Day: February 14, 2022

Former Ghana Football Association [GFA] President, Kwesi Nyantakyi has appealed to government to prioritize supporting football because of it mileage it gives the country.

According to the former CAF 1st vice president, the Black Stars have single-handedly promoted the brand Ghana more than the entire tourism ministry and industry have done hence the need for government to pay more attention to football.

He added that the country will benefit immensely if the government invests a reciprocal amount of the capital injected into the tourism ministry.

“What football is doing for this country, if the government invests a reciprocal amount of the tourism budget, it will help the nation to rake in more benefits. I do not subscribe to government giving cash to football but government can invest in the form of infrastructures,” he said on GTV Sports Plus.

“When the Black Stars play in the Africa Cup of Nations, the eyeballs that it attracts gives the country more publicity than what the state agencies responsible for tourism probably have done for the country.

Mr Nyantakyi added that many people in the other parts of the world like Asia got to know the brand Ghana when the Black Stars qualified to the 2006 FIFA World Cup tournament in Germany.

“I remember that when I went to Korea and Japan in 2006, I met a lot of people who said that they didn’t know Ghana until the Black Stars qualified to the FIFA World Cup. They said that previously when they heard Ghana, they thought it was Guyana in the Caribbean,” Kwesi Nyantakyi added.

Mr Nyantakyi steered the country to the 2006, 2010 and 2014 World Cup during his reigning as the President of the country’s football governing body from 2005 to 2018.

Source: Modern Ghana

Somoco Ghana Limited authorized sole distributors of Boxer motorbikes in Ghana, has signed a partnership agreement with Box Office Sports Promotion, a leading boxing promotion outfit in Ghana. The short but impressive ceremony took place at the North Industrial Area premises of Somoco Ghana.

The signing was done by Alex Ntiamoah-Boakye, the Chief Executive of Box Office Sports Promotion, and Shankar Sharma, the General Manager of Somoco Ghana Limited.

Speaking to the Media, Mr. Ntiamoah-Boakye stated that his outfit was totally committed to providing boxing fans with the best of boxing fights such as the Rumble to Freedom Showdown which is slated for 6th March 2022. Mr. Ntiamoah-Boakye expressed his appreciation to Somoco Ghana for not hesitating to support the event, which forms part of the celebration of Ghana’s 65th Independence Day anniversary.

Mr. Sharma, on his part, added that Somoco Ghana was always happy to be part of exciting sports events such as the upcoming bout. He stated that the Boxer brand, which was the best in its category, was ready to support the boxing fraternity in the country. He used the opportunity to wish all boxers on the night the best of luck.

The pugilists on the main card for the night, George Ashie and Robert Quaye, who were also present at the signing ceremony, used the opportunity to advise their numerous fans to desist from any acts of violence in the lead up to the fight.
Somoco Ghana Limited is also the sole authorized distributor of Bajaj RE auto-rickshaws in Ghana. The Company is a member of the prestigious Mohinani Group.

Source: Ghana Web

Accra— Six police officers have been interdicted over the shooting incident that happened at Lamashegu in Tamale on Sunday.

They are: General Corporal Samson Kweku Darfour, General Corporal Prosper Mormesimu, General Constable Harrison Twum Danso, Driver, General Constable Mathew Sah, General Constable Nuhu Muntari, and PW/Constable Doris Serwa Bonsu.

A statement signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Kwesi Ofori, Director-General, Public Affairs and copied the Ghana News Agency, said the Police Administration had dispatched a team of investigators led by DCOP/Mr Frederick Agyei, the Deputy Director-General of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), to investigate the matter.

It said personnel from the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) had also been detailed alongside the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) team to look at professional standard related issues.

The statement said the Northern Regional Police Commander had been tasked to liaise with the affected families and offer them the necessary support in line with Police Regulations.

It appealed to the people of Lamashegu and the entire Tamale Metropolis to remain calm as investigations continued into the unfortunate occurrence.

The statement assured the public that anybody found culpable would be dealt with according to the law.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Tema— The Board of the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST), has urged Management and Staff to remain calm and refrain from granting interviews which may cast aspersions on any person or groups either within or outside the company.

