Day: September 11, 2024

Mr Philip Tengzu, Chief Reporter with the Wa Office of the Ghana News Agency (GNA), has been adjudged the best journalist in the Agriculture/Food Security and Climate Change categories by the Upper West Regional Chapter of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).

He received citations and plaques in recognition of his dedication to reporting on those subject areas and the impact of his works on those sectors.

The awards ceremony, the maiden edition in the region, was on the theme: ‘Sustaining Ghana’s Democracy before, during and after the 2024 General Election: The Role of Peace Journalism.’

The USAID Feed the Future Ghana PolicyLink Activity, the major sponsor of the awards ceremony, also specifically sponsored the Agriculture/Food Security and Climate Change categories of the awards.

As part of his package, Mr Tengzu and the GNA would sign a one-year contract with PolicyLink where the latter would support the former with logistics and resources to cover compelling stories in the Agriculture and Climate
Change sectors.

PolicyLink would also sanction the journalist to produce stories in those sectors that were of interest to the Activity to be published by GNA within the one-year period.

Mr Tengzu would also undertake a one-year online course in a programme of his choice to be sponsored by the Policy-Link Activity as well as profile him on all USAID social media platforms.

Eight awards, including the Regional Best Journalist of the year, were presented to four journalists in the region.

JoyNews’ Upper West Regional Correspondent, Mr Rafiq Salam, was adjudged the Regional Journalist of the Year.

Madam Lydia Darlington Fordjuor of the New Times Corporation and Mr Abubakari Wangara of Media General were also honoured in various categories.t

Mr Bajin D. Pobia, a retired Upper West Regional Manager of the GNA and Mr Ivan Domasah, a retired broadcast journalist, were also honoured for their contributions to the development of journalism in the region.

At the event held in Wa at the weekend, Mr Seidu Bomanjor
, the Regional Vice Chairman of GJA, expressed concern over the proliferation of media organisations in the region without the requisite skilled personnel, which was affecting the professional standards and ethical journalism.

He appealed to the national secretariat of the Association to support the regional branches to build members’ capacity to enhance their work and improve their ethical standards.

Naa Professor Edmund N. Delle Chiir VIII, the Paramount Chief of the Nandom Traditional Area, who chaired the function, emphasised the importance of peace for national development, which the media must uphold and promote.

‘In peace journalism, journalists or the media place emphasis on the prevention and resolution of conflict, they don’t stoke the fire,’ he said.

There is no doubt about the critical role of the media in promoting and ensuring national peace and development.’

Mr Frank Kofi Boadi, Strategic Communication Specialist at the Feed the Future Ghana Policy LINK Activity, recognised the media’s rol
e and power to enhance awareness, promote transparency and accountability especially in the agricultural and climate change sector policy processes.

He said Ghana’s media was plagued with challenges including resource constraints, under-investment in equipment and capacity building for staff, which affected its ability to live its expected mandate.

‘The result is a constraint in the media’s ability to produce high-quality journalism. Again, many media organisations lack the resources to conduct in-depth investigations or to adequately cover remote areas of the country,’ he said.

‘This also limits the ability to provide comprehensive news coverage of the issues that affect the most vulnerable and marginalised in our society.’

Mr Boadi said that informed the decision of PolicyLink to support the media in building their interest in the coverage of agriculture and climate change policy issues.

He stated that to achieve that objective, PolicyLink had designed media-focused interventions in its work plans this
and the next fiscal years of the PolicyLink Activity, which included their support to the annual GJA awards.

Mr. Boadi announced that PolicyLink would institute a grant programme in its next fiscal year to support media organisations and entities to design programmes and

interventions that would contribute to promoting transparency and accountability in the agriculture sector.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Some residents of Ashaiman have appealed to the Ghana Police Service and other relevant agencies to take decisive actions on the growing menace of a phone-snatching syndicate threatening their safety.

They said the area, which is already grappling with infrastructure challenges and occasional crime, had become the hub of an organised criminal network targeting people’s mobile phones and other valuables.

The phone-snatchers, they said, operated in an organised way.

The residents expressed worry over the boldness of the thieves, who strike in broad daylight, leaving them frustrated and fearful.

Mr. Dobila Patrick, a resident, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the activities of the syndicate were an open secret in the community, as almost everyone in the town knows about the phone robbers.

He complained: ‘They mostly attack in the market, where it’s densely packed and people are distracted. But we are afraid to report them for fear of retaliation,’ adding…’ the criminals are even sometimes rescued by s
ympathisers when apprehended in the act.

‘The places of operation for the criminals include the Tema-Ashaiman under bridge, which has become dangerous for residents to use, especially during the night due to the frequent attacks.

‘Astonishingly, many of these robberies occur within a short distance of the Ashaiman Police Station, yet the criminals continue to operate with little fear of being apprehended,’ he said.

Madam Eunice Tamaklo, a vegetable seller in the Ashaiman market, expressed frustration over the situation, saying, ‘We know the people involved in these crimes, but we remain silent because we fear for our safety. Some of them have connections, and they can make our lives difficult if we speak up,’ she explained.

Mr. Lawer Tego, another resident, said, ‘When they are caught, they do not stay in custody for long, and then they return to the streets. It is disheartening because we feel like the police are part of the problem.’

Investigations by GNA investigation into the activities of the phone
snatching syndicate revealed that a Huawei Y6 phone, which is retailed at GHS1,480, was being sold by the stolen phone dealers for GHS240.

Motorbikes are often used in the phone-snatching operations, with criminals swiftly targeting pedestrians or motorists caught off-guard with their phones in hand, especially drivers who leave their car windows rolled down and passengers on commercial buses (trotro) being targets.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Some residents of Ashaiman have appealed to the Ghana Police Service and other relevant agencies to take decisive actions on the growing menace of a phone-snatching syndicate threatening their safety.

They said the area, which is already grappling with infrastructure challenges and occasional crime, had become the hub of an organised criminal network targeting people’s mobile phones and other valuables.

The phone-snatchers, they said, operated in an organised way.

The residents expressed worry over the boldness of the thieves, who strike in broad daylight, leaving them frustrated and fearful.

Mr. Dobila Patrick, a resident, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the activities of the syndicate were an open secret in the community, as almost everyone in the town knows about the phone robbers.

He complained: ‘They mostly attack in the market, where it’s densely packed and people are distracted. But we are afraid to report them for fear of retaliation,’ adding…’ the criminals are even sometimes rescued by s
ympathisers when apprehended in the act.

‘The places of operation for the criminals include the Tema-Ashaiman under bridge, which has become dangerous for residents to use, especially during the night due to the frequent attacks.

‘Astonishingly, many of these robberies occur within a short distance of the Ashaiman Police Station, yet the criminals continue to operate with little fear of being apprehended,’ he said.

Madam Eunice Tamaklo, a vegetable seller in the Ashaiman market, expressed frustration over the situation, saying, ‘We know the people involved in these crimes, but we remain silent because we fear for our safety. Some of them have connections, and they can make our lives difficult if we speak up,’ she explained.

Mr. Lawer Tego, another resident, said, ‘When they are caught, they do not stay in custody for long, and then they return to the streets. It is disheartening because we feel like the police are part of the problem.’

Investigations by GNA investigation into the activities of the phone
snatching syndicate revealed that a Huawei Y6 phone, which is retailed at GHS1,480, was being sold by the stolen phone dealers for GHS240.

Motorbikes are often used in the phone-snatching operations, with criminals swiftly targeting pedestrians or motorists caught off-guard with their phones in hand, especially drivers who leave their car windows rolled down and passengers on commercial buses (trotro) being targets.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Dr Felix Addo-Yobo, the Deputy Director, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Advisory Unit, Office of the President, has called for the protection of the world’s oceans from further pollution and degradation.

For humanity’s own survival, it was absolutely important that humans acted collectively to enhance their relationship with the ocean to ensure the sustainability of oceanic resources.

Dr Addo-Yobo, also the Focal Person for Ghana’s Sustainable Ocean Plan (SOP), made the appeal at the opening of a two-day National Consultation Meeting on the SOP in Accra.

The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), in collaboration with the SDGs Advisory Unit of the Office of the President, has initiated moves to develop the SOP for the country.

The SOP aims to guide public and private sector decision-makers on how to sustainably manage a nation’s ocean area under national jurisdiction to advance long-term economic and social development.

As a Member of the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy,
Ghana has committed to sustainably manage 100 per cent of the ocean area under its national jurisdiction by 2025.

The National Consultation Meeting on the SOP, being organised by the SDGs Advisory Unit, in collaboration with the NDPC, seeks to create awareness on the SOP and its processes, and to provide a space for peer exchange and interaction among national stakeholders.

Dr Addo-Yobo said the oceans, which made up to 70 per cent of the planet, were vital for all lifeforms on earth as they regulate climate and weather, generate oxygen, provide food and livelihoods for billions of people, and drive the global economy through transport and trade.

