Category: Medicine

Mrs Elizabeth Kwatsoe Tawiah Sackey, the Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly has urged young entrepreneurs to come up with new ideas to be able to access support from the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP).

She said government recognised the importance of entrepreneurship hence the launch of the Programme, which had received a seven-million-dollar grant to assist entrepreneurs to go into self-businesses to build themselves up, and to help grow the economy.

‘So, my dear brothers and sisters don’t sit on the fence. Let us be partakers in the nation building. The money is sitting there go for it and use it to do things that will enhance the growth of our economy and the nation,’ she stated.

Mrs Sackey gave the advice at the VODEC Africa Entrepreneurship and Career Fair Summit 2023 held at the Accra City Hall on the theme: ‘Harnessing and Exploiting the 21st Century Economic Opportunities in Entrepreneurship and Career Development.’

She said the government had also initiated a programme that focused on businesses that operate in agriculture, technology and innovation, light manufacturing and processing waste and green businesses as well as technical and vocational set ups.

The Chief Executive entreated the youth to network with their forebearers to tap their experiences.

Rev Dr Lawrence Tetteh, a Pastor and a renowned International Evangelist who was the chairman for the occasion asked upcoming entrepreneurs to avoid cutting corners, saying; ‘Some of you today I want you to learn and network. If you want to be a good entrepreneur don’t cut corners.

‘Learn how to craw, walk, run before attempting to fly. There are many privileges and opportunities in career and entrepreneurship, but we miss them because we don’t learn.’

Rev Dr Tetteh advised them to cease the opportunity at every given stage of life and work through them and stop the copycat and also avoid the get-rich quick habit.

Mr Daniel Asomani, the Chief Executive of VODEC Africa said the organisation has become a beacon of hope for many youths in Ghana.

‘Even with the government policies of one district one factory and other flagship programmes to provide jobs for the Ghanaian youth, it has become urgent for us to broaden our scope of operation,’ he stated.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Minority Caucus has urged the Government to treat the shortage of childhood vaccines in the country as a national emergency.

Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Ranking Member, Parliament Health Committee and NDC Member of Parliament (MP) for Juaboso, addressing the Parliamentary Press Corps on Tuesday in Accra said the shortage of vaccines for the six childhood killer diseases could best be described as a disaster, which was highly unacceptable.

‘Let me state that every child in this country per the 1992 Constitution has the right to good Heathcare,’ he stated

He said in some areas, it was even a crime for Government Officials in-charge of health to sit aloof to allow the shortage of vaccines in the country.

He said it was unacceptable for Government Officials in-charge of health to look on while vulnerable children were getting infected with diseases that could easily be prevented or avoided.

Mr Akandoh said there were two main ways of financing vaccines for children in Ghana, adding that of the 13 vaccines, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) was co-financing about 10 of them while the Government of Ghana was to finance the other three.

He said even with that, the Government of Ghana was still defaulting.

He said GAVI believed that the children could not be punished because of the mistakes of politicians and even though Ghana was owing, GAVI was still supplying those 10 vaccines.

‘Now we as a country, we are supposed to 100 per cent procure about three of them (the vaccines), which include the vaccines against tetanus, poliomyelitis and measles and with these three we are defaulting.

‘One very important thing we must all take note of is that GAVI, which is co-financing about 10 of these vaccines is considering withdrawing completely.

‘So, if we cannot finance only three, can we finance 13 of them? GAVI is considering withdrawing from co-financing because we claim we are at a middle-income status. So, if we cannot finance only three, and it gets to a point where GAVI withdraws, we will be in deep troubles.’

He said Parliament passed the National Health Insurance allocation formula every year, and that there was an allocation in the National Health Insurance formula for the purchase of vaccines.

Mr Akandoh said when the formula was submitted to this House for 2022, an allocation of about GHS72 million was made to procure vaccines.

He said the Health Committee of Parliament invited the Minister responsible for Health and some other agencies, including the National Health Insurance Authority, and that at the said meeting, the Authority made it categorically clear that GHS72 million had been released.

‘It beats my imagination that after the release of the GHS72 million, there are shortage of vaccines in this country,’ he said.

‘We started recording measles in this country around October, 2022, for about four clear months ago. This is an emergency situation, this is a clear failure of Government.’

He blamed the Health Minister and the Government for looking on over the past four months while the country still did not have vaccines in its system.

