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
News
Provide nutritious food for children – Agrofood expert
An Agrofood Expert, Dr Nana Achiaa Ankrah, says food consumed by a child could serve as a safe and essential medicine for growth or a slow poison to kill the child.
Consequently, she is cautioning parents to be thoughtful and vigilant about what their children consume.
Dr Achiaa stated this in an interview with The Spectator ahead of the Christmas festivities to put parents on their toes regarding what their children fed on.
According to her, it was important for parent to be circumspect over the type of food they fed their children with in order to prevent any form of deficiency it may be associated with.
She said choosing the right meal for a child was very prudent and in ensuring that, the child was acquiring the necessary nutrients embedded in a particular meal.
Highlighting on the need to ensure a nutritious food for a child, she said a nutrient-densed food must contain vitamins, minerals, complex carbohydrates, lean protein and healthy fats.
Dr Ankrah further indicates that consuming enough whole grains and cereals products provides children’s with vitamin and mineral essentials needed for their development.
“The world’s happiest kids are the ones that are fed well. When kids are fed with the type of food they love and cherish most, parents become stress-free and embark on their daily activities without having to worry about them,” she expatiated.
Moreover, Dr Ankrah addressed that it is important to continually prioritise children’s food in order to nourish their babies with the necessary nutrients for essential growth.
The Agrofood Expert also said Arise Foods is a brand introduced by Saliscom with the primary motive of curbing malnutrition among children in Ghana.
By Alfred Ankrah
