Day: July 2, 2023

President João Lourenço is travelling Monday to the centre-west Benguela Province for a two-day working visit, with a view to checking issues relating to services of rail and logistical support to the Lobito Corridor.

The information was disclosed Sunday, in Luanda, by the secretary for Communication and Press Affairs of the President of the Republic, Luís Fernando.

ANGOP has learnt that the heads of State of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, and of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Féliz Tshisekedi, will also be present in Lobito Municipality of Benguela on Monday morning.

Luís Fernando also said that on Tuesday a vast programme was planned to mark the launch of the Lobito Corridor strategic service, with information to be provided about its operation.

It includes information about which companies have joined the consortium, for the expansion and progress of that important route for the flow of goods and movement of people.

The three statesmen will return to their respective capitals late Tuesday afternoon.

The Lobito Corridor extends from the port of Lobito, bounded by the Atlantic Ocean and crosses Angola from west to east, passing through the provinces of Benguela, Huambo, Bié and Moxico.

It includes the mining camps in Katanga Province in the DRC and the town of Copperbelt in Zambia.

The Lobito Corridor represents the shortest route to a port from the rich mining fields of DRC and Zambia.

However, for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) the corridor is seen as an important means of development for the region, with benefits for Angola and its neighbouring countries.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

Partner agencies and beneficiaries of a Gender-based Violence Against Women and Girls Project, have lauded the Project’s achievements at reducing domestic violence in the country and improving their livelihoods.

The three-year UN Women Trust funded project, commenced in June 2020, with the aim of reducing violence against women and girls in three communities of Chorkor, Nima and James Town in the Greater Accra Region.

It was also to improve the lives and livelihoods of women and young girls within the selected communities through various building capacity initiatives and skills training.

It was implemented by the International Network of Religious Leaders living with or personally affected by HIV and AIDS (INERELA+ Ghana) in partnership with the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DoVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the Department of Social Welfare.

Speaking at the close out event of the Project, in Accra, over the weekend, Chief Inspector Millicent Baah Brown, Commander, DoVVSU-Nima Division, said the Project had brought significant change in the mindset of the citizens within the Nima and Maamobi communities and their environs.

As a result, she indicated that, cases of violence against women and girls such as rape and defilement in these communities, had reduced drastically within the three years of the Project implementation period.

‘Initially, they were not coming out to report cases of defilement and rape because they were afraid,’ she said.

‘Sometimes, coming out to report, maybe an elder (in the community) will sanction you for that or maybe your own family will stand against you for reporting them to the police, so they were not coming.

‘But, through the programmes held by INERELA and the education we gave them they understood, and they got to know that they don’t have to sit down and be abused,’ she added.

She urged members of the communities to continue to report such cases to the unit despite the end of the Project to sustain the gains made.

Mrs Yamfoah Amua-Sekyi, Director of Public Education at CHRAJ, said as an institution mandated to promote and protect the rights of citizens, the Gender-based…. provided the Commission the platform to educate Ghanaians on their rights and the various laws that guaranteed those rights.

She encouraged community leaders to ensure that the law enforcement agencies do their work and stop interfering with them to sustain the gains made.

‘We beg you, with all the laws and with all the efforts NGOs and civil societies like INERELA are doing, let us help them, let us speak up when something is wrong, ‘she urged.

Ms Rosemond Aboagyewaa Opoku, Senior Social Development Officer, Ayawaso North Municipal Assembly, said partnering INERELA had been an ‘amazing success story’ stressing that, through the Project citizens, especially women and girls who hitherto would not report cases of abuse had been emboldened to do so to the Department.

Mastura Ali and Elham Hussein, who were beneficiaries of the skills training hailed the impact of the Project on their livelihoods.

According to them, through the skills training provided to them by the Project, they were now able to manufacture soaps, beads, detergents, and fascinators which they sell and generate income.

Mrs Mercy Acquah-Hayford, National Coordinator, INERELA+ Ghana, revealed that more than 1,000 individuals had benefited from the Project over the last three years.

