TIG Post

Tag: coronavirus in Ghana

  • GHS confirms 34 active cases of Delta Variant in Ghana

    The Ghana Health Service (GHS) Sunday announced the record of 34 active cases of the Delta Variant of the Covid-19 in some communities in Ghana, including some students of Achimota School, who tested positive.

    Health experts say the Delta Variant, which originated from India, has a higher transmission rate and spreads faster than other Covid-19 strains.

    It has been found in communities in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions.

    It is currently found in 98 countries worldwide.

    Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, the Director-General of GHS, addressing the media in Accra, said the University of Health and Allied Sciences, in July this year, conducted genome sequencing of samples of Covid-19 and detected that Ghana had different variants of the disease.

    There are 576 cases of Covid-19 of different variants in the country, including Alpha (United Kingdom) – 429, Beta (South Africa) – 13, Gamma from Brazil 1, and Delta Variant from India – 34.

    Touching the Covid-19 spread in Achimota School, Dr Kuma-Aboagye said 843 students and staff had been tested with 135 testing positive.

    He said the infected students had been quarantined, with more tests ongoing including some day students.

    Dr Kuma-Aboagye said the GHS had been able to contain the spread of the infectious virus on the Achimota campus, for now, adding that the adherence to the Covid-19 safety protocols on the campus was very low.

    He explained that the Delta Variant was detected in the Ghanaian community on July 1, 2021, but it was first recorded in Ghana in April 2021 at the Kotoka International Airport.

    By June 22, 2021, six cases had been recorded and they were all detected at the port of entry when the GHS officially announced the presence of the variant in Ghana.

    Dr Kuma-Aboagye indicated that it thus activated the Public Health Emergency Rapid Response Teams of the Greater Accra Region and the Okaikoi North Municipality of the GHS.

    He said by July 3, 2021, a total of 843 students and staff were sampled; 348 of them were boarders and 459 day students, with 36 teaching staff.

    The results of 550 samples are ready and 135 have tested positive with 293 results pending. The 293 samples were collected on July 3, 2021.

    All 135 cases at the time of diagnosis were either asymptomatic or had mild to moderate illness.

    The GHS said one staff was among those affected and approximately two-thirds of the cases – 89 – had recovered with 46 active cases.

    Health experts say the Delta Variant is more transmissible than other variants and though the AstraZeneca and Sputnik V vaccines are effective against it, the Pfizer vaccine has a higher efficiency rate 88 per cent – against the variant.

    The Pfizer vaccine is more effective on the variant in terms of levels of protection from hospitalisation, infection and death.

    According to the World Health Organisation, all viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, change over time.

    Source: GNA

  • Tunisian hospital suffers ‘no bed syndrome’ amid coronavirus surge

    Tensions have been mounting at a Tunisian hospital that’s struggling with staff and bed shortages amid a surge of COVID-19 infections there.

    One woman, whose mother was moved from a general bed to a wheelchair in the intensive care unit at a hospital in the northern town of Kairouan, was distraught.

    “They put my mother in a wheelchair, like a dog, and left,” said Sana Kraiem. “They told me they can’t free up a bed occupied by a dead person and asked me to go.”

    Over the past month, coronavirus numbers in Tunisia have reached their highest daily levels since the beginning of the pandemic, with Kairouan and three other regions particularly hard hit.

    Vaccination rates remain low, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

    A temporary hospital has been set up on the outskirts of the town and the army has set up a military care facility with beds, monitoring equipment and ventilators.

    But a health worker who works with coronavirus patients at Ibn Jazzar Hospital said the main problem was a lack of manpower.

    “We need labour more than we need new equipment,” said Zahra Hedwej. “It’s very difficult to find volunteers (to work with COVID-19 patients) because some don’t know the level of their own physical immunity.”

    Tunisia has reported Africa’s highest coronavirus death toll per capita, and currently has one of the continent’s highest infection rates.

    It has registered almost 409,000 confirmed cases and over 14,700 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.

    Source: africanews.com

  • Coronavirus: Free water ends Sanitation Ministry

    The Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources has announced an end to the Coronavirus free water supply intervention.

    Last year, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced that the government would absorb water bills for all Ghanaians, as part of its fight against the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

    The Ministry, in a statement, said the intervention, which was supposed to last for three months (between 1 July to 30 September 2020), was extended again from 1 October to 31 December 2020.

    The statement further noted that in January 2021, the policy was maintained for lifeline consumers; that is, households that consume less than 1.100 gallons of water per month from 1 January to 31 March 2021 and was further extended from 1 April to 30 June 2021.

    “Effective 1 July 2021, all consumers/customers of the Ghana Water Company Limited, the Community Water and Sanitation Agency, NGOs and partners in the water sector, will pay for the water they consume,” the statement added.

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • We need dedicated fund for epidemics – Specialist

    Mr Stephen Atasige, In-country Coordinator, Preventing Epidemics Programme, has called on government and stakeholders in the health sector to establish a dedicated fund for epidemic control and financing.

    He said the fund would help in controlling unexpected epidemics at their initial stages and mitigate the adverse effects.

    “COVID-19 has taught us a lesson on the need to have a special fund to handle epidemics before they become devastating,” he said.

    Mr Atasige made the call at a forum to collate inputs into the 2022 National Budget Statement and Economic policy on health financing.

    The event organised by SEND Ghana was aimed at seeking the inputs of stakeholders into the 2022 budget with a special focus on immunisation, epidemic financing and general health.

    Mr Atasige said the fund needed to be decentralized so that health centres at the community and district level could handle epidemics when they occur in their localities.

    He said the government could do this by dedicating a portion of the District Assembly and Members of Parliament (MPs) Common Fund into the epidemic fund.

    The Epidemic Control Coordinator said there was a need for enhanced infrastructure and facilities at health centres to facilitate the treatment of epidemics.

    “In the treatment of epidemics, we need well-resourced health centres that will be capable to contain the spread. Here, we are looking at establishing isolation and quarantine centres across the country,” he added.

    Reverend Ebenezer Asiamah, District Director of Health Services, Shai Osodoku District, said health officers relied on Internally Generated Funds (IGF) for transportation during immunization activities, which he described as worrisome.

    He said some health facilities did not have cold-chain refrigerating facilities to store vaccines, thereby, making them unsafe for immunization.

    The District Health Director said most health officers were unwilling to accept postings to remote areas and this resulted in inadequate health professionals in the rural areas.

    He urged the government and other stakeholders to provide adequate incentives to health professionals in rural areas to encourage others to accept posting to such areas.

    Dr Emmanuel Ayifah, Deputy Country Director, SEND Ghana, said there was inadequate funding in the health sector, especially with epidemic funding hence the need to advocate for funding in the sector.

    He reiterated that epidemics required swift response and reactions, saying, “we need to be proactive as a country to absorb the challenges that come along with them.”

    “Epidemics require quick response and reactions as a country and there is the need to be proactive to absorb the shocks that come along with them,” he added.

    Source: GNA

  • Parliamentary Select Committee on Health satisfied with coronavirus procedures at KIA

    The Parliamentary Select Committee on Health has expressed satisfaction with the COVID-19 operational procedures for arriving passengers at the Kotoka International Airport.

    It said any other observations would be discussed privately with the Airport authorities for solutions.

    Members of the Committee, on Wednesday, toured the Airport COVID-19 Testing Centre to have first-hand information about the testing procedures for arrivals.

    The tour was also for members to understand the dynamics and operations of the Testing Centre.

    Nana Ayew Afriyie, the Chairman of the Committee, briefing the media after the tour, said: “We resumed Parliament yesterday and thought it prudent to tour the Airport, to know what happens as far as COVID-19 protocol is concerned, understand the situation at the moment for stakeholder discussions and redress.”

    “We were taken through the processes at the Airport from the arrival of passengers to the exit point. We are impressed with what we saw with regard to the operational processes and any other observations will be discussed privately with the Airport authorities for solutions,” he said.

    Mr Akandoh said a major concern was how Port Health officials came into contact with passengers before getting to know their status.

    “There are other issues like the cost of testing, which was reduced from 150 dollars to 50 dollars, but I believe after the tour we will engage the Minister of Health and authorities at the Airport and the Ghana Health Service to have wider discussions on how to resolve these challenges,” he said.

    Mr Yaw Kwakwa, the Managing Director of the Ghana Airport Company Limited, told the Committee that on arrival at the Airport, all passengers were screened using thermal scanning devices and were also required to fill a health declaration form.

    He said the Company, as part of the processes, created banking booths at the Airport for passengers to verify online payment receipts before being ushered into testing booths for their blood samples to be taken with the results ready in 30 minutes.

    Dr Patrict Kuma-Aboagye, the Director-General, Ghana Health Service, touching on the management of confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the Airport, said all persons with confirmed cases were handled by the Port Health Unit.

    Following completion of the arrival procedures, they would be sent to the Ga East Municipal Hospital for further clinical assessment and management, he said. Dr Kuma-Aboagye said the government had put in place measures to halt a possible third outbreak of the COVID-19 disease in the country and urged those who had received the second vaccination against the virus to continue observing the safety protocols, including wearing face masks.

    Dr Kudzo Seneadza, the Managing Director of Frontier Health Services, a certified laboratory at the Airport, assured the public that the company was ensuring quality testing services at the Airport.

    Source: GNA

  • Second phase of coronavirus vaccination exercise begins in Ashanti

    The second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination exercise took off in the Ashanti Region on Wednesday, with advice to those eligible to avail themselves for the exercise.

    Dr Emmanuel Tenkorang, the Regional Director of Health, said it was targeting those who had received the first jab from March 2 to 9, this year, adding that those qualified to be vaccinated had no reason to stay off.

