A COVID-19 patient who contracted the disease in the line of duty at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has revealed she has been abandoned to fend for herself and her family.
According to Abena, her husband, mother and nine-month-old baby have not been tested since she tested positive for the disease two weeks ago.
Abena revealed on the Morning Starr that due to her financial difficulties and the failure of the COVID-19 team to transport her to the hospital for treatment, her only choice is to join the public transport from Potsin in the Central region to Korle Bu hospital for treatment.
Abena who is asymptomatic told a shocked host Francis Abban that she picks a commercial vehicle popularly known as ‘Trotro’ to Korle Bu at least once a week for treatment.
“We were given options of being admitted to the hospitals or isolating at home. I chose to self-isolate at home because I was scared of being charged when admitted. With where I stay at Potin, I can’t afford a taxi or Uber to Korle-Bu. I am COVID-19 positive and I have been told to come for checkup on my own. I board public transport when going.”
“I have been home for two weeks now and I feel very bad. I am asymptomatic but the fact that you’ve been told you have COVID19 is sad. I live with my husband and a 9-month-old baby. Because of Covid19, I’ve had to send my baby to my mother. My husband stays in one room whiles I stay in one. There’s been no contact tracing and testing. They asked me to take same medication with people I live with because they assume that once I have maybe they also have it.”
Ghana on Wednesday recorded 854 new cases of coronavirus pushing the country’s total number of infections to 22,822 as of Wednesday, July 8, 2020.
The latest update as announced by health officials put the number of active cases at 5,129.
The number of recovery/discharge cases has also shot up to of 17, 564. The death toll still stands at 129.
The Greater Accra Region still tops the chart with 12,560 cases with the Ashanti Region following closely with a total of 4,824 cases.
The Electoral Commission has in a statement asked the General Public to disregard a malicious story circulating on a news portal claiming that the Chairperson of the Commission, Mrs Jean Mensa has contracted the Coronavirus.
The Commission wishes to state categorically that this is an outright lie and a figment of the author’s warped imagination.
“The Commission wishes to state that the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission is well and at post. She has not tested positive for the Coronavirus,” a statement signed by Ag. Director, Public Affairs, Sylvia Annoh stated.
Deputy Education Minister, Dr. Osei Yaw Adutwum has said that a case that has led to the death of a final year student at the KNUST Senior High School in Kumasi is most unfortunate.
According to him, investigations have commenced into the matter and those found to have neglected their duty leading to the death of the student will be punished.
Meanwhile, the Regional Director of Education has this morning been dispatched to KNUST Senior High School where a student was believed to have been left to die due to fears that he might have contracted Coronavirus.
Speaking on Okay FM’s ‘Ade Akye Abia’ programme, he however noted that the student’s death is not COVID-19 related.
Dr. Adutwum assured parents that the situation is under control.
“We understand that, in the midst of all the anxiety, it is difficult for students to learn, but counselors are on-site now looking at ways that they can help the students recompose themselves and begin the preparations ahead,” he said.
In a video, the student is seen sitting on a table and being supported by four male students while he suffered for breath, and appallingly, some of the teachers watched on unconcerned as the student’s life gradually left his body over fears he had Coronavirus.
Irate students appalled at the neglect their colleague suffered and afraid such fate awaits them have reportedly demonstrated and destroyed school property and are calling for the school to be closed down.
President Akufo-Addo allowed final year Senior High School and Junior High School students to return to school last month in preparation for their final exams.
Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) in their Corruption Watch report says Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakaria, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Microfinance and Loans Centre (MASLOC) was involved in vote-buying during the recently held NPP Parliamentary primaries.
Abibata Zakaria was contesting against Farouk Aliu Mahama, son of the late former Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama for the Yendi seat. She lost.
According to the findings, Hajia Abibata Zakaria facilitated the use of MASLOC money to allegedly induce NPP delegates and hopefully secure their votes in December 7 polls.
The CDD’s Corruption Watch investigations thus uncovered illegal use of state resources for personal gain.
On Thursday, May 21, 2020, Hajia Abibata Zakaria distributed GHC1,000 state cash under the guise of MASLOC loans to NPP delegates of Yendi constituency where she was a parliamentary aspirant for the June contest.
She told the NPP delegates in a video available to CDD Ghana that although MASLOC loans were not yet to be distributed, she ensured that as deputy CEO of MASLOC, loans to her constituents were not only distributed to them, but also the number of recipients were increased above what was permitted.
She added that a parliamentarian seeking to develop their constituency has to lobby the government, so “whoever comes to seek your mandate as MP, his or her links with people in government will put development to his or her people”.
“Though this gathering is not a political rally for me, there is no way we will do this without letting you know why we brought [it] here. Here is my Northern Regional Manager, he’s aware that MASLOC gives to a maximum of five groups in the Northern Region, but I’ve not regretted the fact that Yendi alone has been honoured with 35 groups. If I’ve not done so, you’ve the right to blame me because I can’t have such an opportunity and not help you my people,” Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakaria said.
She is also reported to have given three bags of NPK fertilizers to each delegate between June 12 and June 14.
When contacted by CDD Ghana’s Corruption Watch, Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakaria, admitted to the findings but stated that she did not err because the delegates applied for the loans the same way as was required of any other group.
“Of course, there were delegates part of the beneficiaries but as to how many delegates they were, I cannot tell because it was a mixture of delegates and non-delegates,” she told CDD.
When questioned about the timing which suggested vote-buying, the deputy MASLOC CEO said that she didn’t see it as such.
“…I didn’t use state money because the people applied for the loans,” she further stated. “As for the fertilizers [it] is one of the interventions I do for the people of Yendi and if you follow closely they will tell you the kind of interventions that I [have been sending] to the constituency since 2017,” she told Corruption Watch in a telephone interview.
Farouk Aliu Mahama polled 244 votes in the contest; Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakaria, polled 210; and Baba Daney, a chartered accountant, obtained 139 votes.
Manasseh Azure Awuni, an investigative journalist, has charged the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration to close down schools since some students have started recording COVID-19 cases.
The journalists’ call follows some cases being recorded among some students and teachers in some second cycle institutions.
In a series of posts on his Facebook Timeline, Azure Awuni wrote, “Pharaoh, allow the children to go home!
“Some state institutions are shutting down and workers are going home or working from home, but when you question the wisdom of reopening SHS, foot soldiers say COVID-19 is here to stay.”
The government of Ghana’s promise to supply some schools with PPEs ahead of reopening schools seems to have failed and the calls from some school authorities have fallen on deaf ears.
The journalist, meanwhile, cautioned teachers on precautionary measures: “If you’re a teacher, don’t wait for the government to give you a mask before you wear one. Buy and protect yourself and your family, in and out of school,” his post read.
Some second cycle schools in the country have started recording cases of COVID-19 after the government of Ghana directed that students should go back to school as part of measures to ease the COVID-19 restrictions imposed in March.
Government agencies recently confirmed cases
A joint statement from the Ghana Education Service and Ghana Health Service said, “The Ghana Education Service (GES) received reports of suspected cases of COVID-19 from some second cycle institutions including Accra Girls Senior High school. The Ghana Health Service was subsequently notified of the situation. As of 6 July 2020, six (6) students, a teacher and spouse, have been confirmed as positive for COVID-19 in Accra Girls Senior High School.”
The statement added: “The school has put in measures to ensure strict adherence to social distancing and other COVID-19 safety measures, and continuous public education sections for staff, students and parents on COVID-19 as part of steps instituted so far.”
But there is still apprehension as the WASSCE begins on 20 July.
The Deputy Ranking member on education committee in parliament and MP for Builsa South, Dr Clement Apaak is calling on government to close all Junior and Senior High Schools across the country with immediate effect to save the lives of the students.
He said he is in total support of parent and teacher unions calling for closure of junior and senior high schools and asked government to listen and act now.
Dr. Apaak revealed in an interview that, failure on the part of government to adhere to advice offered by educational stakeholders in providing PPEs and testing of students before reopening the schools has led to the challenges being witnessed in the various schools.
Mr. Apaak cited the happenings at Accra Girls Senior High School where six students and a number of teachers have tested positive for Covid-19. He also mentioned the unfortunate incident at KNUST Senior High School where a student was left to die out of fear that he has contracted Covid-19. He said this has created fear and panic among the students.
He suggested a mass testing of students must be carried out for all students, teachers and non-teaching staff before allowing them to vacate their schools until a very favourable time for schools to reopen.
After she was appointed as the running mate to the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the December 7 presidential election, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has embraced a more relaxed lifestyle, sharing more of her personal life with Ghanaians through social media.
Well, one thing that has eluded Ghanaians are the children of the NDC running mate.
