Day: November 29, 2021

Waste management company, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, in collaboration with the Schools Health Education Programme (SHEP) of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has begun a massive sanitation education in senior high schools (SHSs) to sensitise students on the need to adhere to good sanitary practices.

The introduction of Free Senior High School education has increased the intake of students in the various schools in the country.

Total enrollment has almost doubled from 393,995 in 2007/2008 to 787,861 in 2015/2016 and the introduction of the Free SHS policy has increased tremendously these numbers with calls from stakeholders to ensure proper sanitation practices to avert the outbreak of diseases in SHSs.

To this effect, Zoomlion in partnership with the GES has started a massive sanitation awareness and improvement programme to ensure total wellbeing of students in some selected SHSs in the country.

The Volta Regional SHEP Coordinator of GES, Mr Constant Kofi Dzakpasu, during a presentation to students of the EPC Mawuko Girls Senior High School where the exercise started, indicated that Ghana was seriously lagging behind as total access to sanitation was just 13%, attributing this to mainly because 59% of the population use community or shared toilets.

“Children lose 272 million school days each year due to diarrhoea globally and an estimated one in three school-aged children in the developing world are infested with intestinal worms,” he revealed.

Mr Dzakpasu added that these illnesses promote low school attendance and stunted growth as a result of malnutrition.

He said “Effective behavioural change programmes are critical to the success and sustainability of all water, sanitation and hygiene interventions. Schools must practise handwashing with soap, safe handling of drinking water, safe excreta disposal, environmental sanitation and personal hygiene including menstrual hygiene,” he pointed out

A Senior Communications Officer of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Mr Adams Mohammed Mahama, engaged the students on proper waste management practices by explaining some of the activities Zoomlion was undertaking to keep communities clean.

He said, “Zoomlion has established state-of-the-art Integrated Recycling and Composting Plants (IRECoPs) in Accra, Kumasi etc., adding that these projects are also currently on-going in all regions to ensure that we create value out of the waste we generate by recycling them to help keep Ghana clean.”

He said faecal waste disposal into open water bodies in Accra has been resolved by the establishment of ongoing sewerage treatment plants to help provide environmental friendly ways of treating wastewater.

The representatives of Zoomlion Ghana Limited also donated waste bins to the EPC Mawuko Girls School to aid in solid waste management on the campus.

The Head Mistress of EPC Mawuko Girls School, Mrs Ernestina Peniana, expressed the school’s appreciation to Zoomlion Ghana Limited for the gesture to donate waste bins and educate the students on solid waste management practices.

She was optimistic that the knowledge gained and the donation will go a long way to help uplift sanitation issues on the campus.

Mrs Peniana urged other corporate institutions to emulate the example of Zoomlion to help train young ones on proper environmental sanitation practices to help gain total wellbeing which is required for academic excellence.

Source: Ghana Web

Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has revealed that anyone who would say the 2022 budget has not been rejected should be hooted at.

Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, on November 17, announced the country’s plan to introduce a 1.75% levy on all electronic financial transactions including mobile money payments, bank transfers and merchant payments from January to widen the tax net.

At the Parliament on Friday to approve the budget, the Majority MPs staged walk out after accusing the Speaker of bias.

In their absence, a vote was conducted and the opposition rejected the budget.

Speaking in an exclusive interview on Germany-based Ghanaian radio station; Fresh Radio Online, the Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah without mincing words stated that the 2022 budget has never been rejected.

According to the Information Minister, anyone who would say the 2022 budget has been rejected should be hooted at.

He explained that, “When we say Parliament, it is not the building nor is it the Speaker…When Parliament is taking decisions. One or two persons can not sit in the Chamber in the Parliament House and make a decision. It is at least 138 parliamentarians to decide. Even if it’s 137 people in the Chamber their decisions would be void.”

Kojo Oppong Nkrumah explained extensively to the host of the show that, “It was the Speaker and his NDC Parliamentarians who rejected the budget…nothing has really happened…Ghanaians should stay calm ….Tuesday we shall go to Parliament and revisit the issue.”

Source: Modern Ghana

Great Olympics coach, Annor Walker has expressed his frustrations following his side’s defeat to West African Football Academy [WAFA].

The two times Ghana Premier League champions had gone four games without a defeat.

However, Olympics suffered their first defeat of the season against the Academy Boys in the matchday five games at the Red Bull Arena on Saturday.

After an eventful encounter between the two sides, Great Olympics were unlucky to concede a penalty when right-back, Philip Sackey was adjudged to have fouled Marvin Owusu in their goal area.

Centre referee, Bashiru Dauda pointed to the spot on the 95th minute which WAFA striker, Justus Torsutsey expertly converted to halt Great Olympics’ firepower.

Olympics head coach, Annor Walker was short of words after the slim, yet painful defeat.

“Honestly I don’t know what to say because if you look at what has happened here, I don’t see and I don’t know why we should be treated this way by the referees.

“But all the same, we leave it like that, it’s football and I’m really disappointed with the handling of football this afternoon here[in Sogakope],” Walker added.

The week five slip at Sogakope leave Great Olympics on eight points from a possible 15.

Source: Modern Ghana

As part of their 10th Anniversary celebrations, the Harvest Chapel International’s Ashiyie branch has launched a Medical Outreach for the Ashiyie community.

The Ashiyie community participated in a donation and health screening exercise as part of the 10th-anniversary celebration, which was themed “Arise and Shine.”
Harvest Chapel International members informed Virgin Blogger that they are willing to go to any length to assist stop the spread of COVID-19.

Those who had not yet received the COVID-19 vaccine had the opportunity to do so at the Outreach.

Pastor Mark Ofori-Kwafo, the Pastor in Charge of Harvest Chapel International, Praise Chapel-Ashiyie, told the media that the goal of the medical outreach is to persuade many people who have not been vaccinated to do so.

“I thought, this is a way for us to give back to the community, for us to help one another. To assist not only members of our church but also those from the surrounding community. inviting people in and doing what the community need” Pastor Ofori-Kwafo said.

Taking the vaccine, according to Pastor Mark, does not imply that you do not believe in God; we believe and trust God, but it is prudent to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

He encouraged his fellow pastors to recognize God’s call and to remember that God’s job is not for material gain or fame, but for every one of us to fulfill the master’s call.

The vaccination activity, according to the pastor, will help to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Source: Ghana Web

Ghana Premier League side, Berekum Chelsea have appointed renowned businessman and politician, Bernard Amofa Jantuah as new club President.

The Berekum-based club has been without a President after the exit of the Business mogul, Emmanuel Kyeremeh.

The club has been single-handedly financed by the Chief Executive Officer [CEO], Obed Nana Kwame Nketiah over the years.

However, the 2010/2011 Ghana Premier League champions have appointed Mr Bernard Amofa Jantuah, a business mogul, Politician, and Philanthropist as President.

Mr Jantuah comes with vast experience in administration and his appointment will leapfrog Berekum Chelsea to achieve more laurels.

Meanwhile, Gifty Oware-Mensah has been appointed as the Vice President of the club.

Mrs Mensah who is a seasoned politician and an entrepreneur has distinguished herself in football with Berry Ladies in the Ghana Women’s Premier League as the President.

She comes with vast experience in club and public administration and strategic management to build and strengthen all spheres of administration and future prospects of the club.

She currently holds the position of the Deputy Director of the National Service Scheme and is part of the Women’s Football Committee in Ghana.

Chelsea is now occupying 15th position on the League log with one match yet to be played against Hearts of Oak.

Source: Modern Ghana

Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh has threatened to use the Constitution to teach the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin.

This follows the rejection of the 2022 Budget of the Akufo-Addo government by the National Democratic Congress Minority Members supervised by the Speaker after the Majority MPs walked out last Friday.

The Majority Chief Whip, also a Member of Parliament for Nsawam/Adoagyiri on his Twitter handle noted that the action of the Speaker meant that he abused and insulted the constitution of the land.

He said “You abused and insulted the Constitution of the Republic. It would be in your wild dream to think that this would be allowed to stand. We will kill your killer intentions by ‘teaching’ you the law. The law is Supreme!”.

Already the Majority Caucus has debunked the claims that the 2022 Budget has been rejected by the Minority side of Parliament, thereby calling on Ghanaians to disregard the decision by Speaker Alban Bagbin, that 137 members of Parliament have the power to decide for Parliament and have consequently rejected the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana.

According to the Majority Caucus in a statement, Article 104 of the 1992 Constitution and Order 109 of the Standing Orders of Parliament are very clear.

“The two provisions, read together, require that at least 138 MPs needed to have been present in the Chamber at the time of the purported vote, therefore, the claim that the budget has been rejected by 137 Members of the House is null, void, and of no effect because the same is unconstitutional”.

The statement continues that the Majority Caucus finds it unfortunate that after making requests to the Finance Minister to reconsider some items in the Budget Statement, the Minority Caucus assisted by Speaker Bagbin, who had earlier indicated his ability to obstruct Government business, refused to allow the Finance Minister to accommodate their requests and instead hurriedly moved on their own, attempt to vote against the Budget in a bid to subject the Government of Ghana to embarrassment for mere partisan reasons.

