News
USAPECC holds Cooking Competition for Technical Universities
Some of the students preparing their meal
Ten students from various technical universities across the country put their cooking prowess to a test in a biennial culinary competition last week in Accra.
The competition was organised by the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPECC).
The ten contestants were among 80 other students who had earlier undergone a two-day hands-on training under the tutelage of renowned American Chef David Bonom. They were tasked to prepare a main meal and a dessert with USA chicken and processed egg respectively.
Chef Rutherford Opoku-Boahene and his staff from the Labadi Beach Hotel were also among the trainers and judges for the culinary competition.
The participating institutions were Cape Coast, Tamale, Bolgatanga, Ho, Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi, Koforidua, and Sunyani Technical Universities.
In the end Ms Victoria Armah, a level 200 hospitality and management student of Koforidua Technical University was adjudged the overall winner of this year’s edition of the National American Chicken Cooking Competition for Technical Universities.
She was presented with a certificate, numerous culinary products and a four-month industrial internship with the Labadi Beach Hotel under the supervision of the first Ghanaian Chef, Rutherford Opoku-Boahene at a five-star hotel.
Chef Bonom praised the students for their desire to become excellent chefs in the future and showed delight over their capacity to think creatively and offer something special to their talent.
He stated that the goal of the training was to sharpen the skills of the students in culinary and also provide them with a taste of Western recipes to use in their kitchen when they become chefs.
Chef Kofi Agyekum, one of the judges said such training offered opportunities for the youth to develop their culinary skills, expand the culinary industry in the country and ultimately prepare them for careers in the cooking industry.
Whilst the 10 contestants battled it out in the kitchen, the other 80 students were on industrial tour with their Heads of Department at Newrest Ghana.
The USAPECC has been conducting informative campaigns across the country driving loyalty, product awareness and consumer education.
The latest campaign is to educate students from Technical universities on nutritional benefits of poultry products.
By Portia Hutton-Mills
News
‘Nipahiamoa’ residents cry for basic social amenities
Residents of a farming community in the Nkoranza North District of the Bono East Region are living under conditions that directly reflect or connote the name of the township, Nipahiamoa.
The name of the town, Nipahiamoa, when translated directly means ‘humans need help.’
Despite the contribution in ensuring there is sufficient food in not only the region but the country at large, Nipahiamoa lacks basic social amenities to make life enjoyable after their farming activities.
water for the people of Nipahiamoa
According to some of the members of the community that The Spectator spoke to during a visit to the area, they lacked basic needs such as potable water, health post, among others.
This, they claimed, was impacting negatively on their general wellbeing and appealed to authorities to come to their aid.
The Unit Committee chairman of Nipahiamoa, Mr James Najohnbo, told this paper on Thursday that successive governments have neglected the town over the years.
“It is the reason we are where we are today in this era of development. Some people poke fun that our condition is a reflection of the name of the town but I don’t believe that. We have been neglected by governments over the years. There are no government initiatives here,” he explained.
The community, inhabited by over one thousand people, mostly settlers, is located on the Techiman-Kintampo stretch of the Trans-ECOWAS highway which connect from Tema to Mali.
Mr Najohnbo, who conducted this reporter around, revealed that a borehole constructed for the community by the former Member of Parliament for Nkoranza North, Major Derrick Oduro, had since broke down, compelling the people to turn to the Bono manso waterfalls which they trek several kilometres for their source of water.
Mr Najohnbo stated that their children are not left out in this challenges as they had to trek to either Manso or Dweneho, about two kilometres to access healthcare and education.
He added that a wooden structure constructed in 1994 currently serves as the only primary school for the community.
“Our kids had to trek several kilometres to Manso to attend school which come at cost to most parents.”
A 30-year old hairdresser, Rebecca Dibenpong, also appealed to authorities to come up with income generating activities to boost economic lives of the people.
She alleged that politicians often claimed they don’t have enough numbers to attract development, hence such initiatives were directed to bigger communities.
Like the name suggest, Nipahiamoa, the community needs urgent attention to make life meaningful for the people who contribute to the national economy by way of their farming activities.
From Daniel Dzirasah, Nipahiamoa
News
Maternal mortality rate increases in Ashanti Region
The Ghana Health Service has revealed a staggering statistic of 1,000 women losing their lives during childbirth in the Ashanti Region between 2020 and 2024.
This alarming number, according to the Regional Health Director, Dr Frank Adomanko Boateng, highlights the persistent challenge of maternal mortality in Ghana, despite efforts to improve maternal healthcare.
Dr Adomanko Boateng, therefore emphasized on an urgent need for stronger interventions to curb the high rate of maternal deaths.
Speaking at the 2024 Regional Health Forum, he indicated that “Ghana is struggling to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of reducing maternal mortality to 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.”
Dr Boateng stressed that time was of the essence, saying, “The clock is ticking, and we must double our efforts.”
He called for intensified measures over the next six years to bridge the gap and prevent further loss of lives.
Ghana’s maternal mortality ratio, he noted, has been declining from 760 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1990 to 310 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2017.
However, “the country still faces significant challenges in reducing maternal mortality, particularly in regions like Ashanti.”
To address the issue, he said, Ghana has been working to improve maternal healthcare through various initiatives, including the Network for Improving Quality of Care for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health.
The country aims to reduce maternal mortality by strengthening healthcare systems, improving access to quality care, and enhancing community engagement
From Kingsley E. Hope,
Kumasi
