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 Let’s give youth, women opportunities …Mahama urges fellow presidents at AU retreat

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• President John Mahama addressing the African Union Heads of States and Governments at the AU

 President John Dramani Ma­hama has underscored the need for member states of the Africa Union (AU) to give the youth and wom­en the opportunity in leadership roles at all levels.

He said it was regrettable that the youth constitute the bulk of the conti­nent’s population, yet underrepresented at the decision-making table.

“Africa’s future lies in its youth. Over 60 per cent of our population is under the age of 25 and yet their voices are largely absent in policy making,” Presi­dent Mahama said at the opening session of the retreat on the Implementation of Institutional Reforms of the AU in Nairobi, Kenya, yesterday.

“We must institutionalise a frame­work that empowers our young people and our women to lead at all levels of governance.

“The energy of our youth, their cre­ativity and vision are the drivers of the Africa we all seek to build,” he added.

The retreat seeks to address key issues confronting the continent including terrorism, financing, and trade among others.

According to President Mahama, the continental body’s over reliance on ex­ternal funding affects its ability to set its own agenda and prosecute same.

In his view, the need for the AU to be financially independent was non-negotia­ble if it were to achieve the vision of its founding fathers.

To this end, President Mahama called for the urgent implementation of the Kigali Decision on Financing the Union, a 2016 resolution adopted by African Union Heads of States and Govern­ments at the AU Summit in Kigali, Rwanda.

“Your excellences, one of the pillars of reforms is AU’s financial autonomy. The over-reliance on external partners for funding compromises the organi­sation’s independence for funding and ability to set its own agenda. The im­plementation of the Kigali decision on financing the union must be expedited,” he stated.

The African Continental Free Trade Area, headquartered in Accra, President Mahama said sets the foundation for a single African market but much work remains to be done.

“We must address the barriers to trade, harmonise regulatory framework and invest in infrastructure to unlock the potential of intra Africa trade,” he encouraged.

The AU, he said, must champion technological innovation and digital transformation as catalyst for econom­ic growth and inclusion.

“The African payment systems that allows us to pay seamlessly for goods traded between our countries must be expedited so that we can have a system of exchange.

“None of these reforms would succeed without commit­ted leadership at all levels of the AU. We as heads of states and governments have a duty to lead by example to prioritise the col­lective good of our people over our parochial interests and to act decisively in the interest of our continent,” he stated.

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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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