News
St. John’s School gets food elevator
Dr Enyan (middle, in blue) assisted by Mr Ofori-Siaw (left)
jointly inaugurating the food elevator at St John’s kitchen
The Director, General Operations, Rocksure International Limited, Dr Kwesi Enyan, has presented a GHȻ35,000.00 food elevator to his alma mater, the St. John’s School, at Sekondi, in the Western Region to enhance operations at the kitchen.
The gesture was also to ease the drudgery kitchen staff faced in transporting food and other essentials.
Previously, the pantry and kitchen staff hauled food, utensils and other items, using trucks through a circuitous route from the kitchen at the first floor to the dining hall and the same operations recur after meals.
Designed by engineer Sammy Acquah, also an old saint, the machine costing GHȻ35,000, is attached with a knob, main controls powered by electricity, a circuit breaker, and has a weight of 250 kg, equivalent to about 80 bowls.
Dr Enyan, a 1977 year member, told The Spectator , that he discussed with a contractor on site, Mr Acquah, as to how to reduce the drudgery at the kitchen to improve efficiency in serving the students.
“The key aspect of kitchen operations was to ensure the safety and security of staff because they can slip whiles transporting food, hence the food elevator,” Old Saint Dr Enyan said.
Assistant Headmaster, Academic, Mr Francis Atta Ofori -Siaw said “the food elevator will improve serving time, hygiene and promote maximum safety of the food we serve at the dining hall. We are proud of this gesture.”
From Clement Adzei Boye, Sekondi
The Ghana High Commission in Pretoria has advised Ghanaians living in South Africa to remain vigilant and take precautionary measures ahead of planned protest activities expected on June 30.
In a public advisory issued on Monday, June 29, the Mission urged Ghanaian nationals to prioritise their safety following a deadline announced by a group known as “March and March” and its affiliated organisations, which could lead to demonstrations and disruptions in parts of the country.
The High Commission advised Ghanaians to stay indoors, especially in central business districts, transport hubs, informal trading areas and other locations where protests may occur.
It encouraged them to temporarily close their businesses where necessary and avoid unnecessary movement until the situation stabilises.
The Mission further urged members of the Ghanaian community to avoid confrontations or provocative discussions, including on social media, and to ensure that their passports, residence permits and other identification documents were readily available at all times.
According to the High Commission, emergency telephone lines have been activated to provide assistance and receive reports from Ghanaians who may require help during the period.
It encouraged Ghanaians to remain calm, obey the laws of South Africa and cooperate fully with local authorities.
The Mission advised them to rely only on information from credible official sources and avoid sharing unverified reports or rumours that could create unnecessary panic.
The Ghana High Commission assured the Ghanaian community that it would continue to monitor developments and provide updates when necessary, adding that it remained committed to protecting the welfare of all Ghanaian nationals in South Africa.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has criticised the government’s handling of the flooding that hit parts of Accra and surrounding communities on Monday, urging it to move beyond what it described as public relations activities and take decisive action to address the country’s flood challenges.
In a press release issued on June 29, the party expressed sympathy to thousands of people affected by the floods but maintained that the government had failed to respond effectively to the recurring disaster.
The NPP noted that communities including the N1 Highway, Apenkwa, Achimota, Kaneshie, Weija, Spintex, Darkuman Junction and the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange were flooded after heavy rains.
According to the party, these communities have experienced flooding repeatedly over the years, making it necessary for government to adopt long term solutions.
The NPP argued that the current administration had created confusion by splitting responsibility for flood management between the Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources.
It claimed that the arrangement had resulted in poor coordination, with the two ministries competing over responsibilities instead of working together to address the problem.
The party questioned the decision to place Deputy Chief of Staff Stan Dogbe in charge of coordinating flood response efforts.
According to the NPP, he does not have the authority to direct ministers, making the current command structure ineffective.
The opposition party further alleged that some anti flood measures announced by the government had either not been implemented or had been poorly executed.
It claimed that delays in the release of funds for flood mitigation programmes had affected ongoing interventions.
The NPP rejected recent comments by President John Dramani Mahama that flooding was partly caused by poor environmental practices and indiscipline among some citizens.
It argued that while public cooperation was important, the government should take responsibility for designing and implementing effective flood management policies.
The party called on the President to place flood management under one ministry, appoint a single minister to lead the response, and provide a public account of the work and spending of the Anti Flood Task Force.
It also urged the government to work closely with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies and technical experts to improve land use planning, sanitation management and drainage infrastructure.
The statement, signed by the NPP General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, stressed that the party would continue to hold the government accountable while standing with families affected by the floods.
By: Jacob Aggrey
