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	<title>Education Archives - iWatch Africa</title>
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	<title>Education Archives - iWatch Africa</title>
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	<item>
		<title>iWatch Africa trains journalists to combat digital threats using new DisinfoEye platform</title>
		<link>https://iwatchafrica.org/2025/08/iwatch-africa-trains-journalists-to-combat-digital-threats-using-new-disinfoeye-platform/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[iWatch Africa]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Aug 2025 18:52:19 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Digital Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[digital harassment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[disinfo eye]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://iwatchafrica.org/?p=3895</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Accra, Ghana – August 8, 2025 — iWatch Africa has successfully conducted its Online Safety Monitoring Training, a program designed to equip a new team of monitors with the knowledge, &#8230;</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org/2025/08/iwatch-africa-trains-journalists-to-combat-digital-threats-using-new-disinfoeye-platform/">iWatch Africa trains journalists to combat digital threats using new DisinfoEye platform</a> appeared first on <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org">iWatch Africa</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Accra, Ghana – August 8, 2025</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> — iWatch Africa has successfully conducted its </span><b>Online Safety Monitoring Training</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, a program designed to equip a new team of monitors with the knowledge, skills, and tools to track, document, and report online harassment and abuse directed at journalists in Ghana.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The training is part of a broader initiative to safeguard press freedom, protect media workers from digital threats, and generate credible data to push for stronger accountability and policy interventions. Over the next three months, the trained monitors will observe the social media activities of ten selected journalists across Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok. Using </span><b>DisinfoEye</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, a purpose-built monitoring platform developed by iWatch Africa, they will document incidents of online abuse in real time. </span></p>
<p><b>Philip Kwasi Banini</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">co-founder</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">, welcomed participants by outlining the key aims of the project: to empower individuals with the skills to identify and resist misleading content; expose disinformation campaigns through data-driven investigations; foster media literacy among vulnerable populations, particularly students and marginalized communities; and collaborate with policymakers and technology companies to promote ethical information ecosystems.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“This initiative is not just about tracking abuse—it’s about protecting the voices that keep our democracy alive. When journalists are silenced by fear, the public loses access to truth,” he stated.</span></p>
<p><b>Moro Seidu</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> then delivered a detailed </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Project Overview and Understanding Online Harassment &amp; Abuse Against Journalists</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> presentation. He explained the different forms of online harassment—such as doxxing, threats of violence, troll campaigns, sexualized abuse, and disinformation attacks—emphasizing that women journalists face unique, gendered, and often sexualized threats. Drawing from UNESCO’s 2021 report, he noted that 73% of women journalists globally have experienced online abuse, with many altering their reporting or abandoning stories entirely due to harassment. Moro also shared trends from iWatch Africa’s data, highlighting the rise of cyberbullying, coordinated troll campaigns, and politically motivated disinformation attacks in Ghana, particularly targeting female reporters after political or investigative stories.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Online abuse is a global problem, but in Ghana, it threatens press freedom in very real ways. By equipping monitors with the skills to document these attacks, we are building a strong evidence base to push for accountability,” Moro said.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The session moved into a hands-on segment led by </span><b>Shafui</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, an IT and Resources Personnel who demonstrated the DisinfoEye platform and guided participants on how to accurately log abuse cases, apply filters and tags, and maintain consistency in reporting. A simulation exercise followed, allowing participants to practice identifying abusive content and entering cases into the platform as if in a live monitoring scenario. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The training concluded with a discussion on reporting requirements, documentation standards, and the project timeline.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This initiative is part of iWatch Africa’s commitment to advancing digital safety, media freedom, and the protection of human rights. </span><b>The Online Safety Monitoring Program is supported by Impact Amplifier</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Members of the public can follow the tracking of online abuse in real time by visiting:</span><em><strong><a href="https://www.disinfoeye.com/"> www.disinfoeye.com.</a></strong></em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org/2025/08/iwatch-africa-trains-journalists-to-combat-digital-threats-using-new-disinfoeye-platform/">iWatch Africa trains journalists to combat digital threats using new DisinfoEye platform</a> appeared first on <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org">iWatch Africa</a>.</p>
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		<title>Review of Academic Assistance from Writemypapers.org</title>
		<link>https://iwatchafrica.org/2024/03/review-of-academic-assistance-from-writemypapers-org/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Moro]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 21 Mar 2024 11:29:16 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://iwatchafrica.org/?p=3632</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>With every lecture attended and every book turned, students carve out their futures. But amid these pursuits, the specter of deadlines looms large, transforming the landscape into a battleground of &#8230;</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org/2024/03/review-of-academic-assistance-from-writemypapers-org/">Review of Academic Assistance from Writemypapers.org</a> appeared first on <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org">iWatch Africa</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>With every lecture attended and every book turned, students carve out their futures. But amid these pursuits, the specter of deadlines looms large, transforming the landscape into a battleground of essays, research papers, and term assignments. We decided to check out <a href="https://www.writemypapers.org/">https://www.writemypapers.org/</a> service amidst a myriad of writing services, seeking to understand its place in the vast expanse of academic assistance.</p>
<h2>What can I get from this writing service?</h2>
<p>From the quintessential essays to the complex dissertations that crown a student&#8217;s academic journey, their arsenal is both vast and varied. Delving deeper, we find a sanctuary for every academic need. Whether it&#8217;s the rush of a term paper or the marathon of a thesis, the promise of tailored assistance is a lighthouse guiding students to shore. Beyond the mere completion of tasks, the service pledges to weave the fabric of the student&#8217;s voice into each assignment, ensuring that each piece reflects the uniqueness of its creator&#8217;s intellect and perspective.</p>
<h2>What is the process of ordering?</h2>
