Day: March 29, 2024

Dr Rich Roberts, former Chief Scientific Officer, New England Biolabs, Massachusetts - USA has urged developing countries to adopt Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) for food security. To him, genetically modified plants, which have had their genetic makeup modified in a laboratory, typically using high-tech genetic engineering, unlike occurring in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods, should be the way to go for improved yields to feed populations in a sustainable way. Dr Roberts said this while presenting on the topic, Biomedical Science for community development at a roundtable discussion organised by Sena Institute of Technology (SIT), Penyi, a research ecosystem for studying interactions between plants, aquatic and human interactions on the theme, 'Biomedical Research: A Resource for Community Development.' The 1993 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine stressed the need to ignore anti-GMO arguments which had no basis in science yet deliberately being put out mostly by Europeans to discourage countries in Africa and South America for example, from adopting the technology saying, 'GM technology is safe.' 'Biotechnology is the technology to shape the future. Anti-GMO activists only talk about how dangerous the technology could be and never how helpful it could be. But GM crops have the most human health and environmental benefits. They're pest/insect resistant, make better yields and require fewer environmental resources like water and fertilizer.' GM technology is safe just as traditional breeding, if not safer. For instance, the Bt-toxin (produced from soil-dwelling bacterium called Bacillus thuringiensis) gene that is placed in plants like corn and potatoes are the same that organic farmers use for their crops. For over 25 years, there is zero evidence that GMO foods are harmful to human health.' The roundtable discussion brought together traditional leaders, officials from the Ketu North and South Municipal Directorates of Education and Health, representatives from tertiary and second-cycle institutions, students and Penyi citizens to share their roles and initiatives in developing the community. Torgbuiga Dadzie IV, Paramount Chief of Penyi said the Traditional Council played a key role in ensuring peace, moved to stop sand winning in the area, worked towards rice production initiative that would benefit Penyi and the larger society and collaborated to stop problems being posed by the presence of Fulani herdsmen. Mamaga Hoeflewo II, Paramount Queen, Penyi said because her roles catered for women and youth, she was working on a proposal for a project, Integrated Agriculture, Aquaculture and Processing, aimed at empowering women and youth and the larger community economically using precision technology. Representative of Dr Felix Mawuli Kamassah, Managing Director, Maphlix Trust Ghana Limited and Penyi citizen said Maphlix had been involved in development projects in communities in Ketu North and supporting needy but brilliant students as part of its corporate social responsibilit y programmes. Madam Bless Apetorgbor, who represented the Volta Regional Education Director said the government recognised education as the key driver of sustainable growth and societal development and, hence, initiated policies and programmes like free compulsory pre-tertiary education and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics initiative. She asked for stakeholders' unwavering support and commitment to Ghana's thriving and equitable future. Dr Andrews Kwasi Agbleke, President, SIT in an interview with Ghana News Agency said the Institute was established in Ghana in May 2016 as a non-profit research institute to bring seasoned and young researchers across the globe to work together for a common purpose of building research capacity in Africa. He said the Institute had among others been undertaking research towards maintaining sustainable agriculture in Volta, Ghana and across Africa. Source: Ghana News Agency

Women vendors in Etor (mashed cocoyam, yam, or plantain), business a locally prepared Ghanaian dish in the Sunyani Municipality have appealed for modernized Ghanaian-made cooking stoves to sustain them in business. During a Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani as the nation observes Heritage Month, the women vendors, mostly in their 50s were noticed exposed to naked fires, as they prepared the dishes for sale, and appealed for modernized stoves that could absorb sunlight and fire. Some of them said they had been in the business for more than decades, saying, that because they exposed themselves to the open fires for hours, they were experiencing serious health complications including bad sight, and body pains. 'However, because I don't have any other option, I have to stay on with the business because that is what I depend on to fend for myself and my family,' Nana Yaa Kumi-Akyeaw, a vendor at the Sunyani Main garage told the GNA. Nana Kumi-Akyeaw, a native of Sunyani, said she was a single mother of three children and had been in the Etor business for more than 33 years now. 'I experienced dizziness and unusual heartbeat sometimes, but I can't leave the business,' she stated and appealed for support. Another Vendor, Monica Osei, said though the business looked lucrative, vendors also had to spend more on their health every month because the local stoves they used to prepare the diet were exposed to sunlight as well. 'Sometimes the heat is too much to bear. We will, therefore, be grateful if the government can provide us with modern and localized cooking stoves to support our businesses,' she stated. Other vendors noticed around the Sunyani Victoria Park and the Sunyani Night Market preparing the diet, declined to speak to the media, as some customers were sighted, waiting patiently to buy. Preparation Nana Kumi-Akyeaw took the GNA through its preparation and added her customers who used to buy roasted cocoyam and yam had now developed an appetite for the dish. Preparation Vendors either used roasted ya m, plantain or ripped plantain or cocoyam for the preparation of the dish after roasting the stuff on fire. Most of the vendors used traditionally made Ghanaian stoves with charcoal to roast and ensure the stuff was well cooked. Thereafter, they grind the cooked stuff in a locally made grinding bowl made of clay and add some ingredients including fresh pepper, ginger, and onions, mixed with palm oil. Depending on customer preference and demand, the vendors either spiced the dish with roasted or ground groundnuts, salted fish, a boiled egg, and peas. Nana Kumi-Akyeaw said through the Etor business, she had been able to cater for the education of her three children to the tertiary level. She said because of the way and manner she spiced the diet, her customers were not only at the garage but walked distances to either buy in take-away bowls or eat around. The dish, she added, was sold between GHC15 and GHC20 depending on the type and ingredients, saying many of her customers opt for the ones prepared with either roasted yam or cocoyam. However, some of the customers also preferred a mixture of yam and ripped plantain to whet their appetite, Nana Kumi-Akyeaw added. She said though the demand for the diet was high, her daily profit kept decreasing for some time now because of the increase in the price of charcoal and the foodstuff in the market. 'Scarcity of cocoyam is also slowing down the business,' she stated, indicating that the increase in the price of palm oil, groundnuts, tubers of yam, and charcoal and vegetables had affected the business now. 'Most of my customers now complain about the quantity of the dish when they buy and that is also affecting my daily sales,' she added. Nutritional value Checks by the GNA reveal the carbohydrate content in yam and cocoyam prevents diseases, facilitates easy digestion, prevents blood clots, and provides natural fibre needed in the body system. Additionally, vegetables are also good for strong teeth, good eyesight and strong bones, reducing the risk of heart a nd kidney diseases, and good for managing cancers, high blood pressure and diabetes. Further checks showed oil palm is also good for the skin and eyes, and absorbs nutrients to produce important hormones in the body, while eggs also keep body cells healthy, facilitate the healing of body wounds, and build body immunity against diseases. Ms Joyce Odei, a Registered Community Health Nurse, says the locally prepared diet has a high nutritional content, good for building the body's immunity against diseases. She advised Ghanaians to opt for and consume the diet, particularly at lunchtime to improve their body immunity. In an interview, she said ingredients used for the preparation of the local diet had the 'four-star elements' required in every meal. 'Etor is a four-star diet because ingredients in the dish have the combination of carbohydrate, protein, vegetables, fats, fruit and red oil,' she stated, and recommended the dish as a lunch for all, especially pregnant women, and people of chronic diseases. S ource: Ghana News Agency

The Intercity STC Terminal in Tudu, Accra, was on Good Friday flooded by travellers with no buses to convey them to their destinations. Some of the passengers who spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) said they were travelling to Ho, Aflo in the Volta Region and some parts of the Oti region and had waited for about four hours without a bus. Ms Helen Adjo, a passenger travelling to Aflo, said she got to the lorry terminal as early as 0700 hours and was still in the queue as of 1030 hours. Madam Stella Ashinyo, a regular patron of the terminal, also arrived at 0700 hours and was told that the bus to the Oti region would arrive at 1400 hours. She said buses had always been available on normal days, attributing the situation to the Easter celebration. At the Koforidua terminal, near Tema station in Accra, though buses were available, drivers were struggling to get full loads. Mr. Joshua Ntim, a driver, said he had been loading his vehicle since 0700 hours and still waiting at about 1100 hours. He told the GNA that many people had travelled the previous days for the celebration. The Metro Mass Transit (MMT) buses and the Aayalolo Bus Rapid Transit terminals in Accra were empty, the GNA gathered that such buses do not operate on holidays. Last week, the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) launched this year's Easter Road Safety campaign, urging drivers to reduce speed, respect speed limits and stay alive. Mr Felix Owusu, Greater Accra Regional Planning Manager of the NRSA, advised drivers not to take advantage of the number of travellers waiting at the various terminals, adding that such acts could cause crashes and fatalities. Source: Ghana News Agency

The United States Government through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has launched a five-year Performance Accountability Activity (PAA). The activity supports local organizations, women and youth groups, and traditional and religious leaders to advocate for improved public service delivery. It also equips service providers to be more responsive to citizens' demands for quality essential services, particularly in basic education, health, water and sanitation, agriculture, and fisheries. The PAA is being implemented by Democracy International (DI) in close collaboration with the Government of Ghana partners and local CSOs, including the Global Action for Women Empowerment (GLOWA) and the Africa Disability Institute (ADI), GLOWA and ADI are the sub-awardees, leading activity implementation in the Oti Region. Speaking at the launch, the PAA Deputy Chief of Party, Madam Linda Ofori-Kwafo, underscored the project's core objectives. 'The project will enhance the capacity of Government pa rtners including sector agencies, district Assemblies, CSOs, and community-based organizations, to implement behaviour-led capacity building and institutional strengthening interventions. During the activity launch, GLOWA and ADI also facilitated a regional sensitization workshop to introduce the project to key stakeholders including representatives from Regional Coordinating Councils, Municipal and District Assemblies, CSOs, community-based organizations, Non-governmental Organisations, influential leaders, and representatives from Democracy International. Reverend Harry Nii Kwatei Owoo, the Acting Regional Chief Coordinating Director thanked sponsors for the programme being launched in Oti. He assured that the Municipal and District Assemblies would make good use of the opportunity in their respective areas. He urged the MDAs to work closely with the partners to ensure that the Oti Region became one of the best areas. Source: Ghana News Agency

Apostle Peter Okoe Mankralo, a former President of the Apostolic Church-Ghana, has urged Ghanaians to work together to combat the 'killer syndrome' that has suddenly engulfed the Ghanaian society for accelerated development. He said: 'The Ghanaian society is sadly becoming a killing society; thus, killers of dreams and visions, killers of good ideas and national policies, killers of future leaders of beauty and tranquillity through littering, and killers of good work ethics through glorified laziness, among others.' Apostle Okoe Mankralo said when he delivered his Easter message the m ed: 'Let Peace Reign' to the church and nation during the Good Friday Church Services at the Apostolic Church - Ghana, Calvary District at Madina. According to him, selfishness had become the root cause of this unfortunate 'killing syndrome' as people prioritised political parties and personal gains over the good of society, resulting in actions that did not promote national development. Instead, he suggested that efforts be made to foster the 'keeper syndrome,' which was defined as caring, preserving, sustaining, and helping one another regardless of ideology, religion, tribe, race colour or political affiliations. Apostle Okoe Mankralo urged Ghanaians to make a paradigm shift from a 'killing society' to a 'keeping society.' 'As we commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, may we crucify selfishness, and for that matter all forms of evil in our hearts? May we turn to Him, who has the power to change hearts, so we become our brothers' keeper and not his killer as stated in the bible,' he urged. The former President of the Apostolic Church-Ghana reminded all and sundry that the country could only progress in a serene atmosphere of peace and tranquillity, adding that though conditions may seem unfavourable however with hard work the country would break through as God is always with us. He urged Christians to work in harmony to receive God's blessings for a better and brighter future for the country. He also ca lled for concerted efforts among the citizenry to pursue and preserve the existing peace irrespective of political, religious, social, and economic differences. 'This, we must do through prayer, lawful conduct, seasoned speech, especially as we go to the poll in December 2024 for Ghana, to remain the shining example of democracy to all and the beacon of hope for Africa,' he advised. Apostle Peter Okoe Mankralo therefore called on the media to effectively and fairly collaborate with actors to serve the public to ensure democracy triumphed. Source: Ghana News Agency