The Neighbourhood Spectrum is a free community magazine published by The Premier Neighbourhood Development and Charity Foundation, a subsidiary of Premier Point Chemists, located in Labone. Along with entertaining, the magazine shares the community concerns of members of the community and aims to create a model community in the neighborhoods of Cantonments, La, Labone, Nyaniba & Osu that can be copied by other communities and indeed the whole country.

1. F
R
E
E

5. Contents
CONTRIBUTERS
Editorial
PNDCF
Ladies base
On the theme
Health and fitness
Different shades of the youth
Let’s take a walk
Beauty
La Gastronomie
Fashion
Entertainment and leisure
Community concerns
6
7
10
11
13
18
20
22
24
26
27
28
Zeddy Benson
Front cover design
Dzidzor Acolatse
Co editing, Marketing &
Advertising
Abi Oddoye
Marketting & Advertising
Emma Hardy
Interviews
Sylvester Quarshie
Graphic Design & Layout
ON THE THEME

6. Page 6 Neighbourhood Spectrum
EditorialOf charities and of foundations
With the relaunch edition of the
Neighbourhood Spectrum, I have a
confession to make. Some five years
ago, I remember ridiculing a plan by
a family to set up a national
foundation in honour and
remembrance of their departed
father and family head for his
contributions to national
development. My view then was that
the man had not done enough to
warrant a foundation established in
his name. I was sharply and promptly
rebuked by my sister who heard my
comments. Her argument was that if
such ideas had been encouraged in
this country, many social charity
issues that so often entangle us
would have been addressed through
some of these foundations set up by
people who feel concerned beyond
just complaining to actively doing
something constructive about the
issue.
Some years ago, I heard a prominent statesman in Europe
being asked in an open forum and live on TV, what his
wife’s favourite charity was. One day and that very soon it
could be you or I, leaders in corporate businesses and
leaders in the community who could be asked this question.
How honestly would you address the question?
What charities do you support? What are your key
concerns in the neighbourhood? Are you concerned about
the rampant tree cutting going on at Cantonments without
any plans to replace them? Are you concerned about the
excessive noise making and filth generated all aground us?
Is your concern about the security of children crossing our
streets or is it about lack of accessible transport for the
aged in the community, lack of adequate open spaces,
health and sanitation issues, lawlessness on our roads, the
creeping growth in armed robbery all over the country and
the inability of the police to cope? Are you ready to go
beyond the usual complains and do something constructive
to solve some of these issues? Make yourself and your
Business relevant in this community?
The life of John D I believe would be relevant here.
John D was a strong and very hardworking man who
entered the world of business in the mid-nineteenth
century. His weekly income was a million dollars. By age 43
he owned and controlled the largest business empire in the
world but unfortunately for him, the wealth he amassed
gave him neither peace nor happiness and he was ill living
on a restrictive diet of crackers and milk. By age 54, it was
agreed that this diet of crackers and milk could no longer
keep his skinny body and restless soul together for another
year. One night, it dawned on him that he was going to die
and leave everything behind. What a meaningless life he
thought to himself. He changed from amassing wealth to
generating and giving out generously. The John D.
Rockefeller Foundation was thus born. We can thank John
D for the investment of hundreds of millions of dollars in
health research programmes that led to the discovery of
penicillin, a medical breakthrough that saved millions of
lives across the globe and still does. We in Africa
particularly can be grateful for investment in malaria and TB
treatments from this foundation.
John D did not die by age 55! In fact, he lived a
refreshing life to see his ninety-eighth birthday. Surely, he
who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
Let us think outwardly. Let us consider the needs of
the helpless and also of our community. Let us determine a
purpose, (a reason for living) for ourselves and our
community. It may be the guarantee for longer life for us
and our businesses. For the wellbeing of our community.
Enjoy this edition as well.
For this edition, I’d like to acknowledge the contributions
from some young persons that have come on board. Zeddy
Benson, my own daughter Dzidzor Acolatse and Abi
Oddoye. They have played a key role in reviving the
Neighbourhood Spectrum. They spiced up the magazine
so that it would be interesting, not only for the adults but for
the youth and other children in the community.
Noah Acolatse
Editor

7. Page 7Neighbourhood Spectrum
The Premier Neighbourhood Development
& Charity Foundation
On easter Sunday 2008, Premier Point Chemists launched a Neighbourhood Development and Charity
Foundation. The massive turnout and support proved that many persons and indeed businesses in our
community are ready to address the needs of the under-privileged and help build a cohesive community.
The Premier Neighbourhood Development and Charity Foundation (PNDCF) is a socially responsible Community
Development and Charity Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) with the capacity to mobilize residents,
property owners, businesses and clients of businesses for neighbourhood cohesion and development in the
neighbourhoods of Labone, Cantonments, Nyaniba and La. We will accomplish this through:
By this we will be A Model Development and Charity Non Governmental Organisation for benchmarking for
other community development and charity Non Governmental Organisations filling the gap between personal
efforts of residents on one side and public institution on the other hand for an accelerated development of
Accra, where we live, and the rest of our dear country.
Community initiation and execution of self-help projects to
address various needs including security concerns,
sanitation and health, community beautification among
others.
Stretching our hands to help the less privileged in our
Community.
A Profile
1.
2.
PNDCF
Annual walk for health and security Publication of free quarterly
Neighbourhood Spectrum magazine
Annual non- denominational open
air hymns night

