General News
Mahama calls for stronger financing and political will to advance gender equality in Africa
President John Dramani Mahama has called on African leaders to intensify efforts toward achieving gender equality, stressing that empowering women is essential for the continent’s economic transformation and sustainable development.
Speaking at a high-level breakfast meeting on financing and reaffirming Africa’s gender commitments, held on the sidelines of the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, President Mahama described gender parity as a collective responsibility rather than an issue affecting women alone.
“And let me thank you for the honor done me in decorating me with this pin. I’ll wear it with pride, and I think it will be a symbol that the effort to create gender parity is not only a female issue, it is for both male and female,” he said.
Mahama emphasized that Africa’s development ambitions cannot be realized without fully integrating women into economic and governance structures.
“We need not merely to reaffirm commitments, but to confront a central truth that gender equality is not peripheral to Africa’s development. It is fundamental to our economic transformation, our social resilience and sustainable growth,” he stated.
The Ghanaian leader warned that gender-focused programs across the continent continue to suffer from inadequate funding, particularly during periods of economic austerity.
“Let us be candid, despite decades of declarations, Africa’s gender agenda remains chronically underfunded. Gender responsive programs are often the first casualties when we decide to implement austerity,” he said.
Mahama further highlighted the economic benefits of investing in women, arguing that gender equality is not only a moral obligation but also a strategic development priority.
“The evidence is unequivocal. Gender equality makes economic sense. Investments in women raise productivity, strengthen resilience and expand economic growth. Every woman entrepreneur creates jobs, every girl educated multiplies prosperity, and every barrier removed unleashes innovation,” he noted.
He urged African countries that have yet to ratify key continental gender frameworks, including the Maputo Protocol, to do so without delay. Mahama also called for swift ratification and implementation of the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls.
“Violence against women and girls is not only a moral outrage, it is an economic catastrophe, costing Africa billions annually in healthcare, lost productivity and justice expenditures,” he said.
Highlighting Ghana’s progress, Mahama pointed to significant milestones including improved female representation in governance and initiatives to promote girls’ education. He expressed optimism about women’s political leadership in Ghana.
“I am confident that sooner rather than later, a woman will occupy the highest office of president in Ghana,” he said.
The president also announced major financial commitments by Ghana to promote women’s economic empowerment, including funding for the Women’s Development Bank.
“In our 2026 budget, we allocated 401 million Ghana cedis… targeted at expanding affordable credit, financial literacy and enterprise support for women, particularly those in the informal and vulnerable employment,” he revealed.
Mahama acknowledged emerging educational challenges affecting boys while celebrating improvements in girls’ education.
“We’ve attained gender parity in school enrollment and improved completion rates for girls. Indeed, we need to come out with a boy child program to keep the boys in school,” he said.
Calling for renewed continental commitment, Mahama proposed five key pillars to drive gender equality, including political leadership, resource mobilization, policy coherence, accountability, and strengthened partnerships.
He also issued four major calls to action for African Union member states, including adopting gender-responsive budgeting by 2028 and accelerating women’s financial and economic inclusion.
“The reality before us is simple. Africa cannot afford to leave more than half of its population behind, not if we are serious about building the Africa we want,” Mahama stressed.
He concluded by urging governments, private sector partners, and civil society organizations to align resources and actions toward measurable progress.
“The true test of this meeting will not be the speeches we’ve given here today, but tomorrow’s budgets, the laws and protection for women and girls. When we meet again, let it be to announce results and not to explain delays,” he said.
General News
Investigative Journalism Under Siege as Corruption Becomes the New Normal – Nana Kwadwo Jantuah
Veteran journalist Nana Kwadwo Jantuah has raised concerns over the state of investigative journalism in Ghana, arguing that widespread corruption is making wrongdoing appear normal to the public.
Speaking on the challenges facing the media via a zoom meeting on Kessben TV’s Digest show, Jantuah said society has become so deeply affected by corruption that many questionable actions are now accepted by the masses without scrutiny.
According to him, powerful individuals often prioritize money above integrity, creating an environment where “every foul means” is used to accumulate wealth.
He also weighed in on recent comments by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) General Secretary, stating that while the official’s position is correct, some journalists are likely to oppose the move and criticize him for allegedly failing to meet what they describe as accepted professional standards.
Jantuah warned that investigative journalism is increasingly under pressure, stressing that journalists committed to exposing corruption must remain steadfast despite criticism and resistance.
He maintained that protecting ethical journalism is essential to safeguarding accountability and strengthening Ghana’s democracy
General News
Canceling Zoomlion Contract Was Reckless and Unsubstantiated – Andy Kankam Slams Government Over Accra Flood Crisis
Managing Editor of the Informer, Andy Kankam, has strongly criticized the government’s handling of the recent flooding in Accra, describing the decision to terminate Zoomlion Ghana Limited’s sanitation contract as “reckless and unsubstantiated.”
Speaking on the aftermath of the devastating floods on Kessben Maakye show in Accra, Kankam argued that the government’s response has failed to address the root causes of the disaster, insisting that the GHS150 million allocated for flood-affected communities is inadequate.
According to him, the President should have consulted engineers and technical experts before announcing relief measures to determine the cost of expanding drainage systems and creating effective flood channels, rather than relying on political decisions.
He also questioned the process that led to the release of the relief funds, asking what consultations were undertaken before the government approved nearly GHS200 million for flood victims.
Kankam further lamented the worsening sanitation situation in the capital, claiming that heaps of refuse remain uncollected because Zoomlion no longer has a contract to clean parts of the city.
He challenged authorities to identify which company currently has the capacity to replace Zoomlion’s nationwide sanitation operations, arguing that the contract termination has contributed to choked drains and poor waste management.
The media executive maintained that flood prevention requires long-term engineering solutions and effective sanitation management, rather than emergency political interventions after disasters occur.
By Maurice Otoo
General News
Ghana Armed Forces to Deploy Troops and Engineers for Nationwide Flood Recovery Operation
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) will launch a nationwide operation to desilt major drains, rivers, and waterways in response to the severe floods that affected various regions of Ghana on June 28 and 29, 2026.
This initiative is part of the government’s flood recovery and mitigation efforts aimed at restoring damaged infrastructure and reducing the risk of future disasters. Military personnel, engineering units, and specialised machinery will be deployed to clear blocked drainage systems by removing silt, refuse, fallen trees, abandoned vehicles, collapsed structures, and other debris that obstructs the free flow of water.
At a press briefing in Accra on Friday, July 3, the Director General of Joint Operations at the Ghana Armed Forces, Brigadier General Forster Okae-Yeboah, stated that the initiative aims to reopen critical drainage channels and enhance public safety in flood-prone communities. He emphasised that roads, bridges, drains, and waterways clogged with debris would be cleared to restore normal movement and strengthen the country’s resilience against future flooding.
Brig. Gen. Okae-Yeboah also mentioned that authorities may remove buildings and other structures that have been illegally constructed within waterways or those deemed to pose an immediate danger to lives and property. He clarified that such actions will be taken in accordance with existing laws and in collaboration with the relevant civil authorities.
He urged individuals occupying drainage reserves and environmentally protected areas to cooperate with officials throughout the exercise to ensure its successful implementation.
The operation will be carried out through a coordinated effort involving several state institutions, including the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Health Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The government anticipates that this exercise will improve drainage systems, restore critical public infrastructure, and minimise the impact of future flooding across the country.
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