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The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has assured all its customers that they will not be cheated in the 50 percent rebate announced by the President.

President Akufo-Addo on April 9 announced that the government will fully absorb electricity bills for customers who consume below 50 kilowatt-hours of power per month as part of a mitigation package for the vulnerable as the country battles the COVID-19 pandemic.
Also, the government will absorb 50% of the cost of electricity for all class of consumers in the country for the next three months.

Speaking on the Morning Starr on Tuesday, Director of Public Relations Mr William Boateng said they will ensure that no customer of ECG is shortchanged adding that they will go by government’s directive.

“No one will be cheated, we are a company of integrity and we will go by the directive of the President,” Mr Boateng said.

Mr Boateng explained that those who are yet to see the 50 percent rebate reflect in their power purchase should not be perturbed stating that they will definitely see it when they purchase power in May.

Government is expected to spend approximately GH₵1 billion to absorb the electricity bills of Ghanaians for the next three months as part of relief measures in the wake of the Coronavirus disease.

The amount is expected to cover an estimated population of about 4.8 million meters across Ghana.

Source:Starrfm.com.gh

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The Weija police have arrested a 26-year-old man for stealing a car at West Hills Mall.

The suspect identified as Samuel Klutse, stole the car at the parking space of the mall while the owner went shopping.

The Accra Regional Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Effia Tenge, told DGN online that the Weija police arrested the suspect on April 19, around 2 pm along the Bortianor road.

She said the complainant, who is a car dealer, reported to the Weija police that he received a call from the suspect that he was interested in buying the vehicle which is a Toyota Yaris with registration number GR8 3022-19 which was being offered for sale.

She said the two agreed to meet at the West Hills Mall for Klutse to inspect the car before buying.

“The complainant said when he got to the mall, he called the phone number of suspect several times but he refused to answer.”

DSP Tenge continued that the complainant parked the vehicle at the car park and entered the mall to buy a few things.

“On his return from the Mall, the complainant realised the car had been taken away and quickly called the police emergency lines for assistance.”

The PRO said with the assistance of the Weija patrol team, the suspect was arrested along the Bortianor -Kokrobite road with the car.

She revealed that the suspect was still in the custody of the police awaiting prosecution.Source: dailyguidenetwork.com

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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is meeting members of the Council of State to decide on the future of Ghana regarding the measures put in place in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

The president expressed satisfaction with the measures so far and, more importantly, the level of compliance by the majority of Ghanaians but said a decision has to be taken on “where we should be going”.

He expressed these sentiments on Tuesday, April 21 when he met the Council of State at the Jubilee House.

Led by Chairman Nana Otuo Siriboe II, the Council of State expressed admiration for the manner in which the president has handled the crisis so far and spurred him on to continue in that direction.

ndeed, looking at one of the speeches, it reminded me of the way Churchill adopted the affairs of Britain during the 2nd World War and I said Mr President this has been very ‘Churchillian’ both in your delivery and in your comportment and in the depth and content of your speech,” Nana Otuo Siriboe II said.

In explaining the reasons behind the recent single-most important decision to lift the partial lockdown in some parts of the country, President Akufo-Addo acknowledged that other measures are still in force, nonetheless.

But he wondered how these can be dealt with as they cannot be a “permanent feature of our national lives”.

Source:thrillernewsgh.com

A bodyguard of Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio has tested positive for coronavirus.

Sierra Leone president Julius Maada Bio is to undergo 14-day self-isolation after one of his bodyguards tested positive for COVID-19, reports from the West African country indicated as of Monday evening.

The president’s spokesperson confirmed the development to journalists and said the president was going to be working from home during the period and that has brought about some anxiety.

The EOC is testing all contacts of one of my security staff who had been in a 14-day quarantine and has tested positive for #COVIDー19. My government will continue to be transparent and urges citizens to protect themselves by following all hygiene and other protocols,” the president posted on Twitter.

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President of Sierra Leone, Maada Bio becomes the second known African leader to self-isolate, the first being Botswana president Eric Masisi who self-isolated after attending an inauguration ceremony in Namibia. At the time his country was uninfected whiles Namibia had recorded three cases.

A number of African presidents have also confirmed taking the tests with all of them having tested negative. South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, Ghana’s Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Nigeria’s Muhammadu Buhari have all tested negative.

Statistics on COVID-19 from Sierra Leone as of April 21 2020 stood at 43 cases with 6 recoveries and no deaths. So far April 20 was the 6th consecutive day Sierra Leone recorded new cases, 8 cases were confirmed yesterday alone.

Credit:ghpilolo

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Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin II, has ordered for the retrieval of all corpses in the various hospitals in Akyem Abuakwa for internment with immediate effect within a one month period.

The decision was triggered by the health concerns following the massive congestion seen in hospital morgues as a result of the ban on public gatherings.

“It has come to the notice of the Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin the
unusual congestion of morgues in the various hospitals in Akyem Abuakwa.

“This is credited partly to decision of families to indefinitely postpone the burial and
funeral rites of departed relatives in expectation of the expiration of the directives
of the President with regards to social distancing and regulations on public
gatherings as a measure to contain the COVID 19 Pandemic,” a statement signed by the State Secretary of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area, DM Ofori Atta said.

The statement thus noted that Families must appreciate that compliance with this order is in their own interest as reports indicate the state of the corpses is bad as most of them have started deteriorating.

“This will also avoid the unhealthy situation where corpses that are not retrieved before
the stated period are buried in mass graves.” the statement warned

Source:ghanaweb.mobi

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On Tuesday, the World Health Organization told governments that rushing to ease restrictions, lift lock downs and open up economies can cause a resurgence of the Coronavirus pandemic. The warning follows plans by governments across the world to open up economies strategically.

