Day: November 20, 2023

Aid, including fuel, has been reaching only the people in the southern part of the Gaza Strip for the past almost two weeks, as a result of the precarious security situation, the UN humanitarian affairs agency OCHA says.

Aid cannot be distributed in Gaza City and other parts of the north, where hundreds of thousands of people are still holding out, OCHA says.

According to the agency, people in the north are surviving on what little raw vegetables and unripe fruit that they can find, with many unable to cook. Bakeries are no longer operating, and farmers are unable to tend their fields. Animals are being slaughtered, as there is no feed or water for them.

OCHA puts the number of people in the north of the Gaza Strip at 800,000, based on figures from the Palestinian statistical authority in the West Bank.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Dr Aiden Suntaa Saanwie, Medical Director of the Upper East Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga, says the facility will start haemodialysis services in December 2023.

He said one of the hospital’s structures was renovated to serve as the Centre, and management over the week would inspect same, and install equipment for test-run if the facility met the required standard.

‘So, we are aiming that at the end of the end, we should be able to commission the Centre, and probably have our first case on board,’ he said in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the sideline of the launch of the World Prematurity Day celebration at the Hospital.

The launch was on the theme: ‘Small actions, big impact: Immediate skin-to-skin for every baby everywhere.’

Dr Saanwie said a doctor from the hospital was under training at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, while some nurses who completed a training programme in Koforidua had returned and ready to operate the Centre.

He said the Centre would start operations with th
ree dialysis machines and appealed for more to boost the yet-to-be operational facility, ‘It is a good start with the number we have, but we will need more,’ he added.

He further explained the need to have more dialysis machines, saying ‘There are people who come with other medical conditions, like retroviral exposed patients that we must dedicate machines to such patients.

‘We do not use the general machines. But with this humble start, we must build up,’ the Medical Director, who is a Gynaecologist, said.

In March 2023, management, and staff of the Hospital in collaboration with stakeholders, launched a campaign for funds to construct a Haemodialysis Centre for the Region.

The Hospital, a major referral centre for the Region, receives cases from parts of Burkina Faso, Upper West and North East Regions, without a Haemodialysis Centre.

Patients in need of haemodialysis services in the Region had over the years relied on the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) among other facilities outside the Region for such
services.

The idea to establish the Centre, estimated to cost GH?800,000.00 was mooted by Mr Ayamga Ayariga, a Critical Care Nurse in the Hospital, and championed by Dr Emmanuel Akatibo, a Physician Specialist.

‘We have had a lot of goodwill since the fund was launched through cash and kind encouragements,’ Dr Saanwie said.

On whether there would be subsidy on the cost of services, the Medical Director said management had not concluded on the modalities on subsidy and urged members of the public to hold on with issues of subsidy.

He said management would set up a Board to manage inflows, and the remaining funds from contributions of members of the public and institutions after the Centre was fully established.

Dr Saanwie said if the Board deemed it prudent to subsidize the care for dialysis patients from the remaining proceeds, it may take the decision in consultation with hospital management.

‘But we must be cautious in letting the public have the expectation that it would be subsidized. We know that d
ialysis is expensive.

‘If we start subsidising, we may run the Centre down. We have good intentions for the Centre, and we do not intend to start and within one or two months, the Centre is down,’ he cautioned.

Source: Ghana News Agency

A child, according to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child, is any person below the age of 18 years and the same is indicated in the constitutions of many countries.

Children just like adults have their rights that need to be respected in every country and Ghana is no exception.

Such rights in Ghana according to the Children’s Act of 1998, are the rights to name and nationality, grow up with parents, life, dignity, respect, leisure, liberty, health, education, and shelter from the parents, protection from all inhuman treatments and rights to parental properties and to refuse betrothal marriage among others.

Children’s rights are sometimes overlooked in different forms in some countries, including Ghana.

Such common rights are education, health, food, clothing and shelter, freedom from abuse and forced marriages among others.

