News
Aspire Educational Complex climax literacy day with costume craze
The Aspire Educational Complex in Koforidua recently concluded its Literacy Month, which began in November, with an exciting event dubbed ‘Costume Craze: Rep Your Favourite Book Character Day.’
The celebration saw both learners and teachers showcase their creativity by dressing as popular characters from books, cartoons, and traditional folklore.
Costumes ranged from Captain America, Snow White, Princess Elsa, and Spiderman to traditional icons like Kwaku Ananse and Ntikuma.
The event began with a lively red-carpet walk, where learners proudly displayed their chosen characters.
A key highlight of the day was a drama performance based on ‘The Dilemma of a Ghost,’ a story exploring cultural identity and challenges faced by an African American student who marries a ‘white’ woman and introduces her to traditional African customs.
The performance emphasised the importance of understanding and embracing cultural diversity.
Learners were also introduced to proper table manners during a delightful continental dinner, and engaged in photo shoots to capture memories of the special day.
Mrs Regina Ankomah Mensah, Head of the Pre-School Department, explained that the event was part of the school’s Literacy Month, aimed at fostering a love for reading and learning among students.
She highlighted that the initiative aligned with UNESCO’s International Literacy Day, celebrated annually on September 8, to promote reading, writing, and effective communication.
Aspire Educational Complex dedicated the entire month of November to literacy under the theme: ‘Reading Every Day Takes Illiteracy Away.’
Activities included a book fair encouraging students to purchase and read books, the “Get Caught Reading Everywhere” campaign with the slogan “Dear Time” (Drop Everything and Read), and creative competitions such as a Colour Spelling Bee and Text Reading Challenge.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua
News
Launch a full-scale, transparent investigation into the Suame fire – Ashanti NPP Parliamentary Caucus to government
The Ashanti NPP Parliamentary Caucus has called on government to launch a full-scale, transparent investigation into the fire that destroyed more than 300 shops at the Suame Post Office Market in Kumasi.
In a statement signed by the caucus secretary, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, the MPs expressed deep sympathy to the thousands of traders who lost their shops, goods, and livelihoods in the incident.
The caucus said the Ashanti Region had in recent months suffered repeated market fires, which had destroyed years of hard work and investment by ordinary Ghanaians.
They described the situation as “one too many” and insisted that people in the region deserved more than words of sympathy and empty promises.
The group questioned government’s approach, asking where the urgency, accountability, and concrete plans to stop such recurring disasters were.
They stressed that traders could not continue to see their sweat and toil reduced to ashes while authorities treated the matter as business as usual.
The caucus demanded immediate emergency relief and compensation packages for the affected traders, as well as urgent steps to introduce modern fire safety infrastructure in markets.
These include fire hydrants, surveillance systems, and dedicated fire posts.
They also urged government to put in place a clear policy framework to permanently address the spate of market fires in the Ashanti Region.
According to the statement, the matter would be raised strongly on the floor of Parliament.
The caucus added that they stood firmly with the traders of Suame and the Ashanti Region and would not relent until their safety, livelihoods, and dignity were secured.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
Embrace entrepreneurship and opportunities in the private sector, Afenyo-Markin encourages youth
The Member of Parliament for Effutu and Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has encouraged young people to focus on entrepreneurship and the private sector instead of depending only on government jobs.
In a one on one interview he stated that the public sector was already full and could not employ everyone, noting that his office was flooded with CVs from job seekers.
According to him, the future would be brighter if the youth created jobs for themselves.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin explained that people with good business ideas should be supported with capital, but warned that such opportunities should not be abused.
He said many people misuse the help they receive, which prevents others from also benefiting.
He cited the “taxi work campaign” initiative in his constituency, where over 90 percent of the beneficiaries failed to pay back.
He added that similar cases of mismanagement by individuals he supported were common and called the situation “heartbreaking.”
The Effutu MP appealed to young people to make good use of support from banks, credit unions, family members, and political leaders, stressing that abusing opportunities denies future generations their livelihood.
By: Jacob Aggrey
