Women politicians in Ghana

"We must provide opportunities that transcend political patronage 'connection' and the practice of whom-you-know. Equal and fair opportunities based on merit are an imperative for sustainable economic growth. The time for a shift is now."

"“It’s all about putting the group above the individual and understanding that our actions today shape the legacy we leave for tomorrow”"

"“My age is not a nuisance, it is a blessing … I’m proud of every minute God has given me.”"

"“When you are going into an election and you are very sure that the right structures have been put in place … whatever outcome you get, you are compelled to accept it.”"

"“Politics should be geared towards development and devoid of insults and acrimony.”"

"“The NPP’s ‘It Is Possible’ is pure deception: look at their track record.”"

"“Politics about fighting injustice, hunger, hopelessness, arrogance, selfishness, unbridled greed, corruption, state capture, disrespect of fellow human beings.”"

"Governments must continuously demonstrate that education is the fulcrum of all development, the hub around which all spokes - security, health, the economy, climate change, equality, human rights and others revolve."

"I found school to be a fun place, making friends, learning and discovering new things. The most impactful teachers were those who smiled, encouraged, tolerated, and who recognized that some flowers take time to bloom."

"If we base our conviction on the premise that everyone can learn, then we can reach out of school girls too, with different modes of learning. The longer we keep girls out of school, the further the number increases and the more the desire for global peace will elude us all."

"A major pillar is effective public education on the importance of effective education for all, especially for girls and women to ground their central role in the life of the family, society, self."

"I am not an economist but I understand the economy. Naana Opoku-Agyemang to critics"

"Giving up is not an option. Stay the course. As a people, we have survived many unspeakable atrocities. Read and know your true history. We just celebrated the Year of Return. Read that history, very, very carefully. It has not been a nice cup of sobolo."

"Making history is gratifying; but what really matters is not to be first through the door. What matters is to hold the door open for those behind us and create other avenues for self actualization for many more."

"We are a people who jump over many hurdles. Walking that road is an act of courage. That experience is a forge of character."

"When there appears to be selective justice; when some offenders are not even placed on the hook but are hailed and promoted for being nasty and violent, the logical outcome is what we see."

"To all the little girls and boys across our country, always dream big; remain focused. You can grow to become anything you want to be."

"Believe that only you can stop yourselves. It is not going to be about your parents, rich or poor; not the region you come from and whether it is endowed with resources or not. Remember that natural endowment is what it is; it did not come from the effort of anyone. It is nature that placed those resources there. That is why we call them natural resources."

"The 2024 election is about "reversing the negative trend" set by the current government and emphasized the need for accountability, prosperity, and job creation."

"Football remains a beautiful thing for relaxation and for future building. But it also remains a passion that when you follow can take you to places."

"There are challenges but together we’ll fight these challenges and I believe we’ll make it."

"For me, until the final whistle goes, you cannot say your team has not won, I believe in that so when the final whistle goes then I give up. But I was sure that even if it remains one or two minutes to final whistle, you will score, I was convinced."

"I want to encourage you. Sharpen your prowess at goal scoring and make that all the opportunities you get are translated into countable goals. May the Lord go with you. May you be united more than anymore."

"I remembered that God did not create me inferior. I remembered just that politics is like marketing and women can sell better than men."

"I know all the research findings, I know this issue about financing, I know all that but I also know that women today are more educated than before."

"I see politics like a marketing space to sell your ideas to the public, and that women can sell better than their male counterpart when they are empowered to do so since women today are more educated than before."

"I faced tough time with my opponents during my campaign time but that didn't scare me as a woman, I urge all of you (women) to rise up and push the agenda of women’s involvement in decision-making process."

"If you put something on your mind and your heart to do and to change something or situation, do not look back, stay focused and move systematically towards your goal."

"The issue is it’s not how many years you have been there [near power], but that the value that you would bring to the Ghanaian leadership. My value that I would bring to the Ghanaian leadership is about the people, not the leader. As such, what I have done for Ghana is what will show and they would have to judge me on that directly."

"We have to instill in our children a certain traditional way even as we become modernized so that they do not move too far away from who we are as a people. Who is in charge of what our children see and emulate? Education is a tool; your upbringing is your tradition and your life."

"We need to constantly improve on the quality of life and so we need to read as individuals and inculcate the habit of reading to the young ones. We have to encourage the young ones to read but because of the existence of iPads and tablets they are not picking books to read out of curiosity."

"It is only through writing that we capture who we are, where we have come from and where we are going and this must be written so generations yet unborn will know who we truly are."

"Culturally, we refer to nature as ‘asase yaa’ and women are held in reverence spiritually and culturally, so why the disconnect in our contemporary society where women are treated like second-class citizens."

"The upcoming general election (2020 Ghanaian general election) is really not about me or my individuality but about our nation and our future. We should try to refocus our lenses as a people on long term national development visions...We must have the ability to have a collective vision born out of our varied experiences, skills set and unique characteristics to propel the best, bright and most patriotic citizens to advance a nonpartisan agenda for a continuous development."

"You will have a miracle on your hands because I know it when we go out and I feel it."

"It is important for me to open doors for many other women to be there (presidential candidate) at some point or the other. I am making sure that children of this country (Ghana) see women as an absolute part of national development."

"We recognised that for women to be really empowered for development, we needed to make them economically active"

"I am committed to laying the foundations of a prosperous future for Ghana so that all Ghanaians can have the confidence in a country built on a system that rewards their hard work and their sacrifice. I believe in creating a Ghana where mothers and fathers have the opportunity to invest in the future of their children; where Ghanaian genius is rewarded and where meritocracy is paramount. I believe in a thriving economy that creates equal opportunity for every Ghanaian"

"Women's vital role in promoting peace in the family, the country and the world at large is not in question and they must be given the chance to play a critical part in identifying and assessing solutions for the betterment of the country (Ghana)."

"My desire is to see the emancipation of women at every level of development to enable them to contribute and benefit from the socio-economic and political progress of the country"

"Through my work as both an activist and a politician, I strive to demonstrate that it is our continuing responsibility, as African women, to challenge inequality, resist oppression, and question our exclusion from every level of African society"

"Certainly, we cherish our cultural heritage and the centuries old traditions from which our society derives its identity and resilience. But we also acknowledge that practices that undermine human dignity, retard social progress and bring about unnecessary misery and suffering must not be countenance by a society that appreciates the worth of its people."

"I didn't Join the NDC, I helped Build It."

"Her (Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings) unwavering advocacy on gender equality and equity, as well as her pioneering efforts for the cause of Ghanaian Women and children are worth noting...you are an inspiration to women everywhere and a shining beacon for our young girls to emulate, we celebrate you."

"Yes, she (Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings) has been a very bold lady I can confirm that she's been one of the catalysts that have brought the issue of women empowerment not only in Ghana, but globally."

