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1.9 million people to be tested for HIV in 2024 

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The National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) is targeting to test 1.9 million people in 2024, as part of a comprehensive plan under the Global Fund’s Grant Cycle 7. 


Using regional targets, an estimated 1.1 million pregnant women would also be tested as part of the programme, Dr. Stephen Ayisi Addo, the Programmes Manager said. 


Ghana has received 234 million dollars under the GC7 to fight HIV, TB and Malaria from 2024 to 2026, and HIV is getting close to 100 million of the amount for interventions across the country. 


Dr Addo, addressing stakeholders at the 2024 Joint TB/HIV Annual Review held in Ho, said as part of activities for the year, an HIV Case Based Surveillance programme would be launched, and an E-tracker for the ART rolled out.

 
He said there will be a triple elimination intervention for HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B, as well as HIV interventions for special groups, and HIV Cadre Community Interventions. 


The NACP plans to enhance differentiated ART service delivery and strengthen community groups and models. 


It will further develop its guidelines and job aids, enhance HIV-positive baby units, and the pregnancy registry, and also improve upon the integration of ART into non-communicable disease care. 


Other activities for the year include the pilot of a cervical cancer screening programme, operational research in key areas, and expansion of family-based index testing. 
A newly revised HIV testing algorithm will be rolled out in the year. 


Dr. Addo said stakeholders should work on optimising electronic medical records and also address staff attrition for HIV care. 


He said there was a need to improve the uptake of HIV services, and also called for the promotion of a paediatric HIV implementation plan. 


He reported how data challenges continued to affect the control programme and said the necessary support would help deliver a more successful implementation. 


“Our work in 2024 is cut out and the targets are very attainable,” Dr Addo assured. 
Mr. Ernest Amoabeng Ortsin, Acting Chairman of the Country Coordinating Mechanism of the Global Fund, said 1.2 billion dollars had so far been invested in the country by the Global Fund, sustaining some 254,000 people on TB and HIV treatment. 


He appealed to the Government to ensure the availability of domestic resources,  including counterpart funding to aid a successful fight. 


The annual joint TB/HIV review brought heads of the Ghana Health Service from across the Regions, and various stakeholders including the WHO, UNICEF, and CSOs as well as health research institutions. 

The 2024 NDC presidential running mate is a perfect choice for Keta MP 

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Mr Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpe, the Member of Parliament for Keta in the Volta Region, has said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer running mate, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, is a perfect choice for upcoming elections. 
 
Professor Opoku-Agyemang would partner with Former President John Dramani Mahama, flagbearer of the NDC for this year’s 2024 elections. 
 
Mr Gakpe, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, described Professor Opoku-Agyemang as a competent, dedicated, patriotic, passionate, and well-fit personality whose partnership with Mr Mahama would lead the party to victory.  
 
“For Mahama and the elders of the party to retain Prof. Jane for the next general elections tells you that she is capable. We will support them strongly to accomplish the unfinished contest that will probably bring back NDC to power in 2024,” he stated. 
 
Mr Gakpe further stated that a female running mate for the party simply signified how tolerant and gender-balanced the NDC party was to also give women the opportunity to showcase their abilities in governance.  
 
In a related development, Mr. Anthony Dagadu, a political analyst, stated that Prof. Opoku-Agyemang could make a perfect running mate if she adhered to all policies of the party by avoiding frustrations and intimidation from party members. 
 
“This is not her first time becoming a running mate. I believe she has gathered more experience that will help her partner, Mr. Mahama,” Mr Dagadu said 
 
He expressed the hope that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) would also name an equally good and competent running mate to partner Dr Mahamudu Bawumia for a good race in the 2024 general elections. 
 
However, some NPP supporters GNA interviewed expressed optimism about retaining the presidential seat “since the NDC have presented a losing team that once lost to the NPP in the 2020 general elections.” 
 
Professor Opoku-Agyemang was the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast. 
 
She also served as the Education Minister from 2013 to 2016 under former President Mahama. 

Tano North MP donates 120 motorbikes to security agencies, public institutions

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Dr. Freda Prempeh, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tano North, has donated 120 motorbikes to the security and some public institutions in the Tano North Municipality of the Ahafo Region. 
 
