TIG Post

Author: Chris Kodo

  • Coronavirus outbreak to trigger roughly 195 million job losses – ILO

    The COVID-19 crisis is expected to wipe out 6.7% of working hours globally in the second quarter of 2020 — equivalent to 195 million full-time workers, the International Labour Organization (ILO) said Tuesday.

    “Workers and businesses are facing catastrophe, in both developed and developing economies,” said ILO Director-General Guy Ryder, addressing journalists via video conference.

    “We have to move fast, decisively and together. The right, urgent measures could make the difference between survival and collapse,” he said from the ILO headquarters in Geneva.

    Ryder underlined that substantial reductions in employment were foreseen in Arab countries with 8.1% or 5 million full-time employees, Europe with 7.8% or 12 million full-time workers and Asia and the Pacific with 7.2% or 125 million full-time workers.

    The sectors most at risk include accommodation and food services, manufacturing, retail and business and administrative activities.

    Massive losses are expected across different income groups, but especially in upper-middle-income countries of 7%, translating to 100 million full-time workers.

    “This far exceeds the effects of the 2008-9 financial crisis,” said Ryder.

    “Perhaps more strikingly, that reduction translates into the loss in three months of 195 million full-time jobs equivalent around the world and this is calculated with the basic assumption of a working week of 40 hours,” he explained.

    “If you look at the economic and social issues we are discussing today, they are in effect a direct consequence of deliberate policymaking in the field of health,” he added.

    Ryder said the ILO, which represents organized labor, employers and countries, supported an integrated approach to the health, economic and social dimensions of the pandemic as is taken by the UN.

    The eventual increase in global unemployment during 2020 will depend substantially on future developments and policy measures.

    “There is a high risk that the end-of-year figure will be significantly higher than the initial ILO projection of 25 million,” said Ryder.

    The ILO said that more than four out of five people — 81% — in the global workforce of 3.3 billion were currently affected by full or partial workplace closures.

    Source: aa.com.tr

  • Coronavirus: US car insurers refund drivers stuck at home

    A major car insurer in the US is refunding millions of dollars to customers stuck at home during coronavirus lockdowns.

    Allstate, the country’s fourth biggest car insurer, said it would give back $600m (£490m) in total to customers.

    Another insurer, American Family Mutual, is also refunding customers, with cheques totalling $200m.

    Both have seen a dramatic drop in accident claims as residents stay at home and off the roads.

    The refunds come at a good time with millions of households suffering financially from lockdowns across the country.

    Allstate will be paying customers back in two ways. Drivers in quarantine will receive refunds, while most customers will be given a 15% discount on monthly premiums for April and May. The discounts will apply to 18 million customers.

    “This is fair because less driving means fewer accidents,” said Tom Wilson, chief executive at Allstate. Its data showed driving mileage was down between 35% and

    American Family Mutual said it would be making a one-time payment to all customers. “They are driving less and experiencing fewer claims. Because of these results, they deserve premium relief,” said chief operating officer Telisa Yancy.

    The insurer, which operates in 19 US states, estimates policyholders drove 40% fewer miles in the last three weeks of March.

    “There are very few silver linings out there, but auto insurance companies are definitely one of them,” said Paul Newsome, an analyst at investment bank Piper Sandler.

    The refunds could put pressure on other car insurers globally to make refunds due to a drop in driving, particularly due to commuters now working from home. Quieter roads are likely to lead to fewer accidents and subsequent claims.

    It’s not clear yet whether travel insurers might follow suit on annual policies, given less people are travelling overseas.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Speaker’s decision to recall MPs after indefinite suspension unreasonable – James Agalga

    The Minority in Parliament is protesting the Speaker’s decision to recall members for a two-day emergency sitting.

    The Minority threatened to drag the Speaker to the Supreme Court over his decision to suspend the House indefinitely.

    According to the Minority, the Speaker was supposed to adjourn the House and not suspend it indefinitely as he did. They described the act as illegal.

    Ranking member of Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, James Algalga says the decision to recall them just after 3 days of suspension is unreasonable.

    The Speaker’s decision to recall us just three days after suspending House indefinitely is quite unreasonable because members have travelled long distances to their constituencies. Travelling long distances poses danger to the lives of members of parliament, so what was the need to suspend the House indefinitely. I am here in Kumasi so if I return I will make a decision”.

    MP for Kumbungu Constituency in the Northern Region, Ras Mubarak is also unhappy about the recall.

    “The way Parliament is being used as the government’s nodding donkey is not the best. The Minister for Finance will be appearing tomorrow to present a policy statement and he had all the time to do so, he could have done so on Friday and Saturday, many members are currently not in Accra and you are asking them to drive all the way back in a hurry which is risky”.

    A notice signed by Kate Addo Director of Public Affairs in Parliament read “The Minister of Finance is scheduled to present a policy statement to the House in accordance with standing order 70 clause 2 on matters relating to government measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease as well as to facilitate the transaction of any other business”.

    The House is also expected to approve the appointment of Ledzokuku MP, Bernard Okoe-Boye as Deputy Health Minister.

     

    Source: primenewsghana.com

  • What coronavirus reveals about educational inequality in Ghana

    Kwabena Opoku-Agyemang, a lecturer at the University of Ghana, is looking for new ways to carry on teaching his students.

    He has no other choice. Ever since Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo ordered last month the indefinite closure of all schools to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, many of the country’s higher educational institutions began exploring options in online learning.

    “I plan to use WhatsApp and Zoom to make the classes more interactive,” said Opoku-Agyemang, who teaches literature courses at the Accra-based university’s Department of English. “I will also be having guest artists and guest lecturers join in. The artists will use Instagram Live, while the guest lecturers will probably use Zoom.”

    Yet, it won’t be easy. “Stable electricity – we had an extended power cut yesterday; reliable internet; student engagement,” said Opoku-Agyemang, listing some of the challenges threatening the success of the move online.

    Stark inequalities

    Ghana confirmed its first case of coronavirus on March 12 and has since reported a total of 287 infections and five deaths. In a bid to keep the rapidly spreading virus at bay, the government has announced a series of sweeping measures including banning mass gatherings and shutting down all borders and schools.

    But the coronavirus pandemic has revealed the stark regional, social and economic inequalities in Ghana’s educational system.

    Closing schools indefinitely has long been the reality for many high school students in northern Ghana, where educational facilities operate with limited infrastructure compared to those in the more affluent south. This has often manifested in high schools’ inability to resume classes on time due to a shortage of teachers, delays in feeding grants and a lack of building facilities which, on occasions, have resulted in children having to study under trees.

    Beyond regional disparities, social class has also been a determining factor in the quality of education. Many wealthier Ghanaians send their children to private schools (primary and junior high) given that public schools are often resource poor.

    Homeschooling as an alternative

    Since the shutdown of schools on March 16, some parents have opted for homeschooling to mitigate the effect on their children’s education. But many are quickly realising that this is not as easy as they anticipated, despite receiving support from schools to facilitate homeschooling

    “There are many distractions. Some days she wants to watch TV only,” said Nora Akemson Avicor, an Accra-based parent of a four-year-old girl based in Accra. “Some days I am super busy with the business and we don’t even get time to do anything at all.”

    While parents who have formal education can actively manage their children’s learning via homeschooling, this is not an option for those who are not formally educated, especially in the country’s north.

    “The shutdown will affect the pupils drastically. Many children will not have the chance to learn while at home,” said a basic school educator in Tamale, northern Ghana. “They think they are on holiday. Even in the community, you see children roaming about and it looks like they don’t even know that they are supposed to stay at home.”

    An educator at a junior high school in the Sagnarigu municipality added: “Many of the children only learn at school, they don’t study at home. Since we have been home, if you ask many of the students, they will tell you that they haven’t opened a book. And these are students preparing to write the BECE.”

    BECE, or Basic Education Certificate Examination, is the standardised exam junior high school students have to take to get into senior high schools, while WASSCE, or West African Senior School Certificate Examination, is the exam taken by senior high school students to get into universities and colleges. Although the WASSCE has been suspended indefinitely, the Ghana Education Service is currently “in serious discussions” with the West African Examinations Council about the conduct of the BECE.

    To address the situation, the Ministry of Education on April 3 launched TV learning for senior high school students. State broadcaster GBC will also begin airing TV lessons for primary and junior high schools on April 13, and there are plans to produce similar content for radio learning.

    Struggles in higher education

    At the same time, higher educational institutions have begun training lecturers in online instruction as they actively turn to web-based alternatives.

    So far, the University of Ghana has worked with Vodafone to make SIM cards available to students to enable them to access the college’s digital learning platform, Sakai.

    But according to a student of the university, the cards’ 5 gigabytes of monthly internet data are hardly enough to cover their needs. Students have been told they will still be able to use their SIM cards to access learning platforms even after they have run out of data, but some of them are not confident that this will happen until they actually witness it.

    Although some universities are using built-in, already existing learning platforms such as Sakai to facilitate learning, others have to turn to services such as Google Classroom, WhatsApp, YouTube and Zoom.
    In one class at the University for Development Studies in Nyankpala, class sessions are currently being run on WhatsApp.

    “The WhatsApp is purposely for discussions pertaining to the course – and it’s not all that effective,” Abdul, a student, said. “And not everyone is on the platform. Some don’t have smartphones and others can’t afford a bundle [internet data]. So they usually tell you some areas to learn on your own and if you have any problems you can raise it in the class group chat and then we can discuss it.”

    At the same time, many students worry about the effectiveness and feasibility of online pedagogy since lecturers who are not technologically literate may find it difficult to manage online teaching.

    “I only have confidence in two of my lecturers being able to teach online,” said Titi, a student at the University of Ghana. “The rest, God will provide.”

    A lecturer at the University for Development Studies, Eliasu Mumuni, said he expected technical issues, “especially with the grownups”.

    “It will take some time to orient people to it,” he added. “The students are feeling like it’s time to rest but we are here pushing them to learn in an environment that is not conducive.”

    Digital divide and alternatives

    Despite recent efforts by the Ghana Education Service and various higher educational institutions to move pedagogy online, there is a wide digital divide that will make the goal of online learning difficult to achieve in a country where less than half of the population is believed to have mobile phone internet access.

    On March 30, the Ghana Education Service announced that it had developed “an online study platform” for all senior high schools and that plans were in place to develop and make available a learning platform for basic schools. People who have attempted to use the platform for senior high school students have already began reporting challenges in accessing and using it.

    Once fully operational, these platforms will only be available to those who have access to internet data, smartphones, tablets and computers, which leaves out a large number of students who lack access to these technologies. Even with students with them, high costs of internet data can mitigate their access to learning.

    As a result, many students at the higher educational level who have little to no access to digital tools will find themselves stuck at the periphery of the educational system while their more privileged colleagues continue to learn.

    Looking ahead, it is important to consider how the most marginalised will be affected by moving education online.

    Telecommunications companies should also step up collaboration with higher educational institutions to facilitate access to free unlimited data to students to participate in digital learning.

