The Central Regional Office of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has stepped up environmental education in basic schools, urging pupils to adopt good habits and join tree-planting drives to help tackle climate change.

The initiative is part of the authority’s broader effort to raise a new generation of environmentally conscious citizens.

As part of the exercise, the EPA embarked on an outreach programme at Ajumako Mando in the Ajumako Enyan Essiam District to promote environmental awareness and sustainable practices among schoolchildren.

The engagement, which involved pupils from Mando Methodist Basic School and Mando D/A Basic School on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, formed part of activities marking this year’s World Environment Day.

Acting Regional Director’s Remarks

Explaining the rationale, the Acting Central Regional Director of the EPA, Dr Daniel Nartey, said children are tomorrow’s leaders.

“We believe it is important to promote tree planting and educate pupils on good environmental habits because children are the future custodians of the environment,” he stated.

He added: “There is an adage that says, ‘Catch them young and they shall be yours forever.’ Instilling environmental values at an early age helps create a generation that is conscious of and committed to protecting environmental resources.”

Dr Nartey explained that trees absorb carbon dioxide, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and help mitigate the effects of climate change – hence the authority’s decision to provide seedlings for the pupils to plant.

District Education Office Representative

The Finance and Administration Officer at the Ajumako District Education Office, Mr Fred Incoom, who represented the District Director of Education, reflected on the national theme for this year’s World Environment Day: “Building a Climate-Resilient Ghana through Responsible Stewardship.”

He said the theme placed a responsibility on all Ghanaians, including school pupils, to play active roles in building a climate-resilient Ghana.

Mr Incoom encouraged the pupils to embrace the EPA’s initiative, learn the importance of protecting nature, plant trees to help mitigate climate change, and become responsible citizens who care for the environment.

Climate consciousness for the young

A Programme Officer at the Central Regional EPA Office, Mr Haneef Abeiku Forson, said the authority had targeted pupils at the basic school level to help them understand climate change and its impacts.

He noted that rainfall patterns in the country had already changed as a result of climate change, a situation that underscored the need to instil climate consciousness in young people.

Mr Forson advised the pupils to become ambassadors of the EPA’s environmental protection campaign by educating their peers on the dangers of littering and indiscriminate waste disposal.

“As ambassadors, you have a duty to educate your parents on the need to separate household waste into plastic, organic, solid and liquid categories. Additionally, learn and practise the five ‘R’ principles: Refuse, Reuse, Reduce, Recycle and Repurpose,” he said.

Seedlings presented to schools

A variety of seedlings – including pawpaw, coconut, acacia and mango – were presented to the two schools through the headteachers, Messrs Ernest de-Graft Enyan (D/A School) and Solomon Acquah (Methodist School). The trees are to be planted on the school compounds to mitigate climate change, provide fruit for pupils, offer shade, and help reduce temperatures.

EPA-branded souvenirs were also given to pupils who answered questions correctly during an open quiz held as part of the programme.

Source By DC Kwame Kwakye

The Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, has described the enactment of the Legal Education Act, 2026 (Act 1170), as a mature and thoughtful step towards transforming legal education in Ghana.

Parliament passed the Legal Education Bill in March this year, and it received presidential assent from President John Dramani Mahama last month.

The Act is expected to broaden access to legal education and strengthen the training of future legal practitioners across the country.

Speaking at a colloquium on legal education reform in Ghana, under the theme “Implementing the Legal Education Act 2026: Institutional Readiness, Accreditation and the Future of Legal Training,” the Chief Justice called on law faculties and stakeholders to work together in addressing pressing national issues through legal scholarship and research.

The Chief Justice further urged universities and law faculties to position themselves for the successful implementation of the reforms.

“The central question before us today is one of genuine readiness. Governance and regulatory preparedness must be substantive not symbolic. Institutions must be able to get strategies that guarantee academic integrity,” he stressed.

He emphasized the need for institutions to invest in state-of-the-art moot courts, digital learning facilities, and other modern infrastructure to ensure students receive practical and quality legal training under the new legal education framework.