10. Page 10 Neighbourhood Spectrum
BY: Noah Acolatse
f late, I’ve been examining what happens during courtship. A man proposes to a woman and after
sometime of courtship the pretty young lady agrees to his proposal and his head gets so swollen.
He believes that he has chosen the woman. Off late I have began to reconsider if this is the real
situation, so one day I asked a young lady “what happens is that we men present our nasty selves
to you and we arrogantly assume that we are your only suitors. When you agree to Mr. B it never
occurs to him in his arrogance and his ego does not permit him to even sense that the choice was
not his but yours.” She smiled and said “ Before you even present yourselves we have already
chosen, we choose u before you even present yourselves.”
So all you married men who are eaves dropping on this conversation with the ladies I ask you to go back and ask your
wives whether at the time you were courting her there were no other suitors as well. You’d get one of these three
answers from her; It doesn’t really matter now, why do you ask this question after all these years I don’t even
remember, you were the only one and I can assure you that the third answer is a lie.
I was on trek for a week in Kumasi and over the weekend I decided to work out in the gym at the hotel. here were three
other people working out in the gym at the time and being supervised by a very muscular instructor. At a point an
argument broke out amongst them about the power of women. The women insisted that women were more powerful
than men. The gym instructor vehemently disagreed presenting his argument to support his stand. As the only other
person in the gym I did my best to stay out of this argument in his best interest. I always love to be on the winning side.
If he only knew what I was planning; that the day any one sees a billboard in town with a portrait of a hard sinewy
woman with a caption, I am a woman- I’m powerful, He should know that I put it up. I felt sorry for the young man. He
mistook his muscles for power.
I consider father Abraham sometimes when his wife, Sarah suggested that since they were not
having a baby he should go and lie with his maid servant, Hagar so that through her they would have a child.
Afterwards, there was confusion at home due to the outcome of the situation. The same person blamed Abraham, “For
I put my servant in your arms and now that she knows she’s pregnant she despises me, may the lord judge between
you and me.” After Sarah delivered, she came to Abraham and said. “Get rid of that slave woman and her son for that
slave son would not share in the inheritance of my son Isaac.” This distressed Abraham deeply, so he presented his
case to God and guess the answer God gave to him, the prophet, “Listen to whatever Sarah tells you.” I thought to
myself, she caused the problem to start with and now her decision prevails. So who’s got the power?
LADIES
BASE
Women
“We got the power”
O

11. Page 11Neighbourhood Spectrum
Josephine Taylor
INTERVIEW
<<
Our team caught up with the charming, elegant and
attractive Josephine Taylor and we had to confess that that
was one of the best interviews that anyone could conduct on
Charities. Josephine Taylor is the proprietor of the Afaani
Children's home.
NSM: It’s good to meet with you to discuss such an
important topic as Charities and Foundations.
JT: Thank you for the opportunity.
NSM: So how did all this start? your interest in taking care
of the under privileged.
JT: Well, my passion and drive for charity started years
back in Action Church when Archbishop Duncan
Williams gave me a book, a smile and a hand shake one
day when I told him ,I will love to help around the church.
It was such great encouragement but I didn’t know how
to start till I met Aunty Fati on one of my trips to the
States. She was an ex director of nursing at the Ministry
of Health and was on retirement and I must say she was
a second major inspiration after God. We spoke and
she said she also had plans to set up a charity in Ghana,
a great idea I said and promised her a half of my salary
every month.
NSM: Just like that… that’s very interesting. So what
happened next?
JT: So, some months after, Aunty Fati moved back to
Ghana and called me up but I never made time to see
her. Much later, I started having sleepless nights about
this whole charity thing. It was then that it dawned on me
that it was something God was placing on my heart and
there was no way I could avoid it. I got out of bed that
night and put together some introductory letters to all my
friends for help and support. I went to some
pharmaceutical companies for medicines, collected old
clothes from friends and that was how it all started.
NSM: So how did people take this change that had come
over you?
JT: Well, People saw me as an amazing person but I saw
myself as an ordinary lady doing extra ordinary things
to touch lives.
NSM: So what were the next developments?
JT: Our activities extended to Tamale and beyond and we
had to make tedious trips to Tamale but on seeing the
beautiful, innocent and deprived kids on arrival, you
automatically forget about the hectic journey. It brings
so much joy to see you have made someone's life
better. On one occasion a child told her daddy “Daddy,
Angles have visited us and this is what I got” I was
touched .
There were so many other tear– jerking moments
encounted ever single day; babies abandoned in
bushes and drains whiles other were desperately in
need of children. I broke down anytime I came across
things like this. I remember once, we came across a
baby that was just a few hours old, abandoned in a
bush. At the time we found the baby, there were ants
all over him and he was crying his eyes out. It was a
very heart-breaking thing to witness. Today, that child is
in one of the best schools in the country and he always
tops in his class, what a waste this would have been.
NSM: Could you tell us a little about what giving to others
does to you?
JT: Most people do not even understand the concept
behind giving whilst others find it a complete joy and
do so generously. Giving brings out the inner beauty in
you that money cannot buy. I however do not blame
people who refuse to give because, most people do
not appreciate the little people offer to do for them.
They feel it is your responsibility to do such things for
them and this is very discouraging. In spite of all this, I
think we should make a habit of giving for there is a
greater reward in heaven.
ON THE
THEME
Charities
& Foundation

12. Page 12 Neighbourhood Spectrum
NSM: Could you share a little about how it was growing
up?
JT: Growing up was lot of fun for me ,we had a lot of
people living with us and my daddy was a
disciplinarian who would punish you if you dared
tarnish his name. We had a farm and daddy would
often make sure we went out there with our cutlasses
which made us shy. My mother, on the other hand
was more easy going and intriguing. She taught us to
be each others keeper and to treat people equally and
with respect. She would say “always cook a little extra
for some one might come around hungry” she taught
us to give and be each other’s keeper and this
up-bringing has had a positive turn on my life. It has
impacted in me the spirit of giving, sharing, loving and
caring and that Is exactly what I have passed on to my
children. I teach them to take good care of their things
and often show them footages of what other people
are experiencing. My daughter wept once when she
saw a footage of children rejoicing over clothes she
didn’t want anymore and that was the turning point for
her,. My kids are very instrumental in my life and they
are a big help to me and what I do.
NSM: I’m sure many of your colleagues find your life and
involvement in charity work very intriguing. What are
some of the questions they ask?
JT: Well, I like it when people ask I do this because it
gives me the opportunity to educate them and share
my joy and excitement with them. Some times they
ask me “how can they give out love when they have
never been loved before?”Love should not always be
in monetary terms. God has so much love to give but it
is up to us to get to know him and to experience this
love. A hug, a smile, a kiss are all ways to express
love to one another, our hearts are filled with so much
love and this is exhibited in the way we act. We do not
go round preaching to these kids but we preach the
gospel through our actions, stretching a helping hand
to someone in need could save you from future
problems. Remember we may choose our friends but
God chooses our neighbours for us. Therefore if you
do not help your neighbours and other people in need,
they might end up being armed robbers and you may
be a victim.
NSM: What are your final words for our neighborhood
spectrum readers?
JT: Seize an opportunity to be a role model in a child’s life,
change his life and make him responsible. Don’t let it
always be about you, make a difference in someone's
life, It is nothing too difficult as it sometimes looks. I
have been able to do it even though I have a full time
job, a family to take care of and a charity to run. It was
not an easy task to start but I must confess the results
feels good, I am privileged to have found something
that is worthwhile and I am loving every bit of it. Try it.
interview by Emma Hardy.

13. Page 13Neighbourhood Spectrum
Hello Mr Adotey, We appreciate the time you have
taken of your busy schedule to meet with us. For
this relaunched edition of the Neighbourhood
Spectrum we are exploring the area of wellness
and health. We gather that you are a medical
biochemist, a lecturer and a research scientist.
What are your general comments on the topic of
wellness and health promotion?
Health is our greatest treasure. We all know that
and give it lip service, yet how many people really
take the time to exercise, eat correctly, reduce
stress, avoid sugar and do all the other things that
we know will increase our level of health? Most
often we spend all our time chasing wealth, until we
get to the point where we have to spend all of our
wealth chasing health. It is so much more effective
to attend to our health each day as we live – and
then we do not have to face the challenges of
deteriorating health as we get older. This is the
more reason why I agree with the Ghana health
Service’s slogan which says ‘Good Health Goes
with Good Life’ but how many of us are taking this
message which is all over the airwave serious?
It is generally accepted that prevention is better
than cure? Any comments?
Prevention of disease is so much more effective
than trying to cure the disease once it takes hold.
We all know, for example, using condoms to
prevent sexually transmitted diseases is a simple
and cheap way to reduce our risk of disease
exposure. To try and treat a disease like HIV/AIDS
after it has taken hold of the body is not nearly as
effective, it is far more expensive, and the bottom
line is the treatment usually fails. We now know that
almost every aspect of health is like that. We make
decisions every day that will either increase our
chance of staying healthy or increase the risk of
becoming ill. For example rejecting carbonated
sugary beverages like Coca-Cola and drinking
water instead make a great difference in reducing
our risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes. This is so
well known I do not think anyone could argue this
fact, yet how often do we see people who should
know better drinking sugary drinks instead of water,
or even worse yet, giving these sweet drinks to
their children? The same thing goes for drinking
alcohol, smoking, working in a continuously
stressful environment or eating processed foods
like white rice instead of natural foods like fruits and
vegetables. We all know better, but so often we do
not take the time to think through our actions and
make those decisions that would lead to healthier
outcomes.
We understand you have a research relationship
with Aloha Medicinals Incorporated; a United State
based Biopharmaceutical Company which
specializes in the production of Immune modulation
and Antiviral compounds from natural sources.
What are biopharmaceuticals?
Biopharmaceuticals is a term that refers to
medicines that are derived from natural sources
instead of being artificial chemicals that are
synthesized in a test tube. We grew up in an era of
biopharmaceuticals. I think most of us remember
things from our childhood, like when our mothers
would boil leaves from a tree to treat fever. We all
know those older treatments work, but today’s
pharmaceutical industry has tried to convince the
public that only synthetic drugs are worth taking.
This has far more to do with money than it has to do
with medicine. It is impossible to patent the leaves
from that tree and sell them for the enormous profit
that has become standard for the pharmaceutical
industry – so instead they make a synthetic white
pill and sell it for a lot of New Ghana Cedis instead.
Even though the leaves of that tree might work
better for that fever. With the advances in today’s
science, we now can determine what the active
ingredients from that leaf is, and we can grow it in
the laboratory using biotechnological approaches,
and we can standardize it into a medicine – that
usually works better than the synthetic variety with
far, far less side effects and at a lower cost – this is
the meaning of Biopharmaceuticals. These are
‘Pharmaceuticals’ than come from ‘Biological’
sources.
EXPLORING THE AREA OF
WELLNESS AND HEALTH
interview with GIDEON ADOTEY >>
HEALTH
& FITNESS
NSM:
NSM:
NSM:
GA:
GA:
GA:

