News
Health advocate calls for tax waver on sanitary products
Ms Minnow
A health advocate Ms Wilhemina Minnow has called on government to support the fight against period poverty by wavering taxes on menstrual products.
This she said would make such products affordable and make them more accessible to girls especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds .“Addressing menstrual poverty through improved access to menstrual products, proper hygiene facilities, and comprehensive menstrual education is crucial to empowering young girls and ensuring their over-all wellbeing,” she added.
She bemoaned that there were many girls who miss school during their periods due to the lack of sanitary pads, leading to a negative impact on their education and potential opportunities.
Ms Minnow who is also a health professional mentioned that menstrual discomfort and fear of leaks could discourage young girls from participating in extra-curricular activities like sports, limiting their overall engagement and self-confidence.
“We cannot afford to put young girls through the pain of societal stigmatisation and shame surrounding menstruation because this can lead to emotional distress and can also affect their mental health to a large extent.”
“If policy makers do not ensure an end to menstrual poverty, a time will come that we cannot find any confident young girl especially in deprived communities. Poor girls will lose confidence even before they become women. This is unacceptable,” she stressed.
Throwing more light on health risks associated with poor menstrual hygiene, the health advocate stated that using unhygienic materials during menstruation could increase the risk of infections and other health issues including, chronic candidiasis, Urinary Tract Infections (UTI), infertility and even birth complications.
She said, it is therefore very important for young girls to receive frequent education on the significance of proper menstrual management to promote overall wellbeing.
“Providing comprehensive and age-appropriate menstrual health education, both at home and in schools, to empower girls with knowledge about menstruation, hygiene and overall menstrual health is very important.”
“Also, teaching them about menstrual tracking is necessary to help them understand their cycles, which can help identify irregularities and potential health issues,” she added.
According to the healthcare giver, engaging boys and men about menstruation could equally help promote empathy and understanding while creating a more inclusive and supportive environment.
By Raissa Sambou
The Volta North Regional Police Command has secured a conviction of a 27 year old man Mohammed Rafiu for making unlawful entry and stealing church musical instruments at Hohoe in the Volta Region.
On June 5, 2026 the accused was observed near the Faith International Ministry Church carrying a sack containing various items rushing to hail a car.
The witnesses suspected his action and approached to check the content in the sack. The following items were found, One (1) Amplifier, One (1) equalizer, One (1) mixer and
Cross-over Machine all belonging to the church.
The accused was arrested and brought to the Hohoe Police District where he admitted to police to the charges leveled against him.
On Monday June 8, 2026 the accused was put before the Hohoe circuit cout where he pleaded guilty on two counts and was convicted and sentenced to three (3) years for unlawful entry and four (4) years of stealing.
Both sentences are to run concurrently.
The Volta North Regional Police Command has urged the general public to immediately report any suspected criminal activities to the Police for action.
News
Dome-Kwabenya MP, Ga East MCE tour flood-prone areas in the constituency, assure victims of support
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Dome-Kwabenya, Elikplim Akurugu, together with the Municipal Chief Executive for the Ga East Municipal Assembly, Edmund Agboh, and officials of the assembly, have toured several flood-prone communities in the constituency to identify the causes of recent flooding and inspect structures obstructing waterways.
The inspection made on the Monday, 8th June, 2026 formed part of efforts to assess the extent of the flooding, identify structures built on waterways, and develop plans for their demolition to prevent future occurrences.
Some areas visited during the tour included Christian Village, Sesemi, Abokobi Station, Falaku and the Pure Water area, all of which were affected by the recent floods that hit parts of the constituency.
Speaking to the media after the inspection, the MP expressed sadness over the destruction caused by the floods, noting that although no lives were lost, many residents had suffered significant property damage.
She attributed much of the flooding to human activities such as indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drains and the construction of buildings on waterways and drainage channels.
The MP appealed to residents to change their attitudes towards sanitation and environmental management, stressing that the country did not have a deficit of prayers but rather an attitude deficit.
She assured residents that the assembly and its technical team would immediately begin work to address some of the drainage challenges identified during the tour.
Ms. Akurugu sympathised with residents whose homes and businesses were affected by the floods and assured them that efforts were being made to secure relief items to support them.
The Municipal Chief Executive of the Ga East Municipal Assembly, Edmund Agboh, said the inspection was intended to take stock of the causes of the recent flooding, which he described as unprecedented.
According to him, the assembly wants to be proactive by identifying and addressing the factors responsible for the flooding before the next rainy season.
Mr. Agboh blamed part of the problem on the increasing number of structures being erected on waterways and drainage paths, as well as the failure of some residents to comply with building regulations.
He disclosed that many of the structures identified during the inspection would be marked for demolition after the necessary procedures had been completed.
The MCE further announced plans to intensify inspections, particularly on weekends, explaining that some developers often undertake unauthorised construction works on Saturdays and Sundays when assembly officials are not at work.
He said the assembly would collaborate with neighbouring jurisdictions and deploy additional resources to improve drainage systems and reduce flooding in the municipality.
The MCE assured that the assembly will use the findings from the inspection to implement immediate and long-term measures aimed at reducing flooding and protecting lives and property in Dome-Kwabenya.
The Director of Works at the Ga East Municipal Assembly, Engineer Justine Glover, said the team inspected several critical locations along the Dakobi River and other flood-prone areas.
He explained that at Pantang Village, officials directed contractors to excavate and open blocked culvert outlets to allow the free flow of water during rainfall.
At Sesemi, he said the team observed extensive damage caused by upstream developments and the absence of proper drainage infrastructure.
Engineer Glover added that officials recommended dredging drainage channels at Abokobi Station to improve the performance of existing culverts.
He further revealed that some structures identified on waterways at Falaku had been earmarked for demolition as part of efforts to restore the natural flow of water.
In addition to the inspection, the MP and the MCE visited residents affected by the floods in the Pure Water area to offer words of encouragement and assure them of support.
The tour also revealed that many residents had constructed buildings on waterways, while several structures lacked the required building permits, a situation officials said had contributed significantly to the flooding experienced in the constituency.
By: Jacob Aggrey
