The investments of farmers at Mmofra, a cocoa growing community in the Amenfi West District of the Western Region, are going to waste due to the deplorable nature of the roads linking the town to the nearest market centre.
The situation had made it impossible for farmers to transport their cocoa and other farm produce to Mumuni Camp, the closest market centre, Mr Joseph Owusu, an opinion leader and cocoa farmer, told the Ghana News Agency on Friday.
He said: “The cocoa buying companies have stopped coming to the community to purchase our cocoa because of the bad nature of the road”.
“Though the community is one of the highest producers of cocoa in the region, produce buyers hardly purchase our cocoa because they cannot come here.”
Mr Owusu said traders, especially foodstuff dealers, who managed to go to the town with hired cargo trucks took advantage of the farmers inability to convey their produce to the market and offerred prices below the realistic market value.
He said they had no choice but to agree to those prices to prevent their produce from getting rotten and incurring huge financial losses.
Mr Owusu said the situation had adversely affected their socio-economic lives, with parents and guardians finding it difficult to finance their children and wards education.
Madam Elizabeth Acheamotah, a cocoa famer, said the road was so bad that only tractors, motorbikes and tricycles could ply it,” adding: “The road has been in that state for more than eleven years.”
She said the fares charged by the tricycle, popularly called ‘Aboboyaa’ were based on the number of hours spent on the road, which also affected their health due to its bumpy nature.
“It takes about three to four hours to cover the distance, though it should have been shorter time than that if the road were in good shape,” she added.
Some residents who spoke to the GNA pleaded with the government through the District Assembly and the Regional Coordinating Council to facilitate rehabilitation of the roads to save them from their predicament.
Speaking in a Peace FM interview monitored by GhanaWeb, the deputy minister alleged that persons accusing him of engaging in illegal mining are part of a cartel who what him to support their chieftaincy bids.
The deputy minister, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tarkwa Nsuaem, made this remark while reacting to contrasting statements by different factions of chiefs from Tarkwa on his involvement in illegal small-scale mining, otherwise known as ‘galamsey’.
“There is a whole chieftaincy issue. If you monitored the 2020 elections, you would have observed this. There is a cartel against me. They think I have to support their chieftaincy bids.
“That is all this hullaballoo is about. Otherwise, why this counter and all that? As I have stated earlier, it does not matter even whether this person is a chief or not. What is important is the allegation. And whether he (the chief making the allegations against him) is a non-entity or not, it is important for us to observe that whatever you allege, you must provide it.
“You can not just speculate and go free,” he said in Twi.
Nana Nyonwah Panyin IV, the Chief of Dompim-Pepesa, a community in the Western Region, had accused some government officials, including the deputy lands minister, of being behind the illegal mining menace in the country.
George Mireku Duker had denied this allegation levelled against him by the chief and has filed a suit in court.
Eleven newly constructed school buildings with ancillary facilities, have been handed over to the people of Ellembelle in the Western Region by the Offshore Cape Three Points partners (OCTP).
The project initiated by the OCTP partners such as Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, Vital Upstream Ghana Limited and took 16 months to complete was funded by Eni Ghana Exploration and Production Limited.
The beneficiary schools are Anyanzinli D/A Basic School, Bakanta Catholic Primary School, Sanzule/ Krisan Basic School, Eikwe Catholic Primary School, Eikwe Catholic JHS, and Ngalekyi/Baku Basic School,
The rest are Anokyi Methodist Primary School, Anokyi D/A JHS, Atuabo Methodist Primary School, Atuabo Methodist JHS and Asem-Nda Suazo Methodist Primary School
The new school buildings have facilities such as canteens, staff common rooms, libraries, toilet facilities and AstroTurf parks.
Also the schools have been installed with solar panels to enjoy uninterrupted power supply and connected to water supply to improve sanitation.
The event was attended by Country Manager of Vitol Upstream Ghana Limited, James Thorburn, Deputy Minister of Energy, Andrew Kofi Egyapa Mercer and District Chief Executive (DCE) for Ellembelle, Kwasi Bonzoh, was also witnessed by representatives from the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, Petroleum Commission and the World Bank Group.
Addressing the chiefs and people of the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council to hand over the facilities to them, the Managing Director of Eni Ghana, Valenti Giuseppe, said the renovated school facilities would help improve teaching and learning in the schools in the district, adding that the new school would provide a good learning environment for the school children to learn.
Mr Giuseppe applauded the OCTP Partners, World Bank and the Chiefs and people of beneficiary communities for their contribution in ensuring the buildings were in line with their needs, while charging them to put the infrastructure to good use and well maintained.
The Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah expressed gratitude to Eni Ghana and the OCTP Partners for investing in Ghana and the region in particular through their corporate social responsibility activities.
Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli III, Paramount Chief of the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council commended Eni and its OCTP partners for financing the renovations of the schools and urged other companies operating in the area to emulate the example of Eni and OCTP partners.
A chief in the Western Region has alleged that the regional minister, a Member of Parliament and a Municipal Chief Executive in in his jurisdiction are into illegal small-scale mining, galamsey.
Nana Nyonwah Panyin IV, the Dompim-Pepesa chief told the media on Monday, October 10, 2022; that he had incontrovertible evidence to implicate the trio.
He has subsequently dared the trio to sue him over the allegations he has made stressing that already he had become the subject of threat following his resolve to root out galamsey from his jurisdiction.
“I know not of any company but I know of the very people who are behind the operations of ‘galamsey’ in my area. First and foremost the Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah is involved.
“The MP for the area, Tarkwa Nsuaem, Honorable George Mireku-Duker is also involved and the MCE, Benjamin Kessie is also involved. I have told you I am not going to disclose my arsenals to you.”
He did not state the exact nature of their involvement in galamsey, which has become an issue of national concern with increasing pressure on government to curb its growing spread.
“They said they were going to sue, so let them sue. I’ll let out my arsenals at the right time,” he alleged.
Meanwhile, the MP who also doubles as deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources has denied involvement in the illegal activity.
“The situation keeps getting worse, and my heart is bleeding,” the chief said when asked how he feels about the galamsey scourge.
Galamsey has become topical in recent months with the resurgence of news on its continued negative impact on the environment.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at a recent meeting with the National House of Chiefs and selected Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, MMDCEs, restated his resolve to root out the canker.
The issue has also been given impetus following the rearrest last month of a notorious galamsey kingpin in the person of Aisha Huang.
The Chinese national who had as at 2018 been repatriated from Ghana after the state discontinued a criminal trial against her for galamsey, reentered the country on the blind side of the authorities.
Ghana has issued its first certificate of full commercial trading to a ceramic tiles production company to export its products under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Guided Trade initiative.
In the same vein, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has received the first consignment of goods under the initiative from Rwanda, with delivery already done.
The Assistant Commissioner of Customs in charge of the AfCFTA Secretariat, F.Y. Akoto, who made this known in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, said on September 30, this year, the Customs Division issued the certificate of trading to a tiles manufacturing company, Keda Ghana Ceramics Company Limited, located at Shama in the Western Region, to export a consignment of its products to Cameroun.
“It is expected that when the products reach Cameroun, their customs officials will give the necessary preferential treatment to Keda Ceramics for it to enjoy reduced tariffs and quota-free facility,” he said.
