Traders at the bustling Kejetia-Central Market in the Kumasi are abuzz with excitement as construction activities for phase two of the market’s redevelopment project have resumed after a prolonged halt.
The project, which initially kicked off in 2022 but was abruptly halted in early 2023 due to financial constraints, has now been reignited, much to the delight of the local traders.
Eager to see the project through to completion, the traders are calling on the government to expedite the process, wary of potential political promises tied to the upcoming general elections.
Having voiced their concerns and even threatened demonstrations to push for the project’s revival, the traders are relieved to witness progress once again.
Despite their elation, there remains a sense of apprehension regarding the timeline for completion, with contractors yet to provide a clear schedule.
In light of this uncertainty, the traders are urging swift action from the authorities to ensure the timely and successful conclusion of the redevelopment project.
Finding a balance between work and personal life can feel impossible sometimes. With the demands of our jobs and the needs of our personal lives pulling us in different directions, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. As we are already into the second half of 2024, it’s more important than ever to prioritize achieving a healthy work-life balance for women. This guide will help you set realistic and achievable goals to improve your work-life harmony.
In a recent episode of the The Women Lately Show on Orange FM Francisca Taylor hosted Dora Addotey and Bibiana Gyasi, two amasing women who opened up about their lives, challenges, and lessons learned. Let’s get into it as we take you through the key moments during the discussion as well as tips on how to balance your work-life goals!
Understanding Work-Life Balance
Work-life balance means finding a healthy mix between your professional responsibilities and personal activities. It doesn’t necessarily mean splitting your time 50/50. Instead, it’s about figuring out a balance that works for you. Poor work-life balance can lead to stress and burnout, so it’s crucial to get it right.
The Importance of Setting Goals for Work-Life Balance
Setting goals is the key to achieving a balanced life. Goals help you focus on what’s important, make better use of your time, and stay motivated. Whether it’s spending more time with family, picking up a new hobby, or excelling at work, setting clear and realistic goals can help you manage your time better and feel more accomplished.
Steps to Set Achievable Work-Life Balance Goals
Identify Your Priorities
Start by figuring out what matters most to you. Is it career growth, finances, family time, personal development, or health? Write down your top priorities and rank them. This will help you focus on what’s truly important.
2. Assess Your Current Situation
Take a good look at how you’re currently spending your time. Are you working too much and neglecting your personal life? Or is it the other way around? Identifying the gaps will help you set realistic goals.
During the Women Lately Show,Francisca Taylor raised the question about what to do when you are feeling overwhelmed by work?. Dora chimed in about the importance of setting boundaries and prioritizing personal time to avoid burnout.
3. Set SMART Goals
Make sure your goals are SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Instead of a vague goal like “improve work-life balance,” try something like “spend two hours of uninterrupted family time every evening.”
4. Create a Plan of Action
Outline the steps you need to take to achieve each goal. For example, if you want to exercise more, schedule workout sessions in your calendar. Break down large goals into smaller tasks and prioritize them.
Bibiana shared her experience with setting achievable goals and how it’s benefited her life. She highlighted the importance of being flexible and adjusting goals when needed.
5. Monitor Progress and Adjust
Check in regularly to see how you’re doing with your goals. Are you on track? Do you need to make changes? Adjust your goals if circumstances change. Flexibility is key.
Practical Tips for Maintaining Work-Life Balance
Time Management Techniques
Good time management is crucial. Use calendars, planners, and to-do lists to organize your tasks. Prioritize activities based on importance and avoid multitasking. Try time-blocking to dedicate specific times for work, personal activities, and relaxation.
2. Boundaries and Communication
Set clear boundaries between work and personal life. Communicate these boundaries with colleagues, family, and friends. For example, establish a “no work” rule during dinner or weekends. Learn to say “no” to commitments that add unnecessary stress.
3. Self-Care and Mental Health
Taking care of yourself is essential. Include activities that promote relaxation and well-being in your daily routine, like meditation, exercise, or hobbies. Take regular breaks during work to recharge.
