News
3 schools qualify for Cadet TV Personality Awards Grand Finale
Three schools have advanced to the grand finale of the Cadet TV Personality Awards following a keenly contested competition held in Accra last Friday.
The finalists- Blessed Home School and Crèche (Kwabenya), Sayork Heritage School, and Covenant Presbyterian School – emerged from a pool of 40 schools after an intense nomination stage.
The Cadet TV Personality Awards is a unique initiative aimed at empowering young people through media. The programme gives school children the opportunity to act as professional broadcasters, delivering live TV news bulletins on set. Participants are assessed on their confidence, presentation skills, and news reporting abilities.
A key highlight of the event was a special Safety Segment featuring ADO1 Leticia A. Akaadiini of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and Captain Nicholas Appiagyei from the 37 Military Hospital.
Serving as adjudicators and resource persons, they engaged the student anchors on fire safety and health, providing valuable insights and equipping them with practical knowledge to share with viewers.
The Cadet TV Personality Awards seeks to nurture the next generation of media professionals by offering hands-on experience in a real television setting, while also building confidence and communication skills among school children.
The competition now enters its public voting phase, which will culminate in the Grand Finale and Awards Ceremony in September 2025, where the ultimate winners will be crowned
- Contestants from Blessed Home school and Creche Kwabenya presenting to the audience
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
The Minority in Parliament has strongly objected to any planned merger or partnership between the government and Telecel, describing the deal as “technically, operationally, and financially unconscionable.”
Ranking Member on the Communications Committee, Matthew Nyindam, raised the concern during a media briefing in Parliament.
He questioned why both the Minister of Communications and Telecel would publicly announce a merger and then suddenly go silent on the matter.
“We object to any deal with Telecel by way of merger, absorption, or acquisition. This is a scheme to dispose of a national asset to fill private pockets,” Mr. Nyindam stated.
He argued that Telecel has not demonstrated any special technical or operational expertise that staff and management of AT (formerly AirtelTigo) do not already possess.
According to him, Telecel had earlier promised to invest $500 million after acquiring Vodafone Ghana but failed to do so, a situation he fears could repeat itself if the government allows another deal.
Mr. Nyindam claimed that Telecel was already indebted to the tune of $400 million, adding that the company only seeks to benefit from AT’s over three million customers to expand its own base without making any real investment.
“The government must not surrender the capacity of a state-owned company to a private entity through majority ownership. There is no clear plan to protect the jobs and livelihoods of thousands of workers,” he stressed.
The Minority Caucus is therefore calling on the government to halt any discussions or agreements with Telecel regarding the proposed merger, insisting that the deal is not in the national interest.
Flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bryan Acheampong, has called for an emergency 90-day suspension of all forms of mining in Ghana to help restore polluted rivers and water bodies.
He made the call during his campaign tour, where he engaged party members and residents on issues of national concern, including security, the environment, and responsible mining.
Mr Acheampong explained that the temporary ban should take place during the rainy season to allow the environment to recover naturally while the nation rethinks its mining practices.
“Let’s clear our water bodies and engage on how we can go back to mining. I’m not talking about a state of emergency, but mining, regardless of where, should stop now for the next 90 days,” he said.
He warned that illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, continues to poison food sources and destroy farmlands, posing a major threat to public health and food security.
“If our food systems are being poisoned and we just look on because we prefer to make money, our people will not be around in a very short time to address the situation,” he cautioned.
Mr Acheampong urged government, miners, and local leaders to use the proposed 90-day period to develop a sustainable framework for responsible mining that protects both livelihoods and the environment.
By: Jacob Aggrey
