“God will punish you and your descendants for the false publication about me on social media. you will suffer,” she stated.

This follows a publication alleging that she had taken the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Wontumi, to the cleaners for disrespecting Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang.

The report also said Madam Djaba announced her exit from the NPP which she described as a useless political party.

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But the former Gender Minister expressed shock at the publication attributed to her when she had not granted any interview in the past years.

“I have been traumatised, I feel battered since the story went viral on social media. God will punish those behind this fake publication,” she fumed on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Monday.

The former NPP National Women’s Organiser blamed the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for being behind the said publication just to court support for its Vice-Presidential candidate, Prof. Naana Opoku-Agyemang.

“I know some members of the NDC are behind this but you can’t destroy one woman to promote the other. I have worked hard for my name and you can’t drag it in the mud,” she opined.

Madam Djaba said she has reported the news portal which carried the story and will also sue them in court for defamation.

“I’m really in pain; why will anyone concoct such evil lies just to create animosity for me? I will take legal action against them,” she added.

Ashanti Regional New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman, Bernard Antwi Bosiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, demands estranged former gender minister, Otiko Afisa Djaba apologizes to the President for her conduct in rejecting an ambassadorial position offered her.

Madam Otiko Djaba, after raising issues with her sack from government, resigned from politics, citing her stroke-ridden ex-husband as one of the reasons for not accepting the position.

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However, Mr Wontumi is disappointed that she rejected the position after she was chosen out of many who were equally qualified and worked hard for the party to come to power.

Chairman Wontumi thinks apologizing to the President and the people of Ghana will heal wounds.

RELATED STORY: Otiko feels used and dumped – Atubiga [Audio]

“Otiko needs to appologise to the President and Ghanaians because she has disrespected him. People like us have been loyal to the President but we don’t fight for positions and you have gotten an ambassadorial position and all you can do is to reject it and claim your husband is sick. She should give us a break,” he said.

To the maverick politician, the re-assignment of Madam Djaba as the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection to Italy as Ghana’s Ambassador was an elevation by the President and therefore sees the rejection of the Ambassadorial appointment as the personal decision of the former NPP Women’s Organiser.

ALSO: Quit not – Asiedu Nketia pleads with Otiko [Audio]

Wontumi commenting further on the issue in an interview with host of Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa 102.5 FM, Kwaku Owusu Adjei, Wednesday, August 22, 2018, said “We were in opposition and during those years, there were no positions for people to be appointed to occupy them. Now we are in government and it is a privilege to serve the people. So, if God, has through the President, Nana Akufo-Addo, appointed you [Otiko Afisa Djaba] as the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, for you to work hard to serve your people and today he has also elevated you from Honourable to Her Excellency and you said you don’t like it that is her own decision.

Madam Djaba on Tuesday announced her resignation from active politics to enable her attend to her sick husband who has been bedridden for years now after turning down her Ambassadorial appointment to Italy.

MORE: Otiko feels used and dumped – Atubiga [Audio]

Prior to her re-assignment to Italy as an Ambassador, Madam Djaba was the sector Minister for the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.

Her reassignment was seen as a total demotion by a cross-section of the public with many expressing the belief that might have occasioned her rejection of the Ambassadorial appointment.

Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential hopeful, Stephen Atubiga is of the view that the immediate past Gender, Children and Social Protection Minister is right to decline president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s ambassadorial position.

He described her dropping from the ministerial list and subsequent reassignment as an ambassador as a demotion of a kind.

“Otiko Djaba being moved as a minister to an ambassadorial position is a demotion because she is going to work under someone and looking at the relationship she has with the President, I don’t think she is happy“, he asserted.

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“I think she is standing out for herself and saying that she cannot be used and dumped. She feels dumped and that is why she had to quit and I think she has a case,” he said on Accra-based radio, Neat FM, monitored by Adomonline.com.

President Akufo-Addo after reshuffling some members of his government for the first time, designated Madam Otiko Djaba as Ghana’s Ambassador to Italy.

But the former minister has announced she would rather spend time taking care of her ex-husband who has been down with a stroke rather take up the ambassadorial job.

The immediate past Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection who was thrown out of office in the President’s first reshuffle revealed to Daily Graphic in an interview that she’s calling it quits from active politics to enable her to enjoy her family life.

“At 56 years, I want to relax and enjoy my family and life, therefore, I am not ready to take up the appointment as Ambassador to Italy,” she said.

Otiko explained that she was leaving politics to care for her sick ex-husband.

“I am the one who has been taking care of him since he got sick and I cannot abandon him now,” she noted.

But Stephen Atubiga added that he doesn’t have a problem with her decision to quit politics if she feels it’s time to move on.

He insists people should look at the genuine concerns she has raised and understand her.

General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah has appealed to the immediate past Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection Otiko Afisa Djaba to reconsider her decision to decline the president’s offer to serve as Ghana’s Ambassador to Italy.

Johnson Asiedu Nketia said although Madam Otiko Djaba has the right to quit her job, her decision raises a lot of questions.

“Yes, she has the right to quit her job if she is not satisfied but I want her to rethink her decision because it can dent her political future and forward match,” he said on Accra-based Neat FM monitored by Adomonline.com.

Mr Asiedu Nketia’s comment comes after the 56-year-old announced that she was retiring from active politics.

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The former minister announced her decision to turn down the ambassadorial job to Daily Graphic newspaper through an interview.

President Nana Akufo-Addo has, in a reshuffle of his government, relieved Madam Otiko Djaba of her job as a minister of gender and has subsequently appointed her as Ghana’s Ambassador for Italy.

She has indicated that she is taking a step back from politics to spend more time with her family and also take care of her ex-husband who has suffered a stroke.

“I cannot abandon him now,” the former Minister told Daily Graphic.

But Mr Asiedu Nketia has pleaded with her to reconsider her decision since her position may affect her future political development.

According to Mr Nketia, the former minister may have taken such a decision because she knows she would not be welcomed in Italy.

“I also believe she is taking the decision because she thinks she will not be welcomed in Italy hence to prevent any disgrace, she has decided to quit her job but she should be mindful because it may affect her,” he said.

Mr Asiedu Nketia suggested to Otiko Djaba to look at an alternative means of addressing her whole problem.

Former Gender and Social Protection minister has got the support of New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong following her decision to quit politics.

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The outspoken MP said he appreciates Otiko Djaba for choosing to spend time with her family than take up the President’s offer of a new position.

President Nana Akufo-Addo after reshuffling some members of his government for the first time, appointed Otiko Djaba as Ghana’s Ambassador for Italy.