    Parents should explore ways to teach their children by drawing on Ghana’s indigenous knowledge systems This type of pedagogy can take the form of storytelling in indigenous languages; teaching children folksongs; helping children improve their indigenous language proficiency; teaching children about indigenous gastronomy and nutrition; sharing family, ancestral, ethnic and national oral histories among others.

     

    Source: aljazeera.com

  • Coronavirus: Italy-based Agyemang-Badu donates to hospitals and police service in Berekum

    Italy-based Ghanaian midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu has made a donation to aid the coronavirus fight in the West African country.

    The Hellas Verona player donated to Berekum Holy Family Hospital, the Berekum Zong Clinic, the Berekum Chief Iman and Berekum Ghana Police Service.

    The items donated on his behalf by Kwabena Aboagye Dacosta include hand sanitisers, hand gloves and face masks.

    Agyemang-Badu also donated to two hospitals in his hometown Seikwa.

    The 29-year-old is currently under lockdown in Italy where the coronavirus has claimed thousands of lives.

    Source: GHANAsoccernet.com

  • Coronavirus like spark ‘devastating’ global condom shortage

    A global condom shortage is looming as the coronavirus pandemic shutters factories and disrupts supply chains, the world’s top maker of the contraceptives said, with the United Nations warning of “devastating” consequences.

    Over half of humanity has been confined to their homes as the highly contagious virus marches round the planet, while governments worldwide have ordered the closure of businesses deemed non-essential.

    Malaysia — one of the world’s top rubber producers and a major source of condoms — imposed a nationwide lockdown last month as infections surged to the highest level in Southeast Asia.

    But restrictions on the operations of Malaysian contraceptive giant Karex, which makes one in every five condoms globally, mean the firm expects to produce 200 million fewer condoms than usual from mid-March to mid-April.

    With other producers around the world likely facing disruption and difficulties in getting condoms to market due to transport problems, supplies of contraceptives will be hit hard, warned Karex chief executive Goh Miah Kiat.

    “The world will definitely see a condom shortage,” Goh told AFP.

    “It’s challenging, but we are trying our best right now to do whatever we can. It is definitely a major concern — condom is an essential medical device.

    “While we are fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, there are also other serious issues that we need to look at,” he said, adding he was particularly worried about supplies of condoms to developing countries.

    UN sounds alarm

    Karex, which supplies condoms to many companies as well as governments and for distribution by aid programmes, had to close its three Malaysian factories for a period at the start of the country’s lockdown, which is due to last until April 14.

    The company has since been allowed to resume operations but with only 50 percent of its usual workforce, and Goh wants permission to ramp up production.

    The UN is also sounding the alarm, with its sexual and reproductive health agency warning it can currently only get about 50-60 percent of its usual condom supplies due to virus-related disruptions.

    “Border closings and other restrictive measures are affecting transportation and production in a number of countries and regions,” said a UN Population Fund spokesperson, adding they were taking steps such as adding extra suppliers to support urgent needs.

    The agency, which works with governments worldwide to support family planning, said a key concern was being able to ship condoms to where they were needed quickly enough — and warned the poorest and most vulnerable would be hit hardest if stocks run low.

    “A shortage of condoms, or any contraceptive, could lead to an increase in unintended pregnancies, with potentially devastating health and social consequences for adolescent girls, women and their partners and families,” said the spokesperson.

    There could also be an rise in unsafe abortions and an increased risk of sexually transmitted infections and HIV, the agency said.

    Even as factory shutdowns and border closures throw the condom industry into chaos, demand appears to be increasing.

    Goh said Karex had seen growing demand as people worldwide are confined to their homes, while Indian media reported that condom sales had jumped 25-35 percent in the week after the country of 1.3 billion people announced a lockdown.

    China to the rescue?

    Despite the warnings about a potential shortage, there are positive signs from condom makers in China, where the virus first emerged last year but which has largely managed to bring its outbreak under control.

    Major producers there have resumed operations as authorities eased tough restrictions to halt the virus, which has claimed more than 80,000 victims worldwide.

    HBM Protections, which makes more than one billion condoms a year, said production is back to normal levels and it is pushing ahead with earlier plans to triple its number of manufacturing lines by the end of the year.

    And Shanghai Mingbang Rubber Products said it was ready to ramp up condom exports, which currently make up only about 10 percent of its output, if there is a global shortfall.

    “If the international market runs into such problems… we will be willing to export more,” chief executive Cai Qijie told AFP.

    Source: France24

  • Balotelli’s most shocking confessions: Guns, racism and a house on fire

    Mario Balotelli has never been far from the headlines throughout his career.
    The Italian’s on-field talent is matched by the funny, often innocent and usually ridiculous stories that surround him.

    On the pitch Balotelli will be remembered for his goals, but what he’s gotten up to away from football will probably be remembered just as much.

    Humming the AC Milan anthem as an Inter player

    Balotelli has never hidden his love for Milan, even despite coming through at Inter.After one particular conversation with Jose Mourinho, then Inter boss, Balotelli started humming the Rossoneri’s official anthem.

    On another occasion he even put on the Milan shirt at home on Italian program ‘Striscia la Notizia’, which prompted Mourinho to leave him out of the squad for the next game.

    “I could write a 200-page book on my two years with him,” Mourinho said.”It wouldn’t be a drama, but a comedy.

    “Mario was never shy of hiding his love for the other half of Milan though, even saying “one day I’ll fulfil my dream of playing in that shirt” in 2010.

    Throwing darts at Manchester City

    Another of his highlights came in Manchester, when he opted to entertain himself by throwing darts at one of the club’s youth players. Naturally, the club weren’t best pleased and fined him over 110,000 euros.

    Danger at the wheel and a camouflaged Bentley

    It’s said that he had his car taken about 30 times for disobeying parking laws in Manchester, he was involved in an accident and received countless fines.

    Balotelli loves cars, and even showed up to training in a camouflage Bentley valued at over 200,000 euros.

    A rich man
    Once stopped by a policeman and asked why he was carrying more than 25,000 pounds on the passenger seat, Balotelli simply responded “because I’m rich”.

    A future Ballon d’Or

    “There’s only one player who is a little better than me – [Lionel] Messi,” said Mario in 2010 when named the Golden Boy.In 2016 he predicted that he’d go on to win the Ballon d’Or, showing he’s always backed himself.

    Fireworks at home

    In October 2011 Balotelli had a domestic problem when he started a fire at home after using fireworks.

    Social media, women and Pablo Escobar

    Never shy of expressing himself, Balotelli caused a stir in a dispute with an ex on social media.”As Pablo Escobar said: ‘Money doesn’t buy women, but whores fall in love,” he wrote on Instagram.

    Not even the Queen of England escapes Balotelli’s anecdotes, dating back to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil when Italy and England were in the same group.”If we beat Costa Rica I want a kiss, obviously on the cheek, from the UK Queen,” he tweeted.

    A misguided trip to Naples

    In June 2011, Mario visited the Scampia neighbourhood in Naples’ outskirts, known for its mob ties.”I realised quickly that it could be dangerous so I left,” he later said.

    Mario and the guns

    At Inter, Balotelli was driving an Audi around Milan when he and his friends pretended to shoot a toy gun into the air, prompting the police to stop him.”I haven’t done anything,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.”I was just playing with my friends.”

    His fight against racism

    To his credit, Mario has never bitten his tongue when faced with racism and has regularly spoken out against the problem.”If someone throws a banana at me in the street or on a pitch then I’ll go to jail,” he said to the Guardian ahead of the 2012 European Championship.”I will kill them.”

    Facing off with his coach

    “Like all young people, sometimes he does stupid things,” said Roberto Mancini of his former player in 2013.

    Source: marca.com

  • Hearts of Oak set to re-sign Nuru Sulley

    Ghana Premier League giants Hearts of Oak are closing in on re-signing Nuru Sulley in the on-going transfer window, according to reports in the local media.

    Sulley is expected to pen a deal with the Phobians after successful negotiations in the coming days ahead of the second round of the 2019/20 season.

    The 27-year-old was training with Hearts before the suspension of the current campaign due to the cornavirus outbreak in the country.

    Hearts of Oak have been one of the busiest sides in the transfer market, having already signed Isaac Mensah, Danjuma Kuti, Abednego Tetteh and Abdourahamane Mamane Lawali.

    Sulley has been without a club since terminating his contract with Lebanese side Naft Al-Junoob.

    The defender has previously played for several clubs including Al-Nasr Benghazi, Tala’ea El Gaish, Al-Ittihad, Alanyaspor and Al-Mina.

    Sulley left the Accra based side in 2014 after a three-year stint with the club.

    Hearts of Oak are currently 9th on the league table with 21 points after 14 matches played thus far.

    Source: Footballghana.com

  • Twitter founder pledges $1 billion for coronavirus relief efforts

    Twitter Inc Chief Executive Officer Jack Dorsey on Tuesday pledged $1 billion of his stake in Square Inc, the payments processor that he co-founded and heads, to help fund relief efforts related to the Coronavirus pandemic.

    In a series of tweets, Dorsey said the amount, representing about 28% of his wealth, will be donated to his charity fund, Start Small LLC, which would later focus its attention to universal basic income and girls’ health and education.

    Dorsey, who for years has kept details of his charitable efforts private, said all donations to and from the fund would now be visible to the public at all times through a public document.

    Dorsey, whose net worth is estimated at $3.3 billion by Forbes, also said that he was pledging his stake in Square instead of Twitter because he owns a bigger portion of the payments processor.

    He also said that he would pace the sale of the pledged shares over time.

    The United States has recorded more than 380,000 coronavirus cases, with the total death toll rising to about 12,300.

    Source: reuters.com

  • NLA activates operations short code *890# to mitigate shortfall of sales

    The Coronavirus pandemic is greatly reducing the sales of National Lottery Authority (NLA).

    The Restrictions on Movement and Lockdown of Greater Accra, Greater Kumasi and Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly (Kasoa) have immensely reduced sales of the Authority. The lockdown areas served as backbone of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) in terms of Sales.

    Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Lotto Marketing Companies are unable to sell to the Staking Public. Therefore, to mitigate the shortfall of Sales, the Authority has activated its Official Short Code *890# to give opportunity to the Staking Public to play 5/90 and VAG Lotto Games via MTN, Vodafone and AirtelTigo.

    The National Lottery Authority(NLA) Official Short Code *890# would help to ensure the survival of the Authority in this difficult moments of Coronavirus pandemic.

    In this period of the Coronavirus pandemic, the National Lottery Authority(NLA) is doing everything possible to sustain the sales force of the Authority while at the same time limiting physical human body contacts.

    Dail the National Lottery Authority(NLA) Official Short Code *890# and play 5/90 and VAG Lotto Games with enhanced Prize Structure of 240 via MTN, Vodafone and AirtelTigo.

    Stay Home: Stay Safe and Stop the spread of Coronavirus pandemic.