14. So are these different from antibiotics for example?
Anti-biotic literally means "against life” and they
work based on the idea that they are more toxic to
the pathogenic organism than they are to the
patient’s own system Depending on the source, it
can be classified as synthetic or natural. Antibiotics
from natural sources are referred to as
bio-antibiotics or biopharmaceutical antibiotics. In
America and Europe, biopharmaceutical antibiotics
are gaining a foothold in meat and dairy production
as replacement for synthetic anti-biotics. In human
medicine, it is far more difficult to get regulatory
approval for bio-antibiotics, because of the
pharmaceutical industries hold on the regulatory
agencies. They resist anything new that would cut
into their profits, and often the regulatory agencies
work with the pharma-industry to keep this
monopoly going even though many of these
synthetic antibiotics have dramatic and even life
threatening side effects. It is, however, well known
that nature always evolves the least toxic form of
any molecule. Bio-antibiotics generally tend to
have more favourable toxicity profile, with minimal
chance for side effects compared to chemically
synthetic anti-biotics.
So can’t we get antibiotics from natural resources
like plants?
As mentioned earlier, we do get naturally occurring
antibiotics from both plants and fungi, just that they
are harder to bring to market because of the
regulatory hurdles to be overcome. In the near
future, we will get back more and more to a natural
basis for our medicines simply because most
pathogens that existed normally in the human
population, all of a sudden, had an accelerated
evolutionary process to develop resistance to most
synthetic antibiotics used in conventional therapy.
Modern pharmacology is struggling to come up
with new antibiotics to battle these resistant strains
of bacteria. Research into botanicals and fungi
sources for solution to this problem looks more
promising than going the synthetic route
What is immune response and how is it triggered in
the body?
The immune system is the part of our defences that
stand between us and the hostile environment.
Immune Enhancement is one of the main focuses
of biopharmaceuticals, to enhance and increase
our normal immune response. When we have
greater immune response, the body heals faster
from any injury, has a greater resistance to disease
and any medications that are being used to treat a
medical issue will work more effectively and faster
in the body.
What role does our body play in fighting infections?
NSM:
NSM:
NSM:
GA:
GA:
GA:
Our body’s immune system is the primary way we
combat infections of all sorts, whether they be from
bacteria, virus or even parasites. When we
increase the immune awareness and
responsiveness, the body has a much stronger
defence against these infections and will recover
quicker.
Before antibiotics were discovered how did we
cope?
Natural medicines were all we had in the time
before antibiotic discovery. But back then in the
dark ages of medicine, we did not have any way to
measure the active ingredients in the natural
medicines, or even understand what the active
ingredients were. Today we know so much more
about what works in the body and how it works, so
today we are able to reassess the earlier medicines
through the lens of modern science, and take from
each side – traditional medicine and modern
synthetic medicine – the best of each for treating
whatever health challenge the body may be facing
today.
What is this concept of probiotics? What arguments
can there be for introducing micro- organisms into
the body?
The intestinal tract is a very rich eco system. It is
warm and wet and we put new food in every few
hours. So consequently the intestinal tract contains
many billions of bacteria all the time. That is right,
billions. In fact the number of bacteria in the
intestinal track is more than ten times greater than
the number of all the rest of the cells in the body
combined. We now know that these good bacteria
normally colonizing the intestinal tract produce a lot
of different compounds that the body needs to
survive. Vitamin K is an example of this, since the
human body does not make this vital compound
and it is rare in our diets, so the body has to rely on
these bacteria in the intestinal tract to supply this
mandatory nutrient. Without Vitamin K, we humans
cannot survive. But perhaps even more importantly
these bacteria produce the trigger compounds that
activate our immune response when we are
challenged with such things as bacteria and
viruses. The intestinal tract actually accounts for
more than 80% of our overall immune system, and
without these beneficial bacteria in the gut we could
not survive. Not all bacteria are beneficial
obviously, and the concept of taking a “Pro-Biotic”,
the very word itself means “For Life”, is that by
supplying the body with sufficient numbers of these
beneficial bacteria, and our immune responses are
increased, and the good bacteria will simply
outnumber the bad bacteria that we may be getting
along with our food and water. Probiotics are one of
the cornerstones to a healthier body in the opinion
of all the leading medical scientists today. This idea
was revolutionary just a few short years ago, but is
taken as an unalterable fact by all medical people
today. In fact the more we learn about the intestinal
NSM:
NSM:
NSM:
GA:
GA:
GA:

15. tract and the interactions of these beneficial Pro-Biotic bacteria, the more we understand how vital they really
are. One of the big problems facing medicine today is the overuse of antibiotics, which will kill off the good
bacteria as well as the bad bacteria. This leads to an empty gut after the antibiotics are stopped, where only the
strongest bacteria win. When the gut becomes colonized with these strong bad bacteria, it is hard for the
beneficial bacteria to move in and out compete the bad bacteria that have already gained a foothold. So the most
important use of Probiotics are during the use of and for a week or two following the use of any antibiotic. This
allows the body to return to a state of health quicker than just letting nature take it course and the gut becoming
colonized with a mixture of the good and bad bacteria, which are then allowed to compete for space and food by
themselves. Taking a probiotic supplement is a way of helping nature rebalances the system after the onslaught
of strong antibiotics. Research recently shows that frequent consumption of products containing probiotic
bacteria can promote good urinary tract health—fermented vegetables are great for your overall
health—including your urinary system
How does a product for treatment like immune assist differ from the use of antibiotics?
Immune Assist™ is a unique and patented product that when used on a daily basis will help to strengthen the
body’s own defences against the disease challenges we face every day. By increasing the body’s own defences,
we are less likely to ever become ill in the first place, and if we do succumb to some invader that is potent enough
to overwhelm our own heightened natural defences, then we will recover quicker from the illness, and any
medicines that the doctor may order will work faster and stronger, returning us to that glorious state of good
health a lot quicker than the same treatment without an immune strengthener like Immune Assist™. This truly is
the value of modern science, when we can deliver a patient back to health in only a fraction of the time it would
otherwise take. This is where Immune Assist™ really excels.
Thank you very much for your time Mr Adotey.
NSM:
NSM:
GA:
Page 15Neighbourhood Spectrum
interview by Dzidzor Acolatse.

