News
Akwamuman celebrates 60-year reign of Nana Afrakoma II
An illustrious 60-year reign of Nana Afrakoma II as the Queen mother of Akwamuman was over the weekend marked with a grand durbar held at the forecourt of Bogyawe Palace, Akwamufie in the Eastern Region.
The durbar was also to climax the celebration of the Akwasidae Kese of the people in the Akwamu Traditional Area.
In a colourful event, the durbar which featured the display of the rich culture attracted people from far and near.
Among them were the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, former President, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor, the former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings and her children, the Member of Parliament (MP) of Asuogyaman Constituency, Mr Thomas Apem Nyarko, and a representative from the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.
Others include the Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, representing the Aduana fraternity, the Otublohum Asafo groups, traditional rulers across the country, and the local council of churches.
Preceding the durbar on Saturday, were activities such as a health walk, live band performances featuring musicians such as Kwabena Kwabena and Akwaboah.
Addressing the gathering at the durbar, Nana Afrakoma II thanked the people of Akwamu, traditional rulers, and other dignitaries in the country for the support given her during her 60-year reign as the Queen mother of Akwamuman.
She advised the youth to accord the elderly the needed respect in order to obtain the blessings from God and remain humble.
Also, long serving staff, chiefs, and other individuals were honoured with various citations and awards by the Queen mother.
For his part, the Akwamuhene, Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, lauded Nana Afrakoma II for the exemplary leadership shown since her enthronement as queen mother at the age of 18 years.
He noted that initiatives by Nana Afrakoma II such as the Afrakoma Foundation and the Nana Afrakoma Vocational Institute had contributed to shaping the life of the youth and had helped tackle issues such as teenage pregnancy and school dropout.
Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, therefore, urged the President to support the Nana Afrakoma Vocational Institute to enable it to provide the youth with the needed training and equip them with the requisite skills.
He also called on the President to revive Akosombo Textiles Limited (ATL), the company that provided employment for the youth.
President Nana Akufo-Addo supported the durbar with an amount of GH¢100,000 and boxes of Black Label, Hennessey, red wine and champagne.
Benjamin Arcton -Tettey
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.
