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Govt donates Veronica buckets, face masks to churches, churches
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Friday presented quantities of hand washing items to the Muslim and Christian communities to enable their members observe good hygiene in their places of worship.
The donations follow the partial lifting of the restrictions on social gatherings to enable Christians and Muslims to gather and worship in small groups.
The items are 9 ,900 sets of Veronica buckets which include water containers, metal stands, waste water collectors as well as, 9,900 nose masks, 19,800 bottles of liquid soap, 19,800 bottles of hand sanitisers and 9,900 paper tissues.
The office of the National Chief Imam, Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Shia Muslim Community, Ghana Muslim Mission, Tijania Muslim Community and Tijania Muslim Council received a total of 2,500 sets of items.
The Christian Community also got 7,400 sets of the items to be distributed among the Christian Council of Ghana, Ghana Pentecostal Churches Council, Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference, Independent Churches Association of Ghana, National Clergy Association of Ghana, Seventh Day Adventist Church, National Association of Charismatic Churches Council and the United Prayer Network.
Presenting the items on behalf of President Akufo-Addo, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama, said the government has plans to distribute 50,000 sets of similar items to the churches and mosques in the various districts in the country.
The presentation is a gift of appreciation from President Akufo-Addo in recognition of the prayers, support and understanding by the religious groups since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, she said.
She said in the President’s 10th broadcast on measures to fight the pandemic, the suspension of religious gatherings was lifted to enable believers gather in small groups and worship.
She appealed to religious bodies to observe strict hygiene protocols and social distancing arrangements to avoid communal spread of the virus.
The minister said the donations are expected to help churches and mosques in the washing of their hands and also help prevent the spread of the pandemic when they start their services.
Receiving the items, the Apostle General of the Royal House Chapel, Rev. Sam Korankyi Ankrah, who stood in for Archbishop Duncan Williams, and the Personal Assistant to the National Chief Imam, Alhaji M. Khuzaima, thanked the President for the gesture, saying that the presentation would go a long way to help their members to observe the protocols.
BY YAW KYEI
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ASWIM lauds Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
The Association of Women in the Media, (ASWIM) has congratulated Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on her historic achievement as Ghana’s first female Vice President.
The association said her trailblazing journey with sterling accomplishments from academia to politics, is undoubtedly, a vivid inspiration to countless women and girls across Ghana and Africa.
This was contained in a statement signed by its president, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, and copied to The Spectator on Tuesday in Accra.
“ASWIM celebrates your remarkable career, marked by numerous firsts, including the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, (UCC), and the first female to hold a professional chair in Ghana, (UCC),” the statement said.
It said the accomplishments of Prof Opoku- Agyemang were clear testament to the brilliance, resilience and resourceful nature of the complete beautiful African woman.
“As she takes on this new role, ASWIM proudly lauds her commitment to education, women’s empowerment, distinguished public service and patriotism and is very confident that her pursuit of excellence, love for humanity, humility, decency, modesty and commitment to the welfare of the vulnerable will characterise Ghana’s political leadership and public service,” the statement added.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Entertainment
Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey
Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed concern over the manner the facility was destroyed.
In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.
“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the people destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.
When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.
He said he had previously contacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.
The demolition of the 20,000-seater Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.
According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, the action was taken after multiple notices were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.
Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.
Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.
He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.
Despite this, the demolition proceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.
Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his business but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.
