COVID-19: Rising Infections in Schools, Workplaces Put Volta Region Among Emerging Hotspots

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August 5, 2021

Dr. Aboagye — Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director-General of Ghana Health Service.

BY: KALD | Voltaonlinegh.com |

The Volta region is fast emerging as a hotpot for the third wave of COVID-19 pandemic in the country. With just 16 active cases as at July 1, 2021, the region has in the last four weeks witnessed astronomical jump in its numbers, recording 532 active cases as at August 3.

This was made known by the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye during a press briefing on the country’s case count on Wednesday. He said most of the cases were being recorded in schools – tertiary and second cycle institutions, and at the workplaces.

Dr. Kuma-Aboagye also mentioned Bono and Bono East regions as the other emerging hotpots outside Accra and Kumasi, as the country’s active cases hit 6,276, of which 86 cases were severe while 17 others are in critical condition.

“There has been a very steep rise in the active cases in the last 2 weeks. We have increasing hospitalization and deaths, we’re having some emerging hotspots outside Accra and Kumasi. That is, now we have Volta having new cases, Bono and Bono East also seeing some cases. We also have workplace and school outbreaks taking place.”

A situational Report sighted by Volta Online, revealed 12 out the 18 municipalities and districts in the region have active case counts, with Ho municipality being the hotest spot. As of August 2, the region’s active cases distribution were as follows; Ho – 319, Kpando – 75, Hohoe – 45, Central Tongu – 16, Agotime-Ziope -14, Akatsi South -12, Ketu South – 7, South Tongu -5, Ketu North – 4, Adaklu, South Dayi and North Dayi – one case each.

The remaining six districts without any active cases yet, were North Tongu, Keta, Ho West, Afadzato South, Akatsi North and Anloga.

Speaking on the development, in a Joy News interview monitored by Volta Online, Wednesday afternoon, Dr. Kwesi Djokoto, Deputy Regional Director of Health in-charge public health, said the current outbreak in the region was fueled by the delta variant, as identified by the genomic sequencing done by the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in Ho.

He cited the abysmal adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols among the general populace, especially the use of the face mask as a contributing factor to the fast rising number of cases. He thus, entreated the public not to get complacent or fatigued with the protocols.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Papavi ‘Freed’ Barely 24hrs after Arrest

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Volta Online

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July 30, 2021

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BY: News Desk | Voltaonlinegh.com |

Barely 24-hours after his arrest, Mr. Charles Kormi Kudjordji alias Papavi Hogbedetor has regained his freedom, albeit temporarily.

The 88-year old founder and leader of the separatist group – the Homeland study Group Foundation, was granted bail on his first appearance before the Ho Ciricuit Court on Thursday, July 29, 2021.

The bail application was filed by his legal counsel on the grounds of ill-health, which the court granted to the tune of GHc 16,000 with two sureties.

As part of the bail bond, the sureties are required to deposit their identity cards with the court.

The court has since adjourned the case to the August 10, 2021.

Papavi who has been on a police wanted list for months following his infamous declaration of the Volta region as an independent Western Togoland state in November, 2019, was finally arrested on Wednesday at his residence in Ho after months of being under State security surveillance.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Breaking: ‘Western Togoland’ Leader, Papavi Hogbedetor Arrested

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Volta Online

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July 28, 2021

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BY: News Desk | Voltaonlinegh.com |

After several months of playing ‘hide and seek,’ the founder and leader of separatist group, the Homeland Study Group foundation, Mr. Charles Kormi Kudjordi has been arrested, Volta Online has gathered.

The octogenarian, popularly known as Papavi Hogbedetor, according to Volta Online sources, was picked up Wednesday afternoon at his Barracks New Town residence in Ho by a team of security operatives, made up of personnel of the Ghana Police Service and National Intelligence Bureau (NIB, formerly BNI), who have placed surveillance on him for months.

He has since been detained at the Volta Regional Police command, where he would be arraigned before court in the coming days.

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Papavi has been at large since his infamous declaration of Volta region as an independent Western Togoland state on November 16, 2019 at a public event in Ho. Scores of his supporters were arrested and arraigned before court at the time, while an arrest warrant was placed on him.

Local Gov’t Service Rankings: VRCC Ranks Best In Ghana, North Dayi Tops Volta

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Volta Online

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July 28, 2021

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BY: KALD| Voltaonlinegh.com |

The Volta Regional Coordinating Council, (VRCC) has clocked the first position in the latest Local Government Service Performance rankings of all 16 Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs) in the country.

This was contained in the 2020 Annual Local Government Service Performance Evaluation Report and Rankings of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and RCCs, released in July, 2021 by the Office of the Head of the Local Government Service.

According to the report sighted by Volta Online, the VRCC had an over all score of 94.88 per cent in its assessment in the key performance areas to clinch the top spot on the rankings, which had Greater Accra and Ashanti regions placing 5^th and 7^th respectively. The bottom three of the rankings, was occupied by North East, Western North and Oti regions respectively.