    Source: NLA Ghana

  • No defender gave me a tough time during my playing days- Bernard Don Bortey

    Hearts of Oak legend, Bernard Don Bortey says no defender in the Ghana Premier League gave him a tough time during his playing days.

    The 37-year old recently hanged his boots after a career that spanned over two decades, but his fondest memories in the game was when he was at Hearts of Oak.

    The pacy winger met several good defenders in his prime including the likes of Joseph Hendricks and Aziz Ansah but reveals non of them could handle him.

    “There were so many good defenders during our time but no one gave me a tough time, I gave them a though time,’ Don Bortey told Sikka Sports.

    Revered by many on the local scene, the former Ghana international failed to glitter in Europe.

    Bortey made 27 appearances for the national team of Ghana, scoring 9 times for the Black Stars.

    He played for the likes of GHAPOHA, Al Wasl, Bnei Shaknin, Aduana Stars, New Edubiase, the Panthers and Ange IF.

    Source: GHANAsoccernet.com

  • Coronavirus: Wuhan lockdown ends, markets drop

    Here are the latest developments from Asia related to the Novel Coronavirus pandemic:

    – Joy as exodus from Wuhan begins –

    Voicing joy and excitement from behind face masks, tens of thousands of people fled Wuhan after a 76-day travel ban was lifted on the Chinese city where the coronavirus first emerged.

    Previously quiet train and bus stations bustled as an exodus began from the city of 11 million, with some passengers wearing hazmat suits.

    Up to 55,000 people are expected to leave Wuhan on Wednesday just by train, according to government estimates.

    – Markets drop after two-day rally –

    Most Asian equities retreated after a two-day rally as investors closely track developments in the coronavirus crisis, while the oil market continued to fluctuate ahead of a crucial producers’ meeting.

    While the deadly disease continues to sweep across the planet, signs that the rate of infections is possibly levelling out and countries are preparing to ease some lockdown restrictions have instilled a semblance of optimism this week.

    – Chinese city locked down after influx of imported cases –

    A Chinese city on the Russian border has placed residents under lockdown after an influx of imported cases in nationals returning from Russia.

    Suifenhe city in northeastern Heilongjiang province has tightened controls on residential compounds starting Wednesday after a flurry of new cases.

    – Korean Air puts 70 percent of staff on leave –

    South Korea’s flag carrier Korean Air will put 70 percent of its 19,000 staff on furlough, it said, as it scrambles to cope with the pandemic that has almost grounded global aviation.

    The airline industry is among the sectors worst hit by the virus and the ensuing travel restrictions, with thousands of flights cancelled, routes cut, and companies facing financial turmoil.

    – Virus stops play at Trump-opened mega cricket stadium –

    There is no larger symbol of the global sports shutdown than cricket’s 110,000-seater Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad, opened by US President Donald Trump, but yet to see a ball bowled.

    India’s newest and the world’s biggest cricket stadium lies empty because of the coronavirus pandemic.

    – Party pooper: Singapore bans soirees –

    Singapore is banning “private parties and social get-togethers”, according to the health ministry, the latest tough measure implemented in the city-state to halt the spread of the virus.

    The step was included in a bill passed through parliament Tuesday, the same day that new restrictions kicked in which include the closure of most workplaces for a month.

    Source: AFP

  • Coronavirus: China must help ease the debt burden of Africa – Ken Ofori-Atta

    Finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta has called on China to help ease the debt burden of African countries facing economic woes due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Reuters reports.

    The African continent is not the hardest hit by covid-19, however, its countries are already facing the grim impact.

    “My feeling is that China has to come on stronger,” Ofori-Atta said during a conversation on Monday with Masood Ahmed, president of the Washington-based Center for Global Development.

    “African debt to China is $145 billion or so, over $8 billion of payments is required this year … So that needs to be looked at.” He added.

    In the face of the outbreak, some African governments are calling for several financial assistance, including support for a moratorium on all external debt and eventually some debt write-offs.

    Ken Ofori-Atta says African countries are seeking ways to increase their special drawing rights (SDR), a form of foreign exchange reserves managed by the IMF, to shield against commercial debt defaults.

    “This should not happen,” Ofori-Atta added. “So we should find a way to increase SDRs or for the Europeans to offer their SDRs as a way out.”

    Ofori-Atta now chairs the Development Committee a ministerial-level forum that advises the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on development issues.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coronavirus: We will be back soon Lumor Agbenyenu assures fans

    Black Stars defender Lumor Agbenyenu has expressed optimism about football return despite the outbreak of coronavirus which has wrecked the world.

    The disease, also known as Convid-19, has so far claimed over 75,923 lives after over 1,359,110infections, while Ghana have 287 confirmed cases with 5 deaths.

    The virus has led to the suspension of all major football leagues in the world including the Ghana Premier League.

    Lumor, who currently ply his trade for Spanish side Real Mallorca in a post said, “We will be back soon and get started again. Wish everyone good health through this pandemic. We shall overcome it sooner”

    Lumor Agbenyenu is currently in self-isolation in Spain amid coronavirus crisis.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • Samuel Eto’o’s most shocking confessions

    Rejecting Real Madrid, calling out Rijkaard and Guardiola…

    With his time with both Barcelona and Inter etched into the history books, Samuel Eto’o remains one of the most influential footballers of the current century, and now the former Cameroon forward has made several confessions about events in his career.

    His relationship with Luis Aragones

    In the 2000/01 season, a 19-year-old Eto’o would receive one of his most important football lessons from Luis Aragones.

    During a match between Real Mallorca and Real Zaragoza, the Cameroonian forward was substituted a few minutes into the second half, and he was livid.

    The goalscorer kicked a bottle and launched a verbal tirade towards Aragones. Aragones responded in an equally emotive fashion, grabbing Eto’o by his shirt and telling him: “Not with me, do you understand?”

    It was a confrontation that Eto’o would later count as a life lesson and he would go on to describe their relationship as that of a father and son.

    His transfer to Barcelona

    On August 12, 2004, Eto’o posed smiling with Joan Laporta as he was presented as a new Barcelona player.

    The soap opera of that summer had drawn to a close, and the forward had made headlines with his words on a possible link to Real Madrid.”Not even if they paid me a billion euros was I going to Real Madrid, because I wouldn’t have been happy.

    I’m not a boy who can promise 50 goals, but what I can promise is that I will run.”In his first season as a Barcelona player, Eto’o celebrated winning the LaLiga title in style, and in that moment of euphoria, remembered to make a verbal jab at Los Blancos.

    Doubts over his professionalism

    In a clash between the Blaugrana and Racing Santander in 2007, it was rumoured that Eto’o refused to come off the bench in the closing minutes. Once again, Eto’o made clear that he had no time for people doubting his professionalism.”If someone has the balls to tell me to my face, let me know.

    Rijkaard is a bad person, he’s putting the press in the dressing room. Anyone who goes to a press conference to say Samuel Eto’o didn’t want to play is a bad person.”

    Pep Guardiola’s arrival

    When Guardiola arrived at Barcelona he intended to oversee a complete overhaul of the dressing room. Eto’o was seen as a player who needed to leave, but he desperately didn’t want to. The forward ended up convincing Guardiola and he was part of a historic team.”I said to Guardiola, you will apologise to me because it is I who will make Barcelona win, not Messi. I was the one who made us win and Pep should ask me for forgiveness”

    His tireless fight against racism

    “I’m not going to play anymore.” These were his words when he was the victim of racial abuse in Spain, more specifically, Zaragoza.

    He grew tired of listening to such abuse, and a year earlier had celebrated a goal in that stadium by doing a gorilla impression. He was one of the first to stand up to racism whilst on the pitch.

    His topless Rolling Stone magazine cover

    In what was a different development, Eto’o would pose topless for the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, to accompany an interview he gave them.

    Source: marca.com

  • Monster cyclone Harold tears through Fiji

    A deadly Pacific storm slammed into Fiji on Wednesday, tearing off roofs and flooding towns, after leaving a trail of destruction in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

    Tropical Cyclone Harold weakened slightly overnight from a scale-topping Category Five to a Four, but was still lashing Fiji with winds of up to 240 kilometres per hour (150 miles per hour), forecasters said.

    The official NaDraki weather service said the cyclone was offshore south of Fiji’s main island Viti Levu, but passing closer to land than initially expected.

    Despite the downgrade, it said Harold remained “extremely dangerous” as it barrels eastward, threatening further damage in Tonga early Thursday.

    Images on social media showed extensive damage at Nausori, just outside the Fijian capital Suva, with corrugated iron roofs peeled back by the ferocious winds.

    The main street of Ba, in the island’s north, was submerged after the local river burst its banks.

    “Emergency authorities are the only personnel allowed to travel, all Fijians should stay indoors,” Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said.

    “There are a number of reports of winds whipping up flying debris in the Suva area. It can be deadly. Keep yourself indoors and out of harm’s way.”

    The National Disaster Management Office said residents along much of the south coast, home to many of the country’s major tourist resorts, should evacuate.

    NDMO director Vasiti Soko said 85 evacuation centres had been set up and officials were attempting to maintain social distancing to ensure COVID-19 did not spread among those fleeing the cyclone.

    Fiji has 15 cases of the coronavirus, with all known sufferers in quarantine before the cyclone hit.

    – Town ‘obliterated’ –

    Harold claimed 27 lives in the Solomon Islands last week, and on Tuesday ripped through Vanuatu, destroying much of the country’s second-largest town Luganville.

    World Vision’s Vanuatu director Kendra Gates Derousseau said an aerial survey carried out by disaster officials late Tuesday showed the town of Melsisi on Pentecost island had also been devastated.

    “We’ve done some programming there in the past, so I can recognise the landmarks — you can see that 90 percent of all buildings are obliterated, is the term I’d use,” she told AFP.

    A massive international aid effort was launched after the last Category Five storm to hit Vanuatu, Cyclone Pam in 2015, flattened the capital Port Vila.

    But Vanuatu’s international borders are currently closed as the impoverished Pacific nation bids to remain one of the world’s few places with no confirmed COVID-19 cases.

    The government has revoked a domestic travel ban imposed as part of its virus response, which will allow disaster relief to flow from Port Vila to the worst-hit islands in the north.

    New Zealand deployed a P-3 Orion aircraft to help with damage assessments and allocated NZ$500,000 ($300,000) in aid funding for essential supplies.

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters said Wellington would provide further assistance if requested by Vanuatu.

    “We are aware that the government of Vanuatu is running a ‘keep it out’ strategy, and we will give serious consideration to ensure that any response to the cyclone does not lead to the spread of COVID-19 to Vanuatu,” he said.

    The cyclone formed off the Solomons last week, where it washed dozens of passengers from an inter-island ferry into the sea.

    It was initially expected to only reach Category Three.

    Latest forecasts say it will brush past Tonga early Thursday, still at Category Four strength, before petering out over the sea by the weekend.

    Tonga’s Fua’amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre said some coastal areas should expect to be pounded by massive six-metre (20-foot) swells.

