News
CASFORD 2009 Alumni Year Group commissions renovated Aluta Square
The 2009 Alumni year group of Casely Hayford Hall on Saturday, September 3, 2022 commissioned the newly renovated Aluta Square at Casford Hall in the University of Cape Coast.
The Aluta Square which is regarded as the “Madison Square Gardens’ of Casely Hayford Hall is the central point within the hall. It is a symbolic place where Casfordians meet regularly to bond and interact.
The Aluta Square project was undertaken by the 2009-Alumni year group as part of project lined up for their 10th Anniversary celebrations.
Speaking at the colourful event, Dr Hubert Danquah Nyarko, the hall master of Casely Hayford Hall said the Aluta Square is where most of the social gatherings take place so for that reason, the 2009 Alumni group seeing its significance, partnered with the Hall council to give it a facelift.
He said as part of the Hall Council and Junior Common Room Committee’s (JCRC) mandate to provide a secure and safe environment favourable for education, they have embarked on several projects which coincided with the Aluta Square Project undertaken by the 2009 Alumni year group.
Among these projects include painting of the hall, construction of a hybrid library and renovation of the Canteen space.
He added that it is the vision of the hall council to continue providing an enabling environment for education and development.
“We therefore admonish all students to play their role in making this vision a reality” He stated.
Dr. Nyarko appealed to the other year groups and corporate bodies to support the final phase of the library project embarked by the JCRC and the Hall Council.
He urged other year groups to take up projects such as the Casford 2009 Alumni has done in bid to provide a secure and serene environment that is conducive for academic and personal development.
On the physical development and general well-being of Casfordians, Dr. Hubert Danquah Nyarko said that, it is regrettable to note that deviant behavior displayed by some few students ofhall tarnishes Hall’s image and compromises security on campus.
The Chairman for the 2009 Alumni year group, Awagah Terrance Yaw, on his part said the year group entered the hall at a time when the hall was facing a lot of difficulties and was in poor state, with shortage of water, power crises, dilapidated places of convience and a stench at the entrance that spreads all the way to Zongo.
He stated that they could not be happier than to come back and do something for the great hall during their 10th anniversary, as well as acknowledged the three faithful fellows; Fellow Lord Appiah-Kubi (Local Organizing Committee Chairman), Fellow Wilson Seyram Ameamu (1st Vice Chair) and Fellow Solomon Paa Kwesi Efum (2nd vice Chair) for their dedication, hard work and contribution throughout the entire project.
He pleaded with the Casford Fraternity and all Casford Alumni year groups to come and support the great Casely Hayford Hall in other projects which will inure to the benefit of the hall.
In his conclusion speech, Mr. Awagah Terrence Yaw beseeched all fellow Casfordians home and aborad to emulate this feat to ensure the great Casely Hayford hall attains the befitting status is has long dreamt of.
The students of Casely Hayford Hall were seen happy as they sang their hall anthem and also asked that, other Alumi year group follow the path of the 2009-Alumni year group and give back to the great hall.
Troubled and anxious citizens in Damongo of the Savannah Region have expressed concerns about the number of young people, believed to be under the age of 18, involved in ‘shisha’ smoking in pubs and drinking spots within the township.
Eyewitnesses say the minors were seen patronising nightlife venues, where Shisha smoking happen in the open.
The situation has sparked renewed public concern over the enforcement of child protection laws and regulations governing the operations of entertainment centres in the municipality and country as a whole.
An eyewitness, who spoke to The Spectator on conditions of anonymity for security reasons, noted that the situation was becoming increasingly common.
“This is not a one-off incident. It is becoming very common, but residents like us cannot openly report or speak about it because our lives will be at risk,” he said.
Under Ghanaian law, minors were prohibited from patronising Shisha.
Public health experts have consistently warned that shisha use exposes users to harmful substances that can negatively affect brain development, respiratory health, and overall well-being, particularly among young people.
The residents believe the alleged incidents point to broader challenges relating to youth supervision, substance abuse, and weak enforcement of existing regulations and have called on municipal authorities, security agencies, and regulatory bodies to intensify monitoring of pubs and entertainment centres to ensure compliance with the law.
In an effort to address the menace, Mr Salisu Be-Awurbi, the Savannah Regional Minister, has led public education campaigns, engaged security agencies, and supported enforcement actions to address the rising use of illicit substances in the region.
Wura Kelly Seidu Boresah I, the Chief of Damongo, has also called on all stakeholders including parents, community leaders, institutions, and young people to actively support efforts to curb drug abuse, warning that the rising consumption of hard drugs poses a serious health threat to the future of the youth in the Savannah Region.
He also cautioned individuals involved in the sale and distribution of illicit drugs to immediately desist from the practice, stressing that offenders will face arrest and prosecution in accordance with the law.
From Geoffrey Buta, Damongo, Savannah Region
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
Dr Theresa Baffour, an advocate for ending violence and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SAHM SAHW Foundation, has said that society plays a critical and pivotal role in breaking the cycle of domestic violence.
According to her, domestic violence is a major contributor of making women, who are mostly the victims, mentally derailed and unable to engage in economic activities.
She said this when the foundation called on the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, to solicit support for the initiative by the “Strong and Healthy Minds, Strong and Healthy Women” (SAHM SAHW) to combat domestic violence within the Ga State.
The visit was occasioned by the fact that domestic violence cases have become quite prevalent in the Ga communities and is retarding growth.
According to her, the canker was an impediment to national development because the victims were usually tortured and would have to go through series of therapies to return to the right state of mind.
Dr Baffour mentioned that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) places a mental toll on women, and was, therefore, important to break the cycle through comprehensive mental health support, crisis intervention and empowerment programmes in communities with high rates of GBV.
This intervention, she underscored, would help in empowering the denigrated victim of domestic violence to soundly heal, build and thrive.
Dr Baffour added that the initiative would provide holistic, trauma-informed mental health care and advocacy for young women affected by domestic violence.
According to her, the above statement would create safe spaces for healing and equipping them with entrepreneurial skills for renewed hope and empowered life.
The Ga Mantse pledged his support for the laudable initiative to combat domestic violence and also acknowledged the need to address it in the Ga State.
Further endorsement came from Justice Julia Naa-Yarley Adjei Amoah, Chief of Staff at the Office of the Ga Mantse, as she commended the team of SAHM SAHW Foundation for taking a bold step to end the canker in the Greater Accra.
She added that it was a step in the right direction to save vulnerable women from torture, stress and emotional abuse.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