<p>Beginning with the simplicity of ordering, students are invited to chart the course of their assignment, marking the milestones of deadlines, academic levels, and the nuances of their task. Upon this foundation, a bridge is built between the student&#8217;s needs and the writer&#8217;s expertise, solidified by the pillars of communication and mutual understanding. The ethos of quality as a main consideration promises that each paper is not just a transaction, but a tailor-made solution aiming to elevate the student&#8217;s academic standing. With the clock often against them, students find solace in the rapidity with which they receive a response, a testament to the service&#8217;s commitment to timely help for college students. Yet, this efficiency does not come at the cost of creativity or integrity. Each piece is a tapestry of original thought, meticulously crafted to avoid the pitfalls of plagiarism, ensuring that the student&#8217;s academic integrity remains unblemished.</p>
<h2>Prices And Discounts</h2>
<p>This service acknowledges the financial tightrope walked by students, positioning its pricing structure as a compass towards fiscal prudence. The revelation of costs is immediate, a clear map drawn out at the outset of the journey, ensuring that students can navigate their budgets with foresight. The terrain of pricing is diverse, influenced by the urgency of deadlines and the level of scholarly examination required. Yet, within this landscape, opportunities for financial relief emerge in the form of discounts and loyalty rewards, beacons that shine brighter with each subsequent engagement with the service. This approach not only lightens the financial burden but also cements a relationship built on trust and mutual benefit, ensuring that the quest for academic excellence is not hindered by economic constraints.</p>
<h2>Final Word</h2>
<p>Writemypapers, with its commitment to quality, originality, and student-centric support, stands as a worthy companion on the academic journey. For those who find themselves at the crossroads of academic pressures and the desire for excellence, this service offers not just a path, but a partnership, ensuring that the quest for knowledge is both victorious and fulfilling.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org/2024/03/review-of-academic-assistance-from-writemypapers-org/">Review of Academic Assistance from Writemypapers.org</a> appeared first on <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org">iWatch Africa</a>.</p>
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		<title>Mitigating Online Abuse Against Women Journalists in Ghana and Nigeria</title>
		<link>https://iwatchafrica.org/2023/05/mitigating-online-abuse-against-women-journalists-in-ghana-and-nigeria/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Gideon Sarpong]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 May 2023 06:35:11 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Digital Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Watch Africa]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://iwatchafrica.org/?p=3531</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>As the world commemorates the 30th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day, African media’s ability to operate effectively remains under threat as their safety continues to be compromised. According to a UNESCO Global Survey, &#8230;</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org/2023/05/mitigating-online-abuse-against-women-journalists-in-ghana-and-nigeria/">Mitigating Online Abuse Against Women Journalists in Ghana and Nigeria</a> appeared first on <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org">iWatch Africa</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">As the world commemorates the <a href="https://www.unesco.org/en/days/press-freedom?hub=66704" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">30th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day</a>, African media’s ability to operate effectively remains under threat as their <a href="https://cipesa.org/wp-content/files/The_State_of_Media_Freedom_and_Safety_of_Journalists_in_Africa_Report.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">safety </a>continues to be compromised. According to a <a href="https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000375136" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UNESCO Global Survey</a>, online attacks against women journalists, whose representation in the sector at executive and editorial levels is already limited, are increasing exponentially. In an effort to build digital resilience in Africa’s media sector, the Africa Digital Rights Fund (ADRF) has supported work on online safety of journalists in various countries, such as Ghana, Nigeria and <a href="https://numec.org/understanding-digital-usage-and-safety-among-journalists-in-northern-uganda/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Uganda</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In Ghana and Nigeria, ADRF’s support has seen iWatch Africa engage 20 newsrooms on online safety of women journalists. Leveraging the <a href="https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2022-04/RISJ%20paper%20_HT22_GideonS_FINAL%20%281%29.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Keeping Journalists Safe Online: A Guide for Newsrooms in West Africa and Beyond</a>, the newsrooms were supported to set up safety protocols and response measures to safeguard women journalists against abuse.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Through a multiplier model, journalists from the supported newsrooms (<a href="http://iwatchafrica.org/2022/06/29/iwatch-africa-unveil-measure-to-equip-20-newsrooms-tackle-online-abuse-harassment-of-journalists-in-west-africa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10 from Ghana</a> and <a href="http://iwatchafrica.org/2022/08/16/journalists-safety-online-iwatch-africa-holds-maiden-training-session-for-nigerian-journalists/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10 from Nigeria</a>) also underwent a Training of Trainers programme on the use of filtering applications such as <a href="https://www.trfilter.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TRFilter</a> which helps document and manage online harassment and abuse. Furthemore, the participants discussed strategies through which journalists, government agencies and civil society could push back more effectively against online violence. The training facilitators included practitioners from<a href="https://www.trust.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Thomson Reuters Foundation</a>; iWatch Africa; <a href="https://techpreneurmagazine.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Techpreneur Magazine</a>; The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (<a href="https://chraj.gov.gh/news/chraj-participates-in-human-rights-and-environmental-law-conference-in-nairobi-kenya/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CHRAJ</a>); and Ghana Integrity Initiative (<a href="https://www.tighana.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GII</a>).</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The trained journalists have since gone on to train an additional 100 journalists within their networks. A further offshoot from the project was the formation of a discussion forum for networking, sharing experiences and lessons learned amongst the supported newsrooms.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The ADRF, an initiative of the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) has previously supported iWatch Africa to track, document and analyse online abuse and harassment against journalists and rights activists covering political and societal issues in Ghana. In partnership with the Ghana Police and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), iWatch Africa developed <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org/2020/10/20/guidelines-for-prevention-of-online-abuse-and-harassment-in-ghana-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">draft guidelines</a> for the prevention of online abuse and harassment. The organisation has continued to undertake advocacy in the field while engaging stakeholders on offering legal support for victims to seek redress.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">According to Gideon Sarpong, the Executive Director of iWatch Africa, ADRF’s support has helped raise awareness about the importance of protecting journalists and contributed to a safer media environment. “The cohort of journalists trained and their newsrooms could be the catalysts to curbing digital violence against women journalists in Ghana and Nigeria,” said Sarpong.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">According to the <a href="https://cipesa.org/wp-content/files/The_State_of_Media_Freedom_and_Safety_of_Journalists_in_Africa_Report.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">State of Media Freedom and Safety of Journalists in Africa Report</a> for 2022, trolling and online harassment of journalists has become a serious threat to press freedom. It notes that trolls threaten and silence critical journalists and harass many, particularly women, forcing some to abandon social media. (<a href="https://garlandpediatricdental.com/xanax-bars-world-kinds-and-buying-online/">Xanax</a>)  According to the report, the low levels of digital security skills; poor reporting of online abuses to law enforcement agencies; the limited skills and interest of authorities in investigating and prosecuting cyber crimes; and the inadequacy of existing laws in tackling trolling and online violence especially against women, only exacerbate the problem.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The ADRF was established in recognition that technology had become pivotal to promoting livelihoods and human rights on the continent but there was a need to strengthen local capacity in evidence-based research, skills and knowledge, collaborative advocacy and impactful policy engagements responsive to regulatory and practice developments that affect internet freedom in Africa.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The ADRF’s supporters have included the Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), the Ford Foundation, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the German Society for International Cooperation Agency (GIZ), New Venture Fund (NVF) and the Omidyar Network.</p>
