The Chiefs and other Traditional Leaders of Anlo State have called to a halt, the intended funeral program scheduled for the late former President Jerry John Rawlings.
The funeral is expected to come off on February 12 and 13, 2021 at Anloga after several engagements with Warlord of the State, Torgbui Agbeshi Awusu II.
Speaking with Agbotadua Kumasa on the issue, he noted that the ban on large gatherings such as funerals, by President Nana Akuffo-Addo has made it hard to undertake measures to organizing a successful funeral for the late President.
Agbotadua also indicated that the people of Anlo will not hesitate to partake in the funeral should it come off, adding that this large number of people will breach the Covid-19 protocols.
He added that the Anlo State is subject to the laws and regulations of the President therefore, the intended funeral will be on hold until the President’s restrictions are lifted.
He called on the people of Anlo to keep calm as they look forward to a befitting traditional funeral for the Late Jerry John Rawlings who doubles as Nutifafa Fia I.
The Ketu North Police Command has confirmed the arrest of some 37 persons as part of their operations to enforce the use of face mask in public.
According to the District Police Commander, DSP Christian Dogbetse, these individuals were picked up since the operation begin last week for going contrary to the president’s directive of face mask wearing.
He noted that, majority of residents in the Municipality are wearing the mask, some also have it in their bag with only few proving difficult.
“these few are the people who believe COVID-19 do not exit” he observed
DSP Dogbetse further charged residents to always wear their mask before stepping out from their homes to reduce the spread of COVID-19 .
He said people who failed to comply with this directive will be made to pay a fine or processed to court.
As part of measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the country, the Ketu North Police Command has started enforcement operation aimed at ensuring that anyone who steps out on the street wear a nose mask.
The operation, which started about a week ago, saw personnel from the Ghana Police Service Personnel patrolling the communities, Market and other public places to ensure that residents move around with their nose masks on.
Volta Regional Minister-designate, Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa has served notice of his willingness to work with all stakeholders to advance the development of the region, should he be passed by Parliament.
Dr. Letsa who was named among a list of 46 ministerial nominees submitted by President Akufo-Addo to parliament for his second term administration, has faced resistance from some groups within the NPP in the region.
However breaking his silence in a Facebook post, a week after a street protest in Ho against his re-nomination, the astute entrepreneur and medical practitioner, promised to build bridges and continue to operate an “open-door policy” in the running of his office, and also assured all residents of the Region and potential investors of his readiness to work with them.
He thus, expressed gratitude to President Akufo-Addo for reposing confidence in him and pledged to ‘serve the agenda of H.E. the President and government in the Volta Region at all times to the best of my knowledge and ability.’
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With a heart of unqualified gratitude, I wish to thank H.E. The President of The Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, for once again reposing confidence in me by the re-nomination as the Volta Regional Minister.
I am humbled by the re-nomination and more importantly, by the display of confidence in me.
I wish therefore to state unequivocally that when approved by Parliament, I shall continue to pursue and serve the agenda of H.E. the President and government in the Volta Region at all times to the best of my knowledge and ability.
Furthermore, I shall continue to operate an “open-door policy” in the running of my office, where I shall be readily available to all the people of the Region.
In this regard, I shall continue to build bridges and not walls while pursuing the development of the Region.
It is not lost on me that we need to work together as people of this Region in ensuring its development as envisaged by the President and all of us.
I therefore wish to assure all, especially the good people of the Region and others who would wish to invest in the Region, of my preparedness and availability to work with them towards achieving this one goal of having a more developed Region, able to provide more jobs to her people in an environment of enhanced socio-economic infrastructure.
The Rebecca Foundation in collaboration with Nylex Company has donated test kits to the Noguchi Memorial Institute and Laptops to the Christian Health Association of Ghana to help combat the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Ghana.
Making the donation on behalf of the First Lady and Nylex Company, Mrs. Shirley Laryea Chief of Staff at the Office of the First Lady said, she is very optimistic that the donation will go a long way to help the fight against COVID-19 in the country.
“I am very humbled donate these items on behalf of the First Lady and the Rebecca Foundation and trust that our contribution will help support the fight against COVID 19, and also improve the health care systems in Ghana” she said.
Receiving the test kits the, Director of Nuguchi Memorial Institute, Prof Abraham Kwabena Anang indicated that the particular test kits donated is capable of providing a larger quantity of test results in a relatively short period, which will help Nougouchi keep up with the increasing demands for testing. “I am indeed grateful for this kind gesture by the Rebecca Foundation and Nylex Company. I pray for God’s blessing for the First Lady and her foundation for this wonderful support”, he added.
The Executive Director of Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), Dr. Peter Yeboah who received the laptops on behalf of the Association, enumerated the current challenges facing the Association as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic and indicated the laptops will help support faster and accurate data generation to enhance their service delivery.
The Rebecca Foundation has donated Hospital beds to the Korle- Bu Teaching, Ridge and the 37 military Hospitals to help increase the capacity of these facilities to manage intake of COVID 19, patients.
Making the presentation on behalf of the First Lady of the Republic, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo and the Rebecca Foundation, Madam Korkor Bleboo, Director of Communications at the Office of the First Lady, said the Rebecca Foundation is committed to its support to health facilities across the country, especially during the COVID 19 pandemic.
Madam Bleboo commended all health workers for their immense sacrifice and dedication to the fight against COVID 19, adding “the First Lady is truly grateful to all of you and hopes this donation will support the improvement in the care of COVID 19 patients”
Madam Korkor also took the opportunity to entreat the public to always adhere to the various safety protocols to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
Representatives of the various hospitals expressed their appreciation to the First Lady and the Rebecca Foundation for the kind gesture and pledged their facilities commitment to ensuring Ghana defeats the pandemic.
The Ablorme Electoral Area has hosted the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) from Volta/Oti Region as part of their community engagement in Dzodze, the Ketu North Municipal capital.
The engagement according to Hon. Christian Quaku Tornyo, the Assembly member for Ablorme Electoral Area, was occasioned to inform, educate and resolve some curiosities of the electorates concerning the uses of electricity and water in the electoral area.
The team led by the Regional Manager, Mr. Philip Agbezudor explained into detail the effective and efficient consumption of electricity and water by the customers and participants to their advantage.
They also educated the participants on the the necessary steps that need to be taken to extend water/electricity to their various homes to avoid hurdles that are normally encountered in the processes.
Questions and interactive sections were also held by the team to the satisfaction of all participants.
Hon. Christian Quaku Tornyo interacting with the participants
Present at the event were the Ketu North National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) Director, Mr. Prosper Afealete and the Ketu North Municipal Information Service (ISD) Officer, Mr. Boatsi Dominic who also took turns to educate the participants on their civic rights and responsibilities as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana and Covid-19 safety protocols respectively.
Other dignitaries present included Hon. Mac Thompson Gbeti, Hon. Cecilia Tagborlo, Hon. Philomina Ahiable, and some Unit Committee Members from Dzodze Apeyeme, Apetepe , Adagbledu and other adjoining Electoral Areas.
Mr. Tornyo, on behalf of the electoral area, expressed gratitude to the team for the kind gesture extended to the citizens.
However, material including flyers and contact numbers of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission were given out to participants to enable them access service providers in case of emergencies and other inquiries.
The Director of Operations at Engage Now Africa, End Modern Slavery (EMS), Mr. Afasi Komla has supported the 13 year old victim of Child trafficking at Adawso Karbu in the Akuapem North Municipality of the Eastern Region.
The support came weeks after End Modern Slavery (EMS) of Engage Now Africa (ENA) in Partnership with the Suhum District Domestic Victims and Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service rescue the victim from child labour.
The EMS rescue mission team took the victim to a Clinic for medical examination where it was confirmed that indeed, the young girl has been assaulted.
The team paid for all the medical expenses and reunified the victim with her families.
They also provided the victim with school going items including school bag, exercise books, note books, school uniform, mathematical set, and others in order to enable her to go back to school.
They further assisted the victim’s father financially with a startup capital for him and the victim to help them start some business.
Mr. Afasi stated that his outfit is against all forms of modern slavery and charged the general public to support them in whichever way they can to help fight Modern Slavery in the country.
Graduates of the Ho Technical University (HTU) have been encouraged to dedicate themselves to what it takes to creating jobs, so when the opportunity presents itself, they are ready to create jobs and employ others.
According to Professor Ben Honyenuga, the Vice Chancellor of the University, the world of work is no more for job seekers but job creators. It is for this reason that HTU dedicated a lot of time and resources in ensuring their students are “undeniably equipped with requisite technical and entrepreneurial skills to create jobs” for themselves and employ others.
Professor Ben Honyenuga, Vice Chancellor
He therefore urged them on saying, “persevere and never give up as you pursue your dreams in life and compete in the world of work with your colleagues from other sister tertiary institutions.”
Prof. Honyenuga gave the encouragement during the 21st Congregation of the University in Ho last week. The ceremony which was held in two sessions to allow adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols saw 1,079 students graduated with Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) degrees and Higher National Diplomas (HND).
Out of this number, 130 obtained First Class Honours, 612 obtained Second Class Upper, 309 obtained Second Class Lower while 28 obtained passes.
Cross section of graduands
Porf. Honyenuga reminded the graduates that their classes obtained should not determine their performance in the world of work, but rather their hard work and dedication to their dreams. He therefore urged them not to hesitate to contact the Centre for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology Transfer (CEIT) of the university to assist them should they require any assistance in operationalizing their business ideas.
The Chairman of the Governing Council of the University, Professor Emmanuel James Flolu urged the graduates to never forget their training and never forget they are unique and specially equipped to contribute immensely to national and global development.
The Guest Speaker for the first Session, Constance Swaniker, the CEO and Founder of Design and Technology Institute who gave the graduates ten important points in surviving in the job market advised them to desist from ‘get rich quick’ syndrome and ‘having a sense of entitlement’.
Madam Constance Swaniker, Founder of DTI
Instead, they should learn to make good use of internships and volunteerism, carefully choose their role models, build integrity, become change agents and treat all people right as they rise in life.
Madam Susana Kudjoe, the CEO of KCS Fast Foods Services who was the Guest Speaker of the Second Session stressed that, entrepreneurship may be challenging, but with passion and commitment it is possible. More so, graduates who want to create jobs must spend time to understand their community to identify the best opportunities that suite their skills and resources.
Madam Susana Kudjoe, CEO of KCS Fast Foods & Catering Services
The overall best student who was also the valedictorian, Selassie Kelvin Massiasta observed that the influence of Information Communication Technology (ICT), including trends like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Digital Culture and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) in the world should enjoin policy makers to actively incorporate them in the curriculum to prepare the youth for the new future of work.
Several other outstanding students were also presented with various awards.
Selassie Kelvin Massiasta, Overall Best Graduating Student
End Modern Slavery (EMS) of Engage Now Africa (ENA) in Partnership with the Suhum District Domestic Victims and Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service, has rescued a 13 year old girl (name withheld) from Child Labour and Trafficking at Adawso Karbu in the Akuapem North Municipality of the Eastern Region.
Reports from End Modern Slavery (EMS) indicated that the victim was living with the grandfather at Suhum where she was born when the mother sadly passed away.
She was under the care of the grandfather until her upkeep became unbearable for the grandfather when the victim decided one day and left home unannounced to one of her Uncle’s home in the same community.
The report further disclosed that the uncle then trafficked the victim from Adawso to Kumasi after staying with him for few weeks.
The father of the victim who happens to have abandoned the daughter upon hearing the issue reported the case to the Suhum District Domestic Victims and Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service.
The victim’s father revealed to the team that his daughter was wailing and crying for the torments she was going through and pleaded with him to come to her aid while in Kumasi.
The grandfather of the victim collaborated with EMS team led by Mr. Afasi Komla and the Uncle, who then called Daavi, the suspected trafficker but she refused to release the young girl to the family.
“Daavi as popularly known deliberately changed the communication line of the victim, just to avoid direct contact with her family. The victim then called the father who according to her had wrote his contact on a wall somewhere in the house when Daavi was not around” the report explained
The District DOVVSU Command then collaborated with End Modern Slavery (EMS) of Engage Now Africa (ENA) to set off a rescue mission and deliver the victim.
However, the Suhum Police Divisional Command has secured a warrant to arrest the Uncle and the trafficker but they both fled upon sensing the danger of their arrest.
The task force constituted in the Ho Municipal Assembly in an attempt to mitigate the spread of the corona virus has started operations today.
The task force, according to the press statement signed by the Municipal Chief Executive, Prosper Pi-Bansah, is to ensure strict compliance with Covid 19 safety protocols in schools, places of worship, markets and other public places.
The statement indicated that the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the Information Services Department (ISD) shall be resourced to intensify public education within the Municipality from today, February 1, 2021.
“The Municipal Assembly will also placed a spot fine on those who refuse to adhere to the safety protocols with regards to wearing of Nose mask in public”
Ghana is currently experiencing a new wave of the pandemic which has forced the Assembly to come up with stiff guidelines to put a stop to the spread of the virus.
Ghana has so far recorded 65,427 confirmed cases and 405 deaths.
