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British High Commissioner unwraps climate-inspired Queen’s birthday present to Ghana
Three years since the British High Commission to Ghana held a party to mark Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s birthday and Platinum Jubilee.
Guests included Minister for Tourism, Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, Sir Tony Blair, chiefs, representatives from political parties, and members of the diplomatic corps as well as colleagues, friends, artists, performers, and leaders in business and industry.
On February 6, her Majesty became the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking seventy years of service to the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms and the Commonwealth.
Her extraordinary reign has seen her travel more widely than any other monarch, undertaking more than 260 official visits overseas, and two of those visits have been to Ghana.
Held in person for the first time since 2019 and hosted by the first female High Commissioner to Ghana, Harriet Thompson, and her husband Nick Thompson at their home in Accra, guests saw some of the newest and most vibrant British-Ghanaian innovations including a Kofa e-mobility motorbike.
During her speech, British High Commissioner to Ghana, Harriet Thompson announced £1 million of funding, matched by UK charity Shell Foundation, over the next four years to turbocharge Ghana’s e-mobility, battery, solar and charging sector.
The announcement honours the global commitments made at COP26 by leaders from around the world including his Excellency President Nana Akofo-Addo. Hosted by the UK and Italy in Scotland last year, COP26 marked a decisive shift in the world’s approach to tackling carbon emissions and setting a clear roadmap to limiting the rise in global temperatures to 1.5 degrees.
British High Commissioner to Ghana, Harriet Thompson said, “Hosting this very special event after three long years is a tremendous honour and a pleasure for my family and me.
“Tonight we celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s 96th birthday, her unprecedented achievement of reaching 70 years on the throne and the deep, broad and growing UK-Ghana partnership.
“The Queen’s Birthday is the biggest event in the British High Commissioner’s calendar, and it is the perfect moment to announce that the UK, matched by UK charity Shell Foundation, is investing almost ¢10 million of funding, over the next four years, in Ghana’s e-mobility, battery, solar and charging sector, bringing technological innovation and climate action together.”
Representatives from British e-mobility business Kofa based in Accra attended the party bringing along their e-mobility motorbike. Guests had a chance to sit on the motorbike and understand more about how the new battery technology works.
The company has been able to create its new motorbike thanks to the support from the UK charity Shell Foundation and the UK government.
Jaguar Landrover has also displayed the new model Landrover Defender, which later this year, will be available as a hybrid vehicle for the first time in Ghana.
Shell Foundation Regional Manager, West Africa, Kwaku Owusu-Achaw said, “Shell Foundation’s partnership with the UK government, as part of the Transforming Energy Access programme, has already improved the lives of 12.5m people and reduced 1.8m m/t of carbon emissions through improved access to energy and transport technologies and business solutions across Africa.”
“We’re excited to see this new commitment support innovative, game-changing solutions such as Kofa. With Kofa’s battery technology viable for multiple household and business applications, it is a great example of how entrepreneurial talent can Ghana to transform income, health and education through access to renewable energy.
Guests enjoyed music from the amazing Kelvyn Boy and Gyakie and had a chance to watch archive footage from Her Majesty the Queen’s Coronation. Speeches and highlights from the birthday party were live-streamed around the world on Instagram.
Source: Myjoyonline
Madam Sandra Seyram Kpedor, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Anloga in the Volta Region, has emphasised the importance of parental involvement in children’s education, stating that education is free, but parents need to do more to support their children.
She said parents, teachers, and students must be involved in addressing the challenges facing the district’s education sector, particularly the poor Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results.
Madam Kpedor outlined some key roles parents should play to promote their children’s education, including providing a conducive learning environment, monitoring their children’s progress, and supporting teachers.
The DCE highlighted some challenges the district faced such as inadequate infrastructure and a shortage of teachers, which have also contributed to the poor BECE results and called on well-to-do parent to help solve the situation through and other supports.
To address the issues, she also announced that plans have been taken to utilise the district’s common fund to implement educational projects, such as constructing school blocks and teachers’ bungalows at Sodzi community, and 2-unit classroom blocks each at Akplorwutorkor and Tegbi-Afedome respectively, among others.
Madam Kpedor also noted that her office had earlier notified the Ministry of Education to deploy more teachers to the area to improve teaching and learning, and encouraged students to work hard and strive for excellence, and work beyond their limit to succeed.
“To my wonderful and beautiful girls, you have to know it clear that women and girls have equal opportunities to compete with men for greater achievements,” she indicated.
The DCE cited her own achievement as a testament to the fact that women can excel in leadership positions, alongside Vice President Nana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, and stressed that girls were no longer limited to domestic roles but can pursue their dreams and become leaders.
Additionally, she mentioned that a meeting was held earlier with assembly members, and other stakeholders to address the district’s educational challenges and improve academic performance.
She promised that the district’s education oversight committee and stakeholders would work together to address the challenges and improve the district’s BECE results and called for parental involvement and support to boost the district’s education sector for children to chase their dreams to become future leaders for the success of the district and the nation.
She urged parents not to leave everything to the government but rather help in the provision of some necessary materials such as textbooks, exercise books, pens, pencils, food, and guidance to children for the successes of young learners. –GNA
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The spokesperson for Dr. Bawumia, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has criticised the implementation of the NDC government’s No Fee Stress policy, arguing that the programme has failed to deliver on its core promise.
According to him on Starr fm, the policy, which was introduced to ensure stress free payment of fees for level 100 tertiary students, has rather turned into what he described as post stress support.
He explained that students are required to pay their fees first before applying for reimbursement, a situation he believes defeats the purpose of the policy.
He questioned claims by government officials that the policy has been successful and that citizens are happy.
In his view, such claims do not reflect the lived realities of many Ghanaians. He stressed that while some people may appear satisfied, many others continue to struggle.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye pointed to the situation of trained teachers and nurses who have been picketing for nearly six months, demanding employment.
He noted that government responses suggesting it cannot accommodate all of them contradict claims of economic stability.
He further argued that economic indicators such as a stable currency mean little to people who are unable to secure jobs or access promised support.
He observed that telling an unemployed teacher or a struggling student that the cedi has strengthened does not address their immediate challenges.
On the issue of tertiary education, he maintained that no level 100 student benefited from stress free fees in 2025, despite the policy being announced.
He added that in 2026, students have already reported to school without receiving the promised support.
He insisted that asking students to pay fees first and seek reimbursement later amounts to support after hardship, not stress free education.
According to him, this approach goes against what was promised during the policy announcement.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye questioned why a government that presents the economy as strong is unable to fulfil what he described as simple and clear promises.
He added that there is a fundamental problem with the way the economy is being managed and indicated that he is prepared to explain his position further.
By: Jacob Aggrey
