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Emeritus Professor Kofi Aidoo gets prestigious UN/WHO appointment

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• Emeritus Professor Kofi Aidoo
Emeritus Professor Kofi Aidoo has been appointed to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants (JECFA).
The Professor of Food Safety and Microbiology at the Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, School of Health and Life Sciences (SHLS) at Glasgow Caledonian University, will remain on the expert committee of the United Nations in Rome until 2027.
The committee evaluates food additives, contaminants and naturally occurring toxins in food, and residues of veterinary drugs. The committee is made up of international experts from 29 countries, all members of the UN.
At Glasgow Caledonian, Professor Aidoo’s research interests include food safety – chemical, microbiological and physical contaminants – and the nutritional composition of foods.
He has had several research papers published and has contributed to books. He is the co-author of JECFA’s WHO Technical Report Series 1002 on Food Additives, 2017.
SHLS Dean Professor Anita Simmers said: “We are delighted with Professor Emeritus Kofi Aidoo’s prominent appointment. Kofi remains an internationally recognised authority in food bioscience and our staff and students continue to benefit greatly from his research and international networks. Congratulations Kofi, we are all very proud of you in the School!”
SHLS Associate Dean Research Professor Sharron Dolan added her congratulations and praised his “lifelong dedication” to food science.
She said: “Kofi joined GCU founding institution The Queen’s College in 1988, and was integral to establishing and leading Food Science at GCU until his retirement in 2016.
“He has educated and trained scores of GCU graduates, and continues to influence and inspire the next generation of food scientists in his emeritus position.
“It has been a privilege to work with Kofi over the years and I am absolutely delighted to hear of this appointment, a real testimony to his international standing and lifelong dedication to food science.”
Professor Aidoo said the new appointment meant a lot to him and it was “testimony to the research work I have done over the years in an environment conducive to research teaching”.
“By that, I mean GCU created a working environment which enable me to achieve my potential and for that I am grateful to the Head of Department Professor Sharron Dolan, who is now Associate Dean Research, the SHLS Dean Professor Anita Simmers, and the University community,” he said.
Speaking of his new role, Professor Aidoo added: “I hope to be able to contribute effectively to the scientific evaluation of food contaminants, particularly some of the lesser-known food contaminants, which adversely affect human as well as animal health.
“With my background in biochemistry and microbiology, I would be able to assist in the evaluation protocols which set maximum permissible levels of contaminants in foods by FAO/ WHO – standards that would then be adopted by member states of the United Nations.”
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Justin Kodua Frimpong files nomination to seek re-election as NPP General Secretary

General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua Frimpong, has filed his nomination to contest the position of General Secretary again as the party begins its rebuilding efforts ahead of the 2028 general elections.
He was accompanied by party stalwarts and supporters who were in high spirits, expressing confidence that he is the right person to hold the position.
Speaking after filing his nomination, Mr Kodua Frimpong assured the rank and file of the party that he would not disappoint them.
“I can assure you that the faith the rank and file of the party have had in me, I will never disappoint them,” he said.
He also pledged to run a clean campaign devoid of personal attacks.
“I can assure you that our internal campaign will be devoid of personal attacks,” he told his fellow contestants and the rank and file of the party as he seeks to retain his position.
His tenure has seen the party through the 2024 general elections, where the NPP lost power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) after eight years in government.
The party is currently in a rebuilding phase, with internal elections scheduled to elect new national executives to lead its reorganization towards the 2028 polls.
The General Secretary position is considered one of the most influential in the party’s administrative structure, responsible for the day-to-day running of the party secretariat and implementation of party decisions.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
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UGMC disputes Michael Blackson’s claims over late mother’s treatment

The University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) has disputed claims made on social media by comedian Michael Blackson concerning the treatment given to his late mother, saying a review found that the allegations did not accurately reflect what happened during her stay at the hospital.
In a statement issued in Accra on August 5, 2026, the management of UGMC expressed condolences to Mr. Blackson and his family over the death of his 83-year-old mother, who died at the facility on July 16, 2026.
The hospital said it had taken the concerns raised by Mr. Blackson seriously and conducted a thorough review in line with its clinical and administrative procedures.
According to the statement, the facts presented by Mr. Blackson on social media contained “numerous inaccuracies” and did not accurately reflect the medical care provided to his mother.
UGMC explained that she was referred to the facility from another hospital and received treatment there from May 27 to July 16, 2026, a period of about eight weeks.
The hospital stated that it would not release details of her diagnosis, treatment, medical records or other aspects of her care because it had a duty to protect patient confidentiality, even after death.
It said the decision was intended to respect the dignity of the deceased and the privacy of her family.
UGMC further stated that all clinical decisions at the facility are made by qualified healthcare professionals based on medical judgment, established standards of care and the best interests of the patient.
The statement added that such decisions are made in consultation with authorised family representatives where necessary and that billing and financial procedures are governed by institutional policies and are separate from clinical decision-making.
The hospital noted that it values feedback from patients and their families and considers both positive and negative comments important for improving the quality of care.
Mr. Blackson had earlier used social media to criticise the care his mother received at UGMC, prompting the hospital’s response.
By: Jacob Aggrey




