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First Lady inaugurates revamped 118-year-old Independence Avenue Cluster of Schools
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The First Lady, Rebecca Naa Okaikor Akufo-Addo, has inaugurated the newly refurbished Independence Avenue Cluster of Schools in the Asheidu-Keteke Sub-Metropolitan District in Accra.
She was accompanied by the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, former Speaker of Parliament, Dr Ernest Addison, Governor of the Bank of Ghana, and Mrs Elizabeth Kwatsoe Tawiah Sackey, Mayor of Accra, to perform the inauguration on Wednesday, September 18.
The redevelopment of the 118-year-old educational facility was done in a collaboration between the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the Bank of Ghana.
The facility has an 18-unit three-storey classroom block and a three-unit nursery block, fully equipped with modern amenities such as science and computer laboratories, libraries, a staff common room, offices, a horticultural garden and a playground for students, among others.
Mrs Akufo-Addo in a speech urged all citizens to adopt the spirit of prioritising the needs of future generations, adding that the modern school would provide quality education and training for children to contribute meaningfully to the country’s development.
She pointed out that the government had made education a priority, resulting in increased access and higher enrolment figures in public schools, stressing that education was crucial for Ghana’s development.
The First Lady called on the management of the school to make good use of the facilities to ensure high-quality education whilst encouraging the students to remain disciplined and strive for success in their academic and personal endeavours.
The Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru, on his part, expressed gratitude to all stakeholders and acknowledged the significant role played by the Bank of Ghana in supporting the project.
He emphasised the importance of the new school building and called for regular maintenance of the facility in order to ensure its long-term impact on education in the community.
Dr Addison also on his part highlighted the rich history of the school, which was founded in 1906 during the British colonial era, and recounted how the school, originally known as the Accra Government Girls School, served as a centre for the education of girls, including his mother and several other women from Osu.
He recounted how the Bank of Ghana received a request for support through the former headmistress of the school, Mrs Agatha Ama Dzathor, and the then Mayor of Accra, Mr Mohammed Adjei Sowah, for the construction of a modern classroom block, which was approved through its corporate social responsibility.
The Governor praised the collaboration between the Ghana Education Service (GES), the AMA, and the Bank of Ghana in bringing the project to fruition and urged the management of the school to adopt a rigorous maintenance culture to ensure the longevity of the facilities.
Dr Addison also reminded the teachers of their crucial role in nurturing young minds and encouraged students to use the school as a place to explore, innovate, and reach new heights. –GNA
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GFP founder Akua Donkor passes on
Akua Donkor
The founder and leader of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), Madam Akua Donkor, has passed away.
She died at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital on Monday, October 28 at 72.
Reports gathered by The Spectator indicated that she was diagnosed with respiratory issues at the Nsawam Government Hospital and was referred to the Greater Accra Regional Hospital where she died.
Known for her spirited presence in Ghanaian politics, Akua Donkor was a staunch advocate for the rights of farmers and women.
Her bold and outspoken demeanour enabled her to capture public attention and significantly impact the grassroots communities she aimed to represent.
Throughout her political journey, she distinguished herself by running for the presidency multiple ti mes, demonstrating remarkable resilience despite financial challenges.
Akua Donkor was listed as the third candidate on the ballot for the upcoming 2024 presidential election.
Her political career began with her election as the Assemblywoman for Herman in the Ashanti region, and she made her first bid for the presidency in 2012 as an independent candidate.
She was, however, disqualified by the Electoral Commission in 2012 and 2016 for the reason that she did not meet the eligibility requirements.
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Stop using breast enhancing creams …they expose females to breast cancer
Mrs Enyonam Abiti making a presentation
Women have been cautioned to stop using of breast enhancing creams which is said to contain estrogen, predisposing them to the breast cancer disease.
Using such creams over time increases estrogen levels in patrons of such products thereby exposing them to the disease.
Estrogen is a type of sex hormone responsible for development and regulation of female reproductive system and secondary sex chart.
Mrs Enyonam Abiti, a medical officer at Madina Pentecost Hospital, said this at a day’s seminar and breast cancer awareness creation day at Sunyani in the Bono Region.
The programme, organised by the Bono Regional office of COCOBOD, forms part of activities to mark this year’s World Breast Cancer Day celebrations held every year in October.
Some staff of COCOBOD and women in cocoa farming used the opportunity to have their breast screened.
Mrs Abiti during a presentation revealed that one in every eight women was diagnosed of breast cancer while 1 from 1,000 men contract the disease.
She noted that early detection and regular screening was the surest way to salvage the situation.
She mentioned that habits such as excessive smoking and alcohol intake predisposes women to breast cancer.
Moreover, she added that people advanced in age, past history, past ovarian cancer case as well as young girls that menstruate early, among others stands the risk of contracting the disease.
The Bono Regional Administrator of COCOBOD, Michael Paddy Kwesi Asumanu, stated that the decision to organise the breast screening was to ensure that women in cocoa farming were healthy at all times to go about their farming activities in order to increase productivity.
“We don’t want a situation where our women in cocoa farming are infected with breast cancer disease to jeopardise the cocoa sector,” he said.
According him, the Regional Office of COCOBOD in partnership with the Bono Regional Teaching hospital would organised screening for about 4,000 women on October 31, 2024 at Goaso in the Ahafo Region.
The move, he said, was part of their corporate social responsibility towards women as the world mark breast cancer awareness creation this month.
Some of the women who spoke to The Spectator commended COCOBOD for the gesture and called on other institutions of state to emulate the example.
The organisers later held a float on the principal streets of Sunyani to create awareness on the breast cancer disease.
From Daniel Dzirasah, Sunyani
