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Fauzeeya Jamal-Deen speaks on grabbing multiple awards at UNIMAC-GIJ
Fauzeeya Jamal-Deen
Fauzeeya Jamal-Deen is the first of four girls. Her mother is a trader and her father was a clearing agent at Tema. Setting out on her educational journey, she had always exhibited strong potentials and determination to attain the highest academic qualification possible.
After her basic and secondary education at Mars Complex School and St. Rose’s Senior High, she gained admission to study at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and also received a partial scholarship to study at Calvin University in the United States of America (USA) but could not enroll due to financial challenges.
Her father was diagnosed of a chronic disease hence his inability to support the family financially as he used to do while in active service. The situation, therefore, required Fauzeeya joining her mother at the market as they work hard to support the rest of the family and also settle medical expenses.
While selling, she was still focused on pursuing higher education and the financial difficulties did not deter her from chasing her dreams at the Ghana Institute of Journalism, now University of Media, Arts and Culture (UNIMAC-GIJ) where she recently graduated with Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies (Journalism).
She did not only graduate with First Class but also won three separate awards. She was adjudged Best Student in Broadcast Journalism, Best Student in Journalism, and Best Female Student in Journalism.
Hurdles
In an interview with The Spectator recently, the young graduate spoke about overcoming hurdles at different stages in her academic journey and how she wants her story to inspire young girls in similar situations.
She recalled gaining admission to GIJ at a “difficult time in her life” when she did not have the resources to settle her admission fees as a fresher.
After gaining admission, she was supposed to pay at least 60 percent of the fees (2, 400 cedis) at the time in order to complete student registration processes on campus.
She said her mother’s business was collapsing at time but a customer had provided 1,000 cedis to be re-invested in the business but her mother offered the cash as part payment of the admission fees, although it was not up to the 60 percent required.
“One day, I got to campus and Auntie Vera (one of the staff at the academic affairs) ask if I had paid for the fees and if I knew the next day was the deadline for payment.
“Upon hearing that the following day was the deadline, I was disturbed and feared I could drop out of school again. But kind heartedly, Auntie Vera helped me settle my fees for the first year and helped me apply for the MTN Bright Scholarship,” she noted.
This benevolence enabled Fauzeeya to continue her studies and although the four year period came with its own challenges she was able to sail through the rough terrain.
Motivation
Attributing part of her success to God and her family and Auntie Vera, she said her motivation came from the commitment to maintain her scholarship and also make her parents proud.
“When I started school, the goal was to just graduate come what may. I did not think I was going to get any award at that time but Alhamdulillah (God) gave me what I wanted and more.
“I wasn’t expecting to receive all the awards. Based on my performance, I knew I would receive at least one award but others came to as a surprise.” I knew other first class students could equally win awards that was why I was not too keen on grabbing the ultimate,” she stated.
The awards mean a lot to Fauzeeya who is now a Teaching Assistant at Ghana Institute of Journalism. She believes it was a true reflection of her hard work, persistence and determination. She is confident it would enable her to attain greater heights in her career and other endeavours in future.
She urges young girls to develop a winning mindset and not allow unpredictable circumstances of life keep them down. She mentioned Mr. Elvis Darko, the Editor of The Finder Newspaper, Mr. Benard Avle, General Manager of Citi FM/ Citi TV, Emefa Apawu, a Presenter at Multimedia and few other media personalities as some of her role models in journalism.
By George Obeng Osei
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Youth urged to take proactive stance on ozone depletion
•Mr Joseph Amankwah, first counting from, some officials from EPA and UNDP in group picture with the student
Mr Joseph Amankwah, the Director of Ozone Layer and Climate Change at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has urged the youth to take a proactive stance on issues related to ozone depletion, emphasising that their future would be most affected by its consequences.
Speaking during a student engagement event at the Ghana Secondary School (GHANASS) in Koforidua, he highlighted the critical role young people played in tackling climate-related challenges.
Mr Amankwah explained that human activities, such as the use of certain chemicals, were significantly contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer and driving climate change.
He said it was important to educate the youth on these issues, encouraging them to share this knowledge with their families to foster a broader understanding and active participation in climate action.
He urged the education sector to integrate lessons on the ozone layer, the causes of its depletion, and its links to climate change into the curriculum.
The event, organised by the EPA in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was designed to foster environmental awareness and promote a sense of responsibility among young people.
Mr Amankwah noted that ozone layer depletion was affecting everyone, including children, as it alters weather patterns and threatens the natural environment.
He highlighted the need for young people to develop ‘green skills’ to adapt to the challenges of climate change and to understand ways to combat it.
He added that World Ozone Day, observed every September, would focus on youth engagement in environmental issues, to help them understand the long-term consequences of ozone depletion and climate change.
Mr Amankwah also discussed the harmful impact of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), a major chemical contributor to ozone depletion.
He explained that household appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners were common sources of CFC emissions in Ghana.
Many uncertified technicians work on these appliances, often releasing harmful chemicals into the atmosphere due to improper handling, he noted.
To address this, he urged appliance repairers to obtain proper certification and training, emphasising that unqualified repairs not only harm the environment but also endangered public health.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman,
Koforidua
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Small-scale miners schooled on health hazards of mining with mercury
Mr Lovelace Sarpong (right) addressing the participants
Some Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners in the Ashanti and Central regions have been sensitised on the potential health dangers humans are exposed to with the use of mercury in gold processing.
The sensitisation which was organised by PlanetGOLD Ghana project was to raise awareness about the negative impacts on the use of mercury in mining activities.
According to the PlanetGOLD Ghana Project Coordinator, Mr Lovelace Sarpong, the use of mercury in artisanal small-scale mining pose health challenges that affects the nervous, digestive and immune systems, lungs and kidneys; and may be fatal.
Some Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) that benefited from the exercise were Amansie Central, Asante Akim North, Amansie South, Amansie West, Bekwai, and Adansi North in the Ashanti Region, and Upper Denkyira East (Dunkwa-on-Offin) and Upper Denkyira West (Diaso) in the Central Region.
Additionally, he said inorganic salts of mercury were corrosive to the skin, eyes and gastrointestinal tract, and may induce kidney toxicity if ingested.
He stated that the PlanetGOLD Project has conducted several initiatives to raise awareness on reducing mercury exposure among artisanal and small-scale gold mining actors in the country.
It was to promote mercury-free mining practices in line with Ghana’s obligations under the Minamata Convention on Mercury, support the formalisation of the ASGM sector while advocating the adoption of the CRAFT Code and responsible supply chains, and raise awareness on the availability of mercury-free alternatives.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Area Head for Konongo, Mr Dawood Abbas, underscored the importance of government’s environmental regulations and EPA’s role in ensuring compliance within the ASGM sector.
He encouraged miners to prioritise environmental stewardship to gain community trust and secure a Social License to Operate (SLO) and reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to enforce its commitments under the Minamata Convention.
BY Cecilia Lagba Yada
