The victims were said to be part of a group of students who blocked the Abrepo Junction-Barekese road to protest pedestrian knockdowns involving students and teachers of the school.
Some of the students are reported to have gone unconscious
Angry students massed up on the road in protest, as they called for construction of speed rumps on that section of the road.
Reports indicate there was vehicular and human traffic on that stretch for more than an hour before the Police were called in to clear the road.
Other student were left with severe pain
Academic work has been grounded as parents frequent the school to check on their wards, amid heavy security.
There are currently ambulances on the school transporting students to nearby hospitals
In an interview with JoyNews few minutes after the incident, a Spokesperson of the Education Ministry, Eric Opoku Mensah, said efforts are underway to bring the situation under control.
He added that the Regional Director of Education is following up with the matter to ensure all students admitted at the hospital are well catered for and safe.
“We’ve spoken to parents to remain calm; we have given them the assurance that any student found in this School is well. We are protecting them; we are ensuring that those that were taken to the hospital are safe – some have been brought back.
Eric Opoku Mensah speaks for the Education Ministry
“We will engage the Urban Roads Directorate to ensure that some markings would be done on the road immediately. Even if that is done, that wouldn’t be an antidote to an accident occurring but again, we need to educate and advise our drivers who ply this road to be cautious when getting to a school junction,” he said.
Meanwhile, the National Ambulance Service has pegged the number of victims admitted to hospital, at 25.
Regional Director of the Service, Sommit Duut, says all the victims are responding to treatment.
According to him, the students rather suffered respiratory distress.
“All that we treated were just difficulty in breathing and people who were exhausted – we didn’t have any bloody situation.
“They [victims] are doing very well, they are responding to treatment; all of them are fine. As of now, we’ve not had any negative feedback from the hospital.”
Monkeypox spreads through respiratory droplets or by contact with fluid from skin sores. Anyone who has been diagnosed with monkeypox, or who suspects they might have it, should avoid close contact with others. Once the sores scab over, the infected person is no longer contagious.
Dozens of women in the Nigerian town of Owo have been marching to voice their outrage at the killing of at least 22 people in a local church at the weekend.
“I am here in the midst of my people. We are mourning. What happened was war,” said Yemi Mahmoud, former Ondo state commissioner for women’s affairs and social development.
She said the women, mostly from the town’s market, wanted the perpetrators to pay for their sins – so they had placed a curse on the attackers by enacting a local rite.
Most ethnic groups in Nigeria believe that the curses from women – especially mothers – carry some significance.
“We want them brought to book,” Ms Mahmoud explained.
President Akufo-Addo, has commissioned one hundred (100) mercury-free gold processing equipment, commonly referred to as “Gold Katcha”, for use by small-scale miners across the country.
Commissioning the equipment at the Independence Square on Monday, June 6, 2022, President Akufo-Addo described the acquisition of the gold processing equipment as “another important milestone in small-scale mining and environmental sustainability”.
The one hundred (100) Gold Katcha equipment, as the name suggests, extracts gold from the ore without the use of mercury, which has been the practice for several decades.
According to President Akufo-Addo, the equipment “has the capacity to recover over ninety percent (90%) of gold from the ore, and, therefore, give small scale miners much more gold than they would have obtained from the traditional method of using mercury.”
In addition to Ghana’s commitments under the Minamata Convention on Mercury, which is to reduce, and, where feasible, eliminate the use of mercury in artisanal and small-scale mining, he added that “we owe it as a duty to protect and safeguard our environment by reducing and, eventually, eliminating the use of such harmful chemicals.”
President Akufo-Addo indicated that some of the equipment he commissioned has already been handed over to some Community Mining Schemes and the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners, and was confident that they will go a long way to facilitate clean mining in the small-scale sector.
“It is our intention to procure some three hundred (300) more of these equipment, under the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme, for use in the various communities where the Programme is being implemented. Our goal is to eliminate gradually, but as soon as possible, the use of mercury in small-scale mining, and help realise the objectives of the Minamata Convention on Mercury,” he added.
Reiterating the full support of his government for responsible small-scale mining activities, especially as they provide avenues for Ghanaians to participate in the mining industry, and contribute substantially to the development of our gold sector, President Akufo-Addo stated, however, “what my government is against is any form of mining that pays no heed to the preservation of the environment, and which threatens our very survival and the legacy we seek to bequeath future generations.”
Government, he assured, will continue to pursue policies and programmes that will promote responsible and sustainable mining practices that contribute to national development.
“It is my hope, and, indeed, that of most Ghanaians, that beneficiaries of these equipment will put them to good use for their own benefit and for the benefit of the country,” he added.
The driver who drove into some pedestrians and killed three brothers at Ejisu-Besease has for the second time been remanded into police custody by the Ejisu District Magistrate Court.
Justice Adjoyi, 30, crashed his Honda CR-V vehicle with registration number AS 2221-22 into Hamidu Mohammed, 62, Abdul Rahman Mohammed, 50, and their brother in-law Masawudu Nacro, who were standing by the roadside about a week ago.
Police prosecutors say Adjoyi did not exercise caution when he dangerously overtook a vehicle ahead of him.
He subsequently lost control and killed his victims whilst driving on the Konongo – Ejisu section of the main Kumasi-Accra road.
Prosecutors on Tuesday told the court presided over by His Worship Francis Asakeya Ana-am, that a duplicate case docket has been sent to the Attorney-General’s office for advice.
The Magistrate said he was remanding the accused for his own safety.
The accused is facing a charge of dangerous driving contrary to Section One (One) of the Road Traffic Act, ACT 683.
Relatives of the victims were missing in court for the second time.
Earlier, a sister of the deceased, 35-year old Rabiatu Mohammed who collapsed upon hearing news of her brothers’ death had asked for forgiveness for the accused driver.
Rabiatu insists the incident should not be blamed on anyone; arguing that it could not have occurred without God’s approval.
EHearing has since been adjourned to June 14, 2022.
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President of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IAA) Ghana, Harriet Karikari, has expressed worry about the low remuneration of internal auditors, particularly those in the public sector.
According to her, this is affecting their output.
Speaking to Joy Business, Mrs. Karikari said it is wrong for finance professionals and accountants to be placed ahead of internal auditors in terms of pay, adding, this demotivates most of them.
She tells Joy Business her colleagues must be well remunerated to deliver results for organisations.
“We appear to be second to finance officers and because of that we are not remunerated very well. We have the same qualifications but our colleague finance officers and accountants are paid very well.”
“I think government is coming up with internal audit service to help mitigate some of these problems”, Mrs. Karikari explained.
She further mentioned that “we want management to know that internal auditors are key to organisations”.
The IAA Ghana held its Annual Awareness Creation in May 2022 to inform the general public and corporate Ghana about the importance of internal audit in providing independent assurance that an organisation’s risk management, governance and internal control processes are operating effectively.
Police in Nigeria says gunmen who killed more than 20 people in a church on Sunday had disguised themselves as worshippers.
A spokesman said the attackers detonated explosives inside the building, while others outside opened fire.
It still isn’t clear why they carried out the assault in the south-western town of Owo.
Police are also yet to announce an official number of deaths.
The UN in Nigeria said it “strongly condemns the brutal attacks on worshippers”, according to a statement by the UN secretary general’s spokesman on behalf of the UN’s Resident Coordinator for Nigeria, Mattias Schmale.
Mr Schmale appealed for calm and called for the attack perpetrators to be brought to justice.
The attack overshadowed a meeting of Nigeria’s governing party, which has begun the process of choosing a candidate for next year’s presidential election.
President Muhammadu Buhari cannot run again, having served two terms.
Grace was being shared when the first shot rang out. For dozens of worshippers at the St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, south-western Nigeria, the Lord’s prayer turned into a viaticum – the final prayer.
The armed men that burst through the church doors around 11:30 on Sunday set off dynamite that had congregants scampering to escape the explosions.
As worshipers rushed for the other two exits in the chaos, they were met by more armed men, followed by more shots and loud bangs.
At the end, eyewitnesses say at least 50 bodies – some of them children – were left strewn across the church floors, while many more were injured.
There was blood on the altar, blood on the floor, bodies on the pews.
It is still not clear how many people have died and or were injured. But the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ondo says the church, which is one of the biggest parishes in Ondo state, can hold up to 1,200 people. It was full at the time of the attack.
“They killed to their satisfaction before leaving,” chorister John Nwovu told the BBC.
He hid in the sacristy with others while the attack – which lasted for around 30 minutes – was going on and said he was only saved by God’s grace.
An explosion blew up the ceiling above him, burying him and several others, he said.
They bore the weight and pain in silence while the killers went about, picking off worshippers hiding under the pews.
Mr Nwovu’s brother, also a chorister, was shot in the leg and is recovering in hospital.
“I don’t think the shock of what I saw will leave me for the rest of my life,” he said.
Dynamite residue still litters the church, while the vestry – where many hid – bears testimony to the chaos.
Shoes, bible pages soaked in blood, purses and other personal belongings are still scattered about.
For members of this quiet community in Ondo state, the church was more than a place of worship – it has been a part of their lives since birth.This photo was taken inside the church after the attack
This was a surprise attack. Owo is relatively peaceful and has been spared the wanton killings that seem to happen weekly across Nigeria.
Attacks on churches have happened before – it was a tactic of Islamist militant group Boko Haram, but the gruesomeness of this attack has shocked many.
This was a congregation of the aged and the very young. Worshippers had turned up in their Sunday best for the Pentecost service, which marks the birth of the church and official end of the Easter season.
“I saw entire families being wiped away, friends, relatives, those I knew,” said Mr Nwovu.
For orthodox Nigerian Christians, first Sundays of the month are also significant. They are usually full of colourful thanksgivings led by families and parish groups and this would have been no different.
Folake Oni, 56, doesn’t remember how she survived the attack. She only recalls exiting the church and being taken to hospital.
Her daughter Elizabeth Ademiluka told the BBC that her mother was traumatized but physically well.
On Monday, a sombre mood engulfed the town, with hundreds of anxious people at the hospitals and dozens more at the church.
People are walking about with a blank stare, wondering how their lives have changed forever.
There is still a crowd at two local hospitals where volunteers rushed to donate blood after the attack.
But more is still needed, said Nigeria’s medical association, which has urged people to donate more at local hospitals.
Everyone seems to know someone inside the hospital where many are critically injured and some are fighting for their lives.
Many of the survivors at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Owo have been shot in both legs, some might never walk again.