On the imports from Rwanda, he said they were made up of coffee products which were received at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).
“Ghana Customs processed the Bill of Entry on the consignment, granting the importer the necessary tariff cuts after he had satisfied all the documentary requirements,” he said.
Mr Akoto added that a second consignment of tea products from Rwanda arrived at the KIA yesterday and documents on the goods were being processed for possible delivery, possibly before the close of work yesterday.
Second company
He further indicated that a second Ghana-based company, the Benso Oil Palm Plantation (BOPP) at Adum Banso, also in the Western Region, was expected to export palm kernel oil to Kenya in due course.
On the other hand, consignments of tea products were expected from Kenya, while meat products were also expected to arrive from Egypt, he said.
“This means that the AfCFTA agreement has come into full force and our manufacturers can take advantage of it to export to other countries,” he added.
F.Y. Akoto — Assistant Commissioner of Customs in charge of the AfCFTA Secretariat
Guided Trade
The Guided Trade initiative, which will be officially launched in Accra today, symbolises the commencement of commercially meaningful trade, starting with seven countries — Ghana, Cameroon, Egypt, Kenya, Mauritius, Tanzania and Malawi.
Mr Akoto explained that those countries volunteered to represent the eight economic groupings in Africa, namely: the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD), the East African Community (EAC), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
Under the initiative, the AfCFTA Secretariat will assist the countries to test AfCFTA trading documents and procedures on pre-selected shipments of goods among the countries.
It will guide shipments through customs clearance, including reduced tariff treatment under the AfCFTA in the receiving countries.
Foreign-owned companies
Explaining why Keda Ceramics, a Chinese-owned company, benefited from the agreement, the Customs officer said Keda, per its production process, qualified under the rules.
“Under the rules, a foreign company operating in an African country that has signed on to the AfCFTA agreement qualifies to participate in the trading if the raw materials for its production are sourced locally.
“In the case of Keda Ceramics, we visited the factory for inspection and realised that 99.97 per cent of its raw materials are internally acquired, so it qualifies to trade under the agreement,” he said.
Mr Akoto pointed out that AfCFTA was not set up solely for Africans, saying: “Once you set up in Africa and qualify under the rules, you are free to trade.”
He, therefore, encouraged foreign companies operating in the country to work towards benefitting from the agreement.
Allowing foreign-operated companies to participate in the trading activities if they fulfilled the requirements set out under the AfCFTA agreement would also improve foreign direct investments (FDIs) into Africa, he said.
FDIs into African countries hit a record $83 billion in 2021, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD’s) World Investment Report 2022.
Ghana ready
Emphasising Ghana’s readiness for the take-off of the AfCFTA, the Customs officer said: “We have the structures in place for an effective take-off.”
“The Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ghana Chamber of Commerce, the National AfCFTA Coordinating Office, the Customs Division of the GRA, together with the AfCFTA Secretariat, are helping the companies to meet the requirements.
“The experiences gathered out of this will help streamline our processes for the smooth implementation of the policy,” he explained.
Addressing challenges
Mr Akoto said some challenges that had been identified were being addressed.
“We have been helping local companies to go through the systems. Some of them have been saying although they hear about free trade in Africa, they don’t believe it, so we need to educate them on what it takes to benefit from the free trade agreement,” he said.
Seasoned Journalist, Kweku Baako Jnr, has taken a swipe at Akonta Mining Limited for mining in the Tano Nimiri forest reserve in the Amenfi West Municipality in the Western Region.
It could be recalled that personnel from the Forestry Commission were recently chased out of the forest reserve by some muscular men when they went to stop workers of the company from mining.
Following the incident, Akonta Mining Ltd, a mining company owned by the governing ruling New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Bosiako a.k.a Chairman Wontumi, has been stopped by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources from mining in the forest reserve.
Although the company claims to have a mining lease to operate in the forest reserve, the Ministry however says it has no right to mine in the Tano Nimiri forest reserve.
“As indicated in the Ministry’s Press Statement, dated 30th September 2022, Akonta Mining Ltd has a pending application dated 25th August 2022, for a Mining Lease over an area within the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve. That application has not been determined by the Minister, who is mandated by law, to grant or refuse such applications.”
“And for the avoidance of any doubt, Akonta Mining Limited has NO mining lease, mineral right, and/or permit to undertake any mining operations in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve, and steps are currently being undertaken to enforce the Minister’s Directive issued on 30th September 2022”, a statement by the Minerals Commission read.
Touching on the matter during Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo” discussion show, Kweku Baako Jnr berated the company for having intruded on the reserve when it knew it had no authorization.
“I have checked all the licences they hold from 2011, 2012 till date and it doesn’t have one for forest reserve. But the last one which the company’s application is pending, the one in August, it has not been approved but that is in the forest reserve. So, what was the company doing there?…They had no business being in that particular place doing anything because, first of all, they haven’t approved that licence”, he told host Kwami Sefa Kayi.
He charged the government to get to the bottom of the issue stressing, “this is tough call, a really tough call that again how this matter is handled would either enhance the integrity of the fight or diminish it”.
“The issue is not that they have applied for a licence to go into a forest reserve. The issue is that you don’t have a licence yet but the company is there. Why? What kind of impunity is that?”, he exclaimed.
OccupyGhana is asking the Lands Ministry to go a step beyond merely directing Akonta Mining Limited to halt operations in the Tano Nimiri Forest in the Western Region.
According to the pressure group, the ministry must invite the security agencies and the Attorney General into the fray by furnishing them with the information needed to ensure that perpetrators are punished.
“We therefore demand that you forthwith refer the facts and evidence in your possession that show that the said mining company is undertaking mining operations in breach of the Act, to the police and the Attorney-General for further investigations and prosecution of the company and its directors and officers.”
The Lands Ministry on September 30 directed mining firm, Akonta Mining Limited to stop operations in the Tano Nimiri Forest.
This was after two persons sustained gunshot wounds at Samreboi in the Western Region after a section of the youth reportedly prevented personnel of Akonta Mining Limited from sending more mining equipment into the Tano Nimri Forest reserve.
The mine is owned by NPP’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako popularly called Chairman Wontumi.
But OccupyGhana says even though the reaction is laudable, there were also some concerns raised in the communique such as the fact that the said company is undertaking the mining operations without a mining lease.
“While congratulating you on this step, we would be taken aback if that was all you did.”
This, per the pressure group, is enough grounds to pursue the case in accordance with the law.
“If the company is engaged in the activities that you have alleged, then it is committing an offence that is punishable by fines and prison terms between 15 and 25 years,” the group said in a statement.
JoyNews investigations recently revealed ongoing destruction to the Tano Nimri Forest Reserve despite the government’s declaration it has not given any entry permit into the forest.
A Chinese national who allegedly slashed the throat of his Ghanaian employee at Kweikuma, a community in the Sekondi-Takoradi municipality of the Western Region is set to make a court appearance today.
Police preliminary investigation indicates that the suspect, Xue Hue, on September 28, 2022, allegedly attacked the victim, who is a mason with Paulichenda Engineering, a construction company at Kweikuma, with a knife inflicting a cut on his neck.
The Police in a statement said Hue was arrested “for using an offensive weapon to cause harm” and will be put before court on September 30, 2022, to face justice.
The victim has since been treated and discharged.
Read the entire police statement below;
POLICE ARREST CHINESE NATIONAL FOR CAUSING HARM TO A CO-WORKER AT TAKORADI
The Police have arrested a Chinese national for using an offensive weapon to cause harm to his Ghanaian co-worker at a construction site at Kweikuma suburb of Takoradi, in the Western Region.
Preliminary investigation indicates that the suspect, Xue Hue, on September 28, 2022, allegedly attacked the victim, who is a mason with a construction company at Kweikuma, with a knife inflicting a cut on his neck.
The victim has since been treated and discharged.
Meanwhile, the suspect is in custody assisting investigation and will be put before court on September 30, 2022, to face justice.
Two persons have sustained gunshot wounds at Samreboi in the Western Region.
This happened after a section of the youth reportedly prevented personnel of Akonta Mining Limited from sending more mining equipment into the Tano Nimri Forest reserve.
The company is said to have been mining in the reserve despite a declaration by government that it has not granted any entry permit into the forest reserve.
Two of the vehicles transporting the mining equipment have also been burnt while some vehicles belonging to timber firm Samartex had their windscreens smashed.
The duo who sustained the wounds have been admitted to the Samartex hospital at Samereboi.
JoyNews investigations recently revealed ongoing destruction to the Tano Nimri Forest Reserve despite the government’s declaration it has not given any entry permit into the forest.
The forest, spanning about 12 football fields, has already been destroyed by mining linked to Akonta Mining Limited.
The Social Performance Manager of Tullow Ghana, Fiifi Enchil, says Tullow as part of its shared-prosperity goals has completed over 60% of the promised $10 million worth of infrastructure support for the Free SHS.
Speaking to Citi News at Awiebo in the Ellembelle District of the Western Regionwhere Tullow handed over a newly completed 12-unit Classroom Block for Bonzo Kaku Senior High School, Fiifi Enchil said Tullow committed to completing the remaining blocks to support the government.
He added that this brings Tullow closer to fulfilling its promise to share prosperity.
“We look forward to completing seven other blocks that we have committed to provide to support schools around the country”, he added.
The Headmistress of Bonzo Kaku SHS, Augustina Essel Cudjoe, told Citi News that the infrastructure investment paves ways for smooth academic work.
“Prior to this new edifice, we had challenges of classrooms and at times students had to sit in pairs, at the car park, assembly halls, dining hall and at times under the tree but now that we have got a 12-unit classroom block.”
Augustina Essel Cudjoe also used the occasion to appeal for help to address other outstanding challenges.
“We need renovation for the boys’ dormitory, which is in a deplorable state. The second one is a vehicle for the headmistress of the school.”
The District Chief Executive of Ellembelle, which is the beneficiary district, Kwasi Bonzo, said the project it is a good sign of benefits from petroleum resources.
“The issue of oil find and its benefits to the local people, this is all part of enhancing social license of the oil and gas companies. So we will just call on the other IOCs and the other players in the industry to emulate what Tullow has done”, he said.
Tullow Ghana is the operator of two out of the three oil fields in Ghana and its shared prosperity agenda seeks to address the high expectations Ghanaians have for the country’s hydro-carbon resources.
The Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah has asked road contractors who are unable to undertake road contracts awarded them to return their contract certificates.
There abound a litany of roads awarded on contracts, yet contractors are not on site as some have abandoned work midstream with the excuse of they not being paid by government for works so far executed.
“There are a lot of road contracts in the western region, what we have seen is that some contractors are not doing their best. What we are saying is that any contractor who is not ready for the contract should write a letter to the ministry detailing his or her inability to fulfill the contract so that we re-award it. We are not ready to plead with any contractor again”, he emphasized.
The Western Region in recent times has seen some agitations by chiefs and indigenes over poor roads for which politicians keep emphasizing are on contract. The attitude by the contractors is seen as unfair by the Western Regional Minister.
“When the contractors were coming for the tendering process they brought along letters from their respective banks assuring the government that they had enough money to complete the contract. So if all of a sudden you turn around and complain of insufficient funds to complete the work then it means you are trying to deceive the government.”
he fumed over.
Just this week, chiefs in the Ahanta West Municipality have had to take to demonstrating over poor roads at Sankor – Cape 3 points although for the past 2 years they kept being impressed upon that the roads are all on contract since 2020 yet no contractor is on-site till date.
Western Regional Minister, Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, has called on investors to explore opportunities in the Western Region in order to invest more in the coconut production industry.
He indicated that the Region contributed more than 80 per cent of the country’s coconuts for local consumption and export.
Mr Darko-Mensah made the call when he addressed participants at the second International Coconut Festival which was held on the theme: “Repositioning Ghana’s Coconut Sector for Accelerated Industrialisation.”
He recalled that in 2020, he launched a five million coconut project in the Western Region, which commenced the establishment of two new seed gardens in the Shama and Jomoro Districts in addition to the existing two at Aiyinase and Bonsaso in the Ellembelle District.
The initiative, he said, was to revamp the coconut industry in the Region and expressed hope that more than $400,000 could be accrued to farmers per year should the four million coconut trees planted for the project survive.
He said it was expected that the international support platform and partnership would help investors to leverage efforts in building new relationships to achieve the intended goal.
He noted that there was a high demand for Coconut, which has been increasing by 10 per cent each year on a global scale of which Ghana has not truly capitalized on and, therefore, deemed the coconut festival a timely intervention.
According to GWCL, the region was using 20gallonsof alums to treat water in the region but it has now shot up to 60 gallons of alums each day because of the bad nature of water bodies due to galamsey activities.
Speaking on the Morning Starr with Francis Abban Monday, the Central and Western Regional Communications Manager for GWCL, Nana Yaw Baanie said “the situation is really getting worse” adding that, the government is losing the fight against galamsey in the region and urgent steps must be taken to salvage the situation.
According to him, if the operation of illegal mining had really stopped the water bodies should be clear by now but that is not the case in the region.
“The color is over 9,000NTU and then the turbidity is 3,000 so this is what Ghana Water will have to deal with. We are supposed to reduce these figures to five (5) in order to make the water potable. That is the guideline we have been given. So this is our story in Takoradi Daboase to be specific where we get water from the Pra.
“If there should be anything that can be done it must be done now and it must be drastic. Recently, my boss Stanley Mantey said a time will come when Ghana Water Company will cease operation, yes. It may be coming very soon but we don’t know when,” Mr. Baanie stated.
He continued: “Because if it comes to a point that the water is untreatable what do we do? When we stop operation for even one day in Sekondi Takoradi can you imagine what will happen? We have a big hospital at Effia Nkwantan and when we should stop operations where will they get water? The Universities and the second cycle schools what will happen if we stop operation?”
He said the galamseyers were operating close to GWCL operation point at Daboase but when the ban of galamsey was announced they moved.
However, he claimed their analysis shows that the galamsey activities are still ongoing despite a national crusade to fight the menace.
On Saturday, September 17, 2022, the Prestea-Huni Valley Municipality of the Western Region‘sZero Waste Bosomtwi organization and youth organizations conducted a clean-up operation in the communities of Huni Valley, Damang, Amoanda, and Bompieso.
The event took place onWorld Clean-up Day, which was established in 2008 to help the small country of Estonia in northern Europe clean up its houses and streets.
The program, sponsored by the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation (GFGF) via Abosso Gold Fields Limited (AGL), drew enthusiastic young people, volunteers, assembly members, unit committees, chiefs, corporate organizations, and Damang Mine staff, who cleaned palaces, the Huni Valley Clinic area, social grounds, markets, and waste disposal sites.
According to Justice Frimpong, the chairman of the Huni Valley Youth Association and program coordinator in an interview with the Ghanaian Times, Mr. Ebenezer Afful, the CEO of Zero Waste Bosomtwi, was the inspiration behind the initiative, which will start in 2020.
Initially, he recalled that, the event was held only in Huni Valley, but, the Damang, Amoanda and Bompieso communities were added this year, to expand and increase participation in environmental cleanliness in the mining areas.
He said “In the next five years, we expect it to be an embracing catchment programme beyond the four areas even up to Prestea, Bogoso and Takoradi, that’s our vision.
“The event today has been overwhelming and great. Partnership had also been good working with the chiefs, particularly Huni Valley chief, Nana Kwabena Amponsah. We will indeed make an impact on environmental cleanliness,” Mr Frimpong added.
He thanked AGL for their support.
The Senior Community Affairs Officer at Damang Mine, Eric Doe Ackuayi, also applauded the leadership shown by Huni Valley Youth and partners, adding that their efforts would help clean the environment and also be devoid of waste.
He believed the worldwide event would rekindle spirit of volunteerism and a driving force to maintain good environmental management in communities.
He said GFGF had spent about $1.3 million on water and sanitation programme and projects, including construction of toilets and solid waste management.
“AGL, through the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation seeks to promote development in all our host communities. Our focus areas include water and sanitation and if the whole world is commemorating this day, as a cleanup exercise, automatically, it falls within our key focus area when it comes to development. So we’re happy the youth in all these communities approached us and requested that the foundation collaborates with them,” Mr Ackuayi said.
The Western Regional Minister, Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, has advised civil servants to lend the required support to the private sector to grow.
He, therefore, encouraged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to partner with the private sector to develop their local economy.
“You need to create the enabling environment for the private sector to partner with local authorities to develop and sustain businesses,” he said.
Mr Darko-Mensah was addressing public and civil servants in the Nzema-East and Ellembelle Districts as part of his three-day working tour of the Nzema area.
The move, he noted, would help create jobs and reduce poverty through mobilisation of local, natural and human resources as well as value addition.
The Western Regional Coordinating Director, Mr Frederick Agyemang, who accompanied the Regional Minister, advised Civil and Public Servants in the Western Region to maintain higher ethical standards in their work.
He, therefore, warned civil servants who leak information to the public and the media to halt the practice.
The Coordinating Director said the act was against the public service rule which every civil servant took an oath to protect and abide with.
Mr Agyemang stated that the law would deal with those who flouted the civil service rule of confidentiality.
He told them that as civil servants they were implementers of government flagship programmes, adding “so you do not have to deliberately fight against government policies and programmes”.
He admonished the public servants to be punctual at work and ensure that they submitted their quarterly reports required of them to the Regional Coordinating Council on time.
According to a report by Onua FM, the police recovered three pump action pistols and threeexcavators during the arrest.
The operation comes after five other Chinese nationals were arrested in connection with the theft of two excavators and unlawful mining activities.
Meanwhile, the District Chief Executive of Ellembelle, Kwasi Bonzo, and four others have been arrested and granted police enquiry bail over an incident involving one of the missing excavators.
The DCE is accused of interfering in police duties by seeking to stop the transportation of the excavator to the Western Regional Police Command in Takoradi.
For many years, the main road system between Takoradi, the headquarters of the Western Region, with the municipality’s capital, Agona Nkwanta, has been in poor condition.
As a result, the locals urge the government to step in and take the appropriate action.
Commuters stated to JoyNews’ Ina-Thalia Quansah that because of the nature of the road, they frequently had to get off and walk the remaining distance of their journey.
“Our leaders hardly ever consider us; they only do so when they require our support. It’s been ignored for such a long time. One traveler yelled, “We need assistance.
For car owners, they indicated that they spend more on fuel and car maintenance due to the poor road network.
However, the woes of the drivers have worsened during the rainy season.
Visiting some parts of the stretch, Ina-Thalia Quansah reported that at least three vehicles, consisting of a truck, a bus and a van were stuck in various potholes when the JoyNews team got there.
“Anytime I drive from Tarkwa to Takoradi and back I get home with so many issues with my car. If its not my tyre, it will be my shock absorber,†a driver said.
The residents are making a fervent call on government to fix their roads.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Chief Executive of the Assembly, John Agyare says the road has been awarded to a construction company.
Speaking to JoyNews on Wednesday, Mr. Agyare said government is committed to fixing the roads.
For the time being, the MCE said his outfit has engaged some contractors to undertake some temporary projects that will make the road plyable.
The donations, according to the 2021 Auditor General’s (A-G) report, were made to aid the effort to combat the COVID-19 epidemic.
The A-G has, however, noted that the Nkroful District Health Administration’s accountant failed to account for the funds that came from contributors, including the area’s Member of Parliament, Armah Kofi Buah.
According to the A-G, this contravenes Regulation 78 of the Public Financial Management Regulations, 2019 (L.I. 2378).
“We noted that cash donations totalling GH¢65,000.00 from Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah and four others could not be accounted for by the Accountant,” the report stated.
The report recommended that the head of the District Health Administration and the accountant be made to pay for the missing money in the absence of documents to support its disbursement.
“In the absence of relevant supporting COVID-19 documents to acquit disbursement, we recommended that the Heads of the Institution and Accounts should pay.”
The 50-year-old has been arrested for allegedly defiling two girls aged nine and 10 respectively at Newtown, a suburb of Asankrangwa.
According to reports, the event happened in June of this year, but the suspect was brought before the court last Thursday on a bench warrant that the court had issued the previous week after he failed to appear.
The court presided over by Mr. Augustine Fiifi Donfu, rejected a demanded that the suspect be sent to the Tarkwa Circuit Court, because the lacked the necessary jurisdiction to hear the case.
It was the case of the prosecution, Police Inspector Appiah Bimpong, that Tsekpo who has been with the GIS since 1999 was currently stationed at the District Immigration Office, Asankrangwa in the Amenfi West municipality of the Western Region.
According to him, the suspect resides in the same house with the victims and it had been alleged that on occasions, he organised parties for the victims and other children within the Newtown neighbourhood.
Inspector Bimpong said that in July this year, one of the victims (the 10-year-old) fell sick and was not recovering after several medications. When her mother inspected her private parts, she suspected someone had had sexual intercourse with her.
This prompted the father to further question the daughter, at which time the victim revealed that somewhere in June this year, the accused sent one Christiana to call her and the other victim (the 9-year-old) to collect gifts in his room, and there, Tsekpor had sexual intercourse with them.
Later, the prosecution said the accused warned the two victims not to inform anyone about the affairs or else he will flee Asankragwa if they failed to keep the secret.
Again, the father of the victim (aged 10), Mr. John Kofi Opoku, also conferred with the mother of the victim (aged 9) and upon interrogation, the victim confirmed the matter.
“The parents jointly reported the case to the Asankrangwa police station and medical forms were issued for the victims to be taken to the hospital for examination and endorsement,†Inspector Bimpong stated.
Ghanaian teenager, Obed Obeng Danso of the Community Development and Vocational Technical Institute (CONVOTECH) in Tarkwa in the Western Region, has built his first car.
The 18-year-old’s vehicle runs on fuel with almost no challenge as it moves with no impediments on the road.
Danso told Ghanaweb on BizTech that he always dreamt of building a vehicle, and through determination, he finally made it a reality.
Photos of Obed Obeng Danso. Credit: Ghanaweb
Source: UGC
Despite his little resources, Danso’s resilience led him to buy scrap parts of a discarded three-wheeled vehicle, known in Ghanaian parlance as ‘Aboboyaa’, to finish his work.
The Auto Mechanic student said he taught himself how to build cars, deriving inspiration and knowledge from how three-wheeled cars work.
After building his first car, Danso said he wants to become a professional to train others in the skill, especially young people.
Two male teachers of the Asankrangwa Senior High School, in the Western Region, Ernest Donkor and Augustine Swanzy Oduro have been remanded into custody by the District Magistrate Court for allegedly raping and assaulting 2 female first-year students of the school.
Mr. Donkor, a Physics teacher has been charged with rape while Mr. Oduro, a History teacher has been charged with indecent assault.
The victims, whose names have been withheld, are however aged 15 and 16.
The incident was reported to the Police by the Assistant Headmaster of the school, Daniel Quayson Junior.
The two suspects are alleged to have taken the two girls out to buy them new dresses to wear for the birthday celebration of one of the victims, during the Inter-Schools competition held at the Asankrangwa SHS on Thursday, 14 July 2022.
The suspects then booked a hotel at Wassa Dunkwa, near Asankrangwa, where they took the girls around 2 pm on that day and bought them, Malta Guinness.
The Physics teacher took the 16-year-old girl to a room while the History teacher took the 15-year-old girl to a separate room to have a conversation.
During the conversation, the 16-year-old girl excused herself to use the washroom leaving behind her Malta Guinness.
When she returned from the washroom and finished her drink, she became dizzy and fell unconscious.
The 16-year-old girl later regained consciousness, only to find herself naked with blood stains in between her thighs.
Also, the History teacher while in the other hotel room with the 15-year-old girl touched her buttocks and fondled her breasts.
The girl managed to escape from the room.
The 2 teachers, who promised to get both girls pizza, food, and an iPhone 7plus later took the girls back to school and warned them not to mention the incident to anyone.
The victims, however, reported the incident to the Assistant Headmaster in the evening.
The incident was then reported to the Asankrangwa Police who issued a medical form for the 16-year-old to be examined medically.
The 2 suspects were then arrested and arraigned.
The case has since been adjourned to Wednesday, July 20, 2022.
Abosso Goldfields Limited (AGL) through the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation (GFGF) is constructing a 360-bed capacity girls’ dormitory for Huni-Valley Senior High School (SHS) in the Western Region.
The project, aimed at improving upon accommodation challenges for girls in the school is about 85 per cent complete and is being executed by Boison Construction Limited, a local contractor, started in September 2020 and is expected to be completed in September this year.
Speaking with the media in Huni-Valley before the project site tour, Mr Roger Adamah, Project Manager, GFGL, said management of Huni-Valley SHS made a request to the Mine and as part of their legacy project they opted to take it up.
The facility, he said, would be furnished with double decker steel bunk beds, LED lights, ceiling fans, rooms for prefects, two-bedroom master’s accommodation for teachers, modern washrooms and concrete pavement would be provided to ensure parents have decent place to pack their vehicles any time they visit their wards.
The project manager hinted that provision had been made for a bore hole and storage tanks so students would just pump and store water for use, adding, “we will also grow grass to beautify the environment”.
Mr Adamah explained that “if you look at the louver blades, we went for those with plastic handles instead of the steel aluminum handles. It is quite expensive but in terms of durability it will stay long and make sure we do not have a lot of breakages”.
“In terms of accessibility of the facility for the physically challenged, we want to make room for ramps at the front. So, all the dormitories on the ground floor will be fully accessible for physically challenged students” he announced.
He pointed out that the GFGF want to make sure that once the dormitory was completed, students would not need to go out searching for water or a place to dry their clothes
“So far we have spent GHï¿ 6.5 million but as l said when we do the commissioning, I am sure there are pretty much other things that will come in which we can pinpoint on our final number, but we have put some quality money in to make sure that all the things we have are of good standard and quality” Mr Adamah stated.
Some students who interacted with the Ghana News Agency, praised the GFGF for helping to enhance the education of the girl-child, pledged to study hard so they become useful to their communities.
An orange weather warning is second on the classification list of the level of risk to life and property. The Agency therefore warns persons living in the affected areas to be prepared for harsh conditions, should the storm occur.
Communities captured in the coastal regions are expected to experience the extreme weather conditions between 7:00 and 10:00 GMT whilst the storm for the northern sector is expected to hit between 10:00 and 13:00 GMT.
The Ghana Police Service says it has arrested three armed robbers in Kwawu in the Enchi District of the Western North Region.
According to the police, the three criminals were arrested in their hideout while they were in the process of fortifying themselves with black magic for another operation.
In a statement on its Facebook page, the police said,Â
“The Western North Police Command on Friday, February 18, 2022, through intelligence operation, arrested three notorious armed robbers, Abiaw Reuben alias Ayile Baako, Kwabena Brentu and Isaac Arhin at Kwawu in the Enchi District of the Western North Region.”
“A search conducted on them at their hideout led to the retrieval of 2 pump action guns, 18 live AAA cartridges, 1 sharpened machete, 1 knife and 1 cleaver.â€
The police also stated that the three suspects will be prosecuted as soon as possible for crimes they have committed.
It also commended persons of the Enchi District Command for the arrest of these robbers, adding that it will continue to work to curb crime and also protect lives and properties.
The Western Regional Director of Ghana Health Service, Dr. Jacob Mahama has said the Coronavirus cases in the region has increased to 150.
Before 2021, the total case was stood at 116 but on Monday, January 18, 2021, the region recorded an additional 34.
Disclosing this to GhanaWeb’s Western Regional Correspondent, the Regional Health Director, Dr. Jacob Mahama said so far 15 persons have been killed by the deadly Coronavirus pandemic in the Region.
He added that apart from the 15 deaths, 90 active cases were reported from the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis.
Effia-Kwesimintsim is next on the table with thirty active cases, with Wassa Amenfi West managing some eighteen cases. Wassa Amenfi East has four cases whilst Tarkwa Nsuaem has recorded three cases.
Dr. Mahama, took, the opportunity to implore residents of Western Region to as a matter of urgency, adhere to all the prescribed Coronavirus Safety protocols.
He also beseeched the media to continue to educate the public about the effects of the virus.
Dr. Mahama seized the opportunity to plead with other private institutions to support the Directorate with some Personal Preventive Equipment (PPEs).
On Tuesday, GhanaWeb’s Western Regional Correspondent, Daniel Kaku visited Ellembelle District particular at Aiyinasi market to observe how traders and buyers were adhering to the laid down Coronavirus safety protocols but it was observed that none of the protocols was observed.
Currently, Ghana has a cumulative number of 58,067 Coronavirus cases out of which 351 are new.
The total number of recorded deaths stands at 352 while active cases and recoveries are 1,924 and 55,789 respectively.
Gifty Eugenia Kusi, Deputy Western Regional Minister has hinted that the Western Region recently recorded eighteen active COVID-19 cases.
She in this regard called for a coordinated approach by all stakeholders to ensure that the health and safety protocols were adhered to by all as they inched closer to the Christmas and the New Year festivities.
Mrs Kusi gave the hint at a joint meeting of Heads of Department (HODs) of the Western Regional Coordinating Council (WRCC) and Heads of other Public Sector Institutions in Takoradi.
“Let us all remind ourselves that COVID-19 is still around and we are not yet out of the woodsâ€, she emphasized.
According to her, there was no doubt that the COVID-19 global pandemic disrupted planned activities for the year however, modest successes have been chalked in the various fields of endeavours.
She, therefore, advised that the success stories should be shared whiles, innovative means to overcome the challenges are deployed.
The Deputy Regional Minister used the occasion to commend the Electoral Commission (EC) and all its stakeholders especially, the security agencies for their professionalism and vigilance in delivering incident-free 2020 elections.
She also commended the people of the Region for the civility and the peaceful manner they exercised their franchise and cautioned that they should not lose their guard and continue to monitor the activities of aggrieved parties to forestall post-elections violence.
The Western Region on Wednesday observed the 75th Remembrance Day for Veterans at the Takoradi Cenotaph, to honour the members of the Armed Forces who died in their line of duty.
The ceremony which is held by all Commonwealth member states also commemorates the end of World War I on November 11, 1918.
This notwithstanding some other non-Commonwealth countries also observe the day as a tradition inaugurated by King George V in 1919.
The solemn day is also known as the Poppy day. The red poppy signifies the blood of the soldiers that spilled on the battlefield. It is worn on the left lapel or close to the heart to signify that those militants who sacrificed their lives on the battlefield are dear at heart.
The memorial service was graced by the Western Reginal Minister, Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, the Municipal Chief Executive for Effia Kwesiminstim Municipal Assembly, Mr Kojo Acquah, the Vice President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, Awolae Angama Tu- Agyan II (Omanhene of Egyira traditional council ), the Regional Coordinating Council Chief Director, Mr Michael Ataogye, and security Service Commanders.
At exactly 1100 hours, the siren was sounded by the Harbourmaster which was followed by the reading of the Biyon verse, and a call to salute was observed by all officers from the security agencies after which two minutes of silence was observed for the departed veterans.
The regional Minister laid the first wreath on behalf of the Government and the people of Ghana. The Regional Police Commander, DCOP Felix Fosu Agyemang paid homage and laid the second wreath.
In all, six wreaths were laid to honour the departed militants.
Consumers of Liquefied Petroleum Gas have been left stranded as parts of the Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions have been hit with an acute shortage of supply.
Domestic and commercial consumers of LPG in the affected areas have had no supply since Wednesday, October 28, 2020, after the Gas Tanker Drivers Union declared a sit-down strike on Thursday, October 29, 2020.
Among the affected consumers include some commercial drivers who use LPG as a source of fuel. The affected drivers have called for an immediate solution to the situation as it has taken a toll on their business.
In a related development, the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations in a statement released on Sunday, November 1, 2020, said the situation is expected to be brought back to normalcy as the Gas Tanker Drivers Union has resumed full scale working after a stakeholders meeting was held.
The emergency meeting was held between the Ministry, the Gas Tanker Drivers Union, the Ghana Transport Petroleum and Chemical Drivers Union as well as the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketing Companies.
The Ministry, whiles expressing gratitude to the drivers for accepting to resume work, also assured the public that government remains committed to ensuring that the matter is resolved with the urgency it deserves.
As part of measures to ensure peace before, during and after the December polls, the Western Regional branch of the National Peace Council has held an advocacy campaign on the eradication of vigilantism to ensure peace in the upcoming elections.
The programme, sponsored by the Danish Embassy, brought together representatives of youth groups, political parties, Christian mothers and fathers association, security agencies and the Electoral Commission.
The programme according to the peace council was to find lasting solutions to act of violence during elections.
In an address read on behalf of the Western Regional Peace Council, Mr Osei Yaw Owusu-Sekyere said politically related violence perpetrated by party-affiliated vigilante groups had become a major threat to Ghana’s democracy and the peace of the nation in particular.
He, therefore, called for a concerted effort by all and sundry to help in fighting the menace and the two major political parties thus the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and new patriotic party (NPP) to work together to address political vigilantism in the country.
Mr Owusu-Sekyere called on political parties to abide by the vigilantism and related offences Act of 2019(Act 999) to live in harmony with each other.
He gave the assurance that the Regional Peace Council would do everything possible to ensure peace before, during and after the December elections. He commended the Danish Embassy for sponsoring the programme.
Very Reverend Kwame Kyem-Ampomah, Dean Cathedral Church of Ascension, Sefwi-Waiwso on his part called for tolerance among residents to ensure co-existence for national development.
He gave the assurance that the clergy would use the pulpit to preach about peace.
Alhaji Abdul Raman, who represented the Muslim communities asked the youth to avoid violence and promised to meet youth groups in Zongo communities to educate them to resist attempts by politicians to use them to cause trouble.
Mr Abdul Rufai, Sefwi-Waiwso Constituency Secretary of the NDC and Mr Thomas Mensah representative of the NPP all gave the assurance that they would educate their members especially the youth on what they have learnt and on the need to ensure peace in their communities.
Mr Rufai disclosed that the leadership of the NPP and NDC in the Waiwso constituency had agreed to hold unity games later in the month on the need to ensure peace and avoid political violence.
The Western Regional Health Director, Naa Dr Jacob Yakubu Mahama has expressed worry about the decline in patronage of mother and child health services in many health facilities in the region since the outbreak of the COVID-19.
He explained that antenatal care visits by pregnant women for the mid-year had declined to 36.7 percent as compared to 37.6 percent in 2019.
According to him, maternal deaths have also increased from 24 percent in 2019 to 29 percent in 2020.
The Regional Director disclosed this at a press briefing dubbed: “Continuing Health Service Delivery amid COVID-19 Pandemic Challenges”.
Naa Dr Mahama, however, said there was a significant reduction in malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS cases.
Touching on the COVID-19 situation in the Region, he said case management and the total number of recoveries in the region had marginally improved, stating that the total number of coronavirus cases in the Region stood at 2,467 as of July 23, 2020.
Naa Dr Mahama said Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality had recorded the highest positive cases of 639 in the region with the Sekondi -Takoradi Metropolis recording 632 cases and Wassa Amenfi West recording 442 cases.
He said Wassa Amenfi Central District had recorded the least with two in the region.
The Regional Health Director said more than 1,464 people have recovered and discharged with three deaths.
According to him, 13 schools, including two tertiary institutions in the region have recorded positive cases bringing the number of cases in the institutions to 75.
He said Nsein Senior High school in the Nzema East Municipality had 26 confirmed cases with Shama SHS recording 19 positive cases.
The Regional Health Director said everything was being done to curtail the situation and stated that the treatment process was being administered effectively and cases were being closely monitored
The Western North Region has recorded its first COVID-19 death after a middle-aged man from the Aowin Municipality died of the virus.
A weekly report signed by Dr Marion Okorh-Owusu, the Regional Health Director and copied to the GNA, indicated that the Region has 285 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 216 fully recovered and discharged with 68 active cases.
The Bibiani Anwhiaso Bekwai Municipality has eight of the active cases, Aowin Municipality 20 cases and Suaman District 40 cases.
The Regional Health Director encouraged residents to adhere to the precutionary measures, including social and physical distancing, wearing of nose mask, using alcohol based hand sanitizer, and regular washing of hands with soap under running water and avoiding over-crowded places.
She urged residents to wear their nose masks when going out or boarding a public transport.
She said the Regional Health Directorate had recommended the use of large and well-ventilated spaces for all staff meetings and trainings.
The Directorate had further recommended the decentralization of highly interactive trainings to sub-district and district levels instead of allowing staff to converege at the regional capital for such trainings, Dr Okorh-Owusu said.
The Western Regional Minister, Mr. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah has stressed that foreigners and minors who will attempt to register in the on-going nationwide registration exercise will be dealt with according to the laws of Ghana.
The exercise commenced on Tuesday, June 30 in some 6,788 clusters made up of five registration centres each across the country.
It is being conducted in 5 phases, each phase spanning 6 days with additional days for mop-up.
The nationwide exercise is expected to end on August 6, 2020.
The Electoral Commission of Ghana has projected to register 16 million qualified Ghanaians for the upcoming Presidential and Parliamentary General Elections slated for December 7, 2020.
Per the 1992 Constitution, Ghanaians below 18 years and foreigners are not allowed to register and vote in Ghana.
In an interview with GhanaWeb’s Western Regional Correspondent, Mr. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah who is the Chairman of Western Regional Security Council disclosed that security personnel have been deployed to monitor the exercise in all the seventeen Constituencies in the Region.
He, therefore emphasized that “It is the Civil Right of every Ghanaian to register and vote, the Western Regional Coordinating Council is, therefore, encouraging the good people of the Western Region to come out in their numbers and register but I want to stress that the security Agencies will monitor to deal with saboteurs”.
He continued that, “Foreigners and Minors do not qualify to register, and that those who will attempt will be apprehended and dealt with according to the laws the Land”.
Mr. Darko-Mensah who also doubles as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Takoradi Constituency urged the Electoral Commission in the region to report any security challenges to the police.
He also urged all applicants to observe social distancing and all other safety precautions to avoid contracting and spreading the deadly Coronavirus pandemic.
The Sekondi-Takoradi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (STCCI) has appreciated the government for easing the restrictions imposed on individuals and businesses to enable them to bounce back and resuscitate the economic life of the business community.
The Chamber in their first-quarter survey on the performance of businesses in the Western Region established that local demand for goods and services drastically halted due to social distancing protocol and the lockdown in these abnormal times of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr Benjamin Nii Kpani Addy, an Executive Member of the Chamber and lead in the Survey said, “We realized how businesses have been affected and in fact, reduction in local demand of commodities this time topped the usual hew and cry about availability and sources of financing”.
The first quarter business survey was this time conducted digitally-not forgetting some associated challenges as many of the businesses were not digitally inclined.
The Chamber with support from the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce and Sequa continued to organise such quarterly research on businesses to know their challenges, provide relevant data for planning and policy as well as ensure informed decision making.
Nii Kpani Addy said the survey also allowed the chamber to better advocate on businesses and their need as well as serve as a reservoir of economic information on businesses in the Region.
Of the businesses assessed, 32 percent were satisfied, while 58 percent described trading as bad in the quarter under review, meanwhile, 10 percent said business was good due to prudent management practices.
There was a 20 percent decrease in employment levels accounting for some layoffs in the business sector.
The survey discovered that 40 percent of businesses failed to plough back into their businesses while 13 percent dared to make that giant step of reinvesting in capacity extension, customer requirement, and product innovation.
Nii Kpani Addy, while lauding the government for the stimulus package to resuscitate businesses called for measures to strictly enforce all the Protocols on the virus to ensure that life returned to normal.
He also encouraged all types of businesses to be digitally active to take advantage of online trading and transaction.
Forty-three health workers in the Western Region have tested positive for COVID-19.
Twenty of the cases are from the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi-Takoradi while 23 others are from the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality.
Citi News sources indicate that the confirmed cases at the Effia-Nkwanta Hospital are contacts traced from a staff of the hospital who earlier tested positive for COVID-19.
According to the Effia-Nkwanta hospital, a number of measures have been put in place to protect other health workers from contracting the virus.
Meanwhile, three units of the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital were closed down after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19 on May 15, 2020.
The Antenatal Care Unit, Child Welfare Clinic, and the Ear Nose and Throat Unit in the hospital were disinfected among other measures to contain the infection.
The Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr Joseph Kojo Tambil, who confirmed the news said the infected staff were isolated and all other contacts asked to self-quarantine as their samples are being tested.
Dr Tambil revealed that the infected staff member had spent some time at different units of the hospital and as such, staff members in that department have been asked to self-quarantine as well.
“One of our staff who had mild symptoms got tested and her results came out positive. So we quickly started taking samples of people that she works with and since she was working at the Antenatal Clinic, we had to take samples of all the staff. She also spent some time at the ENT Department so we also closed down that department and took samples of the staff.â€
The Effia-Nkwanta Hospital in the Western Region is the main referral hospital in the Western Region of Ghana.
So far, the Western Region has recorded a total of 170 positive cases of COVID-19.
Despite the over 75,000 Electronic scholarship applications received by the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat for the 2020/2021 academic year, the representations from the Western and Western North Regions are just minimal.
The Ghana Scholarship Secretariat which announced this on Thursday at a press briefing in Sekondi, therefore encouraged interested applicants to quickly log on to the www.scholarshipgh.com portal and follow the three-step application process before May, 15, 2020 deadline.
Mr. Kingsley Agyeman, the Director of the Secretariat, told Journalists that about 70,000 people are expected to be sponsored with taxpayers funds for the 2020/2021 academic.
According to him, the Secretariat was expected to spend 80 million cedis this year as against 40 million cedis spent on 32,000 qualified applicants last year.
He said the secretariat decentralized the process of application to ensure transparency and more accessibility.
Ghana according to Him, only has 16 per cent of its senior high school graduate proceeding to the tertiary level which over the years had affected the manpower and technical level with its resultant effects on the rapid socio-economic dynamics of the country.
Mr Agyeman noted that the scholarship was, therefore, to open up to many students who may have the potentials but due to the lack of money, they were not able to advance in education and knowledge to contribute positively to the development of the country.
