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GHS cautions Ghanaians against Covid-19 in the festive season

By
AGNES ANSAH
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Director General , Ghana Health SDervice, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye

With a significant number of international arrivals expected in the country during the festive season, the Director-General (DG) of Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, has cautioned Ghanaians to be wary about the spread of Covid-19.

According to the DG, cases of Covid-19 have, for the past 28 days, been recorded in Japan, United States, France, Italy, China and Germany.

While Japan and US have recorded 3.2m and 1.57m cases respectively, France and Italy have also recorded 1.49m and 0.85m respectively. China has recorded 0.97m, while Germany has recorded 0.77m.

Dr. Kuma-Aboagye said citizens and Ghanaians from these countries would visit Ghana, hence the need to take precautionary measures.

“In the past 28 days, the following numbers of cases have been recorded in the following countries… A significant number of international arrivals are expected from these countries during the Christmas season…” Dr. Kuma-Aboagye said, and admonished people to take precautions.

He made the comments at a media conference organised by the Ministry of Information in Accra yesterday.

Dr. Kuma-Aboagye said in response to this likely upsurge due to international travels, Covid-19 measures at the Kotoka International Airport had been heightened.

He indicated that “All passengers; Ghanaians, non-Ghanaians, resident foreigners 18 years and above arriving in Ghana will be required to provide evidence of full vaccination for a COVID-19 vaccine at the point of embarkation and upon arrival at Kotoka International Airport (KIA). “Fully vaccinated arrivals will not be required to do a PCR test before embarkation and also exempted from COVID-19 testing upon arrival at the KIA. “Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated persons will be required to present a negative 48hrs PCR test result to the airline before embarkation and upon arrival and will undergo COVID-19 testing at the KIA upon arrival.” Aside these, the GHS DG also made special recommendations for some events.

Recommendations for gatherings

He said irrespective of the size of a church or mosque the use of air-conditioning was very important. He, however, indicated that in the absence of air-conditioning, face masks should be used   by all worshipers at all times during worship, adding that persons using shared microphones in particular were encouraged to ensure that they are in masks at all times.

He continued that hand hygiene facilities such as veronica buckets and hand sanitisers are to be provided at all such venues, and leaders are advised to encourage members to appropriately use such facilities as well the observation of social distancing.

“Persons who are unvaccinated should take advantage of the ongoing vaccination campaigns and get vaccinated before attending such programmes and for those already fully vaccinated, a booster dose is recommended, “he indicated.

Dr. Kuma-Aboagye noted that the GHS has the capability and preparedness to support such surges but people should follow the precautionary measures so that there won’t be a surge.

“The message is clear; we are moving into a season where the risk of the surge in the numbers is rife.

“Let’s make sure that we abide by the protocols; Let’s do many things in the open as possible , where gatherings can be avoided let’s avoid them and where we can maintain social distancing let’s maintain them so that we don’t experience a surge,” he said.

Editorial: Caprice robbery and matters arising

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THE CHRONICLE
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Editorial

On Friday, December 9, 2022, a lady was shot at Caprice, a popular suburb of Accra, by a group of armed robbers riding on motorbikes. Various accounts alleged that the lady had gone to withdraw huge sums of money from the bank and was apparently tracked and attacked at Caprice.

The police later issued a statement indicating that they were still looking for the robbers, and that they would definitely arrest them to face the full rigours of the law.

A few days later, the police issued another statement indicating they had shot dead two armed robbers and arrested one, in connection with the robbery attack at Caprice, in Accra. According to the statement, sustained police intelligence operations, since December 9, 2022, took the fight to the robbery gang at their hideout.

The robbers engaged the police in a shoot-out, and in the process two were shot dead and one arrested, the statement said, adding, “One police officer sustained [a] gunshot injury to his thigh and is receiving medical attention.”

It is important to note that during the early days of the current Inspector General of Police (IGP) after his appointment, a lady who had also gone to one of the banks to withdraw money was chased and attacked at the traffic light, near the Apenkwa interchange in Accra.

Fortunately, the lady cooperated with the robbers and her life was spared. Later, some people, including police personnel, were arrested, but the public has not been told whether these suspects knew something about the Apenkwa robbery or not.

But what all these armed robberies tell us is that criminal gangs are operating in and outside most of our banks and leaking information about customers who come to transact business.

This is a very dangerous development, and we urge the police to delve deeper into it and unravel the syndicate behind these criminal conducts. We remember when the James Town robbery occurred we advised investigators to expand their scope to cover personnel working at the bank, to ascertain if any of them had made a call to some of the robbers.

Thankfully, now all the SIM Cards in Ghana have been registered with the aid of the Ghana Card. We, therefore, advice the police to investigate calls personnel of the affected banks made within the period that the ‘Caprice Lady’ went to the bank to withdraw the money.

Two of the suspected robbers, according to the police statement, had been shot dead, but this, in our view, should not end the case.

The mobile phone numbers of these deceased robbers and the one who has been arrested should be examined to ascertain the number or numbers that called their lines within the period that the money was withdrawn.

This, we dare say, will give the police a clue as to whether any of the bank staff called them (robbers) or not. The Close Circuit Television Cameras at the bank must also be reviewed to know the customers in the banking hall when the lady withdrew the money and their demeanor during and after the money had been withdrawn.

This is the only way, we believe, the police can get to the bottom of the matter and stop the attacks on people who go to the banks to withdraw money.

The police must also take it upon themselves to educate the public to stop withdrawing huge sums of money from the banks.

In this technological age, where electronic transfer is the order of the day, it is not necessary to be withdrawing large amounts of physical cash to transact business or pay workers.

Dichemso Astro Turf christened ‘Otumfuo Park’

By
SEBASTIAN R. FREIKU
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The newly constructed Otumfuo Park at Dichemso

The third Astro Turf to be constructed in the Manhyia South Constituency in Kumasi by the Member of Parliament (MP), Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has been commissioned over the weekend.

Situated at Dichemso, the facility has been named Otumfuo Park, after the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

Two other Astro Turfs by the Manhyia South MP have been completed at the Abbey’s Park and Konadu Yiadom Basic School. Construction of a fourth one is currently ongoing at the KO School Park.

The construction of the Astro Turfs, according to the Member of Parliament who is also the Energy Minister, is to give a boost to sporting activities and help unearth sporting talents among the youth in the constituency.

He said he was spurred by his passion and vision to promote sports, based on the realisation that football talents abound in all the electoral areas, including KO, Manhyia, Afia Kobi, CPC, Odumase and Dichemso, all in the Manhyia South Constituency.

Krofrom Assembly Member donates motorbikes to police

By
SEBASTIAN R. FREIKU
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Hon. Kwame Frimpong handing over the motorbikes to the Police chief

Patrick Kwame Frimpong, Assembly Member for Krofrom East electoral area in Kumasi, has donated two brand new motorbikes to the Tafo-Pankrono Divisional Police Command.

The gesture is to help crime prevention and combat in the area. Frimpong, who is also the Presiding Member of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), stressed on the need for collective efforts to support the Police Service and other security agencies to ensure adequate security and peace in the electoral area, and the entire Kumasi Metropolis.

The Assembly Member bemoaned the crime rate in the region which had been rated as having the highest number of murder cases, with Krofrom as leading in crime rate in the Kumasi Metropolis, and hoped the donation of the motorbikes would help reduce crime through routine patrols.

He urged stakeholders to doubles their efforts in awareness creation and crime prevention, hence his donation of the motorbikes to support the Police Command to intensify their patrol operations to ensure public safety.

The Krofrom East Assembly Member announced that plans were being made to establish a police station in the area, and appealed for the support of all residents and stakeholders.

ACP Stephen A. Kwakye, Divisional Commander of Tafo-Pankrono, who received the motorbikes, commended Kwame Frimpong for his efforts in combating crime, and encouraged other assembly members and stakeholders to emulate the good example of the Krofrom Assembly Member.

He suggested that a vehicle would be appropriate for patrol operations, and hoped other stakeholders would come to the aid of the Division to get one.

The Divisional Commander assured the Assembly Member, the Unit Committee, as well as the residents, that the motorbikes would be used for the intended purpose.

