Category: General

The Algerian club USM Alger received a warm reception upon their arrival at Oujda Airport on Friday April 26, 2024, where they were greeted with flowers, dates and milk, symbol of Moroccan hospitality, from RS Berkane officials.

The warm welcome extended to USM Alger stands in stark contrast to the treatment RS Berkane received in Algeria last week. The Kingdom of Morocco placed good neighbourly relations and hospitality above political sensitivities.

The Algerian team arrived in Morocco for the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals against RS Berkane, taking place on Sunday.

USM Alger lost the first leg on the green carpet (3-0), after the unfortunate events that the Berkanis

experienced in Algeria, upon their arrival at Algiers Airport (confiscation of approved equipment and jerseys by the CAF, due to the complete map of the Kingdom of Morocco including its Sahara, as well as a series of intimidations and attacks).

Despite the hostile actions and aggressive intentions towards Morocco and
Moroccans emanating from the Eastern neighbour, the Kingdom has not applied the reciprocity measures in return.

In a statement to Chouf Tv Sport, Kamel Hassina, the head of the USM Alger delegation, highlighted the warm welcome they received in Morocco.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Eighty-seven persons have been arrested in the Assin North District for various sanitation offences within four months.

Of the number, 82, who were served notices to correct their infractions complied and were freed, one had been prosecuted, a bench warrant issued for another and three currently being prosecuted.

The three in court are Ama Nyame, 68, Esi Bosompim, 55 and Samuel Afenyi, 35, all from Assin Achianio, a farming community.

They had been charged with non-compliance of notice, straying of animals, causing damage, obstructing public officers and crude dumping.

They will reappear in the Assin Fosu Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, May 22.

Mr Samuel Eklu Fiankor, the District Environmental Prosecutor, told the Ghana News Agency that ensuring tidy environment in the District was non-negotiable and a collective responsibility.

‘We will go all out against those who continue to flout sanitation laws to keep the District clean.’

With climate crisis and environmental degradation making the headlines la
tely, he said it was important to switch to sustainable living practices to save the environment, and the planet.

To save the planet and us, he said it was imperative to switch to sustainable ways of living through waste segregation.

‘Segregating waste is important to maintain a clean environment, prevent contamination, reduce pollution, and prevent disease outbreaks,’ he indicated.

It is essential to identify useful degradable waste that can be used as manure or organic fertilizers, reducing landfill impact and improving air and water quality.

He said environmental cleanliness should be the concern of traditional rulers, religious bodies, institutions and every individual, adding that issues of sanitation should not be the concern of Government and the Assemblies alone.

‘Regular clean-ups will help prevent the breeding of mosquitoes and eliminate malaria, since filth and pollution are artificial nuisance,’ he said and urged community members to work hard to ensure a clean environment.

He also urged sta
keholders in health to embark on public health awareness campaigns to highlight the negative effect of filth on the environment.

‘Let us all endeavour to participate in clean-up exercises to prevent outbreaks such as cholera and other sanitation related diseases.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, says Federal Government is employing a dual-pronged approach to combating illegal mining in the country.

Alake stated this while declaring open a two-day ministerial stepdown retreat, organised for the staff of the ministry and its parastatals on Friday in Abuja.

The theme of the retreat is ‘Delivering on the Eight Presidential Priorities.’

The retreat is geared towards ensuring that the workers performed their duties diligently in line with the eight presidential priorities of the Tinubu’s administration, particularly in unlocking energy and natural resources for sustainable development.

Alake said that the dual approach comprised both coercive and persuasive measures, being concurrently to get the desired result.

He explained that the persuasive method involved formalising artisanal and illegal miners into cooperatives, where they could attract adequate funding and be easily identified for incentives and other interventions.

‘Their business wi
ll become enhanced and they can attract funding from financial institutions.

‘They can increase their profits then government can identify with them and obtain the necessary royalties, taxes and revenue that have been lost before,’ he said.

According to the minister, within three months of the policy, no fewer than 70 cooperatives have been established.

He said that part of the coercive approach was the establishment of the Mining Marshal Corp who were recently deployed to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to secure the mining environment.

The minister said that Africa possessed more than 60 per cent of the worlds natural resources and should take advantage of the resources to develop its economy by demanding value addition for its mineral resources.

He reiterated that approval for licences would only be given to mining companies that would comply with value addition to mineral resources.

Alake pointed out that Nigeria has the critical minerals needed for the global energy transition in co
mmercial quantities but required the cooperation of its workforce to assist in marketing the products and sanitising the sector.

He said that the government was marketing its solid minerals to attract foreign direct investment, create jobs, support small and medium-sized companies, and foster sustainable economic development.

The minister said that the retreat was a period for the workers to reflect on their performance and make necessary adjustments, as productivity was key to achieving the presidential priorities areas.

He added that it was an opportunity for the workers to engage in fruitful discussions, especially towards the ministry’s seven-point agenda, shared best practices, and identifying innovative strategies to actualise the presidential priorities.

‘The importance of delivering on this priority area (energy and natural resources) cannot be over emphasised.

‘The Nigerian economy is in dire need of rapid economic growth through the solid mineral sector, given the limitless value this sector ca
n provide.

‘I believe with the efforts of everyone in this room, the Nigerian Economy can be positively catalysed,’ he said.

The minister maintained that good character and the right mental capacity were required to achieve the ministry’s seven-point agenda.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) has arrested and fined some individuals for violating the Assembly’s sanitation byelaws.

This was after the STMA’s Operation Clean Your Surroundings Campaign Task Force undertook an unannounced visit to the ‘Type A’ vicinity within the Metropolis and apprehended the individuals for various sanitation-related offences.

A statement signed by Mr John Latse, STMA Public Relations Officer, and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Takoradi, said Thomas Addae, an operator of two public toilets in the area, was arrested for connecting untreated effluent to a public drain, and operated an unauthorised bathhouse.

His facility was in a dilapidated state with broken slabs of septic tank, and insanitary condition.

He subsequently fined to pay a penalty of GHC1,300.00 and directed to correct all identified nuisances within two weeks or face closure of the facilities.

Mr Kofi Ayim, a caretaker of a house in the ‘Type A’ area, was also arrested for connecting untreated eff
luent from a septic tank to a public drain, and fined GHC500.00

He was directed to seal the connection within 24 hours or face prosecution.

Madam Regina Sawyer, operator of a Kenkey food joint, was arrested for operating with an expired medical certificate of fitness and cooking under insanitary conditions.

She was fined GHC400.00 and her business was closed down, while given three days to correct the identified nuisances.

Mr Stephen Tandoh, operator of HiBrand Printing Press, was fined GHC200.00 and cautioned for dumping and burning waste at the frontage of his facility.

Rabiatu Seidu, a waakye vendor, was fined GHC200.00 for operating with an expired medical certificate of fitness, and insanitary environment.

Management of Hotel De Rueco was fined GHC300.00 for failing to renew the suitability certificate, while Mr Sampson Avorgbedor, a corn mill operator, was also fined GHC300.00 for doing business without a medical certificate of fitness and under unhygienic conditions.

Ten other persons were also
arrested and fined GHC400.00 each for openly defecating at New Takoradi, Takoradi, Bakano, Bakaekyir, and Enam Ase communities.

The ‘Operation Clean Your Surroundings’ Campaign is an initiative to sensitise the public on the STMA’s sanitation byelaws, arrest, prosecute, name and shame sanitation-related offenders.

In line with the execution of the campaign, a task force undertakes unannounced visits to inspect sanitation conditions at various households, eateries, hotels, pubs and bars, public toilets, transport terminals, and other locations across the Metropolis.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Radio Univers, a University of Ghana (UG) campus-based radio station, has celebrated its 30 years of radio broadcast on the UG campus and in the country as a whole.

The Radio Station was established in 1994 during the early years of Ghana’s return to Constitutional rule, and has served the campus community and the country with its programmes.

Dr Abubakari Sidick Ahmed, Radio Univers Station Manager, said it had over the years been a campus-community based and socially responsible radio that empowered, educated, and entertained.

He said they had promoted research and innovations through educational content, initiated development conversations and nurtured talents in the broadcasting space.

Dr Ahmed said they intended to integrate semi-commercial practices in their operations while preserving their core campus-community-oriented values, ensuring that they remained connected with their roots.

