Seasoned Counsellor; celebrated media personality and host of the Obra Show on Nhyira 104.5 FM, Mrs. Eleanor Effe Amanor has donated brand new mathematical sets to students who will be sitting their Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) on Monday 8th July, 2024.

The beneficiary schools drawn from less privileged communities of the Ejisu and Asokore Mampong Municipalities of the Ashanti Region, included the Akokoamong St. Martins Basic School and the Okyerekrom M/A Basic School.

Apart from the mathematical sets, Mama Effe as affectionately called further provided the schools with packs of water enough to carry the students through all five days of the crucial final exit exams organized by the West Africa Education Council (WAEC) in centers distant from their schools.

The school heads were relieved the Math Sets have come in handy, to meet a dire need as the tools constitute one of the basic requirements for candidates to successfully write all math, science, technical and art related subjects in the BECE.

They are optimistic their schools will perform better this year, as students who could not afford these tools can concentrate better in the examination halls this time round, without having to endure the ordeal of sitting idle and waiting to share tools with their colleagues.

The clearly excited students could not bottle in their joy and gratitude expressing their messages of heartfelt appreciation to Mama Effe, who was at the time of the donation, outside the country attending to similarly important responsibilities.

Speaking from her sojourn in Europe, Mama Effe shared how she feels touched supporting the educational aspirations of the less privileged as she recounted her own tough experience, hawking to raise money to support her education.

She disclosed, “Even though I was born and bred in the capital city of Kumasi, I had to work to pay for my education. I sold bread and sugarcane to cater for my schooling,”

“It has been my wish that every person I meet, whether young or old, I put smiles on their faces. So I decided to go to these communities located in the outskirts of Kumasi just to help about two hundred BECE candidates with these math sets and water for them to use the whole week. For so many years, this is what I have been doing,” she explained.

Mama Effe encouraged the candidates to defy every challenge they faced and rather pursue their educational outcomes, to become persons of influence who can give back to their communities in the future.

“We couldn’t enjoy free education. We paid for everything. But some of us decided that we wanted to be somebody in the future to have impact on other people. I pray that every child who will take part in this BECE final exam will come out with very colorful results so that they can enjoy the free education in the Senior High school,” she encouraged.

She had special well wishes particularly for all young ladies writing the exam.

“I wish them all the best especially the young ladies. The up and coming future Mama Effes, potential mothers, potential lawyers, potential teachers and others. I wish you all the best. Study to show yourself approved for all the three years you have studied,” she admonished.

In her regular prayerful entreaty, Mama Effe further shared a word of prayer for the candidates and encouraged them to do their very best to give a good account of their three year studies in the Junior High School.

“May the Lord be with all the candidates in Ghana especially those in the Ashanti Region? May the Lord take lead as you enter the examination room? You will come out with flying colors and we will be proud of you,” she prayed.

This annual philanthropic gesture that could determine the future prospects of under privileged children is just one of many noble projects that has won Mama Effe a series of recognized awards including the Prince Hampel World Outreach honor of the order of Queen of Humanitarian Affairs.

By: Ivan Heathcote – Fumador.

It was a delightful holiday of best offers when Ella Boutique opened in Kwadaso Edwenase in the Kwadaso Municipality of the Ashanti Region on Monday the 17th of June, 2024.

Several fashionistas, social media influencers and regular shoppers trooped in to experience discounted sales on a wide range of clothing and accessories from established brands.

A short ribbon cutting ceremony was led by the clergy to herald the opening of the boutique which stocks the best of men, women and children’s clothing, fabrics, jeans, bags, belts, shades, jewelry, watches, wigs, shoes accessories and perfumes of all kinds from well-known top brands.

Speaking to Abusua FM which transmitted live from the wide frontage of the boutique, its Chief Executive Officer, Mabel Akufo indicated that the goal of the boutique is to meet the beauty and adornment needs of customers of all classes and income levels.

“No matter the occasion you are planning for, we have assembled everything you will need from acclaimed brands in the United States of America, London, Canada and name the rest. You will not leave here without finding what you need,” She pointed out.

Competitive Advantage

She indicated that an eye for quality, customer satisfaction, attention to long lasting products and value for money for all clients, marked the unique selling proposition of Ella Boutique.