Source By Hawa Iddrisu

The Department of Crop Science of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), School of Agriculture, has launched a Taro Product Innovation Exhibition and Training at the forecourt of the Sasakawa Centre on the campus.

The event, held on Thursday, June 11, 2026, aimed to showcase the diversity and potential for value-addition of taro, also known as Brube or Kooko in Ghana (Colocasia esculenta), by demonstrating how this underutilised crop can be transformed into a range of nutritious, marketable food products. The exhibition also aimed to raise awareness of taro’s contribution to food security, income generation, and dietary diversification in Ghana. The aim of the training on Taro Processing and Food Preparation is to equip women agro-processors and smallholder farmers with practical, hands-on skills in taro flour production and the preparation of taro-based food products, enabling them to establish and grow small-scale taro processing enterprises that add value, improve incomes, and strengthen local food systems.

Welcoming guests to the gathering, Prof. Julius Kofi Hagan, speaking on behalf of the Dean of the School of Agriculture, explained that the school has three core mandates: teaching, research, and community service. “This activity demonstrates our commitment to community service,” he said. “We have a team of researchers who devote their time to doing things that benefit farmers, society, and the world at large.” He urged participants to seize the opportunity to learn more about taro and explore the variety of products that can be derived from the crop.

Prof. Michael Osei Adu, lead researcher for the project and Head of the Department of Crop Science, noted that the programme would not have been successful without the collaborative efforts of the CSIR-Plant Genetic Resources Research Institute (CSIR-PGRRI, Bunsu), the CSIR-Crop Research Institute (CSIR-CRI Fumesua, Kumasi), and the GAEC-Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute (GAEC-BNARI, Accra). At UCC, Prof. Adu, a specialist in Crop Ecophysiology and Improvement, further underscored that although the project is housed at the Department of Crop Science, the team has also collaborated with the Department of Agrifood Systems and Technology and the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension (both in the School of Agriculture), as well as the Department of Biochemistry of the School of Biological Sciences, UCC.

Explaining the rationale behind the project, Prof. Adu stated that it fundamentally aims to breed taro for climate resilience and to commercialise the crop. He noted that the Department of Crop Science has carved out a niche in root and tuber crop breeding. “So far, the department has released 11 cassava varieties,” he revealed, adding, “We had to focus on another equally important but neglected tuber — taro, also known as Brube or Kooko in Ghana.”

Drawing on his experience and recalling the counsel of his mentor, Prof. J. P. Tetteh, who shared an experience from a previous project with him, Prof. Adu said Prof. Tetteh and his colleagues had worked with the Root and Tuber Improvement Programme (RTIP), which led to a glut in cassava harvests. That programme later evolved into the Root and Tuber Improvement and Marketing Programme (RTIMP) when they realised that the first attempt had neglected marketing. Learning from this, we have resolved that all our breeding work will have a commercialisation dimension, Prof Adu remarked. “So, we focused on breeding taro not only to grow around water bodies but also on uplands,” he said. “We also bred taro that is tolerant to leaf blight disease.”

Prof. Adu argued that to make their work more economically viable, the team had to examine the entire value chain of taro production — producing a crop resilient to climate change by being tolerant of drought and disease, increasing yields, and making taro available to farmers. “After this programme, we will distribute about 30,000 planting materials to farmers to plant,” he emphasised.

The Head of Department explained that although the breeding aspect is incomplete, the exhibition aimed to show Ghanaians that beyond boiling and eating taro, there are other economically viable products from the crop. This is the commercialisation, entrepreneurial, and marketing aspect of the project, he stressed.

Highlighting the uses of taro, Dr Rosemond Godless Dadzie, from the Department of Agrifood Systems and Technology who led the food processing team, shared that “most of the baked products Ghanaians enjoy can be made from taro.” She stressed, “100%  taro flour can be used to make noodles, cakes, doughnuts, and more.” She further revealed that some of these products were the result of student ingenuity — one student developed taro noodles, and another developed fortified taro porridge for a healthy breakfast for children and the entire family.

