TIG Post

Author: Persis

  • Gas explosion probe underway; station temporarily closed Mighty gas

    Management of Mighty Gas Company Limited near the Ho Teaching Hospital in the Volta Region has said the cause of the explosion which occurred at its premises is being investigated by the Ghana National Fire Service.

    In a statement issued by management on Wednesday, 11 November 2020 the company confirmed the occurrence of the incident at “LPG filling point at the Mighty Gas station in Ho.”

    The statement said: “The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning of Wednesday November, 11, 2020 at about 5:10am.

    “The cause of the explosion which injured a few persons, both staff and customers is unknown.”

    According to the management of the company, “the fire which was restricted to the gas filling point alone due to the safety system put in place by the company was quickly curtailed by the fire service.

    “The few casualties are currently receiving treatment at the Ho Teaching Hospital and no deaths recorded.”

    It continued that: “the cause of the accident is currently unknown and still under investigation by the Ghana Fire Service” and the company is “cooperating with the fire service and other regulatory bodies to ensure a thorough investigation.”

    It further expressed its “sincerest sympathies to all injured and the general public” and wished the injured “a speedy recovery.”

    The company added that: “To ensure continuous safety of both staff and customers, the Gas station is closed temporarily to allow for thorough assessment, repairs and improvements.”

    The filing station exploded leaving five people injured.

    According to residents, they were compelled to call the Ghana National Fire Service following the sound of an explosion from the gas filling station.

    The fire was, however, doused due to the swift intervention of the firefighters.

    About five drivers who were purchasing gas at the time of the explosion got injured and were rushed to the hospital.

    Source: Class FM

  • NPP will win Odododiodio Ashitey

    The Greater Accra regional minister Ishmael Ashitey says he is confident the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will win the Odododiodio seat in the December 7 elections.

    Speaking at the nation builders update on Tuesday, November 10 the minister said the governing party has done a lot to give them victory in the 2020 December elections.

    According to him, “projects like the fishing harbour in Jamestown and the numerous developmental works in the constituency gives me confidence that the constituency will vote massively for the party.”

    He added :“The harbor could not have come at a better time. Today, fisherfolk in the constituency will have a better place of doing business. The government through his Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is committed to developmental projects in the Greater Accra region.

    “This government continues to settle chieftaincy disputes in the region. We settled that of Teshie and they have a chief now.”

    In March, the government started the construction of a fishing harbour in Jamestown to aid fishermen go about their business well.

    The harbour project involves the dredging of about 118,000 cubic meters harbour basin and shipping channels; construction of hydraulic structures composed of berths, seawall and break water; and construction of administration, production and supporting facilities, including an office building, kindergarten, trading market, processing area, commercial area and other production and supporting facilities.

    Source: 3 News

  • Government settled most chieftaincy disputes in Greater Accra Ashitey

    The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Ishmael Ashitey, has revealed that the government has been able to tackle most chieftaincy disputes in the region.

    This, he said, forms part of the achievements of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) ahead of the elections on December 7.

    Chieftaincy disputes and land litigation had been identified as the biggest challenges hampering development efforts in the region.

    Areas in the region that have been hit with chieftaincy disputes include the Ga paramountcy, Teshie, Ablekuma, Oblongo, Bortianor, Weija and Tema.

    But speaking at the nation builders update on Tuesday, November 10 he said “This government continues to settle chieftaincy disputes in the region. We settled that of Teshie and they have a chief now. Works are ongoing with the Ningo and Prampram chiefs too.”

    Mr Ashitey further stated there have been several other development projects undertaken in the region to ensure the needed progress of the people.

    These projects, he indicated will translate into electoral votes for the NPP.

    “Projects like the fishing harbor in Jamestown and the numerous developmental works in the constituency gives me confidence that the constituency will vote massively for the party,” he said.

    He added: “the harbor could not have come at a better time. Today, fisherfolk in the constituency will have a better place of doing business. The government through his Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is committed to developmental projects in the Greater Accra region.

    In March, the government started the construction of a fishing harbor in Jamestown to aid fishermen to go about their business well.

    The harbor project involves the dredging of about 118,000 cubic meters harbor basin and shipping channels; construction of hydraulic structures composed of berths, seawall and a breakwater; and construction of administration, production and supporting facilities, including an office building, kindergarten, trading market, processing area, commercial area and other production and supporting facilities.

    Source: 3 News

  • Happy 109th Birthday Accra Hearts of Oak

    Happy 109th birthday to the oldest existing football club in the country.

    The club supposedly birthed by 11 men on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1911.

    The club that from its little beginnings in Cape Coast has risen to become the most iconic club in the country alongside Kumasi Asante Kotoko.

    The club with 19 Ghana Premier League titles, ten FA cup honours, and two President Cups.

    Happy Birthday to the only Ghanaian club to have won the CAF Confederation Cup. A feat achieved at the expense of rivals Kumasi Asante Kotoko in 2005.

    The winners of the CAF Champions League in 2000 are 109 years and it calls for a celebration.

    To the club that gave Ghana arguably the best assembly of talented players in the Premier League (64 Battalion), we say Ayekoo.

    The club that once had eleven of its players making up the starting team of the Black Stars and secured a valuable 0-0 draw with a star-studded Nigerian side.

    In the last decade, the issues on and off the pitch have left a lot to be desired but it does not take away the fact that the story of Ghana football cannot be said without mentioning Rainbow club. The club with beautiful colors and beautiful men.

    The construction of the Pobiman Sports Complex coupled with the recruitment done in the just-ended transfer window has filled fans of the club with renewed hopes that the club will fight its way back to the top of Africa football and reclaim its lost pride.

    On the occasion of their 109th birthday, GhanaWeb wishes Hearts of Oak the very best in 2020/2021 league season which kicks off on Friday.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Nobody can reverse Free SHS Mahama

    The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress, John Dramani Mahama, has once again refuted suggestions that an NDC government under him will abandon the Free SHS policy.

    “I have never said anywhere that I will abolish Free SHS, never if you have any voice of me saying I will abandon free SHS, prove it to me. Nobody can reverse Free SHS, Free SHS is here to stay,” the former president said in an interview on Abusua 96.5 FM Wednesday on day two of his Ashanti regional campaign tour.

    Mr. Mahama stated that claims he will abolish the free SHS policy is deliberate misinformation being perpetuated by members of the New Patriotic Party.

    According to him, he began the free SHS policy in 2015 during his tenure adding that it is ridiculous for anybody to suggest that he will cancel a policy he implemented.

    He added that he will improve the policy and abolish the Double Track system in his first year by expanding secondary schools and constructing new ones to accommodate new students.

    Source: Starr FM

  • Ghanaian company introduces 2-days paid menstruation leave for female employees

    Ghanaian medical service company, Incas Diagnostics, has given its female employees much-needed support.

    The company, which worked with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to develop the rapid test kits for COVID-19, is implementing a progressive policy to give its female employees time away from work during their menstruation period.

    This is not a menstruate banishment policy, rather it gives women a chance to take time off work to get through their painful menstrual cycle.

    The company announced that female employees will get two-days leave when they are experiencing cramps during their monthly cycle.

    While they take their two-days leave, they will still be paid their full salaries.

    Source: Kuulpeeps

  • Coronavirus: Adhere strictly to safety protocols NPP orders party event organisers

    The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called on the rank and file of the party to strictly adhere to all the COVID-19 safety protocols in the conduct of all party and campaign related activities.

    The party has entreated organisers of their events to make provisions for thermometer guns, veronica buckets and hand sanitizers at all times during their programmes.

    “Leadership of the party at various levels must also ensure strict adherence to the social distancing protocols and must make the wearing of facemasks mandatory for all members at all times during party gatherings,” the NPP said in a statement signed by its national chairman Freddie Blay.

    The statement stressed that the “mask is a must”.

    This comes after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo directed political parties and other groups to ensure that their members adhere to the covid-19 protocols in view of the gradual rise in the number of new cases from an average of 25 new cases per day some three weeks ago to an average 130 cases per day in the course of the last two weeks.

    COVID-19 cases have risen to 1,329 nationwide after falling to almost 300 two weeks ago.

    The Ministry of Health has said the reduction in compliance with the preventive protocols is to blame for the rise in cases across the country.

    The government and the ministry are, therefore, asking Ghanaians to adhere to mask-wearing, hand-washing and social distancing protocols as well as use hand sanitisers.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in his 19th address on measures taken by the government to stem the surge in cases, further cautioned that severe sanctions exist in the laws to punish those who flout the las on wearing of masks.

    “The more we adhere to the protocols, the quicker we defeat the virus,” he added.

    Source: Class FM

  • Renovation works at Baba Yara Stadium is high quality – NSA boss

    The Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Prof. Peter Twumesi, has commended the contractor working on the renovation works at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

    He was hopeful that the renovation works ongoing at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium is scheduled for completion by the end of the year.

    The Baba Yara Sports Stadium has been closed for renovation works since February this year.

    Reacting to the works ongoing at the stadium, Prof. Twumesi said the contractor has done a perfect job and must be commended.

    He described the materials being used for the renovations as of high quality.

    The majority of renovation works he added are almost done and the authority was hopeful the entire works would be done by end of the year.

    He said governments over the years have failed to renovate the facility and hold a proper maintenance culture of the stadium but after President Akufo-Addo took over, we have embarked on the renovation works at the stadium. That is a positive agenda.

    He was reacting to an unannounced visit by his outfit and the Ministry of Youth and Sports to the stadium on Monday.

    He said all the reports the contractor sent to his outfit about his work are genuine and reflect the work he saw ongoing at the stadium.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Winful Cobbinah set to leave Albania, FK Tirana agree terms

    Ghana midfielder supremo Winful Cobbinah is set to leave Albania after giants FK Tirana agreed a deal for playmaker to join a foreign club on a bumper contract, Ghanasoccernet.com can exclusively reveal.

    The 29-year-old will leave the Albanian club this week to undergo a medical with a team abroad before sealing the deal that would massively improve his financial fortunes, Ghana’s leading football news outfit can authoritatively reveal.

    The former Hearts of Oak playmaker is expected to acquire the necessary documents by Wednesday that would enable him to travel out of the country to play abroad.

    This comes just minutes after a court in Tirana court sentenced the midfielder to four months in prison but was reduced to 100 hours of community service because of his good behaviour.

    The deal for Cobbinah had been in the offing for two months now after playing a major role in ensuring the title success of FK Tirana which prompted the club abroad to pounce for his signature.

    The move to the foreign club will not be affected by Tuesday’s court ruling as his club FK Tirana had already been in negotiations with the foreign club over the Ghana international.

