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Tag: coronavirus in Ghana

  • Ghana’s PCR negative test remains three days before boarding flight – Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says the PCR negative test period before boarding a flight to Ghana remains three days despite calls for extension to at least five days.

    He explained that in view of the second wave of COVID-19 infections engulfing many countries in Europe and America, it was imperative for the nation to insist on the three-day period.

    “It is better to be safe than sorry,” he added.

    President Akufo-Addo announced this in his 18th televised address on Sunday night, on enhanced measures to contain the spread of COVID-19.

    Ghana reopened the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) on September 1, 2020 after closure for six months, to prevent the importation of the virus into the country.

    So far, the authorities at the KIA have tested 30,564 disembarking passengers at the airport out of which 92 tested positive.

    President Akufo-Addo, highlighting the significance of testing at the airport, noted that, all the 92 positive cases were asymptomatic, whose status could not have been detected, and would have unintentionally spread the disease among the Ghanaian population.

    The President indicated that despite the successes chalked so far in managing the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus remained a mystery, hence it was prudent to tread cautiously and continue observing all the safety protocols.

    He re-affirmed government’s commitment towards limiting the importation of the virus, provide adequate care for the sick and reduce the impact of the pandemic on social and economic life of the people.

    As of Friday, October 16, the number of active cases has declined further to 398, with 46,664 persons fully recovered, representing 98.5 per cent recovery rate.

    Three hundred and ten (310) persons have succumbed to the disease, representing 0.5 per cent fatality rate, with 510,074 tests conducted so far.

    The President said the country’s ultimate goal was to achieve zero active case scenario.

    President Akufo-Addo attributed the country’s success situation to government’s effective policies and interventions, the co-operation of all well-meaning Ghanaians and the grace of God.

    Source: GNA

  • COVID-19: Limit on number of persons allowed at conferences lifted

    The limit on the number of persons allowed to attend conferences has been lifted.

    President Akufo-Addo made the announcement during his eighteenth COVID-19 update to the nation.

    “The limit on the number of persons who can attend conferences, workshops and award events, has been lifted, subject to the strict adherence of COVID-19 protocols.”

    This is in accordance with the strategic, controlled, progressive, and safe easing of restrictions to restore the lives of Ghanaians and the economy back to normal, according to the President.

    During the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana, the government 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.

    The restrictions were subsequently eased.

    The President further urged Ghanaians to continue wearing face masks to ensure that COVID-19 is defeated in Ghana.

    “I urge all of you, my fellow Ghanaians, to continue to comply with strict hygiene, mask-wearing, and social distancing protocols that have become part of our daily routines. This is the surest way by which we can defeat the virus, and avoid a second wave of infections,” he added.

    Source: citinewsroom

  • Black Stars coronavirus positive cases hit five after friendlies, European clubs on alert

    Germany-based defender Kasim Nuhu became the fifth person from the Ghana team to test positive for coronavirus following last week’s friendlies against Mali and Qatar while striker Caleb Ekuban has been hospitalised over symptoms of the disease.

    With the sudden rise in the number of confirmed positive cases in the team, it is certain that players and officials of the team that travelled for the two matches will now face the real prospect of quarantining over the growing cases.

    Several clubs in Europe who had their players play in the two matches for Ghana during the international break are now racing to contact the Ghana FA over the cases while also carrying out their independent tests.

    The Black Stars Coronavirus cases reached five on Sunday after it became clear that Hoffenheim defender Kasim Adams has joined the growing number of players in the Ghana team that had contracted the virus.

    Vitoria Guimaraes left-back Gideon Mensah, Spain-based defender Joseph Aidoo and Besiktas midfielder Bernard Mensah as well as Black Stars management committee member Jones Abu Alhassan were confirmed to have contracted the virus during the training camp in Turkey.

    Apart from the five players confirmed to have contracted the virus, Ekuban has been hospitalised in Turkey after showing strong symptoms of coronavirus with a very high temperature.

    The 26-year-old was also the room-mate of Bernard Mensah during the Black Stars one-week training camp in the Turkish city of Antalya and the Besiktas midfielder has tested positive for the deadly disease.

    However, the tests on Ekuban came out negative and doctors are not leaving anything to chance and have asked him to quarantine himself at home while he is monitored.

    The latest revelation will raise serious concerns for the Ghana football authorities who would be in the race to discover the full extent of infections in the team when they played the matches against Mali and Qatar.

    Fears over the Black Stars were raised when four players from the Mali side were confirmed to have contracted the virus and it was feared it could be spread to the Ghana national team when they played their West African rivals.

    The full extent would be known this weekend when all players would have returned to their club sides where they are likely to face more stringent tests.

    It will also give the Ghana FA the idea on how to prepare and protect its players and officials during their upcoming matches in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • COVID-19 deaths in Ghana now 310

    Four more persons have died from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease in Ghana.

    This brings the total number of deaths to 310.

    The number of active cases have also risen steadily to 347 as of Saturday, October 10, 2020.

    Five regions have no active cases. They are the Bono, North East, Northern, Savannah and Upper West Regions.

    The new figures from the Ghana Health Service also indicate that 29 new cases of the disease have been recorded, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 47,126.

    Of the new cases, 14 persons who arrived into Ghana via the Kotoka International Airport tested positive for COVID-19.

    This brings to 77 the number of international travellers to have tested positive for COVID-19 following the reopening of the Kotoka International Airport.

    Meanwhile, 46,469 persons have recovered from the disease.

    Ghana has so far conducted 502,666 tests since the first case was recorded in March.

    Cumulative Cases per Region

    (Case Count from Highest to Lowest)

    Greater Accra Region – 24,324

    Ashanti Region – 10,980

    Western Region – 2,971

    Eastern Region – 2,419

    Central Region – 1,928

    Bono East Region – 783

    Volta Region – 679

    Western North Region – 644

    Northern Region – 547

    Ahafo Region – 527

    Bono Region – 511

    Upper East Region – 323

    Oti Region – 242

    Upper West Region – 90

    Savannah Region – 62

    North East Region – 19

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Over 7,000 public sector workers rendered unemployed by coronavirus Chief Labour Officer

    The Chief Labour Officer at the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, Eugene Narh Korletey, has disclosed that a total of 7,054 workers lost their jobs in the public sector between April and June, this year.

    He noted that this number covers about 13 industrial sectors of the Ghanaian economy in the heat of the coronavirus pandemic.

    Mr. Korletey made this known on Wednesday, October 14 at a tripartite workshop between government, labour, and employers.

    He said the Labour Department engaged the Economics Department of the University of Ghana to conduct a pilot labour market survey of the effect of Covid-19 on the labour front.

    “The report of the pilot labour market survey indicates that the pandemic led to job losses and vacancies for many workers,” he observed.

    “According to the results of the survey, about 40 percent of workers suffered pay cuts and these pay cuts were highest among medium-scale establishments. That is establishments of about 39 employees.”

    The Chief Labour Officer further indicated that 11,657 jobs were lost during the first three months of the pandemic with micro-sized enterprise’s hardest hit.

    Despite admitting that their members were negatively impacted by the pandemic, the Ghana Employers Association assured at the workshop that they have committed to adopting social dialogue to resolve the challenges.

    Deputy Secretary General of the Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC) Joshua Ansah called for more engagement at the tripartite level to deal with issues before they result in strikes.

    Source: 3 News

  • Herd immunity approach ‘would see 800m infected’

    The Africa Centres for Disease Control (CDC) has warned that more than 800 million Africans could be infected with coronavirus, if the virus is allowed to spread deliberately with the aim of achieving herd immunity.

    The projection is a worst case scenario.

    This could put the lives of 8.4 million Africans at risk if immunity was to be achieved naturally, Africa CDC added.

    Herd immunity is a situation in which a sufficient proportion of a population is immune to an infectious disease through vaccination and/or prior illness to make its spread from person to person unlikely.

    Wessam Mankoula, the incident manager for Covid-19 at the Africa CDC, told the BBC that the risk of deliberately giving the virus an avenue to spread will come at a high human cost.

    “In a continent of more than 1.2 billion people, this will mean that we will let the infection get to between 720 840 million people to reach this herd immunity,” Dr Mankoula said.

    “If we have a vaccine, we will be able to control infections. Without it, this will make our healthcare system vulnerable with a huge number of cases. Our hospitals will also be overwhelmed,” he added.

    More than 1.5 million people have been exposed to coronavirus in Africa.

    World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom told journalists on Monday that relying on obtaining herd immunity naturally would be scientifically and ethically problematic.

    “Herd immunity is achieved by protecting people from a virus, not by exposing them to it,” he said.

    “Never in the history of public health has herd immunity been used as a strategy for responding to an outbreak, let alone a pandemic.”

    The WHO says for immunity to be achieved, at least between 60% to 70% of the population would need to be immune to the virus.

    Both the Africa CDC and the WHO say the continent has done well in dealing with the pandemic. They attribute this to the strict lockdowns that were imposed at the early stages of the pandemic.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Video of schoolgirls being ‘disinfected’ angers Kenyans

    A video showing schoolgirls queuing to be sprayed as part of measures to curb the spread of coronavirus has divided Kenyans online.

    The 30 – second clip uploaded on Twitter by a local newspaper shows a man wearing protective clothing spraying a substance on the girls’ exposed hands, legs and uniforms.

    The World Health Organization does not recommend the spraying of individuals and says it could be “physically and psychologically harmful”.

    Schools in Kenya reopened on Monday for final year students with guidelines to provide sanitisation and handwashing facilities and ensure social distancing to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

    Kenyans on Twitter expressed mixed reactions to the spraying of students.

    “Such things and spray booths were banned by the ministry of health How did adults sit down and decided that spraying children like this contains #Covid19? What happened to running water and soap?” Dr Mercy Korir tweeted.

    “Then from next day we have skin issues, chest congestion ,asthma flare ups all in the excuse of money. Parents had to pay for their children to be sprayed like cows,” Phill Kamara tweeted

    “I don’t see any problem with this activity.. How would you expect them to be disinfected? .. Some of u are just rebellious just for the sake of it . smh,” Denno Duevshi tweeted.

    Social embed from twitter

    Source: bbc.com

  • Two more die as Ghanas coronavirus cases hit 47,097

    Latest figures released by the Ghana Health Service indicate that the country has recorded sixty-seven new cases of the novel coronavirus.

    The death toll, as per the new release has risen to 308 from 306 in the last update on Sunday, October 11, 2020.

    Cumulatively, Ghana has since March 12 recorded 47,097 cases of the coronavirus.

    The active cases, however, stand at 337 with the total recoveries at 46,452.

    Below is a breakdown of the cases

    Greater Accra Region – 24,300

    Ashanti Region – 10,980

    Western Region – 2,971

    Eastern Region – 2,419

    Central Region – 1,928

    Bono East Region – 783

    Volta Region – 679

    Western North Region – 644

    Northern Region – 547

    Ahafo Region – 527

    Bono Region – 511

    Upper East Region – 323

    Oti Region – 242

    Upper West Region – 90

    Savannah Region – 62

    North East Region – 19

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Political parties urged to publish coronavirus campaign guidelines

    Strategic African Network (STRANEK Africa) has urged political parties to publish their COVID-19 campaign guidelines.

    The civil society organisation said in a statement that in as much as this year is an important year for Ghanaians to decide which political party deserves the mandate to steer affairs of this country, it is important to keep in mind the danger posed by the virus.

    “We must be reminded that the pandemic COVID-19 has not left us entirely and has caused countries like United Kingdom, India, Czech Republic, France, Spain and the likes to go back to a partial lockdown,” STRANEK said in the statement.

    There has been vigorous crusade by various stakeholders in Ghana asking people to observe the COVID-19 protocols (wearing nose mask, observing social distancing, regular washing of hands among others) to mitigate the spread of the virus.

    However, per observations from the time campaign started, some political actors and their sympathisers or members of the parties mass up across the country to follow these actors in defiance of the COVID-19 protocols.

    Even though all the political parties are striving hard to catch the attention of partisans, STRANEK-Africa has called on them to publish their COVID-19 campaign guidelines in order not to have the spread of the virus in the heat of their campaign.

    “We suggest the COVID-19 campaign guidelines should contain how we can avoid or reduce the risk of crowding during their activities. Building entry and exit protocol to avoid large number of people in closed spaces. Campaign billboards, posters, banners should include measures of COVID-19. During door to door campaign, the various structures in the parties – constituencies, polling stations and electoral areas executives must not involve more than five people in a campaign group. The political parties must also do more of virtual campaign. The message spread should involve how we can get rid of this pandemic,” the group said.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Tunisias economic crisis amidst the Covid-19 pandemic

    Tens of thousands of Tunisians have lost their jobs in a worsening economic crisis exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic as nearly a third of small to medium-sized businesses face bankruptcy.

    Ali Ben Rached, owner of the café “La Javanaise,” is frustrated, “If there is no terrace or anything (allowed to be open) in the city, how will we work? We’re going to have to close down. And when I close, who will pay the employees?”

    A nighttime curfew around the capital Tunis began Thursday for 15 days.”The first wave of the epidemic (March to June) resulted in the loss of 165,000 jobs,” Bechir Boujday, a member of the board of the employers’ federation UTICA, told AFP Friday night.

    Majdi Chabbar, manager of the Tunisian bar-restaurant “Le Marengo,” finds the current situation overwhelming, “If this (curfew) issue goes on, there are plenty of people who will be hurt. They won’t be able to hold on. There is no breath left. Not everyone can wait.”

    Tunisia has seen a record shrinking of its economy with its GDP cut by 21.6% in the second quarter of 2020 and unemployment rising to 18% and predicted to be at 20% by the year’s end according to a study conducted by both the government and the United Nations due to what is being referred to as “unprecedented contraction of economic activity.”

    The key tourism industry has been hit extra hard seeing a 60% plunge in common with numerous hotels on the brink of permanent closure.

    Tunisia, with a population of around 11 million people, has reported nearly 27,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and over 400 deaths.

    Authorities warned earlier this month that hospitals were struggling to cope with an influx of Covid-19 patients.

    Ten years after the revolution that tumbled the old regime, Tunisian leaders are struggling to meet the expectations of the people, who are unsatisfied with the lack of increase in their collective standard of living within the country.

    Source: africanews.com

  • Stranded passengers who slept on benches refused to pay Coronavirus test GACL reacts

    The Ghana Airports Company Limited has reacted to a video gone viral on social media showing some travellers, including babies sleeping on benches at the Kotoka International Airport.

    According to the GACL, those seen in the video were passengers who refused to pay for the COVID-19 test upon arrival and were waiting to be transported by state security agencies to be quarantined at a designated location.

    Management, in a press release, pointed out that, “The video in circulation was taken by disgruntled passengers who refused to pay for the test on arrival and were waiting to be transported by State Security Agencies. As operators of the airport, GACL’s utmost responsibility is to ensure a smooth facilitation process of passengers especially during this COVID-19 era”.

    The aviation company therefore urged travellers to comply with the directives put in place to facilitate the smooth running of services at KIA.

    “It is worth noting that the measures put in place, as published in the guidelines, are to ensure the safety and protection of the Ghanaian populace. The travelling public is therefore kindly encouraged to strictly adhere to the published guidelines in the interest of health and safety of all Ghanaians”.

    Read below Ghana Airports Company’s release below.

    STATEMENT ON ALLEGED MALTREATMENT AT KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

    The attention of Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) has been drawn to a video circulating on social media regarding an alleged maltreatment of some passengers who refused to pay for the COVID-19 test on arrival at Kotoka International Airport (KIA).

    Management wishes to emphasize that the guidelines for arriving passengers state that, passengers who refuse to pay for the COVID-19 test will be handed over to State Security Agencies and taken into quarantine at a designated location.

    The video in circulation was taken by disgruntled passengers who refused to pay for the test on arrival and were waiting to be transported by State Security Agencies. As operators of the airport, GACL’s utmost responsibility is to ensure a smooth facilitation process of passengers especially during this COVID-19 era.

    It is worth noting that the measures put in place, as published in the guidelines, are to ensure the safety and protection of the Ghanaian populace.

    The travelling public is therefore kindly encouraged to strictly adhere to the published guidelines in the interest of health and safety of all Ghanaians.

    ISSUED BY MANAGEMENT

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • South Sudan re-opens schools after Covid-19 closure

    Schools in South Sudan have officially reopened today after more than six months since they were closed in March as a measure to curb the spread of Covid-19.

    Two weeks ago, President Salva Kiir ordered the resumption of schools and universities as the country continues to experience a significant reduction in coronavirus infections.

    The re-opening of schools was backed by a “Back to Learning Campaign” under the theme: “Safe learning during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.”

    Addressing students and teachers on Monday, Education Minister Awut Deng Achuil said the resumption of learning is to be carried out in two phases. First will be the primary school pupils and the oldest secondary school students due to sit final exams.

    Phase two will see the re-opening of all schools in April 2021.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Keeping coronavirus at bay in Senegal

    Despite only having seven doctors for every 100,000 people, Senegal has been widely praised for its handling of the coronavirus pandemic. The BBC’s Mayeni Jones and Naomi Scherbel-Ball look at how the country has managed to keep Covid-19 in check.

    “When the first case came, we were very anxious and I was angry because it was an imported case,” says Dr Khardiata Diallo, who co-ordinates the epidemic treatment centre at Fann Hospital in the capital, Dakar.

    “We worried that we lacked equipment, for the treatment of coronavirus there were just 12 beds with limited oxygen supplies for the whole country.”

    That was in late February when a Frenchman had returned to Dakar from a skiing holiday with a fever, sore throat and headache.

    He was Senegal’s first case of Covid-19, the second reported case in sub-Saharan Africa.

