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Vivo Energy supports traders, drivers at K’dua
As part of contributions towards the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Vivo Energy Ghana, the distributors and marketers of Shell branded products and service in collaboration with the New Juaben South Municipal Assembly has provided a GH¢60,000 mechanised water tank and hydraulic hand washing machines to market women and drivers at Koforidua.
The items placed at the Koforidua Central markets and Kumasi stations, would allow both market women and drivers to wash their hands and ensure that, basic hygienic practices were observed as they discharged their duties.
The outgoing Eastern Territorial Manager of Shell Ghana, Mr Paul Mends stated that, over the years, the company had collaborated, especially with drivers and other customers a lot, hence the need to support them in the era of the pandemic.
He added that, since hand washing had been found to be one of the safety protocols to curb the spread of the coronavirus, it was necessary that they provided the items to ensure the safety of their customers.
“As a company that believes in safety, we owe it a duty to ensure that we support our customers in the unusual time hence the donation to ensure your safety.” he said.
He urged all to engage in proper hand washing and continue to follow the President’s directives to obey all safety protocols, including social distancing, respiratory hygiene among others so that the nation could curb the spread of the disease.
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of Jilcon Construction and Shell retailer, Nana Opare Kwarfo explained that, it was necessary to provide the items for market women and drivers who most often came into contact with the public.
“These people sell to us and most people pick vehicles at the lorry station to their destinations every day, hence it is necessary that we provide these things to ensure that, they keep themselves safe to stop the spread.”
He asked the market women and drivers to make use of the hand washing system and not to defy the safety protocols for their own good and that of others.
The Municipal Chief Executive of New Juaben South Municipality, Mr Isaac Appaw-Gyasi thanked Vivo Energy Ghana for their kind gesture and urged other companies to emulate them.
At the Kumasi lorry station, the Eastern Regional Chairman of GPRTU, Mr Johnson Kyereh who received the items also thanked the company for its gesture and pledged to use the items for the intended purpose.
The market women also expressed same appreciation to the company.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua
Mr. Alfred Nii Kotey Ashie, the Member of Parliament for the Odododiodioo Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, has assured the Accra Street Academy of his support in achieving its mission of uplifting vulnerable children within the community to break the cycle of poverty. “Without the needed support, your efforts may go round in circles due to the enormity of the task. This should not be left on the shoulders of the Academy alone. You need support from both government and the private sector. With that, the Academy would be in a good position to shape the future of these children on the streets,” he said.
The Accra Street Academy, originally formed in 1985 as a boxing arena, now serves as a school for deprived children, with most of its population numbering hundreds of pupils being neglected children from the streets of Jamestown and its environs. Mr. Alfred Nii Kotey Ashie made these remarks at the annual stakeholders’ meeting and fundraising event held over the weekend under the theme “Empowering Street Children: Health and Wellness.” The event is one of the Academy’s annual programmes, organized to raise funds and other forms of support to aid the school in catering to the needs of the children and holding its Christmas get-together.
According to the MP, it is worth noting that these children are taught and provided with two meals and a snack daily through the support of benevolent members of society. In view of this, he promised to facilitate the acquisition of documents needed for the construction of an Astroturf within the school’s premises. He noted that “every child has the right to play, and therefore I pledged to do my best to secure the needed documents” for the project to commence.
The legislator disclosed that over the years, the academic programmes of the Accra Street Academy have transformed children surviving on the streets into successful adults. He therefore urged other members of society to partner with the school to “help pupils rise higher for a better Ghana.” In the 2025/26 academic year, 22 pupils were absorbed by the Accra Metro Education Directorate as they transitioned into various Junior High Schools, while still returning to the Accra Street Academy for academic support.
Ms. Yvonne Abba-Opoku, a chartered governance advisor and senior executive in the nonprofit and charity sector, stated that the best gift to give a child was education.
By Spectator Reporter
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Mrs Regina Kudom, Senior Midwifery Officer at the New Atuabo Health Centre in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality, has urged expectant mothers to attend antenatal clinic regularly for safe delivery.
She revealed that “in Tarkwa and its environs many pregnant women prefer staying at prayer camps, we are not against that, you can be there, but when your time is up for your antenatal session make sure you attend.”
Mrs Kudom gave the advice when the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation (GFGF) observed the World Prematurity Day with pregnant women at New Atuabo, Huniso and Awudua health centres.
World Prematurity Day falls on November 17, every year, and it is celebrated to raise awareness about the challenges faced by pre-term babies and their families.
She said research suggested that sex during pregnancy could soften the cervix and potentially aid in labour preparation.
“That is the reason why we encourage pregnant women to have sex with their partners, if they do not have any health implications,” she added.
Mrs Kudom appealed to the GFGF to upgrade the New Atuabo health centre as the current structure was too small because they received many patients daily.
Madam Ayishetu Mohammed, Project Coordinator for GFGF, explained that they received donations from Project C. U. R. E and the items were given to health facilities in their operational area.
She stated that they noticed there were baby dresses, sanitary pads, and baby apparel, so they decided to distribute them among expectant mothers in three of their host communities.
Madam Mohammed said because the foundation was interested in preventive care, they brought a midwife from the Tarkwa Mine hospital to educate the pregnant women.
She extolled the midwives in New Atuabo health centre for the education they gave to the pregnant women and implored them to heed to the advice given during antenatal visits to reduce maternal deaths in the Tarkwa Nsuaem and Prestea Huni-Valley Municipalities.
Mr Paa Kwasi Egan, Deputy Chief Physician Assistance, emphasised that a pregnant woman being anemic meant she was not eating a balance diet, and added that, “Some of these women do not have money to buy food or visit antenatal clinics.”
He said when men follow their wives for antenatal visits, they would be educated extensively on why they should provide funds for their pregnant wives.
Mr Egan, therefore, encouraged all men to be involved in their pregnant wives’ antenatal care appointments so they could learn more about pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. – GNA
