Manasseh’s Folder: Komla Dumor’s last message to me

Manasseh Azure Awuni (left) and Komla Afeke Dumor at Alisa Hotel last month

For me, Friday January 17, 2014 did not start like any other day. I often start my day with a page of biblical admonition and practical life lessons from the Our Daily Bread devotional guide.

On this Friday, however, I left home with two different messages. Shortly before I left for work, I logged in to Facebook and there was a notification that I had received one message.

It was a message from Komla Dumor. Komla Dumor? What did he have for me this early morning? I had not interacted with him this year. I opened the message.

“Manasseh, I thought I should share this with you,” it started. “It's for your eyes only,” he warned and went on.

Unfortunately, I cannot reproduce the main content of that message here because he said it was meant for my eyes only. I can only quote part of it in this piece.

On Saturday, when I posted a similar thing, I had reason to believe that a hacker tampered with my Facebook account and the message went viral. I am told he sent a similar message one or two other persons. Though it’s out there, I still respect his privacy.

Komla’s message had more information than usual. He went beyond the subject matter of the message. The short-paced and revealing message carried a sense of urgency. It was touching.

“Selah! Selah! Praise Him! Tomorrow is another day. Believe in yourself,” he ended.

When I jumped onto my motor bike and headed for work, it was Komla’s message, and not my morning devotion, which occupied my mind. The story behind the breezy journalism superstar bubbling with enthusiasm both shocked and humbled me. And long after I replied the message, I kept thinking about it.

I hadn’t known Komla Dumor for a long time. He had inspired many young journalists into broadcasting. But I was not one of them. I never listened to him on Joy FM. Not even once. I grew up in a community where GBC was the only mass communication medium.

When I gained admission to the Ghana Institute of Journalism and came to Accra in the dying embers of 2006, Komla left before I first tuned to Joy FM.

I have met Komla Dumor only once. That meeting lasted a little over 30 minutes, including his visit to the washroom. He had had to struggle to make time for me because he was very busy.

Surprisingly, Komla was the first to reach out to me. It was on August 28th 2012, shortly after I was adjudged the GJA Journalist of the Year. Someone had drawn my attention to the fact that Komla Dumor was celebrating me on his Facebook page. Komla Dumor of all people? I doubted. But it was true.

Before I could send him a message to thank him for his kind words, however, he sent me a message in my inbox: “Congrats, young man! I’m so very proud of your achievements. Send me a text on +44759…. so I get your number and we can talk.”

That’s how my friendship with Komla began. I’m not one of those who had known him for a long time. Our friendship lasted for only one year and a few months on phone and Facebook. I wanted to meet him, but on two occasions I realised he had already left before I could do so.

But on his last visit, I was fortunate. After Nelson Mandela’s memorial service, Komla posted on Facebook that he was heading for Ghana for another memorial, the 5th anniversary of the passing of his mother. I sent him a message that I wanted to meet him, and he willingly agreed.

We met at Alisa Hotel on December 15th, the evening before he embarked on his final journey back to London the following day.

 Komla was everybody’s man. He shook hands with actor Chris Attoh and before we entered the lobby, he met Samuel Attah Mensah of Citi FM. As they exchanged pleasantries, a short man who looked as though he had strong wine in his head, jumped in and enacted his own version of Asamoah Gyan and the little girl’s Melcom advert.

“Are you Komla Dumor?” he asked, with his left hand to his mouth in bewilderment while his right hand gripped Komla’s firmly. “I love you ooo! From Joy FM and now to BBC! Our own Komla Dumor” he shouted, still gripping Komla’s hand.

“Are you sure you are Komla Dumor?” he asked again. Komla only smiled and told him he was, indeed, Komla Dumor. Samuel Atta Mensah and I stood by, enjoying the raw drama, unrehearsed and unedited.
Then suddenly, he left Komla’s hand. ‘You are lying. You are not Komla Dumor. Komla Dumor is at BBC. I watched him only yesterday,” he said and walked away, still chanting Komla’s name. Komla’s smile broke into laughter and we joined him.

“So Charlie, how?” Komla asked me when we finally sat at the bar and ordered cappuccino and Malt. Don’t ask who took what.

“Well, we are doing the best we can to fit in the big shoes you left behind,” I said.

“Don’t try to fit into my shoes,” Komla began. “You can only be the best of you and not someone else. You can only be the best of Manasseh and I can only be the best of Komla Dumor… I could not do what you are doing now. I didn’t have the opportunity to do the kind of journalism you are practicing now…”

We talked about my career and how I intended to be in the media industry for a long time. His suggestion was exactly what I had been thinking about but he refined it. “If I were to come back to Ghana and practice journalism, that’s what I would do,” he said.

We talked about the challenges one faces in Ghana if one decides to save the bleeding national purse. He shared his experience when he undertook his landmark probe into SSNIT more than a decade ago was like my own experience in GYEEDA.

At the end, we both agreed that Ghana ought to work again and he encouraged me to continue working hard.

That meeting was short but worthwhile. Before we parted ways, we took a photograph. I would later tag him on Facebook and tell him how grateful “the boy from Bongo” was for his time, to which said the “boy from Aflao” was also honored for the opportunity.

 I can still feel that warm, long hug and the firm handshake at the dimly-lit Alisa Hotel car park. It was almost romantic. (Let me declare I am nowhere near the camp of those abnormal people who gave Nana Oye Lithur tough time at the vetting). I can still hear Komla’s voice asking if I still had his UK number and assuring me to call him anytime and that he was prepared to help me in any way he could.

Komla was one of those people who had genuine interest in my career. Despite his busy schedule, he had time to initiate discussions with me on stories I was doing, notably GYEEDA and the Korle-Bu investigations. He offered advice and suggested areas I could explore. He became like a caring elder brother and I am missing him like a father.

My main difficulty since Saturday afternoon has been how to reconcile, in my mind’s eyes, two contrasting images: that energetic figure I saw jump into his car and a stiff, cold piece of clay lying somewhere in a London morgue. I weep anytime this thought crosses my mind.

“This is not the time to weep,” someone told me last Saturday. “This is the time to pray.”
“Pray for what?” I asked. “Will prayers bring him back?”

And indeed, tears will not bring him back, I later realized. If any war could ever bring Komla Dumor back to life, I would certainly be a fighter, whether in a formidable army or a rebel movement.

Anytime I read the message Komla sent to me a day before his death, it reminds me of Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech which he delivered two hours before his assassination. King told his followers that God had taken him to the mountaintop and his eyes had seen the glory of the Lord so he feared nothing. They did not understand him so they cheered.