The CEO further added that the God factor which guarantees blessings, peace of mind and divine comfort formed a cardinal part of her product offerings to anyone who visited Ella Boutique to make purchases.

Discounts Sales

As a reward for gracing the opening, first time customers walked into what could be described as a rain of discounts on a variety of products.

Shoppers who spoke to Abusua News were overwhelmed by the sheer variety of products and the prices accompanying the quality brands on offer.

“The items here are so many but I bought an imported fabric, a necklace, an ear ring and a bottle of perfume. If I had more money I am sure I would have carried a lot of these nice items home,” an excited shopper Obatanpa Nana Ama Agyemang said.

“At long last what we were all waiting for is here. I have seen international brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Versace all in this shop,” tiktok influencer Kwaku Abrantie commended.

Business Prospects

The CEO, Mabel Akufo was positive the convenience and proximity of her shop to the people would sustain sales from persons who hitherto had to travel a long distance to the Central Business District to shop.

Ella Boutique which aims at opening more branches and outlets has also leveraged Digital Marketing to offer online sales and quick delivery services with a strong presence on all social media platforms.

Aside individual purchases, Ella boutique has further positioned itself to serve as a whole sale hub for retail shops and business concerns dealing in such products.

By: Ivan Heathcote – Fumador.

Three Tertiary Education Unions are threatening to lay down their tools by the 30th of June over what they describe as their exclusion from the upward adjustments of Vehicle Maintenance and other allowances.

They comprise The Tertiary Education Workers Union of Ghana (TEWU-GH) The Technical University Administrators Association of Ghana (TUAAG) and The Technical University Workers Association, Ghana (TUWAG).

They are accusing the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) of adjusting Vehicle Maintenance Allowances and other classified allowances for other categories of staff in tertiary institutions excluding their members.

The leadership of the unions insist the practice of adjusting such allowances for staff of universities, has always been across the board.

They contend the anomaly is “clearly discriminatory and injustice in the working environment in the university campuses.”

Read Full Statement below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ALL MEDIA HOUSES

Dear Sir/Madam,

INTENTION TO EMBACK ON AN INDUSTRIAL STRIKE ACTION

The leadership of the Tertiary Education Workers Union of Ghana (TEWU-GH) The Technical University Administrators Association of Ghana (TUAAG) and The Technical University Workers Association, Ghana (TUWAG), wish to state irrevocably that the discriminatory implementation of the newly approved Vehicle Maintenance Allowance (VMA) and other related allowances by government must be reconsidered immediately.

The decision by Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to exclude TEWU-GH, TUAAG and TUWAG members of the implementation of the upwards review of the (VMA) is clear discriminatory and injustice in the working environment in the university campuses.

These situations have made TEWU-GH, TUAAG and TUWAG members in the university campuses very unhappy in the face of the current economic conditions in the nation, we call on the Employer to URGENTLY address the issue as soon as possible to avert any unforeseen problems.

Vehicle Maintenance Allowance (VMA) and other related allowances in the public Universities are payable to all eligible categories of staff in the Universities.

The (VMA) rate is always the same and it applies to all category of staff in the universities with a common effective date without any discrimination. This has been the practice since the inception of these particular allowances.

The three unions TEWU-GH, TUAAG and TUWAG urges Government and all stakeholders to use this opportunity to swiftly address the legitimate concerns raised to avoid any disturbances in the university campuses.

Failure to resolve the above-mentioned issues by 30th of June,2024, we will invoke the relevant provision of the labour Act to advice ourselves.

Signed:

SULEMANA ABDUL-RAHMAN; TEWU_GH NATIONAL CHAIRMAN (0244147482)

Godwin Kumador; Secretary TUAAG (0245010240)

Ayárik Alateng John ;National President TUWAG (0242336582)

CC:

1. Hon. Minister, Ministry of Education
2. Hon. Minister, Ministry of Finance
3. Hon. Minister, Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations
4. The Chief Executive Officer, Fair Wages and Salaries Commission
5. Director General, Ghana Tertiary Education Commission
6. The Chairman, VCG
7. The Chairman, VCTU-G
8. The Executive Secretary, National Labour Commission

By: Ivan Heathcote – Fumador.

A third year student of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Abass Abdul Latif has led a team to develop an e-commerce and quick delivery service, UXIBOX set to redefine the frontiers of the burgeoning q-commerce industry in Ghana.

