TIG Post

Author: Persis

  • Ghana’s coronavirus cases go past 7,500 with 2,421 recoveries

    More recoveries have been recorded as Ghana’s Coronavirus case count hits 7,616, the Ghana Health Service has announced.

    This comes following some 7,117 cases recorded on Tuesday, May 26, 2020.

    The active cases however are 5,161, with 104 more recoveries, making a total of 2421 recoveries and 34 deaths.

    The Greater Accra Region currently is still leading with 5,331, with the Ashanti Region following closely with 1,160 and the Western Region with 395.

    Below is the breakdown:

    Greater Accra Region – 5,331

    Ashanti Region – 1,160

    Western Region – 395

    Central Region – 376

    Eastern Region – 117

    Western North Region – 63

    Volta Region – 59

    Northern Region – 36

    Oti Region – 26

    Upper East Region – 26

    Upper West Region – 22

    North East Region – 2

    Savannah Region – 1

    Bono Region – 1

    Bono East Region – 1

    Ahafo Region – 0

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Some Kuwait returnees have tested positive for coronavirus Ghana Health Service

    The Ghana Health Service (GHS) says some of the over 200 Ghanaians who returned from Kuwait over the weekend have tested positive for coronavirus.

    Director of Public Health at the Service, Dr Badu Sakordie during a press briefing on Thursday said he has been informed that some of the returnees have tested positive but will wait for official confirmation of the exact number.

    “There are indications that some of them have tested positive. We will follow up and when we have the full report, we will share appropriately,” he said.

    Prior to this, tests conducted on the returnees by Kuwaiti health officials were negative.

    The Director of Media and Communications for Operation Covid-19 safety, Osei Bonsu Dickson who revealed this to JoyNews when they arrived in Ghana on Saturday, May 23, however, indicated that another round of tests would be conducted on them.

    They are the first batch of citizens resident abroad who have applied to be brought back home following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

    They arrived via a special chattered flight at the cost of the Kuwaiti government and are on a 14-day mandatory quarantine as screening and tests are carried out.

    Source: myjoyonline.com

  • Todays newspapers front pages

  • Vice President Bawumia launches government scholarship for postgraduate training of doctors

    The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has launched the government’s scholarship scheme for postgraduate training of Ghanaian medical doctors.

    The scheme, launched at the Jubilee House on Thursday, is a fulfilment of a promise made by President Akufo-Addo in 2016 to fully fund the postgraduate training of Ghanaian medical doctors.

    Under the scholarship scheme, the tuition fees of 918 residents and senior residents enrolled by the College of Physicians and Surgeons for the 2019/2020 academic year, will be fully paid for by the government.

    Speaking at the launch, Vice President Bawumia revealed that a total amount of GHC 6,885,000 (six million eight hundred and eighty-five thousand) Ghana Cedis has been released to the College to offset more than half of the projected budget of 11 million GHS which the College required to achieve its mandate this year.

    The Vice President said access to good healthcare is not only about providing physical infrastructure, which he said the government is committed to, but also investing in health professionals to deliver quality service.

    “Access (to healthcare) is not only in providing physical infrastructure. We need the health professionals who deliver the services, who are well trained to be able to make the difficult decisions, sometimes even tragic choices, in delivering health services. Training is therefore critical if any health system will survive over time,” said Dr. Bawumia.

    The Vice President further stated that in fulfilment of its promise to fund the postgraduate training of doctors, government, in line with the terms of conditions of service document signed with the Ghana Medical Association for doctors and dentists, agreed to provide direct funding towards the training of doctors to lift burden off medical facilities who were hitherto struggling to fund their doctors.

    “We realised that the previous arrangements of funding training through health facilities was severely hampered by the ability of facilities to pay. This led to an unfortunate situation when some facilities could not rely on their own funding to provide the needed staff training.”

    “Under this new funding arrangement, the Ministry (of Health) has successfully fulfilled its obligation for the 2018/2019 academic year, and I am happy to announce that all the school fees for the 918 residents and senior residents enrolled in the 2019/2020 academic year has been covered under this new arrangement with the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat.”

    College of Surgeons and Physicians

    The Vice President commended the role of the College of Surgeons and Physicians in the training of doctors in various fields since it was established by the government of President John Agyekum Kufuor to provide local opportunities for doctors dentists to further their medical education in the country.

    Having enrolled its pioneers in September 2004, graduated in September 2007, and inducted into Membership of Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons in December 2007. The College has since produced 565 specialist physicians and 647 specialist surgeons – a total of 1 212 as at the end of 2019,” Dr. Bawumia recounted and applauded the College for its contribution.

    Government committed to quality healthcare delivery

    While reiterating government’s commitment to supporting the building of health infrastructure and the training of personnel through the scholarship, the Vice President urged the College to maintain its dedication to the training of of doctors.

    “I would like to stress that this government is committed to the health of Ghanaians and will do everything possible to assure all citizens of accessible, affordable and available health service delivery across the nation,” Dr. Bawumia said.

    “We are committed to investing in all aspects of the health system in physical infrastructure and soft infrastructure by leveraging on technology to leapfrog our development.”

    “Together, we must work to ensure that the distribution of medical personnel across the country does not put some at disadvantage.”

    Present at the launch was the Minister of Health, Dr. Kweku Agyemang Manu, who expressed the Ministry’s delight at the Scholarship Secretariat’s intervention to absorb the fees for the postgraduate training of doctors.

    Others present were: Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Okoe Boye, Registrar of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat, Kingsley Agyeman and representatives of the Ghana Medical Association and Ghana College of Physician and Surgeons.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

     

  • GNAT outlines guidelines on reopening of schools

    The largest teacher union in Ghana, the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has outlined some Key guidelines and recommendations that need to be adopted in the educational sector during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    In a pamphlet titled Impact Assessment of COVID-19 on the education sector in Ghana: The perspective of GNAT, 5 recommendations and guidelines have been listed as measures the country can adopt to combat the Coronavirus.

    Speaking at the launch of the “Impact Assessment of COVID-19 on the education sector in Ghana: The perspective of GNAT,” National president for GNAT, Philippa Larsen said this is the time the educational system must be reshaped.

    “COVID -19 is not only a threat but also a major opportunity to reshape the teaching and learning in Ghana through the integration of pedagogies which incorporate digital learning and the prioritization of Education in Emergencies in Education budget planning,” he noted.

    Some of the recommendations, included collaboration between Ministry of Education and MMDAs to institute means to ensure that pupils/students use their time meaningfully and not engage in trading fishing, to the detriment of studying while home.

    Partnerships and collaboration with unions, student learning, support to valuable students especially in the rural areas, and Psycho-social support were suggested to aid during the pandemic.

    Guidelines on reopening of the schools by the GNAT include the following;

    *Schools should be opened in phases

    * Fumigation of all schools and education, offices

    *Class size should be reduced

    *All teachers, learners and supporting staff must be tested across the country

    *provision of necessary preventive health materials (handwashing buckets, hand sanitizers, tissues, nose masks and reliable water supply.)

    GNAT emphasized on the need to include students, especially those living with disabilities, as the impact of COVID-19 is worse for the lower socio-economic group with children with disabilities facing an even greater risk of being left behind in the scheme of things.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • PNC shouldn’t have walked out of IPAC meeting – Atik rebukes National Organiser

    General Secretary of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Atik Mohammed has condemned the party’s boycott of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting with the Electoral Commission on the compilation of a new voters’ register.

    The Electoral Commission called for an IPAC meeting on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 but the PNC National Organizer, Desmond Twumasi Ntow walked out of the meeting after questioning a Deputy Chairman of the EC, Dr Bossman Asare, on why the Commission has not responded to the party’s letter objecting to the format of the meeting.

    The National Organizer, who went to represent the PNC at the IPAC meeting, told the media that his walk-out was because of the response he received from Dr. Bossman Asare.

    ”I came here purposefully to inquire why the EC has not been able to respond to our letter and the response I got was that then why are you here, so I walked out,” he said.

    Addressing the issue on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’, Atik Mohammed rebuked Mr. Twumasi Ntow for exhibiting such conduct at the IPAC meeting.

    He stated emphatically that the PNC supports the EC to exercise its constitutional mandate to compile a new voters’ register, stressing that the party’s position on IPAC meeting is not to stage a walk-out.

    He further disclosed he (Atik Mohammed) was supposed to be present and not the party’s National Organizer but he got embroiled in other equally relevant matters and so couldn’t attend the meeting.

    To him, Mr. Twumasi Ntow’s character doesn’t reflect the position of the PNC.

    He was however not surprised at the conduct of the party’s National Organizer during the meeting saying he went to do the bidding of the Inter-Party Resistance Against New Voter Register [IPRAN]; a group that he belongs to.

    “Let it be on record that was not the PNC position; to go and stage a walk-out at IPAC. It has never been our position and it wasn’t our position yesterday…I wasn’t surprised that he went to do what he did because he’s part of that group that says they will disrupt the Electoral Commission should the Commission go ahead to do what the law permits them to do . . . It doesn’t mean I should know what that group means and what it stands for. I just see they are all over the place shouting; sometimes saying things which are very treasonable,” he said.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Ghanaian landlords threatening health workers with ejection over virus fears

    Landlords at New Edubiase in the Adansi South District are threatening to eject health workers from their houses for fear of being infected with the deadly Coronavirus.

    Dr Allah Tiertoore, Medical Superintendent of the New Edubiase government hospital, who made this known said the incessant threats of ejection was affecting the morale of the health workers in the community.

    Dr Tiertoore made this known when Oguahyia Oduro Panin Birikorang, the chief of New Edubiase presented quantities of Personal Protective Equipment to the facility and the community to support the fight against the spread of the virus.

    He said stigmatization associated with the disease was becoming too much in the area and appealed to the chief to intervene to prevent the landlords from carrying out their threat.

    Dr Tiertoore said the items would motivate the health workers to continue with their hard work to provide quality health care to the people.

    He urged the landlords to follow the good steps of the chief and support health workers to contain the further spread of the disease in the area instead of threatening them with ejections.

    Oguahyia Oduro Panin Birikorang, said the items which included; hand sanitizers, gloves, Veronica buckets, liquid soaps and others, were to support the frontline health workers and the people in the community to protect themselves against catching and spreading the virus in the area.

    Adansi South district had already confirmed three cases of the coronavirus and the increasing spread of the virus in Obuasi, a neighbouring district makes it imperative for all key stakeholders, including; the traditional authorities, to put their acts together to stop further spread of the virus in the area.

    Oguahyia Birikorang said he was worried about the outbreak of the virus in the district and the spread from Obuasi.

    The only solution, according to him was for the people to adhere to all the preventive and restrictive protocols to stay safe and prevent further spread.

    He appealed to landlords to stop the threat since the health workers were in the community in their own interest.

    The chief also appealed to the people to make maximum use of the items by washing their hands regularly and observe social distancing by avoiding other activities that could expose them to the virus.

    Source: GNA

  • Atik Mohammed demands arrest of his Chairman, Bernard Mornah

    General Secretary of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Atik Mohammed has asked The Ghana Police Service to immediately invite the party’s National Chairman, Bernard Mornah, over his seditious comments against the Electoral Commission.

    Bernard Mornah, who is also a leader of the Inter-Party Resistance Against New Voter Register [IPRAN], reportedly threatened mayhem should the Electoral Commission (EC) proceed with its registration exercise to compile a new voters’ register.

    He is said to have beaten ”war drums” saying the group will violently disrupt the process and won’t hesitate to ”kill” during the exercise.

    Speaking on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’, the PNC General Secretary described the statements by the party’s National Chairman as ”treasonable” and therefore called on the Police to swiftly swoop him up for interrogation.

    He emphasized the mandate of the Police is not just ”to deal with criminals but to ensure that crimes are not even committed in the first place. So, if somebody is threatening mayhem in this country, the person’s insurance cannot be the fact that he is Chairman of a particular political party”.

    Atik Mohammed stressed that Bernard Mornah is not above the laws of the country and so should not be left off the hook.

    “Merely being the Chairman of a political party such as the PNC doesn’t mean you can say any gibberish. It doesn’t give you the licence to just say all kinds of things and I am on this occasion inviting the Police that they should invite Bernard Mornah…If you threaten mayhem, if you threaten violence, threat of violence and the visitation of violence on whoever are offences under the Criminal Offences Act. So, you cannot threaten mayhem against a State agency doing their work within the limits of the law,” he told host Kwami Sefa Kayi.

    Source: Peace FM

     

  • Akufo-Addo committed to equitable distribution of health facilities Bawumia

    The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has reiterated President Akufo-Addo’s commitment to providing an equitable distribution of healthcare facilities across the country.

    The Akufo-Addo government has undertaken extensive health infrastructure projects in rural communities across the country, and with the Coronavirus pandemic exposing the nation’s deficit in equitable spread of facilities, President Akufo-Addo has announced an audacious investment to build 88 new district hospitals and 6 regional hospitals.

    Speaking at the launch of government scholarship for postgraduate training of doctors in Ghana at the Jubilee House on Thursday, Vice President Bawumia said despite the government’s efforts in concentrating healthcare facilities in deprived communities in the past three years, the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic has exposed the inequitable distribution of health facilities in the country, hence President Akufo-Addo’s bold initiative to solve the age-long problem.

    “Whilst we can all be proud of what we have managed to achieve so far in the fight against the pandemic, we have also been humbled by the ferocity of the pandemic, laying bare some of the shortcomings in our health system and what we have not done well as governments,” Dr Bawumia said.

    “The underinvestment in our health infrastructure, our material shortfalls, our manpower capabilities, and our vulnerabilities in fighting medical catastrophes are hard lessons.”

    “We have achieved phenomenal progress in access in the past three years. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has set the tone of what is ahead of us. He is making clear that improvements in the distribution of health infrastructure is a high priority for his government.”

    “The focus is on delivering on the largest investment by any government in our healthcare infrastructure in the last fifty years by constructing

    88 standard design 100-bed hospitals with accommodation for doctors and nurses in the Districts without hospitals, 6 new regional hospitals in the six new regions, and infectious disease centres for each of the three ecological zones: coastal, northern and middle belt zones in the country, and as well as the Ghana Centre for Disease Control,” Dr Bawumia stated.

    The Vice President further indicated that the government will complete on-going hospital projects and their related infrastructure, as well as review major bottlenecks in the acquisition of medical equipment, including the excessive reliance on loans.

    The launch of the scholarship for postgraduate training of doctors is a fulfilment of a promise by President Akufo-Addo to fully fund the postgraduate training of Ghanaian doctors.

    Postgraduate training scholarship for doctors

    About 918 doctors who have been enrolled by the College of Physicians and Surgeons will benefit in this year’s scholarship programme.

    Their entire fees for the 2019/2020 academic year has been fully covered by the Scholarship Secretariat under a new government arrangement.

    Government, in fulfilment of its 2016 election promise by President Akuffo-Addo to fund the postgraduate training of doctors, decided to absorb the fees of doctors who enrolled for postgraduate training for the 2018/2019 academic year through the Ministry of Health.

    The Scholarship Secretariat has now taken over the settlement of the fees under a new arrangement, which was launched on Thursday.

    Source: Class FM

  • Mamponteng residents worried about abandoned road projects

    Residents at Mamponteng in the Kwabre East Municipality have expressed concern over the continued delay in completing the road networks in the community.

    According to them, the situation was not only affecting socio-economic activities in the town, but had also resulted in severe injuries to many people who have fallen into the uncovered trenches and holes, dug by the contractor on the roads.

    Addressing journalists at Mamponteng to register their displeasure, the people said they did not understand why the contractor had suddenly abandoned the road project few months after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo broke the ground for it to start.

    Mr Ampadu Kyere Baffour, Assemblyman for Abensenase Electoral Area, who spoke on behalf of the people, said they did not understand why the contractor who created the “manholes within the township” leading to injurious to people should abandon the project.

    He said three old ladies and a man, had broken their legs after falling into some of the uncovered drains and holes dug by the contractor, adding that, “the roads have now become a death trap in the town”.

    Mr Baffour, therefore, called on the authorities responsible for monitoring the project, to intervene to bring the contractor back to complete the project.

    Source: GNA

  • Krobo Queen family fights chief over destoolment

    The Family of Nana Aplam II, the Paramount Queenmother of the Lower Manya Krobo Traditional Council in the Eastern Region who was reportedly destooled recently, has described the action as null and void.

    According to the royal family, the allegations being levelled against Nana Aplam II which constituted the bases for the purported destoolment are baseless and logically flawed.

    The Odumase Council, which is in charge of the installation of chiefs and queenmothers of the Manya Krobo Traditional Area, reportedly acting on the orders of the Konor for the area, Nene Sakite II, on May 11, 2020, destooled the paramount queenmother, citing her marriage to a man from the rival Manya Division as one of the reasons for the action.

    The decision for her destoolment was linked to her recent marriage to a lawyer who is said to be a relative of the head of Manya Division, Nene Sasraku IV, from one of the five breakaway divisions under the traditional council.

    A statement issued and signed by the secretary to the Odumase Council had said the queenmother, five years after her installation, had failed to perform her primary duties, responsibilities, and obligation to the Manya Krobo stool.

    Family

    However, in a press statement, the Kwame Nguah Family of the queenmother rubbished the action of the council.

    They said no destoolment rituals had been performed against Nana Aplam II, as has been erroneously put out by the Odumase Council and, therefore, no one could claim that she had been destooled.

    The family categorically stated that Nana Aplam II remains the lawfully enstooled paramount queenmother of Manya Krobo and cautioned the Odumase Council to desist from bringing the good name of Manya Krobo, the family, and in particular the name of Nana Aplam II into disrepute and urged the public to disregard the press statements issued by the Odumase Council.

    Divisional Chiefs

    In the heat of the destoolment claims, the five divisional chiefs of the Manya Krobo Traditional Area distanced themselves from the raging controversy.

    The chiefs included Nene Okpatakpla Sasraku IV of the Manya Division, Nene Bediako Muala III of Dorm Division, Nene Tetteh Zogli of Piengua Division, Nene Owuadjao Angmor II of Suisi Division and Nene Asare Odonkor II of Akwenor Division.