Komla Dumor on the other hand, told me in the concluding part of his message that “I looked to the sky and ‘said thank you Lord for reminding me that you are on my side’ ...the enemy will be scattered.”
So why the enemy – death – not scattered, Komla? or, was death not the enemy? I still do not understand part of his message.

For now, the only positive thing about Komla’s death is the lesson it presents to us. Komla was only 41 but his impact on the world was enormous. This is the lesson.

Nobody is talking about how rich or poor he was. What has made his death a national, continental and global tragedy is how influential that life, the early part of which was characterized with failure, had been.
Death is certainly uncertain. We all know we will go. What we don’t know is when, how, where and why we will go. But when we are gone, what would be said of us? Will we have preachers, widows, children and fellow workers lying at our funerals with tributes more imaginary than fiction? Or we shall have stories of real impact on the lives of others?

Today is the third Monday of January and it is Martin Luther King Day, a national Day in the US. As we mourn Komla Dumor and celebrate his life, it is important to reflect on Martin Luther King Jr.’s last sermon to his congregation exactly two months before his assassination. In that sermon tiled “The Drum Major Instinct,” the peerless civil rights activist imagined his own funeral and spelt out what he would want to be remembered for:

"If any of you are around when I have to meet my day, I don’t want a long funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long. And every now and then I wonder what I want them to say. Tell them not to mention that I have a Nobel Peace Prize—that isn’t important. Tell them not to mention that I have three or four hundred other awards—that’s not important. Tell them not to mention where I went to school.

"I'd like somebody to mention that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to give his life serving others.

"I'd like for somebody to say that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to love somebody.

"I want you to say that day that I tried to be right on the war question.

"I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry.

"And I want you to be able to say that day that I did try in my life to clothe those who were naked.

"I want you to say on that day that I did try in my life to visit those who were in prison.

"I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity.

"Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter. I won't have any money to leave behind. I won't have the fine and luxurious things of life to leave behind. But I just want to leave a committed life behind. And that's all I want to say."

How do you want to be remembered? Don’t say it. Live it. Komla Dumor says “Tomorrow is another day.” I don’t know what that means. But I know one thing for sure: tomorrow is not promised.

The writer, Manasseh Azure Awuni, is a Senior Broadcast Journalist at Joy FM. The views expressed in this article are his own thoughts and do not reflect those of Joy FM or myjoyonline.com.
Writer’s Email address: azureachebe2@yahoo.com

SENEGAL BELYA DESIGNS SHOWS-OFF 2014 COLLECTIONS

Senegal's Belya Designs of fabric shoes, bags and accessories has rejuvenated a high taste and interest for fabric shoes, bags and accessories among fashion retailers and consumers on the continent.

 Belya Designs revolve around the designers ancestry, the stories and her visions which are sewn in each color or pattern.  The designer explains, "It could be something my grandmother or cousin did or said that sparks something that ends up in a design.  The color choices and patterns awaken the spirit, they’re alive."

Bélya is a fashion clothing and accessories brand that uses high quality wax print, woven loin cloth and leather to melange West African traditional fashion with contemporary Western style. 

Vibrant colors and patterns are cut and matched to the in-house original designs to create everything from shoes to blazers to give varieties.

Akufo-Addo Reacts To Radio XYZ Publication

Press Release:

 The Office of Nana Akufo-Addo has read with total dismay an interview granted to an eccentric fellow, Mr Rau.

We write to state categorically that Nana Akufo-Addo has not undergone any heart surgery as falsely speculated by the eccentric Mr Rau.
Anthony Rau of Germany, by Radio XYZ of Accra and carried on the worldwide web today, November 25, 2013.

It can only be a complete and utter lie the story by Mr Rau that he spoke to a close associate of the Akufo-Addos on this fabricated matter.

Nana Akufo-Addo is currently in England and has been seen week in and week out at public functions, including attending events in the United Kingdom, the United States of America and France during his stay out of Ghana.

He is also using his period out of Ghana to work on a book he is proposing to launch in 2015.

One would have hoped that this culture of some media houses giving people the free range to spread totally false stories about Nana Akufo-Addo without any iota of evidence was long spent.

We urge the people of Ghana to disregard this as yet another baseless publication against Nana Akufo-Addo.

He is in good health and will be returning to Ghana shortly.


......Signed......
Mustapha Hamid
Spokesperson to Nana Akufo-Addo

John Mensah supports deprived children

16/07/10

Story: Stephen Bonsu

THE deputy skipper of Black Stars, John Mensah, has donated GH¢4,000 and assorted drinks to two schools and an orphanage in Accra.

The beneficiary schools are Alpha and Omega Academy at Chorkor, and Christ the King of Kings Academy at Jamestown.

Mr Mensah, who made the donation in collaboration with Kid's Kingdom, a non-governmental organisation, said the gifts were his widow's mite offertory for God's protection and life granted to him, adding that he wished to reach out to the young but needy children in communities in education.

He recalled his childhood days of difficulties, and thus deemed it fit to help the youth to attain a good future.

Mensah added that children are great assets for development in every nation, for which reason much needed to be put into children's education for a better future.

The Proprietress of Alpha and Omega Academy, Madam Gertrude Quartey, greatly appreciated the kind gesture and appealed to the public to follow the footsteps of Mensah and Kid's Kingdom's initiative.

Emmanuel Ashie, a physically challenged Principal of Christ the King of Kings Academy also expressed gratitude to the donors and called on other philanthropists to come to their aid as they lived on stony edges.

The Director of Kid's Kingdom, however, expressed continuous support for the schools.

He stated that their vision was to assist and encourage deprived children in Ghana to lead a healthy and reproductive life through good health care and quality education.

He called on all abled bodies to join in these initiatives to help children at beaches to gain quality education like any other Ghanaian child.

EXTRAORDINAIRE RUNWAY DE LINKS REVIVES GHANA FASHION MODELING

As a rise to fashion modeling in Africa, the ‘Exraordinaire Runway de Links’ Fashion show has spark modernity and re-generated interest among Africans through a thrilling and fashionable show in Ghana.

Though it bares much on fashion and clothing lines, the runway fashion show pulled a face for celebrating fashion uniquely for models and stakeholders’ of the fashion modeling industries. Thus themed ‘Fashion Glamour: Celebrating Fashion models in Africa.’

The much anticipated fashion show brought eight (8) African designers from Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Togo which saw them showcasing different shades of trendy clothes for both males and females.

Ranging from casual wear, official, funky, shoes, hats, classy, couture,fancy, finery, evening wear in African fabrics, the clothes were modeled to the awaiting fashion fanatics who trooped to the venue to catch a glimpse of the latest and trendy.

Extraordinaire Runway de Links brought alive the big whips in Africa fashion designing including Henoc LePrince from Lome, Boete C. Creation from Abidjan, Alan David Collections, Rowena, Pharez Shadow, Zinzi’s by Zinzi collection and the ever trendy House of Eccentric Clothing, all from Ghana.

A night of pure fashion epics also saw the models exhibit accessories from Wendy L’artisan to match the clothing lines of the various designers. Creativity in style by designers and models personality development in make-up by FC Beauty Clinic made the models blossom to communicate to the audience the works of the exhibitors.

To the models and originators, Links Models Agency, it’s all about giving a face and direction to the falling standard in fashion modeling.

It is all about creativity in generation and getting the fashion audience informed as the models steps unto the runways.

The models walked a journey of hope and belief in African fashion and modernity in Ghana Fashion modeling. The evening was climaxed with a strong performance by the ever vibrant Ghanaian vocalist Nino (English Adams), leading to a complete evening of a Ghana holiday.

CULTURE: HISTORY OF 'ADINKRA' SYMBOL

Communication guru, Wilson Leroy said communication is a social process in which

individuals employ symbols to establish and inteprete meanings in their environment. Is that so different fromthe adinkra symbol communicative language? Adinkra stands to convey a message and create a shared understanding.

Adinkra, which means goodbye in the Akan language was initiated and made popular by the asante people of Ghana. Adinkra can also mean departure in another sense.

During the 16th century where tribal wars were common, the Asantes defeated their neighbouring town. This town was made up of the Gyaaman clan of Begho who originally used the adinkra during funerals, and the symbols for royalty . The Gyaaman king was killed in the process whiles his robe was taken by Nana Osei Bonsu-Panyin, the Asante Hene (Asante king) as a trophy. The 'Adinkra aduro' (a special ink used in printing) was obtained from the robe.

The adinkra symbols are mostly used communicatively during religious activities like festivals, depicting the culture, philosophy, values and beliefs of the people.

“Nkra” in the word adinkra means message. Hence, the symbols were used to convey specific messages to people. In present days, the adinkra symbols are used in the clothing, architecture, wood and the art industries. Adinkra symbols are therefore effective communication tools in Ghana because they communicate visually to us.

The most well known adikra symbol in Ghana is the “Gye Nyame symbol”. This symbol means 'Except for God'. It is very important to note that during the 16th century people had the belief in God as the Supreme Being. This shows the religious nature of the people of Ghana. The symbol is an effective communication tool because in times, of crisis, the “Gye Nyame” symbol conveys a message of God’s supremacy over every situation. As a result of this, there is only one thing that comes in mind, “God’s Supremacy”.

In a peaceful return to something worthy, “Sankofa” symbol of a flamingo connotes learning from past experiences. “sankofa” means go back and get it. In the pre-colonial era, our forefather’s had effective cultural and traditional practices which differentiated them from others. It is therefore important to go back and revisit some of the useful customs and traditions that we have left behind as a result of civilization. The symbol has a simple message, Which is, it not a crime to revisit what one has left behind. Hence whether one can read or not, it is easier to interprete the symbol wherever it is seen. The sankofa symbol has a message of the importance of learning from the past. This is also the reason why history and other related disciplines are taught in schools. Seeing the symbol alone will make the individual engage in an intrapersonal communication (Communication within one’s self), assign meanings to it and eventually get a feedback which will answer a question. Therefore , adinkra symbols are effective in communication.

There is also the “Adinkrahene” symbol which means “chief of the adinkra symbols”. This symbol is a sign of greatness, charisma and leadership. In the olden days, Chiefs and warriors used this symbol to differentiate themselves from the ordinary citizen. It is made of a series of circles moving round one another. The Symbol was meant for Chiefs and warriors to show that they are leaders and also to command respect for them. The adinkrahene symbol shows the importance of playing leadership roles in one’s community. As a matter of fact, the adinkrahene symbol was the pacesetter for the designing of other adinkra symbols. Since symbols are important communication tools, one does not need to have interpretation before getting the intended messages they carry. The message this symbol carries is that of the importance of leaders playing their roles in any situation they may find themselves.

Another effective adinkra symbol used in non-verbal communication is the “funtunfunefu-denkyemfunefu”(siamese-crocrodile). The symbol simply means democracy and unity. In a democratic system there is the respect for individual opinion. As the saying goes “ In unity lies strength”, there is the need for human beings to be able to live in peaceful coexistence. Siamese crocodiles have one stomach but struggle for food. The message this symbol seeks to convey is the fact that infighting and ethnicity among people who have a common belonging to a state can be very dangerous. Hence as citizens of our beloved country Ghana, we must have respect for each other. This popular symbol reminds us to love one another instead of fighting among ourselves. It is only through democracy and unity that a nation can develop.

More so, there is also the “Denkyem” (crocodile) symbol which signifies adaptability. This symbol has a fundamental message which is, as human beings we should be able to cope or adapt to the community we find ourselves. Despite that the crocodile live in water, it comes out at times to breath the fresh air provided by nature. Therefore, the crocodile can live in both water and on land. This is the ability to adapt any situation that may come our way. For instance, in our lives, when good things happens to us, we accept. On the other hand we criticize everyone for an unfortunate incident. Taking one another seriously when they talk will help us adapt to any circumstance. A typical example is the use of the staff by the chief’s linguist as a symbol of adaptability.

VRA FIGHTS MALARIA

The Volta River Authority (VRA), as part of its Safety Awareness Day Celebrations campaign across the country, has launched a corporate malaria control strategy document to ensure a malaria-free future.

The control strategy document produced by the Authorities in the Health Department and Public Health section within the VRA, would help mitigate the rising malaria death risk enfaced by staff and inhabitants of the Authority’s impacted communities.

Ms. Alexandra Totoe, VRA Deputy Chief Executive, Finance, launching the strategy documenton behalf of the Minister of Energy, explained that the VRA operates a definitive health and safety policy due to the its greatly dependent on water (breeding medium for mosquitoes) for electricity production by the Authority.

Adding that, Malaria cost the Authority GHC₵82,943.84 approximately $52,000 in 2011 from various health care services administered to staff, relatives of staff and about two million inhabitants of the Volta Lake area communities.

