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NCCE engages stakeholders on adolescent health, gender equality
The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has engaged stakeholders in the Yunyoo-Nasuan District, to strengthen community support for adolescent health, promote gender equality and inttakeholders’ engagement, held at the Nasuan Market and Lorry Park in the North East Region, formed part of the “Empowering Community and Youth for Adolescent Health, Gender Equality, and Preventing GBV through Civic Engagement” initiative.
It sought to encourage parents and community members to support the health and wellbeing of adolescents, enhance coordination amongst key stakeholders, and educate residents on the harmful effects of GBV on individuals, families and communities.
The event, organised in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund with financial support from Global Affairs Canada, was attended by a total of 105 people comprising 82 females and 23 males.
Mr Hamidu Halaru, the Assembly Member of the Nasuan Electoral Area, who was a facilitator during the event, urged parents to take greater responsibility for the upbringing of their children.
He advised parents to closely monitor the behaviour and peer associations of their children, to detect early signs of risky conducts and intervene promptly.
He emphasised that parents had a duty to ensure nurture morally upright, disciplined and responsible children, especially girls, to enable them to become productive members of society.
Mr Mohammed Iddrisu, a Teacher and Guidance and Counselling Coordinator, Nasuan Senior High School encouraged students to embrace discipline, hard work, respect and determination as essential ingredients for success.
He urged them to avoid social vices that could derail their aspirations and appealed to parents to continue investing in the education and wellbeing of their children, especially girls as they were more vulnerable to societal challenges.
Mr Abdul-Wahid Madi, who is from the Health Promotion Unit, Nasuan District Health Directorate, spoke about teenage pregnancy and the importance of protecting the rights and future of the girl-child.
He advised parents against rushing their daughters into marriage, explaining that early marriages exposed girls to health complications, interrupted education, and created financial and emotional challenges for them.
He reminded the participants that national policy allowed pregnant schoolgirls to continue their education until delivery and called on parents and community members, to work together to safeguard the future of the younger generation.-GNA
Medical Doctor and dietician, Dr Bernice Korkor Asare, has urged women to take greater responsibility for their lifestyle choices, particularly their eating habits and levels of physical activity, to help reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.
According to her, although, some breast cancer risk factors, such as family history and certain reproductive factors, may not be within an individual’s control, lifestyle choices offer an opportunity for people to take preventive action.
She made this known during a talk on the topic: “Role of diet in breast cancer prevention” organised by Times Ladies Association of the New Times Corporation, publishers of The Ghanaian Times and The Spectator, in Accra on Thursday.
The event themed “Breast Cancer Awareness- Promoting Early Detection, Healthy Eating and Prevention.” 
She noted that having a risk factor did not automatically mean a person would develop breast cancer, but could increase the likelihood of developing the disease compared with someone without that particular risk factor.
“Having close relatives who have had breast cancer, particularly a mother, sister or daughter, may increase the risk, although not everyone with a family history will develop the disease,” Dr Asare opined. Read More.
By Adizatu K. Munkaila
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A group of compassionate friends from Innovation Gospel Impact last Friday visited the management, teachers and learners of the Street Academy in Accra.
The visit was to interact to get a deeper insight into the operations of the Academy that houses hundreds of street and underprivileged children and find ways to support them.
The team was led by Rev. Dr Isaac Apenteng Yeboah, a former Director for West African Mailbox Club and Director for Prisons Support Foundation, and Rev. Dale Sutherland from Washington DC.
The call, according to the visitors was occasioned by reports about the struggles of the Academy despite the occasional support it enjoys from individuals and some corporate entities.
Briefing them, the Founder and Executive Director of the Academy, Dr Ataa Lartey, thanked them for the concern showed, indicating that “this is a major boost for both teachers and learners; knowing that their plight is known by people outside their premises.”
According Dr Lartey, the Academy had planned to undertake a number of project to enhance teaching and learning and also procure facilities for the children with keen interest in sports but had to shelve those plans for lack of finance.
He told the team that their biggest concerns were the monthly utility bills that takes a toll on their finances.
“We have a piece of land we planned to turn into an astro turf pitch to train the younger ones whose interests lies in making a career out of football, however, we have been unable to commence because there is no money now,” he said.
Dr Lartey expressed gratitude to the teachers who have dedicated their lives to training these children, rather than going for well-paying jobs and hoped that with time, their conditions of engagement would improve.
Moved by the plight of the Academy, the group donated a cash amount of Gh₵3,000 to settle its water bills.
They described as unfortunate the conditions of learners and teachers of the Academy and pledged to continuously support their operations to realize the dream to build a better future for the unfortunate children.
The group offered to support the school with its monthly utility bills, feeding and staff allowance and urged the Academy staff to remain in constant touch with them.
The Street Academy is located at the Accra Art Center and offers brilliant but needy the chance to pursue their educational dreams by enrolling them in public schools with others offered training in sports and cultural activities.
By Spectator Reporter
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