Category: General

ASA Savings and Loans Limited on Monday, April 25, 2022, organised a health screening for their customers and the community of Kwesimintsim Business centre in the Western Region.

Some 120 people were screened for Malaria, BP, sugar and other general screening.

Free medicine was prescribed for beneficiaries while those with severe cases were advised to visit the major hospitals for proper treatment.

According to the Head of the Medical Team, DR. Helena Gaisie, the most occurring diseases after the screening were malaria and blood pressure.

She noted that persons who were having such problems, especially high Blood Pressure were counselled about the disease and what they can do to stop or minimize it.

According to her, they were counselled to cut down on eating too much sugar, salt and alcohol intake.

She added that they were told to do more exercises, eat a good diet, consume plenty of water and have enough rest.

The Area Manager for Anaji Area in Western Region, Mr. Samuel Buanda Odoom said as part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility there was the need to organise the exercise to support the community.

As a company, Mr. Samuel Buanda Odoom said it has always been its priority to meet the needs of its stakeholders through CSR to foster development.

The Branch Manager, Mr. Emmanson Aning added that this gesture is to improve the wellbeing of its clients who are mostly traders.

He promises that the company will do more of such exercises in the coming years as part of its CSR.

Some beneficiaries who speak to our reporter thanked the Asa Savings and Loans for this great initiative as it has helped them know their health status and save them the cost of going to the hospital for such an exercise.

Source: Modern Ghana

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Ghana has unveiled modalities to build a Centre of Excellence for Information Communication and Technology based Startup and Asian Research Centre in Ghana.

The KOICA Ghana and University of Ghana officials signed the $9-million Ghana-Korea Centre of Excellence project which is to be known as GK-IMPACT will be built at the University of Ghana (UG), Legon. The construction is expected to start this year, through to 2025.

Mr Jung-Taek Lim, Korea Ambassador to Ghana signed on behalf of his country and Professor Nana Aba Amfo, the Vice-chancellor of the University of Ghana signed for the country which was monitored by the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) at Accra.

It aimed at building an advanced innovation centre that can share Korea’s advanced ICT and development experiences while enhancing Ghana’s research and ICT capabilities to increase ties between Ghana and Korea.

The facility, a hub for establishing startup incubation programmes, would also host Ghana-Korea business conferences Coordinated by UNICEF through MEST Africa, creating jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities for youth after-the effects of COVID-19.

Mr Jung-Taek Lim, said the project was based on a request by the UG to the Embassy.

He commended Ghana for taking steps in building a robust infrastructure to facilitate the operations of startups, drive entrepreneurship and promote research, adding that it would be enhanced by Korea which had an advantage in Information Communication and Technology (ICT).

The Ambassador said GK-IMPACT resonates with the Vice chancellor’s vision of enhancing the experiences of students, among other stakeholders through digitalization.

Professor Nana Aba Amfo, said the institution cannot train students without providing them with ICT training, adding that the offer was timely, which will help the University to synchronize two areas of interest digitalization and Asian studies.

She said it also is to promote a culture of research teaching and learning, administrative processes, and extension services driven by technology.

The Vice-chancellor said in recognition of global trends in ICT and the area of technology, the University is training students who are critical thinkers, culturally sensitive, and technologically alert and will be ready to provide leadership both locally and internationally.

Source: Modern Ghana

Tema, April 28, GNA – The Chamber for Local Governance (ChaLoG) has stated that the introduction of a task force to implement the ‘Operation Clean Your Frontage’ is a duplication of the work of the environmental officers at district assemblies.

Mr Romeo Akahoho, Executive Secretary of ChaLoG, who was a former Presiding Member of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), said the various Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) have an existing task force that could enforce the initiative in their respective jurisdiction.

The Greater Accra Minister announced that to ensure the implementation of the Regional Coordinating Council’s initiative, Operation Clean Your Frontage, some 1,000 people had received intensive training at the Bundase Military Camp to operate as City Response Team for the campaign.

Mr Akahoho stated during an interaction with the media, in Tema, that the introduction of such a task force was not only a parallel role but also an excess usage of state money and a recipe to create chaotic situations in the communities.

Mr Akahoho, therefore, questioned why the RCC was interested in forming security groups when the various MMDAs were already enforcing sanitation laws.

“If you say people should clean their frontage and you want to enforce it, what is the work of the environmental officers, they were once called saman-saman people who go round to enforce sanitation, we still have environmental officers, so what is the job of the environmental officers?

He added that the environmental officers have the responsibility to prosecute anybody who goes against environmental and sanitation by-laws, adding that they also give notices and caution people against creating environmental nuisances.

He said some Assemblies had even gone a step further to run environmental courts to ensure that sanitation offenders were duly prosecuted in court to serve as a deterrent to others.

The ChaLoG Executive Secretary questioned what the Government and the RCC were doing on the monies paid to private institutions that have a franchise to clean streets and other places.

He said instead of creating parallel roles, they must empower the environmental departments to ensure they carry out their responsibilities instead of shifting them to the citizens.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, Apr 28, GNA – As part of efforts to provide a sustainable future for the youth through education, AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine, has awarded scholarships to 50 students from its host communities for their tertiary education.

A statement issued by AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine, copied to the Ghana News Agency, said all the scholarship beneficiaries would have their school fees, accommodation fees, and all other related costs paid in full by the Mine until they complete their studies.

It said this year’s scholarship recipients would join 152 students from the company’s host communities who had benefitted from the Iduapriem Community Scholarship Scheme instituted in 2011 to assist deserving students to further their education at the tertiary level.

Presenting the award during the company’s 19th Annual Thanksgiving Service, Mr Samuel Boakye Pobee, the Managing Director of Iduapriem Mine, reaffirmed the Mine’s commitment to ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promotion of lifelong learning opportunities for all in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4).

“In line with our commitment to diversity and inclusion, the Management of Iduapriem Mine this year reserved 50 per cent of our scholarship award for females pursuing STEM-related programmes at the tertiary level as part of efforts to bridge the gap between males and females in the mining industry,” he said.

He, therefore, urged the scholarship beneficiaries, especially the females, to take advantage of the opportunities presented and focus on their studies to reach their full potential.

On his part, Mr Stephen Adjei, the Senior Manager- Sustainability at the Iduapriem Mine noted that the scholarship scheme forms part of several innovative interventions being implemented by the Mine in pursuit of their value intention of leaving their communities better off for having been there.

“Through our Basic Education Improvement Programme, last year, we undertook several interventions to improve educational standards across our host communities, including the provision of teaching and learning materials, commissioning of two modern six-unit classroom blocks for the New Tokunaso and Awodua Methodist Basic schools, as well as an eight-bedroom semi-detached ultra-modern apartment for Abompuniso Basic School teachers,” he stated.

He indicated that the Mine had spent over GH₵2 million since the inception of the Community Scholarship scheme to support over 200 students at the tertiary level with some of the beneficiaries becoming chartered accountants, engineers, doctors, bankers, nurses, and teachers, among others.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Madam Lawrencia Quansah, who is pursuing Electricals and Electronics Engineering degree at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), said she was on the path to becoming one of the best electrical engineers in the country.

“With this scholarship, I will have a sound mind to study and pursue my four-year Electricals and Electronics Engineering programme to achieve my dream of becoming one of Ghana’s best engineers. I feel privileged because I come from a home that wouldn’t have been able to grant me this opportunity,” she said.

She, therefore, expressed gratitude to Iduapriem Mine, for giving them a window of opportunity to pursue their studies at the tertiary level, saying, “this is a stepping stone to becoming good and useful citizens in the future.”

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ghanaian Women’s Association of Georgia (GWAG) will hold its 7th Annual Fundraising Event on Saturday, May 14, 2022.

The event which will be held in person is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. (EST) or 10:30 p.m. (GMT). All guests can visit: www.ghanawomen.org for details on how to participate.

A release issued by the Atlanta-based organization stated that the funds raised will support the delivery of improved care for selected maternity wards in Ghana which will result in better outcomes for expectant mothers.

“Through this event, the Association is positioning itself to raise $25,000 to procure vital medical supplies to increase the capacity of maternity wards at the Axim Hospital, Baptist Medical Center, Larteh Health Clinic, St. Martin de Porres Hospital and Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital, the release stated.

The event will further serve as a platform for highlighting some of the challenges facing the delivery of maternity care in Ghana namely: high infant and maternal mortality rates and shortage of basic tools for the provision of functional healthcare.

“We are in person this year for our 7th Annual Fundraising event. With last year’s event being virtual, we are grateful to all who stayed tuned in with us doubling our attendance and enabling us for the first time to ship out two containers full of medical supplies and equipment,” said Angie Lou Opoku, President of GWAG.

She further added, “GWAG has so far, as well as what is currently being distributed, donated to over 30 maternity wards with two adopted at Elmina Urban Health Center and Oda Government Hospital, furnishing with beds, incubators and ultrasound machines. We have donated container loads of supplies to several maternity wards throughout various regions in Ghana including 37 Military Children’s Ward and First Lady Foundation for Korle-bu Teaching Hospital in Accra to the tune of over $550,000.”

According to the release, guests will participate in many activities, including a live auction, music, dance, and an exciting raffle throughout the event.

