News
EWC donates educational materials to students in Accra
The Empowerment Worship Centre (EWC) has donated educational materials valued at more than GH¢200,000 to students in Accra.
The items included bags, shoes, books, pencil, pens, erasers, crayons, mathematical sets, and uniforms.
The donation, which was through its charity organisation, Empowerment Care Foundation is expected to benefit more than 12,000 students.
The donation was undertaken in addition to free health screening and medical care for adults and children with about GH¢80,000 worth of medication dispensed.
Dubbed ‘LIFE CHECK 23’, the exercise was aimed at improving the quality of life for the under-privileged in the various communities including Spintex, Dzorwulu, Abelenkpe, Achimota, Nima, Mamobi, Pig Farm, and Sabon Zango.
Global Lead Pastor of EWC, Prophet Gideon Danso said LIFE CHECK 2023 aligned with the church’s mission to create positive change by touching lives and improving the quality of life for the underprivileged.
He noted that the Empowerment Care Foundation had implemented various programmes since its inception in 2014 focusing on healthcare, education and other transformative initiatives.
“We are leading the way and focusing on the church’s primary assignment which is touching lives, making a difference, feeding the poor and giving back to the under-privileged. We want to be a channel of blessing, a bridge of hope, and a connection to touch the lives of people,” he said.
He stated that, through partnerships with medical professionals, LIFE CHECK 23 provided free health check-ups and treatments to those who could not afford proper healthcare in the communities.
According to him, about 128 Hepatitis B vaccinations were administered, 2118 Medical, Dental and Eye cases were resolved including six surgical cases, and 68 units of blood were donated.
Also he stated that, over 1556 people were registered onto the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
“LIFE CHECK’s annual medical support initiative has enhanced the overall well-being of our community’s underserved population.
It provides a free and accessible medical platform, equipped with highly skilled healthcare professionals who provide essential primary care and preventive services,” Prophet Danso stated.
In addition to the supplies, he said, more than 6,000 Bibles were also distributed adding that “EWC believes that these initiatives have the potential to create a ripple effect, manifesting positive change in our community for generations to come.”
By Claude Nyarko Adams
AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine has broken ground on a modern 1,500-seater multipurpose assembly hall and a secured main gatehouse for New Edubiase Senior High School, in the Adansi South District.
The project, being executed by local contractor AA Engineering and Construction, is expected to be completed within 17 months and forms part of the Mine’s 10-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) — a strategic framework for delivering sustainable development in its host communities.
Beyond the expansive assembly hall, the facility will house a fully integrated administrative complex featuring a dedicated sound room, a 16-seater staff eatery, and suites for the Headmaster and Assistant Headmaster, a bursar’s office, an 18-seater conference room, a 24-seater staff common room, six faculty office spaces and ancillary stores and washrooms.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, the Mine’s Director of Sustainability Management, Edmund Oduro Agyei, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to improving educational outcomes in host communities through impactful and sustainable investments.
The Edubiasehene, Guahyia Oduropanin Birikorang, commended the Mine for the investment, saying the project demonstrated that the company’s development agenda extended well beyond its immediate operational areas.
The Headmaster of New Edubiase SHS, Mr Christopher Appiah Mensah, described the intervention as timely and transformative, noting it would address longstanding infrastructure deficits, improve conditions for teaching and learning, and create adequate space for academic and social gatherings.
“This will greatly enhance administrative efficiency and improve the overall welfare of both staff and students,” he said.
The facility is also expected to boost the school’s capacity to host national examinations and major events, and strengthen its standing as a centre of academic excellence within the district.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
Stakeholders have been urged to help raise awareness and eliminate the stigma often associated with clubfoot, a treatable condition which occurs in children.
Parents are to seek early treatment for the condition while policymakers strengthen support for early detection, disability inclusion, and child health services in the country.
Clubfoot is a condition present at birth in which one or both feet are twisted inward and downward. If left untreated, experts say a child may face lifelong challenges with walking, which could affect education, employment, and social inclusion.
In Ghana, an estimated 1,000 babies are said to be born with clubfoot every year.
In commemoration of the World Clubfoot Day, marked on June 3 every year, stakeholders create awareness about the condition and, among other things, celebrate the dedication of health professionals who ensure children receive treatment.
In a release copied to the Ghana News Agency, Nana Afua Adutwumwaa Adjetey, Programme Manager, Ghana Clubfoot Programme, noted that many families were unaware of the free treatment available for the condition in Ghana. 
She observed that the lack of awareness continued to delay treatment for children who could have received prompt and life-changing care at no cost.
Treatment, she said, was provided free of charge for children under age five at Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG–Hope Walks) partner clinics across the country.
More than 9,000 children born with clubfoot had received treatment and care through the programme over the past 18 years.
“The treatment follows the internationally recognised Ponseti Method, which uses a series of gentle casts to gradually correct the position of the foot, followed by a brace to maintain correction and prevent relapse. When treatment begins early, success rates are extremely high,” Madam Adjetey explained.
“For many children, the journey begins with a health worker who identifies clubfoot at birth and makes a referral. A few moments of observation can change the course of a child’s life forever.”
“Clubfoot is not a curse; it is not caused by wrongdoing…it is a medical condition that can be treated successfully. Families should never feel ashamed to seek help.”
The Programme Manager said children born with the condition deserved equal opportunities, dignity, and inclusion, and called on communities to support parents rather than “judge them.” -GNA
