A motor rider who crashed into the security barrier at Dobro near Nsawam and attempted to speed away was shot and wounded by one of the soldiers at the barrier to stop him from getting away.
The ridder was later identified as Isaac Odei, a 36-year-old mower operator of Gjankrom a suburb of Nsawam.
The bullet hit his back and leg and was rushed to the Nsawam Government Hospital for treatment and later referred to the 37 Military Hospital for further treatment.
Briefing the Ghana News Agency(GNA), Police Superintendent (Supt.) Marian Osei-Adu Owusu, Police Commander of Nsawam District said, Odei did not join the queue of vehicles at the barrier but sped into the security personnel manning the barrier and attempted to run away.
Supt Owusu said, one of the military personnel at the barrier aimed at the tyre of the motor to prevent him from speeding off but the bullet hit Odei. Supt Owusu said the police has seized the motorbike of Odei while the military personnel involved in the shooting incident had been withdrawn to Accra.
She appealed to drivers, especially motor riders to cooperate with the security personnel at the barriers to help fight the coronavirus.
If your family is stuck at home during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, it’s likely your children are spending a lot more time online. School, chats with friends and grandparents, even music lessons — so much has shifted online.
Ways you can help keep your children safe online
Being connected helps children and teenagers reduce the impact of this new (temporary) normal and encourages them to continue with their lives. But it also presents a new set of challenges for every parent. How can you maximize all that the internet has to offer, while minimizing the potential harm? It’s not an easy balance on a normal day, let alone when facing a health crisis like COVID-19.
kind and supportive interactions and that mean, discriminatory or inappropriate contact is never acceptable. If your children experience any of these, encourage them to tell you or a trusted adult immediately. Be alert if your child appears to be upset or secretive with online activities or if they are experiencing cyberbullying.
Work with your child to establish rules on how, when and where devices can be used.
resources. Your child should never have to provide a photo or their full name to use these resources. Remember to check the privacy settings to minimize data collection. Help your child learn to keep personal information private, especially from strangers.
Spend time with them online
Create opportunities for your child to have safe and positive online interactions with friends, family and you. Connecting with others is more important than ever at the moment and this can be an excellent opportunity for you to model kindness and empathy in your “virtual interactions”.
Help your child recognize and avoid misinformation and age-inappropriate content that may increase anxiety about the COVID-19 virus. Many digital resources from credible organizations like UNICEF and the World Health Organization are available for you and your child to learn about the virus together.
Spend time with your child to identify age appropriate apps, games and other online entertainment.
Alain, 12, learning from home in Côte d’Ivoire. “I like to study at home, and it’s easy to follow classes online. Of course I miss my friends, but it’s also nice to spend more time with my dad at home.”
be exposed to more advertising that may promote unhealthy foods, gender stereotypes or age-inappropriate material. Help them recognize online ads and use the opportunity to explore together what is wrong with some of the negative messaging you see.
Spending time at home can be a great opportunity for your children to use their voices online to share their views and support those in need during this crisis.
Encourage your child to take advantage of digital tools that get them up and moving, like online exercise videos for kids and video games that require physical movement.
Remember to balance online recreation with offline activities, including time outside, if possible.
Aidoo-Richard Sagacious https://www.nkaros.data.blog Aidoo Richard Sagacious is a script writer, blogger and a founder of nkaros.data.blog/ (Nkaros Updates). For any associate, contact and interact with him on ….. +233553136439 / +23323 569 9136
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has applauded Ghana’s scientific community for successfully sequencing the genomes of the novel coronavirus responsible the global COVID-19 pandemic.
The development, carried out by scientists at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) and the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens at the University of Ghana, has led to expose of the genetic composition of viral strains of 15 of the confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country.
“This is a significant milestone in Ghana’s response to the pandemic, as it will strengthen surveillance for tracking mutations of the virus, and aid in the tracing of the sources of community infections in people with no known contact with confirmed cases,” the President said in a televised broadcast on Sunday to give an update on enhanced measures to curb the spread of the pandemic in the country.
“The Ghanaian scientific community is to be warmly applauded for this advance and contribution to global knowledge. Their work makes us proud to be Ghanaian, and, who knows, God may work through them to discover a vaccine. What a triumph that would be!
President Akufo-Addo noted that “the genomic characterization of African Coronaviruses by our own scientists, ” illustrated the need to establish the enabling framework for sustainable vaccine manufacturing in Africa.
He stressed the need to advance African-led partnerships to drive scientific innovations for the control of viral diseases by vaccination, stating that Ghana would lend support to the African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative (AVMI), to promote the agenda for vaccine development and manufacturing in Africa by Africans for the world.
The AVMI, a co-ordinating consortium of companies, institutions, international organizations and individuals, chaired by Prof. William Ampofo of the NMIMR, is a continental enterprise to strengthen Africa’s capacity to develop and manufacture vaccines.
The President in the address, lifted the three-week old restriction on movements of persons in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area and Kasoa, and the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area and its contiguous districts, with effect from 0100 Hours, Monday April 20, 2020.
However, all other enhanced measures and protocols, including closure of borders, ban on social and religious gathering, and the strict adherence to social and physical distancing, are still in force to halt spread of the COVID-19 in the country.
President Akufo-Addo explained that even though Ghana’s case count had increased over the past three weeks to 1,042 persons from test results of 68,591 contacts, and with 67,549 of that number testing negative for the virus, the decision to lift the restriction on movement was backed by data and science.
He pointed out that the main reason the country had witnessed an increase in the number of confirmed cases over the period of movements restrictions due to the aggressive tracing and testing of contacts of infected persons, which “has enabled us to identify and isolate infected persons, protect the population from further infections, and contain better the spread of the virus.”
Thus, “In view of our ability to undertake aggressive contact tracing of infected persons, the enhancement of our capacity to test, the expansion in the numbers of our treatment and isolation centres, our better understanding of the dynamism of the virus, the ramping up of our domestic capacity to produce our own personal protective equipment, sanitisers and medicines, the modest successes chalked at containing the spread of the virus in Accra and Kumasi, and the severe impact on the poor and vulnerable,” necessitated the lifting of the restriction on the movement of persons, the President held.
The President noted that though the country would continue to record new cases of infections, particularly with the policy of aggressive tracing and testing, but assured that Government had put in place the appropriate measures to isolate and treat them.
“Should there be an unexpected outburst in infections within a community, I have put the health workers and the security services, including the Police Service and the Armed Forces, on standby, to co-ordinate a rapid response of human and logistical resources, if necessary, to cordon, impose a curfew, trace, test, and treat infected persons in the affected community.
“Indeed, the focus of Government’s policy and action will be based on the implementation of the 3Ts, i.e. tracing, testing and treating. In any event, stay at home, unless it is absolutely essential,” he stated.
“Our success in defeating the virus is largely within our control. That means each and every one of us must exercise, at all times, during this period without the partial lockdown in Accra and Kumasi, a strong sense of selflessness, self-control and self-discipline.
“It is important to stress strongly that coming out of the partial lockdown in Accra and Kumasi does not mean we are out of the pandemic. We will continue to monitor closely events in some hotspots in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area like Weija Gbawe, Ga East, and Ayawaso East Municipalities, and Tema Metropolis, and in the Eastern Region, like Asuoygaman and Lower Manya Krobo Districts.
“Whenever the situation so warrants, a community in which the virus is identified as becoming prevalent will be locked-down, until there is a clear understanding of the trajectory of the virus that will allow us to contain it. We must obey the measures still in place, including the new ones, because we know our survival depends on them, and, the harder we are on ourselves in obeying them, the quicker and more enduring will be the victory,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo was not happy about the continued “deliberate dissemination of fake news, disinformation and outright lies by some unpatriotic citizens” about the spread of the virus since its outbreak in the country, asking those involed in the act to put a stop to it.
