Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital increment of dialysis fee illegal—Ministry of Health
The Ministry of Health has strongly criticized the management of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for increasing dialysis fees without following the proper procedures of obtaining approval from Parliament or the ministry. Patients with kidney failure who undergo dialysis at the hospital are now being charged a new fee. The Health Ministry has taken action by summoning the hospital management to explain why the new fee was implemented without going through the required due process. The hospital has faced significant backlash following reports of the review of its dialysis charges. Isaac Offei Baah, the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Health, described the fee review by Korle-Bu management as “illegal” since it was done without the necessary approval. He emphasized that the correct process involves proposing the fee to hospital management, then seeking approval from the Ministry of Health and ultimately from Parliament before implementing any changes in fees at healthcare institutions. “In the case of this dialysis issue, the CEO of Korle-Bu has come out to admit the fact that, they have not informed the ministry, and they have not confirmed the charges at Korle-Bu. The issue now is, how come the fee has not been approved and is being charged to the patients? So it is in line with this, the ministry has summoned the management of Korle-Bu and ordered that the new charges should not be charged patients and with immediate effect, revert to the old charges. They are invited to come for a proper negotiation and explain why this issue should happen at this critical moment. If you want to increase, what is the justification?” The CEO of Korle-Bu, Dr. Opoku Ware Ampomah, chose not to comment on the number of patients who have been unlawfully charged. Instead, he encouraged patients to disregard the new fee and continue paying the old fee. He assured that this matter will be addressed in the next communication. According to Dr. Ampomah, only six patients were charged the new fee. Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email apexnewsgh@gmail.com
Retired Supreme Court Judge expresses dissatisfaction over non payment of ex-gratia
During the 6th Annual Nathan Quao Lectures in Accra on September 28, retired Supreme Court judge Justice Jones Dotse clarified that judges do not receive ex-gratia payments. This is because judges have permanence in their roles and remain in office until they reach the retirement age specified. In contrast, political office holders, who have fixed terms, are eligible for ex-gratia payments as outlined in the 1992 Constitution. Justice Dotse emphasized the importance of distinguishing between the two, stating that political office holders receive these payments upon leaving office after serving their fixed terms, typically four years. He also acknowledged that ex-gratia payments have been a topic of political debate, with former President John Dramani Mahama suggesting the possibility of abolishing them in the future. Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email apexnewsgh@gmail.com
Sam Larry arrested by the police
The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of Sam Larry, a controversial Lagos socialite, in connection with the ongoing investigation into the death of singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, also known as Mohbad. The arrest took place on Thursday evening at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, shortly after Sam Larry arrived from Kenya. He was taken to the state police headquarters for questioning. After the announcement of Naira Marley’s plan to return to Nigeria if his safety was ensured, his former music label boss, Azeez Fashola, was arrested. This arrest took place following an invitation from the police for questioning regarding the death of Mohbad. The autopsy conducted on Mohbad has been concluded, with the police awaiting the results. The corpse of Mohbad was exhumed by a team composed of the Nigeria Police Force and health officials. Furthermore, the nurse who allegedly injected the deceased singer before his passing on September 12 was also arrested by the police. Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email apexnewsgh@gmail.com
Electric vehicles will reduce cost of transportation – Dr Bawumia
Vice President Bawumia has announced that the Ghanaian Government is developing an e-mobility policy to facilitate the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in public transportation. The policy aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower transportation costs. The Vice President stated that the goal is to transition from petrol and diesel vehicles to fully electric ones. To familiarize himself with the industry, he visited Solar Taxi, a Ghanaian electric vehicle assembly company. Established in 2018, Solar Taxi manufactures and assembles electric cars, motorcycles, buses, and battery packs. The company has already supplied 500 electric vehicles to the Ghanaian market, including motorcycles and tricycles in the northern regions. With a workforce of 113 employees, Solar Taxi is one of the top three EV manufacturing companies in Africa, employing predominantly female staff. The company also possesses the technology to convert petrol or diesel vehicles into electric ones. Mr. Jorge Appiah, the CEO and Co-Founder of Solar Taxi, has announced that the company has successfully assembled and sold over 500 vehicles. They have received orders from various African countries for electric vehicles, battery packs, and training on EV maintenance. In addition to vehicle sales, Solar Taxi also offers a ride-hailing service and motorcycle leasing. The company provides financing options for motorcycles, cars, and buses without requiring any collateral. Interested individuals must submit their GhanaCard for document processing and transaction confirmation. During a demonstration of their electric bus, Mr. Appiah mentioned that it can travel from Accra to Kumasi without the need for a battery recharge. The bus recently carried Vice President Bawumia, Chief Executives of STC, Metro Mass, Aayalolo, and officials from the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Road Safety Commission. Vice President Bawumia emphasized the importance of addressing climate change, transitioning to green energy, and reducing dependence on fossil fuels “As you know, we spend a lot on fossil fuel. But the other thing that is very, very important for Ghanaian households and individuals is