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Tidal waves disaster: MCEs, MP, victims plead for gov’t support

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Woman and children being assisted by youth to a safer ground
Some of the houses taken by the sea

Victims of the recent tidal wave disaster which has rendered thousands of people homeless in the Volta region, say their current plight could have been prevented if the present and previous governments had taken the bold decision to construct a sea defence wall for them.

According to them, a similar disaster struck them years back and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which was in power at the time, failed to come to their aid. They regret that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government is also doing the same by refusing to attend to the problem.

Speaking to the media at Dzita, Agbledome, Atiteti, Agokedzi and Fuveme, the victims who spoke out of frustration said there is no need for the NDC to accuse the current government of failing to come to their aid because they have done same in past.

The distressed victims recalled that a similar disaster occurred in March 2021, which rendered many residents homeless and jobless, with schools closed as a result of the destructive activities of the sea tide, but the government did not take any concrete measure to prevent future occurrence of the problem.

The victims told the newsmen that they are grateful to those who are sympathising with them but condemned the NDC, which is criticising the government, when they had the same opportunity in the past to remedy the situation but woefully failed to do so.

This is one of the new accommodation for displaced family is living

One of the victims, Mr Patrick Amevor, said the disaster had really affected him and his family and that it appears they are going to start life all over again.

Meanwhile, the Anloga District Chief Executive, Mr. Seth Yormewu, is appealing to the government to as a matter of importance put in place measures to provide the people who have been displaced by tidal waves with relief items and food.

Mr. Yormewu noted that the Assembly would have loved to go to the aid of the victims but they are financially handicapped, hence his appeal to the central government. He also appealed to groups and individuals to join hands with the government to ameliorate the plight of the people.

“We know the government is doing its best, it’s not easy but we are appealing to the central government for urgent attention for our people who are displaced. The issue with the devastating nature of the tidal waves has been a great burden to the people over the years,” Mr. Yormewu stressed.

According to him, thousands of residents in the affected communities, such as Fuveme and Kpokpogbor were nearly carried away by the sea, describing the current disaster as terrible.

He, therefore, pleaded with the government to appreciate the enormity of the problem and intervene immediately.

The Anloga DCE mentioned Dzita, Agbledomi, Atiteti, Agokedzi and Fuveme as some of the affected communities in the Anloga District.

The Member of Parliament for Anlo Constituency, Mr. Richard Kwame Sefe, in the company of the Anloga DCE promised to help the victims with some relief items, as a short term measure, as the government looks for funding to protect the eastern coastal block with the construction of a sea defense wall.

Mr. Sefe noted that the current disaster was very alarming, which has created fear among the coastal communities and that it is important for the government to come in to protect them.   Failure to intervene, he continued, might result in a worse situation in four or five years to come.

The Keta Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Emmanuel Gemega, who also spoke to the media noted that the current disaster did not affect only the Anloga District, but also Keta and the Ketu South Municipalities. He also appealed to the government to come in and help.

Mr. Gemega mentioned some of the affected communities in the municipality as Abutiakope, Kedzikope and Keta Central as areas that were badly affected by the tidal waves. The victims are mostly women and children.

However, the Ketu South Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Maxwell Lugudor noted that even though government has a long term plan to  build sea defense wall to protect coastal communities, human activities, particularly illegal sand winning along the coast has contributed to the disaster and asked residents to report people engaged in illegal sand winning along the coast.

Samini expresses disappointment in Stonebwoy

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Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy

Samini has for the first time opened up on his relationship with protégé, Stonebwoy, which according to him has hit the rocks.

According to the Highgrade family Boss, he has always been there for Stonebwoy but the latter made some public utterances that hurt him.

In an interview on Joy FM monitored by The Chronicle, Samini explained that he had a good rapport with Stonebwoy and even guided him on a number of occasions after they parted ways.

“If I hear you on radio saying I am not there when you need me, it hurts. It makes me sit and break down” Samini reacted to Stonebwoy’s public utterance.

He further recalled a dancehall event where his arch-rival Shatta Wale chose to play his song and Stonebwoy took the microphone and asked “if you’re going to select a song, you’re going to select a song from a godfather who has sold his son out?” this Samini considers an unfair statement from someone he mentored.

“How did I sell out Stonebwoy? If Ghana can answer me” Samini quizzed, adding that “those were the things that hurt me”.

Samini alleged that Stonebwoy incessantly accused him of being unsupportive.

