The Denkyira Traditional Council has hailed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, for the significant impact of Free SHS on the nation.

Welcoming Dr. Bawumia to Dunkwa on Offin Wednesday, as part of his campaign tour, the Denkyira Traditional Council said, the Free SHS policy, introduced by the Akufo-Addo government to ensure equal access to senior secondary education for all, has significantly impacted the Denkyira community.

“As you are here in Denkyira, let me commend President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and you for the great job you have done,” the council said in an address delivered on its behalf by Nana Kwame Nkrumah II

“Your flagship free SHS policy has brought immense  relief to Denkyira community, especially the poor who could not have afforded to send their children to second school.”

“Today, all our children go to school for free without any stress on parents and we have many literate young population, all because of Free SHS. “

The Traditional Council also commended the Akufo-Addo government for bringing developmental projects to the community, including roads, construction of a strategic bridge on-going stadium, the DRIP equipment for road development, etc.

Expressing its support to Dr. Bawumia’s Presidential bid, the Denkyira Traditional Council said Dr. Bawumia was blessed and “who the Lord has blessed, no one can destroy.”

Dr. Bawumia’s visit to the town, was met with rare rains and the Traditional Council, said it signified blessings.

“Your presence here is a blessing for all of us,” said Nana Kwame Nkrumah II.

“The first sign of blessings you have brought to us is the rain. We have not seen the rains here for sometime now but today that you have been here,   God has opened the heavens for the rains to fall to coincide with your visit, which is indeed a sign of blessings. It signifies victory.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency, Republic of Ghana.

West Africa holds enormous trade potential within the region. The ITC West Africa Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP) created a Business Matchmaking platform so that entrepreneurs can identify potential trading partners across the region. 

Our latest workshop showed trade groups from Nigeria, Gambia, Liberia, Ghana, and Sierra Leone how to get businesses onto the platform. They learned to verify company listings and then create professional product photos and descriptions that inspire confidence among potential partners. 

The workshop in Freetown, Sierra Leone is an important step for linking businesses within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). 

Trade promotion organizations from the five countries also created or updated their own profiles on the platform.  

‘The WACOMP Business Matchmaking Platform is a game changer for firms, especially trade promotion organizations, enabling seamless cross-border connections,’ said Edward Sandy, Executive Director of the Sierra Leone National Investment Board. ‘Businesses can overcome barriers, expand networks, and tap into global opportunities. The future of trade in West Africa is digital, and it starts with this platform.’ 

The workshop, organized by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the ECOWAS Commission, showed the trade groups how to verify firms within their networks. By verifying the businesses, they build credibility, which is critical for expanding partnerships and accessing new markets. 

Introduction to AI tools: A game-changer for small businesses

Participants learned to use artificial intelligence tools to generate compelling texts and to design logos and product visuals. These tools enable businesses to produce attractive, professional-looking marketing materials without extensive resources.

They then learned how to guide firms in creating compelling profiles on the WACOMP Business matchmaking platform. These profiles serve as a key component in connecting firms with business partners across the region. Training sessions included practical exercises on creating business profiles, uploading professional product images, and developing effective marketing text for online visibility.

‘The training of trainers workshop is a promise kept! An incredible transfer of knowledge, skills and capacity for TPOs to increase regional trade,’ said Obidike Evelyn Ifeyinwa, Director of Product Development, Nigeria Export Promotion Council.

In an e-commerce photography segment, attendees learned to use their smartphones to take professional-quality product photos. These hands-on activities demonstrated how businesses can improve their digital presence without costly equipment.

The workshop marks a significant step in WACOMP Observatory’s mission to improve trade competitiveness across West Africa. As the trade groups return to their countries, they can now guide small businesses in using the WACOMP Business Matchmaking Platform, helping them seize new opportunities in the regional market.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Trade Centre.

President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has called for accelerated efforts aimed at addressing the challenges of “street children” in Liberia and the world.

The President delivered remarks today at a high-level discussion on “Advancing Universal Primary Education for Street-Connected Children amid Climate Change, Poverty, and Conflict,” held at the A&O Sherman Office on Lexington Avenue in New York.

The event, organized by Street Child and Liberia’s Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, headed by Minister Gbeme Kollie Horace highlighted the urgent need to support and protect vulnerable children living on the streets, both in Liberia and globally.

President Boakai highlighted pressing challenges facing street-connected children in Liberia, revealing alarming statistics from a 2022 joint assessment by the Government of Liberia and UNICEF.

The “Roadmap on Street Children Situation” estimates that over 366,000 children in Liberia are living in street situations, with Montserrado County alone accounting for 42% of the total.

These children, he emphasized, are deprived of basic rights such as access to education, healthcare, and safety, and are vulnerable to exploitation, malnutrition, and violence.

The President highlighted the launch of the “SUPPORT A CHILD, SAVE THE FUTURE” initiative earlier on August 28, 2024, in collaboration with Street Child Liberia.

This transformative program, he furthered, is aimed at addressing the root causes of child poverty and homelessness, providing education, healthcare, and family support to street children.

“These children are not mere statistics. They are young lives lived in the shadows, struggling to survive with no access to the education and safety every child deserves,” President Boakai stated.

He disclosed that, in response to this crisis, the Government of Liberia has developed a five-year project aimed at reducing the number of street-connected children.

The pilot phase will focus on Montserrado County, with a goal to remove 7,698 children from the streets and integrate them into the educational system.

Additionally, efforts will be made to empower caregivers, particularly mothers, through small business and agricultural initiatives.

The Liberian Leader also praised Street Child International’s commitment to enrolling 50,000 children in child-care and family-strengthening programs over the next six years, emphasizing that these initiatives are not just immediate responses, but long-term solutions.

The President called on international partners, stakeholders, and global leaders to join forces in addressing this urgent crisis.

“We must rally around these children, providing practical solutions and unwavering support. Together, we can secure a future where every child has the opportunity to thrive,” The President said.

The event showed Liberia’s commitment to tackling the root causes of child poverty and homelessness, even as the nation grapples with broader socio-economic challenges exacerbated by climate change, conflict, and poverty.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of Liberia: Executive Mansion.

His Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. today expressed heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and community of the late Alhaji Amadu Sheriff, a revered elder and prominent Liberian citizen, who passed away this morning at his Chocolate City Residence in Monrovia.

Alhaji Sheriff, who lived beyond 100 years, served Liberia in numerous capacities throughout his lifetime, leaving behind a legacy of wisdom, leadership, and devotion to his country and community.

Recently, in recognition of his lifetime of service, Alhaji Sheriff was honored by President Boakai with one of the nation’s highest distinctions, the Humane Order of African Redemption, at the rank of Knight Grand Commander.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of Liberia: Executive Mansion.