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ECOWAS begins 3-day capacity building workshop for Gender Observatory Centre in Accra
The Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS) Gender and Development Centre yesterday began a three-day workshop in Accra aimed at building the capacity of focal persons to manage and operationalise the Gender Observatory Centre to be established in member countries.
The three-day event is also expected to equip the participants with the necessary skills in digital platform usage,design,generation and development, datacollection, data analysis and reporting as well as methods in gender statistics reporting and E-learning.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Director ofthe ECOWAS Gender Development Centre, Mrs Sandra OulateFattoh indicated that the workshop would go a long way to empower the gender equality aimed at promoting the sustainability and periodization of the Sustainable Development Goals.
According to her,in spite of the gender equality and women’s empowerment, the continent is still faced with widespread disparities and inequalities characterized by the marginalization of women and the absence of adequate opportunities for women to participate effectively in the development processes and to share the equitably in the gains of development.
It was to address these challenges that the Centre was organising this training workshop to have a robust database base system to provide the necessary gender statistics necessary for decision making.
Ms Fattoh commended the United States Agency for InternationalDevelopment (USAID), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), African Union and other stakeholders whose contribution has brought the center to fruition.
The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dakoa Newman said Data analysis and management was vital in the discharge of work as gender experts and advocates in order to effectively help in proper planning towards takinginformed decisions.
The essence of the training she explained,cannot be underestimated as it recognizes the sub-region as a just and secure society in which men and women have equal opportunities to participate, decide, control and benefit from all development initiatives, thus ensuring that no one is left behind in the developmental process in Member States.
In Ghana, the Minister indicated that the Ministry has been mandated to coordinate and ensure gender equality and equity as well as integrate the fulfilment of the rights, empowerment and full participation into national development.
“I am happy to announce that the Parliament of Ghana in July 2024 has passed the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Bill into Law. The passage of this Law will help to effectively and efficiently address gender imbalances in the political, social, economic, educational and cultural spheres of the Ghanaian society,” she added.
The Director, Women, Gender, and Youth Directorate of the AU Commission, Ms Prudence Ngwenya also commended the ECOWAS Centre for the bold steps taken to improve accountability of policies taken by member states and assured of the Commission’s resolve to ensure that decisions taken at the other regional blocks would help promote gender equality on the African continent.
Mrs Cleopatra Orongo on behalf of the Director United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Service Centre for Africa Dr Mathias Naab said the Gender Observatory when fully implemented would link other observatories in order to improve upon the continents commitments to its people.
She assured of the commissions commitment to work with the centre to ensure that the objectives of the centre are achieved.
BY LAWRENCE VOMAFA-AKPALU
The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, has accepted an apology from the Minority leader in Parliament following allegations of corruption in the recruitment process of the security services.
Speaking in Parliament yesterday, he indicated that the accusations were painful because they portrayed his actions in a way that suggested criminal wrongdoing.
“It is painful to be wrongly accused or for your actions to be misconstrued and labelled differently from your intention, especially when it is linked with criminality and serious wrongdoing,” he stated.
Mr Mubarak noted that although he was deeply hurt and worried by the allegations, he had decided to accept the apology wholeheartedly.
According to him, the issue should guide members of the House and public officials to focus on ensuring that the right things are done without attempting to destroy one another.
He assured the Minority that the Interior Ministry and the various security service commanders remain committed to transparency and accountability in their work.
The Minister added that the ministry would be ready to address any concerns raised by the Minority or other members of Parliament regarding recruitment into the security services.
He further appealed to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to consider expunging from the parliamentary records the false comments.
Mr Mubarak expressed appreciation to the Speaker for handling the matter and emphasised the need for cooperation among members of Parliament to ensure fairness and proper oversight.
By: Jacob Aggrey
THE Gospel Advocates (TGA), a non-denominational evangelistic Christian organisation last Saturday donated a number of educational logistics to the Dodi Asantekrom Basic School in the Eastern region of Ghana.
The gesture was to mark the seventh anniversary of the organisation made up of professionals committed to preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to students in senior high schools, particularly in rural communities.
TGA also seeks to inspire students towards attaining academic excellence and guiding them towards optimising the various learning opportunities and academic programmes available at the tertiary level.
Among the items donated were 100 desks, 10 cupboards, 10 desktop computers, two laptops, 10 teachers’ tables and chairs and others.
The group also held its annual outreach programme that had a significant impact in the community through initiatives such as feeding 500 children with hot meals and assorted drinks, providing free medical screening and drugs for 500 adults and youth and conducting health education and sensitisation for both children and adults.
TGA also took upon itself to restock the community clinic with essential medicines and distributed food items, plastic bowls, cups and clothing to members of the community.
The initiative, according to officials of the group, was supported by ORSAM Limited, Doctors Save Lives Foundation, Johnson Tord Foundation, El-Shaddai Mothercare, Exceed Alliance Limited, GB Foods Ghana Limited, Qualiplast Limited, Phyto-Riker (Gihoc) Pharmaceuticals Limited, Cosa Bright Ghana, Kabs Pharmacy, Tobinco Pharmaceuticals, Pill Bay Pharmacy and Bamah 3.7.7.
“We are deeply grateful for their immense support and partnership in bringing hope, relief, and practical assistance to the people of Dodi Asantekrom,” the officials said.
In a statement, the President and Chairman of The Gospel Advocates, Mr. Selom Kpikpitse, said the donation to Dodi Asantekrom forms part of TGA’s broader mission to propagate the gospel of Jesus Christ among students and youth in rural communities through teachings, music and arts.
He explained that the meals provided to over 500 pupils were in line with the organization’s annual “Feed the Kidz Project,” which demonstrates Christ’s love.
Receiving the items on behalf of the school, the Headmaster, Mr. Otumfour Newton, expressed gratitude to TGA and its sponsors, saying that “the items would significantly enhance teaching and learning while improving the overall welfare and development of the pupils.”
Mr. Newton also commended the team for the free medical screenings for adults and youth in the community, and other community engagements.
Medical supplies were also donated to the Dodi Asantekrom CHPS compound and received on behalf of the facility by Mr. Amefu, a Physician Assistant.
By Spectator Reporter
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