Author: Web Desk

Nana Afum Panin III, the Chief of Kojina, a farming community in the WiawsoMunicipality of the Western North Region, has appealed to the Government to provide basic social amenities to make life more comfortable for residents.

The residents are mostly farmers in the community, which lackspotable water, good school blocks, and a proper place of convenience.

Nana Panin said the only Junior High School (JHS) structure,built through communal labour some 11 years ago, had not seen any renovation.

On health needs, the Chief said residents had to travel several miles to Asawinso to seek medical attention as there was no clinic in the community.

He said the community used to have six bore holes, which provided drinking water to the residents, but they had all developed faults and not functioning, forcing residents to use water from unhygienic sources.

Some of the residents told the Ghana News Agency that the 11-year-old JHS block was in a deplorable state and had developed cracks, with some sections leaking badly, making the school toclose whenever it rained.

They complained about the lack of furniture at both the kindergarten and junior high departments and appealed to the Wiawso Municipal Assembly to support the community withsome bags of cement to renovate the structure to prevent disaster.

Meanwhile, Mr Pedro Oppong, the Assemblymember for KojinaElectoral Area, in response to concerns raised, said the WiawsoMunicipal Assembly had approved the establishment of a CHIP compound in the community and promised to take the necessary steps to ensure it came into fruition.

On the lack of potable water, he said the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Louis Owusu-Agyapong, had pledged to provide one mechanised borehole to serve the community.

Source: Ghana News Agency

President Bola Tinubu reaffirms the commitment of his administration to creating meaningful opportunities for Nigerian youths

This is contained in a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, on Saturday in Abuja.

The president stated this on the occasion of the 2023 International Youth Day (IYD).

Tinubu said that job creation, education and skills development to digital innovation, financial technology, and youth participation in governance were key factors in national growth.

Tinubu emphasised that youth empowerment was a fundamental pillar of all reform actions being implemented across sectors.

He added that these create an environment where Nigerian youths can thrive and contribute to the growth and development of the nation.

The president acknowledged the growing interest and impact of many young Nigerians in technology-related fields the world over.

He pledged to honour his campaign commitment of generating one million new jobs in the digital economy for youths and national economic development.

He said he strongly believes in the principle of “to whom much is given, much is expected,” and remained undeterred in his focus on delivery.

As agents of change, President Tinubu urges the youth to champion national progress, unity and collective prosperity for all citizens.

In tandem with the theme of this year’s event: “Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World,” the president urged young Nigerians to spearhead efforts aimed at achieving the highest quality of sustainable development.

He said this would shape the future of the planet in conformity with his agenda of expanding green job opportunities and advocating for renewable energy solutions as an integral part of Nigeria’s current and future energy mix.

On this International Youth Day celebration, the president assures the younger generation that his administration would engage them with a view to implementing their important and forward-looking feedbacks.

Highlighting his commitment to active listening and engagement, Tinubu noted that the enactment of the Student Loan Act and the provision of buses to the Student Bodies of tertiary institutions nationwide stand out as tangible examples of his administration’s responsiveness.

The president heartily extends his best wishes to all Nigerian Youth on this joyous International Youth Day Celebration.(NAN)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) says the local governance electoral process in Ghana is challenged by citizens’ apathy and the under-representation of women, persons with disability(PWDs) and the youth.

Historically voter participation in local government elections was low and it was a travesty that out of the more than 6,000 assembly members, only 460 were women in a society with more women than men.

‘This issue is really troubling, and we must do something drastic about it,’ Dr Kojo Asante, the Director of Programmes and Advocacy, CDD-Ghana, said at the National Stakeholders Dialogue on the Upcoming District-Level Elections (DLEs) in Accra.

The Dialogue was organised by the CDD-Ghana, in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development and the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) to raise public awareness and interest in DLEs, which had historically suffered low voter turnout.

It was to assess the local government elections in Ghana in the last two elections (2015 and 2019), focusing on the major issues that characterised and shaped the two elections (example court injunctions); the preparedness of the Electoral Commission (EC) to conduct local government elections as well as the role of the National Commission for Civil Education.

