News
Stratcomm Africa rewards winners of reading and writing competition
Two children of media personnel have emerged winners of the Stratcomm Africa “Read it, Write it, Say it Better Competition – kids of media maiden edition.”
Master Adom Adu-Gyasi, 10, son of Dennis Adu-Gyasi, a freelancer and Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists, and Master Darrel Nortey Dowuona, 12, son of Samuel Dowuona formerly of Adom FM online, won cash prizes with stationery and ‘T’ shirts for emerging winners in a stiffer competition.
Stratcomm Africa designed this edition of the Read it, Write it, Say it Better Competition for children of media personnel to promote reading and writing among them, especially during this time that children are spending an extended period out of school due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The participants were required to read a book, answer questions on the book they have read out of which the best would win prizes.
Read it, Write it, Say it Better is a Stratcomm Africa initiative aimed at helping children to develop their communication skills through reading and writing.
Parents of the two writers expressed excitement about their wards success in the competition and thanked Stratcomm Africa for organising the competition, and described the activity as extremely beneficial.
Mrs Shula Glymin, an accomplished educationist, who was the judge of the competition had this to say, “It was such a delight working on this activity as I came to appreciate once again the amazing talents Ghana is blessed with.
Mr Bernard Nii Addotey Allotey, Media and Stakeholder Relations Lead at Stratcomm Africa, said the competition was Stratcomm Africa’s way of showing appreciation to the media for their contribution in this difficult time.
According to him, “Excellence is Stratcomm Africa’s hallmark and we are always delighted to see people excel. We are very proud of these children who did excellent work.
For Stratcomm Africa, reading and writing help to develop creativity, analytical thinking and effective communications skills.
Entries for the next competition would be opened soon where children of media personnel and health workers aged between five and 13 qualify to participate.
Stratcomm Africa established Read it, Write it, Say it Better (RWS) in 2015 as a corporate social responsibility designed to contribute to national development and livelihood enhancement.
Read it, Write it, Say it Better (RWS) employs innovative approaches to market reading and writing to children and their parents, not just as a school subject but as a livelihood enhancement activity.
News
Empowering Communities: Yagaba Kubori Benefits from Educational and Hygiene Support
The Yagaba Kubori constituency came alive with hope and transformation as Empower Africa Alliance and Derby’s Foundation carried out a monumental Community and Schools Engagement Tour.
The tour, held in collaboration with the Honorable Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Yussif, left an indelible mark by addressing critical educational and hygiene needs in the area.
At the heart of the initiative was the distribution of 2,000 exercise books to schoolchildren and 1,000 sanitary pads to both students and women in the community.
Beyond donations, the initiative focused on empowering young minds with education on the importance of schooling, menstrual hygiene, and reproductive health.
The highlight of the event was the heartfelt interaction between Christabel Derby, founder of Derby’s Foundation, and the young girls, encouraging them to overcome challenges and chase their academic dreams. “Every book donated here represents a brighter future, and every pad symbolizes dignity and empowerment for our girls and women,” she remarked.
The support of the MP for the constituency underscored the government’s dedication to youth and gender empowerment.
The Minister expressed gratitude to the organizations, stating, “This initiative aligns perfectly with our vision of creating an inclusive and progressive constituency. Together, we are empowering our youth to lead tomorrow.”
The tour extended its reach beyond schools, touching the lives of women in the community who benefited from the hygiene supplies and awareness sessions.
The initiative not only broke barriers around menstruation but also planted seeds of self-confidence and ambition in the minds of many.
This impactful project showcases how grassroots efforts can catalyze transformation in underserved communities.
Empower Africa Alliance and Derby’s Foundation have set the stage for lasting change, proving once again that collective action can uplift entire generations.
News
Excessive make-up can interfere with biometric verification — EC cautions women
The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has cautioned women not to apply a lot of makeup on Election Day, else they would be left disappointed.
According to the Commission, the Biometric Verification Device (BVD) may be unable to capture such women because of the over-application of cosmetic material on the face.
Mr Fred Tetteh, the Deputy Director of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation of the EC, who gave the caution, said such women cannot vote in case the finger print and manual exercise fail.
Explaining at a briefing session on Tuesday, Mr Tetteh stated that the BVD has only three features, which is the finger print, facial recognition and manual.
According to him when the BVD fails to capture the finger print, it resorts to the facial identity which becomes problematic when there is too much makeup.
It was themed: ‘Strengthening Advocacy for Gender-Representative and Inclusive Governance in 2024 and Beyond.’
The aim is to increase the participation and representation of women and women with disabilities within all decision making spaces of Ghana’s governance system.
Mr Tetteh advised women to be modest with the makeup when going to vote.
“I beg the women to stay away from the ‘pancake’ and others. It is just an election day; kindly minimise the polishing so that you can vote freely without any hitches and stress.”
Additionally, he said when both fingerprint and facial recognition fail, then one has to go through manual verification which usually comes with doubts.
He noted that the EC was putting in place structures to ensure a peaceful and transparent elections, which would be friendly for observers and polling agents who would also be expected to obey the rules.
In a welcome address, the Head of Programmes for ABANTU for Development, Mrs Grace Ampomaa Afrifa, urged key stakeholders, chiefs, the media, religious leaders and other influential people in society to educate people about the need to maintain the peace of the country even beyond the exercise.
The Coordinator for Affimative Action Law Coalition, Becky Ahadzi Esq., stated that it was unfortunate that Affirmative Action Law was passed after the primaries, limiting the number of females’ candidates in parliament.
The session was organised by ABANTU for Development, a non-governmental organisation, that focuses on supporting community led- development initiatives in Ghana and Africa with support from STAR Ghana Foundation.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
