TIG Post

Author: Chris Kodo

  • NDC parliamentary candidate petitions CID over death threats

    Parliamentary candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for Awutu Senya East Constituency, Naa Koryoo Okunor, has implored the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to probe into death threats she has received over the week from assailants.

    She stated that the people require that she steps down from her position in order to save her life.

    In a petition letter sighted by GhanaWeb, she pointed out that “I started receiving frightening text messages from the said numbers; 0505895614/0593729701/0548249729 since last week, demanding that I step down from my current position otherwise I will be killed”.

    Naa Koryoo Okunor continued that she feels endangered because the alleged “assassins have successfully executed their evil plan on some of our members who are currently dead as stated in their text”.

    She, therefore, appealed to the CID to as a matter of urgency, bring the perpetrators to book.

    Read below her statement

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • MPs coronavirus test results wont be made public Medical Services Director

    Director of Medical Services in Parliament, Dr Prince Pambo has said results of Members of Parliament who partook in the mandatory coronavirus test will not be made public.

    He said the results of individuals who test positive will be presented to them individually without the involvement of parliament.

    On 19th May, 2020 the Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, directed all Members of Parliament, including parliamentary staff, to go through a mandatory Coronavirus test.

    This step he said, forms part of measures instituted by the Parliamentary Service Board to prevent an outbreak of the pandemic in the legislature.

    He assured that all necessary steps will be taken to ensure the safety of MPs.

    As a result of that directive, the samples of some 690 persons in Parliament were taken last week.

    Speaking to Citi News in an interview after the exercise, Dr Prince Panbo said The exercise was meant, not only for members of Parliament but the staff of Parliament as well and other support staff who have a duty in the parliamentary precinct and the results will be made known to them individually,”

    Meanwhile, Ghana’s Health Service has announced some new 125 confirmed cases of the Coronavirus in the country, barely hours after some 66 recorded on Sunday, May 24, 2020.

    This brings to total, 6,808 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ghana, following Sunday’s 6,683.

    The recoveries also have increased by 72, making it 2,070, from its previous 1,998.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Flashback: Government insensitive to the people’s health – Prof Badu Akosa

    Ghana’s failure to implement a ban on public smoking has placed non-smokers under serious health risk, this, the former Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa describes as insensitive on the part of the government.

    Prof. Akosa who spoke in an interview with GNA on May 31, 2006, mentioned that he was alarmed by the increasing rate of death associated with tobacco smoking and called for stricter measures to protect the populace.

    “The absence of a legislation to ban smoking of cigarettes in all public places, the ban on advertisements of tobacco products and the imposition of high taxes on tobacco products are just not doing us any good but rather giving the tobacco manufacturers the opportunity to penetrate our market”.

    In 2012, Ghana enacted and implemented a national Tobacco Control Act, the Public Health Act 851, which prohibited smoking in all public places. Due to the lack of compliance with the policy, people continue to smoke at public places.

    Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) on Wednesday blamed the Government for failing to ban smoking at public places.

    Prof Akosa said it was sad that the health of the people had not been of importance to the Government “and tobacco smoking is causing a lot of havoc to the health of our people and its use is a major cause of over 20 major categories of fatal, disabling health hazards such as cancers, heart attacks and respiratory diseases”, he said.

    A stick of cigarette contains over 4,000 chemicals which when inhaled could result in cardiovascular diseases including cancer of the kidney, lung, breast, pancreas, peptic and bladder and bronchitis and emphysema among others.

    Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Accra, Prof. Akosa said countries like Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and the developed world had banned smoking and had succeeded in banning smoking in public places. In addition, warning inscriptions had been printed boldly on cigarettes to warn potential smokers.

    He said this had been successful in the developed countries where 40 per cent of cigarette package bears inscriptions of the harmful effects of tobacco smoking.

    “It is very unfortunate and sad that in Ghana less than 10 per cent of the packages bear such inscriptions while billboard adverts read: “Tobacco may be harmful to your health” had been written with smaller fonts.

    “The absence of a legislation to ban smoking of cigarettes in all public places, the ban on advertisements of tobacco products and the imposition of high taxes on tobacco products are just not doing us any good but rather giving the tobacco manufacturers the opportunity to penetrate our market”, he said.

    He explained that 45 per cent of the population in the three Northern Regions were addicted to smoking and described the situation as a very serious one which when not controlled could get out of hand and claim the lives Ghanaians, especially among the youth.

    A survey which was conducted by the Health Research Unit of GHS in Junior Secondary Schools throughout the country on 2,000 pupils showed that 14.3 per cent of the pupils had ever smoked cigarettes before the age of 18 years, with 4.9 per cent of the pupils currently still smoking.

    Prof. Akosa expressed regret about the delay in the passage of the draft bill on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and suggested that in the absence of the bill “Government could still ban smoking in public places whilst waiting for the passage of the bill. The bill, which would soon be put before Cabinet, if passed would address issues such as advertisements, sponsorship and warning to prevent people, especially the youth, from accessing tobacco and tobacco products.

    Ghana was the 37th country to ratify the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control FCTC) developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The FCTC treaty adopted in 2003 by the World Health Assembly is the world’s first treaty devoted to health to get people to quit smoking and to reduce the estimated five million deaths annually caused by smoking.

    He said there were 1.3 billion smokers worldwide with 4.9 million people dying each year.

    He said it was unfortunate that smoking and death had reduced in the developed world where the social vice originated from but had risen in poorer countries where women and young children were the most affected.

    Worldwide, statistics in the early 1990s indicated that 1.1 billion individuals used tobacco and this increased to 1.25 billion by 1998. The death toll from tobacco use is expected to reach 8.4 million by the year 2020; 70 per cent of which would occur in developing countries including Ghana.

    He reiterated the need for smokers to be firm and to quit smoking to make the country a tobacco-free one and called on all to join forces to fight this practice since “it destroys the human body”.

    Asked to give a message to mark World No Tobacco which falls on Wednesday, Prof. Akosa said 93 tobacco companies had deceived the world because they continued to maim and kill many human beings because of money”.

    The day, which is being launched in Kumasi, is on the theme “Tobacco: Dangerous Under any Form of Disguise”.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Nigerian woman in court for impersonating ministers

    A Nigerian woman has been put before an Accra Circuit Court for impersonating some Ministers of State to defraud prospective job seekers on social media.

    Vivian Sajida Imran, a 31-year-old trader and her husband, Prince Joel, are alleged to have created multiple fake accounts on Facebook in the names of Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister of Information; Shirley Ayorko Botchwey, Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Henry Quartey, Deputy Minister of National Security.

    According to court documents, the two succeeded in defrauding many victims to the tune of GH¢10,277 under the pretext of securing jobs for them at the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Ghana Gas Company, and Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).

    They then requested their victims to pay various sums of money through Mobile Money for application forms and interviews.

    Vivian Sajida was arrested at Jericho at Ashaiman after the ministers had been made aware of her criminal acts and informed the National Security.

    Her husband managed to escape arrest and is still at large.

    The two are facing one count of pretending to be public officers and seven counts of defrauding by false pretences.

    She pleaded not guilty, and the court presided over by Justice Emmanuel Essandoh, a High Court judge sitting with additional responsibility as a Circuit Court judge, granted her a bail of GH¢12,000 with two sureties, one of whom must be a public servant earning not less than GH¢1,500 a month.

    The prosecutor, Detective Frederick Sarpong, presenting the facts said the accused persons used the names and photographs of the ministers to create Facebook accounts and posed as them.

    He told the court that the accused persons in their calls and chats with their victims promised to secure jobs for them at TOR, Ghana Gas Company, and COCOBOD.

    They then convinced their victims to pay various amounts of money totalling GH¢10,277 through Mobile Money for applications forms and interviews.

    The court heard that the monies were paid into MTN numbers 0242774965 and 0551047196 and later transferred another Mobile Money account number 0248024471.

    Detective Sarpong stated that the ministers who later had information about the activities of the accused persons reported the matter to the National Security.

    He said the accused were tracked to their house at Jericho where Vivian Sajida was arrested, but Prince Joel managed to escape.

    He said a search conducted in their room revealed six mobile phones, including the three mobile money numbers used to receive the monies from their victims.

    The prosecutor added that a forensic on the phones revealed that one of them had the number 0248024471 which was registered in the name of Vivian Sajida Imran and was the number through which the money obtained from the victims were transferred and later withdrawn.

    Source: Daily Guide Network

  • We are prepared to fight election 2020 on Akufo-Addo’s phenomenal record – Veep Bawumia

    The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has indicated that the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) is ready to contest the 2020 elections on the phenomenal record and leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

    Speaking during an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Monday morning, the Vice President said elections should not be a contest of insults and acrimony, but a presentation of record and vision to the people of Ghana.

    “We want a very free, fair and violent-free election. We won the power or mandate of the people when we were in opposition. And so, we have to just send a message of what did we do when we had the opportunity to serve the people. What exactly have we been able to do,” said Dr. Bawumia.

    “That is what the election should be fought on; the record. Record of what you have been able to do and what you have planned to do.”

    Dr. Bawumia added that going into the elections, the principle of the NPP is to resort to decent and fair conversation, which will bring about peace and understanding to the people.

    He urged other stakeholders to also emulate such progressive way if campaigning, not acrimony.

    “In terms of what we say, the President has always made the point that we should make sure that how we speak and what we say to the public bring about peace, bring about understanding.”

    “I think if we all focused on that, there should be no acrimony. And allow the electoral commission to do its work and we will all come in and participate in this great expression of democracy during this election.”

    Phenomenal Akufo-Addo record

    Dr. Bawumia touted the leadership and achievements of the Akufo-Addo government in the past three and half years, saying the government will fight the election on that record.

    “In terms of our management of the economy, we are very happy and we are willing to fight on the record of what we have achieved across board,” he said.

    “We are really looking forward to discuss our record and the record of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over the last three and a half years. It is a splendid record; a fantastic record that we are willing and able to discuss and fight the election on anytime.”

    Extolling the leadership of President Akufo-Addo, Dr. Bawumia said the achievement of the Nana Addo government is acclaimed globally and also stands tall among first-term governments in the history of the fourth republic.

    “It is a phenomenal record and I am very proud of the president and his leadership that has brought us this amazing record. It is a record that is being touted the world over by the way, not just us.”

    “It is a great record when you look at the history of the fourth republic. When I actually look at it, I am amazed sometimes how much has been accomplished in just three and half years.”

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • 245 deported Ghanaians quarantined at Ghanaman soccer center

    The 245 Ghanaians deported from Kuwait over the weekend are being quarantined at the Ghanaman soccer centre of excellence at Prampram, Starr News has gathered.

    They are the first batch of people to be taken to the centre since the Ghana Football Association (GFA) offered the facility to government for use in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

    Starr News source says they are likely to be transferred to the Pentecost isolation centre in the Central region.

    Meanwhile, Aviation Minister Joseph Kofi Adda has disclosed none of the deportees tested positive for the virus when a check was conducted on them before being flown to Ghana.

    “Where we have gotten so far, the test is generally negative, [but] our internal medical experts will conduct another round of test to be sure that they are truly negative,” he told Accra-based Citi FM.

    On Sunday, 66 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Ghana pushing the countries case count to 6,683 from 6,617.

    The number of recoveries has also increased to 1,998 from 1,978 while the death toll has also increased to 32.

    Case counts per region

    Greater Accra Region 4,798

    Ashanti Region 1,049

    Central Region 299

    Western Region 210

    Eastern Region 106

    Western North Region 61

    Volta Region 47

    Northern Region 36

    Oti Region 26

    Upper East Region 26

    Upper West Region 21

    North East Region 2

    Savannah Region 1

    Bono Region 1

     

    Source: Starr FM

  • Chosen YesuBa releases ‘Heaven on my mind’ music video

    Award-winning activist and gospel musician, Chosen YesuBa has released visuals for his song titled “Heaven on my Mind” off from his recently released album titled “Last Days”.

    “Heaven on My Mind” is a message that encourages every individual and believer going through any life struggle to focus on living right amid the storm.

    The song talks about the challenges people face in the journey of life and how they need to focus on making it to heaven.

    Known in real life as Listowell Acquaye, he aims to project the Christian Gospel and godly virtues in alternate genres not popularly known in the Christian fraternity.

    He is also an advocate of the Urban Gospel Genre which gives the youth alternate opportunities to create amazing music from diverse genres.

    Source: scoopgh.com

  • Cambridge University to keep lectures online through summer 2021

    The University of Cambridge is planning to keep lectures online for the entire 2020-2021 academic year due to the coronavirus, becoming the first globally-known university to announce plans beyond only the fall term.

    According to a story in The Guardian newspaper, a university spokesman said: “Given that it is likely that social distancing will continue to be required, the university has decided there will be no face-to-face lectures during the next academic year.”

    The university said that while lectures would continue virtually until summer 2021, smaller, in-person teaching groups may take place if it “conforms to social-distancing requirements.”

    In March, Cambridge pivoted from in-person classes to online, and exams are being taken virtually.

    The higher education sector globally is currently weighing concerns over the safety of students and faculty should campuses reopen this fall against substantial financial losses should doors remain shut.

    Already, enrollments are expected to decline, with a drop in international student numbers in particular a concern for UK higher education institutions.

    In recent years, the number of students from China enrolled at UK universities had increased significantly, creating a considerable revenue stream as international students pay higher tuition fees than domestic students.

    In contrast, the University of Notre Dame in Indiana announced Monday it would welcome students back to campus on August 10, two weeks earlier than originally planned.

    In addition, the university cancelled fall break and will end the semester before Thanksgiving, in late November.

     

    Source: Forbes  

  • I used to wash boots and jerseys of my seniors at the U-17 level Stephen Appiah

    Former Black Stars skipper Stephen Appiah says he served during his early days at the Ghana U-17 team.

    Appiah was part of the Ghana U-17 squad that participated in the 1995 FIFA U-17 World Cup tournament in Ecuador.

    The former Juventus midfielder went ahead to captain the senior national team [Black Stars] in the 2006 and the 2010 World Cup before hanging his boots.

    He hanged his boots, capping 64 matches with 14 goals to his credit

    Speaking in an interview on Joy Sports, Appiah disclosed that before the Ecuador 1995 tourney, he was washing the jerseys and boots of his seniors in the national team.

    “There were senior players before I joined the squad for Ecuador 1995. Before the tournament I used to wash the boots and jerseys of the senior players even today, it makes me happy that I was able to serve”, he said.

    He added that, even before he was given the captain armband at the Black Stars level, there were seniors at the team and personally, wanted Richard Kingston to captain the senior national team.

    “When I was given the captain armband, I asked that Olele [Richard Kingston] should be selected as the captain since he was more a senior member. Olele tapped my shoulder and said Stephen take the band, we will support you.

    Source: kyfilla.com

  • Let us remain resolute and unbroken – Tangoba urges Muslims

    The Upper East Regional Minister, Tangoba Abayage, has urged Muslims in the region and across the country to remain firm and strong in these troubling times of the deadly Coronavirus.

    As Muslims in the region joined the rest of the world to observe the end of the Ramadan, Ms. Tangoba was hopeful that the period would be used to strengthen their spirituality and draw them closer to the teachings of the Holy Prophet Mohammed.

    In a goodwill message on the occasion of the Eid-Ul-Fitr released to the media, Ms. Tangoba congratulated Muslims for attaining another spiritual milestone and encouraged them to allow the virtues cultivated during the Ramadan spur them on.

    “As the solemn period comes to an end, I wish to congratulate all Muslims in the Upper East Region on the attainment of another spiritual milestone. Surely, we have matured in our spirituality over the period”.

    “There is light at the end of the tunnel and we should allow the virtues cultivated during Ramadan to spur us on to the end”. The message said in parts. Ms. Tangoba reminded Muslims to be measured in the celebration this festive occasion by continuously adhering to the preventive protocols to stop the spread of the virus.

     

    Source: Senyalah Castro, Contributor

  • Ghana records 125 new Coronavirus cases in less than 48 hours, tally now 6,808

    Ghana’s Health Service has announced some new 125 confirmed cases of the Coronavirus in the country, barely hours after some 66 recorded on Sunday, May 24, 2020.

    This brings to total, 6,808 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ghana, following Sunday’s 6,683.

    The recoveries also have increased by 72, making it 2,070, from its previous 1,998.

    The death toll remains at 32.

    Greater Accra Region which has the highest records of cases so far, had 38 cases out of the 125 new cases. It was closely followed by the Ashanti Region with 13 new cases. Central Region has 7, and Western, 67 new cases.

    Regional Breakdown

    Greater Accra Region – 4,836

    Ashanti Region – 1,062

    Central Region – 306

    Western Region – 277

    Eastern Region – 106

    Western North Region – 62

    Volta Region – 47

    Northern Region – 36

    Oti Region – 26

    Upper East Region – 26

    Upper West Region – 21

    North East Region – 2

    Savannah Region – 1

    Bono Region – 1

     

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • The fungal-contaminated dam serving as drinking water for Mempeasem residents

    Residents of the Mempeasem Electoral Area in the Atebubu-Amantin Municipality of the Bono East Region have appealed to authorities for a clean source of water.

    The residents numbering over ten thousand depend on the contaminated Tuse Dam as their major source of water for domestic use and other activities.

    Looking greenish, unhygienic and leaving residents vulnerable to water-related diseases, residents say they are forced to rely on the dam as that is the only source of water available within the catchment area.

    When GhanaWeb visited the dam, many residents were at the banks busily fetching from the dam for different purposes.

    They told GhanaWeb’s Bono region correspondent that even though they are aware the dam is contaminated and not wholesome for human consumption; there is little they can do in the absence of a clean source of water.

    The situation, residents say, does not help their health looking at how contaminated the water looks with filth and faecal matter.

    “We are aware that the water we are drinking is not good but our situation demands that we depend on this water for our daily activities and survival”

    The Assembly Member for the Mempeasem Electoral area, Honourable Shagari Atindogo who revealed the Tuse Dam serves suburbs like Adom, Ahotor, Konkombaline, Zongo Number One, Zongo Number Two and Oil Mills deplored the water situation in the area.

    He revealed that the situation has persisted for too long even though attempts have been made in that regard and called for a one-time solution this time.

    “This is the water residents in this Electoral Area depend on. The water is bad and not fit for human consumption but there is no alternative and so we have been forced to leave residents to continue to rely on it over the years”.

    Honourable Shagari revealed that the water situation can be solved with the drilling of boreholes in the area and appealed to Non-governmental Organisations and philanthropists to come to their aid.

    For Ghana to achieve the objective of Sustainable Development Goal(SDG) Six which seeks to ensure access to water and sanitation for all by 2030, residents of the Mempeasem Electoral Area deserve a clean and reliable source of water for their daily activities because clean water they say is life.

     

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Gospel musicians donate to coronavirus isolation centre in Ga East

    A section of Ghanaian gospel musicians have made a donation to the COVID-19 isolation centre in Ga East.

    The group donated hand sanitizers, liquid soaps, gloves, tissues and other items to the centre.

    Rev Yawson, who led the group to make the donation covered by Zionfelix.net, mentioned the need for them to support in fighting against the deadly pandemic.

    He disclosed musicians in the country are also affected hugely following the outbreak of the deadly pandemic as they cannot organize any event and other projects have been badly hit.

    The donation was made in the name of the Musicians Union of Ghana, Christian Music Association, Women in Gospel, Men in Gospel and some Ghanaian gospel musicians outside the country who supported the project.

    A rep of the Ga East Isolation Centre who received the items on behalf of the management thanked the musicians for the gesture.

    He said the items will be useful at the time that they are trying hard to curb the Coronavirus.

    As Oliver Twist asks for more, he called on others to emulate this gesture and help other isolation centres as well.

    He was hopeful life will be back to normal at the right by the Grace of God and adherence of safety protocols outlined.

    Watch the videos from donation below

    Source: Zionfelix

  • COVID-19: Consultations conclude this week ahead of easing restrictions

    President Akufo-Addo says he can only announce a roadmap for easing COVID-19 restrictions after stakeholder consultations on the matter conclude this week.

    The restrictions have been in force since March 15 as part of measures to contain the spread of the Novel Coronavirus in the country. They included a ban on social gatherings, closure of schools, shutting of Ghana’s national borders and a partial lockdown of Accra, Kumasi and Kasoa.

    Today (May 24, 2020), President Akufo-Addo said safety must be a key factor in the lifting of restrictions.

