Day: June 2, 2024

WaterAid Ghana, a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) focused organisation, has urged the government to ensure that menstrual hygiene products are accessible and affordable to all women and girls to accelerate the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

It said despite the progress made, menstrual hygiene management remained a major challenge for women and girls especially those in rural communities and attributed the cause to the inaccessibility and expensive nature of menstrual hygiene products such as sanitary pads.

‘We commend the government for its recent decision to remove taxes on locally manufactured sanitary products. This is a significant step forward and demonstrates a commitment to addressing menstrual hygiene challenges. However, we must recognize that this alone is not enough.

‘We need to ensure that these products are not only tax-free but also affordable and accessible to every girl and woman, regardless of their economic background,’ Ms Fauzia Aliu, Advocacy Campaigns, and
Inclusion Manager, WaterAid Ghana, made the call at Bolgatanga during the commemoration of this year’s Menstrual Hygiene Day.

It was organised by WaterAid Ghana and held on the theme ‘Period Friendly Ghana’ and brought together various stakeholders including government officials, traditional authorities, and school children.

It was part of the Sexual Health and Reproductive Education (SHARE) project being implemented by a consortium led by Right to Play, Forum for African Women Educationalists, FHI360 and WaterAid Ghana with funding support from Global Affairs Canada.

Ms Aliu indicated that menstrual hygiene was not just about women’s issue but a human right, public health, and economic issue, which had been shrouded in silence for far too long.

She therefore called for collective efforts from all stakeholders to address the issue and enhance the rights of women and girls to achieve gender parity.

‘The lack of education about menstruation, persistent cultural taboos, limited access to affordable and hygi
enic menstrual products, and inadequate sanitation facilities all contribute to a cycle of poverty and inequality.

‘These barriers not only undermine the health and dignity of women and girls but also restrict their educational and economic opportunities,’

The Advocacy Campaigns and Inclusion Manager reiterated the commitment of WaterAid Ghana to bridging the gender gap through education, collaboration with stakeholders to make menstrual hygiene products accessible and affordable, provision of improved sanitation facilities such as toilets as well as influence policy direction to achieve sustainable development.

‘When we talk about creating a ‘Period Friendly Ghana,’ we envision a country where every girl can attend school without fear or shame, where women can work and participate fully in society, and where no one is held back by something as natural as menstruation’ she emphasised.

Naba Baba Salifu Atamale Lemyaarum, the Paramount Chief of the Bongo Traditional Area, suggested that free provision of sa
nitary pads should be integrated into the government’s flagship programme, the Free Senior High School as part of measures to promote menstrual hygiene among young girls.

‘This is because a lot of the girls come from poor homes and it is always difficult to come by sanitary pads and some are forced to give themselves out to boys in order to get money to buy sanitary pads and end up getting pregnant,’ he added.

In a speech read on his behalf, Dr Bin Salih, the Upper East Regional Minister, said menstrual hygiene was a development concern and stakeholders must work together to ensure that girls and women lived dignified and empowered lives.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Constant Tchona, Country Director of Plan International Ghana, has encouraged young people to embrace technology to remain relevant and competitive in the ever- changing world.

He stated that when young people embraced and adapted to technology, they would be able to stay up with the rapidly changing global tides and waves and maintain the gains made with the support of Plan International Ghana.

Mr Tchona said this during an exhibition fair organised by the Southern Programme Impact and Influencing Area (SPIIA) of Plan International Ghana for 32 youth-led organisations in Volta and Oti Regions.

The event was on the theme: ‘Youth Empowerment, A Necessary Tool For Development,’ and aimed to provide a platform for the youth groups to share knowledge and enhance the impact of their interventions.

The Country Director stated that in a world filled with difficulties, the youth had the key to unlocking solutions.

He praised young people for their determination to confront societal developmental concerns such
as the climate crisis, social injustice, education inequity, gender inequality, and healthcare inequities.?

Mr Tchona stated that the path to meaningful change was frequently fraught with challenges that necessitate a vision, resilience, tenacity, and teamwork, and that true achievement occured when one was willing to pay the price.

The Country Director revealed that the organisation had invested GHS800,000 in 65 teenage girls’ sexual and reproductive health rights clubs in their Northern Impact and Influencing Area (NPIIA).

He stated that Plan’s Flexible fund and Youth Challenge Fund had also provided cash to youth-led groups, supported movements and networks, and increased their capacity to influence change in their communities.

Mr Felix Datsomor, a Ho Circuit Court Judge, stressed the importance of youth in advancing national development and stated that being ‘youthful is to be useful.’

He challenged the youth to adopt a new perspective and stop being spectators in the events around them, emphasising
that they had the potential to transform Africa.

Mr Datsomor bemoaned that some attitudes among today’s youth, including the way they dress, were eroding the nation’s values and urged them to desist from such attitudes.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mrs Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, a former President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has celebrated her call to the Bar with encouragement to women to chase their dreams.

She was part of a group of 182 new lawyers inducted Friday by the General Legal Council of Ghana.In an appreciation post on Facebook, the 66-year-old expressed her joy about the achievement and encouraged young people to pursue their dreams relentlessly.

‘It is an honour to be part of such a noble profession filled with outstanding achievers and change-makers.

