Day: March 23, 2024

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Stolen laptops won’t affect integrity of elections – EC


The Electoral Commission (EC) says laptops stolen from its stores do not possess the capability to affect the integrity or outcome of elections.

The EC confirmed in a statement on Friday that five laptops were stolen from its stores, and debunked reports purporting that some biometric verification devices (BVR) had been stolen.

The Commissioned explained that an internal memo titled: ‘RETURN OF BIOMETRIC VERIFICATION DEVICES’ was intended for internal asset reconciliation, adding that the Commission placed high value on all of its assets.

‘The memo in question, widely shared on social media, was a routine communication aimed at ensuring the accountability and returning of all electoral equipment, including BVDs, to the Commission’s custody.

‘This procedure underscores our rigorous asset management system, designed to maintain a transparent and accountable inventory of all Commission assets,’ the statement signed by Mr Michael Boadu, Acting Head of Public Affairs, EC, said.

The EC said BVDs were designed
with sophisticated security features such that without the proper activation and official use within the electoral framework, the devices were inoperative.

‘The integrity of our elections, therefore, remains unassailable,’ it said.

‘We want to assure the public that any equipment, if ever misplaced and even in cases of vandalism, cannot be utilised to undermine the credibility of our electoral process due to the advanced security protocols and activation requirements in place,’ the Commission added.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Women Mediators Network launched


The Network of Women Mediators in Ghana (WoMNet-GH) has been launched in Accra.

The Network is an affiliate of the Women Mediators Across the Commonwealth and the Global Alliance of Women Mediators Network, seeks to seeks to?increase the participation of women mediators in all spaces of mediation.?

It is also a subsidiary of the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA), a regional civil society organisation.

The Global Affairs Canada sponsored the launch of WOMNET-GH, in partnership with FOSDA, Peace Legacy Africa, the National Peace Council, Women, Youth Peace and Security Institute (WYPSI) of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Centre (KAIPTC), the UN Women and African Women Leaders Network (AWLN).

Madam Diana Asonaba Dapaah, a Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, who was the special guest of honour noted that comments and contributions on the Affirmative Action Bill had been incorporated into the original Bill and then resubmitted to Parliament.

She underscored that
one of the marks they could leave behind was to endure the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill.

She said countries, which look up to Ghana as a forerunner had passed the Affirmative Action Bill, hence there was the need for Ghana to do the same.

She reiterated that the Office of Attorney-General was ever ready and very supportive for the passage of the Bill; saying, ‘we are going to be your pressure check to ensure that we don’t lose steam.’

She lauded FOSDA’s contributions to the promotion of peace and security in Ghana and in the West Africa subregion.

Mrs Theodora Williams-Anti, a Member of WoMNet-GH and Executive Director of FOSDA, said the journey towards the establishment of the Women Mediators Network started in October 2022, when FOSDA and Peace Legacy Africa with funding support from the Canadian Funds for Local Initiative organised a training on Conflict Mediation for women in the peace and security space in Ghana.

She noted that at the time, their only objective was to contribute as a CSO t
o the implementation of the Ghana National Plan on the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, also known as Ghana National Action Plan (GHANAP 2).

The Resolution reaffirms the significant role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peacebuilding, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and in post-conflict reconstruction and stresses the importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security.

Mrs Williams-Anti expressed the hope that if GHANAP 2 was well implemented, the women, peace and security agenda would be advanced.

‘We reached out to the Peace Council and worked with the women council members across 10 regions at the time since the Councils in the six new regions had not been established,’ she said.

She said the Network also worked with experienced women experts and activists in the peace and security space and queen mothers.

Mrs Williams-Anti said in recognition of the n
eed to stay together, to amplify the voices and expertise of women in the peace and security space we have decided to stay as a group and to launch this network; stating that ‘once again our friends the Canadians, this time through Global affairs have come to our aid.’

Mrs Janet Adama Mohamed, an international mediator, who formally launched the WoMNet-GH hailed Mrs Williams-Anti’s contributions towards peacebuilding in Ghana and the West Africa subregion.

Hajia Hamdatu Ibrahim Hussain, a former Chairperson of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and a Member of the Working Group on Women, Youth, Peace, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel (WGWYPS-WAS), said attitude towards the investing in women empowerment was also evident in the current status of the Affirmative Action Bill.

‘Effort to pass the affirmative action Bill has proven futile over the last 10 years. It is the one giant step towards ‘Inspiring Inclusion’, and we wish to call on the Government to Pass the Affirmative Action Bill this year t
o ensure inclusion,’ she said.

Madam Patience Agyare-Ashie, Director of the Women, Youth Peace and Security Insititute (WYPSI) of the Kofi Annan Intenational Peacekeeping Centre (KAIPTC) said ensuring equal access to justice for women, including accountability for perpetrators of gender-based violence and addressing barriers to justice faced by women in conflict-affected areas were among efforts at sustainable peace building.

She said integrating gender perspectives into broader peacebuilding efforts to build more sustainable and inclusive peace processes and outcomes is part of the roles expected from WOMNET-GH, which WYPSI so much shares and supports.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Ghana Library Authority organises quiz competition to commemorate Poetry Day


The Northern Regional office of the Ghana Library Authority has organised a quiz competition for students of Senior High Schools (SHS) in Tamale to commemorate this year’s World Poetry Day celebration.

Students from the Tamale SHS, Dabokpa Technical SHS, Business SHS, Vitting Technical SHS, Northern Business SHS, Islamic SHS and Tamale Girls’ SHS were the participants.

The event dubbed: ‘The Library Poet, SHS Clash’, was organised on the theme: ‘Elections, My Right, Life and Future’ and supported by Promasidor Ghana Limited, producers and distributors of Yumvita and Twisco beverages.

