Ghana Pushes for Local Vaccine Manufacturing as GAVI Support Ends in 2030

-

March 29, 2025

BY: Lambert Coffie | VoltaOnline

Eric Eli Adzie, a sports journalist with GBC-Volta Star Radio in Ho, emerged as the overall best student of the 2024 graduating class at the Evangelical Presbyterian University College’s (EPUC) 16th graduation ceremony held on Friday, March 28.

Mr. Adzie, the immediate past SRC President, graduated with First Class Honours in Governance Studies, earning him the Overall Best Graduating Student, Best Male Graduating Student, and Best Graduating Student in Governance Studies awards.

In his valedictory speech, Mr. Adzie expressed gratitude to the university’s management, lecturers, and family for their support throughout his academic journey.

The ceremony, attended by the Volta Regional Minister, Hon. James Gunu, as the Guest of Honour, and the leadership of the E.P. Church, saw a total of 265 students graduate. This includes 16 Certificate-level graduates, 12 Diploma graduates, 222 Bachelor’s Degree graduates, and 15 Master’s Degree graduates.

Prof. Tsatsu Adogla-Bessa, Acting President of EPUC, presented a comprehensive report highlighting the institution’s growth, challenges, and achievements. He emphasized the values of hard work, discipline, and integrity as the foundation of the graduates’ success.

He also announced a Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) agreement for a 3,000-bed hostel facility and lecture halls at EPUC’s permanent site at Wumenu.

Hon. James Gunu commended EPUC for advancing education and regional development. He encouraged graduates to approach future endeavours with dedication, hard work, and innovation, reaffirming government support for tertiary education in the Volta Region.

“Congratulations to the graduates on their achievements; may their contributions benefit society,” Hon. Gunu added.

Three Women Named Among 17 MMDCE-Nominees For Volta Region

By

-

March 26, 2025

Daniel Orlando / VoltaOnline

President John Dramani Mahama has nominated 17 individuals to serve as Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) for various districts within the Volta Region.

The names were contained in a release by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Callistus Mahama, announcing nominees for eight out of the 16 regions.

The nominees, who are subject to approval by their respective Assemblies, include three women: Sandra Seyram Kpedor for Anlo, Victoria Amefadzi Yawa Doe for North Tongu, and Victoria Dzeklu for South Tongu.

For Ho Municipal, Mr. Stephen Adom, a staff member of the National Health Insurance Authority and a former parliamentary aspirant of the NDC, has been nominated as the Municipal Chief Executive. Also, the nominee for Kpando Municipal Assembly is yet to be named.

Below is the full list of nominees:

Ho Municipal – Stephen Adom
Hohoe Municipal – Prosper Kumi
Ketu South Municipal – Nicholas Kwabla Worlachie
Ketu North Municipal – Rev. Martin Amenaki
Keta Municipal – Wisdom Bondiru Seade
Adaklu District – Jerry Yaw Ameko
Afadzato South District – Manfred Tawiah
Agotime-Ziope District – Alfred Klu Odikro
Akatsi North District – Bless Kodjo Katamani
Akatsi South Municipal – Daniel Dogba
Anlo District– Sandra Seyram Kpedor
Central Tongu District – Dodzi Mornyie Addison
Ho West District – Prosper Francis Dussey
North Tongu District – Victoria Amefadzi Yawa Doe
South Dayi District – Courage Kwame Kokroko
South Tongu District – Victoria Dzeklu
North Dayi District – Ernest Adevor
Kpando Municipal – Pending

The President’s nominations are in line with the ongoing efforts to strengthen local governance and ensure effective leadership at the district level.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Concerned Parents of Ho Regional Model School Call for Removal of Municipal Education Director

By

-

March 24, 2025

BY: Daniel Orlando / VoltaOnline

A group of concerned parents from the Regional Model Basic School in Ho has urged the authorities to remove Dr. Esther Adzo Adzimah-Yeboah, the Ho Municipal Education Director, citing disruptions to the school’s governance, academic performance, and administration.

At a press conference held in Ho on Tuesday, Mr. Rockson Fiagbor, the organizer of the aggrieved parents, expressed their frustration over the declining educational standards at the school. They attributed the problem to the arbitrary transfer of qualified teachers, including headmistresses, allegedly due to their involvement in sharing information about the PTA’s leadership and administration.

