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Lifebuoy appoints 2 CEOs to champion handwashing in Ghana
Belicia Asigri (left) and Kwame Danquah
Lifebuoy, hygiene soap brand, has celebrated Global Handwashing Day in Ghana by appointing two “H for Handwashing” Chief Education Officers (CEOs) who will spread the important message of handwashing with soap and water.
The two CEOs were announced during a celebration at the Christ the King International School in Accra after a nationwide selection process where two pupils, Belicia Asigri of Services Basic School and Kwame Danquah of Christ the King International School were handpicked from dozens of children under the age of 12.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Education, Director of Pre-Tertiary Education at the Ministry of Education, Nana Baffuor Awuah, lauded the use of children as peer educators, saying.
He said “I have no doubt that this initiative will raise a generation of hygiene-conscious citizens who will add to the development of the nation through sensitisation in their communities and become responsible change agents.”
Osato Evbuomwan, Category Manager Skin Cleansing of Unilever Ghana said, “Lifebuoy’s purpose has always been about preventing illness by promoting good hand hygiene through handwashing with soap.”
According to him, “this Global Handwashing Day, we are incredibly excited to recognise the fundamental role children can play in spreading the message that H must stand for Handwashing. Through the power of peer-to-peer learning, we hope to inspire more children to rise and change the world’s handwashing behaviours.”
With Lifebuoy having already reached over six million schoolchildren across Ghana with educational material to improve handwashing behaviours, the new CEOs will be accelerating the impact through peer-to-peer learning and calling on schools to integrate hygiene into national curricula.
In 2020, Lifebuoy launched its award-winning campaign, “H is for Handwashing”, aiming to fundamentally change the world’s handwashing habits and accelerate handwashing behaviour change for children. Through this campaign the brand’s intent was to transform the letter H in the alphabet to a symbol for Handwashing.
This year, Lifebuoy is harnessing the power of peer-to-peer learning within the context of early childhood learning.
Numerous studies have shown that children are more likely to change their behaviour when influenced by others, with one study finding 59 per cent of students changing their behaviour after being influenced by their peers.
Therefore, Lifebuoy is calling on young changemakers to take on the mantle of “H for Handwashing” Chief Education Officers (CEOs) to inspire and cultivate a new generation of hand hygiene ambassadors.
Ghana’s First Lady, Lordina Mahama, has made a generous donation to the country’s national female Under-17 and Under-20 teams – Black Maidens and Black Princesses- as they continue preparations for major international assignments.
The donation, made on Friday, May 22, was presented on behalf of the First Lady by the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, at the GFA Technical Centre in Prampram.
The gesture forms part of efforts to motivate and support Ghana’s young female footballers as they prepare to represent the country on the international stage.
The donation included essential food items and toiletries aimed at supporting the welfare and well-being of the players and technical teams.
The donation included cartons of Milo, T-rolls, soft drinks, toiletries, and a range of essential supplies aimed at supporting the welfare of the players, enhancing camp conditions, and easing preparations ahead of their respective assignments.
The Black Maidens are currently engaged in preparations for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers and are set to take on Liberia women’s national under-17 football team in the second-leg encounter in Liberia this weekend.
Meanwhile, the Black Princesses have already secured qualification to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after overcoming Uganda in the qualifiers, extending Ghana’s remarkable record to eight consecutive appearances at the tournament.
The donation by the First Lady was expected to boost morale within both camps while reinforcing national support for the young female footballers who continue to make the country proud.
The prosecution has officially rested its case in The Republic v Solomon Asamoah & Another, the high-profile legal battle commonly referred to as the “Sky Train” case.
The Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem Sai announced the development, praising the state’s team of hard-working prosecutors for successfully anchoring the state’s evidence before the High Court.
The criminal trial centers on the former Chief Executive Officer and the former Board Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF).
The duo stands accused of illegally authorizing and paying out US$2 million to a foreign company without obtaining board directives or other mandatory statutory approvals.
State investigators have confirmed that the disbursed millions cannot be found.
Following the closure of the prosecution’s case, the accused persons moved the court for an opportunity to file a submission of no case.
The presiding judge granted the application, ordering the defense to submit their arguments by June 8.
The outcome of the June 8 filings will decide the fate of the trial:
With this, if the judge finds the defense’s submission convincing, the accused will be acquitted and discharged however, If the judge dismisses the submission, the court will order the accused officials to take the stand and explain why they should not face prison sentences.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