READ: Audio: Don’t accept any post in govt – Ken Agyapong to Boakye Agyarko

But the former minister has announced she would rather spend time taking care of her ex-husband who has been down with a stroke.

On Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Tuesday, the Assin Central MP wondered whether the former Minister was going to pick tomotoes in Italy.

READ: Video: Ken Agyapong reacts to Otiko’s resignation

“I support Otiko’s decision, what is he going to do there, to be plucking tomatoes or what? She says she is tired and I agree perfectly to that…,” he said.

RELATED STORY: Otiko Djaba rejects ambassador job

According to him, it is her prerogative to decide when to quit.

“It her prerogative. She has every right to decide when to be in politics and when to get out” he stated.

The former Gender Minister has declined the president’s offer to serve as Ghana’s Ambassador to Italy.

The 56-year-old has further announced she is retiring from active politics.

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The Akufo-Addo loyalist said she has informed the President of both decisions and expects to “relax and enjoy my family”.

Reacting to her decision in an interview on Joy News Tuesday, the Assin Central MP said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will miss her.

He indicated that, as the former National Womens Organizer, Madam Otiko Djaba worked very hard to ensure their victory inthe 2020 elections.

Ken Agyapong wished her well and urged other politicians to take a cue from Otiko’s action.

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The 56-year old has further announced she is retiring from active politics.

The Akufo-Addo loyalist said she has informed the President of both decisions and expects to “relax and enjoy my family”.

Ms Djaba before joining the Akufo-Addo government in February 2017 was the NPP National Women’s Organiser who liked to call for fasting and prayers as the party entered a crucial general election in December 2016.

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Ms Djaba also liked to jab the then president Mahama and the NDC, a penchant that attracted payback time when she faced NDC MPs on the Parliament’s Appointments committee following her nomination as minister.

But after 17 months into the Akufo-Addo government, an expected reshuffle claimed her position as the Gender minister was to be shipped out of the country to Italian shores.

Apparently, leaving the country has proved too much to ask for the female politician who says she prefers to take care of her ex-husband who has a stroke for the past six years.

READ: Treason charges against Koku Anyidoho dropped

“I cannot abandon him now” the divorcee told Daily Graphic.

After the bold attempt in 2008 to challenge John Mahama for his Bole Bamboi seat, Otiko Djaba leaves the political limelight.

She becomes the second minister to leave the government after the President sacked his Energy minister Boakye Agyarko.

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Outgoing Minister for Gender and Social Protection, Otiko Afisa Dzaba has said most Ghanaian men do not have the ‘emotional energy’ to report cases of physical abuse by their wives to the Domestic violence and victims support Unit (DOVSU).

She said men at a younger stage are taught not to express their emotions, to “suck it up” and “be a man’’ which has led to their silence when their wives beat them up.

Madam Otiko who was invited by Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday, 14th August 2018 said these ‘battered’ men fail to speak up because the Ghanaian cultural setting clings to ‘narrow’ beliefs that men who are ‘beaten up’ by their wives are mostly weak.

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‘’We have received a lot of calls in recent times from men who are abused by women. In our culture, it’s not manly enough to say your wife has beaten you up. So what I know is that it is happening but they don’t complain because they don’t want them to be seen as weak’’.

According to her, the rate at which women beat their husbands is alarming as some male victims could call her as late as 1 am to report cases of abuse by their wives.

She said the ministry is planning to embark on a survey and sensitization in Ghanaian homes to find out real causes of these problems as well as ways it can be eradicated.

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‘’We intend to do an assessment and survey because I get personal letters from these men. Some of them even call me at 1 am. There was an incident about a woman using a stool to hit a man’s head, I asked the social welfare worker to take up the issue and we are currently working on it.

The government was ridiculed by many after dropping a tall list of names, as many as 110, for ministerial appointments, months after taking over power from the National Democratic Congress administration in 2017.

It is however not clear if President Akufo-Addo will touch the number in his first reshuffle after one and half years in office. He once defended the widely criticised number in an interview with the state broadcaster, saying it was a “necessary investment” needed to help him govern well.

RELATED: First reshuffle: Otiko out, Oppong Nkrumah for Information Ministry

Meanwhile, the governing New Patriotic Party’s General Secretary John Boadu calls the reshuffle, which he hinted might happen in a few days a “limited reshuffle”.

“What will be done really is not a full-scale reshuffle; it’s just a limited one. What I’m saying is what will be done will be a limited one as a result of the vacancy occurring at the Energy Ministry,” he told Johnnie Hughes on TV3’s morning magazine show, New Day.

But snippets of information gathered by 3news.com suggest that the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources Joseph Kofi Adda, who was recently in the news for ‘doling out’ 30,000 cedis of his MP’s Common Fund to a church in his constituency is likely to lose his job.

Ministers likely to exit Akufo-Addo’s government include Elizabeth Afoley Quaye, Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, who had been quiet but for a few days ago when she gained notoriety among fishers after she threatened to ban fishing for one month and the ensuing controversy.

ALSO: MPs accused of misapplying Common Fund

Also, the Minister for Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, may be affected as he is likely to be replaced with the armyworm being an albatross hanging firmly on his neck.

Packing up for a possible reassignment is the Information Minister Abdul-Hamid Mustapha.

With the dismissal of Boakye Agyarko as the Energy Minister, care-taker minister John Peter Amewu is likely to be confirmed as the substantive minister after a good fight with illegal miners at the helm of affairs at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.

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Ambrose Dery may not be kept at the Interior Ministry in Akufo-Addo’s reshuffle, same as Alan Kyerematen who is the Minister of Trade and Industry.

Otiko Afisah Djaba, Children, Gender and Social Protection may be reassigned.

Although the names of the affected ministers were sourced from a credible official at the presidency, 3news.com could not independently confirm that at the time of this publication.

In the middle of his thought-provoking presentation however, two members of his entourage at the UN summit appeared distracted as they were seen taking photographs while other foreign dignitaries monitored closely, what the President of the first sub-saharan country to gain independence had to say.

Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Otiko Afisa Djaba and Deputy Chief of Staff Abu Jinapor, two appointees of the president whose work at their various political offices have been called into question in recent time were seen taking a ‘selfie’ behind the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey who, unlike the other two, seemed immersed in the President’s speech to leaders of the world.