The innovation obtainable over both android and IOS mobile app stores; offers customers a convenient and reliable shopping platform for food, pharmaceuticals, grocery, electronic stores and delivery services.

With a strong total customer service proposition, users of the UXIBOX App are linked to a wide catalogue of products from accredited partner restaurants; eateries; supermarkets; departmental stores; shops, health delivery facilities and pharmacies.

To ensure a good turnaround time, real time monitoring of deliveries and effective customer care; the UXIBOX team has moved away from using third party agents and rather assembled its own UXIBOX riders to undertake deliveries within a controlled structure that meets the company’s vision for speed and convenience.

Founder’s Story

Abass Abdul Latif told GHONE News the dream was birthed in Senior High School at Prempeh College when he begun making purchases and sales from different online e-commerce platforms.

“I loved online shopping so I bought some stuff from China and sold them on-line. I realized it was something I could easily do and that is how UXIBOX came about.”

“At first, it was just an e-commerce platform but as time went on we changed our business model and that is what you see,” Latif recounted.

Q-Commerce Market

E-Commerce and quick delivery service company Glovo\ exited Ghana in May, citing profitability challenges.

However, Latif and his team made up of other students of the KNUST, are positive Uxibox has what it takes to scale the profitability hurdles that drove giants like Glovo out of the market.

“They are a foreign company so their commercial interests might differ from UXIBOX which is an indigenous brand. I believe we have addressed the third party rider bottlenecks which offers quicker deliveries and made our app extremely inviting, interactive and user friendly. I feel it will be easier for us,” Latif exuded.

Students’ Inspiration

At Level 300; Latif’s story has become an inspiration for his colleagues and other students, some of whom have begun registering their products on the app to sell.

Loisey Akoto Frimpong, the first lady to order food on the app was full of commends for the team as she graced the launch to register her pastries brand – Vittles.

“Latif has really done well with this great innovation. I was the first lady to order food on the app. It is very convenient, easy to use and I will soon have my food brand on the app,” she stated.

High school mates of Latif who are helping drive the brand told reporter Ivan Heathcote – Fumador they were not surprised Latif had launched a business even before completing his undergraduate studies in Business Information Technology at the KNUST.

“When we were in SHS, he used to sell drones and cameras. He was so much into business even with the kind of books he read. Opening something like this, I am not surprised,” Eugene Jafet Akologo averred.

KNUST Interest

Management of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology have shown keen interest in supporting the student led initiative to blossom.

Associate Professor with the department of Agric-Economics; Agribusiness and Extension Professor James Osei Mensah said the university was elated to have young students rise above the complaints of unemployment to create opportunities for themselves and other unemployed graduates.

“We are talking about numerous youth who will be employed doing the shopping and handling of deliveries. At the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology where we celebrate and encourage innovation, we are very happy that a team of students from the university, have been able to come up with this app, going to address a societal need,” he pointed out.

African Indegenous Solutions

President of Bonvas Group Ghana, Nana Kwaku Opoku Bonah who inspired the team shared profound admiration for African youthful grit putting their best feet forward to solve African problems.

He nonetheless expressed need for indigenous businesses to embrace standardization and best practices that not only provides tailor made products and services to the African market, but also meets the expectations of quality that guarantees competitiveness.

“I have been a strong advocate for African solutions for African problems. Standardization should be recognized and proper standards for African products should be highly regulated.

It will ensure that any product coming from Africa being made for Africans is made of high quality meeting the demand that the African community requires for its development,” Opoku Bonah insisted.

UXIBOX Vision

Apart from the jobs it creates along the value chain, retail e-commerce sales are expected to reach 7.4 trillion dollars globally by 2025.

The vision of the team at UNIBOX is to expand coverage to other major regional capitals in the country; venture La Cote D’Ivoire and escalate its presence to major markets across the world.

Developer with Ikesoft Technologies, Isaac Adu Amankwah whose company developed the technical bit of the company is positive, the company has what it takes to launch into deeper waters without any fears.

“Rome was not built in a day. Alibaba, Ali Express and those conglomerates did not bloom in a day. The same way, I believe that UXIBOX, with the amount of support people will be bringing in, will grow very, very fast,” he noted.