    “The Health Service is appealing to the people to endeavour to go to the centres where they took their first jabs to receive the second dose,” he told the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Kumasi.

    A total of 250, 000 people in the Region were vaccinated in the first phase of the exercise.

    The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has designated ten centres for the second phase in the Metropolis, including the Maternal and Child Health Hospital, KMA Clinic, Anwiam Clinic, City Hospital, Sepe-Buokrom Health Centre and Anwiam Clinic Annex (Kejetia).

    Others include Moshie Zongo Health Centre, Suntreso Government Hospital, Mater Dei Hospital and Manhyia Hospital.

    The Regional Health Directorate has so far taken delivery of 153, 000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines for the second phase, Dr Tenkorang said.

    According to the GHS, Ashanti has recorded a total of 15, 568 confirmed cases, out of which 253 had resulted in deaths with the active cases standing at 35.

    Meanwhile, when the GNA visited some of the designated vaccination centres, many of the eligible people were waiting in turns to be vaccinated.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus: Active cases increase to 1,308

    Ghana has recorded 57 new cases of the Coronavirus disease, pegging the number of active cases at 1,308.

    In all, 93,390 positive cases have been recorded, out of which 91,299 have recovered and been discharged.

    The death toll also stands at 783.

    Meanwhile, as of May 7th 2021, 852,047 persons had taken the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

    According to the Ghana Health Service, rollout of the second dose of the vaccine will start tomorrow, May 19, 2021.

    Below is the Cumulative Cases per Region:

    (Case Count from Highest to Lowest)

    Greater Accra Region 51,412

    Ashanti Region 15,553

    Western Region 5,868

    Eastern Region 4,208

    Central Region 3,435

    Volta Region 2,501

    Northern Region 1,654

    Bono East Region 1,436

    Bono Region 1,406

    Upper East Region 1,319

    Western North Region 876

    Ahafo Region 718

    Upper West Region 499

    Oti Region 431

    North East Region 228

    Savannah Region 123

    Source: www.atinkaonline.com

  • Coronavirus: Ghana begins the second phase of vaccination on May 19 Akufo-Addo

    Ghana will commence the second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination exercise on Wednesday, May 19, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has said.

    Delivering his 25th televised address to the nation on measures his government has put in place to fight against the novel Coronavirus, the President indicated that, the vaccination exercise will take place in 43 districts.

    Akufo-Addo said, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) will issue a directive on the vaccination in the coming week.

    The vaccination is said to end on Wednesday, May 26, 2021.

    “I am happy to announce that beginning Wednesday, May 19 to Wednesday 26 May, the deployment of the second dose of vaccines will take place across the designated vaccination centres in the 43 districts approximately 12 weeks after the first jab as the science prescribes. More details of the deployment will be communicated by the Ghana Health Service in the coming week,” Akufo-Addo said on Sunday, May 16, 2021.

    He added, “…The target is to vaccinate some 20 million Ghanaians at the end of the year.”

    The President, then, cautioned Ghanaians against travelling to high-risk countries if the purposes of the trip is not pressing.

    “There is light at the end of the tunnel,” he assured.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • 20 million Ghanaians to be vaccinated by end of the year Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has announced that the government is aiming at vaccinating 20 million Ghanaians against the novel Coronavirus by the end of the year.

    According to him, although there have been some challenges in accessing more vaccines, the target is still to vaccinate that number by end of the year.

    He made this known in his 25th COVID-19 update to the nation on Sunday, May 16, 2021.

    Akufo-Addo said, “…The target is to vaccinate some 20 million Ghanaians at the end of the year.”

    The President, then, cautioned Ghanaians against travelling to high-risk countries if the purposes of the trip is not pressing.

    “There is light at the end of the tunnel,” he assured.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coronavirus: Active caseload drops marginally

    The number of COVID-19 cases in Ghana has dropped marginally from 1,589 to 1,580, the latest figures of the Ghana Health Service indicate.

    Of that number 24 are 24 and six critical.

    Some 48 new cases have been detected in the last few days.

    The death toll stands at 779.

    So far, Ghana has recorded a total of 92,683 cases since mid-March 2020 with 90,324 recoveries.

    Regional breakdown:

    Greater Accra Region – 51,054

    Ashanti Region – 15,517

    Western Region – 5,804

    Eastern Region – 4,177

    Central Region – 3,383

    Volta Region – 2,463

    Northern Region – 1,654

    Bono East Region – 1,426

    Bono Region – 1,397

    Upper East Region – 1,318

    Western North Region – 872

    Ahafo Region – 711

    Upper West Region – 496

    Oti Region – 422

    North East Region – 228

    Savannah Region – 122

    Source: Class FM

  • Coronavirus: 3 local companies present proposals to produce vaccine Agyeman-Manu

    Three Ghanaian companies working to produce Covid-19 vaccines locally have presented proposals on their plans to government.

    Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman-Manu who revealed this to journalists in Accra this week, said the companies have already prepared their factories for take-off, once government approves their plan.

    He did not name the companies but said members of the committee constituted by government to produce an action plan on how the country can develop and manufacture its own vaccines, have already visited some of them.

    “There are about three or so local companies who have already started preparing factories for covid-19 in Ghana. The committee has visited one of them and I am yet to visit the other one. They have sent proposal to the committee and they are having serious engagement with the committee.”

    The Health Minister further revealed that the committee is chaired by renowned scientist, Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng.

    The committee he said will guide and make recommendation on the initiative to his outfit.

    In his 24th address to the nation on measures taken to curtail the spread of Coronavirus in Ghana, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced he had constituted a committee to prepare the country for local production of vaccines, especially Covid-vaccines.

    Prioritising the fight against the deadly virus, Mr Agyeman-Manu revealed that Akufo-Addo is poised in ensuring the manufacturing of local covid-19 vaccine.

    According to him, “the president wants us to continue to do the 13 or traditional vaccine administered in the country. So covid is the priority immediately but beyond that, we will continue to expand development.

    “All the vaccines can be used feasible depending on what technology you are using so it will depend on the manufactures and the technologies that they are using,” he added.

    Source: Atinka Online

  • Coronavirus: High incident of fake test result at KIA Noguchi reveals

    Senior Research Fellow at Noguchi, Mr Kofi Bonney has advised officials at the airport to be extra vigilant in reviewing documents of prospective passengers as most tend to hold fake Covid 19 test results to be approved.

    In an interview on the Happy Morning Show with Sammy Eshun, he revealed that ” most individuals tend to fake their own covid 19 test results. Some people can sit in the comfort of their homes and create their own Covid 19 test results using their laptops. On numerous occasions, we have received calls from officials at the airport to confirm covid 19 test results of some clients applying for visas.

    He further explained that aside from the rise in the number of health facilities conducting covid 19 tests, other factors have contributed to the low turn out of positive cases in the country.

    “The reduction in the positive cases of Covid 19 in the country does not imply that we are safe. People are not taking the covid 19 test because of the vaccines. Most individuals are focused on being vaccinated than taking the covid 19 tests. This is because we have been made to believe that taking the vaccine is safer.”

    In response to questions around errors in Covid 19 result, he stated that ” it is highly probable that some Covid 19 test results may come out falsely. There is something called human error. As humans, we are prone to making mistakes. Due to the ineptitude of some workers, a whole barge of tests may come out negative which may be false.

    He however advised medical practitioners to apply the quality control process when suspicion arises around a Covid 19 test result.

    “There is something called quality control where a health practitioner can determine whether or not a test result is true or false. When he notices that a whole barge of the test results comes out negative or positive he can take clues of falsity and redo the tests again.”

    Source: Happy 98.9FM

  • Coronavirus: Ban flights from high-risk countries – Ex-NPP MP to Nana Addo

    Former Member of Parliament(MP) for Ayensuano constituency, Samuel Ayeh Paye has appealed to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to ban all flights from countries where COVID-19 is prevalent from entering Ghana to prevent a spike in the country’s cases.

    Ghana’s COVID-19 cases have increased again.

    A data published by the Ghana Health Service on Monday, April 26, 2021, indicates that the nation has recorded 1469 with daily new case count standing at 129.

    Seven hundred and seventy-seven (777) people have sadly passed away.

    It is believed that the sudden increase is due to the travelers entering Ghana.

    The Frontiers Healthcare Service (FHS) in a letter addressed to the Managing Director of Ghana Airport Company Limited, Yaw Kwakwa and copied to the GHS indicated that on “24th of April, 2021, we recorded 75 positive cases. This exceeds the previous highest rate of 45 positive cases on the 21st of April, 2021” and that “it has become imperative to implement new guidelines to curtail the influx of positive cases into the country”.

    Recent news reports also disclose that India’s daily Covid-19 death toll has hit new world record as hospitals beg for oxygen.

    Coronavirus infections in India have risen by 346,786, the Health Ministry in the country said on Saturday.

    Reacting during a panel discussion on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ programme, Samuel Ayeh Paye asked the President to protect Ghanaians by placing a ban on India, Japan and Korea among other countries where their cases have overwhelmingly shot up.

    He also called on the government to intensify the measures at the Kotoka International Airport to detect the disease in travelers before they mingle with the general public.

    “The President and the COVID-19 National Taskforce should ban people traveling from countries where the disease is prevalent from entering Ghana . . . any person who is in Korea, Japan or India and wants to come to Ghana must be told to wait for a while but if it’s not possible, then we should quarantine and test them before we allow them to go home,” he said.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Coronavirus: 2052 cases recorded since school reopening Ghana Health Service

    Since the reopening of schools in January this year, 345 schools have recorded cases of the novel coronavirus, the Ghana Health Service has revealed.

    Speaking at a press conference, on Sunday, April 18, 2021, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, disclosed that 2052 cases have been recorded in 345 schools across the country.

    In a further breakdown, Dr Kuma-Aboagye indicated that the Volta Region has recorded the highest number of cases in schools with Oti Region currently having the most number of active cases.

    The North East region, he added is yet to record any case of the virus in any of its schools.

    “Since we reopened the schools, 345 schools have recorded cases. We have recorded a total of 2,052 cases in schools in the country. Our current active case number is 13,” Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, told the press on Sunday.

    “Volta Region has recorded the highest number with 189 cases. Oti has the highest number of active cases because their cases are quite recent, compared to the other cases. The North East Region is the only region that has recorded no cases,” he explained.

    Ghana currently has 1,334 active cases of the virus. There have been 91,709 reported cases in all, with 771 deaths from the virus.

    The Greater Accra Region has had the most cases with 50,642, followed by the Ashanti Region with 15,445.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coronavirus: We are working to avoid a third wave – GHS

    Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, the Director-General, Ghana Health Service, says government is putting in place measures to halt a possible third outbreak of the Coronavirus disease in the country.

    He said with some countries in Europe currently experiencing a third wave of the infectious disease, coupled with the rising cases in India and Brazil, it was imperative for government to be alert, especially at the airport, to avoid being taken by surprise.

    Dr Kuma-Aboagye, speaking during the Minister’s media update in Accra, said the country’s COVID-19 numbers at the airport had reduced averaging 90 per week.

    However, he said that did not mean the country was out of the woods, saying, “We still have a significant threat, especially with the third wave in Europe and the rising cases in India and Brazil”.

    Giving an overview of the country’s cases, Dr Kuma-Aboagye said Ghana had conducted over one million tests since the start of testing.

    “We have experienced two waves and as you are aware, the second wave is bigger than the first wave.

    “We have a significant decline in our cases since mid-February and currently our active cases have dropped from 8,000 to less than 1,500.

    “In actual fact, it is about 1,314,” he added.

    The GHS Boss said out of the tests conducted, 91,709 cases were positive, representing 8.8 percent positivity rate.

    He said more than 89,000 people were discharged while 771 people had succumbed to the disease.

    Dr Kuma-Aboagye further disclosed that 46 new cases were recorded as of 15th of April, 2021 with Greater Accra Region recording more than half of them.

    “Greater Accra still remains the epicentre because more than half of these were recorded in Accra and currently all 16 regions had recorded a case and 253 districts had reported a case, which means we still have seven districts or so that had never experienced a covid case across the country,” Dr Kuma-Aboagye stated.

    He said a total of 1,435 cases had so far been recorded from the travellers arriving at the Kotoka International Airport since it re-opened in September last year.

    On the vaccines, he said, Ghana had received 966,850 vaccines with more than 800,000 people vaccinated since vaccination started on March 2, this year.

    Source: GNA

  • Active coronavirus cases drop to 1,413

    The number of active coronavirus cases in Ghana has dropped marginally to 1,413 from the previous update figure of 1,430, the latest figures of the Ghana Health Service indicate.

    Some 67 new cases have also been confirmed.

    The death toll is 763.

    Since mid-March 2020, a total of 91,477 cases have been confirmed in Ghana.

    Of that number, 89,301 have recovered.

    Also, some 742,349 have been vaccinated so far.

    Regional breakdown

    Greater Accra Region – 50,489

    Ashanti Region – 15,428

    Western Region – 5,744

    Eastern Region – 4,149

    Central Region – 3,309

    Volta Region – 2,408

    Northern Region – 1,651

    Bono East Region – 1,423

    Bono Region – 1,370

    Upper East Region – 1,309

    Western North Region – 854

    Ahafo Region – 704

    Upper West Region – 493

    Oti Region – 406

    North East Region – 223

    Savannah Region – 120

    Source: Class FM

  • Public worried over disregard for Coronavirus protocols at funerals

    A cross-section of the public in Koforidua has expressed worry over the disregard of COVID-19 protocols during funerals and other social gatherings like wedding ceremonies.

    The public, therefore, wants the government to strictly enforce the restrictions on funerals and social gatherings in general to prevent further spread of the deadly virus.

    Speaking with the GNA in separate interviews in Koforidua, people were worried that flouting of social distancing protocol during such gatherings could escalate the spread of the virus.

    Kwame Kyi, a retired health worker, said lately people were not observing the private burial directive and worse of all, it was the failure to practise handwashing with soap under running water, which was worrying.

    He said people were organising funerals as if there was nothing at risk and cautioned people to stay away from funerals for their own safety.

    He called on the government to as a matter of urgency, come out with an enforcement plan to ensure that the security services took full charge and enforced all directives on social gatherings.

    Madam Grace Ayeh, a trader, described the manner in which funerals were being conducted as serious, and that if care was not taken the infection rate of the disease would surge.

    She said over the weekend she observed about three separate funerals in her community, heavily attended, yet without any due regard for health protocols.

    She indicated that the situation was not too good considering that people were getting the virus and some were dying.

    Madam Grace also called for strict enforcement of the directives on funerals to prevent the spread of the disease.

    The GNA observed during visits to some funeral grounds at Betom, Adweso and Mile 50, all suburbs of Koforidua in the New Juaben South Municipality, that funerals were held in open spaces with large gatherings with no regard for health protocols.

    Even though the government had rolled out the national COVID-19 vaccination strategy, health experts admonished the public to continue observing the wearing of nose mask and practise handwashing as well as keep social distance from each other, which was critical to achieving a holistic control of the pandemic.

    Whiles church services were allowed without restrictions on numbers, funerals, on the other hand, had been restricted to only 25 people at burial grounds in the latest government directive in containing the spread of the virus.

    Source: GNA

  • 90,000 health workers outside COVID-19 epicentres to be vaccinated GHS

    The Ghana Health Service (GHS) will from Monday, March 22, begin the vaccination of 90,000 health workers outside the COVID-19 epicentres in the country.

    The GHS said it would create two vaccination centres in each district to speed up the immunization exercise.

    On Tuesday, March 2, the GHS started the vaccination of people with underlying health conditions, those who are 60 years and above, members of the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, as well as media practitioners in epicentres of the Coronavirus disease.

    Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, the Director-General of the GHS, in an update on the COVID-19 vaccination programme on Sunday, said the Service had so far vaccinated 468,581 people as of 1130 hours on March 21.

    Out of the figure, 1,575 people reported minor adverse effects, including headaches, fever, pains at injection spot and general bodily pains.

    Of the total 260,954 people were vaccinated in the Greater Accra Region, comprising 126,165 females and 134,789 males and Ashanti Region had vaccinated 195,449 made up of 110,120 females and 84,729 males.

    The Central Region vaccinated 12,178 people, comprising 6,182 females and 5,996 males.

    The government commenced inoculation of COVID-19 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines in 43 districts in the Greater Accra, Central and Ashanti regions, which are regarded as the epicentres of the respiratory disease.

    Dr Kuma-Aboagye stated that no incident of Blood Clotting was reported during its Adverse Events Monitoring Investigations.

    He said contrary to reports of blood clotting in some European countries, Ghana’s vaccination programme was well patronized with over 400,000 people receiving their first jab of the vaccine.

    Dr Kuma-Aboagye said the vaccines were under Emergency Use Authorisation and were not supposed to be administered by private individuals.

    He, therefore, urged the public to report anyone selling or administering doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to any person at a fee for immediate arrest.

    So far, the Police arrested three persons for selling and administering the vaccines without authorisation.

    Dr Kuma-Aboagye said, in the coming weeks, the GHS would take delivery of more vaccines from the COVAX Facility and the African Medicine Platform.

    The government expects to administer 42 million doses of the vaccines to 20 million Ghanaians, with each adult taking two jabs, to create herd immunity for the population.

    Source: 3 News

  • Claims coronavirus cost GH¢1.7b inaccurate – Government

    Government has described as false reports that it spent only GH¢1.7 billion on COVID-19 related expenditure.

    According to the government, it spent a total of GH¢19 billion on the pandemic.

    It follows a Joy News’ publication claiming the government only spent GH¢1.7 billion contrary to the GH¢19 billion quoted in the 2021 budget statement and economic policy.

    However, a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance in Accra on Friday 19th March 2021 refuted the claims adding that the GH¢1.7 billion quoted by the media house represents expenditures on only two items under the COVID-19 related expenditures.

    “The Ministry’s attention has been drawn to media publications claiming that government spent GH¢1.7 billion on the COVID-19 pandemic, even though the government says it spent GH¢19 billion. The Ministry hereby informs the general public that these publications are incorrect. The GH¢1.7 billion reflects expenditures on only two items under the COVID-19 related expenditures, namely, COVID-19 Alleviation Programme 1 (CAP1) and Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan 1. Other COVID-19 expenditures were Covid-19 Alleviation Programme 2 (CAP2), COVID-19 Preparedness Plan 2, Provision of Health Infrastructure, Seed Fund for Capitalisation of Development Bank, among others” it said.

    The statement said as of end-December 2020, Ghana incurred a revenue shortfall of GH¢11,942.7 million and an expenditure increase of GH¢14,074.2 million in relation to their respective targets in the 2020 Budget passed in Parliament in November 2019.

    It also clarified reports suggesting that the COVID-19 levy will be used in paying for the 2020 COVID-19 free water and electricity expenditure stating that the newly approved levy is not a direct charge for the 2020 freebies and should not be misconstrued.

    “The Ministry also notes media reports suggesting that the government has announced a COVID-19 levy to be utilized in paying for free water and electricity of 2020. Again this is incorrect. The Minister of Information’s comment to the effect that COVID-19 expenses include water and electricity ought not to be misconstrued to mean the new taxes of 2021 are a direct charge for those services,” the statement added.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Ghana Health Service to inquire into the alleged stealing and selling of Coronavirus vaccines

    The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has said it has instituted an administrative inquiry into the alleged theft of some COVID-19 vaccines by three staff of the service who work in various hospitals in the Greater Accra Region.

    “The Service condemns such alleged criminal acts in no uncertain terms” the GHS press statement issued Saturday 20 March read. “An administrative inquiry is being instituted and appropriate sanctions shall be applied if they are found culpable. The Service commits to cooperate with the security agencies to unravel the circumstances leading to this illicit act.”

    The Service assured Ghanaians that the vaccines are not for sale adding that citizens should report anyone who attempts to sell them a vaccine.

    “The Service once again assures the general public, that together with all stakeholders, we shall ensure that all persons eligible for the vaccine get it free of charge,” the statement signed by Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director-General of GHS stressed.

    Background

    Officials of the National Security arrested three persons for their alleged involvement in the stealing and sale of COVISHIELD vaccines belonging to the Government of Ghana.

    Stephen Dzisenu, a 37-year-old Disease Control Officer of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge Hospital) is said to have stolen 36 vials of COVIDSHIELD.

    Also, Lord Pabitey, a Disease Control Officer of the La Bawaleshie Polyclinic, who is now at large, allegedly stole 26 vials of the COVIDSHIELD vaccine.

    Cosmos Allotey, the third suspect, is a 42-year-old Occupational Health and Safety Officer, who is said to have received the stolen COVIDSHIELD from Pabitey and Dzisenu.

    Allotey allegedly administered the vaccines at a cost of GH¢200.00 per jab.

    Joseph Knight Gaisie, a Project Assistant and a former Laboratory Technician at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital is also being held for abetment of crime.

    The three Dzisenu, Gaisie and Allotey have been remanded into lawful custody by an Accra Circuit Court to reappear on April 1.

    Prosecuting, Detective Sergeant Frederick Sarpong, prayed the court presided over by Mrs. Afia Owusuaa not to grant the accused persons bail as investigations were ongoing and efforts were underway to arrest others believed to be involved in the alleged crime.

    No charges have been preferred against the accused persons. Neither was any charges read out to them in court. However, the facts of the case were read out in open court.

    Detective Sergeant Sarpong said averred that the accused persons, when granted bail may interfere with investigations. He said from the facts, other persons involved were yet to be arrested and hence prayed the court to keep them in custody.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Ghana’s coronavirus deaths rise to 713, active cases drop to 3,343

    Ghana’s COVID-19 deaths have risen to 713 following the confirmation of eight more fatalities by the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

    The latest update from the GHS further indicated that 40 people were in severe condition with 17 others in critical condition.

    However, the country’s active cases have declined to 3,343 from a previous 3,621 despite the confirmation of 363 new infections across the nation since the last update on Thursday, March 18, 2021.

    The new infections were from tests conducted as of March 15, 2021.

    The country has also recorded an additional 857 recoveries, pushing its total recoveries and discharges to 84,952 from a previous 84,095.

    The remaining active cases the GHS said were being managed at treatment sites and isolation centres across the country, with some under home management.

    Ghana has recorded a total of 89,008 cases of the virus since it confirmed its first two cases in March 2020.

    Out of the total confirmed cases, 31,013 were from the General Surveillance; 56,712 from the Enhanced Contact Tracing, and 1,283 from international travellers disembarking at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) since it was re-opened on September 1, 2020.

    Also, 961,744 tests were conducted out of which 292,312 were from routine surveillance, 479,393 from contact tracing, and 190,039 from international travelers arriving through the KIA.

    The positivity rate is 9.3 percent.

    Currently, all 16 regions have an active case.

    The Greater Accra Region remains the hotspot, accounting for almost 50 percent (1,663) of active cases, with a cumulative case count of 49,370

    The Ashanti Region has 293 active cases with a case count of 15,177, followed by the Western Region with 166 active cases and a cumulative of 5,602.

    Others are: Eastern Region, 139 active cases and 4,036 cumulative; Central Region 328 active and 3,190 cumulative; Volta Region, 176 active and 2,256 cumulative; Bono East Region 61 active and 1,316 cumulative, Northern Region 46 active and 1,576 cumulative, and Upper East Region 54 active and 1,277 cumulative.

    The rest are: Western North Region, 20 active cases, 839 cumulative, Bono Region, 114 active, 1,262 cumulative, Ahafo Region, 11 active and 686 cumulative, Oti Region, 27 active and 376 cumulative, Upper West, 91 active and 456 cumulative, Savannah Region, 15 active and 112 cumulative, and North East, 36 active and 194 cumulative.

    There are also 103 active cases from international travelers at the KIA.

    Ghana began her mass vaccination exercise on March 2, this year after taking delivery of some 600,000 doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines on February 24.

    So far, a total of 405,000 people have been vaccinated against the virus as of Thursday, March 18, 2021 in the first phase in the country.

    Government said it hoped to vaccinate about 20 million of the population to stem the spread of the virus.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus: More than 400k persons vaccinated during first phase

    A total of 405,000 persons have been vaccinated against the Covid-19 from March 2 to 18, data from the Extended Programme on Immunization (EPI) of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has shown.

    These are from 43 selected districts in the Greater Accra, Ashanti and Central regions.

    Those vaccinated include front-line health workers, adults aged 60 years and above, people with underlying health conditions such as diabetes, kidney diseases, hypertension, cancer, frontline security personnel, frontline government officials, the media, and all front-line workers in the formal sector.

    Presently 250,368 persons in Accra, 187,510 persons in Kumasi and 11,293 in the Central Region, have received their first jab of Covishield, the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, under the first phase of the exercise.

    In all, 20 million Ghanaians are expected to be vaccinated against the virus. Dr Kwame Amponsa Achiano, Programme Manager of the EPI, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Thursday, said females formed about 62 per cent of the number vaccinated so far.

    He said about 63,033 persons with underlying health conditions, 91,000 adults aged 60 and above, about 72,332 health workers, 23,000 front line security personnel, and over 48,000 essential service workers have received their first jab.

    Similarly, more than 12,000 members of the Executive, Judiciary, Legislature, 60,000 teachers aged 60 and above, 3,063 media personnel and 87,092 members of the public have been vaccinated.

    Dr Amponsah-Achiano said the EPI would, from next week, begin vaccination of health workers in all the 16 regions and expressed delight with the progress so far.

    He said the country had already taken delivery of 15,000 doses of the Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine from Russia but it was not in use presently.

    “We have not started using it because that first and second doses of Sputnik V are not the same, the vaccine has a match dosing regimen and unfortunately, we did not get matching quantities, we are putting it on hold for now until we get matching quantities,” he said.

    Dr Amponsah-Achiano said between March and May Ghana would receive additional two million doses of vaccine from the COVAX facility in bits, which could vaccinate three per cent of the population.

    He said Ghana was discussing with the manufactures of Sputnik V to get additional doses, after which they would be administered to the public.

    “We also hope to get additional doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine through other multiple sources including the 17,000 doses announced by the President,” he said.

    Dr Amponsah-Achiano encouraged the public to keep adhering to the COVID-19 safety protocols by wearing a nose mask, observing social distancing, washing hands with soap under running water, or sanitizing hands frequently.

    Coronaviruses are a large group of viruses that are common among animals.

    In rare cases, they are what scientists call zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted from animals to humans, according to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

    It has an incubation period of between four to six days and fatal, especially for those with a weakened immune system; the elderly and the very young. It could also result in pneumonia and bronchitis.

    Source: GNA

  • Adansi Asokwa NCCE intensifies coronavirus vaccination education

    As the populace of the county is divided overtaking the vaccination of COVID-19, the Adansi Asokwa Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has intensified public sensitization on the vaccine.

    The NCCE team of Adansi Asokwa is fervently educating its populace about some myths of the vaccine.

    A section of the populace of the country at large has kicked against the vaccination citing a lot of reasons with one being a possible death after the vaccination.

    Others have also kicked against the vaccination because they believe the vaccine could trigger some health problems and may cause them a lifelong ailment to deal with.

    Taking to the streets especially in dressmaking shops, the NCCE team debunked those misleading assertions and Sensitized them on how necessary it is for them to be vaccinated.

    George Amponsah Boateng (SCEO), Frederick Ntiamoah (ACEO) and Lily Ampofoa Annor (PFO) took turns with regards to education.

    Currently, the country is undergoing mass vaccination which will soon be rolled out to the residents of Adansi Asokwa.

    Source: Ghana Guardian

  • Coronavirus: First consignment of 600,000 vaccine doses exhausted

    Almost all 600,000 doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine received from the COVAX facility have been distributed in the first phase of the vaccination exercise.

    Dr Kwame Amponsah-Achiano, the Programme Manager of the Extended Programme on Immunization (EPI), said the first consignment received in February were almost exhausted and, so far, the programme had not received any report of vaccine rejection in any of the 43 districts they were deployed to.

    He told the Ghana News Agency in an Interview in Accra that there was more pressure on the vaccine now than before with less than five per cent wastage recorded.

    Dr Amponsah-Achiano said the EPI would, from next week, begin vaccination of all health workers in all the 16 regions adding that the Ghana Health Service was happy with the outcome of the first phase.

    ”The initial hesitancy was quiet problematic, but between the time we received the vaccine and the time we started the roll out, a lot has changed, the apprehension went down, and so far we have distributed all the vaccines,” he said.

    He said the country had already taken delivery of 15,000 doses of the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine from Russia but it was not in use presently.

    “We have not started using it because that first and second doses of Sputnik V are not the same, the vaccine has a match dosing regimen and unfortunately, we did not get matching quantities, we are putting it on hold for now until we get matching quantities,” he said.

    Dr Amponsah-Achiano said between now and May, Ghana would receive additional two million doses of vaccine from the COVAX facility in bits, which could vaccinate three per cent of the population.

    He said Ghana was discussing with the manufactures of Sputnik V to get additional doses, after which they would be administered to the public.

    ”We also hope to get additional doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine through other multiple sources including the 17,000 doses announced by the President,” he said.

    Dr Amponsah-Achino encouraged the public to keep adhering to the COVID-19 safety protocols by wearing a nose mask, observing social distancing, washing hands with soap under running water, or sanitizing hands frequently.

    Coronaviruses are a large group of viruses that are common among animals. In rare cases, they are what scientists call zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted from animals to humans, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    It has an incubation period of four to six days and fatal, especially for those with a weakened immune system the elderly and the very young. It could also result in pneumonia and bronchitis.

    Source: GNA

  • Sekyere Central NCCE intensifies public education on coronavirus vaccination

    The Sekyere Central District Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has intensified its public sensitization campaign on COVID-19 vaccination.

    The District Director of NCCE, Mr. Gordon Yeboah Opoku noted that the sensitization follows the conspiracy theories that have greeted the mass vaccination exercise.

    With the support of his staff – Mr. Benefor Ofori (SCEO), Mrs. Georgina Amoako (CEO), and Mr. Samuel Heinz Tuffour-Bio (ACEO), the Commission visited some churches and communities along Kyebi, Atonsu and Kwarmang in the Nsuta-Kwarmang-Beposo Constituency to educate and sensitize the citizenry on the importance of taking the COVID-19 vaccine.

    Community members and congregants were made to understand that the vaccines are meant to help build their immune system especially the aged and those with underlined health issues in fighting the pandemic.

    The team also advised them to forgo the notion that the vaccine when taken, could render a man impotent and woman barren.

    They were advised to continue to adhere to the COVID-19 safety protocols even after taking the jabs to protect them from being exposed to the virus.


    Source: Ghana Guardian

  • Make the fight against corruption an economic policy – Expert

    Political analyst and economist Mr. Emmanuel Amoah-Darkwah has proposed to the government to make the fight against corruption an economic policy.

    He said: “if Ghana is losing billions to graft annually, then we have to make it an economic policy”.

    He told Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm that corruption is depriving the country of several billion hence it would be important to deal with it once and for all.

    He was hopeful that we could save several amounts if his approach is adopted.

    “The fight against corruption should be an economic policy because if the country is losing 3 billion annually to corruption, the fight against it should be an economic policy. These are the things I am expecting to hear in the budget statement.”

    Meanwhile, he has described the decision to use our Ghana card numbers as TIN numbers as brilliant.

    The approach he said will formalise the economy and make people pay the right taxes.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Internet fraud on the rise amid coronavirus

    The COVID-19 pandemic has led people to use the Internet on a high scale. Be it for studies, work or entertainment, individuals and organizations are adapting themselves to take the online mode at a greater length and in the process, their activities are subjected to widespread exposure.

    Alarmingly, the increase in internet usage is grabbing the attention of fraudsters which is leading to online intrusions and security breaches.

    Owing to the pandemic, unemployment is rampant and a lot of people have lost their jobs. This has made those with a sly intent, reeling under financial stress to generate income aggressively. Bad elements are exploiting the crisis situation and extracting money and vital, confidential information of vulnerable internet users.

    Cyber thieves are silently keeping track of information shared online.

    Impersonation of Health Organizations such as WHO and sending emails, SMS and WhatsApp messages to seek donations are getting increasingly common.

    The pandemic has created a high demand for essential products such as masks, hand gels and immunity boosters and drugs that are being purported to cure COVID-19 are seen on the online platform. Fraudsters are even creating websites to market “products” with luring promos, products which never arrive when ordered for.

    Most organizations and the government are taking steps to curb cyber-crimes which are likely to intensify after the pandemic is over.

    Business Houses and the government are likely to run awareness campaigns that appeal to people to stay safe from internet fraudsters. Studies and research are being conducted to manage internet crimes and cap loopholes that lead to financial and privacy losses.

    The long and short of it is that one must not impulsively fall for products marketed in the guise of attractive packaging with a low-price tag that screams for attention.

    Stay alert constantly and refrain from sharing personal or finance-related data and information on the internet. Citizens, in their own interests, must be extra vigilant to stay away from tricksters.

    Source: Goldstreet Business

  • Coronavirus: Ghana to take delivery of 17,600,000 vaccine doses by June – Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says Ghana will take delivery of 17,600,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines by June 2021, with more to come in the year.

    Delivering the State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Accra on Tuesday, he said a total of 262,335 Ghanaians had received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccines as at 1030 hours on March 9, 2021.

    He said the Government was working hard towards realising its goal to vaccinate 20 million Ghanaians and called for the support of all.

    The president urged Members of Parliament (MPs) to get involved in the ongoing public education campaign on the coronavirus vaccination programme, saying “…Together, with strict compliance with the safety protocols, is what will allow us to open up our country again and embark on the quest to restore normalcy to our lives and livelihoods.”

    He said the Government was collaborating with the private sector to establish 14 medical waste treatment facilities across the country to ensure the safe and proper disposal of medical waste such as vials, needles and syringes being used in the coronavirus vaccination exercise.

    President Akufo-Addo said locally, 14,600,000 pieces of Personal Protective Equipment had so far been produced for health workers, students, teaching and non-teaching staff of tertiary and secondary educational institutions.

    He said the Government would continue to invest in the health sector, and recruit more professionals to improve healthcare delivery in the country.

    He expressed gratitude to all frontline healthcare workers for their devotion to duty and sense of patriotism, saying the pandemic had emphasised the need to expand access to healthcare for every Ghanaian, irrespective of location.

    The President said, last year, 33 major health projects were approved for implementation at a cost of €890 million.

    “Key amongst them are the Koforidua Regional Hospital, Tema General Hospital, the Nephrology and Urology Centre at Korle-Bu, Redevelopment of the Effia Nkwanta Hospital into a Teaching Hospital, and the Construction of a new Regional Hospital at Agona Nkwanta in the Western Region,” he said.

    He stated that electronic medical records system (E-Health) deployment was currently underway, following its implementation in key health facilities like Korle-Bu, Komfo-Anokye, Ho, Tamale and Cape Coast teaching hospitals, and several district hospitals in the Central Region.

    President Akufo-Addo said the Upper East, Upper West, and Bono regional hospitals would go live on the e-health platform in the next five days.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus vaccination app to be used in booking appointment for vaccination

    The Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye has indicated that people going for the COVID-19 vaccination in Ghana, would have to use the vaccination APP to book an appointment or pre-register before going to the vaccination centre.

    Dr Kuma-Aboagye, who made this known said the GHS was going to adopt a locally developed APP for that purpose.

    “We are currently going to adopt a locally developed APP, which will allow us to be able to do scheduling, he said.

    “we can do a pre-registration before you go and vaccinate, we can do appointment system for you to go and vaccinate to know where to go and vaccinate, it will generate your COVID passport for you, so we know all those who have vaccinated, and the database will be in Ghana and whatever the world decides, we will have enough database locally to be able to respond appropriately and learn from how, including checking those who have had positive, whether they have had vaccination or not.”

    Dr Kuma-Aboagye who made this known at a press briefing at Peduase Lodge in the Eastern Region on Monday [March 7, 2021] said the database will be in Ghana and it will enable the GHS to be able to respond and learn accordingly.

    He said they are currently doing a test run of the APP.

    Next steps

    Giving an update on the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana, Dr Kuma-Aboagye said the next steps in the fight is that Ghana will continue to pursue additional vaccines for health workers in other districts and regions for them to be vaccinated.

    As of Sunday night, over 200,000 people had received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the exercise which started on Tuesday, March 2, 2021.

    At the moment a total 650,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been received in Ghana, 600,000 from COVAX facility and 50,000 as a donation from the Indian government.

    Dr Kuma-Aboagye said the figure could even go up to about 300,000 for the six days exercise as some of the data were collected on paper due to data entry delays and enthusiasm from the public to take the vaccine.

    Therefore, he projects that by the time all the data is entered and synched, an approximate 300,000 would have been vaccinated in the last six days.

    He added that there were plans to acquire additional Cold Chain equipment including ultra negative freezers as well as sustain public education on adherence to safety protocols and vaccine uptake.

    Benefits of APP

    Once the app is downloaded onto an iOS (Apple) or Android smartphone, the user enters information such as bio-data including age and or existing medical conditions.

    The user then receives reminders when vaccinations are due, following the national vaccination schedule.

    A record of the vaccination is kept on the smartphone.

    The app also provides direct links to the national immunization schedule and other useful online information resources [COVID Passport.

    Source: Ghana Guardian

  • Coronavirus vaccination: GHS vaccinates 300,000 people within a week

    The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has, so far, vaccinated 300,000 people since the COVID-19 mass vaccination programme started on March 2, 2021.

    Those who received doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines included, health care workers, persons with underlying health conditions, essential service providers and those who were 60 years and above, as well as members of the security agencies, Executive, Legislature and Judiciary branches of government and the Media.

    Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director-General of the GHS, announced this at Peduase Lodge in the Eastern Region, during a media update on Monday, after a three-day Cabinet Retreat.

    He said the GHS targeted 570,000 people in the first phase of the vaccination, but the number of people vaccinated and registered onto the electronic database system within a week, had exceeded the 70 per cent threshold.

