News
South Africans in Ghana observe Human Rights Day
South Africans in Ghana yesterday, March 21, 2023, gathered at the High Commissioner’s residence in Accra to observe Human Rights Day.
Human Rights Day is a national day that is commemorated annually on March 21, to remind South Africans about the sacrifices that accompanied the struggle for the attainment of democracy in South Africa.
Held under the theme; ‘Consolidating and sustaining human rights culture into the future’, the event saw some Ghanaians join the important day.
Speaking at the event, Her Excellency Grace Jeanet Mason, South Africa’s High Commissioner to Ghana, said Africans are one people with a common destiny and vision.
“But for me, and what were are here to do is to promote Pan-Africanism at the apex of our agenda,” she noted.
She added that African cultures are so inextricably linked to languages and cuisines among others, and urged South Africans who find themselves in other countries not to forget about where they come from.
“We are a very resilient nation, together, we can overcome anything,” Excellency Grace Jeanet Mason said.
According to her, she has made a lot of South African friends in the past two years in Ghana and also promoted a good relationship with Ghanaians.
She commended the supportive role of promoting and telling the South African story by the media over the years.
On his part, Counsellor in charge of Political Affairs, Thando Dalamba, said the South African government promotes and protects Human Rights,” Today we observe the Sharpeville and Langa Massacre which happened on the same day in 1960.”
He added that the day honours those who fought for liberation and celebrates the many laws in their constitution which guarantee Human Rights.
Officers from Brand South Africa also took the gathering through some investment and other opportunities in South Africa.
The event powered by Brandflow Ghana, an integrated Marketing Communications company specialising in Event Management, saw some Ghanaian businessmen and creative industry stakeholders in attendance.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
News
Craze for x’mas shopping: Crowded markets, low patronage
Vendors of food and other wares associated with the Christmas celebration have expressed surprise at the low patronage despite the increased number of visitors to some of the major markets across the capital.
Four days to the celebration(Christmas), the markets are filled with various products ranging from food, clothing, livestock and many other stuff, but according to the vendors, patrons are doing more ‘window’ shopping.
The Spectator on visits to some of the markets in the capital, notably the Odawna, Makola, Accra Central Business District, New Town and others made similar observations as shoppers crowd them but did little in terms of purchases.
The paper also observed that majority of vendors, originally selling other wares have switched to product related to the festive season.
What it means is that there are a lot more clothes, food and vegetables, livestock and poultry, toys, firecrackers, drinks of different types and many others on display.
The markets have also stretched to the pedestrian pavement, leaving very narrow spaces for commuters to move about freely.
That, in addition to a few of the female vendors dressed in coloured attires to reflect the occasion, has heightened the euphoria, leaving the low sales as the only headache for the vendors.
Speaking with this paper, they sounded very optimistic, believing that sales would improve in the last few days to the yuletide.
According to them, there was the opportunity to sell beyond Christmas as the New Year celebration offers similar opportunity to trade the same wares.
They urged patrons to throng the markets to shop since prices were quite moderate and products affordable for all.
News
Retirement service for Elder John Ackom-Asante,3 others
Retired Deputy Editor of The Spectator, Elder John Ackom-Asante, was last Sunday honoured by the Church of Pentecost Windy Hills District in Kasoa in the Central Region, with a retirement thanksgiving service, after serving for 26 year as an Elder of the church.
He was honoured with a citation and certificate of service along with three other elders who served in the capacity for various years.
Elder Ackom-Asante was baptised at the Darkuman Central Assembly in 1979 and ordained as an Elder in 1997.
The citation read “Your selfless service, zeal, willingness to relate wholeheartedly and your desire to effect change has gone a long way to shape the lives of many people in the church and the nation over the 26 years of your dedication to the service of the Lord.”
Elder Ackom- Asante held many positions at the Darkuman Central Assembly, Obuasi in the Ashanti Region and Tema, serving in various capacities as youth and evangelism ministry leader and marriage counsellor.
He was the founding member of the Darkuman Christian Fellowship, a member of the Greater Accra Christian Fellowship; member of Bible Society of Ghana; founding member Obuasi Chapter Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship International and founding member of New Times Corporation Christian Fellowship and Chaplain, Methodist University Tema Campus 2009- 2010.
As a professional journalist, Elder Ackom-Asante combined effectively and efficiently his duty as a member and elder of the church and the demands of his profession, with admiration from the church, kith and kin, till his retirement on December
From Alhaji Salifu Abdul-Rahaman, Kasoa
