TIG Post

Tag: coronavirus in Ghana

  • We must protect our health workers from contracting coronavirus – Akufo-Addo

    As part of measures to protect all healthcare providers with Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), the government has taken delivery of additional PPEs and more are being procured.

    Also, the distribution of seventeen thousand (17,000) coveralls, three hundred and fifty thousand (350,000) masks, seventeen thousand (17,000) goggles, two thousand four hundred (2,400) non-contact thermometers, three hundred and fifty thousand (350,000) gloves, twenty-five thousand (25,000) sanitizers, and thirty-thousand (30,000) tests kits are ongoing for healthcare personnel and those undertaking contact tracing and testing.

    This announcement was made by President Akufo-Addo in his fourth update and address on the coronavirus to Ghanaians.

    According to him, it is very important that we protect all healthcare providers with Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to make sure they do not contract the virus in the process of protecting our lives.

    Aside from that, the government is recruiting one thousand (1,000) community health workers and an additional thousand (1,000) volunteers to help in this endeavour. One hundred pick-up vehicles and two thousand, five hundred (2,500) tablets have been mobilized for the exercise.

    Update

    As at the evening of 27 March 2020, fifty-nine (59) COVID-19 cases including four (4) deaths have been confirmed from the regular surveillance systems. All four (4) deaths had underlying chronic medical conditions. Two have recovered and have been discharged. The remaining fifty-three (53) cases are doing well: fourteen (14) are being managed at home. The rest are on admission and responding well to treatment. Greater proportion of those on treatment with mild symptoms and are awaiting repeat of their laboratory tests to inform decision to discharge them.

    Majority of the confirmed cases are Ghanaians, who returned home from other affected countries. Seven (7) are of other nationals namely: Norway, Lebanon, China, Netherlands, and United Kingdom. Seventy-eight (78) among the travelers (1,030 in number), who were mandatory quarantined and tested, have tested positive for COVID-19.

    In respect of contact tracing, a total of 1,006 contacts have been identified and are being tracked.

    Out of these, two hundred and four (204) have completed the 14 days mandatory follow up.

     

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Hearts of Oak postpone announcement of 4 new signings due to coronavirus

    Hearts of Oak have postponed the announcement of their four new signings in order to join hands to spread the education on the health tips of the deadly coronavirus.

    The Accra-based giants have had a fairly good season since the 2019/2020 season started but their inconsistencies have left them far away from the top four.

    In their bid to bring in reinforcements to ensure they properly challenge for the Ghana Premier League title when the season resumes, they have stepped into the transfer market.

    On Thursday, the Phobians announced via their twitter handle that they will be outdooring four new signings ahead of the resumption of the league.

    However, the club have released a statement citing that due to changes in their communications plan, they have deferred the announcement on player signings to a new date which will be communicated later as they join hands to spread the education on the health tips of COVID-19.

    Hearts of Oak meanwhile, have sealed a major signing after capturing Niger international midfielder Abdourahamane Mamane Lawali.

    Source: GHANAsoccernet.com

     

  • How President Akufo-Addo summarised Ghana’s Coronavirus cases

    President Akufo-Addo on Friday night gave a brief summary of Ghana’s current status relative to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, when he addressed the nation to announce reviewed measures to contain the spread of the virus.

    Here is how the President put Ghana’s case.

    “At the time of my last broadcast, some six (6) days ago, Ghana had recorded twenty-one (21) confirmed cases of infections, with virtually all the cases being imported. I took the step to close all our borders, and I ordered a mandatory quarantine and testing of all the one thousand and thirty (1,030) persons who arrived at the airport at the time of the announcement till the day the borders were closed. Indeed, seventy-eight (78) of the persons put under quarantine have since tested positive for the virus. It is these additional confirmations that have increased dramatically our total number of cases to one hundred and thirty-seven (137). Indeed, 97% of all confirmed cases are travelers who brought the disease from outside our shores. Of the remaining fifty-nine (59) confirmed cases, fifty-three (53) are receiving treatment and are doing well, and they will be discharged should their second test results prove negative. Fourteen (14) of them are being managed at home in self-isolation. Four (4) persons, who had tested positive for the virus, but were aged and had other serious, underlying medical conditions, have lost their lives. May their souls rest in perfect peace. Thankfully, two (2) persons have made full recoveries.”

    See list of affected areas.

    Greater Accra Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area and contiguous districts
    1 Accra Metropolis  Kumasi Metropolis
    2 Tema Metropolis Asokwa Municipality
    3 Tema West Municipality Suame Municipality
    4 Ledzokuku Municipality Old Tafo Municipality
    5 Krowor Municipality Oforikrom Municipality
    6 Adentan Municipality Asokore Mampong Municipality
    7 Ashiaman Municipality Kwadaso Municipality
    8 La-Nkwantanang-Madina Municipality Atwima Nwabiagya Municipality
    9 La-Dade-Kotopon Municipality Kwabre East Municipality
    10 Okaikwei North Municipality Ejisu Municipality
    11 Ablekuma North Municipality Afigya-Kwabre South District
    12 Ablekuma West Municipality Bosomtwi District
    13 Ablekuma Central Municipality Atwima Kwanwoma District
    14 Ayawaso East Municipality Atwima Nwabiagya North District
    15 Ayawaso North Municipality
    16 Ayawaso West Municipality
    17 Ayawaso Central Municipality
    18 Ga West Municipality
    19 Ga North Municipality
    20 Ga Central Municipality
    21 Ga South Municipality
    22 Ga East Municipality
    23 Korle-Klottey Municipality
    24 Weija/Gbawe Municipality
    25 Kpone Katamanso Municipality
    26 Awutu Senya East Municipality

     

    Source: Graphic.com.gh 

  • 200 ICU beds ready to contain critical Coronavirus cases Oppong Nkrumah

    Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has said up to 200 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds are ready across the country to admit patients who would be in critical condition of the COVID-19, MyNewsGh.com reports.

    He said the number of available beds space was determined by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) after the President, Nana Akufo-Addo ordered an audit of the various hospital beds in the country in the wake of the contagion.

    Ghana has so far recorded 136 cases of the virus, but none of the patients is in critical condition, per information by the GHS, and therefore would have no need for an ICU bed at the moment; the death toll stands at four (4) with one recovery.

    Speaking with Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM on Friday morning, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah prayed that the number of patients who would ever need intensive care would never rise to the number of beds available, but added that should we get to that point, Ghana is adequately prepared.

    The Ghana Health Service has said the majority of cases which has resulted in the sudden spike were recorded from persons who have been placed under mandatory quarantine after returning home from affected countries.

    The number of confirmed cases among travelers under mandatory quarantine who have been tested is seventy-eight (78).

    Source: mynewsgh.com

  • Coronavirus: Travel from Accra to northern Ghana increases at Neoplan station

    Operators of the Neoplan station in Accra say they have been recording a spike in travel from Accra to Northern Region in the wake of the novel coronavirus detection in Ghana.

    According to them, a significant number of the travellers have been head porters, popularly known as kayayei.

    A majority of them are known to migrate from northern Ghana in search of work in Accra.

    Aside from most of the cases being detected in Accra, there are fears there will be a lockdown of the Greater Accra Region.

    Speaking to Citi News, the first trustee of the Neoplan Drivers Union, John Tetteh also noted that they are seeing less travel into the city.

    “We observed yesterday that buses to the north were moving at a faster pace especially the women tagged as kayayei… I am not surprised because maybe they have heard that there may be a lockdown,” he said.

    “If you look at the way they live here, it means they have to go back to their various hometowns so that if there should be a lockdown, they can be saved in their various homes.”

    Reports from the North indicate head porters have been returning home since last weekend.

    In Bimbilla for example, some 90 head porters arrived from Agbloshie last weekend.

    They were screened by health workers in the Bimbilla hospital.

    On the question of a possible lockdown in parts of the country, the Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has said the government is close to making a decision.

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • Food vendors, fisherfolk, others exempted from COVID-19 lockdown

    President Nana Akufo-Addo has imposed a two-week partial lockdown on Accra, Tema, Kasoa and Kumasi from Monday, March 30, 2020, 1 am.

    These cities, which have been identified as the epicentres of the novel coronavirus in Ghana have been shut down as part of efforts to curb the spread of the disease.

    Ghana currently has a total number of 137 recorded cases, with four deaths and two recoveries.

    President Nana Akufo-Addo, in a national address on Friday, March 27, 2020 stated that “effective 1 am on Monday, 30th March, some forty-eight hours from now, I have imposed, pursuant to the powers granted the President of the Republic, under the Imposition of Restrictions Act, 2020 (Act 1012), restrictions on movement of persons in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA, which includes Awutu Senya East), and the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area and contiguous districts, for a period of two (2) weeks, subject to review.”

    He said the decision “will give us the opportunity to try to halt the spread of the virus, and scale-up effectively contact tracing of persons who have come into contact with infected persons, test them for the virus, and, if necessary, quarantine and isolate them for treatment, should they prove to have the virus.”

     

     

    He, however, made exemptions to this directive. Some essential service providers will not be forced to lock down.

    The list of services to be exempted from the restrictions as announced by President Akufo-Addo are as follows:

    • Members of the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary;
    • Production, distribution and marketing of food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, medicine, paper and plastic packages.
    • Environmental and sanitation activities;
    • VALCO staff
    • Road and Railway construction workers;
    • Mining workers;
    • Fisherfolk;
    • Members of the security agencies assigned lawful duties;
    • The staff of electricity, water, telecommunications, e-commerce and digital service providers; and
    • Fuel stations staff.

    The Minister of Information subsequently took to Twitter to explain that the media is also part of those exempted from the restrictions.

