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Tag: Main Story

  • Scrap taxes to reduce fuel in 48 hours or we will withdraw our service on Thursday 16 driver unions

    Sixteen driver unions are demanding that the government scraps some taxes on petroleum products.

    According to the unions, they have identified at least five taxes that they believe serve no useful purpose.

    The Coalition of Private Transport Associations includes Tipper Truck Association, Articulated Drivers Association, Ghana Private Road and Transport Union (GPRTU), Tipper Truck Association, Ghana National Cargo Transport Association, Ghana Committed Drivers Association, True Drivers Union and Digital Drivers Union

    They say should their caution go unheeded, they will be forced to withdraw their services on Thursday at 3 pm.

    A litre of petrol and diesel currently sells at ¢6.90 at major oil marketing companies across the country.

    The driver unions say they cannot continue to put up with such high prices.

    The government has since the recent hikes in prices announced the suspension of two levies for the next two months, but the unions say this is inadequate.

    Sixteen driver unions are demanding that the government scraps some taxes on petroleum products.

    According to the unions, they have identified at least five taxes that they believe serve no useful purpose.

    The Coalition of Private Transport Associations includes Tipper Truck Association, Articulated Drivers Association, Ghana Private Road and Transport Union (GPRTU), Tipper Truck Association, Ghana National Cargo Transport Association, Ghana Committed Drivers Association, True Drivers Union and Digital Drivers Union

    They say should their caution go unheeded, they will be forced to withdraw their services on Thursday at 3 pm.

    A litre of petrol and diesel currently sells at ¢6.90 at major oil marketing companies across the country.

    The driver unions say they cannot continue to put up with such high prices.

    The government has since the recent hikes in prices announced the suspension of two levies for the next two months, but the unions say this is inadequate.

    They want the energy debt recovery levy, the Road fund levy, Energy sector levy, Sanitation levy and Special petroleum levy, scrapped.

    Source: myjoyonline.com

  • Sosu is out of the country – Speaker Bagbin tells Police

    Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, is said to have written to the Police administration informing them that Madina MP, Francis-Xavier Sosu is out of the country on Parliamentary business.

    The embattled MP was to show up in court on Monday morning but failed to turn up.

    Police Prosecutor ASP Sylvester Asare informed the Kaneshie District Court that a letter had been received from the Speaker indicating that the MP was out of the jurisdiction.

    The case was consequently adjourned to November 16.

    The human rights lawyer on October 25, led his constituents on a demonstration to get their bad roads fixed.

    Mr Sosu is accused of unlawfully blocking a public highway and causing destruction to public property.

    Since the protest, there have been a lot of back and forth between the MP, Parliament and the Police.

    Although the Police have attempted to arrest the MP, he has resisted arrest, citing articles 117 and 118 of the Constitution.

    Speaker Alban Bagbin had earlier written to the Police Service indicating his inability to release the MP to assist with investigations.

    The Police secured the criminal summons against the MP after unsuccessful attempts to arrest him for his alleged breach of the law.

    Source: Joseph Ackah-Blay / myjoyonline.com

  • Police slap Madina MP with two charges

    The Ghana Police Service says it has served criminal summons on the Member of Parliament for Madina constituency in Accra, Francis-Xavier Sosu.

    The police say Francis Sosu will be arraigned before court on November 8, to face the charges of unlawfully blocking a public road as well as the destruction of public property after he joined his constituents in a demonstration on October 25, over poor roads in Madina.

    The police have since been unsuccessful in their attempts to arrest him, with parliament flagging its privileges and requesting proper procedures for MPs who must face criminal prosecution.

    The Director-General of the Public Affairs Department of the Ghana Police Service, ACP Kwesi Ofori says the court process has duly been served on the MP and expects to meet him in court to answer the charges.

    Read also:  Xavier-Sosu: Police deny reports of attempted arrest of MP at church

    Meanwhile, the Speaker of Parliament has expressed revulsion at what he says are unconstitutional attempts to arrest the MP.

    According to him, he has noted “with grave concern” the attempts by the Police Service to arrest Sosu “in a manner and fashion that offend not just the letter but the very spirit that underpins our 1992 Constitution.”

    In a statement issued by the Parliamentary Service on Wednesday, the Speaker said he has “also taken note of the press releases and posture of the Police Service including the interdiction of Inspector Daniel Agbavor, the Police Officer providing personal protection” to MP Sosu.

    He concludes that while that while the immunities and privileges of Members of Parliament are not absolute, the procedure for causing the arrest of a sitting Member of Parliament or serving a court process must be in accordance with the Constitution and that the “appropriate procedure is to secure from the Speaker, a certificate that the Member in question is not attending to Parliamentary Business. Anything short of this should not be entertained by the House.”

    Click the following image to read the full statement issued by the Parliamentary Service.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • Tell your intelligence gathering lies to Class 1 kids – Sam George roars at Dampare, ACP Ofori

    Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam Nartey George is not excited at how Police is handling the issue relating to a purported arrest of his fellow lawmaker, Francis-Xavier Sosu.

    He insists that the Police are being lawless by the actions in seeking to arrest Sosu, who as a sitting MP enjoys some privileges.

    Commenting on an October 31, 2021, statement by Police describing reports of the arrest as “untrue,” he picked on a point where the Police said any plain-clothed officers who may have been at the church premises where Sosu was worshipping may have been there to gather intelligence.

    He slammed the Inspector-General of Police, George Akuffo Dampare and head of Police Public Relations, ACP Kwesi Ofori, telling them to tell their ‘intelligence gathering’ lies to Class 1 children.

    “ACP Kwesi Ofori and the IGP should tell their fib to class 1 kids that the plain cloth officers were there to gather intelligence. Absolute bumble!

    “If they claim they would use ‘legal means’ to interrogate all suspects, they must be guided by Articles 117 & 118 of the 1992 Constitution and Standing Orders 28 & 30 of Parliament,” he posted on Facebook.

    His post accompanied by the Police statement also stressed the need to support the Police at all times when they play by the rules.

    “I agree that we must support the Ghana Police Service to maintain law and order. However, we shall resist them when they act outside the remit of the law with reckless abandon and in a capricious manner unbecoming of officers of the law.”

    He recounted his experiences at the hands of security professionals during the Ayawaso Wuogon by-election violence and said that had given him a “life mission” to fight for reforms within the Police setup.

    “I have been a victim of the lack of professionalism and irresponsibility of SOME police officers and national security personnel and I have made it my life mission to continue to fight for reforms in what should be a model public service institution and I would rest not until we rid the Police Service of these despicable bad nuts.

    “The Police is NOT above the Law!” his post concluded.

    I agree that we must support the Ghana Police Service to maintain law and order. However, we shall resist them when they act outside the remit of the law with reckless abandon and in a capricious manner unbecoming of officers of the law.

    ACP Kwesi Ofori and the IGP should tell their fib to class 1 kids that the plain cloth officers were there to gather intelligence. Absolute bumble! If they claim they would use ‘legal means’ to interrogate all suspects, they must be guided by Articles 117 & 118 of the 1992 Constitution and Standing Orders 28 & 30 of Parliament.

    I have been a victim of the lack of professionalism and irresponsibility of SOME police officers and national security personnel and I have made it my life mission to continue to fight for reforms in what should be a model public service institution and I would rest not until we rid the Police Service of these despicable bad nuts.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coup attempt in Sudan, Prime Minister under house arrest

    Several members of Sudan’s transitional government have been arrested in their homes amid reports of a military coup.

    According to a BBC report sighted by GhanaWeb, Civilian PM, Abdallah Hamdok and at least four ministers were among those believed to have been detained by unidentified soldiers at their homes shortly before dawn on Monday.

    The events come just two days after a Sudanese faction calling for a transfer of power to civilian rule warned of a “creeping coup” at a press conference that a crowd of unidentified people sought to prevent.

    A government source told AFP that, the internet was cut off throughout the country, while demonstrators gathered in the streets to protest against the arrests, setting fire to tires.

    The army has not commented, but pro-democracy groups urged street protests.

    Military and civilian leaders have been at odds since long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir was overthrown two years ago and a transitional government was set up.

    It remains unclear who carried out the arrests.

    Sudan has been undergoing a precarious transition marred by political divisions and power struggles since the ouster of President Omar al-Bashir in April 2019.

    Since August 2019, Sudan has been under the rule of a civilian-military administration overseeing the transition to an all-civilian regime.

    The main civilian bloc – the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) – which led the anti-Bashir protests in 2019, has split into two opposing factions.

    “The current crisis is artificial — and is taking the form of a creeping coup,” FFC leader Yasser Arman said at a press conference in the capital Khartoum on Saturday.

    “We renew our confidence in the government, Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok, and in the reform of the transitional institutions, but without order or imposition,” Arman added.

    Tensions between the two sides have long existed, but the divisions were exacerbated after the failed coup on September 21.

    The Information Ministry of Sudan in a Facebook post said, military forces also stormed Sudan’s state broadcaster in the nearby city of Omdurman and detained workers, the ministry added.

    The ministry added Sudan’s leader is under pressure to release a statement in “support of the takeover” but had called on the people to take to the streets in protest.

    “Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, in a message from his house arrest, asks the Sudanese to adhere to peaceful (means of protest) and occupy the streets to defend their revolution,” parts of the Facebook post read.

    Among those arrested by “joint military forces” include various civilian ministers of Sudan’s transitional government and members of Sudan’s sovereign council, the Information Ministry said.

    “Members belonging to the civilian component of the Transitional Sovereign Council and a number of ministers of the transitional government were arrested by joint military forces and taken to unknown destinations,” the statement added.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • ‘Under Dampare, every foolishness has its limit’ – Manasseh pokes Shatta Wale

    Investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni has reacted to the recent events surrounding controversial dancehall artiste, Shatta Wale.

    In a 25-line poem posted on Facebook yesterday, October 20, Manasseh reserved mention for two public figures whiles shying away from expressly mentioning Shatta Wale‘s name.

    His first line mentions Shatta’s rival, Sarkodie, referring to him as King but it is Inspector-General of Police, George Akuffo Dampare, who gets a double mention in the 21st and 22nd lines.

