Ghanaian entrepreneur Afua Asantewaa says she is delighted that her sing-a-thon journey inspired young people despite not being able to break the record for the longest singing time by an individual. The Guinness World Record (GWR) earlier announced Afua Asantewaa's attempt to break Sunil Waghmare's 105-hour record was unsuccesful. Afua Asantewaa has released a statement expressing gratitude to the people of Ghana and various stakeholders for their support. 'Even though the final outcome of the attempt did not meet my expectations. I am content with the massive impact I made during the period of the sing-a-thon and beyond. 'The interest and support I have received have been overwhelming, and I am deeply grateful,' she said. Afua Asantewaa was also content with the opportunities it opened for people who trooped to the venue during the Christmas festivities. '..I am excited to have inspired a lot of young people to step out of their comfort zone to dream big. I am looking forward to the showcasing of more talents through GWR and other?similar ventures that will help project the rich talent and resources Ghana is endowed with,' the social media sensation said. Afua Asantewaa also encouraged other compatriots to set their initiatives of breaking the Guinness World Records across various endeavours. She also disclosed that she had engaged GWR to provide details for her disqualification to enable her learn lessons. Source: Ghana News Agency
Ghana aims for 30 percent nuclear energy by 2070
President Nana Akufo-Addo says Ghana is envisioning nuclear energy to account for 30 per cent of the country's energy mix by 2070. This would ensure the provision of clean and affordable electricity to drive the country's industrialisation agenda. 'It is also meant to position Ghana as a net power exporter in the ECOWAS region through the West African Power Pool,' he said. President Akufo-Addo made the statement when delivering the 2024 State of the Nation Address to Parliament. He stated that his remark was an extension of what he said at the US-Africa Nuclear Energy Summit and the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Co-operation (IFNEC) Ministerial Conference, which took place in Accra in November last year. 'We have committed ourselves to the development of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes,' he added. Nuclear energy comes from splitting atoms in a reactor to heat water into steam, turn a turbine and generate electricity. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, nuclear is a lo w carbon emitting source of energy apart from being a clean, reliable, affordable, and modern energy source. Available data indicates that the total installed capacity for existing plants in Ghana is 5,134 Megawatt (MW), with a dependable capacity of 4,710 MW. Thermal generation accounts for the largest share of Ghana's power generation, representing 66 percent, with hydro accounting for 33 percent. Ghana's thermal power generation is fuelled largely by natural gas, but occasionally using light crude oil and diesel. Ghana exports power to Togo, Benin, and Burkina Faso. Source: Ghana News Agency
Tabboubi: “Threats, prisons will not dissuade labour union from continuing to defend rights of workers”
Threats and prisons will not dissuade the labour union from continuing to defend the rights of workers," said SG of the Tunisian General Labour Union (French: UGTT) Noureddine Taboubbi. The UGTT will not be silent when trade union right and civil rights are abused, Tabboubi Saturday told a worker rally outside the seat of the Prime Ministry to demand the launch of social dialogue, the respect of trade union rights and the implementation of agreements signed with the government. "Trade union rights were violated in the recent months as several union members were jailed and prosecuted,'' Tabboubi said, citing some names. All these threats will not deter the labour union from forging ahead with its battle to champion the cause of workers and the country. Tunisia, he further said, is at a crossroads that call for wisdom. Trade union rights are enshrined in the constitution and their respect is a sign of democracy. The union is utterly opposed to practices aimed to curb trade union rights, Tabboubi added. Som e union members appeared recently before the disciplinary board in infringement of Article 74 of Tunisia's charter and international treaties ratified by the country. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
President Akufo-Addo, wife, bid farewell to Gertrude Quashigah
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has joined hundreds of mourners at Keta Senior High Technical School (KETASCO) Park to pay his last respect to the late Mrs Gertrude Essie Quashigah (nee Darteh). Also, in attendance to bid farewell to the wife of the late Major (Rtd) Courage Quashigah, a former Minister of Health, and Agriculture under the Kufuor government, was the First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo. Among other dignitaries at the funeral were Madam Akosua Frema Osei Opare, the Chief of Staff, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, Volta Regional Minister, and other national, high-ranking members of government, Regional and Constituency Executives of the ruling New Patriotic Party. Mrs Quashigah, the former National Coordinator of the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) and Chief Executive Officer of Ambar Quality Foods Limited, died Sunday, November 12, 2023, at age 63. Under her leadership, the GSFP made remarkable strides in ensuring that schoolchildren nationwide had access to nutritious meals. The program me, a government intervention, which started in 2005 to provide food to children in public basic schools from kindergarten to primary six, aims to increase school enrolment, attendance and retention while reducing short-term hunger and malnutrition among pupils. Some attendees speaking to Ghana News Agency at the funeral, described her as someone, who had left a mark on the nation's socio-economic landscape by dint of dedicated service and entrepreneurial endeavours. A staff from the GSFP alluded to the significant contributions the late Mrs Quashigah made as the GSFP boss, saying, she worked to uplift the country's educational system and improve lives of many schoolchildren and that 'her legacy which is the power of perseverance, compassion, and leadership will inspire Ghana's future generations.' Source: Ghana News Agency
Blue March: Awareness-raising walk on importance of early detection of colon cancer
As part of the Blue March event, the Health Ministry on Saturday staged a walk along the El Menzah health pathway to raise awareness of the importance of early detection of colon cancer, in collaboration with the Tunis Regional Health Directorate and with the participation of the regional directorates of Greater Tunis, health professionals and representatives of civil society. The event, held under the slogan "Let's join forces against colon cancer," aims to raise public awareness of the importance of early diagnosis, project manager at the Health Ministry Lamia Mnasri Chenik told TAP, pointing out that participants in the event will run a distance of 3 km in a symbolic gesture to underline the importance of physical exercise in preventing colon cancer. She called in this regard, for the need to carry out free cancer screening tests in basic health care centres, pointing out that 9 out of 10 patients can be cured of this type of cancer if screening is carried out early. For her part, acting regional health director for Tunis Rim Trabelsi said that Tunisia had recorded 3,788 new cases of colon cancer in 2023. "It is the fourth most common cancer among men and the second most prevalent among women," she specified. All people aged 50 and over are eligible for screening, she explained, indicating that weight loss, abdominal pain and bleeding with stools are among the symptoms of this disease. Trabelsi recommended adopting a healthy diet, avoiding fizzy drinks and processed meats, and reducing consumption of red meat to 500g per week as a preventive measure. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse