TIG Post

Author: Persis

  • Ugandan journalist arrested

    A Ugandan journalist was arrested on Monday night shorty after leaving work.

    The NBS television news presenter Samson Kasumba was detained at a police station overnight.

    He has so far not commented on the arrest.

    Ugandan police spokesperson Fred Enanga on Tuesday said the journalist’s arrest had nothing to with his work and would share more details later.

    He said police were interrogating him and had sealed off his house where a search was being conducted.

    NBS television tweeted;

    Uganda’s Daily Monitor tweeted:

    Source: bbc.com

  • Ugandan court ‘suspends $2.6m Covid-19 fund for MPs’

    A Ugandan court has suspended the allocation of 10 billion Ugandan shillings ($2.6m; £2.1m) to members of parliament to fight the spread of coronavirus in their constituencies, the Daily Monitor newspaper reports.

    Each MP was due to receive about $5,300 to, among other things, fuel ambulances and pay allowances for the drivers involved in the Covid-19 taskforces at district level, the newspaper reports quoting sources in parliament.

    The proposal sparked a public outcry and an online petition. The petition said the money should go to the Covid-19 Task Force instead of MPs. It said that many of the MPs were not in their constituencies because of lock down.

    Two opposition MPs on Tuesday succeeded in getting a court order suspending the allocation.

    The Daily Monitor has tweeted about the development:

    Source: bbc.com

  • Ramaphosa condemns theft of food meant for the poor

    South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned the alleged theft of food packages meant to cushion the poor from hunger during the coronavirus pandemic.

    The president said the reports were “disturbing and disgusting” adding that the individuals involved in the hoarding, selling or diverting of food aid would be dealt with “harshly”.

    “Over the past three weeks, we have been confronted with distressing images of desperate people clamouring for food parcels at distribution centres and of community protests against food shortages,” the president wrote in his weekly bulletin.

    President Ramaphosa also said the government would increase welfare provision to the poor who live “below the poverty line” but did not specify how that would be done.

    Economists and labour unions in the country have been in the past quoted by local media asking for increased social grants.

    Source: bbc.com

  • ‘Dignified exit’ agreed for Lesotho PM

    Following the intervention of South African mediators, politicians in Lesotho have pledged “a dignified retirement” for the country’s prime minister.

    Thomas Thabane has been under pressure to step down over allegations he had a hand in the murder of his estranged wife in 2017.

    Exactly what has been proposed in order to end the political crisis in Lesotho has not been made public.

    But following talks between members of the coalition government and South African mediators, a statement was released which mentions a deal involving “a dignified and secure exit” for the prime minister.

    That could mean Mr Thabane would have to step down immediately but would no longer be under investigation over suspicions he played a role in the murder of his estranged wife three years ago.

    His current wife has already been charged with the murder. Both deny any involvement.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Kagame warns of dire consequences for African economies

    Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has warned that it could take “a generation or more” for Africa to recover from the shock of the Covid-19 pandemic.

    He told the UK Financial Times that the continent would need at least $100bn (£80bn) in foreign support.

    The World Bank has already warned that Africa will slip into recession, its first in 25 years, as global trade shrinks and commodity prices continue to fall.

    Mr Kagame said he was confident progress could be made following what he called “good engagement” from “partners such as France, Germany, China and the US”.

    Nations belonging to the G20 group of leading economies last week agreed to suspend debt payments owed to them by some of the world’s poorest countries, including many in Africa.

    Africa has confirmed more than 21,000 Covid-19 cases so far. Last week the World Health Organization warned the continent could become the next epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak.

    UN officials say it is likely the pandemic will kill at least 300,000 people in Africa and push nearly 30 million into poverty.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Prince Harry and Meghan tell tabloids: No more co-operation

    The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have told the UK’s tabloid press they are ending all co-operation with them.

    In a letter to editors of all the Sun, Mirror, Mail and Express titles and websites, a representative said the pair had taken the step due to “distorted, false or invasive” stories.

    Harry and Meghan said they refused to “offer themselves up as currency for an economy of click bait and distortion”.

    The couple have relocated to California after stepping back as senior royals.

    In the letter, the couple’s public relations representative wrote it was “gravely concerning that an influential slice of the media” has printed “distorted, false or invasive” articles.

    “There is a real human cost to this way of doing business and it affects every corner of society,” the letter said.

    “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have watched people they know – as well as complete strangers – have their lives completely pulled apart for no good reason, other than the fact that salacious gossip boosts advertising revenue.”

    The BBC was told that the letter had been sent to the editors of the Sun, the Daily Mail, the Daily Mirror and the Daily Express newspapers.

    The new policy will apply to the four newspapers, their Sunday editions and associated websites, the Guardian’s media editor Jim Waterson reported.

    The Daily Star, which was not specifically mentioned, is published by the same group that publishes the Mirror and Express titles.

    The ban on engagement with the papers will mean that the couple’s PR team will no longer even answer calls from the papers asking them to confirm whether claims made about the couple are true or not.

    ‘Not avoiding criticism’

    Outlining the new policy of “no corroboration and zero engagement” with all the publications that received it, the letter said the measure would also protect the couple’s communications team “from the side of the industry that readers never see”.

    “This policy is not about avoiding criticism,” the letter continued.

    “It’s not about shutting down public conversation or censoring accurate reporting. Media have every right to report on and indeed have an opinion on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, good or bad. But it can’t be based on a lie.”

    Diana, Princess of Wales and Prince Harry in 1995
    Prince Harry has spoken in the past of seeing – as a young child – the effect media intrusion had on his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales Copyright :PA Media

    The letter said the couple will continue to work with other media and “young, up-and-coming journalists” to raise awareness of the issues and causes they care about.

    In recent days, photographs of the Sussexes delivering food to vulnerable people in Los Angeles have been published by two of the newspapers to receive the letter.

    And it comes ahead of a court hearing this week in a legal case Meghan has brought against the publisher of the Mail on Sunday over the publication of a letter written to the duchess by her estranged father.

    The couple officially stepped back as senior working members of the Royal Family at the end of March as part of a transition following an announcement of their intention to become financially independent in January..

    Presentational grey line

    The letter in full

    As The Duke and Duchess of Sussex now settle into the next chapter of their lives and no longer receive any publicly funded support, we are writing to set a new media relations policy, specifically as it pertains to your organisation.

    Like you, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex believe that a free press is a cornerstone to any democracy— particularly in moments of crisis. At its best, this free press shines light on dark places, telling stories that would otherwise go untold, standing up for what’s right, challenging power, and holding those who abuse the system to account.

    It has been said that journalism’s first obligation is to the truth. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex agree wholeheartedly.

    It is gravely concerning that an influential slice of the media, over many years, has sought to insulate themselves from taking accountability for what they say or print—even when they know it to be distorted, false, or invasive beyond reason. When power is enjoyed without responsibility, the trust we all place in this much-needed industry is degraded.

    There is a real human cost to this way of doing business and it affects every corner of society.

    The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have watched people they know—as well as complete strangers—have their lives completely pulled apart for no good reason, other than the fact that salacious gossip boosts advertising revenue.

    With that said, please note that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not be engaging with your outlet. There will be no corroboration and zero engagement. This is also a policy being instated for their communications team, in order to protect that team from the side of the industry that readers never see.

    This policy is not about avoiding criticism. It’s not about shutting down public conversation or censoring accurate reporting. Media have every right to report on and indeed have an opinion on The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, good or bad. But it can’t be based on a lie.

    They also want to be very clear: this is not in any way a blanket policy for all media.

    The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are looking forward to working with journalists and media organisations all over the world, engaging with grassroots media, regional and local media, and young, up-and-coming journalists, to spotlight issues and causes that so desperately need acknowledging. And they look forward to doing whatever they can to help further opportunities for more diverse and underrepresented voices, who are needed now more than ever.

    What they won’t do is offer themselves up as currency for an economy of click bait and distortion.

    We are encouraged that this new approach will be heard and respected.

    Source: bbc.com

  • 29-year-old nearly lynched for stealing fowls at Awutu Beraku

    A 29-Year-old thief, Eric Arhin has every reason to thank God for his life as he was nearly lynched by residents of Awutu Beraku in the Central Region after he stole 29 fowls.

    The victim according to information is a habitual thief who is fond of stealing fowls.

    “We were sleeping outside because of heat in our room when we heard the fowls making noise so initially we thought it could be a snake disturbing them. But after a few minutes, we heard people raising alarm so we went out and saw this man holding a sack with 29 stolen fowls of which five had died. We stripped him naked, tied him behind a light pole and beat him before a police patrol team came here.” Alex Acheampong, a resident told Kasapa News Yaw Boagyan

    According to the residents, the suspect has taken after his father as he [father] also said to be a thief reportedly died from a curse invoked on him for stealing fowls.

    The suspect reportedly came out of prison about four months ago after he was incarcerated for stealing fowls in the same area.

    Awutu Beraku Police Station Officer, Chief Inspector Stephen Tamakloe in an interview with Kasapa News said that the suspect will soon be arraigned before the Kasoa Oduppong Ofaakor Circuit Court.

    “The police got information that someone has been arrested so we went to the scene and saw the man with 11 fowls out of which 5 had been killed. He admitted stealing the fowls from Anweanwea a village around this area. He will be arraigned before the court.”

    According to the Police, the suspect, an Ex-Convictt was released in December last year from Winneba Prisons after serving a year sentence for a similar offence.

    The police said the suspect normally sells the stolen fowls to chop bar operators and market women in the Kasoa area.

    Source: starrfm.com.gh

  • Avoid false sense of security coronavirus not under control in Ghana NDC team

    The NDC technical team on COVID-19 has urged Ghanaians to avoid a false sense of security following the decision by President Akufo-Addo to lift the coronavirus lockdown on Accra and Kumasi.

    According to the team, the virus is not under control in the country and therefore removing restrictions is dangerous.

    “If government has data outside what has been presented publicly that has informed this decision, we request public disclosure in order that we can continue to support a non-partisan push to win the day.

    “Until that information is available, we encourage Ghanaians to avoid a false sense of security and continue to stay at home as much as possible, avoid non-essential movement and respect all health protocols outlined from the onset. We remain committed as technical experts to our primary goal to share information that protects the right of every Ghanaian to prepare, fight and defeat this virus,” the team said in a statement.

    The statement also warned the situation could get out of hands with the lifting of the restrictions.

    “Members of this Technical Team are acutely aware of the vulnerability of the economic circumstances of a vast majority of Ghanaians who have struggled with daily food supplies in this period. Indeed, many team members have been directly involved in daily interventions where government interventions have unfortunately been woefully lacking.”

    “We are confident that the options we proposed in our community impact mitigation strategies should apply in favour of protecting the lives of all Ghanaians from further risk of infection and potential morbidity. In addition, every country that has been touched by this virus has suffered significant economic difficulty.

    “The true test of the fiscal resilience for every country has been in the quality of the planning and preparation as well as the seriousness with which the pandemic has been managed. We propose that in Ghana, if we are to turn the tide, far more organized and strategic work is urgently required to cushion our citizens from the multiple negative economic implications of COVID-19. Our position is that the virus is not yet under adequate control in Ghana to merit any ease of restrictions on movement at this time.”

