Article: Salome Donkor
THE fact that HIV and AIDS continues to pose a major challenge to the economic development of Africa because its infection rate is about 70 per cent , is well- known by many people.
It is also common knowledgethat HIV continues to pose a developmental challenge to most countries in Sub-saharan Africa where 22.5 million out of the 33.2 million people are infected with the disease.
Furthermore, the fact that in Ghana the national response programme has made significant impact to the extent that the national prevalence rate is now 1.9 per cent and various interventions are working ;leading to a very high level of awareness creation, is also not new. Majority of the infections in the country, nearly 90 per cent are within the age group of 15-49 years ,with 58 per cent of infected people being women and girls.
According to the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC), currently, awareness creation in the country is almost universal and 110 sites have been established to offer anti- retroviral treatment (ART), while prevention of mother to child transmission centres (PMTCT) have been established in most hospitals to cater for pregnant women.
Condom usage has also increased from 28 to 33.4 per cent in women and from 44 to 52 per cent in men.
Despite these significant achievements, the Director General of the GAC Prof Sakyi Awuku-Amoah, contends that the nation is still confronted with many challenges that call for effective media involvement in the fight against the HIV pandemic.
He mentioned some of these challenges in his opening remarks at a workshop for journalists in Accra as the need to disseminate information to reduce high risk behaviour and personal risk exposures, stigma reduction, increasing ART therapy, since a large number of persons living with HIV (PLWAs) are not going for the anti- retroviral therapy, to help them manage the disease and prolong their life span.
He therefore charged the media to change their ‘sit-and-look attitude’ and assume a proactive role to addressing HIV and AIDS and help to showcase HIV and AIDS prevention interventions at all levels.
The workshop was organised by the GAC to build the capacity of participants in the ethics in order to give accurate reporting on HIV and AIDS, as part of this year’s World AIDS Day celebration, which falls on December 3. This year’s celebration is under the theme “Leadership: Reducing stigma and Discrimination.
Stigma and discrimination have greatly affected the fight against HIV and AIDS. This is because while only 10 per cent of the global population knew their HIV status, in Ghana, it was eight per cent.
This means that a lot of people do not know their status, while a large number of those who know their status and are in need of anti-retroviral treatment have refused to go for the treatment because of the fear of stigmatisation and discrimination. Consequently, only about 17,000 out of 71,000 PLWAs who need ART, go for medication. The question being asked is that why do we continue to stigmatise PLWAs to the extent that they refuse to go for their medication.
The opening remarks by the Prof Awuku-Amoah, and the presentations by Mr Cosmos Ohene-Adjei, a Sub-project Manager at the GAC and Mr Ato Amoaning of the League of HIV reporters set the tone for discussions.
Apart from the issue of PLWAs not accessing treatment as a result of stigmatisation, one of the issues that came up for discussion was whether prostitution should be legalised in view of the risk faced by commercial sex workers as a result of the HIV pandemic. Available reports indicate that a number of commercial sex workers are HIV-positive.
Conceding that prostitution is the oldest profession in the world which involves men, women, adults, children, the rich and the poor some participants indicated that some people engage in the business because of poverty, while other factors also make people to engage in prostitution, or seek the services of prostitutes.
Those who looked at the issue from the moral point of view contended that prostitution is a sin against God, since it involved the use of ones body, which is the temple of the Lord, for commercial sex purposes.
Others also said that the legalisation of prostitution would do more harm than good to the nation since it would encourage the youth to be promiscuous.
Some also debunked the argument that measures would be put in place to conduct a test on licensed prostitutes when it was legalised to ensure they operated without being infected with the virus, because nobody could be forced to undertake the HIV test since the test was voluntary.
In the light of these complexities and insecure formalities, they said legalisation of prostitution, which was a criminal act under the criminal Code 1960 (Act 29), had proved to be incapable of solving the HIV pandemic.
On the contrary, those in favour of the legalisation of prostitution maintained that, that action would provide structures to make sure that men and women or boys and girls who wanted to offer their bodies for sex for payment obtained license from an approved body and these prostitute shall be subjected to periodic HIV tests to make sure that none of them practised prostitution while infected.
T deal with low risk perception especially among the youth due to misconception and lack of adequate in-depth knowledge about HIV.
HIV is adevelopmental and social issue and all must come together to fight stigma and discrimination to deal with the spread of HIV by strengthening counselling services and intensifyig education to address the nagative thought that HIV is contracted through promiscuity.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Let’s identify exploitative child labour
Article: Salome Donkor
Over the past few years the issue of what constitutes child labour in the cocoa production chain has generated arguments in some quarters.
There is one school of thought that maintains that the issue of child labour does not arise when a child accompanies his or her parents/guardians to the farm, while another asserts that children who do this at the expense of their education or health face some form of exploitative child labour.
There is another group that also questions the stage at which child labour occurs in the 28 steps involved in the cocoa production chain.
To find answers to these questions and in response to concerns and negative reports in the international media on Ghana in respect of the existence of the worst forms of child labour within the cocoa production sector, the National Programme for the Elimination of Worst Forms of Child Labour in Cocoa (NPECLC) was instituted.
The primary goal of the programme is to encourage more organisations to fit their activities into the framework of the programme to ensure that Ghana meets its medium-term target of eliminating the worst forms of child labour in the cocoa sector by 2011.
Since its inception in 2006, the NPECLC has consciously worked towards the attainment of its strategic objectives with the institution of plans and programmes to propel the nation to achieve its goals.
These include promotion of universal basic education, enhancement of the knowledge base of the Worst Form of Child Labour (WFCL) in cocoa production, strengthening of the legal framework for dealing with WFCL and community mobilisation for action against WFCL.
The programme is also geared towards the development and implementation of interventions to eliminate WFCL in cocoa and the development of measures to reduce the need for child labour in cocoa.
The programme was established with initial funds and technical support from the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment in collaboration with the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and the World Cocoa Foundation. Donor agencies, including the United Nation’s Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Danish Embassy, provided assistance.
Ghana has a lot to talk about in relation to the enactment of laws, ratification of international treaties and the establishment of rules and procedures for enforcing rights of the child and parental obligations, care and protection of children.
Chapter 5 of the country’s constitution deals with fundamental human rights and freedoms which conform to the international human rights framework. In addition, to the rights accorded to all persons, various articles deal specifically with children’s rights.
In 1998, Parliament passed the Children's Act (Act 560) which provided a list of enforceable children's rights and the obligations of parents towards their wards.
