News
‘Leave your comfort zones to serve others’

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana (EPCG), Rt Rev. Dr Seth Senyo Agidi, has appealed to politicians and pastors of some latter day churches to leave their ‘comfort zones’ for a while and attend to the needs of the underprivileged.
He insisted that the call to politics and priesthood demanded nothing “but sacrifice and service to humanity, without amassing wealth at the expense of the less privileged in society.
Rev. Dr Agidi was preaching the sermon at the inauguration of 14 ministerial candidates of the church at the Dela Cathedral at Ho, the Volta Regional Capital.
The event took place in strict adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols.
The Moderator likened the duties of the politician and priest to that of the frontline health workers who put their lives on the line for others to live as they battle COVID-19 in the contemporary Ghanaian and global societies.
“Politics is also actually a very noble field but the mindset of those playing it is what is destroying our society,” Rev. Dr Agidi observed, and then cited the good example of the late Nelson Mandela who spent 27 years of his life in jail to bring relief and justice to others; and also Martin Luther King Jnr who sacrificed his life crusading for social justice in society.
Still on sacrifice, Rev. Dr Agidi mentioned the late Mother Theresa who spent her entire life caring for others without making any profit from her charity.
He said it was, indeed, sad to realise that some politicians and pastors used their positions as means to loot and acquire wealth while the people they claimed to be serving rather wallowed in abject poverty with no hope in sight.
He sought to know why a priest would advertise his portrait on huge billboards at vantage points in cities with the aim of raking in money, instead of spreading the word of God to bring comfort to others.
He stated that the unhealthy competition for ‘filthy’ money in Christendom was posing a very bleak and dangerous future for the nation.
“And politics has foremost become an avenue for a well-paid job with cars and big houses, without placing the needs of the people first,” Rev. Dr Agidi added.
The man of God entreated the ministerial candidates to serve their congregations with love, humility, obedience, be prayerful, “and serve God and others before yourself.”
From Alberto Mario Noretti, Ho-Kpodzi
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