News
‘Patronise local foods to boost economy’
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The Eastern Regional Director of the Department of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mrs Juliana Abbeyquaye has urged Ghanaians to patronise locally manufactured foods to help build a stable and better economy.
She said patronising such local food stuffs would help support local farmers financially and promote agricultural development in the country.
“Purchasing fresh local foods from your typical markets instead of those huge supermarkets that import most of their foods will help place money in the hands of local farmers and build the local economy as well.” She added.
Mrs Abbeyquaye said these when she addressed participants at a cooking competition organised by the Eastern Regional Centre for National Culture (CNC) with support from Onga, last Wednesday.
The cooking competition was for organised groups including the Beads Market Association, Wood Workers Association, Garment Traders Association among many others who were tasked to prepare different Ghanaian dishes.
At the end of the competition, Beads Market Association emerged first, Ghana Association of Visual Arts chalked second and the third position was won by the Ghana Hairdressers and Beauticians Association.
The winners received prizes including souvenirs from the Onga company.
She said that by buying and eating local foods, Ghanaian would be helping to reduce the unemployment rate in the country.”
Speaking on child’s development, Mrs. Abbeyquaye stated that to guarantee a bright future for the young generations, there was the need for parents to focus on the nutrition of their children, by patronising local foods that would give the children the right nutrition to grow well.
She noted that in the era of COVID-19, it was essential for Ghanaians to boost their immune system by eating local foods to ensure their overall wellbeing.
On his part, the Acting Eastern Regional Director of CNC, Mr Peter Marfo also said there was the need for parents to patronise the country’s local foods and introduce same to their children, not only for health benefits but to also preserve and promote the country’s culture by encouraging their children to make good use of Ghana foods.
“Food gives a clue to any person’s culture and we know that our culture is a way of life of a group of people,” he said.
He added that recently, the influx of foreign foods was worrying adding that it did not only compromise our health but made the country lose its foreign exchange.
He said as a Centre established to promote the nation’s culture, they were ready to partner with organisations to promote the culture of the country.
He expressed appreciation to Onga for their support and thanked all the Associations for actively participating in the competition.
From David Kodjo, Koforidua
The Supreme Court has dismissed an application by former Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) Chief Executive Officer, Solomon Asamoah, seeking to stop the ongoing Skytrain trial.
Asamoah, the first accused in the case, had filed a certiorari application at the Supreme Court seeking to quash the High Court’s decision rejecting his submission of no case after the prosecution had closed its case.
He subsequently applied for an interlocutory injunction to prevent the High Court from continuing with the trial until the Supreme Court determined his certiorari application.
Justice Senyo Dzamefe, sitting as a single Justice of the Supreme Court, dismissed the injunction application on Monday after hearing arguments from the parties last Friday.
In his ruling, Justice Dzamefe held that, based on Asamoah’s own affidavit evidence, he had not demonstrated a serious case to be tried.
The court also held that the issues raised by the applicant were matters that could properly be addressed through an appeal.
It further found that the trial judge’s decision to rule on the submission of no case was not an act done without jurisdiction or beyond the court’s jurisdiction.
The Supreme Court also concluded that Asamoah had not demonstrated what irreparable harm he would suffer if the injunction was not granted.
The ruling means the High Court can continue with the Skytrain trial while Asamoah’s certiorari application remains pending.
The High Court has set September 23 as the final extended deadline for the accused persons to file their defence, should they decide to do so.
Meanwhile, the second accused person, former GIIF Board Chairman, Professor Christopher Ameyaw Ekumfi, has filed a fresh application for a stay of proceedings.
The application is scheduled to be heard by the Court of Appeal on September 1.
Asamoah and Prof. Ameyaw Ekumfi are standing trial over allegations that $2 million was paid towards the Skytrain project without the approval of the GIIF board.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), in collaboration with the National Security, has seized quantities of unregistered cigarette-shaped candy being sold in the Central Business District (CBD) of Accra.
The product, branded as Cigarette Rod Lollipop, was seized during a crackdown on its sale over the weekend.
The FDA reports that the key suspect involved in the sale has been arrested and is in police custody pending investigations into the importation, distribution and sale of the product.
The Authority cautioned that the Cigarette Rod Lollipop is not registered with the FDA, meaning its composition is unknown and could pose a public health risk to consumers.
It further warned that the cigarette-shaped design of the candy could encourage children who use it to develop an interest in smoking.
According to the FDA, this could undermine efforts to discourage smoking, particularly among young people.
The Authority has therefore advised the public not to purchase or use the product under any circumstances.
The FDA reminded the public that under Section 97(1) of the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), it is an offence to manufacture, import, export, distribute, sell or supply food unless it has been registered by the Authority.
It noted that the Cigarette Rod Lollipop falls under the category of food products.
The FDA has urged anyone who has information about individuals selling the product or other suspected unregistered products to report them to the Authority.
It appealed to persons who have the product in stock to immediately contact the FDA or submit it to the nearest FDA office.
Information leading to the arrest of the importer or other persons behind the importation and distribution of the product, the FDA added, will be treated confidentially and rewarded.
By: Jacob Aggrey
