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Ending the year with blessings; embracing the New Year with hope
Gradually, the year 2021 is drawing to an end, and in less than two weeks, the whole world including our dear nation, Ghana, will be embracing the New Year (2022) with pomp and pageantry. It has been a very difficult and tortuous journey to this point, but the good Lord has favoured most of us as we continue to be alive and, therefore, we must continue to give glory and thanks to Him for protecting our lives.
It is a fact that many were those who could not stand the test of time and, therefore, could not survive the year 2021 due to a number of factors including sickness, road accidents, disasters, murders among others. The deadly disease, the Corona virus pandemic with its attendant devastating nature which continues to wreak havoc and having a major toll across nations throughout the world had claimed many lives globally. To those who lost their lives as a result of some of these unfortunate incidents, we pray that the good Lord will protect their souls and grant them eternal rest. We also wish to console the various bereaved families for losing their loved ones.
PRAYING FOR GOD’s PROTECTION AND LOVE
As the year draws to an end, it is imperative for those of us who are alive to resolve ever than before to put our trust in the Almighty God and continue to pray to Him to grant us the needed protection as we strive to enter the New Year. We must kneel before Him and pray without ceasing by calling on Him to wipe out our sins completely.
Indeed, Ghanaians have not found life easy at all this year as the cost of living continues to escalate beyond bounds. The hardships across the country are so unbearable with people struggling to make ends meet. Prices of goods and services keep going high each and every day while people continue to complain bitterly. It is just the survival of the fittest as those who don’t have the means continue to starve due to lack of dependents. It is only just a few in society made up of government functionaries, businessmen, politicians as well as some so-called men of God who use their services to cheat and exploit the innocents in the society who are making it in the society through their ill-gotten wealth.
OUR POLITICIANS AND ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS
Aside all these difficulties being encountered by the citizenry, our politicians especially, the ruling government continue to impose all kinds of ‘killer’ taxes on the already burdened and suffering people of Ghana without justifiable reason. While those at the helm of affairs demand that the people should tighten their belt and face the economic challenges squarely, they (themselves) and their families continue to live affluent and extravagant lives. These politicians who rode on the back of the people to power and the positions they occupy at the moment, have soon forgotten how they came to power and, therefore, continue to exploit and feed fat on the citizenry. They continue to milk the economy and when people talk or complain they become an automatic enemy to the state.
The notion most Ghanaians are have in their minds at the moment is whether it is right to pursue this noble path of democracy which we are all craving for, because we thought that will make life easier and better for us and reflect in our living standards. However, it looks as if they have been disappointed by the very people they gave them their mandate to protect the economy and for that matter their living standards. They have depleted the public purse and are using the COVID-19 pandemic as a cover-up, thereby imposing all kinds of taxes on the people as a means to revamp the shattered economy.
ERADICATING CORRUPTION IN THE COUNTRY
As the year comes to an end, it is the prayer of every Ghanaian that the good Lord will influence the minds of our leaders to show remorse to the people and provide the kind of leadership that will inspire confidence and promote good governance in our dear country. Those who don’t know God or Allah, must begin to know Him now and follow His footsteps. It is our prayer that corruption that has entrenched itself in our economy and having a major effect on the people should be a thing of the past. We also pray that the good Lord will influence the lifestyles of our politicians, especially those managing the economy so that they can live modestly to enable the people to have confidence in them.
ESSENCE OF CHRISTMAS AND THE LESSONS FOR GHANAIANS
Soon, we will be entering into the Christmas festivities which call for Christians to make the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ worthwhile by living good lives. The season calls for the sharing of good news and good things. As we mark the birth of Jesus Christ, let us all in our various capacities, put a smile on the faces of the less privileged around us, a reason Jesus Christ came to us.
Christian or the muslim religion should factor God or Allah into governance and work for justice and peace. The government must work assiduously to bring back the good times. This can only be done through respect for the rule of law, justice and accountability.
Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ. A time for us to understand the lessons from Jesus and reflect on them. Jesus, we are told in the scriptures, brought new religion based on love and vision of a God who is full of compassion and forgiveness, a vision of doing everything with a positive mindset and from a place of love. Therefore, the essence of Christmas is love and that is why God gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
My prayer is that our days will be merry and bright because the radiance of the King of Kings has filled our hearts causing us to mediate in purity, rebirth, unique and eternal presence in our world.