Medikal releases Jah Guide, thanks God for his mercies

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Medikal

Music sensation Medikal has expressed his gratitude to God following his recent release from prison remand.

In his latest song, Jah Guide, the musician officially known as Samuel Adu Frimpong says he is thankful that his enemies did not have the last laugh.

He speaks about being deserted by friends in his direst situation and how God came through for him.

He is; however, grateful God pulled him out safely and is hoping that “Jah” continues to “guide” him. Rapper Medikal was remanded in prison custody for five days after he was arrested for brandishing a gun on social media.

The artiste was charged with the unlawful display of arms and ammunition, to which he pleaded not guilty.

Credit: myjoyonline.com

Stonebwoy, Shatta Wale meet IGPDampare

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Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy

Two of Ghana’s dancehall greats, Stonebwoy and Shatta Wale, were at the Police Headquarters in Accra yesterday to engage with the Inspector General of Police, George Dampare. It is the first time the two musicians are meeting since Shatta Wale was arrested and remanded into the Ankaful prisons.

In some videos sighted by Pulse.com.gh, Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy are filmed at the Police Headquarters together with Bulldog and some team members.

Stonebwoy and Shatta Wale had some conversations speaking in the Ga dialect before being ushered into the conference room.

IGP George Dampare has been meeting with key personalities of the creative arts industry. Other Musicians present include D-Black, Sefa,  Fameye and many others.

From the movie fraternity, veteran actor Agya Koo, Afia Schwarzenegger, Abeiku Santana and others are present.

The current police administration led by IGP Dampare has since been engaging key personnel in the various industries in Ghana to see the way forward in providing security.

Credit:pulse.com.gh

Swedish Prime Minister tenders resignation

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Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven (L) tendering his resignation

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven on Wednesday tendered his resignation, a widely expected move paving the way for his designated successor Magdalena Andersson ahead of next year’s general election. Television cameras filmed Lofven handing his resignation letter to the speaker of parliament, Andreas Norlen.

Lofven, who has been in power for seven years, stepped down as leader of the Social Democrats at the party’s congress last week.

Andersson, who is currently finance minister, was elected to replace Lofven as party leader, putting her on track to become the country’s first woman prime minister if she wins a vote in parliament.

No date has been set for that vote yet, but it is not expected until next week.

In Sweden’s parliament, political forces are so finely balanced that the Social Democrats need the support of both their Green Party coalition partners and the Left and Centre parties to elect a new prime minister.

The Centre Party on Wednesday said it would back Andersson, and the Left is expected to do the same.

Credit: rfi.fr

Tunisia trade union calls for strike over death of protester

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Tunisia’s General Trade Union

Tunisia’s powerful General Trade Union (UGTT) has called for a general strike on Wednesday in Aguereb, in the central region of Sfax, a day after a demonstrator died from inhaling tear gas fired by police to disperse protests against the reopening of a landfill site.

UGTT, which has about one million members and is a major force in Tunisian politics, called for a judicial investigation into what it described as “intentional murder of a young man” during the protests.

The trade union pronounced Wednesday a day of mourning for Abderrazek Lacheheb, 35, and demanded that the perpetrators behind his killing be held accountable, it said in a statement on Tuesday.

The 35-year-old died in the town of Aguereb which has seen weeks of angry demonstrations over a growing waste crisis and violent confrontations over security forces reopening a landfill.

The Ministry of Interior denied that Lacheheb had been suffocated by tear gas, saying he had been admitted to hospital for a health condition unrelated to the protests.

Credit: Aljazeera.com

Nasa’s Moon return pushed back to 2025

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Nasa Moon

The first Nasa mission since 1972 to put humans on the Moon’s surface has been pushed back by one year to 2025.

Few observers expected Nasa to make the previous 2024 date, because of a funding shortfall and a lawsuit over the landing vehicle.

But the space agency’s chief Bill Nelson confirmed the delay in a press conference on Tuesday.

Under its Artemis programme, Nasa will send the first woman and the 13th man to the lunar surface.

A US federal judge recently upheld a decision by the agency to award the contract to build a lunar landing vehicle for this mission to Elon Musk’s company SpaceX.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos had contested the decision, in part because he said the contract was supposed to have been awarded to more than one bidder.

However, a funding shortfall from Congress meant this wasn’t possible, according to a rationale published by Nasa at the time of the contract announcement.

Credit: bbc.com

UK Supreme Court blocks mass claim against Google

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UK Supreme Court

The UK’s Supreme Court has rejected a claim that sought billions of pounds in damages from Google over alleged illegal tracking of millions of iPhones.

The judge said the claimant had failed to prove damage had been caused to individuals by the data collection.

But he did not rule out the possibility of future mass-action lawsuits if damages could be calculated.

The case will have implications for similar mass-action lawsuits.

In his judgement, Lord Leggatt said a key issue was that “the claim has been framed in order to try to bring it as a representative action” for many people.

“The claimant seeks damages… for each individual member of the represented class without attempting to show that any wrongful use was made by Google of personal data relating to that individual or that the individual suffered any material damage or distress as a result of a breach,” it read.

“Without proof of these matters, a claim for damages cannot succeed.”

But he added that the case had a “real chance of success” if pursued by the claimant as an individual, instead of as a mass action.

Credit: bbc.com

Mushrooms Being Tested As Treatment For Covid-19

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Mushrooms

Early trials are under way to test medicinal mushrooms and Chinese herbs to treat COVID-19 patients with mild to moderate symptoms.

The first two phase 1 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials have begun at UCLA and the University of California San Diego to treat COVID-19 patients who were quarantining at home with mild to moderate symptoms. A third trial is investigating the use of medicinal mushrooms given after COVID-19 vaccines.

The researchers have also launched a fourth trial testing the mushrooms against a COVID booster shot alone. It looks at the effect in people who have underlying conditions that would reduce their vaccine response. An article in JAMA last week described the trials.

The two mushroom varieties being tested — turkey tail and agarikon — are available as over-the-counter supplements, according to the report. They are a separate class from hallucinogenic or “magic” mushrooms being tested for other uses in medicine.

“They are not even as psychoactive as a cup of tea,” Gordon Saxe, MD, PhD, MPH, principal investigator for the trials, says.

For each trial, researchers plan to recruit 66 people who are quarantined at home with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms. Participants will be randomly assigned either to receive the mushroom combination, the Chinese herbs, or a placebo for 2 weeks, according to the JAMA paper.

  1. Craig Hopp, PhD, deputy director of the Division of Extramural Research at the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, told JAMAin an interview that he was “mildly concerned” about using mushrooms to treat people with active coronavirusinfection.

“We know that a cytokine storm poses the greatest risk of COVID mortality, not the virus itself,” Hopp said. “The danger is that an immune-stimulating agent like mushrooms might supercharge an individual’s immune response, leading to a cytokine storm.”

Stephen Wilson, PhD, an immunologist who consulted on the trials when he was chief operating officer of the La Jolla Institute for Immunology, says in the JAMA article that a cytokine storm is unlikely for these patients because the mushroom components “don’t mimic inflammatory cytokines.” Wilson is now chief innovations officer at Statera Biopharma.

“We think the mushrooms increase the number of immunologic opportunities to better see and respond to a specific threat. In the doses used, the mushrooms perturb the immune system in a good way but fall far short of driving hyper or sustained inflammation,” Wilson said.

Saxe said the FDA process was extensive and rigorous and FDA investigators also asked about potential cytokine storms before approving the trials.

Cytokine storm is not an issue with a healthy response, Saxe pointed out. It’s a response that’s not balanced or modulated.

“Not a Crazy Concept”

Saxe pointed out that one of the mushrooms in the combo they use — agarikon — was used to treat pulmonary infections 2,300 years ago.

“Hippocrates, the father of western medicine, used mushrooms,” he said. “Penicillin comes from fungi. It’s not a crazy concept. Most people who oppose this or are skeptics — to some extent, it’s a lack of information.”

Saxe explained that there are receptors on human cells that bind specific mushroom components.

“There’s a hand-in-glove fit there,” Saxe said, and that’s one way mushrooms can regulate immune cell behavior, which could have an effect against the coronavirus.

Daniel Kuritzkes, MD, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, , who was not part of the study, says he wasn’t surprised the FDA approved moving forward with the trials.

“As long as you can demonstrate that there is a rationale for doing the trial and that you have some safety data or a plan to collect safety data, they are fairly liberal about doing early-phase studies. It would be a much different issue, I think, if they were proposing to do a study for actual licensing or approval of a drug,” Kuritzkes says.

