TIG Post

Author: Chris Kodo

  • Rashid Sumaila stuck in Kuwait over coronavirus pandemic

    Qadsia SC defender Rashid Sumaila has been left stranded in Romania amid the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world.

    The 27-year-old has been unable to travel to his native Ghana following a nationwide curfew in the Asian country.

    The Ghana international is among a number of foreign nationals who are stuck in the country following the new directive.

    Jordanian Uday Al-Saifi, Palestinian Uday al-Dabbagh, Nigerian James and with Brazilian Lucas Gaoqio are presently locked up in the country, unable to travel to their respective countries.

    Football activities have grind to a halt amid the pandemic which has claimed several lives in the world.

    Kuwait has recorded 176 cases of coronavirus.

    Source: GHANAsoccernet.com

  • Bechem United CEO confirms five players will be sold

    Bechem United CEO Nana Kwasi Darlington has confirmed that the club is set to part ways with 5 of their key players.

    Clubs have shown interest in the Hunters players after impressing so far in the Ghana Premier League.

    According to Nana Kwasi Darlington, the listed player are being tracked by both domestic and foreign clubs forcing the team to do away with them.

    The players include teen sensation and the club’s leading scorer Prince Adu Kwabena, former MTN FA Cup final MVP Yaw Annor and midfield kingpin Moro Salifu. Owusu Boakye and Charles Amponsah are the other two on the list.

    “Both foreign and local clubs have made inquiries on five (5) top players of Bechem untied, Prince Adu Kwabena, Charles Amponsah, Moro Salifu, Yaw Annor, and Owusu Boakye are players to be sold out to different clubs both foreign and Ghana,” he told OTEC FM.

    Prince Adu Kwabena has netted 8 times this season and has already attracted interest from both Hearts and Kotoko.

    Moro Salifu has also emerged on the radar of Aduana Stars and Asante Kotoko with Yaw Annor a target of Legon Cities FC.

    Bechem United sit 8th on the 18-team Ghana Premier League with 22 points, trailing leaders by Aduana Stars by 6 points.

    Meanwhile, the Ghana Premier League is on break after all sporting activities were put on hold due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Source: Footballmadeinghana.com

  • Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games postponed

    The organisers of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, schedule for July,24 have agreed to a one-year postponement of the event because of the global Coronavirus pandemic.

    Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the International Olympic Committee had agreed to the delay the event.

    “I proposed to postpone for a year and [IOC] president Thomas Bach responded with 100% agreement,” he said.

    A one-year delay would also apply to the Tokyo Paralympic Games.

    Prime Minister Abe added: “This will make it possible for athletes to play in the best condition, and will make the event a safe and secure one for spectators.”

    The agreement comes as the British Olympic Association (BOA) was meeting on Tuesday to discuss the matter.

    BOA chairman Hugh Robertson had already said Great Britain was unlikely to send a team to Tokyo this summer.

    Source: Primenewsghana.com

  • GNECC urges government to rollout distance learning on traditional media

    The Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition (GNECC) has urged government to fast track its proposed distance learning programme, using traditional media, especially radio and television.

    This, the Coalition said, would increase the possibility of every child benefitting from the programme.

    “We recommend the use of television and radio, which have an extensive reach so that no child is left out of the learning process.”

    This was contained in a statement signed by Mr. Joseph Atsu Homadzi, Interim Chairman of GNECC, and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra.

    The coalition also called on the government to intensify public education on the various interventions being introduced to address the fallouts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    It also urged government to ensure that the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) was well resourced to engage in extensive education on the pandemic nationwide.

    It was necessary for government to intervene in calling to order businesses and individuals taking advantage of the unfortunate situation to hike prices of commodities such as disinfectants and sanitizers in the critical period, it the statement said.

    “Finally, we call on government to use this opportunity to establish a comprehensive emergency response system for the education sector to better manage the effects of similar future occurrences on the delivery of education.”

    According to the statement, the GNECC had followed with concern the developments with the COVID-19 pandemic, which had reached alarming levels globally. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has affected all aspects of our social lives including education delivery.

    “As a Coalition promoting the Ghanaian child’s right to free, quality pre-tertiary education, we use this opportunity to commend the President and his government for the bold directives aimed at combating the spread of this disease by curbing educational, social and religious activities in the country.

    “We also remind parents of their important role in ensuring that children, and indeed the entire family, are protected whilst staying at home during this period,” the statement said.

    It said parents have a responsibility of making decisive choices to protect children against the pandemic and keeping them calm.

    “All parents and guardians must make a conscious effort to ensure that they themselves and their children practice all the necessary precautions such as social distancing, washing of hands with soap under running water, the use of disinfectants and hand sanitizers,” it advised.

    Source: GNA

  • Help stop armed robbery on Daboya to Busunu road – MP to DISEC

    The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Daboya-Mankarigu Constituency of the Savannah Region has in a statement issued yesterday Sunday 22nd March, 2020 called on the North Gonja District Security Council (DISEC) to take action to protect lives and property on the Daboya to Busunu Road which connects Daboya to the main Fufulso- Damongo road.

    The Daboya-Mankarigu MP said he is distraught and heartbroken over the seeming lack of action DISEC in North Gonja following the chain incidents of unfortunate robberies on the Daboya to Busunu road with the latest one taking place in the morning of yesterday.

    The MP said, “Residents will recall that in the last few weeks there have been multiple raids on innocent travellers between Daboya and Busunu. These victim travellers are mostly traders who have to bear not only the trauma and apprehension of losing their lives, but have to bear with losing their hard-earned capital for their trading activities”.

    He added; “The negative impact on families and businesses is immeasurable, given the already dire economic situation the country finds itself in”.

    Hon. Shaibu Mahama calls on the District Security Committee chaired by the District Chief Executive, Hon. Adam Bawa to consider adopting with dispatch immediate steps to provide a vehicle/motorbikes to the Ghana Police Service to patrol the Daboya to Busunu road.

    The MP also called on DISEC in North Gonja to take immediate steps to mount Police barriers along the stretch to deter the robbers from visiting mayhem on innocent travellers and to provide resources to the Ghana Police Service to render police escort to passenger vehicles plying the Daboya to Busunu road.

    Source: nkilgifmonline.com

  • Hotels, eateries contravening coronavirus control measures risk closure — DCE

    Mr Derick Owusu Ambrose, the Assin South District Chief Executive (DCE), has given a 24-hour ultimatum to eight hotels in the area to adhere to the COVID-19 control measures or risk closure.

    The facilities were operating in contravention of public safety precautionary measures by the Ghana Health Service and the Government to contain the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

    They have not placed water and soaps at vantage points for handwashing and hand sanitizers were also not available in the facilities.

    Mr Ambrose has vowed to close down all hotels, eateries, pubs, guest houses and places that did not adhere to the GHS public health compliance on containing the spread of the novel COVID-19.

    The ultimatum was given after a tour of some facilities in the area to assess their compliance with the public safety directive as issued by the GHS and the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the wake of the pandemic.

    Of the 10 hotels visited, eight had failed to implement the public safety measures and had no clear intention of upgrading their standards to ensure the safety of customers.

    In addition, the Assembly had intensified public sensitisation in communities with three mobile vans and seasoned health experts to extensively cover all persons.

    The communities include Asantoase, Seidukrom, Mesomagor, Jakai, Dominase, Adeambra, Manso, and Onwaand Awuro Camp.

    Mr Ambrose announced that the Assembly had taken delivery of quantities of hospital beds, hand gloves, sanitizers, face masks and Veronica buckets to manage the disease.

    He advised all persons who exhibited symptoms of the dreaded COVID-19 to, as a matter of urgency, report to the designated holding centres in Assin Manso and Nyankomasi Ahenkro health centres.

    Alternatively, due to travel difficulties and telephone connectivity, people could also reach to the nearest health facility or call the national centre for immediate assistance.

    According to the DCE, who is also a Pharmacist, the virus was transmitted through direct contact with respiratory droplets of an infected person through coughing and sneezing and touching surfaces contaminated with it.

    The symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath, in more severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia or breathing difficulties and more rarely, the disease can be fatal.

    These symptoms are similar to the flu (influenza) or the common cold, the reason testing is required to confirm if someone has the COVID-19.

    To avoid the risk of infection, the DCE advised the public to wash hands frequently with soap under running water, or alcohol-based hand rub, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue when coughing or sneezing, and throw away the tissue into a closed bin immediately.