“The President, Akufo-Addo has therefore seen the need to give a good meaning to the SDGs Four on quality education,” he added.
Mr Wilson Arthur, the Dean of the MMDCEs in the Regions, said empowering lives to transform Ghana was critical.
He, therefore, entreated his colleagues to make available all technical assistance to students wanting to apply to increase the numbers in the Region.
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Kwesimintim Constituency, Lawyer Philip Fiifi Buckman has appealed to government to establish a COVID-19 Testing Site in Western Region to speed up the process of testing for Coronavirus.
His appeal follows the first confirmed case of Coronavirus recorded by the Region on Sunday, April 13, 2020.
In an interview with GhanaWeb’s Western Regional Correspondent Daniel Kaku, the NDC 2020 Parliamentary Candidate seized the opportunity to commend the Western Regional Minister for showing good leadership to expeditiously come out with information in respect of the reported case on Sunday evening in the region to avoid unnecessary speculations which had the tendency of putting fear in the residents of the area.
He suggested to the government through the Western Regional Minister to put a number of measures in place if there was going to be a lockdown in the Region.
“Kudos for showing leadership. Your Excellency, I would want to respectfully bring to your attention some important preemptive measure you can put in place with the various heads of institutions that matter at this crucial moment especially as due to the rising numbers in the reported cases, we might have a lockdown”, he stated.
In this regard, Lawyer Philip Fiifi Buckman called on the Regional Minister to use his high office to lobby for the establishment of COVID-19 Testing Site at the Reference Lab in Effia-Nkwanta Hospital.
“As the WHO is recommending countries to test as many suspects as possible, I want to recommend to you to use your good office to push for the setting up of COVID-19 Testing Site at the Reference Lab in Effia-Nkwanta hospital to speed up the process of testing”, he tasked the Regional Minister.
He also urged the Regional Minister to adequately resource the Information Service Department and the National Commission for Civic Education to intensify education and awareness throughout the region in respect of the laid down directives to be observed in respect of the prevention of infection.
The NDC candidate continued, “Liaise with the Regional Health Directorate to identify and prepare possible Isolation Centers outside hospitals to prevent inadvertent infection of other non-infected patients and frontline health workers”.
Lawyer Buckman urged the Regional Minister to include private institutions who are willing and able to donate for the procurement of the necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to Frontline Health Workers to fight against the deadly Coronavirus pandemic.
He expressed optimistim that the deadly Coronavirus pandemic would be a thing of the past. “We shall definitely overcome this. This too shall pass for our God still reigns. Together, we can”.
Ghana has so far recorded 641 confirmed cases of Coronavirus with 8 deaths.
The Western Regional Minister, Mr. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah has said that the patient with the confirmed case of Coronavirus in the region is a Chinese national.
On Sunday, April 12, 2020, the Region recorded its first confirmed case of Coronavirus.
In press release issued and signed by the Western Regional Minister, he stated that, “The Western Region on Sunday 12th April, 2020 recorded its first confirmed case of COVID-19. The confirmed case in question involves a Chinese foreign national, who arrived in Ghana on Saturday 21st March, 2020 and was in self-isolation for the mandatory period of 14 days”.
“Though he showed no symptoms of the virus, the medical team took his sample for testing on 8th April, 2020 to confirm his status; which unfortunately tested positive on the 12th of April, 2020”, he added.
According to him, the said Chinese national is one of six Chinese nationals and 32 Ghanaians working at Coastal Quarry suited at Anto in the Shama District.
“A combined team of medical and security personnel is currently at work at the site”, he said.
He, therefore fumed, “It is understandable but also regrettable that in times like these, there will be lots of misinformation and false news carried through social media which unfortunately filter into the mainstream media. It is therefore imperative that the facts concerning any confirmed or suspected case are checked from the Health Authorities before putting it in the public domain”.
The Regional Minister who is also the Chairman of the Western Regional Security Council has appealed to the residents in the area to remain calm and promised to expedite action to trace the contacts of the victim.
“I am therefore appealing to the public to remain calm, and all those who might have come into contact with personnel of this company, to cooperate with the medical team for expedited contact tracing in order to curb the spread of the virus”.
Below is the full statement
REGIONAL DIRECTOR GHS, WR
DATE : 13TH APRIL, 2020
SUBJECT : FIRST CONFIRMED CASE OF COVID-19 IN THE WESTERN REGION
The Western Region on Sunday 12th April, 2020 recorded its first confirmed case of COVID-19. The confirmed case in question involves a Chinese foreign national, who arrived in Ghana on Saturday 21st March, 2020 and was in self-isolation for the mandatory period of 14 days. Though he showed no symptoms of the virus, the medical team took his sample for testing on 8th April, 2020 to confirm his status; which unfortunately tested positive on the 12th of April, 2020.
The said Chinese is one of six (6) Chinese and 32 Ghanaians working at Coastal Quarry located near Anto in the Shama District. A combined team of medical and security personnel is currently at work at the site.
It is understandable but also regrettable that in times like these, there will be lots of misinformation and false news carried through social media which unfortunately filter into the mainstream media. It is therefore imperative that the facts concerning any confirmed or suspected case are checked from the Health Authorities before putting it in the public domain.
I am therefore appealing to the public to remain calm, and all those who might have come into contact with personnel of this company, to cooperate with the medical team for expedited contact tracing in order to curb the spread of the virus.
From the lesson learnt (i.e. absence of symptoms of the virus and testing positive after the 14-day isolation period), all MMDCEs and Public Health Emergency Management Committees should ensure that all persons released, without testing, after their 14-day self -isolation or mandatory quarantine at the various places are brought back for testing.
I call on our Chiefs and the good people of the Western Region to remain vigilant and to cooperate with the Health and Security Personnel to ensure that the virus does not get out of hand in the Western Region.
I must add that, all recreational centres are out of bounds to the members of the public in furtherance of the ban on social gatherings.
The security agencies should therefore, be hard on this.
As part of plans to face out the none smart prepaid meters in the Western Region, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has begun a mass replacement exercise to install the newly introduced smart prepayment meters.
The mass replacement exercise is currently concentrating on Effiakuma in the Effia-Kwesimintim Municipal Assembly (EKMA) due to the frequent losses the company incurs through illegal connections coupled with the commercial nature of the area.
This was made known by Mr. Benjamin Quarcoo, Western Regional Public Relations Officer (PRO) of ECG in an interview.
He explained that majority of the prepaid meters in the Sekondi-Takoradi-Agona areas are not smart, however, new applicants are given the new smart meters while customers whose meters have developed faults and needs replacement are given the new smart meters.
He pointed out that the prepayment meters were introduced to minimize the losses in the system.
According to him, electronic meters work within a particular period of time after which they become outmoded hence, the need to replace them and for that matter, the replacement process would be extended to cover the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) and the Ahanta West Municipal Assembly (AWMA) gradually.
He enlightened that the new smart meters come with Mobile Application (ECG Mobile App) which can be used to make payment on all postpaid metered accounts and selected smart prepayment meters in the system.
He was of the hope that the new smart meters would enable the company clamp down on customers who tempers with the meters and engage in all forms of illegality on the meters since he could monitor and trace the meters from his office.
