A member of the National Executive Council of Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), Bishop Charles Agyinasare has called on Christian Leaders not to allow politicians to destroy various institutions in the society.
According to him, there are seven pillars that uphold every society which are: government or politic; economy or business; education or academia; family, religion; sports and entertainment and the media. In a virtual sermon on Sunday, Bishop Agyinasare said, “Unfortunately for us, we have allowed politics to dominate all the other pillars in this country. All the decisions in the business and banking sector are not taken by business expert anymore, they are taken by politicians and, so, no matter how suicidal they are, the politicians make them for us,” he said.
Apply Laws Equally Expressing his dissatisfaction on the issue, Bishop Agyinasare who is the Presiding Bishop of Perez Chapel International indicated that, it is imperative that political authorities apply the laws fairly and justly irrespectively of whom it affects. He bemoaned that, the same laws cannot be applied differently to different people, insisting that there must be fairness in application of the laws of the nation.
Bishop Agyinasare warned that as a nation, “We must not allow politics to destroy our institutions because it is not the only pillar of society.”
Buttressing his point from a biblical point of view, he quoted Proverbs 11:1, which says: ‘A false balance and unrighteous dealings are extremely offensive and shamefully sinful to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight.’ Bishop Agyinasare said: “So, God is saying that laws should be such that they should be equal for everybody. There should not be different laws for different people. Hence, if pastors, who gather less than 50 people are jailed for gathering 50 people when there should be a lockdown, when party faithfuls do same, they should also be jailed”.
Expertise The Founder of Perez Chapel International also deplored the situation in which politicians have hijacked and invaded every pillar of society to the extent that even medical decisions for the nation are now being taken by politicians to suit their whims and caprices. “Medical decisions for our nation are not made by medical professionals, they are made by politicians, and, so, we can all be dying as long as the decisions meet political whims and caprices”, Bishop Agyinasare said.
According to Bishop Agyinasare, that is just one example of how politicians have adulterated the pillars of society. In education, he said decisions in the sector “are not made by educationists anymore but by politicians and no matter how bad it is, it is made”. “And, so, we can change our schools from JSS to JHS; SSS to SHS, to this one and that one, till we don’t even know where it is going”, Bishop Agyinasare observed. Touching on the bad nature of politics in the Country, he said “politicians have made it so difficult for people to criticise their wrongs”. “When you do, they release their attack dogs who pounce on you through the media and social media and they insult you, threaten you and label you. We cannot raise issues in this country anymore; when you do, then you are branded NDC or NPP, depending on whose ox is gored,” he indicated.
Urging Ghanaians and leaders to be honest with politicians, the Bishop stated that, “We need people that can tell the unpleasant truth. If we build a nation of yes-people, then we are doomed,” he said. SOURCE: GPCC NEWS http://www.gpccghana.org
The National Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party Freddie Blay has defended Special Development Minister Mavis Hawa Koomson over the gun firing incident at a polling centre in Kasoa.
According to him, the lawmaker fired the gun because she felt threatened for her life under the circumstances.
“With the unfolding evidence and facts surrounding the incidence, it is clear that her actions were in self-defense to the unwarranted attacks on her and her team by masked motorists invited by the NDC to disrupt the EC registration process in her constituency,” Mr. Blay stated in a statement.
The statement stressed: “Arguably, Mrs. Hawa Koomson is one of the calmest female representatives of the NPP in Parliament and there is no evidence of any sort that can suggest her to be a violent individual, even in the face of extreme provocation. Unfortunately, the NDC’s ploy to stage confusion at registration centers across the country in their quest to discredit the electoral processes and create disaffection for the NPP, seems to be gaining momentum. However, the NPP has an obligation to its members and admirers, to ensure it protects the hard-earned democratic reputation of the Party.
“It would have been expected that those individuals and institutions who have found their voices after this unfortunate incident, even to the extent of calling for the resignation and/or dismissal of Mrs. Hawa Koomson, undertook a more rational assessment of the facts before unfairly ostracizing her and calling her names. They have failed to evaluate the extent of fear and trauma this lady, mother and leader had experienced following the siege on her by sufficiently outnumbered armed hooligans hired by the NDC to disrupt the EC registration process”.
The statement called on individuals condemning the minister apprise themselves with the full facts.
Below are details of the statement
Leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has taken keen interest with developments in the media surroundingits Parliamentary Candidate in Awutu Senya East Constituency, Hon. Mrs. Mavis Hawa Koomson. As much as Hon. HawaKoomson has come out with a statement to clarify the circumstances resulting in her reaction to a life-threatening situation, it is most worrying to see different groups expected to be more objective in their submissions, rather fall for the propaganda and misrepresentation of the opposition NDC in relations to the matter.With the unfolding evidence and facts surrounding the incidence, it is clear that her actions were in self-defense to the unwarranted attacks on her and her team by masked motorists invited by the NDC to disrupt the EC registration process in her constituency.
Arguably, Mrs. Hawa Koomson is one of the calmest female representatives of the NPP in Parliament and there is no evidence of any sort that can suggest her to be a violent individual, even in the face of extreme provocation. Unfortunately, the NDC’s ploy to stage confusion at registration centers across the country in their quest to discredit the electoral processes and create disaffection for the NPP, seems to be gaining momentum. However, the NPP has an obligation to its members and admirers, to ensure it protects the hard-earned democratic reputation of the Party.
It would have been expected that those individuals and institutions who have found their voices after this unfortunate incident, even to the extent of calling for the resignation and/or dismissal of Mrs. Hawa Koomson, undertook a more rational assessment of the facts before unfairly ostracizing her and calling her names. They have failed to evaluate the extent of fear and trauma this lady, mother and leader had experienced following the siege on her by sufficiently outnumbered armed hooligans hired by the NDC to disrupt the EC registration process.
Besides preventing the Member of Parliament from witnessing the process in her constituency, evidential attacks on her convoy clearly demonstrates premeditation of events by the opposition NDC to humiliate, intimidate and molesther.
With the ongoing police investigations, the NPP calls on the good people of Ghana to exercise restraint in their utterances and conduct with respect to this matter. The CSOs, journalists and the army of security experts commenting on this issue must resist the temptation of emotional outbursts that are likely to fuel the violent desires of the opposition NDC, creating more indiscipline among their followers during the EC registration process and subsequently, the general elections. It is most regrettable to find highly placed individuals resorting to name-calling and equally falling for the propaganda scheme of the opposition NDC to make light the commitment of H. E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo in the fight against vigilantism and political violence in Ghana.
The pointless calls on the President to terminate the appointment of Hon. Hawa Koomson is absolutely needless and must be totally disregarded. Let the good people of Ghana see such enthusiasm channeled into productive discussions aimed at addressing the fundamental concerns of recklessness and provocations of the NDC during this registration process.
I once again call on the Party’s leadership at the Regional and Constituency levels to continue exercising restrain, whilst remaining vigilant in foiling attempts by the opposition NDC to indulge in all forms of illegalities as far as the EC’s new voters’ registration process is concerned. I equally urge the security agencies stationed at polling stations, to remain forthright in ensuring that petitioners follow due process in challenging suspected unqualified individuals desirous of registering for the new voters’ ID.
I also seize this opportunity to encourage the Ghanaian middle class society and professionals to take some time off their busy schedules and go out in their numbers to participate in the new voter registration process, observing all the COVID 19 protocols.
Let us not stand aloof and uninvolved, but prepare to cast our votes and support the good economic policies of the Nana Akufo Addo-led administration that inures to the benefit of us all. We must not make us lose faith in the prospects of our chosen democratic path.
The NPP remains open for the exploration of direct talks with the opposition NDC and other political parties on issues of common interest and concern, moving away from the normal practice of frequently engaging an arbiter in mediating affairs of political parties.
The Energy Minister is promising to transform the Hohoe Constituency in the Volta Region beyond imagination if elected as Member of Parliament in the December 7 general elections.
Irrespective of the fact that MPs are not development agents, John Peter Amewu seeks to use his office, political affiliations, and connections to harness development in the area.
In a letter to Hohoe Constituents published on his official website, Mr. Amewu indicated his agenda to ensure development touch base in every nook and cranny of the Hohoe Constituency, to reposition it as the beacon of development in the Volta Region.
”Trust me. Remember politics is all about the authoritative allocation of resources and Parliament is one place where state resources are allocated and distributed. That’s why you need someone of the caliber of John-Peter Amewu, a true and ardent son of Gbi and Hohoe, to be there for you”, he stated.