<p><strong>Ashnah Kalemera | CIPESA</strong></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org/2023/05/mitigating-online-abuse-against-women-journalists-in-ghana-and-nigeria/">Mitigating Online Abuse Against Women Journalists in Ghana and Nigeria</a> appeared first on <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org">iWatch Africa</a>.</p>
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		<title>Child workers in Ghana speak out</title>
		<link>https://iwatchafrica.org/2022/06/child-workers-in-ghana-speak-out/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[iWatch Africa]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jun 2022 09:26:57 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[child labour]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[child trafficking]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://iwatchafrica.org/?p=3388</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Four children describe their work, why they do it, and how decision-makers in Ghana could help them. Their answers were translated out of Twi and edited for clarity. Longer versions &#8230;</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org/2022/06/child-workers-in-ghana-speak-out/">Child workers in Ghana speak out</a> appeared first on <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org">iWatch Africa</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Four children describe their work, why they do it, and how decision-makers in Ghana could help them. Their answers were translated out of Twi and edited for clarity. Longer versions of the texts have been published by </em><a href="https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/beyond-trafficking-and-slavery/child-workers-speak-will-anybody-listen/"><em>openDemocracy</em></a><em>.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>We work: </em></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/beyond-trafficking-and-slavery/taken-in-the-name-of-rescue-a-child-responds/"><strong>“To feed ourselves”</strong></a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>This boy used to help his father fish on Lake Volta. When he was just 13 years old, he was separated from his family by police and NGO workers.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Last year they came to take us from our parents by force. We were on the lake, and they came with guns and weapons. They screamed at our father and said he was a bad man because he should have taken us to school instead of bringing us fishing. They took us away in their speedboats. But before that, they made us take off our clothes and took pictures of us semi-naked with the canoe paddles. I don’t know why they did that, but it made me feel very bad.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I remember it when I sleep sometimes. They took me, my siblings, and many other children from nearby communities to a place we didn’t know. We were there for about six months. They didn’t let us see our parents or anyone from our family. I asked about them, but the people who were looking after us didn’t know. Those people were kind to us. They gave us good food and nice clothes. They took us to school and did other things for us.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">But I was angry and sad all the time, because they also said bad things about us and our families. I didn’t agree that my father is bad. He takes care of all of us even though we don’t have a lot. We fish together to feed ourselves and get what our family needs. The work is hard but I like working with my father, and he does the hardest parts.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">If those people had asked me and my siblings why we were fishing that day, we would have told them it was because we want to help our family and not because we were being forced. We also want to go to school. The school in our area is very bad, and so we would have told them to build better schools and find teachers to help those of us who attend. But they didn’t want to listen to us. They had their own ideas.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/beyond-trafficking-and-slavery/why-do-children-work-to-become-big-men-and-women/"><strong>“To become big men and women”</strong></a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>This 17-year-old boy works as a fisherman on Lake Volta. He has lived in the area for eight years, and says that the work has been essential to his survival.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">One day a fisherman who had worked with my grandfather passed through the village. My grandmother asked him if he would train me like my grandfather had trained him when he was a boy. I didn’t want to go. I didn’t want to leave my grandmother. But I wasn’t going to school anymore and there was nothing for me in the village. I was about 10 or 11 years old at that time. I have been living and working with him ever since.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">My grandmother passed away last year. I am very sad about that, but I am also happy that she benefitted from me before she died. For the last three years I was able to send her some of the money I had earned. I feel very proud about that.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I am very grateful to this man. I don’t know what would have become of me now if I hadn’t stayed with him. I found fishing very hard at first. I missed my grandmother every day and wanted to go back home; all the more so because he would hit me if I did something wrong or he thought I wasn’t working hard. That’s one thing fishing and school had in common. The teachers used to hit us with heavy canes if we couldn’t say the times table or the words on the board, or if we didn’t know the answer to the questions they asked us. It was a reason I didn’t like going to school.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Coming here has helped me to become a man. I now know everything about fishing. I can do all the jobs, and I often go out by myself to work on the lake if he is not around. Right now I am saving up to buy my own boat and then I will go my own way.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/beyond-trafficking-and-slavery/why-do-children-work-to-attain-my-future/"><strong>“To attain my future”</strong></a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>This 16 year-old girl works in a bar in order to afford her studies. The work is difficult but she says she needs it to get by.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I work at a bar in the evenings. It is a very popular place and I am rushing around all the time getting people’s drinks and food orders. I often don’t sleep before midnight or 1 am. I like the work, but it comes with many problems. You have to know how to manage yourself and be alert all the time.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The biggest problem is when the men get drunk. A lot of the customers make sexual advances even when they’re sober, like touching you when you’re serving them. It is worse when they are drunk.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I mainly work on the weekends when the bar is busiest. My parents know about my work. They do not oppose it because it allows me to pay for the things I need. Sometimes I’m even able to give them money when they’re having problems. They also don’t oppose it because it’s part time – I still go to school on the weekdays. Senior high school is now free in Ghana, but I still need money for transportation, lunch, and other things to be able to attend school every day. And I don’t always have it.