    Dr Diallo, who was part of the team that treated the country’s single Ebola case during the West African outbreak of 2014 as well as other cholera outbreaks over the last 15 years, knew they needed to act quickly to contain the pandemic.

    Free 24-hour testing

    Her colleagues at the prestigious Institut Pasteur in the Dakar, which in February was one of just two laboratories in Africa that were able to test for coronavirus, trained staff from dozens of other countries on how to test.

    By April, 43 countries on the African continent were able to diagnose Covid-19 effectively.

    Today the lab in Dakar’s central Plateau district has a 24-hour operation and testing has been expanded across the country.

    Tests for those with symptoms are free and results are released in eight hours.

    While there have been concerns over low testing rates across the continent, the Africa Centre for Disease Control is supporting countries to ramp up testing levels and there are hopes that cheap self-testing diagnostic kits could help that effort.

    The Institut Pasteur has been crucial to this effort, with its chief virologist Amadou Sall partnering with UK-based firm Mologic to develop two home test kits.

    Dr Sall says the manufacturing of the antibody test has already begun and they should be released in the coming weeks.

    It will work like a pregnancy test, costing close to $1 (£.80) with results in just 10 minutes.

    The home test that will show if someone currently has coronavirus has been delayed and is now being validated by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, but there are hopes it will still be out before the end of the year.

    Higher levels of testing should also help with early diagnosis.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Coronavirus: SHS2, JHS2 students resume school today

    Second year students in Senior High Schools and Junior High Schools are returning to school today, Monday, October 5 2020 to complete their academic year.

    The decision was taken by the Ghana Education Service, after consultation with the relevant stakeholders.

    The students will remain in school until 14 December 2020.

    Announcing this in his 16th COVID-19 address to the nation on Sunday, 30 August 2020, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said: “With Junior High Schools operating with class sizes of thirty (30), and Senior High Schools with class sizes of twenty-five (25), SHS 2 and JHS 2 students will be in school for ten (10) weeks to study, and write their end of term examinations”.

    “SHS 2 students in boarding houses are to return to their various dormitories on 5th October, while day students, respecting fully the COVID-19 protocols, will commute from home to their respective schools on the same date.”

    Prior to today, all Junior and Senior High Schools have been fumigated and disinfected.

    Just as was done in the case of final year university, JHS and SHS students, the government says all JHS 2 and SHS 2 students, as well as all teaching and non-teaching staff, will be given reusable face masks.

    Each school will be provided with Veronica Buckets, gallons of liquid soap, rolls of tissue paper, thermometer guns, and 200 milli-litre containers of sanitizers.

    JHS 2 students will be given one hot meal a day.

    Assemblies and sporting events remain banned; and the use by outsiders of school premises for other activities is still not allowed.

    The schools were closed down to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

    Source: Class FM

  • COVID-19: JHS 2 and SHS 2 students will be safe – GES assures

    The Ghana Education Service (GES) has assured that second-year (Form 2) students in Junior High and Senior High Schools will be safe when they return to school on Monday, October 5, 2020.

    The return of the students is to enable them to complete their respective third term and second semester of the current academic year.

    The GES in a press release said Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) have been distributed to all schools which have also been fumigated and disinfected against COVID-19.

    “Management of Ghana Education Service (GES) wishes to remind all students, parents, teachers and the general public that Form 2 students in Junior High and Senior High Schools will be returning to school on Monday 5th October 2020. This is to enable them to complete the 3rd term and 2nd semester respectively of the current academic year,” the release said.

    “Management wishes to assure students, parents, teachers and the general public that all the necessary measures have been put in place to ensure their safety while in school.

    “All schools have been fumigated and disinfected. In addition, Personal Protective Equipment (PPES) have been distributed to all schools”.

    Closure of schools

    It will be recalled that all universities, SHSs, basic schools, both private and public, were closed down in March following the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country.

    However, final-year JHS and SHS students were exempted from the directive and were to remain in school and adhere to prescribed social distancing protocols while preparing for their examinations in May and June 2020, respectively.

    On August 30, President Akufo-Addo in his 16th address to the nation on measures taken to control the spread of the Coronavirus disease announced that JHS and SHS in their second year (Form 2) were to resume on October 5, 2020, to complete the 2019/20 academic year.

    The President directed that JHSs would operate with a class sizes of 30 while SHSs would operate with a class sizes of 25.

    He added that the students would be in school for 10 weeks to study and write their end of term examinations.

    President Akufo-Addo further noted that prior to reopening, all schools would be fumigated and disinfected.

    He said as part of measures to control the spread of the Coronavirus, all the students would be given reusable face masks like was done for the final year JHS and SHS students who reported to school earlier in the year.

    JHS two students will also be given one hot meal a day.

    “SHS 2 students in boarding houses are to return to their various dormitories on 5th October, whilst day students, respecting fully the COVID-19 protocols, will commute from home to their respective schools on the same date. Prior to reopening, all Junior and Senior High Schools will be fumigated and disinfected,” President Akufo-Addo said.

    “Just as was done in the case of final year university, JHS and SHS students, all JHS 2 and SHS 2 students, as well as all teaching and non-teaching staff, will be given reusable face masks. Each school will be provided with Veronica Buckets, gallons of liquid soap, rolls of tissue paper, thermometer guns, and 200 milli-litre containers of sanitizers. JHS 2 students will be given one hot meal a day,”.

    Read the entire GES press release below;

    PRESS RELEASE

    RE-OPENING OF SCHOOLS FOR JHS 2 AND SHS 2 STUDENTS

    Management of Ghana Education Service (GES) wishes to remind all students, parents, teachers and the general public that Form 2 students in Junior High and Senior High Schools will be returning to school on Monday 5th October 2020. This is to enable them complete the 3rd term and 2nd semester respectively of the current academic year.

    Management wishes to assure students, parents, teachers and the general public that all the necessary measures have been put in place to ensure their safety while in school.

    All schools have been fumigated and disinfected. In addition, Personal Protective Equipment (PPES) have been distributed to all schools.

    Management urges school authorities, staff and students to acknowledge that Covid-19 is still with us and should therefore strictly adhere to all the guidelines issued to the schools. Management urges parents/guardians and the general public to continue to support, cooperate and collaborate with the educational authorities to ensure Successful academic work in all the schools.

    CASSANDRA TWUM AMPOFO HEAD, PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Coronavirus: Ghana records 74 new cases, active cases now 503

    74 more cases of Coronavirus have been confirmed in the country, reports the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

    This sends the cumulative case count to 46,768.

    Out of the 46,768 persons who have been infected with the virus, 45,964 have recovered and/or been discharged.

    According to figures available on GHS’s website, active cases have increased from 448 to 503. The death toll, however stands at 301.

    Per the latest update, 4 cases are critical, 2 on ventilator while 14 are severe.

    Cumulative Cases per Region:

    Greater Accra Region – 24,044

    Ashanti Region – 10,974

    Western Region – 2,968

    Eastern Region – 2,412

    Central Region – 1,928

    Bono East Region – 781

    Volta Region – 672

    Western North Region – 638

    Northern Region – 547

    Ahafo Region – 527

    Bono Region – 511

    Upper East Region – 311

    Oti Region – 242

    Upper West Region – 90

    Savannah Region – 62

    North East Region – 19

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • South Africa opens borders to African countries, limits others

    South Africa will reopen its borders to all African countries from Thursday while barring tourists from around 50 nations with high coronavirus infection rates, the government said on Wednesday.

    The continent’s most industrialised economy shuttered its borders at the start of a strict nationwide lockdown on March 27 to limit the spread of the virus.

    Restrictions on movement and business have been gradually eased since June, but borders stayed sealed to avoid importing the virus from abroad.

    Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor said the country would “gradually” open borders, but that restrictions were in place for around 50 countries categorised as high risk include Britain, the US, India, Russia and France.

    “Only business travellers with scarce and critical skills, diplomats, investors and professional sports people coming for events from the high-risk countries will be permitted into the country,” she said.

    Meanwhile, “travellers from all African countries are allowed,” Pandor added.

    The country will reopen some land borders and its three main airports in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg.

    All travellers will be required to present a negative coronavirus test taken less than 72 hours prior to departure.

    They will be screened upon arrival and asked to install a coronavirus tracing app on their mobile phone.

    The travel restrictions will be reviewed every two weeks.

    South Africa has been particularly hard-hit by the coronavirus pandemic, with 672,572 infections and 16,667 deaths recorded to date, around half the total number of cases detected on the continent.

    The countries with restrictions have a greater number of infections and deaths compared with South Africa, Pandor said.

    Source: africanews.com

  • Coronavirus: Locked down areas recorded 47.1% increase in crime rate GSS

    The coronavirus pandemic has since March undoubtedly had a devastating impact on households, businesses, and the local economies in Ghana, and the world at large.

    With almost every sector experiencing change of a sort, the pandemic gave way to more negative effects than positive.

    The most recent survey conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), tagged the Local Economies Tracker, proved that the three-week partial lockdown in Accra and Kumasi during the early times of the pandemic paved way for more criminal activities to take place.

