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Youth urged to play active role in local governance

Participants at the workshop
The Executive Director of the Mother of All Nations Foundation, Mr Ishaq Abubakar Zico Newman, has called on the youth to play a more active role in local governance, stressing the importance of their participation in shaping the nation’s future.
He said “local governance is where our voice can have the most immediate impact. When we understand how our local assemblies work then we can have the power to effect change at the grassroots level.”
Mr Newman said this in Accra last Thursday at a Community-Based Civic Engagement Training.
The training was aimed at whipping the interest of the youth to influence the future of their communities and the country at large.
It was organised in collaboration with the Center for Democratic Development (CDD) Ghana and brought together youth from various communities to learn how to effectively participate in governance and influence policies.
According to Mr Newman the youth represents over 38 per cent of the population, with many of them not involved in crucial democratic processes such as voting and local governance.
Participants were encouraged to leverage social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok to raise awareness on governance issues and demand accountability from local and national leaders.
He said social media serves as a powerful tool for amplifying community concerns, noting that even a single post can spark conversations and drive action on issues like education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
Mr Zico Newman stressed that “real change often starts at the grassroots level, where youth participation can have an immediate impact. Young people are the backbone of our nation’s development. When we participate in governance, we have the power to shape policies, hold leaders accountable, and demand the change we want to see.”
A Research Fellow at Local Government, Dr Charity Dzradosi, explained that local government was crucial for fostering development and ensuring democratic processes that benefit all citizens.
“Local governance brings government closer to the people and ensures that essential public services are delivered to residents in real time,” she stated.
She urged communities to support their Assembly Members rather than overburden them with issues.
“Assembly Members are vital in ensuring that development reaches every corner of our localities, but they can only succeed with the support and engagement of the people they represent,”Dr Dzradosi stressed.
A communication expert from CDD, Mr Daniel K. Selormey, on his part urged community leaders to harness the power of social media for effective local advocacy and highlighted how digital platforms can significantly enhance local governance and community engagement.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
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