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Street Academy supports over 4,000 children to school with learning material
A section of the children receiving their books
Street Academy, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has presented over 4,000 learning materials to more than 400 pupils in Accra to motivate them to learn as they return to school.
The learning materials, worth over GH¢45,000.00 include exercise books, pens, pencils, erasers, among others.
It was supported by Nii Boi Abbey and Ms Melani Lea Mennella, a Human Rights lawyer and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Seapro Trade.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Ataa Lartey, Executive Director of the Street Academy, said the support was in line with the institution’s mission to use education, culture, and sports to expose the hidden talents of the less fortunate children living on the streets of Accra.
He said the books would also serve as motivation for the pupils to remain committed to education and “know that someone cares and loves them.”
Ataa Lartey added that, “as schools reopened last Tuesday, September 10, the students will be equipped with the materials at hand to start their academic work.”
According to him, the Academy submits names of children to the Ghana Education Service (GES) to be enrolled into the public school, adding that “this year we have sent 18 children to the public school and it is the responsibility of the school to provide them with learning materials.”
He therefore encouraged the children to focus on their academic work to become better citizens and contribute to Ghana’s development agenda.
Ms Melani Mennella said every child had the right to education and therefore, there was the need to support them in school.
She said the learning materials would reduce the burden on parents as most of them found it difficult to provide their wards with learning materials when school reopened, and urged the students to make good use of the items as education was the key to success.
The beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the Academy, saying that the materials would help them study better and keep up with class exercises.
The Street Academy is a three-year bridge programme preparing students for mainstream education, the public school system, and vocational training.
Committed to the most vulnerable children, the Street Academy is 100 per cent free, sponsoring books, uniforms, and two meals a day. –GNA
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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