Category: General

A toddler mauled by a dog belonging to his father’s employer will require extensive medical treatment, a plastic surgeon at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has stated.

Dr. Glover Addy, told Accra-based TV3 that the attack by a mixed Shepherd breed dog on the baby had done significant damage to the baby’s buttocks and private parts.

The TV3 report said the incident happened a week ago (April 15, 2024) with both parents of the unnamed child witnessing the vicious attack that left their baby hospitalized and requiring urgent treatment.

Sarah Aboagye, the mother recounted how the incident unfolded: ‘I stepped into the washroom to relieve myself while my child slept peacefully in the courtyard. Suddenly, I heard his cry, I assumed it was merely because I had briefly left his side.

‘I returned only to find the dog attacking my baby inside the mosquito net where we had been sleeping,’ she said while shedding tears.

For his part, Eugene Addo, the father whose employer’s dog was responsible for the act, narrated h
ow helpless he was watching the episode.

‘I witnessed my son’s desperate struggle with the dog until he managed to break free and run to me for comfort. It was then that I noticed something was terribly wrong.

“Turning on the light, I saw that the dog had scratched his face and bitten off portions of his buttocks,’ he added.

Addo said his family lived with him in a small quarters and due to heat often slept out in the courtyard.

‘My boss brought my wife and child from the Eastern Region to Accra because he disapproved of me spending too much time away with my family’, he explained.

‘Where I sleep is a small security room, which gets hot and uncomfortable for the baby. That’s why they sleep outside in the compound of the house. My boss initially expressed interest in finding a place for them, but after we located one and informed him about it, he chose to ignore our request’ he added.

Meanwhile, the TV3 report reveals that while the family remain distressed with the mounting medical bills, the owner of t
he dog was tight-lipped on the issue when approached.

Source: Ghana Web

The flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has clarified the call for him to be granted a honeymoon should he be elected president.

The former president lamented that his call was misconstrued by some individuals and taken out of context.

Former President John Mahama recently urged Ghanaians, particularly trade and labour groups, to grant him a grace period if he is elected the next president.

He made the request amidst increased demand for improved conditions of service from these groups.

Addressing attendees at a ‘Campus Connect’ event in Hohoe, the NDC flagbearer argued that it was time to revive the economy before tackling specific demands.

‘And you will realise the harm that the NPP administration has done to Ghana’s economy. This country is broke, and so we will beg you that when we come into office, give us a bit of a honeymoon. Let’s put things in place so that we can bring the economy back onto its feet.

‘And I will plead with the teachers union, GNAT, NAGRAT, UTAG, and
TEWU, and all of them. I know all of you are clamouring for allowances. Let me caution you that in 2025 when we take over, we will show you the books and the finances of this country,” he said.

Mahama was speaking during his ‘Building Ghana’ tour of the Volta.

After making the comments, he was taken to the cleaners, with some, especially from the ruling government, including Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, saying he was unprepared.

But Mahama has clarified his comments, stressing that he did not appeal for a honeymoon to relax as president but to rather assess the economy, examine the extent of damage done by the NPP government, and deal with it.

According to him, he had his honeymoon with the former First Lady Lordina Mahama thirty years ago and will not require another honeymoon.

He was responding to some requests made by the tree teacher unions at a meeting in Accra.

The teacher unions are the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT),
and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT).

The unions presented a document on their concerns in the education sector for consideration in the NDC manifesto.

The teacher unions further made a request for a review of their conditions of service and an improvement in the sector.

Mahama reiterated his comments that he will not to make any promises considering the economic crisis confronting the country.

‘So, I said I was not going to make that promise and that they should give a bit of a honeymoon, and that is what I said that was misinterpreted to say that I want a honeymoon when I become president. I had my honeymoon with Auntie Lordina thirty-something years ago.

“And so, I don’t require any honeymoons. I meant we should give the economy a honeymoon; we will see what is there, and as we create, we can share,’ he explained.

Source: Ghana Web

Ghana Irrigation Development Authority and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to deepen collaboration and ensure sustainable water management and irrigation practices.

The MoU, which is heavily tilted towards research, will also look at training smallholder farmers to sustainably utilize the water resources. 

Dr Mark Smith, IWMI Director General and Richard Oppong-Boateng, Acting Chief Executive Officer of GIDA, signed the deal on behalf of their institutions.

