News
Women get help at last in Kulpieni …as men resolve to assist in domestic chores
Some of the women seated during the training
Men in the Kulpieni electoral area in the Nadowli-Kaleo District of the Upper West Region have resolved to assist their wives at home in order for the women to have adequate time to engage in economic activities and have enough rest.
The Assembly Member of the electoral area, Mr Elijah Danyi who made this known to The Spectator, said hitherto, women were left with the task of taking care of the home and the children without assistance from their husbands.
But after series of meetings and training on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGVB), the men now understood their roles at home.
A Unit Committee member for the area, Mr Camillus Zineyele added that men catered for younger children to give women the liberty to prepare meals for the family and said they had also adopted the habit of staying at home to assist their wives.
These insights came to light during a meeting with the monitoring team from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) under the coordination of the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) and the sub implementing partners on a project dubbed the 8th Country Project.
The project trained the community members on SGBV issues with regard to parent-child relationship, teenage pregnancies, early and forced marriages and unpaid care work, among others.
The Unit Committee member stated that before the training, they used to think that house care and house chores were the preserve of women.
“These days we do help our wives at home; we take care of the children while they cook. Initially a woman will have to carry the child and cook at the same time and we thought that was womanhood but after the training, we have assumed the roles of helpers,” he said.
He again stated that with the help of the community watchdog team that was formed to check immorality among adolescents, immoral meetings among the youth had ceased, hence their adolescent children stayed at home to assist their parents with the chores.
Another community member, Vida Gaaganaah said that due to sensitisation by the project implementers, the young men in the community had mobilised to construct a block to be used for issues of maternal health in the Kulpieni electoral area.
The community-initiated block, she said when completed would facilitate the work of the prospective midwife who would be sent to the community to work with pregnant women.
Madam Gaaganaah stated that before the training, pregnant women had to walk for between 10-15 kilometres (km) to Nanville for antenatal and other healthcare services.
She added that sometimes when pregnant women were in labour and there was no tricycle, it was diffi cult conveying them to the health centre with a motorbike but said that after the sensitisation, the men were able to secure the services of a midwife from the other community who visited Wednesdays to attend to pregnant women at a designated location.
According to the Assembly Member, the building was therefore to enhance the work of the midwives who visited the community and provide some form of privacy to the pregnant women.
He added that the community had started consulting some stakeholders to assist them secure a permanent health worker and minor work equipment for the block they were constructing to ensure that it served its intended purpose.
From Lydia Darlington Fordjour, Kpaala
News
University of Ghana opens maiden ‘Artify’ visual arts exhibition
The University of Ghana, in partnership with Nubuke Foundation and KGL Foundation, has launched a week-long visual arts exhibition titled ‘Artify’ on the University’s campus.
Running from November 26 to December 2, the event showcases drawings and paintings by eight visual artists selected by the University.
The artists participated in a two-week skills and business orientation training before the exhibition, where they were coached on art practice fundamentals, copyright and intellectual property, entrepreneurship, and business management.
The training was to help the artists upscale their craft and expand their client reach, equipping them to become more business-oriented art professionals.
The Artify project, under the theme Amplifying Art as a Business, was conceived by the University of Ghana’s Office of Research, Innovation, and Development (ORID).
Professor Felix Ankomah Asante, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Development, University of Ghana, said they aimed to equip them with the necessary tools and skills to thrive as artists and entrepreneurs.
“This initiative nurtures talent and fosters entrepreneurial spirit among young aspiring artists. Together, we cultivate creativity and transform passion into sustainable careers,” he said.
Prof. Asante said that the skills required to run an art business were often overlooked, as art was commonly perceived as a hobby that doesn’t necessitate specialised management skills.
He argued that by integrating business and project management skills into the art ecosystem in Ghana, more organisations and investors could be encouraged to support creatives.
Madam Odile Tevie, Director of Nubuke Foundation, called on authorities to create more platforms, similar to the Artify exhibition, where artists could showcase their work.
She advocated the establishment of visual arts spaces in communities, where local talents could receive training and be nurtured in their craft.
Mr Sedem Atsu Avornyo, one of the participating artists, praised the University and its partners for the initiative.
He noted that his knowledge and skills had been greatly enriched, better preparing him for the job market. –GNA
News
Don’t harass, visitors on period of election …Comptroller-General cautions Immigration staff
The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Mr Kwame Asuah Takyi, (Esq.), has asked personnel of the service, especially those at the various borders of the country, not to harass people who travel in and outside of the country during the election period.
The advice is to stem reports that usually characterise immigration operations in border communities in such crucial moments.
He gave the advice at the 2024 Comptroller-General’s end-of-year games held at the McDan La Town Park on Friday.
It was under the theme “Kick for unity, sports for peaceful elections.”
According to Mr Assuah Takyi, It was important for personnel of the staff to behave professionally and live by the high standards required to ensure peace and tranquility at the border towns where elections would be ongoing.
“I want to remind you of the roles and responsibilities expected from you. Don’t take advantage of the upcoming general elections to harass visitors and passengers going in and out of the country.
“Perform your duties professionally as immigration officers and, where necessary, assist other security agencies to maintain peace, law, and order before, during, and after the elections.”
“Be apolitical because your services are to Ghana first and only, and not to any individual or political party. As officers in uniform, don’t put up behaviours that would question your professionalism.”
“This is not a call on immigration staff alone. All the security agencies are poised to display high standards of professionalism to ensure that Ghanaians vote in a peaceful atmosphere,” Mr Takyi said.
Flanked by three-time African best player and former captain of the Black Stars Abedi Ayew Pele, who was the special guest of honour, the Comptroller-General stated that as officers and men in uniform, their duty to the country was to maintain peace, law, and order and not to be involved in dubious or political activities.
“If any of you want to do politics, resign and hand over your uniform to the service and go. This information should go out there to our officers across the country.”
Mr Assuah Takyi urged members of the general public to behave responsibly to make the work of the security officers simple and peaceful while cautioning potential troublemakers to have a change of mind because that would not be tolerated.
“The National Elections Security Taskforce (NESTF) met the political parties on Thursday to reaffirm our commitment to professionalism, impartiality, and adherence to the rule of law.”
“Our actions will be impartial and guided by the law, and anyone who decides to violate the laid-down laws will be made to face the law.”
Mr Asuah Takyi urged all to operate within the confines of the law to ensure a successful and trouble-free election.
By Raymond Ackumey