    He urged the public to avoid close contact with anyone who has cold or flu-like symptoms.OVID-19 control measures or risk closure.

    The facilities were operating in contravention of public safety precautionary measures by the Ghana Health Service and the Government to contain the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

    They have not placed water and soaps at vantage points for handwashing and hand sanitizers were also not available in the facilities.

    Mr Ambrose has vowed to close down all hotels, eateries, pubs, guest houses and places that did not adhere to the GHS public health compliance on containing the spread of the novel COVID-19.

    The ultimatum was given after a tour of some facilities in the area to assess their compliance with the public safety directive as issued by the GHS and the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the wake of the pandemic.

    Of the 10 hotels visited, eight had failed to implement the public safety measures and had no clear intention of upgrading their standards to ensure the safety of customers.

    In addition, the Assembly had intensified public sensitisation in communities with three mobile vans and seasoned health experts to extensively cover all persons.

    The communities include Asantoase, Seidukrom, Mesomagor, Jakai, Dominase, Adeambra, Manso, and Onwaand Awuro Camp.

    Mr Ambrose announced that the Assembly had taken delivery of quantities of hospital beds, hand gloves, sanitizers, face masks and Veronica buckets to manage the disease.

    He advised all persons who exhibited symptoms of the dreaded COVID-19 to, as a matter of urgency, report to the designated holding centres in Assin Manso and Nyankomasi Ahenkro health centres.

    Alternatively, due to travel difficulties and telephone connectivity, people could also reach to the nearest health facility or call the national centre for immediate assistance.

    According to the DCE, who is also a Pharmacist, the virus was transmitted through direct contact with respiratory droplets of an infected person through coughing and sneezing and touching surfaces contaminated with it.

    The symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath, in more severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia or breathing difficulties and more rarely, the disease can be fatal.

    These symptoms are similar to the flu (influenza) or the common cold, the reason testing is required to confirm if someone has the COVID-19.

    To avoid the risk of infection, the DCE advised the public to wash hands frequently with soap under running water, or alcohol-based hand rub, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue when coughing or sneezing, and throw away the tissue into a closed bin immediately.

    He urged the public to avoid close contact with anyone who has cold or flu-like symptoms.

    Source: GNA

  • Eight traders picked up at Ashaiman market during fumigation

    Eight traders were on Monday picked up by security officials for defying the directive not to sell at the Ashaiman market for a disinfection exercise to be carried out.

    The exercise, which was sanctioned by the government to be carried out in all markets in the Greater Accra Region, was one of the measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

    Mr Albert Okyere, Ashaiman Municipal Chief Executive, said the eight were cautioned and educated on the COVID-19 disease after which they were released.

    Meanwhile, the disinfection exercise in the market went on as scheduled as chlorine diluted with water was sprayed through the entire market.

    The Ghana News Agency observed that the market was generally unkempt and unhygienic with rotten fruits and vegetables all over.

    The MCE said prior to the disinfection, his outfit sensitized the market queens and other key persons in the market to serve as peer educators among the traders adding that sensitisation was still ongoing to ensure residents fully understood the severity of the global medical crises.

    He added that education was ongoing at the various electoral areas.

    Mr Okyere added that they tried the implementation of social distancing in the market but they realized that it was virtually impossible due to the congestion so the traders were advised to use handkerchieves and nose masks as well as practise proper handwashing.

    He disclosed that the Assembly had long term plans to decongest the market.

    Mr Ishmael Ashitey, Greater Accra Regional Minister said the government came up with the disinfection exercise to help reduce the risk of spreading the disease at the markets.

    Mr Ashitey called on the Assembly to frequently fumigate the market to rid it of rodents which could equally cause other sicknesses.

    Source: GNA

  • Assin Central Assembly initiates move to contain spread of coronavirus

    The Assin Central Municipal Assembly has instituted stringent measures to prevent and contain the spread of the pandemic coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

    The measures include the establishment of a multi-stakeholder COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Committee to enforce personal and public safety precautionary measures outlined by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and Government.

    The Committee, in addition to public education, is distributing Veronica buckets, tissue, soaps and hand sanitizers among other things to the people to help prevent contracting the infection.

    It would also provide dozens of reservoirs at the various markets to supply water to promote the habit of regular hand washing and personal hygiene.

    Mr Nicholas Fiifi Bamako, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), in an interview with the media, said the Committee would tour all markets, schools, lorry stations and public places to ensure they adhered to the precautionary measures.

    That would be done in collaboration with key stakeholders – the Ghana Private Road Transport Union, security agencies and the media.

    Mr Baako said the Assembly was working to improve on its Internally Generated Fund in addition to the District Assemblies Common Fund to sustain its public education drive.

    He expressed satisfaction with the measures put in place by Government to deal with the COVID-19 threat and said the Committee would routinely revise them to effectively protect the public.

    The MCE urged all to adhere to the recommended safety measures adding; “The Assembly will continue to enforce its bye-laws on food safety, environmental sanitation, hygiene, entertainment and other outdoor activities.”

    “We are also entreating the public not to stand by the roadside and board vehicles or buses but go to the bus terminals”.

    This was because provision had been made for water to wash their hands as well as sanitizers and in case of emergency, they could be easily traced for a follow-up, he added.

    Source: GNA

  • Woyome donates protective gear to South Tongu District Health Directorate

    Kobena Mensah Woyome, Member of Parliament (MP) for South Tongu, has presented some personal protective equipment (PPE) to the South Tongu District Health Directorate to help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the District.

    The equipment, valued at GH¢100,000.00, including gloves, face masks, and veronica buckets presented to the Directorate to be distributed to various health facilities in the District.

    The intervention by the MP has come at a time when the country has recorded confirmed cases of the COVID-19, (52 cases as of March 24).

    The MP made the donation to the District Health Directorate after touring the area to determine their level of readiness to combat the disease.

    He also visited St. Comboni Catholic and Sogakope District Hospitals as well as Custom Officers at the Dabala Barrier and the Police and Ghana Immigration Service posts at the Sogakope Barrier.

    Mr Woyome commended the hospitals for doing their best to create isolation centres.

    He explained that the two facilities have put in place a number of measures to monitor the temperature of visitors, in line with Ghana Health Service (GHS) guidelines, in preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

    He appealed for support in terms of protective gear for the Police, the Immigration and the Customs officers, who are using their bare hands to check goods and luggage of travellers.

    Mr Woyome further appealed to the Ghana Health Service and other stakeholders to assist the security agencies with logistics and other health-protective items since they are the first point of call for travellers by road from Togo, Benin, Nigeria and other neighbouring countries to Ghana.

    He said the District had not recorded any coronavirus but it was too risky for them to use unprotected hands at this period.

    Source: GNA

  • CODA receives support to combat coronavirus

    The Ekumfi Fruits and Juices Limited has donated 50 knapsack spraying equipment to the Coastal Development Authority (CODA), to aid the Authority to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

    CODA will use the equipment to complement the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development’s disinfection of public places including schools, lorry parks, beaches, public places of convenience and markets within the coastal development zone.

    Mr Kingsley Karikari Bondzie, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of CODA, received the items on behalf of the Authority, and expressed appreciation to Ekumfi Fruits and Juices Limited.

    He said CODA will use the equipment to augment the efforts of the Ministry and Assemblies in the coastal development zone to stop the spread of COVID-19.

    “We will use the equipment to spray schools, lorry parks, beaches, public places of convenience and markets on a regional basis,” he said.

    Mr Karikari Bondzie called on the private sector to emulate the example of Ekumfi Fruits and Juices Limited by partnering and supporting the government to ensure that “as a country, we leave no stone unturned in the battle against this pandemic”.

    He called on the public to strictly adhere to the safety protocols and precautionary measures laid down by the government to deal with the pandemic.

    Source: GNA

  • Parents must intensify education on coronavirus for children – Aba Oppong,

    Aba Oppong, a Child Rights Activist, has called on parents to intensify efforts in educating children on the prevention protocols of the COVID-19.

    She said as schools in Ghana had been closed as part of measures to minimise the spread of the virus, it was important that parents and guardians also put in the right measures to prevent the spread in their homes.

    They should supervise them on how to remain healthy by washing hands properly with soap under running water, the use of sanitizers, maintaining social distancing, keeping the throat moist, and wearing of nose masks among others.

    In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Kumasi, Madam Oppong said everybody, including children, were vulnerable to the pandemic and must keep to the directives by the Government to control the spread.

    Ghana, on March 12, 2020, confirmed its first COVID-19 case and had since recorded 52 cases, with two deaths.

    The disease symptoms appear after two – 14 days after exposure to the virus and it includes fever, tiredness, shortness of breath and dry cough.

    Madam Oppong, who is also the Executive Director of Rights and Responsibilities Initiatives Ghana (RRIG), an organisation spearheading the welfare of children, said parents, being emergency frontline workers, must instruct children on the right things to do to protect themselves while they were away for work.

    She suggested that parents got adults to supervise children if they had to leave the house for work.COVID-19.

    She said as schools in Ghana had been closed as part of measures to minimise the spread of the virus, it was important that parents and guardians also put in the right measures to prevent the spread in their homes.

    They should supervise them on how to remain healthy by washing hands properly with soap under running water, the use of sanitizers, maintaining social distancing, keeping the throat moist, and wearing of nose masks among others.

    In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Kumasi, Madam Oppong said everybody, including children, were vulnerable to the pandemic and must keep to the directives by the Government to control the spread.

    Ghana, on March 12, 2020, confirmed its first COVID-19 case and had since recorded 52 cases, with two deaths.

    The disease symptoms appear after two – 14 days after exposure to the virus and it includes fever, tiredness, shortness of breath and dry cough.

    Madam Oppong, who is also the Executive Director of Rights and Responsibilities Initiatives Ghana (RRIG), an organisation spearheading the welfare of children, said parents, being emergency frontline workers, must instruct children on the right things to do to protect themselves while they were away for work.

    She suggested that parents got adults to supervise children if they had to leave the house for work.

    Source: GNA

  • Socialist Forum calls for random mass testing for coronavirus

    The Socialist Forum of Ghana (SFG) has called on the government to establish a regime of random mass testing and use school buildings, hospitals and health facilities that have not yet been commissioned to serve as quarantine centres.

    A statement from the SFG, signed by Mr Blaise Tulo, the Convener of the Group and copied to the Ghana News Agency said the current situation also required the total mobilization of all sections of the Ghanaian society to carry out relief operations and intensify public education.

    The Group also recommended an immediate and unconditional lockdown as the only effective means of combatting the virus, given the fact that other options like getting more qualified health personnel and improving the stock of hospital beds were not currently available and “any further delay would be detrimental to the health of Ghana.”

    “The spread of the COVID-19 should open our eyes to the reality that health care cannot be treated as a commodity, which can be made available to only those who can afford. Healthcare ought to be seen properly as a social service, which ought to be accessible to all citizens. The socialization of health care is a task, which cannot be ignored any longer,” the statement said.

    It said due to the pandemic, the leadership of SFG on Monday, March 23, 2020, suspended all its activities including cultural events, public fora and film shows.

    The statement urged all members to strictly follow the prescriptions of the scientific community on how to deal with the pandemic.

    Source: GNA

  • Accra, Tema and Kumasi are epicenters for coronavirus – MoH

    The Ministry of Health (MoH) has identified, Accra and Tema in the Greater Accra Region and Kumasi in the Ashanti Region as the epicenters of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Ghana.

    At a press briefing in Accra Tuesday, the Minister of Health, Mr Kwaku Agyeman Manu said:

    “What we have identified so far in Ghana now, we may have, we can describe two areas in Ghana as our own epicentres, Accra and Tema together and Kumasi.”

    “We have adequate room in Accra… to actually take care of all those who have tested positive at the moment. But going forward, a team is going round identifying places that we can use for isolation for case management, not only in Accra,” he added.

    Source: peacefmonline.com

  • Lands Minister inspects seized excavators

    The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh visited the Adenta site where some of the seized excavators from the anti-galamsey fight were logged.

    The Minister and his team made up of the two Deputy Ministers Benito Owusu Bio, Naana Eyiah and some Technical Directors from the Ministry took inventory of the seized equipment.

    Asomah Cheremeh disclosed during an on the spot assessment that Cabinet had directed the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to take charge and custody of all mining equipment and related issues which was previously handled by the IMCIM and its chair, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng.

    The directive by the Cabinet falls in line with the mining law and the mandate of the Ministry.

    In all, one hundred and twenty-two excavators of various sizes were identified and numbered.

    Thehawknewspaper.com on February 4, 2020, published that the seized excavators were parked on a plot of land belonging to Ghana Civil Aviation Authority at Adenta.

    These excavators had been declared missing by Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng.

    We reported that the earthmoving equipment was firstly parked and abandoned at Abelemkpe on a plot of land owned by Christian Swaniker but was later evacuated for failure to pay rent and breach of an agreement to the Landlord.

    Ban on galamsey

    The activities of miners in some parts of the country have led to the destruction of several water bodies including the Pra, Densu and Offin rivers.

    This led to a temporal ban on the activities of small-scale miners in March 2017 as part of efforts to sanitize the sector and cleanse the water bodies which serves millions of households in Ghana.

    The two-year ban was, however, lifted on December 17, 2018. The minister for environment, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng during a ceremony to announce the unveiling of the ban said only registered and validated small scale miners would be allowed to mine in their designated concessions.

    But this has been called into question again after some people were spotted busily engaging in illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, during an unannounced visit by the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Kweku Asomah Cheremeh.

    Prof. Frimpong-Boateng attributed the ongoing activities of illegal miners to “indiscipline” on the part of Ghanaians.

    “How can young people from any country descend on their town, go to the bush with metal detectors and detect superficial nuggets and start digging and nobody says anything in that town.

    “And the police too will be there without doing anything and they expect the inter-ministerial committee and operation vanguard to move from their FOBs to these areas to do that. We must know we have a precious thing and we need to protect what is precious to us” he charged.

    Source: thehawknewspaper.com

  • Coronavirus: US lawyer sues China for $20 trillion, says virus was cooked as a biological weapon

    A conservative lawyer has filed a class-action lawsuit against China for the coronavirus pandemic, pushing an unsubstantiated claim that the Chinese government developed the virus as an illegal biological weapon to unleash on the world.

    Mr Larry Klayman and his group Freedom Watch filed the complaint in federal court in Texas seeking at least $20 trillion from the Chinese government because of its “callous and reckless indifference and malicious acts.”

    Researchers and public health experts have repeatedly shot down the conspiracy theory that the coronavirus was man-made, with studies showing it originated as an animal virus that eventually jumped to humans. Nonetheless, the claim has gained traction on the right, with conservative media figures seizing upon it to advocate for a more aggressive U.S. posture toward China.

    The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Klayman, Freedom Watch and Buzz Photos, a Texas company that specializes in high school sports photography. Klayman said the school closures and sports cancellations have led Buzz Photos to close and brought it to the brink of bankruptcy. According to the lawsuit, the company lost roughly $50,000 last weekend alone and has been forced to lay off workers.

    “There is no reason why the American taxpayer should, contrary to the establishment in Washington, D.C., have to pay for the tremendous harm caused by the Chinese government,” Klayman said in a statement. “The Chinese people are a good people, but their government is not and it must be made to pay dearly.”

    The lawsuit claims that this variation of the coronavirus was created by the Chinese government as a biological weapon and released by the Wuhan Institute of Virology, located in Wuhan, China, where the coronavirus outbreak originated.

    “Although it appears that the COVID-19 virus was released at an unplanned, unexpected time, it was prepared and stockpiled as a biological weapon to be used against China’s perceived enemies, including but not limited to the people of the United States,” the complaint states.

    A former federal prosecutor, Klayman founded conservative legal group Judicial Watch and Freedom Watch. He is representing George Zimmerman in a $100 million lawsuit against Trayvon Martin’s family, prosecutors and others, and conspiracy theorist Jerome Corsi in a suit against longtime Trump ally Roger Stone.

    While the coronavirus outbreak originated in China, it has since spread to more than 150 countries. In the U.S., the number of reported cases has topped 9,400 and the death toll is 152.

    States and the federal government have taken steps designed to limit the number of new cases, including by closing schools, cancelling large gatherings and ordering restaurants, bars and theatres to shutter. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also recommended gatherings be restricted to no more than 10 people.

    To combat the economic effects of the coronavirus, President Trump signed into law earlier this month an $8.3 billion package to assist with the government’s response. On Wednesday, he signed a coronavirus relief measure that provides free testing and paid leave for certain workers.

    Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are now working on a third package that could provide cash payments to Americans, small business loans and assistance to the airlines and other affected industries.

    The Trump administration has sought to link the coronavirus to China, arguing the Chinese government covered up the outbreak and silenced doctors who tried to sound the alarm. Mr. Trump has called it the “Chinese virus” and Republican lawmakers have referred to it as the “Wuhan virus.”

    “China tried to say at one point — maybe they stopped now — that it was caused by American soldiers,” Mr. Trump told reporters yesterday when asked why he calls the coronavirus the “Chinese virus.” “That can’t happen. It’s not going to happen, not as long as I’m president. It comes from China.”

  • WHO sees potential of U.S. becoming new coronavirus epicenter

    The World Health Organization said on Tuesday it was seeing a “very large acceleration” in coronavirus infections in the United States which had the potential of becoming the new epicenter.

    Asked whether the United States could become the new epicenter, WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris told reporters: “We are now seeing a very large acceleration in cases in the U.S. So it does have that potential.”

    Source: reuters.com

  • Spain’s coronavirus death toll jumps 514 in 24 hours

    The coronavirus death toll in Spain has jumped by 514 in a single day, as the situation in the country quickly worsens.

    Official figures show that 2,696 people have now died in the country and close to 40,000 are infected.

    About 5,400 health care workers are among those confirmed cases.

    Spain is the worst affected country in Europe after Italy, which has recorded more than 6,000 deaths so far.

    While cases were mostly concentrated in Madrid, Catalonia and the Basque Country, infection numbers are growing in other regions.

    Castilia-La Mancha and Castilla y Leon, which border the capital, have seen a big jump in cases. Both regions have large elderly populations.

    Source: bbc.com

  • PHOTOS: Social distancing observed at Prez Akufo-Addo’s meeting with market leaders

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has expressed gratitude to the leadership of some 137 Accra-based market associations for co-operating with the disinfection exercise that was carried out yesterday.

    Prez Akufo-Addo urged them to continue to maintain strict self-discipline, and continue to practice social distancing and enhanced hygiene protocols in all aspects of our daily lives.

    See photographs from the meeting below;

     

    Source: Graphic.com.gh 

     

  • Coronavirus: Parliament asks staff to take mandatory annual leave

    The Parliament of Ghana has asked all of its staff to take their mandatory annual leave with immediate effect as part of measures to help prevent the communal spread of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Ghana.

    The Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Ocquaye in a notice on Tuesday, March 24, 2020, for urgent implementation asked all staff except where they have been identified as providing essential services critical to the legislative business currently taking place in the House, or a matter referred by the House for an urgent consideration are to proceed on their annual leave with immediate effect.

     

    The notice goes to say that, “similarly all officers on contract or temporary appointment, national service persons, MP research assistants and other ancillary service providers working in the premises are required to take their leave and or keep away from the Parliamentary precincts except where they have been identified by the Human Resources Department as providing critical services to ensure the smooth operation of business.”

    It adds that: “individuals intending to visit any person in Parliament should visit the person at home or communicate electronically. No visitors are allowed in Parliament unless otherwise stated.”

    It said the above measures were meant to decongest Parliament for the safe conduct of essential business and that MP research assistants whilst at home are to continue to provide services to the MPs through the internet and that Marshall assisted by the Security Unit should regularly monitor attendance and inspect the various offices to ensure full compliance as far as this directive is concerned.

    “The acting Clerk to Parliament is to coordinate the implementation of the directive and that members of staff are assured that their salaries and other allowances due them will be paid through their individual bank accounts and that heads of various departments as well as members of staff, national service persons, research assistants and all others are admonished to strictly comply with this directive or will be severely sanctioned,” the Speaker of Parliament said.

     

    Source: Graphic.com.gh 

  • Ursula Owusu makes coronavirus confession to hubby

    Minister of Communications and Member of Parliament For Ablekuma West, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has confessed to her husband, Sam Ekuful, on how she was feeling as she waited for his Coronavirus test results.

    Mr Ekuful tested negative recently for coronavirus.

    He had been quarantined after his return from the United Kingdom.

    His specimen was sent to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, for test.

    The results returned negative.

    His wife had announced to the media how he had been quarantined and that the family was placing his food at the door for him to pick.

    But she took to Facebook on Tuesday, March 24, a day after the results came to confess how she felt.

    According to her, “Confession: I was on tenterhooks awaiting your covid 19 results for which you tested negative.”

    She added that “my fear; how do I hug him on his birthday?

    “I owe you all the hugs in life today Sam. Happy birthday my dear husband,” she stated.

    See her post on Facebook below

     

    Source: dailyguidenetwork.com

  • Ghanaian Times: Let not fear and panic determine the fight against coronavirus

    Many people are living in fear. Others are panicky because of the scare-provoking coronavirus that is spreading like wild fire across the world.

    To put it bluntly, we are in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, with cities and even entire countries shut down. Some countries have already been affected widely by coronavirus and recording unprecedented fatalities while others are preparing to combat what may come.

    In Ghana, the panic button was triggered at the weekend when the Ghana Health Service announced that the confirmed cases of the coronavirus have jumped from 16 to 19 or is it 21?

    Before then, there were speculations that the country was going into lockdown because of the rise in the number of confirmed cases and that triggered some panic buying in Accra.

    Some markets and shops suddenly saw many people buying stuff because of the expected announcement of a lockdown. Fortunately that speculation was dispelled before the President addressed the nation to announce further measures against the dreaded disease.

    But the fear and panic among the citizenry is clear for everyone to see, particularly as we all watch the headlines and wonder, “What is going to happen next?”

    As a matter of fact, the coronavirus, or COVID-19, is inciting panic mainly for a number of reasons. It is a new virus, meaning no one has immunity, and there is no vaccine. Its novelty means that scientists are not sure yet how it behaves. They have little history about it and the World Health Organisation (WHO) has already labelled the virus as a pandemic.

    The global reach of the virus has led countries into taking measures that are unprecedented in recent history: schools are closing, borders; land, sea, air are being closed, sports teams are not playing games, entertainment and large gatherings have been postponed and banned in some instances.

    Although these preventive actions are for good reason, they can also partly explain why people are getting worried and unnerved.

    The daily reports of recorded deaths and the fact that the health workers and hospitals in the most affected countries are overwhelmed stoke fears, and make people more worried than we need be about contracting the virus.

    But health experts are assuring everyone that there is no need to panic or fear. And argue that there are important, very basic things that people could do to stay safe and even if they contract the virus, can recover.

    Those include self-isolating and monitoring your temperature if you get sick; washing your hands regularly with soap under running water; and staying away from large gatherings like churches or market places.

    These are some of the things that the health experts recommend that we do to reassert a sense of control over our fears, without overreacting and risking contributing to public panic and anxiety.

    Above all, health experts say it is crucial not to let panic take over our decision-making and rational thought processes. Otherwise, the price to pay could be much greater than the threat the virus poses.

     

    Source: Ghanaian Times

  • Frimpong Boateng sacked from galamsey fight

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has removed Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng from the position of the Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM).

    In his place, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Kweku Asomah-Cheremeh, has been asked to Chair the IMCIM.

    The Head of Public Relations, Lands Ministry, Abraham Otabil, in a telephone conversation, confirmed to DGN Online, the appointment of his sector minister as the new chairman of the IMCIM.

    The Committee was formed in the wake of the anti-galamsey war waged by the Akufo-Addo administration, leading to the seizures of several mining equipment including excavators.

    It is unclear why Prof Boateng had been asked to vacate the post.

    A few months ago, he infamously announced that most of the seized excavators from illegal miners had vanished.

    Some six persons including some NPP members were later arrested in connection with the messing excavators.

    The committee is made up of Ministers of the following ministries; Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR), Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), Chieftaincy & Religious Affairs, Regional Re-Organisation and Development, Monitoring and Evaluation, Water and Sanitation, Interior, Defense and Information.

     

    Source: dailyguidenetwork.com

  • Avoid bribes, let’s fight coronavirus together Volta Regional Minister to GIS

    The Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa has warned personnel from the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) in the region to desist from taking bribes to allow people enter the country as Ghana’s borders have been closed due to the fear of coronavirus.

    President Akufo-Addo ordered the closure of the country’s borders as part of moves to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

    Speaking at a brief parade held at the Regional Immigration Headquarters in Ho on Tuesday, March 24, 2020, Mr Letsa said: “The borders have been closed so no Immigration officer has the right to collect money from anybody to let them in. You must also know that you are also at risk, so the money you collect, the money doesn’t protect you from getting coronavirus, so at this time, let’s all sacrifice and fight for our collective interest.”

    For his part, the Volta Regional Commander of the GIS, Deputy Commissioner, Esq Peter Nantuo warned the service personnel to adhere to directives of not allowing anyone into the country or face dismissal.

    He added that the borders have been closed so no Immigration personnel has the authority to open it for anyone to enter or engage in any unlawful act at the various entry points.

     

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Coronavirus: Akufo-Addo commends market women for their cooperation towards fumigation exercise

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has thanked market women in the various markets in the Greater Accra Region for a successful fumigation exercise on Monday, 23 March 2020.

    One thousand three hundred sprayers were deployed to disinfect 137 markets in the region.

    This forms part of measures to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in the country.

    Ghana has so far recorded 52 cases with 2 deaths.

    Speaking at a meeting with market women at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, 24 March 2020, President Akufo-Addo said: “I welcome you to the Jubilee House and to say thank you for responding to my invitation to talk about mutual matters. What happened yesterday, the Minister is saying that all of you cooperated fully. That is the first thing I have to thank you for.”

     

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Government allocates 545 beds to health facilities

    The Ghana Health Service has indicated that some 545 beds have been allocated to various health facilities in the country towards the fight against coronavirus.

    Dr Patrick Aboagye, an official of the Ghana Health Service, made this known at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, March 24, 2020.

    According to him, GHS has advised frontline staff on how to deal with O.P.D.

    He said some 10,000 PPEs have been procured.

    Also, he said Goggles, nose mask and gloves have distributed to frontline staff.

    According to him, medical staff in study leave have been recalled.

    He said doctors awaiting financial clearance and retirees have also been called to support the fight.

     

    Source: dailyguidenetwork.com

  • Coronavirus: Couple hold simple wedding amid public gathering ban

    A Ghanaian couple has held their wedding amid the ban on public gatherings which is currently being enforced in the country.

    President Nana Akufo-Addo, on March 15, 2020, placed a ban on all public and social gatherings including funerals and weddings.

    In his directive, Akufo-Addo ordered any gathering should not have more than 25 people at any point in time.

    The directive which was part of measures to help stop the spread of Coronavirus in the country has hit hard at many people and some have even postponed their weddings and other events which would have attracted many people.

    But for one couple, they have decided to go ahead and hold their wedding in what could be described as Ghana’s first Coronavirus wedding.

    In a video from the wedding, the couple is seen seated in the front row with a few people seated behind them.

    The officiating pastor who sat right opposite the couple was heard offering some pieces of advice to the newlyweds who were beautifully dressed in their wedding outfits.

    On the other side of the building were a few other people who had also come to support the new couple.

    In total, there were about 20 people at the ceremony including the couple and the priest.

    Meanwhile, Ghana has closed all of its borders to human traffic effective Sunday, March 22, 2020.

    The closure was announced by President Nana Akufo-Addo in a public broadcast on Saturday, March 21, 2020

    According to Akufo-Addo, the move is to help reduce the importation of Coronavirus into the country.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    Coronavirus wedding : Couple hold a simple wedding amid ban on public/social gathering

    A post shared by Maame Adwoa Amponsaah (@sweet_maame_adwoa) on

    source: yen.com.gh

  • Kjetil Zachariassen names one Kotoko official who deserves to keep his job

    Former Asante Kotoko head coach, Kjetil Zachariassen has called on the hierarchy of the club to sack majority of their management members with the exception of Chief Executive Officer, George Amoako.

    The Dr Kwame Kyei’s led administration has been accused of failing to steer the affairs of the club properly since taking over from Samuel Opoku Nti.

    According to the Norwegian trainer, the current management does not have any idea about running football.

    “I always believe that coaches need to be coaches and the management should be doing management they should never miss that,” he told Oyerepa FM.

    “But the way they did it is way over the line by far over the line. When they point with their finger to one person,3 is going back to them, don’t blame others blame themselves.

    “When we had a meeting and they wanted to sack me, all of them were there all management and quote me they said Coach now we are here at crossroads, so they want to sack me and I said if I am going we should all go because we are in this together, we have done this together.

    He continued, “They don’t have an understanding of how to build a club, they don’t know “shit” about building a club, they know nothing.

    “They do an evaluation after their own bellies are not good. So they should have left with me.

    “All of them in the management should leave their post, all of them, they should have left when I left.

    “They should not fire Maxwell now let him stay but they will fire him and blame him, Kotoko supporters are tired of them, how they run the club, all they think is about themselves their bellies.

    “All of them, George can stay maybe, he has some experience,” he added.

    Source: Footballghana.com

  • Obinim runs away as he humbly replies Kennedy (video)

    Founder and leader of International Godsway Ministries, Bishop Obinim, has eaten the humble pie by admitting that Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, has done a good job by digging up some relevant information about him.

    In a video sighted by YEN.com.gh Obinim looked very scared and humble as he replied some of the serious accusations made about him by Kennedy Agyapong.

    The pastor said though some of the things Kennedy Agyapong brought up about were true, most of them were just lies.

    Recently, Kennedy Agyapong turned his TV station, Net 2 into a whole platform that exposed Angel Obinim and his alleged tricks on his church members.

    On the issue of Obinim allegedly duping a woman of her gold, Obinim said he has never duped anyone.

    He said though a lady brought him gold for him to pray over, he returned it after praying over it and he has a video to prove it.

    Kennedy also accused Obinim of sleeping with his own church members.

    But in his reply, Obinim said it was not true that he sleeps with his own church members.

    Obinim also disclosed that his father has threatened to sue Kennedy Agyapong for speaking some untruths about him.

    YEN.com.gh earlier reported that Bishop Obinim said he has had enough of the insults from Member of Parliament Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong.

    Obinim stated that this is the fourth-time Kennedy Agyapong is insulting him with no reason and he was ready to reply the MP squarely.

    The founder and leader of International Godsway Ministries warned Kennedy Agyapong to stop insulting him.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Dailycelebritiesnews.org (@dailycelebritiesnewsdotorg) on

    source: yen.com,gh

  • Stephen Appiah best player I played with – Charles Taylor

    Former Ghanaian footballer, Charles Taylor has mentioned Stephen Appiah as the best player he played with in his career.

    The Ghanaian footballer who played for Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko said this when speaking on a interview on Tru 92.5fm eastern region based radio station.

    He said Stephen Appiah was not only good on the pitch but his commitment also count. He was also grateful to what Stephen Appiah did by paying his plain ticket to Italy by the time he wanted him to play for Brescia before the disappointment from Hearts of Oak.

    He said his contract with Brescia expired during the time Hearts of Oak wanted him to go and play for Switzerland based club team.

    “I was supposed to return to Italy again after they let me to come and prepare in Ghana so I informed our C.E.O that I will be leaving Hearts of Oak on Wednesday but he told me that there is a team in Switzerland and they are ready to pay me 1million dollars. Me too I wanted to gain more money for Hearts so I boycotted Italy to Switzerland but after all I waisted my time there without doing anything. Later on it was too late to return back to Brescia in Italy but I still appreciate what Stephen did and he is my best ever player in Ghana.”

    Source: Richmond K Entsie/Contributor

  • Coronavirus: Dont ignore friends, loved ones because of social distancing Rev Opuni-Frimpong

    As the world is learning to adjust to social distancing to prevent people from contracting coronavirus which has been declared a global pandemic, Chief Executive Officer of Alliance for Christian Advocacy Africa, Reverend Dr Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong has urged all not to allow the current situation create a barrier between themselves, their families and friends.

    Acknowledging the fact that the social distancing order from government was to help curb the virus which is fast spreading, he was of the view that the habit should also not lead to social isolation.

    In a press release copied to GhanaWeb, he posited that “social distancing comes with the weakness of fear, frustration, loneliness, selfishness, denial of bereavement, mental and emotional instability etc. But we can as well demonstrate strength”.