    SubQueenmothers

    Later, the Manya Krobo Queenmothers Association gave the Konor and the kingmakers seven days to reinstate the paramount queenmother or face their wrath.

    Manye Ami Bordor II, queenmother of Agomanya, who is leading the queenmothers, accused the traditional authorities of disuniting the people instead of bringing them together.

    Source: Daily Guide Network

  • Some Ghanaians who returned from Kuwait test positive for coronavirus – GHS

    Some of the 230 Ghanaian returnees from Kuwait have tested positive for COVID-19, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has disclosed.

    Director of Public Health at GHS, Dr Badu Sarkodie, said at a press briefing on Thursday, May 28, 2020, that a full report will soon be made public.

    “The people that came from Kuwait, we are following up, they have finished with the tests of all the people that they took samples. There are indications that some of them are positive, we will follow up this and when we have the full report, we will share these reports appropriately,” Dr Sarkodie said.

    The Ghanaian deportees on board a Kuwait Aircraft arrived at the Kotoka International Airport on Saturday from the Gulf country.

    They have been placed undergo a 14-day mandatory quarantine at designated hotels and under heavy security.

    They were received into the country after weeks of bilateral discussions between Ghana and Kuwait, the government has said.

    The government said they were repatriated back home following their incessant calls on the government for assistance.

    The returnees paid the full cost for their return, the government has explained.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coronavirus: Jomoro Municipality records 2 positive cases

    The Western Regional Health Directorate has announced that the Jomoro Municipality in the region has recorded its latest two positive cases of the deadly Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

    According to the Directorate, since the outbreak of the Coronavirus, this is the first time the Jomoro Municipality has recorded positive cases.

    So far, Jomoro Municipality has recorded 28 suspected cases and out of the cases, 19 have been tested negative awaiting 7 results.

    Making this announcement by the Western Regional Health Directorate, no contact has been traced in the Municipality.

    Western Region with 14 MDA has so far recorded 352 positive cases as of Tuesday, May 26, 2020. The region has recorded 6 recoveries and 1 death.

    Some residents residing at Elubo have expressed fears over the cases.

    According to them, the Municipal Health Directorate has failed to announce to them the whereabouts of the patients. They said some people were circulating on social media that the two cases were from Elubo.

    In a sharp response, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the area, Mr. Ernest Kofie has emphasized that the Directorate would not disclose the identity and whereabouts of the patients due to stigmatization.

    “I am appealing to everybody in Jomoro to be calm and respect the health rights of the patients”, he urged.

    He, therefore, called on them to follow the directives outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Ghana Health Service by washing their hands regularly.

    He added, “Let us all wear nose masks, observe social distancing protocols and drink more water and also fruits to build our immune systems”.

    He, however, commended the health professionals within his area for putting their lives online for fighting this deadly Coronavirus.

    Mr. Ernest Kofie pledged to liaise with the Jomoro Municipal Public Health Emergency Committee to educate the masses about the virus.

    Breakdown

    Western Region records 352 positive cases of Coronavirus as of Tuesday, May 26, 2020

    1. Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis = 137

    2. Tarkwa-Nsuaem = 107

    3. Effia Kwesimintsim = 37

    4. Prestea Huni-Valley = 31

    5. Ahanta West = 15

    6. Nzema East Municipality = 10

    7. Ellembelle District = 6

    8. Shama District = 4

    9. Mpohor District = 4

    10. Jomoro Municipality = 2

    11. Amenfi West = 1

    12. Wassa East District = 1

    13. Amenfi East = 0

    14 Amenfi Central = 0

    Total = 352

    Note the following facts

    Total of 2,234 pending results

    6 recoveries

    1 death

    Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality has the highest pending results, 762

    Source: Daniel Kaku, Contributor

  • Kweku Baako demystifies Akufo-Addo’s role in ‘Kume Preko’ demo

    On May 11, 1995, a new history was written in Ghana as hundreds of Ghanaians trooped to the streets in protest against the Military rule of former President Jerry John Rawlings.

    The demonstration, which is known to be the biggest in the country, was held against the atrocious hardships imposed by the Rawlings’ regime.

    Twenty-five years down memory lane, the instigators of the demonstration in the persons of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, seasoned journalists Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, Kwesi Pratt, and politicians Dr. Nayarko Tamakloe, Akoto Ampaw, Victor Newman, Napoleon Abdulai, Kwaku Opoku, Dr. Charles Wreko Brobbey and Agyeri Blankson have been reminiscing about their revolution.

    The leaders recently met at the residence of Mr. Agyeri Blankson to mark the 25th anniversary of the “Kumepreko” demonstration.

    In recalling the formation of the nine-member leadership of the Alliance for Change (AFC) which ignited the demonstration, there has arisen an argument over the role of President Nana Akufo-Addo in the group.

    Since precision is key to history and in order not to distort facts, seasoned journalist Abdul Malik Kweku Baako has sought to put to final all questions regarding the role and impact of President Akufo-Addo to the revolution of 1995.

    According to Kweku Baako, he needs to rehash the position of the President to lay to rest misconceptions that he wasn’t an active member of the Kumepreko protest.

    In setting the record straight, Kweku Baako stated emphatically that the President played a significant role as the AFC Spokesperson.

    “Have you Akufo-Addo anywhere anytime suggest that he was leader of the AFC? I haven’t heard that . . . That meeting we held in the house of Agyiri Blankson, in a very interesting way, Agyiri Blankson was recollecting history of kumepreko. How it began in his house and all those, he was telling the story and how we constituted the nine-member leadership collectively”.

    “Then Agyiri Blankson, in the process, said ‘oh and we made Nana the leader’; at the moment, I stood to correct him but the President was faster. The President said; ‘Hold on! That’s not correct. I was the Spokesperson, not leader’. So, where is this coming from? Everybody was present and nobody can deny this thing I’m saying,” he stated.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Baby buying deal goes bad, police arrest three persons

    Police in Kumasi, the Ashanti Region capital, have picked up three persons for their roles in a failed attempt to buy a baby from a prostitute at a slum community.

    The slum community where the incident occurred, Asafo BB, is notorious for prostitution and other crimes.

    A news report published by Myjoyonline.com on Thursday explains that the unnamed woman who attempted buying the baby from the prostitute had been married for ten years without a child.

    She contacted a commercial sex worker at the sprawling slum to help her get a baby to buy. She wanted a baby that was less than two months old.

    The report indicates that although the commercial sex worker promised to help get the baby, she later changed her mind because the practice of prostitutes selling their babies at Asafo BB was fast becoming another of the nefarious activities taking place in the area.

    For prostitutes, getting pregnant is bad for business so commercial workers who are unable to abort their babies before they are born sell to willing buyers, the report explained.

    After securing a baby from a colleague sex worker, the sex worker who was helping the buyer to secure the baby also engaged a group of young men to help her to expose the woman who contracted her.

    Negotiation got heated up when the prospective baby buyer who was now in the company of two other ladies realised that the baby presented was five months old. She wanted a two-month-old baby.

    During a brief argument that ensued during the negotiation, the young men who were engaged to expose the prospective baby buyer showed up and dragged the woman to the offices of Luv FM in Kumasi.

    Police were alerted about the incident and they picked up the woman who had been negotiating to buy the baby and the gentlemen.

    The two men were arrested because they are alleged to have stolen money from one of the women in the company of the prospective baby buyer.

    All of them have since been granted bail while police conduct investigations into the matter.

    The baby has also been returned safely to the mother.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Ghana’s MPs want parliament to close over virus fears

    A number of Ghanaian opposition lawmakers want parliament to be temporarily closed.

    The West African country has so far confirmed about 7,000 cases of Coronavirus and 34 deaths.

    Speaker Mike Oquaye last week told Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff to be tested for the virus before sittings resumed.

    There are fears that MPs could be exposed to infections and some lawmakers have proposed the introduction of virtual parliamentary proceedings as a stop-gap measure.

    The country has conducted over 200,000 tests and health officials say new data suggests a downward trend in infections.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Todays newspapers front pages

  • Coronavirus: Uneasiness as breastfeeding, pregnant nurses in Koforidua are exposed

    There is apprehension among pregnant staff and nursing mothers at the Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua over a tight duty roster increasing their risks of contracting the coronavirus as more health workers test positive in the Region.

    In the wake of coronavirus pandemic, Management of the Hospital was expected to prudently minimize the working hours for staff who are pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, however, they are still on normal duty schedule with some working six days with just a day off amid anxiety of endangering their lives and that of their babies.

    The disquiet of the health workers has been deepened following the GHS report that Koforidua has recorded two cases of coronavirus but accessibility to Personal Protective Equipment(PPE) still remains a chafe.

    The number of Health workers tested positive for COVID-19 in Eastern Region has risen to 17 as of May 26, 2020

    The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has meanwhile said it is evaluating why a lot more health workers are testing positive for COVID-19 in the country.

    Last week, for instance, it was reported that 43 health workers in the Western Region have tested positive for COVID-19 while 30 have also be infected in the Ashanti Region.

    On March 31, 2020, the Director-General of GHS Dr.Patric Aboagye issued a memo to Health Directors at the National level to the effect that “National Service Personnel, interns, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and drivers without assigned official vehicles are to be excused from work with immediate effect. Rotational Nurses and officers in the residency program are exempted”

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

    Source: Kasapa FM

  • Coronavirus: Schools wouldn’t reopen now if I were President – Educationist

    A seasoned Ghanaian Educationist, Anis Haffer has said that: “If I were president, I would not open the schools at this time”.

    His comment is coming at a time that the government is planning on easing restrictions on public gathering.

    During the Eid celebrations over the weekend, President Akufo-Addo signalled that consultations on easing restrictions were ongoing while adding that citizens cannot remain under lockdown forever.

    Already private schools are mounting pressure on the government to reopen schools by June next month.

    In a proposal to the Ghana Education Service, the Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) and the Conference of Heads of Private Secondary Schools (CHOPSS) are jointly of the view that safety mechanisms ought to be rolled out rapidly to pave the way for, at least, final-year students in all senior high schools to resume school.

    However, delivering a lecture at a virtual forum organized by the Rotary Club of Accra Airport District on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on education, Mr Haffer indicated that the safety of school children should be paramount in determining whether or not schools should reopen.

    “As a parent, I’ll be very uncomfortable tossing my kid up into the jungle, a jungle meaning where there are a whole bunch of people who are elbowing each other and that sort of thing because now if we want to begin to look at even social distancing if we don’t prepare for those things, why do we want to put kids in apprehension of their safety?”

    “The issue is how safe are you?” That is the question and the second one is, have we created a conducive environment in which health is number one prerogative? As the president said, we can solve our economic problems, but when the person is dead, we cannot bring them back to life. What I’m saying is, if I were president, I would not open the schools at this time,” Mr Haffer stated.

    The Educationist also called for enhanced COVID-19 tests between now and September which will then inform the government on the next step to follow.

    Source: Class FM

  • Man in military uniform arrested for robbery in Eastern Region

    A man in a military uniform claiming to be an employee with the Army has been arrested together with a driver over extortion and robbery in the Eastern Region.

    The suspects – Solomon Acquah, 25 alleged Army Civilian Employee and Prince Obeng, a driver were arrested on Wednesday, May 27, 2020, around 4:00 pm by one Sampson Adjei of Anum Apapam assisted by the Suhum Police District patrol team led by Chief Inspector Stephen Asare.

    Adjei reported at the Suhum Police station after the arrest that same day at about 3:45 pm that he was riding an unregistered Royal motorbike from Obuoho towards Anum Apapam, however, on reaching a section of the road at the outskirts of Anum Apapam on the main Obuoho- Anum Apapam road, he together with three other Okada riders were stopped by the suspects who had blocked the road with a Daewoo Matrix taxi cab with registration number GG 376 -18 extorting various sums of money and foodstuffs from commuters particularly Okada riders who ply the road.

    The angry Okada riders became suspicious hence mobilized to confront and challenge the authority of the two suspects.

    Sensing danger, the suspects sped off in their taxi cab but were chased to Suhum township around the overhead where the Police patrol team went to the rescue of the suspects who were nearly lynched.

    While at the Police Station, a victim Micheal Martey stormed the station to identify Solomon Aquah as the military dressed young man whom with three others snatched his taxi cab with registration number GW 7544 19 from him on May 9, 2020, at Budu near Suhum.

    The Public Relations Officer of the Eastern Regional Police Command, DSP Ebenezer Tetteh, told Starr News, the two suspects are in Police custody assisting with investigations.

    Meanwhile, he said, the Daewoo Matrix taxi cab has also been impounded.

    Source: Starr FM

  • No police officer in Eastern region has coronavirus Regional Commander

    Eastern Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Afful Boakye Yiadom, has revealed that none of his officers in the region has contracted the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) disease.

    “No infection has also been recorded among the prisoners in our custody,” he added.

    DCOP Boakye Yiadom was speaking during the launch of the disinfection and fumigation exercise of police facilities in his region.

    According to him, the command has strictly adhered to all the safety protocols since the outbreak of Covid-19.

    That, he said, was to ensure a Covid-19 free of his officers, their families, and inmates in the various cells throughout the region.

    “I am, therefore, confident that the fumigation and disinfection exercise which is about to start in all our facilities will further enhance our protection against the virus,” he gladly expressed.

    The exercise, he disclosed, will be carried out in all the regional headquarters formations, eight divisions, thirty-five (35) districts, and one hundred and six (106) police stations including various cells across the region.

    In this regard, DCOP Boakye Yiadom said police officers in the region have been directed to allow Zoomlion Ghana Limited easy access to their facilities.

    For his part, the Eastern Regional Minister, Eric Kwakye Darfour, whose speech was read on his behalf by his Deputy, Samuel Nuertey Ayertey, stressed the need for residents in the region to take the Covid-19 safety protocols serious.

    He intimated that the Covid-19 disease was real, adding that “the best way to prevent and slow down transmission is to be well informed about the Covid-19 virus, its causes and how it spreads.”

    According to him, the region has recorded 118 cases with 88 recoveries as of Wednesday, May 27, 2020.

    He said the virus that causes Covid-19 infects people of all ages.

    “However, evidence to date suggests that two groups of people are at a higher risk of getting severe Covid-19 disease.”

    These, he said, were older people (above age 60) and those with underlying medical conditions.

    Public Jobs Manager, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Eastern Region, Faustina Shardey, explained that the collaboration between the Ghana Police Service and her outfit was crucial, especially as the police were one of the frontline workers in the Covid-19 fight.

    She said the company will use six days to disinfect police facilities in the region.

    Source: Kasapa FM

  • Rain or shine, 2020 elections will come off – Kweku Baako

    The Electoral Commission (EC) has come under a barrage of criticisms by opposition parties over their decision to compile a new voters’ register.

    While the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is objecting to the decision and claiming the EC wants to disenfranchise 11 million Ghanaian electorates and rig this year’s elections to favour President Nana Akufo-Addo, other opponents have also argued that it is not safe for the EC to go ahead with the registration exercise because of the current COVID-19 pandemic.

    With all these concerns over the country’s electoral system, the question arises that will the 2020 elections come off then?

    Seasoned journalist, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako has offered an answer saying come rain or sunshine, the 7th December polls will be held by the Electoral Commission.

    According to him, no opposition or challenge whatsoever will stop this year’s elections but called on the EC to adequately prepare themselves ensuring appropriate measures are put in place for the voters to observe the health protocols regarding the COVID-19.

    Kweku Baako shared a realistic view that the pandemic is far from over and so he anticipates it will linger on till the end of the year, nonetheless it cannot hold back the elections.

    “We all know that whether we like it or not, we will hold the elections on 7th December. Nobody should ignore that fact. If it is possible to defer the elections, then we can say we can toy around with certain ideas. But there is one thing that we cannot change; it’s immutable, the 7th December 2020 elections. Rain or shine, it will come off,” he said on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ programme.

    Source: Peace FM

  • NDC can demonstrate all they want but EC’s decision won’t change – Kweku Baako

    Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide, has jumped to the defence of the Electoral Commission, stressing that nothing can change the Commission’s decision on the voters’ register.

    The Electoral Commission’s decision is to compile a new voters’ register and has petitioned Parliament to amend Constitutional Instrument (C.I) 91 to legitimize the Ghana card and Ghanaian passport as the only legal documents to be used for the registration exercise.

    The EC’s decision has been met by intense opposition from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) which says the Commission wants to disenfranchise 11 million Ghanaian electorates, hence their decision to use only the Ghana card and Ghanaian passport for the registration exercise.

    The NDC has also accused the EC of planning to rig this year’s elections in favour of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

    Although the EC called for an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting with all political parties on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 to discuss issues regarding the compilation of a new voters’ register, the NDC boycotted the meeting on principle that they are opposed to a new register.

    The party has also dragged the EC to the Supreme Court praying the court for an order to direct the Commission to include “all existing voter identification cards duly issued by the 2nd Defendant (EC) as one of the documents serving as proof of identification for registration as a voter for the purposes of public elections”.

    But to Kweku Baako, the opposition by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will not bear any fruits.

    According to him, the NDC may choose to boycott IPAC meeting but they still will have no option to meet the EC in an inter-party meeting even if the Commisison to rescind their decision for a new voters’ register and rather go for a limited registration exercise.

    “Look, you don’t have a choice. They don’t have the luxury of an alternative. They must meet,” he said in reference to the EC/IPAC meeting for which the NDC was to attend.

    Again, to him, the NDC should focus on their court case against the EC and stop giving commentaries on the sidelines regarding the Commission’s decision if the party doesn’t want to be involved in the IPAC meeting.

    He however strongly believed the EC will go ahead with what it’s constitutionally right for them to do with or without the NDC’s consent.

    “Demonstrations are legitimate. It’s an option available. Protests of all kinds…sitting on radio and television and talking and criticizing and arguing, all those are options the democratic dispensation allows but none of them can change the EC’s decision,” he told host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Heavily loaded cargo truck topples on Tema motorway

    A cargo truck headed to the Accra Central Business district from Tema has toppled on the Tema motorway, few meters away from the Toyota Ghana head office, causing an obstruction to traffic flow.

    According to the driver of the cargo truck, the accident happened after a Volkswagen saloon car tried to switch into his lane.

    Speaking in an exclusive interview with GhanaWeb, the driver of the cargo truck said in an attempt to avert the situation he rather ended up smashing into the Volkswagen Bora.

    The truck was heavily loaded with bags of rice, with just the driver while the saloon car with registration number GE2000V had two occupants including the driver.

    All persons escaped unscathed.

    The accident created a bit of traffic on the highway, causing Police officers to control vehicles plying that stretch to ease the jam.

    The occupants of the saloon car refused to comment when the team reached out to them.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coronavirus: GNECC calls for mandatory testing for all teachers

    The Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition (GNECC), a civil society network championing the right to quality basic education for all children, has urged the Government to ensure that all teachers undergo mandatory testing before going back to school.

    A statement issued by Mr Joseph Atsu Homadzi, Interim Chair, GNECC, which was made available to the Ghana News Agency also encouraged stakeholders to liaise with the Ghana Health Service to provide mandatory temperature checks for students and teachers daily.

    It said they must also ensure that school heads and teachers were trained on the use of infra-red thermometer and enforcement of handwashing protocols as well as the use of hand sanitizers.

    “Put appropriate measures in place to ensure full compliance with the recommended physical distancing measure of six feet between desks in small classes. Issue guidelines on teachers student interactions while in school.”

    Concerning the inter-sectoral approach, the statement called for the establishment of measures to rapidly communicate any detected case in schools to health officials in the locality.

    It also advocated organizing a coordinated approach (per district) to ensure that the support from relevant sectors (Health, Gender, Children and Social Protection, Local Government) and other stakeholders are fairly distributed.

    Concerning psychosocial support for students and parents, it called for the orientation of school heads and teachers to deliver psychosocial support and educate students on the health implications of the COVID-19 in addition to regular academic sessions.

    “School heads and teachers should engage parents and students to understand their safety concerns and work with them before schools re-open. Resource Guidance and Counselling coordinators to provide counseling to prepare the mindset of the students when they return to school,” the statement said.

    “Conduct training using radio, community information centers, and television on the use and disposal process for Personal Protective Equipment as part of continuous awareness on COVID-19 spread, symptoms, and prevention. Schools (public/private) with buses should observe social distancing as directed by the Ghana Health Service.”

    Regarding monitoring and enforcement, it recommended the conduction of effective monitoring to ensure all safety protocols are observed accordingly.

    It mentioned the enforcement sanctions for anyone found guilty of flouting guidelines on COVID-19 protocols.

    The Coalition it was was available to discuss recommendations to cover short, medium, and long term actions that the Ghana Education Service could take; adding that the recommendations could be implemented across the country.

    “We remain committed to supporting the Ministry of Education and its agencies in ensuring the delivery of quality education for every Ghanaian child.”

    Source: GNA

  • Food vender, boyfriend quarantined for coronavirus in Saboba

    A food vendor and her boyfriend have been quarantined in Saboba in the Northern region after she tested positive for Covid-19.

    The vender tested positive for the virus when the health directorate embarked on random testing in Tamale.

    The two have since been sent to the treatment center in Saboba for onward treatment.

    The Northern Regional Health Director, Dr. John B. Eleeza, who confirmed this to DGN Online said after her sample was taken she traveled to Saboba and was staying with the boyfriend.

    “You know when she left Tamale she was with her boyfriend in Saboba so the boyfriend is also quarantined .”

    DGN Online learnt about 40 contacts has been traced so far in the Saboba district.

    Source: Daily Guide Network

  • Kume Preko: Kweku Baako tells his side of the story

    Kweku Baako Jnr says even though some members may have told the ‘Kume Preko’ story, it may not be the ‘full story’.

    The Managing Editor of the New Crusading Guide newspaper who was one of the leading members of ‘Kume Preko’ demonstration said comments made by the Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr and others may be ‘largely true’ but there is more to be added because “no one person can tell the full story”.

    “You may have gaps with what Kwesi or Tarzan (Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobbey) have said; largely true but it’s not the full story . . . that is why anybody who is telling the story must have minutes and other records,” he added.

    Akufo-Addo spokesperson

    Kweku Baako has spoken against some distortions in the media which indicates that President Akufo-Addo was the Chairman of Kume Preko, (a group called Alliance for Change, in the run-up to the mammoth anti-government protests, “Kume Preko” in 1995).

    According to him, it is never true that President Akufo-Addo was the Chairman and that at a meeting to mark the 25th anniversary, he got up to quickly make that correction.

    “Nana Akufo-Addo was known as the Spokesperson of the Alliance for Change and not the Chairman and so I don’t know where the distortion is coming from,” he said.

    He further narrated how former President Kufuor lost his gold watch.

    Listen to him in the video below

    Source: Peace FM

  • Coronavirus: 186 new cases send current case count to 7,303; recoveries 2,412

    Ghana has 186 new COVID-19 cases to put the current confirmed case count to 7,303, the Ghana Health Service has announced.

    On the official website of Ghana Health Service, 2,412 persons who tested positive for COVID-19 earlier have also recovered.

    This implies that as of the last update, 95 more persons have recovered from the novel Coronavirus.

    Death toll still stands at 34.

    The current total active cases stand at 4,857.

    The Ghanaian Health officials have so far conducted 205,890 COVID-19 tests.

    Per the regional update, the Ghana Health Service website also announced on May 27, 2020, that, the Greater region has recorded 140 of the new cases, followed by the Central region with 23 new cases.

    The Ashanti region recorded 14 new cases, with the Eastern Region recording 9 new cases.

    The Greater Accra region still leads the regional confirmed case count chart with 5,148 cases. The Ashanti and Central regions follow with 1,099 and 334 cases respectively.

    Ahafo and Bono East regions are yet to record a case since Ghana recorded its first two cases of the virus.

    Find below the regional breakdown

    Greater Accra Region 5,148

    Ashanti Region 1,099

    Central Region 360

    Western Region 344

    Eastern Region 117

    Western North Region 62

    Volta Region 59

    Northern Region 36

    Oti Region 26

    Upper East Region 26

    Upper West Region 22

    North East Region 2

    Savannah Region 1

    Bono Region 1

    Ahafo Region 0

    Bono East Region 0

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

     

  • NDCs Joseph Yammin sues Ken Agyapong, demands GH¢95m

    Former Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports under the erstwhile Mahama administration, Joseph Yammin, has sued Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong for defamation.

    The plaintiff, Mr. Yammin, in a lawsuit, highlighted that Kennedy Agyapong published false news against him via his radio station, Oman FM on May 14, 2020.

    He furthered that the MP also accused him of conspiring to commit series of murder to create instability in the country.

    “The plaintiff avers that, on or about 14th day of May 2020, the 1st defendant published false news about the plaintiff which were defamatory on the 2nd defendant media airwaves OMAN FM 107.1”.

    The plaintiff contends that the said stories published by Kennedy Agyapong and Ken City Media are vexatious, total fabrication and have exposed him to hatred, ridicule and contempt.

    The leading member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has therefore demanded a whopping GH¢95 million from the MP as damages, ordering him to retract the statements on the same channel three times a day for a year.

    Read below Joseph Yammin’s lawsuit against Kennedy Agyapong

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

     

  • Two Nigerians impersonate over 20 Ghanaian ministers

    A Nigerian National Vivian Sadija Imran is in police custody for allegedly impersonating about 20 ministers of state to defraud more than 500 Ghanaians of over GHC100,000, so far.

    Together with her 24-year-old husband Prince Joel (her accomplice), who is currently at large, the duo used names and photographs of Ghanaian ministers of state to create multiple Facebook accounts and pretended to be the ministers.

    Through online chats and phone calls, they convinced their victims that they could secure employment for them at some state institutions such as Tema Oil Refinery, Ghana Gas Company, COCOBOD, among others. Various amounts of money were collected from the victims via mobile money for registration and processing.

    Six mobile phones and three mobile money numbers were picked up during a search by National Security operatives at their Ashaiman Jericho home after complaints from the ministers.

    Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Barbara Oteng Gyasi, Minister for Tourism, Creative Arts and Culture, Shirley Ayorkor-Botchway, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Henry Quartey, Deputy Minister of National Security and Dominic Nitiwul, Minister of Defence, were among the most frequently names used by the suspects to defraud their victims.

    Sadija, a 31-year old trader has since appeared before court and is yet to meet bail conditions as set by the Accra Circuit Court presided over by His Honour Emmanuel Essandoh. Together with her husband Joel, they are facing eight counts of falsely pretending to be public officer and defrauding by false pretences.

    Source: Starr FM

  • Akufo-Addo government to complete 998 SHS facilities by end of July – Abronye DC

    Bono Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Kwame Baffoe (Abronye DC) says as part of measures by his parties government to close the gap in the infrastructure deficit of the nations senior high school system, a total of 998 educational facilities are set to be completed across the country by July this year.

    Speaking on Net 2 TV Wednesday, Abronye said the agenda by the Akufo-Addo led government to increase the infrastructural capacity of senior high schools in the country is to make the Free Senior High School policy by the current government successful and sustainable.

    He took a dig at Former President John Dramani Mahama and his NDC administration by claiming they wasted some $156 million which could have otherwise benefited the nation immensely on fruitless ventures while amassing some of the money.

