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Avoid expensive weddings …Catholic Priest advises youth
● Very Rev Fr Dr. Ennin
The President of the Con¬ference of Major Superi¬ors of West Africa of the Society of African Missionaries of the Catholic Church, Very Rev. Fr. Dr Paul Saa-Dade Ennin has advised the youth to have affordable marriage ceremonies and not one to please others.
“Cut your coat according to your cloth. Those who care about you don’t need to be pleased and those who don’t care, no matter what you do, you cannot please them,” he advised.
He made the remark on the sidelines of a mass wedding of six couples at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Madina in the Greater Accra Region on Saturday.
Very Rev. Fr Dr. Ennin said even though money should not be an impediment to any¬one who wishes to receive the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, many youth have allowed that to happen.
He said it was unfortu¬nate that the youth desire societal weddings that would get many to appreciate and discuss them extensively on social media.
“The most important thing is not the party around the marriage because that doesn’t go anywhere; what matters is the commitment to it,” he said.
He was of the opinion that, no matter how grand a wedding ceremony looks, “after a week, two or at most a month, they would forget about it.”
He said if a couple in¬curred debt after a wedding ceremony, they would be left to face it alone while those who were cheering would have gone back to their nor¬mal lives.
He said there was the option of mass weddings in churches which he would rec¬ommend couples to explore and for those who would even want to have theirs alone, they should have the courage to do things differently.
“You did not come to the world with anyone and so don’t attempt to please anyone. You are unique and so live your life as you deem fit. Be different, have value and leave a name behind and people will always remember you for that,” he advised.
He said having a marriage ceremony according to one’s financial strength meant being truthful to him or herself and not meeting social media demands.
The President of the Con¬ference of Major Superiors of West Africa advised the youth to be truthful and that would help them to have peace and joy in their marriages.
By Dzifa Tetteh Tay
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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.