    Full list of affected areas 

    In Greater Accra, the following areas will be affected:

    1. Accra Metropolis;

    2. Tema Metropolis;

    3. Tema West Municipality;

    4. Ledzokuku Municipality;

    5. Krowor Municipality;

    6. Adentan Municipality;

    7. Ashiaman Municipality;

    8. La-Nkwantanang-Madina Municipality;

    9. La-Dade-Kotopon Municipality;

    10. Okaikwei North Municipality;

    11. Ablekuma North Municipality;

    12. Ablekuma West Municipality;

    13. Ablekuma Central Municipality;

    14. Ayawaso East Municipality;

    15. Ayawaso North Municipality;

    16. Ayawaso West Municipality;

    17. Ayawaso Central Municipality

    18. Ga West Municipality;

    19. Ga North Municipality;

    20. Ga Central Municipality;

    21. Ga South Municipality;

    22. Ga East Municipality;

    23. Korle-Klottey Municipality;

    24. Weija/Gbawe Municipality;

    25. Kpone Katamanso Municipality; and

    26. Awutu Senya East Municipality.

    In the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area and contiguous districts, the following areas are affected:

    1. Kumasi Metropolis;

    2. Asokwa Municipality;

    3. Suame Municipality;

    4. Old Tafo Municipality;

    5. Oforikrom Municipality;

    6. Asokore Mampong Municipality;

    7. Kwadaso Municipality;

    8. Atwima Nwabiagya Municipality;

    9. Kwabre East Municipality;

    10. Ejisu Municipality;

    11. Afigya-Kwabre South District;

    12. Bosomtwi District;

    13. Atwima Kwanwoma District; and

    14. Atwima Nwabiagya North District.

     

     

    Previous calls for lockdown

    In as much as many groups were calling for a total lockdown of the country or the cities with the most number of cases of the novel coronavirus, the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said that the request for a lockdown is not a decision to be taken lightly.

    According to him, President Nana Akufo-Addo had instructed the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta to conduct an economic impact assessment of potential lockdown measures on the country.

    He also said the President was looking at all conditions before deciding on a lockdown or not.

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • Anyone caught flouting ban on public gatherings will be dealt with Akufo-Addo warns

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has reiterated the need for the general public to comply with the ban on all public gatherings in the wake of the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country.

    The President, in a national address on Sunday [March 15, 2020], banned all public gatherings including conferences, workshops, funerals, festivals, political rallies, church activities and other related events as part of measures to stop the spread of coronavirus in the country.

    This directive was to be observed for four weeks.

    Following his order, most of the stated institutions have complied. Churches, schools, and some business have suspended all their activities.

    A few people, however, have disobeyed, leading to the arrest of a pastor for instance who on two occasions organised church services.

     

    But President Nana Akufo-Addo, in a national address delivered on Friday, March 27, 2020 gave a stern repetition of the ban in place, assuring that public that anyone who goes contrary to the law will be “dealt with fully”.

    “Let me also reiterate that the ban on public gatherings, religious or social, is still in force. Anyone, irrespective of status, religion or ethnicity, who is found to be flouting them will be dealt with fully in accordance with law. The security services have been clothed with the necessary power to enforce these measures, and I assure you that they will do so responsibly, but without fear or favour, ill-will or malice.”

    Partial lockdown of COVID-19 hotspots

    President Nana Akufo-Addo has imposed a two-week partial lockdown on Accra, Tema, Kasoa and Kumasi from Monday, March 30, 2020, 1 am.

    These cities, which have been identified as the epicentres of the novel coronavirus in Ghana have been shut down as part of efforts to curb the spread of the disease.

    President Nana Akufo-Addo, in the national address, stated that “effective 1 am on Monday, 30th March, some forty-eight hours from now, I have imposed, pursuant to the powers granted the President of the Republic, under the Imposition of Restrictions Act, 2020 (Act 1012), restrictions on movement of persons in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA, which includes Awutu Senya East), and the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area and contiguous districts, for a period of two (2) weeks, subject to review.”

    He said the decision “will give us the opportunity to try to halt the spread of the virus, and scale-up effectively contact tracing of persons who have come into contact with infected persons, test them for the virus, and, if necessary, quarantine and isolate them for treatment, should they prove to have the virus.”

    He, however, made exemptions to this directive.

    Some essential service providers such as food vendors, fuel station attendants, railway and construction workers, and the Executive will not be forced to lock down.

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • Speaker orders Mahama Ayariga into self-isolation

    Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bawku Central Constituency, Mahama Ayariga, has been asked by the Speaker of Parliament to go into self-isolation and keep away from the precincts of Parliament until after March 27, 2020.

    Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, who gave the directive, said the MP was required to observe the minimum two-week period of self-isolation in his residence in view of his recent return to Ghana from a foreign trip on March 12.

    In a letter signed by the acting Clerk of Parliament, Cyril K. O. Nsiah, the Speaker explained that the move was in conformity with the World Health Organisation (WHO) protocols aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

    The MP was directed to consult Dr. Prince Pambo, the Medical Officer in charge of Parliament Clinic, for a quick medical review prior to resumption of duty in the House.

    “Accordingly, in order to reduce physical contact with Hon. Members and staff of Parliament, you are humbly requested to keep away from the precincts of Parliament until after the 27th of March, 2020,” the letter written on March 20 said.

    Last Friday, the Bawku MP was seen in the Chamber mingling with his colleagues during which he took part of deliberations of the House during the consideration stage of the Imposition of Restrictions Bill (now Act).

    Amid fears over the spread of COVID-19, the Speaker accordingly directed all MPs, who had travelled outside the country, to “respectfully stay away from Parliament.”

    Source: Dailyguidenetwork.com

  • Ghana card registration suspended indefinitely

    The National Identification Authority (NIA) has suspended the Ghana card registration exercise in the Eastern region indefinitely.

    The NIA through a statement noted that the indefinite suspension of the mass registration exercise in the Eastern Region is until further notice.

    “This decision follows a careful assessment of the registration exercise carried out in the Eastern Region between Wednesday, 4th March 2020 and Friday, 20th March 2020. The decision to suspend the registration follows a careful assessment of the exercise in the region so far. It also takes into account the current trend in the spread of COVID-19 in Ghana since the suspension of the mass registration exercise on Saturday, 21st March 2020, following the service on the NIA of an interlocutory injunction application.”

    The statement added: “The NIA welcomes the dismissal by the High Court of the interlocutory injunction application and the substantive suit. Nonetheless, NIA will continue to suspend its mass registration operations in the Eastern Region until further notice.

    NIA will use the period of suspension to continue with its preparations toward the establishment of its Regional, Municipal and District Offices and arrange for the co-location of its registration services at some of its cognate institutions such as National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), among other responsibilities.

    Meanwhile, “NIA will continue to observe developments relating to the management of COVID-19 in Ghana and will determine, at the appropriate time, when and how to resume its mass registration operations,” the statement signed by Francis Palmdeti, the Head, Corporate Affairs, NIA said.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Media, MPs, ECG, others exempted from partial lockdown – Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has announced that effective Monday, March 30, 2020 at 1 am under the Imposition of Restrictions Act, 2020 (Act 1012), there will be restrictions on movement of persons in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA, which include Awutu Senya East ), and the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area and contiguous districts, for a period of two (2) weeks or 14 days subject to review.

    This means that everyone resident in these areas must stay at home for the next two weeks or 14 days with the exception of the media, members of parliament, electricity companies, among other key stakeholders.

    However, if you must go out, it must only be to get essential items such as food, water, medicine, undertake banking transactions, or to use public toilet facilities. But, as much as possible, stay at home.

    There shall be, during this period, no inter-city movement of vehicles and aircraft for private or commercial purposes for the areas of the restrictive measures, except for vehicles and aircrafts providing essential services and those carrying cargo.

    Riders of motorbikes are not allowed to carry any additional person, and all intra-city passenger vehicles, such as trotros and taxis, must reduce the number of passengers in order to observe appropriate social distancing and hygiene protocols.

    All commercial vehicle stations shall observe appropriate hygiene protocols and social distancing.

    Individuals and institutions providing the following services shall be exempted from the restrictions.

    source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Public cautioned against stigmatisation regarding coronavirus

    The public has been urged to desist from stigmatising anyone or group with regards to the current COVID-19 outbreak.

    This is because such outbreaks put the entire human race at risk and basically require the collaboration and cooperation of the entire global community for a solution.

    Dr Benjamin Anyagre, the General Secretary of Ghana China Friendship Association (GHACHIFA), told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that it was also very important for people to understand that anyone could get infected.

    He said people with confirmed or suspected cases, therefore, needed as much support and understanding as possible, because no one was beyond getting infected.

    He said it was unfortunate for anyone to refer to the virus as “Chinese virus” because that constituted a xenophobic attack on a particular group of people, and violated the UN Charter on human rights.

    He noted that a number of epidemic outbreaks had occurred in the past, but had never been named after their respective countries of origin.
    He said it was important now to tap into the expertise of the Chinese, concerning how they managed to curb the spread of the virus.

    “Just as China has successfully curbed the spread of the virus, we appeal that they bring their best practices to bear on Ghana and other afflicted countries,” he said.

    Dr Anyagre said GHACHIFA was highly appreciative of the gesture of solidarity and support by China towards supporting Ghana in fighting the pandemic.

    With Ghana’s number of confirmed novel coronavirus infections now reaching over 130 with three deaths, a number of organisations, including the Ghana Medical Association, had called on the Government to declare a lockdown to curb the pandemic.

    source: GNA

  • Cape Coast Teaching Hospital suspends elective surgeries, tightens coronavirus control measures

    The Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH), the biggest referral facility in the Central Region has suspended all scheduled or elective surgeries amidst tightened measures to control and prevent the spread of the novel Coronavirus, COVID-19.

    However, some specific scheduled surgeries may be performed based on the direction of the Surgeon.

    Elective surgeries are ones that are scheduled in advance because it does not involve a medical emergency situation including cosmetic surgeries, tonsillectomies, scoliosis among others.

