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NGO donates agricultural items to SEKCO
Mrs Kermah (left) receiving a rabbit from Madam Kwakuyi
Goshen Global Vision (GGV), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) has donated some agricultural items to the Agricultural Science Department of Sekondi College (SEKCO) at Sekondi in the Western Region.
They include four doe (females) and one male (buck) rabbits, coop for eight rabbits, feeding trough, nesting boxes, watering cans, Biochar and rabbits droppings, vegetable seeds, garden spades, rakes and forks.
The Executive Director, Madam Mary Perpetua Kwakuyi said the main objective of GGV was to whip the interest of the youth in agriculture for them not to rely on non-existing white collar jobs.
She said that GGV was an NGO very much concerned about the environment and effects of climate change.
She said by presenting the items to SEKCO, her outfit was asking the Agriculture students to be very dedicated to their chosen subjects take care of the environment which humans depended on for all their needs.
Madam Kwakuyi said SEKCO was the first second cycle institution GGV was collaborating with to fight environmental degradation and see how to mitigate the effects of climate change which the school had shown by planting trees.
She said the rabbits would be used for practical experiments by the Science students especially those doing Biology, the droppings from the rabbits would be used as organic manure for the garden and the urine would act as pesticides for insects that might disturb the garden.
The Executive Director disclosed that GGV would use SEKCO as a model school for the use of Biochar (organic manure made from rice husks, saw dust or groundnut shells) in their school garden as case study for other schools.
The Headmistress of SEKCO, Mrs Goddy Abena Ampomah Kermah thanked the NGO for choosing the school as a model school and the items to be used by the Agricultural Department.
She said SEKCO was trying to take Agriculture to the next level and with the introduction of Biochar by GGV as organic manure, was welcome news to promote agriculture in the school.
She said management was trying to bring all tutors and non-teaching staff on board because a small backyard garden would surely produce some food for their families.
She said the collaboration between GGV and SEKCO would go a long way to make the youth develop interest in agriculture and go into it full time because agriculture had so many branches but not only farming.
From Peter Gbambila, Sekondi
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
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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
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