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Tag: Main Story

  • EC is not a ‘god’; Let them not think they have unfettered powers – Kwesi Pratt

    Seasoned Journalist, Kwesi Pratt has chastised the Electoral Commission over their decision to compile a new voters’ register despite oppositions from Civil Society Groups, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and other political actors in the country.

    To him, the country’s electoral body is putting on airs of a “god”, acting as if it has “unfettered powers”.

    The Electoral Commission (EC) has slated the end of June to commence the registration exercise to compile the new register.

    But the NDC has dragged the EC to the Supreme Court seeking an order for the Commission to rescind its decision to use only the Ghana card and passport for the exercise, and has also challenged the compilation of the new voters’ register.

    The party is praying the court to direct the EC to include ”all existing voter identification cards duly issued by the 2nd Defendant (EC) as one of the documents serving as proof of identification for registration as a voter for the purposes of public elections”.

    The NDC also seeks a declaration on whether the EC “can only revise the existing register of voters, and lacks the power to prepare a fresh register of voters, for the conduct of the December 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections”.

    Bernard Mornah, a leader of the Inter-Party Resistance Against New Voters’ Register (IPRAN), has also threatened to disrupt the registration exercise should the EC fail to address their grievances.

    The electoral body is however unfazed by the threats and opposition to their decision, and has announced measures to kickstart the registration exercise in June irrespective of these agitations.

    Addressing the brouhaha about the new voters’ register on Peace FM, Kwesi Pratt stated that the EC’s adamant behaviour is indicative of the Commission’s lack of the neutrality.

    According to him, the Commission needs to be reminded that their mandate as the election management body was given to them by Ghanaians, although set up within the confines of the constitution and so they have to pay a listening ear to all parties.

    ”The Electoral Commission is enjoined by Article 45 to work within the limits of the law…The court can stop the Electoral Commission…The Electoral Commission doesn’t have unfettered powers,”, he challenged.

    Again, he stressed on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ that ”the Electoral Commission is not a god. It’s a constitutional institution that we, Ghanaians, have allowed to be set up. We have accepted the establishment of the Electoral Commission. So, it is the duty of the Electoral Commission to listen to Ghanaians and cannot do whatever they like. They are not allowed. They’re bound by law. They’re bound by the constitution and others to do what is proper”.

    Listen to his submission in the video below

    Source: Peace FM

  • Officials of Payboy Company Ltd. arrested for operating without license

    Some officials of Payboy Company Limited have been arrested by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO).

    EOCO, in a release, said that the arrest was effected on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 after its preliminary investigations showed that the company was offering some financial services without the requisite license from the Bank of Ghana or the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    “The Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) on Wednesday, 27th May, 2020 arrested some officials of Payboy Company Limited, an entity that purports to be into the Marketing and Promotion of Financial Technologies. Initial investigations have revealed that the company was operating without the required licenses from either the Bank of Ghana or the Securities and Exchange Commission,” EOCO said in a release.

    On its Facebook page, Playboy describes itself as a company that “undertakes the marketing and promotions of fin-tecs, which includes a wide range of digital financial solutions with the objective of identifying and presenting these seamless digital financial technologies to corporate bodies and private individuals, who have payment systems channel need.”

    The company was recently in the news for allegedly being appointed by embattled gold dealership firm, Menzgold to negotiate a settlement with their unpaid customers.

    Menzgold urged its disgruntled customers in a statement to cooperate with the new arrangement “as we strive to achieve this noble debt settlement objective.”

    But EOCO says Payboy is not licensed to conduct such business or any financial transactions and has warned the public not to do any business with them.

    “The general public is advised to be circumspect when dealing with companies or individuals if it involves financial commitments.”

    The office added that it is still conducting investigations into the matter.

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • Lockdown entire country for 10 days rather than easing restrictions CEGA to Akufo-Addo

    Center for Ethical Governance and Administration (CEGA) has called on President Akufo-Addo not to ease restriction as the number of Coronavirus cases has surged to over 7000.

    According to CEGA, government should rather lockdown the entire country completely and comprehensively for 10 days and use the period to conduct mass or random testing in order to substantially contain the disease before any consideration.

    In a press statement, CEGA stated that “In this regard, we urge the President and all state institutions including the Electoral Commission of Ghana and the National Identification Authority not to be motivated by any non-health considerations to undertake any mass gathering activities to recklessly jeopardize the lives of Ghanaians.”

    “We call on His Excellency the President to rather lock down the entire country completely and comprehensively for 10 days and use the period to conduct mass or random testing in order to substantially contain the disease before any consideration can be given to ease the restrictions on social or physical distancing and other hygienic protocols meant to protect the lives of Ghanaians.”

    Below is the full statement

    CENTER FOR ETHICAL GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION (CEGA)

    WORDS OF CAUTION TO PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO ON COVID-19
    FROM CEGA

    In a few days time, the President of the Republic and Commander In Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, President Akufo-Addo will address the nation on his policy direction on Covid-19 situation in Ghana.

    So far there are mixed apprehensions among sections of the Ghanaian society on whether or not the President should take the unchartered course of easing the restrictions imposed under Executive Instruments including easing the ban on social and political gatherings.

    Undoubtedly, these measures were suprisingly implemented without serious official commitment to enforcement. And the measures appear not to have been able to contain and or prevent the vertical spread of the pandemic in Ghana.

    Strangely enough, and in the midst of rising number of cases of the pandemic, various interest groups such as Religious organisations, Educational institutions and business communities were mounting pressure on His Excellency the President to ease the restrictions.

    These parochial interest groups have adduced one reason or the other as to why the President should look towards the direction of easing the social and political restrictions currently in force.

    On one extreme and worrisome end is the immense political pressure being mounted by the President’s own political party, the NPP to ease the restrictions in order to afford them the opportunity to conduct their primaries to elect their parliamentary candidates, and go to Congress to confirm the President and his Vice President for the Party’s 2020 ticket.

    In the midst of all these contending and confusing interests is the vexed question of the restrictions being eased to enable the National Identification Authority (NIA) to proceed to the Eastern Region to continue with the registration of people for the issuance of ECOWAS Identity Card.

    As these apparent parochial interests play up, there has not been any due cognisance of the rising numbers of positive cases in the fast spreading Covid-19 epidemic in the country.

    At the time of going to Press on 29th May, 2020, Ghana has recorded 7,616 Covid-19 infection cases.

    Given the ferocious nature of the spread of this deadly pandemic, the CEGA strongly urges the Pressident to err on the side of caution and be mindful of the fact that the lives of over 30million Ghanaians depend on what decisions he takes and announces on his next address to the nation.

    The President has often been quoted as saying “we can bring our economy back but we cannot bring back lost lives”

    During the recent Heads of State Virtual Summit on the pandemic, His Excellency the President is on record to have profoundly advised his fellow heads of state not to be swayed to follow examples of other countries, but rather to take decisions based on their own country specific conditions and circumstances.

    Given our soaring number of the epidemic, in addition to the position taken by the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) and other health professionals and experts against easing of restrictions, the CEGA is of the strongest view that easing the restrictions under the EI 64 will not be in the best interest of the people in the country.

    In this regard, we urge the President and all state institutions including the Electoral Commission of Ghana and the National Identification Authority not to be motivated by any non-health considerations to undertake any mass gathering activities to recklessly jeopardize the lives of Ghanaians.

    We call on His Excellency the President to rather lock down the entire country completely and comprehensively for 10 days and use the period to conduct mass or random testing in order to substantially contain the disease before any consideration can be given to ease the restrictions on social or physical distancing and other hygienic protocols meant to protect the lives of Ghanaians.

    We advice this, because any other decision to the contrary will amount to reckless disregard for the lives of Ghanaians.

    Ghanaian lives must matter more to the President and all than Ghanaian votes.

    Signed:
    Dr. Pius Essandoh
    Director of Health
    0246141460
    Mike Aflu
    0500349077
    Mark Takyi-Banson
    0556532767

     

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Ghana’s coronavirus cases go past 7,500 with 2,421 recoveries

    More recoveries have been recorded as Ghana’s Coronavirus case count hits 7,616, the Ghana Health Service has announced.

    This comes following some 7,117 cases recorded on Tuesday, May 26, 2020.

    The active cases however are 5,161, with 104 more recoveries, making a total of 2421 recoveries and 34 deaths.

    The Greater Accra Region currently is still leading with 5,331, with the Ashanti Region following closely with 1,160 and the Western Region with 395.

    Below is the breakdown:

    Greater Accra Region – 5,331

    Ashanti Region – 1,160

    Western Region – 395

    Central Region – 376

    Eastern Region – 117

    Western North Region – 63

    Volta Region – 59

    Northern Region – 36

    Oti Region – 26

    Upper East Region – 26

    Upper West Region – 22

    North East Region – 2

    Savannah Region – 1

    Bono Region – 1

    Bono East Region – 1

    Ahafo Region – 0

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coronavirus: 186 new cases send case count to 7,303; recoveries 2,412

    Ghana has 186 new COVID-19 cases to put the current confirmed case count to 7,303, the Ghana Health Service has announced.

    On the official website of Ghana Health Service, 2,412 persons who tested positive for COVID-19 earlier have also recovered.

    This implies that as of the last update, 95 more persons have recovered from the novel Coronavirus.

    Death toll still stands at 34.

    The current total active cases stand at 4,857.

    The Ghanaian Health officials have so far conducted 205,890 COVID-19 tests.

    Per the regional update, the Ghana Health Service website also announced on May 27, 2020, that, the Greater region has recorded 140 of the new cases, followed by the Central region with 23 new cases.

    The Ashanti region recorded 14 new cases, with the Eastern Region recording 9 new cases.

    The Greater Accra region still leads the regional confirmed case count chart with 5,148 cases. The Ashanti and Central regions follow with 1,099 and 334 cases respectively.

    Ahafo and Bono East regions are yet to record a case since Ghana recorded its first two cases of the virus.

    Find below the regional breakdown

    Greater Accra Region 5,148

    Ashanti Region 1,099

    Central Region 360

    Western Region 344

    Eastern Region 117

    Western North Region 62

    Volta Region 59

    Northern Region 36

    Oti Region 26

    Upper East Region 26

    Upper West Region 22

    North East Region 2

    Savannah Region 1

    Bono Region 1

    Ahafo Region 0

    Bono East Region 0

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Ghanas coronavirus case count now 6,904

    Ghana has recorded 156 new coronavirus cases, bringing the national tally to 6,964.

    The figure stood 6,808, however during a press briefing at the Ministry of Information on Tuesday, May 26, 2020, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) announced new cases in 5 out of the 16 regions in the country.

    Director-General of the GHS, Dr. Patrick Kumah Aboagye, said during the press briefing that Western Region, which has recorded 57 new cases, was fast becoming the new hotspot for the disease.

    “The total count 6,964 out of which 2,097 have recovered…this is just a tip a tip of the iceberg because as we ramp up testing of those who have recovered, we will get more,” Dr Aboagye said.

     

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Passengers can check in or out luggages at Kumasi Airport by 2021 – Gabby reveals

    Contrary to what has been speculated that the construction of Kumasi International Airport has come to a halt, governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) strongman, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has disclosed the project is on course.

    Although the project has seen some delays with procurement, following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, Gabby Darko indicated, travellers from Europe, US and elsewhere in the world will soon be able to check-in or out their luggage right in the country’s second-largest city.

    He revealed that over 50,000 passengers are expected to use the Kumasi Airport yearly, starting from 2021.

    “…The construction of the Kumasi International Airport is on course, despite some delays with procurement due to Covid-19. Soon, you will be able to check-in or out your luggage in Kumasi, flying to or in from Europe, US or elsewhere. Over 500,000 passengers a year are expected to use this airport from 2021”, his Facebook post read.

    Estimated at 66.3 million euros, the project, awarded by President Akufo-Addo will involve the extension of the runway from the current 1,981 metres to 2,300 metres, an addition of 319 metres, and the construction of a new terminal building with the capacity to hold one million passengers per year.

    The implementation of the project has since created jobs for more than 1,200 masons, steel benders, tilers and carpenters within the Ashanti Region.

    Source: Ghana Guardian

  • Ghana’s coronavirus case count moves to 6,683 as country records 66 new infections

    Sixty-six (66) new Coronavirus cases have been recorded barely a day after the Ghana Health Service (GHS) announced 131 infections.

    The number of cases has moved from 6,617 to 6,683, information on GHS website said, Sunday morning.

    20 more persons have recovered, bringing the total number of recoveries to 1,998. The death toll has also increased to 32 after one more person with the virus died.

    Out of the 66 new cases, 18 came from Greater Accra region; 39 from the Ashanti region; 2 from Central region; 2 from Western region; 2 from Volta region; while 2 are from the Northern region.

    Regional breakdown of the 6683 cases:

    Greater Accra Region – 4,798

    Ashanti Region – 1,049

    Central Region – 299

    Western Region – 210

    Eastern Region – 106

    Western North Region – 61

    Volta Region – 47

    Northern Region – 36

    Oti Region – 26

    Upper East Region – 26

    Upper West Region – 21

    North East Region – 2

    Savannah Region – 1

    Bono Region – 1

    Ahafo Region – 0

    Bono East Region – 0

     

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Coronavirus: 131 new cases recorded in Ghana, sends tally to 6,617

    New figures released by the Ghana Health Service as regards confirmed Coronavirus cases in Ghana indicate that the country has recorded 131 new infections.

    The total number of cases thus, is 6617.

    27 more persons have recovered, bringing the recovery tally to 1978. Death toll however remains 31.

    Out of the 131 new cases, 81 infections were from the Greater Accra region while 22 were from the Ashanti Region. The Central region has 13 new cases; Central has 10 new cases. 4 new infections have been recorded in Western North while the Volta region has one more infection.

    Regional breakdown of the 6,617 cases:

    Greater Accra Region 4,780

    Ashanti Region 1,010

    Central Region 297

    Western Region 208

    Eastern Region 106

    Western North Region 61

    Volta Region 45

    Northern Region 34

    Oti Region 26

    Upper East Region 26

    Upper West Region 21

    North East Region 2

    Bono Region 1

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

     

  • Ghanas coronavirus cases hit 6,269, recoveries now 1,898

    Ghana has confirmed 173 new COVID-19 cases.

    This makes the total confirmed cases of the novel Coronavirus stand at 6,269, according to the latest update by the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

    The increase, per the GHS update, is attributed to new cases found in Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western and Central regions.

    The update also indicated 125 more recoveries, raising the number of recoveries to 1,898.

    As of Wednesday night [May 20, 2020], the number of deaths remains at 31.

    The total active Coronavirus cases is now at 4,340.

    Eight persons are still in critical condition with the number of tests administered in the region of 187,000.

    The Greater Accra region still leads with 4,582 confirmed cases, followed by the Ashanti region with 921 cases.

    The cases in the Western and Central regions have now increased to 170 and 285 respectively.

    So far, the Savannah, Ahafo and Bono East regions have not recorded any case of the virus.

    Find below the regional breakdown

    Greater Accra Region 4,582

    Ashanti Region 921

    Central Region 285

    Western Region 170

    Eastern Region 106

    Western North Region 57

    Volta Region 41

    Northern Region 31

    Oti Region 26

    Upper East Region 26

    Upper West Region 21

    North East Region 2

    Bono Region 1

    Savannah Region 0

    Ahafo Region 0

    Bono East Region 0

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • 624 test positive for coronavirus in Tema fish factory

    The number of workers who tested positive for Coronavirus (Covid-19) at a fish factory in Tema has increased to 695.

    Dr Franklin Asiedu Bekoe, head of disease surveillance at the Ghana Health Service, revealed this during a press briefing in Accra on May 18.

    Giving an account of the work done in the factory to contain the infection, Dr. Bekoe said initially 533 cases were positive but the number increased to 695 when further tests were conducted.

    “The good news is that 624 have tested negative and are awaiting their second test results, ” he noted.

    Dr Bekoe also indicated that the remaining 71 positive persons are asymptomatic and are being treated in isolation centres.

    He also indicated that the factory has put in place measures including social distancing and improved personal hygiene to curb the infection.

    Ghana on May 18 recorded 5,918 Covid-19 cases with 31 deaths and 1,754 recoveries.

    Source: Daily Guide Network

  • Ghanas coronavirus case count now 5,638; 4 more deaths

    108 more people have tested positive for the novel Coronavirus in Ghana, bringing the number of total confirmed case to 5,638.

    44 of the 108 new cases were recorded in Accra, 26 in the Western Region, 16 in the Central Region and 12 from the Northern Region.