According to Mr. Amewu, his team is compiling what he referred to as the ”Citizens’ Manifesto” which would catalyst a series of programs and projects that would inure to both the human and physical development of the constituency.
Topmost among programs he aims to execute as MP is the ”One Community, One Project” where residents are encouraged to put forth a major development project they so much desire to be executed in their respective communities.
”…as you pledge to give me your votes, I want you to put across to me needs you want me to meet, address or fulfill for your community when elected as your MP. I can assure you, with our collective efforts and with God’s guidance, these shall be done when I become your MP. It’s simply going to be what I call ‘ONE COMMUNITY ONE PROJECT’ across the entire constituency. So I ask you now to start thinking about a problem-solving project in the community where you live so we can work at it collectively”, he stated.
Mr. Amewu is also seeking to leave a legacy in each and every family in the constituency by undertaking a destiny-changing inter-generational investment
under his ”One Family, One Opportunity” program.
”I will make sure at least one person from each family in Hohoe benefits either by way of educational opportunity, scholarships, sponsorships, exposure to or linkage to useful and profitable networks, travel opportunities, employment, business opportunities, government and private sector contracts, financial facilities, etc. that should pull out and push at least one person up in each family who then can potentially be the agent of change. I call it simply ’ONE FAMILY ONE OPPORTUNITY’.”
The Energy Minister is promising to transform the Hohoe Constituency in the Volta Region beyond imagination if elected as Member of Parliament in the December 7 general elections.
Irrespective of the fact that MPs are not development agents, John Peter Amewu seeks to use his office, political affiliations, and connections to harness development in the area.
In a letter to Hohoe Constituents published on his official website, Mr. Amewu indicated his agenda to ensure development touch base in every nook and cranny of the Hohoe Constituency, to reposition it as the beacon of development in the Volta Region.
”Trust me. Remember politics is all about the authoritative allocation of resources and Parliament is one place where state resources are allocated and distributed. That’s why you need someone of the caliber of John-Peter Amewu, a true and ardent son of Gbi and Hohoe, to be there for you”, he stated.
According to Mr. Amewu, his team is compiling what he referred to as the ”Citizens’ Manifesto” which would catalyst a series of programs and projects that would inure to both the human and physical development of the constituency.
Topmost among programs he aims to execute as MP is the ”One Community, One Project” where residents are encouraged to put forth a major development project they so much desire to be executed in their respective communities.
”…as you pledge to give me your votes, I want you to put across to me needs you want me to meet, address or fulfill for your community when elected as your MP. I can assure you, with our collective efforts and with God’s guidance, these shall be done when I become your MP. It’s simply going to be what I call ‘ONE COMMUNITY ONE PROJECT’ across the entire constituency. So I ask you now to start thinking about a problem-solving project in the community where you live so we can work at it collectively”, he stated. null
Mr. Amewu is also seeking to leave a legacy in each and every family in the constituency by undertaking a destiny-changing inter-generational investment
under his ”One Family, One Opportunity” program.
”I will make sure at least one person from each family in Hohoe benefits either by way of educational opportunity, scholarships, sponsorships, exposure to or linkage to useful and profitable networks, travel opportunities, employment, business opportunities, government and private sector contracts, financial facilities, etc. that should pull out and push at least one person up in each family who then can potentially be the agent of change. I call it simply ’ONE FAMILY ONE OPPORTUNITY’.” null
He further listed development projects, he lobbied, facilitated or executed in the constituency within the past 3 and a half years of the governing NPP administration, which included an extension of electricity to communities, provision of streetlights, and the construction of the first-ever mini-hydro powerplant in Ghana on the Tsatsadu river at Alavanyo-Abenyenase. The plant currently supplies electricity to the Alavanyo-Abenyenase community.
He promised to facilitate the construction of a similar powerplant, on River Dayi to feed the rest of the entire Hohoe constituency.
Other projects he listed are the construction of the Hohoe Sports stadium, a state-of-the-art Police Station at Alavanyo Kpeme, Hohoe township roads, Hohoe-Fodome, and Wli-Todzi roads and construction of additional infrastructural facilities for the Hohoe E.P. SHS.
The Energy Minister is promising to transform the Hohoe Constituency in the Volta Region beyond imagination if elected as Member of Parliament in the December 7 general elections.
Irrespective of the fact that MPs are not development agents, John Peter Amewu seeks to use his office, political affiliations, and connections to harness development in the area.
In a letter to Hohoe Constituents published on his official website, Mr. Amewu indicated his agenda to ensure development touch base in every nook and cranny of the Hohoe Constituency, to reposition it as the beacon of development in the Volta Region.
”Trust me. Remember politics is all about the authoritative allocation of resources and Parliament is one place where state resources are allocated and distributed. That’s why you need someone of the caliber of John-Peter Amewu, a true and ardent son of Gbi and Hohoe, to be there for you”, he stated.
According to Mr. Amewu, his team is compiling what he referred to as the ”Citizens’ Manifesto” which would catalyst a series of programs and projects that would inure to both the human and physical development of the constituency.
Topmost among programs he aims to execute as MP is the ”One Community, One Project” where residents are encouraged to put forth a major development project they so much desire to be executed in their respective communities.
”…as you pledge to give me your votes, I want you to put across to me needs you want me to meet, address or fulfill for your community when elected as your MP. I can assure you, with our collective efforts and with God’s guidance, these shall be done when I become your MP. It’s simply going to be what I call ‘ONE COMMUNITY ONE PROJECT’ across the entire constituency. So I ask you now to start thinking about a problem-solving project in the community where you live so we can work at it collectively”, he stated. null
Mr. Amewu is also seeking to leave a legacy in each and every family in the constituency by undertaking a destiny-changing inter-generational investment
under his ”One Family, One Opportunity” program.
”I will make sure at least one person from each family in Hohoe benefits either by way of educational opportunity, scholarships, sponsorships, exposure to or linkage to useful and profitable networks, travel opportunities, employment, business opportunities, government and private sector contracts, financial facilities, etc. that should pull out and push at least one person up in each family who then can potentially be the agent of change. I call it simply ’ONE FAMILY ONE OPPORTUNITY’.” null
He further listed development projects, he lobbied, facilitated or executed in the constituency within the past 3 and a half years of the governing NPP administration, which included an extension of electricity to communities, provision of streetlights, and the construction of the first-ever mini-hydro powerplant in Ghana on the Tsatsadu river at Alavanyo-Abenyenase. The plant currently supplies electricity to the Alavanyo-Abenyenase community.
He promised to facilitate the construction of a similar powerplant, on River Dayi to feed the rest of the entire Hohoe constituency.
Other projects he listed are the construction of the Hohoe Sports stadium, a state-of-the-art Police Station at Alavanyo Kpeme, Hohoe township roads, Hohoe-Fodome, and Wli-Todzi roads and construction of additional infrastructural facilities for the Hohoe E.P. SHS.null
”Elsewhere within the Municipality and Constituency, I have lobbied for several projects including CHIP compounds, mini-markets, classroom blocks, lockable stores, warehouse, boreholes, etc under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP). All these are life-transforming visible physical projects that all can testify to,” he added.
He also stated that he facilitated employment for over 800 constituents in the security services, ministries, and other institutions, helped traders to access loans from Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) and the COVID Business Support Fund among others.
Mr. Amewu whose attempt to represent Hohoe in 2004 and 2008 failed, therefore, urged the electorates not to repeat what he described as ”wrong and misguided political choices” which lead to Hohoe losing opportunities in times past, and elect him to represent the constituency in parliament for accelerated development.
The Minority in Parliament has tagged the mid-year review and supplementary budget statement as hopeless.
Ken Ofori-Atta in his presentation announced measures aimed stimulating the country’s economy amidst Covid-19.
The minister announced a reduction in CST from 9% to 5% and an insurance scheme for workers who have been laid off as a result of the pandemic. Government has also extended free water and electricity to all Ghanaians for another three months.
The President is also expected to, in the coming weeks, launch a GHc100 billion Covid-19 development program Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Attah, has announced.
The three and a half year programme is targeted at supporting businesses that may have suffered from the coronavirus pandemic.
Mr. Ofori-Atta ended with a request for approval of over 11.8 billion cedis as supplementary budget.
But in a reaction, the NDC MPs accused the minister of presenting NPP’s 2021 manifesto under the guise of mid-year budget review.
Bolgatanga Central MP Isaac Adongo said the entire presentation by the Finance Minister was very disappointing and a clever attempt by the government to steal huge sums of money from the state.
