News
Women encouraged to gain technical knowledge in media work
The Creative Director and Founder of Cedar Femme (CeFem) Media, Regina Odigie-Olatayo, has urged women in the media to gain technical knowledge in the field.
She said women who acquire technical knowledge within the media landscape have the opportunity of securing better jobs while embarking on entrepreneurial ventures in the media industry.
She said this at the maiden edition of the (CeFeM) Media Skills for HER Initiative held in Accra last week Friday.
The programme is a free training workshop aimed at empowering young women in Africa with essential media production skills.
The programme is focused on addressing the gender gap in Africa’s media industry by providing hands-on training in smartphone media production, filmmaking, digital marketing, video production, photography, lighting, sound production, business of media, communication, and drone piloting.
It is also designed to foster digital literacy, economic independence, and gender equality through practical experience.
Ms Odigie-Olatayo identified a significant gap in operational media skills among women, saying many women were unaware of the opportunities available behind the scenes.
She stated that her own challenges in media production motivated her to create this initiative to empower more women to venture into operational media roles.
“The Media Skills for HER Initiative is not just a workshop but a movement to open women’s minds to the vast opportunities in media.
“Women have long been relegated to limited roles in front of the camera, but this initiative aims to change that by highlighting the numerous possibilities behind the camera,” Mrs Odigie-Olatayo added.
Ms Odigie-Olatayo stated that these skills could lead to economic independence and entrepreneurial ventures, enabling women to produce their own content, create films, and build media businesses.
Touching on the programme, Ms Odigie-Olatayo said the comprehensive curriculum ensures participants gain confidence and competence to enter and excel in the media industry.
She said due to the success of the workshop, it would be held bi-monthly, in an attempt to reach more young women across the country and other African countries, saying the programme had attracted participants from beyond Ghana.
“The workshop’s success has prompted plans to hold it bimonthly, expanding its reach to more young women across Ghana and other African countries because it also attracted participants from beyond Ghana, making it a Pan-African event,” she said.
Ms Odigie-Olatayo therefore called for support from individuals and corporate organisations to sustain and expand the programme.
By Raissa Sambou
Local mattress manufacturers have raised serious concerns over the influx of substandard mattresses, warning that these products pose significant health risks to consumers and threaten the sustainability of Ghana’s mattress industry.
At a press briefing held in Kumasi on Tuesday, manufacturers accused unregistered foreign entities, particularly Chinese firms, of flooding the market with cheap mattresses made from polystyrene.
Mr Yaw Ampem Darko, a spokesperson for the local manufacturers, warned that prolonged use of substandard mattresses, especially those made with polystyrene, could result in chronic back pain, musculoskeletal disorders, poor posture, and diminished sleep quality.
These health implications, they stressed, were not always immediately evident but accumulate over time, especially among vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.
This material, typically used for packaging, is considered unsuitable and unsafe for bedding.
According to industry leaders, these sub-standard products have been circulating for at least five years, gaining traction among unsuspecting consumers due to their unusually low prices.
“These mattresses are being sold at suspiciously low prices, luring unsuspecting consumers who are unaware of the health dangers.”
“We are not just protecting our businesses; we are protecting Ghanaian lives. The government must act swiftly to stem this tide before more citizens fall victim to these dangerous products,” Mr Yaw Ampem Darko stated.
The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has acknowledged the issue and, in response, announced a nationwide enforcement campaign aimed at clamping down on the production, distribution, and sale of substandard mattresses.
The campaign, which was scheduled to take effect from September 30, 2025, was empowered by the GSA Act, 2022 (Act 1078), which authorises the Authority to seize and seal non-compliant products and impose sanctions on offenders.
In a statement signed by the Director General of the GSA, Professor George Agyei, the authority cited Sections 29 and 43 of the Act, reiterating that all mattresses sold in Ghana must meet established national standards or face confiscation.
The statement further emphasised that mattresses failing to meet these standards not only compromise sleep quality but also contribute to long-term health complications, including spinal and neck pain.
Despite the GSA’s commitment, manufacturers have expressed frustration over delays in implementation and called for stronger enforcement mechanisms.
They urged the GSA to work in close collaboration with the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and national law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute violators of Ghana’s quality standards.
Manufacturers are also appealing to consumers to remain vigilant and prioritise their health by verifying that any mattress they purchase bears the GSA certification mark.
Moreover, they caution the public against purchasing suspiciously cheap mattresses that lack proper labelling or identifiable branding, as these were often indicators of substandard or counterfeit products.
As the official enforcement deadline had expired with no show, the local producers insisted that much more than business interests were at stake.
They argued that without swift and sustained action, the health and safety of Ghanaian consumers would continue to be compromised.
“Public awareness, strict enforcement, and collaboration among regulatory bodies are essential if we are to protect the integrity of the local industry and the wellbeing of the Ghanaian people,” Mr Darko indicated.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
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The Founder of the Raissa Child Protection Initiative, Ms Raissa Sambou, has urged authorities to impose severe punishment on individuals, including teachers and guardians, who sexually abuse young girls.
Speaking in an interview to mark this year’s International Day of the Girl Child (October 11), Ms Sambou condemned the increasing cases of sexual exploitation involving minors, describing such acts as “heartless, criminal, and a total betrayal of trust.”
She noted that those entrusted with the care and education of children must not be the same people who violate them, stressing that “anyone found guilty of abusing a girl child must face the full rigours of the law without leniency.”
The International Day of the Girl Child is observed annually to promote the rights of girls, empower them to reach their full potential, and draw attention to the challenges they face worldwide.
Ms Sambou lamented that poverty continues to push many young girls into vulnerable situations, exposing them to exploitation.
She expressed concern that some headmasters, teachers, and community members who should protect girls rather take advantage of them.
“This must stop immediately. The safety of every girl must never be compromised,” she said, urging the public to report all forms of abuse to the appropriate authorities and called for swift action by law enforcement agencies against perpetrators.
Addressing girls directly, Ms Sambou encouraged them to take their education seriously and to believe in their potential.
“It is possible to be young and responsible. Your future is bright, protect it, believe in it, and never let anyone dim your light,” she advised.
She further urged girls to choose their friends wisely, stay disciplined, and speak up if anyone makes sexual advances toward them.
Ms Sambou concluded with a rallying call for collective action, saying “speak up, protect them, and empower them. Together, we can end the sexual exploitation of girls.”
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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