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…but NPP rubbishes claim

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has debunked claims by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) that it had failed to fulfill most of its manifesto promises leading up to the 2016 election.
It said the Akufo-Addo-led government made 388 promises in its 2016 manifesto and not 631 as claimed by the NDC at its press conference earlier yesterday.
In a press conference held yesterday in Accra, the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said the claims by the NDC was false and that the opposition party had lifted words from the vision and strategy framework of the NPP manifesto and copied the words and phrases as articulated in them and created them as new promises in order to increase the promises.
He said “this is attempt to distort the base and claim that we have made a declaration that is dishonest. This attempt itself is the true definition of intellectual dishonesty.”
According to the Minister of Information, the NDC had added on to the 235 new promises to its initial promises of 388 thereby increasing it to 631.
Mr Nkrumah said the NDC had made two claims saying that the first one is the claim that whilst government in its report in February this year, outlined 388 promises and accounted for them, they (NDC) have discovered an extra 235 promises which the government has hidden or refused to account for.
“The second claim was that, the NPP has failed in delivering 86 per cent of this supposed 631 promises, “in other words, they claim we have only achieved 14 per cent of this supposed 631 promises,” he said.
The NDC had in an earlier press conference accused the government of “mind-boggling” intellectual dishonesty because it was not being candid with citizens in terms of delivering on its 2016 manifesto.
A presentation on the promises of the NPP which was led by Samual Okudzeto Ablakwa, the North Tongu MP, said the fulfilment of the NPP’s promises was woeful.
“You are given four good years of the destiny of the people and all you can do is 14 per cent. And even this we have been so generous. You scored an F.”
“You don’t even have the courage to apologise for it and try to see if you can make amends but you think you can lie your way through by understating the number of promises that you made,” he argued.
Source: Ghanaian Times
News
Intake of ‘Gobe’ can prevent heart diseases —Nutritionists

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

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.


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