UXIBOX has given indication, a continuous research and development team is already in place to begin receiving feedback for the launch of subsequent versions of the app that offers a more immersive and fulfilling experience for its users.

Setbacks including the untimely death of a team lead – Kingsley Agyemang Banahene – could not deter the team of students from pulling through the app development stage, assembling of delivery riders and tying in with partner shops towards a successful launch.

Sisters of the deceased, Diana Ntriwa Darkwah and Akosua Prempeh who attended the launch of UXIBOXX were comforted their late brother who was part of the brains that pushed the project would be excited wherever he found himself.

UXIBOX represents another story of the ingenuity and eagerness of the Ghanaian youth to find commercially viable solutions, create jobs and make an impactful mark even in a challenging environment.

By: Ivan Heathcote – Fumador.

Ghana is benefitting nine (9) more days of MTN Ghana’s annual 21 Days of YelloCare as the Telecommunications Conglomerate which turns thirty (30) this year, directs 30 days of staff volunteerism and corporate social investments towards advancing education in Ghana’s rural and remote communities.

For the past seventeen years, the annual 21 days of YelloCare initiative has provided support to underserved groups, bridged the inequality gap and offered business and youth development support services to beneficiary communities in the areas of health, education and economic empowerment.

This year, the telecoms giant is leading a “Quench and Connect Campaign” as it targets less developed schools in rural and hard to reach communities.

The thirty-day drive spanning June 1st to June 30 will see MTN Ghana build education infrastructure including water systems, upgrade learning facilities and provide digital literacy opportunities to bridge the rural – urban digital divide.

Explaining the motive for this year’s theme, “Education for rural and remote communities; learn today, lead tomorrow,” General Manager for MTN Northern Business District, Nii Adotey Mingle was positive the intervention will enhance educational outcomes in the target communities.

“The theme emphasizes the important role of education and plays a transformational role in our communities; strengthening economic growth and prosperity and preparing our youth with the necessary knowledge, skills and resources for the future,” he said.

As part of direct anticipated project milestones, MTN is investing in building educational infrastructure, expanding education systems and providing modern tools and materials for teaching and learning.

The company will also focus heavily on providing digital tools to promote digital equity and inclusion in excluded schools while providing other sustainable support services that will attract and retain learners in their schools.

Water Systems

Nii Adotey Mingle further outlined that MTNers will sink thirty boreholes in 30 schools in tandem with its 30th year anniversary, to augment access to potable water in Ghana’s Educational Facilities.

he disclosed, “The beneficiary schools would have 30 boreholes sunk for them and these would be fitted with digitalized control systems to enhance easy accessibility of water.”

Mingle added that the employee volunteering activities will also include establishment of gardens to enhance food security in schools as well as the organization of digital literacy workshops to impart crucial digital skills to both teachers and learners.

The General Manager disclosed that the beneficiary schools were strategically selected from all sixteen regions across the country, by the MTN Foundation, on a needs basis.

Students who represented their schools at the launch were elated about the breath of freshness and educational enhancement that the 2024 YelloCare presents to their schools.

A student of the Konadu Yiadom School; Gregory Adom told reporters, “I am praying that MTN Ghana would be able to extend this to other schools across Ghana

“With such support, we can benefit from modern education and digitalization,” he commended.

YelloCare Challenge

The General Manager was optimistic MTN Ghana’s 2024 YelloCare team has provided the most solution driven community impact project proposition to afford the Ghana Team, the coveted gold award of a hundred thousand dollars.

MTN Ghana is poised to reclaim this bragging right after it won the accolades in 2010 and 2011 when it beat MTN Brands in other countries of operation.

By: Ivan Heathcote – Fumador

The Ashanti Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) is worried about the exponential increase in malaria cases in the Ashanti Region as it begins registration ahead of a mass distribution of long lasting insecticide treated nets in the region.

In the year 2023 alone, the number of malaria cases recorded in Out Patient Departments in the region struck the 900,000 mark representing a hundred thousand increase over the 2022 figures of 800,000 recorded cases.

Addressing the media ahead of the registration exercise Ashanti Regional Director of Health, Dr. Emmanuel Tenkorang, pointed out that aside the pressure on health facilities; the situation poses huge financial and economic burden for the country.