ENTERING THE NEW YEAR WITH HOPE
As we prepare to enter into the New Year (2022), it is important for us as Ghanaians to change our way of life and thinking and chart a new path in our journey towards success. We must shake ourselves from the negativities of the past years, especially 2021, which have put our economy in bad light in international circles so that we will continue to be cherished by the outside world. Our political leaders need to wake up from their slumber and provide effective leadership that will touch the hearts of many including Ghanaians in general.
WE NEED PEACE AND TRANQUILITY TO FORGE AHEAD
For goodness sake, we need peace and tranquility in our dear country and the only thing that can bring about this crucial requirement is for our politicians to embrace dialogue and consensus building to resolve their differences. Constructive criticisms are necessary in democratic practice, however, they must be followed up with tangible solutions instead of confrontational stance which serves no useful purpose whatsoever. Let us remember that politics has come of age in this country and, therefore, there is no need turning backwards because it will not help anybody or particular groupings.
Let me use this medium to wish my numerous readers and patrons, Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year in advance!
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By Charles Neequaye
Walk into any supermarket in Accra, Kumasi, or Tamale today, and you will see the modern Ghanaian diet packaged as ‘progress.’ You will see breakfast cereals with cartoon mascots, fruit drinks that are mostly sugar and colour, and snacks promising energy and happiness in bright fonts.
Even products loaded with salt and unhealthy fats often wear a health halo labeled as fortified or natural, while the real nutritional risk is hidden in tiny print on the back. This is not just a consumer inconvenience; it is a public health blind spot. Ghana is living through a silent surge of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like hypertension, diabetes, and stroke.
These conditions quietly drain household income and steal productive years. According to the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates, NCDs are now responsible for nearly 45 per cent of all deaths in Ghana.
We cannot build a healthy nation on a food environment designed to confuse people at the point of purchase. Ghana must mandate simple front-of-pack warning labels (FOPWL) on high-sugar, high-salt, and high-fat packaged foods because consumers deserve truth at a glance, and industry must be pushed to reformulate.
Why Back-of-Pack Labels Are Not Enough
In theory, consumers can read nutrition panels. In reality, most Ghanaians shop under pressure, limited time, rising prices, and children tugging at their sleeves. The back label is a relic that requires a high cognitive load to interpret—essentially, the seller knows what is inside, but the buyer cannot easily tell.
This ‘information asymmetry’ is not fair. It is not consumer choice when the information needed to choose well is deliberately difficult to find.
Simple warning labels like the black octagons used in the Chilean Model act as a ‘stop-and-think’ nudge. They do not ban products but they simply tell the truth so people can decide.
Reshaping Our Food Environment
A generation ago, Ghana’s meals were mostly home-prepared, like kenkey and banku with soups and stews. Today, ultra-processed foods have become the norm, especially in urban areas. Children are growing up with sugary drinks and salty snacks as everyday items, not occasional treats.
If Ghana is serious about prevention, we must act where decisions are made—thus, the shelf. Warning labels protect parents from sugar traps and pressure the market to improve. When warning labels are mandatory, manufacturers start to compete to make healthier recipes to avoid the stigma of the label.
Addressing the Pushback
Industry will argue that labels create fear or that education alone is enough. However, health education is slow; labels work immediately. While the informal street food sector is a challenge, regulating pre-packaged goods is the practical starting point because the supply chain is traceable. We cannot wait until the whole system is perfect; we must start where action is feasible.
A 2026 Implementation Roadmap for Ghana
To move from talk to action, Ghana needs this 5-step plan:
- Issue mandatory regulation: The Ministry of Health, Food and Drug Authority (FDA), and Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) must define the label format and nutrient thresholds for all pre-packaged foods.
- Simple, bold symbols: Use plain language and clear symbols, such as “HIGH IN SUGAR,” designed for busy families, not experts.
- Transparent thresholds: Adopt technically defensible standards adapted to the Ghanaian diet.
- Transition and enforce: Provide a 12–18 month period for manufacturers to reformulate, followed by firm enforcement at ports and retail centers.
- National literacy campaign: The Ghana Health Service must pair labels with public messages explaining why high salt or sugar increases disease risk.
Conclusion: Truth Is Not a Luxury
Prevention is cheaper than treatment. A warning label costs little compared to the price of dialysis, stroke rehabilitation, or lifelong diabetes complications. A black octagon on a box of biscuits is more than a label; it is a shield for the health of all Ghanaians. It is time to put the truth where we can see it, right on the front.
