DON'T BLEACH THE SKIN OF CHILDREN

THE President of the Ghana Society of Dermatology, Professor Margaret Lartey has called on parents to stop bleaching the skins of their children, since bleaching has many consequences, including the inability of the skin to resist diseases.
She made the call at launch of the Ghana Society of Dermatology, at the La palm Royal Beach Hotel, in Accra.
According to Professor Margaret Lartey, some of the substances for bleaching absorbed by the skin result in hypertension, diabetes, weak bones (osteoporosis) and in children, stunted growth.
“We also want to make a strong appeal to the Food and Drugs Board and the Ghana Revenue Authority. to help rid our markets of the dangerous drugs being peddled by cosmetics,” she said.
She equally appealed to the Government to place on the National Health Insurance drug list, (NHIS) medicines with little side effects for the treatment of skin disorders.
The Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs, Mrs. Juliana Azumah Mensah, who was represented by a Director of MOWAC, Mrs. Evelyn Agyin Agyemfra disclosed that for many years, beauty has been associated with being fair, causing affection for dark skin.
The demand for light skin complexion has created a multi-billion dollar industry in skin bleaching products, which found their way to the markets, she said.
She was optimistic that the launch of the society will receive serious attention from the public.
This is because in their attempt to bleach their skins to look beautiful women often ended up as victims of hazardous substances.
“I am therefore particularly happy that, that Ghana Society of Dermatology is being revived after 30 years of dormancy, to promote healthy skin care and also provide quality treatment for skin diseases” she added.
The Ghana Society for Dermatology was formed in the 1970’s, with the aim of bringing together all dermatologists their and associates, to promote quality skin care.
The Deputy Minister of Health, who was represented by the Director of Procurement and Supply, Mr Samuel Boateng save the assurance that the Ministry of Health would work closely with the Society, to improve the dermatology manpower in Ghana.
He called for the introduction of courses in dermatology in the University of Health and Allied Sciences Ho in the Volta region.
Mr Boateng charged the Society to come back the next two years to show its achievements to the health sector.
There was a sketch on skin bleaching to educate as well as warn people on the effects of skin bleaching.

PHILEMON IS SPELLING BEE CHAMP.

Philemon Awan, 11 year-old student of Holy Spirit Catholic School in Ho won himself a whooping GHC 1,500, $500 spending money, a gold medal, Mtn modem with GHC 300, return ticket from Delta airline, certificate of participation, indomie, muscatella and Milo products.
He has won several awards for French competition in his school and loves to read in his leisure time.
Mrs. Rosemon Awan, Philemon’s mother said, this is the second attempt at the spelling Bee and she appealed to parents to give their wards a helping hand when they want to do something meaningful with their lives.
The second winner Adwoa Onomah, 11 year-old student from Martyrs of Uganda in the Ashanti Region got GHC 1,200, Certificate of participation, MTN modem with GHC 200 airtime, silver medal ,Indomie, Muscatella and Milo products while Christine Afonu,12 year-old student of Kapore School Complex in Ho received GHC 1,000,Certificate of participation, MTN modem with GHC 100 airtime, bronze medal,indomie, muscatella and Milo products.
The 5th edition of the Indomie Spelling Bee took place at the College of Physicians and Surgeons last Saturday, in Accra with over thousand schools, teachers, coaches, parents and friends in attendance to support the spellers.
Spellers amazed parents, teachers and even the judges with their style of calculating the words before spelling them.
Some of the words were even hard for teachers and parents to pronounce and spell yet to their surprise, the amazing spellers got them correct.
At each round, spellers consistently reduced in number till they remained five in number.
The five namely Christine Afonu, Adwoa Onomah ,Vennesa Ohemeng,Ophelia Afful and Philemon Awan went for the next round but unfortunately for Vennesa Ohemeng and Ophelia Afful, there was no chance for the next round.
The top three spellers, Adwoa,Christine and Philemon battled for the Bee champion with lot of struggling and stress till round 15 where Philemon was saved with the word MERICULTURE and was declared the champion while Adwoa was second and Christine third.
At this year’s edition of the Indomie Spelling Bee, there were 89 spellers from various schools and regions in Ghana with one aim of getting a winner.

