News
Center for National Culture holds competition for schools, institutions in Eastern Region
The Centre for National Culture in the Eastern Region in collaboration with ONGA has organised a cooking competition for some selected Senior High Schools in the region.
The schools were paired with some public organisations to display their skills in the preparation of local dishes such as “motuo ne nkatekwan”(rice balls with groundnut soup), waakye with shito, “mpotompoto”, “tatale ne kontomire”, “apapransa ne koto”, “brode3 ampesie ne kontomire”, “tatale ne adua abomu”, “tuo zaafi ne ayoyo nkwan,” among others.
At the end of the competition, Seventh-Day Adventist Senior High School paired with the Department of Agriculture emerged winners. New Juaben SHS and the Information Service Department (ISD) who prepared mpotompoto came second, whereas Bright SHS and the Ghana Immigration Service placed third after preparing “Tatale ne adua abomu”.
The others, Pentecost SHS and the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) were fourth, Ghana SHS and the Ghana National Fire Service placed fifth, Oyoko Methodist SHS and the Ghana Revenue Authority were sixth while Ofori Panyin SHS and the Department of Gender, Children and Social Protection placed seventh in the competition.
The Municipal Chief Executive of New Juaben South Municipality, Mr. Isaac Apaw Gyesi urged the MDA’s to liaise with the Centre for National Culture in their respective districts to initiate programmes and activities to promote the cultural heritage of the country at all times.
He said that local foods and local language as part of Ghanaian culture “defines our identity at all times while it associates with a variety of health benefits, therefore I want to encourage Ghanaians to prioritise our local language and consume our respective local foods and products”.
He added that different varieties of food were associated with the ethnic groups across the regions of Ghana.
For his part, the Director of Policy Planning, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation at the Commission for National Culture, Mr. Phil Richardson Commey underscored the need for Ghanaians to patronise locally manufactured goods and services to minimise the importation of foreign products into the country.
He said research had shown that local foods were much healthier for the human body compared with the imported foods which were the cause of the number of present diseases which were initially not found in the country.
He encouraged Ghanaians to cultivate the habit of backyard farming, a move he believed, would help promote the consumption of local foods in the country.
Mr. Commey urged the Ghana Education Service to revise the education curriculum by prioritising agriculture to promote the interest of local food consumption.
The contestants received certificates of participation and products from ONGA foods.
From: Kodjo David, Koforidua.
The Ghana Tourism Development Company Limited (GTD) in collaboration with the Department of Organisation and Human Resource Management, University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) has marked the 2026 World Safety Day Celebration in Accra.
The event held on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at the Cedi Conference Centre, Legon was under the theme “Good Psychosocial Working Environment: A Pathway to Thriving Workers and Strong Organizations.”
The day is observed globally to promote safe and healthy working conditions and to raise awareness about both physical and psychological risks at the workplace.
The event formed part of efforts by stakeholders to deepen national conversations on workplace safety, particularly the growing concern about psychosocial well being.
In his keynote address, the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo stressed that workers must not be treated as machines but as human beings with dignity, rights and families.
He explained that unsafe work environments marked by fear, harassment, intimidation and excessive pressure reduce productivity and weaken organisations.
He noted that although physical hazards such as faulty equipment and unsafe buildings remain a concern, psychological risks including excessive workload, bullying, job insecurity and toxic communication are equally dangerous and must be addressed.
According to him, psychological hazards are real, measurable and preventable, and should be treated with the same urgency as physical risks.
He maintained that safe and healthy working conditions are not a luxury but a fundamental right that supports productivity and social justice.
Dr Pelpuo further stated that the government remains committed to strengthening occupational safety and health systems, adding that worker wellbeing is a core responsibility of leadership and not a public relations issue.
He urged employers to create environments where dignity is protected, and workers are empowered to speak without fear.
The Dean of University of Ghana Business School, Prof Ernest Y Tweneboah Koduah noted that the school is committed to shaping a better world of work that is equitable, productive and sustainable.
He announced that the school has secured accreditation from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission to introduce a programme in organisational health and safety.
He explained that gaps in workplace safety in Ghana are linked to weak enforcement, underreporting and limited professional training.
He added that the new programme will equip graduates with the skills to prioritise employee wellbeing as a key organisational responsibility.
Prof Tweneboah Koduah urged organisations to assess psychosocial risks, invest in human resource capacity and create environments where workers can openly discuss mental health concerns.
He emphasised that collaboration between academia and industry is essential to addressing workplace safety challenges.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, the Registrar of the University of Ghana, Emelia Naa Kwantsua Agyei Mensah described the event as historic, noting that it is the first time the university is marking the global observance.
She explained that the focus on psychosocial wellbeing reflects current realities in the world of work.
She stated that employee health, including mental and emotional wellbeing, directly affects productivity, morale and institutional performance.
Mrs Agyei Mensah added that the university is committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for staff and students, beyond minimum legal requirements.
She called on leaders to reflect on the kind of workplaces they create and to prioritise the wellbeing of employees.
CEO of the GTDC, Prof Kobby on his part noted that its participation aligns with its commitment under the Riyadh Declaration, which calls on member states to improve infrastructure and public safety, as well as enhance services, transport, connectivity and accessibility.
He indicated that the company intends to use the platform to highlight Ghana’s readiness to implement the declaration, with a strong focus on worker safety and wellbeing as a foundation for sustainable tourism development.
The event brought together policymakers, academics, industry players and students to discuss strategies for improving workplace safety and promoting healthier work environments across the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Minister for Energy, John Abdulai Jinapor, has praised engineers and technical teams working to restore electricity after a fire at the Akosombo Substation disrupted power supply.
He said this after visiting the facility on Monday night to assess ongoing repair works following the incident, which affected the control room and caused the loss of more than 1,000 megawatts of power to the national grid.
During the visit, he interacted with engineers and technicians who have been working continuously under difficult conditions to restore operations.
He said he was impressed by their dedication, courage, and professionalism despite the challenges.
The minister commended the teams for their resilience and sacrifice, noting that their efforts reflect a strong sense of duty and commitment to national service.
He assured them of the government’s full support as they continue with the restoration work.
He also assured the public that authorities are doing everything possible to restore stable electricity supply as soon as possible.
By: Jacob Aggrey
