Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has disclosed that a billboard communicating the importance of wearing a face mask which also features the president without a face mask will be pulled down.

The Minister, however, asked persons wanting to help in educating Ghanaians on the coronavirus to engage the government to avoid mishaps.

“We appreciate all who seek to help the government communicate at this time. But please do well to engage with the government on imaging and messaging. This billboard of the President without a mask is not from the government. Note that at his last public appearance the President wore his masks till his speech. We have asked city authorities to pull this down.” he said in a tweet.

“We encourage the well-intentioned advertisers to engage with us directly to avoid such mishaps in the future,” Mr. Oppong Nkrumah added.

Health Ministry directs compulsory wearing of nose masks in public

The government has been urging Ghanaians to be in face masks when in public to prevent contracting COVID-19 and also to help curb the spread of the outbreak in the country.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) had earlier directed food vendors, commercial vehicle drivers, commuters on public transports, and every other facility accessible to the public have to be in face masks.

This order was in compliance with the Public Health Act according to the Health Ministry.

“Pursuant to section 169 of the Public Health Act, 2013 (Act 851), the Minister responsible for Health by an Executive Instrument (E.I.61) declared COVID-19 a public health emergency. Section 170 (1) provides that the Minister of Health may order an individual to take a preventive measure in respect of public health matters,” it said.

Regional breakdown of virus spread

The Greater Accra region still leads as the region 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

Source: http://www.citinewsroom.com

The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu has challenged the legality upon which some public institutions in the country are donating to the COVID-19 National Trust Fund.

The Minority Leader says public institutions must seek Parliament’s approval before making such donations.

The COVID-19 National Trust Fund has so far bagged millions of Ghana cedis from donations from both public and private institutions.

State institutions such as the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIA), Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Bank of Ghana (BoG), and the Parliament of Ghana among others have all made donations to the COVID-19 Trust Fund.

Haruna Iddrisu, in a Citi News, interview decried what he called the donations without legal backing or with no appropriations in their respective approved budgets.

“Now we see every public institution going to donate. Where do they get their approval of Parliament to make such donations? Where do they get their appropriation from and we will question it?”

“National Health Insurance Scheme;  its budget was approved and there was no appropriation for such donation to a trust fund. Parliament; your budget was approved and there was no appropriation for you to go and a make donation to a trust fund and we must make that distinction.”

About COVID-19 National Trust Fund

President Nana Akufo-Addo in a late-night address on Friday, March 27, 2020, announced the establishment of a COVID-19 Fund in Ghana.

The Fund is chaired by former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, is to receive public contributions to help improve the lives of the vulnerable who will be worst-hit by the pandemic.

The other members of the Board of trustees of the Fund are Archbishop Justice Ofei Akrofi, Jude Kofi Bucknor, Gifty Afenyi-Dadzie, Elsie Addo-Awadzie, Dr. Ernest Ofori-Sarpong, and Dr. Tanko Collins Asare will act as Secretary to the Board.

GHS34m accrued by National COVID-19 Fund

Meanwhile, the National COVID-19 Fund has as of about a week ago received GHS 34 million in cash donations, according to its chairperson, Justice Sophia Akuffo.

“This is a problem which is a nationwide problem and we want to make sure that our funds and the things we receive will reach as widely across the country as possible… We have [also] received truckloads of goods. Sometimes it is food items and other things.”

Madam Sophia Akuffo has also assured Ghanaians that monies presented to the fund will be accounted for.

“The amounts will go into the main Fund. But, in the disbursement, we will make sure that we reach as many communities as possible. The Fund was set up to supplement and complement the government’s effort in combatting the virus. Medical centres and frontline activities will benefit and also the poor and vulnerable people in the community will also benefit,” she said.

Source: citinewsroom.com

A Special Aide to former President John Dramani Mahama, Lawyer Edudzi Tamakloe believes President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo deliberately chose to honour his promise of building a Cathedral to God than fulfil his campaign promise to construct district hospitals for Ghanaians in the party’s 2016 manifesto.

According to him, in the NPP’s 2016 manifesto, under the Health Sector, the party pledged to construct district hospitals in 2017, yet three years down the line the Akufo-Addo administration has not made any attempt to commence even one of those structures since none of the budget statements from 2017 to 2020 captured these projects. 

“ . . I have seen the 2017 budget statement in Parliament and it did not capture the project and in the 2018 to 2020 budget statements, the district hospital projects are not captured,” he indicated. 

Speaking on Okay FM’s Ade Akye Abia Morning Show, Lawyer Edudzi Tamakloe said it is an undeniable fact that when he (Akufo-Addo) became President, he indicated where his priority lies; building a Cathedral for the glory of God. 

“When he was voted into power, the President made it clear that his topmost priority was to build a cathedral for the glory of God . . . he promised God that should he win the election to become President, he will honour Him with a Cathedral . . . for the past three years, the President has been assiduously working towards fulfilling that promise to God more than the district hospitals captured in their manifesto,” he asserted. 

Sod-cutting Is Your Only Achievement

Wondering how the President will be able to fulfil the promise of constructing 88 district hospitals within a year with barely 8months to the end of his four-year tenure, he said; “you are left with some few months to exit office and here you are making outlandish promises to put up 88 district hospitals in a year. The only thing your administration can tout as achievement is the sod-cut for what looks like a hospital performed by the Vice President Bawumia at Walewale, and since then, nothing has happened over there . . . and then also the commissioning of that small structure at Atomic by the President which he said will be used as a facility for the referral of COVID-19 cases.” 

No Fantasy Dome-like Hospitals 

Sounding a bit cynical, the NDC activist entreated the current administration that, even though they appear to be in a bit of haste, it will be prudent on the NPP’s part to ensure the party does not oversee or spearhead the construction of pavilion-like district hospitals, but rather the Dodowa type of hospital ex-President John Dramani Mahama put up. 

“ . . we have seen the kind of district hospital at Dodowa and so your kind of district hospital is it pavilion-like in the fashion of the Fantasy Dome at the Trade Fair? Is he coming to build the kind at Dodowa with 100 beds or what kind of hospital is he going to build?” he quizzed.

Source: Peace FM

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

The Ofaakor Circuit court presided over by His Honour, Ebeneezer Osei Darko has sentenced 3 armed robbers to 75 years for robbing one Isaac Henry Oppong, a Ghanaian domiciled in Italy.

The first and second accused Samuel Kweku Nhyira Amoankwando and Kofi Boateng Amoako respectively were charged with conspiracy to rob and robbery, the third accused, Reuben Sam was charged with Conspiracy to commit crime.

Samuel Kweku Nhyira Amoakwandor and Kofi Boateng who pleaded not guilty are to serve 30 years concurrently for each of the counts they were convicted on while Reuben Sam to served 15-years.

Brief Fact

Prosecutor Ernest Agbo stated that, in November last year, the complainant was robbed and butchered at Gomoa Buduburam after his girlfriend named Naomi Manso arranged with her local boyfriend at Fetteh Kakraba to rob the man after picking him from the Kotoka International Airport.

Source: Kasapa FM

A 15-year-old boy, Bright Mensah, has drowned in an abandoned illegal mining pit at Amuanapraso a farming community in Birim North District of the Eastern Region.

According to distraught parents of the deceased, he left home on April 30, 2020, that was going to visit a family member in the community but did not return.

A search by the local Police and the youth led to the discovery of the body in the mining pit filled with water.

Preliminary investigation indicates that children in the community sneak to swim in the pit therefore it’s suspected that the deceased went swimming with his friend but got drowned.

His body has been deposited at Holy Family Hospital Mortuary.

In a related development, a 37-year-old illegal miner has died after a mining pit caved in.

The incident occurred Friday, May 1, 2020 at Akyem Mampong in the Atiwa East District of the Eastern Region.

Information gathered by Kasapa News indicates that the deceased Razak Bempong and other illegal miners were illegally mining in a pit mined by Gold Bank Mining Limited. While mining, the pit caved in trapping the deceased but others managed to escape.

He was extricated out but pronounced dead on arrival at Enyiresi Government Hospital.

The Anyinam Police has commenced an investigation into the incident.

Source: Kasapa FM

Movie producer Socrate Sarfo believes strongly that women constantly bemoan that the creative industry is not an equal playing field because they lack confidence.

The producer, who is also the Director of Creative Arts in charge of Programmes & Projects at the National Commission on Culture, is of the view that there are no rules or systems hindering any female artiste or actress from flourishing in the industry.

His comments come in the wake of constant complaints by some females and critics that men seem to always get more opportunities than their female counterparts.

The Ghanaian creative industry, according to some critics, is more favourable to men than to women thus paving way for the men to succeed more than their female counterparts.

Socrate Sarfo, who strongly disagrees with the assertion, told MzGee in an interview on Showbiz 927 on 3FM that the Ghanaian creative space is very balanced.

Nobody gave any man the platform, he stressed.

“It’s not about being favoured. It’s an open field. All play all.”

To buttress his point, the movie producer cited that “if you go to MUSIGA and you look at their regulations, their constitution, I am yet to see a line that separates men from women…it’s just one for human beings…,” stressing that he does not believe in women’s rights but human rights.