    The report indicated that localities in locked down districts experienced the highest increase in overall crime rate and other forms of crime with a percentage of 47.1.

    Overall, three out of ten communities, that is 34.1% of localities in the country saw an increase in crime during the lockdown period.

    Theft and burglary were the two most common crimes, with 31.4% and 13.1% respectively. This was followed by an increase in domestic violence (3.7%) and assaults (3.1%) in communities.

    Government Statistician, Prof Samuel Kobina Annim, throwing more light on the figures stated that, “Clearly, the evidence pointed to the fact that as a result of COVID-19, there was an upsurge in crime across all the three different districts. Specifically, if you put all these three districts together, at least a third of the localities in these districts indicate that there has been an increase in crime.”

    “The district that suffered the most as a result of COVID-19 from the perspective of crime is locked down districts and if you cut down on all the components of crime, that is, theft, burglary, violence, assault and murder, we see that the locked down districts was the hardest hit. Specifically, we had close to 50% of localities in locked down districts indicating that. Of the different types of crime from theft to murder, theft was the highest across all the three districts.”

    The COVID-19 Local Economies Tracker was conducted on a total of 2,770 localities in the country from May to June 2020.

    The districts in the various regions were segmented into three domains; that is, the locked-down districts which include 40 districts, border districts made up of 47 districts, and other districts which do not fall into any of these categories.

    Source: citinewsroom

  • Government to support private schools affected by coronavirus – Bawumia

    Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has said the government is considering providing financial support to private schools which have been affected during the COVID-19 outbreak.

    The support, according to Dr Bawumia, is to help save these institutions from collapse and laying off workers.

    Dr Bawumia said these during an encounter with teachers and artisans in the Ablekuma Central Constituency in the Greater Accra Region.

    He was sad about the pandemic which has affected most companies and schools, assuring the private schools of government support.

    He also encouraged the teachers and artisans to vote for President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to expand the economy, build agriculture base and increase support to the informal sector.

    The private schools have petitioned the government to intervene and save them from folding up following the ravages of the virus.

    Source: 3 News

  • Government spent $1 million to evacuate 2,200 Ghanaians from Lebanon – Minister

    The flights cost of evacuating 2,262 stranded Ghanaian domestic workers from Lebanon during the COVID-19 lockdown was $1,062,600, Mr Charles Owiredu, a Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, has said.

    He said, Member of Parliament for Assin Central Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong and friends contributed $428,450; whilst the Government provided $634,150.

    Mr Owiredu, who disclosed this at a press conference in Accra, noted that the quarantine cost was also footed by the Government.

    According to him, more than 80 per cent of those evacuated had part or all of their salaries not paid with about 70 per cent having their passports confiscated by their employers and Lebanese agents.

    The Deputy Minister said because majority of the people were not paid, travel certificates were issued free of charge instead of the payment of the usual $35 fee.

    Regarding those having outstanding salaries, Mr Owiredu said they would discuss the issue with the Lebanese Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Labour for redress.

    He said although Lebanon is going through challenging times, they will still pursue the outstanding salaries to ensure the victims are adequately compensated.

    Source: GNA

  • Breast milk could be protective against coronavirus – Study suggests

    Breast milk may help protect babies from being infected by the novel coronavirus, a new study suggests.

    Researchers at a lab in China found that mother’s milk prevented the pathogen from infecting and replicating in cells, even if the child does not have antibodies.

    What’s more, it is even more effective than the milk of other animals such as goats and cows.

    The team, from Beijing University of Chemical Technology, says the findings support the recommendation from the World Health Organization (WHO) that mothers with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 be encouraged to continue breastfeeding.

    For the study, published on pre-peer review site bioRxiv.org, the team exposed human lung and gut cells to SARS-CoV-2.

    Next, they analyzed what effect breast milk, which was collected in 2017 – before the pandemic – had on the cells.

    Healthy cells were mixed into human breast milk. Then the milk was washed off and the cells were exposed to the virus.

    The virus did not bind to or enter most of the cells. Additionally, if it did enter cells, the virus was not able to make copies of itself.

    This suggests breast milk can inhibit the coronavirus as it does other viruses such as norovirus and bacteria.

    ‘SARS-CoV-2 could infect [cells] and the infection could be inhibited by breastmilk (2 mg/ml), which was reported to have anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity,’ the authors wrote.

    In a previous study, the same research team found breast milk prevented coronavirus infection in animal kidney cells.

    They determined the whey protein, which has anti-inflammatory properties, was responsible for inactivating the virus rather than other proteins such as lactoferrin.

    ‘Whey protein from human breastmilk effectively inhibited…SARS-CoV-2…by blocking viral attachment, entry and even post-entry viral replication,’ they wrote.

    This was also true when milk was tested from those of other animals included cows and goats.

    However, the whey from animals suppressed the viral strains by approximately 70 percent compared to the nearly 100 percent of human whey.

    A national study is currently being launched by Washington State University to determine whether or not babies can contract coronavirus from breastfeeding.

    Limited research has been conducted on this topic up to this point, but the results have been mixed.

    Some studies have found no virus in human milk while others have detected viral RNA in just certain milk samples.

    For example, at least two studies, one from China and another from the US, found no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 in human breastmilk.

    But a report from the WHO found that, of 46 breast milk samples from mothers with the virus, 43 came back negative while three tested positive for particles.

    However, the team says that even if viral genetic material is found in breastmilk, it doesn’t mean it’s infectious or can be spread to babies.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Government to support private schools affected by coronavirus – Bawumia

    Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has said government is considering providing financial support to private schools which have been affected during the Covid-19 outbreak.

    The support, according to Dr Bawumia, is to help save these institutions from collapse and laying off workers.

    Dr Bawumia said these during an encounter with teachers and artisans in the Ablekuma Central Constituency in the Greater Accra Region.

    He was sad about the pandemic which has affected most companies and schools, assuring the private schools of government support.

    He also encouraged the teachers and artisans to vote for President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to expand the economy, build agriculture base and increase support to the informal sector.

    The private schools have petitioned the government to intervene and save them from folding up following the ravages of the virus.

    Source: 3 News

  • Kotoka International Airport boosts rating with robust coronavirus prevention protocols

    Standard COVID-19 prevention protocols observed at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), have made the airport more attractive to the international community.

    Mr. Joseph Kofi Adda, Minister of Aviation, said this on Tuesday in Accra, when Qater Airways launched its flight operations into the country, with a Boeng 787 aircraft.

    “This is coming in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, an indication of the preparedness of the KIA, with regards to laid down protocols on the prevention of the spread of covid-19,” he said.

    Mr. Adda wooed the airline’s management to see Ghana as a convenient place to do business, and said there were a number of other investment potentials that they could explore, to the mutual gain of the two countries.

    Mr. Charles Owiredu, Deputy Minister, Foreign Affairs and Regional integration, recalled that in the year 2017, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, led a delegation to Qatar during which a memorandum of understanding to foster bilateral corporation between the two countries was signed.

    He said the launch was thus a fruition of that initiative, adding, “The government would give Qatar Airways all the support it needs to succeed.”

    Mr. Yofi Grant, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ghana Investment Promotion Council (GIPC), described the event as a milestone in the history of the two countries, adding that it served as a door opener for further cooperation between the two countries.

    The GIPC CEO said he was of the firm belief that Qatar Airways would soon become one of the leading airlines in the country.

    Source: GNA

  • Public urged not to relent on coronavirus safety protocols

    Dr Dacosta Aboagye, the Director of Health Promotion Division of the Ghana Health Service, has urged the public not to relent on observing the COVID-19 safety protocols because the disease is still active.

    He said the current statistics on the virus should not let people feel the country had overcome the pandemic.

    Rather, he urged the public to intensify the wearing of nose marks, washing of hands, use of sanitizers and the adherence to the social distancing protocols.

    Dr Aboagye gave the advice at a sensitization workshop on COVID-19 for the members of the Greater Region House of Chiefs at Dodowa in Accra.

    He said: “Unless one has the disease, one may not believe it exists and that we should put all doubt aside and obey the protocols because that is the only means to protect ourselves from the pandemic.”

    Dr Aboagye cautioned persons with pre-existing diseases like diabetes, hypertension, asthma, among others to be extra careful not to contract the disease as it could enhance their vulnerability.

    Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Minister of Information, in an address read on his behalf, said Ghana cannot afford to throw caution to the wind and that for people to let their guard down could result in an erosion of the remarkable gains made and put the nation at risk of being hit by a second wave of the pandemic.

    Mr Ishmael Ashittey, the Greater Accra Regional Minister said despite the huge toll COVID-19 took on lives and livelihoods of the global population, the Ghana government took bold measures to contain its spread through well-coordinated and concerted action.

    He called on the members of the House of Chiefs to take the lead in educating their subjects to observe the safety protocols to help drive away the disease.

    Mr Charles Wereko, the Director of the Information Services Department said the chiefs as venerable persons in society the Department would rely on them to complement the efforts of government by undertaking sensitization campaign on the COVID-19.

    Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona, the President of the House and the Paramount Chief of Osu Traditional area gave the assurance that the chiefs would ensure that the safety protocol messages on the COVID-19 reach the people for a healthy living.

    Source: GNA

  • Our client has coronavirus complications Ken Agyapongs lawyer tells court

    The Member of Parliament for Assin Central Kennedy Agyapong who is a subject of contempt of court has suffered from complications of COVID-19, his lawyers told the High Court hearing his case.

    Agyapong who is in court for allegedly scandalizing the court by describing a High Court judge with unprintable words pleaded not guilty to contempt after he was charged for scandalising the court and bringing its name into disrepute.

    In court on Monday, where he and his lawyers are expected to open their defence of the charge, he was absent from the sitting.

    Lead counsel for the legal team Kwame Gyan told the court that though at the last adjourned date, they together with the court had “mutual agreement for continuation of proceedings,” the client is absent.

    He said after “we left the court on Friday, our client, Ken Agyapong suffered from complication of post-COVID-19 conditions that he suffered last month.”

    “We arranged for him to seek medical support and the report from the doctor who treated him and an attached excuse duty report” has been made available to the court.

    According to him, his absence was not out of disrespect to the court or wilful conduct, but due to his ill health.

    To buttress his point, Counsel said the court records will reflect that, “since the case started last month after the service of the Court Order of substituted service,” he has “consistently being in court and ahead of time.”

    He, therefore, prayed for an adjournment for him to claim bail of health.

    Court

    The court presided over by Justice Amos Wuntah Wuni, after hearing counsel said the contemnor was not present in court for proceedings to continue.

    “Indeed a medical excuse duty and attached form has been attached to a cover letter and medical report under the seal of counsel asking for a 14-day adjournment from, September 26 to October 10, 2020.

    The court said, “under the circumstance granted the request and adjourned the case.”

    Order

    However, the court has summoned the medical doctor of Holy Trinity Medical Centre/Spa and Health to appear before it on October 1, to speak to the medical excuse duty of Ken Agyapong.

    The court said “We have to create a good country for ourselves. The way excuse duties reports are written these days, somebody must speak to it.”

    Source: Starr FM

  • Court summons Ken Agyapongs doctor over alleged coronavirus complications

    The court presided over by Justice Amos Wuntah Wuni after hearing counsel said the contemnor was not present in court for proceedings to continue.

    “Indeed a medical excuse duty and attached form has been attached to a cover letter and medical report under the seal of counsel asking for a 14-day adjournment from, September 26 to October 10, 2020.

    The court said, “under the circumstance granted the request and adjourned the case.”

    Order

    However, the court has summoned the medical doctor of Holy Trinity Medical Centre/Spa and Health to appear before it on October 1, to speak to the medical excuse duty of Ken Agyapong.

    The court said “We have to create a good country for ourselves. The way excuse duties reports are written these days, somebody must speak to it.”

    Source: Kasapa FM

  • Test regime at Airport will prevent importation of coronavirus – Minister

    Information Minister, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah has reiterated that the testing regime being used at the Kotoka International Airport will help curtail the importation of the Coronavirus even as parts of the world goes through a second wave of virus infection.

    Addressing a press conference on Sunday, September 27, 2020, the Minister said government has taken note of the new wave of the virus in some parts of the world and is putting measures in place to prevent a second influx from these affected countries.

    “The government of Ghana has taken note of a new wave of Coronavirus infections in some parts of the world. Especially Europe, America and Asia. Countries in parts of Europe have seen a resurgence of COVID-19 cases after many of them successfully slowed the initial outbreak a few months ago. Scientists have also reported that countries like France, the UK, Spain, Poland and the Netherlands are currently dealing with what they call a much feared second wave and are beginning to take some actions to curb it. Government takes note of the fact that at this time our borders or our air borders are open to flights from some of these countries there by heightening our risk.

    “At this time, therefore, the government of Ghana is going for strict observation of the in-bound flight protocols that were outlined a few weeks ago when the airports were opened. There will be the strict observation but also we will have to continue with the two-bound test or the two-layer test approach that we are currently embarking on to ensure that the risk of what appears to be a second wave of cases in Europe poses to us is clearly mitigated.”

    “At the same time, while doing this, we will continue to strictly observe the developments in these countries and these developments will inform whether or not Ghana will consider some travel restrictions from these countries,” he added.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • UDS reduces academic fees by 16% over coronavirus pandemic

    Management of the University for Development Studies (UDS) has reduced academic fees for the 2020/2021 academic year by about 16%.

    The reduction in fees is due to the financial impact the Coronavirus pandemic has had on families and individuals.

    The decision by school authorities to reduce academic fees comes amid an upward review of fees by other public tertiary institutions.

    The reduction also comes after the Students Representative Council petitioned school authorities over the need to review academic fees because of the coronavirus pandemic.

    A communique signed by the Central UDS SRC President, Christopher Otoo, stressed that the reduction was expected to mitigate the burden on parents and some junior members who pay their own fees.

    “By this communiqué, without any display of ostentation, mention must be made that successfully, the interest of respected colleagues have been drummed collectively by leadership, and management without resentment has listened to our plea,” part of the communiqué reads.

    The SRC further reiterated its mandate of working in the interest of students and ensuring that their concerns are channelled to management.

    “Appropriately the fee for the 2020/2021 academic year has been reduced by 16%. This became necessary because of the emergence of COVID-19 how it affected and continue to affect the economy. We expect that this reduction will mitigate the burden on parents and some junior members who pay their fees.

    Your interest has been prioritized and we promise never to look-on for anything that passes unattended to,” he added.

    Source: universnewsroom.com

  • Football restart: Government to pay for coronavirus testing of players – Dr Aboagye Dacosta

    Dr Aboagye Dacosta the leader of the Risk Communication for COVID-19 National Response Team says government will bear the cost of testing for Premier League and Division One league players before the commencement of the 2020/21 football season.

    Government has given the green light for football activities to commence next month with strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocols amid the pandemic.

    According to Dr Aboagye Dacosta, the Ghana Football Association presented a proposal to the COVID-19 taskforce team on the safe return of football amid the pandemic which was approved by government thus the decision to allow football restart next month.

    He confirmed in an interview on Happy 98.9 that government will take up the cost of testing of officials, players of the various teams before the season commences.

    “Government will pay for the COVID-19 testing of the players of the Division and Premier League players”, he told Ohene Bampoe-Brenya on Happy Sports on Happy 98.9FM.

    “We were engaged with the GFA, Sports Ministry before we sent our report to the government on the resumption of football. Now the Sports Ministry and the NSA must put in place measures to ensure the 25 per cent of the supporters will be at the stadium.

    “The GFA, Sports Ministry should come out with the guidelines they presented on the COVID-19 protocols when they start the league”, he added.

    The Ghana Football Association following the directive from government has announced that the 2020/21 Ghana football season will commence in November.


    Source: Happy 98.9FM

  • Coronavirus We need to build domestic resilience Stanbic boss

    Managing Director of Stanbic Bank, Alhassan Andani, has said there is the need to build domestic resilience in dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 on the economy.

    He indicated that Ghanaian authorities should begin to start the conversation now to take the mind of Ghanaians from dependence on export to support us and COVID has shown that we need resilience.

    He said on Wednesday September 23 that “We should begin to start the conversation now to take the mind of Ghanaians from dependence on export to support us and COVID has shown that we need resilience.

    “We need to build domestic resilience. To maintain stability, it is always about demand and supply. We should as a country focus a lot more attention on selling our goods and services abroad and also reduce our penchant for export.

    “Literally, it has been said on every economic forum, but we just say it and do nothing about it. We keep importing toothpicks, handkerchiefs and straws on which you can suck your drink All those things should stop.

    “So, two things you have to be done simultaneously to improve export and reduce import, but we need domestic production. There are a lot of things we can produce and avoid using scarce foreign currency,” he told Citi FM.

    Source: Laud Business

  • Coronavirus: Weve all gone down together, we should rise together – President to UN Assembly

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is calling on global leaders to rally together in a collective effort in finding solutions such as vaccines to the ravaging effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    According to the President, the whole world finds itself affected by the pandemic and therefore needs an all hands-on deck approach in bringing the globe back on its feet.

    “The lessons are clear: we all fell together and looked into the abyss together. Even as we closed our borders and shut airports, the reality dawned on all of us that we had to rely on each other to be able to get out of the trouble we were in. We have all gone down together, we should all rise together,” he told the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, September 23, 2020.

    The President who made his address via a virtual presentation said, “If the answer to this pandemic lies in finding a vaccine, that vaccine should be made available to the whole world.

    “If the answer to this pandemic lies in finding a vaccine, that vaccine should be made available to the whole world; rich and poor alike, developed and developing, all races and all beliefs. The virus has taught us that we are all at risk, and there is no special protection for the rich or a particular class. For as long as the virus exists, whatever medical solutions that might be found should be made available for all in aid of our common humanity,” the president said.

    The president while assessing the financial impacts of the pandemic on the economies of developing countries, called for a restructuring of the global financing architecture to enable access to fresh capital by developing nations.

    According to him, this is an immediate necessity to prevent the erosion of the gains chalked by developing economies as well as maintaining and growing the standard of living of their citizens above dangerous levels.

    The 75th United Nations General Assembly held unlike previous sessions have some world leaders making their presentations from their home countries.

    This has been as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak which has caused the closure of borders and have resulted in the slowdown of global activities.

    Watch the president’s address below:

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coronavirus: There’s a primary need to build domestic resilience Alhassan Andani

    President of the Ghana Bankers Association, Alhassan Anadni has called for the need to build domestic resilience in dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 on the economy.

    He indicated that Ghanaian authorities should begin to start the conversation now to take the mind of Ghanaians from dependence on export to support us and COVID-19 has shown that we need resilience.

    He said on Wednesday September 23, 2020 that “We should begin to start the conversation now to take the mind of Ghanaians from dependence on export to support us and COVID-19 has shown that we need resilience.

    “We need to build domestic resilience. To maintain stability, it is always about demand and supply. We should as a country focus a lot more attention on selling our goods and services abroad and also reduce our penchant for export.”

    “Literally, it has been said on every economic forum, but we just say it and do nothing about it. We keep importing toothpicks, handkerchiefs and straws on which you can suck your drink All those things should stop.”

    “So, two things you have to be done simultaneously to improve export and reduce import, but we need domestic production. There are a lot of things we can produce and avoid using scarce foreign currency,” he told Citi FM.

    Source: Laud Business

  • Government extends free water to end of 2020

    Government has extended the Coronavirus-induced free water supply to Ghanaians to the end of the year.

    This was contained in a statement issued by the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources on Wednesday, September 23, 2020.

    “The general public is hereby informed that H.E. the President of Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has extended the policy on free water for all Ghanaians for another three months from October 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020.”

    The statement further added that “this is to enable Ghanaians to continue with the protocols especially the washing of hands under running water to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic.”

    Government however, appealed to Ghanaians to use water judiciously.

    “The Ministry appeals to consumers to use water judiciously in the observance of the protocols.”

    Background

    At the initial stages of the Coronavirus pandemic in Ghana, government announced a three month free water for Ghanaians.

    The relief was extended by another three months. This was announced by the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta on Thursday, July 23, 2020, when he presented the 2020 mid-year budget review in Parliament.

    He said government decided to extend the relief “because we put the concerns and aspirations of the ordinary Ghanaian first.”

    Below is the statement from the Sanitation Ministry

    Source: citinewsroom

  • 3,717 schools disinfected in Greater Accra ahead of reopening

    The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, in collaboration with private waste management company Zoomlion Ghana Limited, on Wednesday, 23 September 2020, started disinfecting some 109 senior high and special schools as well as 3,680 basic schools in the Greater Accra Region.

    This forms part of the national disinfection exercise of all schools nationwide to pave the way for reopening on 5 October 2020.

    Some of the disinfected schools include Accra Academy, Wesley Grammar, Achimota SHS among others.

    Speaking to the media, the Accra Zone General Manager of Zoomlion, Mr Ernest Morgan Acquah, stressed that there is a need for this round of the disinfection exercise since the final-year students used the classrooms.

    He added that the disinfection exercise has been extremely helpful as far as the fight against COVID-19 is concerned.

    The Assistant Head of Domestic Affairs for Accra Academy, Mr Asun William Kwame; Headmaster of Wesley Grammar SHS and Assistant Headmaster of Administration for Achimota SHS, also spoke to the media and expressed their pleasure over the exercise that has been done in their schools, saying it was the best move ahead of the reopening.

    Source: Class FM

  • Coronavirus testing: Noncompliant airlines face US$3,500 fine per passenger

    The Ghana Airports Company Limited has announced that effective 6 pm Tuesday, September 22, 2020, airlines that fly passengers who do not possess PCR tests or disembark passengers with positive PCR tests at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in Accra will be charged a fine of US$3,500 per passenger.

    The airport authorities have also indicated that non-Ghanaians who on arrival will test positive at KIA “may be refused entry and returned to the point of embarkation at a cost to the offending airline.”

    In a recent update on its COVID-19 operational guidelines, the Ghana Airport Company Limited added that, Ghanaians who test positive on arrival will be allowed entry but subject to a 14-day mandatory quarantine at a government-approved facility and at a cost to the passenger.

    The GACL after months of closure commenced operations at the Kotoka International Airport on Tuesday, September 1, 2020.

    The reopening of the airport followed the announcement by president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during his 16th televised address to the nation on the measure taken by the government to curb the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.

    See below the latest COVID-19 operational guidelines released by the Ghana Airport Company Limited.

    Arriving Passengers

    All international arriving passengers, including those from the ECOWAS region, will be required to meet the following health requirements prior to admission into Ghana:

    a. Passengers must not have symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 including body temperature >38°C

    b. Passengers must possess a COVID-19 negative PCR test from an accredited laboratory in the country of origin.

    c. The test should have been done not more than 72 hours before the scheduled departure time from the country of origin.

    d. Airlines who board passengers without PCR test result or transport and disembark passengers with Positive PCR test result into Accra will be fined US$3,500 per passenger.

    – Non-Ghanaians may be refused entry and returned to the point of embarkation at a cost to the Airline.

    – Ghanaians will be allowed entry but subject to 14 days of mandatory quarantine at a facility approved by the Government and at a cost to the passenger.

    e. Arriving passengers will undergo temperature screening

    f. Ghanaian residents who depart Ghana and return within one (1) week will not be required to present a COVID-19 result from the country of departure. They will, however, undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing upon arrival in Ghana.

    g. Passengers will be subjected to a mandatory COVID-19 test at the airport terminal at a cost of $150 to be borne by the passenger. Payment can be made online at https://myfrontierhealthcare.com/Home/Ghana. Any passenger who is unable to pay online will be required to make payment on arrival for the test.

    h. Any Passenger who refuses to pay to undergo the COVID-19 test will be subjected to the following;

    – Passenger’s passport will be seized, and passenger handed over to State Security Agencies
    – Passenger will be taken into a fourteen (14) day quarantine at a designated location at the passenger’s cost.

    i. Passengers who test positive upon arrival will receive further clinical assessment and treatment.

    j. Passengers who test negative will be advised to continue to observe COVID-19 safety precautions following arrival in Ghana.

    k. For passengers who transit through other countries before arriving in Ghana, the first country of departure will be the reference point. (Connecting flights should not deny passenger boarding, as long as the journey has not been terminated in any of the transit countries).

    Transit Passengers

    a. Passengers transiting and transferring through Accra will not be required to take the COVID-19 test in Accra.

    b. Transit passengers will be required to adhere to COVID-19 testing requirements for the destination countries.

    Exemptions

    a. Airline crew are exempted from the pre-departure and arrival COVID-19 testing and should follow the Airline policy for testing.

    b. Children under 5 years of age will not be required to undergo testing on Arrival at the Kotoka International Airport.

    c. Passengers who arrive under emergency circumstances such as diverted flights will not be required the airport or remain in isolation in their room.

    d. Passengers must wear face mask appropriately (extending from the middle nasal bridge to halfway between the chin and the neck) and are advised to regularly use any of the hand sanitizing stations provided in the terminal.

    Travelling with Pets

    a. Travelling with pets into Ghana is allowed in line with guidelines of the Veterinary Services Directorate of the Ministry of Food & Agriculture.

    Departing Passengers

    All international departing passengers will be required to meet the following guidelines prior to departure:

    a. Passengers will be required to adhere to COVID-19 testing requirements for the destination countries

    b. Departing passengers will undergo temperature screening at the entrance of Terminal 3 departures.

    c. Only passengers and persons with business in the terminal will be allowed entry

    d. Online check-in or the use of self-service kiosks is strongly encouraged to reduce physical contact at the airport.

    e. Passengers are advised to arrive at the airport at least 4 hours before the scheduled departure time.

    Passengers must wear face mask appropriately (extending from the middle nasal bridge to halfway between the chin and the neck) and are advised to regularly use any of the hand sanitizing stations provided in the terminal.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Eat well, exercise to fight coronavirus Akufo-Addo urges Ghanaians

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged Ghanaians to eat a healthy and balanced diet to enable them boost their immunity and fight against infectious diseases.

    He said this in his 17th address to the nation on the measures against the Coronavirus outbreak in Ghana.

    He said: “We in Ghana have certainly come a long way and we have made significant progress in combating the disease behind fear and panic exhibited by many especially when the first two cases were recorded in our shores.

    “We have to remember to continue improving our fitness by exercising and eating well, patronising our healthy Ghanaian foods which will boost our immunity to disease and help us in the fight against the pandemic.”

    Meanwhile, Mr Akufo-Addo has extended by three more months the Executive Instrument (EI) making the wearing of masks mandatory.