"She (Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings) was special and she’s still special and for me, it had to be her. It was a privilege for me to be acquainted with her."

"For the past 12 years she has stood by her husband in the struggle to restore Ghana. She has led a group of active women to help empower Ghanaian women, freeing them from being hewers of wood and drawers of water to be[ing] actors in the political arena"

"I never imagined an illiterate like me will have such an opportunity so I cried when I entered Parliament ."

"I thank you all for the support during the primaries, although things didin't turn out like how we expected but that's just it. Life can be unfair at but trust me we have fought a good fight and we couldn't have done it without each and everyone of you in the constituency ."

"I would wish to demand the resignation of the constituency chairman. He has no moral right to suspend me from the party. Some of us will not look on while others try to destroy what we have collectively built as a party. I am sad about the turn of events and I feel my work has been a vein ."

"I am coming back like kakai to take the seat."

"It is sad the state of a health facility that the lives of about 30,000 depend on. The government must fix this."

"I consider this subsidy support to be scholarship for them. I am of a humble view that if i have supported students pursuing formal education with scholarships to study with peace of mind, drivers who operate informal business must equally be supported to acquire their license."

"As I turn things around, I want you also to do the same in your home, workplace or wherever you have influence for the better. You don't need political power to do these things ."

"I am bringing it back to the whole governance issue, we have to sit down and state it clearly for everybody to know what they are entitled to and what they are not entitled to .To be fair, they are entitled to something, the quantum is another matter, especially in this time of hardship and so if Ghanaians are angry and upset about this naturally so because this is huge ."

"They don't see any point of desertion. What they see is a woman who has worked tirelessly as a young woman."

"I made some mistakes in 2023 as a result of things that were beyond my control. But what was so important was that the people of Dome-Kwabenya stood solidly behind me. There is a saying that in your suffering, that is where you get to know your loved ones. The good people of Dome-Kwabenya have shown me love, and I will continue to serve them."

"It takes courage for a politician to accept wrongdoing and ask for pardon. I believe my admission and apology have touched the hearts of people in Dome-Kwabenya. I know they will vote for me into power because it's not easy for a woman in my position to own up to errors."

"It takes a woman of courage, it takes a courageous politician to accept that I have done something wrong, forgive me and that is what has touched the hearts of the people of Dome-Kwabenya and I know that they will still vote for me into power."

"It is the prayer of every pregnant woman that she gives birth to a healthy baby but God does as he pleases. And in everything we give thanks to Him."

"Let us not allow our past to imprison us forever, let us do away with the challenges and forge ahead to lift Africa up for a brighter future ."

"It is obvious that with determination, a people can rise and take their destiny into their hands and do what is expected of them for their survival and freedom. Ghana is ever ready to act as the catalyst for the rise of the African on the world stage."

"Ghana has been very sincere in the quest to bridge the gap between the two halves of Atlantic ."

"the gesture formed part of an initiative to economically support and empower women in the Ghanaian society, especially during festive seasons such as Christmas."

"At the end of every year, we make arrangement through the Samira Empowerment and Humanitarian Project to support widows, single mothers and the aged so this year my team decided that we come to Ashalaja to support our mothers. We pray that those of you who have lost your husbands, God will give them a peaceful rest while he strengthens and keep you all. May God give you long life to take care of those left behind ."

"We pray that as 2024 approaches, the good Lord will continue to protect us, guide us, lead us and bless us with all the blessings in 2024 ."

"2023 should see us continue on the path of economic emancipation and accelerated development."

"The youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow but the architects of today's transformative actions."

"Empowering women with access to cleaner energy sources not only improves their quality of life but also contributes to gender equality, sustainable development, and climate action ."

"My passion for the wellbeing of women and children birthed the Samira Empowerment and Humanitarian Projects (SEHP), a not-for-profit organization established with the purpose of empowering the underprivileged and underserved through diverse social intervention projects. Over the past six and half years, SEHP has undertaken timely initiatives in the areas of health, education, and the economic empowerment of women."

"Regrettably, the voices of the worst affected are drowned out in the conversation. Women, children, and Africa! What is a responsible generation to do in the face of this challenge?"

"We should all celebrate women’s achievements. Collectively, we can help forge gender parity and create an equally balanced world. From challenge comes change, so let’s choose to challenge"

"Let us inspire; let us motivate; let us mentor and create an environment that especially allows women to grow and thrive. As we celebrate today, let us remember that International Women’s Day is every day that we speak up; it is every day."

"But I believe that we will get there, and that women, collectively, will change our world for the better. Where there is gender equality, societies are more prosperous; peace is more durable; all of society benefits"

"I call upon governments, organizations, businesses, and individuals to recognize the urgency of the climate crisis and embrace the transformative power of gender equality. Let us support initiatives that amplify the voices of women and children, create platforms for their ideas to flourish, and elevate their leadership roles in climate action."

"We cannot make progress without leveraging the full resources of the majority of our population, especially in decision making. Women and children bear the brunt of disaster, both natural and manmade. They are disproportionately and negatively impacted by effects of climate change, even though they contribute the least to climate change"

"I urge more action be taken to integrate household energy solutions while accelerating the electrification of healthcare facilities to achieve success not just for our present generation but all generations to come."

"Clean cooking continues to be an overlooked climate solution, despite its ability to reduce forest degradation, improve health, empower women, protect the environment, and help achieve numerous other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)."

"“This election is about our future; it is about electing a leader who truly cares about this country. It is about electing a President who wants to continue the good work that has been done over the last eight years under the leadership of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, our current President,”"

"“Dr. Bawumia will serve you. He will be a strong, firm, and decisive leader. While Dr. Bawumia is promising jobs, skills training, and hundreds of millions of dollars for start-ups and youth empowerment, somebody else is giving ‘aboboya’ and polytanks to go and water the plants,”"

"“In the last eight years, we have worked hard to serve the people of this country and to solve problems, and there is a lot more to be done. And I want you to trust His Excellency Dr Mahamudu Bawumia with the mantle.""

"“He is an honest man, he is a hard-working man, he is an intelligent man who will bring bold solutions for this country. And I know that with his leadership, this country will move leaps and bounds.”"

"husband travelled from his base in Jamaica just to throw the birthday party, held at the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) premises in 2014."

"The Year-in-Review retreat will serve as checks and balances and help the executive and members identify which areas to improve in the future."

"I know Mr Mahama will not support this, but I want to ask Dr Bawumia to tell us his stance on homosexuality. Ghana is not ready for a leader who cannot boldly condemn this act."

"This is the time we need to work harder to vote out the NPP. NPP does not care about Ghanaians and it is our responsibility as a political party to rescue the nation from the wicked Akufo Addo government ."

"Elections are won at the grassroots level and so as a party, we must support our grassroots base to defend our interest at the polling level where elections are won ."

"Whatever I do, I have God in focus, and I don’t fear human beings. I fear God. I respect human beings."

"All agencies of mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the principles and objectives of this constitution and shall uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people of Ghana. We truly believe that in search for solutions for the challenges, the media must be prioritised. Indeed, you are to help with amplifying the vibrant voices of the public and help us to find a pathway that takes us to economic recovery,"

"One of the finest personalities doing marvellously well and helping this government with its policies and programs and ensuring they're making positive impacts in the media space is Mrs. Florence Oboshie Sai Cofie."

"When the people understand that it is pure love you have for them, then we can come back to the drawing table and talk politics."

"The women are influential and play vital roles in the political landscape."

"We cannot do without the support of women."

"the involvement of women in all spheres of life, especially politics, added value and had the ability to convince and pull multitudes along their vision."

"first project, when sworn into office, will be to use part of the MP’s Common Fund to expand the children’s ward of the district hospital in her constituency, which she says is too small to accommodate the growing population. According to her, if the mothers in every household in her constituency is empowered, the entire household benefits and the ripple effects is seen in the society as a whole."

"Where are the Women, is the presidency a preserve for men?"

"If women really to take part in decision making process of the country they should take such bold challenges by competing with men in all aspects of governances ."

"I wasn't expecting it at all. It was a big surprise"

"I asked [God] to give me the strength for the day, but I wasn't expecting the record ."

"I hope in the near future I can motivate other girls to start lifting ."

"I am a football manager, involved in class cabinet and in link crew."

"All well-meaning Ghanaians to support the cause, to stand firm and join in the struggle to increase women’s participation in decision making."

"What cost us dearly is the affirmative action policy that became controversial. In my case for instance, my opponent told the delegates that I was the originator of the affirmative action policy and also the one who signed it because I am the NPP Women Caucus leader so when that law is made to stand, the Abirem seat will be a no go area for any man. Most of the delegates are men and such pronouncement scared them. So, that is one of the major reasons why I lost the primaries."

"I am not ready to discuss what accounted for my loss...I cannot say I lost because the winner doled out money to delegates to vote for him."

"Decisions on our economy, environment and society cannot only be based simply on current or recent data, temporal analysis is required to identify trends, evaluate impacts and make informed decisions for democratic governance."

"Our laws will have to be amended. At the moment the laws are so liberal. The idea was to attract investment but we are willing to take a look at our laws again. The mining industry must move from being an enclosure to being fully integrated into the Ghanaian local economy. Tax revenues are minimal. The nation does not hardly benefit from high mineral prices."

"Gladys was a tough-willed woman with an unwavering spirit to succeed. Even when all doors seemed to be shut, she would keep pushing, for as long as she saw a ray of light.I came to appreciate her toughness and industriousness the more during the run-up to the elections of year 2000 when l toured all parts of the Western Region with her."

"Mrs Asmah was a great woman that the people of this country (Ghana) will forever remember."

"As a disciplinarian, she (Gladys) never encouraged women to dishonour men, their husbands and brothers."

"A woman who was a shining example for other women to emulate."

"Mrs. Asmah fought for the empowerment of women and was a role model for the women in Takoradi and Ghana as a whole."

"United we stand, unity is strength so with one accord, we can go farther than we are now. I encourage everyone to be each other's keeper, lets together as a family with a common goal."

"I have been here for some time now and the work is already ongoing. unfortunately, we 're had rain throughout our stay here. like, almost over a week, there's been rain."

"Basically, the road was being done before the by-election and you know with by-election, projects go on and you can't hide it and so this one is good for us because of the weather."

"I wish to first of all state for the avoidance of doubt and without equivocation that I do not operate those social media not have I sanctioned anyone to do same on my behalf."

"I can tell you that my share of the Common Fund had been used to fund ongoing construction of 18 culverts across the constituency to enhance movement in the beneficiary communities."

"This thing has never happened here, but I know because of my independence they want to intimidate me, but that will not work…they think I am here to spoil their votes but they don’t know I am here to win."

"I am not concerned about who wins the presidential election, whether it be Bawumia or Mahama, but my primary focus is on being re-elected as the representative for Agona West to complete the work I have started."

"Government has put on measures to punish perpetrators of rape. Stakeholders have also help victims of rape with support such as money, hospital bills settlement among others to aid the family of the victim to cut down cost in incidence like this."

"The first model Child-Friendly court inaugurated by the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Sophia A.B Akuffo to provide a safe environment for children as they interact with the justice system and reduce fear in the victims which will help them provide enough evidence to seek for justice without any hindrances."

"GIRLS SHOULD PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST UNSCRUPULOUS MEN."

"Be careful with men who seems friendly around you because rapist do not come in a rapist attack but rather, they come innocently crawling and before they realize they are being defiled."

"He should not rush. He should go slowly and should seek the guidance ofGod."

"Mr Speaker, we've got to do something about this. Mr Speaker, I dare to say that when women are in positions, I dare to say that they do better than men. Mr Speaker, I also dare to say, if the Finance Minister was a woman, we'll not find ourselves in this situation that we find ourselves in."

"As a nation, the 30% that the UN has asked nations to appoint women as representatives in leadership, Mr Speaker, Ghana we are down. So there's the need for Ghana to do something about the 30% women representation in leadership."

"I pray for our Frontline health workers, security personnel and many others who risk their lives on a daily basis in fighting this pervading pandemic of covid-19 whilst ensuring peace and orderliness in this trying moments in our beloved nation."

"I would still place a high premium on health and continue to equip clinics in the constituency."

"Government has also provided solar lanterns and rechargeable lights in island community’s within the area."

"Brilliant but needy students would continue to receive support in various forms to continue their education."

"The various road projects in the area have opened up the communities for brisk business as they had become easily accessible and that had won the people’s confidence."

"During my next tenure of office as MP, I would continue to work relentlessly to enhance the Krachi West Constituency’s status of a food basket, not only for the region but also for the country."

"There is the need for us to begin to partner private sector to provide free senior high school education so that, in areas that are underprivileged and underserved and lack access to public senior high schools, we can provide free education to the underprivileged community. In these cases, a private individual has established a private school."

"Challenge yourself to think beyond the confines of the present. Be a dreamer. Push boundaries!"

"Every person shall have the right,at his own expense,to establish and maintain a private school and schools at all level and such categories and in accordance with such conditions as may be under the law"

"I don’t want to sound bias but I think the future of this country lies with the NPP. When it comes to development, when it comes to taking this country forward, I don’t think there is an alternative and Mahamadu Bawumia is a gem. [I mean], we need to look at not just the party but the personalities that are leading."

"It is about presidency and if you want to compare, so far, I think we have we have two out, so we have John Dramani Mahama and then we have Mahamudu Bawumia and with the two, I can assure you not because I am a member of the NPP, that the person who can take us to the next stage of development, where we want to be is no other than Mahamadu Bawumia and I have a good feeling about it that the NPP will be retained in power."

"As ministers, your words hold the power to inspire peace and guide the hearts of many. Let us use this power wisely."

"Your role extends beyond the pulpit–it influences the ethos of our nation, shaping lives through the profound messages of faith, hope, and love."

"If I become president, I will give journalists cars, money, accommodation, and free fuel. You are all more important than Members of Parliament because you disseminate our messages to the public."

"No one will impress the media under my administration."

"Teachers will be properly taken care of."

"Those who speak English insult God because God himself created you a black man, and your native language is Twi, yet you want to speak English."

"He wants us to vote for him and become more powerful than God by providing a sea in Kumasi. You have to know that this is an insult to us. I pity him for insulting the entire country."

"If I die, my running mate will take over"

"Those who speak English insult God cos God himself created you as a black man,and your native language is Twi,and yet you want to speak English"

"We came here to discuss things like violence and violent activities, and remind citizens that these things are outside of the law, and it doesn't help our country. So, we must avoid becoming victims of politicians who come and give us arms, give us knives, and a little bit of money to go and cause trouble during the election."

"We are doing this work not only here, but in various less endowed communities around the country. We are giving extra attention to those communities because we want the message to sink here very clearly. Because a lot of times it is the young people from these areas that are misused or misled into taking up illegal activities around elections."

"lot of people don’t even know what the wrong thing is because wrong has been normalized,”"

"We trust that the many public sector folks sponsored to attend were inspired to also lead with integrity, right in the corner where they are."

"We are grateful to all our corporate partners whose generous sponsorship made this possible, and the participation of several emerging leaders from our schools and universities."

"intentionality about leadership development will become a culture that rewires our nation for growth, success and significance."

"It has become necessary for us to rescue the country from the bad governance of Nana Akufo-Addo and Bamuwia. The NDC is going to win power from the NPP and return Ghana to the path of development."

"If all governments destroyed the country like the NPP , no one would be proud to call himself a Ghanian."

"We believe in the NDC; we believe in President Mahama, we believe in Kwame Deen Yawson."

"I get into an accident every time I’m ready for an election."

"Since the Gomoa Central seat was taken up by another person, the youth there have been struggling to find work. I know because they tell me."

"I am returning, for a number of great reasons, but particularly to continue my vocational skills training for the youth in the area. If I become the MP again, I plan to set up the youth with tools and money immediately they complete their apprenticeship and vocational training."

"Beauty is vain and charm is deceitful"

"We all have talents or some sort of skill God has put in us as women. As young ladies, it is important to understand that life is not all about riches and rich men"

"At a point I didn’t feel good about myself, I wasn’t very slim, I wasn’t rich and I wasn’t among the top students either. All I had was my artistic talent and creativity…It is of essence to develop what you have to make up for what you don’t have…Never rely on your looks; Beauty is Vain! It fades"

"My mother inspires me because my mother never gives up"

"Life is not easy. If you speak to people who have achieved, they will tell you their stories. When you do something now and you fail, there is no shortcut to success"

"I mean a lot of African countries cannot meet the AU requirement of 15% of your GDP"

"I think that, my expectations from this conference, is that, we must be able to have a good leverage when it comes to health issues"

"Climate change is a phenomenon that has come to stay with the world, so the public needs to be educated on the nature and how to cope with the situation"

"Climate change" affects more than just a change in the weather; it refers to seasonal changes over a long period of time"

"We must work together as a team – both developing countries and the developed countries. And I think that the issue of knowledge sharing is very, very important because these days, viruses, bacteria, they don’t know whether you’re a developing country, or you’re a developed country. Looking at the various epidemics, that, we’re experiencing all over the world. So, this is the time that we need to forge together, work together, share our knowledge and then also help regional institutions with common focus to enable us fight the disease burden."

"Well, I think, yes, he will still achieve his zero level tolerance towards corruption. I think it’s something that happened about two to three years ago. And the Ministry of Health, we have instituted an enquiry into the importation into the country of these fake condoms, the culprits are going to be dealt with and we’ll make sure that the policies regarding inspection and importation of, not only condoms but medicines, and any medical logistics would be strengthened."

"In Ghana, we have some priority; we’re looking at access to quality health care and then we’re also looking at maternal and child health care; we’re looking at providing skilled medical personnel, doctors, nurses, midwives, to support maternal and child care. Then we’re also looking at strengthening community health centres across the country which we call the chip compounds."

"Basically, it means that we can reach out to the vulnerable community to provide them with basic health care; and on our high agenda is also dealing with malaria, tuberculosis, HIV. So, these are some of the critical areas that the ministry is dealing with; and of course, public health. And when we talk about public health, we are talking about prevention, we’re talking about information and also we’re talking about immunization and then also dealing with epidemics our readiness to combat epidemics as it surfaces."

"We all have to do our bit to help restore their homes and their lives and as they say kitua blaa nsua"

"Women and children are the backbone of our nation’s economy,” she stated. We must do more to ensure they thrive, so they can make a lasting impact on our society and country"

"The NPP government has made the promotion of education for all Ghanaian children at all levels a priority. This has led to increased access at school and learning figures in most public schools"

"Education is perhaps the most critical component to our development as a nation"

"I am happy to note that the newly constructed Lordina Foundation Maternity and Children's Ward at the Bole District Hospital has contributed to zero mortality rate recorded in 2023"

"When women are allowed to reach their full potential, everyone benefits"

"Together , we can inspire inclusion and build a world where all women can grow to their full potentials"

"And congratulations, Naana, for yet another opportunity to break the glass ceiling"

"Let us not insult him as party members. We should as well respect him so as to prevent the issue happening in the NPP to happen within us"

"We cherish Rawlings so much because not all parties still have their founders alive. We love him so much and we want his children to also be part of us. But because of Rawlings utterances of late, people in the constituency of Zentor Rawlings may not vote for her"

"I am happy that I have been able toconvince the founding father of the party to forgive his own people"

"We spoke to these MPs, but they did not listen. We suffered and got them to Parliament, but they refused to listen to us when we told them not to approve this man (Bryan Acheampong)."

"About 31 NDC MPs voted to approve this man. This is the consequence of your taking bribes to approve him. And I'm praying that at least 10 of you will lose the upcoming primaries so you can come and confess"

"You think being in Parliament is an opportunity to make money, and you took money to approve him. Today, he is the one paying you back as you deserve. I told you that God would punish you"

"As a ministry, we are committed to reducing poverty especially among girls and women and ensuring that gender disparity which perpetuate inequality is reduced if not eliminated. We must make people aware of the laws and ensure these laws are implemented"

"Though Ghana is regarded as a beacon of democracy in Africa, the country’s record on gender equality is less enviable; it is best described as hesitant, sluggish, and comparatively abysmal."

