News
Nana Affum Mireku Foundation supports Sickle Cell Week celebration in Kwahu
The Nana Affum Mireku Foundation has donated GH¢ 10,000 towards the maiden Sickle Cell Week celebration in Kwahu.
The gesture was to support the fight against the sickle cell disease and raise awareness about the condition, promote education, and provide support to those living with it.
The week-long celebration, led by Philomena Frimpong, a Senior Nursing Officer at the Paediatrics Department of the Kwahu Government Hospital, brought together key stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, community leaders, youth, advocates, and residents.
The event highlighted the importance of early detection, proper management, and the need to break the stigma surrounding sickle cell disease.
Activities commenced with an engaging opening ceremony, followed by a vibrant health walk through the streets of Kwahu, uniting participants under the shared cause of raising awareness.
A blood donation exercise was also organised to support individuals in need of blood, as it remains a vital aspect of managing sickle cell-related health crises.
Also, healthcare professionals provided free medical screenings to identify potential cases and offered detailed educational sessions on the condition. These sessions addressed common myths and misconceptions, equipping participants with knowledge about preventive measures, proper care practices, and the importance of regular health check-ups.
Commenting on the initiative, Ms Frimpong said “This support is a beacon of hope for our community. It demonstrates that collective efforts can make a difference in tackling the challenges posed by the sickle cell disease,” she noted.
Speaking at the ceremony, Executive Director of the Foundation, Sandra Mireku underscored the Foundation’s commitment to impacting lives and communities.
“We at the Nana Affum Mireku Foundation are thrilled to support such a laudable initiative. By raising awareness and providing resources, we believe we can change the narrative, enhance care for those affected, and empower families to seek timely medical attention,” she said.
The Nana Affum Mireku Foundation also called on other leaders, organisations, and philanthropists to join the cause by investing in community-driven initiatives that tackle health challenges like sickle cell disease.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
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
