News
GPHA inaugurates Green Clubs
The Ghana Ports and Habours Authority (GPHA) in partnership with Coastal Conservancy Organisation (CCO) has inaugurated GPHA’s Green Clubs Association with membership drawn from 12 basic schools in Tema.
The environmental clubs are groups of students, teachers and volunteers that are committed to raising awareness about environmental issues and to reduce negative environmental impact as individuals, school community and as citizens of the world.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Director General of GPHA, Mr Michael Luguje said trees had been steadfast allies to humans, given the destructive effects of climate change, pollution and loss of biodiversity.
Mr Luguje said his expectation was that the clubs would be made up of pupils who were concerned about the environment and were committed to learning and raising awareness about environmental issues.
“Again, we expect the club to work on projects benefiting the environment like debates on the environment, awareness creation and tree planting. As a Green Club, I wish that you will make greening Tema through tree planting one of key objectives,” he told the school children.
He noted, however that, the importance of planting trees transcended beyond mere physical benefits, adding that “it is a recognition of our responsibility to the environment, a responsibility that each one of us carries, regardless of age or background.”
The Chairman of CCO, Justice Lionel Eshun stated that the Green Ghana Project initiated by President Akufo-Addo was a call on all Ghanaians to rise up to the occasion and plant more trees and nurture them.
“As of March 2023, the CCO and GPHA had planted 1,139 trees with 86 per cent growth survival rate and 1,234 as of October 2023 covering a total land area of 3, 900, 000 square metres,” he disclosed.
Mr. Eshun commended the Forestry Commission (FC) for their support and technical know-how in planting and sustaining the growth of the trees.
From Ken Afedzi, Tema
News
Craze for x’mas shopping: Crowded markets, low patronage
Vendors of food and other wares associated with the Christmas celebration have expressed surprise at the low patronage despite the increased number of visitors to some of the major markets across the capital.
Four days to the celebration(Christmas), the markets are filled with various products ranging from food, clothing, livestock and many other stuff, but according to the vendors, patrons are doing more ‘window’ shopping.
The Spectator on visits to some of the markets in the capital, notably the Odawna, Makola, Accra Central Business District, New Town and others made similar observations as shoppers crowd them but did little in terms of purchases.
The paper also observed that majority of vendors, originally selling other wares have switched to product related to the festive season.
What it means is that there are a lot more clothes, food and vegetables, livestock and poultry, toys, firecrackers, drinks of different types and many others on display.
The markets have also stretched to the pedestrian pavement, leaving very narrow spaces for commuters to move about freely.
That, in addition to a few of the female vendors dressed in coloured attires to reflect the occasion, has heightened the euphoria, leaving the low sales as the only headache for the vendors.
Speaking with this paper, they sounded very optimistic, believing that sales would improve in the last few days to the yuletide.
According to them, there was the opportunity to sell beyond Christmas as the New Year celebration offers similar opportunity to trade the same wares.
They urged patrons to throng the markets to shop since prices were quite moderate and products affordable for all.
News
Retirement service for Elder John Ackom-Asante,3 others
Retired Deputy Editor of The Spectator, Elder John Ackom-Asante, was last Sunday honoured by the Church of Pentecost Windy Hills District in Kasoa in the Central Region, with a retirement thanksgiving service, after serving for 26 year as an Elder of the church.
He was honoured with a citation and certificate of service along with three other elders who served in the capacity for various years.
Elder Ackom-Asante was baptised at the Darkuman Central Assembly in 1979 and ordained as an Elder in 1997.
The citation read “Your selfless service, zeal, willingness to relate wholeheartedly and your desire to effect change has gone a long way to shape the lives of many people in the church and the nation over the 26 years of your dedication to the service of the Lord.”
Elder Ackom- Asante held many positions at the Darkuman Central Assembly, Obuasi in the Ashanti Region and Tema, serving in various capacities as youth and evangelism ministry leader and marriage counsellor.
He was the founding member of the Darkuman Christian Fellowship, a member of the Greater Accra Christian Fellowship; member of Bible Society of Ghana; founding member Obuasi Chapter Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship International and founding member of New Times Corporation Christian Fellowship and Chaplain, Methodist University Tema Campus 2009- 2010.
As a professional journalist, Elder Ackom-Asante combined effectively and efficiently his duty as a member and elder of the church and the demands of his profession, with admiration from the church, kith and kin, till his retirement on December
From Alhaji Salifu Abdul-Rahaman, Kasoa
