TIG Post

Author: Persis

  • FDA seizes 1,285 unregistered products in Central Region

    The Central Regional Office of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) had seized more than 1,285 unregistered assorted products in some parts of Central Region.

    The unregistered products were seized from herbal facilities, lorry stations, information centres and markets in Abura Asebu Kwamankese, Assin South, Assin Central, Gomoa West, Gomoa Central and Agona West.

    The markets were Agona Swedru, Mankessim, Agona West and Assin Fosu Markets.

    Mr John Odai-Tettey, the Regional Head of the Authority, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency after the exercise, said the items were seized after dawn swoops between Monday, April 27 to Thursday, 29.

    He explained that the products were not registered by the FDA and were not supposed to be sold in the market.

    The products were largely herbal concoctions that had no labels on them to indicate the kind of ingredients used in their preparation and had no directions detailing the right usage.

    He said, the move formed part of a sustained effort by the FDA to clamp down on dealers of unwholesome products to safeguard the lives of consumers.

    The FDA will continue to protect public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy and security of human and veterinary drugs, food, biological products, cosmetics, medical devices, household chemical substances, tobacco and conduct clinical tests.

    “We will continue to regulate, check, monitor and seize all unregistered, fake and substandard medicines and medical devices supplied to hospitals, pharmacies and all unauthorised places throughout the country”, he said.

    “We will continually ensure that only wholesome products are registered, inspected and licensed while surveillance and clinical trial activities are carried out in conformity with the applicable national and international standards to meet customer satisfaction.”

    Mr Odai-Tettey said the FDA had routinely organised training programmes for drug sellers and manufacturers in the Region and appealed to stakeholders to help it flush out the illegal drug dealers in the system.

    He said the suspects would be dealt with according to the law to serve as a deterrent to others.

    Source: GNA

  • Ghanaian gets nod to represent ECOWAS at UN

    A Ghanaian energy icon, Mr Mahama Kappiah has been appointed the Permanent Representative Ambassador of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to the United-Nations, in New York, USA, a statement from the Regional entity says.

    The release, copied to the Ghana News Agency said his appointment takes effect from May 1st, 2020.

    He was the Executive Director of the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE).

    Mr. Kappiah in his position as Executive Director, created and led ECREEE from inception in 2010 to become a full-fledged institution whose annual budget currently exceeds USD 15 million, from a modest USD 2 million, and this led to its replication in other regions of the world as a model for sustainable energy development.

    The release said as Executive Director, he cultivated key partnerships to optimise fund mobilisation and sustained national and international partnerships to make its programmes and services a reference for African energy initiatives.

    It said Mr Kappiah influenced policies and implemented major energy projects supported by governments and private sector investments and actively participated in the creation of the West African Power Pool (WAPP).

    The release also created the Regional Electricity Regulation Authority (ERERA) and regularly facilitated high-level collaborations with executive decision-makers, policymakers and government officials.

    He received the African Energy Leader of the Year Award for outstanding performance and innovation in the energy industry, and the Green Future Leadership Award for leading positive social change in 2017 for his exemplary contributions to the renewable and energy efficiency sector.

    The release said Mr Kappiah is a board member for key international renewable energy organisations, including the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21), the Clean Energy Solutions Centre, and member of the Africa-Europe High-Level Platform for Sustainable Energy Investments (SEI Platform).

    It said he would be succeeded by Mr. Bah Saho who would act as the Executive Director of ECREEE.

    The release said Mr. Saho comes to the position with a wealth of experience spanning a period of over 25 years in the energy sector.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus: Well continue to provide relief – Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assured Ghanaians his administration will intensify the implementation of the four-point national strategy on formalisation to facilitate the identification and provision of support, relief and stimulus packages to businesses and workers in these difficult times.

    The president also assured organised labour that the government will continue to deepen its engagement with them, as we try to mitigate the adverse impact of COVID-19 on the economy, businesses and jobs.

    He gave the assurances when he addressed a closed-door May Day celebration on Friday, May 1, 2020.

    He urged Ghanaians to continue to sacrifice so that we do not have to bear a greater cost in the future. All sections of society must see this sacrifice as a common effort to defeat this common enemy.

    The president said, “steps at increasing further our testing capacity have been taken, with the coming on stream of the Veterinary Laboratory in Accra, the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research Laboratory also in Accra, the University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ho, and the Veterinary Laboratory in Pong-Tamale, to aid the labours of the Noguchi Research Institute, the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, and the National Public Health Reference Laboratory at the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital.”

    He added, “A number of isolation, quarantine and treatment facilities have also been identified across the country for use. The nation is profoundly grateful to the Church of Pentecost for the generous, Christian gesture of making available its multipurpose Convention Centre, at Gomoa Fetteh, as an isolation centre which can house over one thousand (1,000) persons and three hundred (300) medical staff.”

    He continued: “It is important for every Ghanaian to note that the more people we test for the virus, the more persons we will discover as positive, and, thus, have the opportunity to isolate and treat them. The implementation of this strategy of tracing, testing and treating is our surest way of rooting out the virus.

    As I have stated, time and again, all the measures put in place to combat the spread of the disease are under constant review, and Government will not hesitate to cordon, impose a curfew, trace, test, and treat persons in communities where we are witnessing the significant spread of infections.

    I will continue to urge all of us to continue to practice social distancing, wash our hands with soap under running water, refrain from shaking hands, and, wear our masks whenever we leave our homes. Businesses and other workplaces should operate, and observe staff management and workplace protocols of social distancing. This applies equally forcefully to public transport operators and users of our market places. We must observe these measures religiously, as they are the weapons of our battle against the virus.”

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Coronavirus patient cries over being served ‘unhealthy’ food

    A young man (name withheld) who tested positive to the deadly Coronavirus and in isolation at the Pentecost Convention Centre has bemoaned what he termed as ill-treatment of persons who been isolated at the facility.

    Speaking in an interview on ‘Nyankonton Mu Nsem’ on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm, the young man alleged that they are being fed with contaminated food and living under inhumane conditions.

    According to him, they are over 300 persons in isolation. However, they are using only four bathhouses and sharing three toilets, a situation he lamented could worsen the outbreak.

    The patient said they have also been neglected without any form of treatment.

    To him, the patients who been isolated at the facility are more at risk if authorities fail to take action over the concerns he raised.

    ”The risk here is high. You will come here thinking of treatment for coronavirus but you could equally leave with another medical condition. This is scary and unfortunate.”

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Government can’t dredge all drains in Accra due to inadequate resources – Atta Akyea

    Samuel Atta Akyea, Minister for Works and Housing says the government will only focus on dredging major drains in Accra prevent floods due to inadequate resources.

    The government last month began the dredging of some chocked drains in Accra in anticipation of this year’s heavy downpour.

    Many have called on the government to do their best to dredge all the known drains in Accra but Mr Atta Akyea says the limited resources meant they can only focus on dredging major chocked drains.

    “When we hinted on the idea that it is capital intensive, the view of cabinet was that we go gingerly because the financial space is small in terms of you looking at Free SHS, Planting for Food and Jobs and other flagship programmes eating up the money.”

    “So we are concentrating on dredging the major drains. So it is like your money is small but the work is tall, we have a very good idea to clean up Accra but there aren’t enough funds.”

    Mr Atta Akyea at a recent press briefing advised Ghanaians especially people in Accra to begin cleaning their gutters as the annual rains have begun.

    Anytime it rains in Accra, there are several areas that get flooded to the poor and chocked drainage systems.

    It ends up in property destruction, loss of lives and rendering hundreds of people homeless.

    Source: Prime News Ghana

  • Coronavirus: The more we test, the more cases well find Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said as of Thursday, 30 April 2020, Ghana has “conducted a total of one hundred and thirteen thousand, four hundred and ninety-seven (113,497) tests” for COVID-19, “the most per million people of any country in Africa, with two thousand, and seventy-four (2,074) testing positive”, noting that as the country conducts more tests, more positive cases would be found and isolated in time to curb the spread.

    In his May Day speech on Friday, 1 May 2020, he said: “Our recoveries have increased from one hundred and eighty-eight (188) to two hundred and twelve (212), and the number of deaths, sadly, stands at seventeen (17)”.

    “Our positivity rate has gone up marginally from 1.5% to 1.8%, six (6) persons are critically ill, and one thousand, eight hundred and thirty-nine (1,839) persons are well and responding to treatment in health facilities or are being managed from home.

    “This, in effect, means that there is, presently, no big pressure on our healthcare facilities to manage these cases. We pray to God it stays that way”.

    According to him, “steps at increasing further our testing capacity have been taken, with the coming on stream of the Veterinary Laboratory in Accra, the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research Laboratory also in Accra, the University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ho, and the Veterinary Laboratory in Pong-Tamale, to aid the labours of the Noguchi Research Institute, the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, and the National Public Health Reference Laboratory at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital”.

    The President also said isolation, quarantine and treatment facilities have been identified across the country for use.

    “The nation is profoundly grateful to the Church of Pentecost for the generous, Christian gesture of making available its multipurpose Convention Centre, at Gomoa Fetteh, as an isolation centre which can house over one thousand (1,000) persons and three hundred (300) medical staff”, he said.

    “It is important for every Ghanaian”, the President said, “to note that the more people we test for the virus, the more persons we will discover as positive, and, thus, have the opportunity to isolate and treat them. The implementation of this strategy of tracing, testing and treating is our surest way of rooting out the virus”.

    Mr Akufo-Addo reiterated that should there be a need for stricter measures to contain the spread, his government would not hesitate to impose them.

    “As I have stated, time and again, all the measures put in place to combat the spread of the disease are under constant review, and the government will not hesitate to cordon [off], impose a curfew, trace, test, and treat persons in communities where we are witnessing the significant spread of infections.

    “I will continue to urge all of us to continue to practise social-distancing, wash our hands with soap under running water, refrain from shaking hands, and, wear our masks whenever we leave our homes. Businesses and other workplaces should operate, and observe staff management and workplace protocols of social distancing. This applies equally forcefully to public transport operators and users of our market places. We must observe these measures religiously, as they are the weapons of our battle against the virus.

    “With the suspension of all public gatherings still in force, and our schools closed, Government has taken the decision to extend further, the closure of our borders for a month, effective 1am on Monday, 4th May, until Sunday, 31st May. We know that the overwhelming majority of positive cases came from travellers or contacts of travellers. So, we have no option but to keep our borders closed until we are confident that we have put in place measures to prevent travellers from importing the virus.

    “These restrictions cannot and will not be a permanent feature of our lives, but they are, for now, essential to our survival. As I said last Sunday, I shall be outlining, shortly, the steps for, systematically, easing the restrictive measures to bring us back to normality.

    The President also urged Ghanaians to stop stigmatising recovered patients.

    “I would plead with you stop the stigmatisation of recovered persons as it will rather drive people away from getting screened, tested and treated. The stigmatisation of recovered persons must not go on, because if the virus did not end their lives and livelihoods, the stigma from members of their communities should not. The overwhelming majority of them will continue to live perfectly normal lives, and cease to be sources of infections.”

    Source: Class FM

  • FDA to arrest vendors of unapproved nose masks

    The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has cautioned against the use of unapproved nose masks that had flooded markets across the country.

    Consequently, it has warned to arrest all persons caught selling such unapproved nose masks to serve as deterrent to others.

    Mr John Odai-Tettey, the Central Regional Director of the Authority, gave the advice in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Friday.

    He indicated that using unapproved substances with the aim of fighting the Covid-19 pandemic could be detrimental to human health.

    Therefore, manufacturers of such products were to register their products as per Section 118 and 97 of the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), he said.

    Explaining some recommendations for homemade nose masks, Mr Odai-Tettey said fabric used for masks should be free from all chemicals adding that: “In any event that printed fabric is used, the layer of the fabric in direct contact with the face should be plain fabric that is free from chemicals.”

    To be effective, he stated that nose masks generally must be able to filter out particles and still be easy to breathe through.

    Mr Odai-Tettey said Calico-Stiff (Hard/Medium) with three layer combination was ideal for reusable homemade COVID-19 nose mask.

    He advised that reusable masks must first be disinfected; then washed with soap or detergent until clean, rinsed under running water; dried in the open sun, and ironed before reuse.

    They should be routinely washed depending on the frequency of use or when saturated from condensation build-up from breathing, or after a contamination event.

    Mr Odai-Tettey advised buyers not to return used or fake masks to sellers to avoid the temptation of being resold to other users to contain the spread of the Coronavirus.

    The public should keep the protocols in place for the prevention of the pandemic, he added.

    Source: GNA

  • Mfantsipim Old Boys donate to Effia Nkwanta Hospital

    As part of efforts to support the Ghana Health Service in the fight against the spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus disease in Ghana, the Western Regional Chapter of Mfantsipim Old Boys Association (MOBA-WR) has donated assorted items valued at 5,000 cedis to the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi.

    Presenting the items which include, surgical gloves, face masks, sanitisers, tissue paper, detergents and Veronica buckets to the hospital, the Vice President of the Chapter, William Brown-Orleans said, the decision to equip the region’s biggest health facility falls in line with the school’s philosophy of “Dwen Hw? Kan” which is a clarion call on Africans to be proactive by thinking and planning for the future.

    He said, Mfantsipim alumni in the region have also made cash contributions to the National COVID-19 Fund through their national association to complement government’s efforts in battling the pandemic.

    The Medical Director at the hospital, Dr. Joseph Kojo Tambil, lauded MOBA WR for the gesture and called on other organisations to assist the health sector through similar donations.

    He described the donation as a timely intervention, noting that the facility faced a shortfall in stock of some of the personal protective equipment (PPE) provided.

    Source: Lord Kweku Sekyi, Contributor

  • Coronavirus global recoveries hit 1 million

    Some 1,015,183 persons who tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) globally have recovered from the disease.

    This is according to the John Hopkins Coronavirus website.

    The website reported the recovery news in the early hours of Friday, May 1, 2020.

    Meanwhile, the total infections as at the same reporting date stand at 3,259,167 with 233,439 deaths.

    Hard hit countries

    USA leads with 1,070,032 infections with 63,019 deaths and 153,947 recoveries.

    Spain follows with 213,435 infections with 24,543 deaths and 112.050 recoveries,

    Italy is now third with 205,463 infections with 27,967 deaths and 75,945 recoveries.

    The UK comes forth with 172,481 infections with 26,842 deaths and 861 recoveries.

    France has 167,299 infections with 24,410 deaths and 50,380 recoveries.

    Source: citinewsroom.com

  • Navrongo Reference Lab to be used as COVID-19 testing centre Okoe Boye

    The Navrongo Reference Laboratory in the Upper East Region is set to be upgraded to be able to test for complex infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM).

    This is according to a Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye.

    This forms part of measures to make more testing centres available in the country to ease the burden on Noguchi Memorial Institute of Medical Research and the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR) which have since the COVID-19 outbreak in Ghana been the main laboratories testing samples for across the country for the virus.

    Dr. Okoe Boye, while addressing parliament said “I am happy to say that apart from Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research in Accra and KCCR in Kumasi, the Akufo-Addo government has worked hard to ensure that within these few weeks, Korle-Bu public health reference laboratory and the UHAS laboratory in the Volta Region have been added to the centres for doing COVID-19 tests. Very soon, Navrongo Reference Laboratory and other facilities will be equipped to add on to our diagnostic capacities for CSM, COVID-19 and other disease conditions regarding modern sophisticated laboratories with the capacity to do Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests.”

    The Upper East Regional Health Directorate has been pushing for a testing centre for the novel coronavirus at the Navrongo Research Centre in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality.

    The Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Winfred Ofosu said, “There will be another centre in Tamale for us but we are also pushing the Ministry of Health and the Presidential COVID-19 committee to establish a testing centre at the Navrongo Research centre because we have got the relevant equipment.”

    “They have agreed and have actually asked the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR) to send their engineers to come and set it up and if that is done, in the next two weeks, we will not need to suffer to send specimens and get results in on time within 24 hours,” he explained.

    The University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) Laboratory in Ho earlier this week started testing COVID-19 samples after a similar upgrade.

    Coronavirus in Ghana

    The number of COVID-19 cases in Ghana as at Friday, May 1, 2020 stood at 2,074.

    The number of recovered persons were also 212 while 17 people had died from the disease.

    Source: citinewsroom.com

  • Ghana’s coronavirus cases surge to 2169 with 1 more death

    Ghana’s Coronavirus case count has risen to 2169 with 229 and a death toll of 18.

    The new cases were updated by the Ghana Health Service on May 2, 2020.

    The update means that Ghana has recorded 95 additional cases of COVID-19 since April 28, when the case count was at 2074.

    The latest update comes from the results of 3,552 samples that were tested by the various testing centers across the country.

    18 more people have recovered since the last update.

    Regional breakdown

    The Greater Accra region remains the area with the highest number of confirmed cases followed by the Ashanti Region and the Eastern Region.

    Greater Accra Region 1,852

    Ashanti Region 117

    Eastern Region 87

    Central Region 21

    Oti Region 19

    Upper East Region 19

    Volta Region 16

    Northern Region 13

    Upper West Region 10

    Western Region 9

    Western North Region 4

    North East Region 2

    Source: ghanaweb.com

  • Money, women and juju: Street boy opens up on daily ‘hustle’

    As Benabi Discovery set out to tackle streetism in Ghana, they came across a young boy who was fighting with a colleague in traffic at Opebea Accra.

    His opponent who happens to be a street mate seem to have had a misunderstanding with him. They were surrounded by other street hawkers to control the situation.

    Ali Mohammed popularly known by the street name “Ali Baddest” has been on the streets of Accra since 2014. He is originally from Kasoa, located in the Central Region of Ghana. Ali’s parents are from Nigeria; they immigrated to Ghana.

    According to Ali, he was staying with his aunt, but he decided to leave the house when he felt he was old enough to cater for himself and refused to be a burden.

    He wanted to work for himself, and he had always been greedy for money. Life took him on different turns as he survived the streets.

    According to the Global Homelessness Statistics, Ghana has an urban population of 14 million, 5.5 million of which live in slums (Africa Research Institute, 2016). Households are often overcrowded; on average, between 10 and 20 people are sharing a room (Habitat, 2016). In 2018, 66,000 people displaced due to natural disasters and violence (Internal Displacement, 2019).

