News
WOMEC empowers adolescent girls
Dr Charity Binka, Executive Director, WOMEC
Women, Media and Change (WOMEC), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), which have empowered several women over the years, has rolled out a project to mentor young adolescents, mostly girls, to take up leadership roles within their respective communities.
Dubbed the Gender Transformative Programming (GTP), a turning point project mentorship and leadership forum on the theme, “Equipping adolescent girls for leadership,” was organised by WOMEC.
It aimed at empowering adolescents to muster courage and speak for their rights irrespective of the issues confronting them.
Students from various schools within the Kpone-Katamanso Municipality in the Greater Accra Region participated in the mentorship event at Sebrepor for the fourth phase of the WOMEC adolescent empowering programme which was held recently.
Ms. Dulcie DelaliAttipoe, Programmes Coordinator of WOMEC said that it was time adolescent girls were empowered to gain self-confidence to report wrongdoing in the communities.
She observed that adolescent girls needed to be mentored at an early age to be responsible leaders in their various fields of endeavours.
According to Ms. Attipoe, policymakers must formulate policy and programmes aimed at protecting the lives of adolescent girls in the country and called on the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP) to pay critical attention to the needs of adolescents.
MsThelcaWricketts, a lawyer and facilitator at the event, also urged the government to, through its appropriate agencies, implement the various legal framework as far as child rights were concerned.
She noted that many children were facing various forms of abuse in some parts of the country, adding that a lot of advocacy work needed to be done to protect adolescents who were future leaders of the country.
Ms. Wricketts commended WOMEC for organising such a programme for adolescent girls, saying that such events should be replicated in other parts of the country.
Dr. Charity Binka, Executive Director of WOMEC highlighted the need for adolescent girls to aspire higher and take their education serious to become good citizens in society.
She said that WOMEC would continue to offer support for young girls to enable them to harness their talents.
Dr.Binka admonished young girls to always pursue their dreams and desist from immoralacts that would bea hindrance to their dreams.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
News
GBBF assistant treasurer, Aurora Commodore-Toppar eyes GOC Treasure slot at Elective Congress on Saturday
The Assistant treasurer of the Ghana Basketball Federation (GBBF), Madam Aurora Commodore-Toppar, has set her sights on becoming the next assistant treasurer of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) at the upcoming Elective Congress on Saturday.
The daughter of the former Chief Executive Officer of Accra Hearts of Oak, Mr. Emmanuel Martey Commodore-Mensah, will be vying for the position against Bernard Quartey of the Ghana Boxing Federation and Edward Patrick Nii Lante Banerman of the Handball Association of Ghana.
Having had her nomination approved by the GOC’s Electoral Commission, the well-seasoned banker, with over 15 years of rich working experience, believes she is well-suited and positioned to help structure the finances of this esteemed organisation.
In a chat with Spectator Sports, the captain of the bronze-winning 2024 University of Ghana basketball team at the 11th African University Games in Zaire, Nigeria, revealed her commitment to effective and accurate financial management, growth, and development of all associated sports federations.
She said, “I am committed to the growth of the GOC, and I want to offer my financial knowledge to aid in ensuring that the GOC operates with the highest standards of financial governance and set-up.”
According to her, the mission is to help promote the GOC’s agenda widely, and having served for over two decades in sports—especially basketball—in various capacities and roles, she believes this experience will help protect the GOC’s finances.
“If elected as assistant treasurer, I will do my utmost, together with the treasurer, to manage the GOC’s finances, including accounting and financial reporting among others,” she added.
According to her, “Accurate financial record-keeping has been a problem across the board; I will help eradicate this issue.”
Aurora Commodore-Toppar stands for transparency, hard work, and an inclusive work culture, she further added.
The former Aburi Girls’ Secondary School basketball team captain has played pivotal roles in improving sports in the country—especially basketball—including being a member of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the 2023 Africa Games, an LOC member for the recently concluded Hoop Rave SHS competition, a project lead for FIBA’s “Her World, Her Rules” initiative, chair for the 2024 Fetu Afahye Basketball Tournament, and founder of the Stomp De Yard Basketball Tournament, among others.
BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY
News
113 Cardinals hold 3rd General Congregation in Rome
The 113 Cardinals present in Rome held the third General Congregation on Thursday morning, and announced who will deliver the two pre-conclave meditations.
The Cardinals decided that Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández will celebrate the Mass on the sixth day of the Novemdiales, instead of Cardinal Kevin Farrell.
They agreed that Fr. Donato Ogliari, O.S.B., Abbot of St. Paul Outside the Walls, will deliver the first meditation on Monday, and that Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, Preacher Emeritus of the Papal Household, will deliver the second meditation at the beginning of the conclave, whose starting date has not yet been decided.
The Cardinals began a conversation about the Church and the world, deciding to hold the next General Congregation on Friday morning at 9:00 AM.
The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, told journalists that 61,000 people have paid their respects to the late Pope Francis as of 1:00 PM on Thursday, adding that St. Peter’s Basilica should close at midnight on Thursday, unless large crowds are still queuing to enter.
Following the Pope’s funeral on Saturday, April 26, a Rosary will be held in front of the Basilica of St. Mary Major on Saturday at 9:00 PM.
Mr. Bruni said the burial service for Pope Francis will take place in private.
Starting the morning of Sunday, April 27, the faithful may begin to visit the tomb of Pope Francis at the Marian Basilica.
