MUSLIMS PROTEST AGAINST THE REMOVAL OF HIJAB

Story By Joyceline Natally Cudjoe

MUSLIMS PROTEST AGAINST THE REMOVAL OF HIJAB

Muslims has gone demonstration on Friday to express their displeasure and disapproval about the West African Examination Council’s (WAEC) order against the use of hijabs (headscarf) during passport picture snapping.

The demonstration went on in the Sekondi-Takoradi of the Western Region as a result of WAEC specification sent to Schools explaining the kind of pictures they need.

Examination Council has said to have challenges with the kind of passport pictures sent by schools therefore sent to schools the specification for the photograph to ensure uniformity across board.

WAEC officials in the Western Region asked candidates taking passport-size photos during registration for the final examination in the B.E.C.E and W.A.S.C.E to remove their headscarves as it conceals some vital features (like forehead, nose, chin etc.)  needed to be included in the passport   for easy detection of the students.

The Islamic community during the demonstration claimed hijab is their dignity therefore by removing it means dumping away their honour and also an infringement to their rights as Muslims.

They said the honour of an Islamic female is by covering herself from head to toe  therefore they are not ready to be dishonoured.

The demonstrators furthered that the directives of the Examination Council violates the Sacred rules of the Islamic Religion and such is a sin to Allah.

However Mrs. Teye Cudjoe the Public Relations Officer of the West African Examination Council in an interview with Joy News said they did not target any group or religion in the distribution of the required specification for the passport-size photos but sent it to all schools to ensure easy and smooth work for the council due to the previous problems the council met with the photographs of the candidates of B.E.C.E  and W.A.S.C.E .

Mrs. Cudjoe suggested that if the protestors could wear their hijab and still could show the required feature in the photographs the council would not have problems with that.

SEKONDI ANGLICAN CHURCH SECURED A GRANT FOR A MOBILE CLINIC PROCUREMENT

The Sekondi Diocese of the Anglican Church has secured a 35 Thousand UTO grant for the procurement of a mobile clinic for outreach health delivery.

The money yet to be received but the Diocese Medical Board is feverishly working toward the implementation of the project and the organization of other requirements.

The Diocesan Bishop, the Right Reverend Samuel Kwamina Otoo, announced this at a church forum at Nsuta in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality of the Weste4rn Region.

He said the diocese has secured the land meant for the proposed Nyankamum Clinic project with its existing structures.

The Bishop said aside the initial monies sank in the rehabilitation works; the diocese has spent 50Thousand Ghana Cedis through the project in readiness to commence clinic operations before the end of the year.

He said the diocese in collarboration with its legal team is impressing on the tenants of a house at Tikobo No.2 in the Ellembele District headquarters to it by one justice Alleriya for use as a clinic. 

                                                                           Report By; Joyceline Natally Cudjoe

GHANAIANS WARNED AGAINST EBOLA

Ghanaians have been urged to take precautionary measures against contracting infectious diseases which are spreading fast through insanitary conditions.

This comes in the wake of the outbreak of the ebola disease in some neighboring countries as well as cholera in some parts of the country.

The DCE for the Ejumako Enyan-Essiam District, light Koomson made the call at a fund raising durbar organized by the chief and people of Ajumako-Osedzi in the District. It was in aid of an ICT centre. Mr. Koomson emphasized that the ebola is not a myth but real. Therefore, they should abide by and comply with all the directives and warnings issued by the Health Ministry.

He particularly mentioned the need to thoroughly wash hands with soap and avoid the consumption of bats and other bush meat at this time as they could be infected with the ebola virus.
                                           
                                                                                 report by JOYCELINE NATALLY CUDJOE

$100,000,000 WILL SET CASTRO FREE FROM KIDNAPPERS

By: Joyceline Natally Cudjoe

The die in the wool fans believe a ransom of about $100million could push the release of the hip life maestro Theophilus Tagoe aka Castro very fast.

They said this as a result of the interview Mr. John Laiden Eshun granted on Adom news earlier on saying his son had been kidnapped.

The hiplife artist Castro who was believed to be missing on a Jet Ski ride with a female friend Janet Bandu is said by his father to be kidnapped by some unknown men.

Mr. Eshun showed signs of optimism that his son would be released this year which got some fans in positive assurance mood that their icon is alive and soon be freed.

Hiplife lovers who saw 2014 as a great year for Castro in his music career had shown signs of frustrations by the kidnappers in-actions. They said “Castro’s disappearance has left in its wake dull moment on several platforms and events in 2014 as far as entertainment is concern”

They said those kidnappers had refrained them (fans) from enjoying the seihor singer live on many entertainment platforms and shows.

Although the search for the missing artist who was believed to have been taken by the rivers of Ada six months ago proved futile.

However there has never been any positive news indicating Castro is kidnapped. Moreover some questions have been raised about the jet ski which was found packed at the other shores in Ada which was told to have been the artist own.

Meanwhile investigations are ongoing to unravel the mystery.

GOVERNMENT SHOULD CHARGE FARES INSTEAD OF G.P.R.T.U

A commercial Driver of Sekondi-Takoradi has appealed to government to set prices of commercial vehicles whenever there is an increment in fuel prices rather than  leaving it in the hand of Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU)

The driver said, the GPRTU are now politicizing fares of commercial vehicles and that  they take advantage of the fuel hikes to insensitively increase fares whilst the distance does not amount to such astronomical price.

He said this has compelled passengers of taxi to now join tro-tro thus making taxi drivers lessly gain income.

He explained that the increment in fares is rather killing the taxi work whilst projecting the work of tro-tro.

He however stressed the need of taxi drivers to drastically reduce prices of fares to attract passengers on board in order to kill the plight of them moving around the whole day with empty cars.

He cautioned taxi-drivers to think about what would benefit the taxi work as well as the passengers rather than merely accepting prices from the GPRTU, with regards to the economic difficulties Ghanaians are facing.

                                                         STORY BY: JOYCELINE NATALLY CUDJOE