, formerly known as Jackson Park, The Chronicle observed heaps of bunches of plantains on sale.

Complementing the market was the addition of vegetables such as lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, and spring onions. Other food items that appeared on the ‘menu’ were rice, gari, beans and others.

Speaking to some of the customers who thronged to the PJF market, a woman, who gave her name as Philomena, expressed worry about the price and quality of the locally produced rice.

According to her, the rice contained a modicum of unwanted particles such as sand, a challenge, she argued, made eating of the rice uncomfortable.

She argues that a cup of the rice, which went for GH¢7.50, however was for GH¢6.00 or GH¢7.00.

Philomena told The Chronicle that some of the items at the PFJ market were being sold by ordinary people, whose motive defeated the purpose of the programme.

In the event of another woman who said her name was Diana, she expressed worry over the price at which plantains were being sold, bemoaning that the cost of GH¢15.00 for a bunch was exorbitant.

Another person, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed worry over why the operators of the PFJ market hiked the prices during the day, only to reduce them when night was falling.

But, speaking to a PFJ official at the market on condition of anonymity, she noted that the market was aimed at helping Ghanaians to get food at cheaper costs for their homes.

She held the view that their products were cheaper than that of the regular markets, and that they intended to expose the sheer super abnormal profits a section of the market women were after.

Asked if the items brought to the area were specifically from the Ministry for Food and Agriculture (MoFA), she answered in the negative, adding that some people were asked to bring foodstuffs which were cheaper to complement the PFJ market initiative.

Safare Tissues launched; Delay unveiled as Brand Ambassador

By
admin
-
0
(from left): Mr. Eric Amofa, Managing Director of Seabeige Ghana Limited, Kwami Sefa Kayi, Delay and John Kumah displaying the Seabeige Ghana Limited tissue products
Deloris Frimpong Manso, Brand Ambassador, and John Kumah, Deputy Finance Minister, displaying the Safare Tissues product

Seabeige Ghana Limited has launched its line of tissue brand called Safare Tissues.

The short event to unveil the new tissue brand on the market brought together dignitaries from all walks of life.

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Eric Amofa, who is the Managing Director of Seabeige Ghana Limited, indicated that “our vision is to ensure Safare Tissue becomes a household name, easy to find and the number one choice for all tissue related needs for every home in Ghana.”

At the launch, renowned media personality and a businesswoman, Deloris Frimpong Manso, was unveiled as the Ambassador of the product, which is wholly produced in Ghana and Ghanaian owned.

Delay, who was very positive about the latest introduction, said she agreed to join Seabeige Ghana Limited as Ambassador for Safare Tissues, because she wanted to chart a new path and believed a wholly Ghanaian owned company produces the product here in Ghana.

She said: “Safare is born to succeed, and I’m very happy to be part of this success story. I cannot wait to say in the future that I can relax and say they started with me, and they will stay with me. All I know is that I don’t touch something which will fail. That’s not it; there can’t be failure and Delay in the same place.

(from left): Mr. Eric Amofa, Managing Director of Seabeige Ghana Limited, Kwami Sefa Kayi, Delay and John Kumah

“If there is one thing I can say, it is the fact that I’ve the Midas Touch, and everything I touch it turns to gold. I can give you endless examples; the Delay show is fifteen years old, and it feels like a day old. It’s moving from Grace to Grace.”

On his part, a Deputy Finance Minister, John Kumah, indicated that the launch of Safare Tissues was representative of what the government was looking for the country.

He said the government was looking at building an entrepreneurial country where the citizens developed their ideas into businesses which would grow to employ other citizens.

John Kumah used the opportunity to admonish Seabeige Ghana Limited to inculcate better corporate governance practices in its work.

He noted that wholly-owned Ghanaian companies did not stand the test of time after their leaders were no more, and that should not be the case of the Safare Tissue brand.

“There should be better corporate governance institutions in place. I want to encourage Seabeige, if you want us to meet after 50 years when our Chairman General will be an old man, I want to attend your 50th Anniversary with everybody here testifying, because by that time you’ll be a global product.

If you can have that picture, then you begin to set a certain culture right in this business for it to grow beyond us. I want to encourage you, let’s get the Corporate Governance Institutions right from the word go.

It should not be said that right after the original owners passed, the company also passed. This is a major problem of many Ghanaian businesses in our country.

Let’s begin to understand how to grow businesses beyond our lifetime and beyond our first and second generation and when we do that, we will be answering the question of job creation,” he said.

He said Ghanaians can also create the greener pastures here which will prevent Ghanaians from risking their lives to go to Europe for non-existent greener pastures.

About Safare Products

Safare Tissue are a wide range of quality, soft and highly absorbent virgin tissue products made from the finest and yet most hygienic tissue materials. The amazing quality and beautifully packaged SAFARE products represent the new experience in the world of tissues on the Ghanaian market.

Safare products include Toilet Rolls, Paper Towels, Table Napkins, Facial Box Tissue, Pocket Tissue and other related products will be introduced onto the market in 2023.

NIA to introduce biometric verification next year

By
MAXWELL OFORI
-
0
President Akufo-Addo addressing the NHIA delegation
The NHIA delegation in a photograph with President Akufo-Addo after the meeting at Jubilee House

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) says it will introduce a biometric verification system at the various health facilities that have signed onto the scheme next year.

