First Lady cuts sod for Two Libraries in Amasaman and Bortiano

The First lady of the Republic, Mrs. Rebecca Naa Okaikor Akufo-Addo has cut sod for the construction of two Libraries in Amasaman and Bortiano in the Ga West and Ga South Municipalities in the Greater Accra Region.

When completed by November this year, the two forty-seater libraries funded by the Rebecca Foundation, will be fitted with computers and stocked with books and other reading materials to provide the youth a conducive environment to learn.

In a brief speech Mrs. Akufo-Addo said any nation that wants to truly develop and become a global player must invest in the education of its people and that is why the NPP government led by her husband, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has invested so much in the education of the youth with the ultimate objective of creating an equal opportunity for the nation’s future leaders to harness their full potential.

She said since the inception of free SHS by the Akufo-Addo led NPP government, enrolment to SHS has increased with Government absorbing feeding fees, uniforms, books and even WASSCE examination fees, adding that recently government absorbed fees for BECE and is providing one hot meal to all BECE students.

All these, the First Lady said are indicative of the determination of a visionary leader like President Akufo-Addo and the NPP government who firmly believe that every child must be given an equal opportunity to succeed in life.

She said since 2017, the Rebecca Foundation has implemented a number of programmes to complement government’s efforts at developing the country’s human capital, but with special emphasis on women and children.

To this end, Mrs. Akufo-Addo said, The Rebecca Foundation has implemented programmes like “Because I want to be” which supports girls to stay in school and provide skills training and financial support to those who drop out and are unable to go back to school, and the “Learning to Read, Reading to learn” initiative, which provides libraries to schools and encourages children to read, through a television reading programme telecast on some TV stations.

The First Lady disclosed that so far, The Rebecca Foundation has put up four libraries in Daffiama Bussei Issa in the Upper West Region, Wenchi in the Bono Region, Sefwi Debiso in the Western North Region and Moree in the Central region with two more libraries under construction in Krachi in the Oti Region, and Kumawu in the Ashanti Region.

The First Lady expressed optimism that the libraries when completed will allow children to acquire knowledge through reading, and gain the confidence to succeed in life and urged community leaders and elders to encourage their children to make full use of them.
Present to witness both sod-cutting ceremonies were the MCE for Ga West Hon. Clement Wilkinson, MCE for Ga South, Hon. Joseph Nyarni, the NPP Parliamentary candidate for Amasaman Kwasi Afrifa Mensah, CEO of National Youth Authority and NPP Parliamentary Candidate for Bortianor/Ngleshie Amanfro Mr. Sylvester Tetteh, Director General of Ghana Library Authority, Mr. Hayford Siaw, as well as traditional leaders and residents of the Amasaman and Bortiano communities.

Story: Sheila Satori Mensa

First Lady commissions another Health Center at Kwame Anum

First Lady of the Republic, H.E. Mrs. Rebecca Naa Okaikor Akufo-Addo yesterday commissioned a Health Centre at Kwame Anum in the Ga South Municipality of the Greater Accra Region.

The 16 bed facility which was constructed with funding by the Infanta Malaria Prevention Foundation is fitted with an out -patient department, a delivery room, labour ward, a reproductive and Child health area, two consulting rooms, a pharmacy, a laboratory and administrative offices and will provide services to a population of about 30,000 spread within the Obom Domeabra constituency of the Ga South Municipality with about 8,500 patients expected to be attended to in its first year.

The Kwame Anum Health Center will also provide lifesaving and essential services such as immunization against the 13 childhood killer diseases, maternal, child health and nutrition.

Present to witness the commissioning of the facility were the MCE for Ga South Hon. Stephen Nyarni, MP of Obom Domeabra Constituency Hon. Parliamentary Candidate for the NPP Philip E.K Doe and the Chief and leaders of Kwame Anum.

In a speech to formally open the Health Centre, Mrs. Akufo-Addo said the initial idea of Infanta Malaria Foundation was to rehabilitate the already existing CHPS compound but after consultation with the community and health Service leaders, decided to construct a much needed Health center.

She said the Infanta Malaria Prevention Foundation of which she is co-founder is a group of remarkable women who came together to pool like-minded friends with a mission to support the development of women and children by paying particular attention to their health and executing Community Based Health Planning and Services as an important strategy especially for the prevention and treatment of malaria.

