The weigh bridge at Apemanim in the Western Region
The construction of a bridge at Apemanim in the Ahanta West District in the Western Region for the weighing of manganese and bauxite for export is 85 per cent complete.
Work on the facility was begun in November last year and was expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of this year but stalled following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
When it becomes operational in August this year, the bridge will be a central point to ascertain and double-check the quantity of manganese and bauxite that is hauled from the mine sites to the Takoradi Port for export.
The Western Region is home to the production of both minerals and others that are exported through the Takoradi Harbour.
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, inspected progress of work on the bridge last Tuesday as part of his two-day working visit to the Western and the Ashanti regions.
With him on the visit were the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources in charge of Mines, Naana Eyiah; the Administrator of the Minerals Development Fund (MDF), Dr Norris Hammer, and some top officials of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
Progress of work
At the site of the bridge, it was observed that concrete works on the main passage, supporting structures and other major components of the weighing bridge had been done.
What is left to be done are fixing of steel surfaces and the installation of automated weighing devices.
The minister expressed his satisfaction with the extent of work done on the bridge and asked that work be expedited to get the facility operational by August this year.
Good project
He said the weighing bridge was very important to the nation, as it would help it achieve accurate values on the quantity of manganese and bauxite it exported.
Mr Asomah-Cheremeh said Ghana had lost a lot of revenue through underhand dealings by some mining companies, the reason the decision to construct the weighing bridge was taken.
“As of now, determining the actual figures in terms of the dried metric tonnes (DMT) of manganese and bauxite is a problem; and the state is losing huge revenue because of a weak monitoring system. We, therefore, thought it prudent that we should know the accurate figures, so that we will know the actual amount the state should be getting at any point in time,” he said.
The minister said in the absence of a refinery for manganese and bauxite, the best way for the country to benefit from the minerals was for monitoring regimes to be robust in checking discrepancies in values declared by mining companies.
Background
In September last year, the government ordered weigh bridges to be installed at vantage points along highways that connect mining sites to the Takoradi Harbour.
The decision followed a financial and technical audit of all mining companies which revealed that the country was being short-changed by some of the companies.
The financial and technical audit of mining companies was begun in 2018, after a former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr John-Peter Amewu, had raised alarm about the way some mining companies were using fraudulent scales to short-change the country, leading to revenue losses.
A COVID-19 positive expectant mother in Sekondi-Takoradi, supposedly abandoned because of her circumstances, has been delivered of a healthy baby.
The asymptomatic patient had reported in the morning of last Friday at the regular antenatal clinic of a mission facility, but two doctors on duty and the nurses abandoned her without a word when they linked her to her folder.
It turned out that she was a contract traced to an earlier positive case, and the details of her condition were contained in her folder at the antenatal clinic without her knowledge.
It was only in the evening, after more than seven hours wait when other staff informed the Western Regional Heath Directorate of her condition, that she received attention.
She was transported to the Western Regional Referral Hospital, Effia-Nkwanta, where she was successfully delivered of the baby at the weekend and is currently being taken care of by a team of paediatric specialists who are guiding her to manage herself and the child.
Safe delivery
Dr Eric Mensah, an obstetrician and gynaecologist who led the team to deliver the woman of her baby, told the Daily Graphic that the woman’s pregnancy was even more than the stipulated nine months.
“Since she was post-date, her pregnancy was induced and it went well, so she went into labour and we delivered. The mother is fine, and the baby is also fine,” he said.
“I must say that the mother and baby are currently fine in isolation; she could not be allowed to self-isolate at home because she was sharing apartment with someone,” he added.
Dr Mensah said the team that took care of the woman, including the paediatricians, would receive the best of care.
COVID status
Independent checks indicated that the woman was a well known client of the facility where she attended antenatal clinic, and was said to have started receiving her antenatal services long before she tested positive for COVID-19.
A source at the facility confirmed that “the woman was a client of the health facility and was traced as a contact of another person who had tested positive at Kwesimintsim”.
It said after that the woman was contacted and she also tested positive, and it is indicated in her antenatal book that she “was pregnant, had tested positive to COVID-19 and was asymptomatic”.
It said the doctors and nurses on duty, however, failed to attend to her until a director of the facility intervened later in the day when the issue was brought to his attention.
“The said director who was not happy with the behaviour of the health personnel rushed to the health directorate to seek help for the woman,” the source said.
Dr Mensah said the woman was presented as an asymptomatic patient — meaning she did not show any symptoms of COVID-19.
“She did not know or understand why we were holding her so we took our time to educate her and she cooperated and it all went well,” he indicated.
Unfair
The medical team reportedly did not attend to the expectant mother due to the increasing cases of COVID-19 in the Western Region, which stood at 421 confirmed cases, with the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis accounting for more than 150 cases.
The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has scheduled 20 June 20 to hold its Parliamentary Primaries in the 168 constituencies where the Party has sitting Members of Parliament to elect its parliamentary candidates for the December general elections.
The Party has also resolved to acclaim the sole candidate who had filed his nomination to contest in the presidential primaries, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, as the Party’s 2020 presidential candidate.
These decisions were taken by the party at a National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Council meetings jointly held on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, at the Alisa Hotel in Accra.
“The date for the acclamation of the presidential candidate and his running mate will soon be communicated to the general public. Equally, the Party will soon issue guidelines for the conduct of the parliamentary primaries,” the party said in a statement signed by its General Secretary John Boadu.
The party was forced to postpone its parliamentary primaries which was originally scheduled for April 25, 2020 due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in the country.
Mr Dominic Duke (middle) presenting the items to Dr Nurah Gyeile. Picture: EBOW HANSON
Callighana Company Ltd, a company involved in the importation and distribution of agrochemical products, has donated personal protective equipment (PPE) worth GH¢60,000 to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) for distribution to farmers across the country.
The items — which comprise 25,000 nose masks, quantities of hand sanitisers, 10,000 pairs of gloves and five motorised sprayers — are to enhance the protection of farmers against the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Farmers’ safety
The Marketing and Commercial Manager of the company, Mr Dominic Duku, said the gesture was to reciprocate the support that farmers had shown towards the company.
“We believe that they are going to serve as the vehicle to drive our agenda by ensuring that these items are fairly distributed,” he said.
Mr Duku said the pandemic had adversely affected agriculture, indicating that many farmers were still scared to go about their daily farming activities due to the fear of contracting the disease.
The reason, he noted, was as a result of insufficient supply of PPE to farmers, which he said exposed them to the virus.
He, therefore, called on other entities involved in agriculture to help the situation by supporting farmers with PPE and some initiatives to help mitigate their predicament.
Commendation
The Minister of State in-charge of Agriculture, Dr Nurah Gyeile, expressed gratitude to the company for the support.
