THE National Co-ordinator of the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP), Mr Michael Nsowah, has pledged to obtain all food items for the programme from small-scale farmers in the country.
This forms part of efforts adopted by the programme to aggressively pursue the objective of Home Grown School Feeding.
He said this during the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)’s annual global fundraising and advocacy walk dubbed: “End hunger-Walk the World” in Accra.
Mr Nsowah said despite the GSFP’s challenges, it remained the NEPAD model for poverty reduction in Africa, and could increase school attendance and enrolment as well as act as an effective outlet for food produced by the Ghanaian farmers.
He said the current global economic crises, preceded by last year’s increase in fuel and food prices had created anxiety about a resurgence of soaring hunger among the world’s most vulnerable.
He said following the new challenges facing the global community, there was the need for Ghana to work extra hard to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) related to reducing hunger and improving health and education by 2015.
Mr Nsowah said the debilitating effects of hunger were sometimes underestimated and added that the effects were tragic for individuals and staggering for nations.
“People who have experienced and survived hunger in childhood may have their minds permanently dulled, limiting their ability to analyse situations and to fully pursue their livelihoods,” he stated.
The Head of Programmes of the WFP, Ms Sibi Lawson-Marriott, said recent surveys had shown that the number of malnourished children living Ghana was declining.
She said the country had to be commended because of its efforts to ensure that children who were the most vulnerable were being fed.
The walk, which started from the Golden Tulip Hotel and ended at the Accra Shopping Mall, sought to raise awareness on the issue of hunger, particularly among children and raise funds to address the challenge.
From Tamale, Vincent Amenuveve reports that the Deputy Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Mabengba addressed participants after the walk to end hunger.
The Deputy Minister noted that Ghana’s ability to achieve the 2015 goals of reducing hunger and improving health indicators has been linked to the country’s ability to sustain food-based safety net programmes.
Mr Mabengba said the programmes must be specially targeted at vulnerable children in schools and pre-schools and pregnant women across the country.
He noted that the effect of hunger particularly on the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) of children could permanently make such children dull and limited in analysing situations and pursuing their livelihoods.
“Most people focus on hunger’s physical manifestations such as emaciation of famine-affected population and the small stature of chronically malnourished people but the most damaging impact is on the IQ,” he pointed out.
According to him, “a vicious cycle can be created where hungry children become damaged adults with limited opportunities and capacities and end up having hungry children of their own”.
He, therefore, stressed the need for “targeted interventions in nutrition and learning to promote a virtuous cycle of good nutrition and learning through generations”.
The minister, however, pointed out that the current global economic crisis preceded by last year’s fuel and food price increases had created anxiety about a resurgence of soaring hunger among the world’s most vulnerable.
The Head of the WFP Sub-office in Tamale, Mr Ahmed Saeed, indicated that his outfit had purchased food items from farmers in Ghana worth millions of Ghana cedis to help eliminate hunger among children in deprived communities.
He, however, observed that in spite of these interventions some children in Ghana still went to bed hungry.
“We are resolute in our will and confident in our collective ability to feed those who are hungry and to protect those who are now at greater risk of hunger because of global events and poverty,” Mr Saeed stressed.
CAPTION: Some participants of the World Food Programme’s walk.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Innolink to sponsor best reporter(9/6/09)mp
Story: Jennifer Dornoo & Martha Asantewaa Boateng
THE Vice-President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Affail Monney, has appealed to the government to fast-track the promulgation of the Right to Information Bill to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the association.
He said the right to information bill has been in the back burner for close to seven years with no hope of its promulgation in sight.
Mr Monney said this at the presentation of a sponsorship package by Innolink Limited, a printing and packaging firm, towards the 14th GJA awards in Accra yesterday.
This, he said, would help journalists to easily access reliable information and get evidence in support of their stories.
He said the bill, which had been in the public domain for seven years, needed approval to help journalists in the discharge of their duties.
Mr Monney thanked Innolink for the sponsorship package for the Best News Reporter in the Print Media category, which was a laptop, a one-week sponsored attachment with the Avusa Group of Newspapers in South Africa, an arranged meeting with the great and renowned international icon, Madiba Nelson Mandela, and a cash prize of GH¢5000.
