Zimbabwe Online News

February 14, a day known worldwide as Valentine's Day, or Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is a day for lovers, family, and friends to celebrate love. Many on this day anticipate spending quality time with their loved ones by going on romantic dates, gifting them special tokens of love, asking out their potential love interest, and many more. It originated as a Western Christian feast day honouring one or two early saints named Valentinus, and recognised as a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and romantic love in many regions around the world. It is characterised by the wearing of red clothes by celebrants. Ghana, over the years, celebrated the day as Valantine's Day, however in 2005, the country instituted the National Chocolate Day to coincide with the Day, to promote the consumption of Made-in-Ghana chocolate and cocoa products. This is to position cocoa and the chocolate experience as a strong element of the Ghana tourism experience, promote domestic tourism and give a healthy orientation to the celebration of Valentine's Day in Ghana. Also, it aims at creating awareness for Ghanaians to appreciate the health benefits of chocolate, and to promote Ghana as the 'home' of chocolate. The celebration is usually spearheaded by the Ghana Tourism Authority under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture in collaboration with Cocoa Processing Company, Ghana Cocoa Board and the Cocoa Producing Companies. The inception of the National Chocolate Day has increased local patronage of chocolate and cocoa products, offered employment opportunities to numerous artisanal chocolatiers, cocoa-based products processing entrepreneurs, and minimised social vices associated with the celebration of Valentine's Day, amongst others. In 2022, it was reformed to a full week's celebration dubbed: 'National Chocolate Week', with various activities, including presentation of chocolate to institutions, family day out, poetry shows, health walk, and movie premi ers among others. The 2024 edition, scheduled from February 9 to 14 is on the theme: 'Eat chocolate, stay healthy, grow Ghana' and sub-themed: 'Explore Ghana, eat chocolate'. Ahead of the celebration, the Ghana News Agency, spoke to some traders on the patronage of chocolate products and paraphernalia. Madam Esther Bonsu, a trader, said patronage was low this year ahead of the celebration but was hopeful more people would come in to buy tomorrow. She attributed the low patronage to the drastic increase in the price of chocolate products and urged authorities to reduce the prices for the ordinary Ghanaians to be able to buy. Madam Afia Obenewaa, also a trader at Tema Station, told the GNA that patronage was very low because of the current hardship in the country. 'Since morning, I have only been able to sell two bars of small chocolate at GHc 5.00 each, which is not encouraging, because we also depend on this as our source of livelihood, so if people don't buy, we cannot meet our needs.' Some activities scheduled for the celebration include a visitation to the Chief Imam, the Central and Cantonments Mosques, as well as a health walk from the Accra Tourist Information Center to the Chocolate City at Tetteh Quarshie Roundabout. Source: Ghana News Agency

On the occasion of the Chinese New Year in 2024, Wang Weizhong, the Governor of Guangdong has extended sincere greetings and festive wishes to overseas Chinese, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan compatriots, and friends from all over the world on behalf of the Guangdong Provincial People's Government and the people of Guangdong Province through GDToday! 2023 is a landmark year for reform and development in Guangdong. Guangdong has been given a strategic pivot for the new development pattern of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, a demonstration site for high-quality development, and a new positioning for the leading place of Chinese-style modernization. 2023 is a year that Guangdong's popularity continues to flourish and exchanges become more convenient. The economy of Guangdong has accelerated its recovery and development, and Guangdong's population has exceeded 150 million. Streets here are crowded with people and vehicles, scenic areas are filled with touring enthusiasts, and shopping areas are thr iving with vigor and vitality. The fellow citizens have enjoyed more convenience in the international travelling, rejoiced deeply in the gathering with their relatives and friends, and witnessed the development and changes of their hometown. In a series of exciting major events such as the Overseas Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention, the Convention of Overseas Chinese in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the World Hakka Entrepreneurs Convention, the active engagement of the overseas Chinese is to be found everywhere. In 2023, the GDP of Guangdong ranked first in the country for 35 consecutive years, becoming the first province exceeding 13 trillion yuan. The No. 1 project, 'High-quality Development in Numerous Villages in Thousands of Towns and Hundreds of Counties', is in full swing, and the high-quality development of counties, towns and villages has become a reality and its prosperity can be expected. Guangdong's regional innovation capacity has been the reigning champion for seven consecutive years among domestic competitors. The 'manufacturing industry' is full of confidence and has taken the lead. A chain of industrial parks and major projects are ready to be launched. The new mobile phones produced in Guangdong are hard to get. One out of every four new energy vehicles in China is 'Made in Guangdong'. In 2023, the Canton Fair and the Global Investment Promotion Conference have gathered many merchants and achieved fruitful results. Guangdong was rated as the province with the best business environment for four consecutive years, and the province's various business entities have exceeded 18 million. Guangdong's openness is more profound in the process of embracing the world. The year of 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the PRC. Guangdong will further take good advantages of 'overseas Chinese' and regard them as a bridge to expand its high-level opening-up to the outside world. We sincerely welcome everyone to make some tours back here, share development opportunities, build be autiful cities and create a better future together! Source: Ghana News Agency

One person, believed to be a mobile money vendor has been shot dead by suspected armed robbers at Walewale in the West Mamprusi Municipality of the Northeast Region. The deceased identified as Rabiu, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Tamale Teaching Hospital. Eight others who sustained injuries from stray bullets because of the attack are currently receiving medical attention at the same hospital. Three unidentified armed men on a motorbike were said to have carried out the attack at Nalerigu junction bus station near the main Bolgatanga-Walewale Tamale Highway. An eyewitness told the Ghana News Agency that the suspects arrived and opened gunfire on the busy station, killing the deceased and injuring others. The victims were first rushed to the Walewale Government Hospital but were later transferred to the Tamale Teaching Hospital. The eyewitness expressed concern that there have been growing armed robbery incidents in the area since 2021. Mr Issahaku Arimeyaw Somo, the West Mamprusi Municipal Chie f Executive who confirmed the incident said investigation was ongoing to arrest the perpetrators and called for calm. Source: Ghana News Agency

