News
WOMEC sensitises girls to aspire higher
Women, Media and Change (WOMEC), as part of its Gender Transformative Programming (GTP) Turning Point project has made a clarion call on girls at Princeton Academy, Okushibri KKMA Basic School and Appolonnia KKMA JHS to aspire higher in their future endeavours to become agents of change to their communities.
Under the theme “Empowering the Girl Child: A necessary tool for closing the Gender Gap”, WOMEC admonished the girls to always aim higher and make education their valuable tool to harness their potentials.
Executive Director of WOMEC, Dr. Charity Binka said it was prudent to give the girl child equal opportunity irrespective of her race, background and religion for her to achieve her desirable goals in future.
Dr. Binka made these assertions in commemoration of the International Women’s Day, recently.
She lamented that violence against women was on the increase , indicating that many women were out of work due to the coronavirus pandemic, while many girls had also dropped out of school.
“However, the pandemic cannot be blamed for the woeful representation of women in decision making, politics and public life”, she stressed.
Dr. Binka indicated that “the 2021 Global Gender Gap Report of the World Economic Forum estimates that it will take 135.6 years to close the gender gap worldwide and 145.6 years to attain gender parity in politics.”
“The Constitution of Ghana guarantees equal rights of women and men, yet disparities in education, employment, politics, leadership positions and health for women remain a worry”, she said.
Article 17(1) and (2) of the Constitution guarantees gender equality and freedom of men and women, girls and boys from discrimination on the basis of social or economic status, religion, ethnic grounds.
The Gender Advocate said, to achieve accelerated growth as a nation, Ghana must take steps to ensure that women and girls were put at the centre of planning and programming in national issues.
Dr. Binka called on the government to integrate gender perspectives into all national laws and policies, adding that measures must be introduced to protect girls and provide them with quality education.
She further called on government to take immediate steps to expedite efforts towards the passage of Affirmative Bill into law and said there was the need for intense advocacy on gender equality and empowerment of women and girls.
Dr. Vanessa Nsiah Akosah, Child Rights Activist and a Dental Surgeon also advised the girls not to be scared of taking competitive roles in the society because they had the ability to equally perform like their male counterparts.
She urged stakeholders in the fight of gender parity to constantly support, motivate and encourage girls to see education as an empowerment to the attainment of their future goals.
“But boys should not be sidelined in the fight for gender equality”, she cautioned.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
The Ghana Police Service has launched a manhunt for a suspect in connection with the disappearance of a 27 year old man at Oyibi.
In a press release dated April 14, 2026, the Police identified the suspect as Wisdom Tetteh and said he is being sought over the disappearance of Theophilus Ashitey Amarh.
According to the Police, the case was reported on April 7, 2026, after the victim failed to return home.
He had left the previous day with the intention of selling his Hyundai Elantra saloon car after being introduced to a prospective buyer by the suspect.
Investigations revealed that the victim was last seen at the suspect’s residence at Saasabi, where he had gone to meet the supposed buyer.
The Police noted that a follow up visit to the suspect’s residence on April 10 led to the discovery of suspected bloodstains in a room, raising concerns of possible foul play.
The scene has since been examined by the National Crime Scene Management Team with support from the Anti Armed Robbery Unit of the CID Headquarters.
The Police added that search efforts involving community members and local authorities have been carried out in the area, but the victim is yet to be found.
Further intelligence suggests that the suspect may have fled the country to neighbouring Togo.
The Police indicated that steps, including INTERPOL processes, have been initiated to track and arrest him.
The Command assured the public that all necessary measures are being taken to arrest the suspect and uncover what happened.
It also urged anyone with information on the whereabouts of the suspect or the missing person to report to the nearest police station to assist investigations.
By: Jacob Aggrey
A team member of the Kwahu Business Forum and special aide to the Chief of staff, Benjamin Essuman has revealed that the team is working on developing the forum into a major platform to support business growth and policy dialogue in Ghana.
According to him, efforts are underway to transform the Kwahu Business Village into an International Conference Hub that will attract businesses and investors from across the world.
He made the remarks during an interview with ghanaiantimes.com.gh journalist, Jacob Aggrey in Accra.
He said the forum was designed to bring together regulators, policymakers, entrepreneurs and investors to share ideas and help shape policies that support business development.
According to him, the concept began in 2024 when John Dramani Mahama and his Chief of Staff conceived the idea during the Easter period in Kwahu, where many entrepreneurs gather annually.
He said the first edition created a platform for business people to engage leadership directly and present their concerns.
According to him, the success of the maiden event led to the decision to make it an annual forum.
He said the second edition in 2025 focused on improving access to finance by bringing banks and financial institutions to interact with businesses.
He said institutions such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank participated and engaged entrepreneurs on funding opportunities.
According to him, the forum has now gone beyond dialogue and has become a platform for partnerships, negotiations and investment deals.
He said some entrepreneurs who participated in previous editions have secured support from financial institutions, with their projects progressing steadily.
According to him, the presence of the President at the forum continues to boost confidence among businesses and deepen engagement.
He said the 2026 edition was larger than the previous ones and was held at the newly developed Kwahu Business Village.
According to him, traditional authorities in Kwahu donated about 150 acres of land to support the development of a permanent business conference centre.
He said the forum is attracting both local and international companies, creating opportunities for networking and collaboration.
According to him, the initiative also promotes tourism activities such as paragliding in collaboration with the Ghana Tourism Authority.
He said the forum will continue to be held in Kwahu and is being positioned as Ghana’s version of the World Economic Forum.
Mr.Easuman further challenges such as overcrowding in previous editions have been addressed through the introduction of a digital registration system.
He said small scale businesses must take advantage of opportunities such as partnerships, mergers and government incentives to expand.
According to him, entrepreneurs should also collaborate with institutions like the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and the Ghana Export Promotion Authority to access international markets.
He said the long term vision includes developing the Kwahu Business Village into a world class facility capable of hosting global conferences, with possible plans to construct an airstrip.
According to him, the forum remains an important platform for businesses seeking growth, funding and expansion beyond Ghana.
Background
The Kwahu Business Forum was introduced in 2024 as an initiative to bring together business leaders and government officials during the Easter festivities in Kwahu.
It was conceived as a platform for dialogue but has since evolved into an annual event focused on promoting investment, networking and policy engagement to strengthen Ghana’s business environment.
By: Jacob Aggrey