    He signed the extension of the EI on Monday, September 14.

    He said that wearing of masks, properly, will now be in force till Monday, December 14.

    Source: 3 News

  • Government extends compulsory wearing of nose mask by 3 months

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has extended by an additional three months, the Executive Instrument (EI) making wearing of nose masks compulsory in Ghana.

    He signed the extension of the EI on Monday, September 14.

    During his televised address to the nation on Sunday, September 20, 2020, Akufo-Addo said, that wearing masks, properly, will now be in force till Monday, December 14.

    “On Monday, 14 September 2020, I extended the Executive Instrument of the mandatory wearing of face masks by three months. So, until December 14, 2020, the wearing of masks remains mandatory. The law enforcement agencies will be required to ensure this directive is respected by all,” he said.

    He continued: “It has served us well in the fight against COVID-19, so I urge each and every one of us to wear our mask and do so correctly anytime we leave our homes. This is the new normal requirement of our daily existence until the virus disappears.”

    President Akufo-Addo through the Executive Instrument, on June 14, 2020, made the wearing of face masks mandatory in the wake of a sharp rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in Ghana.

    It was initially restricted to the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Central and Western regions but later extended to the whole country.

    “It is important for me to remind residents of the Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions, where a great majority of cases have been recorded, and in the Western and Central Regions, where we are seeing an increase in infectious cases, to continue to adhere strictly to the social distancing and in-house hygiene protocols announced,” Akufo-Addo had warned during his address on Sunday, June 14.

    “With the doctors and scientists telling us that the virus is transmitted from human contact, through talking, singing, coughing and sneezing, which results in sending droplets of the virus from one person to another, residents of these four regions, and, indeed, all Ghanaians, must remember that the wearing of masks is now mandatory.

    “Leaving our homes without a face mask or face covering on is an offence. The Police have been instructed to enforce this directive, which is the subject of an Executive Instrument,” the President said as part of his address.

    In paragraph 4(2) of E.I. 164 states that any person who fails to comply with the mandatory wearing of nose masks shall be punished in accordance with Section 6 of Act 1012.

    Section 6 of Act 1012 reads, “a person who fails to comply with the restrictions imposed under the Executive Instrument issued under subsection 1 of Section 2 commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than 1,000 penalty units (GHS12,000) and not more than 5,000 penalty units (GHS 60,000) or to a term of imprisonment not less than four years and not more than 10 years or to both.”

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Franklin Cudjoe commends Akufo-Addo for coronavirus management

    Founder and President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe has showered praises on President Akufo Addo and his government for their well handling of the Covid-19 pandemic as a result of which the case count still stands low.

    In a social media post sighted by GhanaVanguard.com, Franklin wrote; “In all honesty, the Nana Addo-led government has managed covid-19 well in terms of cases. Active cases have almost vanished.”

    The fierce critique of governments in Ghana, however, cautioned Ghanaians to not be complacent; having seen the case count on a steady decline.

    Franklin Cudjoe further raised an issue of national interest as he calls for accountability from those in charge of the covid-19 relief funds as to how procurements have been done as well as how the fund is been used.

    He also called on government to release the details of the company that is doing the Covid-19 test at the Kotoka International Airport and how the company got the contract.

    “But, we will also need some accountability on how covid procurement had been done and funds have been used. Also, which company is conducting the tests at our airport? How did it get the contract?” he wrote.

    Source: ghanavanguard.com

  • Observe coronavirus protocols in spite of drastic decline in active cases Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah

    Ghanaians must keep observing the protocols against the Coronavirus pandemic in spite of the downward trend in the active cases, Information Minister, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah has urged.

    The number of active cases in Ghana has dropped to 524.

    Ghana has within the last seven months recorded a cumulative figure of 45,714 COVID-19 cases with 44,896 recoveries.

    Out of the number of active cases, five are in critical condition, three are on ventilators and 15 are in severe conditions.

    In a tweet on Thursday, September 17, Mr Oppong Nkrumah said: “The good news about our COVID-19 fight this far is we have seen a drastic decline in Active Cases. Now more than ever, we must stay on the course by continuing to observe the preventive etiquette.”

    Source: 3 News

  • Coronavirus: Governments interventions restore 2,849 jobs

    Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations says government’s interventions in the easing of restrictions has restored 2,849 out of 11,657 job losses due to COVID-19, representing 24 per cent.

    Mr Awuah said the incidence of job losses was highest among micro-sized enterprises, representing 36 per cent and lowest in large scale establishments, which represented 23 per cent.

    In the economic sectors, the Minister said the highest incidence of job losses of 65 per cent was recorded in the other services like the recruitment agencies, media and laundry services, followed by construction of 49 per cent, hotels and restaurants 45 per cent and private sector education, 43 per cent.

    The shipping or the maritime sub-sector together with finance, agriculture, health, and social work suffered the least incidence of job losses of one per cent.

    The Minister who announced this on Wednesday during the meet-the-press series in Accra said the figures were results from a Pilot Labour Market Survey commissioned by the Ministry to assess the impact of COVID-19 on job losses and pay cuts.

    The survey covered 878 enterprises across the country and involved a total of 44,040 employees.

    The survey covered micro (1-4 employees), small (5-29 employees), medium (30-99 employees), and large (100 above employees) enterprises.

    The Minister said according to results of the survey, 17,685 out of 44,040, representing 40 per cent workers suffered pay cuts, adding that, pay cuts were highest among medium scale establishments with 46 per cent of workers affected with lowest among small scale enterprises of 38 per cent.

    He said over 50 per cent of workers in the construction and services sectors suffered pay cuts, and between 29-42 per cent of workers in manufacturing, entertainment and events, sports, hotels and restaurants as well as mining also suffered pay cuts.

    The survey showed that pay cuts were lowest in the finance sub sector of five per cent, followed by shipping or maritime 18.9 per cent.

    On establishments that adopted pay-cut strategies to keep workers on the payroll, the survey said 21 per cent reduced wages by 10 per cent or less involving 3,870 workers.

    The Minister said 37 per cent of establishments also reduced wages by 10-30 per cent and 29 per cent of them reduced wages by 30-50 per cent .

    The pay-cuts, according to the survey affected 11,833 workers, stressing that 1,982 workers from about 13 per cent of the establishments reduced workers’ earnings by more than 50 per cent.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus: Ghana’s active cases drop from 628 to 564

    64 more persons in Ghana have recovered from Coronavirus as the Active Cases which initially stood at 628 now stand at 564.

    Out of the 564 cases, 5 are critical, 3 are on ventilators while 15 are severe.

    This was contained in Ghana Health Service’s (GHS’s) latest update, Wednesday.

    The update also shows that 54 new cases have been confirmed, bringing the cumulative case count to 45,655. The death toll remains 294.

    In all, 44,797 persons have recovered from the virus.

    Below is the Cumulative Cases per Region:

    Greater Accra Region – 23,117

    Ashanti Region – 10,933

    Western Region – 2,963

    Eastern Region – 2,394

    Central Region – 1,904

    Bono East Region – 781

    Volta Region – 668

    Western North Region – 638

    Northern Region – 528

    Ahafo Region – 524

    Bono Region – 511

    Upper East Region – 285

    Oti Region – 238

    Upper West Region – 90

    Savannah Region – 62

    North East Region – 19

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coronavirus: 16 cases detected at KIA so far

    Sixteen COVID-19 positive cases have been detected at the Kotoka International Airport out of the total of 6,976 tests which have been carried out at the facility since it’s reopening on 1 September 2020.

    Information Minister Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah disclosed this at a news conference in Accra on Wednesday, 16 September 2020.

    He noted that although 54 new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded, Ghana’s active case counts stand at 564.

    He, therefore, urged the general public to continue to keep up with the safety protocols instituted by the Ghana Health Service to keep them safe from the virus.

    On the issue of the new cases confirmed at the KIA, the minister revealed that six persons have been admitted at the hospital while other cases are being treated at home.

    So far, a total of 45,655 cases have been confirmed nationwide.

    Regional breakdown:

    Greater Accra Region 23,117

    Ashanti Region 10,933

    Western Region 2,963

    Eastern Region 2,394

    Central Region 1,904

    Bono East Region 781

    Volta Region 668

    Western North Region 638

    Northern Region 528

    Ahafo Region 524

    Bono Region 511

    Upper East Region 285

    Oti Region 238

    Upper West Region 90

    Savannah Region 62

    North East Region 19


    Source: Class FM

  • Coronavirus has affected over 11 million jobs Employment Minister

    The Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour-Awuah has revealed that over 11.2 million jobs were affected in the country by the coronavirus pandemic.

    Mr Baffour-Awuah explained that the labour force was largely affected in terms of pay cut and downsizing of workers.

    He noted that based on a survey conducted by the ministry on 44,000 people, l7,685 of them lost their jobs with the rest either being asked to work from home or suffering pay cuts.