"Breaking into and making my mark as a woman in politics was tough"

"This is a clarion call for women and men to rise up and stand against injustices against women and girls and to activate gender equity and equality in Ghana now"

"not just the Mahama administration, I would have survived the challenges in politics in Ghana"

"We must have global cooperation of all countries to fight the cyber fraud because internet is borderless"

"Despite the opportunities mobile communication provide there are associated challenges which can impede growth in the telecoms sector if practical steps are not taken"

"Organized religion does not have any productive structures; they maintain ideas and so it is important`to understand the framework and how the church works"

"The party has always been youth-centric"

"We know how to appeal to them"

"We believe we can secure the Akan vote"

"That's the opinion of the Attorney-General. He's clearly wrong, but that's his opinion and he his entitled to it. I am not in his position"

"I would do so many things differently if I were in his position now. Not only about this. About everything...the interpretation of the law is fundamental, and you know, you don't sit there as Attorney-General, and you spout out the law yourself"

"We gather in solidarity with brothers and sisters to change the status quo. Racism must end. We pray and hope that George Floyd's death will not be in vain but will bring an end to prejudice and racial discrimination across the world"

"We continue to open our arms and invite all our brothers and sisters home. Ghana is your home. Africa is your home. We have our arms wide open ready to welcome you home"

"Please take advantage, come home, build a life in Ghana. You do not have to stay where you are not wanted forever, you have a choice and Africa is waiting for you"

"This is a good day for the Creative Arts Industry, we are excited. Today, I am happy to announce that we have passed the Creative Arts Bill and very soon it will be assented to by the President"

"We know that from next year, the Agency is going to be set up, we will have adequate funding from the budget, other sources. The establishment of the Creative Arts Fund is very significant because we know that, that is one of the major challenges of the industry."

"The line-up of other activities for the celebration were workshops on music and dance, colloquiums as well as a Hip Hop/Rap Summit which would be part of the Youth Assembly."

"There would be a Ghana Carnival to showcase the Ghanaian culture through vibrant costumes and dance and encouraged members of the public who had not experienced the variety of the rich culture of this country and most of the tourist sites to ensure that they did not miss out on the fun and knowledge which would abound by participating in the events."

"The security services were being resourced to ensure effective security in the country, stressing that there had been some isolated incidents which did not reflect the general state of security in the country."

"Some of the activities planned for the Year of Return included the Ghana Diaspora Celebration, the Marhaba Tourism Festival, the Black Prophet Welcome Home Reggae Concert, (Zonta, aka Black Prophet, a Ghanaian talented artiste who has championed the cause of Ghana and Africa through his music across the world) and various programmes around PANAFEST and Emancipation Day in July."

"Do they listen to public commentary and reflect on the implications of their decisions and how these are received by the wider society?"

"In these fragile times, we need a judiciary that understands its pivotal role in ensuring not only that the laws are applied justly, but that democracy not only survives but thrives"

"As talks are now being revived, there are opportunities to partner not only on the development of offshore gas, but also with regard to the development of a downstream petrochemicals sector and further gas utilisation."

"As new technologies are being embraced, gender inclusion is critical to allow women to access emerging technologies that offer platforms through which they can voice their concerns, identify their specific needs and promote access to basic services"

"Women are drivers of peace: increasing ways for them to engage through digital participation must be prioritized"

"Strengthening collaboration between governments, the private sector and the international community is also important to close the digital gender divide. The UN looks forward to working with IGAD and others to support a coherent regional approach allowing women to benefit from digital technologies"

"The AfCFTA is reshaping the economic development narrative in Africa and can foster gender-inclusive trade and development policies"

"I would like to echo government commitment to ensure our real economy is working and has the right policy and regulatory atmosphere to blossom in a way that upholds the interest of Ghanaians."

"We may to consider optimal pricing of spectrum and making them available, completing work on the revision of the tower guidelines and working with out state agencies to reduce the incidence of fibre cuts."

"Our drive towards univiersal access to technology and digital inclusion is meaningless if we do not look at access and usage especially for majority of our people who are unable to afford it."

"Even though are doing remarkably well by making data affordable, I still think there is still some work to be done that will require a multi stakeholder approach to drive our prices down."

"The consolidated approach and the major drive towards entrepreneurship under YouStart, would affect the business-minded youth among the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) trainees currently at the exit phase of the NABCO Scheme."

"Mr Speaker, within the 2022 budget, the government has consolidated its approach to employment hinged on entrepreneurship under the YouStart programme. The YouStart will enable young people to seek and be supported both technically and financially, to start and set up their enterprise."

"Mr Speaker, in line with the pathways set above, as an exit arrangement, some of the trainees were offered permanent employment by the lead agencies before the expiration of their three-year tenure."

"The government's current policy direction on mass entrepreneurship under the YouStart will lead to more sustainable jobs. YouStart offered a solution to the unemployment problem among the youth."

"I expressed profound gratitude to the delegates for the confidence and trust reposed in me and assured them that I would work with everyone to ensure peace and harmony."

"The internal elections camps is over and all campaign camps must be dissolved to assist the party to form one strong campaign team, that would help the party to defeat the NDC to continue the good works and improve the lives of the Gomoa Central Constituents."

"The power is not in my hand, but I can speak to the Minister; he is the ultimate decider. Before leaving this ministry, I knew we will go up to 38 or 40 per cent of the women getting positions as commanders."

"There is a saying that if you leave something for a woman, she takes better care more of it than the men. But, of course, we are not saying the men are not good, but we know our situation as mothers, so I know the minister is going to do something about it."

"Residents in informal settlements are faced with reduced access to some of the most basic social amenities like a regulated waste management system. Therefore, the city is working to improve its waste management system through a programme to start the separation of waste at source and put up a compost plant. Apart from that we strive to give them access to financial inclusion, through a recognised national identification system which will also enable them to be enrolled onto the National Health Insurance Scheme as well provide an infant care facility for the children."

"We have a National Disaster Management Organisation within our administration. They are prepared to respond to such disasters and work to monitor disaster plans to keep us all informed if a disaster is forecast. They also bring relief to disaster victims and assist to reduce poverty in vulnerable and poor communities The city is also tackling these challenges through a project on the dredging of waterways, gutters as well as a campaign which aims at the behavioural aspect of waste management telling people not to dump garbage in drains."

"In the past we have experienced devastating floods in the city of Accra, which has led to loss of lives and property. We are also starting to see our coastlines receding in many of our coastal communities. This particularly negatively impacts informal settlements in the city, where a sizeable number of local and international migrants reside. It exposes them for example to water-borne disease outbreaks and also reduces their abilities to withstand various economic and social shocks."

"So this is a loan scheme and we have an account at the Kwanyako Rural Bank. They can go and check the MPLS, it is there."

"For this year, I should have done it sometime in September, however, because of the Coronarivus disease (COVID-19), I had to do the distribution in bits."

"Last year I did it, two years ago I did it, three years ago I did it and four years I did it though my party is not in power."

