News
Entrepreneur establishes livestock centre to train youth
Mr Koduah and Darnmark partners and others
A Ghanaian entrepreneur has established a livestock training centre known as Global Farming and Technology Institute to train the youth, particularly females, to contribute to livestock farming in the country.
The Institute will collaborate with the Animal Science Department of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the University of Development Studies (UDS), Namkpala Campus, and Tech College in Denmark.
Located in the old Tafo community in the Abuakwa North District of the Eastern Region, it has a modern abattoir, laboratory, lecture halls, and farm demonstration sites.
It aims at improving the knowledge of every livestock farmer in the country, focusing on cattle (for beef), sheep, goats, pigs (hogs), and poultry enterprises as well as non-traditional livestock, such as rabbits, guinea pigs, grass cutters, and African giant snails.
In a chat with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of the Institute, Kwame B. Koduah, during a three-day training for 100 farmers and non-farmers, he indicated that the decision to establish the Institute “is to bridge the literacy skills gap in Ghana’s livestock industry.”
He said “this is an effort to advance and keep informal Ghanaian farmers abreast of emerging technologies in the livestock sector.”
He observed with grave concern the gradual decline in the livestock subsector’s contribution to Ghana’s agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which has dropped from 12.60 per cent in 2014 to 8.31 per cent in 2020.
Due to this decline, he said “the Institute aims to incorporate modern technologies to augment traditional methods of rearing and breeding.”
Mr. Kodua disclosed that about 100 youth have already been trained and given 100 piglets and fowls each as startups of their businesses.
He mentioned that the beneficiaries were provided with the feeds for the animals and all “they do is to take good care of them for good production.”
“If the youth of this country will be serious with livestock farming, the country’s economy will thrive because technology is boosting the industry,” he stated.
The Denmark partners, Dennis Christensen, a butcher cum lecturer at the Tech College, and Morten Wagner, Sales and Development Director of AVS Agriculture, trained both farmers and non-farmers on producing various meat products, including hot burgers, sausages and meat bread.
They mentioned the importance of adding value to meat to create jobs for the youth and called on females, in particular, to take advantage of the training at the institute to better their lives.
Muslims across the country celebrated this year’s Eid-ul-Adha in a colourful and spiritually uplifting atmosphere under the theme, “A Season of Sacrifice, Solidarity and Spiritual Renewal.”
The celebration brought together Muslims from diverse backgrounds in a remarkable display of faith, unity and cultural heritage.
The occasion was marked by special Eid prayers at various designated grounds, the slaughtering of rams in homes for sharing among family members, friends and the less privileged, as well as musical concerts and recreational activities including horse riding.
Leading the celebration was the Chief Imam, Dr Sheikh Osman Sharubutu.
While the national celebration was held at the Black Star Square where President John Dramani Mahama was the Special Guest of Honour, similar gatherings took place at different centres across the capital and other regions of the country.
A visit by The Spectator to some celebration grounds revealed Muslims, both young and old, elegantly dressed in colourful jalabiya and other Islamic attire, reflecting the rich culture and traditions of the Muslim community.
The celebration also portrayed the spirit of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence in the country, as a number of Christians joined their Muslim counterparts to mark the occasion.
Muslim leaders and government officials used the opportunity to call on the faithful to uphold the teachings of the Holy Quran, renew their spiritual commitment and refrain from acts capable of undermining the peace, unity and security of the nation.
They further urged Ghanaians to continue to live in harmony and support one another for national development.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
Dear Obaa Yaa,
During Eid-ul- Adha celebration, I decided to spend the weekend at my boyfriend’s place since we were planning towards our marriage.
To my surprise, what keeps me wide awake, restless and frustrated every single time is that he snores loudly like a generator running on full power, and I genuinely cannot get any rest
At a point, I thought it was just a normal thing, but I have realised it is something he does with ease and doesn’t see anything wrong with it.
When he steps out in the morning, I try to get enough sleep because I may not sleep in the evening.
The most annoying thing is that, he always wants to cuddle me. These two things are a no for me and a red flag.
We are about to get married, what should I do?
Enam, Keta.
Dear Enam,
The snoring and constant cuddling are frustrating, but you don’t have to choose between sleep and closeness.
Start with the snoring: check if it’s worse when he sleeps on his back, cut out alcohol before bed, try nasal strips or a humidifier, and see a doctor if he pauses while breathing.
For quick relief, foam earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones help a lot.
Separate blankets, a bigger bed, or sleeping apart on some nights often makes couples rest well and feel closer overall.
Bring this up before the wedding .Tell him you want to wake up next to him for years to come, but sleep deprivation makes you both miserable.
Test earplugs and side-sleeping this weekend, and if it’s still unbearable, bring in a doctor. Good sleep matters more for your marriage than staying glued together all night.
