More than 20 Ghanaian journalists have been trained to investigate and report more responsibly on youth migration, as the African Leaders Network for Democracy, Emergence and Renewal (Réseau‑LEADER) pressed the media to dismantle misleading narratives that push young Africans into dangerous journeys abroad.

The training session, held in Accra on August 22, 2025, formed part of a broader Réseau‑LEADER campaign under the theme “The Role of the Media in Addressing the Illusions and Realities of African Youth Migration.” Participants were taken through statistics on African youth migration and briefed on the specific role journalists can play in countering deceptive recruitment schemes, misinformation and exploitative networks.

“Every day, thousands of African youths are lured by embellished narratives of success in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and elsewhere,” said Nana Bafour Odefour Boamah Darko, Mawerehene of Akyem Adadientam. “Journalists must expose the lies behind these supposed success stories rather than only reporting the ill treatment migrants face after they leave.”

Réseau‑LEADER pointed to several troubling examples that organisers say require urgent journalistic scrutiny. The network highlighted the “Alabuga Start” case in Russia, where young African women were reportedly recruited under the pretext of training and later alleged to have faced exploitation. Officials at the session urged reporters to pursue investigative work to clarify unresolved “grey areas” around the programme.

Speakers also revisited long‑standing concerns about the kafala sponsorship system in parts of the Middle East, where domestic workers—many from African countries—have faced passport confiscation, unpaid wages, poor living conditions and physical or psychological abuse. Similar patterns were reported in parts of Asia, where trainees and technical workers have reportedly been pushed into conditions close to forced labour and left largely invisible to local authorities.

Dr Jean Emmanuel, chairperson of Réseau‑LEADER, called on young people to temper migration hopes with realistic planning. “Success is not achieved overnight,” he said. “If the youth’s goal is to make it big by travelling to some Western countries, they may be putting their lives at risk.”

The group released the Accra Declaration on the Role of the Media in Addressing the Illusions and Realities of African Youth Migration, urging newsrooms to investigate and expose false narratives, dedicate airtime and digital platforms to awareness‑raising, and collaborate with community leaders to carry clear, locally relevant messages into rural areas.

The declaration also called on governments to probe dubious recruitment programmes, urged media to amplify survivors’ testimonies, and recommended creative, participatory campaigns to mobilise young people around safer, realistic pathways to employment and training.

Journalists who attended said they welcomed practical guidance on data‑driven reporting and cross‑border collaboration. Several newsroom representatives indicated plans to form investigative partnerships and to run local language campaigns aimed at communities most likely to be targeted by recruiters.

Réseau‑LEADER has scheduled a follow‑up session in Accra on September 22, 2025, in which media professionals, migration experts and institutional partners are expected to deepen discussions and work toward a practical roadmap for responsible migration coverage.

“Trapped migration is not only an individual tragedy; it is a collective threat to the future of our continent,” the Accra Declaration concludes. “The media must become true allies in this struggle.”

By:Isaac Amoah

A private legal practitioner, who doubles as a former District Chief Executive (DCE) for Amansie South in the Ashanti Region, Mr. Clement Opoku Gyamfi, has proposed several practical and strategic recommendations aimed at strengthening and improving revenue generation across the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) so as to ensure accelerated development.

According to him, if the District Assemblies are committed to strengthening internal generated funds, they should digitalise all collection points, train revenue officers and enforce compliance with tax obligations.

Mr.Clement Opoku Gyamfi (CID) speaking at the conference

The former DCE expressed concerns about the several challenges MMDAs face. He said to reverse the current trend, they needed to focus on innovative revenue generation mechanisms, such as property taxes, business licensing, market levies, and tourism-related taxes.

“By improving our Revenue Collection Units and leveraging digital technologies, we can enhance fiscal autonomy at the local level. The Assemblies should also introduce mandatory training modules for Assembly staff members and elected officials on governance, budgeting, and community engagement to enhance their capacity development,” he added.

A section of the participants

Mr Gyamfi, who is affectionately known as CID in the political space, made the proposal at the opening ceremony of a three-day capacity-building conference organised for the Conference of Ashanti Presiding Members (PMs) held at Miklin Hotel in Kumasi from 21st to 23rd August 2025.

The conference was on the theme: “Strengthening local governance, the opportunities and the challenges.”

Mr. Gyamfi, who was also the chairperson for the opening ceremony, said for MMDAs to institutionalize social accountability tools, they should encourage town hall meetings, community forums, and social audits.

Besides, he called on MMDAs to allocate budgets and roles to zonal, urban and town councils, and build their operational capacity.

He, therefore, declared his support to the call for the election of MMDCEs to deepen local accountability and citizen participation. He reminded the PMs that the journey of strengthening local governance is not an event—it is a continuous process of learning, unlearning, and relearning.