    “We are mindful of the fact that a backlog of tests from samples of about 10,000 took us from 600+ cases to 1000+ cases. With over 18,000+ samples yet to be tested, there is a higher probability that our cases may surge as we are yet to get to our peak. We believe these backlog samples are from primary or secondary contacts who have in turn made several contacts in the chain of human interactions and whose test results are yet to be ascertained.”

    “Looking at the return to activities defying the basic social distancing protocols as recommended, we put ourselves in a very precarious situation for a potential second wave of infections,” the statement added.

    Source: starrfm.com.gh

  • Ghana Medical Association pledges support to government in coronavirus fight

    The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has pledged its unflinching support to the government in the ongoing national fight against the novel Coronavirus, even though the lockdown they advocated some 21 days ago, has been lifted by President Akufo-Addo.

    The Association made the pledge when they met with President Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House at his invitation to pick their thoughts and concerns over government’s approach to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

    In a brief remark, Dr. Frank Ankobea, President of the Ghana Medical Association, observed that the association recognises the difficult situation the country finds itself in but remains loyal and fully committed to the national agenda to trace, test and treat COVID-19 patients as well as to stop the spread of the deadly virus.

    “We are so happy that you invited us this morning to discuss the pertinent issues. All we need to do is to pledge our support to government that we are going to continue with you, we are going to fight till this virus is eliminated from Ghana,” the GMA President, Dr Ankobea said.

    President Akufo-Addo

    President Akufo-Addo in his remarks noted that his administration was compelled to lift the restriction on movement in Greater Accra, Kasoa and Greater Kumasi because consistently, test results over the last three weeks have remained constant in terms of infection rate, death rate, persons who are moderately ill, amongst others.

    “It is that constancy, that robustness of the data that we have in Ghana, that is inspiring our decisions,” President Akufo-Addo said.

    “As President of this country, I cannot also ignore the impact that this lockdown is having on several constituencies of our country, specifically those who are a very important part of the Ghanaian equation, the people who live, if you like, ‘hand-to-mouth,’ informal workers who need to have a day out in the market one form or the other for their families, who are having a lot of difficulty,” President Akufo-Addo added.

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • ‘Politicians value votes more than human lives’ – Thomas Yankey

    The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) 2016 parliamentary candidate for Jomoro Constituency in the Western Region, Mr. Thomas Yankey popular known as ‘Nobody’ has called out the Akufo-Addo-led government for lifting the partial lockdown amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

    President Akufo-Addo on Sunday announced the lifting the 3-week lockdown on Greater Accra and Kumasi, with effect from Monday, April 20.

    Addressing the nation on Sunday, April 19, 2020, the president, however, stated all other social distancing measures are still in place. Churches, Schools both Public and Private, will still remain shut.

    According to the president, the decision to enforce the 3-week lockdown was taken to give Government the opportunity to try to contain the spread of the virus, scale-up effectively the tracing of persons who had come into contact with infected persons, test them for the virus, and quarantine those who tested positive and isolate them for treatment.

    But, according to him (Thomas Yankey), the lifting of the lockdown is to allow the Electoral Commission of Ghana to embark on the controversial new voters’ registration exercise.

    “One thing comes to mind instantly. It is a known fact that the EC is hell-bent on compiling a new register in spite of all factors, especially the timing and the outbreak of this Pandemic, indicating that it will not be in the interest of the nation. With the lockdown making it impossible for this agenda to be executed, as exemplified by the illegal and unsuccessful attempt by the NIA to defy the directives, and go ahead with the registration thereby endangering human lives in pursuit of this overall agenda, it has been decided to end the lockdown prematurely so that there will be a little time for which a case can be made to push the new voter registration agenda through”, he claimed this in a statement issued and copied to the media.

    “This lends credence to believing that our politicians are attaching more importance to their votes than the lives of Ghanaians which is unfortunate and unacceptable. Apart from the new voter registration, what major reason will inform the rushed-decision to lift the lockdown when it is urgently needed at this time??”, he quizzed.

    He advised, “I therefore urge Ghanaian leaders to take a second look at this decision before the situation gets out of hand (God forbid). It is too early to lift the lockdown!”

    “I also urge all Ghanaians and media practitioners to use their platforms to re-echo this call since we all need to help in the fight against this common enemy, Covid-19”, he added.

    Below is the full statement

    LOCKDOWN LIFTING IN GHANA – VOTES BEING VALUED OVER HUMAN LIVES

    The President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency, Nana Akufo Addo in a televised announcement on Sunday April 19, 2020, lifted the lockdown of those few parts of the country when, in reality, the opposite should have been done. In other words, the entire country should have been locked down.

    A look at some figures will help explain my stand:

    As of the time of writing this article, 11:52pm on Sunday April 19, 2020 ( U.S. time), the number of deaths in the U. S was 40,524; new deaths stood at 1, 510 and total infections were 763,579.

    Total number of deaths in Spain was 20, 453 with 198, 674 infections and the third country, Italy had 178, 972 infections with 23,660 total deaths according to the world Health Organization. This is how dangerous the virus is, just as the disease it carries!

    One major reason for these astronomical deaths in these countries, especially in the United States, is that the virus was underrated and the necessary precautionary measures were not taken until they were taken unawares. This should be an experience for the rest of the world, including Ghana.

    It is a fact that Ghana’s initial approach in handling the pandemic has been encouraging and commendable but, it is the end that always matters!

    At the time of this piece, Ghana had recorded, 1,042 infections and 9 deaths. Though the numbers seem low, a number of factors may explain these low numbers; complacency should therefore not set in now, it will spell the unexpected. There is the urgent need to finish the good work that has been started – making sure that the initial directives are intensely observed and extended throughout the country as the pandemic continues to spread throughout the country, otherwise in the end, work done will be zero.Therefore, why the rush to do the opposite by lifting the lockdown at this time?

    One thing comes to mind instantly. It is a known fact that the EC is hell-bent on compiling a new register in spite of all factors, especially the timing and the outbreak of this Pandemic, indicating that it will not be in the interest of the nation. With the lockdown making it impossible for this agenda to be executed, as exemplified by the illegal and unsuccessful attempt by the NIA to defy the directives, and go ahead with the registration thereby endangering human lives in pursuit of this overall agenda, it has been decided to end the lockdown prematurely so that there will be a little time for which a case can be made to push the new voter registration agenda through.

    This lends credence to believing that our politicians are attaching more importance to their votes than the lives of Ghanaians which is unfortunate and unacceptable. Apart from the new voter registration, what major reason will inform the rushed-decision to lift the lockdown when it is urgently needed at this time??

    I am also tempted to believe that probably, without letting Ghanaians know, they have received some ‘fake and deadly vaccines’ from abroad, which has strengthened their belief that the situation is under control now; but one cannot give you what she/he does not have. No country has any reliable vaccine yet.

    I therefore urge Ghanaian leaders to take a second look at this decision before the situation gets out of hand (God forbid). It is too early to lift the lockdown!

    I also urge all Ghanaians and media practitioners to use their platforms to re-echo this call since we all need to help in the fight against this common enemy, Covid-19.

    Thank you all and may God bless the people of Ghana.

    Signed!

    Thomas Yankey (a.k.a Nobody), Atlanta, U.S.A

    2016 Jomoro NDC Parliamentary Candidate

    Source: Daniel Kaku, Contributor

  • Police kill robber, two shot in gun battle at Gbintiri

    The North East Regional Police Command has shot and killed a robber and wounded two others in a gun battle at Gbintiri.

    The body of the deceased Mahamadu has been deposited at the Baptist hospital Nalerigu while the two wounded suspects Musah Alima and Amidu Issaka have been treated and discharged into police custody.

    The North East Regional Police Commander, DCOP Charles Domanban who confirmed the incident to DGN Online said on April 18, 2020, at about 6:30 pm the suspects attacked some traders who were returning from Gbandabila market at Kolguna junction at gunpoint and took their personal belongings.

    According to him, the police received information and proceeded to the scene but the suspects absconded before they arrived.

    DCOP Domanban revealed that the police got a tip-off that the suspects were at their hideout preparing for another robbery on the Gushegu Gbintiri road, and therefore proceeded to their hideout.

    He said the suspects upon seeing the police opened which was returned by the Police who subsequently overpowered the robbers.

    In a related development, the police in the North East Region has also arrested four suspected armed robbers.

    The suspects are Amadu Sumana, Hamidu Issaka, Mahamadu and Musah Alima all of Fulani extraction, from their hideout at Kukpo a village near Gbintiri.

    Police retrieved a short single barrel gun, a locally manufactured Sten gun, 17 pistol ammunition in a magazine, 10 AAA cartridges, a rope, a hood, 3 mobile phones, 2 hats, 3 packets of royal cigarettes and a nose mask from the suspects.

    Source: dailyguidenetwork.com

  • Coronavirus: Ugandan MP ‘arrested’ for distributing food

    A Ugandan opposition MP is being held by police for distributing food to his constituents over weekend in Mityana district, about 70km (45 miles) from the capital, Kampala, the Daily Monitor newspaper reports.

    Francis Zaake, an independent MP, was arrested in his Mityana Municipality constituency for contravening a presidential directive on food distribution during the ongoing lockdown, Wamala region police spokesperson Rachel Kawala is quoted as saying

    President Yoweri Museveni last week extended a nationwide coronavirus lockdown until 5 May. Restrictive measures imposed include closure of national borders, including Entebbe International Airport, to passenger travel, a dusk-to-dawn curfew and a ban on public transport.

    The MP tweeted photos purporting to show security officers “breaking into his home”.

    He had also tweeted a photos of the food rations he had been distributing to his constituents.

    Source: bbc.com

  • COVID-19: 12 social gatherings that remain suspended after partial lockdown is lifted

    President Akufo-Addo has announced that some social gatherings will remain suspended even as the partial lockdown of the country is lifted on Monday, April 20, 2020.

    In a televised address on Sunday night, President Akufo-Addo advocated for greater adherence to the ban on social gatherings as well as social distancing protocols first announced on Wednesday, March 15.

    The President said those measures which include a suspension on all public gatherings are still in force and have not been relaxed.

    “In here, I am referring to the suspension of all public gatherings, including conferences, workshops, funerals, parties, nightclubs, drinking spots, beaches, festivals, political rallies, religious activities and sporting events. All educational facilities, private and public, are to remain closed,” the President said.

    The public gatherings that are still suspended as announced by the President are;

    1. Conferences
    2. Workshops
    3. Funerals
    4. Parties
    5. Nightclubs
    6. Drinking spots
    7. Beaches
    8. Festivals
    9. Political rallies
    10. Religious activities
    11. Sporting events
    12. All educational facilities – private and public remain closed

    Businesses

    The President explained that businesses and other workplaces can continue to operate, observing staff management and workplace protocols, with the view to achieving social distancing and hygiene protocols.

    Public transport

    Operators of public transport services are also to continue observing social distancing and hygiene protocols.

    He said: “Operators of public transport including our buses, trotros and taxis are to continue to run with the minimum number of passengers as they have been doing for the last three weeks in maintaining social distancing.

    “They must also continue to ensure the maintenance of enhanced hygienic conditions in all vehicles and terminals by providing amongst others hand sanitisers, running water and soap for washing your hands. Domestic airlines are required to adhere to the same protocols”.

    Social distancing in Markets

    President Akufo-Addo further directed the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to continue to implement measures to enhance conditions of hygiene in markets and expand the policy of alternate days for alternate products to improve social distancing in all markets.

    “The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, together with the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies will continue to implement measures to enhance conditions of hygiene in markets and expand the policy of alternate days for alternate products to improve social distancing in all markets,” he said.

    The President encouraged all Ghanaians to wear face masks and also implored bereaved persons to conduct private burials of their loved ones with not more than 25 persons in attendance.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • GHS to tackle meningitis scourge

    The Ghana Health Service (GHS) says it has deployed trained Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) at the regional and district levels of various health facilities as well as communities to undertake meningitis case search and support case management.

    It added that it had also provided 7,500 antibiotics (Vials of Ceftriaxone; the appropriate antibiotic for the management of meningitis) and funds to support their response.

    The Upper West Region started reporting cases in February, this year, and has seen an increase in cases in recent times, especially in the past two weeks.
    “As of April 15, 2020, a total of 258 cases have been reported in the Upper West out of the 409 cases reported in the five Northern regions, resulting in 40 deaths (case fatality of about 15 per cent),” the GHS said in a statement.

    Signed by the Director General of the GHS, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, the statement said: “Regional and District Public Health Emergency Management Committees (PHEMC) have been activated to meet weekly to coordinate investigation and response activities.

    “Intensive public education has started and is ongoing with respect to the signs and symptoms of meningitis and the need to report early to a health facility. Meetings have been held with the chiefs and other opinion leaders to solicit for their support in the sensitisation of their respective communities,” the statement said.

    Assurance

    The GHS assured the people of the Upper West Region that it was committed to bringing the outbreak under control.

    It noted that though there was no vaccine for the strain causing this current outbreak, effective treatment was available.

    “The need to emphasise this is paramount to ensure early reporting and initiation of treatment that can significantly improve outcome and improve survival rate,” it noted.

    The GHS explained that investigations had indicated that the high case fatality was due to late reporting.

    It, therefore, advised residents of the affected areas to report early to the nearest health facility so the appropriate treatment could be administered to improve survival rate.

    In addition, it said a team of experts, led by the head of Disease Control, had been deployed to the Upper West Region to provide technical assistance and support the region to intensify response.

    Meningitis

    Meningitis is an acute febrile illness, involving the covering of the brain and spinal cord (meninges). It is characterised by fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, stiffness of the neck, altered consciousness, convulsion/seizures and coma.

    The illness is particularly endemic in the northern parts of the country, where there is usually an annual surge of cases during the dry season.

    The current outbreak in the Upper West Region is caused mainly by a new strain of bacteria – Neisseria meningitides serotype X – which has no vaccine, and Streptococcus pneumoniae which has an average case fatality of 40 per cent.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • Mozambique expels suspected Brazilian drug lord ‘Fuminho’

    One of Brazil’s most wanted criminals has been sent home from Mozambique to face justice.

    Gilberto Aparecido dos Santos was allegedly a leader of one of Brazil’s most powerful criminal groups – São Paulo-based First Capital Command (PCC) drug gang.

    The alleged drug baron – known as ‘Fuminho’ – had been on the run for more than two decades.

    He is accused of overseeing the flow of cocaine around the world.

    Dos Santos was arrested in Maputo on Monday in a sting operation involving agents from Mozambique, Brazil and the US.

    A Brazilian air force plane, with dozens of police on board, flew him back to his home country in the early hours of Sunday morning.

    The PCC – which began as a prison gang – has spread across Brazil. It’s now reported to be sending tonnes of cocaine to Europe and Africa.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Boko Haram suspects ‘die of poison’ in Chad jail

    Forty-four suspected Boko Haram militants in Chad have died in detention from apparent poisoning, the country’s public prosecutor says.

    The men were part of a group of 58 suspects captured during a recent major army operation against the Islamist group around Lake Chad.

    An investigation has been launched after four autopsies showed a lethal substance had led to their deaths.

    The justice minister told AFP the prisoners had not been ill treated.

    Djimet Arabi was responding to allegations that the prisoners were placed in a single cell and given no food or water after their transfer to the capital, N’Djamena, on Tuesday.

    The military offensive was launched after jihadists killed nearly 100 Chadian troops on 23 March during a seven-hour attack on an island base in Lake Chad.

    It was the deadliest attack on the Chad’s army by Boko Haram since their insurgency spread across the border from Nigeria several years ago.

    The prisoners, who were being held as part of an anti-terrorism investigation, had been found dead on Thursday morning, public prosecutor Youssouf Tom said.

    “Forty of them were buried and the other four were taken to a pathologist, whose report revealed that a lethal substance was consumed, leading to heart problems in some and severe asphyxiation amongst others,” he announced on state television on Saturday.

    Mr Arabi confirmed to the AFP news agency that investigations were ongoing: “Was it collective suicide or something else? We’re still looking for answers.”

    One detainee, who was taken to hospital on Thursday, had recovered and rejoined the other 13 prisoners who were “still alive and doing very well”, the justice minister added.

    The army has said its eight-day operation to flush out militants from hideouts on the islands of Lake Chad was successful.

    An army spokesman was quoted as saying that more than 1,000 jihadists were killed in the vast marshy area, which is surrounded by Chad, Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon.

    The Boko Haram insurgency began in north-eastern Nigeria more than a decade ago – and the violence has spread to neighbouring countries, killing more than 30,000 people and forcing two million from their homes, according to the UN.

    Despite regional efforts to end Boko Haram’s campaign of violence, the group has stepped up its attacks in recent months.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Nigeria records 19 coronavirus deaths

    Nigeria has recorded 19 coronavirus related deaths, says the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

    The Centre made this known in a tweet, saying the deaths were recorded as at Saturday, April 18.

    It says confirmed cases were 541 and discharged 166.

    It however says “yesterday, we erroneously reported one new case in Ekiti. This was wrong and was caused by an error in the verification process.”

    “Therefore, as at April 18, 2020, there are 541 confirmed cases, 166 discharged and 19 deaths.”

    Amongst the recorded coronavirus deaths was that of the late Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari.

    Kyari died of the lethal infection after testing positive for it earlier in March.

    He was buried on Saturday at the Gudu Cemetery in Abuja according to Islamic rites.

    Source: punchng

  • Refugee women facing greater violence risk during crisis – UNHCR

    Displaced women and girls are facing a heightened risk of gender-based violence during the coronavirus crisis, the UN Refugee Agency said Monday.

    The UNHCR said they may be forced into “survival sex” or child marriages.

    Lockdowns imposed to control the spread of COVID-19 have restricted movement and led to the closure of services.

    “We need to pay urgent attention to the protection of refugee, displaced and stateless women and girls at the time of this pandemic,” said Gillian Triggs, the UNHCR assistant high commissioner for protection.

    “They are among those most at-risk. Doors should not be left open for abusers and no help spared for women surviving abuse and violence.”

    She said displaced women could end up confined with their abusers, while others, having lost their precarious livelihoods, “may be forced into survival sex, or child marriages by their families”, said Triggs.

    The restrictions imposed in many countries in response to the coronavirus pandemic mean limited access to support services, said the UNHCR.

    It said some safe shelters had been temporarily suspended.

    To counter the risk, the UNHCR is distributing emergency cash to survivors and women deemed to be at risk of gender-based violence.

    Triggs said governments should ensure that the “rising risks of violence” for displaced women are taken into account in their COVID-19 action plans.

    One measure could be ensuring that services for survivors of gender-based violence are designated as essential and remain accessible.

    Source: France24

  • Nigerian ‘Super Eagles’ players warned against wasteful spending

    A former coordinator of the Super Eagles, Patrick Pascal has advised the present generation of Nigerian footballers to make sure they plan early for life in retirement.

    The Chairman of Bauchi State FA who gave the advice during a question and answer session on FCT Football Update Forum said the pathetic lives of some former players should serve as serious warning.

    “My advice for the young ones who are still playing is that they should look at the lives of some of the former internationals and learn to play for the future. This is the time for them to start saving for the rainy day. This is not to mock anyone but when you see something bad happen to your brother or friend, you take the necessary precaution. If you are going to night clubs and buying the most expensive cars, tomorrow you may live in poverty and there would be nobody to help you out. Most players are from poor background so it is necessary to encourage them to plan for life in retirement and the present conditions of some of the former players should be seen as warning signal,” he admonished.

    Pascal, however, advised the present generation not to forget those who helped them on their way up just as he maintained that it is godly to show honour and respect to whom it is due.

    On how he is encouraging the growth of football in his state, the Chairman of Bauchi State Football Association said he is focusing on grassroots football development.

    He added that in order to closely monitor and provide assistance where necessary, all the clubs in the 20 local governments have been asked to affiliate with the state FA.

    “I am putting in place solid structures for football development in the state. The moment I assumed office, I renovated the FA office to provide conducive working atmosphere for everyone. Pre-match meetings were held in hotels but I have to stop it. I have also ensured that all the clubs are affiliated to the State FA. We have made them to understand the numerous benefits they stand to reap as affiliates of the FA. Very soon, Bauchi will be the hub of football in Nigeria,” said Pascal.

    Source: allafrica.com

  • Buhari condemns attacks in home state

    Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned a series of weekend attacks by gunmen in his home state of Katsina in the north west which left at least 47 people dead.

    Armed bandits riding dozens of motorbikes attacked areas of Safana, Dutsinma and Danmusa – shooting people dead and burning down homes in several villages.

    The attacks follow months of relative peace in the region.

    Mr Buhari suggested that criminals are taking advantage of the lockdown measures imposed to contain the spread of Covid-19 to carry out attacks.

    He urged Nigerians not to despair in the face of the killings.

    In recent years, states in the north-western part of the country have been badly affected by armed gangs who attack residents and travellers.

    They kill and kidnap people for ransom.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Coronavirus: Jack Ma announces more donation to Africa

    Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba Group, on Monday announced the donation of more medical equipment to Africa in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The Chinese billionaire made the announcement on his verified Twitter handle.

    Ma twitted: “Our 3rd donation to Africa will immediately be made to @_africanunion and @AfricaCDC.

    “This includes 4.6 million masks, 500,000 swabs and test kits, 300 ventilators, 200,000 clothing sets, 200,000 face shields, 2,000 thermal guns, 100 body temperature scanners and 500,000 pairs of gloves.”

    Recall that Ma, through his foundation, had earlier made his first set of donation to the 54 African countries. He donated 20,000 test kits, 100,000 masks and 1,000 medical use protective suits and face shields.

    Ma also announced his second set of donation to the continent on April 6 which included 500 ventilators, 200 thousand suits and face shields, two thousand thermometers.

    Others are one million swabs and extraction kits and 500,000 gloves.

    Source: vanguardngr.com

  • South African man arrested ‘smuggling girlfriend’ in car boot

    Police in South Africa have arrested a man “smuggling his girlfriend,” in the back of a car amidst a nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19, according to an official from the province of Guateng.

    Faith Mazibuko tweeted that the woman was found in the car boot during a security check at a roadblock in the province on Friday.

    She added that the driver, who did not have a permit, was heading to the eastern Mpumalanga province.

    She tweeted that the woman was arrested for “consenting to be smuggled.”

    The couple have not commented on the allegations.

    South Africa imposed a lockdown on 24 March for three weeks but the authorities extended it until the end of April.

