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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
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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