Month: July 2023

The Ministry of Health has identified numerous areas of the health sector that needs improvements and one main concern is the high level of obesity in Seychelles.

A two-day workshop was organised last week on the annual Health Sector Performance Report of 2022 in which areas of concern that have to be addressed were highlighted.

The principal policy analyst, Dr Sanjeev Pugazhendhi, described the high level of obesity as a public health urgent concern.

“We want to work with other sectors as well so that we can make evidence-based interventions, to see what can have an impact on the risk factors causing people to become obese or put on excess weight,” he said.

The report shows that just over one in three girls – 35 percent – and just under one in three boys – 30 percent – are overweight or obese.

He added that there needs to be an exercise to see why obesity has increased in the country and what it is that can be done to reduce it.

Recently, the government set up a task force to deal with obesity, and Dr. Pugazhendhi revealed that they have already met a number of times and are working on an action that will be completed before the end of October.

Another concern raised in the report is the increase in cancer-related deaths in 2022 especially among the male population.

According to the report, cancer is the leading cause of death in 2022 with 159 deaths, 102 males and 57 females. Prostate cancer was the most common cause of cancer death in men with 33 deaths among men of 60 years.

“One of the priorities that we have identified is how to strengthen our screening programmes, since most of the time it can detect cancer early or even prevent it, it has been the best way to prevent death,” said Pugazhendhi.

He added that the Ministry is working on other ways to test people, so that results are available early, with a new faster test for pap-smear having already been introduced.

The Ministry of Health is also looking for ways to improve treatment for other diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, pneumonia and others.

Analysis of the complete sequence of cause of death in death certificates in the report shows that diabetes and hypertension were noted in 128 (14 percent) and 248 (27 percent), respectively, in 2022.

“Another thing the report has shown us is the need to look at ways to prevent people from catching infections in the hospital itself, with a committee already set up to look for ways to reduce the risks of infections spreading with health facilities,” said Pugazhendhi.

The principal secretary for health, Dr Bernard Valentin, said although the Ministry was alarmed and worried by the state of the population’s health, it has not despaired.

“We are worried because when comparing our country with other countries like us, the difference is alarming. However we can address these health problems that exist to make sure that life expectancy continues to increase, which is a good mark to identify the improvement of the nation’s health,” he said.

Valentin said that there is a need for each individual to take responsibility for their well-being and take care of their health by “watching what we eat as a family, physical activities we do, seeking help early, are all the things that help to keep us healthy.”

“It is very important for everyone to look after themselves and families also must play their part in ensuring their good health,” he added.

The workshop, which was held with the participation of audiences from outside the medical field, was organised by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the World Health Organisation.

The annual Health-Sector Performance Report, which is essential to the ministry’s governance role and sector responsibility, provides an overview of the health sector’s development.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

Roger Mancienne is the Speaker of the Seychelles National Assembly, who was sworn in October 2020 as the fourth speaker of the country’s parliament since the return of multi-party democracy in 1993.

Mancienne, who is 75 years old, is also the leader of the Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS-Seychellois Democratic Union) political party, which won a large victory in the legislative elections in 2016 and a landslide victory in the 2020 presidential and legislative elections.

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Seychelles National Assembly of the Third Republic, SNA interviewed Mancienne to get his views on the evolution of parliamentary democracy in Seychelles and his own experiences as speaker, as well as plans for the future.

SNA: As a former leading opposition politician, editor of the former Regar newspaper, and today as Speaker of the Seychelles National Assembly, you have witnessed three decades of parliamentary debates and how they have shaped the lives of the people of Seychelles and their fledgling democracy. For you what are some of the most important moments during this historical period as both a witness of history and a participant in political life?

RM: I am not sure I will be able to distinguish the most important but I can pick the most memorable and those are what contained some drama and fell outside the main routine of Assembly business.

I remember the incident of Christopher Gill crossing the floor from the Democratic Party to the SPPF [Seychelles People’s Progressive Front] side. This has never happened again as such.

The bye-elections that were held within the term of the Assembly also were quite remarkable events. There was one for Ause Aux Pins, one for Mont Fleuri and one for Anse Boileau.

The Assembly moving into its own building at Ile du Port was of course a historic event. It was the first time the institution had its own home, which gave it status as a branch of government, enhancing its image. In the same way, live broadcasting of Assembly sittings in a variety of media, TV, radio and social media, has greatly enhanced its visibility and reach.

The 6th Assembly, in which there was a majority opposition and a minority of the government party was a watershed moment and a remarkable occasion. The cohabitation, as it has been called, brought a new perspective. It started with much curiosity about how this would work and we saw a new perspective on democratic governance.

Of course, one very dramatic occasion came with the debate on radio licensing which led to a violent assault by the police and armed forces on a protest by the opposition party outside the Assembly building.