Narrowing it to Ghana, although basic education is free to children, some are seen selling in heavy traffic, begging for alms in traffic, going to farm with their
parents, or engaging in other hazardous activities during school hours.

Others are also trafficked and engaged in child work, including prostitution. A number of them were forced into early marriages.

It is for these reasons that the United Nations General Assembly on November 20, 1959, adopted the Declaration on the Rights of a Child and in 1989 adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

However, World Children’s Day was established in 1954 as Universal Children’s Day and celebrated on November 20 of each year to promote international togetherness, and awareness among children worldwide and improve children’s welfare.

It is also to enlighten countries globally on the Rights of a Child and the need for them to be respected.

The 2023 celebration is on the theme: ‘For Every Child, Every Right’ and UNICEF calls on mothers and fathers, teachers, nurses and doctors, government leaders and civil society activists, religious and community elders, corporate moguls and media professionals, as well as youn
g people and children themselves, to play important roles in making World Children’s Day relevant for their societies, communities and nations.

‘World Children’s Day offers each of us an inspirational entry-point to advocate, promote and celebrate children’s rights, translating into dialogues and actions that will build a better world for children,’ it states.

UNICEF says the Day is an annual day of action for children, by children.

From climate change, education, and mental health, to ending racism and discrimination, it says children and young people are raising their voices on the issues that matter to their generation and calling for adults to create a better future.

‘This World Children’s Day is more important than ever that the world listens to their ideas and demands. On November 20, kids are speaking out and remaining a better future. What will you do?’

Speaking on the Gaza-Israel war, Ms Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director, says the true cost of the violence would be measured in childre
n’s lives – those lost to the violence and those forever changed by it.

In less than three weeks on from the horrific attack inside Israel and the start of daily bombings of the Gaza Strip, she says more than 2,700 Palestinian children are killed and nearly 6,000 injured, with a shocking average of more than 480 child casualties per day, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health.

More than 30 Israeli children have reportedly been killed, while at least 20 in hostage in the Gaza Strip, with their fates unknown, she says, adding: ‘Sadly, more suffering and death is on the horizon.’

Ms Russell says water is quickly running out, leaving many Gazans with little choice, but to rely on polluted wells, dramatically increasing the risk of waterborne disease outbreaks with children being the most vulnerable.

‘War not only kills people; it kills possibility, slamming the door shut on what might have been. Children who have lost their lives will not grow up to be the people their communities needed them to become.

‘Chi
ldren who survive could see their lives irrevocably altered through repeated exposure to traumatic events. Violence and upheaval can induce toxic stress, which can interfere with physical and cognitive development and cause mental health problems in both the short and long term,’ she says.

Even before the latest escalation, she says more than 816,000 children in Gaza-three-quarters of its entire child population are identified as needing mental health and psychosocial support.

Ms Russell says every right of a child has been trampled upon and implores adults who perpetrate violence to agree to a humanitarian cease-fire and to ensure immediate, unrestricted, and sustained humanitarian access throughout Gaza.

She says that would allow humanitarian actors to safely reach civilians in need, save lives, and prevent further human suffering.

‘And I reiterate UNICEF’s call for the immediate and safe release of any children being held hostage in Gaza so that they can be reunited with their families.’

Source: Gha
na News Agency

Dr Freda Akosua Prempeh, the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resource has said the Ministry was committed to its flagship ‘Toilet for All’ programme and admonished households to stop open defecation and build their own toilets.

She encouraged the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to enforce their byelaws on construction of toilets in private and public buildings.

She called on management of basic schools and healthcare facilities to ensure that toilets are provided in them and are well maintained and made accessible to all pupils, students, patients and visitors.

‘School-based health teachers and healthcare workers are asked to continuously educate pupils, students, patients and visitors on proper use of these toilets.’

Dr Prempeh gave the advice in a speech at a press launch of the commemoration of the 2023 World Toilet Day on Monday, November 20 (today) on the theme: ‘Accelerating Change through Strategic Partnership: Every Contribution Counts.’