    A release signed by Dr Eric Ngyedu, the Chief Executive Officer of the CCTH said “other specialists, Out Patient Department (OPD) services would be on appointment basis only”.

    According to the Dr Ngyedu, the well thought-out measures were to ensure maximum protection of health personnel, visitors and welfare of patients to efficiently control and prevent the pandemic.

    The statement said triage nurses will regulate queuing of patients at OPD to ensure social distancing directive by the Government.

    In addition to that, some other specialised clinics have been rescheduled to the afternoons to prevent congestion at the OPD.

    On some internal security measures, the CEO of Facility, which doubles as the Regional holding centre for COVID-19 announced that the number of entry points at the facility had been restricted to ensure that all patients and visitors go through pre-triaging.

    Also, the door between the Accident and Emergency, Pharmacy, Laboratory and the doors leading to the Physiotherapy Unit and main Pharmacy, mortuary have been closed to patients and visitors.

    Consequently, with immediate effect, all are requested to use the facility’s main gate in front of the OPD and all patients, visitors and the public are to continue to strictly observe safety measures and self-protection activities.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus will disappear April 19 – Nogokpo Shrine

    Williams Amuzu Agbodzalo, Senior Panel Member, Zakadza Shrine, popularly known as Nogokpo Shrine has said COVID-19 would clear off the shores of Ghana and Africa after rituals on April 19.

    He said the shrine delayed to perform rituals for Torgbui Zakadza (god of thunder) scheduled for March 21 in compliance with the directive on suspension of mass gathering in the country to fight the virus spread and predicted that, “after the rituals are performed next month, this COVID-19 will leave Ghana and Africa.”

    Mr Agbodzalo said this during a meeting of chiefs, traditional priests and priestesses with the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) at the Ketu South Municipal Assembly.

    The meeting was called to inform the traditional leaders of the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation so far in Ghana and the world, efforts of government in containing the virus spread and the role every Ghanaian must play.

    The Regent of Torgbui Saba, Dufia of Nogokpo said it was a great risk to suspend the March 21 date for observing the annual ritual of ceremonies for the shrine and noted that as patriotic citizens, the rituals would be limited to few people so as not to flout the President’s directives on public gathering, “for these ceremonies attract hundreds of people across the country and beyond.”

    He said the mystical powers of Torgbui Zakadza would be invoked during the rituals to cleanse the land.

    Torgbui Nyatakpo Saba II, Domefiaga of Klikor Traditional Area said as traditional rulers, they had a role to ensure people lived in good health, adding, the Traditional Area had consulted the gods and would perform “dodede” (removal of disease) rite for the pandemic to go.

    There were separate meetings held for Christian groups and Islamic leaders aimed at getting all the religious bodies and relevant stakeholders involved in the fight against the pandemic.

    Mr Abdullateef Abdulsalam, Imam at Ablorgo Mosque, Aflao who spoke on behalf of Ketu South Chief Imam said he was grateful for the meeting and pledged the support of the Muslim faithful in observing the directives aimed at containing the spread of the virus.

    Mr Elliot Edem Agbenorwu, the Municipal Chief Executive for Ketu South charged residents to take the COVID-19 pandemic serious and adhere to precautionary measures to stay safe.

    Source: GNA

  • Evil people plotting against Frimpong Boateng Patriotic Youth Alliance

    The Patriotic Youth Alliance, a youth group within the New Patriotic Party is alleging that some persons in government are plotting the removal of the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology.

    The group says series of publication in the news media and activities of certain people in the NPP government are strong pointers to make them believe there is a grand plan against Professor Frimpong Boateng.

    Speaking to journalists, Thomas Boakye, one of the spokespersons of the group said those plotting against Prof Frimpong Boateng have wicked mindsets.

    According to him, those persons could not perpetuate fraud on the country because of the fierce resistance the Minister mounted against their illegal activities in mining.

    “It is clear that some people in government want Dr Frimpong Boateng out of office because their actions in the media show same and it is not surprising that some pay for stories to be planted against the former finest heart surgeon”, Mr Boakye disclosed.

    Giving more details, Mr Boakye said the Minister had stopped the indiscipline in the mining arena.

    He noted that this hard stance was preventing some persons in government from feeding fat from illegal mining.

    The spokesperson said since the establishment of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) many who dabbled in the dangerous enterprise had been uncomfortable.

    He alleged that these persons have contracted some media persons from the opposition newspapers as well as pro-government ones to tarnish the image of the famous heart surgeon.

    “I am not surprised that people are still scheming against the Professor because they did not get the ill wealth they intended to have”, the spokesperson said.

    Outlining a number of achievements of the Environment Minister, the spokesperson said the mines had become safer since the establishment of the IMCIM, adding that it was due to proper monitoring set in place by Dr Frimpong Boateng.

    He noted that the community mining module which was designed by the IMCIM had ensured the employment of over 30, 000 people in clean and regulated mining.

    Communities such as Mpasatia, Akrofuom, Kotokuom and others had their youth gaining employment in community mining, the spokesperson pointed out.

    Workers in the community mining module, the spokesperson said had been gaining about 60% more from their work due to strict protocols from the IMCIM.

    “It was really remarkable the impact of Dr Frimpong Boateng as head of the IMCIM because crime and social vices reduced since the people had jobs to do” Mr. Boakye posted.

    Source: kingdomfmonline.com

  • Coronavirus doesnt care about political parties Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Akufo-Addo has urged Ghanaians to eschew partisan politics in discussing matters relating to the coronavirus outbreak in Ghana.

    He made the appeal as he addressed the nation for the fourth time on Friday, March 27, 2020.

    He called for a united nation in dealing with the various, indicating that the common enemy was the coronavirus and not any individual or party.

    “Fellow Ghanaians, we are in this together, and Government will stand by you. We are aware that there will be discomfort and difficulties for all of us over the next couple of weeks. As a responsive Government, we will continue to implement bold measures to mitigate the impact of the Coronavirus on businesses and households and ensure that job losses are minimized.

    “We can defeat this virus if we all commit ourselves to respecting all the measures that have been outlined. I am confident that Ghanaians will comply with them, and the security services will not have to intervene, with extraordinary means, to enforce them. The love of country is deeply embedded in all of us, and I assure you that the security forces will conduct themselves with the necessary professionalism.” He said.

    Source: dailyguidenetwork.com

  • Coronavirus lockdown: Full list of who must stay home and who can go out

    President Nana Akufo-Addo has imposed restrictions on movement in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions of Ghana as part of measures to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus which has killed four people in Ghana so far out of some one hundred thirty-seven patients of which two have recovered.

    The President said in his fourth national address to the nation on Friday night that: “This, in essence, means that everyone resident in these areas must stay at home for the next two weeks”.

    “However, if you must go out, it must only be to get essential items such as food, medicine, water, undertake banking transactions or to use public toilet facilities. But as much as possible, stay at home”.

    “There shall be”, the President noted, “during this period, no intercity movement of vehicles and aircraft for private or commercial purposes for the areas affected by the restrictive measures except for vehicles and aircraft providing essential services and those carrying cargo. Riders of motorbikes are not allowed to carry any additional person and all intracity passenger vehicles such as trotros and taxis must reduce the number of passengers in order to observe appropriate social distancing and hygiene protocols. Additionally, all commercial vehicle stations shall observe appropriate hygiene protocols and social distancing”.

    He also said markets are to ensure social distancing and enhanced hygiene protocols.

    “In any event, only persons involved in the food value chain can operate in the markets during this period”.

    However, he noted, “individuals and institutions providing the following services shall be exempted from the restrictions: members of the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary; production, distribution and marketing of food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, medicine, paper and plastic packages; environmental and sanitation activities; staff of VALCO, road and railway construction workers, mining workers, fisherfolk, members of the security agencies assigned lawful duties, staff of ECG, GWCL, telcos, e-commerce and digital service providers and staff of fuel stations”.

    Even though the President left out the media as one of those exempted from the lockdown, his Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah later tweeted that the media is exempted.

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Coronavirus: Sixteen persons in quarantine in Ketu South

    Mr Edem Elliot Agbenorwu, the Municipality Chief Executive (MCE) for Ketu South in the Volta Region has said 14 Ghanaians and two foreign nationals who entered Ghana “illegally” this week were in quarantine at a designated facility in the Municipality.

    He alleged the 16 persons were aided by commercial motor riders through the over 25 unapproved routes along the Ghana-Togo border but handed over to the Municipal Assembly by personnel of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS).

    Mr Agbenorwu told the Ghana News Agency that, “the two foreigners are Nigerians and the 14 Ghanaians were returning from UK, U.A.E, South Africa and America via the Airport in Lomé, Togo.”

    He said due to the development, the Municipal Security Council had banned commercial motor activities along the beats (unapproved routes).

    “The Military will assist the Ghana Immigration Service at these unapproved routes and will deal with any commercial motor rider for insubordination,” he told GNA.

    The Ghana News Agency earlier reported that travelers were allegedly using unapproved routes at Zukope, Akporkploe, Apedido, Fihokope and Aveyiborme to cross to and from Togo at night and dawn after the main Aflao-Lome border was closed as part of measures to contain the spread of the Coronavirus disease.

    Source: GNA

  • Ghanaians in Ivory Coast cross Elubo Boarder through bush paths

    Reports reaching the Ghana News Agency (GNA), indicate that some Ghanaian residents in La Cote d’Ivoire have been crossing the Elubo boarder to Ghana through unapproved routes in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Many of these Ghanaian nationals are indigenes of Elubo and its environs who are conversant with the terrain and as a result decide to disregard the main entry point to Ghana for fear of being denied access to enter the country.

    The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Jomoro, Mr.Ernest Kofie confirmed the incident in an interview with the Ghana News Agency.

    He told the GNA that Ivorian nationals rather used the Elubo boarder to undergo the safety protocols before entering the country since they did not know the bush paths.

    It would be recalled that La Cote d’Ivoire recorded cases of the COVID-19 when Ghana had not recorded any case of the disease. It was weeks after that Ghana recorded its first case.

