THE Food and Drugs Board (FDB) and the Ghana Police Service yesterday seized large quantities of unregistered drugs at the Okaishie Market in a special exercise to rid the Accra metropolis of fake and illegal medications.
The drugs included aphrodisiacs, slimming teas, as well as breast and hip enlargement products mostly made in China and Korea.
Notable among the aphrodisiacs were “3 days 3 centimetres”, “Man sex fancy soap”, “Golden power”, “African Viagoura”, “Super omega”, “Black God” and “Spain black butterfly”.
Other products had their names and inscriptions written in Chinese, which is an infringement of the Legislative Instrument 1541 of the Ghana Standards Board which demands that all products sold in the country should have English inscriptions to enable people to read them.
The Head of the Post-Market Surveillance Unit of the Drug Inspectorate Department of the FDB, Mr Eugene Addo, said there was a proliferation of those unregistered drugs on the Ghanaian market, hence the exercise.
He said the quality, efficacy and safety of the drugs could not be established because they had not been registered and tested by the FDB.
He said that some of the drugs, particularly the aphrodisiacs, had effects on the human heart, since they made people work more than necessary.
He said some of the products had also been mislabelled and given different names to deceive the public.
“A product like Diclofenac 25mg, which is a pain killer to be sold under prescription by doctors, has been labelled as moringa tablets and is being sold to deceive the public,” Mr Addo stated.
He advised the public to desist from using such drugs, since they were fake and could cause cancer and death.
He called on the various stakeholders to help to rid the market of those unregistered drugs which posed serious threats to health.
The traders refused to disclose the identity of their suppliers.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Labone SHS girls given health talk (11/5/09)
SAVE Our Women International (SOWI) in collaboration with Ipas, both non-governmental organisations (NGOs), concerned with issues of women have organised a sensitisation health talk programme for female students at the Labone Senior High School in Accra.
The programme formed part of SOWI's activities for 2009 to help fight unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions and the prevention of deaths among ladies in high schools.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SOWI, Ms Juliet Asante said it was very important for young ladies to be educated on sex and be given the platform to discuss it, since they knew a lot of things parents thought they were ignorant about.
She said SOWI was set up to educate and provide support to female fertility health, with special focus on unsafe abortions.
As part of its objectives, SOWI sought to raise public awareness on the dangers of unsafe abortions and also provide counselling services to victims.
She said it was in that light that SOWI and IPAS were setting up SOWI Mentoring Clubs (SMCs) in schools to help young ladies know their reproductive rights and take better charge of their lives.
Ms Asante added that the establishment of SMCs would also form an empowering drive that would encourage young ladies to focus on their education to ensure self worth.
A Counsellor, Mrs Paulina Siaw Akoto Debrah, took the students through issues such as prevention of pregnancies which included abstinence and the use of family planning methods, and bad practices in abortions which could lead to the damage of the womb and even death.
She advised the students to abstain from sex which could lead to unwanted pregnancies and to concentrate on their studies in order to achieve their objectives in life.
If they indulged in sexual activities, she said they could be psychologically affected when they mistakenly got pregnant and would not be able to concentrate on their studies.
The programme formed part of SOWI's activities for 2009 to help fight unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions and the prevention of deaths among ladies in high schools.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SOWI, Ms Juliet Asante said it was very important for young ladies to be educated on sex and be given the platform to discuss it, since they knew a lot of things parents thought they were ignorant about.
She said SOWI was set up to educate and provide support to female fertility health, with special focus on unsafe abortions.
As part of its objectives, SOWI sought to raise public awareness on the dangers of unsafe abortions and also provide counselling services to victims.
She said it was in that light that SOWI and IPAS were setting up SOWI Mentoring Clubs (SMCs) in schools to help young ladies know their reproductive rights and take better charge of their lives.
Ms Asante added that the establishment of SMCs would also form an empowering drive that would encourage young ladies to focus on their education to ensure self worth.
A Counsellor, Mrs Paulina Siaw Akoto Debrah, took the students through issues such as prevention of pregnancies which included abstinence and the use of family planning methods, and bad practices in abortions which could lead to the damage of the womb and even death.
She advised the students to abstain from sex which could lead to unwanted pregnancies and to concentrate on their studies in order to achieve their objectives in life.
If they indulged in sexual activities, she said they could be psychologically affected when they mistakenly got pregnant and would not be able to concentrate on their studies.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Unhealthy lifestyles,major killers (9/5/09)
THE Ministry of Health has observed that reports from hospitals in the country diseases due to stress and inappropriate lifestyles such as bad eating habits are now becoming prominent killers.
These diseases include heart-related diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure and arthritis.
This was disclosed by the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Ben Kumbuor, at the ninth West Africa Nobles workshop and awards ceremony in Accra on the theme “Alternative remedy to top executive killer diseases”.
The workshop was organised by the West Africa Nobles Forum (WANF), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), in collaboration with Champion Divine Clinic and West Africa International Magazine to discuss some preventable killer diseases.
The deputy minister said the solution to such health problems did not depend on physicians, technological advancement or the quality of hospitals.
He said good health depended on what individuals consumed and how often they exercised.
He noted that as part of the Ministry’s regenerative health programme, it recommended that people observed healthy lifestyles that included regular exercise, having good sleep and relaxing the body, taking healthy diets and having positive attitude to life and spirituality.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of WANF, Mr Paul Fynn, charged members to take up the responsibility of promoting integrity, honesty and accountability in their respective communities.
He urged award winners to live by the aims and objectives of the forum.
Twenty people received awards for their honesty in their private and public lives and were inducted as members of WANF.
They received certificates and plaques.
They included Mr Clement Kofi Humado, Dr D.R.T. Annan, Mrs Nora Bannerman, Mr Charles A. Yebuah, Captain Tei Azu, Mr Raymond A. Tawiah, Mr John Dadzie and Mr Kofi Asamoah.
Others were Prof Dominic Fobih, Dr Richard Anane, Mr Yaw Kumey, Mr James K. Avedzi, Dr Koku Awoonor-Willams, Mr Samuel T. Sackey, Mr Isaac K. Tetteh, Nana Agyekum Gyamerah, Mr Raymond Afrifah-Yamoah, Mr Isaac K. Afful, Mr Henry F Kamel and Mr G.Y. Gyamfi.
These diseases include heart-related diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure and arthritis.
This was disclosed by the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Ben Kumbuor, at the ninth West Africa Nobles workshop and awards ceremony in Accra on the theme “Alternative remedy to top executive killer diseases”.
The workshop was organised by the West Africa Nobles Forum (WANF), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), in collaboration with Champion Divine Clinic and West Africa International Magazine to discuss some preventable killer diseases.
The deputy minister said the solution to such health problems did not depend on physicians, technological advancement or the quality of hospitals.
He said good health depended on what individuals consumed and how often they exercised.
He noted that as part of the Ministry’s regenerative health programme, it recommended that people observed healthy lifestyles that included regular exercise, having good sleep and relaxing the body, taking healthy diets and having positive attitude to life and spirituality.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of WANF, Mr Paul Fynn, charged members to take up the responsibility of promoting integrity, honesty and accountability in their respective communities.
He urged award winners to live by the aims and objectives of the forum.
Twenty people received awards for their honesty in their private and public lives and were inducted as members of WANF.
They received certificates and plaques.
They included Mr Clement Kofi Humado, Dr D.R.T. Annan, Mrs Nora Bannerman, Mr Charles A. Yebuah, Captain Tei Azu, Mr Raymond A. Tawiah, Mr John Dadzie and Mr Kofi Asamoah.
Others were Prof Dominic Fobih, Dr Richard Anane, Mr Yaw Kumey, Mr James K. Avedzi, Dr Koku Awoonor-Willams, Mr Samuel T. Sackey, Mr Isaac K. Tetteh, Nana Agyekum Gyamerah, Mr Raymond Afrifah-Yamoah, Mr Isaac K. Afful, Mr Henry F Kamel and Mr G.Y. Gyamfi.
Work hard to improve education delivery - teachers told (9/5/09)
THE Chairman of the Pension Reform Implementation Committee, Mr Thomas Ango Bediako, has called on members of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) to work hard to improve upon the delivery of quality education in the country.
He stated that teachers had a responsibility to deliver quality education as part of the country’s educational reforms.
Mr Bediako said this at the opening ceremony of the first Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the Accra West Metro District of GNAT in Accra last Thursday.
It was held on the theme “Improved conditions of service-Key to the success of the new education reforms”.
The conference was to reflect on work and activities of the association, make future plans and elect delegates to attend the national conference of GNAT in October, 2009.
Mr Bediako said though teachers deserved to be paid very well they also had to play their roles effectively and work professionally as teachers.
He noted that teaching was fast losing its decency as a service to people, especially in the public funded basic schools.
Mr Bediako stressed the need for teachers to make use of decentralised institutions such as the district assemblies and other institutions provided for in the Education Act to help them to work effectively.
He advised them to improve upon their methods of negotiations and increase their knowledge on issues that affect their work.
The Assistant Director of Finance and Administration of the Accra Metro Education Unit, Mr Eric Amponsah, who chaired the ceremony, called on teachers to make good use of their lesson periods to enable their students to excel like their colleagues in the private schools, adding “as we continue to fight for our rights, let us also try hard to do our work well”.
He stated that teachers had a responsibility to deliver quality education as part of the country’s educational reforms.
Mr Bediako said this at the opening ceremony of the first Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the Accra West Metro District of GNAT in Accra last Thursday.
It was held on the theme “Improved conditions of service-Key to the success of the new education reforms”.
The conference was to reflect on work and activities of the association, make future plans and elect delegates to attend the national conference of GNAT in October, 2009.
Mr Bediako said though teachers deserved to be paid very well they also had to play their roles effectively and work professionally as teachers.
He noted that teaching was fast losing its decency as a service to people, especially in the public funded basic schools.
Mr Bediako stressed the need for teachers to make use of decentralised institutions such as the district assemblies and other institutions provided for in the Education Act to help them to work effectively.
He advised them to improve upon their methods of negotiations and increase their knowledge on issues that affect their work.
The Assistant Director of Finance and Administration of the Accra Metro Education Unit, Mr Eric Amponsah, who chaired the ceremony, called on teachers to make good use of their lesson periods to enable their students to excel like their colleagues in the private schools, adding “as we continue to fight for our rights, let us also try hard to do our work well”.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
GRIDCo rehabilitates Achimota Substation (7/5/09)
THE Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) has begun major rehabilitation works at the Achimota Substation as part of efforts to improve power supply in Accra.
The exercise, which is expected to take eight weeks, involves the upgrading of a 33 Mega Volt Ampere (MVA) transformer that supplies seven per cent of power to Accra to 66 MVA.
In view of the exercise, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) on Monday, May 4, 2009, began a power rationing programme to pave the way for the upgrading works.
Under the rationing exercise, one part of Accra would experience power outage from 9a.m. to 6p.m. while the other part would go off from 6p.m. to 11p.m. to enable GRIDCo to install a new transformer at the substation.
The Head of Public Relations of GRIDCo, Mr Albert Kwesi Quainoo, in a facility tour with media personnel at the substation, said once the 33 MVA was upgraded the ECG would be able to meet the increasing demand for power and reduce power outages.
He said the 33 MVA transformer, which was manufactured in 1962 and mounted in 1965, was the smallest at the station and had worked effectively over the years until now that the load had become very heavy, thereby resulting in power outages.
He announced that a new substation would be built at Adjringanor in Accra where four transformers would be mounted to supply power due to the increasing load, adding that two more 66 MVA transformers would be added to the present transformers at the Mallam Substation.
Mr Quainoo appealed to Ghanaians to use power efficiently in order to save electricity to minimise the power outages in the country.
He advised the general public to stop using second-hand electrical appliances, since they consumed more electricity than they were supposed to, in order to conserve power.
The exercise, which is expected to take eight weeks, involves the upgrading of a 33 Mega Volt Ampere (MVA) transformer that supplies seven per cent of power to Accra to 66 MVA.
In view of the exercise, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) on Monday, May 4, 2009, began a power rationing programme to pave the way for the upgrading works.
Under the rationing exercise, one part of Accra would experience power outage from 9a.m. to 6p.m. while the other part would go off from 6p.m. to 11p.m. to enable GRIDCo to install a new transformer at the substation.
The Head of Public Relations of GRIDCo, Mr Albert Kwesi Quainoo, in a facility tour with media personnel at the substation, said once the 33 MVA was upgraded the ECG would be able to meet the increasing demand for power and reduce power outages.
He said the 33 MVA transformer, which was manufactured in 1962 and mounted in 1965, was the smallest at the station and had worked effectively over the years until now that the load had become very heavy, thereby resulting in power outages.
He announced that a new substation would be built at Adjringanor in Accra where four transformers would be mounted to supply power due to the increasing load, adding that two more 66 MVA transformers would be added to the present transformers at the Mallam Substation.
Mr Quainoo appealed to Ghanaians to use power efficiently in order to save electricity to minimise the power outages in the country.
He advised the general public to stop using second-hand electrical appliances, since they consumed more electricity than they were supposed to, in order to conserve power.
Report activities of internet fraudsters (7/5/09)
THE Deputy Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Omane Boamah, has urged the public to report all forms of sophisticated crime on the Internet otherwise known as “Sakawa” to the police.
That is to help the security agencies to deal effectively with such activities and complement government’s efforts in reducing the increasing rate of internet fraud in the country.
Launching the three-day Computer and Technology Fair by the Dot II Dot Company in Accra yesterday, the deputy minister said such activities were hindering the effectiveness and purpose of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the country.
The fair, which is scheduled to be held from May 14 to 16 at the National Theatre, is designed to give the business community hands-on experience with the latest technology.
On the theme “Innovative Technologies and Application Accelerated Development”, it is to introduce international computer, technology and electronic manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers and distributors to the market with the aim of making Ghana the hub of ICT by 2015.
Fifty technology vendors from all parts of the country are expected to display latest software, hardware and services from the best in the industry.
Products to be displayed include laptops, MP3 players, LCDs and plasma TVs and services ranging from online, banking and brokerage and basic storage solutions.
Dr Boamah said the high rate of poverty in the society was as a result of “information poverty”, adding that “the more people were informed about the changing nature of the society, the easier it would be to alleviate poverty in the country”.
He said his ministry would work in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications to help to make Ghana the ICT hub of Africa.
He noted that most tertiary institutions in the country were doing their best to foster ICT compliance, adding that the government was working hard towards ensuring that basic tenets of ICT were incorporated into junior high school curriculum.
The Communications Director of the Dot II Dot Company, Mrs Ewurama Greenslade, said the fair was to keep them up to date on the ever changing world of technology.
Mrs Greenslade said demonstrations would take place for business operators to gain an understanding of the new technologies that could assist in growing their profits.
That is to help the security agencies to deal effectively with such activities and complement government’s efforts in reducing the increasing rate of internet fraud in the country.
Launching the three-day Computer and Technology Fair by the Dot II Dot Company in Accra yesterday, the deputy minister said such activities were hindering the effectiveness and purpose of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the country.
The fair, which is scheduled to be held from May 14 to 16 at the National Theatre, is designed to give the business community hands-on experience with the latest technology.
On the theme “Innovative Technologies and Application Accelerated Development”, it is to introduce international computer, technology and electronic manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers and distributors to the market with the aim of making Ghana the hub of ICT by 2015.
Fifty technology vendors from all parts of the country are expected to display latest software, hardware and services from the best in the industry.
Products to be displayed include laptops, MP3 players, LCDs and plasma TVs and services ranging from online, banking and brokerage and basic storage solutions.
Dr Boamah said the high rate of poverty in the society was as a result of “information poverty”, adding that “the more people were informed about the changing nature of the society, the easier it would be to alleviate poverty in the country”.
He said his ministry would work in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications to help to make Ghana the ICT hub of Africa.
He noted that most tertiary institutions in the country were doing their best to foster ICT compliance, adding that the government was working hard towards ensuring that basic tenets of ICT were incorporated into junior high school curriculum.
The Communications Director of the Dot II Dot Company, Mrs Ewurama Greenslade, said the fair was to keep them up to date on the ever changing world of technology.
Mrs Greenslade said demonstrations would take place for business operators to gain an understanding of the new technologies that could assist in growing their profits.
School feeding programme faces challenges (7/5/09)
THE latest report on the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) has painted a gloomy picture about the future of the programme unless the current state of complementary services are improved.
According to the report which was launched in Accra last Tuesday,the state of complementary services such as basic infrastructure like kitchen facilities, a hygienic environment, safe water, supply of food by farmers and availability of teachers and teaching materials needed to support the programme is currently unsatisfactory.
The report entitled “Challenges of Institutional Collaboration: An assessment of the state of complementary services in the Ghana School Feeding Programme” was prepared by SEND-Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO).
The report stated that the unsatisfactory complementary services in the GSFP was a result of the weakness in the collaboration between the GSFP and Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Ministry of Health (MoH) and Ministry of Education (MoE), especially at the district level.
The report was based on a study of the school feeding programme in twenty-three schools in 21 districts purposely selected from the three northern regions and the Greater Accra Region in the last quarter of 2008.
The study observed that the current state of complementary services in the various beneficiary schools and communities adversely affected quality education, with negative implications on the health of pupils and the sustainability of the programme.
The findings revealed that 61 per cent of beneficiary schools did not have good kitchen structures, a situation which adversely affected the maintenance of hygienic environment for the preparation of food.
It revealed that about 78 per cent of the schools did not have adequate plates and cups, resulting in eating in turns which leads finally to prolonged lunch breaks.
It revealed that about 43 per cent of the schools lacked access to safe water which compelled pupils to trek for water to support the feeding programme.
Supervisory inspection in about 96 per cent of schools did not focus on any health related service or adherence to health standards in the feeding programme but mainly on getting pupils fed, the study showed.
In terms of agricultural services, 91 per cent of schools indicated during the study that foodstuffs were not obtained directly from farmers in the beneficiary districts.
The supply of quality education was lacking in about 85 per cent of beneficiary schools as teachers were inadequate and classrooms were not enough to shelter the increasing number of the pupils in the schools.
The study therefore stressed the need to find innovative ways to strengthen the collaboration between the GSFP and the various stakeholders to ensure that food is not just delivered to the pupils but prepared under hygienic conditions.
The collaboration is also to ensure the smooth supply of foodstuffs from farmers in the beneficiary districts to accelerate agricultural activities in the country.
The study also recommended that an effective monitoring team which comprises of all the stakeholders be formed to monitor all areas of the programme.
The Country Director of SEND-Ghana, Mr Samuel Zan Akologo, said the assessment was to monitor and evaluate the GSFP to ensure that the government was able to achieve its goals.
He said it was part of civil society’s watchdog role to ensure that government policies were well implemented and corrected if necessary for the development of the country.
He said some of the stakeholders of the programme were not well informed about the roles expected of them to ensure the success of the programme while others lacked resources to play their roles effectively.
Mr Akologo however stressed the need for the necessary infrastructure to be put in place to bring all the stakeholders together and ensure an effective collaboration.
According to the report which was launched in Accra last Tuesday,the state of complementary services such as basic infrastructure like kitchen facilities, a hygienic environment, safe water, supply of food by farmers and availability of teachers and teaching materials needed to support the programme is currently unsatisfactory.
The report entitled “Challenges of Institutional Collaboration: An assessment of the state of complementary services in the Ghana School Feeding Programme” was prepared by SEND-Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO).
The report stated that the unsatisfactory complementary services in the GSFP was a result of the weakness in the collaboration between the GSFP and Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Ministry of Health (MoH) and Ministry of Education (MoE), especially at the district level.
The report was based on a study of the school feeding programme in twenty-three schools in 21 districts purposely selected from the three northern regions and the Greater Accra Region in the last quarter of 2008.
The study observed that the current state of complementary services in the various beneficiary schools and communities adversely affected quality education, with negative implications on the health of pupils and the sustainability of the programme.
The findings revealed that 61 per cent of beneficiary schools did not have good kitchen structures, a situation which adversely affected the maintenance of hygienic environment for the preparation of food.
It revealed that about 78 per cent of the schools did not have adequate plates and cups, resulting in eating in turns which leads finally to prolonged lunch breaks.
It revealed that about 43 per cent of the schools lacked access to safe water which compelled pupils to trek for water to support the feeding programme.
Supervisory inspection in about 96 per cent of schools did not focus on any health related service or adherence to health standards in the feeding programme but mainly on getting pupils fed, the study showed.
In terms of agricultural services, 91 per cent of schools indicated during the study that foodstuffs were not obtained directly from farmers in the beneficiary districts.
The supply of quality education was lacking in about 85 per cent of beneficiary schools as teachers were inadequate and classrooms were not enough to shelter the increasing number of the pupils in the schools.
The study therefore stressed the need to find innovative ways to strengthen the collaboration between the GSFP and the various stakeholders to ensure that food is not just delivered to the pupils but prepared under hygienic conditions.
The collaboration is also to ensure the smooth supply of foodstuffs from farmers in the beneficiary districts to accelerate agricultural activities in the country.
The study also recommended that an effective monitoring team which comprises of all the stakeholders be formed to monitor all areas of the programme.
The Country Director of SEND-Ghana, Mr Samuel Zan Akologo, said the assessment was to monitor and evaluate the GSFP to ensure that the government was able to achieve its goals.
He said it was part of civil society’s watchdog role to ensure that government policies were well implemented and corrected if necessary for the development of the country.
He said some of the stakeholders of the programme were not well informed about the roles expected of them to ensure the success of the programme while others lacked resources to play their roles effectively.
Mr Akologo however stressed the need for the necessary infrastructure to be put in place to bring all the stakeholders together and ensure an effective collaboration.
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