    “Unlike Mahama who went for $156 million dollars and squandered it, all these infrastructures that the current goverment is putting up is from the tax we all pay in this country. Within this short period, we have had a truthful leader who has been able to put up 998 classroom blocks and dormitories in just two years. This has never happened before in the history of this country.

    If this was an NDC government all revenue the country is gaining from its oil resources would have been squandered in the name of capacity building. John Mahama would have gathered a few people and come back to tell us they taught computer, basket weaving and how to ride a bicycle. Yes, our oil money was used to teach people how to ride a bicycle under John Mahama.” He said.

    He alluded that come December when Ghanaians go to the polls they will be faced with two options which is a judicious choice in the person of President Akufo-Addo and the second option of a “fraudster” in the person of ex-president Mahama.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • One year-old baby, 2 adults killed in gory accident

    A year-old baby and two male adults were killed, while 11 others suffered injuries in an accident, at Anoff near Nsawam in the Eastern Region, on Tuesday.

    The road crash, which occurred at about 8:30a.m, involved a Tipper Truck with registration number GT 9928-20, a Hyundai vehicle with registration number GT 5747-19 and Urvan vehicle with registration number GE 4369-11.

    The personnel from the Nsawam District Police and the Ghana National Fire Service were also at the scene to ensure free flow of traffic and help in rescue of victims

    The accident brought a large crowd to the scene, who wanted to catch a glimpse of the incident, and were not wearing masks or adhering to social distancing directives.

    In an interview a survivor of the accident, who pleaded anonymity, said the vehicle with number GT 5747-19 was moving from Michel Camp in the Kpone Katamaso District, to Oda in the Eastern Region, while the truck was from Nsawam direction to Adeiso.

    She said the Urvan vehicle burst it tyre and crashed into the truck resulting in the death and injuries of the occupants in the car and that of the Urvan.

    Another eyewitness said the residents who heard of the crash of the vehicles, proceeded to the scene to help rescue the victims to the hospital.

    The Nsawam District Police Commander, Superintendent of Police (Supt) Marian Adu-Owusu, who confirmed the tragedy to the Ghanaian Times, here, yesterday, said the police went to the accident scene to help rescue the injured and ensure free flow of traffic.

    He said the bodies have been taken to the Nsawam Government Hospital morgue whilst efforts were being made to trace relations of the deceased.

    The police commander said three others who were in critical condition, were transferred to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, and investigation into the cause of the accident was ongoing.

    Source: ghanaiantimes.com.gh

  • Heavy security presence at EC as IPAC meeting holds

    There is heavy security presence at the premises of the EC as personnel of the Ghana Police Service (GPS) have been deployed to the premises where IPAC meeting on the compilation of a new voters register is ongoing.

    The reason for the presence of the over 70 police officers at the Electoral Commission is not clear.

    Over 15 political parties were invited to attend the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting which is expected to be held in two groups. The first session began at 10am while the second is set to begin at 2pm

    However, the largest opposition party, National Democratic Congress (NDC) remains adamant that it will not participate in the meeting adding that it (IPAC meeting) has been improperly arranged.

    Peter Otokunor, a Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, stating a walkout by this party on March 25, 2020, established that “That meeting does not constitute a proper IPAC meeting because they had divided one committee into groups; you may want to call it double tracking, to decide on the same issue. And we think that with any such an approach, you are not going to properly appreciate and understand the issue and contributions from various political parties and we believe that, decision making will be problematic.”

    The NPP, in response, said that the decision by the NDC was unsurprising but maintained that the meeting would come on regardless.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Ofankor murder: We can’t confirm if the interrogator in the video was a police officer – DSP Tenge

    Head of Public Relations of the Accra Regional Police Command, DSP Effia Tenge has said, that the person, captured in a viral video of an interrogation session involving the landlord who shot his tenant, cannot be confirmed as a police officer.

    The suspect, 38-year-old landlord, Victor Stephen Kankan, who shot his tenant, was captured responding to interrogations by an unidentified person, whom several reports have suggested was a police officer.

    Questions have since emerged, about the legality of the interrogation session which was recorded and disseminated on many platforms.

    Reacting to this in an interview with GhanaWeb, DSP Effia Tenge said it couldn’t be ascertained, as at Tuesday night, whether or not the person involved in the investigations was indeed a police officer.

    “I don’t have information on that yet” she said, whilst condemning the act.

    According to her, no investigation must be publicised.

    “No, it must not be so. No investigation should be done in the open.” She told GhanaWeb.

    Meanwhile, residents of the area; Ofankor, say, that the landlord, Victor Stephen Nana Kankam, is fond of issuing threats hence the killing of his tenant does not come as a surprise to them.

    The Abeka District Court has since remanded him into police custody for allegedly shooting and killing his tenant, Spark Benjamine over rent.

    Kankam, also known as Nii Kojo Konim Obio-Cyhoera, will undergo a test for COVID-19 before going into lawful custody.

    Provisionally charged with murder, the court, presided over by Ms Adwoa Achaama Ofosu, preserved his plea. Kankam is expected to reappear on June 8.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Stigma makes it impossible to disclose identities of persons who’ll test positive – Majority Leader

    The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu has said the stigmatisation associated with testing positive to the coronavirus makes it impossible to disclose the identities of any MP or staff of parliament who will test positive to the virus.

    The Majority reacting to reports that some MPs and parliamentary had tested positive to the virus, the Majority Leader bemoaned the “speculative story” stressing the need for Ghanaians to respect the confidentiality of people.

    He recounted how some recovered persons had to suffer in public through stigma.

    This he said makes it difficult to reveal the identity of people who will test positive.

    He explained that anybody who tested positive, the information will be between the medical officers and that individual.

    He also hinted the person would be asked to self-isolate until he or she recover from the virus.

    He said some confidentiality is required in these matters.

    Disclosing the identities of persons who will test positive he opined would discourage others from testing for the virus.

    He admonished MPs, parliamentary staff, regular staff and the press corps to subject themselves to the mandatory testing.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Two coronavirus patients on the run in the Northern Region

    The Northern Region Health Directorate has mounted a search for two Covid-19 patients who have gone missing since last week Tuesday.

    According to the Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. John B. Eleeza, the two were among 10 others whose samples were sent to KCCR for test on Wednesday, April 22.

    He revealed, however, that after the test results were released on Friday, May 15 and it proved positive, the two were nowhere to be found.

    Dr Eleeza mentioned that all efforts to trace their whereabouts have been unsuccessful.

    He, however, assured that the directorate is doing its best to locate the two persons.

    Source: 3 News

  • Jean Mensa must account for botched December 17 referendum – Odike

    The founder of the United Front Party, Akwasi Addai Odike, has asked the Electoral Commissioner, Jean Mensa to come and account for the botched referendum.

    Mr. Odike says the cancellation of the December 17 referendum despite the campaigns and printing of ballot papers caused the nation money hence the need for the EC boss to account.

    The businessman cum politician told Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm that though, the cost of the botched referendum is yet to be known by him, he is of a strong opinion that Ghana lost millions of cedis as a result of the decision to cancel the process.

    President Akufo-Addo on December 1, 2019 called off the holding of the Referendum of 17th December 2019 citing the lack of a broad, national consensus amongst key stakeholders and the populace.

    President Akufo-Addo following that decision instructed the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama who was spearheading the process on behalf of the government to abort the process and to see the withdrawal of the bills for the amendment of the constitution, both in respect of the Article 243(1) and Article 55(3).

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Two men defile 4-year-old girl near Dansoman

    Two young men who abducted a four-year-old girl and gang-raped her in turns have found themselves on the wrong side of the law, theghanareport.com has learned.

    The two, Jacob Lamptey, 23 who has since been arrested, and Patrick Joseph, who is currently on the Police wanted list are all residents of Glefe in the Ablekuma West Municipality in the Greater Accra Region.

    The unemployed men lured the victim with biscuits a few minutes from her residence to an abandoned house in Gbegbeise and defiled the toddler, father of the girl (name withheld), narrated.

    The Accra Regional Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Afia Tenge, confirmed the incident to theghanareport.com.

    She said the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Dansoman Police received a report of the alleged defilement on Wednesday, May 20.

    She said the complainant reported the two suspects for forcibly having sexual intercourse with her daughter and police have issued a medical report to be completed by a doctor after examining the victim.

    Jacob has since been put before an Accra Circuit Court on Tuesday, May 26, while police search for Patrick, who is on the run.

    The father told theghanareport.com that the suspects executed the operation by covering the mouth of the girl with a white handkerchief believed to contain a substance that made her unconscious and to prevent the baby from crying.

    He said one of the suspects stood at the entrance of the abandoned house to keep watch while the other violated the girl. The suspects later swapped positions.

    Luck, however, eluded them when the landlady of the abandoned house returned from town.

    On spotting one of the accomplice at the entrance of her property, she questioned him. Unable to provide any answers to her questions, the landlady chased him out of the entrance of the house.

    As she bypassed to the adjoining building where she resides, she heard strange noises from the abandoned house.

    The curious landlady entered the partially dark uninhabited room only to find one of the accomplices standing over the victim who was lying supine on a piece of cardboard with her legs raised in the air.

    The Landlady observed rather disturbingly a baby girl of about four years old wearing a straight cream dress with her panties removed and some whitish fluid believed to be semen that had dripped on the floor.

    The partially nude suspect quickly pulled up his pants and trousers upon spotting the woman, shoved her aside after a confrontation and bolted, leaving his red and black slippers at the scene.

    The landlady took the baby to a nearby information centre for an announcement to locate the parents.  The mother of the baby, meanwhile, has been on a search for the toddler since she was abducted by the two suspects.  Through some neighbours, the mother of the girl traced her to the information centre and subsequently to a hospital in the neighbourhood.

    Jacob, whom the landlady could describe, was hence traced to his house.  An uncle of the four-year-old girl handed him over to the Dansoman Police Station.

    The father of the victim wants justice to be served. He lamented the pain experienced by his daughter, whom he said had blood clots in her underparts discovered the evening the incident occurred.

    The trauma has caused the victim to cease eating biscuits even when offered by her parents as she opts for juice and chocolate instead.

    Source: theghanareport.com

  • Parliament lied, 2 MPs have indeed tested positive for Covid-19 Muntaka Mubarak alleges

    Minority Chief Whip Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka has revealed that two Parliamentarians and 13 staff have so far tested positive for Covid-19.

    According to him, the infected persons were informed of their status after Speaker of Parliament directed mass testing of all members and staff of the House last week.

    Speaking to Daniel Dadzie on Prime Morning on Joy Prime, the Chief Whip explained that the infected MPs and staff have been isolated while contact tracing has commenced.

    Earlier, Director of Public Affairs, Kate Addo said reports of confirmed infection were false adding that results of Covid-19 tests conducted on the personnel have not been received.

    But Mr Muntaka described her assessment as untrue adding that it has the potential of causing fear and panic in the House.

    Source: myjoyonline.com

  • Todays newspapers front pages

  • NPP wants to rig because their own research point to their defeat – Edem Agbana

    A Deputy Youth Organizer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Edem Agbana says the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has conducted several- research works pointing to their defeat in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary polls hence their plot to rig the polls.

    He disclosed to Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm that the NDC has laid hands on some of these works and would resist any attempt to have the polls rigged in favour of the NPP.

    Edem Agbana said from grounds work done by the NDC, they will win the 2020 polls massively because Ghanaians are tired of the incompetence being exhibited by the ruling government.

    To him, if the EC organises a free, fair, credible and transparent election, the NDC will defeat the NPP.

    The NPP he added has failed to transform the lives of Ghanaians as they promised during the 2016 campaign.

    Ghanaians he indicated prefer former President Mahama as president because his performance was exceptional and unprecedented.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Invest in mining to sustain economic gains – Small-Scale miners to government

    The Ghana Association of Small-Scale Miners (GASSM), has called on the government to prioritize investment in the sector to help sustain Ghana’s economic gains and shore up revenue in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.

    According to the Association, growth in many sectors had slide lately amidst the COVID-19 global devastation, yet the return on investments in the mining sector remained exceptionally high and profitable, hence, the urgent need for government to map out cogent strategic investment interventions to rake in more revenue for development.

    “Government stands to make an astronomical increase in revenue if it takes immediate pragmatic steps to invest in Small-Scale mining to expand their capacities and create more employment opportunities for all.”

    “The prices of Ghana’s major revenue magnets – fuel, cocoa, coffee, timber among others have fallen drastically at the international market, yet, the prices of minerals keep surging, signalling the urgent need for government investment in the sector to rake in the needed revenue for investments,” it said.

    Mr Francis Opoku, the Public Relations Officer of the Association made the call in an interview with the media in Assin Fosu on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Small-Scale industry in Ghana.

    Beyond direct fiscal receipts, he explained that the sector when fully integrated into the economy through the provision of inputs for other sectors, research and development activities, and technology transfers, could have greater capacity.

    This will contribute to the state of development of major sectors like banking, financial services, transport, logistics, amongst others.

    Mining also contributes to development through the implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes for host Communities and the general public at large and reiterated that in 2011, US$24million was spent on CSR projects by the mining companies.

    According to Mr Opoku, the wave of investments in the sector by mining companies in recent years had boosted production and improved cost efficiency in mining yet, that was not enough to sustain the sector.

    “Investment in the sector is huge, which required strategic investment and partnership aided by the right business regulatory regimes to flourish the sector,” he said.

    Nonetheless, Mr Opoku praised the government for its firm commitment to improving the industry regulation, tackling long-term issues of illegal activity, known as “galamsey”, correct environmental damage and strengthening capacity.

    He was also grateful to the government for lifting the ban on small-scale mining operations after nearly two years.

    The ban, according to him, was originally imposed due to the proliferation of illegal mining activity over the past decade, which was causing serious environmental damage, raising tensions with local communities, posing serious health and safety threats, as well as the loss of revenue by the nation.

    Mr Opoku observed that while the ban was somewhat controversial in the long term, many in the industry saw it as an opportunity to reboot and legitimise the small-scale mining segment after an extensive process of vetting and re-vetting miners and concessions before licenses were issued under a new framework for small-scale mining.

    Outlining other measures to sustain the sector, the Public Relations Officer of the Association stressed the need for credit facilities to be made accessible to the members to sustain their trade and livelihood.

    He called on the government to systematically design areas to be licensed to small-scale miners and provide documents showing areas and maps to facilitate accessibility.

    He was not happy about the fact that regularisation within the sector was low and attributed that to lack of resources and stressed the need for government to de-freeze ban on importation of excavators among others.

    Also, institutions and regulatory agencies must endeavour to commit to their work and be adequately resourced to promote sanity in the sector and minimise environmental degradation, corruption, and nepotism.

    In all of these, he assured that with the right policies, backed by judicious use of resources and with support from Development Partners, the mining sector could catalyze sustainable development within a framework of stakeholder collaboration.

    Source: GNA

  • 6 cops, 2 Community Protection Assistants test positive for coronavirus in Central Region

    Six police personnel and two Community Protection Assistants have tested positive for the Coronavirus in the Central Region.

    The personnel according to authorities, picked got infected from work-related duties such as operations.

    Confirming the incident to the media in a short ceremony to officially launch the Central Region Nationwide Police Facilities disinfection by Zoomlion, the Central Regional Police Commander, COP Paul Manly Awini said, two of the said officers have recovered and now tested negative.

    He said the others are currently receiving treatment at a treatment centre.

    COP, Awini added that the command as part of measures to keep their personnel safe has put in place safety measures.

    “As officers, we are observing all the COVID-19 protocols in the performance of our duties. This is because a lot of people come here. The citizenry always come here to lodge complaints; we are still handling cases, and going to court as well,” the police commander said.

    About 104 police facilities are expected to be disinfested by Zoomlion Ghana Limited (ZGL) in the region.

    The exercise, which will last for five days, is part of measures by the Ghana Police Service to fight and contain the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

    It is a collaboration between the Police administration and Zoomlion Ghana Limited and it will cover the police training school, police stations, markets, offices, cells and barracks in the region.

    For his part, the Central Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan charged the Interior Minister to conduct such exercises by disinfecting all police, prisons facilities quarterly.

    Source: Class FM

  • Ofankor murder: Suspect’s pumped guns were licensed over 12 years ago – Police

    The Accra Regional Police command has clarified issues surrounding the ownership of some two pump guns by the suspect involved in the murder of his tenant at Ofankor.

    The 38-year-old landlord, Victor Stephen Kankan, who shot his tenant, told the police, during interrogations, that the weapons used for the shooting were possessed with the help of a policeman at the Criminal Investigations Department at the Mamprobi Police station.

    “I got the guns from a policeman called Mr. Kalani, he is the Head of CID department here in Accra, he gave me the weapons at Mamprobi police station, due to the fact that people came to rob our house in 2008, and we asked for protection,” he said during an interrogation.

    Reacting to this in an interview with GhanaWeb, Head of Public Relations of the Accra Regional Police Command, DSP Effia Tenge explained, that the guns in question were not given to the suspect for the purposes of the crime.

    Per the facts she indicated, the suspect applied, was vetted and went through the requisite processes to acquire the licensed guns from the Mamprobi police station in 2007, contrary to suggestions that he was helped by the police officer to acquire the gun.

    “The weapon that was used were licensed weapons that were issued to the guy and the mother far back in 2007. The name the man is mentioning is the police officer at that time, far back in 2007, so it doesnt mean that the police officer has clandestinely given him the weapon to commit the act.” She said.

    Adding,

    “Through our investigations, we got to know that the weapon was issued to them, they have gone through the due process and they were vetted and the weapons were given to them by an armed and ammunition clerk at that time. One was in the name of the mother and the other in his name because they were in different locations and every year, they renewed it.”

    DSP Effia Tenge however condemned the open interrogation of the suspect.

    “It’s not supposed to be so. It’s supposed to he done with a police officer.”

    Responding to questions about the police’ knowledge about the involved officer, she insisted it has not yet been confirmed if the person involved was indeed a police officer.

    “I dont have information on that yet but no, it must not be so. No investigation should be done in the open.” She said.

    Meanwhile, the Abeka District Court on Tuesday remanded into police custody, the suspect, for allegedly shooting and killing his tenant, Spark Benjamine, at Ofankor over rent.

    Kankam, also known as Nii Kojo Konim Obio-Cyhoera, will undergo a test for COVID-19 before going into lawful custody.

    Provisionally charged with murder, the court, presided over by Ms Adwoa Achaama Ofosu, preserved his plea. Kankam is expected to reappear on June 8.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Revocation of Ibrahim Mahama’s mining lease was politically fueled – A Plus

    Critic of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and founder of The People’s Project (TPP), Kwame Asare Obeng, popularly known as A Plus, has been speaking about circumstances resulting to the revocation of the mining lease of Ghanaian businessman, Ibrahim Mahama.

    According to A Plus, the NPP government dragged the founder of Engineers and Planners to the Supreme Court and ‘crucified’ him over failure to go to Parliament for a formal consent after securing the lease.

    “…When Ibrahim Mahama, a Ghanaian got his mining lease, the government of Ghana took him to the supreme court to revoke his lease arguing that he did not have parliamentary ratification”, he said.

    A Plus, claimed that, the government was aware that no mining company (locally or foreign), had parliamentary ratification but it went ahead to revoke Ibrahim Mahama‘s mining lease all because of his National Democratic Congress (NDC) affiliation.

    “…The government knows very well that not a single mining company in Ghana, locally or foreign owned has parliamentary ratification but just because they wanted to victimize and NDC person Ibrahim Mahama, they singled him out and revoked his lease”, A Plus claimed in a post on his Facebook page sighted by Ghana Guardian.

    Kwame A Plus observed that there are other several mining companies which equally have no parliamentary ratification but the Akufo-Addo led government has long refused to drag them to the Supreme Court. He accused the government of favouritism.

    “…Today, out of shame this same government which revoked Ibrahim Mahama‘s license for not having parliamentary ratification and gave a concession he spent millions of Dollars prospecting to a chines company, (synohydro) instead of asking the same supreme court to revoke all licenses of mining companies who are mining without parliamentary ratification have rather taken this list to parliament for ratification”, he observed.

    He added: “HE Nana Addo told me one morning in 2018 in his house that when a Ghanaian and a foreigner are bidding for something, he will always prefer the Ghanaian gets it”.

    He continued: “You see, when I spoke against how unfairly Kingdom Herbal and Yafo Yafo were being treated by Opuni and his FDA when NDC was in power, I was not fighting for Kingdom Herbal and NPP people. I was fighting for Ibrahim Mahama and NDC people because I knew they won’t be in power forever and that one day same will be meted out to them. Today, I’m back here talking about how Ibrahim Mahama is being unfairly treated. I’m not fighting for Ibrahim Mahama or any NDC person. I’m fighting for Gabby Otchere Darko, kingdom Herbal and other NPP people because they won’t be in power forever”.

    “…I totally agree that wrongdoers must be punished, but this practice of NDC victimizing NPP businessmen and vice versa must come to an end at some point. If this stops now, we won’t come back here some years later to talk about how NPP businessmen are being victimized. Today it’s Ibrahim, tomorrow it may be you”, he discerned.

    A Plus added: “This 63 years of tit for tat must stop now!!!”

    See the list of entities in Parliament for ratification as provided by Kwame A Plus below:

    Source: Ghana Guardian

  • Dear Kennedy, I’m proud to be a fool – Senyo Hosi responds to farming comments

    Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors, Senyo Kwasi Hosi has responded to comments made by controversial politician Kennedy Agyapong, suggesting that anyone who makes money and embarks on farming is a fool.

    “If you make money in Accra, and you tell me you are going to farm you are a fool. I failed at farming, not because of my management but because of litigation.”

    Mr Senyo Hosi who is also the Chief Executive Officer of HGL Company, an agro-based and agro-processing entity, in his response took to his social media page to respond. “Dear Kennedy, I am proud to be a fool,” he wrote.

    Mr Hosi who didn’t seem pleased with the utterances of the Assin Central lawmaker, has always believed that agriculture is the key to Ghana’s economic success.

    Having been an ambassador for championing the youth to cultivate the habit of tapping into crop production, he was disappointed at Ken Agyapong’s comments about farming.

    Addressing the issue of farming on the Joynews channel on Monday, Mr Agyapong noted that “any person who wants to be serious in life” should leave the village for a bigger town or city “and start hustling”.

    According to him, “When you wake up in the morning and you pray that God let me be poor, then you go into farming.” Mr Agyapong said.

    He also explained that farming does not pay, while cautioning entrepreneurs not to establish businesses in the villages so as not to be defrauded by the people in the villages.

    Source: Naa Adjorkor Sowah, Contributor

  • Kuwaiti government paid for airlifting of deported Ghanaians – Government

    Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Charles Owiredu has disclosed that the Kuwaiti government paid for the cost of the aircraft that airlifted the 230 Ghanaian returnees who arrived in the country last week.

    Addressing a press briefing organised by the Ministry of Information, Mr. Owiredu said the decision to evacuate the returnees was taken by cabinet through a collaboration with the Kuwaiti government.

    ”As to the cost, let me emphasise that in terms of the cost of the aircraft, them boarding, arriving all that; that cost was borne by the Kuwaiti government. The cost borne by the government of Ghana could be on their arrival, we bought some drinks, food to eat and the cost of quarantine, he explained.

    The government granted permission for the deportation of some 230 Ghanaians illegally residing in Kuwait.

    The deportees who the National Security has described as returnees arrived in the country last week.

    They were conveyed via a chartered flight at the cost of the Kuwaiti government.

    The returnees were screened for COVID-19, and later sent into mandatory quarantine when they arrived on Saturday.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • We were once approached by Nigerians to aid a robbery – Street boy alleges

    Young Collins Amankwah, who happens to be a street boy in the busy city of Accra as a result of a broken home and its bizarre consequences, has narrated his rather sad and risky experience on the streets.

    In an interview with Benabi Discovery, Collins made a shocking revelation that, in carrying out his means of livelihood on the streets, some Nigerians tried to convince him and his colleagues to join in a robbery operation; displaying guns in the process. Collins and his friends declined this offer anyway knowing the dangers of armed robbery.

    Collins Amankwah has spent thirteen years on the street, having joined this risky venture at a tender age of nine years as an orphan.

    In his narration, Collins Amankwah also uttered the fact that he’s been to school by the assistance of an NGO named 8pm foundation. With less support from government, this great path of Collins came to an abrupt end when he got to SHS two.

    As a result, young Collins Amankwah returned back to the streets to continue his usual “windscreen” cleaning business to make a living.

    On the streets, Collins and his team were offered some cash by a benevolent “client” to share among themselves.

    “My senior colleague gave me a deep cut with scissors, when a scuffle ensued between us”. This Collins said by displaying a wound in the process. ‘survival of the fittest’ kind of life.

    Young Collins also reiterated that social vices are temptations most of his colleagues find difficult to resist sometimes when the going gets tougher. So the possibility of a street boy to engage in armed robbery and other social vices is high.

    Speaking to Benabi discovery, Collins Amankwah, has dreams to join the army. He hopes to be a Soldier one day; having gone through the hardships and toughest moments for thirteen solid years on the streets.

    Watch the video below:

    Source: Benabi Discovery, Ghanaweb Contributor

  • Consider safety of children before reopening schools Ex-GNAT boss

    Former General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) David Ofori Acheampong has asked the government to do widen consultations before reopening schools in the wake of the Covid-19 measures.

    He told Alfred Ocansey on Sunrise on 3FM Tuesday that the safety of school children and Ghanaians in general must be the topmost priority for government in taking the decision to reopen schools.

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

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

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

    Ghana recorded 156 new cases of Covid-19 raising the figure to 6,964, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) said on Tuesday, May 26.

    Mr Ofori Achemapong stated that there is the need to look at the safety measures “before one can say that we can go back. I believe that it is right that we are talking about bringing life back to normal but the point is that if safety is not the key ingredient then there will be a serious [problem] in our country”.

    Meanwhile, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, Deputy Education Minister in charge of Basic and Secondary Education, says the Ghana Education Service (GES) is currently engaging stakeholders on a possible reopening of schools.

    Schools were closed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as part of the measures to curtail the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.

    The president placed a ban on all gatherings including political rallies, church service and large funerals due to the pandemic.

    Source: 3 News

  • Youll be prosecuted if you dont wear face mask – Nkawkaw residents told

    The Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) for Kwahu West Municipality in the Eastern Region, Yaw Owusu-Addo has admonished residents to adhere to the safety protocols put in place to contain the coronavirus.

    In an interview with Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.65Fm, the MCE said the municipality has intensified its activities to help contain the virus after three cases were recorded in Nkawkaw.

    Mr. Owusu-Addo told the news team the wearing of face mask has been made compulsory and persons who violate this directive would be prosecuted.

    Three cases of coronavirus have been recorded at Nkawkaw.

    The victims are made up of two men and a woman.

    Two of the cases were recorded at the Holy Family Hospital at Nkawkaw, while the third case was a resident of Nkawkaw who tested positive at the Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital at Kumasi.

    The MCE in his submission said 250 people who were traced after coming in contact with the three were currently quarantined for testing.

    The decision to isolate them is to prevent spreading of the disease in the municipality and advised them to respect all the health protocols to help halt the spread of the disease.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com