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M-CODe to hold three-day empowerment forum from Wednesday
The Media Coalition Against Open Defecation (M-CODe) is to hold a three-day empowerment forum from Wednesday, August 30th, to Friday, September 1st, for journalists in the Eastern Region to ensure that reportage against open defecation is upscaled.
The three-day journalist empowerment forum forms part of the “M-CODe 2023 Anti-Open Defecation Nationwide Advocacy activities, which is being supported by World Vision Ghana, a statement signed by Mr. Francis Ameyibor, M-CODe National Convenor, stated.
Mr. Ameyibor said apart from the journalists, other stakeholders include the Regional Coordinating Council, Environmental Health Department, Ghana Education Service, Ghana Health Service, Community Water and Sanitation Agency, Department of Community Development, Department of Gender, and the National Commission for Civic Education.
Others, such as Regional Environmental Officers, the Environmental Protection Agency, CONIWAS, Kings Hall Media, World Vision, and representatives of civil society organisations, will participate in the three-day empowerment forum.
The rest are Regional Officers of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Ministry of Sanitation, and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, among others, to revamp and sustain the activism to change the parameters and create an open defecation-free society.
M-CODe considers empowerment through capacity building, linking strategic stakeholders in the fight against open defecation together, and creating a platform to expose communities still practicing the act as part of national efforts towards ending the practice.
The M-CODe National Convenor said the empowerment of journalists, who serve as critical partners, to rejuvenate public awareness campaign towards the global target of eliminating open defecation (OD) by 2030 was important.
M-CODe acknowledges Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Goal 6, which requires a substantial acceleration in toilet use, stressing that “open defecation is an affront to the dignity, health, and well-being, especially of girls and women.”
Mr. Ameyibor said open defecation could lead to the spread of germs from one stage to the next if not contained.
He said M-CODe will continue to engage strategic stakeholders, including Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Ministry of Sanitation, among others, to sustain the campaign create an open defecation-free society.
The M-CODe 2023 Anti-OD Nationwide Advocacy also focuses on religious and traditional leaders, media personnel, celebrities, politicians, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, and other strategic stakeholders in the environmental, health, and sanitation sectors, as well as industry players.
The Media Coalition Against Open Defecation reiterated its call on the corporate world to support the national efforts to end open defecation, which also requires investment in the construction, maintenance, and use of latrines and other basic services.
Ghana’s parliament has marked the 2nd edition of May Day 2026 under the theme “ Welcome Home”.
It was special day meant to celebrate the invaluable support of the workforce, recognizing the commitment, resilience, and contributions of workers to institutional growth and national development.
Delivering the message on behalf of the Speaker, the 1st Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, described the theme as very apt, appropriate, and timely, noting that Parliament is more than a workplace, it is a shared home.
He emphasized that we cannot speak about work without speaking about people, reminding everyone that the true measure of our work is the well-being of our people.
He urged that our traditional clothing become an integral part of our everyday clothing, and that our local languages must become integral to our daily lives, interwoven into education and practiced at home.
Referencing Standing Order 63, which captures the use of local language as optional in deliberations, he encouraged a renewed commitment to identity, saying it is significant that we “come home” and present who we are so future generations can inherit a story they can fully tell.
The Clerk, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, in his remarks commended officers for their dedication and devotion to duty, calling on them to go the extra mile and leave legacies.
Echoing the reminder that an unexamined life is not worth living, he described the event as an invitation to reconnect with our roots through cultural revival.
The Deputy Clerk, C&FMS, Dr. Gloria Sarku Kumawu, urged all not to forget their roots, the people behind the stories of ministries, industries, and the strides made both in-house and beyond.
What began last year has now become a meaningful tradition, showcasing Ghanaian heritage, fostering unity, and encouraging innovation under the principle of diversity for unity and diversity for progress, she added.
The gathering brought together leadership, public officials, and staff across all levels, along with the media, standing as a unifying platform that honored service, celebrated culture, and reaffirmed a shared commitment to national development.
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Manhyia would serve as Ghana’s unifying force …Otumfuo assures on commemoration of 27 years on the Golden Stool
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, last Friday celebrated his 27th enstoolment with a colourful and culture-rich ceremony at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, drawing a distinguished gathering of dignitaries from across Ghana and beyond.
Clad in splendid kente and adorned in rich traditional regalia, the dignitaries added colour and elegance to the occasion, as the palace grounds came alive with a vibrant display of Ghanaian culture.
Traditional drumming, dancing and symbolic rites underscored the deep-rooted heritage of the Ashanti Kingdom, captivating guests and reaffirming the value of tradition in modern society.
Speaking at a high-level Executive Gala organised by the Diaspora Affairs Office of the Office of the President in strategic partnership with the E ON 3 Group, the ‘World-Meets-in-Ghana’ gala, the Asantehene urged Ghanaians to guard against the divisive tendencies of partisan politics.
The event was to honour the Asantehene’s nearly three-decade reign under the theme ‘Advancing Peace and Sustainable Economic Development through Royal Vision’.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II noted that such attitudes threatened the country’s long-standing values of unity, civility and brotherliness.
He assured that Manhyia would continue to serve as a unifying force for the nation.
The celebration also featured the presentation of commemorative gold coins to notable national leaders, including the President, John Dramani Mahama, former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as well as Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, a former Vice President in recognition of their contributions to peace and national development.
By Spectator Reporter
