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Institute of African Studies pays courtesy call on Gender Minister
A delegation from the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana, led by Professor Samuel Aniegye Ntewusu, paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey at her office.
The visit yesterday was to congratulate her on her appointment as Minister and to commend her outstanding performance during her time as a student at the Institute.
The meeting also explored potential areas of collaboration between the Ministry and the Institute.
Discussions focused on how the Ministry could leverage the Institute’s research to inform policy and drive evidence-based decision-making.
Key thematic areas included gender equality—particularly in light of ongoing curriculum reforms in STEM education—as well as inclusion, climate change, and advocacy.
The issue of streetism was raised, with the delegation expressing concern over its link to social vices.
Professor Ntewusu expressed confidence in the Minister’s capabilities, noting that her deep understanding of social issues and policy frameworks uniquely positions her to lead the Ministry in aligning the nation’s developmental agenda with inclusive protection for vulnerable populations, including persons with disabilities and children.
In her remarks, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey thanked the Institute for the visit and for the knowledge and principles imparted to her during her academic journey.
“I am not just a product of the system but a proud one. I remain focused on working with you to ensure the rights of all Ghanaians—especially the vulnerable—are fully protected, as espoused by H.E. the President,” she said.
The Minister further assured the delegation of her commitment to strengthening partnerships with the Institute, particularly in the area of research, to enhance the Ministry’s impact.
Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey reaffirmed the Ministry’s intention to adopt a cross-sectoral, inter-ministerial approach to address the challenge of street is comprehensively.
Significant attention was also given to addressing conflict and violence against women and girls, with sexual and domestic abuse highlighted as critical concerns.
The delegation and the Minister also deliberated on increasing access to affordable land for farming and housing to economically empower more women.
The visit ended on a hopeful note, with both parties expressing a strong commitment to deepening collaboration.
The Northern Regional Police Command has arrested three men believed to be part of a kidnapping syndicate responsible for abducting a 42-year-old man in Wapuli, a community in the Yendi District.
The suspects, Haruna Seidu, Amidu Bandi and Osman Bandi allegedly kidnapped the victim and demanded GH¢100,000 from his family for his release.
According to a police statement, officers from the Regional Police Intelligence Directorate were deployed to Wapuli after the incident was reported.
The team conducted surveillance and launched a rescue operation.
On Friday, December 5, 2025, police successfully rescued the victim and arrested the suspects after what was described as an intense exchange of gunfire.
The suspects were later taken into custody and are expected to be arraigned before court.
The Police said the a fourth suspect, who is believed to have sustained gunshot wounds during the operation, is currently on the run.
They urged the public to provide any information that may lead to his arrest.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
Nana Yaa Serwaa Sarpong advocates Bold educational reforms at the UK House of Lords during Global Education Summit.
On November 27 2025, global development leaders, policymakers, education experts and civil society organisations gathered at the UK Parliament’s House of Lords for the Global Education Summit hosted by The Baroness Verma of Leicester and organised by the African British Business Forum.
The high-level event focused on the global rise in out-of-school children and the urgent reforms required to deliver equitable, quality education for all.
Among the distinguished Speakers was Nana Yaa Serwaa Sarpong, Founder & President of Women in Sustainability Africa (WiSA) and General Manager of the EIB Network, who delivered a compelling address on the theme “Breaking Barriers: Empowering Out-of-School Children Through Education.”
In her remarks, Nana Yaa who is currently celebrating 26years of Service in the Media, emphasized that education must be viewed as essential national infrastructure, not charity.
Borrowing experiences from her 18 years of empowering women and young people, she presented a strong case on how Africa’s poor educational systems tie into the poor state of its Gender Equality gap.
According to her, unlocking access to education is one of the most effective ways to strengthen economies, empower women and young girls, build resilient communities and drive sustainable development.
She highlighted that each child excluded from learning represents deferred innovation, delayed opportunity and a weakened society.
Nana Yaa noted that the barriers keeping millions of children out of school are complex and interconnected—ranging from poverty and cultural norms to geographical isolation and digital exclusion.
Addressing these challenges, she argued, requires solutions that are equally comprehensive and multi-layered.
Nana Yaa stressed that girls remain disproportionately affected, and investing in girls’ education has a transformative impact across several Sustainable Development Goals, including gender equality, poverty reduction, health outcomes and climate resilience.
Nana Yaa advocated for the expansion of flexible, inclusive and community-responsive educational models, such as mobile classrooms for remote and nomadic communities, community learning hubs, after-hours programmes for working children, radio-based instruction for low-tech areas and digital platforms designed to reach learners regardless of connectivity challenges.
She warned that without deliberate action, the digital divide would continue to widen, pushing already vulnerable children further to the margins.
During her presentation, she introduced three major reforms WiSA is seeking Partners for, aimed at reshaping educational access across Africa and beyond.
These are the Digital Bridge for Out-of-School Children (DBOC), the Community Education Stewardship Hubs (CESH) involving local women educators and youth volunteers and the Teen-focused Global Skills Accelerator for Out-of-School Teens (GSA-OT).
She also underscored the need for education systems that support instruction, inclusivity and healing, particularly for children experiencing autism, trauma, displacement or conflict.
Nana Yaa emphasised that emotional and psychological support must be integrated into educational frameworks in order to restore confidence, stability and long-term learning capacity.
The summit concluded with strong commitments from stakeholders to adopt sustainable financing models, strengthen data-driven policies and expand cross-sector partnerships.
The African British Business Forum reaffirmed its commitment to championing innovative, scalable solutions to educational inclusion across the UK, Africa and the wider global community.
