FIRST LADY AWARDED FOR HER HUMANITARIAN WORK

The First Lady, Mrs Lordina Mahama, has been honoured at the 50th International Women Luncheon of the Rainbow Push Coalition for outstanding work in advocating for the destitute and vulnerable children in Africa.

She was also recognised for her role as President of the Organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV (OAFLA) and for her campaign to empower 

women to take charge of their reproductive health rights, as well as end mother-to-child transmission of HIV.


The luncheon, which took place in Chicago in the United States of America (USA), also provided a platform for the First Lady to discuss and update delegates of her various activities in contributing to development in Africa, as well as areas for collaboration.

In a speech read on her behalf, the First Lady stressed the need to recommit to creating a global community in which every woman was treated with dignity, and every child was loved and cared for.

She said humanitarian work was not exclusive to governments or philanthropists but to all who looked to the world and were hopeful of its development.

Mrs Mahama described the award as a call to strengthen efforts in forging a society where each person could dream and still reach that dream, as well as a call to forge an inclusive world where true equality was a reality.

In attendance at the luncheon were Mrs Hillary Clinton, the standard bearer of the Democratic Party in the USA, who spoke about women’s right to health care, reducing gun violence, among other issues.

The First Lady Mrs Lordina Mahama through her Foundation, the Lordina foundation has supported children in orphanages with items as well as the facilitated the construction of orphanage Homes, dining halls and ICT centers for schools across Ghana. She also provided artisans across the country with startup kits.

 Being the President of the Organization of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS, Mrs Mahama in collaboration with the Ghana Aids Commission has also organized free medical screening for the citizens of Ghana and provided health facilities with medical supplies and equipment in all districts of the ten regions of Ghana.

 

 These interventions are aimed at saving lives, putting smiles on faces of the  less privileged and making them financial independent.

Congratulations Your Excellency the First Lady of Ghana, Mrs Lordina Mahama for your love and support to the less privileged in society. May God continue to bless you as you continue to put smiles on faces of the less privileged.

NEWLY INUAGURATED COMMUNITY DAY SCHOOLS CREATE MORE SPACE FOR SHS ADMISSION

Parents can now relax since their wards who took part in this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination will have no difficulty getting schools to attend. 

This is due to the construction and inauguration of Community Day Schools by President Dramani John Mahama.  

Ghana’s 1992 Republican Constitution stipulates that the country must embrace a progressively free Senior High School education ten years upon the coming into being of the Constitution.

 However, this is the first time a government has commenced implementing that constitutional requirement since 1993.

  The construction of 200 community SHS in under-served rural communities across the country is part of President Mahama’s key electoral promises he made to the people of Ghana during the 2012 electioneering campaigns.

So far, President Mahama has inaugurated some schools at Otuam in the Central Region, Nkwanta South in the Volta Region, Babiamkor, and Kwaobaah-Nyanoa in the Upper West Akim District of the Eastern region. More of the Community is expected to be inaugurated.

In an interview the National Co-ordinator of the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) Mr. Kwasi Abankwa Anokye said students have started requesting that his  outfit place them in the inaugurated community day schools. “ Each community day school is going to absorb about  400 to 500 students and this is going to save us from  moving from one school to another looking for vacancies for candidates” he stated.

He noted that CSSPS is prepared to commence postings of the students into the various Senior High Schools (SHSs) as soon as the West African Examination Council (WAEC)  releases the rest of the Basic Education Certificate Examination(BECE) results. 

The Council released the results of over 400,000 BECE candidates last week leaving out others. Candidates from some 321 schools had their results withheld by the Council, pending investigations into alleged examination irregularities

OAFLA PRESIDENT CALLS FOR CONTINUED FOCUS ON ADOLESCENT GIRLS

The President of the Organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV and AIDS (OAFLA) and First Lady of Ghana, Mrs. Lordina Mahama has stated that in order for Africa to achieve many of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals, it must continue to focus on adolescent girls.

