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Eleven basic schools sensitized on personal hygiene
Eleven basic schools in the Greater Accra Region were yesterday sensitized on personal hygiene, as part of activities to climax the International Volunteers Day(IVD), organised by the Korea International Cooperation Agency in the country.
The schools which include Dawhenya Cluster of Schools Basic “1” and “2”, Dawhenya Methodist A&B and Dawhenya D/A Basic School, were presented with personal hygiene items, including soaps, toilet rolls and sanitizers worth $7,000 to both the pupils and the school authorities.
Some developmental partners, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), United Nations Volunteers, and Peace Corps Ghana, used the opportunity to educate the children to see volunteerism as a tool for nation-building.
The Country’s Director of KOICA, Mr Dong Hyun Lee said, IVD was celebrated globally to inculcate the spirits of volunteerism, especially in the youths, and urged the school heads to help shape and raise healthy pupils as the bedrock for inclusive and high-quality education.
He said this year’s commemoration with head teachers and the children resonated with their development programmes, highlighting their commitment to deploying volunteers to developing countries under the World Friends Korea (WFK) Programme.
The Acting Country Director, Peace Corps Ghana,Madam Jo Anne Yeager said, the volunteering activities of Peace Corps reinforced the bilateral relationship and culture exchange between Ghana and the United States of America.
She said volunteerism could be used to develop communities, schools and the country when, especially the youth, were educated to embrace volunteerism for national development.
Madam Rita Arhin, Headteacher for Dawhenya Methodist ‘B’ School, commended the volunteers for their support and the provision of ICT facilities to the schools.
The International Volunteer Day is observed annually on December 5, and it is a United Nations initiative designed to inspire volunteer-involving organisations and individuals to champion volunteerism.
The Day also aims to encourage governments to actively support volunteer efforts and acknowledge the invaluable contributions of volunteers toward the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on local, national, and international scales.
KOICA Ghana supports and executes development programmes in four key sectoral areas: Public Health, Agricultural & Rural Development, Education, and Governance. Among their ongoing flagship projects is the Implementation of the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) in Ghana, designed to enhance health security measures.
BY BERNARD BENGHAN
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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.