Early this year, Otiko Djaba came under fire after she engaged in a series of exchanges with the Northern Regional chairman of her party, Bugri Naabu. The incident created a sharp division among Ghanaians with a significant number calling for her sack particularly after she was alleged to have shown ‘gross disrespect’ to Members of Parliament at her vetting. Many had concluded that such traits were not worthy of a Minister of State. The calls were however watered down as she apologized for the incident and was subsequently reprimanded by the leadership of her party – the NPP.

Samuel Abu Jinapor on the other hand has been under the scrutiny of the public after he was accused of corrupt practices by a member of his party who doubles as a businessman and entertainer.

Kwame Asare Obeng, known in showbiz as A-Plus accused the Deputy Chief of Staff of demanding monies from persons who were keen on engaging in discussions with the President. A Plus however failed to substantiate his allegations after he was called upon by the Police CID to help out in investigations into the matter of corruption against a man he had described as a thief and stupid.

On Thursday however, none of the several ‘scandals’ meant much to these two individuals who were keen on getting the priceless art of imagery at the UN General Assembly meeting as they posed for Otiko Djaba’s camera.

Hajia Saadatu Hamdatu has been appointed as the new National Women’s Organiser of the party. This comes in the wake of the resignation of all party officers given government appointments.

In May, the National Council of the NPP ordered all office holders – both those elected and appointed – who have been appointed into government to make a choice as to which position to hold. Apparently, most of them opted for their government positions, hence the resignation of their party positions.

On Thursday, Acting General Secretary John Boadu announced that Hajia Hamdatu will act as National Women’s Organiser.

The National Organiser also announced the constitution of an 11-member ad hoc committee to oversee proposals for constitutional reforms in the party.

The committee has been given two months within which to complete its work.

A Vice Chairman of the NPP, Frederick Fredua Antoh, will chair the committee.

Notable among the members are former Member of Parliament Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, deputy ministers Osei Bonsu Amoah, Godfred Dame, Joseph Dimdiok Kpemka and MP Ben Abdallah Banda.

Otiko Djaba, who accompanied by President Nana Akufo-Addo to the event, was overwhelmed by emotions and broke down into tears.

Sources say, Madam Djaba knew Major Mahama as a pupil at the Akosombo International School.

Djaba’s tears typified the mood of many in the nation, one week after the passing of Captain Mahama.

The one week event was a sombre affair that was characterised by deep pain and sorrow.

They mentioned Daniel Bugri Naabu, Madam Otiko Afisa Djaba, Rockson Bukari and Kamaldeen Abdulai and demanded they should be invited and thoroughly investigated for allegedly ,masterminding the death of the late Adams Mahama.

At a press conference in Sandema on Monday May 15, 2017 addressed by Robert Atong Asekabta, he disclosed that the true murderers of the former NPP leader are still walking free whilst their kinsman who is innocent has been in incarceration for almost two years.

They also demanded that pragmatic steps to be taken by the police following recent revelations by embattled Northern Regional Chairman of the NPP, Daniel Bugri Naabu to get the right perpetrators of the crime apprehended.

“We want to state at this juncture that even though our son, brother and relative has been in incarceration for almost two years in connection with the killing of the late Adams, we have been very clear in our minds that Gregory Afoko is innocent and that the true killers of the late Adams Mahama are still walking the streets of Ghana as free people”

Read Full Text Of the Family Press Conference

STATEMENT BY THE FAMILY OF GREGORY AFOKO ON THE RECENT REVELATIONS BY DANIEL BUGRI NAABU, THE NORTHERN REGIONAL CHAIRMAN OF THE NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP) ON THE ALLEGED KILLERS OF THE LATE ADAMS MAHAMA, THE UPPER EAST REGIONAL CHAIRMAN OF THE NPP AT SANDEMA ON MONDAY, MAY 15, 2017

Ladies and gentlemen of the media, the family of Gregory Afoko wishes to thank you very much for responding to our invitation at this short notice.

It is our hope that what we are about to share with you today will be given the needed space, airtime and prominence in your various news media organizations in the interest of justice and fair play, and more importantly, in finding the true killers of our brother and friend the late Adams Mahama who sadly died from alleged acid burns from unknown assailants at the time.

May his soul rest in perfect peace.

Ladies and gentlemen of the media, we want to take this opportunity not to remind the family of the late Adams Mahama of the pain they are already experiencing, but to sincerely wish them very well and also to assure them that we have been with them, albeit on the quiet, in their quest to find the true killers of their son, brother, husband and father.

We want to state at this juncture that even though our son, brother and relative has been in incarceration for almost two years in connection with the killing of the late Adams, we have been very clear in our minds that Gregory Afoko is innocent and that the true killers of the late Adams Mahama are still walking the streets of Ghana as free people.

We, again, want to state unequivocally that the quest to find the true killers of the late Adams Mahama must be the concern of all peace-loving Ghanaians irrespective of their status in society.

The security agencies, especially the Ghana Police Service, whose duty it is to find the killers of the late Adams must therefore not show any signs of tardiness for whatever reasons in the performance of such duty!

It is to encourage the security agencies to perform their duty without fear or favour and to help find the true killers of Adams Mahama that the police and the other security agencies must not take lightly the recent revelation by the Northern Regional Chairman of the NPP, Daniel Bugri Naabu, to the effect that Mr. Rockson Bukari, the Upper East Regional Minister, and Madam Otiko Afisah Djaba, the Minister of Women, Gender and Social Protection, were part of those who masterminded the killing of the late Adams Mahama!

As stated already, it was someone’s allegation in connection with the killing of Adams against Gregory Afoko that led to his arrest from his sleep at dawn by the police. Despite his repeated denials of the act he has been accused of, he is still in prison custody and presently facing trial at the High Court.

So, just as Gregory Afoko was arrested on the allegation of someone, it is our humble plea to the police that Madam Otiko Djaba, Mr. Rockson Bukari and Bugri Naabu himself be arrested or invited by the police to assist them in finding who actually killed Adams Mahama and for what purpose. The law must be seen to be applied equally to all manner of persons including Bugri, Bukari and Otiko!

We want to bring to the attention of the general public that, whilst not questioning the professional competence of the Ghana Police Service, we believe that the investigation into the killing of Adams Mahama has not been the best. The police have not widened the net of their investigations enough. For instance, some hours after the night Adams Mahama sadly passed on, the current National Nasara Co-ordinator of the NPP, one Kamal Deen Abdulai, was heard in the media saying that he had called to inform the late Adams to take issues of his personal security seriously and that he should be prayerful.

What informed Kamal Deen’s alleged advice to the late Adams Mahama? What did he know beforehand that he was minded to advise the late Adams about his personal security? Why did he tell the late Adams to be prayerful? Why did the police not invite Kamal Deen to assist them in their investigation of the death of the late Adams. We think the police should have been interested. They must still be interested!

Ladies and gentlemen, another senior party member in the person of Daniel Bugri Naabu, the Northern Regional Chairman of the governing NPP has mentioned the names of Madam Otiko Afisa Djaba and Mr. Rockson Bukari as being part of secret meetings that masterminded the killing of the late Adams. Has the Ghana Police Service heard about this new development? If they have, what are they doing about it? If they have not, then we are by this press conference informing Ghanaians including the Ghana Police Service that Mr. Bugri Naabu has, out of his own volition, volunteered information on those he knew masterminded the killing of the late Adams Mahama. This startling revelation was made in a number of radio interviews and same has been published or aired by a number of news media organizations including those on the internet!

Ladies and gentlemen, we shall follow this press conference with a petition to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Attorney-General for them to initiate criminal proceedings against the four: Kamal Deen Abdulai, Daniel Bugri Naabu, Rockson Bukari and Otiko Afisa Djaba, in connection with Adams Mahama’s death! The true killers must be found. We shall support any genuine moves by individuals and groups with the noble intention of helping to find the true killers of the late Adams Mahama.

We wish to appeal to Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the Ghana Chapter of Amnesty International as well as foreign missions in Ghana to add their voices to our call on the police and government to have these three individuals arrested or invited to assist in finding the true killers of the late Adams Mahama.

We are interested in seeing our Gregory Afoko walk out of prison custody as a free man. We also believe that the family of the late Adams Mahama want to see his true killers so we should all join forces to help the security agencies find the true killers.

We wish to thank Ghanaians who have sympathized with us so far in our moment of pain and have also called on the police and government to arrest or invite the four persons.

Thank you for your attention.

..……………………………………………………

ROBERT ATONG ASEKABTA

With these policies, families have a big role to play in protecting children which will also, in turn, promote the wellbeing of the family.

“We should all, therefore, strengthen our families, promote its education and wellbeing as the theme for this year’s celebration suggests,” the Ministry said in a statement issued to mark International Day Of The Family, Monday.

The Department of Social Welfare has recorded an increase in juvenile delinquency in recent years, the Gender Ministry noted in its statement.

It said research has shown that a very high percentage of children who find themselves in conflict with the law come from broken homes.

“A lot of them grow with this habit and become threats to society. This situation would have been curtailed if the family was well organized and everybody played their roles as they should,” it added in its statement.

Below is the statement;

STATEMENT BY THE GENDER MINISTER ON INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE FAMILY

The International Day of Families is observed on May 15, every year. The Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 to observe the importance of families.

The International Day provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families.

The theme for this year’s celebration is “Families, education and well-being”. The focus is on the role of families and family-oriented policies in promoting education and overall well-being of their members.

In particular, the Day is to raise awareness of the role of families in promoting early childhood education and lifelong learning opportunities for children and youth.

The Day highlights the importance of all caregivers in families, be they parents, grandparents or siblings and the importance of parental education for the welfare of children.

The family system plays a very important role in the life of everybody from birth to death. No one is born without a family. Families make children’s future. A family is the only place where children study a lot after school. Families teach children about habits, discipline which not only help them to find a job but also help them to live holistic lives in future. So the family is very important for children. Newborn babies see their parents first and thereafter spend most of their time with their families until they go to school.

Again the family is very important because it stays with us in any situation. This is one of the great advantages of family and none of us never realizes this at any time. You may have lots of friends or relations or office mates. They will definitely be with you in your happy times or any successful achievements. But, your parents or sisters or brothers are the only ones who will stay with you in your hard and difficult times.

Good and well-organized families make a better society. A good family is a great example of the whole society. Father, Mother, children all of whom have to work in order to build a perfect family. If any one of them failed then the whole family would collapse. This happens very much nowadays. The good name of the whole family could be ruined by the actions of a single member of the family.

Human beings have several emotional needs, the gratification of which is essential for mental as well as physical happiness. Everyone requires affection, understanding, feeling of a sense belonging, love, and so forth. The family offers you all of these.

The family system has witnessed some major changes across the world in recent decades. Fifty years ago the ‘normal’ family was the ‘nuclear’ family – a married couple with children. Since then changes to the family has meant that there are more different types of family today than ever before. We now have a variety of different types of family.

The main changes to the family have been grouped into three main categories. These are; changes to marriages, changes to partnerships and changes to children and families.  Changes that occur is marriages are that fewer people are getting married, people are marrying later in life, and divorce rates have gone up.

Changes in partnerships are, more couples co-habiting, more same-sex couples which are now legally recognised in parts of the world. There are more people who prefer to live alone and not get married. Finally, changes that have occurred to children and families are; women now have fewer or no children, there are more births outside marriage, as a result of divorce and remarriages, there are more step families.

The changes in the family system outlined above have created a lot of problems for individuals home and abroad. In Ghana, 20 years back, people do not regard themselves as belonging to only the mother, and father. The extended family is what was regarded as a family. This was because of its size providing a lot of support to its members when in need. Examples can be cited of the situation when uncles had as an obligation to look after nieces and nephews. In this case, if the nephew’s parents are not capable financially, to care for their children, they will be taken care of throughout their education etc.

Parents regard their children a sort of insurance to care for them the future when they are weak and do not have any source of livelihood, their children would take care of them. In recent times, because of the changes in the family system, a lot of people suffer in their old age because there is no one to care for them, or if even there is, they are also busy caring for their nuclear family that is their wife and children. These old people end up in the homes for the aged and others in the Central Destitute infirmary.

We have seen and heard a number of times where caregivers have molested children. Some have led to their deaths and others living them with a lot of problems that affects them for the rest of their lives.

Current statistics by the Care Reform Initiative unit of the Department of Social Welfare have suggested that more than half the number of children in orphanages have parents or other family members who can take care of them. A high number of children are also there because of poverty. A lot of children on the streets today are there because of poverty. Twenty years back, poverty alone was not enough to send children to orphanages knowing the problems that may cause. The extended family system takes care of that.

The Department of Social Welfare has recorded an increase in juvenile delinquency in recent years. Research has shown that a very high percentage of children who find themselves in conflict with the law come from broken homes. A lot of them grow with this habit and become threats to society. This situation would have been curtailed if the family was well organized and everybody played their roles as they should.

As part of measures to strengthen families the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has come out with two major Policies (Child and Family Welfare Policy and Justice for Children Policy) where the family has a big role to play in protecting children which will also, in turn, promote the wellbeing of the Family. We should all, therefore, strengthen our families, promote its education and wellbeing as the theme for this year’s celebration suggests.

