Day: May 2, 2024

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KFSH&RC Ranked Top Valuable Healthcare Brand in Saudi Arabia and Middle East

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, May 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — KFSH&RC tops the healthcare sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, recognizing it as the most valuable healthcare brand in these regions for the second year. According to the 2024 Brand Finance reports, it placed 9th in Saudi Arabia and 28th in the Middle East. Additionally, KFSH&RC stands out as the only hospital worldwide to be ranked among its country’s top ten most valuable brands.

The Brand Finance Report shows that KFSH&RC brand value increased by 31%, exceeding 5.6 billion Saudi Riyals, equivalent to USD 1.5 billion. This increase is the result of the hospital’s unwavering commitment to incorporating the latest medical technologies and treatments and providing specialized medical care that adheres to the latest international standards.

Reflecting on KFSH&RC’s global recognition, Mr. Muhannad Kadi, the Chief Corporate Communications & Marketing Officer, commented, “This accomplishment underscores the hospital’s dedication to achieving the highest quality standards and providing outstanding healthcare, as well as the significant value it delivers to its beneficiaries.” He emphasized that the hospital’s position among the top ten most valuable brands in Saudi Arabia not only highlights its effectiveness but also the positive impact of the ongoing transformations within the Kingdom’s healthcare sector.

Over the past year, KFSH&RC has achieved several notable milestones that have significantly contributed to its brand strength and reputation. These include conducting four ground-breaking experiments in space medicine, performing the World’s first fully robotic liver transplant, and launching a rapid whole genome sequencing analysis service available to all beneficiaries. Furthermore, KFSH&RC celebrated the successful treatment of 100 T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia patients, a testament to our advanced medical capabilities and dedication to patient care.

In line with Saudi Vision 2030 and its transformation programs, initiated by His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister—which aim to enhance the Kingdom’s global position and establish it as a healthcare hub—KFSH&RC has been ranked as the top Academic Medical Centre in the Middle East and Africa. It also secured the 20th spot globally for two consecutive years, 2023 and 2024, according to Brand Finance’s Global Top 250 Hospitals report. Additionally, it has been ranked among the top 250 Best Hospitals in the World by Newsweek Magazine.

For more information please contact:

Mr. Essam Al-Zahrani, Acting Media Affairs Head, 0555254429

Mr. Abdullah Alown, Senior Media Affairs Editor, 0556294232

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9110177

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INVNT GROUP and MSM Boost Partnership and Marketing Service Offerings in Motorsports Industry with Strategic Leadership Appointment

INVNT GROUP welcomes Roc Nation veteran, Luca Zanello, as SVP of Content Strategy

New York, NY, May 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Building on their successful partnership, INVNT GROUP and MSM (Media & Sport Management) enhance service offerings and commercial solutions tailored for talent and brands within the booming motorsports industry.

INVNT GROUP, the global brand storytelling agency portfolio, was named Best Global Media Agency at the 2023 Automotive Marcomm Awards by Autocar, for groundbreaking campaigns with Lamborghini, Formula E, General Motors, Lotus, Rolls Royce and more. Over four decades, MSM has built standout relationships between brands, drivers, teams, and championships at the pinnacle of motorsport, including sponsorships, hospitality, and events.

The partnership brings the appointment of Roc Nation music and entertainment veteran, Luca Zanello, as SVP of Content Strategy at INVNT GROUP, fortifying the global suite of award-winning capabilities and integrated services within the motorsports including strategy, partnerships, experiential, digital, Web3, content, and culture. Zanello reports into Scott Cullather, President and CEO of INVNT GROUP, and CEO of INVNT.ATOM.

“Motorsports have not only captured the global imagination but have accelerated the expansion of its cultural influence at unprecedented speed. Our evolving collaboration with MSM, and appointment of Luca, places us at the forefront, allowing us to deliver pioneering, bespoke solutions to the motorsports industry. We are committed to enhancing the connection between brands, talent, and partners with audiences worldwide through dynamic storytelling and groundbreaking experiences. Together, we are charging the future of motorsports, transcending the boundaries of the racetrack,” said Scott Cullather.