    Its arrival coincides with a high tide and flood warnings were in place for much of the kingdom.

    Source: AFP

  • Pink Moon: Europe illuminated by lunar light show

    Stargazers have enjoyed the emergence of what is known as a pink moon in the night skies of Europe.

    Despite its name, there is not any noticeable colour difference to the full moon – due to reach a peak in the UK at 03:55 BST on Wednesday.

    The pink supermoon name is a northern Native American reference to an early-blooming wildflower and is first seen across North America as spring begins.

    Tuesday evening’s lunar light show was captured through breathtaking images.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Coronavirus: Mental health hotline for NHS staff

    The NHS is launching a hotline to support and advise healthcare staff during the coronavirus pandemic.

    Volunteers from charities including Hospice UK, the Samaritans and Shout, will listen to concerns and offer psychological support.

    The phone line will be open between 07:00 and 23:00 every day, while the text service will be available around the clock.

    The phone number is 0300 131 7000 or staff can text FRONTLINE to 85258.

    It comes as staff face increasing pressure to care for rising numbers of patients who are seriously ill with the virus.

    Since the outbreak began, more than 6,000 people have died in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus and among them are front-line medical staff.

    As well as workload pressures and the emotional toll, some staff say they have had to work in situations where they feel unsafe because of a lack personal protective equipment (PPE).

    Prof Tom Dening from the Institute of Mental Health at the University of Nottingham said: “The mental health of NHS staff is going to be absolutely crucial in the nation’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

    “Staff are being exposed to high levels of personal risk, long hours in difficult environments clad in PPE, and also the possibility of something known as moral injury, which is the distressing awareness you may feel when you know you can’t meet all the needs of the people you are trying to care for.

    “This combination of factors would rattle even the most resilient of us.”

    While staff can still talk to each other and their managers, the NHS hotline will offer support outside the workplace.

    There will be 1,500 volunteers to support the 1.4 million nurses, doctors and other healthcare workers in the NHS.

    Anyone who requires further help will be signposted to services ranging from practical and financial assistance to specialist bereavement and psychological support, says the service.

    Danny Mortimer, from NHS Employers, said: “As the pandemic continues, our people will face new and growing challenges on a daily basis, and it’s therefore more important than ever that they are able to access resources to help them manage their wellbeing, in a way that suits their needs.”

    Prerana Issar, chief people officer for the NHS, said: “We need to do everything we can to support our incredible NHS people as they care for people through this global health emergency.”

    Meanwhile, a group of mental health experts, led by Dr Michael Bloomfield at University College London, have issued advice and a video for front-line healthcare workers on how to cope with stress during the Covid-19 crisis:

    *Give yourself permission to take regular breaks during your shifts

    *Eat, drink and sleep as well as you can

    *Try to use strategies that have helped you cope with stressful situations in the past

    *Take time out between shifts

    *Stay in touch with friends and family – video-call and phone them if you can’t see them in person

    *Engage in physical activity

    *Maintain a routine as much as possible

    *Plan regular activities that make you feel good, and tasks that take your mind off the crisis

    *Avoid unhelpful coping strategies such as smoking, alcohol or other drugs

    *Try to limit the time spent watching, reading or listening to the news

    *Reach out for help if you need support

    Source: bbc.com

  • Coronavirus: Boris Johnson spends second night in intensive care

    Boris Johnson has spent a second night in intensive care as he continues to receive treatment for coronavirus.

    The PM is being kept at St Thomas’ Hospital in London “for close monitoring”, Downing Street said.

    Mr Johnson’s condition is “stable” and he remains in “good spirits”, his spokesman added on Tuesday evening.

    Downing Street also confirmed that the planned review into whether the UK’s coronavirus restrictions could be eased would not go ahead on Monday next week.

    Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is deputising for the PM, has said he was “confident” the PM would recover from this illness, describing him as a “fighter”.

    Speaking at Tuesday’s Downing Street coronavirus briefing, he said Mr Johnson was receiving standard oxygen treatment and was breathing without any assistance, such as mechanical ventilation or non-invasive respiratory support.

    It is understood there will not be a further update on Mr Johnson’s condition until later on Wednesday.

    Meanwhile, the first patients have been admitted to the NHS Nightingale Hospital in east London – a temporary facility set up at the ExCel conference centre.

    The admissions come two weeks after the hospital with a planned capacity of 4,000 was formally announced – although an NHS spokesperson stressed limits had not been reached at other sites in London.

    The prime minister was originally admitted to St Thomas’ on Sunday, on the advice of his doctor, after continuing to display symptoms of cough and high temperature 10 days after testing positive for the virus.

    Mr Raab said the prime minister was being monitored closely in critical care, as was usual clinical practice.

    Describing Mr Johnson as not only a boss but “also a friend”, Mr Raab said: “All of our thoughts and prayers are with the prime minister at this time, with Carrie, and with his whole family.

    “And I’m confident he’ll pull through, because if there’s one thing I know about this prime minister, he’s a fighter. And he’ll be back at the helm, leading us through this crisis in short order.”

    Buckingham Palace said the Queen had sent a message to Mr Johnson’s family and his pregnant fiancee, Carrie Symonds, saying she was thinking of them, and wished the PM a full and speedy recovery.

    Prince William also tweeted a personal message of sympathy to the PM’s family, signing it off with his initial “W”, while his father, the Prince of Wales, sent a message from himself and the Duchess of Cornwall wishing Mr Johnson a “speedy recovery”, Clarence House said.

    At the briefing, Mr Raab was also asked about whether his role deputising for Mr Johnson gave him full prime ministerial responsibility.

    The foreign secretary said he was standing in for the prime minister “whenever necessary” – including leading the daily meetings of the coronavirus “war cabinet”.

    He said decisions would be made by “collective cabinet responsibility – so that is the same as before”.

    “But we’ve got very clear directions, very clear instructions from the prime minister, and we’re focused with total unity and total resolve on implementing them so that when he’s back, I hope in very short order, we will have made the progress that he would expect and that the country would expect,” Mr Raab added.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Coronavirus: France death toll passes 10,000

    The number of people in France who have died from the coronavirus has now risen above 10,000.

    Latest figures show 10,238 people died from the virus since 1 March. In the past 24 hours, 607 deaths have been recorded in hospitals.

    A further 820 deaths were recorded in nursing homes. However, they may have taken place over several days and are only now being added to the toll.

    France has been under lockdown since 15 March, with fines for violations.

    On Tuesday, Paris said it would ban people from exercising outdoors between 10:00 and 19:00 local time.

    The new restriction came after a sunny weekend marked by large groups of people running and walking in the city’s parks, despite police controls.

    In the last 24 hours, 607 people died in French hospitals – almost exactly the same number as in the previous 24 hours – and 820 deaths were reported from care homes. However, this last figure is difficult to assess because it probably includes deaths that took place over the weekend or in care homes that have only now been able to provide their figures.

    The epidemic is still in its “upward phase,” Director of Health Jérôme Salomon said, with the number of daily deaths, hospitalisations and critical cases still going up. “The peak has not been reached,” he said.

    However, there are signs that the rate of growth is slowing. The number of critical cases was up only 59 on the previous day, because the rise in new cases (518) was largely compensated by people coming off the critical list.

    Doctors have expressed cautious hope that the worst scenario – of hospitals being overwhelmed – has been avoided.

    But Mr Salomon said that talk of ending confinement was premature. “Letting off the pressure now would be dangerous,” he said, echoing Prime Minister Édouard Philippe, who earlier said that national quarantine was “going to last”.

    There is widespread expectation that the government will extend confinement beyond the current end date of 15 April.

    Earlier on Tuesday, French President, Emmanuel Macron visited the Paris suburb of St Denis, one of the worst-affected areas in the country.

    It is the poorest administrative department in urban France, and the number of deaths rose by 63% in the last two weeks of March. The reasons are unclear.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Coronavirus: US records highest death toll in single day

    The US recorded the most coronavirus deaths in a single day with 1,736 fatalities reported on Tuesday.

    It brings the total number of deaths in the country to 12,722, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

    The US has more than 398,000 confirmed cases, the highest number in the world. Global cases have exceeded 1.4 million.

    However, during a press conference, President Donald Trump said the US might be getting to the top of the “curve”.

    Meanwhile, the city of Wuhan in China, where the infection first emerged, ended its 11-week lockdown.

    The new figures announced on Tuesday are up on the previous record of 1,344 which was recorded on 4 April.

    The number of deaths recorded on Tuesday is expected to rise with some states yet to share their totals.

    The family of American singer-songwriter John Prine has confirmed his death from complications related to coronavirus.

    Known for songs such as Angel from Montgomery and Sam Stone, Prine died in Nashville on Tuesday at the age of 73. His wife tested positive for coronavirus and recovered however Prine was hospitalised last month with symptoms and placed on a ventilator.

    A number of musicians including Bruce Springsteen and Margo Price have paid tribute to him.

    How hard has New York been hit?

    A large proportion of the deaths announced were from New York state. Widely considered the epicentre of the outbreak, it recorded 731 deaths on Tuesday.

    It is on the cusp of overtaking the entire country of Italy with its number of confirmed cases.

    Governor Andrew Cuomo said the state appeared to be nearing the peak of its pandemic. Hospital and intensive care admissions were down.

    The governor urged people to stay inside and continue with social distancing.

    “I know it’s hard but we have to keep doing it,” he said.

    New Yorkers have been told to avoid large gatherings as Passover and Easter approaches.

    Elsewhere, the state of Wisconsin pressed ahead with an election on Tuesday, despite a state-wide stay-at-home order amid the escalating outbreak.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Coronavirus: China reports no Coronavirus deaths for first time

    China reported no coronavirus deaths on Tuesday, the first time since it started publishing daily figures in January.

    The National Health Commission said it had 32 confirmed cases, down from 39 on Monday.

    It comes as the government is under scrutiny as to whether it is underreporting its figures.

    The government says more than 3,331 people have died and 81,740 have been confirmed as infected.

    All of the confirmed cases on Tuesday had arrived from overseas.

    China is concerned a second wave of infections could be brought in by foreign arrivals.

    It has already shut its border to foreigners including those with visas or residence permits.

    International flights have been reduced with both Chinese and foreign airlines only allowed to operate one international flight a week. Flights must not be more than 75% full.

    On Wednesday, Wuhan is set to allow people to leave the city for the first time since the lockdown began in January.

    Officials say anyone who has a “green” code on a widely used smartphone health app will be allowed to leave the city.

    Some people in “epidemic-free” residential compounds have already been allowed to leave their homes for two hours.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Coronavirus: Four out of five people’s jobs hit by pandemic

    Image copyright EPA A total of 81% of the global workforce of 3.3 billion people have had their workplace fully or partly closed.

    Restrictions on daily life have led to the closure of many companies and the laying off of staff – either permanently or temporarily.

    The International Labour Organization (ILO), an agency of the United Nations, has been looking at the global impact with a series of charts.

    Their work shows the global scale of the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

    “Workers and businesses are facing catastrophe, in both developed and developing economies,” said ILO director general Guy Ryder.

    “We have to move fast, decisively, and together. The right, urgent, measures, could make the difference between survival and collapse.”

    Source:bbc.com

  • Lockdown: Probe killing of civilian by a military officer – Group

    The Centre for Victims of Injustice (CenVI, GH) has called for a thorough investigation into the alleged killing of a civilian by a Military officer at Ashaiman on Monday 6th April 202.

    Although the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has said its investigating the matter, CenVI GH said the investigations must be transparent.

    “We call for swift investigation into the killing and the appropriate sanctions for the officer involved. While we acknowledge the magnitude of the challenge and efforts made by the government to fight COVID-19 across the country, we are also alarmed by several reports and videos circulating on social media showing violations of human rights, that include beating of civilians by law enforcement agencies tasked with ensuring compliance of the lockdown. As the nation observes the 14-day lockdown, the rights of citizens must be respected and protected, including the right to health care, security, and access to food and water,” CenVI, GH said in a statement.

    “The lockdown must have a human face; enabling citizens and the general public to have access to vital needs and relief for those who can no longer earn a living since the majority of Ghanaians are daily earners and live below the poverty line.

    “As a matter of urgency, the government in the coming days should implement transparent income support programs targeted at the most vulnerable populations. Millions of Ghanaians who live in slums and informal settlements without access to basic services are at higher risk of COVID-19 infection.

    “We are of the view that the government should ensure the rights to health, food and water are realized in such settlements under this pandemic. “

     

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Coronavirus: Kumasi Central market to be reopened tomorrow

    The Kumasi Central Market will officially be re-opened for trading activities on Thursday, April, 09, 2020, a statement by city authorities said.

    Ahead of the reopening,authorities are billed to formalize all arrangements today, April, 08,2020 pertaining to the rotational system to be practiced.

    This comes after the joint meeting with eleven member steering committee of the Metro Security Council(METSEC) and leaders of the 67 trade associations of the market.

    The Central market was closed down days ago due to traders disregard for social distancing amid the spike in coronavirus outbreak.

     

    Source: kasapafmonline.com

  • Coronavirus: Government must consider stimulus package for the media – UPDN

    The United Press for Development Network (UPDN) has asked the government to provide stimulus package for the media following the role in helping fight against the coronavirus infection in Ghana.

    The UPDN commended the Government for the decision to provide stimulus package, tax exemption, feeding grants for all front line workers, Police, Military Officials among others.

    A statement signed by Kofi Asante Mensah, President of UPDN said : “ Since the announcement by President Akufo-Addo on Sunday, April 5, 2020, we have observed massive enthusiasm among the aforementioned officials, this we believe will help in combating the Novel Coronavirus.

    “UPDN is by this statement appealing to the Government to immediately consider some stimulus package for the media which is at the forefront of disseminating information and leading public education nationwide.

    As we encourage the media to pay attention to all safety protocols, UPDN calls on government to support the inky fraternity in the provision of PPE’s to enable and enhance field reportage in the wake of the deadly COVID – 19.

    “The Media plays a very critical and pivotal role in winning this “global insurgency” and the earlier we retool them the better.”

     

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Coronavirus: Dalex Finance to offer loans at zero percent interest

    Dalex Finance is set to offer loans to all DalexSwift Investment clients at zero percent interest rate, Kenneth Thompson, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dalex Finance has said.

    The drop in the interest rates on loans from 24 percent per annum to zero percent will take effect from Monday, April 6, 2020 till June 30, 2020.

    In an interview with the CEO on Monday in Accra, he said the decision was part of the Company’s efforts to support Ghanaians during the COVID-19 partial lockdown and to alleviate the hardships customers were facing during these difficult times.

    “Dalex Finance is aware that the immediate concern of its clients is sustenance and their financial well-being. To help forestall their anxieties, the company at this difficult time, is extending a helping hand to all its DalexSwift customers by dropping interest rates. The minimum contribution is one cedi,” he said.

    He explained that DalexSwift Investment existed to make it easy and appealing for young Ghanaians to invest towards the things they wanted.

    Launched three years ago, DalexSwift is targeted at young persons and has over 130,000 registered accounts.

    “Dalex Swift by its very design relies on zero personal contact for registrations, to make investments, redemptions, loan applications, and loan disbursements.”

    Mr Thompson advised citizens to ‘choose wisely’ during the lockdown period and invest in their health, relationships and skills.

    Dalex Finance is a wholly Ghanaian owned and operated Specialized Deposit-taking Institution (SDI) licensed by the Bank of Ghana (BoG).

    Dalex Finance has been in operation in Ghana since 2006 and is currently the leading digital finance company in its sector.

    Source: GNA

  • Trump administration to keep critical medical supplies in U.S – Pompeo

    U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday announced an additional $225 million in U.S. aid for global efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic but said the Trump administration will keep critical medical supplies in the United States given the domestic need.

    “Right now, given the great need for PPE (personal protection equipment) in our own country, our focus will be on keeping critical medical items in the United States until demand is met here,” Pompeo told a State Department news conference.

    At the same time, he announced that the United States will disperse $225 million in new assistance to global efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic on top of $274 million already provided to 64 countries.

    The new funding “will be used to reduce transmission” of the highly contagious novel coronavirus “through virus diagnosis, prevention, and control, to bolster health systems, to prepare labs to train healthcare workers, to increase awareness and much, much more,” Pompeo said.

    “No country can match this level of generosity,” he said.

    Source: reuters.com

  • COVID-19: Well define who qualifies as frontline health worker soon Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Akufo-Addo says the government will in the coming days give a clear definition of who qualifies as frontline staff in the fight against the coronavirus.

    Controversy has been brewing over who qualifies as a frontline staff after President Akufo-Addo announced some incentives for that group of health workers in his last national address on COVID 19 updates.

    Speaking at a meeting with the leadership of the Ghana Medical Association, President Akufo-Addo said finality will be brought to the matter to prevent any doubts.

    “Effort is being made on the part of the government, to arrive at an acceptable definition, and I think your input will be very necessary and required, so that we get a definition that makes sense for everybody and which addresses the issue of people who are also in the frontline, as it were, of dealing with this disease,” President Akufo-Addo said.

    The President said the government is committed to ensuring that health workers are supported as they deliver essential services to the populace especially amidst the outbreak of Coronavirus.

    “On my part and on the part of government, we will continue to see what we can do to meet you halfway, ease the issues that you have. I think you heard my broadcast the other day, I indicated the measures that we want to put in place to support you in the work that you are doing,” Akufo-Addo noted.

    The President added that several interventions have already been rolled out to ease the burden on health workers.

    “Buses for nurses and health workers have started plying the streets of Accra, the allowances that are going to be paid to health workers are being worked out by the Finance Minister, and, very soon, in the course of this month the first payments are going to be made,” he said.

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • A year after blaze, Notre-Dame to hold Good Friday mass amid virus lockdown

    A small congregation of worshippers will celebrate Good Friday mass at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, a year after it was devastated by fire, but attendance will be limited because of a lockdown during the coronavirus outbreak.

    Only seven people will attend the televised mass on Good Friday, when Christians commemorate the death of Jesus Christ.

    “Only a few priests will attend the masses that we will celebrate during the Holy Week and people will be able to follow services on radio or on television,” Paris Archbishop Michel Aupetit told a video news conference.

    The service will include a wreath rescued from the fire that threatened to obliterate Notre-Dame, one of the world’s most famous landmarks.

    There will be no Easter Saturday processions this year because of the nationwide lockdown, which limits the size of public gatherings.

    On Easter Sunday, when Christians celebrate Christ’s resurrection, Aupetit will hold a mass in Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois church near the Louvre museum in the heart of Paris, with about 20 people attending.

    Last year, hundreds of Parisians gathered for Easter Sunday mass at Saint-Eustache church in central Paris and prayed for the swift restoration of Notre-Dame after the fire that ripped through it days earlier, on April 15.

    The fire destroyed the mediaeval cathedral’s roof, toppled the spire and almost brought down the main bell towers and outer walls before firefighters brought it under control.

    President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to restore Notre-Dame in five years, though experts have described the target as unfeasible.

    Source: France24

  • CBO prepares to implement CREMA in Kayoro to protect forest reserve and wildlife

    The Sanyiga Kasena Gavara Kara (SKGK), a community Based Organization (CBO) has started processes to implement a Community Resource Management Area (CREMA) in the Kassena West District, of the Upper East Region, to protect the forest reserve and wildlife in the area.

    The new CREMA located in Kayoro, falls within the Chiana and the Sisilly Forest reserves and the communities around the area, are trained to ensure that the forest vegetative cover, wild life and other natural features are protected from illegal activities.

    The Chiefs and committees in those communities would also be educated on by-laws governing forest protection and boundary separation.

    The three reserves in the area are the PIDO Hills forest reserve, the Chiana Forest reserve in the Kassena Nankana West District and Sissilly North in the Sisaala East District, where a total of nine communities are found namely Kayoro, Katiu, Nakong, Kapu, Wuru, Basisong, Kunchogo, Banum and Pido where Kayoro and Katiu are adjacent to the Nazinga Game Reserve.

    As part of the preparation processes, the SKGK CREMA is being supported by the BUSAC Fund to enable it increase sensitization activities and is expected to educate people on the by-laws and boundary separation efforts of Forest Reserves.

    Mr Frank Pwamebam, the Executive Secretary of SKGK who thanked BUSAC Fund for the support, reiterated the need for proper processes to be followed in the implementation process.

    He noted that it was important to involve the CREMA communities, volunteers and committee members in the process of demarcating the forestry boundaries.

    “We want the people to benefit from the CREMA and to also sustainably use their natural resource properly and therefore there is the need to make proper enforcement of the laws and proper boundary demarcations,” Mr Pwamebam reiterated in an interview with the GNA in Bolgatanga.

    He said climate change was fast approaching and noted that putting in place adaptation plans will help communities to mitigate climate change and its toll on the natural resources.

    He said the on-going education was a way to ensure proper procedures were followed and prevented people from encroaching on the resource.

    SKGK went into full operation in 2016 with a first time joint funding support from BUSAC Fund towards preparation and gazetting of the by-laws.

    Source: goldstreetbusiness.com

  • Coronavirus: 18-year-old donates food items worth GHS11,000 to Accra Regional Police

    18-year-old Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Talisha Non-Diary Milk and Papa Nono Non-Dairy products, Talisha Maipuri, has donated products valued at GHS11,000 to the Accra Regional Police Command.

    Presenting the items on Tuesday, April 7, 2020, Ms. Talisha said that the donation was to show appreciation and also support the Police in the performance of their duties in the ongoing Coronavirus-induced lockdown.

    The donation was done at the forecourt of the Regional Police Headquarters, Accra.

    The Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Frederick Adu Anim who received the items on behalf of the region and thanked her for her sense of benevolence in fighting COVID 19.

