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E/R CNC organises cooking competition for religious women groups to promote Ghana’s culinary heritage
Ghana’s rich culinary heritage was on full display during this year’s Ghanaian and Traditional Food Cooking Competition for religious women groups in the Eastern Region.
The event, organised by the Eastern Regional office of the Centre for National Culture (CNC) in collaboration with Promasidor Ghana Limited, was to promote and preserve Ghana’s traditional foods while encouraging healthier eating habits.
Under the theme “Promoting and preserving our local food: A healthy life,” the competition brought together women from various religious groups, including the Assemblies of God, Christ Apostolic Church, Lion of Judah, International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), Church of Pentecost, Anglican Church, Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church Hope Assembly, and the Federation of Muslim Women Association.
Participants prepared and showcased a variety of traditional dishes, including fufu with palm nut soup, banku with okro soup, waakye with shito, and tuo zaafi, among others.
At the end of the competition, ICGC emerged winners, followed by the Presbyterian Church of Ghana in second place, and the Federation of Muslim Women Association in third.
The Eastern Regional Director of CNC, Madam Dorcas Salamatu Alhassan, expressed concern over the increasing preference for foreign and processed foods among Ghanaian families.
She emphasised that many of these foods were unhealthy compared to the traditional meals.
“Our local foods are a gift from God, rich in nutrients and essential for our well-being. It is important that we prioritise them and encourage the younger generation to do the same,” she stated.
She urged parents to introduce local dishes to their children to ensure they grow up healthy and strong, contributing meaningfully to the nation’s development.
Additionally, she encouraged Ghanaians to support made-in-Ghana products, as this would help strengthen local industries and boost economic growth.
“As we promote local food, it is also necessary to train our children to speak our local dialects,” she added, and explained that language and food are key aspects of cultural identity.
Mrs Tharzia Numako Akwetey, the New Juaben South Municipal Agriculture Director, speaking on behalf of the Eastern Regional Director of Agriculture, Habiba Yusufu, highlighted the role of local foods in maintaining physical and mental well-being.
“Our traditional foods are a core part of our identity, preserving customs and traditions while also supporting farmers, transporters, processors, hoteliers, and food vendors,” she noted.
She warned that globalisation and modernisation have led to a decline in the consumption of local foods and emphasized the need for education on their nutritional and cultural significance.
“By promoting local foods, we are preserving our heritage and ensuring a healthier future for Ghanaians,” she concluded.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua
News
ICU holds Greater Accra regional youth, women confab
The Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) on Friday held the Greater Accra Regional Youth and Women’s Conference to build a strategic network.
The conference which brought together representatives of the Union was a great opportunity for ICU Ghana to make its voice heard on policies that were crucial to the development of the country.
The platform was also used to elect new officers for the Greater Accra Branch of The ICU Ghana to mark its 12th National Quadrennial Conference in August.
The General Secretary of the ICU Ghana, Mr Morgan Ayawine, called on government to assist the two state-owned media organisation, New Times Corporation (NTC), publishers of The Spectator and The Ghanaian Times newspapers and Graphic Communication Group Limited (GCGL).
“The two state-owned media played major roles in disseminating government policies, educating, entertaining and informing the public of the happenings in the world,” he added.
He said ICU Ghana would also raise issues about the recapitalisation of the two organisations with the sector minister.
Mr Ayawine disclosed that the ADB and NIB banks were also going through the same ordeal but government intervened and urged government to do same for the two state-owned organisations.
He stressed on equal partnership between unions and employers, saying the capital and labour were crucial to create, produce and generate funds.
The General Secretary advised the various branches of the association to suggest solutions on socio-economic issues such as employment for discussions.
The newly-elected members who were sworn in by the General Secretary, Mr Morgan Ayawine includes Belinda Cochrane-chairman, Eric Ekow Turkson-Vice chairman and Moses Kwaku Otoo-Secretary.
Others were Charles Akomea-Financial Secretary, Charles Biden- Executive Member, Diana Asiedu-Women’s Representative and Samuella A. Brago-Youth Representative.
The chairman of the Greater Accra Branch of the ICU Ghana, Belinda Cochrane thanked the leadership for contributing to the success of the union.
She added that the conference was to prepare for the 12th National Quadrennial Conference and also to take stock of the activities of the branch for the past years and discuss issues on the ground.
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Minister for Health holds emergency stakeholder meeting with principals and directors of Health Training Institutions
In a proactive move to strengthen collaboration within the health sector, the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has convened an emergency meeting with the Conference of Heads of Health Training Institutions (COHHETI) across the country.
The meeting aimed to deepen engagement between the Ministry and key stakeholders responsible for training health professionals.
The session provided a platform for open dialogue on the challenges facing health training institutions, the quality of healthcare education, and the strategic direction of human resource development in the sector.
Addressing the stakeholders, Mr. Akandoh emphasized the importance of fostering strong and cordial relationships between the Ministry and training institutions to ensure a well-coordinated and responsive healthcare system.
He indicated that the purpose of the meeting was also to collaborate, discuss concerns, and find practical solutions that would benefit not only the institutions but also the Ghanaian people who rely on the healthcare system.
The President of COHHETI, Madam Margaret Mary Alacoque welcomed the initiative, describing it as timely and necessary. She raised concerns about transportation challenges, accreditation delays, staffing shortages, and the general conditions and status of service for Health Training Institutions (HTIs). She also shared innovative strategies that some institutions have adopted to improve training outcomes.
In his response, Mr.Akandoh assured participants of the Ministry’s commitment to addressing their concerns and announced plans to enhance coordination and follow-ups.
He added that the Ministry would soon introduce policy reforms aimed at improving standards in health education and ensuring alignment with national health priorities.
These reforms include reducing the cost of admission, implementing automatic code generation for applicants, and clarifying leadership roles within HTIs.