    As to what measures the Assembly had put in place to contain the pandemic, Mr Kofie said the Assembly was financially constrained taking cognizance of the quantum of protective health kits and others to be procured for distribution to the District.

    The MCE, therefore, appealed to the central government to come to the aid of the Assembly to reach out to the people.

    Mr Kofie, however, said series of sensitization and education was on-going to deepen the understanding of the people on the COVID-19 pandemic and advised the people to continue with the social distancing safety protocol as the first measure to avoid contracting the virus.

    Source: GNA

  • Aflao Traditional Council consults deities over coronavirus

    Traditional priests in Aflao has started public consultations of deities in the traditional area and offering of sacrifices over Coronavirus disease.

    The priests, brought together by Togbui Adzo?gaga Amenya Fiti V, Paramount Chief of Aflao Traditional area, would offer sacrifices for three days after, which they said a torrential downpour would wipe out the disease from Ghana and the world.

    The Chief Priest, Tr?nua Sadzi said, the gods were not happy with adultery among women in the world, hence, the disease.

    He said the virus was also brought about by witchcraft through enmity between two powerful countries and called for peace, unity and love in the world.

    Meanwhile, the Ghana News Agency gathered that the Asogli Traditional Council is also planning several activities to cleanse the traditional area and offer sacrifices to the gods to ward off COVID-19.

    Ghanaians on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 fasted and prayed to God to save the country and the world from the Coronavirus disease, directed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

    Source: GNA

  • Workers exempted from lockdown

    “There shall be, during this period, no inter-city movement of vehicles and aircraft for private or commercial purposes for the areas of the restrictive measures, except for vehicles and aircrafts providing essential services and those carrying cargo.

    Riders of motorbikes are not allowed to carry any additional person, and all intra-city passenger vehicles, such as trotros and taxis, must reduce the number of passengers in order to observe appropriate social distancing and hygiene protocols.

    All commercial vehicle stations shall observe appropriate hygiene protocols and social distancing.

    Individuals and institutions providing the following services shall be exempted from the restrictions:
    -Members of the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary;
    -Production, distribution and marketing of food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, medicine, paper and plastic packages.
    -Environmental and sanitation activities;
    -VALCO staff
    -Road and Railway
    construction workers;
    -Mining workers;
    -Fisherfolk;
    -Members of the security agencies assigned lawful duties;
    -The staff of electricity, water, telecommunications, e-commerce and digital service providers; and
    -Fuel stations staff.”

  • List of areas under lockdown

    President Akufo-Addo has announced that effective Monday, 30th March, 2020 at 1 am under the Imposition of Restrictions Act, 2020 (Act 1012), there will be restrictions on movement of persons in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA, which include Awutu Senya East ), and the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area and contiguous districts, for a period of two (2) weeks or 14 days subject to review.

    In Greater Accra, the following areas will be affected:
    – Accra Metropolis
    -Tema Metropolis
    -Tema West
    -Kpone Katamanso
    -Krowor
    -Ledzokuku
    -Adentan
    – Ashiaman
    La-Nkwantanang-Madina
    -La-Dade-Kotopon
    -Okaikwei North
    -Ablekuma North
    -Ablekuma West
    -Ablekuma Central
    -Ayawaso East
    -Ayawaso North
    -Ayawaso West
    -Ayawaso Central
    -Ga North
    -Ga West
    -Ga South
    -Ga Central
    Ga East
    -Korle-Klottey
    -Weija/Gbawe
    -Awutu Senya East

    In the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area the following areas are affected:
    *Kumasi Metropolis;
    *Asokwa
    * Suame
    *Old Tafo
    *Oforikrom
    *Asokore Mampong
    *Kwadaso
    *Atwima Nwabiagya
    *Kwabre East
    *Ejisu
    *Afigya-Kwabre South
    *Bosomtwe
    *Atwima Kwanwoma
    *Atwima Nwabiagya North

    This means that everyone resident in these areas must stay at home for the next two weeks or 14 days, However, if you must go out, it must only be to get essential items such as food, water, medicine, undertake banking transactions, or to use public toilet facilities. But, as much as possible, stay at, h.ome.

    There shall be, during this period, no inter-city movement of vehicles and aircraft for private or commercial purposes for the areas of the restrictive measures, except for vehicles and aircrafts providing essential services and those carrying cargo.

    Riders of motorbikes are not allowed to carry any additional person, and all intra-city passenger vehicles, such as trotros and taxis, must reduce the number of passengers in order to observe appropriate social distancing and hygiene protocols.

    All commercial vehicle stations shall observe appropriate hygiene protocols and social distancing.

    Individuals and institutions providing the following services shall be exempted from the restrictions:
    -Members of the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary;
    -Production, distribution and marketing of food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, medicine, paper and plastic packages.
    -Environmental and sanitation activities;
    -VALCO staff
    -Road and Railway
    construction workers;
    -Mining workers;
    -Fisherfolk;
    -Members of the security agencies assigned lawful duties;
    -The staff of electricity, water, telecommunications, e-commerce and digital service providers; and
    -Fuel stations staff.

  • Akufo-Addo donates 3-month salary to fight Coronavirus

    President Akufo-Addo has donated his three months of his salary to a fund yet to be established to help combat the spread of the coronavirus.

    “I have directed the Controller and Accountant General to pay my April, May and June salaries to a special fund that would receive donations from philanthropists to help fight the outbreak,” the President said in a televised speech on Friday.

    The President also called on benevolent individuals and Corporate Set ups to do same by donating to the fund to help deal with the impacts of the novel virus.

    Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has being named by the President as the leader of a yet to set up committee in charge of the fund.

  • Obour’s father dies while waiting for coronavirus results

    The father of Ghanaian hiplife legend and former president of the Musician Union of Ghana (MUSIGHA), Bice Osei Kuffour, known in showbiz circles as Obour, has died in Accra after reportedly catching coronavirus.

    In a statement released shortly after his father’s demise, Obour said his father, Nana Osei Boansi Kuffuor passed away after doctors said “he is likely to be a confirmed Covid-19”.

    The statement added, “Nana returned from UK on 19th March after his yearly visit to the family. Upon his return he was fine but began coughing on Sunday 22nd.

    “We arranged for his blood sample to be tested and he tested positive for malaria.

    “We began treatment for malaria but his condition got worse. We arranged to bring him to Accra to be tested for Covid 19 at Ridge Hospital on Wednesday. They informed us that his report will be ready on Friday but we should keep him in quarantine which we did”.

    Below is Obour’s full statement

    With sadness and a heavy heart I announce the death of Nana Osei Boansi Kuffour my biological father.

    Nana returned from UK on 19th March after his yearly visit to the family. Upon his return he was fine but began coughing on Sunday 22nd.

    We arranged for his blood sample to be tested and he tested positive for malaria.

    We began treatment for malaria but his condition got worse. We arranged to bring him to Accra to be tested for Covid 19 at Ridge Hospital on Wednesday. They informed us that his report will be ready on Friday but we should keep him in quarantine which we did.

    On Thursday night he had extreme difficulty with breathing so we called the Ambulance service and informed them of his condition. We told them the patient has tested for COVID 19 and awaiting his results so they should come along with appropriate apparel.

    The ambulance team took him to Ridge Hospital around 11pm on Thursday March 26. We informed the health team at Ridge of his condition and also informed them he had earlier taken a test for Covid and awaiting results.

    Late this afternoon , the Drs informed us that he is likely to be a confirmed Covid case and as such we should take steps to do a contact trace and quarantine ourselves. Sadly he passed on this evening.

    These are the true facts about my fathers demise.

    Bice Obour Osei Kuffour

  • Coronavirus: Ghana’s positive cases rise to 137, 4 deaths

    Ghana’s number of Coronavirus cases has risen from 136 to 137 as at 8:00pm today, March 27, 2020, according to the Ghana Health Service.

    As at the evening of 27 March 2020, fifty-nine (59) COVID-19 cases including four (4) deaths have been confirmed from the regular surveillance systems.

    All the four (4) deaths had underlying chronic medical conditions.

    Majority of Ghana’s 137 confirmed cases are Ghanaians who returned home from affected countries.

    Earlier in the day, the Upper West Regional Minister, Hafiz Bin Salih, announced that a case of coronavirus has been confirmed in regional capital Wa.

    The patient was a 42-year-old Ghanaian who visited UK, Spain and returned to Ghana through Egypt.

    “…[He] returned to Ghana eight days ago through Egypt and travelled from Accra to Wa through public transport and has been confirmed COVID-19 positive. This is the first case of a suspect [in the Upper West Region] whose samples were taken for test and the result is that the patient is a COVID-19 patient.

    “I entreat all and sundry that the precautionary measures that have been prescribed to all of us must be adhered to. We need to continue to wash our hands regularly and where necessary, we should apply hand sanitizers…” citinewsroom.com quotes the minister to have told the media on Friday, March 27, 2020.

    Breakdown of 137 total cases

    59 people within the general population of Ghana have been tested positive for COVID-19, including four deaths and two recovered patients.

    The number of confirmed cases within those under mandatory quarantine remains at 78.

    The number of active cases within the country now stands at 131.

  • Akufo-Addo imposes two-week lockdown on Accra and Kumasi

    The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has announced unprecedented new restrictions to life in an address to the nation on Friday, as he outlines stringent measures to curtail the spread of the coronavirus.

    People have been asked to stay at home and away from others in all but the most limited of circumstances in order to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

    The measures, which is expected to come into force on Monday 1:am will remain in place for at least two weeks, after which they will be reviewed.

    They will only be relaxed if the evidence shows a declined in the spread of the virus.

    Cities to be affected are Accra, Tema in the Greater Accra region as well as Kumasi and Obuasi in the Ashanti region.

    The president in a televised speech a while ago said the police and other relevant authorities will be given new powers to enforce the measures.

    source: Ghanaweb.com

  • All Ghana Health Service staff on study leave recalled for Coronavirus ‘fight’

    The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has recalled all of its staff on study leave to help with the fight against the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which has claimed three lives in the last two weeks with a total of 136 people testing positive in Ghana as of Friday morning.

    In a letter dated March 26, 2020 and signed by the Director-General, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, the GHS said the recall was following the closure of all training institutions in Ghana and the increase in the workload at various health facilities across the country.

     

    “As you are aware, all training institutions in the country have been closed down following the directives from the president… due to the covid-19 pandemic.”

    “The number of recorded and combined cases in the country keep increasing by the day. This has resulted in increased workloads in the various facilities. There is therefore the urgent need for all staff to be at post in order to support in the management of affected persons,” the letter addressed to all regional directors of health and divisional directors said.

    The letter, a copy of which Graphic Online has seen added: “As a consequence of the above, all staff on approved study leave across all regions are therefore recalled from their leave with immediate effect.”

     

    “You are entreated to ensure that the content of this letter is strictly complied with,” it added.

     

    Source: Graphic.com.gh 

  • South Tongu District Assembly implements market reforms to prevent spread of Coronavirus

    The two busiest and major markets in the South Tongu District namely; Sogakope and Dabala markets to be observed now on a daily basis as a measure to avoid the overcrowding that hits the two major markets when it is a market day. Traditionally, the two markets days used to be observed every five days.

    The decision was reached yesterday, March 26 by a Market Days Implementation Committee which was set up by the District Chief Executive of the constituency, Hon. Emmanuel Louis Agama.

    According to the DCE, the change in the market observation days in the the district became necessary because of the overcrowding situation that always characterize major markets meanwhile, overcrowding is what is being advised against in this time of the deadly coronavirus.

    The DCE also revealed that he and the team will be on the airwaves soon to educate the citizens and markets, men and women, on the new changes and its importance in preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

    Members of the committee who arrived at the decision include; the Assembly Members, Unit Committees representatives, market queens, traditional leaders; representatives from both towns, the Revenue Supervisor of the District Assembly, the District Assembly Covid-19 Task Force chairperson, the District Director of Health, and an official from the District Police and Fire Services.

    The DCE has however, charged the Market Days Implementation Committee members to work assiduously to ensure the sustainability of the market reform system in the district.

    He further explained to the committee members that, this reform will not only enhance a higher revenue collection but also to enable the assembly meet it revenue target resulting in accelerated infrastructure development in the district.

     

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coronavirus: Police to enforce lockdown to the latter

    The Ghana Police Service is already anticipating a lockdown of some major cities in Ghana due to the increasing spate of the coronavirus pandemic.

    The Service has put in place a deployment strategy for a lockdown if it is announced by government.

    A letter issued by the Director-General in charge of Operations, DCOP Kwaku Boadu-Pepra, and sent to all regional commanders gave details about the deployment.

    It said the lockdown will be partial to full in some parts of the country, particularly Accra, Tema, Kumasi and Obuasi.

    The enforcement of the lockdown strategy will be undertaken in a joint internal security operation with the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) and the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), DCOP Boadu-Pepra stated.

    “In line with the deployment strategy of the Ghana Police Service (GPS), the Service will foremost lay emphasis on enforcing the lockdown directives to the letter.

    “Furthermore, the GPS will continue to strengthen its role in strictly enforcing mandatory and self-quarantine guidelines in coordination with the GHS as required.”

    Among the tasks and responsibilities will be a 24/7 roadblocks and checkpoints to ensure compliance.

    The police shall arrest and detain all offenders, the letter said.

    All directorates within the Service have been alerted as personnel will join this operation.

    The Director of Police Hospital, for instance, is to release 100 medical corps including doctors and paramedics for the exercise in affected areas.

    The entire operation will be monitored by the National Joint Operations Centre (JOC), which will be under the direction of Chief Superintendent Raymond Adofiem.

    ACP Kwesi Ofori will be in charge of coordination and deployment in Accra.

     

    Source: 3news.com

  • COVID-19: NSS nurses, midwives asked to remain at post

    The Ministry of Health has asked all nurses and midwives currently undergoing National Service to remain at post until the end of their service.

    Though the National Service Secretariat (NSS) earlier directed all Service Personnel to take a mandatory paid leave, the Ministry in a statement said nurses and midwives were exempt because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

    “The Ministry of Health in collaboration with the National Service Scheme would like to inform its stakeholders that in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic, the service of nurses, midwives and other frontline healthcare workers are very critical and essential.”

    “The Ministry of Health is, therefore, requesting that all Nurses and Midwives currently undergoing national service should remain at post until the end of their service.

    In addition, all nurses and midwives who are due to commence the 2020/2021 national service “should report to the various posting centres to commence their service as required.”

    In addition to these measures, the Ministry is also “seeking financial clearance to engage the 2017-2018 graduate nurses and midwives.”

     

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • Wa records Coronavirus case – Upper West Regional Minister confirms

    The Upper West Regional Minister, Hafiz Bin Salih has confirmed that a 42-year-old Ghanaian who visited the United Kingdom and Spain and returned to Ghana through Egypt has tested positive for the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

    The Minister made the revelation at a press briefing in Wa Friday afternoon, March 27, 2020.

    According to Graphic Online’s Upper West Regional reporter, Emmanuel Modey, the patient is a male who started showing symptoms about eight days ago joined public transport from Accra to Wa.

    Speaking at the press briefing the Upper West Regional Director of Health, Dr Osei Kufour Afreh said the patient started showing signs 8 days ago and a test on Friday came out positive for Coronavirus.

    Announcing the case at the media briefing, the Upper West Regional Minister, Hafiz Bin Salih said, the victim was said to have landed in Accra and travelled to Wa on board a public transport where he isolated himself later after reporting himself to the health authorities.

    The Minister said, the victim’s blood sample was tested at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR) in the Ashanti Region and it was found to be positive.

    He said, efforts are being made to trace all the people he contacted from Accra to Wa for further action to be taken.

    He assured the public that everything will be done to contain the disease from spreading since it was an imported one.

    Whilst allaying the fears of the public and urged calm and not panic, the Regional Minister also urged all those who came into contact with the victim to come forward to be tested for their own safety.

     

    Source: Graphic.com.gh 

  • Coronavirus: NIA suspends Ghana card registration despite court ruling

    The National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced the indefinite suspension of the Ghana card registration exercise in the Eastern Region until further notice despite a High Court ruling which said it can go ahead with the registration.

    On Friday, 27 March 2020, an Accra High Court ruled that the NIA can go ahead with the Ghana card registration despite President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s ban on public gathering to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

    In his judgment, Justice Anthony Oppong said the applicants in the case have not shown any justifiable reason why the NIA should be restrained from its Ghana card registration exercise in the Eastern Region.

    “The application for interlocutory injunction ought to fail and same is dismissed”, Justice Oppong ruled.

    But the NIA in a statement said it is suspending the registration exercise because of “a careful assessment of the registration exercise carried out in the Eastern Region between Wednesday, 4th March and Friday, 20th March 2020. The decision to suspend the registration follows a careful assessment of the exercise in the region so far.”

    The NIA also said it took into account “the current trend in the spread of COVID-19 in the country since the suspension of the mass registration exercise on Saturday, 21st March 2020, following the service on the NIA of an interlocutory injunction application.”

    The NIA noted that it welcomes the dismissal by the High Court of the interlocutory injunction application and the substantive suit but, nonetheless, the Authority will continue to suspend its mass registration operations until further notice.

    NIA said it will use the period of suspension to continue with its preparations toward the establishment of its Regional, Municipal and District Offices and arrange for the co-location of its registration services at some of its cognate institutions such as National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), among other responsibilities.

    The NIA further stated that it will continue to observe developments relating to the management of COVID-19 in the country and will determine, at the appropriate time, when and how to resume its mass registration operations.

     

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Lockdown: Suspend utility bills for 90 days – Oscar Doe to Akufo-Addo

    In the likely event of a lockdown on Ghana following the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus, businessman and philanthropist, Oscar Yao Doe is drawing the attention of President Nana Akufo-Addo to swiftly put in place measures to support the less privileged individuals in the country.

    In an open letter to the President which was sighted by GhanaWeb, Mr Doe says the measures, if placed well, would support and reduce “the anxiety, panic and excessive stress Ghanaians are currently going through.”

    Mr Doe enlists, among other measures, six key steps he says government must take in this regard:

    1. The suspension of all electricity bills payment to all households across Ghana for 90 days.

    2. The suspension of water bills payment for all households across Ghana for 90 days. Government should also sponsor water tankers to supply water to the most vulnerable communities across Ghana on a daily basis or at least thrice weekly.

    3. Halve all utility bills (Water & Electricity) to all businesses across Ghana for 90 days.

    4. Issue GH¢1,000 in cash or direct transfer payment to all Public Sector workers across Ghana, as well as guarantee full salary payment to all Public Sector workers for 90 days.

    5. Inject direct financial support to all districts, metropolitan & municipal assemblies relative to their sizes.

    6. Provide direct extra cash allowance to all frontline workers battling the Coronavirus (Covid-19) and take care of medical bills and feeding of Ghanaians who catch the virus.

    Additionally, Oscar Doe is asking for the Director-General of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Dr. John Ofori-Tenkorang to seek and immediate approval from the Presidency, through the Ministry of Finance to protect Ghanaian pensioners.

    “SSNIT ought to issue direct cash or direct transfers of between GH¢1,000 up to GH¢2,000 based on salary grades as a Special Emergency Package to cushion pensioners across Ghana for 90 days.”

    “This gesture could go a long way to reduce Fear, Panic and Anxiety”, he added.

     

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coronavirus: Berekum Chelsea gives out sanitizers, nose masks and gloves

    Ghana Premier League side Berekum Chelsea has given out thousands of sanitizers, nose masks, as well as gloves to the Berekum community to use for protection against the Coronavirus.