    He stressed that “this is the moment for us to practice our common humanity like kindness, compassion, patience, love, sense of belonging, demonstration of faith, support systems etc. Let us find our better selves and demonstrate our better selves in the midst of the new normal. We must open our hands to the pains of others as we accept the instructions to practice social distancing”.

    Read below the full statement

     

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Heavy rainstorm expected today in parts of Accra, Ashanti and other places

    The Ghana Meteorological Agency has warned that there will be moderate to heavy rainstorm in some parts of the country today March 24, 2020.

    The rainstorm is expected in the North-Eastern and mid-portions of Ghana and later move westwards and affect places in the northern half of the country.

    It is expected to begin at 4 pm to 11 pm in most areas.

    They added that places like Eastern, Volta, Ashanti, Greater Accra, Central and Western regions could experience general cloudiness with thunderstorms.

    See the statement below,

     

    Source: Primenewsghana.com

  • Check out Chiomas stunning looks for Mayorkuns birthday Video

    Nigerian singer Adewale Mayowa Emmanuel popularly known as Mayorkun recently celebrated his birthday.

    The musician turned a year older on Monday 23rd March 2020.

    Marking his 26th birthday, Mayorkun threw a party — what looks like a mini musical concert for his friends and loved ones.

    Being part of the DMW Records, Davido and his fiancee Chioma turned up for the birthday party.

    New mother, Chioma looked absolutely beautiful in casual wear.

    Watch the video below;

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    ❤️❤️

    A post shared by MAYORKUN (@iammayorkun) on

    Source: GhanaCelebrities.Com

  • What is Hantavirus and how it spreads

    The Centre for Disease Control says that the virus is spread mainly from rodents. It goes on to say that infection with any of the hantavirus can cause hantavirus disease in people.

    Even when the world is trying to find a cure for the dreaded coronavirus pandemic, a report in Global Times said that a man from China’s Yunnan province died from Hantavirus while on a bus to the Shandong province.

    All the fellow passengers on the bus have been tested for the virus.

    What is Hantavirus?

    The Centre for Disease Control says that the virus is spread mainly from rodents. It goes on to say that infection with any of the hantavirus can cause hantavirus disease in people.

    “Hantaviruses in the Americas are known as “New World” hantaviruses and may cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). Other hantaviruses, known as “Old World” hantaviruses, are found mostly in Europe and Asia and may cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS),” the CDC website said.

    The hantavirus case comes at a time when the total count of those infected by novel coronavirus globally is nearing the 400,000 mark and scientists are yet to find a cure for it. The global death toll has crossed the 16,500 mark.

    source: economictimes.indiatimes.com

  • VIDEO: Trotro driver nearly runs over police officer at Odorkor

    My News Ghana has sighted a video where a trotro driver nearly run over a police officer.

    It is not known what the issue was but the police officer is seen shouting and pointing fingers at the trotro driver who was still in the car.

    The driver tried to drive off but the police officer stood in front of the car to prevent the driver from moving the car.

    The driver drove off despite the police officer in front of the car.

    The policeman stood his grounds but was nearly run over by the car.

    Watch the video below:

    Source: reportghana 

  • Bank of Ghana asks banks to seek approval before payment of dividends

    The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has asked banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions (SDIs) to seek its approval in writing before the declaration and payment of dividends.

    The move is to prevent banks from using funds from the reduction in the Bank’s reserve requirements and the conservation buffer.

    The BoG, as part of efforts to combat the economic impact of the coronavirus, cut its benchmark interest rate by 150 points, announced a reduction in the Banks’ reserve requirements to eight percent from 10 percent and also lowered the conservation buffer to 1.5 percent from three percent, which effectively cut the capital-adequacy ratio to 11.5 percent from 13 percent.

    “Banks and specialized deposit-taking institutions are to refrain from declaring and paying dividends or making other distributions to shareholders for the 2019 financial year unless the Bank of Ghana is satisfied that the institution is not relying on the additional liquidity released by the policy measures,” the BoG said in a statement.

    It also asked the banks to comply and not to use liquidity gained from the eased capital rules to buy government securities and warned that failure could lead to sanctions.

    “The Bank of Ghana shall monitor banks and SDIs’ financial dealings on a weekly basis, to ensure full compliance with the above directives. Failure to comply with this Notice shall attract sanctions in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Bank and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions Act,” it added.

    Source: GNA

  • Implementation of AfCFTA faces delay

    Approval of phase one operational instruments required for the start of duty free trading within the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in July this year hangs in a balance following the continuous impact of the novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) infections that has brought global activities to a standstill.

    Despite the swearing-in ceremony of the first Secretary-General of AfCFTA, Wamkele Mene last week in Ethiopia an event which should have been held in Accra on 31st March, 2020 the growing list of cancellations and postponements of various activities this year because of COVID-19 could potentially delay implementation of AfCFTA in July.

    Following the 2nd meeting of AfCFTA Council of Ministers held in December last year in Accra, it was agreed that AfCFTA Council of Ministers should meet in South Africa for an Extraordinary Summit on 30 May 2020 to approve all instruments under the agreement.

    The Executive Council of the African Union (AU) had earlier directed the AU Commission to convene the necessary meetings to conclude remaining work on Rules of Origin, schedules of tariff concessions and schedules of specific commitment on the five priority service sectors by end of March 2020 to enable the finalization of tariff offers and submission of the final report on Rules of Origin to the Extraordinary Summit in South Africa.

    However, as the rate of COVID-19 infections continue to surge on the continent which has forced countries to take some drastic decisions including travelling restrictions among others, it is likely that the Extraordinary Summit will be postponed.

    The operational instruments include Rules of Origin, which will determine the eligibility of goods to be traded under AfCFTA; modalities such as protection of infant industries; and an online negotiating forum to enable member States spearhead the success of the policy.

    The remaining are: an online mechanism for monitoring and elimination of non-tariff barriers and AfCFTA mobile application for businesses including digital payments system for goods and services; a Pan-African payment and settlement system; and dashboard of the AU Trade Observatory, all of which are expected to accelerate the implementation of the AfCFTA.

    Key Highlights

    Based on the recommendations, the Executive Council of the AU earlier directed AfCFTA Council of Ministers and relevant Policy Organs of the AU to finalize consideration of the Draft Organizational Structure, including the appropriate functions of the appointed directors and the adequate number of the Permanent Secretariat of the AfCFTA, and submit it to the Extraordinary Summit in May 2020, together with a supplementary budget and work programme, through the appropriate Policy Organs of the AU system.

    Source: goldstreetbusiness.com

  • Coronavirus: Adebayor unable to arrive in Ghana after Benin quarantine

    Former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor’s hopes of arriving in Ghana this week have been dashed after being quarantined in Benin.

    The Togo international was put in quarantine on his way to Lome before the journey to Accra and will be locked up for 14 days as fight against the global pandemic coronavirus intensifies.

    Even though the former Manchester City has not contracted or tested positive for the deadly disease, he has been forced to be in a quarantine for at least 14 days before he can leave Cotonou.

    Adebayor was returning to his home country before journeying across the border to Accra where he has a home following the suspension of the football activities in Paraguay.

    Upon arriving at Cotonou, capital of Benin, to transit to Togo, the former Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC forward was put in a quarantine by Beninois authorities as a preventative action against the widespread of the coronavirus.

    Adebayor joined Club Olimpia in Paraguay during the winter transfer window moving from Turkish side Kayserispor.

    The ex-Togo captain has said he is unperturbed by the situation as he is used such actions.

    Benin have recorded two cases of the deadly coronavirus disease.

    Source: GHANAsoccernet.com

     

  • Police gun down two suspected armed robbers

    The Police have gunned down two suspected armed robbers believed to be part of a 13-member gang which allegedly shot and killed a policeman on patrol at Bortianor Junction, near Weija, in a shootout five years ago.

    The two robbers, identified as Nathan Kwaku Baidoo alias King Kong and Isaac Addo Mensah alias Almera, were killed in a shootout with the police at a spot near the Engen Filling station at Mankessim on March 8, 2020.

    The deceased have been on the police wanted list for sometime now and have been involved in series of robberies across the country.

    Police patrols

    Briefing the Daily Graphic in Accra last Tuesday, the Deputy Commander of the Accra Regional Police Command, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mr.Emmanuel Afriyie Sakyi, said the two were part of the gang of armed robbers that shot and killed Lance Corporal Prince Charles Akata on January 16, 2015 at the Bortianor Junction, near Weija, in the Greater Accra Region.

    He said on March 8, 2020, a team of policemen from the Accra Regional Police command was on routine patrols when they had information that a group of armed men had snatched two vehicles from their owners at gun point and was heading towards Kasoa or Cape Coast.

    Robbers killed

    The police team, he said, pursued the suspected car snatchers from Accra towards Cape Coast but on reaching a spot near the Engen Filling station at Mankessim, the suspects abandoned the vehicles amid sporadic gunshots when they realised the police were closing in on them.

    ACP Afriyie said the police returned fire and as a result two of the car snatchers were hit and they died on the spot while one other suspect who sustained gunshot wounds managed to escape into a nearby bush with their weapon.

    Efforts were made by the policemen to capture the escapee but they were unsuccessful.

    The bodies of the deceased have since been deposited at the Police Hospital morgue awaiting autopsy whilst the two vehicles, a Toyota Fish and Toyota Corolla, which were snatched from their owners have been conveyed to the Accra Regional Police headquarters for further investigations.

    Background

    According to the second in command, following the killing of Lance Corporal Akita, 12 of the gang members were arrested but Isaac Addy Mensah alias Almera went into hiding.

    When the suspects were put before an Accra Circuit Court, they were granted bail and while the trial was ongoing, Nathan Kwaku Baidoo alias King Kong was arrested in 2017 and put before a District Court for murder but was released on bail in February 2020.

    So far, Mr Afriyie said Isaac Addo Mensah alias Almera was standing trial in three separate cases before two courts in Accra and in Techiman for his involvement in three robbery incidents.

     

    Source: Graphic.com.gh 

  • Ken Agyapong ‘exposes’ Obinim for sleeping with his wife’s sister

    Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong has torn into Bishop Daniel Obinim of the International God’s Way Church (IGWC) as their fight gets out of hand.

    Ken Agyapong and Obinim have been in a dirty banter over the past two weeks and have been throwing salvos at each other.

    The banter started after Ken Agyapong blasted Obinim when a video of claiming to have a cure for Coronavirus popped up online.

    Obinim who came to deny the video harshly responded to Ken Agyapong leading the MP to vow to expose him.

    In his latest exposé about the ‘man of God’, Ken Agyapong has accused Obinim of sleeping with the sister of his own wife, Florence.

    Speaking in an interview on his NET2 TV, Ken Agyapong described Obinim as a dirty and mad man for sleeping with his wife’s sister.

    “Obinim is so dirty that he sleeps with his wife’s sister. Sleeping with your wife’s sister? Are you mad?”, Ken

    Meanwhile, Ken Agyapong has also levelled some serious allegations against Prophet Badu Kobi of Glorius Wave Chapel.

    In a video, the Assin Central MP described Badu Kobi as a murderer and a criminal.

    According to Ken Agyapong, Badu got rid of a woman after he slept with her because she revealed what happened between them to other people.

    source: yen.com.gh

  • Locals aiding foreigners to enter Ghana through illegal routes – Immigration service

    The Ghana Immigration Service has disclosed that some Ghanaians are helping foreigners to enter the country through illegal routes.

    At a press briefing today, March 24, the Deputy Comptroller of Immigration (DCGI) in-charge of Command Post and Operations, Mr. Laud Kwesi Affrifah said Ghanaians at the Aflao border are aiding foreigners to enter the country.

    President Akufo-Addo has directed the closure of all borders of the country.

    The President in an address to the nation Saturday evening announced the closure which will take effect from Sunday, March 22.

    President has directed all passengers who will come into the country after the said closure date to be tested for Covid-19 and a mandatory self-quarantine.

    He explained that the closure will not affect cargos and supplies coming into the country.

    The Immigration Service in compliance with the directive closed all borders. According to Mr Laud Kwesi Affrifah Ghana’s borders land, sea and air were closed, a border patrol team was also deployed to sealed all unapproved routes.

    “We have noted especially at the Afloa border stretch various attempts by individuals both foreigners and Ghanaians to enter illegally. They have been intercepted by the border patrol…”

    But he explained that community members along the Afloa border are helping foreigners to enter the country without going through the mandatory self-quarantine and testing for Covid-19

    Source: primenewsghana.com

  • Full details of Ghana’s second recorded death pops up

    Ghana yesterday confirmed its second death following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

    The death involving an elderly Ghanaian woman occurred at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi.

    The deceased died in the early hours of Monday, March 23.

    Media reports indicate that the deceased reported at the hospital with symptoms similar to that of COVID-19, but she passed away before the test results were received from the Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research (KCCR).

    Although details on the deceased have remained sketchy, this portal has been able to gather some further details.

    She was an 84-years old Ghanaian woman who returned from the United States of America on March 3, 2020.

    She reported at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital with low-grade fever and
    Respiratory distress.

    She was kept at orange and managed for PE.

    Prior to her admission at KATH, she had visited three health facilities in the Ashanti region.

  • Market fumigation: Were satisfied with exercise Alima Mahama

    The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has expressed satisfaction with the fumigation exercise that took place in some 137 markets in the Greater Accra Region on Monday, as part of measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the country.

    “We are grateful to the traders”, sector minister Hajia Alima Mahama said at a press briefing in Accra on Tuesday, 24 March 2020, adding: “We are satisfied with the exercise”.

    She noted that the military will today, Tuesday, help to clean the markets, as some of them were dirty.

    The minister advised the traders to keep the markets clean.

    She said the World Health Organisation-recommended chlorine solution was used for the exercise and, thus, safe for the traders to resume their trading activities.

    The fumigation will be replicated across the rest of the country beginning from the Ashanti Region on Thursday.

    Ghana has so far recorded 27 cases of COVID-19 with two deaths.

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Accra, Tema and Kumasi identified as epicentres of Coronavirus in Ghana

    The Ministry of Health (MoH) has identified, Accra and Tema in the Greater Accra Region and Kumasi in the Ashanti Region as the epicentres of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Ghana.

    At a press briefing in Accra Tuesday, the Minister of Health, Mr Kwaku Agyeman Manu said: “What we have identified so far in Ghana now, we may have, we can describe two areas in Ghana now as our own epicentres, Accra and Tema together and Kumasi.”

    “We are doing what we describe as contact tracing, in Accra we have deployed 98 field officers …that have been trained doing the tracing and we are getting to people.”

    The Minister said in Kumasi for instance, about 50 trained people have been employed who are still doing contact tracing.

    He, therefore, advised that based on the evidence, “wherever we are, all those our brothers and sisters who have come in, we should advise them to put themselves in self-quarantine if we haven’t tracked them yet.

    “And they should also talk to health authorities in the area where they live, to send teams to serve them, they can be calling on telephone describing their conditions to health officers they get in touch with such that, we can protect the rest of the population against community spread, the horizontal spread we are seeing in our country at the moment,” the Minister said.

    New cases

    As of Monday night [March 23, 2020], a total of 27 positive cases had been recorded in Ghana with two deaths. There were only 25 existing cases.

    But at the press briefing Tuesday morning [March 24, 2020], the Minister of Health explained that an additional 25 cases from those who arrived in Ghana in the last few days and were in mandatory quarantine have tested positive to bring the total positive cases in Ghana to 52, with two deaths.

    There are 50 existing cases which are being managed in isolation.

    In all, a total of 1030 travellers who arrived in Ghana after air, land and sea borders were closed are currently on mandatory quarantine for 14 days.

    Out of the 1030 number,  611 samples have been taken and 185 has been processed and 25 tested positive

    The rest is yet to be tested.

    The Minister of Health said those on quarantine, psychologists have been deployed to have charts with them.

    He said the Ministry was also in the process of handing them over to the case management team in isolated areas for treatment.

    “Definitely, not all of them will be critically ill and they are not, some might not be ill at all, but decisions on them will depend on individual case management issue. If you are not even ill, you still have to be quarantined for the mandatory 14 days.”

    He said early on, there were indications that if a person tested negative, “we release you after four days but, [based on] technical advice, and we have met all the doctors and we cannot [continue] do that and we have to keep you for the entire two weeks, which is the 14 days.”

    He said: “We have adequate rooms in Accra… to actually take care of all those who have tested positive at the moment. But going forward, a team is going round identifying places that we can use for isolation for case management, not only in Accra.”

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Coronavirus: American among persons busted trying to illegally cross Ghana border

    An American national is among over 20 persons that have been arrested for trying to illegally cross into Ghana from Togo.

