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GSE donates GH₵100,000 to National COVID-19 Trust Fund
The Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE), has donated GH₵100,000 to the National COVID-19 Trust Fund to help fight the pandemic.
The donation which was made at a short ceremony at the Jubilee House was received by the Head of the Trust Fund, former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo.
The Head of Marketing and Public Relations at the GSE, Diana Okine who spoke at the event said even though the GSE was a non-profit making organisation, management felt it was prudent to support the nation in these difficult times.
According to her, the GSE saw it as an obligation to support a national fight which would result in the betterment of the health of the populace they engaged every day.
“This is a pandemic that affects everybody and our clientele is made up of the Ghanaian populace, so if the Ghanaian populace is health it means that we will have a good environment and we will have happy investors. The GSE although it is a non-profit making organisation, we are a public company limited by guarantee and therefore, we are in this fight like anybody else and we also see it prudent for us to help the government’s goal in making Ghana a healthy country by curbing this pandemic,” she said.
“There are other vulnerable people around, there are people who need help, there are people who are not wealthy but they all contribute to the stock exchange. In order to ensure that all these people are healthy and for the Ghanaian economy to be back on track, the GSE identified with the course and we made this donation,” Mrs Okine said.
Receiving it, former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo commended the GSE for the effort and assured of judicious use of the fund.
“There is an impression that the GSE is a money making, money spinners who are only interested in rich people who have money to invest. This will go a long way to dispel that impression people have. We are most grateful to the management, we are most grateful to the organisation itself,” she said.
The GSE recently donated GH₵150,000 to the Covid-19 Private Sector Fund to help in the construction of a 100-bed treatment and isolation facility at the Ga West Hospital in Accra.
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