Going forward, she indicated, that the plan was to continue to monitor the progress of the beneficiaries to realise the Project’s goal, adding that, it intended to recruit more interested and vulnerable girls to learn from the beneficiaries to help reduce poverty.

ACP Jones Blantari, Board Chair of INERELA+ Ghana, said the country had made tremendous strides and impacted so many lives in the Project-selected communities.

He noted that, over the implementation period, it had empowered women and young girls who had been at risk of violence, helped improve access to legal assistance, psychosocial counselling, health care, skills training and help built a better network among stakeholders.

‘Violence against women and girls is unacceptable in our society and together, we can help minimse it,’ he emphasised.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Thomas Kofi Dede, a 74-year-Old retired Civil Servant domiciled in the United Kingdom (UK), has been installed Odzikrow of Ajumako Brakwa, under the stool name, Nana Osefori III, to spearhead the socio-economic development of the town and its surrounding communities.

Nana Osefori III, who is also Ninfahen of Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam Traditional Area, succeeded his uncle who was destooled some 40 years ago.

Earlier in the day, he was carried in a palanquin amidst dancing and singing to the tune of Frontomfrom drumming through the principal streets of Ajumako Township to the office of the traditional council.

Ebusuapanyin Kobina Ebo Buchem of Asin No.1, one of the Royal Families of Brakwa, later introduced and also presented him to Okodurufo Ogyeabo Kwamena Hammah Ababio II, Paramount Chief of Ajumako, and President of the traditional council where he took the oath of allegiance and swore before the entire Chiefs, Queen Mothers, and the people.

In accordance with the tradition and custom of the area, Okodurufo Hammah Ababio also gave the new Odzikrow a drink to drink to symbolise his installation and acceptance into the traditional Council as the Ninfahen and Odzikrow of Brakwa traditional area.

The paramount chief advising the gathering stated that the Brakwa community paid allegiance to Ajumako- Enyan-Essiam Traditional Council and was under Breman Asikuma District Assembly

He corrected the perception that Brakwa was part of Breman Asikuma’s traditional council.

Later in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at his Palace at Brakwa, Nana Osefori, thanked his family members (Asin No.1 Royal Family of Brakwa), for elevating him to the high status as the citizenry and all who contributed towards his outdooring and installation.

He further pledged to collaborate with all to spearhead the socio-economic development, protect their lands, which are being sold unlawfully and make the town attractive for investors to bring massive development to the entire citizenry.

The Odzikrow stated that his doors were opened to receiving fruitful suggestions and ideas for the betterment of the entire people of the area, saying he would team up with elders and opinion leaders of the town to executive meaning programmes and projects towards the total development and the growth of Brakwa and its environs.

He mentioned indiscipline in the area, low standard of education and job generation for the youth as some of his topmost priorities.

Nana Osefori was earlier confirmed by the king markers of Brakwa, who took him through all the customary and traditional rites.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Maaha Beach Resort, under the management of Maaha Hospitality Incorporation, has refuted claims that the facility has halted operations.

This follows a viral video circulating on social media that the facility had been gutted by a fire outbreak on Sunday, June 25, 2023.

Mr Jean-Jacques Mass, Senior Manager of the Resort in an interview with Ghana News Agency (GNA), explained that though the unfortunate fire incident happened, the situation had been brought under control with the facility operating at full capacity.

According to him, the numerous and frequent power outages by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) coupled with the heavy rainfall experienced in the area caused the fire incident.

He said over 160 rooms of various types spread over its land space were not affected by the fire and were still in operation.

However, he said the fake video with its narrative, sought to give the impression that the whole of Maaha Beach Resort was engulfed in the fire outbreak.

Mr Jean-Jacques allayed the fears, apprehension, and worries of its numerous guests, clients, and followers stressing that the Resort was in full operation.

He announced that Maaha Beach Resort was open for business as usual, as they were best placed to handle and meet all and any requests of their cherished clients with their indigenous hospitality.

He assured patrons that the Resort would collaborate with the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and as well endeavour to ensure that all safety precautions, especially with particular attention to fire prevention and incidents were strictly adhered to.

Source: Ghana News Agency