Kato (B/A), May 12, GNA - Nana Afia Siraa Ababio III, Queen mother of Kato, near Berekum in Brong Ahafo, has urged Ghanaians to patronize local dishes, because they are mostly prepared from fresh produce and are highly nutritious.

She, however, said cooking and handling must be done properly to ensure that nutrients were retained.

Nana Afia Ababio, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Queencare International, an NGO based at Kato, made these observations at a food contest dubbed, "Gino Make a Home Contest", organised by the NGO and sponsored by Primex Ghana Limited, dealers in Gino, Pomo and Jago products.

She said the contest was aimed at promoting local dishes, which she said were gradually "vanishing" from many homes in Ghana. The CEO said the Queencare was established one and a half years ago to give financial assistance to women farmers, who were also into large kenkey production in the town to enable them to improve their living conditions, adding, "the women are also trained in leadership skills, human rights and training techniques".

Nana Afia Ababio said her organization also has a sex abstinence club that helped to protect the virginity of young girls by avoiding contraction of sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies. She added that in addition to the club, she had also formed a cultural dance company for some of the youth in the town to inculcate Ghanaian culture in them.

Miss Muniratu Alhassan, a 'waakye' seller at Berekum Secondary School emerged the winner out of 16 contestants with her prepared 'waakye' and would represent Kato at the national level in Accra at end of the year.

She also received a fully connected mobile phone.

Cecilia Temma of Aduana Spot, a popular spot at Kato placed second with her 'mpusuo' meal, (spiced steamed game with palm wine) and received a rice cooker as her prize, whilst Florence Bomma of Liberty Bar, with a dish of 'aprapransa' earned her the third position. She received a blender as her prize. Miss Sarah Banini of Abaawa Chop Bar and Adwoa Kwaama, 'apite' seller, both at Kato received creativity and traditional dish awards respectively, for their fufu and 'ebunuebunu' soup and apite dishes.