On the relevance and impact of collaborative research, Mr Isaac Eliot Nyieku, speaking on behalf of Prof. Rofela Combey, Provost of the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences (CANS) at UCC, encouraged greater collaboration among the college’s various schools. “We want to see more collaborations among our researchers across schools and departments to serve the community and the country better,” he advised. He added that the college is poised to continue pursuing such partnerships and collaborative endeavours to provide meaningful solutions to the nation.

Mrs. Victoria Dansoah Abankwah, District Director for the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem (KEEA) Department of Agriculture, representing the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), noted that there has always been collaboration between MoFA and UCC in disseminating technologies and innovations to farmers. However, she disclosed that the major challenge with such projects has always been the availability of planting materials for farmers to access, as well as the long-term sustainability of the projects. “I pray we can ensure the sustainability of the programme for MoFA to run with it over the long term,” she said.

She reminded the gathering that MoFA had previously embarked on a similar project involving cassava products, which are no longer available on the market.

The Taro Product Innovation Exhibition and Training was held at the Sasakawa Centre, UCC, showcasing the economic potential of a range of value-added products. A follow-up Taro Processing and Food Preparation Training is scheduled for Saturday, June 13, 2026, at Laboratory 1 in the School of Biological Sciences, UCC.

Source By DC Kwame Kwakye

A Circuit Court in Tamale has remanded two nurses of the Salaga Municipal Hospital into police custody to assist with ongoing investigations into the alleged disappearance of a newborn baby from the facility. The suspects are expected to reappear before the court on June 18, 2026.

The court’s decision marks the latest development in a case that has reignited national concerns over the safety and security of newborns in healthcare facilities across Ghana.

Confirming the arrest to the media, the Salaga Municipal Police Commander, DSP Gabriel Alorsey, said the two suspects have provided contradictory accounts regarding the circumstances leading to the baby’s disappearance.

According to him, the male nurse told investigators that he left the baby in the care of the female nurse while he went to make photocopies. The female nurse, however, claimed she had gone to feed her child and returned within 20 minutes only to discover that the baby was missing.

The disappearance of the newborn has left the family devastated and has heightened public anxiety over recurring reports of missing babies in hospitals across the country.

The Salaga incident is the latest in a series of cases that have raised questions about security measures in maternity and postnatal wards. In June 2024, a week-old baby reportedly disappeared from the Zibilla District Hospital in the Upper East Region, prompting extensive investigations and renewed discussions on infant security protocols.

In 2025, an 11 day old baby was reported missing from the Agogo Presbyterian Hospital in the Ashanti Region but was later found safe. Another newborn was also reported missing at One Heart Hospital in Tamale, leading to the questioning of hospital staff and security personnel.

Earlier this year, a four day old baby was allegedly stolen from the postnatal ward of Mamprobi Hospital in Accra and was later recovered through police investigations.

Although health experts maintain that such incidents remain rare compared to the thousands of successful deliveries recorded annually in Ghanaian hospitals, they warn that each case exposes vulnerabilities in hospital security systems and risks undermining public confidence in healthcare institutions.

Source By Murtala Issah

In a major push to improve living and learning conditions for vulnerable girls, Asaasiam Vision International (AVI), a Ghanaian non-governmental organisation, has cut sod for the construction of two modern washrooms and a changing room facility at Oda Nkwanta in the Eastern Region.

The ceremony took place on May 29, 2026 at the Oda Nkwanta MA “A” and “B” school premises under the organisation’s ‘Let Girls Excel Africa’ programme. The philanthropic project is partly funded by the Akuraase Foundation in Portland, Oregon and individual donations from the United States, with AVI serving as the implementing agency.

Programme rationale

The ‘Let Girls Excel Africa’ initiative targets vulnerable schoolgirls aged 11 to 18 in rural Eastern Ghana. It seeks to empower them through educational support, leadership training, menstrual health education and support, and the creation of safe emotional sharing spaces.

