Day: June 7, 2024

Justice Edward Amoako Asante, the President of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, on Friday welcomed the newly invested Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, H.E. Memounatou Ibrahima, during a courtesy visit to the Court. 

In his address, President Asante highlighted the enduring partnership between the Court and the Parliament, stating, ‘We are delighted to receive the new Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament.’

‘This visit, coming right after her investiture, symbolizes the solidarity and mutual respect that have characterized our institutions over the past five years. We have consistently supported each other’s programs and initiatives, and today’s visit reinforces our commitment to continue this

cooperation.’

President Asante further emphasized the importance of continued collaboration, particularly in the exchange of resources and expertise, such as interpreters and translators, to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of both institutions.

He also mentioned ongoing discussions aimed at bolstering th
e independence of the ECOWAS Parliament through direct elections of its members, a move that the Court supports wholeheartedly.

‘We are ready to assist and support the Parliament in achieving this goal, as a strong and independent Parliament is essential for the enactment of robust laws that benefit our community and foster deeper integration,’ he added.

The Speaker expressed her gratitude and reaffirmed the Parliament’s commitment to this collaborative spirit.

‘It is an honour and a pleasure to be here this morning. The Parliament and the Court of Justice

have a shared mission to promote rights within our community, and we intend to continue this important work. We are confident of your support, particularly in capacity building for the Parliament and in addressing the challenge of direct elections for ECOWAS deputies,’ she stated.

The meeting concluded with both leaders expressing optimism for the future of ECOWAS, underscoring the vital role that their institutions play in fostering unity, promoting j
ustice, and ensuring the prosperity of the West African region.

Also present at the meeting were the Vice President of the Court, Justice Gberi-bè Ouattara, Justice Sengu Mohamed Koroma, and the Chief Registrar of the Court, Dr. Yaouza Ouro-Sama.

The Honorable Speaker was accompanied by her 4th Deputy Speaker, Hon. Tunkara Billay, and some support staff of the Parliament. 

Source: Ghana News Agency

Compassion International Ghana (CIG), a Christian Charity Organisation, has urged the government to explore other avenues to champion climate initiatives in addition to the ‘Green Ghana Day’.

Madam Florence Sena Amponsah, Senior Manager, Program Support, CIG, said the Green Ghana initiative had yielded results, but more could be achieved if other avenues were explored.

She said this in a news brief to commemorate this year’s ‘Green Ghana Day’.

Madam Amponsah said the government needed to develop a system to monitor the trees planted over the period to ensure their growth and sustainability.

She said her outfit and its partners had developed a data tool specifically for monitoring the over 1900 seedlings they planted since 2022 and implored the government to do same.

Madam Amponsah urged the government to organise community sensitisations on climate change and environmental protection and engage key stakeholders like the Church to lead the campaign.

She said that way, the campaign would be a daily activ
ity and not a once in a year activity.

The Green Ghana Day, started in 2021, is aimed at promoting environmental conservation and sustainability by encouraging citizens to plant and nurture trees to combat deforestation.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Professor Kwasi Ampene, Senior Lecturer, Tufts University, USA, has underscored the immense contributions of women in preserving the culture and values of the Ashanti Kingdom.

Prof Ampene argued that in matrilineal societies, the critical role of women in lineage, kinship, and governance conferred counselling and advisory roles to female leadership in the matriclan.

He said the women, in their privileged position as members of the exclusive Kete chorus, used their artistic immunity to negotiate communication strategies in formal spaces to present the contrapuntal voices of the masses directly to the Asantehene. 

The Professor of Ethnomusicology at the University said this in Accra at a lecture organised by the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences.

The lecture was on the topic: ‘Performing Petition: Kete Songs, Lineage, and Kingship in Akan.’

He said the women implored the Asantehene, through songs, to not only choose the most qualified member of the ‘?yoko’ lineage to succeed the late Asantehemaa, but als
o to remind him of his obligation to his forebears, who made untold sacrifices to establish a state with enduring socio-political, economic, and cultural institutions. 

Prof Ampene said the Asante, like all their Akan cousins in Ghana, La Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo, practised the dual male-female system of governance to ensure complementarity, equilibrium, and harmony.

He said the male chief (?hene) and his female counterpart (?hemaa) have separate courts with functionaries and corresponding regalia.

The dual leadership role, he stressed, had its functional equivalence in the organisation of musical ensembles such as the ‘twenenini ne twenebede?’ (male and female Atumpan drums). 

The Professor said the dual male-female leadership role was possible because the Akan societies were fundamentally based on a matrilineal system where one’s lineage, inheritance, succession to political office, land ownership, and property were validated through the maternal line. 

