TIG Post

Tag: coronavirus in Ghana

  • President Akufo-Addo to open 72nd Annual New Year School

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, will on Tuesday, January 19, inaugurate the 72nd Annual New Year School and Conference at the University of Ghana, Legon, Accra.

    The School, which is scheduled for January 19-20, is being organised by the School of Continuing and Distance Education, College of Education, University of Ghana, on the theme, “Building Ghana in the Face of Global Health Crises”.

    Mr Godfried Kudzo Akpanya, the Coordinator/Prefect of the Annual New Year School and Conference, made this known on Monday in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra.

    He said the Annual New Year School and Conference since its inception in 1948, had been the flagship programme of the University, which always opened at the beginning of the New Year and that it had never been truncated.

    Mr Akpanya said due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which broke out in 2020, the 72nd Annual New Year School and Conference would focus on global health crises; adding that because of the COVID-19pandemic, the annual weeklong programme had been shortened to two days.

    He said participants would be drawn from all sectors of the economy – health, education, organised labour and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

    Mr Akpanya said the Annual New Year School and Conference, since its inception in 1948, had over the years played a crucial role in community development and capacity building.

    He said the School, which had been held regularly since 1948, brought together people from all walks of life to deliberate on topical issues of national and international interest.

    He noted that resolutions from the School were presented in a communique to relevant government and parastatal agencies; which had over the years played a key role in policy formulation.

    Mr Akpanya, said a major challenge facing the organisation of the School was funding and appealed to cooperate institutions for support.

    He also appealed to Government to resource the Secretariat of the Annual New Year School and Conference with a vehicle for its operations.

    Source: GNA

  • No date to resume the dialogue has been put forth

    Africa has so far been spared the worst of the coronavirus pandemic in terms of cases and deaths but its economy has not been so lucky, especially the poorer, smaller countries dependent on a single resource or sector.

    The spread of the disease has also picked up speed in recent weeks, stoking concerns that worse is to come.

    Here are some key features of the pandemic’s economic impact on Africa:

    Historic recession

    For 2020, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that the economy of sub-Saharan Africa will shrink 3.0 percent, “the worst outcome on record”. However, it should then grow 3.1 percent next year — although this is a much slower pace than elsewhere in the world.

    In terms of per capita income, it has fallen 5.3 percent and back to 2013 levels in the space of just a few months.

    Abebe Aemro Selassie, the head of the IMF’s African division, highlighted the fact that unlike in the 2008-09 global financial crisis, sub-Saharan countries were in a much worse budgetary position, with fewer resources available to face the crisis than their wealthier peers.

    Different countries, different impact

    African countries can be classified as three economic types:

    — Diversified, such as in West Africa, with Ivory Coast, Senegal and Ghana. In the east, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

    In these economies, activity has slowed significantly but they are still managing to grow, the IMF says.

    — Oil producers such as Algeria, Angola and Nigeria. They have suffered very badly from the plunge in crude prices, especially in the early months of the crisis.

    Since then, prices have firmed slowly to arrive back at around $50 per barrel.

    — Tourism-dependent countries such as Morocco, Tunisia and the Seychelles. The pandemic has brought travel to a virtual standstill, grounding airlines, which are struggling to survive.

    “The crisis has confirmed the differences between diversified countries and the exporters of industrial raw materials but has also impacted North African countries which were in a growth rebound thanks to tourism since 2016,” noted Clement Gillet, economist with Societe Generale.

    Standing on its own, South Africa, the continent’s second-biggest economy, has been hit the worst given that it was already in recession before the crisis hit.

    Its economy is expected to shrink 8.0 percent this year.

    Raising funds

    Again, the picture is mixed when it comes to how different countries manage debt and raise fresh funds.

    On the one hand, there is Zambia, which is heavily dependent on mining and became the first country to default on its debt last month, while Ivory Coast only two weeks later easily raised funds on the market.

    Since then, “the financial markets have found their appetite for risk again, and especially for African debt, but investors are going to be much more careful about the details” and quality of the issuers, said Gillet.

    Another important source of funds for African countries is remittances from their foreign workers and inevitably this has also suffered in the pandemic.

    According to the World Bank, such remittances are expected to fall 14 percent to about $470 billion going into 2021.

    “The impact of Covid-19 is pervasive when viewed through a migration lens as it affects migrants and their families who rely on remittances,” said Mamta Murthi, Vice President for Human Development and Chair of the Migration Steering Group at the World Bank.

    Debt

    G20 countries have already put in place a moratorium on interest payments for some 47 countries, most of them in Africa.

    The G20 has also said its members are ready to re-negotiate some of the debt itself but such moves have limits.

    “Firstly, about 40 percent of African debt is accounted for by the private sector,” and not by governments, noted Kako Nubukpo, an economist and a former minister of Togo.

    “Certain countries, such as Benin, with a lot of private-sector debt, oppose the moratorium because they fear that when they return to the market to raise fresh funds their risk premium will explode,” he said.

    But Senegal on the other hand has welcomed the debt service moratorium, he added.

    At the same time, Gillet noted the profile of Africa’s creditors has changed, “which makes any restructuring agreement very complicated”.

    “Up until the end of the 1990s, you could get all the creditors around a table,” he said.

    “But now you have the debt owed to China, which is not part of the Paris Club (of state creditors), then the debt owed to the private-sector lenders (the London Club of bankers), and then above all the debt raised on the markets.”

    Source: africanews.com

  • Three landing beaches awarded for coronavirus adherence

    The USAID Sustainable Fishing Management Programme (SFMP) COVID-19 Project has awarded three fish landing beaches in coastal Volta for adhering to the COVID-19 safety protocols.

    Aklorbordzi (Anloga District), Adzido (Keta Municipality) and Hedzranawo (Ketu South Municipality) received awards as most demonstrative fish landing beaches out of 48 in all three districts as winners for the month of November, 2020.

    Each Landing Beach Committee (LBC) received 10 plastic chairs, a plaque/citation, three project-branded tee-shirts and some reading materials on sustainable fishing.

    Mr Kwesi Randolph Johnson, the Project Officer, Volta Region, at a brief ceremony to present the awards, congratulated the LBCs for the achievement and called on them to strive to successfully combat COVID-19.

    He charged winners not to relent on the safety measures to retain their title for the ensuing months, explaining that the pilot project was still running till March 2021.

    “The three places were selected based on the observations we made on announced and several unannounced and quiet visits to all the landing beaches to interact with site advocates, fisher leaders and fishermen/processors,” Mr Johnson said.

    “Also, we considered responses/feedback from folks and how they demonstrated their understanding of fishing issues, their adherence to the COVID-19 protocols (like using facemasks regularly and correctly, washing hands, social distancing) and general cleanliness of the beach and immediate surroundings.”

    Mr Johnson appealed to fishers to comply with fisheries laws and not wait for marine police or naval officers to force them into compliance saying, illegal unreported and unregulated fishing could result in depletion of the fish stock, destruction of marine ecosystem and poverty.

    Mr Alfred Kordzo Fiagbenya, a community leader at Woe-Aklorbordzi, said the award would spur them on to continue to adhere to the directives to stay safe from the pandemic and keep the beach clean at all times.

    Madam Rejoice Kpodo, site advocate at Adzido Landing Beach, was grateful for the award and said they would show the citation to all to solicit support so as to continue to emerge first in the Municipality.

    Torgbui Seth Afedido, Hedzranawo Chief Fisherman, said the LBC insisted that the right things were done regarding compliance with COVID-19 protocols, instituting spot fines for defecating on the beach among other things, adding that they intended to continue on that tangent.

    Also in attendance at the presentation ceremony were representatives from Friends of the Nation (implementing partner of the project), the Fisheries Commission, the local Assemblies and National Commission for Civic Education.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus: Government to renew Imposition of Restriction Act

    Government has announced plans to renew the Imposition of Restrictions Act, 2020 (Act 1012), which expired on Tuesday, December 22, 2020.