The Police at Bechem, Tano South Municipality of Ahafo Region have arrested three final year students of the Bechem Presbyterian Senior High School (PRESEC) for allegedly defiling a form one student of the school. The suspects, Agyem Frimpong, Emmanuel Ankama and one Osman, together with three other final year students, yet to be identified but have fled now gang-raped the 15-year-old form one student. Another accomplice, Kyeremaa Hamida, a female student, who aided the suspects in the act is also in Police custody assisting investigations. They are yet to be arraigned before the court for prosecution. A reliable source at the Bechem Police station confirmed the story to the GNA on Tuesday, saying the sad incident happened on Saturday, February 10, 2024, around 2130 hours. Hamida (accomplice) allegedly lured the unsuspecting victim (name withheld) into a dilapidated structure, where the suspects took turns to rape her. A medical report from the Duayaw-Nkwanta St John of God Catholic Hospital sighted by t he GNA confirmed the victim had been raped. Source: Ghana News Agency

Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has called for concerted action by nations around the world, regional organisations and key stakeholders to address the humanitarian impact of improvised anti-personnel mines. The scourge in landmines and explosive remnants of war had had devastating effects on humanity, he said, and urged all states that were signatories to the Anti-Personnel Mine Convention to strive towards its ratification. He reiterated government's unflinching support and commitment to promoting a world free from the scourge of landmines and explosive remnants of war. The Vice President made the call at the opening of a three-day 'Regional Conference on Addressing the Humanitarian Impact of Improvised Anti-Personnel Mines within the Framework of the Convention' in Accra on Tuesday. He said it was imperative to confront the menace with unwavering determination and collective efforts. 'We remain steadfast in our commitment to promoting a world free from the scourge of landmines and explosive remnants o f war,' Dr Bawumia said. The conference serves as a platform to dialogue, collaborate and exchange best practices and proffer innovative solutions to address the challenges posed by improvised anti-personnel mines globally. It is being organised by the Government of Ghana, through the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, the European Union and the Anti-Personnel Mine Convention Implementation Support Unit. There were more than 100 delegates from the 15 Member States of ECOWAS, the Sahel Region and the European Union. Vice President Bawumia called for united efforts by all stakeholders under a common goal to confront and mitigate the devastating humanitarian consequences caused by improvised anti-personnel mines. 'This conference serves as a vital platform for dialogue, collaboration, and action. We come together with a shared commitment to safeguarding human lives, protecting communities, and advancing peace and stability in our regions.' 'It is imperative that we confront the menace of improvised anti-personnel mines with unwavering determination and collective effort.' The Convention on the prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines and on their destruction, also known as the 'Mine Ban Treaty', seeks an end to the suffering and casualties caused by such mines through the pursuit of four core goals. The goals include ensuring universal adherence, clearing mined areas, destroying stockpiled mines, and assisting the victims. It is also intended to achieve national legislation, cooperation and assistance, transparency and exchange of information, facilitating compliance, and implementation support. The Convention has 164 State Parties including Ghana. According to Minesweepers whose work is to detonate naval mines, it is estimated that about 110 million landmines are scattered across the globe. The individual cost for removing mines ranged from three to 30 dollars, while the expense of their removal varies significantly, ranging from $300 to $100 0 per mine. Considering those figures, the report by Minesweepers said the total expenditure for clearing all existing mines was projected to range from a substantial $50 billion to $100 billion. Meanwhile, the Landmine Monitor (2022) report indicates that States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty had destroyed more than 55 million stockpiled antipersonnel mines. That underscored the significant financial commitment made bystates and international organizations worldwide towards the effective implementation of the Convention. The Landmine Monitor also reported that in 2022, at least 4,710 individuals were killed or injured by landmines or Explosive Remnants of War (ERWs) in 49 states. Among them, 1,661 lost their lives, 3,015 sustained injuries, while the status of 34 remains unknown. It said civilian casualties constituted 85 per cent of the total, with nearly half of the civilian victims being children (49 per cent) amounting to a total of 1,071. As of October 2023, it was also reported by the Land Mine Monitor that approximately 60 countries and other areas worldwide were grappling with the detrimental presence of anti-personnel landmines contaminating their territories. Among those could be found, at least, 24 States Parties either believed or confirmed to be afflicted with improvised minecontamination. Those nations included some African states such as Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Nigeria, and Togo. The report said the presence of improvised mines exacerbated the already grave humanitarian and security challenges faced by those nations, necessitating urgent and concerted efforts towards effective mine clearance and risk mitigation strategies. The use of improvised anti-personnel mines poses a grave threat to civilians, particularly in conflict-affected regions. Vice President Bawumia noted that those insidious weapons indiscriminately maimed and killed innocent men, women, and children, inflicting lasting physical and psychological harm. 'They disrupt livelihoods, impede socio-economic develo pment, and hinder efforts to achieving sustainable peace and security,' he said. 'Ghana recognises the urgent need for concerted action to address the humanitarian impact of improvised anti-personnel mines.' 'We remain steadfast in our commitment to promoting a world free from the scourge of landmines and explosive remnants of war.' 'Compliance with these legal instruments is essential to preventing further human suffering and fostering a safer, more secure world for all. 'I, therefore, urge all states that are not parties to the Convention to strive towards the ratification of the Convention.' Source: Ghana News Agency