    The remaining 10 cases, however, were recorded in the Ashanti Region; with 5 from the Kumasi sub-metro and the other 5 in Obuasi.

    An update by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) states, Four more persons who tested positive for the virus have also died, bringing the number of total deaths to 28.

    The total number of active cases in Ghana per the GHS report has risen to 4,150.

    However, as of today 16 May 2020, 786 new recoveries have been recorded, this brings the number of persons recovered from COVID-19 to 1,460.

    Savannah, Ahafo and Bono East remain the only regions without a confirmed case of COVID-19.

    Find below the Regional breakdown:

    Greater Accra 4,248

    Ashanti Region 798

    Central Region 210

    Eastern Region 99

    Western Region 87

    Western North Region 57

    Volta Region 34

    Northern Region 31

    Oti Region 26

    Upper East Region 26

    Upper West Region 21

    Bono Region 1

    Savannah Region 0

    Ahafo Region 0

    Bono East Region 0

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Workplace now hotspots for COVID-19 infection- Information Minister

    The workplace has become a new hotspot for COVID-19 infections, Mr Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, the Minister of Information said on Tuesday.

    He said these places included offices, market places, factories, lorry parks, and bus terminals, supermarkets, and fuel stations.

    He, therefore, called on all authorities at workplaces to insist on adherence to all the safety measures and hygiene protocols of especially, disinfection of surfaces, doorknobs, washrooms, as well as insisting on the wearing of nose masks and creating of spaces for social distancing.

    He also stressed on the need for regular handwashing with soap under running water for at least 20 seconds or with alcohol-based sanitizers and ensure proper disposal of used tissues.

    Mr Oppong-Nkrumah, who was speaking at the Ministry’s press briefing in Accra, on Ghana case update and management of the COVID-19 pandemic, said it was important for people to take individual protective precaution against the virus, and start adopting new and responsible lifestyle measures to complement the government’s efforts towards winning the fight.

    He also advised the public to be extra vigilant, especially when they lived or operated within areas with recorded cases of COVID-19.

    He cited the Obuasi Central Market incident, which resulted in 272 new infections by a couple, who unknowingly had been infected with COVID-19, went about their normal business without adequate protection or precaution about the social distancing regulation, or hygiene protocols, and ended up infecting a large number of people who came into contact with them.

    He said so far 17 of their immediate contacts have also been confirmed positive to the virus have been identified, and the market has been closed down for the authorities to decontaminate the place.

    He further stated that the current situation in Obuasi and other communities, where most people, especially market traders were disputing the existence of the virus was unfortunate, and he called for intensified public education by the district health directorate and Assemblies, and ensure the enforcement of all the protective measures and hygiene protocols.

    The Information Minister also said further investigations into the case of massive new COVID-19 infections that were recorded last week from workers of a fishing company at Tema, indicated that the contamination was from a single source.

    However aggressive contact tracing, he said, had since started in all these areas, to track all persons, isolate and treat the sick.

    Mr Oppong-Nkrumah said currently the Obuasi central market and Tema factory incidences gave great cause for worry for effective workplace management to be strictly established by all.

    Ghana’s total confirmed case count of COVID-19 as of May 11, 2020, stands at 5,127, with 494 recoveries and 22 deaths, which indicates a case fatality rate of 0.43 percent, hence the total number of active cases were now 4,611.

    The Ghana Health Service record also shows that 4, 606 persons who were tested positive, were responding to treatment either in their homes, isolation or in treatment facilities, while five others were currently critically ill.

    Source: GNA

  • Ghanas coronavirus case count now 4,263 with four more deaths

    Ghana’s case count of the novel Coronavirusis now 4,263, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has reported.

    This latest update indicates that as of Saturday, May 9, 2020, 251 more cases were recorded with 378 recoveries.

    Four more deaths have been recorded taking the death toll to 22.

    This implies that, the number of active cases is now at 3,907.

    A statement on the GHS website reads: “The cumulative number of COVID-19 cases recorded in Ghana since the 12th of March 2020 is 4,263. There have been 378 recoveries and 22 deaths. Between the 7th and 8th May, a total of 251 new cases have been reported with the majority of them from the Greater Accra Region (205 cases representing 82%).”

    The Greater Accra region still leads with 3,641 cases whilst the Ashanti region follows with 252 cases.

    Find the regional breakdown below:

    Greater Accra Region – 3,641

    Ashanti Region – 252

    Eastern Region – 96

    Central Region – 62

    Western North Region – 56

    Western Region – 35

    Volta Region – 32

    Upper East Region – 26

    Oti Region – 24

    Upper West Region – 20

    Northern Region – 16

    North East Region – 2

    Bono Region – 1

    Savannah Region – 0

    Ahafo Region – 0

    Bono East Region – 0

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  • Ghanas coronavirus case count rises to 3,091 with 303 recoveries

    Ghana has recorded 372 more novel Coronavirus cases, making the total case count 3,091, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has stated.

    As of May 7, 2020, nine more patients have recovered and discharged making the total number of recoveries 303.

    The death toll, according to the GHS update is still 18.

    According to the Ghana Health Service, a total of 137,924 tests have been done so far.

    The Bono region becomes the latest of the 16 regions to record its first case.

    The Savannah, Ahafo and Bono East remain the only regions in Ghana yet to record a case.

    Below is the regional breakdown of the cases:

    Greater Accra Region 2,579

    Ashanti Region 165

    Eastern Region 95

    Western North Region 56

    Central Region 50

    Western Region 32

    Volta Region 30

    Upper East Region 26

    Oti Region 23

    Upper West Region 19

    Northern Region 13

    North East Region 2

    Bono Region 1

    Savannah Region 0

    Ahafo Region 0

    Bono East Region 0

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Two-year-old boy dies in Kwesimintsim tanker explosion

    A 2-year-old boy lost his life after fire gutted two tanker trucks and about a dozen container shops at “Aben be bom” (Apremdo market) near Kwesimintsim in the Effia Kwesimintsim constituency of the Western Region on Wednesday.

    An eyewitness account indicates that a taxi which was being repaired in the vicinity caught fire and spread to the two diesel tankers which were stationed behind the Apremdo filling station. The tankers exploded burning about a dozen container shops in the area.

    The two-year-old boy (name withheld) who was sleeping in one of the containers, according to eyewitnesses, got burned beyond recognition whilst the mother, a mobile money vendor sustained some burns in an attempt to save the son.

    Eyewitnesses say personnel from the Ghana Fire Service arrived about 15 minutes to the scene after the fire started.

    As at the time of filing this report at about 4pm, they were still grappling with the fire.

    Smoke from the scene had darkened the Kwesimintsim skies whilst a crowd of onlookers had gathered at the scene disregarding the danger.

     

    Source: 3 News

  • Confirmed coronavirus cases in Western Region soar to 25

    The confirmed cases of Coronavirus in the Western Region have increased from 13 to 25 as at May 5, 2020.

    The Region had its first confirmed Coronavirus disease on Easter Monday from a Chinese national who works with the Coastal Quarry Company at Anto in the Shama District.

    This Chinese national visited the Effia Nkwanta Hospital in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis after returning from his country for his sample to be tested.

    So far, Western Region has recorded 581 suspected cases of the deadly Coronavirus with 25 positive cases and 296 being pending.

    As at Tuesday, May 5, 2020, new suspected cases have been recorded and 12 have been tested positive with no death and no recovery.

    In a Daily Situation Report signed by the Western Regional Health Director Dr. Jacob Mahama and sighted by GhanaWeb’s Western Regional Correspondent, he said Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis has recorded 173 suspected cases with 51 tested negative and 11 positive cases and also the remaining 111 suspected cases are being pending.

    The statement read that Shama District has recorded 83 suspected cases, 73 cases have been tested negative with no positive case where 10 suspected cases are being pending.

    The statement continued that, in Ahanta West, 57 suspected cases have been recorded and out of the figure, 7 cases have been tested negative with 3 positive cases, awaiting for 45 results.

    Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality on other hand has recorded 53 suspected cases with 39 negative cases, 2 being positive and 8 pending.

    Effia Kwesimintsim’s case count has soared from 37 suspected cases to 46 of which 1 has been tested positive and 15 being pending.

    According to the statement, Mpohor District has recorded 29 suspected cases of which 17 cases have been tested negative, 1 positive case has been recorded with 11 pending.

    Amenfi West District has recorded 40 suspected cases, 9 out of the number have been tested negative, no positive case awaiting 31 suspected cases.

    Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality’s suspected cases have been increased from 18 to 24 with no positive case, 13 being negative and 11 cases being pending.

    Nzema East Municipality has 11 suspected cases with 3 negative cases, out of the 11 suspected cases, 6 cases have been tested positive awaiting for 2 cases.

    Ellembelle District has so far recorded 38 suspected cases of which 6 cases have been tested negative, 1 has been tested positive and 31 suspected cases are yet to be released.

    Amenfi Central District has been recorded its 12 suspected cases awaiting for the outcome.

    Amenfi East District has recorded 8 suspected cases and the 8 suspected cases have been tested negative.

    Jomoro Municipality has so far also recorded 4 suspected cases, 1 being negative and the cases are pending.

    Wassa East District being the last District in the Region has recorded 3 suspected cases with 1 negative case and the two suspected cases are being pending.

    Public Advice

    The Health Directorate has advised residents in the region to stay home and report any suspected case to them on 0208149141 for prompt action.

    He statement that, “Do not hide any relative or friends returning from any affected areas to prevent the spread of the disease”.

    The statement, therefore, called on the residents to practice regular hand washing with soap under running water or use hand sanitizer when necessary.

    It also urged them to practice social and physical distancing protocols.

    It kicked against the stigmatization with the disease. “Do not stigmatise people with the disease or people living in an area with a confirmed case”.

    The statement pledged the Health Directorate together with the NCCE would continue with their Public Sensitization on COVID-19 Preventive Measures.

    Treatment Centres in Western Region

    So far, the Region has thirteen (13) treatment centres and they include; Takoradi Hospital, Kwesimintsim Hospital, Tarkwa Municipal Hospital, Apinto Hospital, Axim Government Hospital, Half Assini Government Hospital.

    The rest are; Wassa Akropong District Hospital, Prestea Government Hospital, Nana Hima Dekyi Hospital, Ahmadiyya Mission Hospital, Fr. Thomas Allan Rooney Memor Hospital at Asankragua and St. Martin de Pores Hospital in Ellembelle District.

    Below is the breakdown of positive cases in the Western Region

    1. Sekondi-Takoradi = 11

    2. Nzema East Municipality = 6

    3. Ahanta West = 3

    4. Tarkwa-Nsuaem = 2

    5. Mpohor = 1

    6. Effia Kwesimintsim = 1

    7. Ellembelle District = 1

    Ghana has so far, recorded 2,719 confirmed cases with 18 deaths and 294 recoveries.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • COVID-19: Five Health workers test positive in Eastern Region

    Five (5) Health Workers have tested positive for Coronavirus in the Eastern Region.

    The number is out of over a hundred (100) health workers exposed to positive contacts hence quarantined and being tested.

    Meanwhile, the Eastern Region has confirmed one new case of Coronavirus on Tuesday, May 5, 2020, increasing the regional tally to 95.

    Many health facilities in the Eastern Region are still struggling to get the full complement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers in spite of individual, institutional and Group donations and some few distributions by the Ghana Health Service.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced the tax waivers for health workers in March and further said frontline health workers would get 50 per cent of their basic salary as an additional allowance, tax-free.

    The tax waiver on personal emoluments will cost the nation GH¢237.5 million whilst that on additional allowances will amount to GH¢51 million.

    Parliament subsequently approved the waiver amounting to total GH¢288.644 million, to help cushion health workers in both public and private health facilities, who are on the frontline fighting the novel coronavirus pandemic.

    Apart from these, the government has secured insurance packages for frontline health workers.

    Source: starrfmonline.com

  • CSM cases now 303 with 44 deaths

    The Upper West Region has recorded 30 more cerebrospinal meningitis cases in the past two weeks.

    This adds to the previous number bringing the total number of cases to 303.

    Meanwhile, 44 people have, so far, died from the disease, according to a press statement issued Tuesday by the Upper West Regional Minister, Dr Hafiz Bin Salih.

    Majority of the cases are concentrated in Nandom, Jirapa and Nadowli-Kaleo.

    The statement said: “Laboratory investigations indicate an increase in the number of cases with the majority of them being caused by Neisseria Meningitides Sero Group X which currently has no vaccine”.

    “With an increased risk communication”, the statement said, “individuals now report to health facilities for treatment, which has witnessed a significant reduction in the case fatality associated with the disease.”

    According to the minister, the Rapid Response Teams (RRT) at both regional and district levels have intensified monitoring and investigations on all suspected cases and rumours.

    The statement urged the general public to drink more water, sleep in well-ventilated areas, cover their mouths and noses when coughing or sneezing and report to the nearest health facilities when experiencing symptoms such as high temperature, fever, stiff neck, as well as headache.

     

    Source: Class FM

  • Ghana at the peak of coronavirus crisis- Ghana Health Service

    Ghana is at the peak of its coronavirus crisis.

    This is according to the Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Badu Sarkodie.

    At a press briefing at the Ministry of Information in Accra today [Tuesday, May 5, 2020], Mr Sarkodie in answering a question as to where Ghana is on the bell curve, he said, “So to answer directly to the question, we are at the peak of the curve.”

    More to follow….

    Source: Graphic.com.gh 

  • Sogakope Assemblymans murder: We killed him for fighting back Suspect

    One of the suspects who killed Sogakope South Assemblyman Marcus Mawutor Adzahli has told the police that they were not contracted to commit the murder.

    Amos Abakla confessed to the police that they stabbed Mr Adzahli and shot him dead after he fought them while they robbed his family.

    The Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department, COP Isaac Ken Yeboah, told journalists at a press conference on Monday, 4 May 2020 that: “He [the suspect] confessed that he and one other person, who is on the run, shot the deceased after he put up resistance, which made Adjei another suspect to stab him.

    “According to Amos, the murder of Mawutor was as a result of resistance by the deceased during the attack and that it was not contract killing,” COP Yeboah added.

    Mr Adzahli, who had been newly-elected for the Sogakope South electoral area within the South Tongu District of the Volta Region, was killed on 1 March 2020 in his private residence.

    His neighbours said at the time that the attackers entered the bedroom of Mr Adzahli and his wife and stabbed them first and later shot the man in the head.

    The wife survived the attack with multiple knife wounds.

    Eyewitnesses who spoke to Class News’ regional correspondent Albert Kuzor said the incident happened at about 1 am on Sunday, 1 March 2020 but the widow managed to contact the police and neighbours after the assailants fled.

    Source: Class FM

  • Coronavirus: Ghana records 550 more cases, cases now 2719

    Ghana has now recorded 2,719 cases of Coronavirus and 6 additional recoveries making a total of 294, according to Ghana Health Service (GHS).

    The death toll however remains the same; 18.

    Regional Breakdown:

    Greater Accra Region – 2,332

    Ashanti Region – 124

    Eastern Region – 94

    Central Region – 38

    Volta Region – 30

    Oti Region – 23

    Western Region – 21

    Upper West Region – 19

    Upper East Region – 19

    Northern Region – 13

    Western North Region – 4

    North East Region – 2

    More soon….

  • Coronavirus: Seven new cases recorded in Sissala East

    Seven cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the Sissala East Municipality of the Upper West region bringing the regions case count from eight to 17 in less than a week.

    This includes two males and five females who have tested positive of the deadly virus.

    The Municipal Chief Executive for Sissala East, Hon. Karim Nanyua who made the announcement in the Municipal capital Tumu when he convened an emergency meeting with the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Committee.

    Mr Nanyua who is the Chairman of the Committee disclosed that through routine surveillance and enhanced testing and contact tracing, seven samples from the municipality confirmed positive of coronavirus.

    He mentioned that the municipality is expected to receive additional test samples to be able to ascertain the level of infection in the area.

    Checks by Starr News indicates that all the confirmed cases are natives of the municipality who have travelling history from heavily affected Greater Accra, Kumasi and Tamale and are asymptomatic.

    The MCE urged residents to remain calm as the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Committee works assiduously to contain the spread of the virus and cautioned them to desist from stigmatizing affected persons and their families.

    He entreated the residents of the various communities to continue to practice the safety measures including adhering to social distancing protocols, wearing nose mask and washing hands frequently with soap under running water as well using alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

    The Chairman of the Committee appealed to residents across the border communities to report strangers and natives who have travelled back to their communities from areas hardly hit by Covid-19 to the security agencies and the health authorities for intensive medical screening.

    Source: Starr FM

  • Northern Region records 2 new coronavirus cases

    The Northern Region has confirmed two more COVID-19 cases bringing its total cases to 15.

    The Northern Regional Health Director, Dr. John B. Eleeza, who confirmed this to DGN Online, said the new cases involved a male and female from the Nanumba south and Tolon districts respectively.

    He revealed that the two patients are part of contact tracing done in the various districts.

    “ We took their samples and sent it to the lab and it came back positive.”

    According to Dr. Eleeza, the patients have been isolated by health officials at their various districts to commence treatment.

    The cases in the Northern region was thirteen which included eight Guineans, two Burkinabes and three Ghanaians.

    However, two Burkinabes who tested positive for Covid-19 at the Tamale Teaching Hospital have been treated and discharged from the health facility.

    The Burkinabes tested positive when they came to the Tamale Teaching Hospital for dialysis.

    “The Burkinabes were patients in our hospital and once we finished treating them , we let them go .”Dr. Eleeza disclosed

    Source: Daily Guide Network

  • VRA Senior Staff dies in gory accident

    A senior staff of Volta River Authority (VRA) has died in a gory accident at Akuse in the Eastern region.

    The deceased, Eric Dogbe, 46, an Engineer with VRA was driving an unregistered Toyota Corolla vehicle with one occupant Peter Horlornyo from Juapong to Akuse.

    According to eyewitnesses, the deceased who was speeding lost control of the steering wheel on reaching a section of the road few metres away from the VRA security checkpoint and as a result, the vehicle veered off its lane into the opposite lane and entered a Canal by the roadside.

    Both sustained serious injuries and were rushed to Akuse Government Hospital for treatment but Eric Dogbe was pronounced dead on arrival whilst Peter Horlonyor is said to be in critical condition.

    The body of the deceased has been deposited at the mortuary.

    The Public Relations Officer of the Eastern Regional Police Command, DSP Ebenezer Tetteh confirmed the accident to Starr News. He said the Akuse Police has commenced an investigation into the incident.

    According to the Akuse District Police Command, the incident occurred on May 2, 2020 at about 16:15 pm.

    Source: Starr FM

  • Ghana’s coronavirus cases now at 2169 with 1 more death

    Ghana’s Coronavirus case count has risen to 2,169 with 229 recoveries and a death toll of 18.

    The new cases were updated by the Ghana Health Service on May 2, 2020.

    The update means that Ghana has recorded 95 additional cases of COVID-19 since April 28, when the case count was at 2074.

    The latest update comes from the results of 3,552 samples that were tested by the various testing centers across the country.

    18 more people have recovered since the last update.

    Regional breakdown

    The Greater Accra region remains the area with the highest number of confirmed cases followed by the Ashanti Region and the Eastern Region.

    Greater Accra Region 1,852

    Ashanti Region 117

    Eastern Region 87

    Central Region 21

    Oti Region 19

    Upper East Region 19

    Volta Region 16

    Northern Region 13

    Upper West Region 10

    Western Region 9

    Western North Region 4

    North East Region 2

  • Akufo-Addo wont stay on as president if 2020 elections dont come off Majority Leader

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will not continue to wield power as the Commander in Chief and first gentleman of the land even if the Electoral Commission (EC) is unable to conduct the 2020 presidential and parliament elections due to the outbreak of the global pandemic, the Coronavirus, Majority Leader of Parliament has disclosed.

    While addressing members of the House after presenting the business statement, Mr KyeiMensah-Bonsu intimated that, although there was no clear cut provision in the constituency on who becomes president in the event of unforeseen circumstances causing the EC to not hold elections, Nana Akufo-Addo had already hinted of not staying on beyond his mandatory term.

    He disclosed that the president had revealed in previous engagements that he did not have any intentions of staying on as president after January 6, 2021, if the EC fails to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in December due to the Coronavirus which presently has no end in sight.

    “The President does not intend to stay one day beyond the constitutional mandate given to him up to the midnight of January 6, 2020, and has strongly urged that whatever must be done in the current circumstances must be done,” he said.

    The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs response came on the back of concerns by Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu on the need for the House to invite the electoral body to provide updates on their preparedness ahead of the December polls this year.

    “The independent EC, created under Article 45 of the Constitution, owes members of this House and Ghanaians a duty, hence they must be summoned to appear before the House to give their roadmap as to their preparedness in view of COVID-19.

    “Our democracy has evolved and our democracy will survive COVID-19,” he said, saying that “if we cannot get them to come and brief the Committee of the Whole at least they must come to the Special Budget Committee,” he noted.

    Mr Kyei Mensah Bonsu, however, stressed that regardless of whatever happens with the EC, the president was bent on stepping down once his tenure was over and had already assured Ghanaians to that effect.

    “So Mr Speaker, we all have to look up to the Electoral Commission to put in the required measures for the conduct of the elections,” he said.

    “Because the Constitution we all do recognise is a bit ambivalent beyond January 7, 2021 when elections cannot be conducted,” he said, claiming that the Constitution was also not clear who should be the President in times of unforeseen circumstances.

    “There is a bit of ambivalence and some lacuna except to say that for Parliament in the event of any emergency, provision is made expressly under the Constitution to have the life of Parliament extended by one year and in any event not more than four years.

    “In the 12 months, who becomes the head of state? Is it Speaker in the absence of the President or the Vice President? That is a bit troubling to us as a nation,” he added.

    Graphic reports that the legislator pointed out that in any event, the Constitution provided that when the Speaker acted as the President in the absence of a President or a Vice President, elections must be conducted within three months to elect a President.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Residents deliberately untied ropes anchoring the floating bridge

    Mr Frank Ofori of River Restoration Limited has stated that residents deliberately untied ropes anchoring the floating bridge on Chemu Lagoon at Chorkor.

    He said preliminary assessment done indicated that, “Some persons deliberately went and loosened the end rope anchoring the concrete cast, which made the bridge shift from its original location. The bridge is not broken,” he said.

    Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, on Thursday, Mr Ofori said the bridge was built to withstand strong pressure due to the use of empty barrels, which made it float at all times.

    He recalled that on Sunday, April 26, he received a call from one of the residents that the bridge had collapsed which his team followed up to the site.

    Mr Ofori narrated that, when the team got there, they observed that parts of the bridge were dismantled and the barrels taken away.

    “I have the pictures and videos showing some residents were jubilating when the bridge was washed to another side. It is sad and surprising that people will sit and hatch such a plan because of reason best known to them. This is unpatriotic and must stop,” he said.

    “Prior to the building of the floating bridge some youth earlier built a makeshift one and charged 20 pesewas per crossing. Those behind that activity raised objection in the initial stage and I do not want to believe they are behind this.”

    Mr Ofori said acts such as that impeded development and that such indiscipline behaviours would not propel progress adding that the bridge was blocking plastic waste from entering the sea allowing only water to enter.

    He stated that similar bridges were built to facilitate the movement of persons on Rivers Offin, Ankobra, and Pra, which were still in good shape serving their purpose.

    “The one on Chemu is the fourth and last one and I was surprised when I got the news that it was broken and washed away. The first one, which was built on River Offin is more than a year now and it is able to withstand high-water currents. It is the same thing we built here,” he said.

    Mr Ofori explained that the bridge was constructed by joining rectangular wood strips, strapped to one another in a sequence, over a number of empty barrels fitted together firmly with steel round pipe rails to prevent it from falling over.

    The empty barrels, he added provided the bridge with a floating ability to ensure that any time the lagoon overflowed its banks, the bridge automatically rose or floated and returned to its current position when the floods subsided.

    Source: GNA

  • Ghana records 403 new cases of Coronavirus, tally now 2074

    The number of COVID-19 cases in Ghana has increased to 2,074.

    This means that 403 new cases have been recorded in the country.

    The Ghana Health Service (GHS) announced the new figures on Thursday morning.

    One more person has also succumbed to the virus, according to the Ghana Health Service. This pegs the death toll at 17. The number of recoveries has also increased from 188 to 212.

    Out of the 2074 cases, 62% are males while 38% are females. 12% have history of travel with the remaining 88% having no clear history of travel.

    Regional breakdown

    Count of Cases per Region

    (Case Count from Highest to Lowest)

  • Coronavirus:Ghana’s case count now 1671 with 188 recoveries

    Ghana’s coronavirus cases have risen to 1671 with 188 recoveries, the Ghana Health Service has disclosed in a press briefing.

    Addressing journalists on Tuesday afternoon at the Ministry of Information, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, stated that 563 of the infected were from general surveillance.

    According to him, 1,461 are well or showing “no symptoms and responding to treatment”.

    Out of the total cases, Dr Kuma-Aboagye said six patients are “critically ill” with two of them at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), three at Ga East Municipal Hospital and one at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

    On the number of casualties, the Director-General also disclosed that Ghana has recorded five new deaths from the disease raising the death toll to 16.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Two national security personnel, dismissed soldier, 6 others arrested for robbery

    Police in Asankragwa led by the Divisional Crime Officer Superintendent Henry Agbeve have arrested nine persons, including two National Security personnel for robbing miners near Atalla of their gold concentrate.

    The suspects are: Anas Adams, 35 years, a National Security personnel of Jubilee House operations; George Ohene Adjei 56, driver, Jonathan Aryer 28, unemployed; Agyeman Jackson, 29, unemployed and Isaac Okuampah 29, painter.

    The rest are George Osei 35, National Security, Asomdwe park Accra; Patrick Fordjour 29, taxi driver, Kumasi; and Samuel Obeng 35, an allegedly dismissed soldier from the army.

    The Police in a report said the suspects were arrested on Saturday 25 April 2020 on the Asankragwa – Wasa Dunkwa road onboard an unregistered black Toyota Land Cruiser Prado but one Kofi Asante who allegedly led the gang managed to escape.

    A search onboard the vehicle revealed a vehicle number plate with registration number AS 6646-20, gold concentrate in five gallons, 15 mobile phones, various foreign currencies, and four bags in which there were two military uniforms.

    It is alleged that Samuel Obeng wore one of the uniforms bearing the rank of a Sergeant whiles Agyeman Jackson wore one with the rank of a Private.

    Preliminary investigation revealed that the gang arrived at a mining site near ATALLA, about two hours drive from Asankragwa, with some dressed in the military uniforms, subjected some of the workers to beating, handcuffed and tied them with ropes and abandoned them to their fate and robbed them of their gold concentrate.

    After the act, the supposed soldiers folded the military uniforms into their respective bags and fled in their vehicle.

    The workers managed to free themselves and ran away.

    The Police visited the scene and managed to retrieve the damaged handcuffs and the workers informed police that the suspects came there to rob them of their gold concentrate.

    The suspects are in custody whilst the vehicle and all other items retained. Meanwhile, the Divisional Commander, Chief Supt Nana Kumi has informed one Col. Opoku (RTD) of National Security, Jubilee House about the arrest and detention of suspects Anas Adams and George Osei both of National Security, Jubilee House Operations.

    Investigations are ongoing.

     

    Source: Class FM

  • Akufo-Addo extends ban on public gatherings by two weeks

    President Nana Akufo-Addo has extended the ban on public gatherings including religious activities and funerals by an additional two weeks.

    He made this known during his eighth televised address to the nation on the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in the country on Sunday, April 26, 2020.

    The extension comes into full force on Monday, April 27, 2020, at 1:00 am.

    -More soon-

  • NDC reports suspicious meeting to police after injunction on EC workshop

    Police at Airport are investigating a complaint lodged by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over an ongoing meeting at the City Escape Hotel in Accra.

    The party suspects that the said meeting is a conference by the Electoral Commission (EC) which the court stopped from taking place after an injunction secured by the Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam Nartey George.

    The injunction was however issued for a meeting scheduled to take place at the City Escape Hotel in Prampram.

    The injunction is in place from April 24, 2020, to April 27, 2020.

    Though there are several government-registered vehicles in the premises of the Hotel, it is unclear if the said workshop is ongoing.

    Police from the airport command are currently at the hotel premises.

    The EC was planning to hold a national planning meeting and a training workshop to prepare and plan for the upcoming voter registration exercise.

     

    The programmes were scheduled to take place from Apri 24, 2020, to April 29, 2020, at the City Escape Hotel.

    The meeting was to be held in three different batches in order to observe the social distancing protocols amidst the outbreak of the coronavirus in Ghana.

    The plans for new register are currently on suspension because of the coronavirus pandemic.

    The voters registration exercises was initially scheduled to begin on April 18, due to COVID-19.

    Following the suspension, the EC had said it is collaborating with health experts to decide on a more favourable date depending on the prevalence rate of the virus.

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • Coronavirus: Oti joins affected regions with 13 cases at a go

    The Oti Region has recorded 13 cases of COVID-19 at a go, the Ghana Health Service has announced.

    Meanwhile, the number of confirmed cases in Ghana has jumped from 1,154 to 1,279.

    Regional breakdown

    Greater Accra 1,089, Ashanti Region 69, Eastern Region 56, Northern Region 13, Central Region 9, Volta Region 10, Upper West Region 8, North-East Region 2, Western North Region 1 and Western Region 1.

    Only four out of the 16 regions are still COVID-19-free.

    They include Savannah Region, Bono Region, Ahafo Region and Bono East Region.

    Also, the number of patients who have recovered has jumped from 120 to 134.

    Additionally, the death toll has increased by one from nine to 10 as of Friday, 24 April 2020.

    Source: Class FM

  • Calling off lockdown doesnt mean we are out of the pandemic Akufo-Addo

    Lifting the lockdown in Accra and other parts of the country does not mean Ghana is free from the Covid-19 pandemic, President Nana Akufo-Addo says.

    Speaking in a televised address on Sunday, Akufo-Addo said Ghanaians must continue to abide by all other measures put in place to contain and defeat the novel coronavirus.

    Ban on public gatherings, including religious activities, parties, beaches, clubs are still in force across the country, the president said.

    Schools and universities also remain closed.

    Delivering his 7th address on measures taken by his administration to fight the disease, Akufo-Addo said “We will continue to monitor closely events in some hotspots…”

    “Whenever the situation so warrants, a community in which the virus is identified as becoming prevalent will be locked-down, until there is a clear understanding of the trajectory of the virus that will allow us to contain it,” he said.

    Relaxing lockdown welcoming

    The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council has, meanwhile, described lifting of three week lockdown as a welcoming.

    The GPCC, in a statement, said easing the restrictions is “quite encouraging especially for many Ghanaians who are in the informal sector of the economy.”

    “The Council is however appealing to all Ghanaians not to take this relaxation of the lockdown for granted but should to continue to observe strictly the measures rolled out by government to minimise or stop the spread of the virus,” GPCC said.

    Social media reactions to the move, however, suggest the decision is unpopular.

    Scores of persons posted on various social media platforms suggesting that the government is leaving the fight to the discretion of citizens.

      

     

    Source: myjoyonline 

  • Ghana’s coronavirus cases hit 1,042

    This was announced by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addoduring his seventh address to the nation on the outbreak today, Sunday, April 19, 2020.

    He said, “The overwhelming majority of these contacts have been established from the last three weeks of the partial lockdown in Accra and Kumasi. Out of this number, 1,042 persons i.e. 1.5 per cent have been confirmed as positive, with 67,549 i.e. 98.5 per cent testing negative. 99 persons have recovered, and have been discharged and 930 persons who have been isolated are responding to treatments either in their homes or in treatment facilities.”

    He added that, these 930 persons after their treatments, will undergo the mandatory two tests to determine if they have also recovered from the virus or otherwise.

    Akufo-Addo explained that, since the first two cases of COVID-19 was recorded in Ghana, about 86,000 contacts have been traced out of which about 68,591 tests have been completed. The results of a backlog of about 18,000 tests whose results are yet to be received.

    He noted that the reason why the Coronavirus cases in Ghana has increased is because of “the decision we took aggressively to trace and test contacts of the infected persons. This is to enable us to identify and isolate infected persons, protect the population from further infections and contain better, the spread of the virus.”

    “Indeed, Ghana is the only African country to have conducted more than 60,000 tests and we are ranked number one in Africa in administering of tests per a million people,” he observed.

     

  • Potential coronavirus vaccines being tested for safety Prof Alex Dodoo

    Clinical pharmacologist and a professor at the Centre for Tropical Clinical Pharmacology, Prof Alex Dodoo, has revealed that there has been significant progress in the quest for a vaccine for the coronavirus.

    Prof Dodoo, who is also Director-General of the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), said there are indeed vaccines that are being evaluated for safety before they are given the green light.

    “There are at least eight candidate vaccines that are being evaluated. One at least has started in human trials. The issue is that you want to be sure that they are safe,” he said Thursday evening on the business edition of PM Express.

