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Editorial

‘Ayekoo’ to all women

International Women’s Day (IWD), observed yesterday, March 8, honours women from all walks of life for their out­standing contributions to society, including their families, commu­nities, and the country at large.

It is undoubtedly a special day for women since they are honoured for their accomplish­ments in the political, economic, cultural, and ethnic spheres .

Under the theme “Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress,” a number of events were held globally to commem­orate the day with the goal of addressing economic disempow­erment.

A few women in Ghana have been instrumental in the coun­try’s fight for independence. Among them were Rebecca Naa Dedei Aryeetey also known as Naa Dedei Ashikinshan who was a political activist, businesswoman and a feminist and Akua Shor­shoorshor.

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Ruth Jiagge was a remark­able national and international champion for women’s rights and the first woman to hold the position of Appeals Court Judge in Ghana.

Women have played import­ant roles in African cultures; Yaa Asantewaa, the warrior queen of Ashanti, is one such example.

Additionally, there are wom­en today who have made sub­stantial contributions to society in a variety of fields, including academia, research, entre­preneurship, farming, politics, business, law, and health.

Notwithstanding these suc­cesses, women continue to face numerous challenges, including sexual assault, human traffick­ing, domestic abuse, and other forms of violence against wom­en and girls, which has led to a wider gender disparity.

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ose the gap women must be empowered. This means that investing in women will help to speed development by assisting women-owned enterprises and making sure that financial poli­cies meet women’s needs.

The Spectator exhorts men to always recognise and applaud women’s accomplishments, regardless of how small, and to motivate them to move up the corporate ladder.

Naturally, everyone should take the opportunity to cele­brate the advancements made by women in the direction of equality on International Wom­en’s Day, irrespective of their gender or gender identity.

Women, be confident and modest, but do not let any man use your gender as a weapon against you.

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By working together, we can help create a future in which the rights and contributions of women are fully acknowledged and cherished. “Ayekoo” to all women!aa

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Editorial

Don’t use polythene bags to store hot, oily foods

 Ghanaians have been advised to refrain from putting hot or oily foods in plastic bags because it poses major health risks.

The warning states that storing hot foods in polythene bags, especially ones that are not made for food storage can cause dan­gerous chemicals to leak into the food, which could be dangerous for one’s health.

Professor Esther Sakyi-Dawson, an Associate Professor of Food Science at the University of Gha­na, gave this warning at a World Food Safety Day celebration in Accra on Tuesday.

With the theme “Food Safety: Science in Action,” this year’s World Food Safety Day focused on the critical role that scientific knowledge plays in guaranteeing food safety and fostering confi­dence in the food supply.

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According to Prof. Sakyi-Daw­son, when plastics are heated, toxic substances can seep into the food, contaminating it and raising the risk of several chronic illness­es, including hormone imbalanc­es, reproductive problems, and even some types of cancer, which are on the rise in the nation.

According to estimates from the World Health Organisation (WHO), food contamination caus­es over 400,000 deaths annually and 600 million foodborne illness cases.

Also, a third of all deaths worldwide are caused by food­borne illnesses, which affect at least 91 million people in Africa each year. Of these, 40 percent are in children under the age of five.

Given the concerning statis­tics, there is an urgent need to raise awareness that eating hot foods like banku, rice, waakye, or “koko” (porridge) wrapped in plastic is extremely harmful to one’s health.

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It is more important to avoid putting food in black plastics, which are not food quality and are typically used for carrying items. Similarly, white polythene should not come into close con­tact with food.

Despite the warning, Ghana­ians have been urged to watch out for food-grade plastics, which are frequently thick, to use for food packing and storage as needed

Since “to be forewarned is to be forearmed” The Spectator advises consumers to put their health first by making the appro­priate choices about what they put into their bodies for their own safety.

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Editorial

 Ensure safety of children during rainy seasonfacilities

The safety of the children must be paramount to every parent

 Dear Editor,

I write to express con­cern about the safety of school-going children during these unpredictable weather conditions.

Many children walk long distances to get to school on roads which are mostly poorly drained.

Also, the combination of low visibility, slippery surfac­es, and increased vehicular traffic during rains presents real risks to their health and safety.

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While I urge local au­thorities to improve road infrastructure and pedestrian protections around schools, I wish to especially appeal to parents and guardians to take proactive steps in safeguard­ing their children during this season.

Parents should ensure their children are dressed properly in waterproof or warm clothing, including rain­coats, boots, and umbrellas where possible.

Also, parents should accompany younger children to school when it is raining or overly windy, or arrange for responsible adults to do so.

Again, I urge parents to teach their children basic road safety and help them identify the safest routes to school.

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In my view, I think it will be prudent to delay leaving the house when rain is heavy or visibility is poor, even if it means arriving at school later and safer.

It is import­ant to remem­ber that safety begins at home. While schools and government agencies have a role to play, parents and caregivers, must not leave the protection of our children to chance.

I believe that with shared responsibility between the state and the family, avoid­able accidents could be prevented and ensure every child makes it to school and back home safely.

Abui, Korle Gonno

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