Day: July 18, 2022

Aflao (VR), The Ketu South District of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has called for a health insurance package to be instituted for workers in the sector.

The association said such a package was important to maintain the health of caregivers, and to ensure building a resilient health system by protecting them against high medical costs in treating illnesses and accidents which might even result during the process of giving care to the public.

Mr Samuel K. Numana, Chairman, Ketu South GRNMA made the call in a welcome address at a grand durbar to climax this year’s Nurses and Midwives Week celebration held at Aflao under the theme: “Nurses and Midwives, a Voice to Lead – Invest in Nursing and Respect Nurses Right to Secure Global Health.”

He said the package would be one way of investing in the nurses and midwives workforce, who despite the many challenges including working under extremely difficult situations, continued to demonstrate commitment and sacrifice as seen in the COVID-19 era, requiring innovative ways to address their problems.

Mr Numana said: “We therefore wish to add our voice to the call by the Association (mother) to ask our employers; Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Health and the government for health insurance package for health workers in the country.

“It is an undeniable fact that our colleague nurses and midwives are dying from preventable diseases because they cannot afford the cost of care. It’s so pathetic and shameful for health workers soliciting funds on social media for medical care.”

Mr Moses Robertson Anyigba, Volta/Oti Regional Chairman, GRNMA described the theme for the celebration as apt saying, “the weakness and vulnerabilities we witnessed during the peak of COVID-19 were clearly a result of underinvestment in health systems around the world.”

He said the way forward was for governments to invest in nursing and midwifery education, address shortage of nurses, provide positive practice environment and adequate remuneration, and involve them in decision making in all aspects of health and healthcare in order to transform health systems to meet the needs of individuals and communities now and in future.

Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Member of Parliament for Ketu South, in a speech read on her behalf, appreciated nurses and midwives, the bedrock of the health workforce for their efforts and asked all stakeholders to get together to invest in them for quality healthcare delivery in the country.

Dr Alphones Makafui Dzakpasu, Medical Superintendent, Ketu South Municipal Hospital who chaired the event underscored the need for all health workers to work together for a common cause as “access to healthcare is no longer the challenge but access to quality healthcare.”

He charged nurses and midwives to abide by their pledges and prayers to give off their best to clients.

International Nurses Day is observed globally every May 12 to honour Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, with the Nurses and Midwives Week Celebration being an event to celebrate contributions of nurses and midwives to healthcare delivery.

The durbar, which saw the award of some nurses and midwives, appreciation of some noble retired nurses and midwives and past District executives had Ms Georgina Vivian Yawli emerging as the Best Nurse/Midwife for 2021/2022.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Tema, Urban Forest reserves in Ghana are threatened by infrastructural aspirations as towns and cities continue to expand with many more transitioning into the urban precinct and becoming subject to the infrastructural development.

“There is consensus among development experts that development is only truly sustainable when it also addresses social and environmental concerns, therefore, actors who encroach on urban forests for infrastructural aspirations must consider the broader sense of development.

Professor Professor Samuel Kingsley Oppong, President, Ghana Institute of Foresters (GIF) stated this in a paper to the Ghana News Agency in Tema and noted that “our urban areas continue to have an increasing number of vehicles being mostly fossil-fuel powered, these vehicles emit polluting fumes into the urban air.

“Even though urbanization can increase the economic value of land so much that it could look economically irrational to continue to have such high-value lands under uses that do not generate substantial economic returns, human existence also depends on the environment.

Prof. Oppong expressed concern about the rapid rate at which the country was losing its urban forest, citing only one of the many environmental services that urban forests provided as vital air cleaning mechanism.

“You may have heard of instances where people have died from fume inhalation because they left their generators working inside their rooms, while asleep for fear of theft.

“The fumes that the many cars in our urban environments emit on daily basis are not good for us but the average car user is not really bothered about the fumes from his or her car, because even the visible dark smoke from badly maintained cars appear to disappear once it gets emitted into the urban atmosphere”.

Prof. Oppong explained that the fumes do not simply disappear, it merely diffuses into the urban atmosphere and form part of the urban air we breathe, stressing that “we do not suffer the fate of the persons who keep running generators inside their rooms because the emissions do not cause much harm to health, when the concentration in the urban air is kept within limits.

He said urban forests are indispensable in the process to keep the concentration of vehicular emissions in the urban air within limits, “it is in our interest to protect the urban forest”

He identified some urban forests under threat as the Achimota forest in Accra, the Dede Forest Reserve in the Eastern Region, Kabakaba Forest Reserve in the Volta Region, Wa Town Plantation Forest, Tamale Waterworks Forest Reserve, and the Tamale Fuelwood Plantation Forest.

The rest are the Tamale GES Plantation Forest Reserve, Winneba Waterworks Forest Reserve, and the Gua Koo Forest in Pokuase among others.

Prof. Oppong said Kumasi city once had the Kumasi Forest Reserve, but it had completely been whittled away for infrastructural development.

He said there are ways to generate revenues from the forest while maintaining its ecological integrity let us seriously explore such avenues to generate revenues from the forest.

He said royalties derived from it can be paid to the owners so that it becomes a win for every interest in the land, air quality, public space for leisure and other activities, ecotourism, biodiversity conservation, Ghana as a nation, and indeed the world at large.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Tumu, (UW/R), Some women, chiefs and stakeholders from 24 communities in the Sissala East Municipality are to be supported to ensure the safety and welfare of donkeys in the area.

Officials of Action Aid Ghana disclosed this in Tumu during a meeting with stakeholders to preserve and sustain the donkeys as animals that help humans in both social and economic functions.

Madam Terence Tienaah, the Upper West Regional Manager of ActionAid, speaking at the function, said Action Aid as an organisation over the years had been friends with everyone with the objective of ensuring fairness and justice for all in society including the welfare of animals.

She said donkeys had over the years helped mankind in their work in the Sissala area, but their welfare had been neglected, hence the intervention to secure donkeys.

Madam Tienaah, therefore, reiterated the need to ensure greater welfare for the upkeep of the donkey for it to continue to help, with emphasis on its care, how it’s fed, and what to do to ensure how to sustain the animal by prioritizing the donkey from being extinct.

She said the need to secure its safety against sale for the skin in a manner that would preserve them for the support that they give to humans especially women.

Madam Abibah Nibaradun, Programme Officer at ActionAid who gave an overview of the ‘Donkey Sanctuary’ (TDS) project said, it is an 18-month project for 24 communities from June 2022 to the end of 2023 in the Sissala East Municipality of the Upper West region.

“The goal is to improve welfare for women with donkeys to ensure improved feed, provide and improve existing water system for donkeys, vaccines and veterinary services by increasing capacity of other stakeholders to bring about improved donkey harness, to make the carrying of load less stressful and increase the safety of the donkey,” he explained.

She said: “With a budget of £129,482.21, the Donkey Sanctuary from the United Kingdom is targeted at 54 groups,1,080 women, it will train 140 schoolteachers who will pass on the knowledge to 5,000 school children at the end of the project,” Madam Nibaradun disclosed.

Mr Duwiejua Mumuni Dramani, a Senior Development Planning Officer of the Sissala East Municipal Assembly who spoke on behalf of the Municipal Chief Executive urged the stakeholders to take key interest in the project and asked ActionAid to work with the Environmental Health Unit of Assembly to ensure effective collaboration.

He asked the women to frequently clean the environment of the donkey to keep them healthy.

Madam Damata Chimson from Vamboi a mother of seven, stressed how helpful the donkey had been to her and appealed to other women to provide shelter for the donkeys as most of them are left homeless.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, Jamaican reggae icon Eric Donaldson has arrived in Ghana to perform at the “Pre-Emancipation Day” festival scheduled for National Theatre on Saturday, July 23, 2022.

The festival, which is part of the “Hands Across Africa” initiative, is being spearheaded by the TOCO Foundation and partnered by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Ghana Tourism Authority, The Diaspora Affairs, and YOKS Investments.

Numerous artistes, including Okyeame Kwame, MzVee, Blakk Rasta, Kofi Sarpong, Roc Riva and Brinsley Forde are expected to thrill music lovers with some musical performances.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the concert, Eric Donaldson was elated to be in Ghana for the second time and promised fans some astonishing performances with some of his global hits.

“I am very happy to be working with Hands Across Africa to stage this concert, and I am here to support them truly from my heart. I am to thrill fans with songs of love and praise from the Almighty, and I will perform to the best of my ability, “he said.

Mr. Taj Weekes, a singer and songwriter who doubles as the founder of TOCO Foundation said Hands Across Africa initiative was a social agenda to raise funds to help the vulnerable and underprivileged on the continent.

He revealed they had planned a series of concerts with some international reggae artistes and local artistes to raise funds that would go directly to support some of their non-profit programmes.

Ghanaian Hiplife star Okyeame Kwame, who was present at the presser, felt honoured to perform alongside Eric Donaldson come July 23, 2022.

He urged fans to come in their numbers and support the concert, which was targeted towards a good course of changing lives. 

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, Legendary Ghanaian musician Gyedu Blay Ambolley, says the late Alfred Benjamin “A. B.” Crentsil was very passionate about the growth of Highlife and its sustainability for future generations.

Ghanaians music lovers were dealt a huge blow after the veteran musician A.B. Crenstil passed on earlier in the week, aged 79.

Ambolley, who was a very close musical colleague of A.B. Crentsil, recounted numerous conversations where the latter expressed concerns about the direction Highlife was heading, and the need to do more to grow the genre.

“Whenever we met, A.B Crenstil was very jovial and cracked a lot of jokes, but we often had discussions about the growth and emancipation of Highlife music. We always shared ideas as to how we can contribute to sustaining the genre, a course we as veteran musicians have always championed over the years,” he told the Ghana News Agency.

When asked about the legacy of A.B. Crenstil as one of Ghana’s music greats, Ambolley said: ” A.B. Crenstil had a distinct approach to his kind of music and you could always realise how unique his music was.