    The legislation allowed for restrictions to be imposed if it is reasonably required in the interest of defence, public safety, public health or the running of essential services; on the movement or residence within Ghana and to restrict the freedom of entry into the country.

    Addressing a news conference in Accra, Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said the Act allowed government to impose COVID-19 restrictions on movements of people, especially in the Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi.

    He said the COVID-19 technical taskforce was reviewing the legislation to ensure compliance with safety protocols.

    Meanwhile, Mr Oppong Nkrumah urged the security agencies to enforce the ban on beaches, nightclubs and pubs as well as adherence to the COVID-19 safety protocols.

    He entreated Ghanaians not to patronise beaches and nightclubs during the Yuletide because they were high-risk areas for the spread of Coronavirus disease.

    Currently, Ghana has recorded 54,043 positive COVID-19 cases, with 52,777 recoveries/ discharged, representing 97.7 per cent recovery rate, according to Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director-General, Ghana Health Service.

    There are 933 active cases and 333 deaths with 0.62 per cent fatality rate far below the global rate of 2.25 per cent.

    Ghana has so far tested 646,697 cases, representing 20,000 per million population and 8.4 per cent positivity rate.

    Dr Kumah-Aboagye, said people with hypertension, diabetes and asthma were more prone to infection and at high risk of succumbing to the disease.

    Persons between 20 and 49 years are the most infected.

    Source: GNA

  • Akufo-Addo to firm-up school reopening after Cabinet meeting on December 30

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is receiving briefings from COVID-19 Technical Taskforce on limited school re-openings and would make a firm decision on school reopening in January 2021 after a Cabinet meeting on December 30, 2020.

    Addressing a news conference in Accra on COVID-19 Updates on Tuesday, Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, said the COVID-19 Taskforce would work throughout the Christmas period to brief the President and analyse the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students, during the limited school re-openings in July, August, September, and October, this year.

    Government in July allowed final year students in the tertiary education institutions to complete their semester courses and wrote their exit examinations.

    The final year senior high school students also returned to complete their term courses and wrote the West African Examination Certificate (WAEC), while the final year Junior High School students undertook the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in September and in October, second year JHS and SHS students returned to school to complete their term courses.

    During the period, some students and teachers contracted the Coronavirus disease and were isolated, tested and treated.

    It is in the light of this member of the COVID-19 Taskforce were briefing the President in order to inform the Government’s decision whether basic schools should be reopened in January 2021.

    The Information Minister said a sub-committee on school reopening would soon be constituted to plan and strategise the way forward.

    That, he said, would ensure that the school environment would not become a haven for spreading the respiratory disease.

    Responding to a question on whether Ghana is considering stopping flights from countries witnessing second wave of infection, Mr Oppong Nkrumah said all the options were being considered, but at the moment, the country was implementing two layers of prevention strategies.

    The first layer, he said, all travellers disembarking should possess negative PCR test result from country of origin, which was undertaken 72 hours before departure.

    Additionally, all disembarking passengers were supposed to go through an Antigen test at the Kotoka International Airport and after the person tests negative, he or she would be allowed entry, while those who test positive are isolated and treated.

    Currently, Ghana has recorded 54,043 positive COVID-19 cases, with 52,777 recoveries/ discharged, representing 97.7 percent recovery rate, according to Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director-General, Ghana Health Service.

    As at Saturday, December 19, 2020, there were 933 active cases and 333 deaths with 0.62 percent fatality rate, which is far below the global rate of 2.25 percent.

    Ghana has so far conducted 646,697 tests, representing 20,000 per million population and 8.4 percent positivity rate.

    Dr Kumah-Aboagye said people with hypertension, diabetes and asthma were more prone to infection and at higher risk of succumbing to the disease.

    Persons between 20 and 49 years were the most infected in the country.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus: Ghana records 13 more deaths, total number now 333

    Ghana has recorded 13 more deaths from the Novel Coronavirus pandemic, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has revealed.

    Addressing the country on Sunday, 20 December 2020, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo stated that although the number of active cases has reduced marginally, a number of fatalities have been recorded.

    According to him, some regions in Ghana do not have any active cases currently, which shows how the government has fought hard to tackle the situation.

    The president also emphasized that the active cases have reduced from about 1,000 to 946.

    “We have recorded a stable rate of daily infections of between 130 and 100 cases. Indeed, the total number of active cases has reduced marginally from 1139 as of Friday, 6 November to 946 as of Friday 18th December,” the President said.

    He added, “Our hospitalization rate continues to be very low and our treatment centres are virtually empty. As per data from [the] Ghana Health Service, some regions at the moments have no recorded active cases and long may this continue.”

    Akufo-Addo went on to say, “Our heroic health workers have seen to 52,675 recoveries to which the country is extremely grateful. Unfortunately, 13 more deaths from COVID-19 and its complications have been recorded bringing the total number of fatalities to 333 out of the 53,954 confirmed cases. May their souls rest in peace.”

    Akufo-Addo also assured that government was working around the clock to deploy some of the approved vaccines into the country.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Police broke into a Ghanaian church in Germany over violation of coronavirus protocols

    Police break up church service with 86 people in Essen-Germany.

    In a private church building of the original Ghanaian congregation “The Church of Pentecost”, the members celebrated Sunday mass.

    In a private church building of the originally Ghanaian congregation “The Church of Pentecost”, the members celebrated Sunday mass.

    Police had to stop a church service in Essen-Kray on Sunday because of Corona violations.

    At around 1.50 pm on Sunday, officers broke up a service of the Ghanaian “Church of Pentecost”, a free church Pentecostal congregation originating in Ghana.

    The officers found 56 adults and 30 children celebrating mass on the premises of the street “Schwelmhöfe”. Charges were filed against the adults.

    Source: Francis Tawiah, Contributor

  • COVID-19: 110 new cases increases active cases to 978

    Ghana has recorded 110 new cases of the Coronavirus disease, increasing the cumulative number of active cases in the country to 978.

    The country now has a total of 53,270 confirmed cases of the disease as at December 11, 2020.

    The Ghana Health Service (GH) in an update said the 53,270 cases were detected from 627,116 COVID-19 tests conducted in the country.

    Testing

    Of the 53,270 infected persons, 21,548 were detected from Routine Surveillance, 31,311 were from Enhanced Contact Tracing and 411 from international travellers at the Kotoka International Airport.

    Eleven of the infected persons are listed as being in a severe condition while two persons are in critical condition. The death toll from the Coronavirus remains 327.

    According to the update, the Greater Accra region still remains the hotspot of the disease with 671 new cases while the Upper West region has recorded zero active cases since November 2020.

    Meanwhile, the Oti region which had no active case since March now has one active case.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Coronavirus: Ghana’s active cases now at 930 – GHS

    Ghana has recorded 89 new cases of the Novel Coronavirus disease bringing the total number of active cases to 930 as at December 8 2020.

    This is according to the latest update released by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) on December 14, 2020.

    Recoveries for the country now stand at 51,676 with the overall total number of cases for the country at 52,933 cases.

    The death toll, however, has risen to 327, according to the Ghana Health Service.

    Cummulative Cases per Region:

    Greater Accra Region – 29,083

    Ashanti Region – 11,146

    Western Region – 3,073

    Eastern Region – 2,594

    Central Region – 2,063

    Bono East Region – 788

    Volta Region – 719

    Western North Region – 662

    Bono Region – 619

    Northern Region – 556

    Ahafo Region – 530

    Upper East Region – 372

    Oti Region – 244

    Upper West Region – 90

    Savannah Region – 62

    North East Region – 22

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Poor countries seen missing out as rich nations hoard Coronavirus vaccines

    Nine out of 10 people in dozens of poor nations could miss out on getting vaccinated against Covid-19 next year because rich countries have hoarded far more doses than they need, campaigners said on Wednesday.

    Rich nations home to 14 percent of the global population had bought 53 percent of the total stock of the most-promising vaccines as of last month, said the People’s Vaccine Alliance, a coalition including Oxfam, Amnesty International and Global Justice Now.

