More than 50 wooden structures at the Konkomba market in Accra were burnt on Sunday afternoon in a fire which destroyed property running into thousands of Ghana cedis.
The fire which started around 11.00 a.m, consumed items including DVD players, radio and television sets, suitcases, mobile phones, second hand goods, utensils and foodstuffs.
Attempts by fire officers from the Accra Central Makola Fire Service Station to get access to the fire scene proved futile as their truck could not meander its way through the structures, in spite of efforts by the fire tender operator.
The Assistant Station Officer of the Makola Fire Service Station, Mr O. Emmanuel Adjei said the fire service personnel finally had to abandon the place because there was no alternate route to the fire scene.
He said the route leading to the fire scene, which was about a hundred metres away from the point where their truck was stuck, was very narrow and impossible for them to even join water hoses to the scene.
The Station Officer, Mr Nii Noi Owuo said his team was investigating the cause of the fire.
Some of the affected persons the Daily Graphic spoke to attributed the cause of the fire to an overheated stabiliser in a locked up wooden structure.
A resident, Mallam Zakaria Baba, 30 years said he was asleep when he heard people shouting outside, so he went out and realised that the room he was sleeping in had caught fire.
“I’m lucky I was able to save a few of my belongings”, he stated, noting that some of his friends had lost a lot of items worth thousands of Ghana cedis.
Another affected person, Kassim Satara, a 26-year-old scrap dealer who lost almost all his belongings including two mobile phones, audio and video discs players, and suitcases said he had gone to work with his room mate, but came to meet the horrible sight after the fire had died down.
An eyewitness, Yakubu Abdul Rahim, said to prevent the fire from spreading to other structures they had to demolish all structures near to the raging flames.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Conduct Free, Peaceful polls- Chinese Envoy urges Ghanaians
THE Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Yu Wenzhe, has urged Ghanaians to demonstrate the maturity of the country’s democracy to the world once again by conducting free and peaceful elections in December.
He said free and fair elections were essential because Ghana’s economy was in good shape and Ghanaians should protect that.
Mr Wenzhe was speaking at a ceremony to mark the 59th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China in Accra yesterday.
“With courageous policies and relentless efforts, Ghanaians are benefiting a lot from fast economic growth and good governance, the rule of law, democracy and unity under the leadership of the current government.
“For the elections in December, we hope that Ghana will show the world once again the maturity of its democracy by conducting free, fair and peaceful elections,” he emphasised, adding that for the past years China’s relations with Ghana had been very fruitful, especially in the field of economic co-operation, as more Chinese companies were investing and co-operating with local businesses.
“Trade between Ghana and China reached $1.2 billion last year,” he stated, adding that progress had also been made in the construction of the Bui Dam, which he said would be President J.A. Kufuor’s legacy and a new milestone in Sino-Ghana co-operation.
Mr Wenzhe expressed his appreciation for Ghana’s consistent adherence to the “One China policy” and noted that the implementation of the policies agreed on at the recent Beijing Summit was in full swing and progressing smoothly.
“The Chinese government has strengthened its technical co-operation, human resource development, education and cultural exchanges with Ghana. The teaching of the Chinese language at the University of Ghana was launched early this month and more Ghanaian students have the opportunity to study in China under Chinese government scholarships,” he stated, and prayed that the mutual understanding and appreciation between the two countries would further promote closer co-operation.
According to him, the 59th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China was special to the Chinese people because China had successfully hosted the Olympic Games, during which more than 11,000 athletes, 450,000 visitors and 30,000 journalists from all over the world experienced the warm hospitality of the Chinese people.
“The Beijing Olympic Games provided an excellent opportunity for the world to discover, understand and appreciate China and for the Chinese people to learn and appreciate the world,” he added.
He said the games were special because this year also marked the 30th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up and it had also successfully launched its third space mission, with the size of its economy expanding over 10 times.
“China has been transformed successfully from a poor and backward country to a thriving and prosperous one,” he observed.
The Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Professor Dominic Fobih, who led the government’s delegation to observe the anniversary, said Ghana was grateful for the pragmatic economic and industrial policies China had been pursuing, indicating that those policies had enabled China to make great strides in development and create wealth for its huge population.
“Ghana owes your great nation a deep sense of gratitude for all the assistance you have given us over the years and the amount of investments you have channelled into our country,” he said, and disclosed that China was now the third largest foreign investor in the Ghanaian economy.
“China has provided Ghana with various forms of financial assistance and support for many projects, including the development of the Bui Dam, the rehabilitation of the National Theatre, the Ofankor-Nsawam road and the construction of two stadia in Tamale and Sekondi,” he noted.
Prof Fobih said Ghana was one of the first African countries to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China in the early 1960s, recalling that Ghana’s relations and active political co-operation with China began in the early days of Ghana’s independence, when Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the country’s first President, visited China in 1961, 1964 and 1966 to establish personal friendships with Chinese leaders at that time.
He noted that in recent times the leaders of the two countries had continued to exchange official visits, with President Kufuor paying week-long visits to China in October 2003 and November 2006, with the Chinese Prime Minister, Wen Jiabao, also visiting Ghana in June 2006.
He commended China for successfully hosting this year’s Olympic Games and added that President Kufuor’s presence at the opening ceremony of the games in Beijing demonstrated the importance Ghana attached to its relations with China.
He said free and fair elections were essential because Ghana’s economy was in good shape and Ghanaians should protect that.
Mr Wenzhe was speaking at a ceremony to mark the 59th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China in Accra yesterday.
“With courageous policies and relentless efforts, Ghanaians are benefiting a lot from fast economic growth and good governance, the rule of law, democracy and unity under the leadership of the current government.
“For the elections in December, we hope that Ghana will show the world once again the maturity of its democracy by conducting free, fair and peaceful elections,” he emphasised, adding that for the past years China’s relations with Ghana had been very fruitful, especially in the field of economic co-operation, as more Chinese companies were investing and co-operating with local businesses.
“Trade between Ghana and China reached $1.2 billion last year,” he stated, adding that progress had also been made in the construction of the Bui Dam, which he said would be President J.A. Kufuor’s legacy and a new milestone in Sino-Ghana co-operation.
Mr Wenzhe expressed his appreciation for Ghana’s consistent adherence to the “One China policy” and noted that the implementation of the policies agreed on at the recent Beijing Summit was in full swing and progressing smoothly.
“The Chinese government has strengthened its technical co-operation, human resource development, education and cultural exchanges with Ghana. The teaching of the Chinese language at the University of Ghana was launched early this month and more Ghanaian students have the opportunity to study in China under Chinese government scholarships,” he stated, and prayed that the mutual understanding and appreciation between the two countries would further promote closer co-operation.
According to him, the 59th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China was special to the Chinese people because China had successfully hosted the Olympic Games, during which more than 11,000 athletes, 450,000 visitors and 30,000 journalists from all over the world experienced the warm hospitality of the Chinese people.
“The Beijing Olympic Games provided an excellent opportunity for the world to discover, understand and appreciate China and for the Chinese people to learn and appreciate the world,” he added.
He said the games were special because this year also marked the 30th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up and it had also successfully launched its third space mission, with the size of its economy expanding over 10 times.
“China has been transformed successfully from a poor and backward country to a thriving and prosperous one,” he observed.
The Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Professor Dominic Fobih, who led the government’s delegation to observe the anniversary, said Ghana was grateful for the pragmatic economic and industrial policies China had been pursuing, indicating that those policies had enabled China to make great strides in development and create wealth for its huge population.
“Ghana owes your great nation a deep sense of gratitude for all the assistance you have given us over the years and the amount of investments you have channelled into our country,” he said, and disclosed that China was now the third largest foreign investor in the Ghanaian economy.
“China has provided Ghana with various forms of financial assistance and support for many projects, including the development of the Bui Dam, the rehabilitation of the National Theatre, the Ofankor-Nsawam road and the construction of two stadia in Tamale and Sekondi,” he noted.
Prof Fobih said Ghana was one of the first African countries to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China in the early 1960s, recalling that Ghana’s relations and active political co-operation with China began in the early days of Ghana’s independence, when Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the country’s first President, visited China in 1961, 1964 and 1966 to establish personal friendships with Chinese leaders at that time.
He noted that in recent times the leaders of the two countries had continued to exchange official visits, with President Kufuor paying week-long visits to China in October 2003 and November 2006, with the Chinese Prime Minister, Wen Jiabao, also visiting Ghana in June 2006.
He commended China for successfully hosting this year’s Olympic Games and added that President Kufuor’s presence at the opening ceremony of the games in Beijing demonstrated the importance Ghana attached to its relations with China.
