Some drivers who were drafted from the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to drive dignitaries during the Golden Jubilee Celebrations are calling for their pound of flesh.
The drivers allege that four months after the epoch-making and grandiose event they are yet to be paid their allowances.The aggrieved drivers said compared to billions of cedis spent on Jaguars, BMWs and Benzes for the event, the amount owed them is just a peanut.
"But anytime we ask, we are told the money is in the pipeline. How long is the pipe such that after four months, the money is yet to arrive?", one driver who pleaded anonymity said on phone.
In reaction, the Public Affairs Officer of the Ghana @50 Secretariat, Mr. Henry Wellington Okyne confirmed that indeed some drivers are yet to receive their allowances and assured them that allowances are at an advanced stage of processing.
He said the secretariat is not self-accounting; therefore such issues go through the treasury. Mr. Okyne said payment is not directly from the secretariat but from the Ministries of Finance and Manpower Development, Youth and Employment.
"The issue is not only about the drivers, but applies to all people who performed various duties such as those in the hospitality industry. As and when the money is ready they are processed and paid to the recipients in batches", he explained.
He added, "We have begun paying them through the Finance Ministry."
Friday, July 24, 2009
Journalists urged to be instruments of peace, not war
Ghanaian journalists have been urged to use their mediums to seek solutions to conflicts in society and not aggravate them.
The Editor of Public Agenda, Mr. Amos Safo, said in a conflict, describing the problem in a different way can reduce tension and launch negotiations.
He said professional journalists can present accurate and impartial news to prevent conflicts but on several occasions, journalists inflame passions through their choice of words.
"In good journalism, editors and reporters are always looking for a different angle and alternative view, a new insight which will attract an audience to the same story. Good journalism can help reframe conflicts for the two sides", Mr. Safo pointed out.
He emphasized that it is the role of journalists to dowse flame of conflicts but not to use their powers to fuel conflict. Mr. Safo said these at a media training workshop in Accra, organized by Community Development and Advocacy Centre, Ghana, (CODAC) and the Commonwealth Foundation, UK to help improve reporting skills of media practitioners.
Mr. Safo spoke on the topic, "Reporting Democracy and Governance: Guidelines for Journalists." He said economic development thrives on democracy and that definitions of democracy continue to evoke controversy though its goes hand in hand with development.
The Editor said governments must operate in the interest of the people while they are monitored. He said the 1992 constitution empowered the media to ‘concretize democracy by acting as a watchdog over governmental and other important sectors of national life.
"The media has been given a crucial role to play in the governance of the country."
Mr. Safo said although governments will always prefer to manage information, it is the duty of the media to keep them on their toes to help build democracy and accountability.
According to him, Ghana's current democratic dispensation requires the media to discover and release information that replaces rumor and speculation.
"It is the role of the media to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable by providing a voice for those who cannot normally be heard in public", he emphasized.
Mr. Ransford Tetteh, President of the Ghana Journalists Association, (GJA) who spoke on "Journalists and the Challenges of Nationhood", said the media must not take its constitutional role for granted but use it to help society move forward.
He said values have changed and for journalists to play the vanguard role of moving society forward, they need to develop their capacity while they seek expert knowledge on issues before putting them out.
"The media has a crucial role to play in national development so we must use the tool in our hands well to make the system better."
Mr. Tetteh observed that journalism has become challenging, that explains why people are quick to criticize as some practitioners commit blunders. The GJA, he said cannot regulate the media but is only concerned with issues of ethics and professionalism.
He urged the media to present balanced information to win public credibility. "Though one can be critical, you should also be balanced. Even though the constitution allows freedom of association, journalists need to sit back and watch in order not to be seen as biased."
On the perceived delay in the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill, Mr. Tetteh said the GJA will continue to advocate to get the bill to parliament by organizing roundtable forums. He added that when passed it will not only benefit journalists but all and sundry.
The Managing Editor of the Weekly Insight Mr. Kwesi Pratt, speaking on "Globalization and Democracy in Africa- the Role of the Mediaâ", said globalization started when people begun to realize the need for interdependency.
"Democracy ought to mean more than the Western definition for it. It is important for Africa to go beyond the terms and concepts of globalization to find out what can be done to ensure that in the creation of resources it can realize its full human potential,â"he explained.
On how globalization is faring alongside democracy, Mr. Pratt said globalization and all its pretences about democracy are leading to poverty, illiteracy and diseases. He questioned what becomes of the value of the media if 50 percent (50%) of the people in the country cannot read and write.
"Declarations of freedom of speech though exist are out of equation if you can't express yourself. For all these freedoms to be meaningful, illiteracy needs to be conquered."
The Editor of Public Agenda, Mr. Amos Safo, said in a conflict, describing the problem in a different way can reduce tension and launch negotiations.
He said professional journalists can present accurate and impartial news to prevent conflicts but on several occasions, journalists inflame passions through their choice of words.
"In good journalism, editors and reporters are always looking for a different angle and alternative view, a new insight which will attract an audience to the same story. Good journalism can help reframe conflicts for the two sides", Mr. Safo pointed out.
He emphasized that it is the role of journalists to dowse flame of conflicts but not to use their powers to fuel conflict. Mr. Safo said these at a media training workshop in Accra, organized by Community Development and Advocacy Centre, Ghana, (CODAC) and the Commonwealth Foundation, UK to help improve reporting skills of media practitioners.
Mr. Safo spoke on the topic, "Reporting Democracy and Governance: Guidelines for Journalists." He said economic development thrives on democracy and that definitions of democracy continue to evoke controversy though its goes hand in hand with development.
The Editor said governments must operate in the interest of the people while they are monitored. He said the 1992 constitution empowered the media to ‘concretize democracy by acting as a watchdog over governmental and other important sectors of national life.
"The media has been given a crucial role to play in the governance of the country."
Mr. Safo said although governments will always prefer to manage information, it is the duty of the media to keep them on their toes to help build democracy and accountability.
According to him, Ghana's current democratic dispensation requires the media to discover and release information that replaces rumor and speculation.
"It is the role of the media to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable by providing a voice for those who cannot normally be heard in public", he emphasized.
Mr. Ransford Tetteh, President of the Ghana Journalists Association, (GJA) who spoke on "Journalists and the Challenges of Nationhood", said the media must not take its constitutional role for granted but use it to help society move forward.
He said values have changed and for journalists to play the vanguard role of moving society forward, they need to develop their capacity while they seek expert knowledge on issues before putting them out.
"The media has a crucial role to play in national development so we must use the tool in our hands well to make the system better."
Mr. Tetteh observed that journalism has become challenging, that explains why people are quick to criticize as some practitioners commit blunders. The GJA, he said cannot regulate the media but is only concerned with issues of ethics and professionalism.
He urged the media to present balanced information to win public credibility. "Though one can be critical, you should also be balanced. Even though the constitution allows freedom of association, journalists need to sit back and watch in order not to be seen as biased."
On the perceived delay in the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill, Mr. Tetteh said the GJA will continue to advocate to get the bill to parliament by organizing roundtable forums. He added that when passed it will not only benefit journalists but all and sundry.
The Managing Editor of the Weekly Insight Mr. Kwesi Pratt, speaking on "Globalization and Democracy in Africa- the Role of the Mediaâ", said globalization started when people begun to realize the need for interdependency.
"Democracy ought to mean more than the Western definition for it. It is important for Africa to go beyond the terms and concepts of globalization to find out what can be done to ensure that in the creation of resources it can realize its full human potential,â"he explained.
On how globalization is faring alongside democracy, Mr. Pratt said globalization and all its pretences about democracy are leading to poverty, illiteracy and diseases. He questioned what becomes of the value of the media if 50 percent (50%) of the people in the country cannot read and write.
"Declarations of freedom of speech though exist are out of equation if you can't express yourself. For all these freedoms to be meaningful, illiteracy needs to be conquered."
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Female adolescents at risk of STIs
A report on adolescents' sexual reproductive health in Ghana has revealed that female adolescents are exposed to greater reproductive health risks than male adolescents.
This is because women are physiologically more vulnerable than men to HIV infection. As a result, women have higher rates of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), other than HIV, which in turn increases their risks of HIV infection.
The report entitled, "Protecting the Next Generation in Ghana: New Evidence on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Need", shows that the potential negative consequences of unprotected sex are greater for female adolescents than for male adolescents.
The 1989 UNICEF/UNFPA/WHO joint Statement and Strategy for Action on "The Reproductive Health of Adolescents" defined adolescents as people between the ages of 10-19. It terms the periods between 10-14 years as early adolescence and late adolescence from 15-19 years.
Adolescents aged 10-19 form more than one-fifth of Ghana's population.
Slightly more than half of adolescents aged 12-19 live in rural areas and almost half attended secondary school.
A recant analysis of HIV prevalence in Ghana found that women who had had sex by age 15 were 2.4 times as likely to be HIV positive as were women whose sexual debut occurred at a later age.
It stated that 7% of female adolescents aged 15-19 who dropped out of school did so because of pregnancy.
This no doubt limits her future economic opportunities if she is unable to continue her education after delivery.
According to the report, early marriage can increase the risk for poor reproductive health outcomes for adolescents. 28% of women aged 20-24 had married before age 18 and 47% had married before age 20.
In the 2004 National Survey of Adolescents (NSA) females aged 15-19 who were in union were about three times as likely as those not in union to have a sexual partner who was 10 or more years older.
"The fact that young women in unions tend to have older partners elevates their risk, because the age difference hinders their ability to negotiate for safer sex," it explained.
Again the 2004 NSA revealed that only 16% of female adolescents in unions reported that they and their partners were using the male condom, compared with 40% of female adolescents not in unions.
Besides, unprotected sex with a partner who has had multiple sexual partners can increase a young woman's risk of STIs.
