Nkaros updates Ghana

COVID-19 Lockdown: Zenator’s ‘No NPP Card, No Food’ Allegation “Untrue” – MCE

Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Klottey Korle Municipality, Nii Adjei Tawiah has strongly denied an allegation by the lawmaker of the constituency that government is only feeding its penurious party members in the area.

“Never, what the MP said is not true. We can’t do that,” Nii Adjei Tawiah told NEAT FM’s morning show, ‘Ghana Montie’.

The National Democratic Congress MP for Klottey Korle constituency, Zenator Agyeman-Rawlings had suspected government is only distribution lockdown relief items to some target people, mainly card bearing members of the ruling NPP government.

In about 3 minutes of a video circulating on social media, Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings condemned the act saying it’s improper and defeats the intended purpose of the food distribution.

But the Municipal Chief Executive for the area has described the allegation as “unfortunate” with not basis.

He explained that, “All relief items from government are been shared equally to everyone. Individuals are also sharing things from their own pockets and those people don’t involve the municipality so we have no authority on how they should share their foods.”    
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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

Source : peacefmonline

COVID-19 Lockdown: Zenator’s ‘No NPP Card, No Food’ Allegation “Untrue” – MCE

“Never, what the MP said is not true. We can’t do that,” Nii Adjei Tawiah told NEAT FM’s morning show, ‘Ghana Montie’.

In about 3 minutes of a video circulating on social media, Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings condemned the act saying it’s improper and defeats the intended purpose of the food distribution.

But the Municipal Chief Executive for the area has described the allegation as “unfortunate” with not basis.

Source : peacefmonline

NO SIZE by Fella Makafui, The Best Hip Pop Singer in Ghana recently, She nailed it.

https://nkaros.data.blogPilolo Records frontline act – Fella Makafui releases her second single. Few hours after releasing her debut – Over , she follows up with this new one titled “No Size’ , produced by Unklebeatz.https://nkaros.data.blog

No size video

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

Mahama Feeds 20,000 Households, Criticises Quality Of Gov’t’s Food For The Poor, Mode of Sharing

Former President John Dramani Mahama has said the mode of distribution of food to poor Ghanaians in the locked-down areas is worrying.https://nkaros.data.blog

He said overcrowding at the various food distribution centres defeats the purpose of the social distancing protocol which is key in preventing the spread of coronavirus which has killed eight out of the six hundred and sixty-three cases confirmed so far.https://nkaros.data.blog

Mr Mahama said this on Tuesday when he distributed food items to over 20,000 households in Accra.

He told the press: “Yesterday [Monday], I received a mail from a young teacher in Adentan, who lamented that she is suffering and starving because her school has closed down and her employers have still not paid them for the months of February and March”.https://nkaros.data.blog

“In many such cases, we had tried to lend support, as far as our means would allow. This is why I have welcomed the utilisation of the Stabilisation Fund to alleviate some of the unintended consequences of the lockdown occasioned by this pandemic.
“This includes the distribution of food to deprived communities.

“Reports from the field are a worry, both in terms of the quality of the hot meals served and the mode of the distribution of the food.

“The overcrowding and general scramble that characterise this exercise defeats the protocol of social distancing and can help accelerate the spread of the virus

Start Voter Registration Exercise In Places Not Under Lockdown – Sam Okudzeto To EC

Sam Okudzeto – A senior legal practitioner and former President of the Ghana Bar Association,

A senior legal practitioner and former President of the Ghana Bar Association, Sam Okudzeto has urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to start the voters’ registration exercise in places outside the partial lockdown.Click here for details,:https://nkaros.data.blog

The Electoral Commission suspended its planned compilation of a new voters’ register over the ban on public gatherings imposed on Ghanaians as part of efforts to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus disease that has bedevilled the country.
The exercise was initially scheduled for April 18, 2020, but no new date has been announced following the suspension.https://nkaros.data.blog

The Greater Accra Metropolitan Area including Tema and Kasoa as well as the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area are currently under lockdown in a bid to check the spread of the disease.
The EC has said it wants to ensure that the voters’ register that will be used for the 2020 election is more credible and efficient than the existing one hence the need for a new Biometric Voter Management System (BVMS).

Sam Okudzeto, who is also a member of the Council of State, in an interview on Eyewitness News said the EC can compile the voters’ register in batches.
“Our cases of the Coronavirus is not as dramatic as it is in many countries which means that we only have few pockets in the two big municipalities and few of the smaller ones. So since the lockdown is not the whole of Ghana, the EC should start the registration in areas where there is no lockdown,” he said.https://nkaros.data.blog

EC and the new voters’ registration
The Electoral Commission is supposed to organize the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections on December 7.