“We are happy that you are not only thinking about the business part of your operations but you have recognised the fact that humans are more important and their safety is top priority,” he said.
He noted that the pandemic had served as a discouraging factor for many farmers due to the increasing spread and the stigma associated with it.
He explained that farmers were at a great risk of contracting the disease due to the nature of their work.
Potential voters who have neither passport nor the NIA cards will need their family members as guarantors before they could register in the upcoming voter’s registration exercise, that’s according to the C.I. 126 that gives legal backing to the Electoral Commission’s plans to compile a new register.
The C.I will also require that guarantors swear an oath before a commissioner of oath before they will be deemed legitimate.
Parliament’s Subsidiary Legislation Committee on Wednesday voted to approve the legislative instrument. Reports say twenty-one out of the 25 committee members who were present at the meeting voted 12-9 in favour of the controversial C. I.
Speaking to Francis Abban on the Morning Starr Thursday, a friend of the committee Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor said there will be major difficulties in getting commissioners of oath in the various registration centres.
“The guarantors EC speaks about, according to the C.I must be the individual’s family members. The primary focus is family members so if you don’t have family members you are in trouble. Again, the guarantor is supposed to swear an oath. So the commissioners of Oath must be there to swear an individual in and there is no provision for that on the forms,” the South Dayi MP said.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will today make a ruling in a case filed against the EC’s decision to compile new register by the opposition NDC.
The NDC is seeking a “declaration that upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 45(a) of the 1992 Constitution, 2nd Defendant has the constitutional power to, and can, compile a register of voters only once, and thereafter revise it periodically, as may be determined by law.
“Accordingly, 2nd Defendant can only revise the existing register of voters, and lacks the power to prepare a fresh register of voters, for the conduct of the December 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.”
Or in the alternative, “A declaration that upon a true and proper interpretation of the provisions of the Constitution, specifically article 51 read conjointly with article 42 of the Constitution, the power of the 2nd Defendant [EC] to compile and review the voters’ register must be exercised subject to respect for and the protection of the right to vote.”
The Supreme Court will today, Thursday, June 4, 2020 hear the case in which the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is challenging the decision by the Electoral Commission to compile a new voters’ register.
According to the NDC, the EC lacks the power to go ahead with its plans because it can only “compile a register of voters only once, and thereafter revise it periodically, as may be determined by law. Accordingly, EC can only revise the existing register of voters, and lacks the power to prepare a fresh register of voters, for the conduct of the December 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.”
The NDC is also asking the court to declare as unlawful the EC’s decision to bar the use of the old voter ID cards for identification in the compilation of the new register.
It said the action is baseless and in breach of the Constitution.
The party wants a “declaration that the EC, in purporting to exercise its powers pursuant to article 51 of the 1992 Constitution to exclude the existing voter identification cards from the documents required as proof of identification to enable a person register as a voter without any justification is arbitrary, capricious, unreasonable and contrary to article 296 of the 1992 Constitution.”
“Upon a true and proper interpretation of the Constitution, specifically, Article 42, the EC’s purported amendment of Regulation 1 sub-regulation 3 of the Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations, 2016 (C.I 91) through the Public Elections (Registration of Voters)(Amendment) Regulations, 2020 to exclude existing voter identification cards as proof of identification to enable a person apply for registration as a voter” according to the NDC is “unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.”
The National Democratic Congress (NDC), in March 2020 dragged the Electoral Commission to the Supreme Court over the compilation of the new voters’ register.
New voters’ register brouhaha
The Electoral Commission’s decision to compile a new voters’ register has been met with mixed reactions from the political front.
Whereas the NDC and some opposition parties including the PNC are against the decision, the NPP and 12 other political parties have backed the move.
Regardless of the resistance, the EC has decided to proceed with the exercise but subsequently, put it on hold following the outbreak of the Coronavirus.
The EC says it will observe the necessary safety protocols if the time comes for the registration exercise to commence and it intends to do this late in June.
Meanwhile, the Commission conducted a two-day nationwide pilot of the voter registration exercise which it has so far been described as successful.
Nestlé brand MAGGI has launched a first-of-its-kind website in Central and West Africa, offering fresh new twists to well-known African dishes.
It is also serving up a second season of Yelo Pèppè, its popular online nutrition education drama series on YouTube from June 8.
The brand’s latest launches are just a few of the innovative ways MAGGI is meeting its consumers’ digital and nutritional appetites, while also contributing to Nestlé’s purpose of enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future.
The new MAGGI website
The MAGGI website, which provides over 40 African recipes on an easy-to-use platform, can help families cook balanced and nutritious meals.
Now that many of us are spending more time cooking at home, who isn’t stuck for new food ideas? Get some inspiration from the Recipe of The Day or the With A Twist section.
There are recipes for kids, adventurous cooks, those who love a classic dish and time-saving one pot meals, all available in English and French.
“MAGGI innovates once more by providing different variations of beloved African dishes that offer something for every food lover,” said Dominique Allier, Business Executive Officer for Culinary at Nestlé Central and West Africa. “We are proud to be the first region worldwide chosen by MAGGI to launch this unique website”, he added.
The new website, which was built in collaboration with top African chefs, expert nutritionists and local food influencers, provides helpful tips in some recipes on how to boost your iron intake and balance dishes.
“As well as highlighting the importance of including nutritious diets in our daily lives with well-known family favourites; people across the globe now have easy access to traditional African recipes we know and love”, said Akua Kwakwa, Nutrition, Health and Wellness Manager for Nestlé Central and West Africa.
“For people who are more concerned about sodium, saturated fat and added sugars, the website features the unique ‘MyMenuIQ™’ guide that illustrates how nutritionally-balanced each recipe is. The higher the score, the more balanced the meal is,” she added.
Second helping of Yelo Pèppè drama is served!
Following the success of Yelo Pèppè season one, which recorded over 20.3 million online views, MAGGI is excited to present the new second season of the popular show to its fans, bringing back its beloved characters from the first season.
Mina (Ade Laoye), who is now one of the best-known food bloggers in the region, signs up struggling business owner and cook, Anna (Anita Erskine) to the prestigious Cook the Difference Competition.
This turns into a spicy adventure when Moh, the husband of Anna’s business partner, Aida (Aurelie Eliam) enters the competition too.
Isabelle (Sophy Aiida), a new addition to the gang, slowly inches her way into the lives of the other women and we are not sure whether she is friend or foe.
Things heat up when Nabou (Dieynaba Leurs), Aida’s young niece is used as unwitting tool in a plot against her aunt.
Cook the difference with ‘Simply Good’ commitments
The new website and Yelo Pèppè series are recent examples of how MAGGI is fulfilling the ‘Simply Good’ commitments it made to consumers in 2017.
To help people “cook the difference”, MAGGI has been organising local events to encourage healthy cooking, like pop-up kitchens, cooking caravans and online nutrition education programmes, which have reached over 10 million people across the region.
The brand also aims to boost the nutrition of families at an affordable price, by improving the nutritional profile of its bouillons and other products through reducing salt and increasing micronutrients such as iron, to help tackle iron deficiency.
In addition, MAGGI pledges to use more familiar ingredients that people know and can find in their kitchens. For example, Naija Pot, Signature, D3d33d3 and MaMeun are some of the brand’s new products made with everyday ingredients like smoked fish, shrimp, onions, garlic, ginger and chilli pepper.
MAGGI also commits to increasing local sourcing and building to the local economy, creating more value for society. For example, 100% of MAGGI bouillons sold in Central and West Africa are manufactured by its 2,000+ local employees. Also, nearly three quarters of the raw materials used in these products are sourced locally from suppliers, providing income and creating job opportunities for thousands of Africans.
Go online
To add new balanced and tastier twists to your family meals at home, don’t forget to check out the new MAGGI website on maggi.com.gh, maggi.ng, maggi.sn, maggi.cm and maggi.ci.
You can also watch the new season of Yelo Pèppè on MAGGI’s YouTube.
Former President John Mahama has waded into the cantoon brouhaha which saw the national communication officer of the NDC Sammi Gyami trending on Twitter Tuesday.
The former President who did not comment directly on the George Floyd cantoon artwork – centre of the controversy – appeared to suggest people criticising the NDC communicator are playing double standards.
Mr. Mahama, however, shared an artwork that reflects the violence that engulfed the Ayawaso bye-election with a commentary.
Below is Mr. Mahama’s post on Facebook
A tale of two cartoons:
Sensitivity – Sensitivities (plural).
Definition: the quality or condition of being sensitive: feelings liable to be offended or hurt; sensibilities.
Double standard – Double standards (plural).
Definition: a rule or principle, which is unfairly applied in different ways to different people or groups.
Do you know what the warning signs of child abuse and neglect are? Learn how to spot the signs and make a difference in a child’s life.
What is child abuse and neglect?
Child abuse isn’t just about black eyes. While physical abuse is shocking due to the marks it leaves, not all signs of child abuse are as obvious. Ignoring children’s needs, putting them in unsupervised, dangerous situations, exposing them to sexual situations, or making them feel worthless or stupid are also forms of child abuse and neglect—and they can leave deep, lasting scars on kids.
Regardless of the type of abuse, the result is serious emotional harm. But there is help available. If you suspect a child is suffering from abuse or neglect, it’s important to speak out. By catching the problem as early as possible, both the child and the abuser can get the help they need.
To start, it’s important to separate the myths from the facts about child abuse and neglect:
Myths and facts about child abuse and neglect
Myth: It’s only abuse if it’s violent.Fact: Physical abuse is just one type of child abuse. Child neglect, sexual and emotional abuse can inflict just as much damage, and since they’re not always as obvious, others are less likely to intervene.
Myth: Only bad people abuse their children.Fact: Not all abusive parents or guardians intentionally harm their children. Many have been victims of abuse themselves and don’t know any other way to parent. Others may be struggling with mental health issues or substance abuse problems.
Myth: Abuse doesn’t happen in “good” families.Fact: Abuse and neglect doesn’t only happen in poor families or bad neighborhoods. These behaviors cross all racial, economic, and cultural lines. Sometimes, families who seem to have it all from the outside are hiding a different story behind closed doors.
Myth: Most child abusers are strangers.Fact: While abuse by strangers does happen, most abusers are family members or others close to the family.
Myth: Abused children always grow up to be abusers.Fact: It is true that abused children are more likely to repeat the cycle as adults, unconsciously repeating what they experienced as children. On the other hand, many adult survivors of child abuse have a strong motivation to protect their children against what they went through and become excellent parents.
Effects of child abuse and neglect
All types of abuse and neglect leave lasting scars. Some of these scars might be physical, but emotional scarring has long lasting effects throughout life, damaging a child’s sense of self, their future relationships, and ability to function at home, work and school. Effects include:
Lack of trust and relationship difficulties. If you can’t trust your parents, who can you trust? Without this base, it is very difficult to learn to trust people or know who is trustworthy. This can lead to difficulty maintaining relationships in adulthood. It can also lead to unhealthy relationships because the adult doesn’t know what a good relationship is.
Core feelings of being “worthless.” If you’ve been told over and over again as a child that you are stupid or no good, it is very difficult to overcome these core feelings. As they grow up, abused kids may neglect their education or settle for low-paying jobs because they don’t believe they are worth more. Sexual abuse survivors, with the stigma and shame surrounding the abuse, often struggle with a feeling of being damaged.
Trouble regulating emotions. Abused children cannot express emotions safely. As a result, the emotions get stuffed down, coming out in unexpected ways. Adult survivors of child abuse can struggle with unexplained anxiety, depression, or anger. They may turn to alcohol or drugs to numb out the painful feelings.
Recognizing the different types of child abuse
Abusive behavior comes in many forms, but the common denominator is the emotional effect on the child. Whether the abuse is a slap, a harsh comment, stony silence, or not knowing if there will be dinner on the table, the end result is a child that feels unsafe, uncared for, and alone.
Emotional abuse. Contrary to some people’s beliefs, words can hurt and emotional abuse can severely damage a child’s mental health or social development. Examples of emotional abuse include:
Constant belittling, shaming, and humiliating
Calling names and making negative comparisons to others
Telling a child they’re “no good,” “worthless,” “bad,” or “a mistake”
Frequent yelling, threatening, or bullying
Ignoring or rejecting a child as punishment, giving them the silent treatment
Limiting physical contact with a child—no hugs, kisses, or other signs of affection
Exposing a child to violence against others, whether it is against the other parent, a sibling, or even a pet
Child neglect—a very common type of child abuse—is a pattern of failing to provide for a child’s basic needs, which include adequate food, clothing, hygiene, or supervision. Child neglect is not always easy to spot. Sometimes, a parent might become physically or mentally unable to care for a child, such as in cases of serious illness or injury, or untreated depression or anxiety. Other times, alcohol or drug abuse may seriously impair judgment and the ability to keep a child safe.
Physical abuse involves physical harm or injury to the child. It may be the result of a deliberate attempt to hurt the child or excessive physical punishment. Many physically abusive parents insist that their actions are simply forms of discipline—ways to make children learn to behave. But there is a big difference between using physical punishment to discipline and physical abuse.
With physical abuse, the following elements are present:
Unpredictability. The child never knows what is going to set the parent off. There are no clear boundaries or rules. The child is constantly walking on eggshells, never sure what behavior will trigger a physical assault.
Lashing out in anger. Abusive parents act out of anger and the desire to assert control, not the motivation to lovingly teach the child. The angrier the parent, the more intense the abuse.
Using fear to control behavior. Abusive parents may believe that their children need to fear them in order to behave, so they use physical abuse to “keep their child in line.” However, what children are really learning is how to avoid being hit, not how to behave or grow as individuals.
Sexual abuse. Child sexual abuse is an especially complicated form of abuse because of its layers of guilt and shame. It’s important to recognize that sexual abuse doesn’t always involve body contact. Exposing a child to sexual situations or material is sexually abusive, whether or not touching is involved.
Sexually abused children are often tormented by shame and guilt. They may feel that they are responsible for the abuse or somehow brought it upon themselves. This can lead to self-loathing and sexual and relationship problems as they grow older.
The shame of sexual abuse makes it very difficult for children to come forward. They may worry that others won’t believe them, will be angry with them, or that it will split their family apart. Because of these difficulties, false accusations of sexual abuse are not common, so if a child confides in you, take them seriously.
Warning signs of child abuse and neglect
Warning signs of emotional abuse:
Excessively withdrawn, fearful, or anxious about doing something wrong
Shows extremes in behavior (extremely compliant, demanding, passive, aggressive)
Doesn’t seem to be attached to the parent or caregiver
Acts either inappropriately adult (taking care of other children) or inappropriately infantile (thumb-sucking, throwing tantrums)
Warning signs of physical abuse:
Frequent injuries or unexplained bruises, welts, or cuts
Is always watchful and “on alert,” as if waiting for something bad to happen
Injuries appear to have a pattern such as marks from a hand or belt
Shies away from touch, flinches at sudden movements, or seems afraid to go home
Wears inappropriate clothing to cover up injuries, such as long-sleeved shirts on hot days
Warning signs of child neglect:
Clothes are ill-fitting, filthy, or inappropriate for the weather
Hygiene is consistently bad (unbathed, matted and unwashed hair, noticeable body odor)
Untreated illnesses and physical injuries
Is frequently unsupervised or left alone or allowed to play in unsafe situations
Is frequently late or missing from school
Warning signs of sexual abuse in children:
Trouble walking or sitting
Displays knowledge of sexual acts inappropriate for their age, or even seductive behavior
Makes strong efforts to avoid a specific person, without an obvious reason
Doesn’t want to change clothes in front of others or participate in physical activities
An STD or pregnancy, especially under the age of 14
Runs away from home
Risk factors for child abuse and neglect
While abuse and neglect occurs in all types of families, children are at a much greater risk in certain situations.
Domestic violence. Even if the abused parent does their best to protect their children, domestic violence is still extremely damaging. Getting out is the best way to help your children.
Alcohol and drug abuse. Parents who are drunk or high may be unable to care for their children, make good parenting decisions, or control often-dangerous impulses. Substance abuse can also lead to physical abuse.
Untreated mental illness. Parents who are suffering from depression, an anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, or another mental illness may have trouble taking care of themselves, much less their children. A mentally ill or traumatized parent may be distant and withdrawn from their children, or quick to anger without understanding why. Treatment for the caregiver means better care for the children.
Lack of parenting skills. Some caregivers never learned the skills necessary for good parenting. Teen parents, for example, might have unrealistic expectations about how much care babies and small children need. Or parents who were themselves victims of child abuse may only know how to raise their children the way they were raised. Parenting classes, therapy, and caregiver support groups are great resources for learning better parenting skills.
Stress and lack of support. Parenting can be a very time-intensive, stressful job, especially if you’re raising children without support from family and friends, or you’re dealing with relationship problems or financial difficulties. Caring for a child with a disability, special needs, or difficult behaviors is also a challenge. It’s important to get the support you need, so you are emotionally and physically able to support your child.
Recognizing abusive behavior in yourself
Raising children is one of life’s greatest challenges and can trigger anger and frustration in the most even-tempered parent or guardian. If you grew up in a household where screaming and shouting or violence was the norm, you may not know any other way to raise your kids.
Recognizing that you have a problem is the biggest step to getting help. The following are warning signs that you may be crossing the line into abuse:
You can’t stop your anger. What starts as a swat on the backside may turn into multiple hits getting harder and harder. You may shake your child more and more and finally throw them down. You find yourself screaming louder and louder and can’t stop yourself.
You feel emotionally disconnected from your child. You may feel so overwhelmed that you don’t want anything to do with your child. You just want to be left alone and for your child to be quiet.
Meeting the daily needs of your child seems impossible. While everyone struggles with balancing dressing, feeding, and getting kids to school or other activities, if you continually can’t manage to do it, it’s a sign that something might be wrong.
Other people have expressed concern. It may be easy to bristle at other people expressing concern. However, consider carefully what they have to say. Are the words coming from someone you normally respect and trust?
Breaking the cycle of abuse
If you have a history of child abuse, having your own children can trigger strong memories and feelings that you may have repressed. You may be shocked and overwhelmed by your anger, and feel like you can’t control it. But you can learn new ways to manage your emotions and break your old patterns.
Remember, you are the most important person in your child’s world – and you don’t have to go it alone. Help and support are available:
Learn what is age appropriate and what is not. Having realistic expectations of what children can handle at certain ages will help you avoid frustration and anger at normal child behavior. For example, newborns are not going to sleep through the night without a peep, and toddlers are not going to be able to sit quietly for extended periods of time.
Develop new parenting skills. Start by learning appropriate discipline techniques and how to set clear boundaries for your children. Parenting classes, books, and seminars offer this information. You can also turn to other parents for tips and advice.
Take care of yourself. If you are not getting enough rest and support or you’re feeling overwhelmed, you are much more likely to succumb to anger. Sleep deprivation, common in parents of young children, adds to moodiness and irritability—exactly what you are trying to avoid.
Get professional help. Breaking the cycle of abuse can be very difficult if the patterns are strongly entrenched. If you can’t seem to stop yourself no matter how hard you try, it’s time to get help, whether in the form of therapy, parenting classes, or other interventions. Your children will thank you for it.
Learn to control your emotions. If you were abused or neglected as a child, you may have an especially difficult time getting in touch with your range of emotions. You may have had to deny or repress them as a child, and now they spill out without your control. HelpGuide’s free Emotional Intelligence Toolkit can help.
How to help an abused or neglected child
What should you do if you suspect that a child is being abused? Or if a child confides in you? It’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed and confused. Child abuse is a difficult subject that can be hard to accept and even harder to talk about—for both you and the child. When talking with an abused child, the best way to encourage them is to show calm reassurance and unconditional support. If you’re having trouble finding the words, let your actions speak for you.
Avoid denial and remain calm. A common reaction to news as unpleasant and shocking as child abuse is denial. However, if you display denial to a child, or show shock or disgust at what they are saying, the child may be afraid to continue and will shut down. As hard as it may be, remain as calm and reassuring as you can.
Don’t interrogate. Let the child explain to you in their own words what happened, but don’t interrogate the child or ask leading questions. This may confuse and fluster the child and make it harder for them to continue their story.
Reassure the child that they did nothing wrong. It takes a lot for a child to come forward about abuse. Reassure them that you take what they said seriously, and that it is not their fault.
Safety comes first. If you feel that your safety or the safety of the child would be threatened if you tried to intervene, leave it to the professionals. You may be able to provide more support later.
Reporting child abuse or neglect
If you suspect that a child is undergoing abuse, it’s critical to report it—and to continue reporting each separate incidence if it continues to recur. Each report you make is a snapshot of what’s going on in the family. The more information you can provide, the better the chance of the child getting the help they deserve. Of course, it’s normal to have some reservations or worries about reporting child abuse.
I don’t want to interfere in someone else’s family. Child abuse and neglect is NOT merely a family matter, and the consequences of staying silent can be devastating for the child.
What if I break up someone’s home? A child abuse report does not mean a child is automatically removed from the home—unless they’re clearly in danger. Parents may be first offered support, such as parenting classes or anger management counseling.
They will know it was me who called. Reporting is anonymous. In most places, you do not have to give your name when you report child abuse.
What I have to say won’t make a difference. If you have a gut feeling that something is wrong, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Even if you can’t see the whole picture, others may have noticed signs as well, and a pattern can help identify child abuse that might have otherwise been overlooked.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Volta region has rejected claims of double standards for honouring the invitation of the Electoral Commission to observe the 2-day pilot voter registration exercise which ended Wednesday 3 June, 2020.
At a press conference held at the EC’s office in Ho, the Volta Regional Secretary of the party, Mr. James Gunu indicated that the decision to observe and take part in the registration exercise does not in any way change the position of the NDC as far as the issue of the compilation of the new Voter’s register is concerned.
“We in the NDC received an invitation from the EC on June 1, 2020 inviting us to participate in the pilot of the Biometric Voter Registration kits and processes. Again, we received a memo from our National Elections Directorate to participate in the process.
We must put on record that the invitation was very clear, and we were very clear in our minds that the purpose was to test the BVR kits and not the compilation of a new voter’s register as some people are seeking to communicate,” he stated.
According to Mr. James Gunu, a decision by Mr. George Loh, a former MP and the Volta Regional Vice Chairman of the party to go through the registration exercise was only intended to get first-hand information on the BVR system being used by the Electoral Commission but not to suggest otherwise.
“…therefore, the decision by the NDC’s reps, including that of the Regional Vice Chairman, Mr. George Loh to subject the process to test by going through it themselves was nothing untoward. We thus call on you to disregard the shameless mischief that is being perpetrated by faceless NPP fanatics on social media over the dummy card issued Hon. George Loh,” he cleared.
He added that “We are also aware that the Electoral Commission must, by law, undertake a limited registration exercise before the December 7 elections, so we did not find testing of BVR kits strange or out of place.”
Mr. Gunu also reiterates their actions do not any way change the position of the NDC regarding the compilation of the new voter’s register.
“I must reiterate our earlier position that the NDC does not support the compilation of a new register for the upcoming general elections,” he emphasised.
Observations of the NDC
According to Mr. Gunu, the party has made a number of observations on the piloted registration exercise, which validates their insistence on the unpreparedness of the Electoral Commission to compile an entirely new register before the December polls.
Among such observations are technical hitches that marred the process in some centers across the 16 regions of the country including the Volta region.
“Apart from the technical hitches and the intermittent breakdown in the registration machines, the filling of the form 1A took an unduly long period of time, after which the applicant had to wait for a considerable length of time for his data to be entered. This also, essentially delays the process unduly.”
Still on the form 1A, Mr. Gunu said the NDC has observed that the form has no serial number.
“The form 1A has no serial number and so can be compromised at any time. Some may however argue that the absence of a serial number on a dummy card is no cause for alarm, since it is a mere test run but the question is should the EC not use the exact documents as will be replicated in a proper registration exercise?, he questioned.
On the final ID card, he said, “It is again noteworthy that just like form 1A, the final card is not serially numbered. There are three digits generated randomly without any logical sequence or pattern; this is very unlike the previous ten digits of the existing voter ID.”
These among many others, Mr. Gunu says makes the Electoral Commission unprepared to go ahead to compile a new Voter register.
He said, “Ladies and Gentlemen of the media, the test run or piloting of the EC’s new voter registration exercise with its attendant technical challenges and Covid-19 vulnerabilities, is an undisputed evidence that the Electoral Commission is both ill-prepared and time-constrained to be able to effectively compile a new voter’s register for the December 2020 general elections,” while adding that, “We thus charge the EC to conduct an extensive character and credibility audit to rid itself of all the credibility deficit that have marred their recent activities.”
What could be worse than succumbing to a disease that would leave a breast ‘rotting’ without any financial strength to help yourself? Being dragged out of the only place you know as home.
43-year-old Agnes Dogbe has cancer in her left breast, a condition that keeps worsening by the day because she is unable to afford the requisite treatment.
“My left nipple is totally gone. There’s a big sore,” she said.
She has two children whom she struggles to feed as her health condition reaches a deteriorating stage with no help on the horizon.
But her landlord of her rented room in Kasoa will have none of that because her rent had expired.
He landlord has taken the keys demanding that she vacates my rotten breast stinks.
Abandoned by her family members, Agnes has nowhere else to go if the ejection materialises.
“I have no one to help me. My family has abandoned me. Even the father of my children is nowhere to be found,” she told Prime Morning host Daniel Dadzie on a visit her soon-to-be former home.
Her friend, Ceilia also explained that “A while ago I came with her to rent this apartment because she wanted to move. After she moved here, we lost contact for close to 5 months so I came to check on her. I saw the illness when it began but I had no idea it would get this bad.”
Agnes used to sell sachet water along the street to fend for her family. According to her, her busy schedule and the need to make ends meet distracted her from from the gradually swelling breast at the onset.
“When I realized it had grown big. I can’t say I noticed it at an early stage. As a mother, my priority is the upkeep of my children.”
Agnes needs help to treat her cancer but she also fears to lose her children if she goes into any form of treatment saying “I was afraid that if I let them see and I was admitted there would be no one to take care of my boys It’s constantly leaking fluid.”
“I was at Korle Bu when my swollen breast ruptured on its own. But I hid it from them.”
She added that: “We hardly had enough to eat. It’s out of the same meager funds that I tried saving to pay the children’s school fees. The father pays when he feels like it.”
“As we speak, I haven’t paid fees for four terms. If the school reopens today, I don’t know if they will be allowed back in,” she explained with tears her eyes.
Spontaneous jubilation by final year students at the University of Ghana greeted the announcement by management that it will continue and end the second semester with its online teaching and learning arrangement.
