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Tag: coronavirus in Ghana

  • Coronavirus: Oil prices are collapsing after Saudi Arabia sends ominous signal

    US oil prices plunged 7% Tuesday to $36.76 a barrel. It was crude’s worst day and lowest closing price in nearly three months.

    At one point, oil was down as much as 9%. Brent crude, the world benchmark, fell below $40 a barrel for the first time since late June.

    The fierce selling in the energy market is being driven largely by rising concern about how much crude the fragile world economy needs. With Labor Day in the rearview mirror, summer driving season in the United States is over.

    Jet fuel demand remains extremely weak because many people don’t want to fly during the pandemic. And no one knows for sure how long it will take to recover.

    “Demand is down. Supply is up,” said Robert Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho Securities. “The economic laws of survival are being violated on both ends of the spectrum.”

    The selloff comes after Saudi Arabia, the de facto leader of OPEC, slashed its official selling price to Asia and the United States, Bloomberg News reported. It’s never a good sign when the world’s leading oil exporter feels compelled to cut prices to draw buyers.

    “That is a double-blinking warning sign,” said Yawger. “OPEC kind of panicked today by putting out a bad signal to the energy community.”

    ‘Avalanche of sell orders’

    The latest turmoil in the oil market comes during major turbulence in the stock market.

    The Nasdaq plunged Tuesday for the third day in a row and is flirting with a 10% correction from record highs. Major pandemic winners like Tesla (TSLA), Apple (AAPL) and Zoom (ZM) are down much more.

    “Oil is getting caught up in the risk-off trade,” said Jeff Wyll, energy analyst at Neuberger Berman. He added that “nothing changed” in the fundamental supply/demand picture for oil to “warrant this kind of drop.”

    Just as investors are hitting the exits on tech stocks, they are unwinding speculative bets on crude oil.

    “Everyone is trying to get out at once. There is an avalanche of sell orders,” said Mizuho’s Yawger.

    Investors are also rushing out of oil stocks.

    Apache (APA), Occidental Petroleum (OXY) and Diamondback Energy (FANG) all tumbled more than 6% on Tuesday. ExxonMobil (XOM), which last month was kicked out of the Dow, retreated another 3%.

    Weak air travel is depressing demand

    The pandemic, along with a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia, caused oil prices to implode this spring. US oil prices even briefly turned negative for the first time ever, bottoming at -$40 a barrel.

    But unprecedented production cuts from OPEC and Russia helped trigger a V-shaped recovery in the energy market. Just seven weeks after bottoming, US crude returned to $40 a barrel. That led OPEC and Russia to agree to slowly increase production from very low levels.

    The good news for oil bulls is that demand for gasoline has rebounded sharply.
    Road traffic is has nearly recovered and Bank of America expects global oil demand from road use to go positive year-over-year in the next few months. That has helped lift national average gasoline prices to $2.22 a gallon, up from a low of $1.77 in late April.

    The bad news is that air travel is nowhere near pre-COVID levels — and that’s keeping demand for jet fuel very depressed. As the CNN Business Recovery Tracker shows, just 940,000 people were processed through TSA security lines on Monday, down 59% from a year ago.

    Source: cnn.com

  • Ghanas coronavirus cases down to 125 from 176

    In less than 24 hours, Ghana has recorded a dip in the number of coronavirus cases from 176 in an update on September 9, 2020, to 125 in the latest update.

    This shifts the number of active cases from previously recorded 863 to 842.

    This was made known by the Ghana Health Service in its latest update on Thursday, September 9, 2020.

    The number of Coronavirus related deaths also remained unchanged from previously recorded 283. So far, 44,188 infected persons have either fully recovered or been discharged.

    Out of the number of active cases, six are in critical condition, three are on ventilators, and 16 in severe condition, according to the GHS update.

    The overall number of confirmed cases is 45,313.

    Regional breakdown below;

    (Case Count from Highest to Lowest)

    Greater Accra Region – 22,813

    Ashanti Region – 10,909

    Western Region – 2,963

    Eastern Region – 2,388

    Central Region – 1,904

    Bono East Region – 777

    Volta Region – 668

    Western North Region – 638

    Northern Region – 528

    Ahafo Region – 524

    Bono Region – 511

    Upper East Region – 282

    Oti Region – 237

    Upper West Region – 90

    Savannah Region – 62

    North East Region – 19

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coronavirus: Oxford University vaccine trial paused after participant reportedly falls ill

    Final clinical trials for a coronavirus vaccine, developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, have been put on hold after a participant had a suspected adverse reaction in the UK.

    AstraZeneca described it as a “routine” pause in the case of “an unexplained illness”.

    The outcome of vaccine trials is being closely watched around the world.

    The AstraZeneca-Oxford University vaccine is seen as a strong contender among dozens being developed globally.

    Hopes have been high that the vaccine might be one of the first to come on the market, following successful phase 1 and 2 testing.

    Its move to Phase 3 testing in recent weeks has involved some 30,000 participants in the US as well as in the UK, Brazil and South Africa. Phase 3 trials in vaccines often involve thousands of participants and can last several years.

    The New York Times is reporting a volunteer in the UK trial has been diagnosed with transverse myelitis, an inflammatory syndrome that affects the spinal cord and can be caused by viral infections.

    However, the cause of the illness has not been confirmed and an independent investigation will now work out if there was any link to the vaccine.

    Source: BBC

  • Coronavirus: Active cases on the rise again

    After a steady drop in the active cases of coronavirus in Ghana, the situation has taken a bend again as more persons are getting infected while the recoveries slow.

    After dropping to 785 as of Monday, September 7, the active cases have risen since then.

    On Tuesday, 143 new cases and about 197 recoveries saw the active cases rise to 831.

    On Wednesday, the Disease Surveillance Department of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) announced 176 new cases.

    This took the total cumulative cases from 45,012 to 45,188.

    There were only 144 recoveries-cum-discharges, seeing another rise in the active cases, which are now 863.

    Out of these cases, 16 are in severe conditions while six are in critical conditions with half of them on ventilators.

    So far, a total of 449,688 tests have been conducted, pegging the positivity rate at 10 per cent.

    The Greater Accra Region continues to lead the regional breakdown with a cumulative total of 22,700. Out of that, 22,183 have recovered or been discharged.

    The Ashanti Region follows with 10,907 cases since the outbreak in March. There are currently 106 patients under care.

    So far, the North East, Savannah, Upper West and Upper East regions have no active cases. All patients have been discharged or recovered.

    Source: 3 News

  • Ghana records 143 new cases of coronavirus, active cases now 831

    In its latest update on Ghana’s Coronavirus case count, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has announced that the confirmation of 143 new cases.

    This brings the cumulative case count to 45,012 with 43,898 recoveries. The active cases thus currently stand at 831.

    The death toll remains 283.

    According to GHS, out of the 831 active cases, 6 are in critical condition, 3 on ventilators while 16 are severe.

    Below is the cumulative cases per region:

    Greater Accra Region – 22,552

    Ashanti Region – 10,891

    Western Region – 2,960

    Eastern Region – 2,375

    Central Region – 1,898

    Bono East Region – 777

    Volta Region – 668

    Western North Region – 638

    Northern Region – 528

    Ahafo Region – 524

    Bono Region – 511

    Upper East Region – 282

    Oti Region – 237

    Upper West Region – 90

    Savannah Region – 62

    North East Region – 19

     

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Ghana records 92 new Covid-19 cases

    Ghana has recorded 92 new case of the novel coronavirus.

    According to the Ghana Health Service, 43,801 have recovered/discharged.

    This brings the total number of confirmed cases to 44,869.

    The number of active case in Ghana is currently 785 as the death toll stands at 283 as of September 7, 2020.

    Regional Breakdown

    Greater Accra Region  22,483; Ashanti Region  10,891; Western Region  2,960; Eastern Region  2,321; Central Region  1,878; Bono East Region  777; Volta Region  668; Western North Region  638; Northern Region  528; Ahafo Region  524; Bono Region  511; Upper East Region  282; Oti Region  237; Upper West Region  90; Savannah Region  62; North East Region  19

    Source: myjoyonline

  • President Akufo-Addo attends 57th ECOWAS Summit in Niger

    The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, left Ghana on Monday, 7th September 2020, to lead the Ghanaian delegation to the 57th Ordinary Session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, which is being held in Niamey, capital of the Republic of Niger.

    The meeting of the Heads of State will discuss matters the COVID-19 situation in West Africa, the ECOWAS Single Currency Programme, and the political impasse in Mali. Additionally, they will also consider reports form the 44th Ordinary Session of the Mediation and Security Council at the Ministerial Level, and the 84th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, which preceded the Summit.

    President Akufo-Addo was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchway MP; Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta; Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Ernest Addison, and officials of the Presidency and the Foreign Ministry.

    The President will return to Ghana on Monday, 7th September 2020, and, in his absence, the Vice President, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, shall, in accordance with Article 60(8) of the Constitution, act in his stead.

    Source: presidency.gov.gh

  • $150 for coronavirus test exorbitant – Organisation of Ghanaians Abroad

    The Organisation of Ghanaians Abroad has stated that the fee being charged for the Coronavirus test at the Kotoka International Airport is exorbitant.

    All those arriving in Ghana after the opening of the KIA to international flights are to pay $150 respectively.

    The Organisation of Ghanaians Abroad stated that taking into account that another test needs to be done 72 hours before departure, the $150 is too high especially when one travels with family members.

    “The concern is centered on the $150 charge that has to be paid for COVID-19 test at the Airport in Accra. We find this charge exorbitant.

    Taking into account that another test needs to be done 72 hours before departure, the $150 is high especially when one travels with family members,” the Group stated.

    The group is, therefore, appealing to government to reduce the cost for them.

    “We therefore request that the fee of $150 be reduced considerably to match the average fee in Ghanaian laboratories. We hope that this request will meet your consideration,” the Group said.

    Source: Atinka Online

  • Bono Region records first coronavirus death

    The Bono region has recorded its first fatality since the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus in the region.

    The deceased is a 55-year-old man who first reported at the Wenchi Methodist Hospital with COVID-19 symptoms.

    The man was later transferred to the Techiman Hospital for further treatment but unfortunately, he passed on there.

    The Deputy Director of Public Health for the Ghana Health Service in the Bono region, Dr. John Ekow Otoo, made the disclosure in an update on COVID-19 in the region.

    Dr. Otoo tells GhanWeb that the deceased had underlying conditions hypertension, heart disease, and kidney failure which worsened his condition leading to his death.

    “We have a total of 511 cases as of Thursday, September 3, but unfortunately one person has passed on. The deceased is an elderly man who was suffering from chronic diseases like hypertension, heart disease, and kidney failure.

    “We diagnose him at Wenchi, but due to his condition, we later transferred him to Techiman. We suspected him of having COVID-19 in addition to the chronic diseases he had. He died even before the test results came.”

    Dr. Otoo decried a general decline in the adherence to the COVID-19 protocols in most public places in the region and appealed to residents to continue to adhere to the safety protocols as outlined by the Ghana Health Service.

    He revealed that they have since outlined a series of education geared towards intensifying public awareness on COVID-19 safety protocols.

    “We have noted a general decline in the adherence to the COVID-19 protocols and we are working with all stakeholders to encourage compliance”.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coronavirus: How students who have completed WASSCE will return home

    The Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) have jointly issued a guideline for the exit of students who have just completed the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and are returning home Friday, September 4, 2020 after a successful examination.

    Under the guidelines, any school where no positive case of COVID-19 has been recorded, the students can vacate and go home.

    Additionally, any school that recorded a positive case but has not reported any new positive case within the last two weeks, the students can vacate and go home, reports Graphic Online’s Severious Kale Dery on the Education Desk.

    This is contained in a statement jointly signed by the Director-General of the GES, Prof Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa and the Director-General of the GES Dr Patrick Kuma Aboagye and issued in Accra Thursday, September 3, 2020.

    After months of uncertainty and apprehension arising out of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, Senior high schools (SHSs) reopened to final-year students on June 22 for them to undergo six weeks of academic work up to July 31, 2020.

    That enabled them to prepare to write their final examination between August 3 and September 4, this year.

    The 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) finally kicked off for Ghanaian candidates in July.

    In all, 375,737 candidates from 976 schools took part in the examination at 796 centres throughout the country.

    Out of the figure, about 188,163 were females, while the remaining 187,573 were males.

    more to follow…

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • WASSCE: Schools that didn’t experience any coronavirus spikes can go on recess – GHS

    The Ghana Health Service has said Senior High Schools (SHS) that did not experience any COVID-19 related cases can go on recess.

    This comes after the government granted permission to allow for final year SHS students to undertake their West African Senior School Certificate (WASSCE) examinations.

    According to the Director-General of the GHS, Dr. Patrick Kuma Aboagye, any school that has not reported a positive case of COVID-19 in the last two weeks prior to their initial vacation date can also go on recess.

    Addressing journalists at a press briefing in Accra on September 3, the Director-General said, “However if there are any schools that have recorded any positive cases of COVID-19, they will be made to undergo some assessment of contacts with them having their exit from school a bit delayed.”

    Dr. Kuma Aboagye expressed delight over the low spike in cases of COVID-19 in most senior high schools amid the resumption for examination.

    He also urged all students to adhere to the safety protocols as they return back home.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coronavirus: No positive cases recorded following airport reopening – GHS

    The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has said no positive cases of COVID-19 have been recorded among passengers arriving through Ghana’s main airport, Kotota International Airport (KIA).

    According to the Director-General of the GHS, Dr. Patrick Kuma Aboagye, 217 passengers were tested on the first day of the reopening of the airport to international AIR traffic while 30 passengers were tested on the second day.

    Speaking at a press briefing on September 3, 2020, Dr. Kuma-Aboayge said this was a result of the accuracy of the antigen tests which are being conducted on passengers entering the country.

    “So far no positive cases of COVID-19 have been recorded following the reopening of the airport. We had three separate flights on the first day and all passengers aboard that flight have tested negative”

    Meanwhile, passengers entering Ghana will be required to pay an amount of US$150 for COVID-19 tests to be conducted.

    Passengers will then proceed to the sampling cubicle for their samples to be taken before descending to the main arrival hall.

    The Deputy Health Minister, Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye at a press briefing on Monday, August 31 justified the cost of the testing as a ‘good bargain’.

    He added that arriving passengers who test negative will proceed to the immigration area and onto baggage claim for their luggage and then exit the terminal while persons who test positive will receive further clinical assessment and treatment.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Testing regime for passengers at KIA reliable – FDA

    The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) on Wednesday debunked the assertion that the COVID-19 Testing regime used for passengers at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) is unreliable.

    A statement issued and signed by Mrs Delasse A. Darko, the Chief Executive Officer of FDA, and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Wednesday, said the device at KIA “detects the ANTIGEN (SARS-CoV-2 Virus) by fluorescence technology,” adding that it was, therefore, not a Rapid Diagnostic Test Kit.

    The FDA statement seeks to clarify claims by Dr Kofi Bonney of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research that the device being used for testing at the Airport was unreliable.

    The statement said the FDA gave market authorisation to the device after a specificity and sensitivity comparison with the PCR tests.

    It said the device met the requirements of not less than 99.0 per cent concordance.

    “The FDA wishes to assure the public that the device approved for use at the KIA is fit for purpose and the Authority shall continue to monitor its performance in accordance with regulatory requirements,” it said.

    Source: GNA

  • COVID-19 testing device for passengers at KIA reliable FDA insists

    The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has described as erroneous, claims that the COVID-19 testing of passengers at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) is not reliable.

    It says the “detection of the SARS-CoV 2 virus at the airport is not a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kit but rather a device which detects the virus in nasopharyngeal (nasal) swabs.”

    The clarification by the Authority follows what it says are “inaccurate and unscientific” claims by one Dr. Kofi Bonney of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research about the device being used for the testing at the airport.

    In a statement, the FDA indicated that the device detects the ANTIGEN (SARS-CoV-2 Virus) by fluorescence technology.

    According to the FDA, it gave market authorization to the device after a specificity and sensitivity comparison with the PCR tests.

    It said the device met the requirements of not less than 99.0% concordance.

    “The Food and Drugs Authority wishes to assure the public that the device approved for use at the KIA is fit for purpose and the Authority shall continue to monitor its performance in accordance with regulatory requirements”, parts of the statement said.

    The Authority further outlined what it claimed were inaccurate statements made by Dr. Bonney and corrected them as follows:

    1. The sensitivity of the device, being not less than 99.0% makes it statistically improbable for the claim that more than half of the test results will come out as false negative (people who are carrying the virus and are falsely reported not to be).

    2. The specificity of the device, being also not less than 99.0% makes it highly improbable for test results to come out as false positive (people who are carrying other viruses to be classified as SARS-CoV-2) as being claimed. • The nasal specimens are not placed on paper but rather onto cartridges which are inserted into the device and the results displayed electronically on an LCD, which can be printed out from a computer.

    3. The allusion to “tests done over the years” and all statistics given with reference to performance of RDTs in response to the accuracy of the Antigen test cannot be true for SARS-CoV-2, as the disease has not been around for that long for such data to have been gathered on RDT antigen.

    4. Data available to the FDA on Antibody and Antigen RDTs from March 2020 to date shows that their sensitivity ranges from 4% 62% and not 34%-80%. This is the reason why the FDA has not authorised any Antibody or Antigen RDT kits to date.

    5.The misleading statement alleging that The WHO requires confirmation of a negative RDT test by a PCR test is inaccurate. This has also no relevance with respect to the specific antigen testing being done at the KIA as this uses a device which has been validated against PCR and found to be comparable and is not an RDT kit.

    Source: citinewsroom

  • Football will be back soon Sports Minister assures

    Youth and Sports Minister Isaac Kwame Asiamah says government will soon lift the ban on both individual and team contact sports to pave the way for the resumption of football.

    The Atwima Mponua Member of Parliament said this on Tuesday, September 01, 2020, during the 26th ordinary session of congress of the Ghana Football Association at the Ghanaman centre of Excellence at Prampram.

    “Let me commend you for the various steps you have taken in developing Ghana football after the Normalisation process. Indeed, the innovative and inspiring BringBackTheLove campaign embarked on by the GFA showed clear signs that football was on ascendancy and fans were beginning to patronise domestic league matches again.

    “Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic halted the momentum that the leagues were generating. It is our fervent hope that innovative steps would be put in place to ensure that when the game finally returns, which I know will be very soon, it will pick up from where it left off,” he said.

    “With the positive results we are getting from the fight against the pandemic, Government is optimistic that soon it would be safe and appropriate to lift the restrictions on both individual and team contact sports activities in Ghana ” the lawmaker added.

    Professional football in Ghana has been on a halt since mid-March 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic resulting in the cancellation of the 2019/2020 season.

    Source: Class FM

  • Charge foreigners more, Ghanaians less for coronavirus test – Ablakwa

    The Member of Parliament for North Tongu Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa has admonished the government to consider a “significant reduction” in the $150 testing cost for travellers.

    The legislator is of the view that most of the returning compatriots have encountered difficult challenges following the outbreak of the coronavirus hence the need for the government to reduce the cost.

    He believes another option that could have been adopted is for us to have what he described as a graduated arrangement where foreigners coming to conduct big business are made to pay a little more to subsidize stressed Ghanaians.

    His post dated September 2, 2020 read, “I have always advocated for some special dispensation for our fellow Ghanaians particularly in difficult circumstances such as these. Our Government would seriously have to consider a significant reduction in the advertised US$150.00 for a COVID-19 test.”

    “Most of our returning compatriots have been under a lot of stress and deserve our continuous empathy.”

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Opanyin Agyekum supports government’s $150 mandatory fee for coronavirus test at KIA

    Dean of the School of Performing Arts of the University of Ghana, Professor Kofi Agyekum, popularly known as Opanyin Agyekum has supported the fee payment for mandatory test at the Kotoka International Airport following its reopening.

    Ghana’s air border has been reopened for travelers after months of the closure of borders in the country due to the impact of the Coronavirus.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced, during his 16th update on the pandemic, that the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) will commence business on Tuesday, September 1.

    “I am glad to announce that KIA will reopen and resume operations from Tuesday, September 1, 2020. This decision has been communicated to international airlines across the world. After weeks of thorough work, I am satisfied that it is safe to do so,” he said.

    However, the country’s land and sea borders remain closed until further notice.

    The President was convinced about the reopening of the airport after the aviation authorities and Health Ministry outlined measures to prevent the importation of the disease.

    Some of the measures are that the travelers will have to show a negative Coronavirus medical report taken within 72 hours from their country of origin and further take a mandatory test at the KIA.

    The mandatory test, which is to be conducted for all passengers coming into the country forms part of directives outlined by the Ministry of Aviation and Health to curb the spread of the novel disease.

    The passengers are to pay a fee of $150 for the test and the test result is said to arrive within 30 minutes.


    Some critics have raised issues with the fee saying it is expensive and also wondered why a passenger will have to pay such amount to test for COVID-19.

    But Opanyin Agyekum is in agreement with the government, saying the fee is a part of measures to protect Ghanaians against importation of the novel Coronavirus.

    To him, in every endeavour, there is risk taking; hence calling on the President Nana Akufo-Addo and the government not to be perturbed by the criticisms over the fee.

    He noted that humans will always talk criticize about everything and anything no matter good or bad.

    ”Even if you cut it down to 1, there will be someone to say why didn’t the government give it for free; what is it using the 1 for? So, whatever you do, people will talk about you”, he told host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s ”Kokrokoo”.

    He charged the authorities tasked to enforce the safety protocols at airport to concentrate on their work and not pay attention to the negative remarks.

    Source: Peace FM

  • ‘Open land borders too’ MP to Akufo-Addo

    The Member of Parliament (MP) for Agotime-Ziope in the Volta Region, Charles Agbeve, has asked President Akufo-Addo to consider reopening the country’s land borders, too.

    This follows the reopening of the Kotoka International Airport effective today, 1 September 2020 for international arrivals and travel.

    According to Mr Agbeve, the continuous closure of the country’s entry point to Togo is impacting economic opportunities in the constituency negatively because most of the constituents transact business around the borders and in the neighbouring country.

    He opined that measures should be put in place to ease restrictions toward reopening the borders by land.

    The lawmaker told Class 91.3FM’s Valentina Ofori-Afriyie on 505 on Monday, 31 August 2020 that: “I thought the President would have opened the borders”.

    “You know, I’m from a constituency bordering Togo to the East and you will agree with me, a lot of business transactions go on”.

    “A lot of businesses have gone down as a result”.

    “It is affecting our businesses and also the movement,” he noted.

    Source: Class FM

  • Cost of testing for travellers outrageous, make it free – NDC Communicator

    A communication team member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Eric Sosu has described as outrageous the cost of COVID-19 test for travellers who are returning to Ghana.

    According to him, the cost is not only outrageous but a fleece on the travellers who have been hit by the economic challenges of the coronavirus.

    Travellers coming to Ghana by air are supposed to pay $150 (¢868) for Covid-19 testing, the Managing Director of the Ghana Airports Company Limited, Yaw Kwakwa disclosed at a press conference on Monday, August 31, 2020.

    The directive he explained forms part of directives outlined by the Ministry of Aviation and Health to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus and ensure that the deadly disease is not imported into the country.

    “It takes a maximum of 30 minutes for a particular passenger to go through the entire process and get his or her results.

    “This system is so convenient that passengers will practically go through our terminal building with only a fraction of time added to what they used to do before,” he added.

    He added: “It is mandatory for any airline coming to Ghana to ensure that passengers have a face mask on but we know that some of our people will be travelling from afar.

    “When you are coming from London, you will probably travel like six hours and so when you land at the KIA and you come through the passenger door and get to the edge of the terminal building, we will give you a fresh face mask.

    “There is a service provider that we are using to do all of this. So we give you the face mask and you start going through the process. When you enter you go to the far end of the upper part of arrivals and you queue to go through the testing centre.

    “But one convenience is that there is no country that you can go through the process and be able to get the results within 30 minutes and if you are negative the health professionals take over from there,” he said.

    But Mr. Sosu insits the cost is outrageous and called on the government to make it free for Ghanaians and charge foreigners coming to Ghana.

    ”Ghanaians who are returning home should not be charged. They have been stranded for months and upon returning, you are charging them $150 for a test. This is ridiculous. The government should use the COVID-19 relief fund to pay the cost of the test. If the returnees are unable to pay for the test, it means, they will be kept at the airport.”

    Meanwhile, Oliver Ofori Baah, a communication team member of the NPP has disagreed saying the cost is far cheaper than what is being charged here.

    He said the cost is reasonable and the government should be commended.

    Source: rainbownradioonline.com

  • KIA reopening: Don’t accept kickbacks nor give any person preferential treatment – Airport Staff warned

    Head of Psychology of the University of Ghana, Prof. Joseph Osafo has cautioned staff of the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) not to misconduct themselves as the airport is reopened tomorrow, September 1, 2020.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced on Sunday, August 30 that the KIA will resume operations but not without taking all precautionary measures to avoid importation of Coronavirus into the country.

    ”Fellow Ghanaians, I am glad to announce that Kotoka International Airport will reopen and resume operations from Tuesday, 1st September 2020. This decision has been communicated to international airlines”, the President said.

    KIA Reopening Rules

    The President spelled out the rules to welcoming travelers into the country in his 16th nation address yesterday.

    He said; It has been well-established that the very first cases of COVID-19 in Ghana were imported into our shores. We are determined to make sure this scenario does not recur. The commitment to ensuring that the gradual easing of restrictions, including the reopening of our airports, does not lead to the importation or resurgence of the virus into our country, is firmly in place. That is why the following measures have been taken and duly communicated to airlines wishing to resume flights to Ghana:

    1. Any passenger arriving in Ghana must be in possession of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result from an accredited laboratory in the country of origin. The test should have been done not more than seventy-two (72) hours before the scheduled departure from the country of origin. All airlines have been instructed to ensure compliance with this directive for all passengers wishing to travel to Ghana, and those airlines who fail in this regard will be duly sanctioned;

    2. Disembarking passengers must do so wearing face masks;

    3. Upon disembarking from the aeroplane, each passenger will undergo a mandatory COVID-19 test at the airport terminal, at a fee to be borne by the passenger. The test result will be available within thirty (30) minutes;

    4. Children under the ages of five (5) will not be required to undergo testing at the airport;

    5. Passengers, who test positive for COVID-19, will be handled by the health authorities for further clinical assessment and management; and

    6. Passengers, who test negative, can, thereupon, enter Ghana to go about their lawful activities, and will be advised to continue to observe COVID-19 safety precautions during their stay in Ghana.

    The Ministries of Information, Health and Aviation, and their respective agencies the Ghana Health Service, the Ghana Airports Co. Ltd., and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority will spell out in further detail the protocols surrounding the re-opening of our international airport, and the procedures to be adhered to by passengers arriving in Ghana at the COVID-19 media briefing tomorrow, Monday, 31st August. For the avoidance of doubt, our borders, by land and sea, will continue to remain closed to human traffic until further notice.

    Warning Against Laxity

    Prof. Joseph Osafo, speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s ”Kokrokoo”, admonished the airport staff to strictly abide by the rules ensuring that no person that enters the country is given preferential treatment.

    He warned the staff not to accept kickbacks or be lax in enforcing the rules.

    “Government keeps learning the lesson and we keep applying data, science, experience to what is happening. But it is now left with implementation; that’s where the problem is. Someone told me that African is a country of policy farms; we ratify everything but it’s left with making it pragmatic. So, no staff at the airport lax the rules,” he stated.

    Source: Peace FM

  • GFA to comply with coronavirus protocols at Congress

    The Ghana Football Association wishes to inform members and all stakeholders that the Association will fully comply with all Coronavirus safety protocols at the 26th Ordinary Congress on Tuesday, September, 1.

    Thermometer guns, hand-washing buckets, hand sanitizers and other Personnel Preventive Equipment will be provided at the Congress which will be held at the GFA Technical Centre (GSCE) at Prampram on Tuesday.

    Strict security measures will be enforced at the venue from the entrance to the main hall to ensure that Members of Congress, Invited Guests and the accredited Media men and women go through the health and safety procedures put in place successfully.

    Only accredited representatives nominated by Members of Congress will be allowed into the Congress premises in accordance with the Social Distancing Protocols.

    Participants are therefore urged to come early on Tuesday to ensure a successful Congress.

    Delegates are kindly reminded that No Mask No Entry!

    Source: Happy 98.9FM

  • Coronavirus: NCCE educates POLWA on continuous adherence to protocols

    Madam Doris Gbongbo, the Bono Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has called for continued adherence to the directives against the spread of the novel Coronavirus disease.

    She said although some the restrictions were eased that did not mean the fight against the pandemic was over.

    She said people needed to protect themselves by strictly observing preventive directives and protocols.

    Mad. Gbongbo said this at a meeting with the members of the Police Wives Association (POLWA) in the Sunyani and Sunyani West Municipalities.

    The meeting organised by the Bono Regional Office of the Commission was to sensitize the police wives about the pandemic and to enable them to assist in education on the safety protocols and directives.

    As part of the agenda, the participants were educated on the negative health implications of indiscriminate disposal of used nose masks and waste.

    Mad. Gbongbo asked the women to maintain a clean environment by ensuring good sanitation practices.

    Source: GNA

  • 2019/20 Academic year postponed to 2021

    The Ghana Education Service (GES) has postponed the remainder of the 2019-2020 academic year to January 2021.

    The decision to postpone the academic year which was brought to a halt in March due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the country was taken after further consultations with stakeholders.

    Second year Junior High School (JHS) and Senior High School (SHS) students, would however, return to school from October 5 to December 15 to complete their academic year.

    The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, made this known Sunday in his 16th address to the nation on measures taken to control the spread of the Coronavirus disease.

    “The Ghana Education Service after further consultations has decided to postpone the remainder of the academic year for all nursery, kindergarten, primary, JHS1 and SHS1 students. The next academic year will resume in January 2021 with the appropriate adjustments made to the curriculum to ensure that nothing is lost from the previous year,” the President said.

    “The relevant dispositions will also be made so that the presence, at the same time, in schools of all streams of students, can occur in safety,” he added.

    JHS 2, SHS 2 return to school October 5

    The President noted 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.

    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,” President Akufo-Addo added.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Covid-19 burial team boycotts duties after attack from relative of deceased

    Environmental health workers with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) in charge of the burial of victims who succumbed to the novel coronavirus say they have laid down their tools over lack of security.

    This was after some of them were attacked on August 27 by a relative of one of the deceased who had contested that the victim did not die of the virus.

    Some 116 bodies have been buried by the assembly as of August 29, 2020.

    The team led by Joseph Asitanga told Accra-based 3News said they are prepared to boycott the activities if efforts are not initiated to provide adequate security during the performance of their duties.

    “My men are psychologically traumatised, and as of Thursday they told me they would boycott the exercise,” he said.

    Mr Asitanga narrated that on Thursday, his some of his team members were “roughed up and beaten because the family was contesting the cause of death of their beloved.”

    He explained that they were vehemently held from carrying the body away to the site for burial.

    The helpless AMA team then left the body at the morgue to focus on others similar tasks in other facilities.

    These personnel have been executing tasks every week since the advent of Covid-19 in Ghana.

    The workers are also yet to receive their share of the special packages for frontline workers, three months since its announcement by the President.

    “All environmental health workers across the regions and various districts are unanimous in their decision to boycott the burials if they do not receive their packages by end of September,” emphasised Mr Asitanga.

    Source: myjoyonline

  • Coronavirus impact: Pilot survey detects over 11,000 job losses

    A pilot survey, which covered 878 establishments detected 11,657 job losses across all sectors of the economy, Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, has revealed.

    The survey, which was commissioned by the Ministry, was to enable it (the Ministry) to understand the impact of COVID-19 on employment, revealed some dire consequences for jobs.

    “We observed that whiles the pay cuts were rampant in large and medium scale establishments, workers in micro and small scale enterprises suffer most of the job loses,” Mr Baffour Awuah stated at the 12th National Development Forum in Accra.

    The forum, which was organized by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) was on the theme “The Future of Work in Post-COVID-19 Ghana”.

    The Minister said in terms of pay cuts, the survey revealed that large and medium scale establishments had to adopt pay cut strategies to keep some workers on their payrolls.

    The survey indicated that generally, the 878 non-household establishments surveyed recorded 31.5 per cent job losses.

    In terms of pay cuts, 40 per cent of the 17,685 workers interview suffered between less than 10 per cent and more than 50 per cent pay cuts to keep their jobs.

    “It is important to note that the picture would have been more devastating if the survey was extended to cover the majority of workers in the informal sectors where over 80 per cent of the workforce is engaged,” the Minister said.

    “The complete lack of effective social protection services for workers in the informal sectors was a major factor for the Government to reconsider the partial lockdown measures.”

    Mr Baffour Awuah noted that despite the difficulties that had been imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and its attendant restrictions, COVID-19 had brought to the fore the fact that work (the production of goods and services) could not always be done by traditional means.

    This, he said had become glaring as enterprises and workers had to contend with the mega trends, including pandemics such as COVID-19.

    He said the public sector and other formal establishments had to adopt staff rotation schemes, work-from-home arrangements, and other digital platforms to maintain service delivery to their clientele and avoid productivity shortfalls.

    He noted that some establishments in the services sector also adopted delivery platforms that enabled them to stay in business whiles observing the protocols.

    Dr Kodjo Esseim Mensah-Abrampa, the Director-General, NDPC, said contributions and recommendations from the National Development Forums were very vital to the work of the Commission.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus: Ghana records 6 new deaths and 87 new cases

    Six more persons have died of COVID-19 complications raising the total number of deaths related to the virus in the country to 276.

    The latest update announced by the Ghana Health Service indicates the confirmation 87 new cases have been recorded sending the country’s case count to 44, 205.

    The number of active cases has, however, dropped to 1152 with 42,777 persons who contracted the virus have either recovered/discharged.

    Below is the regional breakdown of the Cumulative Cases per Region

    Greater Accra Region – 21,984
    Ashanti Region – 10,837
    Western Region – 2,953
    Eastern Region – 2,289
    Central Region – 1,870
    Bono East Region – 763
    Volta Region – 659
    Western North Region – 619
    Northern Region – 528
    Bono Region – 511
    Ahafo Region – 507
    Upper East Region – 282
    Oti Region – 234
    Upper West Region – 88
    Savannah Region – 62
    North East Region – 19

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Non-adherence to mask wearing worrying – GHS

    The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has expressed worry over the growing number of persons failing to adhere to the directive of facemask wearing in public.

    According to the service, its studies reveal more than fifty percent of the populace do not wear mask at all, with the remaining percentage also failing to properly wear protective gear.

    Director-General of GHS, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye revealing findings from the survey noted “if you realize, three or four weeks we have been conducting the mask-wearing research. The first one that was conducted we had the intention to use 80, but 44 percent were using the mask appropriately.”

    He went on “and the next survey that was done, this number dropped to fifteen percent and that means that people are dropping their guards. So, if people start dropping their guards of using the masks and about fifty-four percent of the people are not wearing masks, that is a major worry.”

    Source: Starr FM

  • Uganda’s Museveni declares Covid-19 prayer holiday

    Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has declared Saturday a national prayer day for Covid-19.

    The president said he got the idea from a Ugandan citizen who had a vision from God.

    “God had told him in a vision that I should organise national prayers, scientifically organised, for God to deliver us from Covid-19… I declare 29 August 2020, a day of national prayers and a public holiday. Stay in your houses or compounds and pray,” Mr Museveni said in a social media post

    Uganda has so far recorded 2,679 coronavirus cases and 28 deaths.

    The government imposed strict restrictions in March after confirming the first case.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Coronavirus case count hits 43,949 in latest update, death toll 270

    The coronavirus case count in Ghana has reached 43,949, according to the latest update by the Ghana Health Service.

    Dr Patrick Kuma- Aboagye, Director General of the Ghana Health Service, made this known to the media on Thursday, August 27, 2020.

    He said active cases as of August 25, were 1,287, down slightly from the initial figure of 1,325.

    According to him, deaths as of August 25, stood at 270.

    He said a total of 42,392 patients had been discharged as of August 25, 2020.

    According to him, about 439,246 tests have been conducted cummulatively in Ghana.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • COVID-19: Our present situation

    Ghana currently has 1,604 active cases of the coronavirus disease, including 95 new cases, according to the Ghana Health Service.

    That brings the total confirmed cases nationwide to 43,717, with 270 recorded deaths 41,843 patients either recovered or discharged from treatment.

    The global picture still looks grim, albeit with a subdued spread. The global count has 24,083,507 confirmed cases, 823,917 deaths while 16,626,444 have recovered. Current active cases stand at 6,633,146.

    The Table below represents the topmost 10 countries that have recorded the highest deaths.

    CountryNo. of Deaths
    USA 182,412
    Brazil 116,666
    Mexico 61,450
    India 59,645
    UK 41,449
    Italy 35,445
    France 30,544
    Spain 28,924
    Peru 28,001
    Iran 20,901

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Kenya may reopen schools later this year – Minister

    Kenya’s education minister has hinted at reopening of schools earlier than his initial proposal of January 2021 if coronavirus cases continue to reduce.

    George Magoha has said tertiary institutions may also reopen earlier than was planned.

    Kenya scrapped the entire 2020 academic year in March because of the pandemic.

    The minister said it would be in the interest of learners to reopen schools early if the infection rate maintains its recent downward trend.

    The ministry of health has been reporting lower numbers in its daily updates, with the director general saying the rate needs to be below 5% for a period of two weeks for the curve to be said to be flattening.

    The World Health Organization and Unicef last week urged African countries to consider reopening schools but with strict guidelines.

    The agencies said children were being exposed to violence, teenage pregnancies and poor nutrition while at home during the pandemic.

    Source: bbc.com

  • 50 Ghanaian Entrepreneurs to benefit from €450k German support

    A total of 50 Ghanaian entrepreneurs of primarily small businesses, are expected to benefit from both technical and financial support of up to €9,000 each.

    This is through a German Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) named enpact e.V, which has set up a COVID-19 Relief Programme aimed at assisting Ghanaian businesses to contribute to an economic upswing, as well as preserve and create jobs in the wake of the pandemic.

    The programme dubbed: “Empowering Entrepreneurship Initiative” has begun calling for applications from the Ghanaian business community as it seeks to invite young and innovative business entrepreneurs from all sectors to apply for funding under its COVID-19 Relief Programme.

    Any business in its early stages that had a functioning and promising business model before the COVID-19 crisis erupted is eligible to apply.