Students from Business SHS were crowned winners of the competition after impressive delivery on the theme for the event.

Mr Aaron Kuwornu, Northern Regional Director, Ghana Library Authority, speaking during the event, said it was to revive the culture of reading, writing and teaching of poetry in schools.

He said, ‘The theme was carefully selected to use poetry as a tool to encourage students to demonstrate keen interest in
elections by being agents of peace.’

He underscored the importance of reading, saying it enhanced one’s cognitive abilities and promoted analytical thinking, especially among students.

Madam Uraniba Mohammed Mumuni, Events Representative, Marketing Department at Promasidor Ghana Limited, said the partnership with the Ghana Library Authority to organise the event was in line with the company’s commitment toward providing healthier beverages to enhance the holistic growth of children.

She urged the students to prioritise healthy lifestyles by consuming nutritious and healthier diets to ensure they were healthy at all times to learn.

Participants received certificates, books and products from the sponsors.

The World Poetry Day was established in 1999 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to recognise the power of poetry as a universal art that transcended culture and language.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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ATU holds clean-up exercise to mark 75th anniversary celebrations ?


The Accra Technical University has embarked on a clean-up exercise at its premises and Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park as part of its 75th anniversary celebrations.

The exercise was organised by the 75th Anniversary Planning Committee of the University in collaboration with the Department of Networking and Community Engagement, and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly.

The initiative aimed to underscore the University’s dedication to environmental stewardship and community engagement.

Professor Alice Constance Mensah, Chairperson for the 75th Anniversary Planning Committee, expressed her enthusiasm for the project, and stressed the importance of giving back to the community.

?’This clean-up campaign not only restores the memorial park’s splendour but also strengthens our ties with the community,’ she said.

Students, faculty members, and volunteers eagerly joined forces to participate in the clean-up campaign.?

Armed with gloves, machetes, dustpans, waste bins, brooms, and a tricycle, they worked diligently to re
move litter, clear debris, and rejuvenate the spaces within the University and park’s precincts.

Prof Mensah highlighted the importance of individuals and the public keeping the memorial park clean when they visit.?

She emphasised the value of environmental stewardship and asked everyone to develop the habit of maintaining the place’s cleanliness.?

Prof Mensah urged other institutions to emulate the University’s efforts to uphold tidiness and create a friendly environment.

She commended participants for their sincere dedication and hard work towards the exercise.

?’Today’s event embodies the spirit of unity and service that defines Accra Technical University.

‘Let us carry forward this momentum as we continue to celebrate the 75th anniversary,’ she said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Queens Craft donates to Twin- City Special School


The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Queens Crafts Catering and Decoration, Madam Grace Anthony, has donated a modern gate to the Twin- City Special School of Persons with Intellectual and Development Disabilities in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis in the Western Region.

The donation was to honour a request from the school and launch of the 25th anniversary celebration of Queens Craft Catering and Decoration.

Madam Grace Anthony, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said the school wrote a letter to her institution requesting for a school gate.

She explained that she saw the need to help the school by providing them with the gate as it would help intensify security in the school.

She added that it sometimes became difficult for the teachers to control the pupils due to their conditions and they could run out of the school premises without the knowledge of the teachers.

Madam Anthony also said, she visited the school every year to celebrate with the pupils, especially on her birthday which fa
lls on March 17…’ I usually come here with items like food, drinks, cakes, toffees and anything fun that will put smiles on their faces’.

‘ I take time off my schedule to have fun with them every year, I feel happy around them all the time… all I ask is for God to give me the strength and resources to keep on assisting the school in anyway possible’ she said.

Madam Cresentia Efua Bilson- Sai, the Headmistress of the school, expressed gratitude to the CEO and entire management of Queens Craft Catering and Decoration for the kind gesture towards the school.

She said the gate would help the school management to keep the pupils safe and also control their movement.

The Headmistress added that the new gate has also beautify the entrance of the school and that the school’s management would take proper care of the gate to last for a long time.

The school in showing appreciation to Madam Anthony for her commitment, love, care and support over the years to the school, presented her with a citation.

Mr Lawrence O
rlando Baidoo, the Special Education Coordinator for Sekondi-Takoradi Metro, expressed gratitude to the CEO on behalf of the Metro Education Directorate for the honour done to the school.

He urged the management of the school to put measures in place to keep the gate in a good condition.

The pupils of the Twin City Special School pronounced words of blessings on Madam Grace Anthony for coming to celebrate her birthday with them as well as the launch of her institution’s 25th anniversary.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Cameroon Secures 17th place at the All African games


By Biwah Bryan

Team Cameroon fell short of their objective set by the Cameroon Olympic and Sports Committee to be placed within the top 10 countries at the 13th All African Games in Accra, Ghana.

They finished 17th out of 24 participating countries securing 30 medals in total including 3 golds, 13 silvers, and 14 bronze, across the 8 disciplines they participated in.

The 3 gold medals were achieved in weightlifting and athleticism, with Ngadja Nyabeyeu and Junior Periclex finishing with 2 golds in weight lifting while Emmanuel Esseme won a gold medal in athleticism

Cameroon’s participation involved 8 disciplines, including Judo, Weightlifting, Athleticism, Handball, Volleyball, Boxing, Karate, and Wrestling out of the 12 they qualified for, while leaving behind Football, Rugby, and other disciplines.

Compared to the 2019 edition, Cameroon’s ranking has decreased. They finished 11th in Morocco five years ago, securing 5 gold medals, 14 silvers, and 9 bronze, with a total of 28 medals.

The current edition
is championed by Egypt who braced 187 medals including 99 golds, 46 silvers and 42 Bronze.

Source: Cameroon News Agency