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Tag: coronavirus in Ghana

  • Coronavirus kills 2 people in Ahafo Region

    Two persons have succumbed to the novel Coronavirus pandemic in the Ahafo region.

    Statistics from the Ahafo Regional Health Directorate indicates that the two died as a result of complications they suffered from the virus.

    The fatalities were confirmed by Dr. Boakye Boateng, the Ahafo Regional Director of Ghana Health Service, in an interview with Ghanaweb.

    According to Dr. Boateng, the Ahafo region which has a total of six districts has far recorded 36 confirmed cases with 8 recoveries and 26 active cases.

    Dr Boateng explained further that the epicenter of the disease is in the Asutifi South District which has recorded 30 cases with the Asutifi North and Tano South districts recording three cases respectively.

    “As at today, we have recorded 36 confirmed cases, 8 recoveries, and two deaths and active cases 26 and three are imported cases. The Ahafo region has six districts and three of the districts have cases. The largest numbers of cases are from the Asutifi South with 30 cases and three cases from the Asutifi North and Tano South districts”.

    He revealed that the upsurge in the number of cases in the region has forced the Health Directorate to intensify its sensitization Programmes aimed at reducing the spread of the virus in the region.

    “We have up our activities as a body in order to ensure that the cases do not get out of hand in the region.”

    Dr. Boateng, however, maintained that the success of the fight against the pandemic is hinged on the compliance of the residents and urged them to continue to abide by the COVID-19 safety protocols.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Playback: Press briefing over 992 new coronavirus cases, Accra Girls’ infections

    The Ministry of Information holds a press briefing to provide updates on Ghana’s Coronavirus case count and management.

    The Ministry is also expected to touch on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s isolation period which has become necessary after at least one person within his circles tested positive for the virus.

    Plans made to provide safety in schools will also be announced and/or reiterated. This follows recent confirmation of cases at Accra Girls Senior High. Deputy Health Minister, Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye earlier dismissed calls for the closure of schools that have recorded covid-19 cases since the partial reopening.

    Officials are also expected to enumerate plans to keep Inner Cities and Zongos safe.

    Join the presser below:

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coronavirus: Stop withdrawing your wards from school GHS, GES

    The Ghana Health Service and the Ghana Education Service have advised parents to desist from picking their wards from schools which record COVID-19 cases.

    This, according to the two government agencies, risks increasing community spread.

    The advice comes after some parents besieged the Accra Girls Senior High School to demand the withdrawal of their wards from the school following 6 recorded cases of covid-19 infection in the school.

    In a joint statement by the services on the matter, the two bodies assured of efforts to ensure the safety of students.

    The statement further revealed that all contacts of confirmed cases have been identified and separated for onward testing.

    Below is the Statement

    Source: starrfmonline.com

  • Dont panic, Accra Girls coronavirus cases under control – GES, GHS to parents

    The Ghana Education Service has through a joint statement with the Ghana Health Service confirmed that six students, a teacher, and a spouse have tested positive for coronavirus in Accra Girls SHS.

    The affected persons, the statement assured have been separated from non-contacts.

    Also, testing of all contacts has commenced, the statement added.

    It further disclosed parents of all students who have tested positive would be allowed to visit their wards.

    Parents were also assured everything was being done to ensure the safety of students.

    Read the full statement below:

     

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Coronavirus: AMA, LCB Worldwide disinfect MDAs, public buildings in Accra

    The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) in partnership with LCB Worldwide Ghana Limited, a crisis management company on Saturday, 4th July 2020 resumed its routine disinfection of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as other public and state buildings in the city as part of efforts to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The MDAs disinfected included the Accra City Hall which is managed by Listening Bureau, Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Office of the Senior Minister, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Ministry of Procurement, Ministry of Communication, Council of State, Passport Office (Ridge) Registrar Generals Department, (Annex, Trade Mark) Physical Disability Unit (Parliamentary Annex).

    The rest were Ministry Of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Bureau of Ghana Languages, Ministry of Defence, Non-Formal Education, Ministry of Aviation, Presidential Lounge (National Security), Civil Service Training School, Agric Engineering, the Official Residence of Head of Civil Service, Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Ministry of Business Development (MoBD), Ministry of Information(MOI), Information Services Department(ISD), Public Records And Archives Administration Department (PRAAD), National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE).

    The exercise which was in collaboration with the Head of Civil Service is the second to be undertaken by LCB Worldwide as part of its Social Corporate Responsibility (CSR).

    Metropolitan Chief Executive(MCE) of Accra, Mohammed, Adjei Sowah, in an interview prior to the commencement of the exercise expressed his appreciation to LCB for their continuous support in the fight against the virus in the city adding that the disinfection would no doubt enhance productivity in the public sector since it would create a fear-free atmosphere for public sector workers to go about their duties without hindrance.

    He disclosed that an arrangement had been made with LCB worldwide to undertake the disinfection exercise once a month and the solution used was organic-based which had no side effects.

    “Information available indicates that a vaccine could be ready next year so it appears that we have to leave with the virus for the rest of 2020. What it means is that all the protocols must be activated and complied with at all possible times and one of the key among them is the continuous disinfection of open spaces as well as public buildings…We are conscious of the fact that Accra remains the epicentre of the COVID-19 in Ghana so the concentration of efforts towards the fight will go a long way to curb its spread. I strongly believe staff and visitors to these state institutions would walk confidently into these offices only when they know that all the safety protocols and precautionary measures are being adhered to and that would alternately trigger productivity. Some of these interventions are intended to protect lives as well as encourage people to confidently come to work and do their best,” he said.

    He admonished all Ghanaians to adhere to the precautionary measures by washing and sanitizing their hands continuously with soap and under running water, wearing a face mask, observing social distancing, covering their mouth and nose when sneezing. as well as endeavour to stay safe by staying at home.

    “It is obvious the virus doesn’t know boundaries, doesn’t discriminate and attacks anybody irrespective of your political, social or economic background. Lately, I see most people wearing the mask but had pulled them under their noses or completely off their faces to rest under their chins. This is unacceptable and we must all put a stop to it,” he said.

    The exercise is expected to continue this weekend and subsequent ones until the exercise is completed.

    Source: Accra Metropolitan Assembly

  • KATH receives Ventilators to help manage coronavirus patients

    The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi on Monday, received three Savina 300 Ventilators and suction machine to manage COVID-19 patients admitted in the facility.

    Contracta Construction UK Limited, contractors of the new Kejetia market in Kumasi, donated two of the machines at the cost of 60,000 Euros, while GOIL Company, presented one, at the cost of GHC150,000.00.

    Mr. Jorge Taveres de Almeida, Project Director of Contracta Limited and Mr. Augustine Boateng, Middle Belt Zonal Manager for GOIL, who made a joint presentation to the Hospital, said the gesture was part of the corporate social responsibilities of their respective companies towards helping KATH to effectively manage and treat COVID-19 patients.

    Dr. Oheneba OwusuDanso, Chief Executive of KATH, stressed the need for efficient and robust ventilators to help manage highly infectious diseases including COVID-19.

    He mentioned that government had awarded the Child and Maternity Unit that had been abandoned for a long time for contract to be completed to help ease congestion at the facility.

    Dr Owusu-Danso said due to the unique location of the KATH, critically and severely ill patients were transferred from all parts of the country for treatment.

    He said KATH was currently focusing on the treatment of critically ill COVID-19 patients, while additional operational facilities were being searched for to admit other patients for treatment.

    Dr. Owusu-Danso called on other organizations to support the Hospital to provide quality care to patients.

    Source: GNA

  • Government supports Western North education directorate with PPEs

    The Government through the Ministry of Education has supplied Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the nine Education Directorates in the Western Region.

    The PPE is to be distributed to final year Junior high and Senior High School students and teachers as part of measures to ensure their safety.

    The items include 1,592 Veronica buckets, 3,184 pieces of Soaps, 1,900 bundles of tissue papers, 1,122 plastic bowls, 1,224 thermometre guns 42,152 pieces of nose mask and 19,316 pieces of alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

    Mr Abraham Fletcher, Sefwi- Waiwso Municipal Director of Education, who received the items on behalf of the Western North Regional Education Directorate Said, the major items have been received and commended the government for the items since it would go a long way to ensure the safety of both teachers and students as they prepared to write their WASSCE and BECE.

    He called on Circuit Supervisors and headteachers to ensure they used the items for the intended purpose.

    He indicated that all the COVID-19 protocols were been adhered to at the various Junior and Senior high schools with a COVID- 19 Monitoring Team and the Rapid Response Team on the ground ensuring strict adherence to all the precautionary measures.

    Mr Fletcher advised headteachers and teachers to ensure students adhered to all the protocols at all times during instructional hours especially wearing nose masks and washing of hands.

    The Municipal Director also advised students to take their lessons seriously to pass their exams.

    Some final year students from both Junior high and Senior high schools confirmed receiving two nose masks and one 200ml hand sanitizer from their various schools.

    Source: GNA

  • Teacher, spouse and 6 students at Accra Girls test positive for coronavirus – GES

    A teacher, together with the spouse and six other students at Accra Girls Senior High School (AGISS) tested positive for the novel COVID-19.

    This was confirmed by a joint statement signed by Dr Patrick Kuma Aboagye, Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and Professor Kwasi Opoku-Agyemang, Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES).

    Thus AGISS has recorded eight COVID-19 cases as of Monday, July 6, 2020.

    The statement said, “The Ghana Education Service (GES) received reports of suspected cases of COVID-19 from some second cycle institutions including Accra Girls Senior High school. The Ghana Health Service was subsequently notified of the situation. As of 6 July 2020, six (6) students, a teacher and spouse have been confirmed as positive for COVID-19 in Accra Girls Senior High School.”

    The statement added: “The school has put in measures to ensure strict adherence to social distancing and other COVID-19 safety measures, and continuous public education sections for staff, students and parents on COVID-19 as part of steps instituted so far.”

    They have, therefore, assured the general public and all parents that, in accordance with the laid down protocols on the COVID-19 pandemic that have been issued to all schools, the necessary steps have been taken and the six confirmed students, the teacher and Spouse have been taken to a treatment centre for further management and are currently doing well.

    The measures taken by the GHS and GES are as follows:

    1. All Contacts of confirmed cases have been identified and separated from non-contacts.

    2. Testing of all contacts of confirmed cases has started.

    3. The school authorities with the support of the [district] assembly are in the process of disinfecting the affected dormitories.

    4. The school has put in measures to ensure strict adherence to social distancing and other COVID-19 safety measures.

    5. Continuous public education sections for staff, students and parents on COVID-19.”

    Read below the full statement:


    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • COVID-19: Korle-Bu suspends urgent cases over spike in staff infection

    The Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) says it will no longer attend to urgent cases due to a spike in COVID-19 infection among its staff.

    In a memo sighted by Citi News, the Deputy Director of Medical Affairs, said a majority of the staff at the surgical areas are currently self-isolating.

    The memo indicated that the suspension will be in force for two weeks.

    “There has been a recent surge of COVID-19 infections among staff working in the Surgical areas. This has necessitated self-isolation of majority of these staff. Hence a decision has been taken to suspend all urgent cases for two (2) weeks. All emergency cases will continue as before,” the memo said.

    Meanwhile, the Head of Public Affairs at the facility, Mustapha Salifu in a statement says the suspension of urgent services will afford the hospital the chance to reorganize itself “for the resumption of regular services.”

    He added in his statement that the hospital will for the next two weeks attend to “only dire emergencies.”

    “We therefore request sister health facilities to refer only dire surgical emergencies (Surgery, ENT, Maxillofacial and Obstetrics) to Korle Bu during the suspension period. Other parts of the Hospital are still in full operation,” he noted in his statement.

    Read the full statement below:

    SUBJECT: SUSPENSION OF NON-EMERGENCY SURGICAL CASES

    The Hospital Administration has decided to suspend non-emergency surgical cases for the next two weeks. This is necessitated by the fact that some staff have been infected with Covid-19.
    This measure is therefore to protect our clients and the rest of the staff who are still at post and providing care to patients.

    The suspension will also enable us reorganize ourselves for the resumption of regular services. Only dire emergencies will be attended to within this period. We therefore request sister health facilities to refer only dire surgical emergencies (Surgery, ENT, Maxillofacial and Obstetrics) to Korle Bu during the suspension period. Other parts of the Hospital are still in full operation.
    Thank you.

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • ‘Mr. President, shut schools down now!’ – IMANI urges government

    President of IMANI-Africa, Franklin Cudjoe has  the Minister for Education, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh to annul the 2019/2020 academic calendar and shut down schools as the country’s coronavirus cases keep rising.

    In his view, President Akufo-Addo’s decision to reopen schools for final year students despite the rise in cases reported, was a step in the wrong direction.

    This concern follows reports that suggest, about 6 students of Accra Girls Senior High School (SHS) have reported positive of virus.

    According to a media report, some 11 students of the school showed symptoms of the virus and were isolated in the school’s sickbay on Monday June 29, 2020.

    The report continued that after running several COVID-19 tests on 11 of the suspected students, 6 of them tested positive and were transferred to the the Ga East Municipal Hospital for treatment.

    Following this breaking report, the President and Chief Executive Officer of IMANI has in a facebook post sighted by Georgeweb.org petitioned the President of the Republic to consider shutting down of all reopened schools.

    Mr. Franklin Cudjoe on his facebook wall urged that “Mr. President, shut the schools NOW!”

    Meanwhile, His Excellency Nana Ado Dankwa Akufo-Addo has gone into self-isolation for 14 days after one of his contacts tested positive of the novel deadly coronavirus, the Information Minister, Hon Kojo Oppong Nkrumah announced on Saturday July 4, 2020.

    The Government spokesperson in a statement copied to Georgeweb.org said “on the advice of doctors, President Akufo-Addo is from July 4, 2020 taking a 2 weeks precautionary self-isolation measures in complaince with COVID-19 protocols”.

    The Member of Parliament for the Ofoase-Ayirebi constituency and Minister for Information, in the statement disclosed that Akufo-Addo after several tested negative for the virus.

    Source: Georgeweb.org via opera.com

  • 46 workers of BOST test positive for COVID-19

    The Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST) has closed down its head office at Dzorwulu after 46 employees tested positive for the novel Coronavirus.

    All employees of BOST at the head office have been asked to work from home temporarily, following the development.

    Staff who have tested positive are also expected to begin self-isolation immediately, according to BOST.

    The cases were detected after a mass testing of staff was conducted at the head office.

    “The Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited would like to announce for the information of the general public that it has closed down its head office at Dzorwulu in the Ayawaso West Municipality from Monday, 6th July to Monday 13 July, 2020.

    “This has become necessary due to a mass testing of staff carried out by the company at the head office in the wake of a staff of the IT department testing positive for the virus. After the mass testing, a number of staff tested positive and arrangements are being made for their treatment,” a statement from the Corporate Communications Department of BOST said.

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • Parents troop Accra Girls SHS to withdraw wards after 6 students tested positive for Covid-19

    There is heavy security presence at the Accra Girls Senior High School after parents began trooping there to withdraw their wards.

    This follows reports that the school has recorded some cases of coronavirus nearly a week after the school reopened for final year students.

    Some parents successfully withdrew their wards from the institution over the weekend.

    Speaking on Beyond the Lockdown, JoyNews reporter Maxwell Agbaba stated that one parent said their ward was asthmatic and could not risk having her catching the virus.

    Many more parents have returned to Accra Girls SHS, to take their kids from the school amid fears their wards may be in danger of getting infected.

    According to the reporter the parents are unwilling to leave without their wards behind as they cannot guarantee what will happen to them.

    The presence of heavy security has halted classroom activities as students are also requesting to be taken home.

     

    Source: myjoyonline 

  • Parents withdraw wards from Accra Girls SHS over Covid-19 fears

    Some parents of students in Accra Girls Senior High School have begun withdrawing their children from the school.

    This follows reports that the school has recorded some cases of coronavirus nearly a week after the school reopened for final year students.

    Speaking on Beyond the Lockdown, JoyNews reporter Maxwell Agbaba said that some parents had been in the school to take their wards home after the reports went viral.

    He stated that one parent said their kid was asthmatic and could not risk having her catching the virus.

    Other parents, however, were unable to reach their kids when they arrived at the school, Maxwell reported.

    According to some of the parents none of the students were tested when schools resumed and this, for them, is the genesis of the problem.

    Meanwhile, a teacher who spoke to Maxwell on condition of anonymity confirmed that some students had indeed been isolated after showing symptoms of Covid-19.

    About six of the students who tested positive for the virus have been sent to the treatment centre.

     

    Source: myjoyonline 

  • Coronavirus: Over 150 Doctors hit with virus GMA

    The Ghana Medical Association(GMA) has mourned the departed souls among the group who have been killed by the novel coronavirus.

    In a tribute to the deceased members, the Association described the demise of the four souls as a big loss to the medical fraternity.

    “The National Executive Committee of the Ghana Medical Association informs all members with deep sorrow the unfortunate demise of four members of the association who have sadly succumbed to COVID-19 since the outbreak of the diseases in the country. These fallen heroes have contributed immensely to the medical profession and their untimely demise constitutes a big loss to the fraternity. May their souls rest in perfect peace”, the GMA noted.

    Members of the Association have thus been urged to on Monday, July 6, 2020, observe a minute silence in honour of the gallant soldiers of the medical fraternity, during their clinical meetings.

    Deceased Members

    Those who have succumbed to the virus include a consultant physician and former Rector of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, Professor Jacob Plange-Rhule, who passed away in April at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC).

    Also Dr. Harry Boateng, a Specialist Paediatrician and Medical Superintendent at the Kwadaso SDA Hospital was also remembered.

    A retired Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr. Emmanuel Twagirayesu as well as Dr. Richard Kisser, a Consultant Surgeon with the Trust Hospital were both remembered.

    Over 150 Medical Practitioners hit with the virus

    At least 150 medical doctors and dentists in Ghana have also contracted the virus since the outbreak in March 2020.

    “The GMA further wishes to bring to the notice of all members that over 150 medical doctors and dentist have been infected with SARS-COV 2 since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. In view of the unfortunate increasing trend of infections among health workers, all members should consciously ensure their safety at all times in the care of all patients regardless of the point of care.

    “The National Association Committee of GMA wishes to assure all members that it is working assiduously to tenure the concerns about inadequate PPE delays in testing and other member welfare issues related to COVID-19 are addressed by the government and will not relent.”

    Source: Kasapa FM

  • KCCR appeals for replacement of COVID-19 testing materials

    Authorities at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research into Tropical Medicine (KCCR) want some of their testing equipment replaced.

    The centre is one of the leading centres in testing samples for COVID-19 in Ghana.

