News
Remain committed to work – National Media Commission tells NTC staff
The Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, has tasked staff of New Times Corporation, publishers of Ghanaian Times and The Spectator, to continue to lend support to management and Board of Directors and help improve the fortunes of the corporation.
Addressing a staff durbar on Wednesday in Accra, he urged the workers to make a “new commitment” and work hard to mitigate losses the corporation might have incurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Touching on other staff and managerial concerns, Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh said the NMC, in consultation with the relevant authorities, would appoint a substantive Managing Director of the corporation in the weeks ahead.
He, however, noted that the appointment would not be “a panacea” to the challenges of the corporation. Rather, NTC would only achieve results when staff focused on doing the job they were tasked to do effectively and efficiently.
“Everybody no matter your position, has a contribution to make, nobody should discount the contribution made by his or her colleague for everyone’s role is important.
“Let us cherish the little given to us, it is out of this that we can assume bigger roles,” he stressed.
Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh further said there was the need to define the role of management and the board since usurpation of power generated internal conflict.
Very Rev. Ama Afo-Blay, Board Chair of the Corporation, emphasing attitudinal change and commitment, also asked the employees to continue observing COVID-19 safety protocols, indicating that “wearing the mask is a must.”
She admitted the corporation had some challenges hence the urgent need to “turn things around.”
Rev. Afo-Blay further urged workers to “put their creativity to work” adding that management should implement suggestions from all sectors to the letter, for the progress of the corporation.
“Let us resolve to put in our best, it calls for little bit of sacrifice and commitment than we have been showing.
“We should think of what we can do to assist the corporation than what the corporation can do for us, we are better if not best when we resolve to do so,” she said, and advised staff to work as a team and desist from tarnishing the image of the corporation.
Mr. Martin Adu-Owusu, the acting Managing Director, described the meeting as unique as it was the first the board was meeting workers since their appointment.
By Ernest Nutsugah
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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