News
Art Responsible holds workshop on recycling plastic waste at Street Academy
Art Responsible, a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting sustainable artistic practices, last week held a workshop for students of the Street Academy, a sports and cultural organisation.
The workshop focused on transforming plastic waste into stunning works of art, highlighting the importance of recycling and environmental stewardship among local youth.
The groundbreaking initiative also aims at merging creativity with environmental consciousness.
Welcoming the students and guests, the Executive Director of the Street Academy, Ataa Lartey, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration.
“Today’s workshop is not just about art; it’s about understanding our responsibility toward the environment,” he said.
“We are excited to partner with Art Responsible to inspire our students to think critically about waste and creativity.”
According to him, it was important to expose the children to such educational programmes, considering the damage human activities are having on the environment. They are the future; if they get a good understanding of recycling, it will help the effort to make the environment better.”
The workshop began with an engaging presentation by an environmental artist and activist, Ms Lauren Sey.
Known for her large-scale installations, she spoke passionately about the impact of plastic pollution on the planet.
“Every piece of plastic we use has a story,” she explained. “By turning waste into art, we can raise awareness about recycling and inspire others to make more sustainable choices.”
Participants, aged from 10 to 18, were eager to try their hands on activities that followed.
They were divided into small groups and provided with a variety of plastic materials—bottles, fabric waste, and containers—collected from local recycling centres and from the beaches.
Under the facilitators’ guidance, students learned how to transform these discarded items into creative sculptures, and mixed-media artworks.
By Spectator Reporter
News
Declare a state of emergency in parts of the country affected by illegal mining – Coalition Against Galamsey to Mahama
The Coalition Against Galamsey is asking President John Mahama to declare a state of emergency in areas badly affected by illegal mining.
According to the Convenor of the Coalition, Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, the situation has gone beyond control and requires urgent action to save lives and protect the environment.
He explained that the Constitution allows a state of emergency to be declared when the actions of criminals threaten essential resources such as water, safety, and the survival of communities.
He said illegal miners were destroying water bodies and depriving large communities of clean drinking water, which is an “essential of life.”
Dr. Ashigbey stressed that the call was not for the entire country, but only for parts of Ghana where the destruction is severe.
He added that declaring a state of emergency in these areas will give government the legal power to act quickly and decisively.
He also called on the President to provide clear timelines and targets to guide the fight against galamsey.
This, he said, would help demonstrate government’s seriousness and commitment to ending the menace.
The Coalition insisted that declaring a state of emergency was no longer a last resort but an immediate step needed to save Ghanaians and protect the future of the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
The Ghana Bar Association must be non-partisan in the discharge of their duties – Dominic Ayine urges
The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dominic Ayine, has called on the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) to remain non-partisan in the discharge of its duties.
He said the credibility of the legal profession would be at risk if the bar allowed itself to be influenced by political interests.
Speaking at the GBA 2025/ 2026 annual general conference, Dr. Ayine reminded members that their first allegiance was to the Constitution and the Republic, not to any government or opposition party.
He stressed that for over three decades, the GBA had played an important role in helping the Supreme Court interpret and enforce the law, but outside the courtroom, its advocacy had often lacked consistency.
Dr. Ayine pointed to past cases such as the 2015 petition against the former CHRAJ Chairperson, Loretta Lamptey, and the 2017 petition for the removal of Electoral Commission Chairperson, Charlotte Osei, where the bar remained silent.
He noted that the association only found its voice during the petition against former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, a stance he said coincided with the position of the opposition.
He questioned why the bar acted differently in those situations, especially since all three cases involved women of repute who held positions in key constitutional bodies.
Dr. Ayine urged the GBA to be the conscience of the republic, saying lawyers must defend the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, and the rights of citizens regardless of which political party was in power.
He warned against inviting foreign interference in Ghana’s constitutional matters, saying international collaboration should be limited to professional exchanges and not politics.
He further encouraged the GBA to promote integrity among its members, strengthen pro bono services to support the poor, and embrace digital reforms such as e-filing and electronic court records to modernize the justice system.
According to him, the destiny of Ghana is tied to the integrity of the legal profession.
He added that if lawyers stand firm, the country will also stand firm, but if they falter, the republic will stumble.
By: Jacob Aggrey