PRO

PEARL ADUSU

MoGCSP

Bugri Naabu and Otiko Djaba have been exchanging abusive words on various media platforms after the former lost temper and disrupted a meeting chaired by the latter in the Northern Region.

Outspoken Bugri Naabu had argued that the meeting was being held under his political jurisdiction without his knowledge, deeming it as a gross disrespect to his authority.

He caused a stir when he alleged in an interview that Otiko Djaba and Northern Regional Minister, Rockson Bukari, had knowledge of the gruesome murder of NPP Upper East Regional Chairman, Adams Mahama in 2015. This was after Otiko Djaba had accused him of receiving goats and cows from individuals with the promise of securing appointments in public office for them.

Both personalities however rendered unqualified apologies for their remarks. At a crunch meeting held at Alisa Hotel, Wednesday, the National Council resolved that although both have apologized for their despicable behavior, it should be in a written form.

According to a statement issued by John Boadu, Acting General Secretary of the party, what ensued between the two bigwigs of the party was unhealthy.

“The meeting expressed strong disapproval and regret against the actions and utterances of the minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Northern Regional Chairman. Even though the two apologized profusely, the meeting severely reprimanded them and bonded them to be of good behaviour. They were also asked to put their apologies into written statements,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is calling for police investigations of the murder claim made by Bugri Naabu.

Member of NDC legal team, Victor Adawudu said on Joy FM’s Top Story, Wednesday, that the murder of Adams Mahama remains a national issue and any information from anyone should not be treated lightly.

The feud between the Gender and Social Protection Minister, Otiko Adisa Djaba and the Northern Regional Chairman of the party, Daniel Bugri Naabu started at the weekend when the latter allegedly disrupted a meeting being chaired by the former. Angered by the action, Ms Djaba accused Mr Naabu of taking bribe in the form of goats and cows to offer jobs.

There have since been back and forth accusation and counter-accusation by the two outspoken executive members of the party, something that has received condemnation by many Ghanaians including those within the party.

Ms Otiko Djaba on Tuesday apologised to the President and Ghanaians for her actions which she felt were unfortunate but her apology was not extended to Mr Bugri Naabu.

Bugri Naabu who in the course of his disagreement with the minister accused the Upper East Regional Minister of being complicit in the murder of Adams Mahama in 2015, was forced to apologise for that allegation which he said he had no fact whatsoever to substantiate.

But commenting on the matter, Mr Obiri Boahen said the apology by the two does not end the matter considering that their actions and inactions have affected the NPP and Ghanaians.

“The NPP constitution does not allow one person to take a decision on the matter.

The National Executive Committee (NEC) and the National Council of Elders (NCE) will meet to discuss the issue and take a decision” Mr Obiri Boahen said on Ghana Dadwene on Onua FM Wednesday.

“These bodies will take a firm decision on the issue. But it doesn’t lie in the hands of one person to decide on the issue”, explained, adding “whatever the two bodies will say binds everybody and it is good they have apologized”

The directive, which was taken at the National Council meeting Wednesday affects mainly Gender Minister Ms. Otiko Djaba, who serves as the national women organiser of the NPP, and has been in the news lately over her public utterances.

According to the party, the order affects both elected and appointed executives such as Perry Okudzeto, who is serving as a deputy Minister of Information and at the same time deputy communications director. Another casualty is Anthony Karbo, MP for Lawra and deputy minister for roads and highways.

“All Party Office holders (elected or appointed) who have second executive positions in government should vacate their Party positions for substantive officers appointed to fill in,” acting general secretary John Boadu said in a statement after the meeting.

Meanwhile, the NPP will be holding its 2017 National Delegates’ Conference from 25th to 27th of August, 2017 in Cape Coast.

Below is the full NPP statement:

11th May, 2016
Press Release

DECISION TAKEN AT THE NATIONAL COUNCIL MEETING

The National Council of the Party met yesterday, May 10, 2017. The meeting was chaired by Hon. Freddie Blay (acting National Chairman).

In attendance were the President Nana Akufo-Addo, the Vice President Bawumia and former President J.A. Kufuor.

The meeting took the following decisions;

1. All Party Office holders (elected or appointed) who have second executive positions in government should vacate their Party positions for substantive officers appointed to fill in.

2. The meeting expressed strong disapproval and regret against the actions and utterances of the minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Northern Regional Chairman. Even though the two apologized profusely, the meeting severely reprimanded them and bonded them to be of good behaviour. They were also asked to put their apologies into written statements.

3. The meeting fixed the Party’s 2017 National Delegates’ Conference for the 25th to 27th of August, 2017 in Cape Coast.

4. The meeting also approved the Party’s hosting of the International Democratic Union’s (IDU) 2017 executive meeting in Accra from the 18th to 21st of June, 2017
The President also briefed the meeting on the government programmes on Planting for Food and Jobs, Establishment of the Development Authorities, the One District, One Factory Project, the Establishment of the Office of the Special Prosecutor and the sustenance of the National Health Insurance Scheme.

The President reiterated that;

1. The Planting for Food and Jobs Program has already engaged 200,000 farmers and would eventually engage 2.5million farmers. The Agric Extension Program has been revived and 1,200 trained officers have been engaged.

2. The One District, One Factory will kick off in 51 districts and launched in June 2017. Government has also set aside a stimulus package of $100million to revive distressed but strategic and viable Ghanaian industries.

3. The President affirmed Government will soon retire the huge debt of ₵1.2billion owed the National Health Insurance Providers to this major social intervention on a new course.

4. Legislation will be introduced in the next meeting of Parliament to establish the 3 development authorities to set the stage for the implementation of the $1m per constituency per year development program.

5. Legislation will also be introduced in the next meeting of Parliament to set the Office of the Special Prosecutor as a foremost public institution in the fight against corruption.

The meeting ended with the assurance of the President that all remaining government appointments will be completed by end of May 2017.
…Signed…
John Boadu
(General Secretary, Ag.)

According Agbesi Nutsu, the Minister lacked the temperament for the job and therefore should be shown the exit.

“Otiko Djaba must be sacked the same way Victoria was sacked when she erred. If Nana Addo fails to sack her, then it means he condones such act” he said.

The two leading members of the governing NPP are at each other’s throat accusing each other of disrespect.

An incensed Naabu led a team of raucous women to vandalise properties at a venue being used by the Gender Minister for a meeting on Friday in Tamale.

