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Reduce workload on pupils – girl appeals
A form two Junior High School (JHS) pupil at Wa in the Upper West Region, Miss Rashida Ibrahim has appealed to parents to reduce the workload on girls in order to allow them time to study and compete favourably with their male counterparts in class.
The young girl lamented that most girls were over burdened with household chores which were unfairly distributed among male and female siblings at home and said this act limited their performance levels in other aspects of life.
“Most of us girls do not get time to play with our colleagues and no time to make friends and socialise because the moment, we close from school, there is work to do at home”, she said.
Ms Rashida stated these on the sidelines of a women empowerment programme orgainsed at Wa by the Network for Young Women’s Empowerment (NYWE) last weekend.
As if this is not enough, Rashida says she has to rush to the market after school, pick up food items from her mother to go and prepare supper, wash dishes and put the house in order.
“I sometimes finish my chores around 8pm by which time, I am very tired and unable to read, but I am quite fortunate that one of my uncles is a teacher so he comes around and helps me with my studies at times”, she said.
Rashida intimated that even with assistance from her uncle, she had never made it to the top 20 in her class after exam because she did not make enough time to read her books.
Miss Rashida said that she would be grateful if parents would share the chores amongst male and female siblings but feared that might never happen as she was constantly reminded of the need to keep up the ‘good work’ for a better marriage in future.
She, therefore, queried if being a woman was all about serving people but not having enough time for oneself was the way to go and sometimes wished she was a male.
Throwing more light on her concern, a member of the NYWE, Ms Doris Siibu attested that growing up as a female was very challenging in many homes in Ghana as many of them had to deal with numerous household chores which were embedded in traditions and culture.
“These things are pushed by traditions we have lived with for so long, hence changing them will require gradual and intentional education that will speak to the minds of people and make them see reason to allow both male and females to maintain the home together”, she said.
She called on parents to support their females to progress both in school and at home by reducing the workload on them and sharing it with their brothers so that girls could also engage in other social activities for mental development.
From Lydia Darlington Fordjour, Wa
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Speaker of Parliament inaugurates open Parliament Steering Committee, launches action plan
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has launched the Open Parliament Steering Committee and the Open Parliament Action Plan.
The ceremony was under the theme “Achieving Gender Equality: Action by Action.”
The Speaker highlighted the critical role Parliament plays in translating the will of the people into inclusive legislation, responsive policies, and accountable governance.
“The International Day of Parliamentarianism is worth celebrating, as it offers an opportunity not only to recognise and promote achievements in strengthening democratic governance, but also to pause and reflect on the remaining gaps in institutionalising parliamentary democracy,” he said.
He noted that the event was scheduled to coincide with the International Day of Parliamentarianism to reinforce the importance of open and inclusive governance.
The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, stated that the International Day of Parliamentarianism is intended to recognise the vital role Parliaments play globally as pillars of democratic governance.
He noted that this marks the first time Ghana is formally observing the day.
“The gravity of our observance is further accentuated as we convene to witness the launch of the Open Parliament Action Plan by the Open Government Partnership Caucus,” he said.
Delivering a statement on behalf of the Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Deputy Minority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei, described the Open Parliament Action Plan as a transformative initiative aimed at strengthening the relationship between Parliament and the public.
She said the plan represents a bold commitment to making Parliament more transparent, accessible, and responsive to the needs of Ghanaians.
The Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, described the launch as a key milestone in the effort to build a citizen-focused and accountable Parliament.
He added that the International Day of Parliamentarianism is a call to action to recommit to the highest standards of public service and democratic accountability.
The inauguration was attended by a wide range of stakeholders, including the Majority and Minority Members of Parliament, members of the Open Parliament Steering Committee, the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Caucus, Parliamentary Network Africa, representatives from civil society organisations, members of the diplomatic corps, traditional and religious leaders, student bodies, the Parliamentary Press Corps, and other media partners.
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NACOC declares drug menace a national emergency
The Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Interior has paid a working visit to the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) to engage with its leadership and assess operational challenges hampering the fight against illicit drugs.
In a detailed presentation, Dr. Basha Ligbi, Head of the Commission’s Research Bureau, highlighted critical setbacks including broken body scanners at airport terminals, inadequate office infrastructure, overcrowded detention facilities, and deteriorating vehicles.
He also called for the Commission’s headquarters to be reclassified as a security zone, citing growing security risks due to private encroachment and nearby high-rise developments.
Director General of NACOC, Brigadier General Maxwell Obiba Mantey, described the escalating drug trade as a national emergency, warning that drug barons now rival armed robbers in threat level and are gaining influence at the highest levels.
He appealed for stronger institutional support and morale-boosting interventions to preserve the integrity of NACOC officers.
Chairman of the Committee and MP for Builsa North, James Agalga, assured the Commission of the Committee’s commitment to escalate the concerns to Parliament and engage key justice sector stakeholders to fast-track reforms in support of NACOC’s mandate.
