News
‘Empower women, build resilient healthcare systems, across Africa’
The First Lady of The Gambia, Mrs Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, and the Chairman of the Executive Board of E. Merck KG and Board of Trustees of the Merck Foundation, Prof. Dr Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, have called for stronger partnerships to, empower women, build resilient healthcare systems and promote responsible health journalism across Africa.
They made the call at the 12th Edition of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary, held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Banjul.
The event, hosted under the patronage of President Adama Barrow and Mrs Bah-Barrow, brought together First Ladies, health ministers, and stakeholders from more than 50 countries.
Mrs Bah-Barrow urged participants to remain united in strengthening health systems and improving lives, saying health was not merely the absence of illness, but the presence of opportunity.
Mrs Bah-Barrow also emphasised the role of the media in shaping public perception and behaviour, stressing that responsible health reporting saves lives.
“Journalists have the power to inform, educate, and inspire action, but they must be well-equipped to do so ethically and accurately. We have seen how misinformation can cost lives,” she cautioned.
In his remarks, Prof. Dr Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp revealed that since 2012, the Merck Foundation has provided over 2,400 scholarships to healthcare professionals from 52 countries to specialise in 44 critical fields to address Africa’s shortage of medical experts.
“Africa bears 24 per cent of the global disease burden but has only 2.9 per cent healthcare workers per 1,000 people. Through training and education, we are closing that gap,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer of Merck Foundation, Dr Rasha Kalej said the foundation was supporting over 1,000 girls under the ‘educating Linda’ programme to finish their high school education and enable them fulfill their dreams.
She said with the support of the First Ladies “we are providing annually 40 scholarships for high performing but underprivileged girls until they finish their education.”
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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Ahyiresu and Abofrem, two quiet communities in the Atwima Mponua District, have been shaken to the core by a chilling midnight drama that reads like a nightmare.
A pastor and a young mother stand accused of attempting to bury a five‑month‑old baby girl alive, a crime that has ignited outrage and disbelief across the township.
According to police, Apostle Richmond Akwasi Frimpong, 36, Head Pastor of the Anointed Grace Prayer Ministry at Kuffour Camp, conspired with his uncle Emmanuel Appiah, 53, and the child’s mother, 23‑year‑old Beatrice Agyapomaa, to dispose of the infant, Anaya Achiaa, under the cover of darkness.
A fourth suspect, Emmanuel Donkor, remains on the run.
The suspects were caught near a refuse dump around 10 pm on April 9, 2026, after a vigilant resident, Akwasi Twezor, noticed their suspicious movements.
When confronted, they claimed the child was already dead and had palace approval for burial. But Twezor’s instincts proved right—the baby was still alive, gasping faintly for breath.
Chief Linguist, Nana Yaw Badu, later confirmed that Frimpong had misled him earlier in the evening, securing permission for burial by falsely declaring the child dead.
The infant was rushed to the Abofrem Clinic, where she is now responding well to treatment. Police described her as “very beautiful.”
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Evelyn Yitamkey, Commander of DOVVSU in Bibiani, confirmed that the suspects have been provisionally charged.
Frimpong faces attempted murder and conspiracy charges, while Agyapomaa and Appiah are charged with conspiracy and abetment.
They were remanded by the Bibiani Circuit Court, presided over by Judge Frank Asiedu Nimako, to assist investigations.
The docket has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department for advice, ASP Yitamkey indicated.
The attempted crime has provoked fury among residents, many suspecting ritual motives aimed at bolstering the pastor’s influence.
Crowds attempted to attack the suspects outside court, but police intervention prevented mob justice.
The Assembly Member for Ahyiresu, Yusuf Suleiman, has assured residents that justice will be pursued swiftly.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
The forecourt of the African University of Communications and Business (AUCB) in Accra came alive on Friday with colour, creativity and innovation, as Level 300 students transformed the space into a lively exhibition of ideas.
Under the theme “Building meaningful brands beyond the logo,” the students invited patrons into a world where ordinary products were reimagined through storytelling, design and purpose.
From scented candles to innovative food concepts, each stand told a unique story, one that went beyond aesthetics to capture identity, value and human connection.
For many of the students, the event was more than just an academic exercise; it was a moment to dream out loud.
Guided by their lecturer, Peter Wonders, they explored what it truly means to build a brand in today’s competitive world where trust, consistency and experience matter just as much as logos and slogans.
Chairman of the occasion, Nana Kum Gyata VI, in his remarks said a brand is what people say about you when you are not present.
At the end of the presentations, awards were presented to deserving groups with Vida Nyaneba emerging as the overall best branding student.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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