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Use appropriate channel to address grievances – NCCE urges youth
The Ketu North Municipal Director of National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Prosper Afealete has urged the youth to use appropriate channels to address their grievances.
He was speaking at a youth activist workshop organised by the National Commission for Civic Education in collaboration with the National Security Ministry on “Secessionism and Violent Extremism, National Cohesion and National Development.”
Touching on Grievance Handling procedures: Public Order Act and Vigilantism, he admonished the youth to abide by the laws of the country.
He said the Public Order Act provided the right to freedom of assembly including freedom to take part in processions and demonstration, but this must be done in accordance with security agencies, such as the police for the sake of peace and security.
Mr Afealetey further revealed how vigilante groups were hiding behind some religious groups, NGOS, Keep-fit clubs among others to carry out their heinous crimes in communities.
“It will surprise you that, vigilantism is operated on different levels and in different forms these days and no longer with names that can easily be identified and dealt with. Some are even trying to use religious groups, keep-fit clubs and NGOs,” he said.
He advised the youth to be mindful of their associations and report crime to the appropriate authorities at all times for action to be taken against such threats to peace and security of the nation.
The representative from the National Security, Mr George Abizy Baffour also called on the youth to assist security agencies to deal with criminals in their various communities.
Speaking on “Peaceful Coexistence and National Development”, the Parish Priest of Dzodze, Rev. Fr Frederick Sedo-Henyo advised the youth to “weigh their actions and not allow their emotions to control their reasoning.”
He identified indiscipline, culture of greed and selfishness, negative ethnic or cultural practice, among others as some of the threats to peaceful coexistence.
Former Volta Regional Police Commander, Togbi Bedi Ahiadzi lamented how some chiefs were being used by political parties to disrupt peace and development in their communities.
He tasked all traditional authorities to be true representatives of peace and unity in their areas and commended the National Commission for Civic Education for the effort in deepening democracy in the country.
Mr Tito Voegborlo, Secretary of the Commission, also encouraged the youth to remain patriotic and contribute to national development.
The workshop is being organised in selected districts to educate and equip the youth with basic knowledge and security tip on the activities of the secessionist groups.
The Diaspora Affairs Office at the Office of the President has hosted a delegation of African diaspora women who are in Ghana ahead of a planned Presidential Conferment of Citizenship ceremony.
The Director of Diaspora Affairs, Kofi Okyere Darko, explained in a Facebook post that the visit was a gesture of appreciation by the delegation to the Government of Ghana for its continued efforts to reconnect Africans in the diaspora with their ancestral homeland.
He indicated that the ceremony, scheduled for next Monday, will officially grant Ghanaian citizenship to members of the delegation as part of the country’s broader engagement with the African diaspora.
The delegation was led by Erica Bennett, Founder of the Diaspora Africa Forum.
According to Mr Okyere Darko, her years of advocacy have played an important role in strengthening ties between Africa and people of African descent living abroad.
He noted that the group’s journey towards citizenship represents not only a legal process but also a cultural and spiritual return to their roots.
Also present at the meeting was Natalie Jackson, an attorney who is also expected to receive Ghanaian citizenship during the ceremony. She works closely with renowned civil rights lawyer Ben Crump.
Mr Okyere Darko emphasised that Ghana remains committed to strengthening relationships with the African diaspora and promoting unity, identity, and shared heritage among people of African descent worldwide.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana has signed a debt restructuring agreement with the Kingdom of Belgium as part of efforts to restore the country’s economic stability after the financial crisis that hit the nation in 2022 and 2023.
The Minister of Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, today disclosed that he signed the agreement on behalf of the Government of Ghana.
He explained that Ghana experienced a very difficult period during the crisis, which forced the government at the time to declare a debt default.
However, he indicated that the country is now recovering and witnessing a significant economic turnaround.
According to him, stronger systems are also being put in place to ensure that Ghana does not return to such a situation again.
Dr Forson noted that the agreement with Belgium is the eighth deal Ghana has concluded with countries under the Official Creditor Committee as part of its external debt restructuring programme.
He expressed appreciation to the Government of Belgium for its support and partnership with Ghana during the process.
The Finance Minister thanked Carole van Eyll, Ambassador of Belgium to Ghana, for her role in strengthening relations between the two countries.
The agreement forms part of Ghana’s broader effort to restructure its external debts and stabilise the economy following the crisis.
By: Jacob Aggrey
