Category: General

Addis Ababa: Health Minister Dr. Mekdes Daba underscored today the importance of collaboration and partnership in addressing complex health challenges and advancing global health security.

Recall that the World Health Assembly established an Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) to draft and negotiate a convention, agreement or other international instrument under the Constitution of the World Health Organization to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response in December 2021.

Speaking at a high level ministerial consultative meeting for Intergovernmental Negotiation Body (INB) held in Addis Ababa, the minister said the ongoing discussions within the World Health Organization present a unique opportunity to reassess and strengthen the international health regulations and make new treaty that forms the foundation of collective response to health emergencies.

‘It is within these deliberations that we (Africans) can redefine our strategies and commitments to ensure a more resilient and effect
ive global health system.’

According to her, the health systems, already strained by endemic diseases and under-funding, were pushed to the brink as the virus spread across communities.

However, the minister said Africa has demonstrated remarkable resilience, innovation, and solidarity amidst these challenges.

COVID-19 pandemic has acted as both an illuminating beacon of Africa’s collective strength and an unforgiving mirror reflecting its vulnerabilities.

‘As we (Africans) navigate these challenging times, it is imperative that we not only learn from our past experiences but also pro-actively shape the future of global health security. The challenges we face demand a comprehensive and coordinated approach to pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.’

Dr. Mekdes stated that Ethiopia, in her role as the coordinator for Africa, recognizes the importance of amplifying Africa’s voice in the crucial negotiations to take place in Geneva next month.

‘Through collaboration with Africa CDC and other regio
nal partners, we are committed to ensuring that Africa’s priorities are not only heard but also integrated into the final agreements.’

Furthermore, Ethiopia is committed to building consensus on strategic engagement in the final stages of negotiations, recognizing that collective strength lies in unity and solidarity.

Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya said on his part that the meeting aims to enhance Africa’s collective position in global health negotiations and readiness for outbreaks and health emergencies as a unified bloc, drawing on existing experiences and collaboration within and beyond.

The high-level gathering has brought together ministers of health and representatives of ministries of foreign affairs as a move to leverage political and strategic policy support within the AU frameworks to solidify Africa’s stance on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response within the global health community.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has organised a sensitisation programme for farmers in the Nkwanta South Municipality of the Oti Region on the Planting for Food and Jobs II (PFJ II), initiative.

Mr. Obrien Nyarko, the Oti Regional Director for Agriculture, addressing the farmers at the programme, provided valuable insights into PFJ II and its numerous opportunities.

He emphasised that the programme aims to increase food production and job creation in the agricultural sector by offering subsidised farm inputs such as fertilisers, seeds, and extension services.

Mr. Nyarko also highlighted PFJ II’s value chain approach, which included credit systems, commodity trading, and coordination between farmers and the government.

The Director noted that this comprehensive strategy ensured that farmers receive the necessary support to enhance their productivity and profitability.

Mr. Nyarko further expressed his appreciation for the government’s efforts to ensure food security, create more jobs through agricultu
re and provide support systems to farmers.

He said active participation by farmers in the PFJ II would help them contribute to the growth and development of the agricultural sector while securing their livelihoods and contributing to the nation’s food security.

‘I strongly encourage the farmers in attendance to take full advantage of the PFJ II, as it offers significant benefits in terms of access to subsidised inputs, improved market linkages, and enhanced technical support,’ he said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

About 400 girls in the Jaman North District have been sensitised on the importance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) courses and its science-related fields.

The event, organized by the Bono Regional Directorate of Education in collaboration with the Scratch Foundation, was to commemorate the International Girls in ICT Day celebration on the theme: ”Leadership.”

The platform was to inspire and equip girls with knowledge and skills needed to excel in the fields of ICT and science to be able to thrive in the increasingly technological world.

Participants were drawn from public and private Senior and Junior High Schools as well as Basic schools in Duadaso Number one and two in the Jaman North District.

Mr. Gabriel Antwi, the Bono Region Education Director, urged the young girls to consider pursuing courses in ICT and science to develop the necessary skills for leadership roles.

He observed that ICT and science were not exclusive to boys but was open to individuals of all genders and highlig
hted their importance to society, noting that proficiency in ICT was essential for success in various aspects of life.

Mr. Antwi said the lack of knowledge in such areas could pose challenges for young girls seeking employment opportunities in the future, saying it was crucial for girls to embrace these subjects and prepare themselves for the opportunities ahead.

