News
Protect women from violence – activist calls
A women and children’s activist, Abundant Hayford Aggrey, has called for stronger measures to protect women from violence.
She stressed on the need for perpetrators of abuse to face the law, describing such acts as unacceptable and inhumane.
Ms Aggrey made the remarks at a press conference in Accra on Monday following a viral social media video showing a woman, Nana Hemaa Awenepa Nkasa, being subjected to physical and verbal abuse.
She condemned the incident, calling for a swift legal action against the culprits.
“Let us treat all women with dignity irrespective of their background. It is very wrong for female traditional leaders to be mistreated or looked down upon,” she said.
As President of the Coalition of NGOs for Women and Children, Ms Aggrey underscored the need to accord Ghana’s queen mothers the needed respect.
She said despite the roles they played in their communities, many have faced ridicule and harassment, particularly on social media.
She, therefore called on gender advocates and the general public to rally behind efforts to end mistreatment against queen mothers and women at large.
“The laws of Ghana are very clear on abuse. The Domestic Violence Act 2007 (Act 732) prohibits all forms of violence against women, including emotional and psychological abuse.
Similarly, the Cybercrime Act 2012 (Act 831) makes it an offence to use electronic communication to harass or intimidate others,” she noted.
Ms Aggrey urged victims to report any form of mistreatment to safeguard their lives and ensure justice.
Naa Obeye Dromo I, Queen Mother of Mamprobi in the Ngleshie Alata Traditional Council, on her part stressed the importance of women rising collectively to defend their rights and those of others.
“Every woman must stand up to protect her rights and contribute to safeguarding the dignity of all women,” she added.
She said the call to action underscores the need for societal and institutional support to uphold women’s rights and dignity.
By addressing abuse through legal enforcement and collective advocacy, she believes a safer and more equitable environment could be achieved for all women in the country and beyond.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
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
