News
Appoint more women as MMDCEs …V/R Women’s Organiser appeals
Some party faithful have called on President John Dramani Mahama and his Vice President to consider appointing more women as Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
Ms Delfia Fafa Agbai, the Volta Regional Women’s Organiser of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and former District Chief Executive (DCE) for North Tongu, said increasing women’s representation in local governance will demonstrate the government’s commitment to gender inclusion and women’s empowerment. Ms Agbai made this appeal at the conclusion of the MMDCE vetting process in Ho on January 28. She expressed excitement over the growing number of women aspiring for leadership roles in the region, noting that 30 women were among the 237 aspirants vetted for the 18 available positions.
“This is a significant improvement from previous years. When I served as a DCE, only six women held similar positions. The increase in female aspirants today is proof that more women are stepping forward to take leadership roles,” she stated.
She acknowledged that many women have, in the past, hesitated to apply for political positions due to fear of intimidation and societal stigma. However, the increasing number of female aspirants this time around is a positive shift.
Ms Agbai urged Vice President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, who herself is a strong advocate for women’s rights, to use her influence to ensure more women receive appointments as MMDCEs. “I am appealing to our Vice President, who is also a woman, to encourage the President to appoint more women as MMDCEs.
This will not only empower women but also contribute to the overall development of our communities,” she said. Mr Alexander Gabby Hotordze, Member of Parliament (MP) for Central Tongu, who was also present at the vetting, emphasized that the NDC has a wealth of qualified men and women ready to take on leadership roles.
“The calibre of aspirants we vetted proves that we have capable individuals, both men and women, who are ready to serve. It is important that we continue to provide equal opportunities for both genders in governance,” he noted.
The vetting process, which lasted a week, saw aspirants from across the Volta Region appear before the committee. With the process now complete, the focus shifts to the final selection of MMDCEs who will lead various districts and municipalities in the region.
News
Ghana-Colombia strengthens ties through diplomatic engagement
In an important diplomatic engagement, the Colombian Ambassador to Ghana H.E. Daniel Garces Carabali paid a courtesy call on the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, at his office in Accra to discuss some key areas of collaboration.
The meeting focused on pressing issues, including security, decongestion of Ghana’s prisons, prison reform programmes, training programmes, improving the welfare of prisoners and enhancing disaster management in the country.
The courtesy call underscores the growing bilateral ties between Ghana and Colombia, building on previous engagements, such as the visit of the Colombian Vice President to Ghana in 2023.
The meeting demonstrates the commitment of both nations to fostering cooperation and addressing shared challenges.
News
Ghana to host African Catholic Journalists from August 10
The Union Catholique Africaine de la Presse (UCAP), also known as the African Catholic Union of the Press, in collaboration with the Catholic Association of Media Practitioners-Ghana (CAMP-G), is set to host its prestigious Triennial Congress from August 10 to 17 August, 2025.
The programme would be held at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Legon, Accra, Ghana.
This landmark event, the most significant gathering of Catholic journalists in Africa, will bring together media professionals, researchers, and experts in digital technology from across the continent and beyond.
The theme for the Congress is: “Balancing Technological Progress and the Preservation of Human Values in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”
Congress Highlights
The UCAP Congress 2025 will feature discussions and deliberations on critical issues arising from or related to integral human development, particularly within the framework of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Some of the key sub-themes to be addressed include:Corporate Social Responsibility in Managing the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Human Values, Deploying AI in Eco-friendly Business Start-ups in Africa: Opportunities and Challenges, Technology and the Reprogramming of Social Reality, Distortion of Reality in Social and Digital Media, Ecological Education and Action Against Unsustainable Exploitation of Natural Resources, and Media and the Promotion of the Recommendations of the Synod on Synodality in Africa.
Participants will include media professionals from both ecclesiastical and lay organisations, media researchers and academics, representatives from the Vatican, government agencies, NGOs, civil society, and the digital technology sector.
Objectives of the Congress
The primary goal of this Congress is to strengthen the capacities of media professionals and educate the public on the necessity of preserving human values amid rapid technological progress. Specific objectives include; Training 100 media practitioners in Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies, with a focus on balancing innovation and human values.
This will include promoting ethics and bioethics in technical research and technological innovations through media.
Advocating for human values such as respect for life, human dignity, charity, solidarity, and human rights and assessing the impact of technological progress to better understand the challenges, risks, and opportunities presented by AI will be part of the objectives.
UCAP is a continental organisation dedicated to promoting communication within the Catholic Church and its partners in Africa. With a mission to foster spiritual growth, collaboration, and responsible journalism, UCAP works to spread the Gospel, uphold human values, and support developmental initiatives across Africa and beyond.
UCAP is an independent, autonomous, non-political, and non-profit organisation comprising African Catholic journalists, communicators, academics, researchers, and institutions in various media fields.
