TIG Post

Author: Chris Kodo

  • NPA fleecing 98% LPG users – Alex Mould

    An energy expert is awed as to why the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) will be fleecing about 98 percent of consumers of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) only two (2) percent consumers to enjoy.

    The NPA has introduced a GHp13.5 new Cylinder Recovery Margin during the last Petroleum Pricing window. The new levy or margin is to help the LPG Marketing Companies offset aspects of the cost involved in procuring and branding cylinders for the new energy policy, the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) which is currently being piloted in two assemblies, thus, Obuasi and Kwaebibirem Municipal assemblies.

    The new margin adds up to increase the price of LPG at the pumps at the expense of consumers nationwide, despite only two assemblies are benefiting now. Since the announcement by the NPA, many Ghanaians are at a shock for such decision at a time when global citizens are facing economic hardship amidst COVID-19 mitigation measures being implemented by nations.

    “Why the decision to immediately burden all consumers (even those outside of CRM pilot and operational regions), with the margin? Why should consumers outside the new policy’s pilot regions pay now?”, Alex Mould, former NPA and GNPC CEO has quizzed in a statement he shared in reaction to the introduction of the new margin.

    Not only is the energy and financial expert is worried about the charging of all LPG users for only 2% users to benefit from a new policy but also he believes the timing is bad.

    Below is the full statement

    WHY MUST 98% of LPG CONSUMERS PAY NEW MARGIN TO BENEFIT ONLY 2% – ALEX MOULD TO GOVERNMENT

    We understand the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) introduced a GHp 13.5 Cylinder Recovery Margin during the last Petroleum Pricing window.

    This is bad timing by the Authority; considering the current health crisis the last thing the consumer needs is to be burdened with this margin during such difficult and tumultuous times.

    As such, the NPA owes the general public a thorough and detailed explanation. We understand they’ve engaged stakeholders in 10 out of the 16 regions but I still can’t fathom why the rush to introduce the new margin when there’s not enough literature out there to educate and prepare the minds of LPG consumers.

    For starters, why the decision to immediately burden all consumers (even those outside of CRM pilot and operational regions), with the margin? Why should consumers outside the new system’s pilot regions pay now?
    This distribution system is being given a trial run in the following pilot sites: Kade in the Eastern region and Obuasi in the Ashanti region, which currently account for less than 2% of total LPG usage.

    However, as the Cylinder Recovery Margin has been introduced nation-wide, this connotes 98% of consumers are paying for the benefit of the 2% i.e. those within the two pilot regions.

    Silently slipping the Cylinder Recovery Margin into the pricing model with no prior communication is not only unfair but comes across as deceitful.

    Especially at a time when prices have fallen and the benefit should accrue to consumers!!!

    Some other questions that the NPA needs to answer include the following:

    – Is there a roadmap that can be shared with the public to understand the complete rollout plan?
    – How will the margin be collected, and what accounting mechanisms are in place to ensure transparency and effective disbursement measures? i.e. Payment Accounts, Responsible parties for disbursement, etc.
    – Is there a communication plan for the public to learn the guidelines regarding usage, phase-out, and replacement of current cylinders?
    – Clarity on why consumers who have already invested in ownership of cylinder(s) are being unlawfully charged for new ones with no additional benefits?
    – How will current cylinder owners refill their cylinders in this new recirculating model?
    – Are cylinder owners now stuck with redundant cylinders that can not be filled? There should be some sort of cylinder exchange or replacement plan, with a buy-back or exchange mechanism; so existing cylinders will automatically be replaced, free of charge, in this recirculation exercise.

    These are mind boggling questions that I’ve researched myself but surprisingly found little or no answers on the internet nor the NPA’s website.

    The LPG Marketers have called for a withdrawal of this new LPG margin. Yet, the NPA continuously insists that the new LPG margin did not result in LPG price hikes.

    It’s a disingenuous and inconsiderate Regulator who disregards the plight of consumers!!!

    Source: DIckson Boadi, Contributor

     

  • Global food prices drop in March – FAO Index

    World food prices declined sharply in March, driven mostly by demand-side contractions linked to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the drop in global oil prices due mostly to expectations of economic slowdown as governments roll out restrictions designed to respond to the health crisis.

    The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly traded food commodities, averaged 172.2 points during the month, down 4.3 percent from February.

    “The price drops are largely driven by demand factors, not supply, and the demand factors are influenced by ever-more deteriorating economic prospects,” said FAO Senior Economist Abdolreza Abbassian.

    The FAO Sugar Price Index posted the biggest drop, down 19.1 percent from the previous month. Causes include lower demand from out-of-home consumption linked to the confinement measures imposed by many countries, and lower demand from ethanol producers due to the steep fall in crude oil prices.

    The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index declined 12.0 percent in one month, mainly stemming from falling palm oil prices linked to the plunge in crude mineral oil prices and rising uncertainties over the pandemic’s impact on vegetable oil markets worldwide. Soy and rapeseed oil prices followed the trend.

    “Oil prices have fallen by more than half during the past month, which catalyzes a large downward impact on biofuels, which are an important source of demand in the markets for sugar and vegetable oils,” said FAO analyst Peter Thoenes.

    The FAO Dairy Price Index fell by 3.0 percent, driven by declining quotations and global import demand for skim and whole milk powders, due largely to disruptions in the dairy supply chains because of the containment measures aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-19.

    The FAO Cereal Price Index in March declined 1.9 percent from February and stood at nearly its level of March 2019. International wheat prices declined, as the effects of large global supplies and broadly favorable crop prospects outweighed those of increased import demand from North Africa and some small export limitations imposed by the Russian Federation. Maize prices also declined due to both large supplies and much weaker demand from the biofuel sector.

    International rice prices, by contrast, rose for the third consecutive month, with Indica quotations buoyed by stockpiling spurred by concerns over the pandemic and reports that Vietnam might introduce export bans – which the government has since downplayed.

    FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu told national leaders “to make sure that agricultural trade continues to play its important role in contributing to global food security” and to avoid policies that stymie trade flows that underpin food-supply systems. FAO is closely monitoring prices and logistical issue for food commodities with an eye to alerting countries of emerging problems that could exacerbate potential disruptions during the pandemic.

    The FAO Meat Price Index fell by 0.6 percent, led by drops in international quotations for ovine and bovine meats, for which export availabilities are large and trade capacity dampened by logistic bottlenecks. But pig meat quotations rose amid surging global demand and as processing facilities were hampered by the restrictions on the movement of workers.

    Comfortable cereal supplies

    FAO’s forecast for 2020 world wheat production remains unchanged from the previous month, at the near-record level of last year, which, coupled with ample inventories, will help shield food markets from turmoil during the coronavirus storm.

    In this month’s Cereal Supply and Demand Brief, FAO’s hiked its estimate for worldwide cereal output in 2019 to 2 721 million tonnes, a 2.4 percent increase from 2018. By type, FAO’s 2019 estimates now stand at 1 445 million tonnes for coarse grains, 763 million tonnes for wheat and 512 million tonnes for rice (milled basis).

    While localized disruptions, mostly due to logistical issues, pose challenges to food supply chains in some markets, their anticipated duration and magnitude are unlikely to have a significant effect on global food markets, FAO said.

    FAO’s 2020 forecast for world wheat production is unchanged from last month at 763 million tonnes, with expectations of lower outputs in the European Union, Ukraine and the United States of America compensated by anticipated production gains in the Russian Federation, India and Pakistan – although locust infestations in the latter two countries could temper the foreseen increase.

    For maize, the leading coarse grain, bumper harvests are expected in Brazil and Argentina, and South Africa’s maize output is forecast to recover strongly after last year’s drought. Elsewhere, sowing decisions may be influenced by the downturn in international maize prices.

    FAO’s forecast for world cereal utilization for 2019/20 has been raised slightly to 2 722 million tonnes, a 1.2 percent annual increase. World cereal stocks at the close of the 2020 seasons are expected to contract by 8 million tonnes from their opening levels, pushing the global cereals stock-to-use ratio down to 30.7 percent, which is still considered a comfortable level. World trade in cereals is forecast to increase by 2.3 percent from the previous year to reach 420 million tonnes.

    Source: fao.org

  • Japan expected to declare state of emergency over coronavirus

    Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will declare a state of emergency as early as Tuesday in a bid to stop the coronavirus spreading across the country, the Yomiuri newspaper reported, as the cumulative number of infections topped 1,000 in Tokyo alone.

    Abe will likely announce his plans to declare the emergency on Monday, the paper said, while Kyodo news agency said new measures would likely come into force on Wednesday.

    Pressure had been mounting on the government to make the move as the pace of infections continues to accelerate – particularly in the capital – even though it remains slow for now compared with the United States, countries in Europe and China, where thousands have died.

    Sounding alarm over the high rate of cases that couldn’t be traced, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike indicated last week that she would favour a state-of-emergency declaration as a means to help her urge residents to adhere to stronger social-distancing measures.

    Under a law revised in March to cover the coronavirus, the prime minister can declare a state of emergency if the disease poses a “grave danger” to lives and if its rapid spread could have a huge impact on the economy.

    Japan’s top government spokesman, Yoshihide Suga, said on Monday that a decision had yet to be made.

    Declaring an emergency would give governors in severely affected regions legal authority to call on people to stay home and businesses to close, but not to impose the kind of lockdowns seen in other countries. In most cases, there are no penalties for ignoring requests, and enforcement will rely more on peer pressure and respect for authority.

    The government is likely to designate the greater Tokyo metropolitan area for the state of emergency, and possibly also Osaka and Hyogo prefectures in western Japan, the Yomiuri reported.