Commenting on the five-year agreement, Mr Oppong-Boateng expressed the hope that the strategic partnerships would serve as fundamental resource for organisations to develop and expand linkages with well-established institutions.

‘Ghana has the potential to produce more and export to neighbouring countries.  We can only do that when we have sustainable water resources. Through this MOU, we are going to do a lot of research to look at how we can predict the rainfall and also how we can model o
ur water resources,’ he said.

The Authority currently manages over 180 irrigation schemes and has the vision of developing the available water resources and irrigation potential of about 1.9 million hectares for livelihood options in agriculture, (irrigation, livestock watering and aquaculture) at appropriate scales for smallholder and commercial farmers in all communities throughout the country.

‘We are very grateful and happy to see the signing of the MoU and hope it will help to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6 towards achieving water quality and sustainability for the survival of people and the planet,’ he said.

Mr Oppong-Boateng said the MoU would also bring on board expertise to predict with satellite imagery and modelling instead of using runoff coefficients in design of dams. 

Also, the MoU will help to mitigate the effect of climate change through the use of climate smart technologies, placing a limit on water usage and still have high production levels. 

‘If we don’t manage ou
r resources well, we will not be able to have water to produce food. So, for the small-holder farmer who doesn’t know anything about water conservation through this capacity building training, we will be able to tell them and even train them how they should use their water resources.’

On his part, Dr Smith said the MoU would deepen and make closer the strategic partnership IWMI have with the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority.

He said the two institutions had a shared objective to support the development of irrigation in Ghana to make sure it was sustainable and inclusive as well as productive.

Dr Smith said IWMI had been working in Ghana for the last 20 years on water management and irrigation development in a whole variety of respects that met maximum potential for supporting and strengthening farmers, their livelihoods and their families’ well-being. 

On measuring the impact of the project, Dr Smith said the partners would clearly want to see that ‘a partnership like this is really driving change a
nd driving impacts, especially impacts in policy and investment and the way that works.’

Also, impact on the ground that makes a real difference in people’s lives.

He said to implement the joint activities with GIDA, there was quite comprehensive monitoring frameworks for tracking the results and the impacts of our programmes together. 

‘So, we’ll be sure to have a strong evidence-based story to tell about the success, we hope, of this partnership,’ Dr Smith added.

He said IWMI was focused on driving change in water management that makes a difference in people’s lives through more formalized training approaches that we would build into different projects and also through partnerships that work from the ground through institutions, whether local water management institutions or district level water management institutions.

Dr Olufunke Cofie, IWMI West Africa Regional Representative, said the Institute was proud about co-developing innovations with stakeholders and beneficiaries, including smallholder farm
ers, government agencies, and non-governmental organisations that are working with farmers as well.

‘So, we’ve co-developed two innovations. One is about transforming waste into fertilizer, which we have done together and it’s being commercialized,’ she said.

Dr Cofie said IWMI continued to use its expertise to support the efforts of the government to take irrigation to the next level, to expand the area of irrigation, and to improve irrigation practices, particularly in the northern area where they only have opportunity to cultivate once a year.

‘There’s a need to improve the income and livelihoods of smallholder farmers by helping them with innovations, technologies, practices that they can draw on water whether it’s surface water or groundwater resources, to use it to have dry season production systems.  We help people to be more engaged, we help people to generate income,’ she added.

The occasion was also used to showcase the activities of IWMI to stakeholders in areas such as agricultural water manag
ement and irrigation, drawing attention to faecal sludge management, strengthening individual and institutions, contributing to their capacity through graduate studies, facilitating policy dialogue, contributing knowledge, evidence-based knowledge into policy processes, either in the agricultural sector or in the water and sanitation sector, something that we have been actively doing in Ghana.

Stakeholders also had a virtual reality experience.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ghana has assumed the presidency of the Consultative International Cashew Council (CICC).

The country takes over the reign of CICC, an international organisation with legal capacity and financial autonomy responsible for promoting the sustainable development of cashew in the world, from Côte D’Ivoire at the end of April 2024.

The CICC seeks to provide a framework for consultation and to promote the development of the cashew sector in Member States through the coordination of policies and cooperation between States.

Mr Yaw Frimpong Addo, a Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture in charge of Crops told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that Ghana’s mandate commenced from April 2024 to April 2025.