    Travel across the country is restricted to only those listed as providing essential services.

    The country has more than 3,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19, the highest in Africa.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Ghana remains closed to outside world for four more weeks

    Ghana remains closed to the outside world for four more weeks.

    The extension of the borders was announced by President Akufo-Addo in a televised address to the nation on Sunday, April 19, 2020.

    The country closed its land, sea and air borders some weeks ago after the country recorded its first few cases of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

     

    Source: ABCNewsgh.com

  • Coronavirus: The fear of being sentenced to a Kenyan quarantine centre

    Like people around the world, Rachel Gachuna is extremely worried about catching coronavirus. But she is just as fearful about being locked up in a Kenyan quarantine centre.

    If the single mother of one-year-old twins is to believe those already held at some of these government-assigned facilities, living conditions are not much better than at a prison.

    “The toilets are just messy, dirty… even the cleaners who clean the toilets once a day complain about how messy the toilets,” one woman in quarantine told the BBC.

    “It’s because there is no water, so people are touching the same taps when you want to wash your hands, if there is even water… it’s just a mess.”

    People who arrived in Kenya from countries affected by the virus before it closed its borders and those found to have been in contact with a coronavirus patient have been sent to these centres for 14 days.

    However, the quarantine period has been extended twice for everyone at centres where someone has shown symptoms of the virus – and they have had to keep paying the bills.

    There have been also complaints that social distancing is impossible at some centres because of overcrowding.

    “You pray to God that it never happens because I honestly do not know what I would do,” Ms Gachuna told the BBC.

    She is now on leave after first choosing to work from her home in the capital, Nairobi – even though the city’s residents are able to go out during the day.

    Escape attempt
    To protect her family from infection, she only goes out to the shops when essential – and would rather not go out at all.

    Kenyans may now have to wear face masks in public and buses are carrying fewer passengers, but social distancing can be difficult.

    “I try to be careful. When I get into the house, I have to take a shower before I touch my kids. You can’t guarantee what your clothes have picked from outside,” she said.

    She has also let go of one her nannies, who came in to help look after the twins during the week, because she was worried that her use of public transport would leave the family vulnerable to infection.

    And her fears were heightened last week after dozens of people attempted to storm out of an isolation centre at Kenyatta University in Nairobi, citing unbearable conditions.

    “First on our inability to pay and secondly because it does not make any scientific sense for our continued stay at the centre,” Simon Mugambi, one of the would-be escapees, said.

    Others spoke of their psychological and mental anguish after the government extended their stay beyond 14 days.

    But the group was forced to return. In the words of another quarantine complainant: “It’s like you are condemned… it’s like you are at the mercy of the government.”

    Source: bbc.com

  • How BBC reported Ghana’s lockdown suspension

    Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo has lifted restrictions on movement in parts of the country that were under a partial lockdown and urged citizens to wear face masks.

    Other restrictions like a ban on social gatherings and closure of schools will remain in force, while border crossings will stay shut for two more weeks to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

    The president said the decision follows a better understanding of the natures of the virus, success in containing its spread, an enhanced testing programme and the expansion of isolation and treatment centres.

    The capital Accra, the second largest city Kumasi and the industrial city of Tema were placed under a three-week lockdown to prevent the spread of the virus.

    The country has now recorded 1,042 cases of coronavirus and nine deaths.

    Over 60,000 samples have been tested in the country.

    The majority of the confirmed cases were from travellers or persons who may have contacted travellers.

    The government has introduced the use of drones to expedite delivery of samples and a new rapid results testing programme. The country has also increased local production of Personal Productive Equipment (PPE).

    The authorities have said they will continue to monitor the spread of the disease in the country and impose a lockdown in hotspots if necessary.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Fake mourners arrested for flouting Kenyan travel ban

    Police in Kenya implementing coronavirus restrictions have arrested four people who disguised themselves as mourners taking a body for burial.

    They had left the capital, Nairobi, and travelled 370km (about 230 miles) west with an empty coffin in the vehicle before being intercepted, the health minister said on Saturday.

    Nearly two weeks ago, travel in and out of Nairobi was restricted, along with another three regions considered to be coronavirus hot spots.

    The group of fake mourners had managed to pass through several checkpoints before suspicious officers in Homa Bay County opened the coffin, Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe said.

    The driver later tested positive for Covid-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus. His three passengers have now been put into quarantine.

    The minister said officials were investigating various schemes allegedly being used to circumvent the travel ban, including reports that people had been bribing police at roadblocks.

    The East African nation has recorded 262 cases of Covid-19, including 12 deaths.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Zimbabwe extends coronavirus lockdown by 14 days

    Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has announced that the lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic will be extended by two weeks.

    But mining and manufacturing operations will be exempted – to keep the economy running.

    The lockdown was due to expire midnight on Sunday.

    In a live broadcast, the president said the conditions for lifting the restrictions had not been met.

    He described the extension as a hard decision made reluctantly, but one that was necessary and unavoidable.

    Zimbabwe has recorded 25 coronavirus cases and three deaths ,amid warning by the World Health Organization (WHO) that Africa must prepare for an increase in infections.

    The country is still battling to increase mass testing and the number of treatment centres.

    The WHO has warned of difficult times ahead but cautioned countries against lifting restrictions prematurely.

    Source: bbc.com

  • U.S. lab tests confirm that sunlight destroys coronavirus quickly

    Experiments conducted by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) show the coronavirus can be ‘quickly’ destroyed by sunlight.

    Yahoo News obtained a briefing that suggests the virus cannot survive in high temperatures and humidity on surfaces or in a droplet of saliva giving the public hope that the end could be just around the corner as summer weather approaches for parts of the world.

    The DHS found that simulated sunlight ‘rapidly killed the virus in aerosols,’ while without that treatment, ‘no significant loss of virus was detected in 60 minutes.’

    However, the unpublished documents also state that the results have yet to be proven nor does this not mean the world will see a drop in new cases if they are.

    Experiments conducted by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) show the coronavirus can be ‘quickly’ destroyed by sunlight. Yahoo News obtained a briefing that suggests the virus cannot survive in high temperatures and humidity

    A DHS spokesperson told DailyMail.com in an email: ‘The department is dedicated to the fight against COVID-19, and the health and safety of the American people is its top priority. As policy, the department does not comment on allegedly leaked documents.

    ‘It would be irresponsible to speculate, draw conclusions, or to inadvertently try to influence the public based upon a document that has not yet been peer-reviewed or subjected to the rigorous scientific validation approach.’

    The idea that sunlight could be the archenemies of the coronavirus has been floating around the web for quite some time.

    A post on Facebook with the heading ‘GOODBYE CORONA VIRUS’ details a daily regimen to cure the disease and exposure to sunlight is on the list.

    DHSST by Sharon Weinberger on Scribd


    Scripps Media, Inc. Privacy Policy

    The DHS found that simulated sunlight 'rapidly killed the virus in aerosols,' while without that treatment, 'no significant loss of virus was detected in 60 minutes

    The DHS found that simulated sunlight ‘rapidly killed the virus in aerosols,’ while without that treatment, ‘no significant loss of virus was detected in 60 minutes

    The results suggests the coronavirus is most stable in lower humidity than compared to higher temperatures. However, the unpublished documents also state that the results have yet to be proven nor does this not mean the world will see a drop in new cases if they are

    The results suggests the coronavirus is most stable in lower humidity than compared to higher temperatures. However, the unpublished documents also state that the results have yet to be proven nor does this not mean the world will see a drop in new cases if they are

    Many may partake in the routine with hope it actually works, but the US Centers for Disease Control Prevention (CDC) has stated there is now specific treatment or regimen for COVID-19 that is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

    The results shown in documents are from the DHS science and technology directorate and includes experiments conducted by the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center that was started to address biological threats following the 9/11 terrorist attacks to address biological threats.

    Many infectious disease seem to arrive in the colder months and disappear once summer rolls in including the flu and measles, which has led experts to learn if the same applies to the current coronavirus sweeping the globe.

    Because COVID-19 is still new to the world, experts have noted that there is not enough data to show how the virus changes with seasons.

    However, a separate study looked at the cases in 100 Chinese cities last month and found transmission rates fell as the weather grew warmer or more humid.

    a separate study looked at the cases in 100 Chinese cities last month and found transmission rates fell as the weather grew warmer or more humid. Each blue dot signifies the average number of transmissions per infected person at a given humidity level, meaning that on days when humidity was 100%, the transmission rate hovered mostly below two per infected person

    a separate study looked at the cases in 100 Chinese cities last month and found transmission rates fell as the weather grew warmer or more humid. Each blue dot signifies the average number of transmissions per infected person at a given humidity level, meaning that on days when humidity was 100%, the transmission rate hovered mostly below two per infected person

    As temperatures rose in 100 Chinese cities, the average number of people who those infected with coronavirus passed it to fell from 2.5 to less than 1.5, Chinese researchers found

    As temperatures rose in 100 Chinese cities, the average number of people who those infected with coronavirus passed it to fell from 2.5 to less than 1.5, Chinese researchers found

    Public experts and the study conducted in China suggests the viruses will not thrive in warmer temperatures, heat and humidity – but these factors will not stop it in its tracks.

    Since COVID-19 emerged in China in December, the virus has spread like wildfire to more than 350,000 people worldwide amid cold weather there are currently more than 2 million cases and over 137,00 deaths reported around the globe.

    In China, the outbreak reached its peak in February with more than 15,000 cases diagnosed in a single day.

    Since COVID-19 emerged in China in December, the virus has spread like wildfire to more than 350,000 people worldwide amid cold weather there are currently more than 2 million caes and over 137,00 deaths reported around the globe
    Since COVID-19 emerged in China in December, the virus has spread like wildfire to more than 350,000 people worldwide amid cold weather there are currently more than 2 million caes and over 137,00 deaths reported around the globe

    Since COVID-19 emerged in China in December, the virus has spread like wildfire to more than 350,000 people worldwide amid cold weather there are currently more than 2 million caes and over 137,00 deaths reported around the globe

    Because COVID-19 is still new to the world, experts have noted that there is not enough data to show how the virus changes with seasons
    Because COVID-19 is still new to the world, experts have noted that there is not enough data to show how the virus changes with seasons

     Because COVID-19 is still new to the world, experts have noted that there is not enough data to show how the virus changes with seasons

    But it’s officially spring there now, and with the departure of winter has come a precipitous fall of cases in China.

    Scientists from MIT have also found that the coronavirus appears to loose spread slower in warmer countries.

    The team found that several countries ‘such as Australia, UAE, Qatar, Singapore, Bahrain, Qatar and Taiwan have performed extensive testing per capita and the number of positive 2019-nCoV cases per capita are lower in these countries compared to several European countries and the US,’ reads the analysis published on March 19.

    Qasim Bukhari, a computational scientist at MIT and a co-author of the analysis told Yahoo News that since publishing their work, the number of cases spreading in certain countries support their findings.

    ‘There are more than 5,000 cases in Pakistan right now,’ he said.

    ‘But the increase is not as rapid as you see in other countries.’

