News
M-CODe calls for toilet facilities along highways
The Media Coalition Against Open Defecation (M-CODe) has highlighted the need for decent toilets along every major highway in the country as a necessary step to enhance the culture of hygiene among the citizenry.
The National Convener of M-CODe, Mr Emmanuel Addai, made the call prior to the official launching of the Volta Region branch of the coalition in Ho on Wednesday.
He said that such facilities along the highways would definitely help to reduce the high incidence of the open defecation in the country apart from guaranteeing the comfort of travellers in distress.
Mr Addai pointed out that the menace of open defecation could extend from the highways to the communities in the form of diseases and it was high time the appropriate steps were taken to curb the trend.
Meanwhile, the National Convener of M-CODe has blamed the large absence of toilets in many homes in the country on the continuous failure of the Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to enforce the Building Code.
“The assemblies look on unconcerned as developers put up houses without toilets and also schools and health facilities without functioning toilets,” he observed.
Mr Yaw Attah Arhin, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Technical Coordinator of World Vision Ghana, sponsors of M-CODe activities revealed that 6.5 million people in Ghana still engaged in open defecation.
That state of affairs did not project a clean image for the country and it was time the issue was addressed with utmost seriousness, he pointed out.
Mr Arhin said that the vigorous involvement in the campaign against open defecation by M-CODe was timely and also projected highly bright prospects for the success of the campaign.
The acting Volta Region Secretary of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Mawuli Hubert Yevu-Agbi urged members of the M-CODe to support the movement against open defecation with great zeal and enthusiasm, adding that matters of sanitation and hygiene were of greater national importance than political stories.
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The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) has held its Fourth Quarter Ministerial Advisory Board Meeting to review progress, discuss key policy matters, and strengthen collaboration towards achieving its strategic goals.
The meeting brought together members of the Advisory Board, which was set up under Section 39 of the Civil Service Act, 1993 (PNDCL 327), and the Civil Service (Ministerial Advisory Board) Regulations, 2010 (L.I. 1961).
The Board serves as a platform for continuous engagement between the Ministry and its stakeholders.
Its role is to advise the sector Minister on policy planning and implementation, while ensuring that programmes on gender, social protection, and child welfare align with national priorities and government development goals.
The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, commended the Board for its consistent support and technical guidance in advancing the Ministry’s mandate.
She noted that the Ministry’s work in promoting gender equality, protecting the vulnerable, and ensuring the welfare of children and families depends on strong policies and effective partnerships.
Dr. Lartey stressed that the Advisory Board plays an important role in helping the Ministry deliver its mission in a sustainable and impactful way.
A major highlight of the meeting was a presentation on the Ministry’s achievements so far this year, followed by discussions on future policy direction and strategic focus areas.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has been unanimously elected as the Chairperson of the Africa Geopolitical Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
The election took place on October 19, 2025, during the ongoing 151st IPU Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. His victory places Ghana at the center of continental and global parliamentary diplomacy.
With this new role, Speaker Bagbin will coordinate and harmonize Africa’s collective positions on major IPU decisions and policies.
He will also serve as the continent’s chief representative on key issues such as governance, peace, security, and sustainable development.
Speaker Bagbin currently serves as the President of the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (COSPAL) and is the immediate past Chairman of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) International.
In his remarks after the election, he thanked African delegations for their confidence and unity, particularly commending Nigeria for seconding his nomination and Senegal for withdrawing its candidate in the spirit of cooperation.
He pledged to strengthen collaboration among African parliaments and promote transparency, democratic governance, and sustainable development through stronger legislative institutions.
He succeeds Ms. Angela Thokozile Didiza, Speaker of South Africa’s National Assembly, who served with distinction.
The Africa Geopolitical Group, formed in the early 1950s, serves as a continental branch of the IPU, ensuring fair representation of African countries in the Union’s committees and decision-making bodies.
It also coordinates Africa’s common positions on major parliamentary issues discussed at IPU assemblies.
By: Jacob Aggrey