    The 21st line read: “But under Dampare, every foolishness has its limit”

    “Dampare is large and in charge!” he wrote in the 22nd line to buttress his point about the need to do what is right even with the trappings and lure of lawlessness.

    The Ghana Police Service on Wednesday stated at a press conference that Shatta Wale will be arraigned before a court today over allegations of causing false news to be published relative to a gun attack on him last Monday.

    Police arrested him on Tuesday after he turned himself in, having been declared wanted earlier. He spent his second night in police custody.

    The IGP was celebrated on social media following Shatta Wale‘s arrest with most social media users calling for the musician to be dealt with according to the law.

    Many cited the recent treatment meted out to Reverend Isaac Owusu Bempah and that of the fake Takoradi pregnancy and kidnap case to buttress the need for the musician to not be treated any differently.

    Read Manasseh’s full post below:

    King Sark said No Pressure
    That advice should have been a treasure
    For life is not a race
    Everyone has their pace
    But some would resort to anything for fame
    Even if it would end in shame
    They use shortcuts to rise in the game
    But it takes more than noise to keep one’s name
    In their current state, they ought to be wistful
    But in their fleeting glory of yore, they are wishful
    In comparison with others’ success, they’re flattered
    But the consistency of others keeps them flustered
    So they’d do anything to rise
    Even if it’s as inferior as “tugyimi” rice
    Because trending is where their pride lies
    But now they’re cold like ice
    In their antics, however, they should not lose sight
    That things are no longer loose, but tight
    We aren’t saints, but we must strive to do right
    It’s true that lawlessness is in our remit
    It’s true that the powerful can even build without a permit
    But under Dampare, every foolishness has its limit
    Dampare is large and in charge!
    And we’ve got to know What Time It Is!
    Now, the beginning of wisdom is a declaration to thyself: “I Know My Level.”

    Brief about the Shatta Wale hoax

    On Monday evening, October 18, a viral post on social media had it that Shatta Wale had been shot at East Legon and was receiving emergency medical treatment at an unnamed hospital.

    Police issued a statement saying no shooting incident had been recorded nor have the artiste been found at any hospital per their checks.

    The following morning, Shatta Wale released a statement defending why he staged an attack citing police indifference after a prophecy was released in September about a gun attack on him.

    The Ghana Police Service on Tuesday evening announced the arrest of Shatta Wale after he turned himself in.

    According to a statement, the musician who had been declared wanted was subsequently arrested to assist with investigations into an October 18 viral post that he had been the victim of a gun attack.

    The statement read in part: “The Police have arrested Charles Nii Armah Mensah popularly known as Shatta Wale. After we publicly declared him and one other person wanted, the suspect, Shatta Wale, turned himself in today Tuesday 19th October, 2021, at 8.59pm.

    “He has been arrested to assist the Police in investigations for his alleged involvement in the creation and circulation of information intended to cause fear and panic.”

    Two photos accompanying the police information showed the musician in one frame bespectacled, in handcuffs and spotting a broad smile. The other photo shows a more sullen Shatta Wale.

    The police also reiterated its warning to members of the public: “to desist from publishing false information, capable of disturbing the peace of the country or risk being arrested and prosecuted.”

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Rev Owusu Bempah, 3 others remanded into police custody

    The founder and leader of Glorious Word Power Ministry, Rev Isaac Owusu Bempah, has been denied bail by the Accra Circuit Court 4.

    Rev. Owusu Bempah was put before court today, Monday, September 13, 2021, following his arrest together with three of his junior pastors.

    The controversial man of God who pleaded not guilty to charges proffered against him has been asked to be kept in police custody for a week.

    Reports indicate that some church members of Rev Owusu Bempah who trooped to the circuit court this morning attacked journalists and prevented them from capturing the arrival of their pastor in court.

    Background

    Rev Isaac Owusu Bempah, founder and leader of Glorious Word Power Ministries International, prior to appearing in court had been in the custody of the Ghana Police Service, for creating “multiple videos containing threats, the brandishing of a weapon and the assault of some police personnel.”

    According to a widely circulated circular by the Ghana Police Service, Rev Owusu Bempah was arrested together with three other suspects namely; Michael Boateng, Frederick Ohene and Nathaniel Agyekum, on Sunday, September 13, 2021, at his church premises.

    The police indicated that two other suspects are currently on the run and they [police] are pursuing them.

    The police explained that Rev Owusu Bempah and the three others were “being detained for further investigations over the creation and circulation of multiple videos containing threats, the brandishing of a weapon and the assault of some police personnel.

    “After critically analyzing the said videos and based on intelligence gather, the police embarked on an operation on Sunday, September 12, 2021, at the premises of the church to arrest the suspects.”

    The police statement further said, “during the operation, some members of the church believed to have been under the direction of Rev Owusu Bempah assaulted some police officers. The injured personnel have received medical treatment and are responding to treatment.”

    “The suspects are currently in the custody [of the police] and will appear before the court on Monday, September 13, 2021,” the statement added.

    Rev Isaac Owusu Bempah, together with some of his junior pastors stormed the residence of converted priestess, Nana Agradaa on Thursday, September 9, 2021.

    The man of God and his boys claimed Nana Agradaa had threatened to pounce on Rev Owusu Bempah wherever she meets him.

    So, the man of God decided not to wait for Nana Agradaa to pounce on him but will visit the priestess in her house in order for her to carry out her threat.

    Prior to their visit, the junior pastor in a live video on Facebook threatened to show Nana Agradaa ‘pepper’ for disrespecting their father Owusu Bempah.

    While carrying out the threat, the two pastors brandished some weapons in the process.

    The police then cautioned the public “against any acts that will disturb the peace of the country.”

    “We wish to give the assurance that impartial investigations shall continue in this matter and the public will be duly updated,” the police concluded in a statement signed by Kwesi Ofori, Assistant Commissioner of Police and Ag. Director-General, Public Affairs.

    Read below the statement from the police:

    Source: ghanaweb.com

  • Rev. Owusu Bempah, 3 others face court today over alleged assault on police officers

    The Police have arrested popular preacher Reverend Isaac Owusu Bempah and three others for allegedly issuing threats, brandishing weapons and attacking police officers on Sunday.

    Viral videos captured the popular preacher in the company of others at what is believed to be the residence of fetish priestess turned evangelist, Nana Agradaa.

    The preacher in one of the videos approaches the camera and explains the reason for the visit.

    Meanwhile, the Police have since issued a statement on the viral videos and how an attempt to arrest the preacher resulted in an attack on the police officers.

    Rev. Owusu Bempah, 3 others arrested for attacking police officers
    Source: myjoyonline.com

  • National Security arrests Islamic cleric, students with terrorist links – Report

    National Security operatives late last week raided a community in the Savelugu Municipality and arrested over 30 persons who were believed to have links with terrorist groups across the region.

    A Joy News report said the raid took place in Nambahala near Biare last Friday and was specifically targeted at an Islamic School from where 33 persons were picked up and flown to Accra for questioning.

    The report added that as of yesterday (September 8), 27 of the arrested party had been granted bail whiles the others, including a top Islamic cleric and founder of the raided Islamic center, remain in custody in Accra.

    The detained party are said to be in possession of some evidential material that links them to terrorist groups in Burkina Faso and Mali.

    Meanwhile, residents in the community according to a Joy News reporter are terrified at the development given that the cleric has lived with them for some two decades.

    Commenting on the development, Alhaji Musa Barry, General Secretary of Fulani Welfare Group confirmed having gotten a hint of the raid and subsequently receiving confirmation via a call from a National Security official who invited him to a meeting on Saturday around 10 am.

    “I was only there to interpret their language, they are all Fulani, but they are not herdsmen, they are all students of that cleric. So they were investigating about their mobiles, the communication and other things which help the National Security to interpret,” he said on the September 9 edition of Joy FM’s News Nite programme.

    In mid-June this year, Police in the Northern and Upper East regions were put on high alert following intelligence gathered about a possible terror attack.

    According to the intelligence, some bandits from Burkina Faso known for their operations on Ghana, Burkina Faso border are planning to launch attacks in the coming days.

    A police wireless message quoted by 3news.com read as follows: “Bandits suspected to be in possession of military-grade weapons may have already infiltrated Ghana at yet-to-be-identified locations in the northern regions and they are poised to launch the attacks any moment from now.”

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Herbal treatment for COVID-19 in the offing

    The Centre for Plant Medicine Research (CPMR) at Mampong Akwapim in the Eastern Region has made progress in the development of a herbal medicine for the treatment of COVID-19.

    The acting Executive Director of the centre, Dr Kofi Bobi Barimah, who disclosed this, said his outfit was fast developing the herbal medicine, and that it would bring great respite to Ghanaians when it was introduced.

    He said since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the centre had been working at the laboratory to help find a remedy to the life-threatening virus.

    Dr Barimah gave the hint in Accra last Wednesday during the launch of an immune-boosting food supplement called Thorntina-74 Mixture on the market.

    “We have been working around the clock to get a herbal treatment for the COVID-19 and it will be out soon,” he said.

    The herbal immune booster, which aims at providing support for the immune system to fight infectious diseases, is a distillate generated from three main plants — Moringa Oleifera, Spondias Mombin, commonly known as yellow mombin, and tetrapleura tetraptera (prekese).

    Increase in patients at CPMR

    Dr Barimah said the increase in patient attendance at the CPMR to seek treatment attested to the strong belief in and efficacy of herbal medicine, saying that had encouraged the centre to work on developing a cure for the COVID-19 pandemic.

    He revealed that since the outbreak of the pandemic, the medical facility at the centre had witnessed an increase in intake of patients from 80 to 140 per day.

    He said over the years, due to its thoroughness and the promotion of the safe use of plant medicine, many people had turned to the centre for the treatment of viral and other forms of diseases.

    “For the past 46 years since the inception of the centre, it has promoted the safe and responsible use of plant medicine through research and many have found it very helpful, for which reason they continue to patronise it,” he emphasised.

    A medical herbalist of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr Albert Wirekoh-Tawiah, who was part of the team that developed the Thorntina-74 immune booster, said the mixture had been prepared with the best herbal products to stand the test of time.

    “This herbal solution contains an anticarcinogenic and an immunomodulator that prevents cancerous cells and prevents bacterial from easily affecting the system,” he explained.

    A scientific officer of the Ghana Standards Authority, Dr Kenneth Agbodza, said his outfit had proved the efficacy of the mixture and encouraged all to utilise it for its good effects.

    A biomedical and public health researcher, Dr Richard Eghan, called for a collaborative effort between herbal medicine and synthetic medicine to enable the best form of treatment for patients.

    “There is the need for a scientific integration of natural or herbal medicine and synthetic ones for effective healing,” he noted.

    Diagnostics Herbal Clinic

    The Managing Director of the Diagnostic Herbal Clinic, originators of the medicine, Mr Yaw Owusu Gyapong, said the immune booster was developed as a response to his own need for an immune booster to promote his general health and help find a solution to the threat posed by the COVID-19 in particular.

    “The knowledge that people with a stronger immune system are able to fight and survive the COVID-19 drove me to go back to the laboratory, and after comprehensive research, came up with the Thorntina-74 Immune Booster,” he explained.

    He urged Ghanaians to pay attention to their health and personal well-being and encouraged them to trust the efficacy of natural herbal medicine which had been developed from trusted sources.

    Three Ghanaians who have already tried the medicine attested to its efficacy and encouraged Ghanaians to patronise it.

    The CPMR

    The Centre for Plant Medicine Research (CPMR), formerly called the Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine (CSRPM), based at Mampong-Akwapim, was established by the Government of Ghana in 1975 as a result of the dream and vision of Dr Oku Ampofo, a renowned allopathic medical practitioner.

    Since the outbreak of the COVID-19, the centre has received many herbal products and plants to be tested and certified as having the potential to cure the disease or at least alleviate symptoms.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • Robbers suspected to have killed international journalist arrested

    Four persons are currently in police custody for their alleged involvement in some robbery and murder cases on the Kintampo-Buipe-Tamale highway.

    The four Saaju Bukari, Bertor Saabi, Ali Amadi and Isaad Seidu were arrested following an intelligence-led operation conducted by the Special Anti-Robbery Task Force.

    The operation also resulted in the killing of two robbers after they exchanged gunshots with the Police Intelligence and Operational Teams.

    “Preliminary investigations suggest that these suspects were behind many robberies including the killing of an international journalist some days ago,” a statement issued by the police on Sunday, August 29 said.

    Syed Taalay Ahmed of London-based MTA News met his untimely death on Monday, August 23 after the bus he was travelling in, together with another victim Omaru Abdul Hakim, was attacked by robbers.

    They were joined by the driver of their Toyota Hiace with registration number GT 7405-16 to the Buipe Policlinic. However, due to the severity of the injuries, they were all transferred to the Tamale Teaching Hospital, where Taalay was pronounced dead.

    The police said they have instituted “rigorous” measures to effectively combat series of crimes that have plagues the area over the past few years.

    Items retrieved by the police are two locally manufactured pistols and live cartridges, machetes, bayonets, pepper spray cans and stun guns.

    “Some suspected stolen items were retrieved and they include mobile phones and motorbikes.”

    Source: 3news.com

  • Health Minister granted two-week leave to attend to ‘personal issues’

    Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu has been granted a two-week leave of absence in order for him to attend to some “personal issues”, Citi News has reported.

    According to the news portal, the leave which was granted by Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare is said to have begun last week.

    Already, there have been growing calls by a section of the public for Mr. Agyeman-Manu to resign over his involvement in breaching procurement rules in the process of acquiring Sputnik V vaccines for Ghana.

    The deal which has since been terminated was subjected to probe by a committee that is yet to formally come up with its final report on the matter.

    Meanwhile, the intermediary Dubai-based businessman, Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, who has been at the centre of the botched controversial Sputnik V vaccine deal has agreed to refund an amount of US$2,470,000 of the US$2.8 million paid to him as he only supplied to Ghana 20,000 doses of the vaccines out of an expected 300,000 before the contract was terminated.

    The development comes after the health minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, in a letter made a request for a refund of the money.

    In a letter sighted by GhanaWeb, Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum asked the Health Ministry to provide account details necessary to undertake the refund.

    “We acknowledge receipt of your letter, Ref No. MOIVOM/LL1/7/2I, dated 2nd of August 2021, with a formal request to refund the remaining amount of the non-supplied doses from the 50% advance transferred to our accounts.”

    “We, hereby, request to kindly acknowledge and confirm the above-mentioned amounts to be refunded, further to which we shall initiate the refund process to your bank account. Please share with us the bank details where the refund needs to be processed,” the letter read in part.

    See Sheikh Al Maktoum’s letter below:

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Major shakeup in Ghana Police Service: Here’s the full list

    The Acting Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare has undertaken his very first major reshuffling in the police service.

    Reports indicate that over 30 prominent personnel in the police service have been affected by the overhaul.

    Key amongst these persons include Director-General of Welfare, Maame Tiwaa Addo Danquah; Head of Education, Research and Training at the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), Superintendent Alexander Obeng; Public Relations Officer of the Criminal Investigations Department, DSP Juliana Obeng; Director-General in charge of Police Operations, COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno.

    The officers are expected to take up their new positions with immediate effect.

    Below are the names of officers and their new roles, according to reliable sources:

    COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah (Mrs) – Police Intelligence and Professional Standards Bureau

    COP Vincent Redeemer Dedjoe – Special Duties

    COP Edward Tabiri – Director-General in charge of ICT

    COP Frederick Adu Anim – Human Resource

    COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno – Administration

    DCOP Kwadwo Beapea Otchere – Regional Commander for Kasoa

    DCOP Enoch Adutwum Bediako – Director-General services

    DCOP Daniel Kwame Afriyie – Tema Region as the Deputy Commander

    DCOP Habiba Y.A Twumasi Sarpong – Director-General Police Welfare

    DCOP Francis Aboagye Nyarko – Director-General MTTD

    DCOP Kwadwo Antwi Tabi – Central Regional Police Commander

    DCOP Okyere-Darko Asumadu – Inspection and Monitoring Unit

    DCOP Afful Boakye-Yiadom – Ashanti Regional Police Commander

    DCOP Iddi Lansah Seidu – Greater Accra Regional Police Commander

    DCOP Anderson Fosu-Ackaah – Deputy Eastern Regional Police Commander

    DCOP Mohammed Fuseini Suraji – Director-General Operations

    DCOP Peter Baba Atianak – Savannah Regional Police Commander

    DCOP Moses Ali Kpeachin – North East Regional Police Commander

    DCOP Michael Nketia Frimpong -Deputy Director in charge of Finance at the Police Headquarters

    DCOP Ernest Kirk Akrasi Mensah – Regional Commander for Western North.

    DCOP Francis Agrippa Oppong – Deputy Regional Commander for Western North

    ACP Duuti Tuaruka – Deputy Northern Regional Commander

    Peter Ndekugri Anombure – Upper West Regional Commander

    ACP Samuel Kwesi Ofori – Acting Director in Charge of Police Public Affairs Directorate

    ACP Gabriel Prince Waabu – Deputy Upper West Regional Police Commander

    ACP Oduro Amaning – Deputy Kasoa Regional Commander

    DCOP Moses Asabagna Atibillah – Bono East Regional Commander.

    ACP Joseph Owusu Ansah – Abuakwa Division as Commander

    Chief Superintendent Alex Kwame Safo Adu – Staff Officer

    ACP Faustina A. Koduah Andoh-Kwofie – Police Intelligence

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Public universities risk closure due to labour unrests – GAUA

    The Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA) is calling on all stakeholders, especially the government and its agents to immediately resolve all labour disputes to avoid total closure of Public Universities.

    “We understand certain gestures have been offered at the negotiations to resolve the impasse, and wish to serve notice that GAUA is equally affected by the worsening conditions of service and hope the government will equally respond by addressing our needs placed on the table of negotiation as well, before concluding negotiations with our sister Unions”, the association said.

    A statement signed by Mr Kwabena Antwi-Konadu, the National President, GAUA, copied to the Ghana News Agency said GAUA had observed with concern the recent spate of labour unrests in some Public Universities.

    “In resolving these issues, the government should be mindful of fairness to all categories of staff in the Universities. Failure to resolve these issues fairly will escalate the already turbulent labour front in the Universities”.

    The statement said the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission would be guided by the 2012 National Labour Commission Arbitration ruling on relativity and parity in the conditions of service for senior members and also, the conditions of service for the other categories of staff at the public universities.

    The statement further appealed to the government to proactively deal with all outstanding issues of the four unions to avoid a situation where each union would embark on an industrial action separately.

    On the recent migration of Public Universities to the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department’s Payroll Platform, GAUA said these issues of migration of Public Universities to the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department’s Payroll Platform could have been resolved amicably without disturbing the otherwise smooth running of the Universities.

    “GAUA is therefore appealing to all Sector Ministers and their assigns in the negotiations to as a matter of urgency and importance, resolve these issues which are the cause of the disruption of the already challenged academic calendar as a result of Covid-19 and its related impact on the Universities”.

    Source: GNA

  • Saglemi Housing trial: Collins Dauda, 2 others granted bail after a not guilty plea

    Two former Ministers for Water Resources, Works, and Housing, who are facing trial for their alleged fraudulent roles in the abandoned Saglemi affordable housing project, have been granted bail by the High Court.

    Alhaji Collins Dauda was granted a self-recognizance bail, while his successor, Dr. Kwaku Agyeman-Mensah, was granted bail to the tune of $65 million with three sureties, one being a public servant.

    The two former ministers and three others are facing 52 counts of criminal charges for intentionally misapplying public property, wilfully causing financial loss to the Republic, and dishonestly causing loss to public property.

    Alhaji Collins Dauda, a former Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, and his successor Dr. Kwaku Agyeman-Mensah, have been accused of spending over $196 million on the Saglemi housing project when investigations revealed that the cost of works executed on the site, including consultancy services, was about $64,982,900.77.

    The third accused person who was a Chief Director at the ministry was also granted bail to the tune of $65 million or its cedi equivalent with three sureties.

    The accused persons who were all present in court pleaded not guilty to the charges. The case has been adjourned to October 13, 2021.

    Facts of the case

    According to the facts of the case presented by the Attorney General, Godfred Dame, an executive order approving the construction of 5,000 affordable housing units, to be known as the Saglemi Affordable Housing Project, was granted by then-President, John Dramani Mahama in August 2012.

    The project, which had parliamentary approval, was funded by Credit Suisse, and the housing units were to be sold to workers through mortgage arrangements provided by the then Ghana Home Loans Company. The contractor for the project is a Brazilian company, Construtora OAS Ltd.

    In the facts presented to the court, the Ministry of Finance [borrower], and the lender signed a facility agreement on January 4, 2013, for the release of $200 million to fund the construction of the 5,000 housing units, the day on which the Housing Minister also signed the EPC agreement with Construtora OAS, represented by Clocanas, the fourth accused.

    According to the AG, the project was to be executed in four phases on 2,172 acres of land at a contract price of $200 million, including consultancy services.

    An Escrow Management Agreement, a condition precedent to the release of the facility to the borrower, was also signed, pursuant to the facility and the EPC agreements, he said.

    He further stated that on February 27, 2014, Dauda, without parliamentary approval, reviewed the EPC agreement and signed both the original and the revised (restated) agreement with Construtora OAS, represented by Clocanas.

    The revision allegedly changed the scope of works and the application of the $200 million approved by Parliament.

    This new agreement required the contractor to execute the project in three phases over a site of 1,272 acres, while the $200 million was now to be applied towards the execution of only the first phase of the project, comprising just about 1,502 housing units.

    This was contrary to the executive and parliamentary approvals, as well as the facility and Escrow Management agreements.

    On December 21, 2016, according to the facts, the Chief Director, Yakubu, again reviewed the original and revised the (restated) agreement and signed them (second and his revised or restated), without recourse to Parliament.

    That led to a further reduction in the scope of works to 1,412 housing units at a revised price of $181 million, and extended the completion period to July 31, 2017, the prosecutor alleged.

    Source: citinewsroom.com

  • Qualified US-trained Ghanaian medical doctor Dr Michael K. Obeng allegedly arrested

    Dr Michael K. Obeng, a US-trained Ghanaian qualified medical doctor has been arrested for working without a valid licence from the Medical and Dental Council (MDC), Daily Graphic has reported.

    According to the MDC, the surgeon was also soliciting for clients for media consultation in cosmetic surgery in a hotel; something which is against the professional expectation and the Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act 2013 (Act 857).

    According to the Daily Graphic report, the MDC became alarmed when a social media ad showing Dr. Obeng demanding $500 as a consultation fee from his clients popped up.

    Dr Michael Obeng was arrested in a joint operation by the MDC and the Ghana Police Service where some suspected quack medical doctors and dentists were arrested in the Greater Accra, Bono and Central regions.

    The operation led to the closure of seven health facilities where the suspects were operating. Some 12 fake dentists and six quack medical doctors are said to have attended to many people in their operational areas.

    Dr Divine N. Banyubala, the acting Registrar of the MDC told the media on Tuesday, August 3, that the operation was part of routine investigations and complaints from the public.

    He said the fake dentists were working with the Laser Smile Teeth Whitening Centre in the Greater Accra Region.

    The arrest, Dr. Banyubala explained, followed a number of complaints from patients and practitioners about the suspects, who were operating in two facilities at Asylum Down and East Legon.

    “We have been conducting routine quality assurance monitoring exercises aimed at ascertaining, among others, the registration status of practitioners and the standard of practice in various institutions across the country,” he said.

    He added, “Investigations revealed that the suspects did not possess the technical competence nor the requisite licences to lawfully practise, but were found providing regulated dental services in the facilities, against the law.”

    Dr Banyubala disclosed that the management of the centre had, following the closing down of the facilities, undertaken the needed steps to employ qualified dental practitioners to take over the provision of safe dental services, in accordance with health sector regulatory requirements.

    The names of the quack doctors, according to the Daily Graphic report, were given as Osei Bonsu Hayford, who was arrested practising medicine illegally at the O.B. Saviour Clinic, located at Koraso, a suburb of Dormaa Ahenkro; Daniel Adjei, who operated at the Ohenewaa Memorial Clinic, Dormaa Ahenkro, and Prince Tutu, who operated at the St Kyeade Clinic, Dormaa-Babianiha, all in the Bono Region.

    Others are Paul Amoanoo of the Royal Medi-Herb Clinic, Ashaiman-Zenu Atadeka in the Greater Accra Region, and Samuel Lanquaye Snr and his daughter, Alberta Lamiorkor, who was arrested in the Central Region.

    Dr Banyubala further disclosed that one of them had been practising for 36 years, while the others were using forged certificates and licences, as well as Ghana Health Service (GHS) and Ministry of Health (MoH) receipts to perpetuate their illegal activities.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • National Cathedral could generate $83M within five years Secretariat

    The Chief Executive Officer of the National Cathedral Secretariat, Dr. Paul Opoku-Mensah, wants Ghanaians to view the $200 million yet-to-be-completed edifice as an investment.

    Speaking on Citi TVs The Point of View after an appeal for funds towards the construction of the project, Dr. Opoku-Mensah said “within a three year [to] five-year period, based on very conservative estimates, [the cathedral can generate] about $83 million.”

    He listed the banquet halls, multi-purpose centres, and the bible museum in the cathedral as some potential earners.

    For the government, the plan which is “beyond just the national level usage is to drive traffic here.”

    Dr. Opoku-Mensah said the government plans to develop international partnerships “so that once the cathedral is opened, we are going to have these international events being hosted here.”

    Further defending the need for the national cathedral, Dr. Opoku-Mensah said such edifices are essential for nation-building.

    “All nation-building has these sacred spaces… These are important because that is where the sacred rituals of the nation take place.”

    “Why would [France President] Macron say the Notre Dame is the epicentre of their national life? [He said that] Because, over time, these sacred spaces really become the spaces around which we have these collective rituals that build that sense of nationhood.”

    On why the sacred facility has to be a Christian edifice, Dr. Opoku-Mensah noted that “if you look at the history of our nation-building, Ghana is located within the Judeo-Christian tradition because we were colonized by the English.”

    The National Cathedral is expected to be completed by March 2024.

    The project was proposed by the government in March 2017 as a physical embodiment of national unity, harmony, and spirituality.

    The $200-million inter-denominational cathedral will have an auditorium capable of seating 5,000 people, as well as chapels and a baptistery.

    Even before the National Cathedral project is completed, the government has announced a date for the commissioning.

    Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta had said the Cathedral would be officially opened on March 6, 2024, upon completion.

    He made this known while delivering the 2021 mid-year budget review in Parliament on Thursday, July 29, 2021.

    Source: citinewsroom.com

  • FULL TEXT: Government’s 2021 mid-year budget review statement to Parliament

    Government through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning has today, July 29, presented its 2021 mid-year budget review before Parliament.

    The presentation is in accordance with Article 179 of the 1992 Constitution and the Public Financial Management Act 921, which offers the opportunity to revise macroeconomic targets and provide a comprehensive economic outlook for the rest of the year.

    Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta announced some key job creation programmes and projects government intends to undertake over the next three and half years.

    He disclosed that government will not be seeking additional funding and supplementary budget for the next half of the 2021 financial year.

    According to him, the move is intended to contain the country’s rising debt stock as well as avoiding fiscal revenue slippages.

    Making the disclosure during the 2021 mid-year budget review before Parliament, Ken Ofori-Atta however told the House that Ghana’s economy was on its path to recovery.

    https://drive.google.com/file/d/1q34DHOHDlgD3yuNxvUQhPqrb0-sifQw7/view

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coronavirus: Akufo-Addo bans post-wedding and funeral receptions

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has placed a ban on wedding and funeral receptions amid rising active cases as Ghana experiences its third wave of the Coronavirus pandemic.

    In his address to the nation on Sunday, July 25, President Akufo-Addo stated that the latest move was because the COVID-19 Taskforce team had recommended that some public gathering needed to be further restricted.

    The President noted that in order to prevent an increase in the number of active cases all weddings and funerals must be held in open spaces under strict Coronavirus protocols.

    He said, “the wearing of masks continuous to be mandatory, and persons must respect the enhanced hygiene protocols; funerals should not go beyond the two-hour time duration.

    Adding, “all such events must be held in open air spaces. Thirdly, the duration of such events is limited to two hours. There must be observance of the one (1) metre social distancing rule and fifthly, handshakes must be avoided.

    “Furthermore, given that people seating together to eat, laugh, dance and talk in large gatherings without masks are the riskiest activities for spreading the virus. All post event receptions particularly referring to wedding and funerals are banned,” he added.

    According to him, “the protocols surrounding churches and mosques remain the same including schools.”

    President Akufo-Addo also urged institutions and businesses to go back to working in shift systems.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • GH¢8 million and US$1 million used in evacuating stranded Ghanaians abroad – Minister

    Foreign Affairs Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey has disclosed that the government has spent GH¢8,725,000.00 and US$1,866,934.00 in repatriating Ghanaians in China and the United Arab Emirates respectively.

    The amount also covers others who became stranded in other countries across the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The expenditure involved quarantine and air tickets while an additional USD 475,895.00 was expended on evacuating those in West and Central African countries and a further GH¢44,460,530.00 spent to quarantine evacuees in eighty-five hotels spread across Accra, Prampram, Bolgatanga, Takoradi, and Kasoa.

    She disclosed this when she appeared before the House on Thursday, July 22 to answer questions filed by the North Tongu Member of Parliament Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

    The MP demanded answers from the Minister on the number of Ghanaians evacuated from the foreign countries to Ghana due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost of the evacuation.

    According to the Minister, some private individuals also made donations.

    These individuals include the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, who mobilised US$428,000 and a personal cash donation of US$200,000.00 to support evacuation from Lebanon.

    A cash donation of GH¢200,000.00 from Sethi Brothers was also received to subsidize the cost of quarantine of some evacuees from the United Kingdom

    The cost of the hotel accommodation for the evacuees included three meals and water per day for the fourteen-day quarantine period.

    In all, government successfully evacuated 10,025 stranded Ghanaians during the evacuation across the globe using KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Middle East Airlines, Emirates Airlines as well as the Ghana Air Force Casa aircraft which was used to evacuate those from West and Central African countries.

    A further 534 Ghanaians from Saudi Arabia, 233 from Qatar, and 230 from Kuwait working as domestic workers in the Gulf whose plight got worsened during the pandemic were repatriated with the government absorbing the cost of quarantine.

    The Minister disclosed that Cabinet on Friday, 22nd May, 2020 approved a strategy paper presented by her Ministry with a further directive to develop an evacuation implementation plan for the evacuation of the stranded Ghanaians.

    The implementation exercise, according to her, was put into effect on 23rd May 2020 in collaboration with the Covid-19 Task Force to bring these stranded Ghanaians back home.

    She said the evacuees comprised ability-to-pay migrants, government-funded evacuation of officials and state-sponsored students, the distressed or destitute comprising Ghanaians who travelled before the advent of the pandemic, and returnees or deportees comprising Ghanaians who had been scheduled for removal from their various countries of abode.

    The evacuation exercise, she noted, was undertaken in phases to ensure a well-coordinated exercise in which decision was primarily informed by financial and logistical considerations such as the capacity of quarantine and isolation centres and the human resource capacity of the Covid-19 Task Force to hold large numbers of evacuees.

    The Minister however revealed that donations from individuals did not go to Covid-19 Trust Fund because donors such as Ken Agyapong requested his monies spent on the destitute in Lebanon while Sethi Brothers directed their donation go to stranded Ghanaians in the United Kingdom.

    She said justice for human rights violations for the illegal migrants in the Gulf States could not be sought since they used different airports and unapproved routes, secured visas elsewhere, and added that the majority of these evacuees from Lebanon have since returned.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Coronavirus infections in Ghana near 100,000 since outbreak

    Ghana is 26 cases away from hitting the milestone 100,000 cases of Coronavirus since the deadly viral disease was first detected in the country on Thursday, March 12, 2020.

    In its latest update, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) puts the cumulative total infections at 99,974.

    Out of this number, 818 persons including notable public officers did not survive.

    Others including the President recovered from the infection and were discharged. They make up 95,538.

    Currently, 3,618 persons are battling the disease with fears that the country may be plunged into a third wave.

    Out of this number, 26 are in severe condition while 15 are in critical condition.

    These are figures for the country as of Sunday, July 18.

    So far, a total of 1,379,016 tests have been run in communities as regards contact tracing as well as at the Kotoka International Airport for returning passengers in an effort to curb the spread of the disease.

    Source: 3news.com

  • Bird Flu: Over 5,800 deaths of poultry and 58,000 infections recorded so far

    A total of 5,868 deaths and 58,253 infections of Avian Influenza have been recorded among commercial poultry chicken, ducks, guinea fowls and turkeys – between July 9 and 14, 2021, with the source of infection unknown.

    A report by the Veterinary Services said the disease had been identified at eight farms in the country so far.

    The farms are at Nungua, Klagon, Lashibi, Community 25, and Darkuman, all in the Greater Accra Region.

    The rest are: Domenase in the Central Region and Denu in Volta Region.

    The report indicated that the infected birds had been humanely stamped out and disinfected, with movement in and out of the farms also controlled.

    “Farmers are always encouraged to prevent the movement of vehicles between farms to prevent further spread of the disease. Farmers are alerted of the zoonotic nature of the disease and, therefore, the farm hands are admonished to use personal protection when handling poultry birds,” it stated.

    The farmers had also been educated on the need to implement appropriate bio-security and proper disposal of dead birds to contain the spread of Avian Influenza type A subtype H5.

    Dr Fenteng Danso, the National Head of Epidemiology, Veterinary Services, told the Ghana News Agency that samples of the current infections had been taken to Canada for “sequencing and collaborative report.”

    Avian influenza (AI) is a disease of viral etiology that ranges from a mild or asymptomatic infection to an acute, fatal disease of chicken, turkey, guinea fowl, and other avian species, especially migratory waterfowl.

    In Ghana, the first HPAI H5N1 outbreak was reported in April 2007 in a small scale poultry farm at Kakasunanka, near Michel Camp in the Tema Metropolis.

    This was followed by further outbreaks at New Dormaa of Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region and Aflao in the Volta Region.

    The disease reoccurred in 2015 and crossed-over to 2016 in six regions; Greater Accra, Central, Eastern, Western, Volta, and Ashanti, affecting 148,448 birds.

    In June 2018, H5N1 outbreaks were reported at Bonkra and Atia in the Ashanti Region as well as Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region, affecting 12,175 birds.

    Source: GNA

  • JB Murder: Daniel Asiedu brought late MPs mobile phones to unlock Witness

    The third prosecution witness in the case of the Republic versus Daniel Asiedu and Vincent Bosso has been telling the High Court in Accra how Daniel Asiedu brought him two mobile phones belonging to the late Joseph Boakye Danquah Adu for one to be unlocked

    The witness, Kenneth Koranchie, giving his Evidence-in-Chief said on February 9, 2016, the suspect knocked at his door at 3:00 am with bloodstains on him while in boxer shorts.

    The witness who is currently into the sale of phone accessories told the court that he had known the first accused person for about six to seven years.

    He told the court presided over by Justice Lydia Osei-Marfo that one Janet who is a family friend and seen as a sister came to introduce the first accused as her boyfriend where they became friends.

    He explained that he was in his room on that night when he saw the accused Daniel Asiedu, knocked at his door, he then opened the door and saw Daniel wearing only boxer shorts.

    He told him to charge his phone since he had no light and asked him to heat Water for him of which he did. He told the court that Daniel told him that he had sustained injury and upon seeing blood on him, he believed him.

    According to him, there was blood on his hands he escorted him with the heated water in the kettle. His girlfriend came out with a bucket and poured it for him.

    He gave him two phones to unlock for him of which one was completely off.

    Source: kasapafmonline.com

  • Tollbooth attendant dead after tipper truck runs into Tema motorway tollbooth

    A tollbooth attendant is reportedly dead, while another is in critical condition after a tipper truck run into the Tema motorway tollbooth, Monday, July 12, 2021.

    A viral video of the crash sighted by GhanaWeb shows many onlookers at the scene in an attempt to rescue the victims who seem trapped in the smashed tollbooth.

    An attendant, who is visually and hearing impaired, is also said to have sustained serious injuries after he was pulled out of the debris.

    Some tollbooth attendants were also seen wailing.

    An eyewitness, Kingsley Dunyo told Citi FM that, “I was on the Spintex-Roadside, but a few meters away from the toll booth, I saw the tipper driver rushing to the booth at the Tema side. The rate at which he was speeding showed that something was definitely going wrong. Either his brake had failed or he was an inexperienced driver.

    “By the time we realized, he had run into the toll booth, killing the attendant. So, one of the attendants is dead, and the other is heavily injured.”

    On his part, Chief Supt. William Asante, Tema Regional Commander of the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), explained on Citi FM, [the] “vehicle had stopped to pay the toll and then the tipper-truck driver carelessly on its part ran into the booth.”

    “This is the result we are witnessing now. It is a serious accident…Some people have sustained varying degrees of injuries and have been rushed to the Tema General Hospital,” Chief Supt. Asante added.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Parliament Ad Hoc Committee to probe Sputnik V vaccine contracts

    Parliament on Friday constituted a nine-member Ad Hoc Committee to investigate the procurement contracts between the Government of Ghana and Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum and one other for the supply of Sputnik-V COVID-19 vaccines.

    Deputy Majority Leader Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin is the chairman of the committee, and Mr Kwabena Mintah-Akandoh, Ranking Member on the Health Committee is vice.

    The rest of the members are Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie, Chairman of the Health Committee; Mr Bernard Ahiafor, MP for Akatsi South; Mr Kwame Anyimadu Antwi, MP for Asante-Akim Central, Mr Ernest Norgbey, MP for Ashaiman; Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare, MP for Techiman North; Ms Sheila Bartels, MP for Ablekuma North; and Mr Farouk Aliu Mahama, MP for Yendi Constituency.

    Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu announced the names of the members of the Ad hoc Committee to the House.

    He said the terms of reference of the Committee was to determine whether or not the transaction for the procurement and supply of the Sputnik V vaccine between the Government of Ghana (GOG) represented by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Al Maktoum S.L Group qualifies as international Business or Economic transaction under Article 181(5) of the Constitution, and if so, whether it was subjected to prior approval of Parliament.

    Also, the Committee is to determine the procurement process that was followed and the propriety of same and the prices of the vaccines as well as determine whether the services of the middleman were procured in the transaction and if so, having propriety regard to the relevant laws.

    Additionally, the Committee is to ascertain the cost of the vaccines and the justification of the cost vaccines, and whether the transaction guaranteed value for money for Ghana.

    Moreover, the Committee is to determine whether or not any consideration was passed from the GOG to the middleman, suppliers, or any other person.

    Furthermore, for the Committee to determine or not the Ministry of Health misled Parliament during the consideration of the transaction for the procurement of the vaccine.

    The Committee also to inquire into any other matters connected to the purchase and supply of the Sputnik V vaccine in the agreement between the GOG and the private office of Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum and S.L Global.

    Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu in a comment suggested that the Ad hoc Committee should have been a committee of eight members reflecting the size of each caucus.

    He said the Minority Side has no problem with Mr Afenyo Markin, Chairing the Ad hoc Committee with Mr Kwabena Mintah-Akandoh as his Vice-Chairman.

    The Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Andrew Amoako Asiamah who was in the chair commissioned the Ad hoc Committee and ask them to report to the House in three weeks.

    Source: m.peacefmonline.com

  • GAF to deal with soldiers who assaulted Wa residents over missing phone

    The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has indicated that, it will institute an internal disciplinary measure to deal with some of the soldiers who were involved in brutalising Wa residents over a missing mobile phone.

    In a statement signed by Colonel E. Aggrey-Quashie, Director Public Relations, the GAF condemned the acts by the soldiers and stated that, “such unprofessional conduct by the military will not be condoned by any member of the force.”

    The statement explained further that, “[the] unprofessional conduct took place on Thursday, 1 July 2021 and at a time when the Commanding Officer of the soldiers, and the Chairman of the Regional Security Council were both out of town on official engagements.

    Internal disciplinary measures have been instituted to deal with all those who will be found culpable in this unprofessional conduct by the soldiers.”

    Armed soldiers assault Wa residents in search of missing mobile phone

    Volume 90%

    Some armed soldiers have been caught on camera brutalising residents of Wa in the Upper West Region on Thursday, July 1, over a missing mobile phone supposedly belonging to one of the soldiers.

    According to one eyewitness, one of the soldiers is believed to have boarded what is referred to as “Yellow Yellow” or “Mahama Cambo” and lost his phone.

    The incident is said to have started at 1:00 pm and lasted for close to an hour at the Wa main traffic.

    Several of the victims are said to have sustained various degrees of injury.

    Two of them are currently on admission at the Wa Municipal Hospital.

    A 29-year-old vulcanizer, who was a victim, is suspected to have developed a fracture in his right thigh during the assault.

    This comes after soldiers opened fire on protesters at Ejura in the Ashanti Region, leading to the death of two people and four others injured.

    The Public Relations Officer of the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council, Cletus Awuni, who was also a victim, told an Accra based Citi FM that, the soldiers dragged him out of a car and interrogated him for filming the incident.

    The GAF said, due to the seriousness of the matter, “the Chief of the Army Staff is leading a high-powered military delegation to Wa to meet the traditional and opinion leaders to find an amicable way of resolving this unfortunate incident. The delegation will also explore means to assuage the anger of the people and promote good neighbourliness.”

    “The Ghana Armed Forces once again wishes to assure the people of Wa and the general public that their safety is paramount at all times, as such would not condone any unprofessional conduct by any member of the force,” the statement concluded.

    Read the full statement below.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • #FixTheCountry conveners demand justice for deceased campaigner

    Conveners of #FixTheCountry are demanding justice for their deceased colleague who died three days after suffering a mob attack at Ejura in the Ashanti Region.

    Kaaka Anyass Ibrahim Mohammed, known on social media as Macho Kaaka, sustained life-threatening injuries after he was attacked by a mob on Saturday, June 25, 2021.

    Reports say, he was repeatedly struck in the head with objects until he lost consciousness; he died on Monday, June 28, 2021, at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi.

    According to the conveners of #FixTheCountry, the deceased had been receiving threats from some persons alleged to be bodyguards of Ejura Sekyeredumase MCE who indicated that, the deceased activities on social media was making the Akufo-Addo led government unpopular in the area.

    In a statement, the group stated, “In fact less than two weeks ago various individuals had gone to report Kaaka to the Ejura Police in order to get him to stop his work.

    “Instead of cautioning those individuals to refrain from intimidating and threatening Kaaka in the exercise of his constitutional rights as a citizen, the police rather issued Kaaka with a warning.”

    The group charged the police to leave no stone unturned in investigating and prosecuting the perpetrators whose actions have led to the death of the social media campaigner.

    They said, they will seek an audience formally with the IGP, adding that, until the late Kaaka Anyass Ibrahim Mohammed gets justice, they will not rest.

    Kaaka Anyass Ibrahim Mohammed, 40, was also a member of the Economic Fighters League.

    He was survived by a wife, Zahada Hudu and six children.#FixTheCountry conveners demand justice for deceased campaigner

    Conveners of #FixTheCountry are demanding justice for their deceased colleague who died three days after suffering a mob attack at Ejura in the Ashanti Region.

    Kaaka Anyass Ibrahim Mohammed, known on social media as Macho Kaaka, sustained life-threatening injuries after he was attacked by a mob on Saturday, June 25, 2021.

    Reports say, he was repeatedly struck in the head with objects until he lost consciousness; he died on Monday, June 28, 2021, at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi.

    According to the conveners of #FixTheCountry, the deceased had been receiving threats from some persons alleged to be bodyguards of Ejura Sekyeredumase MCE who indicated that, the deceased activities on social media was making the Akufo-Addo led government unpopular in the area.

    In a statement, the group stated, “In fact less than two weeks ago various individuals had gone to report Kaaka to the Ejura Police in order to get him to stop his work.

    “Instead of cautioning those individuals to refrain from intimidating and threatening Kaaka in the exercise of his constitutional rights as a citizen, the police rather issued Kaaka with a warning.”

    The group charged the police to leave no stone unturned in investigating and prosecuting the perpetrators whose actions have led to the death of the social media campaigner.

    They said, they will seek an audience formally with the IGP, adding that, until the late Kaaka Anyass Ibrahim Mohammed gets justice, they will not rest.

    Kaaka Anyass Ibrahim Mohammed, 40, was also a member of the Economic Fighters League.

    He was survived by a wife, Zahada Hudu and six children.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • IGP fumes over killing of police officer; reminds banks about June deadline

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP) has directed the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to take over investigations into the deadly attack of a bullion van at Adedenpo, a suburb of Jamestown in Accra, leading to the shooting of a police constable.

    The police officer and a hawker were killed by armed robbers who attacked the bullion van on motorbikes.

    The armed robbers are reported to have attacked the bullion van at about 11:00am and fired sporadically into the air.

    A press release issued by the police on Monday, June 14 said preliminary investigations have been done. “Crime scene experts have already visited the scene of crime and are going through the necessary procedures.”

    But the IGP, James Oppong-Boanuh, reminded the Association of Bankers “to provide fortified armoured vehicles for carting currencies by the close of June 2021 as earlier agreed between them and the [Ghana] Police Service, lest the Police withdraws its officers for escort duties”.

    The names of the victims have been given as Constable Emmanuel Osei and Afua Badu.

    Meanwhile, persons with information on the attack can contact any police station or call the investigation team on 0262122086, 0244994564 or 0244280001.

    Source: 3news.com

  • Baako, Sammy Gyamfi beg Akufo-Addo for presidential pardon for critically ill ex-GYEEDA boss

    The editor-in-chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, has tasked authorities at the Nsawam Maximum Security Prison to commence processes to trigger a presidential pardon for jailed boss of defunct Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA), Abuga Pele.

     Mr Kweku Baako jnr. believes it is about time such an arrangement is initiated following media reports that the former Member of Parliament (MP) for Chiana-Paga constituency in the Upper East, was critically ill.

    He is reportedly been admitted at the Greater Accra Regional hospital formerly Ridge Hospital.  

    He is said to be in a critical condition at the High Dependency Unit (HDU) of the hospital after he was taken there from the Prison last week.

    It is unclear what the hospital is treating the incarcerated politician for. He has so far served more than half of his jail term.

    According to the veteran journalist, Mr Pele considering his current condition, needs the gesture.

    “Why keep him there if it is a critical condition and I believe so because otherwise, they would not have sent him to the hospital.

    Usually, Nsawam Prisons they have a medical facility I mean internal one. The very moment you are moved out of the prison yard to a health facility outside, it means the prison facility is admitting the inadequacy of it medical system relative to what disease or condition you are suffering”, Mr Baako said.

    He continued â€œSo they should evaluate it, prepare a report, send it to the appropriate authorities and I believe that a pardon will be a fair idea. That is the way I feel”.

    Mr Pele, whose prosecution started under former President John Mahama was jailed six years in 2018 together with businessman Philip Akpeena Assibit, for causing financial loss to the state.

    Mr Baako who did not want to go into the issues that led to the incarceration of the two, when he was tempted, said the pardon should purely be on humanitarian ground.

     â€œLet us focus on the state of health, it is supposed to be critical condition and let ask the appropriate authorities, to do something on humanitarian ground and pardon. I mean that is my feeling and it is a personal one”, he added.

    The request was made on Good Morning Ghana programme on Metropolitan television on Thursday June 03, 2021.

    Mr Baako was on the show with the Communications Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Sammy Gyamfi who supported his colleague panel member.

    The young lawyer said it will be in order if President Akufo-Addo exercised the power of clemency so that the incarcerated politician can join his family and seek proper medical care. Sammy challenged lawyers for Mr Pele to also pursue the course of getting their client freed.

    “I think that the facility where he was rushed to and the medical doctors working on him should prepare a report about his current health condition and share same with the authorities who are concerned with such issues.

     I think that it is in order that having served more than half of his prison term, he will be given a remission of his sentence or a presidential pardon and this will not be the first time.

    He cited examples in the past where others were pardoned by the then President Kufuor adding the objective upon which Mr Pele was punished has been achieved.

    “Under the Kufuor administration when some former government appointees were incarcerated for similar offenses it got to a stage where even President Kufuor, saw the need to give some of them presidential pardon which is provided for in our laws anyway.

    I think that, he and the others have been punished enough, the deterrent they wanted to achieve for me has already been achieved.

    So on grounds of health, if what we are hearing is anything to go by, I want to join Mr Baako to humbly appeal to the President and the ruling government, to tamper justice with mercy and give him a pardon so that, he can come home, seek medical attention immediately and spend some time with his family.

     He is lost so much already”, he concluded.

    Source: operanewsapp

  • Sad video of a caregiver maltreating an 11-month-old baby leading to her death hits social media

    A female caregiver, Clara Ayani-Ampah is reportedly in the grips of the police over her torturous handling of an eleven-month-old baby in her care which has allegedly led to the death of the child.

    A Closed-circuit-Television (CCTV) recording of the incident reported to have occurred at a pre-school located at Ashongman estates in Accra, has since courted emotional reactions from social media users.

    In the video sighted by GhanaWeb, a frustrated Clara could be seen coercively striving to push what looked like a liquid-based food substance down the throat of the frail baby.

    Not perturbed by the cries of the innocent child and her visible attempts in gasping for breath, the caregiver in various instances pushed the fragile baby-hands of her victim behind her back like an uncooperative criminal resisting arrest, all in her endeavour to push food down the throat of the frail baby.

    The wanton struggle between a full-grown woman and a disadvantaged 11-month-old baby gasping for breath, amidst cries for help while two other babies helplessly looked on without a full understanding of the ensuing incident is reported to have led to the death of the baby.

    Reports indicate the incident occurred at Happy Bloomers, a preschool located at Ashongman Estates on May 18, 2021.

    Watch the CCTV footage below (viewers discretion is advised):

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: GNA

  • Government releases funds for SHS Feeding

    The Ministry of Education (MOE) has released an amount of Gh¢125,998,145.00 to the Buffer Stock Company and Headmasters of Senior High Schools for the payment of perishable food items for the school feeding programme across the country.

    Out of the total amount paid on May 14, 2021, Gh¢83, 184,673.00 was released to the Buffer Stock Company while Gh¢42, 813,472.00 went to the Headmasters of SHSs for the second semester.

    This was contained in a press release signed by Mr Benjamin Kofi Gyasi, Chief Director, MOE and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra.

    The statement said on April 28, 2021, a total amount of Gh¢102, 350,871.20 was paid to the Buffer Stock Company and Headmasters for the first semester.

    “The Ministry is, therefore, assuring all parents and other stakeholders once again that the Free Senior High School (FSHS) initiative is not under stress as was being peddled around by some people for reasons best known to them,” it said.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus: Active cases increase to 1,308

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

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

    The death toll also stands at 783.

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

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

    Below is the Cumulative Cases per Region:

    (Case Count from Highest to Lowest)

    Greater Accra Region 51,412

    Ashanti Region 15,553

    Western Region 5,868

    Eastern Region 4,208

    Central Region 3,435

    Volta Region 2,501

    Northern Region 1,654

    Bono East Region 1,436

    Bono Region 1,406

    Upper East Region 1,319

    Western North Region 876

    Ahafo Region 718

    Upper West Region 499

    Oti Region 431

    North East Region 228

    Savannah Region 123

    Source: www.atinkaonline.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Constructing 111 new hospitals: 85% of acquired parcels of land validated – Oppong-Nkrumah

    Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister of Information, says President Nana Akufo-Addo hasn’t backed down on his promise to construct eighty-eight (88) and nine (9) district and Regional hospitals in the country.

    It could be recalled that the President, during one of his regular nation addresses on COVID-19 last year, pledged to construct these hospitals.

    President Akufo-Addo’s Promise

    On Sunday, April 26, 2020, the President said: “There are eighty-eight (88) districts in our country without district hospitals; we have six (6) new regions without regional hospitals; we do not have 5 infectious disease control centres dotted across the country, and we do not have enough testing and isolation centres for diseases like COVD-19. We must do something urgently about this. That is why Government has decided to undertake a major investment in our healthcare infrastructure, the largest in our history. We will, this year, begin constructing eighty-eight (88) hospitals in the districts without hospitals.”

    He gave a breakdown as follows; (10) in Ashanti, nine (9) in Volta, nine (9) in Central, eight (8) in Eastern, seven (7) in Greater Accra, seven (7) in Upper East, five (5) in Northern, five (5) in Oti, five (5) in Upper West, five (5) in Bono, four (4) in Western North, four (4) in Western, three (3) in Ahafo, three (3) in Savannah, two (2) in Bono East, and two (2) in North East Regions.

    “We have also put in place plans for the construction of six (6) new regional hospitals in the six (6) new regions, and the rehabilitation of the EffiaNkwanta Hospital, in Sekondi, which is the regional hospital of the Western Region. We are going to beef up our existing laboratories and establish new ones across every region for testing. We will establish three (3) infectious disease control centres for each of the zones of our country, i.e. Coastal, Middle Belt and Northern, with the overall objective of setting up a Ghana Centre for Disease Control,” the President added.

    Update

    In a recent update by the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, the 88 district hospitals yet to be constructed have been increased to 111.

    Mr Agyeman-Manu said given the number of hospitals to be constructed, the cost had gone up to make room for 13 additional hospitals.

    Answering questions before the Appointments Committee at his vetting in Parliament, he said, “We must do something urgently about this and that is why the government has decided to undertake such major investment in our healthcare infrastructure, the largest in our history.

    “We will, this year, begin constructing 88 hospitals in the districts that do not have hospitals.

    “Mr Chair, the initial costing was done on the basis of averages and we are looking at a cost between $5 million to $7 million per hospital.”

    President’s Commitment

    Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, in an interview with Peacefmonline.com, said the President is committed to the promise.

    To prove the President’s commitment, he disclosed that some parcels of land have been acquired and validated for the construction of the hospitals.

    “My understanding is that he is very committed to it. He put in place a working Committee to deal with it. That Committee has done extensive work. They’ve made available or they have reported on parcels of land that have been made available by districts across the country. Then they went into a validation exercise. Over 85 percent of those parcels have been validated as being without encumbrance and available for this purpose.

    ”The President put in place a Committee to do that job including accessing lands from the various district Assemblies, validating those parcels of land; in some cases, I understand issuing award letters to it. Now, the next step that they have ahead of them is to put all the work they’ve done together and update the country that this is where we are, this is where it is commencing and this is where or this is when you expect these projects to be completed,” he stated.

    On when the construction of the hospitals will commence, its completion deadline and whether they can be built in a year, the Minister said; “Those are the timelines that the consultants have made available that, because of technology they’re using, when they start, they can finish it within the 12-month period.”

    Source: Peace FM

  • Intermittent power cuts to end on May 17 GRIDCo

    The scheduled interruptions in power supply to parts of Accra, arising from the construction of the Pokuase Bulk Supply Point (BSP), begin this week and will end on Monday, 17th May 2021, the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) has said.

    According to GRIDCo, the outages will affect parts of western Accra and will last for eight (8) days.

    A timetable to guide the eight-day schedule has already been circulated by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to the affected customers and the general public.

    A number of key projects are currently ongoing to enhance power supply reliability in Greater Accra, Central and Ashanti regions.

    The US$60m Pokuase Bulk Supply Point (BSP) project, funded by the US government through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), is expected to be completed by the first half of 2021.

    Upon completion, it will provide flexibility for ECG to distribute power around the city in case of challenges in other parts of the system and will benefit over 350,000 households overall.

    A statement said “The Kasoa Bulk Supply Point (BSP) project, also funded by the MCC at a cost of US$50m, will be completed by August 2021, and will benefit over 251,000 households. The project will help reduce the reliance on the Mallam BSP for power distribution to the Central region and will improve reliability and supply quality to Kasoa and its environs.”

    “Significant reduction in transmission and distribution losses are some of the benefits to be derived from the completion of this project. Anticipated power interruptions in relation to the Kasoa project will be communicated to the general public in due course.”

    “Apart from these, other projects are ongoing in parts of the capital and the Ashanti region to address specific challenges. The AFD funded 161kV Tema Achimota Mallam transmission reinforcement project, for example, will increase transmission capacity more than four-fold, enabling the transfer of adequate power from the Tema enclave to Accra. It will also provide enough redundancy in the transmission and distribution systems.

    “The power system is currently characterized by low voltages, especially in Kumasi and the central/northern parts of the country. Occasionally, some feeders in Kumasi are switched off to prevent voltage collapse, leading to intermittent outages.

    “The completion of the AnwomasoKintampo transmission project (set before the end of 2021) is expected to eliminate current transmission bottlenecks and ensure supply reliability to Kumasi and the northern parts of the country. These are all aimed at boosting the efficiency of the value chain in order for customers to enjoy quality, reliable and stable power supply.

    “The Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) and Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) wish to assure Ghanaians of their urgent commitment to complete the projects on time to bring relief to the system and customers.”

    Source: 3 News

  • Fuel prices increased

    Fuel prices in the country have consistently seen a steady increase since the beginning of the year.

    This issue is of great concern to Ghanaians because the increase affects transport fares and the pricing of goods and services in the country.

    The prices of petrol and diesel which were both selling at GH¢5.74 pesewas now being sold between GH¢6.13 pesewas and GH¢ 6.05 pesewas.

    Though the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) reduced fuel margins from 17 pesewas to 9 pesewas after a crunch meeting with key stakeholders in the petroleum sector yesterday, the prices of fuel at various pumps are still above the previous price, GH¢5.74 pesewas.

    Stakeholders in various oil marketing companies (OMCs) had earlier described the newly introduced Energy sector levy as a nuisance and insensitive to the plight of Ghanaians.

    Commercial vehicle drivers and other driver unions have also threatened to increase transportation fares in the coming days.

    They asked Ghanaians to be ready to pay between 15% to 40% increment in transport fares.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Kasoa murder: Police confirms the real age of one of the alleged killers

    Felix Nyarko and Nicholas Kiki have allegedly been accused of killing eleven year old Ishmael Abdallah Mensah for ritual purposes in Kasoa.

    The ages of the two accused persons had been an issue for contention as it will essentially determine the extent of punishment meted out if they are indeed found guilty for the crime.

    Police prosecution were finding it difficult in ascertaining the ages of the two accused persons but the prosecutor on Tuesday May 4, told the Ofaakor District Court that they have been able to ascertain the age of one of the juvenile offenders.

    Prosecutor, Chief Inspector Ernest Agbo told the court that they have been able to know the age of one of the accused persons, Felix Nyarko who is a juvenile as records at his former school shows he was born on 1st September,2005 making him 15 years.

    The Police says they were unable to get any records at the said hospital the accused claims was born but they are satisfied with his school records that he will turn 16 years in September.

    He prosecution further prayed the court to allow them more time to conclude the duplicate docket and forward it to the Attorney General’s Office for advise.

    The case has been adjourned to May 16th 2021 while the accused persons are still in remand.

    Source: Ghana Guardian

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Atinka Online

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Happy 98.9FM

  • Thieves now joining long journey buses as passengers Linda Dor warns

    It appears thieves in Ghana have now devised a new ploy to steal the personal belongings of passengers in commercial buses.

    The thieves, per the new strategy, get on board long journey buses at Lorry terminals as passengers but carry out their operation by stealing portable personal belongings mostly mobile phones, laptops, purse and other valuables of customers when they alight at rest-stops to either buy food or visit the washroom.

    The thieves after the operation then disembark by sneaking out of the bus.

    The new approach to crime has been identified by the Management of Linda Dor Ghana and the Police.

    Some passengers lost their belongings on Sunday, 18th April 2021, in a similar fashion at Linda Dor restaurant at Bunso junction in the Eastern region when passengers on Accra- Yendi bound bus with registration number AC 1403-20 alighted from the bus to visit the washrooms.

    Preliminary investigations by Management suggest that the suspect was on board the bus and after carrying out the operation alighted and bolted away.

    According to the Management of Linda Dor restaurant, they have communicated this modus operandi to the various transport companies to be on alert.

