News
Don’t deny children eggs …nutritionist tells parents
Mr Chrisantus Dari
It is a sad situation in the Upper West Region that some children are denied eggs on the wrong assumption that they will grow to become thieves when they are fed on eggs.
But the Deputy Chief Nutrition Officer in the region, Mr. Chrisantus Dari has condemned the act describing it as untrue, unfounded with no scientific proof.
The myth had for several years limited the consumption of eggs in the region leading to malnutrition among children who did not have the benefit of consuming other protein-giving foods like meat and milk.
“Egg is one of the cheapest protein you can find on the market and it contains six to seven grammes of protein for the body with about 140miligrammes of choline which is good for the development of children so in the absence of a comparatively expensive protein like meat, eggs can adequately serve the daily nutritional needs of children”, he stated.
Mr Dari made this known on the sidelines of a workshop for Nutritionists and Dieticians in the region at Wa to enable them to step up education on regular consumption of eggs.
The meeting which was at the behest of the Ghana National Egg Campaign Secretariat sought to update the nutrition officers on the most recent research findings on eggs to enable them to deliver same to people at the various health centres during their routine sensitisation outreach.
The Nutritionist noted that the myth was probably coined to discourage children from developing a taste for the product which would limit the strain on caregivers in a region where people could barely afford eggs.
He said even with the increased education for improved egg consumption, the price of eggs was a source of worry to some people and, therefore, discouraged them from consuming the product.
He used the opportunity to call on Ghana Poultry Association to take a look at the trend and endeavour to produce more eggs to meet the increasing demand in order to ensure a reduction in prices of eggs to encourage high consumption.
“There are several myths surrounding the consumption of eggs to the extent that some people even believe that pregnant women who consume eggs are likely to suffer miscarriages or experience difficult labour but these are ways, I believe ,to prevent the burden of having to provide eggs regularly for the family”, he said.
He was grateful to the GNECS for the training which, he said, would equip the officers with the latest information on eggs in order to enhance their sensitisation programmes.
The Coordinator of the GNECS, Ms Comfort Acheampong disclosed that a combination of egg and vegetables was a sure way for the obese to lose weight.
“Eggs are not harmful to the body as has been alleged in earlier studies and it is good for weight loss because one whole egg can be consumed alone to curb hunger without necessarily eating any other food”, she said.
From Lydia Darlington Fordjour, Wa
President John Dramani Mahama has visited the Akosombo Dam to assess the impact of a fire incident at a substation operated by the Ghana Grid Company.
The fire is reported to have caused the loss of more than 1,000 megawatts from the national power grid, affecting electricity supply in parts of the country.
During the visit, he inspected ongoing restoration works and received briefings from engineers on efforts to restore power. He commended them for what he described as a swift and professional response to the situation.
According to him, the government remains committed to restoring stable electricity supply as quickly as possible.
He added that steps are also being taken to strengthen the resilience of Ghana’s energy infrastructure to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Ghana Grid Company has not yet provided a detailed timeline for full restoration, but work is ongoing to bring affected systems back on stream.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana’s Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, says he and his deputy have publicly filed their annual tax returns to demonstrate leadership and encourage compliance among citizens.
In a facebook post, he explained that the move was meant to show that public officials must lead by example when it comes to fulfilling civic duties.
“Leadership must be demonstrated, not declared,” he said.
He commended Ghanaian taxpayers for their continued contribution to national development, noting that tax compliance plays a key role in sustaining government activities.
According to him, paying taxes is both a legal and moral responsibility. He stressed that all citizens, including public officials, professionals, and businesses, are equal before the law and must meet their tax obligations.
He added that tax revenue is essential for funding key sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and security.
The minister praised the Ghana Revenue Authority for its work, especially during the ongoing Tax and Good Governance Month in April. He said the initiative helps to educate the public and promote voluntary compliance.
He urged the authority to intensify public education and continue reforms aimed at simplifying tax processes, reducing compliance costs, and improving transparency.
He further encouraged individuals and businesses that are yet to file their returns to do so promptly, adding that support systems and digital platforms are available to assist them.
He said building a strong tax culture would strengthen the country’s economy, improve accountability, and promote fairness in society.
By: Jacob Aggrey
