TIG Post

Author: Persis

  • Coronavirus: Why close down churches but leave nightclubs open? President questioned

    Some Ghanaians are wondering why the President has banned church gatherings for the next four weeks, but has said that nightclubs and other businesses can go on and operate in spite of the coronavirus.

    Last night, as part of drastic measures to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, banned nearly all public gatherings but exempted businesses that entail gatherings such as nightclubs, instructing such businesses to observe enhanced hygiene practices.

    “All Universities, Senior High Schools, and basic schools, i.e. public and private schools, will be closed Monday, 16th March, 2020, till further notice. The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Ministry of Communication, has been tasked to roll out distance learning programmes. However, BECE and WASSCE candidates will be allowed to attend school to prepare for their examinations, but with prescribed social distancing protocols…

    [But] Establishments, such as supermarkets, shopping malls, restaurants, night clubs, hotels and drinking spots, should observe enhanced hygiene procedures by providing, amongst others, hand sanitizers, running water and soap for washing of hands” the President stated.

    But some Ghanaians are critical of the president following these directive allowing nightclubs to operate while churches have been banned.

    Below are some social media reactions to the directive

    Source: mynewsgh.com

  • Coronavirus: GBA wants courts to suspend sitting

    The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) is calling for the suspension of all court sittings for the next 14 days in the outbreak of the Coronavirus in the country.

    In a statement dated Sunday, 15 March 2020 and signed by the GBA President, Tony Forson, the GBA said its National President has had “extensive consultations” with the Judicial Secretary regarding the “current heightened concerns about the coronavirus.”

    The GBA President was “apprised of all the preparations the Judicial Service has made to prevent the spread of the virus including the procurement and distribution of industrial sanitizers and ensuring that all the protocols announced are strictly observed.”

    It indicated that the GBA President intends to meet with the Chief Justice today, Monday, 16 March 2020 “to make a strong case for the suspension of court sittings for at least the next 14 days while contingency plans are made for limited court sittings taking into consideration the social distancing advice.”

    The GBA President, however, advised “all lawyers to remain calm and help in the education drive in their communities to assist people to understand the guidelines which have been put by the relevant authorities.”

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Parliament begins extended sittings today

    Parliament will commence an extended sittings beginning today, March, 16, 2020.

    The extended sittings which has adopted Mondays and Saturdays as additional days will run all through to April.

    The deputy Majority leader, Sarah Adwoa Safo explained that the sittings will enable the House to deliberate on critical issues which are time-bound.

    Meanwhile, the Minority in parliament wants an early adjournment of the house over health concerns.

    First Deputy Minority Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim, in a similar situation in 2019 intimated that the practice of having late night sittings and extended periods of parliamentary meetings is having a toll on their health as well as that of reporters who are compelled to endure such long hours.

    Source: kasapafmonline.com

  • Government to face a series of protests if Kpone landfill is not shut down Group warns

    A you group calling itself Organized Youth for Development (OYD) at Kpone in the Kpone Katamanso District Assembly (KKDA) has threatened to embark on a series of legally permitted actions including organized demonstrations against government to shut down the Kpone landfill site which they say is killing them in the municipality.

    Narrating their ordeal, the youth leader, Nii Noi Tetteh lamented over the fruitless engagements the youth of the area have had with the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Mrs. Cecilia Abena Dapaah and the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr. Ishmael Ashitey over the period not less than six months.

    A viciously frustrated Tetteh said, “We are on our last lifeline, we have no such luxury of time to wait anymore”

    Because of this landfill he said they have most their water bodies to the leache and many of the inhabitant have died mysteriously.

    He said there are no accessible roads and any development activity going in the municipality which is a worry to the youth of the area.

    The Regional Minister flanked with other metropolitan and municipal chief executives were on a tour to assess the state of the landfills and to engage the youth further for a truce upon news that the youth were readying to demonstrate against government for the closure of the Kpone landfill.

    Fire gathered the Kpone Landfill on August 15, 2019 and up till now the fire is still burning which resulted in the decommissioning of the landfill.

    The oldest site on the same land has therefore been used to accommodate waste amounting to 800 and 900 tons in a day.

    The Regional Minister Hon. Ishmael Ashittey appealed to the youth leaders to talk to their members to calm down for government has already awarded their road as part of “government’s special roads” to a contractor who is mobilising to come to site and that government was almost ready to relocate the landfill site from Kpone.

    He said he has had discussions with the Sanitation and Water Resource Minister and the relocation will executed as soon as possible.

    The Municipal Chief Executive of the Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA), Hon. Felix Annang-La appealed to the youth for cool heads saying it was practically impossible for government or the TMA to shut down the Kpone landfill overnight.

    According to the MCE, government has decided that all other parts of Greater Accra Region except Tema, Ashaima and Kpone are not supposed to dump their refuse at the Kpone Landfill again which is an agenda to reduce the pressure on the landfill until the relocation is successfully done.

    Mr. Annang-La appealed to patrons of the facility from other parts of Accra to desist from hauling waste from Accra to the site any further.

    Source: Patricia Ofori-Atta, Contributor

  • GHS takes delivery of more PPEs for health professionals

    The Ghana Health Service, GHS has taken delivery of the second consignment of Personal Protective Equipment, PPE. The PPEs will help protect health professionals who are in contact with infected Covid-19 victims.

    Director-General for the Ghana Health Service Dr Patrick Aboagye said they have taken delivery of the second consignment of PPEs.

    He said the third consignment is also expected in the country soon and will be distributed.

    Dr Patrick Aboagye also advised the health professional to use the PPEs judiciously.

    “We’ve brought in the second consignment of PPEs, we are expecting the third consignment and as it comes it will be distributed. As we continue to expand our training and rapid response teams, there are systems and resources available plan to ensure that as and when we need PPEs we will use them. We will ask that people not to also waste PPEs, that is extremely important because it globally not readily available..”

    Nurses and Midwives have been advised by their mother association, the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) to leave isolation units if they are not supplied personal protective equipment by the government.

    The Association also urged the health workers to be on alert in the conduct of their daily routines in light of the outbreak of the 2019 Coronavirus.

    The Association in a release on Friday, March 13, 2020, said health officials must ensure that protective gears are made available to the nurses and midwives who will be on the frontline working in isolation units in the four designated treatment centres for Coronavirus in Ghana.

    “Nursing and Midwifery managers must ensure that Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are available for use by all nurses and midwives working in the isolation Units in the four designated treatment centres.”

    “In the event of unavailability of these logistics at the isolation centres, we strongly advise our nurses and midwives to protect their lives by removing themselves from that environment,” the statement said.

    Source: primenewsghana.com

  • COVID-19 outbreak: 151 contacts traced to 4 cases so far Dr. Badu Sarkodie

    So far, a total number of 151 contacts have been traced to four out of six individuals who have been confirmed with the novel coronavirus in Ghana.

    This was revealed by the Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Badu Sarkodie at a press briefing held on Sunday, March 15, 2020.

    “Let me give just a brief about details of the various cases that we have had with respect to the contacts that we are managing. First four cases, contact tracing has started. We just confirmed the last two cases over the night and we have started mechanisms to identify the contacts. With case 1, we have identified two contacts and all the contacts are being traced. With case 2, the Norwegian, we have identified 107 contacts and we have started processes to follow up on 68 of them. We will be in touch with the rest by the close of today.”

    “Case 3 is a student and for now, we have identified 12 contacts. We are still in the process to work assiduously to get more. And with the last case, the place of residence is Obuasi. Currently, we have identified 30 contacts and all the 30 contacts are being followed up,” he said.

    This was after he announced that four more cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in Ghana, bringing the total figure to six.

    First two cases confirmed on March 13

    On Friday, March 13 2020, the first two cases were confirmed as COVID-19. They reported in two regions. One each from Ashanti Region and the other in the Greater Accra Region.

    “The first is a 56-year old man, a Ghanaian who returned from a trip in the UK on the 4th of March. He stayed in UK for 10 days and came back. He developed symptoms on the 12th of March and reported to a hospital in Obuasi. The case definition met the case of that of suspected COVID-19. Samples were taken and sent to the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR) and within a short time, the lab reported that this is another confirmed case of COVID-19 within the country.”

    “The second is a woman, a Ghanaian student. She travelled out to the USA. Stayed there for about 10 days. She came back on the 9th of March and on 13th of March, started having symptoms…Samples were taken to Noguchi on 13th and the same day we had a report from Noguchi that confirmed this as another case of COVID-19.”

    Second cases on March 14

    Dr. Badu Sarkodie announced that the two additional cases were of two Ghanaian males aged 42, and 41 who travelled into the country this month.