The theme was chosen to highlight
the critical role partnership plays in the government’s efforts in increasing access to toilets in Ghana.

The purpose of the Day is to among other things break the taboo around toilets and to raise awareness on the daily struggle a staggering 3.5 billion people around the world face in accessing a basic service like toilet.

Activities planned by the Ministry include World Toilet Day Mini Community Durbar at Mpoase Community Park at Dansoman Last Stop in the Greater Accra Region, media discussions, and community sensitisation activities.

The rest are commemoration of the day by WASH stakeholders and partners across the country, statement on the floor of Parliament, and reading of sanitation messages/sermons in churches and mosques, among others

Dr Prempeh urged the media, partners, the private sector, civil society and citizens alike to help sensitise the public on the need to have a toilet in their house.

She said Ghana has made strides towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals on water
and sanitation and that currently, population with access to basic drinking water services has increased from 79 per cent in 2017/2018 to 87.7 per cent in 2021.

She added that population with access to improved toilet facilities, including shared toilets has also increased from 66 per cent 80.8 per cent within the same period.

The Minister said under the Greater Accra Sustainable Sanitation and Livelihoods Improvement Project (GASSLIP), 5000 household toilets have been provided in the Greater Accra Region as well as 60 Institutional Toilet Facilities.

Dr Prempeh stated that the lack of access to improved toilets remained a global concern and that according to the Ghana Statistical Service, households practicing open defecation in Ghana stands at 17.7 per cent and those who have exclusive access to toilets is 25.3 per cent.

‘These statistics show that there is still much to be done as the provision of these services are an important strategy for poverty reduction. It should be appreciated that lack of toil
ets affects the quality of life and productivity of the entire population and impacts negatively on the health of the people for example high morbidity, high mortality, poor nutrition among children, among others.

It also affects tourism, poor retention of adolescent girls in school, poor water quality, unsafe food and lack of privacy and dignity especially for women.

She said the government the Ministry has therefore, invested heavily in several projects that would help eradicate open defection and enhance safe sanitation practices for example, at the end of the GAMA Project in December, 2020, the project had delivered 48,641 improved household toilets, benefiting about 389,128 people and 406 improved and modern disability-friendly, gender sensitive institutional toilet facilities benefiting about 251,872 pupils.

The Project would also expand and rehabilitate the Asafo Sewerage System in Kumasi and provide an additional 42,000 household toilets and 129 institutional toilets in the Greater Accra Metropolit
an Area Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area respectively, Dr Prempeh stated.

‘I am glad to inform you that, Component One (1) of the Project will extend potable water by laying 120km of pipelines, 5,000 new service connections, reduction in non-revenue water as well the establishment of telemetry and retooling of Ghana Water Limited meter shop in Greater Kumasi,’ she said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Prestea Huni-Valley Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Dr Isaac Dasmani, has commended AECI Mining Explosives, for maintaining the highest safety standards in its operations.

He stated that the company’s dedication to research and development had paved the way for them to meet the ever-evolving needs of their numerous clients.

Addressing staff, management and stakeholders of the company during the climax of its 30th anniversary celebration, Dr Dasmani said, AECI had embraced innovation and technology to stay at the forefront of the explosives energy sector as the world was constantly developing.

The theme for the anniversary is ’30 Years of Providing a Reliable Explosives Energy Guided by Core Value Proposition.’

On employment, he explained that AECI Mining Explosives could be described as an outstanding employer of choice with a track record of fair employment opportunity for everyone and job security.

‘The Company is enjoying a relatively peaceful industrial environment because of the harmonious soc
ial partnership established among management, supervisors, employees and trade union executives. For the past 30 years, very little could be said about industrial unrest, strike and lockout in the company,’ Dr Dasmani said.

The MCE indicated that over the past three decades AECI had supported its host communities in the municipality and beyond with several projects and interventions in health, security and education among others.

On security, Dr Dasmani said AECI renovated the Bogoso police station, cells, charge and ammunition offices, provided water system, painting works and collaborated with other related mining companies to build a police checkpoint along the Tarkwa-Bogoso Highway.

In addition, he said AECI donated assorted books, computer and accessories towards the assembly’s Inter-Senior High School quiz competition, offered annual sponsorship drive for two top students at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) for Blasting Competency Programme (BCP) in South Africa and assisted Ayensu Catho
lic primary school with desktop computers and accessories.

Also, the company distributed 200 double decker desks to schools in the municipality, awarded scholarship to brilliant but needy students, constructed classroom block at Kwame Niampa and presented mobile libraries to five basic schools in its catchment area.

On health, the MCE noted that AECI renovated bungalows for medical and administration staff of the Prestea Government hospital, laundry facility for the Bogoso health centre and donated medical testing kit towards blood donation drive at Agroyesum Catholic Hospital, in the Amansie West District, of the Ashanti Region.

The Company also distributed 19,200 pieces of sanitary products to six primary schools in the municipality, supported teachers at Kwame Niampah and Bogoso to further their education, gave out sanitary kits to Lion’s Street electoral area and further partnered FGR to put up a community centre, mechanised water system at Akyempim and toilet facilities for ‘Camp 2’ and ‘Akyempim Scho
ol B’ respectively.

Dr Dasmani said AECI was currently refurbishing a six-unit classroom block at Dumasi, on behalf of the residents of Prestea Huni-Valley Municipal, expressed his utmost gratitude to the company for the numerous supports.

The Divisional Chiefs of Prestea-Himan and Kokoase, Nana Nteboah Prah IV and Nana Kwasi Sompreh II, advised AECI Mining Explosives to engage their host communities more, ‘else they would continue to sing the old song, we have not seen anything, you have not done anything, but we have all witnessed they have done extremely well in their cooperate social responsibility’.

The Managing Director of Anglophone West Africa, Mr Johan Duvenhage, on his part assured Ghanaians that, AECI has a huge interest and desire to see Ghana fulfil its destiny of becoming the powerhouse economy in West Africa.

He said ‘Thirty years. It’s a long time, but also just the beginning. Over the coming years, AECI pledges to stand with the people of Ghana to support our shared values and strengthen
the institutions necessary to protect them.’

He said they wanted to continue work together to stimulate and diversify Ghana’s economy, creating better jobs and more opportunities for Ghanaians, such that they could look back at 30 years of remarkable progress.

He said they would continue to work together and look forward to celebrating AECI Ghana’s achievements as friends and strategic partners for many years to come.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Some residents of Yekine community at Dua in the Bongo district of the Upper East Region have been attacked by some strange skin ailments putting fear in residents.

The disease, which attacks the skin, eats deep into the flesh of the affected person and into the bone.

Some of the families believe the ailment is spiritual and have sent victims for traditional treatment while others are battling the disease at home.

A former messenger of the Naara Ruural Bank from Apuwongo, a nearby community, is currently amputated and on admission at the Ultima Hospital, a popular Bone hospital at Zuarungu in the Bolgatanga East District.

The parents of a 15-year-old Master MBA Atampugre of Yikene are also in the Northern Region to seek traditional treatment for their son whose arm is affected and there is fear of amputation since the skin of the hand is eating away.

Mr Nyaaba Adongo, a 50- year-old man and father of five said he suffered the ailment for the past three years and indicated that his left foot started with
a sore leading to a swell and according to him two surgeries were done on him at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital when he had complained of in ability to urinate and painful groin.

He said apart from excruciating pain in the abdomen, he is unable to control urine.

According to Mr Adongo, who is a farmer, doctors at the hospital asked him to get funds for another surgery, but he could not raise the money.

He said his fourth toe on right foot became rotten and eventually dropped off and indicated that even though the sore on the foot had healed, the sole of the same foot is punctured.

Mr Roger Abugre Apulonge, Assembly Member for the Apowongo -Yikene electoral area, who spoke with the GNA at the Yikene community confirmed the health issue in some communities in the electoral area.

He said the disease developed like a sore and eats into the skin, noting that some children developed boils and that three people in his community were already affected.