There is a palpable outrage, plenty of which has spilled onto social media, where people followed the attack with shock as it happened.
The pictures are too gory for many Nigerians, even those numbed by the numerous deaths witnessed in the country.
Some of the children killed were unrecognisable – the high-calibre bullets scattered flesh and bones, a medical worker at the FMC told the BBC.
“The audacity of Nigeria to take my parents from me. I will always hate this country!!!!! It’s a promise!,” said one Twitter user.
The outrage over the killings has been further exacerbated by pictures of President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and other members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) eating at a state dinner hosted by the president, hours after the attack.
Mr Buhari has released a statement condemning the attack, an action many Nigerians are now used to, given the frequency of such killings.
“Only fiends from the nether region” could have done this “dastardly act”, the statement read.
Elected on promises to end insecurity, Nigeria’s security challenges have worsened under Mr Buhari, who is winding down to his tenure’s end next May.
Armed gangs which operate across the country are rarely brought to book and no-one has any hopes that the killers of Owo will pay for the atrocity.
All eyes are now on the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, who has vowed to hunt down the killers.
This incident will feel personal for Mr Akeredolu, as he comes from Owo.
He is one of the southern governors who have been very critical of the activities of herdsmen, who generally come from the north, and open grazing in Nigeria. He caused a huge furore last year when he ordered them to leave the forests in the state, accusing them of criminality.
There is nothing that links herders to the church attack, who are easily scapegoated for such killings. However, they have been accused of similar attacks in the past, especially in central Nigeria, where the conflict between herders and farmers for land has been especially fierce.
The killers wore khaki trousers used by many of Nigeria’s many paramilitary groups, said Mr Nwovu, so they could have been anyone.
The attack comes exactly a week after the head of the Methodist Church in Nigeria was abducted, along with two other clerics in the south-east of the country, and freed after paying $240,000 (£190,000).
Also, two weeks ago, two Catholic priests were kidnapped in Katsina, President Buhari’s home state in the north of the country. They have not been released.
This might feel like a new wave of attacks on the church, and worshippers like Mr Nwovu are shaken.
“I can’t go back to church with what I saw, for now,” he said.
Apple is changing how iPhone users send text messages, introducing an upcoming iOS 16 feature that will allow people to edit – or “undo send” – a text after it is sent through iMessage.And other amazing features
The Universal Merchant Bank (UMB), a leading indigenous Ghanaian bank today out-doored an online platform that allows customers of the Bank to link their Ghana Cards to their UMB accounts online, without having to go into their branch.
The service, dubbed Ez Update, allows customers to scan their Ghana Cards with their phones and load this information onto a secure portal.
Customers are then able to sign into this portal and link their Ghana card to their account.
The Bank of Ghana has set July 1, 2022, as the deadline for all bank accounts in Ghana to be linked to Ghana Cards. This is in line with the Bank of Ghana’s and the government’s strategy to make the Ghana Card the primary ID in the country.
Speaking to this reporter, Nii Amankra Tetteh, Executive Director of Business noted; “The search for a single source of truth and the consequent integration of databases is a critical ambition for Ghana, bringing financial data into this integration is important and the BoG’s support for it is commendable.
“We know that a large percentage of customers are cut out of banking benefits because the bank simply cannot KYC. Ez Update is our own digital innovation to reflect the lifestyles of our customers today.
“Now our customers can conveniently update their accounts, even at 2 am on a Sunday. This is the UMB advantage we are proud of and continue to deliver to Ghana, since 1972”.
With the launch of Ez Update, UMB joins an elite club of Banks in Ghana offering the service. Over 80% of banks in Ghana currently require their customers to do the linkage in person, at their branches.
UMB and a few other banks have developed digital means that allow customers to achieve the linkage digitally.
In her remarks on the product, Madam Belinda Boamah, Executive Director (Strategy) said, “At UMB we pride ourselves in innovating for customer convenience, since 1972. EZ UPDATE was developed internally in the Bank with our own Ghanaian resources and its performance is world-class.
“It is another step in our digital reimagination journey, as we commit to becoming digital -1st for the customer, in the next 50 years of our Bank. We are working hard to get to the point where our customers can interact with the Bank fully online, guaranteeing true convenience and access.”
UMB is a leading indigenous bank reputed for bringing a uniquely Ghanaian perspective to banking, since 1972. Headquartered in Accra and licensed by the Bank of Ghana, the bank operates out of 35 branches across Ghana. Its strategic aspiration is to become a digital 1st, SME-focused bank.
The bank has pioneered several innovations in this market, including SPEED APP, one of the best performing agnostic banking apps in the sub-region.
UMB is a strategic member of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) network.
CEO of AMG Business and rapper, Criss Waddle, says there is nothing like ‘blood money’.
According to the Ayi hitmaker, blood money, or ‘Sikaduro,’ as it is referred to in the Twi language, is simply non-existent — and that needs to be re-echoed often.
His comment comes after a man was recently nabbed for attempting to sacrifice his daughter in exchange for riches.View this post on Instagram
Expressing his thoughts on the matter, Waddle told Da Don in a recent interview that emphasis needs to be laid on the fact that “there is nothing like Sikaduro.”
Elaborating on his assertion, he said that the prominence of the non-existence of ‘Sikaduro’ would rather repel people from developing an interest in labelling it as a potential money-making venture.
“When we address the fact that the ‘juju man’ [ritualist] blah blah blah… and we don’t focus on the fact that there is nothing like that, then it means that it’s going to pass, and we are going to find someone else that’s going to want to do something like that,” Waddle told Sammy Forson on Daybreak Hitz.
The real estate developer went on to reveal that the education for the upcoming generation on the non-existence of blood money can be heard on his next album —which is yet to have a release date and a title.
In a recent post made by Criss Waddle via his Facebook page, the Azonto Ghost rapper disclosed that his next album will address the misconceptions that surround him: rumours of him being a homosexual, engaging in internet fraud, popularly known as ‘Sakawa,’ and relying on his “plumbing skills” to earn a living.
The first single, Take Me Back featuring Stonebwoy, off the upcoming album is out on some music digital stores.
The album features artistes like Sarkodie, Medikal, Stonebwoy, King Promise, Shatta Wale, R2bees, KiDi, Omar Sterling, and Mugeez, among others.
An accident involving a fire tender at Bogobire, a suburb of Obuasi in the Ashanti Region, has left six personnel critically injured.
The personnel with the Obuasi Fire Service are currently being treated at the AGA Health Foundation and the Obuasi Government Hospital.
The victims were responding to a distress call when the accident happened on Sunday.
Speaking to Adom News, the Ashanti Regional Fire Commander, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Harry Giwah, said the accident happened when the driver attempted to stop abruptly after spotting an ongoing bridge construction on the road.
However, the fire tender veered off and somersaulted before landing on its side.
The development resulted in the injury of the personnel onboard.
He expressed worry over why the engineer and his team did not position any road sign to alert drivers.
Parliament has constituted a six-member bi-partisan committee to probe the death of Augustina Awortwe, who died in an ambulance while being transported from the Holy Child Catholic Hospital at Fijai in the Western Region to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.
The Committee has up to five weeks to conduct investigations into the incident and submit its report to the House.
The six-member committee include Dr Nana Afriyie-Ayew, Member of Parliament (MP) for Affiduase-Asokore, Madam Patricia Appiagyei, MP for Asokwa, Mr Patrick Boamah, MP, Okaikoi Central, Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, MP, Juaboso, Dr Sebastian Sandare, MP, Daffiama-Bussie-Issa, and Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare, MP, Techiman North.
Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Ranking Member on the Health Committee, who moved the Private Members Motion, called for investigations into circumstances that led to the death of Madam Awortwe when she attended the Holy Child Hospital in January 4, 2022.
He said after undergoing a caesarean section, she developed some complications and was referred to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital even though the Effia Nkwanta Hospital and the Central Regional Hospital were close by.
“Mr Speaker, we have to know why that happened, if it is the case that these two hospitals did not have the capacity to handle that situation… as a House, we need to find an antidote to such problems to prevent their re-occurrence,” he added.
Mr Akandoh said before the ambulance started the journey the crew called the husband of the woman to demand GH₵600 for fuel but the “ husband struggled to give them only GH₵50, which led to delays and eventually her death in the ambulance on the way to Cape Coast.”
The Minority Chief Whip, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, seconding the motion, called on the House to take issues of such nature seriously and be responsive to the needs of the people, particularly concerning the protection of women and children.
He said the investigation of the incident would strengthen the oversight of the House and help to check public officers who were careless in the performance of their duties.
Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko, the Western Regional Minister, said the situation under consideration was a case of incapacity of the hospitals in the region, hence the need to transport the patient to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
He said the report he received from the ambulance officer in Takoradi indicated that the fuel allocation for the ambulance was meant for the region and anytime they had to transport patients outside the jurisdiction they requested fuel support from the families.
“Mr Speaker, I believe it is the policy gap in that area that needs to be looked at and fixed,” he said.
The late veteran actor, Psalm Adjeteyfio, has been laid to rest after a solemn funeral ceremony at the forecourt of the Trade Fair, La on Saturday, June 4, 2022.
Psalm Adjeteyfio died on Friday, April 8, 2022. He died aged 74.
The veteran actor left behind four children [two males and two females]
Family, friends, and sympathisers gathered to mourn Psalm Adjeteyfio aka [T.T] and also pay their last respects.
Tributes were read by the children and other relatives amid prayers in the company of the clergy and some well-wishers.
Some cast of “Taxi Driver” – a Ghanaian series from the late 90s – also graced the event.