"The activity she is engaged in did not start today as the Maame Pokua Loan Scheme (MPLS) has been in operation and supporting women for the past 12 years."

"Three weeks ago when the first distribution was done, members of the ruling NPP went to town and accused me of distributing papers because I had no money."

"The NPP in the Agona East knows of my interventions in the constituency, and therefore their claims that they do not know the monies I am giving out are loans are lies."

"These children do not vote so nobody could accuse me of soliciting votes from them."

"Therefore I decided to take the money along during the second distribution so I could demonstrate to the NPP and those who claimed I had packed papers in the boxes that indeed I am giving out physical cash."

"My product is now very popular thanks to these trade shows and exhibitions with about 70% of my customers as coming through the fairs. My participation in these trade shows and fairs have helped me to significantly improve upon my packaging."

"Until receiving training in business management and financial management from REP, I was regularly misapplying the little money I was making from the business. I didn’t know I had to pay myself. I thought the company or the business is mine so I can do this or that. But I’ve learnt that I need to do proper record keeping which can even help me to get loan support."

"I am accordingly demanding that a proper recount of the election results be conducted to determine the true winner."

"While the President struggles to fulfill his many promises, the elected officers are working to bring him down. The only time the executives come to the office is when there is money to share among themselves, after an issue comes up then they go back to sleep in their houses."

"I occupy my thoughts with what I can do to better the lot of my constituents, they voted for me because they have confidence in me to solve their problems not to be trading words."

"I will not have responded publicly to the allegations if they were not made on radio because the media battle will further inflame passions. But in all these I have absolute confidence in the Police to get to the bottom of it and bring the perpetrators to book."

"I will use all legal means provided by our constitution to get to clear my name it is sad that people could be so filled with venom that they don’t care who gets hurt, it took me years of hard, honest and dedication to build my reputation then someone goes on air and in a second has destroyed everything, isn’t is sad my brother."

"The beauty of democracy is that you learn to disagree to agree, you learn to make concessions, you learn to tolerate dissenting views."

"As a voter and member of the NDC in La, please make it a prior­ity to vote early for me at number 2 and for John Mahama at number 8, and remain vigilant to ensure that your votes are protected and counted."

"As the incum­bent MP for the area seeking to be retained,I pledged to assist and enroll adults interested in pursuing further education through distance learning and to create a drivers’ fund to support their professional development."

"I pro­vided support to various schools and La Polyclinic, organised health screenings, and initiated several projects funded by the MP Com­mon Fund."

"The NPP has subjected Ghanaians and the people of La to severe challenges, including high taxes, increased costs of food and living, the demolition of the La General Hospital, issues at La Trade Fair, incomplete road projects, failure to fulfill the one million dollars promise, and the inability to establish a factory in La, among other grievances."

"I look at how women can feel the power of their vote. I also try to convince them to think of good policies and not concern themselves with what political party leaders give them."

"In my day-to-day interaction with the people, I’ve been a little biased because I believe in empowering the woman. So, interacting with them and listening to their stories, gives me a better idea about what they are facing."

"At least, eight communities have so far benefited from the one-district-one-dam project in the Nantong District. Others have also been enrolled in the forestry project. This she said shows the loyalty of the NPP government to their promises and the people of Ghana."

"So, here I am I in bed, just struggling with myself to understand why on earth a deputy minister of state will look at the people who hosted him almost all his life (27yrs) according to him, in the face and tell us we are difficult people and also that we lie to extortionate money from government. I am sure this was said without any evidence."

"You might not feel the impact of free SHS today, especially parents whose children are still below JHS, you might not see the impact, but in the near future, if you go into Accra and you find just 10 girls in agbobloshie doing kayaye, that’s an impact of free SHS. When you find out that the number of kayaye girls has drastically reduced, that’s where you start talking about the impact."

"Nanton is home, I describe the people as very loyal, very very loyal. Both my dad and mom are from Nantong. I think change is a gradual process and I think we are in the process. Once I’m in Tamale, I do a bit of Nantong before I go back to Accra. The fortunate part is, the development is not centered in Nantong alone, it’s getting into the communities."

"The more women were made to head institutions and other places of influence in the governance structure, the more young women would be inspired to go into public service without the fear of intimidation or being looked down upon."

"The decision to renominate Prof. Opoku-Agyemang to partner with him was an endorsement of affirmative action and that former President Mahama was the only President who gave more important appointments to women when he was the President."

"I pledge to work hard to lift the image of the NDC in and outside Parliament, with the hope of inspiring the young ones, particularly women, to also develop the desire to enter politics."

"I call for more affirmative actions for women, particularly those in Parliament, to ensure the equitable appointment of women into leadership positions."

"It has become the norm the world over as more than 50 countries now require people to cover their faces when they leave their homes."

"Proper handling of the home-made ones requires that the masks are washed with warm soapy water , dried and ironed at least once a day if possible but sadly I have seen people wearing masks which appear rather soiled and unkempt."

"In our markets, on commercial vehicles and even at work places, you will find people who wear the mask below their chin, on their forehead, simply hang it around their neck or carry it in their hand and the impression is created that it is sufficient to own a mask and carry it around."

"MPs as representatives of the people must support efforts to educate the public on the wearing of face masks."

"The absence of romance could jeopardize their marriages."

"Romance your wives thoroughly before the substantive sexual act of penetration, do not just hop on them."

"Adam and Eve began to play romance when the latter was created out of the former's ribs and brought to him."

"He was happy to see Eve brought to him and said she is the bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh as they both entangled in romance,she added. Romance she observed, began right in the Garden of Eden and must not be overlooked."

"Don’t Just Hop On Your Wives For Sex; Romance Them First"

"Take the act of foreplay serious during sexual encounters with their partners."

"Tell it as it is."

"We are all part of the problem and part of the solution."

"Remember, together we should be able to build a mountain."

"We had a lot of women’s associations from legal, security, education and from human rights. They were all there and they were all supportive and actually spoke and said they were very happy that the PPP has kept its promise."

"It’s very nice and encouraging that you are chosen from a process that you are not even aware off and that is all structured and it’s based on criteria, and that I wasn’t selected because I happen to be a woman."

"What they presented to us was that they were looking for somebody who is incorruptible, who has competence, and who is interested in job creation, quality education, quality health, somebody who has proven him or herself and somebody who can stand firm for what is right."

"But the insults must stop, if they don't stop it won't stop me, I will go ahead, I have a team with me and I think that I have Ghana with me. Because all want to develop Ghana so if people will throw mud that won't be a big deal."

"Am a mother and every mother has to deal with difficult situation so definitely in terms of stress, terms or whatever it takes I will be okay."

"The aged in society remain susceptible to the new wave of COVID-19 infections."

"The pandemic was re-surfacing in the country, and urged particularly the aged to strictly adhere to health safety guidelines to protect themselves and people around them from contracting the deadly virus."