The Board has further urged management and staff of the company to continue to work in harmony and remain focused on consolidating the gains BOST has made in recent times.

A statement signed by Mr. Ekow Hackman, BOST Board Chairman, and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Tema, said the security agencies have commenced investigations into the laying of wreaths at the entrance of its Head Office.

Wreaths bearing the name of the Managing Director, Mr. Edwin Provencal, were laid in front of the Head Office building at the early hours of Monday, February 7, 2022. The wreaths, which had the inscriptions, “RIP Mr. Edwin Provencal”, “Rest well” are believed to have been laid by some unidentified persons.

The board has therefore asked its management and staff to remain calm as investigations continue.

“The Board would like to use this opportunity to inform all stakeholders that the incident has been reported to the appropriate security agencies for investigations to be conducted,” the statement said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Koforidua (E/R)– The Eastern Regional Hospital recorded substantial infrastructural expansion over the last two years, leading to a more efficient and effective health service delivery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The hospital improved the care of severe to critically ill COVID-19 patients with facilities like piped medical oxygen delivery to patient beds, oxygen generation machine, and closed-circuit television (CCTV) for patient monitoring.

It also introduced virtual aid conferencing equipment, High Dependency Unit (HDU) beds with patient monitors, ventilators and a host of others in line with modern health delivery systems.

Dr Arko Akoto-Ampaw, Medical Director of the Eastern Regional Hospital, who said this at the 2021 Annual Performance Review meeting in Koforidua, commended philanthropic organisations, individuals and staff for contributing to the feat.

With their collaborative support, he said, the Hospital has now been recognised as a national centre of excellence for the management of severe to critically ill patients of COVID-19.

In 2020 the hospital was also adjudged the most outstanding Regional Hospital in Ghana for the elimination of Mother-to-child transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

Mr Akoto-Ampaw applauded Kokrokroo Foundation, KABAKA Foundation, Susuana Missionaries (UK), Mr Seth Acheampong, Eastern Regional Minister and Ghana Health Service among others for their tremendous assistance.

Giving statistics on hospital utilisation, he said the Out-Patients-Department (OPD) attendance rose by 13.8 per cent, making up for the fall of 12 per cent in 2020 which recorded 232,485 attendants while 2021 had 264,640 attendants.

The top OPD cases listed were anaemia, rheumatism, joint pains, upper respiratory tract infection, hypertension and diabetes.

Addressing issues on admission, Mr Akoto-Ampaw management noted that there was an increase in cancers, kidney diseases and other diseases of lifestyle in 2021.

On COVID, he said the hospital in 2021 recorded a total of 3,408 suspected cases with 1,109 confirmed and 91 deaths.

On reproductive health, the hospital recorded 5, 157 deliveries in 2020, lower than in 2021 which had 5,263 deliveries, with the caesarean sections being 2,211 in 2020 and 2,300 in 2021. There were no reasons adduced for the increase.

The hospital’s antenatal care attendants also climbed to 17,457 in 2021 from 10,691 in 2020.

Dr Akoto-Ampaw said the hospital received support for premature babies from the KABAKA Foundation which renovated and expanded the existing Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) capacity and also cut the sod for construction of additional NICU complex, while the Kokrokroo Foundation and the Eastern Regional Minister donated two incubators.

He appealed to the government, benevolent organisations and individuals to assist the hospital have Computer Tomography (CT) scan.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra- An Ashaiman District Court Monday denied a bail application by lawyers of Mr Oliver Barker-Vormawor, one of the convenors of the Fix The Country Movement, a pressure group.

He is charged with treason felony contrary to section 182 (b) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 Act 29 and remanded in police custody for two weeks.

Barker-Vormawor will be brought back to court on February 28, 2022.

The Court, presided over by Justice Eleanor Barnes-Botchay, a Circuit Court Judge, sitting as an additional Magistrate, said it had no jurisdiction to grant bail.

Lawyers for Barker-Vormawor said the continuous detention of the accused was in flagrant violation of the constitution, stressing that the charge sheet was a “nullity requiring the discontinuance of his detention.”

Prosecuting, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sylvester Asare, said the Court had no jurisdiction over a first degree felony and could not grant Barker-Vormawor, bail.

