Day: July 30, 2023

Some 500 residents of Kadjebi in the Oti Region have been tested and vaccinated against Hepatitis B.

The exercise, sponsored by World Vision Ghana, Krachi- Nkwanta Cluster, formed part of the activities marking the World Hepatitis B Day which felled on July 28.

Mrs Mabel Amankwa-Amoah, Kadjebi District Health Promotion Officer, engaging with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said data gathered on the district revealed low knowledge of the disease, so their started awareness creation on it some months ago.

She said their awareness creation, which took them to Schools, Departments, Churches, and Mosques, among others was to educate residents on the dangers of the disease, mode of transmission, symptoms and how to protection themselves against it.

The Health Promotion Officer said Hepatitis B is a viral infection that primarily affected the liver and was caused by the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV).

She said it was a significant global health problem, with approximately 257 million people estimated to be chronically infected with HBV worldwide and that Hepatitis B claimed the lives of 1.34 million individuals in 2015, a rate comparable to TB, but higher than HIV.

Mrs Amankwa-Amoah said HBV prevalence in Ghana had been between 6.7 per cent and 11 per cent among blood donors, 6.4 per cent among pregnant women, and 15.6 per cent among children in the general population.

She named unprotected sex contact, sharing of needles or syringes, mother-to-child transmission, and contact with infected blood, among others as modes of transmission.

The Health Promotion Officer said the disease is real and dangerous, so there was a need for everyone to get tested, take a jab for protection, practice safe sex, avoid sharing needles or syringes, and use sterile equipment, among others so as not to contract the disease.

Mrs Amankwa-Amoah told GNA that those who took the first shot today would have to take the second jab on August 28 and the third jab on September 28 to be fully protected against the disease.

Miss Patience Kumah, a beneficiary, commended the sponsors for the exercise and called on the residents to take the jab for protection since prevention is better than cure.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Former President John Dramani Mahama has urged graduates to avoid the unhealthy temptation of using leadership positions to promote personal or sectional partisan interests to the disadvantage of the organisation or the nation you have been chosen to serve.

‘You should also not use your leadership roles to victimise and settle personal scores but must unite and develop our country,’ he added.

Former President Mahama was speaking at the 2023 graduation ceremony of the Academic City University College in Accra.

‘Do not join these self-centred models of leadership, but I expect you to provide leadership that will strengthen the public service, promote competent-based staff engagement and strengthen systems in both the public and private sectors,’ he added.

He urged the graduates to prepare themselves for the leadership tasks, use their developed competence to provide leadership in solving challenges at home, church, work places and wherever they may find themselves.

Former President Mahama said leadership was full of challenges and whoever wanted to be a leader could not escape them, adding that leadership was exciting where one focused and pursue a noble agenda that sought to serve the best interest of the people.

He urged them to embrace the values of hard work, honesty, compassion, tenacity and patriotism in whatever they do.

Mr Dev Varyani, the Founder of Academic City University College, said, ‘Our unwavering commitment to fostering a rich learning environment centered around STEAM, Entrepreneurship, and Ethics, has truly shaped a winning formula for any student who joins our academic family.’

He said these past four years had been a journey of growth, self-discovery, and academic excellence.

The Founder said the skills and connections you had forged here would undoubtedly propel their careers and pave the way for their dreams to be fulfilled.

‘As you step out into the world, armed with the knowledge, passion, and determination you have acquired, take your exciting ideas and innovations to the global stage. Make your country and your college proud by leaving an impact on society,’ he added.

He said Professor Fred McBagonluri, the Founding President of Academic City, had been instrumental in propelling the young University to contend admirably with well-established institutions in the region due to his excellent leadership and guidance.

He reiterated his unwavering commitment to providing unwavering support to the institution, ensuring that it reached new heights.

‘Together, we will continue to ascend towards success and have a significant impact on the education,’ he said.

Prof McBagonluri said the University had fostered and shaped the students to become individuals, who were resilient, compassionate, and intellectually inquisitive.

‘We have faith in your capacity to have a significant effect on the world around you,’ he said.

He urged them to embrace naive optimism, view setbacks as stepping stones, cultivate meaningful relationships, and engage in playful disarray.

The Overall Best graduating student award went to Ms Daniella Ishioma Omenogor, a Computational science Student

Source: Ghana News Agency

As part of the sub-regional integration process of bringing governance to the doorsteps of the people, Winneba, will in September 2023 host the Extra Ordinary Session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, in Ghana.

This would be the second time Ghana would host the ECOWAS Parliament which convenes twice a year.

The 2023 First Ordinary Session of Parliament, opened on Monday, May 8, 2023, in Abuja and ended on Friday, May 26, 2023.

The session was convened under Article 21.1 of the Supplementary Act relating to the enhancement of the powers of the ECOWAS Parliament, which provided that Parliament should meet twice a year in Ordinary Sessions to provide a platform to deliberate and strengthen Member States’ position on issues of regional and continental importance.

As provided for in Article 32 of the supplementary Act, the Session also provides the President of the ECOWAS Commission to present a general report on the implementation of the Community Work Programme to the Plenary.

This allows the House to be updated on developments in the Community and followed by debates, expressed opinions and recommendations.

Further, National Delegates also have the chance to present their country’s reports to inform the Body of unfolding developments in their respective Member States and the status of implementation of their community’s texts.

Mr Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the leader of the Ghanaian delegation announced in Monrovia – Liberia at the end of a joint delocalized meeting, when he interacted with the media.

He explained that the Conference being hosted out of the capital would bring governance to the doorsteps of the people and create an opportunity for the region by way of putting it on the visibility map for development.

‘This will also allow Member States not only to connect to build consensus towards ECOWAS Development but also an opportunity to travel outside the capital city to familiarise themselves with neighbour countries,’ he said.

Mr Afenyo-Markin, also the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament and a Member of the ECOWAS Parliament, further told Journalists that international programmes created opportunities for growth, development and tourism; and Winneba being the capital of one of the Municipalities in the Central Region was more than ready to welcome the ECOWAS delegation.

According to him, the Session would also market the region, the Effutu Constituency and the city which was a coastal city for greater opportunities.

He maintained that such Sessions projected facilities towards development and urged his colleagues to push for more opportunities and take advantage of such possibilities.

‘We cannot always over-concentrate in the capital cities; we need to move out and spread opportunity to the people,’ he said.

The Effutu NPP Member of Parliament (MP), told Journalists from Member that this will not be the first of its kind, particularly when Winneba 2021 successfully hosted a delocalised meeting and an Extra Ordinary Session, and therefore a precedent had been set.

… ‘We are optimistic that this will be better than before. The Ghanaian government will put in place the necessary protocols for all MPs, focal persons and staff, security arrangements will be in place. Winneba, which is the capital of my constituency, is just an hour’s drive from Accra on a good road,’ he said.

Mr Afenyo-Markin noted that Members were already used to that route with facilities going to be there to host them, adding ‘As I did indicate, we hope to make it a pleasurable time, profitable time for all; we encourage all of you to come and take part in the programme,’ he said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Management of Hearts of Oak has named a new technical team to steer the affairs of the club ahead of the upcoming season.

The appointment follows the recent dismissal of Coach David Ocloo, who was laid off from his duties due to poor performance.

A statement released by the club said the newly appointed technical team would not only seek to transform the senior side but also be in charge of the club’s junior and female sides.

Dutch gaffer, Rene Hiddink would take charge as Technical Director whiles Jerry Adjei Asare would also head the Goalkeeping department.

Sebastian Barnes has been handed the head of Scouting role whereas Carlos Klu would also manage the welfare of the club.

Mercy Tagoe, former Black Queens Coach would now take over as Head Coach of Hearts of Oak’s female side, hoping to chalk successes with the rainbow ladies.

It said management is hopeful these changes would affect the club positively going into the new season.

‘The Board and management would like to take this opportunity to appeal to all followers of the club to offer their unflinching support to them and the team so together we will work for the collective interest of the team as we prepare for the new football season,’ it said.

Management also announced that the team would begin pre-season on Tuesday, August 1, 2023.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Ebrima Sillah, the Chancellor of the Regional Maritime University (RMU), has urged Member Countries to develop strategies that would help increase enrollment figures in the University across the various programmes on offer.

He said enrolment remained the topmost priority towards the revenue generation drive of the University.

Mr Sillah was speaking at the opening of the 29th Meeting of the RMU Board of Governors in Accra.

The annual meeting is held to discuss the challenges, problems, and solutions to help transform the University into a world-class institution.

He said as part of the enrolment drive, ‘l have been made aware that there are new additions to the academic/professional programmes of the University.’

Mr Sillah, who is also the Minister of Transport, Works and Infrastructure of The Gambia, said this notable step had resulted in some healthy collaborations with industry such as the National Association of Heavy Duty Operators Ghana in running the Crane and Forklift Operation course.

He commended the Government of Ghana for making significant contributions to infrastructural development in the University and thanked Ghana’s Minister of Transport for the ongoing Administration/Library Complex, and the Auditorium Complex projects.

He said this year would mark the 65th and 40th Anniversaries of the University as a training institute and regionalisation respectively.

He said the achievement of the University was by no small measure a mere feat as it demonstrated a very strong commitment and perseverance despite their diversity as people of various orientations.

He said the RMU established in 1983 had been a symbol of unity and integration and ‘we hope to soldier on with such great hallmark.’

‘ I believe the continuous demonstration of collaboration among Member States has contributed significantly in producing the human capital, equipped with the needed expertise in the Maritime Sector for the sub-region and beyond,’ he said.

He expressed the hope that the remarkable integration in RMU would continue to be the hallmark of exemplary and distinct determiner for unity of purpose within the West African sub-region and the entire African Continent.

The Chancellor said the need to increase the University’s revenue to support several valuable projects was critical to building an important mass of highly skilled marine engineers, and port administrators among others to contribute their quota to the socio-economic development of our region.

Mr Alhassan Suleman Tampuli, the Deputy Minister of Transport, through innovative programmes and initiatives, the University had been instrumental in producing highly qualified professionals whose contributions have contributed to the growth and development of the maritime industry.

He commended the Management of the University for its dedication to excellence, professionalism, and continuous improvements.

The Minister said the contribution of the RMU has not only improved the standards of education and training but has also contributed to the overall safety, efficiency and sustainability of the blue ocean economy.

He said the RMU continued to play an important role in fostering the development of skilled maritime professionals and promoting collaboration among West African countries to enhance the growth and success of the maritime industry in the region.

‘The industry contributes more than 80 per cent of customs revenue in Ghana and is the largest contributor to the revenue base through taxes and levies on imported and exported goods,’ he added.

He said the government’s commitment to the training of the manpower for this very important industry had been unwavering.

Dr Paul Adalikwu, the Secretary-General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) said they were still in communications with the AfDB, AfCFTA and Afreximbank, where they have made a strong case for the role of maritime transport in the continental trade aspirations of these bodies.

He said MOWCA had presented the technical/skill inputs that the institutions would bring to bear.

‘ I am glad to inform you that our observations have been noted with assured promises to assist our schools to grow the needed capacities and competence for our maritime industries,’ he added.

Source: Ghana News Agency