    This follows the closure of Ghana’s air, land and sea borders on Sunday (March 22, 2020) as part of measures to curb the spread of Coronavirus in the country.

     

    Announcing the arrests today at a press briefing in Accra, the Deputy Controller General of Operations, GIS, Mr Laud Ofori-Afrifa revealed that the Aflao border stretch has seen various attempts to enter Ghana illegally using the Aflao border.

    He said the American is suspected to have crossed over by colluding with some officials on March 22.

     

    “It was noted that he (the American) had landed at the Lome airport (Togo) on the 20th of March from the USA… He was referred to the health officials and tested… which proved negative but he is under arrest and detention and is being sent into mandatory quarantine”.

    Other arrests

    Mr Ofori-Afrifa also disclosed that some seven Nigerians and 12 commercial motorcycle riders (Okada) were also arrested yesterday (March 23).

     

    He said on March 23, seven Nigerians (3 males and four females) were arrested at the border for entering Ghana ilegally and they were sent back across the border to Togo.

     

    More to follow…

     

    Source: Graphic.com.gh 

  • I was on tenterhooks awaiting my husband’s COVID-19 results – Ursula Owusu

    The Minister of Communications, Mrs Ursula Owusu Ekuful says she endured a nervous wait on her husband’s Coronavirus test results.

    Mrs Ekuful in a Facebook post wishing her husband a happy birthday said she was scared she would not have been able to hug him if the test turned out positive.

    She posted: “Confession: I was on tenterhooks awaiting your covid 19 results for which you tested negative. MY FEAR; how do I hug him on his birthday? I owe you all the hugs in life today Sam. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY DEAR HUSBAND”.

    Mrs Ekuful had revealed that her husband, Sam Ekuful, returned from a trip to the United Kingdom and was quarantined as part of measures to help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Ghana.

    She said they served him food by leaving it at the door to his isolation room.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Coronavirus: 1030 travelers on mandatory quarantine in Ghana

    A total of 1030 travellers are currently on mandatory quarantine in Ghana as part of measures to help curb the spread of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Ghana.

    The 1030 travellers who arrived in Ghana in the last few days after air, land and sea borders closed are currently on mandatory quarantine in Ghana for 14 days.

    Out of the number,  611 samples have been taken and 185 has been processed and 25 tested positive

    The rest are yet to be tested.

     

    This is what is adding to the previous 27 cases as of Monday night to give Ghana a total of 52 cases with 2 deaths.

    It means Ghana is now having 50 existing cases which are being managed in isolation.

    The Minister of Health, Mr Kwaku Agyeman Manu made this known at a press briefing in Accra on Tuesday morning.

    more to follow soon…

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Daily Guide: No messing around buddies!

    Some of us are hard at respecting constituted authority, especially when the big stick is not used.

    President Akufo-Addo will be constrained to resort to sanctions should the misconduct of some youth continue as his counterparts in the UK and elsewhere have threatened to do should the best anti-Covid-19 practices be ignored.

    The foolhardiness of some youth should not lead to the discomfort of others. This is simply unacceptable and should be stopped.

    Those whose breaches compromise the war we are waging against the virus should be isolated and dealt with.

    A few days ago, some young persons were engaged with impunity in a beach party in Accra as if for them the hue and cry is a mere much ado about nothing. Their activity caught the attention of many persons who put it out on social media.

    Thankfully, such social activities at the beach have been suspended by the relevant tourist authority.

    Some leaders of the many one-man churches in the country and a few mosques have also gone on that tangent by ignoring the ban of large gathering for the purpose of faith or social activities.

    Only those who have limited knowledge of the two great faiths of Islam and Christianity will ignore such government fiats.

    Those who ignore such fiats are set to aid the spread of the virus; their actions, therefore, not consistent with wisdom.

    Some leaders outside Ghana have been constrained to be hard on their compatriots where appeals have failed to work.

    We do not expect to hit a lockdown stage and to require the deployment of troops as others have done across Europe. This notwithstanding, those who intend defying constituted authorities should be dealt with accordingly since after all we are on uncharted waters.

    In fact, we are in a state of belligerence with an invisible enemy. That is why we must gird our loins and fight this together.

    There are a lot of lessons to be learnt from those who have managed to keep the pandemic at bay.

    Let us all not brook nonsense from any quarter as we prosecute this war.

    Disgruntled politicians too should understand that under such circumstances a united front is required. Hiding behind the pandemic to create parallel committees to, as it were, ostensibly confront the contagion presupposes a parallel government.

    Let us remove our party T-shirts and confront Covid-19. That is what Ghanaians demand now.

    The political language being used to win electoral sympathy which is what some are doing now is an insult to the people of this country. No messing around buddies because these are different times!

    Source: dailyguidenework.com

  • Chlorine solution was used to fumigate markets because it kills coronavirus – Alima Mahama

    Hajia Alima Mahama, Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, says Chlorine solution was used mainly for the fumigation of markets in Accra.

    She disclosed that according to the World Health Organization, Chlorine solution kills virus which coronavirus is not exempted.

    “The main aim of the fumigation exercise cleaning the markets and clearing rubbish. There were concerns about the substance we used, many thought it was harmful but it is just Chlorine solution. This substance according to WHO is used to kill viruses including coronavirus. Spraying will continue across the whole country”, she said at a press briefing.

    Markets in Accra and Tema were closed as fumigation exercise was carried out in these places.

    The government deployed the military personnel to supervise the disinfection of the various markets Accra today.

    They teamed up with officials of the Local Government Ministry and other agencies such as NACOB for the spraying exercise.

    The teams disinfected markets such as Makola, Agbogbloshie, Madina and the Tema market among others.

    Ghana has now recorded 27 confirmed cases and 2 deaths.

    Source: primenewsghana.com

  • Sulley Muntari isnt open to the press but does his talking on the field – Asamoah Gyan

    Former Ghana skipper Asamoah Gyan has spoken highly of the exceptional qualities of his former Black Stars teammates Sulley Muntari.

    Gyan described the former Inter Milan and AC Milan midfield enforcer, saying he does his talking on the field of play, meaning he is very effective as a player than what he does outside the field of play.

    “Sulley was also a great player, he was a positive player. A player with vision, he was he knew how to create chances and assist. He provided most of the assist for my goals. He is somebody who does is talking on the field. He is not somebody who is open to the press, but he always does his thing on the field. He had a great left foot, amazing shot. He is a motivator. He is somebody who tries to do his things indoors.

    Meanwhile, Asamoah Gyan named Michael Essien as the greatest player that he has ever played with at both club and country

    “The best player I have ever played with is Michael Essien,” Asamoah Gyan told Pulse Ghana in an exclusive interview.

    He added that Sulley Muntari and Laryea Kingston are the two other greats aside Michael Essien that he has ever featured with them in the same team

    “Aside Essien the two other great players that I have played with are Laryea Kingston and Sulley Muntari,” he added.

    “I always knew 98% that I would score when I played around Laryea Kingston and Sulley Muntari, because they would always put the ball before you to score”.

    The 34-year-old played for many clubs outside the shores of Ghana such as Udinese, Rennes, Sunderland, Al Ain, Shanghai SIPG, Al Ahly, etc.

    Gyan now plies his trade with NorthEast United in the Indian topflight league.

    Source: pulse.com.gh

  • Nigerian singer reveals how Ghanaian songs inspire his career

    Fast-rising Ghanaian-based Nigerian artiste, KashBwoy has revealed how he gets motivation from Ghanaian musicians.

    Kashbwoy believes most legendary artistes in Ghana are the pace-setters of African music; hence his decision to look up to them for hit songs.

    KashBwoy who mentioned the likes of E.T Mensah, Kojo Antwi, added he listens to ace group VVIP as his daily dose of motivation.

    Explaining what makes him prefer Ghanaian songs just like Nigeria song, he hinted his motivators take time to compose their songs and produces excellent rhythm to go with it.

    “They were real musicians in Africa who brought these sounds we enjoy now so we need to tap their intelligence. We need to go back to the roots and come back with newer stuff,” he said in an exclusive with Gershon Mortey.

    Kashbwoy is, however, looking forward to collaborations with top Ghanaian acts in order to establish his songs in the heart of Ghanaians.

    Watch video below

    Source: Gershon Mortey, Contributor