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No shoes, uniforms for pupils in Natigu, Maana District
● Pupils walk bare footed to school
Photo: Geoffrey Buta
As children in the capital city, well dressed beautifully their well ironed uniforms and sandals join other countries to commemorate this year’s World Children’s Day hundreds of their counterparts who live over 600 kilometres away in the Natigu and Maana District Assemblies in the Karaga District of the Northern Region in tattered or no uniforms and bare-footed struggle to study the same syllabus which their counterparts in the cities study in a comfortable classroom.
A few of them were fortunate to wear uniforms and worn-out sandals as seen in the photograph but these were given to them through benevolence support.
Speaking to Mr. Haruna Sumaila, Headmaster of Natigu District Assembly Primary School said, wearing a uniform is a badge of pride which creates an identity for a school he and it is an important part of being a student.
He said, “uniforms give students a sense of belonging to a particular school and create an identity for the school in the community.”
“Though government try to ensure the realisation of quality education, there is still a lot of work to be done for equality and inclusion of quality of education for every child in the country,” he added.
If this done it will support this year’s world Children’s Day on the theme “ creating a safe and protective environment for children inclusion for every child.”
He further stated that, some of the children were ridiculed by their fellow pupils for not having “nice clothes or shoes”.
He said, lack of basic facilities for these children to access quality education are very poor and deplorable.
“Lack of school building, facilities, human resources to fill the minimum criteria of the school, long-distance between homes and school, lack of educational materials, library facilities and computer laboratory”, are some of the challenges of the children of many school going age face here in the rural communities”, he noted.
Mr. Sumaila narrated how classes from kindergarten to classes two, three, five and six are combined into one classroom due to lack of classroom spaces and inadequate teachers.
The only three classrooms and a teachers’ houses serving the over 100 children was constructed by the community.
Mr. Mosah Kuyo, the chief of Natigu pleaded with the government and organisations to come to the aid of the children to provide quality education for them to be responsible citizens in the future.
From Geoffrey Buta, Natigu
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ASWIM lauds Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
The Association of Women in the Media, (ASWIM) has congratulated Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on her historic achievement as Ghana’s first female Vice President.
The association said her trailblazing journey with sterling accomplishments from academia to politics, is undoubtedly, a vivid inspiration to countless women and girls across Ghana and Africa.
This was contained in a statement signed by its president, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, and copied to The Spectator on Tuesday in Accra.
“ASWIM celebrates your remarkable career, marked by numerous firsts, including the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, (UCC), and the first female to hold a professional chair in Ghana, (UCC),” the statement said.
It said the accomplishments of Prof Opoku- Agyemang were clear testament to the brilliance, resilience and resourceful nature of the complete beautiful African woman.
“As she takes on this new role, ASWIM proudly lauds her commitment to education, women’s empowerment, distinguished public service and patriotism and is very confident that her pursuit of excellence, love for humanity, humility, decency, modesty and commitment to the welfare of the vulnerable will characterise Ghana’s political leadership and public service,” the statement added.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
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.
