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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Ahyiresu and Abofrem, two quiet communities in the Atwima Mponua District, have been shaken to the core by a chilling midnight drama that reads like a nightmare.
A pastor and a young mother stand accused of attempting to bury a five‑month‑old baby girl alive, a crime that has ignited outrage and disbelief across the township.
According to police, Apostle Richmond Akwasi Frimpong, 36, Head Pastor of the Anointed Grace Prayer Ministry at Kuffour Camp, conspired with his uncle Emmanuel Appiah, 53, and the child’s mother, 23‑year‑old Beatrice Agyapomaa, to dispose of the infant, Anaya Achiaa, under the cover of darkness.
A fourth suspect, Emmanuel Donkor, remains on the run.
The suspects were caught near a refuse dump around 10 pm on April 9, 2026, after a vigilant resident, Akwasi Twezor, noticed their suspicious movements.
When confronted, they claimed the child was already dead and had palace approval for burial. But Twezor’s instincts proved right—the baby was still alive, gasping faintly for breath.
Chief Linguist, Nana Yaw Badu, later confirmed that Frimpong had misled him earlier in the evening, securing permission for burial by falsely declaring the child dead.
The infant was rushed to the Abofrem Clinic, where she is now responding well to treatment. Police described her as “very beautiful.”
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Evelyn Yitamkey, Commander of DOVVSU in Bibiani, confirmed that the suspects have been provisionally charged.
Frimpong faces attempted murder and conspiracy charges, while Agyapomaa and Appiah are charged with conspiracy and abetment.
They were remanded by the Bibiani Circuit Court, presided over by Judge Frank Asiedu Nimako, to assist investigations.
The docket has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department for advice, ASP Yitamkey indicated.
The attempted crime has provoked fury among residents, many suspecting ritual motives aimed at bolstering the pastor’s influence.
Crowds attempted to attack the suspects outside court, but police intervention prevented mob justice.
The Assembly Member for Ahyiresu, Yusuf Suleiman, has assured residents that justice will be pursued swiftly.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
The forecourt of the African University of Communications and Business (AUCB) in Accra came alive on Friday with colour, creativity and innovation, as Level 300 students transformed the space into a lively exhibition of ideas.
Under the theme “Building meaningful brands beyond the logo,” the students invited patrons into a world where ordinary products were reimagined through storytelling, design and purpose.
From scented candles to innovative food concepts, each stand told a unique story, one that went beyond aesthetics to capture identity, value and human connection.
For many of the students, the event was more than just an academic exercise; it was a moment to dream out loud.
Guided by their lecturer, Peter Wonders, they explored what it truly means to build a brand in today’s competitive world where trust, consistency and experience matter just as much as logos and slogans.
Chairman of the occasion, Nana Kum Gyata VI, in his remarks said a brand is what people say about you when you are not present.
At the end of the presentations, awards were presented to deserving groups with Vida Nyaneba emerging as the overall best branding student.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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