    So far, no contacts have been traced to these last two, as they have now started processes to trace them.

    Travellers will not be allowed into the country

    Also at the press briefing, the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah disclosed that travellers from coronavirus-hit countries with cases exceeding 200 will not be allowed in the Ghanaian jurisdiction.

    He also disclosed that travels to Ghana are strongly discouraged following the outbreak.

    “All travels to Ghana is at this stage strongly discouraged until further notice. Any traveller except for Ghanaian citizens who has been to a country that has recorded at least 200 cases of COVID-19 will not be allowed into the Ghanaian jurisdiction. Airlines are instructed to not allow such persons into the jurisdiction,” he said.

    Source: citinewsroom.com

  • Todays newspapers front pages

    Source: backend.theindependentghana.com

  • Businesses to suffer as government bans foreigners from entering Ghana?

    Businesses in Ghana are expected to take a heavy hit following new measures taken by the government to contain the fast-spreading coronavirus pandemic in the country.

    Recently, the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) predicted ‘famine’ in the country by May 2020 following the shortage of goods on the international market.

    The prediction appears to be coming to fruition after the government on Sunday, March 15, 2020, issued a temporal ban on travellers from countries that have recorded over 200 cases of coronavirus.

    This announcement by the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong follows four more cases recorded in the country making a total of 6 persons infected with the global pandemic, coronavirus.

    “Any traveller except for Ghanaian citizens and persons with Ghana resident permits who within the last 14 days has been to a country that has recorded at least 200 cases of COVID-19 will not be permitted in the Ghanaian jurisdiction,” he stressed.

    The government is also strongly advising against travel to the West African country.

    They have also instructed airlines not to allow persons from coronavirus prone areas to enter the country.

    Meanwhile, the government has released a whopping $100 million to fight the coronavirus.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • NBSSI clients receive capacity building training in Takoradi

    The Takoradi Business Advisory Center of the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), with support from the Sekondi- Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), has built the capacity of 25 clients in the Metropolis.

    The beneficiaries, who went through a two-day intensive training workshop, were schooled in basic accounting skills in the areas of bookkeeping and financial management.

    Mr Michael Arhin, a managing partner for SMA and Associates, who took the participants through the training, said it is essential for business owners to acquire basic accounting skills, to be applied in their businesses.

    He said “gaining knowledge in bookkeeping and financial management did not make one an accountant by profession but it helps you to know whether your business is progressing, retrogressing or at a standstill”.

    On bookkeeping, Mr Arhin said, it is important to take records of daily financial transactions of one’s business in order to keep track of monies that come in and go out so as to determine the progress and financial standing of the business.

    Mr Arhin said on financial management, budgeting, implementation of the budget and review was crucial for the survival of any business since that helps the businessman to keep track of the gains and losses of their businesses and also enable them to develop ideas on how their businesses were faring.

    He said receiving the training alone was not enough for one’s business to progress and as such tasked the participants to implement what they have been taught in order to know their profit and loss variables, make financial projections and be able to maximize their wealth as shareholders in their various businesses.

    Nana Yaa Konadu Amponsah, the Business Advisory Head for the Takoradi Business Advisory Center, said her outfit recognizes the importance to train its clients for them to know how their businesses are faring and also to be able to manage their business cash inflows.

    “It is our desire to see progress in the businesses of our clients and that is why from time to time we organize such capacity building training sessions to add value to the practical things they already know,” she said.

    Some of the participants GNA spoke with, said the training has been helpful.

    They said though they were already practising bookkeeping, they were not doing it the right way and thanked the organizers for the impactful training, emphasizing that they were going to apply what they have been taught in their businesses.

    Certificates of participation were awarded to them to recognize their participation in the training.

    Source: GNA

  • Fisheries Commission to ban unregistered canoe owners from fishing

    The Fisheries Commission (FC) has advised the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council (GNCFC) to impress upon their members to register their canoes before January 2021.

    According to the Commission, no unregistered canoe would be allowed to register after the stipulated time period.

    The move is to help streamline operations in the fishing industry.

    Madam Rebecca Sackey-Mensah, an officer with the Marine Fisheries Management Division in Accra, said this when she addressed canoe owners and other stakeholders in the fishing industry.

    This was part of the Western Regional Fisher to Fisher dialogue held at Agona-Nkwanta in the Ahanta-West municipality.

    The meeting, which had earlier taken place in Sekondi and Axim, was under the auspices of the GNCFC and the Fisheries Commission; and funded by USAID.
    Madam Sackey-Mensah warned canoe fishers that with effect from 1 January 2021, no unregistered canoe would be allowed to go to sea.

    She said 15,000 canoes have so far been registered nation-wide with 3,600 out of 4562 registered in the Western Region.

    She urged Chief Fishermen in the Western Region to ensure that their members provided accurate data to be able to access their cards.

    She said the card would deal with issues affecting the supply and acquisition of pre-mix fuel and cautioned that those who have not registered their cards would not be supplied with pre-mix fuel.

    Madam Sackey-Mensah also urged canoe owners to furnish the Chief fishermen with vital information to complete their cards.

    Nana Emmanuel Odwire, the Western Regional Chairman of the GNCFC, advised Canoe owners to register with the council to fight the common cause.

    He asked the Council to take contributions and raise funds to organize programmes instead of relying on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) alone for sponsorship.

    Prof Godfrey Baidoo-Tsibu, the Western Regional Director of Fisheries, called on fishermen to use the approved processes to catch their stocks.

    He said the Commission received reports of two serious cases of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) two weeks ago which resulted in the death of one and the amputation of one arm of the other.

    Source: GNA

  • COVID-19: Self-quarantine: BPA to staff

    The Bui Power Authority has urged all its staff whose children attend the Ghana International School, German Swiss School and the Lincoln Community School or may have recently had contacts with UNDP and UNESCO staff in Accra to self-quarantine for 14 days.

    In a memo to all its staff, the BPA said: “Our attention has been drawn to the fact that Ghana International School, German Swiss School and Lincoln Community School have been temporarily closed due to suspected cases of COVID-19.

    “Similarly, UNDP and UNESCO have also been temporarily closed.

    “We advise all staff whose wards attend these institutions as well as staff who have been in contact with staff of the UNDP and UNESCO to proceed to self-quarantine for a period of two weeks effective Monday, 16 March 2020”.

    Meanwhile, the government of The Netherlands has shut down its embassy in Ghana following the confirmation of one case of coronavirus in the embassy of Norway which shares the same building with the embassy of The Netherlands.

    In an “important public notice” posted on its social media pages, the embassy of The Netherlands said: “Following the confirmation by the Norwegian Embassy that one of its staff has tested positive for the COVID-19, and given that the Norwegian & Netherlands Embassies share the same building, the Netherlands Embassy in Ghana is closed until further notice”.

    It added: “The Netherlands Embassy is in contact with the Ghana Health Service to assist with containment efforts. As a precautionary measure, staff of the embassy are working from home. The NL Embassy is closely monitoring the situation and will inform the public of any new developments”.

    The Norway embassy case is one of two confirmed cases in Ghana.

    The other patient is Ghanaian UNDP workers in Accra who brought the disease home from Turkey.

    On Friday, the Embassy of Norway in Ghana shut down its offices temporarily following the contraction of the virus by its staff.

    In a statement, the Embassy of Norway said it “can confirm that one of our colleagues has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus”.

    “The person is in quarantine and the Embassy is in close dialogue with Ghana Health Service”, the statement said, adding: “Routine contact-tracing has commenced”.

    “All staff are also in quarantine, and we are fully committed to assist with containment.

    “The Embassy is closed to the public until further notice, but staff are operating from home.

    “We are thankful for the care and assistance offered by Ghana’s health authorities and WHO Ghana, and also for the compassion showed.

    “We urge everybody to follow the preventive measures issued by the WHO and Ghanaian authorities”, the statement added.

    The Norwegian is one of two cases confirmed in Ghana. The other is a Ghanaian with the UNDP.

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Coronavirus: More foreign missions, embassies to suspend operations

    More foreign missions and embassies in Ghana are expected to announce, in the coming days, a suspension of their operations.

    This follows the rising number of coronavirus cases in the country.

    Ghana confirmed four more new cases of the CODVID 19 disease on Sunday, 15 March 2020, making it six so far.

    The Netherlands Embassy, on Saturday, announced the closure of its consulate services in Ghana, indicating that its employees will work from home.

    The Norwegian Embassy was the first to make such an announcement, following the confirmation that one of the first two patients recorded in Ghana was a staff.

    The UNDP had also earlier on Friday announced that its employees will work from home following the confirmation that one of its staff members had contracted the coronavirus.