He said the seven or eight Akan families traced th
eir founding to a female ancestress and made the position of Asantehemaa critical with numerous responsibilities. 

‘She presides over her own court and overseas issues affecting women in the kingdom.

‘She is the traditional mother of the king, but occasionally she can be the uterine mother, as was the case with the late Asantehemaa who was the biological mother of the reigning Asantehene,’ he said.

He said another crucial element that made it possible for members of the chorus to navigate formal communication protocols was the artistic immunity that comes with their membership in the exclusive Kete Chorus.

Prof Ampene said the relationship between musical performance and spirituality in Akan conferred artistic immunity for instrumentalists, singers, and verbal artists when performing in ceremonies and rituals. 

The Professor highlighted the first song unit, ‘Aka Wo De?,’ which means ‘It Is Now Your Turn,’ performed by the Kete chorus for formal analysis, poetic and rhetorical devices, gesture, and rhetor
ic as artistic enablers for the performed petition. 

He concluded the lecture with a discussion on the implications of the petition performed by members of the Kete chorus for democratic dispensation and protest movements in Ghana.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Togbega Gabusu VII, Paramount Chief of Gbi Traditional Area in the Hohoe Municipality of the Volta Region, has underscored the need for the citizenry to plant trees in ensuring a sustainable future.

‘As we plant trees, we symbolise our dedication to preserving our cultural heritage and promoting eco-friendly practices,’ he said.

Togbega Gabusu was speaking at the 2024 edition of the Green Ghana Day at Hohoe and noted that planting trees also symbolised dedication to protecting the natural resources and building a brighter future for generations to come.

He said this year’s edition called for action against climate change, deforestation and environmental degradation, adding that ‘we recognise the importance of trees in providing oxygen, shelter and sustenance for our communities.’

Togbega Gabusu called on the citizens to work together to nurture the trees planted just as they would care for their children and also strive to create a legacy that would outlive them.

He expressed gratitude to partners, volu
nteers and other stakeholders involved in the planting of trees.

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

Mr John Amegashitsi, Assistant Director on behalf of Mr Francis Fiakpui, Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), said 30,000 trees would be planted in the Municipality, which included 100 cashew and mahogany trees planted to mark the event.

He said it was the hope that the planted trees would be well nurtured, watered and protected to grow to green Hohoe and Ghana as a whole.

Mr Fiakpui said tree seedlings such as Mahogany, Afram, Teak and Cashew were available with the Municipal National Disaster Management Organisation and Department of Agriculture for all individuals, groups and institutions who were interested in planting.

Mr Samuel Bruce Kpeglo of St Teresa’s College of Education (TERESCO), on behalf of Professor Scholastica Azuah, Principal of the College, said the College underscored the profound impact that a single tree could have which included providing clean air, prote
cting watersheds, supporting wildlife and enhancing the beauty of the environment.

She said each tree planted stood as a testament to the collective efforts to create a healthier and more sustainable environment.

Prof Azuah on behalf of the College pledged to work hand in hand to ensure that the trees planted would grow and thrive, leaving a legacy for future generations.

The Green Ghana Day was introduced in 2021, by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, as part of an aggressive national afforestation and reforestation programme to restore the lost forest cover of Ghana and to contribute to the global effort to mitigate climate change.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and some partners have planted 1,000 tree species to help restore the lost cover of the Chipa forest reserve at Agomeda, Greater Accra Region.

The partners, the Church of Pentecost, and UN Volunteers, engaged in the tree planting exercise on Friday, June 7, as part of the government’s nation-wide Green Ghana Day initiative.

The Green Ghana Day, started in 2021, is aimed at promoting environmental conservation and sustainability by encouraging citizens to plant and nurture trees to combat deforestation.

According to forestry authorities, about 50 hectares (equivalent to 50 football fields) of the 2,410 hectares Chipa forest reserve has been degraded, through bushfire.

The forest reserve serves as a habitat for animals like moneys, antelopes, and various species of birds, while absorbing carbon to ensure fresh air for people beyond the Agomeda community.

Kwabena Bajaben Genfi, a Forest Range Manager with the Forestry Commission, said, the tree planting would
help restore the lost forest cover, combat climate change, and create a resilient space for human and animal habitation.

He said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, noting that by ensuring a well-maintained forest cover, it would enable the community to prepare for drought.

‘The trees that we’re planting today will in the near future sink the carbons that are polluting the atmosphere with and serve as pollutant filters for us to have fresh air,’ he said.

Bajaben Genfi said the Commission periodically engaged in community education and sensitisation to mitigate the activities of bushfire and deployed its forest guards to patrol the reserve.

He was, however, concerned that some community members still did not abide by the education on protecting and preserving the reserve, encouraging them to stop such habits to protect and preserve the reserve.

He stated that the Commission, as done with previous trees planted in the reserve, would engage in maintenance activities to ensure that the objective
of the Green Ghana project was achieved.

Mr Samuel Appiagyei-Danquah, Environment Cluster Division, UNDP Ghana, said the exercise was to contribute to the planting of 10 million trees across the country as part of the 2024 Green Ghana Day.

He stated that the UNDP had a broader programme of greening Ghana, with projects being implemented in the northern part of the country and other forest areas for reforestation.

‘We also have other modules where we’re partnering with farmers to plant commercial trees on their farms, so that while they earned income from those tree crops, they also protect and preserve the environment,’ he said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr John Boadu, Director-General of the State Interest and Governance Authority (SIGA), has urged Specified Entities (SEs) to promptly prepare and submit their financial statements for timely scrutiny.

He also charged them to comply fully with all relevant laws and regulations to avoid sanctions.

Mr Boadu said this at an inception breakfast meeting to launch an initiative under the Public Financial Management for Service Delivery Program (PFM4SD).

The initiative is crucial for improving the management and performance of some 16 selected Specified Entities (SEs), with the primary focus on their Comprehensive Performance Evaluation.

It is supported by the World Bank.

Giving an overview of the comprehensive performance evaluation, Mr Boadu said the tracker was essential for the sustainable growth of the economy.

‘This initiative will help us identify areas of improvement within your entities, implement best practices, and ensure operational efficiency and adherence to the highest standards of corporate gov
ernance, thereby building public trust and securing financial stability,’ he said.

He added that the evaluation’s outcome, to be submitted to Cabinet on November 30, 2024, would align the activities of SEs and identify areas needing improvement.

Mr Joseph Cudjoe, Minister of Public Enterprises, also underscored the significance of the PFM4SD in mobilising and allocating resources while ensuring transparency in budget allocation.

He highlighted the crucial role of the 16 selected entities in boosting the country’s economic growth and called on them to cooperate fully in the evaluation process by providing the necessary documentation and collaborate closely with the consultants.

‘The government’s ultimate goal is to help SEs generate profits and contribute significantly to the national economy. Your cooperation in this evaluation is vital to achieving this objective,’ he emphasised.

Dr. Mohammed Sani Abdullai, the Programme Director, PFM4SD, reaffirmed the World Bank’s commitment to supporting SIGA in impl
ementing the initiative, stressing that the comprehensive performance evaluation would improve transparency, efficiency, and accountability among the SEs.

‘The performance evaluation is an opportunity for SEs to demonstrate their commitment to good governance and operational efficiency. The World Bank stands ready to support you in this journey,’ Dr. Abdullai remarked.

Mr. Eric Agyabeng, Head of the Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Division of SIGA, explained that the PFM4SD aimed to ensure fiscal discipline among the SEs.

He elaborated on the scope of the selection and evaluation parameters, which include business strategy and social responsibility, operational efficiency, financial performance, and corporate governance practices.

Mr. Agyabeng also outlined the numerous benefits of the evaluation such as driving reforms within the SEs and enhancing capacity building.

Representatives of the SEs also voiced their concerns and challenges, which were carefully addressed to ensure all parties had a clea
r understanding of the evaluation process and its objectives.

The project, under Disbursement Linked Indicator 4 (DLI 4) of the PFM4SD Program, involves a thorough evaluation of the 16 selected SEs in areas such as financial performance, operational efficiency, and corporate governance.

Findings from the evaluation are expected to be presented to the Cabinet on November 30, 2024.

This is expected to guide the strategic direction and management of SEs.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo Friday led members of the Judicial Service to plant trees at the Supreme Court premises to commemorate this year’s Green Ghana Day.

The theme for this year’s event is ‘Growing for a greener Tomorrow’.

The Chief Justice was joined by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly Mayor, Madam Elizabeth Sackey, George Agbenowoshi, Deputy Regional Manager, Forestry Commission, and other Justices of the Superior Court.

Speaking to journalists, Chief Justice Torkornoo said the need to protect the environment had become extremely urgent and appealed to those engaged in illegal mining to desist from the act and think about the health effects on humanity.

She also encouraged those disposing of rubbish indiscriminately to have a change of mind.

The Chief Justice said the Judiciary would partner with the Forestry Commission to continue with the tree planting initiative.

Mr George Agbenowoshi, Deputy Regional Manager, Forestry Commission, said about 10 million trees were being planted nat
ionwide.

He commended the Chief Justice for taking part in the tree planting exercise.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr. Wilson Kwami Agbanyo, the Kadjebi District Chief Executive (DCE) in the Oti Region, has appealed to Ghanaians to plant more trees to replenish the lost vegetative cover.

He said human activities such as logging, bush burning, charcoal burning, among others have depleted the vegetative cover and needed to be replaced by planting of more trees.

Mr. Agbanyo, whose speech was read by the District Co-ordinating Director, Mr. Cletus Chevure during Green Ghana Day commemoration at Kadjebi Agenda 111 site, said tree planting would ‘mitigate the effects of climate change.’

The DCE advised chain-saw operators to desist from cutting down trees indiscriminately, saying, even if they had permission from the Forestry Commission, they should plant a tree to replace the one cut down, because ‘when the last tree dies, the last man dies.’

Mr. Eric Marc Fuachie, Forest Range Manager in-charge of Asato, said the main purpose of the National Tree Planting exercise ‘is to combat the impacts of climate change by absorbing
or sequestering excess atmospheric carbon,’ so everyone should make it necessary to plant a tree.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Nkawie District of the Forest Services Division of the Forestry Commission (FC), has exceeded its tree seedlings plantation target for the 2024 Green Ghana project.

The district, which covers seven political districts, has so far, planted 430,000 seedlings as against the 340,000 targeted for this year’s green Ghana tree planting exercise.

Mr Abraham Essel, the District Forest Manager, speaking at a ceremonial gathering to start the green Ghana exercise at Nkawie, said the actual tree planting exercise started in the district some weeks ago and it was still ongoing so it could cover many areas.

He mentioned Nyinahin, Twedie, Mankranso, Adugyama, Tepa, Barekese and Nkawie, as the political districts under his jurisdiction and said over 100,000 seedlings had been planted along riverbanks, 348,000 planted in forest reserves while 81,723 had been planted off reserves.

Mr Essel said the protection of rivers and water bodies as well as school compounds and other public places, was the major objective for th
is year’s exercise in the district.

Mr Eric Anarfi, Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipal Coordinating Director, said environmental protection was the responsibility of all.

He called on the people to actively join in the tree planting exercise to ensure the protection of the environment for the present and future generations.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Most Reverend John Yaw Opoku-Agyeman, has been ordained as the new Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of the Konongo-Mampong, in the Ashanti region.

Most Rev. Opoku-Agyeman replaces Bishop Emeritus Osei Bonsu, the first Bishop of the Diocese, who resigned after obtaining the age of 75.

Bishop Emeritus Osei Bonsu served the Diocese for over 29 years.

Per the traditions of the Catholic Church, an Ordinary of a Diocese retires at the age of 75 years.

The episcopal ordination of Most Rev. Opoku-Agyeman was performed by Cardinal Henryk Mieczyslaw Jagodzinski, Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana.

It was attended by people from different faiths, and social, political, and traditional backgrounds across the country.

Rev. Opoku-Agyemang was the second Bishop of the Diocese, and this was the first time the episcopal ordination of a Catholic Bishop had been done in the Diocese.

Most Rev. John Opoku-Agyemang was born on August 15, 1957, at Kumawu in the Ashanti region to a Catholic family.

He is the fifth child in a family of
10 children.

He entered the St. Hubert’s Minor Seminary in Kumasi, in 1971for his minor seminary formation, during which he obtained his Ordinary and Advanced Levels

Certificates of education.

He proceeded to the St. Peter’s Regional Major Seminary in Pedu, Cape Coast, in 1978, where he did his philosophical studies.

In August 1980, he studied theology at the University of St. Thomas, Houston, Texas, in the United States of America, where he obtained a Diploma in Clinical Pastoral Education and a master’s degree in divinity in 1983.

In August 1999, he took a two year-sabbatical leave from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and pursued doctoral studies at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, in the United States of America, where he obtained a Doctor of Ministry degree in Pastoral Theology in December 2001.

He was ordained a Catholic priest on January 22, 1984, by the Most Rev. Peter K. Sarpong at the St. Peter’s Cathedral for the then Kumasi Diocese.

In June
2009, he was appointed the first Rector of the St. Gregory the Great Provincial Major Seminary at Parkoso in Kumasi.

He served the seminary so devotedly that he endeared himself to the other formators, seminarians, staff, and the entire seminary community.

Most Rev. John Opoku-Agyemang was still forming future priests for the Church after the heart of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, at the St. Gregory the Great Provincial Major Seminary, Parkoso, Kumasi, when the Holy Father, Pope Francis, appointed him to be the second Bishop of the Konongo-Mampong Diocese on March 21, 2024.

Source: Ghana News Agency