News
Beware of money received from politicians
Ms Kathleen Addy
Voters in the upcoming elections have been advised to be mindful of the source of money shared by politicians.
According to her, such monies were possibly from drug deals, human trafficking, organ trafficking, gun running which she said were negative and the country or individuals would not want to be involved with.
The Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Ms Kathleen Addy gave the advice on Wednesday at a press briefing dubbed ‘NCCE election 2024 parliamentary candidates’ dialogues.’
The dialogues are important fixtures on the commission’s election year calendar and fulfills the requirements regarding functions of the commission.
According to her, the source of most of these monies shared by politicians were questionable.
“If politicians go and take this money and come and share to you, it means as a country we now have a relationship with people who are anticipating organised crime, and the consequences are severe and dire,” she added.
She mentioned that, research had shown that, for parliamentary primaries, candidates need to raise between $200,000 and $250, 000 minimum to be able to successfully execute a parliamentary primary, adding that that money was just being shared to citizens.
Ms Addy said Ghanaians therefore have a role to play in ensuring that the culture of monitisation was expunged from the country’s political culture, and rather build strong democratic groups and set rigorous criteria for those who seek power.
That, she said will enable politicians to deliver, adding that when voters receive money, it will be difficult to vote for candidates who have the interest of the people at heart.
Touching on the dialogues, she said the commission has successfully commenced the 2024 Parliamentary Candidates’ Dialogues across the 275 constituencies in the country.
She said these dialogues were part of an ongoing commitment to foster an informed electorate and promote peaceful, issue-based elections in Ghana.
“The NCCE Parliamentary Candidates’ Dialogues (PCDs) are platforms for interaction at the constituency level and provides avenues for candidates to articulate their vision and policies for the constituency they want to lead and engage with constituents on issues of national concern.
Ms Addy said the significance of the dialogue included encouraging civic engagement, enhancing political accountability, fostering peaceful elections, strengthening democratic institutions, bridging the communication gap and gives NCCE the opportunity to remind all citizens of the role of parliamentarians.
She mentioned that some parliamentary candidates of the major political parties were refusing to participate in the dialogues, citing a plethora of excuses and described it as unfortunate.
“The NCCE is urging all political parties to ensure that their parliamentary candidates actively participate in the dialogues. It is also an opportunity to highlight the policies of the parties,” Ms Addy said.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
News
Oxfam in Ghana donates medical equipment and essential drugs worth GH¢1.5 million to Kasoa Polyclinic
Oxfam in Ghana has donated medical equipment and essential drugs worth about GH¢1.5 million to the Kasoa Polyclinic to strengthen maternal and reproductive healthcare services in the municipality.
The presentation, which took place on Tuesday, June 24, 2026, at the premises of the clinic in Kasoa, formed part of the sustainability and legacy activities under the Power to Choose (P2C) Project.
The donated items included delivery beds, maternity beds, oxygen cylinders, neonatal resuscitation equipment, blood pressure monitors, newborn weighing scales, suction machines, delivery kits, essential medicines, medical theatre wear and other critical supplies to support quality healthcare delivery.
The Power to Choose Project is a seven-year initiative being implemented by Oxfam in Ghana in partnership with the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG), WiLDAF Ghana, SEND Ghana, Norsaac and PARDA, with funding from Global Affairs Canada through Oxfam Quebec.
The project seeks to improve sexual and reproductive health and rights for young people, particularly adolescent girls, young women and young men living in vulnerable and marginalised conditions.
Addressing nurses and management of the hospital, the Country Director for Oxfam in Ghana, Mohammed-Anwar Sadat Adam, said the project, which began in 2021 and will run until early 2028, is being implemented in seven countries across Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.
He said Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo are the two African countries benefiting from the project.
Mr. Adam noted that the project has already trained about 102 health workers in areas including youth-friendly services, emergency obstetric and neonatal care, family planning, gender-based violence response, respectful maternity care and inclusive healthcare delivery.
He said Oxfam and its partners conducted assessments at beneficiary facilities and identified equipment needs to help improve healthcare delivery.
According to him, the donation would create safe spaces where young women and girls could seek healthcare services without fear or stigma and would improve health outcomes in the community.
Mr. Adam thanked the Government of Canada, the Ghana Health Service, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Ghana (SOGOG), World Health Ghana and other partners for supporting the implementation of the project.
He urged the beneficiary facilities to ensure that the equipment is properly used and maintained to serve the community for many years.
A speech by the Municipal Health Director for Awutu Senya East, Dr. Stanley Kweku Yaidoo, which was read on his behalf by the Municipal Accountant, Rev. Dr. Askari Thomas, described the donation as timely and important.
He said quality healthcare delivery depends on manpower, financial resources and equipment, adding that healthcare workers cannot effectively deliver services without the necessary tools.
Dr. Yaidoo thanked Oxfam and its partners for selecting Kasoa as one of the beneficiary facilities and assured them that the equipment would be put to good use.
The Acting Medical Superintendent of Kasoa Polyclinic, Dr. Papa Kojo Arthur, expressed appreciation to Oxfam for its continuous support over the years through training and capacity building.
He said the equipment would greatly support the effective management of patients, particularly in maternal and child healthcare.
According to him, the donation would help reduce maternal and perinatal mortality in the municipality.
The donation formed part of efforts to strengthen the capacity of youth-friendly health facilities in eight implementing districts across five regions of Ghana to continue providing quality and accessible sexual and reproductive healthcare services beyond the lifespan of the project.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts (MoTCCA) has announced that an electronic copy of Ghana’s revised National Cultural Policy is now available online for free access by the public and stakeholders in the creative sector.
In a statement issued on June 22, the ministry said the revised policy was officially launched on June 9, 2026, at the National Theatre of Ghana in Accra.
According to the ministry, the decision to upload the document on its official website is aimed at ensuring widespread dissemination, increasing public awareness and promoting the effective implementation of the policy.
The ministry encouraged sector practitioners, stakeholders and members of the public to visit its website and read the document.
“The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, in the spirit of the Black Star Experience, remains committed to a transparent, inclusive and collaborative approach to building the better Ghana we want,” the statement said.
It added that it looks forward to the active participation of stakeholders in implementing the policy for the benefit of the country.
The ministry urged the public to take advantage of the free access to the policy document and familiarise themselves with its contents.
By: Jacob Aggrey
