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Bridget Bonnie Agbenyor aspires to be Ghana’s President
Bridget Bonnie ready to occupy the big seat
When Ms Bridget Bonnie Agbenyor became the first female Student’s Representative Council (SRC) President for the Wisconsin International University College, Ghana (WIUC-Gh) in 2019, many thought it was just a fluke.
But for her, it was a launch pad to her political ambition.
It was a major step towards attaining the ultimate of securing the highest political position in the country.
The 32-year-old dynamic and eloquent Ms Bonnie has since positioned herself as one of the young voices within Ghana’s political space currently.
The Founder of 18Plus4NDC, a network of social democrats that upholds the principles and values of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), believes she is the next big thing in Ghana politics.
Before becoming the SRC President, she pursued her first degree in Communications. She was the Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the SRC at Lister Professional Institute in 2014 where she attained a diploma in Marketing.
Then at Wisconsin, she became the Deputy Inter-Communications Person for the SRC while in level 100 and 200 before going for the ultimate SRC President in level 300.
In her view, she needed the power to address the grievances of students and attaining the highest position in students’ politics.
One of her biggest achievements as the SRC President, was to form the Greater Accra SRC Presidential Caucus which brought together all colleague Presidents within the region to undertake several humanitarian projects in a bid to impact on society.
Aside leading the 18Plus4NDC, she was recently appointed as a member of the National Youth Wing Committee of the party.
While contesting to become President, she was advised to settle for either the Vice or Women’s Commissioner but threw caution to the wind and went all out for the top position.
Following her regular visits to rural communities, she observed that, many young people were not in school. Essentially, those children could benefit from skills training to become entrepreneurs or gainfully employed.
Ms Bonnie also recommended an improvement in the agricultural sector by getting warehouses in villages and making their roads better to transport produce to the capital and other parts of the country.
Implementing some sound economic policies like the ‘24-hour economy policy’ that would ensure that companies operate day and night, in her view would turn around the fortunes of the country for the better.
She explained that the policy would ensure workers run the shift system where people can work for few hours and make way for others, with the cycle continuing for 24 hours.
Getting enough resources has been a major challenge in her bid to impact on society as they travel very often without money or logistics.
Aside that, doing politics and working is another challenge she is facing as there is usually limited time to travel.
The Digital Marketing Executive and Social Entrepreneur has worked in places including Dalex Finance, ViPit Africa and is now the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pardia Multimedia rebranded as the Bridge Consult.
She attained her Senior High education at Ada Senior High School in 2011, holds a certificate in Radio and Television Presentation from the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) and Masters in Brands and Communications Management from the University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA).
Her hobbies are sight-seeing and reading, and fulfilled when she impacts on someone’s life. To achieve her desire of impacting on people’s lives, she runs the ‘Bridget Bonnie and Friends’ Foundation where they provide financial support for the needy but brilliant students from Junior High Schools to universities.
They also engage in blood donations and recently presented relief items to victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage.
If having a dream and working towards achieving same is the way to achieve success, Bridget Bonnie seems to be on the right path to making history as one of Africa’s few female Presidents.
By Michael D. Abayateye
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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.