The technology, called Soak, changes colour if perspiration is high in salt, suggesting dehydration.

Previous research by the European Hydration Institute and Loughborough University found that dehydrated drivers were as error-prone as those who had drunk alcohol.

There are currently no plans to bring Soak into production.

The sweat-sensitive coating, which was developed with Dutch design company Droog, is also applied to the steering wheel and changes it and the front seats from blue to yellow to signal dehydration.

Prof Peter Wells, an expert in business and sustainability from Cardiff University Business School, said that measuring additional factors which impede drivers’ abilities made as much sense as monitoring factors which affect the vehicle itself.

“This is part of the overall idea that it’s not just about monitoring the car but also the driver,” he said.

“This particular application is obviously on the edge of usefulness but it shows a willingness to think more generally about these things and find a way forward.

“I’m not sure that way of showing you are dehydrated is going to appeal to many people – but I like the concept.”

Prof Wells added that other potentially measurable factors which affect drivers could include their emotional state – perhaps by monitoring adrenaline or hormone levels.

“We are going to get more and more of this kind of thing. Many factors affect our ability to drive,” he said.

–

Source: BBC

The post Nissan’s sweat-sensing car seat signals dehydration appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Sellers of bush meat, Citi News spoke to, say their business has been greatly affected since the first suspected case of of Ebola was reported in the country.

According to Citi News correspondent, Hawa Iddrisu, some chop bar operators, however, say they are unfazed by the Ebola scare. ‘’All the bush meat I prepared yesterday [Wednesday] got finished,’’ one chop bar operator said.

Click below to listen to interesting views of chop bar operators in Kumasi

By: Evans Effah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Ebola alert: Bush meat business in K’si under threat appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Portions of the Kumasi Central Market have been destroyed in a fire suspected to have started  around 8:30pm on  Thursday evening.

The blaze has destroyed shops and property worth thousands of Cedis.

Eyewitnesses say the part of the market known as the 18-yard area  through to the second-hand clothes section were the worst hit 

Reports indicate that personnel from the Regional Fire Service were at the scene working to put the fire out. 

Bridget, a trader who spoke to Citi News, said only a handful of policemen and two fire trucks were on site.

“We heard about the fire around 9pm and rushed to the scene. The whole 18-yard area is gone. There are two fire service trucks and I saw only one policeman and a lot of people around.

“the 18-yard and other areas were on fire. It started right at the entrance of the market.”

According to Bridget, traders at the scene attempting to save their wares.

Market fires are common in Ghana. A number of big markets across the country, including the Kumasi Central Market have been gutted by fire multiple times.

In 2013, government brought in experts from America to assess the cause of these fires but the report is yet to be made public.

However, local fire service personnel say the fires can be blamed on illegal electrical connections, cooking in the markets and burning of rubbish.

By: Kojo Akoto Boateng/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Fire guts Kumasi Central Market again appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The protest which is scheduled to go on in both Accra and Kumasi will last for three days.

Citi News‘ Pearl Akanya Ofori who visited the Centarl Business Center in Accra said, ”…the places I have visited around UTC, Makola Shopping Mall, Rawlings Park all  in Accra have their shops closed; all the shops there were closed, you will only see some of the traders infront of the shops just chatting.”

”When I got here at around 7:15am i got the impression that maybe they might open their shops later, but the traders i met say they are prepared to follow the directive from GUTA,” she added.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, Pearl noted that she could only count just a handful of shops that had opened.

”One of the women who owned a shop said she had heard the directive from GUTA, but she is indifferent; others also said they have not heard the directive from GUTA,”’she added.

Pearl further explained that from what see observed on the ground, the closure can be described as more patronised.

She also added that the police are present to provide security for shop owners who want to open their shops.

The agitation, according to the association, was a first sign of caution to the government to act swiftly to reverse the policies or continue to face the wrath of its members.

Addressing a press conference in Accra on Monday, the President of GUTA, Mr George Kweku Ofori, said government policies, such as a special levy of three per cent on imports, the increase in the Value Added Tax (VAT) by 2.5 per cent, coupled with the depreciation of the cedi and illegal charges at the ports, were inimical to the operations of traders.

GUTA in a press relese also alleged that the Inter Agency Task Force set up by the Ministry of Trade and Industry to monitor and enforce compliance with the GIPC Law had not made any impact.

As a result, it said, “today the repercussion is seen in the form of the numerous economic crises in the country, that is, making Ghana a dumping ground for shoddy foreign goods and affecting the growth and development of our local industries which are already saddled with many challenges”.

In the event that the government failed to act on its demands, the association said it would advise itself but assured the public that it had many plans in place, waiting to unfold.

It also cautioned members to strictly adhere to the association’s directives until further notice, adding that the rest of the regions would join in the strike in the course of the week.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service in a communique is assuring the general public, especially traders that ”the Police has put measures in place to protect all traders who intend to open their shops and stores”.

According to the police, it will deploy men ”heavily” in Accra, Kumasi and other cities to maintain law and order and protect lives and property of the citizenry especially those who intend to do business.

The police however, warned GUTA to go about their action in  peace and not to breach it.

By: Evans Effah/citifmonline.com/with files from Graphic/Ghana

The post Accra shops closed to protest gov’t policies appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The project is aimed at greening the Kumasi Metropolis.

Addressing the press in Kumasi, the Mayor of Kumasi, Kojo Bonsu said the purpose of engaging the school children in the tree planting exercise is “to instill in them the discipline to protect the environment.”

The Mayor announced that the assembly will reward the school children with computers, laptops and other school items to aid in their learning.

He noted that the project had already kick started and “it will gladden you to hear that the planting of the trees had taken off along the Asokwa and Anloga Junction roads.”

So far, about 171 trees have been planted and the planting is still ongoing.

The KMA is hoping to plant over one million trees by the year 2017.

The trees are to be planted along driveways, ceremonial routes, open spaces, and school compounds.

The KMA boss appealed to landlords who wish to plant trees in front of their houses to contact the Assembly, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the Department of Parks and Gardens to collect seeds for planting.

By: Afiba Anyanzua Anyanzu/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post KMA embarks on a tree planting project appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

”I cry in my heart when I see and hear thousands of abled bodied youth from Africa, including Ghana perishing in the desserts and attrocious seas in their efforts to escape poverty at home and seek greener pastures in Europe and other lands…,” he said.

According to him there is no ”pastures greener than our field at home”. Otumfuo said the Ghanaians can make it when they try.

He said instead of remaining dormant,the Ghanaian should rather be enterprising.He challenged the people to be active, innovative  and  creative.

He noted that ”the spirit of creativity and innovation is prevalent in every corner of Ghana and in every corner of the African continent; the tragedy is that we have either allowed it to remain dormant or are applying it to the wrong purpose.”

Addressing the gathering at a colourful ceremony to celebrate 15 years on the throne as Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II noted that ”this waste of human talents must be a blot on the conscience of Africans”.

He indicated that the Ghanaian or African can make it if he/she  put in an effort. “We can make if we try; home is where the glory is,” he said.

He however, appealed to the banks to support individuals who have talents, innovations and creative minds with funds in other for them to bring their creativity into fruition.

The theme for the 15th anniversary celebration of the Asantehene is: “Rekindling the spirit of creativity, innovation and enterprise through traditional leadership.”

The anniversary was attended by local and foreign dignitaries alike. Some key personalities present included; President John Mahama, former presidents J.J. Rawings and John Kufuor, and former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.

By: Evans Effah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @effsevans

The post ”No pastures greener than our field” – Otumfuo tells youth appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

President John Dramani Mahama and his two predecessors, President Rawlings and John Agyekum Kufour as well as former UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan are among Ghanaian dignitaries that will grace the Akwasidae Kese in Kumasi at the Baba Yara sports stadium.

Thousands of people from all walks of life are also expected to be at the occasion.

Over the past two months, a number of activities have been held as part of the anniversary, but what all have been waiting for – Akwasidae Kese – is surely going to change the temperature of the bustling city.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II was installated as the Asantehene  on April 26, 1999. He succeed the late Otumfuo Opoku Ware II who died on February 25, 1999.

By: Evans Effah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Otumfuo climaxes 15th anniversary celebration today appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The robbers were said to have laid ambush between Anwia Nkwanta and Obuasi in the Ashanti Region, preparing to pounce on hapless travelers.

The police detected the presence of the gangsters at the area and rushed to confront them.

The armed-to-the-teeth robbers were said to have opened fire immediately they sighted the policemen, resulting in a fierce exchange of fire.