“It constitutes one of the most socio economic burdens in this region, in the country and in Africa. If you look at the figures in the Ashanti Region, you realize that it constitutes one of the major burdens in our OPD attendance.

He disclosed, “If you look at our insurance payments, you will realize that one of the major burdens is malaria. So any strategy to reduce malaria will save us a lot of money in this country.

“That is the reason why the nation has adopted the National Malaria Elimination Program to reduce both morbidity and mortality associated with malaria especially in children under five and in pregnant women,” he emphasized.

The Health Director noted that the registration which begins on June 7th and ends on June 11, will register households in 41 districts of the Ashanti Region excluding Obuasi and Obuasi East where a special indoors residual spraying exercise against malaria is underway.

Dr Tenkorang indicated that the service expects the public to corporate and desist from using the nets for purposes other than protecting themselves from mosquito bites.

“It is unfortunate that sometimes we see the mosquito nets being used for other unapproved purposes including as fences for gardens and as covers to cart refuse.

He warned, “This program is being sponsored by partners and it becomes an indictment on the country. They will think we are not very serious about what we are doing.”

Dr Tinkorang however proposed the need for a legislation or policy direction that could be enforceable to bring such persons who use the nets inappropriately to book.

The point mass distribution exercise which forms part of Ghana’s National Malaria Elimination Program is aimed at reducing the transmission of malaria by ensuring that a mass of the population is protected from mosquito bites.

It is also aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality associated with malaria as well as the high cost burden of treating malaria in Ghana.

The health service further aims at making impact on productivity and socio-economic development while it works at hitting its malaria elimination targets among the population.

By: Ivan Heathcote – Fumador

Emergency Medicine Practitioners are warning that health facilities in Africa; Ghana no exception could be overwhelmed if the debilitating effects of Climate Change is not properly handled.

The medics who are at the frontlines of handling victims of disease outbreaks, critical accidents and life threatening conditions in emergency wards point out that they are seeing increasing numbers of patients suffering from the effects of adverse weather conditions and climate disasters.

The Emergency Medicine Fraternity made the startling observations to mark this year’s Emergency Medicine Day which focuses on climate change as a health emergency.

A medic with the Komfo Anokye Emergency Medicine Unit and President of the Emergency Medicine Society of Ghana Dr. Daniel Osei Kwame enumerated a series of Climate induced factors which he fears could result in a further strain on already overstretched referral facilities.

He pointed out, “The impacts of climate change extend beyond direct health effects, permeating every facet of emergency medicine. We are witnessing an uptick in climate-related disasters, including floods, storms, and wildfires, which not only cause physical injuries but also overwhelm our healthcare infrastructure.”

“Climate change acts as a catalyst for the spread of infectious diseases, such as malaria, dengue fever, and cholera, as shifting temperatures create favorable conditions for vector proliferation and pathogen transmission.”

Climate Effects

Extreme weather conditions; poor air quality; violent storms; flooding; bush fires drought and extreme atmospheric heat being recorded across the world have been linked to climate change largely driven by the burning of fossil fuels and irresponsible human activity in the environment.

These harsh conditions have their attendant risks of extreme poverty; less food; scarcity of potable water; life threatening disasters; exponential spread of diseases and worsening health conditions.

Head of the Emergency Medicine Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Dr Chris Oppong admitted that Ghana’s hospitals have begun experiencing a swell in admissions and hospital attendance as a result of these unfriendly weather patterns.

One thing we need to note is that as we have all these emerging conditions and all these patients, we should bear in mind that we don’t have so many doctors and specialists in our country to address all these injuries and sicknesses.

“If we are overwhelmed, there is not so much that we can do. You might come and not get the attention you desire because there are too many patients waiting to be seen,” he cautioned.

Deputy Chief Nursing Officer with the triage unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Emergency Department Georgina Adamtey reported on increase in diseases like malaria and respiratory conditions recorded at the hospital, linked with the shifting weather patterns.

Toll on Vulnerable Countries

Though Africa emits less than 4% of global greenhouse emissions; the continent together with other less developed countries, bear the biggest brunt of the effects of climate change.

