News
Welcome back to school, but keep safe!
The government has begun a phased-opening of educational institutions today, with the re-opening of universities for final year students, as well as final year students of other educational and training institutions, which are managed by ministries, other than the Ministry of Education.
This is to enable them to complete their lectures and write their exit examination, as announced by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in his last broadcast to the nation, on May 31, on the update of the coronavirus containment efforts.
Final year students of Senior High Schools (SHSs), including Gold Track and Junior High Schools (JHSs) will take their turn to return to schools, on June 22 and June 29 respectively, to continue classes towards writing their exit exams.
Other aspects of schooling will remain closed, till further notice as directed by the President in Executive Instrument 64, following the passage by Parliament of the Imposition of Restrictions, Act, 2020.
Ghanaian Times is aware that the phased-opening of schools has been informed by empirical evidence, following a wide-range consultations by the President with stakeholders on “strategic, controlled, progressive, easing of restrictions”, imposed by the government as a part of measures to check the spread of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2) that is responsible for the deadly disease, coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The world is still grappling with the disease, and of course Ghana, is not out of the woods yet. We still have spikes in the communities across the country with the case load crossing the 11,000 mark, and so far 48 people have succumbed, albeit with pre-existing health conditions.
The country is recording recoveries, though slower than the infection rates, but we risk a second wave of the disease, if we let our guard down.
It’s in light of this that we welcome our final year students back on campus, with the call on them to cooperate with the school authorities and adhere strictly to the specific guidelines, including social distancing arrangement and enhanced hygiene protocol to ensure safety on campus, to prevent further community spikes in infection.
We are certainly not in normal times, and we sympathise with the plight of students, given that online studies come with challenges and also there are some programmes that lectures must certainly be face-to-face.
Undoubtedly, the reopening of universities for the final year students to complete their programme will serve as litmus test on whether we can have our normal life back, with a complete lifting of ban on public gathering.
Indeed, the outcome of the re-reopening of universities will determine whether the government will go ahead to allow SHS and JHS final year students take their turn to go back to school to complete their academic programmes.
We recall what the President said in his last broadcast, as a gentle reminder “The introduction of this phased opening up of our country means that each and every one of us must continue to remain vigilant and respect the enhanced hygiene and social distancing protocols that have become part and parcel of our daily routine over the last three months. We can’t afford to let our guard down, and ruin the successes we have chalked over the years.”
A word to the wise is enough!
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