News
Spotlight on physically challenged farmers at annual awards
Mr. Daniel Titus-Glover (left), Greater Accra Regional Minister presenting to Mr. Stephen Addo, the
National Best Physically Chanllenged Farmer Award
Mr. Stephen Addo from the Sene West District in the Bono East Region was adjudged the National Best Physically Challenged Farmer for 2024 at the awards dinner held at the Alisa Hotel in Accra last Friday.
Mr. Addo received a cash prize of GH¢200,000 sponsored by the government as his prize.
Similarly, 16 physically challenged best farmers from the regions were also honoured and awarded with certificates at the dinner night.
The awardees include: Richard Adamtey from Shai- Osudoku in the Greater Accra Region, Agnes Mbri from Ajumako Enyan Essiam in the Central Regional and Yaw Danquah from Upper West Akim in the Eastern Region, Kweku Senkyi from Amenfi East in the Western Regional, Ayisha Salifu from Ejura Sekyedumase in the Ashanti Regional, Mukthar Ibrahim from Sefwi-Wiawso in the Western-North Region and Mabanye Emmanuel from Krachi Nchumuru in the Oti Region.
Others were Jokeman Dzotefe from South Tongu in the Volta Region, Iddrisu Yahaya from Tano North in the Ahafo Region, Gordon Gyan from Techiman North in the Bono-East Region, Dominic Takyi Abeam from Jaman South in the Bono Region and Peter Manyah from Nanumba South in the Northern Region.
The rest include Dramani Nassoma from Chereponi in the North East Region, Idrissa Tahiru from West Gonja in the Savannah Region, Alhaji Salia Mahama from Daffiamaa-Bussie-Issa in the Upper West Region and Georgina Atanga from Bolgatanga East District in the Upper East Region.
Nana Owusu Achiaw from the Sekeyere Central District of the Ashanti Region was crowned the overall National Best Farmer for the year and received an amount of GH¢1million sponsored by the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB).
The years event marks the 40th edition of the awards.
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