‘The oceans are also a source of solutions to many of the development challenges we face including climate change, poverty, and food security,’ he stated.

‘Unfortunately, the oceans face enormous challenges – pollution, ocean acidification, rising surface temperature and over exploitation – all of which are as a result of human activities.’

He said Ghana, with a
550km coastline and exclusive economic zone of 218 sq km, was endowed with rich coastal and marine resources, which had the potential to boost socio-economic transformation.

‘Unfortunately, we have for a long time, literally turned are back to the sea, and focused most of our development endeavours on land,’ he said.

‘We have turned the sea into a ‘dumping ground’ with marine litter, and more recently, heavily polluted rivers discharging into the sea, being major challenges.’

Dr Addo-Yobo said the livelihoods of millions of the population who depended on the ocean were at risk, while many more and several critical infrastructures remained vulnerable to rising sea level and tidal waves.

He noted that Ghana had embarked on a process of preparing a SOP to address the many challenges that the ocean faced and to optimize the benefits from the various uses of the ocean resources while balancing the economic, social and environmental imperatives.

Prof Kwasi Appeaning Addo, SOP Technical Advisor, said the Sustai
nable Ocean Plan could drive the economy and create stable jobs.

Madam Ingrid Mollestad, Ambassador of Norway to Ghana, during a panel discussion, said her country was proud to associate with Ghana with regard to the issue of sustainable ocean management.

Nana Joojo Solomon, of the National Fisheries Association of Ghana, appealed to the Government to ensure that fisherfolks were consulted whenever they were formulating policies concerning the oceans

Source: Ghana News Agency

Dr Felix Addo-Yobo, the Deputy Director, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Advisory Unit, Office of the President, has called for the protection of the world’s oceans from further pollution and degradation.

For humanity’s own survival, it was absolutely important that humans acted collectively to enhance their relationship with the ocean to ensure the sustainability of oceanic resources.

Dr Addo-Yobo, also the Focal Person for Ghana’s Sustainable Ocean Plan (SOP), made the appeal at the opening of a two-day National Consultation Meeting on the SOP in Accra.

The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), in collaboration with the SDGs Advisory Unit of the Office of the President, has initiated moves to develop the SOP for the country.

The SOP aims to guide public and private sector decision-makers on how to sustainably manage a nation’s ocean area under national jurisdiction to advance long-term economic and social development.

As a Member of the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy,
Ghana has committed to sustainably manage 100 per cent of the ocean area under its national jurisdiction by 2025.

The National Consultation Meeting on the SOP, being organised by the SDGs Advisory Unit, in collaboration with the NDPC, seeks to create awareness on the SOP and its processes, and to provide a space for peer exchange and interaction among national stakeholders.

Dr Addo-Yobo said the oceans, which made up to 70 per cent of the planet, were vital for all lifeforms on earth as they regulate climate and weather, generate oxygen, provide food and livelihoods for billions of people, and drive the global economy through transport and trade.

‘The oceans are also a source of solutions to many of the development challenges we face including climate change, poverty, and food security,’ he stated.

‘Unfortunately, the oceans face enormous challenges – pollution, ocean acidification, rising surface temperature and over exploitation – all of which are as a result of human activities.’

He said Ghana, with a
550km coastline and exclusive economic zone of 218 sq km, was endowed with rich coastal and marine resources, which had the potential to boost socio-economic transformation.

‘Unfortunately, we have for a long time, literally turned are back to the sea, and focused most of our development endeavours on land,’ he said.

‘We have turned the sea into a ‘dumping ground’ with marine litter, and more recently, heavily polluted rivers discharging into the sea, being major challenges.’

Dr Addo-Yobo said the livelihoods of millions of the population who depended on the ocean were at risk, while many more and several critical infrastructures remained vulnerable to rising sea level and tidal waves.

He noted that Ghana had embarked on a process of preparing a SOP to address the many challenges that the ocean faced and to optimize the benefits from the various uses of the ocean resources while balancing the economic, social and environmental imperatives.

Prof Kwasi Appeaning Addo, SOP Technical Advisor, said the Sustai
nable Ocean Plan could drive the economy and create stable jobs.

Madam Ingrid Mollestad, Ambassador of Norway to Ghana, during a panel discussion, said her country was proud to associate with Ghana with regard to the issue of sustainable ocean management.

Nana Joojo Solomon, of the National Fisheries Association of Ghana, appealed to the Government to ensure that fisherfolks were consulted whenever they were formulating policies concerning the oceans

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), has launched a policy document on the code of practice for women in the maritime domain.