    According to the Director for the Centre, Prof. Richard Odame Philips, the rate at which test results are released, has been affected due to the obsolete nature of their equipment.

    He spoke to Citi News after the Alumni of the University Hall of KNUST, Katanga, presented personal protective equipment worth GHS35,000 to KCCR and the KNUST hospital.

    “There are multiple challenges. One of the challenges is the pressure from those who want the test to meet their expectation. Some expect to get their results within three hours while others expect it in the shot possible time and the huge stress is to meet that demand. So you ask yourself, are you able to do that for everyone? Some of our equipment has broken down because of the stress. So need new equipment to replace the old ones.”

    More investment in research

    Scientists at the KCCR have urged the government to take a cue from the global pandemic to adequately resource research institutions and build their capacities to adequately respond to similar situations in future.

    With the increasing number of coronavirus infections in Ghana, there is pressure on the Centre to scale up its operations in ramping up tests.

    Dr. Michael Owusu, a virologist at the KCCR recently called on the government to invest in research to enable them to understand the dynamics of other diseases.

    “Research goes with funding, but in Ghana and some of the countries in the sub-Saharan region, we mostly depend on research funded by external bodies and due to that, most of the research is not driven by ideas which are needed to enhance local capacity and to solve local problems. If we had enough capacity in place, then we could have done more than we are doing and the COVID coming is a call for all of us to instead of sitting down to be overwhelmed by this pandemic, we should be investing into research that will enable us to understand the dynamics of diseases,” he urged.

    KCCR is one of the two high-level research centres in Ghana leading efforts in the testing of COVID-19 samples.

    Based in the Ashanti Region, it serves largely the central and northern part of the country.

    Between February and April 8, 2020, KCCR had tested about 1,600 samples of suspected COVID-19 cases

    KCCR is a joint venture between the Ministry of Health (MoH), Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, and the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), Hamburg, Germany. KCCR acts as an international platform for biomedical research in tropical medicine.

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • Eastern Region making progress with voter registration

    The Voter Registration Exercise in the Eastern Region is progressing smoothly with the observance of the COVID-19 preventive protocols.

    A visit by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) to some selected registration centres in the New Juaben South Municipality including the Wesley International School, St Dominic Primary School and the Housing Corporation Centre saw party agents and security personnel at all the centres.

    The Wesley International School Registration Centres 1 and 2 at Adweso near Koforidua had registered 549 and 317 applicants, respectively, for the first three days.

    The St Dominic Primary School Registration Centre 1 had registered 233 applicants, Centre 2 had registered 305, with the Housing Corporation Centre registering 354.

    The Registration Officer at the St Dominic Primary 1 Registration Centre, Mr Ampate Kodua, told the GNA that the exercise had been smooth except for the intermittent slowing down of the machines.

    Mr Robert Opata Mate-Wayo, the Registration Officer for the Housing Corporation Centre, mentioned a few challenges with the registration machine but said measures had been put in place to rectify it.

    In all the centres visited, there were hand sanitizers, veronica buckets with water and soap for hand washing, and thermometer guns to check the temperatures of applicants before being allowed to the centres.

     

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus: Akufo-Addos self-isolation sparks chatter on social media

    An announcement Saturday evening, indicating that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is going into a 14-day self-isolation period has sparked conversation on Twitter.

    A statement from the Presidency, dated July 4, 2020, noted that the president was, on the advice of doctors, “taking the precautionary measure in compliance with COVID-19 protocols” after getting exposed to someone who tested positive for the virus.

    “The President has elected to do so after at least one person within his close circle tested positive for COVID-19 today,” parts of the statement read.
    It, however, stated that test results as at Saturday were negative.

    Ghanaians have since poured out on Twitter, wishing the President well, and asking for prayers for him in these trying times.

    Meanwhile, some government appointees have tested positive for the coronavirus and are receiving treatment in various facilities in Accra.

    Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman Manu, Dr. Lydia Dsane-Selby, CEO of NHIA, and Korle Bu CEO, Dr. Daniel Asare are among officials that have unfortunately contracted the virus and are currently receiving treatment.

    Below are some of the tweets:

     

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Name the coronavirus patient in Akufo-Addo’s close circle – NDC’s Yayra Koku

    The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), is crying out for the name of the official who has tested positive for COVID-19 in President Akufo-Addo’s close circle.

    The Ministry of Information announced Saturday night that, President of the republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is going on two weeks’ precautionary self-isolation.

    According to a statement signed by the sector Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the President took the decision after at least one person within his close circle tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

    The statement, however, cleared that: “He has, as at today, tested negative, but has elected to take this measure out of the abundance of caution”.

    “The President will during this precautionary self-isolation period, be working from Presidential Villa at the Jubilee House, Accra”, the statement added.

    In response, a member of the NDC communication team, Yayra Koku said the government should name the official who has tested positive for the infectious disease in Akufo-Addo’s close circle. He also wished him well as he self-isolates.

    “Ok, we hear. We wish him the best, but we need to the person within his close circle who has tested positive.”, the outspoken communicator queried on Facebook.

     

    Source: Ghana Guardian

  • Akufo-Addo goes into isolation after exposure to person with coronavirus

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is going into a 14-day self-isolation after getting exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19.

    “On the advice of doctors, the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is from today, July 4, 2020, taking a 14-day precautionary self-isolation measure in compliance with COVID-19 protocols,” Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, the Information Minister has said in a statement today.

    “The President has elected to do so after at least one person within his close circle tested positive for COVID-19 today.”

    He added that President Akufo-Addo as of today has tested negative for Coronavirus.

    “The President will during this precautionary self-isolation period, be working from the Presidential Villa in the Jubilee House.”

    Read the full statement below.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Establish national control programme on coronavirus pandemic – GCNH to Ghana Health Service

    The Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health (GCNH) has called on the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to establish a National Control Programme on COVID-19.

    It said this was to ensure access and equity in the testing and support services.

    This was contained in a press release signed by Dr. Gabriel Gbiel Benarku, its National President and copied to the Ghana News Agency.

    The release said parts of the country did not still have the basic logistics to properly manage situations of community spread of COVID-19 and recommended standard precautionary measures to be rolled out and enforced.

    It suggested that the GHS should establish strategic guidelines with GCNH and other health-related NGOs.

    The release said GHS must develop an anti-stigma and anti-discrimination strategies, which should be amplified by involving CSOs at the district and regional levels.

    It further called on the GHS to form a national task force to monitor COVID-19 interventions to ensure equity distribution of resources and accountability.

    The release called on the Ministry of Agriculture to roll out a programme to educate farmers on the coronavirus pandemic.

    It also asked political parties to develop standard precaution guidelines to protect themselves and the general public from being infected by the virus.
    It advised Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to amend their by-laws and enforce them adding that they should be resourced well for the fight and control of Covid-19.

    GCNH is an umbrella organisation of CSos, NGOs, FBOs and CBOs with the mandate for health related Research, Advocacy, Public Health Education, Watchdog role and Policy influencing.

     

    Source: GNA

  • Transport operators make demands over social distancing directive

    Transport operators across the country say they can no longer cope with the March 2020 directive by government, ordering private and commercial cars to reduce passenger numbers in line with social distancing protocols aimed at managing the spread of COVID-19.

    The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), one of the biggest transport unions in the country has called on government to either revert the directive or increase transport fares.

    According to the Vice Chairman of GPRTU, Robert Sarbah, commercial drivers over the period have sacrificed enough and cannot continue dealing with the effects of the directive on their business.

    Interacting with some transport operators at the 37 Lorry Station in Accra, they told GhanaWeb the effects of the directive on their revenue and why they seek government’s intervention.

    “We have been managing with the reduction in passengers but overtime there has been an increase in fuel prices. If government can reduce the prices of fuel we can stick to the reduction in passengers,” a driver said.

    Lamenting the increase in fuel prices which the drivers say has compounded the effects of their revenue loss, another driver said “When the pandemic started, fuel prices were reduced at the time when we were directed to reduce passengers. But now the fuel price has been increased and nothing has been done about fares whiles we are still mandated to take reduced numbers. We are therefore pleading with government to either increase fares or reduce the fuel prices for us.”

    “They should allow us to pick the number of passengers that we used to. I am a mate (conductor) and sometimes I am paid GHC10 or GHC7 a day. But before the directive I was making around GHC50 a day. So the directive has really affected us and we wish something is done about it,” a conductor also said.

    In a unified plea, the drivers are calling on government to choose between three options which they say will go a long way to help them offset the revenue losses that they have incurred over the period.

    1. Directs an increase in transport fares.
    2. Cause a decrease in fuel prices.
    3. Reverse the social distancing directive.

     

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Emirates Airlines to help evacuate Ghanaians stranded in UAE

    Emirates Airlines is scheduled to operate periodic flights from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Ghana starting on Thursday, July 9, 2020.

    This forms part of efforts to evacuate Ghanaians stranded in the UAE due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    The Ghana Embassy in the USA in a statement said that “interested persons should visit the website of Emirates Airlines as soon as possible to make flight reservations from their current locations in the United States to Ghana connecting through United Arab Emirates.”

    These interested persons are being urged to “make the appropriate arrangements to arrive in the UAE on time to connect with the flight that will leave for Ghana on Thursday, July 9.”

    Reminding these travellers about the COVID-19 safety protocols, the Embassy has noted that they will be required to observe a two-week mandatory quarantine in various hotels whose services they would have to pay for themselves.

