Author: lwadmin

A total of 65 people got killed in road crashes involving motorcycles in the Tema Police region in 2023.

Out of the total, 15 were lost in the first quarter, 16 in the second quarter, 26 in the third quarter, and eight in the fourth quarter of the year.

This was contained in the Ghana Police Service’s Motor Traffic and Transport Department’s (MTTD) motor accident returns for 2023, available to the Ghana News Agency (GNA).

The crashes, which involved a total of 287 total cycles comprising 253 motorcycles and 31 tricycles, led to the injuries of 282 people.

Reacting to the number of accidents occurring from cycles, some pillion riders in Ashaiman, in an interview with the GNA, expressed concerns over the reckless riding of some commercial cyclists.

They said even though it provided them with alternatives to beat traffic and reach their destinations earlier than regular vehicles, the number of deaths and injuries occurring because of motorbikes was worrying.

Mr. Yussif Ibrahim, a motor rider said the rough
riding on cycles could lead to people incurring medical costs if they get involved in crushes.

Hajia Fati Tahiru, who occasionally uses motor bikes, said there was a need for increased safety measures to protect commuters, as most motor riders carry passengers without providing them with helmets.

‘Taking Okada is dangerous, especially without a helmet; they overtake dangerously even in traffic, and sometimes when trucks are coming in the opposite direction, which can lead to a collision,’ she said.

Madam Faiza Zakari called on the Road Safety Department and the MTTD to intensify awareness creation on reckless riding and road regulations to help reduce the menace.

She said she used to patronise them because of the convenience of reaching her destination early, adding that, she stopped using motor bikes after witnessing their reckless riding and its resultant crashes as they drove through traffic and narrow spaces between vehicles with disregard for traffic regulations.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Scores of people, young and old, Wednesday thronged the premises of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to purchase chocolates and cocoa in commemoration of this year’s Valentine’s Day celebration, also known in Ghana as Chocolate Day.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Nana Agyemang Ansong, Sales and Marketing Manager, Cocoa Processing Company, said he was overwhelmed by the number of people who purchased chocolates and cocoa products from the Company by midday.

He said the high patronage of chocolate and cocoa products was because most of the youth wanted to take part in the celebration, and that despite the hikes in the prices, they met the surprise needs of lovers.

‘You realise that everybody wants to be part of the celebration, so either people try to save ahead of the celebration to show love to their lovers, or they go deep into their savings to purchase something for their loved ones,’ he said.

The Marketing Manager said some patronised chocolates and other cocoa products because of the nutrition
al benefits.

He urged women to make bold steps to also surprise their partners in the month, as it was not a month only for men to show love.

Mr Benjamin Larweh, Deputy Public Affairs Manager, Ghana Cocoa Board, said the National Chocolate Week Celebration was one of the celebrations that brought Ghanaians together despite political or religious affiliations and status.

He added that it was also a means to promote cohesion among the populace, encouraging Ghanaians to use chocolate as a gift of choice on special occasions.

Mr Larweh said: ‘Cocoa reduces blood pressure, helps fight diabetes, reduces stress, ability to improve blood circulation, ability to minimise menstrual pains, among others.’

Mr Oppong Kakari, a buyer, said, ‘The atmosphere has been set for us to show love to our partners and loved ones, last year I could not take part in the celebration, but this year I decided to fully participate in it.’

He added that the celebration was no longer a day’s event, hence the need for all and sundry to
‘step out there’ to purchase cocoa products for their loved ones.

Valentine’s Day, also known as the feast of Saint Valentine, is marked on the 14th day of the second month of every year.

As part of the celebration, celebrants wear red clothes as a symbol of love and in Ghana, it is also known as the National Chocolate Day to promote the patronage of the Ghanaian product.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Tree Aid, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) has mobilized 65 villages to plant trees along the Dakar river in Yendi.

The participants included 50 nutrition gardens, 15 briquette groups) developed and effectively functioned to involve 70 percent women as members.

The 3,051,000 trees grown in riparian buffers zones and open parklands included farmlands in 75 selected villages (inclusive of 1,302,00 trees planted and 1,749,000 Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) and shea grafting trees) around Dakar river catchment for land and water bodies restoration and protection.

50 nutrition gardens were supported to grow 300,000 trees and 15 grass briquette groups established as their path of the project.

Some of the communities included Kulkpene, Jagands, Gmatudo, Jedoyiliawory amongst others.

Mr. Robert Atawura, project coordinator of Tree Aid Ghana announced this during his presentation on Dakar River trees restoration at a stakeholders workshop.

It was organized by Tree Aid Ghana for 77 participants d
rawn from Yendi, Mion, Gushegu, Burkina Faso and Bolga and funded by Ecosia and Global Shea Alliance at Yendi in the Northern Region.

Mr. Atawura said the project which started in 2018 seeks to restore and protect 35 riparian buffer communities/zone on the Dakar River catchment area in the Yendi Municipality, Gushegu Municipality and Mion District of Northern Region.

He said the project would support rural poor for water shed management, unlock the potentials of trees to reduce poverty and protect the environment.

Touching on targets which were set to achieve, 2023 Mr. Atawura said in addition they had set up Village Saving and Loans Association (VSLA) groups, provided 10 boreholes to 10 communities, training of lead Farmers On Nursery Management FMNR 1,749,000 in-situ grafting 6,667 trees and briquette.

He said some of the species planted included mahogany, baobab, cashew, cassia, mango, shea, tamarinda, African locust, while four degraded sites at Neyido, Gmatudo, Kpasanando and Korachido Nkwanta had be
en identified and enclosed for research purpose.

He said enclosures could help to restore degraded lands and provide a range of benefits for the farmer and the environment.

Mr. Atawura added that the challenges includesaid bush burning remained an annual ritual in the areas and their environs and gave negative impact on the socio-economic lives of the people who were predominantly farmers.

He said illegal logging of tress by either the community or other community members was also a challenge.

He said jingles were currently running for the next three months at Radio Sankara in local languages on bush fire, and associated effects.

Mr. Paul Mahama Project Officer of Tree Aid Ghana on his presentation on Ghana Shea Landscape Emission Reductions Project (GSLERP) said GSLERP was a five-year project (2022-2025) funded by Green Climate fund/ECOSIA (cost-hared) spearheaded by Global Shea Alliance (Tree Aid and others).

Mr. Mahama said the project was located in 30 communities in Yendi, Mion and Gushegu and the
main activities included raise, plant and protect 140,745 shea seedlings, conduct fallow vegetation management covering 2029.54 hectors of land, train 300 women in sustainable parklands management and engage 40 women in nurseries.

He said they had set up three women cooperatives on group dynamics and cooperative governance also to train 1200 women on shea aggregation, marketing, auditing and warehousing, supply 1500 improved cook stove to women groups amongst others.

He said 48,300 non shea species planted (mahogany, baoba, albizia, cassia, mango), while some of the challenges were harvesting of farm produce, limited time for watering of shea seedlings, while some communities relied on the water at nurseries for domestic use putting pressure on system, reducing quantity available for watering, and frequent breakdowns.

During questions and contributions, participants appealed to the overload of Dagbon Ya-Na Abukari II and his chiefs to enforce the law on group hunting in Dagbon, felling of sheanut trees, da
wadawa trees for firewood and charcoal, assemblies to control Fulani herdsmen from using their cattle to destroy trees planted along dakar river.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Mobile Telecommunication Network (MTN) is to collect some 750 pints of blood in three second-cycle institutions in the Western Region to mark this year’s Valentine’s Day.

The blood donation exercise, under the MTN Ghana Foundation, dubbed: ‘Save A Life’ had students from Takoradi Technical Institute, Fijai Senior High School and St. Mary’s Boys’ Senior High School helping the company to source blood to augment the stock at the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital Blood Bank, a referral centre in the region.

Mr Prince Owusu Nyarko, the Regional Senior Manager of South West District of MTN, told the media that the gift of ‘blood’ was a good gift anyone could give to humanity.

