Day: March 17, 2024

The Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital (ENRH) in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, has organised a send-off ceremony for its former staff who retired from active service between 2021 and 2023.

The ceremony was to honour and show appreciation to the 35 senior and junior retirees for their dedication, professionalism and exceptional contributions towards achieving the Hospital’s organisational goals throughout their years of services.

Each of them was presented with a citation, in addition to double-door, and table-top refrigerators for some of them, while others also got smart television sets.

Dr Joseph Kojo Tambil, the ENRH Medical Director, speaking during the ceremony congratulated the retirees for making a difference in the lives of the people they served during their illustrious careers.

He expressed gratitude on behalf of the Hospital’s management team to them for their long service, commitment and hard work to the Hospital and the country.

He said: ‘Today’s ceremony is for us to celebrate our colleague
s who have served this Hospital, the Ghana Health Service and indeed the Western Region for so many years and reached the compulsory age of retirement. We say we are grateful for your invaluable service.’

Speaking on welfare of current staff, Dr Tambil noted that management was taking steps to put in place good and favourable working conditions to help motivate them to work diligently and give off their best for the Hospital.

Mr Alfred O. Hughes, Chairman for the occasion, urged the retirees to take good care of themselves and engage in activities that would keep them healthy, saying; ‘retirement is not retardation.’

Madam Angelina Sagoe, one of the retirees, on behalf of her colleagues expressed gratitude to the management and staff of the ENRH for showing them love and sharing their joy.

She asked the current staff to continue to work tirelessly to leave good legacies when they also reached their retirement age.

Source: Ghana News Agency

A former Deputy Defense Chief of the Ambazonia Defense Forces, a separatist group fighting in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions, Ngong Daniel, also called Capo Daniel, revealed that his former group killed popular Anglophone Barrister Senator Kemende in Bamenda, North West region.

On January 11, 2022, armed ADF fighters attacked Barrister Kemende around the Nkwen neighborhood in Bamenda, North West region. They took away his car and left him struggling for his life.

Capo Daniel in a podcast dated Saturday March 16, 2024, revealed that the plan to kidnap the lawmaker was hactehd since by the group’s Norway based leader, Ayaba Chou Lucas.

On the day the Senior Barrister was killed, his attackers took away his car to their camp, Capo said, acknowledging that it is only when they discvered that Kemende’s car was in their camp that he knew the act was carried out by their men.

‘When they killed Kemende, our forces said they did not carry out the attack until when State forces invaded the camp and seized the car. I
did not know they killed…our leader Ayaba Cho had explained to me that they were going to kidnap Kemende, but I said it was not a good idea, he said ok. But I do not know if he went back to order for his kidnap or killing…Ayaba Cho said they should pick him up, I denied’ Capo Daniel said.

‘Nobody said anyhting when I asked the Presidential house,’ Capo said.

Capo was a strong advocate of the ADF and the AMbazonia Governing Council but last year left the group citing differences in position. He later announced the creation of Ambazonia Peoples Advocative Platform.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Mr. Evans Akpah, Assemblyman of Adaklu Kodzobi Electoral Area in the Adaklu district, has urged the youth to take advantage of the several skills development training opportunities offered by government and other relevant organizations to improve themselves.

He said youth unemployment could only be minimised if the youth acquired skills that could make them self-employed.

Mr. Akpah said this during an interaction with the youth in his Electoral Area at Adaklu Have in the Adaklu district.

‘The youth are sitting on goldmines of latent talents which when developed will curb youth unemployment,’ he stated.

The Assemblyman disclosed that he was liaising with some non-governmental organisations and Master craftsmen and women to help train the youth in skills such as masonry, carpentry, hairdressing, dressmaking, beads and soap making among others.

He urged those who would benefit from such programmes to be obedient and humble to their trainers.

He advised them to shy away from ‘get rich attitudes’ and embrace
self-discipline.

Meanwhile, Mr. Akpah called on government and the Adaklu District Assembly to tackle the poor road network in the area.

He mentioned the Ho – Adaklu Kodzobi and Adaklu Have – Adaklu Dzakpo roads that needed urgent attention before the rains set in.

Mr. Akpah said he was lobbying for the construction of toilet facilities for communities that lacked them in the area.

He entreated the people to continue paying their levies and rates to the Assembly to enable it to accrue revenue to develop the district.

Source: Ghana News Agency

By Eratus Ndueh

The Minister of Communication, and spokesperson of the government, Rene Emmanuel Sadi has denied any claims on an outing that has been making waves on social media, where he is alleged to have warned Cameroonians against the use of the question ‘What was there before’ translated in French ‘il y’avait quoi avant’, or faces charges of hostility to fatherland and insult to institutions, coupled with the propagation of false news.

According to a communiqué released on March 16, a director at the Ministry debunked the information, saying that ‘It aims to sow confusion among public opinion.’ He added that ‘information which comes from the Ministry of Communication is always well organized and disseminated through official communication channels.’

Also, the Minister of Communication, while condemning what he described as an unprofessional approach whose target is to harm his person and the values of the journalism profession, called for strick respect for ethics and deontology of the profession by
media professionals, in the processing of information before sharing.

The innocuous question ‘il y’avait quoi avant’ was pronounced in Maroua in the Far North of Cameroon by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development Célestine Ketcha Courtes on a working visit, where she questioned the population about what existed before Biya, who has been in power for 41 years. She insinuated that before Paul Biya, Maroua had no roads that anyone could boast about.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

The World Health Organization (WHO) has lauded the recent decision by Ethiopia to approve life-saving yellow fever vaccine into the country’s routine immunization program.

This decision is a major part of Ethiopia’s efforts to implement the Eliminate Yellow Fever Epidemics strategy that aims to protect almost one billion people against this deadly disease worldwide and eliminate its epidemics by the end of 2026, the WHO said in a statement.

Nonhlanhla Dlamini, acting representative of the WHO Ethiopia, said the approval to introduce the yellow fever vaccine in Ethiopia is a significant breakthrough to ensure the availability of vaccines for the people of the country and protect populations at risk.

“The WHO is coordinating the effort and supporting the government by engaging multidisciplinary partners to extend their support with the resource required for smooth integration of yellow fever vaccine into their routine immunization schedule,” the statement quoted Dlamini as saying.

This year, the Eliminate y
ellow fever epidemics (EYE) strategy will host its 7th Annual Partners’ Meeting in Addis Ababa from 19 to 21 March and provides an opportunity for Ethiopia to gain insights from countries that have already introduced yellow fever vaccine into their routine immunization schedules, and that have conducted preventive vaccination campaigns.

State Minister of Health Dereje Duguma said ‘Hosting this EYE Partners’ meeting immediately after the country’s significant decision allows us to learn from the experiences of other countries and seek support from EYE partners to effectively implement the EYE Strategy within our nation.’

Yellow fever is a viral disease transmitted between humans by the bites of mosquitoes, according to the WHO.

There is no specific treatment for yellow fever, which has a case fatality rate as high as 31 percent to 47 percent for those who develop severe forms of the disease. A single dose of yellow fever vaccine provides life-long protection, the WHO noted.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Mr Rockson Abumba, the Union Chairman of the Meridian Ports Services (MPS) workers, has called for the alignment of their salaries to reflect the international rates and levies charged for services at the port.

Mr Abumba made the call when former president John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), interacted with industry players in the maritime and port sectors in Tema as part of his Greater Accra Regional Tour.

‘Our salaries are not matching international standards, but the charges at the port are international,’ he emphasised.

Mr Abumba said even though the salary was not good enough and it was making workers to depend on overtime allowance to cushion them.

However, the government was taxing their overtime allowance, stressing that ‘this overtime has also been taxed, so there is no escape route for the port worker.’

The union chairman appealed to Mr Mahama to consider putting in place a special package for the port worker, saying at some point in time, d
octors were giving special incentives when importing cars.

He added that bankers were also entitled to loans at minimal interest, indicating the need to get a similar incentive package for the port worker, whom he said sleeps in the port day and night to serve the nation.

According to him, the port could be likened to a human body, the heart of the nation, where revenue was generated and pumped to every sector of the economy, and in the nation, therefore the need to take good care of the workers at the port providing essential services to the country.

Mr Mahama, responding to the appeal, gave the assurance that if voted back into office as president, his administration would look at the issue and how best to make the port worker comfortable.

Source: Ghana News Agency

More than 3,000 patients in the Tigray region are poised to receive sight-saving glaucoma treatment through a collaborative effort of the Tigray Region Interim Administration Health Bureau, Kuha Hospital, and the Himalayan Cataract Project, an NGO.

Himalayan Cataract project Coordinator, Tesfay Teklamariam told ENA that the institutions will be providing glaucoma treatment in different areas of the region.

Since March 11, 2024, over 800 patients in the southern zone have already benefited from the program at Lemlem Karl Hospital Maichew, he revealed.

“Our people deserve to see,” said Tesfay, emphasizing their commitment to expanding the program across the Tigray region.

Lemlem Karl Hospital Maichew Cataract Surgeon, Yemane Gitet assured treated patients of continued follow-up care.

The restored vision of patients like 72-year-old Hiluf Gebremedhin from Hadnet Kebele exemplifies the program’s life-changing impact.

Hiluf has expressed excitement after he regained his eyesight following the free treatment.

Debesay Teka and Zewdu Kalayu from Endamekoni district, who had resigned themselves to blindness for two years, expressed their renewed hope of resuming their agricultural work independently.

This initiative marks a significant step towards ensuring treatable eye diseases do not cause preventable blindness.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Dr Donald Agumenu, a leadership and management expert, has described the internet blackout experienced in parts of the African continent as ‘suspicious threat to its trade and democracy’.

He said it was unfortunate that major trading blocs in Africa were hit by the cyber storm, disrupting trading activities.

Dr Agumenu said it was also worrying that it occurred when some of those countries were seriously preparing for elections.

He said the excuse for an undersea cable disruption should not be taken lightly, saying, there were more to it from a geo-cyberpolitical perspective that needed to be explored to its logical conclusion.

‘Africa may experience a more complex internet and cyber warfare if the techno-revolutionary narrative remains the same. What is more worrying is the level of vulnerability it brings to a continent with over half a billion people online.’

‘We need to wake up to the fact that the era of ICT and digital transformation has ushered in a new community with its own complexities and that
we need to manage this paradigm shift with the utmost care to stay afloat in global affairs,’ he cautioned.

In a news brief, Dr Agumenu said the continent may experience a more complex internet and cyber warfare if its techno-revolutionary narrative remained the same.

He said any continent or country that did not have absolute control over its cyber and internet architecture was exposed to serious security threats with devastating consequences.

‘Our independence will be meaningless if our cyber security is controlled by others. This affects not only public and private business but also our dignity and privacy as a people,’ he added.

Dr Agumenu said as Ghana prepared for a historic election in less than a year, the issue must be given top priority to protect the sovereign will of the people and deepen its democracy.

He stressed that innovations should be prioritised along with transparency to track free and fair elections, especially at a time when widespread unstable power supply was imminent.

Source:
Ghana News Agency

Professor Kwahu Atuahene-Gima, the Founder and President of Nobel International School (NiBS), says there is the need for ‘theoretically sound’ leaders for development.

He said leaders were more likely to make mistakes due to their inability to understand and provide logical explanations to their actions.

The founder of NiBS said if many decisions were taken without logical reasoning, development and progress would be low, hence the need for leaders to understand the logic behind their behaviours.

Professor Atuahene-Gima said this during the Future-Ready Leadership Summit, which was organised by NiBS, on the theme, ‘Reimagining Leadership in a World of Unrelenting Change.’

The Future-Ready Leadership Summit aimed to address the challenges facing nations, companies and organisations vulnerable to new technological developments, globalisation, Climate Change, COVID-19 and the others yet to occur.

He said the political and social changes arising from these developments were leading to an increasingly profou
nd shift in the nature and role of leadership in government, private and public sector organisations.

The founder of NiBS said leaders at all levels faced unrelenting change and unprecedented challenges, requiring them to be agile, adaptable, and visionary to build future-ready organisations having the agility to prosper in the tumultuous present while being future-focused.

‘There are lots of discourse about leadership in Ghana, Africa and across the world, and that various aspects of leadership have been explained and deliberated on for a while but what is missing is the real meaning of leadership,’ he added.

Professor Atuahene-Gima said after successful research in Ghana to find out whether leaders knew about future-ready leadership, results proved that over 80 per cent of leaders did not like change and almost 75 per cent did not know about the concept of future-ready leadership.??

Mr Sam Jonah, the Executive Chairman of Jonah Capital and Equity Fund, said in today’s world, change was not just a consta
nt, but accelerating, and that technological advancements, shifting global markets, and emerging societal challenges required rethink of leadership.

He said future-ready leaders were prepared to handle the known and adept at navigating the unknown, adding that these leaders possess a unique blend of flexibility, critical thinking, and the courage to innovate.

The Executive Chairman said preparing for multifaceted challenges ahead required a commitment to personal and professional growth, fostering a culture that elevated building expertise and resilience.

‘Through mentorship, leadership opportunities at all levels, and recognition of aligned leadership behaviours, we can cultivate the resilience and expertise necessary for the uncertain future,’ he added.

