News
Work begins on SDA Church vocational training school construction
The Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church last Wednesday cut sod for the construction of a $312,000 vocational training school at Effiduase in the New Juaben North Municipality to address youth unemployment.
The project, funded by the Global Mission Impact Fund of the General Conference of the SDA Church with support from the East Ghana Conference, the South Ghana Union Conference, and WAD, is expected to be completed by the end of July.
Dubbed ‘Breaking the poverty cycle’, the facility is designed to train more than 3,000 community members and promote entrepreneurship and self-reliance.
In his address, Pastor Prof. Owalabi Oyeleke Alabi said the project was mission-oriented and represents the church’s way of giving back to society.
Pastor Prof. Alabi called on leaders to uphold accountability, transparency, and honesty so that “the glory of the Lord will be seen in the community.”
He also advised the youth not to let their current circumstances determine their future.
“If you cannot change the living conditions and situation through government, be part of governance. Through your effort, change the future of any community or country you find yourself in,” he said.
The Project Coordinator, Elder Enoch Agyei-Darko, said the project was spearheaded by the Newlife SDA Church in Anlo Town and was rooted in addressing real socio-economic challenges.
He explained that the project will deliver practical, income-generating skills through vocational training in areas such as hairdressing, dressmaking, ICT, catering, bakery, water production, block molding, welding, and sign writing.
These initiatives, he said, will empower beneficiaries to secure employment or establish their own businesses, creating a ripple effect of economic independence within the community.
He noted that the classrooms will accommodate 300 learners at a time, allowing the same number of new students to enroll every six months.
Elder Agyei-Darko added that the project emphasizes life-skills development, financial literacy, health awareness, parenting, and personal development to ensure beneficiaries were not only economically empowered but also equipped to make informed and responsible life decisions.
He stressed that the project’s success will depend on collective commitment from the church, the community, and stakeholders.
He called for continuous collaboration, strong monitoring, efficient use of resources, and community ownership.
The ceremony was graced by the President of the East Ghana Conference, Pastor Dr. Samuel Bonya Arloo; the South Ghana Union Conference President, Pastor Col. Peter Nyarko Duodu; Newlife District Pastor, Pastor Osei Bonsu Sarpong; traditional leaders; Newlife District elders; church members; and community members.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Finance Committee and the member of parliament for Bolgotanga Constituency , Isaac Adongo, has defended the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Asiama, describing him as the right person to manage the country’s central bank.
According to Mr. Adongo, Ghana would have faced a difficult situation if the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had not won the 2024 elections and Dr. Asiama had not been appointed governor.
Speaking in an interview with Edem Mensah-Tsotorme, Online Editor for ghanaiantimes.com.gh, Mr.Adongo said the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), including Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, only wanted to remain relevant within their party.
“Well, the NPP and Kojo Oppong Nkrumah have a job to do. They want to remain relevant in their party. I don’t begrudge them,” he said.
Mr. Adongo praised President John Dramani Mahama for appointing Dr. Asiama as Governor of the Central Bank after returning to power.
He explained that the President carefully assessed the country’s economic challenges while in opposition and chose Dr. Asiama as the best person for the role.
According to him, the governor has so far shown strong leadership at the central bank.
“I’m not saying this because I work closely with him, but sitting on the board with him, his leadership is on par,” he stated.
The lawmaker further noted that the governor understands the concerns of Ghanaians, especially regarding the rising cost of living and economic pressures.
He said government had already done the “heavy lifting” in stabilizing the economy and would now reassess some of its policies to reduce pressure on public finances.
Mr. Adongo expressed optimism that the country would not witness the same level of government expenditure from 2026 onwards.
“We’ll go back to the drawing board and consider the fiscal implications of some of the actions we have taken. I believe that from 2026, we will not see the same magnitude of expenditures,” he added.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts has clarified that it did not approve or endorse the recent Karnival Kingdom Festival held in Accra.
In a statement issued on May 7, 2026, the ministry said it did not receive any proposal, request for approval or official communication concerning the organisation of the event.
According to the ministry, it was also unaware of the processes through which the festival was allegedly approved to take place in Ghana.
“The Ministry wishes to state unequivocally that it neither endorsed, sanctioned nor authorised the staging of the event,” the statement said.
The clarification follows public criticism and discussions on social media over activities associated with the festival, including the circulation of what many described as culturally unacceptable content.
The ministry acknowledged concerns raised by sections of the public and various stakeholders regarding the conduct and nature of the event.
It explained that as the supervisory institution for the tourism, culture and creative arts sector, it expects all organisers of public festivals and entertainment events to follow established regulatory procedures and engage the relevant state institutions before holding such activities.
The ministry therefore urged organisers of tourism, cultural, entertainment and recreational events to obtain the necessary approvals before staging programmes in the country.
According to the statement, the ministry remains committed to promoting tourism and cultural activities that respect Ghana’s laws, values and cultural identity.
It added that the country’s reputation as a safe and culturally respectful destination must be protected at all times.
By: Jacob Aggrey
