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Chiefs, residents urge Ga East MCE to act over Dakobi River encroachment
The Ga East Chiefs Association and residents within the Ga East Municipality have appealed to the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) to urgently intervene in the growing encroachment and destruction of the Dakobi River by private developers.
According to the chiefs and community leaders, ongoing housing developments and the filling of portions of the river body are creating serious environmental and safety risks that could lead to a major disaster if immediate action is not taken.
They described the situation as a “ticking time bomb” that threatens thousands of lives and properties within the Municipality.
The traditional authorities explained that the activities of some private developers have weakened parts of the road corridor around the Dakobi area and are gradually affecting the stability of the Dakobi River bridge.
They warned that the bridge is beginning to sink, creating danger for motorists and residents who use the route daily.
The chiefs noted that the Dakobi River serves as one of the major natural water collection points in the Municipality, receiving large volumes of rainwater from the Akuapem South mountain range.
However, they indicated that illegal encroachment and indiscriminate filling of the river course have reduced the river’s capacity to contain floodwaters.
According to them, communities such as Pantang, Abokobi, Agbogba, Nyamekrom and Teiman, which previously did not experience flooding, are now recording severe floods anytime heavy rains occur.
They explained that the floods have destroyed homes, displaced families, damaged roads and caused the loss of properties worth millions of Ghana cedis.
The traditional authorities further cautioned that the situation could develop into a humanitarian and environmental crisis, especially as the rainy season intensifies.
They pointed out that the Dakobi River serves as a boundary between the Ga East Municipal Assembly and the La Nkwantanang Madina Municipal Assembly, making the issue a matter that requires collaboration between both assemblies.
The chiefs and residents are therefore calling on government agencies, environmental authorities, engineers, town planners, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and security agencies to immediately stop all illegal developments along the river.
They are demanding the demolition of unauthorized structures, dredging of the river and restoration of the waterway to prevent further flooding and possible loss of lives.
Residents stressed that failure by authorities to act quickly could expose innocent people to avoidable floods, collapsing infrastructure and other tragedies.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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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