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Methodist Men’s Fellowship celebrate the aged at Effiakuma
• Mrs. Mina Tweneboa-Kodua (right) receiving a gift from Mr. Abraham A. Aikins
The Association of Methodist Men’s Fellowships of Dunwell Branch at Effiakuma has celebrated the aged in the church by hosting them to a dinner to mark the end of 2022 under the theme “Celebration of God’s Grace and Mercy.”
The Dunwell Branch Men’s Fellowship Chairman, Brother Gilbert Armstrong-Mensah said: “The aged who have paid their dues in the church have been neglected for far too long”.
He said these old men and women worked hard to sustain the church but had been forgotten with little or no attention shown to them.
He, therefore, pleaded with all Methodist Men’s Fellowship country wide to consider the aged people who contributed immensely to the growth of the church and must not be forgotten so soon especially those who had little care for themselves.
Mr. Armstrong-Mensah was addressing a dinner held recently at the Dunwell Methodist Church where the aged had gathered to eat, socialise and show their dancing skills which they once practised.
He said as the newly elected chairman of the fellowships he would make sure a data base was created for all the aged to enable the association occasionally visit them to know their major challenges and how best the church could assist them.
He suggested that a form of appreciation be started for all the aged just as the church normally did to the pastors as a thank you for their contribution to the church.
He said the indiscipline in the country was as a result of government taking over all the mission schools not applying any disciplinary actions in the institutions.
He said that many demonstrations in society, strikes in institutions and other unwanted behaviours were as a result of broken down discipline in all the learning institutions right from Basic Level to tertiary adding “government must return all mission schools to the various churches because government had opened enough schools to manage now and this would bring the needed peace in Ghana”.
The Sekondi Diocesan Chairman, Brother Paul Appiah also said some spouses had lost their partners and since the children were grown and not staying with the parents, life became difficult and boring to some of the aged.
“The teachings in the Sunday school have made our children to grow up well disciplined but other churches easily snatched them away from us”, he said.
He appealed to the fellowship to continue committing the aged into prayer, frequent visitation and some tokens would encourage them to be lively and know that they had not been forgotten.
The Effiakuma Circuit Superintendent Minister, Very Rev. Lewis Smart Asare said what was taking place was a sign hatched by God and executed by men since all here were ambassadors of Jesus.
He said all men needed to get closer to Christ in order to shine for others to see just like the moon which got its light by leaning on the sun in order to shine for others.
Thirty members of the church who were aged attended the dinner and all were given an undisclosed amount of money as a New Year gift.
From Peter Gbambila, Effiakuma
Local mattress manufacturers have raised serious concerns over the influx of substandard mattresses, warning that these products pose significant health risks to consumers and threaten the sustainability of Ghana’s mattress industry.
At a press briefing held in Kumasi on Tuesday, manufacturers accused unregistered foreign entities, particularly Chinese firms, of flooding the market with cheap mattresses made from polystyrene.
Mr Yaw Ampem Darko, a spokesperson for the local manufacturers, warned that prolonged use of substandard mattresses, especially those made with polystyrene, could result in chronic back pain, musculoskeletal disorders, poor posture, and diminished sleep quality.
These health implications, they stressed, were not always immediately evident but accumulate over time, especially among vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.
This material, typically used for packaging, is considered unsuitable and unsafe for bedding.
According to industry leaders, these sub-standard products have been circulating for at least five years, gaining traction among unsuspecting consumers due to their unusually low prices.
“These mattresses are being sold at suspiciously low prices, luring unsuspecting consumers who are unaware of the health dangers.”
“We are not just protecting our businesses; we are protecting Ghanaian lives. The government must act swiftly to stem this tide before more citizens fall victim to these dangerous products,” Mr Yaw Ampem Darko stated.
The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has acknowledged the issue and, in response, announced a nationwide enforcement campaign aimed at clamping down on the production, distribution, and sale of substandard mattresses.
The campaign, which was scheduled to take effect from September 30, 2025, was empowered by the GSA Act, 2022 (Act 1078), which authorises the Authority to seize and seal non-compliant products and impose sanctions on offenders.
In a statement signed by the Director General of the GSA, Professor George Agyei, the authority cited Sections 29 and 43 of the Act, reiterating that all mattresses sold in Ghana must meet established national standards or face confiscation.
The statement further emphasised that mattresses failing to meet these standards not only compromise sleep quality but also contribute to long-term health complications, including spinal and neck pain.
Despite the GSA’s commitment, manufacturers have expressed frustration over delays in implementation and called for stronger enforcement mechanisms.
They urged the GSA to work in close collaboration with the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and national law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute violators of Ghana’s quality standards.
Manufacturers are also appealing to consumers to remain vigilant and prioritise their health by verifying that any mattress they purchase bears the GSA certification mark.
Moreover, they caution the public against purchasing suspiciously cheap mattresses that lack proper labelling or identifiable branding, as these were often indicators of substandard or counterfeit products.
As the official enforcement deadline had expired with no show, the local producers insisted that much more than business interests were at stake.
They argued that without swift and sustained action, the health and safety of Ghanaian consumers would continue to be compromised.
“Public awareness, strict enforcement, and collaboration among regulatory bodies are essential if we are to protect the integrity of the local industry and the wellbeing of the Ghanaian people,” Mr Darko indicated.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
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The Founder of the Raissa Child Protection Initiative, Ms Raissa Sambou, has urged authorities to impose severe punishment on individuals, including teachers and guardians, who sexually abuse young girls.
Speaking in an interview to mark this year’s International Day of the Girl Child (October 11), Ms Sambou condemned the increasing cases of sexual exploitation involving minors, describing such acts as “heartless, criminal, and a total betrayal of trust.”
She noted that those entrusted with the care and education of children must not be the same people who violate them, stressing that “anyone found guilty of abusing a girl child must face the full rigours of the law without leniency.”
The International Day of the Girl Child is observed annually to promote the rights of girls, empower them to reach their full potential, and draw attention to the challenges they face worldwide.
Ms Sambou lamented that poverty continues to push many young girls into vulnerable situations, exposing them to exploitation.
She expressed concern that some headmasters, teachers, and community members who should protect girls rather take advantage of them.
“This must stop immediately. The safety of every girl must never be compromised,” she said, urging the public to report all forms of abuse to the appropriate authorities and called for swift action by law enforcement agencies against perpetrators.
Addressing girls directly, Ms Sambou encouraged them to take their education seriously and to believe in their potential.
“It is possible to be young and responsible. Your future is bright, protect it, believe in it, and never let anyone dim your light,” she advised.
She further urged girls to choose their friends wisely, stay disciplined, and speak up if anyone makes sexual advances toward them.
Ms Sambou concluded with a rallying call for collective action, saying “speak up, protect them, and empower them. Together, we can end the sexual exploitation of girls.”
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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