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Oral Health Education: Dr.Louisa Satekla pays courtesy call on Education Minister
Ghanaian Dental Surgeon and FDI Global Ambassador for World Oral Health Day, Dr Louisa Satekla paid a courtesy call on Haruna Iddrisu, Ghana’s Minister for Education at his office in Accra.
The meeting focused on fostering collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the World Dental Federation (FDI) to promote oral health education in schools across the country.
During the discussions, Dr. Satekla emphasized the urgent need to address oral health challenges among Ghanaian children, highlighting the prevalence of dental diseases such as dental caries and gum infections, which often affect students’ overall well-being.
She called for strategic interventions to integrate oral health education into the school curriculum, ensuring that children develop lifelong habits of proper oral hygiene.
Dr. Louisa also proposed the official recognition of March 20th as World Oral Health Day in Ghanaian schools, urging the Ministry of Education to promote classroom discussions, awareness campaigns, and interactive sessions with dental professionals.
She emphasized the need for practical oral health programs that engage students, teachers, and parents while ensuring schools have access to basic oral hygiene tools.
She also encouraged government partnerships with private organizations to provide resources and training for better oral health education.
Additionally, she advocated for a Sugar-Free School Policy to regulate snacks and drinks in school canteens, replacing sugary beverages with healthier alternatives like water and fruits.
In response, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu acknowledged that dental health and good oral hygiene practices do not receive enough attention in Ghana.
He expressed his commitment to exploring avenues for incorporating oral health education into Ghana’s education system. He recognized the importance of early preventive care and assured Dr. Satekla that the Ministry would collaborate with relevant stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Dental Association, to implement sustainable oral health initiatives.
“The health of our children must be a top priority, and oral health plays a crucial role in their overall well-being. The Ministry of Education is fully committed to working closely with key stakeholders to integrate oral health education into our schools and ensure that every child has access to preventive dental care,” Mr. Iddrisu affirmed.
Mr. Iddrisu also took the opportunity to congratulate Dr. Louisa Satekla for making Ghana proud and reaching this significant milestone in her career.
He commended her dedication to promoting oral health awareness and her continuous efforts to improve global dental health standards.
Last month, the FDI World Dental Federation announced Dr. Louisa Satekla as its Global Ambassador for an unprecedented fourth consecutive year, ahead of the 2025 World Oral Health Day (WOHD) campaign.
She will lead efforts to amplify this year’s message that oral health is foundational to mental resilience and physical vitality.
As an Ambassador, she will also spearhead initiatives targeting underserved populations, reinforcing FDI’s mission to bridge global oral health disparities.
These initiatives will include educational programs, interactive community events, and social media engagement to spread accessible oral health practices.
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SEND Ghana engage Gender Minister for strategic dialogue on social protection and gender equality
A delegation from SEND Ghana visited the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, to discuss collaboration on gender equality, social protection, and economic empowerment.
SEND Ghana, known for its policy advocacy and equitable development efforts, works closely with farmers and empowers young women aged 18–35 through Mastercard Foundation-supported projects focused on livelihood and agricultural support.
The Minister welcomed SEND Ghana’s initiatives and highlighted the Ministry’s alignment with their priorities.
She reaffirmed that social protection is a top priority under President John Mahama’s government and emphasized ongoing efforts to expand coverage and enhance service delivery through flagship programmes like Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), which remains vital for vulnerable households.
Regarding the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP), the Minister noted plans to introduce legislation to ensure its sustainability and improve the nutritional quality of school meals.
She praised civil society’s role in monitoring local implementation.
The Minister also voiced strong support for menstrual hygiene and reproductive health campaigns, stressing education and access to sanitary products for adolescent girls, and encouraged efforts to break menstrual taboos and keep girls in school.
Broader gender issues discussed included reducing unpaid care work, promoting gender-sensitive leave policies (maternity and paternity leave), and boosting women’s economic opportunities.
Both parties agreed on the need to build gender-responsive systems that empower women socially and economically.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to work together for inclusive development, gender equity, and stronger social protection systems in Ghana.
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3-Day in-country capacity building workshop on Women, Peace and Security Reporting Frame Work held
In 2018, the African Union developed the Continental Results Framework (CRF) to track the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda across Africa.
To support this regional effort, ECOWAS introduced a simplified version of the CRF in 2022 to guide member states in implementation and reporting.
As part of a broader regional effort to build national capacity across member states, the ECOWAS Commission, through its Directorate for Humanitarian and Social Affairs (DHSA), and in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and the WPS Regional Steering Group—with technical and financial backing from the ECOWAS Peace, Security and Governance Project (EPSG), co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and implemented by GIZ—organized a three-day in-country capacity-building workshop in Ghana.
Held from June 10 to 12, 2025, the workshop was spearheaded by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection in collaboration with the European Union, the German Embassy, and the ECOWAS Commission.
It aimed to enhance the technical capacity of national stakeholders and focal persons to systematically document, monitor, and report on WPS interventions, particularly in relation to Ghana’s National Action Plan on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (GHANAP II).
The training also focused on improving data accuracy, promoting inter-agency collaboration, and ensuring Ghana’s reporting processes align with the ECOWAS Simplified CRF.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Momo Lartey, the Director of the Department of Gender, Madam Faustina Acheampong, described the workshop as “timely and appropriate,” noting its significance in strengthening Ghana’s WPS reporting architecture.
She further stressed the importance of accurate data and coordinated efforts to meet the country’s regional reporting obligations.
She also underscored the critical role of women in peacebuilding, emphasizing the need to amplify women’s voices and ensure their full participation in peace processes to achieve lasting, inclusive peace in Ghana.
Representing the ECOWAS Commission’s Directorate of Humanitarian and Social Affairs, Mr. Olatunde Olayemi reaffirmed ECOWAS’s commitment to Ghana’s WPS agenda. He highlighted the disproportionate impact of insecurity on women and girls and praised Ghana’s ongoing efforts to advance inclusive peacebuilding as a cornerstone for sustainable development.
Daniel Messina, from the European Union Delegation to Ghana, acknowledged the role of the ECOWAS Peace and Security Architecture and Operations (EPSAO) Programme—funded by the EU and German Government—in promoting peace, security, and gender equity across the region.
Additionally, Pauline Okkens, Political Advisor at the German Embassy, reiterated her government’s continued support for the development and implementation of continental and regional frameworks on Women, Peace and Security.