The partnership aims to deliver strategies within the motorsport domain, leveraging both INVNT GROUP and MSM’s deep rooted motorsports network and industry expertise.

Enrico Zanarini, Founder and CEO of MSM, expressed: “This is more than a partnership expansion; it’s how we redefine motorsport marketing. With MSM’s deep history in the motorsports industry, and INVNT GROUP’s storytelling expertise, we are poised to deliver exciting and unexpected engagement programs that resonate deeply with fans and stakeholders alike.”

Luca Zanello, commenting on his new role, added, “Joining this dynamic team during a transformative era in motorsports is truly exhilarating. We are redefining the limits of motorsports engagement by introducing comprehensive programs that blend traditional approaches with cutting-edge digital and experiential strategies. Our goal is to unite and excite fans globally, offering them novel and captivating experiences that not only entertain but also deepen their connection to the sport.”

This strategic allegiance is a significant milestone in the evolution of motorsport marketing and the overall industry, promising next-generation strategies and enhanced engagement for clients, brands, partners, and audiences across the globe.

ABOUT INVNT GROUP

INVNT GROUP™ represents a growing portfolio of complementary disciplines designed to help forward-thinking brands and organizations everywhere, impact the audiences that matter, anywhere.

Headed by President and CEO, Scott Cullather, INVNT GROUP amplifies globally with offices in New York (HQ), Sydney, London, Singapore, Dubai, San Francisco, Stockholm, Mumbai, Detroit, and Washington D.C.

The GROUP consists of the founding, live brand storytelling agency, INVNT; brand strategy & creative-led culture consultancy, Meaning; production studio & creative agency, HEVĒ; live events for colleges and universities, INVNT Higher Ed; digital innovation agency, INVNT.ATOM; creative multimedia experience studio, Hypnogram, and live entertainment production company, ITP Live. For more information visit: https://invntgroup.com/

ABOUT MSM

MSM is a leader in the world of motorsport and has been fostering standout relationships between brands, drivers, teams and championships for over 40 years.

The team specializes in individual and corporate management, offering clients their expertise across the marketing mix. MSM is active in sponsorship facilitation, commercial opportunity development and execution, client representation, tailored hospitality offerings, and managing bespoke events on and off track. Having spent four decades in the most innovative sporting environment, MSM has developed an approach that is tailor-made for partners to unlock their full potential.

MSM’s deep insight and unparalleled know-how enable their partners to connect with both new and existing audiences in an authentic way, while also delivering measurable commercial impact. For more information, https://msmgroup.com

Attachment

Jhonathan Mendez de Leon
INVNT GROUP
Jmendezdeleon@invnt.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9110107

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Syrians Seek UN Rights Ruling Against Russia for 2019 Hospital Attacks

Open Society Justice Initiative Files Complaint to the UN Human Rights Committee

New York, May 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Russian Federation has been accused before the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva of carrying out a deliberate attack on a hospital in Syria—in a legal action that highlights Moscow’s repeated use of military force against health care facilities in Syria, where its forces have been supporting the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

A complaint before the Committee, filed on May 1, focuses on a series of air strikes on Kafr Nabl Surgical Hospital in Idlib province on May 5, 2019.

It accuses the Russian Air Force of killing two civilians and endangering the lives of all those working in and using the hospital at the time—medical practitioners, patients, support staff, and visitors.

The complaint has been brought before the Committee by a Syrian man whose two cousins were killed by the attack, and by Hand in Hand for Aid and Development, the humanitarian NGO that was supporting the hospital at the time. Hand in Hand is representing the interests of the patients of the hospital.

The applicants are represented by lawyers of the Open Society Justice Initiative, with Professor Philip Leach, professor of human rights law at the UK’s Middlesex University as co-counsel.

The evidence being presented to the Committee includes a detailed account of the Russian Air Force attack on the hospital at Kafr Nabl, and on three other hospitals near Kafr Nabl in just 12 hours on May 5-6, 2019. There was no fighting near the hospital at the time of the attack, which lay in opposition-controlled territory some 20km away from the front line.

The complaint draws on a wealth of video and audio recordings made at the time, as well as eyewitness accounts that point to direct Russian Air Force involvement in coordinating and executing the attacks. The material includes observations of Russian aircraft in the area at the relevant time, and audio recordings of communications between a Russian pilot and Russian ground control, authorizing the release of aerial munitions and confirming that the aerial munitions had been dropped, at the precise times that strikes were captured on video. Some of the material included as evidence in the complaint was used by the New York Times in a special report published on October 13, 2019.

Fadi al-Dairi, the director of Hand in Hand, said: “The Russian air force attack on Kafr Nabl hospital was a well-documented atrocity that was part of a systematic assault on hospitals and healthcare facilities in opposition-held territory in Syria in 2019. The coordinates of the hospital had been shared with Russia by the UN under the UN Deconfliction Mechanism. Syrians are looking to the Human Rights Committee to show us some measure of redress by acknowledging the truth of this brutal attack, and the suffering caused.”

James A. Goldston, executive director of the Justice Initiative, said: “This complaint before a preeminent international human rights tribunal exposes the Russian government and armed forces’ deliberate strategy of targeting healthcare in clear violation of the laws of war. It must remind us all that attacks on protected healthcare facilities—whether in Syria, Sudan, Ukraine, or the Gaza Strip—are an abomination that must never be normalized.”

The complaint is being supported by expert analyses prepared by Syrian Archive and Physicians for Human Rights. Physicians for Human Rights has documented 604 attacks against medical facilities in Syria since 2011, the overwhelming majority conducted by Syrian and Russian forces.

Houssam al-Nahhas, MD, Middle East and North Africa Researcher for Physicians for Human Rights, said: “Widespread and systematic attacks on health care in Syria are part of a strategy implemented by the Syrian and Russian governments, devastating the country’s health care system. Despite the seriousness of these crimes, no perpetrators have ever faced accountability. We hope this landmark case helps to end the impunity for attacks on health care in Syria and serve as a warning to perpetrators in other conflicts around the world.”

The Geneva-based Human Rights Committee is a body of 18 independent experts that monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which has been signed by 173 countries. Under the ICCPR’s Optional Protocol, which the Russian Federation signed in 1990, individuals can bring complaints against signatory states before the Committee over rights violations.

The complaint accuses the Russian Federation of perpetrating a clear and serious violation of International Humanitarian Law by deliberately attacking a protected medical facility, in breach of the Right to Life under the ICCPR. The attack killed two brothers and endangered the lives of everyone working in and using the busy hospital. The hospital was operating normally at the time of the attack and neither Russia nor Syria provided any warning before the attack. This is not the only time the facility was targeted: Kafr Nabl Hospital was attacked 13 times between 2014 and 2019.

From a legal perspective, a decision against Russia would provide significant new jurisprudence on the extraterritorial obligations of States in armed conflict, and would pave the way for progressive decisions from other human rights bodies and courts.

The Open Society Justice Initiative is part of the Open Society Foundations, and pursues strategic litigation on a range of issues including advancing human rights and advancing the rule of law. Its work on Syria has included supporting efforts to bring top Syrian officials and leaders to trial before national courts in Europe for crimes against humanity committed in Syria.

Communications
Open Society Foundations
(212) 548-0378
media@opensocietyfoundations.org

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9109977

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Syrians Seek UN Rights Ruling Against Russia for 2019 Hospital Attacks

Open Society Justice Initiative Files Complaint to the UN Human Rights Committee

New York, May 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Russian Federation has been accused before the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva of carrying out a deliberate attack on a hospital in Syria—in a legal action that highlights Moscow’s repeated use of military force against health care facilities in Syria, where its forces have been supporting the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

A complaint before the Committee, filed on May 1, focuses on a series of air strikes on Kafr Nabl Surgical Hospital in Idlib province on May 5, 2019.

It accuses the Russian Air Force of killing two civilians and endangering the lives of all those working in and using the hospital at the time—medical practitioners, patients, support staff, and visitors.

