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Govt donates Veronica buckets, face masks to churches, churches
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Friday presented quantities of hand washing items to the Muslim and Christian communities to enable their members observe good hygiene in their places of worship.
The donations follow the partial lifting of the restrictions on social gatherings to enable Christians and Muslims to gather and worship in small groups.
The items are 9 ,900 sets of Veronica buckets which include water containers, metal stands, waste water collectors as well as, 9,900 nose masks, 19,800 bottles of liquid soap, 19,800 bottles of hand sanitisers and 9,900 paper tissues.
The office of the National Chief Imam, Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Shia Muslim Community, Ghana Muslim Mission, Tijania Muslim Community and Tijania Muslim Council received a total of 2,500 sets of items.
The Christian Community also got 7,400 sets of the items to be distributed among the Christian Council of Ghana, Ghana Pentecostal Churches Council, Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference, Independent Churches Association of Ghana, National Clergy Association of Ghana, Seventh Day Adventist Church, National Association of Charismatic Churches Council and the United Prayer Network.
Presenting the items on behalf of President Akufo-Addo, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama, said the government has plans to distribute 50,000 sets of similar items to the churches and mosques in the various districts in the country.
The presentation is a gift of appreciation from President Akufo-Addo in recognition of the prayers, support and understanding by the religious groups since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, she said.
She said in the President’s 10th broadcast on measures to fight the pandemic, the suspension of religious gatherings was lifted to enable believers gather in small groups and worship.
She appealed to religious bodies to observe strict hygiene protocols and social distancing arrangements to avoid communal spread of the virus.
The minister said the donations are expected to help churches and mosques in the washing of their hands and also help prevent the spread of the pandemic when they start their services.
Receiving the items, the Apostle General of the Royal House Chapel, Rev. Sam Korankyi Ankrah, who stood in for Archbishop Duncan Williams, and the Personal Assistant to the National Chief Imam, Alhaji M. Khuzaima, thanked the President for the gesture, saying that the presentation would go a long way to help their members to observe the protocols.
BY YAW KYEI
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.
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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
