Author: Web Desk

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Prada Group have equipped 18 vulnerable young women and girls with fashion design skills for social change and economic-empowerment.
The young women and girls were trained under private companies with expertise in the fashion industry across the world, a six-month teaching and learning programme dubbed ‘Fashion Expressions. The Stories She Wears.’
The programme was aimed at leveraging on the social and economic power of fashion as a vehicle to promote women’s empowerment, and sexual reproductive health in Ghana and Kenya.
Dr Wilfred Ochan, Country Representative of United Nations Population Fund in Ghana said inculcating these skills into young women and girls was to ensure all young passions came to reality, and to overcome future women vulnerabilities.
He said this at the close out fashion show event organised by the UNFPA in partnership with Prada Group and International needs Ghana in Accra.
He said aside the skills they have gained, they have also gained the ability to lead groups, come up with own ideas and creativity.
‘They have been given the means to earn a livelihood and gain an economic benefit, the training taught them how to use family planning, seek health care and adopt healthy lifestyle,’ he added.
Mr Ochan said this initiative had added to reducing the rate of unemployment in the country.
The training programme through the reproductive health and gender-based violence has helped these vulnerable young women and girls defend their rights and make informed choices, he said.
He said the private fashion industry had agreed to work with these young vulnerable girls and women for a better future.
Mr Charles Abani, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ghana said the fashion industry had become increasingly beneficial and was generating more income for nations, however, training young women and girls in fashion design was another key factor to generate revenue for Ghana.
He said the programme was not just a fashion design project but served as a platform and voice to unlock the potential of young people for economic growth.
Mr Abani said they would no longer be marginalised in society since they have acquired the skills to establish their own businesses, adding that this would ensure their economic independence, and support families and friends.
‘The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17 talks about partnership, therefore, I entreat all private partners and stakeholders to join hands with the UNFPA for effective implementations policies to eradicate poverty,’ he said.
The skills acquired will help them attain their ideal goals, become fashion designers, build their own brands and become employers in the future.
UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, its mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Dannex Ayrton Starwin has Plc recorded an impressive financial performance of gross profit of GHC45,070,953 in 2022 as compared to GHC35,543,875 in 2021.
The company achieved a revenue of GHC95.7million in 2022 as compared to GHC74.5 million in 2021 while total assets rose from GHC63.5 million in 2021 to GHC75.1million in 2022.
Mr Nik Amarteifio, the Board Chairman of the company, disclosed this at the company’s Third Annual General Meeting in Accra.
He said last year was a difficult year for many other companies particularly those who depended on imported raw materials to produce for the market.
Mr Amarteifio said the company was able to quickly turn its performance around due to competitive pricing, proactive management of forex risks, optimization of cost and paying down its overseas payables.
He said Ghana witnessed a significant surge in inflation from 12.5 per cent in 2021 to approximately 53.4 per cent by the end of 222.
This notable escalation, Mr Amarteifio said was driven by several factors, including demand pressures, currency depreciation, supply disruptions, increasing utility costs and increase in interest rates.
‘These hurdles were intensified by the lingering effects of the global Covid-19 pandemic that had been experienced throughout 2020 and 2021,’ he said.
Mr Amarteifio said the external developments mentioned above had a significant effect on the domestic economy, adding that the foreign exchange market experienced substantial volatility, particularly at the beginning of the year in review, which put considerable pressure on the local currency.
‘Looking ahead, we anticipate that the current challenges facing the pharma industry will persist, he said adding that despite these difficult circumstances, the Board and Management of the company are unwavering in their commitment to maintain focus and resilience.
Mr Daniel Apeagyei Kissi, said the company based on lessons of the past, would continue to pursue reforms to ensure that the company ended the subsequent years with the same impressive to excite its shareholders and the stakeholders alike.
‘Now, we look at our pricing on the market almost daily. we are looking at the cost of raw materials also daily and as for the forex rate we are constantly checking and these parameters will continue,’ he said.
Mr Kissi said he was confident that the company would continue to ride out the storm and end 2023 on a positive note.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Fusca Ningkpeng, the Assembly Member of Kaleo East Electoral Area in the Nadowli-Kaleo District, says the Upper West Regional Minister has given the assurance that the portion of the Wa-Nadowli road within Kaleo that was severely damaged after a heavy downpour would be rehabilitated.
He said Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, the Upper West Regional Minister, assured the people of the community when he visited the disaster site at Kaleo on Monday, September 4, 2023, to ascertain the level of destruction the rain had caused.
According to Mr Ningkpeng, the Minister visited the site in the company of the Acting Upper West Regional Director of the Ghana Highway Authority, the Regional and District Directors of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and some staff of the Nadowli-Kaleo District Assembly.
However, the Assembly Member, who revealed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Wa at the Weekend said no contractor had visited the site yet since the minister’s visit and assurance.
‘The minister assured us that they will hand over the site to a contractor, and the contractor will soon be on site.
But as we speak, there is nothing here to show that a contractor is coming on-site or a contractor has come to work, but the damage is dangerous, it needs urgent attention,’ he explained.
It could be recalled that the Ghana News Agency (GNA) reported on Monday, September 4, 2023, that a heavy downpour on Saturday night, September 2, 2023, had caused a dam at Kaleo to overflow its banks causing considerable damage to the road.
The road in its current state risks being cut off in the event of another heavy rain if nothing is done urgently to fix the current damage caused.
He said NADMO was also asked to assess the impact of the flood on the affected farmers whose crops were washed away by the flood and to assist them accordingly, but nothing had also been done in that regard.
Mr Ningkpeng reiterated calls on the Highway Authority and the appropriate quarters to construct gutters along the highway within the Kaleo township to control the flow of rainwater within the town.
He said that had become imperative because the lack of gutters along the road caused the flowing water to damage structures along the road.
Meanwhile, portions of the Wa-Nadowli-Babile road that were cut off in August 2021 were still to be tarred.
The inability of the government to fix those portions of the road had left them to deteriorate further, leaving them in a bad state.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The 2023 batch of honorees for the highly anticipated Humanitarian Awards Global has been announced.
In their quest to inspire the next generation of change-makers, honorees from dozens of different countries will be recognised at the awards ceremony on Saturday, October 28, 2023, in Accra, Ghana.
The awards ceremony, which is held annually, is aimed at recognizing change-makers, NGOs, SDG advocates, volunteer leaders, donors, organizations, philanthropists, corporations, social impact companies, and professionals who are advancing the important work of charity each day.
Through the awards, the organizers honour and celebrate the honorees and awardees’ incredible contributions of resources, leadership, and financial support made in inspiring generosity and giving hope to humanity.
The theme of the award, dubbed ‘Celebrating Change Makers’ would be putting the spotlight on these individuals and organizations which will not only be celebrated, but also build a strong platform for them by giving them a voice and opportunities while they continue to impact the world positively.
The Honorary Awards are given to honour distinctive works of service, humanitarian impacts, consistency, excellence in leadership, performance, personal accomplishments, commitment to sharing knowledge, lifetime achievements, and the ability to challenge the status quo.
This year’s list has a broad representation, including diplomats, board chairs, CEOs, scholars, chancellors, professors, and philanthropists who have influenced society positively.
The 2023 honorees include the late Ghanaian author and poet Ama Ata Aidoo, Ghanaian musician Okyeame Kwame, Kobby Kyei (blogger), Dr. Abigail Wilson (Pharmacist) and Elijah Amoo Addo (Executive Director Food for All).
Others include Betty Adera (Kenya), Dr. Geetanjali Chopra (India), Dr.Tristaca McCray (USA), Fatima Mohammed Habib (Nigeria), and award-winning journalist Stephanie Busar, among many others.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Some 107 Al Shabaab fighters have surrendered to the government forces of Somalia between July and August, the country’s counterterrorism centre said.