    “The cost of quarantine, which includes boarding and meals should be paid directly to the preferred hotel prior to departure from the United States,” the statement added.

    Interested persons must visit www.ghanaembassydc.org/reservation to make the necessary bookings.

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • No Graphic staff has COVID-19

    The Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) has discounted a false publication by a social media news platform which reported that 36 staff of the company have tested positive for COVID-19.

    The GCGL in a press release signed by its Corporate Communications Manager, Mr Emmanuel Agyei Arthur said there is no truth in the story which has gone viral on social media.

    Precautionary measure

    The false publication from WhatsApp News twisted the GCGL management’s proactive reaction to information that one of the company’s stakeholders who had visited its premises recently had tested positive for Covid-19.

    In all, 36 people, who had interacted with the stakeholder, were tested yesterday, July 2, 2020, and are in self-isolation as required by the Covid-19 protocol while awaiting the results.

    “To be proactive in protecting staff, management decided to make an arrangement for all who were exposed to the person in line of duty to test for Covid-19 in order to know their status”, the release said.

    “The company’s Resident Medical Officer, therefore, requested the Korley Clottey Municipal Health Directorate to test staff who interacted with the stakeholder in line of their duty”.

    The Resident Medical Officer,” Dr Jacqui Barnes, said: “This was a precautionary measure to ensure the health and safety of our employees so that if any of them has been infected by the stakeholder, we can isolate the person early enough for treatment, even before symptoms show,”.

    Test results still not in

    “The false publication came late evening of the same day the tests were taken. As I speak, the results of the tests are still not in so what test report is the publication referring to?,” Dr Barnes stressed.

    Strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols

    The release also detailed the company’s rigorous adherence to the government’s directive on social distancing at workplaces.

    The company has decongested its offices by maintaining half of the workforce and run virtual meetings. Additionally, staff fill health declaration forms when they return from their turn of “social distancing leave.”

    “Thus, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company has kept to this policy by providing the necessary facilities at its premises to ensure the safety of employees and external stakeholders,” the release said.

    “These measures include the wearing of mask before entry and throughout presence in the company, hand sanitizer dispensers and siting of veronica buckets at all controlled points of the company’s offices around the country, temperature checking, as well as distribution of face masks and hand sanitizers to staff”.

    Read the entire statement below;

     

    Source: Graphic.com.gh 

  • EC & Supreme Court placed Ghanaians in severe danger Ex-Council of State Member

    A Statesman, Nana Kodua Kesse II, has described as reckless the compilation of the new Voters register by the Electoral Commission (EC) amid raging Coronavirus pandemic.

    According to him, Ghanaians are defying the odds of COVID-19 to express their disdain to abuse of power.

    His comments, come as the COVID-19 cases continue to shoot up with many state officials, including cabinet ministers, like Dan Botwe, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh and Kweku Agyemang in hospital undergoing treatment for the virus.

    The traditional ruler’s concerns, come as the country mourns the loss of ex-General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie alias “Sir John”.

    Also admitted at the hospital for COVID-19, is a Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah, who is also Member of Parliament (MP) for Tema West Constituency and Peter Mac Manu, the board chairman of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authourity (GHAPOHA) and the campaign manager for Akufo-Addo’s re-election bid.

    The former Council of State Member, was also unhappy with the Supreme Court, saying it ignored all these dangers and even upheld the exclusion of old Voters ID card as a requirement of proof of citizens identity.

    Nana Kodua Kesse II, who is the Oyokohene and Adontenhene of New Juaben Traditional Area, blamed the Supreme Court led by the Chief Justice, Kwasi Anin-Yeboah for putting Ghanaians in a situation where they had to defend their citizenship by defying the odds, but with caution to register in their numbers to express their disdain to abuse of power.

    He believes, the EC should have placed the health of Ghanaians above parochial political interest by listening to advise of various groups, including Chiefs to abandon the belated compilation exercise.

    He could not believe that the peoples’ health, were being sacrificed for power, describing it as reckless.

    Nana Kodua Kesse II, said though the Electoral Commission has put in place basic preventive measures at registration centers, it is being flouted in many areas, adding that the registration exercise which has triggered a lot of movements and contacts in the country, could increase the spread of the Coronavirus disease.

    “The good people of Ghana spoke calling on the EC to suspend the compilation of the New Voters’ Register since its implementation would increase the spread of Coronavirus but the EC didn’t listen. I think it is a rash decision where we are sacrificing lives of Ghanaians for Political power. We are endangering the health of Millions of Ghanaians. The nose mask we know protects little”.

    COVID-19 deaths in Ghana now stand at 117 with 4,941 active cases and 14,330 recoveries, the Ghana Health Service has announced on Wednesday night. The development means five more persons have died from the last count. Total confirmed cases are 19,388.

    The Statesman, believes the Supreme Court having ignored all these dangers and even upheld the exclusion of old Voters ID card as a requirement of proof of citizens identity, the only opportunity for Ghanaians to defend their citizenship is to defy the odds, but with caution to register in their numbers to express their disdain to abuse of power.

     

    Source: The Herald

  • Quarantined evacuees from Ivory Coast allege extortion, demand answers from government

    Thirteen Ghanaians evacuated from Ivory Coast by the Government of Ghana and currently under compulsory quarantine at Takoradi Beach Hotel in the Western Region have alleged foul play by their handlers.

    They have specifically alleged extortion, concealment of information, underhand dealings and intimidation by security officers manning the hotel.

    Narrating their situation to 3news.com, one of them (name withheld) said they arrived in Ghana on Friday, June 25 and their samples were taken by a medical team to be tested for Covid-19 but they have since not had any updates from them eight days on.

    The evacuee complained that the hotel where they are quarantined is a dilapidated facility which was once closed down for some reasons.

    This, they say, is not fitting given the GHC300 per night they agreed with the Ghana Embassy in Ivory Coast before setting off.

    According to them, the Embassy did an amazing job by making an arrangement for them to be quarantined at Boyiosson Hotel or African Beach Hotel in Takoradi hotels they say are more decent.

    But upon arrival in Takoradi where they were handed to security men, they were taken to the “dilapidated” Takoradi Beach Hotel instead of the promised Africa Beach Hotel, where they later found out was an isolation centre housing Covid-19 infected people as well, without any explanation to them.

    The evacuees claim a National Security Operative came a few days later with invoices in the name of an individual and demanded that they are required to pay $150 per night for their stay in the hotel; a move they protested.

    While protesting the bill, they were threatened to be sent back to Ivory Coast if they failed to pay, but they stood their ground, 3news.com gathers.

    They further claimed they were brought new invoices, still in the name of an individual but this time the prices had changed back to GHC300 per night for 14 days each required to pay GHC4,200 without any explanation.

    According to them, the security at the place called them individually and accused them of leaking information to the press.

    In one instance, one of them was allegedly pushed in the chest by a police officer they say they want the police officer removed from post because he constantly intimidates them.

    The evacuees are therefore calling on the government to intervene in the matter to clarify why they have been quarantined at an isolation centre, which was not part of the agreement they had with the embassy.

    They also want to know why the price of the hotel keeps changing and who are the faces behind what they call suspicious deals, especially fishing out the National Security operative who came to demand the $150 per night payment.

    Again, they want the medical team to update them on their statuses so that the managers of hotel, whose actions they deem suspicious, will not use that as an excuse to continue to extort money from them.

    They are also appealing to the government to help expedite the process because there are students amongst them who are preparing to write an exam, a young lady who needs special diet and an old lady who needs special attention.

    Meanwhile, Western Regional Health Director Dr. Jacob Mahama is reported in the media to have confirmed the existence of the 13 evacuees being quarantined at the hotel but denied knowledge of the fees being charged and the alleged excesses.

     

    Source: 3 News

  • Police storm wedding centre as huge marriage was being held amid COVID-19 pandemic (Video)

    A wedding ceremony was turned into a ground for commotion after policemen stormed the event that was being held with no regards for COVID-19 preventive protocols.

    In the video sighted on Twitter, hundreds of people were captured fleeing the grounds after the police arrived at the marriage ceremony.

    Although not explicitly stated, a look at the video shows that it was an Islamic wedding as many people were seen dressed like Muslims.

    Following the protocols to prevent COVID-19 is supposed to be a personal commitment that does not need to be forced on anyone before it gets implemented.

    However, it appears that most people have not come to the true understanding of the need to protect themselves from the disease that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives around the globe.

    It is only hoped that the non-adherence to the COVID-19 preventive measures does not result in an uncontrollable spike in cases and deaths.

    Meanwhile, a Nigerian comedian called The Real Femi has released a hilarious video of himself imitating how pidgin English is spoken in Sierra Leone, Ghana, and Nigeria.

    The video portrayed both the Naija pidgin and Salone pidgin quite well with no clear strings attached, but how Femi spoke Ghana pidgin makes it clear he was making fun of it.

    In all three sentences Femi translated into the various pidgin languages, he repeatedly used words such as ‘kraa’ and ‘inside no be outside’ in a ridiculous manner which did not sit well with many Ghanaians.

    See video below:

  • Government needs our cooperation to win coronavirus fight – Health Minister

    Mr. Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, the Minister of Health on Friday said the government required cooperation from Ghanaians to win the fight against the spread of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

    He said the government had already invested millions of cedis to contain the spread of the COVID-19, but regretted that new figures of the virus disease kept increasing, and advised Ghanaians to strictly adhere to health and safety protocols.