    MIT found several countries 'such as Australia, UAE, Qatar, Singapore, Bahrain, Qatar and Taiwan have performed extensive testing per capita and the number of positive 2019-nCoV cases per capita are lower in these countries compared to several European countries and the US
    MIT found several countries ‘such as Australia, UAE, Qatar, Singapore, Bahrain, Qatar and Taiwan have performed extensive testing per capita and the number of positive 2019-nCoV cases per capita are lower in these countries compared to several European countries and the US

    MIT found several countries ‘such as Australia, UAE, Qatar, Singapore, Bahrain, Qatar and Taiwan have performed extensive testing per capita and the number of positive 2019-nCoV cases per capita are lower in these countries compared to several European countries and the US

    Dr. Anthony Fauci (pictured), who is an immunologist and recently started working with the White House response, said in a press briefing that the summer months might slow the virus down

    Dr. Anthony Fauci, who is an immunologist and recently started working with the White House response, said in a press briefing that the summer months might slow the virus down.

    ‘It’s almost certainly going to go down a bit’, he said but did not confirm that warm weather will have a major impact on the outbreak.

    Although there are conflicting ideas about how sunlight impacts the coronavirus, Juan Leon, a virologist who focuses on environmental health at Emory University, told NPR that results using UVC to inactive such a disease as coronavirus could be more promising.

    ‘UVC for longer durations, over 15 minutes, was found to be more effective at inactivating SARS,’ she says.

    Dr. Anthony Fauci (pictured), who is an immunologist and recently started working with the White House response, said in a press briefing that the summer months might slow the virus down
    Dr. Anthony Fauci (pictured), who is an immunologist and recently started working with the White House response, said in a press briefing that the summer months might slow the virus down

    WHO says lifting virus lockdowns too quickly could spark ‘deadly resurgence’

    A hasty lifting of restrictions imposed to control the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to a fatal resurgence of the new coronavirus, the World Health Organization has warned.

    WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was working with countries on ways in which lockdowns could be gradually eased, but said doing so too quickly could be dangerous.

    ‘I know that some countries are already planning the transition out of stay-at-home restrictions. WHO wants to see restrictions lifted as much as anyone,’ he told a virtual press conference in Geneva.

    ‘At the same time, lifting restrictions too quickly could lead to a deadly resurgence. The way down can be as dangerous as the way up if not managed properly.

    ‘WHO is working with affected countries on strategies for gradually and safely easing restrictions.’

    WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, pictured during a news conference, has warned that lifting coronavirus restrictions too quickly could result in a resurgence
    WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, pictured during a news conference, has warned that lifting coronavirus restrictions too quickly could result in a resurgence

    WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, pictured during a news conference, has warned that lifting coronavirus restrictions too quickly could result in a resurgence

    The global death toll has now passed 100,000, and more than 1.6 million infections have been recorded globally since the virus first emerged in China in December.

    Tedros welcomed signs that the spread of the virus was slowing in some of the hardest-hit countries in Europe – namely Spain, Italy, Germany and France.

    But he also warned of an ‘alarming acceleration’ of the virus in some countries, highlighting Africa, where he said the virus was beginning to spread to rural areas.

    ‘We are now seeing clusters of cases and community spread in more than 16 countries’ on the continent, he said.

    ‘We anticipate severe hardship for already overstretched health systems, particularly in rural areas, which normally lack the resources of those in cities.’

    Tedros also sent his best wishes to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has been moved out of intensive care as he battles the coronavirus.

    Source: dailymail.co.uk

  • Coronavirus: Tunisians held over plot to infect police officers

    The interior ministry in Tunisia says that two men, including a suspected jihadist, have been arrested over an alleged plot to infect members of the security forces with coronavirus.

    The ministry says that the suspected jihadist – recently released from prison – had tried to encourage those who might have the virus to cough on police and security officials.

    The other man says that he was told to deliberately cough everywhere when he reported to his local police station – as part of the surveillance he was under.

    He is being tested to see if he has coronavirus.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Coronavirus: Care home deaths in a week ‘double previous month

    The number of deaths linked to coronavirus in UK care homes in one week could be double that of the whole previous month, according to a report.

    The National Care Forum (NCF) said if the pattern it found in its audit was repeated across all residential and nursing homes, more than 4,000 elderly and disabled people have died.

    It comes amid calls for accurate data on virus-linked care home deaths.

    Only 207 such deaths have been recorded officially in England and Wales.

    That is because the daily number of UK-wide coronavirus deaths, announced each day by the government, only includes people who died with the virus in hospital in the four nations.

    Ministers have regularly explained that this is because the hospital figures can be quickly collated and released, enabling their experts to analyse trends to help them advise on how the UK is coping with the virus.

    Virus-related deaths in care homes – and elsewhere in the community, such as in hospices or in people’s own homes – are measured separately and figures covering England and Wales are announced on a weekly basis by the Office for National Statistics every Tuesday.

    Because these are based on what doctors write on death certificates – sometimes only issued in the days after the death – there is a significant lag on collecting this data from the thousands of care homes involved. For that reason, the figures issued last Tuesday only covered deaths up to 3 April.

    That official figure of 207 is less than half the figure provided by two of the UK’s largest care home providers which, between them, say they know of 442 coronavirus-related deaths.

    The Care Quality Commission (CQC), which holds detailed statistics of care home deaths, has been accused by some in the residential care sector of “dragging their heels”.

    The CQC, England’s health and social care regulator, said it was working to “provide more detailed information about how the pandemic is affecting care homes”.

    The NCF, which represents not-for-profit care providers, said its findings highlight significant flaws in the official reporting of coronavirus-related death statistics.

    It collected data from care homes looking after more than 30,000 people in the UK, representing 7.4% of those people living in one of the country’s thousands of care settings.

    It said that, across those specific homes, in the week between 7 April and 13 April, there had been 299 deaths linked to coronavirus. That was treble the figure for the previous week and double that in the whole of the preceding month.

    If that number was reflected across all residential and nursing homes, NCF estimated there have been 4,040 coronavirus-related deaths in care homes which are not yet included in official figures.

    Separately, analysis from Care England, which represents large care home providers in England, claims that there have been 7,500 more deaths in care home – from all causes – in the last two weeks than would be expected at this time of year.

    And modelling by the health consultancy, Candesic, for the Financial Times, suggested the number of deaths due to the epidemic in UK care homes was at least 6,000.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Recovery from coronavirus must be just and equitable – Pope says

    Pope Francis called on Sunday for an all-embracing vision of the world after the COVID-19 crisis, saying moving on without global solidarity or excluding sectors of society from the recovery would result in “an even worse virus”.

    The pope left the Vatican for the first time in more than a month to say Mass in an almost empty church a few blocks away to mark Divine Mercy Sunday.

    In his homily at the Mass, as well as in his traditional Sunday message afterward, Francis said the recovery could not leave anyone behind and that now was the time to heal injustice around the world because it undermined the health of the entire human family.

    “Now, while we are looking forward to a slow and arduous recovery from the pandemic, there is a danger that we will forget those who are left behind,” Francis said in his homily in the church of Santo Spirito in Sassia, chosen because it is also known as the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy.

    “The risk is that we may then be struck by an even worse virus, that of selfish indifference. A virus spread by the

    thought that life is better if it is better for me, and that everything will be fine if it is fine for me,” he said.

    Francis, who last ventured into a deserted Rome on March 15 to pray at two shrines for the end of the pandemic, said the recovery should not sacrifice “those left behind on the altar of progress”, particularly the poor.

    More than 23,000 people have died from the novel coronavirus in Italy and the Vatican has mirrored the nearly six-week-old lockdown in the country, forcing the pope to hold all his Masses and general audiences without the public.

    In his homily, Francis said the pandemic “reminds us that there are no differences or borders between those who suffer”.

    In his noon message immediately after the Mass, he called for “just sharing among nations and their institutions in order to confront the current crisis in a manner marked by solidarity”.

    Source: reuters.com

  • 17-yr-old Achimota student uses animation to educate Ghanaians about coronavirus

    With the increasing number of Coronavirus cases in the country, there has been a joint force by all, in educating Ghanaians on why they have to adhere to all the preventive measures put in place by the government.

    Impressive is an understatement when students in Ghana’s Senior High Schools put their creativity to test by coming up with brilliant ideas to help in the fight against COVID-19.

    First, was a group of students from the Obuasi Secondary Technical School who designed a hands-free Veronica bucket. The artifact is designed in a way that, once you place your hand beneath the tap, the water automatically flows.

    The invention ensures that people are able to wash their hands using water from the Veronica bucket without touching its tap.

    Next is a 17-year-old Okyere Louis Arko, a second-year gold track student of the Achimota Senior High School.

    The young man created an animation video to educate Ghanaians on the implications as well as dos and don’ts of Coronavirus.

    Speaking to GhanaWeb in an exclusive interview, Louis, disclosed the purpose is to reach out to the masses especially the Ghanaian populace who love animation and cartoons, by using what they love to educate them on why they need to adhere to preventive measures.

    Not using, any special tools like a laptop, Louis told GhanaWeb, he uses his Samsung phone to create the animations.

    Though a science student, his love for IT compelled him to develop the passion by reading and watching a lot of videos on YouTube. He reiterated that he has not taken any professional studies on that.

    Hence, he practices what he learns on the web by using his phone.

    “I use my phone for all my animations. I used only one hour to create the COVID-19 sensitization video” he told GhanaWeb.

    Louis told GhanaWeb, that his family and teachers have been supportive of the new skills he has acquired.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Defects in sick building used as U/E coronavirus centre could kill patients Report

    A report by the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) indicates that the structure used as an isolation centre for the Upper East Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga is a death trap.

    According to the report, the building which has not seen any form of renovation for a very long time has deep-seated cracks with several of the roofing sheets rotten giving way for direct sun rays into the building.

    The building which is itself sick according to the GBC report can house only four patients but the Upper East region has recorded eight cases with one death and therefore there will not be able to contain the numbers should the region add more.

    The building which is located at the Upper East regional hospital is said to have been built some five decades ago and with its deplorable state, pillars holding the building have all be exposed.

    Some residents who spoke to GBC News in Bolgatanga said the building needs to be changed because the current building cannot be inhabited by human beings considering their plight at the moment.

    Source: mynewsgh.com

  • Open letter from African intellectuals to leaders over coronavirus

    Dozens of prominent intellectuals, writers and academics from across Africa have co-signed an open letter addressed to the continent’s leaders, asking them to use the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic as an opportunity to spur “radical change” in direction.

    “In the call, we urge African leaders to also think beyond the current crisis as a symptom of deep structural problems Africa has to confront if it is to become one day sovereign and an actor that contributes to the new global order,” Amy Niang, one of the academics behind the initiative, told Al Jazeera. “We are calling for a second independence.”

    Read the open letter below:

    THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW:
    Letter Addressed to African Leaders Concerning the COVID-19 Crisis

    The threats that are hanging over the African continent with regards to the spread of COVID-19 demand our individual and collective attention. The situation is critical. Yet this is not about mitigating another ‘African’ humanitarian crisis but to diffuse the potentially damaging effects of a virus that has shaken the global order and put under question the bases of our living-together.

    The coronavirus pandemic lays bare that which well-to-do middle classes in African cities have thus far refused to confront. In the past 10 years, various media, intellectuals, politicians and international financial institutions have clung to an idea of an Africa on the move, of Africa as the new frontier of capitalist expansion; an Africa on the path to ’emerging’ with growth rates that are the envy of northern countries. Such a representation, repeated at will to the point of becoming a received truth, has been torn apart by a crisis that has not entirely revealed the extent of its destructive potential.

    At the same time, any prospect of an inclusive multilateralism – ostensibly kept alive by years of treaty-making – is forbidding. The global order is disintegrating before our very eyes, giving way to a vicious geopolitical tussle. The new context of economic war of all against all leaves out countries of the Global South so to speak stranded. Once again we are reminded of their perennial status in the world order in-the-making: that of docile spectators.

    Like a tectonic storm, the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to shatter the foundations of states and institutions whose profound failings have been ignored for too long.

    It is impossible to list these, suffice it to mention chronic under-investment in public health and fundamental research, limited achievements in food self-sufficiency, the mismanagement of public finances, the prioritization of road and airport infrastructures at the expense of human well-being.

    All of this has in fact been the object of an abundant specialized research, except that it seems to have escaped attention in spheres of governance on the continent. The management of the ongoing crisis constitutes a most glaring evidence of this gap.

    On the necessity to govern with compassion

    Adopting the all-securitarian model of ‘containment’ of northern countries – often without much care to specific contexts – many African countries have imposed a brutal lockdown upon their populations; here and there, violation of curfew measures has been met with police violence.

    If such containment measures have met the agreement of middle classes shielded from crowded living conditions with some having the possibility to work from home, they have proved punitive and disruptive for those whose survival depends on informal activities.

    Let’s be clear: we are not advocating an impossible choice between economic security vs. health security but we wish to insist on the necessity for African governments to take into account the chronic precarity that characterizes the majority of their populations. Yet, as a continent that is familiar with pandemic outbreaks, Africa has a head start in the management of large-scale health crises. However, it should gird itself against complacency.

    Here and here, civil society organizations have shown tremendous solidarity and creativity. Despite however the great dynamism of individual actors, these initiatives could in no way make up for the chronic unpreparedness and the structural deficiencies that states themselves will have to mitigate. Rather than sit idle and wait for better fortune, we must endeavour to rethink the basis of our common destiny from our own specific historical and social context and the resources we have.

    Our belief is that ’emergency’ cannot, and should not constitute a mode of governance. We must instead be seized by the real urgency, which is to reform public policy, to make them work in favour of African populations and according to African priorities. In short, it is imperative to put forth the value of every human being regardless of status, over and beyond any logic of profit-making, domination or power capture.

    Beyond the state of emergency

    African leaders can and should propose to their societies a new political idea of Africa. For this is a question of survival, fundamentally, and not a matter of rhetorical flourish. Serious reflections are needed on the functioning of state institutions, on the function of a state and the place of juridical norms in the distribution and the balancing of power.

    This is best achieved on the basis of ideas adapted to realities across the continent. The realization of the second wave of our political independence will depend on political creativity as well as our capacity to take charge of our common destiny. Once again, various isolated efforts are already bearing fruit. They deserve to be heeded, debated and amply encouraged.

    Furthermore, Pan-Africanism also needs a new lease of life. It has to be reconciled with its original inspiration following decades of shortcomings. If progress on continental integration has been slow, the reason has much to do with an orientation informed by the orthodoxy of market liberalism. In consequence, the coronavirus pandemic reveals the deficit of a collective continental response, both in the health and other sectors.

    More than ever, we call upon leaders to ponder the necessity to adopt a concerted approach to governance sectors related to public health, fundamental research in all disciplines and to public policy.

    In the same vein, health has to be conceived as essential public good, the status of health workers needs to be enhanced, hospital infrastructure need to be upgraded to a level that allows everybody, including leaders themselves, to receive adequate treatment in Africa. Failure to implement these reforms would be cataclysmic.

    This letter is a small reminder, a reiteration of the obvious: that the African continent must take its destiny back into its own hands. For it is in the most trying moments that new/innovative orientations must be explored and lasting solutions adopted.

    The present letter is addressed to leaders of all walks of life; to the people of Africa and to all those that are committed to re/thinking the continent. We invite them to seize the opportunity of the coronavirus crisis to joint efforts in rethinking an African state in the service of the well-being of its people, to break with a model of development based on the vicious cycle of indebtedness, to break with the orthodox vision of growth for the sake of growth, and of profit for the sake of profit.

    The challenge for Africa is no less than the restoration of its intellectual freedom and a capacity to create – without which no sovereignty is conceivable. It is to break with the outsourcing of our sovereign prerogatives, to reconnect with local configurations, to break with sterile imitation, to adapt science, technology and research to our context, to elaborate institutions on the basis of our specificities and our resources, to adopt an inclusive governance framework and endogenous development, to create value in Africa in order to reduce our systemic dependence.

    More crucially, it is essential to remember that Africa has sufficient material and human resources to build a shared prosperity on an egalitarian basis and in respect of the dignity of each and everyone. The dearth of political will and the extractive practices of external actors can no longer be used as excuse for inaction. We no longer have a choice: we need a radical change in direction. Now is the time!

    Have signed:

    Wole Soyinka (Nobel Prize in Literature 1986)
    Makhily Gassama (Essayist)
    Cornel West (Princeton University)
    Kwame Anthony Appiah (New York University)
    Henry Louis Gates Jr (Harvard University)
    Cheikh Hamidou Kane (Writer)
    Odile Tobner (Librairie des Peuples Noirs, Cameroon)
    Iva Cabral (daughter of Amilcar Cabral, University of Mindelo)
    Olivette Otele (Bristol University)
    Boubacar Boris Diop (American University of Nigeria)
    Siba N’Zatioula Grovogui (Cornell University)
    Véronique Tajdo (Writer)
    Francis Nyamnjoh (University of Cape Town)
    Ibrahim Abdullah (Fourah Bay College)
    Sean Jacobs (The New School)
    Oumar Ba (Morehouse College)
    Maria Paula Meneses (Coimbra University)
    Amadou Elimane Kane (PanAfrican Institute of Culture and Research)
    Inocencia Mata (University of Lisbon)
    Anthony Obeng (The African Institute for Economic Development and Planning)
    Aisha Ibrahim (Fouray Bay College)
    Makhtar Diouf (Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar)
    Koulsy Lamko (Writer)
    Mahamadou Lamine Sagna (American University of Nigeria)
    Carlos Nuno Castel-Branco (Economist, Mozambique)
    Touriya Fili-Tullon (University of Lyon 2)
    Kako Nubupko (University of Lome)
    Rosania da Silva (University Foundation for the Development of Education)
    Amar Mohand-Amer (CRASC, Oran)
    Mame Penda Ba (Gaston Berger University of St Louis)
    Medhi Alioua (International University of Rabat)
    Rama Salla Dieng (University of Edinburgh)
    Yoporeka Somet (Philosopher, Egyptologist, Burkina Faso)
    Gazibo Mamoudou (University of Montreal)
    Fatou Kine Camara (Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar)
    Jonathan Klaaren (University of the Witwatersrand)
    Rosa Cruz e Silva (Agostinho Neto University)
    Ismail Rashid (Vassar College)
    Abdellahi Hajjat (Free University of Brussels)
    Maria das Neves Baptista de Sousa (Lusiada University of Sao Tome e Príncipe)
    Lazare Ki-Zerbo (Philosopher, Guyana)
    Lina Benabdallah (Wake Forest University)
    Iolanda Evora (University of Lisbon)
    Kokou Edem Christian Agbobli (The Universite du Quebec a Montreal)
    Opeyemi Rabiat Akande (Harvard University)
    Lourenço do Rosario (Mozambique Polytechnic University)
    Issa Ndiaye (University of Bamako)
    Yolande Bouka (Queen’s University)
    Adama Samake (Felix Houphouet Boigny University)
    Bruno Sena Martins (Coimbra University)
    Charles Ukeje (University of Ile Ife)
    Isaie Dougnon (Fordham University)
    Cláudio Alves Furtado (Federal University of Bahia, University of Cap-Verde)
    Ebrima Ceesay (University of Birmingham)
    Rita Chaves (University of Sao Paulo)
    Benaouda Lebdai (Le Mans University)
    Guillaume Johnson (CNRS, Paris-Dauphine)
    Ayano Mekonnen (University of Missouri)
    Thierno Diop (Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar)
    Mbemba Jabbi (University of Texas)
    Abdoulaye Kane (University of Florida)
    Muhammadu M.O. Kah (American University of Nigeria & University of the Gambia)
    Alpha Amadou Barry Bano (University of Sonfonia)
    Yacouba Banhoro (University of Ouaga 1 Joseph Ki-Zerbo)
    Dialo Diop (Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar)
    Rahmane Idrissa (African Studies Center, Leiden)
    El Hadji Samba Ndiaye (Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar)
    Benabbou Senouci (University of Oran)
    José Luís Cabaco (Universidade Tecnica de Mocambique)
    Mouhamadou Ngouda Mboup (Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar)
    Hassan Remanoun (University of Oran)
    Salif Diop (Universite Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar)
    Narciso Matos (Mozambique Polytechnic University)
    Mame Thierno Cisse (Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar)
    Demba Moussa Dembele (ARCADE, Senegal)
    Many Camara (University of Angers)
    Ibrahima Wane (Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar)
    Thomas Tieku (King’s University College, Western University) Jibrin Ibrahim (Center for Democracy and Development)
    El Hadji Samba Ndiaye (Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar)
    Jose Luis Cabaco (Technical University of Mozambique)
    Firoze Manji (Daraja Press)
    Mansour Kedidir (CRASC, Oran)
    Abdoul Aziz Diouf (Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar)
    Mohamed Nachi (University of Liege)
    Alain Kaly (Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro)
    Last Dumi Moyo (American University of Nigeria)
    Hafsi Bedhioufi (University of Manouba)
    Abdoulaye Niang (Gaston Berger University of Saint-Louis)
    Robtel Neajai Pailey (University of Oxford)
    Slaheddine Ben Frej (Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciencees of Tunis)
    Victor Topanou (Universite d’Abomey-Calavi, Bénin)
    Paul Ugor (Illinois State University)
    Djibril Tamsir Niane (Writer)
    Laroussi Amri (University of Tunis)
    Karine Ndjoko Ioset (University of Wuerzburg and University of Lubumbashi)
    Magueye Kassa (Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar)
    Lionel Zevounou (Paris Nanterre University)
    Amy Niang (University of Witwatersrand)
    Ndongo Samba Sylla (Economist, Senegal)

    Source: aljazeera.com

  • Health Ministry chasing CSM like coronavirus – Kwaku Agyeman-Manu

    Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman-Manu says his Ministry is putting in measures to curb the spread of Cerebral Spinal Meningitis (CSM). 40 people have died from an outbreak of Cerebrospinal Meningitis in the Upper West Region.

    According to the Ghana Health Service, as of April 15, 2020, a total of 409 cases had been recorded from the 5 northern regions, with Upper West alone pegging 258.

    Minority Chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak criticised the Health Ministry for not paying much attention to the disease which has claimed more lives than COVID-19 and it was about time stringent measures are put in place to stop its spread.

    Mr Agyeman-Manu reacting to this said they are doing everything possible and are using the same energy for the COVID-19 fight in this very issue.

    “We are working on how to stop the CSM and we are chasing the bacterial like how we are chasing COVID-19, we are doing education, sensitization, community engagement and all that can be done. We are even doing social distancing with the CSM, we have people going round to educate.”

    The Ghana Health Service in a statement last week revealed that although the disease had no vaccine, there was available treatment, attributing the rapid deaths to delay in the report for healthcare.

    The statement further noted that the Upper West started recording sporadic cases in February 2020, and has seen a rise in cases in recent times especially in the past two weeks.

    The Ghana Health Service further stated that all the affected areas, namely; Upper West, Upper East, Northern, Savannah and North East had been adequately stocked with appropriate antibiotics for the management of the disease as well as funds to their response.

    The spread of CSM has come at a time where Ghana is also battling with the novel coronavirus.

    Ghana as at April 18, 2020, had recorded 834 cases with 9 deaths so far.

    Source: primenewsghana.com

  • Let’s appreciate private burials – Chief

    Torgbe Kpodo Kavi V, Chief of Avegorme in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region, said it was time Ghanaians appreciated private burials and incorporated it into the local culture.

    He said private burials lessened financial burdens, saved time and promoted good hygiene and should be accepted by all, especially at the time of the Coronavirus pandemic.

    Togbe Kavi in an interview with the Ghana News Agency said, “if you think you do not have enough money to keep the dead at the mortuary, it is better you get about five to ten people in the family and do private burial to save money for the upkeep of children who would go to school after the pandemic,” he said.

    He asked residents in his traditional area not to treat the case of the pandemic lightly as the Volta Region had already recorded nine cases of the disease, urging bereaved families in the area to quickly organise private burials.

    “Let us adhere to the directives,” Togbe Kavi said, stressing strict adherence to no social gathering.

    Source: GNA

  • Ghanaian seaman reportedly killed in Trinidad and Tobago

    Ghanaian seaman, Gyasi Richardson has been killed in Trinidad and Tobago after he was fatally shot dead by his own colleague while on duty.

    According to a report by Newsday, Richardson was fatally shot by his colleague, Takeem Alexander, on Tuesday, April 7, 2020, while onboard Coast Guard Vessel CG25 TTS Spayside which was docked at Chacachacare Island.

    Richardson died at St. James Medical Hospital following the unlawful gunshot.

    Reasons behind the unlawful gunshot is not immediately revealed but on Tuesday, Acting Supt Corbett, Acting ASP Burnett, Acting Insp Grant and Legal Officer Sgt Mongroo met with Director of Public Prosecutions, Roger Gaspard, SC, and received certain instructions which led to Alexander of St James, is being charged with manslaughter by Acting ASP Burnett.

    The charge was laid at Besson Street Police Station. Alexander appeared before Magistrate Adia Mohammed via video conferencing and he was not called upon to plea as the charge was laid indictably.

    The accused was granted $400,000 bail with a surety and the case was adjourned to May 13. A TTPS press release stated that investigations were conducted by officers of the Homicide Bureau of Investigations (Region I) supervised by Supt Martin, Supt Corbett and spearheaded by Snr Supt Chandool.

    Source: ghanaguardian.com

  • Coronavirus: Taxi driver installs automated handwasher on car for passengers

    As people adapt to life under quarantine and preventative measures, a cab driver in Ghana has taken some precautions to protect himself and passengers.

    The driver has set-up hand-washer on his vehicle to help curb the spread of COVID-19.

    A video, posted on Facebook by Maam Yaa, shows an automatic hand-wash unit placed on the taxi and a passenger is seen making use of the invention.

    The innovation has received applause and has equally garnered larger viewership on Facebook.

    Ghana has recorded over 800 cases of COVID-19 which has killed 9 people with over 80 recoveries.

    The regular washing of hands using an alcohol-based sanitizer or soap is one of the key steps recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

    They also urge people to maintain a social distance, avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth as well as covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze.

    The country has shut down its borders as well as lockdown some cities with high cases.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo has also issued a directive urging people to avoid shaking hands or hugging.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Eyes on the Ground: Uncompleted bridge connecting SCC and Ayigbe Town turns death trap

    Residents of SCC in the Ga South Municipality of Accra are lamenting over an uncompleted bridge that links the area to Ayigbe Town.

    A resident, Nana Osae, who spoke to GhanaWeb disclosed that Deputy Health Minister, Tina Mensah together with the MCE of the area, Joseph Stephen Nyarni, commissioned the construction of the bridge in February.

    He, however, noted that the construction came to a standstill shortly after it began.

    The bridge, according to residents, serves as the main route into neighbouring towns as well as the road to the Weija Mall.

    They have been forced to resort to a narrow unmotorable feeder road which is inaccessible whenever it rains.

    Mr. Osae added that the uncompleted bridge has become a death trap since it collects rain and is likely to flood the area one day.

    Parts of the country, namely Accra, Tema, Kumasi and Obuasi are currently on a 3-week lockdown due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic.

    Some Ghanaians have begun to express worry as the country heads to the rainy season with no end in sight to the global pandemic.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Private Health staff in Eastern Region to lay down tools over 11-month salary arrears

    Health workers at Providence Medical Center, a private health facility at Suhum in the Eastern Region are threatening to lay down tools beginning Monday, April 20, 2020, over eleven (11) months salary arrears.

    Among the workers are administrative staff, nurses, midwives, records staff, orderlies and security.

    According to the aggrieved Staff, the Medical Director of the facility, Dr. Divine Apaloo has always been hiding behind the indebtedness of National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to the facility as an excuse for his inability to pay staff.

    However, they claim, NHIA has recently paid four months of the arrears owed the facility but the Director instead of also clearing at least half of their salary arrears, paid for just a month.

    Some of the staff told Starr News, their Landlords are evicting them over non-payment of rents whereas others are unable to take care of their families.

    “From Administration to Orderly nobody has been paid for the past 11 months. He always uses arrears of NHIA as excuse but now that NHIA has paid four months of the arrears he is still not willing to pay us. At least pay us four months of the arrears but just paid a month. So we want our money we have families to take care ”

    “One of the orderlies was recently ejected from his room over non-payment rent. Unfortunately, it rained that day. Similar thing happened to a security man”.

    “Now we all know how coronavirus is not sparing health workers globally, so if we risk our lives here and not being paid that is unfair” Another staff complained.

    Providence Medical Center popularly called Dr. Apaloo Hospital by residents is arguably one of the biggest private primary health centres in Suhum Municipality.

    Out-Patient Attendance has always been high compared to others due to quality healthcare delivery. The facility is deemed to be the best in terms of delivery of gynaecology and maternal healthcare services.

    The Medical Center has a branch in Koforidua.

    Efforts through phone calls and messages sent to the CEO of the facility Dr.Divine Apaloo for reaction to the allegations and threats to lay down tools by the staff remain unanswered.

    Source: starrfm.com.gh

  • Coronavirus: Stars take part in one World: Together at home concert

    The Rolling Stones even managed to play together from four separate locations.

    The eight-hour show also featured real-life stories from those on the front line of the fight against COVID-19.

    Lady Gaga, who curated the line-up, called the event “a love letter to the world”.

    Dedicating the show to first responders and medical staff, she said the participating musicians all wanted “to give back a little bit of the kindness that you’ve given us”.

    She went on to play an upbeat version of Charlie Chaplin’s Smile, adding: “We want to get to the other side of this pandemic and we know you do too.”

    Paul McCartney joined the programme shortly after, calling health-care workers “the real heroes” of the crisis and remembering his mother Mary, who was a nurse during the Second World War.

    Titled One World: Together At Home, the concert was organised by the Global Citizen movement and the World Health Organization (WHO).

    It began with a montage of people under lockdown applauding the efforts of healthcare workers around the world – from France, Spain, the UK, the US and elsewhere.

    “To all of our frontline healthcare workers, we are with you. Thank you for being there for us,” read an on-screen caption.

    Proceeds generated from the concert will go to the Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the WHO, but Lady Gaga made clear the show was not a fundraising telethon and would focus on entertainment and messages of solidarity.

    First to perform was US singer songwriter Andra Day, who sang the ballad Rise Up from her apartment, setting the tone for the rest of the evening.

    One Direction star Niall Horan followed shortly afterwards singing Black and White with an acoustic guitar from his living room and former bandmate Liam Payne appeared with the song Midnight.

    “It’s a pretty dark time for us all right now… and I feel we’re all being brought a lot closer together by this solidarity,” he said.

    Brandon Flowers and Ronnie Vannucci of The Killers performed their hit Mr Brightside, while US singer Adam Lambert gave a rendition of the Tears for Fears song Mad World – which he first performed as an X Factor contestant in 2009.

    John Legend teamed up with Sam Smith to cover Ben E King’s Stand By Me, while Billie Eilish played a soulful version of Bobby Hebb’s Sunny.

    “I love this song,” said the star. “It’s always warmed my heart and made me feel good, and I wanted to make you guys feel good, too.”

    The Rolling Stones also delivered a spirited version You Can’t Always Get What You Want – despite drummer Charlie Watts being reduced to banging on flight cases and the arm of a sofa, in the absence of his drum kit.

    British singer Rita Ora urged viewers to stay safe and follow WHO recommendations, before singing I Will Never Let You Down.

    Annie Lennox, meanwhile, appeared to address President Donald Trump’s threat to pull funding from the WHO earlier this week.

    “In this unprecedented moment in history we have a collective responsibility to make sure that global health systems are strong enough to identify and prevent future pandemics before they happen again,” said the singer, although she didn’t mention President Trump by name.

    Ellie Goulding and Christine + The Queens also addressed the mental health issues arising from the coronavirus lockdown, urging viewers to reach out to friends if they were feeling low.

    “I know it’s hard,” said Christine, whose real name is Heloise Letissier, “and don’t hesitate to reach out to people virtually if you feel down.”

    Source: bbc.com

  • Dead body retrieved from Trudu Waterfalls in Eastern Region

    A decomposing body of a man has been retrieved from the Trudu Waterfalls located near Begoro in the Fanteakwa North Municipality of the Eastern Region.

    The decomposing body was retrieved Saturday by a joint team from the Ghana Police Service and the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO).

    According to the bereaved parents, the deceased young man went missing two days ago.

    Due to the state of the body, he was buried immediately.

    Meanwhile, the local Police have commenced investigations into the incident.

    Trudu Waterfalls is one of the nicest waterfalls in the Eastern Region but not well marketed. Locals, however, mostly patronize it to have fun.

    This is not the first time a drowning incident has been recorded in the Waterfalls. In 2018, a 17-year-old boy drowned. His body was subsequently retrieved and buried after autopsy.’

    Source: starrfm.com.g

  • Eritrean president likens coronavirus to ‘sudden war’ of historic dimension

    Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki has delivered his first public address on the coronavirus pandemic since the country recorded index case on March 21.

    In a message broadcast via public broadcasters, Eri-TV and Radio Dimtsi Hafash, he likened the COVID-19 pandemic to a sudden war that the world least expected and was thus not fully prepared for.

    “President Isaias noted that the global threat posed by the pandemic (COVID-19) is analogous to a sudden war, without any parallel in our contemporary times, that has been declared without any warning or prediction by all standards,” Minister of Information posted on Twitter.

    He added that in spite of the grave danger that COVID-19 poses, Eritreans home and abroad have to ensure that it does not overwhelm or paralyze them and derail the development programmes embarked on.

    He said it was important to combine existing developmental programs with the current combat against the pandemic. He tasked citizens to do all it takes to surmount the current and existing challenges.

