Category: General

By Nchendzengang Tatah

The Global Campaign for Peace and Justice in Cameroon (GCPJC) in a release on May 12, has warned government authorities of the impending danger the current sociopolitical instability in the North West and South West regions will pose to upcoming elections.

GCPJC says that if the Anglophone crisis is not resolved adequately, it risk posing a severe problem to the triple elections in 2025. Being the Parliamentary, Municipal and Presidential polls.

‘Without a peaceful political resolution, the country’s 2025 elections are likely to be marred, and Cameroon’s economy will continue to decline. We urge all warring parties to commit to a cessation of hostilities, refrain from committing further atrocities, and uphold international and national laws,’ the GCPJC statement read.

With an estimate of more than 6,000 people killed, over 700,000 displaced with atleast 70,000 in Nigeria, and many schools closed for years, depriving children of education. Global Campaign for Peace and Justice in Cam
eroon called for a cease fire on both sides and fair dialogue to be initiated by the government.

‘As the devastating conflict approaches its eighth year, all parties must work to silence the guns to avoid more suffering and allow for peace and justice. This is the moment for the Cameroon government and non-state armed groups to put the interests of their people first,’ they added.

The GCPJC statement highlighted that a solution to the conflict must address it’s root causes and grievances. It went on to plead with the Cameroon Head of State to acknowledge this ‘ripe moment’ and meet at a dialogue table to find a non-military end to the conflict.

Saluting the recent call for a cease fire by separatist leader, ‘Capo Daniel’, the GCPJC also appealed for the international community, ‘to offer necessary technical support and assistance to all, including civil society, so that everyone can work together to end this destructive conflict.’

The statement emphasized for concrete actions to survive the Anglophone pop
ulation. Maintaining that negotiations remain the most reasonable way out.

The Global Campaign for Peace and Justice in Cameroon is an informal group of academics, activists, journalists, lawyers, students, and other concerned citizens around the world who believe in the need for a peaceful resolution of Cameroon’s Anglophone Crisis.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

A former of the Rapid Intervention Battalion, BIR, Ewume John Eko, popularly known as Moja Moja is now at the State Defense Secretariat in Yaounde.

He was taken to the nation’s capital, barely a week after he declared that some high-profile military leaders were planning to overthrow President Paul Biya Dismissed BIR says superior planning coup d’etat – Cameroon News Agency

The Military Security in Buea reportedly picked him up after that declaration.

A source who knows about the incident told CNA that ‘He is not arrested rather he is secured in a safe place for verification and his safety based on the issues he raised’

The declarations of the traditional ruler of Bwassa village in Buea subdivision, came hours after it was announced that he had been demoted from being a special force to the infantry.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

By Stephen Tadaha

Final-year pupils are vying for spots in secondary schools, with over 190 pupils in Babadjou Subdivision embarking on their common entrance exams on Tuesday, May 14th. Candidates from GBPS Bachua, Zavion, Ngangong, Kombou, and Babadjou Toumaka gathered at the GBPS Babadjou Toumaka examination center under the supervision of Mr. Achaiangia Aloysius, the Chief of the center.

Out of the expected 194 candidates, 192 were present, reflecting an impressive attendance rate of 98.9%. ‘We commenced the exams smoothly this morning with just two absences. Despite a lack of sufficient time for final revisions due to last week’s PAREC seminar, the candidates were well-prepared,’ stated Mr. Achaiangia.

The exam comprises tests in Mathematics, English (including dictation and guided writing), and English language comprehension.

Common Entrance exams are a pivotal step for final-year pupils in Cameroon seeking admission to secondary schools. Following the common entrance, candidates will undergo the Fir
st School Leaving Certificate exams within a month.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

By Charity Nginyu

The General Delegation for National Security (DGSN) in Cameroon has embarked on a partnership with the German biometric firm, AUGENTIC in a bid to facilitate the issuance of documents within 48 hours.

Under the leadership of Delegate General for National Security, Martin Mbarga Nguele, the pivotal agreement was formalized at the police headquarters in Yaounde, the political capital of Cameroon.

The Chief Executive Officer of the said firm, Labinot Carreti reaffirmed the company’s commitment as he announced a substantial investment of 40,000,000 Euros (over 26 billion FCFA) to modernize and digitize the identification document production process.

Carreti emphasized the partnership’s Build Operation Transfer (BOT) nature, outlining plans for a phased investment approach to overhaul the entire system.

‘The value of the first phase of the investment is around 40 million euros,’ Carreti revealed, shedding light on the comprehensive scope of the project.

This includes the renovation of 219 p
roduction posts across the country and the establishment of 68 modern application centers. Additionally, an online pre-application system will be implemented to streamline the identification process for citizens and residents.

The new system, unlike reports circulated last year, will fully go operational by the end of the year 2024.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Prime Minister , Joseph Dion Ngute has expressed concerns about the killing of six Cameroonian servicemen in Eyomujock subdivision, South West region by Ambazonia Separatist fighters.

The ambush on May 10 was the latest devastating news against government forces. Sources say they were on their way to unblock a road and combat the perpetrators by surprise.

I would like to express my outrage at the unfortunate incident that occurred yesterday morning on the #Manfe-Ekok road, between the villages of Ayukaba and Eyangchang. The incident occurred when the Commander of the Eyumojock Brigade and four of his men, who were out on patrol, were ambushed by about thirty armed men from the #secessionist #group.’ Dion Ngute wrote on his X account.

While he paid tribute to the fallen soldiers, he also sympathised with thoer families and urged the population to work hand-in-hand with government forces.

‘I invite the population to cooperate more with our defence forces’

Source: Cameroon News Agency

A traditional council has been instituted for the Amugo-Vego Traditional Area in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region.

The Council is a constitutional provision, which grants eligible traditional areas administrative and judicial structures to further decentralise the national traditional leadership institution.

The Amugo-Vego Traditional Council is one of five established in the Volta Region this year, all of which had befitting offices also commissioned.

Judicial oaths and others of secrecy and office were taken by a total of 14 gazetted rulers including a queen mother who became initial members of the Council.

Togbi Tenge Dzokoto Gligui VII, the paramount ruler of the area, was sworn in as President at a ceremony drenched in joyous celebration and traditional culture.

Mr. Evans Habada, Head of the Chieftaincy Ministry’s Human Resource Management, inaugurated the Council on behalf of Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng, the Minister.

The Minister entreated traditional rulers to enhance their leadership ca
pabilities to be able to deal with new challenges in a fast-transforming world and assured them of the needed support including logistics and training.

‘Currently, Chiefs are required to lead in the war against environmental degradation, and poverty reduction among others aimed at achieving some level of development at the local and national levels. The new role of Chiefs imposes the need for some form of adaptation or revision and training to enable him/her to fulfil his or her responsibilities’ he said.

The Minister said chiefs and the people must continue to thread paths of unity to be able to make the new Council serve its purpose.

‘This inauguration should be seen to integrate the people particularly our revered chiefs, and not to disintegrate them,’ he said.

Mr Harry Attipoe, Registrar of the Volta House of Chiefs led the team from the Ministry to perform the inaugurations.

He asked all to uphold the relevance of the traditional council institution which should be considered an institution for all
and not just the gazetted members.

Togbi Gligui thanked the Government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo for uplifting traditional leadership in the area.

He also commended the ‘hard work’ of the Minister for Chieftaincy and his predecessor, the leadership of the House of Chiefs, and traditional rulers of the area both past and present ‘who invested heavily to make this day a reality.’

Togbi Gligui spoke of how the formal traditional institution would become instrumental in uniting resources for the development of the lagoon community.

He said the Traditional Area was strategically located for agriculture and aquaculture development, and that with the ongoing prioritisation of education, its contribution to national development should be enhanced.

‘The Amugo-Vego Traditional Area has enough resources to develop Ghana as a whole,’ he asserted.

Local stakeholders including the heads of the local Assembly promised needed support for the Council.

Other Councils inaugurated in the Region during the t
hree-day exercise are the Dzodze, Weta, Ave Xevi, and Awate Traditional Councils.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The year, 2019 started just like any other year. However, before the end of its fourth quarter, a strange disease emerged killing many people in China, and started spreading to the United States and Europe in early 2020.

Background

It was later named COVID-19. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic compelled many governments to implement various measures to mitigate its impact on public health and the economy. In Ghana, one of such measures was the introduction of the COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy Act.

However, in recent times, there have been growing calls from especially members of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) for the levy to be scrapped.

Dr Joseph Obeng, President of GUTA, in a few media engagements last year, reaffirmed this position saying the levy had increased the cost of doing business in the country.

He said the levy had become a nuisance tax given that COVID-19 was no longer a health emergency aand impressed on the government to use its 2024 Budget Statement and Economic Policy
, which was presented to Parliament in November, last year, to announce the cancellation of the levy.

Also, Mr Anthony Oppong, Ashanti Regional Chairman of GUTA, in March, this year, reiterated the position of GUTA saying the levy was contributing to a decline in business in the country adding most importers had lost their capital.

