Author: Web Desk

Accra: Hajia Samira Bawumia, the wife of the Vice President, has launched a 'Wear Ghana Everyday' campaign as part of efforts to promote made-in-Ghana fabrics. At the launch of this year's 'Wear Ghana Festival' in Accra, Mrs Bawumia, who has dazzled Ghanaians over the years with her breathtaking and bespoke Ghanaian designs, advocated an increased patronage of locally produced textiles and designs. She said everyday should be a 'Ghana Day' and not only on Fridays, adding; 'Let us infuse our daily lives with the vibrancy of our culture. Whether in the office, at school, or during leisure. Our clothing is a canvas that tells the story of our nation'. She appealed to employers to allow their staff to wear Ghana every day to express their patriotism and contribute to the growth of the Ghanaian economy. 'Let us create a workplace culture that celebrates our identity,' she added. The event was organised by the National Commission on Culture, under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, in p artnership with the Ghana Tourism Authority. The 'Wear Ghana Festival' is an annual event instituted to promote national identity and encourage the patronage of local fabrics. The Second Lady received a citation jointly presented by the leadership of the Ghana National Tailors and Dressmakers Association, and the Ghana Association of Beauticians and Hairdressers for her outstanding contribution to the growth of the fashion Industry. They said the fashion industry had seen remarkable growth since 2017. The Ghana Export Promotion Authority valued Ghana's export revenues from the fashion industry hovering around $43 million in 2020, which is a huge increase because the industry was nearing collapse due to excessive importation of second-hand goods and influx of cheap replica fabrics. The Queenmothers' Foundation, led by Nana Serwaa Bonsu, Queenmother of Offinso-Kayera, also named the Second Lady as 'Dwabisohemaa Adwoa Adepa' in recognition for her distinct role in promoting Ghana's culture through fashion. N ana Serwa Bonsu said Ghana's Kente and local prints had seen increased patronage since the Second Lady assumed office in 2017. Mrs Bawumia has been celebrated widely for her fashion statements, particularly on Independence Day celebrations. She skilfully blends locally sourced fabrics to produce intricate designs that become signature pieces being replicated across the country and internationally. Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra: The Electoral Commission (EC) has released a timetable for a list of activities for the forthcoming Presidential and Parliamentary elections in 2024. According to the EC, nominations for candidates will be accepted from September 9 to 13, marking a significant target in the political calendar. This will be followed by the balloting for positions on the presidential ballot paper scheduled for September 23, 2024, with parliamentary balloting the following day, September 24, 2024. The EC plans to speed up the declaration of the 2024 presidential poll results within three days of the voting process, provided all goes as planned. Also, the voter registration exercise is scheduled for May 7 to May 27, 2024, followed by a nationwide effort to replace missing voter ID cards starting May 30, 2024. Ahead of the registration exercise, a comprehensive 56-day public education campaign will run from April 1 to May 26, 2024, to ensure widespread awareness and participation. Also, the EC plans to present the pro visional voters' register to political parties between July 9 and 18, 2024, and conduct an exhibition of the register from July 15 to 24, 2024. The final voters' register is slated to be submitted to political parties between August 30 and September 5, 2024. Additionally, the EC intends to hold meetings with stakeholders beyond political parties and engage the public through its 'Let the Citizen Know' series, as outlined in the schedule. Also, the EC will facilitate Special Voting for selected professionals on December 2, five days before the main polls, this provision is primarily for security agencies and accredited media practitioners who will be on duty during the election on December 7, 2024. The EC plans to create Regional Collation Centres to play an important role in announcing results at the regional level. In addition, the EC anticipates to ensure timely declaration of the 2024 presidential election three days after the polls close. Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra: The Ghana Youth Environmental Movement (GYEM) has launched the Climate Action and Peace Education (CAPE) Project in Accra to address climate change, particularly in the context of Ghana's vulnerability to climate-related disasters  The project is designed to address critical issues surrounding climate change and peacebuilding, aimed to empower Ghanaian youth with the knowledge and tools necessary to become agents of positive change in their communities. Miss Glory Emmanuella Appiah, the National Coordinator for GYEM, speaking at the launch, said the CAPE Project would focus on two key areas: climate action and peacebuilding. She said the Project aimed to increase awareness and engagement among Ghanaian youth by equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills in disaster risk reduction. CAPE seeks to empower them to take meaningful action in response to the threats posed by climate change. She said with Ghana preparing for the upcoming 2024 elections, the CAPE Project would strategically rai se awareness of peacebuilding. 