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Stop the vendatta against Della Sowah- Youth Activist
Former Ghana Institute of Journalism(GIJ), Student Representative Council(SRC) president, Benjamin Avornyotse has called on the youth of Kpando to solidly support the vision of Member of Parliament of the area, Della Sowah to succeed.
He said the youths should respect the decision of the people of Kpando Constituency who elected Mrs. Della Sowah as MP.
Statistics
Mr.Avornyotse said he couldn’t understand why some of them were fixated on efforts to overturn the will of the people because the candidate they presented and supported was rejected at the polls.
He debunked the argument from certain quarters that due to a drop in her percentage vote she may be unpopular. He argued that “so if JM loses an elections, like in 2016, is it because he’s not popular?”
“In 2012, votes in Kpando dropped largely because of separation of a new constituency, by 2016, Dela Sowah moved the numbers from around 78% to 84% percent. Yet NDC lost the national elections, will you say, JM was unpopular so he shouldn’t have been repeated even though Della Sowah mproved NDC votes in 2016,” he quizzed.
He further added that “If the numbers dropped in 2020, should you not see it as a pointer that it can bounce back like it did between 2012 and 2016.You should be concerned about how she did that in the past and how it can be done again.”
he said rather,they spend their time, scheming to make her appear unpopular, when indeed she is very popular on the grounds, and later turn around to blame her for drop in JM’s numbers.
“Even in 2016 the year when she increased the numbers. In 2016 NDC still lost Nationally, these are facts you can’t dispute.Your opinion can’t be approbated and reprobated,” he added.
According to him, “applying your logic, should we say that, even though, Della Sowah improved the numbers in 2016, and JM lost, JM is unpopular and should not be given another chance?,” he quizzed.
“Or your argument on popularity and uninspiring-ness is selective, depending on where your interest lies, and that your thinking can’t be applied across board because Della Sowah is an easy target even if same opinion applied to the Presidential candidate.This logic is a selective amnesia obviously,” he said.
This was in response to some opinions that lower statistics of the MP Della Sowah’s election results equates unpopularity
Mr.Avornyotse The bottom line is, this’s a personal vin-data (bitter destructive, interest laced) agenda against Della Sowah is not borne out of any objective fair analysis and well-wishing polity for Kpando.
“I have observed these characters for such a long time not only in Kpando but across-board politically. The day Della finally exit, whether by voluntary action or an election outcome. It will only be just a matter of time before they turn their fire on the new candidate depending on where they find their new interest,” he said.
Achievements
Supporting Mr. Avonyotse’s argument, Mr. Eric Tata touched on some of the achievements of Hon. Della Sowah, saying, it was unfortunate that the constituency communication team had failed woefully in doing their work as NDC Communicators.
He said, Della Sowah’s contributions in debates, to statements, or questions, in parliament are excellent and inspiring.
In the constituency he confirmed that she has assisted over 1400 constituents with payment of fees. If you see the list you will be surprised that some of those criticising her are among beneficiaries he said.
Last year she rehabilitated Torkor landing site to enable Pantoon to keep docking at Torkor to save thousands of jobs in Torkor.
Again this year she repaired the Assembly’s road equipments for them to be able to do maintenance works on roads.
Mr.Tata said, in 2016 she paid for a building to house the National Health Insurance in Kpando, adding that this has given the citizenry of Kpando, Afadjato and North Dayi a place to access NHIA.
“Currently she is set to hand over a two story resource centre for the Chiefs of Kpando. It is 90% complete. Kpando is the only constituency with 100% school feeding coverage in Ghana.She built the largest shed in the region for drivers,” Mr.Tata stated.
Additionally, he said the MP organised skills training for nearly 2,000 and Provided over 10,000 bags of fertilizers for farmers.
“There are 2 two story school buildings to her credit Dafor/St. Thomas Tsakpe. Other school projects to her credit include Dzigbe, Dzewoe, Bame, Kpodzi etc
On soccer, he noted that the Mrs.Sowah organized a football gala and selected a team to play against a former black stars, producing a team for the Municipal Akpini Stars.
“She assisted Maquart Margaret Hospital to roof their child care centre. Supported many people with hospital bill payments. We can go on and on,” Mr.Tata concluded
Local mattress manufacturers have raised serious concerns over the influx of substandard mattresses, warning that these products pose significant health risks to consumers and threaten the sustainability of Ghana’s mattress industry.
