News
LifeCheck back-to-school programme supports 11,000 children …Offers free health screening in 6 c’nities in 2024 outreach
Over 16,000 people at Teshie and its environs have benefited from this year’s LifeCheck outreach held last Saturday and spearheaded by Empowerment Care Foundation.
Dubbed ‘Life Check 24,’ the exercise was aimed at improving the quality of life for the underprivileged in areas like Teshie, La, Tse Addo, Baatsonaa, Nungua and Spintex Road.
Organised by the Empowerment Worship Centre (EWC), the outreach themed ‘Compassion to Make a Difference,’ it had over 11,000 children receiving exercise books, more than 4,000 schools bags, 5,200 shoes and 100 kids were barbered under the Life Check back-to-school arm.
There was also a free health screening for eye care, dental care, ultrasound scans, minor surgical procedures, and free medication.
Also, over 500 people were registered on the National Health Insurance
Scheme (NHIS), while some adults were screened for hepatitis B, malaria, prostate conditions, typhoid, and blood sugar.
The Global Lead Pastor of EWC, Prophet Gideon Danso, said “Life Check 2024 aligned with the church’s mission to create positive change by touching and transforming lives and improving the quality of life for the underprivileged.”
He noted that the Empowerment Care Foundation had implemented various programmes since its inception in 2014, focusing on healthcare, education and other transformative initiatives.
“This is the 10th year LifeCheck is being held and since its inception, more than
52,000 people have attended, 28,000 people received medical care, over
52,000 individuals fed, and over 32,000 children given back-to-school items.
More than 11,000 have been registered on the NHIS and these figures exclude this year’s target of 15,000 which was exceeded,” he stated.
He said the church volunteers had donated over 50 pints of blood to the National Blood Bank to demonstrate their dedication to helping society.
He expressed the hope that the event was held twice a year to help people in need and assist students to go back to school but that, he said, would call for assistance from other organisations.
A beneficiary, Mrs Gift Mensah, expressed gratitude to EWC and Prophet Danso for showing them love and reducing some financial burden on them as their kids resume school.
BY Cecilia Lagba Yada
News
National Service Authority gets new Director-General
The National Service Authority (NSA) has officially welcomed a new Director-General, Ms. Ruth Dela Seddoh, following a brief handing-over ceremony at its headquarters on Tuesday.
The event marked the formal transfer of leadership from the outgoing Director-General, Mr. Felix Gyamfi, to Ms. Seddoh. Management and staff of the Authority attended the ceremony.
Mr. Gyamfi used the occasion to thank staff for their support during his tenure.
He encouraged them to give the same cooperation to Ms. Seddoh to ensure the continued growth and impact of the Authority.
Ms. Seddoh expressed appreciation to government for the confidence placed in her.
She promised to build on the achievements of her predecessor and called for teamwork, dedication and innovation to help the NSA deliver on its mandate to support national development.
Management of the Authority pledged their full support to the new leadership as the organisation enters its next phase.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
NSA board sets up committee to supervise digital reforms
The Governing Board of the National Service Authority (NSA) has announced the inauguration of a Transition and Implementation Steering Committee (TISC) to oversee the Authority’s digital transformation agenda.
According to the Board, the move follows a letter dated 17 June 2025 from the Office of the President to the Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment directing the suspension of the existing deployment system, calling for an audit of its operations and instructing the design and deployment of a new digital platform.
The Board explained that the audit had been completed and had found the existing system unsatisfactory.
It indicated that the Minister had written to the Board to begin the necessary legal processes to ensure the contract for the audited system, which expired in August 2025, would not be renewed, and to take further steps toward designing and deploying a new digital platform that would guarantee transparency, security and real-time verification of service personnel postings.
It stressed that the TISC had been established to ensure a smooth and orderly transition from the current National Service Scheme digital platform to a new ICT-led system aimed at improving efficiency, transparency and service delivery.
The Authority outlined the Committee’s mandate as overseeing the phased migration from the legacy system, directing the design and deployment of a modern digital platform, and supervising its operationalisation across core functions including personnel enrolment, postings, payroll, allowances and scheme administration.
It further noted that acting under the directives of the Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment and deriving authority from the NSA Board, the TISC has the power to issue instructions to NSA departments and engage external partners necessary to achieve its mandate through the Governing Board.
The Authority named Dr. Wisdom Atiwoto, a member of the NSA Board and Director of Research, Statistics and Information Management at the Ministry of Health, as chair of the Committee.
Other members include Ms. Ruth Dela Seddoh, Mr. Shadrack Mensah, Ms. Elorm Goh, Mr. Benjamin Freeman Kusi, Ms. Jennifer Opong, Dr. Stephan Nwolley, Mr. Koku Abotsi, Mr. Japhet Kuntu, Mr. Nabil Abubakar Hussayn and Ms. Regina Obenewa Penrose as Secretary.
The NSA Board assured the public and stakeholders of its commitment to innovation, accountability and excellence in service delivery.
It emphasised that there would be no disruption in the fulfilment of its obligations to national service personnel as outlined in the National Service Act, Act 1119 (2024), and indicated that updates on the Committee’s progress would be communicated in due course.
With the collective expertise of its members, the TISC is expected to deliver a robust and future-ready platform that will anchor the next phase of the National Service Scheme’s operations.
By: Jacob Aggrey
