Wednesday, 29th June, 2022

Page 2

Nicola Sturgeon proposes 19 October 2023

as date for referendum

Scotland's first minister

has proposed 19 October

2023 as the date for

another referendum on

independence.

Nicola Sturgeon said the question

would be the same as in the

last referendum in 2014: "Should

Scotland be an independent

country?".

Ms Sturgeon said had written

to Prime Minister Boris Johnson

to ask for formal consent for the

vote to be held.

She said she would press on

with her plan if this was not

granted by the UK government.

But she stressed that any

referendum would need to be "indisputably

lawful" and constitutional

- with the Supreme Court

being asked to rule on the potential

legal issues around holding

a vote without UK government

approval.

The UK government said it

would examine the first minister's

proposals, but stressed that

its position that "now is not the

time" for another referendum

had not changed. It has also said

that it is "clear" that the constitution

is reserved to Westminster

Ṁr Johnson sai: "We'll study

it very carefully and respond

properly. I think the focus of

the country should be building

a stronger economy. That's

what we're doing. I certainly

think that we'll have a stronger

economy and a stronger country

together."

Ms Sturgeon said Scotland's

top law officer, the Lord Advocate,

has referred the case to the

UK's highest court, with court

papers being served on UK government

law officers on Tuesday

afternoon.

The first minister said she

hoped the court would be able

to "deliver clarity and legal

certainty in a timely manner"

instead of passing the bill and

then facing a legal challenge

from opponents.

If the court rules that Holyrood

does not have the power

to hold a referendum, she said

the next general election would

become a "de facto referendum"

DAILY ANALYST Wednesday, 29th June, 2022

with the SNP standing on a single

issue of independence.

However, if the court rules in

the Scottish government's favour,

Ms Sturgeon said it would move

quickly to pass its Referendum

Bill, which was published while

she was speaking.

She said that the lawfulness

of the referendum "must be established

as a matter of fact, not

just opinion".

Otherwise, she said, opposition

parties would cast doubt on

the legitimacy of the process, "so

that they can avoid the substantive

debate on independence".

The first minister told MSPs

she had written to the prime

minister to ask him to negotiate

the terms of a section 30

order - which would temporarily

transfer the power to hold a

referendum from Westminster to

Holyrood, as happened ahead of

the 2014 referendum which saw

Scottish voters back remaining in

the UK by 55% to 45%.

Ms Sturgeon said this option

would put the legal basis of a

referendum beyond doubt.

But with Mr Johnson having

repeatedly refused her calls for

another referendum to be held,

Ms Sturgeon added: "What I am

not willing to do, what I will never

do, is allow Scottish democracy

to be a prisoner of Boris Johnson

or any prime minister."

The first minister said: "My

determination is to secure a

process that allows the people of

Scotland, whether yes, no or yet

to be decided, to express their

views in a legal, constitutional

Global News

Second Scottish

independence vote proposed

referendum so the majority view

can be established fairly and

democratically.

"The steps I am setting out

today seek to achieve that."

She added: "If it does transpire

that there is no lawful way

for this parliament to give the

people of Scotland the choice of

independence in a referendum,

and if the UK government continues

to deny a section 30 order, my

party will fight the UK general

election on this single question:

should Scotland be an independent

country?"

Ms Sturgeon said that the

Scottish government would

"make the positive case for independence"

and would "do so with

commitment, confidence and

passion" in the coming months.

She said: "Let the opposition

if they can make the case for

continued Westminster rule and

then let the people decide."

The UK government has

repeatedly stated that "now is not

the time" for another referendum,

with a spokesman saying

that remained its position.

He added: "People across

Scotland want to see both of their

governments working together

on the issues that matter to

them.

"That includes tackling the

cost of living, ensuring energy

security, leading the international

response against Russia's

invasion of Ukraine and growing

our economy. That remains our

priority.

"A decision has been taken by

the first minister to publish a Bill,

and the Lord Advocate has made a

referral to the UK Supreme Court.

UK government law officers will

now consider their response."

Referendum is 'wrong priority'

Douglas Ross, the leader of

the Scottish Conservatives, said

another referendum was the

"wrong priority for Scotland" and

would hinder Scotland's recovery

from the pandemic.

He accused the first minster

of "railroading" parliament into

talking about the SNP's "obsession"

with another independence

vote.

"We won't take part in a pretend

poll when there is real work

to be done," Mr Ross said.

Scottish Labour leader Anas

Sarwar said the SNP had asked

people to vote for them in the

last Scottish Parliament election

on the basis that Covid recovery

would be the party's top priority.

He said: "Isn't it the case that

the 'Pandemic Nicola' that said

she wanted to pull us through

is gone and the 'Partisan Nicola

Sturgeon' that wants to divide

our country is back pursuing a

referendum that two thirds of

Scots don't want right now?"

Alex Cole-Hamilton, of the

Scottish Liberal Democrats, said

the first minister's statement was

an "appalling waste of energy and

focus", and that Ms Sturgeon's

"fixation with breaking up the

country will always trump the

needs of the people that we are

all here to serve".

Politicians point fingers

over truck deaths

It didn’t take long after the

immigrant deaths in Texas

were discovered for the

political finger-pointing to

begin.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott

was quick to assign blame, saying

that President Joe Biden was

responsible for the fatalities.

“They are a result of his deadly

open-border policies,” he said.

“They show the deadly consequences

of his refusal to enforce

the law.”

That prompted a quick response

from White House Press

Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

“The fact of the matter is,

the border is closed, which is in

part why you see people trying

to make this dangerous journey

using smuggling networks,” she

said

Ȧlthough jarring, the partisan

acrimony is not entirely

surprising given the political

environment in Texas at the

moment. Abbott is in the midst of

a re-election campaign in which

he has made hard-line immigration

policies, along with hot-button

cultural and social issues, a

central feature.

Abbott blames the Biden

administration's efforts to roll

back Donald Trump’s immigration

policies for creating a recent

record surge of undocumented

migrants at the border - although

many of those changes

have been delayed by legal

challenges.

The governor’s Democratic

opponent, Beto O’Rourke, has

claimed Abbott’s stepped-up enforcement

is in part responsible

for the human trafficking rings

that endanger migrants who lack

legal avenues to enter the US.

The San Antonio deaths come

just a month after the mass

shooting in nearby Uvalde, Texas,

which prompted its own series of

political accusations and recriminations

between the two men.

Energy used as weapon

of coercion - Nato

Russia is using energy

as a "weapon of coercion,"

Nato's secretary

general Jens Stoltenberg

has told reporters.

He's been speaking at an

event at the alliance's summit

which is getting under way in

Madrid.

Stoltenberg says it was not

obvious to everyone before the

invasion of Ukraine that the high

dependence of European allies on

gas and oil imports from Russia

would make those countries

vulnerable.

And he says allies should also

be aware of the risks of heavy

dependency on Chinese resources

for their infrastructure projects.

In a wide-ranging speech,

Stoltenberg adds Nato is aiming

to be carbon-neutral as an organisation

by 2050.

DAILY ANALYST

Wednesday, 29th June, 2022 Page 3

Frontpage Stories

Arise Ghana demo turns violent

The “Krom A Hye”

demonstration which

was organized by the

Arise Ghana Movement

yesterday turned

violent as police officers fired

tear gas to ostensibly disperse

demonstrators who were

allegedly pelting stones at them.

The demonstration which

was aimed at protesting the

economic hardships in the

country was largely peaceful until

some protestors threw stones,

prompting the police to respond

with tear gas.

According to the Ghana Police,

about 12 of their officers got

injured during the confrontation

while a couple of protesters

were arrested. Some protestors

were also injured during the

confrontation.

However, prior to the

unfortunate incident, thousands

of Ghanaians had poured onto

the principal streets of Accra

to partake in the Arise Ghana

Movement (AGM) demonstration

to protest the ever-increasing

harsh economic conditions in the

country.

The demonstration -

christened “Krom A Hye”

- began with the protesters

massing up at the Obra Spot

at the Kwame Nkrumah

Interchange to register their

discontentment at the Akufo-

Addo administration over the

debilitating cost of living.

Also, hundreds of police

Justice Koomson to

swear newly elected

GJA executives into

office tomorrow

personnel were deployed by the

Police Administration to ensure a

peaceful demonstration and the

protection of the rights of other

citizens.

According to the

demonstrators, the continuous

hike in fuel prices, high inflation

rate, and depreciation of the cedi

were having telling effects on

Ghanaians.

Some of the inscriptions

on the placards wielded by

the protesters were “Momo

businesses are collapsing,”

“Cancel the E-levy,” and “Job

Opportunities for All-Scam,

Double Taxation is Against the

Principles of Our Tax Region

Others read, “Cost of

Transportation is Killing

Ghanaian workers,” Russia-

Ukraine War has Nothing to do

with the Hikes, “One Fuel with

over 14 Taxes-Why? Akufo-Addo

wake up from your slumber, and

“Reduce Fuel Prices Now!”

Interestingly, scores of the

protesters refused to buy into the

government’s argument that the

current economic hardships were

due in part to the ongoing Russia-

Ukraine war.

