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Philip Addison petitions party over disqualification in Akuapem North
Philip Addison, a New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary aspirant disqualified from the race in the Akuapem North Constituency in the Eastern Region has petitioned the party’s national leadership over the issue.
Mr Addison, who believes his disqualification was “pre-meditated”, in his petition, pleaded with the national leadership to probe the circumstances leading to his removal from the race and he also wants the NPP leadership to reverse his disqualification to enable him to contest in the party’s June 20 primaries.
Ahead of the 2016 general election, he emerged victorious in the NPP primaries to represent the party in the Klottey Korle Constituency in the Greater Accra Region and he, however, lost to Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) parliamentary candidate.
The party’s June 20 primaries will be held in 165 constituencies across the country due to elections in three constituencies have been put on hold and the party will hold the primaries in electoral areas rather than at the constituency level in order to ensure social distancing.
Mr Addison, who was the lead counsel for the NPP in the 2013 Presidential Election Petition case explained that contrary to claims of failing to “nurture the constituency”, he had “given assistance and support to the party for a long time stretching from the time of William Boafo and the previous executives to date.
“Some of my encounters with some members of the party in the constituency who raised issues with my decision to contest for that seat made me believe my disqualification was premeditated but I have contributed my quota to the party, including handling legal cases for the NPP “pro-bono”.
“I have worked hard to enhance the image of the party in the constituency, I have established a rapport with all the traditional authorities in the constituency and within this short space of time I have endeared myself to a majority of the delegates and the electorate and I pray that the vetting committee will find my contributions to the party worthy of recognition.
“I respectfully invite the committee to look favourably on my petition, reverse the disqualification and allow me to contest the parliamentary primaries in the Akuapem North Constituency,” Mr Addison indicated in the petition. -citinewsroom.com
Troubled and anxious citizens in Damongo of the Savannah Region have expressed concerns about the number of young people, believed to be under the age of 18, involved in ‘shisha’ smoking in pubs and drinking spots within the township.
Eyewitnesses say the minors were seen patronising nightlife venues, where Shisha smoking happen in the open.
The situation has sparked renewed public concern over the enforcement of child protection laws and regulations governing the operations of entertainment centres in the municipality and country as a whole.
An eyewitness, who spoke to The Spectator on conditions of anonymity for security reasons, noted that the situation was becoming increasingly common.
“This is not a one-off incident. It is becoming very common, but residents like us cannot openly report or speak about it because our lives will be at risk,” he said.
Under Ghanaian law, minors were prohibited from patronising Shisha.
Public health experts have consistently warned that shisha use exposes users to harmful substances that can negatively affect brain development, respiratory health, and overall well-being, particularly among young people.
The residents believe the alleged incidents point to broader challenges relating to youth supervision, substance abuse, and weak enforcement of existing regulations and have called on municipal authorities, security agencies, and regulatory bodies to intensify monitoring of pubs and entertainment centres to ensure compliance with the law.
In an effort to address the menace, Mr Salisu Be-Awurbi, the Savannah Regional Minister, has led public education campaigns, engaged security agencies, and supported enforcement actions to address the rising use of illicit substances in the region.
Wura Kelly Seidu Boresah I, the Chief of Damongo, has also called on all stakeholders including parents, community leaders, institutions, and young people to actively support efforts to curb drug abuse, warning that the rising consumption of hard drugs poses a serious health threat to the future of the youth in the Savannah Region.
He also cautioned individuals involved in the sale and distribution of illicit drugs to immediately desist from the practice, stressing that offenders will face arrest and prosecution in accordance with the law.
From Geoffrey Buta, Damongo, Savannah Region
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Dr Theresa Baffour, an advocate for ending violence and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SAHM SAHW Foundation, has said that society plays a critical and pivotal role in breaking the cycle of domestic violence.
According to her, domestic violence is a major contributor of making women, who are mostly the victims, mentally derailed and unable to engage in economic activities.
She said this when the foundation called on the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, to solicit support for the initiative by the “Strong and Healthy Minds, Strong and Healthy Women” (SAHM SAHW) to combat domestic violence within the Ga State.
The visit was occasioned by the fact that domestic violence cases have become quite prevalent in the Ga communities and is retarding growth.
According to her, the canker was an impediment to national development because the victims were usually tortured and would have to go through series of therapies to return to the right state of mind.
Dr Baffour mentioned that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) places a mental toll on women, and was, therefore, important to break the cycle through comprehensive mental health support, crisis intervention and empowerment programmes in communities with high rates of GBV.
This intervention, she underscored, would help in empowering the denigrated victim of domestic violence to soundly heal, build and thrive.
Dr Baffour added that the initiative would provide holistic, trauma-informed mental health care and advocacy for young women affected by domestic violence.
According to her, the above statement would create safe spaces for healing and equipping them with entrepreneurial skills for renewed hope and empowered life.
The Ga Mantse pledged his support for the laudable initiative to combat domestic violence and also acknowledged the need to address it in the Ga State.
Further endorsement came from Justice Julia Naa-Yarley Adjei Amoah, Chief of Staff at the Office of the Ga Mantse, as she commended the team of SAHM SAHW Foundation for taking a bold step to end the canker in the Greater Accra.
She added that it was a step in the right direction to save vulnerable women from torture, stress and emotional abuse.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
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