GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE: MEDIA TOLD TO ENGAGE IN A CONSISTENT FIGHT

A one-day training workshop organised for 50 frontline media personnel in Ghana’s three northern regions has ended with a call on media practitioners to engage in a consistent fight against gender-based violence.

The workshop was organised by the Domestic Violence Coalition (DV Coalition) in Wa, Upper West Regional capital, under the theme: “Enhancing the Capacity of Frontline Media Personnel in Responding to Gender-Based Violence.” It was aimed at helping the media to understand gender-based violence and its impact, police procedures, psychosocial services in existence and ethics in reporting and responding to gender-based violence.

The Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Issahaku Salia, who made the call in a speech read for him by his deputy, Mr. Kale Caesar, lamented that, even though a number of violent acts had been reported to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service, a great number of violent acts remained unreported as a result of discrimination and the fear of being further traumatised. He affirmed that it was time to expose all forms of violence in a manner that would bring perpetrators to book whilst not traumatising victims.

“Domestic violence and other forms of abuses against women are still prevalent in the Ghanaian society despite attempts to stem the tide,” he noted, adding “Until recently, domestic violence was seen in the Ghanaian setting as a trivial issue not worth investigating. This was quite understandable because such abuses, among spouses especially, are seen as inevitable and are deemed to be part of the marital progression.”

The Regional Minister, therefore, tasked media personnel to maximise their role as agents of change and reliable custodians of information by intensifying their coverage of issues of violence against women, men, children and the aged for educational and advocacy purposes. Alhaji Issahaku Salia appreciated the role being played by the Coalition in trying to build the capacities of the media in the three northern regions and urged all stakeholders to engage the media in human interest issues towards national development.

Welcoming participants to the workshop, Alhaji Bashiruddin Mahamudu Yahaya Kutia, a member of the Coalition’s steering committee, stressed that the time had come for the media to meet the growing expectations of the public by being more welcoming to the victims since “the perpetrator is known through the victim.” He, however, advised media practitioners to crosscheck facts before putting such a sensitive issue as gender-based violence to the public domain.

Mr. Adolf Awuku Bekoe, National Coordinator of the Coalition, acknowledged the contribution of the media so far in the fight, especially in helping to incubate the Domestic Violence Bill into law within a shorter time than the longer period it could have taken without their support. Mr. Bekoe said it took 5 years of “a serious fight” by interest groups in Ghana from 2002 (when government finally took up the bill) before the bill became law in 2007. He, however, expressed concern about what he described as “inappropriate” handling of gender-based cases. He decried the idea of sensationalising the situation as some media houses do and disapproved of bringing the victim and the perpetrator on such same platforms as live interviews on air. He noted that such channels could inflame passion and further traumatise the victims. Whilst calling on the press to admit their limits when involved in issues pertaining to gender-based violence by referring the reported cases to such appropriate quarters as the DOVVSU and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) among others, he also urged all stakeholders to intensify their campaign nationwide.

Mr. Bekoe also decried using ICT to promote pornography and debase women by posting videos and still pictures of sexual acts on the internet. He cited some cases in which some men, upon suffering an incurable breakup with their spouses, decided to hurt the women by luring or forcing them into what could be their last sexual encounter but which had been planned to be captured on film and afterwards posted on the internet or played on mobile phones as games to taunt the victims and their families. He had a tone of aggression in his voice when he added that such an act was an insult to the image of Ghana as a whole and the dignity of women everywhere.

He entreated the State to support the Ministry of Women and Children (MOWAC) and other stakeholders with robust budgetary allocations to help them effectively deliver on their mandates. He disclosed that, so far, the Coalition had only received support from CORDAID, a Dutch NGO, whilst MOWAC (which, according to him, enjoys only slim assistance from the State) had been receiving “massive” backing from the Dutch Government.

The Project Officer of the Coalition, Mrs. Ama A.Ofori-Antwi, who took the participants through “Understanding Gender-Based Violence and its Impact”, brought it to attention that many people go through various forms of abuse in relationships, at home and in the offices without realising it themselves. Gender-based violence and abuse, she noted, could be rooted in “socialisation”, encouraged by the “belief system” of a society and worsened by “internalisation”.

Touching on the impact, Mrs. Ofori-Antwi said the victims go through untold fears, social withdrawal, concentration deficiency, sleep disturbances, poor self-esteem, mood swings, depression and suicide instincts. Still on the impact, she said the perpetrators themselves could suffer public shame, rejection and jail terms as a result of abusing a person. She encouraged the media to empathetically welcome the victims who bring cases before them, avoid being judgmental of the victims and respect confidentiality whilst helping to advocate for change in policy and legislation when and where necessary. Mrs. Ofori-Antwi also underscored the need for the media to join the campaign for zero tolerance against gender-based violence and the need for them to help re-socialise young people by promoting gender issues in an ideal manner.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Alexander Amenyah, Upper West Regional Coordinator of DOVVSU, appreciated the contribution of the media so far but called for more cooperation, adding “Our doors are open.” The Coordinator said, even though lack of evidence on the part of some victims had remained a bottleneck for DOVVSU in bringing their perpetrators to justice, the Unit would not relent in effectively discouraging all forms of gender-based violence and ensuring that people are protected against any form of violence. But despite the submissions by the DOVVSU Coordinator and the praises showered on the Unit by the Regional Minister, subsequent reactions from participants who lauded the Coalition for the workshop pointed out that gathering information from DOVVSU has remained “unnecessarily difficult”.

