News
Joseph Nii Quaye Armah adjudged best farmer at Ningo Prampram
A 59-year old man, Joseph Nii Quaye Armah, was adjudged the overall best farmer in the Ningo Prampram District at its Farmers’ Day last Friday.
Mr Armah who started farming four years ago has 30 acres of maize farm, 25 acres of water melon, 12.5 acres of rice, 10 acres of cabbage, 10 acres of onions and five acres of lettuce.
He owns also 70 goats, 120 sheep, 400 rabbits, 10 fish ponds and two fish hatchery.
Mr Armah in an address advised the youth to go into farming because “there is dignity in it and it is profitable.”
Seven other farmers were also honoured at the ceremony.
They were Robert Gblekpo, the District Best Livestock Farmer, Rich Agro Limited won the Best District Crop Farmer award, Noah Kporsu, District Best Youth Farmer and Rose Ametowudufia, as the District Best Physically Challenged Farmer.
The rest were Patience Ackam, District Best Female Farmer, Gloria Asamoah, District Best Extension Officer and the first runner up for the best farmer being David Asem.
They received quantities of pesticides, liquid fertilisers, matchetes, wheelbarrows, wax print, 32 inches television sets, weedicides, table top fridges.
The overall best farmer received a double door refrigerator, bicycle, a 32-inch television set among others.
Speaking on the theme “Enhancing Agribusiness Development under COVID-19 Challenges and Opportunities” the Ningo-Prampram District Chief Executive, Mr Jonathan Teye Doku noted that the Planting for Food and Jobs had been a major intervention crop production programme for the district.
The Ningo-Prampram District Acting Director of Agriculture, Mr Prince Ofori-Boateng, noted that agriculture transformation remained the underpinning factor for Ghana’s economic development and must be given the needed attention to build a solid economy.
He was hopeful that the processes being implemented by government to transform agriculture into business would create more jobs, raise farmers’ incomes and further reduce malnutrition.
From Godfred Blay Gibbah, Tsopoli
Troubled and anxious citizens in Damongo of the Savannah Region have expressed concerns about the number of young people, believed to be under the age of 18, involved in ‘shisha’ smoking in pubs and drinking spots within the township.
Eyewitnesses say the minors were seen patronising nightlife venues, where Shisha smoking happen in the open.
The situation has sparked renewed public concern over the enforcement of child protection laws and regulations governing the operations of entertainment centres in the municipality and country as a whole.
An eyewitness, who spoke to The Spectator on conditions of anonymity for security reasons, noted that the situation was becoming increasingly common.
“This is not a one-off incident. It is becoming very common, but residents like us cannot openly report or speak about it because our lives will be at risk,” he said.
Under Ghanaian law, minors were prohibited from patronising Shisha.
Public health experts have consistently warned that shisha use exposes users to harmful substances that can negatively affect brain development, respiratory health, and overall well-being, particularly among young people.
The residents believe the alleged incidents point to broader challenges relating to youth supervision, substance abuse, and weak enforcement of existing regulations and have called on municipal authorities, security agencies, and regulatory bodies to intensify monitoring of pubs and entertainment centres to ensure compliance with the law.
In an effort to address the menace, Mr Salisu Be-Awurbi, the Savannah Regional Minister, has led public education campaigns, engaged security agencies, and supported enforcement actions to address the rising use of illicit substances in the region.
Wura Kelly Seidu Boresah I, the Chief of Damongo, has also called on all stakeholders including parents, community leaders, institutions, and young people to actively support efforts to curb drug abuse, warning that the rising consumption of hard drugs poses a serious health threat to the future of the youth in the Savannah Region.
He also cautioned individuals involved in the sale and distribution of illicit drugs to immediately desist from the practice, stressing that offenders will face arrest and prosecution in accordance with the law.
From Geoffrey Buta, Damongo, Savannah Region
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Dr Theresa Baffour, an advocate for ending violence and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SAHM SAHW Foundation, has said that society plays a critical and pivotal role in breaking the cycle of domestic violence.
According to her, domestic violence is a major contributor of making women, who are mostly the victims, mentally derailed and unable to engage in economic activities.
She said this when the foundation called on the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, to solicit support for the initiative by the “Strong and Healthy Minds, Strong and Healthy Women” (SAHM SAHW) to combat domestic violence within the Ga State.
The visit was occasioned by the fact that domestic violence cases have become quite prevalent in the Ga communities and is retarding growth.
According to her, the canker was an impediment to national development because the victims were usually tortured and would have to go through series of therapies to return to the right state of mind.
Dr Baffour mentioned that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) places a mental toll on women, and was, therefore, important to break the cycle through comprehensive mental health support, crisis intervention and empowerment programmes in communities with high rates of GBV.
This intervention, she underscored, would help in empowering the denigrated victim of domestic violence to soundly heal, build and thrive.
Dr Baffour added that the initiative would provide holistic, trauma-informed mental health care and advocacy for young women affected by domestic violence.
According to her, the above statement would create safe spaces for healing and equipping them with entrepreneurial skills for renewed hope and empowered life.
The Ga Mantse pledged his support for the laudable initiative to combat domestic violence and also acknowledged the need to address it in the Ga State.
Further endorsement came from Justice Julia Naa-Yarley Adjei Amoah, Chief of Staff at the Office of the Ga Mantse, as she commended the team of SAHM SAHW Foundation for taking a bold step to end the canker in the Greater Accra.
She added that it was a step in the right direction to save vulnerable women from torture, stress and emotional abuse.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
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