Day: June 7, 2024

Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, Volta Regional Minister, has urged the citizens to safeguard the peace and unity prevailing in the country.

He said though the country had successfully conducted elections eight times, tension continued to rise, and mistrust deepened during election year.

Dr Letsa was speaking at the first meeting of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) in Ho.

The Minister asked the Municipal and Districts Assemblies to support the establishment of municipal and district elections security taskforce.

He said the taskforce’s formation was essential to addressing emerging election security issues and fostering confidence among the key stakeholders in the electoral processes.

Dr Letsa said no peaceful intervention was too small, urging all not to shy away from correcting those whose actions threatened the peace of the country.

He said their goal was to ensure that the region was safe and secure for all to go about their daily businesses, protect the environment, and leverage its economic
potential to improve the wellbeing and quality of life for all.

‘We are pursuing this vision by facilitating the creation of decent job opportunities in the agriculture value chain, tourism, creative arts, information communication technology in line with the social and economic programme objective of the President dubbed ‘Agenda do Jobs.’

The Minister said the region had been made attractive for investment of all kinds and preferred tourism destinations for many, noting that this was evident in the increase seminars and conferences being hosted in the region in the past few years.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Osagyefo Ampem Anye Amoampong Tabrako III, the Paramount Chief of Wenchi Traditional Area, has urged the government to resource government institutions to nurture tree seedlings under the Green Ghana initiative for progress.

He emphasized the importance of the government providing necessary equipment and logistics to institutions such as the Ghana Fire Service, Environmental Protection Agency, Ministry of Agriculture, and the Forestry Commission.

He noted that such resources were essential to ensure the protection and care of the tree seedlings, leading to a successful realization of the Green Ghana initiative’s goals.

The Paramount Chief made the remarks in a media at Wenchi, during this year’s Green Ghana Day celebration at the Wenchi Agriculture College, organized by the Sunyani Forest Services Division, under the theme, ‘Growing for a Greener Tomorrow’.

Osagyefo Tabrako III mentioned the potential loss of the country’s investment in the initiative if the trees were not properly nurtured and called up
on citizens to collaborate with the government institutions in nurturing the trees to ensure their survival to maximize the benefits of the Green Ghana initiative.

Mr. Francis Brobbey, the District Manager of the Sunyani Forest Services Division, announced that the Division had set a target of distributing 400,000 tree seedlings.

However, they had surpassed the goal by distributing over 750,000 tree seedlings to various institutions and individuals.

He explained since the commencement of the tree planting initiative in 2021, the Sunyani Forest Division has planted more than 2.5 million tree seedlings.

Mr. Brobbey emphasized that their focus was not only on increasing the number of trees planted but also on ensuring the long-term success and sustainability of the trees.

He urged the youth to consider engaging in tree planting as a profitable business opportunity that could not only create jobs but also improve their livelihoods.

Ms. Naomi Amoah, a second-year student at Wenchi College of Agriculture, emp
hasized the importance of tree planting exercise in safeguarding the vegetation of various communities across the country.

As part of the Green Ghana Day initiative, the Sunyani Forest Services Division has distributed a variety of tree seedlings including Mahogany, Teak, Emire, Cedrela, Bamboo, Coconut, and some economical and medicinal tree species.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Officials of the Forestry Commission, joined by Alhaji Shani Alhassan Saibu, Northern Regional Minister amongst other personalities, on Friday led a tree planting exercise in Tamale to mark this year’s Green Ghana Day.

They planted various species of seedlings on the campus of the Tamale Technical University.

Mr. Kwasi Frimpong, Northern Regional Manager, Forestry Commission, speaking after planting the trees, said a total of 500,000 trees were expected to be planted in the Northern Region as part of this year’s Green Ghana Day.

The Green Ghana Day has been instituted by the government to help restore the country’s vegetative cover, and about 10 million trees were expected to be planted as part of this year’s exercise.

It was on the theme: ‘Growing for a Greener Tomorrow’.

Mr. Frimpong urged the citizenry and corporate bodies to join the exercise to help sustain it.