Key objectives include improving school retention, building confidence and leadership skills, eliminating period poverty and stigma, establishing school-based clubs for sustained peer support, creating safe spaces for girls, and boosting school attendance and retention rates.

Stakeholder remarks

Mr. Donald Didier of the Akuraase Foundation, who served as the main speaker, expressed his organisation’s delight in supporting the project. He described the sod-cutting ceremony as the beginning of greater success for girls, women, and children in Ghana and across Africa.

Highlighting community involvement, Mr. Donald Didier noted: “Seeing community leaders, stakeholders, supporters, and beneficiaries come together reaffirmed the importance of this initiative and the collective commitment to creating a better future for our girls.”

According to him, the project goes beyond infrastructure. “It represents dignity, safety, confidence, and equal opportunities for girls to pursue their education without barriers. Access to safe and appropriate sanitation facilities is a fundamental necessity, and we are proud to be taking this important step toward addressing that need,” he said.

On behalf of the Akuraase Foundation, he extended a heartfelt appreciation to all supporters. “Your partnership is helping create an environment where girls can thrive, learn, and excel,” he stressed. “The sod has been cut, but the work has only just begun. Together, we are building more than a facility—we are building opportunities, confidence, and hope.”

Madam Gloria Aggrey Kilson, Director of Education for the Birim Central Municipal Assembly, echoed her joyous sentiments. She noted that the lack of modern washrooms and changing rooms remains a major challenge for many schools. She praised AVI and the Akuraase Foundation for the bold initiative, describing it as a catalyst for other stakeholders to emulate. She also appealed for at least one more similar project and called on the community, parents, and stakeholders to support the facility’s maintenance to ensure it serves its purpose.

Madam Michelle Afroso, Director of the Akuraase Foundation, expressed her happiness that the project was finally underway, saying that a clean, safe washroom and changing room for the girls is more than just a building — it brings dignity, improves health, and helps girls remain in school. She added that with these facilities the children can learn without interruption and the whole community will benefit. She thanked everyone who made the project possible and said the facility will make a meaningful difference now and for generations to come.

Madam Theresa Fempomaa Somuah, the programme coordinator, called on the girls to set realistic goals and take their education seriously, noting that many girls lack the opportunity they have been given. She urged them to use the facility to its fullest advantage.

The founder of Asaasiam Vision International, Dr. Joseph Asare, disclosed that what began as a vision is now taking shape. He expressed profound appreciation to the Akuraase Foundation for their years of support and the impact they continue to make in Ghana. He charged the girls to seize the opportunity to improve their academic performance and school attendance.

Schoolgirls in developing countries face numerous deprivations, making interventions such as this highly welcome. AVI and the Akuraase Foundation’s commitment to improving educational outcomes in the Eastern Region is a bold initiative worthy of commendation.

Source By DC Kwame Kwakye 

District Governor Nana Yaa Siriboe of Rotary District 9104 has officially chartered the Rotary Club of Accra-MOBA GEYHEY, marking the beginning of a new chapter of service, fellowship, and community impact for the club and its members.

The charter presentation ceremony brought together Rotarians, distinguished guests, alumni of Mfantsipim School and Wesley Girls’ High School, and Rotary leaders to celebrate the successful establishment of the club, which now joins Rotary International’s global network of more than 1.4 million members dedicated to humanitarian service.

Delivering a goodwill message during the ceremony, District Governor Siriboe congratulated the charter members on attaining official Rotary recognition and described the occasion as more than just the formation of a new club.

“This milestone marks not only the official recognition of your club but also the beginning of a meaningful journey of service, fellowship, and positive impact within your community and beyond,” she stated.

She commended members for their commitment to Rotary’s core values of Service Above Self, integrity, goodwill, and peace, noting that the successful formation of the club demonstrates a strong desire to expand Rotary’s reach while making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

The District Governor encouraged members to embrace the opportunities ahead with enthusiasm and purpose, urging them to build a vibrant club driven by impactful service projects, strong fellowship, innovation, and a shared vision for sustainable change.