He said that was to make the Station more commercially viable to enable it rake in enough revenue to run operations
and commitments.

‘Radio Univers will transition to a

semi-commercial business model, which strategic shift will be achieved through various revenue generation initiatives, partnerships with businesses, local and international NGOs, development

and donor organisations.’

He said the success of the plan hinged on a restructuring of skilled professionals, volunteers, and national service personnel, working in a collaborative environment in part and full-time roles.

Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, Chairperson of the National Media Commission, urged the Station and the media to continue to devote airtime to stories of national importance, including those that excited policy debate and controversy, devoid of personal attacks and prejudices.

‘These are the issues or matters that Radio Univers must take to the academics, notably constitutional experts, sociologists and psychologists to enable them proffer intellectual and critical perspectives and the way forward.

‘More important, we need to underscore the fact that de
mocracy is about rules and regulations, about who has the right to make decisions and choices or alternatives but not about superiority or inferiority in sharing viewpoints,’ he added.

Mr Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, President of the Ghana Journalists Association, urged media professionals to continue to uphold professionalism and ethical standards in their reportage.

He said as practitioners they needed to be mindful of their utterances and insist on decent messages on their platforms, especially as the country geared towards the 2024 elections.

The genesis of Radio Univers is traced to the transformative era of the late 1980s and early 1990s, a period that heralded a shift from authoritarian regimes to liberal democracies, fostering a diverse and pluralistic media landscape.

It was established by a collaborative effort of the University’s management then to augment the country’s early 4th Republican democracy efforts and to provide alternative media to the national state broadcaster, the Ghana Broadcasting
Corporation. ?

The Station since its establishment has churned out many media practitioners, including Bernard Avle, Kafui Dey, Shamima Muslim, and Bola Ray.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Federal Government has vowed to deepen efforts to tackle climate change and its attendant effects to accelerate sustainable development.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, gave the assurance at the closing ceremony of the 2024 edition of the Regional Climate Outlook Forum for West Africa and the Sahel.

In a closing remark, the minister assured that the Federal government would deploy climate-smart predictions and warnings to enhance socio-economic development of the citizens.

Specifically, he said the government would continue to take seriously the issuance of disaster early warnings for its citizenry, to de-risk sectorial activities and avert losses.

The minister recalled that the Government through NiMet had a public presentation of the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) early in the year.

According to him, SCP is an early warning tool that highlights vital Weather and Climate information that may affect socio-economic activities in air, land and water transportati
on.

He said the SCP also gives useful information on agriculture, water resources, disaster management and mitigation, health, tourism, sports, power and energy.

‘A similar event was recently held by the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) where the Annual Flood Outlook was released to Nigerians,’ he added.

He said the reports would help to forestall the reoccurrence of flood disasters witnessed in the country in 2022.

‘In 2022, we had one of the worst cases of flooding in decades.

‘For weeks, the movement of people and goods between the northern and southern parts of the country was severely disrupted.

‘After the flood period, millions of people had lost their homes and livelihoods, properties worth millions of Dollars had been destroyed.

‘Investments in farms and other agricultural products had disappeared, and lives had been lost,’ he said.

Keyamo said the outcome of the regional climate outlook forum would be a great planning tool for governments and policymakers across the region.

‘Exp
erts and researchers in meteorology and climate sciences from across the West African sub-region and Sahel had dedicated their energy and intellect to develop a comprehensive forecast for the region, targeting the coming rainy season.

‘Just as the general airspace is a continuum in aviation, weather and climate events are also trans-boundary, hence the need for us to work together irrespective of boundaries.

‘ We should downscale the outcomes of this forum to our local and rural communities to achieve the United Nations’ target of Early Warning for All (EW4ALL) by 2027,’ he said.

The minister assured that Nigeria would continue to support regional efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change and encourage weather and climate-smart sustainable development.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Volta Regional Directorate of the Ghana Education Service with support from Plan International Ghana’s Southern Programme Influencing and Impact Area (SPIIA) has implemented a six-month role model outreach programme in the Volta Region.

The programme was carried out in 36 Plan partner communities within Hohoe municipality, Afadzato South, and South Tongu districts to encourage children in these areas to aspire for greater heights.