Amidst the growing calls to scrap the levy, there is a compelling argument emerging that this is the time for the government to rename the levy for a Public Health Emergency Fund (PHEF).

It is argued that renaming the levy PHEF will shift its focus from recovery to preparedness and response. This will ensure dedicated support for its continued collection.

The COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy Act, 2021 (ACT 1068), and its potential Ghana recorded her first two cases of the COVID-19 pandemic on March 12, 2020. Besides its negative impact on the country’s socio-economic development, statistics by the Ghana Health Service shows that more than 1,400 deaths were also recorded.

A year i
nto Ghana’s fight to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghana passed the COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy Act to impose a special levy on the supply of goods and services and imports to raise revenue to support COVID-19 expenditures and to provide for related matters.

At the time, the government had already committed a lot of funds derived from loans, and grants from donor partners including the World Bank to fighting the disease.

The passage of this law in 2021, was, therefore, seen as a move towards establishing a reliable source of funds to fight the pandemic.

However, the nature of this law implies that when the pandemic is over, the country will cease to collect this levy.

The implementation of the levy began in May 2021. The fiscal data released by the Ministry of Finance on April 22, 2022, showed that an amount of GHS773.93 million was realised from the levy within the first eight months (May 2021 to December 2021) of its implementation.

This amount, which was spent to contain the spread of the virus and
its effects on lives and the economy, represented a substantial portion of the budgetary allocation to the country’s health sector. This shows that the levy has the potential to rake in the resources needed for the intended purpose.

Why rename the levy as PHEF

On May 05, 2023, the World Health Organization declared an end to COVID-19 as a global public health emergency. Following this declaration, calls have been made for the government to scrap the levy.

The proponents of these calls argued that the government lacked the moral right and justification to continue to collect the levy since the reason for its introduction no longer existed.

These calls are legitimate to the extent that the levy was purposely to support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, what if there is another outbreak given that diseases will continue to come? For instance, records by the Ministry of Health, and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) show that within the space of three years (2020 to 2023), Ghana recorded outbreak
s of eight major diseases namely Yellow Fever, CSM, the COVID-19 pandemic, Polio, Monkeypox (Mpox), Marburg virus disease, Measles, and Lassa fever.

While the past three years (2020-2023) put a lot of strain on the country’s health system in terms of her ability to respond to public health emergencies, the subsequent years could even be worse because other major disease outbreaks could be recorded.

In all this, how is the country prepared to face such a situation? Given the potential of this levy, the country cannot afford to stop collecting it even as the COVID-19 pandemic is over or no longer a public health emergency.

This is why this levy needs to be renamed as PHEF to change its focus from recovery from COVID-19 to public health emergency preparedness and response especially when the country currently does not have a PHEF to ensure a reliable source of funds to attend to public health concerns.

By renaming it as PHEF, the calls to scrap it will cease and the PHEF will garner greater support from the
public since it is for a worthy cause. Given its potential, this levy, now PHEF, could offer the country a reliable source of funds to undertake routine activities as part of her Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) Plan and for that matter Epidemic Preparedness and Response (EPR).

Professor Yidana Adadow, Dean, School of Public Health, University for Development Studies, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Tamale, expressed support for calls to rename the levy PHEF.

He said as a nation, ‘We find ourselves in a situation where all our development hinges on donor funds. So, if you are a beggar, you are just begging from hand to mouth. How can you take care of eventualities when they befall you? So, the government should rename the levy PHEF. Once you have a dedicated fund, with managers managing the fund, the state will be able to take care of any eventuality that is likely to hit it.’

He advised members of GUTA to add their voices to calls to rename the levy PHEF, which would be in
the best interest of the nation and businesses as well.

Dr Hilarious Abiwu, Deputy Northern Regional Director of Health in-charge of Public Health, also supported calls for the setting up of PHEF saying this would strengthen the public health sector to effectively respond to disease outbreaks.

Challenges in Implementing EPR in Ghana

Over the past couple of years, funding for routine disease surveillance activities or ISDR has dwindled. Budgetary allocations to the health sector go into emoluments for health staff, and the construction of health facilities leaves significantly fewer resources available to undertake routine disease surveillance activities.

This implies that diseases that could be detected and managed on time will be left to degenerate into an epidemic level with their devastating consequences on the population.

In the year 2021, the total national health budget was $1.30 billion. This budget included payment of salaries and health research amongst others. Out of the figure, $803m was expec
ted to be spent on health delivery, and $9 million on goods and services.

EPR fell under the goods and services budget. This was inadequate considering the volume of work expected under the EPR.

In subsequent years too, budgetary allocations to the health sector have been inadequate. As has been witnessed over the years, diseases will continue to come.

Therefore, the country needs to be prepared by strengthening her ISDR through ensuring funds to undertake public health emergency activities.

Just as efforts were made to create the Health Insurance Fund to ensure availability of funds to handle the clinical aspect of the country’s health care system, the country must also establish the PHEF by renaming and or converting the COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy to PHEF to ensure availability of resources to effectively support the public health aspect of the health care sector as well.

Other sources of funds such as some percentage of tax revenues from mining and telecoms sectors could be added to funds from the
levy and leverage on the PHEF to access external support from the World Health Organization and the likes should it be necessary.

The way forward

The continued collection of this levy despite COVID-19 being no longer a public health emergency shows that it is important to the country’s economy.

However, there are moral and transparency concerns in terms of how the levy is expended since the purpose for its introduction does not exist anymore.

This is why it is time to rename the levy PHEF and repurpose it as a fund to generate resources to support the country’s public health sector to be ready to adequately respond to any public health emergencies to protect the population and the country’s economy.

By renaming it and repurposing it in this direction, the growing calls to scrap it will cease since the people now know the reason for charging or collecting it.

Source: Ghana News Agency

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has praised Ghanaian mothers for their sacrifices and dedication to the betterment of humanity.

‘I extend heartfelt wishes to all mothers on Mother’s Day, celebrating their unparalleled commitment and the gentle strength that sustains our families, communities and nation,’ he stated.

This was contained in a message posted by the President on his Facebook page in celebration of all mothers on Mother’s Day, which was May 12.

Ghana commemorated the Day by wishing all mothers well and expressing gratitude, love, and appreciation for their efforts.

On Sunday, various social media platforms monitored by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) were inundated with goodwill messages, as some citizens demonstrated their appreciation to their mothers for their invaluable contribution to their lives.

Source: Ghana News Agency

President Akufo-Addo has pointed out the pivotal role that female judges play in eliminating undesirable cultural practices, particularly among women and girls, that impede their development.

He said the experience of female judges places them in a prime position to lend distinct perspectives and strengths to the cause of Justice and equity.

‘Women judges across Africa and the globe bring unique viewpoints and strengths to the judiciary. Their experiences, often mirroring the societal challenges we seek to overcome, equip them uniquely to advocate for justice and fairness.

The President was speaking at the opening of the 18th International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) Conference in Accra on Monday.

The three-day conference aims to capitalize on previous successes and take advantage of the IAWJ’s unique position in bringing together judicial officers from around the world to discuss matters of mutual importance.

it is on the theme ‘Combating Negative Cultural Practices in Contemporary Times – The Ro
le of Women Judges.’

President Akufo-Addo noted that having women at all levels of the judicial system across the continent not only increases respect for the judiciary but also fosters confidence in the justice delivery system.

He said the theme of the conference was a call to every member of the judicial system, particularly women judges, to ‘leverage our collective legal acumen to dismantle barriers to justice.’

The President noted that negative cultural practices were not just an affront to the victims but were ‘a blemish on our collective human conscience.’

‘As judges and upholders of the law, you have the power to redefine norms and set precedents that protect the vulnerable and marginalised.

‘In dealing with issues like gender-based violence, child marriage, widowhood rites and female genital mutilation – practices steeped in deep-rooted cultural norms – your voices and rulings can resonate deeply, driving societal transformation.

‘It is imperative to acknowledge that the fight against these prac
tices is not confined to the courtrooms. Education, awareness, and collaborative governance are critical. We must engage traditional leaders, educators, and communities to recalibrate mindsets and attitudes. It is in our schools, homes, and community gatherings where the foundational beliefs of our next generation are formed,’ he said.

President Akufo-Addo urged female judges to uphold the ideals of fairness, equality, and justice in all their decisions to combat detrimental cultural traditions.

‘Let them (judgements) be a beacon for those in the shadows of fear and oppression. Remember, each decision you make not only affects the individual in your courtroom but also sets a tone for what we, as a society, deem acceptable.

‘As we look towards the future, let us envision a continent where the law does not only punish but also educates and reforms. A future where our daughters will be judged not by their compliance with outdated customs, but by their potential to lead and innovate. In this grand vision, wome
n judges stand not just as enforcers of the law, but also as architects of societal change,’ he charged.

The IAWJ is a non-profit non-governmental organization founded in 1991 whose members are judges from around the world.

It supports and empowers its global network of women judges to advance gender equality, end discriminatory laws, and promote human rights for all.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Jerome Agbesi Dogbatse, a Research Scientist at the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG), says at the time the alleged sample of Cocoa Nti was delivered for testing, he was not in the institution’s employment. 

He told an Accra High Court that he never worked on the Cocoa Nti fertiliser as a scientist of the Soil Science Division of CRIG. 

Mr Dogbatse, a subpoenaed witness for Mr Seidu Agongo, was speaking in his further cross-examination in the trial, involving Dr Stephen Opuni, a former Chief Executive of COCOBOD, led by Mr Samuel Cudjoe. 

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. 

He said he was not part of any team that worked on the scientific report on Cocoa Nti sent to COCOBOD, but rather he only
reviewed the report.

The witness confirmed the statement of Dr Alfred Arthur, a Prosecution witness, which indicated that he received a verbal communication from Dr Adu-Ampomah, a former Deputy Chief Executive of COCOBOD in Charge of Agronomy and Quality Control to receive 30 bags of Cocoa Nti in 2013.

‘As to whether Dr Adu-Ampomah gave the directive for Dr Arthur to receive 30 bags of Cocoa Nti for test in 2013, l am not aware,’ he added.

He confirmed to the Court that he did not apologize personally to the Committee to investigate the unauthorized testing of Cocoa Nti because he was not part of the team that allegedly tested the fertilizer. 

The witness said he advised Dr Arthur to apologise if it had come out that the product was not tested.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Transformed Wellness Foundation (TWF) has been launched to highlight mental health issues for prevention and to harness support for the well-being of patients.

In Ghana, it is estimated that about 25 per cent of the population has some form of mental disorder, with depression being the most prevalent.

Mrs Jessica Owoo, a Mental Health Specialist, and Founder of TWF, said mental health problems were largely demonised in the country because of the wide knowledge gap and lack of awareness.

Mental health issues, she said, had received global attention in recent times, and it was estimated that by the year 2028, mental illness would be a leading contributor to the global burden of diseases.

She explained that most adult mental disorders were known to have their onset in adolescence at an average age of 14 years; ‘yet the majority of these conditions are not detected early for treatment.’

She said the uniqueness of her Foundation was to reform people’s well-being and make them change and pick up a holistic pat
h.

However, according to the WHO factsheet (2018), about 90 per cent of suicide cases occurred among adolescents from low-income and middle-income countries, including Ghana.

Mrs Owoo said the high prevalence and debilitating effect of adolescent mental health challenges made the work of the Foundation imperative to promote sound mental health and to reduce the prevalence of mental health problems.

‘It is identified that many of the existing not-for-profit organisations are currently facilitating and augmenting the existing treatment interventions, she said.

‘Again, such interventions will reduce stigma against mental illness and also enhance their early identification and treatment.’

She encouraged people to be resilient and talk to key people for solutions, adding that the Foundation was ever ready to help them.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mrs Mavis Adu-Manu, a midwife at the Sunyani Anglican Health Center at the weekend advised women to desist from self-medication.

She said self-medication remained not only harmful but worsened the conditions of sick people and asked them to also visit accredited health facilities anytime they fall sick.

Mrs Adu-Manu gave the advice when she interacted with some widows, single mothers, aged women, and some Persons with Disabilities at Odomase in the Sunyani West Municipality on the side-lines of a get-together party to mark the Mothers’ Day celebration.

G2 Foundation, a non-government organisation working to improve the socio-economic rights, freedom, health, and general well-being of vulnerable people in society organised the party to socialize and to sensitize the participants in health and safety.

Including children, the participants were provided with a variety of non-alcoholic beverages, food, and some pastries.

Mrs Adu-Menu reiterated the importance for women to check their blood pressure, diabetes,
and sugar levels regularly and to protect themselves against non-communicable diseases and cautioned them against unhealthy lifestyles such as alcoholism and drug abuse that could lead to needless deaths.

Madam Serah Kahuri, a partner of the G2 Foundation from Kenya advised women, particularly single mothers to maintain a positive mindset and develop problem-solving skills and build strong social support systems.

They must also learn to be flexible, and open-minded and share their problems with others.

Ms. Gifty Nyarko, the Chief Executive Officer of the G2 Foundation, later told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the foundation also focused on instilling hope in widows and single mothers.

‘These are times where they need our support and we must try our best to bring smiles on their faces so that they would feel part of society,’ she stated.

Ms. Nyarko said she was worried that due to their predicaments, some widows had turned into alcoholics and called on everybody to support and help provide them with th
eir basic needs.

Source: Ghana News Agency