News
‘Outcome of primaries indicates NPP’s non-performance’
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has observed that the outcome of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP’s) parliamentary primaries over the weekend was as a result of the non performance of the government.
At the polls in 101 constituencies, 40 sitting Members of Parliament including 11 parliamentary committee chairmen, four vice chairmen, two regional ministers, a minister of state and three deputy ministers of state all lost their seats to their contenders.
Addressing the media in Accra yesterday, Sammy Gyamfi, the Communications Officer of the NDC said the decision of the NPP delegates was an invitation to the larger Ghanaian voter to show the government the exit in the December polls.
“The results that emerged from the NPP primaries reflect the dissatisfaction of NPP supporters and Ghanaians at large with the abysmal performance of the Akufo-Addo government.
“The defeat of so many incumbent Members of Parliament especially those in parliamentary leadership and government shows that the NPP delegates voted for change and passed an overwhelming vote of no confidence in their own government,” Mr Gyamfi said.
According to him, the opposition party’s checks have revealed that many first-time MPs lost their seats because no developmental projects have been undertaken in their constituencies in the last three and half years.
“The one million dollar per constituency which were promised has become a pipe dream. So these first-time MPs could not undertake any significant developmental projects in their constituencies for the benefit of their constituents,” he added.
He said the MPs Common Fund which fills in for government shortfalls in the local area has been in arrears for more than two quarters.
“So the non-performance of the Akufo-Addo government is what affected most of these first-time incumbent MPs per our checks and that is a testament to the monumental failure of President Akufo-Addo and his government.”
On the defiance of Covid-19 preventive protocols during the primaries, Sammy Gyamfi said it was sad, cruel and reprehensible for President Akufo-Addo who promulgated the law that has led to arrest, prosecution and imprisonment of pastors and other Ghanaians to turn around and supervise the violation of same by his party folks and officials with impunity.
“This is unacceptable and abominable particularly at a time church and mosque gatherings have been restricted to not more than 100 attendees and duration of one hour and at a time Ghanaians who have been found of not wearing face masks are being subjected to all manner of degrading and inhumane treatments.
“The recklessness and the lawlessness displayed by the NPP during their primaries coupled with the selective application of the law on Covid-19 preventive protocols by our law enforcement agents make the imprisonment of Ghanaians who were convicted for breeching public gathering restrictions under EI 64 is totally unjustifiable and unfair.
“People have gone to jail for this and we believe that we must all hold President Akufo-Addo to these same standards; either than that, then we have no business imprisoning people in this country.
“We must as well release the pastors and citizens who have been imprisoned as a result of the enforcement of this very law because nobody is above the law in this country.”
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