18. DIFFERENT SHADES
OF THE YOUTH
It’s a pleasure to have your audience today. We
consider it special that as we introduce this column
in the relaunch edition of the Neighbourhood
Spectrum Magazine you are the first person we are
interviewing.
Thank you too.
We are looking at following your dream because
we believe the youth love to dream a lot. What
special dreams did you have about the future
growing up?
Well, like every other youth I had so many dreams
growing up. What I believe was most special was to
be able to impact my society in any way that I can.
Be it a politician, a volunteer, a celebrity or even
through charity. So basically my special dream was
to impact the people around me and my community
by any means possible.
And did acting feature as much and how much did
it feature in those dreams?
Oh off course, acting did feature. In fact it featured
a lot because it helped me to realize my dream. I’m
able to approach people and they are able to
recognise me and say “oh that’s John Dumelo, he’s
a film actor”. Fortunately some people look up to
me and some see me as their mentor so it’s very
easy for me to impact their lives. So acting to a
large extent has helped me realize my dream.
We also heard that besides acting you are also an
engineer. The two seem so divergent, when we
speak of engineering we think of structures, with
acting we think of creativity. Did you find
engineering difficult to practice?
(laughs) no not at all. I actually still practice my
engineering. I have a real estate company and we
build. I try as much as possible to combine which is
sometimes very tough. And yes when you speak of
acting you speak of creativity but even in
engineering there’s a lot of creativity because you
are dealing with structures, improving quality and
making things very comfortable for people to use.
There are so many young people with dreams but
due to certain restricting circumstances they are
unable to act on them, especially with parents who
feel they can do better, any motivation for these
young ones?
Well, everybody has had a million dreams; some of
these dreams come to stay and others come and
go. It happens all the time. At a young age it’s good
to have dreams because it broadens your mind and
helps you become multi- tasked in the sense that
you end up trying out many new activities which is
a good thing. At that age you are inspired by what
you see around you, you may see a pilot, an actor
or a musician and wish to be one in future even
though you can’t sing, act or even ride a bicycle
and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. But
what I’d advice these young ones to do is to focus
on their education because that is the most
important thing at this stage of their lives. Schools
are well equipped to shape lives and lead students
in the right path to following their dreams.
NSM:
NSM:
NSM:
JD:
NSM:
NSM:
JD:
JD:
JD:
JD:
Interview with JOHN DUMELO >>
FOLLOWING
YOUR DREAM
Page 18 Neighbourhood Spectrum

19. The theme for this edition is on “charities and foundations”, what charities are you involved with?
I’m involved in a lot of charities. I even have a charity myself called the John Dumelo Foundation. We
basically build and rehabilitate schools all over the country.
That’s very impressive but the impression is that it’s fashionable once you have attained a certain level of
fame? Where is your inspiration from? What motivates you in this regard to make such sacrifices for these
charities?
Hmm, fashionable? No, I don’t think it’s fashionable. My motivation comes from impacting people’s lives,
to be able to help someone. Now, in my little corner I’m doing my best to help the people that I can. If I
become president of Ghana one day I would impact people’s lives on a different scale, if I go to Hollywood
one day I would be able to do so on a different scale so at every stage or point in time your impact on
people would be very different. I always talk about impacting people’s lives because to be a true celebrity
or a great person is showcased by what you do for society and believe it or not you can be rich or whatever
but if the people around you don’t feel it then its worthless.
Thank you very much John, it’s been a pleasure.
You’re most welcome and thank you too.
NSM:
NSM:
NSM:
JD:
JD:
JD:
Interview by Dzidzor Acolatse.

20. L E T ‘ S T A K E A W A L K
Lets talk about sex
Okay, you read right, I said let’s talk about sex. Dude said “Your ish is weak, it’s getting repetitive... talk about something else”. I said
“Like what?” He said “Like sex”. I have decided to take him on. Now, the reason why I haven’t spoken about sex is because... well,
honestly it crosses my mind but that’s all, it crosses it. It doesn’t stay on my mind and I don’t talk about it because I am avoiding it…for
now.
So where do I start, let’s start from the beginning. My first sexual experience was in 1990. It was late at night, her name was Mayday,
a solid, ebony Nubian villainess in James Bond’s license to kill. All I remember is James Bond lying in her bed and she walking into the
room, angry to see him but pleasantly surprised. She walked towards him, her back faced to the camera and her clothes slipped off
effortlessly. I was about six years old, but I remember her as if it were yesterday. My next experience was non- sexual, but it was with
the opposite sex. I had a crush on her, she had a crush on me but it didn’t work out. We were in the 5th grade. I asked her to dance at
a party, she said “No, I am not as flexible as I used to be in the 3rd grade.” I said to her “I can see how that happens”. I never asked
nor danced with a girl for another four years.
So the first time I had sexual feelings about someone I must have been fourteen. It wasn’t about sex but it was sexual. Would not give
too much detail or else she might be exposed but anyways, she was my first kiss, tongue and all but I had told her she was my third.
My first kiss was sloppy, there was no music, no wind blowing, no moonlight, none of the above. It was just loooong and sloppy but I
got better, and after a few sessions I realized that my hands were not just made for writing. So one thing lead to another and my hands
left the back of her neck to more adventurous untapped body parts, but nothing really happened until that day at her house. Sex was
not on my mind. I knew we would progress to second base at least, which we did...then she asked “how come you still have your pants
on?” WHAT!! I remember that day…that was the turning point for me because I had done everything I could think of and now she was
asking why I still had my pants on.
Up until that point I was shy about having an erection so I wore boxers...but briefs under. Too much information, I know but there is a
point. Up until that point I knew that premarital sex was wrong so she wasn’t going to see my penis. She asked me “Haven’t you done
this before?” I was like “Pulleaze…I got this” as I walked towards her...back turned to the camera like Mayday. Would continue the rest
of the story in the next edition, I have to ask though at what point did we become shy of saying we were a virgins? I think it happened
exactly when we decided that we were going to be ‘grown ups’ and do what grown ups do. And how best do we learn to be grown up?
No it is not by watching your parents because.
1.Most parents believe sex is sacred and keep it indoors…AWAY from children.
2. If your parents are Ghanaian, the chances of them talking to you and schooling you thoroughly about pre-marital sex before you are
a teenager are slimmer than a sheet of paper.
So where do we learn from? Our older siblings and friends? And where did they learn from? Here it goes, TV RADIO AND PRINT. The
media...think about it, if parents never talked about it, what is the next best source. the most widespread unbiased source, the media.
It’s something our parents don’t talk about because it is reserved for parents and so the moment one of us young ones does it, it has
different implications.
There is no Bible verse today because it is real talk. However we can still pray
Dear Jesus, I once again thank you for life…I know it is something I have borrowed and I can die at any time. Please let me be more
careful of what I expose myself to…Lord help me to stay away from anything that is unproductive and harmful on my conscience even
when I am tempted. Jesus, please help me so that even if I come into contact with evil. I will not be contaminated. Amen…
By: Frank Farmer