He said: ‘It is not just about planting trees. It is also about nurturing them to grow into maturity to help sustain the environment.’

Al
haji Shani Alhassan Saibu, Northern Regional Minister emphasised that tree planting was a shared responsibility to restore the country’s lost vegetation.

He urged residents to ensure that trees planted did not perish due to bushfires and other activities that threatened their survival.

Professor Abass Braimah, Vice-Chancellor, Tamale Technical University, said climate change was threatening livelihoods and advised members of the public to demonstrate more interest and commitment to ensure that the trees planted survived.

Choggu Yipel Naa, a sub-Chief of Choggu, a suburb of Tamale, lauded government for instituting the Green Ghana Day.

He urged traditional leaders and communities to support the initiative.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Richard Kwami Sefe, the Member of Parliament (MP) of Anlo Constituency in the Volta Region, has supported some institutions affected by a recent windstorm in the area.

The gesture, which included cheque and other items worth thousands of cedis and building materials, would help the affected institutions to recover from the damage experienced.

Mr Sefe, during the donations, disclosed to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that he was moved by the level of destruction caused to the affected institutions.

‘The welfare of my people has been my utmost priority. After touring the areas, I realised I must help these institutions to restore academic activities to normalcy.’

He said the support was intended to mitigate the high financial demand for some repair works on the structures, and that ‘the donations must be used for the intended purpose.’

Mr Sefe hinted that his outfit would continue to assist the people until things were brought back to normal.

‘My next move will be for the affected basic schools, and I am
calling on other stakeholders and well-meaning natives to also come on board to help these schools to make their learning environment conducive.’

A total amount of GHS20,000.00 was shared with three institutions including Volta Senior High School (Voltasco) at Agbledomi, Anlo Senior High School, and Keta Nursing and Midwifery Training College (NMTC) at Keta.

Apart from the cash donations, Mr Sefe also donated two sets of football jerseys and a football to students of Voltasco for their upcoming Southern Zone Inter-Schools and Colleges Sports Festival.

Heads of the affected institutions who received their various cheques expressed gratitude and promised to channel the donations to the right place.

On Tuesday, April 23, 2024, a windstorm struck the coastal districts of Anloga and Keta causing damage to private and public structures.

About 23 basic schools in Anloga district including Agorve Basic School, Kodzi EP School, and Akplorwotokor RC Schools had their roofs ripped up.

Similar events affected Ansec
o, Voltasco, and others which saw their kitchens, dining sheds, ICT laboratories, classrooms, and dormitories destroyed.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Youngtrust Foundation (YF), a non-governmental organisation of young professionals, in collaboration with UNESCO, have intensified menstrual hygiene education in schools within three district and municipal assemblies in the Greater Accra Region.

This is to help break the stigma associated with menstruation and empower every girl-child with knowledge, support and resources to manage her menstrual health with confidence.

The beneficiary schools within Kpone, Osudoku Shai and Adanta assemblies were Ghanata Senior High School, Christ Faith Schools, Oyibi Presby Primary ‘A’ and ‘B’, Saasabi Kpone Katamanso Basic, Valley View University Basic and Praise International schools.

Mr Don Rockson Annin, a Director of YF, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Oyibi in the Greater Accra Region, said the programme was part of activities to mark the World Menstrual Hygiene Day on the theme: ‘My Period, My Confidence.’

He said YF recognised that lack of proper menstrual hygiene management affected the educati
on outcomes of many young girls, leading to absenteeism and diminished their academic performance.

Thus, the programme was to uncover the challenges related to menstruation that impact the education of the girl-child.

‘We have embarked on a nationwide project to develop a comprehensive policy framework for government to adopt it to pave the way for the provision of free menstrual hygiene products to females in basic and senior high schools in Ghana,’ Mr Annin said.

He said research was ongoing to strengthen evidence-based advocacy and action on menstrual hygiene management in Ghana through UNESCO supported WASH in schools.

