Enhancing Maize and Poultry Production in Ghana: A Project Management Approach for Sustainable Agriculture

Introduction

Ghana faces fluctuations in maize availability due to adverse weather conditions and high input costs, which directly impact the poultry sector. This makes maize, a critical component in poultry feed formulation , expensive for poultry farmers, even when it's available. Although the Planting for Food and Jobs Policy has subsidized inputs like seeds and fertilizers, not all farmers have access to these subsidized inputs. As Ghana seeks to reduce its import bill, create employment opportunities, and diversify its export capacity, a cohesive agricultural project management approach is necessary, particularly in the maize and poultry sectors.

Phase 1: Initiating the Project

The government of Ghana must first establish clear objectives for the project. These objectives should be geared towards increasing maize production, improving poultry production efficiency, and achieving the target of 25% import substitution in the poultry sector. Key stakeholders, including farmers, research institutions, agricultural extension officers, policymakers, and funding agencies, should be involved in the project initiation.

Phase 2: Planning

A comprehensive project plan should be developed to outline how the objectives will be achieved. The plan should include strategies for improving maize and poultry production, such as:

• Encouraging 1% of the 12.6 million Ghanaians aged 25-64 years to cultivate maize on at least 1 hectare of land, resulting in 126,000 hectares of maize production.
• Expanding access to subsidized inputs, such as seeds and fertilizers, to a larger number of farmers.
• Implementing innovative agricultural practices, such as climate-smart agriculture, to mitigate the effects of adverse weather conditions.
• Promoting the use of technology in both maize and poultry production, such as precision agriculture and efficient poultry housing systems.
• Strengthening extension services to provide technical support, training, and information dissemination to farmers.

Phase 3: Execution

The project plan should be executed through a coordinated effort involving various stakeholders. Specific tasks include:

• Identifying suitable land for maize cultivation and coordinating with farmers and landowners for land access.
• Securing funding for input subsidies and other support services for farmers.
• Training and deploying agricultural extension officers to provide technical assistance.
• Creating strategic collaborations with research institutions, including agricultural researchers such as breeders who develop crop varieties and soil scientists who work on optimizing soil health for maximum productivity, as well as partnering with the private sector to foster innovation and encourage technology adoption in both maize and poultry production.
• Monitoring and evaluating the progress of the project to ensure timely adjustments and improvements.

Phase 4: Monitoring and Controlling

Regular monitoring and evaluation of the project's progress will be crucial to its success. Key performance indicators, such as increased maize yield, reduced poultry imports, and increased domestic poultry production, should be tracked to measure the project's impact. This will enable timely adjustments and improvements, ensuring the project stays on track to achieve its objectives.

Phase 5: Closing

Upon successful completion of the project, a final evaluation should be conducted to assess the project's impact on maize and poultry production, import substitution, and overall agricultural growth. Lessons learned from the project can be used to inform future policies and projects in Ghana's agricultural sector.

Conclusion

A well-managed project in the maize and poultry sectors, guided by project management principles, can significantly contribute to achieving Ghana's goals of reducing imports, creating employment, and diversifying its export capacity. By following a structured approach involving initiating, planning, executing, monitoring, and closing, Ghana can efficiently address the challenges faced by its maize and poultry sectors and create a sustainable and thriving agricultural industry.

Call Weija-Gbawe MP, MCE to order over unlawful demolition exercise-Gonsee Dzaasetse told Akuffo-Addo

Gbawe Gonsee Dzaasetse, Nii Abe Kobla II has implored the President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to immediately intervene and called to order the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Weija-Gbawe Municipal Assembly, Patrick Brako Kumor and Member of Parliament (MP) for Weija-Gbawe Constituency, Tina Gifty Naa Ayeley Mensah for their alleged involvement in facilitating unlawful demonstration exercise which resulted in the loss of properties belonging to several residents of Gbawe Gonsee in the Weija-Gbawe Municipality of the Greater Accra Region.

He contends that the MP together with the MCE have demonstrated bad faith in their dealings with the Gbawe Gonsee Family; Osabu, Klotia, Mensah Kwashie and Kwadjo Family of Gbawe Gonsee by resorting to use of force including an unlawful deployment of a combined team of military and police officers to pull down buildings owned by some residents in the area without due diligence or proper authorization.

“We believe this is not the way the government acquires lands from any family or from any stool. We therefore think that this should reach a higher authority, his excellency the president, president Nana Akuffo-Addo.

We know you’re a listening president and will listen to our predicament since our MP and MCE has not shown any respect to the Gbawe Gonsee Family; Osabu, Klotia, Mensah Kwashie and Kwadjo Family of Gbawe Gonsee hence the need to call on you”.

Nii Abe Kobla II made the plea while addressing a press conference held in Accra on Monday, March 13, 2023.

According to the royal family, the briefing was an avenue to share their concerns and set the record straight on the unwarranted and unlawful demolition exercise which rocked and devastated residents of the Gbawe Gonsee land.

It would be recalled that the people of South Africa located in Gbawe Gonsee of the Weija-Gbawe Municipality of the Greater Accra Region on Friday March 10, 2023 woke up to an awful experience where masses of soldiers and police officers invaded the town and begun to pull down some private structures; a storey building and a 4-bedroom apartment sited close to the community clinic in the area.

Unfortunately, not even the timely intervention of the Gbawe Gonsee Dzaasetse, Nii Abe Kobla II who doubles as the head and lawful representative of the Osabu, Klotia, Mensah Kwashie and Kwadjo Family of Gbawe Gonsee including his elders could put a stop to the barbaric act as a result of powers from above.

“It came to our notice last Friday March 10, 2023 that our Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Patrick Brako Kumor and the MP, Hon. Tina Naa Ayeley Mensah were embarking on some demolition exercise at Gbawe Gonsee in a community we call South Africa so as elders of Gbawe Gonsee, we’ve decided to come and have a look at it.

Indeed, we came and to our surprise it was true. The MP and the MCE were indeed present here and busily superintending over a demolition exercise which indeed was unlawful”.

When asked what might have triggered the ‘unlawful demolition’ exercise, Nii Abe Kobla II retorted: “the reasons are best known to Patrick Brako, the MCE for Weija-Gbawe Municipal Assembly.

He furthered: “What we are aware of is that we gave only 4 plots of land to the Municipal Assembly to build a community clinic which was facilitated by my predecessor, the late Nii Osabu II through George Lartey, the Director of Greenwich Consortium Limited,”.

“We have not given any plot of land to Hon. Patrick Kumor, MCE of Weija-Gbawe Municipal Assembly or any additional land to Hon. Tina Naa Ayeley Mensah, MP of Weija-Gbawe Constituency. As a family, we saw such exercise as an indictment on our authority”, he quizzed.

