TIG Post

Author: Persis

  • Koforidua: Police Commander arrests voter ID card applicants without nose masks

    Two applicants at a voters registration centre without nose masks have been arrested by the Koforidua-Effiduase District Police Commander, Mr. S.A Young at Police station polling Station in Ogua Electoral Area in New Juaben North Constituency of the Eastern Region.

    The two are a female and a male.

    The Police commander who was on a monitoring exercise with his men ordered for the arrest of the two applicants.

    He also ensured that applicants who had massed up observed social distancing protocols.

    Meanwhile, there are armed military personnel also patrolling the registration Centers in the Eastern Regional Capital.

    Averagely an applicant spends 2 to 3 hours in a queue but spends about 10 minutes going through the registration process.

    At Police Station Polling station, 25 had registered as at 9:40 am using Ghana Card as means of identity.

    As at 10:06 am, 30 persons have duly registered at Obotanso Polling Station all using the Ghana Card as proof of identity.

    As at 10:16 am only 29 applicants have been registered at the Effiduase Methodist Chapel registration center. One of the registrants was registered through the guarantor system.

    At Effiduase Methodist JHS, as at 10:30am, 30 qualified applicants had been registered.

    Effiduase Methodist primary registration center had registered 34 applicants as at 10:41 am.

    43 had registered at MTTU Polling station as of 10:53 am all using NIA as proof of identity.

    Source: Kasapa FM

  • Voters register: Security in Northern region satisfactory Police commander

    The Northern regional police commander, DCOP Timothy Yoosa Bonga, has expressed satisfaction over security in the various registration centres in Tamale even though there are no personnel at most centres.

    Speaking to Starr News at the Bagabaga demonstration center in the Sagnarigu constituency, Mr. Yoosa Bonga said that his tour around the various centres indicate there is peace and calm.

    Meanwhile, checks by Starr News at various centers witnessed the absence of security personnel.

    Reacting to that, the regional police commander explained that officers cannot be deployed to all centres but would be available if they are called upon at any centre.

    He added that contacts have been given to the registration officers (ROs) to contact the police in case of any disturbances.

    He also described the breach of COVID-19 protocols by people at the centres as unfortunate.

    Mr. Bonga noted that sensitization of the people is necessary and must continue until they realize the importance of observing safety protocols.

    Source: Starr FM

     

  • Evangelical Presbyterian Church commissions ministerial candidates into the ordained ministry

    The Evangelical Presbyterian Church Ghana (EPCG) as part of its discipleship mission of propagating the Gospel on Sunday, June 28, 2020, commissioned fourteen (14) ministerial candidates to serve in the church.

    The new pastors comprise twelve (11) males and three (3) females who have received theological training at The Trinity Theological Seminary Legon and E.P Theological Seminary, Peki.

    The commissioned pastors will serve a two year probation period prior to their ordination by the church.

    As Commissioners, they are barred from officiating marriages under the Ordinance until after their probationary period and subsequent gazetting.

    They are Rev. Bless Kwaku Mensah, Rev. Albert Kumah, Rev. Edith Agbe, Rev. Eunice Ndo, Rev. Christopher Kugbe, Rev. Edem Dornya, Rev. Divine Botsoe Hogba, Rev. Frank Adzima, Rev. Ruby Biekro, Rev. Harrison Nyalemegbe, Rev. Kafui Owusu, Rev. Michael Ayeto, Rev. Felix Soglo and Rev. Combatant Yao Adzra.

    The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church, Rt. Rev. Dr. Seth Senyo Agidi spoke on the sermon theme “Sacrificial Life”.

    He expressed gratitude to God for the opportunity to hold the commissioning despite fear of the Coronavirus and the challenges it presents to the church and world at large. He emphasized the importance of the call to all believers to strive selflessly to win souls for the kingdom of God at all times and seasons.

    He noted that the focus of a sacrificial life is that everything else is secondary to following Jesus Christ. He reminded the commissioners that they have been called to be in the frontline of saving souls and must desist from unhealthy competition, desires to accumulate wealth wrongfully and reflect the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

    Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Amey, Clerk of the General Assembly presented the Candidates. While administering the commissioning rites, Rt. Rev Dr. Seth Senyo Agidi charged the pastors to be steadfast in prayer, have faith and trust in the Lord, and selflessly proclaim the word of God especially in these trying times when Godly comfort and support is crucial to overcome the varied challenges the pandemic poses.

    Rev Bless Kwaku Mensah, the representative of the probationers expressed appreciation to the church, families and well-wishers for their contribution overtime. He entreated all Evangelical Presbyterians to rally behind them as they serve to grow the church qualitatively and quantitatively.

    The historic event was streamlined online with strict adherence to the government restrictions on gatherings in the Covid-19 period having limited attendees including the Presbyter Executive, 5 Synod Moderators, Ag. Director of Administration, Ag Director PESR and a former Moderator Very Rev J.Y. Ledo.

    The Evangelical Presbyterian Church Ghana was founded in 1847 by the North German Missionary Society (Bremen Mission).

    The church has congregations nationwide and abroad with a visionary statement to be a dynamic agent of God leading in the Great Commission to bring light where there is darkness by holistic propagation of the gospel.

    Source: EP Church Ghana

  • New registration not to disenfranchise any eligible voter EC

    Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) Jean Mensa has urged Ghanaians to disregard assertions within some quarters that the new voter registration exercise is aimed at disenfranchising a group of voters.

    She insisted that the rationale behind the exercise is not to achieve anything like that.

    “On the contrary, it is to ensure that all our citizens who qualify are accorded the opportunity to register and cast their votes,” Mrs Mensa said.

    She was addressing journalists on the eve of the voter registration exercise.

    The exercise starts at 7:00am and ends at 6:00pm each day.

    It is scheduled to end on Thursday, August 6.

    The Chairperson of the Commission noted that a voter register plays a significant role in elections as it is the bedrock on which credible elections rest.

    Source: 3 News

     

  • Deal with security personnel brutalizing border residents Aflao Chiefs

    The Aflao Traditional Council has condemned what they describe as unwanted attacks on their people by some security personnel deployed to intensify border security in the Ketu South Municipality.

    In a press statement issued last Monday, June 29, 2020, the council said: “We the Chiefs of Aflao Traditional Council in collaboration with Aflao indigenes home and abroad wish to appeal to H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the President of the Republic of Ghana to call to order the military personnel brutalizing the civilian population.”

    They also appealed to the President to as a matter of urgency withdraw the obstacles placed in the daily activities of the Aflao people, most of whose economic life is dependent on business on both sides of the borderline.

    Togbe Adzonugaga Amenya Fiti V in the statement which was read on his behalf explained that Aflao is the second most populous town in terms of population after Ho in the whole of the Volta Region and one of the top three port revenue generators in Ghana.

    That notwithstanding, the over 70,000 population continues to be denied developmental projects that create jobs. The fortunate ones that land jobs in Lome (Togo), including headporters (Kayayes) and truck pushers, are stuck home due to border closure precipitated by Covid-19.

    It is for this reason that some try to cross the border. It is purely a survival issue, hence the increased security presence and alleged intimidations is only adding more injuries to their woes.

    The Chiefs who surrounded their Overlord clad in black and red attire said tents and checkpoints have been mounted all over the rural settlements, including markets specifically from Akito to Wudoaba against civil norms, thereby inhibiting people from performing their daily activities and their right to life and movements.

    He said, the presence of the troops who arrived in the area last Thursday, June 18, 2020 is “causing fear and panic amongst the inhabitants as the officers embark on house to house searches within the towns. Additionally, the constant harassment of citizens occupying the borderlands are having a detrimental effect on agricultural and other produce being brought to the markets.”

    They also wondered why the government seems to be projecting its power across the Volta Region without doing same at the Western frontier with Ivory Coast or the Northern frontier with Burkina Faso.

    To this end, the armed and uniformed personnel consisting of the Army, Police, Immigration and National Security are doing more harm than good. More so, continues unprovoked intimidation and oppression ends up empowering the oppressed to react, Togbe Fiti warned.

    “We as Chiefs cannot look on unconcerned when security personnel brutalize our citizens no matter how difficult the situation they find themselves in,” Togbe Fiti noted.

    Adding that “because we are peace-loving does not make us cowards; when the fire is lit, there will be no turning back and the said fire will consume everything in its path.”

    Source: Daily Guide Network

  • Heavy security at EC ahead of voters registration

    A host of national security apparatus are currently at the headquarters of the Electoral Commission (EC) in Accra hours before the commencement of the voter registration exercise.

    As part of preparations towards the event, the EC Chair, Jean Mensa is speaking to the public through various media platforms on some final updates, prior to the day.

    Aside the visible security vehicles that are parked in front of the premises, there are police personnel at every point from the gate to the final entry point, where the presser is being held, to ensure that uninvited persons are turned away.

    Even for persons who are allowed entry, they have to undergo thorough checks by these police personnel to ensure individuals are clear to proceed.

    Background

    The voters registration exercise, which was scheduled to take place on April 18 this year was postponed to Tuesday, June 30 due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus.

    Security personnel have been deployed across the country to man the borders and to prevent foreign nationals to participate in the exercise.

    Residents at Ketu South municipality have lamented about the heavy presence of military personnel in the area, noting that they are unable to go about their regular activities.

    Minority Members of Parliament belonging to the Volta caucus in reaction to the development, have accused the government of intimidating residents in the region to prevent them from taking part in the voters registration exercise.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Farmer granted bail for allegedly setting fire in a forest reserve

    A 60-year-old farmer who allegedly set fire in the Tano Offin forest reserve, near Nyinahin in the Atwima-Mponua District, has been granted a GHc 60,000.00 bail with three sureties by the Nkawie Circuit Court.

    Yaw Opoku was said to have illegally entered the forest reserve and set the fire which destroyed portions of the forest reserve and tree seedlings under nursery there.

    He pleaded not guilty and would reappear before the court presided by Mr Johnson Abbey on July 19, this year, for trial.

    Detective Chief Inspector Comfort Amankwaa told the court that, the complainant was the Range Manager of the Tano Offin Forest Reserve.

    She said on February 08, this year, the Rapid Response Team got information of a fire outbreak in the reserve and rushed to fight it.

    Chief Inspector Amankwaa said the team met the accused in the forest, arrested, and handed him over to the police.

    She said the accused in his cautioned statement admitted entering the forest reserve to cut canes to weave his basket but denied setting fire to it.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus: Basic school students appeal for mandatory testing

    Some final year students of Junior High Schools (JHS) in the Ho Municipality of the Volta Region have called on the Government to conduct mandatory COVID-19 testing in all Basic Schools.

    The students who returned to school to prepare for their Basic Education Certificate Examination said they were happy to return but were afraid as they did not know the status of each other, thus the call for the test.

    They told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview during a visit to some Basic schools in the Municipality said though they would observe the necessary protocols to stem the spread of the disease, the test was necessary as they were coming from different homes.

    They also called on the school authorities to ensure that adequate preventive measures were put in place to safeguard their safety during the period.

    The GNA saw Veronica buckets filled with water, tissue papers, liquid soaps, and hand sanitizers placed at vantage points and entrances of classrooms of the campuses to enable students to observe the handwashing protocols.

    Students and teachers were also seen in masks, with “NO MASK, NO ENTRY” written on classrooms to limit the spread of the virus.

    Madam Dzifa Jemima Gidiglo, Headmistress of Kabore JHS told the GNA that the school was prepared to continue with academic work as the necessary preventive measures against the virus were put in place.

    She said both teachers and students would have to check their temperatures before entering the classrooms, adding that no student or teacher would be allowed to enter the classrooms if their temperatures were not checked.

    Madam Gidiglo said no visitor would also be entertained in the school and any student who left the school to the town would not be allowed to return the school.

    Madam Victoria Newlove Addae, Headmistress of Ho Kpodzi E.P Basic B said the school had put all the necessary protocols in place to ensure the safety of teachers and students.

    She said the school had taken delivery of some assorted items from the Municipality Education Directorate including infrared thermometer gun, masks, and hand sanitizers to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

    Madam Addae said the items would be distributed to both teachers and students to stem the spread of the virus.

    She said her outfit would ensure that both teachers and students adhere strictly to the health safety protocols so that there would be no record of the virus in the school.

    Source: GNA

  • Some Junior High Schools in Adaklu-Kodzobi area yet to receive protective equipment

    Three out of four Junior High Schools (JHSs) in the Adaklu-Kodzobi Electoral Area of the Adaklu District have not received the requisite items promised by the government for their protection against the Coronavirus.

    They are, Kodzobi, Have and Vodze JHSs were without Veronica buckets, liquid soap, and tissue papers during the Ghana News Agency visit to the Schools this morning.

    They were however provided with thermometer guns, face masks, and sanitizers.

    Mr. Edward Dzidza, Headteacher of Adaklu Kodzobi JHS told the GNA that they were assured that all Personal Protection Equipments (PPEs) would be provided them before schools reopened today but they were yet to receive some of the items.

    He said in the absence of the veronica buckets they had improvised Tupi cups to be used by the teachers and students.

    Mr. Dzidza said 27 students out of 29 reported for classes and all the six teachers were also at post adding that all students present were given two face masks and one sanitizer each.

    Mr. Seth Q. Adjei, Headteacher of Adaklu Vodze JHS said all the nine final year students and their teachers had reported at school.

    He said all the students were provided with three face masks and a sanitizer each.

    Mr. Adjei however lamented the exclusion of teachers who would be teaching the students from the provision of the face masks and sanitizers adding “it is a disincentive.”

    At Adaklu Have JHS, 19 out of the 23 finalists reported for school.

    Mr. Prince Selorm Kpenu, Headteacher of the school said they were provided with 56 face masks and 29 sanitizers.

    He assured parents that the teachers would do everything in their power to protect their wards from contracting the coronavirus disease.

    Ms. Etornam Klu, Girls Prefect of Adaklu Kodzobi JHS was grateful to the President for the opportunity offered them to prepare for their examinations and appealed to her colleagues to focus on their studies and also observe all the safety protocols.

    The President directed that all final year students of junior and senior high schools and tertiary institutions be allowed to reopen to prepare them for their examinations.

    Source: GNA

  • Bolgatanga Divisional Police Command inaugurated

    The Upper East Regional Police Commander DCOP Mr Kwaku Osei Ampofo- Duku on Friday, June 26, 2020, cut the tape for the inauguration of the Bolgatanga Divisional Police Command.

    Chief Superintendent of Police, Mr. Dela Dzansi, Bolgatanga Divisional Police Commander in his welcome address thanked the Regional Commander, Personnel and resident for their contribution to assist the division to fight crime. He assured residents of police readiness to use professionalism to fight crime in the Division.

    DCOP Kwaku Osei Ampofo-Duku in his inaugural address, also urged personnel and residents to work together to support the Division clamp down on criminals through information sharing.

    He thanked the police Administration for making the establishment of the division a reality.

    Present at the ceremony were the Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, Regional Chief Imam and Heads of Security in the Upper East Region.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • NIA rejects Mahama assertions on Ghana card

    The National Identification Authority (NIA) has rejected claims by ex-President John Dramani Mahama that the authority has not fully rolled out the Ghana card, describing them as unfounded.

    Mr. Mahama, the flag bearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), last Thursday stated emphatically, among other things, that the NIA was yet to fully roll out mass registration and that cards were still being issued with no mechanism for verification.

    He made the assertions while responding to the verdict of the Supreme Court on the compilation of a new register of voters.

    However, the NIA said the former President got his facts wrong by making “inaccurate statements”, according to a statement signed by the NIA Head of Corporate Affairs, ACI Francis Palmdeti.

    The statement said the NIA fully rolled out the mass registration exercise on April 29, 2019 to issue biometric ID cards and was left with just a week to complete the exercise before Covid-19 broke out.

    “NIA would have completed the registration exercise in the Eastern Region by 27th March 2020 after having conducted the exercise in 15 other regions. The mop-up exercise currently underway is to further provide opportunity for those who could not register to do so,” the statement said.

    The statement added that as of June 23, 2020, NIA had registered a total of 11,385,494 eligible Ghanaians, printed 11,172,261 cards and issued 10,854,829 cards to qualified Ghanaians.

    It said the target was to register 80 per cent of the population aged 15 and above and that a total number of Ghanaians aged 18 and above have been issued 10,576,120 Ghana cards.

    “By the end of the mop-up registration exercise, it is expected that 16.7 million eligible Ghanaians would have been captured on the National Identity Register and issued the Ghana card,” the statement explained.

    On the issue of cards issuance without mechanism for verification, the NIA insisted that the claim was false and added that the majority of Ghana cards (7,163,935) had been issued through the online verification mechanism.

    “There is an inbuilt mechanism for the verification of the 3,690,894 cards currently being issued using the Card Issuance Album. The use of manual verification is not a novel practice. There are various methods of verification. One can use the ocular inspection method, the match-on-card method or the one-to-many method which is online. The National Identity System is designed to utilize any or all of these methods.

    “Applicants who visit the card issuance centres are identified and issued their Ghana cards by NIA officials using the ocular verification method i.e. crosschecking of their photographs, name, date of birth, telephone number and other details as captured in the album against the registration slips they submit or their verbal claim,” according to NIA in the statement.

    Source: Daily Guide Network

  • Military deployment: Government setting deadly precedence in Volta Region – ASEPA

    Civil Society Organisation, Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability, has said the deployment of military personnel in the Volta Region should be a source of great concern every well-meaning Ghanaian.

    In a press statement issued on Monday, June 29, 2020, ASEPA said the development may prove to be “deadly precedence” if it continues.

    “Reliable information reaching ASEPA has it that, during the early hours of Sunday, June 28th 2020, the Deputy Constituency Secretary for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ho Central Constituency of the Volta Region, arrived at the Shia border in a Nissan-Patrol vehicle.

    “Further checks revealed that this secretary came in the company of over 40 armed military personnel to complement the existing immigration officers at the said border within the Ho Central constituency,” the release signed by Oscar Bedzra, a Policy Analyst at ASEPA, stated.

    ASEPA further alleged that its sources stated that the constituency secretary has tasked the polling station executives of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) around the border towns, to point out to the military additional points to enable the security personnel to prevent Ghanaians from entering and registering for the voter ID cards.

    “Fellow Ghanaians, it would be recalled that the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) had on the 3rd of February 2020, presented some relief items to Ghanaians at the Port De Perch (Fishing Harbour) in Katanga, Togo.

    “A delegation led by the following officials under President Nana Akufo-Addo’s government, namely the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Hon Mohammed Habib Tajani, Hon Henry Quartey who is the then deputy minister in charge of Interior as well as the director-general of NADMO in the person of Mr Eric Agyemang Prempeh and his deputy …In this regard, ASEPA strongly believes that this ongoing move in the Volta region is aimed at suppressing the freedom of Voltarians in favour of the ruling government as because of the fears that Voltarians will register in their numbers,” ASEPA stated.

    The governance and media rights think tank has called on the National Peace Council to register their displeasure over the matter, adding “this a possible catalyst to political unrest in Ho Central constituency and the Volta region at large.”

    The think tank also called on all media houses to join the campaign to ensure peace and social equity ahead of the December elections.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • We deserve coronavirus motivation package too Mortuary workers to Akufo-Addo

    The Mortuary Workers Association of Ghana (MOWAG) has called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to have them added to the list of health workers billed to benefit from his motivation package.

    President Akufo-Addo, on Sunday, 28 June 2020, in an address to the nation, announced that all frontline health workers would be paid an additional fifty per cent of their basic salary to motivate them in the fight against COVID-19.

    The government had earlier announced a package to insure all frontline health workers in the country.

    However, MOWAG, in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Richard Kofi Jordan, noted that “it has been excluded in the said motivation package.”

    According to MOWAG, in an “eligibility criteria document that has come to its notice, it appears that the latter has been conveniently excluded from the said motivational package for unknown reasons.”

    MOWAG continued that it is “positive that the exclusion of its membership is an oversight” and urged the “government to cause the inclusion of our membership in the eligibility list” if that supposition is correct.

    It reiterated that “MOWAG is the final group of workers who handle the remains of the dead, including COVID-19 victims. It should, therefore, be only a matter, of course, to include mortuary workers in this package.”

    MOWAG was optimistic that the inclusion of its members, “will go a long way to shedding off the view that that segment of essential workforce has been treated unfairly for a long time.”

    MOWAG sees this as “one-time opportunity to cancel that impression.”

    Source: Class FM

  • NDC has no moral right to accuse NPP of failed promises in Volta region – Chariman

    Volta Regional Chairman of the NPP, Makafui Woanya has described the opposition NDC as hypocrites who have taken the region for granted despite enjoying absolute support of the people for years.

    He said the NDC after failing to reciprocate the love and loyalty enjoyed from the Volta region over the years want to reap where they have not sown.

    They have therefore resorted to propaganda, tribal bigotry, divisive and violent comments to caught sympathies from the innocent and unsuspecting Voltarians.

    Mr. Woanya made the statement in Ho when he adressed a press conference in reaction to claims by the opposition that the governing NPP has failed the people of the Volta region.

    The NDC at a press conference last week in Ho addressed by the Regional Communications Officer, Kafui Agbleze scored the NPP government 17 percent as far as fulfillment of their promises in the Volta region are concerned.

    He said the Akufo-Addo government has performed woefully as far as the Volta region was concerned, hence needed to be rejected by Voltarians in the upcoming December elections.

    However, reacting to the comments, the Volta NPP Chairman, Makafui Woanya said “NDC has no moral right” to accuse the NPP of failed promises because that was disingenuous.

    He said if the NDC want to still benefit from the support of the region, they should have taken time to account for at least their 8 years tenure of the Mills/Mahama administration.

    He said the Volta Region is wide awake and assertive and will not be hoodwinked by the selective amnesia and biased claims of the NDC anymore.

    He said “Volta Region is not a property of the NDC. When has it become compulsory for all in Volta to be NDC?”

    He noted that NPP unlike the NDC who abondoned most of their projects in the Volta region is committed to deliver on its promises and ensure the Eastern Corridor road, Ho-Sokode dual carriage road, 3rd phase of Adidome five District water project, Ho Youth Resource Centre, Hohoe Astro turf among others will be completed.

    Source: Daily Guide Network

  • Guinea-Bissau leader sacks five key ministers

    Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embaló sacked the ministers for defence, interior, economy, agriculture and energy in a decree on Sunday.

    No explanation was given. Their dismissal comes ahead of a parliamentary session on the formation of a new government.

    The country has been gripped by political turmoil for many years, with Guinea-Bissau nine coups or attempted coups since 1980.

    President Embaló was announced as the winner of December’s election. However the long-time ruling party PAIGC said the elections were rigged, and its leader Domingos Simoes Pereira contested the result at the supreme court.

    The sacked ministers are all members of President Embalo’s Madem-15 party or parties loyal to the president, according to Reuters news agency.

    “It is a strategy for Umaro Sissoco Embaló to gain the majority at the parliament,” the agency quotes a website Ditadura de Consenso as saying.

    Mr Embaló, a former army general, has said he wants to resolve tensions and modernise Guinea-Bissau – one of the world’s poorest nations.

    Source:bbc.com

  • Akufo-Addo, Bawumia ticket dazzling — Kufuor

    Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has lauded the achievements of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, in their first term in office.

    The successes, he said, had been reinforced by the telepathic relationship between the two gentlemen and, therefore, urged Ghanaians not to allow pettiness to divert their focus from the vision and the course that was being charted by the current administration.

    Speaking at the extraordinary meeting of the National Council of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Accra last Saturday, the former President said the current leadership did not talk but rather did the work.

    He said it was very difficult for political leadership to combine such vision and articulation as President Akufo-Addo and his vice had done and added that their partnership was appreciated by both the grass roots and those in higher authority.

    Extraordinary meeting

    The meeting was in two parts. The first session was a consultation with the council while the second session witnessed the acclamation of the flag- bearer of the party and the nomination and endorsement of his running mate.

    The former President was of the belief that the current leadership of the NPP would lead the party to victory to bring Ghana the transformation the citizens yearned for.

    “It is very difficult for political leadership to combine such vision and articulation as the two of them do. I always say our party is destined to lead in the transformation of the country and the party keeps on giving the leadership that will do the work for Ghana, and it is a typical example even in the midst of COVID-19.”

    Another mandate

    Mr Kufuor said “even though he did not subscribe to perfection by humans, the affairs by any leader who could achieve something like 70 and 80 per cent was almost like a saint.”

    That, he said, was what the current leadership of the NPP and Ghana had been working towards to realise.

    He was, therefore, hopeful that the people of Ghana would give President Akufo-Addo the mandate again to continue with the work that he started so ably.

    Party ideology

    Former President Kufuor who expressed admiration for the manner in which Vice-President Bawumia articulated the inclusive social interventions said that was the vision and the philosophy the nation aspired for.

    “People ask whether this party is leftist or socialist; we are not, but I tell you we respect capitalism with conscience. Capitalism that is human and this is why we fix the safety net below which we do not allow any human to fall under and that is the leadership we have today. This is what the two of them articulate so competently in all their term of office and within three and half years see what they have already achieved,” he told the gathering.

    Presidential ticket

    The General Secretary of the NPP, Mr John Boadu, who formally announced the candidature of President Akufo-Addo and his running mate for the December 2020 presidential election, said: “ Let me present to you the presidential ticket you are familiar with; we present to you the tried and tested ticket, we present to you the Akufo-Addo -Bawumia ticket. The ticket with an impeccable track record in terms of delivering its social contract with the Ghanaian electorate.”

    He said it was the ticket that promised and delivered and one which all Ghanaians could trust without hesitation, adding that from the qualities and exceptional consistency exhibited by President Akufo-Addo and the confidence he had reposed in Dr Bawumia, it was clear that he had an exceptional quality which the entire party must acknowledge.

    “Now the name Bawumia is a household name, the name when he does not even speak creates more problems for our opponents. When he speaks, that is worse for them. I can say without any shred of doubt that Dr Bawumia is one of the most successful Vice-Presidents of our country in all time,” Mr Boadu said.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • COVID-19: Ghanas case count now 17,351

    Ghana recorded 17,351 Covid-19 cases as at 28 June, with 12,994 recoveries.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who disclosed this in his 13th broadcast to the nation on the COVID-19 pandemic, noted that, “This means that, currently, we have 4,245 active cases, having conducted 294,867 tests, one of the highest on the continent”.

    He said 30 persons were severely and critically ill, and that the nation had a total of 112 sad deaths, constituting 0.6 per cent of positives, as “we maintain one of the lowest death rates in the world.”

    He reiterated that one of the key objects of government’s fight against COVID-19 had been to save lives, and reduce the number of deaths.

    He said the Ghana Health Service (GHS) had observed that most of the patients that succumbed to the virus died either on arrival at the hospital, or within 48 hours after arrival.

    “Unfortunately, we still have some persons in the country who are not taking the dangers associated with this disease seriously, and, therefore, do not seek medical help as soon as they have symptoms that suggest an infection of the virus,” the President stated.

    “There should be no fear of stigmatisation or embarrassment with being diagnosed with COVID-19. So, please, when you begin to experience symptoms such as fever, persistent cough, bodily pains, loss of taste and smell, and difficulty in breathing, seek immediate medical attention at the nearest health facility.”

    President Akufo-Addo said most patients, who were critically ill and needed intensive care, did indeed, survive the virus, if they sought medical help promptly.

    He gave an example that out of 53 patients admitted into intensive care units (ICU) at the Ga East Municipal Hospital and the University of Ghana Medical Centre, since the pandemic struck, 44 (i.e. 83 per cent), had fully recovered, and had been discharged.

    “This is, in part, due to the immense dedication and hard work being exhibited by our healthcare workers, who continue to care for those affected by the virus, and for the sick in general,” he said.

    “We all know that these are truly historic times. The world is reeling from the effects of this pandemic, and the things we took for granted, some six months ago, are now under question. The definite and undeniable have been replaced with uncertainty.”

    He noted that however, as with any other form of hardship, there were always lessons to be learnt, as there were opportunities for growth.

    “What we have witnessed, recently, is that, despite us living in an interconnected and globalised world, each nation, ultimately, stands alone in its challenge to protect its people,” President Akufo-Addo said.

    Adding that nonetheless, it was obvious that international co-operation, where feasible and practical, could serve to complement the resolution of national challenges.

    He noted that in Ghana, from the very onset, the Government had acted to limit and stop the importation of the virus; contain its spread; provide adequate care for the sick; limit the impact of the virus on social and economic life; and inspire the expansion of domestic capability and deepen self-reliance.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • Incentive packages for health workers extended for 3 more months

    President Akufo-Addo has extended by 3 more months incentives he instituted in March this year.

    The incentives, announced during his 5th address to the nation, was initially for April, May and June.

    However, the President has announced that the incentives will be extended by 3 months to cover July, August and September.

    These incentives include scrapping of income tax on salaries and 50 percent basic salary bonus to all frontline health workers and insurance package.

    He made this known in his 13th address to the nation on COVID-19 fight by the country.

    Source: abcnewsgh.com

  • Milton Glaser: Graphic designer behind ‘I love NY’ logo dies aged 91

    Milton Glaser, the influential American graphic designer who created the “I ? NY” logo, has died aged 91.

    Made for a 1977 tourism campaign, the logo rapidly gained recognition across the world and has been described as the most frequently imitated in history.

    Glaser later said he was “flabbergasted by what happened to this little, simple nothing of an idea”.

    He also created a famous poster of Bob Dylan with psychedelic hair and was a co-founder of New York magazine.

    The cause of his death was a stroke, his wife Shirley told the New York Times.

    Glaser was born in the Bronx borough of New York City in 1929. He studied at the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, a college in Manhattan, and at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna, Italy.

    In 1954, Glaser set up Push Pin Studios with three Cooper Union classmates and helped bring a new visual language to commercial art, seeking inspiration from everything from Art Nouveau to Chinese wash drawing, German woodcuts, and the cartoons of the 1930s.

    His poster of Bob Dylan featured a silhouette of the musician based on a self-portrait by Marcel Duchamp and brightly coloured locks of hair borrowed from Islamic art. The poster was included in Dylan’s 1967 album Greatest Hits, which was bought by six million fans, and adorned countless walls.

    In 1968, Glaser co-founded New York magazine and was its design director for nine years.

    “Around our office, of course, he will forever be one of the small team of men and women that, in the late sixties, yanked New York out of the newspaper morgue and turned it into a great American magazine,” the magazine’s obituary said.

    In 1974, he established his own design firm, Milton Glaser, Inc.

    Three years later, he designed the “I ? NY” logo free of charge to help promote tourism in his home city, amid a crime wave and financial crisis. He came up with the idea while riding in a taxi and scribbled it in red crayon on an envelope, which is now in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).

    “It is one of those peculiarities of your own life where you don’t know the consequences of your own actions,” he told the New York Times in 2008. “Who in the world would have thought that this silly little bit of ephemera would become one of the most pervasive images of the 20th Century?”

    After the 9/11 attacks, Glaser released an amended version of the logo that featured a bruised heart and read “I ? NY MORE THAN EVER”.

    Glaser is also known for his designing the World Health Organization’s international Aids symbol and poster, the logo for the Brooklyn Brewery, and an advertisement for the final series of Mad Men.

    In 2004, he was given a lifetime achievement award by the Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. In 2009, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Coronavirus: Lagos to declare another lockdown as cases exceed 23,000

    The Lagos State Government has said that it won’t hesitate to declare another lockdown if the number of COVID-19 cases in the state continues to increase.

    This was disclosed by the State Commissioner of Health, Professor Akin Abayomi.

    Nigerian currently has 23,298 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with Lagos along having 9,741 cases.

    Speaking on Friday, Abayomi said, “We believe we are managing a delicate balance between the public health crisis and the economic livelihood of Lagosians. If things are getting out of hand, we will certainly consider another lockdown.”?

    Abayomi also said that the number of cases will continue to ride within the next couple of weeks.

    “We are in the middle of the outbreak and we have not even peaked yet, and so the cases are still rising. We still expect to see a lot more cases in the next one month or two. I would use this platform to remind Lagosians that we have not yet peaked and Lagos is still going through the active community transmission of COVID-19.

    Source: mynigeria.com

  • This Nigerian comic is getting a lot of love on TikTok with the ‘Don’t Leave Me’ challenge

    Celebrities like basketball star Giannis Antetokounmpo are using puns and making bad jokes on camera in the latest social media craze — the “Don’t Leave Me” challenge.

    The challenge, trending on social media, involves users playing around with puns on camera.

    Antetokounmpo, who plays for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA), is seen on the Chinese video-sharing social network TikTok using dry humour to join the challenge.

    In the video, the basketball player is asked by his camera handler to say something to the audience. He responds with a joke about Hannah Montana, a fictional music star in a Disney Channel series.

    “If you take Hannah Montana, and you put her in France, what do you have? French Montana,” he laughed in the video. French Montana is a Moroccan-American rapper.

    The challenge involving a lot of wordplay is the brainchild of Nigerian comic sensation Josh Alfred.

    In March, Alfred, also known as “Josh2funny,” posted a skit on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter consisting of a series of puns.

    The 29-year-old’s skit went viral in June, with hundreds of social media users mimicking his play on words and employing dry humour in their uploads.

    Alfred told CNN that he has been making similar skits since 2018 but decided to do the now-viral one differently with added humour.

    In the skit, he is seen standing on leaves from a tree, and when asked by his friend and camera operator, Bello Khabir, to say something to the camera, he joked that he couldn’t because he was “on leave.”

    His friend’s chants of “Don’t leave me” as Alfred walked away at the end of the video is what gave the challenge its name.

    “I decided to add some more fun to my skits with puns. I didn’t want people to get tired so I tried to be dynamic and added stronger words,” he told CNN.

    “Someone later did a similar video like mine and that’s how it started trending,” he added.

    The funny play on words has been watched more than 500,000 times on Twitter and recreated multiple times by TikTok users from the United States, Japan, and Europe.

    Alfred says his skits are purposely designed with a play on words to astonish viewers, “I just want people to think, to wonder how I’m able to come up with things like that,” he said.

    Nigerian actors like Olu Jacobs and Kanayo O. Kanayo have also participated in the challenge. And, according to Alfred, videos relating to the challenge have received more than two billion views on TikTok so far.

    As a way to keep the challenge going, he says in July, he will release music around it.

    “‘Don’t leave me’ music is coming out in July. I put a lot of wordplay in the song and I hope people like it,” he said.

    Source: cnn.com

  • Zimbabwean nurses vow to continue with strike as government tight-lipped over crisis

    There is no end in sight to the crippling strike by health professionals after nurses in government hospitals Friday remained adamant their industrial action will continue until the government addressed their grievances.

    They also accused their employer of being insensitive and uncooperative as it was not responding to their correspondence.

    “The government has decided to go on silent mode. They are not responding to any of us.

    “We have tried to engage with them but it seems they are not willing to cooperate with us,” Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) president Enock Dongo told New Zimbabwe on Friday.

    “Nurses are not reporting for work. We are still on strike until the problem is fixed. Nurses were given $3,500 last month and it is already gone.

    “The government does not care about Zimbabwe; people are dying in hospitals with some being returned home without treatment and the government is not taking any action which just shows that they do not care about the health and well-being of the nation.”

    Dongo said nurses were not said they were not demanding anything that would make them rich but something that would allow them to lead decent salaries.

    “We are not expecting to be rich,” he said, adding, “We just need a normal living wage because we all know the economic situation in Zimbabwe, but we have been put on corner. The public is not worried, people are not talking about it when patients are being sent home which means more people are going to die.”

    “The public has to talk about these issues for the authorities to act.”

    Doctors and nurses downed tools over a week ago over poor wages and shortage of personal protective clothing.

    A knee jerk decision by the government to pacify them with a US$75 monthly allowance in addition to a 50% salary hike did not help matters as they rejected the offer, describing it as measly.

    Source: punchng.com

  • Kenyan Airways to resume domestic flights in ‘next couple of days’

    Kenya Airways (KQ), grounded for the past three months by the Coronavirus pandemic, will resume domestic flights in “the next couple of days,” President Uhuru Kenyatta said on Friday.

    The return to in-country service coincides with the lifting of Kenya’s lockdown on travel between counties, Mr Kenyatta noted.

    The government will soon set a date for KQ to resume flying internationally, the president added.

    “We’re doing everything we can to make sure we are back in the skies,” Mr Kenyatta said during a video conference sponsored by the Washington-based Corporate Council on Africa.

    “We’re eager to open up, but we have to make sure we all stay safe.”

    The president’s announcement came on the same day that KQ chief executive Allan Kilavuka revealed that the airline has lost an estimated Sh10 billion so far this year due to the pandemic and related lockdowns.

    Losses could approach Sh50 billion by the end of 2020, Mr Kilavuka added.

    KQ had been struggling financially long before the coronavirus emerged.

    It lost about Sh12 billion in 2019, compared to Sh7.1 billion the previous year.

    Source: allafrica.com

  • Coronavirus kills 112, case count now 16,742

    Death toll of the fast-spreading Coronavirus in Ghana has risen to 112, with additional positive cases of 311, new update has revealed.

    This brings to total a case count of 16,742.

    Additionally, the number of recoveries has also shot up to 12,720.

    Regional breakdown

    Greater Accra Region – 9,326

    Ashanti Region – 3,398

    Western Region – 1,431

    Central Region – 936

    Eastern Region – 571

    Volta Region – 337

    Upper East Region – 274

    Northern Region – 120

    Oti Region – 110

    Western North Region – 94

    Bono East Region – 52

    Savannah Region – 39

    Upper West Region – 35

    Ahafo Region – 8

    North East Region – 6

    Bono Region – 5

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Citizenship is a legal question; no one can vouch that another is a citizen Kwaku Azar

    Legal luminary Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare alias Kwaku Azar has argued that it is not within the capacity of a Ghanaian citizen to confer Ghanaian citizenship on another person, pointing out that only the courts can make pronouncements as to whether someone is a Ghanaian citizen or not.

    He stressed that citizens in the past have wrongly accused others of not being Ghanaian citizens only for the courts to rule that they are citizens.

    The Electoral Commission of Ghana in its Constitutional Instrument ( CI) 126 on the compilation of the new voter register has made provision for two registered citizens to vouch for others without a passport or Ghana card to register as Ghanaian voters. But Kwaku Azar funds this untenable:

    “I have never understood this business of vouching that somebody is a citizen. Citizenship is a legal question that even the government, with all its resources, sometimes gets wrong.

    For instance, prior governments have mistakenly attempted to deport the Shalabi brothers, Bonito Olympio, Othman Lardan, and Amadu Baba. The court found them to be Ghanaians.

    In some cases, citizens have also mistakenly questioned the citizenship of others. For instance, Bilson questioned the citizenship of Rawlings. The court disagreed with him.

    I have lots of friends who I reasonably and honestly believe are Ghanaians. But is this belief enough for me to vouch for them as citizens?

    I do not think so because I can only believe, but not know, that they are Ghanaians. So vouching for them will be inappropriate.

    I can vouch that I was there when they were born at a midwife near Ato Lai. I can vouch that I played gutter to gutter with them. I can vouch that I went to school with them, etc.

    But I cannot vouch that they are citizens because that will be making a legal conclusion that should be left to the courts,” he submitted in a Facebook post sighted by MyNewsGh.com.

    He concluded that any government document that proves that someone is a Ghanaian citizen is better than two Ghanaians giving testimony that someone is a Ghanaian.

    “In my opinion, any government-issued card on citizenship is better proof of citizenship than vouching.

    But this is Ghana,” he averred.

    Source: My News GH

  • Stop employees with mild cough from coming to work Government to businesses

    The government of Ghana has issued a directive to factories/enterprises to stop their employees with mild cough from coming to work and seek medical attention immediately.

    This is a move by the government to check the spread of COVID-19 at workplaces.

    These industries and factories, according to the government guidelines announced by Trades Minister Alan Kyerematen on Thursday, 25 June 2020, must dedicate one room within the factory premises as a holding room to immediately house or quarantine anyone who is suspected to be showing symptoms and signs of COVID-19 and be isolated from others while making arrangements for evacuation.

    The measures, Mr Kyerematen noted, feed into the general guidelines and protocols for easing of restrictions such as the use of face masks by all employees, provision of washing stations at vantage points within working areas and regular cleaning and disinfection of surfaces.

    Below are the guidelines

    Social Distancing Protocols:

    Company buses and public transport for workers to and from work; Workflow adjustments including staff rotation at the factory and shop floor; and Customer service protocols including floor markings to enforce social distancing protocols.

    Sanitary Protocols:

    Provision of handwashing stations, with running water and soap; provision of hand sanitisers; and Enhanced regular cleaning and disinfection of regular use surfaces.

    Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and clothing, and other protocols:

    Use of face masks (No Face Mask, No Entry) and gloves for workers who previously did not require protective gear; replacement of safety gear with COVID-19 compliant PPE; and checking of temperature of all employees and customers.

    Factories and other industrial processing establishments:

    Stop employees with a mild cough or low-grade fever from coming to work and seek medical care.

    Stagger work schedules by breaking the workforce into shifts. Limit in-house meetings as much as possible and use online conference platforms.

    If unavoidable, sitting arrangements should follow social distance protocols. Employers should allow staff to work virtually, if feasible.

    Factories/enterprises with more than twenty-nine (29) employees to provide a registered nurse on site.

    Implement anti-stigma policy (No employee should be discriminated against, stigmatised, or sacked because they have tested positive for COVID-19).

    Employers must engage the services of experts to provide psychological and emotional support for COVID-19 positive employees and their families.

    Employers must ensure workplace confidentiality for employees.

    Carry out periodic fumigation of premises, machines and equipment.

    Industries and factories with more than 29 employees must dedicate one room within the factory premises as a holding room to immediately house or quarantine anyone who is suspected to be showing symptoms and signs of COVID-19 and be isolated from others while making arrangements for evacuation.

    Follow established evacuation procedures (as outlined in Annex 1) to enable evacuation if a worker becomes sick and has to be evacuated.

    Display approved health promotion materials on COVID-19 at vantage points to remind workers to keep to social distancing protocols, wear masks, regularly wash hands, and maintain coughing and sneezing etiquette.

    Work canteens must adhere to the protocols and preventive measures outlined in Annex 2.

    Enforce a No-handshake, No-hugging, and No-Spitting policy at all times.

    Form a COVID-19 in-house inspection taskforce.

    Members should be trained in health promotion and prevention measures, and evacuation protocols.

    If a person is confirmed positive for COVID-19, the workplace COVID-19 taskforce must link up with the local health authorities to ensure all contacts are traced, tested, and treated.

    Employers must have staff attendance monitoring mechanisms, either electronic or manual.

    Source: laudbusiness.com

  • Digital and electronic banking key to combating coronavirus – Ecobank MD

    Digital and electronic banking hold the key to the future of banking globally and combating the spread of the novel Coronavirus, the Managing Director (MD) of Ecobank Ghana and Regional Executive for the Anglophone West Africa Region, Mr Dan Sackey, has said.

    He explained that digital and electronic banking were fast and secure and provided great convenience for customers while minimising the risk of contracting COVID-19.

    Speaking during a virtual forum yesterday to engage customers and the public on the effects of COVID-19 on health in Africa as well as on individuals and businesses, Mr Sackey advised the public to use electronic channels for payments, funds transfer and other routine banking transactions, instead of physically visiting the bank.

    Held virtually via Facebook Live and YouTube, the forum attracted hundreds of participants, in real-time, with many shares and downloads of the event, was organised by Ecobank in partnership with the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

    The public and Ecobank customers asked how they could cope with the current situation and continue with banking transactions as well as engage the bank in this era of the Coronavirus pandemic and also enquired about precautionary measures that the bank had put in place to ensure customer safety and what the future or a post-COVID-19 era would look like.

    Mr Sackey outlined some of the measures that Ecobank had put in place, as advised by recognised health agencies, to ensure the safety of staff, customers and stakeholders.

    He also informed customers about Ecobank’s digital channels, including the mobile and various online banking services.

    Mr Sackey stressed that the Ecobank Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) could facilitate cash withdrawal and deposit and the Ecobank Xpress Points, which provided basic banking needs and were available in over 1,500 community-based shops in Ghana.

    The Africa Director of CDC, Dr John Nkengasong cautioned participants to refrain from self-medication, as this could worsen their health conditions, especially during this period of COVID-19 pandemic.

    He warned participants not to take chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19 without their doctor’s prescription because of the severe consequences, including deaths.

    “As much as possible people should stay home, exercise regularly, eat well, drink lots of fluids, and take adequate amounts of relevant vitamins. This will boost their immune system and prepare the body to fight diseases,” Dr Nkengasong advised.

    The African Director of CDC, who traced the history of pandemics, indicated that over the years, the world has witnessed one major pandemic every century, citing the Great Plague of Marseille in 1720, the Asian cholera outbreak in 1820, the Spanish flu in 1920 and now the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

    The Regional Head of Corporate Communications and Marketing at Ecobank, Mrs Rita Tsegah said the objective of the forum was to educate customers and the public strategies to “adapt to the changing times,” and the measures initiated by the bank to fight COVID-19.

    “Ecobank remains resolute to discharging its obligation by collaborating with partners that are committed to mitigating the impact of COVID-19,” she said.

    Source: Ghanaian Times

  • Coronavirus: Its evident SMEs have been resilient Dep. BoG Governor

    Second Deputy Governor of the Central Bank has lauded Ghanaian start-ups for been resilient despite challenges in the phase of the Coronavirus pandemic.

    Following the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, businesses have been hugely impacted with many having to close down or adjust by laying off employees.

    Madam Elsie Awadzi has thus applauded Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) for weathering the storm. She noted that in spite of the enormous challenges the sector faced before and during the lockdown, the resilience of the sector has also been evident.

    “Even during lockdown, small food processing businesses, eateries, and others worked hard under very difficult and risky conditions to produce food and other products and services for households and other clients. Micro and small fashion businesses very quickly stepped in to help produce face masks for use by the public. Production of hand sanitizers and other health and safety products suddenly became possible in Ghana. With the continued easing of COVID-related restrictions, it is heart-warming to see that the MSME sector is slowly, but surely, bouncing back.”

    The deputy governor of the BoG was speaking at a forum themed “MSME Manufacturing Capabilities, Responding to COVID-19 and Opportunities Beyond.”

    She further stated her enthusiasm and relentless spirit of the Ghanaian entrepreneur, who against all odds, always finds a way to move forward in their business endeavours.

    She added the need for Ghanaians to support the sector considering their input on the economy adding that “this spirit that needs to be promoted and supported to help build a stronger and more resilient Ghanaian economy, post-COVID 19.”

    Read the full statement below.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • AGI to establish youth enterprise development centres in three regions

    The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) in the Volta, Oti and Eastern regions has initiated efforts to establish enterprise development centres to train the youth.

    The centres will serve as hubs on various sectors of the economy to train and build capacity of the youth in these regions with special focus on Information Communication Technology and Agriculture.

    Mr Dela Gadzanku, the Chairman for AGI, Volta, Oti and Eastern regions, in an interview with GNA, said the centres would serve as an incubation to link young entrepreneurs to financiers and partners.

    The interview is a fall out of Virtual Zoom Conference organised by the Ghana Young Entrepreneurs Roundtable on the SDGs on the theme: “Post-COVID 19 and SDG Targets: Resharpening strategies to Match the Goals.” The conference brought together representatives in government, private sector, development and advocacy setting to discuss how the achievement of SDGs could still be realised.

    He said they would work with the youth to inculcate business oriented skills and equip them with ideas on how to develop their businesses, savings for growth and sustainable businesses.

    The Chairman said the country needed to step up its industrialization efforts to improve on the fortunes of the economy. He said AGI at the regional level has identified potentials among the youth, which they would nurture and support.

    He said the Association is committed to effectively guide and support potential young people to start and enhance their own enterprises to improve on their lives.

    “We are collaborating with relevant stakeholders to help in training those identified,” he said.

    He said the Association would commence the pilot phase of the project to change the mindset and perceptions of young people running after only white colour jobs and help them focus their energies into creating their own businesses. He said there are many opportunities in these regions, which needed to be harnessed and the young people must lead the way.

    He said the Association is ready to work with the youth, who are prepared to learn and be mentored. Mr Gadzanku commended successive government for initiatives targeted at the youth.

    He also lauded government for the establishment of the Presidential Pitch Programme and the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan to support start-ups.

    He said the Association would identify possible partnerships and collaborations that would enable young people to achieve their vision. He said it is also ready to offer assistance to any young person, who wants to register their business.

    Source: GNA

  • Akufo-Addo’s government spends GH¢20.14 billion in executing key campaign promises

    The Akufo-Addo-led government has spent GH¢20.14 billion in implementing the Free SHS, banking sector clean-up, recruitment of 100,000 NaBCo beneficiaries and restoring teacher/nursing trainee allowances, as at the end of 2019.

    Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, who announced this on Saturday, during his acceptance address as President Akufo-Addo’s running mate for this year’s election, said government spent over GH¢15 billion in the banking sector clean-up to save depositors’ funds, two billion Ghana cedis annually on Free SHS and recruited 550,000 public sector workers.

    Recounting some successes chalked so far by the ruling government, Dr. Bawumia mentioned the abolition of 15 ‘nuisance’ taxes, scrapping of import duties by 50 per cent, paid GH¢2.1 billion NHIS arrears, restored Book and Research Allowance for university lecturers, increased the capitation grant, and restored the teacher trainee and nursing allowance.

    Additionally, it had reduced electricity tariffs by 10.9 per cent compared to 264 per cent cumulative increment under NDC administration, resolved the frequent power outages (dumsor), which the previous government failed to manage well, resulting in collapse of many businesses, government had provided Scholarships to 40 students from Zongo and Inner City communities to study medicine in Cuba, free supply of water to Ghanaians for three months and subsidised electricity tariffs for residential and commercial consumers due to the adverse effects of COVID-19 pandemic.

    The government, he said, had provided one billion Ghana cedis stimulus package for micro, small and medium scale enterprises and three million Ghana cedis from selected commercial banks to support businesses, saying; “Any claim of better management of the economy must ultimately reflect in the lives of the people and reduce their sufferings”.

    Dr Bawumia indicated that available data clearly showed that the Akufo-Addo Government had out-performed the NDC Government and urged Ghanaians to renew the mandate of the President for four more years to bring economic prosperity to all and efficiency in public service delivery.

    Dr Bawumia said the ruling government had fulfilled 78 per cent of the promises the NPP made in the 2016 electioneering campaign and expected to redeem more of the promises by the end of its first term in office.

    “We have been able to do all these because of the visionary and strong leadership of President Akufo-Addo.

    “We have managed the economy better compared to the abysmal performance of the NDC government that could not even pay GH¢60 million for teacher trainee allowance and cancelled it,” the Vice President said.

    Source: GNA

  • Crew on helicopter emergency landing are safe – Ghana Armed Forces

    he Ghana Armed Forces has said the four crew members and four military personnel on board the Ghana Air Force helicopter that performed an emergency landing at Ganvuliga in the Kumbungu District of the Northern Region were successfully recovered without fatalities nor injuries.

    It said there were no civilians on board and no damage nor injuries to property and people on the ground and that the landing site has since been secured and efforts were underway to recover the aircraft.

