Day: September 11, 2024

The tragic death of a popular Kenkey seller has thrown the Abesim township in the Sunyani Municipality into a state of grief and disbelief.

The Ghana News Agency (GNA) gathered the children of the late Joyce Asantewaa, a kenkey seller at Uncle Paul, part of the town, discovered the body of their late mother in the early hours of Wednesday September 11.

According to them, their deceased mother woke up early in the morning to prepare the stuff for sale, only for them to discover the body, with parts of the face deeply burnt, inside a coal pot.

Mr Kinsley Kusi Appiah, the Assemblyman for the Abesim-Ankobea Electoral Area, who confirmed the story, told the GNA the police had since deposited the body at a mortuary in Sunyani for preservation and autopsy as investigations continued.

Residents said they were, however, shocked and baffled about the sad incident, and therefore called on the police to be expeditious in their investigations.

According to some residents, the town experienced a downpour the previous
night and they suspected the deceased might have slipped and fell into the coal pot.

However, other residents said they suspected foul play and called for thorough police investigations.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Madam Faustina Oppong-Yeboah, the Acting Volta Regional Highway Director, has said road development is the most important engine for socio-economic growth in communities, facilitating access to employment, education, health and social services, and contributing to poverty reduction.

She said major roads in the Volta region for instance served as the arteries connecting communities and people through the transportation of goods and persons which contributed to the region’s socio-economic development.

Madam Oppong-Yeboah who said this at the launch of the golden jubilee anniversary celebration of the Ghana Highway Authority in the Volta region, stressed that the economic and social benefits of road development could not be over-emphasised.

‘The development, maintenance, control and administration of trunk roads within the country have been the core mandate of the Ghana Highway Authority since it was established under the NRCD 298 of November 1974, and later superseded by Act 540 of December 1997, to reflect
changes that occurred in the road sector’.

The Anniversary was being held on the theme: ‘Providing Safe and Reliable trunk Road Network for Socio-Economic Development’.

Madam Oppong-Yeboah said for half a century now, the Authority had been providing safe and reliable trunk roads spanning over 15,000km length of roads across the country, out of which the Volta region could boast of over 900 km of trunk road network, which had been transformed from poor states to motorable and reliable roads.

She said some roads upgraded into first-class roads in the region included the Ho- Fume, Ho-Adidome, and Sogakope-Aflao roads, and the Asikuma-Have-Hohoe Road, which was still under construction.

Madam Oppong-Yeboah said despite the achievements so far, the Authority believed there was more work to be done on the region’s trunk road network and efforts were underway to continually improve it.

She said the Ministry of Roads and Highways had launched a maintenance App by which anybody could call in and report any issue
s on the road and their concerns would be attended to within the shortest possible time.

Madam Oppong-Yeboah said the Authority was concerned that some sections of the road’s assets were being misused and vandalised, and appealed to the public, including security agencies, to be vigilant and discourage persons whose actions destroyed national assets and compromised road safety.

‘Building structures on the road reservations must also be discouraged as it also comes at a great cost to future road projects. The Ghana Highway Authority is committed to making all trunk roads safe and reliable for all road users,’ she said.

She said the Authority had strived to achieve its successes through the relentless efforts of both past and present staff and congratulated them for their hard work.

Madam Oppong-Yeboah said the Authority had also come thus far due to the collaborative support from agencies including the Departments of Feeder Roads, and the Urban Roads respectively.

She commended the contributions from stak
eholders which helped fine-tune the Authority’s work to benefit all road users.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Gabriel Atidokpo, a 38-year-old fisherman has drowned in the Lotor River at Xavi in the Akatsi South Municipality of the Volta Region.

The sad event occurred on Saturday at about 0958 hours after the deceased went for his normal fishing activities.

Briefing the Ghana News Agency, Mr Selorm Bright Gligui, the Assembly member for Xavi Electoral Area, stated that the residents had been in a state of fear and shock since the unfortunate incident occurred.

‘I received a call on Sunday morning from Togbi Ani V, the Dufia of Xavi, that the deceased had gone fishing on the previous day but did not return, which was unusual,’ he said.

He also stated that a close look and further examination of the deceased body did not show any sign of foul play but assured that the police would do further examinations to determine the cause of death.

