News
Let’s project our interest – Gender advocate
A gender advocate, Ms Habiba Nibaradun has called for more women in leadership position to ensure they projected needs of women in the country.
She stated that many unfavourable rules at work, in society and the country at large were as a result of the lack of women representation at the decision-making table to champion issues that affect women.
“We have been battling with issues of exclusive breastfeeding and how to combine work with raising a baby when there are no care centres at the offices and nothing much has been achieved because many of the people at the helm of affairs are males who do not understand the biological makeup of women and what their needs are”, she said.
Miss Nibaradun who was facilitator stated this at a sensitisation meeting for some young ladies drawn from the Wa West, Wa East and Sissala West District as well as the Wa Municipal Assemblies.
The workshop which was held in Wa in the Upper West Region over the weekend by the Network for Young Women Empowerment was supported by Plan International Ghana.
The facilitator highlighted that when women assumed higher positions, they did not only project the concerns of their constituents, but they ensured also that policies and programmes were gender sensitive to benefit every one.
The advocate lamented that there was still impediment to women’s quest for leadership positions in the country and said most of it were as a result of their gender.
She raised issues such as limited education among women and the limited commitment towards developing the capacity of women to better put them up for such positions as some of the hindrances.
“There are times when positions become vacant at an office and people are needed to fill them but few women than men apply because many of them do not have the needed qualification for the position; so we have many women working in the formal sector but most of them are low ranked personnel such as cleaners, secretaries and office assistants”, she bemoaned.
She said some political parties were also unwilling to support women who out for positions such as members of parliament as a result of the stereotypes surrounding women in politics and believe they will waste resources as the woman was unlikely to win.
She called for a stop to all such practices which according to her reduced the confidence of women in participating in every male dominated contest.
For her part, the Chairperson of the NYWE, Ms Ida Nakaar also said it was necessary to sensitise young girls to the essence of higher education which would better position them to assume such responsibilities.
“Women need to discover their potentials too and remain resolute to working on them not limit themselves to marriage and child bearing; we need more women at the decision table to help champion our issues”, she added.
From Lydia Darlington Fordjour, Wa
President John Dramani Mahama has called on Ghanaians to remain united, grateful and prayerful despite the recent floods that claimed lives and destroyed property in parts of Accra.
Speaking at the National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving held at the forecourt of the State House in Accra, the President noted that the nation had gathered not because all its challenges had been solved, but to reflect, give thanks to God and renew its commitment to the country’s development.
He explained that throughout Ghana’s history, the nation had consistently turned to God during both difficult and successful times, describing faith as one of the country’s strongest pillars.
“We gather not as members of different political parties, ethnic groups or religions, but as one people under God,” President Mahama stated.
He encouraged Ghanaians to approach the occasion with grateful hearts, stressing that every blessing the country enjoys comes from God.
Reflecting on the recent floods that devastated parts of Accra, President Mahama acknowledged the pain of families who lost loved ones and property during the disaster.
Despite the tragedy, he urged citizens to draw strength from Scripture, quoting First Epistle to the Thessalonians Chapter 5, Verse 18, which encourages believers to give thanks in all circumstances.
The National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving brought together religious leaders, members of Parliament, the Judiciary, senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, security service chiefs, traditional leaders and other dignitaries to pray for the nation and reflect on its progress and challenges.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Renowned Ghanaian businessman and an indigene of the Upper East Region, Awentami Paul Afoko, has called for the construction of an international airport in the Upper East Region, arguing that it is critical to unlocking the region’s agricultural and export potential.
Addressing stakeholders at the Regional Development Framework validation forum in Bolgatanga, Mr. Afoko said the Upper East Region possesses enormous economic opportunities that can be harnessed through strategic investment in agriculture, infrastructure,, and trade.
“As an entrepreneur, I have learnt that governments do not create businesses; entrepreneurs do. Government’s responsibility is to create the environment within which businesses can thrive,” he said.
He highlighted irrigation projects and commercial farming as key drivers of economic transformation, urging greater investment in year-round production of vegetables, fruits, and flowers for international markets.
“The challenge is not finding buyers. The challenge is producing at sufficient scale throughout the year,” he stated.
Mr. Afoko also called for investment in warehouses, cold-chain facilities, packaging centres and standardized production systems to improve the competitiveness of local products, including shea butter, basket weaving, and textiles.
“We must organise ourselves to produce standardised products and invest in warehouses, cold chains, and packaging so that we become year-round suppliers,” he said.
He stressed that an international airport would significantly boost exports from the region.
“We need an airport urgently so that flowers from the Upper East can reach Europe before Kenyan flowers do. Burkina Faso produces strawberries, and we can do the same,” he remarked.
According to Mr. Afoko, the region’s strategic location also presents opportunities to expand cross-border trade with neighbouring countries through stronger economic diplomacy.
“There is the need for an international airport in the region to enable us to seize export opportunities. Our strategic location also presents enormous opportunities to strengthen border trade,” he added.
He called on the government, diplomats, and development partners to work together to position the Upper East Region as a major agricultural and export hub in West Africa.
By: Jacob Aggrey