“They [government officials]

are quick to blame our sufferings

on the Ukraine war, but how

on earth will you tell me that

the cost of maize which is from

last year’s yield is a result of

the Ukraine-Russia war which

started this year?”, a protester

who spoke to DAILY Analyst

stressed.

Meanwhile, according to a

member of the group, Bernard

Mornah they will present

a petition containing their

grievances to Parliament today

(Wednesday, June 29, 2022).

Manhean in danger of

disease outbreak

Justice George Kingsley

Koomson, Justice of the

Court of Appeal, will, on

Thursday, June 30, 2022,

swear the newly elected

National Executive Officers of the

Ghana Journalists Association

(GJA) into office.

He will administer the Oath

of Office to the new national

executive members made up

of Albert Kwabena Dwumfour,

President; Linda Asante-Agyei

(Mrs), Vice President; Kofi Yeboah,

General Secretary; Dominic

Hlordzi, National Organising

Secretary; Audrey Dekalu (Mrs),

Treasurer and Rebecca Ekpe (Ms),

Public Affairs Officer.

They are to serve for a threeyear

term after the swearingin

ceremony, which will be

held at the Accra International

Conference Centre (AICC) at 10

am prompt.

The ceremony will be chaired

by the Director-General of the

Ghana Broadcasting Corporation,

Prof Amin Alhassan, with the

Minister of Information, Kojo

Oppong Nkrumah, invited as a

Special Guest.

Dignitaries expected to attend

the ceremony include members

of the Diplomatic Corps,

Ministers of State, Members of

Parliament, representatives of

development partners, heads of

media institutions, and members

of the inky fraternity.

The ceremony will be telecast

live by the national broadcaster

(GBC) and other media houses.

At the regional level, similar

swearing-in ceremonies are

expected to be organized for the

newly elected regional executive

members of the GJA.

It is only a matter of time

before the country records

a major disease outbreak

in Manhean, a community

in the Ga West Municipal

Assembly GWMA) in the Greater

Accra Region, DAILY Analyst can

report.

This is because for the past

two weeks, the garbage truck

driver, who regularly comes to

Manhean to cart waste at the

main refuse container close to

the Manhean Station, has stopped

working.

The development has resulted

in the heaping of the refuse

container with garbage which

is making it practically difficult

for the lady who works at the

container site to receive any more

waste.

Worse still is the fact that the

only refuse container serving

the entire Manhean community

has become rusty with loads of

corrosion holes. And coupled

with this is the foul smell

that emanates from the place,

especially at dawn and in the

evening when the shoulders of

the main street is littered with

various food vendors.

Furthermore, it was observed

that the situation was so bad that

residents with new refuse are

constantly being turned away

from the main container. And this

is because the refuse container

has become full and overflowing

with waste with some even in big

black polythene bags sitting close

to the container.

The situation, DAILY Analyst

understands, has paved way for

some of the residents to resort

to indiscriminate dumping of

refuse, thereby putting the health

of other people in the community

at high risk.

With this frightening

development, it is believed

that a disease outbreak in the

community is imminent and

could have dire consequences.

A visit by DAILY Analyst to

Manhean at the weekend showed

that the situation remained the

same, with households being

compelled to keep bags of refuse

in their homes.

Indeed, for many residents, it

was not only frustrating but more

importantly, risky as it posed

health risks to them.

In some of the homes that

the paper visited, it was observed

that heaps of refuse in black

polythene bags kept at corners

continued to pile up, with many

fearing that the situation could

get out of hand if nothing was

immediately done about it.

A resident in the community,

Apeoha, speaking to the paper

bemoaned the situation, adding

that the heaped refuse container

has been there for the past two

weeks.

He could not fathom why the

Assembly member for Manhean

Electoral Area, Hon. Nathaniel Nii

Lomotey Tetteh was not telling

the community anything.

“Why are we not hearing from

our Assemblyman on this scary

situation?” he quizzed.

“Only three days ago, my

daughter was turned away when

she went to dump refuse at the

main refuse container near

Manhean station,” he disclosed.

Mr. Apeoha was wondering

whether the authorities were

waiting for them to be killed by

filth before they act!

In this regard, the residents

called on their Assemblyman,

Nii Lomotey Tetteh, and the

Municipal Chief Executive

(MCE) of GWMA, Mr. Clement

Nii Lamptey Wilkinson, to – as

a matter of urgency – intervene

in the matter before the

unthinkable happens.

Page 4


Pratt condemns

use of many

bodyguards by

Renowned journalist, political commentator,

and Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper,

Kwesi Pratt Jnr, has condemned the use of many

bodyguards by some government officials.

This statement by the astute Journalist

comes after the Greater Accra Regional Minister and Member

of Parliament for Ayawaso Central went for an interview

with over 30 armed Police bodyguards

Henry Quartey has been in the news lately for leading

members of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC)

to undertake a demolition exercise on 200 acres of fenced

land belonging to the State under the care of the Council

for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSRI).

In a Facebook post-Henry Quartey said, “Out of the

over 1,300 acres of CSIR land, over 900 acres have been

encroached on, with the remaining 200 being sold out by

unknown persons”.

Mr. Quartey said, “I have urged occupants of the over

900 acres of land to get assistance from the Lands Commission

to assist them to get executive instruments, in other

to be able to register their properties in their names since

none of them has documents or permits after over 20 years

of building”.

Speaking on Atinka FM on Tuesday, Kwesi Pratt Jnr,

explained that people usually condemn the convoys and

security guards of the President leaving out some government

officials.

Citing the Greater Accra Regional Minister and Member

of Parliament for Ayawaso Central, Henry Quartey, Kwesi

Pratt Jnr noted that he witnessed the arrival of Henry

Quartey for an interview where he came with over 30

armed Policemen.

“People condemn the convoys and security guards

of the President leaving out other government officials.

These days even DCEs go for programmes in a convoy. A

few days ago, I met Henry Quartey when he came for an

interview at a media house he came with over 30 armed

Policemen,” Kwesi Pratt Jnr

GBC congratulates Dwumfour

The Ghana Broadcasting

Corporation has congratulated

Mr. Albert

Kwabena Dwumfour

on his win as the Ghana

Journalists Association (GJA)

President.

Mr. Dwumfour won the GJA

election held last Friday, June 24,

2022.

At the end of the keenly contested

election, Mr. Dwumfour

secured 233 votes, his opponents,

Mr. Dave Agebnu had 142 votes

while Mr. Gayheart Mensah had

181 votes.

In a statement, the Director-General

of GBC, Prof. Amin

Alhassan assured Mr. Dwumfour

of its (GBC) cooperation and

support to promote Media professionalism

and the welfare of

Journalists in the country.

"I write on behalf of the Ghana

Broadcasting Corporation and

on my own behalf to congratulate

you on your election to the

high office of the President of

the Ghana Journalists Association,"

GBC stated.

It continued, "You are taking

up the leadership of the GJA

after protracted litigation over

affairs of the association. We

pray that you will rally the membership

of the GJA to bring about

unity and cordiality among the

rank and file."

GBC added, "The Management

of GBC assures you of its

cooperation and support to

The Minister for Trade

and Industry, Alan

Kwadwo Kyerematen,

has revealed that the

major retooling and repair

work at the Komenda Sugar

Factory is ninety-eight percent

(98%) complete.

Alan Kyeremanten indicated

that the factory would soon

undertake a production test run

by the end of July 2022.

Mr. Kyerematen also outlined

eleven separate works in

the factory that has either been

completed or are at their final

stages of completion.

The minister made these

statements when he appeared in

Parliament to answer questions

filed by MP for Bole/Bamboi, Mr.

Yusif Sulemana.

promote Media professionalism

and welfare of Journalists in the

Mr. Yusif Sulemana wanted

answers on the current state of

country. We look forward to a

productive collaboration."

Repair works at Komenda

Sugar Factory 98% complete

Komenda sugar factory today

Tuesday 28th June 2022.

DAILY ANALYST


Highlighting the probable drawbacks

for proper implementation of Ocean

Governance Policy in Ghana

Human populations

have

heavily relied

on the oceans

for food supply,

transportation, security, oil

and gas resources, and many

other explored and unexplored

reasons.

The growing prospects

of the oceans, such as access

to marine genetic resources

and seabed minerals, generating

renewable energy, are

contributing to increased

interests to control and

exploit the seas. Oceans and

coastal areas are essential

component of the Earth’s

ecosystem.

They contribute to approximately

two-thirds of

the earth’s surface and contain

97% of the planet’s water.

Over three billion people depend

on marine and coastal

resources for their livelihoods,

thereby, contributing

to poverty eradication. In

addition, oceans are crucial

for global food security and

human health.

They are also the primary

regulator of the global climate,

an important sink for

greenhouse gases and they

provide us with water and

the oxygen we breathe. According

to data, the Organization

for Economic Cooperation

and Development

(OECD) projects that oceanbased

industries contribute

about €1.3 trillion to global

gross value added.

