News
Let’s project our interest – Gender advocate
A gender advocate, Ms Habiba Nibaradun has called for more women in leadership position to ensure they projected needs of women in the country.
She stated that many unfavourable rules at work, in society and the country at large were as a result of the lack of women representation at the decision-making table to champion issues that affect women.
“We have been battling with issues of exclusive breastfeeding and how to combine work with raising a baby when there are no care centres at the offices and nothing much has been achieved because many of the people at the helm of affairs are males who do not understand the biological makeup of women and what their needs are”, she said.
Miss Nibaradun who was facilitator stated this at a sensitisation meeting for some young ladies drawn from the Wa West, Wa East and Sissala West District as well as the Wa Municipal Assemblies.
The workshop which was held in Wa in the Upper West Region over the weekend by the Network for Young Women Empowerment was supported by Plan International Ghana.
The facilitator highlighted that when women assumed higher positions, they did not only project the concerns of their constituents, but they ensured also that policies and programmes were gender sensitive to benefit every one.
The advocate lamented that there was still impediment to women’s quest for leadership positions in the country and said most of it were as a result of their gender.
She raised issues such as limited education among women and the limited commitment towards developing the capacity of women to better put them up for such positions as some of the hindrances.
“There are times when positions become vacant at an office and people are needed to fill them but few women than men apply because many of them do not have the needed qualification for the position; so we have many women working in the formal sector but most of them are low ranked personnel such as cleaners, secretaries and office assistants”, she bemoaned.
She said some political parties were also unwilling to support women who out for positions such as members of parliament as a result of the stereotypes surrounding women in politics and believe they will waste resources as the woman was unlikely to win.
She called for a stop to all such practices which according to her reduced the confidence of women in participating in every male dominated contest.
For her part, the Chairperson of the NYWE, Ms Ida Nakaar also said it was necessary to sensitise young girls to the essence of higher education which would better position them to assume such responsibilities.
“Women need to discover their potentials too and remain resolute to working on them not limit themselves to marriage and child bearing; we need more women at the decision table to help champion our issues”, she added.
From Lydia Darlington Fordjour, Wa
Local mattress manufacturers have raised serious concerns over the influx of substandard mattresses, warning that these products pose significant health risks to consumers and threaten the sustainability of Ghana’s mattress industry.
At a press briefing held in Kumasi on Tuesday, manufacturers accused unregistered foreign entities, particularly Chinese firms, of flooding the market with cheap mattresses made from polystyrene.
Mr Yaw Ampem Darko, a spokesperson for the local manufacturers, warned that prolonged use of substandard mattresses, especially those made with polystyrene, could result in chronic back pain, musculoskeletal disorders, poor posture, and diminished sleep quality.
These health implications, they stressed, were not always immediately evident but accumulate over time, especially among vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.
This material, typically used for packaging, is considered unsuitable and unsafe for bedding.
According to industry leaders, these sub-standard products have been circulating for at least five years, gaining traction among unsuspecting consumers due to their unusually low prices.
“These mattresses are being sold at suspiciously low prices, luring unsuspecting consumers who are unaware of the health dangers.”
“We are not just protecting our businesses; we are protecting Ghanaian lives. The government must act swiftly to stem this tide before more citizens fall victim to these dangerous products,” Mr Yaw Ampem Darko stated.
The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has acknowledged the issue and, in response, announced a nationwide enforcement campaign aimed at clamping down on the production, distribution, and sale of substandard mattresses.
The campaign, which was scheduled to take effect from September 30, 2025, was empowered by the GSA Act, 2022 (Act 1078), which authorises the Authority to seize and seal non-compliant products and impose sanctions on offenders.
In a statement signed by the Director General of the GSA, Professor George Agyei, the authority cited Sections 29 and 43 of the Act, reiterating that all mattresses sold in Ghana must meet established national standards or face confiscation.
The statement further emphasised that mattresses failing to meet these standards not only compromise sleep quality but also contribute to long-term health complications, including spinal and neck pain.
Despite the GSA’s commitment, manufacturers have expressed frustration over delays in implementation and called for stronger enforcement mechanisms.
They urged the GSA to work in close collaboration with the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and national law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute violators of Ghana’s quality standards.
Manufacturers are also appealing to consumers to remain vigilant and prioritise their health by verifying that any mattress they purchase bears the GSA certification mark.
Moreover, they caution the public against purchasing suspiciously cheap mattresses that lack proper labelling or identifiable branding, as these were often indicators of substandard or counterfeit products.
As the official enforcement deadline had expired with no show, the local producers insisted that much more than business interests were at stake.
They argued that without swift and sustained action, the health and safety of Ghanaian consumers would continue to be compromised.
“Public awareness, strict enforcement, and collaboration among regulatory bodies are essential if we are to protect the integrity of the local industry and the wellbeing of the Ghanaian people,” Mr Darko indicated.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
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The Founder of the Raissa Child Protection Initiative, Ms Raissa Sambou, has urged authorities to impose severe punishment on individuals, including teachers and guardians, who sexually abuse young girls.
Speaking in an interview to mark this year’s International Day of the Girl Child (October 11), Ms Sambou condemned the increasing cases of sexual exploitation involving minors, describing such acts as “heartless, criminal, and a total betrayal of trust.”
She noted that those entrusted with the care and education of children must not be the same people who violate them, stressing that “anyone found guilty of abusing a girl child must face the full rigours of the law without leniency.”
The International Day of the Girl Child is observed annually to promote the rights of girls, empower them to reach their full potential, and draw attention to the challenges they face worldwide.
Ms Sambou lamented that poverty continues to push many young girls into vulnerable situations, exposing them to exploitation.
She expressed concern that some headmasters, teachers, and community members who should protect girls rather take advantage of them.
“This must stop immediately. The safety of every girl must never be compromised,” she said, urging the public to report all forms of abuse to the appropriate authorities and called for swift action by law enforcement agencies against perpetrators.
Addressing girls directly, Ms Sambou encouraged them to take their education seriously and to believe in their potential.
“It is possible to be young and responsible. Your future is bright, protect it, believe in it, and never let anyone dim your light,” she advised.
She further urged girls to choose their friends wisely, stay disciplined, and speak up if anyone makes sexual advances toward them.
Ms Sambou concluded with a rallying call for collective action, saying “speak up, protect them, and empower them. Together, we can end the sexual exploitation of girls.”
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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