    The 18-year-old street boy was compelled to face his challenges and hustle the streets. In the interview, Ali made mention of all the lavish things he had bought for himself. Ali left home when he was six to seven years of age. During those periods, his parents went back to Nigeria and left him behind.

    As Ali proclaimed, he grew up to be told his parents were involved in a fatal accident on their way to Nigeria. He is only aware of his Aunt and her husband as his family.

    Interviewer: Does your auntie check up on you?

    Ali: Yes, she calls and checks up on me all the time.

    Interviewer: Why haven’t you gone home yet?

    Ali: Honestly, I go home every two weeks, just that I want to make enough money on the streets before going back.

    Interviewer: how do you make money on the streets?

    Ali: I use a device to wipe people’s vehicle windscreens in traffic, sometimes I get tips, and that’s how I survive.

    Ali who was caught up in a fight and was confronted by Benabi Discovery team threw a light on his past. He said, some time ago, I made almost 1000gh, I spent some of the cash buying iTunes for a white lady, we met at Holiday Inn and she said she loved me. She came all the way from Germany just to see me. Before she left, she handed over 50,000gh, and I misused it. I spent the money on girls and wasted it on drugs.

    Recently when I send her messages, she refuses to respond. I made her come to Ghana. I charmed her with Voodoo and she came straight from Germany. Ali mentioned; the Voodoo is no longer working. I stopped scamming because my peers were snitches; they were envious of me having a white woman. I used some of the money for a motorbike; unfortunately, I do not have access to the motorcycle because of fake license. It’s been stationed at the police station. I refuse to sell my clothing, and I try to survive the streets and eat everything that comes my way.

    Watch full interview here

    Source: Benabi Discovery, Contributor

  • Coronavirus: Government should focus more on contact tracing – Majority Leader

    Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and the Majority Leader in parliament, Hon. Osie Kyei Mensah Bonsu, has asked the government to focus more on contact tracing in order to curb the spread of the Coronavirus

    According to him, the scaling up of the contact tracing will help arrest the community spread of the virus, other than that the country will be at risk of having more people infected.

    Speaking on Okay FM’s ‘Ade Akye Abia’ program, he applauded the Ministry of Health and the COVID-19 team, saying they are doing tremendously well in helping fight the virus.

    However, he has appealed that Psychologists be added to the contact tracing team to have them counsel people who will be tested positive for the virus on the need to observe safety precautions and self-isolation.

    Ghana has so far tested about 113,497 people.

    Ghana’s COVID-19 case count is now 2,074, according to the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

    The number of recoveries has increased to 212 with 17 deaths.

    This adds 403 new positive cases since the Ministry’s last update on Tuesday, April 28, 2020.

    There has also been an additional 24 recoveries and one (1) more death.

    Below is the Regional Breakdown

    Greater Accra Region – 1,795

    Ashanti Region – 99

    Eastern Region – 70

    Central Region – 21

    Oti Region – 19

    Upper East Region – 19

    Volta Region – 16

    Northern Region – 13

    Upper West Region – 10

    Western Region – 9

    North East Region – 2

    Western North Region – 1

    Savannah Region – 0

    Bono Region – 0

    Ahafo Region – 0

    Bono East Region – 0

     Source: Peace FM

  • I won’t wear nose mask, my ‘juju’ says coronavirus is fake – Okada rider

    While the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service have put in a lot of efforts in sensitizing Ghanaians about the deadly coronavirus, it seems others are yet to accept that coronavirus is real.

    To contain the spread of the virus, the Minister of Health by the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851) has directed the wearing of nose masks by all and sundry to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

    Section 170(1) of the Act clothes the Minister with powers to order an individual to take a preventive measure in respect of public health matters.

    In a report filed by UTV Ghana and monitored by GhanaWeb, at the Aflao border in the Volta Region, some residents in the area, continue to flout the directive, citing a variety of reasons, including a claim that their gods have assured them of no coronavirus in the area.

    A commercial motorcyclist popularly known as Okada rider has debunked the existence of COVID-19 in the area, citing assurance by traditional deities in the area, adding that the nose mask also makes breathing difficult.

    He reiterated that although he has one, he barely uses it since the oracle has confirmed that the virus does not exist.

    “Me my juju say, that thing they say coronavirus, that thing ebi illegal. That thing ebi fake things. So me I get juju where edey talk me true… My juju say make I no use this thing,” he said in Pidgin to the UTV reporter.

    Other drivers who spoke to UTV attributed their behaviour of non-compliance to financial constraints.

    Watch the video below:

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Three armed robbers jailed 75 years for robbing a Ghanaian returnee

    The Ofaakor Circuit court presided over by His Honour, Ebeneezer Osei Darko has sentenced 3 armed robbers to 75 years for robbing one Isaac Henry Oppong, a Ghanaian domiciled in Italy.

    The first and second accused Samuel Kweku Nhyira Amoankwando and Kofi Boateng Amoako respectively were charged with conspiracy to rob and robbery, the third accused, Reuben Sam was charged with Conspiracy to commit crime.

    Samuel Kweku Nhyira Amoakwandor and Kofi Boateng who pleaded not guilty are to serve 30 years concurrently for each of the counts they were convicted on while Reuben Sam to served 15-years.

    Brief Fact

    Prosecutor Ernest Agbo stated that, in November last year, the complainant was robbed and butchered at Gomoa Buduburam after his girlfriend named Naomi Manso arranged with her local boyfriend at Fetteh Kakraba to rob the man after picking him from the Kotoka International Airport.

    Source: Kasapa FM

  • JUSAG urges members to be innovative – In COVID-19 working period

    The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) has called on workers to use the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as a means to introduce innovations and also improve their way of work.

    In its May Day message signed by its President, Mr Alex Nartey, the association said COVID-19 had shown that things could not be done as normal as it used to be.

    “As workers, the breath of life in these trying times should help us chart new ways or improve on the things we do.

    “It will not be enough to say that COVID-19 has or will affect the livelihood of the nation and yet fail to take the steps necessary to alleviate or lessen the burden. Today, we are familiar with working-from-home, e-learning, online sales and the rest. Chasing and waiting for the Director or officer in-charge is becoming a thing of the past,” the association said in the message.

    Judiciary

    JUSAG particularly called on its members and other officers of the judicial service to adapt to the e-justice system to improve on justice delivery processes during the difficult period.

    According to the JUSAG, protection of fundamental human rights was crucial during this period, and, therefore, it was important for the judiciary to continue to play its role passionately even in the midst of challenges brought about by COVID-19.

    “Judges, magistrates, registrars, accountants and all members of the Judicial Service must ensure that justice is not only done but must be manifestly and undoubtedly seen to be done,” the statement added.

    The association also reiterated the need for the government to enhance the salaries and allowances of its members to enable them to meet the challenging times.

    Obey directives

    JUSAG further called on Ghanaians to obey all the health directives meant to contain the virus.

    “We must wash our hands with soap under running water or use alcohol-based hand sanitiser, wear nose masks, and where possible stay at home.

    “We also salute our frontline workers and hope for an immediate vaccine. It is our prayer that this too shall pass,” the statement concluded.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • Akufo-Addo wont stay on as president if 2020 elections dont come off Majority Leader

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will not continue to wield power as the Commander in Chief and first gentleman of the land even if the Electoral Commission (EC) is unable to conduct the 2020 presidential and parliament elections due to the outbreak of the global pandemic, the Coronavirus, Majority Leader of Parliament has disclosed.

    While addressing members of the House after presenting the business statement, Mr KyeiMensah-Bonsu intimated that, although there was no clear cut provision in the constituency on who becomes president in the event of unforeseen circumstances causing the EC to not hold elections, Nana Akufo-Addo had already hinted of not staying on beyond his mandatory term.

    He disclosed that the president had revealed in previous engagements that he did not have any intentions of staying on as president after January 6, 2021, if the EC fails to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in December due to the Coronavirus which presently has no end in sight.

    “The President does not intend to stay one day beyond the constitutional mandate given to him up to the midnight of January 6, 2020, and has strongly urged that whatever must be done in the current circumstances must be done,” he said.

    The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs response came on the back of concerns by Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu on the need for the House to invite the electoral body to provide updates on their preparedness ahead of the December polls this year.

    “The independent EC, created under Article 45 of the Constitution, owes members of this House and Ghanaians a duty, hence they must be summoned to appear before the House to give their roadmap as to their preparedness in view of COVID-19.

    “Our democracy has evolved and our democracy will survive COVID-19,” he said, saying that “if we cannot get them to come and brief the Committee of the Whole at least they must come to the Special Budget Committee,” he noted.

    Mr Kyei Mensah Bonsu, however, stressed that regardless of whatever happens with the EC, the president was bent on stepping down once his tenure was over and had already assured Ghanaians to that effect.

    “So Mr Speaker, we all have to look up to the Electoral Commission to put in the required measures for the conduct of the elections,” he said.

    “Because the Constitution we all do recognise is a bit ambivalent beyond January 7, 2021 when elections cannot be conducted,” he said, claiming that the Constitution was also not clear who should be the President in times of unforeseen circumstances.

    “There is a bit of ambivalence and some lacuna except to say that for Parliament in the event of any emergency, provision is made expressly under the Constitution to have the life of Parliament extended by one year and in any event not more than four years.

    “In the 12 months, who becomes the head of state? Is it Speaker in the absence of the President or the Vice President? That is a bit troubling to us as a nation,” he added.

    Graphic reports that the legislator pointed out that in any event, the Constitution provided that when the Speaker acted as the President in the absence of a President or a Vice President, elections must be conducted within three months to elect a President.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • ‘Galamsey’ pit caves in at Akyem Mampong, one dead

    A 37-year-old illegal miner has died after a mining pit caved in.

    The incident occurred Friday, May 1, 2020, at Akyem Mampong in the Atiwa East District of the Eastern Region

    Information gathered by Starr News indicates that the deceased Razak Bempong and other illegal miners were illegally mining in a pit mined by Gold Bank Mining Limited. While mining, the pit caved in trapping the deceased but others managed to escape.

    He was extricated from the pit but pronounced dead on arrival at Enyiresi Government Hospital.

    The Anyinam Police has commenced an investigation into the incident.

    In a related development, a 15-year-old Boy, Bright Mensah, has drowned in an abandoned illegal mining pit at Amuanapraso, a farming community in Birim North District of the Eastern region.

    According to distraught parents of the deceased, he left home on April 30, 2020, that was he going to visit a family member in the community but did not return.

    A search by the local Police and the youth led to the discovery of the body in the mining pit filled with water.

    Preliminary investigation indicates that children in the community sneak to swim in the pit therefore it is suspected that the deceased went swimming with his friend but got drowned.

    His body has been deposited at Holy Family Hospital Mortuary.

    Source: Starr FM

  • Nothing else matters for me than to lead Ghana out of COVID-19 crisis, rebuild the economy Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has pledged to do everything within his means to protect the lives of citizens in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

    According to him, nothing else matters than to put an end to this pandemic and rebuild the economy once again as the leader of the country.

    He reiterated his commitment saying “No country on earth has been spared the ravages of this virus, and my single-minded goal is how to steer the country out of this crisis, protect our population from the virus, and see to the rebuilding of our economy. Nothing else matters for me.”

    Commending workers as the country celebrates May Day today, President Akufo-Addo said he appreciates the efforts and sacrifices workers have made towards the progress of this nation.

    According to him, it is the collective responsibility of every worker in the country to help with the fight against the virus by planning a course that will take us to the path of sustained growth, progress, and prosperity.

    “Today, our nation requires its active involvement in this fight against the pandemic, and I call upon all working people to step forward again. I am confident that together if we remain united and resolute and maintain discipline and self-discipline, we shall defeat this virus,” he noted.

    Source: ABCNewsgh.com

  • We have not banned fetish priests from TV broadcast NMC

    The National Media Commission (NMC) has refuted publications that it had barred fetish priests from appearing on national television.

    Information was rife on some portals and social media that the regulator had restricted mallams and fetish priests from broadcasting or advertising on television.

    But the NMC explained that its guidelines contained no laws to carry out what had been suggested.

    Describing the publication as “fake news” the Commission further indicated that it would have been unconstitutional to take directions from President Nana Akufo-Addo as suggested in the publication.

    “So both in law and in practice, His Excellency the President gives no instructions to the NMC, and the Commission takes none from any other person or authority,” a statement issued by NMC Executive Secretary, George Sarpong, said on April 30.

    Below is the full statement:

    Source: theghanareport.com

  • Huawei introduces free home study for students

    The Huawei ICT Academy programme has introduced a new initiative – Huawei Study at Home Programme – for Ghanaian students currently at home because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The programme, being offered free of charge, focuses on equipping students with the needed technology and educational materials to enable them to take the Huawei ICT certifications programme online while at home during this pandemic period.

    According to the Enterprise Director at Huawei Ghana, Mr Geoffrey Li, the initiative would give students interested in Information Communication Technologies (ICT), the opportunity to expand their scope.

    A release from Huawei Technologies (Ghana) S.A. Limited quoted Mr LI as saying, the programme “will also offer a seamless training and learning experience and certify excellent students to make them industry ready even when universities and schools are closed.”

    Mr Li said, “As a way to further motivate the students to gain some certification during this period, we are offering students who enrol on the courses, free data with the top five excelling students set to be rewarded after the courses are closed.”

    Structure

    According to Huawei, all classes were being held remotely online and courses were instructed by trained Ghana lecturers.

    Courses that will be covered during the training period include, Routing and Switching (HCIA-R&S), Cloud Computing and AI (HCIA-Cloud & AI), Security and WLAN.

    “All these courses are professional certification courses and students who pass will be certified,” Mr Li said.

    He explained that students would be trained on how to operate and use Huawei equipment to develop talents with practical skills for the ICT industry and communities.

    Relevance

    Adding his voice to the relevance of the programme to students, the Vice President of Ghana Technology University College, Prof. Abeiku Blankson, said while academia focused mostly on theory, the Huawei ICT Academy offered professional certification and was structured to give students a feel of what actually happened on the field.

    “Our partnership with Huawei on this is mostly driven by our desire to give our students the opportunity to gain some necessary skills while getting them to be market-ready and the innovative Huawei Study At Home programme will allow them to do that from the comfort of their homes during this period where schools are closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak.” Prof. Blankson added.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • Nation wreckers – Ursula reacts to Chemu Bridge ‘sabotage’

    Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West Constituency, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has claimed vindication over the collapsed floating bridge she constructed over the Chemu Lagoon.

    This comes after critics blamed her for a poor work done after gushing waters from a heavy rainfall which occurred on April 26, 2020, washed away the newly constructed bridge.

    An Engineer with the River Restoration Limited, however, blamed residents for the collapse stating that they deliberately untied ropes anchoring the floating bridge on Chemu Lagoon at Chorkor.

    According to Frank Ofori, “Some persons deliberately went and loosened the end rope anchoring the concrete cast, which made the bridge shift from its original location. The bridge is not broken.”

    He further narrated in an interview that, when the team got there, they observed that parts of the bridge were dismantled and the barrels, taken away.

    “I have the pictures and videos showing some residents were jubilating when the bridge was washed to another side. It is sad and surprising that people will sit and hatch such a plan because of reason best known to them. This is unpatriotic and must stop,” he said.

    Following the assertions by Frank Ofori, the Communications Minister took to Twitter to register her innocence referring to the perpetrators as “nation wreckers.”

    She also lashed out at the media for ‘wrongfully’ blaming her for the poor construction of the bridge three months ago.

    Ursula Owusu tweeted, “When nation wreckers deliberately destroy a bridge meant to alleviate the suffering of many, you can only wonder what kind of people we are. For the commentators and media houses who blamed me, God have mercy on you.”

    Below is Ursula Owusu’s tweet

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Decomposing body of man found hanging on a tree in Volta Region

    Residents of Amaglo Kope, a small village in Akpatoe in the Ketu North Municipal Assembly of Volta Region are gripped with fear as a lifeless body of a man believed to be in his early 30s has been found in a farm.

    The deceased man was found hanging on a tree branch in a farm, far away from the community by tractor operators who went to the farm to clear weeds.

    Residents believed the body of the deceased had been on the tree for more than a month as it had almost wholly decomposed and barely emitted any odour.

    However, no villager was able to identify the lifeless body. Many said it may be that the man came from afar to hang himself or was killed and hanged on the tree so it could be believed that he committed suicide by hanging himself.

    The police transported the body to the morgue on April 30, 2020, and have begun their investigations.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coronavirus: Tamale Testing Center starts testing

    The Tamale Teaching Hospital has commenced testing of Covid-19 samples for Northern, Savannah, Upper West, Upper East and North East regions in Tamale in the Northern region.

    Head of the Tamale Testing Center at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Dr. Abass Abdul Karim told DGN Online that the facility can test between 300-600 samples daily.

    He indicated that they have received 250 samples so far for testing today.

    Dr. Karim noted that 35 health personnel from the Ghana Health Service, Tamale Teaching Hospital and University for Development Studies (UDS) have been trained to work at the facility.

    The five regions of the North had to rely on Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) , Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR) and Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research testing.

    The Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Saeed, who inspected the testing center before its commencement , expressed satisfaction with regards to the modern equipment installed in the facility.

    He noted that the Northern regional health directorate spent huge sums of monies for testing in Accra and Kumasi, adding that the center will be a relief for the region.

    Mr. Saeed encouraged the health personnel to give up their best for the fight against the Covid-19 virus.

    He urged the people of the North to adhere to the directives of the president to prevent the spread of the virus.

    The Minister thanked Unicef for supporting government to setup the testing center in Tamale.

    In a related development, the Ghana Water Company Limited in the Northern region led by its regional manager Eng. Aminu Musah donated 200 packs of G-water to the Tamale Teaching Hospital as part of its contribution to help fight against the covid-19 virus in the region.

    Source: Daily Guide Network

  • Okuapeman installs Odehye Kwadwo Kesse as new Okuapehene

    Kingmakers of Akuapem have started traditional processes to install Odehye Kwadwo Kesse as the next Okuapehene.

    The 34-year-old becomes the youngest Paramount Chief in the whole of the Eastern Region.

    The installation processes began on Friday morning where after introducing him to the appropriate Kingmakers, a ram was slaughtered and its blood sprinkled on his feet to signify his acceptance as Okuapehene.

    Odehye Kwadwo Kesse was then taken round the whole of Akropong township to show him to the public as the incoming Okuapehene, all things being equal.

    About three years ago, a chieftaincy dispute broke out in Akuapem following a misunderstanding between factions in the Sakyiabea Royal Gate whose turn it is to produce the next Okuapehene.

    The Queen of Akuapem, Nana Afua Obuo Nketiaa II had by herself selected one Odehye Kwasi Akuffo and installed him as chief, at the same time one Lily Nana Agyeman, Abrewatia of Sakyiabea Royal Gate had nominated Odehye Kwadwo Kesse to be heir to the throne to succeed the late Oseeadeyo Addo Dankwa III.

    Unsatisfied about events, the Abrewatia petitioned the Regional House Chiefs challenging the traditional capacity of the Paramount Queen in nominating and installing a Paramount Chief.

    The Judicial Committee in its judgement annulled the Queen’s choice as the legitimate Chief.

    The Committee clarified that it is the traditional mandate of the Abrewatia to select a candidate and submit his name to Asonahene for onward delivery to the Queen.

    The judgement was delivered amidst heavy security presence both at the Regional House of Chiefs and Akropong-Akuapem.

    The Okuapeman Stool has been vacant since 2015 after the demise of Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwah III, as a result of the dispute within the Sakyibea Royal House.

    This chieftaincy dispute while being addressed at the Regional House of Chiefs led to some clashes at Akropong.

    However, the installation on Friday saw no tension as everything went on smoothly without hitches.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • MP petitions AG over State institutions donating to COVID-19 Trust Fund

    Daboya-Mankarigu MP, Mahama Shaibu has petitioned the Attorney General Gloria Akuffo over State Institutions donating to the COVID-19 Trust Fund.

    The NDC MP argues that public institutions have no standing to donate the monies to the Covid-19 Trust Fund.

    In a letter to the AG, he requested that monies donated to the Covid-19 Trust Fund by state bodies be refunded to them.

    He said when the fund was set up, the law that backed its establishment said the donations should come from individuals or corporate bodies.

    Portions of a letter petitioning the AG read: “In order to play its complementary role, the fund was to receive donations, grants and voluntary contributions from individuals, groups and corporate bodies. It was made manifestly and abundantly clear that the fund as established was not to receive public funds or resources”. It, therefore, came to me with deep shock and concern when I read in the media that public/state institutions are making donations or voluntary contributions into the Novel Coronavirus.”

    The last bit of the letter said I am of the candid opinion that all such contributions should be returned to the public/state Institutions lest the principal officers and the governing boards of the contributing public/state institutions stand the risk of being dangerous, exposed and potentially liable to be surcharged by the Auditor-General for making illegal or wrongful payments.”

    Source: Prime News Ghana

  • Open the borders – Aflao residents cry over worsening plight

    Residents at the Aflao border are pleading with the government to open all closed borders, an order put in place as a measure in containing the spread of coronavirus in the country.

    The residents who spoke to UTV in an interview, mostly made up of commercial drivers, explained that the closure has negatively affected their living conditions.

    Against this backdrop, they are pleading with the government to open the borders for them, so that business can resume.

    “This job is our job we are doing. Because if the border is opened, you can fit carry person pass the main border and you get small thing. As you dey close the border, if somebody comes, you know where they will fit pass enter Togo but they are not going anywhere again. Since morning I dey here, I no go anywhere. So we pray for our government make he for fo something about the border. If he will open the border small, if we go get something,” he said in Pidgin.

    In the report monitored by GhanaWeb, other residents in the area, continue to flout the directive, citing a variety of reasons, including a claim that their gods have assured them of no coronavirus in the area.

    A commercial motorcyclist popularly known as Okada rider debunked the existence of COVID-19 in the area, citing assurance by traditional deities in the area, adding that the face mask also makes breathing.

    He reiterated that although he has one, he barely uses it since the oracle has confirmed that the virus does not exist.

    “Me My juju say, that thing they say coronavirus, that thing ebi illegal. That thing ebi fake things. So me I get juju where edey talk me true… My juju say make I no use this thing,” one of the drivers said in Pidgin to the UTV reporter.

    Other drivers who spoke to UTV attributed their behaviour of non-compliance to financial constraints.

    Meanwhile, the president this morning extended the closure of Ghana’s borders to May 31, the directive is expected to take effect on Monday, May 4, 2020.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo added that the decision was needed to manage the current local cases recorded in the country.

    “…The government has taken the decision to extend further the closure of our borders for a month, effective 1 am on Monday 4th May until Sunday 31st May. We know that the overwhelming majority of positive cases came from travellers or contacts of travellers, so we have no option than to keep our borders closed until we are confident that we have put in place measures to prevent travellers from importing the virus.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Police arrest four Akuapem chiefs for flouting social distancing protocol

    Police have arrested four sub-chiefs of Akuapem for flouting social distancing rule and other protocols put in place against the spread of COVID-19, Friday, May 1, 2020.

    The four chiefs whose names are not readily known were picked up hours after the installation process of the new Okuapehene had been done at Akropong-Akuapem.

    While sitting and making merry over the activities done in the morning, about 10 police officers stormed the meeting of chiefs and announced their intention.

    “We have been ordered to come and arrest four of your chiefs who according to information flouted the social distancing protocol against the spread of COVID-19,” one of the police officers said.

    In reaction, Chief of Amonorkrom, Osim Kwatia, welcomed the police officers and handed over the four suspects who have been alleged to have masterminded the flouting of the law.

    On Friday morning, Kingmakers of Akuapem initiated traditional processes to install their new Okuapehene amidst a thick crowd in total disregard to the social distancing protocol.

    The installation processes which took over three hours to be done was well welcomed by the people of Akropong-Akuapem.

    Source: McAnthony Dagyenga, Contributo

  • Schools will reopen after expert advice — Dr. Prempeh

    The Minister of Education, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, says the reopening date of educational institutions will depend on the expert advice of health professionals managing the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

    That, he said, was to ensure that “we have a safe back-to-school process”.

    “I can assure you that the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the universities are in close and regular contact with the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health,” Dr Prempeh said in a widely publicised letter to students in the country.

    Letter

    The letter, published in the Thursday, April 30, 2020 edition of the Daily Graphic, is the second to be issued by the minister in a week. The first letter, also published in the April 27, 2020 edition of the Daily Graphic, was addressed to parents.

    Schools in Ghana have been closed since Monday, March 16 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Closure

    Over the past five weeks, the letter said “your academic work has been disrupted because of the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in our country. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo took the bold and necessary decision to close down our educational institutions to protect you and the nation from this deadly disease which has claimed many lives across the world”.

    “I am concerned about your continuous learning, particularly as we near the end of the academic year. I can imagine the uncertainties about reopening dates and examination timetables weighing on your mind and perhaps affecting your preparations, especially for those of you in your final year,” it said.

    Platforms

    In the meantime, the letter said, the Ministry of Education and the GES had created various platforms for pre-tertiary education on television and online to enable students to continue with structured and self-guided learning activities. “For TV, we are currently broadcasting content for senior high school (SHS) core subjects on the Ghana Learning TV. It is available on free-to-air TV, as well as on DStv channel 315, GOtv channel 150 and StarTimes channel 312. Very soon, we will be broadcasting content for kindergarten (KG) to junior high school (JHS) as well.

    “Additionally, we are producing learning content for radio to be broadcast across the country. For online, we have resources available for SHS students on iCampus Ghana which can be accessed via www.icampus. In the near future, content for KG to JHS pupils and students will also be made available on this platform,” it said.

    For tertiary students, the letter said various universities were deploying learning systems to help students continue their education remotely, adding that the ministry was aware of the challenges students were facing with the cost of data and had agreed with telecommunications networks (Vodafone and MTN) to zero-rate educational content online on platforms.

    Stay home

    “For the time being, I encourage you to stay at home and adhere to all safety regulations during these difficult times. I also encourage you to draw up personal daily timetables to engage in learning through the platforms we have provided.

    “Pick up new healthy hobbies, read widely (free e-books available on the Ghana Library Authority app) and exchange learning ideas with your peers,” the letter added.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • My single-minded goal is how to steer the country out of this crisis Akufo-Addo

    The president has stated that his utmost desire is to wipe away the Coronavirus and bring the country back into normalcy.

    According to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, his foremost duty is to protect the Ghanaian populace with a determination to do just that.

    Globally COVID-19 has erupted the socio-economic nations including many healthcare systems due to the unpredictable nature of the novel Coronavirus.

    “No country on earth has been spared the ravages of this virus, and my single-minded goal is how to steer the country out of this crisis, protect our population from the virus, and see to the rebuilding of our economy. Nothing else matters for me.”

    He was speaking during a virtual May Day celebration to honour Ghanaian workers on Friday, May 1, 2020.

    President Akufo-Addo in his address applauded workers for their contributions towards nation-building as Ghana joined the rest of the world to celebrate workers day.

    “We recognise and appreciate the efforts and sacrifices they have made towards the construction of the happy and prosperous Ghana we seek, and, on this day, I say Ayekoo to each one of you.” He said.

    Meanwhile, the president announced an extension of the closure of borders for one month starting Monday, May 4 to May 31, 2020.

    This he adds is as a result of containing the spread of the virus due to the majority of positive cases coming from travelers or contact of travelers.

     

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coronavirus: A ‘weaker response’ would have ‘jeopardised’ economic gains Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said he took robust and drastic measures which included the closure of the borders, as part of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic because, in his view, a weaker response would certainly threaten the lives and livelihood of Ghanaians.

    He noted that the impact of COVID-19 cannot be underestimated, hence the tough measures he adopted.

    Speaking in the studios of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) on May Day, the President said: “As government and social partners, it is our collective responsibility to chart our own course out of this pandemic”.

    “It is obvious that a weak response to COVID-19 will jeopardise the gains made to create a buoyant economy and will worsen the lives and livelihood s of all Ghanaians.”

    The President also said he has charged Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to work with the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to draft a policy that will further strengthen the industry and the agriculture sectors of the economy to mitigate and fix the economic damage done by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The President said his administration is determined to deal with the economic impact of the pandemic through innovative ways.

    Mr Akufo-Addo said: “Discussions are ongoing with the World Bank to raise more funds which should be completed soon”.

    “I have charged the Minister of Finance to work with the Bank of Ghana to design innovative policies and find more resources to strengthen the productive sectors of the economy, particularly industry and agriculture. I understand that the process will shortly yield positive results.”

    He added: “The Minister of Finance and his South African counterpart, are leading the efforts of African ministers of finance to take debt reliefs for our economies.

    “The World Bank has granted a debt repayment standstill for the next nine months, which will result in our delayed principal interest payments totalling $500 million.”

    Mr Akufo-Addo further said that job creation is a priority for his government.

    He said several measures have been taken to create jobs for Ghanaians and, or, create the enabling environment for Ghanaians to create jobs and wealth for themselves.

    “Job creation is one of the priorities of this government,” he said, adding that it is a social contract with the people, hence bold steps have been taken to that effect.

    He applauded workers for their contributions toward nation-building as Ghana joins the rest of the world to celebrate them.

    “We recognise and appreciate the efforts and sacrifices they have made toward the construction of the happy and prosperous Ghana we seek, and, on this day, I say Ayekoo to each one of you,” Nana Akufo-Addo said in his May Day message to Ghanaian workers.

    Source: Class FM

  • Job creation is my priority Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said that job creation is a priority of his government.

    He noted several measures have been taken to create jobs for Ghanaians and, or, create the enabling environment for Ghanaians to create jobs and wealth for themselves.

    Speaking at the May Day celebration in the studios of the GBC on Friday, 1 May 2020, Akufo-Addo said: “Job creation is one of the most priority of this government,” adding that it is a social contract with the people hence bold steps have been taken to that effect.

    He applauded workers for their contributions towards nation-building.

    “We recognise and appreciate the efforts and sacrifices they have made towards the construction of the happy and prosperous Ghana we seek, and, on this day, I say Ayekoo to each one of you.”

    This year’s May Day celebration was marked at the GBC studios with a limited number of persons from organised labour as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

    Source: Class FM

  • May Day: Ayekoo to all workers Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has applauded workers for their contributions towards nation-building as Ghana joins the rest of the world to celebrate May Day today 1 May 2020.

    “We recognise and appreciate the efforts and sacrifices they have made towards the construction of the happy and prosperous Ghana we seek, and, on this day, I say Ayekoo to each one of you,” Nana Akufo-Addo said in his May Day message to Ghanaian workers.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has applauded workers for their contributions towards nation-building as Ghana joins the rest of the world to celebrate May Day today 1 May 2020.

    “We recognise and appreciate the efforts and sacrifices they have made towards the construction of the happy and prosperous Ghana we seek, and, on this day, I say Ayekoo to each one of you,” Nana Akufo-Addo said in his May Day message to Ghanaian workers.

    Source: Class FM

  • Playback: Virtual Workers Day celebration

    The President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo this morning is gracing the Virtual Workers Day Celebration put together by GBC and the TUC.

    Happening now at the GBC Studio 2, President Akufo-Addo is expected to speak on the impact of COVID-19 on employment

    May Day, also known as Workers Day is marked globally to celebrate the efforts of workers in nation-building.

    The 2020 celebration, unfortunately, cannot be marked with the usual May Day parades as has been the tradition for so many years. This is as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

    Watch the video below:

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • It will take Ghana at least 3 years to recover from coronavirus pandemic – Kweku Baako

    Seasoned Journalist, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako says it will take Ghana four years to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    According to the experienced media professional, the threat of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) has gained deep roots into the fabric of the economy and the government will only be pampering itself to think Ghana is resilient enough to bounce back into good shape despite the wreckages that the pandemic is causing.

    In his regular COVID-19 updates, President Nana Akufo-Addo made a profound quote saying “we know how to bring the economy back to life. What we do not know is how to bring people back to life”.

    Following his quote which has earned international recognition, the Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah at a press briefing on Tuesday, 28th April, 2020 also echoed Ghana’s robustness assuring Ghanaians that “our current economic positioning is a major reason for which we are able to marshal the resources to execute a good number of the interventions we are introducing today. And moving forward, the state of our economy will be key in our ability to introduce the necessary interventions to win the various battles in this war”.

    “It makes sense why some may question whether or not Ghana can afford all the interventions the President has outlined in the past about 8 weeks of the Covid-19 response program. This question is justified because looking at our recent economic position, and the gains made recently as a nation, there is the genuine fear that we may be unable to afford the interventions or may end up overstretched if indeed we push through to execute them all.

    “Between Jan 2017 and now, however, Ghana has made major strides in correcting the precarious economic conditions it found itself in. Our Fiscal position has improved and our Macro position has significantly improved. The combined effect of improved fiscal position and improved macro position is what enables us to afford the interventions which are being introduced as part of the COVID-19 response program. We have significantly improved national revenues, trimmed our deficit, and yielded a resilient macro position against which we can finance the intervention programs,” Hon. Oppong Nkrumah further highligted.

    But in a sharp contrast, Kweku Baako speaking on Peace FM’s Morning show ‘Kokrokoo’, stated that no matter the beautiful picture one paints about Ghana, the country won’t be spared from the ravages of the COVID-19 storm that has hit economies worldwide.

    He emphasized that it surely will not take a day for the economy to be revived again.

    “All the superpowers, world economies, are crippling . . . This is not like Ebola. You can’t compare COVID-19 to Ebola or even Cholera even though lots of people are dying relative to Cholera. The impact of this global reach, major economies will collapse or are collapsing or under serious pressure. So, I’m not surprised that whatever resilience that we have created, world economy will suddenly be shaken by COVID-19. I’m not surprised. In fact, I would have been surprised if we didn’t have that impact especially considering this global repercussions and dimensions.”

    Mr. Baako’s projection for Ghana to make economic strides following the end of the Coronavirus waves is three to four years.

    “It might take us some 3 or 4 years to recover . . . from its economic, social, human, psychological implications. I’m not surprised at all. In fact, we should brace ourselves for tough times under no illusion. Nobody should have any illusion,” he accentuated.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Special police operation uncovers 3 headless bodies at fetish priests backyard

    At least three headless bodies have been exhumed in a bush at a village called Sakyikrom, near Adeiso in the Eastern Region.

    A police team that carried out the operation hauled the person they suspected to have killed the two men and a woman to the scene to point the very spots where the bodies had been buried.

    A special police investigative team deployed mainly from the headquarters led by COP Ken Yeboah, head of Police CID discovered the human parts.

    The three human parts discovered were that of two males and a female, all without their heads.

    A search conducted by the police also retrieved fresh human head, skulls and other human parts tied in a polythene bag ready to be used for sacrifice.

    The police gave the suspects names as Power One, 40, and Famous, 36.

    COP Ken Yeboah told Adom TV that the police were sending the suspects to Accra to help in its further investigations.

    Assembly man of the area, Eric Abeisy who was at the scene expressed shock after seeing the dead bodies being retrieved.

    Source: Adomonline.com

  • Safety protocols disregarded in Akropong after House of Chiefs verdict

    Tumultuous jubilation erupted at Akropong and other parts of Akuapem over the verdict of the Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs on Wednesday.

    The people of Akuapem defied all the protocols in the efforts against COVID-19 spread and were all out in their numbers on the streets of Adawso, Kwamoso, Mamfe and Akropong as well as Aburi, Mampong and other Akuapem areas dancing amidst cheering and jeering.

    While some are joyously saying “Akuapem is going to have rightful ruler”, others are also jeering the jubilants saying “it is the Ohemea (Queen) who will determine the next chief.”

    The Judicial Committee of the Regional House of Chiefs ruled in the case between the Queen of Akuapem, Nana Afua Obuo Nketiaa II on one hand and the Abrewatia of Sakyiabea Royal Gate, Madam Lily Agyeman on another hand.

    Lily Agyeman had petitioned the Judicial Committee over what she deemed as an illegality in selecting a successor to the Akuapem Paramount stool.

    The Abrewatia had nominated one Odehye Kwadwo Kesse from the Sakyiabea Royal House or Gate to the Akuapem stool elders since it is the turn of that Gate to provide a successor to the Akuapem Paramount stool.

    But for some strange reasons, a different person, Odehye Kwasi Akuffu, was selected by the Queen claiming she, (the Queen) has the right to nominate a successor to the Akuapem Paramount stool.