“These acts are being orchestrated by those who hope to benefit by seeking to sow the seeds of panic and confusion amongst the populace at this time of national crisis. I have an unequivocal message for those involved in these despicable acts – put an immediate stop to it, or be held accountable for your actions.”
The President also condemned the stigmatization of persons who had recovered from the COVID-19, saying, “This is not right, as it will rather drive people away from getting screened, tested and treated.”
He said the disease was not a death sentence, thus, “the stigmatization of recovered persons must stop, because if the virus did not end their lives and livelihoods, the stigma from members of their communities should not.”
Aidoo-Richard Sagacious https://www.nkaros.data.blog Aidoo Richard Sagacious is a script writer, blogger and a founder of nkaros.data.blog/ (Nkaros Updates). For any associate, contact and interact with him on ….. +233553136439 / +23323 569 9136
The electoral commission of Ghana has announce it plans to go on with the new voters registration program despite the coronavirus pandemic.
The press released which is circulating on social media platforms on 17th April instructed that, all the key trainers and regional directorates of the exercise should meet City Escape Hotel in Prampram on 24th-29th April 2020 in preparation for the forth coming exercise.
According to the press released, the meeting will be attended by commissioner, HQ director and his assistant and all the regional directorates. The participants will come on the days of the meeting and returns on the same day.
According to the state directives on social gathering, the participants will attend the meeting batch after batch and each of the batch will spend two meeting days.
General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu believes that Ghana would have recorded a higher rate of confirmed cases of the novel Coronavirus, similar to what is happening in European countries if the National Democratic Congress (NDC) were to be in power. He explained that the opposition NDC, under John Dramani Mahama, would have worsened the situation for the country because they shared the same belief as other European countries that went in for their citizens in China at the beginning of the pandemic.
BringBackStudents
Speaking on Okay FM ’s Ade Akye Abia Morning Show, John Boadu asserted that the NDC strongly entreated the Akufo-Addo government at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, to evacuate Ghanaian students stranded in the Wuhan Province in China, and even went further to create a hashtag on social media.
“Those countries like Iran, UK, Italy, Spain and USA that reasoned like the NDC and brought their citizens back from China, have you seen their situation today? The number of COVID-19 cases would have skyrocketed and spiraled out of control just as its happening in those countries if NDC under Mahama was in power, ” he asserted. Proactive Gov’t
Touching on contact tracing, John Boadu intimated that a lot of the advanced countries are now focusing on contact tracing strategy, placing Ghana ahead of them in terms of being proactive.
“As we speak now, the enhanced surveillance and contact tracing that Ghana rolled out about two weeks ago, is now being replicated in other foreign countries. In the UK, if you live with someone who has tested positive, you don’t have the right to go to the hospital to test whether you have the virus or not. They don’t have voluntary testing kits unless you are sick and hospitalised or you are showing symptoms of the virus before you will be tested. This is what is happening in the UK,” he indicated. Current Case Count The country’s case count is now at 834, this includes 99 recoveries, 4 moderate to severe cases as well as 234, who are well and responding to treatment.
The mortality rate has however increased by one figure, bringing the total deaths to nine (9). This was confirmed by the Ghana Health Service on its official COVID-19 update page on April 18th, 2020, The GHS is supervising the completion of a backlog of laboratory samples which have been picked for testing as part of the COVID-19 testing exercise. This is after some 57,000 samples have already been successfully tested as of April 15th 2020. In the first batch of this backlog, an additional 198 have been found to be positive. This will bring Ghana’s total case count to 834 at the moment. The general public is however advised that this does not represent new infections that are occurring. It represents results from tests of a backlog of samples.
The laboratories have been working day and night to test this large number of samples. Hopefully in the next few days, all the testing would be completed. Total samples tested so far now stands at 60, 916 with 1.37 % testing positive.
Regions that have reported cases and breakdown are as follows: Greater Accra – 685, Ashanti – 59, Eastern – 51, Northern – 11, Volta – 9, Upper East – 8, Upper West – 8, Central – 1, Western – 1 and North East – 1.