“When you put the finances in the hands of people who are clever thieves that is what you see today. I felt very sad sitting there and listening to the minister and with my professional eyes, seeing the attempts to plunder away and steal our national resources and finding a way to cover for it.”
“How on earth can you be coming for 11.8 billion and you don’t know what you are going to use it for. He is now going to sleep over it and think about the lie that he will come and tell the Finance committee but as at the time he was coming here today he only had expenditure of 5.3 billion but the minister is asking for 11. 8 billion cedis.”
Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta on Thursday presented to Parliament a mid-year fiscal policy review of the 2020 Budget Statement and Economic Policy as well as Supplementary Estimates of the Government by moving a motion to seek parliamentary approval to spend additional GH¢11,896,477,566.00 to support government expenditure for the rest of the year.
The presentation is in accordance with Article 179 (8) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, Standing Order 143 of the House as well as Section 28 of the Public Financial Management Act (2015), Act 921 which requires the Finance Minister to prepare and submit to Parliament a mid-year fiscal policy review not later than July 31 of each financial year.
The Finance Minister had earlier on November 13, 2019 presented the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government’s fourth Budget Statement and Economic Policy to Parliament which according to him was focussed on providing the type of required liquidity to boost the country’s industrialisation drive.
This particular year’s presentation highlighted on the government’s plan on how the country is to recover from the shocks of the economy due to the withdrawal of advanced monies from the Contingency and Stabilisation Funds following the COVID-19 pandemic and touched on key economic indicators such as growth rate, primary balance, budget deficit, revenue and expenditure targets among others.
The Minister had earlier in the year announced that government will require about 9.5 billion cedis to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, a situation which may move the 2020 budget deficit to over 7 percent after Parliament in April approved government’s request to withdraw GHS 1.2 billion from the Contingency fund to finance the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme (CAP).
The Minister said the outbreak of the pandemic is having a negative impact on the financial sector not only here in Ghana but also across the world and that all over the world, central banks are being relied upon by governments to find the liquidity to tackle the socio-economic difficulties unleashed by the pandemic.
He said the COVID-19 pandemic has also led to disruption in corporate and general business confidence, with threats to projected revenues, profitability, liquidity and corporate growth and stated that so far 19 out of the 28 State-owned Enterprises (SOEs) are projecting losses up to GH¢1.55 billion for 2020.
On the performance of the economy in the first quarter of 2020, he announced Overall Real GDP growth rate of 6.8 percent, Non-Oil Real GDP growth rate at 6.7 percent, End-Period Inflation rate of 8.0 percent, Overall Fiscal Deficit of 4.7 percent of GDP, Primary Surplus of 0.7 percent of GDP and Gross International Reserves to cover at least 3.5 months of imports of goods and services
Ken Ofori-Atta disclosed that the Bank of Ghana has stepped up to the challenge and announced various policy measures to help support the economy and financial institutions in order to cushion the adverse impact of Covid-19 on the economy which he stressed has been possible because of the responsible and competent management of both the fiscal and monetary space since 2017.
He revealed that Government has additionally borrowed GHS 10 billion from the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and received a USD 1 billion rapid credit facility from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as part of funds for the electricity relief package for Ghanaians for the remainder to be used to support the 2020 Budget.
According to the Minister, though targets set out by government at the beginning of the year were not met, he is positive of a robust turnaround in the economic fortunes of the country within the second half of the year and used the opportunity to announce the review of some of the key macroeconomic targets announced in the 2020 budget read last year.
The Minister lamented that the government took over a treasury thwarted in high debt burden, a derailed IMF programme, forlornly expected to be corrected by the same government that had lost touch with the plight and aspirations of the people and lost track with its own programme of action.
Ken Ofori-Atta however boasted that the NPP government has bequeathed an economy that was choking on the largest nominal fiscal slippages since independence, with underperforming revenues battling against the insatiable appetite of an overspending government, surrounded by a mountain range of billions of arrears about half of which turned out to be dubious.
He lauded the august House for its continuous support and expressed his sincere gratitude for the enormous support extended to him since taking office adding that he truly appreciated the long hours the MPs sat through, considering and passing key bills and measures for the ASEMPA BUDGET in 2017, the ADWUMAPA budget in 2018, MPONTUO Budget of 2019 and the NKOSUO AND NKANBOM Budget of 2020.