23. BEAUTY
NSM: Hello Madam, thank you for taking the time
out of your busy schedule to grant this interview.
NS: Oh no problem, you’re most welcome.
NSM: First of all, could you please describe the
Reggins style of nail design in three words?
NS: Wow, that’s a tough one, because we stand for
so much that it’s difficult to summarize it all. But If I
had to, I’d probably say that our style is exclusive,
elegant and classy.
NSM: Looking around at the work your employee’s
are doing on your clients, I’d probably say the same
thing. What were your reasons for opening a nail
salon?
NS: Well , first and foremost, it’s always been what
I’ve loved to do. It’s been my dream ever since
childhood. Secondly, I just love making people look
good because appearance is very important. When
you look good, you feel good and I enjoy making
my clients feel good. Last but not least, to help the
youth, especially those who really want to study
cosmetology, I make it a point to give them a head
start in getting them started with their careers.
NSM: What makes Reggins different from other
nail salons?
NS: At Reggins, employees go through a three
month course to specialize in nail art and design.
All my employees are therefore exceptional at what
they do. Our friendly customer care, the quality of
our products and services and our affordability
make us unique.
NSM: So what would you say is the main thing that
attracts your clients?
NS: Our clients are attracted to our services. Our
pedicures and nail extensions I must say are our
main specialty. You can’t get the same thing
anywhere else! (Laughs). But above everything
else I believe clients love the way we relate to
them. A cordial relationship with your customers is
extremely important.
NSM: I totally agree. So do you ever get difficult
clients?
NS: Well, yes, we do once in a while. This happens
especially when the client is visiting for the first
time. They sometimes ask questions all throughout
the session and you can tell they are not exactly
comfortable. But we always handle such situations
professionally and at the end of the day they leave
satisfied and come back over and over again.
Interestingly, our difficult customers usually
become our most regular ones.
NSM: Well how about that! What other challenges
do you face on a regular basis?
NS: Well, our parking area is something we need
to work on because sometimes, the salon gets so
full that clients end up having to park on the side of
the road. We are working on that. It is also difficult
when employees don’t show up on time. (smirks at
employees)
NSM: Finally, what do you love most about your
job?
NS: I’m happy when I get to see my clients totally
and one hundred percent satisfied. I love getting to
witness the transformation the go through and just
seeing how thrilled they are with the job I do on
them once it’s done. And also, this being a very
interactive job, I get to meet new people every day,
which is always exciting!
NSM: Thank you very much Auntie Nana, we look
forward to meeting up with you in the near future…
NS: You are welcome. Make sure you come and
have your nails done sometime oh. (laughing)
Page 23Neighbourhood Spectrum
For this quarter, our team caught up with Nana Serwaa, a talented nail artist to give us a feel of what her
increasingly booming business, Reggins was all about. She was more than happy to grant us the interview.
Reggins- Our total nail care salon
NANASERWAA(interview)
interview by Abi Oddoye

24. NSM: Good morning Miss Audrey, It’s good to finally meet
with you to have this interview.
AS: You are welcome
NSM: We are looking at our exquisite Ghanaian cuisine. what
exactly do we mean when we talk about our local dishes?
AS: Well, basically, a local dish is the traditional food of a
group of people. Every tribe in Ghana has their own local food
that they identify with. The Ga kenkey with fish or domedo
which the Gas are associated with, Akpele and Fitridekyi
which the Ewes are associated with, Tuozaafi and Kyinkafa
which the Northerners have and fufu and ebunuebunu soup
which the Ashanti’s have. And the list goes on and on but one
interesting thing I have noticed though is that all the regions
use vegetables in their cooking especially okro and they are
cooked differently.
NSM: Very interesting, so what local dish does Miss Audrey
enjoy most?
AS: (laughs) well, I like to eat any local food that I know how
to eat well, like workple which is like apapransa with crabs but
I hope to learn how to eat other dishes.
NSM: So what constitutes our local dishes?
AS: Well, basically onions and tomatoes because all our
foods are made up of stew. I would use the same base for
Nkontomire, beans and okro stew.
NSM: All local restaurants serve local dishes but what makes
The Buka different?
AS: Well, first of all The Buka is. The other local restaurants
NSM: So would you say Ghanaians prefer our local dishes to
the continental dishes?
AS: No, not at all. Ghanaians prefer continental dishes to our
local dishes. We like rice a lot. (laughs)
NSM: And do Ghanaians eat healthy foods?
AS: Well, some do and others do not. It will amaze you to
know that some people love to see a lot of oil on their food;
they believe that rich foods must have lots of oil. This is normal
with our younger generation.
NSM: I heard that some foods are forbidden because
apparently the Krobo’s do not eat snails. Is this true?
AS: Well, I would not say some Ghanaian foods are forbidden
but I want to believe that the Krobo’s have their special
reasons for not eating snails. I’m sure there are other tribes
who do not eat certain foods for various reasons.
NSM: I have also noticed that we eat a lot of
carbohydrate. I am a big culprit of that myself but what
do you think could be the reason for this, poverty
perhaps?
AS: Well, poverty is a good reason why people eat they
way they do. Some people do not eat well balanced
meals because they cannot afford it. We do need
carbohydrates to grow but it is the quantity we take in
that is very important.
NSM: Are certain local foods dying out?
AS: Yes, they actually are. Most of our young ones do
not know foods like ekwegbemi, oblayo, mpotompoto
and others. The working class woman would prefer to
feed her children with cornflakes rather than oblayo or
ekwegbemi. I did not even know what ebunuebunu soup
was until eight years ago.
NSM: Any final words for our neighbourhood spectrum
readers.
AS: (laughs) Well, we should be proud of our local
dishes and take the time to try out some of them. We
shouldn’t let foreign foods overshadow our local dishes.
NSM: Very interesting interaction with you Miss Audrey.
Thank you very much.
AS: You are most welcome
Page 24 Neighbourhood Spectrum
Our exquisite Ghanaian Cuisine
interview with Audrey Serlomey
L A G A S T R O N O M I E
interview by Emma Hardy

