Features
What a hardworking President! (Part 2)
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There is no doubt that in the light of his achievement, President Akufo-Addo has proved to be a leader who is very hardworking, is committed to what he stands for and is also prepared to leave for this country a list of achievements for the benefits of Ghanaians today and yet unborn.
We have already spoken about his achievements in a form of the free educational system, in digitalisation, in the health sector and remarkable growth in the agricultural sector. All these, put together, show that he is a great leader who must be emulated by all countries in Africa today. The opposition in Ghana have done all they can to vilify him, but he has always risen high above their evil intentions to serve his country to the best of his ability which is unparalleled in the history of this country. The discussion of his achievements will reveal that indeed he is a great leader, and that Ghanaians will have to retain his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in power in 2024.
The Chief in the village of Berepro was faced with preservation of foodstuff in his community. The Chief and his elders thought about how to solve this problem, knowing that in previous times leaders who preceded him had not done anything meaningful to solve the problem. God being with him, this chief and his elders thought of traditional ways of preserving their produce and engaging in trade with the other villages around. Within a short time, the village of Berepro enjoyed better standard of living together with their neighbours.
INTRA-CONTINENTAL TRADE
Similarly, the government of President Akufo-Addo has done very well when it comes to promoting intra-continental trade in Africa. Until recently, many countries on the continent of Africa, were trading in larger volumes with countries outside the continent, while intra-regional trade was very low. African countries, realising this as a short-coming, have decided to come together and promote trade among themselves. This is what has led to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES OF AFCFTA?
First, it is to create a single continental market for goods and services and thereby accelerate Continental Customs Union. Second, it is to expand intra-African trade through better harmonisation and co-ordination of trade liberalisation and facilitation regimes. Third, it is to resolve the challenges of multiple forms of membership and expedite regional and continental processes. Finally, the Agreement seeks to enhance competitiveness at the industry and enterprise level through the exploitation of opportunities for large scale production, continental market access and better reallocation of resources.
One good move made by the President of the Republic is that he fought hard and negotiated with his colleagues for the headquarters of this noble programme to be sited in Accra. As we speak, AfCFTA headquarters is in Accra, bringing about numerous benefits to the country. First, it has raised the image of Ghana to a high level as a country that has set up and accommodate the AfCFTA secretariat.
Secondly, it goes to show Ghana as a peaceful and well secured country that must be trusted to accommodate the secretariat. Thirdly, all the officials connected to the secretariat will be based in Accra and indirectly bring in some revenue to the country. Fourthly, Ghana will also take advantage of the secretariat and conscientise its people on the need for making use of applicable standards in the production of goods and services for export to other countries on the continent. Furthermore, the local staff to be employed by the secretariat stands the chance of benefitting Ghanaians. This shows that Ghana stands to gain a lot for accepting to host the secretariat in line with the vision of President Akufo-Addo.
Fighting for the secretariat to be set up in Accra received very little opposition from other countries on the continent. This is because Ghana was seen as a beacon of hope for the rest of the continent. Several countries supported Ghana’s bid to host the AfCFTA secretariat and this did not come as a surprise when Ghana won the mandate to do so all because of President Akufo-Addo.
PLANTING FOR FOOD AND JOBS
In the agricultural sector, the President and his team introduced Planting for Food and Jobs as well as Rearing for Food and Export programmes. Also introduced was the One District One Factory concept and rolled it out in such a careful and vigorous manner that within the second and third years of his administration, the President had been able to produce a large quantity of foodstuff for consumption by the people of this country. Some of the food items were exported to neighbouring countries to feed the people there.
Neighbouring countries have been so enticed to Ghana that they are now rushing for the foodstuff available and today maize, yam, plantain and many others are running out of stock. What government must do in this case is to rigidly regulate the export of such products so that its own people will be fed adequately and be encouraged in their farming and farming-related businesses such as poultry so that the shortages can be curtailed to reasonable levels. Our neighbours must be fed but not to the detriment of Ghanaians.
Fruits like pineapple, watermelon and many others are being produced in various parts of the country under the programme and if things continue like this, Ghana will be a net exporter of food to the rest of the world as it is already doing, but of course not to the detriment of its people as has been pointed out already. Similarly, vegetables like tomatoes, onions, green pepper, garden eggs and others must be produced in large quantities so that people elsewhere can also benefit from such produce. In Demfefe in the Bono Region, for example, the 1D1F has set up Weddi Africa Tomato processing factory with 40,000 metric tonnes capacity. Here, 2,200 direct and indirect jobs have been created. It is not all the factories under the 1D1F that are agricultural in nature. Some of them produce non-agricultural products like garments.
COMMODITY EXCHANGE
In its wisdom, the government has been able to set up the Commodity Exchange which is helping to store the foodstuff produced so that they will not go bad within a short time since under the 1D1F, most of the factories established were agricultural in nature. The Commodity Exchange has helped to make food items available all year round. We should, however, not be happy with these achievements but continue to work hard under the programme, 1D1F, so that the best will be created for Ghana and Ghanaians for that matter.