    Nonetheless, the Management says it has beefed up internal security in addition to the installation of 24hrs operational CCTV cameras on the premises of the restaurant to help track such perpetrators.

    “At the moment, our priority is to take appropriate interventions to beef up our security controls already in place thereby increasing police presence at the Linda Dor Police Post and on the Accra-Kumasi highway.

    “Management of the hospitality giant reassures the general public that, there is no cause for alarm. Management is collaborating with the police for the further investigation leading to the arrest of the suspect,” Emmanuel Oduro-Boakye -Linda Dor Marketing Manager said.

    Source: Starr FM

  • President Akufo-Addo releases list of Deputy Ministers: Okoe-Boye, Hadzide dropped

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has released the list of deputy ministerial nominees for his second term

    A statement issued by the Presidency on Wednesday, April 21 indicates that thirty-nine deputy ministers will serve in twenty-four positions.

    As earlier reported by GhanaWeb, the Finance Ministry will have two deputies while Energy, Trade and Industries and Local Government ministries will have three each.

    Godfred Dame, the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General and Shirley Ayorkor-Botchway, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration will also have two deputies.

    Charles Adu Boahen, the former deputy Finance Minister has been nominated as the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance.

    Other ministries with double deputies include Lands and Natural Resources, Education, Food and Agriculture, Roads and Highways, Transport and Health

    Conspicuously missing from that list are Pius Hadzide and Bernard Okoe-Boye who were deputy ministers for Information and Health respectively in the first term of the Akufo-Addo administration.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Kasoa teenage killers refused bail

    The Ofaakor District Court has refused bail application by lawyer for the two accused persons who are alleged to have murdered a 10-year-old boy at Kasoa Ofaakor.

    The Magistrate Samuel Adjei while refusing the application said, the court does not have jurisdiction to grant bail at this stage except the trial court, which is the High Court.

    This was after listening to the submissions by the lawyer and the prosecution.

    Defence lawyer Samuel Atuah told the court that since the law states in Article 19 (2) an accused person is innocent until proven guilty so the court should consider that provision to grant his clients bail.

    Lawyer Atuah also told the court that the accused persons have been in custody for some time and need to interact with their families.

    But, the Prosecutor Chief Inspector Ernest Agbo opposed the application for bail arguing that it is in the interest of the accused persons to be in custody until further investigation.

    The Magistrate in granting the request of the prosecution ordered them to speed up with the investigation of the correct ages of the accused persons and also to hurry with the preparation of the docket to the Attorney General for advice.

    Lawyer Samuel Atuah in a media interaction after court proceedings told the media that he will go to the High Court for bail.

    He said it is a deliberate attempt by the prosecution to delay investigations.

    Spoke Person for the family of the deceased, Samed Akakilu said he trusts the Judicial system and the family is going for an expeditious trial for Justice to be served at the end of the day.

    The alleged murderers have been remanded into police custody by the Ofankor District.

    The case has been adjourned May 4, 2021.

    Source: Kasapa FM

  • Dumsor will persist if cash flow problems of utility companies are not resolved – IES

    The Institute for Energy Security (IES) is projecting prolonged power outages if the cash flow problems of the utility companies are not addressed soon.

    According to Institute, the Electricity Company of Ghana and Northern Electricity Development Company (NEDCO) are making power losses of about 30%.

    The country in recent times has been facing intermittent power supply, the latest of which was last night, a situation distributors attributed to a fault at the Aboadze Ahomaso transmission line.

    But speaking on the situation, Executive Director of the institute, Nana Amoasi VII said the situation will worsen if the monetary problems in the power sector are not checked.

    “We see more of a cash flow challenge on the utilities and if it continues, then of course, Dumsor will stay with us for a long time.”

    He insists there is this cash constraint because the utility companies, ECG and NEDCO are as distributers are saddled with both technical and commercial losses.

    “They [ECG and NEDCO] take the power generated by the producers through the transmitter, GRIDCO and they have to sell this power to consumers. They have high technical loss, they have high commercial losses.”

    Source: Ghana Guardian

  • Kasoa ritual murder: Two more suspects arrested

    Two more suspects have been arrested by the Ghana Police Service in connection with the gruesome murder of a 10-year-old boy at Coca-Cola near the Great Lamptey Mills School in Kasoa.

    The two suspects identified as Charity and Desmond Nii Adjei are both being investigated by the Criminal Investigative Department (CID) for the offence of abetment to commit a crime, to wit murder.

    The Head of Public Relations at the CID unit stated that the two suspects were arrested by the police after investigators set off a manhunt for the perpetrators involved in the crime.

    DSP Juliana Obeng, who spoke to Joy News in an interview monitored by GhanaWeb, added, the suspects will be assisting the police with its investigations into the murder of Ishmael Mensah Abdallah.

    She further cautioned the media to be circumspect in their reportage.

    “Investigations are still ongoing, we stressed the need for us to be circumspect in our reportage because the case is quite sentimental; we do not want to toy with the emotions at this moment,” DSP Obeng said.

    On Wednesday, the spiritualist alleged to be at the centre of the killing was also arrested by the Central Region Police.

    The two teens were also remanded into police custody bringing to 5, the number of suspects nabbed in the case so far.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • FDA begins lab investigations into washed-ashore fish; cautions public against consumption

    The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has indicated that it has begun laboratory investigations to find out whether fish washed ashore at the Osu Castle beach are good for consumption or not.

    A statement issued by the Authority noted that “The FDA in collaboration with other state agencies have been engaged in investigating and addressing the matter of various species of fishes washed ashore on some beaches since Friday, 2nd April 2021.

    “While laboratory investigations are ongoing, the Authority warns the general public to desist from consuming the fish washed ashore in view of the potential risk to health and safety.”

    Some fish were found along the shores of the Osu Castle beach on Friday.

    Also, over 80 large fish were washed ashore at the Axim-Bewire beach in the Nzema East Municipality on Sunday, 4 April 2021.

    The FDA further stated that inspection teams have been dispatched to fish markets including the Osu Mandela market in the Korle-Klottey Municipal Assembly. to prevent the washed-ashore fish from entering into the food chain, FDA

    The Authority has also intensified its public education and sensitisation on quality parameters and signs of contamination of fish in the fishing communities and fish markets.

    FDA regional offices along the coastline in the Central and Volta regions have also been alerted and are replicating similar efforts in towns along the coast.

    The FDA further advised the general public “to be guided by the freshness of the eyes and redness of the gills of fish that they seek to purchase.

    “The washed-ashore fish typically show signs of popped out and unclear eyes, dull colouration of gills, bloating around the abdominal areas and/or possible oozing of foul scented fluids”.

    “The public is hereby advised to report all suspected cases of possession or selling of these washed-ashore fishes to the FDA or local authorities. The consuming public is also cautioned to be wary of both fresh and recently smoked fish which are being sold at unusually low prices”, the statement added.

    Source: Class FM

  • Akufo-Addo releases list of Deputy Ministers

    President of the Republic, Nana Akufo-Addo has released a list of Deputy Ministers who will serve in his second government.

    This was after the Appointments Committee of Parliament approved the list submitted to them for vetting as Ministers.

    Below are the nominees who if approved, will serve in the Akufo-Addo led government as Deputy Ministers.

    Deputy Minister of Trade & Industries Kwaku Kwarteng

    Deputy Minister of Lands Patrick Boamah

    Deputy Minister of Communication & Digitalization- Richard Ahigbah

    Deputy Minister of Info Yaw Adomako Baafi

    Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture – Mark Okraku Mantey

    Deputy Minister of Education- Rev Ntim Fordjour

    Deputy Finance Minister Charles Adu Boahen

    Deputy Minister of Agriculture- Dr Vincent Eziah Crop Science Department, University of Ghana

    Deputy Minister of Works & Housing- Dr Jonathan Anaglo Department of Extension Service, University of Ghana

    Deputy Minister of Transport- Darkoa Newman

    Deputy Minister of Chieftancy & Religious Affairs- Jabaah John Bennam

    Deputy Minister of Gender Esther Nyinaa

    Deputy Minister of Employment Lawyer Justin Koduah

    Deputy Minister of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development Akwasi Afrifa-Mensah

    Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Francisca Oteng

    Deputy Minister of Roads and High Ways David Asante

    Deputy Minister of Railways Development Dr Adomako Kissi

    Deputy Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources Martin Kwabena Kwakye

    Deputy Minister of Defence Dr Muhammed Anyars

    Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Samuel Pyne

    Deputy Minister of the Interior Jones Kusi

    Deputy Minister of Health Dr Bernard Okoe-Boye

    Source: Ghana Guardian

  • Persons who fail to partake in population census could be jailed – GSS

    Government statistician Professor Samuel Kobina Annim has urged the general public to participate in the 2021 digital population and housing census.

    According to him, failure to do so or supply false information will be liable to 12 months jail term.

    Speaking on The Probe on Joy News, Professor Samuel Kobina Annim raised concerns on the need for all persons to take part in the exercise to ensure the country has accurate data to operate with.

    “There is no room for a person or group of persons in Ghana to abstain from the census exercise. Indeed, clause 54 of the Statistical Service Act (2019) has the caption offences and penalties and it mandates everyone in Ghana to give us accurate data willingly once we approach the person,” he said.

    He further indicated that his outfit will work around the clock to convince residents who are doubtful of the process through education, publicity, and advocacy.

    “We would around this time want to find out people who for one reason or another will not want to participate in the census and we are optimistic that once we do the education, once we tell them why this census is important, we will urge all of them to come on board for the activity.”

    Prof Annim also added that the law would be allowed to take effect if individuals are still unwilling to participate.

    “As I indicated, clause 54 is offences and penalty and in there it says that somebody who gives wrongful information or declines to give information is liable to not more than 12 months imprisonment and 200 units of penalty.”

    2021 Population Census

    The 2021 Population Census is expected to begin on Sunday, June 27. The date has been approved by the Presidency and the National Census Steering Committee.

    The GSS is the lead agency for the conduct of the census and has divided the country into 51,921 enumeration areas to ensure easy collection of geospatial data across the 260 metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    The positivity rate is 9.3 percent.

    Currently, all 16 regions have an active case.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: GNA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: GNA