Mr Annin acknowledged the contribution of the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service and its partners, especially UNESCO, and the Valley View University, Faytex, Done Technology Solution, Ghana TVET, Arthro Synergeio and Digicraft, for their support to enhance hygiene education in schools.

Mrs Dinah Esam-Tewiah, a Deputy Director of Education of the Adenta Municipal Educati
on Directorate, expressed regret that lack of access to menstrual hygiene products was a significant barrier to education in Ghana.

She said girls who could not afford or find those essential items missed school days, leading to a cycle of missed learning opportunities that could have lasting effects on their future.

Mrs Esam-Tewiah appealed to policymakers and leaders to listen to the voices of young girls, support initiatives that ensure access to sanitary products, clean water and safe sanitation in schools.

‘We must recognise the importance of menstrual hygiene education in curriculums and advocate policies that protect the rights of girls to manage their periods safely with dignity,’ she said.

Madam Beatrice Adaboh, the Director of Valley View Basic School, told the Ghana News Agency that; ‘It is not acceptable for the education of girls to be adversely affected because of a natural cycle that we all benefit from.’

She said there was the need for a coordinated effort from various stakeholders to ral
ly support for such programmes in breaking taboos and managing issues associated with menstruation so that girls could feel free to pursue their education.

The NGO donated 1,000 sanitary pads to the beneficiary schools.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ms Kathleen Addy, Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has marked this year’s Green Ghana Day with tree planting and engagements with students in Senior High Schools in Accra.

Officials of the NCCE, in collaboration with civic education club members and patrons, participated in the tree planting exercise at Accra Girls Senior High School and Achimota Senior High School.

Ms Addy underscored the importance of the exercise in raising awareness, educating the younger generation on emerging environmental issues, and stimulating action on critical emerging environmental challenges.

She said tree planting was one of the measures to tackle the devastating climatic change that had become a global threat, including flooding.

The Commission, she said, was ready to intensify education for the youth towards restoring the environment to its natural state.

She encouraged the students to spearhead the fight against environmental degradation to preserve the lost vegetation.

That, she expla
ined, was necessary because trees provided medicines and oxygen for the survival of humanity.

Ms Addy urged the students to be ambassadors of change by nurturing and monitoring the seedlings to ensure their survival.

Mr John Mensah, Head of Programme for Science, Accra Girls SHS, said the civic education club assigned members to monitor and water the seedlings to ensure their survival.

He said since the initiative, the survival rate of the seedlings had been 90 per cent and pledged to continue with the supervision.

The students thanked the NCCE Chairperson for the engagement.

Green Ghana Day was launched in 2021 under the auspices of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.

The objective is to restore the lost forest cover of the country destroyed by the activities of illegal small-scale mining and timber logging.

This year’s theme is ‘Growing for a Greener Tomorrow’, with a target of planting 10 million trees across the country.

The exercise so far has planted 42 million seedlings with a high sur
vival rate.

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns.

Such shifts can be natural, due to changes in the Sun’s activity or large volcanic eruptions.

But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.

Burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gas emissions that act like a blanket wrapped around the Earth, trapping the Sun’s heat and raising temperatures.

One of the easiest ways to avert climate change is by planting new forests (afforestation) or restoring old ones (reforestation).

Source: Ghana News Agency

Osagyefo Oseadeyo Agyemang Badu II, the Paramount Chief of Dormaa Traditional Area in the Bono Region, on Friday appealed to Ghanaians to take the habit of tree planting seriously for the nation to derive the optimum benefit.

He said it was imperative for everybody to make tree planting a habit, instead of putting the responsibility on the shoulders of the government.

Osagyefo Oseadeyo Badu II, also the President of the Bono Region House of Chiefs made the appeal on the sidelines of a tree planting exercise to mark the Green Ghana Day at Dormaa-Ahenkro.

He lauded the day, initiated by the government in 2021.

The Paramount Chief expressed his joy and elation for the commemoration of the Day, which coincided with the 25th anniversary of his enstoolment and celebration of the 2024 Kwafie Festival of the Chiefs and People of the area slated December 9, to December 22 this year.

Osagyefo Oseadeyo Badu II joined his sub-chiefs and personnel of the Forestry Services Division to plant about 1,000 tree seedlings
, comprising Ofram, Cinderella and Mahogany at the shoulders and western end of his Dormaa Abanpredease Palace.

Other participants included religious leaders, Heads of Department and Agencies and some identifiable groups.

On the celebration of the 2024 Kwafie festival, the Paramount Chief indicated ‘the vent will be very special to behold’ and entreated the chiefs and people of the traditional area to ‘put their house in order to welcome natives and visitors, home and abroad’.

Mr. Dominic Attebare-Oteng, the Dormaa District Manager, FSD, reiterated the need for everybody to plant and help nurture the trees, saying trees played an essential role in ensuring and determining seasonal rainfall patterns.

‘We can’t get rain during the time we expect if we continue to cut down and destroy trees,’ he warned.

Mr. Joseph Kwaku Pumpuni, an Assistant Director at the Dormaa Municipal Assembly, who spoke on behalf of Mr. Drissa Ouattara, the Dormaa Municipal Chief Executive, thanked the FSD for providing trees seedlin
gs for the past three years, saying most of the trees planted were doing well.

The trees have so far been planted at different locations, including the Nana Agyemang Badu Sports Stadium, the New Lorry Terminal, the new cemetery, and the Dormaa-Ahenkro campus of the University of Environment and Natural Resources (UENR).

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Tongu Council of Chiefs have convened a stakeholder engagement with security agencies and relevant actors at Fievie Dugame in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region.

The meeting aimed to address the rate of security threats, including murder cases, cyber fraud, and other social vices, which was putting residents in a state of fear.

Zikpitorga Awuku Doe Atakli, the Paramount Stool Father of the Fievie Traditional Area, chaired the engagement on behalf of Togbe Nakakpo Dugbaza VIII, the President of the Tongu Chiefs Council.

He expressed his deep concern about the escalating crime rate, citing numerous murder cases and social vices that threatened the peace and security of the district.

Zikpitorga Awuku cited issues where some unknown men stormed the residence of the district magistrate and bolted away with valuable items about a year ago.

He noted that many residents were murdered in cold blood a few years past and the same incidents were occurring in the year too.

‘Our Judges can no longer sl
eep in their residence. They are afraid. Even businessmen and women, farmers and little children were robbed and some were murdered. We can’t live with this anymore,’ he lamented.

This situation he said would deter the progress of South Tongu.

He, therefore, on behalf of the Chiefs Council, charged the security agencies to act immediately to bring peace to the district.

He also mentioned that if the issues of crime were not tackled, it would halt prominent investors from coming into the district and their socioeconomic growth would be compromised.

He pledged the full support of the Tongu Chiefs Council to assist in fighting the situation.

Nanega Mariama Fomedigbe II, the Queen Mother of Fievie Dugame, reiterated the need for in-depth investigations into the murder cases to ensure that all perpetrators were apprehended.

She urged the security agencies to work diligently to ensure that peace reigned in South Tongu.

Superintendent of Police, Mr. Andam Francis Okyere, the Sogakope Police Commander, assured
that the security agencies were committed to combating the rising crime incidents.

He noted that various arrests and prosecutions had been done and they would scale up their operations to clamp down the crime rate.

Officers from the National Investigation Bureau, Ghana Ambulance Service, Ghana National Service and the Ghana Immigration Service unanimously assured the Tongu Chiefs Council that their issues were noted and that all the security agencies would discuss further at a District Security Council (DISEC) meeting to bolster extensive measures to combat the scaling crime rate in the district.

However, the stakeholders resolved to work together to enhance security presence and patrols in the district.

They also pledged to improve intelligence gathering and sharing to support community policing initiatives.

Source: Ghana News Agency

An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced a 24-year-old man to 12 months’ imprisonment for stealing a laptop of an artiste who offered him a place to sleep.

David Boateng, charged with stealing an HP Laptop valued at GHC3,500, pleaded guilty.

