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Empowering women key to equality, overall development
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Empowering women is a strategic move towards the attainment of equality and the overall development of Ghanaian society, Vice President, Prof Naana Jane Opoku Agyeman has said.
According to her through innovations such as the Direct Aid Programme (DAP), women and the marginalised in Ghanaian society are being empowered.
The Vice President said this on Tuesday, when the Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, Berenice Owen-Jones, visited her to officially congratulate her on her new role and discuss issues of mutual interest to Ghana and Australia.
Prof Opoku–Agyeman noted that through innovations such as DAP, women and the marginalised in Ghanaian society are being empowered.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang was in awe of the huge interest and investment made by the Australian government in the country, which traverses mining, agriculture, industry, and community empowerment.
She commended Australia’s mining expertise and called for sustainable practices that align with Ghana’s developmental goals. “Our new administration is keen on partnerships that prioritise environmental protection and community development,” she said, emphasising the potential of joint ventures.
On her part, Ms Owen-Jones celebrated the historic rise of Professor Opoku-Agyemang as Ghana’s first female vice president, describing it as a great feat in the fight for equality and women’s empowerment.
She noted that many women and girls across the country and beyond would be inspired by the outstanding achievement of Professor Opoku-Agyemang, who is also an accomplished educationist.
During the meeting, the two distinguished women exchanged knowledge on their respective countries’ plans for gender equality and climate change.
Berenice Owen-Jones said the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) in Ghana was one initiative that was being used to empower women and ensure the growth of Ghana’s agriculture sector.
The initiative, she said, would foster collaborative research and innovation in agriculture, supporting the government’s mechanised farming agenda and efforts toward food self-sufficiency.
The High Commissioner also highlighted Australia’s significant mining investments in West Africa, valued at $30 billion, with Ghana hosting a substantial share.
She expressed enthusiasm about Atlantic Lithium’s upcoming project in Ghana, pending parliamentary ratification of its mining license. The project promises to generate over 900 direct jobs for Ghanaians, boosting local economies.
By Spectator Reporter
Construction of a major underground stormwater drain along the Dr. Busia Highway within the Kaneshie enclave will commence on September 7, 2026.
The Project Coordinator for the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project, Dr. Kwadwo Ohene Sarfo, announced this at a special media briefing on Wednesday.
According to him, the works will involve the construction of a double-cell underground rectangular drain measuring approximately 10 metres wide and 1.95 kilometres long, stretching from Pamprom Junction to First Light Junction.
The new drain will replace the existing two 1.2-metre diameter pipes, which are inadequate to carry the volume of stormwater in the area.
Dr. Sarfo said the drain will connect at one end to the recently completed section within the Accra Academy campus and at the other end to the existing drain at Pamprom Junction.
He said the construction is expected to run from September 2026 to October 2027.
The project forms part of government’s broader flood prevention and mitigation programme aimed at addressing perennial flooding in Accra.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has withdrawn from the party’s National Chairmanship race.
In a statement issued yesterday, Chairman Wontumi who is currently serving a 20-year jail term said his decision was driven by his love for the party and his unwillingness to let his personal circumstances distract the NPP from its rebuilding efforts.
“There are moments in the life of a man when the heart wants to continue, but duty demands sacrifice. Moments when one must quietly set aside personal ambition, not because the dream has died, but because the family he loves must not be made to carry his burden. Today, I find myself at such a painful moment,” he wrote.
He disclosed that after many nights of prayer, sober reflection and consultations with his family, legal team, party elders, campaign team and trusted supporters, he concluded that his present situation must not become an additional burden on the NPP.
“This is not the decision my heart desired, but sometimes, true love requires us to release what we deeply want in order to protect what we love even more,” he added.
Recounting his years of service, Chairman Wontumi said he had served the party with everything within him, walking through heat and rain, travelling to remote communities and standing with the grassroots in both victory and defeat.
“For many years, I have served the NPP with everything within me… The NPP is not merely a political party to me. It is my family. It is my home. It is a cause to which I have dedicated a significant part of my life,” he stated.
He explained that the party, already carrying the pain of electoral defeat and the huge responsibility of preparing for the future, should not be made to carry his personal weight.
“That is why I cannot allow my present situation or personal ambition to distract the party from the difficult work of rebuilding. I cannot ask the party to carry my weight when it is already carrying the pain of defeat and the enormous responsibility of preparing for the battle ahead. I would rather carry this pain quietly than allow the party I love to suffer because of me,” he said.
He further sympathized with his supporters across the 16 regions, acknowledging that the decision would be painful for many who had sacrificed for his campaign.
“To my teeming supporters across all sixteen regions, I know this message will hurt. I know many of you will read it with tears in your eyes because I understand the sacrifices you have made for this journey,” he said.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