It added that “for the record, the acts of the Minority and the decision of the Speaker to endorse it, constitute unconstitutionality and illegality and should be disregarded, as the same is void and of no effect whatsoever”.

“We assure the good people of Ghana of our resolute willingness to ensure that the 1992 Constitution is respected to the letter by Speaker Bagbin and the Minority” the statement concludes.

Meanwhile, the majority has indicated to give a showdown on the budget coming Tuesday at the floor of Parliament.

Source: Modern Ghana

Kadjebi (O/R), Nov 29, GNA-Butchers in Kadjebi have appealed to the Kadjebi District Assembly to complete the Slaughter House to ease their frustration of looking for space to process their animals for public consumption.

They said where they currently operated from was unhygienic and an eyesore for the fast developing community like Kadjebi.

The Butchers said Kadjebi, hitherto, supplied meat to customers in Hohoe, Nkwanta, and Worawora, but could not do so due to the lack of conducive and secure Slaughter House.

Mr Iddrisu Fuseini, Deputy Chief Butcher of Kadjebi, disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in a visit to the site.

He said the fixing of pipes to the borehole at the Slaughter House and digging of holes behind the walls of the house for dislodgement of animal faeces and blood could make the place habitable for use.

On why the Butchers were using lorry tyres for flaring the carcass, Mr Fuseini said previously, they used firewood in burning the carcass, but firewood was scarce now, so they resorted to the use of lorry tyres.

He, however, promised to ask the Butchers to stop the use of lorry tyres, and rather skin or use gas to process the carcass.

Mr Elorm Kpotosu, the Kadjebi District Environmental Health Officer (DEHO) when contacted, confirmed the issue and said he was in touch with the Assembly to help fix the problem.

He advised the Butchers to stop the use of lorry tyres since it produces carbon monoxide, which is harmful for human consumption.

Mr Abdul-Baki Umar, the District Planning Officer said the contract for the renovation of the Slaughter House was awarded to Ibrahim Osman Enterprise in July 2018, and was supposed to be completed in January, 2019.

When asked why the project was delayed, Mr Umar directed the GNA to the District Coordinating Director to explain why the project has delayed.

Mr Alhassan Sulemana, the District Coordinating Director told the GNA that the completion of the project was delayed due to financial constraints, but, “the problem has been solved since we just released some money to the contractor to complete it”.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Kpedze (V/R),– Youth of Kpedze in the Ho West District of the Volta Region have reconvened on the path of unity towards achieving development aspirations.

At a homecoming festival on Saturday, which saw the gathering of natives from across the world, the community was called upon to recommit to the advancement of the course of unity.

The festival was organized by the Kpedze Youth Development Association, on the theme: “Restoring Unity in Kpedze for Sustainable Development, the Role of the Youth”, and present also were stakeholders, including chiefs, local government, and leaders of the private sector.

Mr. George Ofori, Chairman of the development association, said the community had lost the “enviable unity” it possessed, and that had affected the spirit of communism and livelihoods.

He noted that chieftaincy disputes had severed the link between traditional leaders and the youth, and caused a reorganization of the community association, which broke away the youth wing.

The Chairman said the youth must, therefore, guard against entities that fostered hatred and local separation, and remain focused on attaining the best for the area and the nation at large.

“It is obvious that our mission today is how to restore peace, unity, and prosperity of our communities, beyond the inescapable constraints due to divisions among the states.

“This is a clarion call and plead to all the youth of Kpedze to be courageous and patriotic to their motherland to effectively play their role as the driving force in building Kpedze together.

“We the youth must be fully engaged with determination, professionalism, and with high sense of sacrifice in restoring unity in Kpedze”, Mr Ofori stated, adding that, challenges including water and health delivery required the impetus of a peaceful, united citizenry.

Mr Ernest Apau, District Chief Executive for Ho West, commended the unity effort, and said a harmonious community would help achieve the developmental aspirations.

He said the Government’s numerous interventions in the area needed the support of the community, and mentioned a number of projects ongoing including boreholes and sanitary facilities for schools, and the rehabilitation of the Kpedze water supply system.

The DCE said the health center, which recently received a theater unit, also had water extended to its facilities, and noted also that schools had received ICT labs, while a storm drain project for the Kpedze township was ongoing.

“We are ensuring that the people of Kpedze benefit from Government programmes,” he said, detailing plans to ensure law and order across the district, and also to improve academic indicators.

Mr Dela Gadzanku, Chairman of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) in the Volta Oti and Eastern Regions, invited the community to work together with the AGI in building an industrialized region.

He called to discourage dependence on government, and urged to take stock and plan the future of the community and the Region.

A fundraiser was held at the event to support the rehabilitation of the Awlime water supply system, which was a major source for the area.

Source: Ghana News Agency