In my own time, the reconfiguration of seating in the Chamber had a lot of symbolic importance which I believe gave a better reflection of what the Assembly was.

In between such events, some instances of matters on the floor were memorable when they were concerned with dramatic issues such as piracy in Seychelles waters, the Economic Development Act, which gave citizenship to investors, and all the TRNUC [Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission] episodes.

SNA: What do you believe are some of the most important laws that the Seychelles National Assembly has passed in its 30-year history as a democracy?

RM: When it comes to laws, I will start with the amendments to the Constitution, which made changes in the system of government such as the formulation of the post of Vice-President and how power could be transferred.

The creation of some secondary institutions such as the Human Rights Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission was very important. So too were the laws that defined and enhanced certain rights and these came with laws such as the Public Assembly Act, allowing more freedom for political activities and the Access to Information Act.

But very notable was the whole revision of the Civil Code by the 6th Assembly, which modernised the law in many many instances, and the Creation of the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission (TRNUC) by the same Assembly.

SNA: What was it like to be an opposition politician during the years when the Seychelles People’s Progressive Front (SPPF) had a majority in the Assembly? Was it always a fierce antagonism or were there moments of compromise?

RM: Personally, I was not very closely involved with the Assembly but I participated in some deliberations. For example, with the financial crisis in 2008, I took part in discussions on reform which I think contributed to the country finding its way out peacefully.

During the piracy crisis, there were discussions across party lines on our response. I would not say there was always fierce antagonism. Things were generally tense but the opposing parties did dialogue and there was some communication although government business remained generally a one-sided affair.

SNA: Why did the main opposition parties boycott the 2011 parliamentary election that led to Parti Lepep (formerly SPPF) having a one-party Assembly, apart from one proportional seat for one opposition member?

RM: Yes, this was an interesting episode in our political history. The situation was that the opposition had lost a number of elections in which electoral procedures and political rights such as the freedom of expression were seen to be unfair. We had protested over the years but there was always resistance from the government party.

So, after losing election after election which we felt had been unfair, we decided we could not continue doing things the same way. So, we took the decision to boycott the elections. It was a big gamble because a party that does not take part in elections can easily be obliterated. But our absence created a void and the presence of one opposition member was seen as a total sham.

Eventually, people realised that a democratic system needed a credible opposition. In the absence of formal opposition, dissent spread in the ruling party itself and in the end, we emerged with a larger opposition force. The strategy paid off because it led to the changes that we wanted. The Electoral Commission was reformed and other changes came about which greatly improved conditions for political participation.

SNA: You were a founding member of Parti Seselwa, which later became the United Opposition (UO) and then Seychelles National Party (SNP), which merged with other opposition parties in 2016 to form the Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS) and for the first time won a parliamentary majority that same year. What do you believe were the ingredients to winning the election?

RM: The ingredients were the creation of a larger opposition force by bringing together all the actors who were on the scene and also the improvement in conditions. The creation of LDS was an important moment because it showed the opposition forces could unite under one banner and it gave new prospects for a widely based government team. This of course coincided with the perception that we had reached a stage when change was necessary. This is what brought about the results of the 2016 elections.

SNA: You are still the Party Leader of LDS, as in the past, today you have many critics of an alleged bias towards your party while in your role as speaker. How do you respond to this issue and do you intend to continue to remain Party Leader until the next elections and beyond?

RM: I am criticised from both sides. From one, I am accused of bias towards my own party and from the other side of being too lenient to the opposition. I have heard the criticism and I have noted what is being said. But in the end, my only judge is my conscience. I believe I am applying the rules fairly and allowing both sides to express their views.

I have criticisms of my own for Members who do not respect the rules and do not show respect for the institution. I will continue to examine my own leadership and ask the Members to also scrutinise their behaviour. The Speaker is elected from the majority party so I cannot escape the association but I try to be objective and impartial. As for continuing as Speaker until the next election, that depends on my party. They asked me to take this position and they can remove me when they want.

SNA: Do you believe that the Seychelles National Assembly needs to be reformed in any way, including the format of its sittings or any other procedures?

RM: We have made a major change in the format of the seating arrangement this year and I think this is a great improvement. There are some rules of procedure which I believe need to be re-examined and we have a Committee of the Assembly charged with this. It is the Standing Orders Committee. I think we have to see how we organise debate better so that we deal with business in a set period of time for instance.

SNA: With your breadth of experience and memories of Seychelles’ political life, have you noticed any patterns in topics discussed in the Assembly in terms of the complaints of government inefficiency, lethargy, corruption and wastage that are said to be present both in the LDS-led government today and the former ruling party that was at the helm of the government for 43 years? Do you believe there is hope for real change, something that your party promised for so many years?

RM: I believe there has been real change. My party has delivered and will continue to deliver on change. In the life of this Assembly, I have not heard of one credible charge of corruption on the part of government officials and LDS has not taken any advantage of its position as the governing party.

