News
DON’T LOCK CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IN ROOMS.
A Deputy Director of Programmes at the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Miss Gladys M. Osman has told parents never to lock or hide children born with deformities.
She said hiding such unfortunate children would cause more harm to them than good children were gifts of God and must be accepted with love no matter their condition.
Miss Osman was speaking at a Training of Trainers Workshop on Civic Rights and Responsibilities of Women, the Youth and People with Disabilities relative to COVID-19 at Half Assini in the Jomoro Municipality of the Western Region.
The one-day workshop was under the theme “Civic Rights and Responsibilities of Women, Youth and PWDs relative to COVID-19 Pandemic” and funded by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Miss Osman told the participants that NCCE was there to work with them to find out how COVID-19 had negatively impacted on their rights, freedom, responsibilities and businesses in general and equip them with civic rights among others.
She said it would strengthen women, youth, PWDs and other marginalised groups to ensure their active participation in decision making to attain gender parity in the Sustainable Development Goals especially the GOAL 5.
The Deputy Director said the 1992 Constitution of Ghana protected all Ghanaians with no exceptions so all PWDs and children were equal and protected by it.
Dr Edward Ampratwum of UNDP also said the workshop would empower citizens, Civil Society Organisations(CSOs), women, and the youth to develop an interest in decision making to contribute to the development of their respective communities.
He said the impact of COVID-19 especially communities around the borders had experienced negative results in their businesses and way of life.
Dr Ampratwum said the NCCE was firmly on the ground to identify these vulnerable groups and partner them to obtain the SDGs to contribute to peace building in the country and beyond the borders of Ghana.
The Municipal Planning Officer at Jomoro, Mr. Samuel Obosu said the Municipal Assembly was seriously looking for financial support for the formal and informal sectors to boost their businesses because it (assembly) would gain if more businesses were operating well in the municipality.
A Deputy Director in charge of Research at NCCE, Dr Henrietta Asante Sarpong said the workshop was a collaboration programme between UNDP and NCCE basically to train trainers who would take the knowledge acquired to their communities and train others.
She said it was organised for special interest groups to build capacity to understand civic rights and responsibilities and enlighten them on how their civic rights had been affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic particularly how to work with the Assemblies.
She said the trainers would return to their various communities and organise similar trainings for their people .
FROM PETER GBAMBILA, TAKORADI.
Local mattress manufacturers have raised serious concerns over the influx of substandard mattresses, warning that these products pose significant health risks to consumers and threaten the sustainability of Ghana’s mattress industry.
At a press briefing held in Kumasi on Tuesday, manufacturers accused unregistered foreign entities, particularly Chinese firms, of flooding the market with cheap mattresses made from polystyrene.
Mr Yaw Ampem Darko, a spokesperson for the local manufacturers, warned that prolonged use of substandard mattresses, especially those made with polystyrene, could result in chronic back pain, musculoskeletal disorders, poor posture, and diminished sleep quality.
These health implications, they stressed, were not always immediately evident but accumulate over time, especially among vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.
This material, typically used for packaging, is considered unsuitable and unsafe for bedding.
According to industry leaders, these sub-standard products have been circulating for at least five years, gaining traction among unsuspecting consumers due to their unusually low prices.
“These mattresses are being sold at suspiciously low prices, luring unsuspecting consumers who are unaware of the health dangers.”
“We are not just protecting our businesses; we are protecting Ghanaian lives. The government must act swiftly to stem this tide before more citizens fall victim to these dangerous products,” Mr Yaw Ampem Darko stated.
The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has acknowledged the issue and, in response, announced a nationwide enforcement campaign aimed at clamping down on the production, distribution, and sale of substandard mattresses.
The campaign, which was scheduled to take effect from September 30, 2025, was empowered by the GSA Act, 2022 (Act 1078), which authorises the Authority to seize and seal non-compliant products and impose sanctions on offenders.
In a statement signed by the Director General of the GSA, Professor George Agyei, the authority cited Sections 29 and 43 of the Act, reiterating that all mattresses sold in Ghana must meet established national standards or face confiscation.
The statement further emphasised that mattresses failing to meet these standards not only compromise sleep quality but also contribute to long-term health complications, including spinal and neck pain.
Despite the GSA’s commitment, manufacturers have expressed frustration over delays in implementation and called for stronger enforcement mechanisms.
They urged the GSA to work in close collaboration with the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and national law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute violators of Ghana’s quality standards.
Manufacturers are also appealing to consumers to remain vigilant and prioritise their health by verifying that any mattress they purchase bears the GSA certification mark.
Moreover, they caution the public against purchasing suspiciously cheap mattresses that lack proper labelling or identifiable branding, as these were often indicators of substandard or counterfeit products.
As the official enforcement deadline had expired with no show, the local producers insisted that much more than business interests were at stake.
They argued that without swift and sustained action, the health and safety of Ghanaian consumers would continue to be compromised.
“Public awareness, strict enforcement, and collaboration among regulatory bodies are essential if we are to protect the integrity of the local industry and the wellbeing of the Ghanaian people,” Mr Darko indicated.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
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The Founder of the Raissa Child Protection Initiative, Ms Raissa Sambou, has urged authorities to impose severe punishment on individuals, including teachers and guardians, who sexually abuse young girls.
Speaking in an interview to mark this year’s International Day of the Girl Child (October 11), Ms Sambou condemned the increasing cases of sexual exploitation involving minors, describing such acts as “heartless, criminal, and a total betrayal of trust.”
She noted that those entrusted with the care and education of children must not be the same people who violate them, stressing that “anyone found guilty of abusing a girl child must face the full rigours of the law without leniency.”
The International Day of the Girl Child is observed annually to promote the rights of girls, empower them to reach their full potential, and draw attention to the challenges they face worldwide.
Ms Sambou lamented that poverty continues to push many young girls into vulnerable situations, exposing them to exploitation.
She expressed concern that some headmasters, teachers, and community members who should protect girls rather take advantage of them.
“This must stop immediately. The safety of every girl must never be compromised,” she said, urging the public to report all forms of abuse to the appropriate authorities and called for swift action by law enforcement agencies against perpetrators.
Addressing girls directly, Ms Sambou encouraged them to take their education seriously and to believe in their potential.
“It is possible to be young and responsible. Your future is bright, protect it, believe in it, and never let anyone dim your light,” she advised.
She further urged girls to choose their friends wisely, stay disciplined, and speak up if anyone makes sexual advances toward them.
Ms Sambou concluded with a rallying call for collective action, saying “speak up, protect them, and empower them. Together, we can end the sexual exploitation of girls.”
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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