    As of April 18, the Eritrea COVID-19 situation report had 35 confirmed cases, all currently under treatment meaning the country had not recorded any recovery or death. A lockdown was imposed weeks back by the COVID-19 Task Force with periodic regulations being issued by the Health Ministry through the information ministry website.

    Source: africanews.com

  • Two courts established in Kumasi to deal with coronavirus cases

    The Ashanti Regional Police Commander, COP Kwasi Mensah Duku has disclosed that two courts have been established in the region to deal with people who flout COVID-19 directive especially the lockdown in Greater Kumasi.

    COP Kwasi Mensah Duku disclosed that 144 people have been arrested in the Ashanti Region who would be put before the court indicating that the law would not spare anyone who flouts it.

    “We are not in normal time so we would inconvenience many people we must abide by the lockdown directive. We should also obey the social distancing protocol,” COP Duku said.

    COP Duku noted that the fight against COVID-19 in the region and the rest of the country is a collective responsibility.

    He called on opinion leaders including Chiefs, Queen mothers, and Assembly Members to support the security agencies to ensure that people comply with the lockdown directive.

    He also urged people who have evidence against Police personnel extorting money from people to report to his outfit.

    Source: pulse.com.gh

  • Cargo truck carrying passengers intercepted at Nkwanta South

    Police at Nkwanta South in the Oti region have intercepted a cargo truck which was transporting travelers and also loaded with other items heading towards the Northern region.

    The driver tried to outsmart security personnel stationed at various checkpoints but the police intercepted the truck through strict checks conducted in the Nkwanta South municipality.

    Detective Chief Inspector SK Gavor confirmed the incident and said: “We had information that some people were packed in a cargo truck from heading towards Nkwanta-Kpassa so we stopped the truck.”

    He added that the police had tasked the Municipal Health Directorate to conduct a surveillance medical checks on the passengers whether or not they have been infected with the deadly coronavirus disease.

    Source: pulse.com.gh

  • Coronavirus: Ghanaian community in Canada appeal for funds to support fight

    The Ghanaian Canadian Association of Ontario (GCAO) led by its youth wing is organizing fundraiser to help the Ghana Government to fight the Coronavirus back home on our motherland.

    According to Mr. Emmanuel Duodu, the President of GCAO, ” since the outbreak of the virus in Ghana, there has been an increased number of people affected by this pandemic. Healthcare centres are overwhelmed and many families are struggling.

    “The Ghanaian Community in Canada in collaboration with the Ghana Mission is launching an appeal to all Ghanaians and friends of Ghana to support Ghana in this time of pandemic crisis.

    Ghana has issued a lockdown restricting the movement of people in Accra and Kumasi. This has affected the local community, seniors and children and those experiencing homelessness in the various communities.”

    As our President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said, “We know how to bring the economy back to life. What we do not know is how to bring people back to life”.

    Your support can make a difference now than ever. All proceeds will be paid into the Ghana COVID-19 National Trust Fund for the welfare of the needy and the vulnerable. Some of these funds will be used to support front line staff and local organizations that are on the grounds supporting and educating communities about the pandemic crisis. So far over $1,500 has been raised.

    To donate go to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/covid19-support-for-ghana?utm_source=whatsapp-visit&utm_medium=chat&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet

    Source: Joseph Kingsley Eyiah

  • There is ‘no evidence’ that people who have survived coronavirus have immunity – WHO

    There is no evidence to support the belief that people who have recovered from coronavirus will not catch it again, the World Health Organisation has said.

    WHO chiefs have warned world leaders against investing too heavily in the tests to show if a person has already had the virus because they do not guarantee immunity.

    The UK Government has bought 3.5million serology tests, measuring antibodies in blood plasma, but they are not definitive in proving if someone has had the virus.

    Many tests being developed are pinprick blood checks similar to widely used instant HIV tests and measure raised levels of the antibodies the body uses to fight the virus.

    It comes as a top health official said the coronavirus ‘immunity passports’ plan is doomed to fail after only 10 percent of Italians developed COVID-19 antibodies.

    And a study by scientists at Stanford University in the US found as much as 4 percent of California’s population may have already been infected with the virus.

    Meanwhile, Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche said it has developed an antibody test that it hopes to roll out in May to detect people previously infected with COVID-19, even those who displayed no symptoms.

    Britain and many countries had hoped antibody tests would allow those who can prove they have had the virus and therefore thought to be immune to return to work and stabilise the economy.

    But Dr Mike Ryan, executive director of WHO’s emergencies programme, said there was limited evidence that coronavirus survivors were guaranteed future immunity to the disease.

    This means those who have already had the virus could be at risk of being reinfected.

    He added: ‘Nobody is sure whether someone with antibodies is fully protected against having the disease or being exposed again.

    ‘Plus some of the tests have issues with sensitivity they may give a false-negative result.’

    Dr Ryan also warned that the antibody tests raised ethical questions.

    ‘There are serious ethical issues around the use of such an approach and we need to address it very carefully, we also need to look at the length of protection that antibodies might give,’ he said.

    ‘You might have someone who believes they are seropositive (have been infected) and protected in a situation where they may be exposed and in fact, they are susceptible to the disease.’

    Dr Ryan said the tests had to be used as part of coherent public health policy.

    His colleague Dr Maria van Kerkhove said: ‘There are a lot of countries that are suggesting using rapid diagnostic serological tests to be able to capture what they think will be a measure of immunity.

    ‘Right now, we have no evidence that the use of a serological test can show that an individual has immunity or is protected from reinfection.’

    She added: ‘These antibody tests will be able to measure that level of seroprevalence – that level of antibodies but that does not mean that somebody with antibodies means that they are immune.’

    Dr van Kerkhove said it was ‘a good thing’ that so many tests are being developed.

    But she cautioned: ‘We need to ensure that they are validated so that we know what they say they attempt to measure they are actually measuring.’

    The WHO is due to issue updated guidance on the issue this weekend.

    The Government has already invested in 3.5million tests but has not yet found one reliable enough to roll out.

    It was thought that the tests would allow ministers to aim for ‘herd immunity’, in which most Britons are resistant to COVID-19.

    Source: Daily Mail

  • Coronavirus: Kwesimentim NDC Parliamentary candidate commends Western Region

    Mr Fifi Buckman, the National Democratic Congress Parliamentary Aspirant for the Kwesimintsin constituency has applauded the leadership of the Region for showing leadership in managing the first case of COVID-19 pandemic recorded in the Region last Sunday.

    “It’s refreshing to read the said piece as it shows good leadership to expeditiously come out with information in respect of the reported case in our beloved region to avoid unnecessary speculations, which has the tendency of putting fear in all of us. Kudos for showing leadership.”

    In a statement signed and copied to the Ghana News Agency, he noted the need for some important pre-emptive measures to be instituted with various heads of institutions to properly handle cases.

    He therefore recommended the setting up of a COVID-19 Testing Centre at the Effia-Nkwanta hospital to test those suspected cases in real time.

    He proposed the setting up of a non-partisan team to plan ahead to ensure smooth and prudent and safe distribution of foodstuffs and food to those in need to avoid the unsafe and chaos in the lockdown regions.

    The Aspirant also made a humble appeal to individuals and institutions to sponsor the procurement of the necessary PPEs for health workers whilst liaising with the Regional Health Directorate to put out timely information to avoid speculations that might lead to fear and panic.

    “The Regional Health Directorate must identify and prepare possible isolation centres outside hospitals to prevent inadvertent spread of the infection”, he added.

    On education, the aspirant called for adequate resourcing of the Information service department and the National Commission for
    Civic Education to intensify education and awareness through the length and breadth of the region in respect of the laid down rules and directives to be observed in respect of the prevention of infection.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus: Minority demands fairness in food and water distribution

    The Minority in Parliament has demanded agents used in the distribution of food, water and other social protection items to be fair without partisan considerations.

    The Caucus told a News conference at the Parliament House in Accra that it was in no way against the interventions, but pointed out that they must be fair, transparent to all the vulnerable in the affected communities.

    Minority Chief Whip Mubarak Muntaka led the conference, addressed by several members in the caucus including Nii Lante Vanderpuije, MP for Odododiodio, Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, MP Ablekuma South, Nobert Nogbey, MP for AShaiman, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, MP for Klottey Korley, Sophia Akuaku, MP for Obom-Domeabra, and Comfort Doyoe Ghansah, MP for Ada.

    It was partly in reaction to statement attributed to a broadcaster, Paul Adom Otchere accusing Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings on television and partly on the perceived unfairness in the distribution of food to the vulnerable.

    Alhaji Muntaka said the stance of Mr Adom Otchere constituted an “unwarranted attack” as they, members of the Minority took part in approving financial assistance from Parliament that government sought to assist the vulnerable in the wake of the pandemic.

    He stressed that the disease did not know any party colours hence the House was unanimous in approving the financial assistance that government sought
    The Minority Chief Whip recalled that his Side suggested a non-partisan committee to handle the distribution, but the practice is that the distribution has become partisan using the National Disaster Management Organization.

    Members of the Minority at the conference registered their displeasure at the exercise stressing fairness in all aspects to the advantage of the vulnerable.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus: Traders at Dormaa-Ahenkro not adhering to distancing protocols

    Traders at the weekly Tuesday market at Dormaa-Ahenkro in the Dormaa Central Municipality of the Bono Region have not been observing the social distancing protocols against the spread of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

    Also restaurants, chop bar operators and drinking spots continue to flout the protocols as they open up for business day and at night.

    Although public education and sensitisation for awareness on the disease is on the high, traders at the market still packed goods, food items, and other belongings closely together, leaving very little space between them.

    When the Ghana News Agency (GNA) visited the market, the usual hustling and bustling that often characterised trading activities were on a lower scale with relatively low patronage.

    Madam Yaa Amponsah, market queen for plantain sellers, indicated that persistent attempts and announcements to get traders to comply with the directives had fallen on deaf ears.

    She continued that when a two-metre space between two traders was created, another trader quickly moved in to occupy the space after noticing it had been left unoccupied.

    “I have been telling them repeatedly to obey the distancing protocols but they refused to adhere to those directives, even for their safety”.

    Mad. Amponsah said she would, therefore, welcome any move by the Municipal Assembly to shut down the market “if that is the only option to prevent the outbreak of the disease and possible infections”.

    Another trader, Mad. Ama Boadiwaa, a cocoyam seller also affirmed that some officials from the Municipal Assembly had been at the market to ensure strict adherence to the distancing protocols against the COVID-19 pandemic.

    But she regretted some traders were not cooperating and cited an instance where a trader had vowed that she was prepared to team up with the rest of her family members in the market to confront anybody who would dare to either push them out of space or deny them access to sell goods at the market.

    The principal streets of Dormaa-Ahenkro have virtually become deserted because generally residents are obeying the restrictions to stay at home and those being seen in the streets are workers who offering essential services.

    Veronica buckets, liquid soap and hand sanitizers have been made available and positioned at the frontage of most public office buildings, financial institutions, hospitals, stores and pharmacy shops to ensure people washed their hands under running water before they enter those premises.

    When contacted by the GNA, Mr. Drisssa Ouattara, the Municipal Chief Executive said the Assembly was in the process of responding to the situation with more effective measures for the people to adhere strictly to the social distancing protocols.

     Source: GNA