    More than 3,500 people have tested positive and 85 have died in Japan from the COVID-19 disease associated with new coronavirus, according to public broadcaster NHK.

    While that toll is dwarfed by 335,000 infections and more than 9,500 deaths in the United States alone, experts worry a sudden surge could strain Japan’s medical system and leave patients with nowhere to go.

    Kenji Shibuya, director of the Institute for Public Health at King’s College, London, said Abe’s decision on a state of emergency was too late given the explosive rise in Tokyo.

    “It should have been declared by April 1 at the latest,” he said.

    Abe must seek formal advice from a panel of experts before deciding to go ahead and declare a state of emergency. One medical professional on the panel has said a decision to do so was “complex”, involving political, economic and other factors.

    The government’s coronavirus task force – a separate entity from the panel of experts – is scheduled to hold a meeting on Monday evening. Government spokesman Suga said he was not aware of any meeting with the advisory panel of experts itself on Monday.

    Governors in Tokyo and elsewhere have previously asked citizens to stay home on weekends, avoid crowds and evening outings, and work from home. That had some effect, but less than many experts said was needed.

    Restricting movement and businesses under a state of emergency would deal a heavy blow to an economy already struggling to avoid a recession. The government is readying a stimulus package of hundreds of billions of dollars to be rolled out this week.

    Source: France24

  • CBG cancels Saturday banking until further notice

    The Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG) has suspended Saturday banking until further notice, the management of the bank, has said.

    Although reasons for this decision were not given, it is believed it is as a result of the outbreak of the coronavirus infection in Ghana.

    Ghana has recorded 204 cases of the COVID-19 with five deaths.

    CBG in a message to its customers on Friday, April 3 said beginning Saturday, April 4, there will be no weekend banking.

    The management, therefore, appealed to customers to use its digital channels and ATMs to transact banking businesses during the weekends.

    “Dear Customer,” the message said: “Please be informed that effective this weekend, April 04, 2020, there will be no Saturday Banking until further notice.

    “We encourage you to use our ATMs and e-channels for your banking transactions. CBG…We Stand With You.”

    Source: laudbusiness.com

  • Apple to ship 1 million face shields a week for medical workers

    Apple has said it will soon be producing one million face shields a week for medical workers battling the coronavirus pandemic.

    The tech giant had already sourced 20 million surgical masks from around the world to help address a global shortage, chief executive Tim Cook said in a video posted to Twitter on Sunday.

    But the company had also designed its own transparent protective face shield and begun mass production at its factories in the US and China, he added.

    “We plan to ship over one million by the end of this week,” said Cook.

    Initial distribution would be focused on the US but the company hoped to “quickly expand distribution” to other countries, he said.

    Apple joins several global firms that have modified their production lines to meet demand for protective gear, including Italian luxury brand Prada.

    US President Donald Trump last month issued a federal order forcing auto giant General Motors to manufacture ventilators after a shortage of the hospital equipment, which is crucial for treating critical COVID-19 cases.

    Source: France24

  • Coronavirus: Singapore quarantines 20,000 migrant workers

    Singapore has told 20,000 foreign workers to stay in their dormitories for 14 days as coronavirus cases increase in the city state.

    Two dormitories have been isolated: one with 13,000 workers and 63 cases, and one with 6,800 workers and 28 cases.

    They are typically home to men who work in construction from South Asia.

    The workers will be paid and given three meals a day – but some have complained of overcrowded and dirty conditions.

    What has the government announced?
    Two places are being sealed off – the S11 Dormitory at Punggol and the smaller Westlite Toh Guan dormitory.

    The government said cases in the dormitories were rising, and that isolation would “keep the workers safe [and] protect the wider community from widespread transmission”.

    Workers are banned from leaving their blocks, and have been told not to mix with people who don’t live in their room or floor.

    The number of people in a room varies between dormitories, but in 2015 the BBC visited a new complex which had 12 people per room.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Coronavirus: Man rescued from Pyrenees fined for lockdown breach

    A man has been rescued by helicopter from the Pyrenees after trying to walk from France to Spain to buy cheap cigarettes, reports say.

    The local mountain rescue service said the man was found “exhausted, shivering, cold and lost” when he was eventually picked up.

    Despite his ordeal, he was fined 135 euros ($146; £119) for breaking coronavirus lockdown rules.

    “We remind you once more. STAY AT HOME,” the regional police tweeted.

    The mountain rescue service said the man, from Perpignan – about 25km (15 miles) from the Spanish border – had initially set off by car but was turned back at a checkpoint.

    It said he then decided to attempt the journey on foot along a hiking path over the mountains.

    However, the man fell into a stream and brambles and got lost before contacting rescuers, the service said. It said he was found quickly and airlifted to a security facility back in Perpignan.

    Under lockdown rules in France, people can only leave home for exceptional reasons and with a letter explaining why.

    Source: bbc.com

  • ‘I don’t qualify to be a Kotoko board member’- Nana Coker

    General Manager of Asante Kotoko, Nana Gyambibi Coker has ruled himself out of a possible place on the club’s yet to be named board claiming that he doesn’t merit a place on the revered board.

    The outspoken football administrator has shrugged off reports in the local media suggesting that his name was included in the board of directors of the Ghana Premier League giants.

    Reports in the local media indicated that the five-man board of directors which was submitted by the Executive Chairman, Dr. Kwame Kyei has been rejected by the owner of the club.

    Nana Coker debunked the story circulating in the media with his name shortlisted among the board of directors which was submitted to the Manhyia Palace.

    “My name was not part of those Dr. Kyei presented to Manhyia. I don’t qualify to be a Kotoko board member because am not C.EO of the club” Nana Coker told OTEC FM

    Asante Kotoko have been ordered by the Ghana Football Association Club’s Licensing Board to submit a board of directors to avoid losing their status as a Premiership club.

    Source: Ghanaguardian.com

  • Ghana Parliament approves GH¢6.7b Supplementary Appropriation for 2019

    Parliament on Friday evening approved GH¢6.370 billion to be issued from the Consolidated Fund, and granted authorisation for withdrawal from other funds to provide additional financing for Government operations during the 2019 Financial Year.

    This follows the passage of the Supplementary Appropriation Bill, 2020.

    Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta moved the motion for the passage of the Bill, which was seconded by Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu.

    According to a report of the Finance Committee on the Bill, when passed, the Bill shall “be deemed to have come into effect on the 29th day of July, 2019.”

    The Committee said the introduction of the Bill in 2020 to provide for the appropriation of the sum approved as supplementary estimate in 2019 was in pursuant of provisions in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

    In a background to the report on the proposal for the Bill, the House learned that after the approval of the 2019 Budget, there arose significant domestic and global developments, which posed fiscal risks to the economy.

    Those developments mainly related to the upward adjustments of interest payments resulting from the effect of a higher exchange rate than the programmed exchange rate and a higher domestic borrowing in the first half of the year as well as an upward adjustment in Goods and Services in the second half of the year to meet critical security expenses and other expenses.

    “Additionally, the crystallisation of contingent liabilities of the energy sector in respect of take-or-pay contract obligations with Independent Power Producers increased the requirements for external amortization above the amount provided for in the Budget for the Year 2019,” the report said.

    “These developments led to supplementary estimates being approved to support government operations for the year,” it added.

    The report said much of the supplementary vote for 2019 were channelled into the energy sector, with the rest going into Goods and Services.

    Source: GNA

  • Our families will be affected if we take a pay cut- Ahmed Adams

    The impact of the Coronavirus on Ghanaian clubs has led to talks in the media suggesting that players should take a pay cut in order to prevent clubs from collapsing.

    Berekum Chelsea defender Ahmed Adams has joined the conversation and according to him, if players are subjected to a pay cut, it will affect their families and welfare.

    “The pay cut is a good idea in some way but the players will be affected a lot since we also have families to take care of. At this moment the price of gari has even increased”, he told Nhyira FM.

    “How much are even our salaries? None of the clubs in Ghana even pay more than €1000” he concluded.

    The Ghana Football Association is in talks with the government to come to their aid according to the Communications Director,Henry Asante Twum.

    The Coronavirus outbreak in the country has plunged clubs into financial difficulties.

    Source: GHANAsoccernet.com

  • Coronavirus: Trump voices hope for levelling-off in US hotspots

    President Donald Trump has expressed hope coronavirus cases were “levelling off” in US hotspots, saying he saw “light at the end of the tunnel”.

    On Sunday, New York, the epicentre of the US outbreak, reported a drop in the number of new infections and deaths.

    Mr Trump described the dip as a “good sign”, but warned of more deaths as the pandemic neared its “peak” in the US.

    “In the days ahead, America will endure the peak of this pandemic,” Mr Trump said at his daily coronavirus briefing.

    He said more medical personnel and supplies, including masks and ventilators, would be sent to the states that are most in need of assistance.

    Deborah Birx, a member of the president’s coronavirus task force, said the situation in Italy and Spain, where infections and deaths have fallen in recent days, was “giving us hope on what our future could be”.

    “We’re hopeful over the next week that we’ll see a stabilisation of cases in these metropolitan areas where the outbreak began several weeks ago,” Dr Birx said at the same news conference.

    Optimism from Dr Birx and Mr Trump contrasted with other leading US experts, including top advisor Dr Anthony Fauci, who earlier said the short-term outlook was “really bad”.

    The US surgeon general, meanwhile, warned that this will be “the hardest and the saddest week of most Americans’ lives”.

    “This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment,” Surgeon General Jerome Adams told Fox News on Sunday.