    The incident happened while the crew were returning from Wa to Tamale, a statement signed by Colonel E Aggrey-Quashie, the Director of Public Relations of the Ghana Armed Forces and copied to the Ghana News Agency, has said.

    It said the crew landed after observing a malfunction of the tail rotor system, which provides anti-torque and directional control to the aircraft.

    The statement said the Kumbungu District Chief Executive and the local community were also providing the necessary assistance to the recovery team. “A Preliminary Investigation Team (PIT) has been constituted and is currently on-site to conduct a full assessment of the damage to the aircraft to allow recovery to Air Force Base, Tamale,” it said.

    It said the manufacturers of the aircraft, China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) based in China, and their local representatives, have been informed of the incident and were providing all the necessary technical support.

    It said the aircraft was one of four helicopters that were delivered to the Ghana Air Force in 2015.

    The statement commended the crew for their quick judgement and timely intervention for flying the helicopter to a safe emergency landing.

    Source: GNA

  • Election 2020: Akufo-Addo mocks Mahama, NDC as he announces Bawumia as running mate

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has retained his vice, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, as his running mate for the Presidential elections in December.

    The announcement which was greeted with unanimous cheers was also approved by the National Council and the National Executive Committee (NEC), making him the official running mate for Akufo-Addo.

    “Today I have the honour to put into consideration with you my choice of running mate for the fourth time, the excellent hardworking vice president Alhaji Mahamadu Bawumia. With your endorsement, the party will complete its presidential ticket.

    A feat that appears to elude some of our opponents. We have no such difficulty we have a most fitting person to feature on our ticket and I give you Mr digital, Mr you and I were not there, the economic prophet, the Adam Smith of Walewale, my good and loyal friend, Alhaji Mahamadu Bawumia,” he proclaimed amidst cheers.

    This means that Mr Bawumia has been selected by the NPP flagbearer for the fourth straight time.

    In his acceptance speech, Dr Bawumia expressed gratitude to Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP for choosing him again and promised not to disappoint the President and the party.

    Meanwhile, former President John Dramani Mahama and by extension, the National Democratic Congress are yet to make public the running mate of the NDC flagbearer.

    Although a number of individuals have been speculated, Mr Mahama has noted that he is not under pressure to make the announcement and would do so in due time.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Liberian, Cameroonian arrested for printing fake monies

    The police have arrested two persons suspected to be involved in the production of fake currency notes in Accra.

    The suspects, identified as Kamara Seidu and Judith Koadue, from Liberia and Cameroon respectively are aged 40 years.

    Daily Graphic reports that Public Relations Officer of the Accra Regional Police Command, DSP Effia Tenge disclosed that the two were picked up on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, after a tip-off at a hotel along the Baatsona-Spintex Road.

    They were in possession of counterfeit GH¢50 notes and pieces of paper cut to the size of the same amount.

    DSP Tenge noted that the team retrieved several items used by Kamara and Judith to make the counterfeit notes in the hotel where the duo were lodging.

    The items included two bottles of a liquid substance, a white polythene bag containing some washing powder, cotton wool and gloves all suspected to be items used in processing the fake currency notes.

    DSP Tenge also disclosed that the police also found nine pieces of GH¢50 notes which were later found to be fake.

    Later when the police took the suspects to their residence at Nii Boi Town in Accra for a search, a pair of scissors, a cutter, 88 pieces of paper, cut into sizes of GH¢50, two bottles containing a liquid substance, two rolls of Sellotape, two bundles of white polythene bags and 60 sheets of paper all suspected to be materials for processing fake currencies, were also discovered.

    She said preliminary investigation had revealed the suspects were fraudsters who swindled their victims under the pretext of doubling their money.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • I will do everything in my power to lead NPP to another victory – Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assured the National Council and the National Executive Committee of New Patriotic Party that he is going to lead the party to a resounding victory in the December 2020 Presidential elections.

    The president made this declaration during his acclamation ceremony as Flagbearer of the NPP held at the Alisa Hotel in Accra on Saturday, June 27, 2020.

    “I shall with Gods help do everything in my power to justify your decision and lead this most deserving party to another victory in December,” the president assured.

    President Akufo-Addo after his acclamation for the fourth time nominated Vice President Dr. Bawumia as his running mate.

    The nomination of the vice president received a unanimous endorsement of the National Council and the National Executive Committee.

    The vice president in his speech after his endorsement thanked the party leadership and the president for the honour.

    He touted the Akufo-Addo government’s achievements in the last three years whiles assuring that he will continue to work with his boss to ensure the development of Ghana, should they get the nod for another term in office in the December election.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Im eternally grateful to you Bawumia tells Nana

    Vice President Dr Mahamudu has sent out an emotional message to President Nana Akufo-Addo on chosing him as his running mate for the fourth time.

    Mr Akufo-Addo announced to the leadership of the NPP on Saturday June 27, that Bawumia was his running mate for the 2020 elections.

    President Akufo-Addo was acclaimed by the NPP as its 2020 Presidential candidate.

    And speaking after being picked, Dr Bawumia paid glowing tributes to Akufo-Addo.

    He associated himself with the views of President Akufo-Addo that “politics is a call to serve.”

    “Mr President, I will never take the trust and loyalty you have reposed in me for granted,” he told the President.

    “I thank you for giving me the opportunity, God bless,” he added.

    Mr President you have chosen me for the fourth and the people of Ghana will give you four more years to do more for Ghanaians, he said

    “You have loved me, you have cared for me and appreciated me and I say God bless you”, according to Dr Bawumia.

    Source: Daily Guide Network

  • The British degraded Ghana’s monarchy after calling it a ‘stool’ – Osu Wor-Lumor claims

    The history of Ghana would never be complete without the emergence of Christianity and African Traditional Religion.

    People from both religions are believed to have similar ways of appeasing a Supreme being by offering thanksgiving or sending their petitions for divine protection.

    Christians are believed to serve and worship God through Jesus Christ. On the other hand, the African traditionalists are known to revere the Supreme Being (God) through lesser gods and ancestors; that is, through divinity cults and ancestral veneration.

    However, in recent years, the leaders of the African Traditional religion have spoken fervently about how Christianity is trying to erode their entity by making many believe the African Traditional religion is fetish.

    On this backdrop, Chief Priest of Osu, Wor-Lumor Nuumo Noi Sekanku Kpenuku II, in the latest episode of People & Places has said that the whole hullabaloo started with the British.

    He told GhanaWeb that in the attempt to degrade the monarchy of Ghana, they named the chairs of Ghanaian chiefs as ‘stools’ while referring to theirs as thrones. Affirming his disappointment, he added that stool according to medical laboratories means excreta.

    “Let me enlighten you on something. When you go to England, the Queen is sitting on a chair they call the throne; you go to the Netherlands the same. You go to all these European countries where we have monarchs, they are sitting on thrones. Why is it that our monarchs sit on stools? Have you ever found the dictionary meaning of stool? When you get into the medical laboratories, stool means…the excreta that we leave in the gents. Oxford Dictionary, stool means something that you put your feet on.”

    Wor-Lumor Nuumo Noi Sekanku Kpenuku II reiterated that the British likened their own monarchy to that of God, who is the Supreme Being. According to him, being colonial masters at the time made them ‘gods’.

    “So you see, by this naming of our thrones, they have degraded our chiefs. The British, the colonial masters they degraded our chiefs. But they call their chairs thrones and they call ours stools. And they call the chair of God, throne. So they are gods to us, and they are not gods to us.”

    The Osu Chief Priest underscored that it is prudent for the public to note that, Christianity which was introduced by the British colonial masters is not ‘holy’ as they claim.

    He said, the traditional religion, which he says is the first religion on earth is holier than Christianity.

    “No, we are holier than them. They came to kill and steal our minerals and goods; and stole our human resource, took our people as slaves. So we are cleaner than them,” he told GhanaWeb.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Ghanas coronavirus surge worries virologists

    Virologists are expressing worry at the recent surge in the cases of Covid-19 being recorded in the country.

    According to them, the country must intensify measures to stem the spread of the virus as there may be a “secondary” peak if claims by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) earlier that the country had passed its peak is anything to go by.

    Speaking on The Key Points on TV3/3FM on Saturday, June 27, two virologists and one immunologist admitted that the recent case count should be a source of worry for the country.

    Dr Michael Owusu, who works for the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research into Tropical Medicine (KCCR), said previously out of 100 samples only two or three may be confirmed positive for coronavirus.

    But quite recently, out of the same number of samples, about 30 to 40 test positive, he said.

    This is even having an effect on the testing capacity, which is going down, he pointed out.

    Source: 3 News

  • Health Minister tests negative for coronavirus

    The Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, is recovering from the Covid-19 infection which has kept him out of work for almost three weeks.

    According to the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, the Health Minister has tested negative for the infection and is set to get back to work shortly.

    “I am sure that this will be some sort of good news in addition to the over 10,000 recoveries,” he said during the Covid-19 press briefing in Accra.

    Mr. Agyeman-Manu tested positive for Covid-19 during a routine test at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) and was admitted for some days before being discharged for supportive homecare.

    The minister, who doubles as the Dormaa Central Member of Parliament (MP), was said to be “in stable condition.”

    President Akufo-Addo, in his Covid-19 address, confirmed the status of the health minister, saying he contracted the infection in the line of duty. Besides, he wished him speedy recovery while commiserating with the families that had lost members to Covid-19.

    Other top government officials have since tested positive for Covid-19, including the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National Health Insurance Authority, Dr. Lydia Dsane Selby, and the CEO of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr. Daniel Asare; both are receiving treatment.

    Education Minister Matthew Opoku Prempeh has also been admitted to the UGMC for symptoms similar to that of Covid-19 as he awaits his test results.

    New Cases

    A total of 361 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 were recorded according the GHS yesterday, bringing the total confirmed cases to 15,834.

    Active cases in Ghana as of yesterday were 3,976, with recoveries moving to 11,755.

    Besides, deaths have risen from 95 to 103, according to the GHS.

    Source: Daily Guide Network

  • Uphold higher ethical standards, honesty – CJ tells lawyers

    The Chief Justice, Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah has reiterated the call for lawyers to ensure higher ethical standards and honesty in the discharge of their professional dealings with the public.

    This, according to him would not only restore faith in the profession but also boost the integrity of the entire judicial system.

    “Demonstrate strong ethical behaviour, continue to learn and desist from dishonest dealings. Your profession champions honesty, if you are a dishonest person you cannot embrace such profession,” Justice Yeboah added.

