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Street Academy supports over 4,000 children to school with learning material
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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
The 29th Annual Dagaaba-Frafra Friendly Games have once again demonstrated that sports can be a powerful vehicle for cultural preservation, business networking, friendship and peaceful coexistence.
Held at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra last Saturday, the games brought together members of the two ethnic groups from across Ghana and abroad for a colourful celebration under the theme, “Unity in Diversity: The Dagaaba-Frafra Model for Peaceful Co-existence.”
The event, which has evolved from a friendly football match into a major annual gathering, featured football, volleyball, sack races, lime and spoon, tug-of-peace and a penalty shootout for senior citizens.
At the end of the competitions, the Frafra won four events, while the Dagaaba secured victories in five, with the men’s soccer match ending in a draw.
The Frafra triumphed in the men’s lime and spoon, men’s sack race, women’s sack race and women’s soccer, while the Dagaaba won the women’s lime and spoon, men’s volleyball, women’s volleyball, women’s tug-of-peace and the senior citizens’ penalty shootout.
However, the games extended far beyond the sporting arena. The stadium grounds and surrounding spaces became a vibrant marketplace, with patrons enjoying and purchasing a variety of traditional foods, drinks and cultural products.
Local delicacies, including TZ, tubaani, bambara beans, pork, guinea fowl, local fowls, dog meat and kosie, were sold alongside traditional alcoholic beverages. Traditional dresses and other culturally inspired items also attracted buyers, turning the gathering into an important platform for small businesses and vendors to make sales while promoting northern Ghanaian culture.
The cultural exchange continued long after the final sporting contests, as patrons remained at the venue to eat, drink, socialise, dance and party well into the night.
In her remarks, the Guest of Honour, Dr Matilda Aberese-Ako, said the gathering represented much more than competition, describing the Dagaaba-Frafra relationship as a historic bond that had evolved into a modern sporting tradition and an instrument for peace.
MTN Ghana has been the headline sponsor for the games for the past 10 years.
By Gordon Wellu
By Gordon Wellu
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MTN Ghana has undertaken a tree-planting exercise at the Chipa Forest Reserve as part of its commitment to protecting the planet and support the restoration of degraded sections of the forest.
The activity forms part of the company’s 2026 Sustainability Month celebration held under the theme “Small Actions: Big Impact,” and its 30th anniversary celebration.
It was held in partnership with the Forestry Commission (FC) and the Rainforest Alliance with MTN Ghana supporting the restoration of approximately two hectares of degraded forest through the planting of 1,666 trees.
Due to the current dry weather conditions, 833 trees were planted during the exercise, with the remaining 833 to be planted when the rain commences.
The exercise brought together MTN employee volunteers, officials from the Forestry Commission and representatives of the Rainforest Alliance, demonstrating the importance of collaboration in driving environmental sustainability.
Speaking at the event, the Acting General Manager for Sustainability and Shared Value at MTN Ghana, Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, emphasized the critical role trees play in sustaining life and protecting the environment.
“Trees are essential to human survival and healthy ecosystems. They absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen, regulate temperatures, protect soil, support biodiversity and provide habitats for many species. They also conserve water, reduce erosion and help communities adapt to the effects of climate change,” she said.
The District Manager of the Tema-Ada Forest Services Division of the Forestry Commission, Linda Ansah, welcomed MTN Ghana’s support, describing it as a valuable contribution to efforts aimed at restoring degraded sections of the reserve.
The Country Director of the Rainforest Alliance, Nicholas Jengri, also welcomed the partnership and emphasised the importance of collective action in addressing environmental challenges.
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