    He applauded the media for intensifying sensitisation programme on the vaccine, which encouraged Ghanaians to voluntarily avail themselves of the vaccination.

    So far, he said, Ghana had received 750,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines from the COVAX Facility and expected to receive extra two million vaccines by the end of May, this year.

    Dr Kuma-Aboagye stated that some of the vaccines were delivered to the various health centres via Zipline Drone Delivery Service.

    Also, a decision had been made by the government to undertake a special vaccination programme for all health workers across the country although the initial arrangement was to vaccinate only people in 43 districts, which fall within the epicentres of the Coronavirus disease.

    Government is also making frantic efforts to secure Cold Chain equipment that is capable to storing vaccines under negative temperatures.

    The GHS Boss announced that a locally- developed App would soon be launched to aid in the appointment and registration of people onto the electronic database system to speed up the vaccination programme.

    The mass vaccination exercise will continue till the end of October, this year.

    About 20 million Ghanaians are expected to be vaccinated although the government’s ambition is to vaccinate the entire population.

    Government of Ghana received its first batch of Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, under the Global Access(COVAX Facility) on Wednesday, February 24,2021.

    Source: GNA

  • Cabinet Retreat: Government firms up priority programmes for second term

    A three-day Cabinet Retreat has ended at the Peduase Presidential Lodge in the Eastern Region as the Akufo-Addo government firms up its priorities for the years ahead.

    Information Minister Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, updating the media on key decisions reached at the Cabinet Retreat at Peduase Lodge on Monday, said the government intended to implement a robust COVID-19 Recovery Programme, to resuscitate the economy, which was adversely affected by the Coronavirus pandemic.

    He said the 2021 Budget and Policy Statement slated for Friday, March 12, would clearly provide detailed and specific interventions to restore the national economy to normalcy.

    Mr Oppong Nkrumah noted that President Akufo-Addo had charged his ministers and appointees to work collaboratively with a high sense of urgency to deliver on the mandate of bettering a lot of Ghanaians and creating jobs.

    Government would pursue aggressive measures towards transforming the economy, ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic, he added.

    The Information Minister said Mr Osei-Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, the Head of Government Business in Parliament and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, would read the budget in Parliament and would detail out various interventions, which would be hinged on COVID-19 Recovery Programme to strengthening the micro-economic indicators and fiscal regime.

    He said during the Cabinet Retreat which began on Saturday morning, March 6, immediately after the 64th Independence Day Anniversary, afforded the opportunity for the President’s representatives at the various ministries, departments and agencies(MMDAs), to brief him on various activities and happenings at their respective sectors between January 2021 and now.

    Mr Oppong-Nkrumah indicated that the government would roll out plans to mobilize revenue resources to invest in economic sectors affected by the pandemic, in order to get back on track.

    “We need to mobilize revenue resources to invest in the various sectors of the economy and there would be specifics in the Budget.

    “We cannot borrow always since our GDP ratio has gone beyond desirable numbers due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” he stated.

    “There are a mix of measures on the table and so the best way out is to mobilize revenue and the President is very mindful of that and would not burden the population with new taxes,” he opined.

    President Akufo-Addo on Friday, March 5, sworn-in 28 ministers and gave them the instrument of appointment after being vetted and approved by Parliament.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus vaccine not for sale – NCCE tells Ghanaians

    The Municipal Director of the National Commission for Civic Education in the Ga Central Municipality, Cynthia Anima Boadu, has asked the public not to pay for the COVID-19 vaccination because it is free.

    She told Kwabena Agyapong on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm that the vaccination is not for sale, and the public should watch for persons who would be demanding money from them to facilitate the process for them to be vaccinated.

    She explained that the process is free for persons who have been categorised to take the jabs.

    She further indicated that the vaccination is not a cure for the covid-19 but an enhanced safety protocol that is meant to reduce the spikes in the covid-19 virus.

    The public she added must follow the safety protocols of mask-wearing, the washing of hands with soap and water as well as observing social distancing.

    According to her, the immune system would be fully built against any severe effects of the covid-19 virus after the second jab has been administered.

    She stressed that the vaccine is a cure for covid-19 but an enhanced measure to help reduce the rate of infections and fatalities.

    President Akufo-Addo in his 24th address to the nation on measures taken to manage the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak said the Covid-19 vaccines are safe and would not pose any threat to the health of any citizen.

    “I know there are still some who continue to express doubts about the vaccine, others have expressed reservations about its efficacy, with some taking sides with conspiracy theorists who believe the vaccine has been created to wipe out the African race.

    “This is far from the truth. As your President, I want to assure you that the vaccine is safe,” he said.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Coronavirus vaccine is safe, ignore the fake news – Dr. Apaak

    The Member of Parliament for Builsa South Dr. Clement Apaak has admonished Ghanaians to ignore the fake news surrounding the covid-19 vaccine.

    The legislator says the vaccine is safe and has encouraged Ghanaians to avail themselves for the vaccination when it gets to their turn to take it.

    He said we must defeat the virus and as part of the process in defeating the virus, we have to take the vaccine.

    He made the remarks after he took his vaccine in parliament.

    He wrote: “Please take your COVID vaccine when it gets to your turn. I took mine today. We must defeat this virus so that we can get our lives back.

    Ignore all the fake news and the outlandish conspiracy theories about COVID vaccines! Get inoculated folks.

    I remain a DOG eating citizen!”

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Coronavirus: Prominent personalities who have taken vaccine shots

    Vaccine skepticism has been a major issue amid the increasing spread of conspiracy theories being spread across social media platforms.

    As a result, governments especially in Africa have been tasked with the need to instill confidence in the safety and reliability of doses imported into the country.

    Ghana made history when it became the first country in the world to receive vaccines under the WHO-led COVAX facility in mid-week of last week. President Akufo-Addo last Monday became the first person to receive a COVAX dose in the world.

    He said the decision to publicly take his shot was to show that the vaccine was safe. He received his shot at the 37 Military Hospital along with First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo.

    On the same day, Vice-president Bawumia and his wife Samira also received their shots at the Police Hospital. Government planned for a number of prominent personalities to receive their jabs to boost public confidence.

    GhanaWeb chronicles a number of public personalities to have received their jabs.

    1. President and First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo
    2. Vice President Mahamadu Bawumia and Second Lady Samira Bawumia
    3. Former President John Dramani Mahama and wife Lordina Mahama
    4. Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu
    5. National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu
    6. Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, Chief of Staff
    7. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director-General of Ghana Health Service
    8. Electoral Commission chairperson Jean Mensa
    9. Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman-Manu
    10. Former President John Agyekum Kufuor
    11. Enoch Teye Mensah – Former MP, current Council of State member
    12. Aaron Mike Oquaye – Immediate past Speaker of Parliament
    13. University of Ghana Vice Chancellor, Ebenezer Oduro Owusu
    https://twitter.com/MBawumia/status/1366441639779172358?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1366441639779172358%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ghanaweb.com%2FGhanaHomePage%2FNewsArchive%2FCoronavirus-Prominent-personalities-who-have-taken-vaccine-shots-1196536
    https://twitter.com/moigovgh/status/1366365033056329729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1366365033056329729%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ghanaweb.com%2FGhanaHomePage%2FNewsArchive%2FCoronavirus-Prominent-personalities-who-have-taken-vaccine-shots-1196536

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coronavirus vaccine doesnt cause infertility

    Dr Louisa Matey, Ayawaso West Municipal Director of Health Services, has debunked claims that COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility in men and women.

    She said the vaccines were scientifically verified by the World Health Organisation and fit for purpose, urging residents of the Ayawaso West Municipality to come out in their numbers to get vaccinated.

    Dr Louisa Matey said this at the launch of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign for the Municipality.

    The event, organised by the Municipal Assembly in collaboration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (N&MC), saw the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Municipal Health Director, Registrar and staff of the N&MC, among others, took turns to get vaccinated.

    Dr Matey said the Municipality was the first to start the vaccination programme due to the high rate of infection in the area and said the programme would be undertaken in 12 days at 24 health centres, three of them being static centres, with the remaining being mobile sites.

    She said after the 12 days, they would break for eight weeks and resume for the second dose.

    The Municipal Health Director said they were hoping to administer at least 4,000 doses of vaccines in the Municipality with a focus on frontline health workers, chronically ill patients, frontline security personnel, persons over 60 years of age.

    Mrs Sandra Owusu Ahinkorah, MCE of the Municipality, said the Municipal Assembly would ignite the vaccination sensitisation and education campaign in the various communities to get residents vaccinated.

    She entreated the public to get vaccinated so they could protect themselves and others to help stop the spread of the virus.

    “The vaccine is real and effective. It has no side effects of infertility, death, whatsoever. So I am urging all residents of the Ayawaso West Municipality to come out in their numbers and get vaccinated,” she added.

    Mr Felix Nyante, Registrar of the N&MC, urged all nurses and midwives to get vaccinated to inspire the public and prove that the vaccines were safe.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus: Asantehene, wife vaccinated

    The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and his wife Lady Julia have on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, taken the COVID-19 vaccination jab.

    Some sub-chiefs of the Asante Monarch including the Paramount Chief of Asante Mampong, Daasebre Osei Bonsu II; Akyempemhene, Oheneba Adusei Poku among others were also vaccinated.

    The vaccination exercise took place at the Manhyia palace in Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital.

    Addressing the media, Dr. Emmanuel Tenkorang, the Ashanti Regional Health Director, said they have taken delivery of 150,000 vaccines and are expected to vaccinate 146,000 people.

    The vaccination exercise, he said is expected to take place in 14 districts within the Kumasi and the two Districts in Obuasi, being Obuasi East District and Obuasi Municipal Assemblies.

    The vaccination exercise commenced today nationwide.

    The first to be vaccinated are frontline health workers, security agencies, people with chronic disease, and people aged 60 and above.

    Leading political figures like the President his vice and their wives have already been vaccinated.

    Source: Class FM

  • Coronavirus mass vaccination begins today

    COVID-19 vaccination begins today in 43 districts in three regions of the country.

    The regions are: Greater Accra-25 districts, Ashanti-16 districts and Central-two districts.

    This will mark the beginning of a nationwide exercise expected to vaccinate 20 million Ghanaians against the virus.

    Front line health workers, adults aged 60 years and above, people with underlining health conditions such as diabetes, kidney diseases, hypertension, cancer, frontline security personnel, frontline government officials, and all front line workers in the formal sector are in the first group of people for the mass vaccination.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, together with their spouses, showed leadership by being the first to take shots of the AstraZeneca vaccine on Monday, March 1, 2021, ahead of the mass immunisation.

    The vaccination is expected to run from March to October, 2021.

    A total of 12,500 vaccinators, 2,000 supervisors and 37,413 volunteers will facilitate the vaccination exercise across all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the country.

    Coronaviruses are a large group of viruses that are common among animals.

    In rare cases, they are what scientists call zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted from animals to humans, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    It has incubation period between 4-6 days and fatal, especially for those with weakened immune system – the elderly and the very young.

    It could also result in pneumonia and bronchitis.

    Ghana has since the outbreak of the pandemic in March 2020, recorded over 84, 023 cases, 77,972 recoveries and 607 deaths.

    On Wednesday, February 24, Ghana became the first country in the world to receive the COVAX COVID-19 facility when it received about 600,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines produced by the Serum Institute of India.

    Source: GNA

  • Volta region has UK strain of the Coronavirus – Dr Djokoto

    Dr Senanu Kwesi Djokoto, Deputy Volta Regional Director of Ghana Health Service, in-charge of Public Health, has disclosed that the region has recorded the United Kingdom (UK) COVID-19 variant.

    He said this was known after genetic sequencing of the variant performed by researchers at the University of Health and Allied Sciences coronavirus testing centre in Ho.

    Dr Djokoto, speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said the transmissibility of the UK strain was high, resulting in an increasing number of cases in the Region.

    The Deputy Director said the region, as of February 28, recorded a total of 321 active cases with 20 deaths and 1,551 recoveries, bringing the cumulative case count to 1,887.

    He said some schools in the region had recorded the virus, however, the affected students, including three primary pupils, were doing well.

    Touching on the vaccine, Dr Djokoto said the vaccine had been tested and proven to be safe and effective against the COVID-19.

    He said Ho Municipal topped the chart of cases in the region followed by Ketu North and Hohoe, recording 56 and 44 cases, respectively.

    Dr Djokoto urged the populace to ignore the misinformation that the vaccine was produced to wipe out Africans, adding it was just like other vaccines that the country received from the outside world to treat other diseases.

    He said the vaccine would not render people who took it infertile or alter their DNA as was being peddled by conspiracy theorists.

    Source: GNA

  • Frimpong Boateng chairs committee to ensure locally produced coronavirus vaccines

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has revealed that steps are being taken to ensure that coronavirus vaccines are produced locally as part of the fight against the virus in Ghana.

    Mr Akufo-Addo said in an address to the nation on Sunday February 28 that a committee to that effect which is chaired by a former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, has been formed.

    “I want to reiterate my determination that we should manufacture our own vaccines here in Ghana. To that end, a Committee has been established under the Chairmanship of a former Minister for Environment ,Science, Technology and Innovation, the world renowned scientist, Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng which is formulating a concrete plan of action towards vaccine development and manufacturing,” Mr Akufo-Addo said.

    Mr Akufo-Addo further said that the Vaccines Deployment Plan Ghana submitted to the World Health Organization (WHO) for approval was well received.

    His comment follows the arrival of the vaccines into the country.

    “We are the first country in the world be recipient of vaccines from the COVAX facility. I want to express my appreciation to members of the COVID-19 taskforce which I chair and to officials of the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service for this commendable feat.

    “The vaccine deployment plan we submitted to the WHO was well received. We are grateful also, naturally to the managers of the COVAX facility.”

    He assured that the vaccines is safe for Ghanaians. Mr Akufo-Add0o told the nation that he and his wife the First Lady as well as the Vice President and his wife will public take the vaccines as a way of motivating to get vaccinated.

    Source: 3 News

  • Roll out of vaccination campaign does not mean you shouldnt wear nose mask Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said that the arrival of the coronavirus vaccines in Ghana does not mean that Ghanaians should no longer observe all the protocols outlined to tackle the virus.

    The COVAX Facility on 23 February delivered 600 000 doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine to Ghana, making it the first African country to receive the vaccines.

    Addressing the nation on Sunday February 28, Mr Akufo-Addo said “The roll out of the vaccination campaign does not mean we should let our guard down and discard the safety protocols that have served us well thus far.”

    Following the arrival of the vaccines, information Minister-designate Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, said the vaccines will be deployed to health facilities from Tuesday, March 2.

    “Covid-19 vaccination will be conducted in phases among segmented populations,” Mr Oppong Nkrumah, who is also the Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi Constituency, stated.

    “The first segment of the population that will receive from the 600,000 doses will be health workers, adults 60 years and over, people with underlying health conditions, frontline executive, legislature, judiciary and their related staff, frontline security personnel, some religious leaders, essential workers, teachers and other personalities in Greater Accra Metro including Awutu Senya West and Awutu Senya East in the Central Region.

    “A similar segmented population in the Greater Kumasi Metro and Obuasi municipality will also be covered.”

    He said the government remains resolute at ensuring the welfare of all Ghanaians “and is making frantic efforts to acquire vaccines to cover the entire population through bilateral and multilateral agencies”.

    He acknowledged the “hardwork” of the technical teams of stakeholders including the Ghana Health Service, the Ministry of Health and the Covid-19 Task Force.

    “Our development partners are also acknowledged for their tremendous financial and technical support.

    “It is our hope that they will continue to support us in our sustained efforts in combating this virus and putting Covid-19 behind us.”

    Source: 3 News

  • Ignore propaganda against coronavirus vaccine Dr Asare

    Dr William Collins Asare, Fund Administrator, COVID-19 National Trust Fund, has urged Ghanaians to ignore the false claims against the potency of the COVID-19 vaccines.

    He said the vaccines were safe and being used in other countries and encouraged the public to make themselves available for the vaccination exercise, scheduled to start this week.

    He noted that the United Kingdom and the United States of America were reported to have experienced a reduction in the number of cases when they started vaccinating their citizens.

    Mr Asare was speaking at the climax of the first phase of a nationwide COVID-19 awareness campaign at the Art Centre in Accra.

    It was organised by the Centre for National Culture under the auspices of the National Commission on Culture, and partnered by Rescue Volunteers. He said to curb the spread, the Fund would continue to empower its partners to intensify education and sensitisation in the communities and called for support from all.

    The second phase of the educational campaign would also focus on debunking the myths and fallacies surrounding the covid-19 mass vaccination programme.

    Additionally, Mr Asare said the exponential rise in the COVID-19 cases in Ghana presented a challenge to all and urged the citizenry to keep to the protocols.

    Madam Janet Edna Nyame, the Executive Director, National Commission on Culture, said the programme covered 33 selected communities in six regions.

    She said the team adopted drama, dance, puppetry and poetry, which had proven to be effective methods of public education and sensitisation, throughout the campaign.

    Madam Nyame said the vaccines were not different from those used to prevent infections like poliomyelitis and measles and encouraged all to partake in the vaccination.

    Mrs Alice Alima Kala, the Director, Centre for National Culture, said the first phase of the campaign was held in some major markets in the capital including the Makola, Dodowa, and Kpone-Katamanso markets and climaxed at the Art Centre.

    Ms Lydia Tsotsoo Odai-Tettey, Country Coordinator, Rescue Volunteers, said the team donated 150 branded T-Shirts, 2,000 pieces of nose masks and 450 bottles of hand sanitizers to assist participants and the traders to keep safe of the virus.

    She emphasised the need for social distancing in markets and crowded areas.

    Madam Mercy Naa Afrowa Needjan, the President, Greater Accra Markets Association, urged traders not to remove their masks when attending to customers, while adhering to all the protocols

    Source: GNA

  • NCCE to step up education on coronavirus vaccination

    The Central Regional Office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) is to step up public education on the COVID-19 vaccination scheduled for March 2, 2021.

    More than 20 million Ghanaians are expected to be vaccinated during the exercise estimated to cost $52million.

    The vaccination exercise is in three phases, beginning with health workers, people with known underlying health conditions and security personnel.

    In this direction, the Commission organised a COVID-19 vaccination sensitization capacity building workshop for its Metropolitan, Municipal and District Directors (MMDD) to help provide the public with the right information.

    The directors were tasked to arm themselves with information on the pandemic to adequately sensitize the public on the vaccination exercise.

    They must provide truthful and accurate information to counter misinformation and fake news circulating on social media and other platforms.

    Mr Nicholas Ofori Boateng, Regional Director of the NCCE, noted that anti-vaccine campaigners had captured the attention of the populace with fake information which needed to be debunked with the right messages.

    Participants went through basic information about COVID-19, history and benefits of vaccination, currently approved vaccines for COVID-19 treatment in Ghana and COVID-19 vaccination myths.

    They were also educated on the adverse effects of the vaccine, the processes it went through before approval, the roll-out plan and the safeness of the approved vaccines for use in Ghana.

