Full text of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo 23rd address to the nation
Fellow Ghanaians, good evening. I came into your homes, on 17th January, to give an account of our COVID-19 situation – a situation which, per available data at the time, was not good. To this end, I appealed to you, my fellow Ghanaians, to help contain the spread of the virus by respecting the protocols Government had put in place. The hope was that we would begin to see an improvement in our case count, as a result. Two weeks on from that address, the situation is even worse. As of Friday, 29th January, sixty-four (64) more people have, sadly, died, over the last two weeks, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths to four hundred and sixteen (416). Our hospitalization rates are increasing, with the number of critically and severely ill persons now at one hundred and seventy-two (172). Our hospitals have become full, and we have had to reactivate our isolation centres. Our average daily rates of infection now stand at seven hundred (700), compared to two hundred (200) two weeks ago. The total number of active cases has more than doubled, from a little over one thousand, nine hundred (1,900), two weeks ago, to five thousand, three hundred and fifty-eight (5,358) currently. When I delivered Update No. 22, thirteen (13) out of the sixteen (16) regions had recorded active cases; today, all sixteen (16) regions have active cases. Indeed, Greater Accra, Central, Western, Ashanti, Eastern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, and Northern Regions are the hardest hit, accounting for ninety-four percent (94%) of the total number of active cases. In effect, fellow Ghanaians, we have a lot of work to do in coming to grips with the disease. Given that recent studies show that the UK and other new variants are being transmitted within the population, we should all understand that our current situation could get very dire if efforts are not made, both on the part of Government and by you, the citizenry, to help contain the virus. The analysis continues to tell us that the spread of the virus mostly occurs in indoor, confined spaces with poor ventilation, where people are talking, singing, or shouting without their masks. The imposition of restrictions on our daily routines helped in reducing the prevalence of the pandemic in the country, and Government has been left with no option but to re-introduce some of these restrictions in order to help save the situation. I know these measures, in the recent past, were unpleasant, but, over a period, they resulted in a favourable situation for our country. We have to return to them. So, fellow Ghanaians, until further notice, funerals, weddings, concerts, theatrical performances, and parties are banned. Private burials, with no more than twenty-five (25) people, can take place, with the enforcement of the social distancing, hygiene and mask wearing protocols. Beaches, night clubs, cinemas, and pubs continue to be shut. Our borders by land and sea remain closed. All workplaces, public and private, must employ a shift-system for workers, in addition to the use of virtual platforms for business or work. Conferences and workshopscan take place with all the appropriate protocols. However, I encourage the use of virtual platforms for such engagements. Restaurants should provide take-away services, and should, as much as possible, avoid seated services. The National Sports Authority and the Ghana Football Association should ensure compliance with the twenty-five percent (25%) capacity rule in our stadia, with spectators respecting the social distancing rule and wearing of masks. To the revered leaders of our religious organisations, i.e. our churches and mosques, I entreat you to enforce, to the letter, the protocols relating to attendance, i.e. the two-hour duration, one-metre social distancing, mask wearing, use of sanitizers, and the presence of veronica buckets, liquid soap, and rolls of tissue paper. I note that, since the re-opening of our schools, two weeks ago, we have witnessed only few reports of cases amongst students. I appeal to school authorities and teachers to enforce the guidelines provided by the Ghana Education Service, and I urge the Ghana Health Service to continue their surveillance at the schools, so we can contain any reported cases. As we step up public education and enforcement of the protocols on public gatherings, let me also state that regulatory agencies will undertake random checks to ensure conformity with these rules, and the security services will be tasked to enforce them. You do not have to be arrested by the Police before you wear your mask, your workplace should not be closed for non-conformity with the protocols, if there is no urgent reason for you to be outside, please stay at home. Each one of us can help to contain the spread if we continue to practice the measures of social distancing, washing our hands with soap under running water, refraining from shaking hands, and, wearing our masks whenever we leave our homes. These measures must be respected by all. I urge you, my fellow Ghanaians, to continue to pay attention to your health, improve your fitness levels, and eat our local foods that boost your immunity. Should you at any point feel unwell, or exhibit the most common symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, dry cough, tiredness, please report to the nearest health facility and get tested. COVID-19 tests are free for all Ghanaians at public health institutions. If a Ghanaian citizen returns a positive result, the cost of care at isolation and treatment centres will be borne by Government. At the 58th Summit of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, held virtually, it was agreed that the cost of the COVID test for in-bound ECOWAS nationals be pegged at fifty United States dollars ($50) at the Kotoka International Airport. The cost of the test for non-ECOWAS nationals still remains one hundred and fifty ($150) dollars. ECOWAS nationals and travelers, who test positive, will bear the cost of the mandatory isolation and treatment. Ghanaian nationals, however, who test positive, upon their arrival into
All workplaces, public and private, must employ a shift-system for workers– President Akufo-Addo