He expressed joy, noting that the country had been preparing for the position over the years by putting in place regulations and structures.

Mr Addo said leading the 11-member Organisation would be an opportunity to leverage and learn from other countries’ best practices in production, processing and accessing funding
opportunities.

‘Some of the countries like Cote D’Ivoir are advancing from production to marketing so, we will leverage that to build ours,’ he said.

Mr William Agyapong Quaittoo, the Chief Executive Officer of the Tree Development Authority, told the GNA that leading the CICC would offer Ghana many opportunities, including foreign investment to conduct research and upscale sustainable initiatives.

‘Any institution that wants to do any business or study on cashew will first have to start from Ghana even though the Secretariat of CICC is in Cote D’ Ivoire. Through this, the sector will build its capacity and harness the potential to benefit actors, especially farmers,’ he said.

Cocoa, he said, had been one of Ghana’s foreign exchange earners for over 50 years, however, climate change and other challenges were declining its production hence the need to develop the cashew sector to take over.

Mr Quaittoo stated that the production of cashew had increased in the last three years from 100, 000 metric tonnes t
o over 250,000 metric tonnes.

He said it was the aim of the country to produce and process about 50 per cent of cashews instead of the current situation where 90 per cent was exported as tax free.

The CICC members are; Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo.

Established on the 18th of November 2016 in Abidjan, Côte D’Ivoire, the CICC aims to create a consultation framework and synergies between member states for a sustainable cashew sector.

Africa’s cashew industry has come up strongly in recent years as one with enormous potential and one that can significantly contribute to the economic growth of the continent.

About 60 per cent of the world’s global raw cashew nuts are produced in Africa, with Cote D’Ivoire being the world’s leading producer, producing 1 million tons in 2021.

Source: Ghana News Agency

His Majesty’s Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS) under the UK Ministry of Justice has acknowledged the Crime Check Foundation’s (CCF) work in the prisons with a plaque.

Top-level officials from HM Prisons and Probation Service presented a plaque to recognise the Foundation’s contribution to the rehabilitation and reformation of prisoners in Ghana.

The HMPPS, like the Ghana Prisons Service, carry out sentences given by courts, in custody and the community, and rehabilitate people through education and employment.

The key officials presented the plaque to Mr Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng, the Executive Director of CCF when they met a team from the organization to tap into its wealth of knowledge on prison administration in Ghana.

They applauded the Foundation for the work it does in the prisons.

The meeting with CCF was borne out of the UK’s decision to repatriate some Ghanaian prisoners in Britain to Ghana.

Following its recognition internationally, Crime Check Foundation is expecting a second cohort of vol
unteers from the UK to learn about Ghana’s prison system under its supervision.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Caleb Gidisu, a 20-year-old resident of Adabakpo, a farming community in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region, was electrocuted in the aftermath of a heavy rainstorm that ravaged the community in the early hours of Friday, April 19, 2024.

Eyewitnesses recounted the harrowing incident to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) and indicated that they rushed out to discover Caleb electrocuted on his farm after hearing a distressing noise.

Swift action from residents saw Caleb being rushed to the Adidome Government Hospital for immediate medical attention.

Mr Wisdom Tokpo, one of the eyewitnesses who took Caleb Gidisu to the hospital described the scene as extremely dire.

‘The doctors are working on him, and we thank God that he’s responding to treatment,’ he stated.

The tragedy, however, had raised serious concerns among residents regarding the response of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

Prior to the incident, the residents made numerous appeals through the local radio station in Adidome for the urg
ent intervention of the ECG after the storm toppled a high-tension electricity pole and cables. 

Despite these pleas, the Company allegedly failed to act promptly, leaving the community vulnerable to such a tragic outcome.

Madam Esenam Kaka, the Assembly Member of the area when contacted by the GNA, noted that she was not aware of the incident.

The residents of Adabakpo have called on the local leaders to ensure that similar incidents in the future are prevented.

They also advocated for improved emergency response protocols and enhanced communication channels with utility providers. 

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Gomoa Assin Traditional Council in the Central Region has officially been renamed and inaugurated at a brief but colourful ceremony on Thursday, 18th April 2024 at Buduatta in the Central Region.

The event which attracted top traditional rulers across the region and various traditional areas signified the importance of the renaming of the council from Akyempim Traditional Council to Gomoa Assin Traditional Council.

