Day: February 9, 2024

Rabies killed six people in the Bono Region in 2023, Dr. Donald Joachim Darko, the Bono Regional Director of the Veterinary Services Department (VSD) has said.

Comparatively, he said the deaths marginally declined because the Department recorded eight deaths in 2022.

Rabies is a deadly virus transmitted through the saliva of infected animals and some symptoms include fever, headache, excessive salivation, muscle spasms, paralysis and mental confusion.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani, Dr. Darko said the Department vaccinated 4,402 domestic animals in 2023. More than 8,171 domestic animals, including dogs were vaccinated in 2021 and about 3,606 animals in 2022, he added.

Dr. Darko said the Department was working hard to achieve the World Health Organisation’s target of ensuring rabies free deaths by 2030 and called for support from the general public.

He said until 70 per cent of the pet and domestic animal population were vaccinated three consecutive times, it would be difficu
lt for the country to achieve the WHO target.

Just about six years to go, Dr. Darko called for effective collaboration between the Municipal/ District Assemblies, Ghana Health Service and the VSD towards intensifying public education as well as accessibility and affordability of vaccines to achieve the 2030 target.

He also urged the public to endeavour to bring their cats, dogs and other pets for vaccination at least once a year to help prevent diseases and needless deaths.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Following the escape of the Divisional Officer of Bamenda II, Nicholas Manchang,separatist militants killed the driver and a police officer. Five individuals who were previously kidnapped were released after several days in captivity.

In the wake of the escape of the Divisional Officer from captivity, and agitation from Diaspora commanders of the different separatist movements, separatist militants on Thursday night killed the driver and bodyguard of the Divisional Officer.

The assailants had reportedly ambushed a vehicle, on Tuesday evening when the DO was travelling to Nkambe central subdivision for an installation event.

Their car was stopped around Nseh, Ntumbaw village, Ndu subdivision.

Additionally, the five individuals who were previously kidnapped during the initial attack were released after enduring days of captivity. It is unclear at this time under what circumstances their release occurred.

Local authorities have denounced the latest act of violence and have reiterated their commitment to res
toring peace and security in the region. Security forces have been deployed to the area to apprehend the perpetrators and prevent further attacks.

The corpses of the two victims were discovered Friday morning near Mbam in Bui division.

Selfstyled Commander, General Babah Geto of Donga Mantung Ambazonia Restoration Forces said in a video that they carried out the kidnapping.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

The First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, has commissioned a new ultra-modern library at Akropong-Akuapem in the Eastern Region for students and pupils in the area, and emphasized the importance of library in aiding the learning of children.

It is one of the 15 completed libraries so far built by her Rebecca Foundation with support from then various partners.

The library project aims to inculcate the habit of reading among school pupils by providing them with the right ambiance, adequate, interesting, and relevant reading materials to enrich their knowledge.

Mrs Akufo-Addo a library is not just a place that houses books, it is a place where children learn to explore and imagine a world beyond their own. In short, access to libraries promotes curiosity, innovation, and critical thinking.’

According to the first lady, libraries kept children glued to their books and away from unsupervised content on gadgets, adding that research had shown that most children, who have access to libraries read more and have be
tter language skills and a broader literary taste.

Libraries instil desirable study habits in students. A library is truly integral to the teaching and learning processes. Pupils could carry out research and broaden their horizon beyond what is taught in the classroom, she said.

She said since a library was a unique resource for a happy and healthy childhood, every child must have access to one. ‘That is why the Rebecca Foundation, is focused on expanding the country’s inventory of libraries.

‘That is why it is also important that we encourage our children to patronize this library. We must also teach them about responsible use of the resources provided,’ she said.

Mrs Akufo-Addo, who is also the Executive Director of the Rebecca Foundation, thanked the Okuapemhene, Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo III and the people of Akropong-Akuapem, the NPP Parliamentary Candidate for Akuapem North Constituency, Mr Samuel Awuku and the Municipal Assembly for their tremendous support in completing the project successfully.

She
encouraged the traditional leaders to work with the Municipal authorities, educators and parents, to ensure the shelves of the library were re-stocked and repairs and maintenance carried out on the computers and the building regularly.

She also urged the traditional leaders and elders in the area to encourage their wards to make proper use of the facility.

‘I advise the children in this community and its environs to make good use of this facility since it will go a long way to help their future, ‘she said.

Mrs Akufo-Addo said ‘Learning to Read Reading to Learn’ initiative, currently being rolled out was to support the Government to achieve the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG), which aims to ‘Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.’

The Okuapemhene, was very grateful for the library and tasked the people of the area, especially the students, to make good use of the facility.

On his part, Mr Awuku, expressed gratitude of
the entire Constituency and the Region to Mrs Akufo-Addo for the many good works done through her Foundation in supporting women and children in various parts of the country.

In 2018, Mrs Akufo-Addo decided to support government’s agenda to provide quality accessible education to Ghanaian children through her Rebecca Foundation and under its Learning to Read, Reading to Learn Initiative, have so far built 15 libraries in school clusters across the country.

The Foundation also introduced a television reading programme to encourage children to read more and apply learned concepts to their everyday lives.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The leadership of Organised Labour has rescinded its decision to embark on a nationwide demonstration against the implementation of a 15 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on electricity consumption.

This follows the government’s directive to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) on Wednesday, February 7, to suspend the implementation and communicating same to Organised Labour.

The demonstration by the umbrella body of both public and private sector labour unions in the country, including the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and its 21 affiliate unions, was to take place next week Wednesday.

Dr Anthony Yaw Baah, Secretary General, TUC, announced Organised Labour’s halt of the labour action at a press conference in Accra on Friday, February 9.

