The Senior Minister has tested negative for Covid-19 in a second test conducted last Thursday, the Information Minister has disclosed.
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah at a press briefing Sunday said Yaw Osafo-Maafo, after successful treatment from home, has tested negative for the virus in a voluntary test conducted.
“Senior Minister Yaw Osafo Marfo you recall instructed us to announce his positivity to the country a couple of weeks ago.He has, as he informs us, voluntarily tested again since and he wants me to update you that his test on Thursday turned negative,” he said.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah on June 7, announced that the Senior Minster has tested positive for the coronavirus.
Yaw Osafo Marfo was required to commence treatment for Covid-19 from home, beginning the said date.
But Mr. Nkrumah on Sunday, “under the Minister’s instruction” indicated that the Senior Minister has tested negative in a second test conducted.
He has been on supportive treatment at home since. He has as he informs us voluntarily tested again since and he wants me to update you that his test on Thursday turned negative,” he said.
He further expressed gratitude, on behalf of the Minister, to well-wishers and health workers who cared for him until his recovery.
Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has discredited the claim that the government’s COVID-19 response strategy has failed.
Oppong Nkrumah at a press conference said statistics have revealed the successes that have emerged from the government’s measures to contain the virus.
“This year is an election year, there is a lot of politics in the atmosphere so you will find some persons deliberately seeking to contort the analysis of the data, seeking to claim that the COVID-19 response is a failure but the devil is in the details. If you look at the detail of the numbers that are coming out, you can clearly tell the successes that are coming out.”
Don’t take solace in improving numbers
The Minister said although the country had recorded significant strides in the fight against COVID-19, it is imperative for Ghanaians to continually abide by the safety protocols to curtail the spread of the virus.
“What we need to reiterate is that people should not take solace in improving numbers to be reckless. We need to maintain our vigilance so that we can continue our proven track record.”
Measures to curtail COVID-19 spread
The government introduced some measures to stop the spread of the novel Coronavirus after the first two cases were detected in Ghana.
These measures – making the wearing of masks mandatory, restrictions on public gatherings, closure of borders, were aimed at limiting the spread of the virus.
The enhanced protocols included the restriction of employees with mild coughs and cold from the workplace, rotation of employees, and a reduction in internal meetings.
The former deputy educational minister and MP for North Tongu Hon. Okudzeto Abkakwa has donated a Navara pick up to the director of elections to enhance the work of the elections directorate. Presenting the vehicle at a short ceremony this morning in the presence of the regional chairman, regional secretary, regional communication officer and his deputy as well as the regional elections director and his deputy, Hon. Okudzeto urge the leader of the elections directorate to put in much effort to make sure we get the numbers to silence the npp. The regional chairman on behalf of the elections directorate and the region thanked the MP for his kind gesture and pledged the elections directorate will deliver on its mandate.
Pascal Agbagba equally expressed his gratitude to Hon. Ablakwa for the kind gesture.
The young man here will be 10 years in December. He is the lad I hosted on Angel Floodlight Sports Show last Friday.
He wants to be a Sports Journalist in future. Someone from Assin Fosu sent a video of him presenting Sports on Splash FM. I was amazed at his brilliance so I decided to invite him over for a show.
Those of you who watched the show last Friday will attest, we all got mesmerised.
This morning, we set off to his hometown of Kwamoabeng, small community in the Central Region.
At the point in the journey we had abandon our car, wait for a motorbike to continue the journey because road is completely unmotorable.
This took over 40 minutes.
From Assin Sesekor to Bankyease, mobile network is cut off.
We finally reached his village of less than 50 people. The entire community had heard about his exploits on TV and has come to meet us.
Unfortunately, his father couldn’t watch because his TV only show pictures but no sound. The program was tooo late for him to walk to the next town to watch.
This is Dominic’s routine since he was six. He walks several miles from Kwamoabeng to the next village just to watch DSTV matches. He Carrie’s a book that contains tactics, names of stadia, coaches, footballers etc.
When the matches are played in the night, Dominic has to sleep at the DSTV Centre because it will be too late to walk the thickness of the night back to Kwamoabeng.
He is a brilliant student and best in his school, which is only up to Primary six. There is no JHS around. Dominic is in class six and was contemplating how he was going to do the daily walk miles to Seseko for his JHS Education.
When I hosted him last Friday, I was stunned at his depth, for a boy his age.
After making the trip here, I have been more subdued how a boy in a village without internet network be this determined.
Dominic’s village is on the brink range of the Kakum Forest. He is the 9th of 13 children, many of whom are hunters. We met two of his brothers, 12 years and 15, all learning as hunters.
Dominic was named after former Minister under President Kuffuor, Professor Dominic Forbih, who was MP of Dominic’s constituency when Dominic was born.
His parents do not share any relation with the former MP, but just decided to name their son after him.
For those who watched and listened, Dominic’s sporting knowledge is mind-blowing. Despite all the obstacles, he looks so determined.
Now why are we here in his village?
The Chief Executive Officer of Angel Broadcasting, Samuel Bronzy Teflon, sent us to meet Dominic’s parents.
The message is heartwarming. President and Founder or Angel Group, Dr Kwaku Oteng was impressed by Dominic’s intellect and has decided to offer him a full scholarship to pursue higher education to a level that he can.
Dr Oteng also wants Dominic moved to Accra as soon as possible. Whiles at it, he will also be under studying the Sports team at Angel Broadcasting.
I discussed with Dominic, he was more than happy. We therefore came here this morning to discuss that with his parents.
They have accepted, and the entire community met at the village square under the cocoa farm (pictures below).
