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Collective efforts needed to prevent child sexual abuse – Dr Fugah
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Reverend Dr Joseline Fugar, Executive Director of Juniper Tree Tamar, a Christian NGO based in Kumasi, has called for collective efforts from all stakeholders to help prevent child sexual abuse.
She said even though there had been lots of advocacy, child sexual abuse continued to increase, especially in the advent of internet and social media, where innocent children were falling prey to sexual predators.
Speaking at the second phase of a child sexual abuse essay writing competition and awards ceremony for school children in the Ejisu Municipality, she stressed that there was the need for collective efforts to speak out against injustice and remain vigilant in protecting the vulnerable.
The essay competition, which involved 10 Junior High Schools and 30 participants, aimed at empowering young individuals, advocate the rejection of sexual abuse, and reduce its prevalence.
Additionally, it sought to provide education, raise awareness, and cultivate knowledgeable leaders who would serve as advocates and peer counselors to their peers.
The competition was part of Juniper Tree’s 10-year nationwide project titled: ‘Sexual Abuse: Prevent it, report it’ which aims to establish various clubs in JHSs to identify and prevent sexual abuse among young individuals.
Dr Fugah highlighted that approximately 33 per cent of children in Ghana have experienced some form of sexual abuse, with almost 95 per cent of the perpetrators being individuals known to the victims.
A report by PLAN GHANA revealed that 53 per cent of these incidents occurred in schools, while 43 per cent took place within homes.
Furthermore, about 14 per cent of the victims were school children, primarily between the ages of 14 and 15.
In the JHS 1 category of the essay competition, Master Jewel Nhyira Mensah of Okyerekrom emerged as the winner with a score of 82.6 per cent, followed by Master Duke Nana Adonteng Appiah of Ejisu Presby and Ms. Christabel Ziyaba of Kwamo M/A in the second and third place, with scores of 78 per cent and 72 per cent, respectively.
For the JHS 2 category, Ms. Evelyn Boakye of Okyerekrom secured first place with a score of 82.2 per cent while Master Annan Amawula of Ejisu Presby came in second with 75 per cent, and Master Louis Sarfo of Kwamo M/A and Ms. Angel Abena Ntiamoah of Ejisu M/A tied for third place with a score of 78.8 per cent.
In the JHS 3 contest, Ms Fafa Lali Lumor of Ejisu Model claimed the top spot with a score of 85.6 per cent followed by Ms. Emelda Amponsah Diko of Ejisu Presby in second place with 81.4 per cent and Ms Emmanuella Selikem Afeke of Ejisu R/C in third place with a score of 80 per cent.
All participants received certificates, exercise books, and medals in recognition of their achievements. –GNA
His Royal Majesty King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, the Ga Mantse, has announced plans to confer new traditional titles on the 12 finalists of the Africa Monologue Challenge (AMC) Season Three before they leave Ghana.
The announcement was made when the finalists paid a courtesy call on the Ga Mantse at his residence as part of activities for the competition.
The visit gave the contestants an opportunity to experience and learn about the rich traditions, culture and heritage of the Ga people.
Addressing the contestants, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II welcomed them to Ghana and wished them success in the competition.
He encouraged them to give their best and remain proud of their journey, regardless of who eventually emerges as the winner.
The Ga Mantse noted that participating in the competition and travelling to Ghana to connect with the continent’s culture and heritage was already a significant achievement.
He further expressed admiration for the contestants’ commitment to Africa and their role in promoting the continent’s stories through storytelling.
King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II indicated that he would engage the organisers of the Africa Monologue Challenge to set aside a special day to honour the contestants and confer the new titles on them before their departure.
The 12 finalists are representing Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, Kenya, Botswana, the Republic of Congo, Benin, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon and the United States, which is representing the African Diaspora.
The finalists were selected from more than 2,000 entries for a month-long Pan-African House residency in Ghana.
Speaking during the visit, the President of the African Chamber of Content Producers and Chief Operating Officer of the Africa Monologue Challenge explained that the finalists were no longer viewed simply as individuals but as representatives of their respective countries.
He noted that at the Pan-African House, each contestant’s room symbolically represents a country.
Mawuko Kuadzi, Chief Executive Officer of MK Casting and the Africa Monologue Challenge, expressed optimism that the third edition would be more exciting than the previous two editions.
He noted that the competition had continued to grow since the first edition in Ghana and the second edition in Uganda.
Mr Kuadzi attributed the expected success of this year’s competition to the support of sponsors and partners.
He explained that the Africa Monologue Challenge was an important platform for projecting Africa in a positive light and telling the continent’s stories to the world.
“We believe this is a tool we are going to use to project Africa in a positive light,” he stated.
The Chairman of the AMC Season Three Planning Committee, Roger Quartey, also highlighted the importance of the competition in showcasing African talent to the world.
He noted that the challenge would provide a platform for the finalists to demonstrate their talents while promoting their respective countries and Africa as a whole.
The Africa Monologue Challenge Season Three brings together young storytellers from across Africa and the diaspora to promote the continent’s rich culture, history and stories.
The finalists are currently in Accra for the competition and other activities designed to expose them to Ghanaian and African culture and heritage.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The High Court has dismissed an application by the accused persons in the ongoing National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF) corruption case seeking to have the charges against them struck out.
The ruling means the substantive trial will continue.
The case involves former Chief Executive Officer of the NPA, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid; former UPPF Coordinator, Jacob Kwamina Amuah; NPA staff member, Wendy Newman; Bright Bediako-Mensah; Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah; and three companies, Propnest Limited, Kel Logistics Limited and Kings Energy Limited.
The accused persons had asked the Court to strike out the charges brought against them.
However, the High Court dismissed the application, describing it as without merit.
The Republic has filed 54 charges against the accused persons, including corruption and corruption-related offences, extortion, money laundering and conspiracy to commit a crime.
According to the Republic, approximately GH¢291.57 million and US$332,407 was allegedly unlawfully obtained through a scheme involving officials of the NPA between 2022 and December 2024.
The prosecution further alleges that portions of the funds were channelled through companies linked to some of the accused persons.
It maintains that some of the money was subsequently used in transactions involving land, buildings, trucks and fuel stations.
With the Court dismissing the application to strike out the charges, the accused persons will now proceed with the substantive trial.
By: Jacob Aggrey