Adding that this was unpardonable, because in the planning for vaccines procurements and its deployment, and that they were supposed to plan.

Mr Akandoh mentioned that the House looked at the allocation for vaccines for 2024 in 2023, and that they looked at the vaccine’s allocations for 2023 in 2022, saying ‘so why have we run short of these vaccines’.

He said the shortage of vaccines in the country was highly unacceptable, especially so when these vaccines were not over-the-counter medications, where people could walk in and buy these vaccines.

He said the vaccines were sensitive and highly protected by organisations and states; ‘So, if you don’t have the vaccines, all the children in this country are at a very high risk’.

He noted that due to the instability in Ghana’s northern neighbor, Burkina Faso, there had been influx of refugees from that country into northern Ghana, and that children such as refugees who were not fully vaccinated against the six childhood killer diseases were likely to carry such diseases into Ghana

He said the issue of vaccines for the six childhood killer diseases was a sensitive matter and therefore a national emergency.

‘What we are expecting at the end of the day is that the Minister announces that they have taken deliveries of the vaccines and for that matter tomorrow they are starting the distributions of these vaccines,’ Mr Akandoh stated

Source: Ghana News Agency

Scores of military officers have undertaken reconnaissance manoeuvring at Ashaiman with ground men, an armoured tank, and two helicopters to arrest persons involved in the cold blood murder of a soldier on Sunday, March 5.

The ‘search and arrest mission’ which started in the early hours of Tuesday led to the entanglement with a section of the residents at Ashaiman enclave, especially at Newtown, Official Town, Valco Flat, and some parts of the Middle East all in the Ashaiman Municipality.

According to Madam Ramar Alhassan, an eyewitness, the whole area was under a temporal self-imposed curfew as no one was seen walking about aside the soldiers, stressing ‘normal daily life has been interrupted abruptly’.

Madam Alhassan who is a resident of Newtown explained that two nights ago some young men in the area beat a soldier, who was also a soldier to the pulp.

She said the beating was not associated with theft as the soldier was found dead with his mobile phone, tablet, and some undisclosed amount of money with him.

‘The soldiers have been around since Monday, March 6, and they saw evidence of the soldier’s blood in a compound of a house. So they have taken all the residents of that house away. We don’t know where they might have taken them to,’ she added.

Mr. Ganiu Rufai, also an eyewitness who allegedly suffered a handspring from the engagement with the soldiers, narrated that he run into the soldiers’ riding a motorbike while wearing camouflage military shorts, they stopped him, questioned him, and manhandled him.

Mr. Prosper Agbe, a resident of the area said, the soldiers have taken over the whole place, ‘now we are afraid

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ghana’s national flag, designed by Mrs Theodosia. S Okoh, a Ghanaian, was flaunted in patriotic fashion to celebrate the country’s 66th Independence Day celebration in Ho, Volta Regional capital.

The flag of Ghana consists of the colours red, gold, and green in horizontal stripes with a five-pointed black star in the centre of the gold stripe, which was displayed as an important national symbol of unity.

The red represents the blood of those who died in the country’s struggle for independence while the Gold represents the mineral wealth of the country.

The Green symbolises the country’s rich forests. The Black Star stands for the lodestar of African Freedom.

The Ho township was awash with Ghana colours as many shops and streetlights had flag hangings, and some residents made good returns on the sale of Paraphernalia, mostly Ghana flags of all sizes.

At the anniversary grounds, Ghana’s flag was displayed spectacularly as a show of patriotism and to identify with the country’s values, beliefs, and history.

Students, security personnel and the public alike indeed showed a sense of patriotism by proudly displaying their flags at the parade.

Esenam, who joined an all-female contingent of the Ola Senior High School with their flags fitted around their uniforms, said ‘We are proud to be Ghanaians and to partake in the parade’.

Some foreigners who had joined Ghanaians from various parts of the country at the Volta Regional Youth Resource Centre, located Adaklu-Tsrefe near Ho, where the parade was being held, also showed their solidarity with the country by waving Ghana flags.

Komla Afenu, a resident who joined the celebration with a flag in hand said, ‘when I see the Ghana flag, I feel a powerful emotion and sense of patriotism for Ghana. Ghana is all we have. It is such a delight to see all of us with flags’.

The Ghana Airforce was at its best as a helicopter flew over the parade grounds displaying the Ghanaian flag.

