News
Hotel in vicinity of Kumasi Central Mosque? …Shop owners oppose move
A desire of the Assets Committee of the Kumasi Central Mosque (KCM) to demolish shops within the confines of the mosque has met a stiff resistance from owners.
The demolishing exercise is expected to pave the way for the reconstruction of a hotel and other shops to befit the new look of the area.
The mosque was renovated with support from the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
That left the responsibility of renovating the shops to reflect the new look on the committee.
But, the shop owners within the confines of the mosque at Akwatialine in Kumasi, have objected to the move, demanding compensation and citing the promotion of immoral activities.
According to the shop owners, the construction of a hotel may promote activities considered ‘haram’ (immoral and indecent to Islam).
A meeting held last Tuesday between the Assets Committee and the shop owners ended abruptly when the latter kicked against the exercise, saying that they would not move until they were paid compensation.
The Chairman of the KCM, Alhaji Ahmed Rashid Yakubu, when contacted stated that there would be no compensation for anyone.
He added that the promotion of immoral or indecent activities should not be the headache of the shop owners, adding that the KCM was capable of handling it.
This has generated a misunderstanding between the committee and the shop owners.
He admitted that somewhere in 1998, the owners of the shops were asked to use their own monies for the construction after which they should occupy for 10 years to defray the costs and hand over to the authorities of the Mosque.
He explained that some of the real owners have sold their stores and others have rented them out for about 25 years and paid nothing to the committee.
Alhaji Yakubu urged the store owners to cooperate with the Assets Committee so that they would work out how to get back their stores upon completion and not use force to stop the reconstruction process.
Spokesman for the store owners, Muntali Mohammed, on his part said they used their own money to build the stores when the place was in a bad state.
According to Mr Mohammed, all they needed was for the KCM to compensate them.
“We are not moving an inch, they should pay back our money used to construct the stores… we cannot let our monies go waste; we are prepared for any action,” he intoned.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
Medical Doctor and dietician, Dr Bernice Korkor Asare, has urged women to take greater responsibility for their lifestyle choices, particularly their eating habits and levels of physical activity, to help reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.
According to her, although, some breast cancer risk factors, such as family history and certain reproductive factors, may not be within an individual’s control, lifestyle choices offer an opportunity for people to take preventive action.
She made this known during a talk on the topic: “Role of diet in breast cancer prevention” organised by Times Ladies Association of the New Times Corporation, publishers of The Ghanaian Times and The Spectator, in Accra on Thursday.
The event themed “Breast Cancer Awareness- Promoting Early Detection, Healthy Eating and Prevention.” 
She noted that having a risk factor did not automatically mean a person would develop breast cancer, but could increase the likelihood of developing the disease compared with someone without that particular risk factor.
“Having close relatives who have had breast cancer, particularly a mother, sister or daughter, may increase the risk, although not everyone with a family history will develop the disease,” Dr Asare opined. Read More.
By Adizatu K. Munkaila
SKIP THE QUEUE, TAP THE NEWS
Read Daily News
You can now read the Ghanaian Times and The Spectator newspapers from the comfort of your device via TimesNewsPlus.
Buy Maps
Join our WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
A group of compassionate friends from Innovation Gospel Impact last Friday visited the management, teachers and learners of the Street Academy in Accra.
The visit was to interact to get a deeper insight into the operations of the Academy that houses hundreds of street and underprivileged children and find ways to support them.
The team was led by Rev. Dr Isaac Apenteng Yeboah, a former Director for West African Mailbox Club and Director for Prisons Support Foundation, and Rev. Dale Sutherland from Washington DC.
The call, according to the visitors was occasioned by reports about the struggles of the Academy despite the occasional support it enjoys from individuals and some corporate entities.
Briefing them, the Founder and Executive Director of the Academy, Dr Ataa Lartey, thanked them for the concern showed, indicating that “this is a major boost for both teachers and learners; knowing that their plight is known by people outside their premises.”
According Dr Lartey, the Academy had planned to undertake a number of project to enhance teaching and learning and also procure facilities for the children with keen interest in sports but had to shelve those plans for lack of finance.
He told the team that their biggest concerns were the monthly utility bills that takes a toll on their finances.
“We have a piece of land we planned to turn into an astro turf pitch to train the younger ones whose interests lies in making a career out of football, however, we have been unable to commence because there is no money now,” he said.
Dr Lartey expressed gratitude to the teachers who have dedicated their lives to training these children, rather than going for well-paying jobs and hoped that with time, their conditions of engagement would improve.
Moved by the plight of the Academy, the group donated a cash amount of Gh₵3,000 to settle its water bills.
They described as unfortunate the conditions of learners and teachers of the Academy and pledged to continuously support their operations to realize the dream to build a better future for the unfortunate children.
The group offered to support the school with its monthly utility bills, feeding and staff allowance and urged the Academy staff to remain in constant touch with them.
The Street Academy is located at the Accra Art Center and offers brilliant but needy the chance to pursue their educational dreams by enrolling them in public schools with others offered training in sports and cultural activities.
By Spectator Reporter
SKIP THE QUEUE, TAP THE NEWS
You can now read the Ghanaian Times and The Spectator newspapers from the comfort of your device via TimesNewsPlus.
Join our WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