Its objectives were to bring role models to engage with and share their stories with students to inspire them, sensitise girls to overcome barriers they face in education as well as train School-Based Facilitators (SBFs) to strengthen school clubs and to empower them to help sustain the role model programme.

The programme ran from October 20, 2023, to March 20, 2024, and the participants were upper primary and junior high school students, teachers, parents, members of school management committee, Parent-Teacher Associations, and community leaders.

Mr? Francis Yaw Agbemadi, V
olta Regional Director of Education, in acknowledging the importance of the programme in transforming the lives of the beneficiaries, stated that ‘if preparation meets opportunity, success is inevitable.’

He thanked Plan International Ghana for the initiative and advised students to work hard and be resilient to seize each small opportunity that might present itself.

Madam Millicent Dakeh, Volta Regional Girls’ Education Officer, said the programme aimed to provide the pupils with positive role models who could motivate them to achieve their objectives.

She said the programme served as a bridge to connect young minds with inspiring individuals, who could shape their aspirations, ignite their curiosity, and help them build a brighter future for themselves.

The Girls’ Officer noted that for many children, having someone to look up to is an essential part of how they can deal with certain situations, including behaviour at school and home.

Madam Dakeh noted that the selected individual role models embodied
success, resilience, and determination and their journeys inspired students to dream bigger, reach higher, and believe in their own potentials.

She said that by hearing the role models talk about their failures, setbacks, and moments of doubt, it would empower the students to accept who they were, learn from their mistakes and persevere.

Mr Alfred Dzikunu, Programmes Coordinator at Plan International Ghana’s Southern Programme Influencing and Impact Area, emphasised the programme’s significance in helping beneficiaries gain confidence and make wise decisions.

He said young learners, particularly the girls living in the most impoverished areas, hardly get access to role models to model their lives and to guide them.

Mr Dzikunu advised parents to prioritise their children’s education and provide a suitable learning environment for them to learn so they could attain greater heights in life.

A range of role models, including former and current directors of education, a retired midwife, a physician assistant,
nurses, a retired director of environmental health, an electrical engineer and student nurses, were chosen from the communities so that the students could relate to the life stories.

Some of the beneficiary students thanked the organisation for the programme, stating that it had increased their capacity and confidence level to be a true version of themselves.

Josephine Apaw, a pupil at Alavanyo Abehenease M/A Basic School, said the programme had motivated her to study hard to achieve her dreams of becoming a nurse.

Perfect Gidi from Fodome Woe Agbetsido M/A Basic School was excited about being part of the programme, which she described as very educative and inspiring.

‘I have learnt that we should not be in a hurry in life to acquire or achieve certain things. Also, we must take our time in life so that whatever we need would be provided for us at the right time by our parents,’ she said.

Parents and other community members who also took part in the programme were pleased and expressed their gratitude to
GES and Plan International Ghana for the initiative.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Yaw Attah Arhin, the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Technical Specialist at World Vision Ghana (WVG), says Open Defecation has serious negative consequences on the health, productivity and socio-economic development of people.

He cited a study by UNICEF, which revealed that a gram of human faeces may contain 10 million viruses, a million bacteria, 1,000 parasite cysts and 100 parasite eggs.

He said it was more worrying that about 3,600 children die every year from diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera and typhoid fever.

He said that was because those conditions could be prevented with affordable and proven interventions such as the use of improved toilet facilities and handwashing with soap under running water.

Mr Arhin said this in Wa, in a speech read on his behalf during the launch of the Upper West Regional branch of the Media Coalition Against Open Defecation (M-CODe) and strategic stakeholder engagement forum.

World Vision Ghana facilitated the establishment of M-CODe in partnership with Kin
gs Hall Media and the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources as part of efforts to intensify the advocacy for improved access to sanitation services and hygiene practices such as defecating in a toilet and regular hand washing with soap under running water.

He called for strong collaboration between the M-CODe, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to identify and implement innovative interventions geared towards ending open defecation within a reasonable timeframe.

Mr Arhin told members of the Coalition that, ‘We are not simply interested in establishing regional branches. We want you to use your influence and expertise to achieve concrete outcomes and cause lasting improvements.’

He observed that WVG had prioritised the importance of safe drinking water, improved sanitation and hygiene as necessary for promoting child wellbeing.

He lamented that in the 21st century, women and girls had to go through the ordeal of trekking long distanc
es in search of water.

Mr Arhin also expressed concern that in this modern era homes, schools and healthcare facilities still lacked toilet facilities.

‘We will continue to work for increased prioritisation and increased investments for sustainable WASH services delivery.

‘We particularly want the government and other stakeholders to pay attention to the WASH situation in schools and healthcare facilities.

This is necessary for creating a conducive environment for quality education and improved health’, he explained.

Mr Arhin appealed to the government through the appropriate Ministries and all relevant agencies to continue to provide leadership and strategic direction for implementing the road map for ending Open Defecation in Ghana.

He also appealed to development partners, corporate organizations and other non-state actors to support the Coalition at both national and regional levels to achieve its objective.

Mr Francis Ameyibor, the National Coordinator of M-CODe, urged media personnel to collabora
te in reporting on issues of sanitation, especially open defecation to achieve the needed results.

He also encouraged the media to praise open defecation free communities and districts and to name and shame poor-performing communities and districts in the fight against menace.

Mr Ameyibor appealed to MMDAs not to grant a permit for the construction of houses that had not made provisions for toilet facilities in the plan to compel landlords to construct toilet facilities.

Mr Suala Abdul Wahab, the Upper West Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), expressed happiness about the initiative to build the capacity of media personnel through the Coalition as that was necessary to enable them report effectively on sanitation-related issues.

He said the media was doing its best in holding duty bearers accountable but observed that challenges such as limited resources impeded their efforts to work as expected.

‘If you are not well resourced, how are you going to travel to far away communities
to find out the situation about their sanitation?

So, for us the media, we are available and willing to go out and do the stories that will promote sanitation and provision of potable water but what we are asking for is the support that will enable us to be able to do so more effectively so that all of us will continue to be healthy’, Mr Wahab said.

Representatives from the Regional Coordinating Council, Environmental Health and Sanitation Department, Community Water and Sanitation Agency, Department of Community Development and the Ghana Education Service attended the forum.

The Coalition also launched the M-CODe Election 2024 Open Defecation Free Manifesto’ at the forum, which was on the theme: ‘It is time to Kill open defecation! before it Kills us soon’.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has commended contractors handling different projects in Abuja for keeping to their promises to deliver the projects before May 29.

Wike gave the commendation after inspecting some of the ongoing projects across the capital territory on Saturday.

The minister recalled that he had promised the residents of Abuja that President Bola Tinubu would inaugurate a lot of projects to celebrate his one year in office.

‘I am fully satisfied. This is a promise made and a promise kept.

‘We went to the Southern Parkway, from Christian Centre to Ring Road I, being executed by Setraco. The project is almost 98 per cent completed.

‘We have been to the Outer Southern Expressway from Villa Roundabout to Ring Road I, being executed CGC.

‘You can agree with me that it is just the beauty. The landscape is wonderful, and the project is also 98 per cent completed.

‘We went to the Vice President’s residence being executed by Julius Berger and the company has
assured us that all the furniture and other facilities are ready, and that they are doing finishing touches,’ he said.

From the VP residence, the minister inspected the B6 and B12 road on Independence Avenue, also being executed by Julius Berger and the company officials assured the minister that it would be ready for inauguration in May.

He equally inspected the N-20 Northern Parkway to Outer Northern Expressway in Jahi District, being executed by Gilmor.

The minister expressed satisfaction with the project, which he said was almost 99 per cent ready.

He equally expressed confidence that the overhead bridge projects at Wuye and the road projects at Guzape would also be ready for commissioning.

‘I want to thank all the companies for keeping to their words. They promised us that all these projects will be commissioned by May.

‘I am very impressed. This is money spent well. The renewed hope agenda is alive,’ the minister said.

He attributed the successes being recorded in less than a year to the full sup
port of President Bola Tinubu.

He added, ‘We are doing all we can to complement Tinubu’s efforts for giving us all that we require to do our job. We are making sure that all the support is not in vain.’

Source: News Agency of Nigeria