It also included the printing of 1000 copies of the souvenir brochure for the 60th anniversary of the GJA and 14th media awards night.
He said sponsorship packages like these would motivate journalists to deliver their best and help them rise above challenges that confronted them.
The Marketing Consultant of Innolink Limited, Mr Franklyn Benefo, said the company had acknowledged that the media had positioned itself as the voice of the ordinary man in the street.
He said the ordinary man who had never sat in the classroom could now get himself connected to a radio station to express his views on issues of national concern.
"If democracy has to succeed, the media must be empowered and emboldened to play a leading role in this endeavour," he added.
Mr Benefo said it was the desire to recognise and appreciate the young men and women who produced the raw material from which the news was manufactured, that Innolink took the decision to sponsor the Best News Reporter for Print Journalism.
"In rewarding the effort of the Best News Reporter in Print Journalism, we pay tribute to all those printers and engineers who ensure that the wheels of the printing industry turn to produce the newspaper," he stated.
He said the company believed that high-level sponsorships were what were needed to obtain the best out of journalists.
THE Vice-President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Affail Monney, has appealed to the government to fast-track the promulgation of the Right to Information Bill to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the association.
He said the right to information bill has been in the back burner for close to seven years with no hope of its promulgation in sight.
Mr Monney said this at the presentation of a sponsorship package by Innolink Limited, a printing and packaging firm, towards the 14th GJA awards in Accra yesterday.
This, he said, would help journalists to easily access reliable information and get evidence in support of their stories.
He said the bill, which had been in the public domain for seven years, needed approval to help journalists in the discharge of their duties.
Mr Monney thanked Innolink for the sponsorship package for the Best News Reporter in the Print Media category, which was a laptop, a one-week sponsored attachment with the Avusa Group of Newspapers in South Africa, an arranged meeting with the great and renowned international icon, Madiba Nelson Mandela, and a cash prize of GH¢5000.
It also included the printing of 1000 copies of the souvenir brochure for the 60th anniversary of the GJA and 14th media awards night.
He said sponsorship packages like these would motivate journalists to deliver their best and help them rise above challenges that confronted them.
The Marketing Consultant of Innolink Limited, Mr Franklyn Benefo, said the company had acknowledged that the media had positioned itself as the voice of the ordinary man in the street.
He said the ordinary man who had never sat in the classroom could now get himself connected to a radio station to express his views on issues of national concern.
"If democracy has to succeed, the media must be empowered and emboldened to play a leading role in this endeavour," he added.
Mr Benefo said it was the desire to recognise and appreciate the young men and women who produced the raw material from which the news was manufactured, that Innolink took the decision to sponsor the Best News Reporter for Print Journalism.
"In rewarding the effort of the Best News Reporter in Print Journalism, we pay tribute to all those printers and engineers who ensure that the wheels of the printing industry turn to produce the newspaper," he stated.
He said the company believed that high-level sponsorships were what were needed to obtain the best out of journalists.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Education minister impressed with G-Pak's facilities (8/6/09)mp
THE Minister of Education, Mr Alexander Tettey-Enyo, has expressed satisfaction at the high quality of printing by Graphic Packaging (G-Pak), a subsidiary of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL).
He was convinced that G-Pak had the capacity to print all the educational materials needed to complement education in the country .
He gave the G-Pak high marks when he paid a familiarisation visit to the company as part of measures to determine the capacity of printing houses in the country to handle the printing of textbooks and exercise books in the country.
Mr Tettey-Enyo said the government intended to help local printers in the country to increase their capacity and give employment to the youth.
He was accompanied by his deputy, Mrs Elizabeth Amoah Tetteh, and the executive members of the Ghana Printers and Paper Converters Association (GPPCA).
Welcoming the delegation, the Managing Director of the GCGL, Mr Mohammed Awal, said G-PAK had the capacity to print materials that were needed in the country to complement education.
He said if that policy was supported, job opportunities would be created for the unemployed, while state revenue would be increased for the socio-economic development of the country.
He later took the minister and his entourage on a tour of the various departments of the company.
The President of GPPCA, Mr James Appiah-Berko, said about $70 million was spent last year on printing textbooks outside the country.
He pleaded with the government to support the industry by reducing tariffs on raw materials imported into the country so that materials printed in the country would become affordable.
The minister and his team had earlier visited Type Press, Yasarko Press and Innolink.
He was convinced that G-Pak had the capacity to print all the educational materials needed to complement education in the country .
He gave the G-Pak high marks when he paid a familiarisation visit to the company as part of measures to determine the capacity of printing houses in the country to handle the printing of textbooks and exercise books in the country.
Mr Tettey-Enyo said the government intended to help local printers in the country to increase their capacity and give employment to the youth.
He was accompanied by his deputy, Mrs Elizabeth Amoah Tetteh, and the executive members of the Ghana Printers and Paper Converters Association (GPPCA).
Welcoming the delegation, the Managing Director of the GCGL, Mr Mohammed Awal, said G-PAK had the capacity to print materials that were needed in the country to complement education.
He said if that policy was supported, job opportunities would be created for the unemployed, while state revenue would be increased for the socio-economic development of the country.
He later took the minister and his entourage on a tour of the various departments of the company.
The President of GPPCA, Mr James Appiah-Berko, said about $70 million was spent last year on printing textbooks outside the country.
He pleaded with the government to support the industry by reducing tariffs on raw materials imported into the country so that materials printed in the country would become affordable.
The minister and his team had earlier visited Type Press, Yasarko Press and Innolink.
Sempe pupils briefed on their rights (8/6/09)p11
THE acting Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Ms Anna Bossman, has urged children to report all forms of infringement of their rights to the police or the commission for thorough investigation and action.
Interacting with pupils of the Sempe One A Primary School in Accra last Friday, Ms Bossman said reporting infringements would contribute to the development of the culture of enforcing children’s rights.
The interactive programme was organised by CHRAJ on a pilot basis as part of its efforts to create awareness of human rights in selected basic schools in Accra.
It used the occasion to sensitise children to their rights and responsibilities, as well as the appropriate steps they were required to take when their rights were violated.
Ms Bossman encouraged children to be bold to report their parents who abused them or violated their rights to the commission.
She said it was a crime for parents not to look after their children and added that the necessary action would be taken to ensure that parents adhered to the rights of their children, such as fundamental human rights and the right to education and health.
The acting commissioner advised children to be law abiding and respect authority, perform their responsibilities and study hard so that they could grow to become responsible leaders in future.
She advised the children against drug addiction and all forms of child labour and asked them to focus on their education to be able to achieve their lifetime dreams and ambitions.
The Director in charge of Legal Services and Investigations at CHRAJ, Mr Joseph Whittal, said teachers had the right to discipline children when they misbehaved but not to the extent of degrading them or causing harm to them.
He assured the children of the commitment of CHRAJ to thoroughly investigate any report they made to the commission for appropriate measures to be taken to ensure that they enjoyed their rights.
During an open forum, the pupils asked questions and sought clarification on issues bothering them.
A similar interactive and sensitisation programme is expected to be organised by CHRAJ at the St Mary’s Anglican Primary School in Accra on June 12, 2009.
Interacting with pupils of the Sempe One A Primary School in Accra last Friday, Ms Bossman said reporting infringements would contribute to the development of the culture of enforcing children’s rights.
The interactive programme was organised by CHRAJ on a pilot basis as part of its efforts to create awareness of human rights in selected basic schools in Accra.
It used the occasion to sensitise children to their rights and responsibilities, as well as the appropriate steps they were required to take when their rights were violated.
Ms Bossman encouraged children to be bold to report their parents who abused them or violated their rights to the commission.
She said it was a crime for parents not to look after their children and added that the necessary action would be taken to ensure that parents adhered to the rights of their children, such as fundamental human rights and the right to education and health.
The acting commissioner advised children to be law abiding and respect authority, perform their responsibilities and study hard so that they could grow to become responsible leaders in future.
