News
E/R: Boarding student delivers on campus, attempts to dump baby
A boarding student of Oyoko Methodist Senior High School (OMESS) in Koforidua has delivered a baby boy at a dormitory in the school.
According to sources, some of her mates heard a baby crying at dawn in the corridor of the dormitory.
They curiously moved out and to their surprise the student was carrying the baby to allegedly dump it into a nearby latrine on campus.
They alerted the senior house mistress who rushed to the scene to take the baby and mother to the Eastern Regional Hospital.
They were admitted and have been discharged.
Management of the school has informed and invited parents of the Arts -one(1) student to a meeting for a decision to be taken for the collective good of both mother and baby.
Teenage pregnancy cases in the Eastern region continue to increase.
The situation worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 when schools were shut down for nearly a year.
A total of over 10,000 teenage pregnancy cases were recorded in 2021 in the Eastern region, according to Ghana Health Service.
This has necessitated some interventions such as “back to school” where Ghana Education Service staff move to communities to encourage pregnant and teenage mothers to return to school.
In Akyemansa District for instance, “Safe and Protective Environment for Adolescent Development (SPREAD)” project is being implemented in 40 rural communities in the district by Ark Development Organization (ADO), an NGO with support from UNICEF in partnership with Global Affairs Canada to curb alarming teenage pregnancy, assist pregnant students and teen mother’s return to school.
“Cross your leg;100% cross your leg” is a slogan coined to cause behavioral change in that regard.
The project officer of Ark Development Organization, David Kwaning says 89 of 369 adolescent mothers recorded in 2020 have so far been identified for assistance to go back to school or enrolled in economic empowerment program or legal aid.
“Per what the Ghana Education Service gave us, we have about 369 adolescent mothers in the district as at 2020.so we are to identify them and then assist them in three ways. Some of them have to go back to school, others too need justice, other too need health assistance. So we have identified 89 of the Adolescent mothers” David Kwaning Project Officer said.
Meanwhile the NGO is initiating legal action against a man who took undue advantage of a 12 year old vulnerable girl who dropped out of school after her father died, exploited her in child labour, defiled and impregnated her.
The project has reached 1,577 out of target adolescents of 2000 with four months to end.
Source : Ghana/starrfm.com.gh/Kojo Ansah
News
New BoG governor can’t engage in official duties – Afenyo-Markin to Mahama
The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo Markin has raised concerns over the assumption of official duties by Dr. Johnson Asiamah as Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG).
The former Deputy Governor was recently nominated by President John Dramani, on January 31, 2025, to serve as Governor, pending approval by the Council of State.
This follows a formal request by the current Governor, Dr. Ernest Addison, to proceed on leave ahead of his retirement on March 31, 2025.
However, in a letter to President Mahama dated February 4, Minority Leader raised serious concerns with Dr. Asiamah’s assumption of office in the absence of the Council of State.
“Your Excellency, it is my considered view that Dr. Johnson Asiamah should refrain from engaging in official duties at the Bank of Ghana until his nomination has been duly approved by the Council of State. While awaiting confirmation, he can seek any necessary briefings outside the formal assumption of office,” the letter noted.
He added, “I trust that due attention will be given to this matter to uphold the integrity of our institutional processes.”
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Read full statement below
News
Bagbin lifts suspension of four MPs
Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has lifted the suspension of four Members of Parliament (MPs) who were suspended after a clash during the vetting session on Thursday, January 30, 2025.
The altercation occurred between Minority and Majority MPs, escalating tensions in Parliament. The disagreement reached a peak after the suspension of the four MPs, triggering a debate over whether the vetting should proceed on January 31, 2025.
Following the suspension, the Minority MPs walked out, leaving only the Majority to continue with the vetting of nominees, including that of MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who had already undergone several hours of questioning by the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
The lifting of the suspension comes after a review of the incident. The four MPs – Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Jerry Ahmed Shaib and Alhassan Tampuli – are now expected to resume their parliamentary duties as normal. The move seeks to restore order in Parliament following the disruptions.
This was after both the majority leader and minority leader appealed to the Speaker of Parliament to lift the ban on the four MPs.
Alban Bagbin said, “So I have lifted the suspension order. I do so instantly and takes effect immediately. The affected Hon. Members are permitted now to enter the precincts of the house. I must say they actually complied with the orders.”
He assured that the investigations will continue, and the House will have the opportunity to make a decision.
He commended the security agencies for their support.
Source : Citinewsroom.com