Our government has moved swiftly to get the country back on track after the COVID episode. People forget easily but many things have moved forward. We have seen major reform of some systems such as the welfare programme and procurement procedures. I have not heard of any case of wastage of government resources. Sure, there are complaints but most of them are just politics.

There are of course still many shortcomings but many of them concern the way the public service works and this is very hard to change. I think we can do better in the efficient delivery of services. At the same time, there is a huge effort to tackle some of the major challenges that the country faces such as the drug problem. There has been change and I hope there will be more.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, the Minority Leader, Monday said the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government has deepened the woes of Ghanaians rather than helping to solve their challenges. ‘Mr Speaker, the Finance Minister says the economic performance of the nation shows that we have turned the corner (recovering from the difficult situation.? However, the evidence and the numbers before us show that our woes have rather deepened…,’ he said. The Minority Leader made the remarks after Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, the Minister of Finance, had presented to Parliament the Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review of the? 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government. ?’The Finance Minister has said to us today that he is reversing economic growth from 2.8 per cent of Gross Domestic Products (GDP) to 1.50 of GDP… This clearly shows that the economy is contracting and declining,’ he said. ‘Mr Speaker, I say this because he (the Finance Minister) said to us here and now that he had borrowed GHC5.5 billion from January to June from the Treasury Bill Market.’ ?’Mr Speaker, not long ago, the Minister had informed us that he would not borrow at all in the year 2023… However, the Minister says going into the remaining part of the year he was going to borrow another GHC41.00 billion.’? Dr Forson said the cedi depreciation Ghanaians were seeing was largely because the Minister had defaulted in the payment of external interests and principals.?? ‘Let our Minister not say anywhere that he has turned the corner, he has rather deepened our woes,’ he said. ?Speaking to the Parliamentary Press Corps moments after the Budget presentation, Dr Forson said Government’s continuous borrowing was a contributory factor to the high inflation rate, adding: ‘No wonder the Central Bank is busily increasing Monetary Policy rates and the lending rate is still going up’.? He said Ghana had the opportunity to reduce lending rates to under 15 per cent, but, unfortunately, due to the activities of the Government, particularly the over-borrowing and over-expenditure, Ghana’s lending rates and market rates were still going up.? He said Treasury Bill rates, not long ago, were about 14 per cent, however, ‘currently it is about 23 to 25 per cent. This might end up in the 30s before the year ends.’ Touching on the stabilisation of the Ghana Cedi, Dr Forson noted that it had stabilised relatively due to the country’s default in the payment of its external debts.? ‘Looking into the Budget, by this time Ghana should have serviced its external debts, approximately 11 million Ghana Cedis,’ he said. However, the Minority Leader said the country had defaulted in servicing its debts owed to Eurobond and countries like China, Saudi Arabia, India, the United Kingdom (UK), Japan, France, and the Czech Republic. ‘As early as January 2024, we will start serving these debts, and if we are to start servicing these debts, don’t be surprised that our currency, the cedi, will start depreciating once again

Source: Ghana News Agency

-The British International Investment (BII), United Kingdom’s Development Finance Institution, has announced the establishment of a new platform, with commitment funding of US$50 million dollars to support 150 Ghanaian Small and Medium-size enterprises (SMEs).? The platform called Growth Investment Partners (GIP) will be a new alternative investment option for long-term and flexible loans of between US$500,000 – US$5 million, equivalent in local currency, to meet the needs of local businesses.? Beyond the loan, SMEs will also receive business support services and capacity building in areas of financial management, corporate governance and environmental and social practices, to enable the sector to grow in a productive, sustainable and inclusive way.? Mr Chris Chijiutomi, BII Head of Africa, who announced the initiative on Monday in Accra, said GIP would contribute to SMEs’ key challenge of access to funding and unlock the economic potential in the country.? ‘SMEs are important to the Ghanaian economy as they create jobs and make a significant contribution to the country’s gross domestic product. However, they face many challenges with accessing growth capital through traditional funding sources including high interest rates, short-term loans, high collateral requirements and currency mismatches,’ he said.? Mr Chijiutomi said GIP working with relevant stakeholders would provide funding through a variety of financing options to meet the capital needs estimated to be about $4.8 billion of local businesses to support the country’s economic reforms.??? Mr Jacob Kholi, the Chief Executive and Investment Officer (CEIO), said GIPs investment tenor was between five years and 10 years depending on the needs of the business. ‘GIP is not providing subsidised funding and will price its products to earn a risk-adjusted return with the Ghana Reference Rate (GRR) as the basis,’ he said.? He said for SMEs to qualify they needed to have a turnover up to the local currency equivalent of US$15m, total assets up to US$ 15 million in local currency equivalent, and employees of between 10 and 300. The business, he said must be incorporated in Ghana, main operations must be in Ghana, and at least 50 per cent of its revenues are generated from its operations in the country.? Mr Kholi said businesses in mining, oil and gas, and ammunition/hard liquor/tobacco were excluded from the initiative. Mr Albert Essien, Chairman of Growth Investment Partners Ghana LTD, said the key areas critical for productive, sustainable, and inclusive growth of SMEs include good corporate governance, environmental, social, and sound financial management practices.?? To complement the operations of GIP, he said, the BII had established a technical assistance programme, the Ghana Investment Support Programme to provide technical support to SMEs to make them investment ready as well as post-investment.? Mr Essien stated that the BII in the past, sponsored the establishment of the Ghana Venture Capital Fund (GVCF), a US$ 6 million fund, together with a number of Ghanaian institutions, and other Direct Foreign Investment.?? GVCF was the first venture capital fund to be established in Sub-Saharan Africa, outside of South Africa. BII played the pioneering role at the time, just as it is doing with GIP.?