The court presided over by Mrs Susan Eduful convicted Boateng on his plea.

Prosecution led by Chief Inspector Wisdom Alorwu said the complainant Evans Kotey Djanie was an artiste residing at Teshie First Junction and that the accused person resided at Ashiaman.

The prosecution said on May 5, 2024, at about 2:00 pm, the complainant was having a voice training at Teshie Roman area when the accused person, now convict, approached him and told him that he (accused) had come from Koforidua to Accra to work but had no place to sleep and needed help.

According to the prosecutor, Djanie took Boateng home, left him in his room and went back for the training.

The prosecution said at about 3:30am, the complainant returned home only to detect that Boateng had stolen his HP Laptop
computer valued at GHC3,500.

On May 19, 2024, at about 8:00pm, the Boateng came back to Teshie again and met Djanie behind the Teshie Police Station and demanding money from him without knowing he was the same person he had stolen the laptop from.

The prosecution said Djanie made Boateng out and asked him to follow him to a Momo vender for some money.

On their way, Boateng also made the complainant out and took to his heels.

The prosecution said the Djanie shouted for help and got Boateng arrested and escorted to a police station.

Boateng in his caution statement admitted the offence and he led the Police to retrieve the laptop computer at Ashiaman

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Prince Anane Agyei, Park Manager, Shai Hills Resource Reserve, has called for the inculcation of tree planting culture in children to ensure sustenance of the environment.

He said training children at an early age to engage in tree planting activities would help them to appreciate the importance of trees and be ambassadors of climate change.

Mr Agyei gave the advice on Friday during a tree planting exercise with pupils from Dedenya D/A Basic School in the Greater Accra Region to mark the fourth edition of the ‘Green Ghana Day’ celebration.

In all, 56 school pupils together with staff from the Forestry Commission and Shai Hills Resource Reserve planted over 1,000 tree seedlings from five species.

The ‘Green Ghana Day’ is set aside to plant trees in degraded forest reserves, and in and around recreational grounds, parks and along medians of roads.

It is intended to restore the degraded landscape and forest cover due to the activities of illegal small-scale mining, timber logging and other harmful envir
onmental practices.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo instituted the Green Ghana Project in 2021 to replenish the country’s forest reserves and since then more than 41 million seedlings have been planted nationwide.

This year’s event is themed: ‘Growing for a Greener Tomorrow’, with the target of planting 10 million seedlings across the country.

Mr Agyei lauded the initiative and asked that it should be sustained.

He said the Shai Hills Resource Reserve had over the years participated in the exercise with school children and would continue doing so.

Mr Agyei said they had been able to ensure over 50 per cent survival rate of the trees planted so far and advised the citizenry to also ensure the survival of the trees planted.

‘Issues regarding climate change, pollution and over exploitation of trees are having negative effects on us and if we don’t take steps to salvage this situation by planting trees, it will get worse over time,’ he noted.

He urged the Forestry Commission to intensify sensitisatio
n on the importance of tree planting and make more seedlings available.

Madam Vida Asabea Suglo, Headteacher of Dedenya D/A Basic School, said inculcating the habit of tree planting in children would secure a healthier environment for the next generation.

She thanked the Shai Hills Resource Reserve for the opportunity and called for more of such engagements.

Mr Walter Adjokatse and Miss Evelyn Gawu, both basic eight pupils of Dedenya D/A Basic School, described the activity as an unforgettable learning experience.

Mr Lambert Adzah, also a basic eight pupil, said the exercise taught him how to be a team player and work in groups to achieve a common goal.

The pupils pledged to be advocates of tree planting to avert the negative impacts of climate change.

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns.

Such shifts can be natural, due to changes in the Sun’s activity or large volcanic eruptions.

But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate chan
ge, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.

Burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gas emissions that act like a blanket wrapped around the Earth, trapping the Sun’s heat and raising temperatures.

One of the easiest ways to avert climate change is by planting new forests (afforestation) or restoring old ones (reforestation).

Source: Ghana News Agency