The Children’s Act is an embodiment of all the various conventions and policies that protect children’s rights in Ghana and to ensure that every child of school-going age enrols in school, the government instituted the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (F-CUBE) Programme.
In addition to this, the School Feeding Programme, free bus rides for children to and from school and district-based interventions were also put in place to encourage the education of the Ghanaian child.
Training programmes such as the Skills Training and Employment Programme (STEP), which has been transformed into the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), and several other initiatives have been introduced. These are targeted at ensuring a safe future for Ghanaian children.
Some children are, however, not benefiting from many of these interventions because they are busily engaged in the worst forms of child labour in the mining sector, while others are forced to work in the fishing industry at tender ages; engaged in farming activities and do other jobs which are hazardous and exploitative to their welfare.
Even though initially, the Worst Form of Child Labour (WFCL) in Ghana’s cocoa sector was not recognised, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Programme on Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) and the West Africa Cocoa/Commercial Agriculture Project (WACAP) that run from 2003 to 2006 revealed that the phenomenon did exist in the country on a smaller scale.
Speaking at the sixth Partners’ Forum organised by NPECLC for partners to develop a framework for co-ordination of activities towards elimination of worst forms of child labour in the cocoa sector, Mrs Rita Owusu-Amankwah, the National Programme Manager of NPECLC, said this year, the programme undertook the second survey on child labour practices in the cocoa sector.
She said the pilot survey was completed in April 2007 and covered six districts in three cocoa growing regions of the country, while the scale-up survey, which covered 15 districts was completed in June 2008, adding that the two surveys were funded by the World Cocoa Foundation, and supported by COCOBOD.
According to the programme manager, findings of the pilot survey led to a better understanding of the nature and extent of the occurrence of WFCL in the cocoa sector, including the complications of child labour with child socialisation or upbringing by parents.
She said the scale-up survey also led to the discovery of the fact that children generally take part in cocoa farm activities and work alongside their parents or guardians mainly on weekends and holidays and that work is allotted to children, based on their age.
It revealed that majority of children (99 per cent) who were engaged in work within the cocoa sector actually lived with their parents or close relations and 91 per cent were enrolled in school, while 71 per cent attend school regularly and they did not work for wages.
Mrs Owusu-Amankwah stated that the survey report that was made public in June, this year revealed that 29.4 per cent of the respondents were involved in hazardous work, while 20.9 per cent of children work without adequate protective clothing and the majority of injuries happen at home and school, not on the farm.
She said implications of some of the key findings call for intensive efforts to ensure 100 per cent school enrolment of children in cocoa-growing areas, while children of school-going age need more support to participate fully in school. Also, more attention needs to be given to the improvement of the quality of education in cocoa-growing communities.
Ms Patience Dapaah, Programme Communication Officer of the NEPCLC, who briefed the forum on the outcome of a meeting organised by the International Cocoa Initiative hosted by child labour experts in London, in April, this year, called for the co-ordination of activities among partners to ensure that the varied interventions taking place in cocoa-growing areas meet the national goal.
In his contribution, a participant, Mr Tony Dogbe of Participatory Development Associates, said there was the need to clearly define the context within which child labour occurs in the cocoa-growing areas and that must be clearly supported with facts to enhance a better understanding of the issue.
There is the need for us as a nation to gain the understanding and acceptance of partners on the issue, fight the root causes of exploitative child labour, and help children gain access to education and opportunities for development. Denying the extent of the problem means postponing the right to protect vulnerable children.
Over the past few years the issue of what constitutes child labour in the cocoa production chain has generated arguments in some quarters.
There is one school of thought that maintains that the issue of child labour does not arise when a child accompanies his or her parents/guardians to the farm, while another asserts that children who do this at the expense of their education or health face some form of exploitative child labour.
There is another group that also questions the stage at which child labour occurs in the 28 steps involved in the cocoa production chain.
To find answers to these questions and in response to concerns and negative reports in the international media on Ghana in respect of the existence of the worst forms of child labour within the cocoa production sector, the National Programme for the Elimination of Worst Forms of Child Labour in Cocoa (NPECLC) was instituted.
The primary goal of the programme is to encourage more organisations to fit their activities into the framework of the programme to ensure that Ghana meets its medium-term target of eliminating the worst forms of child labour in the cocoa sector by 2011.
Since its inception in 2006, the NPECLC has consciously worked towards the attainment of its strategic objectives with the institution of plans and programmes to propel the nation to achieve its goals.
These include promotion of universal basic education, enhancement of the knowledge base of the Worst Form of Child Labour (WFCL) in cocoa production, strengthening of the legal framework for dealing with WFCL and community mobilisation for action against WFCL.
The programme is also geared towards the development and implementation of interventions to eliminate WFCL in cocoa and the development of measures to reduce the need for child labour in cocoa.
The programme was established with initial funds and technical support from the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment in collaboration with the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and the World Cocoa Foundation. Donor agencies, including the United Nation’s Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Danish Embassy, provided assistance.
Ghana has a lot to talk about in relation to the enactment of laws, ratification of international treaties and the establishment of rules and procedures for enforcing rights of the child and parental obligations, care and protection of children.
Chapter 5 of the country’s constitution deals with fundamental human rights and freedoms which conform to the international human rights framework. In addition, to the rights accorded to all persons, various articles deal specifically with children’s rights.
In 1998, Parliament passed the Children's Act (Act 560) which provided a list of enforceable children's rights and the obligations of parents towards their wards.
The Children’s Act is an embodiment of all the various conventions and policies that protect children’s rights in Ghana and to ensure that every child of school-going age enrols in school, the government instituted the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (F-CUBE) Programme.
In addition to this, the School Feeding Programme, free bus rides for children to and from school and district-based interventions were also put in place to encourage the education of the Ghanaian child.
Training programmes such as the Skills Training and Employment Programme (STEP), which has been transformed into the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), and several other initiatives have been introduced. These are targeted at ensuring a safe future for Ghanaian children.
Some children are, however, not benefiting from many of these interventions because they are busily engaged in the worst forms of child labour in the mining sector, while others are forced to work in the fishing industry at tender ages; engaged in farming activities and do other jobs which are hazardous and exploitative to their welfare.
Even though initially, the Worst Form of Child Labour (WFCL) in Ghana’s cocoa sector was not recognised, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Programme on Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) and the West Africa Cocoa/Commercial Agriculture Project (WACAP) that run from 2003 to 2006 revealed that the phenomenon did exist in the country on a smaller scale.
Speaking at the sixth Partners’ Forum organised by NPECLC for partners to develop a framework for co-ordination of activities towards elimination of worst forms of child labour in the cocoa sector, Mrs Rita Owusu-Amankwah, the National Programme Manager of NPECLC, said this year, the programme undertook the second survey on child labour practices in the cocoa sector.
She said the pilot survey was completed in April 2007 and covered six districts in three cocoa growing regions of the country, while the scale-up survey, which covered 15 districts was completed in June 2008, adding that the two surveys were funded by the World Cocoa Foundation, and supported by COCOBOD.
According to the programme manager, findings of the pilot survey led to a better understanding of the nature and extent of the occurrence of WFCL in the cocoa sector, including the complications of child labour with child socialisation or upbringing by parents.
She said the scale-up survey also led to the discovery of the fact that children generally take part in cocoa farm activities and work alongside their parents or guardians mainly on weekends and holidays and that work is allotted to children, based on their age.
It revealed that majority of children (99 per cent) who were engaged in work within the cocoa sector actually lived with their parents or close relations and 91 per cent were enrolled in school, while 71 per cent attend school regularly and they did not work for wages.
Mrs Owusu-Amankwah stated that the survey report that was made public in June, this year revealed that 29.4 per cent of the respondents were involved in hazardous work, while 20.9 per cent of children work without adequate protective clothing and the majority of injuries happen at home and school, not on the farm.
She said implications of some of the key findings call for intensive efforts to ensure 100 per cent school enrolment of children in cocoa-growing areas, while children of school-going age need more support to participate fully in school. Also, more attention needs to be given to the improvement of the quality of education in cocoa-growing communities.
Ms Patience Dapaah, Programme Communication Officer of the NEPCLC, who briefed the forum on the outcome of a meeting organised by the International Cocoa Initiative hosted by child labour experts in London, in April, this year, called for the co-ordination of activities among partners to ensure that the varied interventions taking place in cocoa-growing areas meet the national goal.
In his contribution, a participant, Mr Tony Dogbe of Participatory Development Associates, said there was the need to clearly define the context within which child labour occurs in the cocoa-growing areas and that must be clearly supported with facts to enhance a better understanding of the issue.
There is the need for us as a nation to gain the understanding and acceptance of partners on the issue, fight the root causes of exploitative child labour, and help children gain access to education and opportunities for development. Denying the extent of the problem means postponing the right to protect vulnerable children.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Female teachers make women proud (Daily Graphic, Gender & Children’s Page 16/10/08)
Article: Salome Donkor & George Earnest Asare
The enviable feat accomplished by Ms Charlotte Azurago, the then 28-year old teacher at Lwanga in Zebilla in the Upper East Region, who was adjudged the first female overall National Best Teacher at the 2004 World Teachers’ Day in Wa, seems to have opened a new chapter in the lives of some female teachers.
Madam Doris Naana Marfo, an English Language teacher and Assistant Headmistress of the Sunyani Senior High School (SHS) in the Brong Ahafo Region and Faustina Gyeketey, a teacher of the Obokrom-Kumasi District Assembly (D/A) Junior High School (JHS) in the Gomoa West District in the Central Region, won the enviable prize in 2005 and 2007 respectively.
This achievement was repeated this year with two female teachers being adjudged the first and second runners-up to the 2008 best teacher award at the 14th edition of the National Best Teacher Award Ceremony held in Sunyani, the Brongh Ahafo Regional capital recently.
They are Mrs Magdalene Mensah,a teacher of French at the Opoku Ware Senior High School (SHC) in Kumasi and Mrs Alice Dzifa Gligui-Denueme, Head of Department of Home Economics at the Awudome SHC at Tsito, who emerged the first and second runners-up of the 2008 best teacher award respectively.
Sharing their joy and excitement with the Daily Graphic in separate interviews in Kumasi and Accra, Mrs Mensah said she felt elated for the honour bestowed on her by the state in recognition of her hard work for consistently teaching for over two decades in the country, while Mrs Gligui-Denueme attributed her success to discipline and hard work.
Mrs Mensah described the award as timely, stressing that it would further motivate her to work harder than before, in order to serve as a role model for the youth, especially the girl child.
She said “I am very happy for my chosen career. This is because over the years I have been able to help develop the knowledge of students who knew next to nothing about the French language when they entered school, but left school very much enlightened, contributing in diverse ways to sustainable socio-economic development”.
Mrs Mensah said she won the award when she participated in prestigious teacher award scheme for the first time, adding that she was encouraged by her headmaster, fellow teachers, past and present students who had benefited from her quality scheme of work, as well as members from her immediate community.
The award winner, who holds a Masters Degree in French, said her encouragement stemmed from the fact that she did not only spend adequate time in preparing her notes after conducting in-depth research, but also took much time in her presentation, assigning and accessing students to give them the confidence they needed to pass their examination very well.
On how she went through the series of interviews at the district, regional and national levels, Mrs Mensah said as a teacher, she had gone through promotion interviews before " so I knew what was expected of me, but at the national level of the teachers award, I knew that I was going to face a tougher panel, so I got myself prepared very well and it paid off".
" I made sure that my notes were standard, dummy teaching was masterful, answered all their questions with confidence and left an impression on them, so I was sure that I would win something but not to this magnitude. " She explained further.
She said that after meeting the panel at the national level, a special field team followed up to Opoku ware School, where they checked on her style of teachings, supervision, mode of assignments and some extra curricula activities as well as her contribution to the immediate community. She said she later got a message from the regional co-ordinator informing her that she had been nominated for a national award, but she did not know the category of award and that put her in a state of suspense until the 11th hour.
She said the reception accorded her moments after she returned from Sunyani with her prizes was overwhelming and expressed her gratitude to God for the spiritual guidance and also to the headmaster of Opoku Ware SHS and the staff for their support.
Mrs Mensah, who is a mother of two, advised the youth, especially the girl-child, to be serious with their academic work to be able to achieve their heart desires, adding that "The sky is our limit, and we should also not be discouraged in our activities but persevere to make it.
Fo her part, the second runner-up, started receiving honours at the OLA Senior Secondary School where she was the schools prefect. The school’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and management honoured her for being the well-behaved and a serious student.
From there she won the 1996 District Best Teacher Award for Gushiegu-Karaga when she was teaching at the Gushiegu-Karaga Local Authority Junior Secondary School and then the Northern Regional Best Teacher in 2001.
The award winner said she then proceeded to the University of Education, Wineba to study Home Economics and was posted to Tamale Islamic SSS after she graduated in 2005. She was transferred to Taviese-Deme Roman Catholic JSS in 2007, where she taught Science and then was posted to Awudome Tsito SSS early this year where she teaches Home Economics and also serves as head of that department.
She said she had remained committed to her work and performed her duties with dedication and pointed out that she had projected her school with the honour, and expressed optimism that it would greatly impact positively on her personal life, as well as that of her students and the community in which she lived.
Mrs Gligui-Denueme, who is married to Dr Saviour Denueme, a Vertinary Surgeon, with three children, advised the girl child to study hard and serve as role models in their respective areas.
She advised students to disabuse their minds of the notion that Home Economics is for those who do not do well, adding that all subjects are equally important in the national development programme.
She appealed to the government to provide schools with the needed materials and create the conducive atmosphere for effective teaching and learning. She also said there was the need to improve the conditions of service of teachers and motivate them to give their best.
To her, discipline, determination and hard work form the basis of everything, adding that she is from a disciplined home and that accounts for her academic exploits.
The enviable feat accomplished by Ms Charlotte Azurago, the then 28-year old teacher at Lwanga in Zebilla in the Upper East Region, who was adjudged the first female overall National Best Teacher at the 2004 World Teachers’ Day in Wa, seems to have opened a new chapter in the lives of some female teachers.
Madam Doris Naana Marfo, an English Language teacher and Assistant Headmistress of the Sunyani Senior High School (SHS) in the Brong Ahafo Region and Faustina Gyeketey, a teacher of the Obokrom-Kumasi District Assembly (D/A) Junior High School (JHS) in the Gomoa West District in the Central Region, won the enviable prize in 2005 and 2007 respectively.
This achievement was repeated this year with two female teachers being adjudged the first and second runners-up to the 2008 best teacher award at the 14th edition of the National Best Teacher Award Ceremony held in Sunyani, the Brongh Ahafo Regional capital recently.
They are Mrs Magdalene Mensah,a teacher of French at the Opoku Ware Senior High School (SHC) in Kumasi and Mrs Alice Dzifa Gligui-Denueme, Head of Department of Home Economics at the Awudome SHC at Tsito, who emerged the first and second runners-up of the 2008 best teacher award respectively.
Sharing their joy and excitement with the Daily Graphic in separate interviews in Kumasi and Accra, Mrs Mensah said she felt elated for the honour bestowed on her by the state in recognition of her hard work for consistently teaching for over two decades in the country, while Mrs Gligui-Denueme attributed her success to discipline and hard work.
Mrs Mensah described the award as timely, stressing that it would further motivate her to work harder than before, in order to serve as a role model for the youth, especially the girl child.
She said “I am very happy for my chosen career. This is because over the years I have been able to help develop the knowledge of students who knew next to nothing about the French language when they entered school, but left school very much enlightened, contributing in diverse ways to sustainable socio-economic development”.
Mrs Mensah said she won the award when she participated in prestigious teacher award scheme for the first time, adding that she was encouraged by her headmaster, fellow teachers, past and present students who had benefited from her quality scheme of work, as well as members from her immediate community.
The award winner, who holds a Masters Degree in French, said her encouragement stemmed from the fact that she did not only spend adequate time in preparing her notes after conducting in-depth research, but also took much time in her presentation, assigning and accessing students to give them the confidence they needed to pass their examination very well.
On how she went through the series of interviews at the district, regional and national levels, Mrs Mensah said as a teacher, she had gone through promotion interviews before " so I knew what was expected of me, but at the national level of the teachers award, I knew that I was going to face a tougher panel, so I got myself prepared very well and it paid off".
" I made sure that my notes were standard, dummy teaching was masterful, answered all their questions with confidence and left an impression on them, so I was sure that I would win something but not to this magnitude. " She explained further.
She said that after meeting the panel at the national level, a special field team followed up to Opoku ware School, where they checked on her style of teachings, supervision, mode of assignments and some extra curricula activities as well as her contribution to the immediate community. She said she later got a message from the regional co-ordinator informing her that she had been nominated for a national award, but she did not know the category of award and that put her in a state of suspense until the 11th hour.
She said the reception accorded her moments after she returned from Sunyani with her prizes was overwhelming and expressed her gratitude to God for the spiritual guidance and also to the headmaster of Opoku Ware SHS and the staff for their support.
Mrs Mensah, who is a mother of two, advised the youth, especially the girl-child, to be serious with their academic work to be able to achieve their heart desires, adding that "The sky is our limit, and we should also not be discouraged in our activities but persevere to make it.
Fo her part, the second runner-up, started receiving honours at the OLA Senior Secondary School where she was the schools prefect. The school’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and management honoured her for being the well-behaved and a serious student.
From there she won the 1996 District Best Teacher Award for Gushiegu-Karaga when she was teaching at the Gushiegu-Karaga Local Authority Junior Secondary School and then the Northern Regional Best Teacher in 2001.
The award winner said she then proceeded to the University of Education, Wineba to study Home Economics and was posted to Tamale Islamic SSS after she graduated in 2005. She was transferred to Taviese-Deme Roman Catholic JSS in 2007, where she taught Science and then was posted to Awudome Tsito SSS early this year where she teaches Home Economics and also serves as head of that department.
She said she had remained committed to her work and performed her duties with dedication and pointed out that she had projected her school with the honour, and expressed optimism that it would greatly impact positively on her personal life, as well as that of her students and the community in which she lived.
Mrs Gligui-Denueme, who is married to Dr Saviour Denueme, a Vertinary Surgeon, with three children, advised the girl child to study hard and serve as role models in their respective areas.
She advised students to disabuse their minds of the notion that Home Economics is for those who do not do well, adding that all subjects are equally important in the national development programme.
She appealed to the government to provide schools with the needed materials and create the conducive atmosphere for effective teaching and learning. She also said there was the need to improve the conditions of service of teachers and motivate them to give their best.
To her, discipline, determination and hard work form the basis of everything, adding that she is from a disciplined home and that accounts for her academic exploits.
Rural Women’s Day marked in Azizanya (Daily Graphic, 18/10/08. Gender and Childre’s Page)
Article: Salome Donkor
Wednesday, October 15, was observed as World Rural Women’s Day. The idea of the event, which is devoted each year to honour rural women, began at the United Nations Conference for Women in Beijing in September 1995.
The theme for this year’s celebration was, “Climate Change: Rural Women Are Part of the Solution”, while that for 2007 was “The right to food: Rural women produce and provide”
The International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP), Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW), Network of African Rural Women Associations (NARWA) and the Women's World Summit Foundation (WWSF) were the main proponents of the day.
Online information indicate that rural women, mainly farmers, are at least 1.6 billion and represent more than a quarter of the total world population. Women produce on average more than half of all the food that is grown: Up to 8O per cent in Africa, 6O per cent in Asia, between 3O and 4O per cent in Latin America and Western countries.
Despite these women own only two per cent of the land, and receive only one per cent of all agricultural credit, while only five per cent of all agricultural extension resources are directed to women.
In Ghana, records at the Ministry of Agriculture indicate that women constitute 52 per cent of the agricultural labour force and produce 70 per cent of subsistence crops and play major roles in production and distribution.
The event was therefore considered a practical way of obtaining recognition and support for the multiple roles of rural women who are mostly farmers and small entrepreneurs.
Because of their key role in food production and food security, it was decided that the World Rural Women's Day fall on the October 15 - the day before World Food Day.
The purpose of the day is to provide rural women and their organisations with a focal point to raise the profile of rural women, sensitise both governments and the public to their crucial, yet largely unrecognised roles, and promote action in their support.
As part of this year’s celebration in Ghana, the Foundation for Female Photojournalists (FFP), a non-profit making organisation, organised a programme with women in Azizanya in Ada to discuss how best to address the issue of coastal erosion confronting the community. During the meeting, the women resolved to initiate a programme that will harness their efforts to support each other during critical times of the coastal erosion.
They also appealed to the government to engage with the traditional authorities to give them a parcel of land which they will collectively develop as a long term means of providing sustainable and affordable housing.
The women noted that their communities, environment, industries, services and workplaces were facing rapid changes. Drought, climate change, and water issues have increased the cost of doing business. The prices of imputs such as fuel and fishing nets are challenging their very livelihoods.
The women in Azizanya also affirmed that vast distances and lack of infrastructure did not only isolate them, but also stifled growth, innovation, entrepreneurship and adaptive capacity, which threatens Ghana's economic, social, cultural and environmental sustainability and prosperity.
In a welcome address, the Executive Director of FFP, Ms Mardey Ohui Ofoe, said this year's theme was crucial because over the past years, rural women had played significant roles in communities affected by drought, coastal land erosion and ongoing climate change. In these circumstances women in rural communities take on critical roles spanning family, business and the community development.
The rural women and climate change initiative is about local women working together and exploring partnerships that improve their family situations and community's well-being.
In a goodwill message read on his behalf, the Chief of Azizanya, Nene Akrofi Kabu, expressed his profound gratitude to the FFP for the programme and expressed the hope that the conversation would produce lessons that would help the people of Azizanya to address their own climatic change problems.
The chairperson for the programme, Madam Ghananye, admonished the women to take seriously the issues discussed to mobilise themselves to ensure that they maximised the knowledge gained to the benefit of all. She said when the sea eroded the land, women lost property, got displaced, thereby exposing them to diseases and severe poverty.
The Assembly Member of the Azizanya Electoral Area, Hon. Paul T. Amegavie, said women and children were the major victims of the Ada sea erosion because it took over their households and properties.
Wednesday, October 15, was observed as World Rural Women’s Day. The idea of the event, which is devoted each year to honour rural women, began at the United Nations Conference for Women in Beijing in September 1995.
The theme for this year’s celebration was, “Climate Change: Rural Women Are Part of the Solution”, while that for 2007 was “The right to food: Rural women produce and provide”
The International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP), Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW), Network of African Rural Women Associations (NARWA) and the Women's World Summit Foundation (WWSF) were the main proponents of the day.
Online information indicate that rural women, mainly farmers, are at least 1.6 billion and represent more than a quarter of the total world population. Women produce on average more than half of all the food that is grown: Up to 8O per cent in Africa, 6O per cent in Asia, between 3O and 4O per cent in Latin America and Western countries.
Despite these women own only two per cent of the land, and receive only one per cent of all agricultural credit, while only five per cent of all agricultural extension resources are directed to women.
In Ghana, records at the Ministry of Agriculture indicate that women constitute 52 per cent of the agricultural labour force and produce 70 per cent of subsistence crops and play major roles in production and distribution.
The event was therefore considered a practical way of obtaining recognition and support for the multiple roles of rural women who are mostly farmers and small entrepreneurs.
Because of their key role in food production and food security, it was decided that the World Rural Women's Day fall on the October 15 - the day before World Food Day.
The purpose of the day is to provide rural women and their organisations with a focal point to raise the profile of rural women, sensitise both governments and the public to their crucial, yet largely unrecognised roles, and promote action in their support.
As part of this year’s celebration in Ghana, the Foundation for Female Photojournalists (FFP), a non-profit making organisation, organised a programme with women in Azizanya in Ada to discuss how best to address the issue of coastal erosion confronting the community. During the meeting, the women resolved to initiate a programme that will harness their efforts to support each other during critical times of the coastal erosion.
They also appealed to the government to engage with the traditional authorities to give them a parcel of land which they will collectively develop as a long term means of providing sustainable and affordable housing.
The women noted that their communities, environment, industries, services and workplaces were facing rapid changes. Drought, climate change, and water issues have increased the cost of doing business. The prices of imputs such as fuel and fishing nets are challenging their very livelihoods.
The women in Azizanya also affirmed that vast distances and lack of infrastructure did not only isolate them, but also stifled growth, innovation, entrepreneurship and adaptive capacity, which threatens Ghana's economic, social, cultural and environmental sustainability and prosperity.
In a welcome address, the Executive Director of FFP, Ms Mardey Ohui Ofoe, said this year's theme was crucial because over the past years, rural women had played significant roles in communities affected by drought, coastal land erosion and ongoing climate change. In these circumstances women in rural communities take on critical roles spanning family, business and the community development.
The rural women and climate change initiative is about local women working together and exploring partnerships that improve their family situations and community's well-being.
In a goodwill message read on his behalf, the Chief of Azizanya, Nene Akrofi Kabu, expressed his profound gratitude to the FFP for the programme and expressed the hope that the conversation would produce lessons that would help the people of Azizanya to address their own climatic change problems.
The chairperson for the programme, Madam Ghananye, admonished the women to take seriously the issues discussed to mobilise themselves to ensure that they maximised the knowledge gained to the benefit of all. She said when the sea eroded the land, women lost property, got displaced, thereby exposing them to diseases and severe poverty.
The Assembly Member of the Azizanya Electoral Area, Hon. Paul T. Amegavie, said women and children were the major victims of the Ada sea erosion because it took over their households and properties.
Ministry commends Okyenhene - For supporting fight against FGM
Story: Salome Donkor
The Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWAC) has stated that it is continuously seeking the support and collaboration of all stakeholders in the fight against female genital mutilation (FGM).
It described the call by the Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin for the prosecution of traditional rulers found to be promoting the negative cultural practice as very welcome and commended the chief for his support towards the fight against the abolition of the practice.
A statement issued from the Public Relations Unit of MOWAC, dated October 14, 2008 made reference to the Okyenhene’s call made at a durbar organised to mark the ninth anniversary of his enstoolment as Okyenehe and said the chief’s support for women’s empowerment and child education, is laudable.
The statement said under its responsibility for advancing the welfare of women and children, the ministry has taken note of the call and pointed out that the ministry since its establishment has championed the fight against FGM as part of its mandate of protecting the rights of women and children.
It said a lot of activities, including advocacy and sensitisation workshops have been undertaken in areas where FGM is practised to sensitise communities, community leaders and traditional authorities on the dangers of the practice and the fact that it infringes on the human rights if its victims and these interventions, have helped to reduce FGM considerably.
Health experts say FGM is an invasive and painful surgical procedure that is often performed without anaesthetic on girls before puberty.
Various sources estimate that from about 60 to 140 million women in the world have been circumcised. Globally, an average of about four girls a minute continue to suffer from the practice.
The result is that sexual feelings are either inhibited or terminated. Sexual intercourse is often extremely painful for the woman. Childbirth often involves a Caesarian section .
FGM has been a social custom in Northern Africa and is occasionally performed in North America and Europe on girls of families who have immigrated from countries where FGM is common
In Ghana, although some harmful traditional practices, such as widowhood rites and female genital mutilation have been criminalised under the Criminal Code Amendment Act 1998 (Act 554), women are still a long way from achieving equality and these practices persist in some communities due to existing stereotyped conceptions of women caused by socio-cultural factors which perpetuate discrimination based on sex.
A BBC news carried in the October 17, edition of the Daily Graphic indicated that a community in eastern Uganda has banned the deeply rooted practice of female genital mutilation (FGM).
It quoted an official from the
Kapchorwa District chairman Nelson Chelimo as saying that it was an "outmoded" custom and "not useful" for the community's women.
Some of the side effects of the cultural practice can include, hemorrhage, shock, painful scars, keloid formation, labial adherence, clitoral cysts, chronic urinary infection, and chronic pelvic infections. Later in life, it can cause kidney stones, sterility, sexual dysfunction, depression, and various gynaecological and obstetric problems.
The FGM Education and Networking Project, which maintains a regularly updated list of countries, population groups, and the types of operation performed estimates that 90 per cent or more of the girls in Djibouti, Ethiopia and Eritrea, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and Sudan (North) have undergone the practice.
The same source indicates that over 50 per cent of the girls in Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria and Togo have also undergone FGM.
The Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWAC) has stated that it is continuously seeking the support and collaboration of all stakeholders in the fight against female genital mutilation (FGM).
It described the call by the Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin for the prosecution of traditional rulers found to be promoting the negative cultural practice as very welcome and commended the chief for his support towards the fight against the abolition of the practice.
A statement issued from the Public Relations Unit of MOWAC, dated October 14, 2008 made reference to the Okyenhene’s call made at a durbar organised to mark the ninth anniversary of his enstoolment as Okyenehe and said the chief’s support for women’s empowerment and child education, is laudable.
The statement said under its responsibility for advancing the welfare of women and children, the ministry has taken note of the call and pointed out that the ministry since its establishment has championed the fight against FGM as part of its mandate of protecting the rights of women and children.
It said a lot of activities, including advocacy and sensitisation workshops have been undertaken in areas where FGM is practised to sensitise communities, community leaders and traditional authorities on the dangers of the practice and the fact that it infringes on the human rights if its victims and these interventions, have helped to reduce FGM considerably.
Health experts say FGM is an invasive and painful surgical procedure that is often performed without anaesthetic on girls before puberty.
Various sources estimate that from about 60 to 140 million women in the world have been circumcised. Globally, an average of about four girls a minute continue to suffer from the practice.
The result is that sexual feelings are either inhibited or terminated. Sexual intercourse is often extremely painful for the woman. Childbirth often involves a Caesarian section .
FGM has been a social custom in Northern Africa and is occasionally performed in North America and Europe on girls of families who have immigrated from countries where FGM is common
In Ghana, although some harmful traditional practices, such as widowhood rites and female genital mutilation have been criminalised under the Criminal Code Amendment Act 1998 (Act 554), women are still a long way from achieving equality and these practices persist in some communities due to existing stereotyped conceptions of women caused by socio-cultural factors which perpetuate discrimination based on sex.
A BBC news carried in the October 17, edition of the Daily Graphic indicated that a community in eastern Uganda has banned the deeply rooted practice of female genital mutilation (FGM).
It quoted an official from the
Kapchorwa District chairman Nelson Chelimo as saying that it was an "outmoded" custom and "not useful" for the community's women.
Some of the side effects of the cultural practice can include, hemorrhage, shock, painful scars, keloid formation, labial adherence, clitoral cysts, chronic urinary infection, and chronic pelvic infections. Later in life, it can cause kidney stones, sterility, sexual dysfunction, depression, and various gynaecological and obstetric problems.
The FGM Education and Networking Project, which maintains a regularly updated list of countries, population groups, and the types of operation performed estimates that 90 per cent or more of the girls in Djibouti, Ethiopia and Eritrea, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and Sudan (North) have undergone the practice.
The same source indicates that over 50 per cent of the girls in Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria and Togo have also undergone FGM.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Reporting on HIV and AIDS- Highlight concerns of vulnerable groups (Daily Graphic page 11, 04/10/08)
Article: Salome Donkor
The story told by a 31-year-old HIV positive woman at a three-day workshop on “Effective reporting on women and HIV and AIDS” at Dodowa, touched the hearts of participants.
The woman (name withheld) was infected with the virus by her partner (now deceased), who never disclosed his status to her when he tested positive.
Following persistent illness, the woman was tested for HIV and when she disclosed the results to her partner, he became offended and threw her out of their home.
The woes of the woman were compounded when she lost her job at the time that she was sick and also became homeless, but thanks to the support of public-spirited individuals and organisations, she is now living a positive life and has become an HIV and AIDS advocate.
More pathetic was the story of a 14-year-old orphan who has lost both parents through AIDS and is also living with the virus.
She is being catered for by a relative but things have been very rough for her, and sometimes she is unable to take her antiretroviral therapy because there was no food for her, while money for the payment of her school fees and for the procurement of other educational needs is difficult.
These may just be two examples of the difficulties encountered by thousands of HIV sufferers, who apart from facing personal and societal stigmatisation are confronted with financial constraints and find it difficult to make ends meet to lead positive lives.
The workshop, organised by the Women Media and Change (WOMEC), a non-governmental organisation, with sponsorship from the African Women Development Fund, was attended by female journalists from both the private and state-owned media organisations. It was aimed at sharpening their skills to promote effective use of the media to report on HIV and AIDS.
A presentation by Dr Oliver Commey of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital on the topic, “Women’s vulnerability to HIV and AIDS”, gave a number of reasons that buttressed the point that women greatly bear the brunt of HIV and AIDS.
This, he explained, was in view of the fact that women were commonly blamed for bringing the infection home. They are rejected, demonised and stigmatised and also suffer health-related stress, as well as lost time from economic activities.
HIV positive women are also concerned about the issues of marriage, fertility, stigma, disclosure, security in marriage, harassment and access to treatment and care.
Dr Commey said statistics indicated that globally, only 10 per cent of people living with HIV knew their status and in Ghana it was eight per cent.
He said this meant that more people did not know their status, while 77 per cent of the 17.5 million women living with HIV and AIDS were in sub-Saharan Africa.
He said it was necessary for everybody to check his or her HIV status to ensure good health.
He also advised rape victims, who may have been exposed to the HIV infection, to report for treatment within 48 hours. Such victims, he said, could receive a post exposure prophylactics treatment at the 93 HIV counselling and treatment units and regional hospitals to stop the infection.
Mrs Bernice Heloo, International President of the Society of Women and AIDS in Africa (SWAA), said the organisation, funded in 1988, was operating in 41 African countries to champion the cause of women and children who were affected and infected with the disease.
She said more women were vulnerable to HIV infection due to biological, social, economic, social-cultural practices, wife inheritance, as well as the low level of education of women and the patriarchal nature of society, adding that HIV had worsened the plight of a number of women.
She said women should be concerned and critically look at the factors that fuelled the spread of the virus and “conspire to make women more vulnerable to the disease”, stressing that key players needed to look beyond the current approaches of preaching abstinence, being faithful and condom use to underlying social and cultural factors that made women vulnerable to the virus.
A lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Journalism, Mr Tim Quashiegah, said reporters should educate themselves on the dynamics of HIV and AIDS and write on the topic with precision and clarity, exhibiting creativity, with a resolve to make a difference in their reportage.
The resource persons urged the media to write stories to address the misconception that HIV was a disease of the poor and write about HIV positive people who had made it in life and also talk about the social needs of people living with the virus, which include shelter, good food and employment.
They said the media needed to educate the public to know that there were facilities accessible in every regional hospital and a lot of other health facilities totalling 93 sites in all parts of the country, where full ART were being offered for people living with the virus at a cost of GH¢5.00 a month.
The public also need to be informed that testing HIV positive is not a death sentence but the ART, in combinations of three or more drugs that do not cure HIV infection, prevent the development of AIDS and prolong the lives of HIV sufferers.
The media also need to gather, analyse and disseminate accurate information on HIV and AIDS and keep authorities on their toes.
The story told by a 31-year-old HIV positive woman at a three-day workshop on “Effective reporting on women and HIV and AIDS” at Dodowa, touched the hearts of participants.
The woman (name withheld) was infected with the virus by her partner (now deceased), who never disclosed his status to her when he tested positive.
Following persistent illness, the woman was tested for HIV and when she disclosed the results to her partner, he became offended and threw her out of their home.
The woes of the woman were compounded when she lost her job at the time that she was sick and also became homeless, but thanks to the support of public-spirited individuals and organisations, she is now living a positive life and has become an HIV and AIDS advocate.
More pathetic was the story of a 14-year-old orphan who has lost both parents through AIDS and is also living with the virus.
She is being catered for by a relative but things have been very rough for her, and sometimes she is unable to take her antiretroviral therapy because there was no food for her, while money for the payment of her school fees and for the procurement of other educational needs is difficult.
These may just be two examples of the difficulties encountered by thousands of HIV sufferers, who apart from facing personal and societal stigmatisation are confronted with financial constraints and find it difficult to make ends meet to lead positive lives.
The workshop, organised by the Women Media and Change (WOMEC), a non-governmental organisation, with sponsorship from the African Women Development Fund, was attended by female journalists from both the private and state-owned media organisations. It was aimed at sharpening their skills to promote effective use of the media to report on HIV and AIDS.
A presentation by Dr Oliver Commey of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital on the topic, “Women’s vulnerability to HIV and AIDS”, gave a number of reasons that buttressed the point that women greatly bear the brunt of HIV and AIDS.
This, he explained, was in view of the fact that women were commonly blamed for bringing the infection home. They are rejected, demonised and stigmatised and also suffer health-related stress, as well as lost time from economic activities.
HIV positive women are also concerned about the issues of marriage, fertility, stigma, disclosure, security in marriage, harassment and access to treatment and care.
Dr Commey said statistics indicated that globally, only 10 per cent of people living with HIV knew their status and in Ghana it was eight per cent.
He said this meant that more people did not know their status, while 77 per cent of the 17.5 million women living with HIV and AIDS were in sub-Saharan Africa.
He said it was necessary for everybody to check his or her HIV status to ensure good health.
He also advised rape victims, who may have been exposed to the HIV infection, to report for treatment within 48 hours. Such victims, he said, could receive a post exposure prophylactics treatment at the 93 HIV counselling and treatment units and regional hospitals to stop the infection.
Mrs Bernice Heloo, International President of the Society of Women and AIDS in Africa (SWAA), said the organisation, funded in 1988, was operating in 41 African countries to champion the cause of women and children who were affected and infected with the disease.
She said more women were vulnerable to HIV infection due to biological, social, economic, social-cultural practices, wife inheritance, as well as the low level of education of women and the patriarchal nature of society, adding that HIV had worsened the plight of a number of women.
She said women should be concerned and critically look at the factors that fuelled the spread of the virus and “conspire to make women more vulnerable to the disease”, stressing that key players needed to look beyond the current approaches of preaching abstinence, being faithful and condom use to underlying social and cultural factors that made women vulnerable to the virus.
A lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Journalism, Mr Tim Quashiegah, said reporters should educate themselves on the dynamics of HIV and AIDS and write on the topic with precision and clarity, exhibiting creativity, with a resolve to make a difference in their reportage.
The resource persons urged the media to write stories to address the misconception that HIV was a disease of the poor and write about HIV positive people who had made it in life and also talk about the social needs of people living with the virus, which include shelter, good food and employment.
They said the media needed to educate the public to know that there were facilities accessible in every regional hospital and a lot of other health facilities totalling 93 sites in all parts of the country, where full ART were being offered for people living with the virus at a cost of GH¢5.00 a month.
The public also need to be informed that testing HIV positive is not a death sentence but the ART, in combinations of three or more drugs that do not cure HIV infection, prevent the development of AIDS and prolong the lives of HIV sufferers.
The media also need to gather, analyse and disseminate accurate information on HIV and AIDS and keep authorities on their toes.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Women to march for peaceful elections
Story: Salome Donkor
Sunday, September 21 would be observed as the International Day of Peace. The day was instituted in September 2001 when the Member States of the United Nations unanimously adopted the first-ever annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence Peace Day. This was after the United Nations General Assembly had passed Resolution 36/67 declaring an International Day of Peace in 1981.
In 2001, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a new Resolution 55/282 declaring September 21 of each year as the International Day of Peace.
The resolution declares that: “The International Day of Peace shall henceforth be observed as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence, an invitation to all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities for the duration of the Day...”
As part of activities marking the day in Ghana, the Africa Regional Desk of the Women Peacemakers Programme (WPP), in collaboration with Mothers for Active Non-violence (MOFAN-V) will organise a march for peaceful elections in Accra tomorrow (September 19).
The march, dubbed “Women March for Peaceful Elections”, is to be participated by both men and women from identifiable groups and organisations who will commence the event at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra through Ring Road to the International Press Centre, where a peace rally and a news conference would be held.
The overall goal of the march is to support public education on the need for political parties in particular and Ghanaians in general to commit themselves to peaceful elections.
It is also to raise awareness on the need for Ghanaians to stand up for peace during and after the elections and to get women actively involved in public peace education.
Ms Euphemia Akos Dzathor, Africa Regional Co-ordinator of the Africa Regional Desk of the Women Peacemakers Programme, said the organisation was committed to peace and advised women to help promote a peaceful election by talking to their husbands, brothers, uncles and friends to watch out for issues that could trigger conflicts and speak out against violent behaviours.
She advised women not to think that elections were only for men, because invariably, women and children were those who bore the brunt of problems emanating from conflict situations that result from violent elections.
Mrs Becky Adda-Dontoh, a gender advocate and President of Mothers for Active Non-violence, said the march was intended to support public education for peaceful election and get women to stand up in support of that cause.
She said by their God-given talents, women were the nurturers of peace and urged more women to get involved in the peace day event.
The world body invites all Member States, organisations of the United Nations system, and non-governmental organisations and individuals to commemorate the event in an appropriate manner, through education and public awareness, and to co-operate with the United Nations in the establishment of the global ceasefire.
Globally, member countries will hold the International Day of Peace Vigil in every house of worship and place of spiritual practice, by all religious and spiritually based groups and individuals, and by all men, women and children who seek peace in the world to encourage the observation of a worldwide peace and non-violence.
Around the world, people will be planting Peace Poles, re-dedicate their Peace Poles, conducting World Peace Prayer Ceremonies, participating in community service projects, and observing the International Day of Peace in service and prayer for peace.
The World Peace Prayer Society encourages participation by all individuals, organisations and schools to commemorate the day in whatever way they feel appropriate, whether that means organising a large programme with thousands of others, or silently taking a moment for peace by yourself. Remember to include the prayer ‘May Peace Prevail on Earth’.
Sunday, September 21 would be observed as the International Day of Peace. The day was instituted in September 2001 when the Member States of the United Nations unanimously adopted the first-ever annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence Peace Day. This was after the United Nations General Assembly had passed Resolution 36/67 declaring an International Day of Peace in 1981.
In 2001, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a new Resolution 55/282 declaring September 21 of each year as the International Day of Peace.
The resolution declares that: “The International Day of Peace shall henceforth be observed as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence, an invitation to all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities for the duration of the Day...”
As part of activities marking the day in Ghana, the Africa Regional Desk of the Women Peacemakers Programme (WPP), in collaboration with Mothers for Active Non-violence (MOFAN-V) will organise a march for peaceful elections in Accra tomorrow (September 19).
The march, dubbed “Women March for Peaceful Elections”, is to be participated by both men and women from identifiable groups and organisations who will commence the event at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra through Ring Road to the International Press Centre, where a peace rally and a news conference would be held.
The overall goal of the march is to support public education on the need for political parties in particular and Ghanaians in general to commit themselves to peaceful elections.
It is also to raise awareness on the need for Ghanaians to stand up for peace during and after the elections and to get women actively involved in public peace education.
Ms Euphemia Akos Dzathor, Africa Regional Co-ordinator of the Africa Regional Desk of the Women Peacemakers Programme, said the organisation was committed to peace and advised women to help promote a peaceful election by talking to their husbands, brothers, uncles and friends to watch out for issues that could trigger conflicts and speak out against violent behaviours.
She advised women not to think that elections were only for men, because invariably, women and children were those who bore the brunt of problems emanating from conflict situations that result from violent elections.
Mrs Becky Adda-Dontoh, a gender advocate and President of Mothers for Active Non-violence, said the march was intended to support public education for peaceful election and get women to stand up in support of that cause.
She said by their God-given talents, women were the nurturers of peace and urged more women to get involved in the peace day event.
The world body invites all Member States, organisations of the United Nations system, and non-governmental organisations and individuals to commemorate the event in an appropriate manner, through education and public awareness, and to co-operate with the United Nations in the establishment of the global ceasefire.
Globally, member countries will hold the International Day of Peace Vigil in every house of worship and place of spiritual practice, by all religious and spiritually based groups and individuals, and by all men, women and children who seek peace in the world to encourage the observation of a worldwide peace and non-violence.
Around the world, people will be planting Peace Poles, re-dedicate their Peace Poles, conducting World Peace Prayer Ceremonies, participating in community service projects, and observing the International Day of Peace in service and prayer for peace.
The World Peace Prayer Society encourages participation by all individuals, organisations and schools to commemorate the day in whatever way they feel appropriate, whether that means organising a large programme with thousands of others, or silently taking a moment for peace by yourself. Remember to include the prayer ‘May Peace Prevail on Earth’.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)