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Be vigilant during Easter …Police warns residents

ASP Avornokadzi addressing parishioners of theSt. Augustine Catholic Church Ashaiman while
other church leaders and police officers look on

The Ashaiman Police command has cautioned members of the public, especially those within its jurisdiction to be vigilantduring the Easter festivities and not fall into any ‘trap’ by criminals.

The Acting District Commander for the Ashaiman District Police Command, Asst. Supt. of Police (ASP), Mr. Isaac Avornokadzi disclosed that the Service has observed over the years that criminals like to take advantage of festive seasons such as Easter to carry out their activities on unsuspecting members of the public.

In the light of this, he disclosed that the Service was undertaking a series of sensitisation exercises in churches and other social gatherings to caution the public to be extra careful during the period in order not to fall victims to the activities of criminals.

The aim is to have an incident-free festive period.

It was one of such exercises that took him to the St Augustine Catholic Church in Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region (GAR) on Palm Sunday where he charged parishioners to be extra vigilant during the period to ensure their personal safety.

ASP Avornokadzi assured residents of Ashaiman that the police was poised to make the area uncomfortable for criminals in the Easter season and beyond.

He disclosed that several measures have been put in place to make personnel available and visible to enhance their response time to calls placed to them.

He also urged members of the community to be each other’s keeper by being concerned about what happens around others to ensure all were safe.

“Every member of the public must observe and report anything unusual in their communities or around the neighbourhood. When you find something unusual, report it to the police immediately to ensure that criminals do not have a field day.”

He said the area would be a nogo area for criminals if residents report activities of criminals to the police freely.

He recalled occasions when some residents had failed to call the police when they observed that their neighbours were attacked.

He cautioned the public that when people were suspected to be engaging in criminal activities, they could do a citizen’s arrest and hand them over to the police for the right action to be taken.

“Don’t beat them. Don’t take the law into your own hands. Just bring them to us,” the Acting District Police Commander advised.

He encouraged the public to have confidence in the police because they are up to the task.

He advised the public to memorise the various police emergency numbers so that they could readily use them when under attack.

“Do not write it in your diary or save it on your phone alone,” he said, explaining that sometimes people under attack may not have the luxury to check from their diaries or phones to get the contacts.

From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Ashaiman

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Communication Ministry To Train 3000 Girls This Year Under The Girls-In-ICT Initiative

The Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations is set to train 3,000 girls under this year’s Girls-In-ICT Initiative.

The 2025 edition of the programme will expand its footprint to three key regions: Volta, Upper East and Upper West, with each region hosting 1,000 girls for in-person training sessions.

This marks a significant increase in reach and impact compared to previous years, where only 500 girls received face-to-face training while an additional 500 participated online.

By offering full in-person training to all participants this year, the Ministry aims to provide a more immersive and hands-on experience in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) education.

The Minister, Samuel Nartey George (MP) revealed this when a team from TATA Consultancy Services (TCS) paid a courtesy call on him today in his office and expressed interest in supporting the Girls-In-ICT Initiative.

During the meeting, the TCS team led by the President-MEA, Sumanta Roy commended the Ministry for its efforts in promoting digital inclusion and bridging the gender gap in technology through the Girls-In-ICT programme.

They emphasized the alignment of the initiative with TCS’s global corporate social responsibility agenda, which includes advancing education, promoting digital skills, and empowering underrepresented groups, especially young women in the tech industry.

The Honourable Minister welcomed the interest shown by TCS and noted that strategic partnerships like this are essential to the sustainability and expansion of the initiative.

The Girls-In-ICT Initiative, one of the Ministry’s flagship programs, seeks to equip young girls with practical digital skills and introduce them to the vast opportunities within the ICT sector.

The initiative also aims to address gender disparity in STEM fields and encourage greater female participation in Ghana’s digital economy.

Hon. Samuel Nartey George (MP) speaking about the 2025 rollout, stated: “This year’s program represents our commitment to building inclusive digital skills and creating future leaders in tech.

By expanding in-person sessions to all participants, we’re ensuring that every girl has the opportunity to learn, engage, and grow with hands-on support from professionals and mentors”.

Participants in this year’s training will receive instruction in coding, basic computer operations, cybersecurity and creative digital tools.

The programme also features mentorship sessions with women in tech, ICT competitions and career development workshops designed to build confidence and spark innovation among the girls.

According to the Minister, empowering girls today with ICT skills will transform communities and drive national development. The initiative is a key part of Ghana’s broader digital transformation agenda, which emphasizes equitable access to digital tools and education for all citizens.

About the Girls In ICT Initiative:

The Girls-in-ICT (GIICT) Initiative was introduced in Ghana in 2012. It is an initiative by the International Telecommunications Union to create a global environment that empowers and encourages girls and young women to consider studies and careers in the growing field of ICT.

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GEXIM deepens relations with US EXIM Bank

A management team of the Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM) led by the Acting Chief Executive, Sylvester Mensah met with the leadership of the Export–Import Bank of the United States (US EXIM) on Wednesday April 23, 2025 in Washington DC, United States of America.

The Acting President and Chairman of US EXIM, Mr. James C. Cruse and Vice President, International Relations, Ms. Isabel Galdiz received the GEXIM delegation, which included Deputy CEO for Banking, Mr. Moses Klu Mensah and Head of International Cooperation, Mr. Jonathan Christopher Koney at the headquarters of US EXIM.

The meeting offered the GEXIM team the opportunity to share the strategic direction of the Bank in line with the resetting agenda of the President of the Republic, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama for the repositioning of the Ghanaian economy into an export-led one by providing the requisite investment to Ghanaian businesses.

Mr. James C. Cruse expressed US EXIM’s eagerness to deepen its existing relations with GEXIM and proposed the signing of a new Cooperative Framework Agreement following the expiration of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2019 to utilize US EXIM’s medium term loan guarantees to procure machinery by GEXIM for qualified Ghanaian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).

Mr.Sylvester Mensah thanked the Acting President and Chairman of US EXIM for hosting the GEXIM delegation and reaffirmed the Ghanaian government’s commitment to strengthening trade and investment between Ghana and its global partners for economic transformation of Ghana with GEXIM playing a pivotal role.

The two teams will be meeting on the sidelines of the 2025 US EXIM Annual Conference on 29th and April 30, 2025 to explore possible areas of collaboration and matching Ghanaian businesses to American companies. The meeting ended with an exchange of gifts.