Parents of the top spellers expressed their gratitude to the organizers and urged parents and teachers to encourage and help children to pronounce and spell words correctly.
According to the organizers, the 4th to 89th position will receive certificates of participation, indomie, muscatella and Milo products and the top three spellers’ coaches gets GHC 500 as reward.
The Spelling Bee at 5 was sponsored by Indomie and Mtn Foundation Ghana.

23-YEAR-OLD MAN IN COURT........For stealing second hand-T-shirt

A 23- year-old unemployed, Kwame Emmanuel Acheampong, has appeared before an Accra district Magistrate Court, accused of stealing a bale of second –hand ‘T’ shirts, valued at GHC 500.00 at Kantamanto in Accra.
He pleaded not guilty and was granted a GHC700 Bail with two sureties. He will appear again on February 1, this year.
Police Inspector, Paul Y. Manu told the court, presided over by Mr. Ali Baaba Abature that, on January 1, this year, the witness in the case, bought goods worth GHC 500.00 from a retailer and took some to the complainant ‘s warehouse for safe keeping, for a fee of GHC 1.50 a day.
At about 5 am on January 14, while the complainant was on his normal routine of distributing the bales to his customers, the accused secretly sneaked into the warehouse and stole a bale of second –hand clothes.
Luck eluded him, as he was seen by another customer who alerted the complainant and was given a hot chase and arrest at kantamanto and handed him over to the police.
He denied the offence in his investigative caution statement and said that he bought the bale from one Alex for GHC 300.00 at Kantamanto Market but could not lead the police to him to ascertain the truth.
After investigations, he was charged with the offence.

GURU TALKS "LAPAZ TOYOTA"

Azonto, the country’s newfound dace-form, has doubtlessly become so infectious that Ghanaian patrons no longer regard where they swing into gear and deliver it-be it church-room or workplace.
It is thus, no wonder that many musicians have also shifted from their traditional styles of doing music to join the Azonto craze.
It is in this line of happenings that after coming out with his controversial song Mbaa Kuo, Guru has staged a comeback with another bang. He calls the song, this time around, as Lapaz Toyota-which he describes as a commercial song to entertain music enthusiasts to “dance their trouble off”.
Guru indicated that although many music fans identify Lapaz Toyota as an Azonto song, the rationale behind it goes beyond the mere gene.
“It was not released because of the Azonto fever in the air but as an appreciation to Ghanaians for accepting my songs in these few years of my career”, he said, adding that all he did with the song was to, as usual, express himself.
Lapaz Toyota is a danceable song that readily evokes the azonto dance because of its peculiar rhythm. It also advertizes Lapaz as a suburb in Accra.
Currently a marketing student of Zenith College,Guru-real name Nana Yaw Adjei Yeboah Maradona-hails from Nkoranzo in the Brong Ahafo Region. He developed much interest in the music career at a very tender age when he started rapping on big stages during school age.
Though he is yet to release a full album of his own, he has won a Ghana Music Award (GMA).He will soon launch his album titled Democracy Two which has 15 tracks including Mmaa kuo,Guru for president and the lapaz Toyota.