    Mr. Agyemang-Manu gave the advice when he was speaking at a sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of a modern lorry terminal at Dormaa-Ahenkro in the Dormaa Central Municipality of the Bono Region.

    The project estimated at GhC3.8 million, and expected to be completed within nine months would cover 65,000 square metres with the capacity to contain 92 buses.

    It forms part of the Ghana Secondary City Support Project being implemented in 25 Municipalities in the country.

    The US$100 million World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) credit project is part of the government’s broader urban development and decentralisation programme.

    It would help to strengthen local systems and provide the needed support to the Municipal Assemblies for effective urban management and service delivery.

    Mr. Agyemang-Manu who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Dormaa Central indicated the COVID-19 was real, saying without support and cooperation from Ghanaians, it would be difficult for the nation to stem the spread of the disease.

    He regretted many people had the nose masks, but they had failed to wear them and reminded that refusal to wear the masks was a serious offence punishable by law.

    Mrs. Evelyn Ama Kumi-Richardson, the Bono Regional Minister said the region had recorded 19 COVID-19 confirmed cases and called for concerted efforts to help fight the disease.

     

    Source: GNA

  • Zongo Girls for Education organises COVID-19 campaign in Tamale Zongos

    The Zongo Girls for Education (Zonged GH) has, in partnership with the Zongo Development Fund (ZODF) taken its COVID-19 sensitization campaign to Tamale in the Northern Region.

    Zonged GH visited Zongos in parts of the Tamale to educate people on the various preventive measures against the spread of Coronavirus.

    The NGO, has since the outbreak of the pandemic in Ghana in March, been engaged in various activities aimed at sensitizing and educating people, especially the zongo populace, about COVID 19.

    The 3-month long campaign has covered several zongo communities in Kumasi, Accra and Tamale.

    Communication has taken the form of radio and television engagements, print and web publications, door-to-door education and social media advocacy in a bid to ensure that people are informed about the infection, prevention and control protocols of COVID 19.

    Issues of stigmatization have also been addressed and the team is continuously making efforts to get people to adhere to safety measures.

    As the campaign approaches an end, the team intends to organize a final assessment and education exercise, the Executive Director of Zonged GH, Safia Abdallah Raabo has disclosed.

    While in Tamale, the team visited the house of the Zongo chief, Alhaji Shehu Abdul Mummin Delhu, who is also a board member of the ZODF, to introduce themselves and solicit for his support in campaigning against COVID 19 in the area.

    The team also engaged the Sagnerigu chief, Naa Abdulai Yakubu, who commended efforts that have been made so far, urged the team to continue its good work and also emphasized the need for more education and sensitization.

    As part of their engagements, the team used the mass media to reach out to several people by visiting local radio and television stations for interactive sessions and practical demonstration of handwashing.

    Zonged GH distributed nose masks and hand sanitizers to a number of people at places they visited.

     

    Source: thezongomail.com

  • Coronavirus: Test kits must be ‘validated’, ‘approved’ before use, importation FDA

    The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has said the Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits for testing the Coronavirus must be “validated within the appropriate settings and target population, that is, Ghana, before they can be approved for use.”

    A statement issued and signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the FDA, Mrs Delese Mimi Darko on 1 July 2020 stated that the unregistered test kits could produce “false positive or false-negative results,” which will consequently result in “unnecessary quarantine and contact tracing or spread of infection by persons with the disease.”

    Additionally, “commercially marketed test kits must pass through an evaluation/validation process and would be granted Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA).”

    The FDA, therefore, cautioned the public to refrain from the use and importation of unregistered RDT kits.

    “The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) wishes to caution the public who are using and any persons importing these test kits, that RDT Kits must be validated within the appropriate settings and target population, that is, Ghana, before they can be approved for use. This validation process is guided by independently evaluating the diagnostics for assurance of quality and performance through collaboration with Research laboratories and Public Health laboratories and the expert Technical Advisory Committee for Medical Devices,” the statement said.

    Read full statement below:

    Source: Class FM

  • Most of Coronavirus cases in Bono region asymptomatic Dep. Regional Director of Public Health

    There are fears that many people in the Bono Region may be carrying the novel Coronavirus disease.

    The fear is borne out of the nature of positive Coronavirus cases that have been recorded in the region since the region recorded its first case in May.

    According to the Deputy Bono Regional Director of Public Health, Dr. John Ekow Otoo, most of the cases they have recorded are asymptomatic.

    The trend he reveals is a major worry for health authorities since there is the likelihood that many people will be going about their duties without knowing they are carriers of the virus.

    Dr. John Ekow Otoo told Ghanaweb that even though there has been a spike in the number of confirmed cases from 5 to 18; it is not surprising because of the epidemiology of the disease since its outbreak in the country.

    “The Bono Region has recorded 18 cases which is 13 more cases from the 5 knew. It happened over the weekend and it is not surprising. It is expected because of the epidemiology of the outbreak now in the country. Again, another interesting finding is that most of them are asymptomatic even though they are positive. A few are showing some mild to moderate signs and symptoms. It also brings the worrying trend that there are many people working about who may have the infection.”

    He, however, indicated five of the patients have fully recovered while the remaining 13 patients in self-isolation and are being managed by the Ghana Health Service.

    Meanwhile, Dr. Otoo has expressed worry over the spike in the region and called on residents to adhere to the COVID-19 protocols.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • FDA cautions against use of unauthorized COVID-19 test kits

    The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has advised the public to desist from the importation and use of unauthorized Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) Kits to test for the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) since it may result in false results.

    A statement issued on Wednesday, July 1 and signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the FDA, Mrs Delese Darko, said commercially marketed test kits must pass through an evaluation/validation process and would be granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).

    “The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) wishes to caution the public who are using and any persons importing these test kits, that RDT Kits must be validated within the appropriate settings and target population, that is, Ghana, before they can be approved for use. This validation process is guided by independently evaluating the diagnostics for assurance of quality and performance through collaboration with Research laboratories and Public Health laboratories and the expert Technical Advisory Committee for Medical Devices,” the statement said.

    In that regard, it said the currently approved method for screening and clinical diagnosis of the Coronavirus in Ghana is the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Test.

    Below is the press statement

     

    Source: Graphic.com.gh 

  • Renowned surgeon at Trust Hospital, Dr. Kisser reportedly dies after contracting COVID-19

    A surgeon at the Trust Hospital in Accra, Dr. Richard Kisser has died of COVID-19.

    The hospital in a notice said Dr. Kisser died on Thursday, July 2, 2020.

    “We regret to inform all staff of the passing of our consultant surgeon, Dr. Richard Kisser. The sad event occurred on Thursday 2nd of July 2020 at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) where he was receiving treatment for COV1D-19 complications. May his soul rest in perfect peace,” the facility noted.

    Dr. Kisser becomes one of the renowned health professionals to die from COVID-19 in Ghana. In April, the Rector of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, Professor Jacob Plange-Rhule was reported to have died of COVID-19 at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC).

    Hundreds of other health workers who are on the frontline have also been infected with COVID-19.

    Some mortalities have also been recorded although some of the health workers have recovered.

    As at May 23, 2020, it was reported that at least 83 health workers across the country had been infected with COVID-19.

    Majority of those affected were in the Greater Accra, Eastern, Central, Western and Ashanti regions.

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • Ghanas exclusion from EU list should not be taken out of context – Diaspora Affairs

    The Director of the Diaspora Affairs at the Office of the President (DAOOP),
    Akwasi Awua Ababio has asked Ghanaians not to panic over the exclusion of Ghana from countries that can enter their member countries.

    He explained the decision is not something we should be scared or take it out of context.

    Speaking with Kwabena Agyapong on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm, he said the exclusion of Ghana is not surprising.

    He stated that authorities are working to address the issue and are hopeful the confidence in Ghana will soon be restored.

    Ghana has been excluded from the list of countries that have been allowed to enter EU countries.

    The EU in a statement said the criteria to determine the countries for which the travel restrictions should be lifted included “the epidemiological situation and containment measures, including physical distancing, as well as economic and social considerations” in respective countries.

    Reacting to the issue, Mr. Awua Ababio said Ghana has not opened its borders and that could have contributed to the decision by the EU.

    He said Ghana has imposed travel restrictions and for that reason, there is no movement into the country, and so, this not surprising.

    He gave the hint authorities were working on the situation and will take, a decision when they are comfortable and convinced that we reduced the numbers significantly.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Renowned surgeon at Trust Hospital, Dr. Kisser dies from coronavirus

    Renowned surgeon at the Trust Hospital in Accra, Dr. Richard Kisser has joined the list of health professionals in the country to succumb to the fast-spreading deadly Coronavirus.

    A statement from the hospital revealed that he passed away on Thursday, July 2, 2020.

    “We regret to inform all staff of the passing of our consultant surgeon, Dr. Richard Kisser. The sad event occurred on Thursday 2nd of July 2020 at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) where he was receiving treatment for COV1D-19 complications. May his soul rest in perfect peace,” the facility noted.

    Rector of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, Professor Jacob Plange-Rhule was also reported to have died of COVID-19 at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) in April this year.

    Medical Superintendent of the Kwadaso SDA Hospital in Kumasi, Dr. Harry Boateng died on June 13; a few days after he complained of being unwell.

    Read the full statement:

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Carlos Ahenkorah resigns over coronavirus brouhaha

    Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah has resigned from office as Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, the Presidency has announced.

    His resignation comes barely hours after he admitted in an interview that he visited some voters registration centres in his constituency despite knowing he has tested positive for Coronavirus.

    “The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Friday, 3rd July, 2020 accepted the resignation from office the Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon. Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah, MP, which takes immediate effect,” a statement signed by Eugene Arhin, Director of Communications, Office of the President read.

    It continued: “This follows the admission by the Deputy Minister of his breach of the COVID-19 protocols, when, as a person certified to be positive for the virus, he visited a registration centre in his constituency before the period of self-isolation was complete.”

    Mr. Ahenkorah had in an interview on Eyewitness News, July 2, mounted a spirited defence for his action. He insisted he did not err because he was cautious during his stay at the registration centres.

    “Yes, I have COVID-19 but on the first day of the registration, there was a problem at one of the centres. But knowing my status that I am asymptomatic, I visited only one centre to check on the issue. I never got in the midst of people,” he said.

    “I drove in my car and got there, got down and spoke far away with the EC officer who explained the issue to me. I told her I will report this to their boss and then I just left. I was very careful. It is important for people like us to know their status because whether you like it not, we will go into the midst of people.”

    “I spent a night at Korle Bu to be checked on by the experts at the Isolation Center. My doctor took my samples and asked me to go into self-isolation which I have been since last week.”

    Ahenkorah’s decision and subsequent defence caused outrage. A section of the public expressed discontent with some labelling him as ‘callous’. They could not fathom why a public official would violate preventive protocols and refuse to accept his wrong.

    The lawmaker occupied the number one spot on Twitter trends from Thursday evening and maintained his position Friday with #CarlosMustResign.

    Early Friday, reports were rife the President had given Ahenkorah who was diagnosed with the deadly disease on June 23, an ultimatum to resign or be fired.

    Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has entreated “all of his appointees to bear in mind that they are to provide leadership, at all times, for adherence to the protocols that have been established to help the nation defeat COVID-19.”

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • North East Region NCCE completes phase one of coronavirus campaign

    The North East Regional Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has completed its first phase of the awareness creation campaign against the COVID-19 pandemic for the month of June, in the region.

    The campaign was to educate members of the public on the existence of the COVID-19, its management and preventive protocols outlined by the government and the World Health Organization (WHO).

    It targeted individuals and groups at various locations across the region, including; lorry stations, youth groups, shops, markets, faith-based organisations, principal streets, security agencies, various communities, amongst others.

    Mr Wilberforce Zangina, Acting North East Regional Director of the NCCE, said in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service, the Information Services Department and the various Municipal and District Assemblies in the region, a total of 280 activities were carried out as part of the sensitization campaign against the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Touching on the preventive protocols, Mr Zangina explained to the people why it was necessary for them to strictly adhere to the protocols, saying, it would protect them from being infected by the virus and also help to mitigate its spread.

    He encouraged them to wear face masks at public places, wash their hands frequently with soap under running water, observe social distancing at all times and sanitise their hands with alcohol-based rubs.

    Mr Zangina further advised them to immediately seek medical attention when they were unwell, urging them to adopt hygienic lifestyles to help combat the virus in the country.

    He implored citizens to avoid stigmatising COVID-19 patients, saying they should accept such individuals and offer the necessary support.

    He, however, expressed worry over how some individuals held superstitious beliefs, myths and conspiracy theories about the existence of the virus, which he said led them to disregard the preventive protocols in the region.

    He said “A chunk of rural folks hold superstitious beliefs that the virus does not exist and have decided not to adhere to the preventive measures put out by the government and other relevant stakeholders. This situation has had a negative impact on the fight against the disease in the region.”

    Mr Zangina, was, however, confident that the education his outfit had carried out would influence behavioural change among the people to help defeat the virus in the country.

    Source: GNA

  • Superstition impedes the fight against coronavirus in North East Region

    The strong belief in superstitions and myths among many residents in the North East Region is a major challenge to fighting the spread of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).

    The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) said the belief systems and conspiracy theories among residents in the region with regard to the disease led to grave disregard for the precautionary and safety protocols prescribed to curb the spread of the canker.

    The NCCE, therefore, expressed worry and called for collective efforts from all stakeholders to demystify the misconceptions surrounding the virus to ensure that people, especially the residents of the North East Region adhere strictly to the COVID-19 protocols.

    Mr Wilberforce Zangina, the Acting Regional Director, NCCE, who was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Nalerigu, said many people in the region did not believe the virus was in Ghana while others were of the view that people from the North East Region could not be infected with the virus.

    These are not making residents to adhere to the safety measures put in place to fight the disease.

    “Some inhabitants are of the impression that COVID-19 does not exist but the elite want to create fear and panic to enable them spend state money. They also believe that the disease cannot affect people of North East Region because the Overlord of the Mamprugu Kingdom has said so even though this assertion is not true,” he said.

    Mr Zangina disclosed that as every region was fighting to stop the spread of the disease by suspending all social functions and gathering, funerals, naming ceremonies, weddings among others were still being performed with total disregard and non-compliance with the social distancing protocols and other preventive measures such as wearing of nose masks.

    He said the empty Veronica buckets stationed at vantage points to encourage regular hand washing did not encourage people to take the disease preventive measures serious and it was rare to see anyone wearing a nose mask.

    Mr Zangina indicated that the virus was real and had no cure, adding that the restrictions and protocols prescribed by the government, the Ghana Health Service and the World Health Organization were to prevent people from being infected and called for efforts to ensure compliance.

    He noted that the NCCE with its mandated obligation had intensified education across many communities in all the six districts in the region and had so far carried out 280 outreach programmes as against the initial target of 204.

    The Acting Regional Director indicated apart from the NCCE taking COVID-19 education to market places, street announcements and other public places, it had also engaged the security services, religious and traditional authorities, faith-based organizations, youth groups among other identifiable groups on the virus and the need to avoid stigmatizing infected and recovered persons.

    While expressing gratitude to some stakeholders for their support to the NCCE, Mr Zangina urged all stakeholders to join hands with NCCE to cause attitudinal change among the people towards the fight against the spread of the virus.

    Source: GNA

  • Government sets aside GH¢ 8 million for coronavirus frontline health workers

    Mr Charles Adu Boahen, Deputy Minister of Finance has told Parliament that government has set aside GH?8 million to be paid as the COVID-19 Special Allowance designated for frontline health workers.

    He said the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance are together compiling data and doing the necessary reconciliation to determine particularly health sector workers designated as the frontline workers and eligible for the package.

    He said the reconciliation exercise was ongoing and as soon as it was completed the payment would start.

    Mr Adu Boahen made the statement when he appeared before the Parliament to answer to an urgent question by Mr Emmanuel Kpodo, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ho Central on when government would pay the designated frontline health workers the COVID-19 Special Allowance of 50 percent of their basic salary.

    In March, 2020 President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced incentive packages for the health sector workers as part of COVID-19 pandemic preparedness, readiness and response action.

    Mr Adu Boahen also explained that there were many health workers spread all over the country performing various roles and the challenge was to determine those who actually qualified as frontline workers and at risk, for the government to pay them.

    In a supplementary question by Mr Governs Kwame Agbodza, MP for Adaklu on when payment for the package would start, Mr Adu Boahen responded that he did not want to give any timelines, but gave an assurance that the ministry would complete the validation exercise after which the payment would start.

    “Mr Speaker, as I said, we have set aside the money already, but the challenge is to ascertain the eligibility and definition of who a frontline worker is,” he added.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus provides extra incentives for committed Climate Action

    The need for a more focused and concerted climate change action has been given an extra boost by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    This is according to Dr. Bob Offei Manteaw, a Research Fellow at the Center for Climate Changes and Sustainability Studies at the University of Ghana.

    In an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the sidelines of the official launch of the National Climate Adaptation Planning Readiness Project in Accra, Dr Manteaw said the project was timely and important and stressed the need for a cross-sectoral and multi-stakeholder collaborations.

    He said the pandemic, currently ravaging havoc on countries and communities all over the world, had exposed the fragility of planetary health and the extent of human vulnerabilities.

    “COVID-19 has not only exposed planetary fragilities; it has also given us a fair idea of the nature of the climate crisis and the imperative for focused responses”.

    Dr Manteaw who is a Senior Foresight Analysist for Foresight Planners Africa, and a member of the National Steering Committee of the project pointed out that the COVID-19 exacerbates a number of climate change risks which work together to increase human vulnerability, as well as deepen conditions of poverty particularly in places like Ghana and other developing regions of the world.

    “The impacts of COVID-19 on economic systems around the world have been far-reaching. Ghana is no exception as people, especially the poor and the venerable, are currently suffering from its evolving impacts, he added”.

    He said there was an urgent need for the world and of course Ghana to build new economic systems that value nature as a central source of human wellbeing and environmental health in a Post-COVID-19 world.

    The Climate Change Adaptation Knowledge Brokerage Specialist said governments in all countries and at all levels must take cues from the current pandemic to respond to the growing climate crisis accordingly.

    He said there was certainly a correlation between the pandemic and climate change and that the source of COVID-19 as learnt was from human interactions with animals and nature, adding, “clearly biodiversity and ecosystems come in as both risk and vulnerability factors.”

    “Such interactions, I mean human dependence on ecosystems, are normal and are going on here in Ghana and at great environmental cost. The reality is that not many people know and understand the complexity of such relationships. This is why committed climate action is critical and it is also the reason why the launch of the National Adaptation Planning project is timely”.

    Dr Manteaw also emphasized the need for nature and ecosystems-based adaptation solutions to climate change. He said: “We need to help people understand human-nature interactions and what that means to our individual and collective survivability”.

