Category: General

To ease the perennial water crisis, Daakye Oil Palm Plantations (DOPP), has constructed a mechanized borehole and potable water storage facility for Chujah, a farming community in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality. Residents of the beneficiary community are expected to pay a small fee per bucket to enable them raise funds to maintain the facility and also develop other communities. Addressing the gathering at the commissioning, the Unit Manager for DOPP, Mr George Mensah Dwumfour, explained that Future Global Resources (FGR) Bogoso Prestea Mine used to supply water to the residents of Chujah, but due to some challenges they stopped. The Mine approached the DOPP to provide the community with potable water. We contacted the opinion leaders of Chujah and some farmers in the neighborhood who had benefitted from the DOPP and they directed us to go for loan from their revolving fund to get the project done, he said Mr Dwumfour indicated that they engaged Crystal Scientifics Laboratory to put up a good porta ble drinking water for the community, adding the water has undergone testing and it is safe for human consumption. Madam Joana Akosua Manu, Chairperson for Chujah DOPP Farmers Association, said they decided to take up the initiative as part of their social responsibility because the farm had existed because of the Mine. She said, 'the association is made up of thirty-two members but we have been able to resolve this problem. Am appealing to the various farmers group in Chujah to come together and emulate this gesture,' she advised For his part, the special guest of honour at the event, Mr Robert Gyamfi, called on the community to sought strategic partnership with the Mine so they could support the community with the maintenance of the facility. He commended DOPP for the massive show of love for the people of Chujah by responding to this challenge, charged those selected to manage the facility to ensure it did not break down. Mr Isaac Philip Torxe, Deputy Municipal Environmental Health Officer, revealed t hat his outfit had formed a five-member Water and Sanitation Management Team to manage the facility on behalf of the assembly and the community. 'We are expecting the committee to ensure regular maintenance, keep the surroundings clean and open an account where monies from the facility will be paid into it and utilized properly.' Nana Yaw Amoh, Kyedomhene, Bogoso-Kokoase Divisional Council, lauded DOPP for their timely intervention and said the facility would enable the community to have safe drinking water at all times, and also entreated the community leaders to assist the committee to take care of the facility to prolong its lifespan. Briefing the Ghana News Agency (GNA) about the DOPP, the Unit Manager, said DOPP was a partnership organization between FGR Bogoso Prestea Mines, chiefs in the Mine host communities and the farmers benefitting from the DOPP. 'The whole concept started with FGR Bogoso Prestea Mine finding ways to impact the community through its Corporate Social Responsibility, so they ins tituted a one dollar per ounce fund which went into the plantation development. When the fund matures, we consult our host community chiefs, they provide land and we develop it into the plantation, and share it among the beneficiary farmers who then become owners of the farm' the unit manager explained. He said the money used to develop the farm at the initial stage was considered as loan and therefore refunded, so they invested it into other operational areas of the Mine. This has evolved for them to have this plantation. 'Now we have eight plantations across the eight communities surrounding the Bogoso Prestea Gold Mine. We have employed over 400 workers and the beneficiary farmers are about 150. Currently we have developed over 1,057 hectors of the oil palm plantation and we are still growing. In fact, we are even looking at putting up a processing mill very soon where we can process here and have a value addition to whatever we are doing,' he added. Source: Ghana News Agency

Tunis: Feminist activists organised a women's march in Tunis on Friday from Bab El Khadra Square to Habib Bourguiba Avenue in support of Palestinian women on the occasion of International Women's Day. "We stand in solidarity with Palestinian women who have suffered greatly since the Zionist occupation of Palestine. The recent brutal Zionist aggression has exacerbated the dire situation of the Palestinians, with constant bombardment and severe crises in access to food and basic necessities," the demonstrators said. During the march, women chanted slogans calling for feminist resistance in solidarity with the Palestinian people and against the occupation. These slogans included "Free Palestine, Zionist out", "No compromise, no negotiations", "United women against all backsliding" and "Boycott, boycott, resist, resist". This march comes in response to the call for a global strike for Gaza to protest against the ongoing genocide by the Zionist occupation. President of the Tunisian Association of Democratic Wo men, Neila Zoghlami, was among the demonstrators expressing solidarity with Palestinian women, saying that this march was "the least the Tunisian people can do to support the Palestinian cause and break the wall of silence". According to the latest UN figures, nearly 9,000 Palestinian women have been killed since the start of the Israeli aggression on Gaza on 7 October, with many more buried under the rubble. Up to 95% of pregnant and lactating women face severe malnutrition and over 690,000 women and girls who are menstruating have limited access to menstrual hygiene products, while around 37 mothers are killed every day. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The government has been urged to invest in gender issues by providing equal opportunities for women to have the same access to job opportunities, promotions, and training programmes as their male counterparts. That, the union stated, required a commitment to fair hiring practices, including non-discrimination in recruitment and selection processes. This was in a statement signed by Madam Esinam Afua Poku, Head of Gender and Youth Desk, ICU-Ghana, to the Ghana News Agency to commemorate International Women's Day, which falls on March 8. The Day is under the theme: 'Count Her In: Invest in Women.' 'ICU-Ghana joins the world to appreciate the remarkable achievements of women the world over and recognise the ongoing struggles to attain gender equality,' it said. The statement called on the government to promote a safe work environment by implementing policies and procedures that ensure a better work culture free from harassment and discrimination. 'Women need to feel safe and supported in their workplace. ' Organisations should create an atmosphere that prohibits violence and harassment by providing training to all employees on how to recognise and prevent these behaviours,' the statement said. It urged the government to institute measures to support work-life balance for women with caregiving responsibilities by offering parental leave, flexible work arrangements, and wellness programmes. The statement encouraged women to surge on in the struggle towards the socio-economic advancement of nations, especially developing countries. The statement urged women not to look down on their effort to invest in themselves, but rather to raise the bar and continue to scale up their contribution for recognition, respect, dignity, and equality. 'Gender inequality is not just women's issue but rather impacts all aspects of society. 'When women experience a setback, the entire society suffers because they play important roles in nation building and the world at large,' the statement said. It said the world was embracing a nd gradually integrating artificial intelligence at workplaces, urging women to raise their standards in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields to be competitive in the global market. Source: Ghana News Agency