The Ghana Police Service received 35 of the brand-new motorbikes, the Ghana National Fire Service 15, the Ghana Prison Service 10, the Ghana Immigration Service 10, and the National Ambulance Service five. 
 
With the public institutions, the Ghana Health Service and the Tanoso Midwifery Training School received 35 of the bikes while the Ministry of Agriculture had 15 of the bikes. 
 
Speaking at a short presentation ceremony held at Duayaw-Nkwanta, Dr. Prempeh stressed her commitment to ensuring that public institutions in the municipality were adequately resourced to improve their work. 
 
She said she was determined to ensure that development in Tano North was brought to the next level before her exit as an MP for the area in January 2025. 
 
Highlighting some of her achievements as MP for the area since 2008, Dr Prempeh said through her efforts, the municipality had achieved about 80 percent of electricity and water coverage, with almost all the deprived communities connected to the national electricity grid. 
 
Additionally, the MP said she had constructed 145 mechanized boreholes, 11 Community-based Health Planning Services (CHPS) compounds, about 15 durbar grounds as well as several educational facilities. 
 
She, therefore, called on the beneficiaries to use the machines for their intended purposes and also maintain them properly. 
 
Heads of the various security services took turns to express their appreciation to the MP for her support and promised to take good care of the machines. 
 
The Assistant Commissioner of Police (AC) John Kusorgbor, the Tano North Divisional Police Commander, indicated the machines would enable the service to improve personnel visibility and greatly enhance crime combat. 

MTN Ghana Foundation commissions Maternity and Neonatal Care Unit at Keta 

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The MTN Ghana Foundation has commissioned a 60-bed maternity block for the Keta Municipal Hospital in the Volta region. 
The newly constructed edifice contained a 20-bed Neonatal Care Unit (NICU) and a 40-bed maternity ward with emergency rooms, recovery rooms, a delivery ward, and others. 
 
Mr Selorm Adadevoh, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MTN Ghana, in a speech during the commissioning ceremony held at the premises of the Keta Municipal Hospital, said the facility would help alleviate the challenges expectant mothers faced over the years. 


“This hospital is an important health facility which would help in delivering healthcare to several communities within and out of the Keta Municipality.“ 


He said reports from the hospital authorities over the years were an indication that the current infrastructure would contain over 3,000 maternal and 648 NICU admissions annually due to the high demand for services from the facility, which resulted in several patients not getting the good services with the endurance of harsh conditions during pregnancy.  


“We are grateful to the Medical Doctor and his team for putting together an inspiring proposal for this project, and I believe this facility would bring relief to many pregnant women who visit here,” he stated. 
Mr Adadevoh said another aim of the project was to mitigate the inadequate facility challenges the hospital faced over the years. 


“As we celebrate the inauguration of this remarkable new maternity block, I leave you with a charge – a solemn responsibility that falls upon every one of you – which is the responsibility to care for and cherish this newly built facility.” 


He appealed to the dedicated hospital staff, whom he referred to as ‘the guardians of the hospital’  entrusted with the well-being of the patients and the smooth operation of its services and equipment.  
Mr Adadevoh also called on community members to embrace the facilities as their own, utilising its services and facilities responsibly, and with vigilance to ensure that they retained their pristine condition for a very long time.  


“I hope that this facility will serve the community with distinction for many years to come. To ensure the sustainability of the facility, MTN Ghana Foundation together with Management of the hospital will establish a Management Committee for the oversight and maintenance of the facility.” 


Dr Chrysantus Kubio, the Volta Regional Director of Health, on his part, commended MTN  Ghana Foundation for the timely intervention ensuring effective and effective healthcare delivery. 
He said the project was a ‘dream come true’ which would go a long way to benefit all patients that would visit the hospital. 


Some residents within Keta, who witnessed the colorful event, expressed gratitude to the donors for the love extended to them. 


The facility also contained two operational theaters, a 20-hostel facility for mothers, two consulting rooms and offices for nurses, a reception and outpatient department (OPD), restrooms, a staff eatery, an Intensive Care Unit, a Laboratory and dispensary, scrub and sluice room, as well as anesthetic room. 
The project, which was handed over to the Keta Municipal Hospital on Thursday, March 7 for use, commenced on December 20, 2022, and was completed at a cost of Gh₵15.2M. 