    The move aims at dealing with the negative effects the novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) has impacted in the business space that has forced a number of businesses to either lay off workers or shut down completely.

    The project aims to support applicants in coping with the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

    “With this initiative, we are able to go above and beyond for young, innovative Ghanaian [business] founders and support them in these challenging times, not only financially, but also network and mentoring for each business”. says Ernest Armah, Project Lead for Ghana.

    In a release from the GIZ and copied to Goldstreet Business, it noted that the “Empowering Entrepreneurship Initiative” will provide in total nearly €3million to 330 founding teams across six countries namely; Egypt, Ghana, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, and Mexico.

    The GIZ Country Director to Ghana, Ms. Regina Bauerochse Barbosa, stated that her outfit recognizes the extent of impact the COVID-19 has had on businesses and this largely accounts for the reason GIZ is supporting this initiative to help empower young businesses and position them firmly amid the virus.

    “One thing the pandemic has taught us is to look beyond the norm and picture how things could be. Therefore, I urge all beneficiaries of this initiative to not just rely on the support we can give, but to continue to look for innovative and creative ways to grow and scale”, she stressed.

    Background

    The COVID-19 Relief Programme is being supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), with funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The Strategic Partnership Technology in Africa (SPTA) is working in cooperation with enpact e.V to implement the programme.

    Enpact e.V. launched its activities in West Africa in 2017 and has since implemented several international and national mentoring programmes for entrepreneurs, along with the launch of a physical hub in Accra to host programmes for ecosystem enablers and support organisations to build the Ghanaian startup ecosystem.

    Source: goldstreetbusiness.com

  • Coronavirus: GFA sets aside over GHS 2 million to test players ahead of new season

    The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is determined to start the 2020/21 season amid Coronavirus pandemic and have reportedly set aside a total of GHS2,656,800 to test players.

    The GFA want to test all players in Ghana Premier League, Division One League and Women’s Premier League.

    According to the report, the amount will cover the cost of testing all the players, technical handlers and management members before the season gets underway. A total of 3,444 people will be tested.

    Football activities have been banned since the outbreak of the deadly virus in March. This forced the GFA to cancel the 2019/20 season.

    However, the GFA has set October 31 as the start date for the season to commence.

    Their proposed date, is, however, subject to the government lifting the ban on football.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Kenyans demonstrate over loss of coronavirus funds

    Police on Friday morning confronted protesters at freedom corner, Nairobi during a peaceful demo over the loss of Covid-19 funds.

    The protest, dubbed #ArrestCovid19Thieves, was organised to demand accountability for the use of Covid-19 billions amid reports that funds allocated to deal with the pandemic may have been diverted to other uses not related to the disease, misapplied or misappropriated.

    The police said it was against the Public Health Act to hold a gathering of more than 15 people.

    The officers also inquired if they if they had notified OCS Nairobi of their impending action.

    However, the activists say they had attempted to inform relevant authorities but none was swilling to accept their letter of notice to picket on Friday August 20.

    Stood their ground

    They stood their ground at freedom corner despite being lobbed by teargas several times.

    The police demanded that the protestors disperse from freedom corner.

    The activists were about 15, as most were chased away before the number grew.

    They later assembled at the Kencom bus stage, where the last stand-off took place.

    Here, police arrested about 5 of them. The number later grew to about 11 who were under arrest.

    They were seen being bundled into the back of a police vehicle.

    Security around freedom corner was beefed up this morning. Several police officers in plain clothes could be spotted walking around as they kept an eye out for protestors.

    Source: allafrica.com

  • Doctors in Kenya’s capital begin strike

    More than 300 doctors in public hospitals in Kenya’s capital Nairobi have begun a strike.

    The health workers want better pay and working conditions including personal protective equipment (PPE).

    Nairobi has the most of coronavirus cases in the country.

    The doctors say they have been patient with the county government that is in charge of health services in Nairobi.

    The chairperson Thuranira Kaugira tweeted that healthcare workers have improvised enough.

    The doctors want a comprehensive health cover and quality PPE when handling Covid-19 patients.

    This is not the first time doctors in Kenya are going on strike for better pay and working conditions.

    Doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals have been calling for the formation of a health service commission to address all their concerns but this has not been successful.

    Out of the more than 30,000 Covid-19 cases in Kenya, close to 700 of them are among healthcare workers.

    Several healthcare workers have died with the virus.

    https://twitter.com/drthuranira/status/1296718904849555456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1296718904849555456%7Ctwgr%5E&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ghanaweb.com%2FGhanaHomePage%2Fafrica%2FDoctors-in-Kenya-s-capital-begin-strike-1040539

    Source: bbc.com

  • Coronavirus should make you an innovative entrepreneur – Itrade Commercial CEO

    The CEO of Itrade Commercial Limited has disclosed that the novel coronavirus should rather bring out innovative entrepreneur rather than confine them to the old style of doing business.

    The outbreak of coronavirus pandemic has had adverse effects on business across the globe but some companies have adjusted to the situation and are coping in the midst of the pandemic.

    With the rapid change in the Ghanaian economy these past few months due to the Covid-19 crisis, many companies have laid off workers and reduced their services, while others have shut down completely.

    Some companies, nonetheless, have inventively adapted to the effects of the pandemic. One of such companies is Itrade Commercial Limited.

    Itrade Commercial Limited is a leading provider of vehicle hire-purchase services and car rentals in Ghana.

    The CEO, Zubair Mustapha, has assured that despite the economic effects of Covid-19, Itrade Commercial Limited remains committed to its original mission: Serving the ordinary people.

    He also revealed that the company has relaxed its payment packages to allow clients to acquire the luxuries they desire, especially in a time like this.

    Mr Zubair, however, admonished clients and all Ghanaians to adhere to all the necessary hygiene and social distancing protocols laid out by the government whenever they visit their office.

    Sharing a word of advice to entrepreneurs, he noted that although the emergence of the pandemic is a challenge, a business-minded person will only be apt to find innovative ways to keep up with the work.

    Itrade Commercial Limited, previously known as Itrade Commercial Enterprise, provides various kinds of services such as hire purchase, car rentals, real estates and other transport services.

    The rebranding included a new logo, website, positioning and expanded services which better reflected the quality of services the company provided its clients.

    The company was awarded the Emerging Brand of the Year at the NiBS Ghana Innovation Awards in 2019.

    Source: Michael Ansah, Contributor

  • Team observing strict coronavirus protocols in camp – Black Maidens coach Baba Nuhu

    Ghana’s national U-17 women’s coach, Baba Nuhu has disclosed that all COVID-19 protocols are being observed after three of its players tested positive for the virus.

    The Black Maidens are currently in camp in Cape Coast to prepare ahead of their FIFA U-17 World Cup qualifier in October.

    A mandatory medical check was done to test all players, including the technical and management teams, for those invited to begin camping ahead of their respective qualifiers.

    Results after the check-up revealed three players testing positive for the COVID-19.

    Coach Baba Nuhu says safety measures have been put in place to ensure the whole team is safe as they continue with their preparations.

    “We know we have to observe all the protocols which we have not forgotten so what we are doing now is more of individual work, trying to see how we can work individually, not as one person”, he told Ghanafa.org

    “We will still be in groups but more of individual work to be able to observe all the protocols. The players have been wearing the nose masks but once we come to training, it is taken off and after training, they put it on again, even at dining.

    “We are fully aware of whatever that is happening and we are very careful. I am sure in the coming weeks; everything will be normal, then, we can revise our training accordingly”, he added.

    Ghana will take on Guinea-Bissau in this round of the qualifiers.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Coronavirus: Morocco tightens restrictions in tourist hubs

    The Moroccan authorities have imposed tight new restrictions on movement in Casablanca and Marrakesh – the country’s main tourist hubs – following a spike in coronavirus infections.

    Several districts of the two cities will be closed off, with restaurants, coffeehouses and businesses operating at reduced hours.

