Day: February 2, 2022

 

The United States has shipped more than 560,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to the West African nation of Ghana, the White House told VOA on Wednesday.

“As the president has said, America will be the arsenal of vaccines in our fight against COVID-19,” a White House official told VOA. “We are proud to be able to deliver these safe and effective vaccines to the people of Ghana.”

The White House told VOA the 565,110 doses of the vaccine shipped on Tuesday.

They will be distributed through COVAX, a global initiative founded to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

These new doses come from the half-billion doses secured by President Joe Biden’s administration over the summer, the White House said.

Ghana, a coastal nation of 31 million people, has reported nearly 157,000 cases of the virus, according to the World Health Organization. That has resulted in 1,395 deaths. It has administered more than 9.7 million vaccine doses.

The nation appears to have recently emerged from a fourth wave of infections. The last wave, which peaked in January, prompted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue a Level 3 travel health notice over the high level of infection in the country.

Health advocates welcomed the donations but have long questioned whether the world’s richest nation is doing enough.

“In our view, there’s much more work to do,” said Ava Alkon, a U.S.-based policy adviser for aid group Doctors Without Borders. “We certainly appreciate the efforts that the U.S. government has made thus far. But at this point, in low-income countries, less than 12% of people have gotten even one dose at this point. And as we’re rolling out booster doses in the U.S., we feel that there should be a steady flow of redistributed doses headed towards low- and middle-income countries at this point.”

And she said with the U.S. now distributing free tests and planning to distribute free masks, they should step up their auxiliary efforts, as well.

“We think the U.S. should step in to help fill these gaps wherever they can, wherever they exist, in collaboration with the WHO’s Access to COVID Tools Accelerator, and should also be working to empower countries to procure and produce the tools they need themselves,” Alkon said.

“So, for example, we’d like to see PCR test manufacturers working together with the accelerator to make sure low- and middle- income countries can get the volumes of diagnostic tests they need, and place and price the products within those countries’ reach. And we’d like to see the U.S. government facilitate that process.”

Last month, Ghana’s president announced that the nation will soon launch construction on a manufacturing facility for COVID-19 vaccines, as well as for tuberculosis and malaria vaccines. President Nana Akufo-Addo said the facility is a collaborative project between Senegal, Rwanda and a German biotechnology company.

Although the nation does not mandate vaccination, it is available to all people 15 years and older, including pregnant women, Ghanaian health authorities have said.

Source: Voice of America

TCL Electronics Ghana Ltd officially opens its ultra-modern showroom at East Legon on 4th February 2022, within the hours of 7 am to 6 pm.

The award-winning and fastest-growing consumer electronics brand in Ghana, TCL, will be located near the East Legon Police Station, a few meters away from the new roundabout on Boundary Road.

The opening of this showroom is part of TCL’s strategic plan to make the brand accessible to every Ghanaian, irrespective of location. Indeed, this will come as good news to residents of East Legon, who have consistently made calls for the brand to be brought closer to them.

As part of the opening on Friday, there will be discounts of up to 50% on all TCL products in the showroom between 4th February to 11th February. The products include all ranges of TVs, washing machines, fridges, freezers, soundbar, phones, etc.

There will be lots of goodies and giveaways within the period. These include free movie tickets, free products, free shopping vouchers, free T-shirts, and a chance to win the new TCL T-PRO Smart AC. There will also be free installation for all air conditioners purchased within the period.

Source: Ghana Web

Accra,- Colonel Gaspard Dan Kwaning Asare, a Prosecution Witness in the ongoing treason trial, has told the High Court that Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)cited as evidence in the case are homemade and dangerous to lives and property.

The Senior Ammunition Technical Officer of the Ghana Armed Forces, who together with a team of experts examined the IEDs said: “The items are IEDS or homemade bombs, specifically pipe bombs and could cause harm to persons and property. The smoke grenades are also active and are to be used for screening purposes.”

Colonel Asare said this when he was giving highlights of a report made after investigating the IEDs.

Did you do any other thing after this, Mrs Yvonne Attakora Obuobisa, Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) asked the prosecution witness.

Colonel Asare, “Yes, my lord, in December 2019, one sample sent to the Criminal Investigations Department was brought back for further investigations. We were to determine whether the black powder was indeed gun powder and it proved positive.”

DPP: What did you do after the investigation?

W: I submitted the report on the investigations.

DPP: From your report, what was the range of these pipe bombs.?

W: “…The standard pipe bomb effect of 10.2kg weight with an explosive content of half a kilo and a 4kg of metal payload can have a lethal area of 30 metres radius and a danger zone of about 400 metres radius.”

“When within lethal area you can die but when in lethal zone you can only be hurt. The IEDs labelled in the report were prescribed and are likely to produce this effect. Pipe bomb of about 5kg weight and half a kilo of explosive charge with a payload of 3.5kg consisting, bupicabane (pepper powder) and metal fragments as was contained in sample D1, could have a lethal area of 20metres radius cause eye and chest irritation, within 50metres radius and a danger zone of 100 meters radius,” he continued.

When asked to describe how the team conducted the investigation, he said: “items received were in different colours, so they were grouped as such. Then we dismantled each to get to the content.”

“The result is what u see in the table in page three. Again, we were to find out whether there were IEDs. The contents and casing confirmed they were, specifically, pipe bombs. They are bombs that are in case or cased in a metal/ galvanized pipes, they are made up of an outer pipe or metal case with an explosive train.”