Pulse.com.gh has sighted photos of Prof. Jane Naana Opoku- Agyeman and her three children who hold a Ph.D. in Economics, Ph.D. in English literature, and Ph.D. in comparative literature.
The names of her children are Kweku Opoku-Agyemang, holds a Ph.D. in Economics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Kwabena Opoku-Agyemang, West Virginia University, and Adwoa Opoku-Agyemang, University of Toronto, Ph.D. in English Literature, Ph.D. in Comparative Literature respectively.
Over 2.2 million (2,216,141) voters have been registered and issued voter identification cards in the first six days of the ongoing mass registration exercise.
Daily Figures:
The daily figures are Day One – 308,925; Day Two – 403,274; Day Three – 437,296; Day Four – 395,557; Day Five – 349,602; and Day Six – 321, 487. 68.9% used Ghana Card
Data compiled by the Electoral Commission (EC) indicates that a large majority (68.9%) of the registrants used Ghana Card as identification to support their registration.
28.8% used guarantors
On the other hand, 28.8% of registrants used guarantors to support their registration.
2.3% used passport
According to the data, only 2.3% used passport as identification to support their registration.
Greater Accra Region-427,039 (19.27%)
The Greater Accra Region topped the list with 427,039 prospective voters registering, representing 19.27% of all persons registered in the first phase batch one.
Ashanti Region-423, 998 (19.13%)
In second position is Ashanti Region with 423,998 prospective voters, constituting 19.13%.
Eastern Region-215, 616 (9.73%)
Data compiled by the Electoral Commission indicates that Eastern Region placed third, registering 215,616 voters, representing 9.73%.
Central Region-202, 036 (9.12%)
In the fourth position is Central Region, which registered 202,036 voters, representing 9.12%.
Western Region-145,741 (6.58%)
Western Region came fifth, recording 145,741 voters registered, constituting 6.58%.
Volta Region-139,968 (6.32%)
Volta Region placed sixth with 139,968, amounting to 6.32%. Northern Region-121, 818 (5.5%) A total of 121,818 prospective voters, representing 5.5%, were also registered in the Northern Region to occupy the seventh position.
Bono Region-94, 837(4.28%)
The Bono Region recorded 94,837 prospective voters, constituting 4.28%, to place eighth on the log.
Bono East-84, 572 (3.82%)
In the Bono East Region, 84,572 prospective voters were registered, which amounts to 3.82% and 10th position.
Upper East-71,526 (3.2%)
Upper East Region came 11th with 71,526 registered prospective voters, representing 3.2%.
Western North-64,199 (2.9%)
A total of 64,199 prospective voters, which constitutes 2.9%, were registered in the Western North Region to place the region in the 12th position.
West Region -60,944 (2.8%)
It is followed by the Upper West Region in the 13th position with 60,944 prospective voters, which constitutes 2.8%.
Ahafo Region-44,640 (2.01%)
The Ahafo Region placed 14th on the log, with 44,640 prospective voters registered, representing 2.01%.
Savannah Region-43,632 (1.97%)
Savannah Region registered 43,632 prospective voters, which amounts to 1.97%, to occupy the 15th position.
North East-37,024 (1.7%)
Speaking to The Finder, Director of Electoral Services at the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr Serebour Quaicoe said the EC estimated to register 1.8 million prospective voters in the first batch of the first phase of the exercise.
He suspects that the number went to over 2.2 million because prospective voters from other polling stations who were not patient to wait for the registration to get to their turn have registered.
This, he said, was partly responsible for the congestion at some of the registration centres.
However, Dr Quaicoe stated that mobile teams stationed at district offices are deployed to help centres with long queues.
On isolated cases of machine breakdown, he said technicians are on standby to repair instantly or replace the faulty one with new machines.
Ghanaian Islamic Cleric, Numerologist, Philosopher and Psychologist, Mallam Shamuna Ustaz Jibreel who is globally known for his accurate prediction, has sent a piece of Spiritual advice to the running mate of John Mahama of the NDC, Prof. Naana Opoku Agyemang less than 24 hours after she was outdoors as the running mate of the NDC’s John Mahama in the 2020 Elections.
The Mallam advised Prof. Naana Opoku Agyemang not to use her own Car in the Next 72 hours.
Writing on his Facebook wall at about 3:00 am on Tuesday, July 7, 2020, the Numerologist said she should not use her personal car from 7 pm Tuesday, July 7 to the next 72 hours.
He added that she can use any other car which does not belong to her.
Read His Statement Below :
”YOU ARE SPIRITUALLY ADVICE NOT TO USE YOUR PERSONAL BELONGING CAR FROM 7PM ON THE 7TH OF JULY, 2020 UP TO 72 HOURS. YOU CAN USE ANYBODY’S CAR TO ANY PART OF THE COUNTRY OR WORLD.
PROF. NAANA JANE OPOKU-AGYEMANG!!! ADD ADDITIONAL TWO DWARFS QUEENS YEARS TOGETHER WITH ANGELS YEARS AND LISTEN TO THIS CAREFULLY. I THEREFORE ADVICE THE PEOPLE AROUND HER TO HELP HER EXECUTE THE ADVICE. YOU ARE VERY LUCKY THAT GOD HAVE SHOWN IT TO ME. AFTER THE 72 HOURS, YOU CAN FEEL FREE TO USE YOUR OWN CAR. PLEASE DO AWAY WITH LOGIC, REASONING, BUREAUCRACY, CERTIFICATES AND POSITION, AND GRAB GOD AND THE SPIRIT.
MAY THE ALMIGHTY ALLAH PROTECT US ALL. THE DETAILS IS IN THE HANDS OF OUR CREATOR.”
The Minority in Parliament says it is time government reconsiders keeping schools opened while we enter our rooms every day with a prayer that no one gets infected with the novel coronavirus.
“We must prioritize the lives of the students, after all, how can sick or dead students write exams. The examinations can be postponed but the safely of our future leaders cannot be postponed.”
“It is time the government reconsiders keeping our schools opened while we enter our rooms every day with a prayer that no one gets infected. We also have a choice of reducing such high risk, by closing these schools for a much extended period until we are sure of having contained the virus which would reflect on our cases per day. In the last few days, Ghana recorded over 750 and over 690 cases per day. This does not provide any parent the comfort to assume the safety of their children,” the statement said.
The Minority in Parliament is calling on the government to close schools again following reports that some Senior High School (SHS) students of Accra Girls’ High School have contracted the coronavirus just weeks after academic work resumed.
Final year SHS and Form Two Gold Track students have returned to school after months of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.
They were directed back to school by President Akufo-Addo to enable them to prepare for their exit examinations.
According to Clement Apaak, MP, Builsa South and Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament who signed the statement, “the government, the Ministry of Education, the Teacher Unions and Civil Society Organizations, must get back to the table, and with the help of medical experts, re-examine the situation at hand, and make amends in the initial decisions that saw the reopening of schools. If the real motive to reopen schools is for final year students to prepare to write their final examinations, then a second look at this motive in the face of rising cases and reported cases in some schools is warranted.”
At the time President Akufo-Addo announced the easing of measures ahead of reopening these schools to allow the final year students take their exit exams, Ghana’s case count stood at 8,070.
Since that announcement about a month ago, over 12,000 Covid-19 cases have been recorded, which gives a clear indication of the mass community spreading of the deadly virus.
Read the full statement below:
MINORITY STATEMENT – PRIORITIZE THE LIVES OF OUR STUDENTS AS COVID 19 RISK INCREASES
The NDC Minority in Parliament hereby calls on President Akufo-Addo and his government to prioritize the lives of our students currently in school in light of the increased number of Covid-19 cases in our country as well as reported cases of infections recorded among students in some schools.
Our call as a responsible Minority is based on the fast-rising cases of Covid-19 in Ghana, which has crossed 20,000 cases so far. Indeed, various statements have been made by several individuals and institutions in our society over the motivation to continue to have Senior High schools and Junior High schools opened albeit final year students.
Government, through the President and other ministers, have made several statements that sought to assure the general public and to dampen their fears amid the deadly novel coronavirus. Many have feared, rightly so, that the safety measures that were to be instituted ahead of the reopening of these schools were inadequate.
Soon after, the government made several promises of ensuring the provision of the needed infrastructure including; temperature guns, nose masks, hand washing buckets, sanitizers, among other things, while ensuring social distancing in these schools.
At the time President Akufo-Addo announced the easing of measures ahead of reopening these schools to allow the final year students take their exit exams, Ghana’s case count stood at 8,070. Since that announcement about a month ago, over 12,000 Covid-19 cases have been recorded, which gives a clear indication of the mass community spreading of the deadly virus.
