News
Collective efforts needed to prevent child sexual abuse – Dr Fugah
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
President John Dramani Mahama has visited the Akosombo Dam to assess the impact of a fire incident at a substation operated by the Ghana Grid Company.
The fire is reported to have caused the loss of more than 1,000 megawatts from the national power grid, affecting electricity supply in parts of the country.
During the visit, he inspected ongoing restoration works and received briefings from engineers on efforts to restore power. He commended them for what he described as a swift and professional response to the situation.
According to him, the government remains committed to restoring stable electricity supply as quickly as possible.
He added that steps are also being taken to strengthen the resilience of Ghana’s energy infrastructure to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Ghana Grid Company has not yet provided a detailed timeline for full restoration, but work is ongoing to bring affected systems back on stream.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana’s Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, says he and his deputy have publicly filed their annual tax returns to demonstrate leadership and encourage compliance among citizens.
In a facebook post, he explained that the move was meant to show that public officials must lead by example when it comes to fulfilling civic duties.
“Leadership must be demonstrated, not declared,” he said.
He commended Ghanaian taxpayers for their continued contribution to national development, noting that tax compliance plays a key role in sustaining government activities.
According to him, paying taxes is both a legal and moral responsibility. He stressed that all citizens, including public officials, professionals, and businesses, are equal before the law and must meet their tax obligations.
He added that tax revenue is essential for funding key sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and security.
The minister praised the Ghana Revenue Authority for its work, especially during the ongoing Tax and Good Governance Month in April. He said the initiative helps to educate the public and promote voluntary compliance.
He urged the authority to intensify public education and continue reforms aimed at simplifying tax processes, reducing compliance costs, and improving transparency.
He further encouraged individuals and businesses that are yet to file their returns to do so promptly, adding that support systems and digital platforms are available to assist them.
He said building a strong tax culture would strengthen the country’s economy, improve accountability, and promote fairness in society.
By: Jacob Aggrey