“I’m yet to see any law under the sun that is against any woman…if you come to our industry, it is an open field…there are female artistes who are paid more than the male artistes,” he added.

“What a man can do, a woman can do better.”

Socrate Sarfo believes strongly that women rather lack confidence.

“I think what women are lacking is confidence and that is one thing we must encourage them [about].”

Asked why he thinks women lack confidence, he explained: “Maybe, from their upbringing…they don’t want to hustle like the men are doing because nobody got wherever he is today [by] having it easy.”

He was, however, quick to stress that, most of the people who have been his backbone over the years are all women.

Artiste manager, Bulldog, contributing to the discussion, added that “most women turn to be emotional about a lot of things….they are highly emotional but they are strong.”null

Bulldog, who has worked with singer Bertha, now Yaa Yaa, was of the view that, women “lose focus early…”

Source: 3news.com|Ghana

Nigerian pioneering drummer Tony Allen, a co-founder of the Afrobeat musical genre, died in Paris on Thursday aged 79, his manager says.

“We don’t know the exact cause of death,” Eric Trosset told AFP, adding it was not linked to the coronavirus.

Allen was the drummer and musical director of musician Fela Kuti’s famous band Africa ’70 in the 1960-70s.

Fela, who died in 1997, once said that “without Tony Allen, there would be no Afrobeat”.

He has also been described by UK musician Brian Eno as “perhaps the greatest drummer who has ever lived”.

Allen’s career and life story were documented in his 2013 autobiography Tony Allen: Master Drummer of Afrobeat,

Afrobeat combines elements of West Africa’s fuji music and highlife styles with American funk and jazz.

Source: BBC

Former President John Dramani Mahama has insisted that it is not late at all for him to select a running mate for the December 7 elections.

“We are on track. We are not behind time.”

He said a lot of consultations as well as processes would have to be gone through in order to pave way for the unveiling of the person and he and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), at large, are on course.

Former President Mahama made this known while answering a question – in a Facebook Live interaction – on when he is going to name NDC’s 2020 Vice Presidential Candidate.

There have been talks about the delay on the part of Mr Mahama in naming his running mate with seven months to the presidential elections.

The NDC is set to have a new person as its Vice Presidential after contesting the two previous elections with the late Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur as Mr Mahama’s running mate.

“I have a firm idea who I want my running mate to be,” Mr Mahama answered the viewer who asked the question.

He dismissed criticisms that he is late with the announcement and adduced that even he cannot name his running mate now due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“In the midst of Covid-19, what is the use of naming a running mate?” he quizzed.

“You cannot outdoor him,” he pointed out, alluding to the ban on social gathering including political rallies.

“We are on track,” he assured.

He said he will submit the name of the person to the Council of Elders of the party before that person will be unveiled soon.

But the NDC leader believes the person will be “worthy” and will make “significant contribution” to the development of mother Ghana as the party is poised to return to power on January 7, 2021.

Source: http://www.3news.com

Former Minister of Health Dr George Sipa-Adjah Yankey has laughed off the announcement by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to build at least 88 new hospitals, saying no government worth its salt can do so within one year.“It is not feasible,” he emphasized.

He said even the procurement process alone takes over a year.

Dr Sipah Yankey made this known on Thursday on Hot Issues with Johnnie Hughes.

“To begin to build a hospital doesn’t take one year.”

During his periodic Covid-19 televised address last Sunday, President Akufo-Addo said government will within the next one year build 94 hospitals across the country.

Eighty-eight out of these will be 100-bed hospitals in districts which do not have such facilities while six will be built as regional hospitals for the newly created regions.

But Dr Sipa Yankey said even securing a loan facility for such a project takes some time.

Again, he said, such a facility need to a parliamentary approval to qualify it for disbursement.

“Because of these processes to go through, it cannot be possible for any government or anybody to build 88 district hospitals within one year,” he stressed.

He had earlier admonished the government to rather expend on the numerous uncompleted health projects dotted around the country, saying it is “obligatory” to do so.

“Any asset of this country belongs to all of us. It doesn’t belong to the NDC, NPP or to any individual.

“So if we apply taxpayer’s money to build an infrastructure and the infrastructure is not finished before one government comes into power, it is obligatory for that government to continue.”

He considered continuation of projects at different stages of completion much easier than starting a whole new project.

The former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gas Company says an extended credit facility was accessed from the UK government to build seven district hospitals in the previous administration.

One, in Dodowa, has been completed while the rest have been overgrown with weeds, he said.

“The time for the repayment of that loan is ticking,” he bemoaned, urging government to use the available funds from that facility to complete those projects.

Source: 3news