President of the republic of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama has assured Muslim leaders that his government will continue to do everything possible to improve the economy and create jobs for the youth.

Speaking to a gathering of imams, Mr. Mahama emphasised the government’s main focus in education was to expand technical and vocational training so that young people could gain the skills they need to work and support themselves.

He added that special attention would be given to Muslim communities to ensure they benefit from the rollout of new training centres.

He mentioned that programmes such as Ajumawura, which offers small loans to start businesses, and the National Apprenticeship Programme, which helps especially young women to learn trades like dressmaking, would also help the youth to build a future for themselves.

On support for Zongo communities, Mr. Mahama said a coordinator and deputy had been appointed to lead the Zongo Development Fund.

He announced that they would soon begin work on a microcredit scheme called the Soya Fund.

The fund, he explained, would provide small loans to poor households in Zongo communities, especially women engaged in small-scale businesses such as selling waakye, cocoa, or running small shops.

He said artisans like dressmakers would also benefit.

The president thanked the imams for their continuous prayers for Ghana, saying their intercession had helped the country remain one of the most peaceful nations in Africa.

By: Jacob Aggrey

An aide to former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia,Ellen Ama Daaku has advised President John Dramani Mahama to shift his attention from social media hate speech to more urgent national issues such as illegal mining.

Speaking in an interview, she noted that the President’s recent comments about tracking the IP addresses of people who spread hate speech were unnecessary.

According to her, President Mahama must first define what he considers to be hate speech before seeking to punish people for it.

Ms. Daaku argued that the President himself had benefitted from hate speech and social media attacks in the past when he was in opposition.

She said even during his time in government, he described his opponents and their tribesmen in unpalatable terms, which later drew complaints from former President Nana Akufo-Addo to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference.

She stressed that harsh criticism of leaders on social media should not automatically be considered hate speech, adding that former leaders, including former President Nana Akufo-Addo had all been subjected to it.

“He is only feeling what Nana Akufo-Addo went through for eight years,” she remarked.

While acknowledging the need to regulate misconduct online, Ms. Daaku insisted that going after social media activists should not be a priority.

She noted that many political activists, including herself, had been insulted and attacked online but never called for arrests.

She concluded that President Mahama should focus his energy on solving pressing problems such as galamsey and the economy instead of concentrating on critics on social media.

By: Jacob Aggrey