Dr. Takeshi Kasai, the WHO regional director for the Western Pacific said this is the time for governments to remain vigilant. He warned that governments should continue to enforce restrictions, enforce social distancing rules and make sure opening economies follow gradual process that strike a balance between keeping people safe and a functioning economy.

Dr Takeshi said “This is not the time to be lax. Instead, we need to ready ourselves for a new way of living for the foreseeable future.”

Meanwhile, some States in the United States have announced plans and guidelines for reopening. Aircraft manufacturer Boeing has resumed production. The Coronavirus lock downs have led to massive unemployment as over 10 million people in the US have filed for unemployment claims.

Governors in the US are faced with the dilemma of opening up or keeping restrictions in place following massive protests in Washington, Oregon, Michigan, California and Tennessee.

Source:silverblog.xyz

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South Africa on Monday confirmed four new COVID-19 deaths, leading to a total of 58 people who have succumbed to the virus to date.

According to a statement released by the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, the country now has 3 300 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 121 510 tests having been conducted in both public and private sectors as of Monday evening.

The country has recorded 1 055 COVID-19 recoveries.

Gauteng is still leading with 1 170 people testing positive for the virus, followed by the Western Cape at 940 cases.

KwaZulu-Natal has 639 cases of COVID-19, followed by the Eastern Cape with 310, Free State 105, Limpopo 27, North West 25, Mpumalanga 23 and the Northern Cape 18. There are 43 unallocated cases.

Mkhize said there has been a significant increase in testing, which is mainly attributed to the mass community screening and testing taking place across the country.

SAnews.gov.za

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Before Coronavirus took the world by surprise, the Ghana Electoral Commission was bent on compiling a new voters register. A decision that the National Democratic Congress party was and is still vehemently against.

Well, with the implementation of lockdown and ban on social gatherings as a precautionary measure against the spread of Coronavirus, the new voter’s registration which started was brought to a halt.

Now, just yesterday, President Nana Addo lifted lockdown restrictions in Kasoa, Accra, and Kumasi.

National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress, Sammy Gyamfi has also come out to say that Nana Addo lifted the lockdown so as to pave way for EC to continue their new voter’ registration exercise.

Gyamfi described Nana Addo’s decision as reckless and politically motivated.

Read his full submission as shared on his Facebook page below

LIFTING OF PARTIAL LOCKDOWN BY PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO; A CHOICE OF POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY OVER PUBLIC SAFTEY.

The lifting of the partial lockdown by President Akufo-Addo, at a time the country is witnessing astronomical increases in positive COVID-19 cases, particularly horizontal infections, is totally premature and lacks scientific basis.

It is clearly a politically-motivated decision, calculated to allow the EC the space to undertake its entrenched and illogical determination to compile a new voters’ register for the 2020 general elections and nothing more.

Either than that, why will President Akufo-Addo impose a partial lockdown with the objective of halting the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, at a time we had only recorded 137 cases across just four (4) regions of the country and with 5 deaths, but turn around to lift the partial lockdown, at a time our positive case count has galloped to 1,042, across ten (10) regions and with nine (9) deaths?

Countries with far lower cases have not lifted or relaxed their lockdown restrictions. Yet, we who are currently the country with the highest COVID-19 cases in West Africa, have against expert advice, lifted our partial lockdown. Doesn’t this defy science and commonsense?

President Akufo-Addo’s decision to lift the lockdown at this crucial time, is a reckless political gamble that portends great danger for this nation. Ghanaians must never forgive him if this unimaginable decision exacerbates our COVID-19 situation. The blame for any fatality that is occasioned by this reckless decision must lie squarely with the President.

What the President has essentially done, is to place political expediency ahead of Public safety. And what that shows, is that human lives don’t matter to President Akufo-Addo.

May God be our help.

SAMMY GYAMFI Esq.”

Source:reportghana.com

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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) took to twitter to make his suggestions known to the president.

According to him, many health experts are advocating for an extension of the partial lockdown. Others are even calling for a total lockdown of the whole country.

He tweeted, “Recent developments have made it clear, the extent of the spread of the virus. The last report put the number of confirmed cases at 834. Many health experts continue to suggest the necessity and appropriateness of an extension of the restrictions on movement.”

@JDMahama

Recent developments have made it clear, the extent of the spread of the virus. The last report put the number of confirmed cases at 834. Many health experts continue to suggest the necessity and appropriateness of an extension of the restrictions on movement.

The president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has definitely turned a deaf ear to the former president’s advice by lifting the lockdown.

He however said that all regulations of social  distancing still remains the same.

Schools, Churches, Spots, Clubs and Pubs remain closed.

Source: mynewsghana.net

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The President and founder for Save The Nation For Future Leaders, Kwadwo Atta Apeakorang says he should be sacrificed to the gods if the local treatment he has discovered fails to cure Coronavirus.

According to him, the treatment, made up of prekese, hwentia, pepre, ginger and garlic is the only way to cure the deadly disease.

He intimated that he should be beheaded at the Black Star Square in the full glare of the general public if his treatment fails to work.

“I believe my ancestors never failed in any battle they encountered because they derived strength from our local herbs and they lived for about 130-150 years without going to the hospital”.

However, Mr. Apeakorang threw a challenge to his critics and doubters.

“I, Kwadwo Atta Apeakorang, challenge any doctor or health practitioner who doubts the cure I have discovered to come out and I will prove them wrong”, he revealed.

He pleaded with the Herbal Association of Ghana(HAG) to support members and desist from nepotism in order to promote the herbal medicine industry.

He also appealed to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) to test the efficacy of his herbs because he believes it can cure the Coronavirus.

Source: Ohene Bugyei, Contributor