Source: Ghana News Agency

Students of Ahantaman Girls’ Senior High School (SHS) in the Western Region have called on the government and corporate bodies to assist them to construct a modern library complex with adequate books. Ms Sheridan Sam Onuawontoh, the Head Girl of the School, who made the call on behalf of her colleagues, during the school’s 75th Anniversary celebration, said they lacked a modern library facility which was needed to enhance the teaching and learning process in the school. She said the school’s current library complex was an old classroom block which was converted into a library. With a student population of 2,728, she indicated that the library could only accommodate 40 students at a particular time. Ms Onuawontoh noted that ‘The books currently in stock at the library have gathered so much dust that they are of little relevance for the current technologically inclined students’. She said the school’s current library did not befit its status after 75 years of its existence. The Head Girl, therefore, appealed to the government, and corporate individuals and institutions to as a matter of urgency, come to their aid and build a library complex for the school to help promote reading and learning among students, while improving upon their academic performances. Miss Ernestina Kankam, the Headmistress of the School, emphasized the need for the government and other relevant authorities to assist in providing them with a library complex; saying after 75 years in existence, the school could not boast of a library complex. She said its absence affected the reading culture among students at the school and appealed to authorities to construct one for them. ‘A library complex is a dire need in today’s 21st-century education. Imagine for a moment that Ahantaman Girls’ SHS is fully equipped with a modern library, we would make a much greater impact than we already have without a library’, Ms Kankam added. Meanwhile, Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, Western Regional Minister, pledged to donate an amount of GHC 50,000 and some bags of cement to begin the construction of a modern library facility. Other stakeholders, past students and parents of current students, donated some money as part of contributions to support the facility’s construction. The school’s 75th Anniversary celebration was on the theme: ’75 Years of Promoting Discipline as a Tool for STEM Education: The Role of Stakeholders’.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Sunyani Sacred Heart Junior High School (JHS) was at the weekend crowned winner of the third edition of the Ark FM/Cowbell Brain Challenge competition. For their prizes, each of the three contestants, who represented the school, received a brand new laptop computer, assorted cowbell products, a medal, a certificate of honour and a trophy, while their coaching teachers received a tablet each, cowbell products and a certificate of recognition. Sacred Heart, which competed in the grand finale with Berekum Madonna and Techiman Adventist JHSs, after three rounds of contest in mathematics, English, ICT and Integrated Science, received GhC3,000.00, a giant trophy and a certificate of participation. Madonna JHS, the defending champions placed second and each of the contestants received a tablet, medal, certificate of honour and varieties of cowbell products, with the school receiving GhC2,000.00 and their two coaches taking away hampers from cowbell and certificate of recognition. The Techiman Adventist JHS also had GhC1,000.00 and certification of participation for placing third, while each of the three contestants and their two coaches received medals, cowbell hampers and certificates. Speaking at the opening session of the competition held at the Sunyani Technical University Auditorium, Mr Godwin Atta Andoh Snr, the Managing Director of Ark FM, a Sunyani-based radio station said more than 200 private and public JHS selected from the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regions participated in the competition. He explained the station instituted the challenge three years ago and held annually to help prepare basic school children adequately to write the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and also instil in them the habit of reading. Mr Andoh commended Cowbell for supporting the challenge and appealed to other businesses and corporate bodies to also assist so that more schools would be selected to participate. ‘We should not forget that our children are our priceless assets, they are our future and our region develops when we take care of the future generation. We cannot go beyond where we are if we don’t get the support financially and encouragement from the people we serve,’ he stated. Mr Kwabena Obeng Akrofi, the Coordinator of the Ark FM/Cowbell Challenge, expressed appreciation to the Director and Management of the Bono Regional Directorate of Education for their support towards making the 17-week competition a success and expressed the hope they would continue with the support in the ensuing years.

Source: Ghana News Agency