26. FASHION
NSM: Good morning Madam Cynthia, thank you
for granting us this special interview even though I
can see you are very busy.
CL: No worries, no worries. And thank you too...
NSM: This edition’s fashion section is on the
African Print. What are your thoughts about this
national fashion phenomenon?
CL: Well, African printed fabrics are one of the
most colorful and dynamic fabrics you would ever
come across. They represent various cultures and
traditions of Africans. The designs are considered
ideal for patchwork and quilting. They can make a
vibrant and colourful border, sash or back to a quilt.
The designs comprise mainly of pictures of
animals, birds, flowers and the like. The fabric in its
self is just so wonderful in its diversity. They come
in various qualities from medium to heavy. These
fabrics are both exported to African countries and
consumed locally. The uniqueness of this fabric it’s
so interpretive. Every individual would have
something entirely different to say about the same
piece.
NSM: You feel very strongly about the African
print, what other fabrics do you use?
CL: I am comfortable with all kinds of fabric
especially cotton and silk but preferably cotton
because of our weather conditions.
NSM: Looking around I see many wonderful and
creative designs. They are so colourful and really
catch your eye! I noticed that particular dress from
all the way down the corridor. I would like to know
what inspires your designs.
CL: (laughs) Thank you very much for noticing it. I
worked extremelyhard on it so your compliments
mean a lot to me. I think that we have all wondered
at one stage or the other if we have made the right
decisions. Our human nature keeps us constantly
questioning ourselves. I am inspired by people and
the environment. I am also inspired by my family
and encouraged by all the love they afford me.
NSM: Majority of African designers incorporate
African print into their designs. What makes
Cynthia Lamptey’s clothing unique?
CL: well, the whole process from start to finish is
why I’m involved in fashion design, from the initial
thought stages right through to the finished
garment. Each and every aspect is fascinating in
its own complex way. The ability to interpret ideas
and bring the designs to life, advicing on fabrics
with regard to what works and what doesn’t, to
ultimately create from photographs, drawings,
existing garments or draft patterns.
Page 26 Neighbourhood Spectrum
Cynthia
LAMPTEY
NSM: Interesting… If you had to summarize you style of
design in three words, what would you say?
CL: I would simply say, fashionable, simple and timeless.
NSM: Exactly what products and services do you offer
clients?
CL: We specialize in prom dresses, ball gowns,
bridesmaid dresses, and special occasion outfits. Not
forgetting casual wear, professional wear and kids clothing
all designed and made-to-measure. This service is unique
in that you can have your consultations and fittings done in
the comfort of your home if you so desire.
NSM: What market do you cater for?
CL: We serve both the international and domestic
markets. We cater for all, especially upcoming
professionals, their families and friends. We also cater for
both genders.
NSM: Do you have any final comments?
CL: Oh, yes of course. I’d just like to say that with God,
passion, determination, commitment, discipline and drive,
nothing is impossible. I am also encouraged by my family
and close friends who are there to support me every step
of the way.
NSM: Thank you so much Auntie Cynthia.
CL: It’s always a pleasure!
Our team passed by the Osu Forico Mall and met up with the very talented Cynthia Lamptey, owner and manager
of Cynthia Lamptey clothing in her very own creative and innovative studio.
THE AFRICAN PRINT
interview by Abi Oddoye

27. MEGAMIND
The super villain Megamind
finally conquers his nemesis,
the hero Metro Man but finds
his life pointless without a
hero to fight.
Starring: Will Farrell, Jonah
Hill, Brad Pitt
LOTTERY TICKET
Kevin Carson is a young man
living in the projects who has to
survive a three-day weekend
after his opportunistic neighbors
find out he's holding a winning
lottery ticket worth $370 million
dollars.
Starring: Bow Wow, Brandon T.
Jackson, Naturi Naughton
LEGACY
Black Ops operative Malcolm
Gray returns home after a
botched mission in Eastern
Europe. Holed up in a Brooklyn
motel room, he is torn between
retribution and personal
salvation as he mentally
unravels. When the walls close
in, his story may be all he can
leave behind.
Starring: Idris Elba, William
Hope, Monique Gabreila Curnen
THE NEXT
THREE DAYS
A married couple's life is
turned upside down when
the wife is accused of a
murder
Starring: Russel Crowe,
THE SOCIAL
NETWORK
A chronicle of the founding of
Facebook, the
social-networking Web site.
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg,
Andrew Garfield, Justin
Timberlake
DESPICABLE ME
When a criminal mastermind
uses a trio of orphan girls as
pawns for a grand scheme,
he finds their love is
profoundly changing him for
the better.
Starring: Steve Carrell,
Jason Segel, Russell Brand
Our team took the opportunity to check out some of the latest movies at the DVD Movie Xchange. Be sure to pick
one up for a pleasurable experience... Enjoy!
What’s in for us at the movies?

