Day: March 28, 2024

Tunis: Secretary of State to the Minister of Employment and Vocational Training in charge of Communitarian Enterprises, Riadh Shaouad, announced the creation of regional committees to monitor issues relating to those enterprises under the supervision of the regional directors of employment and vocational training, as well as the creation of a digital space bringing together the various stakeholders and regional coordinators of these companies. Presiding over a series of working sessions organised within the framework of the creation of communitarian enterprises, which continued from March 25 to 27, 2024, the Secretary of State stressed that these meetings are aimed at strengthening the Ministry's openness to its economic and social environment. He added that the creation of communitarian enterprises is an economic choice based on local and regional initiatives, taking into account both economic efficiency and social benefits, in particular the values of solidarity, cooperation, collaboration and social resp onsibility. The meetings provided an opportunity to learn more about communitarian enterprises, the conditions for setting up this type of business, the various support and training mechanisms available and the incentives provided by the government for these enterprises. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has appealed to political parties and supporters to avoid tribal-based campaigns in the upcoming general elections because they are a threat to national unity.  The NCCE has therefore encouraged all political parties and their supporters to consider themselves first as one people and as Ghanaians belonging to one nation called Ghana above all other considerations.  'The practice whereby some political actors would say because he is from this place and the other one is also from that place, holding on with the intention of encouraging the people to vote on ethnic lines is by itself dangerous and a threat to national unity and interrelations among the people and could destroy the democratic credentials of the country', the NCCE noted. Madam Kathleen Addy, the Chairperson of the NCCE raised these concerns at the fourth series of stakeholders' dialogues that form part of the NCCE 'Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism (PCVE) Project held in Wa to examine some aspects of PCVE, especially during the upcoming elections in Ghana. 'I am the one that they should vote for or I must be considered as a natural ally because I come from where you come from and because the other one is not coming from where you come from should not be voted for; these divisional tendencies are unacceptable and not good for Ghana's democracy and must be dealt with once and for all to sustain peace and stability for the country', the NCCE Chairperson pointed out. Madam Addy also raised concern about religious intolerance, which was progressing and taking shape in Ghana's political cycles in recent years and urged political parties to take a critical look at its emergence and nip it in the bud because identifying and voting on religious affiliations and considerations would not augur well for Ghana's democratic dispensation. 'Let us learn to uphold and cherish lessons learnt from the past that integrated us as a people to live and coexist peacefully and avoid the use of religious affilia tion into our body politic to foment and perpetuate intolerance to disturb the peace of the country', she advised. The NCCE Chairperson similarly spoke against extreme partisanship in our body politics and advised that supporters of different political parties should not see themselves as enemies but as legitimate opponents who go out there to undertake a competition and that must not be misconstrued to mean they were enemies. Madam Addy said this year was an election year. There was a concern for the instability in the West African Sub-region involving the activities of violent extremists across Ghana's neighbouring countries. There was a need to raise awareness and encourage the people who were closer to the threats to cultivate a culture of tolerance against violent extremists and other organised forces not to take advantage of them to disturb the peace and stability of the country. She urged Ghanaians to be wary of the unwholesome consumption of misinformation, disinformation, and fake news on social m edia without cross-checking their authenticity and truthfulness, which could lead to some unfortunate incidents occurring in the country, especially during this electioneering year. 'These are tools to help spread falsehood and cause confusion among the people. We need to increase our tolerance during this year's election and not allow extremists to mislead us to agitate at the least provocation,' she advised. Madam Addy warned political parties against vote buying because such practice was divisional as it created the opportunity for the financially endowed political parties to lord it over the less endowed parties, causing intolerance and underdevelopment in the communities. She advised the youth to be more patriotic and stand firm against political actors and extremists who would want to source their support to disturb the peace of the country during and after the elections. The European Union-sponsored project has the overall objective to prevent and contain violent extremism by promoting social cohes ion, peace, and tolerance in the five northern regions and other hotpots in Ghana.  It was on the theme: 'Promoting a culture of tolerance: A catalyst for peaceful elections amidst threats of violent extremism' and offered stakeholders the platform to share perspectives on the specific activities they are carrying out in the fight against violent extremism.  The dialogue would also create an opportunity for participants to build synergies as part of measures to reduce duplication of activities in the same space. Source: Ghana News Agency

The 19th edition of the Kwahu Easter Paragliding Festival, which has become an international event attracting thousands of tourists to the country, is set to kick start tomorrow, Friday, March 29. The festival, which promises to be yet another unforgettable adventure for thrill-seekers and tourists alike would end Monday, April 1, from 0900 hours to 1800 hours daily at the breathtaking landscapes of the Odweanoma Mountains in Atibie-Kwahu. It is being organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) in collaboration with the Ghana Tourist Development Company, the Kwahu Traditional Council, Kwahu East District Assembly, Kwahu West and Kwahu South Municipal Assemblies, the Kwahu Development Association, and the Kwahu Tourism Initiative. Ahead of the festival, officials of the Ghana Tourism Authority would pay a courtesy call on the Kwahumanhene, Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II and Atibiehene, Nana Kwame Asante Betiani II in their Palaces respectively. The four-day festival would witness seasoned tandem pilots from around the world who have been invited to fly passengers from Odweanoma Mountain to Nkawkaw Stadium. The pilots include Blake Daniel Pelton, Chuck Smith and Edward Allan Stein from the USA, Naohisa Okada from Japan, Eduardo Reategui Vera, from Peru, Hugen Muhlich from Germany, and Jonathan Quaye from Ghana. The Paragliding Festival was initiated in April 2005 under the leadership of the then Minister of Tourism, Jake Okanta Obetsebi Lamptey to coincide with the Easter festivities in Kwahu. As an aviation sport, the event is patronised by both local and international tourists during the Easter season. The festival seeks to promote domestic tourism and foster national cohesion. Source: Ghana News Agency

The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has entreated drivers and passengers to take their own safety seriously before, during and after Easter. Adherence to road safety rules and regulations, it indicated was not solely for the regulatory agencies but a shared and collective responsibility of all citizens. It said passengers would have to understand that they were part of the driving process until they got to their destinations and therefore, needed to act decisively. Mr Victor Kojo Wilson, the Western Regional Head of the NRSA, gave the caution after a joint enforcement exercise with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) on the Accra- Takoradi highway during which it carried out a thorough inspection of vehicles and documents of motorcyclists. The team inspected the conditions of the vehicles to ensure they were road-worthy and interacted with passengers, educating them on the need to play their roles in road safety adherence. Motorcyclists who did not have reflectors and other relevant e quipment were seized and others, especially heavy trucks with proscribing lambs above the widescreens were asked to remove them. Mr Wilson noted that it had become necessary for all to be vigilant in road safety management due to the empirical data indicating the rise of road fatalities and crashes during festive seasons. The exercise embarked on jointly by the Western and Central Offices of the Authority on the Komenda Junction to Takoradi Highway where major crashes are recorded, is in connection with the 2024 road safety Easter campaign on the theme; 'Stop Speeding, Stay Alive.' 'Festive season comes with travel and heavy traffic arises on the major roads, so we want everyone to understand the essence of slowing down whilst driving to avoid accidents.' Mr Wilson cautioned drivers to drive within the speed limits and passengers to desist from encouraging drivers to overspeed because it could have negative consequences not only for the driver but all on board. 'Once you get into the public space you nee d to adhere to every provision of the acts and the road travelling rules Acts LI 218.' Madam Linda Affotey-Annan, Central Regional Head of NRSA, on her part, gave statistics of road crashes in the region, saying 26 lives were lost this year compared to 24 recorded in January and February last year. Also, 315 people had been injured through 175 road crashes within the two-month period compared to 194 cases recorded at the same time last year in in130 crashes. She advised passengers and drivers to stay safe this festive season and beyond. Source: Ghana News Agency

Reverend Chief Superintendent of Prisons, George Akuamoah-Boateng (rtd), Ho East Synod Moderator of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana has said that nothing happens, changes, or progresses without leadership. 'Leadership therefore sets the growth in every entity,' he said. Rev. CSP Akuamoah-Boateng said this at a one-day retreat organised by the Presbytery for Pastors, selected Catechists, and District Treasurers at Ho Kpodzi. He reminded the participants that 'leadership is cause and every other thing is effect, everything rises and falls on leadership.' The Presbytery Moderator told them that as leaders in the Church, they have a huge responsibility on their hands. He urged them to mobilise the thoughts, philosophies, beliefs, mindsets, attitudes, and behaviours of others to enable them to achieve their goals. Rev. CSP Akuamoah-Boateng reminded them that a good leader was always ahead of others, inspiring and guiding them adding 'Be ready to take initiatives and responsibilities.' He urged th em to be humble, disciplined, courageous, creative, truthful, and work with others to achieve the future and long-term goals of the church. 'Be action-centered leaders, know the direction of the church and don't be title crazy,' he warned. The Presbytery Moderator reminded them that the power and authority they wielded were not absolute ones but borrowed ones. He called on them to be role models to members of the church and influence them with good moral values. Source: Ghana News Agency