The complaint has been brought before the Committee by a Syrian man whose two cousins were killed by the attack, and by Hand in Hand for Aid and Development, the humanitarian NGO that was supporting the hospital at the time. Hand in Hand is representing the interests of the patients of the hospital.

The applicants are represented by lawyers of the Open Society Justice Initiative, with Professor Philip Leach, professor of human rights law at the UK’s Middlesex University as co-counsel.

The evidence being presented to the Committee includes a detailed account of the Russian Air Force attack on the hospital at Kafr Nabl, and on three other hospitals near Kafr Nabl in just 12 hours on May 5-6, 2019. There was no fighting near the hospital at the time of the attack, which lay in opposition-controlled territory some 20km away from the front line.

The complaint draws on a wealth of video and audio recordings made at the time, as well as eyewitness accounts that point to direct Russian Air Force involvement in coordinating and executing the attacks. The material includes observations of Russian aircraft in the area at the relevant time, and audio recordings of communications between a Russian pilot and Russian ground control, authorizing the release of aerial munitions and confirming that the aerial munitions had been dropped, at the precise times that strikes were captured on video. Some of the material included as evidence in the complaint was used by the New York Times in a special report published on October 13, 2019.

Fadi al-Dairi, the director of Hand in Hand, said: “The Russian air force attack on Kafr Nabl hospital was a well-documented atrocity that was part of a systematic assault on hospitals and healthcare facilities in opposition-held territory in Syria in 2019. The coordinates of the hospital had been shared with Russia by the UN under the UN Deconfliction Mechanism. Syrians are looking to the Human Rights Committee to show us some measure of redress by acknowledging the truth of this brutal attack, and the suffering caused.”

James A. Goldston, executive director of the Justice Initiative, said: “This complaint before a preeminent international human rights tribunal exposes the Russian government and armed forces’ deliberate strategy of targeting healthcare in clear violation of the laws of war. It must remind us all that attacks on protected healthcare facilities—whether in Syria, Sudan, Ukraine, or the Gaza Strip—are an abomination that must never be normalized.”

The complaint is being supported by expert analyses prepared by Syrian Archive and Physicians for Human Rights. Physicians for Human Rights has documented 604 attacks against medical facilities in Syria since 2011, the overwhelming majority conducted by Syrian and Russian forces.

Houssam al-Nahhas, MD, Middle East and North Africa Researcher for Physicians for Human Rights, said: “Widespread and systematic attacks on health care in Syria are part of a strategy implemented by the Syrian and Russian governments, devastating the country’s health care system. Despite the seriousness of these crimes, no perpetrators have ever faced accountability. We hope this landmark case helps to end the impunity for attacks on health care in Syria and serve as a warning to perpetrators in other conflicts around the world.”

The Geneva-based Human Rights Committee is a body of 18 independent experts that monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which has been signed by 173 countries. Under the ICCPR’s Optional Protocol, which the Russian Federation signed in 1990, individuals can bring complaints against signatory states before the Committee over rights violations.

The complaint accuses the Russian Federation of perpetrating a clear and serious violation of International Humanitarian Law by deliberately attacking a protected medical facility, in breach of the Right to Life under the ICCPR. The attack killed two brothers and endangered the lives of everyone working in and using the busy hospital. The hospital was operating normally at the time of the attack and neither Russia nor Syria provided any warning before the attack. This is not the only time the facility was targeted: Kafr Nabl Hospital was attacked 13 times between 2014 and 2019.

From a legal perspective, a decision against Russia would provide significant new jurisprudence on the extraterritorial obligations of States in armed conflict, and would pave the way for progressive decisions from other human rights bodies and courts.

The Open Society Justice Initiative is part of the Open Society Foundations, and pursues strategic litigation on a range of issues including advancing human rights and advancing the rule of law. Its work on Syria has included supporting efforts to bring top Syrian officials and leaders to trial before national courts in Europe for crimes against humanity committed in Syria.

Communications
Open Society Foundations
(212) 548-0378
media@opensocietyfoundations.org

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9109977

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SML’s electrononic systems will boost revenue assurance – Policy Analyst


Nyarko Abronoma, a Policy Analyst, has indicated that the effective implementation of the Electronic Metering Management System (EMMS) will boost transparency and reshape revenue mobilsation in Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector.

Speaking to an audit by KPMG on the transactions between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) and recommendations from the President, Nana Akufo-Addo, thereof, he said the work of SML was commendable.

‘The results have been nothing short of remarkable, as an independent audit by KPMG revealed an incremental volume of 1.7 billion liters and an incremental tax revenue of GHS2.45 billion for the period under review,’ he said in a write up.

He explained that the SML system would help address fragmented and painstaking process, and vulnerabilities that charaterised the manual process of the downstream petroleum operations management.

‘With SML’s state-of-the-art EMMS has digitalised the measurement and reporting of petroleum product supplies, rep
lacing error-prone manual processes with advanced digital solutions,’ the Policy Analyst said.

He noted that the reliance on stand-alone systems had over time, hindered GRA’s ability to accurately regulate, monitor, assess, and tax petroleum products across the downstream and upstream sectors.

‘At the heart of SML’s success lies the transformative power of digitalisation and data-driven solutions. Real-time data streams provide unprecedented visibility into petroleum product flows, enabling precise tracking and accurate assessment of taxes,’ he said.

KPMG’s assessment highlighted the qualitative advantages of the EMMS, including daily electronic real-time monitoring of petroleum product outflows and partial monitoring of inflows at depots equipped with SML’s flowmeters.

‘This round-the-clock surveillance serves as a powerful deterrent against under-declarations, safeguarding the nation’s revenue streams,’ the Policy Analyst observed.

Moreover, SML’s rigorous six-level reconciliation process, coupled with
the sharing of discrepancy reports for follow-up action, underscores the firm’s commitment to fostering transparency and accountability within the sector, he noted.

Recommending SML’s model for revenue assurance, he said it had earned a significant international acclaim, with nations like Kenya actively seeking to emulate its successful approach.

‘The government’s recent recognition of SML’s success has prompted a comprehensive assessment of potential revenue leakages in the upstream petroleum and minerals sectors, with plans to explore the implementation of similar PPP models in these critical industries,’ he said.

While lauding SML’s work thus far in the downstream petroleum sector, President Akufo-Addo said it was important for a review of the contract, particularly the fee structure into a fixed fee structure.

The President also directed a review of clauses related to intellectual property rights, termination, and service delivery expectations, as well as a periodic monitoring and evaluation of SML’s
performance to meet contract expectation.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Maroua: Lamido outlines safety measures as heat waves intensify

By Charity Nginyu

Abdoulaye Yerima Bakari, Lamido of Maroua has issued a communique urging the public to take heed of necessary precautions in the face of scorching heat waves currently gripping Maroua.

With temperatures soaring, Lamido Bakari emphasizes the importance of safeguarding against the sweltering sun. ‘It is imperative for everyone to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun,’ he stated in a communique.

In the said statement to the populace, Lamido Bakari highlighted key steps to mitigate the effects of the heatwave.

‘Drink plenty of water,’ he advised, stressing the importance of staying hydrated amidst the blistering conditions.

Furthermore, he urged citizens to venture outdoors only when necessary to prioritize their well-being in the face of the intense heat.

Acknowledging the potential health implications of the soaring temperatures, Lamido Bakari went further to urge individuals to seek medical attention promptly if they experience any discomfort.

‘I urge you to seek assistance from the nea
rest healthcare facility if you feel unwell,’ he emphasized.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

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Cocoa Nti fertilizer was not submitted for testing- witness in Opuni’s trial confirms


Mr Jerome Agbesi Dogbatse, a Research Scientist at the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG), has confirmed that no Cocoa Nti fertilizer samples were ever submitted to the Institute for testing.

He also stated that there was no evidence or record of a delegation from Morocco’s OCP, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and Enepa Ventures visiting CRIG in 2013 with a proposal to submit a Cocoa Nti fertilizer sample for cocoa testing.

Mr Dogbatse, a subpoenaed witness for Mr Seidu Agongo, was giving further evidence in chief in the trial of Dr Stephen Opuni, former chief executive officer of COCOBOD, led by Mr Benson Nutsukpui, Agongo’s counsel.

Dr Opuni and Mr Agongo are facing 27 charges, including defrauding by false pretences, willfully causing financial loss to the State, money laundering, and corruption by a public officer in contravention of the Public Procurement Act.

They have both pleaded not guilty to the charges and are on a GHS300,000.00 self-recognizance bail each.

Dogbatse said, ‘I do not kno
w of any fertiliser company that was prosecuted by the State after a report was produced by CRIG concerning them.’

The witness told the Court that Rev. Father Dr. E.O.K. Oddoye, the Deputy Executive Director in Charge of Cocoa and chair of a committee investigating Cocoa Nti fertilizer, suspended Dr Alfred Arthur and found him guilty in 2016.

In 2013, Dr Arthur travelled to Morocco with the local suppliers of ‘Cocoa Nti’ granular fertilizer, Enepa Ventures Limited, to meet with the product’s manufacturers.

Mr Dogbatse said Dr Arthur was transferred to Bonsu substation of CRIG but in 2017 he was re-transferred back to CRIG Tafo.

He confirmed that Dr. Yaw Adu-Ampomah, COCOBOD’s former Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Agronomy and Quality Control, and Dr. Franklin Amoh, a former Executive Director, returned from retirement and resumed their previous positions.

It came out from the proceedings that Dr Adu-Ampomah, Dr Arthur, and Dr Amoh, were the only witness in the trial that had complained about lithovi
t fertilizer, but the witness said, ‘I know of my colleague Dr Arthur, who had complained about lithovit fertiliser, but l do not know of the rest.’

The Case was adjourned to May 6, 2024.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Douala V: Bikers, traders wrestle municipal police

Owners of poorly parked motorcycles and traders occupying pedestrian tracks at the Bonamoussadi market in the Douala V municipality have wrestled with the municipal police elements who confiscated their bikes and goods on May 2, 2024 upon the instruction of the D.O., Asongwe Cletus.

Some of the victims decried injustice. ‘The solution is not seizing bikes but saying park your motorbike properly.’

‘We pay 100 frs daily for the space we occupy along the road, now they come to frustrate us by seizing our business items. They should return our goods and show us where to sell because there is no space left inside the market,’ a motorbike rider and a trader said respectively.

According to the D.O. who was also on the field to supervise the activity which falls under the ‘Operation Douala Clean City’, the exercise aims at fighting urban disorder and high crime wave in the municipality:

‘It is for the good of all. The D.O has no interest in seizing your food items, motorbikes and trucks. All we need is your organ
ization like in Kotto where traders are well organized. I was here days ago for sensitization.’

Over 20 motorcycles were confiscated, dozens of trucks, wheelbarrows with with goods were also carried away by the elements of the Douala V municipal police.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

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EPA Boss Bungalow Takeover: Staff threaten industrial action


The staff of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have threatened industrial action tomorrow May 03, to express displeasure over an order for its Executive Director to vacate his official bungalow for the Interior Minister.

Mr Godsway Lawson Daniels, the Divisional Chairman of the Public Services Workers Union (PSWU) of the Trades Union Congress of the EPA, said the Agency received a letter from the Ministry ordering the EPA Executive Director to vacate the bungalow, or be forcefully ejected.

Mr Daniels at a news conference in Accra said the EPA had occupied the bungalow since 1972 and that all its Executive Directors stayed in the same building.

‘It’s unfortunate that at this time that all State Directors are unstable and are also hit by this economic crisis that they are asking us to vacate. The Agency has spent a lot in building and renovating the bungalow to the status that befits its Executive Directors and we are not in any position to get another bungalow.

‘We have suggested that the Ministry
of Housing rather allocates any other bungalow that is empty to the Minister, however, they are saying its the EPA’s building they want.

‘We want to know, where is the official residence of the Interior Minister? Who is occupying it or who has it been given to? Why can’t the Housing Minister get another bungalow for the Interior Minister? Has the residence been sold to another person? Who is that person?’ he asked.

‘…The same government that appointed Dr John Kingsley Krugu a few months ago is taking action to make him homeless.

‘EPA does not have money to renovate any government property to suit its Executive Secretary. We expect the Interior Ministry and its Minister, Henry Quartey, to go after their own residence and leave EPA’s residence alone,’ he added.

The Chairman said EPA staff, clad in red, would petition the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation tomorrow, and then move to the residence of its Executive Secretary where the supposed ejection would happen.

He said if the con
cerns were not addressed they would take legal action against the parties involved.

Mr Kwame Freduah, the Vice Chairman of the PSWU, TUC, called on all civil society, public institutions, faith based organisations, and traditional authorities to support their call, adding: ‘Today, it is the EPA, tomorrow it may be another public institution.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

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West Region: Workers express dissatisfaction with conditions, low salaries

By Stephen TADAHA

Workers in the Bamboutos Division expressed their wish to see the labor code revised and negotiations of collective conventions in all sectors as they continue to suffer at the hands of their employers.

On May Day, they said the non-perception of the minimum wage of XAF 41,875 per month as recently instructed by the government, abusive dismissals, poor working conditions, and no social protection, are the major issues affecting them.

The workers’ trade union representatives in Mbouda, the chief town of the Bamboutos on Wednesday, tabled their plights on May 1 during the celebration of the 138th Labor Day under the theme ‘Constructive dialogue: factor in promoting decent work and social progress’

The economic hardship rocking the country with the recent increase in the prices of petroleum products has also made their lives difficult as they can barely feed their families.

‘I cannot say I’m feeling fine as a worker because we don’t perceive the salary prescribed by the government. I have
children in school and can’t fulfill my family duties, especially at this time when fuel prices have exploded. I just celebrate because my employers asked us to do so’ an anonymous worker told us.

Results from the latest investigation carried out by the National Institute of Statistics on poverty in Cameroon show that 10 million Cameroonians live below FCFA 800 per day.

In response to the plights of the workers, the Senior Divisional Officer for Bamboutos, David Dador Dibango called on employers to consider their workers as part of them by creating an atmosphere fit for work so that the economy as a whole might benefit from both parties.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

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Fire Officer cautions public against collecting spilling fuel


Assistant Divisional Officer I (ADOI) Christian Nyarkosah of the Ashaiman Fire Station, has reiterated the call on the public to desist from syphoning fuel from spilling tankers.

The act could lead to a fire outbreak and even death, he said, stressing that it was unfortunate that some Ghanaians had not been heeding the advice to avoid going to accident scenes to collect spilling fuel.

‘Ghanaians have not learned and are still not learning. We’ve been educating the public that when there is a spillage, especially in super (petrol), because of its violent nature, we need not go near it,’ he said.

‘But time without number, we see them still going close to fetching the fuel; you see members of the public rushing there to siphon fuel; how much is the fuel that you will put your life at risk? We need not do that.’

ADOI Nyarkosah made the call when he led a team of fire officers to tackle a spillage from a fuel tanker on Tuesday night on the Ashaiman Zenu road near the Lebanon International School in the Greater
Accra Region.

Briefing the media on the incident, he said the station received a distressed call at 2150 hours and the team quickly moved to the spillage scene, arriving at 2203 hours.

Upon reaching the scene, he said they realised that the residents were fetching the fuel with buckets and cans, which could spark fire.

‘We called for police assistance and they quickly stopped it, while we also called for two additional pumps from the motorway and Katamanso Fire Stations to augment our efforts’.

The Fire Officer said it took them over three hours to tackle the spillage seeping through the bottom of the tanker, which was in a normal position, adding that they placed the tanker at a safe place and washed the fuel off the road.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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President Sahle-Work Zewde Shares Food Items to Low Income, Destitute Residents in Connection with Easter

Addis Ababa: President Sahle-Work Zewde has shared food items with low income and destitute residents in Arada Sub-City of Addis Ababa for celebration of upcoming Ethiopian Easter holiday.

On the occasion, the president said that providing supports to destitute communities in the country should be a regular task of everyone pledging for a continued and enhanced provision of sustenance.

She also stressed the need to spend the upcoming holiday with destitute members of the community.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency