News
Hundreds walk to create awareness on cancer
A section of the participants at the walk
Hundreds of cancer survivors embarked on a walk in some parts of Accra to raise awareness on the disease and its effects on victims and their relatives.
The event, organised by the Cancer Support Network Foundation (CSNF), commenced from the Accra Girls Senior High School near the 37 Military Hospital, winding its way through major streets in the area.
Participants actively engaged in the cause by displaying placards bearing inspirational messages, emphasising the urgent need to combat cancer.
This collective effort was not confined to the streets, as street vendors and drivers stuck in traffic were handed informational flyers detailing crucial facts about cancer.
The outreach extended to fuel attendants along the streets, ensuring that even those outside the immediate walking path were educated about the significance of cancer awareness.
This holistic approach aligns with the CSNF’s broader mission to disseminate knowledge and foster a culture of understanding regarding the disease.
The initiative, part of the NGO’s activities in observance of World Cancer Awareness Month, held annually in February, garnered appreciation from participants and onlookers alike.
The President of the CSNF, Mr Akwesi Osei Owusu, expressed gratitude to everyone who joined hands to make the day impactful.
He reserved special appreciation for the founder of the NGO, Dr Juliet Appiah Quansah, a Medical Oncologist whose unwavering commitment has been pivotal in supporting cancer patients in Ghana, especially those facing financial barriers to treatment.
During the event, Ms Raissa Sambou, an executive member of the CSNF, touched on the importance of taking cancer screening seriously.
Drawing from her personal experience as a cancer survivor, Ms Sambou mentioned the significance of early detection in effective treatment.
She also urged the public not to wait until it was too late, as delaying diagnosis could worsen the condition and reduce the likelihood of successful treatment.
Ms. Sambou called on the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to adopt a preventive approach in dealing with cancer, advocating for increased access to screening and treatment centers across the nation, especially in rural communities.
Her plea was rooted in the belief that enhancing accessibility would ultimately contribute to saving lives and reducing the impact of cancer on individuals and communities.
BY Raissa Sambou
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
