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Too much sweets unhealthy …find alternative means to reward children – Dietician
● Mr. Wise Letsa
A Dietician, Mr. Wise Letsa has advised parents who have the habit of constantly rewarding their children with sweets and sugar-sweetened beverages to desist from it.
“Giving these to children occasionally is fine, but not always, ” he said.
Speaking in an interview with The Spectator about how to keep children healthy, the Dietician said excess sugar had the potential to cause obesity in children and could lead to serious health conditions.
Obesity is a condition in which a child is significantly overweight for his or her age and height.
He said frequently giving sugary substances to children put a child at risk of developing high blood sugar, elevated cholesterol and could even result in diabetes.
Diabetes is a group of diseases that results in too much sugar in the blood (high blood glucose).
Mr. Letsa advised parents to rather find more child-friendly ways to encourage their children to do what was right and did not involve the use of sugary foods.
These may include hugging, allowing children to watch their favourite programmes, playing a game, visits to their favourite places and gifts.
He said overeating sweets was not good for children as it compromised their health and so it was important that parents adhered to practices that would improve their health.
He recommended that eating well, not making the consumption of processed foods a habit, and exercising frequently would ensure good health in children.
From DzifaTettehTay, Tema.
The Vice President, Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has called for stronger action to promote gender equity and create more opportunities for women in the workplace.
She made the call in a Facebook post after joining staff at the Presidency of Ghana to mark International Women’s Day.
The celebration was held under the theme “From Commitment to Action: Promoting Equity for Every Woman in the Workplace” and focused on recognising the achievements of women while reflecting on the work needed to ensure equal opportunities.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang extended warm wishes to women across Ghana and noted that women have always played key roles in the country’s communities and economic activities.
According to her, women in the past served as healers, traders and queen mothers who contributed to leadership and governance in traditional societies.
She explained that Ghana’s cultural history shows that women have long provided knowledge, leadership and innovation to help develop communities.
The Vice President however noted that current disparities require society to examine systems and structures that may have limited opportunities for women.
She stressed that advancing gender equity will require deliberate actions and the mentoring of young women to prepare them for leadership roles.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang recognised women whose work takes place in markets, streets and small trading spaces across the country.
According to her, these women form the backbone of local economies and continue to demonstrate resilience despite the difficult conditions they face.
She commended women working at the Presidency for their dedication and leadership and reaffirmed the need to promote respect, fairness and opportunity for every woman.
The Vice President further called on both men and women to work together to break barriers and ensure that women can fully contribute to Ghana’s development.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Diaspora Affairs Office at the Office of the President has hosted a delegation of African diaspora women who are in Ghana ahead of a planned Presidential Conferment of Citizenship ceremony.
The Director of Diaspora Affairs, Kofi Okyere Darko, explained in a Facebook post that the visit was a gesture of appreciation by the delegation to the Government of Ghana for its continued efforts to reconnect Africans in the diaspora with their ancestral homeland.
He indicated that the ceremony, scheduled for next Monday, will officially grant Ghanaian citizenship to members of the delegation as part of the country’s broader engagement with the African diaspora.
The delegation was led by Erica Bennett, Founder of the Diaspora Africa Forum.
According to Mr Okyere Darko, her years of advocacy have played an important role in strengthening ties between Africa and people of African descent living abroad.
He noted that the group’s journey towards citizenship represents not only a legal process but also a cultural and spiritual return to their roots.
Also present at the meeting was Natalie Jackson, an attorney who is also expected to receive Ghanaian citizenship during the ceremony. She works closely with renowned civil rights lawyer Ben Crump.
Mr Okyere Darko emphasised that Ghana remains committed to strengthening relationships with the African diaspora and promoting unity, identity, and shared heritage among people of African descent worldwide.
By: Jacob Aggrey