Data from the 2003 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) showed that 16% of married or cohabiting men had had sex with a person other than their spouse within the past year.
This may partly explain why married and formerly married women had the highest rates of HIV infection in Ghana.
Thus, early marriage and large age differences between partners may be important factors in the sexual and reproductive health of married female adolescents.
In addition, knowledge of how to access reproductive health care services was consistently lower among adolescents in rural areas than their urban counterparts.
"Among females aged 15-19, 53% of those living in urban areas knew of at least one source of contraceptive compared to 31% of those in rural areas."
Even though the most convenient way to educate large numbers of adolescents about sexual and reproductive health issues is through school-based programmes, some adolescents do not attend school at all.
The report stated that not only is it harder to reach such youth, but their lifestyle put them at risk for STIs and unwanted pregnancies.
In a systematic review published by the WHO, researchers examined studies on programmes to prevent HIV/AIDS in young people in developing countries and concluded that there was evidence to recommend widely implementing community based interventions that target all adolescents.
A 2003 study found that youth who talked with peers about reproductive health were more likely to adopt protective behaviour against STIs and pregnancy than those who did not do so.
At the 2005 World Summit, the High-level Plenary Meeting of the 60th Session of the UN General Assembly, world leaders resolved to achieve universal access to reproductive health by 2015, promote gender equality and end discrimination against women.
In particular, they agreed to integrate the goal of access to reproductive health into national strategies to attain the MDGs.
The Special Session of the African Union Conference of Ministers of Health, held in Mozambique in 2006, focused on universal access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services in Africa.
The Ministers concluded that African leaders have a special obligation to respond to the sexual and reproductive health needs and rights of their people, and they endorsed an action plan to demonstrate their commitment to that end.
Currently the UN estimates that the world population will continue to increase, to reach 9 billion people in 2050, virtually all the population growth occurring in less developed countries.
Thus, during the next 40-50 years, people within the reproductive age will bracket will represent over 40% of the total population. The number of adolescents (aged 10-19 years) is predicted to grow to 1.3 billion by the year 2030, before starting to decline gradually.
Fulfilling the sexual, reproductive and post-reproductive health needs of the various population groups will require a wider range sexual and reproductive health products than is currently available.
This is because women are physiologically more vulnerable than men to HIV infection. As a result, women have higher rates of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), other than HIV, which in turn increases their risks of HIV infection.
The report entitled, "Protecting the Next Generation in Ghana: New Evidence on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Need", shows that the potential negative consequences of unprotected sex are greater for female adolescents than for male adolescents.
The 1989 UNICEF/UNFPA/WHO joint Statement and Strategy for Action on "The Reproductive Health of Adolescents" defined adolescents as people between the ages of 10-19. It terms the periods between 10-14 years as early adolescence and late adolescence from 15-19 years.
Adolescents aged 10-19 form more than one-fifth of Ghana's population.
Slightly more than half of adolescents aged 12-19 live in rural areas and almost half attended secondary school.
A recant analysis of HIV prevalence in Ghana found that women who had had sex by age 15 were 2.4 times as likely to be HIV positive as were women whose sexual debut occurred at a later age.
It stated that 7% of female adolescents aged 15-19 who dropped out of school did so because of pregnancy.
This no doubt limits her future economic opportunities if she is unable to continue her education after delivery.
According to the report, early marriage can increase the risk for poor reproductive health outcomes for adolescents. 28% of women aged 20-24 had married before age 18 and 47% had married before age 20.
In the 2004 National Survey of Adolescents (NSA) females aged 15-19 who were in union were about three times as likely as those not in union to have a sexual partner who was 10 or more years older.
"The fact that young women in unions tend to have older partners elevates their risk, because the age difference hinders their ability to negotiate for safer sex," it explained.
Again the 2004 NSA revealed that only 16% of female adolescents in unions reported that they and their partners were using the male condom, compared with 40% of female adolescents not in unions.
Besides, unprotected sex with a partner who has had multiple sexual partners can increase a young woman's risk of STIs.
Data from the 2003 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) showed that 16% of married or cohabiting men had had sex with a person other than their spouse within the past year.
This may partly explain why married and formerly married women had the highest rates of HIV infection in Ghana.
Thus, early marriage and large age differences between partners may be important factors in the sexual and reproductive health of married female adolescents.
In addition, knowledge of how to access reproductive health care services was consistently lower among adolescents in rural areas than their urban counterparts.
"Among females aged 15-19, 53% of those living in urban areas knew of at least one source of contraceptive compared to 31% of those in rural areas."
Even though the most convenient way to educate large numbers of adolescents about sexual and reproductive health issues is through school-based programmes, some adolescents do not attend school at all.
The report stated that not only is it harder to reach such youth, but their lifestyle put them at risk for STIs and unwanted pregnancies.
In a systematic review published by the WHO, researchers examined studies on programmes to prevent HIV/AIDS in young people in developing countries and concluded that there was evidence to recommend widely implementing community based interventions that target all adolescents.
A 2003 study found that youth who talked with peers about reproductive health were more likely to adopt protective behaviour against STIs and pregnancy than those who did not do so.
At the 2005 World Summit, the High-level Plenary Meeting of the 60th Session of the UN General Assembly, world leaders resolved to achieve universal access to reproductive health by 2015, promote gender equality and end discrimination against women.
In particular, they agreed to integrate the goal of access to reproductive health into national strategies to attain the MDGs.
The Special Session of the African Union Conference of Ministers of Health, held in Mozambique in 2006, focused on universal access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services in Africa.
The Ministers concluded that African leaders have a special obligation to respond to the sexual and reproductive health needs and rights of their people, and they endorsed an action plan to demonstrate their commitment to that end.
Currently the UN estimates that the world population will continue to increase, to reach 9 billion people in 2050, virtually all the population growth occurring in less developed countries.
Thus, during the next 40-50 years, people within the reproductive age will bracket will represent over 40% of the total population. The number of adolescents (aged 10-19 years) is predicted to grow to 1.3 billion by the year 2030, before starting to decline gradually.
Fulfilling the sexual, reproductive and post-reproductive health needs of the various population groups will require a wider range sexual and reproductive health products than is currently available.
NYU journalism students familiarize with Public Agenda
Eighteen journalism students from the University of New York last Friday paid a visit to Public Agenda to familiarize themselves with the newspaperâ's operations.
The Editor of Public Agenda, Mr. Amos Safo took time to answer questions from the students.
They asked several questions ranging from how the newspaper is being funded, what distinguishes it from other newspapers as well as what its future plans are.
Mr. Amos Safo, after giving a brief background to the establishment of Public Agenda in 1994 as a right based newspaper, told the students about the trying circumstances under which the paper has managed to stay in production.
He said the paper came into being to fill the gap left between state-owned newspapers and extreme private newspapers that dwelt mainly on promoting or demoting the famous and powerful in society.
In so doing, he said, the voices and dire concerns of the ordinary people in the country have largely been relegated to the background.
Public Agenda was therefore set up by the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC) to advocate and give a voice to the voiceless segments of society, while promoting general developmental issues.
"Normally, we have a soft spot for promoting issues of women and children," Mr. Safo said.
Asked what the paper is doing on the impending elections, the editor said the issues of education and water and sanitation are key areas the paper is highlighting to make them key to those seeking political office.
He referred the visiting students to a weekly section in the paper that tells the average electorate the sort of questions to ask those who seek their votes.
Other vulnerable groups the editor said the paper promotes are people affected by the activities of mining companies as well as persons with disabilities.
In an answer to how the paper hopes to see itself in the next ten years, the editor shook his head and said that but for the lack of resources Public Agenda should have been a daily newspaper by now, instead of being a bi-weekly, with the number of pages increased considerably.
The students wee lead on the tour by Prof. Frankie Edozien of the Journalism Department of the University.
The Editor of Public Agenda, Mr. Amos Safo took time to answer questions from the students.
They asked several questions ranging from how the newspaper is being funded, what distinguishes it from other newspapers as well as what its future plans are.
Mr. Amos Safo, after giving a brief background to the establishment of Public Agenda in 1994 as a right based newspaper, told the students about the trying circumstances under which the paper has managed to stay in production.
He said the paper came into being to fill the gap left between state-owned newspapers and extreme private newspapers that dwelt mainly on promoting or demoting the famous and powerful in society.
In so doing, he said, the voices and dire concerns of the ordinary people in the country have largely been relegated to the background.
Public Agenda was therefore set up by the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC) to advocate and give a voice to the voiceless segments of society, while promoting general developmental issues.
"Normally, we have a soft spot for promoting issues of women and children," Mr. Safo said.
Asked what the paper is doing on the impending elections, the editor said the issues of education and water and sanitation are key areas the paper is highlighting to make them key to those seeking political office.
He referred the visiting students to a weekly section in the paper that tells the average electorate the sort of questions to ask those who seek their votes.
Other vulnerable groups the editor said the paper promotes are people affected by the activities of mining companies as well as persons with disabilities.
In an answer to how the paper hopes to see itself in the next ten years, the editor shook his head and said that but for the lack of resources Public Agenda should have been a daily newspaper by now, instead of being a bi-weekly, with the number of pages increased considerably.
The students wee lead on the tour by Prof. Frankie Edozien of the Journalism Department of the University.
Trokosi still ongoing
A recent research has revealed that Trokosi practice in Ghana still exists, ten years after the enactment of laws by parliament to abolish the practice.
However, it is done under cover. According to a Senior Lecturer at the Geography and Resource Department of the University of Ghana, Mr. Sosthenos Kufogbe, the concept of Trokosi has not changed within the practicing communities.
"It is difficult for some sections of the society to see it as a human rights violation. They see it as a traditionally reliable way of dispensing and maintaining social justice in comparison to the formal judicial system."