Since its establishment before 2017, Mrs. Akufo-Addo said, Infanta Malaria Prevention Foundation has put up three CHPS compounds in Kobedi in the Sunyani West district of the Bono Region, Adenkrebi in the Ga East Municipality of the Greater Accra Region and Nyanshegu in the Sagnarigu District of the Northern Region.

The First lady, promised to continue to use both the Infanta Malaria Prevention Foundation and the Rebecca Foundation of which she is Executive Director, to assist in improving on the health of Ghanaians especially women and children.

She expressed gratitude to the Ga South Municipal Chief Executive Mr. Joseph Stephen Nyarni, The Ghana Health Service, and the Chiefs and Elders of Kwame Anum for their support throughout the execution of the project.

It will be recalled that on Tuesday, 21st May 2019, First lady of the Republic and co-founder of Infanta Malaria Prevention Foundation Mrs. Akufo-Addo cut sod for the construction of the Kwame Anum Health Center in the Ga south municipality of the Greater Accra Region.

Story: Sheila Satori Mensa

First Lady makes donation to Kpone Katamanso , Ningo and Prampram Homowo festivities

The First Lady of the Republic, H.E. Mrs. Rebecca Naa Okaikor Akufo-Addo today presented items to chiefs and traditional councils in Kpone, Ningo and Prampram.
The donation which included bags of corn and palm-nuts, gallons of palm-oil, crates of beer,malt and minerals, and cartons of water, “Castle Bridge” and “Schnapps” were to support the three traditional areas celebrate this year’s Homowo .

The First lady was accompanied by Minister for Foreign Affairs and MP for Anyaa Sowutuom Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey,Deputy Greater Accra Regional Minister Hon.Elizabeth Sackey, Administrator of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) and former MP for Tema West, Hon. Irene Naa Torshie, and CEO of Coastal Development Authority (CDA) Jerry Shaibu Ahmed.

The Homowo Festival is celebrated by the Ga tribe annually, to remind themselves of their long battle against famine and the eventual rains which led to good harvests to ease their hunger.

At Ningo, Mrs. Akufo-Addo also cut sod for the construction of a 40-stall market complex sponsored by The Rebecca Foundation of which she is Executive Director.

She said The Rebecca Foundation is determined to intensify the implementation of its initiatives in all parts of the country to compliment government’s efforts in enhancing the lives of its citizens.

The Rebecca Foundation since 2017 has implemented initiatives such as “Terema” (supporting women to improve their economic status), “Because I want to Be” (keeping girls in school) and “Learning to Read” (improving child literacy), among others, as well as the construction of health facilities and supply of hospital equipment to needy institutions, in its effort to better the lives of especially women and children.
The First lady also urged the people to take advantage of the many social intervention policies being implemented by the government of her husband, H.E. President Akufo-Addo including the Free SHS policy, to break the vicious cycle of semi-literacy and poverty in their communities.

Mrs. Akufo-Addo used the opportunity to advise the people of the three traditional areas not to let down their guards in this Covid-19 era, especially following the reduction in rate of infections, but rather adhere strictly to the safety protocol in this period of celebration to protect themselves from the dreadful disease.

Story: Sheila Satori Mensa

First Lady makes donation to Teshie, Nungua and Osu Homowo festivities

The First Lady of the Republic, H.E. Mrs. Rebecca Naa Okaikor Akufo-Addo today presented items to chiefs and traditional councils in Teshie, Nungua and Osu, as they prepare to celebrate this year’s Homowo festival.

A Ga herself, the First Lady’s donation to the various Traditional councils included corn, palm-nuts, palm-oil, fish, beer, minerals, water, Castle Bridge, schnapps.

The Homowo Festival is celebrated by the Ga tribe annually, to remind themselves of their long battle against famine and how the rains finally came to ease their burden.

The First lady, paid courtesy calls on all five clans under the Teshie traditional council comprising the Klemusu Clan, Krobo Clan, Agbawe Clan, Lenshie Clan and Gbugbla Clan as well as the Chiefs and elders of the Osu Traditional councils.

Mrs. Akufo-Addo was accompanied by Minister for Foreign Affairs and MP for Anyaa Sowutuom Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, MP for Ledzokuku and Deputy Minister for Health, Hon. Dr. Bernard Oko Boye, Administrator of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) and former MP for Tema West, Hon. Irene Naa Torshie, MCE of Ablekuma Central Municipal Assembly, Hon. Mariama Karley Amui, MCE for Korle Klottey, Nii Adjei Tawiah and MCE for Krowor Municipal Assembly, Joshau Nii Bortey.

She extolled the people of Teshie, Osu and Nungua for keeping the peace to present a united front for this important Festival, while urging the people of Osu to forge towards a united traditional leadership, saying, a united traditional front is what elicits economic investments which expedites development in any community.

The First lady urged the people to take advantage of the many social intervention policies being implemented by the government of her husband, H.E. President Akufo-Addo including the Free SHS policy, to break the vicious cycle of semi-literacy and poverty in their communities.

Mrs. Akufo-Addo who is also Executive Director of The Rebecca Foundation, pledged the Foundation’s determination to compliment government’s efforts to enhance the lives of its citizens by intensifying the implementation of initiatives including Terema (supporting women to improve their economic status), Because I want to Be (keeping girls in school) and Learning to Read (improving child literacy), among others, as well as the construction of health facilities and supply of hospital equipment to needy institutions.

On his part, MP for Ledzokuku and Deputy Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Oko Boye on behalf of the chiefs and traditional elders of Teshie, Nungua and Osu thanked the First lady for her donations as well as the many philanthropic activities The Rebecca Foundation is executing which he said has greatly impacted the lives of women and children in the coastal communities in Accra.

Coming on the back of the dreaded Covid-19 pandemic, Mrs. Akufo-Addo urged the elders and people of Teshie, Nungua and Osu traditional area to adhere to all safety protocols in celebrating this year’s Homowo by limiting the Kpekple sprinkling ritual to their individual homes.

Story: Sheila Satori Mensa

First Lady commends MOH, GHS for mutually beneficial partnership

First Lady of the Republic H. E. Mrs. Rebecca Naa Okaikor Akufo-Addo has described the partnership between The Rebecca Foundation and state agencies like the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) as one which has been immensely beneficial to the good people of Ghana, especially women and children.

According to her, since its establishment in 2017, The Rebecca Foundation of which she is Executive Director has partnered the Ministry of Health and the GHS to complement government’s enormous investment in the health sector in building and constructing new health facilities and rehabilitating existing facilities, especially in deprived communities.

She said The Rebecca Foundation appreciated quality health being central to the well-being of a nation and has channeled a lot of effort in supporting government in the health sector by donating health equipment and constructing health facilities to support government.

The First lady made these comments when she presented hospital consumables and also PPEs including nose masks,hand sanitizers, soap,gowns ,gloves, baby diapers,Washing powder and others to the Saltpond Hospital.

Mrs. Akufo-Addo said The Rebecca Foundation has donated hospital equipment and supplies to all sixteen (16) regions, including a phototherapy machine to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital and carried out health outreaches and surgeries all over the country.

The Foundation, she said, has also distributed ambulances and renovated and equipped health facilities, including a CHPS compound at Seduase, the Abbam Krom Health Centre and the Osu Government Maternity Home.

“Two of our biggest projects have been an ultra-modern Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and a Maternity, Neo-natal Intensive care and Paediatric Intensive care units, at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital”, the Executive Director of The Rebecca Foundation said.

The First Lady also expressed gladness at her husband, H.E. President Akufo-Addo’s cutting of sod in May this year to reactivate the construction of the Maternity and Children’s Block project of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) which had been abandoned for forty-four (44) years.

She explained that while The Rebecca Foundation – constructed Maternity and Paediatric Intensive care unit, at KATH is to provide an interim solution to the huge challenges the hospital faces in maternal and child care, the 750-bed facility, which when completed will serve as a referral center for twelve out of Ghana’s sixteen regions, will significantly increase government’s capacity to cater for the health needs of women and children in the country.

Mrs. Akufo-Addo pledged The Rebecca Foundation’s commitment to continue to execute initiatives which will enhance the welfare of women and children, health-wise, intellectually and economically.

The First Lady also commended government on how proactive and incisive it has been in combatting the COVID 19 pandemic which has led to the rate of infection slowing down and recoveries going up, cautioning however, the importance in adopting all the safety precautions, to stop the spread, in the hope of soon getting back to our normal lives.

Story: Sheila Satori Mensa

Reading will enhance quality education – First Lady

The First Lady of the Republic, H.E. Mrs. Rebecca Naa Okaikor Akufo-Addo has identified reading as the sure panacea to enhancing the quality of education and deepening the intellect of the youth.
According to her, a people with high literacy skills are better positioned to expedite the development of a country and meet its challenges, stating, “a literate population and communities are in a far better position to develop and innovate than less literate societies”.

Mrs. Akufo-Addo who is also the Executive director of the Rebecca Foundation, made these comments when she commissioned a forty seater computerized library facility in Moree in the Central region.

The library, stocked with modern computers and books on different subjects is expected to serve as an attractive and welcoming environment for the youth to develop the habit and delight in reading.

Harping on the importance of reading and its many benefits Mrs. Akufo-Addo said in a growing competitive world where life-long learning has become the only way to grow intellectually and build a wealth of knowledge, many children in sub-Saharan Africa struggle at the lower primary level to read in the official or any local language and in instances where they can read, they are unable to understand what they read.

She said a vast amount of information in the world, is spread through written works and considering the impact of newspapers, books, and the internet on our daily lives anyone with limited literacy skills is virtually excluded from written information that can change their lives.

Mrs. Akufo-Addo stated that it is this plethora of benefits inherent in the ability and habit of reading that informed the Rebecca Foundation to come up with the “Learning to Read, Reading to Learn” initiative, a two part concept made up of a television reading programme, now in its second season, and provision of much needed libraries in some school clusters across the country.

She said the Rebecca Foundation has so far built three of such computerized libraries in the Dafiama Bissue Issah in the Upper west Region,Sefwi Debiso in the awe stern North Region ,Wenchi in the Bono Region and will soon construct three more libraries at Kumawu in the Ashanti region,Krachi East in the Oti Region and Achimota school in the Greater Accra Region

The First Lady charged the youth to strive to read as many books as possible stating, when I launched the Learning to Read, Reading to Learn initiative, I charged our children to read a book each day. I repeat this charge today. Read, learn new words, learn new things and consider writing your own little stories”.

Mrs. Akufo-Addo also urged the Ministry of Education, to incorporate library services as a critical component of the educational reforms for Basic schools as research has shown the significant role of school libraries in building a reading culture.

On behalf of The Rebecca Foundation, the First Lady extended her profound gratitude to the Ghana Library Authority, Ghana Book Development Council, Metropolitan and District Assemblies, the Ghana Education Service and donors for assisting the Foundation in its literacy enhancing endeavors.

Central Regional Minister, Hon Kwamina Duncan also urged residents of Saltpong, Mfantsiman Municipality and the entire region as a whole to rally behind Nana Addo as he is poised in making health care accessible for every Ghanaian.

Story: Sheila Satori Mensa

First Lady donates thermometer guns to Ghana Library Authority

The First Lady of the Republic, H.E. Mrs. Rebecca Naa Okaikor Akufo- Addo has donated thermometer guns to the Ghana Library Authority to be distributed to the various libraries across the country.

She said the donation is to assist the Authority combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic by checking the temperature of individuals who may visit their facilities.

“In this time of COVID-19, we all need to follow the safety protocols and I believe these equipment will go a long way to assist you in that regard”, she said.

Mrs. Akufo- Addo urged the youth to use this period of what seems like a long holiday to make use of learning facilities to strengthen and enlighten themselves stating “reading strengthens the mind just as exercise

Mrs Akufo-Addo said the Rebecca Foundation is committed to quality education. She disclosed that under the Foundation’s “Learning to Read, Reading to Learn ” and “ Because I want to be” initiatives, the Rebecca Foundation is building libraries in school clusters, running a television reading programme and supporting girls to stay in school.

On his part the Executive Director of Ghana Library Authority, Mr. Hayford Siaw who received the equipment expressed gratitude to the First lady for her timely donation and promised that the guns will be put to good use as the Authority prepares to open their facilities to the general public.

Story: Sheila Satori Mensa