Mr Gligui also said the departure of the deceased was a surprise to many since he was noted to be one of the experienced fishermen over the decades.

He said the case had since bee
n reported to the Akatsi South Police Command for action, while the body of the deceased had been retrieved and deposited at the St. Paul’s Hospital morgue for further examination and autopsy.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Cel Sorkpor, a Mental Health Doctor at the Keta Municipal Hospital in the Volta Region, has discouraged members of the public from considering suicide as an option to addressing any circumstances.

He stressed that suicide could never be the best option regardless of depression, suffering, or any other internal challenges that one might face in life.

Mr Sorkpor, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency to commemorate this year’s World Suicide Prevention Day, said the public had a role to play in guiding people and discouraging suicidal motives in their various societies.

‘Many suicide attempts are from depression, failed relationships, and drug abuse, among others, and those found in these situations should be guided to prevent such occurrences,’ he said.

Mr Sorkpor said World Suicide Prevention Day is observed every year on September 10 to create awareness about the menace to prevent, reduce stigmatisation, and help people who were likely to attempt to take their own lives.

The Day was being organi
sed by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), to highlight the importance of community support and early intervention in protecting lives.

Mr Sorkpor advised that those in such situations should not be exposed to weapons, idleness, or any dangerous substance and in that situation, they should also stay away from drinking alcohol and endeavour to stay in comfortable environments.

He said it was important to collaborate, support, change the narratives, and create the needed awareness about suicide, to reduce the stigma, and encouraged the public to be open to conversations that would help curb the situation.

The GNA gathered that a total of 543 suicidal attempts were recorded in the last six months in Ghana, whilst 81 death cases were recorded during the period.

This year’s World Suicide Prevention Day was celebrated on the theme: ‘Changing the narrative on Suicide- a call to action, Start the Conversation’.

Source: Ghana News
Agency

Organised Labour has demanded that President Nana Ado Dankwa Akufo-Addo declare a state of emergency on illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.

It said the declaration must include an order to halt all forms of mining, legal or illegal, in forest reserves and around water bodies, and the immediate evacuation of all mining equipment from those areas.

This was contained in a statement jointly signed by Joshua Ansah, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress, Isaac Bampoe Addo, Chairman of Forum, and Kenneth Koomson, Deputy Secretary General of Ghana Federation of Labour.

The statement called on the government to dispatch police and military personnel with full authority to dismantle and destroy all mining and earth-moving equipment near rivers and forest areas.

The government should also promptly annul LI2462 and withdraw any licenses for prospecting and mining in forests, protected areas, and near bodies of water.

The statement called for the establishment of a special court to prosecute those w
ho engaged in illegal mining.

It declared that if the government did not address those concerns by the end of September 2024, organised labour would stage a series of protests and a nationwide strike to press for the demands.

‘We call on all well-meaning Ghanaians to join organized labour in the fight against this menace. Galamsey must stop now,’ it said.

The statement said organised labour had noted the ongoing public discussions on illegal mining and the resulting devastation of the nation’s forest cover, water bodies, and environment, as well as the potential hazards and serious health risks posed to communities living near galamsey sites.

Its effects have included exposure to toxic chemicals like mercury and cyanide, and an increase in respiratory and waterborne diseases caused by polluted air and water, among other severe consequences.

‘It is now clear to us as it is to all well-meaning Ghanaians that the menace of galamsey has reached a crisis proportion. The depletion of our forest cover has never
been this rapid. The destruction of our water bodies is at an unprecedented scale. Our entire ecosystem is on the precipice,’ it said.

The statement drew attention to the Ghana Water Company Limited’s (GWCL) inability to produce the required volumes of water for the people of Cape Coast and Elmina primarily because of the heavy pollution of the Pra River from activities of illegal mining.

In 2022, the GWCL shut down its water treatment plant in Kyebi because ‘the Birim River from which water is pumped for treatment to the township and its environs has been heavily polluted due to the operations of illegal miners.’

The cost of treating water had increased by about tenfold according to GWCL.

The statement said Ghana was at risk of importing water for household and industrial consumption, adding that the torrents of videos and photos of heavily polluted and discoloured water bodies were alarming.