For his part, Gbawe Gonsee Asafoatse, Nii Anum Asuma expresses shock over the actions of both the MCE and the MP which he holds the view has the tendency to derail the good efforts being made towards achieving development in the area.

“I believe the MCE and the MP themselves are not interested in seeing development in the Weija-Gbawe Constituency and the Weija-Gbawe Municipality.

If so, then why would an MP and MCE embark on such a barbaric exercise because if they have any due respect for the custodians of the Gbawe Gonsee Family, Osabu, Klotia, Mensah Kwashie and Kwadjo Family of Gbawe Gonsee, they would’ve come to our premises and then we jaw jaw for us to see how prudent we can carry out any exercise of such nature”.

He advised both the MP and the MCE to set their priorities right, do due diligence anytime they are dealing with land issues and desist from using Rambo style to confiscate people’s lands through illegal demolition exercises.

"You think it’s easy to buy a block and cement in this economic hardship? It is not easy so if you want to do something as a leader, you must consider your people”, he posited.

Nii Anum Asuma dares anyone who doubts the veracity of their family claims to land ownership to proceed to the Land Commission and run a search to ascertain the truth for themselves.

“Gbawe Gonsee land is legally registered and we have our legal and lawful right to possess our heritage. This is our heritage, this is what our great grandfathers left for us, we shall protect it in every manner possible but not with violence”.

Source: Joseph Wemakor

Civic Space Resource Hub cohort 1: Joseph Wemakor build capacity on civic space protection among CSOs leaders

Founder and Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana-NGO (HRRG) Joseph Kobla Wemakor has benefited from a three-day capacity building workshop on civic space protection organized for leaders of ten (10) Ghanaian civil society organizations (CSOs) who were part of the first cohort of beneficiaries of the Civic Space Resource Hub for West Africa project.

The workshop which aims at equipping the participants with rich skills for influencing state policies and reclaiming the shrinking civic space was organized West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI).

It was held from 7th to 9th March 2023 in Accra, Ghana.

The ten selected CSOs which benefited from the workshop were Norsaac, Centre for Public Interest Law, Centre for Democratic Development – Ghana, WERENGO-Ghana and the Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG).

The rest were the West Africa Drug Policy Network (WADPN), Parliamentary Network Africa -Ghana, GenCED Ghana and CSIF-Ghana.

The Ghanaian civic space has come under barrage of criticism in recent times over safety as far as threats such as arbitrary arrest of journalists, excessive use of force against protesters and civic actors among others are concerned.

At the sub-Saharan state, the picture is however, not different as the past years have seen major civic space threats which warranted the attention of the CIVICUS Monitor into its ranking as Narrowed.

It is under this backdrop, the organizer, WACSCI has staged the workshop to enlighten and empower the participants who are leaders of the ten vibrant Ghanaian Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the country on the need to be informed in order safeguard themselves from further attacks posed to them during course of their work within the civic space.

Head of the Policy Influencing and Advocacy Unit at WACSI, Omolara Balogun stressed the need for civic actors to widen their scope of information, gather enough data and upgrade themselves regularly in order to be well positioned to contribute their quota towards the growth of the civic space and promote open societies.

“This training is very important to CSOs because it seeks to enhance their institutional and operational capacity so that they can effectively work on civic space, human rights, freedom of expression and regulatory compliance,” she said.

Omolara furthered that the training also offered the participants additional skills, knowledge, and information on how they can strengthen the financial and digital resilience of their organisations.

Executive Director of Nigeria Network of NGOs, Oyebisi Babatunde Oluseyi, who conducted the training, schooled the participants on the need to collaborate with government and state institutions as far as working in the civic space is concerned.

He underscored the need for the participants to be disciplined, gather information of the setting in which they function and be abreast with legal, political and social factors that affect their work.

The participants expressed their heartfelt gratification to have partake in a training which falls under the Civic Space Protection pillar of the project.

Excited Joseph Kobla Wemakor could not hide his joyful feeling knowing the workshop has achieved its desired purpose of perfecting his advocacy skills to be well positioned as an advocate for the promotion, protection and fulfilment of human rights.

“I believe my knowledge gaps on effective advocacy coupled with the acquisition of the right techniques have now been closed owing to the rich training I’ve received out of the important topics covered backed by an excellent delivery put up by the workshop facilitator.”

Mr. Wemakor equally participated last year in the Digital Clinic for Civic Actors CSR-Hub for West Africa project organized by the Spaces for Change (S4C), a non-governmental organization, located in Lagos, Nigeria in collaboration with Interactive Initiative for Social Impact (Dataphyte).

The CSR-Hub for West Africa seeks to strengthen the capacity of CSOs working to expand civic space and promote open societies in West Africa.

IWD 2023: Women urged to always upgrade themselves to bridge inequality gap

Board Director of the Alliance For African Women Initiative (AFAWI) a non-profit organization, Dr Felicia Odame has charged the Ghanaian women to always endeavor to upgrade themselves in every field of life so as to be well positioned towards realization of bridging the gender inequality gap agenda.

According to her, it is never too late for women to achieve gender parity only if they work hard, innovate and focus on building up themselves socially, economically, politically and psychologically through constant education.

“Dear women, it is never too late to make it, therefore you should always be up and doing and make sure you do something for yourselves in order to be self-reliant”.

“You should always strive to upgrade yourselves and come to the level of men, because ideas and knowledge are not only for men.

It’s for both men and women, so the little you know is not enough therefore you should keep upgrading yourselves until one day we get to realize that the gender inequality gap is closed in Ghana where women can be at par with the men”.

Dr. Felicia Odame made this known while addressing a gathering of grassroot women entrepreneurs at an event to mark this year’s International Women’s Day on Wednesday March 8, 2023 held at Abokobi in Accra.

The event was organized by AFAWI on the theme: “Celebrating five years of success using digital loan repayment: Mobile money as a tool for women empowerment”.

It brought together over fifty (50) small-scale female entrepreneurs including petty traders, head porters, seamstresses, beauticians and hairdressers among others from the Greater Accra, Volta and the Western North Regions of Ghana.

The beneficiaries were schooled on the significance of the International Women’s Day celebration including some important topics such as gender inequality, women empowerment, digital technology, how they can harness the power of digital technology to boost their businesses and the need to be innovative to remain relevant and self-sufficient.

In her presentation on the topic “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”, Dr. Felicia Odame advised the beneficiaries to pursue their own goals, live according to their own values and develop self-reliance so they can be well positioned to make choices and influence decisions both individually and collectively in their various communities.

She also encouraged the women to embrace digital technology, harness the power of mobile money and make judicious use of the various social media platforms available as major tools to promote their businesses.

“Don’t forget to utilize your mobile phones to help create public awareness about your goods and services. You can always promote them on YouTube, Facebook and on your whatsapp statuses and people will contact you to buy them”, she told them.

Some of the beneficiaries during an open forum shared their experiences on the benefits derived out of the digital technology tools (mobile money and whatsapp platforms) they have been introduced to under the AFAWI Livelihood Project which improved their businesses as well as facilitated the loan repayment.

“Sending the repayment via mobile money has been made very easy because when you send the money, you have enough time to do something for yourself, maybe a little work in your house or shop compared to before where you have to resort to transport services to get to the office of AFAWI just to effect payment”, says Veronica Dowuona, a beneficiary.

“The whatsapp is very easy to use. There’s no need for you to be walking around calling people for help and all that. So, when you whatsapp, it immediately goes through then you’ll receive a feedback. So, I think it’s very fast, easy and reliable”, Alice Hutchful, another beneficiary has hinted.

AFAWI is a development oriented, not-for-profit, non-sectarian, non-governmental organization operating in Ghana since 2006 committed to ending poverty in Ghana through creation of an enabling environment for the vulnerable in the society especially through women and children.

For the past 17 years, AFAWI has been working assiduously to support grassroot women across the 16 regions of Ghana. Through their support, so many women in the Ghanaian communities; rural and urban areas have been relieved of their financial burdens.

According to the Deputy Programmes Manager of AFAWI Marlene Keller, the organization through its Livelihood Empowerment Project which targets female entrepreneurs in the Ghanaian communities within three regions of Ghana namely Greater Accra, Volta and the Western North Regions have so far built the capacities of over 2,300 on Financial Literacy, Health and Gender Responsiveness and the Distribution of Micro support Credits.

The overall goal of the project, she indicated, was aimed at improving the livelihood of women sustainably so they can successfully provide for their families as a way to help bridge the inequality gap.

She further maintained that out of the 2,300 beneficiaries, over 250 women have received micro credits support (A loan amount of 100 dollars per women) from AFAWI to advance their businesses.

Mad. Keller equally reveals that one key achievement of AFAWI was to digitize part of its Livelihood Empowerment Project which began in 2017 through the incorporation of mobile money and whatsapp as a tool of women empowerment to ease loan repayment.

“Before 2017, the women were paying back their micro-credits by physically coming to our office or we have to go to their various business locations to collect our repayment but now that we have the mobile money as a tool for the repayment, they can just send it to us like in a split of a second.

I can confidently say that it’s easier, very effective and even in terms of cost which is enhancing our project which focuses on empowering women and AFAWI uses it as a tool for women empowerment”, she posited.

For her part, Programmes Manager of AFAWI, Jennifer Gasu averred that the commemoration of the day was an avenue for her outfit to bring the beneficiaries together, celebrate and highlight their success stories of using digital technology as a tool to advance their businesses.

“Basically, our gathering here today is to celebrate, honor and showcase the success story of these women who are coming from the grassroot, some of them who have not been to school before but yet are able to use technology as a tool to advance their business to succeed which is unique opportunity for us to also contribute our quota towards supporting the global agenda of alleviating the plight of women and to help bridge the gender inequality gap”.

The colorful 2023 International Women’s Day event was graced by some dignitaries, leaders of various civil society organizations (CSOs) in the country including some members of the general public who trooped in their numbers.

International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global day set aside, marked annually on March 8th which celebrates social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

The UN theme for this year’s International Women Day is “Digital

ALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”.

Source: Joseph Wemakor

Touch-Peoples Lives Fundation registers 240 people under NHIS

Touch-Peoples Lives Fundation, a charitable Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in a bid to help promote healthcare delivery in Ghana has financially assisted 240 people living in the Jantong Daashei Community located within the Salaga North District of the Savannah Region to successfully get enrolled unto the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

The beneficiaries included ninety-five (95) children and one-hundred and forty-five (145) adults.

According to the Founder of Touch-Peoples Lives Fundation, Mr Francis Kofi Taylor, the exercise seeks to help provide the poor and needy in rural areas with the privilege to also benefit from the National Health Insurance Scheme with the aim of helping address some of the healthcare challenges the rural folks are confronted with.

He equally averred that the gesture which was part of its outfits contribution towards the well-being of the poor and the needy within the rural areas in Ghana received support from the De Bruel School (Zeist) in Holland, Gethsemane Encounter (Holland) and the Maganoba Farms

Mr. Kofi Taylor made this known in an interview on the sidelines of the registration exercise which was organized for the Jantong Daashei community members in the Salaga North District of the Savannah region.

He further explained that the program was focused on improvement of healthcare quality and making sure all the people get the healthcare services they need.

He appealed to the stakeholders to support healthcare providers in a bid to effectively communicate more with rural communities to help improve the health and well-being of the people.

For his part, Program Manager of Touch-Peoples Lives Fundation, Mr. Charles Maganoba urges the people in the rural areas to always endeavour to visit the health centres with their NHIS cards for regular check-ups to lessen diseases challenges affecting their health conditions.

Chief of Jantong Daashei Community, Naa Haruna Yahaya on behalf of the community expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the organisers for their kind support towards the NHIS registration.

He equally called on other well-meaning organisations to also come on board, emulate the kind gesture and support the government's efforts aimed at enhancing quality healthcare services delivery in the Jantong Daashei community.

TOUCH-PEOPLES LIVES FUNDATION is a registered Non-Governmental Organization which is wholly dedicated and committed to help offer education and health support towards rural communities in Ghana.

It also seeks to help provide training skills development activities for the unemployed youth, offer counselling and rehabilitation services for the drug addicts, run social programs for the poor and needy and above all help spread the word of God to people in the communities.

Source:Joseph Wemakor

Meet the multiple award-winning CEO: Baroness Kafui Afi Richardson

To be named among the Most Respected CEOs in Ghana is an enviable recognition and no mean achievement.

This is a dream nurtured by many yet only few have achieved.

But for a heroine like Baroness Kafui Afi Richardson, she is already living this dream with little or no effort.

This was made possible through utmost dedication, perseverance and dint of hard work backed by her loyalty to customer satisfaction in discharge of her duties as a revered Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a leading Facility Management Company.

Alluring Baroness Kafui Afi Richardson is a gem, a woman of dignity and integrity, a great achiever, a strong believer in God, a loving mother of all, a philanthropist and above all a star.

She is the CEO of the City Facilities Management Limited, a leading Ghanaian facility management company with a global reach which provides expert services to clients in realization of their problems, combining construction facilities, energy and asset management solutions, delivered by dedicated and expert teams towards achieving customer satisfaction.

This was at a night dedicated to celebrate and honor the most outstanding Chief Executives in corporate Ghana across a wide range of sectors.