President Akufo-Addo has announced that all workplaces, public and private, must employ a shift-system for workers. President made the pronouncement in his 23rd address to the nation on Sunday, January 31, 2021, the president pointed that due to the increasing of affected cases across the 16 regions of Ghana, it is important workplaces across the country adopt a new method by employing a shift-system for their workers “All workplaces, public and private, must employ a shift-system for workers, in addition to the use of virtual platforms for business or work. Conferences and workshops can take place with all the appropriate protocols. However, I encourage the use of virtual platforms for such engagements”. According to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, he is hopeful that if, these measures are complied with over a period, it will minimize the infection rates across the 16 regions of Ghana. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
Coronavirus: Government bans funerals, weddings, concerts, parties until further notice
President Akufo-Addo has reintroduced restrictions funerals, weddings, concerts, theatrical performances and parties until further notice. In his 23rd address to the nation on Sunday, January 31, 2021, the president indicated that, private burials, with no more than twenty-five (25) people, can take place, with the enforcement of the social distancing, hygiene and mask-wearing protocols. “Beaches, night clubs, cinemas, and pubs continue to be shut. Our borders by land and sea remain closed,” he stressed. Akufo-Addo explained that, even though these measures were unpleasant, it over a period, resulted in a favourable situation for the country’s fight against the novel Coronavirus and “we have to return to them”. “All workplaces, public and private, must employ a shift-system for workers, in addition to the use of virtual platforms for business or work. Conferences and workshops can take place with all the appropriate protocols. However, I encourage the use of virtual platforms for such engagements. “Restaurants should provide take-away services, and should, as much as possible, avoid seated services. The National Sports Authority and the Ghana Football Association should ensure compliance with the twenty-five per cent capacity rule in our stadia, with spectators respecting the social distancing rule and wearing of masks,” President Akufo-Addo stated. He advised leaders of the various religious organisations, i.e. our churches and mosques that, they should enforce “to the letter, the protocols relating to attendance, i.e. the two-hour duration, one-metre social distancing, mask-wearing, use of sanitisers, and the presence of veronica buckets, liquid soap, and rolls of tissue paper.” Ghanaweb Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
UER: Development in Bongo have gone very far, Peter Ayinbisa did quite ….Prof Avea Nsoh
The former Upper East Regional Minister and a well distinguish Bongo personality Profession Avea Nsoh has said, he is optimistic about the fast increase development in the Bongo Constituency as he believes Peter Ayinbisa performed well in the last 4 years because he had the resources. Prof. Avea who was speaking in an exclusive interview with Apexnewsgh.com said, Bongo Constituency has gone far in terms of development. Even though he expressed worry about the kind of politics played, he believes sometimes they got it wrong by taking simple issues too far which atimes denied them the opportunity for more development in the constituency. He eulogized the NPP and the development they brought on board within the last 4 years under the leadership of Peter Ayinbisa who is currently acting as the District Chief Executive (DCE) in the constituency ranging from roads construction, covets, schools added, a number of students in secondary schools and number of students who benefited from the scholarship scheme as a good development for the people of Bongo Constituency. However, Prof. Avea believes a lot needs to be done as far as development in Bongo is concerned “I have always maintained that in development we have gone very far. We might be playing politics but sometimes we take it too far. What we forget, is that whether we ourselves or political parties that are doing something new, we don’t take counts of what happens. Take for instance what the NPP has done, some of the roads they have made, they made covets, they have been schools that have added, some students were supported to scholarship and all that, so people don’t take their time to counts in fact we are moving. Development has grown so fast. Look at our road system going to Tamale alone, I mean the long Journey, going to Navrongo and even Bongo, going to Bawku, let forget that is not very good. So, if you look at most communities now and a lot of roads that were tarred in Bolga itself. If you take Bongo, for instance, there is a lot that has been done but there is still a lot that can be done. What we should be looking at is, how many of our people now are in secondary schools? How many secondary schools now exist? How many small businesses are there? How many motors, about 5 years to 10 years do we have the number of motors and motor repairers? These are all things we have to look at if we are going to counts the developments. For me, I think Bongo has grown quite a lot and we can still move it much further by re-strategizing and leaving the criminal political activities, I think we can make a move. I think Bongo has done quite well, even in the last 4 years and I can tell you we change a lot”. He explained Meanwhile, when he asked was to rate the development brought between the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party in the constituency, this was his explanation. “If am not a frank type, I will definitely say is NDC, but I can assure you, for that one I have to be frank about it, is not because am NDC, we have been there for a long time, look at how long Agambire was there and when he came the others didn’t do very much Apikiya and the other one is possible at that time they didn’t get the resources they needed. They did their best but not much. But, Ayinbisa did that because they had a lot of resources to sort of. So, He did quite a lot and as I have said, I haven’t taken counts of that and must admit that sometimes when we come, we are not able to get time to walk around even though we read around and talk to people and all that. But to be frank, because we have been around for a long time and this place is an NDC place, I mean, if you want to take count of the things NDC has done, we are likely to have more visibility. Even though Ayinbisa and his also did quite well”. Prof. Avea told Apexnewsgh.com Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
Good information to all NABCO beneficiaries who…
