Category: General

Mr Anis Haffar, Founder, Gifted And Talented Education (GATE) Institute, has called for a massive campaign against children's involvement in gambling. He said the rate at which children engaged in gambling, especially sports betting, was alarming, a situation that had led to increased truancy and lack of concentration among students. 'Every leader in this country-every religious leader, every political leader, every educational leader-we should all be on the bandwagon and start 'Say No to Gambling' campaign,' he said. Mr Haffar made the call at the 9th Baraka Policy Institute (BPI) Annual Public Lectures in Accra. The annual lectures started in 2015 and geared towards highlighting critical issues of national concern, especially on education. The 2023 edition was on the theme: 'Towards achieving the SDGs on Education: Tackling social-economic forces against progress in Ghana'. Participants came from various senior high and tertiary institutions, faith-based and civil society organisations, government in stitutions, the private sector, security and law enforcement agencies, media, among others. Speaking on the topic: 'Tackling the dangers of Sports Betting on Education-Policies, Strategies and Actions,' Mr Haffar asked the student participants to become ambassadors and change makers by leading the 'Say No to Gambling' campaign in their schools. He encouraged students to use social media wisely by uploading innovative and problem-solving content whilst avoiding any debasing activities on social media. Mr Haffar called on the Gaming Commission and other relevant regulatory bodies to strictly enforce the laws on gambling with regard to children. Dr Adam Yunus, Head of Research, BPI, noted that, according to the Gaming Act, 2006 (Act 721), a person responsible for a gambling machine shall not permit a child to use the gambling machine or to enter a place where the gambling machine was operated. The Act also says that stationary outdoor advertising shall not be placed within 200 metres of preschools, first an d second cycle schools, children's playground and any other facilities designed for the use of underage persons (Below 18). Dr Yunus noted that, however, some gaming companies were completely violating those laws, a situation that called for urgent attention and action. Mrs Wendy Addy-Lamptey, Head of National Office, West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Ghana, said children must change the misconception that betting made people rich and rather realise that the practice made people lose money. She emphasised that because of the addictive nature of betting, it was best for children not to start the practice in the first place. Dr Mohammed-Sani Abdulai, President, Lakeside University College, said tackling children's involvement in gambling required collaboration among government, academia and research institutions, industry, and young people. He proposed the organisation of hackathons where young people could channel their energies productively by building innovative computer programmes. Mr Iddris Yu nus, from the Ghana Immigration Service, urged the media to sensitise young people on the negative effects of sports betting so that it would inspire the youth to avoid the practice. The Baraka Policy Institute is a think tank with special focus on promoting social justice and national development through advocacy and research. Source: Ghana News Agency

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has launched the Light the World 2023 campaign in Tamale on the theme: 'Let Your Light Shine,' to promote Christian duties. Elder Alfred Kyungu, the Second Counsellor, Africa West Area Presidency of the Church, said the Campaign, was an annual initiative by the Church that sought to invite members of the public to experience and share the joy of Christ's light for the Christmas. He said it was also to offer an opportunity to increase positive awareness of the Church, nurture relationships with friends and give members ways to share the gospel. Elder S. Gifford Nielsen, the Africa West Area President of the Church, emphasised that Christians should love, and share what they had with the poor and the needy in society as part of their duties to enlighten the world. He said it was the duty of Christians to inspire and help unbelievers to know how to let their light shine, by following Christ's teachings as well as enhance healing, hope, and true joy in their l ives. As part of the event, the Church provided food kits to 800 needy households in the Tamale Metropolis, to put smiles on their faces during this Christmas season. Mr Sule Salifu, the Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive, urged the Church to support the government's development initiatives. He expressed gratitude to the Church for their commitment to build a new dormitory and new kitchen for the Tamale Children's Home and appealed for its adoption as well. Meanwhile, the Leadership of the Church had paid courtesy call on Ya-Na Abukari (II), Overlord of Dagbon at the Gbewaa Palace at Yendi, to brief him on their activities in the region. Ya-Na Abukari (II) pledged his support for the Church's activities in the region and urged them to continue to support the poor and needy in society. Source: Ghana News Agency

