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GTA launches ‘Feast Ghana’ to celebrate Ghana’s culinary diversity

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The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), has launched a culinary event dubbed ‘Feast Ghana’ to celebrate Ghana’s culinary diversity.

The initiative, which is in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Asanteman Queen Mothers Association and the Public Service Workers Union of the Trades Union Congress (PSWU of TUC), is aimed at promoting local foods and showcasing the Ghanaian diversity.

It also featured the second edition of the “Rep your Region” programme organised by the Ladies Club of GTA.

Launching the initiative under the theme “Flavours of Ghana, celebrating Ghana’s cultural diversity through food”, Mr Andrew Egyapa Mercer, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MoTAC) designate said the ‘Feast Ghana’ initiative aimed to highlight the nation’s culinary diversity and to promote regional cuisine across the nation.

He said in recent years culinary tourism had experienced an exponential growth on the global scale, saying culinary tourism had been identified as one of the fastest growing segments of the travelling industry with the projected annual growth rate of over 25 per cent.

Mr Mecer added that through initiatives such as food festivals, culinary workshops and cooking competitions could make Ghana “a shining light that throws a spotlight on the talents of local chefs and the abundance of indigenous ingredients.” .

He said, “by collaborating with stakeholders across the food and the hospitality sectors we can create a vibrant eco-system that will not only promote our

culinary identity but also drive economic growth and empower local communities by promoting local foods more in our hotels, restaurants, shops, lounges and other entertainment locations.”

The sector minister designate urged stakeholders to seize the opportunity to showcase the best of Ghanaian cuisine to Ghanaians and to the rest of the world, adding that “leveraging global growth of culinary tourism and highlighting unique flavours of our food can create lasting impact that resonate with visitors from near and far.”

“Let us join hands to support the ‘Feast Ghana’ initiative and work together to elevate Ghana’s culinary heritage onto the global stage,” he added.

Mr Akwasi Agyeman, Chief Executive Officer, GTA, noted that “Feast Ghana” represented a unique opportunity to showcase the vibrant culinary richness of the nation and celebrate the unity and diversity that food embodies in the Ghanaian culture.

He said the programme formed part of the Ghana Cares Obatanpa project and aligned with the “See

Ghana, Eat Ghana, Wear Ghana and Feel Ghana” campaign launched by GTA a few years ago.

Mr Agyeman noted that “Feast Ghana” would commemorate Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene’s 25th anniversary in the Ashanti Region on April 22, in collaboration with the Asanteman Queen mothers Association.”

The grand celebration of ‘Feast Ghana’ will be held on May Day at the Accra International Conference Center, in collaboration with the PSWU of TUC.

I will fight corruption ruthlessly-Alan Kyerematen  

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Mr Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, Leader, Alliance for Revolutionary Change (ARC), says he will fight corruption ruthlessly if elected President in the December General Election.  

He said he would make it costly for corrupt political appointees to use power dishonestly.   

Mr Kyerematen said this at the launch of the Alliance for Revolutionary Change in Accra, which he said marked a watershed moment in the political history of the country. 

He said the historical significance of the event did not lie simply in the coming together of political parties, but a process that would define the architecture of political commons in the country leading to the election of a first independent candidate as President of Ghana. 

He said the Alliance would lead to the establishment of the first truly representative government in Ghana’s history, a government of national unity made up of representative of different political parties, the business communities, Labour Unions, Civil Society Organisation (CSOs), professional groups, faith-based organisations, traditional authorities, and other interest groups.  

Mr Kyerematen said never in the history of the country had there been a compelling case for change and transformation in all spheres of national life, thus the name “Revolutionary Change”. 

He said after 67years of independence, the country was still suffering from high unemployment, rampant and irresponsible exploitation of the natural resources, deplorable state of infrastructure, including but not limited to roads, railway network, energy, water and sanitation.  

He said the only way those challenges could be fixed was the election of a new type of leadership like himself to implement transformational policies and make the private sector the “real sector of growth”.  

Mr Kyerematen also said the Alliance wanted to end the dominance of the duopoly of the NDC and the NPP, which had failed to address the fundamental challenges of development in the country.  

He said the Alliance would promote reforms in governance, public sector accountability, management of natural resources, as well as mindset and attitudinal change of the populace. 

Ghana, other low-income countries still need IMF’s zero interest rate loans

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Dr Ernest Addison, Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), has appealed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to maintain its zero interest rate loans for Ghana and other low-income countries.