The night witnessed the indefatigable Baroness Kafui Afi Richardson honoured with multiple awards to her credit.

In both categories of awards; the Facility Management and Commercial Cleaning Services, she was adjudged the winner of the year in the sector.

For those who knew her reputation, could not hold back but commended her highly for the recognition and concluded that she really deserves it, adding that, this goes to complement her wonderful deeds in the public sector.

Source:Joseph Wemakor

CEO of City Facilities Management wins Most Respected CEO at 2022 Ghana Industry CEO Awards

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the City Facilities Management Limited, Baroness Kafui Afi Richardson has been adjudged the Most Respected CEO of the year with two prestigious awards to her credit under the Facility Management and Commercial Cleaning Service categories respectively at the 2022 Ghana Industry CEOs Awards ceremony held at the plush auditorium of the Labadi Beach Hotel on eve of Friday November 18, 2022.

The 2022 Ghana Industry CEOs Awards are the fifth of an annual awards scheme aimed at identifying and publicly recognizing the most outstanding Chief Executives in corporate Ghana across a wide range of sectors. Eligible awardees include CEOs of both private and public sector corporations and institutions.

The scheme witnessed the selection of the awardees by the Ghanaian public who first nominated CEOs for shortlisting, following verification of the nominations; and who subsequently voted for the shortlisted nominees with those receiving the highest votes in each sector category being declared winners by the scheme’s official Validation partners.

Baroness Kafui Afi Richardson’s good deeds were celebrated and honored in two folds when she picked up the two (2) prestigious awards; 2 medals, plaques and beautiful certificates of honor amidst rapturous cheers and jubilation at the colorful ceremony which marks the highly anticipated event greatly patronized by dignified CEOs , celebrities, traditional authorities including crème de la crème of the society.

Expressing her heartfelt joy in an interview just after receiving the accolades, the Ghana’s Most Respect CEO, Baroness Kafui Afi Richardson averred that her excitement knew no bounds when her name was pronounced a winner for the two categories of the esteemed awards but it never came as a shock to her owing to the commitment, dedication and hard work exuded in discharge of her duties strongly backed by her diligent working staff at the City Facilities Management Services Ltd. which is shaping the Commercial Cleaning Service sector in Ghana and beyond.

Baroness Kafui Afi Richardson who derives her motivation from helping others including guaranteeing optimum client satisfaction said she looks up to the wonderful support she enjoys from her working staff regardless of the challenging economic times the country is faced with which is affecting businesses.

"They have been the backbone of the company and very supportive. I have seen that even in these challenging times we are currently going through, they’re still working assiduously with excellence and I feel so excited to have such working staff around me".

When asked what the future holds for her outfit as far as winning the prestigious award is concerned, the City Facilities Management Limited, CEO said:

“Well, honestly more business but more importantly for us to be recognized then, that means that we’ve been doing something right so we want to continue to maintain the standards if not even go higher than we are doing right".

She furthered: “To always uplift the standard and make Ghana proud, that it is not only done in Europe or elsewhere but we can do it right here”.

City Facilities Management Limited is a quality, non-stop building maintenance contractor which provides expert services and support to clients in realization of their problems, combining construction facilities, energy and asset management solutions, delivered by dedicated and expert teams to achieve customer satisfaction.

CFM provides prompt and efficient services by attaching the utmost sense of urgency when it comes to client satisfaction. Their cleaning standards are, procedures and schedules are of international standards.

The awards night witnessed CEOs of both private and public sector corporations and institutions celebrated for excellence in various categories. For winners of GH Titans Awards category, Executive Director of Salt and Light Ministry, Dr. Joyce Rosalind Aryee, Prof. Joshua Alabi, Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Mr. Gopal V. Vasu, Managing Director of M&G Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and Dr. Daniel Mckorley, CEO of MCDAN Group was honored among hosts of others.

For the Ingenious Banking Sector, Mr. Daniel Asiedu, Managing Director of OMNIBSIC Bank emerged winner while Dr. Abraham Ato Ahinful pronounced winner under the Product Distribution awards category.

Source:Joseph Wemakor

Only 14% of Ghanaians use clean fuels – 2nd Lady Samira Bawumia laments

Ghana’s Second Lady, Her Excellency Mrs. Samira Bawumia, has bemoaned the poor adoption of clean energy in Ghana, with statistics showing that most people use unsafe options.

Mrs. Bawumia, an Ambassador for the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, highlighted the latest data pointing to the fact that “about 14% of the population currently cook with clean fuels and technology and 32% are using improved cookstoves”.

This marks a “slow but steady growth” after Ghana adopted the ISO standard for clean cookstoves and clean cooking solutions.

The Second Lady of Ghana, who has been on a relentless campaign for clean energy, observed that there had been efforts to set a minimum standard, develop labels, and upgrade testing centres, all in an effort to ensure world-class market development of clean cooking solutions in Ghana.

Currently, the Ghanaian government is also promoting the adoption of LPG by 50% as the primary cooking fuel by 2030.

Mrs. Bawumia made these known at the 2022 Clean Cooking Forum in Accra on October 11.

Delivering the opening remarks at the event, which witnessed a high attendance by global leaders, she revealed that globally, especially in some developing countries, more than 2.5 billion continue to rely on wood, coal, charcoal, agriculture residues, or animal dung to cook their meals and heat their homes.

“These homes become dangerous places to be, simply because the energy sources they use release high levels of pollutants that are harmful to their health,” She said.

She was particularly concerned that the lack of access to clean cooking in sub-Saharan Africa remains acute.

“It is the only region where the number of those without access continues to rise. The share of those with access just increased from 15% in 2015 to 17% in 2020,” she noted.

Explaining reasons for adopting clean cooking methods, she stated that air pollution causes more than 7 million deaths every year, with 1.1 million deaths occurring in Africa.

“Household air pollution, which is driven largely by indoor cookstoves, accounted for 700,000 fatalities, while increased outdoor air pollution claimed four hundred thousand 400,000 lives.

“In Ghana, the World Bank estimates that sixteen thousand (16,000) people die prematurely from air pollution every year. Each number in these millions represents a mother, father, son, daughter, or friend who is loved by his / her loved ones. These deaths are avoidable and unacceptable,” She emphasised.

To support her resolve for clean cooking initiatives, she cited the State of Global Air study, which pointed out that about 236,000 newborn infants are estimated to have died of air-pollution-related causes in sub-Saharan Africa.

In addition, studies by a team of researchers led by Boston College and the UN Environment Programme examining the toll on children’s developing brains revealed that air pollution exposure to infants and young children resulted in the loss of 1.96 billion IQ points across the continent.

