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Safe Child Ghana launches board games on menstrual hygiene
Mr Baabu demonstrating to some school children how the board game is played
A Board game to sensitise school children on menstrual hygiene has been launched at Ashamoah M/A Basic School in the Ga South Municipality in Accra.
Dubbed, Menstrual Hygiene Board Game, it was developed by Michael Baabu, the Founder of Safe Child Ghana, a child focused Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) based in Tema.
It was launched as part of this year’s observance of the World Menstrual Hygiene Day which was on the theme “Making Menstruation a Normal Fact of Life by 2030.”
Speaking during a demonstration of the game, Mr Baabu said, the game was created to educate school children about menstruation and the need for a hygienic lifestyle.
The board game, Mr Baabu noted, was an innovative way to sensitise both girls and boys on issues about period and the hygienic means for girls to care for themselves when they were due.
“We noted that, almost every phenomenon has innovative means through which school children learn about it. Unfortunately, there are no games or playful activities that focuses on sensitising people about menstruation.
He explained that, the Menstrual Hygiene Board Game was created based on numerous written literature and research to create awareness, educate and remove taboos and stigma associated with menstruation.
He explained that, lack of knowledge about menstrual hygiene was the reason some girls do not know how to care for themselves during their period.
According to him, in some situations, some girls have been forced to stay away from school for lack of access to sanitary pads and other protective wears.
“After going through the game, the player gets equipped and learns menstrual hygiene rules. We hope and know that together, we will achieve our objective of making menstruation a normal fact of life,” he added.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Safe Child Ghana, Eunice Gifty Baadu, presented six large boxes of sanitary pads to the school for onward distribution to the girls.
Although the cost of the sanitary pads was not disclosed, she said, the products could serve the girls for a period of six months.
To achieve this year’s theme of making menstruation a normal fact of life, she stated that, it was necessary to involve boys in sensitisation activities to demystify menstruation.
She further urged the government to remove all taxes on sanitary pads to enhance its accessibility.
Mrs Baadu advised the school children to view menstruation as a natural phenomenon which every girl must go through, hence the need for all to support them in maintaining hygienic practices.
Safe Child Ghana, she said, had partnered with the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) project, funded by the World Bank, to intensify education on menstruation and other hygienic practices.The Headmistress of Ashamoah M/A Basic School, Mercy Agbodze expressed gratitude to Safe Child Ghana for the support saying that menstrual hygiene was very critical, especially for young girls to improve punctuality.
BY Cecilia Lagba
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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.