The authority said the initiative is to stamp out fraudulent claims it sometimes receives from health facilities they work with.

The initiative was announced by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NHIA, Dr. Bernard Oko Boye, at a meeting with President Akufo-Addo at Jubilee House. The meeting saw the authority present its policy framework to the president for his signature.

Briefing the president on some positive measures the authority was undertaking, the CEO said that the introduction of the biometric verification system would help them get real-time evidence of beneficiaries visiting the health facilities.

He explained that the authority had observed that some health facilities on the scheme present fraudulent claims for payments, but blamed that on the manual system of verification for the past 19 years.

The meeting in progress

“Next year, we are going to have biometric verification. For these 19 years that the scheme has been running, we pay claims ‘in the dark’ because hospitals give us documents that these people came to see us.

“We have no real-time evidence that they were actually there. And we have cases that have been prosecuted in court, where claims were fraudulently generated,” he stated.

Dr. Oko Boye continued that, “Starting next year, with the help of the National Identification Authority, when you go to the hospital, you will be biometrically verified so that before the month ends, I know that Komfo Anokye Hospital saw 5,000 patients. They can’t send me bills for 6,000 people. That alone will cut out fraud in the system.”

Another positive initiative he mentioned was the launch of an application for self-registration with the use of the Ghana Card, instead of the previous manual system where people had to be physically present at their offices to sign up for the scheme.

He also stated that people aged 70 years and above will no longer have the usual waiting time to be on the scheme.

Further work has been done for prostate cancer treatment to be covered under the scheme, as with breast cancer, among others.

PAYMENT OF CLAIMS

The CEO told the president that the authority technically owes five months’ arrears, though the last payment was in April this year.

He explained that, per their arrangement, three months are taken out for submission and verification of claims before payment.

He was hopeful, however, that the five months’ worth of arrears, which were part of a year’s debt when this government took over, would be cleared.

CHALLENGES

Dr. Oko Boye mentioned some challenges the scheme is facing before the President. He said the processing fee of GH₡6 was to be looked at, as it has been the same for over a decade. He called for a national conversation on that subject.

The other challenge he mentioned was illegal charges by some facilities under the scheme. He remarked that the facilities claimed the payments were not realistic and payments were not regular, thus the illegal charges.

However, he added that the Board of the NHIA has moved to curtail the menace. He told the president that from next year, facilities charging illegally would be called to explain their accounts, or in a worse-case scenario, would be de-credentialed.

PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO

President Akufo-Addo, on his part, stated that it was no secret that the Health Insurance Scheme was an important policy that the New Patriotic Party government implemented in the country.

He further stated that the government had a major legacy to protect the scheme for future generations, adding that he was “very happy to hear about the improvements that you have brought about,” especially the expansion and the management of claims.

He believed that the sooner claims were filed electronically, the greater the guarantee for Ghanaian taxpayers.

He commended the Authority, especially for the introduction of the 70-year package, jokingly stating that, “some of us have vested interests,” a statement that generated amusement at the meeting.

Eastern Region leads in forced early child marriage -Report

By
ERNEST BEST ANANE
-
0
Mad. Malonia Asibi, Head of Domestic Violence - Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection

Statistics for 2017-18 have revealed that the Eastern Region leads in forced early child marriage in Ghana, Juliana Abbeyquaye, the Acting Eastern Regional Director at the Department of Gender has disclosed at a national stakeholders meeting on ‘End Child Marriage’ in Kumasi.

The forum was organised by the Ministry of Gender, Social and Children Protection, in collaboration with UNICEF.

She disclosed that the rate is currently reducing, with the national average of 19%, while Eastern region, at the regional level, recorded 28% as the biggest in Ghana.

According to her, most of the early child marriages are not formal because most of the victims and girls in the region get pregnant and the parents push them to go and stay with the men who impregnated them, at the expense of their education or apprenticeship.

Mad. Juliana Abbeyquaye disclosed that most of the causes of teenage pregnancies leading to early girl’s child marriage are child trafficking, of which most of the Okada drivers take advantage of them and  impregnate them, because of lack of proper accommodation or shelters and good incomes which the men promise.

The Director further disclosed that, the department always sensitise the victims and their parents to embrace government’s re-entry school policy for pregnant school girls and entrepreneurial skills programmes to enable them become responsible adults.

Malonia Asibi, Head – Domestic Violence Secretariat, Ministry of Gender, Social and Children Protection, explained that the meeting was geared towards collating operational plans of stakeholders for an  update.

She said the meeting would also ensure that the stakeholders validate the draft to be used for their operational activities next year.

Asibi stated that the Girl Child is an important person and should be well catered for by the nation through guidance, to be part of national development goals.

She, therefore, entreated parents and policy makers to empower the girl child by giving them better education even if they get pregnant in school and not push them into early marriage.

Madam Asibi urged parents to give both their boys and girl child equal opportunity in education instead of pushing them into marriages.

Yeri Nancy of Norsaac, Northern Region, on behalf of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) disclosed that the organisation has currently reached out to about 10,000 adolescent girls within the North, Savanna, North East and Upper regions, and rescued about 35 who are being sensitised together with their parents on the importance of getting back to school, as well as entrepreneurial training and effects of early girl child marriages.

1...2,4902,4912,492...3,047Page 2,491 of 3,047

EDITOR PICKS

POPULAR POSTS

POPULAR CATEGORY

©
The Ghanaian Chronicle