The Stakeholders Dialogue provides the opportunity for reflection on the preparedness of key institutions as the election approaches.

Dr Asante said local government elections in Ghana played a crucial role in promoting citizen participation in decision-making and compriseddistrict assembly and unit committee elections, which were to be held at least six months before or after parliamentary elections.

‘The country is scheduled to hold the district level elections before the 2024 General election and one is wondering whether we really want to bring democracy to the doorstep of the people or we want to tick a box,’ he asked.

‘As of now, we are not sure if this October date will hold, citizens seem oblivious, except for the political parties who are busy holding their illegal primaries to informally sponsor candidates.’

‘We are yet to see the platforms mounted for candidates to campaign and sell their message to the people.’

‘We don’t even know whether all the Ghanaian citizens who turned 18 after the last voter registration (now estimated to be about three million) will be registered to vote with just seven weeks to go’.

Dr Asante said participants at the Dialogue would have an insight into the various challenges regarding voter turnout and the underrepresentation of women and other marginalised groups within the governance system at the local level.

Although efforts have been made to address these challenges, more needs to be done to encourage the active engagement of voters and remove the structural barriers faced by marginalized groups.

Dr Asante said with about seven weeks to the announced 3rd October date for the holding of the DLEs, the National Dialogue was timely and essential.

‘For the 2023 edition, we have an added challenge to the state of stakeholder preparation towards the elections.’

He said the District Assemblies in Ghana were designed to be the highest political decision-making body at the local level.

Ghana in 1988 initiated the decentralization programme to transfer significant powers and responsibilities to the local level.

Dr Serebour Quaicoe, the Director of Electoral-Services, assured Ghanaians that the 2023 DLEs would come off this year and that the Commission would be meeting next week to come up with a tentative date and timetable.

Mr Raphael Victor Frerking, the ProgrammeManager, Governance for Inclusive Development (GovID) Programme, GIZ-Ghana, said the district assemblies’ system established a level of governance in which the aspirations and needs of the citizens found their voice.

He said by empowering the local communities to elect their representatives they were providing a powerful means for citizens toparticipate in local governance to ensure accountability.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Rotary Club has urged government, cooperate organisations and influential individuals to intensify efforts at reducing the number of out-of-school children the country.

The President, Rotary Club of Abuja Central Business District (CBD), Mrs Aisha Ali, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during her investiture as the 7th President of the club in Abuja.

She also urged spirited Nigerians and corporate organisations to assist in creating means of livelihood for the people, especially at this challenging moment.

“Government alone can not do it. We have to come together and do what is called crowd funding to give hope to those at the grassroots and lonely places, who cannot repay our gesture.

“We need to ensure that every child goes to school, because education is the right of every child.

“We should carry everybody along because when these children are not in school they can later create problem for the society.

“If God has blessed you, try to bring at least a child off the street back to school,” she said.

Earlier in her acceptance speech, Ali who is the 7th president of the club, pledged that the club would continue to prioritise humanitarian services and projects that would impact positively on the people.

“In line with our new year theme of the club: “Create Hope in the World” which began on July 1, the board members and I have come up with some selected projects to be executed.

“As a matter of priority the completion of the building of a block of classrooms at LEA Primary School at Gidan Gimba, Uke, Nasarawa State, which the club started last year.

“This will provide a conducive learning environment for pupils of the community.

“We also intend to strengthen our support to our Rotary Club at Command Secondary School, Mogadishu Baracks, Abuja among others,” she said.

Ali commended all the past presidents and leaders of the club for their contributions towards the development of the organisation.

The immediate past President of the Club, Maxwell Amuchie, while congratulating the new leadership urged it to develop personal conviction and courage in the pursuit of its set goals.

According to him, without the power of personal conviction and courage, it would be difficult to accomplish any set goal.

He said that the club under his leadership was able to carry out series of humanitarian services, including a toilet facilities donated to a school in Gidan Gimba.

“With that singular act, we were able to stop open defecation in the primary school which was without toilet facilities for both the teachers and the students.

“We also started the construction of a block of two classrooms with the head teacher office,” he said.