See full ranking below

Regional Rankings

At the regional level, the North Dayi District Assembly ranked first among the 18 assemblies in the Volta region with 88.32 per cent score, making it the 58^th among all 260 MMDAs in Ghana. Hohoe Municipal and North Tongu followed in the second and third spots in the region and 74^th in the country.

Ho West and Ho Municipal took the 14^th and 15^th positions respectively, while, Keta Municipal took the bottom, 18^th spot on the regional rankings.

See full ranking below

Ranking criteria

According to the foreword of the report, signed by the Head of Local government Service, Ing. Dr. Nana Ato Arthur, the rankings follows a successful independent monitoring and verification exercise of the 2020 Local Government Service Performance Contract of the 16 Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs) and the 260 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

The performance contract which was signed between Regional Ministers and their Regional Coordinating Directors at the Regional level and MMDCEs and their Coordinating Directors at the District level, is based on planned achievement of indicators in Key Performance Areas of the respective agencies.

The 2020 LGS performance evaluation report and rankings, covered areas such as, General Administration, Infrastructure, Economic Development – including tourism promotion, Social Services, Human Resource Management, Environment and Sanitation, Financial Management and Reporting of the MMDAs.

The report explained that, the overall performance of the RCCs and MMDAs mirrors that of their respective Coordinating Directors, since they signed the performance contracts on behalf of the entire staff.

“Hence, the emphasis of the assessment is placed on the overall achievement of the RCC & MMDA under the leadership of the respective RCD & MMDCD.”

Click here for full report

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Ho Teaching Hospital Outdoors Fundraising Accounts for Cardio Centre Project

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Volta Online

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July 27, 2021

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BY: Orlando Daniel | Voltaonlinegh.com |

The Ho Teaching Hospital (HTH) has intensify its fundraising efforts for the construction of a state-of-the-art Cardiothoracic centre with the announcement of account numbers, including Mobile Money account.

This was made known during a health walk organized by the hospital over the weekend in Ho to solicit public support and contributions towards the 3.2 million dollars project, which was launched in June.

The accounts have been registered with the name, ‘HTH Cardio Fundraising’ on MTN Mobile Money – 0555029941 or merchant ID 982046, and also at various partner banks, including, Fidelity Bank, GCB Bank Limited, Consolidated Bank Ghana Limited, National Investment Bank Limited, OmniBSCI Bank and ABSA Bank Ghana Limited.

Dr John Tampuli, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital, in an interaction with the media after the health walk, urged the media to champion the awareness creation on the project among the public, for faith-based organizations, corporate establishments, benevolent individuals and institutions to donate generously towards the project.

He said the facility when fully established would help the hospital to discharge its duty as a specialist healthcare facility, by enhancing the treatment of heart conditions in the region and beyond, and also support the training of medical students of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS).

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Dambai Residents Bemoan Delay in Naming New MDCEs

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Volta Online

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July 25, 2021

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BY: Benjamin K. Owusu | Voltaonlinegh.com |

Residents of Dambai in the Krachi East Municipality of the Oti Region, are worried about the delay of in appointing new Municipal and District Chief Executives, saying, the situation was hampering the development of the area.

According to the residents said the seven month long delay on the part of the President to name his representatives in the assemblies for the government’s second term, has brought activities of the assemblies to a virtual halt, as the incumbents are only in acting capacities with limited power to initiate new projects.

They lamented that the halt in developmental projects was negatively affecting them, hence appealed to President Akufo-Addo to expedite the nomination process.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Akatsi South: Decomposing Bodies of Pastor & Wife found at Home

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Volta Online

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July 24, 2021

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BY: News Desk | Voltaonlinegh.com |

Residents of Ayitikope, a farming community in the Akatsi South Municipality, have been left in a state of shock and disbelief, following the discovery of the lifeless bodies of a local pastor and his wife, Saturday morning.

Pastor Augustine Gbedema, founder and leader of Harmony With Jesus Ministry, and his wife, Comfort Gbedema, who were found in a decomposing state in their gated home, are believed to have been murdered by unknown assailants.

Volta Online understands, the pastor’s body was found on the compound of the house, while that of his wife was discovered half-naked in their living room, with visible signs of machete wounds.

Shocked residents gathered at the residence

According to a relative of the pastor, he last saw his uncle during last Sunday’s church service and also spoke to him on phone the following day. However subsequent calls to him went unanswered, prompting him and some other worried church members to visit the house, only to be greeted with a strong stench of the decomposing body.

Personnel of the Akatsi Municipal Police command have since been called in to convey the bodies to the morgue for autopsy, while they condoned off the scene to commence investigation.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

MDCEs Appointment: Who Makes it to President Akufo-Addo’s Final List ?

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Volta Online

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July 23, 2021

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BY: News Desk | Voltaonlinegh.com |

President Akufo-Addo is expected to, in the coming days, announce his nominees for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) of the various assemblies in the country.

The much anticipated announcement, Volta Online understands, follows the submission of a final report on the selection process by a search committee he constituted to recommend suitable candidates for all 260 MMDAs nationwide.

Though the full list of shortlisted applicants in the Volta region is not public, snippets of information gathered by Volta Online indicate that, majority of incumbent MDCEs are facing strong competition from a number of new aspirants for the positions.

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So Far, out of the 18 assemblies, Volta Online understands at least, two MDCEs would not retain their jobs. They are, the MCE for Keta, Hon. Godwin Effah and the DCE for Akatsi North, Dr. Prince Sedoke Amuzu. This is because, both men did not re-apply for the job, hence did not go through the selection process.

Also, at least two incumbents are said to be in a pole position to retain their jobs, they are Hon. Kudjo Attah, and Hon. Etornam Flolu, DCEs for North Dayi and Afadzato South, respectively.

This is a developing story, expect more later…

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Minister Inspects Ongoing Projects In Ho Municipality

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Volta Online

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July 22, 2021

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BY: Orlando Daniel | Voltaonlinegh.com |

The Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Letsa on Wednesday embarked on a inspection tour of some projects in the Ho municipality to ascertain their progress.

Accompanied by the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Prosper Pi-Bansa, the minister’s first stop was at the Ho main Lorry Park, where the assembly was undertaken a number projects to improve facilities at the terminal.

The projects, which comprise a total of 233-unit shops, with Water Closet(WC) toilets, Mosque, Revenue post, offices for Driver Unions, a restaurant and other ancillary facilities, are under Ghana Secondary Cities programme; which is being implemented in 25 Assemblies across the country, with Ho and Hohoe municipalities being the only two beneficiaries in the Volta Region.

Phase one of the project, comprising the restaurant, 142 shops and 36 W/C toilets, which commenced in October 2020 is scheduled for completion in October this year, while the second phase which just begun will be completed in 12 months.

Dr. Letsa (M) with the MCE, (L) being briefed on the project

One of the Shop projects at the Lorry station

From the lorry station, the minister’s next stop, was at the storm bridge near Amegashie House on the RayMakossa-Market Road, where work has commenced on the reconstruction of the bridge.

Other project sites toured by the minister and his entourage, were the ongoing construction of Integrated Recycling Composite Plant at Akrofu, and the main campus of the University of Health and Allied Sciences, where the Phase II of the China Aid Project, has started. This comprises a Central Administration Block, the School of Nursing and Midwifery, and hostel facilities.

Speaking to media after the tour, Dr. Letsa expressed satisfaction at the ongoing projects and encouraged the contractors to keep to the timeline of the various projects. He also tasked the appropriate agencies and officials to carry out regular monitoring of the projects to ensure they are delivered to specification.

The minister further called on residents and other stakeholders, to cooperate with the contractors, working on the bridge and the lorry station projects, as they would create some inconveniences during the period.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

OTI: Kabye Community Want full Recognition & Representation

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Volta Online

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July 21, 2021

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BY: Benjamin K.Owusu |Voltaonlinegh.com |

The Kabye (Kabre) community in Ghana have expressed misgivings about what they, described as the deliberate exclusion of their ethnic group from the ongoing 2021 Population and Housing Census.

They claimed their exclusion was due to an unfair perception and discriminatory attitude, developed against them in Ghana over a long period.

According to the National Public Relation Officer (PRO) of the group, Djobo Iddrisu Eddy, the Kabres community in Ghana continue to suffer cultural, spatial isolation and political marginalization in the country.

He said persons of Kabre extraction have been denied their ethnic identity during National Health Insurance(NHIS) registration, Ghana card registration, and have also been captured under the “All other tribes” category on the questionnaire for the 2021 Population and Housing Census, a move, he believed was a deliberate attempt not to recognize the Kabyes ( Kabres) ethnic group in the country.

Djobo Iddrisu Eddy, National Public PRO for Kabre Community

Mr. Djobo Iddrisu thus proposed that, the PHC must endeavor to generate a reliable data to accurately define demographic parameters of the Kabres community, which must be mainstreamed at the level of government policy making and interventions.

Nana Amanebo IV, and some residents who claimed to have been denied in the enumeration process, called on government to take into consideration issues concerning geographic trends, settlement patterns and service provisions in development interventions.

Reacting to the concerns, the Oti Regional Director of the Statistical Service, Henry Loglo, denied the claims of a deliberate attempt to exclude any ethnic group from the census exercise. He however assured that, the report of the alleged denial of the some members of ethnic group from the ongoing enumeration by the some census officers, would be investigated to ensure that who ever spent the census night in Ghana is been counted.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com