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Ghana Beverage virtual awards held
The maiden virtual edition of the Ghana Beverage Awards has been successfully organised in adherence to the stipulated COVID-19 protocols with Club Beer emerging winner of the prestigious Product of the Year award.
Other winners on the night include, Voltic Natural Mineral Water, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Alomo Bitters, Blue Skies, Rush Energy Drink, Vitamilk Chocolate and Kpoo Keke Liqueur.
The maiden virtual edition of the awards which was streamed live online and on e.TV Ghana, GTV and GTV Sports Plus was held under the theme, ‘Inspiring excellence in Ghana’s beverage industry’ with the aim of promoting both local and foreign beverages as well as the participation of small-scale beverage enterprises in Ghana.
The Chief Executive Officer of Global Media Alliance Group (GMA), Mr Ernest Boateng in his remarks explained the rationale behind the virtual awards: “Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic both in Ghana and globally, as a nation we have been advised by the President of our Republic to adhere to all the social distancing protocols and other directives which will help us to control the spread of COVID-19. We have therefore gone ahead to organise the virtual awards and stream live both on TV and online.”
“As an organisation, this is our way of proceeding to celebrate excellence in the beverage industry while adhering to all the recommended directives without endangering lives,” he explained.
In a lead-up to this year’s awards, a beverage industry tour was organised for the GBA board to visit nominated companies to familiarise with their work and practices.
This initiative is one of the new activities which was introduced in the build-up to the 2019 Awards Night.
This year, GBA introduced two new categories; Local Beverage Advertisement of the Year and International Liqueur of the Year.
The addition of the new categories is to acknowledge feedback from stakeholders, particularly consumers who have been instrumental in the nominations phase. The Local Beverage Advertisement of the Year Award went to Kasapreko at 20 while the International Liqueur of the Year was won by Bailey’s Irish Cream.
The Ghana Beverage Awards is organised by Global Media Alliance. Supporting partners are the Food Research Institute under CSIR, Ghana Tourism Authority, Consumer Protection Agency and the Food and Beverage Association of Ghana.
Source: Ghanaian Times
Troubled and anxious citizens in Damongo of the Savannah Region have expressed concerns about the number of young people, believed to be under the age of 18, involved in ‘shisha’ smoking in pubs and drinking spots within the township.
Eyewitnesses say the minors were seen patronising nightlife venues, where Shisha smoking happen in the open.
The situation has sparked renewed public concern over the enforcement of child protection laws and regulations governing the operations of entertainment centres in the municipality and country as a whole.
An eyewitness, who spoke to The Spectator on conditions of anonymity for security reasons, noted that the situation was becoming increasingly common.
“This is not a one-off incident. It is becoming very common, but residents like us cannot openly report or speak about it because our lives will be at risk,” he said.
Under Ghanaian law, minors were prohibited from patronising Shisha.
Public health experts have consistently warned that shisha use exposes users to harmful substances that can negatively affect brain development, respiratory health, and overall well-being, particularly among young people.
The residents believe the alleged incidents point to broader challenges relating to youth supervision, substance abuse, and weak enforcement of existing regulations and have called on municipal authorities, security agencies, and regulatory bodies to intensify monitoring of pubs and entertainment centres to ensure compliance with the law.
In an effort to address the menace, Mr Salisu Be-Awurbi, the Savannah Regional Minister, has led public education campaigns, engaged security agencies, and supported enforcement actions to address the rising use of illicit substances in the region.
Wura Kelly Seidu Boresah I, the Chief of Damongo, has also called on all stakeholders including parents, community leaders, institutions, and young people to actively support efforts to curb drug abuse, warning that the rising consumption of hard drugs poses a serious health threat to the future of the youth in the Savannah Region.
He also cautioned individuals involved in the sale and distribution of illicit drugs to immediately desist from the practice, stressing that offenders will face arrest and prosecution in accordance with the law.
From Geoffrey Buta, Damongo, Savannah Region
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Dr Theresa Baffour, an advocate for ending violence and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SAHM SAHW Foundation, has said that society plays a critical and pivotal role in breaking the cycle of domestic violence.
According to her, domestic violence is a major contributor of making women, who are mostly the victims, mentally derailed and unable to engage in economic activities.
She said this when the foundation called on the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, to solicit support for the initiative by the “Strong and Healthy Minds, Strong and Healthy Women” (SAHM SAHW) to combat domestic violence within the Ga State.
The visit was occasioned by the fact that domestic violence cases have become quite prevalent in the Ga communities and is retarding growth.
According to her, the canker was an impediment to national development because the victims were usually tortured and would have to go through series of therapies to return to the right state of mind.
Dr Baffour mentioned that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) places a mental toll on women, and was, therefore, important to break the cycle through comprehensive mental health support, crisis intervention and empowerment programmes in communities with high rates of GBV.
This intervention, she underscored, would help in empowering the denigrated victim of domestic violence to soundly heal, build and thrive.
Dr Baffour added that the initiative would provide holistic, trauma-informed mental health care and advocacy for young women affected by domestic violence.
According to her, the above statement would create safe spaces for healing and equipping them with entrepreneurial skills for renewed hope and empowered life.
The Ga Mantse pledged his support for the laudable initiative to combat domestic violence and also acknowledged the need to address it in the Ga State.
Further endorsement came from Justice Julia Naa-Yarley Adjei Amoah, Chief of Staff at the Office of the Ga Mantse, as she commended the team of SAHM SAHW Foundation for taking a bold step to end the canker in the Greater Accra.
She added that it was a step in the right direction to save vulnerable women from torture, stress and emotional abuse.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
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