NKRABEAH EFFAH DARTEY

CALL him a father, politician, writer, an ex-soldier, an actor, a businessman, a lawyer or even a worship leader, but one cannot deny the fact that Captain Nkrabeah Effah Darteh is a multi-talented and successful son of mother Ghana.
For what reason should a man like him sing m’atwen Awurade Anim?
He has survived over 60 motor accidents, has been arrested five times, imprisoned twice and twice come face to face with attempted assassinations should retired from public service but “no”, he has a mission to fulfil in life.
Captain Effah Darteh was the member of Parliament for Berekum, in the Brong-Ahafo Region for 8 years during the New Patriotic Party era, of 2000 to 2008.
Asked why he lost his Parliamentary seat in 2008, he gladly replied “God wanted me out of Parliament”.
According to him, he went round the country side and realised there was the need for him to become President. “I really meant it, if I had not been disqualified, the result would have been great”, he stressed.
Aside his law practice and political activities, he is also a prolific writer and theatre performer.
His writing skills, which began in Achimota School and was once the president of the Achimota Writers club.
Indeed he is a great historian who draws inspiration from shared ideas and remembers all the events which have happened in his life, since 1967 “I am a historian, so I like recording and have been recording all the happenings in my life, from 1967, till now”, he added.
Writing and Acting being the priceless gift given him by God, he established the “Theatre Mirrors” which currently has about thirty members and stages performances every weekend.
According to him, there is no pleasure than watching a stage performance with one’s loved one beside him/her.
Of all his talents and profession, law is his best, especially when he is able to get a prisoner – freed.
“I am happy when I get someone release from prison”, he emphasized.
Nkrabeah enjoins the Ghanaian electorate to be vigilant, as well as urges the youth to read and cultivate the habit of writing.
“I love NPP and will die an NPP’, he stressed.
Lawyer Nkrabeah is a father of four.
He was born in Jinijini, near Berekum, in the Brong Ahafo Region to the late Peter Kwame Darteh and Mary Fordjour. He is the 7th of 10 children.
Nkrabeah had his basic education at Jinijni Primary School and later moved to Accra at the age of 14, to continue at Achimota School. He proceeded to University of Ghana, Legon where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in law.
After University he enlisted as a soldier and trained in Britain and reached the rank of captain in the Ghana army.
In February 1981, he was arrested for allegedly planning a coup against the Limann government but was released on January 1, 1982when Flt.-Lt. Jerry John Rawlings assumed the reins of power.
“Behind every successful man is a beautiful woman”; Captain Effah Darteh got married to Madam Gloria Yartey on February 5, 1983.
Three months after marriage, he was again arrested by the Rawlings regime on suspicion of organizing a coup to overthrow him but was released after three months

FAKE SPIRITUALIST REMANDED

An Accra District Magistrate court has remanded Latif Sadique, unemployed, into prison custody for allegedly posing as a spiritualist and defrauding a taxi driver of GHC 350 on the pretext of performing rituals which would enable him to become rich.
He pleaded not guilty and will reappear in court’,on February 6,2012.
Police Inspector Paul Y. Manu told the court presided over by Ali Baaba Abature,that, the Complainant Nicholas Hammond is a taxi driver while the accused person claims to be a spiritualist (mallam).
At about 12:00pm on December 31,last year, the complainant, was on his normal duties, when on reaching the tema lorry station, accused hired him to the independence square, to collect a parcel from a friend.
The accused requested for complainant’s cell phone number which he gave to him.
Before the accused alighted from the vehicle he told him that he had seen a mystery star on his face and could help him buy his own vehicle.
Later the accused called the complainant and asked him to call him in the evening.
At about 8:30 pm , that day, accused called the complainant and demanded GHC33.00 to buy certain items to be used for rituals.
On January 1, this year, complainant drove to tudu and gave the money to him.
The accused, after collecting the money, persistently called the complainant that the money was not enough.
Inspector Manu said, Sadique used this means to collect monies totaling GHC350.00 from the complainant and gave him some concoction to bath but later went into hiding.
Complainant did not see any progress in his life, and therefore reported the matter to the police.
Accused was later arrested and after investigations, was charged with the offence.

PORTER IN COURT FOR BEATING HIS WIFE

A 48 year-old- porter at la wireless in Accra, Odartey Amu, who allegedly subjected his wife to severe beatings for reporting his violent conduct at home to the Domestic Violence and victim support Unit (DOVVSU), has been arraigned before an Accra District Magistrate Court.
He pleaded not guilty, and was granted a GHC 100 Bail,with a surety. He will appear again on February,1 next month.
Police Inspector Fuastina Benneh told the court, presided over by Mr. Ali Baaba Abature ,that the comlianant, Beatrice Atweri Akueteh 38,is married to the accused. The couple lives at la-wireless, with their four children.
The accused brought his mother six years ago, to stay with the family.
The presence of the woman has since been fuelling misunderstandings in the house, with the accused resorting to beating the complainant over the least disagreement.
According to Inspector Benneh, the complainant was, therefore, compelled by the circumstances to report her situation to the social Welfare Department/Dovvsu in Accra, on December 19, last year.
Complianant was given a letter of summons to be delivered to the accused, to report at the social walfare Department in Accra on January 4, this year.
On receiving the invitation Odartey became offended and subjected complainant to several beating.
A report was made to the police and the complainant was issued a medical report form to attend hospital.
After investigation, accused was charged with assault, and put before court.