    The number of confirmed cases of the Covid-19 which has been declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) keeps going up by the day in Ghana.

    The number currently stands as 136 with 3 persons having already lost their lives.

    As a way of giving back to society, Berekum Chelsea hit the streets and market centers of communities in Berekum on Thursday, March 26, to donate hand sanitizers, nose masks, and gloves.

    The club hopes the materials given out will go a long way to help the people in protecting themselves from contracting the deadly Coronavirus.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • Govt will investigate persons who escaped quarantine – Dep. Health Minister

    The Deputy Health Minister, Alexander Kodwo Abban says the government will investigate claims that some persons in mandatory quarantine have escaped.

    The government’s intended investigation follows claims by IMANI President, Franklin Cudjoe who wrote a piece indicating that he has gotten intelligence suggesting that some persons on mandatory quarantine have escaped.

    The mandatory quarantine follows a directive from the President in his nationwide broadcast on Saturday, March 20, 2020, that all travelers arriving in Ghana from tonight, March 21, 2020, regardless of nationality.

    These persons were to engage in a mandatory self-quarantine for 14 days.

    Speaking on radio, Deputy Health Minister, Alexander Kodwo Abban stated that the Health Ministry is not aware of the situation and that the Ministry will probe into the matter

    ”Infact, it has not come to us in the Ministry at all that anybody has escaped. Of course, it calls for concern so we will have to take the necessary steps to ascertain the veracity or otherwise and then if it’s true we will look at whose negligence, recklessness or whether the person indeed run away regardless of every reasonable step taken to keep him at the place. So we are not just going to look at this and let it fly off, we will look into it”.

    However, a total of 1,030 people are on mandatory quarantine. On Tuesday, March 24, 2020, 26 of them had tested positive for COVID-19.

    As at Wednesday, March 25, 2020, a total of 38 of those mandatorily quarantined were confirmed to have the virus.

    Meanwhile, Ghana’s Coronavirus case count has increased to 136 confirmed cases. Four new cases were recorded today, Friday, 27th March 2020 after 132 cases were reported, Thursday, 26th March 2020.

    The death toll, however, remains 3 as the Ghana Health Service confirmed in an update.

    As at March 27 2020, a total of fifty-seven (57) cases including three (3) deaths have been confirmed from the regular surveillance systems.

     

    Source: primenewsghana.com

  • Arrivals in Ghana since March 3 to be traced and tested

    All individuals who travelled into Ghana on or after March 3, 2020 are to be identified and tested for Coronavirus, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has directed.

    Information Minister and Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, who confirmed the directive, said the President wanted all those individuals to be tested as was done with arrivals on Saturday night.

    “The Ghana Immigration Service, working with the Ministry of Communication and their agencies has a whole database of all these persons who came in,” he said, adding that some had been quarantined for two weeks without any signs of the disease.

    Mr Oppong Nkrumah was speaking to journalists at the Parliament House, in Accra.

    He said President Akufo-Addo directed that the tracking began from March 3, against an original proposed date of March 15 by some government officials.

    As part of measures to contain the outbreak of the coronavirus in Ghana, the Government last Saturday began quarantining all passengers disembarking at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).

    After the checks, passengers were sent to different hotels to begin a 14-day quarantine.

    Out of the latest update of 132 cases, 78 are from persons in mandatory quarantine. Those persons were not allowed into the general population and treatment has commenced.

    According to the Ghana Health Serviceealth jhEA, the sudden increase in reported cases was as a result of the mandatory quarantine and compulsory testing for all travellers entering Ghana.

    The majority of the confirmed cases are Ghanaians, who returned home from affected countries, while seven are nationals from: Norway, Lebanon, China, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom (UK).

    The number of confirmed cases of travellers under mandatory quarantine is 78.

    Mr Oppong Nkrumah gave the assurance that the President would ensure that the nation did not run the risk of significant communal spread of the disease.

    Source: GNA

  • Togbe Afede donates sanitisers, ¢100,000 to two hospitals to aid in coronavirus fight

    Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of Asogli State, has donated sanitisers and GH¢100,000.00 to two hospitals in Ho for the fight against COVID-19.

    The hospitals are; Ho Teaching Hospital-GH¢60,000.00 and Ho Municipal Hospital-GH¢40,000.00.

    Togbe Afede who is also the President of the National House of Chiefs also gave over 2,200 hand sanitisers to the hospitals and communities in the Asogli State.

    He said the gesture was to support the facilities and communities to fight the pandemic.

    Togbe Afede charged traditional authorities to champion environmental cleanliness and ensured that their subjects obeyed health protocols from the World Health Organization and directives from President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

    He commended the hospitals for their efforts so far in combating the disease and urged them to remain focused.

    Togbe Afede called for the protection of vulnerable, especially the aged in society and underscored the need for the country to learn valuable lessons from the pandemic to be self-reliant.

    Dr. John Tampouri, Chief Executive of the Ho Teaching Hospital, said the Volta Region was lucky not to have recorded any case yet and described the gesture as timely, saying the Hospital could not sustain the expenditure of GH¢240.00 daily on tissue paper for hand washing at the facility and called for more support.

    Dr. Lawrence Kumi, Medical Superintendent, Ho Municipal Hospital, expressed gratitude to Togbe Afede and assured that the support would be put to good use.

     

    Source: GNA 

  • COVID-19: Don’t forget to drop your offerings online – Pastor Ashimolowo says sending the internet stitches

    Times are definitely tough in the world seeing as the coronavirus pandemic has been raging and is threatening to be a huge economic blow on a number of countries.

    In these tough times, some people have tried to alleviate the suffering of others by either donating money, reducing house rents, sharing relief items and more.

    However, some other people are not really regarding it as a setback and they continue to try to live their lives as it has always been.

    That seems to be the case for some religious leaders who are used to collecting offerings from their congregation but can no longer do that because public gatherings have been banned to curb the spread of coronavirus.

    Well, rather than be disturbed by the situation, some religious leaders have found other genius means to collect money from their members and this involves online payment.

    Just recently, a video made the rounds on social media showing Nigerian pastor, Matthew Ashimolowo, telling his followers not to forget to pay their offering online after the UK shut down public gatherings over COVID-19.

    As expected, the video has caused a wide range of reactions from Nigerians. While some people feel that he was only responding to questions asked from his members, others felt it was distasteful for him to be asking for offering during these trying times.

    Abiodun Samuel wrote: “What will Jesus do if he’s in this situation Bro Mathew Ashimolowo?

    Will he ask for offering or will he donate from the store house so as to help the downtrodden in the society?”

    Olugbenga Blacks tweeted: “Can any imagine someone will at this period of time still collecting the offering from the poor stupid people when Europe is looking at how they will feed those at home in their country? What a life we live in Africa.”

  • PZ Cussons donates to Ghana Medical Association to help protect frontliners

    PZ Cussons Ghana, a leading distributor of Personal and Home Care products in Ghana, on 26th March 2020 donated personal Care products worth GHS30,000 cedis to the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) in support of the fight against Covid-19 in Ghana.

    Products donated included Carex hand Sanitisers, Camel Antiseptic liquid and Camel Antibacterial Bar soap.

    Hafsa Arthur, Head of Brand Development and Activations at PZ Cussons, mentioned during the donation that: “Although we currently do not have stock especially on hand sanitizers, these are products we specially set aside for public education and to provide our partners such as GMA in times of need. PZ Cussons recognizes the importance of our medical staff in the current Coronavirus pandemic and believes our first point of call should be to protect them especially those in areas that find it difficult to access these products”.

    She further stated that: “At the moment, stock of Carex hand sanitizers are depleted in our warehouse. I will therefore like to appeal to retailers with stock of these sanitizers to adhere to the recommended retail price. These are difficult times and certainly not the time for price hikes”.

    The executive members of the Ghana Medical Association received the donation and
    expressed gratitude to PZ Cussons for the numerous donations made in times of national need.

     

    Source: PZ Cussons

  • Coronavirus: Discuss lockdown thoroughly Bopkin

    Economist, Professor Godfred Bopkin, has asked the government of Ghana to engage in broad discussions before considering a lockdown of any part of the country in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak in Ghana.

    He said although the country is faced with a serious situation as other parts of the world regarding the COVID-19, the government must act tactfully in its decisions.

    Ghana has so far recorded 136 cases of coronavirus with three deaths.

    Groups including the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) have asked the government to lock down the country to mitigate spread.

    Prof Bokpin told journalists in Accra: “Unusual times call for unusual measures. For that reason, the discussion of our debts, though relevant, we have to understand that the country is facing critical challenges that require us to think beyond the normal situation of debt-to-GDP ratio.”

    On the lockdown issue, he said: “A lot of conversation must go on to fill the gaps before such conversations start.”

     

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Daily Guide: Coronavirus mischief unleashed

    There could not have been busier times for members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) than now. They are exploiting the coronavirus pandemic to its seams and we predicted it.

    Various chapters from their agenda book, each of them exposing them even more, continue to make it to social media. Their flag bearer is providing them with the covering fire, with his toxic remarks telling us more about the man who was once President of this country.

    The lockdown issue which many have offered suggestions on is one area which for them presents an opportunity to savour.

    Of course, when it is necessary to lock down some parts of the country such as Accra and Kumasi, such an action should be taken.

    A President and his government must, however, ponder over an issue before taking action, and for us that is exactly what the Commander-in-Chief is doing.

    It was a similar pondering which informed the decision not to return Ghanaians from China.

    Developments are being monitored by qualified persons and when it is appropriate to take certain decisions there would be no tardiness in that regard.

    Ghana, like other nations, is faced with a challenge never before witnessed in its annals and requiring that each step that would be taken by government should be one whose dividends are overwhelming and in the interest of the people.