"Although young people had good immune systems to fight the disease, they could easily pass it on to their parents without showing any symptoms."

"I observed the use of hand sanitizers and social distancing among the populace had reduced for some time now, a situation that could trigger the spread of the pandemic and had devastating consequences on the nation."

"We are going to court; no 13 people are going anywhere to go and contest. EC has no power to elect the people they want to contest for this year. There were not there to tell Ghanaians what to do; they were there to just do their work and they have failed woefully to do that work."

"I rectified every error even on my own and gave it to the EC and it is [Samuel] Kwaah [deputy director of Electoral Services] who received it, so I know Mr. Kwaah, who doesn’t like me, he [is] keeping the thing from the EC."

"When I sought to become the general secretary, I received calls from prominent figures, including family members, telling me that position wasn’t suitable for a woman. Some people discouraged me saying I would not succeed, especially against male contestants. But I persevered, ignoring their advice, and ultimately succeeded."

"I’m not surprised many women are discouraged and leaving politics altogether. The pressure and tension are unbearable, especially when you’re a woman aiming for the top. They’ll throw stones at you, do everything to pull you down. In Ghana‘s politics, women are often relegated to subordinate roles."

"The only position reserved for women is the women’s organizer, and even with that, they are often relegated to menial tasks. It is extremely difficult for women to rise in politics."

"It is not my purpose to give a full history of the life and character of our much respected and lamented aged friend, Mrs. Adams. Her life was in many respects, an eventful."

"Is this what politic and running for public office have been reduced to? Why have Ghanaians reduce our democracy to "GUTTER " why are we not emulating the example of our former presidents and seasoned former leaders as the Late Buwumia's Justice D.F Anna's, Dr P.V. Obengs,Mr.Chris Hesse's and others not mentioned here because of space ant time. How can we stoop so low ,by viewing political opponents as enemies. We are one people with a unique destiny and are striving to make our great and strong through the blessings of God as our national anthem rightly says. How can we afford to equate an Honorable esteemed son of Ghana to an ape-Nana Addo Danquah, the Flag bearer of the great party's that is energizing our fragile democracy. Ghanaians with me inclusive we need to desist from these acts that divide us rather than unifying us a nation. These acts of indiscipline is the reason why women although they are so experienced and committed to lasting development transformation and change will not run for public office and to be effective partners in the decision- making process of our dear nation. Vilification and bad mouthing tactics such as this has become a bottleneck in our democratic dispensation in Ghana. With these acts that have plagued no man in his right mind will allow the wife to mount a political platform in Ghana to be insulted, vilified and embarrassed by his fellow man who cannot take care of his family and is struggling just to be elected as Member of Parliament, because he sees Parliament as a gold mine and position of honor and prestige rather than service to the people ,and having the impudence to embarrass he and his wife in the name of politics. This post on social media is below the belt and really exposes the ignorance of Ghanaians to the world at large. The boot lickers and the light soup and yes drinkers of our leaders should desist from this gutter politics and focus on issues rather than personalities. Political bigotry,rancour and bitterness must cease, because we are partners in the same ship,if the ship sinks we are all going to perish. Our politics should be devoid of discrimination and above all male chauvinism so that women can participate in politics to contribute to the nations developmental process. Let us emulate the example of Three "JOHNS" _ His Excellency Jerry John Rawlings, His Excellency John Agyekum Kuffour and our current president John Dramani Mahama, although they all have different leadership styles and believe in different political ideologies they do not bad mouth each other ,but are rather united because they know that it is not about them but about our dear nation Ghana. "GHANA FIRST". Although they may not see eye to eye on many issues on governance,but because of the love of the nation ,they have buried their differences to work together to move Ghana forward. Fellow Ghanaians he that have ears let him listen to what the spirit of God is saying to the nation of Ghana."

"I joined the commercial bank for a while and straight to the parliament,so I was 23 years when I became a parliament"

"The Ghana today there is so much confusion.What I would say is unless we change our 1992 constitution because this constitution has Soo many flaws, in this constitution and This constitution was imposed on the people of Ghana a long period of terror by PNDC and NDC rule. So it is not a constitution for the people ,I would call it JJRolins constitution."

"That constitution when it was first drafted that is 1992 it was a legalized clause"

"We shouldn't legalize coup if we are talking about civilian government,we need to change this present constitution which people have taken advantage and taken all the state enterprises ,the state footwears ,the state decision cooperation,we used to have GNDC chain of stores which is where we get made in Ghana goods ."

"Independence [for Ghana] means we are a new state not under somebody ,you are independent,you can make your own decisions,you don't have to let someone decide for you."

"Nowadays when you go to schools you ask them [school children] even about our own history they don't know about it and yet they are learning history about their countries."

"We need to change it [constitution] because the constitution with the indemnity clauses covered people who have looted this country"

"I'm saying that we need to change the indemnity clause in the 1992 Constitution,how can you legalize coup?."

"If we don't change the constitution you can never put anybody before court for the pillage that is why I'm saying we can't stop corruption because people are covered with indemnity clause in our constitution."

"We are so blessed and we should have been exporting a lot of farm products instead of importing ,we can produce enough food if we put our minds on it."

"The higher you want to climb, the more you need leadership. The greater the impact you want to make, the greater your influence needs to be."

"Oh what a happy day! On the first of January 2013. 2013 is a year of victory and many more blessings from God."

"God's son Jesus Christ became human in order to help us become Godlike in our dealings with other humans. This is the spirit of the season. Merry and a prosperous New Year."

"Ayariga is really a disgrace to Ghanaian politics."

"Where are the true leaders today?"

"Your friendship will be very important to someone today, so give yourself time to be a good friend."

"One Day Some Arm Rubbers Attacked A Rich Man's House. In The Bedroom Of The Mas They Found The Man And His Wife. One Of The Rubbers Asked The Womans Name. Rubber: Woman What Is Your Name Woman: Comfort Rubber: You Are Lucky My Mother Is Comfort I Would Have Shoot You. Then He Turned To The Man; Arm Rubber: Man What Is Your Name Man: My Name Is Richard Asamoah But My Friends Use To Call Me Comfort Asamoah."

