News
Ghanaian nurse Naomi Oti vies for global nursing prize to support health delivery
An oncology nurse specialist and Head of Nursing at the National Radiotherapy Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Centre, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, has been named one of the top 10 finalists in the prestigious ‘Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award’ out of over 100,000 entries worldwide.
Naomi Oyoe Ohene Oti, is one of only two Africans to make the final shortlist, and now needs public votes to bring home a historic win for Ghana and Africa.
This was contained in a statement copied to The Spectator in Accra on Tuesday.
According to the statement, currently, the oncology nurse specialist is vying for a cash prize of $250,000 together with other competitors across the world to enable her expand her work in cancer education, mentorship, and care across Africa.
At the National Radiotherapy Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Center, the statement said, she has championed equity in cancer outcomes, pioneered specialist nurse training, and transformed patient care.
“Under her leadership, over 70 oncology and breast care nurses have been trained,” it added.
It mentioned that, Naomi has worked with leading global institutions including the Cross Cancer Institute (Canada) to bring high-quality oncology education to Ghanaian nurses.
According to the statement, she had played a key role in developing the country’s postgraduate oncology nursing curriculum and has mentored more than 48 nurses across Africa.
“Her commitment to building capacity is helping to raise a new generation of empowered African oncology nurse leaders’’.
“Her influence reaches the international stage through her work with the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), the International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care (ISNCC), and ASCO’s global faculty’’.
The statement said Ms Oti co-leads research initiatives and policy development efforts that integrate African perspectives into global oncology practices.
It further mentioned that the Nurse Specialist’s groundbreaking research on breast cancer risks among African women has reshaped early detection strategies adding that “her contributions to clinical trial protocols have enhanced patient engagement and data integrity across multiple international studies.”
Ms Oti has received numerous national accolades, including the Ghana Ministry of Health Excellence Award and the Dr Dorcia Kisseh International Award from the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association.
Ghanaians have been urged to vote for Ms Oti through https://apply.asterguardians.com/voting
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
News
Global Africa Summit: Jane Reindorf urges policy makers to remove barriers discouraging investment
The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Investment Network, Jane Reindorf, has urged policy makers to remove barriers that discourage investment in Ghana.
She made the appeal during the two-day Global Africa Summit held at the Alisa Hotel in Accra from December 11-12.
The Global Africa Summit is an initiative of the Africa Investment Network designed to unite Africa and its global diaspora under a shared vision of economic collaboration and sustainable development.
The summit provides a platform for governments, investors, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss opportunities that can accelerate growth across the continent.
Held in major cities across the world, the summit focuses on promoting trade, investment, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
It also highlights the critical role of diaspora capital and partnerships in unlocking Africa’s potential in sectors such as technology, renewable energy, agriculture, finance, tourism, and the creative economy.
Reindorf speaking to journalists at the summit, explained that the forum was created to explore opportunities for trade and investment in Ghana across different sectors.
She noted that although the country was showing visible development, a more supportive environment would help attract and retain investors, especially those from the diaspora.
She observed that people in the diaspora come to Ghana through different experiences and journeys, and a friendly business climate would help sustain their interest.
She stressed that investors mainly look for places where their capital can grow and make meaningful impact.
In her view, cultural attitudes, politics, and personal biases sometimes block opportunities in Ghana even though investors focus more on the strength of business prospects than on political issues.
She pointed out that a diaspora investor with about 200 million dollars could easily choose Kenya or South Africa if Ghana failed to create a favourable environment.
For her, government must work to keep investment coming into Ghana instead of losing it to other countries.
Reindorf shared that the next day of the summit would include reflections on the event and discussions on investment opportunities in Africa’s “sixth region,” the diaspora.
She explained that these conversations would look at how remittances can be turned into productive investments rather than being used only for family support.
She added that entrepreneurs would present bankable projects to both in-person and virtual investors as part of efforts to link ideas with funding.
She described this as the moment “the magic happens,” and expressed appreciation for the support of the network’s investment partner, John Morris.
Reindorf highlighted that African Americans, Brazilians, and Caribbean communities form a strong base of potential investors.
She said the Africa Investment Network hopes to engage these groups and direct their interest toward Ghana by building the right platform.
She noted that during her first visit to Ghana, she assessed the market and saw clear potential to attract investment through stocks, bonds, projects, and direct ventures.
She explained that this was the type of platform the organisation aims to strengthen to support Ghana’s investment drive.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The MP for Old Tafo, Vincent Assafuah, has criticised what he describes as an attempt by the President to influence the work of Parliament in the ongoing debate over the future of the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
On his facebook post in response to recent developments, Assafuah argued that those who previously claimed he did not understand the separation of powers must now reconsider their position.
He noted that the current situation shows the President trying to direct Parliamentarians on how to carry out their duties, a move he believes challenges the very principles those critics defended.
Assafuah urged the President to restrain the Deputy Attorney General, Justice Sai, following the widespread public backlash over moves linked to the possible scrapping of the OSP.
He stressed that the case currently before the court should be withdrawn, describing it as unnecessary.
He referenced Section 4 of the OSP Act, explaining that all prosecutions by the Office of the Special Prosecutor must be authorised by the Attorney General, whose powers he described as sacrosanct.
By: Jacob Aggrey
