IDEG urges Prez Akufo-Addo to address Bryan Acheampong’s controversial comment
The Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), Dr Emmanuel Akwetey, has urged President Akufo-Addo to address the recent controversial comment made by Abetifi MP Bryan Acheampong. Mr Acheampong had stated that the current New Patriotic Party (NPP) government will not hand over power to the opposition National Democratic Congress and will use whatever means necessary to remain in power. “NDC party will collapse. If the NDC dares to use threats, Violence and foolishness in the 2024 election we will let them know we have the men. We will show them that we have the men. We have the men![He screamed to emphasize]. It will never happen that we the NPP will stand on a platform to hand over power to the NDC. It will never happen! We will make sure NPP remain in government at all cost”. – Bryan Acheampong This comment has sparked tensions, with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) calling for Mr Acheampong’s arrest, and the National Organizer of the NPP endorsing the comment. Dr Akwetey also expressed support for Mr Acheampong to be publicly questioned due to the nature of his comment and status in society, stating that this would serve as a caution to others. The Institute for Democratic Governance director believes that it is vital for the President to clarify his stance on the matter to prevent the situation from escalating further. “But finally, I think the person to speak is the President on this matter and his ability to dismiss it as not his policy is extremely important,” he said in an interview with Joy FM. “Given that he is a minister and he is a member of parliament and he makes these statements, it cannot be taken lightly and given the precedent or antecedent and that is why I endorse the point that the police ought to invite him for interrogation,” he explained. —Graphic—
Breaking News: NDC has lost an illustrious Treasurer
Members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Upper East Region have received one of the most shocking death news in the Upper East NDC Party hierarchy since the beginning of the year. The Death of the Upper East Regional Treasurer of the opposition NDC Mr. Castro Adagewine is one that has shocked friends and party members in the region. As of Easter Monday, Mr. Adagewine was seen happily and actively going about his normal duties without any issues but unfortunately had an accident on the night of that same Monday, April 10, 2023. Mr. Castro before his death is the owner of the most popular ‘TRAVELERS INN’ where most travelers and people within Bolgatanga the regional capital go for morning breakfast. Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email apexnewsgh@gmail.com
Ghana and 53 other countries on red list for health workers’ recruitment in UK
The United Kingdom has included Ghana, and among 54 countries that should not be considered for recruitment by health and social care employers. UK government made the announcement in its revised code of practice for international recruitment of health and social care personnel in England, which was published on the NHS Employers website. The code states that some developing countries, such as Ghana, should not be targeted when actively recruiting health or care professionals. The countries placed on the red list of ‘No active recruitment’ under the code are Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia. Other countries are Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Federated States of Micronesia, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Republic of Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Titled: “Code of Practice red and amber list of countries,” the UK Government said the list is based upon the World Health Organisation Workforce Support and Safeguard List, 2023 and will be updated alongside progress reports on WHO Global Code implementation and reported to the World Health Assembly every three years. The countries listed have a UHC Service Coverage Index that is lower than 50 and a density of doctors, nurses and midwives that is below the global median (48.6 per 10,000 population). The code applies to the appointment of all international health and social care personnel in the UK, including all permanent, temporary, and locum staff in clinical and non-clinical settings. The code stated that being on the list doesn’t prevent individual health and social care personnel from independently applying to health and social care employers for employment in the UK, of their own accord and without being targeted by a third party, such as a recruitment agency or employer (known as a direct application). It defined active international recruitment in the code as the process by which UK health and social care employers (including local authorities), contracting bodies, recruitment organisations, agencies, collaborations, and sub-contractors target individuals to market UK employment opportunities, with the intention of recruiting to a role in the UK health or social care sector. It includes both physical or virtual targeting, and whether or not these actions lead to substantive employment. This includes but is not limited to allied health professionals, care workers, dentists, doctors, healthcare scientists, medical staff, midwives, nursing staff, residential and domiciliary care workers, social workers, and support staff. It will be recalled that in March this year, the WHO included Ghana and 54 other countries on its Health Workforce Support and Safeguards List 2023. The global health body stated that the countries face the most pressing health workforce challenges related to universal health coverage. “In particular, these countries have: 1) a density of doctors, nurses and midwives below the global median (i.e., 49 per 10 000 population); and 2) a universal health coverage service coverage index below a certain threshold,” WHO said in the report released March 8. “To account for the disruptions caused to health services by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the effects on health worker mobility and migration, the threshold for the universal health coverage service coverage index for the WHO health workforce support and safeguards list 2023 has been increased from 50 (the value used for the 2020 list) to 55.” A total of 37 countries were listed under the African Region category, including Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Gabon. Others were Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.” Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0256336062