For where this little boy lives, and he was able to break obstacles to even honour the invitation to Accra, all of reading this must be grateful to God.
I wish Dominic all the best in his educational journey and dream to become a top Sports journalist.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Friday, July 24, will commemorate the eighth anniversary of the death of late President Professor John Evans Atta Mills.
A wreath-laying ceremony will be held at Asomdwee Park, near the Osu Castle in Accra at 0800 hours.
A statement issued by the party’s Director of Communications, Kraka Essamuah said the ceremony would be conducted in accordance with the Covid-19 protocols.
“Further details of the programme will be communicated in the course of the coming week,” it said.
It should come as a little surprise that at the age of ten at least, one can proved himself to be a bona fide sensation.
Named after the former Member of Parliament for Assin South and Minister for Lands and Forestry during the erstwhile President Kufuor Administration, Dominic Fobih, the talented sports presenter was formally represented on the Sports Salad show last night on Angel 102.9FM in Accra.ADVERTISEMENT
Just moments after the young talent had showcased his brilliant presentation abilities, the Director of Operations of the Angel Broadcasting Network (ABN) and morning show host of Angel FM, Captain Smart officially announced the media group have signed the young prodigy even though he’s still young, to augment the already sterling sports team led by Saddick Adams The Sports Obama.
The 10-year old sports sensation showed he is not just genius at sports presentation but enormously awesome at sports punditry.
Not so long ago, 10-year-old, Dominic Fobih effortlessly became very popular with a video of him serving his listeners the best of sports news on Assin Fosu-based Splash FM.
Fobih, coached by Nana Kweku Pascal and Mysterious 05 saw his video went viral on the internet few months ago.
Ghana has recorded 447 new cases of the novel coronavirus bringing the country’s case count to 26,572.
The Ghana Health Service says these are samples that were taken from the period 13 June to 13 July 2020 but reported from the lab on July 14.
According to the GHS, 22,915 persons have recovered/discharged.
However, five more people have died of Covid-19 bringing the death toll to 144.
Ghana’s number of active cases stands at 3,515.
Regional breakdown
Greater Accra Region – 14,674; Ashanti Region – 5,607; Western Region – 2,218; Central Region – 1,140; Eastern Region – 1,012; Volta Region – 460; Upper East Region – 282; Western North Region – 216; Bono East Region – 206; Northern Region – 271; Oti Region – 139; Upper West Region – 71; Savannah Region – 57; Bono Region – 107; Ahafo Region – 103; North East Region – 9.
The reshuffle also saw a host of other heads of the Police administration reassigned to other portfolios.
Notable amongst them was Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, who used to be the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) reassigned as Director-General in-charge of Welfare at the Ghana Police Service.
Deputy Information Minister Pius Hadzide has urged former President, John Mahama to take advantage of the ongoing Airbus scandal probe, to respond to allegations suggesting that he is ‘Government official 1’ as mentioned in the scandal.
According to Mr. Hadzide, the ongoing probe offers the NDC’s presidential candidate the best opportunity to speak to the specifics of the allegations.
“I have listened to a lot of narratives that seek to suggest that he [Mahama] is ‘Government official 1’. If he’s not, why is he silent?” he said Friday on Prime Morning.
His comments come after the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) Thursday issued an arrest warrant for former President John Dramani Mahama’s brother and four others over their alleged involvement in the Airbus bribery scandal.
Although the allegations have been dismissed by the NDC who have accused the current government of using this to discredit former President John Mahama, Mr. Hadzide believes that this latest development presents Mr Mahama with an opportunity to speak up if indeed he is not ‘Government Official 1’ as mentioned in the scandal.
“Why are they running away from the investigation? This story broke long ago and I find Mr. John Dramani Mahama’s prolonged silence on this matter rather insulting to the integrity and intelligence of Ghanaians who entrusted in him the machinery of state,” he said.
Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has been rated as the best performing Minister by Mr. Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, Director-General of the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA).
Asamoah-Boateng also believes Oppong Nkrumah has a pleasant personality which eases tension and pressure.
Speaking on PM Express on Joy TV, Mr. Asamoah-Boateng said the Information Minister was using his personal touch as a former media person to set out his agenda quite clearly.
“His approach with the flow of information to the populace is not only by the media encounters he has, but also he has Information Services on the ground. I know the structure. Some of them are very quiet but he is delivering. He has this affable nature which eases tension and pressure and he is one of the best ministers I have seen at that Ministry”, he said.
Asked about his assessment of the NPP government, Mr. Asamoah-Boateng commended President Akufo-Addo and his team for what he said was their extraordinary performance since assuming power in 2017.
He said the government under President Akufo-Addo has done extremely well considering the legacy it inherited from the previous administration.
According to him the NPP has managed to change the fortunes of the country in the little time it has been in power.
“The party (NPP) has performed extremely well considering the time we’ve got and the kind of legacy we came to inherit, that is the debt and crisis we came to meet. The President made it clear what his options are and he delivered.”
On education, Mr. Asamoah-Boateng again lauded President Akufo-Addo for putting education first with the implementation of the Free Senior High School policy.
He said the importance of education must not be downplayed and indicated how education has transformed his own life.
He also commended the President for how he has handled the economy during these difficult times and added that things could have gotten worse had it not been for the timely intervention of the COVID-19 alleviation programme and the utilities relief packages for Ghanaians.
Mr. Asamoah-Boateng said the President has delivered on a significant number of his campaign promises and moving into the elections later this year, the Information Ministry and Communication team of the NPP will not struggle to convince the people because whatever the President said, has been done.
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