News
Hype-flex hosts ‘park and watch’
A movie roadshow to entertain patrons amid COVID-19 restrictions has been organised in Accra.
Dubbed “Park N Watch”, the event allowed patrons to drive into the large open space, park their cars and get connected to watch the movie on the projected screen whilst still sitting in their cars.
It was organised by Hype-flex, a subsidiary of Hype Up Limited, a marketing and advertising company in Accra.
In addition to creating a comprehensive movie house or cinema experience, the patrons are served edibles to enable them chill out as they enjoy the movies.
Social Media Manager, Hype. Up, Abba Manu, indicated that the concept was to provide the best way to practise social distancing whilst entertaining oneself.
“You come in your car to the park, we have a screen showing movies and you are connected to watch from your car, but we are looking at adding more to make it more interesting. We are looking at adding football matches, boxing and other sporting activities,”
“What makes it different from a normal theatre or cinema is that there is little or no contact at all among the people who come to entertain themselves,” she said.
The event, she said, was an innovative contactless means of entertainment which must be embraced and considered the new normal since the pandemic was not leaving anytime soon.
The social distancing protocol, Ms Manu said, had provided the right environment for the initiative which started late 2019 prior to the outbreak of the disease.
She said the event was expected to become a regular weekend programme to provide movie lovers the opportunity to enjoy their favourite movies and would be extended to other locations across Accra.
The event provided the organisers the opportunity to sensitise patrons on COVID-19 safety protocols including wearing of nose masks, washing and sanitising hands regularly, among others.
By Claude Nyarko Adams
AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine has broken ground on a modern 1,500-seater multipurpose assembly hall and a secured main gatehouse for New Edubiase Senior High School, in the Adansi South District.
The project, being executed by local contractor AA Engineering and Construction, is expected to be completed within 17 months and forms part of the Mine’s 10-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) — a strategic framework for delivering sustainable development in its host communities.
Beyond the expansive assembly hall, the facility will house a fully integrated administrative complex featuring a dedicated sound room, a 16-seater staff eatery, and suites for the Headmaster and Assistant Headmaster, a bursar’s office, an 18-seater conference room, a 24-seater staff common room, six faculty office spaces and ancillary stores and washrooms.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, the Mine’s Director of Sustainability Management, Edmund Oduro Agyei, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to improving educational outcomes in host communities through impactful and sustainable investments.
The Edubiasehene, Guahyia Oduropanin Birikorang, commended the Mine for the investment, saying the project demonstrated that the company’s development agenda extended well beyond its immediate operational areas.
The Headmaster of New Edubiase SHS, Mr Christopher Appiah Mensah, described the intervention as timely and transformative, noting it would address longstanding infrastructure deficits, improve conditions for teaching and learning, and create adequate space for academic and social gatherings.
“This will greatly enhance administrative efficiency and improve the overall welfare of both staff and students,” he said.
The facility is also expected to boost the school’s capacity to host national examinations and major events, and strengthen its standing as a centre of academic excellence within the district.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
Stakeholders have been urged to help raise awareness and eliminate the stigma often associated with clubfoot, a treatable condition which occurs in children.
Parents are to seek early treatment for the condition while policymakers strengthen support for early detection, disability inclusion, and child health services in the country.
Clubfoot is a condition present at birth in which one or both feet are twisted inward and downward. If left untreated, experts say a child may face lifelong challenges with walking, which could affect education, employment, and social inclusion.
In Ghana, an estimated 1,000 babies are said to be born with clubfoot every year.
In commemoration of the World Clubfoot Day, marked on June 3 every year, stakeholders create awareness about the condition and, among other things, celebrate the dedication of health professionals who ensure children receive treatment.
In a release copied to the Ghana News Agency, Nana Afua Adutwumwaa Adjetey, Programme Manager, Ghana Clubfoot Programme, noted that many families were unaware of the free treatment available for the condition in Ghana. 
She observed that the lack of awareness continued to delay treatment for children who could have received prompt and life-changing care at no cost.
Treatment, she said, was provided free of charge for children under age five at Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG–Hope Walks) partner clinics across the country.
More than 9,000 children born with clubfoot had received treatment and care through the programme over the past 18 years.
“The treatment follows the internationally recognised Ponseti Method, which uses a series of gentle casts to gradually correct the position of the foot, followed by a brace to maintain correction and prevent relapse. When treatment begins early, success rates are extremely high,” Madam Adjetey explained.
“For many children, the journey begins with a health worker who identifies clubfoot at birth and makes a referral. A few moments of observation can change the course of a child’s life forever.”
“Clubfoot is not a curse; it is not caused by wrongdoing…it is a medical condition that can be treated successfully. Families should never feel ashamed to seek help.”
The Programme Manager said children born with the condition deserved equal opportunities, dignity, and inclusion, and called on communities to support parents rather than “judge them.” -GNA