    They said pharmaceutical companies working on Covid-19 vaccines should openly share their technology and intellectual property through the World Health Organisation (WHO) so more doses can be manufactured.

    “This shouldn’t be a battle between countries to secure enough doses,” Mohga Kamal-Yanni, an advisor for People’s Vaccine Alliance, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

    “During these unprecedented times of a global pandemic, people’s lives and livelihoods should be put before pharmaceutical company profit,” she added.

    While high-risk groups in Britain received on Tuesday the first shot of the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, most people in 67 low- and lower middle-income countries including Bhutan, Ethiopia and Haiti, risk being left behind, they said.

    Among the three Covid-19 vaccines for which efficacy results have been announced, almost all the available doses of two of them – Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech – have been acquired by rich countries, the Alliance report said.

    While AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford have pledged to provide 64 percent of their doses to people in developing nations, that would only reach 18 percent of the world’s population by next year “at most”, it added.

    The campaigners used data from science information and analytics company Airfinity to analyse the deals done between countries and eight leading vaccine candidates, including China’s Sinovac and Russia’s Sputnik V.

    The EU, United States, Britain, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, Australia, Hong Kong, Macau, New Zealand, Israel and Kuwait have acquired 53 percent of these potential doses – with Canada buying enough to vaccinate its population five times over, Oxfam said.

    “By buying up the vast majority of the world’s vaccine supply, rich countries are in breach of their human rights obligations,” Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International’s Head of Economic and Social Justice, said in a statement.

    Source: reuters.com

  • Akufo-Addo vows to work hard to put Ghana on economic recovery

    President-elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has resolved to work extra harder to turn the fortunes of the country around.

    He also expressed gratitude to Ghanaians for giving him a resounding victory in the 2020 presidential elections.

    Addressing party officials and faithful at his him after the declaration of the presidential results by the Returning Officer of the 2020 presidential election, Jean Mensa, on Wednesday Nana Akufo-Addo said he is committed to put the country on the road to prosperity by working hard.

    “Just as I have been doing since 2017, I give you my word, that I will continue to work very hard to build a prosperous and progressive Ghana for which we yearn. The size and margin of this election constitute for me an endorsement of the policies and programs initiated by my government.”

    “I am determined to do all in my power to accomplish the task of this new mandate and thereby justify the confidence reposed in me. I assure you fellow Ghanaians that I will do my best not to let you down.”

    He also committed to working together with the minority in parliament in the interest of the nation.

    “The Ghanaian people through the results have made it loud and clear that the two parties must work together for the good of the country. Now is the time for each and every one of us, irrespective of our political affiliations, to work hard and place Ghana where we want it to be.”

    The President-elect said he seeks to “reverse the adverse effect COVID-19 has had on our economy and lives” in his second term.

    Nana Akufo-Addo, who led the New Patriotic Party into the December 7 polls, obtained 6,730,413 votes out of a total of 13,434,574, representing 51.59% while the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama placed second, garnering 6,214,889 which represents 47.36% of the total ballots cast.

    Source: Business 24

  • Western North Region to commence coronavirus testing at Sefwi-Waiwso government hospital

    Dr Marion Okoh-Owusu, Western North Regional Health Director, has announced that the Region will soon start COVID-19 testing at the Sefwi-Waiwso government hospital.

    According to the Regional Health Director, her outfit has taken delivery of all the required machines and that training of staff was scheduled for next week.

    She explained that this would help build the capacity of local expertise in order to enhance prompt case testing and immediate action for severe and critical COVID-19 cases and enhance the overall health experience of clients as services move closer to their doorsteps.

    Dr Okoh-Owusu in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Sefwi-Waiwso commended, Mr Kingsley Aboagye-Gyedu, Regional Minister and Dr kwaku Afriyie Members of Parliament for Sefwi-Waiwso for pushing the initiative for a testing center in the Region and helping with the acquisition of all the essential testing materials.

    She indicated that the place was almost set up with Dr kwaku Afriyie providing air conditioning unit for the laboratory set up.

    “We salute the Ghana Health Service, the Ministry of Health and the Member of Parliament for Sefwi-Waiwso constituency Dr Afriyie for the support in making this a reality”

    She used the occasion to appeal to other stakeholders to support the centre to ensure better healthcare of the people.

    Dr Okoh-Owusu urged residents to adhere to physical distancing protocols of at least three steps from others in public places, wear nose mask at all times, regularly wash hands with soap under running water and frequently use alcohol based hand sanitizers.

    Source: GNA

  • UG Sports Directorate reopens gymnasium, swimming pool

    Management of the University of Ghana Sports Directorate has announced the reopening of its gymnasium and swimming pool until further notice.

    The reopening comes several months after its closure due to the confirmation that a student of the university had contracted the novel Coronavirus disease.

    The Directorate says that it has put in place COVID-19 protocols to ensure the safety of all clients accessing and using the facilities.

    It has also assured that there will be strict adherence to these protocols.

    To limit the number of patrons who will be admitted at a time, the Directorate has prospective clients to book their sessions ahead of time via an online registration link.

    Meanwhile, it has also been announced that offices at the Directorate have been relocated to the UG Stadium.

    According to the Public Affairs Directorate, the offices have been completed with furnishing to make them fully functional.

    The offices include; Director of Sports, Assistant Registrar, Technical Section, Organising Team, General Office, and other Ancillary Staff

    The old building has been designated as a fully functional gymnasium with offices for the following: Fitness Section, Grounds Men and Women, Finance Officer, Physiotherapist.

    Source: universnewsroom.com

  • Eswatini prime minister taken to SA for Covid-19 treatment

    The Eswatini government has announced the transfer of Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini to a hospital in South Africa for Covid-19 treatment.

    The government said the transfer was aimed at fast-tracking his recovery.

    Prime Minister Dlamini tested positive for Covid-19 in November.

    At the time he said he was asymptomatic and feeling well while isolating at home.

    Eswatini was formerly known as Swaziland.

    The country has so far confirmed 6,442 Covid-19 cases and 122 deaths, according to the health ministry.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Banks urged to adapt to shifting customer expectations post coronavirus pandemic

    Chief Executive Officer of FBNBank Ghana, Victor Yaw Asante, says banks must reshape their products and services by providing a consolidated offering to meet shifting customer expectations.

    He believes the shift in customer preferences will drive their demand for seamless banking transactions across different channels; instant payment on all transactions that are reliable and secure without any delay or interruptions; and digital payment products that are tailored to their needs and produces instant satisfaction for them.

    Speaking on the topic: The Future of Banking Post the Global Pandemic at the 2020 Virtual Digital Banking Summit, Mr.Asante highlighted the need for banks to embrace emerging technologies in the banking sector as that would drive changes in processes, products and service offerings and engagement with customers.

    According to him, the future of banking rests on three pillars: Customer Expectations, Emerging Technologies and Optimal Business Model.

    Mr. Asante said banks need to focus on how to use data and insights to deliver a more customized, individual experience from content and insights, to the value proposition that a customer receives from their bank.

    Shedding light on emerging technologies, Mr. Asante stated that the fourth industrial revolution technologies will drive higher levels of customer experience and productivity in the banking industry.

    He said these technologies will combat data fragmentation and accelerate feedback loops to anticipate customer moments of need allowing banks to capture value quickly. He emphasized that “bringing these technologies together allows for dynamic optimization, delivering a tailored product to a customer in the exact moment of need through a channel likely to maximize attention.”

    He called on banks to operationalize business models that are adaptable to ensure that their institutions are nimble and can quickly respond to the rapid changes in the operating environment.

    “In the post pandemic era, banks have an opportunity to challenge themselves and ask how they can achieve zero latency, zero touch, zero paper, across the board. They must continually invest to deliver innovative digital capabilities that leverage technologies to innovate faster and provide tailored products to meet changing customer needs and habits.”

    At the same time, he tasked banks to reengineer their processes so as to contain cost and improve on efficiency while automating all their risk processes to ensure that risks are proactively mitigated in real-time.”

    Source: Business 24

  • Ghanas active Covid-19 cases drop to 775

    The Ghana Health Service (GHS) says the country has witnessed a decline in the number of active Covid-19 cases.

    According to the Director-General of the Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, who made this known at a press conference in Accra, the number of active cases as of November 22, stood at 775.

    Giving more details, Dr. Kuma-Aboagye said as of November 22, the total number of cases stood at 51,225.

    He said 50,127 persons have been discharged or recovered from the virus, while the total number of deaths stood at 323.

    Dr. Kuma-Aboagye said since the reopening of the Kotoka International Airport in September, 69,311 tests had been conducted, out of which 264 of them turned out positive.

    Find the regional breakdown below:

    Greater Accra Region  27,753

    Ashanti Region  11,107

    Western Region  3,048

    Eastern Region  2,522

    Central Region  1,940

    Bono East Region  788

    Volta Region  688

    Western North Region  659

    Bono Region  619

    Northern Region  551

    Ahafo Region  530

    Upper East Region  359

    Oti Region  243

    Upper West Region  90

    Savannah Region  62

    North East Region  20

    Source: myjoyonline

  • WHO warns of high Coronavirus cases at Christmas

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for high alertness indicating that there is a possibility of a surge in COVID-19 cases as families prepare for the festive season.

    Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO regional director for Africa, said Africa has been experiencing a rise in cases since October.

    “We are now nearing the time of year when people travel to spend their holidays together. These end-of-year get togethers are a key part of African life, but they can increase the risk of Covid-19 transmission. Greater mobility and large gatherings can lead to new clusters of cases in parts of Africa that might previously have been spared,” Dr Moeti said.

    According to WHO, a rise in new cases in most of the affected African countries is coming from workplaces and family gatherings as people are letting their guard down among colleagues and loved ones.

    Dr Moeti said the upcoming holiday season may exacerbate this situation.

    WHO has advised the population to meet outdoors where possible, avoid mass gatherings, continue physical distancing, practice frequent handwashing, wearing facemasks, particularly around older people and those with diabetes or hypertension. Mr Emmanuel Ainebyoona, the Ministry of Health spokesperson, said plans are underway on how they will prevent the surge in cases ahead of the festive season.

    The Christmas season is always known as a period of festivity or as some refer to as the best time of the year. However, the celebration will be unusual this year because of COVID-19.

    As people travel to the village for the celebrations, it could pose a danger in contracting the virus if guidelines are not followed. When it comes to attending church service or mass, churches will be expected to adhere to Covid-19 rules on gatherings to avoid infections.

    Source: monitor.co.ug

  • Election 2020: Strict coronavirus protocols will be observed – EC

    The Electoral Commission (EC) in adherence to the World Health Organisation and Ghana Health Service preventive measures has designed “Strict Election Day COVID-19 Protocols Observation,” guidelines for all who enter the Polling Station.

    Mr Kwame Amoah, EC Greater Accra Regional Director told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra on Monday that the EC had put in place COVID-19 pandemic safety measures and called on all to strictly follow the due process at the Polling Stations to protect each other from contracting the disease.

    He said all persons entering any polling station or queuing must strictly wear face mask; “Thermometer gun will be used to check the temperature of prospective voters and anyone whose temperature is detected to be high above 37.8 Degree Celsius will be directed to available health personnel at the polling station or nearest public health facility”.

    Mr Amoah who was speaking to the GNA on the EC Election 2020 Guide to Voter manual explained that veronica bucket with liquid soap, paper tissue and other receptacles for people to wash their hands before joining the queue would be provided at strategic locations.

    He said the Presiding Officer and the security will ensure that minimum distance of one meter between applicants in the queue are observed strictly at the polling station; “we need the public cooperation and preparedness to follow due process”.

    The EC Director said the finger print scanners would be frequently cleaned before and after capturing finger print of voters with either alcohol-based wipes, disinfectant wipes or ammonia-based glass cleaner wipes.

    Mr Amoah assured the voters, that the commission would provide hand sanitizers for applicants to sanitize their hands when leaving the polling station.

    He said, “the EC has put in place measures to ensure that no one is endangered at the Polling Station, we must all work together for our safety, let us protect each other, COVID-19 is still around, so let is adhere to the safety protocols”.

    Source: GNA

  • GMA advises government to restock medical facilities as coronavirus cases shoot up

    The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has said it has not encountered any shortage of medical supplies as health workers continue to battle the COVID-19 disease.

    Vice President of the GMA, Dr Frank Serebour, speaking on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm said, they have not received complaints from any of the facilities of shortage.

    He, however, asked the government to restock the various treatment centres as our cases shoot up.

    He commended the health workers for their dedication despite the fatigue and tiredness they sometimes encounter.

    He opined the commitment of the health workers is not in doubt.

    He added, “We have the logistics. I have not received any complaints about the shortage. We are okay for now. But as the cases keep increasing… the government must focus on the health centres to ensure that they have enough logistics to work with.”

    He advised Ghanaians not to allow the virus to infect them by protecting themselves.

    People who have recovered can also be reinfected and so, they have to protect themselves, he said.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • WHO predicts spike in COVID-19 cases ahead of Christmas

    The World Health Organisation has predicted a spike in COVID-19 cases ahead of the Christmas and New Year festivities which will witness an increase in social gatherings.

    The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, said this during a webinar attended by select African journalists on Thursday.

    Moeti urged countries to be on high alert for a possible surge in COVID-19 cases even as nearly 20 countries in the region experience an uptick in cases.

    She said, “As we near the time of year when people get on the move to spend their holidays together, there is a bigger risk of COVID-19 transmission.”

    “New clusters of cases can emerge in places that have so far been unaffected as people travel or gather for festivities. But we can lower the risks by wearing masks, limiting the numbers of people who come together, observing physical distancing and practising good hand hygiene. We can celebrate yet do so safely,” said Moeti.

    According to the WHO director, after reporting a downward trend then a plateau, Africa has been experiencing a rise in cases since early October.

    She said unlike the first wave of cases which was triggered by hotspots in southern Africa, the latest increase is driven by the North African region, where temperatures are beginning to fall.

    According to her, in the 47 countries in the WHO African Region, 19 countries have reported over a 20 per cent increase in new cases in the past 28 days compared with the previous four weeks.

    However, 17 countries are also reporting a more than 20 per cent drop in the number of new cases over the past 28 days, compared with the previous four weeks. There have also been increased reports of health worker infections and deaths, particularly among more experienced health workers.

    The WHO urged member states to conduct risk assessments at the sub-national level and identify areas of high risk.

    Based on this analysis, local governments can adjust their public health measures accordingly and be agile in their decision-making.

    Moeti said WHO is helping to prepare for a potential rise in hospital admission by training additional contact tracers and clinicians to better handle cases, ensuring crucial supplies are on hand and boosting screening at border crossing points.

    The WHO identified a worrying trend of disregarding safety measures among populations.

    The health body also launched the “Mask Up, Not Down” campaign which aims to reach over 40 million young people in Africa with positive messages on the correct use of masks through social media, and to combat complacency, fatigue and misunderstanding around COVID-19 prevention measures.

    “In the face of COVID-19, complacency can be dangerous. At this critical moment as Africa begins to see an uptick in cases, we need to re-energize and recommit to wearing masks. I know many are finding the public health measures cumbersome, but without action from everyone, Africa risks a new surge in COVID-19 cases,” Moeti said.

    Source: punchng.com

  • Over 2000 Ghanaian children got coronavirus Child Rights International

    A total of 2,180 children in Ghana have contracted COVID-19, a research conducted by Child Rights International has disclosed.

    The children, aged 0 to 18, were asymptomatic.

    They were not hospitalised.

    The research used both qualitative and quantitative methods for collecting data.

    It said 589 towns, communities and cities were sampled using the data collected.

    Nationwide data provided by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) on the deadly virus was also sampled.