28. NSM: Good afternoon mama. You’re looking
strong and healthy. I guess life in Labone is good.
MVL: (laughs) Thank you. I’m taking good care of
myself so I guess that’s why. Labone is great but
more needs to be done.
NSM: You have been living in Labone for a long
time now, how long has it been?
MVL: I have lived here since 1966, so that’s about
44 years.
NSM: 44 years! That’s a long time! So you must
have seen the area go through a lot of
transformations? How was it back then?
MVL: Back in the day, Labone was the place to be.
It was very unique; there were street names on
most of the streets even though there were parts
that were not well developed. There was even an
educational trust for the kids. Although some parts
of Labone were not well developed, the individual
estates were. Development was however very
rapid and eventually we got the GNTC! That was
an interesting shopping mall and meeting point for
both residents and non-residents. Opposite GNTC
there was a playground where we met our
neighbours. Most of us were civil servants and we
knew each other quite well. It was all very
exciting…
NSM: Sounds peaceful.
MVL: Yes it was. Our environment was very clean,
we had uninterrupted power supply, the water
flowed regularly; the PWD (Public Works
Department) was in existence so we usually
requested for our house to be painted, and it would
be done for free! Our roads were also paved and
were in very good shape.
NSM: And the kids?
MVL: The kids in the area? Most of them went to
school at the Osu Children’s Home, The Morning
Star school and The St Thomas Aquinas school…
In fact the kids were the ones that brought the
parents in the neighborhood together. They were
very serious with their studies and most of them
ended up as doctors and lawyers. We visited and
looked out for one another; we were one big family!
NSM: I guess a lot of that has changed with time including
the demography of the area?
MVL: It’s sad. Labone is losing its beauty unfortunately.
The gate way to Labone i.e. the Labone Junction is
currently being occupied by shacks, kiosks and food
vendors. Some individuals have even turned their houses
into hotels and guesthouses. The environment is slowly
being depleted, becoming increasingly commercial and
losing its residential qualities. The roads are bad, the
drains are chocked. There is hardly ever any light, and
even when there is, we are forced to tolerate constant
fluctuations that damage our appliances.
NSM: What about the individuals that live in Labone? Are
they changing with time too?
MVL: Some of them have passed, but most of them have
retired and moved out of the neighborhood. Others are
tired of complaining so they have adapted to the change.
NSM: Have you?
MVL: No I have not! I will continue to complain and make
noise till my voice is heard! (Laughs).
NSM: What are some of the changes you wish had not
occurred?
MVL: Well, I wish neighbours would look out more for
each other. It is as though the nuclear family system has
eaten into the neighborhood and no one seems to care
about what is happening next door. I also do not like the
manner in which trees and flowers are being destroyed it
takes away the beauty of the area; I wish people would
plant some flowers around their houses.
I have also realized that most of the houses have been
rented and sold out to foreigners and this has made the
community more foreign based than local.
NSM: What about Security? What do you have to say
concerning security? Has the changes in the community
affected it as well?
MVL: Security in the area compared to then, I would say
is not as good as it was. Back then, we could stroll around
even when it was dark and no one would harm us but
today, even at four in the evening we have robbers
attacking innocent people, I have been a victim a couple of
times and I must say it’s very frightening. Occasionally the
community police patrol in the area and mount barriers but
I think more needs to be done, every security man in the
Page 28 Neighbourhood Spectrum
Impressions from an
OLD RESIDENT
Labone and cantonments exists in the minds of many individuals as the residential
area for the elite. Many people who live outside the neighbourhood perceive it as
an up- tight community where individual families keep to themselves. Our team
sought to find the opinion of an old resident in the Neighbourhood. Mrs. Josephine
Vanlare was kind enough to share her thoughts with us.

29. area has to be on the alert; that means they need to be
equipped with the appropriate tools. Some street lights
were put up but, the bulbs blew out after two weeks and
have not been fixed ever since. With the exception of the
civil servants Quarters, the rest of the buildings in that
area are becoming more and more commercial so after six
pm, the streets are lonely, dark and very dangerous.
NSM: Hygiene.
MVL: On hygiene, hmm. Behind my house is a chop bar
without a lavatory so you can imagine what goes into the
drain by my house. I have to spend money regularly to get
it cleaned. I think AMA should try and get rid of most of
these little shacks and food vendors especially at the main
Labone Junction. I really wish GNTC was still around it
would have been used as a day and night market to house
all the vendors and little shops around.
NSM: A lot of people in the Neighbourhood are
complaining about the noise level in the area. Do you have
a problem with that?
MVL: OH YES! That’s a problem we all have. The
churches and schools in the area make so much noise it’s
sometimes unbearable. So many churches have meetings
in the school behind my house but they do not help the
school in anyway. The school is in a deplorable state and
not one of the churches is helping.
NSM: Have you reported to the authorities?
MVL: Who do you report to?
NSM: The assembly woman maybe.
MVL: Some of us don’t even know her. I guess she is too
busy to come around to find out what the needs and
problems of her constituents are. There is virtually no one
to channel your grievances through. The Assembly man
for Oyibi is putting in so much effort to make life for his
constituents better; recently he collaborated with Rotary
club and brought light and water to Dodowa, Oyibi and its
environs. That is exactly what ours should be doing; there
are so many companies in the area that will love to help if
they are approached by the right people.
NSM: what do you think would be the best solution to get
some if not all of our grievances across?
MVL: We need to come together with one voice and start
doing something because we will only be taken seriously
when we are seen to be putting in some effort to make our
community better. No one can help us better than
ourselves. He who wears the shoes knows where it hurts
most. We really have to get rid of individualism and work
together. Some of the community members claim they pay
for street lights so they do not want to be bothered with
lightning up their streets for it is the job of the authorities, I
really do not think this kind of attitude will help us.
NSM: Any final words for our Neighbourhood spectrum
readers?
MVL: Well I must say I enjoy living here and I won’t move
at all. I wish community members would have some sense
of community ownership and get more involved in
community development and stop expecting the
government to solve problems that we have created. We
need to come together to fight our own battle of filth and
overcrowding The senior citizens in the area have come
together to form the Pensioners Association so all senior
citizen in the area should try and be a part of it. Labone
can never be the same as the good old days but we can
help.
NSM: Thank you very much Mrs. Vanlare for talking to us.
The Neighbourhood spectrum is the new community
mouthpiece and we will send your message and
grievances across. Have a nice day.
MVL: I’d appreciate that and thank you too.
interview by Emma Hardy