The parents argued that this has caused disruptions in the learning environment, impacting students’ academic performance. They also raised concerns about the interference in the PTA’s election process by the Municipal Education Director, alleging that a well-organized PTA election was suspended indefinitely after candidates supported by the Education Director and the old PTA executives were defeated.

Furthermore, the parents expressed concern over the inadequate ICT infrastructure at the school, with over 1,200 students having to share just four desktop computers. They also accused Dr. Adzimah-Yeboah of threatening parents who raised concerns about the school’s management with the dismissal of their wards from the school.

The parents pointed out that the lack of change in PTA leadership, with key positions being held by the same individual for over twelve years, raises ethical and financial concerns.

The concerned parents, clad in red attire, later petitioned the office of the Volta Regional Minister to intervene in the issue, as efforts to get the Regional Education Directorate to call the director to order went unheeded.

Additionally, the parents have demanded an investigation into the mismanagement of PTA funds and the upholding of results from last year’s PTA election. They are also calling for an engineering audit of the school’s infrastructure, particularly the unfinished JHS block, which they contend has become a safety hazard for students.

Ghana Catholic Bishops Demand Urgent Educational Reforms & Stronger Governmental Partnerships

By

-

March 18, 2025

BY: Daniel Orlando / VoltaOnline

The Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference has called for immediate reforms in the country’s educational system, urging the government to finalize a long-awaited partnership agreement with mission schools and improve technical and vocational education.

The call was made at the end of the Second National Catholic Education Forum, held at the St. Bakhita Catholic Church in Koforidua, under the theme “Catholic Education for Integral Development: Shaping a Resilient and Inclusive Ghana.”

The forum discussed challenges facing the education sector, including inadequate religious and moral formation, neglect of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and rising cases of indiscipline and examination malpractice.

In a communiqué signed by Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Catholic Bishop of Sunyani and President of Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC), the bishops emphasized the need for stronger partnerships between the government and faith-based institutions.

The Catholic Church, a leading education provider, operates over 5,453 basic schools, 82 Senior High Schools, 41 TVET institutions, and several tertiary colleges across Ghana.

The Bishops urged the government to reverse resource allocation imbalances in the education sector and commit to establishing at least one TVET center of excellence per region. They also recommended a phased-out transition within two years to address challenges with Ghana’s Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, which has faced criticism over the double-track system and resource constraints. They also demanded a minimum of 20 per cent quota in all Catholic schools for Catholic students.

Furthermore, the Bishops called for the restoration of roles for General, Regional, and Local Managers in overseeing Catholic schools, as well as the inclusion of Catholic representatives in key educational bodies such as the Ministerial Advisory Board of Education and the Ghana Education Service Council.

Government Moves To Reconstruct Ho-Aflao, Weta-Afiadenyigba-Havedzi Roads

By

-

March 17, 2025

BY: Lambert Coffie / VoltaOnline

The government has taken steps to fulfill its promise to reconstruct the Ho-Aflao Road and the Weta – Afiadenyigba – Havedzi Road, bringing relief to commuters and residents in the Volta Region.

The minister for Roads and Highways, Hon. Kwame Agbodza, accompanied by his deputy, Hon. Alhassan Suhuyini, over the weekend led a team of engineers from the Ministry and the Ghana Highway Authority to assess the conditions of the roads and plan for urgent intervention.

According to Hon. Agbodza, the Ho-Aflao Road reconstruction will be undertaken under President John Mahama’s Big Push Agenda, while the Weta – Afiadenyigba – Havedzi Road will be funded through the Roads Ministry’s 2025 budgetary allocation.

The Minister also revealed that feasibility studies, drawings, and designs for the Ho bypass are nearing completion, with procurement and construction set to commence soon.

The reconstruction of these roads is expected to improve transportation and boost economic activities in the Volta Region.

UHAS Inducts 258 Students into Clinical Training

By

-

March 16, 2025

BY: Daniel Orlando / VoltaOnline

The University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) on Friday, March 14 inducted 258 students from the School of Medicine and the School of Pharmacy into the clinical phase of their training at its 4th White Coat ceremony.

The induction ceremony, which was held at the university’s campus at Sokode-Lokoe near Ho, marked a significant milestone for the students, comprising 96 Physician Assistants, 110 Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery Students, and 52 Doctor of Pharmacy students.

A key highlight of the ceremony was the oath-taking, which bound the students to the ethical principles and values of their respective professions. With that, they acknowledged their responsibility to adhere to these principles and demonstrated their commitment to becoming compassionate, competent, and ethical healthcare professionals.

Professor Yaw Asante Awuku, Dean of the School of Medicine, charged the students to exhibit professionalism, dedication, and a noble duty of service to humanity. He urged them to uphold high ethical standards and show compassion to patients.

Vice Chancellor of UHAS, Professor Lydia Aziato, who chaired the event, urged the inductees to work collaboratively as a team and exhibit the tenets of the university to the world.

Guest Speaker, Professor Mahama Duwiejua, from the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana, emphasized the need for collaboration between professionals to transform healthcare delivery.

He stressed the importance of building mutual respect and understanding within healthcare teams, calling for the removal of barriers, promotion of inclusivity, and recognition of each professional’s unique contributions.

The White Coat ceremony is a symbolic rite of passage that marks the transition of students from the pre-clinical to the clinical phase of their training. It is a significant step for these future healthcare professionals, who will go on to provide quality healthcare services to Ghanaians.

Being A Female Judge in Ghana is ‘Extremely Tough’ – Mama Bobi III

By

-

March 13, 2025

BY: Lambert Coffie| VoltaOnline

Mama Bobi III, a Circuit Court Judge in Accra and a Queen Mother of Ho Bankoe, has opened up about the challenges women judges face in Ghana, describing it as an “extremely tough” job.

In a video interaction with veteran journalist Ben Dotsei Malor at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Mama Bobi, known in private life as Angela Attachie, revealed that female judges, especially those on the lower bench, face significant obstacles.

Mr. Malor with Mama Bobi at the UN Headquarters

These include intimidation and disrespect from some litigants and lawyers, especially males, who perpetuate biases and stereotypes that women are weak and incapable of holding positions of authority.

However, she noted that being on top of the law and firm in her decisions has been crucial in overcoming these challenges. “For me, anyone who is appearing in my court knows the kind of judge they’re coming to, and they know I won’t tolerate their nonsense,” she stated confidently.

Despite the challenges, Mama Bobi remains optimistic about the future, citing the implementation of affirmative action on the bench as a game-changer.

Ghana’s Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, passed in July 2024, aims to increase women’s participation in governance and decision-making to at least 30% by 2030.

Mama Bobi is currently participating in the sixty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the UN, where she is engaging with the global community to address widespread inequalities, violence, and discrimination against women.

She has also been interacting with Ghanaians working at the UN headquarters, as part of her visit.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Kpando Dzewoe Youth Hails Govt’s Free Sanitary Pads Initiative

By

-

March 12, 2025

BY: VoltaOnline NewsDesk

The Kpando Dzewoe Youth Foundation has commended the government for allocating GH¢292.4 million for the distribution of free sanitary pads to female students in primary and secondary schools.

The Finance Minister, Mr. Cassiel Ato Forson, announced the allocation during the presentation of the 2025 budget in Parliament, stating that the government aims to promote menstrual hygiene management and empower young girls.

According to Zikpuitor Frank Gletse, Chairman of the foundation, the allocation is a welcome relief, as many young girls especially from deprived homes struggle to afford sanitary pads every month.

The foundation, which launched the Pad Bank Project in 2022, providing 750 pieces of sanitary pads to young girls in need, had faced difficulties in replenishing the pads.

Zikpuitor Gletse expressed gratitude to the government for the allocation, which he said would go a long way to promote menstrual hygiene management and empower young girls.

The foundation has further called for the reduction of import duties on sanitary pads, which would significantly decrease the cost, making them more affordable and accessible to all young girls in Ghana.

Source: Togbui Dzablu IV, Dela Radio

Govt Allocates GH¢442.5M For Disaster Victims in Volta

By

-

March 12, 2025