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2 basic school pupils progress to finals of Triple-S competition

A group picture of participants

A group picture of participants

Two basic school pupils from Cape Coast and Accra have emerged as winners at the second semi-finals of the 2024 Schools Sanitation Solution (Triple-S) Challenge competition.

Organised by the World Vision Ghana (WVG) in collaboration with Kings Hall Media, the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources (MSWR) and the Ghana Education Service (GES), Esi Abaka Owusu from the University Junior High School in Cape Coast, Central Region recorded 234 points, while Candy Nana Ad­woa Okwan from the Achimota Basic School scored 200 points, to emerge winners.

Esi and Nana Adwoa will represent the Southern Sector, which is divided into two zones: the Coconut Zone and the Tilapia Zone (Greater Accra, Volta and Oti Regions).

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Master Faraj Timtooni Abdul Yezid, a student of Holy Child Academy in Tamale, and Miss Christiana Sena­tor Sedenkor from Koforidua Presby E Basic School will also represent the Shea Zone and Cocoa Zone at the grand finals at the grand finals, which will include participants from the Ashanti, Eastern, Bono East and Ahafo regions.

The overall winner of the contest will be announced and crowned as the Child Sanitation Diplomat during the grand finale.

In a welcome address, Mr. Yaw Atta Arhin, WASH Technical Specialist at World Vision Ghana, who spoke on behalf of the Country Director, Laura Del Valle said the objectives of the Triple S Challenge was to encourage children to develop keen interest in environmental sanitation issues.

He said the competition was to in­spire children to take a strong inter­est in environmental sanitation issues and to empower them to become conscious advocates for sanitation.

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Mr Atta Arhin noted that the “lack of access to toilet facilities in schools is regrettable and equally worrying that many of the available toilet fa­cilities in schools do not have chang­ing rooms for girls.

He gave assurance that the WVG would prioritize and promote ac­cess to sustainable WASH services in communities, households, schools and healthcare facilities.

 By Benedicta Gyimaah Folley

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 Intake of ‘Gobe’ can prevent heart diseases —Nutritionists

Gari and beans is good for the heart
Gari and beans is good for the heart

Nutritionists have advised Ghanaians to eat more beans-based meals, including the popular local dish, gari and beans, also known as ‘Gobe’ to prevent heart diseases. They said incidenc­es of obesity and cancer could be minimised with the regular intake of beans meals.

At a programme in Accra to mark the World Pulses ( Beans) Day on Monday, Mr Wise Chukudi Letsa, Nu­tritionist and Dietician, who spoke on the topic: ‘Beans: The Super Food for Healthy Living and Healthy Farmlands,’ admonished Ghanaians to include beans in their diets.

Mr Letsa said beans was rich in protein, fibre, vitamins, miner­als, irons and other nutrients and contained just a little fat. Mr Letsa, a Nutritionist with Lets Consult, stated that the presence of those nutrients in beans explained why its intake could prevent heart diseases and other ailments, hence the need to consume it regularly.

The event, dubbed: ‘Meatless Monday’ was organised by the Com­munications Initiative for Change (CIC), a Ghanaian non-profit organ­isation.

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The ‘Meatless Monday’ is an initiative aimed at encouraging Ghanaians to reduce their intake of meat by taking in more beans-based meals on every Monday of a week.

It was launched after the United Nations in 2019, set aside Febru­ary 10 to celebrate and encourage the consumption of pulses (beans) worldwide. This year’s celebration was hinged on the theme: ‘Bringing Diversity to Agrifood Systems.’

Mr Peter Agbovi, National Secre­tary, Chefs Association of Ghana, said a variety of meals could be prepared with beans, which include Waakye (rice and beans), Kose (beans paste made into cakes), Ayikple, Aboboi, Tuo Zaafi, Akyeke, and kakro.

He encouraged Ghanaians to con­sume more of those foods to stay healthy.

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Mr Emmanuel Fiagbey, the Ex­ecutive Director, CIC, indicated that even if people could not eat beans-based meals regularly, efforts should be made to consume them every Monday.

He said that was the essence of the introduction of the ‘Meatless Monday’ initiative. -GNA

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 Restore beauty of Kwame Nkrumah Circle area / State of Kwame Nkrumah Circle an eyesore!

A homeless man sleeping in the sand close to the removed blocks
A homeless man sleeping in the sand close to the removed blocks

Small size quarry stones fixed at open spac­es under the Kwame Nkrumah Circle Interchange was to leave the place open and free from activities of beggars and other activities of the homeless.

By the way the stones were fixed, it makes the area, particularly the VIP and Neoplan Station stretch of the Interchange, inhabit­able by the destitute.

But a walk through the area currently suggest the opposite.

At the median where pavement blocks have been taken over by these home­less and destitute, the area has been turned into a hotel where a number of these unfortunate ones have com­fortably laid their mattress­es and other stuff to rest from the day’s activities.

They have crossed over to the SSNIT and Kaneshie Station area with their activ­ities and have removed the quarry stones which were to ward them off the place to enable them find spaces to sleep comfortably.

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The pavement blocks re­moved from different loca­tions under the interchange now serves as foundations on which beds were laid and in some cases, mosquito nets erected.

Their continued pres­ence is not only creating a nuisance for commuters but marring the beauty and serenity of the place.

Sadly, the activities of these deprived fellows have been ignored while the numbers keep increasing day by day.

The Spectator finds the development very worrying and calls on the responsible authorities to clear the area to restore the beauty and serenity of the area.

 By Victor A. Buxton

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