Francisca, Dora, and Bibiana shared how setting clear goals and boundaries helped them achieve better work-life balance. Francisca talked about how scheduling regular family time strengthened her relationships, while Dora shared the benefits of unplugging from work during weekends.
4. Use Tools and Resources
Use tools and resources to help you stay on track. Apps like Trello, Asana, and Todoist can help you organize tasks. Meditation apps like Headspace and Calm support mental health. Books such as “Atomic Habits” by James Clear and “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey offer valuable insights.
Conclusion
Achieving work-life balance is a continuous journey that requires setting goals and consistent effort. Identify your priorities, set SMART goals, and implement practical strategies. Remember to regularly review and adjust your goals as needed.
If you enjoyed this post and want to hear more from Francisca, Dora, and Bibiana, head over to our YouTube channel to catch the full episode of the Women Lately show on Orange 107.9 FM. Don’t forget to share this post, leave a comment below with your experiences, and subscribe for more tips on achieving work-life harmony.
Kennedy Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, during the launch of the campaign for the Ablekuma South constituency, urged the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) to accept the current economic hardships in the country and apologise to Ghanaians.
This, he said, is a key strategy to ensure the party wins the 2024 elections. “Let’s go out there with humility, apologise to Ghanaians, and admit your mistakes before you can convince anybody to vote for you. You first have to admit that there are hardships,” he said.
Speaking further, he encouraged supporters of the party by emphasizing the need for them to vote in the upcoming elections to ensure the NPP’s victory. “Let’s give NPP another chance, and I know we have all learnt our lessons.”
Kennedy Agyapong also promised to be an active participant in the party’s campaign to help Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia win the 2024 elections. He stated, “We are all not going to sit back; we will all support Dr. Bawumia to win.”
Background
The launch of the campaign for the Ablekuma South Constituency saw the parliamentary candidates of the two leading parties, Okoe Vanderpuije (NDC) and Samuel Sarbah Lartey (NPP), express differing views and appeal to the electorate to vote for their parties.
In attendance at this important event was Kennedy Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central. His speech during the campaign has further cemented his commitment to the NPP, despite previous speculations that he was going to run as an independent candidate.
Using the campaign platform, he emphasized the need for the NPP to remain united so they can win the general elections.
The Belgian Olympics Paris 2024 Committee declared on Sunday that the country would not be fielding a team for the mixed relay triathlon in Paris. This choice was made in response to the illness of one of its competitors, Claire Michel, who had been swimming in the Seine River during the women’s triathlon on Wednesday.
“Michel is unfortunately ill and will have to withdraw from the competition,” the Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee said in a statement. Although the precise nature of her ailment was not made public, it has caused some concern regarding the Seine’s water quality.
Despite these concerns, the organizers of the Olympics 2024 said that the mixed relay triathlon would go forward on Monday at 8 a.m., with the swimming leg slated to happen in the Seine. Recent testing of the water revealed “quite good” levels of bacteria, raising some concerns about the purity of the water.
On Sunday night, representatives of the International Olympic Committee, World Triathlon, and other pertinent organizations examined data regarding water quality. After some improvement, they determined that the water quality was still suitable for the race to go on.
Water Quality Concerns and Testing
The Seine’s water is tested every day to determine the number of faecal bacteria, including E. Coli levels up to 1,000 colony-forming units per 100 millilitres, which are deemed “excellent” and safe for racing, following World Triathlon’s guidelines.
Due to concerns about the condition of the water, the men’s race and the swimming portion of the two test runs before the individual triathlon events were postponed by one day. Additionally, test swims that were scheduled for Saturday and Sunday before the mixed relay had to be cancelled due to high levels of viruses.
Swiss and Norwegian Athletes Affected
Triathlete Adrien Briffod, who also participated in the Seine on Wednesday, was reported by Swiss officials to have become unwell with a stomach infection. They did, however, add that as no other delegation had reported any comparable problems, it was “difficult to say” if it had anything to do with the swim.