The participation of security dogs from the K9-Unit of the Ghana Police Service made the seamless parade much more delightful.

The theme for the celebration; ‘Our Unity, Our Strength, Our Purpose’, sought to drum home the need for Ghanaians to rally together and work to overcome the challenges confronting the country.

The day marked exactly 66 years since Ghana attained independence from British colonial rule.

On parade at the Volta Regional Youth Resource Centre, located at Adaklu-Tsrefe, near Ho, were 64 officers and 1,042 men from various security agencies.

A contingent from seven senior high schools (SHS) and basic schools in the Ho municipality and Adaklu District, and representatives of voluntary organisations also formed part of the parade.

Over 5,000 people, including the Diplomatic Corp, Ministers of State, Municipal and District Chief Executives, students, and Ghanaians from parts of the country took part in the anniversary celebration graced by the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

The President of Guinea Bissau, Mr Umaro Sissoco Embalo, also the Chairman of the Economic Community West African States (ECOWA) was the special guest at the parade.

The parade was characterised by cultural performances from students and displays by the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ghana Airforce.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in his anniversary address asked Ghanaians to remain united and work together with the common purpose of removing barriers to ensure national development.

He noted that it was with a united front that the country’s forebears fought to break colonial rule 66 years ago.

‘Our forebears were united in the independence struggle. It did not matter where they came from; the religion they belonged to did not matter; their standing in society did not matter; they were united for independence, and they got it.

‘As President, my devotion to the Ghana project is unwavering. The enemy we face is not ourselves; it is removing the barriers to the country’s development,’ he said.

‘We cannot allow those who seek to divide us to succeed,’ President Akufo-Addo said in a reassuring address which received resounding applause.

The President further noted that the Fourth Republic had witnessed the longest era of peaceful democracy in the country, and it must, therefore, be held in high esteem by all Ghanaians.

That, he said, called for greater unity among the citizenry to address the current economic challenges and move on in progress.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mrs Charlotte Owusu of Sickle Cell Condition Advocate says sickle cell disease can be prevented though it is a blood disease inherited from both parents.

She encouraged potential couples to check their genotype to know their status, such knowledge will help one to make the right partner choice.

Mrs Owusu shared this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in an interview during a free health screening organised by the Team General Hospital and Tema Polyclinic.

She said sickle cell was a blood disease inherited from both parents and encouraged people to always know their sickle cell status before going into marriage or bringing forth children.

‘Since sickle cell children are always prone to other diseases, they mostly lose their lives at an early stage,’ she mentioned.

Mrs Owusu called on opinion leaders, organizations, and churches to educate their youth, especially on sickle cell conditions, and their implications so that they would not end up making the wrong partner choice and give birth to sickle cell children.

She also encouraged parents with sickle cell children to accept them and care for them as normal children and asked communities to stop stigmatizations.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr. Eugene Sackey, Upper West Akim District Chief Executive has called on stakeholders in the education sector to contribute their quota to help reverse the falling academic performance in schools in the district.

He said the Assembly supported the district education directorate to roll out a few interventions aimed at improving performance in Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the district.

‘Information available with us indicate that students’ performance in the BECE in the district is still not the best, and with regard, this must be the concern of all and sundry’, he stated.

Mr Sackey made the call in an address he delivered at the 66th Independence Day parade at Adieso, the District Capital on the theme ‘Our Unity; Our Strength; Our Purpose’ which had school children, students and several organisations mounting a parade with the Adeiso Presbyterian Senior High School Regimental Band in attendance.

According to him, there was an increasing demand to galvanize support to help consolidate the gains made so far, and this could be achieved in understanding, good leadership, prudent economic management, and rule of law.

He informed the gathering that the district had not been left oft out of the implementation of achievable policies including investing in education, addressing graduate unemployment, and improving roads networks which were still on going,

‘The government will ensure that the free SHS continues despite issues pertaining to the country’s economic setbacks,’ he assured, encouraging the youth to take advantage of that policy and concentrate on their education.

Mr Sackey announced that the government had set up Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Schools which was going to be a new normal for the country’s education system.

He explained that STEM students were expected to develop key skills including problem solving, creativity, critical analysis, teamwork, independent thinking, initiative, communication, and digital literacy to serve as the foundation to succeed in school and beyond.

Currently, 75 percent of jobs in the fastest growing industries required workers with STEM skills and in this regard, he called on the students, particularly females to embrace it wholeheartedly.