The police however, managed to overpower them, DCOP Nathan Kofi Boakye, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, told DAILY GUIDE on phone.

He said the police found two AK 47 assault rifles and one pump action gun as well as quantities of ammunitions in the possession of the robbers.

DCOP Kofi Boakye said the police under his command, were determined to get rid of all robbers in the region to enable people transact their legitimate businesses in peace.

He said it is not the wish of the police to kill suspected robbers, indicating that “in this case my men were forced to defend themselves after the robbers opened fire on them.”

According to him, the police had started real operation to stop all robbery acts in the region and urged the people to surrender arms in their possession when they are asked by the police to do so.

DCOP Kofi Boakye repeated his call on the public to feed the police with credible information that would lead to the arrest of criminals before they strike.

According to him, the police had resolved to do whatever they could to make the people live without any fear.

Source: Daily Guide

The post Kumasi robbers gunned down appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The President, John Mahama during his three-day working visit to the region urged the supporters of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) not to be discouraged by the unappreciative posturing of some residents towards the government.

His statement has generated debates in the media, with some critics accusing the President of tribalism and engaging in divisive politics.

The Information and Media Relations Minister, Mahama Ayariga has defended the President’s comment saying, it is a true reflection of what happens in our society, adding that, it is the duty of the President to talk about the existence of such practices.

In an interview with Citi News however, Dr. Arthur Kennedy said, the President should know better and questioned why President Mahama did not make similar comments in his recent working visits to other regions.

“Why wouldn’t he say the same thing in Bole or in Tamale, where the northerners have always been rooting for the NDC? Why wouldn’t he say this in Ho? So it leads to a lot of questions.”

Dr. Arthur Kennedy wondered if the import of the President’s statement is to reduce the number of developmental projects ongoing in regions perceived to have less support for the current government.

He alleged that the President, during the 2012 electioneering period “he was telling northerners that if they wanted a President, they should vote for him and I am told that even after his comment in Kumasi, he went to the mosque” and made other tribalistic comments.”

The one-time NPP presidential aspirant described such comments as “very dangerous which undermines our cohesion as a society.”

He however admitted that President Mahama is not the only politician in Ghana “who does that but he is the most visible example and most people should expect better from the President.”

By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @osamidan

The post Mahama must apologize for K’si comments – Arthur Kennedy appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

In a statement signed by the Deputy Minister of Information & Media Relations, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, said the tape has been ‘’doctored’’.

‘’Having listened to the tape in question and also listened to the original tape, we can state without fear of contradiction that the purported tape which has formed the basis for unjustified vilification of the President by detractors is doctored.

Nowhere in the President’s speech did he accuse Ashantis or residents of Kumasi of ingratitude. He only referred to detractors who have made it their stock in trade never to acknowledge the good works of this government but resort to deliberate cynicism, unfounded pessimism and outright calumny to create the impression of a collapsed state,’’ the statement said.

President Mahama has come under intense criticism for allegedly describing residents in Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti region as “unappreciative” people who have failed to acknowledge the good works by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.

He was heard on a tape recording saying, ”no matter how nice the dance of the fowl is, it never impresses the hawk – when the fowl dances for the hawk, the hawk never finds it beautiful. Don’t let this deter us because for you in Kumasi, even if we construct roads tarred with gold, you will still say we’ve done nothing.”

But the government is accusing detractors and political opponents of mischief.

‘’The mischievous elements behind the doctored tape cut out portions of this statement to make it appear as though the President said “…. as for you people, even if we cover all the ground with gold in Kumasi, you will not appreciate it”. This editing of the President’s speech creates the impression that he has singled out the people of Kumasi for criticism when in fact it can be clearly determined from the original recording that the President was making reference to cynics in general. There was also no tribal or ethnic undertone to the statement as has been claimed by the purveyors of this mischief,’’ the statement said.

Minister of Information, Mahama Ayariga in an earlier interview on the Citi Breakfast Show said the comment by the President was not meant for the residents in the Ashanti Region alone.

He pointed out that although people have not taken kindly to what the President said, “I don’t think there is really any problem with the way that the President put it out.”

“It is not about the Ashantis and it is not just about the people in Kumasi,” he said.

Click here to read government’s responds

By: Evans Effah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Detractors doctored Mahama’s tape – Gov’t appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.