Mr Kufogbe stated this at a workshop by International Needs Ghana, held at Ada to disseminate the findings of the research on the Trokosi practise in Ghana.
Trokosi, a traditional practice involves young girls taken to shrines as slaves in compensation for offenses allegedly committed, or debts incurred, by a member of the girl's family, or as payment for favours sought from the shrine.
The word Trokosi comes from the Ewe word "tro", meaning deity or fetish, and 'kosi', meaning female slave. Trokosi literally means wife of the gods in the local Ewe language.
The research was conducted in seven districts namely Dangme East and West, North and South Tongu, Ketu, Keta and Akatsi districts. Mr. kufogbe regretted that the issue of numbers of victims and people associated with Trokosi has remained most illusive in the study because of its secret nature.
He observed that like all other forms of female ritual bondage, Trokosi is shrouded in secrecy and victims as well as associates of the practise are under constant fear of the power of the gods to punish and even kill traitors who divulge any secrets of the practise to outsiders.
A crude estimates of numbers shows that the number of subjects directly under the practise is about 278.
This comprises victims who are living within the immediate shrine vicinity and also with surrogate mothers or parents within shrine communities.
The number, he said could be higher if an additional count is taken of the children of subjects of the shrine, and further higher if other subjects periodically return to celebrate the annual festivals associated with their respective shrines.
According to the Senior Lecturer, about 53.9% of the estimated number are in the Ketu district where most of the shrines are still active.
He said the North Tongu district still accounts for about 20.5%, while Dangme East, Dangme West, South Tongu and Akatsi districts have the lowest figures.
He said intervention strategies of advocacy and enforcement of the law criminalizing the practise have not made any impact in some of the practicing communities.
"No arrests have been made for prosecution. There is the need to take a more critical look at the law and its implementation mechanisms since the mistrust of the affected persons in the formal judicial system appears to make Trokosi a more readily available option for seeking social justice in the practicing communities."
He added that on-going programmes of advocacy and civic education should be targeted at all involved in the practise, including shrine priests, victims/subjects and their families and the entire communities, and accelerated to ensure total elimination of aspects of Trokosi that continue to violate fundamental human rights.
However, it is done under cover. According to a Senior Lecturer at the Geography and Resource Department of the University of Ghana, Mr. Sosthenos Kufogbe, the concept of Trokosi has not changed within the practicing communities.
"It is difficult for some sections of the society to see it as a human rights violation. They see it as a traditionally reliable way of dispensing and maintaining social justice in comparison to the formal judicial system."
Mr Kufogbe stated this at a workshop by International Needs Ghana, held at Ada to disseminate the findings of the research on the Trokosi practise in Ghana.
Trokosi, a traditional practice involves young girls taken to shrines as slaves in compensation for offenses allegedly committed, or debts incurred, by a member of the girl's family, or as payment for favours sought from the shrine.
The word Trokosi comes from the Ewe word "tro", meaning deity or fetish, and 'kosi', meaning female slave. Trokosi literally means wife of the gods in the local Ewe language.
The research was conducted in seven districts namely Dangme East and West, North and South Tongu, Ketu, Keta and Akatsi districts. Mr. kufogbe regretted that the issue of numbers of victims and people associated with Trokosi has remained most illusive in the study because of its secret nature.
He observed that like all other forms of female ritual bondage, Trokosi is shrouded in secrecy and victims as well as associates of the practise are under constant fear of the power of the gods to punish and even kill traitors who divulge any secrets of the practise to outsiders.
A crude estimates of numbers shows that the number of subjects directly under the practise is about 278.
This comprises victims who are living within the immediate shrine vicinity and also with surrogate mothers or parents within shrine communities.
The number, he said could be higher if an additional count is taken of the children of subjects of the shrine, and further higher if other subjects periodically return to celebrate the annual festivals associated with their respective shrines.
According to the Senior Lecturer, about 53.9% of the estimated number are in the Ketu district where most of the shrines are still active.
He said the North Tongu district still accounts for about 20.5%, while Dangme East, Dangme West, South Tongu and Akatsi districts have the lowest figures.
He said intervention strategies of advocacy and enforcement of the law criminalizing the practise have not made any impact in some of the practicing communities.
"No arrests have been made for prosecution. There is the need to take a more critical look at the law and its implementation mechanisms since the mistrust of the affected persons in the formal judicial system appears to make Trokosi a more readily available option for seeking social justice in the practicing communities."
He added that on-going programmes of advocacy and civic education should be targeted at all involved in the practise, including shrine priests, victims/subjects and their families and the entire communities, and accelerated to ensure total elimination of aspects of Trokosi that continue to violate fundamental human rights.
Ghanaians urged to break the glass ceiling for female participation in leadership
Ghanaians are being encouraged to explore avenues that can ensure women get into positions of leadership after the 2008 general elections.
Currently in Ghana's legislature, only 25 out of 130 parliamentarians are women.
The National Programme Coordinator of Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF-Ghana), Mrs. Bernice Sam noted that although it is necessary to ensure gender equality in education, Ghana must move beyond that arena to that of decision-making.
She said the country needs to have more women in decision-making so that they can address issues of concern that greatly impact on them.
"When you look at the political parties, CPP has only six women who have gone through primaries and NDC 11. When you add up the rest, looking at the trend, can anyone assure me that come 2009 we will have 10% women in our legislature? Yet we have not began debating the numbers to look at how these various concerns affect us and impact our lives."
Mrs. Sam was speaking at the launch of the Global Monitoring report, 2008 in Accra.
The report, published by the World Bank and the IMF, warns that many countries in Africa will fall short on meeting most of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a set of eight globally agreed development targets with a due date of 2015.
While there has been strong growth in many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana, and there could yet be significant progress in poverty reduction in the next decade, Africa is still likely to fall short of the first goal of halving extreme poverty by 2015, with countries in fragile situations lagging the most, says the report.
According Mrs. Sam media images puts a question mark on whether Ghana is indeed eradicating poverty and stressed that it behooves on all Ghanaians to work to ensure that Ghana reduces poverty.
Touching on theme of the report, "MDGs and the Environment-Agenda for Inclusive and Sustainable Development", she said it is unfortunate that Ghanaians continue to use plastic bags for everything in spite of the fact that it generates filth and takes a longer time to decompose.
Madam Eunice Dapaah, a senior education specialist at the World Bank spoke about the need to simplify the MDGs for easy understanding by all.
She said education should be the only denominator to achieve MDGs as there would be no basis for food and water without environmental sustainability.
"Ghana needs to work harder on monitoring environmental sustainability because whatever we are not measuring, we can be sure that we are not doing well."
Ms Dapaah said Ghanaians can and must do more if they are to make gains to safeguard their existence.
Currently in Ghana's legislature, only 25 out of 130 parliamentarians are women.
The National Programme Coordinator of Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF-Ghana), Mrs. Bernice Sam noted that although it is necessary to ensure gender equality in education, Ghana must move beyond that arena to that of decision-making.
She said the country needs to have more women in decision-making so that they can address issues of concern that greatly impact on them.
"When you look at the political parties, CPP has only six women who have gone through primaries and NDC 11. When you add up the rest, looking at the trend, can anyone assure me that come 2009 we will have 10% women in our legislature? Yet we have not began debating the numbers to look at how these various concerns affect us and impact our lives."
Mrs. Sam was speaking at the launch of the Global Monitoring report, 2008 in Accra.
The report, published by the World Bank and the IMF, warns that many countries in Africa will fall short on meeting most of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a set of eight globally agreed development targets with a due date of 2015.
While there has been strong growth in many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana, and there could yet be significant progress in poverty reduction in the next decade, Africa is still likely to fall short of the first goal of halving extreme poverty by 2015, with countries in fragile situations lagging the most, says the report.
According Mrs. Sam media images puts a question mark on whether Ghana is indeed eradicating poverty and stressed that it behooves on all Ghanaians to work to ensure that Ghana reduces poverty.
Touching on theme of the report, "MDGs and the Environment-Agenda for Inclusive and Sustainable Development", she said it is unfortunate that Ghanaians continue to use plastic bags for everything in spite of the fact that it generates filth and takes a longer time to decompose.
Madam Eunice Dapaah, a senior education specialist at the World Bank spoke about the need to simplify the MDGs for easy understanding by all.
She said education should be the only denominator to achieve MDGs as there would be no basis for food and water without environmental sustainability.
"Ghana needs to work harder on monitoring environmental sustainability because whatever we are not measuring, we can be sure that we are not doing well."
Ms Dapaah said Ghanaians can and must do more if they are to make gains to safeguard their existence.
Ghana to use SMS to fight fake drugs
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that more than 30% of drugs could lead to the horrid healthcare crises that fake drugs often unleash.
The rate of fake drugs is between 10 to 30% in developing countries.
As Ghana explores ways to enhance the adoption of technology and new concepts of regulating drugs to enhance health service delivery, Ghanaians could be able to successfully use SMS text messages to authenticate drugs by the end of this year.
The technology trial initiative by mPedigree, early this year afforded Ghanaian consumers in Accra and Kumasi the chance to pick the code on a drug, (Efpack Junior Products ) by sending SMS to 1393 to any of the networks and had responses instantly that quality was assured.
According to Mr. Ashifi Gogo, Technology Consultant of mPedigree, the text message is free and can be sent by consumers who do not even have credit on their mobile phones.
Launched in 2007, mPedigree the initiative actively engages stakeholders in developing nations towards safer drugs via a combination of stepped up enforcement and carefully crafted technology.
mPedigree, seeks to build a system first in Ghana, and then throughout Africa, that tracks drugs from their original producers all the way to the pharmacy shelves, allowing each buyer in the chain to ensure that they are dealing with a legitimate product.