Ms. Totoe also explained that to achieve effectiveness of our health and safety principles, staff must get involved, commitand foster a positive healthy and safety culture with the principles outlined by the strategy document. She added that the Authority would not relent on its efforts but use the strategy document to achieve its intended purpose to affirm the VRA’s primacy of workplace health and safety.

Dr. Emmanuel Fiagbey, Country Director for Johns Hopkins University, also encouraged Ghanaians to adhere to the principles outlined in the malaria control document to enhance productivity of every worker and reduce high health-care cost documented by the health authorities nationwide.

Deserving observers of the corporate safety regulations and principles were awarded with the Takoradi Thermal Plant Station (TTPS) emerging first, followed by Akosombo and Kpong Generating Stations respectively.

The programme received support from the Johns Hopkins University, Ministry of Energy, and other professional ad-hog stakeholders of health and safety across the country.

POWER GURUS PLEDGES COMMITMENT TO LOCAL CONTENT

The Volta River Authority on Monday, December 17, 2012 organized its 2nd Local Content Stakeholders’ Forum at the Movenpick Hotel on the theme: “Promoting Local Content Development in the Power Utilities and Related Industries in Ghana – Achievements and Sustainable Initiatives.”

Speaking at the function, Chief Executive of VRA, Mr. Kweku Andoh Awotwi indicated that the forum aimed at providing a guide to promoting the adoption of local content in the power utility companies in Africa. He called on all stakeholders to join hands in a concerted effort to bring together the fragmented policies in the various sectors into a national policy to enhance participation of local businesses.

According to Mr. Awotwi, the VRA Local Content policy stipulates that all energy stakeholders and regulatory authorities should increase local labour, goods and services in the delivery of infrastructure projects in the country. He therefore urged governments of the developed countries to review the policy issues of tying bi-lateral assistance to developing countries to the purchase of goods and service from the donor country. He explained that such bilateral arrangements negated the recommendations from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development/Development Assistance Committee (OECD/DAC) to unite aid as spelt out in 2001.

The VRA Chief further called for a review of the high fixed cost of access (regulation and prequalification costs), high costs of tender information, the policy of ‘bundling’ contracts which favours large firms, and financial constraints. He added that “the exemption of foreign contractors in construction markets in Africa from paying VAT and other taxes, and access to cheap financing from state-owned banks should be waived to promote competition between the local and foreign enterprises. He cautioned that, “Unless the challenges are addressed satisfactorily, enterprises in Ghana and other developing countries will be at a disadvantage against international companies. The playing field needs to be tilted to favour the weaker side. “

On his part, Mr. Charles Darku, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) indicated that in taking advantage of local content policy, the level of Ghanaian ownership should be an important factor for the award of contracts. He suggested that the domestic contractors should also demonstrate a beneficiary interest of more than 30%. He disclosed that to support the local content agenda, GRIDCo will award contracts among ten local companies and develop them in the businesses of substations and transmission line works.

The Director of Customer Services of the Electricity Company of Ghana, Dr. N.K. Smart-Yeboah affirmed that the ECG has incorporated over 500 contractors and communities in its operations and will continue to build on the relationship and existing number. He stated that all ECG’s procurements involving World Bank and other bilateral sources, have always lived by the application of the local preference margin as regulated by the Procurement Law to assist the local companies.

He expressed gratitude to the VRA for setting the benchmark, and providing an opening for all major organizations and institutions to fight for the success of the local content development policy through such fora.

Over 60 institutions and organizations participated in the forum.

MZBEL GOES NAKED

Call her a model or musician but the controversial Nana Akua, popular known in the showbiz industry as MZBEL has taken to posing nude before the cameras. Her latest image reveals all vital parts of the musician and now turned-full model. she is indeed living the dream of showbiz by showbiz critic, BBWRITEZ. He tipped her a s a professional artiste who knows what she wants and how to get it. "I just like her and her creativity. Think what you want to worry your brains about but this is showbiz for crying out loud, Ghana", he said.

GEN NEWS $ ENTERTAINMENT: DEMOLISHING OF AGBOGBLOSHIE RAILWAY SLUM IS A VIOLATION OF THEIR RIGHTS AS CITIZENS-AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL BLURTS OUT

GEN NEWS $ ENTERTAINMENT: DEMOLISHING OF AGBOGBLOSHIE RAILWAY SLUM IS A VIOLATION OF THEIR RIGHTS AS CITIZENS-AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL BLURTS OUT

YOUTH PRODUCE COMPOST FROM ORGANIC WASTE

A set of youth engaged by two non-governmental organizations, CHF International Ghana (CHF) and Nimba Community Support Service (NIMCOSS) have produced the first volume of matured organic compost from waste in Accra.

The 230 kilograms total weight compost, produced from organic waste collected by the youth from some households in the Avenor Community in the Okaikoi South Sub-Metro of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly weighs approximately 20 kilograms each, and has been approved by the Ghana Standards Board for farmers’ usage.

Some farmers have already expressed interest in the organic manure with one farmer purchasing the first 230 kilogram compost, bagged in eleven sacks for an undisclosed amount.

This, however, stipulates that the woes of waste collection is over since the AMA can create wealth out of the over 60 per cent of waste collected which happens to be organic.

The programs Manager of NIMCOSS, Mr. Yaw Duah, in an interview with Daily Graphic, expressed joy that after months of work with the youth and the Avenor Community, some tangible results had been realized.

He said, “Waste is not valueless, and the attitude towards waste in many residents in many parts of Accra, including Avenor is a contributing factor to the perennial flooding in the city.”

He added that the maturation of the compost marked the realization of an aspect of the goal of the Youth Engagement in Service (YES) delivery project being funded by CHF International Ghana and implemented by NIMCOSS in partnership with AMA.

The project, he recalled, was to create a scalable and integrated waste management system in Avenor through effective waste collection and value addition innovations.

Mr. Duah, explained that the project begun with a distribution of two waste bins to 720 households that applied for it to undertake source separation of household waste, with two females and four males equipped with tricycles, branded uniforms and safety kits to undertake door-to-door waste collection in the community.

“The few households that separated their households had it sent to a simple aerobic compost facility constructed near one public latrine in Avenor, where another set of five youth processed the organic waste into compost with supervision and tutelage from Mr. Joseph Awuye, Compost Technical Engineer from the AMA’s Waste Management Department,” he continued.

He further explained that the organic waste, matured after nearly three months of organic waste shredding, piling, turning, drying, sieving and bagging.

Mr. Duah, however, expressed regret to some youth abandoning the program due to poor attitude and stigmatization from friends and relations as the program was geared towards equipping them with work for a salary.

He as well noted out that, over 90 youths had benefited from various capacity- building training programs with about half the number enjoying start-up support to manage their own enterprises through NIMCOSS and its associated partners.

DEMOLISHING OF AGBOGBLOSHIE RAILWAY SLUM IS A VIOLATION OF THEIR RIGHTS AS CITIZENS-AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL BLURTS OUT

Amnesty International Ghana has nullified the Ghana Government and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly’s (AMA) plan to demolish structures within 50 meters along the railways at Agbogbloshie slums for redevelopment of the railway systems as a gross violation of the inhabitants’ fundamental human rights.

On 7 December, the AMA announced on their website that structures along the railway lines would be demolished as part of a nationwide plan to redevelop Ghana’s railway system, and proceeded immediately with an action of announcing and marking of the likely to be demolished structures in the Agbogbloshie slum with a vacate notification date of December 14, 2010 as the deadline for the slum dwellers.

The Director of Amnesty Ghana, Mr. Lawrence Amesu who addressed the slum dwellers explained that, forced evictions are a violation of human rights of which the Government is obliged to prohibit and prevent.

He said, “Under International Human Rights Laws, evictions may be carried out only as a last resort, once all other feasible alternatives to evictions have been explored and genuine consultation has taken place with the communities”.

He added that the action to be taken was built on no maximum consultation and no alternative accommodation given, which will render the inhabitants homeless or vulnerable to other human rights violation, which ought to have been considered as a required duty to protect and prevent by the Government.

Mr. Amesu, however, reckoned the positivity in the Government and the Railway Company for the plans and concrete efforts made for rehabilitating and modernizing the railway system, but were more emphatic on the consequences of the action on the 1000’s of rural urban immigrants living along the railways.

The consequences he outlined, included increased school drop-outs as parents are traumatized and also lost the sources of income, making them lose capability of catering for their children’s education; increased social vices such as prostitution, cyber fraud and increased vulnerability to sexually transmitted diseases; and increased streetism and its attendant social vices.

He added that the plan to evict the Agbogbloshie railway dwellers will also contradict and defeat the Millennium Development Goal Seven (7) which states that, “Have achieved by 2020 a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers”.

The Director further reminded the Ghanaian government of its party terms to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, with a surety to respect, protect and fulfill its provisions at all levels, thus, adequate alternative provisions should be made before embarking on the intended demolishing plan for development.

He also recalled the government’s avowed commitment to slum upgrading spelt out in the page 85 of its 2008 manifesto and prayed the yet to be taken plan would be well considered a second thought by the government.

The 2008 manifesto page 85 vow of the government, he stated, recognized the fact that slum existence is the results of rural-urban migration limited supply of land and regulatory framework that fail to address the needs of urban poor, of which the railway dwellers are no exception.

“It will be of no use if a project which is intended to improve the lives of the masses of Ghanaians tends to make ‘others’ very poor and destitute,:” he explained.

He stressed out that women and children bear the brunt of traumatized and dislocated communities and as such, called on the government to be conscious of its intended action of forcefully evicting residents along the rails if they fail to vacate the area by December 14.

The director of Women in Slums Economic Empowerment (WISEEP) Frederick Opoku also disclosed that the children is the property of the government and must be protected from such inhumanities which happen to be another form of a disaster.

He added that a good enumeration carried out for quality in citizen’s livelihood planning could be another solution to prevent this type of disaster.

He prayed to the government to help use an alternative solution to the issue as the implementations of the plan will plunge the youth into several social vices.

The yet to be displaced Agbogbloshie slum inhabitants and concerned groups are however, appealing to Authorities to make provisions for relocation of and compensation for the affected victims as part of the rehabilitation of the railway project.

CLIMATE CHANGE LEADS

Human beings are exposed to climate change through changing weather patterns (for example, more intense and frequent extreme events) and indirectly through changes in water, air, food quality and quantity, ecosystems, agriculture, and economy.

Evidence is gathering that human activities are changing the climate. This 'climate change' could have a huge impact on our lives.

At this early stage the effects are small but are projected to progressively increase in all countries and regions. Given the complexity of factors that influence human health, assessing health impacts related to climate change poses a difficult challenge

In the context of climate variation, anthropogenic factors are human activities that change the environment.

In some cases the chain of causality of human influence on the climate is direct and unambiguous (for example, the effects of irrigation on local humidity), while in other instances it is less clear.

Various hypotheses for human-induced climate change have been argued for many years. Presently the scientific consensus on climate change is that human activity is very likely the cause for the rapid increase in global average temperatures over the past several decades.

Consequently, the debate has largely shifted onto ways to reduce further human impact and to find ways to adapt to change that has already occurred.

Of most concern in these anthropogenic factors is the increase in CO2 levels due to emissions from fossil fuel combustion, followed by aerosols (particulate matter in the atmosphere) and cement manufacture. Other factors, including land use, ozone depletion, animal agriculture and deforestation, are also of concern in the roles they play - both separately and in conjunction with other factors - in affecting climate, microclimate, and measures of climate variables.

CLIMATE EFFECTS ON HUMAN HEALTH/MORTALITY

Climate-Sensitive Disease

Climate change may increase the risk of some infectious diseases, particularly those diseases that appear in warm areas and are spread by mosquitoes and other insects. These "vector-borne" diseases include malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, and encephalitis. Also, algal blooms could occur more frequently as temperatures warm — particularly in areas with polluted waters — in which case diseases (such as cholera) that tend to accompany algal blooms could become more frequent.

AIR QUALITY

Climate change is expected to contribute to some air quality problems. Respiratory disorders may be exacerbated by warming-induced increases in the frequency of smog (ground-level ozone) events and particulate air pollution.


Ground-level ozone can damage lung tissue, and is especially harmful for those with asthma and other chronic lung diseases. Sunlight and high temperatures, combined with other pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, can cause ground-level ozone to increase. Climate change may increase the concentration of ground-level ozone, but the magnitude of the effect is uncertain. For other pollutants, the effects of climate change and/or weather are less well studied and results vary by region .

1.General Impacts

The impact of temperature on morbidity and mortality can be assessed at both the seasonal and daily level. The variability in occurrence of numerous illnesses is linked to somewhat predictable seasonal trends in temperature (Persinger, 1980), although sig significant year-to-year differences do occur. Medical disorders such as bronchitis, peptic ulcer, adrenal ulcer, glaucoma, goiter, eczema, and herpes zoster are related to seasonal variations in temperature (Tromp, 1963). Heart failure (most often myocardia l infarction) and cerebrovascular accidents represent two general mortality categories that have been correlated many times with ambient monthly temperatures (Persinger, 1980). Complications from these disorders can be expected at higher temperatures sinc e the body responds to thermal stress by forcing blood into peripheral areas to promote heat loss through the skin. This increases central blood pressure and encourages constriction of blood vessels near the core of the body. However, increases in heart d isease are also noted at very cold temperatures as well. Strong negative correlations have been found between winter temperature and deaths in certain North American, northern Asian, and European countries (Persinger, 1980).


2Weather has a profound effect on human health and well-being. It has been demonstrated that weather is associated with changes in birth rates, and sperm counts, with outbreaks of pneumonia, influenza and bronchitis, and is related to other morbi dity effects linked to pollen concentrations and high pollution levels.

3. Hot weather extremes appear to have a more substantial impact on mortality than cold wave episodes. Most research indicates that mortality during extreme heat events varies with age, sex, and race. Factors associated with increased risk from hea t exposure include alcoholism, living on higher floors of buildings, and the use of tranquilizers. Factors associated with decreased risk are use of air conditioning, frequent exercising, consumption of fluids, and living in shaded residences. Acclimatiza tion may moderate the impact of successive heat waves over the short term.

4.Humidity has an important impact on mortality since it contributes to the body's ability to cool itself by evaporation of perspiration. It also has an important influence on morbidity in the winter because cold, dry air leads to excessive dehydr ation of nasal passages and the upper respiratory tract and increased chance of microbial and viral infection.

F.D.A. Rejects Qnexa, a Third Weight-Loss Drug

The Food and Drug Administration rejected another new diet pill on Thursday, the latest setback in the quest to develop treatments for overweight Americans amid the nation’s obesity epidemic.


The rejected drug, called Qnexa, is the third weight loss medicine to run into trouble this month because of concerns about safety. Last week, the F.D.A. declined to approve another new drug, lorcaserin, because it caused tumors in rats. And earlier in the month it forced the withdrawal of Meridia from the market after 13 years, citing the risk of heart attacks and strokes for certain patients.

“It looks pretty bleak out there for anyone trying to get a drug approval for weight loss,” said Dr. Ken Fujioka, director of the center for weight management at the Scripps Clinic in San Diego.

Vivus, the developer of Qnexa, said late Thursday in a statement on its Web site that the F.D.A. had requested that the company provide a thorough evaluation of the drug’s potential for causing birth defects and heart problems.

The company, based in Mountain View, Calif., said it was confident it could provide this information to the F.D.A. in about six weeks. If the F.D.A. were to be satisfied, the drug could win approval sometime next year.

There has been no new prescription diet pill approved since Roche’s Xenical in 1999. Xenical is now the only drug approved for long-term use in managing weight.

“It’s tough to be a doctor and try to do something about the biggest problem in the U.S.,” said Dr. Fujioka, who is a consultant to some drug companies, including Vivus.

Some drug companies shied away from the diet market, after part of the popular fen-phen diet combination was removed from the market in 1997 because it damaged heart valves. The debacle resulted in huge legal settlements.

The F.D.A.’s decision on Qnexa was not unexpected, given that an advisory committee to the agency had voted 10 to 6 against approval in July.

But it is nonetheless disappointing to some specialists because Qnexa produced about twice as much weight loss as other diet pills. In clinical trials, patients on the highest dose of Qnexa lost an average of 10.6 percent of their weight after one year, compared with 1.7 percent for those taking a placebo.

Qnexa is a combination of two existing drugs — phentermine, a stimulant that is approved for short-term use as a weight loss drug, and topiramate, an epilepsy and migraine drug sold by Johnson & Johnson under the name Topamax.

An F.D.A. advisory committee in December will consider another diet drug, called Contrave, developed by Orexigen Therapeutics. But if that one also is not approved, some experts say it would discourage already wary pharmaceutical companies from working on drugs for obesity.

“It’s going to put the brakes on all obesity drug development for a decade,” said Dr. W. Timothy Garvey, chairman of the department of nutrition sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, who was an investigator in the clinical trials of Qnexa.

Morgan Downey, an advocate for obese people who also consults for pharmaceutical companies, said the F.D.A. appeared to believe that a very effective drug would be used so much that unanticipated side effects would show up, while less effective drugs were not worth any risk.

“The F.D.A. has gotten itself into a real knot,” said Mr. Downey, who describes himself as obese and edits the Downey Obesity Report Web site. “They can’t approve a very effective drug and they can’t approve a modest drug.”

The F.D.A. does not comment or publicly release its reasons for turning down a drug.

Dr. John Jenkins, director of the agency’s office of new drugs, told reporters this month that the agency was “committed to working toward approval” of new obesity drugs, “so long as they are safe and effective for the population for which they are intended.”

Diana Zuckerman, president of the National Research Center for Women and Families, said the diet drugs that have made it to market are not very effective, so the F.D.A. should pay close attention to safety. “The vast majority of people taking them don’t stay on them long enough to get any health benefit,” she said.

About a third of Americans are obese and another third merely overweight. Obesity contributes to many other health problems like diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

So an effective diet pill could help cut medical costs over all and should, at least in theory, become a blockbuster.

“This is the biggest field, bigger than statins potentially,” Jack Lief, chief executive of Arena Pharmaceuticals, the developer of lorcaserin, said a year ago, referring to the popular cholesterol-lowering drugs like Lipitor.

Yet no diet pill has ever become a true blockbuster. COmbined sales of all prescription obesity drugs in the United States have been falling over the last few years and totaled only $154 million in 2009, according to IMS Health, a health care information company.

That is mainly because they generally produce a weight loss of only 5 percent or so. The body has so many mechanisms to maintain weight that any one drug is not likely to have much effect, scientists say.

A study published in the journal Obesity in January that used insurance records found that fewer than 1 percent of adults used obesity pills despite the considerable number of obese people. And only 11 to 18 percent of the users stayed with the drugs for longer than three months, a far greater dropout rate than for statins.

“With a statin, patients rely on their doctor to tell them whether they should be taking it or not,” said John A. Tucker, a pharmaceutical industry consultant in San Diego. “With an obesity drug, they can judge for themselves,” and many are disappointed in the weight loss they achieve.

The difficulties, and safety setbacks, have already soured many pharmaceutical companies on obesity drugs. When two drugs used in the fen-phen diet pill combination were withdrawn from the market in 1997 for damaging heart valves, their manufacturer Wyeth, now part of Pfizer, was left with more than $20 billion in liability.

Three years ago, the F.D.A, citing the risk of suicidal thoughts and depression, declined to approve rimonabant from Sanofi-Aventis. Merck and Pfizer then abandoned development of drugs that worked in the same way.

Dr. Fujioka said another reason obesity drugs were not more popular is that many physicians “have a bias against obese patients and don’t want to give them the easy way out.”

Unlike advocates for patients with, for example, AIDS or cancer, those who are obese may be more reluctant to pressure an agency like the F.D.A., because overweight people often view their condition as a sign of a lack of willpower.

“Most people feel it is their personal responsibility, so they are uncomfortable to go out and make a claim on society for additional help,” Mr. Downey said.

Dr. Caroline Apovian, director of the center for nutrition and weight management at Boston University Medical Center, who has consulted for drug companies, said, “We’ve shown over and over again that it’s very difficult for anyone to lose weight and keep it off through diet and exercise alone.” When that approach is successful, she said, it often requires intensive coaching, which is impractical for medical offices to provide on a large scale.

Despite the setbacks, there are still diet drugs under development. The next generation will probably not be pills but rather injections of synthetic versions of hormones the body already uses to control weight.

Bariatric surgery, which can reduce weight far more than pills, is now restricted for use in severely obese people because of risks and costs. In December, an F.D.A. advisory committee will consider a proposal from Allergan to lower the weight threshold for use of its Lap-Band gastric banding system.

There are also devices in development that do not require invasive surgery. Still, no surgical approach is likely to be as practical for a huge population as drugs.

“We have over 50 antihypertensive agents on the market,” Dr. Apovian said. “We have lots of drugs on the market for diabetes. With the epidemic of obesity, how is it possible that we have only two drugs on the market?”

BEACH COMMUNITIES FALL SHORT IN EDUCATION

The United Nations Basic Millennium Development Goal of universal education and the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) system has come to a stand-still in sea-shore communities in Accra.
The inhabitants of these deprived societies, which include Chorkor, Jamestown and Teshie-Nungua, are mostly unemployed, fishermen or fishmongers who lack quality education and good livelihood.
They therefore adheres no importance to education and seek after their individual daily breads only.
The children, mostly found loitering at the beaches refuses to attend school on grounds of lack of money by parents, neglection, lost of passion for education and several non-educational accessibility problems.
The Chorkor suburb, a decade ago, was blessed with an education-free-no-paying educational academy through Alpha and Omega Academy.
The educational unit was established by Madam Gertrude Quartey in 1997, then a fibroid patient, who had been operated upon at the Tema General Hospital.
Believed to have established the educational unit under the directives of God Almighty, Madam Quartey, explains that God had a purpose for saving her life after several doctors proposal of surgery with fear of death, of which the very last was a success.
The school now serves 360 pupils, five voluntary youths in tuition, and has only one roofed-building and an attached hole-in canopy classroom for learning and administrative works.
The Christian schools close-by, was no substitute as educational minded families in the community could not afford the tuition fees.
Madam Quartey explained that the inhabitants of the suburb, needs education, not only in the classroom for children but social livelihood as well.
She explained that total negligence and laziness exemplified by most parents in the community, hinders educational development in the fishing community.
She also stated that most children avoid going to school due to financial difficulties.
“The children take it upon themselves to seek and sell charcoals among other small manual works for their meals in a day”, she added.
Alpha and Omega Academy was however registered as an association due to the immense support and intellectual development given to the children the deprived society.
Surprisingly, since the inception of the academy seven years ago, pupils do not pay tuition fee, except a feeding fee of 30pesewas a day of which 30 orphans are exempted.
The teachers receive monthly pay of ¢50 a month each, with no pay for the founder and principal of the school, Madam Quartey.
Madam Quartey outlined that the suburb was hostile to the educational academy.
She said, “Even inhabitants who offer services to us charges triple the price and landlords increase rent greatly”.
She stated that the current location of the academy is the fifth since inception seven years ago.
She however appealed for assistance to maintain Alpha and Omega Academy.
She as well prayed for education among sea-shore communities and change in mentality among the inhabitants.
The Academy is as well taking care of three teenage pregnant girls to ensure safety in their lives since they have been neglected by their families.
Characteristically of deprived communities, teenage pregnancy has greatly rose high in the sea-shore communities, leaving most of the young mothers live in danger.
The story at Christ the King of Kings Academy at Jamestown depicted no different fate.
The Academy, a three minute walk from the beach occupies the former GAPOHA warehouse building for children’s daily classroom activities.
Their classroom is demarcated by wood barns to differentiate various academic classes.
The principal, Mr. Emmanuel Ashie a physically challenged person, explained that, he established the school to help develop the fishing community children and to help curb risk faced by children at the beach.
He proclaimed that the school was a non-fee-paying school but one cedi is paid for feeding and teachers allowance.
He added that most families could not afford the cedi payment daily and decided to stop their children from attending but rather, join them either in selling or fishing at the beaches.

JAPAN EMBASSY SUPPORTS DORMAA VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE

Japan has committed $103,388 to support the construction of a female hostel for the Dormaa Vocational Training Centre(DVTC) in Accra.
The amount will also be used to provide other ancillary facilities in the Dormaa West municipality.
An agreement to pave the way for the release and disbursment of the funds was signed at a ceremony in Accra.
The Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Keiichi Katakami signed on behalf of Japan while Mr Richard Addo-Gyamfi, the Centre Manager of DVTC, initialled for the centre.
Addressing the ceremony, Mr Katakami said the amount was provided by the Japanese Government under the Japanese Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects Scheme (GGHSP).
He stated that girl-child empowerment had been a key to the holistic to national development and his country was proud to associate itself to such developments.
He added that the completion of the project would significantly increase female enrolment in the municipality.
He said that the recipient of the grant was mandatory to the judicious utilisation of the amount for the project.
The centre manager of DVTC, Mr Richard Addo-Gyamfi, who received the grant on behalf of DVTC, expressed profound gratitude to the Japan government for its approval of the project.
He, however, stated that a well-structured vocational training could equip the youth with employable skills.
He also expressed joy in the increased intake of girls for the centre, from in and outside the environs of Dormaa upon completion of the project.
The Dormaa West Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Vincent Oppong Asamoah, gave the assurance that the assembly would work to implement the project as designed.

Rt. Rev. Dr. Kwaku Asamoah-Okyere inducted as new Methodist Church Admistrative Bishop

Story: Stephen Bonsu
The first and current general director of the board of ministries of the Methodist church Ghana, Rt. Rev. Dr. Kwaku Asamoah-Okyere, has been inducted into office as the Administrative Bishop of the church in Accra.
Rev. Asamoah-Okyere, who earlier served on acting basis of his current position, from October 2009 to September 2010, was elected to serve on a six-year term of office, which begun on October 1st, 2010.
The Presiding Bishop of the church, The Most Rev. Professor Emmanuel Kwaku Asante, inducting the new administrative bishop into office called on Rev. Asamoah-Okyere to be steadfast and humble before the Almighty Father irrespective of his already established long, calm and dedicative services of high prestige.
He added, “This is not just an appointment, but a call to graciousness of God and as such, begin from simplicity to heavenly favours as exemplified by Simone Peter upon his first encounter with Christ Lord”.
He however, prayed for God’s strength and power for the Bishop in performance of his duties as streamlined by the Methodist constitutional doctrine.
Responding to the call to servitude, Rev. Asamoah-Okyere said, “I am so persuaded and I am so determined by Gods Grace”.
He expressed gratitude to the Almighty and all wishers and prayed for continuous support of prayer
The new Administrative Bishop further outlined that the ministry is a holistic church that seeks to support its members in social, economic and spiritual needs and health.
He also noted out that the Christian ministry will initiate a strategic plan to create good relationship, nearness to and feeling of the presence of God among the Christian family under their protectorate.
He explained that the strategic plan will seek to guide the ministers of the church in leading the members spiritually, socially and economically.
He added that it will as well create an enabling environment for the church members to be in ministering.
Rev. Asamooah-Okyere added, “We the Methodist church, we talk about priesthood of all believers. It is for us to create the necessary atmosphere, for every member to feel obliged to preach the gospel”.
He called out to all Christians for teamwork as the principles of the Methodist church was never built on individuality but togetherness, which maps-up the Methodist church and its dioceses.
The induction ceremony, however, witnessed the attendance of several bishops across the country, converging at the Wesley Cathedral in Accra to give substantial support and pay homage to their new Administrative Bishop.

Conform To Covenant On Force Evictions-Amnesty International, Ghana Warns

Story: Stephen Bonsu

Amnesty International, Ghana Section, has hinted to the Ghanaian government of its non-conformity to and breach of the United Nations (UN) covenant on ‘the right to adequate housing due to the government’s frequent deployment of forced evictions in the Accra Metropolis.
Article 11 (1) of the covenant noted out by UN stipulates that special attention should be paid to, “undertaking major clearance operations and should take place only when conservation and rehabilitation are not feasible and relocation measures are made”.
Also in the global strategy for shelter from 1988 to the year 2000, the general assembly adopted in its resolution 43/181, that, the fundamental obligation (of Governments) is to protect and improve houses and neighborhoods, rather than damage or destroy them.
The director of Amnesty International, Ghana Section, Mr. Lawrence Amesu, addressing the media, stated that “Government has not ensured full compliance with Ghana’s international and regional human right obligations and commitment as explicitly set-out in the treaties has rectified”.
With reference to Abuja and CMB forcible eviction, the director said that the action possibly deprives residence of their homes, including women and children, and in most cases with their means of earning their living.
He added that the eviction was done without enough notification or compensation or an alternative means such as relocation with accommodation.
“Forced evictions are un-tolerable under the UN treaty and as such, government must go through the rightful means of property eviction for national development”, he added.
He beckoned on the government to conform to the covenant and seek to redress its mode of eviction of homes for possible development as it is a violation of affected victim’s internationally enshrined humanitarian right.
He however added that Ghana has not yet committed itself fully to the abolition of the death sentencing penalty as agreed internationally.
Mr. Amesu therefore, questioned the reasons behind the detention of death sentenced inmates of the Ghanaian prisons since 1973, and further called on the government to incorporate the total abolition of the death penalty in the on-going constitutional review for full compliance of the treaty.
He also called on the government to ensure fast, free and fair prosecution of detained prisoners whose warrant card and document of arrest and prosecution has expired, cannot presently be traced or have no genuine evidence against, yet serving unspecified remand jail terms.
The Growth and Activism Coordinator, Frank Kwaku Doyi also added that “As with other rights, if the right to adequate housing is not being respected, protected or fulfilled by governments , then it is considered to be a human rights violation”.
He further noted out that informal settlers or squatters may not be forcibly evicted even if they are illegally occupying a land.
He explained that under normal circumstances, notifications must be made 90 days with frequent notification and alternative provision of accommodation before destruction of an individual’s property.
Although he reckoned the inability of the government to provide houses for every individual, Mr. Doyi added that the governed voted the government into power to prong them into development and improvement in future livelihood, but not problems of forceful evictions.
He added that, forced evictions through demolishing, mainly victims unaware, more often leaves victims with loss of valuables upon perpetrators invading their premises with an aim of helping out during the exercise.

Agbogbloshie Exotic vegetable Group Donates to Osu Childrens Home

Story: Stephen Bonsu

THE Agbogbloshie Co-operative Exotic Vegetables Farmers and Marketing Society Limited, has donated non-perishable foods and exotic vegetables amounting to ¢800 to the Osu Children’s Home in Accra.
The association, which has the widest exotic vegetable market in West Africa comprised of farmers and root producers of their products, hence, deemed the kind gesture as their widow’s mite to the poor.
The donated food items included two bags of 25kg rice, a gallon of oil, baskets of cucumbers, carrots, cabbages, yellow melon, green beans, squash, pepper, cauliflowers and spring onions among others.
Briefing Daily Graphic after the donation, the chairman of the Agbogbloshie Co-operative Exotic Vegetable Farmers and Marketing Society Limited, Mr. George Opare Asante explained that the donation calls on the general public to see it as a responsibility to help the vulnerable especially the orphans in the society.
“This is what we sell and produce and helping others like donations at least, helps advertise and bring us out to the world aside other undeniable benefits”, he added.
The chairman was also of the view that the food items will help develop and supplement the children with a balanced diet for healthy growth.
He noted out that the producers of the exotic vegetables are given enough education in their cultivation of their farm produce for human consumption.
The Head Supervisor of the Osu Children’s Home, Mrs. Sharon Abbey, who received the donation, expressed sincere gratitude to the donors for their kind gesture.
Mrs. Abbey, however, recalled the excitement in receiving such balanced nutritional food supplements for the home as several donations had always comprised of non-perishable foods and items.
She added, “In order to prepare a balanced diet for the children, we need to box the mills with fresh vegetables and these vegetable donations will immensely support us“.
The Head Supervisor further called on all and sundry to come to the children’s homes aid as government’s aid to them is limited.

THE NEW SENSATION G2 CRAZY