‘Even more harrowing are the videos and photos of lifeless bodies of young people pulled from galamsey pits ever
y now and then. The threat to food supply has been growing as agricultural lands are appropriated for mining activities.

‘The intensive and inappropriate use of mining-related chemicals is affecting productivity of agricultural lands and food safety,’ the statement added.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Two non-governmental organisations – K-Brains Legacies and DQ Hall Hospitality Services – have organised a clean-up exercise at Amuyaokope D/A School in the Ada West District of the Greater Accra Region.

The initiative aimed at creating a conducive learning environment for pupils and staff while fostering a spirit of community support.

The team also donated essential school supplies, including 19 packs of exercise books, a pack of pens, 12 packs of pencils, some soft drinks and bottled water, liquid soap, and seven slates.

Mr Prosper Dylan Amuyao, the Chief Executive Officer of K-Brains Legacies, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the mission of the group was to support underprivileged schools and assist widows and the aged in Ghana.

He appealed to Ghanaians to join the group to fulfil God’s mission, indicating that programmes such as clean-up exercise must be seen as a priority for all residents to participate as it has health and environmental benefits for them.

Ms Margaret Oforiwa Nyamedi, the Hea
dmistress of Amuyaokope D/A School, expressed gratitude for the support, noting that the donation would significantly enhance the school’s operations.

She, however, said the school continued to face challenges, especially in infrastructure and basic furniture and called on stakeholders to help.

‘We lack chairs and tables from primary 1 to 6, which is a major issue affecting the learning environment. In addition, the school blocks are deteriorating, making the classrooms appear dark and uninviting,’ she said.

Some of the parents and teachers at the event expressed appreciation for the donations, noting that the gesture was unprecedented in the history of the school.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Madam Hellen Kahaso Dena, Project Lead, Pan-African Plastics Project, has urged the government to ban the import of unusable clothing and textile waste from the Global North.

She said that textile waste often contained harmful chemicals that polluted the environment, and that if imported textile waste was not effectively managed, it could lead to soil and water contamination and harm ecosystems and public health.

Madam Dena made the appeal during the launch of a report on the toxicpact of fast fashion on Ghana organised by the Greenpeace Africa, in Accra.

The report was entitled, ‘Fast Fashion, Slow Poison: The Toxic Textile Crisis in Ghana.’

Madam Dena said that Ghana should promote the development of sustainable textile industries by embracing, supporting, and emphasizing local fashion issues, which would be critical in lessening the country’s preference for Western fashion.

She said Ghana was drowning in fast fashion waste, with children drinking, eating, and breathing microplastics.

Madam Dena stat
ed that the trade in used clothing usually involved smuggling and illegal, making it difficult to trace the origin of the articles; and as a result, Africa had become a dumping ground for Europe’s unwanted textiles.

‘To avoid the extra regulations associated with waste exports, textile waste is often misclassified or labeled as used clothes, when in the real sense, it is actually trash that cannot be used,’ she added.

Madam Dena condemned the many imported bales of used garments that were unusable and requested the government to enact laws to ensure that only resellable and useful items were imported.

She urged the government to implement the ‘Polluter Pays Principle’ to environmental and health damage, and to adopt systems in the Global North that recognised and mitigated risk associated with the international trade of used clothing.

‘We want them to push the Global North for international legislation to be established through a global treaty, such as the one that is being discussed right now on plastic
pollution,’ Madam Dena stressed.

Mr. Sam Quashie-Idun, Head of Investigations, GreenPeace Africa, said that around 7.5 million articles of old clothing are received at Kantamanto Market each week, with half of these items being of low quality and made of synthetic fibers.

He said stallholders had estimated that up to 60 per cent of the used clothing found in those bales was completely unsellable and regarded as garbage.

According to Mr. Quashie-Idun, about half a million articles of waste clothing from Kantamanto market end up in open spaces, informal settlements, and garbage dumps throughout the city each week.

‘We tracked the disposal of clothes discarded by stallholders at Kantamanto Market and found that most end up in informal dumps, while a significant portion is collected and burned as fuel for boiling water in public wash houses, especially in Old Fadama,’ he added.