    Some public parks and beaches in Casablanca have been closed.

    On Tuesday, partial lockdowns were ordered in the capital, Rabat, and the port city of Tangiers, with armoured vehicles patrolling the streets and police manning checkpoints.

    Morocco has recorded more than 46,000 cases of the coronavirus and over 740 deaths.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Fumigate all tertiary campuses before reopening UTAG

    The University Teachers Associated of Ghana (UTAG) has asked the government to disinfect all campuses of universities and tertiary institutions across the country before reopening in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic.

    Acting General Secretary of UTAG Mark Korankye demanded also that personal protective equipment (PPEs) must be provided to students and lecturers in order to avert possible spike in the COVID-19 cases.

    This comes after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo revealed that continuing students of tertiary institutions which could not complete their studies online during the shutdown of schools as a result of the coronavirus pandemic are to return on Monday, August 24.

    Among the institutions are University of Cape Coast (UCC), University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), some technical universities and other colleges.

    President Akufo-Addo said on Sunday, August 16 in an address to the nation that “after extensive stakeholder consultations, the decision has been taken for continuing students in these tertiary institutions to return to school on 24th August to finish their academic year”.

    Speaking to News 360 on TV3 Thursday, Mr Korankye said failure to fumigate and also provide the PPEs could lead to a spike in the cases.

    “The fumigation of lecture halls and residential halls has to be done. Provision of masks has to be [made], so that when academic life resumes nobody will be put at some danger of exposing life.”

    Source: 3 News

  • 101 new COVID-19 cases recorded in Ghana; death toll now 256

    101 new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in Ghana.

    This brings to 1,875 the total number of active infections of the virus in the country as of today, Wednesday, August 19, 2020.

    The cumulative number of cases as of the same date is 43,094.

    However, 40,963 individuals who earlier contracted the disease have recovered or been discharged.

    Additionally, eight more persons have succumbed to the disease pushing the death total to 256 from the previous update.

    These updates were announced by the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

    Of the active cases, 16 and six persons are in severe and critical conditions respectively.

    Three others are on ventilators.

    On tests conducted, 429,773 have been done so far at a positivity rate of 10.0.

    156,645 of the tests are samples from routine surveillance out of which 16, 792 have tested positive with a positive rate of 10.7.

    The remaining 273,128 were samples from enhanced contact tracing with 26,302 testing COVID-19 positive at a rate of 9.6.

    Regional Breakdown

    Greater Accra Region leads the chart with 656 active cases.

    The Ashanti Region (472 cases), Central Region (261 cases) and Eastern Region (242 cases) follow in the second, third and fourth-order respectively.

    The North East, Savannah, Upper East, Upper West regions have no active.

    Source: citinewsroom

  • Ghanaian students from Russia test positive for coronavirus

    Some Ghanaian students who arrived in the country from Russia have tested positive for the novel Coronavirus disease.

    This was disclosed by a former President of the National Union of Students in Russia, Roland Abiti Addo, in a interview on Campus Exclusive.

    He indicated that the test results of some of the evacuees came back positive with traces of the COVID-19 strains in their fluid samples.

    Roland Addo could, however, not tell the specific number of students who had been infected with the disease.

    The infected persons have been taken to isolation centres to begin receiving treatment.

    Meanwhile, UniversNews gathers that some of the students, including the twelve from University of Ghana are awaiting their results as they had their samples taken on Monday, August 17, 2020.

    126 Ghanaians arrive from Russia

    One Hundred and Twenty-Six (126) Ghanaians who were in Russia have arrived in the country.

    Most of them were students studying in Russia, including 12 from the University of Ghana who went there for a year-abroad program.

    They arrived aboard a Royal flight at 8:45 am on Wednesday, August 12, at the Kotoko International Airport.

    Source: universnewsroom.com

  • Free hot meal for final year JHS students will be waakye, jollof, plain rice – Minister

    The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection Mrs. Cynthia Mamle Morrison says the free hot meal per day for final-year Junior High School students would be managed under the School Feeding Programme.

    Speaking on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM she said the menu would include Jollof, Waakye, Plain Rice, and Vegetable Stew, Kontomire Stew with an egg.

    The Waakye she explained would be served twice a week.

    She added that with the schools that have already charged feeding fees, the Ministry is working with them so they will provide snacks for the students.

    She appealed to parents to support the efforts of the government in containing the virus.

    President Akufo-Addo in his 15th national address on Sunday said he has instructed the Gender Minister to provide free one hot meal to final year students preparing for their BECE.

    His directive he said was based on the fact that some of the students were going hungry because they had to comply with the safety protocols.

    He said: “As a result of reports I have recently received that some final year JHS students were going hungry, in complying with COVID-19 protocols, I have just instructed the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection to begin preparations to ensure that, as from 24th August up to 18th September, all five hundred and eighty-four thousand (584,000) final year JHS students, and one hundred and forty-six thousand (146,000) staff, both in public and private schools, be given one hot meal a day. This is to ensure full observance of the COVID-19 safety protocols.”

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • 9-week-old baby reportedly killed by coronavirus

    The latest update on Ghana’s Coronavirus figures indicates that a 9-week-old child has succumbed to the disease.

    According to the Ghana Health Service, the baby’s unfortunate demise occurred in the Central region. He is one of the 8 persons who are said to have been killed by the virus in the latest update.

    2 of the 7 adults also had no comorbidities while the remaining 5 had underlining health conditions such as retroviral infection with cerebral toxoplasmosis, hypertension, congestive cardiac failure, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes mellitus.

    The death toll now stands at 239.

    Meanwhile, 121 new cases have been confirmed, bringing the accumulated cases to 42,653.

    The country however continues to make a significant improvement in its fight as active cases have dropped again. The figure as announced on Friday, August 14 was 1906 but has now reduced to 1,847 despite the new cases that have been recorded.

    According to GHS, 6 are critical, 3 are on ventilator while 16 are severe cases.

    Below is the Cumulative Cases per Region

    Greater Accra Region – 21,212

    Ashanti Region – 10,569

    Western Region – 2,899

    Eastern Region – 2,097

    Central Region – 1,801

    Bono East Region – 720

    Volta Region – 642

    Western North Region – 580

    Northern Region – 489

    Ahafo Region – 485

    Bono Region – 480

    Upper East Region – 282

    Oti Region – 229

    Upper West Region – 88

    Savannah Region – 62

    North East Region – 18

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • ‘It’s in order’ Teachers on Akufo-Addo’s hot meals for BECE candidates, staff

    It is in order for President Nana Akufo-Addo to provide one hot meal a day for Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) students and school staff during the period of their final exam, the leader of the Coalition of Concerned Teachers, King Ali Awudu has said.

    According to him, since food vendors are prevented from school premises as part of measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, the promised intervention by the President was welcome.

    Also, Mr Ali Awudu said it deter pupils from wandering about in search of food, thus, reducing their risk of contracting the pandemic.

    Additionally, he said the intervention will help teachers to focus on their task of ensuring the pupils obey the COVID-19 safety protocols.

    The President made the announcement in his 15th COVID-19 address to the nation on Sunday, 16 August 2020. He said: “Our phased approach toward returning our lives to normal, through the strategic, controlled, progressive, and safe easing of restrictions, will, thus, continue”.

    “Most final-year university students have already completed their examinations, and, by 18th September, SHS 3 and JHS 3 students would have finished their respective final examinations of WASSCE and BECE.

    “As a result of reports I have recently received that some final-year JHS students were going hungry, in complying with COVID-19 protocols, I have just instructed the Minister of Gender, Child and Social Protection to begin preparations to ensure that from 24th August up to 18th September, all five hundred and eighty-four thousand (584,000) final-year JHS students, and one hundred and forty-six thousand (146,000) staff, both in public and private schools, be given one hot meal a day”, the President said.

    “This is to ensure full observance of the COVID-19 safety protocols”, he explained.