Still on agriculture, much frantic efforts have been made in cocoa to increase output. Most of the cocoa trees were too old and had to be cut down to make way for new ones. Cutting them down required compensation for the cocoa farmers and this was provided by the government. Also, spraying of the cocoa trees as well as pruning were needed to energise the trees and make them produce more. All these have yielded positive results and today, Ghana has hit over one million tonnes of cocoa regarding production in that sector. Here too, kudos to the Akufo-Addo government and the Chief Executive of COCOBOD.
The programmes designed and implemented by the Akufo-Addo government is what as a country we would have to implement over the next decade or so to ensure that the country can begin to swim in greater prosperity than it is even doing now. We need to keep this in mind for a brighter future for all Ghanaians.
Contact email/WhatsApp of author:
Pradmat2013@gmail.com (0553318911)
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“A woman who abandons her baby in a dustbin at Kasoa Lorry Station is not always a wicked woman. Sometimes, she is a wounded woman whose mind has broken, whose family has rejected her, and whose society has left her with only one terrible option: disappear or be disgraced.”
That is the hard truth Ghana must hear.
In the last 10 days alone, our nation has been confronted with the same painful headline, twice.
Case 1 – Kasoa Main Lorry Station, Central Region: A newborn baby girl was found abandoned inside a dustbin at the public toilet of the Kasoa Main Station. A woman who went to use the facility discovered the infant and raised an alarm. Commercial drivers and bystanders quickly retrieved the baby and rushed her to the Kasoa Polyclinic for emergency medical care.
Case 2 – Asante Bekwai, Ashanti Region: On Thursday morning, August 20, 2026, a two-week-old neonate was reportedly abandoned by an unknown nursing mother at Bekwai in the Ashanti Region. Residents who came across the child raised the alarm. The baby was admitted to the Bekwai Government Hospital as police commenced investigations.
Let me be clear from the start: Newborn abandonment is wrong. It is dangerous. It is criminal. And it can kill. This article does not excuse it. But if we only arrest and shame, we will never stop it. We must treat the root, not just punish the fruit.
What exactly is newborn abandonment? – The two definitions
The Legal Definition: Under Ghana’s Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), Section 96, and the Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560), abandonment of a child under 12 years is a criminal offence. It is classified as exposure and abandonment, punishable as a misdemeanor or felony. The law sees the mother as a perpetrator.
The Psychological definition: In clinical textbooks, newborn abandonment is defined as the intentional, permanent relinquishment of all parental rights, care, and responsibilities over an infant within the first 28 days of life without making formal, legal arrangements for care.
To understand this crisis properly, we must not confuse it with child abandonment. Newborn abandonment happens within 0-28 days of life, often driven by acute panic, denial of pregnancy, or postpartum psychosis where the attachment bond never formed. Child abandonment, on the other hand, involves toddlers to teenagers where a bond existed but collapsed over time due to chronic poverty, family breakdown, or parental burnout. One is an acute crisis of the first month; the other is a chronic breakdown over years. Both are harmful, but they need different interventions.
Psychologically, newborn abandonment is the ultimate rupture of the primary attachment bond. Think of a 19-year-old university student who secretly gives birth alone in her hostel room, wraps the crying baby in a polythene bag, and drops it at a refuse dump at midnight. That is not just a crime scene; it is a scene of extreme panic and psychological dissociation.
Why would a mother carry a baby for 9 months and then abandon it?
This is the question every Ghanaian asks. If you wanted to abandon it, why not abort? The answer is deeply psychological:
1. The psychodynamics of denial of pregnancy: This is a profound defense mechanism, not a lie. The mother’s subconscious mind completely rejects the reality of the pregnancy. She does not gain weight normally, feels no kicks, does not seek antenatal care, and genuinely convinces herself she is not pregnant until sudden, shocking labour pains take her by surprise in a toilet or bedroom.
2. Fantasy of a dissolving problem: This is called cognitive avoidance. She believes “my boyfriend will come back,” “my mother will forgive me,” or “something miraculous will happen before birth.” So she waits, paralyzed, until the baby is here.
3. Barriers to safe abortion: Deep religious guilt, moral anxiety, fear of dying from a back-alley abortion, lack of money for a safe procedure, and family laws force her to carry to term even when she feels incapable.
4. The shock of reality and acute panic: Upon delivery, the physical presence and crying of the newborn shatters all denial. Confronted with immediate exposure, shame, and reality, her brain enters a trauma response — “fight, flight, or freeze.” For many, it becomes “flight” — physically escape the threat of exposure to survive socially. That is why babies are left in places where others will find them -lorry stations, churches, hospitals.
Source:
Counselor Prince Offei, CPAC’s founder, is a leading Mental Health Professional, Marriage Counsellor, Author, ADR Expert/Arbitrator, and Spectator Newspaper Columnist. He writes on relationships, marriage, parenting, special needs support, and their connection to mental health. For therapy, counselling, or enquiries, contact Counselor Prince & Associates Consult (CPAC) in Accra on 0559850604 / 0551428486.
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Features
Environmental stewardship is an act of worship: The Islamic response to climate change, environmental degradation (Part 4)
The environmental consequences of illegal mining have reached alarming levels in Ghana. Several major rivers, including the Pra, Ankobra, Offin, Birim and Tano, have experienced significant pollution from illegal mining activities, increasing the cost and complexity of water treatment while threatening the availability of potable water for millions of citizens (Water Resources Commission, 2024; Ghana Water Limited, 2024). These developments underscore the urgent need for stronger environmental governance and collective action.
Islam equally emphasises accountability in governance. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught that every leader is responsible for those under his or her authority (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 7138; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1829). This principle extends to public officials entrusted with environmental regulation, traditional authorities responsible for communal lands, mining companies, local assemblies, and community leaders. Environmental protection cannot succeed
where accountability is absent.
At the same time, addressing galamsey requires more than law enforcement. Sustainable solutions must tackle the underlying socio-economic realities that drive individuals into illegal mining. Many young people are motivated by unemployment, poverty, and limited economic opportunities. Islamic principles of social justice therefore call for the creation of alternative livelihoods through sustainable agriculture, vocational training, responsible small-scale mining under strict environmental standards, entrepreneurship, and skills development. Environmental protection and economic empowerment should not be viewed as competing priorities but as complementary goals that promote human dignity and national development.
Faith communities also have an indispensable role to play. Mosques, churches, schools, traditional councils, and civil society organisations possess significant influence in shaping public attitudes and behaviours. Imams, in particular, should consistently remind congregations that wealth acquired through actions that destroy communities and Allah’s creation cannot be regarded as a blessing. Religious education should cultivate environmental ethics alongside spiritual devotion, reinforcing the understanding that protecting rivers, forests, and farmlands is an expression of gratitude to Allah and a fulfilment of the trust of Khalifah.
Ultimately, the struggle against galamsey is more than a campaign to protect natural resources; it is a struggle to uphold justice, preserve human dignity, and honour the trust that Allah has placed upon humanity. Lasting solutions will require strong governance, responsible citizenship, sustainable economic opportunities, and renewed moral leadership. Only when these elements
work together can Ghana safeguard its natural heritage for present and future generations.
Water conservation, waste management and sustainable development: Practical expressions of Islamic stewardship
Religious education should cultivate environmental ethics alongside spiritual devotion, reinforcing the understanding that protecting rivers, forests, and farmlands is an expression of gratitude to Allah and a fulfilment of the trust of Khalifah.
Ultimately, the struggle against galamsey is more than a campaign to protect natural resources; it is a struggle to uphold justice, preserve human dignity, and honour the trust that Allah has placed upon humanity. Lasting solutions will require strong governance, responsible citizenship, sustainable economic opportunities, and renewed moral leadership. Only when these elements
work together can Ghana safeguard its natural heritage for present and future generations.
Islam is not merely a religion that condemns environmental destruction; it also provides practical guidance for preserving and sustaining the natural world. Through its teachings on moderation, cleanliness, conservation, and responsible consumption, Islam cultivates an environmental ethic that remains remarkably relevant to contemporary challenges such as water scarcity, pollution, waste management, and climate change. These teachings encourage Muslims to become
responsible custodians of Allah’s creation in both private and public life.
Water conservation: A sacred responsibility
Water occupies a unique position in Islam as the source of life and an essential element of worship. Allah says, “And We made from water every living thing. Then will they not believe?” (Qur’an 21:30, Sahih International). This verse reminds believers that water is not merely an economic resource but a divine blessing upon which all living creatures depend. The importance of water is further reflected in Islamic acts of worship. Muslims perform ablution (wudu) before the five daily prayers and ritual bathing (ghusl) under prescribed circumstances.
Yet, despite its central role in purification, Islam strongly discourages wastefulness. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once advised one of his companions not to waste water while performing ablution, even when using water from a flowing river (Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 425). This timeless guidance establishes the principle that abundance does not justify extravagance.
Conservation remains a religious obligation regardless of the apparent availability of natural resources.
This Prophetic teaching carries profound implications for contemporary Ghana. Illegal mining has severely polluted many rivers, increasing the cost of water treatment and limiting access to safe drinking water for numerous communities. Climate change has also intensified seasonal variability in rainfall, placing additional pressure on freshwater resources (IPCC, 2023). Against this
backdrop, conserving water is no longer simply an environmental preference—it is a moral imperative grounded in Islamic teaching.
Water conservation should therefore become a shared responsibility among households, educational institutions, industries, and places of worship. Simple practices such as repairing leaking pipes, harvesting rainwater, protecting riverbanks, avoiding contamination of water bodies, and promoting efficient irrigation contribute to safeguarding one of Allah’s greatest blessings. Every effort to preserve water is an investment in public health, food security, and the
wellbeing of future generations.
Unfortunately, indiscriminate disposal of refuse remains a significant challenge in many communities. Plastic waste clogs drainage systems, contributes to flooding during the rainy season, pollutes rivers and beaches, and threatens marine ecosystems. Open burning of waste further degrades air quality and poses serious health risks, particularly for children and the elderly (UNEP,2024).
The author is Chief Imam of Katamanso Municipal and Certified Counsellor and Governnace Expert.
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