Health Essentials
Lamentations of a Cocoa lover – Part 1
Farming have become a preserve of the elderly
Why do we still go globe-trotting calabash in hand, a large entourage in tow and officials back home waiting to pounce on the “booty” that will be squeezed into our calabash like the last drop from an Ideal Milk tin?
We sit on so much wealth but like Diabetes, we are hungry (poor) in the midst of plenty.
I do not have answers to our challenges as a country with my limited information because from where I stand it appears international economic woes alone cannot explain our challenges but we have many smart people in leadership positions so something must be missing.
I am no history scholar (my only claim to that is being a friend to one of the great Prof Albert Adu Boahen’s children. May Chris’ soul rest in perfect peace), I do not think there has ever been a better time in the history of our dear country; stable democracy, peace, loads of knowledge, people willing to make a difference, access to a global market and many more.
Yes, the challenges are humongous, but we are not alone, and the story has always been the same.
For as long as I can remember, we have always been one of the top two producers of Cocoa in the world, yet we hardly have a say in the money we should get from the toils of Tetteh Quarshie.
The cocoa farmer seems to be a “neglected” species. Together with our neighbour to our West, we produce over 60% of the world’s cocoa yet as the price of cocoa products like chocolate continue to rise, the price of our unrefined cocoa beans continues to dance “agbadza” with peaks and troughs; who pulls the strings? My limited economics fails me here.
Fear of the unknown may paralyse us but the obvious should urge us on. The pattern of cocoa growth around the country is changing and climate change is certainly playing a role. Can Cocoa really go extinct (I first heard this on Citi FM) if global warming continues unabated?
Are we losing cocoa only to changing climate, galamsey, disease and aging trees or other issues such as lack of respect for those who till the land including cocoa farmers?
Have we made farming so unattractive that it is now the preserve of the elderly? What happens when that generation moves on to glory? The young ones are moving to the cities to be close to where most of the money from cocoa is spent.
These days I see some beauty products from cocoa, shea butter etc. produced locally. These are amazing world-class products. Why did it take us so long to do so little? These finished products need to be promoted nationwide, then to our neighbours and then around the world. We should use as much as possible here for its health and beauty benefits while creating wealth.
I still think about the National Cathedral, but I will keep my thoughts to myself. We need a COCOA VILLAGE by ALL MEANS. This will be a major tourist attraction for both internal and external clients.
CAN YOU JUST IMAGINE, a world top two cocoa producer has a place where you can go to experience the exciting cocoa story of perseverance, hope and maybe patriotism? A place where you can see a miniature cocoa farm and how it is tendered daily and different stages including harvesting and drying.
Areas that show physically or in pictures processing of chocolate, cocoa bread, cake, pastries, drinks, soap, shampoo, body creams and an endless list. We can throw in a few games/activities and couch them as Tetteh Quarshie’s favourite. Why has this not materialized? Tourism please!!!
At least one day each week should be COCOA DAY; everyone or at least all state offices, functions etc. should serve only cocoa products. We will reap not only from the health benefits but also a product that becomes more attractive world-wide and guess what will follow.
Can we have properly organized “cocoa festivals” at least once a year? It should be fairly easy to set the ball rolling by organizing a mini cocoa festival at least once a month in one COCOBOD facility nationwide; lets showcase cocoa products and add some “flavour” to make it attractive.
ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)
Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Health Essentials Ltd (HE&W Group)
(dressel@healthessentialsgh. com)
*Dr. Essel is a medical doctor with a keen interest in Lifestyle Medicine, He holds an MBA and is an ISSA Specialist in exercise therapy, fitness nutrition and corrective exercise. He is the author of the award-winning book, ‘Unravelling The Essentials of Health & Wealth.’
Thought for the week – “imagine your food as part of your body and let that inform your choices. Do you want to be built of and powered by junk food?”
Reference:
1. Information from National Committee for The Promotion of Cocoa Consumption
2. “Way Maker”
3. “He Made a Way”
4. www.webmd.com
5. www.mayoclinic.com
6. Professor Addai
By Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
The prostate gland, a small but essential organ found only in men, plays a key role in reproductive health. It produces fluid that nourishes, protects, and transports sperm, yet many focus only on its connection to prostate cancer.
Location & Function
- Situated between the bladder and penis, with the rectum behind it.
- The urethra passes through the prostate, carrying urine and semen.
Common Prostate Conditions
1. Prostatitis – Infection of the prostate:
- Symptoms: chills, fever, pus-like urethral discharge, painful urination, groin/testicular pain, painful orgasms, erectile dysfunction.
- Advice: Seek professional help; do not self-medicate.
2. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) – Non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate:
- Symptoms: frequent urination (especially at night), urge incontinence, difficulty starting urination, weak stream, painful urination, blood in urine, terminal dribbling, and in severe cases, inability to urinate.
- BPH can be extremely painful, sometimes compared to labor pains.
3. Prostate Cancer – Common among men, especially black men, often aggressive and with earlier onset:
- Risk Factors: older age, African descent, family history, obesity.
- Symptoms: frequent urination, straining, blood in urine/semen, weak urine flow, new erectile dysfunction; advanced stages may include fatigue, weight loss, and bone pain.
Diagnosis
- Digital rectal examination – checks for irregular or hard areas.
- PSA test, biopsy, ultrasound, CT/MRI/PET scans, bone scan.
