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Ghana Beverage virtual awards held
The maiden virtual edition of the Ghana Beverage Awards has been successfully organised in adherence to the stipulated COVID-19 protocols with Club Beer emerging winner of the prestigious Product of the Year award.
Other winners on the night include, Voltic Natural Mineral Water, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Alomo Bitters, Blue Skies, Rush Energy Drink, Vitamilk Chocolate and Kpoo Keke Liqueur.
The maiden virtual edition of the awards which was streamed live online and on e.TV Ghana, GTV and GTV Sports Plus was held under the theme, ‘Inspiring excellence in Ghana’s beverage industry’ with the aim of promoting both local and foreign beverages as well as the participation of small-scale beverage enterprises in Ghana.
The Chief Executive Officer of Global Media Alliance Group (GMA), Mr Ernest Boateng in his remarks explained the rationale behind the virtual awards: “Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic both in Ghana and globally, as a nation we have been advised by the President of our Republic to adhere to all the social distancing protocols and other directives which will help us to control the spread of COVID-19. We have therefore gone ahead to organise the virtual awards and stream live both on TV and online.”
“As an organisation, this is our way of proceeding to celebrate excellence in the beverage industry while adhering to all the recommended directives without endangering lives,” he explained.
In a lead-up to this year’s awards, a beverage industry tour was organised for the GBA board to visit nominated companies to familiarise with their work and practices.
This initiative is one of the new activities which was introduced in the build-up to the 2019 Awards Night.
This year, GBA introduced two new categories; Local Beverage Advertisement of the Year and International Liqueur of the Year.
The addition of the new categories is to acknowledge feedback from stakeholders, particularly consumers who have been instrumental in the nominations phase. The Local Beverage Advertisement of the Year Award went to Kasapreko at 20 while the International Liqueur of the Year was won by Bailey’s Irish Cream.
The Ghana Beverage Awards is organised by Global Media Alliance. Supporting partners are the Food Research Institute under CSIR, Ghana Tourism Authority, Consumer Protection Agency and the Food and Beverage Association of Ghana.
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