Category: General

Asafoatsengua Dabra V, the Senior Divisional Chief and Warlord of Kabiawe Kponor Clan in the Ada Traditional Area, has called for tranquillity, unity, teamwork, and peaceful coexistence to fast-track the development of the area.

He said the residents and leaders must put all their differences aside and work together to attract development to the Traditional Area.

“As citizens, we must endeavour to continue to be law-abiding, embrace the peace that would enable sound ambience to enhance the development of our own traditional area,” he said.

Asafoatsengua Dabra said this during a Town Hall Meeting at Big Ada, organised by the Ada East District Assembly with support from the Media Foundation for West Africa.

“A traditional area that is full of disturbances, acrimony and other disputes does not promote development. We the citizens of the Ada Traditional Area from time immemorial have been peaceful and loving so why the resort to disputes and unnecessary agitation now,” he asked.

He said Ada had a lot of tourists attraction cites so the area only needed a united front to accelerate development for residents and generations yet unborn.

“As a Senior Divisional Chief of Kabiawe Kponor Clan, speaking as a traditional council member, I would not deviate from the good work my predecessors did but to surely continue from where they left off and ensure that the legacy of peace and harmony they left behind are maintained and improved,” he added.

He said Ada was where the Volta River meets the Atlantic Ocean (estuary) and that alone made the area historic but without peace, the area would not accrue the full benefits of its resources.

The Chief said the Traditional Council was ready to welcome all ideas to support the developmental agenda and urged residents to approach their leaders and share ideas with them.

He said the Council was ready to offer its support to the District Assembly to enhance development.

“We would maintain the highest level of discipline to promote peace and development in the district,” he said.

Mr Fred Bubune Kpodo, the District Coordinating Director, encouraged the residents to pay their taxes to help the Assembly execute developmental projects.

Ms Sarah Dugbakie Pobee, the Ada East Chief Executive, explained that the Town Hall meeting was to account for the people and solicit their input in the development process.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, April 01, GNA-Dr Baffoe Gyan, a Cardiothoracic Surgeon at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), has cautioned Ghanaians to seek treatment for rheumatic diseases to prevent heart surgery.

in future.

Rheumatic heart disease is a condition in which the heart valves have been permanently damaged by rheumatic fever. The heart valve damage may start shortly after untreated or under-treated streptococcal infection such as strep throat or scarlet fever.

He said this was important as rheumatic heart disease was the common disease that affected the heart in Ghana and mostly involved children between age five and nine years.

This disease develops when such children within the age bracket suffer from sore throat, which is not properly managed.

“So, let’s go back to the children who get sore throat and give them the proper antibiotics. And if it is confirmed that it is caused by a bacteria called streptococcus hemolytic bacteria that patient needs to be managed until he/she is 18 years, anything shot of these would lead to a heart surgery in future,” Dr Gyan stated.

“It is important to take antibiotics as prescribed and to complete them as instructed, even if you feel better after a few days”.

The Cardiologist explained that people who suffered from heart attacks experienced risk factors of the disease such as hypertension, cholesterol, high cholesterol, diabetes among others and advised that persons with such diseases to manage them effectively by taking their drugs, exercise, have proper diet to avoid heart surgery.

Dr Gyan made the observation in an interview after the UGMC conducted its first four open-heart surgeries, making it the second largest centre in the country.

The surgeries conducted included natural valve replacement, double valves replacement, two valves and bypass on three males and a female with eight more awaiting their turn.

He said the centre was now capable and opened to offer surgeries in the heart, the lungs and the blood vessels, chronic bypass, coronary artery, pacemaker implantation, aneurysm, synchronization therapy among other heart surgeries.

Dr Gyan indicated that the Centre was going to serve as an alternative to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and as such would be conducting small holes in heart surgeries and the Blalock-Taussig (BT) Shunts but would be offering advanced heart surgeries.

“These are cases we can do here. But with the complex ones because our colleagues at Korle-Bu have more experience, we send those ones to them to gain the experience to enable us to do such surgeries,” he added.

Dr Gyan explained that the Cardiothoracic Centre of UGMC aimed at training the next generation, to take over from them, intended doing the advanced surgeries and even sending surgeons outside Ghana to acquire more knowledge in heart treatment and transplant.

Dr. Darius Osei, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of UGMC, recounting the history and the current state of the Centre, said that the necessary steps had been taken to ensure that the facility, equipment as well as its operations met the required standards of the World Health Organisation.

He reiterated that the cardio unit at UGMC would complement Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital as there were a lot of patients who needed such services.

Dr Osei added that the centre had a lot of services and called on people to walk-in for any of their services or even for referrals.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, April 1, GNA – Morocco has inaugurated the International Centre for Research on the Prevention of Child Soldiers with the aim of contributing to the fight against the recruitment of child soldiers, through the dissemination of research to be carried out by the Center.

Speaking at the inaugural conference of the Centre, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita stated that the creation of the Center, was to contribute to the debate by formulating concrete proposals for the security-development and coordination of efforts of the international community.

Mr. Bourita added that the objective of the Centre is to provide accurate, qualitative and quantitative data to formulate an informed action through academic research.

The Minister further noted that the Polisario-forced recruitment of children in the camps of Tindouf fuels instability in North Africa and the Sahel.

He said the indoctrination and enlistment of children by the “Polisario” armed militia is an inhuman crime, and a denial of the basic rights of the children recruited, as well as a flagrant violation of the resolutions adopted by the Security Council on this matter, he said.

Mr. Bourita further called for an end to impunity for those responsible for the recruitment and criminal use of children and other grave violations, by supporting systematic UN monitoring and reporting of child rights violations in conflicts.

He stated that the proportion of children living in conflict zones who are at risk of recruitment and use by armed groups has tripled from less than 5% in 1990 (99 million children) to more than 14% in 2020 (337 million children).

“The problem of child soldiers is neither marginal nor circumstantial and contrary to popular belief, this phenomenon is not exclusive to Africa,” he added, noting that children take part in 75% of conflicts in the world, more than 460 million children live in a conflict zone in 2022 and more than 15% of child soldiers are girls.

“In the last 25 years, 170,000 children have been released from armed groups. However, only a limited number of former child soldiers have been identified in a limited number of countries surveyed,” he said.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Center, Abdelkader Filali on his part stressed that the Center will focus its missions on studies, research and consultations on the prevention and exploitation of children in conflict zones.

Mr. Filali, also a professor at the University of Ottawa, noted that this structure will be equipped with mechanisms for international advocacy within United Nations organizations in the various fora, in collaboration with civil society around the world and civil authorities working in this area.

According to him, the Research Center has executives, academicians and university graduates who will be equipped with mechanisms for monitoring the various violations in conflict zones around the world.

The International Center for Research on the Prevention of Child Soldiers will join efforts with United Nations agencies, international and regional organizations, international networks and civil society to develop a common research program in order to address the vulnerability of children who are exploited and used in armed conflicts.

Through academic research, partnerships and collaborations, the Center will deploy strategies to deal with all forms of enlistment of children and conduct an assessment and census of unregistered child soldiers, while offering innovative solutions to combat their exploitation in armed conflicts.

The Center will also focus on research on the African continent, with the aim of disseminating data on a large scale.

Other dignitaries present at the ceremony were the Wali of the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region, Governor of the Province of Oued Eddahab, Lamine Benomar, the Ambassador, Director General of the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI), Mohamed Methqal, and elected officials, as well as Consuls General of several African countries in Dakhla.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Akyawkrom, April 01, GNA – Ghana can significantly reduce its housing deficit if deliberate efforts are made to promote the use of local building materials, Mrs.

Emelia Botchway, the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Director, has observed.

She said it was the dream of every Ghanaian to own a decent house but that dream was becoming almost impossible for many due to the outrageous prices of houses in the country as a result of high cost of building materials.

The Director who was speaking at a three-day workshop for Regional Directors of the Department of Housing, said encouraging the use of local materials was the way to go in order to address the housing challenges.

The workshop, which was to orient participants on entrepreneurship and business management was funded by the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA).

It was aimed at bringing the Regional Directors of Housing at the forefront of housing delivery while promoting the use of local building materials.

It also sought to build the capacities of participants to identify and provide viable business and development of entrepreneurial potentials of youthful artisans and craftsmen in the adoption of alternative local building materials in the housing sector.

Mrs Botchway said following the passage of the Local Government Act 2016, Act 936 the Department of Rural Housing was now Department of Housing and reminded them of the responsibility that came with the new name.

She underlined the need for deliberate efforts to make houses affordable, saying that, “Housing is one of the most basic human needs that has a profound impact on the productivity of an individual.”

It will be increasingly difficult to reduce the housing deficit as well as affordability if the cost of materials is not reduced,” she noted.

Researchers in the housing industry, according to her, had clearly indicated that the utilization of local building materials would not only reduce the cost of building but also support the local industry while promoting the local economy.

She said the high cost of building materials was a source of worry and concern to most governments and here in Ghana, the government had rolled out a number of housing programmes but it was still not adequate to solve the challenges.

Mr Sylvanus Adzornu, the National Director of the Department of Housing said the workshop was part of efforts towards reviving the department to effectively execute its mandate at the forefront of the housing in the country.

He said the expectation was that the participants at the end of the workshop would be able to identify various modules of businesses in the housing sector, especially in the districts and regions where they operated.

