News
Hype-flex hosts ‘park and watch’

A movie roadshow to entertain patrons amid COVID-19 restrictions has been organised in Accra.
Dubbed “Park N Watch”, the event allowed patrons to drive into the large open space, park their cars and get connected to watch the movie on the projected screen whilst still sitting in their cars.
It was organised by Hype-flex, a subsidiary of Hype Up Limited, a marketing and advertising company in Accra.
In addition to creating a comprehensive movie house or cinema experience, the patrons are served edibles to enable them chill out as they enjoy the movies.
Social Media Manager, Hype. Up, Abba Manu, indicated that the concept was to provide the best way to practise social distancing whilst entertaining oneself.
“You come in your car to the park, we have a screen showing movies and you are connected to watch from your car, but we are looking at adding more to make it more interesting. We are looking at adding football matches, boxing and other sporting activities,”
“What makes it different from a normal theatre or cinema is that there is little or no contact at all among the people who come to entertain themselves,” she said.
The event, she said, was an innovative contactless means of entertainment which must be embraced and considered the new normal since the pandemic was not leaving anytime soon.
The social distancing protocol, Ms Manu said, had provided the right environment for the initiative which started late 2019 prior to the outbreak of the disease.
She said the event was expected to become a regular weekend programme to provide movie lovers the opportunity to enjoy their favourite movies and would be extended to other locations across Accra.
The event provided the organisers the opportunity to sensitise patrons on COVID-19 safety protocols including wearing of nose masks, washing and sanitising hands regularly, among others.
By Claude Nyarko Adams
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