This follows President Akufo-Addo’s decision to re-open schools for final year JHS, SHS and university students to prepare ahead of their exit examinations.
In his 10th address to the nation on measures taken so far to combat the spread of Covid-19, the President said “From Monday, 15th June, 2020, the decision has been taken, after engagement with the Teacher Unions, whose co-operation I salute, to re-open schools and universities to allow for final-year junior high, senior high and university students to resume classes ahead of the conduct of their respective exit examinations.
But a statement by the university June 4 disclosed that the rest of the academic work will be carried out online as earlier planned with exceptions for final year students with peculiar challenges.
This announcement came off as good news to many of these students with some chanting songs of praise for the university administration.
“When the president first gave the directive for I was so heartbroken because the pandemic was still in town and the risk of me getting it was very high… So when the email came I was very happy about the Vice-Chancellor’s decision,” an elated level 400 lady told student journalist Manuel Koranteng.
The statement by the university management sighted by JoyNews revealed that: “the university’s ongoing Online Teaching and Learning Programme for the second semester of the 2019/2020 academic year will progress as planned,” Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof Nana Aba Appiah Amfo said.
This means that examinations for all students, including final year students, scheduled to commence from June 8 to July 3, 2020 will “proceed as originally planned.”
In anticipation of the various individual non-contact sports beginning training, Sports Minister Isaac Asiamah has outlined how his outfit has overseen the fumigation of all state-owned sporting facilities.
This is part of wider efforts by the government of Ghana. Over the past month, there has been a nationwide fumigation effort of a myriad facilities such as schools, hospitals, and markets.
These have been done to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus, while heralding a return to normalcy.
And now, with President Akufo-Addo, on Sunday, declaring that selected non-contact sports are part of measures to ease restrictions, it has become necessary to ensure similar saftey measures at sporting facilities.
“The [National Sports Authority] together with the Ministry of Youth and Sports has undertaken a nationwide fumigation of all stadia across the country, including offices, spectators’ sitting area, VIP Lounges among others have all been fumigated,” Asiamah said.
Following the ban on all sporting activities in March, state-owned sporting facilities have been closed in that three- month period.
What are non-contact sports?
The Ministry, at briefing, all announced the list of 20 individual non-contact sporting disciplines cleared as a result of the ease of restrictions. It is important to note that competitions for these sports are not allowed. However, only training regimes are permitted, for now.
By definition, “non-contact sports are those where participants should have no possible means of touching,” Asiamah said.
“Non-contact sports are those where participants should have no possible means of touching. In view of the nature of the COVD-19 pandemic, team sports do not qualify for exemption because of non-adherence to physical distancing.”
The United States Ambassador to Ghana Stephanie Sullivan has expressed outrage at the killing death a black man George Floyd in Minneapolis.
The 46-year-old was died at the hands of a police officer with pinned him to the ground with a knee on his neck for allegedly resisting arrest May 25, 2020.
His demise has sparked public uproar amid protests in states of the US against and police brutality against injustices against minority races in the country.
One of the officers has earlier been charged with third-degree murder following agitation after they were sacked from the force.
In a statement, Mrs Sullivan solidarised with Floyd’s family and friends.
She explained that “no one is above the law,” adding that “this incident is prompting important and necessary conversations in the United States, and servers as a reminder of the importance of confronting painful truths head-on, and of addressing the underlying conditions and existing systems that perpetuate racial injustices as we, as Americans, strive to form a more perfect union.”
United States Ambassador to Ghana Stephanie Sullivan
Meanwhile, new charges have been levelled against all of the sacked police officers present at the death of African American, George Floyd, in Minneapolis.
Court documents reveal the charge against Derek Chauvin has been elevated to second-degree murder, court documents show.
The other three officers, previously uncharged, face counts of aiding and abetting murder.
The National Council of the governing New Patriotic Party has endorsed the candidature of President Akufo-Addo as the flagbearer of the party for the December polls.
The decision was announced by the General Secretary of the party John Boadu at the end of the Council’s meeting which had the President in attendance Wednesday.
Announcing the decision, Mr Boadu said: “the national council has endorsed the candidature of President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo as flagbearer of our party for the 2020 presidential elections and we will officially do the acclamation on an announced date”
He said the party will also hold its parliamentary primaries in the 168 constituencies that have sitting Members of Parliament on June 20 in all designated electoral areas across the country.
He added the decision to have the primaries in the electoral areas is to ensure that the safety protocols are adhered to in order to protect party delegates.
The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has launched a media community-based Covid-19 anti-stigma campaign.
Mayor, Osei-Asibey Antwi said the move is to stem the growing incidents of stigma against Covid-19 persons.
“Survivors of the virus have come to face to face with the unfortunate challenge of being stigmatised by members of their communities to the extent that they and their families are treated like outcasts,” he said.
“The phenomenon we have realised may be done out of fear, anxiety and a lack of proper understanding of the epidemiology of the disease,” he noted.
It’s under the theme ‘Help stop Covid-19 stigmatisation and discrimination, together we shall overcome’.
Simon Osei-Mensah, the Ashanti Regional Minister, observed that the difficulty in finding isolation centres has been as a result of stigma.
“Covid-19 patient hiding their status spell doom for the country. Nobody would want to give us a place for isolation centres. That hasn’t helped in spreading the disease,” he said.
The campaign will take place in the form of drama, poetry recitals, and community outreach among others.
It is supported by Bloomberg philanthropies and vital strategies through the “partnership for healthy cities Covid-19 response initiatives,” aimed at helping cities navigate the new normal.
The campaign is meant to educate, debunk false information on Covid-19 and elicit behavioural change towards people living with Covid-19.
Of the over 1300, Covid-19 cases in the region, 37 per cent are asymptomatic.
Dr Akosua Gyimah Omari-Sasu, the Metro Health Director has, therefore, called for continuous support to help in contact tracing.
“The fight is not yet over. More support is needed as we brace ourselves for the gradual easing of the restrictions that were imposed.
“The health facilities require a continuous supply of PPE, hand sanitizers and other logistics to work and I appeal to all to support the health directorate in these institutions in this fight,” she appealed.
Dr Oheneba Owusu-Danso, the CEO of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, dispelled the notion instilling Covid-19 fear in the people is the solution.
He believes disseminating knowledge is crucial in curbing the spread of the scare.
Greater Accra Regional Director of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Bernard Brown has said that there has been an 80 percent increase in mobile renewal cases in the NHIS as of March 31, 2020.
“Mobile renewal has decreased crowded offices, long queue due to this innovation, making it easier to observe the social distancing,” he said.
He made these known during the first quarter performance review of the Scheme in its 16 districts in the Greater Accra Region.
Mr Brown said though the outbreak of the pandemic has affected its performance, the mobile renewal system has made up for its loss.
