News
“Wele” business booms at Tema
Cowhide or cow skin popularly known as “wele” in the local parlance is one of the highly patronised delicacies by the public.
It is mostly sold by waakye (rice and beans) sellers and banku with okro stew or soup sellers.
A “wele factory” is doing well in the Tema West Municipality around the “Underbridge” Market at Adjei Kojo in the Greater Accra Region.
It is being manned by a 42-year-old Alfred Tetteh who says he has been in the business of processing wele for 26 years though he is less than a year old in the Tema West Municipality.
Every day of the week, trucks, tricycles and vehicles troop to the place to take their stock for further processing and distribution to the various markets centres.
In an interview with “The Spectator”, Mr. Tetteh said he learnt the skill of preparing wele as an apprentice for three years at Teshie, a suburb of Accra.
He said “it takes someone three years in ther wele business to undergo apprenticeship just like learning any other trade like carpentry, hair dressing, welding, sewing etc.
He said a beginner was admitted and trained on rolling of the cowhide (just like a woolen carpet is rolled) and observing also how the process takes place.
He said the apprentices, wearing thick hand gloves (to protect their hands from fire and other possible dangers) would roll the cowhides because they were usually brought to the warehouse looking flat.
Mr. Tetteh said the cowhides were imported from Kenya, Mauritania, Guinea, Egypt and other African countries and he received as many as about 2,000 pieces of consignment at a time.
He described the wele business as lucrative but tiresome which needed a lot of commitment.
The 42-year-old said he had employed three people aside his several apprentices and supplied to about 15 regular clients from Ashaiman, Kasoa, Teshie and Accra Central, apart from the many others who also prepared the cowhide for further sale to traders who sold them at many other markets.
Going through the process of preparing the cowhide into wele, he said he and his team could work at anytime including as early as 2am, depending on the demand by his clients.
Reacting to a question why he uses logs not car tyres, for singeing, he described the latter as dangerous and a threat to human health.
As to why some of the wele are hard and others soft, he explained that the soft wele was from bulls while the hard wele from cow.
Mr. Tetteh said his wife also traded in wele and the business had helped them to take care of themselves and their children.
From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Tema
News
Ministry of Health hands over five completed hospitals
The Ministry of Health yesterday handed over five (5) completed health facilities in the Eastern Region for operationalization by the Ghana Health Service.
Osuodumgya Otutu Ababio V, Chief of Adukrom and Akuapim Nifahene, who chaired the ceremony, urged health professionals to treat their patients with empathy and care.
He emphasized the importance of providing customer-centered healthcare services.
The Regional Minister for the Eastern Region, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, expressed her gratitude to the Ministry, the chiefs, and the people of the communities for their contributions to the successful construction of the facilities.
She encouraged the chiefs and residents to take ownership of the facilities and ensure their proper maintenance.
The Director-General of the Service, Prof. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, received the keys to the facilities from the Regional Minister and handed them over to his Regional Director.
He took the opportunity to introduce the hospital management team to the Minister and other dignitaries present.
He urged them to provide quality healthcare to the people within their catchment areas.
“I want you to prioritize the survival of women and children in your facilities,” he stated. “Give your best to the people.”
He also appealed to the community to respect and support their healthcare workers.
Mr. Ben Nkasnsah, Director of Infrastructure at the Ministry of Health, handed over the keys to the Regional Minister on behalf of the Minister of Health. He advised traditional leaders (Nananom) to ensure all necessary documentation is completed to secure the facilities.
Additionally, he encouraged hospital management to maintain the buildings and equipment properly at all times.
The Okere District Hospital, where the symbolic handing-over ceremony took place, is a 40-bed facility equipped with all the major departments required for the full operation of a district hospital.
News
Reconstruction of Sunyani-Techiman-Wenchi-Wa-Hamile Road Corridor to Begin Under “Big Push” Initiative
The reconstruction of the Sunyani-Techiman-Wenchi-Wa-Hamile road corridor is set to begin in the third quarter of this year as part of the government’s “Big Push” initiative,
Kwame Agbodza, the Minister for Roads and Highways, has announced.
To this end, the Minister has directed the Ghana Highways Authority to conduct engineering studies and designs for sections of the corridor that are not currently under construction, in preparation for the upcoming work.
“This entire corridor, all the way to Hamle, is part of the ‘Big Push’ initiative. It is one of the “Big Push” projects we aim to award in June this year. Therefore, those involved in the studies and designs need to expedite their work. We don’t have enough time,” he stated.
Mr. Agbodza made these remarks this morning in Sunyani, at the start of a three-day inspection tour of the Bono, Bono East, Ahafo, and Western Regions.
The Minister indicated that government is aware of the socio-economic importance of roads towards national development, which is why road infrastructure development is being prioritized despite the financial constraints facing the country.
“No matter what we want to achieve—whether in farming, education, or healthcare—roads are critical. Our economic development cannot take shape if we do not address the challenges in the road sector,” he stressed.
Earlier, Me. Agbodza and his team of Engineers inspected the 10.20km Terchire bypass located off the Kumasi-Sunyani Highway constructed by Newmont Ghana.
During the tour, Hon. Agbodza is also expected to inspect several other road projects, including the reconstruction of the Jinijini-Sampa Road, the Tepa-Goso road, the Sefwi Wiawso town roads, the reconstruction of the Tarkwa-Agona Nkwanta road, the PTC Interchange project, and the dualization of the Takoradi-Agona Junction Road.