‘Let us cultivate the habit of patriotism, discipline, and unity of purpose among the youth to create a generational wealth of good citizen who love one another, he added.

Osabarima Asare Oduro II, paramount chief of the area who chaired the occasion, stated that he was impressed with the performance by the schools.

As part of the celebration the Assembly awarded the best WASSCE female with a laptop and an undisclosed amount of money to encourage others to take STEM education. Other students who excelled in the BECE in the district were also honoured.

Among the Personalities at the event were Chiefs and Queen Mothers of the area, Assembly members, Security agencies, Heads of Departments and Market women.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Joseph Agyei-Boakye, Business Development Manager of the Souvenirs and More, has added his voice to the call on Ghanaians to patronise made-in-Ghana goods to complement government’s efforts to stabilize the cedi and revive the economy.

He said every Ghanaian must rethink and consider developing an appetite for locally made products because ‘that is also a veritable way to tackle the current economic hardship’.

Mr Agyei-Boakye made the call when the company introduced new products unto the Ghanaian market in Accra on Friday.

Some of the made-in-Ghana products are bamboo flasks, gift sets for corporate institutions and branded cups.

Mr Agyei-Boakye noted that high inflation, increased petroleum prices and taxation had consequently made a huge toll on imported products adding that ‘we must embrace and patronise what we have to boost the local economy’.

The Business Development Manager said ‘we must all be imbibed with the culture of patronising our locally manufactured goods and services to boost the economy’.

He stressed the need for intensify public education to make Ghanaians understand and appreciate the relevance n of patronising locally made products during times of economic hardship.

Mr Agyei-Boakye noted that products branding remained a pre-requisite and asked Ghanian entrepreneurs to do good branding and packaging of their products to meet international standards.

‘Ghanaians will; develop the taste and patronise our locally made products if we make them attractive in the market to compete with the imported products’, he said adding that ‘we must grow what we eat and eat what we grow’

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Edward Boateng,?the Director-General of the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), has called for the inclusion of patriotism into Ghana’s educational curriculum.?

That, he said, would promote public sacrifice and demand for accountability, which are critically needed to make the country develop to a state, comparable to other advanced countries. ?

‘Patriotism is not something that falls from trees; we must inculcate it in our curriculum so that people would learn to respect the flag, our culture and the things that make us Ghanaian, including our food and clothing.’?

Mr Boateng made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the commemoration of the country’s 66th independence anniversary.

He called for patriotism to be married with accountability to engender long-term national development.?

‘There are Ghanaian children who have never lived here (Ghana), but they are referred to as Ghanaian-Chinese, Ghanaian-British or Ghanaian-American, so Ghana will always be part of us.

‘Having lived with Ghanaians in the US, Europe, South Africa, and China, I will say that Ghanaians are patriotic,’ he said, and called for a functional system that would ensure that people who made the country lose money, particularly in the public sector were dealt with to serve as a deterrent to others.?

‘It is our responsibility to make sure that we hold the system and our government to task. We also must make sure that people who are put in responsibilities of trust are held accountable.’?

The SIGA Director-General bemoaned the state where Ghanaians are not holding people in authority accountable for what they deliver, saying, ‘In China, the US and other countries, people are patriotic, yet they take advantage of the system, but they are punished when caught. The challenge is that we are not punishing those people.’?

He was confident that once the Government showed more commitment in dealing with corruption by punishing those who took advantage of the system, ‘there will be a higher level of accountability.’?

On the national development plan, Mr Boateng said most of the details in political party manifestoes were just mere words, ‘so, we the people must hold them accountable and demand to know how they are going to implement and fund it.’?

‘Democracy does not lend itself to one plan, you and I have a different plan but at the end of the day, we want to educate people, provide health, sanitation, and good infrastructure. How we are going to do it differently is where we must take the manifestoes of all our parties to the task,’ he said.?

Mr Boateng noted that Ghana, since the attainment of independence, had made significant gains in education, health, and other infrastructure development, despite the occasional political and economic challenges.?

‘At independence, the number of graduates in the country was less than a thousand. Today, we have millions of graduates. We could count the number of entrepreneurs in the country on our fingers at the time, but, today, we have many of them.’?

‘In all these, the most important thing is that we have freedom and peace, and we have peace,’ he emphasised and called on Ghanaians to jealously protect and preserve Ghana’s democratic credentials.?

Source: Ghana News Agency