The Guess Speaker, Dr Betty Olutunde, in her presentation titled: “Creating Hope in the World Through Humanity” urged members of the club to continue to leave a life of selfless service to help others.

Olutunde, the Founder of Betneely Charity Foundation, who was represented by Mrs Glory Johnson, urged Rotarians to continue to uphold the tents and principles of the club to make the world a better place.

She advised them not to be selfish but always think and look out for the welfare of others.

“I have never seen a tree that eats its own fruits, rather when the fruits come out, every other person comes to take from that tree. That is what Rotary stands for.

“Let us continue to think about those out there without access to clean water or healthcare facilities,” she said.

NAN reports that highlights of the Investiture programme included fund raising and presentation of awards of excellence to persons who distinguished themselves in humanitarian services.

The awardees include the Corps Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Dauda Biu with the Award of Excellence for Prudence Leadership; Olutunde with outstanding Humanitarian Service and Women Empowerment.

Also the Award of Excellence in Humanitarian Service was conferred on King Odeh Adah, an entrepreneur and Chief Executive Officer of Ochacho group.

The Director-General of National Orientation Agency, Dr Garba Abari, was also presented an Award of Excellence for Outstanding Leadership, while Award of Professional Excellence in Journalism Service was conferred on Adewunmi Ayobami, the Executive Director, News, Nigeria Television Authority (NTA).

Other recipients of the club Awards of Excellence and Humanitarian Services include the former Governor of Nasarawa State, Sen. Tanko Al-Makura; the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Governorship candidate in Kogi, Muritala Ajaka, and the immediate past president of the club, Amuchie.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The death toll from wildfires on Hawaii’s Maui has risen to 67 as search teams combed through the smoldering ruins of Lahaina town and officials sought determine to how the inferno spread so rapidly through the historic resort area with little warning.

Hawaii’s attorney general said on Friday that she was opening a probe into how authorities responded to devastating wildfires that has left at least 67 people dead.

‘The Department of the Attorney General will be conducting a comprehensive review of critical decision-making and standing policies leading up to, during, and after the wildfires on Maui and Hawaii islands this week,’ the office of Attorney General Anne Lopez said in a statement.

The fires have become the deadliest natural disaster in Hawaii’s history, surpassing that of a tsunami that killed 61 people on the Big Island of Hawaii in 1960, a year after Hawaii joined the United States.

Fuelled by dry conditions, hot temperatures, and strong winds from a passing hurricane, at least three wildfires erupted on Maui this week, racing through parched brush covering the island.

Maui County officials said in an online statement that firefighters continued to battle the blaze, which was not yet fully contained. Residents of Lahaina were being allowed to return home for the first time to assess the damage.

Source: Somali National News Agency

The Management of Gold Fields has donated a tractor to the Ghana Armed Forces to be used in clearing the edges and shoulders of the runway.

The 28,000-dollar equipment has ended a period in the lives of servicemen who hitherto had to use ‘Lan galanga’ and cutlasses to perform same duties.

Air Commodore Godfried Sackey Parker, Base Commander, who received the tractor lauded the collaboration to advance safety at the base which would be comparable to international standards.

He said, ‘For us at the base, safety is a priority, and this benevolence will work a long way to help us meet safety requirements particularly around the runway according to International demands.’

Mr. Elliot Twum, Relieving General Manager, Tarkwa Mine, who handed over the tractor and a mower to the Air Commodore of the Takoradi Airforce Base said the gesture would resolve potential impediments to hinder flight operations.

‘At Gold Fields, safety is our number one value and if we cannot mine safely, we will not mine. We extend this to the communities we operate in and ensure all our stakeholders understand and benefit from the commitment we make to this number one value’, he added.

Mr. Twum said employees, visitors and other key stakeholders of the Mine used the airport often to engage both Mine sites at Tarkwa and Damang.

The company, he revealed, had spent over 96 million dollars so far on socioeconomic development programmes and projects, focusing on education, health, water and sanitation, agriculture, and infrastructure, in their host communities through its foundation.

‘We are keen on ensuring sustainable growth and development and targets we have set for environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments.’

Source: Ghana News Agency