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Fashion designer reaches out to Hour of Grace Orphanage
A popular fashion designer in the New Juaben Municipality of the Eastern Region, Mrs Doris Bonney, has appealed to the public to show love to the vulnerable, especially children in the various orphanages in this era of COVID-19 pandemic.
According to her, there was nothing more noble than somebody spending a little time with the children in the orphanages and sharing life experiences and gifts with them.
She said, “None of the children at the orphanages decided on their own to be there, but circumstances have done so, and it is, therefore, important that we (society) get back to care for them.”
Mrs Bonney made the appeal when she presented food items and soft drinks to the staff and children of the Hour of Grace Orphanage near Huhunya on Wednesday.
The programme, which was part of her 45th birthday celebration, offered her the opportunity to visit the children and share her experiences in life with them.
She ate with the inmates and urged them to be respectful to everybody they came into contact to enable them receive the blessings of God to grow to become good and law abiding citizens of Ghana, in future.
Speaking to the Spectator on the reasons for celebrating her birthday at the orphanage, Mrs Bonney said, “Birthdays are happy and impactful occasions children always look forward to either from their friends, parents or themselves because they know that it would be filled with gifts, new dresses, and special food that they can share with friends.”
It is unfortunate that most orphans and the homeless people do not experience such special events, hence my decision to celebrate my birthday with the orphanage children.
“It is a great joy to celebrate your birthday with such underprivileged kids because it gives an idea of how to plan for your life,” she said.
She urged the public, especially the well-to-do in society not to be overwhelmed by their social status but rather be impressed by how they put smiles on the faces of the vulnerable.
Mrs Bonney said most of her birthdays had been celebrated in orphanages in places such as Bawjiase, Assin Fosu and Koforidua.
“Let us become windows to the orphans to enable them realise that they are not different but children of Ghana,” she added.
The Director of the orphanage, Mr Lawrence Gbengor, thanked Mrs Bonney for the gesture and appealed for support for the children.
He said the role of the society was to give the vulnerable children a helping hand to enable them feel comfortable in the environment they had found themselves in.
He said that Mrs Bonney would be counted among the people who cared for needy children in the society.
By Samuel Opare Lartey
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Speaker of Parliament inaugurates open Parliament Steering Committee, launches action plan
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has launched the Open Parliament Steering Committee and the Open Parliament Action Plan.
The ceremony was under the theme “Achieving Gender Equality: Action by Action.”
The Speaker highlighted the critical role Parliament plays in translating the will of the people into inclusive legislation, responsive policies, and accountable governance.
“The International Day of Parliamentarianism is worth celebrating, as it offers an opportunity not only to recognise and promote achievements in strengthening democratic governance, but also to pause and reflect on the remaining gaps in institutionalising parliamentary democracy,” he said.
He noted that the event was scheduled to coincide with the International Day of Parliamentarianism to reinforce the importance of open and inclusive governance.
The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, stated that the International Day of Parliamentarianism is intended to recognise the vital role Parliaments play globally as pillars of democratic governance.
He noted that this marks the first time Ghana is formally observing the day.
“The gravity of our observance is further accentuated as we convene to witness the launch of the Open Parliament Action Plan by the Open Government Partnership Caucus,” he said.
Delivering a statement on behalf of the Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Deputy Minority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei, described the Open Parliament Action Plan as a transformative initiative aimed at strengthening the relationship between Parliament and the public.
She said the plan represents a bold commitment to making Parliament more transparent, accessible, and responsive to the needs of Ghanaians.
The Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, described the launch as a key milestone in the effort to build a citizen-focused and accountable Parliament.
He added that the International Day of Parliamentarianism is a call to action to recommit to the highest standards of public service and democratic accountability.
The inauguration was attended by a wide range of stakeholders, including the Majority and Minority Members of Parliament, members of the Open Parliament Steering Committee, the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Caucus, Parliamentary Network Africa, representatives from civil society organisations, members of the diplomatic corps, traditional and religious leaders, student bodies, the Parliamentary Press Corps, and other media partners.
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NACOC declares drug menace a national emergency
The Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Interior has paid a working visit to the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) to engage with its leadership and assess operational challenges hampering the fight against illicit drugs.
In a detailed presentation, Dr. Basha Ligbi, Head of the Commission’s Research Bureau, highlighted critical setbacks including broken body scanners at airport terminals, inadequate office infrastructure, overcrowded detention facilities, and deteriorating vehicles.
He also called for the Commission’s headquarters to be reclassified as a security zone, citing growing security risks due to private encroachment and nearby high-rise developments.
Director General of NACOC, Brigadier General Maxwell Obiba Mantey, described the escalating drug trade as a national emergency, warning that drug barons now rival armed robbers in threat level and are gaining influence at the highest levels.
He appealed for stronger institutional support and morale-boosting interventions to preserve the integrity of NACOC officers.
Chairman of the Committee and MP for Builsa North, James Agalga, assured the Commission of the Committee’s commitment to escalate the concerns to Parliament and engage key justice sector stakeholders to fast-track reforms in support of NACOC’s mandate.
