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Gender Minister outlines plans to promote women, children’s wellbeing

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Dr Naa Momo Lartey flanked by some senior journalist
Dr Naa Momo Lartey flanked by some senior journalist

The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has reaffirmed her commitment to promoting the wellbeing of women and children across the country to impact national development.

Outlining bold initiatives including advancing women and children’s rights, commitment to gender equality, child protection and social welfare issues to reducing vulnerabilities to the barest minimum, the Minister called for multistakeholder support to achieving that.

She gave the assurance when she engaged some female journalists from selected media houses in Accra last Thursday.

The meeting was to strengthen media collaboration in amplifying women’s voices in the country while addressing challenges facing women and children in line with realising the Minister’s vision for the sector.

Underscoring the pivotal role, journalists play in shaping public perception and influencing policy advocacy, Dr Lartey said the media had the responsibility to push for a better ecosystem for Ghanaian women and children to thrive.

“I recognise the critical role women play in shaping public discourse but when it comes to women’s issues or gender, it is important to look out for those who can make the voices of women well articulated on issues so that together, we  can build the Ghana  we want to see which is why this meeting is important,” she explained.

The Minister indicated that as a matter of priority, the implementation of the Affirmative Action Act passed by parliament last year would be accelerated within her first 120 days in office.

She disclosed plans to also push for the Social Protection (SP) Bill to enhance Ghana’s social protection framework, offering stronger support to vulnerable populations.

Dr Lartey announced plans to decentralise the School Feeding Programme, increasing the current grant from GH₵1.50 to 2.00, to improve the quality of food given to children.

“We will ensure that if you cannot feed it to yourself or your children, you don’t feed it to others,” she emphasised.

Furthermore, Dr Lartey pointed out an intended partnership with other agencies and sector ministries to improve the economic empowerment of women as well as persons living with disability in the country.

In the area of gender-based violence, the Minister called for amendments to the Domestic Violence Act to enhance its effectiveness, announced plans also to establish shelters across all 16 regions of the country to provide safety and protection for survivors of abuse.

Veteran journalist and Chairperson of the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN), Ghana Chapter, Dr. Charity Binka, on behalf the journalists, congratulated the Minister on her appointment, pledging the unwavering support of colleagues to her and the Ministry in championing gender equality and social protection in Ghana.

By Abigail Annoh

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 Heritage Month Ghana trends

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Since the institution of the Heri­tage Month celebration in Ghana, it has offered citizens opportuni­ties of a lifetime to learn about their cultures and lifestyles.

Ghana’s version is observed in the month of March, coinciding with the country’s Independence Day celebra­tions on March 6.

Heritage Month features festivals, food fairs, arts, crafts, and music events to highlight the economic and social value of preserving national heritage.

Though a brainchild of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), the celebra­tion has been driven to greater heights by local media with the organisation of several events to create the needed euphoria.

Among the events are the Heritage Caravan and Back To Your Village Food Bazaar pow­ered by Accra-based Citi FM and Citi TV, Wear Ghana Festival and the Gɔbɛ festival powered by 3News.

The Heritage Caravan is a road trip which takes patrons across more than half of Ghana’s regions to offer a distinctive road trip that allows participants to explore the various re­gions of Ghana, providing an up-close encounter with the country’s histori­cal and cultural heritage.

In addition to these roles played by the media, news anchors and other presenters appear on screens immac­ulately garbed in locally made outfits, bringing out the beauty of our tradi­tions.

Today, The Spectator news­paper selected a few of the media personalities that are working to give the cel­ebration a global dimension to project the country.  

 By Andrew Nortey

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 MoMo vendor 24 murdered at Kwadaso

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• Mobile money shop
• Mobile money shop

 A disturbing crime has shaken the Kwadaso Onion market communi­ty in Kumasi, leaving family and friends grieving the loss of a young life.

Identified only as Junior, a 24-year-old mobile money vendor, was found murdered in his room on Saturday, March 8, 2025.

According to eyewitnesses, Junior had returned home the previous day with a substantial amount of money, over Gh¢20,000.

It was suspected that the killers might have been motivated by the large sum of money in Junior’s posses­sion.

A police source that confirmed this to The Spectator, said investigation has been launched into Junior’s mur­der, but so far, no arrests have been made.

The Kwadaso community is reeling in shock, calling for justice and an end to the atrocity that has claimed the life of a young and promising individ­ual.

Junior, is believed to be a native of Ejisu Onwe, and was known to his col­leagues and friends as a hardworking and diligent individual who worked at the Kumasi Race Course.

His tragic death serves as a stark reminder of the risks and challenges mobile money vendors faced.

The incident comes barely a month after Patricia Nimako, a 27-year-old Mobile Money (MoMo) vendor, was shot and killed at Krofrom, Kumasi in the Ashanti region by an unknown assail­ants.

The suspected armed robbers fled with the deceased cell phones and an amount of GH¢10,000 on Thursday, February 13, at approximately 3:00 p.m.

The two armed robbers reportedly stormed the kiosk where the deceased was operating and without any provo­cation shot her dead.

There has not been any arrest yet by the police.

 From Kingsley E. Hope , Kumasi

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 Learn how to prepare local dishes…Queen mothers urge young women

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• Some local dishes

 In a heartwarming display of inter­generational wisdom, queen moth­ers from local communities in the Obuasi enclave shared their expertise on how to prepare local diets with young ladies on the International Women’s Day event, courtesy of An­gloGold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine.

Beyond the fanfare, these revered women leaders took centre stage to impart a vital life skill: traditional cooking as they guided eager students and other young ladies through the art of preparing local delicacies.

In fact, the aroma of ‘Abunabunu’, ‘Aprapransa’, ‘Enuhu’, ‘Akaw’, ‘Tuo Zafi’ (TZ), among others, wafted through the air to the extent it could attract people from a distance, as the queen mothers entertained the young women with tales of resilience, entrepreneurship, and community building.

This year’s International Wom­en’s Day Celebration was under the theme: ‘Accelerate Action for Wom­en’s Equity.’

As the event drew to a close, the queen mothers gave words of wisdom upon their young guests.

From Nana Amoanima Dede, Queen mother of Adansi she stated that: “Never forget your roots, and always remember that the kitchen is not just a place for cooking, but for building connections and forging communi­ties.”

Nana Akua Dwum II, Queen moth­er of Edubiase, on her part urged the young ladies to learn how to prepare traditional dishes in order to preserve cultural heritage of the nation.

Earlier, the Managing Director of the mining company, Samuel Boakye Pobee, mentioned their readiness to roll out an “All-Women Apprentice­ship Programme, aimed at empow­ering young women in the Obuasi communities in entrepreneurship.”

He said the project would include women in basic technical skills and their capacity building to boost their employability to reshape perceptions of women’s roles in traditionally male-dominated industries.

According to the Managing Director, the mining company’s commitment “is to empower young people with specialised skills, and progressive knowledge to make them financially independent.”

The company, he indicated, was accelerating action towards wom­en’s equality at the Obuasi Mine and within host communities with the aim to build a foundation to create an inclusive and supportive business culture.

Mr Pobee expressed the need for innovative approaches and dedicated efforts to encourage and invest in women’s participation in all fields, including all levels of technical and operational areas and must be inten­tional and deliberate.”

 From Kingsley E. Hope, Obuasi

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