ACP Stephen A. Kwakye and DSP Asiamah Amponsah, the District Police Commander, reminded Ghanaians that the best security starts from each individual, and emphasised on the need for all to be security conscious in all their endeavors, as the police and other security agencies do their part of protecting lives and properties.

46 graduate in fashion, make-up artistry, hair technology programmes at Manhyia South

By
SEBASTIAN R. FREIKU
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Napo presents a certificate to Overall Fashion student, Lily Tandoh while CBAE boss looks on in admiration
The graduants and dignitaries in a pose

The second batch, made up of 46 artisans in the Manhyia South Constituency in the Ashanti Region, has graduated from a six-week intensive skills training programme under the Youth Employment Project.

It brings to 140 the total number of constituents who have benefitted from the project, which was initiated by Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituents this year with the aim of reducing unemployment through skills training.

About 92 constituents benefitted from the training programme and graduated last September.

Of the 46, 26 graduated in fashion design, 9 in makeup artistry, while 11 were empowered in hair dressing, with Abigail Appiah, Hawa Ibrahim and Lily Tandoh emerging the Overall Best in the various fields of hair dressing, makeup artistry and fashion design respectively.

Hawa Ibrahim receives start-up kit as overall best in Make-up Artistry

The training programme, designed as the MPs social intervention, was facilitated by the College of Beauty, Arts and Entrepreneurship (CBAE), with the support of Makeup Ghana, Colorbox Cosmetics, MVP and Black Secret.

The participants were also taken through business management, book keeping and social media skills besides the formal training in Hair Technology, Fashion Design and Make-up Artistry.

Each of the beneficiaries received a set of start-up kits, including washing basins, hand dryers, standing dryers and hair strengtheners, cutting machines, industrial sewing machines, knitting machines and pressing irons.

Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, also known as Napo, and the Minister of Energy, gave the assurance that the programme would be sustained to improve the lot of the constituents, particularly the youth.

According to him, 200 people would benefit from the project in 2023, during which eight other modules would be added to the existing three.

He mentioned some of these new modules as Interior Decoration, Shoemaking, Barbering, Photography and Videography, Leather Works and Soap Making.

He urged the graduants to pass on the skills and knowledge they had acquired during the three months from CBAE facilitators to relatives and friends to broaden the scope of the project to impact positively on society.

Ms Rebecca Donkor, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the College of Beauty, Arts and Entrepreneurship (CBAE), said the training would equip the beneficiaries to stand well and enable them to excel in the three fields – fashion technology, make-up artistry and hair technology.

The CBAE CEO commended the Manhyia South MP for sponsoring the two training programme, and hoped that the 136 beneficiaries trained so far could serve as trainers, and provide similar training to others.

The CEO said skills acquisition was a better alternative to securing employment from the public sector.

Barima Osei Kwadwo II, Otumfuo’s Mamensenhene, who presided over the graduation ceremony last Friday, thanked the MP for the gesture, describing it as the best social intervention for human development and growth.

The Dollar, Breaking the Eight

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admin
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OPINION

He was brandished, the worse Finance Minister, even though that award should have gone to his predecessor.

Ken Ofori-Atta inherited a broken economy and was steadily raising it up to a vibrant and prosperous one, recording single digit annual inflations from 2018 to 2021and during the turbulence of the new global pandemic, Covid-19.

Ken Ofori-Atta’s predecessor, Seth Terpker, came in a period where there was no global pandemic or economic crunch, but could not even manage an outbreak of common cholera. Seth Terkper messed up big time, when in 2014, Ghana experienced its worst ever cholera outbreak, with 28,922 cases and 243 deaths.

As Ken was making efforts to set the economy back on the path of recovery and advancement after the havoc of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war set in.

This devasted the whole world with the dollar appreciating against world currencies. Even the euro, fell against the dollar at one point and almighty pound sterling almost exchanged at one-to-one with the USD.

With such top and powerful currencies seriously bruised by the dollar, our Ghana cedi could not stand to it. Suddenly it started depreciating at such an alarming speed only second to the PNDC/NDC era, when within a period of nineteen years, the cedi depreciated by over 288,000% from ¢2.75 to ¢6,750.00 to $1.00.