    “Just as COVID-19 has forced us to be mindful of social risks, that is who and how we interact with, so should we be mindful of biophysical and socio-ecological risks. Safeguarding biodiversity and ecosystems is therefore a requisite to reducing future health risks and to create resilient communities”.

    Dr Manteaw was emphatic about the fact that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic had animated the critical importance of intentionality and mindfulness among people at all levels and in all places.

    He said: “Mindfulness is the new normal and should be applied not only in health emergencies such as the current pandemic, but also in the climate change fight which is also a silent emergency.

    “While the current pandemic manifests as a health emergency, it could be more accurately framed as a planetary health emergency and in ways that capture the multiplicity of associated risks and impacts”.

    The Research Fellow at the Center for Climate Change said the launch of the National Adaptation Planning project was timely, and would provide new opportunities and avenues to educate, create awareness and build individual, community and institutional capacity to provide the required leadership for climate action.”

    “That this is what we do at the Climate Change Center at the University of Ghana. We train people,” he added. Dr Manteaw said: “We build capacity through research, training and knowledge dissemination and as a researcher and practitioner, who has just been given opportunity to play a role in this project, my hope is to do all I can to help the project achieve its set objectives”.

    He said the challenge now was for all stakeholders to get on board and that it was time to reflect on COVID-19 as an environmental emergency with significant implications for how we approach the climate change crisis going forward.

    Source: GNA

  • Joy FM’s Gary Al-Smith and Bright Simons expose the gov’t again on Covid-19

    The Covid-19 which hit Ghana sent the Country into one of its worst states in history.

    Corona Virus is not a respecter of persons, race, religion, culture or personality. Some popular people such as the British prime Minister Borris Johnson as well as actors like Edris Elba contracted the disease.

    It was no different in Ghana. Joy FM’s Gary Al-Smith contracted same and had to be admitted to the Hospital mid-June.

    He was released and discharged about a week ago and is doing well.

    Upon his discharge, he voiced out his concerns as a journalist on the state of our health system. However, this was met with skeptism and outrage from some users on social media. Others too rooted for change in the health system upon reading his message.

    Late on 1st July, Gary reiterated his previous comments on twitter about the health care sytem. This particular concern was on the delays in testing and the administration of drugs to patients. He made comments on how drugs and testing are given based on ‘who you know’ basis. Below is the ace journalist’s tweet:

    Prior to that, Bright Simons, the Vice President of IMANI disclosed his dissatisfaction on how health workers are complaining about politicians who are acting oblivious to the increasing numbers of Covid-19.

    In his post, he reports that the health workers threaten to disregard the health of these politicians themselves since they cannot make policies to curb the growing rate of the virus. The health workers also mention that it is those same politicians who call them for advise anytime they think there is a potential symptom of Covid-19, in fear of their own health.

    Below is the tweet of Bright Simons:

    Gary Al-Smith seems to agree with the stance of the health workers and Bright Simons as well in his tweet.

    Gary ended with a message to Ghanaians: “Oman a y3np3 nokor3”

    Like, share and leave a comment below. Does the Government have to change its tactics to to curb the growing rate of the virus so that our frontline health workers can feel more at peace? Or is this propaganda being pushed?

    Source: opera.com

  • 12 facilities being upgraded nationwide for coronavirus

    A total of 12 infrastructures are being upgraded across Ghana to aid the treatment of coronavirus patients.

    The infrastructures are also being upgraded for the isolation of suspected Coronavirus patients.

    Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Patrick Kuma Aboagye, revealed this to the media on Thursday, July 2, 2020, during a press briefing at the Information Ministry.

    He says some of the facilities are in Ho, Dodowa, Ga East, the Ashanti Region and other parts of the country.

    Source: Daily Guide Network

  • Noguchi, KCCR under pressure after closure of 7 coronavirus testing centres

    A Research fellow at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) has revealed the seven centres that were set up to assist the Institute in speeding up Covid-19 testing in the country have ceased operating.

    Dr Kofi Bonney said the shutdown was necessary because the centres have run out of essentials needed to undertake testing.

    This, according to him has mounted undue pressure on NMIMR and the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), the two major testing centres in the country.

    “These testing centres have run out of consumables needed for the processing of Covid-19 samples and are yet to be restocked by the Ghana Health Service (GHS),” he disclosed in an interview on Happy FM.

    he added that, the machinery of the centres are in good shape but the logistics are what needs in order for testing to resume.

    He then admitted that, the current situation is the reason for the enormous backlog of Covid-19 samples.

    But, the researcher said Noguchi will begin to use some of the reagents it had stocked earlier to serve as back up in case they not receive any from GHS.

    “We will transport some of the samples to the other testing centres and use their machines for the testing. This is a strategy to help us reduce our backlog,” he stated.

     

    Source: myjoyonline 

  • Don’t wait to see security before you observe safety protocols – Sagnarigu MCE advised

    The Municipal Chief Executive of the Sagnarigu Municipality, Hon. Hajia Mariam Idrisu, has urged the general public to be adherence to the safety protocols at the registration centres.

    Speaking to the press yesterday, after a tour around the registration centres in the Sagnarigu constituency, Hajia Mariam advised that people should not wait to see security personnel before they turn to observe the safety protocols.

    “You should be responsible for your own health,” She said.

    She recounted her experience in one of the registration centres she visited, where a police officer in charge of a registration centre takes a leave of the centre to get something, only for the people to flout the safety protocols just to get the registration easily.

    She noted that most people in the Sagnarigu Municipality seem to be reluctant and hesitant in adhering to the safety measures, especially at the registration centres.

    “You should not come out to register for an ID card in order to vote for somebody and by so doing you contract Coronavirus to infect your whole family,” she advised.

    Hajia Mariam further urges that people should be self-conscious about their own health and ensure that they do the right thing to stay safe and alive.

    “Let us not wait to see the MCE or the police before we observe the protocols. Let us do the right thing in other to stay safe and live long and vote for Nana Addo to do more for us.”

    She also encouraged the general public to take advantage of the proximity of the registration centres at their places of abode to register and as well exercise their franchise come December 2020 general election.

    “Without your registration card, you can not exercise your franchise, you can not give Nana Addo four more years to do more,” She said.

    Source: Alidu Abdur Rashid, Ghanaweb Contributor

  • Isolate ART centres for our safety PLHIV

    Some persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) in the Tamale Metropolis have appealed for isolation of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) centres at hospitals in this period of the COVID-19 pandemic to assure them of safety as they visit the hospitals to access their drugs.

    They said ART centres at hospitals in the Metropolis were also open to other patients, which made them crowded all the time.

    According to them, they are scared by the situation whenever they have to go for their drugs fearing COVID-19 spread fast in crowded areas.

    Mr Langa Amadu, Northern Regional Secretary of the Ghana Network of Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (NAP Ghana), made the appeal when the GNA contacted him to learn about how the COVID-19 pandemic was impacting the lives of PLHIV in the metropolis.

    In the Tamale Metropolis, antiretroviral drugs are delivered at wards and departments that are also open to other patients at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Tamale Central Hospital, Tamale West Hospital and Builpela Health Centre.

    This arrangement is to de-stigmatise PLHIV as they also go to the wards and departments just like other patients to access their drugs.

    The PLHIV visit the hospitals once in a month to collect quantities of their drugs that to last for the month and some considered as stable patients were also given quantities that could last for more than a month.

    According to the Ghana AIDS Commission, there are about 340,000 PLHIV in the country.

    Mr Amadu said even though they preferred the current arrangement, the COVID-19 posed danger to their health due to their underlying health conditions.

    This necessitates the need to isolate the ART centres during the COVID-19 pandemic such that they would not get infected as they mingled with other patients at the wards and departments in their attempt to access their drugs.

    He said even though the current arrangement was preferable, PLHIV did not have personal protective equipment (PPE).

    “We have lost our jobs. Our members sell at social gatherings and markets. For fear of getting infected at those places, they do not go to sell again. They cannot acquire hand sanitisers and face masks to protect themselves when going for the drugs.”

    He said “We are scared but we do not have a choice. We have to go for the drugs because our survival depends on it. We need hand sanitizer, face masks and gloves because whenever you are going for the drugs, you will board vehicles, you will touch things, and you are likely to get infected with the disease.”

    He said if isolation centres could not be created, then PLHIV, who were stable, should be given quantities of drugs that could last for a long time so that they would not be frequenting the hospitals, which would predispose them to the disease.

    Mr Amadu spoke about the need for PLHIV to eat balanced diets to stay healthy in this period of COVID-19, saying “We have lost our jobs. We do not get nutritious meals to consume because we cannot afford them. Meanwhile, antiretroviral drugs make us hungry quickly. We need support.”

    He said “previously, we received food rations, but it has been suspended. We are appealing that in this COVID-19 period, the food rations should be resumed to help boost our nutritional status so that we don’t remain susceptible to the disease”.

    Madam Amina Ibrahim, Northern Regional Treasurer of NAP Ghana, said some PLHIV travelled from Walewale and other farther places to Tamale to access the drugs, adding that some of those PLHIV “Do not do any business and find it difficult to come for the drugs. So, sometimes, we parcel the drugs and send to them. In this COVID-19 period, they are suffering.”

    Madam Amina appealed to the government to consider PLHIV as beneficiaries of the stimulus packages for small business operators in the country.