    The extent of the Coronavirus outbreak in Ghana has encouraged many people to donate and give in various kinds.

    This gesture becomes part of several others made by individuals, groups and associations to various health facilities, communities, and institutions in the country amidst the COVID-19 scare.

    The total number of Coronavirus cases in Ghana currently stands at 287.

    Total deaths and recoveries remain at five and three respectively.

    The rise in the number of cases follows measures of enhanced contact tracing and testing, the Ghana Health Service said.

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • La Liga eyeing May return, says league boss Tebas

    La Liga could return to action as early as next month, its president Javier Tebas said on Tuesday, as the league awaits a chance to restart following the coronavirus shutdown.

    Tebas also warned Spanish clubs could lose as much as one billion euros ($1.1 billion) if the season is not completed, pushing football bosses in the country to search for a late finish to the current campaign.

    “The different scenarios we have been looking at with UEFA to go back to competing are most probably starting on the May 29 June 6-7 or June 28,” Tebas said.

    “We’re not just looking at what happens in Spain… the job is to get all our calendars (in Europe) in line so all the competitions are able to finish together.”

    However Tebas said no team training could take place until after the state of emergency ends in Spain — currently set until April 26. Should that end date be pushed back the chances of restarting in May would likely vanish.

    Tebas said “it is not an option” to cancel the season given the massive hit to revenue Spain’s top clubs would have to absorb, with 150 million euros gone even if La Liga finishes the season with fans at matches.

    “We are not considering at all that we will not get back to playing matches,” he said.

    “It is not just league revenues, it is league revenues plus all the other revenue from the Champions League that teams wouldn’t receive.

    “We are talking about one billion euros if we don’t get back to playing, 300 million euros if we play behind closed doors and 150 million euros if we do to get back to playing with fans.”

    The COVID-19 pandemic has killed nearly 14,000 people in Spain, the world’s second hardest-hit country after Italy in terms of deaths.

    On Tuesday, Spain said a further 743 people had died but the “downward trend” is continuing despite an increase in the latest figures.

    Source: France24

  • Coronavirus: Boris Johnson stable in hospital, not on ventilator

    Prime Minister Boris Johnson is “in good spirits” after spending the night in intensive care being treated for coronavirus, No 10 has said.

    A spokesman said Mr Johnson, 55, was stable overnight, is being given oxygen and is not on a ventilator.

    It comes as Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove became the latest politician to self-isolate after a family member showed symptoms.

    Mr Gove said he did not have symptoms and was continuing to working at home.

    Mr Johnson was admitted to St Thomas’ Hospital in central London with “persistent symptoms” of Covid-19 on Sunday and was moved to intensive care on Monday at 19:00 BST after his symptoms worsened.

    The Queen has sent a message to Mr Johnson’s family and his pregnant partner, Carrie Symonds, saying they were in her thoughts and that she wished the prime minister a full and speedy recovery, Buckingham Palace said.

    In a statement on Tuesday, a Downing Street spokesman said: “The prime minister has been stable overnight and remains in good spirits. He is receiving standard oxygen treatment and is breathing without any other assistance.

    “He has not required mechanical ventilation or non-invasive respiratory support.”

    A ventilator takes over the body’s breathing process when disease has caused the lungs to fail.

    Mr Johnson does not have pneumonia, Downing Street added.

    Dr Jon Bennett, president of the British Thoracic Society, said it was “heartening” the PM was receiving “standard oxygen treatment” – through his nose or via a face mask – because in more serious cases it would be delivered through mechanical support, such as continuous positive airway pressure, high flow nasal oxygen or more invasive ventilators.

    The spokesman said that the mood in government is “determined”, and ministers have a very clear plan set out by Mr Johnson for responding to the pandemic.

    The prime minister’s weekly audience with the Queen will not go ahead, although she will be kept regularly informed about his condition, the spokesman added.

    Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Gove pledged that if there is any change in his condition “No 10 will ensure the country is updated”.

    Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is deputising for the PM and chaired the government’s daily coronavirus meeting on Tuesday.

    As first secretary of state, Mr Raab is the minister designated to stand in for Mr Johnson if he is unwell and unable to work.

    Mr Raab said earlier there was an “incredibly strong team spirit” behind the prime minister and that he and his colleagues were making sure they implemented plans that Mr Johnson had instructed them to deliver “as soon as possible”.

    Some politicians have called for greater clarity on what Mr Raab’s role as deputy entails, including Tory MP Tobias Ellwood, who asked for details “as to where responsibility for UK national security decisions now lies”.

    Lord Heseltine, who served as deputy prime minister under John Major, said it will be a “very difficult personal position” for Mr Raab, who “will be tested by the loneliness of the job”.

    “He will be surrounded by lots of people who know what Boris Johnson said, believe Boris will be quickly back and have their own personal agendas anyway,” he said.

    Former cabinet member and Tory peer Baroness Morgan told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Emma Barnett Show that while Mr Raab was “incredibly capable”, there was “no way that he would have wanted to be in this situation”.

    She added: “I think the reason that people have been so stunned and taken aback and feel so involved with the prime minister’s health, is because Boris Johnson is prime minister, he gets a lot of coverage.

    “Obviously, he was very front and centre in an election campaign, which seems like a million years ago but was only a couple of months ago, and people invest an awful lot of hope in their leaders at this time of national crisis.”

    Mr Gove is the latest cabinet minister to self-isolate, after Mr Johnson, Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Scottish Secretary Alister Jack.

    The government’s chief medical adviser, Prof Chris Whitty, and the PM’s adviser, Dominic Cummings, also spent time self-isolating after showing symptoms.

    Mr Johnson’s condition means his fiancee, Carrie Symonds, who is pregnant with their first child, is unable to visit him in hospital.

    She said at the weekend that she is “on the mend” after herself being forced to self-isolate after displaying symptoms of the disease.

    Meanwhile, world leaders and fellow politicians have sent messages to Mr Johnson wishing him well.

    Newly-elected Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer described it as “terribly sad news”, adding: “All the country’s thoughts are with the prime minister and his family during this incredibly difficult time.”

    Russia’s Vladimir Putin wished Mr Johnson a speedy recovery, saying he was “convinced that your energy, optimism and sense of humour will help you overcome the disease”.

    And US President Donald Trump said Americans “are all praying for his recovery”, describing Mr Johnson as “a very good friend of mine and a friend to our nation” who is “strong” and “doesn’t give up”.

    Source: bbc.com

  • COVID-19: Eight persons remanded for defying lockdown directive in Accra

    Eight persons have been remanded into police custody for flouting the legislation on the partial lockdown.

    The suspects were arrested and arraigned at Circuit Court 11 by the Accra Regional Police Command on Tuesday 7th April 2020.

    They were remanded after they pleaded not guilty to charges of two counts, conspiracy to commit a crime to wit failing to comply with restrictions imposed and failing to comply with restrictions imposed contrary to section 6 of the Imposition and Restrictions Act 2020 (ACT 1012).

    According to the Accra Police Command, its personnel are determined to help in the fight against the further spread of COVID-19, hence their resolve to ensure strict compliance of the current lockdown.

    The Greater Accra Metropolitan Area, including Tema and the Awutu Senya East District as well as the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area have been locked down as part of efforts to stop the spread of Coronavirus in Ghana.

    The lockdown is to restrict movements of people within the affected areas as science proves that unguarded movements amidst such an outbreak has the potential of exponentially increasing the number of patients.

    As at 23:30GMT, on April 6, 2020, Ghana had recorded 287 cases of COVID-19.

    256 of the cases were confirmed in the Greater Accra region while 12 were confirmed in the Ashanti Region.

    10 cases have been confirmed in the Northern Region while the Upper West Region, Upper East region and Eastern Region have recorded one case each.

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • Community spread of coronavirus reduced due to increased surveillance – Minister

    Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has disclosed that some 14 persons have tested positive out of a total number of 7,461.

    The Minister said the figure shows clearly that the community spread was declining steadily.

    According to him, of the 19,000 traced contacts, a total of over 15,000 samples had been collected.

    He said of the 15,000 samples, 7,461 had been tested and only 14 had tested positive for the Coronavirus as of Monday.

    Addressing the press on Tuesday, Mr Oppong Nkrumah said “while this is still early, it suggests that the community spread is relatively limited.”

    “Aside the routine surveillance we followed up to trace the contacts of all the positives. Contacts of over 19000 persons has been made with samples from a total of over 15,000 contacts collected so far. In Greater Accra over 8,000 of such contacts have been made.

    “After testing 7461 of these contacts as at yesterday, we found 14 positives, representing 0.18 per cent. While this is still early, it suggests that the community spread is relatively limited. More testing will, however, provide a clearer picture in the coming days. In total, routine surveillance and contact tracing has yielded 287 positives of which 49 have been discharged for home treatment, 228 are responding well to treatment, three have fully recovered and five with underlying health conditions have died,” he added.

    Following measures for enhanced contact tracing and testing, Ghana has detected an increased number of confirmed COVID-19 cases.

    A total of 287 cases of COVID-19 with five (5) deaths have been recorded.

    The regional distribution of the cases are as follows: Greater Accra Region has most cases (256) followed by the Ashanti Region (18), Northern Region (10), Upper West Region (1), Eastern Region (1) and Upper East Region (1).

    A total of 172 cases were reported from the routine and enhanced surveillance activities and those from travellers under mandatory quarantine in both Accra and Tamale are 115.

    The period for mandatory quarantine for travellers who arrived 21-22 March 2020 has ended. In all, a total of 1,030 travellers were quarantined during the period. Out of these, 79 (7.7%) were positive during the initial testing whilst 951 were negative.

    Twenty-six (26) among those that were initially negative were found to have converted to be positive at the exit screening, bringing to a total of 105 which constitutes 10.2% among the travellers that were quarantined.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Derrick Luckassen incurs wrath of PSV supporters

    Dutch born Ghanaian defender Derrick Luckassen has incurred the wrath of the PSV supporters chairman for comments about closing the door on a return to his parent club.

    Harrie Timmermans, chairman of Supportersvereniging PSV, is annoyed with the statements of Derrick Luckassen.

    The on loan defender at Anderlecht (24) slammed the door to a return in Eindhoven this week.

    “I keep all options open to myself, except going back to PSV. That is no longer an option for me,” Luckassen told De Telegraaf about his future. “I tried it there twice and it didn’t work out. I don’t feel at home with PSV and I have seen it there.”

    Timmermans read the statements of Luckassen, who is still under contract for two years in Eindhoven, with increasing surprise. “If he also hands in his contract, it is a dude,” said the chairman of the Supporters Association PSV in the Eindhovens Dagblad.

    Luckassen will be loaned to Anderlecht this season by PSV, but will no longer play due to the ended season in Belgium. Last year he played on loan basis with Hertha BSC. Case observers José Fortes Rodriguez and Mino Raiola are looking for a permanent solution for Luckassen.