Abdullahi Mohamed Nor, the director of the National Center for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, said the militants surrendered in four states — Hirshabelle, Galmudug, Southwest and Jubaland states.

“Those who surrendered include young children who were radicalized, youth, women and group commanders and they will be offered amnesty and then taken for rehabilitation,” the director told journalists in Somali capital Mogadishu.

He urged the group fighters intending to benefit from the government’s amnesty to follow suit, saying they would welcome defecting from the Al Shabaab terror group.

“There are two reasons why the number of Al Shabaab members surrendering to the government has increased. First, it is the pressure of the ongoing offensive operations in the country and second, it is that they are making use of the president’s amnesty offer,” he said.

This move comes as the fighting between the Somali National Army and the group fighters intensified on several fronts mainly in south-central Somalia

Source: Nam News Network

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has commissioned six new vessels into the Ghana Navy Fleet as part of government’s commitment to resource the Navy to effectively secure the country’s maritime domain.
The vessels are two Boundary Class ships, donated by the United States (US) government and christened the Ghana Navy Ship (GNS) Half Assini and GNS Aflao, two Defender Class boats, an Oil Spill Response Vessel, christened Esther Afua Ocloo, for the Ghana Maritime Authority, and a locally manufactured Landing Craft.
Speaking at a ceremony to commission the vessels at the Sekondi Naval Base in the Western Region, President Akufo-Addo said the move was a manifestation of his government’s commitment to retool and re-equip the Ghana Armed Forces to enable them to perform their duties of protecting the territorial integrity of the country.
He said the addition of the new vessels symbolized government’s resolve to safeguard Ghana’s maritime sovereignty.
The President said he was committed to resourcing the Navy and other relevant agencies in the maritime sector to help guarantee the sustainable exploitation and benefits the ocean offered.
President Akufo-Addo noted that, ‘I am aware of the enormous responsibility on the Navy in seeing to it that the maritime spaces of Ghana are safe and secured. That is why we are taking steps to retool the Ghana Navy.’
According to him, the government’s retooling of the security services including the Navy had yielded positive results in the maritime domain saying; Ghana had not recorded any attacks or kidnappings on ships in the last two years.
‘This is a significant achievement considering that the country experienced several attacks on ships including the kidnapping of nine crew members from a Ghanaian vessel in 2021,’ he said.
The President urged the Navy officers to continue to safeguard the country’s maritime boundaries from any external aggressions, adding, ‘As we protect these maritime territories there is the need to maintain significant Naval presence so as to prevent criminals from exploiting any contested area.’
President Akufo-Addo expressed gratitude to the US government for donating the GNS Half Assini and the GNS Aflao to the Ghana Navy as part of their support to augment government’s commitment in ensuring the maritime security on Ghana’s territorial waters.
‘The USA has supported Ghana’s military revitalization programme through capacity building and enhancements of our capabilities.
The donation of these two 12-metre Boundary Class boats would greatly enhance the operations of the Navy in dealing with sophisticated operations when the need arises,’ the President stated.
Mr Dominic Nitiwul, Minister for Defence, said the importance of a well equipped Armed Forces could not be overemphasized, ‘that is why the President Akufo-Addo-led government has made the retooling of the Ghana Armed Forces, including the Navy a priority.’
Mr Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, Minister for Transport, said the commissioning of the Oil Spill Response Vessel marked a significant milestone in the country’s maritime sector as it provided a major boost to efforts towards creating a vibrant, safe, and secured maritime ecosystem for economic growth.
Madam Virginia Palmer, the US Ambassador to Ghana, indicated that the donation of the boats was the latest in the United States’ long-standing support for the Ghana Navy, including training, technical assistance, and naval infrastructure projects.
She said maritime security was critical to the country’s sovereignty and prosperity, adding that piracy and illegal fishing in the Gulf of Guinea were a persistent menace, threatening the livelihoods and traditions of Ghana’s fishing industry.
She noted that ‘These vessels are the newest component of U.S. support to protect and regenerate these fragile fisheries and we are providing $24 million over five years to help the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture install electronic monitoring systems on trawlers licensed to fish in Ghana and to assist the Ministry, working with the University of Cape Coast, to designate Marine Protected Areas that restrict fishing and other activities to protect fragile ecosystems and species found there.’
Madam Palmer added that the vessels would help to deny pirates, traffickers, and other criminals the use of the sea for their illegal activities, making Ghana and the region not just safer but more prosperous.
Rear Admiral Issah Yakubu, Chief of Naval Staff, thanked the President and other partners for the immense efforts in retooling the Ghana Navy to carry out their mandates diligently and effectively.

Source: Ghana News Agency