News
ASWIM congratulates Ms Botchwey as Commonwealth Gen. Sec
Ms Shirley Botchwey
The Association of Women in the Media (ASWIM) has congratulated Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey on her election as the incoming Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.
According to ASWIM, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Botchwey, brings an exceptional wealth of experience, commitment, and vision to this distinguished role, becoming the first African woman to hold this prestigious position.
This was contained in a statement signed by the president of the association, Mrs Mavis Kitcher and copied to The Spectator in Accra on Monday.
It said the Commonwealth, representing 2.7 billion people across advanced economies and developing nations, including 33 small states and many island nations, stands to benefit from Ms Botchwey’s leadership.
Her election, it stated, highlights the influence and potential of African women in global governance, marking a significant milestone for Ghana and is testament to the impactful contributions of women in international leadership.
“As the seventh Secretary-General, her dedication and expertise in diplomacy are critical. We are confident that her leadership will advance the Commonwealth’s mission of cooperation, peace-building, and sustainable development, fostering unity across its 56 member states. This is inspirational to women in the media and beyond,” it added.
Throughout her tenure as Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, the statement said, Ms Botchwey has exemplified outstanding leadership and advocacy, spearheading Ghana’s role on the world stage, promoting regional security, economic growth, and international partnerships.
It mentioned that her achievements had made her a role model for women in leadership and public service across Africa and the globe.
The statement said Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey’s outstanding achievements underscore her dedication to public service, diplomacy, and women’s rights.
According to the statement, her leadership had enhanced Ghana’s partnerships globally, including with the European Union (EU), China, and the United States.
The Association of Women in the Media (ASWIM), is an umbrella association for female journalists and media practitioners in Ghana, committed to empowering women in media and advocating for equal representation and ethical media practices.
Through its initiatives, they foster collaboration, professional development, and advocacy to elevate the voices of women in the media industry and the entire nation.
By Spectator Reporter
News
Craze for x’mas shopping: Crowded markets, low patronage
Vendors of food and other wares associated with the Christmas celebration have expressed surprise at the low patronage despite the increased number of visitors to some of the major markets across the capital.
Four days to the celebration(Christmas), the markets are filled with various products ranging from food, clothing, livestock and many other stuff, but according to the vendors, patrons are doing more ‘window’ shopping.
The Spectator on visits to some of the markets in the capital, notably the Odawna, Makola, Accra Central Business District, New Town and others made similar observations as shoppers crowd them but did little in terms of purchases.
The paper also observed that majority of vendors, originally selling other wares have switched to product related to the festive season.
What it means is that there are a lot more clothes, food and vegetables, livestock and poultry, toys, firecrackers, drinks of different types and many others on display.
The markets have also stretched to the pedestrian pavement, leaving very narrow spaces for commuters to move about freely.
That, in addition to a few of the female vendors dressed in coloured attires to reflect the occasion, has heightened the euphoria, leaving the low sales as the only headache for the vendors.
Speaking with this paper, they sounded very optimistic, believing that sales would improve in the last few days to the yuletide.
According to them, there was the opportunity to sell beyond Christmas as the New Year celebration offers similar opportunity to trade the same wares.
They urged patrons to throng the markets to shop since prices were quite moderate and products affordable for all.
News
Retirement service for Elder John Ackom-Asante,3 others
Retired Deputy Editor of The Spectator, Elder John Ackom-Asante, was last Sunday honoured by the Church of Pentecost Windy Hills District in Kasoa in the Central Region, with a retirement thanksgiving service, after serving for 26 year as an Elder of the church.
He was honoured with a citation and certificate of service along with three other elders who served in the capacity for various years.
Elder Ackom-Asante was baptised at the Darkuman Central Assembly in 1979 and ordained as an Elder in 1997.
The citation read “Your selfless service, zeal, willingness to relate wholeheartedly and your desire to effect change has gone a long way to shape the lives of many people in the church and the nation over the 26 years of your dedication to the service of the Lord.”
Elder Ackom- Asante held many positions at the Darkuman Central Assembly, Obuasi in the Ashanti Region and Tema, serving in various capacities as youth and evangelism ministry leader and marriage counsellor.
He was the founding member of the Darkuman Christian Fellowship, a member of the Greater Accra Christian Fellowship; member of Bible Society of Ghana; founding member Obuasi Chapter Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship International and founding member of New Times Corporation Christian Fellowship and Chaplain, Methodist University Tema Campus 2009- 2010.
As a professional journalist, Elder Ackom-Asante combined effectively and efficiently his duty as a member and elder of the church and the demands of his profession, with admiration from the church, kith and kin, till his retirement on December
From Alhaji Salifu Abdul-Rahaman, Kasoa
