News
NCCE, UNFPA engage Bakpa Avedo market community on adolescent health, gender equality
The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) with support from the Global Affairs Canada, have organised a community durbar at the Bakpa Avedo Market in the Central Tongu District to educate market women and men on adolescent health, gender equality and the prevention of gender-based violence.
The engagement, held on June 25, formed part of efforts to raise awareness on issues affecting adolescents and promote peaceful coexistence through the elimination of harmful social practices.
Mr George A. K. Amey, Central Tongu District Director of the NCCE, said the programme formed part of the Commission’s efforts to deepen public understanding of issues affecting adolescents and promote respect for the rights of women and girls.
He said civic education played a critical role in changing attitudes and behaviours that fuelled teenage pregnancy, gender inequality and gender-based violence.
Mr Amey encouraged participants to become ambassadors of the messages by educating their families, neighbours and peers, stressing that collective community action was essential to building a safe, inclusive and violence-free society.
Mr Wisdom Nyikplokpo, a Public Health Officer, appealed to parents, particularly fathers and boys, to support adolescent girls to realise their full potential by providing their basic needs and guidance.
He said such support would reduce the vulnerability of young girls to exploitation and teenage pregnancy, adding that parents should serve as mentors and role models to their children.
Madam Evelyn Abese, Psychosocial Counsellor and Chief Executive Officer of the Mamalyn Charity Foundation, urged residents to reject all forms of gender-based violence, describing it as a major threat to families and community development.
She emphasised that violence was not the solution to resolving conflicts and encouraged dialogue, mutual respect and consensus in addressing disagreements.
Mrs Ametsigo Kaka Justine, a retired educationist, called for equal opportunities for both men and women, noting that societal practices had historically favoured men at the expense of women and girls.
She said women and girls deserved equal access to education, leadership and economic opportunities and appealed to men to support efforts aimed at empowering females to contribute meaningfully to national development.
Madam Mawusi Teyikpa, Queen Mother of the Bakpa Avedo Market, expressed appreciation to the NCCE, UNFPA and Global Affairs Canada for bringing the civic education programme to the community.
She expressed hope that the initiative would help reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancy, prevent gender-based violence and promote equal opportunities for both men and women to live peacefully and harmoniously. -GNA
The Ghana High Commission in Abuja, Nigeria, is appealing to the public to help trace the relatives or next of kin of Apia Solomon, a Ghanaian national believed to be from Osu, Accra.
According to a public announcement by the High Commission, Mr. Solomon, born on March 6, 1960, in Accra, died on July 5, 2021, from cardiopulmonary failure.
He worked as a temporary civilian staff member at the National Defence College in Nigeria. His remains are currently being kept at the Nigerian Air Force Hospital morgue in Abuja, pending burial arrangements.
The High Commission says efforts to locate his relatives have so far been unsuccessful and is urging anyone with information about his family, friends or next of kin to come forward.
Anyone with relevant information is encouraged to contact the Ghana High Commission in Abuja.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Security consultant Richard Kumadoe has blamed what he describes as flawed recruitment and incomplete background checks for some of the problems facing the Bureau of National Intelligence (BNI).
He has called on the leadership of the BNI to review the backgrounds of officers recruited during specific periods, particularly those who entered the agency under recent recruitment processes.
Speaking on the issue on TV3 yesterday, Mr Kumadoe alleged that some individuals were recruited into the intelligence agency without proper background checks and completed vetting.
“Certain categories of persons were dumped into the BNI, whose backgrounds were not checked, and whose vettings were not completed,” he stated.
He said some of the officers linked to the concerns appeared to have been recruited within the same period, making it necessary for the agency to examine the recruitment records and backgrounds of those who joined during that time.
Mr Kumadoe argued that the problems could be addressed by ensuring that recruitment procedures were properly followed and that all applicants underwent the required checks before being employed.
According to him, when the selection process is flawed, it can lead to problems within the institution.
He blamed the politicisation of security institutions, arguing that appointing people without the necessary intelligence experience and allowing political interests to influence recruitment could undermine their operations.
“When you have a selection procedure that was flawed because you politicised the place, brought in people to come and head the place when they have no business being there, they don’t know anything about being a BNI officer, they are not intelligence officers, and you flood the place with politicians and political artists, then you circumvent the standard procedure and you are going to have some of these problems,” he said.
Mr Kumadoe, however, defended the current leadership of the BNI, arguing that efforts to address longstanding problems within security institutions could bring such issues to light.
He said the leadership should be assessed in the context of the steps it is taking to improve the agency’s operations and uphold professional standards.
Drawing on his own experience in the intelligence field, he said the opportunity to serve under experienced officers had helped him develop the skills and integrity needed to contribute to national security.
By: Jacob Aggrey