Dubbed ‘Code of Practice for Women, Peace, and Security Practitioners in Maritime Governance and Security in West and Central Africa,’ the document seeks to ensure the welfare and advancement of women in the maritime domain.

It covers issues such as gender equality and empowerment, equal participation, human rights and dignity, diversity and inclusion, conflict sensitivity, local ownership and sustainability, and cultural sensitivity, among others.

Launching the document, Mr. Tom Norring, the Danish Ambassador to Ghana, said it provides a framework to address policy gaps and advance gender equality, peace, and security within the maritime sector.

He said the recognition that maritime security was not solely a male dominated issue, was central to the development of the document, which involved both regional and national maritime security actors.

‘It
is a human issue, and women’s participation is essential,’ he said.

Mr. Norring noted that research conducted by the KAIPTC under the ongoing Danish Maritime Security Programme has revealed key insights into the impact of maritime crimes on women’s Livelihoods.

He said, the research also underscored the various roles women currently played and could further play in the maritime domain.

Mr. Norring reiterated the Danish government’s commitment to integrating women’s perspectives into maritime security policies and ensure that gender responsive policies became standard across the Gulf of Guinea.

Maj. Gen. Richard Addo Gyane, the Commandant of the Centre, said the document also produces a model policy statement on women practitioners in the maritime security environment, which could be used by maritime security organisations.

‘When used effectively, the document will make a difference in the experiences of women practitioners in all areas of work in the maritime security domain,’ he said.

The document, whi
ch is published in English, and translated in French, is a product of an inter-regional maritime security project supported by the government of Denmark for coastal West and Central African States.

It outlines an elaborate dissemination phase that will take place in seven strategic West and Central African states, including Ghana, Cameroun, Congo Brazzaville, Nigeria, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, and Senegal, where a combination of bilateral engagements with policy makers, seminars and media outreach would drive the sensitization of stakeholders in each of the seven states.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), has launched a policy document on the code of practice for women in the maritime domain.

Dubbed ‘Code of Practice for Women, Peace, and Security Practitioners in Maritime Governance and Security in West and Central Africa,’ the document seeks to ensure the welfare and advancement of women in the maritime domain.

It covers issues such as gender equality and empowerment, equal participation, human rights and dignity, diversity and inclusion, conflict sensitivity, local ownership and sustainability, and cultural sensitivity, among others.

Launching the document, Mr. Tom Norring, the Danish Ambassador to Ghana, said it provides a framework to address policy gaps and advance gender equality, peace, and security within the maritime sector.

He said the recognition that maritime security was not solely a male dominated issue, was central to the development of the document, which involved both regional and national maritime security actors.

‘It
is a human issue, and women’s participation is essential,’ he said.

Mr. Norring noted that research conducted by the KAIPTC under the ongoing Danish Maritime Security Programme has revealed key insights into the impact of maritime crimes on women’s Livelihoods.

He said, the research also underscored the various roles women currently played and could further play in the maritime domain.

Mr. Norring reiterated the Danish government’s commitment to integrating women’s perspectives into maritime security policies and ensure that gender responsive policies became standard across the Gulf of Guinea.

Maj. Gen. Richard Addo Gyane, the Commandant of the Centre, said the document also produces a model policy statement on women practitioners in the maritime security environment, which could be used by maritime security organisations.

‘When used effectively, the document will make a difference in the experiences of women practitioners in all areas of work in the maritime security domain,’ he said.

The document, whi
ch is published in English, and translated in French, is a product of an inter-regional maritime security project supported by the government of Denmark for coastal West and Central African States.

It outlines an elaborate dissemination phase that will take place in seven strategic West and Central African states, including Ghana, Cameroun, Congo Brazzaville, Nigeria, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, and Senegal, where a combination of bilateral engagements with policy makers, seminars and media outreach would drive the sensitization of stakeholders in each of the seven states.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Prof. Akwasi Osei, former Chief Executive Officer of the Mental Health Authority, has argued that decriminalizing suicide in Ghana was a positive move, but not adequate.

‘Decriminalization will enable persons contemplating suicide to come out in the open to seek help.

‘We however need to do more by way of public education for suicide awareness and for stigma reduction, training of human resources, the police and judiciary for them to be abreast with this new situation,’ he said.

Prof. Osei was speaking at a forum held in Accra by the Centre for Peace and Reconciliation (CPR), a non-governmental organization.

