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Diplomat calls for promotion of Ghana’s untapped potential to boost GDP
THE Barbados High Commissioner to Ghana, Madam Juliete Bynoe-Sutherland, has called for the promotion of Ghana’s excess untapped potentials within its private sector to boost the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
She said since the real growth in a country’s economy stems from the private sector, it was imperative for the country to invest in its young entrepreneurs in order to elevate its economy, internationally.
Ms Bynoe-Sutherland made the call at the ‘Entrepreneurship with Bola Ray’ closing dinner for its third cohort in Accra last Friday.
The programme, organised by the Bola Ray Institute, was a comprehensive five-month start-up support initiative for 15 deserving entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 to 35.
Ms Bynoe-Sutherland who was the grand mentor for the training expressed gratitude to the institute for giving her the opportunity to engage and learn with the mentees.
The High Commissioner, who made a pledge to avail herself as a faculty member for the next cohort, highlighted the contributions of Bola Ray towards the development and growth of the country and needed recognition.
The Chairman for the institute, Mr Nathan Kwabena Anokye Adisi, known as Bola Ray, acknowledged the High Commissioner and other mentors for believing in his dream.
Bola Ray who is one of Ghana’s most renowned, pioneering radio and television personalities, also congratulated the entrepreneurs for their resilience, creativity and determination throughout the journey.
He charged the mentees to be audacious in charting new territories with their enterprises.
Touting achievements of the participants, the Team Lead of the BR Institute, Mr Alex Brown, announced that six of them have been selected to pitch their business ideas in the BOMA Africa Prize Award taking place in the subsequent weeks ahead.
Out of the 15 participants, two were disqualified based on consistently flouting the business process.
The 13 qualified mentees who were presented with certificates of participation were Shadrack Kofi Ansah, Sylvia Andzie-Quainoo, Alberta Nana Ama Awuku, Agnes Agyemang, Kwabena Owusu, and Hannah Appiah.
The others were Joshua Kobina Baah, Solomon Bentum Mensah, Keziah Naa Odorkor Daniels, Aboagye Theophilus, Yvonne Nuoriyee, Queenstar Nsakie and Sarah Lartey.
The CEO of AGE Industries, Mr Theophilus Aboagye, was adjudged the overall winner of the cohort with a cash prize of GH₵20,000 and the Jeff Sowah Award of GH₵20,000. He was also honoured with the Most Innovative Business Idea Award.
Founder of Crochel, Mrs Alberta Awuku, came second with a cash prize of GH₵10,000 whiles the Founder of Hibitea and Beverages, Mrs Agnes Agyemang won GH₵5,000 as the third runner up.
Most Promising Female Entrepreneur Award went to Mrs Yvonne Nuoriyee and Best Bootstrapped Business Award, given to Mr Shadrack Kofi Ansah.
By Spectator Reporter
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Medical Doctor and dietician, Dr Bernice Korkor Asare, has urged women to take greater responsibility for their lifestyle choices, particularly their eating habits and levels of physical activity, to help reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.
According to her, although, some breast cancer risk factors, such as family history and certain reproductive factors, may not be within an individual’s control, lifestyle choices offer an opportunity for people to take preventive action.
She made this known during a talk on the topic: “Role of diet in breast cancer prevention” organised by Times Ladies Association of the New Times Corporation, publishers of The Ghanaian Times and The Spectator, in Accra on Thursday.
The event themed “Breast Cancer Awareness- Promoting Early Detection, Healthy Eating and Prevention.” 
She noted that having a risk factor did not automatically mean a person would develop breast cancer, but could increase the likelihood of developing the disease compared with someone without that particular risk factor.
“Having close relatives who have had breast cancer, particularly a mother, sister or daughter, may increase the risk, although not everyone with a family history will develop the disease,” Dr Asare opined. Read More.
By Adizatu K. Munkaila
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A group of compassionate friends from Innovation Gospel Impact last Friday visited the management, teachers and learners of the Street Academy in Accra.
The visit was to interact to get a deeper insight into the operations of the Academy that houses hundreds of street and underprivileged children and find ways to support them.
The team was led by Rev. Dr Isaac Apenteng Yeboah, a former Director for West African Mailbox Club and Director for Prisons Support Foundation, and Rev. Dale Sutherland from Washington DC.
The call, according to the visitors was occasioned by reports about the struggles of the Academy despite the occasional support it enjoys from individuals and some corporate entities.
Briefing them, the Founder and Executive Director of the Academy, Dr Ataa Lartey, thanked them for the concern showed, indicating that “this is a major boost for both teachers and learners; knowing that their plight is known by people outside their premises.”
According Dr Lartey, the Academy had planned to undertake a number of project to enhance teaching and learning and also procure facilities for the children with keen interest in sports but had to shelve those plans for lack of finance.
He told the team that their biggest concerns were the monthly utility bills that takes a toll on their finances.
“We have a piece of land we planned to turn into an astro turf pitch to train the younger ones whose interests lies in making a career out of football, however, we have been unable to commence because there is no money now,” he said.
Dr Lartey expressed gratitude to the teachers who have dedicated their lives to training these children, rather than going for well-paying jobs and hoped that with time, their conditions of engagement would improve.
Moved by the plight of the Academy, the group donated a cash amount of Gh₵3,000 to settle its water bills.
They described as unfortunate the conditions of learners and teachers of the Academy and pledged to continuously support their operations to realize the dream to build a better future for the unfortunate children.
The group offered to support the school with its monthly utility bills, feeding and staff allowance and urged the Academy staff to remain in constant touch with them.
The Street Academy is located at the Accra Art Center and offers brilliant but needy the chance to pursue their educational dreams by enrolling them in public schools with others offered training in sports and cultural activities.
By Spectator Reporter
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