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Govt urged not to neglect dredging of Odaw River

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Klottey Korle Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings has urged the government to take proactive measures to ameliorate dangers of impending flooding.

She noted that Parliament had approved funds for the dredging and desilting of drains in the country, especially the Odawna River to address predicted effects of floods, but the project remained neglected.

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings made the call when she toured areas affected by recent downpour in her constituency to assess situation first hand and also donated relief items to residents affected by the floods.

While affirming her commitment to the protection of lives and property of the constituents as embedded in her vision for Klottey Korle, she called on the government not to treat floods as perennial problem but an emergency that needed urgent solution and maintained that ” disaster management is multifaceted discipline that touched every aspect of human endeavour hence the need for the government to dredge Odaw River.”

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings, who is a member of Environment, Science and Technology Committee of Parliament, threatened to petition the President as the project had been neglected and people continue to lose their lives and properties anytime it rained, would hold state authorities responsible as obvious neglect of project was unacceptable, lives, livelihoods were being destroyed and was time the government stepped in and took necessary action.

“It is not enough for state agencies that have been legally mandated to oversee needs of people during such disasters to continue to pay lip service as people perish, for government officials to come around every year and say sorry to the people,” she stressed however, assured residents of “my commitment, determination and dedication to your safety as I follow up with appropriate authorities including presidency to ensure Odaw River is dredged for easy flow of rainwater to reduce floods.”

The MP pledged her continual education and sensitisation of residents, public, individual and collective responsibility to ameliorate effects of rains. -peacefmonline.com

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 Intake of ‘Gobe’ can prevent heart diseases —Nutritionists

Gari and beans is good for the heart
Gari and beans is good for the heart

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.

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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.

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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

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

A homeless man sleeping in the sand close to the removed blocks
A homeless man sleeping in the sand close to the removed blocks

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.

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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

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