The forum was dubbed: ‘Changing the Narrative on Suicide: the role stakeholders to reduce suicide attempts and suicides.’

Ghana’s Parliament in March 2023 amended the Criminal Offenses Act of 1960, which previously made attempted suicide a criminal offence in the country.

Subsequently, in June 2023, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo gave accent to the amended legislation.

Suicide kills 700,000
people every year, making it one of the major causes of mortality in the world.

According to the WHO 2020 report, there were around 1,993 suicides in Ghana each year.

Prof. Osei emphasized the importance of addressing cultural and taboo concerns around suicide deaths, stigma, and suicide as a sin.

‘All these need to be tackled for us to enjoy the full benefits of decriminalization,’ he said.

Prof. Osei emphasized the need for stakeholders to implement risk-identification mechanisms through public education.

‘We need to put in place a mechanism for general education, workplace education and Employee Assistance Programme,’ he stressed.

Prof. Osei said that Ghana needed to train more suicidologists, as the country currently has only four of them.

‘We need to train general duty health staff, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, to recognize early warning signs.’

According to him, although suicide had been decriminalized in Ghana, some courts had convicted people who attempted it.

‘We need to train the police, J
udiciary and all duty bearers on the new law.’

Prof. Osei noted that understanding the nature of suicidal behaviour was key in curbing cases.

He said suicide was a symptom of an underlying mental health condition in most cases.

Prof. Osei said between 93 and 95 per cent of all suicides and attempted suicides emanated from mental disorders.

‘Over 80 per cent of all attempted or completed suicides are from depression. A cardinal feature of depression is a sense of hopelessness,’ he noted, and appealed to people to seek help.

Prof. Osei said the reasons for suicide among men in Ghana were varied.

These included marital challenges, economic difficulties, perceived shame, pre-existing mental illness, substance use, chronic illness and loss of job or income.

Touching on the pattern of suicide in Ghana, Prof. Osei said there was about a 10-year pattern of peak attempts.

‘Suicides goes down and resurfaces in ten years adding, the last major surge was in the year 2017.’

He appealed to the media to desist from
providing vivid accounts of suicide cases to prevent ‘copycat’ suicides.

In a speech read on his behalf, the Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, said that mental health was a significant part of life that required resources and time to change the narrative.

He said that every suicide was a tragedy that affects families, communities, and the entire country, with long-term consequences for those who are left behind.

Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, said that the church had made its pulpit ‘pro mental health’ to deliver messages of compassion and support to the needy, underprivileged, and vulnerable.

Justice Hafisata Amaleboba, a Court of Appeal Judge who represented Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, said the issue of suicide should be of grave concern to everyone.

She emphasized the need for immediate action to prevent suicides and save lives in the country.

According to Justice Amaleboba, the World Health Organization (WHO) saw suicide as a public heal
th issue that required a public health solution.

Dr. Emmanuel Hopeson, Founder and CEO of CPR, said the Forum aimed to put decriminalization into action by providing therapy and support to individuals struggling with suicidal thoughts.

‘We want tell people that there is hope for all matter the situation, no one should also die of suicide because every life matters,’ he said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Prof. Akwasi Osei, former Chief Executive Officer of the Mental Health Authority, has argued that decriminalizing suicide in Ghana was a positive move, but not adequate.

‘Decriminalization will enable persons contemplating suicide to come out in the open to seek help.

‘We however need to do more by way of public education for suicide awareness and for stigma reduction, training of human resources, the police and judiciary for them to be abreast with this new situation,’ he said.

Prof. Osei was speaking at a forum held in Accra by the Centre for Peace and Reconciliation (CPR), a non-governmental organization.

The forum was dubbed: ‘Changing the Narrative on Suicide: the role stakeholders to reduce suicide attempts and suicides.’

Ghana’s Parliament in March 2023 amended the Criminal Offenses Act of 1960, which previously made attempted suicide a criminal offence in the country.

Subsequently, in June 2023, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo gave accent to the amended legislation.

Suicide kills 700,000
people every year, making it one of the major causes of mortality in the world.

According to the WHO 2020 report, there were around 1,993 suicides in Ghana each year.

Prof. Osei emphasized the importance of addressing cultural and taboo concerns around suicide deaths, stigma, and suicide as a sin.

‘All these need to be tackled for us to enjoy the full benefits of decriminalization,’ he said.

Prof. Osei emphasized the need for stakeholders to implement risk-identification mechanisms through public education.

‘We need to put in place a mechanism for general education, workplace education and Employee Assistance Programme,’ he stressed.

Prof. Osei said that Ghana needed to train more suicidologists, as the country currently has only four of them.

‘We need to train general duty health staff, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, to recognize early warning signs.’

According to him, although suicide had been decriminalized in Ghana, some courts had convicted people who attempted it.

‘We need to train the police, J
udiciary and all duty bearers on the new law.’

Prof. Osei noted that understanding the nature of suicidal behaviour was key in curbing cases.

He said suicide was a symptom of an underlying mental health condition in most cases.

Prof. Osei said between 93 and 95 per cent of all suicides and attempted suicides emanated from mental disorders.

‘Over 80 per cent of all attempted or completed suicides are from depression. A cardinal feature of depression is a sense of hopelessness,’ he noted, and appealed to people to seek help.

Prof. Osei said the reasons for suicide among men in Ghana were varied.

These included marital challenges, economic difficulties, perceived shame, pre-existing mental illness, substance use, chronic illness and loss of job or income.

Touching on the pattern of suicide in Ghana, Prof. Osei said there was about a 10-year pattern of peak attempts.

‘Suicides goes down and resurfaces in ten years adding, the last major surge was in the year 2017.’

He appealed to the media to desist from
providing vivid accounts of suicide cases to prevent ‘copycat’ suicides.

In a speech read on his behalf, the Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, said that mental health was a significant part of life that required resources and time to change the narrative.

He said that every suicide was a tragedy that affects families, communities, and the entire country, with long-term consequences for those who are left behind.

Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, said that the church had made its pulpit ‘pro mental health’ to deliver messages of compassion and support to the needy, underprivileged, and vulnerable.

Justice Hafisata Amaleboba, a Court of Appeal Judge who represented Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, said the issue of suicide should be of grave concern to everyone.

She emphasized the need for immediate action to prevent suicides and save lives in the country.

According to Justice Amaleboba, the World Health Organization (WHO) saw suicide as a public heal
th issue that required a public health solution.

Dr. Emmanuel Hopeson, Founder and CEO of CPR, said the Forum aimed to put decriminalization into action by providing therapy and support to individuals struggling with suicidal thoughts.

‘We want tell people that there is hope for all matter the situation, no one should also die of suicide because every life matters,’ he said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The anthropologist and researcher Gregório Chicola considered the first President of Angola, António Agostinho Neto, to be an unavoidable figure in Africa, with a broad political and literary vision, who contributed to the liberation of peoples.

Speaking to ANGOP on the occasion of National Heroes’ Day, which is celebrated on 17 September, the university professor said that, through his poems, António Agostinho Neto influenced nationalists to fight for national liberation, as well as instigating pan-Africanist movements to demand respect for civil, social and political rights.

He stressed that with his literary works ‘A Hora da Largada’, ‘Renúncia Impossível’ and ‘Sagrada Esperança’, he encouraged the struggle for resistance and social criticism, which galvanised actions by nationalists to fight the colonial yoke.

Gregório Chicola said that one cannot talk about the decolonisation of Africa without mentioning the figure of António Agostinho Neto, who, from an early age, played an important role in the int
ernational amnesty movement for independence, demonstrating that he was not just an Angolan citizen, but a citizen of the world.

For the anthropologist, the way he thought and acted, with a cultural universalism, was crucial for the liberation of southern Africa, just by looking at his statements: ‘Angola is and will be, of its own free will, a firm trench for the revolution in Africa’, ‘In Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa is the continuation of our struggle’.

He also added, in order to exalt this unavoidable figure, the starting point must be the greater dissemination of his literary, political and social works to the new generation, so that they are aware of his legacy in Angola, Africa and the world.

Gregório Chicola urged Angolans not to transform the figure of António Agostinho Neto into a reductionist attitude and hostage to a single political party, but rather into a national hero with an international dimension that goes beyond ideological and partisan dimensions.

He lamented the fact that there
are students who don’t read the works of António Agostinho Neto, because they are books of an international nature, especially ‘Sacred Hope’, one of the most translated in the world, in more than 50 languages.

António Agostinho Neto was born on 17 September 1922 in Kaxicane, Icolo e Bengo, and died on 10 September 1979.

As Angola’s first President, he proclaimed national independence from the then Portuguese colonial rule on 11 November 1975.

He is a reference in national culture, having written several works that have been translated into various languages, including ‘Quatro Poemas de Agostinho Neto’ (1957), ‘Sagrada Esperança’ (1974) and ‘A Renúncia Impossível’ (1982).

Source: Angola Press News Agency