According to her adolescent girls face numerous challenges and vulnerabilities, yet until recently, they have hardly been the centre of discussions, at the global and national levels.

Addressing the High Level event on the sidelines of the 71st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Mrs. Mahama said adolescents continue to experience, elevated HIV vulnerability, with the greatest risk of exposure.

The event attended by First Ladies from all over the world, development and donor partners, Ministers of State, Technical Advisers, Goodwill Ambassadors; representatives of civil Society Organisations and youth Ambassadors was under the theme: “Improving the Sexual and Reproductive Health of Adolescent Girls: The Role of First Ladies”.

She said globally, AIDS is the leading cause of death among women, and girls, of reproductive age 15 to 49, with about 14 million children orphaned due to AIDS.

Mrs. Mahama said the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that one out of every six deaths in Africa was due to HIV; and 70 per cent of these are among adolescent girls.

She said OAFLA recognizes that, many of its member countries, have large populations of young people and therefore, the year of focus, on this population group, has provided a much-needed boost.

The First Lady said in OAFLA's work, it has strongly advocated effective policies, and strategies, towards the reduction of maternal and child mortality and the empowerment of women and children through the building, and sustaining strategic partnerships, at global, regional and community levels.

“Therefore, we have committed to help break down barriers, and with adolescent girls in the lead, we will put importance on their sexual, and reproductive health needs”, she said.

'Today, we shall determine ways in which we must all prepare, as players on the field, to support, assist and help pave the way, for our girls, towards improving their sexual, and reproductive health' she said.

Mrs. Mahama said the launch of the United Continental 'All In' Adolescent HIV campaign in Ghana in February, on the sidelines of the 7th Africa Conference on Sexual Health and Rights calls on countries, to begin listening, involving, and including young people, in efforts to reduce new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths.

She said the African First Ladies agreed at that meeting that the best practice was to build adolescents' capacity, and have them lead the efforts.

She explained that OAFLA members have therefore begun operationalising, the campaign, through the development of a number of country-level, and community outreach plans. And added that “We are organising events, to intensify the momentum generated, targeting adolescents', especially adolescent girls, in our respective countries,”

She said the UN meeting therefore offers an opportunity, to further advance the course, by reflecting on the current challenges, and gaps, in relation to improving sexual, and reproductive health needs, of our adolescent girls, and then to look ahead at how to make this a reality.

The OAFLA President said various partnerships with donor partners have helped reach many more girls with sexual reproductive health, and rights services, as well as skills building, and empowerment programmes.

'Now, further partnerships, and funding opportunities, need to be identified, to comprehensively scale up interventions' Mrs. Mahama said.

She appealed to all to work with OAFLA members to ensure comprehensive sexual, and reproductive health, and rights for adolescents; especially adolescent girls in Africa.

Mrs. Mahama expressed the hope that statements, comments, panel deliberations and general discussions as well as ideas that would come out at the sideline meeting would define the course, for the role of first ladies and lead the transformation, for their own health and development as headway towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

For her part, the First Lady of Sierra Leone, Mrs. Sia Korama appealed to the donors for more support to enable OAFLA to continue with its work.

She said with the continued advocacy work of OAFLA members a lot of strides had been made on the continent especially in the fight against HIV and AIDs. 

WAEC RELEASES 2016 BECE PROVISIONAL RESULT

The West African Examination Council (WAEC) on Wednesday released the provisional results for the 2016 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

A statement signed by Head of Public Affairs of the Council, Agnes Teye-Cudjoe said the results could be assessed on the Council’s website at www.waecgh.org.

The statement, however, said candidates from 321 schools have their results being withheld by the Council, pending investigations into alleged examination irregularities.

The candidates were from a total of 14, 267 schools.
The statement said 180 candidates had their subject results cancelled; while 22 candidates had their entire results cancelled for sending mobile phones to the examination hall and receiving external assistance.
The statement said the Item Differentia Profile (IDP) software was used to detect that 1,025 had cheated in the objective test.

“Their relevant results have, therefore been cancelled,” it said.
It said the ‘Stanine grading system – a trusted system’- was used for the BECE grading.
"This system grades candidates from Grade 1 as highest and Grade 9 as the lowest,” it explained.

Out of the 460,930 candidates who registered for the examination, 239, 898 were males, while 221, 031 were females.
The Council advised all prospective candidates to desist from any examination malpractice to avoid the cancellation of their results.

GHANA AND IVORIAN FIRST LADIES JOIN EFFORT TO FIGHT AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Ghana’s First Lady Mrs. Lordina Mahama and her Ivorian counterpart Madame Dominique Quattara have signed a joint declaration affirming their commitment to fight against Human Trafficking and worst forms of child labour in all economic sectors in the respective countries.

The aim of maximizing profits against fluctuating cocoa prices in the world market encourages plantation owners to use child labour, instead of paying minimum wage to adult labourers; and weak controls at the porous borders make the task easier.

According to the United Nations figure, about 2.4million people are trafficked at every point, a practice which generate 32billion dollars annual profit for traffickers.

In recent years, both the governments have taken steps towards addressing child trafficking in the industry, including the ratification of international treaties and conventions, and capacity building of law enforcement officials and the judiciary.

Ghana passed a Human Trafficking Act in 2005 and Côte d'Ivoire is currently working on drafting its own national counter trafficking legislation.

Recalling the historical ties of friendship and brotherhood between Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire and the fact that cross border child trafficking and worst forms of child labour are criminal and intolerable violations of rights of children jeapadising their full development and survival the two countries decided to join forces through common joint action to fight more effectively against activities of traffickers on the territory of both countries.

At a Summit to sign the declaration in Cote d’Ivoire First lady of Ghana Mrs. Lordina Mahama bemoaned the wicked actions against victims of trafficking including rape, forced marriage among others describing it as the worst form of human violations and crimes against humanity.

Mrs. Lordina Mahama asserted that the ECOWAS free movement instruments coupled with unapproved border crossing along Cote d’Ivoire is facilitating the operation of human traffickers. This she stated offers a challenge to the security services and enjoins the two countries to cooperate and tackle the illegal activities of traffickers.

According to Ghana’s First Lady the time has come when the United Nations, Africa Union, ECOWAS and other international organizations must ensure that perpetrators of human trafficking and child labour abuse are held to account for their actions.

"There must be institutions and structures to hold individuals and organizations accountable for their actions and impose punishment, provide adequate and timely support services for victims survivors. If this is not done right peoples right would continue to be violated and crimes will persists” she urges.

Mrs. Mahama also called for the establishing of a secured combined cross border anti trafficking database between Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire and a comprehensive action plan to confront the issue of human trafficking and worst form of child labour.

According to the First Lady, since 2002 when the issue of human trafficking in Ghana gained international attention, the government of Ghana has taken measures to prevent these human acts.

She mentioned the adoption of Anti human trafficking Act (2005) and establishment of an Anti Human Trafficking Unit within the Police Force and the Immigration Service as some measures government took to combat this inhuman activities of human traffickers.

Mrs Mahama expressed government commitment to continue to collaborate with key players at the West African Sub-regional level to address the cross border human trafficking and worst forms of child labour issues.

"The government of Ghana is also committed to fully implementing and integrating the relevant international regional and sub regional legal instruments which tackles human trafficking and worst form of child labour.

For her part the First Lady of Cote d’Ivoire, Madam Dominique Ouattara, commended the technical committee which drafted the declaration saying that it will go a long way to intensify the efforts of both countries to combat human Trafficking. She said even though Cote d’Ivoire has put in place measures to protect its people from this menace it is still ongoing. She was hopeful that the collaboration will help the two neighbouring countries to protect its citizens from trafficking activities.

Minister of Employment and Social Protection, DossoMoussa stated that Ghana is the third country Cote d’Ivoire is joining forces to fight human trafficking and worst form of child labour after it had signed with Mali and Burkina Faso. Considering the relationship between Ghana and Cote D’ivioreMrMoussa believes the joint effort by the two first ladies will ensure the elimination of activities of human traffickers.

On her part, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur, added her voice to call for an end to human trafficking and worst forms of child labor. She stated that every country is affected by trafficking and Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire are no exception.

She stated that Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire in the 2015 report on persons trafficking of the United State of America were identified as tier two watch countries meaning both countries failed to meet trafficking victim protection act standard.

Nana OyeLithur noted that Ghana has strengthened its legal and policy framework.

“Institutional arrangement like the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ministry of Justice and Attorney General, Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations have constituted a working technical committee to address human trafficking” Nana Oye stated.

A technical committee made up of Experts from Ghana’s Ministry of Employment and Labour relations and Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection and that of their Ivorian counterparts are expected to come out with a blueprint of implementing a Plan of Action by the end of the year.

MRS MAHAMA TO SIGN JOINT DECLARATION AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING WITH IVORIAN FIRST LADY

First Lady Mrs Lordina  Mahama has arrived in cote d'voire to a attend a summit to sign a joint declaration against cross border human trafficking and worst form of child labour with her Ivorian counterpart Mrs Dominique Quattara.

 The signing which will take place  tomorrow  is in recognition that the victims of human trafficking and the  worst forms of child labour needs special attention and collaborative measures to combact the activities of traffickers. 

The First Lady was received on arrival by the first lady of cote d'voire Madam Dominique Quattara . Mrs Mahama  was welcome by enthusiastic Ghanaian residents in Abidjan who had gathered outside the presidential lounge at the airport to catching a glimpse of the first lady. 

She is accompanied by the Minister for Gender ,Children and Social Protection Nana Oye Lithur and Deputy Minister for Employment and Labour Relations.

TAKE PERIOD HEALTH CHECK UP SERIOUS! FIRST LADY URGES MEDIA PRACTITIONERS

Media practitioners in Greater Accra region on Friday took  time off their busy schedule to undergo medical screening to check the status of their health. 
The  health screening  organised by the Family Health Hospital Limited, the operators of the premium private medical tertiary institution in the country in collaboration with the Lordina Foundation, Ghana Aids Commission and the Ghana Journalist Association, is aimed to help boost the healthcare needs of media practitioners in the Greater Accra region.
The free screening also offered media practitioners a thorough check up and possible medication as a way of  helping the citizen’s  health bill through  early detection of diseases and early treatment to curtail disease from turning into chronic and helpless situation which is counter to productivity.

Media practitioners underwent eye screening, BP and Sugar testing, HIV testing and counseling, Breast and Cervical Cancer examination and counseling, Syphillis testing among others.

At the opening ceremony of the free health screening in Accra, President of the Lordina Foundation in a speech read on her behalf by the Director of the Ghana Aids Commission, Dr Angela El Adas underscored the importance of the health of media practitioners to the development of the country.

 Mrs. Lordina Mahama indicated that the work of media practitioners is stressful and dangerous going about looking for information to disseminate, inform, educate and entertain the public.  She said due to the nature of the work of media practitioners, they hardly visit the hospital for check up. The first lady believes this kind of free screening will give media practitioners the opportunity to undergo medical check up. Mrs Mahama however urged media practitioners to take periodic health check up seriously.

Mrs. Mahama said as the president of the Organization of the African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS, she will continue to work towards putting an end to new HIV infections, maternal mortality and other reproductive diseases. She expressed her commitment to support all endeavours to organize free health screening in order to ensure universal health for all. 
The First Lady urged all media practitioners to encourage their relatives to go for regular medical check up.
The Director of the Ghana Aids Commissionr Angela El Adas, commended the media for their support in the education of HIV but urged them to continue to intensify their campaign against HIV. She used the occasion to announce that the AIDS Commission will on Tuesday launch the next generation plan on AIDS national strategic plan for 2016 -2020  
President of the Family Health Medical School Professor Enyonam Yao Kwawume said media practitioners have lot of health problems yet they go about educating the citizenry on how to stay healthy. “Media practitioners sit for long hours, squeeze their eye to look on the computer and also go through pressure in writing yet they don’t go for regular checkups”.
He believes the time has come when the media will devote time to take care of themselves hence the health screening. With this screening diseases will be detected and treated at the early stage. 
Professor Kwawume explained that the decision for the free screening for media practitioners is due to the nature of their work and the serious stresses they face in the execution of their work. It is also in recognition of the invaluable role the media plays in the nation building as well as shaping the views of the citizenry.
The Family Health Group explains that the exercise forms part of the Corporate Social Responsibility being undertaken with the free medical exercise.
He was grateful to the Lordina Foundation for the collaboration. He said the exercise will be reciprocated in all the regions across the country.
For his Part, the Minister of Health, Alex Segbefia noted that the theme for the screening exercise “Good Health Better Life, the Role of Media Practitioners in Nation Building” is in the right direction considering this is an election year, which means more work for journalists.
He said Ghana’s media plays an important role in the country as far as its development and progress are concerned.  “The media, with specific reference to the collective entity of newspaper, radio, television and the International Network plays a very important role in national development” he asserted.
Mr Segbefia expressed government’s commitment to take healthcare to the doorstep of every Ghanaian, citing the procurement of mobile outreach vans for a specialist Medical Outreach service as a means by which equity gaps in healthcare delivery can be bridged to some extent.
“Healthcare is critical to social economic development of every nation and government is leaving no stone unturned to provide quality healthcare and access”. Evidence is the CHIPPS Compound concept that serves as a linkage to healthcare delivery.”

LORDINA FOUNDATION RECEIVES SUPPORT TO CONTINUE TO SAVE LIFVES

  In a bid to enable the Lordina Foundation to continue to support more deprived health facilities

across the country, two Japanese companies have donated assorted medical supplies and

equipment to the foundation.

Being driven by the fact that no life must be lost due to lack of necessary medical supplies and

equipment the Lordina foundation has provided health facilities with some basic equipment and

supplies needed to ensure quality healthcare delivery. Through its partners, MedShare USA, the

foundation has provided many districts in all ten regions of Ghana with medical supplies and

equipment.

The two Japanese companies, the Terumo Company and Tokushukai Medical Group presented

the items to the Foundation at a ceremony in Accra.

Whiles Terumo donated 900 pieces of digital blood pressure monitors, 900 pieces of electronic

axillary thermometers, 1,050 pieces of blood bags and a Mirasol Patogen Technology System,

Tokushukai on the other hand, presented 100,000 pieces of disposable surgical masks to the

foundation.

The Lordina Foundation would deliver the Mirasol Patogen Technology System to the Komfo

Anokye and Korle Bu Teaching hospitals in Kumasi and Accra respectively.

The donation by Terumo Group to the Lordina Foundation was in fulfillment of a promise made

by the company to the First Lady, Mrs. Lordina Mahama, when she visited the Terumo Pranex

Medical Centre during a recent visit to Japan with President John Dramani Mahama.

The General Manager of Terumo, Mr Hideki Ito, who presented a sample of the items to the First

Lady, said the company had followed with kin interest the philanthropic work of the Lordina

Foundation in view of which it had presented medical supplies and equipment to some hospitals

in all the 10 regions of the country.

The First Lady said during her visit to the medical centre, she saw lots of new advancements in

technologies and equipment, especially technologies for blood treatment and transfusion.

She thanked the companies for the support and said it would help the two major hospitals to

deliver quality health care to their patients.

For his part, the Minister of Health, Mr Alex Segbefia, said Ghana had made significant progress

in improving blood safety, especially in the prevention of new infections and diseases.

He said the country had also made remarkable progress in improving the safety and competence

of national blood supplies by promoting a substantial increase in the number of safe, voluntary,

unpaid donors who provided blood regularly.

Mr Segbefia said Ghana, like most other African countries, faced challenges and shortage of

medical supplies and equipment, adding that the donation had come at a good time.