The Fund through its Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT) provides concessional financing (currently at zero interest rates) to low-income countries (LICs).


“We underline the necessity for the upcoming comprehensive review of LICs facilities to maintain the PRGT’s concessionality and promote higher access to reverse erosion amplified by the global inflationary episode,” Dr Addison said.


Keeping the concessional financing, the Central Bank Governor said would be helpful in complementing monetary policies to further tame the inflationary pressures and support economic recovery and resilience in low-income countries.


He said this during 2024 African Consultative Group (ACG) meeting with Ms Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, IMF, at the ongoing IMF/World Bank Group Spring Meetings in Washington, US.


The discussion focused on ways to bolster Africa’s financing through the overlapping crises and beyond.


Dr Addison also called for a replenishing of the Catastrophe Containment and Relief (CCRT) resources envelope to offer grant support to most vulnerable members in a shock-prone world.


He also reiterated the request for further enhancements to the G20 Common Framework while leveraging the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable (GSDR) to promote rapid, transparent, and equitable resolution of debt as well as facilitate debt cancellation for the most vulnerable members.


“The review of the Fund’s internal debt policies is welcome, but we stress the need to ensure that the changes are impactful and achieve their intended purpose,” the Central Bank Governor noted.


He also called for stronger coordination of the IMF’s LICs facilities review with the World Bank’s IDA21 replenishment efforts to support LICs in a holistic manner.


On the part of African governments, Dr Addison encouraged an increase domestic financing to complement monetary policy measures amid economic recovery and resilience on the continent.


That, he said had become necessary as African countries continued to face complex challenges against the backdrop of successive shocks, manifesting in a subdued post-pandemic recovery.


He stated that those shocks had elevated debt distress, with a persistent funding squeeze, which had also amplified income divergences and undermined the achievement of sustainable and inclusive growth.


“Our domestic adjustment policy efforts without adequate financing can only yield limited results, in the context of the complex domestic and external environment,” Dr Addison said.

Flagbearers, Independent Presidential Candidates form Grand Coalition to win 2024 election

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Independent Presidential Candidates, Flagbearers and Movement Leaders have formed Grand Coalition Ghana (GCG) to contest and win the 2024 election, transforming Ghana and spurring socioeconomic wellbeing of the masses. 

Describing the NPP and NDC as “agents of neocolonialism” they said the Coalition had come with transformative power and ideals to end the incompetence, corruption and nepotism displayed by the duopoly in the last 32 years. 

At a media engagement after setting out their modalities, processes and procedures of operation, Mr Jacob Osei Yeboah, Interim Leader, said the Grand Coalition Ghana believed that the time had come to prioritise the collective interests of all Ghanaians. 

He said: “Our nation’s future depends on fostering unity, inclusivity, and a shared vision for sustaining a democratic system and leadership that bear the aspirations of the masses, with a focus on chiefs, faith-based communities, businesses, traders, the youth and professional bodies.”

The Interim Leader said the Coalition would develop economic systems with respective tax systems whilst creating an industrial authority with the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) to enhance industrialisation, bank of innovation and entrepreneurs and support youth starters with creative business mind-sets.

He said the GCG transformative agenda would be to amend some provisions of the 1992 Constitution and replace the political parties with five pivot socio-cultural and economic constituencies of our nation.

“These pivots would be National House of Chiefs and Queen mothers, faith-based communities, youth, businesses, Industries and traders and Professional bodies,” Mr Osei Yeboah said. 

He said under the GCG, Parliament would consist of nonpartisan representation of 191,140 seats for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, 32 seats for women, 16 seats for the youth, each representative from the 16 regions and finally 3 representatives from the persons living with disabilities (PWDs).

Founded on the principles of unity, integrity, and accountability, the Grand Coalition Ghana is an alliance of individuals and organisations like political parties, pressure groups, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Independent Presidential and Parliamentary Aspirants with the view to reengineer and rebuild Ghana.

The Coalition has a nine-member Presidential aspirants within which a Flagbearer would be elected on June 4 to lead the campaign trails, and it intends to win about 20 seats in Parliament.

The members are Rev Dr Samuel Worlanyo Mensah, Economist and Independent Presidential Candidate and Spokesperson for GCG; Jacob Osei Yeboah, Independent Presidential Candidate and Apostle Augustine Ankomah Darkwa Sarpong, President, Association of Parliamentary Candidates, Aspirants and Citizens of Ghana. 

Others are Owura Ntim Agyarko, President, Aspirants for People’s Liberation Front (PLF); Tawiq Nkrumah Hemans; Dr Edward Ohene Kye, Entrepreneur and Cyber Security Specialist; Dr John Kpikpi, Apostle and Founder of The Rebuilding Nations Foundation; Mr Kenneth Kwame Asamoah, Founder and Leader, Action People’s Party (APP) and Mr Richmond Frimpong. 

Prof Stephen Adei, Economist and former Chairperson of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), who graced the media engagement called on the Coalition to uphold a Ghana-first agenda, exhibiting competence, incorruptible leader and integrity. 

He said the economic crises were exacerbating and “will stay with us for a long time,” therefore, Ghana needed a disciplined, honest and competent leadership together with a strong Civil Society Organisation, nonpartisan media and committed university professors and academics to bring development. 

FDA warns public against food ripening chemicals

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The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has warned the public against the use of calcium carbide for ripening food, describing it as hazardous.


“The FDA wishes to seize the occasion to strongly caution traders and the public against the use of calcium carbide for ripening fruits or food processing because it is carcinogenic and hazardous both to the consumer and the handler,” a statement issued by the Authority on April 17, and copied to the Ghana News Agency said.


The statement was a response to a social media video on the use of calcium carbide as a chemical for enhancing the ripening of mangoes.


The alleged video also sought to educate viewers on how to distinguish chemically ripened mangoes from naturally ripened ones using a “floating test”.


The FDA said it embarked on a survey at major markets and sales points across the country and did not find any sampled mangoes containing calcium carbide.


The Authority said the survey and testing were still ongoing.


However, it cautioned that the use of the supposed “floating test” to ascertain whether a mango was naturally ripened or chemically ripened as shown in the video was not a proven standard test.


Scientifically, the cause of the floating of the fruit could be attributed to several other factors, including pest infestation through the activities of fruit flies and mango moths, the FDA said and asked the public to ignore it.


The Authority also urged the public to report any incidents of chemicals being used to ripen fruits for appropriate actions.

GTA launches ‘Feast Ghana’ to celebrate Ghana’s culinary diversity

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The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), has launched a culinary event dubbed ‘Feast Ghana’ to celebrate Ghana’s culinary diversity.

The initiative, which is in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Asanteman Queen Mothers Association and the Public Service Workers Union of the Trades Union Congress (PSWU of TUC), is aimed at promoting local foods and showcasing the Ghanaian diversity.

It also featured the second edition of the “Rep your Region” programme organised by the Ladies Club of GTA.

Launching the initiative under the theme “Flavours of Ghana, celebrating Ghana’s cultural diversity through food”, Mr Andrew Egyapa Mercer, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MoTAC) designate said the ‘Feast Ghana’ initiative aimed to highlight the nation’s culinary diversity and to promote regional cuisine across the nation.

He said in recent years culinary tourism had experienced an exponential growth on the global scale, saying culinary tourism had been identified as one of the fastest growing segments of the travelling industry with the projected annual growth rate of over 25 per cent.

Mr Mecer added that through initiatives such as food festivals, culinary workshops and cooking competitions could make Ghana “a shining light that throws a spotlight on the talents of local chefs and the abundance of indigenous ingredients.” .

He said, “by collaborating with stakeholders across the food and the hospitality sectors we can create a vibrant eco-system that will not only promote our culinary identity but also drive economic growth and empower local communities by promoting local foods more in our hotels, restaurants, shops, lounges and other entertainment locations.”

The sector minister designate urged stakeholders to seize the opportunity to showcase the best of Ghanaian cuisine to Ghanaians and to the rest of the world, adding that “leveraging global growth of culinary tourism and highlighting unique flavours of our food can create lasting impact that resonate with visitors from near and far.”

“Let us join hands to support the ‘Feast Ghana’ initiative and work together to elevate Ghana’s culinary heritage onto the global stage,” he added.

Mr Akwasi Agyeman, Chief Executive Officer, GTA, noted that “Feast Ghana” represented a unique opportunity to showcase the vibrant culinary richness of the nation and celebrate the unity and diversity that food embodies in the Ghanaian culture.

He said the programme formed part of the Ghana Cares Obatanpa project and aligned with the “See

Ghana, Eat Ghana, Wear Ghana and Feel Ghana” campaign launched by GTA a few years ago.

Mr Agyeman noted that “Feast Ghana” would commemorate Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene’s 25th anniversary in the Ashanti Region on April 22, in collaboration with the Asanteman Queen mothers Association.”

The grand celebration of ‘Feast Ghana’ will be held on May Day at the Accra International Conference Center, in collaboration with the PSWU of TUC.

Alan reiterates commitment to establish Traders’ Bank

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Mr Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, Founder and Leader of the Movement for Change, has reiterated his commitment to establish a Traders’ Bank to support traders in the country to improve their trading activities.

 
He said the growth and development of the country largely depended on the success of businesses, and for that matter, traders.

  
Speaking with some market traders in the Western Region, on Monday, April 15, 2024, the former Trade Minister promised to prioritise the welfare of traders when elected president, indicating that the establishment of the Bank would assist traders with easy loans to boost their activities. 


“The needs of Ghanaian traders are very dear to my heart because families of traders always go hungry anytime they don’t make sales in the market,” he said.

 
Mr Kyerematen also pledged to review the import VAT taxes by ensuring gradual elimination of duties and taxes within his first two years, adding that all taxes at the port would be reduced before the end of the second year. 

 
“When we do this, transport fares will come down. If inflation is reduced, cost of food items will come down. …,” he stated.

 
Mr Kyerematen promised the Western Region of a new modern market to ensure that the traders worked under conducive environment.

 
Mr Kyerematen also touched on the ‘galamsey’ menace-illegal mining, and assured that his government would halt mining activities in all water bodies and forest reserve in the country to restore them to their natural state.

  
Additionally, he said, his government would introduce a business model to streamline and empower locals to have corporations that would allow them to participate in the mining sector meaningfully. 

 
He indicated that his government would make finance more accessible to enable small scale miners to acquire and use sophisticated equipment to undertake responsible mining. 

 
Mr Kyerematen charged Ghanaians to change their voting pattern, explaining that the country had witnessed no development over the past 30 years under the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress governments.

 
“The time has come for the people of Ghana to change their voting hands, they need to change for a new person to come. 


“Ghana will move forward when Alan become the President of Ghana,” he said. 
 

Renal Care: Ministry of Health to support police/military hospitals, others

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The Ministry of Health (MoH) says it will support health facilities, including the Police and Military Hospitals to expand access to renal care.

  
Dr Bernard Okoe-Boye, Minister designate for Health, who announced this, said the Ministry was working hard so that tertiary facilities would no longer refer such cases to private facilities.

  
He said this during the handing over of four brand new ambulances to four health facilities in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), on Tuesday.

 
The four beneficiaries are the Ghana Police Service Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) Hospital and the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH). 


In addition, TTH received a water tanker to resolve its water challenges, all estimated at USD1,565.040.65.

 
Dr Okoe-Boye said the equipment were part of Japanese Government’s support to Ghana’s primary health programme to strengthen Ghana’s health system.

 
He said Ghana had benefitted from the long and successful relationship with the Japanese Government through technical assistance, grants, aids and donation of equipment as well as commodities.

 
Dr Okoe-Boye said also through JICA, various initiatives related to improving the health of Ghanaians continued to be implemented, citing Africa Health and well-being initiative, universal health coverage drive of Ghana, development and launch of the National Health Policy and Ghana’s COVID-19 response, among others. 


“The Ministry is pursuing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Agenda for which we have defined as – All people in Ghana having timely access to high quality health services, irrespective of ability to pay at the point of use with a goal of increased access to quality essential health care and public health services for all by 2030,” the Minister designate said.

 
He said the objectives under UHC were universal access to better and efficiently managed quality Primary Health Care Services, reduced unnecessary maternal, adolescent and child deaths and disability as well as increased access to responsive clinical and public health emergency services.

  
The goal and objectives of attaining UHC called for deliberate investments into various aspects of the health system, he said.

  
Dr Okoe-Boye said the universal health care roadmap was to ensure that the populace had timely access to quality health services irrespective of their ability to pay at the point of use, giving key strategies as increasing the enrolment of the National Insurance Scheme and keeping members active and again making Community Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) fully functional throughout the country. 


He said the handing over was a step in the right direction to support the objective of UHC for Ghanaians. 


The Health Minister designate thanked the benefactor for the gesture and urged the beneficiaries to use the items for the intended purposes and ensure regular servicing. 


Receiving the items, the beneficiaries were grateful and said the items had come at the right time and pledged to take good care of them.

 
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Dr Samuel Otu-Nyarko said the Police needed more ambulances to cover the whole country. 

 
Major General Raymond Ewusi, Deputy Chief of Staff (Medical), GAF, Mr Shani Alhassan Shaibu, Northern Regional Minister and DCOP Otu-Nyarko, took the items on behalf of their various institutions. 

     

ECOWAS Court to hold Training Programme for Sierra Leone Lawyers, Law Students

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The ECOWAS Court will organize a training programme for lawyers and law students from Sierra Leone on the margins of its 2024 international conference to deepen their knowledge of the Court for improved practice, the President of the Court, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, has said.

The president said during a meeting with the executive of the Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA) in Freetown on Tuesday, 16th April 2024, that the resource persons for the training would be drawn from senior lawyers from the Court, who will be attending the conference.

He said the training should hopefully close the lacuna in the knowledge of the Court among legal practitioners from the country based on the realisation that most of the lawyers appearing before the Court for cases from Sierra Leone were from outside the country.

Justice Asante urged the leadership of the SLBA to help with the process for the successful conduct of the training, working in collaboration with other relevant bodies in the country, including the leadership of the law school to streamline the participation and other elements of the training.

He announced that the President of the SLBA, Eddinia Michaela Swallow Esq will deliver a goodwill message at the 2024 conference of the Court, which will be historic, being the first time the President of a country’s bar association will be allowed to deliver such a message since the inaugural conference in 2004.

Earlier, the President of the SLBA had thanked the Court for the ‘amazing opportunity,’ granted the country to host the conference, describing it as the fulfilment of a dream for her and members of the legal profession in the country.

She suggested that the Court work with the bar associations of Member States to sensitize lawyers on the specificities of the Court in order to improve their practice, particularly for those who might find themselves appearing before the Court.

Justice Asante is leading a 12-member delegation of the Court to discuss arrangements for the successful hosting of the 2024 international conference of the Court scheduled to take place between the 13th and 16th of May 2024.

The conference is on the theme: “Enhancing the role, relevance and effectiveness of the ECOWAS Court of Justice through the strengthening of synergies between the Court and national stakeholders.”

The President said the conference would provide a forum to generate constructive discussions around the strengths and weaknesses of the Court’s relationship with various national stakeholders and propose practical solutions for the enhancement of the role, relevance and effectiveness of the Court.

Court fines man GHs600 for a fake penis-shrinking claim

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The Ashaiman District Court has fined Edmund Dela Adrah, a 21-year-old student, a sum of GHC600 for falsely claiming that a passer-by has caused his penis to shrink. 
 
Adrah would serve six months imprisonment if he defaulted in paying the fine. 
 
The Court, presided over by Mr Derick Parden Eshun, also made Adrah to sign a bond of good behaviour for 12 months or, in default, serve three months in prison. 
 
It further granted bail in the sum of Gh₵ 6,000 with one surety to Isaac Adukor, a 17-year-old sales representative and an accomplice of Adrah, for making a similar claim. 
 
With Adukor, because of his age, the case has been adjourned to May 14 and referred to the Social Enquiry Investigative Department to investigate the conduct of the juvenile before the court can give judgement.  
 
The two pleaded guilty to two counts of publication of false news and deceiving a public officer. 
 
Inspector Tetteh Nartey, prosecuting, told the court that the complainants were police officers stationed at the Adjei Kojo District Police Command. 
 
On April 6, 2024, the police received a distress call about some disturbances in the Kanewu neighbourhood and a petrol team was dispatched to the scene. 
 
He said the team met the juvenile and Adrah, who had accosted the victim, Abubakar Fatawu, with a crowd around him. 
 
An on-the-spot inquiry by the police team revealed that he allegedly shook hands with the victim and immediately their penises shrank, leaving tiny bits, prosecution said. 
 
Inspector Nartey stated that the two had raised an alarm by shouting at the victim and attracting the attention of passersby, which nearly led to the victim’s lynching. 
 
He said the victim and the two accused persons were sent to the Adjei-Kojo District Police Headquarters for further investigation, adding that the victim was detained to prevent him from being lynched. 
 
The court heard that a formal complaint was made by Adukor and Adrah against the victim for allegedly causing the shrinking of their penises. 
 
On April 9, 2024, Adukor and Adrah were examined by a medical officer at the Tema General Hospital, who noted that their penises had no abnormalities and were of normal sizes for their ages. 
 
The prosecution added that they were subsequently arrested, and an investigation established that they made false statements to cause fear and alarm. 

 

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