Expressing confidence in the club’s future, she said the Rotary Club of Accra-MOBA GEYHEY has the potential to grow in strength and distinction while leaving a lasting legacy of service and excellence within District 9104 and beyond.

The chartering ceremony also celebrated the remarkable journey that led to the club’s formation. Speaking at the event, New Club Advisor PAG Leninsor A-D Kakrabah-Quarshie recounted how the initiative began when Assistant Governor Nana Afua Kyerewaa Ababio proposed the establishment of a third alumni-based Rotary club.

According to her, the initiative initially attracted more than 200 alumni through a WhatsApp platform and generated significant excitement. However, despite the promising start, participation gradually declined, meetings failed to materialize, and uncertainty threatened the project’s future.

Determined not to let the vision die, a committed group of Rotarians continued working behind the scenes to rebuild momentum. Their efforts eventually paid off, leading to elections in December 2025 and the successful chartering of the club with 26 charter members and 4 newly inducted Rotarians.

Reflecting on the journey, PAG Kakrabah-Quarshie described the achievement as a powerful lesson in resilience and perseverance.

“Tonight is more than a celebration of a new Rotary club. It is proof that resilience pays off, commitment matters, and dreams delayed are not dreams denied,” she said.

The newly chartered club also received recognition from the highest levels of Rotary leadership. In a special congratulatory message, Rotary International President Francesco Arezzo welcomed the Rotary Club of Accra-MOBA GEYHEY into Rotary’s worldwide family of service organizations. He praised the members for embracing Rotary’s ideals and reaffirmed the organization’s vision of people coming together to create lasting change in their communities and across the world.

President Arezzo noted that the club’s formation reflects Rotary’s enduring commitment to the principle of Service Above Self and encouraged members to embrace innovation, collaboration, and creativity as they begin their Rotary journey.

Adding his voice to the celebration, District Governor-Elect Dr. Andrews Jack Dotsey challenged members to view their charter as more than a ceremonial document. According to him, the charter represents a declaration that a group of committed individuals identified a need in society and chose to take collective action. He encouraged members to focus on meaningful service projects, active membership engagement, and community transformation.

The Rotary Club of Accra-MOBA GEYHEY, which draws its membership largely from alumni of Mfantsipim School and Wesley Girls’ High School, enters Rotary with a strong foundation rooted in leadership, excellence, and service.

Receiving the Rotary Charter Certificate on behalf of the newly chartered club, Charter President Rtn. Paa Kwesi Asuamah Thompson expressed profound gratitude to the Rotary leaders, mentors, and members whose unwavering support made the club’s formation possible. He paid special tribute to the Ghana Extension Committee, PP Ben Hagan, IPP Chris Quaynor, PP Nana Aba Sagoe, AG Nana Afua Ababio, PAG Leninsor Kakrabah-Quarshie, and many others who guided the club throughout its journey from concept to charter.

The Charter President noted that the official presentation of the charter certificate marks the beginning of a greater responsibility to serve communities, strengthen fellowship, and uphold Rotary’s values of Service Above Self. He reaffirmed the club’s commitment to making a meaningful impact through sustainable service projects and thanked all members and supporters for believing in the vision. He concluded by wishing continued success for Ghana, Rotary International, Rotary District 9104, and the Rotary Club of Accra-MOBA GEYHEY as it embarks on its mission of service and transformation.

Source By DC Kwame Kwakye

In a significant move to mark his fifth anniversary at Onua TV/FM, Ace Broadcast Journalist Blessed Godsbrain Smart—popularly known as Captain Smart—has announced a mechanized borehole water project to provide potable water for communities in Gomoa West.

The statement, delivered by Captain Smart on his Onua Maakyee Show on Monday, June 1, 2026, expressed gratitude to God, his family, partners, viewers, listeners, and the entire Ghanaian population for their immense support throughout his journey.

“But more importantly,” the statement read, “I believe every milestone must become a blessing to others. For me, celebration is not complete until it touches lives, restores hope, and brings relief to communities that need support.”