Dr Kenneth Ashigbey, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, said future-ready organisations must actively plan for their technological futures now by having roadmaps in place for how technology could transform their ways
of working.

‘I have recently in my own outfit charged all managers to clearly indicate in their monthly reports how they are using new technologies to better do their work and better serve our members,’ he said.

The CEO said future-ready organisations must develop detailed strategies and execute flawlessly with agility, adding that the strategies should have at their core environmental and social responsibilities, and must be documented, specific and measurable.

He urged all to embrace the spirit of transformation, and of possibility, and embark on the journey of reimagining leadership with courage, creativity, and conviction.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Upon the instructions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Asharif Agency launched in the Holy City, a humanitarian aid operation on the esplanades of Augusta Victoria (Al Mutlaa) Hospital.

This was in the presence of the director in charge of the agency’s management, Mohamed Salem Echarkaoui, several religious dignitaries, eminent personalities from Al-Quds, and representatives of social institutions.

The Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency said, in a statement, that the operation was part of the constant High sollicitude that His Majesty King Mohammed VI provided to the city of Al-Quds and its population, through the role played by the agency, under the direct supervision of His Majesty the King, for more

than a quarter of a century to contribute to the improvement of the socio-economic situation of the inhabitants of Al-Quds and to support the city’s institutions.

These humanitarian aids consist of the distribution of 2,000 food baskets for 2,000 needy families,
including 22 basic products, some of which are for children and others for people following a specific dietary regime.

They also include the distribution of 1,000 meals daily, which helps to meet a large part of the beneficiaries’ food needs in this blessed month, especially those registered on the lists of partner associations and those admitted to hospitals or residing in shelters.

The agency has taken into consideration, in managing the food aid distribution operation, several special regulations as well as a well-defined schedule that takes into account the situation in Al-Quds, in strict compliance with the sanitary safety conditions of the products.

The beneficiaries of food baskets and meals are distributed in various neighborhoods of Al-Quds, such as al-Balda al-Qadima, Silwan , Sheikh Jarrah, the Shu’fat camp, ath-Thori, Al-Isawiya, the Qalandia camp, and Al-Ram.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Northern Regional Chapter of Activista-Ghana, a youth advocacy organisation, has presented a petition to the Northern Regional Minister and the Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive on the need to enforce road safety regulations in the Greater Tamale Area.

The petition evolved from the organisation’s recently concluded activities and campaigns on enforcing road safety regulations, fixing defunct traffic lights and streetlights, road signs and markings in the metropolis.

The initiative sought to strengthen resilient livelihoods, contribute to secure climate justice and disaster risks reduction and ultimately enhance safety of all road users.

Mr Issahaku Abdul-Latif, Northern Regional Coordinator, Activista-Ghana, led some members of the organisation to make the presentation to two political representatives in the region.

The petition recommended that the Motor Traffic and Transport Department of the Ghana Police Service should prioritise the enforcement of road safety regulations such as the use of crash
helmets, seat belts, vehicle registration, under-age driving and riding, speeding, overloading, and wrongful parking, among others.

It said the Department of Urban Roads, Ghana Highways Authority and the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, should prioritise the repair and maintenance of faulty and non-functional traffic and streetlights, road signs and improve road markings in the metropolis.

It said: ‘Installation of traffic lights in the following locations in the Metropolis is key to enhancing safety; Taysec junction, Bamvim junction, Attaisibi junction, Bakery intersection, Sara junction, Lamashegu market intersection, Agric second intersection, King David junction.’

The petition also called for the installation of first-aid stand points at strategic locations on the highways and within the metropolis to help provide immediate medical assistance in case of accident.

It also called for enhanced collaboration amongst civil society organisations, media outlets and government agencies to maintain public awarene
ss and sensitisation of driver and tricycle rider unions on road safety and responsible driving practices devoid of drug abuse.

It called for by-laws to ensure traditional and religious authorities, political leaders and other opinion leaders did not meddle on issues of road safety when perpetrators were to be punished to enhance strict compliance to the regulations.

Alhaji Shani Alhassan Saibu, Northern Regional Minister, who received the petition, praised the group for demonstrating the spirit of patriotism and love for the metropolis and pledged to engage with the necessary stakeholders to ensure their concerns were addressed.

Mr Salifu Sule, Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive on his part, said most of the pepertrators of road safety regulations were mostly young people.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli III, President of the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council, has asked traditional authorities involved in land disputes in the Ellembelle District to withdraw their cases from the law courts for amicable settlements at the council.