Speaking at the maiden stakeholder symposium in Accra, named “Innovation for Health Governance, collaboration between the Ministry of Health and its partners, Mr. Gogo explained that the large scale trial will include more stakeholders.
He assured that fake drug manufacturers cannot duplicate codes because each code works only once.
He recalled that since it was a fresh service, trial survey agents were stationed to provide assistance in the authentication process when needed.
The Executive Director of the Ghana Food and Drugs Board, Mr. Emmanuel Agyarko described the text message innovation as timely to combat counterfeit drugs.
He noted that now counterfeiting is becoming a huge criminal industry because it is not only medicine but anything of value is counterfeited.
Mr Agyarko said drug and arms cartels among others are eventually moving from such risky ventures to counterfeiting because punishment when caught is not so intense. He regretted that counterfeiting has become a biggest challenge to Ghana as consumers are not engaging enough.
"It is our collective efforts that will counter counterfeiting because there is not a single solution to the problem."
He announced that the FDB will together with stakeholders hold a national dialogue on counterfeiting as it needs to be brought into perspective.
Organizers of the stakeholders' symposium say that in order to allow for critical and practice oriented dialogue and discussion, it will be organised around case studies.
This year, apart from mPedigree, One Global Standard (GS1), a global standards regime in supply chain management will look at how global standards may be successfully adopted into local health contexts towards greater efficiency.
Also, Ghana is a pilot country for the roll-out of Medical Transparency Alliance (MeTA) programme with an objective to relief consumers of the burden of drug affordability, accessibility and quality.
Further, the National Health Insurance Authority has identified a number of ICT interventions such as diagnostic groups modeling, as critical in its quest to deliver.
The symposium will consider what metrics would be appropriate in measuring goal appropriateness.
The rate of fake drugs is between 10 to 30% in developing countries.
As Ghana explores ways to enhance the adoption of technology and new concepts of regulating drugs to enhance health service delivery, Ghanaians could be able to successfully use SMS text messages to authenticate drugs by the end of this year.
The technology trial initiative by mPedigree, early this year afforded Ghanaian consumers in Accra and Kumasi the chance to pick the code on a drug, (Efpack Junior Products ) by sending SMS to 1393 to any of the networks and had responses instantly that quality was assured.
According to Mr. Ashifi Gogo, Technology Consultant of mPedigree, the text message is free and can be sent by consumers who do not even have credit on their mobile phones.
Launched in 2007, mPedigree the initiative actively engages stakeholders in developing nations towards safer drugs via a combination of stepped up enforcement and carefully crafted technology.
mPedigree, seeks to build a system first in Ghana, and then throughout Africa, that tracks drugs from their original producers all the way to the pharmacy shelves, allowing each buyer in the chain to ensure that they are dealing with a legitimate product.
Speaking at the maiden stakeholder symposium in Accra, named “Innovation for Health Governance, collaboration between the Ministry of Health and its partners, Mr. Gogo explained that the large scale trial will include more stakeholders.
He assured that fake drug manufacturers cannot duplicate codes because each code works only once.
He recalled that since it was a fresh service, trial survey agents were stationed to provide assistance in the authentication process when needed.
The Executive Director of the Ghana Food and Drugs Board, Mr. Emmanuel Agyarko described the text message innovation as timely to combat counterfeit drugs.
He noted that now counterfeiting is becoming a huge criminal industry because it is not only medicine but anything of value is counterfeited.
Mr Agyarko said drug and arms cartels among others are eventually moving from such risky ventures to counterfeiting because punishment when caught is not so intense. He regretted that counterfeiting has become a biggest challenge to Ghana as consumers are not engaging enough.
"It is our collective efforts that will counter counterfeiting because there is not a single solution to the problem."
He announced that the FDB will together with stakeholders hold a national dialogue on counterfeiting as it needs to be brought into perspective.
Organizers of the stakeholders' symposium say that in order to allow for critical and practice oriented dialogue and discussion, it will be organised around case studies.
This year, apart from mPedigree, One Global Standard (GS1), a global standards regime in supply chain management will look at how global standards may be successfully adopted into local health contexts towards greater efficiency.
Also, Ghana is a pilot country for the roll-out of Medical Transparency Alliance (MeTA) programme with an objective to relief consumers of the burden of drug affordability, accessibility and quality.
Further, the National Health Insurance Authority has identified a number of ICT interventions such as diagnostic groups modeling, as critical in its quest to deliver.
The symposium will consider what metrics would be appropriate in measuring goal appropriateness.
Nana Oye is new MDG 3 torch bearer
An initiative to support global efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with the aim to ignite a wave of global resolve in support of MDG3, which seeks to promote gender equality and empower women, with particular emphasis on women's economic empowerment has reached Ghana.
The Danish government is championing this initiative dubbed "MDG3 Torch Campaign" that forms part of the UN-led international campaign for the MDGs that will culminate in the MDG High Level Event due in September this year.
As part of the campaign, a "torch of commitment" has been passed on to identifiable human rights defenders who have championed social justice across different parts of the world, to proclaim further commitments to promote women empowerment within their areas of jurisdiction.
Nana Oye Lithur, Regional Coordinator of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) is the latest human and women's rights advocate to be presented the torch of commitment.
Acting Commissioner of CHRAJ, Ms. Anna Bossman and Ms. Adisa Lansah Yakubu, Projector Co-coordinator of Africa 2000 Network have both received torches in April 2008.
Speaking at the handing over of the torch to Nana Oye in Accra, Danish Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Flemming Pedersen noted that the status of women not least in Africa still leaves a lot to be desired at a time when the MDG supposed to be achieved is half way to the year 2015.
He said Denmark recognizes that women in Africa suffer particularly from poverty, environmental degradation and lack of access to opportunities for sustainable livelihoods.
"A key component of the Africa strategy is a focus on gender equality to secure women's rights and create growth. In this light an allocation of GH¢145 million has been available for interventions on women's empowerment in various countries from 2008 to 2012."
He was confident that Nana Oye will act extra to in order to promote gender equality and Ghanaian women's empowerment.
Nana Oye Lithur stated that her prime reason for agreeing to be an MDG 3 champion torch bearer.
"I believe taking up this task will enable me contribute to achieving gender equality and will help fulfill my personal aspiration of serving my community and country."
She said her focus will be on helping to eliminate gender disparity in secondary education in Nkwanta district, Hohoe Municipality and in the Shama Ahanta district, since gender disparity become glaring when girls enter secondary schools and subsequently at tertiary level.
She hopes to do this on the premise that increasing female enrolment in secondary education in Ghana will ultimately lead to economic benefits for the women and the society as a whole.
"I will start a mentoring programme to be called "Show by Example" not only for brilliant girls, but for those who promise and are committed to staying to learn."
She added that there will also be an advocacy monitoring programme to assess performance and quality of education in these districts.
The Danish government is championing this initiative dubbed "MDG3 Torch Campaign" that forms part of the UN-led international campaign for the MDGs that will culminate in the MDG High Level Event due in September this year.
As part of the campaign, a "torch of commitment" has been passed on to identifiable human rights defenders who have championed social justice across different parts of the world, to proclaim further commitments to promote women empowerment within their areas of jurisdiction.
Nana Oye Lithur, Regional Coordinator of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) is the latest human and women's rights advocate to be presented the torch of commitment.
Acting Commissioner of CHRAJ, Ms. Anna Bossman and Ms. Adisa Lansah Yakubu, Projector Co-coordinator of Africa 2000 Network have both received torches in April 2008.
Speaking at the handing over of the torch to Nana Oye in Accra, Danish Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Flemming Pedersen noted that the status of women not least in Africa still leaves a lot to be desired at a time when the MDG supposed to be achieved is half way to the year 2015.
He said Denmark recognizes that women in Africa suffer particularly from poverty, environmental degradation and lack of access to opportunities for sustainable livelihoods.
"A key component of the Africa strategy is a focus on gender equality to secure women's rights and create growth. In this light an allocation of GH¢145 million has been available for interventions on women's empowerment in various countries from 2008 to 2012."
He was confident that Nana Oye will act extra to in order to promote gender equality and Ghanaian women's empowerment.
Nana Oye Lithur stated that her prime reason for agreeing to be an MDG 3 champion torch bearer.
"I believe taking up this task will enable me contribute to achieving gender equality and will help fulfill my personal aspiration of serving my community and country."
She said her focus will be on helping to eliminate gender disparity in secondary education in Nkwanta district, Hohoe Municipality and in the Shama Ahanta district, since gender disparity become glaring when girls enter secondary schools and subsequently at tertiary level.
She hopes to do this on the premise that increasing female enrolment in secondary education in Ghana will ultimately lead to economic benefits for the women and the society as a whole.
"I will start a mentoring programme to be called "Show by Example" not only for brilliant girls, but for those who promise and are committed to staying to learn."
She added that there will also be an advocacy monitoring programme to assess performance and quality of education in these districts.
Violence against women still common in Ghana
A new report states that violence against women remains widespread in Ghana and some groups of women are particularly vulnerable.
It reveals that physical abuse by husbands or other intimate partners is widespread. 72% of respondents to a 1998 survey reported that wife beating was a common practice in their community.
The report by Yakin Erturk, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, addresses specific forms of violence encountered by women and girls within the context of the dual normative system in the country and women's subordinate status in the society at large.
According to the report, the use of violence to enforce patriarchal control over women enjoys widespread social acceptance.
The 2003 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) states that 19.8% of men and even more astonishing, 34% of women consider it acceptable for a husband to beat his wife, if she goes out without telling him.
Women are often expected to silently endure abuseto protect their family, while those who report their husbands or other family members to authorities for abuse may be ostracized.
There is also a widespread belief that a husband is entitled to sexual intercourse from his wife at his command and may enforce this entitlement by force.
Ten percent of men and 19.9% of women in the 2003 survey considered it justified if a husband beat his wife for refusing to have sex with him.