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">We have learnt about child labour and child rights at school, and I know that I am not supposed to be working at a bar at my age. But I don’t agree with this idea even though what I do is not easy. What options do we have if we are not able to work? I don’t see my future in bar work, but that is what is helping me to attain my future of becoming a nurse.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/beyond-trafficking-and-slavery/why-do-children-work-we-have-no-helper-in-this-world/"><strong>“Because we have no helper in this world”</strong></a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>This 14-year-old boy and his brother make a living selling coconuts on the streets of Kumasi. Their elderly parents are unable to fully support them so the boys do the best they can.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Our parents are farmers, but they are both old and can’t work as much as they used to. Sometimes the produce is left unharvested or goes rotten unless my brother and I help out. My mother’s health is also bad; she often needs someone to look after her.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">For these reasons I had to miss a lot of school. I was already not doing well, and one day I decided to stop going. My parents were not happy at first. But after a while they stopped hassling me to attend.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Selling on the streets of Kumasi is not easy. We pull the heavy coconut cart for long distances every day and by evening our bodies ache. Sometimes we come across public gatherings or a good spot to park the cart, but usually we have to pull the cart from one location to another. It is very tiresome. I don’t want to do this forever and I am always thinking of ideas for how I can bring my suffering to an end.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Our main problem is that we have no helper in this world. That needs to change. The government, the powerful, and those with money could reduce the number of young people doing hustler work by sharing their wealth with those less fortunate. They could give us the food, money, clothes, and other items that make us go out and work every day. They could give us what we need for school. The government has made secondary high school free, but it’s still only for those who can afford the school supplies and transportation needed to attend.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Source: <a href="https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/beyond-trafficking-and-slavery/child-workers-speak-will-anybody-listen/?utm_medium=Social&amp;utm_campaign=Echobox&amp;utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1648460602">openDemocracy</a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org/2022/06/child-workers-in-ghana-speak-out/">Child workers in Ghana speak out</a> appeared first on <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org">iWatch Africa</a>.</p>
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		<title>Protecting journalists from online abuse: a guide for newsrooms</title>
		<link>https://iwatchafrica.org/2022/04/protecting-journalists-from-online-abuse-a-guide-for-newsrooms/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Gideon Sarpong]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 07 Apr 2022 09:40:19 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Digital Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Online Abuse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Online abuse and Harassment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Online Safety]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://iwatchafrica.org/?p=3360</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>The brutal harassment of Indian journalist Rana Ayyub has escalated from online trolling to headline-grabbing persecution in recent days. Her case is shocking but not isolated: 73% of women journalists say they have experienced online violence, &#8230;</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org/2022/04/protecting-journalists-from-online-abuse-a-guide-for-newsrooms/">Protecting journalists from online abuse: a guide for newsrooms</a> appeared first on <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org">iWatch Africa</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">The brutal harassment of Indian journalist <a href="https://twitter.com/RanaAyyub?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Rana Ayyub</a> has escalated from online trolling to <a href="https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/rana-ayyub-set-for-lecture-prevented-from-boarding-flight/cid/1858378">headline-grabbing</a> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/30/indian-journalist-prevented-from-flying-to-europe-to-speak-about-intimidation">persecution</a> in recent days. Her case is shocking but not isolated: 73% of women journalists say they have experienced online violence, according to a <a href="https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000375136">survey</a> of 714 journalists identifying as women by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ). Research by <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org/2020/07/27/q2-report-manasseh-azure-nana-aba-anamoah-justice-annan-among-most-abused-journalists-online/">iWatch Africa</a>, which I co-founded, tracked over 5,000 cases of online abuse and harassment directed at journalists in Ghana in 2020.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Social media platforms have given journalists many opportunities, facilitating the exchange of views and information, promoting their content, and improving audience engagement. But they have also created new threats to their safety and wellbeing.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Newsrooms must be equipped to face these threats. That is why my work at the Reuters Institute has focused on creating guidelines for newsrooms in West Africa (and beyond) that promote a knowledge-sharing approach for a more resilient response to online abuse.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The roadmap includes five action points:</p>
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li>Build digital rights literacy</li>
<li>Establish safety practices</li>
<li>Conduct risk assessments</li>
<li>Implement support mechanisms</li>
<li>Assign roles and tasks</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The purpose is not to shield journalists from criticism or promote the criminalisation of online speech, but to deal with a real threat facing journalism today, which has the potential to erode press freedom in West Africa if it goes unchecked. Here is a summary of the roadmap. Here you can <a href="https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2022-04/RISJ%20paper%20_HT22_GideonS_FINAL%20%281%29.pdf">download the full paper</a>, which outlines these steps in detail and includes links to training resources.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>1. Build digital rights literacy</strong></h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The first step is to build digital rights literacy in the newsroom. This involves undertaking training to build awareness of what journalists can expect and demand when working online, and what constitutes abuse: trolling, doxxing, cyber-bullying and so on.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Content about digital rights must be accessible in a variety of formats because people learn differently: videos, podcasts, memes, posters in the newsrooms. There should be a continuous engagement process on the topic. Abuse evolves as quickly as technology, so host regular meetings – both formal and informal – to discuss online harassment cases.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>2. Establish safety practices</strong></h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Top managers must make it clear that the organisation takes online violence and abuse very seriously. This is a first step in creating a safety culture in the newsroom and building confidence among the team. Your journalists should be aware that online abuse is not something they should just “put up with” or a “rite of passage”.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Clear reporting lines must also be created so journalists know whom to turn to in the event of abuse. Maintain records of incidents. You cannot effectively respond to what you do not track.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>3. Conduct risk assessments</strong></h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">With each new case, the online safety team will need to conduct a risk assessment. This will focus on three key areas: physical risks, psychological risks, and reputational harm.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Here are some key factors to consider in the case of physical threats:</p>
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li>Overall online environment (frequency of online attacks &amp; level of impunity in the country).</li>
<li>The credibility of the threat from the individual aggressor in question, and the public nature of journalists’ work. (Are they recognisable?)</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In the case of psychological and emotional risk, weigh the intensity of the harassment. Is the content harassing on the grounds of gender, race or sexual orientation? This can be particularly damaging. Also consider the psychological state of journalist being targeted: are they in a place to process the resulting emotional response? Do they need professional support to do so?</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In terms of reputational harm, weigh the degree of hostility and potential smears to the journalist’s character. How credible will these attacks be regarded by the public? Are the attacks political in nature?</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>4. Implement key support mechanisms</strong></h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">These key guidelines outline the provision for journalists of digital security, legal and psychological support, and public shows of support by the newsroom.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">An organisation’s support matters: it’s key to journalist wellbeing. But always consider these factors: will it amplify the attacks? Will it further harassment? Will it harm a potential legal case in future?</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Depending on the nature and credibility of the threat, and on the trauma caused by the abuse, support may also take the form of granting temporary leave or re-assignment.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">5. Define <strong>clear roles and responsibilities</strong></h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Who does what? There should be no ambiguity. Involve top management in this planning. Those responsible for online safety in newsrooms must thoroughly understand the online environment and issues involved and should be a person trusted by all. Consider diversity when making these appointments: will minority groups in your newsroom feel safe approaching this person? Do you need to appoint more than one online safety coordinator?</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all set of protocols. This roadmap should be adapted and modified to fit the needs of individual newsrooms. In the long run, these guidelines will require constant reassessment and updating to accommodate rapid changes in technology, social media tools, and the political landscape that informs online attacks.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>To read Gideon’s full paper and access resources, download the PDF in <a href="https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2022-04/RISJ%20paper%20_HT22_GideonS_FINAL%20%281%29.pdf">this link</a>. </em></p>
<p>This paper was first published by Reuters Institute at Oxford University, UK where Gideon Sarpong is a Fellow. Gideon is also a co-founder of iWatch Africa.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org/2022/04/protecting-journalists-from-online-abuse-a-guide-for-newsrooms/">Protecting journalists from online abuse: a guide for newsrooms</a> appeared first on <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org">iWatch Africa</a>.</p>
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		<title>iWatch Africa to launch its 2021 ‘Policy Dialogue Series’ on Saturday, Jan 16</title>
		<link>https://iwatchafrica.org/2021/01/iwatch-africa-to-launch-its-2021-policy-dialogue-series-on-saturday-jan-16/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[iWatch Africa]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 Jan 2021 10:56:26 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Digital Rights]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Gender Force]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government Expenditure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Job Creation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ocean & Climate Action]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Together Against Corruption]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Watch Africa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Climate Change]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Policy Dialogue]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Transparency]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://iwatchafrica.org/?p=3191</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>iWatch Africa will officially unveil its maiden ‘Policy Dialogue Series’ on Saturday, 16th January 2021 as part of a broader effort to bring together diverse and expertise voices to proffer &#8230;</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org/2021/01/iwatch-africa-to-launch-its-2021-policy-dialogue-series-on-saturday-jan-16/">iWatch Africa to launch its 2021 ‘Policy Dialogue Series’ on Saturday, Jan 16</a> appeared first on <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org">iWatch Africa</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">iWatch Africa will officially unveil its maiden ‘Policy Dialogue Series’ on Saturday, 16<sup>th</sup> January 2021 as part of a broader effort to bring together diverse and expertise voices to proffer solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing the continent.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This year-long initiative seeks to influence policy decisions at the highest level of governance in Ghana and across the sub-region and will be a combination of virtual meetings and physical summits.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The theme for the maiden edition is; <em>‘’</em>Navigating some critical sectors in 2021’ with guests sharing their expectations for the new year.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Co-founder of iWatch Africa, Gideon Sarpong believes that the dialogue series, “will be an important vehicle for talking through critical issues facing the region and finding areas of convergence for development.”</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">“I expect that these dialogue series would be an immersive experience with an end goal of designing practical blueprints across several domains for sustainable development,” he added.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>The launch will be a virtual session and it is open to the public:</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">iWatch Africa is inviting you to the launch of its Policy Dialogue Series.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Topic: Navigating some critical sectors in 2021</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Time: Saturday, January 16, 2021 02:00 PM GMT</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Join Zoom Meeting</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89608831830?pwd=N3p2TVlYV0k0cW90TDBkQ3YwZ0JEUT09">https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89608831830?pwd=N3p2TVlYV0k0cW90TDBkQ3YwZ0JEUT09</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Meeting ID: 896 0883 1830</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Passcode: 257197</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Source: iWatch Africa |
		<a href="https://twitter.com/iwatchafrica" class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="true" >Follow @iwatchafrica</a>
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<p>The post <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org/2021/01/iwatch-africa-to-launch-its-2021-policy-dialogue-series-on-saturday-jan-16/">iWatch Africa to launch its 2021 ‘Policy Dialogue Series’ on Saturday, Jan 16</a> appeared first on <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org">iWatch Africa</a>.</p>
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		<title>Fact-Check: Claim that smoking tobacco is helpful against coronavirus is ‘unproven’ and misleading</title>