According to him, the electoral area combined with Apuwong
o and Yikene, which has a population of over two 2,000 people, were worried about spread if nothing serious was done to control the spread.

Mr Apulonge said his brother, who is amputated in the leg from Apuwongo started with a sore at the back of his leg and spread deep and a visit to the hospital, and scanned check indicated it was cancer for which nothing could be done except amputation.

The Assembly man appealed to researchers and health personal to come to the community to help nib the situation in bud.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG) has reiterated its call on government desist from appointing ‘political party boys and girls’ as personal assistants in public offices.

The Association said such appointments impeded the work of civil servants.

This is contained in a press release from CLOGSAG signed by Dr Isaac Bampoe Addo, its Executive Secretary, and copied to the Ghana News Agency.

The statement follows calls from Dr Kwabena Donkor, Member of Parliament for Pru East, for staff of the Ministry of Finance to be reprimanded for cheering the Minister after the presentation of the 2024 Budget Statement.

CLOGSAG said since 2017 it had issued series of press releases and wrote officially to the presidency against those appointments and that civil servants could not be blamed for the behaviour of party activists seeking political favours.

‘In this murky environment, no attempt should be made to sacrifice ordinary civil servants,’ it said, urging Dr Kwabena Donkor to call for
violations at the Ministry to be addressed instead of calling out ‘innocent’ civil servants.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Alhajj Maulvi Noor Muhammad Bin Salih, Ameer and Missionary in-charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Ghana, has led a delegation to pay a courtesy call on the Management of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW).

The meeting, held at the North Campus Council Chamber of UEW, is purposely to deepen relationship between the Mission and the University to enhance quality education in the country.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Stephen Jobson Mitchual, briefed the delegation about the University’s role of training educators at all levels across the country and beyond, and commended the Mission for its continuous advocacy for global peaceful coexistence, emphasising the importance of religious cohesion and tranquillity globally.

The VC further applauded the Mission for its many unique contributions to Ghana’s growth, particularly in hospitality, provision of scholarship to Ahmadiyya students as well as establishment of over 400 schools across the country.

Prof. Mitchual expressed appreciation for the visit an
d further congratulated the Mission for the services it was rendering in the country’s educational sector and expressed the need for them to continue with such services.

He called for closer working relationship between the Mission and the University to help drive the educational sector in the country.

The Ameer, for his part, stressed the need for total commitment to education as a common goal between the Mission and the University to promote global peace.

He emphasised that UEW had played monumental role in Ghana’s Educational Sector and called for continuous closer working relationship between the Mission and the University to drive quality of education for Ghanaian citizens and others.

The Mission had over the years been giving scholarship to students of the University, he noted and pledged to continue offering such scholarship to deserving students and support the University when their services were needed.

Later Alhajj Maulvi Bin Salih presented some books to the University and prayed for the peace
and development to reign in the University.

The meeting was attended by Management and other Senior Staff of the University.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra Great Olympics were held to a goalless draw by Samartex 1996 in a match week 11 encounter at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Great Olympics with the point move to sixth position while FC Samartex stay third on the league table.

The first of many chances fell for Great Olympics Kekeli, whose header from close range in the 10th minute struck the post.

Great Olympics were largely dominant in the first half hour of the game, keeping possession and moving the ball around with finesse.

Samartex were not too bad in the first half, but they were left to shoot from long range as the Great Olympics kept it tight at the back.

Despite creating good chances, Great Olympics failed to capitalise as they were held by Samartex going into recess.

Samartex started the second half on the front foot and Ebenezer Ocran came close for his side in the 55th minute, but his effort was saved by Great Olympics goalkeeper Benjamin Asare.

The second half was very cagey, with too many fouls disrupting the flow of the game.

Great O
lympics found a bit of the playing rhythm in the late stages of the second but couldn’t create any clear-cut chances to trouble Samartex goalkeeper Kofi Baah.

The game ended scoreless, with both sides sharing the spoils.

Source: Ghana News Agency