The colorful commissioning ceremony, blended with rich cultural displays, was attended by Torgbui Sri III, the ‘Awomefia’ of the Anlo State, Togbi James Ocloo V, the ‘Dufia’ of Keta, Agbotadua Kumasah, spokesperson for Torgbui Sri III, health practitioners, nurses, and several others. 

Panelists urge immediate enactment of the Affirmative Action Bill

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Panelists have called for the immediate passage of Ghana’s Affirmative Action (AA) Bill into law to ensure gender equity and development.
According to them, the Bill had been pending for far too long, and it was time for political leaders to act to see it passed into law.


“We have marked time for a long time, we need to march forward by passing the AA Bill into law. We need special mechanisms to make us run an equal race. Women have been marginalized for a long time.”
At an Intergenerational Dialogue/Youth Forum on the Passage of the AA Bill in Accra, they stated that if the AA Bill were enacted, it would address mischief in society and promote power sharing in the country.


Ghana’s AA Bill has been before Parliament since 2011. The AA Bill, 2023, is now in Parliament and has undergone its first reading. It has also been submitted to the Parliamentary Committee on Gender and Children for consideration.


Civil Society Organizations and other institutions have consequently increased advocacy efforts to ensure that the Bill is enacted by Ghana’s Parliament before the end of March 2024, lest the legislation expire in Parliament, as it happened in 2016.

Affirmative Action laws are policies and legislation that redress historical and systematic inequalities faced by certain communities.

They seek to enhance representation in decision-making spaces where certain members of society, particularly in education, employment, and decision-making, have historically been underrepresented or discriminated against.


The dialogue drew 60 people from the Affirmative Action Bill Coalition, NETRIGHT, WiLDAF, the youth wings of various women’s rights organizations, media, and gender advocates around the country.
Panelists have consequently advocated for social media to enhance public awareness, picketing, radio and television messages, lobbying, and other activities to ensure the swift passage of the AA Bill into law.
Madam Gloria Kankam, WilDAF Ghana’s Communication, Advocacy, and Network Manager, said the quest for the Affirmative Action Bill to become law was a moral imperative, demonstrating a common will to remove legal and normative barriers.


She said the passage of the Bill would also result in “a society that honors the dignity and potential of every individual.”


Ms Becky Enyonam Ahadzi, a lawyer and Coordinator for the Affirmative Action Bill Coalition said the bill seeks to provide an accountability framework to measure gender equality and empowerment of women in the executive, legislative, judicial, public, and private sectors.


According to her, the measure was also intended to support a progressive increase in women’s active engagement in public life from 30 percent to 50 percent by 2023, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 5.


Ms Ahadzi said that research showed a gender imbalance in multiple spheres of life in Ghana, and “this necessitates the need for affirmative action to right the wrong of gender discrimination.”
She emphasized that affirmative action policies had not had the desired impact, and gender discrimination persisted, notably in public and political leadership positions.


Ms Ahadzi said low educational achievement had deprived some women of access to decent employment, healthcare, and justice, among other things.


She mentioned that in the most recent elections in Sierra Leone in 2023, women lawmakers accounted for 30.4 percent, up from 14.5 percent in the previous election.


According to her, the increase in the number of female lawmakers was attributed to Sierra Leone’s Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act, which was brought into law a few months ago.
She said the Act, set a 30 per cent quota of women in Parliament, the Cabinet, and other institutions.
Ms Ahadzi said Ghana could emulate Sierra Leone’s example.


Yaa Nkansah Asamoah Anning, International Assistance Officer, Canada High Commission said gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls were central to Canada’s international assistance efforts around the world, including in Ghana.


“Our feminist approach is important because it asserts that these goals are central to development, prosperity, and peace everywhere,” she added.

Use consensus building in 2024 elections- Peace Council

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Right Reverend Samuel Kofi Osabutey, Chairman of the Greater Accra Regional Peace Council (GARPC), has urged political parties to prioritize consensus building over violence in the 2024 General Election.
He said that employing violence to resolve electoral disputes would harm not only the parties involved, but also innocent citizens, and would be damaging to the country’s progress.
Rt. Rev. Osabutey made the remarks at the opening of a two-day capacity-building program for political parties on trust building and intra and inter-party dispute resolution mechanisms.

The training is to empower political parties to resolve disputes without resorting to violence and concretely imbibe the principles of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms into their party structures for addressing intra and inter-party conflicts.
It was held on the theme: “Political party trust-building program and intra as well as inter-party mechanism addressing conflict”.
ADR, also known as appropriate dispute resolution, would strive to resolve conflicts in a non-confrontational manner, with adjudication, arbitration, mediation, and negotiations serving as the most direct path to a mutually acceptable resolution, the GARPC Chairman said.
He said ADR would manage and resolve complaints faster, lead to more innovative ideas, save time, and create solutions acceptable to all parties involved, thereby restoring peaceful relationships.
Rt. Rev. Osabutey said tolerance was required for election administration to provide credible election outcomes, and that the general trust in the administration’s integrity would increase the acceptance and legitimacy of the winner.
He urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to strive for transparency in electoral administration, which is regarded as a confidence-building measure.

He said that political parties should play a role in preserving the process’s integrity by requesting enough facts, as well as ensuring the independence of election management bodies once appointments have been made.
Mr George Amoo, Executive Secretary of the National Peace Council (NPC), stated that the Council, which is an Act of Parliament, has the mandate to prevent, manage, and resolve conflicts.

He stated that because 2024 was an election year, the Council would facilitate and develop mechanisms such as dialogues, training, awareness creation, and the development of manuals to guide behaviors to ensure peaceful elections.
Mr Amoo said that Ghana lacked documentation that directed how citizens spoke about election issues, thus the NPC would develop a guideline to be used to draw attention to acceptable practice.
He said the NPC would collaborate with the Media Foundation for West Africa, the Ghana Journalists Association, the Media Commission, and others to share best practices in dealing with hate speech and misinformation to equip and orient citizens and media practitioners to take part in useful discussions.
“We would reach out to larger stakeholders among whom are the security agencies, Chief Justice and EC,” he said, explaining that flagbearers would not be left out, to help commit political parties for clean campaigns.
The Executive Secretary stated that this would reduce expressions of tension before, during, and after the elections.
Mr Theophilus Tetteh Chaie, Accra Regional Secretary for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), who led the debate, urged the organizers to bring key players, including the police and the EC, together for effective deliberations in their next sitting.

Other political parties participating in the two-day workshop include the Convention People’s Party, All People’s Congress, Progressive People’s Party, Great Consolidated Popular Party, and the New Patriotic Party.

Women’s Day: ICU-Ghana urges government to invest in gender issues

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The government has been urged to invest in gender issues by providing equal opportunities for women to have the same access to job opportunities, promotions, and training programs as their male counterparts.

That, the union stated, required a commitment to fair hiring practices, including non-discrimination in recruitment and selection processes.

This was in a statement signed by Madam Esinam Afua Poku, Head of Gender and Youth Desk, ICU-Ghana, to the Ghana News Agency to commemorate International Women’s Day, which falls on March 8.

The Day is under the theme: “Count Her In: Invest in Women.”

“ICU-Ghana joins the world to appreciate the remarkable achievements of women the world over and recognize the ongoing struggles to attain gender equality,” it said.

The statement called on the government to promote a safe work environment by implementing policies and procedures that ensure a better work culture free from harassment and discrimination. 

“Women need to feel safe and supported in their workplace. 

“Organisations should create an atmosphere that prohibits violence and harassment by providing training to all employees on how to recognize and prevent these behaviors,” the statement said.

It urged the government to institute measures to support work-life balance for women with caregiving responsibilities by offering parental leave, flexible work arrangements, and wellness programs.

The statement encouraged women to surge in the struggle towards the socio-economic advancement of nations, especially developing countries.  

The statement urged women not to look down on their effort to invest in themselves, but rather to raise the bar and continue to scale up their contribution for recognition, respect, dignity, and equality.

“Gender inequality is not just women’s issue but rather impacts all aspects of society. 

“When women experience a setback, the entire society suffers because they play important roles in nation-building and the world at large,” the statement said.

It said the world was embracing and gradually integrating artificial intelligence at workplaces, urging women to raise their standards in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields to be competitive in the global market.

Malta President visits Ghana

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The President of Malta, Dr George William Vella, will arrive in Ghana on Thursday evening for a three-day state visit.


The visit is expected to enhance cooperation and boost ties between Ghana and Malta
President Vella will be accompanied by his wife, Miriam, and a delegation of public servants and private sector representatives.


The delegation is expected to meet and network with Ghana’s private sector to strengthen bilateral and trade relations between the countries.


On arrival, he would be met by Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and other government officials at the Kotoka International Airport’s Jubilee Lounge.


On Friday, President Vella will hold a bilateral meeting with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House, followed by a joint news conference.


He would be hosted to a state banquet at the Presidency on Friday evening.
President Vella is also set to meet with Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.
Among the other activities in Ghana, President Vella and his wife will visit the HopeXchange Medical Centre in Kumasi, which was established by a Maltese non-governmental organization as part of the health cooperation between the two countries.


President Vella is expected to depart Ghana on Sunday.

Enam Hadzide registers over 1000 people under NHIS in Asuogyaman

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Mr. Pius Enam Hadzide, the 2024 New Patriotic Party parliamentary candidate for Asuogyaman Constituency in the Eastern Region, has registered about 1000 people under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), to enable them to freely access medical care.


Mr Hadzide told the Ghana News Agency that what prompted him to take that action was the frequent requests he had been receiving from the residents to assist them with their medical bills.


He said that the NHIS had greatly benefited many individuals in the country by providing free healthcare but pointed out that there were still people in the constituency who had not registered or were unable to renew their expired cards.


According to him, the ongoing exercise was open to all residents of Asuogyaman, free from any political affiliation, and therefore encouraged everyone to participate in it.


“Since I’m not a member of parliament, I think it necessary to help my Constituents in a way that would facilitate their future which is why I’m registering and renewing their health insurance cards,” he said.


He expressed his commitment to registering all residents in the constituency, which consists of 37 electoral areas and 144 polling stations, including Boso, Agya Bui, Tosen Nanor, Labolabo, Fintey, Frankadua, Mpakadan, South Senchi, Akrade, Abume, Kpedzi, Mpamprase, Abomayaw, and Apeguso.


Mr. Hadzide said his focus was on improving healthcare for the people of Asuogyaman, with plans to prioritize the act if elected as an MP.


Mr Klenam Kudjo, a beneficiary, expressed his gratitude to the parliamentary candidate for his support, adding that 10 members of his family including his grandchildren, have all benefited from the exercise.

Healing Jesus Campaign Returns to Monrovia, Liberia After Over a Decade

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Monrovia, Liberia – March 7, 2024 – In a remarkable development that has captured the hearts of many, the Healing Jesus Campaign, led by Evangelist Dag Heward-Mills, has made a triumphant return to Monrovia, Liberia, after an absence of over ten years. The city is buzzing with excitement as throngs of people gather to witness the extraordinary power of faith and healing unfold over the course of this five-day crusade.

The inaugural night of the campaign saw Evangelist Dag Heward-Mills deliver a prophetic message on The Good Samaritan, stirring the souls of attendees and igniting a fervent sense of spiritual awakening. With profound conviction and the unwavering belief in the miraculous, he released the city into the ministry of the Oil and Wine, heralding a new era of divine intervention and transformation.

Early reports from the scene indicate that the impact of the crusade has been nothing short of extraordinary. Countless individuals have come forward to testify to experiencing deliverance, healing, and salvation, underscoring the profound resonance of Evangelist Heward-Mills’ message.

As the campaign progresses, anticipation continues to build among the populace of Monrovia. With four more days remaining, there is a tangible sense of expectation for the miracles yet to unfold in the city.

In light of this momentous occasion, Sweet Melodies FM encourages its listeners to stay tuned for comprehensive coverage of the Healing Jesus Campaign. We urge everyone to lend their support to this noble cause and join hands in spreading the message of love, healing, and salvation.

For further updates and information on how to support the campaign, please visit BENMP.com.

Stay connected with Sweet Melodies FM for the latest news and updates on this historic event.

Reporting from Monrovia, Liberia, Sweet Melodies FM News.

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