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U/W Region triumphs in Scouts Regional Challenge
The Upper West Regional Scout team has emerged overall winners of the Scouts Regional Challenge organised by the Scout and Guide Fellowship Ghana (SGF-Gh) in Kumasi.
The four day tent camp which began on Thursday and concluded on Sunday was held under the theme “Reuniting Through Friendly Competition.”
It brought together scout teams from twelve regions to compete in activities aimed at promoting discipline, teamwork and leadership among young people.
Participating regions were Ashanti, Central, Savanna, Greater Accra, Eastern, Northern, Volta, Bono, Bono East, Upper West, Western and Ahafo.
Activities during the camp included Capture the Flag, which tested strategy and teamwork, the Survival Challenge that assessed practical survival and emergency response skills, and the Crab Catcher challenge, which focused on agility and coordination.
Scouts also took part in a Treasure Hunt that required navigation and problem solving skills, as well as the Smartness in Good Order competition that evaluated personal appearance, camp organisation and discipline.
Aside points awarded for the various activities, teams received additional marks for coordination, discipline, respect for orders and overall conduct throughout the camp.
At the end of the competition, the Upper West Regional Scout team took home a cash prize of GHC10,000. Abdul Mumin Iddriss of the Greater Accra team was adjudged the Most Disciplined Scout and received a cash award, while other regions also won prizes for outstanding performances in the various activities.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief of Heman, in the Ashanti Region, Nana Wiafe Apau Ababio, commended the Scout and Guide Fellowship Ghana for its contribution to scouting and the training of the youth through the movement.
He encouraged the scouts to take advantage of opportunities provided by such programmes to learn, build character and develop themselves for the betterment of the nation.
He also urged them to uphold discipline, respect authority and remain committed to the values of service and patriotism.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the National President of the Fellowship, Mr Andrew Botchwey, said the regional challenge was introduced to reinforce the core values of scouting, particularly discipline, service and leadership.
He explained that bringing scouts from different regions together through structured competition helped to build mutual respect, strengthen national unity and prepare young people to become responsible citizens.
The Executive Secretary of the Fellowship, Ms Stephanie Birikorang, said the camp had provided a practical learning environment where scouts were able to apply the principles they were taught in their various formations.
She noted that the Fellowship remained committed to using such programmes to nurture young people, promote positive values and contribute to youth development and national cohesion.
BY STEPHANIE BIRIKORANG
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AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine has broken ground on a modern 1,500-seater multipurpose assembly hall and a secured main gatehouse for New Edubiase Senior High School, in the Adansi South District.
The project, being executed by local contractor AA Engineering and Construction, is expected to be completed within 17 months and forms part of the Mine’s 10-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) — a strategic framework for delivering sustainable development in its host communities.
Beyond the expansive assembly hall, the facility will house a fully integrated administrative complex featuring a dedicated sound room, a 16-seater staff eatery, and suites for the Headmaster and Assistant Headmaster, a bursar’s office, an 18-seater conference room, a 24-seater staff common room, six faculty office spaces and ancillary stores and washrooms.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, the Mine’s Director of Sustainability Management, Edmund Oduro Agyei, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to improving educational outcomes in host communities through impactful and sustainable investments.
The Edubiasehene, Guahyia Oduropanin Birikorang, commended the Mine for the investment, saying the project demonstrated that the company’s development agenda extended well beyond its immediate operational areas.
The Headmaster of New Edubiase SHS, Mr Christopher Appiah Mensah, described the intervention as timely and transformative, noting it would address longstanding infrastructure deficits, improve conditions for teaching and learning, and create adequate space for academic and social gatherings.
“This will greatly enhance administrative efficiency and improve the overall welfare of both staff and students,” he said.
The facility is also expected to boost the school’s capacity to host national examinations and major events, and strengthen its standing as a centre of academic excellence within the district.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
Stakeholders have been urged to help raise awareness and eliminate the stigma often associated with clubfoot, a treatable condition which occurs in children.
Parents are to seek early treatment for the condition while policymakers strengthen support for early detection, disability inclusion, and child health services in the country.
Clubfoot is a condition present at birth in which one or both feet are twisted inward and downward. If left untreated, experts say a child may face lifelong challenges with walking, which could affect education, employment, and social inclusion.
In Ghana, an estimated 1,000 babies are said to be born with clubfoot every year.
In commemoration of the World Clubfoot Day, marked on June 3 every year, stakeholders create awareness about the condition and, among other things, celebrate the dedication of health professionals who ensure children receive treatment.
In a release copied to the Ghana News Agency, Nana Afua Adutwumwaa Adjetey, Programme Manager, Ghana Clubfoot Programme, noted that many families were unaware of the free treatment available for the condition in Ghana. 
She observed that the lack of awareness continued to delay treatment for children who could have received prompt and life-changing care at no cost.
Treatment, she said, was provided free of charge for children under age five at Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG–Hope Walks) partner clinics across the country.
More than 9,000 children born with clubfoot had received treatment and care through the programme over the past 18 years.
“The treatment follows the internationally recognised Ponseti Method, which uses a series of gentle casts to gradually correct the position of the foot, followed by a brace to maintain correction and prevent relapse. When treatment begins early, success rates are extremely high,” Madam Adjetey explained.
“For many children, the journey begins with a health worker who identifies clubfoot at birth and makes a referral. A few moments of observation can change the course of a child’s life forever.”
“Clubfoot is not a curse; it is not caused by wrongdoing…it is a medical condition that can be treated successfully. Families should never feel ashamed to seek help.”
The Programme Manager said children born with the condition deserved equal opportunities, dignity, and inclusion, and called on communities to support parents rather than “judge them.” -GNA
