Day: June 25, 2024

Thirty-two Ghanaian youth have been nominated for the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship taking place in the United States.

They were selected from over 3,000 applications received by U.S. Embassy in Ghana from the diverse regions across the country with significant representation from the Northern part of Ghana.

From the Upper East, the Embassy selected Stephen Abane, Maxwell Awaafo, Abdul Majeed Alhassan.

Augustine Yeboah, Mohammed Hafiz Yahaya and Dominic Akaateba would represent the Upper West region.

Those selected from the Northern region were Hamza Abdullah, Fatima Issaka, Blessila Kandoh and Fatimata Yakubu.

Banasco Seidu, Adams Ewura Karim and Reagan Masud would represent the Savannah region while the Bono region would be represented by John Baptist Kabo-Bah, Aja Anatu Mohammed and Joseph Obeng-Asante.

Prince Agbata, Isaac Brenya, Brian Dzansi, Richard Siaw, Felix Appiah were selected to represent the Greater Accra region.

The regions with just one representation were Volta, Victor Loglo, Kuma
si, Philip Baba and Bono East, Huda Ibrahim.

The cohort were selected from variety of fields including health, climate change, combatting gender-based violence and child labor, supporting the agricultural sector and STEM, and strengthening the business sector.

They would be part of a group of 700 Mandela Washington Fellows hosted at 28 educational institutions across the United States.

When they return, they will join the more than 3,500 strong U.S. exchange alumni network in Ghana to develop community-based solutions to public policy challenges in health, education, human rights, women’s empowerment, and other critical areas.

Madam Virginia Palmer, US Ambassador to Ghana said at the reception of this cohort which took place on Monday, June 24 that ‘I expect this cohort to continue the trend of promoting innovation and making a positive impact in your communities and Ghana long after you complete your six-week Fellowship in the United States.’

She said the reason why the U.S. government is investing in G
hana and Africa’s youth is because the Sub-Saharan Africa is a major force for the future.

She said in the next couple of years, virtually half the population will be under the age of 25, and by 2050, one of four people on this planet will be from Africa and that is why there is the need for people-to-people exchanges.

About Mandela Washington Fellowship

The Mandela Washington Fellowship, the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), empowers young African leaders through academic coursework, leadership training, mentoring, networking, professional opportunities, and local community engagement.

YALI, the U.S. government’s signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders, supports young Africans as they spur economic growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship is funded by the U.S. Department of State, designed and managed by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
(ECA), and implemented by IREX.

This year is the Fellowship’s 10th anniversary.

Source: Ghana News Agency

A bridge linking Tinguri and Gbani communities on the Walewale-Nalerigu Road, damaged by rains, is still in a hazardous state.

The bridge has remained unrepaired after temporary measures that involved filling portions with sand and creating an alternative route connecting the two communities.

Residents and commuters, who ply the road, have raised concerns of danger calling for immediate work to repair the collapsed parts of the bridge.

The bridge, which was destroyed by a downpour in August last year, is still used by some commuters in its dilapidated state while others use the alternative route which takes a relatively longer time.

The bridge links surrounding communities to Nalerigu, the administrative capital of the North East Region.

As the rainy season begins, residents are worried about the state of the bridge, which they fear was turned into a death trap, especially when it rains.

Mr. Yidana Iddrissu Bugzuah, Assemblyman of the Tinguri Electoral Area, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (G
NA), said work on the bridge had delayed, although it was assigned to a contractor, who reported to site adding a gutter construction on another road, which connected Gbani to Kparigu, hindered the repair process.

He said the construction of the gutter was being done by another contractor, adding work on the Tinguri-Gbani Bridge could not be done concurrently.

The Assembly man said ‘Another issue stalling the process is that the contractor has applied for a meter at Volta River Authority (VRA) to be able to use a machine to bend the rod. VRA has not been quick on this because the contractor has been told that letter for the meter has been sent to Bolga.’

He mentioned that although the road was usable, heavy rainfall could wash off the sand and gravels poured around the remains of the bridge, adding the alternative route would be the only option in that case.

Probing further, the GNA found that no work had begun on the site since the incident happened in August last year.

Residents, who spoke to the GNA,
said they had not spotted the contractor on site for a long time.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Obeng Gyasi Appiah-Kubi, former Project Supervisor at the collapsed Beige Bank, says GHC28 million was approved by Michael Nyinaku, former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Bank, the accused person in the ongoing trial, for the refurbishment of 71 existing branches of the Beige Capital Savings and Loans (BCSL).

He explained that the offices of the BCSL were rebranded to reflect the Institution’s newly acquired status – Beige Bank.

Mr Appiah-Kubi, the defence witness, was giving his evidence-in-chief at the High Court presided over by Mrs Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe, a Court of Appeal Judge with additional responsibility at the High Court.

The witness, also the Project Supervisor at the Beige Group (TBG), who was tasked with technical consultation and construction of the building projects, said initially, GHC30,568,000.00 was estimated for the project but the CEO approved GHC28 million and charged the team to work with that.

‘He directed the Chief Finance Officer of TBG to facilitate the disbursement of
funds and the work spanned between December 2016 and September 2017,’ the witness said.

He said the team reviewed architectural drawings, structural integrity, and bills of quantities, and supervised the construction of new buildings when the Bank evolved from BCSL to the universal bank, courtesy of Babbel Limited, a subsidiary of TBG.

It supplied furniture, office installations- software, generators, repainting, retiling of floors, and power inventors, among others in branches across the country.

Mr Appiah-Kubi said the project was funded by TBG after a requisition was made to the supervisor, which was forwarded to the CEO and later to the finance office to process the request.

He named some of the branches as Airport West, Atomic Junction, Ashaiman Roundabout, Pokuase, Adum-Kumasi, Bantama, Afful-Nkwanta, Tema New Town, New Abirem, Gbeigbeisee, Ashiyie, Tamale Main, Bawku, Kintampo, Berekum, Wa, and Kokompe.

Nyinaku has been charged with stealing, money laundering and fraudulent breach of trust, which
he has denied.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Togbi Tenge Dzokoto Gligui VII, the Paramount Chief of Amugo-Vego Traditional Area, has joined the Chiefs and people of Assin Kushea in the Assin North District of the Central Region to celebrate this year’s Akwasidae festival.

The participation by Togbi Gligui, who is also the ‘Dufia’ of Anyako Konu in the Volta region, was to honour Nana Ehunabobrim Pra Agyensaim VI, Paramount Chief of Assin Kushea Owirenkyi Kingdom.

Togbi Gligui in his address during the ceremony held at the Assin Kushea palace, stated that the visit was to show the great relationship between the Anlo’s and the Akan’s geared towards the development of the country.

He said participation would further strengthen the needed unity for community development and progress among the various traditional areas.

‘Today, l have learnt a lot from Nana Ehunabobrim Pra Agyensaim and it is not about where we are coming from. We are here to show to the entire world that we stand for unity, togetherness, and progress of our people.’

Togbi Gligui furthe
r stated that it was time the various ethnic groups did away with all forms of differences and united to build a stronger society that would benefit all.

He urged the people to embrace and prioritise unity and togetherness that would bring more progress, job opportunities, alleviate poverty, foster economic freedom, and others for a successful leaving.

‘I commend the chiefs and people of Assin Kushea for emerging as the neatest town in the whole of Ghana. Cleanliness is next to Godliness. We have learnt a lot from this too,’ he added.

Nana Ehunabobrim Pra Agyensaim, during the ceremony, charged all traditional leaders to get united devoid of ethnicity and tribe.

He appealed to all political parties and their followers to preach peace before, during, and after the December polls.

Some Anlo chiefs present at the celebration included Togbi Agordor III, Togbi Agbetsi Zewu II, Togbi Tete Dziekpor II, Togbi Solaga II, Togbi Adzomanyi ll, Togbi Azameti lll, Togbi Patamia IV, and others.

Source: Ghana News Age
ncy

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in the Western Region has organised a day’s training programme on good manufacturing principles for sachet and bottled water producers in Tarkwa, Bogoso, Prestea and its enclaves.

The training was aimed at improving the quality of water produced by the producers and ensuring that they adhere to the certified regulations and standards set by the FDA to protect public health.

Participants were taken through topics such as food hygiene and contamination, layout and fabrication, packaging material acquisition and control, equipment suitability and usage, storage facility, cleaning, personal hygiene among others.

Addressing the participants at Bogrekrom, Mr. Benjamin Appiasam-Dadson, the Principal Regulatory Officer at the FDA Western Regional Office, explained that the FDA has been mandated to ensure public health and safety relating to the products they regulated and one of such was food of which water was inclusive.

‘So, from time to time, we hold these training courses to
equip our stakeholders with the guidelines and regulations needed for them to increase their compliance levels. We believe that once the compliance levels at the facility increase, we will also have safe and quality products on the markets’ he pointed out.

Mr. Appiasam-Dadson was hopeful that at the end of the training, the participants would implement what they have been taught to ensure the safety of their products before they get to the market.

Mr. Benjamin Brew, Regional Administrator for National Association of Sachet and Packaged Water Producers, for Western and Western North Regions stated that during the rainy season, the quality of water differs from the dry season.

He, therefore, appealed to their members to always ensure that at least every year, they send their water to the laboratory to guarantee it cleanliness for human consumption because it’s a requirement by the FDA.

Mr. Anthony Sam, a participant, commended the FDA for holding such an educative programme to help sustain their business an
d also increase their profitability.

He called for more training.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Jehovah’s Witnesses in Ghana will this Friday, June 28, 2024, begin the 2024 series of a three-day regional convention, dubbed: ‘Declare the Good News’ across the country.

‘In a world where bad news endlessly streams on social media, TV and radio, a three-day live event open to the public will deliver only good news!’ a release issued in Accra and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Tuesday said.

The release, from the Public Information Desk of the Ghana Branch Office of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, said the regional convention is being organised by one of the largest convention organisations in the world.

And ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses have arranged a much-anticipated motivational programme to comfort and encourage the public.’

The regional conventions are free and ‘expected to draw more than 300,000 combined attendees for all locations.’

The conventions will be held in 13 local languages, including English and Ghanaian Sign Language.

A Chinese session will be held on July 19-21, 2024, as well as in the Fre
nch Language from July 26-28, 2024, both at the Accra Assembly Hall, off the Spintex Road.

‘These conventions are a highlight of the year for thousands of people who need to experience some positivity in their lives, and we are happy to enjoy it together with all who want to attend any of the locations and in any of the languages,’ Mr Daniel Adashie, Spokesperson for Jehovah’s Witnesses, Ghana, told the GNA in a follow-up interview.

He added: The ‘Declare the Good News’ convention will present Bible-based videos, discourses and interviews on topics such as…Everlasting Good News – In What Sense? What Will You Do ‘for the Sake of the Good News’? Why We Don’t Fear Bad News

According to the release, Saturday spotlights a baptism of candidates from surrounding communities, while a two-part video feature will captivate the audience on Friday and Saturday.

Prior to each convention, local congregations will engage in a campaign to invite community members to this free event.

Last year, nearly 13 million people a
ttended more than 6,000 three-day conventions worldwide.

The convention is open to the public and no collection is taken.

The release urged the public to visit jw.org and navigate ‘About Us’ for more information on the programme or to find other convention locations and dates.

Source: Ghana News Agency