He said since the inception of the project in 2011, the MTN ‘Save a Life’ Campaign, in partnership with some institutions, had yielded very positive results.

This year, MTN has set itself a target of 7,000 units of blood hinging on the 6240 pints collected last year, Mr Nyarko said.

MTN had made remarkable achievements, with over 26,00
0 pints of blood collected from the beginning of the exercise.

‘These efforts have also earned us recognition as one of the highest corporate blood donors; a testament to the power of collective action in making a difference.’

Over the years, the MTN Ghana Foundation has been committed to supporting the development of sustainable social interventions across the country, at the core of which had been the focus on improving health standards and access to quality care.

‘The Save a Life Campaign reinforces the company’s ongoing commitment to enhancing healthcare delivery in Ghana and shows that MTN is a brand that truly cares.’

Ms Mary Avormey of the Donor Care Unit, Effia Nkwanta Hospital Blood Bank, commended MTN for the initiative.

She was hopeful that the annual campaign would address critical gaps in blood supply and promote voluntary donation, thereby saving lives and reducing maternal mortality rates across the region.

She urged other corporate entities to support by donating refrigerators and other
sponsorship packages for more outdoor activities to generate more blood for the Bank.

Source: Ghana News Agency

There was brisk business on the eve of Valentine’s Day in Sunyani as shoppers throng the Central Business District (CBD) of the Bono Regional capital to purchase varieties of gifts and other items.

The Ghana News Agency (GNA) market survey at the CBD Tuesday night revealed flourishing business in chocolates, toffees, underwear, panties, teddy bears and gift cards.

Around 2130 hours, shop owners along the shoulders of the principal streets in front of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and GCB Bank area had displayed their wares as several shoppers, mostly young adults, bargained.

Some of the traders told the GNA that demand for chocolates, red panties and underwear was encouraging, but that of teddy bears was poor.

Comparatively, the traders said this year’s sales were better than last year’s.

Madam Francisca Agyemang, a trader, attributed the poor demand for teddy bears partly to the high cost of the items, which sold between GHC200 and GHC500.

However, the small sizes ranged between GHC80 and GHC150.

An
other trader, Joyce Anima, expressed surprise at the patronage of Val’s items as most of her customers purchased their gifts on Valentine’s eve.

‘This time the demand for red panties, underwear and chocolate seems better. Some of the customers often asked for teddy bears, but the prices scare them from buying,’she stated.

Valentine’s Day or Feast of Saint Valentine is celebrated annually on February 14 and originated as a Christian feast day honouring a martyr named Valentine.

The day has become a significant cultural, religious and commercial celebration of love where people care for and share with each other to strengthen their relationships.

Source: Ghana News Agency

A non- governmental organisation, NKG Textiles Foundation, has held a life skills training programme for students of Yabram Community Day Senior High School in the Krachi East Municipality of the Oti Region.

The programme was geared towards equipping the youth with meaningful life skills that could help them generate income and be a source of employment.

The training brought together over 160 students in soap making business, plastic, flower decoration, tie -dye, yoghurt making and beads making business.

Mr Michael Kofi Nkpah, the founder of the Foundation said the vision of his foundation was to empower the younger generation by providing educational needs to young people, as well as providing them with training and entrepreneurial skills.

He said it was also the aim of the Foundation to facilitate the development and progressive growth of the younger generation in various communities.

Mr Taase Awuriki Abednego, the Virtual Arts and Home Economy teacher said his outfit was committed to inspiring younger
people to make the best out of themselves always and that was a good opportunity to impart on the younger generation skills

‘I have interest in helping students who are passionate about gaining life skills for themselves and this training is the perfect opportunity to help them,’ he said.

Mr Awuriki encouraged all youth to continually seek to get some life skills training to attach to their education to gain more profit as the world was changing to a more practical approach to things.

Ms Anagli Patience, Odoi Wisdom and Biborla Peter together with some other participants, said they were pleased that the Foundation organised the training for them.

‘It is important that you do not only train the mind but the hands as well, and we are glad the Foundation brought this for us and we have personally learnt a lot,’ they told the GNA.

Source: Ghana News Agency