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has opened a three-day regional training workshop for judges on freedom of expression, artificial intelligence, and the rule of law. The training being held in Tema has 30 judges and magistrates from Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Liberia participating. It is a follow-up to the 2019 Regional Workshop for Supreme Court's Judges of ECOWAS countries as well as the regional Training of Trainers workshop for judges on freedom of expression held in Nairobi in December 2021, and seeks to build the capacity of the judiciary to strengthen the protection of freedom of expression while at the same time making national legal frameworks evolve. As part of its objectives, the training aimed at strengthening the skills of participating judges in regional, continental, and international jurisprudence on freedom of expression, promoting good judicial practices in the area of freedom of expression, and sensitising them on the benefits of AI as well as potential human rights infringements by AI systems. Mr. Edmond Moukala, the Director, UNESCO Accra Office, reminded the judges that when freedom of speech and expression start to collapse, other freedoms could suffer the same fate, adding that freedom of expression and the safety of journalists were serious areas that demanded the attention of duty bearers, arbitration authorities, and the security services. Mr. Moukala said judges had a distinctive role in building a safe environment for journalists to have justice and by guaranteeing that international laws on justice are respected in national decisions, public freedom of expression, and the safety of journalists. He said that as part of the global mandate of UNESCO to advance fundamental freedom, it found it critical to build the capacity of the judiciary to prevent indiscriminate actions against freedom of expression, hence its judges initiative 10 years ago. 'Our region is going through difficult times, and citizens are losing hope in our democratic institutions at large. You must therefore steadfastly protect our freedom as interpretors of the law and our country's norms and practices. You are all to uphold one without downplaying the other,' he charged them. Mr. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Minister for Information, said the safety of journalists had gained global attention, and various jurisdictions were factoring in their own strategies and solutions to confront these challenges. Mr. Nkrumah said in Ghana in collaboration with UNESCO, rolled out the 'Coordinated Mechanisms for the Safety of Journalists' about two years ago. He said the programme aimed at education and advocacy for the safety of journalists, the need to investigate and validate reports of attacks by journalists or media houses. It also seeks to create regular engagement with state actors, including prosecutors and the judiciary, to hold them accountable for the matters that were reported or brought before them, as well as annually reporting on the kind of progress that we are making. He called on prosecutors to profess the right kind of charges against persons who attack journalists and media houses. He said the public was of the view that often the kind of charges that were brought to bear on these persons were weak. Justice Omoro Tanko Amadu, the Director, Judicial Training Institute, representing the Chief Justice, cautioned media practitioners against yellow journalism, explaining that doing so frustrated the processes put in place by the constitution and other frameworks to ensure freedom of expression and the safety of journalists. Justice Amadu, however, said that there was no justification for anybody to attack journalists, even if they offended them, and therefore urged such persons to use the law courts to seek justice instead of choosing to attack the media. Source: Ghana News Agency

The Chiefs and people of Anyako in the Keta Municipality of the Volta region have paid their last respects to the late Agbotadua Duatoklo of Anyako-Konu. The Agbotadua Duatoklo was given a befitting burial at Anyako to signify how important he was to the traditional authorities. Togbi Tenge Dzokoto Gligui VII, the 'Dufia' of Anyako-Konu and the Paramount Chief of Amugo-Wego Traditional Area, in a tribute, said the late 'Agbotadua' was a dedicated, hardworking, and a loyal personality. 'Agbotadua Duatoklo was humbled, he exhibited respect, commitment, loyalty, love and care to all manner of people devoid of their religion and clan.' Togbi Dzokoto Gligui, who is also the Head of the Bate Clan, further mentioned that the traditional stool has lost a great 'Agbotadua' who would be forever remembered for his great achievements. Tributes were also read by the widow, children, grandchildren and others in his memory. The late Duatoklo, known in private life as Mr Anthony Kwasi Deku, was born in Glefe Futa, a f ishing community in Dahomey which is today's Republic of Benin on November 11, 1951. His parents were Madam Anna Kokui Kpodo and Mr Kwamiga Gliamu Deku who were fisherfolks and of blessed memory. 'Agbotadua' was scouted by Kingmakers who took him through the necessary rituals and enstooled him as Agbota of Anyako under the name Agbotadua Duatoklo on September 24, 1988. The traditional final funeral rites and burial ceremony was attended by various traditional rulers including Nii Kwasi Gbobilo, Nglishie Amanfrom Divisional Chief, Togbi Azametsi II, the 'Dufia' of Avenor-Nogokpo, Torgbi Tettey Logo IV, 'Dufia' of Tsigbene, and Togbi Agordor III of Kpohega. Others include Torgbui Fiogan Tonuga Kwassi Mensah MLAPA VI, King of Togoville in the republic of Togo, Togbi Gbeworza II, a Development chief of Afife, Togbi Adela Tatsawo IV, the 'Dome' Fiaga of Weta. The rest were Mama Awotsu Adzagba II of Anyako-Konu, Togbi Tetekpa II, Togbi Agbetsi Zewu IV, Togbi Gamor III, Togbi Agamatsu IV and others. He left be hind a wife and six children. Source: Ghana News Agency

The number of candidates running for the El Menzah local council seats stands at 18, including 14 candidates in the direct elections and 4 candidates with disabilities chosen by sortition. Candidates in the five constituencies (El Feth, El Manar, El Manar 1, El Menzah and 1er Juin) under the jurisdiction of the Tunis 2 local electoral authority, in direct elections, are divided between 8 males and 6 females. The number of voters registered in the various constituencies for the El Menzah local council had reached 3,866 by the end of November. The operation to update registrations will continue until December 8, 2024. The El Menzah delegation covers an area of 10,035 square kilometres, accounting for 3.48% of Tunis governorate, and is home to 39,684,000 people. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse