Category: General

The Health Service (GHS) and UNICEF have launched a new mobile application, ‘Cranky Uncle Game’ in Accra to tackle misinformation and address vaccine hesitancy in Ghana.

The digital technology is a global app adapted to the Ghanaian situation to equip players with tools to learn, identify and debunk tricks and tactics employed by conspiracy theorists on vaccination.

It is a user-friendly, exciting, and interactive game for everyone, made available in six local languages.

The launch of the Cranky Uncle Vaccine game was on the theme: ‘Leveraging Technology to Combat Vaccine Misinformation’.

Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director General, GHS, said embracing innovation and technology in the promotion of health was necessary, hence the introduction of the technology to help address issues of vaccine hesitancy, which had been a worrying phenomenon in the health sector.

He said the ‘Cranky Uncle’ game was specifically designed to debunk the myths and misinformation about vaccination, particularly the COVID-19 vacc
ines, which had led to the refusal of accepting the vaccines among the Ghanaian population.

The Director General said the digital technology also provided a platform to engage and educate the public about the importance of vaccines and the dangers of misinformation, adding that, ‘Through interactive digital games, social media campaigns and online resources, we can reach individuals of all ages and backgrounds, empowering them with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their health.’

He said: ‘In recent years, we have witnessed the alarming spread of misinformation surrounding vaccines, threatening not only individual health but also the fabric of our society, yet in the face of these challenges, we refuse to be complacent. We recognise that digital technology holds the key to unlocking a brighter, more informed future.’

The Director General urged the public to embrace the technology and ensure the safety of the entire population.

Dr Naziru Tanko Mohammed, Deputy Programme Manager, Expa
nded Programme on Immunization (EPI), stated that though Ghana was doing well in immunization, it was still struggling to achieve the 95 per cent target.

He said though vaccines had reduced infant and neonatal mortality, some mothers discontinue the routine immunization for their children, which later affected their growth and well-being.

Dr Mohammed explained that even with COVID-19, persons who had taken the full dosage needed boosters to increase their immunity and urged mothers to avail their children for complete routine Immunization services.

He stressed that the Cranky Uncle game had been introduced at the right time to help individuals to identify the tricks in misinformation to enable them to distinguish between facts and myths, using conspiracy theory.

Ms Sonya Sagan, head of the Social Behavioural Change (SBC) Unit at UNICEF Ghana, said although many people believed that COVID-19 had ended, the virus continued to circulate and had the potential to cause a lot of harm, particularly to the vulner
able population.

Ms Sagan said despite the many efforts, misinformation, disinformation continued to be a challenge in Ghana and the potential to erode some of the gains made hence, the need to improve vaccine literacy in Ghana through the Cranky Uncle game.

This is, an approach to build public resilience against misinformation, she added.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ms Felicia Edem Attipoe, Ghana’s First Female Aircraft Marshaller, has been nominated as the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Tema West Municipal Assembly (TWMA) by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Ms Attipoe’s appointment would have to be confirmed through voting by the Assembly members of TWMA before she could assume office as the MCE.

The nomination was contained in a letter dated April 24, 2024, from the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation, and Rural Development and signed by Mr Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, the representative of the President.

It stated that the President, in accordance with Article 243(1) of the 1992 Constitution and Section 20(1) of the Local Government Act, 2016 (Act 936) nominated her to the position pending approval by the Assembly.

Ms Attipoe, when confirmed, would replace Ms Anna Adukwei Addo, who had run the affairs of the TWMA since the last quarter of 2021.

The Ghana News Agency (GNA) gathered that the MCE nominee was born on April 21, 1975, and had o
ver 20 years of experience in the aviation industry.

The multifaceted nominee played a pivotal role in supporting and mobilising members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Atiwa Asiama, Adenta, and Tema West, where she served as the former constituency women’s organiser and contested the Greater Accra Regional Women’s Organiser’s election.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Cassona Global Imaging Limited and Medical Scientific have partnered to make mammograms accessible to women in Ghana for early detection and treatment of breast cancer.

The partnership would ensure that women and health institutions had access to state-of-the-art mammograms at affordable prices to help reduce testing cost and encourage more women to regularly undergo breast cancer screening.

A mammogram is an X-ray picture of the breast. Doctors use a mammogram to look for early signs of breast cancer.

The leadership of Cassona and Medical Scientific signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Accra to formalise the partnership.

Mr John Chigbu, Chief Executive Officer, Cassona Ghana, signed on my behalf of Cassona, while Mr Stanley Sonkin, Project Manager, Medical Scientific, signed on behalf of Medical Scientific.

Mr Chigbu said by partnering with Medical Scientific, the company would ensure the supply of affordable mammograms in Ghana to boost breast cancer awareness and treatment.

He said the partner
ship was in keeping with Cassona’s resolve to supply affordable and efficient medical imaging equipment to health institutions in Ghana and build local expertise to operate and repair such machines.

‘Foreign medical companies come here and they sell equipment to us. The equipment break down after two to three months.

‘There are so many equipment sitting in the hospitals that are not working because it costs a lot of money to repair,’ Mr Chigbu said, adding that: ‘We came here to change that because there is no value in having equipment that is not working.’

Mr Sonkin said Medical Scientific had observed that access to mammograms was challenging especially in developing countries, and assured that the partnership would ‘break down barriers’ and ensure that every woman had access to screening services.

He said by providing affordable mammograms, the company sought to empower women to take control of their health and wellbeing.

‘This partnership signifies our shared commitment to making a tangible differenc
e in the lives of women by promoting early detection and screening for breast cancer,’ Mr Sonkin said.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and the leading cause of death among women.

According to the World Health Organisation data in 2020, 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer with 685,000 deaths globally.

A report by Globacom also indicates that more than 4,650 new breast cancer cases are diagnosed in Ghana annually since 2020 with 2,020 deaths.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Gorgisberg Fiagbenu, the Chairman of the Juapong/Adidome Transport Union, has rallied support from local authorities and representatives in a move to safeguard commuters’ safety and ensure seamless transportation in the enclave.

Concerns were raised about the detour route from Adidome to Juapong, passing through Sakpatekope in the North Tongu District, due to an unfinished culvert construction works, which poses an imminent threat to commuters, when it rains.

Mr Fiagbenu appealed to the leadership of the North and Central Tongu District Assemblies, along with Members of Parliament, to prioritize the completion of the culvert.

Recognizing the urgency of the matter, the Chairman emphasized the need for swift action with a deadline set for the end of May, this year, especially with the uncertainty surrounding the reconstruction of the collapsed Sayikope Bridge on the Aklakpa river.

Some of the Juapong/Adidome Transport Union members told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the completion of the culvert would
ensure the safety of the commuters and foster socioeconomic activities in the two districts.

‘The situation is dire, and we need urgent support from our local authorities to complete the culvert as soon as possible because we’re in the rainy season and that’s our only route now,’ they noted.

The members were also hopeful that the government would support them in reconstructing the collapsed Sayikope bridge before the year ends.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Test de Connaissance du Francais examination was reopened recently at UB according to a public notice by the Dean of the faculty of Arts, Prof. Epuge Michael Etuge.

The registration process has no intermediaries, the same announcement had emphasized. For this reason, interested persons turned out in their numbers for the exercise.

Speaking to CNA, some candidates indicated that they had come from other towns including Douala and Yaounde for the examination.

After obtaining an order number and collecting bank clearance containing the various payment details, the potential candidates are expected to do the necessary payment.

The first session of the TFC examination at the University of Buea will take place in May 2024 at the Curelf – Former Alliance Franco Camerouniase in Buea.

The TCF, Test de connaissance du français, is a language test that is used to assess the level of French comprehension and expression skills in people who are not native French speakers. It is also used by Canada or Québec for i
mmigration procedures.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Dr Francis Baah, a former Executive Director of Cocoa Health, and Extension Division (CHED), Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), says aside the scientific testing of agrochemicals and fertilizers, the Division also conducts farmers’ perceptions on the products.

He told the Accra High Court that when a product like fertilizer was intended for use on cocoa in Ghana, it was the mandate of Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) to evaluate its suitability and that was one level of scientific evaluation.

Dr Baah, a subpoenaed witness for Mr Seidu Agongo, a businessman, was answering questions during a cross-examination in the trial, involving Dr Stephen Opuni, a former Chief Executive of COCOBOD, led by Mrs Evleyn Keelson, Chief State Attorney.?

Dr Opuni and Mr Agongo are facing 27 charges, including defrauding by false pretences, willfully causing financial loss to the State, money laundering, and corruption by a public officer in contravention of the Public Procurement Act.?

They have both pleaded not guilty to t
he charges and are on a GHS300,000.00 self-recognizance bail each.?

The witness said when the product had been approved by COCOBOD and given to the extension wing of COCOBOD which was CHED, then that was where another evaluation was done through farmers’ perceptions or reactions on the product.

‘This kind of evaluation is not exclusive to CRIG,’ he added.

He said if his memory served him right, and if it was not captured in the field report, other fertilizers had been supplied to farmers.

He said no single farmer from practice received more than one fertilizer for a year and at least not one supplied by COCOBOD.

‘My Lord, that is correct but about 95 per cent of farmers and this is based on published data in Ghana, do not buy additional fertilizers besides those supplied by COCOBOD,’ he added.?

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Tarkwa circuit court has sentenced a 47-year-old man to 10 years imprisonment in hard labour for assaulting his 13 – year-old daughter after accusing her of having sexual intercourse with men.?

The convict, John Ansah, who is the biological father of the victim pleaded guilty to the charges of causing harm, indecent assault, and female genital mutilation.?

Police Superintendent, Juliana Essel-Dadzie, earlier told the court presided over by Mrs Hathia Ama Manu?that the complainant was a supervisor at the Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL), and resident of Agona Nkwanta, while Ansah, was?a charcoal producer.?

She said the convict who was a single parent lived with his children including the victim at Kwapong located within the GREL plantation.?

The court heard that Ansah had been subjecting the victim to all kinds of abuses with the allegation that she was going after men and was having sexual intercourse with them.?

Prosecution said on Sunday, March 24, 2024, at about 20:00 hours Ansah?tied the legs
and hands of the daughter with a rope at their bamboo house and put two cutlasses into fire and pushed same in the victim’s vagina in turns, and she sustained severe burns around her vagina and thighs.?

Superintendent Essel-Dadzie explained that the victim cried out for help while Ansah was torturing her until she became weak but was left tired up with the rope until the next day when she managed to free herself.?

After the act, Ansah became frightened that the victim might sneak from the cottage and expose him, he, therefore, started monitoring her.?

The prosecutor said on March 26, 2024, the victim managed to escape from the cottage and was rescued by a witness in the case, who rushed her to the Nsuaem Government Hospital where she was admitted for treatment.?

The case was reported at the Nsuaem police station, and a medical form was issued to him on behalf of the victim for endorsement and same was returned to the police.?

Superintendent Essel-Dadzie said the complainant later led the police to arrest
Ansah and handed him over to the Regional Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) to aid investigations.?

Source: Ghana News Agency

Agwe Joel was a member of Separatist group fighting to restore the independence of the Anglophone regions of Cameroon.

But he resigned from the revolution to join the DDR centre in the North West region.

Joel who is now jailed with wounded leg, revealed that they did ‘dirty jobs’ for the military to trap civilians whom they suspected were supporting the struggle for independence.

They also targeted Separatists in the bushes who refused to stop their weapons.

In a video circulating on social media, Agwe Joel appeared dressed ins blue top, looking frail and worn out. He expressed regrets why he joined the centre, adding that it has brought him pains.

Agwe Joel revealed he was shot by government and locked up in jail,but he did not reveal what happened .

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Participants at a day’s stakeholders’ workshop on phase two of the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ 2.0) programme, have called on the government to suspend its implementation for this year to prevent poor results.

They said the government should use the year for thorough preparation towards smooth implementation of the programme next year instead.

The workshop, held in Tamale, was organised by the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) with support from OXFAM and had participants including selected members of PFAG and Heads of District Department of Agriculture drawn from

Tamale, Saboba, Yendi, Gushegu, and Chereponi in the Northern and North East Regions.

It was part of PFAG’s efforts to update members and stakeholders on the commencement of the PFJ 2.0, reveal the identified bottlenecks and seek redress for them.

It was also to relook at the implementation design of the PFJ 2.0 and propose reforms that would respond to the needs of farmers.

During the workshop, it was revealed that there were cha
llenges confronting the ongoing registration of farmers for the PFJ 2.0 as most of the Agricultural Extension Agents did not receive the tablets to facilitate the exercise coupled with network challenges making it difficult to take coordinates of farms on time.

It was also revealed that so far, less than 10 per cent of farmers in the various districts had been registered, and input providers were also yet to import their products despite the farming season being just about to start.

The participants also suggested that politicians should minimise their influence in the implementation of the PFJ 2.0 and allow technical staff of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and Department of Agriculture at the decentralised levels to handle the programme.

They argued that in this way, no new Minister or government would be in a rush to review the programme because the frequent reviews of the programme and other agricultural policies were affecting smooth implementation.

The PFJ 2.0 was launched in August last
year to allow farmers to take farm inputs from sellers on credit and pay after harvest.

Madam Hawa Musah, the Director, Northern Regional Department of Agriculture, urged the District Departmental Heads to visit farmers, especially the chiefs to explain the PFJ 2.0 and the processes of getting registered onto the programme to them to enable them to join the programme.

She further expressed the need for them to be quick in resolving the registration challenges to ensure that more farmers were registered on time.

Mr Bismark Owusu Nortey, the Acting Executive Director, PFAG said the discussions at the workshop showed that there was a consensus that the PFJ 2.0 should rather be piloted this year instead of full implementation.

He said PFAG would hold similar workshops in other parts of the country and added that input collated would be put into a policy brief document to engage MoFA.

Source: Ghana News Agency