News
Female engineering student dreams of building cars
Priscilla Otumfuor Mustapha, 21, is a Level 200 Higher National Diploma Automobile Engineering student at Ho Technical University (HTU), with big dreams.
“I have plans to start moulding my own brand of vehicles in six years,” she told The Spectator in a chat at the campus recently.
This was after the HTU-Japan Motors Trading Company Vehicle Service Centre was commissioned on campus.
According to Priscilla, her father who deals in heavy duty trucks and trailers made a positive influence on her.
“I have always loved cars from my childhood and wanted to know more about cars and so I often spent time drawing cars and carriages,” she said.
She intimated that Ghana needed more women in the area of engineering and said she would convince as many girls as possible to venture in to such area.
Priscilla noted that “when boys go into catering at school no one makes fun of them, but when girls go into engineering everybody sees them as though they had made awkward choices.”
However, she said that the negative comments from some people, including some of her course mates, such as “boy girl” and “man woman” do not deter her, stressing “I want to make a difference and prove the skeptics wrong,:
The pretty young woman who speaks English, French and Twi, said that she loved playing football, singing and dancing in addition to drawing.
A member of the International Central Gospel Church, Rhema Temple at Medie in Accra, Priscilla said that she already had the models of the cars and heavy-duty vehicles she would come out with in the future.
Spectator: tell me more about them.
Priscilla: For now, that is my industrial secret.
Spectator: What massage do you have for the younger ladies outside there?
Priscilla: They must study diligently towards a bright future. They must remain focused on their career dreams. Women are serving as Generals in the army, women are flying aircraft, women are playing football, so women can design and mould their own cars and do whatever men can do.
From Alberto Mario Noretti, Ho
News
Court dismisses application by Ken Ofori-Atta to prevent OSP declaring him wanted
The Human Rights Court has dismissed an application by former Finance Minister Kenneth Ofori-Atta, who sought to prevent the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) from declaring him wanted ahead of his scheduled appearance on June 2, 2025.
Mr Ofori-Atta, who is under multiple investigations by the OSP and other state agencies relating to his tenure in office, had asked the court to restrain the OSP from issuing a “wanted” notice and from circulating his image online.
He is currently the subject of an active Interpol Red Notice, and extradition proceedings have begun with the relevant authorities to secure his return to Ghana.
The dismissed application forms part of a series of civil suits he has filed against the OSP and the Republic, either to halt its operations or challenge the issuance of arrest warrants in the ongoing probes.
News
Gender Minister receives World Vision Delegation to strengthen strategic partnership
The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has received a delegation from World Vision Ghana, led by Mr. Samuel Norgah, Director of the African Union Liaison Office, to discuss strategic areas of collaboration.
The engagement focused on enhancing partnerships between the Ministry and World Vision.
Discussions covered Ghana’s participation in the AU’s Specialised Technical Committee (STC) on Gender, support for the ratification of the newly adopted AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, and strengthening cooperation between World Vision Ghana and the Ministry in priority areas.
Mr. Norgah congratulated the Minister on her appointment and applauded Ghana’s leadership in advancing gender equality on in Ghana and the continent.
He underscored World Vision’s widespread impact across Africa, especially in Ghana, through initiatives in education, child protection, and social development.
Additionally, he highlighted World Vision’s active role in the development of the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, describing its adoption as a major milestone for the continent.
Mr. Norgah expressed hope for Ghana’s swift ratification and assured the Minister of World Vision’s continued technical and advocacy support.
The Minister, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey reiterated the Ministry’s strong commitment to tackling sexual and gender-based violence and confirmed that the process toward Ghana’s ratification of the Convention is being considered.
Furthermore, the Minister expressed interest in future collaborations with World Vision Ghana with a special attention to the revised Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Policy, which is currently undergoing final review and awaiting Cabinet approval.
The Chief Director of the Ministry, Dr. Afisah Zakariah, on her part, commended World Vision’s contributions in Ghana.
She advocated for more robust collaboration to promote the protection and empowerment of vulnerable groups.