Mr. Quashie-Idun said that bath houses and indoor air contained high levels of hazardous substances, including carcinogens like benz
ene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, with benzene levels far above European indoor air safety standards.

He said an infrared examination of clothing from Kantamanto Market and informal garbage sites revealed that 89 percent included synthetic fibers manufactured from fossil fuels, which was a significant issue.

‘Our people, our rivers, our beaches, are choking, and we cannot sit back and continue watching this happen to our country.

‘It is time to shake things up, redefine collective action and call out this waste colonialism for what it is, one that fails to value and respect the lives of Africans and our environment,’ he stressed.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ghana Chapter of the UNOWAS Working Group on Women, Youth in Peace and Security (WG-WYPS) has expressed concern about the imminent water crises facing Ghanaians due to the devastating impact of illegal mining.

A statement issued by Mrs Theodora Williams Anti, the Convenor for WG -WYPS Ghana Chapter, copied to the Ghana News Agency said: ‘We recognise that water is a basic necessity

of life, and its availability or lack thereof, affect all persons, particularly, women and children disproportionately’.

‘We are alarmed by the numerous reports, over the past weeks, some with graphic and disturbing images, on galamsey and the devastation it is causing the environment and citizens’.

It said for instance, an ‘Ecological Study of Galamsey Activities in Ghana and their Physiological Toxicity,’ published by the Journal of Environmental Toxicology Research in 2024, highlights among others, the high levels of contamination that Galamsey was causing to water bodies in ‘districts like Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai, Bodi
and Juabeso’.

It said the report also noted how water pollution resulting from illegal mining activities, had led to severe contamination of major rivers such as Pra, Ankobra and Birim; the negative effects of which were felt by local communities (more particularly women and children) and the country’s ecosystem.

The statement said the Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS 7) Main Report, also stated that approximately 71 per cent of rural households had issues with their drinking water such as odor, colour and suspended materials.

It said Ghana was increasingly facing severe water and climate security challenges threatening not only livelihoods and health but also the peace and stability of their communities.

It said in addition to the climate induced threats to water supply, illegal mining activities, with their related degradation of marginalised community’ resources, exacerbate the plight of community members, especially women and children.

It reiterated that the Working Group could not over-emphasize
how the nation’s lands and water bodies were being destroyed.

Adding that huge lands were being degraded causing deaths and injuries to many young people and women who were involved further threatening health, food and water security.

The statement said Galamsey threatens the United Nations Security Council Resolutions that governs Ghana’s commitment to peace, security and community resilience.

It said these Resolutions, which Ghana had domesticated through the development of

National Action Plans must seek to Protect and Prevent the peace and security of the populace.

On a call to action, the statement said given the importance of water security to the security of women and children, the WG-WYPS, demands from the President of Ghana, through relevant Ministries and government agencies, an urgent release of a road map on tackling the water security challenges posed by galamsey operations in the country.

It called on decision makers, especially Parliament, to take urgent and coordinated action to address
the critical issues such as strengthening governance and enforcement by implementing and enforcing laws and frameworks, local and international, to protect water resources and combat illegal mining.

Strengthening local governance structures to ensure that women and youth are included in decision-making processes related to resource management and conflict resolution.

Promoting Sustainable Livelihoods, namely investment in sustainable agricultural practices, clean energy, and other economic opportunities that empower women and youth while protecting the environment.

It urged enhanced health and education services by improving access to health services, particularly in areas affected by water pollution and ensuring that educational programmes emphasised the importance of environmental stewardship and resilience.

Others are addressing the root causes of conflict over resources by promoting community dialogue and collaboration and support for peacebuilding initiatives that priorities the needs and voices of w
omen and youth.

‘We also call on citizens, especially women and young people, to call out nonchalant behaviours, politicians, and businesses that fuel the galamsey menace to protect our future as citizens,’ it said.

It said the group would monitor the situation and take further actions when necessary.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The World Assemblies of God Fellowship (WAGF) will host its maiden Congress in Accra, Ghana.

The Congress, which starts from October 14 to 16, 2026, is part of activities of the Fellowship agreed on at its 2024 Executive Council Meeting held in Accra.