The guest speaker is Dr. Amelia E. Laing, MD, OB/GYN, Aultman Orrville Hospital, Orrville, OH who is also the Founder of Obaatanpa Women’s Hospital Accra, Ghana.

Source: Ghana Web

Accra, April 28, GNA – Dr Collins Yeboah-Afari, the Director-General for the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (AITI-KACE), has pledged to offer internships to participants of the Girls in ICT (GIICT) programme.

A statement issued by the AITI-KACE, copied to the Ghana News Agency said Dr Yeboah-Afari, who was speaking at the Open Day for Girls in ICT event which took place in Accra, said that the Centre was keen on playing its part in bridging the gender digital divide, hence, its commitment to arrange for some of the participants in the ‘Girls in ICT’ programme to take part in the courses offered at the Centre for free.

“As part of our mandate, we are quite keen on playing our part in bridging the gender digital divide,” he said.

“Let me also add that, we will be happy to arrange for some of you girls to take part in our courses for free and interns here during your vacations in the not-too-distant future.”

He also urged the girls to take their training in the girls in ICT serious because digital skills had become a requirement in entrepreneurship.

Dr Yeboah-Afari commended the Communication and Digitalisation and sister agencies for their commitment to empower Ghanaian girls in ICT.

“We are grateful to our sector Minister who has made it a personal crusade to empower Ghanaian girls, her entire team at the Ministry, sister agencies (such as) Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) and the National Communications Authority (NCA) for their commitment to the advancement of the Girls in ICT (GIICT) programme over the years,” he noted.

Madam Ama Pomaa Boateng, the Deputy Minister of Communication and Digitalisation, disclosed that the Ministry would introduce cyber security in all the training being done across the country.

According to her, government would ensure that girls and young women in Ghana are supported to participate fully in the digital journey of the country.

“This, we do, to further deepen the insight of the girls into the nature of the world of work in the ICT industry and to encourage them to the point of knowing that they can also take up careers in this lucrative, but male-dominated industry,” she said.

The Girls-in-ICT is an initiative of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), aimed at introducing young girls to basic ICT skills.

The Deputy Minister revealed that 6,000 Girls in Oti, Central, Western, North and North East Regions have benefited from the Girls in ICT Programme.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Some cosmetic dealers in Kpone and Tema have called for strong public education and advocacy about bleaching products and their side effects before selling to potential users.

They said although cosmetic sales were a business out of which they make a profit and satisfy the demands of their customers, they needed to also highlight some dangers associated with buying bleaching products to the buyers.

The cosmetic sellers told the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Tema that most of the customers come to buy some products because of what they have heard from friends and colleagues without taking into consideration, that, they have different types of skins that require different treatment.

They lamented that skin bleaching is common among the youth and must be addressed with immediate effect as it has long-term implications on the skin.

Madam Agness Lawer, a cosmetic seller in Kpone told the GNA that most people were naive and use a product without seeking expert knowledge on the type of skin they have and the products they want to use but because the cream had been on someone, they will also want to use it.

She added that some people have low self-esteem and think that they would be confident after bleaching, which is never and noted that education from cosmetic sellers could help minimize the rate at which people were bleaching and called other sellers to sensitise their customers.

Mr Jaden Kodua, a cosmetic dealer, said bleaching weakens the natural skin layers which exposes it to skin disorders that become difficult to deal with.

He added that “bleaching products react negatively on the skin during dry seasons especially under the hot sun because it does not go with heat, it usually produces its side effect when it comes into contact with heat.”

Ms Akua Yeboah also indicated that “most people claim they want to bleach to look beautiful, obtaining a smooth and perfect skin is not a bad thing but there are consequences but only a few listen, others don’t.”

Source: Ghana News Agency

There was confusion in Okaikoi South on Thursday morning, as some members massed up to prevent the governing New Patriotic Party’s constituency elections from taking off.

According to them, more than 400 names have been removed from the constituency album.

Speaking to Citi News, the 1st Vice Chairman of the NPP in the Okaikoi South Constituency, William Sangmor, said the process has not been free and fair.

“Those that we know to be the delegates for the election this morning have all been changed. Over 400 people have had their names taken off the album and their pictures changed. We only received the album yesterday [Wednesday] after finishing it long ago, informing us that the election is this morning. So the people here are trying to prevent the election from taking place, ensuring that the right thing is done.”

The election is supposed to start at 7:00 am, but as the situation is, the setup is done, but the people are not happy, so they are not going to vote. It is very unfair.”

The Kaneshie Divisional Police Commander, ACP Faakye Kumi, also confirmed the arrest of persons who threatened mayhem earlier.

“As the agitations are rising, we have to make sure there is calm, so we will be here till the election is over to provide security to the people. We have however made some arrests and will take them through the due process of the law.”

Source: Modern Ghana