News
‘Invest More in Women Leadership Training’
Founder of the Women’s Leadership Development Institute (WLDI), Mrs Patience Antonio, has called for more deliberate investment in women’s leadership training, stressing that sustainable national development begins with the empowerment of women at all social levels.
Speaking to The Spectator in Accra, Mrs Antonio said her organisation was established to train women to understand their value, develop leadership skills, and transform their families and communities.
She explained that the Institute’s approach is built around a structured three-level training model, designed to reach women from diverse backgrounds, including professionals and entrepreneurs to market women and young girls.
“We can’t continue to speak about women’s empowerment without protecting and supporting them. Many women are struggling silently, and the best way to help is to strengthen their capacity and give them the tools to rebuild their lives,” she said.
According to her, the first level of training focuses on professional and career women — those already occupying leadership or administrative roles but seeking personal growth and leadership refinement.
Mrs Antonio said WLDI provides mentorship and strategic development programmes to help them balance work and family life while influencing policy and organisational culture.
The second level, she explained, targets women in business and entrepreneurship, including small and medium-scale business owners, traders, and artisans.
“We want to highlight women who are already leading their own businesses. These women contribute significantly to the economy, and with proper guidance, they can build stronger enterprises and empower others,” she said.
However, Mrs Antonio emphasised that the third and most critical level focuses on grassroots women, particularly those working in markets and informal sectors.
She described this group as “the backbone of the economy,” yet also the most vulnerable, saying,
“From our analysis, many of the social problems we face today originate from this group.”
“Some of these women struggle to care for their children, leading to issues like streetism and broken families, while others fall into repeated unhealthy relationships because they lack support and self-awareness,” she stated.
She mentioned that through training in financial literacy, health education, and self-leadership, WLDI seeks to help these women make better decisions for their lives and families.
She added that the Institute also engages them in discussions on sanitation and public health, particularly in market environments, to improve hygiene and food safety.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
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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
