Gender
Pregnant women advised not to shy away from referrals
Mr Freda Alowri, a Senior Midwifery Officer (SMO) at the Zorko Health Centre in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region, has admonished expectant mothers to promptly adhere to referral orders from lower to higher health facilities to prevent complications.
She said referrals, especially from health facilities in rural areas made to higher facilities for further management, should be taken seriously without delays especially in pregnant women since that could result in complications and possible deaths.
“Pregnant women in rural areas are usually reluctant to go on referrals to higher facilities and if there is an issue those of us in the deprived communities cannot handle.”
“It is not all the cases that those of us in derived areas can handle, and so if we detect such cases and refer, they should not delay, but go immediately,” she said.
Ms Alowri, who has decades of work experience in the rural community, gave the advice in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) after she was awarded the 2024 Best Midwife by the District Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS).
The Directorate at its 2024 annual health performance review meeting held in Bolgatanga, recognised Ms Alowri’s “Outstanding skills and expertise in the domain of maternal and neonatal care”.
The Directorate said her commitment to delivering high-quality care, mentorship and adherence to best practices had profoundly influenced maternal health in the district.
The midwife advised women in rural areas to immediately visit the nearest health facility if they missed their menstrual cycle and suspected pregnancy.
She said early Ante-Natal Care services in the first trimester of pregnancy was the surest way for safe delivery and insisted that “Pregnant women should try to visit the nearest health facility early for good maternal services.”
For midwives who refused postings to rural areas to work, Ms Alowri said there was much experience to gain at health facilities in rural areas, and urged midwives, especially junior staff to accept postings to any part of the district where their services were needed, and work diligently to uplift the image of the GHS.
Ms Estella Abazesi, the District Director of the GHS, who presented the award to the midwife, told the GNA that staff motivation was important to the directorate as a means to urge them to deliver their best.
She said staff nominated among themselves, those they thought deserved awards, and management also considered key performance indicators of the various facilities for the awards.
“The indicators carried 70 per cent performance and 30 per cent for the nomination. That was what we did for both individual and for the facility level,” she said, and encouraged her staff to continue to work hard to improve service delivery.
The directorate, apart from Ms Alowri, recognised and honoured nine other staff under various categories namely: Mr Mohammed Abu, Mr Michael Awia Achuliwor, Madam Cynthia Lariba Apemjobey, Mr Maxwell Kamah Alagnona, Mr David Adongo, Madam Gloria Wulug, Madam Rihanna Akugre Awudu and Madam Agnes Aloyine Atibila.
Three Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds; the Beo Tankoo CHPS, Kadare and Nayorigo CHPS together with the Namoo, Soe, Valley and Zorko sub-district zones were awarded.
The GHS also honoured WaterAid Ghana, a non-governmental organisation, for its contributions to healthcare delivery in the district. -GNA
Gender
Parents urged to provide moral guidance to help children transition to adulthood
North Hill International School (NIS), a basic school situated at North Legon in Accra has held its 6th Speech and Prize-Giving Day with a call on parents and guardians to provide the needed moral guidance and support for children to become responsible and disciplined adults in society.
The Guest Speaker for the occasion, Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister of State and Government Communication who made the call in a speech read on his behalf, said this stage was crucial for children to learn values that enable them become responsible members of the family unit, their immediate environment and the country at large.
Themed: “Discipline- The bridge between dreams and reality” the event saw 36 learners in total graduating comprising primary and lower secondary.
Master Vielung Kwadwo Bagbin, son of Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, emerged overall best student.
Mr Ofosu said their formative stage was an age where good habits, behaviours and characters were built which lay a solid foundation for their lives.
In an address, the Principal of the School, Mrs Emma Coleman Opoku, said the school reaffirms its commitment to academic excellence as demonstrated by the outstanding performance of pupils in the 2025 Cambridge Checkpoint Examinations.
She described the outcome as result of tireless efforts from passionate teachers, the determination and diligence of pupils and the support of parents.
Over the years, she said, NIS has made remarkable strides in the Basic Education Certificate Examinations, consistently raising academic standards and producing outstanding results.
According to her, last year, the school recorded exceptional achievements including ten grade ones with two pupils attaining eight grade ones and another achieving six grade ones.
“Despite these successes, we have observed a decline in interest and enrollment in the GES curriculum,” she said.
The Principal indicated that, after careful examination and in light of current enrollment figures, the school has decided to suspend the GES curriculum temporarily.
On her part, the General Manager of the school, Mrs Bernice Adu Boateng, expressed gratitude to teachers for their dedication and professionalism and the invaluable role of parents which has brought the school thus far.
Come September, she said the school would roll out digital boards to complement the use of projectors and desktops in every classroom to infuse the use of technology to enhance facilitator-learner activities.
In a Global Perspective Project titled, “ Acting on Poverty and Inequality “, Year 7 pupils of the school raised an amount of GH₵17,530 to support the cause and donated used personal effects to Potter’s Village.
The Administrator and Human Resources Manager of the school, Mrs. Bertha Boamah Benin, expressed profound appreciation to companies and individuals that supported the event.
By Francis Cofie
Gender
Take control of your financial future …female students urged
Mrs. Janet Acheampong Otoo, Treasurer of the Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED), has urged young women to take control of their financial future by embracing literacy, confidence, and purposeful planning.
Speaking at the university’s Financial Literacy Summit over the weekend, she emphasized that “money is power” and that women must be empowered with the knowledge and skills to make informed financial decisions.
The summit, organised by the Student Representative Council, was held under the theme “Financial Fitness: Building wealth and securing your future.”
Mrs Acheampong Otoo explained that financial literacy was more than budgeting—”it encompasses saving, investing, and managing debt”.
However, she noted that many women still struggle due to a confidence gap that hinders their ability to create and follow effective financial plans.
“Financial independence is about freedom, confidence, and the ability to pursue your dreams,” she said. “As women, we have the power to shape our own futures and contribute meaningfully to society and family life.”
She encouraged female students to attend workshops, read widely, and avoid impulsive spending on beauty and lifestyle. “Every financial decision should align with your long-term vision,” she added. “Believe in yourself. Lead the charge.”
Joining the conversation, the Municipal Chief Executive of Sekyere South, Mr Evans Amo Twumasi, called financial literacy one of the most overlooked foundations in nation-building.
“In today’s world, the line between economic survival and financial freedom is drawn not by luck but by knowledge and discipline,” Mr Amo said. “Money may be finite, but knowledge is infinite—and financial discipline is the bridge between them.”
He stressed that financial fitness was not just about saving or spending, but understanding the value of a cedi, the cost of each decision, and the power of forward planning. With the right mindset and habits, he said, anyone can achieve economic resilience and long-term success.
Mr Amo urged students to embrace financial education as a tool for personal transformation and national progress. “The future does not belong to those who merely wish for wealth—it belongs to those who plan it, save it, and work for it,” he said.
He also called for policies that strengthen entrepreneurship and youth empowerment and encouraged students to respect money and use it with purpose.
Other speakers included Dr Evans Duah, Dr Prince Gyimah and Prof. Joseph Mbawuni, all lecturers at the University.
From Kingsley E. Hope