She advised the children against drug addiction and all forms of child labour and asked them to focus on their education to be able to achieve their lifetime dreams and ambitions.
The Director in charge of Legal Services and Investigations at CHRAJ, Mr Joseph Whittal, said teachers had the right to discipline children when they misbehaved but not to the extent of degrading them or causing harm to them.
He assured the children of the commitment of CHRAJ to thoroughly investigate any report they made to the commission for appropriate measures to be taken to ensure that they enjoyed their rights.
During an open forum, the pupils asked questions and sought clarification on issues bothering them.
A similar interactive and sensitisation programme is expected to be organised by CHRAJ at the St Mary’s Anglican Primary School in Accra on June 12, 2009.
smoking pupils rate alarming (8/6/09)p.3
A SURVEY conducted by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has indicated that 50 out of 1000 pupils surveyed smoke cigarette every day, a Principal Health Research Officer of GHS, Mrs Edith Wellington, has said.
Mrs Wellington said though the numbers might not be that huge the rate at which pupils were taking to smoking was alarming and drastic measures were needed to address the problem.
In an address to mark the post World No Tobacco Day in Accra last Saturday, Mrs Wellington said the measures were needed because children who smoked at their early stages stood the risk of many harmful effects of the smoke and were likely to get addicted at an adult age.
The event was organised by Coalition of Non-governmental Organisations in Tobacco Control (CNTC) and was to create awareness on the harm tobacco use caused to the individual and the community, as well as to sensitise Ghanaians to the tobacco control bill which is expected to be passed by the end of the year.
Mrs Wellington said the GHS had trained a number of teachers across the country to educate children on the dangers of smoking and had embarked on an awareness creation programmes in some selected schools in the country.
She said the GHS was working in collaboration with stakeholders such as the Ghana Education Service (GES) and Ministry of Health (MoH) to reduce the menace.
She said a draft bill for tobacco control was ready to be sent to Parliament for approval and implementation.
When passed the law will ban the smoking of tobacco at public places for the safety of non-smokers in the country.
The law will also ensure that children below the age of 18 are not sent to buy cigarette or are not allowed to sell the product.
The Vice-President of CNTC , Mr Oscar Bruce, called on the government to speed up the passage of the tobacco control bill.
That, he said, would reduce the harmful effects of tobacco on individuals and ensure the health of people.
The President of HealthPage Ghana, an NGO, Dr John Kwawurah, said cigarettes contained a substance called nicotine, an addictive chemical which made it difficult for smokers to stop smoking.
Additionally, cigarettes also contain about 4000 dangerous substances or chemicals which can cause cancers of the lungs, lips, tongue, throat and eye problems, hypertension and other heart-related diseases.
He said non-smokers who inhaled cigarette smoke were even at a higher risk than the smokers because smokers smoked out 85 per cent of the content of the cigarette leaving non-smokers to inhale it.
He said lung diseases which were rare had become very common in hospitals these days as a result of smoking.
Dr Kwawurah said pregnant women who smoked tobacco were at risk of giving birth to babies with deformities or having miscarriages. Additionally, tobacco could also lead to impotence in men.
He advised the youth to stay away from tobacco and avoid peers who would try to influence them into smoking, since it could lead to addiction and pose serious health threats to them and other people.
Mrs Sophia Twum-Barima, a representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), stressed the need for people to be sensitised to the implications of smoking and inhaling tobacco smoke to protect the health of the public.
She said it was important to impose high taxes on tobacco products to make them unaffordable, as well as generate revenue for the government to build hospitals to treat tobacco-related diseases.
Mrs Wellington said though the numbers might not be that huge the rate at which pupils were taking to smoking was alarming and drastic measures were needed to address the problem.
In an address to mark the post World No Tobacco Day in Accra last Saturday, Mrs Wellington said the measures were needed because children who smoked at their early stages stood the risk of many harmful effects of the smoke and were likely to get addicted at an adult age.
The event was organised by Coalition of Non-governmental Organisations in Tobacco Control (CNTC) and was to create awareness on the harm tobacco use caused to the individual and the community, as well as to sensitise Ghanaians to the tobacco control bill which is expected to be passed by the end of the year.
Mrs Wellington said the GHS had trained a number of teachers across the country to educate children on the dangers of smoking and had embarked on an awareness creation programmes in some selected schools in the country.
She said the GHS was working in collaboration with stakeholders such as the Ghana Education Service (GES) and Ministry of Health (MoH) to reduce the menace.
She said a draft bill for tobacco control was ready to be sent to Parliament for approval and implementation.
When passed the law will ban the smoking of tobacco at public places for the safety of non-smokers in the country.
The law will also ensure that children below the age of 18 are not sent to buy cigarette or are not allowed to sell the product.
The Vice-President of CNTC , Mr Oscar Bruce, called on the government to speed up the passage of the tobacco control bill.
That, he said, would reduce the harmful effects of tobacco on individuals and ensure the health of people.
The President of HealthPage Ghana, an NGO, Dr John Kwawurah, said cigarettes contained a substance called nicotine, an addictive chemical which made it difficult for smokers to stop smoking.
Additionally, cigarettes also contain about 4000 dangerous substances or chemicals which can cause cancers of the lungs, lips, tongue, throat and eye problems, hypertension and other heart-related diseases.
He said non-smokers who inhaled cigarette smoke were even at a higher risk than the smokers because smokers smoked out 85 per cent of the content of the cigarette leaving non-smokers to inhale it.
He said lung diseases which were rare had become very common in hospitals these days as a result of smoking.
Dr Kwawurah said pregnant women who smoked tobacco were at risk of giving birth to babies with deformities or having miscarriages. Additionally, tobacco could also lead to impotence in men.
He advised the youth to stay away from tobacco and avoid peers who would try to influence them into smoking, since it could lead to addiction and pose serious health threats to them and other people.
Mrs Sophia Twum-Barima, a representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), stressed the need for people to be sensitised to the implications of smoking and inhaling tobacco smoke to protect the health of the public.
She said it was important to impose high taxes on tobacco products to make them unaffordable, as well as generate revenue for the government to build hospitals to treat tobacco-related diseases.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Buses(5/6/09)mp
Story: Emmanuel Bonney & Jennifer Dornoo
The Ministry of Education yesterday presented 22 buses worth GH¢ 770,000 to selected senior high schools (SHS) to promote effective teaching and learning.
The beneficiary schools include Sefwi Bekwai, Nandom, Aduman, Dadieso, Dorfor, Prang and Sekyedumase, Labone and the St Thomas Aquinas Senior High Schools.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tetteh-Enyo, said the presentation was another giant step towards enhancing teaching and learning in the schools.
He said the presentation of the 33-seater buses was in pursuit of the government’s desire to ensure that all senior high schools were provided with means of transportation to facilitate school activities.
He said since assuming office, the NDC government had come out with many programmes to ensure that all senior high schools were well placed for the task of producing students of high calibre.
Mr Tetteh-Enyo said education was currently at the forefront of the national development agenda, adding that the desire “to ensure effective teaching and learning in the schools placed enormous responsibilities on teachers”.
He appealed to teachers to rededicate themselves to their profession as the government would ensure that teachers were provided with the necessary tools and incentives to enable them to perform their duties effectively.
He urged the various beneficiaries to take good care of the buses and maintain them well to give them a longer life span.
The Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Samuel Bannerman-Mensah, appealed to the heads of institutions to use the buses for the operations of the GES and school activities.
The headmistress of Labone Senior High School, Mrs Joyce Agyekum, on behalf of heads of beneficiary schools thanked the ministry for the buses and assured the sector minister that the buses would be well maintained.
The Ministry of Education yesterday presented 22 buses worth GH¢ 770,000 to selected senior high schools (SHS) to promote effective teaching and learning.
The beneficiary schools include Sefwi Bekwai, Nandom, Aduman, Dadieso, Dorfor, Prang and Sekyedumase, Labone and the St Thomas Aquinas Senior High Schools.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tetteh-Enyo, said the presentation was another giant step towards enhancing teaching and learning in the schools.
He said the presentation of the 33-seater buses was in pursuit of the government’s desire to ensure that all senior high schools were provided with means of transportation to facilitate school activities.
He said since assuming office, the NDC government had come out with many programmes to ensure that all senior high schools were well placed for the task of producing students of high calibre.
Mr Tetteh-Enyo said education was currently at the forefront of the national development agenda, adding that the desire “to ensure effective teaching and learning in the schools placed enormous responsibilities on teachers”.
He appealed to teachers to rededicate themselves to their profession as the government would ensure that teachers were provided with the necessary tools and incentives to enable them to perform their duties effectively.
He urged the various beneficiaries to take good care of the buses and maintain them well to give them a longer life span.
The Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Samuel Bannerman-Mensah, appealed to the heads of institutions to use the buses for the operations of the GES and school activities.
The headmistress of Labone Senior High School, Mrs Joyce Agyekum, on behalf of heads of beneficiary schools thanked the ministry for the buses and assured the sector minister that the buses would be well maintained.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
superstitious belief - Its impact on women’s development (30/5/09)
Superstitious beliefs are prevalent among women than men because less women are educated, compared to men. Most of the superstitious beliefs in our society are in the form of old traditions which are transmitted from one generation to another.
The Wikipedia free encyclopaedia says the word “superstition” is often used pejoratively to refer to beliefs deemed irrational. It is also commonly applied to beliefs and practices surrounding luck, prophecy and spiritual beings, particularly the irrational belief that future events can be influenced or foretold by specific unrelated prior events.
Superstitious beliefs can be found in every culture and the Ghanaian culture is no exception. Many superstitious beliefs in our culture can be analysed from different angles.
First, some of these beliefs are associated with women. These beliefs show their old immature way of thinking. For example, they can guess the sex of baby by?????? a dead male snake.????????
Some superstitious beliefs which are related to bad or good luck can be found among adults in many cultures. (EXAMPLES????) know that there is no scientific justification for such beliefs, but some people still believe them and try hard to adapt their lifestyles to suit them.
Furthermore, children also have some superstitious beliefs. These beliefs also demonstrate their limited knowledge. They practise such beliefs without any family interference or correction. For instance, kids believe the red colour symbolises evil and hell whereas the green colour indicates the contrary. So, they choose the green-coloured items such as books and possessions
The issue of witchcraft and superstitious beliefs and their impact on African development was discussed at a one-day seminar in Accra as part of a campaign to disabuse the minds of the public on women and witchcraft as well as superstition. The seminar, which was organised by the Centre For Inquiry (CFI) Transitional, in partnership with the Ghana Chapter of Society for Women and AIDS in Africa (SWAA) was held on the theme “Witchcraft and Superstition: Impact on African Development”.
The President of the SWAA, Ghana, Mrs Bernice Heloo, said innocent, poor, illiterate and aged women had over the years been victims to false accusations of being witches, She stressed that there was the need to discard the ill-conceived notion that many women were witches since such perception undermined their ability to contribute meaningfully towards national development.
Mrs Heloo said the tagging of women as witches could lead to social exclusion, alienation and human rights abuses and that could psychologically undermine the capacity of women to empower themselves and contribute to national discourse and development.
She said because of the belief that women were witches, some of them had been tortured, neglected and in some extreme cases, murdered.
Mrs Heloo attributed the incidence of witchcraft accusations and superstition to the increasing number of spiritual churches which claim to be fighting against witchcraft.
She said SWAA was interested in the topic because a number of people who had been infected with the HIV virus attributed the cause to witchcraft and others also blamed women for bring the curse on them.
She said some of the ‘spiritual’ churches also keep HIV-positive persons for a long time with the excuse of praying for them and pointed out that some of the them were coerced by the pastors to announce in the media that they had been cured, while others became seriously ill and lost their lives.
She said in most cases, it was women who suffered most and, therefore, called on Ghanaians to help fight superstition through sustained educational programmes.
