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Social life returns gradually to Appiatse
Social life is gradually bouncing back as the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) restores power to Appiatse, near Bogoso, and its environs in the Prestea -Huni Valley Municipality, a week after the electrical installations were hit by an explosion on the Tarkwa -Wassa Akropong highway.
Apart from Appiatse, the incident affected power supply from Bepoh and beyond, as balls of fire and thick smoke enveloped the atmosphere in the farming communities.
has been restored to the
community
interracting with some youth
in their new home
“All High Tension (HT) lines have been restored and everyone is on supply. The transformer is also available so power is on stream 24 hours,” Mr Ebo Sagoe, the ECG District Manager at Bogoso, told The Spectator.
He indicated, however, that the meters would be installed after the reconstruction of the Appiatse township had been done.
Meanwhile, the Western Regional Minister, Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah visited the Appiatse Relief Camp at Dumase on Sunday to see how the residents were faring.
Mr Darko-Mensah interacted with the displaced to get a first-hand information about how they were coping with life at their new home.
He commiserated with those who were still at the hospitals receiving treatment and wished them speedy recovery.
The Regional Minster assured the Appiatse community that he would liaise with the Local Committee to ascertain their future needs and recommend the necessary action to address them.
He added the government would foot all medical bills and continue to provide victims with relief items since the disaster was no fault of theirs.
Mr Darko-Mensah commended the officers of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the Local Committee for a good job done and urged them to continue with their support.
The Appiatse community was resettled at Dumase after Future Global Resources (FGR) released a land for that purpose. Works began in earnest and completed on Thursday, January 27.
From Clement Adzei Boye, Appiatse
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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
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Focus on more pressing issues like Galamsey, not hate speech – Ellen Ama Daaku to Mahama
An aide to former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia,Ellen Ama Daaku has advised President John Dramani Mahama to shift his attention from social media hate speech to more urgent national issues such as illegal mining.
Speaking in an interview, she noted that the President’s recent comments about tracking the IP addresses of people who spread hate speech were unnecessary.
According to her, President Mahama must first define what he considers to be hate speech before seeking to punish people for it.
Ms. Daaku argued that the President himself had benefitted from hate speech and social media attacks in the past when he was in opposition.
She said even during his time in government, he described his opponents and their tribesmen in unpalatable terms, which later drew complaints from former President Nana Akufo-Addo to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
She stressed that harsh criticism of leaders on social media should not automatically be considered hate speech, adding that former leaders, including former President Nana Akufo-Addo had all been subjected to it.
“He is only feeling what Nana Akufo-Addo went through for eight years,” she remarked.
While acknowledging the need to regulate misconduct online, Ms. Daaku insisted that going after social media activists should not be a priority.
She noted that many political activists, including herself, had been insulted and attacked online but never called for arrests.
She concluded that President Mahama should focus his energy on solving pressing problems such as galamsey and the economy instead of concentrating on critics on social media.
By: Jacob Aggrey