The Swiss team announced on Sunday that Simon Westermann, who was set to replace Briffod, also had to withdraw due to a stomach infection
Norwegian triathlete Vetle Bergsvik Thorn also started feeling unwell after competing in the men’s triathlon. He experienced stomach issues and vomiting, which he initially attributed to possible food poisoning. Norwegian Triathlon Federation’s sports director, Arild Tveiten, mentioned that the cause of Thorn’s illness was unclear, saying, “We’re thinking what everyone is thinking: that it’s probably the river. But we don’t know. It could be the river; it could be the chicken.”
Looking Ahead
The Belgian committee expressed hope that lessons will be learned for future triathlon events at the Olympics, emphasizing the need for clear communication about training days, competition formats, and overall safety to avoid uncertainty for athletes, their teams, and supporters.
For the latest updates on Olympic Paris 2024, stay tuned to Orange 107.9 FM. Don’t forget to comment below and follow our social media platforms for all the exciting sports news and coverage.
Stressed young mother sitting on her sofa whilst feeding her baby son. She has her head in her hand and is surrounded by mess.
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a medical condition that occurs after childbirth and is characterized by strong feelings of sadness, anxiety, and despair. Dr. Aisha Ali Issaka recently appeared on the Orange Health Lounge for an in-depth discussion into this disorder.
She explained that mood disorders can range from anxiety and depression to psychosis, with the most common being “baby blues.” Clarifying, she described baby blues as a mixture of feelings of inadequacy and lack of sleep that many mothers experience and is not typically depression.
The birth of a child is a significant and often overwhelming event,” so many mothers experience mixed emotions, sometimes bottling up these feelings instead of seeking help.
These overwhelming feelings and inadequacies typically occur within the first two weeks postpartum, disrupting the mother’s usual routine and potentially causing emotional or psychological issues.
Dr. Issaka emphasized that “baby blues” usually resolve within two weeks with proper support and should not be confused with depression. “Depression goes beyond the two-week period. The mother feels sad for no reason, feels like crying all the time, is unable to eat, feels a sense of guilt, and feels that she cannot care for the baby. It persists and affects her functioning as a human being,” she said.
In severe cases, it can lead to thoughts of self-harm or harming the baby. She pointed out that recognizing the signs of postpartum depression is crucial because, if detected early, symptoms can often be treated through depression management methods like psychotherapy or medication.
Dr. Issaka noted that approximately 80% of mothers experience baby blues, while 17% worldwide suffer from postpartum depression. In Ghana, however, the rate of postpartum depression is about 50%, primarily due to factors like unsupportive partners, domestic abuse, chronic illness, major life changes, financial difficulties, C-section deliveries, or the loss of a child.
The Orange Health Lounge, where these important issues are discussed, airs every Saturday at 8am. Tune in for more insightful discussions on health and well-being.
The Telegraph news reports say police are braced for many more protests in the UK in at least 30 locations today after more than a week of anti-immigration riots.
There have been several anti-immigration protesters demonstrating across the country. Over the past week, these protests have become unstable, with some demonstrators resorting to violent actions, including setting ablaze hotel buildings where asylum seekers are being housed.
According to the Telegraph newspaper, more than 6,000 specialist riot police are on standby to deal with any outbreaks of violence, today. In the wake of the demonstrations, more than 400 people have already been arrested.
This violence erupted after the killings of three young girls in Southport on July 29. Protesters set ablaze two Holiday Inn hotels, in the town of Rotherham, northern England, and in Tamworth, in the Midlands, central England, that were believed to be housing asylum seekers awaiting a decision on their claims.
The Conference of Principals of Colleges of Education (PRINCOF) has made a plea to the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) to halt their ongoing strike action and resume work by Wednesday, August 7, 2024.
This appeal comes after the government’s assurance to implement the conditions of service demanded by CETAG.
CETAG members across all 46 Colleges of Education in the country have been on strike since June 14, citing the government’s initial reluctance to fulfill their arbitral award and conditions of service.
Despite the strike, the government has engaged in discussions with CETAG and has committed to implementing their demands.
In light of this development, PRINCOF has urged CETAG to consider calling off the strike.
In a statement released on Monday, August 5, 2024, PRINCOF acknowledged that the government has begun taking steps to meet CETAG’s conditions, such as the payment of the Book and Research Top-Up Allowance, processing of the All-Year-Round Allowance, and transitioning staff to the universities’ salary structure.
Members of the Locked-Up Investment Holders Forum have once again taken to the streets to demand the release of their locked-up funds.
This marks the eleventh protest by the group, comprised of customers of troubled financial institutions such as NDK Financial Services.
Disappointed by the Finance Minister’s lack of commitment to securing funds from the Bank of Ghana (BoG) for the payment of locked-up investments, the forum has intensified their efforts to seek redress.
Dr Adu Anane Antwi, the forum’s convenor, expressed the group’s dissatisfaction with the Finance Ministry’s inaction, prompting them to escalate their protests.
Calling for the utilization of the unallocated GH¢200 million from the GH¢4 billion earmarked for financial sector challenges, including NIB’s recapitalization, the investors believe this could facilitate the payment of their locked-up funds.
They are urging the government to prioritize the needs of affected investors by reallocating funds accordingly.
The forum further stressed the importance of restoring trust in the financial market and ensuring its stability.
They are seeking concrete financial commitments from the government to enable the BoG to address the situation effectively.
The IEA has confirmed its plans to host a series of presidential and vice-presidential debates in the upcoming election season, scheduled for October and November 2024.
Following initial concerns raised by the National Democratic Congress regarding participation, the IEA has actively engaged with various political parties to ensure their involvement in the debates.
Justice Sophia Akuffo, a distinguished fellow at the IEA, highlighted the significance of these debates in providing voters with a comprehensive understanding of each candidate’s policies and facilitating a platform for critical evaluation.
“We are aiming to conduct preliminary discussions in September, with the debates scheduled for October and November. Specific details regarding dates, times, and venues will be communicated following consultations with the candidates and their respective parties,” Justice Akuffo stated during a press briefing.
For the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has extended invitations to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, for a debate focusing on economic matters and other national issues.
However, the NDC has dismissed these invitations, accusing the NPP’s flagbearer of attempting to revive a supposedly defunct political career.
A recent report by Databank Research paints a grim picture for Ghana’s inflation outlook, projecting a potential surge to over 20% by the end of the year.
This forecast starkly contrasts with earlier, more optimistic predictions by the Bank of Ghana, which had anticipated a more moderate inflation rate of 13 to 17% by the close of 2024.
Factors contributing to this worrisome projection include escalating fuel prices and a struggling cedi, with the most optimistic scenario still hovering at a concerning 19.5%.
The country’s inflation rate has been on a rollercoaster since the beginning of the year, starting at 23.2% and currently hovering around 22.8%.
Economic experts attribute this inflationary trend to the recent spikes in fuel costs and the depreciation of the local currency.
Databank Research anticipates a further uptick in inflation in their upcoming August 2024 report.
While there are signs of economic recovery, challenges persist, as highlighted by the Bank of Ghana’s Monetary Policy Committee during its 119th meeting.
The Composite Index of Economic Activity showed a modest growth of 2.7% in the first quarter, up from 2.2% the previous year.
However, tight liquidity conditions persist, with broad money growth decelerating to 31% year-over-year.
The recent disbursement of US$360 million by the International Monetary Fund under its Extended Credit Facility has provided some relief regarding Ghana’s debt restructuring efforts.
Nevertheless, the IMF emphasizes the importance of continued fiscal discipline and exchange rate flexibility.
With the upcoming general elections in December 2024, concerns loom over potential inflationary pressures stemming from increased government spending.
Analysts caution that the central bank faces a delicate balancing act, needing to navigate between supporting economic growth and managing inflation expectations in a politically charged environment.
