News
Let women, children be heard on climate change – 2nd Lady
Mrs Samira Bawumia addressing the gathering
The Second Lady, Mrs Samira Bawumia has asked stakeholders to make conscious and deliberate effort to create space for women and young people’s voices to be heard, especially on climate change.
“You cannot make progress without leveraging the full resources of the majority of our population who are women and children especially in decision making,” she said.
According to her, climate change is increasingly inducing migration and heightening political insecurity threats across the sub-region, further impacting economic stability, especially of women and children.
Mrs Bawumia said this at the maiden Africa Women and Children Conference (AFRIWOCC), a platform to address the impact of climate change on women and children.
The conference, an initiative of the Second Lady, on Empowerment and Humanitarian Projects (SEHP), under the auspices of the Office of the President, was themed: “Amplifying the Voices of Women and Children in Climate Action.”
Mrs Bawumia said the conference would coordinate a network of organisations focused on women and children in the climate change economy.
The Second Lady said climate action must be holistic, inclusive and intersectional to address the diversities and challenges faced by all especially women and children from different backgrounds, including those in rural areas, urban centres, indigenous communities and persons with disabilities.
She said it was only a comprehensive approach that could ensure that no one was left behind in pursuit of sustainability.
“I call upon governments, organisations, businesses and individuals to recognise the urgency of trying to solve the climate crisis and embrace the transformative power of gender equality,” she said.
The Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Amina J. Mohammed said there was the need for governments and decision makers at all levels to get involved and prioritise the wellbeing of women and children.
She urged stakeholders to set goals and work with a higher impact climate action that would unlock the potential of women and also to protect children.
“We have to identify practical solutions when it comes to women and children at the centre of our social sphere so that together we can develop as a continent,” she said.
According to her, African countries are at the highest risk of suffering from the impacts of climate crisis, adding that, “Africa suffers disproportionately from climate impacts, including droughts and insecurity.”
The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonja-Iweala said trade must be leveraged as a tool, both for climate action and for women’s economic empowerment.
She said government and policymakers must ensure that women and children were safe in the decision making process, adding that protecting the lives and livelihoods of women and children in Africa, was paramount to development.
News
Craze for x’mas shopping: Crowded markets, low patronage
Vendors of food and other wares associated with the Christmas celebration have expressed surprise at the low patronage despite the increased number of visitors to some of the major markets across the capital.
Four days to the celebration(Christmas), the markets are filled with various products ranging from food, clothing, livestock and many other stuff, but according to the vendors, patrons are doing more ‘window’ shopping.
The Spectator on visits to some of the markets in the capital, notably the Odawna, Makola, Accra Central Business District, New Town and others made similar observations as shoppers crowd them but did little in terms of purchases.
The paper also observed that majority of vendors, originally selling other wares have switched to product related to the festive season.
What it means is that there are a lot more clothes, food and vegetables, livestock and poultry, toys, firecrackers, drinks of different types and many others on display.
The markets have also stretched to the pedestrian pavement, leaving very narrow spaces for commuters to move about freely.
That, in addition to a few of the female vendors dressed in coloured attires to reflect the occasion, has heightened the euphoria, leaving the low sales as the only headache for the vendors.
Speaking with this paper, they sounded very optimistic, believing that sales would improve in the last few days to the yuletide.
According to them, there was the opportunity to sell beyond Christmas as the New Year celebration offers similar opportunity to trade the same wares.
They urged patrons to throng the markets to shop since prices were quite moderate and products affordable for all.
News
Retirement service for Elder John Ackom-Asante,3 others
Retired Deputy Editor of The Spectator, Elder John Ackom-Asante, was last Sunday honoured by the Church of Pentecost Windy Hills District in Kasoa in the Central Region, with a retirement thanksgiving service, after serving for 26 year as an Elder of the church.
He was honoured with a citation and certificate of service along with three other elders who served in the capacity for various years.
Elder Ackom-Asante was baptised at the Darkuman Central Assembly in 1979 and ordained as an Elder in 1997.
The citation read “Your selfless service, zeal, willingness to relate wholeheartedly and your desire to effect change has gone a long way to shape the lives of many people in the church and the nation over the 26 years of your dedication to the service of the Lord.”
Elder Ackom- Asante held many positions at the Darkuman Central Assembly, Obuasi in the Ashanti Region and Tema, serving in various capacities as youth and evangelism ministry leader and marriage counsellor.
He was the founding member of the Darkuman Christian Fellowship, a member of the Greater Accra Christian Fellowship; member of Bible Society of Ghana; founding member Obuasi Chapter Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship International and founding member of New Times Corporation Christian Fellowship and Chaplain, Methodist University Tema Campus 2009- 2010.
As a professional journalist, Elder Ackom-Asante combined effectively and efficiently his duty as a member and elder of the church and the demands of his profession, with admiration from the church, kith and kin, till his retirement on December
From Alhaji Salifu Abdul-Rahaman, Kasoa