However, Ghana law which for so long explicitly protected this male prerogative, has been amended.
Harmful attitudes towards women are reinforced by certain religious and other community leaders, who exhort women to stand by their husband under all circumstances, while at the same time failing to take a clear stand against wife battery and marital rape.
Rape of underage girls by men within the family circle, such as brothers, fathers and stepfathers remains a big problem, although thanks to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVSSU) of the Ghana Police Service the citizenry is aware that such acts are abuses that need to be reported, and not settled at home.
Yakin's report states that some communities in the southern Volta Region and certain districts of the Greater Accra Region still practise "Trokosi", an outlawed custom, which involves ritual servitude and sexual exploitation of girls.
It requires a family to offer a virgin daughter as a trokosi to a traditional fetish shrine to ward off the punishment of the gods for crimes committed by a family member.
In addition to performing ritual duties and domestic chores at the shrine, a trokosi is usually also expected to work long hours on farmland belonging to the shrine.
She does not receive anything in return for her labour and her family is required to provide her with food and all other necessities.
Once a trokosi reaches puberty, the shrine's fetish priest is entitled to sleep with the girl to consummate the marriage between her and the gods.
In 1998, the Government passed a law against ritual servitude (among other things), criminalizing the practice of trokosi.
However there have been no prosecutions under the law. Information obtained from other sources indicates that the practice continues to thrive.
Reportedly, there are at least 23 shrines in the Volta Region and 3 in the Greater Accra Region.
Female genital mutilation (FGM) traditionally practised by several ethnic groups in northern Ghana, the report say, is still prevalent although it was criminalised in 1994.
UNICEF has estimated that 5.4% of all women in Ghana aged 15-49 have been subjected to FGM. In 2007, Parliament further strengthened the law against FGM by increasing the maximum penalty to 10 years of imprisonment and extending the range of persons who can be prosecuted for involvement in an act of FGM.
Violence against women branded as witches is reported from all regions but it is more visible in the north due to the existence of so-called witches' camps.
Such women are often violently driven from their communities and homes and forced to take refuge in witch camps.
They lose their inheritance as a result and become destitute.The report also indicate that some communities still practise humiliating and sometimes outright cruel widowhood rites, meant to determine whether the woman had been faithful to her late husband.
Polygamy is another practice that entrenches women's subordinate position. According to the 2006 Ghana Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS Survey), more than one in five women (21.6 %) aged 15-49 years lived in a polygamous union.
Polygamy is particularly prevalent in the three northern regions, where close to 40% of women live in polygamy.
The Children's Act of 1998 sets 18 as the minimum age for marriage and criminalizes child marriages.
However, child and early marriages continue to be performed, because the law is not adequately enforced.A World Bank paper on child labour in Ghana found that girls were more likely than boys to engage in harmful forms of labour.
Many rural families living in extreme poverty send their daughters to urban areas to live with more affluent families, where they serve as domestic workers in exchange for shelter, food and sometimes a minimal income.
The state's response to violence against women include the adoption of the domestic violence act by parliament in may 2007, after three years of extensive consultations with stakeholders and sometimes heated public debate.
In 2005, the Ghana police service transformed its Women and Juvenile Unit (WAJU) into a Domestic Violence Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) tasked to investigate all crimes involving domestic and gender-based violence.
According to the report, the realization of commitments to gender equality made under the Constitution, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (DEVAW) and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa remains a challenge to the Ghanaian Government and society at large.
The Domestic Violence Act of 2007 marks an important step forward, which needs to be swiftly followed by the adoption of a domestic violence action plan and an earmarked budget to implement the Act.
Constitutionally recognized traditional authorities and the customary law, which wield considerable influence in rural areas, often pose additional challenges for the advancement of women.
The State authorities, civil society and the international community need to engage and, where necessary, compel the customary system to fully respect the rights women and girls enjoy under the Constitution and international law.
High levels of poverty limit the government's margin of operation to prioritize the allocation of sufficient resources for universal basic education, gender parity in education and the economic and social development of marginalized regions and districts.
The report recommends the government and other relevant actors to denounce publicly and unequivocally all forms of violence against women and girls including marital rape, wife beating, child and other forced marriages, trokosi, FGM, humiliating widowhood rites and inheritance/property grabbing.
Elected politicians, officials, traditional authorities and other persons vested with public authority must not invoke any custom, tradition or religious consideration to justify or condone such violence.
They should also discourage the practice of dowry and polygamy. Traditional authorities must be engaged at all levels in a frank and public dialogue, about how traditions and customary laws can be reformed to respect the rights of women guaranteed under the Constitution and international law.
At least 50% of district assembly members appointed by the president must be women and adequate funds earmarked in future budgets to implement the Domestic Violence Act and the corresponding domestic violence action plan.
Gender-sensitive media reporting must be promoted to avoid stereotypes and discriminatory attitudes towards women, and ensure respect for victims and their families when covering incidents of violence against women.
The United Nations Country Team should integrate gender analysis into all its activities, including the more seemingly technical areas such as agricultural support programmes, assist the Government and civil society in their effort to develop a sound database on violence against women, its causes and consequences.
It reveals that physical abuse by husbands or other intimate partners is widespread. 72% of respondents to a 1998 survey reported that wife beating was a common practice in their community.
The report by Yakin Erturk, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, addresses specific forms of violence encountered by women and girls within the context of the dual normative system in the country and women's subordinate status in the society at large.
According to the report, the use of violence to enforce patriarchal control over women enjoys widespread social acceptance.
The 2003 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) states that 19.8% of men and even more astonishing, 34% of women consider it acceptable for a husband to beat his wife, if she goes out without telling him.
Women are often expected to silently endure abuseto protect their family, while those who report their husbands or other family members to authorities for abuse may be ostracized.
There is also a widespread belief that a husband is entitled to sexual intercourse from his wife at his command and may enforce this entitlement by force.
Ten percent of men and 19.9% of women in the 2003 survey considered it justified if a husband beat his wife for refusing to have sex with him.
However, Ghana law which for so long explicitly protected this male prerogative, has been amended.
Harmful attitudes towards women are reinforced by certain religious and other community leaders, who exhort women to stand by their husband under all circumstances, while at the same time failing to take a clear stand against wife battery and marital rape.
Rape of underage girls by men within the family circle, such as brothers, fathers and stepfathers remains a big problem, although thanks to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVSSU) of the Ghana Police Service the citizenry is aware that such acts are abuses that need to be reported, and not settled at home.
Yakin's report states that some communities in the southern Volta Region and certain districts of the Greater Accra Region still practise "Trokosi", an outlawed custom, which involves ritual servitude and sexual exploitation of girls.
It requires a family to offer a virgin daughter as a trokosi to a traditional fetish shrine to ward off the punishment of the gods for crimes committed by a family member.
In addition to performing ritual duties and domestic chores at the shrine, a trokosi is usually also expected to work long hours on farmland belonging to the shrine.
She does not receive anything in return for her labour and her family is required to provide her with food and all other necessities.
Once a trokosi reaches puberty, the shrine's fetish priest is entitled to sleep with the girl to consummate the marriage between her and the gods.
In 1998, the Government passed a law against ritual servitude (among other things), criminalizing the practice of trokosi.
However there have been no prosecutions under the law. Information obtained from other sources indicates that the practice continues to thrive.
Reportedly, there are at least 23 shrines in the Volta Region and 3 in the Greater Accra Region.
Female genital mutilation (FGM) traditionally practised by several ethnic groups in northern Ghana, the report say, is still prevalent although it was criminalised in 1994.
UNICEF has estimated that 5.4% of all women in Ghana aged 15-49 have been subjected to FGM. In 2007, Parliament further strengthened the law against FGM by increasing the maximum penalty to 10 years of imprisonment and extending the range of persons who can be prosecuted for involvement in an act of FGM.
Violence against women branded as witches is reported from all regions but it is more visible in the north due to the existence of so-called witches' camps.
Such women are often violently driven from their communities and homes and forced to take refuge in witch camps.
They lose their inheritance as a result and become destitute.The report also indicate that some communities still practise humiliating and sometimes outright cruel widowhood rites, meant to determine whether the woman had been faithful to her late husband.
Polygamy is another practice that entrenches women's subordinate position. According to the 2006 Ghana Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS Survey), more than one in five women (21.6 %) aged 15-49 years lived in a polygamous union.
Polygamy is particularly prevalent in the three northern regions, where close to 40% of women live in polygamy.
The Children's Act of 1998 sets 18 as the minimum age for marriage and criminalizes child marriages.
However, child and early marriages continue to be performed, because the law is not adequately enforced.A World Bank paper on child labour in Ghana found that girls were more likely than boys to engage in harmful forms of labour.
Many rural families living in extreme poverty send their daughters to urban areas to live with more affluent families, where they serve as domestic workers in exchange for shelter, food and sometimes a minimal income.
The state's response to violence against women include the adoption of the domestic violence act by parliament in may 2007, after three years of extensive consultations with stakeholders and sometimes heated public debate.
In 2005, the Ghana police service transformed its Women and Juvenile Unit (WAJU) into a Domestic Violence Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) tasked to investigate all crimes involving domestic and gender-based violence.
According to the report, the realization of commitments to gender equality made under the Constitution, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (DEVAW) and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa remains a challenge to the Ghanaian Government and society at large.
The Domestic Violence Act of 2007 marks an important step forward, which needs to be swiftly followed by the adoption of a domestic violence action plan and an earmarked budget to implement the Act.
Constitutionally recognized traditional authorities and the customary law, which wield considerable influence in rural areas, often pose additional challenges for the advancement of women.
The State authorities, civil society and the international community need to engage and, where necessary, compel the customary system to fully respect the rights women and girls enjoy under the Constitution and international law.