From about GH¢7.00 to $1.00 the dollar started rising and when it broke into GH¢8.00, people started mocking Ken, saying the dollar and broken the eight.

Suddenly, self-acclaimed economists who possibly never could tell the difference between 2 plus 2 and 8 minus 4, when they were in school became speculators and speculated that by the end of December 2022, the rate would be anything between GH¢20.00 and GH¢25.00 to $1.00.

People started calling for the head of Ken Ofori-Atta as the world all over, finance ministers and even some heads of state had to resign or were sacked from office because they could not provide any solution to the economic crisis.

In Ghana,  even though Ken was over and above finance ministers of the likes like Peprah and Tekper, in his own party, he was not regarded among the best fit to become finance minister.

Some NPP MPs made a public statement that the president must sack Ken. This is unprecedented in a way. That is so, because while NDC MPs and ministers in 2014 wanted Seth Terkper to go, they made this appeal under cover of darkness. In the case of the NPP, the MPs came out, openly with an ultimatum which was underlined, “With Immediate Effect!”

The president had to negotiate with these NPP MPs and promised that Ken will go, most probably by the end of the year, after he had completed some important assignments, namely the 2023 Budget, IMF and the Appropriation Bill. This was accepted by the MPs.

Suddenly, these MPs who were crowned as heroes, were now called traitors and some swore that they accepted bribes to rescind on their demand. Meanwhile the dollar kept rising to new heights.

Then, a miracle unfolded. It started tumbling down from GH¢15.00 to $1.00down through to GH¢11.00 and stopped briefly then dove down again. And today the rate is breaking the eight at GH¢8.35 over the weekend of the third week of December 2022.

While some were celebrating and forecasting a rate at GH¢6.00 to $1.00 by the beginning of January 2023, some Ghanaians were unhappy at the developing situation. When the dollar was rising, they came out boldlyto blame Ken Ofori-Atta for the development. Today, none of them have come out to commend Ken for the rise of Ghana cedi.

One Prof. Godfred Bokpinonly succeeded in putting his name on the media landscape when, he warned that those celebrating the rise of the Ghana cedi must know that it is not backed by any robust economic indicator and they must therefore question its sustainability.

When it starts raining during the dry season, what does he expect farmers to do? Wait for the actual rainy season before planting?

As things stand now the dollar is about breaking the eight and this is good news, except for those who had stocked piled dollars, hoping it gets to GH¢20.00 to $1.00 then they can do good trading. Unfortunately, they hedged and lost out.Meanwhile it is alleged that some state institutions have pegged GH¢10.00 to $1.00 for transactions even though theBoG rate is way below that.

Those who are not in the celebrating mood include transport operators who were at first not ready to lower fares even though the price of ex-pump fuel was going down.

In all this, the question is, should Hon Ken Ofori-Atta exit his post as finance minister, after proving beyond measures that he is better than his predecessor and can indeed get Ghana out of any economic mess? Never in the history of this country has the dollar falling at this rate.

Ken, may exit while the applause is loudest, but that could become a problem for his successor. If the next finance minister does not to perform as Ken or even more than him, we may see Ken’s statue in a busy interchange with inscription, “The Finance Minister Who Proved Everyone Wrong And Brought The Economy To Life.”

Meanwhile, the dollar is breaking the eight, will NPP also break the eight?

Hon. Daniel Dugan

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect The Chronicle’s stance.

INEC has no reason not to be ready, says Buhari

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admin
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Chairman of INEC Prof, Mahmood Yakubu

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has no reason not to conduct free, fair and credible elections in 2023 as he has approved all that was requested by the electoral umpire.

The president made this disclosure during an interactive session entitled, “A conversation with President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria,’’ co-hosted by the United State Institute of Peace (USIP), the International Republican Institute, the National Endowment for Democracy, and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems.

He asserted his confidence in INEC’s readiness for the 2023 elections. “INEC is ready because I made sure they were given all the resources they asked for because I don’t want any excuses that they were denied funds by the government,” Buhari said while responding to a question on the preparedness of the Commission.