MEDICAL STUDENTS AT UDS CRY FOR HELP

Students of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) of the University for Development Studies (UDS) have appealed to government to urgently address the acute accommodation problem facing the students.

The students say they could no longer endure the financial difficulties inflicted on them by Landlords in the surrounding communities who continued to adjust their rent charges, hence the need for government to build decent hostel facilities to lessen their burden.

According to them, the only hostel facility on the SMHS Campus was converted into a Hotel and that situation aggravated their accommodation problem.

Fred Amese who is the SRC President of the UDS SMHS made the call in a press statement issued to the media in Tamale including The Daily Dispatch.

He also requested for a clinic to be built on the campus to facilitate the medical students’ clinicals programme and as well cater for the immediate health needs of the students.

Fred Amese said the Students Representative Council (SRC) in its small way embarked on a project to set up a sick-bay on campus and thus called for government and benevolent organizations support to make the project a reality.

“The school has been in existence for several years but is without a hospital or clinic and that is why the SRC has taken it upon itself to embark on a project to set up a sick-bay to cater for the immediate health needs of the students.”

“Taxis do not ply the route to our campus at night and in the event that a student needs medical attention during odd hours it becomes very difficult to transport such a student to the Tamale Teaching Hospital,” Fred bemoaned.

He also reminded the UDS Alumni Association of its responsibility to execute projects that will promote the welfare of students of their Alma mater.

Fred Amese further complained about low electricity supply to the university despite persistent calls on the Volta River Authority – Northern Electricity Department (VRA-NED) to find a permanent solution to the problem.

The Faculty of School of Medicine and Health Sciences of the University for Development Studies trains medical doctors, nurses, nutritionists and other experts in the field of allied health sciences.

ALIU MAHAMA ESTABLISHES NGO TO PROMOTE HEALTH & EDUCATION

IN HIS AVOWED quest to continue to exhibit his good leadership qualities, serve and impact positively in the lives of his people across the three Northern Regions and Ghana at large, the Former Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama has currently set up a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) to help tackle some critical health, educational, social and economic challenges facing majority of Ghanaians, especially those up north.

The Core objective of the NGO known as Life Care Foundation (LCF) is to complement government’s efforts at improving on the living conditions of the people of this nation.

The Life Care Foundation which is also going to serve as a humanitarian organization to touch lives of many Ghanaians especially those in the extremely deprived regions and communities, would be working closely with both the local and international development and donor organizations to drive home the needed medical equipments, facilities and health specialists to support the health sector at the local level.

The Former Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama officially announced the establishment of the NGO in Tamale when he brought into Ghana, three top Ophthalmologists from the Louisville in the United States of America (USA) led by Dr. Nathaniel Green, head of the Louisville Eye Centre and also a lecturer at the University of Louisville to support the Eye Centre at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH).

The Visit also paved way for the authorities at the Tamale Teaching Hospital to enter into agreement with the Louisville Eye Centre which is reportedly about five times bigger than the whole of the Tamale Teaching Hospital and has all the up-to-date medical facilities, to exchange personnel and also supply the TTH with the requisite equipment that would enhance eye care delivery.

Upon their arrival in Tamale, the three medical experts were received by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Dr Ken Sagoe and other management staff, the Tamale Mayor, Alhaji Abdulai Haruna Friday and the Northern Regional Chief Director at the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) at a durbar of senior health personnel at the conference hall of the hospital.

The Visit of Dr. Nathaniel Green and his team was almost like a home coming summit, since it also sought to strengthen the longstanding Sister City Relationship between the Tamale Metropolis and the City of Louisville.

Addressing the durbar, the Former Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama expressed grave concern about the high increasing rate of blindness and other eye related diseases involving majority of the people especially farmers along the White and the Black Volta lakes who are often attacked by black flies and other dangerous insects.

The situation he indicated was seriously affecting the socio-economic fortunes of the people and expressed the need for government to turn special attention to the eye care delivery in the region to save other breadwinners and family heads from going blind.

The Former Vice President revealed that in the whole of the three Northern Regions there was only one Ophthalmologist taking care of the population of over four million as compared to the USA where one Ophthalmologist takes care of 25,000 people only.

Alhaji Aliu further indicated that apart from the low number of the eye centres in the three regions the few existing ones were also highly under-resourced.

However, the Former Vice President hinted that his NGO would largely concentrate on how to minimize the eye problems by way of organizing periodic eye screening exercise with both local and international eye specialists for the people up north and also secure the requisite eye care equipments for the health centres.

It would be recalled that the Former Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama and his wife became the largest donors of assorted medical equipments to the Tamale Teaching Hospital and other health centres across Ghana.

On the other hand, Alhaji Aliu Mahama unveiled plans by his NGO to have its headquarters in Accra and other outlets in the regional capitals in order to become more accessible to the people.

He said even though his concentration is currently on the three Northern Regions to see how best he could support the people to come out of diseases, poverty and also get quality education, the NGO is going to be national in character.

The Former Vice President disclosed that his organization was also going to show interest in complementing government in promoting quality education through the supply of adequate computers to enhance ICT training, supply of free school uniforms, learning and teaching materials and other basic educational materials to lessen the burdens of parents.

“In fact I am dreaming big but right now I don’t have enough funds to implement all my vision for the people of Ghana so we are going to tackle the issues bit-by-bit until we get there. When I was in office as Vice President I did everything possible to serve my people and everybody can attest to the fact that I have been the longest serving Vice President in the history of Ghana. Even though I am supposed to take rest after office, I still believe that with the links, good relationships and contacts I have been able to establish with the business organizations, chiefs and other local and international donors within the eight (8) years in office, I can take advantage of that to support my people and also serve this nation”.

Alhaji Aliu therefore appealed to individuals, organizations and other international donors to support his bid to enable him put smiles on the faces of the people.

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Dr. Ken Sagoe commended the Former Vice President for his continuous support and love for patients at the Tamale Teaching Hospital.

According to Dr. Sagoe, Alhaji Aliu had earlier facilitated his visit to Louisville to discuss the problem of the Teaching Hospital with the authorities at the Hospital of Louisville, who had eventually agreed to supply the Tamale Hospital with assorted equipments.

However, the Hospital donated a Cornea- a part of human eye for transplant for another person who needed it in Ghana, but it was impounded by the Custom Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) in Accra for more than 48 hours, which thus destroyed the tissue that was covering the cornea and rendered it useless.

If it had been brought to the Tamale Teaching Hospital successfully for use by Dr. Seth Wanye, the one and only Ophthalmologist in the whole of the three Northern Regions, it would have been the first time a Ghanaian Doctor is carrying out such operation. Even in Africa, only South Africa is on records to have ever carried out a successful Cornea transplant.

However, Dr. Ken Sagoe said the Louisville hospital authorities had also promised to expand and resource the eye centre at the Tamale Teaching Hospital to become one of the best in Ghana and Africa.

Meanwhile, just like the Tamale Teaching Hospital benefiting from the Louisville Hospital and the Tamale Metro Assembly also benefiting from the Louisville City authorities, the University for Development Studies (UDS) School of Medicine and Health Sciences has also established a strong relationship with the University of Louisville through the Former Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama. The relationship opens windows for both institutions to exchange programmes and lecturers as and when necessary.

The Leader of the Louisville Medical Team, Dr. Nathaniel Green acknowledged the effective role being played by the Former Vice President in strengthening the relationship between the people of Tamale and Louisville.

He also commended the authorities at the Tamale Teaching Hospital for their warm reception and assured them of their continuous support. The Mayor of Tamale, Alhaji Haruna Friday encouraged team and other people of Louisville especially investors to come and invest in Tamale to create jobs for people.

However, Dr. Nathaniel Green and his team organized an eye screening exercise for the people of Tolon in the Tolon-Kumbungu District for free and supplied the affected ones with lenses. Later in the evening, a dinner was organized at the private residence of the Former Vice President in honour of the Louisville medical team together with the CEO of Tamale Teaching Hospital and other medical officers and the media.

GLOBAL-M DONATES FREE SCHOOL UNIFORMS TO CHILDREN IN TOLON-KUMBUNGU

Global Mission For The Needy (Global-M), a non-governmental organization operating in theTolon-Kumbungu District of the Northern Region of Ghana, has donated free school uniforms to fifty (50) brilliant but needy pupils of Yipalnaayili Primary School in the district.

The donation, which was done by the NGO in collaboration with its partner organization, Agape Samarithan International based in the United States of America (USA), was intended to motivate the children to continue to take their education seriously.

According to the Executive Director of Global-M, Ms Veronica Zenabu Salifu, the gesture was also aimed at supporting parents and guardians to enroll their children into school and maintain them till they complete their basic education.

Global-M was established six years ago to complement government efforts to reduce poverty, deliver quality education and healthcare services to the people of Tolon-Kumbungu District most especially female children.

It also exists to create awareness about HIV/AIDS and its devastating effects on the lives of the community people and the economy.

Previously, the NGO in partnership with its USA based partner donated various kinds of medical equipment, clothes and drugs, learning materials, foot wears and among others to school children and their parents.

Meanwhile, the Head-teacher of Yilpalnaayili, Mr. Abdulai Bukari in his remarks, acknowledged the contributions of Global-M to the people of the area since its inception a few years ago.

He thanked the orgainsation for its unflinching support and urged the children and their parents who were there to witness the event, to make judicious use of the donation so that, more of such gestures would continue to come to them.