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Youth urged to play active role in local governance

• Participants at the workshop

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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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 Intake of ‘Gobe’ can prevent heart diseases —Nutritionists

Gari and beans is good for the heart
Gari and beans is good for the heart

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.

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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.

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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

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 Restore beauty of Kwame Nkrumah Circle area / State of Kwame Nkrumah Circle an eyesore!

A homeless man sleeping in the sand close to the removed blocks
A homeless man sleeping in the sand close to the removed blocks

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.

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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

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