“We must embrace the challenges before us and turn them into opportunities for growth. Let me leave you with the wise words of Theodore Roosevelt: ‘Do what you can with what you have at where you are.’ Let us do exactly that and, together, we will transform our districts into models of effective governance, vibrant local economies, and empowered citizenry,” he stressed.

“As Presiding Members, your leadership is pivotal in ensuring the effectiveness of local governance. You (PMs) are the guardians of procedural integrity and the chief facilitators of inclusive decision-making within the General Assembly. Your role is not merely to chair meetings but to create an atmosphere where open dialogue, mutual respect, and collaborative problem-solving can thrive,” he added.

He continued, “As Winston Churchill once said, ‘The price of greatness is responsibility’, your responsibility to the people in your districts is immense. As neutral leaders, it is your task to ensure that development planning is inclusive, resource allocation is transparent, and Assembly oversight is effective.”

Afegame, Adidome21^st August 2025 – Wellness Bridge Initiative (WBI) has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that every person knows their health status and is empowered to make informed decision to live a fuller and longer life.

This statement was made with with the launch of a preventive health project called the “Health Kiosk” initiative in Adidome. The innovative community-based health initiative spearheaded by Wellness Health Initiative (WBI) aims to address the rising cases of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension and diabetes in the Volta Region.

Speaking at the launch, Togbe Kwasinyi Kakaklolo Agyeman V, Executive Director of Wellness Bridge Initiative who is also the Chief of Adidome, described the project as “a candle of hope” for his community. He said “The Health Kiosk Project is designed to offer preventive health solutions tothe people, starting with Adidome and scaling up to all five sub-districts of the Central Tongu Health Directorate, and further extended to other parts of Ghana”.

According to global and national health data, hypertension and diabetes are silent killers affecting millions, with many unaware of their status.

In an article published by John Hopkins Nursing, “Hypertension tops all adult hospital admissions and is associated with a significant proportion of overall adult deaths in hospitals in Ghana” Togbe stressed. He bemoaned the insurgency of hypertension and diabetes incidents and related fatalities and the disabilities it is causing to the younger population.

“Funeral posters with those screaming inscriptions like “What a Shock; “Gone too Soon”; “Painful Exit”, etc. etc. are becoming too common. Let us deal with it.”

The Health Kiosk initiative will operate on Wellness Bridge Initiative’s four strategic pillars known as ACNE. The first pillar being Awareness: This will be based on health education campaigns. The second pillar is Checking to know your status: This involves providing free screenings for blood pressure and blood sugar and do referrals when necessary. The third pillar is Nutrition: WBI will promote dietary literacy using local foods, tagged, “We are what we Eat”. The fourth and last pillar is Physical Exercise: WBI will encourage community fitness programs across all ages, with particular attention to the aging (50+) in a campaign known as “Age is a Number”.

Acknowledging the support from the Central Tongu District Directorate of the Ghana Health Services (GHS), the Executive Director emphasized the need to deepen the collaboration with the GHS at the national level as the project expands. Togbe Agyeman further acknowledged the Mafi Adidome Development Advisory Board (MADAB) and individual donors who helped finance the first kiosk.He appealed to international donors, government agencies, corporate institutions, and philanthropists to support the expansion of this wellness initiative nationwide as this project provides solution to the UN SDG3.

In concluding, Togbe Kwasinyi Kakaklolo Agyeman V, said, “we have the vision, we have the plan. What we now seek is the fuel to expand, operate sustainably, and reach every corner of Ghana and beyond”, the Executive Director emphasized.

Dignitaries who attended the event included the Commissioner and Volta Representative to the NDPC, Dr. Elikplim Kwabla Apetorgbor, who chaired the event, the DCE of Central Tongu, Hon. Adison Dodzie Mornyuie, the District Director of Health Service, Mr. Baba Awuni and Chiefs and Queen mothers (including the Queenmother of Adidome, Mama Drapey), the Media, leaders and members of the community. In his remarks, Dr. Apetorgbor described the project as innovative. He said “if there was any award today in recognition for traditional innovation, I will ask everyone to vote for TogbeKwasinyiKakakloloAgyeman V.

The Health Kiosk Project is focused on serving as a hub for free health screenings such as blood pressure, blood sugar, and body mass index, in a tripartite arrangement which will see the District Health Directorate providing training and supervision of the attendants of the Health Kiosk, and the Health Kiosk will screen and refer patients at risk to the Adidome District Hospital for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Commissioner and Volta Region Representative to the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Dr. Elikplim Kwabla Apetorgbor, has applauded traditional leaders who take proactive steps in community development, stressing that their initiatives can spark sustainable transformation.