    “The nationwide data shows that from March 11 to November 9, 2020, out of 49,202 who contracted the COVID-19 virus, 2,180 children below 18 years contracted the virus representing 4.43 per cent of the total contraction rate in Ghana,” the report noted.

    Also, it said the “majority of them are girls but if you also look at those who have died as a result of COVID, majority of them are boys. So that is the outlook of COVID situation in Ghana and what we have not determined is whether or not children have the capacity or are potential spreaders or transmitters of the COVID to their age cohorts or to the vulnerable”.

    Meanwhile, Ghana’s active COVID-19 cases stand at 1,424, according to the latest figures from the Ghana Health Service.

    The death toll is 323.

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

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

    Source: Class FM

  • Coronavirus protocols have saved us from other diseases – Western Region minister

    The Western Regional Minister, Mr Kwabena Okyere Mensah, has stated that observing the coronavirus safety protocols has prevented many Ghanaians from contracting other diseases other than Covid-19.

    According to him, more Ghanaians were healthy today because of the adherence to the safety protocols including, especially the washing of hands with alcohol-based hand sanitisers.

    “The whole nation is observing the safety protocols, a reason diseases like cholera and others have gone down, and its also mainly because of the frequent washing of hands and the wearing of nose masks and also the social distancing

    The Regional Minister made the assertion at Market Circle in the Sekondi-Takoradi Municipality when his region took its turn of the 3rd phase of the ongoing national market disinfection on Sunday (November 15, 2020).

    Mr Okyere Mensah, therefore, reiterated the urgent need for the people in the Western Region to continue observing the Covid preventive measures.

    He also encouraged the market women to cooperate with Zoomlion and its partners to ensure a successful operation.

    The two-day exercise, an initiative of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) in collaboration with waste management company—Zoomlion Ghana Limited (ZGL) and Grundy Management Service, covered all markets and lorry stations in Western Region.

    Covid-19, according to the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Sekondi-Takoradi, was “still with us”, adding that, “So we should not take it for granted, but serious.”

    Continuing, he indicated that the assembly was doing everything possible to prevent a second wave of covid infections in the municipality.

    “This is where I want to use this opportunity to urge residents in the municipality to cooperate with the assembly and also wear their nose masks when going out for their own safety,” he appealed.

    The Western Region Zoomlion General Manager, Alhaji Abdulai Abdullah, revealed that Zoomlion was expected to disinfect about 245 markets

    “And we are doing this exercise with our partners, Grundy Management Service,” he disclosed.

    According to him, this was the third time his outfit was disinfecting markets and other public spaces in the Western Region.

    He thus appealed to the media to use their respective platforms to educate Ghanaians on the Covid protocols.

    Source: Atinka Online

  • COVID-19: KIA releases revised protocols for passengers travelling to Ghana

    The management of the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) has revised the Coronavirus-induced safety protocols for passengers travelling to Ghana amidst the COVID-19 outbreak.

    The new safety protocols, which take effect from Monday, November 16, 2020, require passengers arriving in Ghana to pay the $150 for the PCR test online at https://myfrontierhealthcare.com/Home/Ghana.

    A statement issued by the KIA to highlight the guidelines stated that passengers must not have symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 including body temperature >38 degrees Celsius.

    Also, passengers must possess a COVID-19 negative PCR test from an accredited laboratory in the country of origin and airlines who bring in travellers who have not paid for the test online would be fined $3,500 per passenger.

    As of November 11, 2020, 56,123 tests have been conducted on passengers who arrived in Ghana via the KIA, out of which 190 tested positive.

    Below is the new safety protocols:

    Source: citinewsroom

  • Airlines to face $3,500 fine for each passenger flown in without PCR test

    The management of Kotoka International Airport has stated that airlines that break the COVID-19 protocols by bringing in passengers without PCR tests would be fined.

    “Airlines who board passengers without PCR tests results or transport and disembark passengers with positive PCR test result into Accra will be fined US$ 3,500 per passenger,” KIA noted in a statement.

    The Kotoka International Airport received its first batch of international commercial passengers after six months of closure due to COVID-19 on Tuesday, September 1, 2020.

    Management of the Ghana Airport Company stated that passengers arriving in Ghana will pay a $150 fee for a 30-minute PCR COVID-19 test.

    The new guidelines, which begins today, Monday, November 16, 2020, requires passengers arriving in Ghana to pay the $150 for the PCR test online at https://myfrontierhealthcare.com/Home/Ghana.

    Read the full statement below.

    Source: citinewsroom

  • Coronavirus: Businesses must embrace change for growth

    David Ofosu-Dorte, a Senior Partner at AB & David has called on Ghanaian businesses to confront changes in the business environment and get ready to benefit from African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

    He said they should also be ready for the opportunities that would be available in the post-COVID-19 era.

    A statement issued in Accra said Mr Ofosu-Dorte was speaking at the Virtual Annual Business and Leadership conference organised by the Seed Transformation Network (STN) Ghana Chapter.

    He reiterated the need for businesses to prepare for change, saying having the right mindset and approach to doing business was critical for the success of future businesses.

    Dr Tony Oteng-Gyasi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tropical Cable and Conductor Limited, said: “change is a variable that is inevitable in every business environment.”

    He, therefore, encouraged business leaders and entrepreneurs to pay attention to their environment, be receptive and adaptive, and work to resolves challenges that might negatively affect their businesses.

    “Businesses need to be aware of the change and identify the business opportunities that they present. Businesses that think and prepare for change, and have it engraved in their policies, survive best,” he added.

    Ms Esther Cobbah, CEO of Stratcomm Africa, who spoke on scaling up in diverse cultures, said solutions to life’s circumstances were found in different social contexts.

    “Businesses exist to serve people, and people, are located in the culture in which they operate,” she said.

    She said business offerings were designed to meet human needs and a context analysis needed to be done to help understand the culture of the intended audience and how that could impact the operations of the business.

    “There is, therefore, the need for businesses to have a clear communication strategy in place to support their operations and engagement with key stakeholders,” she added.

    Mrs Linda Yaa Ampah, President of STN Ghana Chapter, said the business environment would become more challenging post-COVID-19 with the coming into force of the AfCFTA.

    She said, hence the need for business leaders and entrepreneurs to understand their environment would impact their businesses and find appropriate ways to manage them for growth.

    “We can contribute to the growth of the Ghanaian economy if business leaders and entrepreneurs have the right knowledge, information, experience, and skills to face the new challenge that lies ahead,” she said.

    The Seed Network Business Conference is the Networks programme instituted to empower business leaders and entrepreneurs to scale and thrive in the face of challenges.

    This years conference was streamed LIVE on Zoom, Facebook, and YouTube due to the COVID-19 pandemic on the theme: “Embracing forced change within diverse cultures.”

    The conference provided the platform for participants, who are business leaders and entrepreneurs, to gain valuable insights from seasoned business leaders on how to leverage change to scale up their businesses.

    Source: GNA

  • Create fear and panic to prevent coronavirus second wave – Kwesi Pratt to govt

    Seasoned Journalist, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. has called on the government and health authorities to pump fear into Ghanaians to minimize the impact of the second wave of the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic.

    Ghana’s COVID-19 active case count has risen to 1,519.

    The country recorded confirmed cases of 50,018 with 48,179 have recoveries/discharge, according to the Ghana Health Service.

    320 patients have unfortunately died of the disease.

    As UK, France, Germany, Italy and others are experiencing a second wave of the pandemic disease, it is feared that Ghana’s situation might turn worse as well.

    Commenting on the COVID-19 situation on Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo”, Kwesi Pratt held that it is about time the authorities adopted a “fear” approach to change the behaviour of Ghanaians.

    He was of the view that many Ghanaians have blatantly disregarded the COVID-19 protocols because they doubt the dangers of the disease, hence the need to cause fear and panic.

    “Let us tell the truth and if people panic, they panic because it will help us . . . the disease is real and killing people, you say we should not cause fear and panic. We have to fear this disease and it will really help us,” he said.

    He also advised Ghanaians to stop trivializing the COVID-19 safety protocols stressing until there’s a vaccine for the disease, the only remedy is behavioural change.