    He said the complexity of the safety evaluation is a significant contributor to delays in getting an approved vaccine.

    “Within the next three weeks, we [scientific community] should be able to conclusively say which ones will go further better,” he revealed.

     

    Uncertainty

    There is uncertainty in the scientific community about when a vaccine will be available to defeat the virus.

    There is also the question about the affordability and accessibility of the accepted vaccine.

    Director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Anthony Fauci, recently said that a vaccine for the virus could take 12 to 18 months to develop, test and approve for public use as new vaccines typically take years to earn approval.

    However, there are indications that Covid-19 patients who have been getting an experimental drug called remdesivir have been recovering quickly, with most going home in days.

    According to a news report on Thursday that was attributed to STAT News, patients taking part in a clinical trial of the drug have all had severe respiratory symptoms and fever but were able to leave the hospital after less than a week of treatment.

    Whether a vaccine will soon be approved for use in the next three weeks or in 2021, Prof Dodoo said on PM Express on Thursday that an important consideration that the scientific community will have to make will be between the benefit of that vaccine versus its associated risks.

     

    Source: myjoyonline 

  • Coronavirus: Number of recovered persons up to 83

    A total of 83 infected persons have recovered from the novel Coronavirus in Ghana, according to the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

    The 83 were part of the 268 confirmed cases under routine surveillance.

    The total number of COVID-19 cases has risen to 641 while the number of people dead remains 8 as of Wednesday, April 15, 2020.

    “The breakdown of the 641 positive cases is as follows; 17 have been treated, reverted to negative on repeat tests and discharged.

    “Furthermore, 66 have tested negative once and awaiting the second test. This brings together a total of 83 cases that have been recovered/discharged. 548 cases have been categorised as mild disease and are on treatment, two are categorized as moderate to severe cases, none in the critical state currently and eight have died,” the Ghana Health Service indicated on their official website.

    The GHS stated that “five new cases were recorded in the following locations; one from Adenta Municipality, two each from Ayawaso East and Ayawaso Central Municipalities. With the exception of one of the cases from Ayawaso East, all the new cases are asymptomatic.”

    Meanwhile, contacts of the new cases are being listed for follow up, the health service noted.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Cerebrospinal Meningitis kills 3 more in Upper West Region, increasing tally to 40

    Three more people have died from Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM), bringing the total number of victims 40.

    The number of confirmed cases have also shot up from 247 to 258.

    Upper West Regional Minister, Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, disclosed this at a press conference in Wa.

    “The case fatality rate of meningitis in the region is 15.5 % which is unacceptable.

    “About 80% of the death is as a result of delay in reporting to the health facilities,” the Minister was worried.

    Dr. Bin Salih stated that the region has over 9,000 vials of ceftrizone and five packs of pastorex to treat the disease and has therefore urged people infected with the deadly disease to report to health facilities whenever one begins experiencing headache, fever and stiffness for immediate attention than resorting to self-medication.

    He assured the people that there is enough drugs to help manage and treat meningitis cases.

    Dr. Bin Salih, however, pointed out that there is no vaccine worldwide for sero-type X which is currently affecting the people.

    He announced that a team of experts in the next coming days will be in the region to help manage the situation.

     

    Source: myjoyonline 

  • Ga East Hospital allegedly refused to treat 2 Nigerians who tested positive for coronavirus

    The Ga East Municipal Hospital has refused treatment for two Nigerians who tested positive for Coronavirus.

    According to the hospital, the foreign nationals failed to cooperate with authorities for treatment.

    The two, however, have been secluded in a police facility as a “matter of necessity”, a press release from the police read.

    A press release stated that “The two Nigeriens who tested positive to COVID-19 and were transferred from a Police holding facility of the Accra District Police to the National Treatment Centre have been returned to the Police facility as a matter of necessity, to enable health officials to manage them. The two refused to submit to treatment at the national treatment centre, making their management difficult, thus their return.”

    The said Nigerians were arrested on April 5, 2020 after they could not give justifiable reasons for their movement following the lockdown directive by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

    According to Citi News, further investigations by police triggered a medical test on them at the Ridge Hospital whose result came back on April 13, 2020.

    The Ghana Police Service said its officers will not have any form of contacts with the two Nigeriens as the medical team of the police service is making the efforts “safeguard Police Officers and our facility.”

    The public is reminded to continue to cooperate with the Police and Security Services to help curb the spread of the COVID-19. Stay home and stay safe, as we keep the frontline,” the police added.

    The police revealed government is in talks with the Nigerian Ambassador in Ghana on how best to deal with the situation.

    Also, government is unclear whether repatriation will be an immediate solution.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Coronavirus: 58 exposed Begoro Hospital staff, patients quarantined

    Fiftyeight Staff of the Begoro Government Hospital in the Eastern Region have been quarantined for having contact with a patient who tested positive for coronavirus.

    Also quarantined are patients who were on admission with the contact at the Male Ward of the Hospital.

    The affected persons are being quarantined in guesthouses and Hotels. Samples of the affected staff and patients have been taken for testing at Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.

    The Male ward of the Hospital has since been shut down for fumigation.

    A Source at the Hospital told Starr News, a 65-year-old Mango Seller on April 5, 2020 who tested positive of Covid-19 was first admitted at the male ward of the Begoro Government Hospital. He was thought to be suffering from tuberculosis but on the following day, he developed dyspnea and fever of about 41 degree Celsius raising suspicions among management of the facility. His sample was taken to Noguchi and tested positive.

    The situation has heightened fear in the community.

    The District Health Directorate and other stakeholders are on grounds trying to contain the spread of the disease however, lack of personal Protective equipment is threatening their effort.

    Coronavirus cases in the Eastern Region have increased from 25 cases to 32 in less than 24 hours of the last count.

    This makes the region the third-highest with covid-19 cases in the country after Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions which have recorded 452 and 49 cases respectively.

    The national tally stands at 566 with 8 deaths.

     

    Source: starrfm.com.gh

  • 57.1 percent of coronavirus cases in Ghana have no travel history GHS data

    Following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus and a rising number of cases in Ghana, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has revealed that 57.1 percent of confirmed COVID-19 cases between March and April have had no history of travel while 42.9 percent, have had some travel related history.

    According to a pie chart data published on the GHS website, the percentage distribution of COVID-19 cases in Ghana by sex, between March and April was 57.9 percent for male, and 42.1 for female.

    The staggering revelation comes at a time where some health experts have initially expressed concerns of a likely community spread of the virus but government authorities are urging for more calm as they embark on an enhanced contact tracing exercise.

    See the chart below:

    Meanwhile, eight (8) out of sixteen (16) regions of the country have recorded positive coronavirus cases after the national case count hit 408.

    Regions that have reported cases are Greater Accra, Ashanti, Central, Eastern, Northern, North East, Upper East and Upper West.

    “Of the 408 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 205 were reported from the routine surveillance, 88 from enhanced surveillance activities and 115 from travellers under mandatory quarantine in both Accra and Tamale,” the Ghana Health Service (GHS) reported on Saturday, April 11.

    The death toll, according to the GHS has also seen an increase from six to eight with four recoveries and two in critical/moderately ill conditions.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Ghana scientists obtain critical information about Covid-19 that enables tracing of community infections

    Scientists at the University of Ghana have obtained critical information about the virus responsible for the global Covid-19 pandemic that will enable tracing of community infections in people that did not come into contact with confirmed cases.

    The scientists, who work at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) and the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) of the University analysed samples from selected cases to gain a comprehensive understanding of the variations of the virus that are present in Ghana.

    “The successful establishment of this sequencing capability at University of Ghana is a significant milestone in Ghanas response to the pandemic, as it will strengthen surveillance for tracking mutations of the virus and aid in the tracing of the sources of community infections in people with no known contact with confirmed cases,” Prof. Abraham Anang, Director of NMIMR is quoted in a press release issued by the University.

    Nine samples were analysed from travellers who arrived in Ghana from the UK, Norway, Hungary, India and United States.

    “The data tells us that, while there were some differences between the strains from the various countries, all the 15 genomes generally resembled (with >92% similarity) the reference strain that was isolated in the Wuhan Province of China, where the outbreak began,” Prof. Gordon Awandare, Director of WACCBIP is quoted in a press release.

    “This confirms that we are dealing with the same pathogen, and that it has not yet changed its genetic make-up significantly. It is natural that pathogens will evolve as they encounter different environmental challenges, so we will need to continue monitoring to keep track with these changes and determine how they impact on the efficacy of potential drugs or vaccines that are being developed”, he added.