'The project seeks to promote peace among youth by fostering a deeper understanding of the intersection between climate change, peace, and security,' she added. The National Coordinator said the Project would enhance Ghanaian youth awareness of climate change and its real-life consequences, including galamsey, agriculture, food security, and conflict. She said it would also empower youth in flood-prone communities with the knowledge and skills to mitigate hazards and reduce their vulnerability to climate-related disasters. 'We will sensitize youth on the relationship between climate change, peace, and security, fostering a culture of peace and dialogue in the run-up to the elections,' she said. The project will comprise a series of impactful activities such as the Climate4 Peace Campaign, which will take place in Bolgatanga, bringing together 500 youth from the northern regions of Ghana to highlight the correlation between climate action and peacebuilding. She said follow ing this, the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) training would occur in Mepe, targeting youth groups in the Volta Region to enhance awareness of everyday hazards and disaster preparedness. Finally, the 'Kokuromotie' Climate Arts and Photography Competition will serve as the culmination of the CAPE project. Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra: Mr Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, the Founder, Movement for Change, said he will establish an international financial services centre, build modernised market infrastructure and an international tourist hub in the Central Region to boost business activities when voted as president. A traders' bank would also be built solely to lend to traders in the country at low interest rates. Speaking during his 'Central Regional Market Tour,' which took him to the Kasoa New Market, he said the people had voted for the two main political parties over the last 30 years but had yielded nothing positive from that. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have left the region with huge developmental gap, Mr Kyerematen said. He said when given the nod as president, he will ensure the proposed financial service centre to be built on a 100-acre land, capitalised on the Tema and Takoradi Ports to industrialise the region. 'I have said that Tema is going to become a free port so if we have anot her major harbour in the Western Region then you put the international financial services centre in-between the two regions to be the game changer for the Central Region,' Mr Kyerematen said. He said though the international financial services centre was first thought-through during President Agyekum Kufour's tenure, it had received no attention from successive governments and that he would see to its establishment because he was part of the preparatory stage. 'If any country will develop it will need a financial centre that becomes the heart of the country in terms of financial services'. 'Secondly this region should become the prime tourist destination for West Africa and beyond'. Mr Kyerematen said out of the UNESCO 42 historical sites across the world Ghana has 32, however it had failed to utilise it potentials to the fullest. 'That's why we are going to develope, particularly the Central Region, to become the new tourist destination for West Africa…And all these is a question of leadership'. He bem oaned the lack of modernised market infrastructure with lighting and good security systems. Touching on the interest on loans, he said borrowing at a 35% rate to trade was detrimental to businesses and, therefore, it was important to establish a traders' bank to solely lend to traders to enhance their businesses. 'Looking at the millions of people who trade, if you come together, it will become the biggest bank in Ghana and during my presidency I am going to help you to achieve that'. Other markets visited were the Winneba Market, Mankessim, Kotokuraba , Elmina and Abura. Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra: Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, commended the Atlantic African Initiative launched by HM King Mohammed VI for Sahel States. GCC States welcome the Atlantic African Initiative of HM King Mohammed VI which will strengthen cooperation between Sahel and Atlantic coast States, Albudaiwi said during the ministerial meeting held on Sunday in Riyadh, between GCC States and the Kingdom of Morocco. On this occasion, Albudaiwi underlined the importance of the strategic partnership between Morocco and Gulf Cooperation Council countries, as well as the aspiration of the Council's member States to further consolidate economic relations between the two parties. This meeting, which was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, and Their Highnesses and Excellencies the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the GCC member countries, was the opportunity to strengthen the strong foundations of the strategic partners hip between the two parties, in accordance with the Vision of HM King Mohammed VI, and His brothers heads of State from the Gulf Cooperation Council. Source: Ghana News Agency