Home Blog Page 205

The payment of salaries to the First and Second lady is unconstitutional, Supreme Court rules.

By
Editor
-
0

The Supreme Court has ruled that payment of salaries to the first and Second ladies is unconstitutional.

The decision of the apex court followed a suit by Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as ‘Abronye’ seeking to reverse the payment of salaries approved for First and Second Ladies.

A five-member committee led by Prof Ntiamoa-Baidu was set up in June 2019 by President Akufo-Addo to make recommendations to him and Parliament on the salaries and allowances payable, and the facilities and privileges available to Article 71 officeholders.

But following the recommendations, Abronye went to the Supreme Court with the following reliefs.

a. Declaration that the approval by Parliament to pay salaries to the First and Second ladies is inconsistent with ARTICLE 71 CLAUSES 1 AND 2 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana and consequently be declared null, void and unenforceable.

b. Declaration that, per Article 71 (1) and (2); the positions of the First and Second ladies of Ghana do not fall under the category of Public Office holders.

c. Declaration that, per Article 71 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana; the Emolument Committee is limited to recommending the salaries and other benefits and privileges of only public office holders.

d. Declaration that, per Articles 108 and 178 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana; Parliament cannot, on its own accord, initiate or approve payment of any such emoluments; which would necessarily be paid from public funds; without a bill to that effect emanating from and introduced by the Government and dully passed into law.
My Lords, this statement of case, is filed by the Plaintiff in accordance with Rule 46 of the Supreme Court Rules, 1996 (C.l. 16).

Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo who presided over the 7-member panel of Judges however dismissed all but one of the reliefs being sought by South Dayi Member of Parliament, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor whose suit was similar to that of ‘Abronye’.

The court held that Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor focused on the recommendations of the committee whereas Abronye focused on the actions of Parliament.

More soon…

Major portions of Kasoa – Winneba to be open to traffic in eight months  

By
Editor
-
0

Major portions of the Kasoa-Winneba double-lane road, currently under construction, will be opened to traffic in eight months. 

Mr Francis Asenso-Boakye, the Minister of Roads and Highways, gave the assurance during a working tour on Tuesday to inspect some road projects in the Central Region. 

The single-lane road is being turned into a double lane to ease traffic and reduce the spate of accidents on that stretch, considered to be one of the accident-prone roads in the country. 

He was accompanied by officials of the Department of Highways, Urban Roads, and Feeder Roads, Members of Parliament, and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives. 

Scheduled for completion in 36 months, the Minister expressed joy and satisfaction with the excellent work being executed by the contractors, Nag Fairmount Company Limited and MM Delivery Company Limited. 

The $85,328,761 project, funded by the Government, involves the construction of interchanges/Flyover at Sapato, Akoti, Budumburam Awutu, as well as Winneba junction. 

Extra service lanes will also be provided at all entry points to the main dualised road to assist commercial drivers pick up and drop passengers. 

Upon completion, they will connect Accra to Winneba, Cape Coast and the Western Region. 

Beyond that, it would ease vehicular traffic congestion to boost tourism, education and commerce. 

However, the contractors mentioned major challenges including unsafe pedestrian crossing, low overall capacity, and high threat of head-on collisions. 

Earlier, Mr Asenso-Boakye inspected works on the 14 km Kasoa-Bawjiase roads, which began in September 2022, and expected to be completed in September 2024. 

Valued at GHC95,945,753.56 the stretch is classified as (R15), and connects Kasoa  to the Awutu Senya West District. 

Big Dreams Investment, the contractor, has done 62 per cent work scheduled for completion by the end of the year. 

Equally, the Minister expressed satisfaction with the works on the Ojobi-Senya-Bereku road in the Awutu Senya West District, the Assin Manso – Eshiem-Ajumako road in Assin South and the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam districts. 

Mr Asenso-Boakye, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, expressed satisfaction with the progress of work and that their timely completion would improve the transportation network in the area. 

‘’This reflects the Government’s commitment to improving the road networks to enhance transportation and reduce travelling time for commuters.’’ 

In December 2023, roads and transportation stakeholders in the region expressed resentment over about 100 road projects abandoned by contractors. 

They include 30 projects under the Ghana Highway Authority, 40 under the Urban Roads Department and others under the Feeder Roads. 

They asserted that some road contractors had been off the project sites for more than a year, citing the lack of funds as the reason for the abandonment. 