Below are the photos and videos.Photo credit: GNAPhoto credit: GNAPhoto credit: GNAPhoto credit: GNAPhoto credit: GNAPhoto credit: GNAPhoto credit: GNAhttps://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=e30%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1533008042530377729&lang=en&origin=file%3A%2F%2F%2Fprivate%2Fvar%2Fcontainers%2FBundle%2FApplication%2F70DC1C4A-9BD0-46F3-8824-3AE8808A3BE5%2FMyJoyOnline.app%2F&theme=light&widgetsVersion=b45a03c79d4c1%3A1654150928467&width=550pxhttps://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=e30%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1533035888950771712&lang=en&origin=file%3A%2F%2F%2Fprivate%2Fvar%2Fcontainers%2FBundle%2FApplication%2F70DC1C4A-9BD0-46F3-8824-3AE8808A3BE5%2FMyJoyOnline.app%2F&theme=light&widgetsVersion=b45a03c79d4c1%3A1654150928467&width=550pxhttps://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=e30%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1533071420665765888&lang=en&origin=file%3A%2F%2F%2Fprivate%2Fvar%2Fcontainers%2FBundle%2FApplication%2F70DC1C4A-9BD0-46F3-8824-3AE8808A3BE5%2FMyJoyOnline.app%2F&theme=light&widgetsVersion=b45a03c79d4c1%3A1654150928467&width=550pxhttps://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=e30%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1533067812247306240&lang=en&origin=file%3A%2F%2F%2Fprivate%2Fvar%2Fcontainers%2FBundle%2FApplication%2F70DC1C4A-9BD0-46F3-8824-3AE8808A3BE5%2FMyJoyOnline.app%2F&theme=light&widgetsVersion=b45a03c79d4c1%3A1654150928467&width=550pxhttps://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=e30%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1533060578842910720&lang=en&origin=file%3A%2F%2F%2Fprivate%2Fvar%2Fcontainers%2FBundle%2FApplication%2F70DC1C4A-9BD0-46F3-8824-3AE8808A3BE5%2FMyJoyOnline.app%2F&theme=light&widgetsVersion=b45a03c79d4c1%3A1654150928467&width=550px
Minister of Communication and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, says the Ministry would not extend the set deadline for the nationwide SIM card registration exercise.
Consequently, she said all unregistered SIM cards would be deactivated by the end of July this year, and advised mobile phone users yet to register their SIM cards to do so.
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful gave the caution during the climax of the Ahafo Regional celebration of the Girls-in-ICT Initiative held at Acherensua in the Asutifi South District on the theme “Access and safety.”
The Girls-in-ICT initiative, one of the flagship programmes of the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation (MoCD) was in line with the International Girls-in-ICT Day, an initiative introduced in 2012 and backed by all International Communications Unions (ITU) in the Member States.
It aimed at encouraging and empowering girls and young women to consider studies and careers in ICT in the growing fields of ICTs, enabling both girls and technology companies to reap the benefits of greater female participation in the ICT sector.
Under the initiative, 1,000 girls from selected basic schools in the Region had the opportunity to undergo a one-week intensive training in ICT in basic computing including programming, coding, gaming, scratch typing and a mentorship programme.
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful said mobile phone subscribers and users in the country had been provided with enough time and opportunity to register their SIM cards saying, “there is no way we are going to extend the deadline again.”
She explained that SIM card registration was essential because the exercise would greatly help the country in its efforts to prevent online and cybercrimes that had become more sophisticated.
Touching on the Girls-in-ICT initiative, Mrs Owusu-Ekuful said the Ministry was determined to sustain the initiative to create opportunities for more girls to benefit from ICT education.
She emphasised that ICT education was not reserved for only boys and men, but for girls and women as well, saying girls also needed ICT skills to provide them with the needed exposure in the digital space.
The government statistician, Prof. Samuel Kobina Annim, has bemoaned the price variation of commodities at the various market centres across the country.
According to him, imported rice in 5 outlets in Cape Coast, for instance, is in excess of 100%, a situation he says is unacceptable and calls for urgent steps to address it.
Speaking at his inaugural lecture at the University of Cape Coast, the economic professor indicated that the price levels of imported rice based on the data from the 54 outlets over a three-time period: 2018, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2021: the Russian invasion of Ukraine, reveal high price variation.
“Look at the disparities in prices across these markets.”
“If we want to resolve the inflation rate in Ghana, it’s not a monetary policy argument, and thankfully, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana did indicate that we should begin to think about the supply side,” he stated.
He added that data on stocks of grains is yet to be compiled, but it is necessary because food contributes 50% of the country’s overall inflation disaggregation.
Prof. Annim indicated that a framework was needed to address the widening disparities and to minimize price variation at the various market outlets.
He further stated that, “Households have been deprived of information on prices.
“Indeed, if you take the data from Cape Coast outlets alone, 5 of them, you can see a variation in excess of 100%. So, when you are going to the market, it’s only based on the information that you have. This is the state’s responsibility.”
The economic professor further suggested two ways of addressing the phenomenon.
“Consumers should have information. So, essentially, the point is, if somebody is going to buy the commodity, what is the basis for price comparison?
“In other jurisdictions, people have the opportunity to access relative prices to help them make informed decisions,” he added.
Prof. Annim says he put out the slide on price variation because, as a community, people have decided to capitalize on variations in prices in times of economic hardships.
“In 2018, when we didn’t have the pandemic and the Russian invasion, prices were relatively stable across the 54 outlets for imported rice, but we can all see what has been happening during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war,” he added.
The inaugural lecture on “Data-Policy Transitions: Perspectives of Economic Variables” is the second in a three-part series that commenced with a lecture on “Conceptualisation of National Policies: Issues of Capacity and Practice” at Central University in April and will conclude with a lecture on “Estimations and National Policies: Perspectives of Economic Variables”.
Professor Annim’s research achievements have mainly been in microfinance, with the central aim of investigating the impact of the development paradigm which received much attention in the first decade of the 21st Century. While the impact has been proven scientifically to an extent, Prof. Annim demonstrated the conditionalities associated with the impact of microfinance on poverty reduction.
In the course of the lecture, he reminded policymakers of the need to rethink the effects of situating the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre at the Office of the President, and implement national database for all vulnerable microfinance clients. He also urged microfinance practitioners and funders to focus on the packaging of financial products (i.e., savings, credit, remittances and microinsurance).
In light of his background as a micro-econometrician working with national datasets across the globe, Prof. Annim prompted researchers and policymakers to collaboratively work to improve the use of data for the realization of the outcomes and impact of policies. Prof. Annim reviewed the Data Engagement Landscape in Ghana; shared his contemplations as a Statistical Data Producer, User, Advocate and Custodian; and introduced the Data Integrity Framework.
Friday, June 3, 2022, will be seven years since Ghana experienced a twin disaster that claimed over 150 lives.
The tragedy occurred after several hours of torrential rainfall in the capital city, Accra.
During the downpour, fuel leakage from the GOIL station at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle caught fire from a cigarette stub near the area resulting in an explosion alongside the flood.
Over 150 people died, and hundreds of people suffered severe burns in the unfortunate incident.
The floods were attributed to blockages in Accra’s main storm drains, resulting from the non-desilting of the drains, including buildings and structures by squatters that had blocked waterways.
The lower parts of the Odaw River were blocked by settlers who reclaimed substantial portions of the Odaw channel and built houses, mosques, churches, and a market on it, reducing the discharge capacity of the Channel into the Korle-Lagoon.
The GOIL station was used as shelter during the heavy rains and flooding from several days of rain in the city.
It was jam-packed with people, cars and buses, waiting to leave when the rain subsides.
According to reports, about 96 people taking shelter at the Station were killed by the fire.
Due to the flooding, water mixed with the fuel, and when the tanks exploded, the water caused the fire to spread faster to nearby buildings, killing more people.
It was a devastating sight to hold as victims screamed and wailed for help, but little could be done because it was still raining heavily.
Ghana’s President at the time, former President John Dramani Mahama visited the site and called for three days of mourning from June 8, 2015.
He also authorised a GH₵ 60 million ($14.5 million) recovery fund and promised to push for legislation to prevent building on waterways to prevent such accidents from happening again.
At a memorial service in remembrance of the victims organised by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), in 2017, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo consoled the victims and expressed the Government’s commitment to ensure that the victims received what was due them.
He also said, “Government is determined to resolve the sanitation problem with regard to the construction of efficient drainage systems to avoid the repetition of the disaster. Construction of an underground sewerage system to absorb the large volumes of water during torrential rains will begin soon.”
There were also several interventions from corporate bodies and the Government to compensate the families of the departed and the survivors.
However, seven years since the incident, it seems the country has not learnt much from it.
Year in, year out, the rains come and go and still, the core of the problem still stares us in the face as the capital is not spared from floods resulting in damage and loss of lives and properties.
We have already recorded several incidents of floods in many communities in Accra, including the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Kaneshie, Dansoman, Teshie, flamingo, and Mataheko, this year.
The Municipal Chief Executive for the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly, Nii Adjei Tawiah, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said the twin disaster was a memory the Municipality would continue to remember for years.
He said the incident was a result of problems created by people’s irresponsible behaviour, including building on waterways, and indiscriminate disposal of waste.
“It seems Ghanaians have not learnt any lessons from the disaster because we continue to do the same things..,” he said.
Nii Tawiah said the issue of floods in Accra had persisted for years and there was a need for concerted efforts by stakeholders to bring it to an end.
He said the Assembly was considering putting out long term measures in tackling the problem, which includes awareness creation, relocation of structures and constant dredging and desilting of the drains.
“Government through the Works and Housing Ministry has managed to get the Assemblies working more closely together and providing technical knowledge and resources under the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development project (GARID),” he added. The Project works to improve flood risk and solid waste management in the Odaw River basin and improve access to basic infrastructure and services in the targeted flood-prone low-income communities in the Greater Accra region.
The World Bank-funded project is the first in a series of projects designed to build the resilience of the national capital with the initial phase covering a five-year period between 2020 and 2025.
Nii Tawiah said under the project, the Assembly had been supported to create awareness and reconstruct some drains within the Municipality, whiles the Ministry was currently investing a lot for work to be done on the Odaw drain.
“The contractor has been engaged and all processes have been completed for work to commence before the end of the year.”
On the issues of support for victims, the MCE said because he had witnessed the disaster at Circle, he was instrumental in commemorating the day every year.
“When the incident happened, government, individuals and neighbouring countries provided some support for the victims. We cannot say if it was for compensation or not, but as an Assembly, we have been collaborating with them to commemorate the day…”
Some victims and families of those who died told the GNA that all promises made to them were not fulfilled.
Mr Alex Mensah, a commercial driver and a survivor, said he had gone to the GOIL station to buy fuel and, “All of a sudden, we heard a loud sound and saw the fire coming in our direction afloat the water. I did not know what happened again. I only woke up at the 37 Military Hospital. My conductor (mate), the passengers, all my friends died in the fire.”
He said he spent over nine months in the hospital, and that it was only the Former Mayor, Alfred Okoe Vanderpuje, who gave him some money to undergo plastic surgery.
“Apart from him, I have not received any support from anyone. I heard the Benin government donated some monies to be given to us, but I did not receive anything.”
He said life had not been easy for him since the incident, saying “I got totally burnt and till now I have difficulty seeing well with both eyes. I don’t have a stable job now, but occasionally, I take spare driver jobs from some colleagues and that is what I use to cater for my family.”
He appealed to authorities to come to their aid.
Madam Mary Adom, another survivor, while acknowledging the government’s support in the initial stages in payment of their medical bills, said it was not enough because they were still struggling to make ends meet and to cater for their families.
She also acknowledged that in 2015, they received some monies from the government through the Benin government, and that ended it.
“Our conditions are disheartening. Some of us still do not have sleeping places and have no jobs, and others still have medical issues that needed to be attended to, so we plead with well-meaning Ghanaians to come to our aid.”
In 2019, a seven-member Special Disbursement Committee under the Chairmanship of Mr Seji Saji, Deputy Director of NADMO, disbursed GHC 814,000.00 out of GHC1,030,258.61 funds to support the victims.
The amount was from the donation of $200,000.00 by the Government of Benin and GHC 5,000.00 by Omni media.
It is seven years. The wounds are fresh just as we still have our drains choked and waterways blocked.
We are simply awaiting another disaster. But you and I must not allow it to happen. Let us all play our roles as responsible countrymen by keeping our surroundings clean, disposing of refuse appropriately and avoiding building on waterways.
An author Isaac Omari-Koranteng has officially launched his book titled, Loving Like An Eagle.
The Saturday event was chaired by the Managing Director of Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG), Daniel Wilson Addo.
The book draws readers’ attention to some vital features that singles and married couples can learn and glean from the eagle, the king of birds as the book’s subtitle aptly says it.
The newly launched book focus on love and marriage.
It is the third book to be published by Isaac Omari-Koranteng, who also is the Founder & Director of Save Marriage Foundation (SAMAF).
His other titles include Made To Last and Difficulty in Marriage.
These three publications put together, clearly speak to the value of the written word and its place in the Author’s life as a Counselor.
“We consider writing and reading as an integral part of what we do at SAMAF in achieving our mandate of preparing, strengthening and restoring marriages” he explained.
Multiple award-winning Ghanaian fashion brand, Selina Beb has been featured in Meta’s Global Campaign, titled “Made by Africa; Loved by the World” to celebrate Africa Day.
The campaign was launched on May 23, 2022.
The global campaign which was first launched in 2021 is aimed at amplifying the voices and stories of people and businesses from across Africa that are impacting the world.
This year’s campaign spotlights Selina Beb alongside seven other innovators and SMBs who are making a name for themselves not only in Africa but globally and are changing the way Africa is viewed on the international stage.
Sharing her excitement on being selected for this year’s campaign, Creative Director and CEO of Selina Beb Designs, Selina Bebaako-Mensah said; “I am very honoured and privileged to have been selected as the first and only brand from Ghana to share my journey, my craft and my experience as an African to the whole world.
“Building the Selina Beb brand for the past 10 years has been amazing and inspiring and I can only be proud this feature is coming at such a time.”
Africa Day is an opportunity to showcase the diversity of African heritage and spotlight young African people showcasing Africa’s creative and innovative culture.
The campaign ‘Made by Africa; Loved by the World’ spotlights homegrown African talent making their mark across the world. It also features stories from across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The campaign is being developed to not only showcase the incredible talent of this continent but also to empower those in similar fields to achieve their business and life ambitions.https://www.youtube.com/embed/RGbPPK3X90g
“We want to use this campaign to showcase to the world the amazing talent across the continent, and how digital is empowering creativity and helping to take local voices global, whilst addressing a lack of role models to help empower more young people to achieve their business ambitions by uncovering African talent and changemakers we should all know about”, according to a statement from Meta Africa.
Established in March 2012, Selina Beb focuses on creating designs that contribute to promoting and preserving Ghanaian and African cultures.
The brand produces bags, ready-to-wear outfits for both men and women, footwears, jewellery and modern accessories all made in Ghana.
Selina Beb products are sold all over the world including Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, UK, Italy, Australia, and the USA and are owned by high-profile dignitaries.
Brighton & Hove Albion defender, Tariq Lamptey, has been in Ghana and will stay in the country for the next few days.
Among his plans for returning to Ghana include having time with his family as well as to do a donation, an activity he does every year to selected charities of his choice.
Lamptey spoke to Joy Sports exclusively on Monday night.
Gary Al-Smith: How have you enjoyed Ghana?
Tariq Lamptey: I am already enjoying it so far. It feels good to be back, it’s nice and hot. There is some good food and I am enjoying that.
Gary: What is the plan now that you are back home?
Lamptey: To be honest, I just came back for holiday. Obviously, it’s been a good but long season so I just came to get some rest, some sun – I’ve come to see some family and friends that I have not seen for a while. I’m taking this opportunity just to relax and whine down after a long season.
Gary: Apart from having some sun and stuff, we understand you are here to do your normal donations, right?
Lamptey: Yeah, I have. Obviously, the charity work I have been doing for a number of years with the support of some very important and trusted people. So I am just here to try and for the first time get hands on it and do it in person. It is something that is really close to my heart and I’m looking forward to meeting the people and hopefully having a good day.
Gary: We understand there is a bit of news that Ghanaians have been waiting for [regarding your international career]. Would you like to tell us yourself?
Lamptey: To be honest, I just had to come just to… The season is finished now. It’s been a long, good season. I just came just to relax, just to try and do some charity work and see how the foundation is doing, see some family and friends, and not think about football too much. Maybe, I know the game is on so if I have the chance to go and watch that will be good but not too much football other than that, just try and relax and do one or two things that I came here to do.
The 21-year-old Brighton & Hove Albion fullback is basking in his team gaining their best ever finish in Premier League history. Many Ghanaians are also hoping the defender will switch to play for the Black Stars this coming World Cup.
She was arrested by the Jasikan Police together with an elderly woman, believed to be her mother, who is said to have helped the 21-year-old to commit the act.
The incident occurred on Friday, May 27, 2022.
Residents through their vigilance noticed the disappearance of the day-old baby and launched a search party after confronting the two – mother of the baby and the elderly woman.
The two then led them to the pit where the baby was found dead.
The body of the baby has since been deposited at the Jasikan Hospital morgue.
Senegal’s highly rated star and Captain Sadio Mane had a big announcement to make after the 2022 Champions League Final Game against Real Madrid. Win or lose, he was going to make a big announcement directly connected to his future at Liverpool; the subject he touched on but not the main announcement in the lead up to the game.
Fast forward mere hours after missing out on another Champions League title on the back of a 0-1 loss to Real Madrid largely thanks to the utter worldly exploits of Thibaut Courtois, Mane has announced his decision to exit Liverpool. Unlike teammate Mohammed Salah, Mane’s potential contract extension hasn’t been a matter of extensive discussion in the media.
The Senegalese international is set to leave The Reds this offseason with a year remaining on his contract or reverse course and play out the final year of his deal then leave as a free agent. While the latter prospect is unlikely to play out, what is certain is that Mane will leave Liverpool soon. Thus far, Liverpool has demonstrated the true mark of an elite team competing at the top level while making moves to avoid a sharp drop once its vaunted front three is out of the picture.
Diogo Jota is a long-term replacement for Roberto Firmino, Luis Diaz is a long-term replacement for Mo Salah while the recently signed Fabio Carvalho from Fulham is bound to replace Mane. There are a handful of reasons behind Mane’s departure and surely money has something if not everything to do with it. As impactful as he has been, Mane’s weekly salary is 100, 000 Pound Sterling according to Spotrac which ranks 11th on the Liverpool wage bill.
For the record, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ranks as Liverpool’s 10th highest-paid player and the outlook is even worse for Liverpool comparing Mane’s wages to players with far less impact and production but have higher wages. Manchester United backup goalkeeper, Dean Henderson, has the same wage bill as Mane and the average Victor Lindelof takes home 120,000 Pound Sterling. At a club like Bayern Munich that has reportedly shown interest to sign Mane, the Senegal Captain is sure to command more than what he gets from Liverpool.
Beyond money, it has been clear over the years, a tense relationship between Sadio and Salah and Sadio and Liverpool Head Coach Jurgen Klopp. With Salah, there is a clear battle for who scores the more goals and this plays into Mane’s stern reactions whenever he gets substituted off irrespective of Salah’s performance in games. In the aftermath of a win over Man United in the 2020-2021 season, Mane snubbed Klopp’s attempted handshake after he got subbed off in the 74th minute for Jota.
Salah gets all the headlines, he is the one who has songs sang about him wherever Liverpool fans are and it is overtly clear he is Klopp’s favourite among the two; surely something must give at some point after four years with Klopp and Salah. Mane’s reported decision to leave Liverpool because he desires a new challenge ought to be taken with a pinch of salt but not having the kind of ‘Salah’ adulation from fans and to an extent Executives of the team and Head Coach is what has led to this decision.
After winning the Champions League, Premier League, Carabao Cup, FA Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup, Mane’s legacy is made at Liverpool and will go down as one of its best players and an important member of one of the best Liverpool teams of all time. Bayern Munich is an attractive club but the Bundesliga isn’t but a move to the Serie A is, considering the league’s improved ratings in the eyes of Pundits and the average fan in recent years. The final day drama that ensued in determining the league winner between AC Milan and Inter Milan helped to raise the profile of Serie A.
A Mane move to Juventus looks like the best option for the 2021 AFCON winner since the team lost Paulo Dybala on a free transfer and needs a replacement in the Winger/Support Striker role Mane has excelled at. The Bianconeri has been heavily linked with Angel Di Maria who has run down his PSG contract and will leave the French Club as a free agent with the French side aiming to restructure its playing unit and payroll in light of Kylian Mbappe’s massive contract renewal. Mane is still very quick, strong and an effective finisher and dribbler with a high possibility of making a seamless transition to the Serie A.
AC Milan needs an upgrade on Alexis Saelemakers down its right flank and Sadio Mane is a top candidate for that role same way Inter Milan would need him to take up a vacant spot in its attacking unit. Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal are very much leaving Inter while Ivan Perisic is being courted by Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspurs and could leave. Having Sadio Mane as a replacement isn’t bad at all.
In Italy, Mane gets the chance to return Juventus to the top after ceding the title to the Milan clubs for two straight years or aid Inter win back the title or perhaps front AC Milan’s march back to the elite as he did with Liverpool and get the kind of respect he deserves.
Congo.dev 