News
GNASSM nat’l executives inaugurated.
A nine-member national executives of the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM), has been elected and sworn into office by the Supervising High Court Judge, Justice Kofi Akrowiah, in Kumasi.
Headed by Mr Philip Akufu as President, he polled 160 votes to beat Emmanuel Yirenkyi Antwi who managed to get 57 votes in a hot contest conducted in the 10 mining districts of GNASSM.
Sampson Kofi Wiredu went unopposed as vice president whilst Godwin Armah beat Stephen Baidoo massively to maintain the General Secretary position.
Alhaji Baba Ahmed was re-elected as the National Organiser by defeating Philip Kwabena Bawa with a wide margin while Razak Abdul Alhassan went unopposed to become the Director of Communication.
Former Communication Director, Francis Opoku is the new Financial Director following massive endorsement by delegates when he locked horns with one Nana Meisu Adu.
The rest of the elected executives are Joseph Blankson Aidoo, National Technical Director, Janet Esi Kusi, National Treasurer, and Victoria Adobea Guerrieri, National Women Coordinator.
Two hundred and twenty-six delegates participated in the election which was supervised by the Electoral Commission (EC).
The election was initially scheduled for March 24, 2020, but it was delayed due to the emergence of COVID-19.
Mr Richard Kofi Afenu, a former Director of the Minerals Commission, in his keynote address stressed the importance of the GNASSM in the mining industry describing it as a key sector to the economy.
He reminded the association of the provisions of Act 933 which regulated the industry and urged members to monitor their own activities in order not to operate outside the law to sustain the industry.
Mr Afenu urged the members to ensure good mining practices as well as maintain peaceful co-existence with communities in which they operate.
The newly elected President of GNASSM hinted that he would work hard to rebrand the association, to re-position it to promote and regulate small scale mining as well as seek the welfare of members.
He assured that the new executives would work vigorously to avoid illegal mining and sustain the mining industry.
The national president said he would promote women in mining in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure gender balance as part of transformational measures to develop the fortunes of the GNASSM.
He said his administration would work to promote a responsible and sustainable small scale mining sector and promised an all-inclusive, transparent administration that would respect existing structures.
Mr Akufu, therefore, called for support of all members to enable the executives turn round the fortunes of the association.
The Chairman of GNASSM Election Transition Management Team (ETMT), Frank Osei, commended all members and urged members to support the national executives as they chart a new direction for the association for the needed change.
From Kingsley E.Hope, Kumasi
Troubled and anxious citizens in Damongo of the Savannah Region have expressed concerns about the number of young people, believed to be under the age of 18, involved in ‘shisha’ smoking in pubs and drinking spots within the township.
Eyewitnesses say the minors were seen patronising nightlife venues, where Shisha smoking happen in the open.
The situation has sparked renewed public concern over the enforcement of child protection laws and regulations governing the operations of entertainment centres in the municipality and country as a whole.
An eyewitness, who spoke to The Spectator on conditions of anonymity for security reasons, noted that the situation was becoming increasingly common.
“This is not a one-off incident. It is becoming very common, but residents like us cannot openly report or speak about it because our lives will be at risk,” he said.
Under Ghanaian law, minors were prohibited from patronising Shisha.
Public health experts have consistently warned that shisha use exposes users to harmful substances that can negatively affect brain development, respiratory health, and overall well-being, particularly among young people.
The residents believe the alleged incidents point to broader challenges relating to youth supervision, substance abuse, and weak enforcement of existing regulations and have called on municipal authorities, security agencies, and regulatory bodies to intensify monitoring of pubs and entertainment centres to ensure compliance with the law.
In an effort to address the menace, Mr Salisu Be-Awurbi, the Savannah Regional Minister, has led public education campaigns, engaged security agencies, and supported enforcement actions to address the rising use of illicit substances in the region.
Wura Kelly Seidu Boresah I, the Chief of Damongo, has also called on all stakeholders including parents, community leaders, institutions, and young people to actively support efforts to curb drug abuse, warning that the rising consumption of hard drugs poses a serious health threat to the future of the youth in the Savannah Region.
He also cautioned individuals involved in the sale and distribution of illicit drugs to immediately desist from the practice, stressing that offenders will face arrest and prosecution in accordance with the law.
From Geoffrey Buta, Damongo, Savannah Region
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Dr Theresa Baffour, an advocate for ending violence and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SAHM SAHW Foundation, has said that society plays a critical and pivotal role in breaking the cycle of domestic violence.
According to her, domestic violence is a major contributor of making women, who are mostly the victims, mentally derailed and unable to engage in economic activities.
She said this when the foundation called on the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, to solicit support for the initiative by the “Strong and Healthy Minds, Strong and Healthy Women” (SAHM SAHW) to combat domestic violence within the Ga State.
The visit was occasioned by the fact that domestic violence cases have become quite prevalent in the Ga communities and is retarding growth.
According to her, the canker was an impediment to national development because the victims were usually tortured and would have to go through series of therapies to return to the right state of mind.
Dr Baffour mentioned that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) places a mental toll on women, and was, therefore, important to break the cycle through comprehensive mental health support, crisis intervention and empowerment programmes in communities with high rates of GBV.
This intervention, she underscored, would help in empowering the denigrated victim of domestic violence to soundly heal, build and thrive.
Dr Baffour added that the initiative would provide holistic, trauma-informed mental health care and advocacy for young women affected by domestic violence.
According to her, the above statement would create safe spaces for healing and equipping them with entrepreneurial skills for renewed hope and empowered life.
The Ga Mantse pledged his support for the laudable initiative to combat domestic violence and also acknowledged the need to address it in the Ga State.
Further endorsement came from Justice Julia Naa-Yarley Adjei Amoah, Chief of Staff at the Office of the Ga Mantse, as she commended the team of SAHM SAHW Foundation for taking a bold step to end the canker in the Greater Accra.
She added that it was a step in the right direction to save vulnerable women from torture, stress and emotional abuse.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
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