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Power Queens Club celebrates 35th anniversary
The Power Queens Club of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has observed its 35th anniversary in Accra on Friday.
The event was under the theme ‘ECG Power Queens Club: 35 years of women’s empowerment,’ and was attended mainly by female staff of the company from across the country and draped in their anniversary cloth.
Present at the ceremony were the Managing Director (MD), Mr Samuel Dubik Masubir Mahama, management, board members, former Managing Directors and some retirees of the company.
They danced to melodious tunes from the ECG Tema choir and the Jazz Kings band.
Speaking at the event, the Deputy Minister of Information, Ms Fatima Abubakar said discussions on women empowerment were necessary because statistics had indicated that, there are some deficits and deficiencies that needed to be worked out.
She said the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Science Report 2021 stated that in Africa, only 30 per cent of science professionals were women while on the global scale, 12 per cent of the members of science academies are women and they comprise less than 30 percent of tertiary graduates in engineering and 40 per cent of computer science graduates.
“When you narrow the trend to Ghana, the gender biases is shown in the 52-year history of the Academy of Sciences. Out of the 20 presidents, the academy have only had three females as presidents, a number which is not encouraging.
“This is why it has become necessary to expand and explore Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education,” she said.
Ms Abubakar said that over the years, the government in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ghana Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) have introduced STEM education with the intention of instilling the interest and encouraging young girls to adopt science and technology.
She said per the statistics, more people were embracing STEM education, stating it was a good move especially for companies like ECG that relies heavily on its technical staff.
The Deputy Minister of Information said government needed to do more in changing the mindset of people who are used to traditional ways of doing things as well as those who decide what a girl or a boy should study at school.
Ms Abubakar urged members of the Power Queens Club to invest in their self-development and charged them to pursue continuous capacity building and professional development.
The national president of Power Queens Club, Mrs Doreen Carol Anning-Gyebi said over the years, the club had grown into a vibrant community of strong passionate and inspiring women.
She said the club had positively impacted the company through sustained effort including its revenue mobilisation drive, annual blood donation exercises, professional development workshops, health awareness programmes and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
“As we celebrate this anniversary, let us take a moment to cherish the victories we have achieved together from a humble beginning of less than 300 ladies to over 1,600 ladies in 2023 with 25 per cent in various leadership positions,” she added.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Muslims across the country celebrated this year’s Eid-ul-Adha in a colourful and spiritually uplifting atmosphere under the theme, “A Season of Sacrifice, Solidarity and Spiritual Renewal.”
The celebration brought together Muslims from diverse backgrounds in a remarkable display of faith, unity and cultural heritage.
The occasion was marked by special Eid prayers at various designated grounds, the slaughtering of rams in homes for sharing among family members, friends and the less privileged, as well as musical concerts and recreational activities including horse riding.
Leading the celebration was the Chief Imam, Dr Sheikh Osman Sharubutu.
While the national celebration was held at the Black Star Square where President John Dramani Mahama was the Special Guest of Honour, similar gatherings took place at different centres across the capital and other regions of the country.
A visit by The Spectator to some celebration grounds revealed Muslims, both young and old, elegantly dressed in colourful jalabiya and other Islamic attire, reflecting the rich culture and traditions of the Muslim community.
The celebration also portrayed the spirit of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence in the country, as a number of Christians joined their Muslim counterparts to mark the occasion.
Muslim leaders and government officials used the opportunity to call on the faithful to uphold the teachings of the Holy Quran, renew their spiritual commitment and refrain from acts capable of undermining the peace, unity and security of the nation.
They further urged Ghanaians to continue to live in harmony and support one another for national development.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
Dear Obaa Yaa,
During Eid-ul- Adha celebration, I decided to spend the weekend at my boyfriend’s place since we were planning towards our marriage.
To my surprise, what keeps me wide awake, restless and frustrated every single time is that he snores loudly like a generator running on full power, and I genuinely cannot get any rest
At a point, I thought it was just a normal thing, but I have realised it is something he does with ease and doesn’t see anything wrong with it.
When he steps out in the morning, I try to get enough sleep because I may not sleep in the evening.
The most annoying thing is that, he always wants to cuddle me. These two things are a no for me and a red flag.
We are about to get married, what should I do?
Enam, Keta.
Dear Enam,
The snoring and constant cuddling are frustrating, but you don’t have to choose between sleep and closeness.
Start with the snoring: check if it’s worse when he sleeps on his back, cut out alcohol before bed, try nasal strips or a humidifier, and see a doctor if he pauses while breathing.
For quick relief, foam earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones help a lot.
Separate blankets, a bigger bed, or sleeping apart on some nights often makes couples rest well and feel closer overall.
Bring this up before the wedding .Tell him you want to wake up next to him for years to come, but sleep deprivation makes you both miserable.
Test earplugs and side-sleeping this weekend, and if it’s still unbearable, bring in a doctor. Good sleep matters more for your marriage than staying glued together all night.
