News
CFI, MFWA hold gender equality seminar in Accra
Participants at the seminar
Canal France International (CFI) Media Development, a French media development agency has organised a day’s seminar on gender equality in the media in Accra.
The seminar which was jointly implemented with the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) was held under the theme “Equal voices: promoting gender equality in the media in Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana.”
The seminar was aimed at combating gender inequalities and stereotypes in the media of the two countries and encouraging managers of media outlets to promote better representation of women in both their managerial practices and editorial policies.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of GDA Media Limited, Oheneyere Gifty Anti said until women in the media dare to make their voices heard, they will remain at the same spot.
She urged female journalists to become intentional and deliberate in breaking the stereotype asking them to constantly add value to themselves.
She said female journalists at the top also need to be intentional about “pulling’ the younger ones or their colleagues along with them.
Oheneyere Gifty Anti challenged female journalists to bring change and development to their communities and the nation through their profession.
The Executive Director of MFWA Sulemana Braimah said women were under represented in all sectors of the economy and that steps had been undertaken by various organisations to tackle the issue.
He said the media had a vital role to play in addressing the issue because of its agenda setting power and also serve as a force to champion women’s voices adding that it had the capacity to inspire both men and women to address the injustices meted out to women.
He called on the media to integrate gender mainstreaming, and women empowerment as an important aspect in the newsrooms as well as empower women in the media to lead the agenda in order to have the support of the men as well.
The Deputy Director-General CFI Media, France, Alan Dreanic said his outfit had adopted a five-year strategy to bring balance into the media landscape and promote gender equity.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine has broken ground on a modern 1,500-seater multipurpose assembly hall and a secured main gatehouse for New Edubiase Senior High School, in the Adansi South District.
The project, being executed by local contractor AA Engineering and Construction, is expected to be completed within 17 months and forms part of the Mine’s 10-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) — a strategic framework for delivering sustainable development in its host communities.
Beyond the expansive assembly hall, the facility will house a fully integrated administrative complex featuring a dedicated sound room, a 16-seater staff eatery, and suites for the Headmaster and Assistant Headmaster, a bursar’s office, an 18-seater conference room, a 24-seater staff common room, six faculty office spaces and ancillary stores and washrooms.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, the Mine’s Director of Sustainability Management, Edmund Oduro Agyei, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to improving educational outcomes in host communities through impactful and sustainable investments.
The Edubiasehene, Guahyia Oduropanin Birikorang, commended the Mine for the investment, saying the project demonstrated that the company’s development agenda extended well beyond its immediate operational areas.
The Headmaster of New Edubiase SHS, Mr Christopher Appiah Mensah, described the intervention as timely and transformative, noting it would address longstanding infrastructure deficits, improve conditions for teaching and learning, and create adequate space for academic and social gatherings.
“This will greatly enhance administrative efficiency and improve the overall welfare of both staff and students,” he said.
The facility is also expected to boost the school’s capacity to host national examinations and major events, and strengthen its standing as a centre of academic excellence within the district.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
Stakeholders have been urged to help raise awareness and eliminate the stigma often associated with clubfoot, a treatable condition which occurs in children.
Parents are to seek early treatment for the condition while policymakers strengthen support for early detection, disability inclusion, and child health services in the country.
Clubfoot is a condition present at birth in which one or both feet are twisted inward and downward. If left untreated, experts say a child may face lifelong challenges with walking, which could affect education, employment, and social inclusion.
In Ghana, an estimated 1,000 babies are said to be born with clubfoot every year.
In commemoration of the World Clubfoot Day, marked on June 3 every year, stakeholders create awareness about the condition and, among other things, celebrate the dedication of health professionals who ensure children receive treatment.
In a release copied to the Ghana News Agency, Nana Afua Adutwumwaa Adjetey, Programme Manager, Ghana Clubfoot Programme, noted that many families were unaware of the free treatment available for the condition in Ghana. 
She observed that the lack of awareness continued to delay treatment for children who could have received prompt and life-changing care at no cost.
Treatment, she said, was provided free of charge for children under age five at Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG–Hope Walks) partner clinics across the country.
More than 9,000 children born with clubfoot had received treatment and care through the programme over the past 18 years.
“The treatment follows the internationally recognised Ponseti Method, which uses a series of gentle casts to gradually correct the position of the foot, followed by a brace to maintain correction and prevent relapse. When treatment begins early, success rates are extremely high,” Madam Adjetey explained.
“For many children, the journey begins with a health worker who identifies clubfoot at birth and makes a referral. A few moments of observation can change the course of a child’s life forever.”
“Clubfoot is not a curse; it is not caused by wrongdoing…it is a medical condition that can be treated successfully. Families should never feel ashamed to seek help.”
The Programme Manager said children born with the condition deserved equal opportunities, dignity, and inclusion, and called on communities to support parents rather than “judge them.” -GNA