High levels of poverty limit the government's margin of operation to prioritize the allocation of sufficient resources for universal basic education, gender parity in education and the economic and social development of marginalized regions and districts.
The report recommends the government and other relevant actors to denounce publicly and unequivocally all forms of violence against women and girls including marital rape, wife beating, child and other forced marriages, trokosi, FGM, humiliating widowhood rites and inheritance/property grabbing.
Elected politicians, officials, traditional authorities and other persons vested with public authority must not invoke any custom, tradition or religious consideration to justify or condone such violence.
They should also discourage the practice of dowry and polygamy. Traditional authorities must be engaged at all levels in a frank and public dialogue, about how traditions and customary laws can be reformed to respect the rights of women guaranteed under the Constitution and international law.
At least 50% of district assembly members appointed by the president must be women and adequate funds earmarked in future budgets to implement the Domestic Violence Act and the corresponding domestic violence action plan.
Gender-sensitive media reporting must be promoted to avoid stereotypes and discriminatory attitudes towards women, and ensure respect for victims and their families when covering incidents of violence against women.
The United Nations Country Team should integrate gender analysis into all its activities, including the more seemingly technical areas such as agricultural support programmes, assist the Government and civil society in their effort to develop a sound database on violence against women, its causes and consequences.
Female participation in decentralisation not encouraging
Government has been urged to exercise the political will to enhance women's participation in Ghana's decentralisation process.
Some gender rights advocates say the process has not satisfactorily stimulated women’s participation in local decision-making.
According to them, the handful of women appointed as District and Municipal Chief Executives and as regional ministers is indicative of the fact that Ghanaian women are not being given the chance to fully participate or be at the top hierarchy of decision-making.
Mr. Frank Wilson Bodza Programme Officer of the Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF Ghana) noted that with regard to normal administrative work a lot of women are engaged but at the district assembly level where they should be in their numbers, they are not there.
"Only about 443 women representing about 9% were elected into the District Assemblies (DAs) in 2004 against over 5000 members. Looking at the number it is clear that women did not do well."
Mr. Bodza questioned how women can build their capacity up to the national level if they are denied the chance to aspire higher.
"If we should implement the quota system by ensuring that women are represented on the boards of educational institutions, ministries, department and agencies they will definitely have the chance."
In his opinion, literacy levels have nothing to do with female participation and that there are several qualified women but that the political will is not there.
He noted that although the policy to integrate gender issues in the planning and implementation process is in place it has not been implemented because the budget is not gender sensitive in the sense that key issues that affect women are not addressed specifically.
"It's not that issues are not being addressed but key gender issues are missing. Women should be allowed to make their contribution before the budget is planned and programme designed to implement it".
He cautioned that the country's development will retrogress if women are not involved as they form over half of the population, 52%, adding that it is not just about getting them there but there need to be a balance.
"It means that the few men who have themselves there will take decisions so we need to have more women in decision-making."
Mr. Bodza recounted statistics that are indicative that in terms of real figures, women's numbers in the legislature have not increased in any significant way although the number of female contestants has witnessed steady increase.
"In the 1996 parliamentary elections, out of 59 women who contested, 18 (30%) were elected,
constituting 9% of 200 MPs, in 2000, the number of female candidates increased to 101 but the
number elected was 19 (18.8%), constituting 9.5% of 200 MPs.
In 2004, the number of women
that contested was 104, including 14 sitting MPs, out of which 25 (24%) were elected
constituting 10.9% of 230 MPs. At the DA level, 547 female candidates contested the polls in
1998. Out of this number, 196 (36%) were elected and in the 2002 DA elections, 341 out of the
965 women who contested the elections were elected, (35%)."
Additionally, he said despite a 15% increase in the number of the parliamentary seats (constituencies) from 200 seats in 2000 to 230 in 2004, women won only 10.9% of parliamentary seats.
He bemoaned that of the ten regional ministers there is no female and that looking at the current trend there is no hope of a woman vice president.
According to the gender activist, there is ample opportunity to ensure representation of women through several national and international conventions such as CEDAW and Beijing Platform.
He stressed that if Ghana has signed onto all these protocols then it should have the political will to implement them.
The National Women Organizer of the CPP, Hajia Hamdatu Ibrahim Haruna regretted that women's participation in Ghana's decentralisation process is not encouraging, citing the last district elections.
She noted that in spite of the several UN Charters, Convention signed and ratified by Ghana that calls for 30 to 40 % female representation at all levels of power and governance that did not happen.
"Looking at statistics of the number of women even in parliament from independence not much has been done. That is why the CPP has started from the constituency level to make sure that women don't only take such positions as treasurers but some are chairing now."
Hajia argues that decentralisation must happen at the party level before applying it at the wider level. She disclosed that some women in leadership in collaboration with some non-government organisations are in the process of forming a non-partisan pressure group to seek to the course of women.
"We are saying that women should rally behind any woman in any constituency. We will be looking at their capabilities and not the party colours."
She believes that the opportunities for women to participate exist, however there have been problems with implementation and stressed that governance must involve the people and should be brought to the lowest level.
"Can you imagine what will happen even if we should have 60 women in parliament? Issues bothering them will be addressed because they will make noise and draw attention," Hajia said.
She noted that it is difficult to encourage women to come out and participate due to social, religious and cultural reasons adding that women should know that they also have a right and can equally perform.
She was not happy about the fact that some women in the opposition NPP have lost the primaries but takes consolation in the fact that some women have also sent some men packing in their constituencies.
Some gender rights advocates say the process has not satisfactorily stimulated women’s participation in local decision-making.
According to them, the handful of women appointed as District and Municipal Chief Executives and as regional ministers is indicative of the fact that Ghanaian women are not being given the chance to fully participate or be at the top hierarchy of decision-making.
Mr. Frank Wilson Bodza Programme Officer of the Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF Ghana) noted that with regard to normal administrative work a lot of women are engaged but at the district assembly level where they should be in their numbers, they are not there.
"Only about 443 women representing about 9% were elected into the District Assemblies (DAs) in 2004 against over 5000 members. Looking at the number it is clear that women did not do well."
Mr. Bodza questioned how women can build their capacity up to the national level if they are denied the chance to aspire higher.
"If we should implement the quota system by ensuring that women are represented on the boards of educational institutions, ministries, department and agencies they will definitely have the chance."
In his opinion, literacy levels have nothing to do with female participation and that there are several qualified women but that the political will is not there.
He noted that although the policy to integrate gender issues in the planning and implementation process is in place it has not been implemented because the budget is not gender sensitive in the sense that key issues that affect women are not addressed specifically.
"It's not that issues are not being addressed but key gender issues are missing. Women should be allowed to make their contribution before the budget is planned and programme designed to implement it".
He cautioned that the country's development will retrogress if women are not involved as they form over half of the population, 52%, adding that it is not just about getting them there but there need to be a balance.
"It means that the few men who have themselves there will take decisions so we need to have more women in decision-making."
Mr. Bodza recounted statistics that are indicative that in terms of real figures, women's numbers in the legislature have not increased in any significant way although the number of female contestants has witnessed steady increase.
"In the 1996 parliamentary elections, out of 59 women who contested, 18 (30%) were elected,
constituting 9% of 200 MPs, in 2000, the number of female candidates increased to 101 but the
number elected was 19 (18.8%), constituting 9.5% of 200 MPs.
In 2004, the number of women
that contested was 104, including 14 sitting MPs, out of which 25 (24%) were elected
constituting 10.9% of 230 MPs. At the DA level, 547 female candidates contested the polls in
1998. Out of this number, 196 (36%) were elected and in the 2002 DA elections, 341 out of the
965 women who contested the elections were elected, (35%)."
Additionally, he said despite a 15% increase in the number of the parliamentary seats (constituencies) from 200 seats in 2000 to 230 in 2004, women won only 10.9% of parliamentary seats.
He bemoaned that of the ten regional ministers there is no female and that looking at the current trend there is no hope of a woman vice president.
According to the gender activist, there is ample opportunity to ensure representation of women through several national and international conventions such as CEDAW and Beijing Platform.
He stressed that if Ghana has signed onto all these protocols then it should have the political will to implement them.
The National Women Organizer of the CPP, Hajia Hamdatu Ibrahim Haruna regretted that women's participation in Ghana's decentralisation process is not encouraging, citing the last district elections.
She noted that in spite of the several UN Charters, Convention signed and ratified by Ghana that calls for 30 to 40 % female representation at all levels of power and governance that did not happen.
"Looking at statistics of the number of women even in parliament from independence not much has been done. That is why the CPP has started from the constituency level to make sure that women don't only take such positions as treasurers but some are chairing now."
Hajia argues that decentralisation must happen at the party level before applying it at the wider level. She disclosed that some women in leadership in collaboration with some non-government organisations are in the process of forming a non-partisan pressure group to seek to the course of women.
"We are saying that women should rally behind any woman in any constituency. We will be looking at their capabilities and not the party colours."
She believes that the opportunities for women to participate exist, however there have been problems with implementation and stressed that governance must involve the people and should be brought to the lowest level.
"Can you imagine what will happen even if we should have 60 women in parliament? Issues bothering them will be addressed because they will make noise and draw attention," Hajia said.
She noted that it is difficult to encourage women to come out and participate due to social, religious and cultural reasons adding that women should know that they also have a right and can equally perform.
She was not happy about the fact that some women in the opposition NPP have lost the primaries but takes consolation in the fact that some women have also sent some men packing in their constituencies.
AGI pledges support to prevent inferior goods
Ghanaian industry says it is prepared to bear the cost of what it will take for regulatory bodies to stop shoddy or substandard goods from coming into the country to compete with local products.
The sector said that funding for bodies such as the Ghana Standards Board (GSB) and the Food and Drugs Board (FDB) to carry out their mandate is always a problem ; hence the need to support them.