    The US has reported 337,274 confirmed infections and 9,619 deaths from COVID-19, by far the highest tally in the world.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Besiktas in talks with Yeni Malatyaspor to sign Afriyie Acquah

    Turkish Super Lig giants Besiktas has opened talks with Yeni Malatyaspor to sign midfielder Afriyie Acquah.

    The Ghanaian international joined Yeni from Italian Seria A side Empoli on a free transfer at the beginning of the 2019/2020 season while he was valued at 1.8 million Euros.

    In the suspended football season in Turkey, Afriyie Acquah has barely put a foot wrong and was one of the best defensive midfielders in the Super Lig before it was halted due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

    Having caught the eye of many, Besiktas has appeared to be one of those clubs after its management commenced talks with Yeni Malatyaspor to try and secure his services for the next season.

    According to the reports gathered, talks between the two parties have gone well with the only decision yet to be agreed on being the transfer fee of Afriyie Acquah.

    The midfielder has seen an increase in his value on the market and is now set to cost 2 million Euros.

    While Yeni could try to bargain for more, it is understood that Besiktas is willing to pay the fee and will likely not be moved to add up.

    The Black and White kitted team wants to wrap up a deal for the Black Stars asset as they see him as the perfect replacement for Atiba who is expected to retire at the end of the season.

    Acquah, 28, has made 23 appearances in the Turkish Super Lig this season and has hugely helped Yeni Malatyaspor to properly compete.

    Source: Footballghana.com

  • Boris Johnson admitted to hospital due to persistent symptoms of coronavirus

    British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted to hospital for tests on Sunday in what Downing Street said was a “precautionary step” because he was showing persistent symptoms of coronavirus ten days after testing positive for the virus.

    “On the advice of his doctor, the Prime Minister has tonight been admitted to hospital for tests,” Downing Street said.

    “This is a precautionary step, as the Prime Minister continues to have persistent symptoms of coronavirus ten days after testing positive for the virus,” Downing Street said.

    News of his hospitalisation came only after an hour after Queen Elizabeth delivered a rallying call to the British public saying they would overcome the coronavirus outbreak if they stayed resolute.

    Johnson, 55, on March 27 became the first leader of a major power to announce that he had tested positive. He went into isolation at an apartment in Downing Street and said on Friday he was staying there as he still had a high temperature.

    Downing Street underscored that this was not an emergency admission and that Johnson remained in charge of the government. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will chair the government’s emergency COVID-19 meeting on Monday, a source said.

    With only an unwieldy collection of sometimes ancient and contradictory precedents to go by, there is no simple, formally-enshrined “Plan B” or succession scenario should the prime minister become incapacitated.

    The pound briefly fell 0.4% vs the U.S. dollar to $1.2215 before trimming some losses to trade at $1.2230, down 0.3%.

    Queen Elizabeth had been informed of Johnson’s admission to hospital, Buckingham Palace said. It made no further comment.

    U.S. President Donald Trump said Johnson was a “strong man” as he passed on his nation’s best wishes.

    “All Americans are praying for him,” Trump told a news conference. “He’s a friend of mine, he’s a great gentleman and a great leader, and as you know he went to the hospital today but I’m hopeful and sure that he’s going to be fine.”

    Coronavirus in the UK

    Johnson, the face of the 2016 Brexit campaign, won a resounding election victory in December before leading the United Kingdom out of the European Union on Jan. 31.

    But he has faced criticism in the United Kingdom for initially approving a much more modest response to the novel coronavirus outbreak than other major European leaders, telling a news conference on March 3 that he had been shaking hands with coronavirus patients.

    He then changed tack when scientific projections showed a quarter of a million people could die in the United Kingdom.

    Johnson effectively shuttered the world’s fifth-largest economy, advising people to stay at home and the elderly or infirm to isolate themselves for weeks.

    But the virus has penetrated the British government.

    Johnson and his health minister tested positive last month and his chief medical adviser also self isolated. Johnson’s pregnant 32-year-old fiancee, Carrie Symonds, also had symptoms but said on Saturday she was feeling better.

    From an apartment above Number 11 Downing Street, and with food brought to his door, Johnson continued to lead the government’s response and chaired meetings via video conference.

    <video=96289>

    He has posted a series of video messages on Twitter since then, initially appearing in a suit and tie but in the latest post on Friday, he appeared weary, sitting in a chair with his shirt open at the neck.

    “Although I’m feeling better and I’ve done my seven days of isolation, alas I still have one of the symptoms, a minor symptom, I still have a temperature,” he said.

    Britain’s National Health Service guidelines stipulate that those who suspect they have coronavirus should not leave home.

    Under a section headlined “What to do if you need medical help while self-isolating”, it says: “If you need medical help for any reason, do not go to places like a GP (family doctor) surgery, pharmacy or hospital.”

    Health officials said on Sunday the UK death toll from the coronavirus had risen by 621 to 4,934.

    Downing Street refused to say what tests Johnson was to have in hospital, but experts said a person of the prime minister’s age with COVID-19 symptoms after 10 days would be likely be assessed for their oxygen levels, lung, liver and heart functions, and undergo an electrocardiogram heart check.

    Doctors managing COVID-19 patients had reported that more men than women had serious problems and patients who were overweight or had previous health issues were at a higher risk.

    Earlier this year, Johnson said he needed to lose weight.

    “We don’t know exactly why the PM has gone to hospital except we have been told he is having tests,” said Derek Hill, professor of medical imaging science at University College London.

    “Many people attending hospital with COVID-19 have difficulty breathing. Some people are rapidly discharged. Some others can quickly deteriorate and need help breathing. We have no reason to believe the PM needs such help.”</video=96289>

    Source: France24

  • USA: Bronx zoo tiger tests positive for coronavirus

    A tiger at New York’s Bronx Zoo has tested positive for COVID-19, the institution said Sunday, and is believed to have contracted the virus from a caretaker who was asymptomatic at the time.

    The four-year-old Malayan tiger named Nadia along with her sister Azul, two Amur tigers and three African lions all developed dry coughs and are expected to fully recover, the Wildlife Conservation Society that runs the city’s zoos said in a statement.

    “We tested the cat out of an abundance of caution and will ensure any knowledge we gain about COVID-19 will contribute to the world’s continuing understanding of this novel coronavirus,” the statement sent to AFP said.

    “Though they have experienced some decrease in appetite, the cats at the Bronx Zoo are otherwise doing well under veterinary care and are bright, alert, and interactive with their keepers,” the statement continued.

    “It is not known how this disease will develop in big cats since different species can react differently to novel infections, but we will continue to monitor them closely and anticipate full recoveries.”

    All four of the zoos and the aquarium in New York — whose virus death toll has topped 4,000 — have been closed since March 16.

    The zoo emphasized that there is “no evidence that animals play a role in the transmission of COVID-19 to people other than the initial event in the Wuhan market, and no evidence that any person has been infected with COVID-19 in the US by animals, including by pet dogs or cats.”

    Chinese disease control officials had identified wild animals sold in a Wuhan market as the source of the coronavirus pandemic that has infected well over one million people worldwide.

    According to the US Department of Agriculture website there had “not been reports of pets or other animals” in the United States falling ill with coronavirus prior to news of the tiger Nadia.

    “It is still recommended that people sick with COVID-19 limit contact with animals until more information is known about the virus,” the department’s website says.

    In late March a pet cat was discovered infected with the novel coronavirus in Belgium, following similar cases in Hong Kong where two dogs tested positive for COVID-19.

    All of those animals are believed to have contracted the virus from the people they live with.

    The Bronx zoo said preventative measures were in place for caretakers as well as all cats in the city’s zoos.

    Source: France24

  • Coronavirus: Ecuadorian city runs out of coffins amid coronavirus crisis

    Ecuador’s government has begun storing the bodies of victims of the coronavirus in giant refrigerated containers as hundreds of deaths in the city of Guayaquil, the center of the country’s outbreak, have already filled morgues and hospitals.

    Ecuador has confirmed 318 deaths from the virus, one of the highest tallies in Latin America. But President Lenin Moreno said this week that the real figure was higher as authorities were collecting more than 100 bodies a day, many from relatives’ homes as a strict quarantine prevented them from being buried.

    The government has installed three containers, the largest about 12 meters (40 ft) long, at public hospitals to preserve bodies until graves were prepared, according to Guayaquil’s mayor, Cynthia Viteri. So far 150 victims have been buried in a private cemetery in the port city.

    At Guayaquil’s Teodoro Maldonado Carbo hospital on Saturday, medical workers wearing protective gear removed bodies wrapped in plastic from a storage room and used a pallet to wheel them to one container, according to a Reuters photographer.

    “This pandemic is overcoming the capacity of our hospital services,” the hospital said in a statement on Friday.

    The hospital on Sunday confirmed that it had set up a refrigerated container to hold the bodies of those who died amid the pandemic, adding that the arrangement was being operated in accordance with World Health Organization protocols.

    The Ecuadorean Institute of Social Security, which runs Teodoro Maldonado Carbo, said on Saturday on Twitter that it had disinfected all areas of the hospital to guarantee the safety of patients and medical professionals.

    On Saturday, Ecuador’s government said it would activate a new digital system that would allow families to find out where their dead relatives were buried.

    Moreno said the government expected the total number of deaths in Guayaquil’s surrounding province to reach up to 3,500, and said a “special camp” was being built to bury the dead.

    Source: France24

  • Apple to ship one million face shields a week for medical workers

    Apple has said it will soon be producing one million face shields a week for medical workers battling the coronavirus pandemic.

    The tech giant had already sourced 20 million surgical masks from around the world to help address a global shortage, chief executive Tim Cook said in a video posted to Twitter on Sunday.

    But the company had also designed its own transparent protective face shield and begun mass production at its factories in the US and China, he added.

    “We plan to ship over one million by the end of this week,” said Cook.

    Initial distribution would be focused on the US but the company hoped to “quickly expand distribution” to other countries, he said.

    Apple joins several global firms that have modified their production lines to meet demand for protective gear, including Italian luxury brand Prada.

    US President Donald Trump last month issued a federal order forcing auto giant General Motors to manufacture ventilators after a shortage of the hospital equipment, which is crucial for treating critical COVID-19 cases.

    Source: France24

  • This is not the time for ‘free water challenge’ – Oppong Nkrumah advises Ghanaians

    Minister for Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has advised Ghanaians not to embark on ‘free water challenge’ after President Akufo-Addo announced that government will absorb water bill for April, May and June.

    President Akufo-Addo yesterday announced that the government will absorb the water bills of all Ghanaians for the next 3 months.

    This means that citizens will not pay water bills for April, May and June.

    “The Ghana Water Company Ltd and the Electricity Company of Ghana have been directed to ensure the stable supply of water and electricity during this period. In addition, there will be no disconnection of supply. Furthermore, Government will absorb the water bills for all Ghanaians for the next three months, i.e. April, May and June. All water tankers, publicly and privately-owned, are also going to be mobilised to ensure the supply of water to all vulnerable communities.”

    The announcement was well-received by many Ghanaians as some on social media have indicated how often they will now use water for their daily activities.

    Some have also raised concerns about the frequent flow of water before the said announcement.

    One of the key issues raised is the government’s indebtedness to the Ghana Water Company which will affect the new policy directive.

    But responding to the debt concerns, Oppong Nkrumah said the three months will be ring-fenced and handle in a manner that won’t affect the operations of the company.

    “The 400 million cedis you are talking about is a liability that spans a certain period, beyond these three months that we are envisaging for the private citizen, the estimate of what the private citizen consumes is known to the system and has been factored into these calculations out of all these state interventions, 100 million dollars we are talking about so ordinarily, it should be possible to ring-fenced this one and deal with it separately without further burdening the legacy challenges that they have.”

    He further advised Ghanaians not to abuse the policy to embark on free water challenges.

    “May I also say that this is not the time for people to be embarking on free water challenges and beginning to abuse what is available but within the basket of what has been budgeted for looking at trends…”

     

    Source: primenewsghana.com

  • Hearts of Oak tight lipped on Isaac Mensahs arrival

    Ghana Premier League giants Hearts of Oak have botched to confirm the signing of Nkoranza Warriors striker Isaac Mensah.

    Rumour had it that the Phobians have signed the young talented forward from the Division One outfit after reaching an agreement with management of Nkoranza Warriors last week.

    But in an interview with both Opare Addo (communication director of Hearts) and Alhaji Akambi (Board Member), they failed to confirm whether the rumour was true or not.

    “We will come out with an official announcement on our signings or with an official publication. Once no official information has come from us, I will tell our supporters that we know what we want in the transfer market and we are looking for what will benefit the club.”

    “I will plead with them to exercise patience, very soon we will let them know what we have been able to grab in the transfer market” Opare Addo told Footballghana.com

    Isaac Mensah has ranked up eight goals for Nkoranza Warriors in the zone 1 of the ongoing National Division One League so far.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • Bashiru Hayford focused on landing Ghana technical director position

    Former Somalia coach Bashiru Hayford has set his sights on taking over Ghana’s vacant technical director job.

    The West Africans are in search of a new man following the end of the tenure of Francis Oti Akenteng in March.

    Hayford is back in Ghana after leaving his job as head coach of Somalia’s national football team in February.

    “That will be the happiest time in my life because I have prepared myself very well to take up every challenge in football so that I can help serve my country,” Hayford told Footballmadeinghana.

    “I will be very happy because I know what is in me, I know what I can do.

    “My dream is that one day I will give what I have learnt back to the FA.

    “So that [leading the technical directorate] will be my happiest day if I assume that seat.”

    Hayford’s last job in Ghana was a stint in charge of the national women’s team in 2018. In 2017, he led the national women’s U17 team.

    At club level, he has worked with Hearts of Oak, Asante Kotoko, Ashanti Gold, Medeama and Ebusua Dwarfs.

    The Ghana Football Association (GFA) opened applications for the technical director role last month.

    Source: Goal.com

  • Well slash our salaries on mutual consent Aduana Stars skipper reveals

    General captain of Aduana Stars Emmanuel Akuoko has joined the debate as to whether or not local players should take a pay cut amid the coronavirus crisis.

    There have been calls for players plying their trade in the country to emulate the European stars as they take salary cut to reduce financial burdens on their clubs.

    These calls have generated a lot of issues whether or not salary of players must be slashed in the wake of the disease due to lack of football activities.

    Addressing the issue, Emmanuel Akuoko said he and his colleagues could only accept pay cut if both parties (Players and management) reach a consensus.

    “Slashing down our salaries will depend on how management will discuss with us.

    “We know things are tough now and so if management discuss and explain things to us we will accept pay cut because we all want the best for the country,” he told Peace FM.

    “It is our will to make donations in this difficult times but our financial background is not all that strong,” he added.

    The Coronavirus outbreak has forced all football activities to be suspended all over the world.

    Source: Footballmadeinghana.com

  • COPEC threatens court action against NPA over new LPG levy

    The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) has threatened legal action against the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) over the introduction of a new levy on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

    The NPA has directed industry players to start charging 13.5 pesewas on each kilogram of LPG from April 1.

    The Authority is also asking oil marketing companies to increase the levy on Fuel Marking Margin from 3 pesewas to 4.5 pesewas per litre on every product.

    However, COPEC says the current action of the regulator is illegal.

    Executive Secretary of COPEC, Duncan Amoah said, the directive is illegal adding that, there is a legal process to follow.

    “In Act 691 that establishes the NPA, the Authority has no mandate, power within the setup to impose a new levy of such magnitude without recourse to parliament” Amoah indicated.

    COPEC maintained that the NPA is not clothed with power to unilaterally push levies or taxes on Ghanaians and that, would make the Chamber contest the case in court.”

    Mr Amoah said the introduction of the Cylinder Recovery Margin clearly defeats the whole purpose of the Cylinder Recirculation Model.

    “It cannot be said that even before rolling out nationally, the monetary consideration is going ahead of everything. We would have wished to see how the CRM would even work across the country, how many of the bottling plants will be erected, how far the NPA is able to serve Ghanaians before it talks about money and charges. Unfortunately, it looks as though right from the start we are already defeating the whole essence of the Cylinder Recirculation Model by putting money ahead of every other thing.”

    Amoah added, “It cannot be said that we are already charging Ghanaians for a certain service that they are not using. You cannot charge people for a Cylinder Recovery Margin at the time when they are still using their own bottles. No branded bottles are in the system to be given to anyone if he/she went to the market today to refill his/her bottle, yet you are charging them for a certain recovery. What are you taking those monies for?”

    Source: goldstreetbusiness.com

  • CAF boss Ahmad rules out 2020 CHAN in June as doubts over finals grow

    CAF president Ahmad Ahmad has confirmed the 2020 African Nations Championship (CHAN) finals will not be played in Cameroon during June/July.

    This has put the future of the tournament in doubt after the continent’s football governing body postponed it because of the coronavirus outbreak.

    Ahmad told the French newspaper Le Monde: ”Our desire is to play all competitions including, of course, the African Nations Championship.

    “It is obviously too early to decide whether we will play it in 2020 or 2021.

    The only thing that seems obvious is that CHAN will not be able to take place in Cameroon in June and July, due to weather conditions.”

    Cameroon was scheduled to host the tournament from 4-25 April, 2020.

  • Boeing extends factory shutdown in Washington state

    Boeing has said it will indefinitely extend a shutdown at its factories in Washington state because of the coronavirus pandemic.

    The aerospace giant had already halted production at its Puget Sound facility near Seattle, where the company builds the long-range 777 jet and other models, after announcing a two-week stoppage last month.

    It had also shut its other major state factory at Moses Lake because of the 737 MAX grounding.

    Boeing announced Sunday that the shutdown would continue indefinitely in an effort to protect staff from COVID-19, which has already claimed the life of one employee at the company’s Everett facility.

    “The health and safety of our employees, their families and our communities is our shared priority,” Boeing’s commercial airplanes division president Stan Deal said in a statement.

    Boeing was already facing significant headwinds prior to the coronavirus pandemic because of the crisis surrounding the 737 MAX, which has been grounded for more than a year following two fatal crashes.

    But the pandemic has further hit the company’s outlook with most commercial airline travel suspended and major carriers thrust into a life-or-death fight.

    The company is seeking more than $60 billion in federal support for the US aerospace industry in the wake of the two crises.

    It announced a voluntary worker layoff plan on Thursday and said it expected “several thousand employees” to take a severance package or retire.

    Boeing currently employs around 70,000 people in Washington state.

    Source: France24

  • VIDEO: Medikal spotted smoking his head off as he celebrates birthday

    Rapper Medikal has shared a video of himself smoking his head off, MyNewsGh.com reports.

    Telling the world how he feels about his birthday, the rapper shared a video of himself smoking a drug suspected to be Indian hemp.

    The rapper captioned the video “birthday mood”. He received backing from Kofi Mole and Fameye who taught the mood the rapper was in was the best thing ever happen to anyone.

    Source: ghbase.com

  • Coronavirus: Govt to give GH¢600m loan to MSMEs

    Government has announced a loan package of GH¢600 million to micro, small and medium scale businesses to support their operations, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

    This will be done in collaboration with the National Board for Small Scale Industries, Business and Trade Associations as well as selected commercial and rural banks.

    According to President Akufo-Addo, the facility will lessen the negative impact of the coronavirus outbreak on businesses.

    He disclosed this when he addressed the nation on Sunday, 5 April 2020 regarding the state of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana.

    The loan will have a year moratorium and two-year repayment period.

    Source: ClassFMOnline.com

  • Japan expected to declare state of emergency over coronavirus

    Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, will declare a state of emergency as early as Tuesday in a bid to stop the coronavirus spreading across the country, the Yomiuri newspaper reported, as the cumulative number of infections topped 1,000 in Tokyo alone.

    Abe will likely announce his plans to declare the emergency on Monday, the paper said, while Kyodo news agency said new measures would likely come into force on Wednesday.

    Pressure had been mounting on the government to make the move as the pace of infections continues to accelerate particularly in the capital even though it remains slow for now compared with the United States, countries in Europe and China, where thousands have died.

    Sounding alarm over the high rate of cases that couldn’t be traced, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike indicated last week that she would favour a state-of-emergency declaration as a means to help her urge residents to adhere to stronger social-distancing measures.

    Under a law revised in March to cover the coronavirus, the prime minister can declare a state of emergency if the disease poses a “grave danger” to lives and if its rapid spread could have a huge impact on the economy.

    Japan’s top government spokesman, Yoshihide Suga, said on Monday that a decision had yet to be made.

    Declaring an emergency would give governors in severely affected regions legal authority to call on people to stay home and businesses to close, but not to impose the kind of lockdowns seen in other countries. In most cases, there are no penalties for ignoring requests, and enforcement will rely more on peer pressure and respect for authority.

    The government is likely to designate the greater Tokyo metropolitan area for the state of emergency, and possibly also Osaka and Hyogo prefectures in western Japan, the Yomiuri reported.

    More than 3,500 people have tested positive and 85 have died in Japan from the COVID-19 disease associated with new coronavirus, according to public broadcaster NHK.

    While that toll is dwarfed by 335,000 infections and more than 9,500 deaths in the United States alone, experts worry a sudden surge could strain Japan’s medical system and leave patients with nowhere to go.

    ‘Too late’

    Kenji Shibuya, director of the Institute for Public Health at King’s College, London, said Abe’s decision on a state of emergency was too late given the explosive rise in Tokyo.

    “It should have been declared by April 1 at the latest,” he said.

    Abe must seek formal advice from a panel of experts before deciding to go ahead and declare a state of emergency. One medical professional on the panel has said a decision to do so was “complex”, involving political, economic and other factors.

    The government’s coronavirus task force a separate entity from the panel of experts is scheduled to hold a meeting on Monday evening. Government spokesman Suga said he was not aware of any meeting with the advisory panel of experts itself on Monday.

    Governors in Tokyo and elsewhere have previously asked citizens to stay home on weekends, avoid crowds and evening outings, and work from home. That had some effect, but less than many experts said was needed.

    Restricting movement and businesses under a state of emergency would deal a heavy blow to an economy already struggling to avoid a recession. The government is readying a stimulus package of hundreds of billions of dollars to be rolled out this week.

    Source: France24

  • China reports increase in new coronavirus cases, asymptomatic patients

    Mainland China reported 39 new coronavirus cases as of Sunday, up from 30 a day earlier, and the number of asymptomatic cases also surged, as Beijing continued to struggle to extinguish the outbreak despite drastic containment efforts.

    The National Health Commission said in a statement on Monday that 78 new asymptomatic cases had been identified at of the end of the day on Sunday, compared with 47 the day before.

    Imported cases and asymptomatic patients, who have the virus and can give it to others but show no symptoms, have become China’s chief concern in recent weeks after draconian containment measures succeeded in slashing the infection rate.

    Of the new cases showing symptoms, 38 were people who had entered China from abroad, compared with 25 a day earlier. One new locally transmitted infection was reported, in the southern province of Guangdong, down from five a day earlier in the same province.

    The new locally transmitted case, in the city of Shenzhen, was a person who had travelled from Hubei province, the original epicentre of the outbreak, Guangdong provincial authorities said.

    The Guangdong health commission raised the risk level for a total of four districts in the cities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Jieyang from low to medium late on Sunday.

    Mainland China has now reported a total of 81,708 cases, with 3,331 deaths.

    Daily infections have fallen dramatically from the peak of the epidemic in February, when hundreds were reported daily, but new infections continue to appear daily.

    The country has closed off its borders to foreigners as the virus spreads globally, though most imported cases involve Chinese nationals returning from overseas.

    The central government also has pushed local authorities to identify and isolate the asymptomatic patients.

    Source: France24

  • US braces for ‘Pearl Harbor moment’ as coronavirus death toll rises

    US governors on Sunday appealed to the White House for a national strategy against the fast-spreading coronavirus, as deaths surged and health authorities warned the coming week could resemble a “Pearl Harbor moment.”

    The US death toll was creeping toward the grim milestone of 10,000 as the pandemic’s epicentre in New York racked up hundreds of lives lost a day and hospitals girded for an influx of new infected patients.

    Anthony Fauci, the senior American scientist battling the pandemic stateside, warned of a looming “escalation,” saying Americans should prepare for “a bad week.”

    “I will not say we have it under control,” Fauci told CBS Sunday. “That would be a false statement.”

    US Surgeon General Jerome Adams sounded an even more dire alarm.

    “This is going to be the hardest and the saddest week of most Americans’ lives, quite frankly,” he told Fox News.

    “This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9-11 moment, only it’s not going to be localised.”

    Most of the nation is under shelter-in-place orders, but nine states have yet to issue such regulations, while the federal government has declined to mandate anything on a national level.

    Adams noted that the nine states without orders were producing much of the US food supply.

    Still, he pleaded with state leaders to urge residents to stay home for at least the next seven to 10 days: “There is a light at the end of the tunnel if everyone does their part.”

    Sunday night the White House aimed to emphasize progress in the fight including plans to send hundreds of thousands of masks to counties in New York, but could not sugarcoat the difficult weeks ahead.

    “We all know that we have to reach a certain point, and that point is going to be a horrific point in terms of death,” President Donald Trump said at his briefing.

    Hitting a plateau?

    The coronavirus death toll in hardest-hit New York state rose to 4,159, Governor Andrew Cuomo said, up from 3,565 a day prior.

    It was the first time the day-over-day toll had dropped on Saturday it hit a record 630 deaths in 24 hours but Cuomo told journalists it was too early to tell whether that was a “blip.”

    New York’s peak could arrive over the next week, he said, though he cautioned it was unclear if the apex would be a point, followed quickly by a decline, or a lingering plateau.

    The state has now reported 122,031 confirmed infections roughly one-tenth the worldwide total.

    Cuomo said he aimed to shift patients away from already overburdened hospitals to others with more capacity and equipment.

    “I can’t say to a hospital, I will send you all the supplies you need, all the vents you need. We don’t have them,” he said, referring to life-saving ventilator equipment. “You are going to have to shift and deploy to different locations.”

    The governor said rapid testing, still out-of-reach, was key to a “return to normalcy,” while reiterating appeals for equipment including ventilators from other states as well as from the federal stockpile.

    Cuomo vowed to return the favor as the virus spreads elsewhere New Jersey, Michigan and Louisiana are all emerging hotspots saying that New York could offer a strategic blueprint.

    ‘All hands on deck’

    On the Sunday morning talk show circuit, other state governors voiced alarm that the Donald Trump administration has not offered a unified policy plan.

    “Not having a national strategy where there is one policy for the country as opposed to a patchwork based on whomever the governor is, is something that I think is creating a more porous situation where COVID-19 will go longer and more people will get sick,” Michigan’s Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer said on Fox News.

    “We are not one another’s enemy,” she added. “The enemy is COVID-19. And it has to be all hands on deck, from the federal level, to the state level, to the local level.”

    Throughout the weekend Trump stressed that the US where infections have surpassed 330,000 cannot remain economically shut down forever, and continued to leave it to the states to declare their own mitigation strategies and lockdown orders.

    Illinois’s Democratic governor J.B. Pritzker skewered the Trump administration for not better preparing the nation, leaving the virus to slam the US as it has Europe and China.

    “If they had started in February building ventilators, getting ready for this pandemic, we would not have the problems that we have today, and frankly, very many fewer people would die,” Pritzker told CNN.

    At his briefing the president later accused Pritzker of “always complaining.”

     

    Source: AFP

  • More cash for Covid-19 frontline health workers

    Frontline health workers leading the fight against the coronavirus pandemic will receive 50 per cent of their basic salaries as top-up on their emoluments for four months.

    They will also be exempt from paying taxes on their salaries for the next three months.

    These are part of measures put in place by government to make them comfortable in the discharge of their duties as the country fights the outbreak of coronavirus.

    The measures were made known by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Sunday night in a nationwide broadcast.

    President Akufo-Addo assured the workers that high priority has been placed on the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPEs) for them.

    So far, 350, 000 masks, 558,650 examination gloves and 1,000 reusable goggles , among other logistics, have been sent to the regional health directorates for onward distribution to health workers in all districts of the country.

    Health workers have complained about the psychological trauma the scourge of the viral disease is having on them especially as some colleagues have fallen victims to it.

    At the Accident and Emergency Centre of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, for instance, nurses had planned to stage a strike from Monday over failure by authorities to make PPEs available to them as they claim they were kept in the dark as regards a colleague who tested positive for coronavirus.

    President Akufo-Addo noted that government has engaged local manufacturing companies to assist in the production of PPEs to complement the foreign-procured ones.

    “I am encouraged by the response of the Ghanaian private sector.”

    He said domestic production of these protective items will commence from Tuesday, April 7.

    President Akufo-Addo said these are aside an insurance package totalling GH¢350,000 for each and every health worker including allied professionals leading the fight against Covid-19.

    Contract tracers will be given a daily allowance of GH¢150.

    “Government has also decided that all health workers will not pay taxes on their emoluments for the next three months. ie April, May and June.

    “Furthermore, all frontline health workers will receive an additional allowance of 50 per cent of their basic salaries per month. ie for March, April, May and June.”

    The March allowance will be paid alongside that of April, the President clarified.

    Aayalolo buses will also be on hand to transport all health workers in locked down areas to and fro work.

    Source: 3news.com|Ghana

  • Kobe Bryant inducted into Hall of Fame

    Kobe Bryant will be posthumously inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

    The five-time NBA champion died, aged 41, in a helicopter crash in January alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others.

    Los Angeles Lakers great Bryant retired in 2016; he was the NBA Most Valuable Player in 2008, was Finals MVP twice and earned 18 All-Star selections.

    He was in the United States team that won Olympic gold in 2008 and 2012.

    NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Bryant’s death was “unspeakable” and the league was keen to “honour” him.

    “Kobe Bryant is synonymous with NBA All-Star and embodies the spirit of this global celebration of our game,” Silver said.

    “He always relished the opportunity to compete with the best of the best and perform at the highest level for millions of fans around the world.”

    Tim Duncan, a five-time NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs, and Kevin Garnett, who helped the Boston Celtics win the championship in 2008, were also inducted into the Hall of Fame.

    The Hall of Fame is named after Dr James Naismith, the Canadian physician who invented basketball.

    Source: bbc.com

  • More senior officers deployed for coronavirus lockdown

    More senior officers have been deployed at the operational level to lend a hand in Operation Covid Safety currently underway in four major cities of the country, government has confirmed.

    This is to enhance command and control.

    Explaining the move on Sunday in a nationwide broadcast, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said his attention has been drawn to cases of the use of excessive force by officers in the enforcement of the Imposition of Restrictions Law, 2020 (Act 1012).

    “Thus far, the alleged wrongdoers have been withdrawn from the ongoing exercise,” the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces said.

    He noted that from Monday, April 6 each member of the security services participating in Operation Covid Safety will be handed an aide-mémoire, which highlights the guidelines for the Operation.

    Already, the Inspector General of Police and the Chief of Defence Staff have taken steps to look into the said incidents of breaches by their men.

    The president was least happy about videos passing and making rounds as brutalities meted out to citizens in the enforcement of the lockdown directives.

    He said this can only come from unpatriotic persons.

    “It is sad, it is unfortunate, and it must end. We should all be in this fight together, and there is nothing to be gained with widespread fabrication and distribution of such videos, whose sole aim is to create discontent, and undermine the trust of the population in the men and women of our security services,” President Akfo-Addo observed.

    “Who gains from such conduct?” he quizzed.

    “Nobody in their right senses!”

    He said the state security agencies are on the heels of the originators of these videos and they will be exposed sooner than later.

    The 14-day lockdown, which was imposed on Monday, March 30, enters its final week on Monday, April 6.

    But the president has hinted that a decision on its extension or otherwise will be taken in the course of the week.

     

    Source: 3News.com 

  • Covid-19: GHS removes pregnant nurses, nursing mothers from post

    The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has directed staff who are pregnant or nursing babies not to report for work as the nation battles to get a hold on coronavirus.

    Additionally, National Service Personnel and drivers without assigned official vehicles are to be excused from duty.

    “National Service Personnel, interns, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and drivers without assigned official vehicles are to be excused from work with immediate effect. Rotational Nurses and officers in the residency program are exempted”

    The directive is contained in a memo dated April 2, 2020 issued by the Director-General of GHS Dr. Patrick Aboagye and addressed to all Divisional Directors of GHS across the Country as a measure to reduce staff strength in response to Covid-19 Pandemic.

    The Memo cited by Starr News explained that Management of GHS took the decision to reduce staffing levels of those operating at the national level to avoid “non-essential” commuting or travelling, overcrowding and contacts with others to enhance social distancing as to prevent the spread of infections at the workplace.

    The memo stated further that “all Directors and Deputy Directors are required to be at post during this period and those who need to take days off are to request in writing”

    GHS instructed that “all Directors are to select critical staff in their Divisions to be at Post during this period. Officers who will be working from home will be contacted when their services are required at the office”

    The Memo also barred visiting at the hospital except those who have specific appointment.

    Health workers in Ghana continue to agitate over lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) at various health facilities exposing them to high risk of being infected. Two doctors and a nurse have tested for the virus in Ghana.

    Ghana confirmed nine(9) new cases of Covid-19 on April 4, 2020 increasing the national case count to 214.

    Source: Starrfm.com.gh

  • Ghanaians to enjoy free water for 3 months

    As part measures taken to combat the novel Coronavirus pandemic, government have absorded the water bill for all Ghanaians for the next three months [April, May and June].

    In his fifth address to the nation, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo instructed all water tankers [publicly and privately owned] to mobilised to ensure that there is constant water supply all vulnerable communities.

    He noted that, “the Ghana Water Company Ltd and the Electricity Company of Ghana have been directed to ensure the stable supply of water and electricity during this period. In addition, there will be no disconnection of supply.”

    Lockdown extension to be decided next week

    Akufo-Addo indicated that his government will determine whether or not to extend the lockdown imposed on parts of the country next week.

    He said, the decision will largely be based on the results of the over 19,000 tests that have been conducted due to the enhanced contact tracing exercise.

    “The decision of government on the matter will be driven by science and available data.”

    The president noted that 15,385 out of 19,276 contact persons had been reached through the enhanced contact tracing and their samples have been taken.

    “[This] will determine our future terms of action,” he stressed.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coronavirus: Health workers to enjoy 3 months tax holiday Akufo-Addo

    All health workers in the country are to enjoy tax holiday for three months as part of government incentive for their sacrifices in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic.

    Additionally, frontline health workers will receive a 50% allowance on their March to June basic salary. They are also to enjoy free rides to and from work on Ayalolo buses, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo noted in a national address Sunday evening.

    “Government has also decided that all health workers will not pay taxes on their emoluments for the next three months i. e. April, May and June,” the President said.

    Ghana has confirmed nine (9) additional COVID-19 cases; six (6) from Greater Accra and three (3) from Ashanti region, the Ghana Health Service has announced.

    Among the cases from Greater Accra, one is a 37-year-old woman with no history of travel nor contact with a confirmed case.

    One is a repeat test of travellers under quarantine who initially tested negative but converted to positive on a repeat test. Four are contacts of confirmed cases with no symptoms and were detected during the enhanced contact tracing and testing.

    Of the three (3) cases from Ashanti region, two (2) are Ghanaians who travelled to Ghana from France within the past 14 days and the third one is a Ghanaian who has no history of travel out of the country nor contact with any confirmed case.

    As at 4th April 2020, Ghana has recorded a total of 214 cases of COVID-19 with five (5) deaths.

    Currently, the number of regions reporting cases are as follows: Greater Accra, Ashanti, Northern, Upper West Eastern and Upper East Region. The Greater Accra Region has most cases (189) followed by the Ashanti Region (12), Northern Region (10), Upper West Region (1), Eastern Region (1) and Upper East Region (1).

    Most of the cases are reported from routine / enhanced surveillance activities. Cases from travellers under mandatory quarantine are now 90.

    Source: starrfmonline.com.gh

  • COVID-19: Govt rolls out GH₵600 million soft loan scheme for SMEs

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has announced a soft loan scheme for micro, small and medium scale businesses.

    The loan, a total of GH₵600 million, will have a one year moratorium and two-year repayment period.

    The scheme, the President said, is in collaboration with the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), business and trade associations and selected commercial and rural banks.

    He made this known when he address the nation on Sunday on the measures being put in place to mitigate the effects of the Coronavirus on Ghanaians and the economy.

    He said as part of measures, he had also directed the Minister for Finance to send to Parliament the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme (CAP), aimed at protecting households and livelihoods.

    He said the CAP would also support micro, small, and medium sized businesses, minimise job losses and source additional funding for promotion of industries to shore up and expand industrial output for domestic consumption and exports.

     

    Source: Graphic.com.gh 

  • COVID-19: Results of over 15,000 people to determine lockdown extension

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says government is awaiting the results of some 15,384 people who have been tested for the Coronavirus disease.

    He said the results would determine the next course of action by government.

    In a nationwide broadcast on Sunday evening, President Akufo-Addo said the results would determine whether or not there would be a need for extension of the two-week restriction on movement.

    “We are, thus, about to enter a critical phase of our fight in the coming week, as the Ghana Health Service is due to receive the results of some 15,384 out of 19,276 persons who have been reached through contact tracing. It is the results of these tests that will determine our future course of action,” he said.

    “So, in the course of the coming week, a determination will be made as to whether or not to extend the duration of the two-week restriction on movement, and the implementation or otherwise of any more enhanced measures to deal with the virus,” he added.

    He added that of the 1,030 travellers who were mandatorily quarantined and tested on their arrival in Ghana on the 21st and 22nd of March, 105 of them tested positive and had been isolated for treatment.

    He further stated that 804 of them had been released to join their families, while an additional 121 were in the process of being released and that

    “I want to thank all of them and their families and loved ones for their understanding and co-operation with the stringent procedures that government was forced to deploy in the public interest,” he said.

     

    Source: Graphic.com.gh 

  • Nabdam NPP inaugurates COVID-19 Task Force

    The Nabdam Constituency Executive of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has inaugurated a COVID-19 Task Force to help educate the constituents on the pandemic.

    The Task Force is to give direction and develop active interventions for dealing with the disease and provide leadership in terms of planning, organizing, coordinating and monitoring resources and directives of the Ghana Health Service.

    It would also design sensitisation and advocacy programmes to involve community target groups in line with current guidelines of the Government.

    Madam Agnes Anamoo, the District Chief Executive, and Mr Boniface Gambila, the NPP Parliamentary Candidate, inaugurated the Task Force at Nangodi in the Nabdam District.

    They charged it to adhere to the COVID-19 protocols and set standards to achieve the broad goals by the District to prevent its natives from contracting the disease.

    The Task Force has Alhaji Ibrahim Amoore as Chairman, with Lawrence Agengre, Roland Datogh, Madam Fausty, and Monica Tibil as members.

    Source: GNA

  • Akufo-Addo thanks Ghanaians for complying to lockdown order

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has thanked Ghanaians for complying to the lockdown order in Accra, Kumasi and Tema.

    According to him, the majority of Ghanaians have so far complied with the lockdown.

    However, he stated that recalcitrant individuals have failed to comply with the directive.

    He made the comments as he delivered his fifth address to the nation.

    According to him, the compliance shows “That being a Ghanaian means that we look at for each other.”

    He has also thanked nurses and other health workers for working hard to save COVID-19 patients.

    “You are the heroes and heroines of our generation,” he said.

    The police and other security agencies have executed their mandate with considerable professionalism, he said.

    Source: dailyguidenetwork.com

  • Disinfection of markets in Volta, highly successful – Letsa

    Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, Volta Regional Minister has described the disinfection of markets in the Volta Region as highly successful.

    The exercise, under the auspices of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, was undertaken by Zoomlion Ghana Limited with support from security services, the Regional Coordinating Council and the local Assemblies.

    A total of 75 markets across all districts in the Region, major streets, and business enclaves were all disinfected, in an exercise, which employed several mechanised spraying machines, thermal foggers, a road sweeper and a drone.

    Dr Letsa said he was impressed with the support received from market women, traditional authorities and other stakeholders and commended them for the purposefulness.

    He said Government was committing all resources towards the fight against COVID-19 and that people must respond to directives for a swift end of the pandemic.

    The Regional Minister appealed to public institutions, particularly commercial outlets to implement the social distancing parameters being recommended as a safeguard against contracting the virus.

    He said the Region would engage institutions including banks on enhancing social distancing.

    Source: GNA

  • COVID-19: 3 months water bill for all Ghanaians to be absorbed by government

    All Ghanaians will not be paying water bill for the next three months as government will absorb all the cost.

    President Akufo-Addo in his televised address to the nation announced that for the months of April, May and June, his government is taking that burden off Ghanaians.

    “All water tankers, publicly and privately-owned, are also going to be mobilised to ensure the supply of water to all vulnerable communities,” he said.

    There have been several complaints of lack of portable drinking water in many community as the Greater Accra and Kumasi as well as Tema and Central Region observe a 14-day lockdown.

    According to some of the residents at a time when hand washing as become critical part of the fight against the virus, they had no water following in their tapes making it difficult to adhere to the WHO protocol.

    The Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah had said she is working with the Ghana Water Company (GWCL) to ensure that there is water in all parts of these cities to ease their burden as they stay home to curb the spread of Covid-19.

    Last month, GWCL introduced a temporary billing regime to bill customers on an average of their last three months consumption.

    “All GWCL customers will for the next few months, be billed on estimated consumption, based on an average of their consumption from January to March 2020,” the Company said.

    Running Water
    WaterAid Ghana was concerned about the lack of running reliable water in communities; especially during the fight against Covid-19.

    The Company said this has become “necessary so as to reduce the frequency of visits by our Meter Readers to the premises of customers in order to reduce the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

    The management assured customers that, when the situation normalizes, meter readings by our Meter Readers will resume and all anomalies will be rectified.

    But the President said there is no need for that as government will be footing all the bills for all Ghanaians.

    He added that “the Ghana Water Company Ltd and the Electricity Company of Ghana have been directed to ensure the stable supply of water and electricity during this period. In addition, there will be no disconnection of supply.”

     

    Source: myjoyonline 

  • Bishop, members of two Churches arrested in Ho over social gathering

    Police in Ho on Sunday arrested Bishop George Kunu, General Overseer of the Miracle Life Temple at Sokode-Lokoe, with five members of his church for disobeying President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo‘s directive against social gatherings.

    Some members of the Lokoe Pentecost Church were also picked up by the Police for flouting the directive.

    Mr Anthony Danso, Ho Municipal Police Commander, who confirmed the arrest to the Ghana News Agency said the culprits were yet to be interrogated.

    Meanwhile, churches have generally suspended church services in the Volta regional capital, with many reaching their members through social media and radio stations.

    Few churches on Sunday, April 05, Palm Sunday decorated their premises with palm fronds but did not organise church services in the auditoriums.

    The President in a national address on Sunday, March 15, 2020, banned all public gatherings including conferences, funerals, political rallies, church activities and other related events to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

    Source: GNA

  • NPP to distribute GH¢5 million worth of PPE nationwide

    John Boadu, the General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has said that the Party had initiated an urgent move to distribute Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) worth five million cedis to health facilities nationwide.

    The PPE, which would be distributed equally to all the 275 constituencies alongside intensified public sensitizations with key stakeholders, is aimed at helping to contain the spread of the virus.

    Speaking in an interview with the media in Assin Fosu, he said the initiative was in tandem with the government’s unwavering determination to go all out to protect all citizens.

    Mr Boadu gave a strong assurance that the government will not trivialize the health and economic wellbeing of its people and stressed the urgent need for all political parties to join forces with the Government to contain the pandemic.

    “They should disengage from politicising all government efforts and rather collaborate effectively, particularly at this period of partial lockdown and its dire implications on the economy”.

    Touching on reliable sources of fund to support the fight, Mr Boadu assured that the government was exploring all internal and external revenue sources to raise the needed funds.

    “The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, will go all out to implement well-thought-out preventative measures while exploring all revenue sources in its bid to contain the spread of the pandemic.”

    “If it becomes necessary to tap into the heritage fund among other financial rearrangements, Government will not hesitate to act accordingly to protect its citizens,” he noted.

    Allaying the fears of Ghanaians, the NPP General Secretary noted that all the detected cases of the disease were largely imported, emphasizing the need for the people not to panic, but ensure that they adhered religiously to the President’s directives and follow the instruction of handwashing with soap under running water seriously.

    The good news according to him was that the decision to undertake the mandatory quarantine has made an impact because without that, all the confirmed cases would have slipped through and infected others.

    He states that field officers, epidemiologists and communication health nurses had been trained to undertake contact tracing to test people.

    He urged Ghanaians to assist health officials to identify persons who might be horizontally spreading the virus in the country and protect the population.

    Mr Boasu appealed to those who had been quarantined and their families to cooperate and bear with the situation as it was in their own interest and the general good of the country.

    Also, it was significant that all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCES) collaborated with traditional and religious leaders and security agencies in their respective jurisdictions to ensure that the general public adhered to all directives.

    Source: GNA

  • Do not stigmatize coronavirus patients – NCCE

    The National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) has urged the public to avoid stigmatizing families and persons suspected to be living with the COVID-19.

    It said stigmatization was a serious damaging social phenomenon that had negative effects on health outcomes including non- optimal medication adherence, lower visit adherence, higher depression, and lower quality of life.

    Mr Paul Tetteh, the Assin Central Municipal Director of the Commission who gave the advice at a public sensitization programme reiterated that stigmatizing suspected people and patients was not good as everyone was at risk.

    It was a huge hindrance to government’s unflinching commitment to go all out to contain and prevent the spread of the deadly virus.

    Mr Tetteh explained that COVID-19 spread from person to person in close proximity, similar to other respiratory illnesses, such as the flu.

    He said one could contract the virus when droplets of bodily fluids such as saliva or mucus from an infected person dispersed in the air or land on surfaces through coughing or sneezing and got into direct contact with other people who may touch infected surfaces and then their faces.

    Mr Tetteh also stressed the need for the public to desist from the penchant of spreading false information about the virus saying “the pace of misinformation in the prime media and social media were fueling more fear and panic.”

    The media was an indispensable stakeholder in democratic governance and for that matter it had a critical role to play in the national quest to contain the virus.

    He commended government for the mandatory quarantine policy saying it was yielding results and cautioned Ghanaians against playing politics and propounding conspiracy theories over the COVID-19 situation in Ghana.

    Let’s stop the Ghanaian habit of engaging in unnecessary debates and arguments in commercial vehicles.

    Commercial drivers should put hand sanitizers in the vehicles for short distance journeys to protect themselves and the passengers while long-distance drivers should provide soap and water for passengers to wash their hands.

    Ghana’s COVID-19 case increased to 214 as of Sunday, April 05.

    source: GNA

  • Upper East Regional hospital closes maternity block

    Management of the Upper East Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga has closed down the maternity block of the hospital for decontamination after the facility recorded a confirmed case of COVID-19.

    The block, which houses the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the labour, Obstetric and Gynaecological (O and G) wards and theatre would be closed for two weeks for the exercise.

    A 33-year-old pregnant woman who presented signs and symptoms suspected to be COVID-19 infection, was earlier admitted to the O and G ward, pending laboratory investigation, which later turned out to be positive, after the said woman had absconded from the facility with her husband.

    Dr Samuel Aborah, the Acting Medical Director of the hospital who disclosed to the Ghana News Agency, the closure of the block for the exercise to commence, said: “we are discharging the stable patients in that block, and referring those who are not stable to other facilities for management.”

    He said the Out-Patient Department (OPD) would, however, run normal services, “except that client screening, triaging and social distancing will be enhanced. Prescribers will as much as possible reduce ward admissions except emergency cases. Elective surgeries still remain suspended.”

    Dr Aborah said all patients who visited the OPD with Respiratory Tract Infections (RTIs) would be investigated for COVID-19, and indicated that staff that had close contact with the confirmed case of COVID-19 in the hospital would be quarantined.

    He called on all staff of the facility to strictly adhere to Infection Prevention Control (IPC) practices, and asked them to remain calm. “Once you observe the IPC practices, there is optimum protection for you against COVID-19 in the work environment.”

    Source: GNA

  • Agona East Health Directorate receives coronavirus items from Prof. Yankah

    Fifteen health facilities in the Agona East District have received COVID-19 sanitary items from Professor Kwesi Yankah, Minister of State in charge of Tertiary Education, to help check the spread of the virus.

    Prof. Kwesi Yankah who is also the New Patriotic Partys (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate said the sanitary items were part of measures to help protect frontline workers from contracting the virus as they go about their duty of care for the sick.

    The items included 2,000 alcohol-based hand sanitizers, 200 veronica buckets, 500 gallons of liquid soap and 500 nose masks worth GH¢ 20, 000.

    He said it would go a long way to support health care delivery in the Agona East district, the entire Central Region and the nation as a whole.

    The Minister said it was sad some personalities in the country were playing politics with the pandemic, which had almost brought the globe to a standstill.

    Prof. Kwesi Yankah cautioned Ghanaians to desist from politicizing the pandemic because everybody was at risk of the horrific disease.

    He called on Ghanaians to adhere to the safety protocols outlined by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the Health authorities to avoid contracting the disease.

    The Minister recounted how some world economic giants have been slowed down by the effects of the pandemic with top-class personalities worldwide testing positive for the virus.

    Prof. Kwesi Yankah asked all political parties to join forces to help fight the spread of the disease to save lives.

    Miss Florence Yamoah, Senior Staff Nurse of Nsaba Health Center who received the items on behalf of the Health Directorate thanked Prof. Yankah for the gesture, which she indicated was timely and would facilitate their work.

    She appealed to the Central government and Agona East District Assembly to support the facility with more infrastructure and equipment.

    Mr Dennis Armah-Frempong, District Chief Executive for Agona East said COVID-19 taskforce has been inaugurated to ensure full compliance of the directives given by the President to stop the spread of the virus.

    He said the task force has made available three isolation centers at Agona Mankrong Polyclinic, Nsaba and Agona Kwanyako Health centre to hold suspected cases before referrals would be made.

    It has also intensified its educational campaign in various communities in the District about the dangers of the COVID-19 pandemic and its related issues.

    Mr Armah-Frempong cautioned the people in the district to be vigilant and report any suspicious case or person who might have travelled outside the country and had sneaked into the Area to the task force for the necessary measures to be taken.

    Source: GNA

  • Lets stay at home Stephen Ntim urges Ghanaians

    A former National First Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Mr. Stephen Ntim, has asked Ghanaians to stay home as instructed by the President and continue to observe social distancing and enhanced hygiene protocols as the country battles the deadly Coronavirus as they are our best weapons of defense in these perilous times.

    According to him, this is also the most proven method worldwide in the fight against the virus.

    Mr. Ntim, who is also The Board Chairman of the Lands Commission, added that the virus is destroying mighty nations, and as a country, we must be grateful to God for how far we have come, and continue to work together as a nation, irrespective of our political inclinations. The virus does not discriminate between members of particular political groups, hence all efforts must be harnessed to overcome it.

    Speaking to this reporter, he also showered praises on the government for such a wonderful job so far, and in particular, the President, Nana Akufo-Addo for what he considered as “a very brilliant” portion of his speech when he was outlining measures to curb the Coronavirus pandemic: “We know how to bring the economy back to life. What we do not know is how to bring people back to life.”

    He thus called on all Ghanaians to help the government in these trying moments.

    Source: Kasapafmonline.com

  • Coronavirus: Govt feeding 400k homes in vulnerable communities in lockdown areas Akufo-Addo

    The government is feeding some 400,000 individuals and homes in vulnerable communities in Accra, Kasoa, Tema and Kumasi through the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme (CAP).

    This was disclosed by President Akufo-Addo in his address to the nation on Sunday, 5 April 2020.

    The areas under the programme are the affected areas the Government has locked-down and restricted movement to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

    According to the President, the food distribution begun in Accra on Sunday and will begin in Kumasi on Monday, 6 April.

    The objective of this CAP, according to Nana Akufo-Addo “is to protect households and livelihoods, support micro, small, and medium-sized businesses, minimise job losses, and source additional funding for promotion of industries to shore up and expand industrial output for domestic consumption and exports.”

    “Through this Programme, the Ministries of Gender, Children and Social Protection and Local Government and Rural Development, and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), working with MMDCEs and the faith-based organisations, have begun to provide food for up to four hundred thousand (400,000) individuals and homes in the affected areas of the restrictions. This begun in Accra today, and will begin in Kumasi tomorrow,” he added.

    The food will come in the form of dry food packages and hot meals.

    Nana Akufo-Addo has stated that he will determine whether or not to extend the duration of the two-week restriction on movement, and the implementation or otherwise of any more enhanced measures to deal with the virus after the test results of some 15,384 people reached through contact tracing are released next week.

    Source: ClassFMOnline.com

  • Coronavirus: Health workers to enjoy 3 months tax holiday Akufo-Addo

    All health workers in the country are to enjoy tax holiday for three months as part of government incentive for their sacrifices in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic.

    Additionally, frontline health workers will receive a 50% allowance on their March to June basic salary. They are also to enjoy free rides to and from work on Ayalolo buses, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo noted in a national address Sunday evening.

    “Government has also decided that all health workers will not pay taxes on their emoluments for the next three months i. e. April, May and June,” the President said.

    Ghana has confirmed nine (9) additional COVID-19 cases; six (6) from Greater Accra and three (3) from Ashanti region, the Ghana Health Service has announced.

    Among the cases from Greater Accra, one is a 37-year-old woman with no history of travel nor contact with a confirmed case.

    One is a repeat test of travellers under quarantine who initially tested negative but converted to positive on a repeat test. Four are contacts of confirmed cases with no symptoms and were detected during the enhanced contact tracing and testing.

    Of the three (3) cases from Ashanti region, two (2) are Ghanaians who travelled to Ghana from France within the past 14 days and the third one is a Ghanaian who has no history of travel out of the country nor contact with any confirmed case.

    As at 4th April 2020, Ghana has recorded a total of 214 cases of COVID-19 with five (5) deaths.

    Currently, the number of regions reporting cases are as follows: Greater Accra, Ashanti, Northern, Upper West Eastern and Upper East Region. The Greater Accra Region has most cases (189) followed by the Ashanti Region (12), Northern Region (10), Upper West Region (1), Eastern Region (1) and Upper East Region (1).

    Most of the cases are reported from routine / enhanced surveillance activities. Cases from travellers under mandatory quarantine are now 90.

    Source: starrfm.com.gh

  • Coronavirus: Local firms to start production of PPEs – Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has announced governments intention to procure local production of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) as a means to intensify measures aimed at curtailing the spread of COVID-19 in Ghana.

    In his regular televised addressed to the nation on Sunday [April 5, 2020], the president noted, it has become necessary for the government to protect the lives of our frontline health workers, who are risking their lives every day to battle this virus.

    “That is why Government is placing a high priority on the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPEs) for them,” he observed.

    Akufo-Addo said, “This, notwithstanding, Government is aware that more needs to be done, especially in the face of the global shortage of PPEs. It is for this reason that Government is actively engaged with local manufacturing companies to assist them in the domestic production of PPEs., and I am encouraged by the response from the Ghanaian private sector. Domestic production of face masks, head covers, surgical scrubs and gowns will commence from Tuesday.”

    Explaining measures that his government has put in place for the frontline workers, the president indicated that so far, 350,000 masks, 558,650 examination gloves, 1,000 reusable goggles, 20,000 cover-alls, 7,000 N-95 respirators, 500 waterproof gumboots, 2,000 reusable face shields, 2,000 gallons of hand sanitizers, 10,000 100ml pieces of hand sanitizers and 500 shoe covers have been sent to the regional health directorates, for onward distribution to the district health directorates for use by our health workers in all the districts.

    He added, “an insurance package, with an assured sum of GH¢350,000 for each health personnel and allied professional at the forefront of the fight, has been put in place, with a daily allowance of GH¢150 being paid to contact tracers.

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

  • COVID-19 test results of over 15,000 people to determine whether or not to extend lockdown

    Ghana is about to enter a critical phase of it fight in the coming week, as the Ghana Health Service is due to receive the results of some 15,384 out of nineteen thousand, 19,276 persons who have been reached through contact tracing.

    This was made known by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in his latest address to the Nation on the Coronavirus pandemic..

    According to the President, It is the results of these tests that will determine the future course of action.

    President Akufo-Addo also indicated that his government will determine whether or not to extend the lockdown imposed on parts of the country next week.