Government has provided a life insurance package worth GH¢10.3 million for health personnel at the forefront of Ghana’s fight against the novel Coronavirus disease in the country.
Health personnel expected to benefit from this package include persons involved in surveillance and case management, as well as other health personnel who get infected in the line of duty.
The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta disclosed this while delivering the 2020 mid-year budget review in Parliament on Thursday, July 23, 2020.
“Mr. Speaker, in motivating health personnel, Government has provided a life insurance package worth GH¢10.3 million for those directly involved in surveillance, case management, laboratory, and all other health and allied personnel who get infected.”
Taxes waived for health workers
The government has also waived personal income taxes for 137,000 health workers and offered allowance for 50 per cent of basic salary for about 10,000 frontline health workers.
These direct reliefs to health workers cost Government additional GH¢320 million, according to the Minister.
“Additional provision was made for overtime and risk-based payments for key frontline workers. Transport costs and costs of sustenance for contact tracers and field surveillance officers were also absorbed by Government,” the Minister added.
The Health Sector Unions and Professional Associations had earlier estimated that a total of 779 health workershad so far been infected with COVID-19 since the outbreak of the disease in Ghana.
They said at least nine of their members had also died from COVID-19.
The Associations attributed the rising infections to lapses in the government’s management of the COVID-19 situation in the country.
The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, left Ghana on Thursday, 23rd July 2020, to help mediate in the ongoing political crisis in Mali.
Akufo-Addo is embarking on the trip at the request of the Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States, His Excellency Mahamadou Issoufou, President of the Republic of Niger.
Ghana’s President is among other ECOWAS leaders who have been assembled by President Issoufou Mahamadou to help in the mediation process.
President Akufo-Addo will be joined in Mali by His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; His Excellency Alassane Ouattara, President of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire; and His Excellency Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal. They are expected to hold stakeholder consultations with the President of the Republic of Mali, His Excellency Boubacar Keita, the Imam of Mali and Co-ordinator of the Opposition, Mahmoud Dicko, and Civil Society groups, with a view to resolving the impasse.
The President was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, MP; and officials of the Presidency and Foreign Ministry, according to a statement from the Presidency.
“The President will return to Ghana later on Thursday, and in his absence, the Vice President, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, shall, in accordance with Article 60(8) of the Constitution, act in his stead,” the statement added.
Political turmoil in Mali
The President of Mali, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, and the opposition June 5 Movement have for weeks been locked in a political standoff.
The tensions culminated in violent clashes earlier in July leading to 11 deaths.
Opposition groups in Mali have been calling for President Keïta to stand down because of his handling of the economy, corruption and the country’s eight-year-long conflict with insurgents.
Last week protesters in Mali forced the state broadcaster off the air during large demonstrations in the capital Bamako.
Police had to fire shots and use tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, some of whom were trying to break into the national assembly.
The most recent regional intervention included the deployment of a former Nigerian president, Goodluck Jonathan, who met all parties involved.
The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Wednesday, 22nd July, 2020, cut the sod for the commencement of construction of Phase One of the new 600-bed Eastern Regional Hospital – a project which will be completed in 36 months.
According to President Akufo-Addo, “Phase one of this new hospital project will involve the construction of a two hundred and eighty-five (285) bed facility, out of the total capacity of six hundred (600) beds. Once fully completed, it will be fitted with the requisite teaching and learning facilities, and will position the Eastern Region on the right side of the healthcare map of our country.”
When completed, the President stated that the new Eastern Regional Hospital will handle and help improve acute care and referral services, as well as lend support to the ever-expanding scope of primary healthcare facilities. Additionally, it will support the development of mutual health insurance organisations within the region and its districts.
With the entire hospital project costing seventy million euros (€70 million), he told the gathering at the new project site, funding has already been secured from Standard Chartered Bank, UK, with credit guarantee support from the United Kingdom Export Financing (UKEF) to the tune of €7,920,000.00.