"The HIV epidemic in Ghana is characterized as a mix of a low-level generalized epidemic with significant contributions from transmission among female sex workers (FSW) and their clients. This study seeks to identify and describe key characteristics and sexual behaviors of FSW and estimate the prevalence of HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) among FSW in Ghana. Method A total of 7,000 FSW were recruited for the study using Time Location Sampling (TLS) approach with 5,990 (85.6%) participants completing both biological and the behavioral aspects of the study. A structured questionnaire was administered to respondents to assess several factors, such as background characteristics, sexual risk behaviors, condom usage, HIV/AIDS knowledge, opinions, and attitudes. Trained staff conducted face-to-face interviews using mobile data collection software (REDCap) after provision of specimens for HIV and STI testing. Descriptive statistics such as medians, ranges, charts, and percentages are performed and presented. Also included, are bivariate analyses to establish relationships between FSW type and other relevant characteristics of the study. Results Among the 7,000 (100%) FSW sampled from all regions, 6,773 took part in the behavioral and 6,217 the biological. There were 783 (11.2%) respondents who took part only in the behavioral and 227 (3.2%) only in the biological. Most were young, with a median age of 26 years, majority had never been married or were widowed/divorced and a quarter had no education or had only primary education. Majority (74.8%) of FSW first sold sex at age 25 years or less with a median age of 20 years. Most (84.8%) of the FSW indicated that they entered sex work for money, either for self or family and had an average of eleven (11) sexual partners per week. More than half (55.2%) of the FSW were new entrants who had been in sex work for less than 5 years before the study. Consistent condom use with paying clients was generally unsatisfactory (71%), and was however, very low (24%) with their intimate partners or boyfriends. Only about half (54.6%) of FSW have been exposed to HIV prevention services in the last three months preceding the survey, and this varies across regions. Overall, comprehensive knowledge about HIV and AIDS was low. Only 35% of FSW had comprehensive knowledge. HIV prevalence was 4.6% and was higher among seaters (brothel-based) and older FSW who had been sex work for a longer period. The HIV prevalence from the previous bio-behavioral survey (BBS) in 2015 and 2011 were estimated to be 6.9 and 11.1%, respectively. Conclusion Compared to the results from the previous studies, the findings give an indication that Ghana is making significant progress in reducing the burden of HIV among FSW in the country. However, risky behaviors such as low consistent condom use, low coverage of HIV services across the regions, and low comprehensive knowledge could reverse the gains made so far. Immediate actions should be taken to expand coverage of HIV services to all locations. Efforts must be made to reach out to the new entrants while also addressing strongly held myths and misconceptions about HIV"

"To delineate the population attributable fraction (PAF) of transactional sex in prevalent cases of HIV infection in the male adult population of Accra, Ghana. Cross-sectional study of clients who visited a sex worker (SW), of boyfriends of SW and of male personnel in prostitution venues. A questionnaire was administered and urine obtained for detection of anti-HIV antibodies. The PAF of prevalent HIV acquired from SW was calculated using a combination of data from this survey of clients, from on-going SW surveys, the national HIV surveillance system and the national census. HIV prevalence was 4.9% (8/162) among clients of mobile SW, 15.8% (53/335) among clients of home-based SW, 17.5% (10/57) among personnel and 32.1% (9/28) among boyfriends. A condom was used in 90% of intercourses, according to clients. Non-use of a condom was clustered in selected locations and independently associated with older age of client, frequency of intercourse with SW in the last year and current urethritis. Among the male population of Accra aged 15-59 years, 84% of prevalent cases of HIV were attributable to transactional sex. A sensitivity analysis showed that under various assumptions PAF varied between 47% and 100%. In Accra, approximately four-fifths of prevalent cases of HIV in adult males were acquired from SW. Comprehensive interventions providing education, condoms and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases for SW and their clients should be approached as other public health priorities and provided in all cities, large and small, of West Africa."

"Screening for cervical infection is difficult in developing countries. Screening strategies must be improved for high-risk women, such as female sex workers. To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of screening algorithms for cervical infection pathogens among female sex workers in Accra, Ghana. A cross-sectional study among female sex workers was conducted. Each woman underwent an interview and a clinical examination. Biologic samples were obtained for the diagnosis of HIV, syphilis, bacterial vaginosis, yeast infection, Trichomonas vaginalis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Signs and symptoms associated with cervicitis agents were identified. Algorithms for the diagnosis of cervical infection were tested by computer simulations. The following prevalences were observed: HIV, 76.6%; N gonorrhoeae, 33.7%; C trachomatis, 10.1%; candidiasis, 24.4%; T vaginalis, 31.4%; bacterial vaginosis, 2.3%; serologic syphilis, 4.6%; and genital ulcers on clinical examination, 10.6%. The best performance of algorithms were reached when using a combination of clinical signs and a search for gram-negative diplococci on cervical smears (sensitivity, 64.4%; specificity, 80.0%). In the algorithms, examination of Gram-stained genital smears in female sex workers without clinical signs of cervicitis improved sensitivity without altering specificity for the diagnosis of cervical infection."

"Blood borne infections such as HIV, Hepatitis B (HBV), and Hepatitis C (HCV) are of great importance to governments and their implementing partners, especially among people who use drugs (PWUD) and people who inject drugs (PWID)."

"Your life's a result of the choices you make,if you don't like your life ,it's time to start making better choices. You can be a complainer or an achiever,but surely,you can't be both. Live your life with a purpose,focus on your achievements instead of your misfortunes. Always be yourself and never wait for someone's approval your mind's a magnet . If you always think of blessings,you attract more blessings. If you always think of problems,you attract more problems; therefore,always keep good thoughts and always stay positive. God has a purpose for your pain,a reason for your struggle and a reward for your faithfulness. Don't give up . Life's too short to keep worrying."

"If you have a strong purpose in life,you don't have to be pushed . Your passion will drive you there."

"Don't worry-Be Happy.You can't be truely happy till you learn to ignore the gossips,empty charter and unkind words hurled at you. See those talks as normal and bound to happen."

"Remember that empty vessels make loud noises.those who have nothing doing,engage themselves with other people's business and issues."

"Learn to disregard the noise and attach your heart to God and those who care about you . Because whatever you do,no matter how you do it it'll attract talks,either positive or negative."

"Give your full attention and concentration to your vision and purpose in and you'll be in a happy state"

"My greatest priority would be to make the constituency a peaceful place where ethnicity would be a thing of the past and also to generate employment avenues for the constituents,especially for women and the youth"

"All election materials are in Chereponi, they are in sufficient quantities and were we will not face any shortages anywhere. The only thing left is the ballot paper. It will certainly be in today and will be sent to Chereponi tomorrow everything is in place in Chereponi"

"The love most frequently praised by winter is young love —bold and courageous."

"Many more young people should be involved in such activities in Africa than was presently the case. Culturally, young people are to be seen, not heard, although we don't say it as much now. It's part of the culture. We are running programmes for them [in Ghana] but not really with their involvement. Young people could help adults change consumption patterns and lifestyles that might not be sustainable."

"Women matter, and we plead with our men here to make the cases of women their matter."

"What has become of the Affirmative Action Act? … It is high time some considerations are made to make sure that women are more inclusive in the governance of this country."

"I am an example of the dangers that lie ahead if we fail as a country to document and teach our indigenous languages."

"Despite being born to an Ahanta father and mother, I did not have the benefit of being taught the language at home or in school. We had no books from which I could read my language … living out of Ghana for more than 25 years … I had no reference point to connect with my mother tongue. … Today, like thousands of Ahanta people, I am unable to speak the language. My children too have no means of learning it."