Former President, John Dramani Mahama has suggested that the president’s directive to lift the partial lockdown is a big mistake.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) took to twitter to make his suggestions known to the president.
According to him, many health experts are advocating for an extension of the partial lockdown. Others are even calling for a total lockdown of the whole country.
He tweeted, “Recent developments have made it clear, the extent of the spread of the virus. The last report put the number of confirmed cases at 834. Many health experts continue to suggest the necessity and appropriateness of an extension of the restrictions on movement.”
Recent developments have made it clear, the extent of the spread of the virus. The last report put the number of confirmed cases at 834. Many health experts continue to suggest the necessity and appropriateness of an extension of the restrictions on movement.
— John Dramani Mahama (@JDMahama) The president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has definitely turned a deaf ear to the former president’s advice by lifting the lockdown.
He however said that all regulations of social distancing still remains the same. Schools, Churches, Spots, Clubs and Pubs remain closed.
After Ghana recorded it’s first covid-19 cases, which quickly spread through many regions in Ghana a lockdown order was immediately put in place to curb the spread of the Coronavirus. Movements and all sorts of social gatherings were abhored.
The lockdown has been in effect for some weeks now, with soldiers deployed to parade streets, to see to it that citizens comply and ensure no movements throughout Ghana.
However, the lockdown order has been lifted, to enable citizens to resume their daily routines Ghana’s Lockdown was lifted hours ago but with strict conditions.
Ban on social and religious gathering is still very much in force, and social distancing is still effective. Also, Compulsory wearing of mask is to be practiced. The borders will still be closed for a period of 4weeks extension.
Moreover, Military officials will continue roaming all streets to ensure complaince to the face mask usage and social distancing order. Also, Coronavirus cases as at this evening in Ghana is now 1042. Thank you
Facebook launches Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information Centre in Ghana Facebook is expanding its Coronavirus Information Centre to Ghana, following its launch across 18 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa last week.https://nkaros.data.blog
Created as part of Facebook’s efforts to help the global fight against COVID-19, users in Ghana will now be able to access the latest news and information from trusted health authorities as well as resources and tips on staying healthy, and supporting their family and community.
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information Centre is featured at the top of News Feed, and provides a central place for people to keep informed about the virus.
It includes real-time updates from national health authorities and global organisations such as the World Health Organization, as well as helpful articles, videos and posts about social distancing and preventing its spread.
Facebook users can opt in to follow the centre to get notifications and see updates in their News Feed from official government health authorities. Facebook’s Head of Public Policy for Anglophone West Africa, Adaora Ikenze commented: “We’ve built the information centres in collaboration with national health partners, to ensure that people can get access to information from trusted health sources.
The launch of the COVID-19 Information Centre on Facebook in now more than 19 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana, further highlights our commitment in helping to provide accurate, timely information about the pandemic that is accessible to all communities.” Launched earlier this month in South Africa, the Coronavirus Information Centre has been expanded to a number of Sub-Saharan African countries including: • Benin • Burkina Faso • Cameroon • Cape Verde • Chad • Côte d’Ivoire • Ethiopia • Gabon • Guinea • Kenya • Mali • Mauritania • Nigeria • Senegal • Seychelles • The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) • Togo
The Minority in Parliament has demanded agents used in the distribution of food, water and other social protection items to be fair without partisan considerations.
The Caucus told a News conference at the Parliament House in Accra that it was in no way against the interventions, but pointed out that they must be fair, transparent to all the vulnerable in the affected communities.
Minority Chief Whip Mubarak Muntaka led the conference, addressed by several members in the caucus including Nii Lante Vanderpuije, MP for Odododiodio, Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, MP Ablekuma South, Nobert Nogbey, MP for AShaiman, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, MP for Klottey Korley, Sophia Akuaku, MP for Obom-Domeabra, and Comfort Doyoe Ghansah, MP for Ada.