“This will no doubt have serious consequences for the future of the continent,” She stressed as she called on leaders to formulate clean energy policies.

As global leaders aim to achieve net zero by 2050, Mrs Bawumia quickly added that “clean cooking is an essential part of achieving this”.

She was of the view that emission reductions have to go hand-in-hand with efforts to ensure clean energy access for all by 2030.

Therefore, she identified sound public policies, a holistic approach, and long-term commitment from all development actors as some factors that will make the objective a reality.

“Reducing cooking emissions is critical to reducing forest degradation, improving health, empowering women, and children, protecting the environment, and helping achieve numerous other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“We will be letting down a significant portion of the world population if we pay only lip service to clean energy access, particularly clean cooking, especially in Africa.

“Let us choose to strengthen partnerships to better effectively address the issues of clean energy solutions. The cost of inaction is too high; we must act now!”

Having been at the forefront of clean energy campaigns, Mrs Bawumia lobbied for the 2022 Clean Cooking Forum to be hosted by Ghana.

It follows a highly successful WHO programme in Geneva, Switzerland, where Mrs Bawumia called on world leaders to take immediate action to increase access to clean energy.

Some of the global leaders who participated in the 2022 Clean Cooking Forum include H.E. Ingrid Mollestad, Norwegian Ambassador to Ghana; H.E. Virginia A. Palmer, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Ghana; Honorable Katja Lasseur, Deputy Head of Mission, Netherlands Embassy in Ghana; Vincent Wierda, IDE Energy Lead, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, United Nations Capital Development Fund; Carla Montesi, Director at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships; Dymphna van der Lans, CEO, Clean Cooking Alliance; Shirley McAlpine, Founder, Shirley McAlpine & Associates; Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, Founder and CEO of the Energy Nexus Network; Dr. Leela Hazzah, Executive Director & Co-founder, Lion Guardians and Co-founder & Leadership Council, WE Africa; Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy; Ashvin Dayal, Senior Vice President Power and Climate, Rockefeller Foundation; and H.E. Rebecca Akufo-Addo, First Lady of the Republic of Ghana; and Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Minister of Energy, Ghana.

Unwarranted arrest, detention of civilians worrying– Human Rights Reporters’ Joseph Wemakor discusses police brutality in Ghana

Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG), Joseph Wemakor asserts that the Ghanaian police service lacks human rights education, a situation significantly contributing to the incessant police brutality which eventually amounts to wanton violations of people’s freedom and fundamental human rights which is indeed worrying.

Mr. Wemakor contends that unless the police administration put its right foot forward to ensure their men in uniform are properly schooled on human rights in order to be armed to the teeth with the information, knowledge and skills required to work with, Ghanaians would continue to bear the brunt of the relentless brutalities and unprofessional conduct by some unscrupulous police officers against members of the public which put lives at risk.

In an interview with Victoria Beeko Danso, host of HB Pulse on Homebase TV, during the wee hours of yester when he appeared on the show to discuss on the topic: “Police Brutality” on Wednesday, October 5, 2022, the staunch human rights activist enlightened the public on the shortcomings of the Ghanaian police while citing a typical case of police brutality which his attention was recently drawn to, to buttress his point.

In the case which smacks of an assault perpetrated against two unarmed civilians as a result of unprofessional conduct exhibited by some police officers due to unwarranted arrest and detention without any official charges for wrongdoing.

One of the victim, 23-year-old, Richmond Amedey who assists his father with sales in his drinking bar near his residence located at Dawhenya-Abbey near Prampram in the Greater Accra Region was allegedly picked up on the eve of Friday September 23, 2022 together with two other young men under a mysterious circumstance by the Devtracco Estate police patrol team.

According to the HRRG’s sources, the police officers numbering seven (7) who are members of the patrol team in the company of ACP Foli, their commander barged into the drinking spot on that fateful night at exactly 8:00pm where Richmond was on duty and without any formal introduction, interrupted the ongoing activities and commenced a search on anything they laid their hands on including opening bottles containing liquors meant for sale in a manner which demonstrates sheer unprofessionalism.

Some of these officers were alleged to have covered their faces with black masks in a bid to conceal their real identities which is uncalled-for.

They were not bothered to even ask of the whereabouts of the parents of the young bartender when thy barged into the spot, let’s alone keep them informed about their mission but went straight ahead to carry out their nefarious operation with show of bravado.

It was not clear what they might be looking out for which prompted the visitation and the quest for the unwarranted search. From the look in their faces, one could see that these men in uniform were on a target to hunt down someone upon a tipoff.

Unfortunately their search was conducted without a proof of a search warrant or any form of identification to indicate their intention.

Despite their eager search, it emerged that they could not find what they were actually looking for so they became frustrated, dejected and worried in the end.

They have therefore decided to make away with a jackpot machine (Chinese game) owned and operated by the drinking spot.

This, however did not go down well with Richmond therefore he protested to ask the officers the reason for action without any prior information.

It appears the action of the young man might have provoked the officers to unjustly pick him up and have him dragged into their waiting patrol vehicle where he was whisked away to the Devtracco Estate Police Station in company of two others who were picked along the road.

When he asked what his offence was, he was simply told to come and defend the jackpot machine upon visit to the station.

But upon reaching the police station, he was put straight behind bars together with one of his accomplice without even asked to defend the machine contrary to the assertion of the police prior to his arrest.

Fortunately, one of them (third person) was released instantly upon reaching the police station through the demands of an unknown phone caller on the pretext that he had developed a mental problem.

It wasn’t clear who that unknown caller might be and why he gave such an order for the immediate release of the boy which the police Commander complied with without any hesitation.

The long and short of it all was that Richmond Amedey and his colleague spent 3 nights unjustly and unlawfully behind bars for no official charges of wrongdoing levelled against them despite efforts by the Human Rights Reporters Ghana boss and his lawyer to get them released.

Mr. Wemakor observed that he got infuriated at the conduct of the police officers when the case was reported to him via a distress call during the wee hours of Saturday September 24, 2022.

He sought to intervene for the immediate release of the victims and requested for the contact details of the Devtracco Estate Police Commander, ACP Foli which he gladly received from the victim’s father, Godwin Amedey.

But his good efforts were thwarted by the police commander ACP Foli who ignored all his numerous phone calls.

“Upon receiving a distress call pertaining to this unfortunate incident, I did not hesitate to request for the contact number of Commander ACP Foli to intervene for the immediate release of the victims at all”.

“My calls went unanswered for three (3) consecutive times when I first placed a call to him upon receiving his contact. I later sent him a text message introducing myself and my intention of contacting with the hope that he might return my call but to no avail.

“I waited anxiously to hear from him but still no sign of his call therefore I initiated another call and then I was fortunate to hear him answer me.

