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Health experts call for lifestyle changes
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Ghana joined the world on May 17 to observe World Hypertension Day on the theme; “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control it, Live Longer.”
The theme reminds all individuals to check to know their blood pressure regularly and to keep it under control to impact overall longevity.
In Ghana, approximately 3.7 million Ghanaians aged 18 to 69 years have hypertension with 1.9 million unaware of their status, with risk factors such as unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, tobacco and alcohol use, driving prevalence rate.
Health experts advise that lifestyle changes particularly with regard to dietary choices could have far-reaching impact on managing one’s blood pressure.
Below are five best foods Ghanaians can eat to control hypertension as recommended by Meatless Monday Ghana, a campaign that seeks to promote healthy eating, reduce disease risk and protect the environment.
Fruits
Fruits rich in potassium like bananas and fresh coconuts are beneficial for blood pressure management. Berries, like blueberries are known for their nitric oxide content and can also help lower pressure.
Again, fruits containing folate, such as limes, oranges, and grapefruits can help increase blood pressure in individuals with low blood pressure while other fruits with potential benefits for hypertension control are watermelon, tomatoes, avocado, and papaya or pawpaw.
Research, funded by British Heart Foundation, has suggested beetroot juice, a concentrated source of nitrates might help lower blood pressure.
Vegetables
Green leafy vegetables like cocoyam leaves, commonly known as Kontomire, Cassava leaves, Gboma, Spinach and Moringa provide a rich source of potassium, magnesium and folate and other relevant nutrients, which can help lower blood pressure.
Wholegrains
Wholegrains such as maize or corn, millet, brown rice, sorghum and oats which contain more nutrients and fiber than refined starchy carbs like white bread, pasta and polished rice.
Eating more fibre has been linked to a lower risk of heart and circulatory diseases while soluble fiber from oats may help in lowering blood pressure.
Lean Protein
Meatless Monday advised Ghanaians to revert to lean protein sources such as chicken, fish, eggs, and beans, which are helpful in lowering weight and blood pressure.
Fortified Plant-based Milk
It said fortified plant-based milk like almond, soy, and oat milk can offer around 240 mg of calcium per cup, which has high levels of calcium strongly linked to reduction of blood pressure.
Similarly, low-fat dairy like semi-skimmed milk and low-fat natural yogurt also give calcium and protein without excess saturated fat.
Meatless Monday campaign believes that diet is not the only factor in reducing blood pressure. It stressed the need for all hypertensive patients to take prescribed medicines and consider being more physically active; stop smoking; and maintaining a healthy weight.
By Abigail Annoh
In other jurisdictions, the commencement of a new football season was one soccer fans would party about.
Having endured about a three-month period without action, fans become anxious about what the new season brings and how their respective teams would perform.
But that is not the case in Ghana, especially where the current Ghana Premier League (GPL) football season is expected to get underway today.
Unlike other places where fans would be fantasising and visualising about the new players and what they bring on board, Ghanaian fans have been occupied with discussions about the present state of infrastructure.
Obviously, the game thrives when stadia appear in good condition. When the pitches are in perfect shapes, it enhances play and brings out the best from the players.
Sadly, the state of the pitches in the country have left many questioning the preparedness for the season that also coincides with the start of AFCON qualifiers.
Currently, the pitch at the Accra Sports Stadium is closed for Premier League matches in readiness for the qualifiers.
Alternative ones like the University of Ghana Stadium is also not in the best of shape.
The Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi is also a concern despite hosting the Democracy Cup. As a result, teams to be affected in the southern and northern sectors would turn their attention to the Abramkese and UG stadia, a situation that would take a toll on the surfaces.
The situation, therefore, raises questions over the country’s direction regarding the provision of sports infrastructure.
Apart from the Borteyman Sports Complex, which was constructed for the Africa Games, none of the facilities scattered across the country can be said to be in good shape to host local games; not to talk about high profile competitions.
This should be a wakeup call on the government to start initiating processes to ensure modern infrastructure were erected to put Ghana in a good position to host games without the unwarranted scrutiny of CAF.
This would come at a huge cost to the taxpayer but when the business aspect of that expenditure in considered, it should be a worthy outlay.
But the infrastructure challenges notwithstanding, the competition will kick start at Tema where Vision FC engages Young Apostles FC.
The Hearts of Oak versus Berekum Chelsea clash will lead tomorrow’s games pack that also sees debutants Debibi United and Port City FC engaged in battles against Asante Kotoko and FC Ashantigold, respectively.
In other games, Basake Holy Stars will welcome Swedru All Blacks; FC Samartex against Karela United; Heart of Lions versus Aduana FC and Bechem United against Goldstars.
Dreams FC will face Medeama SC at the Tuba astro turf on Monday.
By Andrew Nortey
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The 2026 Idea Challenge Pitch and media launch was held last Saturday at the Pentecost University in Accra.
It brought together innovators, entrepreneurs and stakeholders to promote creative ideas and solutions aimed at addressing societal challenges.
The initiative, organised by the Visionary Organisation Development and Entrepreneurial Club (VODEC) and National Emerging Leaders Economic Forum (NELEF) provided a platform for participants to showcase their ideas and highlight how innovation and creativity could be transformed into practical solutions.
The programme also sought to encourage young people to develop ideas that could contribute to national development and create opportunities for entrepreneurship.
Held on the theme: ‘building Africa’s future, emerging leaders driving inclusive growth and regional transformation,’ the event sought to serve as a strategic platform to transition youth talent from mere concepts into investable enterprises.
During the pitch session, shortlisted entrepreneurs presented viable business ideas which spanned critical sectors, including climate-smart agribusiness, sustainable waste management, digital technology, and assistive tech for persons with disabilities.
A member of the judging panel, Mr Blessed Amonoo, an Investment Analyst at the Ghana Amalgamated Trust Plc., praised the technical depth of the presentations.
“We are looking for scalability, market readiness, and projects that directly answer local problems,“ Mr Amonoo noted during the evaluation.
“The level of innovation displayed here proves that African youth possesses the answers to the continent’s economic riddles, provided they receive the right structural refinement.”
Finalists selected from this rigorous process will be officially announced and paired with corporate mentors at the flagship forum in September.
Speaking at the event, the Founder and Chief Executive of VODEC Africa, Mr. Daniel Asomani, urged African governments and financial institutions to systematically secure capital for youth-led startups.
Mr Asomani emphasised that Africa’s persistent brain drain can only be reversed if young minds find fertile ground to scale their enterprises locally.
“Our brilliant minds are leaving the shores of Africa not because they want to, but because the local ecosystem suffocates their dreams.”
“The Idea Challenge is our contribution to keeping this talent home but VODEC cannot do it alone. We need policy interventions, tax incentives for startups, and deliberate venture funding to turn these ideas into multi-million-dollarcorporations,” Mr Asomani stated.
By Desmond Aidoo
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