    He had returned to Ghana from Turkey.

    Some schools, particularly international ones, have already suspended their operations until further notice.

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Coronavirus doesnt affect only white men so be careful The Church of Pentecost to Ghanaians

    The Church of Pentecost has urged Ghanaians, especially its members to be on the lookout and take preventive measures after the country reported its first two cases of the deadly coronavirus.

    In a press release signed by their Chairman, Eric Nyamekye, the church directed all ministers, officers and church members to be cautious by following all precautionary measures spelt out by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the Health Ministry to help fight the pandemic.

    “While admonishing and based on the statement made by the president, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in his address to the nation on Friday, March 6 and Wednesday, March 11, 2020, that the fight against coronavirus which has been declared a global pandemic cannot be that of government alone, coupled with the two confirmed cases in Ghana which include a Ghanaian, we want you to understand and accept that the coronavirus does not affect only whites”.

    While having faith in God to heal the infected persons; the Norwegian and the Ghanaian who returned from Turkey to help curb the spread of the pandemic, Eric Nyamekye said: “let us continue to raise prayers to God who is able to heal those who have been infected, stop the spread and also help scientists come up with a vaccine”.

    Meanwhile, government has released a whopping $100 million to fight the coronavirus.

    Read below the full statement

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • 4 more Coronavirus cases confirmed in Ghana

    Four more cases of the new Coronavirus have been confirmed in Ghana. This makes a total of 6 cases so far.

    The development was announced by Director of Public Health at Ghana Health Service, Dr. Badu Sarkodie during a press briefing on the current status of the country at the Information Ministry, Sunday, March 15, 2020.

    According to him, 2 more cases, after Thursday’s, were confirmed on Friday March 13, 2020 – one from the Ashanti Region and the other from the Greater Accra Region.

    “The first is a 56-year-old Ghanaian who returned from a trip in the United Kingdom on the 4th of March. He stayed in the UK for 10 days. He developed symptoms on the 12th of March and reported to a health facility in Obuasi,” said Dr. Sarkodie.

    Samples, according to Badu Sarkodie, were taken from him and taken to the Kumasi Center for collaborative Research and the results returned positive.

    The second, he noted, is a woman, and a student. She travelled to the United States of Anerica, stayed there for about 10 days and returned to Ghana on the 10th of March.

    On the 13th of March, she started showing symptoms that later were confirmed to be compatible with the suspected case of COVID-19.

    Samples were taken, taken to Noguchi Memorial Medical Research Institute and emerged positive.

    The fifth and sixth cases were recorded on Saturday, late in the afternoon, from the Noguchi Memorial Medical Research.

    According to Dr. Sarkodie, the first is a 42-year-old Ghanaian male who returned to Ghana on the 8th of March. He had travelled to Switzerland and UK in the past 14 days.

    Symptoms started on the 9th of March and he reported to the health facility on the 14. After samples were tested, it was confirmed positive.

    The second case in this batch was a 41-year-old Ghanaian male. He reported to the Tema General Hospital on the 14th of March with fever and acute respiratory illness. He had travelled to Turkey and Germany within the past 14 days. Results from Noguchi came back positive.

    Both cases had no symptoms on arrival.

    Dr. Badu however assured that all four cases are stable and under observation. They are receiving treatment under isolation conditions.

    “This brings to a total of six confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ghana, there are no deaths and this is the situation as at March 14, 2020. All the 6 cases were imported into Ghana” He added.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Ill make sure Badu Kobis fleet of cars are auctioned Kennedy Agyapong vows

    Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central Constituency Kennedy Agyapong, has sworn by his life that he will ensure all the confiscated vehicles of the Founder and Head pastor of Glorious Waves Chapel Prophet, Emmanuel Badu Kobi are auctioned.

    According to him, there is no way the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) must give preferential treatment to the Man of God who was connected to the erstwhile National Democratic Congress (NDC) when he as a lawmaker does not enjoy such privileges.

    He admitted hinting the security agencies about the unpaid duties on the fleet of cars hoarded by Prophet Badu Kobi at his home while he has the nerves to insult President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the least opportunity.

    “I gave a hint on Boiling Point and GRA listened. This morning they called me and asked for my go ahead so I asked them to carry one. On arrival at his house, they realized that he only paid for the duty of four of the vehicles this March 2020. He hid some of the cars at the estate including the one which is 2018. He is not entitled to pay duty again, it has to be confiscated and sold. I will make sure all these cars are auctioned”, he said.

    The NPP firebrand cautioned him against denigrating the President at the least opportunity promising to go after him until he knows his smoothness level.

    Meanwhile an official of Customs one Adomoako who led the seizure of the vehicles said, “we had information that some vehicles which had been brought into the country without the corresponding duties paid were parked at his residence. The counter Intelligence Unit moved in and realized that two of the vehicles had their duties unpaid per checks in our system. For now we are only checking on the duties but as to whether they are stolen cars or not we are yet to find that out”

    Source: mynewsgh.com

  • Why there were power outages in many parts of Ghana Saturday night

    Many parts of Ghana went into darkness Saturday night following a widespread power outage at about 9:30 pm.

    Areas affected included some parts of Accra, Kumasi, parts of the Volta Region and the Northern Region.

    A source at the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), told Graphic Online on Saturday night that the company had a disturbance on its main 330 kilo volts (KV) transmission line that affected most parts of the country.

    As of 10:20 pm, power had been restored to Sogakope and the next to have light was Accra, then Kumasi and other places in that order the source said.

    Graphic Online expects the power transmission company to provide a fuller media brief by Sunday, March 15.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • FDA, Police and Customs Division seize smuggled goods at Achimota

    The Police in collaboration with the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) have intercepted a 40-feet truck full of contraband goods.

    The goods, according to the organisations, were smuggled into the country last Tuesday.

    The goods, believed to have been smuggled from Nigeria and included sexual enhancement drugs, pirated wax prints and other pharmaceutical products, were seized at Achimota.

    Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Effia Tenge, Head of the Public Affairs Unit of the Accra Regional Police Command, told the media that police had a tip-off that the truck with the registration number AE 960 JEG was loaded with goods believed to be contraband had arrived from Kano in Nigeria.

    She explained that the goods were about to be offloaded within Accra and its environs, thus, police rushed to the scene and arrested Sani Mohammed, the driver of the vehicle, together with the goods.

    DSP Tenge said the vehicle was impounded at the Regional Police Headquarters for investigations and a search in it revealed a quantity of the pirated wax prints and the pharmaceutical products.

    The police then invited the FDA and the Customs for the necessary action to be taken, she said.

    James Lartey, Public Relations Officer of the FDA in an interview said the medicines were supposed to be imported to Ghana via two approved routes.

    He named the two legal routes as the Kotoka International Airport and the Tema Habour, adding that anywhere else was illegal.

    Mr Lartey said one could not import any drug unless it was approved, noting that there were drugs that had to be stored under certain temperatures whilst they were being imported, else, they would go bad before their original expiry date.

    The Public Relations officer said drugs which have been approved would be kept under the right temperature.

    The collaboration between FDA and the security agencies would ensure the safe disposal of the unapproved drugs as well as protect the lives, innocent citizens.

    He cautioned the public against the importation of counterfeit drugs, explaining that when found culpable, one would spend between 15 and 25 years in prison.

    Unapproved importation of drugs would also lead to a fine of not less than 7,500 penalty units, equivalent ¢90,000.00, he added.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus: Ghana consulate in U.S. suspends services effective Mar 16

    Ghana’s consulate in New York in the United States of America will temporarily suspend its services effective March 16, over the coronavirus pandemic.

    In a press release sighted by myjoyonline.com, the consul explained that this is in line with the State of Emergency declared by President Donald Trump and State Governor of New York.

    However, to ensure uninterrupted services, the embassy said, “it will continue to provide online services for visa applications, attestation of documents, sale of dual citizenship forms and issuance letters.”

    According to the mission, there will be no submission on the counter, directing that all application is mailed to:

    The General Consulate
    19 East 47 Street
    New York, NY 10017

    Also suspended with immediate effect is the issuance of biometric passport applications “to minimise the spread of the disease through person-to-person contact.”

    The Ghana consulate in the U.S. said the measures are subject to review as and when it is appropriate to do so.

    Source: Myjoyonline.com | Abubakar Ibrahim

  • Armed robbers attack passengers on Tamale-Kintampo highway

    Armed robbers on Saturday attacked passengers travelling on the Tamale-Kintampo highway at Porto in the Bono East Region.

    The robbers said to be 12 in number subjected the passengers in the Urvan bus to intense search and took away their monies, phones, laptops and other valuables.