    Source: ghanaguardian.com

  • Great Olympics sack four players

    It appeared at some point Great Olympics were building a team full of veterans or ‘council of elders’ as some may refer to them.

    The team signed a lot of old players who were seeking a way to relaunch their stalling careers or players who embarked on failed foreign sojourns.

    That experiment did not work so the Accra-based club have shown four players the exit and it includes former premier league goal king Emmanuel Clottey, former Aduana stalwart Godfred Saka.

    The rest are former Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak players Ernest Sowah and Ashitey Ollenu.

    Great Olympics arrived at this decision due to the non performance of these players since they were registered by the club according local media reports

    These players were signed with the intention that they will help them survive in the Ghana Premier League but after 15 matches the wonder club are languishing in the relegation places.

    Olympics have decided to cut loose some deadwood in order to boost their squad with some young energetic players.

    Source: ghanaguardian.com

  • Vehicle runs over 9-year-old at Anyinam

    Information available to MyNewsGh.com is that a nine-year-old girl has been killed by an over speeding Toyota Corolla Saloon Car

    According to an eye witness who gave his name as Anim, the girl was knocked down by the car when she was crossing the road in Anyinam in the Atiwa East District of the Eastern Region.

    “I was here when she was sent to buy airtime, there was no car coming just as she reached the halfway from nowhere an over speeding corolla saloon hit her off the road…she died instantly,” he told MyNewsGh.com.

    He added that the driver of the saloon car together with one person is a critical condition and they have been admitted to Saviour Hospital at Akyem Osiem.

    The eyewitness added that the girl by virtue of the fact she is a Muslim, has since been buried by the family in accordance with the Islamic custom.

     

    Source: mynewsgh.com

  • You started as a rapper too – Reggie Rockstone humbly replies Shatta Wale’s jab

    Shatta Wale has caused another controversy on social media with what fans describe as a disrespectful comment about Reggie Rockstone and the hiplife grandpapa has the perfect reply for him.

    The dancehall act whilst granting an interview today said that he blames Reggie Rockstone for making rap, a culture in Ghana for people like Sarkodie to be riding on it today to diss others.

    Shatta Wale was speaking about “Sub Zero” a new Sarkodie freestyle which fans believe it contains punchlines targeted at him.

    “I am disappointed … our old men do not like rap they like highlife so rap is not even going to stand strong, I blame Reggie Rockstone for even bringing rap to Ghana because he himself, he has not made an impact with rap,” Shatta Wale said told MzGee on TV3.

    In reply, Reggie Rockstone who is credited for institutionalizing rap in Ghana under the Hip Life genre decided to school Shatta Wale on the impact of rap music reminding him that Ghana has more rappers than dancehall acts.

    The 55-year-old also seized the moment to remind Shatta Wale that he also started as a rapper when he was Bandana.

    Hear more from Reggie who says he still has a lot of respect for Shatta Wale, in the video below and share your thoughts with us.

    Source: Pulse.com.gh

  • COVID-19: GJA distributes locally made nose masks to journalists in Eastern Region

    The Eastern Regional chapter of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has distributed 50 pieces of locally manufactured nose masks to some media personnel in the region to protect themselves from contracting the deadly coronavirus.

    A deputy Regional Surveyor at the Eastern Regional Lands Commission, Nana Domena Antwi-Berko and his friends donated the nose masks to the Association.

    The masks, made from African prints, is said to be reusable as they can be washed with detergent and dried.

    The Association said on Tuesday that it is working to secure another batch of nose masks to support frontline journalists leading the coverage and safety campaign on Covid-19 in Ghana.

    Chairman of the Eastern GJA Maxwell Kudekor, said: “we believe that journalists are part of the foremost frontliners in the Covid-19 management and safety campaign hence need the requisite support to work.”

    He thanked Mr Antwi Berko and his team for supporting the safety campaign.

    The Eastern Regional chair of the Ghana Medical Association, Dr Arko Akoto Apaw underscored the need for people to protect themselves from contracting the virus and particularly advised all to wear face masks which he said will soak fluids from the mouth and prevent droplets.

    He indicated that there is a short supply of surgical masks in the country for health personnel for which reason people may not get access to that protective gear for daily use.

     

    Source: 3news.com

  • Coronavirus: Journalists are also frontline workers Sulemana Braimah

    The issue of who is a frontline worker has dominated the public sphere especially when the Government of Ghana announced some measures laid down for frontline health workers taking care of patients who have been tested positive for the novel Coronavirus.

    The role of journalists in the fight against Coronavirus cannot be left out since in the line of their professional duty, they may come into contact with such Coronavirus patients.

    For this reason, the Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has suggested that journalists are also included in the “frontline workers” description.

    Dr Sulemana Braimah told Joy News that the work of a journalist is very essential since they, the journalists, are to report to the masses constantly about the progress the country is making in combating the spread of the dreaded Coronavirus.

    “Certainly, given the work that we have to do, whether it is the President, whether it is the Ministers…that have to address the people, they still will rely on the media to ensure that information gets out there,” Braimah said.

    “And what that means is that constantly, we are at the forefront of making sure that whatever messages that the authorities want to communicate, whatever messages that the people will want to hear, we are there to present it to them and that certainly makes us frontline workers,” he explained.

    Dr Braimah noted there must be a deeper conversation about why journalists must be included in a bigger “frontline workers” definition so they can enjoy support and relief packages similar to those offered to health professionals.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in his fifth televised broadcast to the nation announced that an insurance package, with an assured sum of GH¢350,000 for each health worker and allied professional at the forefront of the Coronavirus fight, has been put in place, with a daily allowance of GH¢150 being paid to contact tracers.

    He added that, the Government of Ghana has also decided that all health workers will not pay taxes on their emoluments for the next three months [April, May and June].

    All frontline health workers, Akufo-Addo indicated “will receive an additional allowance of 50% of their basic salary per month [March, April, May and June]. The March allowance will be paid alongside that of April.”

     

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Lockdown: You promised kayayes GHC10 daily, give it to them Yagaba MP to govt

    The Member of Parliament for Yagaba/Kumori has raised concerns about what he calls inconsistencies from government on the provision for Kayayes and other vulnerable groups suffering the biting edge of the lockdown in Accra and Kumasi.

    According to Ibrahim Abdul-Rauf Tanko, claims of the Minister of Gender, children and social protection that no one had promised cash handouts to Kayayes, contradicts promises made by senior members of the executive to the clusters targeted for feeding support.

    The sector minister Cynthia Morrison had rebuffed claims by head porters that government was going to offer them money aside the provision of hot meals and dry foodstuff, marshalled to alleviate the hardships of some persons identified in the Coronavirus hotspots where a partial lockdown is in force.

    Speaking on the special COVID 19 edition of Starr Today, the MP pointed out that he has evidence of the Minister of local government Hajia Alima Mahama and the deputy Agric Minister Sagre Bambangi assuring the Kayayes in their local language of a daily stipend of 10 Cedis throughout the period of the lockdown.

    “They made it categorical that the people should exercise patience, government was going to be feeding them throughout their stay and government was going to give them 10 Cedis per person a day until the lockdown is over and I have it on record in our local dialect,” He averred.

    The livid Yagaba/Kumori legislator who has been going around some of the camps where the vulnerable are being supported described the exercise as discriminatory juxtaposing their conditions with the huge sums government paid to quarantine travellers in plush hotels.

    It appears the Minister of Gender Children and Social Protection Cynthia Morison will have it tough dealing with the thousands of helpless persons some of whom she lamented are being choosy rejecting apartments designated for their stay and proper care.

     

    Source: starrfm.com.gh

  • Stimulus package should cover everybody, we’re all at risk Nurses Association to Akufo-Addo

    The Ghana Registered Nurses Association (GRNA) has urged government to include every health worker in the stimulus package that has been set aside for frontline health personnel in the fight against Coronavirus.

    President of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association, Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo speaking in an interview on Peace FM’s ‘Platform’ programme, Monday, said it is not wrong for only ‘frontline’ health workers to be covered by the insurance package.

    “It should cover everybody because we are all at risk . . . the initiative is good and we are grateful. But every nurse or midwife everywhere is exposed,” she said.

    Background

    President Akufo-Addo in a nationwide television address announced that effective April 2020, all frontline health workers in the pandemic fight will among other things receive and an additional allowance of 50% of the basic salary per month for the next three months as well as a three month tax holiday.

    Source: peacefmonline.com

  • Ministry of Health to commence recruitment for trained nurses and midwives

    The Ministry of Health has announced the commencement of recruitment for 2017 trained nurses and midwives with a diploma and degree certificates from accredited public and private training institutions on Tuesday, April 14, 2020.

    A statement issued by Nana Kwabena Adjei-Mensah, the Chief Director of the Ministry, has said.

    It requested qualified nurses and midwives to apply to the Ministry of Health online application portal by logging-in onto https://hr.moh.gov.gh and follow the instructions to select the preferred agency under the Ministry for posting.

    The statement said the deadline for submission of application is Friday, May 15, 2020, and urged all applicants to take note of the said date.

    Source: GNA

  • Government to make nose masks available for all – Minister

    Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, the Minister of Health, has said Government has selected five local companies to produce 3.6 million nose masks with 15,000 to be supplied daily.

    This, he said, would increase the availability of the preventive device for safety, especially for health workers.

    This follows the report of lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) by health facilities which are putting health workers at risk.

    Mr Agyeman-Manu said this on Tuesday whiles giving an update of the COVID-19 case management situation, in Accra.

    He said the five companies that have been tasked for the production of the nose masks are expected to make it available within 10 days.

    Mr Agyeman-Manu said considering that wearing the nose masks has been encouraged as one of the ways to prevent the spread of the COVID-19, it is necessary that more equipment is made available.

    The Minister said the government is putting in place more measures to ensure that all were protected.

    He urged the public to continue observing the safety and hygiene protocols – ensuring the frequent washing of hands with soap under running water; covering one’s mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing with disposable tissues; using alcohol-based hand sanitizers; avoiding contact with wild animals and maintaining social distance of at least two metres.

    Mr Agyeman-Manu said all the measures and interventions, the President has highlighted, are intended to achieve five strategic objectives: limit and stop the importation of the virus; detect and contain the spread of the virus; enhance contact tracing and testing of the virus; care for the sick; minimize the impact on economic and social lives and boost the domestic capability and deepen national self-reliance.

    Source: GNA

  • Communication studies students urged to join fight against coronavirus

    Dr Theodora Dame Adjin-Tettey, the Head of Communication Studies Department of the University of Professional Studies has urged students of the Department to design appropriate communication tools to help fight the COVID-19.

    She commended the students for identifying the opportunity offered by the campaign against the spread of the coronavirus, to put what they have learnt into practice to help raise public awareness about the disease.

    Mrs Adjin- Tetteh said this when she launched a campaign in Accra, against the spread of the COVID-19 by the Communications Studies Students Association (ComSSA) of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) as part of its civic responsibility.

    ComSSA is, therefore, sharing its posters online using social media with messages from students and staff of the department.

    The Communications Officer of ComSSA – UPSA, Mr Jude Ankrah, said as the COVID -19 continues to evolve, ComSSA would respond to the information needs associated with the spread of the virus and provide an update as they become available.

    He said the content of such messages would include, ” stay calm and observe all precautionary measures outlined by the Ghana Health Service, If you wear a face mask be sure it covers your mouth and nose, dispose used mask into a bin, provide accurate details of places you have visited and persons you came into contact with.”

    Mr Ephraim Danquah, the Vice President of ComSSA UPSA, said the Association had put in place measures to assist students when school resumed and would make donations to the vulnerable within UPSA catchment area.

    Mr Charles Nii Ayiku Ayiku, the Patron of ComSSA-UPSA, said as students who were trained on how to plan campaigns, it was an opportunity for them to practicalise what they had learnt by developing effective campaigns for the project.

    He said the School was currently moving to teaching and learning online and advised the students to use their time judiciously and stay home safely.

    The Association appealed to all telecommunication networks in the country to reduce the cost of their data to encourage students to access very useful websites that were not zero-rated.

    Source: GNA

  • Chaos rocks Trump White House on virus’ most tragic day

    The chaos and confusion rocking President Donald Trump’s administration on the most tragic day yet of the coronavirus pandemic was exceptional even by his own standards.

    Trump set out Tuesday to cement his image of a wartime leader facing down an “invisible enemy” at a dark moment as the country waits for the virus to peak and with the economy languishing in suspended animation.

    “What we have is a plague, and we’re seeing light at the end of the tunnel,” the President said, on a day when a record number of Americans succumbed to the wicked respiratory disease.

    But instead of putting minds at rest, Trump’s wild performance instead put on a display many of the personal and political habits that have defined his tumultuous presidency. It was a troubling spectacle coming at such a wrenching chapter of national life, the kind of moment when Presidents are called to provide consistent, level leadership.

    To begin with, Trump sparked concern that he will prevent oversight of the disbursement of economic rescue funds by removing a watchdog official responsible for overseeing the $2 trillion package. The move, coming after Trump ousted an intelligence community inspector general last week, was yet another sign that an already impeached President is using the cover of the worst domestic crisis since World War II to further erode constraints on his power.
    Trump’s acting Navy secretary quit after an episode in which he called an aircraft carrier captain dismissed for raising the alarm about virus infections among his crew “stupid.”
    Then Trump insisted he hadn’t seen January memos by a top White House official warning about the pandemic at the same time the President was dismissing it as a threat.
    He also announced he was placing a “very powerful hold” on funding for the World Health Organization, even though it correctly identified the scale of the virus and he didn’t. Then moments later, he insisted he did no such thing.
    Adding to the sense of farce, White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham was moved out, without ever having given a briefing, on yet another day of staff turmoil. CNN’s KFile reported Tuesday that her replacement, Kayleigh McEnany, recently said that thanks to the President, “we will not see diseases like the coronavirus come here.”

    Trump’s top economic adviser Larry Kudlow admitted that a small business rescue program was off to “a bad start” after recipients struggled to register funds, only for the President to celebrate the program’s roaring success — and to credit his daughter Ivanka with personally creating 15 million jobs.

    To top off a disorientating day in the West Wing, the President presided over an unchained news conference in which among other topics, he lashed out at mail-in voting, making claims about fraud that don’t square with the facts, even though he recently cast such a ballot himself. The comment followed extraordinary scenes in Wisconsin, after Republicans blocked the Badger State’s Democratic governor from delaying the state’s primary over concern that voters could infect one another with the novel coronavirus.

    A dark day in the fight against Covid-19

    In many ways, it was just another inexplicable day of the Trump presidency.

    Trump did mention Americans grieving the loss of loved ones in his scripted remarks, but the intensity of Trump’s clashes with reporters and litany of outrageous claims seemed incongruous with a backdrop of such human tragedy with more than 1,800 deaths reported in a single day.

    There are, after all, more confirmed cases in the United States than anywhere else in the world — even if there are some hopeful and preliminary signs that the wave of infections may be beginning to slow in the New York epicenter.

    The chaos and contradictions coming from the administration do not just raise questions about the White House’s current management of the pandemic. They will cause concern because the second stage of the national effort — reopening the economy and keeping a second wave of infections at bay — will require focused and subtle leadership that can win the confidence of the nation.

    No White House has ever faced the task of ensuring such an expansive economic package is properly implemented and does not fall prey to corruption. There is little in the history of the Trump administration that suggests this will go smoothly.

    The President sparked fresh fears about his capacity to properly oversee previous rescue packages and those to come when it emerged he had removed Defense Department Inspector General Glenn Fine from a post monitoring the stimulus funds.

    The move prompted Democrats to warn that Trump is seeking to oversee the package himself. Trump had already warned he will ignore a provision in the bill requiring the special inspector general to report to Congress on the handling of the funds.

    His dismissal of Fine was the latest swipe against the structures of government meant to hold him accountable — that peaked with his defiance of the impeachment inquiry.

    On Monday, Trump personally attacked a Health and Human Services inspector general who uncovered massive shortages of vital protective equipment at hospitals battling Covid-19.
    On Friday night, the President fired the intelligence community inspector general who alerted lawmakers to a report about his pressure on Ukraine to dig up dirt on his Democratic foe Joe Biden.

    Trump dismisses Navarro memos

    With the pandemic taking a tighter grip on the United States, Trump has taken vigorous steps to cover up for his multiple statements earlier this year downplaying the virus.

    The question of his responsibility for a lack of preparation for the crisis intensified on Tuesday when The New York Times revealed that a top economic official, Peter Navarro, had written a memo to the President in January warning coronavirus could become a “full blown pandemic” causing trillions of dollars in economic damage and risking the health of millions of Americans.

    The revelation undercut the President’s repeated declarations that nobody could have foreseen the consequences of the virus. It also left him in a tricky spot. Either he had to admit that he had seen the warning, or if he said it didn’t reach him, he would paint a picture of dysfunction at the White House.

    He did neither, seeking to foster misinformation and confusion around the document designed to disguise his own culpability.

    The President maintained that he did not see the memo or memos until several days ago.

    “I didn’t see them. I didn’t look for them either,” the President said, then argued falsely he had reached the same conclusion as Navarro, citing his decision to stop flights from China. In fact, Trump was downplaying the impact of the virus as recently as early last month.

    When asked why he did not level with Americans about the potential impact of the crisis if his unexpressed thoughts aligned with Navarro, Trump said: “I’m not going to go out and start screaming, this could happen.”

    “I’m a cheerleader for this country. I don’t want to create havoc and shock.”

    Trump nominates a new foil — the WHO

    Unlike the President, the World Health Organization has warned for weeks about the gravity of coronavirus.

    The WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International concern on January 30 after sending a team to Wuhan and to meet Chinese leaders in Beijing.

    On the same day, at a rally in Michigan, the President said of the virus, “We think we have it very well under control.”

    But on Tuesday, the President lashed out at the global health body, claiming it had underplayed the threat of the virus and that he had got it right.

    “We’re going to put a hold on money spent to the WHO. We’re going to put a very powerful hold on it,” the President said in his briefing.

    “They called it wrong. They missed the call. They could have called it months earlier,” Trump said.

    “It’s a great thing if it works but when they call every shot wrong that’s no good,” he said, accusing the WHO of being biased towards China, which Republicans have accused of trying to cover up the virus.

    Given the President’s long timeline of false statements and predictions, that must go down as one of the most audacious comments of his presidency. It was also reflective of his own tendency to nominate an enemy and accuse it of the very transgression that he is accused of perpetrating.

    He added to the confusion by denying that he had said that he would halt funding to the WHO — a move that would be counterproductive in a pandemic and would undermine already compromised perceptions of US leadership on the crisis.

    “I’m not saying I’m going to do it, but we are going to look at it,” the President said.

    The President was also unable to provide much clarity on the chaos afflicting the Navy, following the resignation of Thomas Modly. The acting Navy secretary quit a day after leaked audio revealed he called the ousted commander of the USS Theodore Roosevelt “stupid” in an address to the ship’s crew.

    This came a little more than a week after Capt. Brett Crozier sent a memo warning of coronavirus spreading among the sailors. The memo leaked and Modly subsequently removed Crozier from command.

    “I had no role in it. I don’t know him but I’ve heard he was a very good man,” the commander in chief said.

    But Trump also rebuked Crozier.

    “He didn’t have to be Ernest Hemmingway. He made a mistake but he had a bad day. And I hate seeing bad things happen.”

    Source: CNN

  • Covid-19: Schools in Central Region assigned to manage suspected cases

    Central Region Minister, Kwamena Duncan, has tasked District Chief Executives (DCEs) and health authorities in the Region to designate schools in every district to serve as centres to manage suspected coronavirus cases.

    The schools, according to the minister, would be equipped with medical facilities by the Ghana Health Service to enable them to deal with any suspected case of coronavirus.

    Central Region remains one of the regions yet to record a case of Covid-19 and Kwamena Duncan does not want to take chances.

    He told a meeting of DCEs and health professionals in the region that the region does not want to be caught unprepared in the coronavirus fight and thus adequate measures must be put in place to reduce the spread of the virus.

    Should a district in the region get a suspected case, the minister wants it to be handled in the District through schools that have been designated by the educational authorities and equipped by the District health directorates.

    “We just want to be caught unprepared when there is a suspected case. The DCEs have to liaise with the District educational directorates to designate at least a school to manage such cases when they arise,” he said.

    The designated schools, according to the minister would be equipped with medical equipment to get it ready for the intended purpose.

    “The District health directorate should work with the MMDCEs to equip the schools that have been designated,” he intimated.

    The Regional Minister also asked for a District Rapid Response team, comprising health professionals, District education Authorities, the security agencies, to be put in place to deal with suspected cases when they are reported

    Central Regional Director of Health Dr. Akosua Agyeiwaa Owusu-Sarpong assured the Minister, the health staff to be used to form the rapid response team has been trained already and are ready for the task in every District.

    The Regional Minister asked the regional directorate of health to immediately distribute all medical and sanitary items that have been donated to the districts where they can be used for the intended purpose

     

    Source: myjoyonline 

  • Asem releases diss song for Sarkodie in new video

    Award-winning rapper Asem has gone all out at Sarkodie in a new viral video which shows him dropping some serious bars to reply Sarkodie.

    On Monday, April 6, 2020, Sarkodie released a track titled Sub Zero and it is believed he threw a shot at Asem and Shatta Wale.

    But in a viral video sighted by YEN.com.gh, Asem was seen doing some hardcore rap with some line directed at Sarkodie for earlier throwing shots at him.

    For some years now, Asem has been out of the music scene because he relocated to the United States.

    The ‘Pigaroo’ hitmaker went all out to deal with Sarkodie in the video has he rapped his heart out.

    source: yen.com.gh