‘I am so grateful for the love and support of my family, friends, and everyone who has been part of my journey’, the Former Council of State member said.

‘My journey has been relentless, passionate and vision driven. Age should never be a barrier to success, and neither should your gender.

‘I share this to inspire each and every one of you, particularly, enterprising young women to chase their dreams and aspirations.’

Becoming a lawyer had been her ‘life-long dream’ and she wa
s still in ‘awe and gratitude’ for the accomplishment,’ the Aglow Prayer Director stated.Mrs Affenyi-Dadzie was first female Vice President and subsequently President of the GJA, serving the longest period from 1996 to 2003.

She attended Winneba Senior High School in the Central Region from 1970 to 1975, before enrolling in Journalism School.

The Managing Director of First African Group Ltd holds a Master’s degree in Governance and Leadership from Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).

She is also a Chartered Institute of Administrators fellow.

Mrs Affenyi-Dadzie has served in various capacities and boards, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Advisory Committee, Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), National Media Commission (NMC), Ekumfiman Rural Bank, CDH Insurance, and Kulendi@Law, a reputable private legal firm in Accra.

In 1993, she became an associate of the Women’s Institute for Freedom of the Press (WIFP), an American non-for-profit publishing organisation.

She pla
ys an active role in the Women’s Aglow Ministry, an interdenominational Christian women’s fellowship.

She has many awards and recognition, including Ghana’s highest National Award, the Order of the Volta.

She was appointed a member Council of State in 2005 by the then President John Kufuor, becoming the youngest person on the advisory Council.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Wisdom Klu Agbeko, the Assembly Member of Vui-Tetekope Electoral area in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region, has urged the youth to appreciate the spirit of participating in communal labour to foster progress and development.

This, he said, would inculcate in them, the zeal of patriotism and voluntarism for community development.

Mr Agbeko, in an interaction with the Ghana News Agency, during a communal labour held at Tetekope, urged the public to get united towards community development to help uplift the area.

‘For some time now, l have noticed that the spirit of communism has vanished among the youth due to the introduction of some foreign cultures that engulfed the system. Thankfully things are changing for the best.’

Mr Agbeko further stated that community development should be a collective responsibility for all in other to address several pressing challenges.

He charged stakeholders such as community leaders, religious leaders, youth leaders, and others should share the same vision on th
e promotion of communal labour among the youth.

‘Communal labour is an act of assembling to carry out an activity that would benefit the entire community, and this should be everybody’s dream.’

Mr Agbeko expressed satisfaction about how the youth of the area have started patronising and endorsing the various forms of communal labour, which he said would help keep the streets hygienic.

Mr Agbeko appealed to all to embrace unity, and togetherness and champion tolerance for peaceful coexistence.

Some participants, the GNA engaged during the exercise, expressed happiness about the communal practice.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Fairtrade Africa, through its Sustainable, Democratic, and Inclusive Cocoa Cooperatives in West Africa Project, has held a graduation ceremony for 26 students who received gender training at the Women’s School of Leadership.

The graduates, all women, comprised producers, farmers, and cooperatives, received training that equipped them with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to realize their full potential and make informed decisions about their future.

This gender training initiative is a significant step towards promoting gender equality in the cocoa sector as it empowers women to take on leadership roles and contribute to decision-making processes within the sector.

Ms. Madeline Muga, Strategy and Impact Director at Fairtrade Africa, attended the graduation ceremony in Koforidua, the eastern regional capital, where she addressed the newly passed trainees.

She explained that the Sustainable Democratic Inclusive Cocoa Cooperatives in West Africa Project is funded by the Norwegian Agency for Developmen
t Cooperation (NORAD) with support from SPAR and NorgesGruppen.

She said the training formed part of Fairtrade Africa’s efforts to address the historical marginalization of women in the cocoa industry and promote sustainable development.

She said 65 percent of women in the workforce constituted the agricultural sector and ensure food security in the country.

However, their significant roles remained marginalized, relegated to the production end of the value chain, with limited access to decision-making spaces and economic opportunities.

Thus, Ms Muga noted the organisation recognised the importance of empowering women and youth to create an inclusive work environment where all genders and ages have a voice in shaping their future.

‘Through initiatives like the Women’s School of Leadership, we are equipping women and youth with the skills and knowledge needed to take on leadership roles and participate in decision-making processes,’ she said.

She urged the government, Civil Society Organisations, busines
ses, and individuals to prioritize women and youth empowerment as a key driver of inclusive and equitable progress.

She also called on stakeholders to support the empowerment of women and youth as a catalyst for positive change.

In her capacity as Gender and Inclusion Officer, Ms. Gloria Tompoli, Gender and Inclusion Officer at Fairtrade Africa in in Ghana’s NORAD Project, engaged with the beneficiaries and trained them under the Women’s School of Leadership, empowering them to become ambassadors and leaders who can inspire and train other women on leadership and gender equity.

The graduates received certificates of participation in the Sustainable, Democratic and Inclusive Cocoa Cooperatives in West Africa Project, a testament to their commitment to promoting gender equality and social inclusion in the cocoa sector.

Fairtrade is part of the global Fairtrade movement and a membership organisation representing over 1.44 million farmers and workers across 29 countries in Africa and the Middle East.

Source
: Ghana News Agency