    He said: “Stakeholder consultations are taking place on the way forward towards the easing of restrictions, so that our social and economic lives can go back to normal. I expect these consultations to conclude this week, so that I can announce to Ghanaians a clear roadmap for easing the restrictions. We have to find a way back, but in safety, for we cannot be under these restrictions forever.

    “I am fortified in this view by three (3) considerations. Firstly, sad though any premature death is, the hard fact is that the rate of deaths in Ghana amongst confirmed cases is very low one per one million, i.e. 0.0001%, one of the lowest in Africa, and, indeed, in the world, this, despite the very high number of tests we are carrying out. This has been so since the very beginning of the outbreak over two (2) months ago. The number of positive cases stands at six thousand, six hundred and eighty-three (6,683), out of one hundred and ninety-four thousand, seven hundred and sixty-three (194,763) tests conducted, with one thousand, nine hundred and ninety-eight (1,998) recoveries. This means that our positivity rate, that is the ratio of confirmed cases to the total number of tests conducted, is 3.43%, which, again, is one of the lowest in Africa, and in the world. Furthermore, virtually all the thirty-two (32) corona-related deaths, that have so far been recorded, were of persons with, what the doctors call, comorbidity, i.e. with other underlying causes and diseases. Most of them died within twenty-four (24) hours of admission to hospital. May their souls rest in peace. It appears that, by the grace of God, Ghanaians are not dying of this virus in the numbers that were originally anticipated and feared.

    “Secondly, the numbers of severe virus cases that have been hospitalised have been persistently low since the outbreak. The fear that our hospitals would be overburdened, and, indeed, overwhelmed has, so far, again by the grace of God, not materialised. As we speak, there are sixteen (16) severe cases in six (6) hospitals across the country, none of them on a ventilator. We pray for their speedy recovery.

    “Thirdly, we now have a more robust mechanism for enforcing our central strategy of defeating the virus the application of the 3Ts, tracing, testing and treating. The tracing teams are more experienced and more efficient; testing capabilities are no longer concentrated in Accra and Kumasi, but spread more evenly across the country in Ho, Tamale, Navrongo, Takoradi and Cape Coast; treating capacity has been considerably enhanced with isolation facilities better distributed across the nation”.

    President Akufo-Addo also urged the public to continue adhering to social distancing protocols and hygiene protocols.

    “These developments, and continuing strong adherence to the social distancing and hygiene protocols, including wearing masks and strengthening our immune systems by eating our own foods, will enable us to face the future with greater confidence, as we battle to defeat the virus, and pray for our healthcare workers”.

     

    Source: Graphic.com.gh 

  • Thats sweet Keri Hilson reacts after Stonebwoy confessed he was admiring her when they were working together

    Stonebwoy in a recent interview on Hitz FM confessed that he really admired American singer, Keri Hilson when they were working on his NOMINATE song.

    This confession got an immediate reaction from Keri Hilson who also expressed how happy she was that the song they did together was doing well.

    Stonebwoy admitted that he was admiring Keri Hilson because she is a very beautiful woman and Keri Hilson replied saying that was sweet.

    Read what transpired below;

    Source: www.ghgossip.com

  • Photos of Ghanaian returnees from Kuwait

    Some 263 Ghanaians have arrived in the country from Kuwait as part of the first wave of evacuations of nationals stranded abroad due to Covid-19.

    This follows the announcement of the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah that they were deportees found to have been illegally residing in that country.

     

    Source: Myjoyonline  

  • South African President Ramaphosa says outbreak will get worse

    The president of South Africa has warned that the country’s coronavirus outbreak is going to get much worse, while announcing that lockdown measures are to be eased.

    Cyril Ramaphosa said a third of the country’s more than 22,000 cases had been recorded in the last week.

    Despite that, the president said the current lockdown could not be sustained indefinitely.

    He announced that, from 1 June, more restrictions would be lifted.

    Mr Ramaphosa was speaking after a mining company in South Africa said 164 workers at a gold mine near Johannesburg had tested positive for Coronavirus.

    There have so far been 429 recorded Covid-19 deaths in the country.

    How will the lockdown measures be eased?

    An overnight curfew will no longer be in place, more businesses will be allowed to open and schools will re-start, the president said.

    A controversial ban on alcohol will also end with limited sales allowed for home consumption only. A ban on the sale of cigarettes will remain.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Zambia minister’s contacts tested for coronavirus

    Zambia’s Information Minister Dora Siliya has said that most of her contacts have been tested after she was diagnosed with Covid-19.

    The minister, who announced her test results via Twitter on Saturday, had urged everyone she had come into contact with to cooperate with health officials to keep everyone else safe.

    Ms Siliya said she was asymptomatic and was self-isolating with close monitoring by medics.

    She had been participating in public education on coronavirus prevention before she tested positive.

    The minister said she had followed all regulations but still tested positive and has urged the public to adhere to safety measures.

    In her latest update on Twitter, she lauded health officials:

    Source: bbc.com

  • Buhari laments coronavirus impact on Africa’s biggest economy

    Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has lamented the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Africa’s biggest economy following stringent measures imposed to contain coronavirus outbreak.

    In the capital Abuja, and the commercial hub Lagos, businesses were closed for more than four weeks before restrictions were eased from 4 May. Inter-state passenger travel is still banned across the country, while school and restaurants are closed.

    President Buhari has said the country has no money to import food and urged farmers to get back to work to produce enough food for the country.

    Mr Buhari said the increase in the number of coronavirus cases in the country was frightening.

    The International Monetary Fund predicts that Africa’s economy will contract by 1.5% points in 2020

    Nigeria was to proceed to a second phase of easing restrictions last week, but the task force in charge said the country was not yet ready for full reopening of the economy.

    The president this year opted for private Eid prayers in State House as opposed to the usual large celebrations he holds every year.

    He urged Nigerians to follow the ministry of health’s guidelines to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

    Nigeria’s Channel TV shared a video of the president speaking after Eid prayers at State House.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Four killed in Somalia blast during Eid celebrations

    At least four people have been killed and 15 others were injured in Somalia when an explosion went off during Eid celebrations.

    Witnesses say a crowd had been dancing and singing in Baidoa city when the blast occurred.

    It is not yet clear who was behind it. For several years the Islamist militant group al-Shabab controlled Baidoa.

    Since 2012, when its fighters were pushed out of the city, the jihadist group has remained active there and has attacked military bases and other targets.

    Source: bbc.com

  • La Liga can resume behind closed doors from 8 June – Spain’s prime minister

    La Liga can resume behind closed doors from 8 June, says Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sanchez.

    The league’s president Javier Tebas said he had hoped Spain’s top flight would restart on 12 June, although La Liga is yet to confirm a restart date.

    La Liga players this week started training in groups of no more than 10.

    “Spain has done what it should and now new horizons are opening for everyone. The time has come to bring back many day-to-day activities,” said Sanchez.

    “From 8 June, La Liga will be back. Spanish football has a huge following but it will not be the only recreational activity that will return.”

    The Spanish second division is also set to resume at the same time as the top flight, with reports in Spain suggesting the derby between Sevilla and Real Betis will be the first La Liga game to take place.

    “We are very pleased with the decision,” said Tebas. “It is the result of the great work of clubs, players, coaches, CSD (National Sports Council) and agents.

    “But we cannot lower our guard, it is important to follow health regulations and ensure the pandemic doesn’t come back.”

    Football in Spain was suspended on 12 March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

    The players in the top two divisions were only able to return to individual training in early May after being tested for the virus.

    Five players tested positive for the virus across Spain’s top two divisions and went into isolation prior to the first phase of group training being allowed from 18 May.

    La Liga teams have 11 games to play this season, with leaders Barcelona two points ahead of Real Madrid at the top of the division.

    Meanwhile, Portugal’s Primeira Liga will resume on 3 June, with Portimonense against Gil Vicente and Famalicao hosting leaders Porto.

    Porto lead rivals Benfica by a point with 10 rounds left.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Moesha BoduongMoesha Boduong stages social media comeback with hot swimming pool video

    The Coronavirus era has been characterized by a whole lot of allegations and fracas – election rigging claims, numerous ‘beefs’ in the entertainment industry, and a variety of social media challenges.

    30-year-old celebrity model, Moesha Boduong seems unfazed by these as her latest Instagram post showed her having the time of her life at a ‘coded’ location, flaunting her heavily endowed backside to her followers and the digital world.

    Having been ‘quiet’ for a while, since her 30th birthday in March this year, Moesha hardly made the headlines of the various news outlets, with some rumours circulating that her silence might be attributed to the fact that she might have contracted the coronavirus.

    However, the latest post by the celebrity model on Instagram is a clear proof that she has a clean bill of health.

    A video which was reportedly recorded around 10pm at the Kempinski hotel in Accra, showed Moesha catwalking into and out of the hotel’s swimming pool in a salacious swimsuit while she intermittently paused to pose for classic camera shots.

    It can be recalled that following the outbreak of coronavirus in Ghana, President Akufo-Addo called for the shutdown of, among others, hotels and restaurants in order to curb the widespread of the pandemic.

    It still remains uncertain if this video was recorded prior to or after the coronavirus outbreak, but what is obvious is the fact that the queen of controversy is back.

    Watch the video below:

    Source: pulse.com.gh

  • NABCO Trainees Association petitions Akufo-Addo for permanent employment

    NABCO Trainees Association of Ghana (NABTAG) has petitioned President Akufo-Addo proposing the consideration of its members for permanent employment.

    According to a press statement on May 19, 2020, President of the Association explained that “0having matched on with our engagement through to this juncture of the three year journey on contract terms, the expiration date is not distant from now.”

    President Akufo-Addo in May 2018, launched the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) to employ young men and women to assist in the public sector service delivery needs of Ghana.

    During the launch, the President stated that the initiative was geared towards enhancing “the dignity and self-esteem of our graduates, and will also present them with the added benefit of efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of some essential public services.”

    With the programme by some beneficiaries nearing completion, NABTAG invited the president to intervene to ensure that employment is secured for the over 100,000 personnel to be roped into the work force.

    Read full statement

    STRATEGIC ALLIANCE IN PETITIONING THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA FOR PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT ON BEHALF OF NABCO TRAINEES

    NABCO Trainees Association of Ghana (NABTAG) seeks to employ your respective media channels (i.e. Radio, TV, and virtual platforms) to assist in registering its petition to the president of the Republic of Ghana for permanent employment on behalf of NABCO trainees.

    The Nation Builders Corps (NABCO), which was launched in 2018 by the current government to help reduce the growing rate of unemployment amongst the youth in Ghana is undoubtedly a brilliant step in the right direction. The depth of significance cannot be overemphasized.

    Having matched on with our engagement through to this juncture of the three year journey on contract terms, the expiration date is not distant from now. It is impressive to report that over 10,000 trainees have found their exit pathways and transitioned into their respective sustainable livelihoods. These products of NABCO can attest to the marvelous medium to their exit pathways being found through NABCO.

    However, we still have a chunk of the total (100,000) yet to find their exit pathways. It would be disheartening for these huge numbers to go back home after the period extinguishes. It is in this light that NABTAG is forming this alliance with your respective media channels to help the association petition the president for permanent employment.

    If this petition could be materialized, trainees will be more than happy to render their applauds in honor of His Excellency the president of the Republic of Ghana.

    We look forward to seeing this alliance yield the expected result.

    Signed:

    Dennis Opoku Katakyie, National President (NABTAG)

    +233 (0) 208 058 076

    Akwasi Botchway, Communication Team Lead (NABTAG)

    +233 (0) 200 944 194

    CC:

    THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, NABCO

    NABCO BENEFICIARIES

     

    Source: myjoyonline 

  • C/R: 57-year-old man nearly killed by cattle at Gomoa Akotsi

    A 57-year-old farmer nearly lost his life at Gomoa Akotsi after he was gored by a cow while returning from the farm.

    The farmer, Kojo Attah, popularly know as Okyeman was rushed to the village of hope hospital in Gomoa Fetteh where he received treatment.

    According to Kojo Attah, he was returning from the farm together with his wife, but upon reaching a section of the road, they saw the cattle standing in the middle of the road and in an attempt to get the animal off the road, the cow gored him in the throat.

    “We were returning from the farm at around 6 pm and upon reaching a section of the road, we saw the cattle standing in the middle of the road. So I decided to get it off. But the animal runs into the bush and then from nowhere it attacked me again with his horn and I fell flat on the ground bleeding. I realised I was bleeding profusely so I shouted for help and people came to my rescue,” Kojo Attah said.

    He indicated that such attacks are rampant in the area.

    “This is not the first time someone has been attacked, this has been a regular thing and these animals sometimes destroy our farms. So I believe the cattle farmers have not done enough to protect their animals that is the reason why we are seeing many of such attacks,” Kojo Attah said.

    Assemblyman for Ojobi Akotsi Electoral area, Geoffrey Panin Nkum told Citi News that they will engage the chiefs and nomadic herdsmen in the area to find a lasting solution to this menace.

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • Heavy rainfall hits Penyi 3 days after arrest of spiritualists who allegedly ‘hijacked’ rainfall

    Residents of Penyi and its environs were left in shock as heavy rains which lasted for over an hour took over the town Sunday, amidst lighting and thunderstorms after a long period of absence.

    The rain comes just three days after two young spiritualists were busted and beaten by residents of the town for using voodoo deities to prevent rainfall in the town and its environs in the Ketu North Municipality.

    Many residents believe that the rains could not have fallen if the two spiritualists were not busted and shamed for the evil act.

    The rains which poured on Sunday, May 23, 2020, is a great relief for farmers whose large acres of crops were dying on the fields due to no rainfall.

    BACKGROUND

    On May 21, 2020, GhanaWeb broke the story of two young spiritualists who have been using voodoo deities to prevent rain from falling in Penyi.

    It is a known fact that Penyi and its neighboring towns have not witnessed any rainfall in the past months despite numerous instances of the cloud being heavy with rain.

    The worrying situation however, forced traditional leaders in the town to do an open consultation of the gods and as a result the name of the two spiritualists were revealed by the chief priest.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • CDD joins opposition to Public Universities Bill

    The Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), a governance think tank, has written to Parliament to express why the legislature should not pass the Public Universities Bill into law, a move they say will give the executive too much power in the management of public universities in the country.

    “It is the considered view of CDD that government has not made a case for this bill. If there are concerns about the governance of public universities, there are existing structures for dealing with them.

    The autonomy of public universities must be guarded to enable them meet their objectives and adapt to the ever-changing environment of learning,” the CDD said in a memorandum it submitted to the parliamentary committee on education.

    The controversial bill, according to government, seeks to harmonise the governance, administration, and accountability structures of public universities.

    The think tank said the justification for the bill that the Auditor-General has cited public universities for grave improprieties in the utilisation of resources almost every year is hardly supported with evidence.

    “It is also hardly enough basis for the enactment of a new law to regulate public universities. Assuming without admitting that this claim is true, there is sufficient existing law to punish or deter the offending officials who have mismanaged public funds or continue to perpetrate same,” it said.

    The think tank cited the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29), which contains a number of offences including causing financial loss to the state. It also argued that the Attorney-General under Article 88(3) of the 1992 Constitution is vested with prosecutorial powers to prosecute persons for stated financial impropriety.

    It added that the Auditor-General is also clothed with powers under Article 187(7) of the Constitution to disallow expenditure which is contrary to law and surcharge persons responsible for incurring or authorising the expenditure.

    It said the solution to the alleged grave improprieties in the utilisation of resources is to enforce existing laws and make the prosecutorial and accountability systems work.

    “If any of these existing laws—including those establishing the various public universities—are problematic, the relevant sections must be amended. The availability of the aforementioned existing laws practically renders the objective of this bill redundant.”

    The CDD said government has supplied no justification or evidence to support the claim that public universities have “veered away” from their roles or objectives.

    “Assuming without admitting that this claim is true, it speaks to the abdication of the responsibility of the regulators in ensuring that public universities stick to their objectives and roles. There is no indication that the existing law establishing various public universities is the root cause of this to justify the need for a new law. If the existing law is not the problem, there is no need to replace it,” it added.

    It said the regulators in the education sector must therefore perform their mandate instead of seeking to enact a new law which vests excessive powers in the management of universities in the executive arm of government.

    The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), also in a memorandum to the education committee, stated that the bill has the potential to stifle individual freedom by preventing individuals from speaking or acting without fear or favour if their appointments are to be regulated by the President through the University Council.

    Source: thebusiness24online.net

  • Ghanaian Times: Citizens participation in decision making and fight against coronavirus

    The Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah yesterday extended an invitation to the citizenry to participate in a national conversation on how to get life back to normal while combating the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

    At a news conference in Accra yesterday, he invited the public to share its views on how to ease the current restrictions while preventing further infection and spread of the virus as it lingers on.

    “We invite the nation for a conversation on what it takes to get life back to normal looking at the fact that there is no vaccine and we do not know exactly when one will be validated and we may have to learn to live with.

    “The world is realising that measures like lockdowns and restrictions cannot continue in perpetuity and we will have to learn to live the new normal,” he said.

    According to the Minister, consultations had begun on the issue but government would need a broader view to make a firm decision that would inure to the benefit of all and at the same time not disrupt gains made in the fight against the disease.

    The Ghanaian Times finds the invitation extended to the public as very important and appropriate particularly at a time that the public is divided in opinion on whether restrictions should be eased or not.

    Indeed, the nation has not let its guard down since the fight against the pandemic began in March this year. Although a partial lockdown imposed earlier has been lifted, public gatherings are still banned, schools and borders remain closed and social distancing measures continue until May 31, 2020.

    As President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said when he addressed the nation at the beginning of the fight against the pandemic, Ghana has been nimble and adapted to the changing situations.

    “We will tailor our solutions to our unique social, economic and cultural conditions. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, but I pledge to you that government will do whatever is required, in our particular circumstances, to safeguard the lives of our people, and keep our economy going,” he said.

    While these measures are expected to help contain the disease and to protect the health as well as ensure public safety, many have to bear the brunt of the disease leading to agitations for the restrictions to be eased and schools, churches as well as drinking spots among others to be allowed to re-open.

    While some think that the country is not out of the woods yet and that it would be risky to ease the restrictions and open schools and churches for example, others are pushing for them to be re-opened for life to return to normal while others remain indifferent.

    We are unable to join the debate and argue on the merit and demerit of the arguments but we are fully in support of the invitation thrown to the public to join in the conversation to enable government to arrive at a decision that is acceptable to all.

    We are hopeful that in the next few days, members of groups affected by the pandemic and individuals would join the conversation and offer useful suggestions on the way forward.

    But more importantly, it would be in the national interest for everyone to participate in the national conversation for their voices to be heard in order to provide the government with enough information that would allow it to take a firm decision on easing the restriction so that we can go back to our normal life.

    Source: Ghanaian Times

  • Kwesi Botchwey will be Mahama’s Running Mate – Sammy Awuku predicts

    The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is yet to announce its vice-presidential candidate.

    Reports that five persons have been already selected emerged a few days ago but the NDC debunked it saying “the general public is therefore advised to ignore any such frivolous and fictitious letter, which is clearly a creation of some unscrupulous persons, who want to divert attention from serious burning national issues,”

    Speaking in a panel discussion on Peace FM morning show ‘Kokrokoo’ Sammy Awuku, the National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) said “it’s going to be Professor Kwesi Botchwey“.

    Professor Kwesi Botchwey, Ghana’s longest-serving Finance Minister is tipped by many to become the running mate to former President John Dramani Mahama for Election 2020

    Listen to him in the video below

    Source: Peace FM

  • We can’t live under coronavirus restrictions forever – Akufo-Addo

    Stakeholder consultations are taking place on the way forward toward the easing of COVID-19 restrictions so that the social and economic lives of Ghanaians “can go back to normal”, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has announced.

    “I expect these consultations to conclude this week”, he said at a virtual national Eid celebration on Sunday, 24 May 2020, adding: “So that I can announce to Ghanaians a clear roadmap for easing the restrictions”.

    “We have to find a way back, but in safety, for we cannot be under these restrictions forever”, the President said.

    So far, 6,683 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Ghana by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) with 1,998 recoveries and 32 deaths.

    President Akufo-Addo said at the Eid ceremony that his confidence in easing the restrictions is “fortified” by three considerations: “Firstly, sad though any premature death is, the hard fact is that the rate of deaths in Ghana amongst confirmed cases is very low one per one million, i.e. 0.0001%, one of the lowest in Africa, and, indeed, in the world, this, despite the very high number of tests we are carrying out”.

    “This has been so since the very beginning of the outbreak over two (2) months ago. The number of positive cases stands at six thousand, six hundred and eighty-three (6,683), out of one hundred and ninety-four thousand, seven hundred and sixty-three (194,763) tests conducted, with one thousand, nine hundred and ninety-eight (1,998) recoveries. This means that our positivity rate, that is the ratio of confirmed cases to the total number of tests conducted, is 3.43%, which, again, is one of the lowest in Africa, and in the world.

    “Furthermore, virtually all the thirty-two (32) corona-related deaths, that have so far been recorded, were of persons with, what the doctors call, comorbidity, i.e. with other underlying causes and diseases. Most of them died within twenty-four (24) hours of admission to hospital. May their souls rest in peace. It appears that, by the grace of God, Ghanaians are not dying of this virus in the numbers that were originally anticipated and feared”, he observed.

    Secondly, the president noted, the “numbers of severe virus cases that have been hospitalised have been persistently low since the outbreak”, adding: “The fear that our hospitals would be overburdened, and, indeed, overwhelmed has, so far, again by the grace of God, not materialised. As we speak, there are sixteen (16) severe cases in six (6) hospitals across the country, none of them on a ventilator. We pray for their speedy recovery”.

    Source: Class FM

  • Ho Hospital resumes work, as Volta coronavirus cases reach 47

    The Ho Municipal Hospital has opened fully to the public after it was closed down temporarily.

    The closure of the hospital last Thursday, May 21, 2020 followed the exposure of staff from two of its departments to the novel coronavirus.

    The Accident and Emergency Unit and The Outpatient Department (OPD) although intended to open on Friday, May 22, 2020 opened fully on Saturday May 23, 2020 after a thorough disinfection of the entire facility.

    The departments had been closed after a staff of the hospital and a police recruit tested positive for Covid-19 .

    The Deputy Volta Regional Director of Health in charge of Public Health, Senanu Kwesi Djokoto, said the closure was an important exercise intended to protect both staff and the public.

    Apart from that all persons who came into contact with the cases be it closely or remotely had been screened with 33 staff tested for Covid-19 and subsequently quarantined.

    The staff included 16 health personnel from the Accident and Emergency Department and 17 from the OPD.

    This brings the number of health personnel suspected to be exposed to Covid-19 and hence on quarantine in the Volta Regional capital alone to 75.

    Forty-two of the quarantined staff are from the Ho Teaching Hospital where the staff has recently tested positive for Covid-19 and 33 for the Ho Municipal Hospital.

    Meanwhile, the number of persons who are reported to have tested positive for Covid-19 in the Volta Region has reached 47.

    The region began the previous week with 41 cases, which increased to 44 by the middle of the week.

    The three cases according to updates from the Ghana Health Service Covid-19 portal, included one case from the Ketu South municipality and two cases in the Ho municipality.

    Between May 20 and 21, 2020 three more cases were recorded in Ho to bring the number to 47.

    These new cases include the two that led to the temporal closure of the Ho Municipal Hospital last week.

    Dr. Djokoto says that, the situation in the region is still stable, the Public Health Emergency Management Committee and all health facilities and personnel are still alert and working hard to ensure early detection, treatment and containment.

    He added that in as much as a lot of effort is being employed to curb infection in the region, the greater responsibility lied with the public to not renege on adhering to the Covid-19 preventive measures, but continuously abide by them.

    Source: Daily Guide Network

  • Government to site Military Base at Agogo to check illegal activities of Fulani herdsmen

    As part of measures in curbing the increasing insecurity in the area such as illegal activities of nomadic Fulani herdsmen and other heinous crimes, the government plans to build a military base in Asante Akim North District capital, Agogo in the Ashanti Region.

    “There have been a number of consultations and engagements with the chiefs and the government to get the military base sited in the area”, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Asante Akim North, Hon. Francis Oti Boateng revealed in an interview monitored by MyNewsGh.com

    According to the Chairman of the District Security Committee (DISEC), the move is one of the mechanisms to curb the long-standing dispute between the herdsmen and indigenes of the area.

    “We are determined to alienate cattle rearing activities from the district and we have the support of the residents of the area”, Hon. Francis Oti Boateng told the host of Oyerepa FM.

    The DCE also revealed that the chiefs have allocated 1000 acres of land for the construction of the military base. This, he said would scare the nomadic herdsmen from destabilizing the peace in the area.

    Meanwhile, the DCE has revealed that complaints from indigenous farmers about the activities of Fulani herdsmen in the district is reducing following the support received from the government and assured the assembly readiness to give it almost support in protecting the people.

    Hon. Francis Oti Boateng said happenings in regards to insecurity has over the period suppressed the growth of agriculture in the municipality.

    In his words, the situation was volatile. “The destruction of farms by cattle of Fulani herdsmen was alarming. The assembly based on that took steps to address them.”

    Source: My News GH

  • Roadmap to easing coronavirus restrictions coming Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says consultations for easing up coronavirus restrictions in the country will be concluded this week.

    Addressing Muslims in a virtual message on Eid-ul-Fitr Sunday, the President said he is looking forward to announcing the roadmap towards easing the restriction which has seen churches and schools shut for over two months.

    “Stakeholder consultations are taking place on the way forward towards the easing of restrictions so that our social and economic lives can go back to normal.

    “I expect these consultations to conclude this week so that I can announce to Ghanaians a clear roadmap for easing the restrictions. We have to find a way back, but in safety, for we cannot be under these restrictions forever,” the President said.

    Giving the state of the virus spread in Ghana, the President said: “The number of positive cases stands at six thousand, six hundred and eighty-three (6,683), out of one hundred and ninety-four thousand, seven hundred and sixty-three (194,763) tests conducted, with one thousand, nine hundred and ninety-eight (1,998) recoveries. This means that our positivity rate, that is the ratio of confirmed cases to the total number of tests conducted, is 3.43%, which, again, is one of the lowest in Africa, and in the world.

    “Furthermore, virtually all the thirty-two (32) corona-related deaths, that have so far been recorded, were of persons with, what the doctors call, comorbidity, i.e. with other underlying causes and diseases. Most of them died within twenty-four (24) hours of admission to hospital. May their souls rest in peace. It appears that, by the grace of God, Ghanaians are not dying of this virus in the numbers that were originally anticipated and feared”.

    “We now have a more robust mechanism for enforcing our central strategy of defeating the virus the application of the 3Ts, tracing, testing and treating. The tracing teams are more experienced and more efficient; testing capabilities are no longer concentrated in Accra and Kumasi, but spread more evenly across the country in Ho, Tamale, Navrongo, Takoradi and Cape Coast; treating capacity has been considerably enhanced with isolation facilities better distributed across the nation”.

    Source: Starr FM

  • Coronavirus has exposed Africas economic paradigm Mahama

    John Dramani Mahama says the novel Coronavirus pandemic has exposed the weaknesses in the economic paradigm of African countries.

    According to him, with innovative leadership and a belief in Africa enterprising and dynamic young people, the situation should be turned around.

    John Dramani Mahama, however, believes most African countries are struggling in the area of health infrastructure as the virus continues to put pressure on health facilities and healthcare workers across the globe.

    In a statement to mark the Africa Union (AU) Day celebrations, the former President indicated that, “COVID-19 has exposed the structural weaknesses of our economic paradigm as exporters of primary goods and importers of finished products.

    “But with innovative leadership and a belief in especially our enterprising and dynamic young people, we can and we should turn the wheels of the African Economy back on track. Happy AU Day”.

    The AU Day is the annual commemoration of the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity on 25 May 1963. It is celebrated in various countries on the African continent, as well as around the world.

    Read the full statement below

    John Mahama on #AfricaDay 2020

    Seven years ago, I joined my colleague Heads of State in Addis Ababa to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our Continental Union, the African Union.

    We adopted #Agenda2063 as our blueprint for transforming our continent into a future significant global partner.

    Across our continent, as we celebrate #AfricaDay on Monday, May 25, we must dedicate ourselves as a people and governments towards realising the objectives of #Agenda2063 and building #TheAfricaWeWant.

    COVID-19 has exposed the structural weaknesses of our economic paradigm as exporters of primary goods and importers of finished products. But with innovative leadership and a belief in especially our enterprising and dynamic young people, we can and we should turn the wheels of the African Economy back on track.

    Happy AU Day.

    John Dramani Mahama

    Cantonments – Accra

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • My Family’s COVID-19 story

    On Monday, February 10, this year, my six-year-old son, Nadom, accompanied me to the Kotoka International Airport to say goodbye to his mother, Angela, who was travelling to Italy to attend a month’s follow-up course in Vicenza.

    We prayed at home before leaving for the airport. At the airport, we hugged, took photos and waved as Angela entered the departure hall.

    As we stood in front of the departure hall, the least and remotest thing on anyone’s mind at that time was the coronavirus that had broken out in China. Most people, including us, had heard about the virus but it was the usual “a certain disease has broken out in China” refrain. Little did we know that just within a month, the virus would become a virulent pandemic named, COVID-19, that would touch everybody and everything in the world.

    Before Angie’s departure, we had our individual wish list: Nhyira, our 10-year-old son, wanted all the fine clothes in Italy plus an iPad. Nadom’s wish list was a mere repetition of Nhyira’s, but with the slight modification that “Mama, bring me some pizza and ice cream from Italy”. I wanted her to visit tourist sites in Vicenza on weekends. “Visit the Palladian Basilica and the Palazzo Chiericati, elegant and imposing buildings designed by the 16th century architect, Andrea Palladio,” I told her. And her personal wish list was to make the maximum use of the course she was attending to get the best of it.

    Her first week in Italy almost passed uneventfully, but because February 14 was her birthday, we called her and composed our own “Happy Birthday” song. So it added some excitement and shine to the otherwise uneventful week.

    She spent her second week with my younger brother, Kofi, and my younger sister, Maame Serwaa and her family, who live in Italy. It was that moment that news of the coronavirus ravaging parts of Italy started seeping in. She called and informed me. She was alarmed, naturally. I was as well but I assured her to be optimistic.

    The following Monday, the school/course authorities were concerned so they started speeding things up. After all, they couldn’t toy with the lives of 34 police personnel from 22 countries.
    The course facilitators taught the participants how to observe basic protocols to avoid contracting the virus and advised them to stay indoors after each day’s session. News of the virus gradually spreading in Italy was now commonplace.

    Every evening, in a video call, assuring Angela to stay strong and hopeful became part of my daily chores in addition to taking care of our two boys. She was, admittedly, scared but she made sure her kids wouldn’t see or sense her fears in the videos. As for the kids, they kept reminding her of their wish lists. She assured and reassured them.

    As I drove the children to school each morning, we listened to the BBC on the car radio. China and Italy had by then become the poster boys of the pandemic. The children would ask me if their mum was safe in Italy, why wouldn’t she end the course and return, was she in a safer place, or her part of Italy didn’t experience the disease, would she still get them their iPad, clothes, shoes, ice cream and pizza despite COVID-19? I kept assuring them that all their concerns were legitimate and that God had heard them. Assurance was the least I could give my precious little ones. After all, it was the only thing under my control, all others were beyond.

    The days kept crawling as they usually do when one really wants them to gallop like a horse.

    The course eventually came to an end earlier than originally planned.

    Since Ghana hadn’t come out with any official policy on isolation, quarantine, social distancing and a partial lockdown by then, I sought the views of two doctors on where my wife would lodge on her arrival. Based on their suggestions, I booked a place for her to stay on her arrival. So when she arrived on March 9, 2020, a taxi took her straight to the place I had arranged for her.

    Three days later, I went to see/welcome her. We were glad to see each other. But I remained in the car with glasses rolled up. We spoke on phone though she stood just by. I remembered Patoranking and Sarkodie’s song “No kissing Me, No Touching Me,” as the scene being played out was the exact opposite of what had taken place a month earlier at the Kotoka International Airport when she was about leaving for Europe.

    My wife had been to Italy and France, both had by then experienced COVID-19. So both she and I wanted to be sure that she was safe before returning home. At that time, the two of us didn’t care so much about our own lives as we did about our children. I fell on the two doctors again. They advised that she should go for a check-up. She did on two occasions. “Madam, since you are not experiencing any of the symptoms now, you can go home,” the hospital told her.

    At least, if for nothing at all, we were confident now that she had a clean bill of health as far as COVID-19 was concerned. I informed my two friends, Colonel Dr Simpson and Dr Eugene Dordoye, that my wife was finally returning home after 12 days in “self-imposed exile”. The two noble gentlemen would from time to time, inquire of how “Madam is doing”. Two true doctors of doctors, I call them.

    A few days after Angela had returned home with all her sons’ goodies except the pizza and ice cream, I left for Sunyani, where I stay and practise law. Days later, a partial lockdown was declared in Accra and Kumasi, Ghana’s two biggest and busiest cities. So for three weeks, I was locked up in “unlocked” down Sunyani since I can’t pass through locked down Kumasi to locked down Accra.

    I planned, played, prayed, worked, walked, waited, and above all, stayed home, as much as possible.

    Well, until the lockdown is over or COVID-19 loosens its grip on us, I take inspiration in/from Capt. Tom Moore’s saying: “The sun will shine on you again, And the clouds will go away.”

    Capt. Moore, a 100-year-old British war veteran, set out to raise a thousand pounds to help frontline workers in the fight against COVID -19. He raised millions of pounds. That’s the spirit! Dum Spiro spero, meaning, “while I breathe, I hope.”

    The writer, Sylvanus Nana Kumi is a trained journalist and lawyer. He practises law at “Enso Nyame Ye” Chambers, Sunyani.

     

    Disclaimer : “Opinions expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author(s) and do not in any way reflect those of backend.theindependentghana.com. Our outfit will hereby not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article.”

     

     

  • Ghana Armed Forces outdoors 154 Armoured Regiment

    The General Officer Commanding, Central Command, Brigadier General J.A Aphour says the Ghana Armed Forces is taking steps to enhance its commands ahead of the 2020 general elections.

    He also said, as Ghana continues to engage the threats of terrorism and insurgency along its frontiers, it is appropriate that the command upgrade its units to also enhance their combat capabilities.

    Brigadier General Aphour said this during the occasion of the handing and taking over of 154 Armoured Regiment at the 3 Garrison in Sunyani.

    The erstwhile 2 Independent Reconnaissance Squadron which was part of the 153 Armoured Regiment, was elevated to a Regiment and designated as the 154 Armoured Regiment on August 12, 2019 to provide armor support for Central Command and with additional responsibility for the Northern Command of the Ghana Army.

    The newly out doored Regiment, thus becomes the second Armoured Regiment in Ghana, in addition to the 153 Armoured Regiment. Lt Col Kofi Obiri Yeboah becomes the first Commanding Officer of the 154 Armoured Regiment.

    The Ghana Armed Forces, through its ongoing expansion drive, is positioning itself to effectively undertake its constitutional mandate and also to address the ever-changing security threats that confront the country.

    To this end, Brigadier General Aphour echoed that “the ongoing drive will see the creation of commands, units, and sub-units and also upgrading of existing sub-units to full-fledged units such as the 154 Armoured Regiment”, adding, “this development is particularly important because of the creation of additional regions”.

    He stated that, the upgrading is particularly important to the Central Command as the enduring qualities of the Armour, as a combat arm of decision, make it indispensable to combat formation.

    He acknowledged opportunities and teething challenges such as infrastructure, manpower, equipment, and general logistics that will be associated with the new regiment, but assured that plans are underway to address those inadequacies in due course.

    Brigadier General Aphour, the formation commander, urged the new commanding officer, Lt col Kofi Obiri Yeboah to focus more on the promise of hope, growth, and innovation the new Regiment brings while charging on the officers and men of the Regiment to rally solidly behind the Commanding officer to ensure the full realization of the dream of the 154 Armoured Regiment of Ghana.

    He also assured that the headquarters central command, with oversight responsibilities over the regiment, will offer the needed assistance and support required.

    Lt Col William Anyimiah Kobby Arkah, who handed over Command of the 154 Armoured Regiment acknowledged the effort of his predecessors, serving and retired personnel of the unit which has culminated in the expansion of the Armoured Corps.

    He said he does not doubt that the new commanding officer, Lt Col Kofi Obiri Yeboah will excel in this appointment.

    “I believe Kofi will find the way to firmly nature this Regiment to grow well. I will always be ready to support in whatever way when called upon”.

    Aside from the Clergy, heads of Departments, Detachments, officers, Men, Women, and civilian employees of the 3 Garrison, other sister security heads such as the Bono Regional Commands of the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Immigration Service also graced the occasion.

     

    Source: myjoyonline 

  • Hong Kong police fire tear gas as protesters decry China security law plan

    Police in Hong Kong have fired tear gas against protesters taking part in the first pro-democracy demonstration since China announced plans to impose a new security law on the territory.

    Hundreds of demonstrators have been marching through the city centre.

    Earlier, 200 hundred senior politicians from around the world issued a joint statement criticising China’s plan.

    Signatories called it a “comprehensive assault on the city’s autonomy, rule of law and fundamental freedoms”.

    China is seeking to pass a law that would ban “treason, secession, sedition and subversion” in the territory.

    It has dismissed fears the legislation would harm foreign investors in Hong Kong, an important financial centre, and has lashed out at “meddling” countries.

    Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam, who is seen as part of the pro-Beijing political establishment, has pledged full support for the proposed law and said the city’s freedoms would remain unchanged.

    How are the latest demonstrations unfolding?

    Protesters gathered in the busy Causeway Bay and Wan Chai districts of the city on Sunday, chanting slogans against the government and waving banners.

    “People may be criminalised only for words they say or publish opposing the government,” 25-year-old Vincent told AFP new agency, referring to the draft law.

    Riot police fired tear gas and pepper spray at demonstrators wearing face masks to protect against the spread of coronavirus.

    It comes after earlier warnings from authorities against unauthorised assembly and a ban on large public gatherings to enforce social distancing.

    Reports say Sunday’s protest followed a similar pattern to many of last year’s demonstrations, with clashes breaking out between police and protesters, some of whom some threw objects such as umbrellas at officers.

    More than 8,300 people have been arrested since pro-democracy protests erupted last year.

    What is in China’s proposed law?

    The “draft decision” – as it is known before approval by China’s National People’s Congress – includes an article that says Hong Kong “must improve” national security.

    It adds: “When needed, relevant national security organs of the Central People’s Government will set up agencies in Hong Kong to fulfil relevant duties to safeguard national security in accordance with the law.”

    That means China could potentially have its own law enforcement agencies in Hong Kong, alongside the city’s own.

    Earlier this week, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned the plans, which he described as a “death knell” for the city’s freedoms. The UK, Australia and Canada have also expressed their “deep concern”.

    Relations between the two Washington and Beijing are already strained over trade disputes and the coronavirus pandemic.

    The US is currently considering whether to extend Hong Kong’s preferential trading and investment privileges. President Trump has also weighed in, saying the US would react strongly if the law went through – without giving details.

    What is in the foreign politicians’ statement?

    The statement was drafted by former Hong Kong Governor Christopher Patten and former British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind, and signed by 186 policy makers and politicians from 23 countries.

    It describes Beijing’s plans as a “flagrant breach” of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, under which Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

    “If the international community cannot trust Beijing to keep its word when it comes to Hong Kong, people will be reluctant to take its word on other matters,” the signatories wrote.

    They include 17 members of the US Congress, among them Republican Senator Marco Rubio, who is acting chairman of the Intelligence Committee, and Senator Ted Cruz as well as Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, who is the most senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

    Democratic Representatives to sign include Eliot Engel, head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Adam Schiff, chairman of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee.

    Some 44 UK MPs, including Tom Tugendhat, chair of the foreign affairs committee, and eight members of the House of Lords also signed.

    Why does Beijing want to bring in the law?

    Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous region and an economic powerhouse, was required to introduce such a law after the handover from British control to Chinese rule in 1997. But its unpopularity means it has never been done – the government tried in 2003 but had to back down after 500,000 people took to the streets.

    Last year, Hong Kong was rocked by months of protests sparked by a bill that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China.

    Now the Chinese government argues the law is necessary to “prevent, stop and punish” such protests in the future.

    Beijing may also fear September’s elections to Hong Kong’s legislature. If last year’s success for pro-democracy parties in district elections is repeated, government bills could potentially be blocked.

    China could essentially place the draft law into Annex III of the Basic Law, which covers national laws that must be implemented in Hong Kong – either by legislation, or decree.

    The NPC is expected to vote on the draft law at the end of its annual session, on 28 May. It will then be forwarded to the NPC’s Standing Committee, China’s top legislature, which is expected to finalise and enact the law by the end of June.

    Source: bbc.com

  • FDA destroys seized COA-FS and other assorted items in Cape Coast

    The Central Regional Office of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has destroyed quantities of seized COA-FS food supplement and other assorted items declared as unwholesome to safeguard public health and safety.

    The four tons of destroyed items valued at ¢54,300.00 included all five brands of product areas regulated by the Authority food products, drugs mainly herbal, orthodox, medical devices, and cosmetics.

    Mr. John Odai-Tettey, the Regional Director of the Authority disclosed in an interview with the Ghana News Agency.

    The products were seized from markets, warehouses, shops, voluntary submission of expired products, and manufacturing and retail shops through intensive market surveillance and swoop across the Region.

    He said the exercise was to serve as a wake-up call to all manufacturers, importers, individual shop owners, cold-store owners, and wholesalers to disengage in the sale of expired, fake and unregistered goods.

    He called on consumers to be bold to expose those dealing in unwholesome or expired items by reporting them to the Authority for immediate action.

    They must also critically check the expiry date, batch number, labels of food items, and legibility of the manufacturers before purchasing the products.

    He cautioned persons selling expired products to stop because when caught, sanctions or jail term awaits them depending on the quantity of the expired products on the market.

    He further urged operators of food and drug manufacturers to always exercise good manufacturing practices and avail themselves for training and industrial support programmes routinely organized by the Authority and also license their operations and products to avoid the consequences.

     

    Source: GNA 

  • Fast track harmonisation of Muslim marriage law and inheritance Akufo-Addo told

    The Muslim community in Ghana has reignited a long-held matter of interest with regards to the harmonisation of the Muslim marriage law and inheritance, with an appeal to President Akufo-Addo to help in reaching a favourable conclusion even as discussions on the matter continue at the Attorney General and Justice Ministry.

    The help, according to the National Chief Imam who spoke through his spokesperson, Sheikh Arimeyawo Shaibu, “will make the Muslim community very happy”.

    The harmonisation if concluded, will link Islamic law on marriage with inheritance as enshrined in Islamic tradition.

    The harmonisation will, therefore, make it automatic for an inheritance to be shared using the tradition of the religion.

    Currently, people marry under Islamic law but in the event of death, laws that are alien to Islamic traditions are invoked and used to distribute properties.

    The harmonisation is expected to cure that anomaly within the Muslim community in Ghana.

     

    Source: myjoyonline 

  • Avoid disruptive tendencies as you prepare for Dec. 7 Chief Imam tells politicians

    National Chief Imam, Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharubutu has called on political parties to avoid tendencies that have the potential of jeopardising the peaceful atmosphere in Ghana even as they prepare for the December 7 presidential and parliamentary elections.

    Addressing a virtual Eid-ul-Fitr celebration at the studio of GBC, the National Chief Imam speaking through his spokesperson Shiek Aremeyaw Shaibu, also urged the Electoral Commission and other stakeholders to work towards a free, fair, and peaceful elections.

    Even as government prepares to announce final roadmap to easing of remaining Covid-19 restrictions, the National Chief Imam used the occasion to appeal to President Akufo-Addo to consider disinfecting the mosques, churches and other places of worship before people are allowed in.

    This according to him will stem the spread of the coronavirus.

    The lockdown and restriction on social gathering according to the National Chief Imam, has “taught Muslims how to focus on the substance of worship of their Maker”.

    In a trademark fashion, Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharubutu said a prayer for the country, the president, the vice president, as well as all Ghanaians in and outside the country.

     

    Source: myjoyonline 

  • Eid Message: Dr. Bawumia urges Muslims to pray for loved ones and nation

    The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has urged his fellow Muslims to pray for themselves, loved ones and the nation as they mark Eid ul Fitr today.

    In a video message released on his social media handles together with his wife, Samira Bawumia to congratulate Muslims for a successful end of Ramdan, the Vice President said this year’s Ramadan fast has been a spiritually fulfilling exercise despite the restrictions brought about by the Coronavirus pandemic.

    “We thank the Almighty Allah for seeing us through one of the most challenging Ramadans in recent times,” the Vice President said in the video message.

    “Due to the Coronavirus restrictions, we couldn’t observe Ramadan the usual way in our various mosques with friends and loved ones.

    “For the first time, I missed the unique and beautiful opportunity Ramadan offers us to interact, pray and have Iftar together as we have been doing over the years during my annual Ramadan tour.”

    “In-spite of the restrictions, it has been a fulfilling spiritual exercise and I pray to the Almighty Allah to reward our sacrifices during the holy month of Ramadan and also bless our nation.”

    As Muslims continue to observe coronavirus restrictions, the Vice President urged all to stay at home and enjoy the moment with families and loved ones.

    “As we continue to observe the coronavirus restrictions and guidelines by celebrating Eid ul Fitr at home with our families, let us continue to pray for our families, loved ones and our dear nation.”

    “Together with my wife, Samira and the family, we wish you all Barka da Sallah. Eid Mubarak!”

     

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Eid al-Fitr: May Allah protect us from coronavirus Mahama

    Former President John Mahama has prayed that Allah protect Ghanaians from COVID-19 as Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr Sunday, May 24, 2020.

    “We thank Allah for seeing us through Ramadan successfully. May Allah accept our fasting. We ask Allah to forgive us our sins and we pray to Allah to see us through to the next Ramadan,” Mr Mahama said in a Facebook video to wish Muslims well.

    He advised Muslims to adhere to health protocols to help stop the coronavirus from spreading.

    He requested that: “We ask Allah to grant us good health. May Allah accept our prayers.”

    Eid al-Fitr also called the “Festival of Breaking the Fast”, is a religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan.

    Traditionally, Eid al-Fitr begins at sunset on the night of the first sighting of the crescent moon. If the moon is not observed immediately after the 29th day of the previous lunar month (either because clouds block its view or because the western sky is still too bright when the moon sets), then the holiday is celebrated the following day. Eid al-Fitr is celebrated for one to three days, depending on the country.

     

    Source: Class FM

     

     

  • Pressure grows on UK PM Johnson as aide faces more lockdown breach claims

    British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was under increased pressure on Sunday to sack top aide Dominic Cummings who was facing allegations that he had breached coronavirus lockdown rules for a second time.

    The British government has so far rejected calls to sack Cummings over allegations he broke coronavirus lockdown rules by travelling across the country with his wife while she was suffering from symptoms of the disease, but even MPs from his own party were calling for him to leave on Sunday.

    Cummings was seen with his young son close to his parents’ home in Durham, northeastern England, more than 250 miles (400 kilometres) away from his London home on March 31, the day after he himself reported suffering symptoms.

    The Observer and Sunday Mirror reported that he had broken lockdown restrictions again and was seen in Durham a second time on April 19, days after he had returned to work in London following his first trip north, quoting anonymous witnesses.

    Cummings strenuously denies the claims and Downing Street said late Saturday said it “would not waste time” responding to “campaigning newspapers”.

    A named witness told the papers Cummings was also spotted in the town of Barnard Castle, 30 kilometres from Durham, on April 12.

    ‘Intolerable’

    Cummings has been a highly divisive figure in British politics since masterminding the successful 2016 Brexit campaign alongside Johnson, who brought him in as his top adviser after coming to power last year.

    Under lockdown rules brought in on March 23, anyone with symptoms must self-isolate in their own homes. And people aged over 70 – as Cummings’ parents are – are not allowed to receive visitors.

    Cabinet ministers had defended his actions, with foreign minister Dominic Raab tweeting that “two parents with coronavirus, were anxiously taking care of their young child.

    “Those now seeking to politicise it should take a long hard look in the mirror,” he added.

    However, Tory MP Steve Baker, a staunch Brexiteer but critic of Cummings, demanded that he be sacked.

    “Enormous political capital is being expended saving someone who has boasted of making decisions beyond his competence and who clearly broke at the very least the guidance which kept mums and dads at home,” he wrote in The Critic.

    “It is intolerable that Boris, Boris’s government and Boris’s programme should be harmed in this way.”

    His criticism was retweeted by fellow Tory MP William Wragg.

    An unnamed minister earlier told the Daily Telegraph: “He’s going to have to go. It’s just arrogance”, but Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said on Sunday Cummings would not be resigning.

    Labour shadow minister Nick Thomas-Symonds told the BBC that the claims were “extraordinarily serious” and that Downing Street’s denials created “more questions than answers”.

    Police row

    A spokesman for the prime minister said Saturday that Cummings had acted “in line with coronavirus guidelines.

    “Owing to his wife being infected with suspected coronavirus and the high likelihood that he would himself become unwell, it was essential for Dominic Cummings to ensure his young child could be properly cared for” by family, the spokesman said Saturday.

    Deputy chief medical officer Jenny Harries suggested there was some room for manoeuvre if both parents were ill, saying “all guidance has a common sense element to it, which includes safeguarding around adults or children”.

    Cummings also denied reports in The Guardian newspaper that police had spoken directly to him or his family about a tip off they received on March 31 that he was in Durham.

    The force insists they spoke to Cummings’s father on the telephone, but Shapps said on Sunday that it was the family who had initiated the contact to talk about security arrangements.

    Cummings on Saturday told a throng of reporters while leaving his house that it was “a question of doing the right thing, it’s not about what you guys think”, while rebuking the group for not obeying social distancing rules.

    Downing Street revealed at the end of March that Cummings was self-isolating with virus symptoms. Johnson was also infected and ended up in intensive care.

    Source: france24.com

  • COVID-19: 14 regions now have Coronavirus as tally hits 6,683

    Fourteen of Ghana’s 16 regions have confirmed cases of the Coronavirus as the national tally reached 6,683 on Sunday (May 24, 2020).

    The latest update from the Ghana Health Service on Sunday indicates that 66 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded on Sunday, with the Savannah Region recording its first confirmed case.

    The Greater Accra region which has the highest number of Coronavirus cases (4,798) recorded 18 new cases and the Ashanti region which has the second-highest number of cases (1,049) recorded 39 new cases.

    The Ahafo Region and the Bono East Region have not recorded any cases of COVID-19.

    Per the update 20 more people recovered from the illness, increasing the national recovery tally to 1,998 while COVID-19 related deaths rose by 1 to 32.

    Regional case count

    Greater Accra Region 4,798

    Ashanti Region 1,049

    Central Region 299

    Western Region 210

    Eastern Region 106

    Western North Region 61

    Volta Region 47

    Northern Region 36

    Oti Region 26

    Upper East Region 26

    Upper West Region 21

    North East Region 2

    Savannah Region 1

    Bono Region 1

    Ahafo Region 0

    Bono East Region 0

     

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • China open to international investigation into source of coronavirus

    China is “open” to international cooperation to identify the source of the novel coronavirus but any investigation must be “free of political interference”, China’s foreign minister said Sunday.

    Wang Yi blasted what he called efforts by US politicians to “fabricate rumours” about the pathogen’s origins and “stigmatise China”.

    The United States and Australia have called in recent weeks for an investigation into the origins of the pandemic.

    Both US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have accused China of a lack of transparency over the issue, and repeatedly pushed the theory that the virus leaked from a Chinese maximum-security laboratory.

    Most scientists believe the virus jumped from animals to humans, possibly from a market selling exotic animals for meat in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

    “China is open to working with the international scientific community to look into the source of the virus,” Wang said at a press conference on the sidelines of China’s annual parliament session.

    “At the same time, we believe that this should be professional, fair and constructive,” he added.

    “Fairness means the process be free of political interference, respect the sovereignty of all countries, and oppose any presumption of guilt.”

    The World Health Organization has also called on Beijing to invite them in to investigate the source, with China proposing that the “global response” to COVID-19 should only be assessed when the pandemic is over.

    WHO members on Tuesday adopted a resolution at the UN body’s first virtual assembly to review international handling of the pandemic.

    Source: france24.com

  • Israeli prime minister faces Jerusalem court

    Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu goes on trial for corruption on Sunday, the first time a serving leader will have done so in the country’s history.

    Mr Netanyahu has been charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust – allegations which he strongly denies.

    The 70-year-old has rejected calls by opponents to step down while he fights the cases.

    It comes just a week after he was sworn back into office as head of a rare national unity government.

    His political rival, Benny Gantz, agreed to share power following three inconclusive elections in under a year.

    Mr Netanyahu is expected to attend the opening session of the trial, which is being held at Jerusalem District Court.

    The leader of the right-wing Likud party is Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, having been in power continuously since 2009. He also served a term in office from 1996-1999.

    What is Benjamin Netanyahu accused of?

    Mr Netanyahu has been indicted in three cases, known as 1,000, 2,000 and 4,000:

    -Case 1,000 – Fraud and breach of trust: he is accused of receiving gifts – mainly cigars and bottles of champagne – from powerful businessmen in exchange for favours

    -Case 2,000 – Fraud and breach of trust: Mr Netanyahu is accused of offering to help improve the circulation of Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot in exchange for positive coverage

    -Case 4,000 – Bribery, fraud and breach of trust: as PM and minister of communications at the time of the alleged offence, Mr Netanyahu is accused of promoting regulatory decisions favourable to the controlling shareholder in the Bezeq telecom giant, Shaul Elovitch, in exchange for positive coverage by Mr Elovitch’s Walla news site

    Mr Netanyahu has strongly denied all the charges against him, branding them a “witch-hunt” by political opponents, and has vowed to clear his name.

    How can the prime minister serve and stand trial at the same time?

    Such a thing has never happened before in Israel, so there is no precedent.

    A former prime minister, Ehud Olmert, stepped down as party leader when he was under investigation for corruption in 2008 but technically remained prime minister until elections the following year – polls which brought Benjamin Netanyahu to power.

    According to Israeli law, a prime minister charged with a crime is not required to resign.

    Under the power-sharing deal with Benny Gantz, a new role of “alternate prime minister” was created, which means when the two men switch positions in 18 months’ time, Mr Netanyahu will still occupy a prime ministerial office and stay on as Mr Gantz’s deputy.

    What does the trial mean for the country?

    In short, a serving prime minister occupying the most powerful office in the land simultaneously trying to clear his name and avoid jail-time.

    Opposition leader Yair Lapid called it “an embarrassment” and “horrible for the spirit of the nation” though it is not expected to affect government policy. Mr Netanyahu is still likely to press ahead with plans to annex Jewish settlements and the Jordan Valley – territory in the occupied West Bank – in the coming months, a move certain to infuriate the Palestinians.

    Opinion in Israel as to whether he should carry on as prime minister is split: critics say the spectacle of a trial makes Mr Netanyahu’s job untenable, but his supporters – including his party – say he has been democratically elected and should not be forced out.

    Even if he is convicted, Mr Netanyahu will not be required to resign unless and until any appeals are exhausted – which could, in theory, be many months or years into the future.

    In Ehud Olmert’s case, the former prime minister went on trial in 2009 and after he was convicted only began serving his sentence in 2016 due to the long legal process.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Delta to provide care kit containing masks to passengers

    Delta Air Lines Inc (DAL.N) said here on Friday a care kit containing a disposable face mask and a Purell hand sanitizer gel will be available on request at ticket counters and gates by June 5.

    As U.S. states start to reopen, airlines have urged a standard set of safety rules across the industry, which is bleeding cash after the coronavirus crisis decimated air travel demand.

    In early May, Delta began requiring that all customers wear face coverings during travel.

    Source: reuters.com

  • Nigerians vow to #BringBackCynthiaMorgan

    Many Nigerian are doing everything within their reach on social media to make female musician, Cynthia Morgan relevant again.

    This comes after she opened up about what has kept her away from the music scene as well as her sour relationship with her former record label boss, Jude Okoye.

    Just after the recent Cynthia Morgan interview on Instagram, Nigerians on social media have introduced the a trending hashtag aimed at bring back the talented musician.

    Read some of the comments below;

    Source: www.ghgossip.com

  • Private schools vet applications for stimulus package

    The Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS) has begun vetting and processing the documentation of its members to enable them to apply for the GH¢600 million stimulus package announced by the President.

    The documentation include registration, payment of taxes and certificates.

    The Executive Secretary of GNACOPS, Mr Enoch Gyetuah, told the Daily Graphic that the association was acting as a facilitator for its members to access the money to pay the salaries, among other things, of 94,078 teaching and non-teaching staff.

    He explained that the council was seeking financial bailout packages from the government to pay workers in the private schools following the indefinite closure of schools.

    The teaching and non-teaching staff are from more than 4,306 private schools across the country.

    CAP Scheme

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo last Tuesday launched a GH¢1 billion Coronavirus Alleviation Programme (CAP) Business Support Scheme to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) impacted negatively by the coronavirus pandemic.

    The scheme is being administered by the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), and beneficiaries have a one-year moratorium and two years to pay the loans.

    Out of the amount, GH¢600 million is coming from government coffers while commercial banks in the country also put together GH¢400 million.

    The application process started on May 20, 2020 and ends on Saturday, June 20, 2020.

    Credibility

    Mr Gyetuah said although the GNACOPS had officially submitted details of 94,078 workers of private schools to the Ministry of Finance for the financial bailout package to pay workers, it was cross-checking the details of the workers again before applying for the stimulus package.

    He said in vouching for members, the council needed to be sure that documents presented were credible.

    Background

    Universities and first and second cycle schools have been closed since March 16, 2020 due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country.

    In a broadcast to the nation on March 15, President Akufo-Addo directed universities, senior high schools and basic schools — public and private schools — to be closed effective Monday, March 16, 2020 until further notice.

    Private schools, like other organisations, have been hit by the closure of schools due to the coronavirus, with operators said to be unable to pay teachers and other staff.

    Some of the private schools have, therefore, begun running virtual classes for pupils and students, and have asked parents to pay fees for the third term since the second term academic programme ended before Easter in April.

    A number of schools have written to parents informing them of the fact that the third term would resume as soon as the restrictions on social gathering were lifted.

    Some parents have, however, described the request by the schools as illegal because they were being asked to pay for services the school had not rendered.

     

    Source: Graphic.com.gh 

  • COVID-19: Ghana records 20 more recoveries, one death

    20 more people have recovered from COVID-19 in Ghana. This was captured on the Ghana Health Service website.

    This brings the total number of COVID-19 recoveries in the country to 1,998.

    One more person with COVID-19 has unfortunately passed on bringing the number of COVID-19 related deaths to 32.

    The total COVID-19 cases have also increased to 6,683.

    Regional case count

    Greater Accra Region  4,798

    Ashanti Region  1,049

    Central Region  299

    Western Region  210

    Eastern Region  106

    Western North Region  61

    Volta Region  47

    Northern Region  36

    Oti Region  26

    Upper East Region  26

    Upper West Region  21

    North East Region  2

    Savannah Region  1

    Bono Region  1

    Ahafo Region  0

    Bono East Region  0

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • Ghanas coronavirus critical cases hit 16

    The tally for COVID-19 critical cases in Ghana has increased to 16 after the condition of four more patients worsened, Dailymailgh.com can report.

    The Ghana Health Service has, however, said none of the patients in severe situation is on a ventilator.

    In a breakdown, the GHS said the University of Ghana Medical Centre is taking care of five of them, followed by Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ga East and Komfo Anokye with three each, and then Ho and 37 Hospitals admitting one each.

    The death toll as of May 23, 2020, stands at 31. So far 193, 705 tests have been administered.

    Meanwhile, Ghana has reported 131 new Covid-19 cases bringing the caseload now to 6,617.

    The Ghana Health Service said on its Covid-19 webpage that 27 more persons have recovered, bringing the recovery tally to 1, 978.

    Out of the 131 new cases, 81 infections were from the Greater Accra region while 22 were from the Ashanti Region. The Central region has 13 new cases; Central has 10 new cases. 4 new infections have been recorded in Western North while the Volta region has one more infection.

    Regional breakdown of the 6,617 cases:

    Greater Accra Region 4,780

    Ashanti Region 1,010

    Central Region 297

    Western Region 208

    Eastern Region 106

    Western North Region 61

    Volta Region 45

    Northern Region 34

    Oti Region 26

    Upper East Region 26

    Upper West Region 21

    North East Region 2

    Bono Region 1

    Savannah Region 0

    Ahafo Region 0

    Bono East Region 0

     

    Source: Daily Mail