    “The behavioural changes are that you will wear the nose masks, wash your hands with soap and use hand sanitizer, practice social distancing,” he said.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Coronavirus: 149 new cases push active cases to 1,541

    One hundred and forty-nine new coronavirus infections in Ghana has pushed the active cases to 1,541, according to the latest figures from the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

    According to the updates on November 9, 2020, the death toll from the virus, however, still stands at 320.

    The number of coronavirus infections detected at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) stands at 180.

    Per the latest figure, the total number of coronavirus infections detected in Ghana since March is 49,957 with 48,096 recoveries.



    Below is a breakdown of the cumulative cases per region

    Greater Accra Region – 26,724

    Ashanti Region – 11,062

    Western Region – 2,999

    Eastern Region – 2,462

    Central Region – 1,935

    Bono East Region – 785

    Volta Region – 685

    Western North Region – 653

    Bono Region – 619

    Northern Region – 547

    Ahafo Region – 528

    Upper East Region – 359

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coronavirus: Ghana’s active cases now stands at 1,469

    Ghana has recorded 236 new cases of Coronavirus bringing the total number of active cases to 1,469.

    This is according to the latest update by the Ghana Health Service since the last update was revealed on November 8, 2020.

    Recoveries for Ghana now stands at 48,019 with the overall total number of cases for the country at 49,808 cases.

    The death toll however still stands at 320.

    Regional breakdown

    Greater Accra Region – 26,586

    Ashanti Region – 11,056

    Western Region – 2,999

    Eastern Region – 2,462

    Central Region – 1,935

    Bono East Region – 785

    Volta Region – 685

    Western North Region – 653

    Bono Region – 619

    Northern Region – 547

    Ahafo Region – 528

    Upper East Region – 359

    Oti Region – 243

    Upper West Region – 90

    Savannah Region – 62

    North East Region – 19

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Class FM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: GNA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: GNA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Class FM

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

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

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

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

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

    And post-COVID-19 Pandemic?

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

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

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

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

    Source: africanews.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: GNA

  • Airlines which flout PCR testing for coronavirus will be sanctioned – Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Sunday said airlines which flout the directive for Polymerized Chain Reaction (PCR) testing for COVID-19 will be sanctioned.

    “The airport authorities will continue to demand that passengers arriving in the country should be in possession of a 72-hour old negative PCR test, and we will continue to sanction airlines that flout this directive,” President Akufo-Addo said in his 19th update on Ghana’s enhanced response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

    “With the imposition of stringent testing measures at the airport, we have, so far, been able to detect 172 positive cases amongst some 54,000 arriving international passengers.”

    He noted that the health authorities would intensify the follow up process of arriving passengers, even when they had tested negative to help ensure we have ruled out any possible infection that might have occurred during the period of embarkation and disembarkation.

    “In the area of testing, I have tasked the Ministry of Health, through the Ghana Health Service (GHS), to liaise with all laboratories and testing facilities across the country to ensure that reporting procedures are ironed out and adhered to,” he said.

    “In as much as our hospitalisation rates are very low, care for the sick and the provision of treatment remain an important aspect of our strategy.”

    He said to this end, the one hundred-bed Ghana Infectious Diseases Centre, located at the Ga East Hospital, would be opened in the next few days, under the management of the GHS.

    The President said the provision of adequate medicines, equipment, and personal protective equipment to enable health workers attend to home-based patients had also been guaranteed.

    He said the Government, in trying to mitigate against the effects of the pandemic, had put in place a number of measures to cushion ordinary Ghanaians and businesses.

    He said the Government had extended the policy of free access to water for all households across the country until December, as well as fully absorbing electricity bills for one million active lifeline customers for the same period.

    President Akufo-Addo said the Communication Service Tax had also been reduced from nine per cent to five per cent, effective September.

    Source: GNA

  • President urges strict adherence to health protocols amid coronavirus surge

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Sunday asked Ghanaians to adhere strictly to public health guidelines to stem a second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic in the country.

    He said the gradual change in the trajectory of the virus in recent weeks, with an average of 130 daily infections in the last two weeks, gave cause for concern in view of the fact that Europe and America were experiencing a second wave of infections.

    Addressing the nation in a televised broadcast to give an update on measures being adopted by government to curb the spread of the disease, the President attributed the surge in new infections to the reduction in compliance with the preventive protocols.

    “I have seen at first-hand how, in some regions of our country, some residents are abandoning, altogether, the protocols, such as the wearing of masks, put in place to defeat the virus,” he stated.

    Referencing a Ghana Health Service survey which revealed that the high compliance rate with mask wearing across the country had fallen alarmingly from 44.3 per cent to five per cent, President Akufo-Addo said that that development was not acceptable, as the enhanced hygiene and mask wearing protocols “must now be central features of our lives, and they must continue to remain so for some time to come until we see to the elimination of the virus from our country.”

    “Fellow Ghanaians, it appears that we are letting our guard down…Now more than ever, we have to adhere to mask wearing, handwashing, the use of sanitizers, and social distancing protocols that have become a part of our daily routines, and which has ensured that we do not impose, all over again, the restrictions we are seeing in other parts of the world,” he said.

    President Akufo-Addo emphasized that government would reaffirm the steps that had served us well so far” in order to help arrest the new threat of rising infections.

    “We are enhancing the measures of tracing, testing and treatment. In addition to this, we will continue to limit the importation of the virus, embark on the strategic, controlled easing of public gatherings, enhance public education and information, and continue to provide relief and support to individuals, families and businesses,” he said.

    To that end, the President has instructed the release of additional logistics, including vehicles, to the Ghana Health Service in order to help beef up contact tracing, and the supervision and monitoring of asymptomatic cases being managed from home.

    He said government was also employing the use of technology to augment contact tracing efforts, as well as the supervision and monitoring of home care cases.

    The President urged management of organisations operating in confined, indoor spaces, such as workplaces and supermarkets, to ensure the continued adherence to all COVID-19 protocols at all times.

    He further encouraged political party leaders and supporters to observe the set protocols and wear the mask as electioneering activities intensified across the country with a month to the conduct of the December 7, 2020, presidential and parliamentary elections.

    “This task is not only for the leaders of our political parties. All of us, in the Executive, Legislature, Judiciary, public sector, security agencies, private sector, civil society, professional and trade associations, religious bodies, traditional authorities and ordinary citizens, must do what we can, in this period, to help minimise disease transmission.

    “We have to maintain, in a state of constant readiness, the enhanced infrastructure and expertise we have built during the period of the virus to cope with it,” he added.

    President Akufo-Addo warned persons who disregarded the COVID-19 hygiene and social distancing protocols that the law would deal with them accordingly.

    “Sanctions exist in our laws for persons who want to continue to disregard these protocols, and for those who want to endanger the rest of the population through their actions and negligence. The law enforcement agencies will, where necessary, apply these measures without fear or favour.

    “Fellow Ghanaians, I am appealing to all of you to be even more disciplined in your adherence to the personal hygiene, mask wearing and social distancing measures.

    “We cannot afford, at this critical moment, to throw caution to the wind, and destroy the incredible amount of work undertaken by Government, health officials, heroic frontline health workers, and members of the security agencies, in bringing us this far.

    “It is very clear that the more we adhere to the protocols, the quicker we defeat the virus,” he said.

    Ghana has over the past three weeks recorded an increase in active coronavirus cases from 398 to 1139 cases. The total number of deaths is 320.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus: Ghana’s average daily cases increasing by over 4 times

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has bemoaned the failure of a large section of the Ghanaian public to adhere to preventive coronavirus protocols.

    Delivering the 19th coronavirus address to the nation on Sunday, November 8, 2020, the President said average daily infections have more than quadrupled over the last two weeks.

    “The number of daily infections is on the rise, from an average of 25 new cases per day then to an average of 130 new cases per day in the course of the last two weeks,” he said.

    The President also revealed that active case count has increased from 398 three weeks ago to 1,139 active cases as of Friday, November 6, 2020.