Adzornu said Ghana had a vast local material industry, which could be explored to bring down the cost of building and charged his officers to vigorously pursue that agenda in their respective jurisdictions.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, April 1, GNA – The National Film Authority (NFA) has urge Corporate Ghana to leverage on the enormous benefits that comes with advertising on music videos and movies.

At a forum dubbed “NFA meets Corporate Ghana” on the theme, “Advertising and Brand Positioning in Film”, the NFA sought to explore the under-utilized opportunities, such as involving corporate organisations and film makers on the benefits of creating solid brand awareness through audio visuals.

Madam Juliet Yaa Asantewaa Asante, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NFA, said the film industry was underutilized, wasting potentials that could benefit the youth in job and wealth creation.

Madam Asante said, “A lot of people are looking up to the creative industry for a rebound, as it has the potential of creating $20 billion in Africa, but just $5 billion was harvested, providing jobs and livelihoods”.

She advised corporate organisations to see the film industry, particularly films and music videos as the vehicle to reach their audience with their messages, as well as getting to their preferred destinations wholly and profitably.

Madam Asante said music videos had the potential to communicate messages through branded content creation, for long-lasting effects of the past, present and the future.

She noted that brands could be strengthened through the product placement, sponsorship branded advertisements, feature films/documentaries, video games, music videos, cartoon animations, among others.

Mr. Danny Damah, a film and TV Producer, in his address said it was necessary for brands in Ghana to do Product Placement advertisements, which are more economical and captivating with the advent of digital media.

Mr. Damah said, with the emergence of new media, one can still transform their media contents from a DVD player to a hard drive without losing the impact of the content.

 

He said though with the advantages of product placement branding, corporate organisations are financially constrained, and because of the high cost of data, are not able to purchase the services of content creators in the film industry.

The TV Producer called on content creators to partner with multiple brands to raise funding for their projects and to be able to create premium and quality content to attract value for their services.

Mr. Ivan Quarshigah, a Ghanaian Filmmaker and Creative Director, revealed that viewing habits have changed and content creators ought to convince corporate organisations to partner with them to both leverage on their strengths.

He said corporate organisations have resorted to mobile technology, making it difficult for movie makers to appreciate the efforts of the film industry.

Mr. Quashigah advised filmmakers to rethink ways to convince Corporate Ghana to support the film industry once again to create opportunities for younger ones in the creative industry.

He said the sustainability of the film industry depends on the quality and originality of content, and if film makers worked towards it, they would reap the fruits of their investments one day.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, Mar.31.GNA- The World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC) 2030 project was on Thursday launched in Accra to aid the development and implementation of a national tobacco strategy in Ghana.

The framework, which would be implemented in one year, is also expected to ensure the enforcement of a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising and depiction in the entertainment media.

It is funded by the governments of Australia, Norway and the United Kingdom, with technical assistance from the WHO and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Mr Kwaku Agyeman- Manu, the Minister for Health, who launched the framework, said the burden of disease and death that tobacco smoking imposes on public health was extensive.

“In Ghana, more than 500,000 adults are estimated to smoke cigarettes and other tobacco products on a daily basis,” he said.

He stated that the Global Tobacco Survey had estimated that smoking tobacco was prevalent among young people and about 75 men die every week from smoking cigarettes.

He said presently, Ghana was faced with a dual burden of disease with the upsurge of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and a wide array of cancers and the project was timely for the eradication of emerging tobacco control challenges.

Mr Agyeman-Manu said Ghana had, however, made significant strides in the control of tobacco use with the inclusion of tobacco-specific provisions in the Public Health act 2012, the passage of the tobacco control regulations in 2016 and the introduction of graphic health warnings.

“Despite this success, Ghana still has a long way to go in the pursuit of attaining a tobacco-free country, key amongst the tobacco control challenges is the absence of a comprehensive smoke-free policy, weak interagency coordination and difficulties in implementing a total ban on tobacco products advertising,” he said.

Dr Francis Kasolo, the WHO representative to Ghana, said the use of tobacco had contributed to ill health in many countries and accounted for seven million deaths each year.

He congratulated Ghana for being selected to be part of the WHO FCTC project, adding that the effective control of tobacco through the project, would require leadership, coordination and multistakeholder involvement.

Mrs Delese Mimi Darko, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), said there was an urgent need to fight against tobacco smoking now more than ever, considering the prevailing circumstances of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

She said the launch of the FCTC would provide the needed support for the implementation of a tobacco-free environment in the country.

“This set the right agenda in the attainment of the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 in a middle-income country like Ghana,” Mrs Darko said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The International Police (INTERPOL) in Cotonou has arrested a Ghanaian gospel musician Jacklin Sarfo Gyamfua aka Ohemaa Jacky who absconded from Ghana whiles on trial for defrauding by false pretences.