    Speaking at the Meet the Press Series in Accra on September 16, 2020 to address the nation on the effect of COVID-19 on the workforce and progress made by the ministry, Baffour-Awuah said: “Results of the survey indicated that 17,685 out of the 44000, that is 40 per cent of workers suffered pay cuts.

    “Pay cuts were highest among medium scale enterprises with 46 per cent of workers affected and lowest among small scale enterprises with 38 per cent being affected.”

    He added that 98.5% of these workers who lost their jobs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic were mostly in the private sector, adding that no job losses were recorded in the public sector due to the efforts and measures put in place by the government.

    Mr Baffour-Awuah stated that the government has learnt lessons from the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and has, therefore, brought into force the National Unemployment Insurance Scheme that will help support workers in the formal sector when the labour force is hit hard by any crisis of such nature in future.

    Source: Class FM

  • From salon to sewer worker in coronavirus Kenya

    To help some of the hundreds of thousands of Kenyans who have lost their jobs because of the coronavirus pandemic, the government is paying some of them to brave open sewers to clean up their neighbourhoods.

    Dressed in neon vests, masks and gumboots, they stand ankle-deep in a stinking, grey stream which runs between the corrugated iron shacks of Kibera, the largest informal settlement in the capital, Nairobi.

    They scoop plastic bottles, broken shoes, dirty nappies and human faeces from the open sewer, using their metal spades and rakes.

    “It’s disgusting work,” says 33-year-old Abdul Aziz, who is worried that he might get a water-borne disease like cholera because of the insanitary working conditions.

    “However, this is better than staying at home, while being hungry and jobless,” the father of two children, who lost his job as a private driver at the beginning of the crisis, said.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Somaliland minister tests positive for Covid-19

    The information minister for the breakaway state of Somaliland has tested positive for Covid-19 amid concerns of a second wave of infections.

    The minister, Suleiman Ali, who was on a peace and mediation tour in Sool area said he was feeling okay.

    Mr Ali said he would go into isolation and continue discharging his duties.

    He warned that coronavirus was still a risk and that people should follow guidelines put in place to prevent its spread.

    Somaliland is in dispute with the neighbouring semi-autonomous Somali region of Puntland over the Sanaag and Sool areas, some of whose inhabitants owe their allegiance to Puntland.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Bill Gates lauds Ghana for exemplary leadership

    American business magnate and Co-founder of Microsoft, William Henry Gates, popularly known as Bill Gates, has, lauded Ghana for showing exemplary leadership and making strides on several fronts.

    Mr Gates made the remarks when Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia held a meeting with him via Zoom, to discuss three pertinent issues affecting Ghana.

    They discussed Ghana’s progress on immunization against the new circulating vaccine-derived polio virus type 2 (cVDPV2), the lessons from Ghana’s policy response to COVID-19 pandemic and Ghana’s digitisation strategy.

    In a tweet, Vice President Bawumia said, “It was a good exchange of views and he (Bill Gates) congratulated Ghana for the strides we have made on several fronts.

    “I also thanked him and the Bill Gates Foundation for their successful work in the fight against polio and other diseases”.

    Dr Bernard Okoe-Boye, a Deputy Minister of Health, also joined the zoom meeting.

    Source: GNA

  • Heads of basic schools confirm receipt of PPEs for 2020 BECE

    General Secretary of Conference of Heads of Basic Schools (COHBS), Alex Ackah has confirmed that personal protective equipment (PPEs) for 2020 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates have been delivered to the various regions for distribution.

    In an interview with UniversNews, Mr. Ackah, who is also the Headteacher of Dunkwa Methodist JHS in the Central Region, mentioned that the PPEs were received about a week ago and have since been distributed to candidates.

    He was quick to add that nose masks were yet to be part of the distribution, explaining that they would not want students to come to the exam hall with excuses that they left them at home.

    Mr. Ackah indicated that face masks would rather be distributed to the students at the exam centre.

    “Currently all schools have received their PPEs for the upcoming BECE. For my district, I took it last week and I have distributed it among the students, other districts have called to confirm that they have received their PPE”

    Mr. Ackah added that although the students were writing the exam during the outbreak of the COVID-19 disease, he is confident that the students have been adequately prepared.

    “The children are prepared, they are gingered, they are prepared to write the exams because we have been with them since the reopening and tuition has been going on. Although, it may not be as it was when school operated for full hours; since it is an examination period, we teach for a while and allow them to also practice on their own”

    The 2020 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) would be conducted from 14-18 September 2020 with a total of 531,705 candidates comprising 269,419 males and 262,286 females.

    Candidates are from 17,440 schools and they will write the Examination at 2007 centres.

    Source: universnewsroom.com

  • Coronavirus: Global reinsurance sector outlook remains negative for 2021 Fitch

    Fitch Ratings has revealed in a new report that the outlook for the global reinsurance sector remains negative for 2021.

    This, according to the renowned credit ratings agency, is due to the mounting losses from the Coronavirus pandemic, the effect of the global economic contraction on premium volumes, and ultra-low interest rates, which kit said will weigh on the financial performance of the sector.

    However, Fitch-rated reinsurers are generally well-positioned to absorb pandemic-related losses helped by strong capital and most rating actions over the next 12 months will probably be affirmations, barring an extreme catastrophe event or a severe deterioration of the Coronavirus crisis.

    “Most claims reserves booked by reinsurers in 1H20 were classified as incurred but not reported, as they were pending receipt of claims notifications for anticipated losses. It could take several months for the total to become clear as many claims are likely to be long-tail.

    “Business-interruption and liability claims could be subject to lengthy legal processes, while credit and surety losses will take time to materialise after the economic contraction. Moreover, a worsening of the pandemic, with further widespread lockdowns, could lead to significant new claims.

    Traditional reinsurance capital proved resilient in 1H20, declining only by a low single-digit percentage despite pandemic-related losses and financial market volatility. The financial market recovery that began in late March and the issuance of more than USD15 billion of subordinated and equity capital largely offset the pandemic-related claims.

    “Risk-adjusted price increases have been gaining momentum since the start of pandemic, as reinsurers move to protect earnings from pandemic-related claims and lower investment income. We expect the hardening market environment to continue into 2021.

    “Most claims reserves booked by reinsurers in 1H20 were classified as incurred but not reported, as they were pending receipt of claims notifications for anticipated losses. It could take several months for the total to become clear as many claims are likely to be long-tail.

    “Business-interruption and liability claims could be subject to lengthy legal processes, while credit and surety losses will take time to materialise after the economic contraction. Moreover, a worsening of the pandemic, with further widespread lockdowns, could lead to significant new claims.

    Traditional reinsurance capital proved resilient in 1H20, declining only by a low single-digit percentage despite pandemic-related losses and financial market volatility. The financial market recovery that began in late March and the issuance of more than USD15 billion of subordinated and equity capital largely offset the pandemic-related claims.

    “Risk-adjusted price increases have been gaining momentum since the start of pandemic, as reinsurers move to protect earnings from pandemic-related claims and lower investment income. We expect the hardening market environment to continue into 2021.

    “Even before the pandemic, insurers and reinsurers would have had to increase prices to reflect higher natural catastrophe claims and doubts over reserve adequacy in light of growing loss severity for US casualty insurance.”

    Source: 3 News

  • U-17 coach Ben Fukuo laments the effect of coronavirus on WAFU preparations

    Head coach of the national U-17 team, the Black Starlets, Ben Fokuo has said that the team will be forced to merged a five-month training activity into just two months of preparations.

    The Ghana U-17 team broke camp in March following the outbreak of the Coronavirus, forcing all contact sports to a halt.

    But with a month left to start the WAFU U-17 Cup of Nations in Benin, the team has been recalled to camp to start preparations.

    “It has affected us a lot because we started camping around February, which we were having about 5 months to prepare since the competition would have been in July,” he told the GFA communications team.

    “The pandemic has affected us a lot because now we have about a month to prepare the team and so things we need to go through when you have enough time to prepare the team for a competition has been reduced to less than two months of preparation.”

    “The players have been screened, picked and camping had started already, so, things that have to be done in five months have to be done in less than two months so we need to speed up to be well prepared before we leave.”

    The WAFU U-17 Cup of Nations will also serve as a qualifying competition for the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations next year.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Ghana records two new COVID-19 deaths; active cases now 836

    Ghana has recorded two new COVID-19 related deaths. The death toll currently stands at 285.

    The Ghana Health Service in its latest COVID-19 update on Friday, September 11, 2020, also announced that the country has recorded 75 new cases.

    Meanwhile,  the active cases in Ghana have dropped from 842 to 836.

    Ghana has within the last seven months recorded a cumulative figure of 45,388 COVID-19 cases with 44,267 recoveries.

    Out of the number of active cases, four are in critical condition, two are on ventilators and 14 in severe condition.

    Since the outbreak of Coronavirus in Ghana in March 2020, a total of 451,590 tests have been conducted.

    Currently, four regions out of the 16 have no active cases of the virus.

    The regions are North East, Savannah, Upper West and Upper East Regions.

    Source: citinewsroom