I quickly introduced myself to him again and reminded him of my intention, but guess what instead of going ahead to confirm to me whether his men have truly arrested and detained the young men the night before when I demanded to know from him.

According to Mr Wemakor, ACP Foli rather chose to ask him a question: “Are you interviewing me or asking me a question?”.

He wondered why a whole police commander would behave in such an unprofessional manner of asking his boys to go and unlawfully arrest and detain unarmed civilians for three (3) good nights without any charges of crime levelled against them.

The two (2) victims were later freed on Monday September 26, 2022 afternoon after unjustly spending 3 nights in the police custody but the controversies surrounding the entire case still persists with its challenges for the Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) to explore and unravel to name and shame these officers who misconducted themselves.

Unfortunately, Richmond Amedey (victim) could not tell his story when contacted on phone during the show due to technical challenges.

One question that remains in mind is that what could be the reason for the needles action taken by the Devtracco Estate police patrol team to arrest innocent civilians when it is clear that they have not committed any crime?.

Another question is why was 3 people (suspect) picked up and one person got released that same night at the police station while the other 2 were meant to spend 3 nights behind bars unjustly?

Surely, this show will uncover all the mysteries surrounding this saga and offer you more insights into the police brutality phenomenon in Ghana.

Don’t miss the next week edition of the HB Pulse on Homebase TV with your host, the talented and elegant Victoria Beeko Danso.

Watch a video on the discussion below:

https://youtu.be/aeNjrvQiLg4

Source:humanrightsreporters.com

McGharbins Network partner HRRG, NYA, PLO Lumumba Foundation et al. to stage the biggest youth gathering in Volta Region

All roads lead to the plush auditorium of the Ho Technical University in the Volta Region on Friday 7th to Saturday 8th October 2022 for the biggest youth gathering to be staged in the history of Volta Region for that matter Ghana.

Dubbed: "McGharbins Youth Connect - Fill The HTU Auditorium" is a brainchild of McGharbins Network, a youth-led advocacy group working in the Volta Region strongly supported by the Volta Regional Youth Network, Human Rights Reporters Ghana-NGO, Ghana CSOs Platform on SDGs, National Youth Authority (NYA), LoveAid Foundation, PLO Lumumba Foundation Ghana and hosts of other youth groups in the Region.

The event which comes on the theme: “PURPOSE, PASSION AND PROFIT” is an avenue for young people to connect and identify their purpose, passion and above all the opportunity to realize their full potentials in life while maximizing it to make profits.

It is also geared towards promoting safe spaces for the youth and young people to learn and cultivate essential skills necessary to thrive in the system.

Executive Director of McGharbins Network, Albert Gharbin in an interview with the Human Rights Reporters averred that the much anticipated : "McGharbins Youth Connect - Fill The HTU Auditorium" is the biggest ever youth gathering event to hit the Volta Region aiming to connect young people to opportunities, empower and build their capacities in policies, decision making and leadership to help them thrive in life.

“It seeks to bring together policymakers, children, youths including other stakeholders in the Volta Region to discuss on the topic: “The Volta Regional Development Plan” in alignment with our “National Development Agenda” and within the broader context of the Global Goals".

The 2-day historic event is also expected to bring together young entrepreneurs to collaborate and take advantage of some opportunities being offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to businesses and boost tourism for the numerous tourist sites in the Volta Region.

In addition, it would help promote climate action through public awareness of the Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) framework as a means to foster local participation, inclusion and build long lasting solutions through the bottom-up approach.

The event will be graced by a line-up of distinguished speakers including Moses B. Arthur, Cwesi Oteng Desmond, Prof. Tonisha Tagoe, Daniel Sarpong, Jesse Agyapong and many others.

The keynote address will be delivered by Kwame A.A Opoku, a Futurist, Global Keynote Speaker, Web 3.0 Builder, Communication Aficionado, Investor, SDGs Advocate & Business Coach.

Mr. Opoku also doubles as one of Africa’s Most Sought After Business and Digital Transformation Coaches with over 15+ Years Experience across 80+ Countries in 4 Continents.

The much-awaited McGharbins Youth Connect event is also intended to help accelerate the quest of developing “GREEN” innovations in the Volta Region and boost Agribusiness.

All youth residing in Volta Region and beyond are cordially invited to fully participate and explore the wonderful opportunities at stake.

Tickets are available for grabs at GH¢20.00 (Regular), GH¢50.00 (VIP) and GHGH¢100.00 (VVIP).

For tickets or more information about the event, please call 0248968311/ 0207409956 or Email: [email protected]

Source:humanrightsreporters.com

African governments are weak in regulating digital spaces-Adenike Aloba

Program Director of Dataphyte, Adenike Aloba has taken a swipe at African governments for their weakness or inability to properly regulate the digital space, an act which limits the full enjoyment of the freedom and fundamental human rights of the masses.

She contends that most of the laws and policies by governments geared towards regulating the digital space in the African context have resulted into a lot of internet shutdowns including attack on press freedom and violation of the rights of journalists and activists among others which have been the trend.

“We’ve seen a lot of journalists being attacked online with bots and being thrown, we’ve seen people being tracked and their things being taken out. We’ve also seen the African governments turn towards when they don’t understand anything they shut it down and that has been the tendency so no, we can’t say that they’re doing well”.

Adenike made this known in an interview with the Human Rights Reporter’s Joseph Wemakor on the sidelines of a 2-day ( Sept. 20-21, 2022) Digital Clinic for Civic Actors in Lagos, Nigeria.

Mr. Wemakor sought to know her views on whether the authorities have lived up to expectation when it comes to proper regulating of digital space within the African continent.

The Digital Clinic which brought together some selected journalists and civic actors from across West Africa namely Ghana, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Nigeria was initiated by the Interactive Initiative for Social Impact (Dataphyte) in collaboration with Spaces for Change (S4C).

The training was aimed at exposing civic actors to the threats in the digital world and equip them with knowledge and practical solutions to deal with the threats to help minimize the risks they pose.

Its goal is to help journalists and civil society protect their information, data, devices and communications against digital security threats.

The participants were taken through topic such as Investigative Journalism Practice in the Digital Space: Risks and Rewards, Deep Dive on Digital Rights in the West African Context, Whistleblowing Policy and Practice in the West African Context and Practical Session on Digital Safety Tools.

It includes Digital Safety and Security Through a Gendered Lens, Data Protection Strategies, Roles and Responsibilities, Social Protection and Rapid Response Mechanisms for Whistleblowing and Digital Safety and Practical Session on Digital Safety Schools-Psychological Safety.

As the world transitions to a digital space, threats are fast increasing online, while people’s rights to freedom of expression, access to the internet and privacy among others are being denied, a trend which is a cause of worry.