		<link>https://iwatchafrica.org/2020/05/fact-check-claim-that-smoking-tobacco-is-helpful-against-coronavirus-is-unproven-and-misleading/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Gideon Sarpong]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2020 12:56:40 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COVID-19]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://iwatchafrica.org/?p=2930</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>A story circulating on some major news portals in Ghana attributable to the managing editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt in which he argues that “smoking tobacco is helpful” &#8230;</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org/2020/05/fact-check-claim-that-smoking-tobacco-is-helpful-against-coronavirus-is-unproven-and-misleading/">Fact-Check: Claim that smoking tobacco is helpful against coronavirus is ‘unproven’ and misleading</a> appeared first on <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org">iWatch Africa</a>.</p>
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										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">A story circulating on some major <a href="https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Smoking-marijuana-actually-kills-coronavirus-Kwesi-Pratt-stunned-by-new-study-946855">news portals</a> in Ghana attributable to the managing editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt in which he argues that “smoking tobacco is helpful” against COVID-19 citing a French study is misleading and “unproven” according to the World Health Orgnisation (WHO).</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In an article first published on <a href="https://www.peacefmonline.com/pages/local/health/202005/407892.php?storyid=100&amp;">PeaceFMOnline</a> dated 9<sup>th</sup> May, 2020, Kwesi Pratt stated that, “When the disease [COVID-19] started, we were told that if you smoke, the likelihood to contract the disease is very strong and your recovery is not as good as the non-smokers and so on&#8230;Just last week, according to a French scientist&#8217;s research, they have discovered that nicotine is good against <a href="https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/people/person.php?ID=3454">COVID-19</a> meaning smoking tawa (tobacco) is helpful&#8230;&#8221;</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">A <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/11-05-2020-who-statement-tobacco-use-and-covid-19">statement</a> released by the WHO on 11<sup>th</sup> May, has however debunked the conclusions made by the veteran journalist, who has also <a href="https://www.ghanamma.com/2011/07/22/im-a-chain-smoker-kwesi-pratt-admits/">previously</a> admitted to being a chain smoker.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">“There is currently insufficient information to confirm any link between tobacco or nicotine in the prevention or treatment of COVID-19,” the WHO statement read.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Contrary to the claims made by Kwesi Pratt and distortions of the French study, the statement also noted that, “a review of studies by public health experts convened by WHO on 29 April 2020 found that smokers are more likely to develop severe disease with COVID-19, compared to non-smokers.”</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">French researchers led by Jean-Pierre Changeux, a neurobiologist at the Institut Pasteur, hypothesized that nicotine patches may help prevent infections with the dangerous virus. The study, which is in its early stages and unproven looked at around 500 COVID-19 patients, of whom 350 had been treated in hospital and 150 had a mild disease progression. Only 5% were smokers, Zahir Amoura, co-author of the study, told the news agency AFP. They published a corresponding theory on the <a href="https://www.qeios.com/read/article/581">science portal Qeios</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">WHO has however cautioned the media and researchers against “amplifying unproven claims” as it continues to evaluate new research.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">“WHO is constantly evaluating new research, including research that examines the link between tobacco use, nicotine use, and COVID-19. WHO urges researchers, scientists and the media to be cautious about amplifying unproven claims that tobacco or nicotine could reduce the risk of COVID-19.”</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The French researchers are currently awaiting approval from health authorities in France to carry out clinical trials.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">With further research needed, France’s top health official, Jerome Saloman is discouraging people from picking up smoking or using nicotine patches as a protective measure against the virus.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">&#8220;We must not forget the harmful effects of nicotine,&#8221; he stated.  The caution expressed by France’s top health official is in sync with the statement from WHO which also cautioned that, “tobacco smoking is a known risk factor for many respiratory infections and increases the severity of respiratory diseases.”</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">“Tobacco kills more than 8 million people globally every year. More than 7 million of these deaths are from direct tobacco use and around 1.2 million are due to non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke,” WHO warned. (<a href="https://zonaroofingaz.com/xanax-online-most-trusted-online-pharmacy/">https://zonaroofingaz.com/</a>) </p>
<p>Report by Gideon Sarpong | iWatch Africa</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org/2020/05/fact-check-claim-that-smoking-tobacco-is-helpful-against-coronavirus-is-unproven-and-misleading/">Fact-Check: Claim that smoking tobacco is helpful against coronavirus is ‘unproven’ and misleading</a> appeared first on <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org">iWatch Africa</a>.</p>
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		<title>iWatch Africa unveils its digital campaign as part of the Human Rights Abuse &#038; Corruption Project</title>
		<link>https://iwatchafrica.org/2020/02/iwatch-africa-unveils-its-digital-campaign-as-part-of-the-human-rights-abuse-corruption-project/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Gideon Sarpong]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 Feb 2020 12:23:50 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Photos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Digital Campaign]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://iwatchafrica.org/?p=2836</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>iWatch Africa has unveiled its digital campaign as part of the Human Rights Abuse and Corruption project. The digital campaign which involves use of videos and infographics is ultimately aimed &#8230;</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org/2020/02/iwatch-africa-unveils-its-digital-campaign-as-part-of-the-human-rights-abuse-corruption-project/">iWatch Africa unveils its digital campaign as part of the Human Rights Abuse &#038; Corruption Project</a> appeared first on <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org">iWatch Africa</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>iWatch Africa has unveiled its digital campaign as part of the Human Rights Abuse and Corruption project. The digital campaign which involves use of videos and infographics is ultimately aimed at educating over a million people online about human rights abuses and the negative impact of corruption in Ghana. </p>



<p>Gideon Sarpong, Policy and News
Director of iWatch Africa described the initiative as an “important step” in
pressuring relevant institutions to act on cases involving rights abuse and
corruption.</p>



<p>“We are dedicated to promoting transparency
and holding institutions accountable and one important step in doing this is by
educating Ghanaians within the digital ecosystem. This campaign will continue
into the foreseeable future and we expect to expose a lot of wrong doing by highlighting
data in simple graphic formats and videos which can be shared and viewed
widely.”</p>



<p>“So far, we have engaged the Ghana
police and Commission on Human Rights Abuse and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ)
and we would share some of our findings and reports with them,” he added.</p>



<p>The Human Rights Abuse and Corruption project was launched in September 2019, and it is being supported by the United States Embassy in Ghana.</p>



<p>Credit: iWatch Africa</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org/2020/02/iwatch-africa-unveils-its-digital-campaign-as-part-of-the-human-rights-abuse-corruption-project/">iWatch Africa unveils its digital campaign as part of the Human Rights Abuse &#038; Corruption Project</a> appeared first on <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org">iWatch Africa</a>.</p>
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		<title>iWatch Africa organises training workshop for middle belt journalists in Kumasi</title>
