News
MoGSP hosts end-of-year Christmas party
- /home/u249204778/domains/spectator.com.gh/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/WhatsApp-Image-2025-12-23-at-14.11.12.jpeg&description=MoGSP hosts end-of-year Christmas party', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
- Share
- Tweet /home/u249204778/domains/spectator.com.gh/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 72
https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/WhatsApp-Image-2025-12-23-at-14.11.12.jpeg&description=MoGSP hosts end-of-year Christmas party', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has organised an End-of-Year Christmas Party for children, bringing together children from care homes, basic schools, and partner institutions for a day of celebration.
The colourful event, held at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park, was led by the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, who described the gathering as an expression of gratitude to God and a demonstration of the Ministry’s commitment to child welfare and social protection.
Addressing the children, caregivers, and stakeholders, the Minister thanked God for seeing the nation through 2025, a year she noted began with transition but ended with renewed hope. She said the Christmas season was an important moment to remind children under the care of the Ministry that they are loved, remembered, and supported.
“Christ is the Father to the fatherless and the mother to the motherless. Today, we want the children to know that they are not alone. They have created a community of their own here, and we want them to feel that sense of family,” she said.
The programme featured fun games, music, dancing, bouncing castles, and shared meals, with visible excitement and joy among the children.
The Minister further noted that the Christmas party was not a one-off activity but part of the Ministry’s broader approach to child care and protection, which includes regular visits to children’s homes and continuous social support initiatives.
Touching on parental responsibility, she encouraged parents and guardians to take advantage of government social intervention programmes, including the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Programme and the School Feeding Programme, to support the care and education of their children.
“No matter the challenges, there are interventions to support families. Let us all play our part in raising children who will have a brighter future,” she urged, calling for collective responsibility in line with the vision of President John Dramani Mahama.
Children from selected basic schools, including Osu Salem 1 Basic School, Kotobabi 5 Basic School, Martyrs of Uganda R/C Basic School, St. Mary’s Girls R/C Basic School, Mamprobi Methodist Basic School, EP Basic School (Mamprobi), Lerato Preparatory School, Amrahia Community School, and the Ministry of Health School, participated in the event.
Institutions and partners such as UNHCR, Compassion International Ghana, SOS Children’s Village, International Needs, the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Council, and Osu Children’s Home were also represented.
The Accra Regional Police Command has arrested former professional boxer Michael Ayitey Okai, popularly known as “Ayitey Powers,” over an alleged threat of death against the Director-General of the National Sports Authority, Yaw Ampofo.
According to the Police, the 46-year-old former boxer was arrested on Monday, August 24, 2026, in connection with the alleged threat.
The Police said the arrest followed a video circulating on social media in which Ayitey Powers is alleged to have issued the threat against Mr Ampofo.
He is currently in Police custody and is assisting with investigations.
The Accra Regional Police Command said investigations are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged threat and determine the appropriate action to be taken in accordance with the law.
The Command has urged the public to refrain from sharing unverified information about the matter while the investigation continues.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Minority Leader in Parliament Alexander Afenyo Markin has sued the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, and Multimedia Group Limited over alleged defamatory comments made against him on the Newsfile programme.
In a writ filed at the High Court in Accra, Mr Afenyo Markin is seeking GH¢15 million in damages, an apology and retraction of the statements, among other reliefs.
The suit follows comments allegedly made by Mr Gyamfi during the Saturday, August 22, 2026 edition of Newsfile, hosted by Samson Lardy Anyenini.
According to the statement of claim, Mr Gyamfi described Mr Afenyo Markin as an “extortionist” while responding to a question about GoldBod’s reported profits and its position on losses arising from its operations.
The plaintiff claims that Mr Gyamfi repeated the allegation when the host sought clarification on whether he stood by the description.
Mr Afenyo Markin further claims that Mr Gyamfi challenged him to sue him and insisted that the allegation was true.
The plaintiff argues that the statements created the impression that he engages in extortion, uses his political influence to put improper pressure on public institutions and officials, and conducts himself in a manner inconsistent with the standards expected of a lawyer and public office holder.
He denies the allegations and maintains that he is not an extortionist and has never engaged in the conduct alleged by Mr Gyamfi.
The Minority Leader also argues that the comments were made maliciously and were presented as facts without evidence being disclosed.
He claims the statements have damaged his reputation, professional standing and public image, particularly because of his position as a senior political figure and legal practitioner.
The suit also names Multimedia Group Limited as a defendant because, according to the plaintiff, the alleged defamatory comments were broadcast through JoyNews and subsequently circulated on social media platforms, including X, Facebook and YouTube.
Mr Afenyo Markin claims Multimedia failed to stop the comments or deactivate Mr Gyamfi’s microphone after the allegations were made.
He is therefore asking the court to award him general, aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as GH¢15 million in compensation and legal costs.
He is also seeking an order compelling the defendants to issue a full, unconditional and unequivocal retraction and public apology.
The plaintiff wants the apology and retraction to be given similar prominence and reach as the original publication, including through JoyNews and the social media platforms where the comments were disseminated.
He is further seeking a permanent injunction preventing the defendants from repeating the alleged defamatory statements or words with a similar meaning.
The writ requires the defendants to enter an appearance within eight days after being served.
It warns that failure to do so could result in judgment being entered in their absence.
The case was filed by lawyer Paa Kwesi Abaidoo of Dehyena Chambers on behalf of Mr Afenyo Markin.
By: Jacob Aggrey
