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Japan supports Ghana with $220,135 for grass-roots projects

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Ambassador Yoshimoto Hiroshi (seated third from right) with the beneficiaries and participants Photo: Stephanie Birikorang
Ambassador Yoshimoto Hiroshi (seated third from right) with the beneficiaries and participants Photo: Stephanie Birikorang

 Three benefi­ciary institutions yesterday received a total amount of $220,135.00 as grant support to enable them to undertake health and educational projects under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project (GGHSP).

The beneficiary institutions are the Wassa Amenfi Central District Assembly, the Achiase District As­sembly, and the Centre for Active Learning and Integrated Develop­ment (CALID), a non-governmen­tal organisation.

Out of the total amount $72,593, USD 62,631 and USD 84,911 would be allocated to the Wassa Amenfi Central District, CALID and the Achiase District Assembly, respectively for the vari­ous projects to be carried out.

The GGHSP is a programme by the Japanese government to help provide financial support to small-scale projects in developing countries, and aims to help local government and non-governmen­tal organisations address basic human needs.

Under the grant contract agree­ment, which was signed between Japan and Ghana in Accra yester­day, the beneficiary institutions would construct a school block for Dwirigum Basic School in the Western Region and the Nwodua Primary School in the Northern Region and a health centre at Ak­enkausu in the Eastern Region.

It was signed by the Ambassador of Japan to Ghana, Mr Yoshimoto Hiroshi, on behalf of the govern­ment of Japan and representatives of the beneficiary institutions.

They were the Coordinating Director of the Wassa Amenfi Central District Assembly, Mr Daniel D. Kanyage, the Coordinat­ing Director of Achiase District Assembly, Mr Nuamah Ofori, and Mr Mohammed Awal Sumani Bapio, the Executive Director of CALID.

In his remarks, Mr Hiroshi said the GGHSP had generated a stem competition for grant assistance due to its impact as it was one of the rewarding schemes that target­ed most deprived persons in the communities.

According to him, the GGHSP over the past 35 years had pro­vided support to various sectors towards the sustenance of basic human needs and improving quali­ty of life for all.

That notwithstanding, Mr Hi­roshi also noted that the govern­ment of Japan would continue to partner with the government of Ghana to address critical challeng­es that confronted the citizenry.

“I would like to entreat all stakeholders to play their roles and work together towards successful implementation of the project to help improve the well-being of the people and bring a lasting solution to the challenges they faced,” Mr Hiroshi added.

For his part, Mr Bapio indicated that the school block to be con­structed at Nwodua in the North­ern Region represented “hope, opportunity, and a brighter future” for the children and families of the community.

He added that CALID had al­ways believed in the power of col­laboration as the key to addressing societal challenges, adding that the commitment of the government of Japan to improving education in Ghana aligned with his organisa­tion’s vision of equitable access to public service for all.

Mr Ofori said the establishment of the health centre at Akenkausu would help augment existing health facilities in the community, espe­cially as most communities in the Achiase District were experiencing an outbreak of Denger Virus.

Mr Kanyage said the construc­tion of the 6-unit classroom block with ancillary facilities would put smiles on the faces of the people in the Dwirigum community.

In attendance were delegation from the three beneficiary institu­tions as well as LOTTA Company Limited, a multinational Japanese company that produces Ghana Chocolate, led by Mr Uemura Juichi.

 BY CYNTHIA ASAMPANA

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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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