    “These figures, obviously, give cause for concern in view of what is happening in Europe and America following the outbreak of the second wave of infections that is engulfing so many other countries,” the President said.

    He urged the public to adhere to the preventive protocol of handwashing, use of hand sanitisers and social distance to stem the rise in coronavirus infections.

    He also ordered the release of logistics such vehicles to the Ghana Health Service to beef up COVID-19 contact tracing process.

    “I have instructed the release of additional logistics, including vehicles, to the Ghana Health Service in order to help beef up contact tracing, and the supervision and monitoring of asymptomatic cases being managed from home.

    “We are also employing the use of technology to augment our contact tracing efforts, as well as the supervision and monitoring of home care cases,” Akufo-Addo added.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Ghana on the brink of second wave with high coronavirus rate Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is worried that Ghana will be experiencing the second wave of the novel Coronavirus outbreak due to the rise in daily infections.

    In his 19th televised address to the nation on Sunday, November 8, Akufo-Addo warned Ghanaians to strictly adhere to Coronavirus safety protocols including wearing of face masks, handwashing, and social distancing.

    He explained, “The number of daily infections is on the rise, from an average of 25 new cases per day then, to an average of over 130 new cases per day in the course of the last two weeks”.

    The president further added: “In Greater Accra, with the exception of two districts, all districts have reported cases. In contrast, we have only seen a cluster of cases in the other regions from only a handful of districts. These figures, obviously, give cause for concern, in view of what is happening in Europe and America, following the outbreak of a second wave of infections that is engulfing so many other countries.”

    President Akufo-Addo further indicated that an analysis of the active case data suggests that the Greater Accra Region accounts for 75% of the virus with Ashanti, Bono, Eastern and Western regions being responsible for 16% of active cases.

    “The remaining 11 regions make up four percent of the cases, with arrivals at Kotoka International Airport [being] responsible for the other five percent,” he said.

    Akufo-Addo also noted: “Scientists at the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, at the University of Ghana, Legon, collaborating with the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, who are studying the genetic make-up of the virus in Ghana, have established that the virus has not changed.

    “Our observation, however, is that a reduction in compliance with the preventive protocols accounts for the increase in infections.”

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coronavirus: It appears that we are letting our guard down Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has expressed concern over the rise in daily infections of COVID-19 in the country.


    In his 19th coronavirus address to the nation, the President said: “Our observation, however, is that the reduction in compliance with the preventive protocols accounts for the increases in infections. Fellow Ghanaians, it appears that we are letting our guard down. Now more than ever we have to adhere to mask-wearing, handwashing, use of sanitizers and social distancing protocols.”


    He further indicated: “In order to help arrest this new threat of rising infections, [the] Government is going to reaffirm the steps that have served us well so far. We are enhancing the measures of tracing, testing and treatment, i.e. the 3Ts.

    In addition to this, we will continue to limit the importation of the virus, embark on the strategic, controlled easing of public gatherings, enhance public education and information, and continue to provide relief and support to individuals, families and businesses.”


    Ghana observed only about three-weeks of lockdown in March and has since rested on its oars. There has been a lacklustre attitude to observing the COVID-19 protocols on the part of individuals, private organisations and Government institutions alike.


    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • AstraZeneca boss says coronavirus vaccine could be ready in December

    Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca’s chief executive said its coronavirus vaccine candidate could be ready for use at the end of December, pending regulatory approval.


    “Regulatory authorities are working continuously with our data. If they are fast when we are ready, we can start vaccinating people in January, possibly at the end of December,” chief executive Pascal Soriot was quoted as saying by Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter on Saturday.


    The Anglo-Swedish drugmaker is working with Oxford University in Britain to manufacture a possible coronavirus vaccine, tapped as one of the most promising in the race to find a cure for the pandemic.


    “Perhaps we will never earn money from it [the vaccine], no one knows how often you’ll need to vaccinate,” Soriot said. “If the vaccine is very effective and protects people for many years, and the disease disappears, then there is no market.”


    Soriot noted that many experts, however, believe there will be a need for re-vaccinations. “If that has to be done annually we can earn money off it from 2022.”


    “But we have to ascertain that the vaccine really works,” he said. The vaccine entered phase-three trials in September. They were temporarily stopped because of health concerns with a participant in Britain, but have since been resumed.


    The European Union, the United States, Britain, Japan and Brazil have signed initial contracts with AstraZeneca for vaccine deliveries if the medication is approved.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus second wave will be deadlier in Ghana – Nana Ofori Owusu predicts

    National Chairman of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Nana Ofori Owusu has predicted a calamity of enormous proportion in the health sector for Ghana.

    According to him, it is likely the country will experience a second wave of COVID-19 should the citizenry keep disregarding the safety protocols.

    Ghana has currently recorded 620 active cases with 320 death cases.

    The country confirmed 48,200, out of which 47,260 have recovered and been discharged.

    Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s ”Kokrokoo”, Nana Ofori Owusu called on the government and all Ghanaians not to rejoice over the low case count but rather strictly adhere to the COVID-19 protocols.

    “I am of a firm belief that if care is not taken, the COVID second wave will be more deadly than the first one because if over 1 million people have been exposed already and there is a second wave . . . it can have crippling catastrophic effect on us as a people. And I don’t think that we can leave this thing up to chance,” he warned.

    Source: Peace FM

  • US$150 coronavirus testing fee at KIA reasonable – Anyidoho

    Former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Koku Anyidoho, has reacted to the $150 price for the COVID-19 test at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).

    According to him, he had always criticised the fee until he travelled to Guinea and missed his flight because of the delay of the COVID-19 test, a situation he described as very uncomfortable.

    His statement follows massive backlash and the subsequent presentation of a petition by a cross-section of Ghanaians to the government to reconsider the amount.

    But, reacting to the development on his Twitter page, the Founder of the Atta Mills Institute, said though the $150 is high it can produce COVID results in less than 30 minutes.

    He wrote: “Honestly, I was a critic of the $150 COVID test @ KIA till I travelled to Guinea; missed flights bcos COVID test results over there took days to be completed. $150 is high but if it can produce COVID results in less than 30 minutes; the time value of money becomes key.”

    Source: Peace FM

  • Coronavirus: Ghana records two more deaths, KIA positive cases reach 100

    Ghana has recorded two more COVID-19 deaths, which has taken the death toll to 316, according to the latest figures released by the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

    Forty-one new cases have been recorded taking the cumulative figure to 47,690.

    The active cases have increased to 487 with 46,887 patients recovered/discharged.

    Meanwhile, the number of positive cases from international travellers at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) has reached 100.

    Out of this figure, 53 have recovered and or been discharged.

    Regional breakdown below:

    Greater Accra Region – 24,826

    Ashanti Region – 11,002

    Western Region – 2,974

    Eastern Region – 2,421

    Central Region – 1,931

    Bono East Region – 784

    Volta Region – 681

    Western North Region – 646

    Northern Region – 547

    Ahafo Region – 528

    Bono Region – 514

    Upper East Region – 323

    Oti Region – 242

    Upper West Region – 90

    Savannah Region – 62

    North East Region – 19

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Minority demands breakdown of Coronavirus expenditure

    The Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu, has demanded a breakdown of the coronavirus expenditure.

    He said in the spirit of transparency and accountability, the government through the Finance Minister will have to render an account on how the Covid-19 funds have been utilized.

    Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Thursday, October 22, the Tamale South lawmaker noted that Parliament approved millions of cedis to the government to use in fighting the pandemic.

    Also, the central bank, Bank of Ghana, gave the government GH¢10 billion to enable the country deal with the ravages of the coronavirus.

    Mr Iddrisu said although the virus has not been eradicated completely, the time has come for the government to render an account to the Ghanaian people.

    “You recall that we in the Minority played our part and the very threats of Covid-19. We supported the state to pass the necessary legislation and to support the release of justifiable finances and funding to contain and combat Covid. What happened with the outcome?“ he asked.

    He further questioned the decision that went into the selection of Frontiers Company as the company for testing passengers who arrive at the Kotoka International Airport.

    He alleged that the company had no experience in conducting tests for patients as it was formed and registered a few days after the contract was awarded.

    “Our main issue is the testing of the passengers at the airport. You recall that the Minority raised issues against the award of the contract to Frontiers.

    “The company was registered on 21st July 2020 just two days to the commencement of its operations.”

    Source: 3 News

  • NPPs Planting for Food and Jobs saved Ghana from hunger during peak of coronavirus Henry Lartey

    Dr Henry Lartey, the presidential candidate of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), has extolled the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) for implementing the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) programme.

    He told Stephen Anti on the Elections 360 programme on TV3 Thursday, October 22, that the programme saved Ghanaians against extreme hunger during the peak of the Coronavirus pandemic in the country.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo initiated the PFJ programme to help boost food production and security in the country

    Dr Lartey explained that the PFJ falls in line with the vision and philology of his party, that is the domestication.

    Domestication, he explained, reinforces the need to grow what is consumed locally.

    “The planting for food and jobs is very good and we ill continue with it if we win the elections, “ he said.

    He added “But PFJ, Covid would have killed us. This is an excellent programme. This had made domestication very relevant.”

    Source: 3 News

  • Myron Boadu tests positive for coronavirus, set to miss Napoli clash

    AZ Alkmaar forward, Myron Boadu has tested positive for the Coronavirus.

    According to a report filed by NHD, the 19-year-old forward tested positive in the latest test conducted by the club on Wednesday, October, 21.

    Other players affected include Hakon Evjen, Jordy Clasie, Ferdy Druijf, Timo Letschert, Juan Familia-Castillo, Thijs Oosting, and goalkeeper Beau Reus.

    Boadu will miss Alkmaar’s Europa League clash against SSC Napoli on Thursday, October, 22.

    The enterprising forward is currently in isolation with his teammates.

    Boadu is a Dutch-born of Ghanaian descent.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • GFA to start coronavirus testing of Ghana Premier League clubs today

    The Ghana Football Association together with government will begin the COVID-19 testing of players and technical teams of Premier League clubs on Thursday ahead of the start of the new season next month.

    Dawu based Dreams FC will be the first team to have their players, technical team and staff tested for the virus.

    The other 17 teams will also go through the same process as the GFA leaves no stone unturned before the topflight kick starts on November 13.

    “The testing of players, coaching staff and officials of the 18 Premier League clubs will begin on Thursday, October 22, 2020,” a statement on the FA website read.

    “This is part of preparations towards the 2020/2021 football season that is expected to commence on November 13, 2020. The first club to undergo the tests is Dawu based Dreams FC.

    “The testing of players and officials, an alliance between the Ghana Football Association and the government covid-19 task force is part of efforts being made to ensure that football is played in the safest possible way.

    “All registered players of the clubs, coaching staff and officials will undergo the test for the purposes of competition integrity, fairness and transparency.

    “The GFA is also working hard to put forward measures to ensure that games are played under strict covid-19 protocols for a successful 2020/2021 season.”

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Government gives appraisal on Coronavirus response programme

    Government says its response to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic has been swift, bold, and effective with a focus on protecting lives and livelihoods.

    It has expended GHc 11.788 billion in providing relief and interventions to Ghanaians, businesses, and institutions across the country.

    In the process, it provided over 350,000 jobs, created investment opportunities for local businesses and thus, expressed its commitment to continue protecting lives and livelihoods and turn the COVID-19 crises into opportunities.

    The government also saved $16.8 million for relying on local textile manufacturing companies to produce Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) locally due to the global disruption of PPE.

    Some of the interventions government rolled out included; provision of hot meals, free electricity to lifeline consumers and supply of water to households, tax waivers for frontline workers, supply of PPE to health workers, students and to the general public, fumigation of markets and schools as well as financial support to businesses that were adversely affected by the pandemic.

    This came to light at the fourth edition of the Nation Building Updates, organised by the Ministry of information in Accra on Tuesday.

    It was held on the theme, “Protecting Lives and Livelihoods in the Midst of Crises,” which provides a platform for Ministries, Departments and Agencies to render accounts of their stewardship to the public.

    A Deputy Minister of Finance, Ms Abena Osei-Asare, in a presentation on government’s financial support, chronicled various interventions rolled out by the Akufo-Addo led the government to limit the importation and spread of the virus and revitalise businesses.

    She said the government received GHc1.2 billion (US$219 million) from Ghana Stabilization Fund after the cap on it was lowered from US$300 million to US$100 million.

    Additionally, it received GHc5.9 billion (US$1.0 billion) from the IMF Rapid Credit Facility, World Bank support of GHc580 million (US$100 million) for COVID-19 preparation and response plan, and AfDB support of GHc406 million (US$70 million).

    Other support came from the European Union(EU) giving the government of Ghana US$61 million grant, equivalent of GHc353 million, and the Bank of Ghana’s (BoG) relief bond of GHc10 billion to support businesses.

    She said GHc100 billion is expected to be raised to administer the COVID-19 Alleviation and Revitalisation (CARE) project, with the public sector expecting to raise 30 per cent and 70 per cent funds from the private sector.

    Mr Robert Ahomka-Linsay, a Deputy Minister of Trades and Industry, in a presentation on local production of PPE, said a total of 18.8 million facemasks, 90,000 hospital gowns, 90,000 head covers, and 60,000 medical scrubs were produced locally and that GHc 3.6 billion was spent in producing the items.

    The Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, who spearheaded the Government’s Risk Communication Team, expressed appreciation to the media for the yeoman’s job in helping to disseminate accurate information to the public.

    He thanked the security agencies for enforcing the COVID-19 restrictions and the health workers for their dedication and sacrifices.

    The Minister noted that President Akufo-Addo showed sterling leadership throughout the period and commended Ghanaians for their understanding and co-operation.

    Ghana’s COVID-19 active case count currently stood at 397 with 312 deaths and 46,664 recoveries, representing 98.5 per cent recovery rate.

    A total of 510,074 tests had been conducted.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus positive Bernard Mensah showed love by his teammates on his birthday

    Besiktas players joined Ghana midfielder Bernard Mensah to celebrate with him on his birthday as the Ghanaian is under quarantine after contracting the coronavirus.

    The Besiktas midfielder tested positive after returning from international duty with the Black Stars where he featured against Mali in that 3-0 defeat.

    The 26-year-old had to celebrate his birthday in isolation and was surprised by his colleagues as they called him via video to celebrate with him.

    The whole team gathered to sing and cheer him up and also wished him a speedy recovery on his birthday.

    Bernard Mensah after contracting the virus says he is fine and responding to treatment.

    Mensah posted on his Twitter page: ”I’m responding very well thanks for your messages God bless you all”

    The former Atletico Madrid midfielder joined Besiktas on a season long-loan from Kayserispor this summer and has played four games and scored one goal.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Coronavirus: All isolation centres now empty Akufo-Addo

    President Akufo-Addo has revealed there are currently no patients at the COVID-19 isolation centres in the country.

    According to him, despite a zero-patient ratio across the centres, government has since expanded COVID-19 facilities accross the country from two to 16 which includes some private-owned facilities.

    Addressing the nation on Sunday, October 18, 2020 on measures taken by government to curtail the spread of the coronavirus, President Akufo-Addo said, “We now have more dedicated treatment facilities for dealing with the disease, and have also improved considerably the availability of PPEs for our health workers. It is reassuring that we no longer have news of shortages or lack of PPEs.

    “In as much as we currently have no patients at the isolation centres, I express the gratitude of the nation, once again, to private and religious bodies, who provided their facilities to support the fight,” he said.

    Additionally, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said some 46,974 persons out 510,074 persons had tested positive for Coronavirus since Ghana recorded its first two cases on March 12, 2020.

    So far, some 46,664 persons have fully recovered from the virus with a death toll of 310 as of Sunday, October 18, 2020, according to the President Akufo-Addo.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com