‘‘Since 2015, the conduct of our elections continues to steadily improve. From the 2019 general elections, the by-elections and the off-season elections in Edo, Ekiti, Anambra and Osun States were conducted in largely improved contexts to the satisfaction of contestants and voters.

‘‘That is what we hope for in 2023. Through the observatory roles of the International Community, the credibility of the elections can be further enhanced to make the acceptability of the outcome to the contestants and political parties a non-issue.’’

Credit: channelstv.com

Atiku’s wife urge Nigerians to vote APC, in slip of tongue –Keyamo

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admin
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Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, has mocked the wife of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Titi over a recent gaffe.

Keyamo described Titi Abubakar’s error as a slip of tongue.

Recall that while addressing some women, Titi urged them to get their Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, and vote for APC.

She said: “Go and get your PVC and vote for APC on the 25th of February.”

Reacting, Keyamo said it is unreasonable to make a mountain out of such molehills.

In a series of tweets, Keyamo wrote: “Wife to Atiku, Titi Abubakar, has just urged Nigerians to vote APC on February 25th next year.

“In all honesty, this is obviously a slip of tongue, but we hold the view that it is unreasonable to make a mountain out of such molehills, especially when you quickly correct yourself.

“LP says APC & PDP are the same as Atiku defected from APC to PDP;

“APC says LP & PDP are the same as Obi just defected from PDP to LP;

“The name @officialABAT does not feature in these accusations;

“PDP has nothing to say because it is actually the cancer everyone is trying to avoid.”

Credit: dailypost.ng

Arrest politicians allegedly buying PVCs from poor voters –Group tells Buhari

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admin
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President Muhammadu Buhari

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to arrest politicians who are allegedly buying permanent voter cards, PVCs, from poor Nigerians.

The group said this in a statement sent to DAILY POST by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare on Saturday.

Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently alleged that some politicians are buying PVCs from poor Nigerians across the country. Similarly, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has also corroborated the vote-buying allegation.

Reacting to the allegation making the round on vote-buying, the group tasked Buhari not to allow the issue to slide without appropriate investigation and punishment for those found culpable.

The group said vote buying violates the 1999 constitution, the 2022 Electoral Act and international democratic standards.

It added that poor Nigerians would be deprived of democratic participation if the menace is allowed to thrive unchecked.

“Buying of PVCs from poor Nigerians is a threat to fair and representative elections, as it amounts to vote buying, undue influence and improper electoral influence”, SERAP said.

Credit: dailypost.ng

EU Pledges Support Towards Credible Polls In Nigeria

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The EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Samuela Isopi

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the European Union has pledged to support credible polls in Nigeria.

Speaking during a visit to Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki at the Government House in Benin City, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Samuela Isopi, said Nigeria’s progress is of importance as its partner and continental neighbour.

“Today is 70 days ahead of the elections so we also try to use the opportunity of our visit to engage with political actors and to discuss issues relating to elections.

“The reason is simple. The European Union has been supporting election processes in Nigeria since the return to civilian rule. We have consistently deployed election observers’ mission and we will do the same thing for the next coming elections.”

According to her, the Union has supported the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders by providing technical assistance as well as expertise.

The envoy noted that Europe just like Nigerians are interested in free, fair and credible elections in Africa’s most populous nation.

Describing Europe as Nigeria’s main neighbour, the EU Ambassador stated that they expect to have a “strong, democratic Nigeria and that is why we have supported Nigeria’s democracy and we will continue to do so.” On his part, Obaseki said commended the EU for its partnership with Nigeria and sub-nationals like Edo State, even beyond politics.

“As you know, the EU has always supported the electioneering process. They have studies and reports they have done over the years on the conduct of all elections since this republic,” he said.

“Gleening from these reports, they have come to check, see and advise on areas on what we can do to make sure that we have properly conducted transparent fair and safe elections this time around.

“They have come with a true spirit of partnership to see how we can work together, support our efforts not only on a political level but also ensure that as we continue to strengthen the relationship between Nigeria and the EU as well as sub nationals between Nigeria and the EU.”

Credit: channelstv.com

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