Furthermore, as oceans

host huge reservoirs of

biodiversity, the Proposal of

the Open Working Group on

Sustainable Development

Goals (SDGs) submitted to

the United Nations General

Assembly in August 2014, SDG

14 aims to “Conserve and sustainable

use the oceans, seas

and marine resources for sustainable

development” due to

its immense contributions to

human and ecological safety.

Primarily, SDGs are accompanied

by targets that

are often elaborated through

indicators focused on measurable

outcomes. They are

action oriented, global in

nature and universally applicable.

They take into account

different national realities,

capacities and levels of development

and respect national

policies and priorities. They

build on the foundation laid

by the Millennium Development

Goals (MDGs). These

ment agreement and the

2002 World Summit on

Sustainable Development

encourages states to develop

and implement integrated

ocean and coastal policy approaches.

However, in Ghana,

ad hoc, disjointed management

regimes have resulted

in unsavory compliance and

outcomes on the marine

ecosystem. To implement

reliable policies for Ghana’s

oceans and coastal lines, it is

imperative to highlight some

main challenges we face.

Lack of sewage and

wastewater treatment

The lack of sewage and

wastewater treatment as well

as the release of pollutants

from industrial, shipping

and agricultural activities

are key threats to the ocean,

particularly in terms of food

security, safety and maintenance

of marine biodiversity.

Notwithstanding the numerous

concerns warranting the

need for proper institutionalization

of ocean governance

which has come to the forefront

of contemporary social

and political issues, there are

inadequate monitoring arrangements

for many pollutants,

accompanied by a lack

of effective arrangements to

establish and enforce norms

for levels of harmful substances.

Plausible dogmatism

towards ocean governance

In Ghana, the institutions

required to implement structured

policies for ocean governance

may exhibit a level

of dogmatism in safeguarding

our oceans. Perhaps, they

may be lacking the detailed

knowledge and skilled

manpower needed for ocean

governance and management.

Enacting an integrated

ocean governance policy to

augment the capacity and

technologies for planning

and managing land-based activities

that have an impact

on coastal and marine environments

as well as those activities

occurring in coastal

and marine environments

will ensure that economic

benefits can be maximized in

an environmentally sustainable

manner.

Seemingly non-existent

data for ocean governance

integration

Widespread and timely

access to data and information

is key to drafting ocean

governance policies. With

goals constitute an integrated,

indivisible set of global

priorities for sustainable

development.

Targets are defined as aspirational

global targets, with

each government setting its

own national targets guided

by the global level of ambition

but taking into account

national circumstances.

The goals and targets integrate

economic, social and

environmental aspects and

recognize their inter-linkages

in achieving sustainable development

in all its dimensions.

Hinging solely on SDG

14, issues related to oceans

and seas are addressed in the

ten (10) targets under SDG 14,

under the 2030 Agenda for

Sustainable Development,

the outcome document of the

United Nations summit for

the adoption of the posst-2015

development agenda

in 2015.

Despite the overarching

contribution of the oceans,

seas and its coastal areas,

oceans are under intense

pressure from human activities.

Oceans, seas and marine

resources are increasingly

threatened, degraded or destroyed

by human activities,

reducing their ability to

provide crucial ecosystem

services. Important classes

of threats are, among others,

climate change, marine pollution,

unsustainable extraction

of marine resources

and physical alterations and

destruction of marine and

coastal habitats and landscapes.

The deterioration of coastal

and marine ecosystems

and habitats is negatively

affecting human well-being

worldwide. With the world’s

population expected to reach

9-10 billion by 2050, there will

be increasing demand and

global competition. With a

looming crisis in reference to

the potential overreliance of

the ocean, the complexity of

marine socio-ecological systems

has led to enacting policies

ocean governance. International

treaties, regional

agreements and national

policies often comprise complex

design, development and

implementation, that reflect

the desire to move towards

specific objectives.

To improve oceans governance,

the 1992 United

Nations Conference on

Environment and Developzero

or less data, we are

concerned on what policy

drafts hinges on. Scientific

data sharing via geospatial

data infrastructures will be

essential not only for synoptic

marine-environmental

observation, state-of-theocean

reporting, and more

detailed exploration of ocean

space, but also for ensuring

safety and security for the

growing number of marine

operators and improving

fisheries management practices.

Designing data and

information products for the

purpose of decision-making

and compliance monitoring

will require good coordination

among technology providers

and users. Simply put,

we lack the data, associated

tools and capacity for robust

assessment and development

and effective management of

the ocean and coastal areas.

Effective arrangements

for climate mitigation and

adaptation are lacking

Climate change, through

its warming and acidification

of the world’s oceans,

is likely to have profound

effects on Ghana’s marine

organisms and ecosystems,

with implications for food

security and many marine

industries. For many species,

the impact of such rapid

change and their resilience

to it are unknown. Interactions

between the various

changes in the oceans and

responses to the different

rates of change in the oceans

along with our coastal areas

should be known by our

mandated stakeholders.

Limited mapping strategies

The mapping of marine

habitats as a basis for identifying

areas that merit protection

coupled with structures

that support marine spatial

planning systems and information

frameworks are limited.

Against this backdrop,

it is important for ocean

governance policy drafts to

include an agreed criterion

to identifying sensitive areas

necessitating development.

In conclusion, the United

Nations Convention on the

Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

outlines legal frameworks

within which all activities

in the oceans and seas must

be carried out, including the

conservation and sustainable

use of the ocean and its

resources. Effective implementation

of the Convention

is paramount in ensuring the

conservation of the marine

environment and the sustainable

use of its resources,

as well as the protection of

the many services that the

ocean will provide for future

generations. By so doing,

all relevant stakeholders in

the maritime space should

be seen as a unified body in

tackling the aforementioned

challenges by developing a

well structured Integrated

Ocean Governance Policy.

Author: Albert Fiatui is

the Executive Director at the

Centre for International Maritime

Affairs, Ghana (CIMAG),

an Advocacy and a Research

Policy Think- Tank, with focus

on the Maritime Industry

(Blue Economy) and general

Ocean Governance. He is also

the Director in charge of

Business Development and

HR, Logical Maritime Services

Limited, a privately held

global logistics company.

Source: Albert Fiatui

Page 6


Story: Prosper Kwaku

Selassy Agbitor

The Chief Executive

Officer, Aim Ghana

Foundation, Ms. Gladys

Biney, has joined the

Apostolic Church of

Ghana, Fanmilk area headed by

Pastor Daniel Quartey, Watch

Your Tongue Campaign, headed

by Inspector Daniel Kwesi Ofori,

and the Jesus Ark Foundation,

Chief Executive Officer, Madam

Eunice Godsent, to educate

communities, churches, and

parents on their role in child

management.

Speaking to the media,

Ms. Gladys Biney admonished

parents, churches, and

community leaders to consider

the future of the country and

Mr Justice Emile

Short, former

commissioner of

the Commission

for Human

Rights and Administrative

Justice (CHRAJ), has called on

leaders to stand up for their

values even in a corrupted

society.

He said though the

environment within which

they operated might be morally

corrupt, they would need to

stand up for their values to bring

about change in society.

This was at a book launch of

“Leadership in Africa, redefinedthe

untold stories,” authored

by Taaka Awori, founder of

Busara Africa, a Leadership

Development Consulting Firm,

based in Ghana.

He recounted when he was

appointed as the CHRAJ boss

just after Ghana had moved from

military rule to a democratic

one, he investigated alleged

corrupted ministers.

The former Commissioner

said though there were

challenging moments, he was

guided by the values of integrity

and contentment impacted by

his father.

Mr Short said he stood up for

values during animosity, adding

that it was possible for every

leader, be it in the corporate,

traditional religious or political

take a keen interest in the lives of

their children.

The call, according to her, will

secure a better future for their

children and the country as a

whole.

She entreated participants

at the one-day sensitisation

event last Saturday at the

Apostolic Church Ghana located

at Fan Milk junction, educating

parents in the church to take

their unrepentant role in child

management seriously to ensure

that children were given the best

training.

Ms. Biney, who was speaking

to journalists on the sidelines

of the event, maintained that

just as children were received

as blessings at birth, parents

owed it a responsibility to train

and manage them to remain

beneficial to society.

"It is obvious some parents do

not know how to train, guide, and

coach their children to become

what they must become and that

is why we have decided to assist

in this regard," she indicated.

Ms. Biney was worried

about the behaviour of children

in churches with very bad

morals which she said must be

changed with constant coaching,

teaching, and guidance.

She was hopeful that with

frequent education, many

children would turn a new leaf

and become useful to the country.

She revealed that most

Ghanaian children were very

knowledgeable, adding that it

was the duty of parents with kind

assistance from the church to

keep them on track.

She urged parents to take

interest in the affairs of children

and know what they were

engaged in at every point in time.

Ms. Biney revealed that an

attribute of a good parent was

praying for their children and

therefore, advised parents to do

so if they want to enjoy the fruits

of their labour.

She said good mothers reason

with their children and also

guide and direct them.

"No child is bad but what a

parent says is what imprints on

the children's mind,” she noted.

Emile Short urges leaders to stand up

for their values in a corrupt society

space, to change the narrative.