He made the call on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at Adidome in the Volta Region, where he served as the chairman and Special Guest at the commissioning of the “Health Kiosk” Project. The facility is designed to provide regular vital checks to the community, aiding in the early detection of conditions such as hypertension and diabetes.

Other dignitaries at the launch of Health Kiosk initiative in Adidome

Dr. Apetorgbor commended Togbe Kwasinyi Kakaklolo Agyeman V, who is the Chief of Adidome and the Executive Director of Wellness Bridge Initiative for his bold and life-saving initiative. He described the project as “a true example of visionary leadership.” He noted that the HealthKiosk initiative aligns with President John Dramani Mahama’s people-centred health policy, which prioritises community-based health delivery, preventive care, and early detection to reduce avoidable illnesses and deaths.

Togbe Kwasinyi Kakaklolo Agyeman V, Executive Director of Wellness Bridge Initiative and Chief of Adidome,

He said “Health and development are inseparable. A healthy people form the bedrock of a productive economy. By ensuring early detection of hypertension, diabetes and other silent conditions, this initiative places the well-being of the community at the centre of our development efforts.”

The NDPC Commissioner further appealed to development partners, philanthropists, and other traditional authorities in the country and beyond to support the Volta Region and urged the traditional leaders across Volta region to replicate such interventions in their communities.

“Let us light these small fires in our communities – for when each of our stools rises in unity and purpose, the whole region shall glow with development,” he urged.

The Health Kiosk initiative is a project of Wellness Bridge Initiative (WBI) and set to deliver preventive health services directly to everyone; the market vendors, hawkers, okada drivers, pedestrians and the community at large.

The WBI project operates on fourstrategic pillars. This includes encouraging community members to check their blood pressure and sugar levels and to make lifestyle changesin the areas of nutrition and fitness. WBI plans to establish age-specific fitness clubs for physical exercise dubbed “Age is a Number”.

The commissioning was attended by theDistrictChief Executive of Central Tongu, the District Health  Director, traditional leaders, community members, and representatives from other stakeholders.The launch event used to organise a health screening exercise for the community.

By:Isaac Amoah

The Conference of Presiding Members (PMs) in the Ashanti Region has successfully held a three-day conference at Miklin Hotel in Kumasi.

The conference, which was on the theme: Strengthening local governance, the opportunities and the challenges, aimed at sharing ideas, experience and learning from each other besides presentations from experts.

Some scenes from the ceremony

The opening ceremony was chaired by Mr. Clement Opoku Gyamfi, a private legal practitioner, who doubles as a former District Chief Executive (DCE) for Amansie South District in the Ashanti Region.

The conference was attended by the Administrative Officer at the Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC), Mr. Kofi Amoah, who delivered a speech on behalf of the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene. Also present were Mr. Yaw Obempeh, a representative of the Ashanti Regional Council of State ,Mr.George Manu,the Ashanti East Manager of Zoomlion Company,who made a presentation on behalf of the Executive Chairman of Jospong group of Companies,Mr.Siaw Agyapong and Mr Frederick Agyarko Oduro, a local expert.

In a solidarity message from the President of NALAG, Mr. Alfred Asiedu Adjei, which was read by Nana Yaw Wiredu, the Ashanti Regional representative of NALAG, who is also the PM for Asokwa Municipality, he said the theme for the conference was both timely and significant.

He called on the participants to reflect deeply on the role they play in shaping the future of their communities and in advancing Ghana’s decentralisation agenda.

He said, “As Presiding Members, you hold a strategic and indispensable position within our local governance framework, serving as the bridge between the people and their assemblies, guiding deliberations, and ensuring that decisions reflect the aspirations of our citizens.”

The NALAG President said strengthening local governance required more than simply fulfilling statutory duties. “It demands visionary leadership, inclusive decision-making, and an unwavering commitment to transparency and accountability,” he added.

Mr. Adjei assured the conference members, saying, “NALAG will continue to stand firm with them and continue to champion their cause until the proposed amendments of Article 244 (1) of the 1992 Constitution to allow Presiding Members to be elected by a simple majority when a quorum is formed, rather than the current two-thirds requirement.”

Besides, the NALAG President wanted amendment to Article 244 (2) to extend PMs’ term of office to be coterminous with the Assembly’s tenure (four years), ensuring continuity, stability, and adequate time for capacity-building and long-term planning.

He also advocated the amendment of Article 250 (2) of the 1992 Constitution so that emoluments of PMs and Assembly members could be charged on the Consolidated Fund rather than solely on the Assemblies’ Internally Generated Funds (IGF), ensuring fair, consistent, and sustainable remuneration.

On his part, Dr. Frank Amoakohene stressed the need for unity among PMs and Assembly members, as well as Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to ensure accelerated development.

He also called on them to come out with innovative ideas for revenue mobilisation to help finance projects apart from the Common Fund.