    JoyNews’ Seth Kwame Boateng reported that, “Thirty minutes after driving past last Monday’s accident scene which killed over 30 persons on the Kintampo-Tamale road, we observed from afar some people desperately trying to stop our vehicle.”

    According to him, the long stretch being such a silent one, their driver was not too sure whether it was safe for them to stop so we continued.

    He said what saved him and his crew was when a brown pickup which had overtaken them at a point which suddenly stopped and turned with speed towards them.

    “He shouted at us to return since there was a highway robbery underway. Yes, it was true, the armed robbers numbering about 12 had crossed an Urvan bus full of passengers from Sunyani going to Tamale. They first smashed the windscreen and impressed on the driver to stop,” the journalist said.

    According to the reporter, the robbers then ransacked the vehicles which were carrying a number of passengers including teachers from the Tamale Technical University who were returning from a workshop.

    “Everything they were carrying, from their laptops, wallets, ID cards and sums of money. As if this was not enough, they also beat with clubs and the butt of their guns. Some sustained cuts in their heads.

    “From afar, we could see the robbers comfortably and boldly carrying out their activities with no vehicle coming or going.

    “A number of vehicles had joined ours and parked on the shoulder of the road but with all engines on so we could retreat as soon, we become their target.”

    According to him, a few calls to the security officials in Kintampo saved the situation as the robbers entered the nearby bush when they got wind of the arrival of the armed police.

    Source: Myjoyonline.com

     

  • Coronavirus: Your safety in our banking halls assured CBG to customers

    The management of the Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG) has assured all customers of the bank that their safety in various banking halls across the country is guaranteed in respect of the outbreak of the coronavirus in the country.

    A message from the management to the customers on Friday, March 13 said: “Dear Valued Customer, With the breaking news of COVID-19 in Ghana, CBG assures you that we are putting in place measures to ensure your health and safety in all our branches/ATMS and your comfort in doing business with us.CBG…We Stand With You.”

    Ghana has recorded her first two cases of coronavirus. The cases were confirmed on Thursday, 12 March 2020.

    They were brought in by two people who had returned to Ghana from Norway and Turkey. The cases were confirmed by the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.

    Health Minister, Dr. Kweku Agyemang-Manu, who broke the news at an emergency press conference on Thursday night, said the two patients have been quarantined and are stable.

    Meanwhile, some customers of banks have appealed to their bankers to make available hand sanitizers in their banking halls in order to protect their customers from the outbreak of the coronavirus infection.

    Adu Yaw, who told Laudbusiness.com Friday, March 13 that he is a customer of the Stanbic Bank said it is necessary for the banks to provide the sanitizers because some customers might forget to carry theirs along with them.

    This he said: “Will help in dealing with the outbreak of the coronavirus in the country.”

    Source: laudbusiness.com

  • Coronavirus: Be on the alert Akwasi Agyeman to hotels

    The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Mr. Akwasi Agyeman has asked hotel operators to be on the alert and ensure that all guests are screened following the outbreak of the coronavirus in Ghana.

    Ghana has recorded her first two cases of coronavirus. The cases were confirmed on Thursday, March 12, 2020.

    They were brought in by two people who had returned to Ghana from Norway and Turkey. The cases were confirmed by the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.

    Health Minister, Dr. Kweku Agyemang-Manu, who broke the news at an emergency press conference on Thursday night said the two patients have been quarantined and are stable.

    Mr Agyeman expressed optimism that the measures outlined by the government will help forestall the spread of the infection in Ghana.

    He said: “The hospitality and tourism industry is very sensitive and any little spur of fear and panic would hit the industry badly.

    “We have already seen a certain trend over the last few weeks and its worrying but based on the reassuring that we have from the Ghana Health Service and especially given the strong statement by the President we feel emboldened with the educational drive within the industry.”

    “We are asking all hotels to ensure that in the hotel rooms these messages are boldly displayed and there are sanitised and other washing equipment that is available for people to wash their hands and avoid handshakes.”

    “Per the regulations that we have the staff has to have certain health certifications by the various assemblies and from now we are going to enforce that because they are the front liners and have to ensure they are safe.”

    “Coming at the very successful end of the year of return, this is the time that we are picking up the pieces for the beyond the return. As more countries put out travel restrictions and get infected, definitely the impact would be felt.”

    “We are monitoring, globally there have been a negative 63 percent cancellations of hotel flights and about 34 of hotel bookings and that tells you that we need to prepare.”

    Source: laudbusiness.com

  • Government spent GH¢68.4 billion in 2019

    The government of Ghana spent GH¢68.4 billion in 2019, representing 19.8% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    This is compared with the GH¢59 billion (19.6% of GDP) recorded for the corresponding period in 2018.

    According to the January 2020 Monetary Policy Report, the pace of spending was broadly within the projected outturn.

    This outturn represents a year-on-year growth of 15.9% and constituted 96.4% of the expected target for the period.

    Of the total expenditures, interest payments amounted to GHS19.7 billion (5.7% of GDP) for the review period compared with GH¢15.8 billion (5.3% of GDP) for the same period in 2018.

    This outturn was 0.8% above the projected target of GH¢19.5 billion, about 5.7% of GDP.

    Compensation of employees for the period amounted to GH¢22.0 billion, representing 6.4% of GDP.

    This was below the programmed target by some 1.9% but represented an annual growth of 12.3%.

    Of this, wages and salaries amounted to GHS19.5 billion (5.6% of GDP), below the envisaged target by 1.4 percent.

    The Use of Goods and Services for the period under review amounted to GHS6.1 billion (1.8% of GDP) compared with the target of GH¢6.9 billion (2% of GDP).

    Grants to government units during the period under review also amounted to GH¢11.4 billion, about 3.3% of GDP, against the target of GH¢13 billion, about 3.8% of GDP.

    Capital expenditures was GH¢6.1 billion (1.8% of GDP) compared to the target of GH¢6 billion (1.7% of GDP).

    This represented a year-on-year increase of 29.8%.

    Domestically financed capital expenditure accounted for some 41% of the total with the rest financed from foreign sources.

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Ensure proper documentation before relocating Siwdu artisans to Mempeasem – CCRCCI to CCMA

    The Cape Coast Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCRCCI) has advised the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly (CCMA) to get the requisite documentation on the land at Mempeasem earmarked for the relocation of the artisans of the Siwdu garages.

    Additionally, the Chamber has tasked the CCMA to launch a rigorous education campaign, advocacy and consultation with the artisans on the impending exercise.

    Also, the plans and the commitment for the development of the lagoon should not be diverted as soon as artisans were moved from the site to sustain the confidence of all stakeholders.

    The chamber said while the artisans were in support of the relocation, problems with the topography of the Mempeasem site must be addressed.

    These were contained in the recommendations of a research conducted by the Chamber with support from the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) Fund, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the European Union (EU).

    The research among others inquired about the views of artisans and other stakeholders on the proposed relocation of the artisans from the Siwdu garages to Mempeasem.

    It also assessed the effects of the relocation on the beautification of Cape Coast Metropolis and evaluated the potentials of the Fosu Lagoon when developed as a tourist enclave to contribute to tourism growth, income generation and employment in the Metropolis.

    The researchers used convenience sampling to select respondents from the garages based on availability and willingness to participate in the survey.

    Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on findings of the research, Mr Anthony Yoofi Pokoo-Aikens, Regional Chairman of the Chamber, said there is the need for facilities such as roads and drainage systems to be provided for the effective functioning of the site before the relocation.

    He said it also recommended that customer training be offered for the operators of garages to help them maintain patronage even after relocation and also offer them access to proper credit to enable them revamp their businesses.

    Mr Pokoo-Aikens said members of the garages want the Mempeasem site to be improved to meet the standard of a modern garage with facilities such as water, toilet, proper landscaping and pavement, appropriate drainage system among others.

    Mrs Benedicta Anita Mensah, the Regional Executive Secretary of the Chamber, said there is the need for more engagements with all stakeholders while basic amenities should be provided to allay the anxieties of the artisans before the relocation.

    She said majority of the respondents agreed that the relocation exercise would actually beautify Siwdu and create a conducive environment for aquatic life in the lagoon to thrive.

    The CCMA had for more than a decade and a half ago earmarked artisans at Siwdu for relocation to reduce noise pollution as well as prevent pollutants from the garages into the Fosu lagoon.

    It will also enable the Assembly to redesign of the area around the Fosu lagoon into a tourism enclave.

    Source: GNA

  • Agriculture students get support to boost production

    Ten tertiary institutions offering agricultural courses received financial support at the end of the third edition of this year’s Agric Students Career Guidance and Mentorship Dialogue (AG-STUD) in Accra.

    The institutions were each presented with GHC 1000 and certificates to scale up their business modules.

    This year’s edition of the three-year-old youth-targeted agribusiness boot camp camped over 30 students, representing AG-STUD Business Clubs from schools across the country.

    Representatives from the schools with existing businesses were groomed, coached and mentored to scale up their production, which started from March 10 to 13.

    They pitched their business ideas and plans before a five-member judge and after over three hours of exhaustive presentations.

    The programme organized by Agrihouse Foundation, an NGO in collaboration with its partners is on the theme: “Growing Futures: Establishing the Agric Youth”.

    Madam Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, the Executive Director, Agrihouse Foundation, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said the event was designed to coach the students through hands-on experience and mentoring, stressing that experts with relevant expertise and practical experience were selected for the programme.

    “The boot camp aims at inspiring agricultural students and startups in the value chain as well as expose them to the dynamics of the market through leadership programmes on agribusinesses”, she said.

    She said the 2018-2019 edition of the event created jobs for students and youth and as a result, there were now over six successful businesses being run by students who participated in the AG-STUD programme.

    The Executive Director said these students will also be equipped with the technical know-how on how to manage their agribusinesses.

    Mrs Catherine Fabbi, Head Mentor for AG-STUD, was impressed with the contribution of participants at the training, urging them to utilize the opportunity because there are potentials in agriculture to be fully harnessed.

    Mrs Fabbi, who is also the Business Development Manager of Interplast, said the initiative would propel the youth to see opportunities in the sector and venture into agriculture for their livelihoods and national development.

    Some of the participating schools who spoke to GNA expressed satisfaction about the programme, saying that the initiative has transformed their business modules.

    Some urged the organizers to sustain the programme to attract the youth to venture into farming.

    The participating schools are the University of Ghana, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kwadaso Agricultural College, and University of Developmental Studies.

    The rest are University of Cape Coast, Fair River Farm Institute, Damango Agricultural College, Asuansi Farm institute and Northern Agri-Youth Hub.

    Source: GNA

  • Frontline health care providers should remain calm and professional

    The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has called for all frontline health care providers to remain calm and professional in the wake of the confirmation of the first two cases of the flu-like coronavirus in the country.

    It asked that nurses and midwives should be alert in the conduct of their daily routine in all clinical settings, especially in the out-patient department and emergency units to identify suspected cases and to strictly adhere to universal precautions on infection prevention.

    This was contained in a press release jointly signed by the President of the Association, Mrs. Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, and the General Secretary, David Tenkorang-Twum, and copied to the Ghana News Agency ( GNA ), in Accra.

    It underlined the need for the Health Ministry to provide the required logistics to deal with the virus and stop its spread at the designated treatment centres.

    Nursing and Midwifery Managers must also ensure that personal protective equipment were available for use by nurses and midwives working in isolated units in the designated treatment centres, it added.

    “In the event of unavailability of these logistics at the isolation centres, we strictly advice our nurses and midwives to protect their lives by removing themselves from that environment.”

    The Association urged everybody not to panic and to follow all preventive measures outlined by the Health Ministry.

    It pledged its support to the coordinated efforts to identify, manage, contain and prevent the spread of the virus.

    The virus has infected more than 130,000 people and left in excess of 5,000 dead.

    Source: GNA

  • GES directs all schools to suspend all public activities

    The Ghana Education Service (GES), has directed all educational institutions to suspend all public activities such as Speech and Prize Giving days until further directives are given by the Director-General.

    Meanwhile, the Management of the GES in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has developed educational materials on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease for onward distribution and use by all schools.

    The directive which was issued in Accra and signed by Professor Kwesi Opoku-Amankwa, the Director-General, Ghana Education Service, urged all Regional and District Educational Directors to ensure that Heads of Schools made the materials readily available to staff and students.

    It said Educational Directors were also expected to liaise with their respective Regional and District Health Directors to ensure smooth education campaigns in schools.

    It said the comprehensive COVID-19 Guidelines and Administrative Procedures for Schools jointly developed by the GHS and the GES for public awareness campaign in all schools across the country, entailed an introduction and background to the new disease outbreak, including its origin, cause, and the various steps being taking to halt the spread.

    The Guidelines also explained why people should be worried about COVID-19, pointing out that the disease has currently attained a pandemic dimension because it was spreading faster than it had been anticipated by the World Health Organisation (WHO), from the onset, with high death rates, and it was important that people appreciated the situation and act responsibly.

    The Guidelines described the mode of spread of COVID-19 and provided detailed education on the basic etiquettes such as covering of mouth when coughing, sneezing and spitting, and precautionary measures such as maintaining about two meters distance from an infected person.

    It stressed on frequent handwashing with soap under running water or use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers and desisting from touching face, eyes or mouth with contaminated, hands as some preventive measures.

    It also emboldened the various signs and symptoms of the disease, which include fever and tiredness, running nose, cough, sore throat, muscle ache and breathing difficulties.

    The GES, therefore, advised all schools to collaborate with their District Education Offices to among other things, identify and establish a line of communication with the nearest local or district health facility, and also a Point of Contact in these facilities for emergency medical response.

    All school are also to have direct to the School Health Education Programme (SHEP) Coordinator in their districts, and immediately organise a meeting with parents, School Management Committees and other stakeholders to provide sensitization.

    They were to keep large assemblies to a minimum and maintain social distancing, and in boarding schools, institute house-based health awareness meetings, where Hygiene education must be promoted and intensified.

    The GES also advised Heads of schools to immediately refer all symptoms of COVID-19, to a health facility, with follow-ups on the test results by heads of schools, so they could swiftly inform their District Directors of Education for a detailed report on the incident.

    The reports, it said, must contain the name of the school, number of students in the school, in the class, teachers, history of patient’s contact in the school and additional information that would be helpful to the district office.

    It said in case a person was confirmed to be infected with the disease, in a school or any education office, the flow of information shall be from the Heads of schools, or their designee to the district office.

    The information should include the nature of the is tuition and the impact on students, staff and facility where applicable, however in the event, the district received information of an outbreak in its jurisdiction, region or national, that may affect the school, such announcement must be made to the Head of the institutions of their designees.

    The statement said these required close coordination with the GES Headquarters on the next steps, and that the Service would follow closely the advice of the GHS and use its best judgment on school closures, should it become necessary to do so in the interest of public health.

    Source: GNA

  • Incorporation of Chronic Kidney Diseases screening in health delivery is vital – Prof Plange-Rhule

    Professor Jacob Plange-Rhule, a former President of the Ghana Kidney Association (GKA), has called for the incorporation of Chronic Kidney Diseases (CKD) screening into the non-communicable diseases screening programmes in the health delivery system.

    He said such a practice could help save time and minimize the costs of kidney treatment in the country.

    Professor Plange-Rhule was speaking at a public lecture to mark the World Kidney Day at Koforidua in the Eastern Region.

    He urged Ghanaians to be cautious of the food, drugs and herbal medicines that they consumed to reduce the risk of kidney disorders.

    Mr Eric Kwakye Darfour, the Eastern Regional Minister, called for an extension of the education on the chronic kidney disorders to the ordinary Ghanaians including market women, drivers and the ordinary men and women on the streets to create awareness and help reduce kidney diseases in the country.

    Dr Armel Abou, a Public Health Physician of the clinical care department of the Eastern Regional Health Directorate, who spoke on behalf of the Regional Director of Health said, about 850 million people are affected by kidney diseases worldwide.

    He said one in every seven adults suffers from chronic kidney disease and most of them are found in tropical Africa.

    Prof Mate Kole, the President of Ghana Kidney Association (GKA), said the commonest causes of kidney diseases are the lifestyle of people, hypertension and diabetes.

    He said the causes of the kidney disorders are preventable by adopting a healthy lifestyle, increasing physical activities, adopting healthy eating habits and avoiding excessive alcohol intake.

    Prof Kole said Ghanaians with kidney diseases face numerous challenges with regards to financing their treatment as well as accessibility to the health services they require.

    He urged all Ghanaians to work together to prevent CKD in the country.

    Source: GNA

  • We need a Military Barracks Upper West Regional Minister

    Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, the Upper West Regional Minister, has requested for the establishment of a military base to take care of any unpleasant situations in the region.

    He said: “what we have in Wa needs to be expanded and we are willing and prepared to facilitate its expansion. We needed a more befitting military base to take care of all unpleasant situations in the region”, he said.

    Dr Bin Salih made the request, when Major General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, the new Chief of Army Staff paid a courtesy call on him at his office.

    Major General Oppong-Peprah was on a two-day working visit to the region to interact with the soldiers stationed in Wa to know of their operational challenges, appraise their responsibilities, and assess the administrative operations and logistics situation in the region.

    The Regional Minister appealed to the Army Chief of Staff to use his good offices to ensure that “this our request becomes fruitful”.

    Dr Hafiz Bin Salih told the Chief of the Army Staff that the region was generally peaceful and attributed it to the relationships among the security agencies, which enhanced the sharing of intelligence and collaboration of operations.

    He said the threat of terrorism was the most challenging issue that confronts the region and appealed to the security agencies and the citizens not to be complacent about its occurrence, noting “we need to hold our guard and intensify our operations and we still need to be very, very vigilant”.

    The government is willing to support the military with its logistical needs to confront and safeguard the country from the activities of terrorists and terrorism.

    Major General Thomas Oppong-Peprah said the information he got about the region indicated that terrorism activities was a bit remote but that there were other criminal activities such as armed robbery.

    He cautioned that terrorism activities could always come up at any time and warned as well as urged the security agencies and the people to collaborate effectively to ensure that peace and security was compact to ward off terrorism penetrations.

    He thanked the traditional authorities for the land provided the Military for the establishment of a barracks in Wa, saying the establishment of a military base in Wa has been on the drawing board for some time now.

    “I think now, we have to move out of the drawing board and go to the field and implement it. It is my aim to get a barracks for the region”.

    He thanked the Regional Coordination Council (RCC) for the support it had been providing the troops and promised to build on the existing cordial relations between the military and RCC.

    Source: GNA

  • Zanetor educates constituents on COVID-19

    The Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle, Dr Zanetor Rawlings has been going round her constituency sensitising and providing her constituents with practical tips on how to minimise the risk of exposure to COVID-19.

    Dr Zanetor spoke to market women at Adabraka to avoid handshakes and cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze.

    She also went door-to-door with the same message.

    She later donated sanitary items to the Adabraka mosque.

    Meanwhile, Ghana has recorded two cases of COVID-19.

    The victims are a Ghanaian staff of the UNDP who flew in from Turkey and a Norwegian diplomat.

    Health Minister Dr Kweku Agyemang-Manu, who broke the news at an emergency press conference Thursday night, said the two patients have been quarantined and are stable.

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Woman, 24, stabbed multiple times to death at Nkawkaw

    A twenty-four-year-old woman has been stabbed multiple times to death by an assailant at Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region.

    The body of the deceased Esther Afrifa has been deposited at the Holy Family Hospital Morgue.

    Her husband reported to the Nkawkaw Central Police Station on March 13, 2020, around 11:00 pm that he received information that the suspect, Yaw Johnson, 24, had stabbed his wife who was selling bread at the roadside at about 10:00 pm without any provocation and has died on arrival at the Holy Family Hospital.

    Detectives proceeded to the hospital and found the deceased at the mortuary with multiple knife wounds in her abdomen and on her two hands.

    According to the Public Relations Officer of the Eastern Regional Police Command, DSP Ebenezer Tetteh, preliminary investigation revealed that on the fateful day, at about 9.34 pm while selling bread at the Asona end of the Accra-Kumasi bypass, the suspect went and stabbed the deceased multiple times without any provocation and went into hiding.

    He said the suspect was arrested the following day by police at Adumasua, a community near Nkawkaw and handed over to Nkawkaw Police where he is being prepared to be put before court.

    Source: starrfm.com.gh

  • National Coordinator of School Feeding Programme fired

    The former National Coordinator of the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP), Dr Kwame Adu-Nsiah has been sacked.

    Earlier, it was reported that the former, Dr Kwame Adu-Nsiah supervised “fraudulent deals” in the payment of caterers in 2018.

    On December 13, 2018, he was asked to step aside after a National Security investigation reportedly implicated him in fraudulent acts during his tenure of office as the national coordinator.

    But after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo set up a committee to look into the matter, it turned out that Dr Kwame Adu-Nsiah pleaded not guilty.

    Following the unseating of the former National Coordinator of the Ghana School Feeding Programme, Committee Chair, Yaw Osafo-Maafo recommended that Dr Adu Nsiah be conferred back his positions.

    The committee, giving another option on the case suggested Dr Adu-Nsiah be taken back to either Trust Hospital or be reassigned to another institution within the public sector.

    Four months after the committee submitted its report, checks by the Daily Graphic revealed that Dr Adu-Nsiah had been laid off from the GSFP, and has neither been taken back to the Trust Hospital nor reassigned to any public institution.

    Dr Adu-Nsiah, speaking on the issue confirmed that he had been officially laid off from his position.

    Gertrude Quashigah is the new National Coordinator of School Feeding Programme after holding the position as the acting officer for about a year.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Dumsor hits parts of Ghana

    Some parts of the country especially the capital, Greater Accra, were hit with a power outage, popularly known as dumsor.

    The Saturday evening power cut was not only in Accra but also experienced in the Central Region, Northern Region, Eastern Region, Upper East Region, Upper West Region, Volta Region and Oti Region.

    In many parts of the capital, the unannounced dumsor happened around 21.00 GMT.

    It is, however, unclear what might have triggered the latest dumsor, but some reports indicate that there was some operational challenges encountered by the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo).

    When GhanaWeb posed a question on its Facebook Timeline, many Ghanaians across the country complained about the situation.

    Below are some of the reactions.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coronavirus: Ghana consulate in US temporarily suspend services

    Ghana’s consulate in the United States of America will on Monday, March 16, 2020, suspend its services temporarily, over the coronavirus pandemic.

    A press release sighted by GhanaWeb explained that, the suspension is in line with the State of Emergency declared by US President Donald John Trump and State Governor of New York.

    However, the embassy stated, “it will continue to provide online services for visa applications, attestation of documents, sale of dual citizenship forms and issuance letters.”

    The mission noted, there will be no submission on the counter, directing all application(s) to be mailed to:

    The General Consulate
    19 East 47 Street
    New York, NY 10017

    With immediate effect, the Ghana Mission in the States has also suspended the issuance of biometric passport application(s) “to minimise the spread of the disease through person-to-person contact.”

    According to the Ghana consulate, these measures are subject to review as and when it is appropriate.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Police Hospital to conduct mass burial

    A mass burial for 120 unidentified and unclaimed bodies is to be carried out by the Ghana Police Hospital.

    This, the hospital says is part of routine measures to relieve congestion at the hospital mortuary.

    The Head of the Hospital’s Public Affairs, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Yaw Nketia-Yeboah who disclosed this in a press statement said: “these unidentified and unclaimed bodies are made up of mostly paupers, unknown former patients, abandoned bodies, unidentified accident and crime victims”.

    The statement added that the public is required to contact the Pathology Department of the Police Hospital for the identification of people who might have been missing for some time.

    “The general public is hereby being informed to contact the Pathology Department of the Police Hospital for identification of the persons who might have not been seen for some time as part of the search. This is to avert a situation whereby such bodies are added to those earmarked for the mass burial after twenty-one (21) days from this announcement”, the statement said.

    The intention of the hospital to embark on this mass burial service was first announced in November 2019.

    At the time, the public was given 21 days to contact the pathology department of the hospital for identification and collection of bodies.

    Members of the public have also been encouraged to acquire the habit of keeping an identification card with them to make identification easy for the police and others in times of health crisis or an accident.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • Coronavirus: Ghana to make announcement on travel restrictions today

    Ghanaian authorities will announce travel restrictions on countries with confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) today.

    Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah says the announcement will come up at 12 pm.

    There was a meeting by the inter-ministerial committee on the COVID Response, chaired by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo yesterday.

    But Mr Oppong Nkrumah told Accra-based Peace Fm that the Committee was concluding some matters before coming out with a position.

    Meanwhile, consular services have already been suspended in a lot of the countries which have recorded confirmed cases of the coronavirus, the Minister noted.

    Source: kasapafmonline.com

  • Coronavirus patients have been in Ghana for about a week Information Minister

    Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has revealed that the two males who have been confirmed as having contracted the novel Coronavirus in Ghana have been in the country for about a week.

    He revealed this in an interview with Citi FM Friday, March 13, 2020.

    Oppong Nkrumah also disclosed that one of the two persons confirmed as having contracted the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a Ghanaian who entered Ghana through the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).

    He works abroad and returned to Ghana for a visit with the disease.

    The other person is a Norwegian citizen.

    He confirmed that the two started showing symptoms on Thursday and reported to a health facility.

    Ghana confirmed two cases of COVID-19 on March 12, 2020, being the first cases to be reported in the country.

    According to the Health Minister, Kwaku Agyemang Manu, the two cases were confirmed at the same time from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.

    The Ministry, however, noted that both patients are currently under isolation and are stable.

    The two individuals returned to Ghana from Norway and Turkey. So they are imported cases of COVID-19, the statement said.

    “Government of Ghana together with all Health Partners will continue to work assiduously to ensure the situation is contained…” parts of a statement from the Health Ministry said.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coronavirus: Infected patient from Turkey is Ghanaian Oppong-Nkrumah

    One of the two persons confirmed as having contracted the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a Ghanaian, Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has revealed.

    According to him, one of the two males who entered Ghana through the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) works abroad and returned to Ghana for a visit with the disease.

    The other person is a Norwegian citizen.

    He confirmed that the two started showing symptoms on Thursday and reported to a health facility.

    The Minister also indicated in an interview on Accra-based Peace FM Friday morning, that the affected persons have been in Ghana for at least a week.

    Ghana confirmed two cases of COVID-19 on March 12, 2020, being the first cases to be reported in the country.

    According to the Health Minister, Kwaku Agyemang Manu, the two cases were confirmed at the same time from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.

    The Ministry, however, noted that both patients are currently under isolation and are stable.

    The two individuals returned to Ghana from Norway and Turkey. So they are imported cases of COVID-19, the statement said.

    “Government of Ghana together with all Health Partners will continue to work assiduously to ensure the situation is contained…” parts of a statement from the Health Ministry said.

  • Todays newspapers front pages

    Source: backend.theindependentghana.com

  • Ghana and Gabon confirm their first coronavirus cases

    Ghana has confirmed its first two confirmed cases of coronavirus as Gabon confirmed its first case.

    Ghana’s Health Minister Kwaku Agyemang Manu said two people who’d arrived from Norway and Turkey tested positive for the virus.

    In Gabon, Government Spokesman Edgard Anicet Mboumbou Miyakou said the patient was a Gabonese man who’d arrived from France.

    Ghanaian authorities have said their two patients are being kept in isolation and are in a stable condition.

    They have also started the process of tracing everyone who was in contact with the two patients.

    Gabon’s spokesman said the patient who had tested positive was feeling better – having displayed symptoms of cough, sore throat and breathing problems earlier.

    He said the patient was in an isolation facility and the government was tracing those who had come into close contact with him.

    On Wednesday, Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo announced the release of $100m (£80m) to enhance coronavirus preparedness and response nationwide.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Tunisia announces six more coronavirus cases

    In a news conference on Thursday evening Tunisia’s health ministry announced six new cases of coronavirus – bringing the the total of confirmed cases in the country to 13.

    A mandatory self-quarantine period of two weeks has also been imposed for all travellers arriving from China, Iran and the worst-affected European countries.

    On arrival in Tunisia’s airports, travellers must also register their details using an online form with a QR code, in addition to a paper form.

    Tunisia has gradually been testing more in recent days, and has applied tighter controls and prevention measures including:

    • Closing the national theatre
    • Cancelling most festivals and concerts scheduled for this month
    • Postponing many conferences, lectures and workshops
    • Daily cleaning of inter-city buses with antiseptic solutions.

    Source: Rana Jawad | BBC North Africa correspondent, Tunis |bbc.com

  • ‘Family and contacts’ of Senegal patient contract virus

    Senegal’s health ministry has confirmed that five more people in the country have tested positive for coronavirus – all of whom had come into contact with an existing patient who’d traveled home from Italy before testing positive this week.

    Some of the newly infected patients are said to be family relations of that man – a Senegalese national who was diagnosed on Wednesday – but the ministry’s statement doesn’t say how many.

    It brings the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 10.

    Two of those contracted but survived the virus, the health ministry says, while the eight others are “still receiving treatment”:

    The statement from Senegal's health ministry

  • Canadian PM Trudeau’s wife tests positive for coronavirus

    Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, wife of Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, has tested positive for coronavirus, a statement from the prime minister’s office says.

    “She will remain in isolation for the time being. She is feeling well, is taking all the recommended precautions and her symptoms remain mild,” it read.

    The couple is now self-isolating.

    Mr Trudeau is in good health and has no symptoms, according to his office, but he will remain in isolation for 14 days.

    There are no plans at present for Mr Trudeau to be tested for coronavirus.

    “The prime minister will continue to fully assume his duties and will address Canadians tomorrow (Friday),” his office said.

    There are currently approximately 103 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Canada.

    Meetings postponed

    Ms Grégoire Trudeau began to show mild flu-like symptom including a low fever on late on Wednesday night after returning from London.

    After she tested positive for Covid-19, she said: “Although I’m experiencing uncomfortable symptoms of the virus, I will be back on my feet soon.

    “We will get through this situation together. Please share the facts and take your health seriously.”

    Health workers will contact people whom Mrs Grégoire Trudeau has recently met.

    However, those who have been in contact with the prime minister are deemed not to be at risk, as Mr Trudeau has shown no symptoms.

    A number of politicians around the globe have been self-isolating in recent days after coming into possible contact with the virus, including five senior US Republicans and a Canadian cabinet minister.

    Mr Trudeau was scheduled to hold meetings over the next two days in Ottawa with provincial premiers and First Nations leaders.

    Those meetings have been postponed.

    Mr Trudeau will now be speaking with those provincial counterparts over the phone, with the topic focusing on Canada’s response to the pandemic, said the prime minister’s office in a statement on Thursday morning.

    Another federal party leader, the NDP’s Jagmeet Singh, said on Thursday he was also staying at home because he was feeling unwell, though doctors have told him that his symptoms are not consistent with the coronavirus.

    “Their advice is for me to limit contact with the public until I am feeling better,” he said on Twitter.

    What is the situation in Canada?

    There are currently approximately 103 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Canada, in the provinces of British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta, Quebec, and Manitoba. There has been one death linked to the disease.

    Canada announced on Wednesday a C$1bn ($728m; £562m) coronavirus response fund to deal with the pandemic.

    The funding package will help the country address the domestic impact of the virus and to support further research, including vaccine development.

    Mr Trudeau said his government was ready to do more if the situation warranted.

    Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the prime minister urged Canadians to follow the recommendations of public health officials in order to help slow the spread of the disease and to avoid overburdening the health care system.

    Source:bbc.com

  • Mount Everest: Nepal’s government shuts off mountain amid virus outbreak

    Mount Everest has shut down for the rest of the expedition season because of the coronavirus outbreak.

    Nepal’s government announced that it would cancel all climbing permits from 14 March until 30 April.

    China had already cancelled expeditions from the northern, Chinese-controlled, side of the mountain.

    According to the Kathmandu Post, the Nepal earns $4m (£3.1m) by issuing Everest climbing permits every year, aside from wider tourism revenue.

    “We have decided to halt all tourist visas until 30 April,” said Narayan Prasad Bidari, Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office.

    “As of now, all issued permits and permits yet to be issued for the 2020 Everest season will be cancelled.”

    It also advised foreigners who were unable to avoid coming to Nepal from 14 March to stay in quarantine for 14 days.

    Most climbers come from the US, India, China, UK, Japan, and South Korea – and are a major source of revenue for the Nepalese government.

    Typically, anyone who wants to climb Everest needs to pay the government $11,000 (£8,700), though there were talks by the government to raise this figure.

    And that’s not including fees that are typically paid to the travel companies, which can also run up tens of thousands.

    Local sherpas who work as mountain guides will also be affected.

    “My nine Chinese clients and a Japanese client have cancelled already. Many trekking teams are not coming, which is a big loss for sherpas like us who make most of our money during this time,” Lakpa Sherpa, managing director of Pioneer Adventure, told BBC Nepali.

    There is currently one confirmed virus case in Nepal, but the country borders India which has more than 70 cases.

    Nepal’s government has asked its citizens to avoid mass gatherings including marriages and public functions.

    More than 125,000 people have been diagnosed with Covid-19 in 118 countries around the world, according to the World Health Organization. The total number of deaths is more than 4,600.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Coronavirus: Kuwait Airport closing; all commercial flights to Ghana to be affected

    Starting from Friday, 13 March 2020, Kuwait International Airport will close for passenger service indefinitely, meaning commercial flights to and from the airport are canceled.

    There will be some exceptions only for Kuwaiti nationals looking to go home, so, there may be some charter flights.

    It is not yet known how long the airport closure will last.

    The airport ordinarily sees nearly 500 daily flights and serves nearly 16 million passengers in 2019.

    So far, Kuwait has seen 72 coronavirus cases.

    A few days ago, it was announced that the country would be closing down academic institutions for two weeks, and would suspend all sporting events until further notice.

    The country has now also announced that all malls, restaurants, and cafes will be closing through the end of the month.

    Kuwait may be the first country in the world to completely ban commercial flights as a precautionary measure.

    Kuwait Airlines fly to Ghana, and, therefore, the closure of the Kuwait Airport will affect flights to Ghana.

    Source: onemileatatime.com

  • We will incentivize companies that drive achievement of SDGs – GIPC

    Mr Yofi Grant, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), has said the Centre will incentivize companies that would help the nation achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    He said in the past SDGs were considered as projects but should rather be part of the policy framework of companies to ensure holistic development.

    He said this at the 2020 Economic Counsellors’ Dialogue organised by the GIPC in Accra on Thursday on the theme: “Promoting a Stable Business and Investment Climate; The New Companies Code.”

    He said the Centre seeks to ensure that Ghana remains the preferred place for Foreign Direct Investment in Africa.

    Additionally, he said, the country must set the pace for others within the continent to emulate for sustainable economic development.

    Mr Grant, speaking on the implementation of the GIPC law, said the delays encountered was to ensure that the right mechanism were put in place to create a healthy business environment.

    He said the Centre is working closely with related institutions and ministries to come out with a comprehensive document for the GIPC law.

    Madam Diana Afriyie-Addo, Team leader, Business Regulatory Reforms Unit, Ministry of Trade and Industry, presenting on the Business Regulatory Reforms (BRR) programme, said the programme was to enhance increased entrepreneurship investment, industrialisation and transformation of the economy.

    She said it was also to ensure that business regulations were simple, transparent and predictable.

    “This will clean up or simplify existing business regulations that are inefficient or not business-friendly whiles maintaining adequate protections for consumers and the environment,” Madam Afriyie-Addo said.

    She said the programme would improve how business regulations were produced by ensuring that new regulations met an agreed minimum criteria.

    She said an inventory of business-related acts legislative instruments, regulatory notices and administrative directives would be made available in a single electronic register dubbed the “E- register.”

    Madam Afriyie-Addo said the platform would provide businesses with an easily accessible one-stop repository of up-to-date information on all business regulations in force in Ghana.

    Madam Matilda Osei, Representative of the Registrar General’s Department, who spoke on the New Companies Act 2019, said amendments have been made to the Companies Act 1963 to suit modern business development globally.

    She said some changes in the Act include the creation of an office for the registrar of companies, persons 18 years and above may apply for incorporation of a company, company’s regulation is now referred to as a constitution.

    Additionally, she said the New Act requires a conflict of interest registrar, the introduction of companies bulleting and database, directors are required to file a declaration of not being convicted of any criminal offence the past five years.

    She said by the Act, the issuance of a certificate to commence business by the registrar of companies has been abolished, secretaries of companies must be qualified lawyers or Chartered Accountant.

    Source: GNA

  • Kpachi gets new classroom block

    The chiefs and people of Kpachi, a farming community in the Kumbungu District in the Northern Region, have been provided with a fully furnished three-unit classroom block and an office to provide a conducive environment for teaching and learning outcomes.

    The construction and the renovation works estimated at GH¢225, 308.44 is to eliminate classes under trees in the community in order to encourage the children to be in school always.

    Both projects were funded by the Taiwan Fund for Children and Families (TFCF) through the Christian Children’s Fund of Canada (CCFC) and implemented by the Tahima Baptist Child Development Programme (TBCDP), both child centred non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

    Inauguration

    At the inauguration ceremony, the CCFC Programme Manager, Ms Theresa Banoba Baveng, said the project was also to help ease congestion in an existing four-unit classroom block that had been rehabilitated alongside the new three-unit classroom block.

    She said as part of ensuring that children achieved their dreams, it had been promoting child protection, empowerment and providing an enabling environment for all children in their operational areas in basic education, good health and nutrition.

    Structures

    Ms Baveng added that for every child to achieve his or her dreams, there was the need to provide structures to ensure quality education which was also in line with the Sustainable Development Goal Four (SDG), which was to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and to promote lifelong learning opportunity for all.

    She urged the community to collaborate with the local authorities to ensure the maintenance of the facility to extend its lifespan for future generations to benefit.

    Ms Baveng encouraged parents to ensure their wards, especially the girls, were enrolled in school; that they stay and complete by providing them with their basic educational needs.

    “Make sure children do not stay late at night, provide children with necessities such as food, school uniforms with special attention for the girl-child when they are menstruating”, she added.

    She urged teachers to be disciplined and hardworking in providing quality education for the children.

    A board member of the TBCDP, Rev. Jonas Nantomah, said since the year 2000 the TBCDP with support from the CCFC implemented varied interventions including health, education, water, sanitation and hygiene as well as sustainable livelihood development.

    Appreciation

    The Kumbungu District Director of Education, Hajia Abibata Saaka, on behalf of the community, the education directorate and the Kumbungu District Assembly, expressed her appreciation to CCFC and their partners for the gesture.

    She said the facility would surely enhance education in the community.

    Source: Samuel Duodu| graphic.com.gh

  • Alavanyo gets new maternity facility

    GCB Bank has supported the Paramount Queen Mother of Alavanyo Traditional Area, Mamaga Ametor Hoebuadzu II, to construct a new maternity facility in Alavanyo Dzogbedze in the Volta Region.

    The maternity facility opening coincided with celebrations for the 15th anniversary of installing Mamaga Ametor Hoebuadzu II known in private life as Barbara Peace Atiboli, as the Queenmother of Alavanyo Traditional Area.

    Speaking at a durbar as part of the celebrations and inauguration ceremonies, the Paramount Chief of Alavanyo, Togbe Tsedze Atakora VII, commended the Queenmother for showing exemplary leadership and giving women in the area a safe place to deliver.

    Dr. Pius Mensah, the Acting Municipal Director of Health Services, said the municipal health directorate will work with key stakeholders to ensure the facility is well-equipped.

    The Volta/Oti Regional Manager of GCB Bank Ltd., Alhaji Mohammed Mipo Osmanu, hinted that the bank might also consider furnishing and equipping the facility.

    Rita Enyonam Agor, a health practitioner who used to lead a team of three community health nurses at the facility until her study leave, narrated how challenging it is to provide essential and basic health services to the over-9,000 residents in beneficiary Alavanyo communities of Dzogbedze, Deme and Agorme.

    See Also: GCIC examines state of Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Ghana “With the new maternity facility built with the support of GCB Bank, skilled deliveries can be made in Alavanyo as midwives will now be posted there to support the Community Health Nurses. And, eventually, infections associated with home deliveries will drastically reduce,” she added.

    Mamaga Ametor Hoebuadzu II urged traditional leaders not to use their position to oppress their subjects, but rather uplift them.

    Source: thebftonline.com

  • Todays newspapers front pages

    Source: backend.theindependentghana.com

  • Adjetey Anang celebrates 13 years of marriage

    Talented Ghanaian actor, Adjetey Anang, is celebrating thirteen years of been married to his wife.

    Taking to his Instagram page, Adjetey Anang shared some photos of his beautiful wife from their recent marriage vow renewal to mark the celebration.

    He wrote: “Happy 13th Anniversary to you my dearest @elom_anang . Another new beginning… Another phase to grow better & better. Wish u lots of favour & blessings!”

    Waking up to the same person for thirteen years is definitely no joke. It takes someone with balls to be able to stay faithful with one woman especially since cheating has become the new trend for most relationships.

    See the photos he shared below;

    Source: ghanacrusader.com

  • Takoradi-Tarkwa rail services to be back soon

    Mr Thomas Charles Brown, Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Railways Company Limited says the suspension of passenger services on the Takoradi-Tarkwa rail will ultimately amount to the benefits of customers and encouraged them to have faith in the company.

    The GRCL began passenger services from Takoradi to Tarkwa in February, this year, but encountered some challenges that resulted in a minor derailment, and the company’s engineers were working on it to enable passengers enjoy the service.

    However, a few days into their operations, the company had to announce a suspension plan to allow Amanda Holdings, the contractors of the project to work on the Kojokrom- Eshiem section.

    Mr. Brown said the suspension which was instructed by the Railway Development Authority would enable the contractors to have ample time to construct than standard gauge line, to provide better and quality service delivery clients of the company anxious to patronise their services.

    The company according to him had no problems in their operations currently.
    “I was around somewhere last week and substantial work had been done and barring any unforeseen circumstances, it would enable us to open the lines for passenger travels soon”, the PRO added.

    He, therefore, entreated all patrons to support the company in their trying times for them to improve and revitalise the once defunct Railway sector.

    Source: GNA