She was arrested by INTERPOL, Cotonou when INTERPOL, Accra sent a signal for her arrest and upon that also found to be in possession of a fake Italian passport.

The suspect who is popularly known as Ohemaa Jacky in Ghanaian circles was nabbed together with her husband, Emmanuel Peprah on February 16, this year, whiles travelling to London via Paris.

The gospel musician was arrested by INTERPOL, Cotonou after Ghana had sought assistance for her arrest.

She was grabbed for possessing a fake Italian passport together with her husband. The two were put before a court in Cotonou where they were remanded.

Ohemaa Jacky is already standing trial in Ghana for allegedly defrauding a trader of GHC150,000 under the pretext of securing her an Italian passport and resident identity cards.

According to the Prosecution, the “Hakuna Matata” singer who also doubles as a blogger, also forged two Italian passports for the trader and her infant daughter.

Charged with defrauding by false pretences, the musician pleaded not guilty, and she was granted bail in the sum of GHC 200,000.

Soon after she was granted bail, she refused to attend court, putting pressure on those who stood sureties for her as they were hurled before the court to produce the singer.

The court presided over by Mrs Evelyn Asamoah had issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the musician for failing to appear before her.

The prosecution said security officers have tried to trace her in her home in Accra, but to no avail, until INTERPOL was contacted and the accused nabbed at Cotonou.

Source: Ghana News Agency

A 25-year-old man has been jailed 10 years imprisonment in hard labour for robbing a lady of her handbag containing GH¢1,000.

00 and personal effects.

Isaac Appiah denied the offence but he was found culpable after trial.

Mr Kwabena Kodua Obiri-Yeboah, the presiding Judge, in passing the sentence, considered the fact that Appiah is a first time and young offender, and has been in Police custody for some time as well as his counsel’s plea for mitigation, hence the minimum sentence.

His counsel had prayed for mitigation indicating that nothing indicated during the trial that Appiah committed the offence and that as a first offender, the Court should consider the overcrowded prisons, which would make living there unbearable for inmates if he was given a lengthy sentence.

Meanwhile, one Godfred Yaw Okyere, his accomplice, is on the run.

Police Chief Inspector Dennis Terkpertey told the Court that Slyvia Nortey, a caterer, is the complainant.

He said for some time, there had been a series of robberies at Awudome Cemetery in the night where victims had been robbed of their valuables including various sums of monies, laptops, mobile phones and other personal effects.

Chief Inspector Terkpertey said most of the victims had described the robber as a young man in a black outfit who usually hide behind the bushes at the Awudome cemetery close to the intersection.

The Court heard that when motorists slowed down to give way to oncoming vehicles, he then attacked and take away their valuables, and various efforts by the Police to get the said robber arrested had failed.

The prosecution said that on July 16, 2019, at about 1920 hours, the complainant and her house helped Tanni Yiaransil alight at the Bus Stop opposite the State Transport Corporation to pick up a taxi home.

He said as soon as they boarded a tax-cab at about 1930 hours and was bargaining on the fare, the convict in black apparel suddenly emerged from the Awudome Cemetery, where he physically attacked the complainant on the front passenger seat in a fierce attempt to snatch a black lady’s handbag she was carrying, but the complainant resisted.

Chief Inspector Terkpertey said Appiah twisted her hands, took the bag from her and run into a storm drain close by through to the Cemetery.

The Prosecution said few minutes after the incident, the complainant met General Constable Evans Kwao Opei of the Kaneshie Police Station, who was on foot patrol duty and reported the incident to him.

He said the policeman began a search for the robber in the cemetery and when he exited the other end of it near the Awudome Estates, he saw Appiah having just emerged from the cemetery near a Gas Filling Station at Awudome.

Constable Opei arrested him and a search retrieved GHC398.00 and the WIKO mobile phone valued at 2,000.00, as a result, he admitted the offence.

Chief Inspector Terkpertey said he was sent to the Kaneshie Police Station together with the exhibits, he also led police to the Cemetery where he had thrown away the bag, (containing a cheque book, voter’s ID card, among other documents) after taking out the money and the cellular phone.

The prosecution said investigations revealed that in the night, he would dress in black attire and go to the Cemetery with the excuse that he was meeting with others at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle.

He said police found out that he usually changed United States dollars on many occasions from a witness in the case, he keeps the phones stolen and throws away the sim cards, adding that, he wore three attires, all black and he would remove them one after the other after every expedition so as not to be caught.

The Convict during his evidence-in-chief told the court that he was framed by the Police officer, who was once his friend because he refused to be his informant upon request.

Source: Ghana News Agency