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Stay away from rickety bill boards -AAG
The onset of heavy rains has sparked conversations about the safety and structural integrity of advertising panels and billboards scattered around major capital cities across the country.
This follows the annual ritual of damages often caused to vehicles and properties during rainfalls accompanied by strong winds.
With heavy rains predicted for 2026, starting with the February mix of normal and above-normal rainfall, residents are growing concerned about the stability and placement of such billboards.
A visit to some areas by The Spectator after the last rainfall revealed a few destructions to properties.
For instance, The Spectator team spotted a medium-sized billboard on Oxford Street in Osu that had fallen onto a closely parked car.
Despite the low number of incidents, the Executive Director of the Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG), Mr Isaac Cudjoe, has warned owners of vehicles to be mindful of where they park them.
That, he said, would go a long way to avert some of these unfortunate situations.
“This is an annual occurrence so I wish to advise owners of vehicles to stay away from rickety billboards. They become dangerous in such bad weather situations,” he indicated.
The danger, however, according to The Spectator enquiries is that there are quite a huge number of advertising agencies that operates without licenses from the AAG, making it difficult to regulate their activities.
Speaking in an interview, Mr Cudjoe stated that the AAG cannot be held responsible for the state of every billboard sited in the community because some the owners are not members of the Association.
As a result, activities of these advertising agencies were expected to be monitored and regulated by the local assemblies.
“Since these agencies are not our members, their activities are supposed to be monitored by the local assemblies. In fact, they have to inspect the location of these boards, check the soil texture, base and concrete works but the persistence of these problems suggests that some of these things are not done well,” he said.
Mr Cudjoe disclosed that AAG ensures that every member adhere strictly to standards set out by the Ghana Standards Authority; all in a bid to ensure quality of work and safety in times like the rainy season.
The AAG Executive Director disclosed that the Association was pushing for a bill through the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry to make it mandatory for all advertising agencies to be licensed by the AAG as was the case in other countries.
“This is the case in South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria. It will go a long way to ensure that all agencies would operate under the same regulations. It will also empower the AAG to stretch its supervisory role in all advertising operations,” he stated.
This will also empower the AAG to control and regulate the rise of advertisement on social media and published by content creators, adding that, “This would ensure that the advertisement seen on the social media space meets the required standards.”
By Andrew Nortey
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THE Akatsi South Municipality recorded 314 teenage pregnancies in 2025, exceeding the national target despite intensified efforts by health officials to curb the situation.
“Sad as it may be, six girls aged 10–14 years were pregnant, and 269 teenagers delivered, of which five were between 10–14 years, all making up 12.1 per cent against the national target of reducing below 11.5 per cent,” Miss Justine Sefakor Alornyo, Municipal Director of Health Services, disclosed during the 2025 health performance review at the Akatsi South Municipal Assembly Hall.
Under Antenatal Care (ANC), 2,594 pregnant women were registered in 2025, representing 65.9 per cent coverage, up from 2,278 in 2024 with 58.4 per cent coverage.
The Municipality recorded 2,071 supervised deliveries in 2025, a slight increase from 1,997 in 2024. All 2,071 newborns received BCG, Penta, and Measles-Rubella vaccines.
Miss Alornyo attributed the gains to continuous education and advocacy across the Municipality.
On HIV, 151 cases were identified—108 females and 43 males. All are on treatment, including 15 pregnant women who tested positive. Eighteen exposed babies have been placed on prophylaxis.
She added that 60 tuberculosis cases were managed, while investigations into six suspected measles cases, two yellow fever cases, and one Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) case all tested negative.
Highlighting achievements, Miss Alornyo thanked stakeholders, especially the Municipal Assembly, for supporting service delivery. In 2025, the construction of CHPS compounds at Zuta, Ahlepedo, and Asafotsi, as well as the renovation of the Wute Health Centre, is ongoing.
Midwives were posted to Wuxor, Gui, Dzogadze, Akuave, and Livega CHPS facilities, while Dzogadze and Gui CHPS were officially handed over for service delivery.
The annual review assessed progress, achievements, gaps, and innovative strategies to address health challenges.
Akatsi South Municipality is served by 40 health facilities: two hospitals (one private and one municipal), six health centres, 27 CHPS compounds, one CHAG facility, and four clinics.
Infrastructure deficits and transportation challenges remain key concerns.
—GNA
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From Bolgatanga in Ghana’s Upper East Region, Chef Abiro Seidu Napaana of Zuarungu is redefining what it means to cook and take pride in one’s heritage. His mission: to elevate Northern Ghanaian cuisine onto the global stage.
Raised in a household that emphasized gender equality, Abiro began cooking as a responsibility rather than rebellion. In a region where cooking is traditionally assigned to women, his early interest was unusual, but it quickly became a passion.
At Bolgatanga Senior High School, Abiro chose Home Economics over General Science, placing him among just five boys in his class. Despite bullying and skepticism from peers, he excelled academically, proving his capabilities and earning respect.
Abiro pursued Hotel, Catering, and Institutional Management at university, graduating in 2019. He noted that culinary schools often prioritized international cuisines—French, Italian, Mexican, and Chinese—while sidelining Ghanaian dishes. Determined to champion local cuisine, he joined the Ghana Food Movement, an organization promoting indigenous foods.
Focusing on Northern Ghanaian cuisine, Abiro highlights its nutrient-dense, climate-adapted dishes, such as wasawasa (millet-based) and tuo zaafi (soups with dried okra). To make these visually appealing, he reimagines traditional meals using modern plating techniques, maintaining authenticity while attracting contemporary audiences.
His work has gained international recognition. He has conducted cooking demonstrations in Italy, France, Morocco, Algeria, Senegal, and Canada, showcasing Ghanaian staples rather than continental dishes. For four consecutive years, he has represented Northern Ghanaian cuisine in Rome through programmes linked to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
Abiro also advocates for climate-resilient crops like fonio and millet, highlighting their potential to combat food insecurity and lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. He believes Northern Ghanaian cuisine, rich in fibre, micronutrients, and plant proteins, will become central to global conversations on sustainable and healthy eating.
As Head Chef of the Ghana Food Movement, Abiro sees himself not just as a cook but as a cultural ambassador. His message to young chefs: success is possible when rooted in indigenous cuisine.
“I came from Zuarungu in the Upper East. If I can travel the world cooking Northern Ghanaian food, then any young chef who believes in their heritage can do the same,” he says.
For Chef Abiro, the kitchen is a platform for identity, pride, and transformation—one beautifully plated dish at a time.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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