News
LLN calls for the protection of girls against social media predators
Founder of the Leading Ladies Network (LLN), a women’s leadership development organization, Madam Yawa Hansen Quao is advocating for an increase in awareness on the dangers social media could have on young girls who are oblivious of how to use such tools safely.
According to her, though social media had many importance, it also posed dangers to ignorant users, especially children and young girls.
She made the call last week during the final leadership mentorship session organised by her outfit for schoolgirls at the Ladies of Asumption Catholic School in the Ga North Municipality of the Greater Accra Region.
The event formed part of series of mentorship sessions organized by the LLN for school girls within the municipality.
One of the key training programmes the LLN had integrated into its plan of action she said was on social media which entailed how to teach young girls how to safely use such technological tools safely.
She also stated that as part of the engagements, the young girls were schooled on the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) and also how they could be entrepreneurially minded.
“Also we focused our programmes on mannerism and how these girls at their young ages could becomes professionals in the near future. We know that all the seeds we have planted in these girls during the mentorship programme will bear fruits.”
“We are grateful to the girl child education coordinator for the Ga North Municipality and the entire team for making this year’s edition of our mentorship sessions with young schoolgirls a success,” she added.
Madam Hanson revealed the LLN had started receiving positive feedbacks about the programmes, saying many requests have been received from various districts across the country for her outfit to replicate such mentorship programmes in more districts across Ghana.
“I am happy about this and feel encouraged by the fact that the schoolgirls are doing better in their respective schools, they are becoming student leaders and I think these interventions are very transformative and this really makes us feel encouraged,” she added.
Executive Director of an NGO called The Woman Called She, Ms Elsie Boateng in a presentation dubbed “Think before you Click” said due to the vulnerability of young girls on social media, especially when it comes to cyber bullying, there was the need for more coaching, to protect girls from becoming victims of such unpleasant situations.
She stated that there was a lot knowledge gap when it comes to awareness about the use of social media among young girls.
She therefore urged teachers and guardians to ensure they coached young girls on how to remain mindful about their engagements on social media and other online spaces.
BY RAISSA SAMBOU
News
‘Nipahiamoa’ residents cry for basic social amenities
Residents of a farming community in the Nkoranza North District of the Bono East Region are living under conditions that directly reflect or connote the name of the township, Nipahiamoa.
The name of the town, Nipahiamoa, when translated directly means ‘humans need help.’
Despite the contribution in ensuring there is sufficient food in not only the region but the country at large, Nipahiamoa lacks basic social amenities to make life enjoyable after their farming activities.
water for the people of Nipahiamoa
According to some of the members of the community that The Spectator spoke to during a visit to the area, they lacked basic needs such as potable water, health post, among others.
This, they claimed, was impacting negatively on their general wellbeing and appealed to authorities to come to their aid.
The Unit Committee chairman of Nipahiamoa, Mr James Najohnbo, told this paper on Thursday that successive governments have neglected the town over the years.
“It is the reason we are where we are today in this era of development. Some people poke fun that our condition is a reflection of the name of the town but I don’t believe that. We have been neglected by governments over the years. There are no government initiatives here,” he explained.
The community, inhabited by over one thousand people, mostly settlers, is located on the Techiman-Kintampo stretch of the Trans-ECOWAS highway which connect from Tema to Mali.
Mr Najohnbo, who conducted this reporter around, revealed that a borehole constructed for the community by the former Member of Parliament for Nkoranza North, Major Derrick Oduro, had since broke down, compelling the people to turn to the Bono manso waterfalls which they trek several kilometres for their source of water.
Mr Najohnbo stated that their children are not left out in this challenges as they had to trek to either Manso or Dweneho, about two kilometres to access healthcare and education.
He added that a wooden structure constructed in 1994 currently serves as the only primary school for the community.
“Our kids had to trek several kilometres to Manso to attend school which come at cost to most parents.”
A 30-year old hairdresser, Rebecca Dibenpong, also appealed to authorities to come up with income generating activities to boost economic lives of the people.
She alleged that politicians often claimed they don’t have enough numbers to attract development, hence such initiatives were directed to bigger communities.
Like the name suggest, Nipahiamoa, the community needs urgent attention to make life meaningful for the people who contribute to the national economy by way of their farming activities.
From Daniel Dzirasah, Nipahiamoa
News
Maternal mortality rate increases in Ashanti Region
The Ghana Health Service has revealed a staggering statistic of 1,000 women losing their lives during childbirth in the Ashanti Region between 2020 and 2024.
This alarming number, according to the Regional Health Director, Dr Frank Adomanko Boateng, highlights the persistent challenge of maternal mortality in Ghana, despite efforts to improve maternal healthcare.
Dr Adomanko Boateng, therefore emphasized on an urgent need for stronger interventions to curb the high rate of maternal deaths.
Speaking at the 2024 Regional Health Forum, he indicated that “Ghana is struggling to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of reducing maternal mortality to 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.”
Dr Boateng stressed that time was of the essence, saying, “The clock is ticking, and we must double our efforts.”
He called for intensified measures over the next six years to bridge the gap and prevent further loss of lives.
Ghana’s maternal mortality ratio, he noted, has been declining from 760 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1990 to 310 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2017.
However, “the country still faces significant challenges in reducing maternal mortality, particularly in regions like Ashanti.”
To address the issue, he said, Ghana has been working to improve maternal healthcare through various initiatives, including the Network for Improving Quality of Care for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health.
The country aims to reduce maternal mortality by strengthening healthcare systems, improving access to quality care, and enhancing community engagement
From Kingsley E. Hope,
Kumasi