The witness continued: “Explosive train is made up of an initiator, explosive charge and payload. The initiator begins the explosive process, detonators or burning fuse, then there is the main explosive charge, which is gun powder. To complete the train, we have the payload, the function is to give the effect the maker wants the pipe bombs to achieve after the explosion.”

Colonel Asare said, “if the pipe bomb wants to achieve a projector effect or cutting effects, then projectile is used as solid metals, nails and even stones. If irritation effects are to be achieved items that will cause irritation such as pepper, CS or teargas is added, if a knocking down effect is to be achieved, then chemical agent that when we inhale knock you off are added for those who inhaled to be unconscious.”

“All these were present in the items found apart from the detonators, which needed not to be added unless the devices were ready to be deployed. However, there was a reception, which had a slot for the initiators to be used,” the High Court heard.

Some of the counsels objected to the tendering in of the exhibit but the DPP opposed it and said rejecting the exhibit would not help the Court to appreciate the case.

Dr Frederick Yao Mac Palm, Kafui, BB, Johannes Zikpi, Colonel Samuel Gameli, Warrant Officer Class Two Esther Saan, Corporal Seidu Abubakar, Lance Airforce Corporal Ali Solomon, Corporal Sylvester Akanpewu and Assistant Commissioner of Police Dr Benjamin Kwasi Agordzo have been charged for high treason.

They are facing different charges, including conspiracy, possession of weapons and abetment.

The accused persons are on bail.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Rotary Ghana Alumni Association and the Rotary Club of Accra-Speakmasters have provided hundreds of essential school supplies valued over GHc7,000 to more than 300 orphans and needy children at the Heavenly Grace Educational Complex, run by the Grace-to-Grace Foundation at Gomoa Fete Kakraba.

The donation saw supplies ranging from over a thousand exercise books, school bags, mathematical sets, water bottles, pens, pencils, white marker boards, coloring sets, and several other school kits.

The Charter President of the Rotary Club of Accra Speakmasters, Rotarian Papa Arkhurst, at a brief ceremony held at the school to present the items to the beneficiaries, said the move was aimed at bridging the financial gap being faced by hundreds of foster parents and also, to encourage attendance at school.

Mr. Arkhurst lauded the efforts of the Grace-to-Grace Foundation for their efforts in helping their community and also encouraged the children to take their studies seriously for the Nation would be looking to them to play their part in moving the country forward.

Charter President of Rotary Ghana Alumni Association, Rotarian Elorm Addo on her part emphasized that Rotary’s goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, support education for all children and also take action to empower educators to inspire learning at all ages.

“Our donation today is to ensure that these children have adequate learning experiences and this is only possible if they have access to basic essential school supplies.

It is our hope that the donated items will benefit these children, the school, and the community as a whole.”

While receiving the items on behalf of the school, the founder of the school, Mr. George Arthur Baiden, appreciated the kind gesture aimed at improving learning and teaching conditions and assured the Cubs that the books would be put into judicious use.

He took the guests around the school and shared his vision for the future and what he hopes to achieve in his dream to provide a safe haven for these children. Mr. Baiden appealed to other organizations to support him complete a classroom building which he is working on.

Rotary International is an international service organization whose purpose is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service and to advance goodwill and peace around the world.

It is a non-political and non-religious organization open to all. There are over 35,000 member clubs worldwide, with a membership of 1.2 million individuals, known as Rotarians.

Source: Ghana Web

Accra,-The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor has said health and safety are key pillars for sustainable mining sector, especially with the recent Appiatse explosion.

In that regard, Government, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has provided logistical support to the Minerals Commission to enhance its monitoring and evaluation activities.

The items include 20 Pickups, 10 blast monitors, 187 desktop computers, 68 laptops, and 11 photocopiers.

The rest are: printers 19, UPS 102, scanners 5, plotters 2, projectors 3, survey equipment 3, and a backup storage device.

Mr Jinapor commissioned and handed over the items to the Commission at a brief ceremony in Accra on Wednesday.

The Minister believed that those logistics would enable the Commission to execute its constitutional mandate efficiently in promoting sustainable mining practices as well as protecting lives and property.

He said the mining sector played a critical role in the socio-economic development of the nation, therefore, the government would make the necessary investment to sustain it.

Mrs Barbara Oteng Gyasi, the Board Chair of the Commission, thanked Government for the support and pledged to ensure that the equipment were used for the intended purpose.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ghanaian media personality, public speaker, and entrepreneur, Deloris Frimpong Manso, has confessed that she would love to welcome her first baby this year.

Delay is one of the most accomplished and renowned women in the Ghanaian media industry yet she is also one of the women who suffer constant criticism from the public on her single status because people in this part of the world assume that a woman her age should already be married with kids.

She has withstood these criticisms for the longest time, maintaining her independent woman status, however, Delay after seeing the news of international star, Rihanna’s pregnancy has admitted that she longs to have a feel of motherhood.

Sharing one of Riri’s viral pregnancy photos on her Instagram, Delay added the caption, “May this be my portion this year!”

Fans of Delay have flooded her comment section with good luck messages, encouraging her to believe in God for her portion of this blessing. As there are rumors that she might be going out with rapper, Amerado, some fans are also wondering if he will be fathering her child.

The two have not confirmed being in a relationship, hence, we can only wait and see.

Source: Modern Ghana