As yet unanswered, he noted, is which component of the mushrooms or herbs is having the effect. It will be a challenge, he said, to know from one batch of the compound to the next that you have the same amount of material and that it’s going to have the same potency among lots.

Another challenge is how the mushrooms and herbs might interact with other therapies, Kuritzkes said.

Source: webmd.com

Tano South Municipal is safe for business; MCE

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Presiding Member of the Tano South Municipal Assembly, Mr Asare Antwi opening the meeting
Tano South MCE, Mr. Collins Offinam Takyi addressing the house

The Municipal Chief Executive for Tano South in the Ahafo region, Mr Collins Offinam Takyi, has observed that the Municipality is relatively calm and, therefore, a good destination for business.

He acknowledged that there are reported cases of stealing, armed robbery, land and chieftaincy disputes, but gave the assurance that the Municipal Security Council is closely monitoring the situation to ensure peace and stability.

“The municipality has being relatively calm and peaceful over the period, except isolated cases of stealing, armed robbery, land and chieftaincy disputes, which the Municipal Security Council is closely monitoring to ensure peace”, he said.

Mr. Offinam Takyi said this at the first General Assembly meeting of the second session of the second Tano South Municipal Assembly at Bechem.

He assured the house, Nananom and other stakeholders that the assembly will do all it takes to support the security agency to enable them perform their core mandate.

He also announced that the Tano South Municipal now has a Ghana Immigration Command and about ten (10) officers have been posted to work in the municipality.

AGRICULTURE

Mr. Offinam Takyi said agriculture remains one of the most attractive and important sectors that engages the attention of government, hence the interventions by government to make the sector more attractive and to ensure economic growth.

The Department of Agriculture, he said, has also successfully assisted farmer based organisations at Mansion, Onwe Nkwanta, Bechem and Derma.

He explained that when there was the prevalence of fall army worm in 2018, the government through the Department of Agriculture gave chemicals to the municipality to spray farms that were suspected to be affected.

He, therefore, entreated the members to inform their community members or farmers to report any suspected case on their farms to the Extension Officers for remedy.

HEALTH

Mr Offinam Takyi said, the government, through the Ghana Health Service and the Municipal Health Directorate has commenced the vaccination against the COVID-19 pandemic, using the AstraZeneca and Johnson and Johnson vaccines.

He stressed that the first phase of the exercise is targeted on health workers, adding that more vaccines will be received to cover all communities.

He therefore encouraged assembly members to accept the vaccines as a remedy against the spread of the disease when the Ghana Health Service commences the vaccination.

EDUCATION

He noted that the government introduced the Free Senior High School policy to help increase enrolment by providing equal opportunities for all.

According to him, the policy has made positive impacts on the lives of students who might have missed the opportunity to access senior high education.

GRATITUDE

Mr. Offinam Takyi expressed his utmost gratitude to His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, for re-nominating him, and to the members for confirming him once again.

He also extended his appreciation to Mr. George Boakye, the Ahafo Regional Minister, Benjamin Yeboah Sekyere, the Member of Parliament for Tano South Constituency, Nanamon and Heads of Department in the Municipality for their support for the past years and requested all to work collectively for the development of the municipality.

OPENING ADDRESS

Opening the meeting, the Presiding Member (PM) of the Assembly, Mr. Asare Antwi said the meeting provides the platform for assembly members to reflect on the developmental needs and aspiration of the people, and said by so doing take the right decision that would help in the accomplishment of the aspiration and the needs of the citizenry.

He added that the meeting gave members of the house the opportunity to deliberate on the development agenda of the municipality.

Mr Asare Antwi said the meeting was in fulfillment of the Local Government Act 2016, Act 936 and the model standing orders which empower the members to meet periodically to deliberate on matters of concern and take decisions in the best interest of the people they serve.

Mr. Asare Antwi explained that the meeting should have taken place earlier, but had to delay due to re-nomination and confirmation of the Municipal Chief Executive, as well as the District Performance Assessment Tool (DPAT) exercise which took place on 11th and 12th October 2021.

He urged members of the house to continue to eschew all forms of partisan tendencies that could derail their collective effort in accomplishing the desired goals for the betterment and transformation of the municipality.

MOTORBIKES

According to the PM, he has received a letter from the Ahafo Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) informing his office about the purchase of motorbikes for the assembly.

“The letter further assured that the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) will soon take delivery of the motorbikes for onward distribution to the assemblies in the region”, he said.

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