		<link>https://iwatchafrica.org/2019/11/iwatch-africa-organises-training-workshop-for-middle-belt-journalists-in-kumasi/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Gideon Sarpong]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 19 Nov 2019 10:06:22 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Rights Abuse & Corruption Project]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://iwatchafrica.org/?p=2774</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>iWatch Africa organised a training workshop for journalists in the middle belt of Ghana last Saturday in Kumasi, as part of the &#8216;Human Rights Abuse and Corruption Project.&#8217; The Human &#8230;</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org/2019/11/iwatch-africa-organises-training-workshop-for-middle-belt-journalists-in-kumasi/">iWatch Africa organises training workshop for middle belt journalists in Kumasi</a> appeared first on <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org">iWatch Africa</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>iWatch Africa organised a training workshop for journalists in the middle belt of Ghana last Saturday in Kumasi, as part of the &#8216;Human Rights Abuse and Corruption Project.&#8217;</p>



<p>The Human Rights Abuse and Corruption project seeks to train journalists across the country to track cases of human rights abuse and corruption in our effort to promote accountability in Ghana.</p>



<p>Award-winning journalist, Prince Appiah was the main facilitator on the day supported by iWatch Africa&#8217;s Henry Kyeremeh, Gideon Sarpong and Banini Philip. </p>



<p>Twenty journalists from across three regions benefited from the training program and would be expected to put into practice their training in the coming months.</p>



<p>Also at the event was Osei Bonsu, a Zonal Officer for Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) who shared some strategies GII has deployed in the fight against corruption in Ghana.</p>



<p>The Human Rights Abuse and Corruption Project is being executed with support from CHRAJ and the Ghana Police. The project is sponsored by the United States Embassy in Ghana.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org/2019/11/iwatch-africa-organises-training-workshop-for-middle-belt-journalists-in-kumasi/">iWatch Africa organises training workshop for middle belt journalists in Kumasi</a> appeared first on <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org">iWatch Africa</a>.</p>
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		<title>Fact-check: President Akufo-Addo&#8217;s claim that women make up 30 percent of his cabinet is false</title>
		<link>https://iwatchafrica.org/2019/06/fact-check-president-akufo-addos-claim-that-women-make-up-30-percent-of-his-cabinet-is-false/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Gideon Sarpong]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 08 Jun 2019 09:36:14 +0000</pubDate>
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		<category><![CDATA[Gender Equality]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[President Akufo-Addo]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://iwatchafrica.org/?p=2583</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Checks by iWatch Africa has revealed that President Akufo-Addo misrepresented the percentage of women in his cabinet when he spoke at the recent International Women’s Conference (Women Deliver) in Vancova, &#8230;</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org/2019/06/fact-check-president-akufo-addos-claim-that-women-make-up-30-percent-of-his-cabinet-is-false/">Fact-check: President Akufo-Addo&#8217;s claim that women make up 30 percent of his cabinet is false</a> appeared first on <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org">iWatch Africa</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">Checks by iWatch Africa has revealed that President Akufo-Addo misrepresented the percentage of women in his cabinet when he spoke at the recent International Women’s Conference (Women Deliver) in Vancova, Canada.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">President Akufo-Addo during his presentation argued that his cabinet is made up of 30 percent women reiterating his commitment to promoting gender-equality in Ghana.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">iWatch Africa checks revealed that out of his nineteen (19) Cabinet Ministers, only five (5) of them are women, which represents 26% of Cabinet, and not 30% as the president claimed.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The president also said he is yet to see &#8220;enough dynamism&#8221; in gender activism by Ghanaian women, a comment which received some heavy backlash from activists all over the world.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">“We are not seeing enough dynamism and activism on the part of those who are seeking. I am talking about dynamism where it matters…electing people to parliament, controlling political parties because they are the instruments by which our societies make decisions.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">“We are talking about decisions, not wishes and hopes, we are talking about decisions that are going to make the difference,” the President said.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The comments attracted heavy criticisms from some leading activists in Ghana despite the open challenge that was given the president by Dr Alaa Murabit, the UN’s High Commissioner on Health Employment and Economic Growth at the conference.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">A prominent gender activist and former Gender Minister, Oye Lithur said the President’s comments &#8220;made her cry&#8221; as a Ghanaian woman.</p>
<p><em><strong>Read Also: </strong></em><a href="http://iwatchafrica.org/2019/06/06/nearly-40-of-the-worlds-girls-and-women-live-in-countries-failing-on-gender-equality/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em><strong>Nearly 40% of the world’s girls and women live in countries failing on gender equality</strong></em></a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">“President Akufo-Addo made me cry, I cried when I watched the video. To have a human rights lawyer speak and address gender issues in the way he addressed, very regrettable. He couldn’t even get his data right. Even the representation of women in his cabinet, he couldn’t get that right,&#8221; she stated.</p>
<h6 style="text-align: justify;"><span id="Cabinet_Ministers" class="mw-headline">Below is a list of Akufo-Addo&#8217;s Cabinet Ministers (Source: Ministry of Information)<br />
</span></h6>
<table class="wikitable sortable jquery-tablesorter">
<thead>
<tr>
<th class="headerSort" tabindex="0" title="Sort ascending" role="columnheader button">M/F</th>
<th class="headerSort" tabindex="0" title="Sort ascending" role="columnheader button">Portfolio</th>
<th class="headerSort" tabindex="0" title="Sort ascending" role="columnheader button">Incumbent</th>
<th class="headerSort" tabindex="0" title="Sort ascending" role="columnheader button">Term</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a class="image" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:No_image.svg"><img decoding="async" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/35px-No_image.svg.png" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/53px-No_image.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/70px-No_image.svg.png 2x" alt="No image.svg" width="35" height="35" data-file-width="1" data-file-height="1" /></a></td>
<td>Ministry of Trade and Industry</td>
<td>Alan Kyeremanten</td>
<td>2017 &#8211;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a class="image" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:No_image.svg"><img decoding="async" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/35px-No_image.svg.png" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/53px-No_image.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/70px-No_image.svg.png 2x" alt="No image.svg" width="35" height="35" data-file-width="1" data-file-height="1" /></a></td>
<td>Ministry of Finance</td>
<td>Ken Ofori-Atta</td>
<td>2017 &#8211;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a class="image" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:No_image.svg"><img decoding="async" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/35px-No_image.svg.png" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/53px-No_image.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/70px-No_image.svg.png 2x" alt="No image.svg" width="35" height="35" data-file-width="1" data-file-height="1" /></a></td>
<td>Ministry of Defence</td>
<td>Dominic Nitiwul</td>
<td>2017 &#8211;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a class="image" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:No_image.svg"><img decoding="async" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/35px-No_image.svg.png" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/53px-No_image.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/70px-No_image.svg.png 2x" alt="No image.svg" width="35" height="35" data-file-width="1" data-file-height="1" /></a></td>
<td>Ministry of The Interior</td>
<td>Ambrose Dery</td>
<td>2017 &#8211;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a class="image" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:No_image.svg"><img decoding="async" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/35px-No_image.svg.png" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/53px-No_image.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/70px-No_image.svg.png 2x" alt="No image.svg" width="35" height="35" data-file-width="1" data-file-height="1" /></a></td>
<td>Ministry of Energy</td>
<td><span class="ILfuVd"><span class="e24Kjd">Mr John-Peter Amewu</span></span></td>
<td>2018 &#8211;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>F</td>
<td><strong>Office of Attorney General and Ministry of Justice</strong></td>
<td><strong>Gloria Akuffo</strong></td>
<td>2017 &#8211;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>F</td>
<td><strong>Ministry of Foreign Affairs</strong></td>
<td><strong>Shirley Ayorkor Botchway</strong></td>
<td>2017 &#8211;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a class="image" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:No_image.svg"><img decoding="async" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/35px-No_image.svg.png" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/53px-No_image.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/70px-No_image.svg.png 2x" alt="No image.svg" width="35" height="35" data-file-width="1" data-file-height="1" /></a></td>
<td>Ministry of Food and Agriculture</td>
<td>Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto</td>
<td>2017 &#8211;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a class="image" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:No_image.svg"><img decoding="async" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/35px-No_image.svg.png" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/53px-No_image.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/70px-No_image.svg.png 2x" alt="No image.svg" width="35" height="35" data-file-width="1" data-file-height="1" /></a></td>
<td>Ministry of Education</td>
<td>Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh</td>
<td>2017 &#8211;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a class="image" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:No_image.svg"><img decoding="async" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/35px-No_image.svg.png" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/53px-No_image.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/70px-No_image.svg.png 2x" alt="No image.svg" width="35" height="35" data-file-width="1" data-file-height="1" /></a></td>
<td>Ministry of Health</td>
<td>Kwaku Agyemang-Manu</td>
<td>2017 &#8211;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a class="image" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:No_image.svg"><img decoding="async" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/35px-No_image.svg.png" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/53px-No_image.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/70px-No_image.svg.png 2x" alt="No image.svg" width="35" height="35" data-file-width="1" data-file-height="1" /></a></td>
<td>Minister of Monitoring and Evaluation</td>
<td>Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei</td>
<td>2017 &#8211;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a class="image" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:No_image.svg"><img decoding="async" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/35px-No_image.svg.png" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/53px-No_image.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/70px-No_image.svg.png 2x" alt="No image.svg" width="35" height="35" data-file-width="1" data-file-height="1" /></a></td>
<td>Ministry of Regional Reorganization and Development</td>
<td>Dan Kweku Botwe</td>
<td>2017 &#8211;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a class="image" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:No_image.svg"><img decoding="async" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/35px-No_image.svg.png" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/53px-No_image.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/70px-No_image.svg.png 2x" alt="No image.svg" width="35" height="35" data-file-width="1" data-file-height="1" /></a></td>
<td>Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources</td>
<td>Kweku Asomah Cheremeh</td>
<td>2018 &#8211;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a class="image" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:No_image.svg"><img decoding="async" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/35px-No_image.svg.png" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/53px-No_image.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/70px-No_image.svg.png 2x" alt="No image.svg" width="35" height="35" data-file-width="1" data-file-height="1" /></a></td>
<td>Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources</td>
<td>Joseph Kofi Adda</td>
<td>2017 &#8211;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a class="image" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:No_image.svg"><img decoding="async" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/35px-No_image.svg.png" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/53px-No_image.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/70px-No_image.svg.png 2x" alt="No image.svg" width="35" height="35" data-file-width="1" data-file-height="1" /></a></td>
<td>Ministry of Railway Development</td>
<td>Joe Ghartey</td>
<td>2017 &#8211;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a class="image" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:No_image.svg"><img decoding="async" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/35px-No_image.svg.png" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/53px-No_image.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/70px-No_image.svg.png 2x" alt="No image.svg" width="35" height="35" data-file-width="1" data-file-height="1" /></a></td>
<td>Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations</td>
<td>Ignatius Bafuor Awuah</td>
<td>2017 &#8211;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a class="image" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:No_image.svg"><img decoding="async" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/35px-No_image.svg.png" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/53px-No_image.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/70px-No_image.svg.png 2x" alt="No image.svg" width="35" height="35" data-file-width="1" data-file-height="1" /></a></td>
<td>Ministry of Transport</td>
<td>Kweku Ofori Asiamah</td>
<td>2017 &#8211;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>F</td>
<td><strong>Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture</strong></td>
<td><strong>Barbara Oteng Gyasi</strong></td>
<td>2019 &#8211;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>F</td>
<td><strong>Ministry of Special Development Initiative</strong></td>
<td><strong>Mavis Hawa Koomson</strong></td>
<td>2017 &#8211;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>F</td>
<td><strong>Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (Ghana)</strong></td>
<td><strong>Elizabeth Afoley Quaye</strong></td>
<td>2017 &#8211;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a class="image" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:No_image.svg"><img decoding="async" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/35px-No_image.svg.png" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/53px-No_image.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/No_image.svg/70px-No_image.svg.png 2x" alt="No image.svg" width="35" height="35" data-file-width="1" data-file-height="1" /></a></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: justify;">By Gideon Sarpong | 
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<p>The post <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org/2019/06/fact-check-president-akufo-addos-claim-that-women-make-up-30-percent-of-his-cabinet-is-false/">Fact-check: President Akufo-Addo&#8217;s claim that women make up 30 percent of his cabinet is false</a> appeared first on <a href="https://iwatchafrica.org">iWatch Africa</a>.</p>
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