News
“Wele” business booms at Tema
Cowhide or cow skin popularly known as “wele” in the local parlance is one of the highly patronised delicacies by the public.
It is mostly sold by waakye (rice and beans) sellers and banku with okro stew or soup sellers.
A “wele factory” is doing well in the Tema West Municipality around the “Underbridge” Market at Adjei Kojo in the Greater Accra Region.
It is being manned by a 42-year-old Alfred Tetteh who says he has been in the business of processing wele for 26 years though he is less than a year old in the Tema West Municipality.
Every day of the week, trucks, tricycles and vehicles troop to the place to take their stock for further processing and distribution to the various markets centres.
In an interview with “The Spectator”, Mr. Tetteh said he learnt the skill of preparing wele as an apprentice for three years at Teshie, a suburb of Accra.
He said “it takes someone three years in ther wele business to undergo apprenticeship just like learning any other trade like carpentry, hair dressing, welding, sewing etc.
He said a beginner was admitted and trained on rolling of the cowhide (just like a woolen carpet is rolled) and observing also how the process takes place.
He said the apprentices, wearing thick hand gloves (to protect their hands from fire and other possible dangers) would roll the cowhides because they were usually brought to the warehouse looking flat.
Mr. Tetteh said the cowhides were imported from Kenya, Mauritania, Guinea, Egypt and other African countries and he received as many as about 2,000 pieces of consignment at a time.
He described the wele business as lucrative but tiresome which needed a lot of commitment.
The 42-year-old said he had employed three people aside his several apprentices and supplied to about 15 regular clients from Ashaiman, Kasoa, Teshie and Accra Central, apart from the many others who also prepared the cowhide for further sale to traders who sold them at many other markets.
Going through the process of preparing the cowhide into wele, he said he and his team could work at anytime including as early as 2am, depending on the demand by his clients.
Reacting to a question why he uses logs not car tyres, for singeing, he described the latter as dangerous and a threat to human health.
As to why some of the wele are hard and others soft, he explained that the soft wele was from bulls while the hard wele from cow.
Mr. Tetteh said his wife also traded in wele and the business had helped them to take care of themselves and their children.
From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Tema
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) has held its Fourth Quarter Ministerial Advisory Board Meeting to review progress, discuss key policy matters, and strengthen collaboration towards achieving its strategic goals.
The meeting brought together members of the Advisory Board, which was set up under Section 39 of the Civil Service Act, 1993 (PNDCL 327), and the Civil Service (Ministerial Advisory Board) Regulations, 2010 (L.I. 1961).
The Board serves as a platform for continuous engagement between the Ministry and its stakeholders.
Its role is to advise the sector Minister on policy planning and implementation, while ensuring that programmes on gender, social protection, and child welfare align with national priorities and government development goals.
The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, commended the Board for its consistent support and technical guidance in advancing the Ministry’s mandate.
She noted that the Ministry’s work in promoting gender equality, protecting the vulnerable, and ensuring the welfare of children and families depends on strong policies and effective partnerships.
Dr. Lartey stressed that the Advisory Board plays an important role in helping the Ministry deliver its mission in a sustainable and impactful way.
A major highlight of the meeting was a presentation on the Ministry’s achievements so far this year, followed by discussions on future policy direction and strategic focus areas.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has been unanimously elected as the Chairperson of the Africa Geopolitical Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
The election took place on October 19, 2025, during the ongoing 151st IPU Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. His victory places Ghana at the center of continental and global parliamentary diplomacy.
With this new role, Speaker Bagbin will coordinate and harmonize Africa’s collective positions on major IPU decisions and policies.
He will also serve as the continent’s chief representative on key issues such as governance, peace, security, and sustainable development.
Speaker Bagbin currently serves as the President of the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (COSPAL) and is the immediate past Chairman of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) International.
In his remarks after the election, he thanked African delegations for their confidence and unity, particularly commending Nigeria for seconding his nomination and Senegal for withdrawing its candidate in the spirit of cooperation.
He pledged to strengthen collaboration among African parliaments and promote transparency, democratic governance, and sustainable development through stronger legislative institutions.
He succeeds Ms. Angela Thokozile Didiza, Speaker of South Africa’s National Assembly, who served with distinction.
The Africa Geopolitical Group, formed in the early 1950s, serves as a continental branch of the IPU, ensuring fair representation of African countries in the Union’s committees and decision-making bodies.
It also coordinates Africa’s common positions on major parliamentary issues discussed at IPU assemblies.
By: Jacob Aggrey