But Adenike Aloba who equally doubles as the Managing News Editor of Dataphyte believes the authorities have a major role to play in helping citizens overcome these threats to always remain safe.

“This is a challenge being faced across the world, but it is only in African countries we are seeing laws that want to shut down, that want to control rather than figure out a solution that is more long-term”, she bemoaned.

According to her, although some governments are doing better in terms of regulation of the digital space, others are still lagging behind due to a significant lack of trust between the people and governments.

Citing a typical example of bad regulation of the digital space in the African context, he pointed to a social media bill being set up by the Nigerian government which gives the police the power to determine fake news or abuse of the digital space.

For her, dialogue is a means through which governments can help craft better policies and laws to safeguard the digital space.

“Dialogue is important when you are designing a policy or something then there has to be public engagement because of its public policy for crying out loud”.

She called on all and sundry to do everything humanly possible to protect themselves against the threats while advocating strongly for better laws or policies in place that can help promote and protect digital rights.

Source:humanrightsreporters.com

World Cleanup Day 2022: GAYO partner 21 CSOs to cleanup densely polluted beaches, educational institutions

The Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO) under its Sustainable Enterprise Driven Solution Management initiative has joined forces with 21 civil society and governmental organizations in the country to cleanup the Sango Beach, one of the densely polluted beaches located at Teshie, a suburb Accra in the Greater Accra Region.

The exercise aims to help tackle environmental pollution in a bid to achieve the zero-plastic waste agenda in Ghana.

The event dubbed: “Beach Cleanup & Brand Audit” brought together participants from 21 governmental and non-governmental organizations who are partners including volunteers in numbers who converged at the venue during the early hours of Saturday September, 17, 2022, a day set aside globally to commemorate the World Cleanup Day.

The participants thoroughly cleanup, tidied and collected plastic waste including other pollutants which poses threat to fishes and inhabitants at the Sango beach.

The well patronized exercise was climaxed with a brand audit, an initiative by GAYO which witnessed the record keeping (sorting/analysing) of data on plastic waste to help identify the companies responsible for plastic pollution in the country with the view of holding them accountable.

The event which came on the theme: “Break Free From Plastic,” was organized as part of activities to commemorate this year’s World Cleanup Day; a global event which seeks primarily to unite across the world millions of volunteers, governments and organizations in the 191 members’ countries to tackle the global waste problem while building the new and sustainable world.

It was initiated by GAYO in collaboration with its Echo-Club Campus Chapters and supported by the Green Springs Global, Global Citizens, SESA Recycling, The GEF Small Grants Programme, La Dade Kotoku Municipal Assembly, Ledzokuku Municipal Assembly, G17 - University Ambassadors Consortium, the Human Rights Reporters Ghana-NGO and the Environmental Science Students’ Association.

Other partners include the Glittering Stars International, Geography Students' Association, the Green Innovation for People and Nature, Agribusiness Students' Association of Ghana, Water and Sanitation Students’ Association, the Radio Windy Bay 98.3 FM and the International Association of Students in Agriculture.

In his message to commemorate the 2022 World Cleanup Day in Ghana, Nana Mintah articulates that,

“As we strive to adapt and mitigate climate change impact, I know for sure there are frustrations but so are there opportunities to create a space where we can look back and be proud as future generations see our efforts to correct the mess that we created in the first place.”

“I am strong about plastic waste management. I believe it is time we stood together to work towards eliminating plastic pollution as it contributes significantly to climate change impacts.

The earth is the only place of our survival and we have the obligation to be effective stewards to preserve, protect and restore for now and future generations” he concludes.

Touching on brand audit as an intervention, Jacob Johnson Attakpah, Project Coordinator of the Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO) observed that it is a citizen science initiative that involves recording data on plastic waste to help identify the companies responsible for plastic pollution and hold them accountable.

He further explained that it seeks to advance the scope from just clean-ups and anti-plastics use campaigns to tracing each producer and holding them accountable in managing their waste generation.

Mr. Attakpah stressed that his outfit is making a paradigm shift from the conventional campaigns on waste and plastics which largely focused on the consumers' “dos” and “don'ts” deemed as an ultimate goal to influence policy on the ban on single-use plastics.

“As the call on the elimination of plastic waste is on the crescendo, the alternative have been laid bare by GAYO which includes a complete ban on single-use plastic in Ghana to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Kenya.

It is mainly by this means will there be prohibition on their production, distribution or use. This, GAYO believes offers the upper hand in achieving zero-plastic waste in Ghana”.

The world continues to sit on a time bomb as plastic waste is not properly managed especially for developing countries.

Plastic pollution significantly contributes to climate change. They cause land and water pollution, enhance greenhouse gas emissions, devalue marine ecosystems, and threaten wildlife and biodiversity.

Chemicals released by plastic waste render soil unproductive, thereby affecting food security.

GAYO is a youth-led gender-balanced advocacy group that focuses largely on environmental health and community development.

They operate around four thematic areas which include: capacity building, climate change, disaster risk reduction, and circular economy.

Source:humanrightsreporters.com

Human Rights Reporters' Joseph Wemakor invited to participate in Digital Clinic for Civic Actors in Lagos, Nigeria

Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana-NGO (HRRG) Joseph Wemakor, is among the first cohort of selected leaders of civil society organizations (CSOs) across West Africa invited to participate in the Digital Clinic for Civic Actors by the Spaces for Change (S4C), a non-governmental organization, situated in Lagos in collaboration with Interactive Initiative for Social Impact (Dataphyte).

The training aims to equip civic actors with practical skills to safeguard and mitigate risks in the digital world

The goal is to help journalists and civil society protect their information, data, devices and communications against digital security risks.

This forms part of an initiative of the Civic Space Resource Hub for Civil Society Organizations project in West Africa (CSR-Hub) which seeks to offer capacity building and technical support to CSOs across four strategic pillars such as: Civic Space Protection, Governance and Regulatory Compliance, Digital Security and Protection and Resource Mobilization and Financial Resilience

Mr Wemakor was selected out of over 60 applicants in West Africa by the project team of assessors who found him duly qualified for a spot in the training program.

The staunch human rights activist, among other cohorts expected to join the Clinic from Senegal, Sierra Leone and Nigeria will be well schooled on whistleblowing policies and practices, digital rights and its impact on the work of the media, CSO’s and human rights defenders and how to hold power accountable in a digital world etc.

The cohorts are expected to benefit from a 12-month fully funded training, workshops, coaching, technical support and financial resilience building across the pillars under the project.

Source:humanrightsreporters.com

Lack of protection thwarting human rights fight-Joseph Wemakor

A renowned human rights activist cum seasoned journo, Mr. Joseph Wemakor has taken a swipe at the state authorities for not doing enough to protect the rights and lives of human cum social rights advocates/activists who are committed to championing causes at perils of their lives daily with the aim of bringing about the desired change.