He said standing true to

what one believed would help

bring change in one’s time in a

morally corrupted environment.

Taaka Awori, the author,

said not all African leaders were

corrupted as projected.

The book, she said, illustrated

30 outstanding African leaders

and their stories and cautioned

against defining or telling only

negative stories about leaders on

the African continent.

She said there were many

positive exemplary leaders

whose stories were left untold,

some of which had been

captured in the book.

She urged the African

populace, especially those

aspiring for leadership positions,

to look for such leaders, “focus

on them and learn from them.”

Her motivation for authoring

the book was for several reasons,

including the absence of

leadership material relevant to

the African context.

Another reason was to guide

the next generation of leaders,

that is, making it easy for the

next generations when the

baton had been handed to them.

Professor Raymond A.

Atuguba, a law luminary,

reviewing the book, said the

book was good material for law

students and recommended its

addition to the students’ reading

Aim Ghana, Apostolic Church

Fan Milk, school parents on

child management

list.

He described the 250-paged

material as real, practical and

easy to read.

He was impressed about

the incisive and comfortable

questions the writer poses to her

readers in her conversation with

them.

The event also attracted

people from the academia,

corporate world, Civil Society

Organisations, opinion leaders,

among others such as Professor

Akilakpa Sawyerr.

She added that good parents

plan before having children

so that the children would not

become a burden.

She, therefore, called for

a concerted effort from all

stakeholders to ensure that

children behave well.

She bemoaned children's

involvement in vices, attributing

that to the renege of some

parents to control, guide, and

train them.

She was of the view that

children were best learners

of actions more than words,

therefore, urging parents to be

guided by what they do and say

in the presence of their children.

According to her, most of the

social vices being perpetrated in

the country were carried out by

Story: Freeman

Koryekpor Awlesu

A

founder member

of the Dance Africa

foundation, Mr. Ismael

Mawuli Sokpor, has

called on government

to support cultural troupes in the

country.

This, Mr. Sokpor believes, was

a step to boost tourism in the

country.

"We are calling on government

to support us so that we can put

Ghana on the international map,"

he appealed.

The group thrills its audience

in Ewe, Akan, Ga and other

Ghanaian local dialects.

A member of the foundation,

Mr. Emmanuel Bempong, added

his voice for governmental

support.

He said most of the centres

for national culture were not

functioning properly because of

adequate funding, and thus called

on the tourism ministry to help

now.

"The ministry of tourism

the youth, a sad situation which

she decried.

She said her outfit's move

was for the betterment of the

future of the country, adding, "If

the foundation of this country is

the children, then what level of

peace will the country experience

shortly as most of them are going

wayward?”

"We the big three: Aim

Ghana Foundation, Jesus

Ark Foundation and Watch

Your Tongue Foundation, are

poised to safeguard the future

of this country by laying a

solid foundation through the

children and that is why we

have embarked on this initiative

which will be replicated across

the country".

Dance Africa

Foundation calls

for govt support

should, as a matter of urgency,

collaborate with all cultural

troupes to help achieve a big

goal," he noted.

In spite of the many

challenges facing the industry, he

said the Dance Africa Foundation

keeps going.

While others have failed and

left the scene, their unique brand

of traditional music and dance

was the reason why they keep

soaring.

Dance Africa foundation,

cultural troupe with a class whose

exploits have taken them beyond

the shores of this country on

many occasions.

There had been several

pretenders on the music and

dance scene, but they have

endured such a difficult terrain

because of discipline and quality.

In 2017, the group took part

in some international music and

dance festivals. They won the

best traditional dance from Africa

and were also recognised with

certificates for the unique show

put up.

Wherever the group goes they

enjoy massive support.

DAILY ANALYST


Madam Matilda

Banfro, Acting

Greater Accra

Regional Director,

Department

of Gender has called for the

involvement of men in the

promotion of gender equality.

She underscored the need for

the citizenry to acknowledge that

gender equality was a societal

issue that concerned all and must

engage both men and women.

Madam Banfro made the

call at a one-day male only

dialogue session, organised by

the Department of Gender with

support from the United Nations

Population Fund (UNFPA) and the

Canadian Government for 75 men

and boys at Amamomo in the

Workers urged to develop

entrepreneurial mindset

The Minister of Trade

and Industry, Mr Alan

Kyerematen has urged

workers to start their

own business ventures

in their leisure time.

He observed that most

workers who dedicated all their

lives working for others and

“thinking that that’s the end of

the world” were found wanting

after retirement.

“Remember very soon

the time will come for you

to retire and leave, and you

cannot bequeath as a legacy

your position to your children

or family so let us all make an

effort, to at least try something

on our own,” he said.

While bearing in mind the

herculean task of succeeding

at entrepreneurship, he said

government was willing to

provide an institutional support

mechanism through the

establishment of the Business

Resource Centres (BRC) across

the country.

Mr Kyerematen who

launched the BRC, also called

on the Ministry of Finance

to collaborate with the Bank

of Ghana to provide a loan

guarantee scheme that will

provide liquidity for banks to

support Micro Small Medium

Enterprise (MSME).

“So, we all know that the

lifeblood of every business is

money. So again, I’m going to

use this platform. Yes, I’m part of

government, but I’m making an

appeal to government, to myself

and to my finance ministry on

working together,” he added.

The BRC, which is

Accra Metropolitan Assembly.

The session was to engage

men and boys to understand

their roles in achieving

gender equality and national

development.

It was also to sensitise them

on their Sexual Reproductive

Health and Rights (SRHR).

Gender equality is a human

right and developmental issue,

which includes the guarantee of

universal access to sexual and

reproductive health and rights

for all.

The country’s goal towards

achieving gender equality targets

is guided by its commitment to

International Instruments, the

1992 Constitution and National

Development Frameworks.

strategically located across 67

districts in the country, is a onestop

enterprise support centre

designed to provide Business

Development Services (BDS) to

new and existing entrepreneurs

and enterprises.

The centres which also

serve as finance and investment

facilitation hub and information

repository was established by the

Ministry of Trade and Industry

under the Rural Enterprise

Programme (REP) with funding

from the Government, the

African Development Bank

(AFDB) and International Fund

for Agricultural Development

(IFAD).

Mr Kwasi Attah-Antwi,

the National Director, Rural

Enterprise Programme

(REP), said the concept of

BRC was formed as part of

activities undertaken under

the realignment of the REP

which were consistent with

the Government’s industrial

Madam Banfro attributed

the slow progress of attaining

equality between men and

women to the failure to promote

its awareness and involve men at

all levels.

‘‘Women alone cannot

achieve gender equality by

themselves neither can it be

achieved by focusing solely on

women. Gender equality affects

both men and women, and

progress in this area necessitates

both men and women’s

participation,’’ the Acting

Regional Director said.

She called for accelerated

actions to expand the

conversation and look at how to

engage and encourage men and

boys to help push gender equality

movement forward at the local

and global level whiles acting

against gender inequality, which

women faced globally.

‘‘Understanding gender

roles and masculinities, as well

as their impact on bridging the

gender gap, requires awareness,

analysis and visibility,’ she said.

Madam Juliana Abbeyquaye,

Acting Eastern Regional Director,

transformation drive.

“This resulted in an

additional funding of $40million

for REP provided by IFAD, part of

which was carved out to support

the Institutional strengthening

and transformation of NBSSI

into a new Ghana Enterprises

Agency (GEA),” he said.

He noted that there were 37

BRCs which were operational

since August 2020 with 30

facilities being constructed.

He added that, “all BRCs are

connected to standby Gensets,

solar power, and boreholes. BRCs

are also equipped with modern

ICT equipment to support

information and communication

processes.”

Mr Hani El Sadani, the

Country Director of IFAD, said

supporting the country over

the past four decades had led

to the provision of loans and

grants worth USD397 million for

projects and programmes worth

over USD1 billion.

“Ghana has the third largest

IFAD support in the Western

Central African region which

has 23 countries next only to

Nigeria,” he said.

We must involve men

in gender equality

Department of Gender advised

men to eliminate cultural

practices that degraded and

disrespected women, and to be

good role models in teaching

their boys that ‘‘being a man

means respecting women.’’

She noted that the social

and economic pressures, which

defined men as breadwinners,

would be reduced when gender

equality was achieved and

women empowered.

Sheila Serwaa Ayiripe, a

Senior Nursing Officer, Accra

Metro Health Directorate noted

that changes in adolescence

could make them have sexual

feelings, be disrespectful,

curious, and experimental,

argumentative, and aggressive

behaviour.

She said abstinence was the

Ghana Post wins

International Award for

Best EMS Customer Care

Ghana Post has been

awarded the World’s

Best EMS Customer

Care by the Universal

Postal Union in

Switzerland. This is the second

time Ghana Post is receiving the

award.

The prestigious award

recognises the best Call Centres

of EMS Best Cooperative

Members.

Speaking in a brief interview,

the Deputy Managing Director

of Ghana Post, Mr Kwaku Tabi

Amponsah, said Ghana Post has

over the years been committed

to providing excellent service

to its worldwide partners,

customers and stakeholders.

“With the introduction

of technology-enhanced

services and customercentred

innovations, we shall

continue to prioritise customer

satisfaction as a significant

growth index of Ghana Post.

We are poised to achieve the

high standards of serving our

customers with excellence and

give them value for money,” he

added.

The winners were selected

based on their performance last

year by the EMS Cooperative

Board. Each year, the EMS

Cooperative Customer Care

only ‘‘proof method’’ to prevent

Sexually Transmitted Infections

(STIs).

The Senior Nursing Officer

said: ‘‘In 2020, World Health

Organisation estimated 374

million new infections with

one of four STIs: chlamydia

(129 million), gonorrhoea

(82million), syphilis (7.1million)

and trichomoniasis (156 million),

1 in 4 sexually active teens has

an STI and majority of STIs are

asymptomatic.’’

Madam Ayiripe however

said it was crucial for boys to

be knowledgeable about STIs

early, take preventive measures

and get prompt treatment to

prevent long-term consequences

that affected their health and

enjoyment of healthier sex lives.

Awards is held in Switzerland at

a special award ceremony during

the EMS Cooperative General

Assembly by Universal Postal

Union (UPU) International

Bureau.

The EMS Cooperative is a

body of the Universal Postal

Union with more than 170

member countries who work

together to provide EMS, the

fastest cross-border postal

product. The EMS Cooperative

promotes cooperation between

its member posts to provide

customers with a high-quality,

competitive Express Mail

Service (EMS) worldwide.

In recent times, Ghana Post

has experienced significant

reforms that have created

top-of-the-mind awareness for

the brand. The brand seems to

entice the admiration of many

Ghanaians and postal customers

worldwide. In May this year,

Ghana Post was recognised

among Ghana’s Top 100 brands

across industries at the National

Brands & Innovations Awards

The company’s recent

increase in fleet is an assurance

to most people of Ghana Post’s

readiness to lead the postal and

courier companies within the

nation.

Page 8

Health


MTN Ghana Adjudged Health

Environment Safety and

Security Company of the Year

MTN Ghana has

been adjudged

Health, Environment,

Safety

and Security

Company of the Year at the 4th

edition of the Health, Environment,

Safety and Security (HESS)

awards. The ceremony was held

at the Movenpick Ambassador

hotel in Accra. In addition to

being adjudged Company of the

Year, MTN Ghana was also winner

in other categories, bagging

a total of eight awards.

The other awards won are:

• Best Company in

Customer Safety and Security

Management Practices

Dr. Patrick Kuma-

Aboagye, the

Director-General of

the Ghana Health

Service (GHS) has

announced plans by the GHS

Council to establish the GHS

Institute, as a strategy to push

the nation’s efforts to achieve

the Universal Health Coverage

(UHC).

The institute would offer inservice

training to upgrade the

knowledge and skills of health

workers in the country.

According to the World

Health Organisation (WHO),

UHC implied a situation

whereby all individuals and

communities received the

health services they need

without suffering financial

hardship and it included the

full spectrum of essential,

quality health services from

health promotion to prevention,

treatment, rehabilitation, and

palliative care across the life

course.

Dr. Kuma-Aboagye explained

human resource development

remained an essential

component of the GHS and prerequisite

towards achieving the

UHC, saying the Institute would

re-structure health training

curricula and build capacity

of health workers to derive

optimum benefits.

The Director General gave

the announcement when he

inaugurated the Bono Regional

Health Advisory Committee as

part of his two-day working visit

to the region.

Accompanied by some

members of the GHS Council,

Dr. Kuma-Aboagye was in the

region to interact with health

workers, identify and help

• Best Company in Health

and Safety Management Practices

• Employee Empowerment

Excellence Award

• Management of Driving

Safety Excellence Award

• Most Outstanding

Contribution for Sustainable

Development

• Health, Environment,

Safety and Security (HESS) Team

of the Year

• Health, Environment,

Safety and Security (HESS) Manager

of the year– Winifred Setor

Smith

The awards were in recognition

of MTN’s commitment

to Safety and Security standards

which are demonstrated

through the establishment of

various organizational structures

to ensure the delivery of

an effective safety and security

program.

Receiving the awards on

behalf of MTN Ghana, the Acting

Chief Risk and Compliance

Officer for MTN, Mrs. Winifred

Setor Smith expressed gratitude

to the organizers for the awards.

She said, MTN is an organization

that ensures the dissemination

of health and safety tips using

multi-channels. MTN also holds

frequent sessions on health and

safety with its vendors.

Commenting on the awards,

the Chief Executive Officer

of MTN Ghana, Mr. Selorm

Adadevoh congratulated the

Health, Safety and Security Team

at MTN Ghana for

ensuring the compliance

Ghana Health Service Training

Institute To Be Established Soon

tackle pertinent challenges

confronting the health sector in

the region.

Dr. Kuma-Aboagye explained

proper record keeping and

reliable data collection were key

ingredients that promote quality

health care delivery, saying the

GHS was positioning itself well

to operate 24-hour service.

He highlighted the

importance of networking,

stressing that the GHS was also

working tirelessly to link up

with Community-based Health

Planning and Services (CHPS)

Compounds, as well as build a

strong and reliable system in

assessing the health needs of the

people.

Dr. Kuma-Aboagye stated

another key area the GHS had

prioritized was the welfare of

health workers, indicating that

the Service was working hard

to motivate and improve the

condition of service of health

workers.

In that regard, he added

discussions were on-going,

saying very soon the GHS would

set up an award scheme to

motivate the 140,000 employees

of the Service.

Mr William Frimpong Bonsu,

a Member of the GHS Council

said it was the responsibility

of the 10-member committee

to advise the Regional Health

Directorate and facilitate

consultation with stakeholders

and relevant institutions in the

health sector, build partnership

and improve on health

outcomes.

The Committee, comprising

representatives of the GHS,

Traditional Authorities,

Religious Institutions, Regional

Coordinating Council, and

eminent Personalities in the

region is chaired by Mr John

Afrane Boateng, a representative

of Madam Justina Owusu-

Banahene, the Bono Regional

Minister.

It also serves as an

advocacy body and supports

the formulation and

implementation of health

interventions at the regional and

national levels.

of MTN Ghana’s Occupational

Health and Safety Policies, Physical

Security Procedures and the

Safety and Security Operational

Guidelines. He said these guidelines

are constantly followed to

ensure both staff and customers

are safe at all touch points across

the country.

Selorm congratulated Winifred

for coming tops to win the

Health, Environment, Safety and

Security (HESS) Manager of the

year award. He said, “this recognition

is a testament that MTN

indeed natures its talents and

invests in people”.

The HESS awards was organised

by IanMatSun Global

Services Ltd, organizers of the

The number of

confirmed new cases of

COVID-19 has increased

to 203, raising the

country’s active case

count to 1,556, the Ghana Health

Service (GHS) has said.

The latest update on the

COVID-19 portal indicates that

there are six severe cases, one

critical, with the death toll rising

to 1449.

Greater Accra Region has

recorded the highest number

with 1,065 cases, Eastern Region

is the second highest with 108

cases, followed by the Central

Region with 89 cases, Bono

Region with 84 and Ashanti

region with 75 cases.

The rest of the regions

recorded below 50 cases with the

Bono East Region recording 47

cases, followed by Oti and Ahafo

Regions with 21 cases each, 15

cases from the Volta Region and

Western region,13 cases.

The Upper East Region

followed with eight cases, Upper

Sustainability and Social Investment

Awards and publishers of

the Sustainability Report Magazine

in partnership with Firmus

Advisory, a leading Research

Company in Ghana. The awards

identify, publicly recognize and

celebrate outstanding companies

and individuals for their

exceptional performance and

innovations in Occupational

Health, Environment and Employee

and Stakeholder Safety

and Security.

MTN Ghana has won 14 HESS

awards since 2019 and has been

adjudged Best Company in HESS

and Most Outstanding Contribution

for Sustainable Development

for two consecutive years.

Ghana records

more than 200 new

COVID-19 infections

West with five cases and one

case each from Western North,

Northeast and the Northern

Region.

Two cases have been

recorded among international

travelers so far with no cases

recorded in the Savannah

Region.

Coronavirus disease

(COVID-19), according to the

World Health Organization

(WHO), is an infectious disease

caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Most people infected with

the virus will experience mild

to moderate respiratory illness

and recover without requiring

special treatment.

However, some will become

seriously ill and require medical

attention.

Signs and symptoms of

COVID-19 include fever or chills,

cough, shortness of breath or

difficulty in breathing, fatigue,

muscle or body aches, headache,

loss of taste or smell and sore

throat.

DAILY ANALYST


Study: Cassava fufu Boosts immune

System, lowers Blood Pressure

Recently, I wrote on the

science behind Konkonte.

In this current article,

I provide further details

based on science on

foods related to Cassava such as

Fufu and Gari. I found the need

to address this as a result of some

emails which I received on the glycemic

index of local foods, especially

for diabetics.

The fact is that traditionally

made Ghanaian fufu can have cassava

levels as high as 90%.

Hussein et al.(2012) study found

that Cassava contained the following:

Protein 0.35-2.45%, ash (0.15-

1.50%), fat (0.12-0.61%), fiber (0.01-

0.20%), carbohydrate (81.81-90.37%)

and dry matter (81.792.69%).

According to https://fdc.nal.

usda.gov/(2020), a 3.5-ounce (100-

gram) serving of cooked cassava

root contains 191 calories. This

means that 84% comes from carbs,

while the rest comes from protein

and fat. Additionally, one serving

also provides some fiber and a few

vitamins and minerals.

I provide a summary of the

following nutrients present in 3.5

ounces (100 grams) of cooked cassava

according to the U.S. Department

of Agriculture (2020):

• 330 calories

• 78.4 grams of carbohydrates

• 2.8 grams of protein

• 0.6 gram fat

• 3.7 grams fiber

• 42.4 milligrams vitamin C

(71 percent Daily Value)

• 0.8 milligram manganese

(40 percent DV)

• 558 milligrams potassium

(16 percent DV)

• 55.6 micrograms folate (14

percent DV)

• 0.2 milligram thiamine

(12 percent DV)

• 43.3 milligrams magnesium

(11 percent DV)

• 0.2 milligram copper (10

percent DV)

• 1.8 milligrams niacin (9

percent DV)

• 0.2 milligram vitamin B6

(9 percent DV)

• 0.1 milligram riboflavin (6

percent DV)

• 55.6 milligrams phosphorus

(6 percent DV)

• 3.9 micrograms vitamin K

(5 percent DV)

• 0.7 milligram zinc (5 percent

DV)

A recent study by Abdullah

et al.(2022) is in agreement and

found that Cassava root is mainly

high in vitamin C, an important

vitamin that acts as an antioxidant,

supports collagen production

and enhances immunity, among

other benefits. The National Health

Institute (2021) also found that

cassava is rich in copper, a mineral

necessary for neurotransmitter

synthesis, energy production, iron

metabolism, and more.

Glycemic Index, Fufu, and local

foods

One local prospective study by

EliCophie et al.(2017) evaluated the

glycemic index of five local staple

foods on 10 healthy nondiabetics:

fufu (locally pounded), kenkey (Ga),

banku, Tuo Zaafi (TZ), and fufu (Processed

powder).

The study found that processedpowdered

fufu had the least

glycemic response (31), followed by

Ga kenkey (41) and locally pounded

fufu (55), all recording low GI. Tuo

Zaafi (68) had a medium GI and

banku (73), had moderately high GI.

Understanding the Glycemic

Index

• Low glycemic index (GI of

55 or less): Most fruits and vegetables,

beans, minimally processed

grains, pasta, low-fat dairy foods,

and nuts. This means that processed

fufu from the study has

GI(31), locally prepared fufu has

GI(51), and Kenkey(41)( EliCophie et

al. 2017) and falls within this group.

They can be consumed by diabetics.

• Moderate glycemic index

(GI 56 to 69): White and sweet

potatoes, corn, white rice, breakfast

cereals such as Cream of Wheat

and Mini-Wheats. Also, Tuo Zaa has

GI(68) and can be moderately eaten

by diabetics( EliCophie et al. 2017)

with caution.

• High glycemic index (GI

of 70 or higher): White bread, rice

cakes, most crackers, bagels, cakes,

doughnuts, croissants, and most

packaged breakfast cereals. This is a

red flag for diabetics. Interestingly,

Banku failed the test here( ECophie

et al. 2017) and had a high GI

(73). What could be deduced from

the study is that the processing

methods could indeed affect Banku,

Kenkey, and other staple foods.

What is Glycemic Index?

GI is a classification of food

based on the blood glucose response

to a food relative to a standard

glucose solution. Low glycemic

foods control the release of glucose

into the bloodstream at a steady

and sustained rate, keeping the

body's metabolic processes and

energy levels balanced. People with

low glycemic diets or [who] eat low

glycemic foods are said to have a

lower risk of getting coronary heart

disease and type 2 diabetes. These

food items that have low GI would

benefit those who are already

suffering from diabetes since these

would help in the proper control

and management of blood sugar.

This means that, as a low-GI

food, eating cassava or fufu can also

help improve physical endurance

because blood glucose levels are

moderated instead of dropping

when insulin is produced. Low-

GI foods also may help control

triglyceride and other lipid levels

in your blood. Cassava has even

been called a "weight loss wonder

food" due to its ability to decrease

appetite and decrease fat storage in

fat cells ( Kresser, 2014).

The Healthy Home Economist

(2016) also calls cassava-resistant

starch "the healthiest starch for

your gut:" what does this mean to

our health? They had this to say:

"Resistant starch is a type of

starch that does not break down (it

literally "resists" digestion), instead

of being absorbed as glucose like

most starches. Instead, resistant

starch travels through the small

intestine to the colon where it

is turned into beneficial, energy-boosting,

inflammation-squashing,

and short-chain fatty acids by

intestinal bacteria. The main reason

why resistant starch is so beneficial

is that it feeds the friendly bacteria

in your colon, turns them into

important short-chain fatty acids,

such as butyrate (known to help

reduce inflammation), and is extremely

helpful in cases of autoimmunity,

IBS, colitis, and allergies.

The Authority Nutrition (2016)

also explains:

Most of the carbohydrates

in the cassava diet are starches.

Starches are long chains of glucose

that are found in grains, potatoes,

and various foods. But not all of

the starch we eat gets digest-

ed. Sometimes a small part of it

passes through the digestive tract

unchanged. In other words, it is

resistant to digestion.

According to Topping et al,

(2003) resistant starch can be very

beneficial. As it feeds beneficial gut

bacteria, it can reduce inflammation

as well as harmful bacteria. It

may also lower your blood glucose

level after meals (Diabetes Care

2006), improve insulin sensitivity

(Robertson et al. 2005), help manage

metabolic syndrome (Bodinham et

al, 2010), and possibly help you eat

less(Raben et al,1994).

Types of Resistant Starch

There are four different types of

resistant starch (Authority Nutrition

2016):

• Type 1, found in grains,

seeds, and legumes resist digestion

because it's bound by fibrous cell

walls.

• Type 2 is indigestible

starchy foods such as green bananas

and raw potatoes which, when

heated, make them digestible.

• Type 3 is created when

starchy food is cooked, then cooled,

turning some digestible starches,

such as rice and white beans, into

resistant starch through retrogradation(Science

Direct, 2000).

• Type 4 is a man-made

substance using a chemical process

and is not healthy for you.

Cassava, the Science

Digestive and colon health

One study by Marandola et

al.(2004) found that Cassava may

also, by a different mechanism, be

protective against cancer because it

contains a chemical called tamarin

which is responsible for the

production of hydrocyanide. This

tamarin has been shown in vitro

to cause the death of cancer cells

by self-toxicity with hydrocyanide.

Another study by Tsumbu et

al.(2011) found that Cassava Leaves,

roots show promise against colon

cancer. Irabor (2011) found that the

low colon cancer in Nigeria could be

due to the consumption of resistant

starch foods.

Cassava and Prostate Cancer?

Two case studies were reported

by Abeygunasekera and Palliyaguruge

(2013) which found that

patients with hormone-resistant

prostate cancer whose serum PSA

level continued to rise despite

consumption of large quantities of

boiled roots of cassava indicating

its ineffectiveness in controlling

the prostate cancer. Though they

recognized that this is a single case,

it guides health care workers who

look after patients with castration-resistant

prostate cancer in

the absence of more comprehensive

research on cassava and its effectiveness

on prostate cancer. Take

note that this case report was based

on patients with hormone-resistant

prostate cancer.

This means that the science

is not strong to back the claim

that cassava cures prostate cancer.

Besides, the claim that linked this

to the Vitamin B-17 content is not

strong enough and could worsen

your prostate cancer outlook.

Promotes Wound Healing

According to the fdc.nal.usda.

gov, Cassava is loaded with vitamin

C, with 20% of the Daily Value in

each 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving.

Other studies found that cassava

provides about 50% of the daily vitamin

C needs for most adults.

Vitamin C plays a key role in

many aspects of health, including

immunity. Carr and Maggini(2017)

study found that vitamin C can help

Opinion

protect against oxidative stress and

support the function of immune

cells in your body.

Reduce Blood Pressure

Compare to potatoes, cassava is

exceptionally high in potassium. A

cup of cassava has 558 milligrams,

providing 16% to 21% of the daily

recommendation, which ranges

between 2600–3400 milligrams per

day depending on age and sex.

Filippini et al.(2020) study

found that Potassium lowers

blood pressure levels and can help

balance out sodium intake which

raises blood pressure. Choosing a

cassava-based side dish instead of a

grain-based one boosts the potassium

intake of your meal.

Cassava is rich in flavonoids

and fiber that can protect against

the development of the metabolic

syndrome and its associated complications.

This claim is especially

true when cassava replaces wheat

as a staple food(Nwose et al.2017).

Weight Management

One may be mistaken for thinking

that due to the high calories in

cassava, it may not be appropriate

for weight management. However,

don’t forget that cassava provides

fiber and resistant starch that promotes

healthy gut bacteria.

This has been confirmed by Hiel

et al.(2019) who found that the fiber

from root vegetables reduces cravings

for salty, sweet, and high-fat

foods. The fiber in cassava also positively

impacts the gut microbiome,

promoting feelings of satiety.

Negative Aspect

High calories

U.S. Department of Agriculture

(2020) found that Cassava contains

191 calories per 3.5-ounce (100-

gram) serving, which is high compared

with other root vegetables. If

one juxtaposes the same institution

work, you will notice that sweet

potatoes have 90 calories, while

the same amount of carrots has 35

calories. The high-calorie amount

is what makes it a significant main

crop in several countries. Be warned

that eating too many calories than

you burn can add to your weight

gain( Osilla et al. 2021).

Harmful?

Two studies (Zidenga et al.2017;

Cressey and Reeve 2019) found

that raw cassava contains chemicals

called cyanogenic glycosides.

Hence, if one consumes it raw, it is

likely to release cyanide into the

body.

Hence, two studies( Tshala-Katumbay

et al. 2016; Alitubeera et

al. 2019) affirmed that eating raw

cassava on daily basis is likely to

increase cyanogenic glycosides or

cyanide poisoning. They further

had this to say: “Cyanide poisoning

is associated with impaired thyroid

and nerve function, paralysis, organ

damage, and even death.”

This notwithstanding,

Odoemelam et al.(2020) study

explain that because protein helps

rid the body of cyanide, those with

poor nutritional content and low

protein faced these challenges.

However, these effects can be

mitigated by Soaking and cooking

cassava. Additionally, we can also

mitigate this by infusing cassava

with other diets found to contain

high protein (Alitubeera et al. 2017;

Odoemelam et al. 2020)

The processing affects nutri-

Another interesting thing

is that the nutritional profile of

cassava can be affected by processing

such as peeling, chopping,

and cooking. However, a study by

Julie et al.(2009) found that though

cooking affects the nutritional

content, cooking cassava before

consumption is important to avoid

side effects.

Julie et al. (2009) additionally

found that boiling cassava root still

retains more nutrients, compared

with other cooking methods like

roasting or frying. The exception

is vitamin C, which is sensitive to

heat and easily leaches into the

water.

This means that our traditional

processing forms of cassava such

as Tapioca, gari, and fufu are likely

to reduce their nutritional value.

Additionally, cooking is still the less

processing technique to provide

nutritional value.

Additional Nutritional Improvement

Due to the effect of some of the

processing techniques which affect

the nutritional content of Cassava.

Agbon et al.(2010) found that cassava

nutrients can be enriched with

cowpea.

Another study by Osei-Djarbeng

et al.(2016) used evaporated

milk in the preparation of fufu and

the soup. A ratio of 2:1 evaporated

milk and water was used to prepare

the food, and the soup was also

prepared by using the same milk

and groundnut paste to obtain a

creamy soup that had chicken as

the accompaniment. Eighty percent

(80%) of the five food evaluation

experts who assessed the food

indicated that they extremely liked

the product of the new recipe;

the remaining 20% also liked the

food very much. Preparation of

the food with milk adds the rich

nutrient components of the milk

to the cassava which principally

contains carbohydrates for some

nutrients that may be lacking in

the food. Adding milk to the mainly

carbohydrate-rich fufu is therefore

highly recommended as this will

make the food richer in nutrients

required by the body. Furthermore,

the study has shown that milk can

be used in the preparation of main

course meals apart from the normal

beverages and light food in which

the product is mainly used.

Take Home

EliCophie et al. (2017) found

processed and locally prepared fufu

to have a low glycemic index. This

means that they can be eaten by

diabetic patients. Additionally, cassava

fufu contains resistant starch

which resists digestion lowering

blood sugar levels.

Additionally, Cassava fufu is

loaded with 50% vitamin C, which

boosts the immune system. It is

further enriched with high Potassium

which reduces high blood

pressure.

Cassava should not be consumed

raw but always cooked.

Finally, assess your needs first and

understands how your body responds

to diet. There is no one size

fits all approach to diet.

NB: Prof. Nyarkotey has strict

sourcing guidelines and relies on

peer-reviewed studies, academic

research institutions, and medical

associations to justify his write-ups.

My articles are for educational purposes

and do not serve as medical

advice for diagnosis or treatment.

I aim to educate and empower the

general public to take control of

their health by providing trustworthy

or evidence-based scientific

Natural Health Information and

advocating for your right to make

informed health decisions.

The writer is a Professor of

Naturopathic Healthcare, President,

Nyarkotey College of Holistic

Medicine & Technology (NUCHMT)/

African Naturopathic Foundation.

E-mail: collegeofholisticmedicine@

gmail.com.

Page 10

The Bank of Ghana (BoG)

has been elected as

the African Financial

Inclusion Policy

Initiative (AfPI) Vice

Chair.

After two years, Ghana will

take over the position of AfPI

Vice-Chair, while Seychelles takes

over as AfPI Chair.

Central Bank of Seychelles

took over as the Chair of AFI’s

African Financial Inclusion

Policy Initiative (AfPI) from the

Bank of Tanzania.

Prof. Florens D.M.A Luoga

Governor Bank of Tanzania

handed over the post to his

Fishers in the three

coastal districts of

the Volta Region

are reminding the

Government to honour

its promise to offer closed season

support to artisanal fishers

across the country to alleviate

their difficulties.

The reminder comes ahead

of the start of the 2022 closed

season to be observed from July

01-31 by artisanal and semiindustrial

fishers and from July

01-August 31 by industrial fishers

as announced on April 12, 2022,

by Mrs Mavis Hawa Koomson, in

charge of Ministry of Fisheries

and Aquaculture Development

(MoFAD).

The fishers who spoke in an

interview with the Ghana News

Agency (GNA) on Monday said

the month-long observance

would negatively impact on

their livelihood if no form of

support were given to them.

Madam Charlotte Segbawu, a

member of Agoha Fishing Crew

at Woe in the Anloga District

said left to her, the 2022 closed

season should be suspended

because the economic hardship

being experienced would worsen

with the closure of the fishing

season.

“The whole of last week,

our crew didn’t make any

good catches. Even today, our

crew couldn’t go on fishing

expedition, and we understand

that by Friday, the closed season

will set in.

“You can imagine what will

happen to us when we have to

stay at home for the next one

month without any support

coming to us.”

Business

Seychelles counterpart Governor

Caroline Abel on 23 June during

AfPI Leaders’ roundtable in

Arusha, Tanzania. Governor Abel

becomes the first woman to Chair

an AFI regional initiative.

Expressing appreciation

and honor given to him and

cooperation he enjoyed with

AFI Management Unit and from

members of the African Financial

Inclusion Policy Initiative (AfPI),

Professor Luoga welcomed

Governor Abel as the new chair

during the closed AfPI Leaders’

Discussion.

Thanking Prof Luoga and

the Bank of Tanzania for the


leadership during the past

two challenging years of the

global COVID-19 pandemic, AFI

Executive Director Dr. Alfred

Hannig praised collaboration and

engagement both in the Africa

region and the global network.

“This week’s meetings were a

testimonial to what was possible

with guidance and leadership

of BoT and Professor Luoga”, Dr.

Hannig said before inviting the

new chair to give her remarks.

Honored and humbled about

the new role for her institution,

Governor Abel assumed the post

noting that this “noble task

of fostering parentships and

exchanging experiences would

further take the network to new

heights and continue to play a

critical role in peer learning on

innovative financial inclusion

policies across the African

continent”.

She emphasized that diversity

in both AFI’s biggest regional

initiative and the global network,

presents ample opportunities

to gain new perspectives and

strengthen efforts to move

Keep your closed season support

promise to fishers – Gov’t told

Mr Michael Bumegbe, Chief

Fisherman, Kedzikope, Keta

Municipal gave an assurance

that fishing crews at his landing

beach would comply with the

directive.

He underscored the need for

the Government to support them

“just as was the case during

the 2021 closed season,” saying,

though that could not sustain

the fishers, it helped in a way.

Mr Emmanuel Anomoo

Tettey, Chief Fisherman for

Salakope, and who speaks

for Volta Regional Chief

Fishermen said fisher folks

went through difficulties

during the 2021 closed season

period feeding themselves and

their dependents and hoped

this year’s support to them as

promised by the Government

would be more helpful.

He said: “The closed season

is among measures instituted

to replenish the fish stock by

avoiding over-exploitation

Bank of Ghana elected

Vice Chair of AfPI

of the fishery resource. And

coupled with sustainable fishing

practices which we want the

Government to help to enforce,

we’re sure of preserving the

fishing industry, which will

improve our livelihoods and that

of our dependents.

“That notwithstanding,

we expect support from the

Government. Recently at

a meeting with the sector

minister in Accra, she promised

that we’ll take delivery of some

relief items, and the women will

also receive support.

“We don’t know the quantity

but the promise itself is

assuring.”

MoFAD in collaboration

with the Fisheries Commission

announced the closed season,

also known as biological rest

period, to stop fishing activities

to allow time for fish to breed

and nurture their young as part

of marine resource management.

forward.

“Our journey to enhance

financial inclusion is ongoing.

We have to adapt to changing

realities to enhance financial

services for all and achieve

inclusive and sustainable

economic growth”, Seychelles

Governor said in her acceptance

remarks.

Governor Abel’s post of the

AfPI Chair reflects progress made

in gender and women inclusive

finance in the network as part of

work under the Denerau Action

Plan (DAP).

Overwhelmingly endorsed

by the network in 2016, the DAP

targets to accelerate women’s

financial inclusion by halving the

financial inclusion gender gap

across AFI member jurisdictions

by 2021, strengthen women’s

The Chief Executive

Officer of Eden Ghana,

Catherine Krobo Adusei

says various sectors

should be actively

involved in cushioning the

agribusiness ecosystem from

the effects of current global

economic challenges.

“Let every sector start from

where they are responsible. The

engineers, health, and everyone

must do their bit. It should

not be just talk. We need to be

intentional,” she said on the Citi

Business Festival forum on Citi

TV.

Catherine Adusei indicated

that the banking sector, for

instance, could offer support

in the form of loans to

agribusinesses struggling to

sustain their operations.

“The banks make profits, so

why can’t there be a policy that

will ensure they can support

agribusiness?” she asked.

She indicated that given

the adverse effects of the

global economic challenges on

agribusiness, the private sector

could come on board by offering

leadership and contribute to the

Sustainable Development Goals,

specifically Goal 5 on gender

equality.

The Leaders also approved

EGFIP’s new composition, which

now includes Bank of Namibia as

New Chair, taking over from Bank

Al Maghrib, while the Bank of

Tanzania has been elected as the

Vice Chair.

Meanwhile, experts identified

four key emerging policy areas to

work on: consumer protection for

digital financial services, digital

financial literacy, inclusive

fintech, fintech and data to map

the impact of fintech on financial

inclusion in the region.

The AfPI Leaders’ Roundtable

will be held at the Island of

Seychelles in 2023.

Multisector support

needed to fix agribusiness

challenges – Eden Tree MD

solutions in areas where the

public sector falls short.

“We must stop reacting and

plan. Let us take for example

fertilizer, if there were companies

that will go into doing organic

waste it will help so when this

crisis comes, we are prepared.”

Panelists on the forum

explored the various components

of the agribusiness ecosystem,

and what stakeholders can learn

to maximise their advantage.

The discussion was on the

theme, ‘Rediscovering the

agribusiness goldmine’, and will

be live on Citi TV and on the

station’s social media platforms.

The Citi Business Festival is

an extensive program of business

events and on-air activities

providing inspiration, business

ideas, and information to persons

who are starting, building, or

growing their businesses.

ABSA Bank is the main

sponsor of the Citi Business

Festival 2022 and supported by

MTN Momo and MTN Business,

IT Consortium and the Ghana

Investment Promotion Centre

(GIPC) and GIRSAL.

DAILY ANALYST


‘Klopp has

been moaning

for years!’

Everton winger Andros

Townsend has accused

Jurgen Klopp of

“moaning for years”,

with if felt that the Liverpool

manager has got “his way

again” as the Premier League

prepares to allow five substitutions

in the 2022-23 campaign.

Rules in the English topflight

are being tinkered with

after pressure was placed on the

relevant authorities to permanently

implement changes that

were first introduced on the

back of the coronavirus-enforced

break to the 2019-20 season.

Klopp was vocal in his calls

for the Premier League to fall

in line with other divisions

across Europe when it comes to

upgrade on the established three

substitution code, with those

working with the biggest squads

considered to benefit most from

a re-writing of the rulebook, and

Townsend is not surprised that

pressure has paid off.

Does Liverpool boss Klopp

moan a lot?

Former England international

Townsend, who has been a

direct rival of Liverpool at Everton

since the summer of 2021,

has told talkSPORT: “I love how

Jurgen Klopp has found a way to

get his way again.

“He’s been moaning for years.

They have been pushing back

and finally they have given in

and given him his five subs. And

he will probably still use two or

three in the biggest games. But,

hey, who are we to argue with

him?

“I think in the biggest games

Liverpool and City, they use one

or two subs. They don’t use the

full three subs.

“I think it’s the games

against Crystal Palace or Brentford,

where they can’t break

teams down, it’s 0-0, they have

11 behind the ball. 'Right, can we

bring on five world-class internationals

who are fresh who can

change the game? Can we bring

them on to break down this

stubborn defence?' And that’s

where I think it becomes a bit

unfair.”

Townsend added: “I don’t

think it makes it less competitive.

It’s still going to be the

most competitive league in the

world. I just think it gives those

top sides an extra advantage.

“Hopefully my side is one of

those teams that will have the

advantage with the squad that

we’re looking to build.

“And, on a personal level

coming back from an ACL injury,

five subs will probably suit me.

But I just think, on the whole,

it suits your Jurgen Klopps and

your Pep Guardiolas who have 30

world-class internationals.”

Does Klopp have too much

power?

Those in charge of the biggest

clubs are always going to

shout the loudest, but Townsend

believes they have been afforded

too much of a say when it comes

to influencing decisions outside

of their respective workplaces.

Quizzed on how much power

Klopp has, the 30-year-old forward

said: “Clearly a lot.

“I think we saw last season,

and even the season before,

just the constant banging on,

banging on about votes, on votes,

on votes, getting pushed back

and then, all of a sudden, they

announce the five subs bench.

“I think as well, last season,

again, moaning about the schedule,

moaning about this, moaning

about that… all of a sudden

BT Sport put a Liverpool game

on Saturday night, which I’ve

never seen before in the Premier

League.

“So obviously all of this

moaning and moaning puts

pressure on the authorities to

give him what he wants, and he

has got what he wants on many

occasions.”

Former world champion,

Joseph King Kong

Agbeko, has blamed

the Ghana Boxing

Federation (GBF) for

trying to influence selection of

the national armature boxing

team for the Commonwealth

Games in Birmingham next

month.

The GBF named 9 boxers

which included 8 male boxers

and 1 female boxer to represent

Ghana for the tournament

which commences from July 28

to August 8.

According to Agbeko, the

GBF used unfair ways to drop

Theophilus Allotey from the

national team despite winning

gold in the qualifiers to select

boxers for the Black Bombers.

The former IBF

Bantamweight champion

believes Allotey’s inclusion in

the team could win a medal for

Ghana at the tournament.

“These things [interference

in team selection] must stop in

this modern era and I believe

we need to reward hard work

as a country to eliminate such

practices. Theophilus Allotey

has worked hard to win gold at

the individual championship,

so how do you overlook him for

someone else? This is not right

and must be reversed,” Agbeko

told Graphic Sports.

He added, “I have watched

this boxer train and I believe he

- Everton’s Townsend

is one of Ghana’s surest bets to

Bechem United

forward, Augustine

Okrah, has rendered

an unqualified apology

for headbutting

an assistant referee, Stephen

Balanguena, during the Sunday

June 26 MTN FA Cup final

between his club and Accra

Hearts of Oak.

In a June 27 statement, the

player expressed remorse over

his unethical behavior adding

that he feels ashamed to have

Sports

Joseph Agbeko accuses

selection of boxers for

Commonwealth games

‘Forgive me one last time’

- Bechem United's Augustine Okrah

apologizes for headbutting referee

win a medal in Birmingham if we

allow him to compete.”

Yaw Addo was reportedly

chosen over Allotey by the nineacted

in such a manner.

He also used the opportunity

to ask for forgiveness from

the entire management of

Bechem United, the fanbase and

teammates for the harm his

actions may have caused them.

“I tender an unconditional

apology for the unethical

behavior that caused my early

exit from the FA Cup final

between Hearts of Oak and

Bechem United at the Baba Yara

Sports Stadium on Sunday.

member Black Bombers team

for the games because of his

experience, according to sources

close to the GBF.

“I am extremely sorry and

remorseful for the harm this

have caused including hurting

sentiments. I am ashamed of

myself for having behaved in

such a manner,” part of the

statement read.

“To Mr. Kingsley Owusu

Achau, The Patrons, The

Management, My Indefatigable

teammates, The Entire fans

(Hunters), Friends of Bechem

United, The good people of Ahafo

Region and the entire sporting

fraternity, please forgive me this

one last time. I am sorry for my

behaviour and apologize from the

core of my heart” the statement

concluded.

Augustine Okrah was shown

a red card in the 68th minute of

the much-anticipated FA Cup

finals after a throw in which

he thought should have gone

his way was called against him

instead.

With Bechem already down

by 2-1 at that point, the former

Asante Kotoko man, who had a

decent game before the incident,

could not keep his cool as he

headbutted assistant referee

Balanguena after furiously

complaining about the call.

The Hunters lost the game

2-1 as many blamed the defeat on

Okrah.

Others condemned the

winger and called for sanctions

to be applied, saying that his

actions were inappropriate.

Wednesday, 29th June, 2022

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