The fears of Ghanaians and parents, in particular, have heightened after the Minister for Health, Hon. Kweku Agyemang Manu, the Minister for Education, Matthew Opoku Prempeh and Minister for Regional Reorganization, Hon. Dan Botwe tested positive for the virus, which led to the directives of the President, Akufo-Addo, suspending Cabinet meetings indefinitely, ostensibly to mitigate the spread of the virus.
Such is the deadly nature of the virus that from day one, we have been advised to observe some strict measures to be able to win the fight against the novel virus. As it stands, Ghana’s cases are on the rise, while efforts have been undertaken to engage in activities that will ruin all the safety measures we are advised to observe if the fight against this virus is to succeed.
Senior High schools opened just about two weeks ago. Ahead of the opening of schools, the government announced commitments supposedly aimed at ensuring safety in these schools. Days and weeks after the schools were opened, several reports indicate that some schools still operate without those safety measures government announced.
Right before schools were reopened, an accomplished educationist, Mr Kwame Alorvi, had cause to author an article which chronicled government’s announcements ahead of the reopening and government’s efforts so far at making do its pronouncements after the reopening. He cites for instance, that some schools including the Yilo Krobo SHS were not disinfected contrary to government’s promises to disinfect all schools before reopening. He also indicated that the Achimota School was being disinfected while students were reporting from the break.
Several other news portals reported disappointing states of some schools across the country ahead of the reopening. For instance, the Ghana News Agency (GNA) reported that many schools in the Northern parts of Ghana reopened without PPEs. Similar other reports also indicated some schools in the Western parts of Ghana reopened without these personal protective gears.
Only a few days ago, teacher unions such as NAGRAT, GNAT, CCT and TEWU, raised concerns over the Ghana Education Service (GES) reversal of a decision to allow only teachers who have lessons to report for duty. According to them, contrary to agreements ahead of reopening that only teachers who have lessons should report for duty, the GES now requires the presence of teachers on campuses whether or not, they have lessons. This adds up to the congestion, which the virus needs to thrive.
Reports emerging are that some students of the Accra Girls Senior High School, have contracted the virus and have been taken into isolation. What makes this situation even unfortunate is that parents of these children may not be aware of the conditions of their wards as schools have been warned to close their gates to visiting, as well as strictly adhere to directives of not calling parents except headmasters.
As of today, even the Ghana Medical Association continues to ask for PPEs to aid their work. We must not forget that these are the highest risk individuals along the chain. So far, some 150 medical doctors have been reported to have contracted the virus, with 5 confirmed dead.
These instances, and the rise in figures which confirms wide community spread, is raising concerns for calls on government to shut down schools. It begs the question on how government officials, with all the sophistication at their disposal, resources, etc, could be contracting the virus. How officials who are matured and could socially distance, are being infected by the virus, while schools children some as young as thirteen (13) could be kept in schools with the hope that they would not contract the virus.
Some of these school children, report to school through the use of commercial vehicles, which increases their risk of infections. Some schools, including some in Ho, which have called for mass testing of their students before admitting them to mingle with others, were ignored without a second thought.
We are of the firmest conviction that as a nation we must not wait until it is too late to do anything. Our students need to be protected from the high risks of exposure. As can be seen, the Akufo-Addo government has failed to contain the virus.
The mere rush to isolate by President Akufo-Addo, after he suspected to have been exposed to a positive case, tells how he has failed to assure us of a win over the virus. Who knows how many have come in contact with infected persons who may not know their status if our president with all at his disposal, could be exposed to such a risk?
It is time government reconsiders keeping our schools opened while we enter our rooms everyday with prayer that no one gets infected. We also have a choice of reducing such high risk, by closing these schools for a much extended period until we are sure of having contained the virus which would reflect on our cases per day. In the last few days, Ghana recorded over 750 and over 690 cases per day. This does not provide any parent the comfort to assume the safety of their children.
The government, the Ministry of Education, the Teacher Unions and Civil Society Organizations, must get back to the table, and with the help of medical experts, re-examine the situation at hand, and make amends in the initial decisions that saw the reopening of schools. If the real motive to reopen schools is for final year students to prepare to write their final examinations, then a second look at this motive in the face of rising cases and reported cases in some schools is warranted.
We must prioritize the lives of the students, after all, how can sick or dead students write exams. The examinations can be postponed but the safely of our future leaders cannot be postponed.
Dr. Clement Apaak
M.P, Builsa South and Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament
