TIG Post

Author: Persis

  • 230 Kuwaiti deportees tested for coronavirus – Charles Owiredu

    Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Charles Owiredu, has indicated that the 230 Ghanaians from Kuwait who arrived on May 23 have been tested for Covid-19.

    The test results are however yet to be released.

    Mr Owiredu said the Ghanaians are being taken care of in isolation centres where they are observing their 14-day mandatory quarantine as they await their Covid-19 status.

    The 230 Ghanaians touched down at the Kotoka International Airport on May 23 on a charted flight of which the Kuwaiti government bore the cost.

    They were immediately taken through the necessary measures to prevent the importation of Covid-19.

    The Deputy Minister noted that the group consisted of students, businessmen and women and individuals who had travelled to Kuwait.

    According to him, the initial number communicated was 245 however, when the number of passengers was checked upon their arrival, it came to 230.

    He was speaking at the Ministry of Information (MOI) Covid-19 press briefing in Accra on May 26.

    He expressed appreciated to the health and security team that worked to ensure that the Ghanaians were warmly welcomed home.

    Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, who made the disclosure about the deportees on May 22 said the government of Kuwait made the request which the Ghanaian government accepted.

    “The government was satisfied with the diplomatic corporation by the government of Kuwait, ” he said.

    Source: Daily Guide Network

  • Mpohor NPP Chairman dead

    Peter Kojo Appiah, NPP chairman for Mpohor constituency, is reported dead at the Crystal Hospital, West line Anaji, Takoradi

    Chairman Appiah as he was affectionately called, became chairman of the constituency in 2011.

    A native of Adum-Banso, he was also a former vice principal of Takoradi Technical Institute (TTI), where many of the youths in his constituency were assisted to acquire technical skills.

    A source close to his family said more details will be made public as they mourn a brother who served the Npp and family to the best of his abilities.

    Source: Joseph Amoo, Ghanaweb Contributor

  • Shutdown of schools affecting mental health of students Educationist

    The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Leyden Educational Consultancy based in London, Dr James Owusu, is calling on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to speed up processes leading to the reopening of schools.

    According to Dr Owusu, the longer the children stay at home, the more it affects their mental health.

    He said research has revealed that the more children stay at home without going to school affects their way of thinking, causes frustration and impacts negatively on their mental wellbeing.

    Dr Owusu said when children stay at home for long without going to school, it is a great disadvantage, especially to the deprived ones.

    “Currently in Ghana, more than 70% of children cannot get access to internet learning or even have computers for learning, hence are always frustrated,” he stated.

    He said the government should engage in training teachers who can detect the psychological behaviour of children when schools reopen in order to help them to deal with their mental behaviour.

    The educational consultant said the government could start the reopening in phases such as opening nursery one, primary one to primary six first because the rate of Covid-19 spread among children is relatively low.

    He added that junior high schools (JHS 3) and senior high schools (SHS 3) could be added because they were at the transition levels with serious text-tracking and tracing so that those with the disease could be easily identified.

    “We can also bring back the shift system so instead of a class of 40, schools can take 15 to ensure social distancing and again with strict regular hand washing,” he suggested.

    “This is a time of creativity with sharp thinking and we should not copy blindly because the USA and the UK are opening schools but rather gradually.”

    He said there are risk factors in every situation and so the government must focus on text-tracking and tracing to build confidence in both students and parents.

    Dr Owusu said the government must ensure that every school has a risk assessment by reducing the various classes to at least, 15 pupils, encourage outdoor learning, ensure teachers wear PPE or nose masks and pupils or students as well.

    Source: Starr FM

  • Case of Kumasi pastor who defied social gathering ban adjourned to June 11

    The court case involving Apostle Kofi Nkansah Sarkodie, the man who defied a Covid-19 ban on public gathering has been adjourned to June 11.

    The Kumasi-based pastor and three others are facing the Asokwa District Court for unlawful assembly, after they held a church service at the Open Arms Ministries at North Suntreso in the Ashanti Regional capital.

    At a third court sitting on Tuesday, May 19, prosecution prayed for more time to allow it to hold discussions with the office of the Attorney General on “whether to maintain or amend the charges against the suspects.”

    “So we pray for adjournment so we make our position clear to the court”, the court heard.

    The court presided over by Rosemarie Afua Asante (Mrs) granted the request and adjourned the case to June 11, 2020.

    Source: Daily Mail

  • Pregnant woman stabbed to death at Atwima

    A pregnant woman has died after she was knifed to death over the weekend at Aburaso in the Atwima Kwanwoma District of the Ashanti Region.

    Just before 4 pm on Saturday, the police responded to reports that the deceased Akosua Attah, 22, had been unconscious and was rushed to the Suntreso Hospital.

    They later realised at the hospital that the victim had stab wounds and died a few minutes after being admitted.

    The Police at Suntreso District Command is holding a 29-year-old woman named Adwoa Pokuah in custody in connection to the crime.

    Detectives suspect a case of misunderstanding between the two.

    At the time of filing this report, the body of the deceased had been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) for preservation and autopsy.

    Source: Daily Mail

  • Ghanas coronavirus case count now 6,904

    Ghana has recorded 156 new coronavirus cases, bringing the national tally to 6,964.

    The figure stood 6,808, however during a press briefing at the Ministry of Information on Tuesday, May 26, 2020, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) announced new cases in 5 out of the 16 regions in the country.

    Director-General of the GHS, Dr. Patrick Kumah Aboagye, said during the press briefing that Western Region, which has recorded 57 new cases, was fast becoming the new hotspot for the disease.

    “The total count 6,964 out of which 2,097 have recovered…this is just a tip a tip of the iceberg because as we ramp up testing of those who have recovered, we will get more,” Dr Aboagye said.

     

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Todays newspapers front pages

  • WHO suspends coronavirus hydroxychloroquine trial

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has temporarily suspended testing of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment for COVID-19 as a precautionary measure, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a news conference on Monday.

    Meanwhile, Mike Ryan, head of the WHO emergencies programme, warned in the same virtual news conference that, despite countries easing lockdowns, the world is “right in the middle of the first wave” of the outbreak, and a there could be a second peak within the wave.

    The statements come days after US President Donald Trump announced he had been taking hydroxychloroquine as a preventive measure against the virus. The president, who has said he has since stopped taking the drug, had long touted its benefits as a possible treatment for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, even as health experts warned it might not be safe.

    “The executive group has implemented a temporary pause of the hydroxychloroquine arm within the Solidarity trial while the safety data is reviewed by the data safety monitoring board,” Tedros said in the online briefing.

    The WHO had previously recommended against using hydroxychloroquine to treat or prevent coronavirus infections, except as part of clinical trials.

    Ryan added the decision to suspend trials of hydroxychloroquine had been taken out of “an abundance of caution”.

    Other arms of the WHO’s so-called “Solidarity Trial” – a large international initiative to hold clinical tests of potential treatments for the virus – would continue, the officials said.

    Source: aljazeera.com

  • I killed my tenant in self-defence Landlord

    Victor Stephen Kankam, 38, the landlord who shot his tenant to death for refusing to vacate a two-bedroom house at Ofankor in Accra has justified his action insisting it was in self-defence.

    The suspect who is currently in Police custody has been provisionally charged with murder as police continue with investigations into the matter.

    Victor Stephen Kankam, reports say angrily went to his Ofankor residence on Sunday and demanded that the tenant vacates the house and hand over the key to him as his rent had expired.

    Benjamin Otchere, 31, now deceased was said to have argued that his rent will be due on the midnight of Sunday, 24th May, 2020 and so insisted the Landlord gives him enough time to pack his things.

    In an ensuing argument the Land Lord who had stormed the house with an AK47 rifle allegedly shot Otchere at close range injuring him seriously.

    He was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

    Meanwhile, the family of the deceased is demanding that justice is served.

    Source: Kasapa FM

  • Survey to track impacts of coronavirus on businesses in Ghana begins tomorrow

    The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank (WB) is conducting a Business Tracker Survey from tomorrow, Tuesday, 25 May to 20 June 2020 to track the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on businesses in Ghana.

    The survey (business tracker) which involves the use of telephone interview for data collection will identify and measure the impact of the coronavirus disease on small, medium and large scale establishments operating in the country.

    The survey will also assess measures put in place by businesses to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 as well as efforts to build better recovery for businesses.

    The outcome of the survey will enable government and development partners come out with measures to alleviate the impact of the disease on businesses.

    Commenting on the survey, Professor Samuel Kobina Annim, the Government Statistician noted that results from the survey will inform policy directions in protecting jobs and safeguarding progress of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    The findings will also provide insights into keeping the promise of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) alive as a tool to handle future pandemics and protect jobs/businesses.

    The Ghana Statistical Service wishes to assure owners of establishments that information provided on businesses will not be disclosed to anyone or entity in any form.

    The data collection does not require payment of money, and under no circumstance should an establishment be required to pay any amount to any person.

    Ghana Statistical Service counts on the cooperation of establishments, media and the general public to ensure the success of this exercise.

    Source: goldstreetbusiness.com

  • Coronavirus: GCX developing methods to avert trade reduction on platform

    The Ghana Commodity Exchange (GCX), says new methods are being developed to avert trade reduction which has affected pricing on its operations due the coronavirus outbreak.

    According to the Chief Executive of the GCX, Dr. Alfa Kadri, the move is expected to reassure farmers to keep trading on the platform.

    Speaking in an interview with Citi Business News, Dr Kadri said; “We have seen that the farmers or the producers who normally bring the commodities are not doing so because of their own food insecurity. We have seen a substantial drop in membership who are signing on to work with the Exchange to be buyers or sellers of commodities.”

    He added that the drop has negatively affected the Exchange and impacted on its pricing regime, as farmers who used to supply it with commodities have halted due to uncertainties in the market amid the coronavirus pandemic.

    Dr Kadri is however optimistic the new methods, will assist in addressing the challenges of all the stakeholders in the supply value chain.

    Meanhile, an economist and lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr. Priscilla Twumasi-Baffour earlier advised government to insulate the Ghanaian economy from its dependence on commodity exports to mitigate price volatility shortfalls on the global trade market.

    According to her, an over-reliance on commodity exports can destructively affect economic growth and well-being in the short and medium terms which increases the vulnerability of commodity-dependent countries to negative commodity price shocks.

    “I think that the government needs to think critically of ways of trying to insulate the economy from commodity dependence. Generally, commodity price falls are not surprising. But economies are basically demand-driven, so once the demand is dampened, there is a rippling effect, then a multiplier effect,” she earlier explained.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Ghana Statistical Service conducts survey to track impact of coronavirus on businesses

    The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) will on Tuesday begin the conduct of a Business Tracker Survey to track the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on businesses in the country.

    The survey, being done in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank, will run from Tuesday, May 26 to June 20, 2020.

    The survey, which involves the use of telephone interview for data collection will identify and measure the impact of the coronavirus disease on small, medium and large scale establishments operating in the country.

    The survey will also assess measures put in place by businesses to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 as well as efforts to build better recovery for businesses.

    The outcome of the survey will enable government and development partners come out with measures to alleviate the impact of the disease on businesses.

    Commenting on the survey, Professor Samuel Kobina Annim, the Government Statistician, said results from the survey would inform policy directions in protecting jobs and safeguarding progress of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    The findings will also provide insights into keeping the promise of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) alive as a tool to handle future pandemics and protect jobs and businesses.

    “The Ghana Statistical Service wishes to assure owners of establishments that information provided on businesses will not be disclosed to anyone or entity in any form,” he said.

    The data collection does not require payment of money, and under no circumstance should an establishment be required to pay any amount to any person.

    Ghana Statistical Service called for the cooperation of establishments, media and the public to ensure the success of the exercise.

    Source: GNA

  • Builsa South Assembly shuts down Fumbisi market over murder of a young man

    The Builsa South District Assembly has indefinitely shut down the Fumbisi market to the public. Similarly, all food vendors and drinking bar operators have also been directed to shut down their operations.

    The directive takes effect on Tuesday, May 26, 2020.

    The decision to shut down economic activities in the district follows the gruesome murder of a young man believed to be in his late 20s on Wednesday, May 20, 2020, in the Central Business District.

    The District Security Council (DISEC) headed by the District Chief Executive, Daniel Kwame Gariba, which took the decision at an emergency meeting held on May 21, 2020, say the measure is to mitigate any security threat to the citizenry.

    In a statement dated Monday, May 25, 2020, announcing the closure of the Fumbisi Market, the Assembly assured the general public that the security agencies “are not relenting on their efforts and will soon arrest the perpetrator and his accomplices to face the full rigours of the law”.

    The Assembly, therefore, called on urged the public to remain calm and provide the security agencies with relevant information that will facilitate the arrest of the culprit and his accomplices.

    Source: politicoghana.com

  • Ellembelle MP Donates to Muslim Community to Support Ramadan feast

    The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has presented food items to the Muslim community in the Constituency as part of his contribution towards the celebration of this year’s Ramadan feast.

    The items were 50 bags of rice and some gallons of cooking oil.

    Beneficiary communities include, Muslims in the Ellembelle South and Aiyinasi-North communities.

    The gesture formed part of the MP’s annual donations to support Muslim communities towards the celebration of their yearly feast.

    Making the presentation at Kamgbunli, Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah commended the Muslim Communities for their patience and steadfastness which culminated in a successful Ramadan.

    The MP asked them to continue to pray for the peace and stability of the nation.

    Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah appealed to the Muslim Communities to be mindful of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to strictly adhere to the safety protocols to avoid spreading of the virus.

    Receiving the food items on behalf of the Muslim communities at Kamgbunli, the District Chief Imam, Sheikh Kwasi Buah thanked the MP for the gesture.

    He recounted the unflinching support of the MP to Muslim communities over the years.

    Sheikh Buah said Muslim Communities would continue to intensify their prayers towards the peace and development of the Constituency and by extension, the nation.

    Source: GNA

  • 88 coronavirus patients recover in the Eastern Region

    Eighty-eight out 0f 118 coronavirus patients have recovered in the Eastern Region as at May 24.

    The 88 recovered represents 74.6 percent leaving 30 active cases being managed at the various isolation centres.

    Mrs Bridget Anim, Eastern Regional Health Promotion Officer of the Ghana Health Service, disclosed this at an editor’s forum at Aburi.

    Eleven out of the 33 districts in the Region had recorded coronavirus including 16 healthcare workers representing 13.6 percent. She indicated that most of them were asymptomatic and had gone through the two test and confirmed negative.

    The Editors forum was organized by the Ghana Journalists Association with funding from Star Ghana Foundation to train senior media personals on peace and security sensitive reporting towards the 2020 elections.

    Source: GNA

  • Chief commends government on coronavirus fight

    Nana Frimpong Manso Ababio, Chief of Sefwi- Paboase and Mponuahene for Waiwso Traditional Area, has commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for effectively managing the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

    According to him, during crises such as COVID-19, a country needed a bold, intelligent and visionary leader to address it and that the President had exhibited to manage the spread of the virus.

    He also acknowledged all stakeholders especially health workers who have contributed in one way or another in these trying times.

    The Traditional Ruler made the commendation when he handed over Veronica buckets, hand Sanitizers and 1200 pieces of nose masks to the Assembly member and unit committee members to be distributed to residents in the community in order to help stem the spread of COVID-19.

    Nana Ababio advised Ghanaians to strictly adhere to the World Health Organization (WHO) protocols which included, the washing of hands with soap under running water, wearing of nose masks, frequently using alcohol based hand sanitizer, observing physical and social distancing and avoiding crowded places to manage the spread of COVID-19.

    He also encouraged other traditional authorities to do their best in supporting the government in the fight against the pandemic, since they were in direct contact with the people.

    Nana Ababio urged chiefs to ensure that residents in their various communities complied with government directives especially the ban on social gatherings.

    He called on the President to ignore calls on him to lift the ban on social gatherings, but rather do proper consultation with experts before any decision was taken.

    The Traditional Ruler was of the view that churches and mosques in Ghana cannot observe social distancing during their meetings and it would therefore be dangerous to lift the ban now.

    He advised Ghanaians not to put too much pressure on the government as far as lifting of the ban was concerned and was hopeful the government would take the right decisions at the right time.

    Mr Simon Okom, Assembly Member for Paboase Electoral Area, who received the items, said he together with the unit committee members had put in place adequate measures to ensure that residents adhered to all the protocols aimed at fighting COVID-19 in the community.

    He said with free supply of nose masks by the chief, the wearing of the masks would be made compulsory for residents.

    Source: GNA

  • A devastated mother narrates how her 17-year-old son impregnated his younger sisters

    Mother has shared a sad story on social media to seek advice on what action to take to deal with her dilemma.

    According to the woman, she has just discovered that her 17-year-old son has impregnated her 15 and 13-year-old daughters at the same time.

    The woman explained that she has been working throughout the lockdown and her children are stuck at home due to the ban placed on school activities.

    The only, person who has access to their home during this time is the cleaner girl who comes to the house to wash and clean.

    The woman narrating how it happened revealed that she discovered that the oldest daughter who is 15 was exhibiting symptoms of pregnancy

    After testing and confirming she is pregnant, she confronted her and she admitted she has been sleeping with her elder brother who is only 17 years old.

    That was when she also revealed her 13-year-old sister has also been sleeping with their brother.

    Shocked and devastated, she discovered the youngest daughter is also pregnant and the elder brother is responsible.

    Patiently and as calmly as she could, she confronted the eldest son and confirmed he had been sleeping with his sisters. Meaning, he is responsible for their pregnancies.

    Now, the woman claims she is a devoted Christian and her faith forbids abortion. She, therefore, does not know what to do and is asking for help from Netizens.

    Source: kingdomfmonline.com

  • Bawumia calls on politicians to desist from insults ahead of 2020 election

    The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has stated that his outfit will be running a clean campaign hence all politicians must adhere to that ahead of the 2020 elections.

    He advised Ghanaians to desist from doing politics of insults.

    “We want a very free, fair and violent-free election. We won the power or mandate of the people when we were in opposition. And so, we have to just send a message of what did we do when we had the opportunity to serve the people. What exactly have we been able to do,” said Dr. Bawumia.

    “That is what the election should be fought on; the record. Record of what you have been able to do and what you have planned to do,”he told Joy FM

    “In terms of what we say, the President has always made the point that we should make sure that how we speak and what we say to the public bring about peace, bring about understanding.”

    “I think if we all focused on that, there should be no acrimony. And allow the electoral commission to do its work and we will all come in and participate in this great expression of democracy during this election.”

    Source: kingdomfmonline.com

  • Over 2,000 recover as coronavirus cases hit 6,808

    Over 2,000 COVID-19 patients have recovered.

    According to the Ghana Health Service (GHS) as at yesterday, 2,070 patients have been discharged after testing double negative for the virus.

    Meanwhile, the GHS data showed that confirmed cases of COVID-19 have increased to 6,808.

    This follows the confirmation of some 125 new cases since the last update on Sunday, May 24.

    Regional breakdown

    The Greater Accra Region is still leading the chart with 4,836 cases, followed by the Ashanti and Central Regions with 1,062 and 306 cases respectively.

    The Western Region has 277 cases, Eastern Region, 106 cases, Western North Region, 62 cases and the Volta Region, 47 cases.

    The Northern Region has recorded 36 cases while the Oti Region has 26 confirmed cases.

    The Upper East and Upper West regions have 26 and 21 cases respectively as the North East Region records 2 cases.

    The Savannah and Bono regions have a case each.

    Their death toll has not changed from the, 32 fatalities recorded so far.

    Source: Daily Guide Network

  • Coronavirus: Africa needs to reposition itself – Bombande

    Mr Emmanuel Bombande, a Senior UN Mediation Advisor, has called on African countries to coordinate its actions together in engaging global players as the world seeks measures to contain the Coronavirus pandemic.

    He said when Africa repositions itself better, it would be able to remain at the centre of the global negotiations table.

    Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Monday, Mr Bombande, who is a former Deputy Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister, said it is also important for African states to raise their voices on the issues about global justice, as well as to embark on diplomatic and political engagement with these global powers.

    “In the international arena nothing happens if it is not happening around the negotiating table so you are going to see that the big players in the world, the United States, China and Europe- everybody is thinking about what measures they are taking to accelerate their economies and lessen the negative impact of COVID-19”.

    “Where was Africa at that global table: raising issues of global justice”, Mr Bombande said and urged Africa countries to strive to be at the negotiation table to increase its voice around the globe.

    He said at the local level, countries should ensure that good governance, equality and justice continue to be respected at the country level, adding that these are some of the things that each government could do to ensure that the COVID-19 pandemic does not erode progress made.

    Mr Bombande said the one way that Africa could overcome its challenges was to go back and refer to the traditional African understanding, “sitting as a family to talk about confronting issues, the more you talk, the more creativity and innovations come out for you to have a consensus that brings everybody together”.

    He said in the course of the year, many of the countries in Africa, including Ghana would be organizing elections, hence the need for coordination and consensus-building rather than allowing conflicts and disagreements to erode the peace gained.

    Mr Bombande urged African countries to endeavour to put mechanisms of fairness, equity and credible elections in place, so they could come out stronger and be better at responding to the impact of COVID-19.

    “We have come from a long way and we should never allow ourselves to fall on the wayside and go back to the period in which our ancestors and those that fought for our independence struggle, lay their lives for us then.

    “For us and our children the responsibility then is to create a better Africa for their future,” he said.

    Source: GNA

  • Parliament summons Jean Mensa over December polls

    The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Jean Mensa, has been summoned by Parliament to brief the house next week on her plans for 2020 elections.

    Majority leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu informed the House during the business statement for next week.

    The announcement follow demands by the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu and other MPs who demanded the commission to appear before the house with a brief on arrangements for the December 7 polls.

    Responding to their concerns, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs said the commission has been summoned to brief Parliament next week.

    Meanwhile, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) says about 93% of potential voters in the Upper East and Upper West regions will be ineligible to vote if the electoral commission insists on its controversial voter registration methods.

    The Electoral Commission has said the Ghana card and passports are the primary documents to be used for the upcoming registration.

    However, the Director of Elections of the NDC Elvis Afriyie Ankrah says it will be undemocratic to resort to such a means to disenfranchise Ghanaians from voting.

    Addressing the media in Accra Thursday, Mr Afriyie-Ankrah said “Only about 6.5 million people have access to the NIA card. The NIA could not dispute our claim that only 5.17 per cent and 6.36 per cent of the registrable population in the Upper West and Upper East regions, respectively, have been issued Ghana cards, as we speak.

    “So, Upper West, Upper East, Northern, Savannah, North-East, you look at the figures, 86 per cent, 84 per cent, 85 per cent and Upper East and Upper West 5.17 per cent and Upper East 6.36 per cent. So, the rest of the ninety-something per cent, what is going to happen to them? Are they not Ghanaians? Do they not deserve to be treated rightly, fairly and justly as anybody else? Do they have to go through the hustle of trying to find people to guarantee for them with all its delays and frustrations?”.

    He stressed: “So, take note of that because when we speak, they say where is the conspiracy. So, by strange, accidental reason, [in] the strongholds of the NDC, you have a situation where 93 per cent of eligible voters in these two regions would not have access to their cards. And they have to resort to the secondary method of vouching as the norm rather than the exception. Is it fair, is it right? Are you creating a level playing field?”

    “The big question, therefore, is why would the Jean Mensa-led EC rely on an identification card, Ghana card, whose issuance is largely incomplete, and fraught with several anomalies and demographic disparities? Why is the Jean Mensa-led EC excluding from the list of registration requirements under the proposed C.I. their own widely available and acceptable voter ID card and rather including the Ghana card, which is currently possessed by just about 6.5 million Ghanaians who are 18 years and above? A card which is currently not accepted by any public, private or commercial institution.

    Source: Starr FM

  • LEAP: Well soon recruit new beneficiaries – Gender Minister

    The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Cynthia Morrison has said the ministry has successfully paid all persons under the Livelihood Empower Against Poverty (LEAP) Cash Payment.

    The minister speaking in an interview with Kwabena Agyapong on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm noted that they do not owe any beneficiary.

    Cynthia Morrison said beneficiaries have always been encouraged to make judicious use of the remittance they receive from the government.

    This she hinted would help the encourage the government to expand the facility to cover more families.

    She hinted the ministry will soon review the list of beneficiaries as they have identified that children who receive the money on behalf of the aged, are capable of working to cater for their aged parents.

    She revealed the ministry will rather empower these individuals, start them up so they will be able to generate resources to take care of their aged parents.

    “We are considering moving some of the beneficiaries to another stage. We want to empower some of them, start them up and take them off the LEAP. There some of them who invest their money into small businesses. These are the categories we want to empower and resource them and take them off the LEAP and recruit new beneficiaries,” she added.

    The Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) is a Cash transfer programme introduced by Former President John Agyekum Kuffour cushion the poorest households in the country.

    It is to assist the poorest families with basic needs including food, to improve health and education status of children in the poorest families and lastly to help the beneficiary families come out of their poverty situations.

    The Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) is a cash transfer programme introduced by the Government of Ghana (GOG) in 2008, for extremely poor and vulnerable households which have the following three categories of eligible members:

    The main objective of the LEAP Program is to reduce poverty by increasing and smoothening consumption and promoting access to services and opportunities among the extremely poor and vulnerable.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • 8,000 people apply for GH¢600 million Coronavirus Alleviation Programme

    The Executive Director of the NBSSI, Mrs. Kosi Yankey Ayeh has said more than 8,000 have applied for the GH¢600 million Coronavirus Alleviation Programme (CAP) business support scheme intended to support small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) impacted by the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

    She said, in addition to the applications, more than 1,000 persons and institutions had called the board to make inquiries on the financial support meant to cushion businesses.

    According to her, “We have so far received over 1,000 calls with people asking how they can access the platform and how to apply, and how we can help them to address some challenges they encountered in the course of applying.

    “The good news is that about 8,000 plus applicants had registered as of May 21 and are waiting to go on to the next step of the application process.”

    On May 19, 2020, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo launched a GH¢600 million Coronavirus Alleviation Programme (CAP) business support scheme.

    The fund is intended to provide relief to SMEs across the country that has been negatively affected by the disease.

    In his fifth televised address to the nation, the President announced that the government has partnered with the private sector to introduce a scheme in support of SMEs which are facing challenges owing to COVID-19.

    “Government, in collaboration with the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), Business & Trade Associations and selected Commercial and Rural Banks, will roll out a soft loan scheme up to a total of GH¢600 million, which will have a one-year moratorium and two-year repayment period for micro, small and medium scale businesses,” he stated.

    Source: pulse.com.gh

  • Coronavirus: Board Chairs recommend strategic measures for businesses

    A situational analysis on the impact of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic on the Ghanaian private sector has recommended the need for businesses to undertake COVID-19 impact assessments on their operations.

    This is expected to enhance the sector with scientific data on the actual impact of the pandemic on their businesses to enable them institute effective measures aimed at remaining in business.

    The recommendation was contained in a communique issued at the close of the Institute of Directors-Ghana (IoD-Ghana) Corporate Roundtable Board Chairs seminar held recently, chaired by Mr. Tony Oteng-Gyasi, a former President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI).

    The communique asserts that it is imperative businesses document strategic mitigation and survival methodologies and ensure sustainable implementation to avoid any further shocks.

    According to the Institute, the forecast for both global and Ghana-specific, national economic indicators of the COVID-19 pandemic is even direr, and thus it has become necessary for practical reflections on the way out of the situation, thereby suggesting effective tools for the business community to use to adjust.

    “Local production has become imperative and businesses should look at ways to replace imports with locally sourced goods… Businesses must be focused on short-term survival strategies till September 2020, allowing another eighteen (18) months for the dust to settle whilst keeping tabs on global reactions.

    “Businesses should develop immunity through strategic capacity development for the new normal till situation eases”, the communique states.

    The engagement is the first in a series of planned interactions among Chairs of Boards. The Institute notes that it considers these recommendations as strategically relevant to the survival and growth of Ghanaian businesses in this era of COVID-19 pandemic.

    Realistically, the pandemic has changed the face of doing business and businesses across the globe are having to re-strategize not only to remain in business, but also to be competitive.

    A number of key government institutions and agencies have already commenced institutional assessments to better understand the current and future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their activities.

    This will enable such to conduct an assessment of the extent to which the disease is further impacting on their respective activities which would enable them meet the most relevant and urgent needs of the private sector.

    Collapse of businesses coupled with loss of jobs are some major shocks this new global pandemic is ravaging on world economies. Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are projected to be hit hardest, potentially resulting in huge job losses.

    Due to this, various assessments indicate that it is vital for effective measures be instituted to reinforce the economy to withstand any further shocks.

    Source: goldstreetbusiness.com

  • Oil receipts up 93% in first quarter but outlook grim

    Government received US$170.3m in petroleum revenue for the first quarter of the year, an increase of 93 percent over earnings of US$88.3m in the first quarter of 2019.

    The receipts came from the sale of crude oil by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) as well as payments from the oil companies, the Finance Ministry revealed in the Petroleum Receipts and Distribution Report for the first quarter of 2020.

    During the period, GNPC sold 1.9m barrels of crude oil produced from the Sankofa and TEN oilfields, but there was no lifting of cargo by the corporation from the Jubilee field.

    The government received an average price of US$63.5 per barrel for the crude oil sold, a price which is now out of range as the impact of the coronacrisis on global oil demand has more than halved international crude oil prices in the last two months.

    Government in its 2020 budget projected a crude oil price of US$62.6 per barrel and petroleum revenues of US$1.6bn for the year.

    However, following the fall in oil prices, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta said preliminary analysis shows that at an average crude oil price of US$30 per barrel, the government would register a shortfall in crude oil receipts amounting to US$1bn.

    He further explained that the shortfall corresponds to a projected shortage in Annual Budget Funding Amount of GH?3.5bn, while shortfalls in the Ghana Stabilisation Fund and the Ghana Heritage Fund are GH?1bn and GH?453m respectively. It also implies transfers to GNPC will experience a shortfall of GH?642m.

    Last year, Ghana made US$937.6m in petroleum revenues, a 4 percent decline from the 2018 figure of US$977.1m. This was due to a 10.2 percent decline in the achieved price of US$63.2 per barrel in 2019 compared to US$70.3 per barrel in 2018.

    The drop also occurred at a time the operator of the Jubilee field, Tullow Oil, underwent a restructuring process amid production challenges at both Jubilee and TEN.

    The challenges at Jubilee related to re-injection of gas into oil wells, which Tullow said had led to a 30 percent cut in production. At the TEN fields, a production well at Enyerra had to be suspended, leading to a cut in production.

    In the wake of the weaker oil prices, all the multinational oil companies and GNPC have reduced planned capital investment in 2020, which could negatively affect output this year.

    Source: thebusiness24online.net

  • Volta Region records 7 storms in first quarter of 2020

    The Volta Region has recorded seven wind and rainstorms in the first quarter of 2020.

    Mr Divine Bosson, Volta Regional Director, National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), said the storms affected seven communities in five Municipal and Districts.

    He said a total of 139 houses were affected by the storms, and 456 people, made up of 122 male adults, 122 female adults, 103 boys and 109 girls involved.

    Mr Bosson said three female adults out of the 456 affected persons sustained varying degrees of injuries.

    The Regional Director said a municipality recorded one flood situation, which affected a community with 19 houses.

    He said a total of 46 people, made up of ten male adults, 20 female adults, ten boys and six girls were affected by that flood.

    Mr Bosson said the Region recorded a total of 17 bushfires in eight municipal and districts, involving 21 communities and 300.5 acres of farm lands.

    He said a total of 458 people, made up of 123 male adults, 131 female adults, 107 boys, and 97 girls were affected by the fire.

    The Regional Director said 12 municipal and districts also recorded 38 domestic fires, which affected 38 communities and 42 houses.

    He said a total of 249 people, made up of 53 male adults, 76 female adults, 56 boys and 64 girls were affected by the fire, but with no death recorded.

    Mr Bosson said one industrial fire was also recorded in a district, which affected one community and 189 boys, and a school.

    The Regional Director said the estimated cost of damage by the disasters was GHC1,407,436.00

    He said his outfit would continue to educate the people on the need to avoid acts that could lead to disasters and called for support from all.

    Mr Bosson also called for stiffer punishment for people who set fire to bushes and also engaged in indiscriminate felling of trees to deter others from such acts.

    Source: GNA

  • One feared dead in Kalakpa Game Reserve clash

    One person is feared dead in a gunfire exchange between Park Rangers of the Kalakpa Wildlife Resource Reserve and syndicated poachers from the Dzakpo community in the Adaklu District.

    Mr Samuel Darko Akonor, the Park Manager, who narrated the incident to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said the poachers engaged the Park Rangers on night duty patrols at the Abutia area of the Reserve, some 20 kilometres from Dzakpo, in the early hours of Tuesday.

    He said the Rangers, who had heard a gunshot in the Reserve attempted to ward-off the poachers but were met with sporadic shootings, compelling the team to return fire at about 0100 hours on Wednesday.

    The Park Manager said a team from the Reserve reported the incident to the Ho Municipal Police Command and requested for reinforcement to enable the team visit the spot of the shooting incident, after the poachers said one of them was missing.

    Mr Akonor said the search party including the Rangers, Police and Dzakpo community members were unsuccessful in locating the missing person.

    He, however told the GNA that unconfirmed information suggested the missing person was shot dead with the body allegedly in possession of some persons in the community.

    Mr Akonor said the Police SWAT team after the search, moved in swiftly to the rescue of some Rangers, who were taken captive by the incensed youth of Dzakpo in a revenge attack.

    The Park Manager said one of their camps near the Dzakpo community was subsequently vandalised by the people allegedly.

    Superintendent of Police, Mr Anthony Danso, Ho Municipal Police Commander, confirmed the incident to the GNA and said the father of the victim reported an incident of a missing person to Police on Monday.

    He said Police intelligence however gathered that the father knew where the deceased’s body was and said the Police was going into the matter.

    Source: GNA

  • Armed gang inflict wounds on Deputy Upper West Regional Minister

    The deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Amidu Issahaku Chinnia, has been attacked by unknown armed gang Thursday night.

    The incident happened just before 9pm at a walking distance from his Sombo residence in the regional capital, Wa

    He was rescued by police motorbike patrol officers and sent to the hospital after sustaining injuries on the right arm, Police in the Upper West Region said in a terse statement.

    No arrest had been made at the time of filing this report but the police told Dailymailgh.com that investigations have commenced.

    Attacks on notable political figures have been rampant in the Upper West Region. On May 9, 2019, the chairman of the Daffiama-Busie-Issah constituency of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was shot and killed by armed gang.

    The late Mr Richard Bayiviala Polibong was returning from official party duties in one of the electoral areas in the constituency when the incident happened.

    Investigations are yet to uncover the circumstances behind the attack as the NDC continues to push for justice for the deceased.

    No arrest has yet been made.

    Source: Daily Mail

  • NPP, NDC have benefited from ‘same fraudulent electoral system’ – Atik Mohammed

    People’s National Convention (PNC) General Secretary, Atik Mohammed has supported the call for a new voters’ register by the Electoral Commission (EC).

    Contributing to ”Kokrokoo” on Peace FM, Atik Mohammed questioned the logic in the basis of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for rejecting the compilation of a new voters’ register.

    Atik Mohammed stated that having a new register will help improve upon the country’s electoral system and ensure transparent elections this year.

    He added that the notion that the EC’s decision to compile a new voters’ register exposes the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, as a product of a fraud electoral system doesn’t defeat the purpose for a new register for the country’s electoral process.

    According to him, both the NPP and NDC have all benefited from the same fraud system but it is prudent to have a new voters’ register that will be long-lasting.

    ”For me, it makes a lot of sense that someone who profited from a fraud situation wants it corrected. Of course, it’s not just the NPP that profited from this. Even NDC profited from the fraud register. We used the same register in 2012. With all the inadequacies associated with the register, NDC also won the elections with it. So, it is fair. Both of them have profited from this flaw. It’s time to make the best and move on as a country”, he said.

    Source: Peace FM

     

  • Ten cell inmates at Tema test positive for COVID-19

    Ten inmates in the Tema metropolis have tested positive for the Coronavirus disease [COVID-19].

    Tema Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Edward Johnson Akrofi-Oyirifi, made the disclosure on the sidelines of a disinfection and fumigation exercise which took place in the regional command on Thursday, May 21, 2020.

    According to him, of the ten COVID-19 inmates, nine were from Ashaiman cells while one was recorded in a cell in Kpone.

    However, he said none of the police personnel in Tema has tested positive for the disease so far.

    “Thankfully, all the other inmates who were in the cells with these COVID-19 inmates have tested negative, and have thus been transported to the Ankaful Prisons,” the Regional Commander said.

    DCOP Akrofi-Oyirifi further indicated that, to ensure the safety of these COVID-19 inmates, his outfit has moved motions at the courts for them to be isolated and treated.

    On social and physical distancing in the cells, he stated that the inmates were more protected in the cells.

    This, he said, was because by confining them in the cells they were not exposed to the rest of the population.

    “So I think that even they being in the cells was better for them because, then they are isolated and quarantined from the rest of the Ghanaian population,” he opined.

    The Tema Regional Police Commander used the opportunity to praise his officers who were deployed during the partial lockdown.

    “Our personnel in the deployment during the partial lockdown were always brave to educate people who were commuting to Tema and its environs. And, I must say that they were professional in dealing with the lockdown directives,” he gladly expressed.

    In this regard, DCOP Akrofi-Oyirifi gave an assurance that his officers remained resolute in the fight against the global pandemic.

    The Regional Security Council was collaborating with the metropolitan assemblies to enforce the “No Face Mask, No Entry” directive in Tema to ensure that the virus is contained, he said.

    “We also have officers who regularly patrol the region to make sure that residents, factories, pharmacy shops among others were strictly adhering to the COVID-19 preventive protocols,” he added.

    According to him, the exercise, which is a collaboration between the Ghana Police Service and Zoomlion Ghana Limited, will cover four divisions and fourteen districts in the Tema enclave.

    He said it will include the disinfection of police stations, cells, offices, and barracks under the above jurisdictions.

    “They have started with the regional headquarters and from here they will be moving to the various divisions,” he noted.

    Zoomlion Regional Manager, Tema, Seth Appiah, explained that the exercise was a collaboration between his outfit and the Ghana Police Service.

    According to him, the Tema police have been very cooperative in the discharge of their work.

    For the disinfection and fumigation of Tema police facilities, he discloses that they have deployed twenty workers for the exercise

    Source: citinewsroom.com

  • COVID-19: Its too early to start discussing new normal life Biostatistician

    Dr. Duah Dwomoh, a biostatistician believes it is too early for Ghana to resign itself for life with the novel coronavirus.

    On Eyewitness News, he said the government does not have the requisite analytical backing to such sentiments based on the daily distribution of cases in Ghana.

    “I do not know the data set on what they are making the decision on but if you really want to look at the available data, then I think it is too early for us to be looking at going on that tangent.”

    Most recently, the Information Minister said it would soon be time for dialogue on how to adjust life with the virus in the global ecosystem.

    President Nana Akufo-Addo has also advised Ghanaians adjust to living with the novel coronavirus following indications from the science community that the disease will be around for a long while.

    But before such conclusions are made, Dr. Dwomoh explained that Ghana at least needed to understand the rate at which the virus was spreading.

    “When the basic effective reproduction is greater than one then you are in an epidemic situation so you put in an intervention to reduce the basic reproduction number to below one… Before you say that you are going to live with the COVID-19, then you need that data set. You have to analyse and do your simulation and get that basic reproduction number.”

    Mr. Dwomoh is of the view that with the right interventions, Ghana could be on the path to becoming coronavirus-free like Eritrea, among others.

    “Once your basic reproduction number is equal to one then you are projecting into an endemic situation but if the basic reproduction number is below one, then we are in a position to eliminate COVID-19 altogether.”

    There is currently a ban on public gatherings set to run until at least the end of May 2020.

    Source: citinewsroom.com

  • Playback: Ministry of Information press briefing on fate of stranded Ghanaians

    Government on Friday, May 21, 2020 will hold a press conference to update the nation on the admission of some category of Ghanaians into the country.

    Already, the government, through the Information Ministry has briefed Ghanaians on measures it is putting in place to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

    As Ghana’s case count continues to witness a surge, there have been growing concerns and debate over whether the easing of the partial lockdown and the restrictions of movement by the President was a good call or wrong one.

    However, some pertinent key issues to be addressed at today’s press conference will provide an update on the fate of stranded Ghanaians abroad.

    Currently, Ghana’s Coronavirus positive cases have spiraled to 6486 with 1951 recoveries and a death toll of 31.

    Watch the livestreaming below.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • New positive coronavirus cases and facility admissions declining

    Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, on Thursday said there was evidence that new COVID-19 positive cases and facility admissions were gradually declining.

    According to him, about 11 out of the 16 regions have not recorded any new infections since the country’s last update.

    He explained that from the last update between May 18 and May 19, 2020, a total of 173 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded, of which the Greater Accra Region accounted for 46, Central-27, Eastern-6, Ashanti-35, and Western-57, leaving the remaining regions with no new records of infections.

    This, he said, brought Ghana’s cumulative number of COVID-19 count presently to 6,269, cases, out of which there were 31 fatalities, who were made up of 17 males and 14 females, with the Greater Accra Region alone recording 20 of the total number of deaths.

    Dr Kuma-Aboagye, giving an update on Ghana’s COVID-19 case count and management at the Ministry of Information’s midweek press briefing in Accra, stated that there were 144 more recoveries over the same period, bringing the current cumulative number to 1,898, an indication of a recovery rate of about 30.2 per cent, with only eight persons currently in critical condition.

    He said, Ghana did 187,929 tests from both routine surveillance, contact tracing on persons under mandatory quarantine in their first testing, and achieved 6,269 on a follow up testing of the total number, showing a positivity rate of 3.34 per cent.

    He said a large pool of people were currently still waiting for their second test results, which would mark their final certification of total recovery from the infection, and hoped that within the next few days the results would be released for them to be free.

    Dr Kuma-Aboagye said on case management, all the 16 regions had identified and set up isolation, quarantine and treatment facilities.

    He said there were a total of 71 treatment and isolation centres of which 50 were functional, as the other areas did not record any case.

    He said the largest isolation centre, which was the Pentecost Convention Centre had 251 persons there, which was a reduction from the over 450 that were recorded since the setup of the place for holding people who had tested positive to COVID-19.

    According to the Director-General, the number of admissions in all other isolation and quarantine centres at both regional and district levels, witnessed decreases in the past week, including; the initial total of 31 critical cases that were managed in various Intensive Care Units (ICU), where six persons with critical underlying conditions died.

    He said there were only eight persons still in the ICU; four of which were at the University of Ghana Medical Centre, and two each at the Ga East Municipal Hospital and the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, but the remaining 16 persons had already been discharged.

    The Director-General said, notwithstanding the slight decreases in the number of new positive cases, there were occasional increases in strategic areas such as; in the Obuasi, Tema and Bibiani incidences in the past two weeks.

    However, the GHS has strengthened its forces to be able to identify the hotspots and contain the situation, to present possible spread of the virus.

    Latest update

    As of Friday, May 22, 2020, the death toll remains at 31.

    The total active cases of COVID-19 in Ghana is now at 4,504.

    The Greater Accra region is still leading the chart with 4,699 cases, followed by the Ashanti region with 988 cases.

    The cases in the Western and Central regions has increased to 195 and 287 respectively.

    Savannah, Ahafo and Bono East regions remain the three regions out of the 16 regions in Ghana yet to record a case of the novel Coronavirus.

    Source: GNA

  • Infected CSM persons now reporting early to health facilities

    Upper West Regional Minister, Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, has announced that individuals contracting the Cerebral Spinal Meningitis (CSM) disease in the Region are now reporting early to health facilities due to increased risk communication.

    This, according to him, has resulted in a significant reduction in the case fatality associated with the disease as the region had over the past two weeks recorded only one death out of a total of 30 cases recorded over the period.

    Dr Bin Salih who announced this in a press release hinted of some response actions including continued coordination and mobilisation of resources for the response by the Public Health Emergency Management Committees and continued monitoring and investigation of new cases by the Rapid Response Teams.

    The release reminded clinicians to look out for cases using the standard case definition, while the Regional Health Directorate continued to conduct technical monitoring visits to all Municipalities and Districts to support the teams.

    The release urged the public to drink a lot of water during the period, sleep in well-ventilated places, cover their mouths and nose when coughing or sneezing and endeavour to report early to health facilities when experiencing signs and symptoms of the disease.

    Source: GNA

  • Ho Municipal Hospital shuts OPD for disinfection after two new coronavirus cases

    The Ho Municipal Hospital has recorded two cases of the Coronavirus disease, Dr. Lawrence Kumi, Medical Superintendent of the Hospital confirmed to the Ghana News Agency on Thursday.

    He said the two cases were detected through routine surveillance and that they were receiving care at the Volta Regional COVID19 isolation and treatment centre.

    Dr. Kumi said the Out Patient Department (OPD) and the Emergency Unit of the Hospital had been shutdown for disinfection.

    He said the OPD would be opened on Saturday, May 23, 2020 but the Emergency Unit would remain shut until the first week in June.

    The Medical Superintendent said some staff of the facility were asked to self-quarantine whilst they awaited test results.

    With the newly recorded cases, the Region’s case count jumps to 45 with 28 recoveries and two deaths.

    The Regional capital, Ho, now has eight COVID19 positive cases as of Thursday, May 21, 2020.

    Source: GNA

  • Eastern Region: Kwahu West, West Akim, Suhum record coronavirus cases, tally now 115

    Kwahu West, West Akim and Suhum Municipalities in the Eastern Region have recorded confirmed cases of Coronavirus .

    Nkawkaw the municipal Capital of Kwahu West has recorded 3 confirmed cases(1 of the patients is from Kumasi) while West Akim and Suhum have recorded a positive case each.

    Denkyembuor District on May 20,2020 also recorded four(4) new cases increasing the number to 12 in the district.

    The new confirmed cases have increased the Eastern Region case count to 115 as of May 21, 2020.

    Already Lower Manya Krobo has recorded 70 cases,Asuogyaman (12) , Akuapem North(8), Fanteakwa North (6) ,and Birim Central (2).

    Eighty-six(86) representing about 75% of the total case count have recovered in the region.

    COVID-19 cases in Ghana currently stand at 6,269 after 173 new cases were recorded. The Ghana Health Service has announced Thursday May 20,2020.

    Also,125 more recoveries have been confirmed increasing the total number of recoveries to 1,898.

    The death toll still stands at 31.

    Source: ghanaweb.com

  • CHRAJ dismisses ASEPAs declaration of assets petition against Chief Justice

    A petition filed by Executive Director of the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), against the Chief Justice (CJ) on the declaration of assets and liabilities has been dismissed by the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

    Mensah Thompson believes Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah since his assumption of the role as an Appeals court judge in 2008 and a judge of the Supreme Court left his assets undeclared contrary to the dictates of the Constitution.

    Following preliminary investigations, CHRAJ found “as a fact that the respondent has complied with Article 286 of the constitution by declaring his assets and liabilities to the Auditor-General.”

    But the Commission also took into account the fact that Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah had “declared his assets and liabilities at the time the allegations were made and having satisfied the conditions for holding that office then, all be it a late submission, what should be the appropriate action that the commissioner should take in respect of the results of the investigation?”

    CHRAJ, therefore, dismissed the complaint “as overtaking, unsubstantiated, and not made out” on the basis that Justice Anin Yeboah has “complied with Article 286, the appropriate action in the circumstances.”

    Source: myjoyonline.com

  • Lets develop telemedicine tools to improve Ghanas healthcare system Mahama

    The Flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC), John Dramani Mahama has made a strong case for the country to refocus on telehealth to open up access to quality healthcare.

    In a Facebook post hours ago, the former leader re-echoed that the outbreak of Covid-19 has demonstrated yet again that a strong healthcare system is vital for any country.

    “We have to develop telemedicine tools to support the construction and provision of modern and well-equipped health facilities across the country. This will make it easier for every Ghanaian to access quality healthcare. Together, we will build a future #Ghana,” he said.

    His suggestion comes on the heels of the spike in cases of the Coronavirus pandemic in the country.

    220 new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in Ghana pushing the country’s case count to 6,486 from 6,269 as of the last update by the Ghana Health Service on Wednesday.

    The number of recoveries has also jumped to 1,951 from 1,898 while the death toll remains at 31.

    See the post below,

    Source: Kasapa FM

     

  • Todays newspapers front pages

  • Coronavirus has shown why access to healthcare is a human right Mahama

    Former President John Dramani Mahama believes the Coronavirus pandemic is a timely reminder that every country needs to have a strong healthcare system.

    According to him, access to healthcare is a human right and the government must prioritise the construction of well-equipped health facilities.

    In a Facebook post on Thursday, Mahama said such a move would make it easier for every Ghanaian to have access to quality healthcare.

    The outbreak of #COVID19 has demonstrated yet again that a strong healthcare system is vital for any country. Access to healthcare is a human right!” Mahama wrote.

    “We have to develop telemedicine tools to support the construction and provision of modern and well-equipped health facilities across the country.

    “This will make it easier for every Ghanaian to access quality healthcare. Together, we will build a future.”

    The National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer has previously criticised the Akufo-Addo government for abandoning projects started by his administration.

    Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has promised to construct 88 new hospitals in the 88 districts to boost health delivery across the country.

    The President said 10 hospitals will be built in the Ashanti region, nine in the Volta region, nine in the Central region, eight in the Eastern region and seven in the Greater Accra region.

    Also, seven of the hospitals will be built in Upper East, five each in the Northern, Oti, Upper West and the Bono regions, while four will be built in the Western North and Western regions.

    Meanwhile, the Ahafo and Savannah regions will have three district hospitals, two in Bono East, and two more in North East Regions.

    Source: pulse.com.gh

  • Coronavirus: This is not the time to be complacent

    Despite the low fatality rate in positive cases of the Coronavirus pandemic, some Ghanaians believe we are not close to moments of being complacent as there is more work to be done.

    A student of the Ghana Institute of Journalism and a woman activist, Samira Mohammed IBN Moro shared her views by saying, “Complacency is the mother of all failures and retrogression. Our low fatality rate should be more of an inspiration to Government, frontline workers and the Citizenry at large.”

    She also added that, we should be challenged to be more cautious so as to prevent an escalation of deaths from COVID-19.

    According to Bright Nimo Brobbey, Ghana’s low fatality rate as compared to other countries across the world in the fight against Covid-19 is quite encouraging but this should not be the time our leaders rest on their laurels.

    “I think Ghana should intensify its fight against the virus. The W.H.O makes it clear that countries who became complacent in the fight against COVID-19 are now having to deal with more severe cases. Being complacent will only lead to more and adverse cases of the virus which we stand to fight.”

    Smart Takyi Nixon also spoke against Ghana being complacent. According to him, we are still recording more numbers in the Accra Metropolis and that tells on the nature of our porous community structures and town planning. He said the way our markets are built are fertile grounds for infection spread. Compound houses with shared sanitary facilities even make it worse. Non-adherence to safety protocols especially on the wearing of face masks and social distancing, make our situation even worse.

    “We see people seated together, we see people not taking into consideration some of the necessary things that will actually shield us from this pandemic. Is this what we want to be complacent about as a country?” He asked.

    Nixon continued: “I think it’s a little premature to state categorically that Ghana is doing poorly or Ghana is doing well based on the statistics available to us. So we may as well study the situation for some time. I also think that we still need to give the country about a month more to really have a grasp on what is happening.”

    “Even though we might think there is some education going on, people are not really adhering to the protocols. We still have to keep our eyes open to see where exactly the issue is coming from.”

    Sylvester Kwofie Essuah shares his opinion saying, “I don’t think we should be complacent because we have seen other countries record high death rates and the number keeps increasing. We are just fortunate in this aspect where our fatality rate is low.”

    According to him, instead of being complacent, we should double efforts work to combat the virus.

     

    (more…)

  • Coronavirus: the impact on religious gatherings- Ghanaians share their thoughts

    A cross section of Ghanaians have shared their views on the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on the Church and other religious gatherings.

    Whiles other claim it has had a negative impact due to the cost of running service via digital channels, others also believe COVID-19 has come to make churches and other religious leaders creative and innovative.

    Smart Takyi Nixon, a Ghanaian citizen said, when it emerged that all churches had to change their mode of operation, they had to look at other ways to reach their members.

    According to him, COVID-19 has caused churches which hitherto, did not have social media handles, now jumping on to the social media wagon. Churches continue to introduce short codes, advising members to give offerings via mobile money.

    Takyi Nixon stated that some Pastors allegedly preached against social media, claiming it is an evil platform. If one were to go by that argument, then social media has become a necessary evil in these unprecedented times.

    “For me, the impact has been great with most churches going digital with their presence on social media. It is making the churches very innovative and inventive.”

    Bright Nimo Brobbey told The Independent, the period has brought incredible cost to churches and members alike. He said operational costs and cost of purchasing internet data to access these channels have become huge burdens.

    “It is really expensive in our country, so how could COVID-19 be doing the church and other religious gatherings any good?” He asked.

    According to Sylvester Kwofie Essuah, “the whole world is fighting this common enemy called Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and in Ghana specifically, I think it has had a big impact on the church and other religious activities. Personally, I don’t feel it’s a big deal because a lot of churches have been very innovative this time around where most of them have inculcated social media and technological instruments in conducting church services. The only difference here is that they are not meeting under one big roof.”

    Source: Akaboh Courage | backend.theindependentghana.com

  • 10 inmates at Police Station in Tema test positive for Coronavirus

    Ten inmates in Police cells in the Tema metropolis have tested positive for the COVID-19.

    Tema Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Edward Johnson Akrofi-Oyirifi, made the disclosure on the sidelines of a disinfection and fumigation exercise which took place in the regional command on Thursday (May 21, 2020).

    According to him, of the ten COVID-19 inmates, nine were from Ashaiman cells while one was recorded in a cell in Kpone.

    However, he said none of the police personnel in Tema has tested positive for the disease so far.

    “Thankfully, all the other inmates who were in the cells with these Covid-19 inmates have tested negative, and have thus been transported to the Ankaful Prisons,” the regional commander revealed.

    DCOP Akrofi-Oyirifi further indicated that to ensure the safety of these Covid-19 inmates, his outfit has moved motions at the courts for them to be isolated and treated.

    On social distancing in the cells, he stated that the inmates were more protected in the cells.

    This, he said, was because by confining them in the cells they were not exposed to the rest of the population.

    “So I think that even they being in the cells was better for them because then they are isolated and quarantined from the rest of the Ghanaian population,” he opined.

    The Tema regional police commander used the opportunity to praise his officers who were deployed during the partial lockdown.

    “Our personnel in the deployment during the partial lockdown were always brave to educate people who were commuting to Tema and its environs. And, I must say that they were professional in dealing with the lockdown directives,” he gladly expressed.

    In this regard, DCOP Akrofi-Oyirifi gave an assurance that his officers remained resolute in the fight against the global pandemic.

    The Regional Security Council was collaborating with the metropolitan assemblies to enforce the “No Face Mask, No Entry” directive in Tema to ensure that the virus is contained, he said.

    “We also have officers who regularly patrol the region to make sure that residents, factories, pharmacy shops among others were strictly adhering to the Covid-19 preventive protocols,” he added.

    According to him, the exercise, which is a collaboration between the Ghana Police Service and Zoomlion Ghana Limited, will cover four divisions and fourteen districts in the Tema enclave.

    He said it will include the disinfection of police stations, cells, offices and barracks under the above jurisdictions.

    “They have started with the regional headquarters and from here they will be moving to the various divisions,” he noted.

    Zoomlion Regional Manager, Tema, Seth Appiah, explained that the exercise was a collaboration between his outfit and the Ghana Police Service.

    According to him, the Tema police have been very cooperative in the discharge of their work.

    For the disinfection and fumigation of Tema police facilities, he disclosed that they have deployed twenty workers for the exercise.

    Source: Starr FM

  • Mining records 38% Producer Price Inflation

    The Mining and Quarrying sub-sector recorded the highest year-on-year producer price inflation rate of 38.0 percent, the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), has said.

    This, according to the GSS, is followed by the utility sub-sector with 12.1 percent. The Manufacturing sub-sector recorded the lowest year-on-year producer inflation rate of 0.5 percent.

    For the monthly changes, the mining and quarrying sub-sector recorded the highest inflation rate of 8.9 percent, followed by manufacturing sub-sectors with 0.3 percent. The Utility sub-sector recorded the least inflation rate of 0.1.

    The producer inflation rate in the petroleum subsector was 17.2 percent in April 2019. The rate declined continuously to record 1.2 percent in June 2019. However, it increased to 3.1 percent in

    August 2019 but declined again to -5.7 percent in October 2019. Thereafter the rate increased consistently to record 20.6 percent in January 2020 but constantly declined to record -15.3 percent in April 2020.\

    Source: laudbusiness.com

  • Fight coronavirus, Climate Change simultaneously IES

    Climate Change poses the same threats on the economy just as the Coronavirus pandemic, hence the two must be dealt at the same time, the Institute of Energy Security (IES), has said.

    A statement by the IES said on Thursday May 21 that governments around the world are saddled with the huge task even now and after the pandemic have been brought under control, to rescue their economies and the global economy from recession, and produce measures that can ensure a more resilient and effective responses in the future.

    While Governments takes extreme measures to limit both human cost and economic disruption attributed to the virus, now and the future, the IES said, they must be mindful that the lockdowns and distancing may not necessarily be able to save the world from warming, and that there is a climate crisis.

    “The world therefore has one opportunity to fight two crisis simultaneously to save future troubles, and build a better future.

    “Even as we count the human losses from COVID-19, we must also pause and remind ourselves that there are both financial and human losses attributed to climate change too.,” it said.

    The statement explained that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has become one of the biggest threats to the global economy and financial markets.

    The effect has already been felt in a wide range of energy markets, including coal and gas but its impact on oil markets is exceptionally grave due to the constraint on people and goods from moving around, thus heavily impacting transport fuels demand. This may predominantly real in China, the largest energy consumer in the world, which the Energy Information Administration (EIA) says accounted for more than 80 percent of global oil demand growth last year.

    The International Energy Agency (IEA) in its latest oil market forecast suggests that global oil demand in 2020 has dropped around 90,000 barrels a day from 2019; against a February forecast, which predicted global oil demand would grow by 825,000 barrels a day in 2020. Also the price of oil is down by over 58 percent this year, on the back of what Rystad Energy sees as lower oil demand and slower expected economic growth.

    Aside the energy market, the pandemic is having a damaging economic and business impact, affecting everything from tourism to the supply of parts to the automotive and technology industries.

    Source: laudbusiness.com

  • Average lending rate drops marginally in April

    After staying virtually flat for about a year and a half, the average lending rate of banks has started to show signs of decline in April after the Bank of Ghana reduced the monetary policy rate the month before.

    The Summary of Economic and Financial data (May 2020) published by the Bank of Ghana has shown that average lending rate has finally moved out of its comfort zone to a step downward. Prior to recording 22.38 percent in April, the average lending rate has since the past 17 months (December 2018) not come below 23 percent.

    Banks, on the other hand, also responded by indicating they will reduce their lending rates by 2 percentage points. However, the data show that averagely banks were only able to reduce it by 1.1 percentage points.

    Commenting on this, banking consultant Dr. Richmond Atuahene says the high operational cost banks are incurring in this pandemic period will make it difficult for them to further reduce their lending rates, despite their pledge to do so by 200 basis points.

    “Try to look at the situation very well and see whether the banks have actually dropped their lending rates by 2 percent. It [the 150 basis points cut in policy rate] cannot reflect immediately because of operational cost that has gone up due to the pandemic. And when operational cost goes up, the banks would not like to reduce their lending rates, otherwise their interest income will reduce and cannot cover their operational cost.

    “Secondly, their non-performing loans will also go up. And once the non-performing loans go up, the interest income will come down. So, it is not possible for banks to absorb all those expenses now,” he told the B&FT in an interview.

    Beyond the promise of making lending affordable for businesses, commercial banks in collaboration with the Bank of Ghana have arranged a GH¢3billion facility for lending to critical industries to encourage local production in a bid to move the economy from import dependency to becoming more self-sufficient.

    Thus, the Managing Director of the Republic Bank, Farid Antar in an earlier interview with the B&FT, said banks will ensure that the facility is made available and affordable for businesses which access them.

    “Not only will funds be available, but how they become available is notable; the pricing will be lower than normal pricing and the terms will be more favourable. Each bank will make their own risk assessment, but there are guidelines on the structure and we will provide data to the Bank of Ghana so that it will know we are fulfilling this pledge,” he said.

    Source: B&FT Online

  • Massive rainstorms are responsible for recent outages ECG

    The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has blamed recent power outages on massive rainstorms as well as stormy winds.

    The power house, in a public statement said although they are working to ensure efficient distribution, windy storms continue to wreck their operations.

    “We are working tirelessly to strengthen and maintain a robust distribution network, massive rainstorms and stormy winds, usually cause the falling of trees, billboards, ripped roofing etc on our electrical conductors, resulting in major outages”.

    The electricity company further says major outages caused by transient tripping on feeders are restored immediately after rainstorms.

    For permanent faults that hit the feeders, ECG says it takes a while to be fixed by engineers.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coronavirus: Businesses with over 99 staff not qualified for GH¢600m soft loan NBSSI

    Chief Executive Officer of the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) Kosi Yankey Ayeh says businesses with over 99 staff are not eligible for the GH¢600m stimulus package.

    She made these clarifications on Thursday, May 21, 2020 while updating participants on COVID-19 alleviation program at the Ministry of Information press briefing.

    Speaking at the event, NBSSI boss Kosi Yankey Ayeh said, “Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as defined by the Ministry Of Trade And Industries are Micro is 1 to 5 staff, Small is 6 to 29 staff, Medium is 30 to 99 staff. Businesses outside this range of staff do not qualify to apply.”

    “We have been able to launch the technology allowing MSMEs to apply. The target beneficiaries continue to be the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises who have been negatively affected by the coronavirus pandemic. As well as those producing goods and services that will help in fighting coronavirus”, she indicated.

    Applications from businesses, Madam Yankey, noted, would be processed through an online portal which has been launched already.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Wednesday, May 20, 2020, launched a GH¢600 million Coronavirus Alleviation Programme (CAP) business support scheme intended to support small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) impacted by the novel coronavirus.

    The fund is intended to provide relief to SMEs across the country that has been negatively affected by the disease.

    In his fifth televised address to the nation, the President announced that the government has partnered with the private sector to introduce a scheme in support of SMEs which were facing challenges owing to COVID-19.

    Several platforms including nbssi.gov.gh/capsupport; mobile number platform (USSD) *718*555#; Call Centre Helpline: 030 274 7777, email address capsupport@nbssi.gov.gh have been made available to ensure access.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coronavirus: Interest rate on GH¢600m stimulus package reduced to 3%

    The interest rate on the government’s 600m stimulus package for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) has been reviewed from 5 to 3 percent.

    This information was revealed on Thursday, May 21, 2020 when the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) was giving updates on COVID-19 alleviation program at the Ministry of Information press briefing.

    Addressing the press, the Chief Executive Officer of NBSSI Kosi Yankey Ayeh said after stakeholder deliberations, the 5 percent interest rate was reduced to 3.

    “After deliberations with the president, finance ministry and the industry. After conducting a survey of about 1700 MSMEs in Ghana, initially we had suggested 5 percent but the president in consultation with the team decided to review that interest rate due to the plight of the Ghanaian MSMEs at a time such as this, to 3 percent.”

    She however noted that the one-year moratorium remains unchanged and “businesses have the option to ensure that they choose a moratorium that works best for them.”

    The NBSSI boss also indicated that businesses with over 99 staff are not eligible for the GH¢600m stimulus package.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Wednesday, May 20, 2020, launched a GH¢600 million Coronavirus Alleviation Programme (CAP) business support scheme intended to support small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) impacted by the novel coronavirus.

    The fund is intended to provide relief to SMEs across the country that has been negatively affected by the disease.

    The SME sector, according to the University of Ghana study in 2015, contributes about 70 per cent to Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and accounts for about 92 per cent of businesses in the country.

    Several platforms including nbssi.gov.gh/capsupport; mobile number platform (USSD) *718*555#; Call Centre Helpline: 030 274 7777, email address capsupport@nbssi.gov.gh have been made available to ensure access.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Trading activity strengthened as two firms dominated market by value

    The GSE Composite Index moderated by 4.01 points (-0.20%) as a result of declines in two counters, closing at 1,996.79 with a -11.54% year-to-date return while the market capitalization was slightly down 0.08% to settle at GH¢54.12 billion.

    Standard Chartered (-0.29%) inched the GSE Financial Index down by 7.19 points (-0.39%) to close at 1,833.96 with a year-to-date return of -9.31%.

    The SAS Manufacturing Index declined marginally by 1.78 points (-0.06%) to close at 2,989.90 with a -14.12% year-to-date return due to Fan Milk (-0.29%).

    Trading activity strengthened as 35,910 shares valued at GH¢9,094 changed hands from 14,300 shares valued at GH¢14,200 at the previous session. Hords Limited dominated trades by volume, accounting for 54.30% of the total volume traded while Standard Chartered dominated trades by value, accounting for 39.72% of the total value traded.

    We expect trading activity to pick up as investors take advantage of bargain stocks.

    Source: SAS Ghana