A research conducted by the African Federation for Emergency Medicine which covered ten African Countries, revealed clear effects of climate Change and its resultant effects on both medical practitioners and health facilities

President for the African Federation for Emergency Medicine Dr Joseph Bonney told STARR/GHONE NEWS, “in all the countries, we identified that they had seen patterns that suggests that the changes in the climate is increasing what is happening in the hospitals.

He told reporter Ivan Heathcote – Fumador, “It is either directly affecting the health facilities in inadequate power supply to hospitals or disasters affecting the physical hospital structures or affecting the staff.”

Climate Action

Dr Bonney insisted it will take a conscious effort of both state and non-state actors to adopt clear climate adaptation and mitigation plans to build climate resilient health systems to stem the tide of the global climate crisis on health facilities.

“As a nation we need to build our infrastructure to be able to fight and withstand climate change. We need more hospitals, more disaster preparedness and more people who are trained within this space to manage emergencies and disasters,” he recommended.

The Emergency Medicine Physicians are confident painting the clear picture at the point where climate change and health care meets; will prick the conscience of both state and non-state actors, civil society and the general public; to begin fashioning out climate mitigation and adaptation measures for a safer and healthier world.

By: Ivan Heathcote – Fumador

The former Municipal Chief Executive of the Asokore Mampong Municipal Assembly Alhaji Alidu Seidu has described as baseless the hue and cry about Ghana’s ballooning public debt insisting the government used cash and not cowries to execute its projects and policies.

Ghana borrowed GH¢47.4 billion in the first two months of the year 2024 effectively raising the countries public debt to GH¢658.6 billion by the end of February.

This has generated concerns among economic watchers and the opposition National Democratic Congress with fears the country’s Debt to GDP ratio of 62% could inch into unsustainable levels that drove the country into the current IMF Program.

Taken a swipe at the opposition National Democratic Congress, Alhaji Alidu Seidu questioned how the opposition thought the Nana Agyemang Prempeh I airport, the free Senior High School and other infrastructural projects and social programs were funded.

“We are all talking about the Nana Agyemang Prempeh I Airport project but was it funded with cowries?” he queried,

“Under the whole eight years of the NDC, how many national identity cards were printed. Did we do that with cowries?”

“The GPS address system is a game changer. All of these things we see comes with a cost. We didn’t use cowries,” he lashed out while speaking on Kumasi based Orange FM.

Alidu Seidu recounted the excitement in the family of a former beneficiary of the Free SHS who received his first pay after gaining employment in a public institution.

“Your government told us he will cancel nursing and teacher trainee allowances even if it cost him an election, today those allowances are back. We used money not cowries,” he went on.

Alidu Seidu also took the opposition NDC on; over Ghana’s youth unemployment bulge which hit 14.6% in the third quarter of the year 2023.

“You say unemployment is on a skyrocketing rate but we created 45 new municipalities and districts. We sent people there to work,”

“When we did the double track system, more teachers were recruited. We created sixteen regions and people are there working,”

“We have middle belt, northern and Coastal Development authorities. All these bodies recruited people who were sent to work and they are paid,” he contended.

The former MCE who admitted times were hard however insisted the Akufo Ado administration had laid the foundations for a rebound of the economy.

By: Ivan Heathcote – Fumador.

The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in the Asokore Mampong Municipality has appealed for early release of funds to enable it commence elections sensitization and peace campaigns.

The municipal finds itself within the Asawase Constituency which remains on the list of the Electoral Commission and the Ghana Police Service as a hotspot for potential electoral violence.

Historic brawls between the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party in the constituency have left memories of vandalism, destruction to property, injuries and deaths.

The Asokore Mampong Municipal Director of the NCCE Matthew Agbenu made the call speaking to Ultimate/Starr News on the sidelines of a media engagement held by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) on the theme, “Countering hate speech and polarizing narratives to foster democratic consolidation and peace in Ghana.

He expressed fear, any delays in releasing funds could hinder the commissions ability to defuse electoral tensions before the December 7 general election.

“The government is aware of the issues here already and they know the urgency of the situation. The more we delay in any of these will affect the general election,” he told reporter Ivan Heathcote – Fumador.

He indicated that the timely release of the resources would give his office enough space to create the needed peace building sensitization and a congenial environment for peaceful elections before Election Day.

“People should be educated on tolerance and the elections itself. If you delay, the education is also delayed. So Government should do whatever it can within their powers to let us move unto the grounds to do the work as early as possible,” Matthew Agbenu appealed.