    Unhappy about the development, Madam Lily Agyeman (the Abrewatia) took the matter to the Regional House of Chiefs for redress.

    After three years of proceedings, the Judicial Committee presided over by Okotwaresuo Kantamanto Agyeman, Chief of Akyem Swedru, ruled that per customs of Akuapem, the Queen did not have the right to nominate a chief but that it is a reserve of the Abrewatia.

    The Judicial Committee, therefore, urged both factions to go and ensure that due processes are followed to install a successor to the late Akuapem Chief, Nana Addo Dankwa III who died in 2015.

    The ruling thus set the whole of Akuapem in jubilation on Wednesday evening disregarding COVID-19 measures amidst heavy security presence in the Traditional Area.

    Source: McAnthony Dagyenga, Contributor

  • UGMC was established to stop public officials from traveling abroad for health care Mahama

    Former President John Dramani Mahama has said that the main intent of establishing the over $184 million University of Ghana Medical Centre was not only to buttress the health care system in the country but also to put an end to the trend of top political officials travelling abroad to seek medical care.

    He said his government at the time sent some health professionals abroad to receive training on how to operationalize the health facility but no sense has been made out of his efforts since he left office in 2017.

    According to him, the 650-bed capacity facility was designed to undertake diverse medical treatment and research but the Akufo-Addo government who subsequently succeeded him fraught the progress with “fruitless value for money audits”.

    John Mahama in a live digital conversation said he had expected the Akufo-Addo-led administration to swiftly move to operationalize and complete other phases of the hospital but intangible reasons were given instead.

    While responding to a suggestion to make Ghana a health care centre in Africa to promote tourism in the country, the former president said “…Indeed this was the intention of setting up the University of Ghana Medical Centre. It was supposed to improve the health care of Ghanaians but at the same time it was meant to the centre of excellence in Africa so that people who needed specialized health services could come from our neighbouring countries to have treatment…”

    He added, “It was also meant to stop the practice where top government of Ghana officials had to go outside the country in order to receive medical treatment. Those medical services would be available locally and so it would not be necessary for the president or ministers or other high public officials to go abroad for medical treatment…”

    The former president said but for the outbreak of the Coronavirus, no substantive reasons would have been given for the operationalization and expansion of the facility, together with most of his uncompleted health projects across the country.

    Meanwhile, Ghanaians have over the years battled with coming to terms with the trend of public officials abandoning health projects in the country yet spend thousands of cedis to seek medical care outside the country.

    Public officials together with their relatives are usually flown to countries like South Africa, the United States of America and the United Kingdom to seek specialized health treatment including childbirth.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • ‘Forty under 40’ congratulates Dr. Okoe Boye, Laud Anthony Basing

    The organizers of Forty under 40 wishes to congratulate Dr. Okoe Boye for his elevation to the position of the Deputy Minister of Health.

    Dr. Boye is an alumni of the much-coveted and celebrated under 40 achievers Award annually organized by Xodus Communications Limited. Dr. Okoe Boye is an under 40 who before his elevation was a Board Chairman of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

    This feat gives credence to the selection and the jury decision making process at Xodus Communications, the leading organizers of Industry Awards in Ghana. The Awarding Board under the chairmanship of Professor David Atta Peters remains resolute in celebrating young leaders who have gone ahead of the age.

    We also wish to celebrate our Award recipient and Alumni of the Forty under 40 Awards Laud Anthony Basing of Incas Diagnostics in the category of Heath for collaborating with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology to develop the COVID 19 test kits.

    Clearly this RDT kits will augment the nation’s surveillance testing protocols and accelerate the answer to the incidence rate in Ghana.

    It would be recalled that Laud and his team developed a vagina test kits and this played a defining role in winning his category

    The Forty under 40 Awards; an initiative from Xodus Communications Limited seeks to identify, honor and celebrate a cross-section of the nation’s most influential and accomplished young business leaders under the age forty from a wide range of industries we cover, who are committed to business growth, professional excellence and community service and have risen up the ranks of their companies or industries at a relatively young age as a result of this.

    The Awards among others are aimed at recognizing and celebrating 40 emerging leaders under the age of 40 who demonstrate or impact personally and/ or professionally through their exceptional leadership; and finally, encourage our upcoming youth that excellence and success can be achieved at a very tender age.

    According to the Events Director, Richard Abbey Jnr, putting the spotlight on these young achievers it will not only celebrate them but also build a strong platform for them by giving a voice and opportunities to the next generation of industry pacesetters whiles building a positive attitude in our youth to strive for excellence at a tender age

    We are Xodus believe that it is vital to celebrate achievers when are alive rather than decorating caskets and funeral grounds in honor of the dead and gone.

    Source: Xodus Communications

  • Rwanda announces plan to lift lockdown

    Rwanda’s government has announced plans to partially ease strict measures imposed six weeks ago to stop the spread of coronavirus.

    A highly awaited government announcement said the restrictions will be lifted from 4 May even though some measures will be maintained.

    A curfew will be enforced from 20:00 local time (18:00GMT) to 05:00.

    All schools will remain closed until September and border crossings will remain closed except for cargo and returning Rwandan citizens and legal residents.

    Markets will reopen at half capacity, while hotels and restaurants will close by 19:00 local time. Sports facilities, gyms, bars, places of worship will remain closed, but individual sporting activities are allowed in open spaces.

    Commuters will have to adhere to social distancing in public transport, but travel across provinces is not permitted.

    Rwanda has so far confirmed 243 coronavirus cases, 84 of which were reported in the last seven days.

    The ministry of health says the spike in cases is due to cargo truck drivers who were allowed in from Kenya and Tanzania.

    Rwanda was the first sub-Sahara African country to enforce total lockdown measures in efforts to halt the spread of coronavirus.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Eastern Regional House of Chiefs nullifies Odehyee Kwasi Akuffos nomination

    The Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs has nullified the selection of Odehyee Kwasi Akuffo as the paramount chief of the Akuapem Traditional Area.

    According to the committee his selection by the queenmother of the area, Nana Afua Nketiaa Obuo II, was against the laid down tradition where it was the ABREWATIA of the royal Sakyiama Family of Akuapem Akropong who since time immemorial selected those to be the paramount chiefs.

    Delivering the ruling after a petition filed by Madam Lily Agyeman against the queenmother and three others, the three-member committee chaired by the Konor of Manya Krobo, Nene Sackitey, said per tradition it is the ABREWATIA who had to select the nominee and presented same to the traditional process for installation.

    The committee’s ruling which was read by counsel for the House, Mr Dominic Cecil Hammond and cost of GH¢25,000 awarded against the respondents therefore said the ABREWATIA’s role was by custom and tradition which must be respected as such.

    The committee also restrained Odehyee Kwasi Akuffo from holding himself as a chief of Akuapem.

    The petitioner in her petition averred that even though the ABREWATIA had submitted the name of Odehyee Kwadwo Jesse for onward transmission to the queenmother and the thence to the kingmaker for approval, she “the queenmother mother pretended she had no name”.

    “Notwithstanding all these among other developments, according to the petitioner, she learnt with shock that the queenmother with the one of the respondents had bypassed the petitioner to select somebody else from the Sekyiaba House for installation as the new Okuapehene” said the petition.

    The petitioner said even though the queenmother comes from a house whose turn it was to produce a candidate, she the queenmother could not bypass the ABREWATIA of that house to nominate anybody of her choice.

    The petitioner therefore prayed the committee that per custom and tradition of the people of Akuapem as verified by statute, it was the ABREWATIA as opposed to the queenmother of Akuapem who has the sole prerogative to nominate a successor to the stool from the royal house and that the action of the respondents was contrary to the law and therefore illegal, null and void.

    Background

    Since the death of Oseadeayo Addo Dankwa about five years ago, there has been disagreements in Akuapem Akropong as to who should be the new paramount chief.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • Tanzania’s legal affairs minister dies

    Tanzania’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs Minister Augustine Mahiga has passed on this morning in the capital, Dodoma.

    President John Magufuli Mahiga, in a statement, said Mr Mahiga fell ill at his home in the morning and was pronounced dead on arrival at a local hospital.

    The statement said the deceased minister had a short illness.

    Mr Mahiga was a long-serving diplomat who previously served as the Permanent Representative of Tanzania to the United Nations and as the UN Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Political Office for Somalia.

    He was a regular on BBC programmes speaking on UN Affairs, Tanzania and East Africa matters.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Coronavirus cases confirmed in DR Congo prison

    The Democratic Republic of Congo has confirmed its first cases of COVID-19 in a prison.

    At least four inmates have tested positive and many more are quarantined in Ndolo prison in the capital city, Kinshasa.

    The overcrowded prison is hosting inmates at nearly four times its capacity.

    Human rights organisations are concerned the virus could easily spread among prisoners and to the relatives who visit them.

    Rights groups are asking for the release of prisoners accused or convicted of petty crimes to ease overcrowding.

    Health officials have dispatched a team to the prison to investigate the outbreak.

    DR Congo has confirmed cases of the new coronavirus in at least seven provinces, but the majority of the cases have been concentrated in Kinshasa.