Emphasizing water as an indispensable commodity, Captain Smart declared that no community should suffer for something as basic and essential as clean water. “No mother should struggle daily to find water for her children. No student should lose learning time because of water scarcity.”

According to the statement, the Gomoa West Mechanized Borehole Project—slated to commence on June 4, 2026—will be implemented in ten phases across the constituency.

The following communities are the first beneficiaries of Phase One:

1. Gomoa Techiman
2. Gomoa Tarkwa
3. Gomoa Eshiem
4. Mozano Secondary School
5. Gomoa Enyeme
6. Gomoa Abamkrom
7. Gomoa Appiakrom Debiso
8. Gomoa Anyanful
9. Gomoa Mankessim
10. Gomoa Oguaa

Captain Smart intends to extend potable water to all communities within his constituency of birth. “This is my token support to my constituency of birth,” he said, demonstrating a commitment to giving back to society rather than waiting to become an MP first.

Source By DC Kwame Kwakye

Former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Paul Awentami Afoko, has called on party members, executives, and patrons to set aside old divisions and focus on building a political culture that delivers tangible progress.

Speaking during separate meetings with Regional Executives, the Council of Elders, and Patrons of the NPP in the Western North, Ahafo, Bono, and Bono East regions—part of his nationwide consultative engagements—Afoko stressed that the party must not be held back by individuals fixated on settling old scores instead of solving current problems.

“We must build bridges to the future, not the past,” Afoko told the gatherings. “If we keep looking backwards, we will miss the opportunities in front of us. The youth in this party—and a great number of us—don’t want stories about who offended whom in the past or during 2024. They want the party they believed in back to power.”

He urged members to focus on unity and grassroots organising.

The consultative engagement centred on strengthening grassroots structures and encouraging greater participation from younger members. Afoko asked members to avoid language and tactics that reopen past conflicts, saying such actions would not serve the NPP’s best interest. He also preached his 3R agenda: Reuniting, Rebuilding, and Recapturing power for the party in 2028.

“For years I chose to work quietly behind the scenes, supporting the NPP in private,” Afoko said. “But recent developments have compelled me to step forward. We need to get our party back into winning ways, and that starts with unity of purpose.”

He framed the upcoming period as a test of whether NPP politics will mature or remain stuck in cycles of blame. Nevertheless, he expressed optimism that all who love the party would come on board to realise the goal of making Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia the next President of Ghana.

“The future will not wait for us to finish fighting the past,” he said. “Let’s build the bridges now.”

The Western North tour is part of Afoko’s wider outreach aimed at reconnecting with the party’s base and repositioning its message around development and inclusion ahead of the next election cycle.

Source By DC Kwame Kwakye

CAPE COAST  The National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) and the Member of Parliament for Cape Coast North, Hon. Dr. Kwamena Minta Nyarku, have delivered emergency relief items to communities hit by recent torrential rains in the metropolis.

On Wednesday, May 27, 2026, the joint team visited Kwaaprow, Amomoma, Brabedze, Nkanfoa, Academy, Pedu, Ebubonko, Duakor, Abakam, Ankaful, and other affected areas. They assessed the scale of the disaster, spoke with displaced families, and provided immediate humanitarian assistance.

The relief package addressed urgent needs and included bags of rice, maize, and beans; cartons of cooking oil; roofing sheets; student mattresses; mosquito nets; blankets; basins; cups; buckets; and plates. The MP also provided an undisclosed amount of financial support.

Hon. Elder David Owu, Cape Coast Metro Director of NADMO, said disaster management depends on collective responsibility. He noted that the collaboration between NADMO and the MP’s office demonstrates a shared commitment to protecting lives, livelihoods, and dignity during environmental crises.

Dr. Nyarku assured victims of continued support. He used the opportunity not only to express empathy but also to urge constituents to be mindful of actions that could have cascading effects on others. He expressed profound appreciation to NADMO for its timely intervention.

NADMO continues to advise residents in flood-prone zones to remain vigilant, clear drains, and heed early warning signs as the rainy season progresses.

Source by DC Kwame Kwakye