The President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Mr. Tony Oteng-Gyasi emphasized that by the above statement, industry is not asking for discount because it will be wrong to do so.
"Discount will be a wrong policy so industry will be prepared to pay for the right prices if it will give agencies the capacity to stop shoddy goods from coming here," he stated during AGI lecture in Accra to mark its 50th anniversary.
He said that although it is a difficult job to set standards it can be done. “This is an area where I find that repeatedly our regulatory bodies don't want to have the problem of enforcement because that is a difficulty.
"That is why they all look in their laws and say that it is not our job."
Mr. Oteng-Gyasi challenged the bodies to tell industry what are the best strategies or practices and how they can be enforced.
"We need to fashion out policies to meet our requirements. We must stop some of these goods from arriving at our shelves before we go and see them and decide that it is good or not because even if it is in English some of our people cannot read."
Delivering a lecture on the "Challenges and Prospects for Achieving Global Standards within the Framework of a West African Economic Union", the Executive Director of the GSB, Mr. Adu G. Darkwa noted that whereas the union has a mission to promote economic integration among 250 million consumers to achieve a large economic block, members trade more with the European Union (EU) than among themselves.
He said often times countries confuse global standards with quality and limit it to just one institution.
He explained that broadly there are voluntary and mandatory standards, with the latter generally backed by law and can be enforced by an institution.
"Broadly standards by definition are conscientious important documents prepared with agreement and not just something that any group of people for their own selfish interest can define and impose on others."
Therefore, he said it is crucial that the widest possible participation be guided not only by industry but governments as well.
Mr. Darkwa cited the lack of awareness and usage among stakeholders, stakeholder participation, strength and growth of stakeholder participation and regional policy commitment to standard in the sub-region as some of the challenges to achieving global standards in Africa.
"Development from scratch for national standard requires technical expertise. Although it is appropriate to adopt national standards, on the other hand adoption of international standards reduces dumping and leads to better opportunities for countries that can't produce"he argued.
He stated that economic is now technology driven and therefore if countries lack it then the end product would not meet the requirement.
For that reason, he said government must create an efficient infrastructure to deal with this element. We must have the capacity to enforce the standards in as much as we have the standards.
Mr. Darkwa said that by achieving standards it will improve the quality of locally manufactured products and enhance market access, enable conformity to domestic regulations and ensure the health and safety of the citizenry.
"Less than 25 companies in Ghana have received ISO 9000 certification and we must work at that because the returns are immense."
He added, "It is important for us to work together so that by our collective numbers, combining our expertise we can achieve a lot."
The sector said that funding for bodies such as the Ghana Standards Board (GSB) and the Food and Drugs Board (FDB) to carry out their mandate is always a problem ; hence the need to support them.
The President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Mr. Tony Oteng-Gyasi emphasized that by the above statement, industry is not asking for discount because it will be wrong to do so.
"Discount will be a wrong policy so industry will be prepared to pay for the right prices if it will give agencies the capacity to stop shoddy goods from coming here," he stated during AGI lecture in Accra to mark its 50th anniversary.
He said that although it is a difficult job to set standards it can be done. “This is an area where I find that repeatedly our regulatory bodies don't want to have the problem of enforcement because that is a difficulty.
"That is why they all look in their laws and say that it is not our job."
Mr. Oteng-Gyasi challenged the bodies to tell industry what are the best strategies or practices and how they can be enforced.
"We need to fashion out policies to meet our requirements. We must stop some of these goods from arriving at our shelves before we go and see them and decide that it is good or not because even if it is in English some of our people cannot read."
Delivering a lecture on the "Challenges and Prospects for Achieving Global Standards within the Framework of a West African Economic Union", the Executive Director of the GSB, Mr. Adu G. Darkwa noted that whereas the union has a mission to promote economic integration among 250 million consumers to achieve a large economic block, members trade more with the European Union (EU) than among themselves.
He said often times countries confuse global standards with quality and limit it to just one institution.
He explained that broadly there are voluntary and mandatory standards, with the latter generally backed by law and can be enforced by an institution.
"Broadly standards by definition are conscientious important documents prepared with agreement and not just something that any group of people for their own selfish interest can define and impose on others."
Therefore, he said it is crucial that the widest possible participation be guided not only by industry but governments as well.
Mr. Darkwa cited the lack of awareness and usage among stakeholders, stakeholder participation, strength and growth of stakeholder participation and regional policy commitment to standard in the sub-region as some of the challenges to achieving global standards in Africa.
"Development from scratch for national standard requires technical expertise. Although it is appropriate to adopt national standards, on the other hand adoption of international standards reduces dumping and leads to better opportunities for countries that can't produce"he argued.
He stated that economic is now technology driven and therefore if countries lack it then the end product would not meet the requirement.
For that reason, he said government must create an efficient infrastructure to deal with this element. We must have the capacity to enforce the standards in as much as we have the standards.
Mr. Darkwa said that by achieving standards it will improve the quality of locally manufactured products and enhance market access, enable conformity to domestic regulations and ensure the health and safety of the citizenry.
"Less than 25 companies in Ghana have received ISO 9000 certification and we must work at that because the returns are immense."
He added, "It is important for us to work together so that by our collective numbers, combining our expertise we can achieve a lot."
EPA moves to manage wastewater in coastal cities
The first training course for municipal wastewater managers in West Africa towards addressing problems associated with wastewater in the coastal cites in the region ends today in Accra.
Discharge of untreated municipal waste water into rivers, lagoons and estuaries or directly in the ocean has been identified as one of the most serious threats to the health of coastal populations and sustainable coastal development worldwide.
As a result, there is the need to adopt and implement alternative and sustainable approaches to municipal waste water management to reduce the large proportion of the population who lack access to adequate sanitation.
It is believed that if these managers are trained they will convey the message and eventually lead to a change in managing municipal wastewater which is one of the main land-based sources of pollution to the coastal and marine environment.
UNEP Global Programme of Action for the protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities together with the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education developed the course to raise awareness on the need to improve municipal wastewater management for coastal cities.
As a response, the Environmental Protection Agency of Ghana (EPA) in collaboration with UNEP/UNESCO and the University of Ghana delivered the course to municipal wastewater managers and representatives from organisation that influence the implementation of projects in municipal wastewater collection and treatment.
Similar training programmes will be held in Sekondi-Takoradi and Kumasi later in the year.
According to the Executive Director of EPA, Mr. Jonathan Allotey there are many resources found within the coastal zone which are also very fragile.
He noted that the ecosystem of the coastal zone is currently under pressure due to a variety of socio-economic activities such as industries, unplanned urban settlement, location of hotels, and mining activities.
He said Ghana has a coastline of over 550 kilometers which makes up 6.5% of the total area of the country and about 60 % of industries located within the coastal zone.
However, he said activities within the zones have increased significantly the incidents of pollution within the coastal zone, coastal erosion and degradation of the natural resources.
"The impact of these activities has sufficiently compromised the capacity of the marine and coastal system to support socio-economic development which has resulted in food insecurity and deepening poverty in communities within the zones."
Mr. Allotey recalled that it is in recognition of this that in 2001 in Montreal, governments of coastal countries including Ghana committed themselves to global plan of action on land based activities that threaten marine and coastal zones.
He said Ghana endorsed the EPA to support the global fight. “In accordance with the global plan of action, Ghana organised a stakeholder workshop in 2005 to review previous strategies and on going initiatives.
"The EPA believes that by working in close collaboration with stakeholders it will result in reversing the current trend in coastal marine water areas in Ghana."
An Environmental expert of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Dr. Jacques Abe who is also the Executive Director of The Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem (GCLME) Project, noted that municipal waste water is increasingly becoming a serious issue that needs to be addressed, hence the training of trainers to increase awareness on reducing pollution and improving water quality.
Dr. Abe said municipal wastewater management is necessary so countries can utilize their rivers for livelihood and as sources of clean drinking water.
He regretted that waste water is regularly discharged into the lagoon ending in the sea, saying, "It is time for countries to reflect on how to work together for conducive regional cooperation to help prevent our resources from pollution, as majority of our people depend on them for survival'.
Discharge of untreated municipal waste water into rivers, lagoons and estuaries or directly in the ocean has been identified as one of the most serious threats to the health of coastal populations and sustainable coastal development worldwide.
As a result, there is the need to adopt and implement alternative and sustainable approaches to municipal waste water management to reduce the large proportion of the population who lack access to adequate sanitation.
It is believed that if these managers are trained they will convey the message and eventually lead to a change in managing municipal wastewater which is one of the main land-based sources of pollution to the coastal and marine environment.
UNEP Global Programme of Action for the protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities together with the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education developed the course to raise awareness on the need to improve municipal wastewater management for coastal cities.
As a response, the Environmental Protection Agency of Ghana (EPA) in collaboration with UNEP/UNESCO and the University of Ghana delivered the course to municipal wastewater managers and representatives from organisation that influence the implementation of projects in municipal wastewater collection and treatment.
Similar training programmes will be held in Sekondi-Takoradi and Kumasi later in the year.
According to the Executive Director of EPA, Mr. Jonathan Allotey there are many resources found within the coastal zone which are also very fragile.
He noted that the ecosystem of the coastal zone is currently under pressure due to a variety of socio-economic activities such as industries, unplanned urban settlement, location of hotels, and mining activities.
He said Ghana has a coastline of over 550 kilometers which makes up 6.5% of the total area of the country and about 60 % of industries located within the coastal zone.
However, he said activities within the zones have increased significantly the incidents of pollution within the coastal zone, coastal erosion and degradation of the natural resources.
"The impact of these activities has sufficiently compromised the capacity of the marine and coastal system to support socio-economic development which has resulted in food insecurity and deepening poverty in communities within the zones."
Mr. Allotey recalled that it is in recognition of this that in 2001 in Montreal, governments of coastal countries including Ghana committed themselves to global plan of action on land based activities that threaten marine and coastal zones.
He said Ghana endorsed the EPA to support the global fight. “In accordance with the global plan of action, Ghana organised a stakeholder workshop in 2005 to review previous strategies and on going initiatives.
"The EPA believes that by working in close collaboration with stakeholders it will result in reversing the current trend in coastal marine water areas in Ghana."
An Environmental expert of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Dr. Jacques Abe who is also the Executive Director of The Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem (GCLME) Project, noted that municipal waste water is increasingly becoming a serious issue that needs to be addressed, hence the training of trainers to increase awareness on reducing pollution and improving water quality.
Dr. Abe said municipal wastewater management is necessary so countries can utilize their rivers for livelihood and as sources of clean drinking water.
He regretted that waste water is regularly discharged into the lagoon ending in the sea, saying, "It is time for countries to reflect on how to work together for conducive regional cooperation to help prevent our resources from pollution, as majority of our people depend on them for survival'.
Child diabetes assumes alarming proportions
In recent times, diseases that were associated only with adults have now become universal. Even children are getting diseases such as diabetes.
Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin which is a hormone produced in the pancreas, an organ near the stomach.
Insulin is needed to turn sugar and other food into energy. When you have diabetes, your body either doesn't make enough insulin or can't use its own insulin as well as it should, or both. T
his causes sugars to build up too high in the blood.Childhood obesity is said to be the cause of this mystery, as children are affected in every way due to such problems with their weight.
Diabetes, hypertension and cardiac problems are now claiming young victims.A report published by the International Journal of Pediatric Obesity states that an estimated 22 million children worldwide below the age of five are overweight.
Generally child obesity happens during the ages of 5 and 6 and also in the adolescent period.
The child may weigh higher than normal which should be a warning signal for parents to make necessary changes in diet and lifestyle.
More than three million out of Ghana's estimated twenty million population is overweight or obese, according to statistics on the prevalence of overweight and obesity in seven African countries.
The countries include Ghana, Congo Brazzaville, Liberia, Nigeria, Niger, Senegal and Sierra Leone. Reports say obesity in children is increasing even in Ghana, posing a threat to the health of the future leaders.
World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics show that obesity related diseases which had become a major public health challenge in the 21st century claim the lives of over 17 million people annually.
Mrs. Margaret Atuahene, Nutritionist and PhD Candidate at the School of Public Health at a Ghana Health Service (GHS) seminar to launch "Child Health Week' promotion in Accra disclosed that Ghana is getting closer to diabetes becoming an epidemic, in the city and also happening in the rural areas because so much is being imported into the system.
She said that currently, much of the food children consume is high in cholesterol coupled with lack of exercise.
"These days they sit in front of television sets and play video games always. Now every room has a television and everybody is using the remote control instead of getting up to regulate TV."
She said sometimes children put pressure on parents to get them foods from fast foods joints, restaurants and hotels.
"Unless we tackle childhood obesity at a multi-sectoral point we will get nowhere with it," she cautioned.
She regretted that now Ghana is beginning to see children diagnosed with type two diabetes, which years ago was limited to only adults, especially those whose fat level is so high .
Mrs. Atuahene mentioned genetics, diet, gender and pregnancy as some of the factors that contribute to diabetes.
"It is more common in women than men. Genetics has a role to play because sometimes it runs through the family. Stress indeed can add to the amount of fat."
She explained that children get diabetes when there is too much sugar in the blood and in the urine while there is not enough insulin to direct the glucose into the cells to give them the energy that they need to study, walk, talk and dance.
Consequently, she said they become very weak. Unfortunately, she said diabetes mellitus cannot be cured but can only be managed.
At the family level she stressed that food portions and contents should be controlled.
"It is important that we reduce the amount of fried foods that we consume. We need to cut down on egg, chicken skin etc because they add up to weight gain."
She continued, "Also look for ways to do some activity like walking and even washing your clothes."
Mrs. Atuahene called for sectoral collaboration between the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Ministry of Health and Education to ensure that physical activity becomes part of the curriculum if it is not.
"We can engage the media to find our way forward. We must extend our hand to fast food products even if it means training them to fight the disease by ensuring that the right ingredients are used in preparing food."
Further, she said that the school feeding programme should be closely monitored and weight monitoring in schools encouraged.
Recently, the Health Minister, Major Courage Quashigah (Rtd) at a health Symposium on the Prevalence of Obesity in Ghana noted that overweight and obesity, which were considered problems only in high -income countries, were dramatically on the rise in low and middle-income countries particularly in urban settings.
He urged Ghanaians to adopt his ministry's new paradigm of creating wealth through health, which placed emphasis on prevention, rather than curative healthy lifestyles and avoid acts that are detrimental to their lives.
He also suggested an intersectoral partnership among stakeholders in the health sector, control in the consumption of western diets and lifestyles that cause abdominal obesity, especially among women and to place the issue of overweight and obesity high on the national agenda as a way to stem the tide.
Other speakers admitted that obesity is a major health problem, which causes diseases like hypertension, heart attacks, strokes, and cancers and called for attitudinal change to turn the situation around.
Dr Maame Yaa Nyarko of Department of Child Health, University of Ghana Medical School, who spoke on "Obesity in Children", said obesity results in respiratory problems like asthma disorders in children and called for family involvement in the weight loss plan of the kids.
She said weight loss in children should not be drastic and suggested outdoor activities and a healthy diet to stem the tide.
Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin which is a hormone produced in the pancreas, an organ near the stomach.
Insulin is needed to turn sugar and other food into energy. When you have diabetes, your body either doesn't make enough insulin or can't use its own insulin as well as it should, or both. T
his causes sugars to build up too high in the blood.Childhood obesity is said to be the cause of this mystery, as children are affected in every way due to such problems with their weight.
Diabetes, hypertension and cardiac problems are now claiming young victims.A report published by the International Journal of Pediatric Obesity states that an estimated 22 million children worldwide below the age of five are overweight.
Generally child obesity happens during the ages of 5 and 6 and also in the adolescent period.
The child may weigh higher than normal which should be a warning signal for parents to make necessary changes in diet and lifestyle.
More than three million out of Ghana's estimated twenty million population is overweight or obese, according to statistics on the prevalence of overweight and obesity in seven African countries.
The countries include Ghana, Congo Brazzaville, Liberia, Nigeria, Niger, Senegal and Sierra Leone. Reports say obesity in children is increasing even in Ghana, posing a threat to the health of the future leaders.
World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics show that obesity related diseases which had become a major public health challenge in the 21st century claim the lives of over 17 million people annually.
Mrs. Margaret Atuahene, Nutritionist and PhD Candidate at the School of Public Health at a Ghana Health Service (GHS) seminar to launch "Child Health Week' promotion in Accra disclosed that Ghana is getting closer to diabetes becoming an epidemic, in the city and also happening in the rural areas because so much is being imported into the system.
She said that currently, much of the food children consume is high in cholesterol coupled with lack of exercise.
"These days they sit in front of television sets and play video games always. Now every room has a television and everybody is using the remote control instead of getting up to regulate TV."
She said sometimes children put pressure on parents to get them foods from fast foods joints, restaurants and hotels.
"Unless we tackle childhood obesity at a multi-sectoral point we will get nowhere with it," she cautioned.
She regretted that now Ghana is beginning to see children diagnosed with type two diabetes, which years ago was limited to only adults, especially those whose fat level is so high .
Mrs. Atuahene mentioned genetics, diet, gender and pregnancy as some of the factors that contribute to diabetes.
"It is more common in women than men. Genetics has a role to play because sometimes it runs through the family. Stress indeed can add to the amount of fat."
She explained that children get diabetes when there is too much sugar in the blood and in the urine while there is not enough insulin to direct the glucose into the cells to give them the energy that they need to study, walk, talk and dance.
Consequently, she said they become very weak. Unfortunately, she said diabetes mellitus cannot be cured but can only be managed.
At the family level she stressed that food portions and contents should be controlled.
"It is important that we reduce the amount of fried foods that we consume. We need to cut down on egg, chicken skin etc because they add up to weight gain."
She continued, "Also look for ways to do some activity like walking and even washing your clothes."
Mrs. Atuahene called for sectoral collaboration between the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Ministry of Health and Education to ensure that physical activity becomes part of the curriculum if it is not.
"We can engage the media to find our way forward. We must extend our hand to fast food products even if it means training them to fight the disease by ensuring that the right ingredients are used in preparing food."
Further, she said that the school feeding programme should be closely monitored and weight monitoring in schools encouraged.
Recently, the Health Minister, Major Courage Quashigah (Rtd) at a health Symposium on the Prevalence of Obesity in Ghana noted that overweight and obesity, which were considered problems only in high -income countries, were dramatically on the rise in low and middle-income countries particularly in urban settings.
He urged Ghanaians to adopt his ministry's new paradigm of creating wealth through health, which placed emphasis on prevention, rather than curative healthy lifestyles and avoid acts that are detrimental to their lives.
He also suggested an intersectoral partnership among stakeholders in the health sector, control in the consumption of western diets and lifestyles that cause abdominal obesity, especially among women and to place the issue of overweight and obesity high on the national agenda as a way to stem the tide.
Other speakers admitted that obesity is a major health problem, which causes diseases like hypertension, heart attacks, strokes, and cancers and called for attitudinal change to turn the situation around.
Dr Maame Yaa Nyarko of Department of Child Health, University of Ghana Medical School, who spoke on "Obesity in Children", said obesity results in respiratory problems like asthma disorders in children and called for family involvement in the weight loss plan of the kids.
She said weight loss in children should not be drastic and suggested outdoor activities and a healthy diet to stem the tide.
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