News
Pay attention to women’s health Ms Oppong-Yeboah advocates
ACE broadcaster and women’s health advocate, Josephine Oppong-Yeboah, has urged the government to pay more attention to women’s health in Ghana.
She said women’s health remains a global public health concern, as the health and wealth of any society largely depend on the health and wealth of its women.
She observed that due to gender inequali¬ties and other social factors, many women in the country are unable to access healthcare, a situation she noted, has led many to their early graves or deteriorated their health.
In an interview with The Spectator, Ms. Oppong-Yeboah, said the health of women was fundamental to the socio-economic development of the country and that “pri¬oritising the health of women will to a large extent help better the lifespan of the gener¬al population.”
She recalled that women’s health was emphasised at the fourth World Confer¬ence on Women held in Beijing in 1995, and added that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) also gave attention to women’s health.
Ms. Oppong-Yeboah said gender inequality in accessing care had further been height¬ened by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pan¬demic, which according to her had worsened the existing inequalities.
She also said women and girls have been exposed to sexual and gender-based violence while their health had generally been associ¬ated with reproductive health.
She was of the view that many available services and delivery methods do not ade¬quately support women’s access to health care, explaining that many health interven¬tions do not take into account the realities of women and girls’ mobility, time, and materi¬al resources.
By Benedicta Gyimaah Folley
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that Ghana will host a High-Level Next Steps Conference on Reparatory Justice from June 17 to June 19, 2026, in Accra.
According to the Ministry, the conference will be held under the auspices of President John Dramani Mahama, who also serves as the African Union Champion for Reparations.
The conference follows the recent adoption of a landmark United Nations General Assembly resolution declaring the trafficking and enslavement of Africans during the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity.
The Ministry said the resolution received the support of 123 member states and marked a major step toward global recognition of historical injustices and the need for reparatory justice.
It explained that the conference will bring together world leaders, foreign affairs ministers, academics, historians, jurists, activists and international organisations to discuss the next phase of the reparations agenda.
According to the Ministry, discussions will focus on developing practical global frameworks and policy approaches to advance reparatory justice.
The conference is also expected to produce recommendations and action plans to guide future continental and international engagements on reparations.
As part of activities for the event, Ghana will host what officials described as the first-ever joint Juneteenth commemoration with African Americans at the Christiansborg Castle on June 19.
The Ministry noted that the event will provide participants with an opportunity to reflect on the history of the transatlantic slave trade while promoting remembrance, healing and justice.
It added that the conference would strengthen Africa’s collective voice on reparatory justice and deepen collaboration between African states, the diaspora and international partners.
The Ministry said further details on registration, participation and accreditation are available on the conference website.
It stated that President Mahama and the people of Ghana look forward to welcoming participants from around the world to Accra for what it described as a defining conference on reparatory justice.
By: Jacob Aggrey
President John Dramani Mahama has arrived in Libreville, Gabon, to participate in the inaugural Libreville International Forum for Innovation and Development, a high-level event that brings together Heads of State, government officials, global investors, and technology experts.
The forum, being held under the patronage of Mr Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, President of the Republic of Gabon, is on the theme “Political Stability, Business Climate, and Artificial Intelligence: Catalysts for Growth.”
The forum seeks to position Gabon as a regional innovation hub and key destination for international investment.
Organisers are holding the Forum to inaugurate the newly constructed Omar Bongo Ondimba Congress Centre, which also serves as the venue for the Forum and as a future centre for international dialogue.
The forum will culminate in the “Libreville Declaration,” which will showcase the strategic political leaders’ commitments to enhancing governance, transparency, and digital integration across the continent.
President Mahama remains a strong advocate for fostering partnerships that bridge the gap between government policy and private-sector growth to ensure inclusive development.