Management
- Holistic approaches include watchful waiting, medication, surgery, and radiation (external & brachytherapy).
- Always discuss all options with your healthcare provider.
Risk Reduction Tips
- Regular screening
- Healthy, varied diet rich in fruits and vegetables (carrots, tomatoes, broccoli, kale, cauliflower)
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Exercise at least 5 days a week
Final Advice
- Share this information – the prostate needs support!
- Maintain good hygiene, walk and exercise daily, pray, and know your numbers (blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, BMI).
Thought for the Week:
“There is no magic formula to being happy but making a conscious effort to be happy goes a long way.” – Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Dr. Essel invites readers to the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel Wellness Festival on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at 6 a.m., to walk, exercise, network, and share ideas to stay healthy.
Contact: dressel@healthessentialsgh.com
By Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
Health Essentials
Stop the silent killer: Breaking myths to prevent sudden deaths from high blood pressure
Every week in Ghana, a life is cut short, sometimes in the middle of traffic, sometimes at a desk, sometimes in the quiet of sleep. A father doesn’t come home. A sister doesn’t wake up.
A colleague slumps at work and never gets back up. Families are left asking why and you will hear statements like what happened? Was he sick? I just saw him, he has not shown signs of ailment, what a shock and so on.
Behind many of these sudden tragedies is a quiet, invisible force: high blood pressure, or hypertension. It doesn’t scream for attention. It doesn’t always show symptoms. But it tightens its grip silently on hearts, on brains, on lives.
This is not just a medical issue. It is a human one, it is about behaviour, it is about ignorance and it is about lifestyle. It is the grandmother who never got her blood pressure checked because she felt “fine.”
It is the taxi driver, the statistician, the nurse who ignored his pounding headaches, thinking it was just stress. It is the young lady who was so vibrant at church and no one suspected she could fall and die. Because it shows no symptoms.
The alarming numbers we cannot ignore
The Ghana’s 2023 STEPS Survey on Non-Communicable Diseases conducted by The World Health Organisation, Ghana Health Service and Ghana Statistical Service has revealed findings that should push for action.
According to the report, 21.7 per cent of adults aged 18 to 69 in Ghana are living with high blood pressure. Even more alarming is that 51.1 per cent of those with hypertension are not aware of their condition.
This means that more than half of the people with dangerously high blood pressure are walking around without knowing it until tragedy strikes. That is the real danger of this silent killer.
Literature has shown that hypertension is preventable and manageable. But only if we treat it like the threat, it is. That means regular checkups; that means understanding the risks and that means talking about it openly, urgently, and with compassion.
The deadly power of myths
Why are so many Ghanaians untested or untreated? Is it out of ignorance, or the pervasive myths about hypertension and its treatment?
• Some believe blood pressure medicine “weakens the body” or “shortens life.”
• Some believe blood pressure medicine “weakens the penis and kills sexual drive”
• Others think once you start taking medication, you are “dependent for life.”
• Many say, “I feel fine, so I must be fine.”
These beliefs are not only false, but they are also deadly. The truth, according to the World Health Organisation, is that effective treatment can reduce the risk of stroke by up to 40 per cent and heart attack by 25 per cent. Avoiding treatment does not prevent dependence rather, it accelerates death.
As Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, former Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, has noted, “Hypertension is preventable and treatable, but our biggest battle is misinformation and late detection.”
A national conversation we must have
This is not just a health issue it is a national emergency. Sudden deaths rob families of breadwinners, communities of leaders, and the country of its productivity. In every obituary notice caused by hypertension, there is a story of loss that could have been prevented with a simple blood pressure check and treatment.
Behind every life saved is a moment of awareness, a decision to act, therefore, the media must rise to the challenge.
Radio and television programmes should dedicate regular airtime to demystify hypertension. Newspapers should carry survivor stories, expert interviews, and practical lifestyle advice.
Social media influencers should spread awareness in local languages, reaching young people who assume they are safe.
Public health experts also have a responsibility. Screening must move beyond hospitals into churches, mosques, markets, schools, and workplaces. People should not have to wait for illness to know their BP status.
What we can do together
To stop the silent killer, we need a collective response:
• Check your blood pressure regularly, even if you feel healthy.
• Follow medical advice faithfully if diagnosed because treatment saves lives.
• For healthy lifestyle, eat less salt, reduce alcohol, reduce starchy, fat and oil intake, avoid smoking, and exercise at least 30 minutes daily.
• Encourage one another talk about blood pressure in families, communities, and workplaces.
Conclusion: Silence is killing us
What kills is not just the disease, but the silence, fear, and myths that surround it. The STEPS 2023 report has sounded the alarm: nearly one in five Ghanaian adults has high blood pressure, and more than half don’t even know it.
This is the time for bold conversation, public education, and decisive action. The media, health professionals, policymakers, and ordinary citizens must join forces to expose the myths, spread the facts, and save lives. Let us not wait for another headline.
Let us make blood pressure a national conversation before it becomes a personal tragedy. With awareness, treatment, and collective will, Ghana can stop the silence and stop the sudden deaths from the silent killer.
Written by: Ansah Moses Teye-Akam – Senior Statistician, Sociologist/Scientific Research Organisational Expert.
Email: moses.ansah@ statsghana.gov.gh/ansahmosesteyeakam@ gmail.com.gh Contact: 0244539034 / 0204359034
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
