Day: November 28, 2023

Women Development Foundation (WDF), a non-governmental organisation, has partnered with Archbishop Kofi Adonteng Boateng, founder and overseer of Divine Word International Ministries, to support and empower marginalised women in Ghana.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed to formalise the partnership between Ms. Catherine Noble Anowah Coffie, Founder of WDF and Chief Executive Officer of Anowah Afrique, and Archbishop Boateng, a Ghanaian American-based theologian, preacher, and philanthropist.

The MoU signing, which happened at the same time as the relaunch of WDF, seeks to provide comprehensive education and vocational training to over 3000 marginalised women, primarily recruited from the streets of Ghana’s capital city, Accra.

Ms. Coffie, while addressing the attendees, urged women and young people who were having difficulty in life and business not to give up but rather to continue to persevere with determination in their dreams of attaining a better life in the near future.

She stressed tha
t women and girls should work hard to learn the skills development programmes and that they should not give up or take glory in staying in their poverty.

She noted that their struggle would eventually lead them to break away from poverty and, therefore, encouraged them to take their training seriously to help them establish greater employment opportunities.

She stated that the organisation has modern facilities and equipment for skills development training and called for more partnerships to help provide a wide range of education and vocational training programmes to many other vulnerable women and girls in Ghana.

These partnership initiatives would contribute to improving women’s abilities and broadening their prospects for work and quality of life, while also empowering them.

Archbishop Boateng expressed optimism that the partnership would greatly benefit numerous vulnerable Ghanaian women and girls, making a significant difference in their lives and overall welfare.

He called on the government and oth
er organisations to provide support to the WDF to effectively introduce and implement vocational skills programmes that respond to the pressing needs of women and girls.

Mr. Prince Kofi Amoabeng, a businessman and co-founder of the now-defunct UT Bank, said that it was a divine intervention that the founder of WDF had been linked to Rev. Archbishop Boateng.

He made this observation after noting that the creator of WDF had endured a number of challenges and prayed that the Lord would ease her load of challenges and give her the strength to assist more needy women in climbing out of abject poverty.

He described Ms. Coffie as a lady with ‘noble ideas’ and ‘resilience,’ saying that she was someone who needed all the support and encouragement to help disadvantaged women.

The Women Development Foundation was founded a decade ago with the goal of providing training to underprivileged women.

Over the past five years, it has been able to empower and support numerous women and young girls, helping them to overcome
poverty with the use of state-of-the-art machinery and cutting-edge programmes.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr. Patrick Lumumba Asare, the Caretaker in charge of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Faith Congregation-Afienya, has encouraged the youth to respond to the call to serve both the church and the nation for transformation.

The Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Faith Congregation-Afienya, is headed by the Reverend Dr. Benzies Isaac Adu-Okoree.

Speaking on the topic ‘Called to Serve’ at Faith Congregation, Afienya Mr. Asare underscored the significance of answering one’s calling to serve both God and country and stressed the need for the youth to surrender to the call to duty.

He emphasised the transformative impact that answering one’s call to serve God and others could have on both individuals and the community at large and outlined both the physical and spiritual rewards that come with answering to serve and serving diligently as well.?

He stated with reference to Matthew 25 that every act of kindness extended to others is, in essence, an act of service to God and would be met with rewards when the time is
ripe.

He stated that we unlock the door to a profound sense of joy and tranquility that serving others brings. Also, through acts of service, we uncover and develop the gifts within us.

Going beyond mere encouragement, Mr. Asare motivated the congregation to engage in various service initiatives, from local outreach programmes to global missions.

As he concluded his sermon, he said the theme should not only stir renewal and commitment to benevolence but must also spark a collective determination to make a difference in the lives of those in need.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Madam Sheila Minkah-Premo, Convener of the Affirmative Action Bill (AAB) Coalition, has charged gender rights advocates to intensify the advocacy for the swift passage of the Affirmative Action Bill.

The lawyer, at the Regional Consultative Forum in Accra, which served as a platform to garner commitments from key stakeholders for the smooth passage of the bill, pointed to the need for the intensification of advocacy efforts by stakeholders at all levels.

