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UNESCO delegation pays courtesy call on Gender Minister to deepen collaborative
The Head of Office and Representative of UNESCO to Ghana, Mr. Edmond Moukala, led a delegation to pay a courtesy call on the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, to explore strategic areas of collaboration aimed at advancing inclusive education, gender equality, and youth empowerment.
The discussions focused on promoting educational opportunities for young mothers, empowering them to return to school, and addressing the persistent stigma that limits their ability to thrive.
Both parties recognised the importance of inclusive policies and interventions that allow young mothers to pursue their education without discrimination.
Other key areas of interest included the provision of training in entrepreneurship and digital skills for women and girls. These efforts are expected to enhance economic empowerment and promote self-reliance among women.
The delegation also discussed in-depth issues related to gender-based violence and the urgent need for stronger advocacy and preventive measures. There was mutual agreement on the importance of integrating gender and reproductive health education into all educational curricula to help foster safer and healthier learning environments for children and adolescents.
The engagement further highlighted the need to promote girls’ participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and support women in the media space, thereby opening doors for leadership and representation in key sectors.
The Minister acknowledged that the Ministry, being a cross-cutting institution, works collaboratively with nearly all other Ministries to ensure that the needs of women, children, and other vulnerable populations are mainstreamed into national development.
She noted that UNESCO’s support aligns strongly with the government’s broader development goals.
She emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to championing the President’s priorities which include: gender equality, inclusive education, youth empowerment, and poverty reduction.
Also present at the meeting was the Chief Director of the Ministry, Dr. Afisah Zakariah.
The Second Deputy Minority Whip, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, has defended the conduct of the Minority in Parliament during Tuesday’s chaotic sitting, insisting their actions were to protect what they believe is a violation of parliamentary procedure.
Explaining the incident, he said the Minority was reacting to developments surrounding a letter which allegedly directed that a seat belonging to the MP for Kpandai be declared vacant despite an earlier ruling by the Speaker.
He argued that the Speaker’s ruling should stand unless overturned by a competent court, and described the sudden reversal as shocking and against parliamentary precedent.
Mr Ahmed said the Minority only attempted to make a statement to register their displeasure, but tensions rose when the Majority Leader insisted on responding instead of commenting, which he said was against the rules.
He also denied claims that Minority MPs crossed the aisle, stressing that they remained within their side and only sought the Speaker’s attention.
He further complained that during proceedings, the Mace—the symbol of authority in the House—was not present and Minority microphones were disconnected, making the process one-sided.
He said the caucus intends to continue pushing to ensure that the MP for Kpandai retains his seat, adding that their next steps will be strategic.
By: Jacob Aggrey
President John Mahama has stated that it is too early for anyone to call for the scrapping of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) despite recent controversies surrounding the institution.
He argued that the office remains an important part of Ghana’s fight against corruption.
He explained that government is strengthening anti-corruption bodies such as the Economic and Organised Crime Office and the OSP, noting that the OSP is the only agency with the power to independently prosecute cases without going through the Attorney General.
President Mahama said many people distrust the Attorney General’s office because it is headed by a government minister, and some fear it may be slow to prosecute its own.
He believes an independent body like the OSP offers stronger accountability, regardless of who is involved.
He admitted that citizens want to see more prosecutions and visible results, but urged the public to give the OSP time.
He encouraged the office to speed up its investigations to show that it remains relevant in the fight against corruption.
By: Jacob Aggrey