“He could pick a verse from the bible and create some music which could be very relevant in our way of life as Ghanaians, and this should tell you how creative he was with his style. I want him to be remembered for his contribution to the growth of Highlife, for having performed all over the world, and for his passion to see Highlife transcend musical borders,” he said.

Ambolley was, however, worried about how Highlife had been sidestepped by younger musicians, with some radio stations not helping the course of promoting Highlife, but remained optimistic that Highlife would not die.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Paga (U/E), The heightened activities of terrorism and violent extremism coupled with the political instability in neighbouring countries in recent times threatens cross border trade and economic activities.

Mr Ali Anankpieng, the Upper East Regional Executive Secretary, National Peace Council (NPC), said “the threats and risks are becoming more pronounced and there is the need to prevent a spillover which could have dare consequences on the growth of the economy.

“For instance, in May just around our borders in Togo, there were some attacks, in Burkina Faso, the attacks are quite frequent and if we do not prevent it, it could affect trade and livelihoods of people,” he added.

Mr Anankpieng was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the sidelines of a three-day training workshop organised for some Small and Medium Enterprises operators at Paga in the Kassena-Nankana West District.

It was organised by the NPC with funding from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as part of efforts to equip cross border traders with early warning signs of terrorism and violent extremism and how to engage stakeholders to prevent spillover.

The Executive Secretary noted that apart from the Sahelian region, which provided huge market opportunities for the country, the economic activities involving cross border trading had significantly boosted the growth of local businesses and improved livelihoods.

However, he said, the recent political turbulence and activities by terrorists at the country’s borders put the security of the country at risk and could compel government to enforce restrictions that could affect trade along the borders and put pressure on the economy.

Within the first weeks of July 2022 alone, two terrorists’ attacks were recorded near Ghana’s borders at Mognori in Bawku and Paga and the situation was not only putting fear in residents in the border towns but scaring people from transacting their business across the border.

“For instance, during the peak of COVID when all the borders were closed, many traders suffered, so if Ghana perceives the threats are becoming more heightened whether from Togo or Burkina Faso, we could put a lot of pressure on the borders that could affect trade.

“If you look at countries that are already affected by terrorism like Nigeria and others, trade has been affected, even the rail lines between Kaduna and Abuja are virtually not patronized because of the threats of violent extremism. So, if we lose our guard in Ghana, trade between the Sahelian countries and Ghana will become difficult,” he said.

Mr Anankpieng said communities and persons especially those living and trading through and along the borders needed to be sensitized to play active roles to prevent spillover and identify early threats to sustain the stability of the country.

“We need the business operators to know that while they are pursuing their livelihood, they should take their security paramount because without security or secure space, they cannot go on with their business,” he said.

Mr Gerard Ataogye, the District Chief Executive for Kassena-Nankana West noted that violent extremism was “eating deep into our peaceful and loving country” and urged all stakeholders to work together to prevent the country from being plunged into instability.

The training brought together traders along the chain of vegetables, livestock, meat, provisions, transport, currency exchange and border agents among others.

The training was part of a project dubbed, “building resilience of youth and women-led MSEs through innovative and digitalization for green and inclusive recovery”, aimed at reinforcing the sector to flourish in a green, inclusive and equitable manner.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Asante-Mampong (Ash), Mr Thomas Appiah-Kubi, Asante Mampong Municipal Chief Executive, has urged communities in the area to form neighbourhood watch committees to help combat criminal activities.

He said the upsurge of armed robbery and other criminal activities in the municipality should be a serious concern of all.

The assembly members should therefore show leadership by mobilizing community members to take keen interest in the formation of the committees to combat the menace.

Mr Appiah-Kubi who was speaking at the ordinary meeting of the assembly at Asante Mampongs said the assembly was collaborating with the Mampong Divisional Command of the Ghana Police Service to help train volunteers of the watch committees to make them more effective.

Touching on revenue, he said the assembly was able to internally mobilize a total of GHc 735,663.44, representing 63.68 percent of the targeted GHc 1,155,174.50, which was set for the period ending June 2022.

Mr Appiah-Kubi indicated that stakeholder engagements and expansion of revenue database were amongst efforts being made to widen the revenue net in the area.

He reminded the people that the covid-19 menace was still hovering around and called on them to continue to observe the safety protocols to stay safe.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ho, The Asogli State Council has imposed a month-long ban on funerals within its jurisdiction ahead of its annual Te za (yam festival).

The ban is a customary action that precedes the festival, which had not been held for some time, mostly due COVID-19 restrictions.

Mr Stephen Tetteh, Secretary to the council, in a release copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said activities to mark the event had commenced, and appealed that the ban, which would hold from August 7 to September 11, 2020, should be strictly observed for aid a successful celebration.

“The Asogli State Council announces for the information of the public that it has commenced preparations for the celebration of this year’s Asogli State Te Za.

“The Asogli State Council therefore announces that the customary ban on funerals in the entire Asogli State will take effect from Sunday, 7th August 2022 and end on Sunday, 11th September 2022.

“The Agbogbomefia Togbe Afede XIV and his Chiefs appeal to the public to co-operate with them by strictly observing the ban on funerals to ensure a peaceful and successful celebration,” the statement said.

Source: Ghana News Agency