It was partly in reaction to statement attributed to a broadcaster, Paul Adom Otchere accusing Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings on television and partly on the perceived unfairness in the distribution of food to the vulnerable.
Alhaji Muntaka said the stance of Mr Adom Otchere constituted an “unwarranted attack” as they, members of the Minority took part in approving financial assistance from Parliament that government sought to assist the vulnerable in the wake of the pandemic.
He stressed that the disease did not know any party colours hence the House was unanimous in approving the financial assistance that government sought The Minority Chief Whip recalled that his Side suggested a non-partisan committee to handle the distribution, but the practice is that the distribution has become partisan using the National Disaster Management Organization.
Members of the Minority at the conference registered their displeasure at the exercise stressing fairness in all aspects to the advantage of the vulnerable.
The Minority has said it intends to petition the National Media Commission (NMC) and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to call Mr Paul Adom-Otchere to order for “attacking” Dr Zenator Agyeman-Rawlings, the MP for Klottey-Korle on his show Good Evening Ghana on Thursday evening. Mr Adom-Otchere told the lawmaker to stop “misbehaving” and making “unsubstantiated” allegations against her political opponents at a time Ghana is battling COVID-19.
The Klottey-Korle MP had alleged that government officials are sharing food to some 400,000 vulnerable people in Accra, Tema, Kumasi and Kasoa – places under lockdown owing to the coronavirus outbreak – on a partisan basis. Despite the initial denial by the government, Dr Agyeman-Rawlings, in a statement, asked President Akufo-Addo to probe the matter.
In his editorial on his programme on Thursday, 16 April 2020, Mr Adom-Otchere described the allegation by the first daughter of Ghana’s former President Jerry John Rawlings as “wrong” and called on her to behave properly.
“That is a serious allegation to make against an opposing political party or to make against a government or to make against a municipal assembly or to make against any other politician… This is very wrong; members of parliament cannot do that. Dr Rawlings, you’re an elected member of parliament, you cannot do that. You cannot hide behind paper and camera and make baseless accusations against your opponent, that is the kind of politics we want to stop in this country, that is not the kind of politics we want to encourage, the kind of politics we want to stop in this country is what you have done,” Mr Adom-Otchere said.
Using Dr Agyeman-Rawlings’ own statement against her, the TV host said: “In your statement, you said: ‘My colleague MP in the Ablekuma South Constituency, Dr Oko Vanderpuije, had to also go public about how food intended for the poor was being distributed in NPP vehicles under the direct supervision of the NPP candidate for that constituency. Dr Oko Vanderpuije, before speaking to the press about the unfortunate development, had called Mrs Cynthia Mamle Morrison on phone to bring the matter to her notice and to register his protest.’
“This is what you do as a member of parliament, let it get into your system Dr Rawlings, let it get into your system; you come from a privileged place, we respect you, we respect your father, behave properly, stop misbehaving. How can you even issue such a statement for what you have done…we’ve been charitable to you because of who you are… “Look at Oko Vanderpuije’s behaviour you are quoting; why didn’t you behave the same way? Are you better than Oko VanderpuiJe, no, no one is better than anyone, you’re all members of parliament. But yes, you come from a great place that all of us wish we could come from. You are carrying the political heritage of Flt. lieutenant Rawlings, you cannot behave the way you’re behaving…”
Mr Adom-Otchere quizzed: “Who told you to issue this statement? Herrr, I don’t even know what to say… withdraw this statement before the lions chew you on social media. How can you tell us how Oko Vanderpuije behaved and you cannot behave that same way; how John Dumelo behaved and you cannot behave the same way…this your statement is completely flawed, never issue such a statement again, you’re a great woman, a fine politician, we want you to stay in politics…” But on Friday, 17 April 2020, all NDC MPs in lockdown constituencies addressed the media in Parliament expressing solidarity with Dr Agyeman-Rawlings.
The MPs agreed with their colleague that there are several incidents of partisanship in the distribution of food and water in their respective constituencies.
Nkaros updates Ghana 