Apexnewsgh.com your reliable online portal can confirm that the NABCO December allowance has been paid to beneficiaries and for those who did not receive the usual message alert due to network problem, they should kindly go for their allowance with ease. After witnessing some delays in the payment stipends of NABCO beneficiaries across the country, beneficiaries across all regions of Ghana were seen with excitement moving from one E-zwich center to another to cash out their long awaited December stipends. However, it appears some beneficiaries are complaining that they have been paid because they couldn’t receive a message alert as usual from their employer. Please Note: that shouldn’t be a worry, because the network disappoints atimes. Just kindly take your E-zwich along with you to any E-zwich office for your allowance especially if you are sure you submitted your timesheet. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
COVID-19: Ghana records 15 new deaths; active cases now 4,665
Fifteen (15) more COVID-19 related deaths have been recorded in Ghana taking the country’s death toll to 405 from 390. This was captured on the Ghana Health Service’s COVID-19 update on Sunday, January 31, 2021. According to the Ghana Health Service, 797 new infections have been recorded pushing the active case count to 4,665. So far the country has recorded a total of 65,427 confirmed cases with 60,357 people recovering or discharged. Currently, Ghana has 125 and 44 persons in severe and critical conditions respectively. Starrfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
AMERI deal: Gov’t must ensure a successful take-over by VRA – Jinapor
A deputy Minister of Power under the erstwhile Mahama administration, John Abdulai Jinapor wants government to urgently put in place all necessary protocols to ensure a successful take-over of the 250-megawatt (MW) Africa and Middle East Resource Investment (AMERI) thermal power plant by VRA. Government is to resume ownership of the 250-megawatt (MW) Africa and Middle East Resource Investment (AMERI) thermal power plant from February 1, 2021 per the terms of the deal. The Dubai based firm arrived in the country in October 2015 to assist in resolving the power crisis at the time. The deal was signed by the government at a total cost of US$510 million on Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) basis. Based on the BOOT terms, the government through the Volta River Authority (VRA) will commence the ownership, operation and maintenance mandate by February 1, 2021. Owing the plant, comes with many benefits to the state. It will lead to cheaper thermal power because there will be no capacity charges, increase the country’s power portfolio and VRA’s capacity to tap into the West African market, among others. Jinapor in a Facebook post on Saturday ahead of the deadline Sunday said government must ensure it undertakes a seamless process leading to the take-over without further delay. Conditions for take over Although AMERI wrote in September 2020 to inform government of its intention to handover the plant by the date stated in the contract, the latter is yet to take the necessary steps, according to B&FT sources. For instance, it is understood that the government has yet to conduct a technical audit to ascertain the integrity of the plant. There has also not been any form of training of VRA staff to man the facility and a memorandum of understanding or roadmap on how to settle an outstanding balance of US$32 million due the Dubai based energy firm, as of beginning of January 2021. Additionally, AMERI wants government to make full payment for January before the state assumes ownership, but this has not been done yet. “From IES checks, government has been slow. We have not seen better preparation from government,” says Nana Amoasi VII, Executive Director of Institute for Energy Security (IES), an energy think-tank. Kasapafmonline Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
Duncan-Williams’ double nose masks at Rawlings’ funeral causes stir
Ghana is not out of the woods yet as the coronavirus cases keep increasing by the day. Due to this, Ghanaians have been advised to strictly adhere to COVID-19 safety protocols to safeguard their lives. Though some Ghanaians are being careless as they move about without even a nose mask on, others, are trying their best not to contract the virus which is fast spreading. One of such persons spotted leaving no stone unturned in this critical moment is the founder and leader of the Action Chapel International, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams. During the burial service of the late Jerry John Rawlings at the Black Star Square on Wednesday, January 27, 2021, the man of God was spotted wearing two nose masks. He used the surgical nose mask as the layer and topped it up with the N95 mask for double protection. His new look got him trending on social media. With some in support of his action, others, as usual, trolled him for being ‘too serious’ with the fight against the coronavirus. Meanwhile, medics have advised that people wear double face masks when they move out from their homes. This comes after a new strain of the coronavirus has been detected. Medics say it is more deadly and transmits faster than the COV SARS 2. Ghanaweb Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
Atta-Kyea recounts how the late former President supported him with good money in 2015….
“Well, it was the unflagging wife of our departed former president, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, who had me to consider putting my legal expertise at the disposal of her husband regarding the launch of a book titled ‘JJ Rawlings and the Democratic Transition in Ghana’ authored by my own kinsman Prof. Kwaku Danso-Boafo”. This was according to the tribute captured in the brochure, Samuel Atta-Kyea recount the story of how his relationship with the late former President started. However, the NPP Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South expressed some level of gratitude to the President for his wonderful kindness and support offered him in 2015 during the Abuakwa South Constituency primaries. “I was extremely touched by his humanity and generosity when in very gruelling primaries for the Abuakwa South Constituency in 2015, he sent an emissary to me with good money for the political undertaking and blessed me to win. Indeed, my victory was a landslide at Apapam as I triumphed over the other two contestants”. He expressed Meanwhile, he asked God to receive the departed soul of the former President and Pray that God will continue to see the family through. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.