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Enforce ban on public smoking — SEND Ghana
SEND Ghana, a Policy Research & Advocacy Civil Society Organisation, has asked the government to enforce the ban on public smoking and the use of plastics for food packaging to help prevent the occurrence of diseases.
Mr George Osei Bempeh, Country Director of the organisation, said the devastating effect of the COVID-19 pandemic implied that government must be proactive in tackling potential health challenges and also prioritise primary health service delivery in the country.
Presenting an assessment of government’s 2021 Budget Statement and Economic Policy in Accra on Monday, he noted that the introduction of the COVID-19 levy was commendable, however, the levy should not be “limited to combating only COVID-19.”
He said there must be a “dedicated budget” to finance future epidemics while efforts were made to implement the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS).
Touching on other aspects of the 2021 budget, he said SEND Ghana’s social audit of the COVID-19 Alleviation Programme confirmed that some vulnerable people, including street children and homeless people were “excluded at the height of the crisis when cooked and raw food were distributed by the government and other benevolent organisations.”
This, the organisation attributed to lack of “comprehensive and reliable data” on vulnerable population in the country, hence the need for government to take steps to gather relevant data on such vulnerable groups to help overcome future challenges in the area of social protection.
SEND Ghana further observed that the current amount of GH¢1 per child for a plate of food under the National School Feeding Programme was “unsatisfactory and cannot guarantee an adequate and healthy meal for child development.”
“We are, therefore, proposing to the government to make a conscious effort to increase the amount to at least GHc2.00 per child if it needs to fully attain the programme’s short-term objective to reduce hunger and malnutrition,” Mr Bempeh stated.
On taxation, he said government should consider reintroducing the ‘Luxury Vehicle Tax’ which was scrapped after it faced opposition from sections of the public.
Mr Bempeh said government could be “more innovative with taxation” by targeting the rich instead of “burdening the poor with the same taxes.”
“Government could relook at the implementation challenge with the luxury vehicle tax and consider reintroducing it.
“We are concerned that some of the tax proposals in the 2021 budget are more consumption based, and the fact is, the burden will fall more on the poor and vulnerable,” he noted.
The Country Director maintained that the COVID-19 Health Levy, Sanitation and Pollution Levy and increase in petroleum prices, among other new taxes would have adverse effect on all other sectors and translate into high cost of living especially for the poor.
He said the 2021 budget, just like previous budgets, sought to rely on donor funding and that efforts must be made to wean various sectors of the economy from donor support which possessed a threat to attaining ‘Ghana Beyond Aid’ and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
By Ernest Nutsugah
In a world where fathers are increasingly consumed by work and the pursuit of financial security, Bishop Michael Quartey, the Regional Overseer of the Perez Chapel International, has urged fathers to prioritise spending quality time with their children.
This, he said makes them develop trust, love and sense of security in building confident responsible adults.
Bishop Michael Quartey made this known in an interview with The Spectator ahead of the Father’s Day celebration tomorrow.
He noted that while many fathers are providing the financial needs of their families, children also require emotional support, guidance and quality time from their fathers.
“A lot of children are engaged in a lot of negative things just because of the absence of their fathers and it is about time we sit up.”
Bishop Quartey explained that fatherhood goes beyond meeting financial obligations and involves being physically and emotionally present in the lives of their children.
“Fathers serve as role models whose actions and decisions often influence the values and attitudes of their children” he disclosed.
He also elaborated that regular communication, participation in school activities and involvement in children’s daily life could significantly strengthen family bonds and contribute to the overall well –being of the children.
He added that though the modern day fathers are doing so well, we need to continue to change the narrative by putting in extra effort in the upbringing of our children.
“Being a father is a great joy and it is very necessary for fathers to be celebrated because they go through a lot,” he indicated.
Mr Quartey used the opportunity to encourage all fathers to continue doing their best and pray for their children as well.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
A new cultural, trade, and diplomatic platform celebrating Ghana-Norway ties was launched on Saturday, June 13, at Palms by Eagles Hotel, Accra.
Dubbed the ‘Akwaaba Nsuo & Velkommen Fjord Durbar 2026’, the event draws on the symbolism of Ghana’s rivers, -Nsuo, and Norway’s fjords to highlight water as a shared cultural, economic, and environmental identity.
The three-day event is scheduled for July 31 – August 2, 2026 in Oslo, Norway. Activities will include a trade exhibition, durbar of chiefs, and B2B networking sessions.
Speaking at the launch, CEO of the Durbar, Kofi Mulan, said Ghana’s rivers like the Volta, Pra, and Ankobra have long sustained livelihoods through fishing, transport, and spirituality.
“Similarly, Norway’s fjords represent the cornerstone of its maritime heritage, global leadership in ocean industries, and environmental stewardship,” Mr Mulan added.
“These parallel relationships with water form the philosophical and thematic spine of the entire event. The Akwaaba Nsuo & Velkommen Fjord Durbar 2026 is therefore framed as a convergence of heritage and innovation,” he said.
Organisers say participants will benefit from Global visibility and cultural diplomacy in Europe, stronger ties with Norway, and increased market access for exports like fashion, crafts, agribusiness, and processed goods under AfCFTA frameworks on the Ghana side.
On the Norway side, they noted access to Norwegian expertise in maritime technology, aquaculture, and renewable energy, plus opportunities in fisheries, offshore energy, and sustainability projects.
The Durbar is positioned as a high-level exchange platform to deepen trade and diplomatic relations between Ghana and Norway.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