All the offices, except those of the Dangbe East (Ada) and Dangbe West (Dodowa) were not closed during the shut-down due to the disease.
The Regional Director, comparing the performance of 2019 and 2020 of the same period, said there has been a marginal increase of 5,000 active members (those whose cards can access health care) and the number is still counting.
When the offices re-opened they attended to the vulnerable including pregnant women and children under five, adding that it was done in phases.
He urged the district officers to scale-up to achieve the two million set target for 2020 as they get every Ghanaian on board by not limiting the registrations to the offices but reach out to the people in their various communities.
Ensure that the protocols were strictly adhered to, get yourselves prepared if there are any community engagements, while making sure the preventive protocols were followed.
He said Management would address the inconsistency in the supply of ID cards among other challenges that stood in the way of making people have access to health care through the scheme.
Mr Elliot Apraku Asante, Operations Manager for the Scheme, said the national target for the year under review is 14,177,004 and that of Accra is 2,022,306.
He said the region recorded a decline in performance of 90 percent in the last quarter of 2019, stating that Ashanti Region achieved the highest membership target of 91.41 whilst Greater Accra was tenth on the table with 83.26 percent as Oti Region recorded the least with 59.93 percent.
He said the best district in Accra was Adenta and worse was Ablekuma, saying some districts; Ayawaso, Dangbe East and Weija performed below average.
Cabinet has approved Park Agrotech Limited, a Ghanaian company in the agribusiness sector, as the preferred strategic investor for the Komenda Sugar Factory, Mr Alan Kyerematen, Minister of Trade and Industry, announced on Wednesday.
He told Parliament, in Accra, that Agrotech was expected to work with STM Projects Limited, an Indian company with extensive experience in the management and operation of Sugar Mills and plantations both in India and other parts of the world.
“Mr Speaker, following the approval by Cabinet as required by conventional practice, the Transaction Advisors entered into final negotiations with the successful bidder with the view to entering into concession agreement for the operations of the Komenda Sugar Factory,” the Trade and Industry Minister said.
Mr Kyerematen was responding to a question by Mr Samuel Abdulai Jabanyite, Member of Parliament for Chereponi on behalf of Mr Yusif Suleman, MP for Bole, on the current state of the Komenda Sugar Factory.
The Minister said over first three years of the agreement, Agrotech would invest $28 million in capital expenditure and working capital, including paying an annual concession fee of US$3.3 million for a period of 15 years.
The Agreement would be effective upon completion of Condition Precedent, which includes the approval of the Agreement by Parliament, adding that the required documentation would be brought to the House in due course.
The Minister said during the final negotiations it became necessary for action on the implementation of the project to be delayed until the finalization of the National Sugar Policy, which was intended to provide the strategic policy framework for the implementation of the project.
He explained that after series of extensive stakeholders’ consultations, the National Sugar Policy was finally approved by Cabinet in 2019”.
Mr Kyerematen also stated that the approval of the Sugar Policy paved the way for the Concessionaire to be formally introduced to the Chiefs and Elders of the Komenda Traditional area in November, 2019.
He informed the House that the formal agreement between Park Agrotech Limited and Komenda Sugar Development Company Limited had now been executed.
The Minority in Parliament has formally filed a petition with the Auditor-General to audit government expenditure on food and water government supplied to the vulnerable during the three week COVID-19 partial lockdown period.
The petition invokes Section 16 of the Audit Service Act, 2000 (Act 584), and calls on the Auditor-General to undertake a Special Audit into the expenditure on the GHS 280.3 million that was allocated for the provision of food and water under the Coronavirus Alleviation Program (CAP).
The Petition jointly signed by the Ranking Member on Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson and Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak further indicates that the audit they anticipate will clear all doubts about how the funds were utilised.
NDC calls for probe
On Monday, June 1, 2020, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) at a press conference called for a special audit into the GHS280.3 million that was allocated by the government for the provision of food, water and sanitation under the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme (CAP).
Ato Forson who addressed the press said this is important in view of the “unprecedented levels of profligacy, waste and corruption Ghanaians have witnessed under the Akufo-Addo government in the last three and a half years”.
On 8th April 2020, the Minister of Finance, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, presented to the Finance Committee of Parliament the government’s Coronavirus Alleviation Programme (CAP) in which he indicated that the government was going to spend GHS1.2 billion to cushion Ghanaians against the socio-economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
The breakdown of the GHS1.2 billion included an allocation of GHS40 million for the provision of food packages and hot meals and an allocation of GHS40 million to the Ghana Buffer Stock Company for the provision of dry food to support vulnerable communities in lockdown areas.
A further GHS200 million was allocated for the provision of water and sanitation, including the mobilisation of all publicly and privately owned water tankers to ensure the supply of water to all vulnerable communities. All the three allocations amounted GHS280.3 million.
Information on expenditure not yet provided
Mr. Ato Forson said even though the lockdown, which was imposed on Accra, Tema, Kasoa and Greater Kumasi lasted for three weeks, and ended over a month ago, the government has not provided any information to either Parliament or the general public on how the funds were utilised.
“The low coverage and haphazard implementation of these interventions during the lockdown period, specifically the distribution of free hot meals and dry food to the vulnerable, as well as the supply of tankers of water to deprived households, give us cause for concern that these funds were not judiciously utilised by the government,” he added.
He stated that a special audit into government’s expenditure under the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme was imperative given media reports that state-sponsored COVID relief items meant for the vulnerable, have found their way onto the market.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) says it is surprised over concerns raised with regards to the number of teachers and space for academic work following the resumption of school for final year students in the country.
Its Director-General, Prof. Kwasi Opoku -Amankwa says there is enough infrastructure as well as teaching staff to ensure the adherence of social distancing during the partial reopening of Junior and Senior High schools amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many have questioned President Akufo-Addo’s directive on the reopening of schools for final year students and the guidelines announced thereof arguing that, it seems impractical given the inadequacy of teachers, classroom and dormitory space to accommodate the large number of students who are expected to return to school for their final examinations.
Among the advisories is that class size for final year SHS students should not be more than 25 students and not more than 30 students in the case of Junior High Schools.
Additionally, all-day students in boarding schools will now be accommodated into the boarding house.
Prof. Opoku Amankwa says the situation can be easily managed much more than the impossibility being anticipated.
“For our classes in secondary schools, it is about 50 to 60 students per class. So we are looking at half of that class. It shouldn’t go beyond 30 because we want to ensure that we have the minimum spacing in the classroom and dormitory. Now, they have all the dorms at their disposal. Now that we don’t have all the streams in there, it means we have enough space. As far as teachers are concerned, I think we have enough teachers to be doing this. We have teachers on the double track and those teaching form ones and twos who can always help to ensure that teaching and learning go on”, he told Bernard Avle on the Point of View on Citi TV.
The GES Director added that, consultations are going to be held among stakeholders on the agreed measures to be adopted in dealing with challenges that may arise as a result of the new provisions.
“I am surprised at this because on average, we do 70-30 percent boarding and day for all our schools. So I will be very surprised that there will be a school without enough boarding facilities. When we meet the CHASS on Monday, we have requested that they bring the details of the number of teachers, students, classes and dormitories that they have -they are bringing all those details so that we work them out to see the permutations. Once we see the permutations and there are challenges with the numbers, we will think around it”, he assured.
Gov’t to fund disinfection of schools
Also, Dr. Opoku-Amankwa has disclosed that the cost of the mandatory fumigation of public and private schools and the provision of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities ahead of the reopening will be fully borne by the government.
“All of the things that need to be satisfied, the government has agreed to make funds for that. One of the key things is that we have to disinfect the schools, and the government is ready to make funds available for that. So the WASH Facilities government is going to fund that.”
Schools across the country have been reopened solely for final year students as part of measures to ease restrictions in Ghana’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
After almost 10 weeks of closure, final year Senior High Schools (SHS) students are now to return to school on Monday, June 22, 2020, whereas their counterparts in Junior High Schools (JHS) go back to school on Monday, June 29, 2020.
Ras Mubarak has revealed former President John Mahama will announce his running mate for the December polls in the coming days.
According to the Kumbungu MP, both the candidate and the party are ready to disclose who to partner the NDC flagbearer as the country nears the elections.
“The announcement will be made in the coming days now that the restrictions on public gathering have been relaxed. The candidate is ready and the party is also ready so in the coming days the announcement will be made,” he told Bola Ray on Starr Chat Wednesday.
He, however, added the former President does not need a running-mate who will be seeking to be President after him.
” He does not need a distraction. Not someone who will be marketing himself for the 2024 elections when we have a job to do. A young running mate will be promoting himself and competition for the next election. Bot Kwesi Botwe and Dr. Duffuor will be exciting running mate choice. You need stability, somebody who will be focused and not trying to be popular when there is still work to be done”.
Meanwhile, the National Council of the governing New Patriotic Party has endorsed the candidature of President Akufo-Addo as the flagbearer of the party for the December polls.
The decision was announced by the General Secretary of the party John Boadu at the end of the Council’s meeting which had the President in attendance Wednesday.
Announcing the decision, Mr Boadu said: “the national council has endorsed the candidature of President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo as flagbearer of our party for the 2020 presidential elections and we will officially do the acclamation on an announced date”
He said the party will also hold its parliamentary primaries in the 168 constituencies that have sitting Members of Parliament on June 20 in all designated electoral areas across the country.
He added the decision to have the primaries in the electoral areas is to ensure that the safety protocols are adhered to in order to protect party delegates.
The soldier, former paratrooper Shiron Eisenberg, deserves a special grant from the IDF to help him with his rent during the coronavirus outbreak – he never got it.
IDF Nahal troops complete Gaza war simulation
(photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON’S UNIT)
Former IDF lone soldier Shiron Eisenberg, who served as a paratrooper and recently lost his job in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, took to Twitter on Wednesday, releasing a video asking for help getting the grant he should have already gotten.
צחי דבוש@TsahiDabush
מביש
כבר שבועיים שירון אייזנברג, חייל בודד משוחרר מהצנחנים שעלה מדרום אפריקה כדי לשרת בצה״ל ופוטר מעבודתו בקורונה, מתקשר מידי יום למשרד הביטחון כדי לקבל את מענק הקורונה של 4,000 ש״ח לו הוא זכאי וכה זקוק. כל פעם מקבל תירוץ חדש, ועד עכשיו הפקידים במשרד הביטחון מסרבים לאשר לו
“I finished my army service four months ago,” he explained, “and it has been two weeks since I presented the IDF with all the papers needed to get the coronavirus grant to help with the rent.”
He went on to explain he never got the text message meant to inform him he was eligible for the grant, and that the IDF did not even confirm that they received the papers he submitted.
“After I sent [the papers] a thousand times, they have a new excuse each time. They don’t know what happened, they don’t know what the status of the request is, it’s all being looked at.”
Appealing to the viewers, he said “I really need your help to solve this and progress in the best way to get this grant that was promised.”
Lone soldiers are those who left their family behind in their country of origin when coming to Israel. The government decided on May 13 to offer a grant to the tune of NIS 4,000 to help people in the same situation as Eisenberg.
The video was shared by Army Radio military reporter Tshai Dabush via Twitter with the headline “disgraceful.”
“Even now, the desk clerks at the Defense Ministry refuse to approve [this grant] for him,” he wrote.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, has disclosed that gospel musician and prophetess Cecilia Marfo is the next person on his list with whom he will deal in his fight against fake prophets.
According to the MP, who in recent times has taken it upon himself to expose fake pastors in Ghana, Madam Marfo spits into people’s mouth as part of her healing process.
Speaking on The Seat on Net2 TV on Monday, he described her act as unhealthy, and therefore, swore to deal with the gospel musician just as he is dealing with the founder and leader of God’s Way International Church, Bishop Daniel Obinim.
“We cannot allow this woman, especially in the era of COVID-19, to be spitting into people’s mouths. It is so disgusting. Are you mad?” he said in an angry tone.
“Get ready; I’ll face you. You’re deceiving the public, deceiving the people in this country. When I start with Cecilia Marfo, I don’t want anybody to come and tell me that she is a woman,” he cautioned.
“I saw a video of what she has done and it is so disgusting,” he added.
Ghanaian actress Vivian Jill has revealed that she will not accept any movie role that requires her to act as a mermaid or river goddess, known in local parlance as ‘Maame Water’.
She told Nana Romeo Welewele on Accra100.5 FM’s Ayekoo Ayekoo show that she would not accept any more of such roles because they were evil.
She added that even though the movie industry was not booming as it used to, some movie directors and actors were still on set and still in business.
She stated vehemently that she would reject any ‘Maame Water’ script from any movie director.
Recounting her experience on the aftermath of acting one such role, the beautiful actress said, “I won’t play such roles again. A certain child watched one of such movies and one day upon seeing me, began screaming violently and fell to the ground.”
She also revealed that the most difficult acting role she has played in her career was the role of a fetish priestess. According to her, even though she was clueless about the role, she watched videos that helped her match up to the task on the set.
She added, however, that the fetish priestess role in ‘Wahala’ took a toll on her so much that she felt weak for three days because of the rigorous action involved.
“It was difficult because even with my heavy weight, I had to be running around and jumping. Almost all the scenes were like that. When I got home, it took me like three whole days to regain my strength. I couldn’t even squat and my mother even asked me to quit”, she said.
The actress, also an entrepreneur, has starred in a good number of movies in Ghana. Notable among them are Wahala and True Colour.