    Unfortunately, the opposition NDC, as we have observed in previous commentaries, continues to politicize a subject which should be spared such trickeries.

    Yesterday, President Akufo-Addo took the bold decision of releasing some prisoners, something he could not have done earlier.

    The NDC had earlier gone to town with the subject unknowing to them about what was being discussed by the President and his team.

    The deliberate efforts to present the President as not taking appropriate actions against the pandemic can only emanate from evil-minded persons.

    While the lockdown issue is in order, we should bear in mind that it comes with myriads of challenges for both the homeless and those living in their homes in areas outside the better organized parts of the cities.

    The economic cost too is enormous as are the discomforts associated with it. We are already in a situation of closed borders, with the main international airport in the shut.

    At this stage, we can only pray for the President to take a decision which would be in the overall interest of the nation.

    Pandering to the whims and caprices of the NDC should, however, not be the way to go. The interests of Ghanaians supersede those of a desperate political grouping.

    Sincere suggestions at this time are what we need, not the mischief-laden remarks by NDC activists who are behaving as though coronavirus is discriminatory about its targets.

    We are hopeful that the coronavirus, like others before it, would soon evaporate into thin air, as God hears the cries of his creatures.

     

    Source: dailyguidenetwork.com

  • Intercity transport operators decry low patronage amidst coronavirus outbreak

    Operators of intercity transport services in Accra are recording one of their dry seasons as passenger traffic keeps declining due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

    Traveling by bus forms part of the transportation bloodstream through which coronavirus has rapidly spread.

    Reports indicate that intercity bus terminals are complaining of hardly meeting even three trips a day.

    GhanaWeb visited O.A Travel and Tours, one of the busiest bus terminals in Accra to ascertain the situation.

    O. A. Travel & Tour is a Ghanaian registered company specializing in the provision of transport management services to the general public.

    Their transport terminal is known to be one of the busiest places for travelers and other commercial activities.

    But the outbreak of covid-19 is wrecking havoc for transport operations in this yard.

    Micheal Owusu is a manager at the O.A. Travel and Tours and he tells GhanaWeb TV that the drop in patronage can be blamed on nothing but health risks associated with traveling.

    “On the average, we could load over twenty-five buses but now, we even struggle to get three buses full in a day. The turnout is low. Everyone is just being cautious”.

    According to him, it takes longer hours for coaches to be loaded halfway and forever to get a bus with passengers filled to full capacity.

    Tens of buses are parked without knowing when it could be filled with passengers.

    Some drivers at the terminal also shared similar experiences of having a bad business day.

    They told GhanaWeb TV that although, safety measures have been put in place to stem the various outbreak, fear continues to scare travelers away.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Tamale and Ho Teaching Hospital to begin coronavirus test next week

    Deputy Minister for Information, Pius Hadzide has disclosed that two additional testing centres for Covid-19 will be ready next week.

    According to him, the Tamale Teaching Hospital and the Ho Teaching Hospital will be ready next week for Covid-19 testing.

    The additional facilities being added will take the sole burden of testing from the two existing facilities, Noguchi Memorial Institute and Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research.

    In a television interview, Pius Hadzide said calibration of systems at the hospitals is underway and hopefully early next week the facilities will be ready for Covid-19 testing.

    “I also do know that by next week we should be able to start doing the test in Ho and Tamale. Calibration of the system is now being done, so that very early next week we can start..”

    Ghana records four more Covid-19 cases, total now 136

    Ghana has recorded four more Covid-19 cases bringing the total number of cases to 136.

    As at the morning of 27 March 2020, a total of fifty-seven (57) cases including three (3) deaths have been confirmed from the regular surveillance systems. All the three (3) cases that unfortunately succumbed to the disease were aged and had underlying chronic medical conditions. All the other fifty-four (54) cases are well; fourteen (14) are being managed at home and the rest are responding well to treatment on admission in isolation. They are awaiting their test results and will be discharged when the results are negative.

     

    Majority of the confirmed cases are Ghanaians, who returned home from affected countries. Seven (7) are of other nationals namely: Norway, Lebanon, China, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom (UK).

    The number of confirmed cases among travellers under mandatory quarantine who have been tested is seventy-eight (78).

    In respect of contact tracing, a total of 1,006 contacts have been identified and are being tracked.

     

    Source: Primenewsghana.com

  • Coronavirus directive dips coffin sales in Assin areas

    Players in the funeral industry in the Assin North, Assin South and Assin Central Areas have bemoaned low sales since the President’s directive banning all forms of large social gatherings.

    They described the low level of sales as unprecedented and a serious drain on their income, affecting their investments and business expansions.

    In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Mr Johnson Lamptey, a 52-year-old casket maker with over 20 years of experience said: “This is the first time we are experiencing such a massive dip in sale returns.”

    Holding his cross-cut saw, and pointing sadly to over 10 caskets that were not collected last week, he prayed that the directive was reversed in no time to enable them stay in business.

    Mr. Lamptey who owns “you were once like me” casket designing shop near the Assin Fosu St Francis hospital morgue said his sales had reduced from at least six per week to two.

    Mr. Odame, another dealer whose business is at Assin Bereku, the capital of the Assin North district, said his capital was locked up due to low patronage.

    Mr. Odame said he normally sold at least five coffins per week with prices ranging from GH¢1,500 to GH¢7,000, but sold only two coffins after the President’s directive.

    He complained about how their businesses were grinding to a halt as a result of poor sales coupled with their inability to access wood now selling at exceptionally exorbitant prices as major factors affecting the progress of their businesses.

    Madam Ernestine Baidoo, a seamstress and a funeral Decor with over 15 apprentices also lamented about record dip in sales.

    “I can’t pay my workers and feed my family of four as a widow, but my prayer is to get more buyers for my beautiful funeral dresses,” she said as she hanged some of her dresses on the nails in her shop.

    Madam Ernestina who sold not less than GH¢3,500 of funeral dresses per week had made only GH¢2400 over the period of the President’s directive.

    Uncertain about when the President’s directive will be reversed, Madam Ernestina with over 18 years’ experience in the business, said “we always pray for increased sales.

    “No matter what, we will all die one day so it is not a sin for us to pray for high sales,” she added.

    At Nyakomasi Ahenkro in the Assin South District, some casket makers and dealers in funeral wares complained of piles of uncollected caskets, wreath and wares as owners called to suspend their funerals.

    Mr Williams Arhin, a 35-year-old casket maker complained about financial difficulties in taking care of his family.

    Also, it was not different at the Assin Fosu Polyclinic and Brofoyedru private morgue, the biggest facility serving the three districts.

    Officials spoke with the GNA on condition of anonymity expressed fears about the possibility of not being able to break even if the situation persists for long.

    They largely complained about stagnant sales and prayed the government to reduce utility bills with constant supply to enable them to sustain their businesses.

    Source: GNA

  • Otuasekan Rural Bank educates market women on Coronavirus

    The Otuasekan Rural Bank, at Kofiase, in the Asante Mampong Municipality, has embarked on a campaign programme to sensitize market women on the novel Coronavirus pandemic.

    Dr. Prince Stephen Adom-Attakora, Board Chairman of the bank told the Ghana News Agency, that the educational campaign was to support the government in educating the public on preventive measures to prevent the spread of the diseases.

    He said the measure was to support government’s directives to control the spread of the disease.

    Dr Adom-Attakora pointed out that rural market women and smallholder farmers were the backbone of the bank and so there was the need to educate them adequately to take preventive measures to protect themselves from the virus.

    He stressed the need for rural dwellers to be well educated on the disease and the mode of transmission as well as the preventive measures they must adopt to avoid contracting it.

    Mr. Eric Ofori, Head of the Microfinance Department of the bank said mobile bankers have been trained to educate the market women on the need to wash their hands and use hand sanitizers frequently.

    He said the bank had provided protective clothing to its staff in all branches as well as water, soap and sanitizers for customers to wash their hands after transacting business at the bank.

    Source: GNA

  • Pardon 4,000 prisoners – Minority to Akufo-Addo

    Ranking Member on the Security Committee in Parliament, James Agalga has called on President Akufo-Addo to pardon 4,000 prisoners as part of measures to decongest our prisons in the face of the deadly coronavirus.

    The legislator addressing the press Thursday stated that Ghana prisons are choked hence the need for the president to consider pardoning more to decongest the facilities.

    In an interview with the Parliamentary Press Corps, he revealed that the current number of inmates or prisoners across the country are about fourteen thousand (14,000) which in actual sense, it is was made for a capacity of eight thousand (8,000) prisoners.

    He said it would be appropriate for the President to pardon about four thousand (4,000) prisoners to ease the pressure in our prisons else, it will be a disaster for this country if there should be any incident of coronavirus at any of our prisons.

    The president has granted amnesty to some 80 prisoners.

    The amnesty granted was upon the recommendation of the Prisons Service Council and in consultation with the Council of State.

    The categories of convicts affected include first time offenders, seriously ill persons, inmates on death row to be commuted to life imprisonment, inmates serving a life sentence to have a sentence commuted to 20 years definite term and very old prisoners who are 70 years and above.

    Director-General of the Prisons Service Patrick Darko Missah in a statement said the first time offenders totalling 783 who have served half of their sentences, eleven, seriously ill prisoners, and three aged (very old) prisoners are to be released outright. However, seven prisoners on death row would have their sentences commuted to life imprisonment; while four prisoners serving [a] life sentence will be commuted to 20 years definite term.”

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Coronavirus fight: Dr. Osei Kwame Despite et’all reportedly donate $100k to Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital

    The good deeds of men love after them and the owner of the Despite Company Ltd, Dr Osei Kwame Despite will definitely not be left out of such people.

    The business mogul has once again demonstrated his commitment in making sure the country is able fight coronavirus to it fullest.

    Dr. Osei Kwame Despite, and his brother Dr. Ernest Ofori Sarpong, has donated a cash amount of $ 100, 000 to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital to help fight the deadly disease.

