Journalists Without Borders

06/07/2020

Get Registered but also remember to stay safe by wearing face masks and observing social distance....

30/06/2020

Ensure your safety NOW!!!!!

30/06/2020

Lets learn to keep the city clean....

30/06/2020

OUR LIVES AND THE LIVES OF OTHERS ARE IN OUR HANDS...
LET'S END THE FILTH NOW!!!!!!

30/06/2020

GHANA -DEVASTATING FLOODS HIT ACCRA AGAIN

02/06/2020

BERNARD MORNAH FACES CID TODAY OVER ALLEGED THREATS AGAINST EC.

The National Chairman of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Bernard Mornah is expected to later today [Tuesday] honour an invitation from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) over some pronouncements he allegedly made against the Electoral Commission (EC) deemed to be threats.
Mr. Mornah’s comment is related to the controversial issue of the compilation of a new voters’ register.

The CID on Thursday, May 28, 2020, issued the invitation to the PNC National Chairman who is quoted to have said that he will resist every attempt by the EC to compile the new register.

“People who are already Ghanaians and already registered are going to be taken out of the voters’ register. Don’t think confusion will come at the registration station but if confusion comes there, you think the EC staff will be safe? We will beat each other there and we will kill each other there if that is what the EC wants to lead this nation to,” Mr. Mornah is quoted to have said at a press conference organized by the Inter-Party Resistance Against New Register (IPRAN) on May 26, 2020.

“I have said that if the Electoral Commission is intending to lead us through this dangerous path, they should know that there will be confusion…It is a caution. If caution becomes threats, I will not run away from it,” he stated.
“A caution cannot represent a threat but if they take it as a threat, then I may have to bring my English teacher to tell them that cautions are not threats,” he added.

He further emphasized his view that the Electoral Commission’s posturing concerning the compilation of the new voters’ register must not be condoned.

“The EC is slitting our democracy and we must do everything to resist it and we will resist it.”
“There is nothing that will allow you to sit down and allow this EC to slit our democracy away from the peace and stability that we have enjoyed so when we are telling them and alerting them that their actions can lead us unto a perilous path and you say we are threatening, I don’t know. I will visit the CID,” he noted.

02/06/2020

GOVERNMENT OUTLINES PROTOCOLS FOR MOSQUES.

Thermometer guns must be provided for checking the temperature of members at entry points.
There should be notices communicating ‘No facemask No entry’ policy.
There should be the provisions of handwashing facilities with running water and soap and FDA-approved alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Provision of waste management facilities with bins, bin liners, and single-use tissue.
Provision of adequate toilet facilities for use as members.
Regularly cleaning of frequently used communal places, toilet use surfaces and frequently used surfaces such as doorknobs or handles preferably every one to two hours depending on the rate of utilization
Designate a waiting room or area where a person who becomes sick at the premises or at an event can be isolated from others while making preparations from evacuation.
Regular cleaning of places where churches use for service at least once every month. For example, fumigation and disinfection must be carried out by recognised entities.
Professional cleaners with the necessary Personal Protective Equipment and cleaning items to clean the facilities regularly and handle waste appropriately.
Provide adequate ventilation by opening windows to allow for the maximum circulation of fresh air. If possible, avoid confined air-condition rooms.
Display approved promotion materials on COVID-19 at vantage points to remind members to keep to social distancing protocol
Wearing of mask
Regular handwashing, coughing, and sneezing etiquettes.
Ensure a no handshake, no hugging, and no spitting policy at all times.
Follow established evacuation procedures to enable evacuation of a participant, if a participant becomes sick during the event and has to be evacuated.
Mosques are to form COVID-19 a Task Force comprising of members who are preferably health workers. They must be trained in health preventive measures, infection prevention, and control and evacuation procedures like the Ghana Health Service.
Unwell persons are not allowed to attend the Mosque.
Elderly persons and people of any age with underlying medical conditions, heart diseases, diabetes, fever disease are advised to stay away from prayers.
Sharing personal items such as watches, jewellery, a purse, a phone should be discouraged.
If any individual is confirmed positive for COVID-19, all contacts must be traced and screened.
Mosques are to ensure each worshipper uses their own mat or disinfected mat.
Ablution should be performed at home before heading to the Mosque.
Worshipers are to use easily removable footwear such as slippers.
Allow people to come out of the Mosque to collect slippers one after the other instead of crowding at the entrance.
Bowls for offering are to be placed at the entrance of the Mosques.
Microphones are to be sanitised immediately after use.
Mosques are to spend at least five minutes of worship time on COVID-19 sensitisation.

02/06/2020

GOVERNMENT OUTLINES PROTOCOLS FOR MOSQUES FOLLOWING THE EASING OF RESTRICTIONS.

Thermometer guns must be provided for checking the temperature of members at entry points.
There should be notices communicating ‘No facemask No entry’ policy.
There should be the provisions of handwashing facilities with running water and soap and FDA-approved alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Provision of waste management facilities with bins, bin liners, and single-use tissue.
Provision of adequate toilet facilities for use as members.
Regularly cleaning of frequently used communal places, toilet use surfaces and frequently used surfaces such as doorknobs or handles preferably every one to two hours depending on the rate of utilization
Designate a waiting room or area where a person who becomes sick at the premises or at an event can be isolated from others while making preparations from evacuation.
Regular cleaning of places where churches use for service at least once every month. For example, fumigation and disinfection must be carried out by recognised entities.
Professional cleaners with the necessary Personal Protective Equipment and cleaning items to clean the facilities regularly and handle waste appropriately.
Provide adequate ventilation by opening windows to allow for the maximum circulation of fresh air. If possible, avoid confined air-condition rooms.
Display approved promotion materials on COVID-19 at vantage points to remind members to keep to social distancing protocol
Wearing of mask
Regular handwashing, coughing, and sneezing etiquettes.
Ensure a no handshake, no hugging, and no spitting policy at all times.
Follow established evacuation procedures to enable evacuation of a participant, if a participant becomes sick during the event and has to be evacuated.
Mosques are to form COVID-19 a Task Force comprising of members who are preferably health workers. They must be trained in health preventive measures, infection prevention, and control and evacuation procedures like the Ghana Health Service.
Unwell persons are not allowed to attend the Mosque.
Elderly persons and people of any age with underlying medical conditions, heart diseases, diabetes, fever disease are advised to stay away from prayers.
Sharing personal items such as watches, jewellery, a purse, a phone should be discouraged.
If any individual is confirmed positive for COVID-19, all contacts must be traced and screened.
Mosques are to ensure each worshipper uses their own mat or disinfected mat.
Ablution should be performed at home before heading to the Mosque.
Worshipers are to use easily removable footwear such as slippers.
Allow people to come out of the Mosque to collect slippers one after the other instead of crowding at the entrance.
Bowls for offering are to be placed at the entrance of the Mosques.
Microphones are to be sanitised immediately after use.
Mosques are to spend at least five minutes of worship time on COVID-19 sensitisation.

02/06/2020

RELIGIOUS RESTRICTIONS EASED.
The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has eased the restrictions imposed on religious activities in the country.

He announced this on Sunday, May 31, 2020, during his tenth address to the nation on measures taken against the spread of the coronavirus disease.
During the address, the President directed religious activities to commence beginning Friday, June 5 for Muslims, Saturday, June 6 for Adventists, and Sunday, June 7 for the remaining religious sects, all with only a maximum of 100 persons in a church or mosque.

“As I stated in my May Day address, I’m now in a position to outline the roadmap for easing safely the restrictions. Ours is going to be a phased approach involving a selective list of public gatherings based on the risk profile, socio-economic effect and most importantly, our capacity to enforce, respond and prevent a flare-up in our number of infections. With effect from Friday, 5th June, we will begin stage one of the process of easing restrictions. An abridged format for religious services can commence. Twenty-five percent attendance with a maximum number of congregants can worship at a time in church or mosque with the mandatory one-meter rule of social distancing between congregants,” he noted.

“In addition to the mandatory wearing of masks for all persons at all times in churches and mosques, a register of names and contact details of all worshippers and handwashing facilities and sanitisers must be provided, with a maximum duration of one hour for each service,” he added.

The Minister for Religious Affairs is expected to address the nation on Monday, 1st June to outline, in detail, the specific guidelines for the safe reopening of our churches and mosques.

02/06/2020

RE-OPENING OF CHURCHES AND MOSQUES FROM JUNE 5 -100 CONGREGANTS AT A TIME

President Akufo-Addo has announced in his tenth address to the nation as part of easing Covid-19 restrictions that,only 100 worshipers can worship in churches, mosques and other places of worship from June 5.

However, Religious bodies are to make 25 percent attendance.The leaders of these bodies are, expected to ensure their members adhere to proper social distancing protocols during worship.

Veronica buckets are also to be provided for congregants to wash their hands and hand sanitisers provided.

He added masks are also to be worn by all worshipers and all services are to last for a maximum of one hour.

“Religious institutions that are desirous of opening their premises to their members, such as churches, mosques and others, must disinfect, fumigate and put in place the requisite logistics needed to guarantee safe opening and operation", he said.

01/06/2020

REOPENING OF CHURCHES AND MOSQUES FROM JUNE 5 -100 CONGREGANTS AT A TIME.

President Akufo-Addo has announced in his tenth address to the nation as part of easing Covid-19 restrictions that, only 100 worshipers can worship in churches, mosques and other places of worship effective June 5.

However, Religious bodies are to make 25 percent attendance. Also leaders of these bodies are, expected to ensure their members adhere to proper social distancing protocols during worship.

Veronica buckets are also to be provided for congregants to wash their hands and hand sanitisers provided.

He added masks are also to be worn by all worshipers and all services are to last for a maximum of one hour.

“Religious institutions that are desirous of opening their premises to their members, such as churches, mosques and others, must disinfect, fumigate and put in place the requisite logistics needed to guarantee safe opening and operation", he said.

01/06/2020

RE-OPENING OF CHURCHES AND MOSQUES FROM JUNE 5 -100 CONGREGANTS AT A TIME

President Akufo-Addo has announced in his tenth address to the nation as part of easing Covid-19 restrictions that, only 100 worshipers can worship in churches, mosques and other places of worship from June 5.

However, Religious bodies are to make 25 percent attendance.The leaders of these bodies are, expected to ensure their members adhere to proper social distancing protocols during worship.

Veronica buckets are also to be provided for congregants to wash their hands and hand sanitisers provided.He added masks are also to be worn by all worshipers and all services are to last for a maximum of one hour.

“Religious institutions that are desirous of opening their premises to their members, such as churches, mosques and others, must disinfect, fumigate and put in place the requisite logistics needed to guarantee safe opening and operation", he said.

23/05/2020

COVID-19 :TEN CELL INMATES AT TEMA TEST POSITIVE.

Ten inmates at Tema have tested positive for Coronavirus.

Tema Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Edward Johnson Akrofi-Oyirifi, made the disclosure on the sidelines of a disinfection and fumigation exercise which took place in the regional command on Thursday, May 21, 2020.

According to him, of the ten COVID-19 inmates, nine were from Ashaiman cells while one was recorded in a cell in Kpone.

23/05/2020

PLANS TO REOPEN SECONDARY SCHOOLS MUST BEGIN WITH FINAL YEAR STUDENTS - CHASS

The Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) has said any intention to reopen schools has to be done beginning with final year students to ensure that Secondary schools do not become risk areas for contracting COVID-19.

The National President of CHASS, Alhaji Yacoub Abubakari in a Citi News interview suggested that, when the schools are reopened “the students and teachers who are supposed to come to the schools should first be screened and their status known.”

“Those who are negative, they are welcome to come to school and those who are seen to be positive, immediately the necessary measures are taken to treat them. While the students are in school, we have also requested that certain things should be put in place to ensure the safety of the students. Schools, in general, have crowded situations so we have suggested that given the current situation that we are in with COVID-19 we should first of all start by allowing the final year students to come.”I

23/05/2020

COVID-19: GHANA’S CASE HITS 6,486.1,951 RECOVERIES.

COVID-19 case count in Ghana has increased to 6,486 from the 6,269 announced last Wednesday.This update represents 217 new cases confirmed in the country.

The update indicates that 53 more people have recovered from the virus, putting the total number of persons who have recovered from COVID-19 in Ghana at 1,951.

A look at the Regional breakdown

Greater Accra Region – 4,699
Ashanti Region – 988
Central Region – 287
Western Region – 195
Eastern Region – 106
Western North Region – 57
Volta Region – 44
Northern Region – 34
Oti Region – 26
Upper East Region – 26
Upper West Region – 21
North East Region – 2
Bono Region – 1

23/05/2020

KUWAIT GOVERNMENT TO DEPORT 245 GHANAIANS.

The government of kuwait has said it will deport Ghanaians who are currently living in kuwait illegally.

This comes after President Nana Akuffo-aAddo had called for an extention of closure of the country's borders effect March 22, 2020.

The Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah at a special press briefing on Friday, May 22, 2020 made the announcement that, the government is granting the special permit based on a request by the Kuwaiti Government.

He added, that 245 deportees are expected to arrive in the country on Saturday, May 23, 2020.

“The Government of Kuwait has informed the Government of Ghana of an intention to deport some 245 Ghanaians who are currently in Kuwait illegally. The Government of Kuwait has further requested permission from the Government of Ghana to bring these persons into the Ghanaian jurisdiction on Saturday 23rd May 2020. The Government of Ghana has subsequently granted a special permit for the admission of the said deportees to Ghana. This deportation is to be executed via a special charter flight arrangement at the cost of the Kuwaiti Government,” He said.

18/05/2020

WISSAM AL MONTHIRY TAKES OVER AS KWAKU AWOTWE RETIRES AS MD/EVP.

18/05/2020

COVID-19 PANDEMIC: 9,000 GUESTHOUSE AND HOTEL WORKERS HAVE BEEN LEFT JOBLESS .

18/05/2020

Music industry will bounce back 100% after covid-19 - MZVEE

18/05/2020

REGENT UNIVERSITY:COURT ORDERS AUTIONING OF REGENT UNIVERSTY PROPERTIES TO PAY $1MILLION DEBT

18/05/2020

18/05/2020

MAN CUTS OFF 10 YEAR OLD SON'S EAR FOR STEALING GHCEDIS 250. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AT OBUOM-DOMEABRA

19/04/2020

PREZ LIFTS LOCKDOWN, STILL BANS SOCIAL GATHERINGS.

President Nana Akuffo-Addo has lifted imposition to movement of persons within some parts of the country.

He said, the decision was taken to give government the opportunity to contain the spread of the virus, scale up effectively, the tracing of persons who have come into contact with effected persons, test them for the virus, and quarantine those who tested positive so they can be isolated for treatment.

According to him, with Ghana having received the test results of some 68,591 contacts, and with the majority of tests being undertaken over the last 3 weeks, 1,042 persons, i.e. 1.5%, have been confirmed as positive, with 67,549, i.e. 98.5%, testing negative.

Moreover, 99 persons have recovered and have been discharged, and 930 persons who have been isolated are responding to treatment either in their homes or in treatment facilities. These 930 persons after their treatment will soon undergo mandatory test to determine if they have also recovered from the virus or otherwise.

President Akuffo-Addo explained that, the main reason Ghana has seen increase in the number of confirmed cases over the last three weeks, is because of the aggressive decision by government to trace and test contacts of infected persons. "This has enabled us to identify and isolate infected persons, protect the population from further infections and contain better the spread of the virus", he said.

The President continued, “Indeed, Ghana is the only other country in Africa to have conducted more than 60,000 tests, and we are ranked number one in Africa in administering of tests per million people and the decision to impose restrictions on movememt was backed by the data at hand and our next cause of action again, is backed by data and by science".

Government intends to achieve five key objectives amid covid-19. First, limit and stop the importation of the virus, contain the spread, provide adequate care for the sick, limit the impact of the virus on social and economic life and inspire the expansion of our domestic capability and deepen our self reliance.

President Akuffo-Addo said, government has also introduced drones, to expedite the transportation of samples to laboratory centres. "So far it has been established that, the virus is imported into our midst from foreign shores and it is being spread through person to person contact", he added.

President Akufo-Addo explained that “in view of our ability to undertake aggressive contact tracing of infected persons, the enhancement of our capacity to test, the expansion in the numbers of our treatment and isolation centres, our better understanding of the dynamism of the virus, the ramping up of our domestic capacity to produce our own personal protective equipment, sanitisers and medicines, the modest successes chalked at containing the spread of the virus in Accra and Kumasi, and the severe impact on the poor and vulnerable, I have taken the decision to lift the three-week-old restriction on movements in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area and Kasoa, and the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area and its contiguous districts, with effect from 1 am on Monday, 20th April.”

Th country’s borders remain closed.Also, the ban on social gatherings, including religious gatherings as well as the strict adherence to social distancing protocol, remain in place, the President said.

19/04/2020

Partial lockdown lifted, with effect from Monday.

18/04/2020

COVID-19: 99 RECOVER FROM CORONAVIRUS AS CASES LEAPS TO 834.

Ghana brings to a total of 99 persons who have recovered from the deadly corona virus.

Meanwhile, case count has increased to 834 after 193 new cases were recorded from various parts of the country. This is the highest jump in the recording of new cases by the Ghana Health Service.

18/04/2020

DEVICE A SCHEME FOR TENANTS WHO ARE UNABLE TO PAY RENTS -JOHN MAMAHA.

Former president of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, has called on government and property owners to come to the aid of tenants who are facing difficulties in paying their rent.

He said, government must put a freeze on ejections and rents to ease the pressure on tenants who have lost their daily income to the lockdown. The lockdown, a result of government movement restriction of non-essential workers, including Greater Accra, kumasi, have confined most people to their homes, hence, finding difficulties to make ends meet.

Mahama made this comment after he had an encounter with a woman on Thursday, following his visit to communities to present food items to some households.

According to the former President, his interaction with a woman pointed out she either pays rent for February and March or face ejection.

He mentioned, that, most people have lost their income to the lockdown, and as a result, unable to pay their rents. Government should devise a scheme to come to the aid of these tenants. He added.

His post read" On Thursday I spent the afternoon visiting one of the communities on the outskirts of Accra to present food items to some households. From my interactions with the people, one that struck me most was the concern of a young woman that her landlord is demanding the rent for February and March or she faces ejection. She’s been home for a while due to the lockdown and cannot raise the funds to pay. Rent, as we have learnt from other countries is one of the key areas government intervention is required in mitigating the impact of COVID-19.

In Ghana, properties are privately owned and rents are paid for several years in advance. Government and property owners would have to devise a scheme to come to the aid of tenants who are unable to pay their rents.
A moratorium on ejections as a first step will be helpful to many who have lost their daily income as a result of the lockdown. In return, I believe Government can compensate landlords and landladies for any income lost through tax reliefs, exemptions among others.

18/04/2020

CHIEF OF STAFF TO NIGERIAN PRESIDENT DIES FROM CORONA VIRUS

The Nigerian president’s chief of staff, Abba Kyari, has died of corona virus on Friday, two presidency spokesmen said on twitter.

Kyari, in his 70s, was the highest-profile COVID-19 death in the West African country.Kyari, had health problems including diabetes and was the top official aide to 77-year-old President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The Presidency regrets to announce the passage of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari,” said presidency spokesman Garba Shehu in a tweet.

“The deceased had tested positive to the ravaging Covid-19, and had been receiving treatment. But he died on Friday, April 17, 2020,” he said in a second post on Twitter.

17/04/2020

TEMA OIL REFINERY MD RESIGNS

The Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery, Asante Berko, on Wednesday, 15th April, resigned from office following an alleged bribe of making illegal payments to gain approval for power plant project in Ghana.

Mr. Berko was charged by the US Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), for arranging up to $4.5million to help a Turkish company to win a contract for a powerplant, which was said to be approved in 2015, when Ghana faced power crisis.

The former Goldman Sacchs executive, has, however, refuted the SEC's allegations and said in a release on Tuesday, that the SEC's claims are "false".
"I state categorically that I have not paid any bribes to government officials, Members of parliament nor any officials of Parliamemt. I have no contract with members of parliament nor officials of parliament, regarding the approval of this transaction".

The SEC alleges that Mr. Berko, a former executive of the Goldman Sachs in London, paid bribes to Ghanaian government officials to approve of an electrical power plant project by helping a client to arrange at least $2.5million to pay these unlawful bribes.

"I intend to contest the proceedings to clear my good name", he added.

15/04/2020