According to him, advocacy/activism as major tools for change exposes the advocates/activists to greater risks including loss of dear lives in most cases which requires that maximum protection and support are given them by the authorities to guarantee their safety and security in order to continue to deliver on their mandate towards achieving results.

Mr. Wemakor made this known in an interview with Victoria Beeko Danso, host of HB Pulse on Homebase TV, during his appearance to discuss on the topic: “Combating Cruelty against Children 2” on Monday August 29, 2022.

The gleaming morning show among others seeks to throw more light on the woes of the 7-year-old girl who got brutally abused, tortured and bounded with ropes both hands and feet by his father after she was accused for shoplifting a biscuit from a shop.

The unfortunate incident caused a stir on social media on Tuesday July 19, 2022 and broke many hearts the moment a video footage and photograph accompanied by a powerful caption: “Tied like a lamb to the slaughter“ by the Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) went viral.

However, by the swift intervention of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly’s Department of Social Welfare and Community Development through support of the Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection (MOGCSP) the child was freed from oppression.

When asked by the host what challenges are his outfit battling in the fight against human rights, Mr Joseph Wemakor who doubles as the Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) and the Co-convener of the Youth and the SDG3 sub-platforms of the Ghana Civil Society Organizations Platform on SDGs in Ghana said: “activism is not an easy task all; it expose us activists to so much risk and if care is not taken and you run out of luck, you might even lose your life in the process.

That’s why people like us ought to be protected so we can continue to work to bring about change”.

He further revealed that his outfit often chanced upon gross human rights violations on a daily baisis which ought to be uncovered but due to lack of protection by the authorities, the group could not take action as a result of fear of victimization.

The HRRG is a vibrant Ghanaian human rights advocacy group with a global reach, committed to ensuring people’s rights are respected, protected and fulfilled.

It is made up of young Ghanaian journalists, editors, lawyers, human rights activists, advocates and defenders who are wholly dedicated and committed to helping address issues of human rights violations in Ghana and beyond to bring the country closer to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Source:humanrightsreporters.com

Human Rights Reporters Ghana gets results: 7-year-old girl brutally assaulted, tortured rescued

The Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) has welcomed the news about the rescue of a 7-year-old girl who was brutally assaulted, tortured, and abused by her father, with great joy after its report on the barbaric and inhumane treatment meted out to the young girl yielded a positive result, pushes the authorities to respond leading to her rescue from the grips of her tyrannizing family.

7-year-old Mary Asana's (not her real name) photograph and video footage broke the internet on Friday, July 19, 2022, and got many hearts torn after a publication by the Human Rights Reporters Ghana went viral.

In the image which triggered shock and horror, Mary can be seen in ropes firmly tied up on both hands and feet lying helplessly on the floor in a sorrowful state.

The caption accompanying the photograph: “Tied like a lamb to the slaughter", aroused huge public outcry with the publication receiving the widest publicity on several social media platforms the moment the news surfaced.

Mary was accused of shoplifting a ‘common biscuit’ from a neighbor’s shop, the act which infuriated her father to the extent that he almost ended up crucifying her in a bid to instill discipline in her.

According to the victim’s father, Mary just can’t stop stealing petty items like food and money as persons with the condition of kleptomania are often accused of.

Mary is currently free from oppression.

This was made possible through the intervention of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly’s Department of Social Welfare and Community Development with the support of the Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection (MOGCSP) which led to her rescue.

Mr. Godfred Abogo, the Unit Head for the Department of Social Welfare at the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly who led the rescue operation team shared two (2) photographs of the child with the Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana, Mr. Joseph Wemakor, indicating that she is now freed and in safe hands within the Department’s custody.

In one of the photographs, the child appeared in a nice costume within a setting that looks like an office in a standing posture posing for the camera while in the other one she was spotted with a bottle of coke in the hands sipping the content into her mouth through a straw in an environment that looks like a restaurant.

According to Mr. Abogo, the initial findings of his outfit pointed to the child exhibiting a pilfering condition akin to kleptomania which prompted her parents to unacceptably restrict her movement resulting in her being assaulted and further bound her up with ropes.

His disclosure corroborates the findings of the Human Rights Reporters Ghana highlighted in its preliminary report on the saga.

He added that investigations into the matter are still currently ongoing to unravel more on the disturbing issue while arrangements are being made to pave way for the reunification of the child with her biological mother.

Meanwhile, he also indicated that the child’s father and stepmother are currently cooperating with his outfit to amicably resolve the issue.

“The parents of the victim did not resist an attempt to free the child, in fact, they were remorseful and voluntarily agreed to the rescue”.

“They have signed a bond of good behavior and to produce the biological mother of the child within the shortest possible time.”

Mr. Abogo also averred that his outfit is solely responsible for footing all the bills of costs incurred for the upkeep of the child while in custody.

This, according to him, is being funded through the Integrated Social Services Delivery System (ISS) of the KMA Department of Social Welfare.

When asked about the roles of the police service in assisting the Social Welfare Department during the rescue operation, he said that “The police were reluctant and besides they didn’t have a DOVVSU office at Ampabame, hence we did it alone”.

The Human Rights Reporters Ghana after breaking the troubling news on that fateful ‘black Friday’, July 19, 2022, did not just sit back and rest on its laurels but quickly proceeded to reach out to the Gender Ministry for help through its HELPLINE OF HOPE call Centre and then gotten a response after which it was redirected to the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly Social Welfare Department in the Ashanti Region. The outcome of which witnessed the swift intervention and subsequently led to the rescue of the child.

The HRRG congratulates the KMA Department of Social Welfare in the Ashanti Region for taking this giant step to rescue the 7-year-old girl and also urges it to endeavor to fast-track the investigations appropriately and ensure the perpetrator of this heinous crime is severely punished as well as help facilitate the reunification of the child with her biological mother as early as possible to safeguard her welfare and growth.

Let no one look down on your youth. Instead, be an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity

Agbodra Ernest, a student of Ho Technical University was interviewed at Avenor tv by a veteran media influencer, Acid on a drive show.

On his political agendas and runs , he was asked to say his ambitions and what legacy he is living as a youth. He said the legacy can't be told by him but others are supposed to say. He proceeded and advice the youths by saying " let no one look down on your youth. Instead, be an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity"

By.....Acid

Ashanti Region- Contest 12

End of Round 1

Kumasi Wesley Girls' High School: 22pts

Agogo State College: 15pts

Presby SHS, Bompata: 14pts

Adugyama SHS: 12pts

#NSMQ2022 #NSMQRegionals #Primetime