Nonetheless, many residents in communities visited by the Minister were grateful to the government for the construction work. 

“We thank the Government for dualising the Winneba -Kasoa roads. It will ease traffic and reduce travel time along the stretch,” a resident at Akoti Junction said. 

Coalition of Unemployed Trained Teachers demand postings

By
Editor
-
0

The 2022-year batch of the Coalition of Unemployed Trained Teachers from 46 public Colleges of Education has appealed to the government to fulfill its promise of automatic postings for graduate teachers.

The coalition, at a press conference in Tamale on Tuesday, said: “Automatic posting as it is widely known, is a norm for every batch or group from the Colleges of Education.

“We, the first batch of the newly introduced Bachelor of Education Degree programme, have been ignored and left to our fate. It saddens us as pioneers of a new programme, who have equally met all the requirements for postings to still be at home by this time.”

Mr Mohammed Murtala, President, Coalition of Unemployed Trained Teachers, who read the statement on behalf of the group at the press conference, said the development had become dire to the extent that most of the members of the coalition, who out of frustration, decided to apply for private schools, were rejected with the notion that government would soon employ them.

The statement said: “There is a looming danger in the education sector if we are not employed immediately because the 2023-year group is currently doing their national service. So, if we are not recruited immediately, there is a possibility of creation of blockage in the sector.”

It said since 2018 when the National Service and Licensure Examinations were introduced in the Colleges, no trained and licensed teacher had remained unemployed and wondered why the 2022-year group after satisfying all the requirements, had remained home.

It said the group on February 21, 2024, released its first press statement and followed it with a letter to the Ghana Education Service, copied to the Ministry of Education on the February 29, 2024, but there was no response.

The statement said, “This made us resort to another press release on the 15th of March 2024. This time, there was a swift response, and a formal meeting was held with the Ghana Education Service on the 22nd of March 2024.”

It added, “We were assured that the portal for recruitment would be opened in April, this year. Shockingly to us, we are in the tail end of April yet there is no single message or information concerning our postings. To say we are in disarray and perturbed will be an understatement.”

It emphasised that, “In the interest of the Ghanaian learners, who are anxiously waiting for their Common Core Teachers, and the interest of the Ghanaian taxpayers, whose taxes were used in training us, we want the Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Education to do the needful and fulfill their duties by recruiting us at the end of this month.”

It added that, “We also expect that provisions be made in advance for our colleagues with resit. Otherwise, we will hit the streets to register our displeasure.”

Members of the coalition during the press conference held placards with inscriptions such as “Why Implement a New Curriculum and Delay the Postings of the Pioneers”, “We Cannot Continue to Depend on Our Parents”, “Post us Now”, “Four Years of Intensive Studies, One year of Mandatory National Service and Successfully Passing Licensure Exams, but Yet Unemployed,” among others.

Tema Circuit Court sentences rice thieves to imprisonment

By
Editor
-
0

The Tema Circuit Court has sentenced two persons involved in the stealing of 1,146 bags of rice valued at Gh₵846,000.00 to various terms of imprisonment.

Abdul Karim Abdul Aziz, a 36-year-old driver, was sentenced to five years each for the two counts of conspiracy to commit crime and stealing, while Ibrahim Mohammed, a 49-year-old transport agent, also received a 12-year jail sentence each with hard labour for the same offences. The jail terms will run concurrently.

The court, presided over by Mrs. Klorkor Okai Mills, handed the accused persons the jail terms after finding them guilty of the offences after a full trial following their not guilty plea.

Chief Inspector Jacob Maalo Kuubal, prosecuting, said the complainant, Mr. Emmanuel Quaye Nartey, is a clearing agent, while Aziz is a driver, and Mohammed alias Baba Alhassan is a transport agent.

He added that an accomplice, Abdul Rhaman Suleman, is currently on the run.

He stated that, on July 29, 2023, the complainant engaged the services of Aziz to cart two 20-footer containers containing 1,146 bags of master perfumed rice valued at GH₵ 846,000.00 from MPS Tema to be delivered at the Trade Pass Commodities warehouse near the slaughterhouse in Tema.

The prosecution added that Aziz took delivery of the rice and loaded it onto a DAFXF truck with registration number GT 4930-14, for which he was in charge.

He added that Aziz, on his way to the warehouse met Mohammed opposite the 20 bus stop, where they decided to dishonestly appropriate the rice.

The facts stated that a police investigation revealed that Aziz and Mohammed sent the containers of rice to Prampram, where they were offloaded and sold.

Chief Inspector Kuubal said Mohammed took Aziz to the residence of one Eric Kojo Asiedu, a witness in the case, where Aziz passed two nights, while they looked for buyers.

Mohammed hired loading boys, including the witness, to offload the 1,146 bags of rice from the containers, and the witness was paid an amount of Gh₵ 200.00 for his services.

He added that Aziz received an initial amount of Gh₵10,000.00 as part of his share of the proceeds and absconded to Tamale, where he met his accomplice, Abdul Rhaman Sulemana.

While in Temale, Aziz received an additional GH₵100,000.00 from Mohammed through Adbul Rhaman Sulemana’s mobile money account as final payment for the sale of the rice.

Aziz then gave GH₵ 89,000.00 out of the money received to Sulemana to use in preparing travel documents for him to travel to Saudi Arabia.

According to the prosecution, further police investigation revealed that Aziz abandoned the truck at Tema Community Nine, near Flight Hotel, left the ignition key in the ignition node, and travelled to Tamale, adding that on November 20, 2023, intelligence led to his arrest from his hideout at Wassa Akropong in the Western Region.

The court heard that during the investigation, Aziz mentioned that he agreed with Mohammed and Sulemana to divert and sell the rice.

Witnesses in the case were arrested, and after investigations, the accused persons were charged with the offences and arraigned.

Include PwDs in Ghana’s digital technology agenda-Inclusive Tech Group

By
Editor
-
0

Dr Millicent Agangiba, the Executive Director of Inclusive Tech Group, has urged the government to ensure that People with Disabilities (PwDs) are included in the country’s digital technology agenda.

Inclusive Teach is an organisation that works to ensure all-inclusive society where various structures exist for the full utilization and participation of vulnerable groups in the digital space.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the side-lines of the 11th Digital Rights and Inclusive Forum 2024 (DRIF24), underway in Accra, Dr Agangiba stressed that the PwDs could not be excluded socially, and left behind digitally, in today’s interconnected world.

The Paradigm Initiative (PIN), a Pan African organisation, and its partners are organising the three-day conference on the theme: “Fostering Rights and Inclusion in the Digital Space.”

Other partners of the conference, being attended by hundreds of delegates, civil society organisations and actors, NGOs and the academia drawn from 61 countries across the world include E-Governance and Internet Governance Foundation for Africa (EGIGFA) and the University of Media, Arts and Communication.

The rest are the Media Foundation for West Africa, Inclusive Tech Group, Internet Society (ISOC) Ghana Chapter, and Human Security Research Centre (HSRC)

Event sponsors include Wikimedia, African Digital Rights Network, Ford Foundation, Luminate, Google, Kingdom of The Netherlands, Mott Foundation, Open Technology Fund (OTF), Internews, Small Media, among others.

As the nation makes significant progress to advance in digital technology, the government must tackle the existing disparities in accessing digital technologies by supporting and providing the required resources and materials to train the PwDs, Dr Agangiba said.

Dr Millicent Agangiba, the Executive Director of Inclusive Tech Group, has urged the government to ensure that People with Disabilities (PwDs) are included in the country’s digital technology agenda.

Inclusive Teach is an organisation that works to ensure all-inclusive society where various structures exist for the full utilization and participation of vulnerable groups in the digital space.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the side-lines of the 11th Digital Rights and Inclusive Forum 2024 (DRIF24), underway in Accra, Dr Agangiba stressed that the PwDs could not be excluded socially, and left behind digitally, in today’s interconnected world.

The Paradigm Initiative (PIN), a Pan African organisation, and its partners are organising the three-day conference on the theme: “Fostering Rights and Inclusion in the Digital Space.”

Other partners of the conference, being attended by hundreds of delegates, civil society organisations and actors, NGOs and the academia drawn from 61 countries across the world include E-Governance and Internet Governance Foundation for Africa (EGIGFA) and the University of Media, Arts and Communication.

The rest are the Media Foundation for West Africa, Inclusive Tech Group, Internet Society (ISOC) Ghana Chapter, and Human Security Research Centre (HSRC)

Event sponsors include Wikimedia, African Digital Rights Network, Ford Foundation, Luminate, Google, Kingdom of The Netherlands, Mott Foundation, Open Technology Fund (OTF), Internews, Small Media, among others.

As the nation makes significant progress to advance in digital technology, the government must tackle the existing disparities in accessing digital technologies by supporting and providing the required resources and materials to train the PwDs, Dr Agangiba said.

She said although the Inclusive Tech was doing much to enlighten, especially the visually impaired to easily access and use the internet, more support and resources were required to empower more of the PwDs to ensure their inclusion in the digital space.

With the progress made so far in the country’s digitally driven economy, being spearheaded by the Vice President Alhaji Dr Mahamuds Bawumia, the Executive Director, said if the PwDs were not empowered enough, it would be difficult for them to cope with social life.

As the world turns into a global village with rising internet penetrations, Dr Agangiba said vulnerable people and groups as well as the marginalised in society must also understand how to access and use the internet for productive activities.

She said now that quality education, healthcare and other essential services were being accessed digitally, it was appropriate the government supported her organisation and others to also train and empower the PwDs to access the digital space too.

Dr Albert Antwi-Bosiako, the Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority, said there were gaps in internet access, particularly in the global South and underserved communities, where access to affordable and reliable internet remained limited.

Dr Antwi-Bosiako noted though the nation had made progress in internet penetration, it was imperative to remain vigilant in addressing the digital divide that persisted, particularly in the un-served and underserved communities.

He said it was the responsibility of governments to foster digital inclusion among their citizens and build a more inclusive digital society.

Dr Aida Opoku-Mensah, the Vice Chairperson, PIN Board, said Ghana was privileged to host the conference, and expressed appreciation to the partners, hoping that the participants would build networks.

The DRIF24, she added, remained important platform where conversations on digital policy in Africa were shaped, policy directions debated, and partnerships forged for action.

She said although the Inclusive Tech was doing much to enlighten, especially the visually impaired to easily access and use the internet, more support and resources were required to empower more of the PwDs to ensure their inclusion in the digital space.

With the progress made so far in the country’s digitally driven economy, being spearheaded by the Vice President Alhaji Dr Mahamuds Bawumia, the Executive Director, said if the PwDs were not empowered enough, it would be difficult for them to cope with social life.

As the world turns into a global village with rising internet penetrations, Dr Agangiba said vulnerable people and groups as well as the marginalised in society must also understand how to access and use the internet for productive activities.

She said now that quality education, healthcare and other essential services were being accessed digitally, it was appropriate the government supported her organisation and others to also train and empower the PwDs to access the digital space too.

Dr Albert Antwi-Bosiako, the Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority, said there were gaps in internet access, particularly in the global South and underserved communities, where access to affordable and reliable internet remained limited.

Dr Antwi-Bosiako noted though the nation had made progress in internet penetration, it was imperative to remain vigilant in addressing the digital divide that persisted, particularly in the un-served and underserved communities.

He said it was the responsibility of governments to foster digital inclusion among their citizens and build a more inclusive digital society.

Dr Aida Opoku-Mensah, the Vice Chairperson, PIN Board, said Ghana was privileged to host the conference, and expressed appreciation to the partners, hoping that the participants would build networks.

The DRIF24, she added, remained important platform where conversations on digital policy in Africa were shaped, policy directions debated, and partnerships forged for action.

Election 2024: Voter Registration Centres in Greater Accra

By
Editor
-
0

The Electoral Commission (EC) has designNPOL001

ated 1,068 centres for the upcoming voter registration exercise nationwide, which will begin from May 7 to May 27, 2024.

The centres include the Commission’s 268 district offices, 25 public universities, and 775 difficult-to-access electoral areas across the country.

The 1,068 centres are those that have been gazetted for the registration, Mr Samuel Tettey, Deputy Chairman in charge of Operations at the EC, told the Ghana News Agency.

In the Greater Accra Region, registration will take place in 31 District Offices of the Commission.

Prospective voters in Ga South will register at Block A 11, 33 & 34 GICEL, SCC, New Weija West.

Those in Weija Gbawe will register at Architectural and Engineering Service Limited (AESL) Building, I.T.S Road, opposite Weija-Gbawe Municipal Assembly.

At Ga Central, the exercise will take place at Dan Salo Street, Sowutuom Last Stop, Ga North at the National Identification Authority’s Office at Amamorley, Ga West at Ga West Municipal Assembly, whilst Ga East will take place at Kwabenya-Atomic MA 5 Basic School Library.

At La Nkwantanang/Madina, registration will take place at the EC’s Office opposite Silver Hair Spa, Madina New Road Market, and Rawlings Circle.

People in Ayawaso East, Ayawaso North, Ayawaso Central, Ayawaso West, and Korley Klottey will all go to the Electoral Commission Head Quarters premises, Castle Road.

Those in Okaikwei South Metro will have their centre near Kaneshie Market and Criples Home, Nii Asere Ayitey Road.

Ablekuma South Sub-Metro will register within the premises of Nii Kojo Ababio

Cluster of Schools (Korlegonno), while Ashiedu Keteke Sub-Metro will be at

City Engineers Building, near Light House (GPHA) John Evans Atta Mills High Street.

Okaikwei North will go to Achimota District Court, Ablekuma North will be at Banyard – Odorkor, along the George Walker Bush Highway, Ablekuma Central will go the Local Government premises, Laterbiokoshie, whilst Ablekuma West will register at Dansoman, at the Ablekuma West Municipal Assembly premises.

La Dadekotopon will be at Kaajarno South La Estate, 2nd Kaajarno Sreet.

Ledzokuku will go to Oak Street, Teshie, near Ledzokuku Municipal Assembly, whilst those in Krowor will register at Nungua, Brigade Hill Top, Cactus Street.

Tema Metro will have their centre at Tema Metro Office, Community 4 Near Prisco Park, No. 4 Kokofu Park, whereas Tema West will be at Old Mexico School Block, Community 2, Tema.

Kpong Katamanso will go to New Police Station Office, Khrida Estates, Kpone Kokompe Junction.

The people of Ashaiman will go to First Floor of the Tema Highway Building, Lebanon Ashaiman, Opposite Lebanon International School and Mosque.

Those in Adentan will register at No. 14 Ayebeng Avenue, Adentan Housing Down, whilst those in Shai-Osudoku will be at Dodowa, Education, near Fire Service Office.

Ningo Prampram will have their centre adjacent Prampram SHS Gate, New Site through Noble Estate Road.

Ada West people will go to Battor Road, Kaiser Street, behind ECG Office, whilst those in Ada East will register at Forestry Commision, Luhuese-Ada Foah Road, Luhuese.

Out of the 25 public universities designated for voter registration, Greater Accra has six.

University of Ghana, Legon, will have the registration centre at Legon Hall Main.

University of Professional Studies, Accra, will have the centre behind the University’s Graduate School.

Ghana Communication Technology University will have the registration centre at the Engineering Block.

Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) will have the centre at the Forecourt of the GIMPA Administration.

Registration at UniMAC (GIJ, School of Languages and NAFTI) will take place at the Forecourt of the School’s Administration.

Accra Technical University will have the registration centre at the Akwaaba Lodge.

The EC’s Deputy Chairman in charge of Operations said individuals below 18 years and non-Ghanaians were not qualified to register, stressing that, “attempts by unqualified persons to register is an offence.”

ASIGE enrolls 100 vulnerable girls into vocational training

By
Editor
-
0

Vulnerable girls from rural communities in the Upper East Region enrolled onto various vocational and technical training by the Advocacy for Social Inclusion and Girls Education (ASIGE), a non-government organisation, has reached 100 within five years.

This follows the latest admission of 20 selected young vulnerable girls to undergo a three-year practical training in various trades such as hairdressing, smock weaving, dressmaking, and welding, among others.

With funding from the Amplify Action based in the United Kingdom, the beneficiaries were also provided with learning materials and equipment as well as payment for the entire training duration.

Since 2019, ASIGE has been working with various stakeholders to help reduce unemployment in the region through the support of young vulnerable girls, particularly out of schoolgirls and teenage mothers, to learn various trades in vocation skills.

It has also been advocating for policy directions for African countries to prioritise technical and vocational training as means to reduce unemployment, reduce poverty and strengthen efforts towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Ms Dorcas Apoore, Executive Director, ASIGE, told the Ghana News Agency that apart from the training, the beneficiaries would also be given entrepreneurship and digital training to enable them to establish their businesses, attract and retain customers.

She said so far about 33 girls had successfully graduated from the training and five had already started their own businesses, earning income and employing other young girls.

“Majority of these girls were on the streets of Accra, Kumasi and other parts of Ghana but since we brought in this programme, these so many girls are engaged and we believe in five years-time, should they all graduate, they will support other vulnerable girls,” she said.

The Executive Director explained that technical and vocational skills training was key to reducing unemployment and boosting socioeconomic growth and development.

However, educational systems of Ghana and other African countries were mostly based on theories.

The situation, she indicated, had contributed significantly to the high rate of unemployment and limited graduates from establishing their own businesses and contributing to solving social problems.

Ms Apoore underscored the urgent need to align policy framework that prioritised handwork for young people, adding “we have so many graduates on the streets, but they don’t have the practical skills.”

Madam Rita Abamah, Bongo District Girl Child Officer, Ghana Education Service, indicated that most of the young girls enrolled had missed out on the formal education and the support would go a long way to build their capacity to live dignified lives.

She advised the beneficiaries to humble themselves and learn so that they would acquire the needed skills that would enable them to establish their own business and become economically independent.

Ms Martha Asaane, one of the Master Trainers, said they were willing to train the girls at reduced fees and urged the parents of the beneficiaries to support their wards.

Ms Matilda Adombire, one of the beneficiaries, expressed gratitude to ASIGE and its partners for the intervention and noted that the support would enable her make up for the formal education she missed and become responsible in society.

African vaccination, child health promotion week launched in Accra

By
Editor
-
0

The African Vaccination and Child Health Promotion week, 2024, was on Tuesday launched in Accra with an appeal to parents to ensure that children up to two years old received the right dosses of vaccines required to protect them against Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD).

Mr. Naziru Tanko Mohammed, the Deputy Program Manager of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), Ghana Health Service (GHS), said presently, there were inequalities in vaccination coverage with high numbers of left-out children in peri-urban and urban districts.

He said in urban districts like Ga Central, Ablekuma, Oforikrom, Kwabrim, Prampram among others, parents hardly completed the vaccination schedules for their children.

“If you received only one dose of a vaccine which is to be administered in four doses, your child will still be at risk,” he said, encouraging such parents to ensure their children completed the process.

Mr. Mohammed said Ghana currently administered eleven vaccines against 14 VPDs in routine immunization and that the EPI was considering establishing mobile vaccination centres in markets and public places to reach out to more children in urban centres.

The Chief of Staff, Mrs. Akosua Frema Osei Opare, who launched the childhood vaccination week, said from the moment of birth, vaccines played a critical role in safeguarding the survival of newborns and infants.

Through the routine immunization schedule, Ghana provides protection against diseases such as Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Measles, Polio, Meningitis, Yellow Fever, Tetanus, among others.

Mrs. Opare said vaccination ensured that the youngest and most vulnerable population was shielded from dangerous diseases.

“Early vaccinations lay the foundation for a lifetime of health and well-being, setting the stage for future growth and development of a child,” she said.

She called on the public to support the national vaccination efforts saying, “vaccination is not just an individual responsibility…it is a collective endeavor that benefits society. By achieving high vaccination coverage across all age groups, we create a herd immunity.”

The Chief of Staff said the concept of herd immunity underscored the importance of investing in immunization to save lives and prevent outbreaks and that every family, group, and organisation had a stake in immunization and other child health interventions.

Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), reaffirmed the government’s commitment to prioritising the well-being of children in all aspects of its work and advocacy.

That, he said, would be done by investing in effective interventions, collaborating across sectors, and advocating policies that prioritised child health.

“We can create a country where every child can grow up healthy, happy, and thriving,” he said.

The African Vaccination Week is celebrated in April every year to strengthen immunization programmes in Africa.

It seeks to increase the awareness of the importance that every person’s (particularly every child and woman) has the right to be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.

It also aims at keeping immunization high on the national and regional agendas through advocacy and partnerships, with an over-arching slogan “Vaccinated communities, Healthy communities”.

This year’s campaign is under the theme “Healthy Childhood: Invest in Your Child for a Better Future”.

Reintroduce Fiscal Responsibility Act to tackle election budget overrun

By
Editor
-
0

Mr Yaw Osafo Marfo, Senior Presidential Advisor, has asked the government to reconsider the introduction of the Fiscal Responsibility Act to tackle the election year budget overrun.

The Parliament of Ghana suspended the implementation of the Act in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2018 (Act 982) charges the government to ensure that the overall fiscal balance on a cash basis for a particular year does not exceed a deficit of five percent of the gross domestic product for that year.

He said elections in the country since the inception of the Fourth Republic Constitution were characterised by budget overruns where the governments spent beyond their budget.

These budget overruns, he said, were usually caused by promises made by politicians in an election year; therefore, most projects in that period were unbudgeted. 

Mr Marfo said this in Accra at the Open Government Partnership (OGP)-Infrastructure Transparency Initiative (CoST) Stakeholder Meeting on Revitalising Infrastructure Investment in Ghana.

“It is very important that the Minister of Finance go by the budget that has been presented to Parliament. If the government is not able to match additional revenue, it should not go for an additional expenditure. 

If the budget exceeds the revenue, then there is going to be a cost overrun. 

“So far, in our history in the fourth republic, in every election year, we have a situation where we have serious budget and cost overruns,” he said.

Mr Marfo, who is also the Chairman of OGP, said, “I think that the government must reconsider implementing the Act very well to address cost and budget excesses during the election year.” 

The Presidential Advisor stated that if the Act was not fully implemented, it could lead to distortions and affect government finances in the subsequent financial year.

The Infrastructure Accountability Initiative, he said, promoted transparency, participation, and accountability in the delivery of infrastructure projects.

“This is done through multi-stakeholder working, disclosure of data, an independent review known as CoST assurance, and social accountability,” he said.

The project has been piloted in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly.

Through the project, he said, the Assembly earned a strong reputation for transparency and accountability as one of the sub-national OGP members. 

Mr Christian Poortman, the Board Chairperson for CoST, said his outfit aimed at enhancing capacity, promoting effective governance in local infrastructure projects, and fostering engagement with stakeholders.

He said Ghana’s hosting of the 28th CoST Board Meeting in Ghana underscored the collective commitment to transparency, accountability, and good governance in infrastructure development.

Wife of Independent Candidate organises health screening for the aged to mark birthday

By
Editor
-
0
Picture from Yen News

Mrs Violet Obeng, the Wife of Mr Kwame Asare Obeng, the Independent Parliamentary Candidate for Gomoa Central Constituency, has organised a health screening exercise for the aged.

It was also to enable the aged to know their health status and seek prompt medical attention.

The health screening exercise was carried out by VEE Foundation with sponsorship from Mrs Obeng, its Executive Director.

More than 600 aged were checked for various ailments, including Blood Pleasure (BP), diabetes, dental issues, malaria, hepatitis B, cholesterol levels and others.

Majority of the aged were found to be suffering from various sicknesses, unknowingly.

Medicines were given to those requiring them and some referred to see medical doctors at various facilities in and around Gomoa Central for further diagnosis and treatment.

The beneficiaries were drawn from Gomoa Pomadze, Chapel Community, Gomoa Aseibu and Gomoa Ansaful in the Constituency.

Speaking to the media after the exercise, Mrs Obeng said she was in Ghana from the UK to celebrate her birthday with the aged at Gomoa Pomadze to assist them to receive medical attention.

She said some of the beneficiaries could not afford the cost of medical check-ups because it was highly expensive while others were immobile and could not get to hospitals easily to receive medical treatment.

Mrs Obeng said the aged in the Gomoa Central were dear to her heart and she would do her possible best to provide them with medical care at their doorstep.

She gave the assurance that her Foundation and sponsors were ready to provide medicines and equipment to clinics and Community Health Planning and Services (CHPS) Compound at Gomoa Pomadze and its enclave to support quality healthcare delivery.

The Executive Director of VEE Foundation appealed to the residents, especially the aged to do regular check-ups at health facilities to reduce untimely deaths and also detect unexpected sickness to enhance their wellbeing.

Mr Kwame Asare Obeng commended his wife, Mrs Obeng and her Foundation for the gesture and reiterated calls on the people to avail themselves during such medical screenings and also regularly go for check-ups.

Mr Obeng said as an Independent Parliamentary candidate seeking to become Member of Parliament (MP) his main priority was to support health facilities in the Gomoa Central to be well equipped with modern equipment and medicines to promote quality healthcare.

He appealed to the constituents to vote massively for him in the forthcoming Parliamentary elections on December7, 2024.

Nana Apata Kofi I, Chief of Gomoa Pomadze, praised Mrs Obeng and her Foundation for the health screening for the aged in the area.

He pledged the support of the chiefs and people of Gomoa Pomadze to the team.

1...204205206...1,458Page 205 of 1,458