4 Die Of COVID-19 In Bono Region
The Bono Region recorded three COVID-19 deaths in January 2021, bringing the death toll in the region to four since the outbreak of the disease, Dr John Ekow Otoo, the Deputy Bono Regional Director in-charge of Public Health, has disclosed. He explained that heath officials in the region were currently discussing with families of the deceased about the processes for their burial. In October last year, the region recorded its first COVID-19 death, while as of February 1, 2021, a total of 685 Coronavirus cases had been recorded with 645 recoveries. Dr Otoo told the Daily Graphic in an interview that the region currently has 36 active cases, with one out of the five who have been hospitalised in critical condition. Suspected cases He said the health directorate was currently waiting for results of 226 samples taken from people suspected to have contracted the disease. Dr Otoo explained that while 182 samples were taken from contacts of COVID-19 cases, 44 of the samples were taken from suspected people who attended various hospitals across the region. He added that those whose samples had been taken had been detained at treatment centres while awaiting their test results. “The interesting thing is that the number of cases that we have recorded in the region within one month is more than 40,” Dr Otoo stated. Safety precaution On precautionary measures, Dr Otoo said while the government and health personnel were doing all they could to stop the spread of the disease, people in the region should do their part by taking their health into their own hands. He said they could do this through the strict observation of all the COVID-19 safety measures such as the wearing of face masks, social distancing, constant washing of hands and the use of hand sanitiser. “Don’t let the people who doubt the existence of COVID-19 deceive you since the disease is real,” he cautioned. Dr Otoo added that COVID-19 was currently being contracted by people across all ages, disclosing that one of the three people who died from COVID-19 in January was aged 35. Graphiconline.com Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
Supreme Court strikes out 5 portions of Rojo Mettle-Nunoo’s statement, 27 paragraphs maintained
The Supreme Court has in a unanimous decision struck out five portions of a witness statement filed by the NDC’s Robert Joseph Mettle-Nunoo in support of John Mahama’s election petition. This leaves some 27 paragraphs out of the total 32 submitted by the witness. Lead Counsel for President Akufo-Addo, Akoto Ampaw raised the objections while insisting that the claims contained in these portions of the witness statement are not contained in the petition filed by Mr. Mahama. Again, Mr. Ampaw argued that the petitioner through his witness is trying to sneak through the back door, the issues of authenticity and a request for some documents which have already been dealt with by the apex court. This stance received backing from the lead counsel for the Electoral Commission (EC), Justin Amenuvor. However, disputing these objections, the lead counsel for the petitioner, Tsatsu Tsikata argued that new facts and demands are not being added as purported by counsels for the 1st and 2nd Respondents. According to him, all the statements made by the witness are to prove his credibility and falls in line with the pleadings in the election petition presented by Mr. Mahama to the Supreme Court. Again, Mr. Tsikata insisted that the witness is speaking on systems like transparency and fairness that the 1st Respondent said had been implemented for the 2020 Presidential elections which have since been questioned by the petitioner. But the court in a similar ruling given when it set aside 7 portions from Mr. Asiedu Nketia’s statement insisted that the claims in those portions were not contained in the petition and did not come up during cross-examination. Myjoyonline Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
‘Is it not a practice that if a judge is speaking counsel should keep quiet?’ – CJ to Akoto Ampaw
Chief Justice Kwesi Anin-Yeboah today cautioned lead lawyer for second respondent in the ongoing election petition, Lawyer Akoto Ampaw, over interjections when members of the bench are speaking. “Counsel, is it not a practice that if a judge is speaking counsel should keep quiet?” the CJ asked as the lawyer sought to continue a submission when the CJ was making a point. “Well noted,” the lawyer responded. Before the caution, the CJ had told Akoto Ampaw that every paragraph in a witness statement under consideration stood on its own, to which Akoto Ampaw replied: “they are connected.” Akoto Ampaw has been making submissions on why certain portions of the witness statement of the petitioner’s third witness, Rojo Mettle-Nunoo, needed to be struck out before cross examination continued. Mettle-Nunoo is testifying away from the court via a video link due to a health condition. He filed his witness statement yesterday ahead of today’s sitting. The court dispatched a judicial officer to his location after Akoto Ampaw raised the issue of possible ‘coaching’ of the witness. John Dramani Mahama, who was the flagbearer of the NDC is disputing the election results as declared by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission on December 9, 2020. He has already presented two of his expected five witnesses: first Johnson Asiedu Nketia, NDC General Secretary, appeared for two days, and then Dr. Michael Kpessah-Whyte, Mettle-Nunoo’s colleague at the ‘Strongroom’, both of whom were cross-examined by the lead counsels for the 1st and 2nd Respondents. On Wednesday, February 3, 2021, the lead counsel for the Petitioner, Tsatsu Tsikata, prayed the court to allow them to file a new witness statement. He explained that the new witness had some health complications and due to the confidentiality of the witness’s condition, he would prefer that the court hears the reasons in camera. Ghanaweb Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
Election Petition: Declare a public holiday when EC Chair mounts witness box – Amaliba
A Legal team member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the ongoing election petition is promising an interesting day for Ghanaians when Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa will mount the witness box to be cross-examined by NDC’s lead counsel Tsatsu Tsikata “It is going to be interesting, sweet and tough to see Jean Mensa in a doc. I will plead with the government to declare a public holiday on this day for Ghanaians to monitor proceedings”, a Spokesperson for the 3petitioner, Lawyer Abraham Amaliba proposed Speaking on Kumasi-based local radio station monitored by MyNewsGh.com, the NDC Member disclosed that, Legal Team of Mr. John Mahama are more than prepared to expose the alleged illegal activities of the EC Chair as well as other commissioners of the electoral body “I have spoken to Tsatsu Tsikata and he tells me he yearning for that day to come and cross-examine Jean Mensa in the witness box. He can’t wait to see her”, Lawyer Abraham Amaliba revealed. Background The NDC maintains the 2020 elections were rigged in favour of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo wondering why the Electoral Commission (EC) consistently changed figures. Lawyer Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe Special Aide to former President John Dramani Mahama has said the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) Madam Jean Mensa could have rigged the 2020 elections in favour of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo but not in the manner it was done. Reacting to the declaration of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer as the President-elect, he told Accra-based Okay Fm monitored by MyNewsGh.com that she could have done it a bit professionally. “You can decide to help Nana Akufo-Addo, you can decide to rig an election for him but do it in a professional way”, he said. He is of the view that the EC has a sinister agenda against the NDC for which reason it engaged in various acts just to ensure it denied victory considering the widespread irregularities. My News GH Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
Breaking News: John Dramani Mahama lead counsel plead for the strongroom video to be played
Lead counsel for the NDC presidential Candidate NDC’s lead counsel Tsatsu Tsikata is requesting for the video of what took place in the strongroom of the Electoral Commission to be played. According to the lead counsel, if the video is played, it will be able to solve issues regarding the activities that took place in the strongroom. More to come soon…. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
Rojo Mettle Nunoo breaks record as he become the first to testify via Zoom in the election Petition
Rojo Mettle Nunoo the third witness of former President John Mahama in the election petition trial has started giving his testimony via video conferencing application Zoom at the Supreme Court. Mr. Nunoo, is the first witness who his testifying through live video since the starts of the election petition. However, when the matter was called upon and Mr Mettle-Nunoo connected to the court on-screen, Akoto Ampaw, a lawyer for the Nana Addo Dankwa-Akufo Addo raised concerns to the effect that, a judicial officer should be assigned to the witness to ensure due process. Will come back soon for more update. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
Kwabena Agyepong forgiven, as party lift suspension punishment
The highest governing of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Executive Committee (NEC) has lifted the suspension punishment given to former General Secretary of the party Kwabena Agyepong. The committee’s ruling last Monday, January 25, 2021, after a hurriedly organized meeting in Accra to deliberate on the lifting of the suspension of Mr. Kwabena Agyepong and matters arising. The report says the decision to lift the suspension on the former Chief Executive Officer of the party stem from the role he played in campaigning for the party and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to ensure a second term victory for the party in the December 7, general elections. Per the decision of the NEC to quash the earlier suspension, Mr. Agyepong is free to seek or contest any position in the party as a bonafide member of NPP. The highest decision-making body of the party has further quashed the earlier suspension of Mr Kwabena Agyepong leading to his removal from office but stated that Mr. Agyepong would not be reinstated as there is a substantive General Secretary in the person of John Boadu. Mr. Agyepong in 2015 was suspended by NEC of the party together with the then former National Chairman, Paul Afoko and the First Vice National Chairman, Sammy Crabbe over some disciplinary issues. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
Gabby Otchere-Darko explains why EC boss needs 24/7 military protection
Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has explained why Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa, needs a 24-hour Military protection. According to him, the EC boss has been threatened than any other public servant in recent times. He said even though Mrs Mensa may herself not be comfortable with the presence of the gu On why the state is using the military to protect her and not the police, Gabby said the security arrangement for Mrs Mensa was a collaborative one between the security agencies. This woman, the returning officer for the presidential election, has had her life threatened multiple times from all manner of corners, her character insulted, her integrity denigrated and the threats to her life heightened to the highest dangerous point that any public servant should endure, for the security services to consider it appropriate to offer her the highest form of protection they could. Her security at home, office and around her 24-7, is made up of a combination of soldiers and police. I am not sure she enjoys the security attention. But she understands she has to endure it. And, some of us have a problem with that?, Gabby wrote on his personal Facebook page. Adomonline Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093