“Ghana continues to be grateful to UKEF for their continued support in our infrastructure development programme for all sectors of our economy. I am happy to state that the entire funding amount of seventy million euros (€70 million) has already been secured for Tyllium U.K. Ltd, the contractors for this project. They must, therefore, ensure that this project is completed within the thirty-six (36) month period and on budget,” he added
With the hospital set to cover a total floor area of approximately 20,000 m2, it will be fitted with the following facilities: administration, training, conference and teaching facilities; out-patient department; accident and emergency services; adjunct clinical services (pharmacy, imaging with MRI); pathological services; surgical services, including the provision of seven (7) theatres and endoscopy; obstetrics and gynaecology; in-patient wards; burns care unit; ICT installations and provision of Health Information Management System (HIMS); medical waste management system; and provision of mixed type accommodation units for hospital workers.
President Akufo-Addo indicated also that the outbreak of COVID-19 has revealed the unequal distribution of healthcare facilities Ghana, as the nation has tended to focus its infrastructure on Accra and one or two of the other big cities. But, as we have seen, epidemics and pandemics, when they emerge, can spread to any part of our country.
“There are one hundred and one (101) districts in our country without district hospitals; we have six (6) new regions without regional hospitals; and we do not have infectious disease control centres dotted across the country. Government is doing something about it, and, that is why, shortly, the construction of the one hundred and one (101) hospitals in the districts without hospitals will start,” he said.
The President continued, “It will mean that the eight (8) districts in this region currently without hospitals, namely Akyemansa, Asene/Manso/Akroso, Asuogyaman, Atiwa, Ayensuano, Birim South, Kwahu Afram Plains South, and Upper West Akyem will see the construction of district hospitals. Each of the hospitals will be a quality, standard-design, one hundred-bed hospital, with accommodation for doctors, nurses and other health workers.”
In addition to these, President Akufo-Addo noted that Government has also put in place plans for the construction of six (6) new regional hospitals in the six (6) new regions, the rehabilitation of Effia-Nkwanta Hospital in Sekondi, and the construction of a new regional hospital for the Western Region.
“Indeed, Government is committed to modernising all other major hospitals across the country, so they can deliver quality healthcare for our people, and help Ghana become, also, an attractive destination for medical tourism in the Region,” he stressed.
Thanking the Omanhene of New Juaben Traditional Area, Daasebre Oti Boateng, for the gift of the land on which the hospital will stand, he assured that gathering that “this project is a sign of greater things to come for Koforidua, the Eastern Region and, indeed, for the whole nation. Government’s commitment to the total development of Ghana is absolute.”
President Akufo-Addo has revealed he is well when he delivered his first public address after returning from a 14-day self-isolation.
Speaking to Automobile Dealers Association at the Jubilee House Tuesday, the president thanked Ghanaians for showing interest in his welfare.
“I want to thank you for your interest in my welfare. I am fine and I’m here” he said.
On July 4, President Akufo-Addo elected to go into self-isolation after “at least one person within his close circle tested positive for Covid-19.”
There were several speculations about the Head of State’s health. Some rumoured that he was flown abroad to seek urgent medical treatment.
But in a witty response, President Akufo-Addo said, “I was sitting in my room and was told I was sitting in a plane heading for Oxford. The trajectory of the plane was even plotted on the map.”
The President said he was so amazed by these conjectures.
But he seemed not to be surprised as he retorted, “This is the Ghana in which we live.”
Aston Villa Youth Coach, George Boateng believes Jordan Ayew is ready to play for a top 6 team after his impressive form in the Premier League this season.
Ayew, 28, has enjoyed a rejuvenated spell in the Premier League this season, scoring 9 times for Crystal Palace this term and becoming Ghana’s all-time top scorer with 25 goals in the process, surpassing Anthony Yeboah.
The former Middlesbrough captain Boateng believes the Crystal Palace forward’s creativity and hard work shows he is ready to play for a much bigger team than Palace.
“We are not so blessed in the attacking department of the Black Stars and I think Jordan leads the line very well and he is at a very good age and he is scoring goals for Crystal Palace.
“Why I love watching Jordan is because, when you see how hard he works, the goals that he scores, he creates them by himself,” Boateng, 44, said in an interview on The Tracker on Citi Tv.
“Which tells me that he should play for a bigger team, because when you can create goals in such a difficult team that is not blessed with many chances in a game, that means that he is quite prolific,” he concluded.
The 28 year old has made his debut for the Black Stars in 2012 in a World Cup qualifier against Lesotho where he scored his first goal for the senior national team.
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