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Women’s access to fertile land and information way to combat desertification-UW EPA boss
The Upper West Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, Mr Emmanuel Lignule has stressed that expanding women’s access to fertile land and information on sustainable agriculture and land management was one of the ways to combat desertification and drought.
The director noted that women paid attention to detail and would engage in sustainable agriculture if they were given adequate training on the theme and how it would help prevent desertification and promote sustainable land use.
Mr Lignule stated this on Friday when the region joined the rest of the country to mark the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought to create awareness on the impact of gender equality on land restoration measures in order to influence stakeholders to device measures to combat it.
The day was observed on the theme; ‘’Her land. Her right, advancing gender equality and land restoration goals’’.
Mr Lignule indicated that land restoration and sustainable land management to combat desertification and mitigate the effect of drought was a shared responsibility of everyone and said combating desertification involved using land in ways that prevented or reduced its degradation.
He noted that desert conditions served as challenges to socio-economic development and said it included a decline in supply of wood and non-wood forest products for various uses and low agricultural yield leading to poverty and increased gender inequality.
‘’The purpose of this year’s celebration is to raise awareness on the underlying causes of desertification and drought and to also inspire stakeholders to support the advancement of women’s land right’’, he said.
He said land degradation in regions with prolonged dryness led to the formation of desert conditions such as dry lands with low biological and economic productivity, sparse vegetation and scarcity of water.
He urged stakeholders in land management to take measures to increase women’s access to land and to secure lands right to encourage upscaling of land restoration and sustainable land management.
The Chief Director at the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), Mr Peter Maala highlighted that land degradation was the core environmental challenge in the region and said it threatened ecosystem services such as water flow and quality regulation.
This he said had been a major source of worry for leadership of the region since majority of people in the region were engaged in agriculture as their only source of livelihood.
He called on stakeholders to support government’s efforts at increasing access to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in order to reduce dependence on wood fuel, as well as controlling devastating wildfires and encouraging diversity to livelihood to increase resilience to drought.
The programme brought together staff of the Regional Coordinating Council, traditional authorities, religious leaders, heads of departments and stakeholders across the region.
FROM RAFIA ABDUL RAZAK WA
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
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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.