Ms. Josephine Yalley, the Bono Regional Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) Coordinator and Regional Girls Education Officer, encouraged the girls to have confidence in their abilities and to believe that they were capable as their male counterparts.

She said by instilling a sense of self-belief and determination in these young girls, a way was being paved for their future where gender equality was not just a goal, but a reality.

Mr. Gabriel Kwadwo Afram, an ICT Teacher at the Sunyani Senior High School and founder of the Scratch Foundation, highlighted the invaluable contributions of women such as Ada Lovelace, the wor
ld’s first computer programmer.

Among other notable women mentioned were Grace Hopper, a revered computer scientist, Hedy Lamarr, the inventor of WiFi, Annie Easley, a NASA Rocket Scientist and the ENIAC six – Kay McNulty, Betty Jennings, Betty Snyder, Marlyn Wescoff, Fran Bilas, and Ruth Lichterman who were all programmers.

He recognized the achievements of women in modern technology and Silicon Valley, with individuals such as Kimberly Bryant, founder of Black Girls Code, Safra Catz, Chief Executive Officer of Oracle, Elizabeth Churchill, senior director of user experience at Google and Ms. Ursela Owusu Ekuful, Minister of Communication and Digitization.

Mr. Afram emphasized the importance of empowering girls in ICT by encouraging them to look up to role models and mentors who have excelled in the field, participating in ICT-related events and competitions and addressing gender stereotypes and biases.

Several participants who spoke with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) expressed satisfaction with the impact
of the sensitization efforts and called for more of such events in the rural communities to empower individuals to make confident decisions regarding their career.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Apostle Dr Moses Sepenu, the Chairman of the Akatsi Local Council of Churches, has called on Christians to promote unity regardless of their church affiliations.

‘I am calling on you to unite with other Christians regardless of your religious groupings in the uplifting of Jesus and for the unity of the body of Christ,’ he urged.

Apostle Dr Sepenu made the call at Akatsi in the Volta Region during the opening of this year’s Presbytery Representative Conference of the Global Evangelical Church (GEC) at the Shalom Chapel auditorium.

‘John 17:21 underscores the importance of unity among believers as a powerful testimony to the world,’ he said.

The call served as a challenge for Christians to strive for harmony, love, and oneness in the body of Christ, reflecting the divine relationship between the Father and the Son.

Apostle Dr Sepenu explained that Jesus’ prayer for unity serves as a call to embody the love and unity of God in human relationships with one another, ultimately glorifying God, and drawing othe
rs to faith in Christ.

Apostle Paul Gidigasu, the General Secretary of the Apostolic Vision Church International, in his see turn, commended GEC and the entire Presbytery for extending God’s love to other workers of the same faith.

That, he said, was proper in building God’s Kingdom by ensuring that all Christians worked in harmony and in love to the glory of God.

More than 120 delegates and church workers are participating in the three-day event on the theme: ‘Be Holy in All You Do.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

Addis Ababa: The provision of emergency humanitarian assistance to the needy people in different parts of the country has continued in a strengthened manner, according to the Disaster Risk Management Commission (DRMC).

In an exclusive interview with ENA, Commissioner Shiferaw Teklemariam said that the victims are being provided with cash and non-cash items in response to man-made and natural calamities in different parts of the country.

Humanitarian assistance has been distributed quarterly from January to March and assistance was provided to 6.6 million people, he revealed.

The effort to distribute humanitarian assistance to over 8 million citizens in this quarter (April to June) is well underway.

The assistance is jointly carried out by the government and partners, it was learned.

According to him, the total humanitarian support of this period requires about 11 billion Birr, of which the government will cover 5.1 billion birr, and the remaining will be covered by donor organizations.

The main focus of
the government will be preventing disasters, the commissioner stated, adding that identification of vulnerabilities and profiles have been carried out in more than half the woredas in the country.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The Embassy of Hungary has hosted a wine and food pairing event to introduce Ghanaians to Hungarian wines.

The event afforded the Embassy the opportunity to share the wine history and tradition that transcends generations.

Mr. Tamás Endre Fehér, the Ambassador of Hungary to Ghana, said wine had been a key export product and a vital sustenance for the country’s citizens.

‘Today, Hungary is one of the major wine producers globally with a total of 22 wine regions,’ he said.

Reverend Dr Lawrence Tetteh, President and Founder of the Worldwide Miracle Outreach, said Hungary had a strong historic tie with Ghana back to the formative years of the country.

‘Hungary has played a lot of roles in the lives of Ghanaians. The 38 advisors Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah had all come from Hungary. I had the privilege to be thought by some of them in the Economic University of Hungary,’ he said.

He urged Ghanaians to consider Hungary as a key destination for studying abroad due to the high educational standards, favourable ed
ucational opportunities and the hospitality of Hungarians.

Mrs Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui, Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya-West Constituency and the Chairperson of the Ghana Parliamentary-Hungary Friendship Association, observed that the Hungarian Embassy had proactively promoted Hungarian businesses in Ghana.

The law maker who has Hungarian linage, suggested that Ghanaian businesses be promoted in Hungary, too.

‘…And I’m not saying this because am half Hungarian, half Ghanaian, but because that is the truth.

‘I think friendships like this are reciprocal and in as much as we are promoting made in Hungary product and businesses in Ghana, the GIPC and other investment partners should be able to promote Made in Ghana products in Hungary,’ she said.

The sampled wines, which included Vojtek Apainkra and Scamp Olaszrizling are to be imported into the country by Parvel Investment.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mama Deawope ll, the Queenmother of Tegbi in the Volta Region, has called on the wives of pastors to guard against acts of immoral activities.

She said: ‘Women and as pastors’ wives, for that matter, must go the extra mile to protect their partners to wage war against the activities of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer plus (LGBTQ+) in the country.’

Mama Deawope said this in a solidarity message at the Shalom Chapel of the Global Evangelical Church (GEC) on Thursday at Akatsi during the official opening ceremony of the 2024 Presbytery Representative Conference of the Akatsi Presbytery.

She said the call remained an important one since pastors’ wives served as a strong pillar to their husbands in discharging the Christ-like gospel mandate to the people of the world.

‘These unacceptable acts must be far away from men of God, and by so doing pastors’ spouses have several responsibilities to keep them from any form of temptation,’ she stressed.

Mama Deawope further indicated that the work
of God did not only fall on men, ‘but women who are called by grace and they are the salt of the land so we must also pray for them.’

She also called on the youth to avail themselves of doing the works of God.

Reverend Forestone Tsagli, the Akatsi Presbytery Chairman, in a keynote address, said the act must not be accepted by the Christian community and other faiths.

‘The call to be holy in all you do is a call at the right time in our Nation Ghana. It is a calling on the leaders and citizenry to be very careful on the way and manner we handle or address this dangerous agenda of LGBTQ+ move.’

He explained that the sinful acts must be rejected so that people could experience God’s exaltation, economically and many more, adding, ‘righteousness exalts a nation, but sin destroys it.

‘Let us pray for the victims and the advocates of this abominable movement to repent and restore to holiness in Christ Jesus.’

There were other solidarity messages from other guests, including Apostle Dr Moses Sepenu, Chairman o
f Akatsi Local Council of Churches and Apostle Paul Gidigasu, General Secretary of Apostolic Vision Church International, and others.

The three-day conference would also witness the presence of dignitaries as the Right Reverend Prosper Samuel Dzomeku, the Moderator of the Church.

Presentation of special awards, election of executives, and assessment of all activities within the Akatsi Presbytery, would be discussed.

The conference is on the theme: ‘Be Holy in All You Do,’ based on 1 Peter 1:14-16, in the Holy Bible.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Addis Ababa: Ethiopia’s effort to bring structural change in its food system is encouraging, UN Food Systems Coordination Hub Senior Program Coordinator Khaled El-Taweel said.

Recall that Ethiopia presented its activities in the agriculture sector at the recent 10th Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development in Addis Ababa.

In an exclusive interview with ENA, Khaled El-Taweel, Senior Program Coordinator at the United Nations (UN) Food Systems Coordination Hub, said he attended the presentation at the forum.

According to him, Ethiopia’s success in becoming wheat self-sufficient by boosting production and productivity has become best practice for other African countries.

The senior coordinator also stated the readiness of his institution to support the sector based on Ethiopia’s need in collaboration with other UN agencies.

El-Taweel noted that ensuring structural change in food system is instrumental to eradicating poverty and famine, adding that the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub i
n collaboration with other development partners is supporting African nations in their effort to bring structural change in food system.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency