GBC

The survey conducted between April and May this year covered eight leading supermarkets in Accra: Shoprite, Game, Palace Mall, Koala, Maxmart, CityDia, Melcom and Marina Mall. It focused on twenty-three main product categories chosen based on a preliminary baseline survey that identified product categories in the supermarkets with Made in Ghana goods on display. The research by an international advisory firm, Konfidants, is the first in a series of Africa-wide surveys to monitor local content in big supermarkets across the continent. The findings confirm that there are not enough Made-In-Ghana goods in the stores. A total number of seven thousand 462 brands from the 23 product categories were counted across all eight supermarkets. Out of this number, six thousand108 representing 82 percent were foreign brands with only one thousand 354 representing 18 percent being Made in Ghana brands. It is an indictment on the nation to learn that the only best performing category of Made in Ghana…

The presence of President Akufo-Addo in Ismailia, Egypt, to watch the Black Stars opening match against the Squirrels of Benin on June 25 should have gingered up the team to have exhibited a highly-spirited performance never seen in their recent matches. The team is also on record to have had the longest training camp in the recent annals of the Black Stars. Though the euphoria and enthusiasm among Ghanaians is at its lowest ebb, the expectation was however high especially against a side that has very little or nothing to show in terms of African football. It is not for nothing that football is said to be the passion of the nation. This is because it is the only sporting discipline that unites the country whenever the Black Stars are playing a qualifier or participating in a tournament. Though there is no empirical evidence to support this assertion, it is a strong conviction among Ghanaians that any good or bad performance of the Black Stars has a rippling effect on productivity. As…

The current media outflow of information on Ghana’s educational ranking by the World Bank has witnessed grave disappointment by persons in the educational sector and those out of the sector. Many seem to have been disappointed with the ranking which placed Ghana second, only to Niger in 150 countries globally. The Human Capital index according to the report looked at the performance of basic and secondary school candidates in harmonized tests scores globally. The report stressed that although Ghana had done well in terms of enrollment for basic and second cycle education, there was no corresponding improvement in the quality of education offered. The report blamed the low ranking of Ghana on the poor quality of learning in schools in the country. For instance, the report indicated that although the expected years of school for children in Ghana was 11.6 as compared to 8.6 average for sub-Saharan African countries, 5.7 of those years were lost because of poor content in our schools. B…

Ghana keeps making strides in the world economy, this time in the health sector where she has recorded its first lowest maternal mortality rate. Maternal mortality is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of the termination of a pregnancy irrespective of the duration or site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management. Ninety-nine percent of maternal deaths occur in developing countries with only one percent happening in developed countries. Maternal deaths happen for two reasons; a direct obstetric death, which is caused by complications that develop directly as a result of pregnancy, delivery or the post-partum period; an indirect obstetric death which is due to an existing medical condition that are worsened by delivery or pregnancy. Despite the progress made by Ghana, it however still falls short of global targets for reproductive, maternal newborn, child and adolescent health envisaged to reach a maternal mortality…

The UN General Assembly report on Food Safety indicates that nearly one in ten persons globally, which about to 600 million people fall ill and another 420,000 people die yearly from eating foods contaminated by bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances.  This brings in the issue of food safety in the country. It is reasonably and practically good, for the conception of global food safety day hence the UN dedicating a day to sensitize and educate the world on food hazards, risks and control measures. Ghana’s Current Health Policy on “REGENERATIVE HEALTH AND NUTRITION” sees food safety as one of the main pillars. Now the question is: how much importance does Ghana as a nation and Ghanaians as a people put in to food safety matters?  It is said that ‘We are what we eat’ and if this adage is true, then where will many Ghanaians stand in food safety ratings? Many Ghanaians have little knowledge in food contamination or poisoning. Beside the above stated processes affecting food…

The 32nd edition of the Total African Cup of Nations competition kicked off in Egypt June 21 with 24 teams. Ahead of the tournament, the Confederation of African Football, CAF initiated several changes and alterations signalling that this year’s Africa Cup of Nations has several surprises in store for us. Because of the competition’s expansion from 16 to 24 teams, more countries than usual were given the chance to qualify for the very first time – and three did exactly that. Madagascar, Mauritania and Burundi will all compete in their first ever AFCON this year, which will surely result in some emotional scenes in Egypt. Six of the nation’s taking part this year are outside of the top 100 in FIFA’s world rankings, so for some just reaching the finals is quite an achievement. The tournament’s preparations rarely witnesses mountainous problems despite a crowded field of competitions from teams that come out to fight for the coveted title. The difficulties began with proposed host Camer…