‘On 7th February, 2024, government announced the suspension of the implementation of VAT on electricity consumption by residential customers. The leadership of Organised Labour has received a formal letter from the M
inistry of Finance informing us of the new directive,’ he said.

‘We would, therefore, like to inform our members that the planned demonstration scheduled for 13th February, 2024, has been suspended until further notice,’ Dr Baah said.

However, the unionist indicated that they would relentlessly work to ensure that no government implemented the 15 per cent VAT on electricity, which has been in the country’s VAT Act for the past 11 years.

‘Even though we’re suspending our action on the 13th of February, we still have work to do because Act 870 is still there. What we need to do is to get this Act repealed. If we don’t, today, they’ve suspended it, but tomorrow, they’ll still use it,’ he said.

‘So far as the Ministry of Finance has communicated to ECG and NEDCo and to us that it’s suspended the implementation pending further engagement, we’ve also suspended our action.

‘That pending further engagement, we’re not interested in it,’ said, Mad Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, President, Ghana Registered Nurses and Midw
ives Association, said in an interview with the Ghana News Agency.

‘If they resume the implementation in anyway, we’ll also resume our action. So far as the VAT is imbedded in Act 870, we’ll target and see how we can remove that aspect from the Act,’ she added.

Mr Isaac Bampoe Addo, Executive Secretary, Civil and Local Government Staff Association (CLOGSAG) backed Organised Labour’s call to have the first Schedule (9) of the VAT Act (Act 870) annulled.

‘The fight has not ended; that law must be repealed and Parliamentarians must hear us that it’s a bad law. We want to make sure that no government goes back to it,’ he stated.

The Ministry of Finance directed ECG and NEDCo to start the implementation of a 15 per cent VAT, effective January 1.

The tax is applicable to residential customers of electricity above the maximum consumption of level specified for block charges for lifeline units.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Ian Tabalor Okwei, the Protocol and Administrative Officer, Tema Development Corporation (TDC) Ghana Limited, has called on Ghanaians to conduct a thorough investigation before buying properties from real estate companies.

He said it was crucial to first know which state agency had jurisdiction over the land in question to enable the buyer to check with either the Lands Commission or the TDC on whether the real estate company was the legitimate owner of the land before any transaction could take place.

Mr Okwei, speaking with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview, explained that it was important to check the necessary land documents and be abreast of the procedures to transfer the property into the buyer’s name.

‘If those relevant questions are not answered by the real estate company, it means that although they are real estate companies, they don’t have the requisite capacity to transfer the facility to you,’ he stated.

He said it was worrying that a lot of people had acquired properties with n
o legal documentation, making them illegitimate owners of what they assume they owned.

‘Don’t be deceived by their company’s name; the fact that they are real estate companies does not mean that they are registered landowners within the TDC database,’ he said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Eastern Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), together with the 33 Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs) and their Coordinating Directors, have signed the 2024 performance contract as a clear manifestation of their commitment to duty.

Mr Seth Kwame Acheampong, the Eastern Regional Minister, at the signing ceremony in Koforidua, said the performance contract formed part of the Performance Management System (PMS), which aimed to ensure improved productivity at the regional and district levels.

He said it was a key mechanism in the PMS to set goals, bearing in mind that the contract had become a force for the management and staff of the RCC and the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies to know what was expected of them.

He highlighted the importance of them going back and arranging meetings in their respective assemblies, where staff would be guided through the indicators for achieving the deliverables.

Mr John A. Donkor, the Chief Director at the RCC said the Local Government Servic
e in 2015 implemented performance contract and subsequent assessments had been conducted to identify areas that required immediate attention.

Mr Ndinga Nborinyi, the Dean of the Municipal and District Coordinating Directors in the Eastern Region, was confident that with the support of the MDCEs and other staff, as well as the requisite resources, they could achieve their best.

The 33 municipal and district assemblies that took part in the event included Birim Central, Birim South, Asuogyaman, Atiwa East, Denkyembour, New Juaben South, Fanteakwa North, and Kwahu East.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ghana National Chamber of Pharmacy (GNCoP) and Pharmaceutical Importers and Wholesalers Association (PIWA) have called for the immediate suspension of the Executive Instrument (E.I. 2023) on the Restriction of medicines imports.

The Associations said the restrictions could have dire consequences on the health of the population which could potentially lead to medicine shortages, price hikes and loss of human lives.

At a press conference held in Accra, the Associations said the E.I. 2023 restricted the importation of 142 products in three Schedules.

The first restriction, they said was on the importation of medicines for local-manufacturers only which happened some years ago with a restriction on 27 Products.

Subsequently, in 2016, pursuant to E.I. 181, the importation of 49 Products were again restricted for local manufacturers.

Mr. Fifi Yamoah Jnr., Executive Secretary, PIWA, said the expansion to 142 products under the new regulation would undoubtedly have serious ramifications on the country’s health
sector.

He said the inadequacies of local manufacturers would make the implementation of the E.I. troubling as they could not meet the demand of health care providers.

‘There is even no data to confirm the capacity for the products under the previous E.I. 181. This fact is glaring from the Ministry of Health’s own reports on the Framework Contract 1 and 2 statistics,’ Mr Yamoah Jnr. said.

He said with a maximum of two local pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities in Ghana, none of the remaining local manufacturers had demonstrated ability to meet their contractual obligations to the fullest as far as awards to supply under MOH/GHS tenders are concerned.

‘Most health facilities in the public sector are forced to rely on importers to keep serving their patients,’ the Executive Secretary said.

He said the E.I. could not potentially only lead to price hikes in medicines but the quality of medicines produced by the local manufacturers could be compromised.

‘This could happen if the requisite infrastructure,
proper data collection and analysis are not assessed before taking a step of medication ban,’ he added.

Source: Ghana News Agency