By Abigail Amoah Sarfo
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Natives of the Kenkey Kingdom were mad with joy. They were still recovering from the hangover of the kingdom’s loss of the African Cup when their spirits were rekindled. Their great warrior, Zoom Zoom, stormed Melbourne and made sure that every Australian refused food. And that was after he had drawn contour lines on the face of their idol, Jeff Fenech.
Not only did the terrible warrior transform Old Boy Jeff’s face into a contour map useful for geography lessons, but he also accomplished the feat of retaining the much-envied super-kenkeyweight title against all odds. The warrior had not been eating hot kenkey for nothing.
The Fight Against Fenech
When Jeff Fenech bit the dust in the eighth round, I was tempted to consider if Adanko Deka could not have faced him in any twelve-rounder, title or non-title bout. Adanko has improved tremendously, and soon he would be facing Pernell Whitaker.
Sincerely, I was pessimistic about Azumah’s man, who the last time took him through twelve grueling rounds of rough boxing. I expressed my fears to my colleague Christian Abbew, alias Gbonyo, who surprisingly had total confidence that the Australian brawler would fall, predictably in Round Five.
Gbonyo gave reasons for his contention, all of which I counteracted using the age factor. Fact is, I didn’t know that contrary to the laws of nature, Azumah was all the time growing younger.
When Fenech fell briefly in round one, I asked my brother whether it was the same Fenech that fought Azumah in Las Vegas. Sure, it was the same Fenech, all out to beat Azumah before his countrymen.
But the African Professor had no intention of making the Australian a hero. As he spun round the desperate Aussie, dancing and stinging out his jabs, it was not too long before I realized that the end was near.
The Eighth Round Showdown
Two minutes into the eighth round, the African ring-master proved to the whole world that he was a true son of Bukom. He himself was cornered, but like the tough nut he is, he managed to break free before overwhelming the panting Australian with several blows that made him crash headlong.
Moments after, the referee, expressing fatherly sympathy, stopped the fight to prevent an obituary. After the ordeal, Fenech’s fairly handsome face was full of newly constructed hills, valleys, ox-bow lakes—whatever. I noticed that his nose was very tired and had a miniature volcano sitting restlessly on it. Obviously, Jeff’s wife will have to nurse that nose back to its normal shape—but I’d advise her not to use iodine, otherwise her dear husband will wail like a banshee.
Reflections on Boxing
Because Mohammed Ali was the kind of boxer kids liked, many school-going kids often entertained the wish of becoming like him. I remember one day when I told my father I wanted to become a boxer, and he advised me to first complete my education to the highest level. Then, if I decided to become a boxer and was knocked out a couple of times, I’d fall back on my degrees and make a living.
Boxing used to be interesting when bouts were fought more with the mouth and tongue than with gloves. You had to brag well, psychologically belittling your opponent before beating him up physically. Mohammed Ali became a very successful pugilist because he also managed to become a poet. He often blew his horn across America, calling himself the “pretty boxer” and opponents like Joe Frazier “the gorilla.”
Ali made a living fighting hard fists like Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Jerry Quarry, George Foreman, Leon Spinks, and Trevor Berbick. Twice he came back from retirement to fight just for money. It was Larry Holmes who finally pensioned him, and since then the great Ali has never been himself.
The Path Ahead for Azumah
When Azumah nailed Jeff Fenech on the cross and barked almost immediately that he was after the head of Pernell Whitaker, I was happy but concerned. I would have been happier if he had announced his resignation there and then—he would have been more of a hero. Beating Fenech in Australia is more newsworthy than facing Whitaker in the States.
With Whitaker, it might be a little difficult. The “Sweet Pea” is agile, has a crooked body like a snake with diarrhea, and stands awkwardly as a southpaw. He is known for having the fastest pair of fists and the rare ability to dodge punches no matter how close they may be.
Much as I do not doubt that Azumah can take his title, I also don’t want him to retire beaten. I want him to retire as a hero and live a fuller, healthy life.
As Azumah himself said after dishing Fenech, he is now a professor and has something to show for it. Like a true professor, I think it is time he resigned and took up training young talents who could draw inspiration from him and become like him in the future.
Closing Thoughts
I must say that although ageing boxers like Larry Holmes and George Foreman are making a name for themselves, boxing is not like the Civil Service, where you can even change your age and retire at 74. Zoom Zoom has delighted the hearts of the natives, and Sikaman will forever hold him in high esteem—but only when he retires as a hero.
This article was first published on Saturday, March 7, 1992.