The Board Chairman of Amnesty International, Mr Vincent Adzahlie-Mensah, said witchcraft in Ghana was associated with stigmatisation and social violence, and argued that the phenomenon was the source of poverty, joblessness, sickness, sorrow and pain that many women went through.
He revealed that people who were accused of witchcraft were tortured and compelled to confess to avoid persistent torture.
Mr Adzahlie-Mensah said civil society organisations had a crucial role to play in reducing the menace by campaigning for the closure of camps for witches and protection of the aged.
The Chairman of CFI Transnational, Mr Leo Igwe, also stressed the need to fight against superstitious beliefs that had the tendency of undermining development, creating fear, hatred and confusion which oppressed women and undermined their ability to succeed.
The Wikipedia free encyclopaedia says the word “superstition” is often used pejoratively to refer to beliefs deemed irrational. It is also commonly applied to beliefs and practices surrounding luck, prophecy and spiritual beings, particularly the irrational belief that future events can be influenced or foretold by specific unrelated prior events.
Superstitious beliefs can be found in every culture and the Ghanaian culture is no exception. Many superstitious beliefs in our culture can be analysed from different angles.
First, some of these beliefs are associated with women. These beliefs show their old immature way of thinking. For example, they can guess the sex of baby by?????? a dead male snake.????????
Some superstitious beliefs which are related to bad or good luck can be found among adults in many cultures. (EXAMPLES????) know that there is no scientific justification for such beliefs, but some people still believe them and try hard to adapt their lifestyles to suit them.
Furthermore, children also have some superstitious beliefs. These beliefs also demonstrate their limited knowledge. They practise such beliefs without any family interference or correction. For instance, kids believe the red colour symbolises evil and hell whereas the green colour indicates the contrary. So, they choose the green-coloured items such as books and possessions
The issue of witchcraft and superstitious beliefs and their impact on African development was discussed at a one-day seminar in Accra as part of a campaign to disabuse the minds of the public on women and witchcraft as well as superstition. The seminar, which was organised by the Centre For Inquiry (CFI) Transitional, in partnership with the Ghana Chapter of Society for Women and AIDS in Africa (SWAA) was held on the theme “Witchcraft and Superstition: Impact on African Development”.
The President of the SWAA, Ghana, Mrs Bernice Heloo, said innocent, poor, illiterate and aged women had over the years been victims to false accusations of being witches, She stressed that there was the need to discard the ill-conceived notion that many women were witches since such perception undermined their ability to contribute meaningfully towards national development.
Mrs Heloo said the tagging of women as witches could lead to social exclusion, alienation and human rights abuses and that could psychologically undermine the capacity of women to empower themselves and contribute to national discourse and development.
She said because of the belief that women were witches, some of them had been tortured, neglected and in some extreme cases, murdered.
Mrs Heloo attributed the incidence of witchcraft accusations and superstition to the increasing number of spiritual churches which claim to be fighting against witchcraft.
She said SWAA was interested in the topic because a number of people who had been infected with the HIV virus attributed the cause to witchcraft and others also blamed women for bring the curse on them.
She said some of the ‘spiritual’ churches also keep HIV-positive persons for a long time with the excuse of praying for them and pointed out that some of the them were coerced by the pastors to announce in the media that they had been cured, while others became seriously ill and lost their lives.
She said in most cases, it was women who suffered most and, therefore, called on Ghanaians to help fight superstition through sustained educational programmes.
The Board Chairman of Amnesty International, Mr Vincent Adzahlie-Mensah, said witchcraft in Ghana was associated with stigmatisation and social violence, and argued that the phenomenon was the source of poverty, joblessness, sickness, sorrow and pain that many women went through.
He revealed that people who were accused of witchcraft were tortured and compelled to confess to avoid persistent torture.
Mr Adzahlie-Mensah said civil society organisations had a crucial role to play in reducing the menace by campaigning for the closure of camps for witches and protection of the aged.
The Chairman of CFI Transnational, Mr Leo Igwe, also stressed the need to fight against superstitious beliefs that had the tendency of undermining development, creating fear, hatred and confusion which oppressed women and undermined their ability to succeed.
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