    The President also noted that: “Through online learning portals, almost all continuing students in our Universities have completed their studies for the academic year”.

    The exceptions, he listed, are the University of Cape Coast, the University of Health and Allied Sciences, Technical Universities, and some other Colleges.

    “After extensive stakeholder consultations, the decision has been taken for continuing students in these tertiary institutions to return to school on 24th August, to finish their academic year”, Nana Akufo-Addo said.

    He noted that “just as was done for final year students who returned to school, the government, through the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service, will ensure that all these tertiary institutions are disinfected”.

    “Universities will be equipped with the necessary personal protective equipment, and those with their own hospitals and clinics will have isolation centres to deal with any positive cases”, he added.

    The President said all other institutions without their own clinics and hospitals, will be mapped to health facilities.

    “There will be no mass gatherings and no sporting activities. Religious activities, under the new protocols, will be permitted. Social distancing and the wearing of face masks must become the norm on campus”, he directed.

    Still within the education sector, the President said the Ministry of Education continues to engage the Ghana Education Service (GES) and all relevant stakeholders to conclude discussions on the modalities surrounding the reopening of our pre-tertiary schools.

    “I will communicate, in due course, the decisions that will be reached from these consultations”, he noted, adding: “You can be rest assured that I will always take into prime consideration the safety and wellbeing of our children, teachers and non-teaching staff in the decisions that will be taken, because I am determined to ensure that the education of our children is not unduly disturbed by this pandemic”.

    Source: ghanaweb

  • Tema NCCE Director calls for seizure of selling, preaching on buses

    The Tema Metropolitan Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Isaac Kwame Antwi, has slammed the permission some transport owners and drivers in the Tema Metropolis continue to give to those selling and preaching on their buses.

    He said the action was contrary to the COVID-19 protocol on social distancing and put passengers at risk of contracting the disease.

    Making the observation in an interview with the Ghanaian Times, Mr Antwi appealed to the various transport unions to call their members to order to desist from the practice.

    He stated that some of the preachers and sellers got close to the passengers without wearing face masks and therefore spitum from their mouths could spread on the passengers and expose them to the virus, if they had it already.

    The Tema Metropolitan Director of the NCCE said COVID-19 was still a threat to the health of the nation, hence the need for all to be responsible in their actions by observing all the safety protocols prescribed by the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service to ensure the safety of all.

    Source: Ghanaian Times

  • UCC, technical universities, others to reopen on August 24 for continuing students

    All continuing students of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), technical universities and some other colleges are to return to school on August 24, 2020 to complete the academic year.

    This is according to the latest update given by the President, Nana Akufo-Addo on Sunday, August 16, 2020.

    He announced that “through online learning portals, almost all continuing students in our universities have completed their studies for the academic year with the exception of the University of Cape Coast, University of Health and Allied Sciences, technical universities and some other colleges. After extensive stakeholder consultations, the decision has been taken for continuing students of these tertiary institutions to return to school on 24th August to finish their academic year.”

    “Just as was done for final year students who returned to school, government through the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service will ensure that all these tertiary institutions are disinfected.”

    Public and private universities across the country were instructed to resume academic work as final year students were asked to return to school on June 15, 2020.

    The partial reopening as announced by the government saw final year university students resume, lectures to enable them to take their exit exams.

    FInal year Senior and Junior High Schools students were also asked to do same.

    The SHS students are still writing their West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), while most of the universities have ended the academic year for the final students.

    Source: citinewsroom

  • Recovery rate of COVID-19 cases in Ghana improves to 95.1 percent in 3 weeks

    The recovery rate of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Ghana has improved from 89.5 percent to 95.1 percent in the last three weeks, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said.

    The death rate on its part continues to be low at 0.5 percent.

    Thus far, a total of 40,567 persons have recovered from the virus since it was first recorded in Ghana in March 2020.

    Total confirmed cases in Ghana as of Sunday, August 16, 2020 was 42,532 with 231 deaths.

    President Akufo-Addo in his 15th address to the nation on measures taken against the spread of the disease on Sunday night [August 16, 2020) said there were currently no backlogs of tests at any of the testing centres, meaning that situational reports are up to date.

    “Indeed test results that used to take weeks are now available within 48 hours. We have so far, conducted 427,121 tests,” he said.

    President Akufo-Addo said as of July 24, the number of active cases [persons with the virus] stood at 3,307.

    As of Saturday, August 15th three weeks later, the number of active cases stoood at 1,847, a clear indication that the government policies were working.

    “Currently, there are no recorded COVID-19 cases in the North East, Savannah, Upper East and Upper West Regions and I charge their residents to do everything possible to maintain that situation, Greater Accra, Ashanti, Central, Eastern and Western continue to be the regions with the highest number of active cases,” the president said.

    “These statistics undermine, as unfounded the claim that Ghana has lost the battle to defeat COVID-19. There can only one simple reason for this baseless assertion, and that is political expediency. But as I have said before, do not begrudge those who make such statements, they need to make them continue to try to stay relevant.”

    “Our health workers will forever be in our debt, for the dedication they have put in to ensure these impressive statistics.

    “We can help them even further by continuing to adhere to the social distancing and hygiene protocols we have instituted to stem the tide of infections

    “I have been encouraged by the results of a recent survey conducted by the Ghana Health Services into the use of the face masks at selected locations in Accra in the month of August. It revealed that the overall intention to use face masks at the sites surveyed was very high with 82 percent of person surveyed possession a mask. I believe we can do even more, and reach 100 percent.

    “The same survey demonstrated that only 44.3 percent of those who have the mask use them correctly. I urge each and every one of us to wear our masks, and do so correctly anytime we leave our homes. It is the new normal requirement of our daily existence until the virus disappears.”

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Akufo-Addo to address nation on COVID-19 today

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will this evening address the nation on measures being taken to address the spread of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

    It will be the president’s 15th update to the nation since the first case of the disease was recorded in March this year.

    The address will be broadcast live on television at 8 pm.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Relief for Ghana Premier League clubs as GFA grants 50% waiver on loaned monies

    The Ghana Football Association has decided to waive off fifty percent of the remainder of the loan owed by the Ghana Premier League clubs.

    The Ghana FA gave out GH¢50,000 loan to each top-flight club before the start of the 2019/2020 season.

    Half of that amount was waived off when the Coronavirus pandemic broke in Ghana in March with GH¢25,000 left to be paid by the clubs.

    The Ghana FA Executive Council reached the decision to let go off half of the remaining owed monies by each of the eighteen premiership clubs.

    The council are doing this to enable the clubs to mitigate the financial difficulties they have faced during the coronavirus crisis.

    Each club will now have to pay GH¢12,000 to the Ghana FA.

    This amount will be deducted from any sponsorship secured by the football association in relation to the Ghana Premier League.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Coronavirus: Ghanas death toll now 231 as confirmed cases hit over 42,000

    The Ghana Health Service has reported that eight more persons have died from COVID-19 in Ghana.

    This pushes the country’s death toll to 231.

    The latest deaths have been recorded a week after Ghana made an impressive gain with coronavirus recoveries, which stands at 39, 993.

    The active cases keep recording a decline with the latest figures from the Ghana Health Service pointing at 1,839.

    Currently, Ghana still keeps its borders closed and international flights suspended to curb a further spread of the coronavirus.

    The confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Ghana sit at 42, 063 after 216 new ones were reported from the lab.

    Four persons are currently on ventilators, leaving six others in critical condition while 17 have been classified as severe cases.

    Regional cases:

    Greater Accra Region  20,970

    Ashanti Region  10,476

    Western Region  2,863

    Eastern Region  2,024

    Central Region  1,754

    Bono East Region  703

    Volta Region  630

    Western North Region  580

    Northern Region  472

    Ahafo Region  469

    Bono Region  468

    Upper East Region  282

    Oti Region  213

    Upper West Region  88

    Savannah Region  62

    North East Region  9

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com