MASSIVE STRIKES AGAINST HEZBOLLAH Israeli strikes have hit the Lebanese capital's southern suburbs as well as a mosque and school in Gaza. The strikes in Gaza have killed at least 26 people and come a day before the one-year anniversary of the war there. Three vehicles carrying medical and relief supplies in the Syrian city of Homs were struck by Israeli missiles, Syrian sources said on Sunday. Israel launched "airstrikes with three missiles targeting... three trucks loaded with food and medical supplies inside an Iranian car factory... in southern Homs," the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. It added that three aid workers had been wounded and that the trucks had "crossed over from Iraq to provide humanitarian aid to Lebanese people." The Syrian state news agency also reported the attack, but it said no factories had been targeted inside the city. Israel rarely acknowledges strikes against Syria, but has said before that it would not allow Iran, or Iran-backed groups, such as Hezbollah, to expand their presence in Syria. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) spoke of the suffering of the last year of conflict that erupted last October 7. "People in the region continue to endure an unbearable toll of pain, suffering, and loss that transcends borders... Human suffering has no borders," the international aid agency said in Geneva. "This is a year marked by heartbreak and unanswered questions. Families have been torn apart, with many loved ones still held against their will. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions have been displaced across the region," it stated. It called on all sides to respect international law. The ICRC is responsible for preventing and alleviating the suffering of war under the Geneva Convention. As such, it remains neutral and does not name parties that violate international law. A suspected shooting in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba killed at least one person and wounded at least eight others, Israeli media reported on Sunday. The ambulance service earlier said that a woman was being treated at the scene for serious injuries. Police said they were treating the incident as a terror attack and that the assailant had been killed 6th October,2024

PEACE SEEMS 'DISTANT' ON ANNIVERSARY OF OCTOBER 7 German Chancellor Olaf Scholz shared a video on his governmental website on Sunday ahead of the one-year anniversary of the October 7 attacks. "Unfortunately, on this first anniversary of Hamas's terror attack on Israel, peace or even reconciliation in the Middle East seem more distant than ever," he said. He reiterated his call for a cease-fire: "So that the civilian population in the Gaza Strip can be better protected and, of course, better cared for. And so that the Israeli hostages can finally be released." He also spoke of the connection many people in Germany have with those caught up in the conflict on both sides, saying that debate is part of a democracy. However, he added: "It must never be the case that Jewish citizens here in Germany have to live in fear and terror." "We will never accept antisemitism and blind hatred of Israel. The Jewish people here in Germany have the full solidarity of our state," he added. 6th October,2024

EU RULES FRANCE CAN'T STOP 'STEAK' A European court has overturned France's ban on labelling vegetarian products "steak", "sausage" or other terms traditionally reserved for meat, a measure the French government imposed to protect its livestock industry in the face of growing competition. French decrees, the latest from February of this year, have restricted the use of names such as "bacon", "escalope", "ham", "filet" and "prime rib" to products of animal origin. Yet in a ruling issued on Friday, the Court of Justice of the European Union said member states cannot ban the use of commonly used terms if they do not have legal definitions. The decision follows a tussle between the meat industry and vegetarian associations, who had already persuaded France's top administrative court to suspend the ban pending the EU ruling. "This is a very welcome victory," said La Vie, a French maker of plant-based proteins, one of the parties backing the case alongside the Vegetarian Association of France and the European Vegetarian Union. They argued consumers were already familiar with terms like "vegetarian sausage" and banning them would hurt producers' business interests. Yet the meat industry claims such labels are confusing and threaten traditional foods. In response to Friday's ruling, Interbev, a lobbying organisation that represents France's cattle and livestock industries, said it "deplores this decision that validates the usurpation of natural products to commercialise ultra-transformed foods". 6th October,2024

PRO-ABORTION GROUPS An American Catholic activist organization wants you to be aware that an annual campaign in October is connected financially with abortions. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. While you may like to donate to breast cancer charities, American Life League wants to warn you to be mindful—not all of them align with your values. Katie Brown, National Director of American Life League, tells AFN how you can find charities with the right values. "So, American Life League has a program called the Charity Watch List, and what we try to do with this tool, it's a free online resource where we just give pro-life-minded donors an idea of what popular charities give to things that might not be in line with pro-life values." Some breast cancer groups, on one hand working to preserve life, are not holding up well when the review finds them in line with pro-abortion groups. "So, in the month of October, we're just raising awareness about some of the breast cancer charities that unfortunately have ties to organizations like Planned Parenthood. There are some that have ties to embryonic stem cell research." One charity in particular is the Susan G. Komen Foundation, which Brown says has a very long history of providing money to Planned Parenthood. "So, we're trying to let people know that, you know, that that one specifically, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, if you're looking to donate to a breast Cancer Research foundation, that's one to stay away from Komen ended ties with Planned Parenthood in 2019 when Planned Parenthood came under investigation by Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Florida) regarding its use of public funds for abortion. At the time, Komen cited its newly adopted criteria for prohibiting funding to organizations under government investigation. However, it restored PP funding amid a backlash from its own supporters. You can find the American Life League's Charity Watchlist on their website. The good news is there are alternatives, one being a pro-life breast cancer research group. “It’s called the Breast Cancer Prevention Institute. It's actually a pro-life breast Cancer Foundation. They are they here to pro-life values and they even go so far as to explain to women the link between abortion and breast cancer." 19th October,2024