    Mr Ofori Boateng advised the MMDDs to collaborate with the Ghana Health Service, Ghana Medical Association, the Assemblies and stakeholders to discharge their duties.

    The second phase, he said, would benefit essential service providers, people above 60 years, second cycle and tertiary students, teachers, members of the Executive, Legislature, the Judiciary and the media. He said other members of the population, excluding children under sixteen years and pregnant women, would be vaccinated in the third phase.

    Mr Ofori Boateng said the vaccination was a complementary measure to slow down the rate of spread of the virus and did not mean that once people were vaccinated, adherence to the established protocols should seize.

    He charged the officers to remind citizens of adherence to the existing safety protocols and restrictions even after vaccination.

    He advised the civic educators to demonstrate an understanding of the concerns that would be raised by the public and reasonably address them.

    Source: GNA

  • Tema Banks upscale adherence to coronavirus protocols

    Scores of Banks in Tema Metropolis have upscaled the enforcement of the COVID-19 protocols ascribe by the World Health Organisation and the Ghana Health Service.

    A visit to some of the Banks by the Ghana News Agency in Tema on Wednesday revealed that Banks in Community 1, including Zenith, Standard Chartered, and Ghana Commercial Banks are strict in the enforcement of the preventive protocols to curb the spread of the COVID-19 Virus.

    At the Standard Chartered Bank GNA-Tema observed that to enforce the social distancing protocols chairs had been arranged outside the banking hall where customers wait for their turn before being allowed into the hall.

    According to an official of the bank, the arrangement was to reduce the number of customers inside the Banking Hall at all times.

    Private Security personnel have been assigned to ensure that all the customers follow due process per the COVID-19 safety protocols.
    As part of the arrangement, the security personnel would signal and guide customers to a veronica bucket for the handwashing protocols.

    The Tema Banks despite the strict measures are also enforcing the “No Nose Mask, No Entre,” directives, where customers without facial masks were denied access to the Hall, or in some cases, the security personnel will give the customer one.

    At the Zenith and GCB Banks in addition to the social distancing protocols security personnel ensured that customers go through hand washing, hand sanitizing, and temperature checking.

    The recent surge in the new COVID-19 variant has put the country on red alert to ensure that everyone joins the fight to stop the spread.

    Source: GNA

  • Tamale residents share thoughts on coronavirus vaccine

    Some residents of Tamale have expressed mixed feelings on the Covid 19 vaccines which the government of Ghana has procured for the citizens.

    The first consignment of the vaccines which is about 600,000 doses has already hit the shores of the country since yesterday, February 24th, 2021.

    This batch is expected to cater for the front-line health workers, the judges, the legislators, and the executives, and also with the front-line security personnel.

    Speaking to the residents, some of them said they are willing and ready to go for the vaccination as and when the vaccines are ready.

    They said, despite the negative rumors making rounds about the vaccine, they are not perturbed by the scary news.

    “The disease is already killing us, so if the vaccines weren’t good, government wouldn’t go and spend money procuring it for us.” Ishawu, a resident of Tamale told GhanaWeb.

    They also said they trust the government and believe whatever decision he takes is in the interest of the Ghanaian populists.

    “Taken the vaccine is good, if it wasn’t good, government wouldn’t say we should go for it,” said Abdul Rashid, another resident.

    They said if the said vaccine is approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other countries have accepted to use it, why should Ghanaians be scared of going for the vaccination? They asked.

    Meanwhile, some residents have also said though they wouldn’t go for the vaccination but would rather stick to the protocols in other to remain safe.

    “I wouldn’t go for the vaccination, I would rather protect myself against the disease by strictly adhering to the safety protocols; washing hands, wearing of the face mask, regularly used of sanitizer, and also avoid overcrowded places.” Said Mohammed Firdaws, another resident of Tamale.

    Firdaws, however, urged the general public to take advantage of the vaccination as and when the opportunity presents itself.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coronavirus: Religious leaders among first to be vaccinated in Ghana

    Religious leaders have been listed as part of the segmented population to receive the first 600,000 doses of the Coronavirus vaccines received on Wednesday, February 24.

    The deployment of the vaccines is scheduled for Tuesday, March 2 in the Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi metropolitan areas. Awutu Senya East and Awutu Senya West in the Central Region as well as Obuasi will also be covered.

    In a statement issued on Wednesday, Minister-designate for Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said the COVID-19 “vaccination will be conducted in phases among segmented populations”.

    “The first segment of the population that will receive from the 600,000 doses will be health workers, adults 60 years and over, people with underlying health conditions, frontline executive, legislature, judiciary and their related staff, frontline security personnel, some religious leaders, essential workers, teachers and other personalities in Greater Accra Metro including Awutu Senya West and Awutu Senya East in the Central Region.”

    In the early days of the outbreak of the viral disease in Ghana, some religious leaders lived in denial, espousing divine protection.

    However, churches have since instituted temporal measures to ensure that the disease does not spread during services.

    Social distancing, wearing of masks and hand washing-cum-sanitising are strictly enforced by churches.

    Source: 3 News

  • Government maps out areas in Ghana to first receive coronavirus vaccines

    The COVID-19 vaccines have been received at the Kotoka International Airport on Wednesday, February 24 by a delegation led by the Minister-designate for Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu.

    Information Minister-designate Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, says the vaccines will be deployed to health facilities from Tuesday, March 2.

    “COVID-19 vaccination will be conducted in phases among segmented populations,” Mr. Oppong Nkrumah, who is also the Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi Constituency, stated.

    “The first segment of the population that will receive from the 600,000 doses will be health workers, adults 60 years and over, people with underlying health conditions, frontline executive, legislature, judiciary, and their related staff, frontline security personnel, some religious leaders, essential workers, teachers and other personalities in Greater Accra Metro including Awutu Senya West and Awutu Senya East in the Central Region.

    “A similar segmented population in the Greater Kumasi Metro and Obuasi municipality will also be covered.”

    He said the government remains resolute at ensuring the welfare of all Ghanaians “and is making frantic efforts to acquire vaccines to cover the entire population through bilateral and multilateral agencies”.

    He acknowledged the “hard work” of the technical teams of stakeholders including the Ghana Health Service, the Ministry of Health, and the COVID-19 Task Force.

    “Our development partners are also acknowledged for their tremendous financial and technical support.

    “It is our hope that they will continue to support us in our sustained efforts in combating this virus and putting Covid-19 behind us.”

    Source: 3 News

  • Government to receive first consignment of coronavirus vaccines today

    The Government of Ghana will today Wednesday, February 24, 2021, receive the first batch of 600,000 AstraZeneca Coronavirus vaccine at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra.

    A press statement issued by the Ministry of Information in Accra, said the Minister for Health Designate, Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, would lead the government delegation to receive the vaccines at 0700 hours.

    It said the brief ceremony would be televised live on Ghana Television (GTV) and also on the Ministry of Information’s Facebook page.

    The statement encouraged media houses interested in the coverage to pick the live feed from the two platforms.

    Source: GNA

  • Over 60 health workers test positive for Coronavirus in Savelugu

    Over 60 health workers at the Savelugu Municipal Hospital in the Northern Region have tested positive for Covid-19.

    This follows mass testing of staff of the hospital after an upsurge of cases in the Savelugu Municipality.

    Sources say there are still some samples at the laboratory yet to be tested.

    Ghana has so far recorded a total of 80,253 cases of Covid-19 with 598 new cases recorded.

    73,018 people have recovered and discharged with a total of 577 deaths. Meanwhile, the current active cases have dropped slightly to 6,658.

    Cumulative Cases per Region

    (Case Count from Highest to Lowest)

    Greater Accra Region 46,189

    Ashanti Region 14,046

    Western Region 4,742

    Eastern Region 3,525

    Central Region 2,783

    Volta Region 1,559

    Bono East Region 1,081

    Upper East Region 994

    Northern Region 970

    Bono Region 924

    Western North Region 797

    Ahafo Region 660

    Upper West Region 357

    Oti Region 272

    North East Region 79

    Savannah Region 72

    Source: Starr FM

  • Savelugu Hospital to be close down due to surge in coronavirus infections

    The Savelugu Municipal Hospital in the Northern Region has announced that the hospital will on February 22, 2021, undergo a 2-week partial close-down due to a surge of COVID 19 infections in the Municipality.

    A memo sighted by GhanaWeb indicates that, the reason for the closure is to afford the hospital the space for a disinfection exercise to take place.

    “The hospital shall render only emergency services” the statement added.

    This according to the memo will enable the hospital to reduce staff-client interaction and pave way for the disinfection of the place, in other to break the chain of transmission.

    They, therefore, entreat the general public to remain calm and co-operate with the management of the hospital.

    They also urged the general public to take the precautionary measures seriously.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus: Ghana records 702 new cases and 6 deaths

    The number of COVID-19 related deaths recorded in Ghana has risen by six.

    According to the latest update by the Ghana Health Service, newly recorded cases as at February 13, 2021, is 702.

    This keeps the countries daily infection rate within the 700 average as has been the case over the past week.

    The number of current active cases has further risen to 7,866 with the cumulative number of confirmed cases now 77,748.

    69,321 of the cumulative number of cases are said to have recovered from the virus whiles 561 of the total infections have resulted in deaths.

    See below the regional breakdown of the cumulative case count:

    Greater Accra Region – 45,191

    Ashanti Region – 13,822

    Western Region – 4,559

    Eastern Region – 3,342

    Central Region – 2,697

    Volta Region – 1,386

    Bono East Region – 966

    Northern Region – 862

    Bono Region – 833

    Upper East Region – 814

    Western North Region – 773

    Ahafo Region – 625

    Upper West Region – 307

    Oti Region – 258

    Savannah Region – 69

    North East Region – 61

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com