    Meanwhile, the Ghana Health Service has confirmed 30 more Covid-19 cases in the country.

    Of the 408 cases, 205 were reported from routine surveillance, 88 from enhanced surveillance activities and 115 from travellers under mandatory quarantine in both Accra and Tamale.

    The number of deaths from the virus has also risen from six to eight.

    Read the full release from the University of Ghana below.

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • 8 deaths, 408 confirmed cases – Ghana’s new Covid-19 status

    Latest update of Ghana’s Covid-19 cases has registered 8 deaths and 408 confirmed cases, according to the Ghana Health Service.

    “Over the past twelve (12) days (since the introduction of the enhanced surveillance), a number of measures have been introduced to control and prevent further spread of COVID-19 in Ghana. Among these include restrictive movement in the hotspots of the outbreak, intensive contact tracing and laboratory testing, social distancing, and intensive public education. These measures have resulted in a sudden increase in case detection, with high number of cases being reported.

    “As of 10 April 2020, 23:00 HRS, a total of 27,346 persons have been tested with 408 being positive for COVID-19. The breakdown of the 408 positive cases are as follows: four (4) have been treated, discharged and have tested negative, 394 cases have been categorised as mild disease on treatment, two (2) moderate to severe cases, none currently on ventilators and eight (8) have died.

    “Of the 408 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 205 were reported from the routine surveillance, 88 from enhanced surveillance activities and 115 from travellers under mandatory quarantine in both Accra and Tamale.

    “Regions that have reported cases are Greater Accra, Ashanti, Central, Eastern, Northern, North East, Upper East and Upper West regions.”

     

     

  • 37 die out of 247 recorded cases of Meningitis in Upper West

    Cerebral Spinal Meningitis (CSM) has killed 37 people in Upper West Region out of a total number of 247 cases recorded in the last 13 weeks, giving a case fatality rate of 15.4 percent.

    Providing an update on the disease, Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, the Upper West Regional Minister, indicated that Nadowli-Kaleo District recorded the highest number of 12 deaths out of 74 cases, followed by Nandom District with 10 deaths out of 76 cases.

    The Jirapa Municipality is next with nine deaths out of 42 cases; Wa Municipality, four deaths out of 27 cases, while Wa West District and Lawra Municipality recorded a death each out of a total of 15 and eight cases recorded respectively.

    Apart from the Sissala East Municipality, which recorded five cases with no death, the remaining districts namely; Lambussie, Sissala West and Wa East Districts have not recorded any case of the disease yet.
    Dr Bin Salih described the 15.4 per cent fatality rate as high and attributed it to late reporting to health facilities on the part of victims.

    The Regional Minister noted that, the Regional and District Public Health Management Committees and the meningitis response plan had been activated to guide investigations among others.

    Also, the training and use of Chiefs, Queen mothers and other stakeholders to support in the sensitization of their respective communities on the signs and symptoms of the disease and the need for early reporting to health facilities also took place.

    Other efforts in the areas of surveillance; laboratory investigations; case management; advocacy, communication, community engagement and social mobilization; and logistics had also been taken care of to enhance the fight.

    Emphasizing on logistics, Dr Bin Salih noted that in addition to the existing stock of drugs, the World Health Organisation (WHO) donated 5,000 vials of ceftriaxone and 1,100 bags of infusion to the Region to support case management.

    He mentioned poor health seeking behaviour by the population, stigmatization due to similarity of symptoms of CSM and COVID-19, inability of majority of facilities to perform culture, and low community patronage in sensitization programmes as some of the challenges militating against the fight.

    He cautioned the public against stigmatizing CSM or COVID-19 patients or communities saying, “We need all hands on deck to slow down the incidence of CSM in the Region”.

    While commending individuals and organisations so far for the support, Dr Bin Salih also called on individuals and corporate organisations to come to the aid of the Region, stressing “no contribution shall be deemed small”.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus cases in Eastern region spike to 16

    The Eastern region has recorded 15 more COVID-19 cases bringing the total number of cases in the region to 16.

    The region recorded its first case on March 31 but has since had 15 more confirmed cases.

    A breakdown from the Eastern region Health Directorate stated that a total of 257 contacts have been identified with 252 identified and followed up. The statement added that five other contacts have completed the 14-day quarantine and tested.

    Meanwhile, confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Ghana have risen to 378, President Akufo-Addo has disclosed.

    The President made the disclosure in his 6th address to the nation since the first case was confirmed in the country.

    Source: starrfm.com.gh

  • Akufo-Addo extends partial lockdown by one week

    President Nana Akufo-Addo has extended the restrictions on movements in Accra and Kumasi by one more week from Monday, April 13, 2020.

    Delivering his sixth address on the progress of the national campaign to defeat the coronavirus pandemic in Ghana, the President said on Thursday that although the efforts have been successful, the country was not yet out of the woods.

    Two weeks ago, a 14-day restriction on movements in parts of the Greater Accra Region and Kumasi, in the Ashanti Region, was implemented to control the spread of the coronavirus.

    The lockdown has been implemented in parts of the country where significant numbers of virus infections have been recorded.

    More soon.

    Source: myjoyonline.com

  • Central Region records first coronavirus case

    The Central Region has recorded its first Coronavirus (COVID-19) case which happens to be a 57-year-old man.

    The patient, a clergyman by profession, according to the Regional Health Directorate travelled to the United Kingdom (UK) and returned to Ghana on 17th March 2020.

    The man, being a diabetic patient was asked by his doctor to run some tests. It was through these tests that his coronavirus status became known.

    All the people in the lab at the time tests were run on the man are contacts that are to be isolated in a holding area, officers of the Regional Health Directorate have said.

    The Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan addressing a press conference confirmed the case and further urged the good people of the Central Region to remain calm and exercise the measures outlined to fight the coronavirus.

    He added that the Regional COVID-19 Response Team is up to the task and will work hard to ensure the disease does not spread.

    Enhanced contact tracing and testing ongoing in Ghana have resulted in an increased number of confirmed COVID-19 cases.

    As at 7th April 2020, 23:30 hr, a total of 313 cases of COVID-19 with six (6) deaths have been recorded.

    The regional distribution of the cases are as follows: Greater Accra Region has most cases (274) followed by the Ashanti Region (25), Northern Region (10), Upper West Region (1), Eastern Region (1), Upper East Region (1) and Central Region (1).

    A total of 161 cases were reported from the routine surveillance, 37 from enhanced surveillance activities and those from travellers under mandatory quarantine in both Accra and Tamale are 115.

    The period for mandatory quarantine for travellers who arrived 21-22 March 2020 has ended. In all, a total 1,030 travellers were quarantined during the period. Out of these, 79 (7.7%) were positive during the initial testing whilst 951 were negative. Twenty-six (26) among those that were initially negative were found to have converted to be positive at the exit screening, bringing to a total of 105 which constitutes 10.2% among the travellers that were quarantined.

    With regards to enhanced contact tracing and testing, as at 7th April 2020, a total of 11,016 samples from contacts have been processed and 37 (0.34%) have been confirmed positive for COVID-19.

    Source: kasapafmonline.com

  • 14 out of 7,460 test results positive Oppong-Nkrumah

    Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has disclosed that fourteen (14) people have tested positive out of a total test results of 7,461 persons which represents a percentage of 0.18.

    The remaining  7,539 are yet to be received out of the total 15,000 test samples President Akufo-Addo spoke of during his Nationwide address on Sunday.

    “The Enhanced tracing exercise, that has started. The President mentioned on Sunday night, as at that time, 19,000 Persons had been traced. Samples have been taken from about 15,000 and he mentioned that his decision by the end of this week will be heavily informed by the results of that 15,000,” Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said Tuesday morning.

    He added, “Now, so far, over 15,000 that have their samples taken out of that, the brief I have this morning is that 7,461 have been tested as at now and out of that, 14, that is 0.18% have tested positive,”

    Source: ABCNewsgh.com

  • Govt to absorb water bills of all Ghanaians for three months

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says government will absorb the water bills of all Ghanaians for the next three months.

    In a nationwide broadcast, the President said the bills will cover the months of April, May and June.

    He said he has also directed the Electricity Company of Ghana and the Ghana Water Company Limited to ensure a stable supply of power and water as the country fights the deadly Coronavirus disease.