Tag: African Centres for Disease Control (CDC)

  • Military, police to provide security as EC finalizes resumes results re-collation

    Military, police to provide security as EC finalizes resumes results re-collation

    The National Election Security Task Force has revealed that military personnel will join police efforts to safeguard collation centres as the Electoral Commission (EC) resumes tallying results for pending constituencies from the December 7 elections.

    This measure follows concerns raised by the EC over insufficient security during the earlier stages of collation, which led to a suspension of the process.

    Addressing the press on Friday, December 20, ACP Grace Ansah-Akrofi, spokesperson for the task force, underscored the need to maintain calm and order at collation centres.

    She urged political leaders to discourage supporters from assembling at these venues, warning that such actions could heighten tensions and disrupt proceedings.

    ACP Ansah-Akrofi reassured the public that the combined police and military presence will create a secure environment for the EC to complete its duties without further interruptions.

    She appealed to all parties to cooperate with security teams and uphold the values of peace and democracy.

    “The Task Force assured the Electoral Commission of its readiness to provide the needed security for the outstanding collisions. In addition, the Commission reminded the Task Force that during the collation, only individuals accredited by the Commission should be allowed access to the collation centres. In this regard, there will be a joint police and military deployment for the exercise.

    “We wish to caution the public that non-accredited persons will not be permitted at the centres. Also, the Task Force would like to urge the political parties to refrain from inciting their supporters to mass up at the coalition centres to disrupt the process.

    “We wish to state that throughout the election period, including this post-election phase, the National Election Security Task Force has put Ghana first. We have put the peace and security of the country first, and we will continue to do so,” she stated.

  • Africa’s health chief was’ mistreated’ at a German airport

    Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, the acting head of the African Centres for Disease Control (CDC), has returned to Kenya after allegedly being mistreated by immigration officials at Frankfurt Airport in Germany over the weekend.

    He said the immigration officials “imagine I want to stay back illegally”.

    Dr Ogwell was due to attend the World Health Summit in the German capital, Berlin, which began on Sunday and finishes on Tuesday.

    Following the incident, he said his “attendance was in doubt” despite having a visa and an invitation to the summit.

    On Monday he tweeted: “I’m safely back in Africa home to the most resilient human beings I know.”

    He also shared some lessons:

    • “A visa often means little when you are carrying an African passport – regular or diplomatic”
    • “Don’t reduce your dignity to fit someone else’s prejudices – you’ll be feeding a wolf that will one day devour you”
    • “Very many decent people are mistreated every day and don’t have the microphone to let the world know – I empathize with ALL of you”
    • “Home is best – Mama Afrika remains my refuge (and 1.5 billion others!) so I must take care of her. And so should you.”

    Frankfurt airport apologised for the Saturday incident.

    “As an international airport, we welcome all passengers and do not tolerate any form of discrimination or racism. We would like to have more information about this incident,” it tweeted after Dr Ogwell had shared his ordeal at the airport.