She said the bill, presented to Parliament since 31st October 2023, had gone through the first reading and was currently under a certificate of urgency hence, more commitment was needed from women’s rights organisations and other stakeholders to justify its passage.

‘This is the time advocates need to intensify advocacy, come together and write a strong worded letter to parliament justifying the urgency to pass the bill into law,’ she said.

The consultative forum on the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill, was sponsored by the Government of Canada and
five other Gender rights groups namely, the Network for Women’s Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT), Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF) Ghana, Affirmative Action Bill Coalition, Plan International and Women’s Voice and Leadership in Ghana.

Madam Afua Brown Eyeson, the Chair, National Executive Committee, WiLDAF Ghana, said her organisation, together with other organisations were working to strengthen the political will to pass the AA Bill into law.

The bill, she said, would help provide accountability framework to measure gender equality, empowerment of women among other things by the Executive, Judiciary, the public and private sector.

It will also give a boost to women’s quest for adequate representation on all levels of decision making as stipulated in the Maputo Protocol of 2003, Beijing Platform for Action and other AU and ECOWAS Protocols on Gender Equality ratified by Ghana.

Madam Faustina Acheampong, the National Director, Department of Gender at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Pro
tection, said the Ministry would collaborate with all the stakeholders to facilitate the swift passage of the bill.

Gender Advocates say the Affirmative Action Bill, a proposed law, that if passed, will legally address a history of systematic discrimination, stereotypes, traditions, religious dogmas and practices that impede the socio-economic, socio-cultural rights and freedoms of women and girls.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Bagbin, has directed the Minister of Trade and Industry to submit to Parliament’s Subsidiary Legislation Committee the revised copy of the draft Legislative Instrument (LI) seeking to restrict importation of certain commodities.

He gave the directive on Tuesday after a pre-laying debate was held on the LI.

He further directed the Committee to ensure that the amendments proposed by the House were incorporated into the revised LI and report on same to the House.

On Thursday, November 30, the Instrument, if cleaned up, should be laid before the House, which could then assess the situation, the Speaker said, adding that he did not want any further delays.

Speaker Bagbin said he raised the issue on the floor of the House because Mr Kobina Tahir Hammond, the Trade and Industry Minister, presented his case to him and after hearing him, he was convinced.

However, he had not heard from the House, so he had to put it across to enable the members to make inputs for the best deci
sion to be taken.

‘There’ve been a number of attempts to lay the instrument here and there’ve been objections, but I didn’t know what was happening, so he came to give me his side of the story, and I agreed with him. But before I could permit him to lay the Instrument, I wanted to hear from the House what the challenge is,’ he said.

At the end of pre-laying debate, the Speaker reiterated his concern to getting the business of the House going, after ironing out all differences.

‘Clearly what has been made available to me does not include cement, cement is not there. So, it means that this Instrument is not the initial one that come before the Committee, what I can say is that Minister, kindly make available copies of this new draft to the Committee.’

When the instrument was laid one needs two-third votes of the House to annul it ‘and the partisan nature of the House is such that you scarcely get such two-thirds majority to annul such instruments,’ the Speaker said.

‘And what many of you don’t know is that
some of these instruments have led to holders of public office being imprisoned….’

‘As a Leader, I had the opportunity of advising ministers and public servants on some of these instruments and they did not listen to me, they were laid and passed and at the end of the day, those instruments caught up on them.’

The Speaker said it was during the implementation of the instruments that some offences were committed and those in charge were prosecuted and convicted.

Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, said he thought the House was making progress with the LI and was taken aback by the sudden resurrection of the issue.

He urged the House to build consensus on it to ensure its passage before it adjourned for the Christmas break on December 22.

Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Minority Leader, recalled that on Friday, November 24, his side objected to an attempt by the Trades Minister to lay the LI before the House.

However, the Maj
ority Leader came in with some amendments, which assured that they would be incorporated into the draft LI and then presented to the House before it would be laid.

‘Mr Speaker, as we speak, we have not seen the changes that he (the Majority Leader) promised to effect in the draft Regulation. Mr Speaker, I am at a loss because he wants to lay the same Regulation today.’

Dr Forson raised concern over the non-accompaniment of a Fiscal Impact Analysis to the LI, as sated by the Public Financial Management Act, which demands an estimated effect on revenues and expenditures for the financial year in which the legislation?was expected to come into effect.

Dr Dominic Ayine, the Chair of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee, and NDC MP for Bolgatanga East, said the Committee, after considering the original draft LI, concluded that the Minister had not exceeded his powers under the Act and that they also evaluated it against the Constitution and came to a similar conclusion.

Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the NDC MP of Tamale
South and a former Minister of Trade and Industry, said the principle to protect infant industries was important and that the House must build consensus on it.

He cautioned the Minister that he might, by this legislation, be inviting retaliatory measures by other countries.

Mr Ahmed Ibrahim, the Deputy Minority Whip and NDC MP of Banda, said various trade unions such as the Ghana Union Traders Association, had petitioned the House to express their concern over the LI

Mr Hammond, on his part, said the LI made provisions for a 13- Member Committee, which would be making decisions with regard to restricted imports and that anyone having an issue with its decisions would have to go to court for redress.

The LI seeks to restrict the importation of 22 commodities such as rice, sugar, diapers, poultry and intestines (yemuadie).

However, it makes provisions for exceptions, such that those who want to import such commodities would have to go to the Ministry of Trade and Industry to see a committee for a permit.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Eastern Nzema Traditional Council (ENTC) has tasked a-seven-member committee to act as roving scouts to check galamsey activities that have polluted river bodies in their enclave.

The move formed part of concrete steps taken by the traditional council to abate the galamsey nuisance which had degraded lands and polluted river bodies which flow into the Greater Amanzule River at Azulenloanu and other communities in the Ellembelle District.

The committee is chaired by the Chief of Ambainu, Nana Nyamekeh Fofole, with the Chief of Azulenloanu, Nana Addo Nreda VI, the Chief of Bakanta, Nana Aka Nwoza III, and Chief of Nkroful, Nana Kwasi Kutuah V. as members.

The rest of the members are, the Chief of Teleku-Bokazo, Nana Afful Kwaw II, Divisional Chief of Kikam, Nana Etease II and Chief of Esiama, Nana Ainoo-Kwagyan III.

Among the terms of reference, the committee is tasked to inspect galamsey sites in the various communities with the help of drones and slap injunction on communities found culpable of the m
enace.

As part of the move, the committee is also expected to undertake thorough investigations and nip in the bud, galamsey operations which were having rippling effects on the Greater Amanzule River in recent times.

Speaking to Ghana News Agency at his palace in Ambainu, Nana Nyamekeh Fofole expressed wary that galamsey activities in the area had devastated lands and river bodies making the future bleak for posterity.

Nana Nyamekeh Fofole lamented that the upsurge in galamsey activities had far-reaching consequences such as drinking polluted and poisonous water with cyanide, lead and mercury.

The Chairman explained that since upstream river bodies such as Rivers Subri, Broma, Ebi and Fienza meandered their way through communities such as Ebi, Tandane, Asasetre, Nvenlesolo, Bomoakpole, Anwia, Teleku-Bokazo, Nkroful and Esiama before they finally

entered the Greater Amanzule River at Azulenloanu, Bakanta and Ambainu, the committee would patrol all those areas as part of the operations.

The traditional r
uler said the Council was vehemently opposed to galamsey activities and had made several moves to stop it.

He warned communities which were neck deep in galamsey activities to halt the practice and find viable alternative livelihoods such as rubber plantation, skills training, and other self-employable skills to make a living.

Nana Addo Nreda VI, the Chief of Azulenloanu where the Greater Amanzule River entered the sea, acknowledged that the colour of the river had changed in recent times.