    Dr Fred Nana Opoku, Director of Technical Services, Ghana AIDS Commission, acknowledged the challenges confronting PLHIV in the country, saying on the issue of isolating ART centres, the Commission would have to do a detailed analysis of the situation to inform what policy response to institute.

    He expressed the need for hospitals delivering antiretroviral drugs to adhere to the social distancing protocol and urged patients and health staff to wear face masks to reduce the risk of spread of the COVID-19.

    Source: GNA

  • Ghana’s coronavirus case count now 18,134 with 117 deaths

    Ghana has recorded 393 new cases of the novel Coronavirus.

    The total case count according to the Ghana Health Service (GHS) official website is now at 18,134 with 117 deaths.

    13,550 persons who tested positive for the virus have either recovered or discharged, the GHS reported.

    As of July 1, 2020, the country’s active cases is now at 4,467.

    Per the case count for the 16 regions, the Greater Accra Region leads with 10,087 cases. The Ashanti Region follows with 3,676 cases whilst the Western Region has 1,556 cases.

    Find below the breakdown of cases per regions:

    Greater Accra Region – 10,087

    Ashanti Region – 3,676

    Western Region – 1,556

    Central Region – 973

    Eastern Region – 668

    Volta Region – 346

    Upper East Region – 274

    Northern Region – 137

    Oti Region – 112

    Western North Region – 102

    Bono East Region – 89

    Savannah Region – 42

    Upper West Region – 40

    Bono Region – 18

    Ahafo Region – 8

    North East Region – 6

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • AMA to construct two-storey COVID-19 isolation centre at Kaneshie Poly

    The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has announced plans to construct a two-storey isolation centre at the Kaneshie Polyclinic as part of efforts to ensure the safe management of COVID-19 cases in Accra.

    The Mayor of Accra, Mohammed Adjei Sowah disclosed this in his sessional address at the first ordinary meeting of the first session of the 7th Assembly.

    “The Assembly has dedicated some funds for the construction of two-storey isolation centre to safely manage COVID 19 cases. Procurement processes are ongoing and work is scheduled to commence in July 2020,” he said.

    He added that the facility was essential since Accra has remained a hotspot of COVID-19 cases.

    The Mayor also expressed concerns over residents not wearing masks when they leave their homes, a development he indicated may be contributing to the increase in cases in Accra.

    He said: “It is an offence to leave your home to public spaces without a mask. Most people have let their guards down and are taking the disease for granted”.

     

    Source: ama.gov.gh

  • AMA to construct two-storey isolation centre at Kaneshie Polyclinic

    The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) as part of efforts to ensure the safe management of COVID 19 cases in the city has announced plans to construct a two-storey isolation centre at Kaneshie Polyclinic.

    Mayor of Accra, Mohammed Adjei Sowah disclosed this in his sessional address at the first ordinary meeting of the first session of the 7th Assembly.

    ” The Assembly has dedicated some funds for the construction of 2 storey isolation centre to safely manage COVID 19 cases. Procurement processes are ongoing and work is scheduled to commence in July 2020,” he said.

    He intimated that Accra has remained a hotspot of COVID-19 cases and the majority of the population living in informal settlements, the government was providing the needed support required to marshal resources and expertise to fight the disease since the first case was recorded in March.

    Mayor Sowah also said the assembly received support from various state and private organisations including GCB Bank, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), Old Mutual Limited, European Union(EU) as well as the Districts Assemblies Common Fund(DACF) which were subsequently distributed to various institutions and frontline workers such as the Kaneshie, Ussher and Mamprobi polyclinics, Princess Marie Children Hospital, Ga Traditional Council, Gbese and Ngleshie palace, markets as well as transport terminals.

    These items he said included Veronica buckets, washing bowls, liquid soap, sanitizers, tissue papers, poly tanks, washing stations, infrared thermometer guns, face mask, gloves, eye shield and public addressing systems.

    Mayor Sowah expressed concerns over how people leave their homes without face masks and attributed the increase in cases in the city to the practice.

    “It is an offense to leave your home to public spaces without a mask. Most people have let their guards down and are taking the disease for granted,”

    He urged all and sundry to continue to wear face masks and practice physical and social distancing and all other safety protocols.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • High disregard for coronavirus safety protocols at registration centres in Northern Region

    The first phase of the compilation of the new voters register exercise in the Northern Region has witnessed serious breaches of the safety protocols by the World Health Organization (WHO).

    GhanaWeb Northern Regional correspondent, Abdul Rashid, visits to some of the registration centres in the Sagnarigu and Tamale Metro observed that social distancing and the use of face masks were bizarrely disregarded with impunity in the registration centres.

    Speaking to Victor Gbedema, a resident of Tamale, he indicated that, the process of the registration is going on smoothly but adherence to the safety protocols is what is been thrown to the dogs.

    He admitted, even though everything is going on smoothly but with regards to the protocols, “we are not observing the social distancing. I think education is not going down well in the North here, it looks like we don’t even believe that coronavirus exists because people are not dying as we see on TV.”

    “He proceeded that one thing he has observed is “people die in their homes and they send them to the mortuary and that is all, they don’t perform post-mortem but I know probably they might have died out of the COVID 19.”

    Madam, Sumaya, an electoral officer of the electoral commission (EC) in one of the registration centres, however, explained that the registration started on time and the process too, was smooth

    She revealed, averagely it takes a person ten (10) minutes to complete the registration process and she was of the hope that, by the end of the day, they will be able to register at least, fifty (50) people.

    GhanaWeb also observed that only the two major political parties; NPP and the NDC were adequately represented at the registration centres.

    However, some people have also attributed the issue of the social distancing problem to inadequate representation of the security personnel and urged that, moving forward, it should be looked at in order to ensure people do not disregard the protocols in the coming days.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Ghanaian Times: Spare us the fake news agony on coronavirus in schools

    Junior High Schools final year students resume school today, to prepare for their Basic Education Certificate Examinations expected to be written in September.

    This forms part of the road map of gradual easing of restrictions and returning the country back to normal, as announced by the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in a broadcast, after broad consultation with stakeholders.

    The students have been at home since March, as a result of the closure of schools as part of measures to check the spread of the novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2) that is responsible for the deadly COVID-19 disease.

    Originally, these young ones would have finished writing their exams and awaiting results to get admissions into their dream Senior High Schools. Their academic calendar has been distorted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    That notwithstanding, they are back to school effective today and the Ghanaian Times welcomes them back to school and wishes them the best in their preparations towards their exit exam and pray that they come out with flying colours and progress to the next stage in their academic journey.

    Of worthy to note is that while at home, the government rolled out distance learning, through the television broadcasting to keep the children learning at home, while some schools also created online platforms to engage the students.

    In addition, the government has undertaken the disinfection of schools and supply of personal protection equipment for the schools to ensure the safety of the children and teachers as they return to school.

    We implore the school authorities to strictly enforce the health protocols, including wearing of nose masks, the regular hand washing and use of alcohol-based sanitisers.

    As children, and having been away from school for long, there is the tendency for them to be carried away by excitement and engage in gatherings for chit chats and other games.

    The Ghanaian Times reminds the school authorities to be very strict in enforcing the social distancing protocol of 25 students per classroom and to ban all outdoor games in school.

    While commending all the stakeholders and government for the elaborate plan for re-opening, we are disappointed that some unscrupulous people have taken delight in spreading fake news about the spread of the COVID-19 in some senior high schools.

    It is very unfortunate and regrettable for such faceless persons to continue to play pranks with such a serious national and global health problem.

    This is the time that we have to demonstrate the spirit of nationalism and patriotism in the fight to contain the spread of the disease and keep our country safe.

    Indeed, this is not the time to spread fear and panic in schools; but a time to support the efforts of government and stakeholders to ensure the safety of students to motivate them in their final examinations.

    We urge school children to remain resolutely focused on their studies and not to be deterred by these fake news, while reminding them that the COVID-19 is real and still spreading.

    School authorities owe it a duty not to lower their guard as the children are back to school, during this critical period.

    Once again, we wish them the best of studies and good luck in their final examinations and advise that they abide strictly to the health protocols to keep safe.

    Source: ghanaiantimes.com.gh

  • FDA seizes fake herbal cure for coronavirus after Anas’ expose

    The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has seized a total of 431 bottles of two unregistered herbal drugs purported to cure the novel coronavirus.

    This follows an exposé by Investigative Journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his Tigereye PI team.

    Anas released his latest investigative piece on Monday, June 29, 2020, dubbed “Corona Quack” which exposed persons swindling others in the name of having COVID-19 cure in Ghana.

    The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) with the assistance of the Police Drug Enforcement Unit of the Ghana Police CID, has seized a total of 431 bottles of two unregistered herbal medicinal products namely, COVID-CURE (1) and COVID-CURE (2), purported to treat COVID-19, as it violates Section 118 (1) of the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851),” a statement from the FDA said.

    The statement, signed by the Chief Executive Director of the Authority, Delese Mimi Darko, noted that the herbal products were “falsely labelled to bear forced FDA registration number: FDB/TMP03709 on both products and also have March 2020 and March 2021 as their manufacturing and expiry dates respectively.”

    The FDA in the statement warned that “it has not registered any product for the treatment or cure for COVID-19” and have asked Ghanaians to desist from buying any product of a sort.

    The perpetrators of the crime, Dr. Abdellah and his research assistant, Dr. Abdul Samad Bin Musa have since been in police custody for violating Sections 118(1) and 113(1) of the Public Health Act 2012 (Act 851).

    Source: kingdomfmonline.com