With over 100 members, the Gomoa Assin Traditional Council is the largest council within the province.

The President and Omanhene of the Gomoa Assin Traditional Council, Obrifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobea (II) in his speech revealed that the council would work hand-in-hand with all stakeholders.

He again mentioned that they would also ensure rapid development, growth, unity and cohesion within the various traditional areas.

“We are aiming to transform the communities through community dialogue. We would share all ideas to promote unity and cohesion among all. The council is poised to transform th
e livelihoods of our people. So our coming together is a sign of hope and blessings.

“The Gomoa Assin Traditional Council have always been in existence, today we are just unveiling ourselves to the public. We are not creating or changing the name,” he said.

Highlighting the importance of the occasion, Nana Kumasah Krampah II, Omankrado of Gomoa Asempayin and Divisional Omankrado of Gomoa Assin Traditional Council, Nyimfa Division called on investors to support and develop the community.

He indicated the readiness of the council to provide needed assistance to constituents through education and job employment.

“I have managed to secure some educational programs with Archaya Institute in India, so we are poised to promote education within the community. And it is very key that we all support the Gomoa Assin Traditional Council to propel us forward. Rally behind us to make the community and the traditional areas great,” he noted.

Gracing the occasion, the Deputy Commissioner of Police who doubles as the Cen
tral East Regional commander, Bismark Owusu Bempah commended the council and chiefs for the massive developmental outputs.

DCOP Bismark Owusu Bempah assured the traditional council of the continuous promotion of peace within the various traditional areas and the region at large.

“We have put in place measures before the elections and even after to ensure there’s peace. The police is not affiliated to any political party so we are not favouring anybody who misbehaves or disturbs the peace of the community,” he stated.

The well-patronized event was graced by both Gomoa East and West district executives, traditional Queen mothers’, Gomoa divisional chiefs from both far and near and political enthusiasts among others.

Source: Ghana Web

The Executive Director of the Devtraco Group, Joseph Aidoo Jr., surprised the Sales and Marketing team of the company with an all-expense paid trip to Mombasa, Kenya from April 2-7, 2024.

The trip was to reward the team for the remarkable achievement of selling out 80% of the company’s heralded new development, The Address. The team was treated to the attractions and splendid cuisine of one of Kenya’s most notable coastal cities.

The significant interest the public has shown in The Address can be attributed to its prime location at Roman Ridge, the variety of amenities provided, and Devtraco Plus’s reputation for projects that deliver the best living experience for residents and outstanding returns for investors.

The most recent of the developer’s luxury projects features three separate towers – a tower for vacation apartments; a tower with studio, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, duplex, and penthouse residential apartments with private pools; and a tower with hotel apartments to be managed by Aleph, an internationa
l hotel management company.

The address is designed to meet the needs of residents looking for peak luxury living in Accra as well as investors who want to take advantage of Accra’s popularity and attractiveness to tourists, business people from around the world, and the African diaspora. Amenities include a private cinema, retail spaces, multipurpose sports court, gaming area, cocktail bar, miniature golf, kids play area, roof-top fitness center, multiple infinity swimming pools, lounge area, and many more.

In addition, the Address is located not more than 10 minutes’ drive from some of the best schools, healthcare facilities, restaurants, and shopping centers in the capital. The Kotoka International Airport is also only 10 minutes’ drive away. Apart from the 24-hour in-house security provided, the Roman Ridge Police Station and the Airport Police Station are just within reach of The Address.

Speaking about the 80% sell-out rate of The Address, the Executive Director thanked the Sales and Marketing team f
or their hard work.

He said, ‘The success of the Address is a testament to the research, planning and preparation that goes into the projects that Devtraco Plus undertakes. It is also a vote of confidence in the Devtraco Plus brand. The Sales and Marketing team have displayed an exemplary dedication to the cause of delivering our offering to customers, and I hope this trip expresses how grateful I am for their work.’

He also recommended that people endeavour to grab the remaining lots of The Address before it gets fully sold out. Interested parties can visit www.theaddress.devtracoplus.com or call +233 (0) 270 000 004.

Devtraco Plus, a subsidiary of Devtraco Group, has been dedicated to delivering new standards of living in the industry for 12 years. Other companies in the Devtraco Group include Fabrico Builders, Talis Property Management, Landmark Restaurants, and Devtraco Foundation.

Source: Ghana Web