According to the Paramount Chief, many of the chiefs in Ellembelle were involved in land litigation which was a setback to the peace and development of the area.

Awulae Kpanyinli III speaking during the first Traditional Council meeting of the year at Atuabo in the Western Region, said the chiefs’ involvement in land litigation was a setback for the peace and development of the area, hence, the need for them to bring such cases to the traditional council for expedited resolution.

He said many of the traditional rulers under his jurisdiction could not attend traditional council meetings due to court cases over land disputes.

That, he said, impacted collective planning by the chiefs for the development of the Eastern Nzema Traditional Area.

Awulae Kpanyinli
III called on chiefs, who were in court over land issues to withdraw such cases and resort to the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism for the Traditional Council to adjudicate such cases.

Queen Mother of Basake, Nana Aba, advised the chiefs to be guided by their land maps to avoid potential misunderstandings among them.

Nana Akye Blay, Chief of Menzezor, thanked Awulae Kpanyinli III for making land litigation issue a priority, and appealed to his fellow chiefs to follow the footsteps of their forebears in respect of land boundaries.

Nana Bonya Kofi, Chief of Basake, appealed to the judicial committee at the traditional council to expedite action on land cases before the council in the interest of peace and development in the area.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Samuel Kofi Dzamesi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Bui Power Authority (BPA), the Managers of the Bui Generating Station (BGS), has inaugurated a cashew factory in the dam’s enclave under the government’s One-District-One-Factory (1D1F) initiative.

The construction of the facility, which sought to add value to raw cashew products for export, is a collaborative effort between the BPA and Cashew-U Company Limited of China.

According to Mr Dzamesi, the collaboration entailed the development of a 500-acre cashew plantation and the establishment of a processing plant on a 20-acre land, with the aim of producing 12,000 metric tons of cashew nuts annually.

Additionally, plans are underway to upgrade the facility for cashew nut oil processing, he stated at the short ceremony held at Bui in the Banda District of the Bono Region.

Mr Dzamesi explained that the facility signified the Authority’s pursuit of industrialization and economic growth within the Bui enclave.

The location of the factory, nestled with
in the 184,000 hectares of land secured for the Bui Project, showed the Authority’s commitment to maximizing local resources for economic development.

He observed the ‘Bui enclave has long been known for its significant role in cashew farming with nearly every household actively involved in this agricultural activity.’

Mr Dzamesi said the entire project was expected to generate job opportunities for approximately 55 locals initially, while projecting employment opportunities for about 250 locals, upon reaching full operational capacity.

This initiative is poised to enhance livelihoods and foster socio-economic empowerment in the region.

Through the utilization of the current network of local farmers, the Authority’s goal is to create a sustainable supply chain for the factory, starting with locally sourced raw materials and eventually transitioning to cultivation on the designated acres of land for cashew plantations.

Mr Dzamesi said the recent completion of the factory was in perfect alignment with BPA’
s Bui City Agenda to stimulate economic growth within the communities of the Bui enclave to drive industrialization and harness the potential of the Bui enclave for economic growth.

While the current focus of the factory lies in the processing of cashew nuts for both export and domestic consumption, our plans include the development and production of cashew oil for both local and international markets, he said.

The collaboration between BPA and the Cash-U Company Limited represented a transformative step towards value addition in the agricultural sector, fostering economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development within the Bui enclave and beyond.

Mr Dzamesi expressed gratitude to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his visionary leadership through the 1D1F initiative, which aims to industrialize the country and commended his predecessor, Mr. Fred Oware, under whose leadership and efforts led to the acquisition of land for the construction of the factory.

He urged the investors to expand th
e factory’s capacity to create more employment opportunities and also take the opportunity to invite more investors to invest in the Bui City Agenda.

Mr. Lionel Wu, the Managing Director, Cash-U Company Limited, said the ‘factory is completed and has passed all trial tests, prior to the start of production at the beginning of this year.’

‘Today is significant to all of us because we bring to the knowledge of the public the good works that the Bui Power Authority and Cash-U Company Limited are doing in this area,’ he said.

Mr Wu added about 55 locals had already been engaged, saying on completion of the plantation development, a further 250 would be engaged in different roles, and expressed appreciation to the BPA, the local communities for their cordial relationship.

‘We will ensure we deliver our mandate as entrusted to us by the Authority and proudly be a part of the success story of this industrialization agenda,’ he stated.

Source: Ghana News Agency