He said the only instance in law where the court may exercise such discretion was provided under Section 130 of Act 30 of the Order of Committal.

The prosecution said it would be premature and excess of jurisdiction if the court attempted to invoke section 130(4) of Act 40.

Regarding the keeping of the accused for more than 48 hours, it said the police had put in an official request to the office of the Chief Justice to constitute a court in Ashaiman.

The prosecution said efforts were made to arraign the accused but it did not materialise.

Anthony Akoto Ampaw, Lead Counsel for the accused, in his opening statement, said holding his client for more than 48 hours was a denial of his fundamental human rights and liberty as enshrined in Article 14 (3) Clause four of Constitution.

He said the 48-hour rule was mandated on every institution, including the Police as it was unconstitutional to arraigned the accused after more than 48 hours and still “talk about the Court not having jurisdiction…”

Mr Ampaw told the Ghana News Agency in an interview later at the Ashaiman District Police Station that his client was earlier charged with misdemeanour of conduct conducive to the breach of peace, only for him to realise in court that it was treason felony.

Justice Barnes-Botchay said although bail was a constitutional requirement, charge of treason was not bailable at the Ashaiman District Court and it had no jurisdiction to grant same.

She asked the police to ensure that the accused person had access to his counsel between 10am to 4pm each day with at least three family members visiting.

Meanwhile, members of the Fix The Country Movement are picketing at the Ashaiman District Police Station.

Mr Barker-Vormawor was arrested by operatives of the National Security at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) on Friday February 11, 2022 over a social media Post the police said had the intent to subvert the Constitution.

He arrived at the Ashaiman District Court amidst tight security with the police escorting him into the court room.

He looked calm with his hands behind him, wearing a “Fix The Country” T-Shirt, dark spectacles, an ash jacket and trousers on a pair of Nike sneakers.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Chirano Gold Mines Company Limited, a subsidiary of KINROSS Gold Corporation has marked this year’s Chocolate Day celebration with over 400 aged persons drawn from its catchment area.

The move, according to Mr Stephen Gyamprah, Community Relations Superintendent, was to show love to the aged in the area.

They were treated to good old music tunes amidst dancing and were each presented with a bag of rice, cooking oil, canned fish and a bar of chocolate.

They were also educated on how best to adopt healthy lifestyles.

Miss Mavis Ackaah,a nurse with Chirano clinic advised them to always eat more fruits and vegetables and also drink plenty of water so as to remain healthy.

She also asked them to visit the hospital regularly for medical checkups for early detection of any ailments and avoid self-medication.

Seventy-eight-year-old Samuel Addai Yankson in an interview with the Ghana News Agency commended the company for the initiative, saying, “the aged were normally marginalised during such occasions”.

He also advised the youth to avoid hard drugs, alcohol and excessive sex to enable them to live longer

Source: Ghana News Agency

Bolt, the leading ride-hailing platform in Ghana, has been awarded the Customer Service Leader in the Ghanaian transportation sector at the 4th Ghana Customer Service Index.

The award was in recognition of Bolt’s commitment to providing superior and optimum support experience to its customers.

The research spanned around various parameters which included Ease of Doing Business, Processes, and Procedures, and Customer–Focused Innovations. It also measured customer satisfaction, its causes, and effects as well as implications for industries within Hospitality, Banking, Healthcare, Transportation, and other economic sectors.

“From the beginning, customers have been at the heart of our business,” said David Kotei Nikoi, Country Manager, Bolt Ghana.

“We are honored to have been recognized for such an award. Our team continues to serve hundreds of riders and drivers across the regions in Ghana. Each day we strive to build deeper relationships with our customers by listening to their needs and developing products, services, and even contests that will help us deliver the best services in full transparency and partnership,” Mr. Nikoi added.

Speaking on the various customer service performances, Yvonne Ohui McCarthy, President of the Institute of Customer Professionals said: “People expect more from service providers because customers are now understanding their rights. They are demanding organizations to do more than just serve them; we need to work on it as a country.”

The Ghana Customer Service Index (GCSI) is a national indicator of customer evaluations of the quality of goods and services patronized by both Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians living in Ghana.

The Index is published yearly from results of intensive and vigorous customer service-related research and surveys.

Source: Ghana Web