Reverend Domimic Yeo, the Chairman, WAGF, speaking at a press briefing in Accra, said the choice of Ghana for the upcoming Congress was due to the peaceful atmosphere of the country.

The Congress will bring together over 10,000 members across the country in Ghana.

‘Ghana has demonstrated that it is the beacon of hope for Africa by democratically and peacefully, irrespective of their political, religious, or ethnic differences,’ he said.

The upcoming Congress, he stated, would bring a lot of economic benefits to Ghana and push the nation higher on the world stage, grow businesses, and attract investors to the country.

He said the purpose of the Fellowship was to pursue the fulfilment of the Lord’s command to evangelise the lost in the shortest possible tim
e and provide them the opportunity to hear and respond to the gospel.

Rev Yeo said the Church had embarked on major World social action interventions for communities in distress.

‘We are actively involved in disaster intervention through Convoy of Hope.Last year, a total of $ 25,000 worth of goods was donated to victims of spillage of the water from the Akosombo dam in Ghana,’ he said.

He commended Ghanaians for their tolerance, and urged that the impending elections be held in the same peaceful manner as the previous ones.

‘We, in Assemblies of God worldwide, are standing with you in prayer because the scriptures enjoin us to pray for nations in which we dwell, so we can worship our God in peace,’ he said.

Rev Yeo appealed to all political, security, and other actors in the electoral process to do their jobs well in the interest of peace.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Professor Africanus Lewil Diedong, a professor at the SDD University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS), has charged the media to observe the highest professional standards of journalism practice to promote peace in the country.

‘Particularly in the lead-up to the general election, when some political elites and their associates, such as business tycoons would overtly or covertly influence you to win power, be fearless, and act with integrity in the pursuit of peace journalism,’ he indicated.

Delivering a keynote address at the maiden Upper West Regional Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) awards night held in Wa, Prof. Diedong also urged the media to ‘practice people-centred journalism,’ by promoting meaningful human existence through social cohesion and freedom.

The awards ceremony was held on the theme: ‘Sustaining Ghana’s Democracy before, during, and after the 2024 General Elections: The Role of Peace Journalism’ with the USAID Feed the Future Ghana PolicyLink Activity as the
major sponsor.

It brought together industry players across the region, the Northern Regional GJA Chairman, traditional leaders, political party representatives and Civil Society Organisations among others.

Eight awards including the Regional GJA Best Journalist of the Year award were presented to four journalists and media practitioners while two retired journalists and media practitioners were also honoured for their contributions to media development in the region.

Prof. Diedong stated that committing to peace journalism, especially in this electioneering, would contribute to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, which focused on peace, justice and building strong institutions.

On political communication, he explained that Ghana had one of the most liberal media landscapes in Africa, but it was difficult for the media to live up to expectation in terms of ‘responsible political communication,’ especially during national elections.

He said partisan journalism could create disorder and
instability, which could undermine the principle of good governance, emphasising the media’s responsibility to contribute to strengthening democracy and national development efforts.

‘There is, therefore, the need for journalists to remain committed to the normative ideal of responsible communication with the overriding goal of promoting public interest in the process of disseminating news and information about the December 2024 general elections’, Prof. Diedong explained.

Mr Peter Maala, Chief Director at the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council, who represented the Regional Minister, reiterated the role of the media in ensuring a peaceful election and building public confidence in the outcome of the 2024 general election.

‘Elections are a test of the strength of our democratic institutions, and the media must ensure that this process is conducted with transparency, fairness, and integrity.

It is through the media’s vigilance that the public can have confidence in the electoral process and the outcom
es it produces.

The media must continue to play its role with diligence, fairness, and an unwavering commitment to the truth,’ Mr Maala explained.

Mr Dominic Hlordzi, the GJA National Organising Secretary, who represented the GJA President, emphasised the responsibility of the media to shape Ghana’s democracy and promote peaceful and fair elections as the 2024 election approached.

He indicated that though the 1992 Constitution of Ghana guaranteed media independence and freedom, it was not a license for the media to engage in activities that threatened national peace and security.

‘As we approach the election, professionalism and ethical standards must be a priority to all of us as the freedom of the media would be meaningless if our actions and inactions drive our dear country into chaos,’ Mr Hlordzi explained.

Source: Ghana News Agency