According to him, there was no galamsey activities going on in the Greater Amanzule proper but attributed the pollution of the river to rivers from neighbouring communities such as Ebi, Tandane, Asasetre, Bomoakpole, Anwia, Teleku-Bokazo, Nkroful among others.

Nana Addo Nreda VI lamented that some detractors have tagged him to be involved in galamsey in the Greater Amanzule but denied flatly, adding that he was opposed to galamsey.

He said the Greater Amanzule River had been the source of livelihood for people within t
he catchment area for decades and Nananom would fish out the culprits and bring them to book.

Nana Addo Nreda VI said fighting galamsey had become difficult due to political interferences, adding that the power of traditional rulers had been de-emphasized.

Nana Addo Nreda VI alleged that open galamsey activities were on-going along the Teleku-Bokazo to Anwia main road in broad daylight but that the police had failed to arrest such Galamseyers.

He was happy with the constitution of the committee and stressed that it would help clamp down on all illegal miners in the district.

The Greater Amanzule River is a source of drinking water to many communities, it is also noted for its eco-tourist potential and wetlands conservation as well as a source of livelihood for indigenes and those in the diaspora.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, a Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, says Ghanaians are underpaying for passport services compared to other countries in the sub-region.

He said Ghanaian passports were the cheapest in the West African region, costing eight dollars compared to Liberia where it cost 40 dollars to acquire a passport even though the same company supplied passports to the two countries.

Mr Ampratwum-Sarpong, who is in charge of Political and Economic Affairs at the Ministry, giving an update on passport and consular services, emphasised that ‘Ghanaian passports are heavily subsidised.’

He said, ‘Until we get the full complement of equipment, computers, and giant printers, we will continue to have problems. Until we are ready to invest, we will continue to have problems. Until we are ready to pay the realistic fees for passports, we will have problems.’

On the average, some 5,000 passport applications are processed daily.

Out of the number, only a maximum of 3,000 of the
passports are printed, despite a 10-hours daily operation.

As a result, there is a back lock of 2,000 passports daily, 10,000 by close of week and between 40,000 to 50,000 in a month.

As of the close of Friday, 24th November 2023, the Passport Office had printed a backlog of about 310,513 passports dispatched to the various Passport Application Centres for collection.

That, Mr Ampratwum-Sarpong said, was simply because the Ministry did not have the resources to buy printers, and other equipment, ‘creating room for corruption.’

He said, ‘The problem we have, which has contributed to the activities of ‘Goro boys,’ is because we are not on top of what we are supposed to be doing. For example, we are not able to undertake the capturing of biometric data as people would have expected and, we are not able to print the booklets as stipulated in our service arrangement. It all boils down to the issue of resources.’

‘As we speak, we don’t have enough computers to be able to do the capturing. We don’t have enough
printers to print the passport booklets,’ he added.

According to the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, monies expected to be used to purchase computers and printers and other equipment to provide quick service delivery, was used to subsidise passport applications.

‘About 80 per cent of the people who apply for passports don’t really need it at the time they are applying for it.’ Mr Ampratwum-Sarpong noted.

He stated that the Ministry was in consultation with various stakeholders, including Parliament to consider an upward review of passport fees which would cushion it to buy more equipment and to improve the turnaround time for passport acquisition.

Highlighting some initiatives undertaken by the passport Office, Mr Ampratwum-Sarpong said as part of efforts to speed up the printing and delivery of passports to applicants, the Passport Office acquired two Dilleta 900i manual printers this year which had contributed to clearing back logs of passport applications.

He said to reduce overcrowding at the passpo
rt head office, access to the public had been drastically limited as only passport applicants who had genuine reasons to be at the passport headquarters were allowed to access the office.

To further improve security at the passport office, CCTV cameras had been installed in passport offices at the head office to monitor the activities of the officers and to ensure that officers were actively working to achieve set targets.

Mr Paul Cudjo, a Director at the Passport Office, reiterated that despite efforts in reducing the waiting period for new passport applicants and clearing backlog, there would still be some challenges as the passport offices continued to have limited resources to process passports on time.

Source: Ghana News Agency