Month: October 2019

“Yearn for knowledge, read everything as far as you are inquisitive and arm yourself with knowledge and you will continue to remain relevant as leaders,” these are kind words of advice from Peter Akai Anum, the Executive Director of the Head State Award Scheme – Ghana to youth leaders across the country.

Mr. Anum stressing on the importance of knowledge in making a leader stand out added: “The power of knowledge is very key in leadership which means that as a leader, you must always continue to gain knowledge, know everything, whether it’s your field or not”.

The Head of State Award Scheme boss was addressing some selected youth leaders representing the National Youth Leaders Network at the Youth Regional Networks Leadership Training Program organized by FOSDA with support from Oxfam in Accra on October 18.

The 2-day intensive leadership training program offered seventeen (17) selected youth leaders who are members of the biggest youth network in the country the opportunity to acquire leadership skills to enable them to positively impact the youth and continue to champion youth initiatives that will bring about change.

They participants were taken through various training modules which include ‘Leadership and its Essence, Types of Leadership, Ethics in Leadership, Decision making and Leadership, Gender and Leadership and Team and Leadership.

According to Susana Sugri Batesima, Program Officer of Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA), the capacity building workshop seeks to empower the participants with adequate skills and knowledge to help them build their various networks and better position themselves to continue to advocate for change, demand accountability from duty bearers in a bid to impact the lives of the youth.

Touching on the training program in an interview, she revealed that it will be extended to cover some other selected youth leaders within four other regions apart from the Greater Accra and the Ashanti Region which brought together the 17 selected youth leaders from Accra and Kumasi representing the first batch of the beneficiaries.

“We will be moving from here to the Volta Region where youth leaders from Oti and Volta Region will be engaged. Then we travel down to the Upper West Region, where we will train also Upper East and the Upper West Regional Youth Leaders”.

Mad. Batesima appealed to the youth to take advantage of the social media including online courses to always empower themselves with knowledge, lean new things to positively continue to influence development and transform the youth.

For his part, Lead Facilitator and Consultant of the training, Mr. Godson Charnor admonished the participants to see themselves as positive development agents who are destined to bring change to our community and the country at large with focus on good effective leadership skills.

The 2-day training program was facilitated by Godson Charnor(Lead Facilitator) Theodora Williams Anti, (Programme Manager of FOSDA) , Susana Sugri Batesima(Program Officer of FOSDA and Irene Okrah (Gender Advocate)

FOSDA has over the years worked intensively with youths across the country. With emphasis on strengthening the youth, the NGO has managed to build regional Youth Networks representing various districts and individuals Youth Networks across the country.

The Executive Director of the Head of State Award Scheme – Ghana, Peter Akai Anum has challenged the youth who aspire to occupy various leadership positions in every facet of their lives to be committed in offering voluntary services wherever they find themselves.

According to him, constant offering of voluntary service (s) holds the key to building one’s leadership skills and knowledge bank to continue to become relevant as an impactful leader.

“Leadership is practical exhibition of skills and talents and that practicality must come within a space and that space is with people in different settings you serve”.

“To be that good, impactful leader, you must start with service. Service is a basic principle; not until you start serving, you will not learn how to lead”.

Mr. Anum was speaking to some selected youth leaders who are representatives of the National Youth Leaders Network at the Youth Regional Networks Leadership Training Program organized by FOSDA with support from Oxfam in Accra on October 18.

The selected participants numbered 17 were drawn from various youth groups within the Greater Accra and the Ashanti Region.

Youth volunteerism in Ghana today has dwindled significantly especially those in tertiary institutions, has lost the zest to volunteer and offer themselves to play roles in the development of this nation and their respective communities.

Some of the questions the youth often ask anytime they are called upon to volunteer are: “What do l get from this?”, “Isn’t this the job for others?” and “Would l get some money from this?”

The communal spirit of old which saw students going back to their villages and towns during vacations to teach, do clean-up exercises, provide labour for the building of infrastructures such as schools and clinics and availing themselves to volunteer for any other community engagements is fast becoming a scarce reality and a major cause of worry.

But interacting with the participants, the staunch advocate and global youth leader underscored the need for the youth to embrace the spirit of volunteerism to help them build knowledge, experience and to explore the numerous opportunities at stake.

He attributed lack of knowledge and inexperience among the youth today to their unwillingness to engage in voluntary services.

“Many people complete their University education nowadays and they lack experience”, how can we gather experience, quizzed?.

To become that impactful leader, you must be ready to serve – Peter Anum charges youth.

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The Executive Director of the Head of State Award Scheme – Ghana, Peter Akai Anum has challenged the youth who aspire to occupy various leadership positions in every facet of their lives to be committed in offering voluntary services wherever they find themselves.

According to him, constant offering of voluntary service (s) holds the key to building one’s leadership skills and knowledge bank to continue to become relevant as an impactful leader.

“Leadership is practical exhibition of skills and talents and that practicality must come within a space and that space is with people in different settings you serve”.

“To be that good, impactful leader, you must start with service. Service is a basic principle; not until you start serving, you will not learn how to lead”.

Mr. Anum was speaking to some selected youth leaders who are representatives of the National Youth Leaders Network at the Youth Regional Networks Leadership Training Program organized by FOSDA with support from Oxfam in Accra on October 18.

The selected participants numbered 17 were drawn from various youth groups within the Greater Accra and the Ashanti Region.

Youth volunteerism in Ghana today has dwindled significantly especially those in tertiary institutions, has lost the zest to volunteer and offer themselves to play roles in the development of this nation and their respective communities.

Some of the questions the youth often ask anytime they are called upon to volunteer are: “What do l get from this?”, “Isn’t this the job for others?” and “Would l get some money from this?”

The communal spirit of old which saw students going back to their villages and towns during vacations to teach, do clean-up exercises, provide labour for the building of infrastructures such as schools and clinics and availing themselves to volunteer for any other community engagements is fast becoming a scarce reality and a major cause of worry.

But interacting with the participants, the staunch advocate and global youth leader underscored the need for the youth to embrace the spirit of volunteerism to help them build knowledge, experience and to explore the numerous opportunities at stake.

He attributed lack of knowledge and inexperience among the youth today to their unwillingness to engage in voluntary services.

“Many people complete their University education nowadays and they lack experience”, how can we gather experience, quizzed?.

“We can gather experience right from our days of Senior High School (SHS) and the University at our leisure time through voluntary engagements”, he answered.

He concluded by saying every leader must be ready to serve and every leader is a servant, adding ” to be that good, impactful leader, you must start with service.,….Service is a basic principle, not until you start serving, you will not learn how to lead.

Peter Akai Anum is a renowned global youth leader and advocate with a wealth of experience in youth mentorship, education and development which he has gathered through volunteerism working with both local and International organizations over the years. Before his appointment into office as the Executive Director of the Head of State Award Scheme-Ghana in 2012, he had diligently served the Commonwealth in various capacity from 2019 to 2011.

In October 2011, he was also nominated by the Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council (CYEC) to sit on the International Youth Planning Team for the Eighth Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF8) held alongside the Commonwealth Head of Governments Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth, Australia.

Peter was adjudged the Best Youth Worker for Africa by the Commonwealth in 2016. Among his long list of achievements, he was also awarded as the 2018 Most Influential Young Ghanaians under Leadership & Civil Society Category by the Aviance Media.

Source: Joseph Kobla Wemakor|Ghanaweb

The Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana Joseph Kobla Wemakor has been recognized by the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) for his outstanding report which sheds light on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the School’s Grand Durbar to  mark it’s 60th Anniversary held at its new campus site situated at Dzorwulu in Accra on Wednesday October 16.

The recognition emanates from a competition instituted by the Ghana Institute of Journalism as part of  activities to celebrate its historic 60th Anniversary dubbed “GIJ 60th Anniversary Media Contest”.
It was aimed at rewarding outstanding works of Communication/Media Students and Practioners in the country who have  demonstrated committment towards promoting the SDGs.

Joseph Kobla Wemakor, who also doubles as a seasoned journalist, an SDGs champion, human rights activist and a student of the institute was among the eight (8) contestants adjudged winners under the 3 categories of awards at stake by the Premier Communications University in West Africa.
The citation accompanying the award praised Mr Wemakor for his outstanding report which won him the prestigious SDGs awards under the print category. 

It read “This citation is awarded by the Ghana Institute of Journalism to Joseph Kobla Wemakor in recognition of your outstanding print report in the GIJ 60th Anniversary Media Contest themed:”The Role of Media in Promoting Effective Citizen Participation for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals”. Presented on the 60th Anniversary Grand Durbar on the 16th of October 2019 and signed by Prof. Kwamena Kwansah-Aidoo, Rector, Ghana Institute of Journalism”.
The GIJ 60th Anniversary Media Contest Awards was under the theme:”Role of Media in promoting effective citizen participation for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals” (SDGs).

The Media Contest was opened on Monday June 10, 2019 with a call on all Communication/Media Students and Practioners in the country to submit outstanding works in any of the 3 categories; articles audio and video documentaries on the theme:”Role of Media in promoting effective citizen participation for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals” (SDGs).
The Premier Communication Institute has celebrated its 60th anniversary at a colour grand durbar in Accra under the theme “Celebrating our past: Inspiring our future”.

Prof. Kwamena Kwansah-Aidoo, the Rector of GIJ in his opening remark identified funding gap as a major challenge hindering the development  of the school.

He therefore called for government’s  support, adding “efforts at delivering quality training at GIJ can be achieved with the needed funding support”.
The colourful ceremony was graced by hosts of dignitaries including the Former Ghana Ambassador to Germany, Akua Sena Dansua (Alumnus), Ambassador of Lebanon to Ghana, Maher Kheir, Issac Prof. Charles Marfo, National President of UTAG, Dr Mrs. Stella Agyenim Boateng, Director of Human Resources at Volta River Authourity (VRA), Executive Director of National Population Council (NPC), Dr. Leticia Appiah and Peter Smith Vander, Head of Political Sector of the European Union.

The Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG), Joseph Kobla Wemakor has been selected by Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA) and Oxfam to participate in a Leadership Training program organized to build capacity of leaders of Regional Youth Networks in Africa.

According to the organizers, Joseph has been shortlisted for the program through a very competitive selection process after the call for application was opened to the public seeking for leaders of various youth networks in the country to apply, a month ago.

“We are impressed by the ideas you shared during your application, and the passion you have to positively influence affairs in your community”. 

“Our rigorous, interactive, and practice-oriented learning model will demand the very best of you and your classmates and will provide a firm foundation for your chosen career path”, his approval letter reads.

It further continues: “Together with your diverse group of peers, you will be immersed in a unique leadership training opportunity that embraces experiential learning, mentorship and collaboration. We believe that once you have successfully completed the training”. 

The ‘FOSDA Leadership Training Program which seeks to imbibe quality leadership skills and knowledge in the participants to become good leaders is being co-organized by FOSDA and Oxfam.

The 2-day leadership training is being held simultaneously in Accra and Kumasi from October 16-18, 2019 which is expected to build the capacity of various youth leaders across the country.  

The Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG), Joseph Kobla Wemakor has been invited by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), the Future Climate For Africa (FCFA) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to attend the African Climate Risks Conference (ACRC19) which is taking place from 7-9 October 2019 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The human rights cum environmental activist who also doubles as a seasoned journo is part of the six Ghanaian journalists selected among the best fifteen (15) African best reporters to participate in this year’s world’s biggest climate change conference taking place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at UNECA.

As part of events, the selected journalists together with Mr. Wemakor, who equally holds a position as the Editor-In- Chief of the Ghananewsone.com will have the opportunity to attend a special training session for reporters at the Conference which focus on how to report on IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Land and the IPCC Special Report Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate. They will also have the chance to learn about the IPCC process and how to accurately report on climate science as well as participate in the fully in the African Climate Risks Conference 2019. 

The African Climate Risks Conference is an open platform for sharing latest climate research on African climate among researchers, and with policy makers, practitioners and development partners, with the goal to ensure the improved flow of knowledge and interactions among researchers, practioners and decision makers; toward greater impact and legacy of completed and on-going African climate research and adaptation initiatives.

The aim of the conference is to ensure greater impact and legacy of completed and on-going research programmes by promoting the uptake of new data, tools and knowledge; brokering new research collaborations; coordinating targeted donor support and provide a form to identify common priorities in the African climate research for development agenda through African-led collective discussions.

It also seeks to stimulate increased contribution of African experts to, improve coverage of Africa, in the IPCC assessment reports; and bring together development partners to deliberate on how to improve programing to support African-led climate research and service priorities.

The event which is on the theme: “Dismantling barriers to urgent climate adaption action” is being co-organized by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC), Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), South-South North (SSN) and Future Climate for Africa (FCFA) program and partner organizations.