    This was made known by Sampson Kwame Nyamekye, Peace FM reporter today 27th March, 2020.

    The donation was handed to Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei Mensah who handed the cash which is not a cheque.

    The cash was then handed to the head of the hospital in the person of Dr. Ohenba Danso who expressed his profound gratitude to Dr. Osei Kwame Despite and his brother for their kind gesture which he noted will go a long way to assist the activities of the facility in discharging it duties effectively.

    Confirmed cases of coronavirus in Ghana has increased from 68 to 132 with 3 deaths recorded so far.

    There have been calls by the Ghanaian community for government to lockdown the country which the president responded to the calls yesterday in a meeting with the leadership of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) at the Jubilee House.

    According to President Akufo-Addo, although a lockdown remains an option, extensive consultations will be made to ensure that the government takes the right decision.

    “At the time, there were a lot of comments, many of them unhelpful, but at the end of the day, I believe that the decision to ban international travel, as well as take the measures to quarantine and test travellers, is being vindicated by facts.

    “We are now seeing the benefits of these measures, and we can never stop there. We have to constantly look at whatever additional measures there are that will put us in a strong place to deal with this pandemic, and that is what we are constantly doing,” the President said.

    “We are under constant review; we are looking at measures that we have taken and constantly reviewing them to make sure that we are abreast of the issues and can provide an effective antidote,” he added.

    Source: http://smartandstuck.com

  • Early effects of Coronavirus lockdowns on service provider networks

    With the COVID-19 pandemic, we are facing an unprecedented situation on a global level. Entire countries are in lockdown, and people everywhere are being asked to stop or minimize their physical (social) interactions.

    Our broadband connections are becoming our lifelines – figuratively and literally: we are using them to get news, connect to our work environments (now all virtual), and for entertainment too.

    The wave of special emergency measures continues across countries and continents. Let’s take a look at the first effects of this global pandemic on network traffic. In a way, this may be the “shape of things to come” for all other networks.

    We analyzed data from several networks in Western Europe from the week of March 9, 2020. We looked at the traffic volumes and patterns. While we were still in the early days of the new reality introduced with special measures, we were able to spot some network anomalies and trends.

    Some countries in Western Europe have declared lockdown measures – Day 1 in our analysis is the day the lockdown was enforced. We also continued looking at the situation over the following weekend after the lockdown was declared – which we refer to as Weekend 1 (or Sunday 1, the Sunday in Weekend 1). To provide a better comparison, we looked at day-to-day (workday and weekend day) comparisons against the previous week.

    Social media and messaging

    On Day 1 and Sunday 1, we saw a significant increase in popular messaging and social media applications. One of the most popular, WhatsApp, exhibited an increase of 117-217% during Day 1, with apparent spikes in the morning hours on the first day of the school lockdown. We also saw a sixfold (or 500%) traffic increase on Sunday 1. Even with these spikes, the overall WhatsApp traffic (in Gbps) remained manageable in both cases – from the perspective of the total traffic volume in the network.

    Netflix

    On the online entertainment front, the increase in Netflix traffic showed that people started streaming earlier in the day (morning hours and early afternoon hours). While the evening traffic volumes remained within a +20% range compared to typical values, the overall increase of traffic during the day ranged from 97% (morning) to 27%-42% (early afternoon), significantly contributing to the total network traffic.

    A look at the Netflix traffic on the weekend brought much more concerning stats. Volumes rose between 54% and 75% (in peak viewing hours) compared to the previous weekend, with substantial contributions to the overall traffic. Knowing that weekend evenings are the peak traffic hours for most networks, Weekend 1 brought more stress to the network – in relative and absolute terms (terabit range).

    Total network traffic

    Day 1 brought an increase in the overall traffic of anywhere between 30% (5 p.m.) and 80% (9 a.m.), with boosts between 50% and 70% for most of the day.

    The Weekend 1 Sunday traffic rose between 34% and 97% during the day, bringing additional terabit-levels of traffic volumes to the network at times. While “normal” weekends (because of a lot of online streaming and gaming) can be used as a solid baseline and benchmark to check whether there is enough capacity to address these peaks, it seems that Weekend 1 additionally stress-tested the network and in a significant way. The good news is that networks were able to absorb this peak without degrading the quality of service. The bad news is that this may be a new trend. The future will tell.

    Final thoughts

    What conclusions can we draw from Day 1 and Weekend 1 snapshots? What are the new broadband realities that we may be seeing, locally and globally, in the coming weeks or months?

    Here are a few thoughts.

    We are witnessing an increase in traffic in both wireless and wireline networks. However, with prolonged times spent at our homes in the lockdown periods, wireline networks will play an increasingly important role.

    Service providers need to ensure that their internet infrastructures are up to these new tasks – with enough capacity and ability to deliver all services with high performance under the increased traffic demand.

    Service providers need access to real-time and granular information about their networks. They need tools that can help them gain deep insights and correlate and visualize data at speeds and in ways that human brains cannot.

    A new generation of big data-driven network intelligence and analytics technology such as Nokia Deepfield [2] can help obtain real-time, very granular (down to application level), accurate, multidimensional details about the network, services, network flows, and usage patterns. (By the way, this is the technology used to analyze all data points used in this article.)

    While we will continue to monitor the global and local effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on networks worldwide, it is crucial that we “keep our cool.” The lessons we are learning and the challenges we are facing will forever change the way we work, communicate, and entertain.

    Telemedicine, for example, will be one of the areas where these lessons may bring the most profound changes to how health services are accessed and delivered.

    A comforting thought is that we are at a safe place, technologically speaking. With the latest technology advances and standards, we have ubiquitous, sophisticated connectivity – from our home networks, across service providers’ and hyperscale realms.

    The newest networking technologies are ready to rise to the challenges brought in front of them. However, in addition to continuing 5G and fiber access infrastructure rollouts, we may need even more investment in the networks (wireline, wireless, and converged) to make them better and readier for the future.

    That will hopefully be a more normal-looking future, which everyone wants to see again.

    Source: mcdsquared.co.za

  • Decision to lockdown should not be made out of emotions and fear – Oppong Nkrumah

    Minister of Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah says emotions and fear should not lead the debate as to whether the government should announce a lockdown or not.

    There have been calls from several bodies including the Ghana Medical Association to announce a lockdown of the entire country.

    Mr Oppong Nkrumah speaking on the Joy Super Morning show today said the decision concerning a lockdown should not be taken out of emotions and panic but rather from the situation the country finds itself in.

    “The decision to lock down or not do not have to be taken out of emotion or panic but from country-specific situation. The thousands of the poor who do not have options to store food are the most vulnerable and the President is concerned about that.”

    Ghana has now recorded 132 cases of the deadly Covid-19 with 3 deaths and one recovery.

    President Akufo-Addo commented on the lockdown debate when he met members of the TUC at the Jubilee House.

    He said, a responsible government is required to look at the implications of the decision to lockdown a country in such a time, before it takes a firm decision.

    “it is important for us to take into account the circumstances and conditions. When we lockdown Accra, what are the consequences?” he quizzed.

    President Akufo-Addo indicated that currently, his administration is looking at all the possible options available before he communicates it to Ghanaians.

    “I am hoping that much sooner than later, we will come to an agreement on what those measures are and the Ghanaian people will be informed,” he stressed.

     

    Source: primenewsghana.com

  • Hotels in Western Region call for tax rebate amid Coronavirus outbreak

    Hotel operators in the Western Region have called on the government to consider giving them tax rebates as the spread of the coronavirus pandemic was having a toll on their operations.

    Some hotels have started laying off casual workers in a bid to sustain their operations due to a huge drop in patronage with the fear that they may shut down completely if government does not intervene.

    According to them, guest visits and hiring of conference halls have reduced drastically whereas some organizations have even cancelled already booked events.

    Mr Pradeep Kumar, General Manager of the Best Western Plus Atlantic Hotel who spoke to the Ghana News Agency lamented that with the suspension of all mass tourism related gatherings and the closed down of beaches by the Ghana Tourism Authority, all hoteliers in the region were waiting for an official announcement on the reduction in VAT and the tourism levy.

    He pointed out that though the hotel’s operational cost had gone up as they were still paying high utility bills despite the huge decline in patronage, his outfit had not laid off any permanent staff.

    However, management thought it wise to cut down some outsourced staff and may consider cutting down certain services with other services providers should the need arise.

    Mr. Anthony Kennedy Addiaba, General Manager of the Raybow International Hotel indicated that the hotel has suspended all entertainment Programmes like live bands, conferences and meetings with over 25 members following an order by the Ghana Tourism Board.

    “We are looking at the VAT rate being reduced if possible. Is it possible to even adjust the electricity and water tariffs, a look at suspending the payment we make to regulatory bodies including; property rates and similar costs? That’s what we want to know now”, he quizzed.

    Source: GNA

  • Four new cases of Coronavirus recorded in Ghana, raises count to 136

    Four more coronavirus cases have been recorded in Ghana making the total number of cases in the country 136.

    The four new cases are from routine surveillance.

    “As at the morning of 27 March 2020, a total of fifty-seven (57) cases including three (3) deaths have been confirmed from the regular surveillance systems. All the three (3) cases that unfortunately succumbed to the disease were aged and had underlying chronic medical conditions. All the other fifty-four (54) cases are well; fourteen (14) are being managed at home and the rest are responding well to treatment on admission in isolation. They are awaiting their test results and will be discharged when the results are negative,” the Ghana Health Service announced on its page Friday morning.

    Majority of Ghana’s 136 confirmed cases are Ghanaians who returned home from affected countries.

    “The number of confirmed cases among travellers under mandatory quarantine who have been tested is seventy-eight (78).

    In respect of contact tracing, a total of 1,006 contacts have been identified and are being tracked.

    Out of these, two hundred and four (204) have completed the 14 days mandatory follow up,” GHS further stated on its website.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com