    Speaking at the enrolment of new lawyers in Accra yesterday, the Chief Justice said perversion obstructed justice and had the tendency to tarnish the image of not only the individuals involved but also the entire service.

    He, therefore, charged the newly enrolled lawyers to uphold the virtues of the profession and enhance their services to mankind, stressing that “You should continue to learn and imitate the good works of your predecessors.”

    Touching on what would make the young lawyers excel, he said they would have to be innovative, strategic and always pursue what was right while paying attention to detail.

    Justice Yeboah congratulated all the lawyers and admonished them to know that this marked the beginning of their career in one of the noble professions.

    He also urged them to make the nation proud by discharging their duties with diligence and care in compliance with the legal act.

    In all, 76 newly qualified lawyers were called to the bar under the Legal Profession Act, (Act, 1960).

    Source: ghanaiantimes.com.gh

  • Coronavirus: US has ‘serious problem’, says Fauci

    US infectious disease chief Dr Anthony Fauci says the nation has a “serious problem” as 16 states reel from a spike in Covid-19 cases.

    At the first White House task force briefing in two months, Dr Fauci said: “The only way we’re going to end it is by ending it together.”

    As health experts said more must be done to slow the spread, Vice-President Mike Pence praised US “progress”.

    More than 40,000 new cases were recorded across the US on Friday

    The total of 40,173, given by Johns Hopkins University, was the highest daily total so far, exceeding the record set only the previous day.

    There are over 2.4 million confirmed infections and more than 125,000 deaths nationwide – more than any other country.

    During Friday’s briefing, the White House task force also urged millennials to get tested, even if they are asymptomatic.

    Mr Pence said the president requested the task force address the American people amid surges in infections and hospital admissions across southern and western states.

    In Texas, Florida and Arizona, reopening plans have been paused due to the spike.

    While some of the increase in daily cases recorded can be attributed to expanded testing, the rate of positive tests in some areas is also increasing.

    Health officials in the US estimate the true number of cases is likely to be 10 times higher than the reported figure.

    What was said at the White House briefing?
    Dr Deborah Birx, coronavirus response coordinator, thanked younger Americans for heeding official guidance on testing.

    “Whereas before we told them to stay home, now we are telling them to get tested.”

    She noted this “great change” in testing guidance would allow officials to find “the asymptomatic and mild diseases that we couldn’t find before”.

    Following Dr Birx’s presentation of the recent data, Dr Fauci said: “As you can see we are facing a serious problem in certain areas.”

    He added: “So what goes on in one area of the country ultimately could have an affect on other areas.”

    Dr Fauci said the current rises were due to everything from regions “maybe opening a little bit too early”, to opening at a reasonable time “but not actually following steps in an orderly fashion”, to the citizens themselves not following guidance.

    “People are infecting other people, and then ultimately you will infect someone who’s vulnerable,” he said.

    “You have an individual responsibility to yourself, but you have a societal responsibility because if we want to end this outbreak, really end it… we’ve got to realise that we are part of the process.”

    Dr Fauci added that if the spread was not stopped, eventually even the parts of the country doing well now would be affected.

    The vice-president, meanwhile, praised the nation’s headway in handling the pandemic, noting “extraordinary progress” in former virus hotspots, like New York and New Jersey.

    “We slowed the spread, we flattened the curve, we saved lives,” he said.

    Mr Pence also appeared to deny any link between states reopening and the increase in cases.

    Responding to a reporter’s question, he said the southern states that have reopened did so months ago, when new cases and rates were low.

    Mr Pence instead blamed much of the rise on positive test results from asymptomatic young people, adding that while they may be at lower risk of serious symptoms, they should “take countermeasures” and listen to state governors’ advice.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Kenya Airways anticipates $500m loss this year

    Kenya Airways expects to lose over $500m (£405m) this year as a result of business disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

    The airline says it expects to have to make painful decisions, including laying off staff and selling off key assets, besides seeking to secure more than $70m in an emergency bailout to stay afloat.

    CEO Allan Kilavuka told the BBC that a restructuring plan is awaiting board approval, with the company working on a strategy to diversify its business away from passengers to cargo.

    The airline recorded a $122m net loss in 2019 attributed to higher operating costs.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Trump orders statues be protected from ‘mob rule’

    US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order calling for protesters who target monuments to be imprisoned.

    The measure says anyone who damages a public statue must be prosecuted to the “fullest extent of the law”.

    Mr Trump’s order also calls for withholding federal funds from local jurisdictions and police departments that fail to stop such “mob rule”.

    A number of US statues have been pulled down since the police killing of an unarmed black man, George Floyd.

    The president issued the order on Friday evening hours after he abruptly cancelled a planned trip to his golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey, writing on Twitter that he would stay in Washington DC to “make sure LAW & ORDER is enforced”.

    The measure says: “Many of the rioters, arsonists, and left-wing extremists who have carried out and supported these acts have explicitly identified themselves with ideologies – such as Marxism – that call for the destruction of the United States system of government.”

    It accuses the protesters of “a deep ignorance of our history”.

    The order cites the recent targeting of a San Francisco bust to Ulysses S Grant, who owned a slave before he became Union Army commander and defeated the slave-owning Confederacy during the Civil War, a statue in Madison, Wisconsin, of an abolitionist immigrant who fought for the Union, and a Boston memorial commemorating an African-American regiment that fought in the same conflict.

    “Individuals and organizations have the right to peacefully advocate for either the removal or the construction of any monument,” the executive order says.

    “But no individual or group has the right to damage, deface, or remove any monument by use of force.”

    It cites existing laws providing for up to 10 years in prison for anyone who damages federal property.

    The order warns local jurisdictions that neglect to protect such monuments could face having their federal funding tied to public spaces withheld.

    Police departments that have failed to guard statues from damage or vandalism could also lose such funds, the order warns.

    It also states that anyone who “damages, defaces, or destroys religious property, including by attacking, removing, or defacing depictions of Jesus or other religious figures or religious artwork” should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

    The measure appears to refer to a recent Twitter post by prominent social justice activist Shaun King who wrote that “statues of the white European they claim is Jesus should also come down”.

    The tweet added: “They are a form of white supremacy.”

    Monuments linked to the Confederacy have been especially targeted in the US amid the nationwide protests ignited by the death of Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a month ago.

    President Trump has defended Confederate symbols as a part of American heritage.

    Statues of Christopher Columbus, the 15th Century explorer whose voyages on behalf of Spain opened the way for the European colonisation of the Americas, have also been targeted as perceived symbols of imperialism.

    Some state and local leaders have themselves taken action to remove Confederate symbols.

    Earlier this month, Virginia’s Governor Ralph Northam announced that a statue of Confederate General Robert E Lee would be taken down from the state capital in Richmond.

    Source: BBC

  • Simpsons ends use of white actors to voice people of colour

    US animated comedy series The Simpsons will no longer use white actors for the voices of characters from other ethnic backgrounds, the show’s producers say.

    The show, broadcast on Fox Network, has faced years of criticism over white actor Hank Azaria’s voiceover of Indian-American character Apu.

    Mr Azaria said earlier this year that he was stepping down from the role.

    The entertainment industry has come under growing pressure to provide more opportunities for non-white performers.

    Friday’s announcement comes in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests, which were sparked by the death of African-American George Floyd in US police custody on 25 May.

    “Moving forward, The Simpsons will no longer have white actors voice non-white characters,” the producers said in a short statement.

    In January, Mr Azaria said he would no longer be performing the voice of Indian convenience store owner Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, a role he had played since the character was created in 1990.

    “We all made the decision together… We all agreed on it. We all feel like it’s the right thing,” he said at the time.

    The show had been accused of using the character in a way that reinforced racial stereotypes.

    Mr Azaria – who provides the voice of other characters, including black police officer Lou and the Mexican-American Bumblebee Man – said he found it “very upsetting to me personally and professionally” that anyone felt marginalised because of Apu.

    Fox Network’s statement on Friday did not say whether Apu or other characters would continue to feature in the show.

    Other white US actors to announce that they will no longer be providing voiceovers for people of colour include Mike Henry and Kristen Bell.

    Mr Henry provided the voice of black character Cleveland Brown in the animated series Family Guy for 20 years.

    “I love this character, but persons of colour should play characters of colour,” he tweeted on Friday.

    Ms Bell, who provided the voice of Molly, a mixed-race child, in the cartoon series Central Park, said doing so displayed “a lack of awareness”.

    “Casting a mixed-race character [with a] white actress undermines the specificity of the mixed-race and Black American experience,” she added.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Ethiopian aged over 100 recovers from coronavirus

    The recovery from coronavirus of an Ethiopian man who is believed to be at least 100 years old was “incredible”, one of the doctors who treated him told the BBC.

    Aba Tilahun Woldemichael’s family says he is 114, which would make him the world’s oldest man, but there is no birth certificate to confirm his age.

    People over the age of 80 are considered to be among the most vulnerable if they catch the virus.

    The centenarian, who is an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian monk, is now being looked after at home by his grandson.

    “When I was in the hospital I was praying to God asking for my health. I was crying and praying for the whole country to be healthy again,” he told the BBC.

    Aba Tilahun tested positive for the virus when a random screening process took place in his neighbourhood in the capital, Addis Ababa, and was admitted to hospital before the symptoms showed, Dr Hiluf Abate told the BBC’s Newsday programme.

    This allowed the medical team to be pro-active with its treatment and closely monitor the old man, he added.

    Within four days of his admission to the severe coronavirus ward in Yeka Kotebe hospital, Aba Tilahun’s condition deteriorated as the virus took hold and he was put on oxygen, Dr Hiluf said.

    In all he spent 14 days at the hospital, and was treated with oxygen for more than a week.

    He also was given anti-biotics and the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone, which has been hailed as a ground-breaking treatment for hospital patients seriously ill with Covid-19.

    Ethiopia, which has strict coronavirus restrictions, has recorded more than 5,000 confirmed cases and 81 deaths.

    Tumultuous times

    Although the hospital cannot confirm that its patient is 114 years old, the medical team says that he is definitely older than 100 and estimates that he is 109.

    In his youth, he moved to Addis Ababa from southern Ethiopia when he was young and has lived through tumultuous times in his country.

    He witnessed the Italian occupation between 1935 and 1941, the overthrow of Emperor Haile Selassie in 1974, the collapse of the Marxist Derg regime in 1991 and now he has survived Covid-19.

    For years he has lived a simple life as a monk; “Aba” is a title meaning “Father”.

    But when he was younger he worked as an electrician, house painter and general handyman, his 24-year-old grandson Binyam Lulseged Tilahun told the BBC.

    His grandfather was doing well and looked healthy despite his age, however, the after-effects of the virus had weakened his voice, Mr Binyam added.

    In order to curb the spread of coronavirus, Ethiopia introduced a state of emergency in April that closed schools and playgrounds, banned large gatherings and sporting events, and reduced passenger numbers on public transport. But businesses have remained open.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Instagram influencer arrested over $400m fraud

    Dubai’s police force say they have arrested Nigerian Instagram celebrity Raymond Igbalodely, known as Hushpuppi, on allegations of fraud amounting to $435m (£346m).

    In an operation police called “Fox Hunt 2”, 12 other people were arrested in six simultaneous raids in Dubai.

    Nearly two million people from different parts of the world were said to have fallen victims to the plot.

    The social media star was based in Dubai and claimed he was successful businessman.

    The local authorities published video on Twitter, documenting the four-month investigation that led to the arrests.

    Police say they discovered a hidden online fraud network that was committing crimes outside the UAE, including money-laundering, cyber fraud, hacking, criminal impersonation, banking fraud and identity theft.

    The group is accused of hacking corporate emails and cloning websites to redirect payments to their own accounts.

    The Dubai police has not yet said when they would be charged.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Malawi police record 38 violent electoral incidents

    Deputy Commissioner of Police Noel Kayira has said law enforcement agencies have so far recorded 38 violent incidents in relation to Tuesday’s election and that they have also pressed charges to rapper Fredokiss, who was arrested on Tuesday.

    He said Fredokiss, the real name Fred Penjani Kalua who is son to Cabinet minister Kamlepo Kalua, has been charged with the offence of offering handouts during elections time contrary to Presidential and Parliamentary Elections Act (PPEA).

    The charge is against Section 115 of the PPEA and Section 41 of the Political Parties Act. The two acts prohibit people from offering an inducement to people during voting.

    According to Kayira, the maximum penalty for contravening the law is a charge of K500 000 and a two-year custodial sentence while the Political Parties Act attracts a fine of K10 million and a five-year custodial sentence.

    But Kayira said after all investigations have been concluded, a consolidated charge will be brought before the rapper.

    Kayira alsi said 38 incidents were jointly registered by the police and Malawi Defence Force and that 46 individuals are in police custody.

    He said the suspects were arrested prior to the polling day, on the day of voting and in the past two days after voting was concluded.

    Kayira said the offences included intimidation of monitors, torching of a vehicle, being found with other voters’ particulars to vote for them, unlawful detention and dishing out handouts on voting day.

    On his part, Malawi Defence Force director of military operations Brigadier General Blaise Saenda confirmed incidents where ex-military officers were arrested in Nkhotakota and Salima but said the security organ was still probing the matter.

    Meanwhile, Phalombe Magistrate’s Court is Friday expected to hear witness testimonies in a case in which nine people are accused of causing violence during the fresh presidential election on June 23 in the district.

    The suspects appeared in court on Wednesday where they all pleaded not guilty to the charge of conducting themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace in a public place.

    It is reported that the suspects on polling day at Nazombe Primary School Polling Centre in Phalombe East Constituency, threatened voters to choose a particular candidate.

    Phalombe Police Station prosecutor Davie Muloza told the court that the State will parade witnesses to testify against the accused.

    “Our investigations are still in progress and we will amend the charges relating to electoral laws. We appeared in court to tell the accused why we are keeping them in custody as the Constitution states,” he said.

    Phalombe first grade magistrate Damson Banda adjourned the case to Friday.

    All the suspects come from Traditional Authority Nazombe in the district.

    On Tuesday, Malawians went to the polls to elect president following the nullification of the May 21, 2019, presidential election on February 3 this year by the High Court sitting as the Constitutional Court.

    Source: allafrica.com

  • Yemi Alade considers organising a free concert in Ghana after coronavirus

    Nigerian singer, Yemi Alade says she might organise a free concert in Ghana when the coronavirus pandemic is under control and all restrictions are lifted.

    In an interview with Jay Foley on Prime Morning, the singer talked about how she has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, she also discussed some of the plans that she is hoping to execute when the pandemic is over.

    Yemi Alade believes that the coronavirus pandemic would forever change the way a lot of things are done, even after it is gone.

    She went on to hint that organising a free concert in Ghana might be one of the projects she will undertake when the pandemic is over.

    “Once this quarantine is over and the pandemic is over, another level of energy will come from me. Normally I spend like 45 minutes working out, but now I spend like 2 hours to work out,” she said.

    She added: “This simply means something will surely happen after the pandemic. I might throw a free concert in Ghana.”

    Source: kuulpeeps.com

  • Rwanda’s rising virus cases dampens plan for a full reopening

    Rwanda’s surge in Coronavirus cases this week could dampen plans to fully opening up the economy soon.

    The increasing numbers, according to the Health Ministry, is attributed to increased testing across the country.

    On Monday, the country recorded 59 new infections, the highest single-day spike since the pandemic was reported in March.

    The cases are spread over five districts in Kirehe, Rusizi, Kigali, Nyamasheke and Rubavu, largely attributed to truck drivers from the region and their contacts.

    Kirehe District, which borders Tanzania and Burundi in the east, has recorded 41 cases mainly due to cross-border activities at the Rusumo One-Stop Border Post.

    “The Kirehe District cluster is a controlled group of truck drivers and their contacts; this is different from community transmissions,” Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, the Director-General of Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), told The East African.

    As of Wednesday, Rwanda’s Covid-19 tally stood at 830 with this week alone recording 100 new cases. The cases were from over 10,000 tests, according to the Health Ministry.

    Since the first case in mid-march, Rwanda has tested over 121, 527 people, according to Health Ministry statistics. Two people have died from the virus.

    But the surge in infections now coincides with Rwanda’s decision to reopen sections of the economy as the government is planning to partially lift the lockdown every after two weeks of assessment.

    It has stepped up health campaigns urging citizens to observe safety measures including physical distancing, washing hands and mask-wearing in public is mandatory.

    According to the Health Ministry, the elderly – considered the most vulnerable – are encouraged to test especially in the two districts still under total lockdown Rusizi and Rubavu.

    “All people above 60 years in the sectors still under lockdown are invited for testing at the village testing hubs or at district hospitals. This also goes out to individuals with underlying conditions who are generally registered in respective health facilities,” Dr Nsanzimana added.

    Rwanda’s economic growth is expected slowdown as a result of Covid-19 impact which has highly disrupted its tourism activities.

    Economic recovery is expected to begin in 2021, according to the Ministry of Finance, with a set of economic measures put in place by the government to ensure that growth fully rebounds by 2022.

    In order to boost growth during the pandemic, mobile money charges were reinstated last week after a suspension period of 100 days.

    Hotels are also allowed to host conferences and tourists are allowed to jet into the country on chartered direct flights.

    However, tourists must have tested negative 72 hours before travel and are tested again on arrival at their own cost. Public transport, including the popular use of commercial motorcyclists, has also resumed with the exception of Rusizi and Rubavu Districts which are still under total lockdown.

    Source: allafrica.com

  • Franklin Cudjoe laments unavailability of modern recorders at the Supreme Court

    Founding President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe has lamented the lack of modern recorders at the Supreme Court of Ghana.

    His comment comes after the highest court threw away his attempt to join two cases which are asking the court to stop the Electoral Commission (EC), from compiling a new voters’ register in the country.

    The Supreme Court’s Justice Baffoe Bonnie, in his ruling on Wednesday, 24 June, 2020, said the policy think tank, Imani Africa and other civil society organisations that had attempted to join the two cases against the compilation of a new register are not neutral.

    Mr. Franklin Cudjoe who had earlier expressed dissatisfaction in the ruling, has also been speaking about his experiences in the courtroom yesterday, as he monitored the proceedings.

    According to him, until yesterday, he never knew the Lordships at the Apex Court physically write down notes whenever lawyers are in defense.

    “I didn’t know that Supreme Court Judges physically pen write notes while Lawyers advocate. So you hear, “please can you repeat what you said?”, he revealed.

    Mr. Cudjoe has since indicated he would like to help mobilize some funds to purchase modern recorders to be sent to the Supreme Court as according to him, the manual ways of doing things at the courthouse slow proceedings.

    “Kinda slows down proceedings except when they ‘battle’ Lawyers. I’d like to help by raising Amicus funds to buy modern recorders. Or, I wouldn’t be neutral?”, he wrote on Facebook as sighted by Ghana Guardian.

    Source: Ghana Guardian

  • Korle Bu begins local production of sanitisers after woman comes out about dying nephew

    The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has commenced processes to facilitate the local production of hand sanitizers for health facilities in Ghana.

    Supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the move is geared towards helping the fight against COVID-19 and curbing further spread of the disease.

    This comes after a woman identified as Rev. Dr. Nana Yaa Owusu-Prempeh shared how the failure of the hospital to treat her young nephew’s case with emergency resulted in his death.

    While making the revelation, she mentioned among other things, that the emergency ward of the hospital, where her nephew was rushed to after suffering a fall in the bathroom, did not have any sanitisers at the time of their arrival.

    Sharing her ordeal in a viral video, she said; “We get there, first thing, I want sanitisers for my hands, and there are no sanitisers at the emergency room at the Korle Bu Teaching hospital.”

    Meanwhile, the production of sanitisers, according to the UNDP, falls in line with the programme’s multi-pronged approach to support the national COVID-19 response by promoting effective health care waste management.

    “This ranges from monitoring and enforcement of best practices, training of frontline workers, provision of reference manuals and logistics (PPEs and consumables) for health care waste management, to reduce risks and infections,” a statement released by them read.

    Chief Executive Officer of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr. Daniel Asare, reacting to the move, thanked UNDP for responding to the call by the President, His Excellency Nana Akuffo-Addo, on all stakeholders to support local innovations.

    “For us in the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, this partnership is a demonstration of the capacity that exists locally in harnessing innovations to accelerate development. We thank UNDP for believing in our capability.” He said.

    Through the intervention, UNDP has also donated some 11,150 litres of hand sanitizers (5,000 pieces of 230ml bottles and 2,000 pieces of 5 litres refill bottles, with 162 dispensers) to the Ministry of Health to support 21 key facilities playing leading roles in the testing and management of COVID-19 cases across the country.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com