EXPO TIMES Kofi Akosah-Sarpong, in Accra , explores the growing “culture of rights” in Ghana's development process
Human rights values are progressively being sown in Ghana in the face of some aspects of her culture entangling rights growth. To further grow “culture of rights” and sanitize some aspects of the traditional values that entangle rights growth, the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), established under the Act of Parliament of the 1992 Constitution that ushered in multiparty democracy, is researching into cultural values that violate the rights of Ghanaians. The expanding applications of human rights values nation-wide is not only enriching the Ghanaian culture and deepening democracy but increasingly putting daylight on the dark recesses of Ghana 's development process.
Hundreds of primary school pupils in Matam (Northern Senegal) stormed the streets of the village in protest against arrangements made by the parents of their 10 year-old female colleague to get married to her cousin.
The parents of the teenage girl, Adja Ly, and those of her future husband (who lives abroad) had arranged the marriage without the consent of the girl.
Kofi Akosah-Sarpong continues his deep look at developments in the West African sub-region and argues that the current fragile security climate calls for a new security thinking rooted in the region's culture, history and experiences
"Espionage, technical attack, disgruntled staff, poor conditions of service, sabotage, indiscretion, incompetence/indiscipline and culture of silence among others have been identified as emerging threats to the government of Sierra Leone." This were words reported by the Freetown-based Concord Times following the launch of a new national security policy for Sierra Leone, a country whose brutal decade long civil, the most horrible in Africa, is expected to generate interest in a West African sub-region prone to instabilities and that is itching for a new regional security architecture because of the rate of civil wars, coup detat, armed robberies and general crime compared to other parts of Africa.
Kofi Akosah-Sarpong writes that in the mist of abject poverty, ignorance and some aspects of the African culture that promote superstition, miracles, like the ones reported in Ghana via satellite from a Nigeria preacher, should be approached thoughtfully
People at a spiritual retreat at Asante-Mampong say their diverse illness have been healed at the end of a religious revival. The congregation, like most miracle seekers throughout the world, gazed at the sky while listening to the ministration of a Pastor William F. Kumuyi from Nigeria via satellite transmission.
COMMENTARY: Cultural journalist Kofi Akosah-Sarpong says that the recent bizarre cultural practices in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and parts of Africa call for serious look our culture in relation to our development.
It pop up now and then like an advertisement on the Internet to remind us that despite our complacency of looking the other way they are still around, drawing us back as we attempt to develop. I am talking about the negative aspects of our culture as happened this week in the southern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and northern Uganda. Despite last week's pop up of these horrific cultural incidents in Uganda and DRC, the practices sprawl everyday in Africa, especially in the rural areas, where most dabblers go for it.
Innovation Prize for Africa Announces 2013 Finalists
Experts from across Africa develop market-oriented solutions to address sanitation, malaria, energy and other challenges while driving economic growth on the continent
CAPE-TOWN, South-Africa, April 25, 2013/ -- Ten African innovators have developed practical solutions to some of the continent’s most intractable problems.
UNICEF Reiterates - Allow All Pregnant Girls to Take Exams
Freetown 3 May2013 –UNICEF calls on everyone, parents, exam officials and head teachers in Sierra Leone to ensure pregnant girls are allowed and supported to take their exams. “It has come to our attention that last year a number of girls were either not entered for the exams or turned away from the exam hall by invigilators because they were pregnant”, said UNICEF Country Representative Roeland Monasch. “UNICEF would like to point out that this practice is highly discriminative.
TUESDAY MAY 7, 2013 -Two veteran journalists, now Members of Parliament representing Bo and Kailahun districts, today paid a courtesy call on the executive of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) where they formally congratulated the new President of SLAJ, Mr. Kelvin Lewis, on his victory in the Association’s last Biennial Conference and also pledged their support to the Association in its fight to have the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill passed into law and the Seditious and Criminal aspects of our laws repealed.
On 24 May last year, I went to Kailahun with the Peace Project to donate crutches to the disabled and while there the blind also requested we help them with walking canes. We promised to be back with the 500 walking canes once they arrive from the United States.
When I got back to Parliament after the trip, I bumped literally into Hon Alice Foyah and after apologising for my clumsiness I told her of my trip to her constituency. She smiled fully, her eyes like two shining buttons. She placed a hand on my shoulder and said warmly:
BOYS SCHOOL CAMPUS, Magburaka Town, 17 May, 2013/--His Excellency Dr Ernest Bai Koroma has confidently told the people of Magburaka that their township is on the rise. "Magburaka is rising again with paved roads, solar-lit streets. Magburaka is rising again, with employment opportunities opening up for its inhabitants; Magburaka is rising again, with renewed zeal, faith and action. And with the rise of this town, our school, the Government Secondary School Magburaka, will continue to sustain its heritage of producing sterling leaders for all fields of endeavours in our country", he said
"Sierra Leone is owned by all of us" -- President Koroma tells Fullah Community
STATE HOUSE, Freetown, 22nd May, 2013/--- His Excellency Dr Ernest Bai Koroma has said that Sierra Leone belongs every citizen. He made this statement during a courtesy call on him by a cross section of the Fullah community in the country.
The courtesy call came in the wake of the recent conferment of the award of the Order of the Rokel on Alhaji Borbor Bah, by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone during this year’s Insignia and Awards and Reception ceremony, in recognition of his singular efforts in actualizing government’s aspirations in promoting the private sector.
On 12 May 2013 the Panamax vessel, MV ALAM PESONA, left Freetown Harbour carrying over 83,000 tonnes of London Mining’s iron ore concentrate, the largest quantity ever to have been loaded in the harbour, vindicating the decision by the Sierra Leone Ports Authority (SLPA) to authorize additional draft at the port. Sailing at a tide of 3.60 metres and a draft of 14 metres, the vessel exceeded the SLPA’s previously recognised draft at the harbour by nearly 10%.
BOYS SCHOOL CAMPUS, Magburaka Town, 17 May, 2013/--His Excellency Dr Ernest Bai Koroma has confidently told the people of Magburaka that their township is on the rise. "Magburaka is rising again with paved roads, solar-lit streets. Magburaka is rising again, with employment opportunities opening up for its inhabitants; Magburaka is rising again, with renewed zeal, faith and action. And with the rise of this town, our school, the Government Secondary School Magburaka, will continue to sustain its heritage of producing sterling leaders for all fields of endeavours in our country", he said