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Dr. Doris Dartey’s first anniversary ….family launches two books in her memory
The family of the late Dr. Doris Yaa Dartey has launched two books to mark the first anniversary of the passing of the renowned journalist.
The books titled “The Watch Woman” and “When Breast Cancer Strikes” were launched last Wednesday in Accra.
“The Watch Woman” is a compilation of features and articles written by the late Dr. Dartey during the 12-years that she wrote in The Spectator newspaper as columnist. The book focuses on issues pertaining to the environment, sanitation, health, children, gender, politics, economics, and human rights.”
“When Breast Cancer Strikes,” on the other hand recounts Dr Dartey’s six years personal experience with breast cancer.
In a review, Dr Lord Mawuko Yevugah, a political economist, described “The Watch Woman” as “an important addition to the repertoire of social, political and economic history of this country and a very useful reference for future historians and people who would wish to capture contemporary issues for posterity.”
Dr Florence Dedey, a Surgeon commended the book “When Breast Cancer Strikes” as it, among other things, campaigns for seeking early diagnosis and regular breast screening among other for achieving the fight against breast cancer.
Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, who launched the book “The Watch Woman” described the late Dr Dartey “as bold and assertive and an exceptional writer”, and charged journalists to follow the steps of the author to excel in their journalism field.
Mr Affail Monney, President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), touched on the polarisation of the media landscape in the country and advised practitioners to perform their functions devoid of partisan politics.
“The best tribute Ghanaian journalists can pay to Dr. Dartey is to let her qualities nourish their journalistic output at all times.
“The GJA would do all it can to immortalise Dr Dartey’s name for her abosulte fidelity to the fundamental principles of journalism and titanium tenacity to cause of social activism.” he said.
He further challenged the media community to produce more seasoned journalists like the “iconic” Dr Dartey.
Former Editor of Ghanaian Times and former President of the GJA, Ms Ajoa Yeboah-Afari launched the second book “When Breast Cancer Strikes” and called on women to periodically go for checkups to ensure they were always at the peak of the stable health conditions.
Mr Kwasi Djan Apenteng, Board Member of the Doris Dartey Foundation, pledged to personally fund a ‘Doris Dartey Award’ for the best student journalist in features writing in subsequent GJA awards.
The chairperson for the occasion, Madam Elizabeth Adjei, former Director General of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) said that the late Dr Doris Dartey was an extraordinary journalist, who was dedicated to serving her country through her writings.
Three copies of each book were auctioned at GH₵6,600.00 and the proceeds donated to The Doris Dartey Foundation. The books are available at local bookshops across the country for GH¢200 for ‘The Watchwoman’ and GH¢100 for ‘When Breast Cancer Strikes’.
By Portia Hutton-Mills
The Member of Parliament for Nsawam Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh Dompreh, has expressed concern over delays in the release of the District Assemblies Common Fund, warning that the situation is stalling development across the country.
On his facebook page, he described as a matter of urgent national importance, the Minority Chief Whip pointed to what he sees as a growing crisis of unpaid contractors, abandoned projects, and halted infrastructure works in many districts.
He noted that several communities are grappling with half completed schools, unfinished health facilities, abandoned markets, deteriorating roads, and stalled sanitation projects.
According to him, many contractors who have executed projects for district assemblies have not been paid, forcing some construction firms to demobilise from sites while workers lose their jobs.
He stressed that the District Assemblies Common Fund is not a discretionary allocation but a constitutional requirement under Article 252 of the 1992 Constitution, intended to support development at the local level.
In his view, years of delayed releases and accumulated arrears have weakened district development financing and disrupted projects meant to improve living conditions in communities.
He further argued that some payments made in recent years were largely the settlement of old debts rather than funding for new or ongoing projects, a situation he believes has affected contractor confidence and local economic activity.
He described the issue as more than a budgetary challenge, characterising it as a development emergency and a governance concern.
He therefore urged the appropriate authorities to pay outstanding DACF arrears, settle contractors who have completed their work, and ensure that transfers to districts are automatic and predictable.
He maintained that decentralisation can only succeed when district assemblies receive adequate and timely funding to carry out development projects.
He emphasised that stalled projects directly affect ordinary citizens, since they rely on such infrastructure for education, healthcare, transportation, sanitation, and economic activities.
He called for renewed attention to grassroots development, insisting that national progress should not be concentrated only in major cities but extended to all communities.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Richard Appiah, the footballer who killed two children and stored part of their bodies in a fridge at Abesim in the Bono Region in 2021 has been handed a lifetime sentence.
This was after a five member panel of judges at the Accra High Court returned a verdict of guilty against the convict.
Appiah, 32, also a draughtsman would spend the rest of his life in prison after he was convicted of murder.
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BY MALIK SULLEMANA