The Association of Women in the Media (ASWIM) has endorsed the candidature of Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey for the Secretary-General position of the Commonwealth of Nations. It also congratulated Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang for her re-nomination as Running Mate for the Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress, John Dramani Mahama. Ms Botchwey, who is Ghana's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, was earlier this year, nominated by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the country's candidate for the position. This follows end of the current Secretary-General, Baroness Patricia Scotland's, a dual Dominican-British citizen, tenure later this year. ASWIM, in a statement signed and issued by Mrs Mavis Kitcher, President, on Friday to commemorate the 2024 International Women's Day, the Association had firm confidence in her ability to make Ghana proud when elected to the high international office. 'ASWIM wishes her success in this noble endeavour,' she said. She, however, expressed concern about the continuous low women representation at the highest decision-making levels of the country. 'It is unfortunate that in the current 275-member Parliament, where important decisions and laws are made to advance our nation's progress, we are represented by only 40 women. 'The story is similar regarding the leadership representation at the executive, local government, public boards and other relevant levels of decision-making,' she said. According to the United Nations Women, the world is facing many crises - ranging from geopolitical conflicts to soaring poverty levels and the escalating impacts of climate change. These challenges, it points out, can only be addressed by solutions that empower women. Should the trend continue, it warns that 320 million women and girls could be living in extreme poverty by 2030. It also notes that an additional $360 billion is needed per year to achieve gender equality. However, closing gender gaps in employment could boost GDP per capita by 20 pe r cent. 'By investing in women, we can spark change and speed the transition towards a healthier, safer, and more equal world for all,' the world body underlines. Mrs Kitcher said it was, therefore, imperative that Ghana accelerated actions that would effectively remove the barriers and stereotypes that continued to prevent women from reaching the important decision-making levels in our country. She warned that, if this was not urgently done, Ghana would continue to lose the unique perspectives, experiences, innovation, and contributions that women could share and implement for maximising the attainment of our sustainable development goals. 'The ASWIM believes that the 2024 General Election presents us with another good opportunity to elect more competent women to the largest decision-making body of our nation, the Legislature,' she said. She added that: 'The Association is, therefore, encouraging media organisations and women's groups to identify and adopt competent and patriotic female Parliamentary Ca ndidates across political parties and support their campaigns to success.' Mrs Kitcher also reiterated calls for the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill by Parliament, indicating that, such an action 'will no doubt, propel the attainment of gender equality to make our society more inclusive and our development successes truly sustainable.' International Women's Day (IWD) is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day has been observed for over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911. The day serves as a powerful reminder of the progress made towards gender equality and highlights the work that still needs to be done. The United Nations' (UN) theme for this year's celebration is: 'Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.' Source: Ghana News Agency

The Sunyani Area of the Northern Electricity Development Company (NEDCo) has scheduled to meet with the management of the Sunyani Technical University (STU) to agree on payment of electricity bill arrears of Ghc 4,944,273.58 million. The meeting between the two parties was scheduled for Tuesday, March 11, 2024, to establish a payment schedule for the outstanding debt owed by STU in which failing to do so may result in another disconnection of services. The meeting followed a disconnection exercise that occurred on Friday morning at the university, however, the university's management has issued a cheque of Ghc 200,000 as a partial payment of the total amount owed. However, the mobilization team has restored power to facilitate the university's business activities based on part payment. Mr. Augustine Akolgo Nsor, the General Revenue Protection Officer for the Sunyani Area, NEDCo, confirmed that the university had so far made total pay to Ghc 300,000, however the outstanding debt remained substantial. He said prior to the start of the mass revenue mobilization exercise, the university was advised to pay their current bills in full each month, along with a portion of the outstanding debt, to clear the arrears but the university did not adhere to the advice. Mr. Nsor went on to explain that the non-payment of bills was having a detrimental effect on their ability to effectively carry out their operations, saying, the lack of funds hinders their operations of replacing outdated materials and making it difficult for the NEDCo to cover the costs of supplying power to their customers. Source: Ghana News Agency