He alleged the Gender Minister failed to inform him of her presence in the region, amounting to disrespect hence his action.

Mr. Naabu also claimed the minister was in the region to give certain appointments to some people against his choice.

The development has not gone down well with Ms. Djaba who is accusing her regional chairman of taking bribes from people under the guise of giving them appointments.

“I don’t know why Chairman Bugri wants to lie and use me as a cover-up for his problems. I want Chairman Bugri to understand. Whatever it is that is making him do the things he is doing; he should be very careful. I am the last person he wants to have trouble with,” Ms. Djaba, who doubles as the National Women Organizer of the NPP told North Star Radio.

Though Madam Otiko Djaba has since rendered an apology to President Akufo-Addo and Ghanaians over her outburst with the NPP Northern regional chairman, Mr Agbesi Nutsu believes the development has only brought governance into disrepute.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Morning Show “Dwaso Nsem” Wednesday, the NDC communicator pleaded with the President to also take action against Mr Bugri Naabu.

Watch video below:

The National Youth Organiser, Sammi Awuku, who revealed this on the Point Blank segment of Eyewitness News said the party is expected to take a firm decision on the development today [Wednesday].

“The party is angry about this development. We find this very disheartening, especially at a time when the President had been touring West African countries promoting free border trade, holding bilateral talks and chalking tremendous success in some of these areas. The party will take a very serious stance on the issue.

“If you are a senior member of the party, both serving in government and serving in the party hierarchy and you think opening your mouth will not promote this government and the President then do not open your mouth.”

Mr. Awuku said the NPP cannot take such a development lightly, especially because it “came from a very terrible situation to win elections.”

The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Otiko Afisa Djaba in a media engagement last week, accused the NPP Northern Regional Chairman, Bugri Naabu, of receiving goats and cows from individuals with the promise of securing appointments in public office for them.

This was after Mr. Bugri Naabu disrupted a meeting  between the Minister and some women in the Northern Region, over allegations that the Minister was ganging up against some of the President’s MMDCE nominees. The Northern Regional Chairman also accused Otiko of disrespect for holding a meeting in the region without his knowledge.

Mr. Naabu in a subsequent media interview caused a stir when he reportedly suggested that Otiko Djaba and the current Upper East Regional Minister, were involved in the murder of the former NPP Upper East Regional Chairman, Adams Mahama.

The National Council of the NPP is expected to hold a crucial meeting today [Wednesday] over the row between the two.

A Deputy General Secretary of the NPP, Nana Obiri Boahen,  explained to Citi News that “it has been decided that the party will be meeting to discuss that particular issue because it is very much important and particular to us. At 7:00 pm we are meeting”.

The two have been bickering in the past few days, exchanging abusive words on various media platforms in what many have described as a serious blot on the government’s image.

The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Otiko Afisa Djaba in a media engagement last week, accused the NPP Northern Regional Chairman, Bugri Naabu, of receiving goats and cows among other forms of inducement from individuals, with the promise of securing appointments in public office for them.

This was after Mr. Bugri Naabu had disrupted a meeting between the Minister and some women in the Northern Region, over allegations that the Minister was ganging up against some of the President’s MMDCE nominees.

The Northern Regional Chairman also accused Otiko of disrespect for holding a meeting in the region without his knowledge.

Mr. Naabu in a subsequent media interview caused a stir when he reportedly suggested that Otiko Djaba and the current Upper East Regional Minister, were involved in the murder of the former NPP Upper East Regional Chairman, Adams Mahama.

A Deputy General Secretary of the NPP, Nana Obiri Boahen, told Citi News the development was “unfortunate.”

He said, “it has been decided that the party will be meeting to discuss that particular issue because it is very much important and particular to us.” The meeting was further confirmed on the Point Blank segment of Eyewitness News on Tuesday by National Youth Organizer of the party, Sammy Awuku.

We’ll take serious action against Otiko, Bugri Naabu – Sammy Awuku

According to Mr. Awuku, the New Patriotic Party is outraged by the fracas, and will thus take a firm decision on the development.

“The party is angry about this development. We find this very disheartening, especially at a time when the President had been touring West African countries promoting free border trade, holding bilateral talks and chalking tremendous success in some of these areas. The party will take a very serious stance on the issue.

“If you are a senior member of the party, both serving in government and serving in the party hierarchy and you think opening your mouth will not promote this government and the President then do not open your mouth.”

The National Council is the second highest decision-making body in the party after Congress.

According to Otiko Afisa Djaba, her impersonators whose names have been found as Mr Asante and Sammy Aboagye are using her name to lure people into paying monies to become beneficiaries of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) and the School feeding programme.

Mrs. Djaba speaking on Pulse on the Joy news channel on Multi TV asked the general public to disregard Facebook messages directing them to pay monies to become beneficiaries of social empowerment programmes in her name.

“I want to use the opportunity to tell Ghanaians that there is somebody who has developed a Facebook page using my name the same Otiko Afisah-Djaba, but he keeps changing his DP. He had my picture at the vetting, now he has Nana Addo and Dr Bawumia. He talks to people on the page as if it is me. He is called Mr Asante another uses a name by Sammy Aboagye and they tell people that I want to give them LEAP or Motor bikes or School feeding or whatever and that they should pay some monies into a Mobile Money account, but the Government agencies don’t use Mobile Money. So please people of Ghana don’t be deceived by this person. Is a fraud, is not right. I am not the one”.

She indicated that several disclaimers have been put into the Newspapers to discredit the page and she has also written officially to Facebook of which the situation still persist.

“So please anybody you are chatting with on Facebook that says they are Otiko Afisah-Djaba is not me. From today I am going to shut down my Facebook account. I am not going to open it again, because it not right for people to use me to play on poor people.”

National Organiser of the NPP, John Boadu says when Otiko Afisa Djaba formally notifies the party hierarchy, about the alleged misconduct of the Regional Chairman they will also get his for his side of the story.

A meeting called by Ms. Djaba in Tamale was disrupted by Mr. Bugri Naabu who accused the minister of trying to instigate confusion over the appointment of a Coordinator of School Feeding Programme.

The Minister in an interview after the meeting with Women Organisers in the Region also accused Mr. Bugri Naabu of collecting money, goats, cows and other things from people with the assurance of jobs with the National School Feeding Programme.

Meanwhile, Deputy Women’s Organiser who accompanied the Gender Minister on her trip, Madam Dinah Karikari explains to Adom News, they will formally seek redress from the Party Hierachy when they arrive in Accra.

Click on attached audio for more

Bugri Naabu on Friday led a group of angry women to disrupt a meeting organized by the Gender Minister, Otiko Djaba.

According to him, the meeting was illegal and that, the Minister failed to inform him and other regional executives. The president he fumed cannot come to the region without informing the executives.

The Minister according to reports organized the meeting to introduce to the crowd, the new coordinator for the school feeding programme in the region.

“Even the President cannot come to the region without informing the regional chairman and his executives for his intention of coming to the region,” he said.

The Minister sensing danger, called armed policemen and personnel from the military to maintain law and order.

The Madam Otiko Djaba after the incident is reported to have accused the NPP Chairman of receiving bribes from persons in the region in return for positions and therefore saw her presence in the area as a threat to his underhand dealings.

But she advised him to return bribes in the form of goats, cows and sheep he received from such persons as well as cautioned him against making promises to people especially party people he knows very well he has not got the capacity to meet when the president is the sole appointing authority.

“Bugri Naabu should stop promising people positions he cannot offer. He should better return their cows, goats and monies he took from them. If Bugri Naabu wants my trouble, then trouble he will give him one”, she said.

In support, the Tamale Central Women Organiser of NPP, Hajia Suraya warned Bugri Naabu to stop troubling the minister accusing him (Bugri) of using her (Otiko) as a cover up for his problems.

“Bugri Naabu doesn’t respect women at all and only using our mother to cover up his problems. Chairman Bugri Naabu’s house is now turned into Abattoir, he keeps taking the goats, sheep and monies before someone can be appointed as MCE or DCE. He should immediately apologise to her else we will make sure he is sacked as the chairman in the region” she warned on Accra-based Neat FM.

According to her, the meeting by the Gender Minister in the region was only for the minister to thank her women for working very hard to achieve a resounding victory and moreover to assure them of her commitment to see to the welfare of the women.

Hajia Suraya, however, denied the purported lies in the news by the regional chairman that the minister came to introduce school feeding coordinators to them.

Listen to Hajia Suraya

Mr Naabu and a horde of angry NPP women stormed the meeting and scuttled it in protest to Ms Djaba’s failure to have informed the regional executives of the party about the meeting.

Mr Naabu also suspected Ms Djaba of scheming to scuttle the nomination of the President’s nominee to head the School Feeding Programme in the region.

He described the meeting as “illegal” and “unconstitutional”, saying even President Nana Akufo-Addo would not venture into the region to hold such a meeting without informing the regional executives.

The Gender Minister ostensibly accused Bugri Naabu of handing out government jobs in exchange for items of seeming value, like cows and goats.

Madam Otiko, in a tirade during an interview on North Star FM in Tamale, even intimated that, Bugri Naabu had a hand in who was selected the Council of State representative from the Northern Region.

This outburst followed the first flare-up of these intra-party tensions at the Modern City hotel in Tamale on Friday, where Bugri Naabu stormed and disrupted a meeting organised by Madam Otiko for some women.

According to Citi News reports, it took the intervention of police to prevent a possible clash between two opposing forces from Bugri Naabu’s camp, and the NPP’s women’s wing in the region, who are at odds over the regional Coordinator slot for the School Feeding Programme.

Madam Otiko insisted that, she had no involvement in School feeding matters, and explained that she was visiting the women in the region as a courtesy and to address some health concerns after seeing to government matters in the Upper East Region.

But she said Bugri Naabu “came there to throw his weight around saying we are doing school feeding matters, but we didn’t come there because of school feeding matters… Apparently, he has decided that he is in charge of everything and that he is going to give the school feeding to a particular woman. I don’t know how a regional chairman can do that and because he has promised it is going to that woman, he thinks I will come in and [interfere].”

“As we speak, nobody has been appointed for school feeding as the contracts of the persons currently employed were yet to end,” Madam Otiko insisted. The allegations also extended to the tensions in Savelugu where NPP youth are demonstrating against President Nana Akufo-Addo’s choice of District Chief Executive.

“He [Bugri Naabu] is also trying to cover up issues concerning the DCEs. I have nothing to do with DCEs. I am in Tamale. I never went to Savelugu; but he claims that I went to disrupt Savelugu DCE confirmation meanwhile they are not even doing confirmation in Savelugu today [Friday].

Bugri Naabu should respect himself

As the interview progressed, Madam Otiko grew more incensed with the turn of events as she offered stern warnings, spiced with more allegations towards the NPP Northern Regional Chairman.

“I don’t know why Chairman Bugri wants to lie and use me as a cover-up for his problems. I want Chairman Bugri to understand. Whatever it is that is making him do the things he is doing; he should be very careful. I am the last person he wants to have trouble with.”

“…He should respect himself and stop lying about me. He cannot appoint school feeding people. He is not the only one in the region. He wants to be the one to appoint these people; for the Council of Elders and who and who.”

Sh further cheekily challenged the Regional Chairman to return all the gifts he had collected from people with the promise of various positions.

“I want him to stop telling lies about me and to stop collecting people’s things and promising them jobs he cannot give. When he goes and does that, after he has collected their money and their cows and goats, then he will come and put the trouble on Otiko. Otiko will not accept it. If Bugri wants trouble from me then the trouble will come.”

The two leading members of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) are at each other’s throat accusing each other of disrespect.

An incensed Naabu led a team of raucous women to vandalise properties at a venue being used by the Gender Minister for a meeting on Friday in Tamale.

He alleged the minister failed to inform him of her presence in the region, amounting to disrespect hence his action. He also claimed the minister was in the region to give certain appointments to some people against his choice.

The development has not gone down well with Ms. Djaba who is accusing her regional chairman of taking bribes from people under the guise of giving them appointments.

“I don’t know why Chairman Bugri wants to lie and use me as a cover-up for his problems. I want Chairman Bugri to understand. Whatever it is that is making him do the things he is doing; he should be very careful. I am the last person he wants to have trouble with,” Ms. Djaba, who doubles as the national women organiser of the NPP told North Star Radio.

She opined: “…He should respect himself and stop lying about me. He cannot appoint school feeding people. He is not the only one in the region. He wants to be the one to appoint these people; for the Council of Elders and who and who.

“I want him to stop telling lies about me and to stop collecting people’s things and promising them jobs he cannot give. When he goes and does that, after he has collected their money and their cows and goats, then he will come and put the trouble on Otiko. Otiko will not accept it. If Bugri wants trouble from me then the trouble will come.”

The NPP and the government are yet to officially comment on the incident.

The two individuals were seen exchanging handshake amidst smiles at this year’s Gonjaland Youth Congress at Sawla on Saturday.

Madam Afisa Djaba is reported to have made some scathing comments about former President Mahama ahead of the 2016 general elections.

“He has the heart of the devil,” she had said of the former leader, describing him as someone who does not have the interest of the country at heart.

She refused to apologise for the comments when she appeared for her ministerial vetting.

Meanwhile, the former President who was given a rousing welcome at the event was also seen in a cosy mood with Defense minister Dominic Nitiwul at the event.

She noted that children who are taught in their mother tongues tend to grasp educational concepts and principles faster and easier than they do when taught in other languages.

She said teaching the child how to speak and write in Ewe, Ga, Twi, Dagbani, Dagaare and other languages cannot be described as education by default.

The Deputy Minister made this call when an NGO “We care for children” foundation donated 2,300 Fante text books worth GHc16, 000 to the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem Municipal Educational Office in the Central Region over the weakened.

“Speak the local language with your children whiles they are in their infant  stages since it goes a long way to help them understand  and adopt  the English language better ’ she hinted.

Madam Gifty Twum, who doubled as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Abuakwa North Constituency in the Eastern Region, disclosed that speaking the local languages helps in proper and better identification of people .

In his delivery, the Director of “We care for Children” foundation, Apostle Michael Ankrah, disclosed that the motive behind the formation of the foundation was to assist stakeholders in the education sector enhance teaching and learning of local languages among school children in Ghana.

He called for financial support from the Ministry of Education, The Ghana Education Service and  private organizations  to help them achieve their aim; That’s  distribute  over one  thousands  text books written in Fante, Asante, Akuapem, Dangbe, Ewe, Nzeman  Dagbani languages to children in the  kindergarten  to lower primary schools  across the country.

He said the text books were written by well experienced writers to help sharpen the minds on the study of the Ghanaian languages.

Apostle Ankrah was happy to announce that the organization has earlier donated Asante books to the Lower Denkyira Twifo-Heman District Education Office in the Central Region, the Anyaa-Sowutuom Municipal Education Office, Ga west municipal education office all in the   in the Greater Accra Region, the Koforidua Municipal Education Office, Cape-Coast Metropolis Education office and the Junkwaa-Frami Catholic Primary School in the Central Region.

At We Care for Children” we are  ready to help promote the study of  Ghanaian languages in  our  schools  across  the country. However, we  cannot achieve our aim without the  supports of The  Ghana Education Service (GES), The Ministry of Education, NGO’s and other individuals” he stated.

A representative of the Central Regional Director of Education, Mr. Jacob A.M Korh, who received the books on behalf of the assembly, thanked the foundation for the gesture, saying that it would go a long way to enhance  teaching and learning of local language in the area.

The Minister, over the weekend urged school girls to be responsible in their appearances as an inappropriate choice of dress can invite troubles for them.

Speaking at the 90th anniversary and Speech and Prize giving Day of the Krobo Girls Presbyterian Senior High School in the Eastern region, said in as much as short dresses may appear fashionable, they could also attract rapists.

She further called on male teachers to desist from impregnating their students.

“…The teachers who impregnate girls, this is a serious warning to you. It is an abuse of their rights and you are their role model you must not be the one abuses the rights of the young girls. We must also put an end to child marriage,” she stated.

She continued: “We want to initiate a mentoring program; a girls-girls leadership program in all the schools, from basic to tertiary and as well as within the communities to ensure that we know our rights and we understand what it is to be a woman who is an equal partner in society, no longer women behind but side by side with our men as equal partners.

“In conclusion, I want to say to you, be bold, be confident, be respectful. If you wear a short dress, it’s fashionable but know that it can attract somebody who would want to rape or defile you. You must be responsible for the choices you make”.

But the Minister has come under heavy flak and being bashed on social media by a section of the public who argue that her comments will embolden rapists.

But speaking to Kasapa News, Otiko Afisa Djaba stated that he never encouraged sexual attacks on young girls saying her comment was made in the best interest of the youth.

“It was a strong advice from a mother to her children. I wasn’t in anyway encouraging rape with my comments. I have daughters and if they dress in a certain way and they are going out, I call them and ask them to change it or wear another clothing over what they are already wearing. Any good parent will say what I said. In this world there’s no right without responsibility when I talk to young girls about their rights it’s in order, when I talk to them about their rights it’s also in order. This a democracy but the best interest of the girls must be ensured at all times and we shall always work towards that.”

source: kasapafm

During her opening address as the Co-Chairperson at the 90th anniversary and Speech and prize giving day for Krobo Girls Presbyterian Senior School, Madam Djaba intimated that girls’ wearing short dresses could attract a rapist.

“In conclusion, I want to say to you, be bold, be confident, be respectful. If you wear a short dress, it’s fashionable but, know that it can attract somebody who would want to rape or defile you. You must be responsible for the choices you make,” she said.

Madam Djaba also had some words for teachers who sexually assaulted girls saying “…it is an abuse of their rights and you are their role model you must not be the one to abuse the rights of the young girls,” she stated.

But her correlation between rape and girls’ dressing rubbed some Ghanaians the wrong way with many taking to social media to express their displeasure with the Gender Minister with a number of them questioning her logic and others accusing her of victim blaming and shaming.

Some have called on the president to remove her from her position as her comments suggest women are responsible for preventing rape, which they consider a crime borne out of violence and power.

This is would not the first time the minister has provoked the ire of the public. Recently, her delay in condemning the violent sexual attack on a woman suspected in Kumasi also angered many.

source: citifm

She explained that the Rihanna-inspired hairstyle is an embodiment of the men, woman, and children whom she represents at the Ministry.

Madam Otiko Djaba got the media buzzing when her hairstyle became topical during her vetting in Parliament.

Many including Members of Parliament argued that it was inappropriate for a Minister of State to keep such funky hairstyle.

But on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Wednesday, the Gender Minister expressed shock at the precious time used in discussing her hairstyle.

According to her: “My hair style doesn’t affect the price of kenkey; my hairstyle does not affect poverty; my hairstyle is a winning hairstyle, it encourages the young people”.

The Swagger Mama”, as she’s fondly called, maintained that her Rihanna inspired hairstyle brings the youth very close to her since they see her to be very youthful.

“People call me the swagger mama; they enjoy me because I am young at heart and when I hit the campuses they’re happy,” she added.

Madam Otiko Djaba said she remains focused and not perturb by the communist inferior tactics being adopted by her detractors.

“Instead of demonizing me, they should come and help me executive all the juicy policies to make life easy for our women and children” she added.

Watch full video below