Election petition: Paul Adom- Otchere takes on Asiedu Nketia, NDC
Paul Adom-Otchere, the host of Good Evening Ghana, has said the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) cannot disclose in court that it does not have duplicates of the pink sheets used for the December 7, 2020, elections. According to him, the Electoral Commission (EC) is by law mandated to provide the party with duplicates of the pink sheets. “How then does the party go to court to mount a petition and say that I don’t have the results?” “I believe they have the results. The NDC must come and show the results that they have, unless, of course, their concern is the results that they have may not make their case but if the results they have will make their case for which reason they have mounted an election petition, whether the petition is successful or not, they owe it to Ghanaians to show the Ghanaian people that we have the election results.” Mr Adom-Otchere further indicated that if all the Independent Election Observers, including the media and Civil Society Organisations, were able to independently collate their figures and get the results needed, then the NDC should be able to do that. “What is the point about the NDC saying that I do not have it? We have to make it impossible for the NDC to say that they don’t have the results; they must bring the results,” he stressed. He expressed his surprise that a major opposition political party, after governing Ghana for so many years and having had important individuals within the rank-and-file of the party, will say that. “Johnson Asiedu Nketia goes to court and on three important questions says I don’t have the results. What is the meaning of this?” He questioned further: “Is the NDC taking Ghanaians for granted? Are they taking their own people for granted?” Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
‘No proof’ Hydrogen peroxide ‘prevents, treats’ COVID; misuse dangerous – GMA warns
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has said some recently published observational studies within and outside the country suggesting the use of Hydrogen peroxide for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19, do not constitute enough proof that it can prevent or treat the virus in human beings. The GMA has, therefore, urged Ghanaians to continue to adhere to all the COVID-19 safety protocols while the world awaits proof of the use of Hydrogen peroxide to prevent or treat the deadly virus. In a statement co-signed by its President, Dr Frank Ankobea; and General Secretary, Dr Justice Yankson, the GMA said its attention “has been drawn to recent media publications on the use of hydrogen peroxide to prevent COVID-19, which has led to panic buying and shortages of the product from pharmacy outlets.” The GMA noted: “Hydrogen peroxide has been used for several decades for disinfection and as an antiseptic. Specifically in Ghana, Hydrogen peroxide at low concentrations of 3-6 per cent w/v is registered by the FDA as antiseptic for minor cuts, wounds and skin ulcers and also mouthwash and deodorant gargle”. “Presently, Hydrogen peroxide has not been approved, authorised or recommended by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) (Ghana), Ghana Health Service (GHS), Ministry of Health (MoH), World Health Organization (WHO) or any other reputable international drug or health regulatory body for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19.” It continued: “There has been some published observational studies both within Ghana and abroad that suggests that Hydrogen peroxide ‘may be used’ for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19. However, these do not constitute sufficient proof that it will work in human populations to prevent or treat COVID-19 at this present moment”. The GMA, therefore, advised that “while we await proof of the use of Hydrogen peroxide for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, the general public should handle the product like any other medicinal product and that the misuse of same could lead to serious physical and undesirable medical consequences.” It also advised the public to “consult appropriate health professionals (prescribers) before they purchase such products. “ The GMA further called on the public to “continue to adhere strictly to the protocols of the mask-wearing, hand washing or use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers and social (physical) distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.” It also cautioned the public to “do your best to stay safe during the pandemic, COVID-19 is real.” Former Provost of the College of Health Sciences of the University of Ghana, Prof. Emeritus Andrews Seth Ayettey, for protection against COVID-19, recommended the use of Hydrogen peroxide alongside observation of the safety protocols. In a write-up, the former College of Health Sciences Provost said: “In our on-going observational studies, we have become even more convinced about the efficacy of this solution, realising that eight frontline nurses in the COVID-19 management team at a District Hospital using hydrogen peroxide had not contracted the disease and had tested negative since May 2020. In comparison, 62 of their colleagues not using peroxide had contracted the disease by end of December 2020. In a Google survey to determine hydrogen peroxide use we noted that even though the number of respondents was few, none using hydrogen peroxide had had COVID-19 or had tested positive for the virus. Also, none of those we know using hydrogen peroxide has been diagnosed with the disease.” According to Prof Ayettey, “Recently, a friend who was not using Hydrogen peroxide had COVID-19. His wife, three elderly children, and mother-in-law who had been with him for 5 days and who all tested positive for the virus were encouraged to use hydrogen peroxide for mouth washing, throat gargling and nose cleansing, in addition to their prescribed medications of vitamin C, Ivermectin and Zinc. After two weeks, they all tested negative. None progressed to develop clinical symptoms of the disease.” ClassFm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093