He however indicated that the NCCE had done its best educating and encouraging people in the Asokore Mampong Municipality to partake in the limited voter registration exercise.

Mr. Agbenu further gave assurances, his outfit is in close ties with the Electoral Commission as the EC rolls out its calendar activities including the voter ID replacement and voter transfer exercises and the register exhibition.

By: Ivan Heathcote – Fumador

Forty (40) young females, all unemployed and underemployed graduates are benefitting from a fully funded twelve week Tech Employment Training mounted by Generation Ghana, MEST Africa, the MasterCard Foundation and delivery partners Whizzy Academy in the Ashanti Region.

The initiative dabbed the Ghana Online and Remote Work Program code named GROW is structured along a strict and intensive curriculum intended to equip participants with demand driven skills in Digital Marketing; Digital Content Creation and Search Engine Optimization.

The aim of the training is to support participants find local and international employment opportunities within the wide array of remote and freelance jobs engineered by the fast growing digital Economy.

“The idea is that we are giving skills to young ladies to participate in the world of technology and the digital revolution. Once they get the skills, they can work as digital marketers, social media marketers, content marketers, SEO experts and the like,” Managing Lead at Whizzy Academy Samuel Aboagye told reporters.

The initiative comes at a crucial moment when unemployed youth aged between 15 and 35 in Ghana hit an alarming 1.3 million in the first three quarters of 2023 with the rate among females consistently greater than males.

This initiative will play a significant role in reducing Ghana’s unemployment burden averaging some 14.7% as captured in the 2023 Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey Quarter Three Labour Bulletin by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).

Generation Job Creation

Project Spearheads, Generation, a global not for profit which has gained international acclaim for its highly successful employability and entrepreneurial training programs is positive the cohorts will gain sustainable and fulfilling jobs after the training session.

Throwing more light on the coalition driven support, Country Programs Director Dr. Vandyke Lomotey explained, “Generation together with the MasterCard Foundation designed the entire program and brought in partners like MEST Africa and Whizzy Academy to support in delivering the program.”

Generation Ghana hopes to directly impact some 2000 youth aged between 15 and 35 in Ghana with its New Generation Initiative which focuses on tech driven jobs

“We are equipping them to source for remote and online opportunities whether part-time or in a freelancing capacity. Our target is that 80% of the people that graduate from our program within 90 days will get a life changing opportunity that will put them on a pathway towards meaningful and dignified career paths.” Vandyke added.

MEST & MasterCard Training Support

Liana Tamakloe Ekuadzi Programs Manager for MEST Africa indicated that the content of the training program has been fine-tuned to reflect corrections and successes chalked in its streak of programs targeting young graduates with market driven tech courses.

We have been organizing such trainings with MasterCard Foundation since 2020 and when we were tasked to train 600 youth in tech skills and find them jobs, we ended up training over a thousand. A huge chunk of them found digital jobs, gigs and freelancers while others went into entrepreneurship.

“Together with this coalition, we are upscaling our impact to reach at least 2000 young people based on the experiences and lessons we have learnt along the way,” Liana assured.

Out of a thousand three hundred applications, only forty females made it through the rigorous entry requirements which entailed aptitude tests, creativity tests and support interviews.

Training Cohort

Some lucky participants who spoke to Ultimate/Starr News’ Ivan Heathcote – Fumador shared how elated they were to have sailed through to make the list.

“The recruitment process was extremely demanding so I feel privileged to be part of this cohort. I don’t have a strong background in digital marketing but as I enter this training, I am sure I will find my specialty,” a beneficiary Doris Anabel Safowaa averred.

The participants also commended the Coalition for their specific interest in supporting females who appear to bear the biggest brunt and incidence of graduate unemployment.

“I pride myself to be a feminist. I am heavy on affirmative action and I think it is a great initiative,” Doris Safowaa said.

“I have always felt that females in Africa have been left behind even though there are initiatives to create equity. This project shows me there is a lot of hope for the future for women in the work space,” Favor Obami commended.

As part of support systems, each participant will be equipped with a laptop, internet connection with free data a weekly stipend and meals to support their training which will consist of in-person sessions, immersion assignments and internships.

By: Ivan Heathcote – Fumador