At a press briefing held in Kumasi on Tuesday, manufacturers accused unregistered foreign entities, particularly Chinese firms, of flooding the market with cheap mattresses made from polystyrene.
Mr Yaw Ampem Darko, a spokesperson for the local manufacturers, warned that prolonged use of substandard mattresses, especially those made with polystyrene, could result in chronic back pain, musculoskeletal disorders, poor posture, and diminished sleep quality.
These health implications, they stressed, were not always immediately evident but accumulate over time, especially among vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.
This material, typically used for packaging, is considered unsuitable and unsafe for bedding.
According to industry leaders, these sub-standard products have been circulating for at least five years, gaining traction among unsuspecting consumers due to their unusually low prices.
“These mattresses are being sold at suspiciously low prices, luring unsuspecting consumers who are unaware of the health dangers.”
“We are not just protecting our businesses; we are protecting Ghanaian lives. The government must act swiftly to stem this tide before more citizens fall victim to these dangerous products,” Mr Yaw Ampem Darko stated.
The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has acknowledged the issue and, in response, announced a nationwide enforcement campaign aimed at clamping down on the production, distribution, and sale of substandard mattresses.
The campaign, which was scheduled to take effect from September 30, 2025, was empowered by the GSA Act, 2022 (Act 1078), which authorises the Authority to seize and seal non-compliant products and impose sanctions on offenders.
In a statement signed by the Director General of the GSA, Professor George Agyei, the authority cited Sections 29 and 43 of the Act, reiterating that all mattresses sold in Ghana must meet established national standards or face confiscation.
The statement further emphasised that mattresses failing to meet these standards not only compromise sleep quality but also contribute to long-term health complications, including spinal and neck pain.
Despite the GSA’s commitment, manufacturers have expressed frustration over delays in implementation and called for stronger enforcement mechanisms.
They urged the GSA to work in close collaboration with the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and national law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute violators of Ghana’s quality standards.
Manufacturers are also appealing to consumers to remain vigilant and prioritise their health by verifying that any mattress they purchase bears the GSA certification mark.
Moreover, they caution the public against purchasing suspiciously cheap mattresses that lack proper labelling or identifiable branding, as these were often indicators of substandard or counterfeit products.
As the official enforcement deadline had expired with no show, the local producers insisted that much more than business interests were at stake.
They argued that without swift and sustained action, the health and safety of Ghanaian consumers would continue to be compromised.
“Public awareness, strict enforcement, and collaboration among regulatory bodies are essential if we are to protect the integrity of the local industry and the wellbeing of the Ghanaian people,” Mr Darko indicated.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
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The Founder of the Raissa Child Protection Initiative, Ms Raissa Sambou, has urged authorities to impose severe punishment on individuals, including teachers and guardians, who sexually abuse young girls.
Speaking in an interview to mark this year’s International Day of the Girl Child (October 11), Ms Sambou condemned the increasing cases of sexual exploitation involving minors, describing such acts as “heartless, criminal, and a total betrayal of trust.”
She noted that those entrusted with the care and education of children must not be the same people who violate them, stressing that “anyone found guilty of abusing a girl child must face the full rigours of the law without leniency.”
The International Day of the Girl Child is observed annually to promote the rights of girls, empower them to reach their full potential, and draw attention to the challenges they face worldwide.
Ms Sambou lamented that poverty continues to push many young girls into vulnerable situations, exposing them to exploitation.
She expressed concern that some headmasters, teachers, and community members who should protect girls rather take advantage of them.
“This must stop immediately. The safety of every girl must never be compromised,” she said, urging the public to report all forms of abuse to the appropriate authorities and called for swift action by law enforcement agencies against perpetrators.
Addressing girls directly, Ms Sambou encouraged them to take their education seriously and to believe in their potential.
“It is possible to be young and responsible. Your future is bright, protect it, believe in it, and never let anyone dim your light,” she advised.
She further urged girls to choose their friends wisely, stay disciplined, and speak up if anyone makes sexual advances toward them.
Ms Sambou concluded with a rallying call for collective action, saying “speak up, protect them, and empower them. Together, we can end the sexual exploitation of girls.”
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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