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3-day capacity-building workshop for Scout, Guide leaders ends
A three-day national capacity-building workshop aimed at equipping Scout and Guide leaders with relevant 21st-century skills has ended in Accra, with an emphasis on youth empowerment and national development.
The workshop, held last weekend by the Scout and Guide Fellowship Ghana (SGF-Gh), brought together adult leaders and volunteers from across the country to strengthen their competencies in leadership, digital literacy, critical thinking, civic responsibility, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and community engagement.
According to organisers, the initiative forms part of SGF-Gh’s long-term strategy to close leadership gaps in schools and communities, while reinforcing the values and principles of the scouting and guiding movement.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the President of SGF-Gh, Mr Andrew Botchway, said the workshop was a deliberate effort to rebuild capacity within the movement and prepare leaders who are capable of guiding the next generation.
Mr Botchway called for greater collaboration among stakeholders in the movement, noting that unity was key to reviving the visibility and impact of scouting and guiding, which he said had declined in recent years.
He disclosed that Ghana plans to host the 2027 International Scout and Guide Fellowship (ISGF) World Conference. Additionally, plans were underway for a major international jamboree in 2026, dubbed“The Ghana Experience’’, which is expected to attract global participants.
The SGF-Gh President also called for stronger support from both government and the private sector to sustain initiatives that promote leadership development and volunteer service among Ghanaian youth.
The Executive Secretary of SGF-Gh, Ms Stephanie Birikorang, described the workshop as more than just a training programme. She said it was a platform to inspire responsible leadership and empower participants to effect positive change in their homes, workplaces, and communities.
We are not just here to enhance skills,”she said.“This workshop is about strengthening the spirit of service and citizenship that defines our movement, and equip ourselves with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to lead better and serve more.”
Ms Birikorang noted that the sessions—delivered by experienced facilitators and partners—were essential for remaining proactive and relevant in a rapidly changing world. She added that the workshop also served as a space for networking and collaboration among scouts, guides, and community leaders.
Also present at the opening was the International Commissioner of the Ghana Girl Guides Association (GGGA), Ms Sylvia Nicole Eshun, who underscored the importance of the Girl Guiding movement in shaping empowered and responsible young women.
She appealed to parents, educators, and local leaders to support the guiding movement, emphasising that it offers young girls a unique opportunity to build confidence, develop leadership skills, and become change-makers in society.
By The Spectator Reporter
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Prioritise affordable treatment of sickle cell treatment —Health Expert
Health experts have urged Ghana to prioritise affordable and accessible treatment for sickle cell disease (SCD) as advanced, but costly curative therapies remain out of reach.
SCD, an inherited blood disorder, affects about three in every 100 newborns in Ghana.
Globally, around 1,000 babies are born with the condition daily, with three-quarters in sub-Saharan Africa.
The disease causes severe complications including chronic pain, anaemia, infections, strokes and organ damage, often leading to shortened life expectancy.
In recent years, gene therapy has been developed as a potential cure.
However, its cost—running into millions of dollars per patient—makes it financially and technically inaccessible in Ghana.
According to Dr Lawrence Osei-Tutu, a Sickle Cell and Childhood Cancer Expert at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, “the country must instead focus on practical, lower-cost interventions such as hydroxyurea”, a decades-old cancer drug proven to reduce painful episodes, hospitalisation and life- threatening complications in SCD patients”.
Taken orally, the medicine improves red blood cell function and is considered safe and effective.
“Hydroxyurea therapy is as good as the cure and a low-hanging fruit to pluck, we must bring a cure to our sickle cell warriors, but do so sustainably.” he urged.
In a chat with The Spectator here, he said to create awareness on the disease, the expert noted that despite its benefits, “hydroxyurea is not widely accessible in Ghana.”
Stressing that, “many patients either cannot afford it or struggle with irregular supply through the health system.”
Moreover, he argued that scaling up access would provide immediate relief while the country builds the infrastructure, trains specialists and secures funding needed to support curative therapies in the future.
With an estimated 15,000 babies born with sickle cell disease annually in Ghana, Dr Osei Tutu cautioned that “failure to improve access to effective treatment will leave many patients vulnerable to preventable complications and early death.”
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
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Let’s reintroduce Cultural Studies to complement educational reforms — Tourism Minister
Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, has emphasised the importance of reintroducing Cultural Studies in schools as part of Ghana’s broader educational reform agenda.
She said Cultural Studies would complement existing efforts to reposition Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to promote digital literacy and expand Creative Arts education.
Speaking at the 2025 Homowo Festival of the people of Ningo-Prampram, held on the theme: “Education: The Best Legacy for our Children,” Madam Gomashie said cultural education was critical to national identity and development.
She noted that the festival’s theme aligned with the Government’s vision to transform education in Ghana and encouraged the youth to embrace it not only as a means of personal development but also as a way of preserving traditional values.
These values, including patience, wisdom, and hard work, were at the core of the Homowo celebration, the Minister said.
“Cultural festivals like Homowo are vital instruments for strengthening cultural identity, preserving historical memory, and fostering national unity. Additionally, festivals serve as platforms for educating the youth through storytelling, music, dance, and other traditional practices, while also providing opportunities for community engagement.”
Madam Gomashie highlighted the strong foundation that Ghana’s tourism was built on, which included culture, traditions, and the creative industry, collectively contributing to over GH¢4.8 billion to the economy.
“Festivals give tourists reasons to visit our country. Therefore, with the right infrastructure and the development of all the domains, the sector can do more than what has been recorded,” she added.
Mr Sam Nartey George, the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram and Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, commended the community for their vibrant participation in the festival. He announced plans for the construction of a new nursing training school in Ningo, aimed at expanding access to healthcare education in the area.
Nene Osroagbo Djangmah XII, Paramount Chief of Great Ningo Traditional Area; King Dr Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Ga Mantse; Nene Tetteh Wakah III, Paramount Chief of the Prampram Traditional Area; Prof. Odaifio Welentsi III, Paramount Chief of the Nungua Traditional Area; Naana Dugbakuwor Dugba II, Paramount Queen Mother of Great Ningo; and Mr. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, Special Envoy on Religion and Inter-Faith Affairs, who represented the Chief of Staff, were among dignitaries at the festival. -GNA