The Commission is seeking to replace its biometric machines to better address verification challenges that could occur during the elections.
A key new feature the EC cited is the introduction of a facial recognition option in addition to fingerprint verification.https://nkaros.data.blog

It also plans to make the Ghana Card and passport the only acceptable identification for the upcoming voter registration, but the announcement was received with mixed reactions from Ghanaians.
Opposition to new register

The move for the new register has been met with opposition from key political stakeholders, including the main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The opposition party called on Ghanaians to reject the EC’s plans because it felt the commission was yet to present a compelling argument for the compilation of a new register.

Over the course of deliberations, its officials even walked out of a meeting with the EC.

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

Source : peacefmonline

COVID-19: Gov’t Cannot Afford A Total Lockdown – Majority Leader .

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Majority Leader in Parliament, Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu has disclosed that the government cannot afford a total lockdown of the whole country.

According to him, government is investing so much even in the few lockdown areas and it will be at high risk for the government to go for total lockdown.

Speaking on Okay FM’s ‘Ade Akye Abia’ programme, he explained the inconvenience the total lockdown alone will create, adding that the majority of Ghanaians are fully going to be affected in the total lockdown.

” Though the President is taking expert advice on a total lockdown or not, I really don’t think we need it now as a country.

“Albeit, the country needs to fight rigorously COVID-19, we cannot do so by totally locking the whole country down. We will end up putting the economy in great difficulty . . . Moreover, look at how people are reeling under this partial lockdown and the government is investing so much to feed the few vulnerable people in our various communities ,” Hon Kyei Mensah-Bonsu said.
He added that the government will have to invest so much in feeding over five (5) million people and I don’t think the country’s economy will be able to bounce back after the COVID-19 fight.

Ghanaians should help by adhering to the lockdown directive and help contain the coronavirus, adding that the government will continue to do its bit to ensure that Ghanaians are safe and protected.
Ghana has recorded 636 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 with 17 recoveries.

According to the GHS, the breakdown of the 636 positive cases are as follows: “seventeen (17) have been treated, reverted to negative on repeat tests and discharged, 605 cases have been categorized as mild disease and are on treatment, two (2) are categorized as moderate to severe cases, none in the critical state currently and eight (8) have died.”
However, “of the 636 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 268 were reported from the routine surveillance, 253 from enhanced surveillance activities and 115 from travelers under mandatory quarantine in both Accra and Tamale.

Regions that have reported cases are Greater Accra, Ashanti, Central, Eastern, Western, Volta, Northern, North East, Upper East, and Upper West regions,” the GHS said.

Oppong Nkrumah Outlines Factors That Will Inform Decision To Extend Lockdown

Related Stories Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has outlined some factors that will inform President Akufo-Addo’s decision to whether to extend or not.https://nkaros.data.blog

The President last week after assessment of the two weeks lockdown which is aimed at reducing the spread of Covid-19 extended it by a week.

According to the President, some expected over 15,000 test results will determine his next line of action. He further stated that the decisions will be taken based on the science of the situation.

This week Ghana’s case count hit 636 with 17 recoveries and 8 deaths.

Explaining some factors that will inform the next line of action in a radio interview, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said the first will be the number of positive cases recorded from the enhanced surveillance.

“One, how much of your case count is coming from the enhanced surveillance which gives you a fair idea of how far you are going ahead, it will not tell you exactly whether you are ahead but how far, through the enhanced surveillance you people you are finding asymptomatic which suggest early days of exposure and they are becoming the majority and it will give you an indication that you have moved beyond people with symptoms…”

“Two, positive cases outside your hot spot so Greater Accra, Greater Kumasi where you have sought to contain, how many positive cases are you getting outside this hotspot which positive cases can be reasonably traced to having exited the hot spot during this period because this data will inform the theory whether indeed…”

“The socio-economic of the lockdown, the calls that are coming you will see an increasing number of calls about food and perhaps even less about PPEs it gives you a certain idea about the socio-economic of the lockdown.”

Oppong Nkrumah also added that the security situation in the country will also be assessed before any decision.

Kristo Asafo Mission of Ghana donates to the Ghana Police Service

The Founder Apostle Prof. Emeritus Kwadwo Safo and the Leader of the Kristo Asafo Mission of Ghana(KAMOG) Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena of the Kristo Asafo Mission of Ghana today donated several items which included 50 gallons of handsanitiser, 100 bottles of liquid soap, 100 pieces of tissue hand towel, 500 pieces of ventilated nose mask, 100 packs of bottled water and a cash amount of GH 20,000 to the Ghana Police Service to support the service in its attempt to control the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana.

The items were presented by the General Secretary of the church, Nana Kwadwo Oduro Addo on behalf of the Founder, the Leader and the entire membership of the Kristo Asafo Mission of Ghana.

The General secretary in presenting the items informed the Police Service that, the Leader , Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena was ever ready to support the service at any given day and time when he is called upon. He also said as part of the church’s motto and core belief which is ‘Service to the Nation and Humankind is Service to God’, it beholds on us in times like this to support our gallant men and women of the service who are risking their lives for the many to stay safe.
Nana Kwadwo Oduro further reiterated that staying at home is the surest way of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and urged all Ghanaians to adhere to all protocols to avoid the spread of the Corona virus.

The items were recieved on behalf of the Ghana Police Service by the Director General/ Legal and Prosecutions, COP Mr. Prosper Agblor and COP Mrs. Beatrice Vib Sanziri on Tuesday, April 14, 2020 at the Police Headquarters in Accra.

COP Agblor receiving the items and the cash donation thanked the founder and the leader of Kristo Asafo for their benevolence. He said the donation will go a long way to assist the men and women on the field to effectively discharge their duties. He further advised Ghanaians to bare with the Ghana Police Service and urged all to adhere to the protocols outlined by the government in curbing the spread of CONVID-19.

Nana Kwadwo Oduro Addo further reiterated that staying at home is the surest way of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and urged all Ghanaians to adhere to all protocols to avoid the spread of the Corona virus.

Source : Kofi Countryman

Ghana to start accessing $1b IMF cash this week

The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta says the country should be able to start drawing down the $1 billion IMF rapid credit facility this week.

He disclosed this in an interview on the JOY BUSINESS Report Tuesday morning.
According to the Finance Minister the Bank of Ghana should initial the process this week for the funds to hit the Central Banks account by this weekend.

Background
The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday approved the disbursement of $1 billion to be drawn under the Rapid Credit Facility (RCF).

The disbursement will help address the urgent fiscal and balance of payments needs that Ghana is facing, improve confidence, and catalyse support from other development partners.

According to the IMF Covid-19 pandemic is impacting Ghana severely. Growth is projected to slow down, financial conditions have tightened, and the exchange rate is under pressure.

The budget deficit is projected to widen this year given expected lower government revenues and higher spending needs related to the pandemic.
The Fund’s emergency financial assistance under the Rapid Credit Facility will help address the country’s urgent financing needs, improve confidence, and catalyze support from other international partners.

Finance Minister on conditions for the loan
According to the finance minister, Ken Ofori Atta “It is a zero percent facility, 10 years and five and half moratorium and does not come with any conditionalities”.

The Minister added that this would give government some space to plan to help stabilize the economy.
He also praised the timeliness of the IMF Board to their request which was formally presented to the Fund on March 16, 2020.

CBG donates food items to over 2,000 people as part of its ¢1m commitment to fight Covid-19

Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG), has provided food items to over a thousand people in different communities affected by the partial lockdown.

The gesture was in fulfilment of the Bank’s pledge to support the fight against the spread of the coronavirus in Ghana.

The food items which included bags of rice, boxes of tin tomatoes, cooking oil, bags of gari, bags of sugar, tuna flakes and boxes of biscuits were donated to people with disability, the vulnerable, aged and HIV patients living in Adenta, Madina, Ashaiman, Bukom, and Sege all in the Greater Accra region and Alabar in Kumasi.

The Managing Director of CBG, Daniel Wilson Addo, said the donation was to supplement efforts being made to provide food for the vulnerable.
“Daily wage labourers, slum dwellers, and poor communities are being affected the most by the current partial lockdown.

“Our remit as a company in a difficult and an unusual time such as this is to support them whichever way we can”.

Mr Addo added that the bank deemed it important to use part of its Covid-19 ¢1 million commitment to support individuals and families who do not have adequate income and resources to stay home for days without going out to find food.

We believe that if every Ghanaian in the lockdown areas stays home, the country will control the spread of the virus. This is why CBG is giving these food items to enable these citizens stay home.

“And it is our belief that this donation will inspire well-endowed Ghanaians and other organisations to also help these individuals across the country. Let’s stay home to avoid more possible cases,” he concluded.

Consolidated Bank has committed ¢1 million to support the Covid-19 fight in Ghana.
The amount is dedicated towards public education and awareness, donations to selected institutions and communities, purchase of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), and other critical equipment.

So far the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research and the Covid-19 National Trust Fund have received support from the Bank.

Source : Joy Business