Prison officers, inmates to enjoy free registration
Fourteen thousand prisoners and officers of the Ghana Prisons Service across the country are to enjoy free registration under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The exercise to register the prisoners and the officers free of charge began at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison on Thursday, under the auspices of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
Some of the inmates who spoke to the Daily Graphic at the official opening of the exercise expressed their profound gratitude to the government for the initiative, noting that it would go a long way to reduce the burden on their relatives and the prison authorities for their upkeep and medical care.
The Chief Executive of the NHIA, Mr Ras Boateng, in an address read on his behalf to officially open the exercise, noted that the exercise would not cover only the inmates and the prison officers but also children of the officers who were below 18 years.
“The government has also extended the scheme to cover the entire staff of nearly 5,000 of the Ghana Prisons Service, as well as their children under 18,” he emphasised, adding that although the personnel were covered by the service conditions of the security services, the government had decided to enrol them into the scheme because their work involved a high health risk.
He said the government had allocated an amount of GH¢181,934 to cover the first phase of the exercise, under which prisoners in the various jails across the country were to register with the District Mutual Health Insurance schemes in their geographical areas.
Mr Boateng stated that new convicts would also be covered as soon as they entered the prisons, saying those who would be released would still continue to enjoy the free health care until their health insurance expired.
He urged ex-convicts to acknowledge the importance of the scheme and get themselves registered by paying the minimum premium with their district schemes and stressed that ex-convicts who had no means of livelihood and no dependants could register under the scheme.
He said the National Health Insurance Council and the NHIA saw the exercise as a God-send opportunity to contribute to the much needed prison reforms to make life a bit more comfortable for those who found themselves in prison. He advised the inmates to live healthy lives and avoid dangerous lifestyles such as taking hard drugs and indulging in unprotected sex among themselves.
Mr Boateng appealed to the prison authorities not to waste time in sending prisoners to hospital now that they were all being registered under the scheme.
He said before the year ended, Parliament was expected to pass a law to enable the scheme to register children below 18 without attaching them to their parents and appealed to Ghanaians to be patient with the authority as it took steps to improve and sustain the scheme for the benefit of all.
The Director of Welfare of the Ghana Prisons Service (GPS), Mr Israel Kwabla Tsegah, on behalf of the service expressed appreciation for the government’s intervention, noting that the initiative was a great relief to the service, which had depended on civil society organisations and relatives of inmates for support.
The Scheme Manager of the Akuapem South Mutual Health Insurance Scheme, Mr Chris Pobi, also advised the inmates to embrace the scheme and ensure that they all register.
The exercise to register the prisoners and the officers free of charge began at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison on Thursday, under the auspices of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
Some of the inmates who spoke to the Daily Graphic at the official opening of the exercise expressed their profound gratitude to the government for the initiative, noting that it would go a long way to reduce the burden on their relatives and the prison authorities for their upkeep and medical care.
The Chief Executive of the NHIA, Mr Ras Boateng, in an address read on his behalf to officially open the exercise, noted that the exercise would not cover only the inmates and the prison officers but also children of the officers who were below 18 years.
“The government has also extended the scheme to cover the entire staff of nearly 5,000 of the Ghana Prisons Service, as well as their children under 18,” he emphasised, adding that although the personnel were covered by the service conditions of the security services, the government had decided to enrol them into the scheme because their work involved a high health risk.
He said the government had allocated an amount of GH¢181,934 to cover the first phase of the exercise, under which prisoners in the various jails across the country were to register with the District Mutual Health Insurance schemes in their geographical areas.
Mr Boateng stated that new convicts would also be covered as soon as they entered the prisons, saying those who would be released would still continue to enjoy the free health care until their health insurance expired.
He urged ex-convicts to acknowledge the importance of the scheme and get themselves registered by paying the minimum premium with their district schemes and stressed that ex-convicts who had no means of livelihood and no dependants could register under the scheme.
He said the National Health Insurance Council and the NHIA saw the exercise as a God-send opportunity to contribute to the much needed prison reforms to make life a bit more comfortable for those who found themselves in prison. He advised the inmates to live healthy lives and avoid dangerous lifestyles such as taking hard drugs and indulging in unprotected sex among themselves.
Mr Boateng appealed to the prison authorities not to waste time in sending prisoners to hospital now that they were all being registered under the scheme.
He said before the year ended, Parliament was expected to pass a law to enable the scheme to register children below 18 without attaching them to their parents and appealed to Ghanaians to be patient with the authority as it took steps to improve and sustain the scheme for the benefit of all.
The Director of Welfare of the Ghana Prisons Service (GPS), Mr Israel Kwabla Tsegah, on behalf of the service expressed appreciation for the government’s intervention, noting that the initiative was a great relief to the service, which had depended on civil society organisations and relatives of inmates for support.
The Scheme Manager of the Akuapem South Mutual Health Insurance Scheme, Mr Chris Pobi, also advised the inmates to embrace the scheme and ensure that they all register.
Friday, September 26, 2008
RANA Motors and Goodyear launches 2 products
RANA Motors and Goodyear, importers of truck tyres to the country, have launched two new tyre technologies, the Duraseal and Max Technologies.
They ensure better fuel economy and reduction in emissions, thus being environmentally friendly.
The General Manager of Goodyear Middle East and Africa, Mr Octavian Velcan, at the launch in Accra yesterday, said the introduction of the two new technologies signified his company’s commitment to the areas of safety and environmental awareness.
He said the Goodyear Duraseal truck tyres could repair themselves in the event of a puncture while in motion, and noted that the tyre featured a built-in component made of special rubber compound that flowed into the puncture.
“The rubber compound stops air from escaping from the tyre, even if any object of up to six-millimetre diameter penetrates the tread,” he stated.
Mr Velcan disclosed that the Max Technology tyres were a whole new concept in the trucking industry as they increased efficiency while reducing the carbon emissions from large vehicles.
“This extended range of products and innovative technologies represent the pinnacle of tyre offerings within the tyre industry”, he said and noted that the Middle East and Africa were the two largest users of trucks for long haul land shipments, and that the new Goodyear products had proven results and success as better and safer alternatives to traditional truck tyre.
The General Manager of Rana Motors, Mr Vinay Kapor, said his company had opened a new showroom and truck tyre service centre at Tema to display the new tyres and offer services to customers.
He explained that the Goodyear tyre had enhanced mileage, wet braking performance, and a concept that allowed increased air volume inside the tyres, causing less road damage to the tyres
They ensure better fuel economy and reduction in emissions, thus being environmentally friendly.
The General Manager of Goodyear Middle East and Africa, Mr Octavian Velcan, at the launch in Accra yesterday, said the introduction of the two new technologies signified his company’s commitment to the areas of safety and environmental awareness.
He said the Goodyear Duraseal truck tyres could repair themselves in the event of a puncture while in motion, and noted that the tyre featured a built-in component made of special rubber compound that flowed into the puncture.
“The rubber compound stops air from escaping from the tyre, even if any object of up to six-millimetre diameter penetrates the tread,” he stated.
Mr Velcan disclosed that the Max Technology tyres were a whole new concept in the trucking industry as they increased efficiency while reducing the carbon emissions from large vehicles.
“This extended range of products and innovative technologies represent the pinnacle of tyre offerings within the tyre industry”, he said and noted that the Middle East and Africa were the two largest users of trucks for long haul land shipments, and that the new Goodyear products had proven results and success as better and safer alternatives to traditional truck tyre.
The General Manager of Rana Motors, Mr Vinay Kapor, said his company had opened a new showroom and truck tyre service centre at Tema to display the new tyres and offer services to customers.
He explained that the Goodyear tyre had enhanced mileage, wet braking performance, and a concept that allowed increased air volume inside the tyres, causing less road damage to the tyres
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Avoid use of Proverbs and metaphors in reports
THE President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Ransford Tetteh, has appealed to journalists who report in the local languages, especially for radio and the newspapers, to avoid the use of proverbs and metaphors that often tend to distort and prejudice their messages.
He urged them to be direct and factual because the excessive use of proverbs and metaphors in their reports made the reports opinionated, exaggerated and provocative.
Mr Tetteh, who was briefing some members of the media in Accra yesterday on the GJA's preparations towards the 13th GJA Awards and the sponsorship packages offered by some organisations, said that style of reporting could be a potential for conflict in an election year.
He implored all journalists working in the media to go about their duties with great circumspection and impartiality.
"In informing, educating and entertaining the people, the media must strive to maintain the needed balance that enables all to undertake fair and qualitative coverage to ensure that credible and peaceful elections are attained at all cost," he stated.
He urged all media practitioners to see that as a responsibility and a duty to ensure that violence did not become part of the electoral process.
He stressed that it had been an additional workload for the GJA to organise the event in an election year but said the executives had not relented in their efforts to organise it and take advantage of that platform to create the necessary awareness of the need for free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections in December.
"We have, therefore, linked the event to the elections as a sign of our commitment to credible elections in December," he added, indicating that the theme for this year's awards, "Using the Media to Promote National Unity and Stability in an Election Year", was to remind the media of their crucial role to help in ensuring credible and peaceful elections.
"It is our hope that the theme will remind us constantly of the need to be rigidly professional in our work throughout the period of political campaigns, polling and even after the elections," he noted.
This year's awards will be used to acknowledge individuals, media houses and organisations that have in one way or another contributed significantly to the development of the Ghanaian media.
In recognition of the media's excellent contributions towards the country's democratic dispensation, Mr Tetteh announced that this year’s awards would be witnessed by the Togolese Minister for Information and Culture and possibly the Secretary-General of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the world's biggest journalists federation of which GJA is a member.
"There will also be guests representing the journalists unions of Togo, Cote d'Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of Congo," he indicated, and stated that the GJA Awards Committee, under the chairmanship of Mr Berifi Apenteng, a media consultant and former Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, had completed its work and would soon present its report to the national executive for approval.
Four corporate organisations — Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB), Zoomlion Ghana Limited (ZGL), Accra Brewery Limited (ABL) and Voltic Ghana Limited (VGL) — announced their sponsorship packages for the winners of various awards for their excellent contributions towards the development of journalism in Ghana.
The Managing Director of GCB, Mr Lawrence Adu-Mante, said the bank was happy to be part of the preparation towards the awards ceremony.
He said to further deepen the bank’s relationship with GJA and help to enhance the practice of journalism in the country, GCB was sponsoring this year's Investigative Journalism Award with a cheque for GH¢2,500.
Mr Adu-Mante appealed to all media practitioners to remain objective, factual and fair in their reportage on the elections, as Ghanaians would be counting on their professionalism to ensure stability in the country.
"This year is a critical year in the country's development because of the December elections and we the people of Ghana would want to count on you to play your professional roles to ensure peace and stability in this country," he urged journalists, while commending the GJA for consistently providing a platform for the recognition of outstanding performances in journalism.
The Communications Manager of Zoomlion, Mrs Isabella Gyau Orhin, said the company was pleased to lend its support to rewarding journalists for their exceptional contributions to the country.
She said Zoomlion was supporting the association with a sponsorship package worth GH¢2,500 for the winner of the features awards on environment.
The Corporate Affairs Manager of ABL, Ms N. Adjoba Kyiamah, who announced her organisation's GH¢2,500 sponsorship package for the winner of the Human Rights Award, said the gesture was in line with her organisation's commitment to the rights of individuals.
She pointed out that " in a country that has a viable media, businesses also thrive".
The General Secretary of the GJA, Mr Bright Blewu, said this year's award winners would be presented with plaques, certificates and laptops to encourage them to work harder and improve their skills.
He urged them to be direct and factual because the excessive use of proverbs and metaphors in their reports made the reports opinionated, exaggerated and provocative.
Mr Tetteh, who was briefing some members of the media in Accra yesterday on the GJA's preparations towards the 13th GJA Awards and the sponsorship packages offered by some organisations, said that style of reporting could be a potential for conflict in an election year.
He implored all journalists working in the media to go about their duties with great circumspection and impartiality.
"In informing, educating and entertaining the people, the media must strive to maintain the needed balance that enables all to undertake fair and qualitative coverage to ensure that credible and peaceful elections are attained at all cost," he stated.
He urged all media practitioners to see that as a responsibility and a duty to ensure that violence did not become part of the electoral process.
He stressed that it had been an additional workload for the GJA to organise the event in an election year but said the executives had not relented in their efforts to organise it and take advantage of that platform to create the necessary awareness of the need for free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections in December.
"We have, therefore, linked the event to the elections as a sign of our commitment to credible elections in December," he added, indicating that the theme for this year's awards, "Using the Media to Promote National Unity and Stability in an Election Year", was to remind the media of their crucial role to help in ensuring credible and peaceful elections.
"It is our hope that the theme will remind us constantly of the need to be rigidly professional in our work throughout the period of political campaigns, polling and even after the elections," he noted.
This year's awards will be used to acknowledge individuals, media houses and organisations that have in one way or another contributed significantly to the development of the Ghanaian media.
In recognition of the media's excellent contributions towards the country's democratic dispensation, Mr Tetteh announced that this year’s awards would be witnessed by the Togolese Minister for Information and Culture and possibly the Secretary-General of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the world's biggest journalists federation of which GJA is a member.
"There will also be guests representing the journalists unions of Togo, Cote d'Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of Congo," he indicated, and stated that the GJA Awards Committee, under the chairmanship of Mr Berifi Apenteng, a media consultant and former Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, had completed its work and would soon present its report to the national executive for approval.
Four corporate organisations — Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB), Zoomlion Ghana Limited (ZGL), Accra Brewery Limited (ABL) and Voltic Ghana Limited (VGL) — announced their sponsorship packages for the winners of various awards for their excellent contributions towards the development of journalism in Ghana.
The Managing Director of GCB, Mr Lawrence Adu-Mante, said the bank was happy to be part of the preparation towards the awards ceremony.
He said to further deepen the bank’s relationship with GJA and help to enhance the practice of journalism in the country, GCB was sponsoring this year's Investigative Journalism Award with a cheque for GH¢2,500.
Mr Adu-Mante appealed to all media practitioners to remain objective, factual and fair in their reportage on the elections, as Ghanaians would be counting on their professionalism to ensure stability in the country.
"This year is a critical year in the country's development because of the December elections and we the people of Ghana would want to count on you to play your professional roles to ensure peace and stability in this country," he urged journalists, while commending the GJA for consistently providing a platform for the recognition of outstanding performances in journalism.
The Communications Manager of Zoomlion, Mrs Isabella Gyau Orhin, said the company was pleased to lend its support to rewarding journalists for their exceptional contributions to the country.
She said Zoomlion was supporting the association with a sponsorship package worth GH¢2,500 for the winner of the features awards on environment.
The Corporate Affairs Manager of ABL, Ms N. Adjoba Kyiamah, who announced her organisation's GH¢2,500 sponsorship package for the winner of the Human Rights Award, said the gesture was in line with her organisation's commitment to the rights of individuals.
She pointed out that " in a country that has a viable media, businesses also thrive".
The General Secretary of the GJA, Mr Bright Blewu, said this year's award winners would be presented with plaques, certificates and laptops to encourage them to work harder and improve their skills.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
World Heart Day Launched
IT is estimated that more than 1.5 billion people or nearly one in three adults over the age of 25 will have high blood pressure, the world’s number one killer, by the year 2025.
The President of the Ghana Society of Hypertension and Cardiology, Dr Francis Kwamin, who made this known at the launch of this year’s World Heart Day in Accra yesterday, said there were no obvious symptoms of high blood pressure, one of the biggest single risk factors for heart diseases and stroke, saying the only way to know was to visit a professional health care facility for a check-up.
He said according to a recent report by the President of the World Heart Federation (WHF), Professor Shahryar Sheikh, heart disease and stroke caused 17.5 million deaths each year, as many deaths as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, diabetes, plus all forms of cancer and chronic respiratory diseases combined.
Dr Kwamin said the number of people affected by high blood pressure was predicted to increase by 50 per cent over the coming years, noting, however, that by adopting suitable lifestyle changes to reduce the risk, the picture could change for the better.
“The level of risk for heart disease and stroke is a combination of modifiable and non-modifiable factors, of which high blood pressure is one of the most important,” he stated, noting that high blood pressure or hypertension currently affected more than a billion people world-wide”.
Speaking on the theme, “Know Your Risk”, he said it was very important for all to know their risk, adding that although there were usually no obvious sign of high blood pressure, the good news was that it was easy for healthcare professionals to detect the disease, which was usually controllable with lifestyle changes or medication.
“There is vast public misperception and disproportional lack of attention paid to people’s risk of heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure in relation to more sensational health issues,” he noted, indicating that as a result of that people tended to overestimate the number of deaths from rarer and more infrequent risks, while they underestimated those from more common causes such as heart disease and stroke.
Dr Kwamin said studies had shown that increased consumption of fruits and vegetables was related to 17 per cent reduction in coronary heart disease.
According to him, the treatment of cardiovascular diseases alone in the country cost the nation more than 80 per cent of what was spent on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) annually and so the essence of the celebration was to advocate the prevention of the risks, instead of spending a lot of money on treatment.
The former Chief Executive of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, appealed to all Ghanaians, especially his colleague doctors who smoked, to refrain from the habit, since it served no purpose.
He said he was calling on his colleague doctors who smoked to join the campaign against smoking and limit their alcohol consumption because “charity begins at home”. Also, a lot of people smoked with the excuse that even doctors smoked.
He said almost 90 to 95 per cent of operations conducted on young adults in the Cardiovascular Department of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital were diseases of the heart valves.
He said statistics indicated that about 8,000 people needed operations annually on diseases involving the heart but said out of the number only 400 people could receive medical care, adding that Ghana should be on the prevention side instead of treatment.
Prof Frimpong-Boateng advised against the use of medicines that contained steroids, noting that when the chemicals from the steroids got into the blood stream, they killed all the melanocytes — the organisms that produces melanin, a substance that protects the human skin from the sun’s ultra-violet rays, leading to skin cancer and heart diseases.
Some of the activities to mark the day on September 28, 2008 include health checks, organised walks, runs and fitness sessions, public talks, stage shows, scientific forums, exhibitions, concerts, carnivals and sports tournaments.
It is organised by the Ghana Heart Foundation, the National Cardiothoracic Centre, the Ghana Society of Hypertension and Cardiology, Health Page and the Federation of the Ghana Medical Students Association, with support from the GHS, the World Health Organisation and the WHF.
The President of the Ghana Society of Hypertension and Cardiology, Dr Francis Kwamin, who made this known at the launch of this year’s World Heart Day in Accra yesterday, said there were no obvious symptoms of high blood pressure, one of the biggest single risk factors for heart diseases and stroke, saying the only way to know was to visit a professional health care facility for a check-up.
He said according to a recent report by the President of the World Heart Federation (WHF), Professor Shahryar Sheikh, heart disease and stroke caused 17.5 million deaths each year, as many deaths as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, diabetes, plus all forms of cancer and chronic respiratory diseases combined.
Dr Kwamin said the number of people affected by high blood pressure was predicted to increase by 50 per cent over the coming years, noting, however, that by adopting suitable lifestyle changes to reduce the risk, the picture could change for the better.
“The level of risk for heart disease and stroke is a combination of modifiable and non-modifiable factors, of which high blood pressure is one of the most important,” he stated, noting that high blood pressure or hypertension currently affected more than a billion people world-wide”.
Speaking on the theme, “Know Your Risk”, he said it was very important for all to know their risk, adding that although there were usually no obvious sign of high blood pressure, the good news was that it was easy for healthcare professionals to detect the disease, which was usually controllable with lifestyle changes or medication.
“There is vast public misperception and disproportional lack of attention paid to people’s risk of heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure in relation to more sensational health issues,” he noted, indicating that as a result of that people tended to overestimate the number of deaths from rarer and more infrequent risks, while they underestimated those from more common causes such as heart disease and stroke.
Dr Kwamin said studies had shown that increased consumption of fruits and vegetables was related to 17 per cent reduction in coronary heart disease.
According to him, the treatment of cardiovascular diseases alone in the country cost the nation more than 80 per cent of what was spent on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) annually and so the essence of the celebration was to advocate the prevention of the risks, instead of spending a lot of money on treatment.
The former Chief Executive of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, appealed to all Ghanaians, especially his colleague doctors who smoked, to refrain from the habit, since it served no purpose.
He said he was calling on his colleague doctors who smoked to join the campaign against smoking and limit their alcohol consumption because “charity begins at home”. Also, a lot of people smoked with the excuse that even doctors smoked.
He said almost 90 to 95 per cent of operations conducted on young adults in the Cardiovascular Department of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital were diseases of the heart valves.
He said statistics indicated that about 8,000 people needed operations annually on diseases involving the heart but said out of the number only 400 people could receive medical care, adding that Ghana should be on the prevention side instead of treatment.
Prof Frimpong-Boateng advised against the use of medicines that contained steroids, noting that when the chemicals from the steroids got into the blood stream, they killed all the melanocytes — the organisms that produces melanin, a substance that protects the human skin from the sun’s ultra-violet rays, leading to skin cancer and heart diseases.
Some of the activities to mark the day on September 28, 2008 include health checks, organised walks, runs and fitness sessions, public talks, stage shows, scientific forums, exhibitions, concerts, carnivals and sports tournaments.
It is organised by the Ghana Heart Foundation, the National Cardiothoracic Centre, the Ghana Society of Hypertension and Cardiology, Health Page and the Federation of the Ghana Medical Students Association, with support from the GHS, the World Health Organisation and the WHF.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Government Must build Quality Human Resource for its development Agenda
THE outgoing Managing Director of Barclays Bank, Mrs Margaret Mwanakatwe, has said if the country is to have a competitive advantage within the sub-region, then the government must be prepared to invest in building quality human capital for its development agenda.
“If the nation is to be pre-eminent a decade hence, if we are not only to compete but lead, then we must build quality human capital,” she stated.
Speaking at the 70th anniversary and awards night of the Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School (PRESEC) in Accra at the weekend, Mrs Mwanakatwe said a quantum leap by Ghana towards development and growth required exceptional leadership with extraordinary insights.
Mrs Mwanakatwe, who was addressing past students of the school on the theme, “70 Years of excellent education — Building quality human capital for national development”, maintained that the cornerstone of the new era was education, adding that if the country was prepared to compete in a global world, then it must be prepared to build quality human capital throughout all second-cycle institutions.
“If the country is to have a competitive advantage within the comity of nations, it is the students we churn out from institutions such as PRESEC who will progress into the universities and ultimately help in making the attainment of these imperatives possible,” she advised.
“We lived in an age in which knowledge holds the key to our security, welfare and standard of living, an age in which technological leadership will determine who wins the next round of global competition and the jobs and profits that come from it,” Mrs Mwanakatwe said.
She noted that the government’s commitment to build quality human capital was fading, even though all parties, especially parents, were struggling to retain it.
She commended the founders of PRESEC for the foresight that led them to choose to invest in education and the development of the human capital of this country.
The National President of the PRESEC Old Students Association, Dr Henry Aduful, said members of the association were willing to give back to their alma mater what was due it as the school celebrated 70 years of success.
He pointed out that the school had produced many students who had made great contributions to the development of Ghana and the world as whole, adding that they, as a family of old students, were proud to be associated with a school like PRESEC.
The Headmaster of the school, Mr Africanus K. Anane, said despite the physical hardship and lack of required facilities, very worthy traditions had been established for the school and that was what called for the celebration of 70 years of success.
He said the school had continued to win many national laurels over the years, including this anniversary year in which it was declared the national champions in the Information and Communications Technology competition, the National Maths and Science Quiz, a debate contest and, to crown it all, the Excellence Awards for the May/June 2007 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
“As a school, let us also remember the Herculean trials we have gone through for the past 70 years and give thanks to God for making us the recipient of His Grace and Mercy which has helped us to overcome our numerous trials and obstacles,” he prayed.
“If the nation is to be pre-eminent a decade hence, if we are not only to compete but lead, then we must build quality human capital,” she stated.
Speaking at the 70th anniversary and awards night of the Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School (PRESEC) in Accra at the weekend, Mrs Mwanakatwe said a quantum leap by Ghana towards development and growth required exceptional leadership with extraordinary insights.
Mrs Mwanakatwe, who was addressing past students of the school on the theme, “70 Years of excellent education — Building quality human capital for national development”, maintained that the cornerstone of the new era was education, adding that if the country was prepared to compete in a global world, then it must be prepared to build quality human capital throughout all second-cycle institutions.
“If the country is to have a competitive advantage within the comity of nations, it is the students we churn out from institutions such as PRESEC who will progress into the universities and ultimately help in making the attainment of these imperatives possible,” she advised.
“We lived in an age in which knowledge holds the key to our security, welfare and standard of living, an age in which technological leadership will determine who wins the next round of global competition and the jobs and profits that come from it,” Mrs Mwanakatwe said.
She noted that the government’s commitment to build quality human capital was fading, even though all parties, especially parents, were struggling to retain it.
She commended the founders of PRESEC for the foresight that led them to choose to invest in education and the development of the human capital of this country.
The National President of the PRESEC Old Students Association, Dr Henry Aduful, said members of the association were willing to give back to their alma mater what was due it as the school celebrated 70 years of success.
He pointed out that the school had produced many students who had made great contributions to the development of Ghana and the world as whole, adding that they, as a family of old students, were proud to be associated with a school like PRESEC.
The Headmaster of the school, Mr Africanus K. Anane, said despite the physical hardship and lack of required facilities, very worthy traditions had been established for the school and that was what called for the celebration of 70 years of success.
He said the school had continued to win many national laurels over the years, including this anniversary year in which it was declared the national champions in the Information and Communications Technology competition, the National Maths and Science Quiz, a debate contest and, to crown it all, the Excellence Awards for the May/June 2007 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
“As a school, let us also remember the Herculean trials we have gone through for the past 70 years and give thanks to God for making us the recipient of His Grace and Mercy which has helped us to overcome our numerous trials and obstacles,” he prayed.
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