    The eastern part of the country, which has no active cases at the moment, has today reopened travel between cities in those provinces.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Mozambique forces ‘push back militant attack’

    The Mozambican defence and security forces have pushed back an attack by Islamist militants against the village of Nacoba, in Metuge district, in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, reports Carta de Moçambique.

    The newspaper says that the raiders burnt down a tourist camp used by the Quirimbas National Park on Tuesday, which included 20 huts and 15 cows and goats.

    The newspaper’s sources are quoted as saying that there were no human casualties, due to the prompt response of the Mozambican forces.

    The villagers had received advance notice that there might be an attack and so most of them had left the village before the fighting began.

    This clash follows an attack a week ago at a funeral in Imbada village, also in Meluco.

    Friends and relatives were preparing to bury the deceased when a gang of men armed with machetes and firearms invaded the cemetery.

    The militants caught and beheaded four people, while others attending the funeral fled in panic.

    They returned hours later to complete the ceremony, and collect the bodies of the four victims.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Heavy security ahead of Akuapem chieftaincy case judgement

    There is heavy security as the Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs is set to pronounce judgement on who rules Okuapeman on Wednesday.

    About 50 police personnel have stormed the Eastern Regional House of Chief’s premises on Wednesday to maintain peace before and after the judgement is pronounced on the prolonged Akuapem chieftaincy dispute.

    The case before the Committee which is presided over by Okotwaresuo Kantamanto Agyeman, Chief of Akyem Swedru, started way back in 2017 and has been seeking to ascertain whether it is the Queen or the Abrewatia who appoints a chief.

    Representatives and supporters of the two factions, that is the Queen of Akuapem on one hand and one Madam Lily Agyeman, the Abrewatia of the Sakyibea Gate of Akuapem, are in their numbers at the House of Chiefs.

    Despite the many supporters, the House of Chiefs has ensured that the protocols against COVID-19 are observed.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • 53 health facilities left to rot as coronavirus bites

    The Coalition of NGOs in Health has identified 53 health facilities nationwide that the government has abandoned as the battle against coronavirus continues.

    “As at 12 noon, my regional representatives are able to give me at least 53 health facilities either completed and not commissioned or abandoned halfway,” the Chairman of the Coalition of NGOs, Dr Gabriel Bernaku, bemoaned.

    Ghana has recorded 2, 074 with 17 deaths, and President Nana Akufo-Addo has announced a huge investment in health facilities as the cases keep rising.

    A total of 212 patients have recovered from the infection, representing one recovery to five cases presently.

    Mr Akufo-Addo promised some 88 district facilities to be completed within a year and an additional six regional hospitals.

    But critics have questioned the rationale for abandoning over 50 health facilities only to announce fresh ones three years into the tenure of the current administration.

    Dr Benarku, who was speaking in an interview on Joy FM Wednesday, was quick to add that: “The Coalition of NGOs in Health is not against government adding the 88 health facilities to the existing ones. We have been very clear from day-one since 2017 that government should add, as stipulated in their manifesto, so if they want to do more, so be it.”

    He said the existing facilities need regular renovation as new health facilities were established simultaneously to cater for the health needs of the public.

    Former President John Dramani Mahama has been vocal on infrastructure projects shelved by the current administration after inheriting the facilities from the previous administration.

    In a Facebook live in January 2020, he listed the University of Ghana Medical Center (now a treatment facility for diplomats infected by the coronavirus), the Upper West Regional Hospital, the Bank hospital, International Maritime Hospital as major health facilities neglected by the government.

    He also listed hospitals in Fomena, Kumawu, Abetifi, Bekwai, Tepa, Bolga as critical health infrastructure that has been left idle.

    Source: theghanareport.com

  • Military, Police raid shrine; arrest two spiritualists over ritual murder

    Two spiritualists have been arrested in a Joint Security Operation carried out by Armed Police and Military personnel from Accra in the Eastern Region.

    The Shrine of the two spiritualists named Power 1 Herbal and Spiritual Center was raided at Adu Kwadwo Community near Maame Dede in the Upper West Akyem District Thursday, April 30, 2020.

    The two fetish priests arrested are known as Power 1 and Scorpion.

    They were arrested for alleged ritual murder, fraud, and the production of fake currencies.

    According to report, the joint armed security team that carried out the operation has exhumed remains suspected to be human bodies buried by the spiritualists.

    The suspects are being transferred to Accra along with the exhibits retrieved.

    Source: Kasapa FM

  • Five suspected car snatchers nabbed

    The Accra Regional Police Command has arrested five persons who are believed to be part of a car snatching syndicate in the metropolis.

    The suspects are Ibrahim Muntari , 29 year old driver, Stephen Waje @ Borsoo 30 year old trader, Evans Nuerttey 27 year old driver, Abubakari Saddique @ French Man 29 year old okada rider and Prince Ayittey, 28 year old Driver.

    Two others who allegedly buy the stolen cars from the suspects at a cheaper price and resell them to unsuspecting customers were also arrested.

    They are Theophilus Kofi, 28 year old game operator and Nii Okine, 49 year old businessman.

    Seven of the stolen cars have since been retrieved from the suspects after their arrest.

    Two locally manufactured pistols the suspects allegedly use for their robbery operations have also been seized.

    Briefing the media, the Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Frederick Adu Anim, said Ibrahim Muntari and Stephen Waje @ Borsoo were arrested on March 8, 2020 at Pokuase by the Amasaman Patrol Team for possessing firearms without lawful authority.

    He said the two suspects in the course of police investigations led the police team to arrest Evans Nuertey, Abubakari Saddique and Prince Ayittey at Odumasi near Olebu and Mankrong near Suhum on March 18, 2020.

    Modus operandi

    Narrating how the suspects operated to the media, DCOP Adu Anim said the suspects hire the services of their targeted drivers who are mainly taxi drivers to any location of their choice where they think they can strike.

    “ In the course of the journey, other accomplices join the car and when they reach a point they attack the driver at gun point and seize the car together with any valuable that they find in the car.”

    He revealed that police continuous investigations revealed that some of the cars robbed are re-sprayed by suspects and sold to unsuspecting customers.

    “Some of the robbed vehicles are also used for other robbery activities of suspects.”

    When the vehicles are robbed, the vehicles are either re-sprayed and sold or used to facilitate other robbery operations especially attacks on mobile money vendors, he said.

    Adding, he revealed that suspects Ibrahim Muntari and Stephen Waje used some of the robbed vehicles to facilitate the robberies of four mobile money vendors at Alhaji Tabora, Lom Nava, Pokuase and Fan-Milk area.

    The Regional Police Commander disclosed that upon interrogations suspects admitted to series of robbery attacks on mobile money operators within the Ga Central and Ga West Municipalities.

    Stephen Waje and Evans Nuerttey were also identified as suspects who snatched a Kia Picanto Taxi Cab at gunpoint with an initial registration number GC 2094-19 but changed it to GE-547-19 at Sowutuom.

    He revealed the seven vehicles retrieved by the police from suspects included two Toyota Corolla saloon cars, two Toyota Yaris cars, a Daewoo Matrix, a Kia Picanto Taxi and a Kia Morning.

    “Five of the cars were sold to Theophilus Kofi and Nii Okai at Suhum in the Eastern region and on the April 3, 2020, the Police proceeded to Suhum and arrested and brought the suspects to Accra together with the cars.”

    He added that owners were yet to recover the vehicles.

    Source: Daily Guide Network

  • Coronavirus: Minority demands election 2020 roadmap from EC

    The Electoral Commission of Ghana must inform Ghanaians about its preparedness for the 2020 general elections, Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu has said.

    He told journalists on Thursday, April 30, 2020, that the election management body must also provide its roadmap for the elections amid the coronavirus pandemic.

    “The Constitution requires that presidential and parliamentary elections be held this year, even as we struggle with COVID”, the Tamale South MP said, adding: “The independent Electoral Commission created under Article 45 of this Constitution owes this country and Members of Parliament an explanation”.

    “They have to be summoned to give us their roadmap as to their preparedness”, he insisted.

    The EC, he stressed, needs to “appraise this House on their level of preparedness for the 2020 presidential and parliamentary election”.

    “If we cannot get them to brief the Committee of the whole, they have to come to the Special Budget Committee,” Mr Iddrisu noted.

    The EC was supposed to have started its registration exercise for a new register of voters on 18 April 2020 but had to suspend it indefinitely as a result of the raging COVID-19 pandemic, which has, so far, killed 17 out of the 2,074 with 212 recoveries.

    Last weekend, there was a controversy between the EC and opposition MP Sam Nartey George, who together with some supporters of the NDC, besieged an alleged workshop organised by the election body.

    Source: Class FM

  • Its a lie: MPs deny GHS120,000 COVID-19 money

    The leadership of parliament has denied news making the rounds on social media that each MP has been given GHS120,000 to fight COVID-19 in their constituencies.

    Both the majority and minority sides of the house want the general public to ignore the “fabricated” stories.

    Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu said the news puts lawmakers in bad light, hence the denial.

    “I understand that there is a report on social media that Members of Parliament have been paid some amount of money for purposes of COVID-19; 120,000.

    “That is inaccurate, it is misleading, it is erroneous and only meant to put members of parliament to ridicule and all kinds of demands from our constituents”, Mr Iddrisu told journalists.

    Source: Class FM