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Chief of Staff Frema Opare hosts Black Queens at Jubilee House
Chief of Staff of the Republic of Ghana, Akosua Frema Osei Opare has organised a special reception for officials of the Black Queens at the Jubilee House on Sunday, March 3, 2024.
The Black Queens officials were led by Chairperson of the Management Committee and Executive Council Member, Dr. Gifty Oware-Mensah.
Others included Nora Häuptle, head coach of the Black Queens and Team Manager, Hannah Asare.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Tano North, Hon. Freda Prempeh and Jamaldeen Alhassan, Personal Assistant to the Minister of Youth and Sports were in attendance.
The Black Queens returned to Ghana on Friday, March 1, 2024 after the show of grit in the Olympic Games third-round qualifiers against Zambia.
Ghana missed out on the slot for the fourth and final round of qualifiers despite a 3-3 draw in Ndola on Wednesday having lost 1-0 to the Copper Queens in the 1st leg at the Accra Sports stadium.
The Chief of Staff lauded the efforts of the team and urged them to keep pushing for honours in the rebuilding process.
She also rewarded the teams’ effort with an unspecified financial commitment and promised to do more as the team prepares for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The Chief of Staff further pledged her utmost support to the development of Women’s football and the Women’s national teams.
Ghana has four Women’s national teams duly registered for competitions under the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the FIFA.
They include, the Black Damsels, Black Maidens, the Black Princesses and the Black Queens.
The national U-20 team, otherwise known as the Black Princesses will compete in the Women’s football event in the 13th African Games, Accra 2024.
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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.
