Nafti Journalists

Homemade face mask meeting the standards of Food and Drugs Authority. Sophia Torvi, Accra.   The Covid-19 pandemic has put the world into a stand-still by dominating the lives of people all over the world. On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, and in the space of 7 months 31.3 million cases and   965, 000 deaths have been recorded worldwide. Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).   More than 170 teams of researchers are racing to develop a safe and effective vaccine for COVID-19. During this period, the World Health Organization has urged the public to adhere to some safety protocols in order to regulate the spread of the virus. Safety protocols like frequently washing of hands with soap under running water, avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands, practicing good respiratory etiquette, including covering coughs and sneezes, practicing social distancing and finally wearing a face mask have been introduced

Why muslims do henna. Salamatu Ali Nakyea- Accra     Lawsonia inermis also known as the henna tree, produces a green leaf from which             henna dye is collected.                      Figure 1 Source: Online Image of henna tree from Dreamstime.com Meanwhile the green leaf from the henna tree are pulverized to produce the dye.                       Figure 2 Source: Online Image of henna dye from Dreamstime.com This tree is widely grown and its product is mostly used in Northern Africa,                                                  Images from www.gettyimage.com Middle East, Southern Asia, Europe and some African countries. Religious sects such as Hindus, Muslims, Pagans, Christians and others use the henna and this varies from region to region.                                                                                   Images from www.gettyimages.com                                                                  Images from www.getty

  Effect of Covid19 on beauty salons BY EVELYN COBBINAH, ACCRA The Covid-19 pandemic has transformed the operations of several businesses. When government announced the restrictions to curb the spread of the virus in March, businesses that provide services involving personal contact were badly hit.   The beauty industry was not spared with several beauticians closing their shops due to safety concerns. Some of the beauty salons have since reopened but with different mode of operation. When government announced the restrictions to curb the spread of the COVID -19 in March, businesses that provide services involving personal contact  were badly hit. The beauty industry was not spared with several beauticians closing their shops due to safety concerns. some of the beauty salons have since reopened but with a different mode of operation. In a research I conducted at Agbogba in Accra, some of their  clients now visit their shops  with their own towel and other equipment  for their hair styl

 Simon Quaye  17174091 Consumers must brace themselves to pay more for their  food commodities  contrary  to predictions of price reductions.                                                                                     Food prices are important for several reasons. First, they are a bellwether for stress within the food system: greater than normal food price volatility often indicates that something is not right in the fundamentals that get food from farms to forks. For example, internal movement barriers and lack of transportation can lead to food not making it from rural areas to urban markets, leading to a supply-demand mismatch and perhaps upward pressure on prices. In some cases, price changes result from consumer demand shifts, such as a shift in preferences towards less perishable foods. Larger drivers outside the food system . An example is changes in currency values or oil prices also influence prices, food emphasising the interconnectedness of economies and how food s

A fter corona what next? KATHRYN BRIAN, ACCRA Coronavirus, the world biggest threat still strive with us. The respiratory virus which is contracted through a cough or sneeze from an infected person has introduced precautionary measures include washing your hands, wearing your masks and frequently using the hand sanitizer have been put in place to avoid the spread of the virus. Some service providers in Accra are strictly complying with the COVID-19 safety protocols despite the general apathy by some members of the public.   A recent report issued by the Ghana Tourism Federation showed that many operators of restaurants, pubs and other hospitality facilities are disregarding the protocols after the restrictions were eased. A few service providers in that industry such as food vendor Margaret Amoah are however bent on making a difference in strictly adhering to the COVID-19 protocols. She tells me that despite the additional cost she is incurring her safety and that of her cust

Disc Jokeys, Victims Of Secondary Smoking             BY PHYLLIS AMOAH, ACCRA.   Disc jokeys popularly known as djs are one of the characters that make an event entertaining, but the nature of their job mostly exposes them to some risks such as secondary smoking. Secondary smoking is when a person inhales smoke from the burning end of a cigarette and the smoke breathed out by a smoker According to American Lung Association, secondhand smoke causes approximately 7,330 deaths from lung cancer and 33,950 deaths from heart disease each year.  The U.S. Surgeon General also reports that between 1964 and 2014, 2.5 million people died from exposure to secondhand smoke which is a major cause of stroke.  This   image is a reproduction of "Th e smoker's body", by Colour Magazine, issue 21,July -August 1997. DJ Nate  who spends the night in clubs entertaining revellers with music is a victim of passive smoking. In an interview with Nafti news, he  said he is aware of risks involved i

Lockdown on family lives BY PRECIOUS ADOM, ACCRA. Before the current pandemic, parents and their children were spending less time interacting with each other because of the busy schedule in the modernized life. However, most families have taken the opportunity to positively benefit from the lockdown initiated by the government to curb the spread of the coronavirus.  Initial findings from a study carried out by Leeds Trinity University suggest that the lockdown can have positive impacts on family dynamics and wellbeing. 60 parents from a diverse set of socio-economic backgrounds, geographies, religions and cultures participated in qualitative interviews.  Parents were asked about employment, home-schooling, family relationships, technology use, health, and wellbeing. The researchers found encouraging findings which suggest that lockdown has been beneficial for some families with positive changes reported.  Indeed Covid-19 pandemic is changing dramatically how families with children sp

Nafti To Start The Next Academic Year With A New Approach   Karlien Kotey 17174513 Most tertiary institutions in Ghana have operated under the face to face interaction over the years.  However, the effect of Covid-19 has introduced an approach that requires a computer, a phone and access to good internet; E-Learning. The National Film and Television Institute is an educational institution that provides media arts training designed to develop students scholarly, creatively and to introduce them to a professional approach to Film Making, Television Production and Journalism. The Head of Production at NAFTI, Kwamena Aboagye says the institute will start the next semester virtually to suit the Covid-19 era. Internet packages will also be given to students after paying they have paid the required percentage of the fees to aid in the online learning process. Nafti news spoke to some students at the institute. A video editing student, Michael Konings mentioned that the initiative will help st

Jewelries Audrey Boateng-Bediako 17174112       Jewelries are worn to adorn the body, complete an outfit or make a statement. For a long time,  certain types of jewelries such as waist beads, anklets and others, have been known to be more for women. However,  some Ghanaian young men are defying that convention to go beyond the wrist watch, necklace , and one wedding ring, normally  used by m en.      “I like Jewelry. It makes me feel good. I don’t think I go out without it. Even when I’m at home, I always have something on” one young man, Kofi, said.    Kofi is  one of such young men defying the gender norms in the use of jewelries by being passionate about the use of  jewelries. He wears necklaces, bracelets, earrings and  multiple rings.  He says, he receives both positive and negative reactions to his excessive use. “Some people say why are you wearing so many rings, you look like a fetish priest”   Mike likes to wear waist beads. “I wear them because, personally I don’t like to gen