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Anglogold Obuasi donates sanitary pads to Obuasi Basic School
Sanitary Pad
Five Junior High Schools(JHS) in the Obuasi Municipality have received large quantities of sanitary pads for distribution among girls in the schools.
Each of the girls,numbering about 1,000, was given five packs of the sanitary pads to cater for the rest of the months of the year.
The beneficiary schools were Sanso M/A JHS, Apitikoko, Nyieaso A and B and Anyinam JHS.
The gesture falls under the Education Improvement Programme of the 10-year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) of the AngloGold Ashanti, Obuasi Mines.
Under the project, 10,000 sanitary pads would be distributed to schools in tbe Obuasi Municipal and Obuasi East, this year.
Lack of access to sanitary products, clean water and appropriate facilities poses significant health risks and hampers girls ability to participate fully in education, work and social activities.
Speaking on behalf of the Senior Manager, Sustainability of the AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine, Emmanuel Baidoo, Ms. Mavis Nana Yaa Kyei, Social and Gender Superintendent, said as part of intiatives under the health pillar of the SEDP, the mining company, since 2022, partnered witg GIZ to commit to donating sanitary pads to JHS in the Obuasi Municipality and Obuasi East.
With the support of the Ghana Education Service (GES) and Ghana Health Service (GHS), the Company, he said, would contribute to ending period poverty by providing girls with the necessary resources to manage their menstruation effectively.
“By addressing period poverty, we can ensure that girls can attend school regularly,without fear or shame. Education is a powerful tool for empowerment and social change and every girl deserves the opportunity to pursue her dreams without being held back by something as natural as menstruation,” he said.
According to the Sustainability Manager,together with the GES and GHS, they had begun a sensitisation campaign to raise awareness of menstrual hygiene in schools such that male students were being educated to become supportive of their female colleagues by taking them through menstruation process and the effects it has on their female classmates.
Under water and sanitation programme, he said, the SEDP has been providing for the construction of water systems to address the challenges of accessing potable water across communities in which the mining company operated.
This, he said, “helps to mitigate many of the challenges our women and girls go through during menstrual period”.
Mrs.Cecilia Salifu, Assistant Director in-charge of girls education, Obuasi Municipality, said providing them with free sanitary pads “is a wake-up call of the importance of such to girls.
And, she commended AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine for the gesture.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Obuasi
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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.
