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Aburi Girls’ to end Inter-House Sports celebration with Basketball Championship
Aburi Girls’ Senior High School will conclude its annual Inter-House Sports Week celebrations with a basketball championship on Friday, February 21, at the Lower Court of the school.
This four-day event, organized under the guidance of Headmistress Madam Wilhelmina Obuobisa-Atakora, will see all eight houses, namely Aberdeen, Barradale, Chapel,
Edinburgh, Irene Anderson, Kilsyth, Royal Park, and Sylvia Asempa Houses are competing for honours in disciplines, including track and field events, handball, volleyball, netball, and basketball.
The championship aimed at helping select a strong team in preparation to defend the “Beposo Hann, Nyame Ne Hene” flag at upcoming sports competitions among second-cycle institutions in the Eastern region this year.
According to the organisers, the basketball competition will be played according to FIBA rules.
Former student of the school and current treasurer of the Ghana Basketball Association (GBA), Madam Aurora Commodore-Toppar, will be the special guest at the basketball event on Friday.
Madam Commodore-Toppar, a former basketball player for the school, expressed her intention to reunite with her former teammates to collaborate with the school administration in revitalizing the sport.
“Aburi Girls was well-known for its basketball prowess in the Eastern Region during the late 90s and early 2000s. We won the Eastern regional championships in 2000, showcasing our strength back then,” she recalled.
She noted that the standards have declined over the past decade and emphasised the need for alumni to come together to support the school with infrastructure improvements that would encourage more students to participate in basketball.
Defending champions of the basketball competition Aberdeen House will face off against Irene Anderson, while Edinburgh House takes on Sylvia Asempa House. Kilsyth will battle Barradale, and Royal Park will compete against Chapel House in the preliminary rounds.
By Raymond Ackumey
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Speaker of Parliament inaugurates open Parliament Steering Committee, launches action plan
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has launched the Open Parliament Steering Committee and the Open Parliament Action Plan.
The ceremony was under the theme “Achieving Gender Equality: Action by Action.”
The Speaker highlighted the critical role Parliament plays in translating the will of the people into inclusive legislation, responsive policies, and accountable governance.
“The International Day of Parliamentarianism is worth celebrating, as it offers an opportunity not only to recognise and promote achievements in strengthening democratic governance, but also to pause and reflect on the remaining gaps in institutionalising parliamentary democracy,” he said.
He noted that the event was scheduled to coincide with the International Day of Parliamentarianism to reinforce the importance of open and inclusive governance.
The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, stated that the International Day of Parliamentarianism is intended to recognise the vital role Parliaments play globally as pillars of democratic governance.
He noted that this marks the first time Ghana is formally observing the day.
“The gravity of our observance is further accentuated as we convene to witness the launch of the Open Parliament Action Plan by the Open Government Partnership Caucus,” he said.
Delivering a statement on behalf of the Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Deputy Minority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei, described the Open Parliament Action Plan as a transformative initiative aimed at strengthening the relationship between Parliament and the public.
She said the plan represents a bold commitment to making Parliament more transparent, accessible, and responsive to the needs of Ghanaians.
The Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, described the launch as a key milestone in the effort to build a citizen-focused and accountable Parliament.
He added that the International Day of Parliamentarianism is a call to action to recommit to the highest standards of public service and democratic accountability.
The inauguration was attended by a wide range of stakeholders, including the Majority and Minority Members of Parliament, members of the Open Parliament Steering Committee, the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Caucus, Parliamentary Network Africa, representatives from civil society organisations, members of the diplomatic corps, traditional and religious leaders, student bodies, the Parliamentary Press Corps, and other media partners.
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NACOC declares drug menace a national emergency
The Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Interior has paid a working visit to the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) to engage with its leadership and assess operational challenges hampering the fight against illicit drugs.
In a detailed presentation, Dr. Basha Ligbi, Head of the Commission’s Research Bureau, highlighted critical setbacks including broken body scanners at airport terminals, inadequate office infrastructure, overcrowded detention facilities, and deteriorating vehicles.
He also called for the Commission’s headquarters to be reclassified as a security zone, citing growing security risks due to private encroachment and nearby high-rise developments.
Director General of NACOC, Brigadier General Maxwell Obiba Mantey, described the escalating drug trade as a national emergency, warning that drug barons now rival armed robbers in threat level and are gaining influence at the highest levels.
He appealed for stronger institutional support and morale-boosting interventions to preserve the integrity of NACOC officers.
Chairman of the Committee and MP for Builsa North, James Agalga, assured the Commission of the Committee’s commitment to escalate the concerns to Parliament and engage key justice sector stakeholders to fast-track reforms in support of NACOC’s mandate.