    The former Hearts of Oak star played an influential role for the side as they clinched the Katergoria Superiore last season, ending a 11-year top-flight drought with their last success dating back in the 2008/2009 season.

    Since joining from Ghanaian giants Hearts of Oak two years ago, Cobbinah has been a mainstay of the side, scoring 10 goals in a combined 58 matches so far and making several assists.

    The poster boy has been rewarded by the country’s President after granting his citizenship just within two years.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Ghana superstar Winful Cobbinah set to leave Albania, FK Tirana agree terms

    Ghana midfielder supremo Winful Cobbinah is set to leave Albania after giants FK Tirana agreed a deal for the playmaker to join a foreign club on a bumper contract, Ghanasoccernet.com can exclusively reveal.

    The 29-year-old will leave the Albanian club this week to undergo a medical with a team abroad before sealing the deal that would massively improve his financial fortunes, Ghana’s leading football news outfit can authoritatively reveal.

    The former Hearts of Oak playmaker is expected to acquire the necessary documents by Wednesday that would enable him to travel out of the country to play abroad.

    This comes just minutes after a court in Tirana court sentenced the midfielder to four months in prison but was reduced to 100 hours of community service because of his good behaviour.

    The deal for Cobbinah had been in the offing for two months now after playing a major role in ensuring the title success of FK Tirana which prompted the club abroad to pounce for his signature.

    The move to the foreign club will not be affected by Tuesday’s court ruling as his club FK Tirana had already been in negotiations with the foreign club over the Ghana international.

    The former Hearts of Oak star played an influential role for the side as they clinched the Katergoria Superiore last season, ending an 11-year top-flight drought with their last success dating back in the 2008/2009 season.

    Since joining from Ghanaian giants Hearts of Oak two years ago, Cobbinah has been a mainstay of the side, scoring 10 goals in a combined 58 matches so far and making several assists.

    The poster boy has been rewarded by the country’s President after granting his citizenship just within two years.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Sekondi-Takoradi Marathon is good news for the region – Regional Minister

    Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, has described the first-ever Sekondi-Takoradi Marathon (STM) fixed for Saturday, December 26, in the region as “one of the few good news for the region this year”.

    He said the Marathon would be a test to their resolve of becoming the best tourism destination point in Ghana and they were ready to achieve that.

    Speaking at the launch of the Marathon in the Takoradi at the plush Best Western Plus Atlantic Hotel, he said the people of Sekondi-Takoradi should make the most out of the opportunity to receive many visitors in the region.

    “If we are to have such a grand launch of the Sekondi-Takoradi Marathon, then it clearly shows that this year, we’ve had a lot of good news. And I believe this is the time to thank God for the magnificence and for giving us this great,” he said.

    “The people of Sekondi-Takoradi should use this opportunity to prepare themselves ahead of time to be able to host a great event in December,” he added.

    Mr Darko-Mensah said sustenance of the Marathon would be a legacy that he would work hard to leave through a Public-Private partnership and the region’s investment centre.

    He urged all stakeholders to get involved in the success and sustainability of the project and called on corporate institutions in the region to join in sponsoring the project to make it a success.

    “If you want to do a big thing in Ghana, come to the Western Region. For such a big event, we need more sponsorships and so I call on corporate Ghana to come on board.”

    The 21-kilometre Sekondi-Takoradi Marathon has so far attracted GOIL, Lakeside Estate, Halfan Ghana Limited, Escort Security Services, Cowbell Ghana Limited, Best Western Plus Atlantic Hotel and Africa World Airlines (AWA), and it is expected to attract over 2000 athletes.

    Source: GNA

  • 2020/21 Ghana Premier League full squads: Asante Kotoko

    Asante Kotoko registered players for the 2020/21 Ghana Premier League season.

    Razak Abalora 1

    Samuel Frimpong 2

    Salifu Mudasiru 3

    Mubarik Yussif 4

    Ibrahim Imoro 5

    Emmanuel Keyekeh 6

    Evans Adomako 7

    Muniru Sulley 8

    Kwame Opoku 9

    Fabio Gama Dos Santos 10

    Felix Annan 12

    Emmanuel Sarkodie 13

    Kwame Adom Frimpong 14

    Andrews Kwadwo Appau 15

    Danlad Ibrahim 16

    Habib Mohammed 17

    Godfred Asiamah 18

    William Opoku Mensah 19

    Abdul Latif Anabila 20

    Patrick Kojo Asmah 21

    Kwame Baah 22

    Christopher Nakai Nettey 23

    Wahab Adams 24

    Ibrahim Osman 25

    Augustine Okrah 26

    Naby Keita Laye 28

    Emmanuel Gyamfi 29

    Abdul Ganiyu Ismail 30

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • New seats installed at Baba Yara Sports Stadium

    The National Sports Authority (NSA) is installing new seats at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium as renovation works continue at the stadium.

    The old seats were destroyed during an inter-schools competition in the Ashanti Region, leaving the stadium in bad state.

    But the NSA closed down the stadium as government revamps facilities at the stadium.

    The final phase of the installation started on Monday, with the workers and contractor also busily working on the scoreboard.

    The pitch drainage system is also being fixed.

    The Baba Yara Sports stadium has hosted several Black Stars games and is home to Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko..

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Kotoko new Brazilian signing Fabio Gama handed iconic number 10 shirt

    Asante Kotoko have handed the famous No.10 jersey to Brazilian midfielder Fabio Gama despite cooling off in his native country less than a week to the start of the 2020-21 season.

    The 28-year-old, who is yet to arrive in Ghana, since penning a deal with the Ghanaian giants, will wear iconic shirt in his debut season.

    The number 10 is probably the most coveted shirt number in world football thanks to the list of honorable players who have donned it.

    And the Brazilian has been handed the responsibility of spearheading the Porcupine Warriors in this season’s campaign.

    Gama joined the Ghanaian powerhouse as a free agent after parting ways with Swedish second-tier side Jönköpings Sodra IF in March 2020.

    Asante Kotoko are strengthening their squad for the upcoming season as they aim at winning the Ghana Premier League.

    They also aim reaching far in the CAF Champions League which begins in November 2020.

    Gama dos Santos has previously played for ABC FC, SE Gama, Itabaiana-SE, Operario-MS, Botafogo-SP amongst others in Brazil.

    He has also played for IFK Värnamo in Sweden.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Let’s work hard to keep NDC out of power Akufo-Addo charges Assembly Members

    President Akufo-Addo has charged the leadership and members of the Greater Accra Association of Assembly Members (GAAAM), to join forces with his administration ahead of the 7th December Presidential and Parliamentary elections to ensure that the New Patriotic Party (NPP), keeps the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) out of power.

    The President gave the charge when he addressed the association at the Jubilee House when they paid a courtesy call on him on Tuesday, 10 November 2020.

    “We all have to join forces and fight to ensure that we do not allow the NDC to come back to office. That should never happen in the upcoming elections. It will require that we join forces to prevent them from coming back to office” President Akufo-Addo said.

    “The atmosphere in the country is good for us. Ghanaians are largely happy with the work of my administration thus far and what is important now is to go from house to house and to drive home our enviable record from now till the 7th December elections. We can’t afford any complacency, because elections are not won until the last vote has been counted and we have to make sure that everybody who has registered, will come out and vote in this year’s election” President Akufo-Addo added.

    Payment of Assembly Members

    On the subject of the payment of Assembly Members which has become a controversial issue since former President John DDramani Mahama and the 2020 Presidential candidate of the NDC, promised to pay all Assembly Members a monthly salary, Spokesperson for the association, Stephen Kwasi Acquah, in his address, noted that any decision to pay them a monthly salary is welcome news.

    However, he indicated that Mr. Mahama, who is today promising to pay Assembly Members salaries, did same in his party’s 2012 manifesto but failed to implement the promise when he won power.

    To this end, Mr. Acquah observed that their association considers the 2020 manifesto promise of the NDC and its presidential candidate to pay Assembly Members monthly salaries as a promise without any substance.

    “We are only confident in one thing and that is, for you, Mr. President to make time to even meet us today, demonstrates that you are the President who will make our lives better from 2021 in your second term,” he said.

    Source: Class FM

  • Government to set up GH¢2 billion Guarantee Scheme for businesses – Ayorkor Botchwey

    Government is in consultation with some financial institutions to establish a Guarantee Scheme of up to GH¢2 billion to enable businesses to borrow from banks at a more affordable rate and a longer course.

    This was mentioned by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey when newly elected Executives of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce called on her.

    The Minister stated that the establishment of the GH¢2 billion Guarantee Scheme is to help businesses to access loans from banks at affordable rates to retain jobs and to save businesses negatively affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

    She touched on the impact of COVID-19 on Ghanaian businesses, noting that the Alleviation and Revitalisation of Enterprises Support (CARES) Programme have been put in place to mitigate the effects.

    “The CARES Programme has a two-step phase, namely, a stabilisation phase and a revitalisation phase. State that under the stabilization phase, the Government is extending the duration or coverage of some of the programmes already put in place to provide relief and support to Ghanaians like ensuring food security, protecting businesses and workers, strengthening the health system as well as easing the burden on businesses through the issuance of a monetary policy standard and regulatory regime”, she revealed.

    Madam Ayokor Botchwey further disclosed that “the Government has decided to extend the provision of free water supply for another three months as well as increase funding to the CAP-BuSS Programme being run by the National Board for Small Scale Industries, to expand support to the millions of Ghanaians in the micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) sector”.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • 80% of businesses project recovery by mid-2021

    A majority of businesses are optimistic of recovery from the devastating effects of the novel coronavirus by the middle of 2021, the latest survey by the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has shown.

    The survey, which was aimed at assessing the impact of COVID-19 on businesses in Ghana, revealed that about 80 percent of firms across the manufacturing, services and construction sectors expect to recover by June 2021.

    About 40 percent of the firms said they are likely to invest in the next six months. However, chances of employment in the next six months remain low, given that only 26 percent of firms are likely to hire additional workers.

    Given that the number of COVID-19 positive cases in Ghana has been on the rise in recent weeks, about 45 percent of the firms indicated in the survey that they are likely to implement a plan to lay off between 25 percent and 50 percent of their current employees, if the crisis persists till next year.

    Speaking during a discussion of the findings of the survey, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AGI, Mr. Seth Twum-Akwaboah, said “tax waivers or temporary tax breaks, stimulus package from government, reduction of corporate tax, flexible loans from commercial banks, electricity and water subsidies are in this order the most important things firms expect to alleviate the impact of COVID-19.”

    Mr. Twum-Akwaboah added that firms across the various sectors need timely support to increase production, as most of them are currently operating below their normal capacity.

    “Government must make a dedicated effort to scale up and ensure policy-driven local content in contracts and procurement across key sectors. This will help stimulate demand for goods and services to speed up recovery while developing local supply chains,” he said.

    The construction sector, it was revealed, was affected more by the pandemic compared with the services and manufacturing sectors. In terms of company size, small and medium companies bore the brunt of the pandemic compared with large firms.

    However, the CEO noted that in quarter three, a significant improvement was observed across sectors and groups of companies by size.

    “The services sector is recovering faster, with 33 percent of businesses moving out from worse-than-normal situation—and same for the medium size companies,” he said.

    Source: Business 24

  • MCE promises Asunsu community fair share of development projects

    Dormaa Central Municipal Chief Executive, Iddrissa Ouattara, has assured the chiefs and people of the Asunsu Number One Community in the Dormaa Central Municipality of their share of government’s development projects.

    He assured the community that government would not renege on its decision, efforts, mission, and commitment to provide social amenities such as good roads, schools, water supply, and hospitals to the people, majority of whom are farmers and classified under the essential category of workers, and whose socio-economic conditions needed to be enhanced.

    Mr Ouattara said this at an event to commemorate the Municipal Farmers Day Celebration held at Asunsu Number in the Dormaa Central Municipality of the Bono Region.

    The MCE added that the Assembly was closely working with a contractor to construct the roads -Dormaa Kwaadaso roads, Asunsu Dwane, Ntaabene, reshaping of Kaaseman – Ahentrase roads as well as SDA, Brotherhood and Zongo – New Dormaa roads.

    He stated that the government’s policy interventions in the agriculture sector had led to an unprecedented and extraordinary increase in food production levels with the export of food surplus to countries like Togo, Mali, and Burkina Faso.

    Mr Ouattara emphasised the government’s commitment to ensuring food security, the welfare of farmers and their families, and those within the food production value chain.

    The MCE said restrictions on movement following the outbreak of COVID-19 had an adverse effect on all sectors of the economy including farming activities, education, stressing farmers had difficulty in accessing ready markets for their farm produce.

    “Despite COVID-19 challenges, the government intervened to make loan advancements to cushion those businesses which were negatively affected as a result of the pandemic,” he added.

    He underscored the need to step up the cultivation of maize and soya beans in the area for the production of feed mill for the poultry birds.

    Mr Ouattara noted that the Assembly was also collaborating with the Seed Production Division of COCOBOD to nurture improved cashew seedlings in various communities of the area.

    Source: GNA

  • 676 pupils allegedly got pregnant during coronavirus era in Volta Region

    A total of 676 school children in the Volta Region have been impregnated during the Coronavirus period, spanning March to September, a report by the Ghana Education Service (GES) has revealed.

    Of the figure, 176 of the pregnancies were recorded among primary pupils, 325 in Junior High (JHS), and 175 in Senior High School (SHS)

    A total of 285 nursing mothers are also recorded to be in school, the majority in the JHS and SHS.

    Keta recorded the highest pregnancies with 92, Hohoe followed with 86, and Ketu South came third with 82 pregnancies.

    Mr Gideon Tsawodzi, Volta Regional Guide Coordinator of the GES, revealed the data at a meeting of the Volta Regional Child Protection Committee.

    He said the situation was endemic, and that late admission to school had been identified as the primary cause.

    Mr Tsawodzi said gaps in guidance and counseling also remained a key factor.

    He said communities had also become sexually promiscuous, and were not able to safeguard the sexual rights of the girl-child.

    Mrs Millicent Dakeh, Regional Girls Officer with the GES, said the figures could be higher, as schools were not in session and some girls had left their localities during the survey.

    She said some pregnancies might also be placed under covers by parents and guardians.

    Source: GNA

  • Government, Vice-Chancellors to release coronavirus report for policy making

    The Ministry of Health and Vice Chancellors of Public Universities in Ghana, will soon disseminate findings from research conducted on the COVID-19 pandemic to contribute to decision making in fighting the respiratory disease.

    Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, the Minister of Health, who engaged the Vice Chancellors at a meeting he dubbed: “Bringing the Academic Gowns to Town for the Sake of a Shared Humanity”, in Accra said the numbers of new infections reduced to as low as 25, which was a positive development.

    However, Ghana as at Tuesday, November 10, 2020 had recorded an increasing numbers in COVID-19 active cases moving the active cases from over 620 as at November 3, 2020 to 1139 on Tuesday, November 10, 2020 with a record of 100 new cases.

    He said the Ministry decided to work with Universities and Research institutions to coordinate information on COVID-19 to support the response by making informed decisions to contribute significantly to policy making.

    Mr Agyeman-Manu said the Ministry with the Universities and other stakeholders were going to deliberate on the COVID-19, and its related matters such as wearing of face masks and why people were not adhering to its safety protocols as well as a possible vaccine deployment.

    To promote a formative study to understand the COVID-19 vaccine acceptability, community perceptions and concerns, he said a trusted source of information was crucial, hence, the collaboration.

    “This should inform the design of communication plans and messages that we could roll out in preparation for the COVID-19 vaccine introduction. I consider this meeting a round table discussion of experience sharing that would help in making decisions to avoid the second wave should that become the reality,” he said.

    Professor John Gyapong, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), and Chairman of Vice-Chancellors Ghana said the academics cherished the opportunity for collaboration as it gave them more platforms to contribute to fighting the respiratory disease.

    Since Ghana recorded her first cases of COVID-19, he said, Universities had been at the forefront of the fight with institutions like the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (University of Ghana), Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology), and the UHAS playing a pivotal role in that regard.

    He said recent publications of the West Africa Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens of the University of Ghana on the characterisation of the virus and antibody levels in the community was also very instructive in the initiative.

    Prof. Gyapong said a collaboration between the Presidency, the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (mainly drawn from Universities) and the Ghana Health Service in developing predictive models for the pandemic in Ghana was going to help in acquiring pertinent information on the initiative.

    “Thus, we are very happy to contribute our quota to this all-important national agenda and therefore applaud the Ministry of Health for this initiative,” he said.

    He appealed to government to back the initiative with the necessary resources to make it a fruitful venture for the country.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus: Only 12% of Ashanti population wears face mask

    The Ashanti Regional Health Director, Dr Emmanuel Tenkorang, has said only 12 percent of the population of the region, wears a face mask.

    This, according to him, was revealed after a survey was conducted by the health directorate on how people in the region are protecting themselves from the coronavirus pandemic.

    Dr Tenkorang noted that active cases of the Coronavirus in the region were 12 two weeks ago but have now increased to 43.

    He attributed the increasing number of cases to the non-adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols.

    Dr Tenkorang said this during a press conference held by the regional health directorate today, Tuesday, 10 November 2020.

    He advised residents in the region to adhere to the COVID-19 safety protocols and protect themselves from the pandemic.

    COVID-19 cases have risen to 1,329 nationwide after falling to almost 300 two weeks ago.

    Source: Class FM

  • Trump’s ousting of Pentagon Chief sends shockwaves through Washington

    The U.S. President, Donald Trump abruptly fired Defense Secretary, Mark Esper on Monday, sending shockwaves through Washington.

    “Mark Esper has been terminated,” Trump tweeted. “I would like to thank him for his service.”

    The announcement came only days after a Pentagon spokesman said, Esper “has no plans to resign, nor has he been asked to submit a letter of resignation.”

    Mark Meadows, the White House Chief of Staff, reportedly called Esper to give him a heads-up that the president’s tweet was going to be sent out.
    In a letter to Trump on Monday, Esper said he accepts the President’s decision to replace him as he serves “the country in deference to the Constitution,” while stressing his efforts to keep the Pentagon “out of politics.”

    Esper, 56, began to lead the U.S. Department of Defense in mid-2019, after serving as Secretary of the Army. During his tenure at the Pentagon, Esper played a major role in implementing the Trump administration’s National Security Policies and mobilising military resources to help the country address the COVID-19 pandemic.

    However, he was at odds with the White House on several occasions over domestic issues. This summer, when demonstrations against police brutality and racial injustice swept across the country and Trump threatened to deploy active-duty troops to respond to violence arising from the events, Esper held a press conference in Pentagon making clear his opposition to the idea.
    “The option to use active-duty forces in a law enforcement role should only be used as a matter of last resort, and only in the most urgent and dire of situations,” Esper said in June. “We are not in one of those situations now.”

    Recently, Esper reportedly helped lawmakers on Capitol Hill craft legislation to pull the names of Confederate leaders from military bases, after the national reckoning over police brutality, racism, and slavery, despite public opposition from Trump.
    Nancy Pelosi, top Congressional Democrat, said in a statement that “it is concerning that reports show that this firing was an act of retribution,” arguing that the move could put the country’s national security at risk.
    A flurry of other Democrats, including House Armed Services Committee Chairman, Adam Smith, also lashed out at the firing of Esper and its timing.

    Democrat and former U.S. Vice President, Joe Biden has declared victory for the 2020 presidential election, while sitting President Trump hasn’t conceded and is pushing for legal challenges. “In the national security community, it is well known that periods of presidential transition leave our country exposed to unique threats,” Smith said in a statement. “It is imperative that the Pentagon remain under stable, experienced leadership.”

    Trump tweeted on Monday that Christopher Miller, Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, will be the Pentagon’s Acting Chief “effective immediately.”

    Miller, 55, was sworn in as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, aligned under the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, in August this year. Most recently, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for special operations and combating terrorism.
    Jim Inhofe, an Oklahoma Republican and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, tweeted he is looking forward to “working with him to ensure that these priorities remain paramount and to working with President Trump to maintain stability at the Pentagon, particularly as we work to enact the 60th annual NDAA. “Inhofe was referring to the National Defense Authorization Act, a bill authorizing appropriations for fiscal year 2021 and setting forth policies for the department’s programmes and activities.

    James Mattis, the Trump administration’s first Defense Secretary, resigned in late 2018 over policy disagreements with the President. In May 2019, Trump announced intention to tap Patrick Shanahan, then Acting Defense Secretary, to formally lead the department but the decision was reversed a month later when Shanahan said he was withdrawing.

    Days later, the President said he would name Esper for the post in a permanent capacity. The nomination quickly passed the Senate with a bipartisan support. Before joining the Trump administration, Esper was the Vice President for Government Relations at Raytheon, a major U.S. defense contractor.

    Source: GNA

  • Somalia faces new desert locust invasion

    Somalia is facing a fresh desert locust invasion, the latest in a string of invasions in the last year.

    This comes as United Nations agencies warn that the east African nation is one of 16 states that are “at high risk of rising levels of acute hunger”.

    East Africa is bracing for a third outbreak of desert locusts, with billions of the destructive insects about to hatch and threaten food supplies in a region already reeling from damaging rains and the coronavirus pandemic.

    Spurred by favourable weather conditions, the migratory pests have descended on East Africa in record numbers since late 2019 and another wave is about to take to the skies despite the concerted use of pesticides.

    “Tens of thousands of hectares of cropland and pasture have already been damaged across the Horn and East Africa,” the International Rescue Committee said in a report this month, noting even a small swarm could devour the same amount of food in a day as approximately 35,000 people.

    In Ethiopia between January and April, locusts destroyed 1.3 million hectares of grazing land and nearly 200,000 hectares of crops, resulting in the loss of 350,000 tonnes of cereals, IGAD, the East Africa regional organisation, said in a June report.

    A new report by two United Nations agencies warned Friday of a heightened risk of famine in three conflict-torn African states and Yemen, and a high hunger risk in 16 more.

    Some 260,000 people died in a 2011 famine in Somalia.

    Source: africanews.com

  • DRC: Mukwege calls on President to personally right war crime impunity

    Congolese 2018 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr Denis Mukwege — currently visiting Kinshasa in the Congo as part of the “political consultations” initiated by President Félix Tshisekedi, is explicitly calling on the head of state to right the wrongdoings that span over 25 years in the country.

    The human rights activist stated publicly and brazenly, “Crimes cannot go unpunished. Criminals continue to make the eastern part of our country unsafe and thus make the whole Republic unsafe. The third thing that has been asked of the President of the Republic is that he get personally involved, that he be the torch-bearer in this fight against impunity, by asking UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to address the Security Council for the implementation of an international criminal court for the Congo.”

    A Local Hero

    Mukwege already made the plea in July for the creation of an international criminal tribunal for the DRC.

    In addition, he condemned the massacre of 18 people in South Kivu. A move which saw the human rights doctor — who provides medical treatment to victims of sexual violence in war, be the target of serious death threats.

    As such, Denis Mukwege is now under the protection of the United Nations.

    Source: africanews.com

  • UN-led Libyan rival faction peace talks kicked off in Tunisia

    The Tunisian town of Gammarth saw Libya’s rival factions begin much-awaited political peace talks on Monday — brokered by the United Nations, the goal is to outline a roadmap to presidential and parliamentary elections in the country.

    The President of Tunisia, Kais Said, publicly addressed the gathering, “But only after this, and only after gathering of weapons, until no armed groups outside of Libyan sovereignty remain. And you, my great brothers and sisters, you, my guests, have an appointment with history, for the sake of history. Do not let it go.”

    Seventy-five United Nations-selected Libyan delegates took part in the six-day forum.

    No More War

    Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, also issued a remotely streamed public address, “You can count on the United Nations to support your efforts. And the (international) community to provide its strong backing as well, including by ensuring fully the council’s arms embargo. The future of Libya and all its people are (greater) than any partisan or individual differences. The future of Libya is now in your hands.”

    These most recent talks could see the end to the political chaos that has engulfed the North African nation since the ousting and assassination of leader Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.

    Source: africanews.com

  • OPEC+ sees global energy production cuts in light of pandemic

    As coronavirus cases peak once again in Europe and the United States, the anticipated continued weakened demand for oil could see global energy producers able to tweak an agreement on production cuts till 202 — as per an announcement on Monday by Saudi Arabia’s energy minister.

    The COVID-19 pandemic — as with most industries worldwide — has also seen the dampening of the price of oil which has affected the key revenue for several oil-producing nations.

    Mohammad Barkindo, the OPEC Secretary-General, outlined the current industry situation, “Yes we have seen, or we are seeing a contraction of nearly 9.8 million barrels a day for 2020, but 2021 forecasts are continuously being revised upwards of 6.5 million barrels a day at the moment. And you have seen the reaction of the market after the U.S. elections, so there is no cause for alarm.”

    The OPEC+ agreement aimed to ease those cuts to 7.7 million barrels per day through the end of the year and to almost 6 million barrels a day for 16 months beginning in January 2021.

    And post-COVID-19 Pandemic?

    Sultan al-Jaber, the CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, remains positive about the post-covid-19 possibilities, “We know that the world will still need oil and gas when all of this is over with and done, even at the height of the lockdowns of March and April the world still consumed 75 million barrels of oil per day.”

    The OPEC+ countries — whose African member states include Libya (1962), Algeria (1969), Nigeria (1971), Gabon (1975), Angola (2007), Equatorial Guinea (2017) and Congo (2018), are scheduled to reconvene November 17th.

    https://platform.twitter.com/embed/index.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1323992765001277440&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ghanaweb.com%2FGhanaHomePage%2Fafrica%2FOPEC-sees-global-energy-production-cuts-in-light-of-pandemic-1104838&siteScreenName=TheGhanaWeb&theme=light&widgetsVersion=ed20a2b%3A1601588405575&width=550px

    The 1st High-level Meeting of the OPEC-GECF Energy Dialogue was held today to discuss the mutual benefits of partnership between both orgs on issues of common concern and also to assess the short, medium and long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global energy markets. pic.twitter.com/tXjGbmtBYk— OPEC (@OPECSecretariat) November 4, 2020

    Source: africanews.com

  • Asante Kotoko new boy Muniru Sulley to arrive in Kumasi this week

    Asante Kotoko new signing Muniru Sulley is set to arrive in Kumasi this week to begin training with his new teammates, Ghanaguardian.com can exclusively reveal.

    The former FC Tambov and Yeni Matalyaspor midfielder joined the Porcupine Warriors on a two-year contract on transfer deadline day but is yet to join his new team-mates.

    Muniru was not in Ghana at the time the move was finalized.

    However, Ghanaguardian.com can confirm that the 28-year old arrived in the country on Monday and will travel to Kumasi on Wednesday to begin training with his new team.

    The talented attacker is one of several players to opt for a return to the Ghana Premier League to relaunch their careers.

    He is expected to go through his mandatory medical examination upon his arrival in Kumasi before starting training.

    Muniru started his football career with Liberty Professionals before joining Romanian giants CFR Cluj In 2013.

    Source: Ghana Guardian

  • Jonathan Mensah proud to make century of appearances for Columbus Crew

    Ghana defender Jonathan Mensah is delighted to have made 100 appearances for MLS side Columbus Crew.

    The 30-year-old celebrated his centurion of appearances for the club over the weekend in Crew’s 2-1 win over Atlanta United.

    Mensah was named captain of the Black and Golds at the start of the 2020 season and has since featured in every single game this year as they clinched a play-offs spot.

    “Good to have made my 100th appearance for Columbus Crew and in a city I call home. Also fitting that I played every minute of the regular season. All the Glory to God. Now unto the playoffs,” he wrote on Twitter.

    Good to have made my 100th appearance for @ColumbusCrewSC and in a city I call home. Also fitting that I played every minute of the regular season. All the Glory to God. Now unto the playoffs.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Afriyie Acquah: Turkey-based midfielder reacts to late Ghana call-up for Sudan showdown

    Black Stars midfielder, Afriyie Acquah is pumped up for action after being handed a late call-up for the upcoming 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifying double-header against Sudan.

    The Yeni Malatyaspor man is among seven players announced by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) as new additions to the original 23-man squad on Monday.

    It is his first invitation for national duty since playing at the 2019 Afcon final tournament in Egypt.

    Ghana host Sudan for a match week three tie on Thursday, five days before the reverse match week four fixture.

    “I always try to do my best for the team. I am going to do the same job I have been doing for the team: to play well and help the team win the game,” Acquah told Sportsworldghana.

    “I want to help the team to qualify for the Afcon as we try to win the tournament this time around.

    “We reached the finals in 2015 and have made a couple of semi-finals appearances and now the most important thing for us is to try to win the Afcon for our country. This is what I am looking forward to achieving with the team.”

    Acquah shared his thoughts on the recent transfer of veteran Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan to local side Legon Cities.

    “When I heard that Gyan has joined the Ghana Premier League again, I was so happy for him because I think this is going to help make the league more interesting,” said the 28-year-old.

    “When you look at the career of Gyan he has done amazing things and he comes to the league with a huge personality. This is my dream also.

    “One day when I feel that I have had enough of European football I want to come to the Ghana Premier League and have a feel of it before I call time on my football career.

    “As you know I never played in the Ghana Premier League or even the Division One and so it is my dream to also do what Gyan has done now.”

    Nearing the twilight of his career, Acquah sheds light on the possibility of following the likes of Gyan.

    “I am a BA United fan through and through. My family is a BA United one but you know they are currently not in the elite league,” he revealed.

    “In the future when I decide to come back to Ghana to play in the top-flight I will consider BA United first if and only if they are in the elite league.

    “If United is in the league then straight away I go there. Otherwise, the club that I dream to play for in Ghana is Asante Kotoko. Kotoko is the club that I want to play for one day.

    “This is my dream also and so I congratulate Gyan and wish him all the best at his new club.”

    Acquah has previously played for Italian sides Palermo, Parma, Sampdoria, Torino and Empoli, and Hoffenheim.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • EC creates 5,000 more polling stations for 2020 elections

    The Electoral Commission has announced the creation of 5,000 more polling stations for the 2020 elections.

    The new additions have taken the number of polling stations to be used for the polls to 38,000.

    This was disclosed by the Director of Electoral Service, Dr Serebour Quarcoe in an interview with Citi News.

    He disclosed the purpose of the new polling stations is to reduce queuing and time-wasting at the various centres.

    He explained in detail how the new polling stations will operate.

    “We want to reduce the queuing at the polling stations so the Commission decided to put the threshold at 749 so any centre that is more than that is spilt. So, there are some centres that have been split into five. Some are four, three and two. The splitting has created about 5,000 plus centres. So, there are no new centres. The splitting is around the whole country but mostly in areas that are densely populated,” he indicated.

    The EC has already said that it is almost ready to deliver a free and credible election on December 7, 2020.

    The Chairperson of the Commission, Jean Mensa assured Parliament that her outfit is focused on delivering a successful election.

    “Mr Speaker, I am pleased to inform you that the Electoral Commission is 95 per cent ready for the successful, credible, fair, orderly and peaceful conduct of the election on December 7, 2020”, she said.

    Jean Mensa also dispelled the notion that she does not have respect for the House.

    “It is important to emphasize that this is the first time I have been invited by the House in my capacity as the EC Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, I have on no occasion turned down an invitation from the Parliament of Ghana,” she said.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Financial institutions urged to adhere to regulations

    Catholic Archbishop of Kumasi, Most Reverend Gabriel Yaw Anokye, has asked financial institutions to strictly adhere to rules and regulations set by the Bank of Ghana to guide their operations.

    He said the regulations were to protect the institutions and their clients and it was important to operate under the rules to safeguard their business interests and that of their customers.

    Most Rev. Anokye made the call at the inauguration of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kumasi Cooperative Society for Development at St John of the Cross Parish, Kronum in the Suame Municipality.

    He cautioned the financial institutions to set the right foundations for their various organisations to thrive.

    “Like what the psalmist said, if foundations are not well-laid, no amount of prayer or fasting or whatsoever can amend the damages; therefore, our financial institutions need to go by the laid down procedures from Central Bank in all activities to avoid any inconveniences,” he told the Management and participants at the event.

    Archbishop Anokye assured the public that the Cooperative had the right and formidable foundation to ensure its growth and sustainability.

    He appealed to the Government to provide the needed support to churches and other private institutions making efforts to open up businesses to help reduce the unemployment rate in the country.

    Source: GNA

  • Contractors, suppliers urged to remain calm as government releases GHC 2.8bn to clear debts

    The Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry has urged its members to remain calm as government releases funds to clear delayed payments to contractors, suppliers and service providers.

    The admonishing from the Chamber comes days after a nationwide demonstration by contractors, suppliers and service providers as a result of the delayed settlement of their valid Interim Payment Certificates for various works executed in the past years.

    In a press release, the Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry said following the engagements with government, some funds have been released.

    “Government through Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) has committed an initial payment of GH?800,000,000 to clear all validated Interim Payment Certificates starting this very week and beyond.

    “Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Roads & Highways and Ministry of Finance & Economic Planning is negotiating for a bond worth GH?2,000,000,000 to clear all the outstanding and newly validated Interim Payment Certificates starting this very November 2020,” the Chamber said in the release.

    Affected Contractors, Consultants, Suppliers, among others have been asked to connect immediately with their constituent associations of the Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry for payment details and any further assistance especially those on GETFund list.

    Read the full release from the Chamber below.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Regional events on AfCFTA – National Export Development Strategy begin today in Ashanti

    The first of the regional conferences on the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement and the National Export Development Strategy will be held from today, November 10 in the Ashanti Regional capital of Kumasi.

    Mr Simon Osei-Mensah, the Regional Minister, will open the event at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Adum, with the Nana Dr. Baffour Ossei Hyeaman Brantuo VI, Mawerehene of Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, as the Guest Speaker.

    Mr Robert Ahomka-Lindsay, Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, will give the keynote address on the conference theme: “Empowering Ghanaian Businesses to harness the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement under the framework of the National Export Development Strategy (NEDS)”.

    The conferences are to sensitise relevant stakeholders from the private and public sectors, especially Ghanaian businesses in the various regions, about export development interventions aimed at empowering the private sector.

    A statement issued by the Public Relations Department of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, in Accra, on Monday, said all the 15 regional conferences would be held in November.

    This followed the National Conference, it said, held at the Accra International Conference Centre on the 20 and 21 October 2020, which was opened by President Akufo-Addo, with Wamkele Mene, Secretary General of the AfCFTA, as the Special Guest.

    The events are being organised by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI), the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) and the National AfCFTA Coordination Office.

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ghana Standards Authority, Food & Drugs Authority, Ghana Eximbank and the Ghana Revenue Authority Customs, are the supporting institutions, while the Stanbic Bank is the sponsor.

    “The regional events are intended to be a lot more interactive with the aim of engaging the private sector to enable them to appreciate existing opportunities within the newly launched National Export Development Strategy, and how they can effectively access opportunities within the AfCFTA,” said the statement.

    Representatives from the Exporter Community, Private Business Owners, Senior Public Service Officials, Private Sector Representatives in the Regions, Development Partners and the Media were expected to actively participate in the regional discussions, it said.

    “The month of November has been dedicated to these roadshows to ensure that business communities in all 16 regions appreciate the relevance and impact of AfCFTA on their businesses and how the National Export Development Strategy is positioned to empower the private sector access the African market through interventions in export.

    “The AfCFTA/NEDS sensitisation train is expected to stop-over in all the other 15 regions, following the National Conference in Accra, as trading under the AfCFTA is scheduled to begin on January 1st, 2021.

    “Watch out for when the Regional Conference makes a stop in your region,” the statement said.

    The first National Conference on AfCFTA was organised by Government in August 2019, followed by the second in October 2020, where the National Export Development Strategy was launched.

    Source: GNA

  • Non-adherence to coronavirus protocols is cause of increase in cases – GHS

    Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, on Monday attributed the increase in COVID-19 cases in the country to non-adherence to the safety protocols.

    He said the refusal to wear face masks was a major cause of the hike, coupled with the non-adherence to the testing guidelines such as self-referrals and inadequate surveillance information before testing, particularly among the walk-in testing centres and some laboratories.

    He said consequently, as at Monday, November 9, the total number of COVID-19 cases nationwide was 49,302; recovered/discharged 47,843, active cases; 1,139, critical/severe cases; 15, and deaths 320.

    Dr Kuma-Aboagye said on October 16, there were 398 active cases and 310 deaths whereas on November 3, there were 973 active cases and 320 deaths; adding that the additional deaths had occurred earlier and were updated on the national database.

    At a press briefing in Accra, he noted that from October 1 to 14, there were 432 new cases, while from October 15 to 31, there were 1,229 new cases.

    The number of active cases had increased from 469 as of October 15 to 973 on November 3.

    The Director-General said the increase in cases were largely from the central districts of Greater Accra Region, imported cases detected at the Kotoka International Airport, and the focal outbreak in the Nursing Training College in Berekum in the Bono Region with 83 cases, which had been contained.

    He said the remaining 14 regions of the country had relatively remained calm despite continued testing with no or very low cases being reported.

    Dr Kuma-Aboagye said there had not been any reported COVID-19 related deaths since the beginning of October and that there was no apparent increase in hospitalisation.

    He said a study by the GHS indicated that the proportions of people wearing masks correctly had dropped from 44.3 per cent to 10 per cent (five per cent in some settings).

    The Director-General indicated that those not wearing masks at all had increased from 18 per cent to 72 per cent over the five surveys (August October); stating that there had been moderate improvement in proportions of people not wearing mask correctly.

    Regarding the Greater Accra Region, Dr Kuma-Aboagye said cases had surged over the last two weeks adding that from an average of 25 cases a day, the Region currently recorded an average of 101 cases a day.

    All the 29 districts within the Greater Accra Region had recorded increases in the number of cases, he said.

    Dr Kuma-Aboagye said the GHS would soon launch a special campaign to promote the wearing of face masks as part of measures to avoid a second wave of the pandemic.

    Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Minister of Information, appealed to the security agencies to ensure that people complied with the wearing of face masks as part of efforts to prevent a second wave.

    He appealed to operators of businesses in enclosed spaces to ensure full compliance with the wearing of masks.

    Concerning the situation at the Ayawaso West Municipality, Dr Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, the Director of Public Health, GHS, said 600 cases had been reported over two months.

    “This is largely due to the fact that five testing laboratories report their tests through the Ayawaso West District: Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Nyaho Medical Laboratory, MDS Lancet, CSIR Laboratory and LEDing Laboratory,” he said.

    He said less than 10 per cent of the positive cases actually resided in the District and that the remaining 90 per cent of cases were walk-ins to the various laboratories from other districts and regions.

    Source: GNA

  • Were confident biometric kits will function excellently on Election Day EC

    Electoral Commissioner, Jean Mensa, on Saturday, November 7, 2020, told parliamentarians that the 8,000 brand new Biometric Voters Registration kits bought for the registration exercise worked efficiently.

    Presenting the roadmap by the EC for the general elections, she said the efficiency of the kits resulted in the speedy and accurate capturing of the biometric details of 17,029,971.

    To her, the kits used for the registration exercise was an improvement from the previous kits used.

    ” Indeed, compared to the previous kits, the current kits are more robust, user-friendly, and perform more effectively than the previous Kits. There were very few reports of a breakdown of kits in the field. Indeed, a good number of our Data Entry Clerks registered over 280 persons per kit per day as opposed to the past, where the highest registered was 100 voters per kit per day. All in all, the performance of the kits exceeded our expectations,” she added.

    She was optimistic the kits would function effectively on election day.

    “We are confident that the Biometric Verification Devices will function excellently on Election Day.”

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • US Embassy to hold virtual college Fair for Ghanaian students

    The United States Embassy in Ghana is to hold a free virtual education fair for undergraduate and postgraduate Ghanaian students.

    The fair is dubbed: “U.S. College Fair” and slated for November 18 and 19, 2020.

    A statement, copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) by the Embassy,
    said attendees would learn how to study abroad in the United States and have a chance to interact with over 150 U.S. colleges and universities.

    It said the fair would be held on November 18 for those interested in undergraduate studies and November 19 for prospective graduate students, adding that both sections would be from 1200 hours to 1600 hours.

    The statement said the registration was free and open until November 14.

    It said EducationUSA was a network of experienced advisers supported by the U.S. Department of State to provide free, comprehensive, impartial and current information on U.S. higher education.

    The statement said the two EducationUSA Centers in Ghana were located within the U.S. Embassy in Accra and ACE Consult in Asokwa-Kumasi.

    Source: GNA

  • Opuni Trial: Agricult received $19.25million for fertilizer supply in 2013/2014

    Peter Osei Amoako, Director of Finance, COCOBOD, says the Board paid a total of $19.25 million to Agricult Ghana Limited for procurement of fertilizer in the 2013/2014 crop season.

    He said the first payment, was made on August 13, 2014, by a letter of instruction to the Ghana International Bank for the transfer of $11 million from COCOBOD account to the beneficiary: Royal Bank/Agricult Ghana Limited.

    Mr Amoako, who is the sixth prosecution witness in the trial involving the former CEO of COCOBOD, Dr Stephen Opuni and two others, in his further evidence in chief, said the transfer of the $11 million was for 400,000 litres of lithovit liquid fertilizer out of 700, 000 litres procured by the Board.

    The witness, who was led by Mrs Yvonne Attakora-Obuobisa, Director of Public Prosecution, said the second payment was made on October 15, 2014, instructing the Ghana International Bank to transfer $8.25 million to Agricult Ghana Limited to their Stanbic Ghana Limited account.

    He said the transfer was the final payment for the supply of 300,000 litres of lithovit liquid fertilizer for the contract to supply 700,000 litres ordered by COCOBOD.

    At this stage, the prosecution tended copies of evidence of payment made for the procurement of fertilizer for the 2013/2014 crop season made in two trenches.

    Attached is the suppliers invoice, inspection of lithovit, a copy of the contract, a notification of award, account details from Agongo, a copy of COCOBOD bank statement from GIB confirming the transfer and a swift advice confirming credit to Agricult.

    Mrs Attakora-Obuobisa asked the witness to explain to the Court how the procurement was done in 2013/2014 crop season. The witness said 2014/15 procurement started after approval of the budget and then the procurement plan.

    He said a request for quotation was submitted by Agricult Ghana Limited but per the records “I did not see any request to the company from COCOBOD but I have the quotation being submitted by Agricult for the supply of lithovit liquid fertilizer.”

    He said after that COCOBOD then wrote to Public Procurement Authority (PPA) for approval to secure lithovit liquid fertilizer.

    He said PPA then approved the request from COCOBOD and the Board issued a notification of award to the supplier. “The supplier responded with a performance guarantee, after which, the contract was signed between COCOBOD and Agricult for the supply of 700,000 litres of lithovit liquid fertilizer at a cost of $19.95million.

    “You have said that you cited a quotation from Agricult for the supply of lithovit liquid fertilizer for 2014/15. Take a look at this,” the DPP asked and the witness said, “I have here a letter dated 19th November 2014, addressed to Dr Opuni, for the supply of lithovit liquid fertilizer at a unit price per litre of $28.5 signed by Seidu Agongo.” The Document was tendered with no objection.

    The Prosecution asked the witness if he told the court that COCOBOD through Dr Opuni applied to PPA for approval to single source fertilizer from Agricult and the witness answered in the affirmative.

    He said a letter dated December 10, 2014 addressed to the CEO of PPA, heading “Application for approval to procure fertilizers for cocoa Hitec programme for 2014/15.

    He said the product was lithovit, the quantity was 700,000 litres, the unit per price was $28.5, estimated cost $19.5million and signed by Dr Opuni. The document was tendered with no objection.

    He said after that PPA approved the request made by Dr Opuni to sole source lithovit fertilizer for 2014/15 in a letter dated December 31, 2014 with a heading: “RE: Application for approval to procure fertilizers for cocoa Hitec programme for 2014/15” granting approval for COCOBOD to procure 700,000 litres of lithovit for 2014/2015 addressed to Dr Opuni. This document was also tendered in evidence with no objection.

    He said after the approval, a Contract was signed between COCOBOD and Agricult for the supply of lithovit fertilizer.

    He said the agreement was made on February 6, 2015 and was signed on behalf of COCOBOD by Dr Opuni and on behalf of the supplier by Mr Seidu Agongo.

    The witness said a certification of award signed by the CEO and a certificate from the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) expired in December 2014 but there was no Certificate before the signing of the contract.

    At this point Mr Samuel Codjoe, the Counsel for Dr Opuni raised an abjection over CRIG certificate attached to the contract, saying there should be a mistake somewhere since the CRIG certificate could not be the one attached to the contract since it expired in December of the previous year.

    He said they would have had no objection if the proper certificate was attached.

    The DPP described the objection as strange since the certificate was attached to the contract, saying it was for them to explain why as CEO, Dr Opuni, failed to notice that he was signing a contract with an expired certificate.

    She said that was part of their case and it was absolutely untrue that “we have in this court tendered a valid CRIG certificate for 2015, because it does not exist.”

    The Prosecution said the document was coming from proper custody, absolutely essential and relevant for the conduct of the case as charges included the conduct of Dr Opuni for the supply of lithovit for 2014/15.

    “It is our case that he signed this contract even though Agricult did not have the valid certificate at the time that it was being signed.”

    The Court, upon hearing the parties, said the document ought to be admitted into evidence because it was relevant.

    The Court said if counsel had any qualms with the document, he would have the opportunity to cross examine the witness on the document.

    The witness said a basic requirement for awarding a contract to a supplier was a valid certificate issued by CRIG for the fertilizer.

    The prosecution handed over a document for the witness to identify and asked,” what is it? The witness said the document was a certificate issued on January 22, 2014 and expired on 31st December 2014.

    Mrs Attakora-Obuobisa enquired from the witness, which certificate covered the contract awarded to Agricult in February 2015 but the witness said, “I do not have evidence of certificate covering the contract.”

    The witness was asked to explain to the Court how lithovit was procured in 2015/2016. Mr Amoako said in 2015/20116, after budget approval, a quotation was submitted by Agricult for the supply of one million litres of lithovit liquid fertilizer.

    He said COCOBOD wrote to the PPA to seek approval to procure one million litres of lithovit fertilizer at a cost of $26.5million.

    He said PPA granted the approval for COCOBOD to go ahead with the procurement, there a notification of award was issued to the supplier, who submitted a performance guarantee and on December 31, 2015, COCOBOD signed a contract with the supplier.

    The prosecution asked the witness that Agricult submitted a quotation for the supply of lithovit in 2015 and he answered in the affirmative.

    He said a letter dated October 12, 2015, was addressed to Dr Opuni with the heading: “Quotation” with item like lithovit at a unit price of $26.5 and signed by Mr Agongo. The document was tendered in evidence.

    Dr Opuni and Mr Seidu Agongo are facing 27 charges, including defrauding by false pretences, wilfully causing financial loss to the state, money laundering, corruption by a public officer and contravention of the Public Procurement Act.

    They have both pleaded not guilty to the charges and are on a GH¢300,000.00 self-recognisance bail each.

    The trial was adjourned to November 12, 2020, for further evidence.

    Source: GNA

  • Abuga Pele reportedly loses mother

    Mr Abuga Pele, a former Member of Parliament (MP) for the Chiana/Paga constituency has lost his mother.

    Abamere Pele died at the Kintampo hospital on November 1, 2020, after a short illness.

    She was 95 and left behind six children including Abuga Pele who is currently serving a six-year prison term.

    Mr Apewe Pele, a younger brother of Abuga told the GNA in an interview that Abuga had been devastated when he received the news of their mother’s demise.

    “Even though our mother is old, she was still strong until Abuga Pele went to jail. She was living with Abuga in Accra but the unfortunate calamity that befell Abuga compelled us to move her from Accra to Kintampo for one of our sisters to take care of her,” Mr Apewe Pele said.

    He said Mr Abuga Pele who never set eyes on the mother since 2018 broke down in tears at the Nsawam Medium Security prisons when they went to inform him about the demise of their mother.

    He said the family is planning to transport the body to Paga before deciding on when to bury saying, “Abuga is particularly worried that he currently has no hope of bidding a final farewell to his mother”.

    Mr Abuga Pele, also a former National Coordinator of the defunct Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA) was sentenced to six years for his involvement in a GH¢4.1 million GYEEDA scandal.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Rainforest Alliance launches project to protect forest reserves

    A non-governmental organization (NGO), Rainforest Alliance, has launched a Tech4Communities project, Hybrid Community-Based Monitoring System (HCMS), at Sefwi-Wiawso to help fight deforestation in the area.

    The project, in collaboration with Sefwi-Wiawso Municipal Assembly, Olam Ghana limited and the Sui landscape management Board (LMB’s), seeks to create a hybrid monitoring and evaluation programme that combines remote and on-the-ground data gathering tools for data management and reporting at a landscape level.

    The project would help to strengthen partnerships with organizations that operate at multiple scales across the landscape and work with Licensed cocoa buying companies (LBCs) both in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire.

    It is targeted at over 10,000 cocoa farmers from the Sefwi-Wiawso Municipality, Akontombra and Bodi Districts to assist Farmers to digitize their farming practices and eliminate deforestation.

    Speaking at the launch, Mr. Roger Micheal Kayumba, the project coordinator, said the project was to empower farmers with the skills needed to be able to control tree planting, collect information on exiting trees and technology needed to monitor deforestation within the landscape.

    He said the project would assist cocoa farmers to conserve biodiversity and protect the area within which they farm from illegal activities.

    Mr. Kayumba emphasized that the communities and traditional leaders would play a major role to ensure the success of the project.

    Mr. Agyabeng Ntori, Sefwi-Wiawso Deputy District Manager of the Forestry Commission, expressed worry about the high rate of illegal mining activities in the Forest enclave and tasked residents especially farmers to report such persons to the appropriate authorities.

    Mr. Sylvester Mensah, the Akontombra-Bodi Landscape Management Board (LMB) Chairman, said they were able to raise 60,000 economic trees through the assistance of Rainforest Alliance.

    He commended Rainforest Alliance for the support, adding that farmers in the area were now into bee-keeping, snail rearing, vegetable production and piggery which earned them extra income to support their families.

    Nana Kofi Nkuah ll, Chief of Sefwi-Awhiaa, who represented the Wiawso Paramount chief, commended Rainforest Alliance for the project and asked the youth to get involved to sustain the programme.

    He commended COCOBOD for the many policies aimed at improving the cocoa industry.

    Source: GNA

  • Top 5 players who have spent 8 seasons or more in the Ghana Premier League

    The mass player exodus of players from the Ghana Premier to sometimes obscure leagues on the continent and elsewhere is often cited as one of the reasons for the low patronage and the main problem for the lack of quality in the Ghana Premier League.

    Standout players in the league after every season are often shipped out as the players and their respective clubs are not able to say no to these foreign clubs when “meagre” offers are presented to them.

    Ghana in 2019 was ranked as the second-biggest exporter of footballers in Africa, this is according to a survey by CIES Football Observatory, which stated that the country had exported 286 footballers.

    Nevertheless, other top players have played in the Ghana Premier League for more than a decade and will also feature in the 2020/21 Ghana Premier League which starts on Saturday, November 14, 2020.

    Today GhanaWeb after monitoring a report on Accra-based Angel FM brings you the top five players who have played beyond 8 seasons in the Ghana Premier League and are still playing.

    1. Simon Martey: 12 seasons

    He has spent 12 years in the domestic league playing for Asante Kotoko, Young Wise, Inter Allies, Kessben FC, and Sekondi Eleven Wise.

    He currently plays for Cape Coast-based Ebusua Dwarfs.

    2. Richard Mpong: 12 seasons

    Swedru All Blacks, Kessben FC, Medeama, Asante Kotoko, Aduana Stars and now at Elmina Sharks.

    3. Emmanuel Akuoko: 11 seasons

    The Aduana Stars captain has been a one-club man in his entire club history.

    He has won two Ghana Premier League titles with the Dormaa-based club.

    4. Ben Mensah: 10 seasons

    The current Accra Hearts of Oak goalkeeper has also had stints with Kumasi-based King Faisal Babies and New Edubiase United.

    5. Joseph Addo 9 seasons

    The renowned Aduana Stars goalkeeper formerly played for Kpandu-based Hearts of Lions, Sekondi Hasaacas, Asante Kotoko.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • 2020/21 GPL: Hearts players to pocket GH¢10k if they beat Aduana Stars on Saturday

    Kumasi-based Oyerepa FM has reported that Board Member of Accra Hearts of Oak, Mr. Frank Nelson has promised the playing body a cash incentive of GH¢10,000 if they beat Aduana Stars on Saturday, November 14, 2020.

    Accra Hearts of Oak will face defending champions Aduana Stars on matchday one of the upcoming 2020/2021 Ghana Premier League season at the Nana Agyemang Badu II in Dormaa.

    The Phobians drew goalless at the same venue when they faced Aduana Stars in the 2019/20 truncated Ghana Premier League.

    But this time around, the team will have another motivation to go for the win as GH¢10,000 is up for grabs.

    “Board Member of Hearts of Oak Mr. Frank Nelson Nwokolo has promised the playing body GH¢10,000 aside their winning bonus if they are able to beat Aduana Stars in the season’s Opener at Dormaa on Saturday,” Oyerepa posted via Twitter.

    The game will come off at 3 pm and will be telecast live by StarTimes.

    https://twitter.com/OyerepaSports/status/1325517497345454080

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Bush congratulates Biden, says election was ‘fundamentally fair’ and ‘its outcome is clear’

    Former President George W. Bush congratulated President-elect Joe Biden in a phone call Sunday and said that, while President Donald Trump has the right to pursue legal challenges and recounts, the 2020 race was “fundamentally fair” and “its outcome is clear.”

    The gesture by Bush, the only living former Republican president, was a break from his party’s outgoing president, Trump, who has so far refused to concede the race.

    In the statement, Bush said he had called Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on Sunday.

    “Though we have political differences, I know Joe Biden to be a good man, who has won his opportunity to lead and unify our country,” Bush said. “The President-elect reiterated that while he ran as a Democrat, he will govern for all Americans. I offered him the same thing I offered Presidents Trump and Obama: my prayers for his success, and my pledge to help in any way I can.”

    Bush also offered congratulations in the statement to Trump “on a hard-fought campaign,” nodding to his “extraordinary political achievement” of winning the votes of more than 70 million Americans, the second-most in history behind Biden. “They have spoken, and their voices will continue to be heard through elected Republicans at every level of government,” Bush said.

    Bush in 2000 was elected by a much smaller margin than Biden, with his race against Democratic then-Vice President Al Gore coming down to 537 votes in Florida and a Supreme Court decision in December. He said Trump “has the right to request recounts and pursue legal challenges,” but said Biden’s win was clear.

    “The American people can have confidence that this election was fundamentally fair, its integrity will be upheld, and its outcome is clear,” Bush said.

    Bush has largely stayed out of politics since leaving office in January 2009. He was only an occasional presence on the campaign trail in 2016, when his brother, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, ran against Trump and others in the Republican presidential primary.

    CNN and other news outlets projected Saturday that Biden has won the presidential race. According to CNN’s projections, Biden has won 279 electoral votes to Trump’s 214, with Alaska, Arizona, Georgia and North Carolina still uncalled.

    Biden delivered a triumphant victory speech in Wilmington, Delaware, on Saturday night, pledging to heal the nation’s partisan divides and saying to Trump supporters: “Let’s give each other a chance.”

    As of Sunday afternoon, Trump has refused to concede, tweeting a host of unproven claims about voter fraud without offering any evidence and wrongly insisting that he had won the election. His attorneys have filed lawsuits in several states, so far without any success.

    “The challenges that face our country will demand the best of President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris — and the best of us all,” Bush said. “We must come together for the sake of our families and neighbours, and for our nation and its future. There is no problem that will not yield to the gathered will of a free people. Laura and I pray for our leaders and their families. We ask for God’s continued blessings on our country. And we urge all Americans to join us in wishing our next President and Vice President well as they prepare to take up their important duties.”

    Source: CNN

  • Spurs go top after Kane’s late winner

    Harry Kane fired Tottenham to the top of the Premier League as the striker’s late goal sealed a 1-0 win against struggling West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.

    Jose Mourinho’s side knocked Southampton out of first place thanks to Kane’s dramatic intervention at the Hawthorns.

    His 150th Premier League goal was perfectly timed after Tottenham had laboured to break down stubborn Albion.

    Having scored his 200th Tottenham goal in all competitions against Ludogorets on Thursday, Kane now has 13 goals this season.

    Tottenham are one point clear at the top, but they would be passed later on Sunday by Leicester if they beat Wolves, or Liverpool if they win at Manchester City.

    Mourinho started with Kane, Gareth Bale and Son Heung-min in his front three for the first time, and while the latter two were quiet, Kane was on hand to clinch Tottenham’s third successive league victory.

    Tottenham are now unbeaten in their last seven league games but were below their best for long periods against a West Brom team still without a league win this term.

    Mourinho has had a recent habit of making social media posts that take a swipe at his players when they under-perform, so it would have been no surprise if the Tottenham boss was thinking of another acerbic message until Kane came to the rescue.

    Instead, Mourinho leapt to his feet on the touchline to celebrate a win that emphasised Tottenham’s determined attitude.

    West Brom had suffered a pre-match blow when Branislav Ivanovic and Matheus Pereira were ruled out after both tested positive for the coronavirus.

    Dramatic finale

    Tottenham should have taken the lead with their first incisive attack.

    Bale’s pass picked out Tanguy Ndombele and he worked it towards the unmarked Son in the West Brom area.

    But the South Korean took too long to get his shot away, eventually managing a weak effort that Semi Ajayi scrambled clear near the goal-line.

    Karlan Grant wasted a good chance to give West Brom a shock lead when his close-range effort from Darnell Furlong’s cross drifted wide.

    Amid reports that Charlton boss Lee Bowyer is being lined up as a replacement for Bilic, the Albion manager couldn’t complain about his side’s commitment.

    They made it hard for Tottenham’s vaunted front three to thrive and had enough invention to threaten occasionally themselves.

    Kyle Bartley headed over from Filip Krovinovic’s free-kick and Jake Livermore was just off-target with a rising drive.

    It was only the second time this season Tottenham had managed just one shot in the first half of a Premier League game.

    Mourinho’s men nearly fell behind immediately after the interval when Dara O’Shea nodded wide from Krovinovic’s corner.

    There was nearly an hour gone when Tottenham had their first shot on target as Sergio Reguilon’s long-range blast was pushed away by Albion keeper Sam Johnstone.

    Son saw his strike held by Johnstone moments later, while Bartley made a last-ditch block to deny Reguilon.

    Albion still carried a threat and Conor Gallagher smashed a 25-yard strike just wide before Lloris made a superb save to keep out Grant’s header from Krovinovic’s corner.

    Mourinho sent on Carlos Vinicius in the closing stages and the striker’s stinging shot drew a good save from Johnstone.

    Kane broke Albion’s resistence in the 88th minute when Matt Doherty’s cross caused indecision from Johnstone and the England captain arrived to flick a header into the far corner.

    Source: france24.com

  • Africa seeks to make sense of chaotic US election

    Like the rest of the world, Africa has been paying close attention to the US election, since the United States still wields significant influence on what happens there. “Whoever is in charge in Washington and the policies they pursue have direct and indirect consequences for the continent,” Achille Mbembe, a Cameroonian political analyst, told DW.

    According to The Associated Press, Joe Biden has attained enough electoral college votes to become the next US president. Biden has pledged to unite the US after a bitter and hotly contested vote. President Donald Trump, for his part, has claimed that the Democrats have “stolen” the election and refused to concede defeat. Instead, Trump and his Republican party have launched multiple legal challenges in a bid to overturn the election outcome.

    “Many Africans look at the US elections in a very cynical way — cynical in the sense that they know what stolen elections are all about,” Mbembe said. “They know about incumbents not wanting to concede that they have been defeated.” Some Africans have joked on social media that the US is becoming more or less like a post-colonial African state.

    A bad example for Africa?

    “It is surprising for Europeans and Americans, but not for Africans,” Togolese activist Innocent Sossou said of Donald Trump’s decision to declare himself the winner of the November 3 election. Trump is challenging the results in several states and wants a recount in Wisconsin.

    It is common for opposition parties in African countries to contest election results. This was recently the case in Guinea, where the opposition presidential aspirant, Cellou Dalein Diallo, proclaimed he had won before the Electoral Commission published the official results. “But the paradox in the United States is that it is the president who speaks of fraud,” Sossou said.

    Ivorian journalist Mah Camara says the US has set a bad precedent for Africa, with presidents on the continent possibly taking their cue from the happenings before and during the election. Among other things, Trump has complained for weeks that the mail-in ballots — which were requested by millions of voters due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic — are susceptible to voter fraud. However, there has been no credible evidence that massive irregularities took place.

    ‘Democratic debacle’

    Donald Trump’s refusal to accept defeat — especially since he is the outgoing president of a country that is taken by many Africans as an example to be followed — left civil society activist Henri Mutombo in shock.

    “Trump’s exit leaves us, the African youth, perplexed. We have been observing from a distance, but when this country, which gives a lot of lessons in democracy to African countries, starts to experience this democratic debacle, we wonder whether the world is in peril,” Mutombo said.

    Even Germany has expressed concern about a very explosive situation in the United States and warned of a constitutional crisis. Such a statement is often issued after controversial elections in Africa.

    ‘Preaching water and taking wine’

    According to Patrick Gathara, a Kenyan political satirist and commentator, the 2020 US election has exposed the democratic weaknesses within the world’s largest economy.

    “For a long time, the US has been one of the loudest proponents of peaceful, free and fair elections and democracy in general,” Gathara told DW. “It has been preaching to Africa and in many ways helping us to improve our democracies, but it seems like while the US was preaching water, it was taking wine.”

    The Kenyan political analyst went as far as to say that it was high time the US learned from some African countries, such as Ghana, how to conduct credible elections. “Over the last 50 years, African countries have done a lot of work on their electoral and democratic systems,” Gathara said. “Many African countries have learned how to contain the executives; the era of the ‘big African man’ has passed on.”

    For Mbembe, Trump never made the African continent a priority in his presidency. “He considered Africa as a burden. He might have shown some interest, but only in terms of the overall fight against so-called Islamic terrorism,” he said.

    Mbembe hopes that Biden will show more interest than Trump in advancing democracy in the continent. Nevertheless, he believes democracy in Africa will be the product of internal struggles within societies: “It can’t come from outside. It won’t be outsourced.”

    Source: dw.com

  • Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict: A powder keg waiting to explode

    According to eyewitnesses, Ethiopian fighter jets on Thursday bombed Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front positions — a clear sign of escalation in one of Africa’s most populous and well-armed nations.

    Prime Minister Abiy said there had been many casualties on the TPLF side, and there are reports of several Ethiopian Defense Force injured in the fighting.

    The number of casualties from both sides is not yet precisely clear as the government has imposed a six-month curfew and cut off all internet and phone connectivity.

    According to observers, the ongoing fighting between Ethiopian troops and the TPLF seemed inevitable after the relationship between TPLF leaders and Abiy deteriorated when Abiy became prime minister.

    The International Crisis Group NGO warned that Tigray’s conflict risks fracturing Ethiopia’s delicate federalism by creating a domino effect on other volatile regions such as Oromia and Amhara.

    Protests in Oromia killed 167 people in July. A recent report by Amnesty International says an attack by the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) killed at least 54 ethnic Amhara people. The attack happened a day after the sudden withdrawal of Ethiopian Defense Forces from the Gawa Qanqa village, the report adds.

    Roots of Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict

    The primary origins of Ethiopia’s internal wrangles lie in a fight over its ethnic federal political system. The TPLF governing party, which dominated the country’s ruling coalition from 1991 until 2018, was the architect of ethnic federalism.

    Under Ethiopia’s federal system, the country’s regions enjoy considerable autonomy, such as having their own security forces, their own parliaments, and the right to a referendum for self-rule. The TPLF and other parties that favor ethnic federalism saw Abiy Ahmed’s decision to dissolve the former ruling EPRDF coalition as an attempt to monopolize and concentrate power with his Ethiopia’s Prosperity Party. Ethnic Tigrayans make up about 6% of Ethiopia’s estimated 110 million citizens.

    “Abiy’s pursuit of a unitary political party and a strong central government was a trigger for the TPLF army,” Kjetil Tronvoll, professor and research director of peace and conflict studies at Bjorknes Univesity College, Norway, told DW. “The TPLF overthrew the former communist PDRE government for the same reasons,” Tronvoll said.

    The TPLF refused to join Abiy Ahmed’s Prosperity Party, accusing him of altering the constitution and its guarantees of autonomy for the various ethnic regions. The TPLF also alleged that Abiy purged many Tigrayan leaders from federal institutions.

    The last straw came when Addis Ababa said that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it would postpone elections that were scheduled to take place in August 2020. Tigray’s regional government defiantly held its election in September, prompting the central government to sever all ties and later suspend its monthly funding to Tigray. According to Tigray’s regional president Debretsion Gebremichael, that decision “was a declaration of war.”

    Prospect of regional war

    In October, the Tigrayan leadership defied Abiy Ahmed once again when it rejected a reshuffle of the military’s Northern Command. That particular command was vital during the 1998 – 2008 Ethiopia-Eritrea war. According to the International Crisis Group, more than half of Ethiopia’s Defense Forces personnel and military hardware remain stationed in the Northern Command.

    “If the two parties do not come to a ceasefire, this could become the biggest war in Africa,” Tronvoll said. He warned that the conflict had the potential to pull in Eritrea, Somalia, and Sudan.

    “Tigrayans are fighters. The international community needs to urge both Addis Ababa and Tigray to dialogue,” Tronvoll said, adding that for as long as this war goes on, “there will never be peace in northern Ethiopia.”

    Source: dw.com

  • Seventeen bodies found in new Libya mass graves

    Seventeen bodies have been unearthed in newly found mass graves in western Libya’s Tarhuna region, the missing persons authority said Saturday.

    It takes the total exhumed in recent months to 112.

    The graves are located in Tarhuna, where eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar’s forces launched an aborted assault last year on the capital Tripoli.

    The area, some 80 kilometres (50 miles) southeast of Tripoli, served as the main staging point for Haftar’s failed offensive.

    The presence of mass graves in Tarhuna was first reported after the withdrawal of Haftar’s forces from western Libya in June.

    Libya’s GNA Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha said the graves represented “atrocious acts” that cannot go “unpunished”.

    Bashagha said one of the bodies exhumed was Mabrouk Khalaf, a general and former director of information.

    Libya, with Africa’s largest proven crude oil reserves, has been wracked by conflict for nearly a decade, since the overthrow and killing of dictator Mouammar Kadhafi in a NATO-backed uprising in 2011.

    It has since been dominated by armed groups and divided between two administrations that have long been bitterly-opposed: the GNA in Tripoli and a rival administration in the east backed by Haftar.

    The warring factions signed a “permanent ceasefire” last month after UN-sponsored talks in Geneva.

    Source: africanews.com

  • Guinea’s Conde takes victory lap after court declares him president

    A day after being declared Guinea’s president for a controversial third term by the constitutional court, incumbent Alpha Conde staged an hour-long walkabout in Conakry on Sunday

    But the 82-year-old did so with bodyguards surrounding him after his main opponent Cellou Dalein Diallo called for resistance “by all legal means”.

    The scenes of jubilation during his hour walk in the capital are a far cry from the deadly clashes seen after he pushed through changes to the constitution that allowed him to run again.

    Guinean people who decide

    With 59.5 per cent of the votes cast, Conde’s support surpassed the absolute majority needed to win in the first round, judges found, throwing out challenges to the October 18 ballot from figures that include his main opponent.

    “Despite all the threats, despite everything, the people of Guinea mobilized massively, especially women and young people voted massively,” Conde said.

    “Since 1958, the people have shown that in Guinea it is the Guinean people who decide, and no one else.”

    Conde also pledged to take a look at outstanding issues between Guinea and France, the ex-colonial power, again without providing details.

    After months of violent confrontation and a bitter campaign, he insisted the time had come to “reach out” to opponents and improve the daily lives of the country’s inhabitants.

    Violence and deadly clashes

    Guinea is one of the poorest countries in the world and has seen frequent bouts of political violence.

    Its politics are mainly drawn along ethnic lines: the president’s base is among the ethnic Malinke community, while Diallo has strong backing among the Fulani people.

    The official count from the Ceni national election commission gave Diallo 33.5 percent.

    But the 68-year-old insists that data his activists gathered at polling stations shows he won the vote and is the victim of fraud.

    While observers from other African countries have backed the official results, France, the European Union and United States have cast doubt on them.

    Diallo accused judges of “putting themselves at the service of a man and his ambitions, rather than upholding their oath”.

    There is no way for Conde’s opponents to appeal the constitutional court decision, leaving the path clear for the president to begin a new six-year term — with the option for a second under a new constitution introduced in March.

    Clashes between security forces and Diallo supporters after the election again proved deadly, with the opposition saying 46 people were killed in a “wave of terror” while the government put the toll at 21, including some gendarmes.

    Diallo’s UFDG party has published a list of names of the dead, including photographs of their corpses, matching its higher count, which comes on top of 90 people it says had already been killed since October last year.

    Amnesty International has accused Guinean security forces of firing live rounds at protesters in the post-election unrest.

    Source: africanews.com

  • Barcelona legend Eto’o involved in road accident in Cameroon reports

    Former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto’o is in stable condition after he was involved in a road accident around Nkongsamba-Douala road in Cameroon.

    Eto’o was said to be returning from a wedding celebration when his car was hit by a public transport bus on Sunday morning.

    Although the car was badly damaged in the front, the 39-year-old was immediately moved to a hospital where he is doing well under the doctors’ watch.

    “The crushed car Samuel Eto’o was in. I can confirm that he is fine, we spoke again. Doctors taking care of additional examinations,” a Cameroonian journalist tweeted.

    According to France Football, the Barcelona legend suffered a head injury but no life was lost in the crash.

    Eto’o who is a special adviser to Caf President Ahmad Ahmad announced his retirement from football in September 2019 after a playing career that spanned 22 years.

    He won several laurels across Europe which include four La Liga crowns, three Uefa Champions League titles, two Coppa Italia, the Fifa Club World Cup amongst others.

    On the international scene, Eto’o is the all-time top scorer in the Indomitable Lions’ history with 56 goals and the second-most capped player with 118 appearances after Rigobert Song (137 caps).

    The 39-year-old won two Africa Cup of Nations trophies in the 2000 and 2002, and he also has an Olympic Gold medal in his cabinet, after helping the Central African country win the football competition at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Australia.

    Source: goal.com

  • Speaker expresses hope of fair elections as 7th Parliament comes to an end

    The Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye is confident the 2020 December general elections will be an orderly, fair and credible one.

    The Speaker made the comment in his closing remarks when the 7th Parliament of the 4th Republic of Ghana was closed over the weekend.

    The Speaker also expressed hope for a peaceful transition after the elections, saying “the house is making adequate preparations towards the dissolution of the 7th parliament and I urged all to work in tandem for a seamless transition. As the 2020 general elections approach, I wish you all the very best and I pray that our nation will be law-abiding as we know it has always been and that every official will play his or her part according to the requirements of the law of our country. Honourable Members, I am confident that together, we can have an orderly, fair and credible election.”

    On his part the Majority Chief Whip, Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh called for heightened public awareness on the COVI-19 pandemic whiles the Majority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu reiterated the need for peace as the nation heads into the December polls.

    The 7th Parliament of the 4th Republic was inaugurated on the midnight of January 6, 2017 and has worked to be one of the most successful in the history of the country having passed on a record number of legislations.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Ghanas 7th Parliament on recess ahead of December polls

    Members of Parliament can now focus on campaigning for the 2020 elections following the conclusion and adjournment of the seventh parliament of the fourth republic over the weekend.
    The house, brought everything to a halt on Saturday to allow the MPs visit their constituencies and convince their constituents on why they deserve to be re-elected.


    Addressing the house, the Speaker of Parliament expressed the hope that Ghana will come out of the December 7 elections with its reputation as a beacon of democracy in Africa still intact.
    He also sent goodwill message to members of the house who are contesting the elections.


    “Honourable members, the house is making adequate preparations towards the dissolution of the 7th parliament and I urged all to work in tandem for a seamless transition”.


    “As the 2020 general elections approach, I wish you all the very best and I pray that our nation will be law-abiding as we know it has always been and that every official will play his or her part according to the requirements of the law of our country. Honorable Members, I am confident that together, we can have an orderly, fair and credible election,” he said.


    Majority Chief Whip, Kwesi Ameyaw Cheremeh called on Ghanaians to adhere to the safety protocols on the coronavirus pandemic.


    The leader of the Minority group, Haruna Iddrisu reiterated the need for the country to protect its peace before, during and after the elections.


    One of the key decisions taken by the house before its adjournment was the revocation of the membership status of the MP for Fomena.


    After failed persuasion attempts, the NPP on which ticket Andrew Amoako Asiamah contested the 2016 elections sacked him following his decision to contest as independent candidate in the upcoming elections.


    The party notified the house of their decision and after weeks of deliberations, Parliament decided to declare his seat as vacant.


    This move by the August house has been contested by the law professor, Kwaku Azar who motions that the right to take such decision does not lie within the purview of the Speaker of Parliament.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com