Day: June 18, 2023

Nana Adjei Boateng Member of Parliament for New Juaben North has suggested that the national tree plan exercise be incorporated into the district’s performance reporting indicators.

That way, he explained, would ensure strict monitoring of the trees planted to be able to measure the success rate across all the districts.

‘Monies have been invested by the state into this Green Ghana day exercise and we must put in an audit system at all the districts to be able to account for the investments’ he added

The tree planting exercise is an effective way to restore Ghana’s forest cover, which has been widely depleted so we must attach all seriousness to it.

Nana Adjei Boateng, also a former Deputy Local Government Minister made the suggestion at the Eastern Regional Green Ghana day ceremony at the SDA College of Education in the New Juaben North Municipality of the Eastern Region.

In all, the Eastern Region is expected to plant about 600,000 assorted species of trees at roadsides, schools, cemeteries and other public or open spaces.

Dr Joseph Boakye, Director, operations of the Forestry Services department indicated that since the beginning of the Green Ghana exercise 29 million trees had planted across the country and 22 million were doing well representing a survival rate of 70 percent.

Source: Ghana News Agency

She Leads Social Movement, a group of girls and young women from women-led and child rights organisations are calling for mechanisms to protect children in the digital space.

The movement forms part of the ‘She Leads’ initiative, a five-year strategic partnership between African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET), Plan International Netherlands, Defence for Children International/ ECPAT Netherlands, and Terre Des Hommes Netherlands with sponsorship from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.

As part of activities marking the International Day of the African Child, the Movement issued a communique after participating in the Day of the African Child online event dubbed, ‘The African Child in a Digital Era.’

The event which was organised by Defence for Children International Africa and DCI-ECPAT, sought to safeguard children including girls and young women in the digital environment.

The communique called on the Ministry of Education to include in the educational curriculum safeguarding protocols for the safe use of internet in schools and workplaces to reduce cyber bullying of children and young women in the digital environment.

It further urged the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Ghana Police Service to create toll-free national emergency numbers that are always available for reporting online violations.

‘The government should ratify the optional protocol on the sale of children, child pornography and child prostitution to protect children from online exploitation, harm and exposure to inappropriate contents,’ part of the communique read.

It also urged the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to intensify awareness creation and educational programmes that promotes children (girls) and young women’s rights and increase legal literacy and rights of girls and young women to peaceful association and assembly in the digital space.

The Ghana Education Service must ensure caregivers and teachers are sufficiently equipped with the requisite knowledge and information to assist children in safely navigating the internet, according to the communique.

‘We believe that protecting children in the digital environment will reduce online violence and exploitation, safeguard girls and young women activism in the digital environment and amplify the voices and agency of girls and young women in decision making process for both online and offline,’ the communique concluded.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Commodore Godwin Livinus Bessing, the out-going Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) of the Naval Training Command at Sogakope-Nutekpor in the Volta Region has commended the leadership and members of the Volta and Oti Chapter of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) for the sterling collaboration during his stewardship, which deepened military-civilian relationship for nation building.

He said the GJA in the Region had played a pivotal role in reshaping and spearheading many administrative and other important roles in the Naval training Command which he said must be sustained.

Commodore Bessing made the commendation at his ‘Pull-Out’ ceremony, at the Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC) to denote the closure of his services to the Command base at Nutekpor on Friday.

He said the relationship between the two institutions has helped the Command to achieve successes such as training hundreds of recruits as well as shaping the command’s activities positively for the peace and progress that the country needed.

Mr Emmanuel Agbaxode, Chairman of the Volta/Oti Chapter of GJA, on behalf of the Association presented a citation to the out-going FOC, stating that the exemplary leadership and collaboration between the two institutions have set a commendable precedent for military-media relations in the region and beyond.

He noted that working together with the Naval Base had given much exposure to the Association and opened avenues for engaging members for capacity-building and specialised reportage on issues relating to security, among others.

‘This relationship between the two institutions gives positive signals of positioning the media in a solid state on security-related reportage.’

‘As you depart from the Naval Training Command, your footprints will continue to impact on our hearts and the journalism community in the region will continue to cherish and remembered your leadership styles,’ Mr Agbaxode noted

Commodore Bessing joined the Ghana Military Academy in January 1991 and was commissioned into the Ghana Navy Executive Branch as a Sub-Lieutenant in 1992 and a member of Regular Career Course 32 where he proceeded to India for his Basic Sub-Lieutenant Technical Course from 1993 to 1995.

On his return home, he was posted to the fleet as a Watching Keeping Officer until 1999 when he was appointed Executive Officer (2 I/C) of Ghana Navy Ship SEBO and later captained the same ship from 2004 to 2006.

In the course of his career, Commodore Bessing held several staff and command appointments in both National and International setting such as among others, Assistant Director, Naval Administration, Liaison Officer with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, and Military Observer with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Sierra Leone.

Commodore Bessing also served as a member of the Directing Staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College in Nigeria from 2010 to 2012.

He graduated from the University of Ghana with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and Statistics, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), where he earned a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Administration and others.

Commodore Bessing’s immediate past appointment was the Chief Staff Officer at the Naval Headquarters.

Until his new appointment, he was the FOC, Naval Training Command at Nutekpor, an appointment he has been holding since March 11, 2022, till date.

Commodore Bessing takes a new portfolio as the Defence Advisor to the Ghana High Commission in Abuja, Nigeria.

The short event also saw the official handing over of office to Commodore Bright E. K Atiayao, the new FOC.

Several security ‘Capos’ witnessed the event.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr John Kwakuvi Hounlessodji, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Infinity Stars Hotel and Den Enterprise at Penyi in the Ketu North Municipality of the Volta Region has donated 12 ceiling fans to the Penyi branch of the Assemblies of God Church

Mr Hounlessodji, popularly known as ‘Infinity’ who is also aspiring to become a Parliamentary candidate on the ticket of New Patriotic Party (NPP) for Ketu North, made the offer after paying a courtesy call on the Church during a funeral service.

He explained that upon realising there was no fan fixed in the Church during the visit, he decided to buy the fans to make the congregants and other guests feel comfortable.

‘I came for my auntie’s funeral as she was a member of the Assembly of God Church. I realised there was too much heat due to the unavailability of fans, so I promised to offer them 12 fans and others worth GH? 14,000.00,’ he said.

Mr Agbedor Prince, the assembly member for Dzodze- Fiagbedu Electoral Area who led the team on behalf of Mr Hounlessodji to hand over the items, said the visit to the Church was to demonstrate the love for God by ‘Infinity’ and to mankind across all walks of life who are in need.

Reverend Joseph Klutse, the Pastor in charge of the church during the presentation, expressed appreciation to Mr Hounlessodji for the kind gesture which he described as ‘timely and unexpected.’

He called on all indigenous citizens of the area, both home and abroad to emulate same attitude being exhibited by Mr Hounlessodji.

Mr Hounlessodji, in an engagement with the GNA, also revealed among other philanthropic activities was the drilling of bole holes for the people of Adzolakope and Tadzi communities, also within Ketu North who were yearning for good potable drinking water for decades in 2021.

He indicated that he handed over a modern toilet facility to the Penyi Police Station worth thousands of cedis.

Mr Agbedor was accompanied by Mr Martin Luther King Agbatornu and Mr Gilbert Kassah.

Source: Ghana News Agency