FEMALE STUDENTS ARE NOT PART OF YOUR WELFARE PACKAGE – NAGRAT he National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has called for a new social contract that prioritizes the well-being of teachers. The Eastern Regional Chairman of the Association, Godwin Awoonor-Yevu emphasized the need for a participatory policy-making process and constructive dialogue in addressing teachers’ concerns at the Celebration of Teachers day at Kwahu Mpreaso in the Eastern region. ” We envisage a new social contract prioritising teachers wellbeing, empowering expertise through government support. Safe supportive and inclusive environment, regular professional growth, fair compensation, job security and involving teachers in decision making policy” In a statement, he warned instructors that sexual abuse against students should never be considered a part of their welfare packages. 6th October,2024

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION BILL The Affirmative Action Bill Coalition has called on the government to provide the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGSCP) with adequate resources to implement the newly passed Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024. The convener for the Coalition, Sheila Minkah-Premo, who made the call at a press conference in Accra on Thursday, stated that there was a need for stronger political commitment and comprehensive support for the implementing Ministry. “We call on the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, which is the implementing Ministry, to show more political will towards implementing the Act. It should be provided with the necessary financial, technical and human resources to ensure the full implementation of the AA Act.” She also urged the government to develop and introduce new policies and programmes to support the objectives of the Act. Madam Minkah-Premo outlined specific roles for various sectors of society in implementing the Act. “We call on the Legislature to perform its oversight role and ensure the implementation of this Act. We also call on the Legislature to implement the obligations and strategies assigned to it in the sixth schedule of the AA Act,” she said. She implored the judiciary to enforce and interpret the law accordingly and ensure it is implemented effectively. “We also call on the Judiciary to implement the obligations and strategies assigned to it in the fourth schedule of the AA Act,” she added.The coalition implored the private sector to comply with their obligations in the AA Act and institute mandatory gender equity policies to guide them. Media and civil society organisations were urged to join in advocacy efforts to sensitise the public on the AA Act and push for its implementation by duty bearers. Citizens were not left out of the call to action. “We call on citizens to support our advocacy for the implementation of the AA Act. All and sundry, especially our friends and colleagues from the media, to also avail their resources and platforms to sensitise the public and hold our duty bearers accountable regarding their obligations under the AA Act,” Minkah-Premo said. Explaining the need for these collective efforts, she noted that it would help give the AA Act the much-needed conducive environment for growth and effective implementation. Minkah-Premo expressed optimism about the Act’s potential impact. The convener of the Women’s Manifesto Coalition, Madam Hamida Harrison, described the passage of the act as a “huge sigh of relief,” commending the efforts of those who had worked towards this goal. She noted that while Ghana is joining other African nations like Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya in adopting affirmative action laws, the law marks a new beginning for promoting social justice for both women and men. The Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 (AA Act), was passed into an Act by Parliament on 30th July 2024 and assented to by His Excellency President Akufo-Addo on 18th September 2024. 6th October,2024

FEMALE TEACHERS CALL FOR SUPPORT TO ELIMINATE GENDER DISPARITIES . Despite efforts to promote equality, gender disparities persist among second cycle teachers, impacting career advancement and the overall educational environment. Gifty Missiame, a teacher at New Juaben Senior high school, argues that extending maternity leave among other concerns would create a more supportive environment, allowing female teachers to thrive. With over two decades of experience in second cycle school, Gifty Missiame says many women are unable to advance their careers due to a lack of supportive policies. ” We don’t have the opportunity to pursue higher education. Family is the first thought of most Female teachers, it affects many who don’t aspire to get into higher education to impart knowledge. Having many more women at the second cycle level would greatly make a difference. Government should extend the maternity leave period from three to six month ideally,” She suggested. Madam Mesiame emphasized that a higher ratio of female teachers in second cycle schools would provide vital mentorship and help close the gender gap, thereby addressing the surge in sexual abuse against female students. “Because Female teachers are few, the girls are confiding in the male teachers, some of the male teachers are taking advantage of their vulnerability. More Female teachers would offer more system support to student girls,” she stressed. 6th October,2024

DR NAFISA MAHAMA-RTI LAW STRENGTHENS TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY The Acting Director of the Information Services Department (ISD), Dr Nafisa Mahama, has said that the passage of the Right to Information (RTI) law has improved transparency and accountability in government. Speaking at a panel discussion during the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) in Accra on Wednesday, she noted that the RTI law has paved the way for public institutions to be more deliberate in disclosing information on government activities and programmes. Dr Mahama stated that while the passage of the law is a significant step, there is a conscious need to build public awareness and capacity to utilise the law effectively. “It’s not just about having the law or a plan in place. There must be deliberate efforts to educate people on how to access the information they need,” she noted. According to her, government agencies have taken measures to proactively provide information on social services, infrastructure, healthcare and education, ensuring citizens are informed about the projects undertaken with taxpayers’ money. She further explained that government accountability extends beyond using digital platforms, as traditional methods like town hall meetings and community engagements are essential to keeping citizens informed and involved. These efforts, she said, help generate feedback that informs policy and strengthens governance. Dr Mahama said RTI has become a key performance indicator (KPI) for heads of public institutions, ensuring that leaders are held accountable for transparency. She also noted that the government has implemented performance tracking systems, such as league tables, that rank local government entities based on their adherence to policy objectives, including RTI implementation. She explained that these rankings, which are published annually, serve as an accountability tool, ensuring that public institutions comply with transparency mandates. “350 RTI officers have been trained to assist institutions in complying with the law. These officers’ performance, along with the institutions they serve, is monitored and reported by the RTI Commission, which publishes annual reports ranking various public bodies on their compliance,” she added. Dr Mahama further announced the introduction of a digital record management system, set to launch next month which would enable people to request information from institutions online, further enhancing transparency. “This system will allow citizens both locally and internationally to access government information online, further advancing transparency efforts. As we move along, we learn from our experiences and continuously improve the system,” she said. Dr Mahama commended the RTI Commission for its role in guiding public institutions to meet transparency requirements. 6th October,2024