the high cost of transportation,” he observed. “If you look at the cost of transport in Ghana, there are two elements that dominate the pricing formula for transport: fuel and spare parts. Now, with what you are doing with electric vehicles generally, I mean, the fuel costs really become very minimal. “And then because of the nature of the engines for electric vehicles, it has very low maintenance. So, with these two elements, you will reduce the cost of transport very significantly,” Dr Bawumia stated. Vice President Bawumia recognizes the challenges that come with transitioning from fossil fuel to electric vehicles. However, he strongly believes that Ghana stands to benefit greatly from this shift. Lower transportation costs, savings in foreign exchange, job creation, and the opportunity to train more young people are just a few of the advantages. Dr. Bawumia emphasized the potential for TVET institutions to develop curricula focused on electric vehicle maintenance, as the demand for skilled professionals in this field will continue to grow. The Vice President also highlighted the significant impact of fuel and transportation costs on Ghana’s inflation rate. Increases in these areas can have ripple effects on the exchange rate, the cost of food, and utilities. Therefore, transitioning to electric vehicles has the potential to alleviate some of these inflationary pressures. Dr. Bawumia commended the founders of Solar Taxi for their dedication to innovation and entrepreneurship. He expressed his belief that Ghana has a comparative advantage in electric vehicle manufacturing, particularly in Africa. Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email apexnewsgh@gmail.com
Media must shift focus to landlords over household toilets – GAMA
Mr. Emmanuel Addai, the Knowledge Management Expert for the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area and Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area Sanitation and Water Project (GAMA SWP), has urged the media to question landlords on their failure to provide households with toilets. Mr. Addai stressed that “neglecting households’ toilets and focusing on communal ones would not solve Ghana’s sanitation and open defecation issues.” He said this when speaking on the topic “The media and promotion of communal and public toilets” during the Media Coalition against Open Defecation (M-CODe) National Working Group (NWG) empowerment summit sponsored by World Vision Ghana. The M-CODe Empowerment Summit forms part of the “M-CODe 2023 Anti-Open Defecation Nationwide Advocacy efforts to build the capacity of media practitioners to fight against open defecation and develop and strengthen networks with strategic stakeholders. Mr. Addai said the media often reported extensively and advocated the provision of communal toilets instead of questioning why landlords refused to follow the building code and provide toilet facilities for households. He explained that communal toilets were facilities constructed in a residential area meant for communal use, adding that they serve residential communities in the absence of household toilets and are useful for visitors during festive occasions. He added that communal toilets were sometimes nuisance when developers or landlords refused to build household toilets or when they interfered with the promotion of household toilets by district authorities and other organizations. The GAMA Knowledge Management Expert indicated that the media had not done much to assess the absence of household toilets, the refusal of landlords to provide toilets at home, the absence of communal toilets in communities, and the failure of duty-bearers to provide a communal toilet. “Provision of toilets continues to become a government burden; instead of landlords, open defecation and its associated dangers continue to be entrenched,” he added. He said sanitation workers and experts expected the media to advocate for toilets in public places, cleanliness in public toilets, and de-emphasize promotion of communal toilets. “Shift attention to landlords who refuse to provide households with toilets and advocate support for households that cannot afford a decent toilet,” he stated. Mr. Francis Ameyibor, M-CODe National Convenor, urged journalists to speak out and put the spotlight on communities notorious for open defecation. He said the Coalition needed to challenge leadership and relevant authorities at all levels to take action. He said M-CODe is building alliances with strategic stakeholders, including the Regional Coordinating Council, Environmental Health Department, Ghana Education Service, Ghana Health Service, Community Water and Sanitation Agency, and the Department of Community Development, to revitalise advocacy against open defecation. Other stakeholders include the Department of Gender, the National Commission for Civic Education, Regional Environmental Officers, the Environmental Protection Agency, World Vision, and civil society organisations. The remainder consists of Regional Officers from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Ministry of Sanitation, and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, among others, who work to revive and maintain the activism to alter the rules and build a society free of open defecation. As part of national efforts to put an end to the practice, Mr. Ameyibor noted that empowerment through capacity building, connecting key players in the battle against open defecation, and developing a forum to expose communities still engaging in the practice are all important. Other speakers include Mr. Yaw Attah Arhin, World Vision Ghana Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Technical Specialist, and Mr. Wisdom Aditsey, Tema Metropolitan Health Officer.
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor not happy with happenings in NPP
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has raised concerns about the deep factionalism within the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Mr. Kufuor, who led the nation from 2000 to 2008, has noticed significant changes within the party. During an interview with TV3 Monitored by Apexnewsgh.com, the former president emphasized the importance of the NPP assessing its activities and the need for a strong commitment within the party. He compared this commitment to a religious belief. Mr. Kufuor expressed disappointment in the declining sense of commitment within the party and stressed the significance of practicing proper democracy, promoting inclusivity rather than factionalism. He pointed out that acknowledging factions within the party, whether at the constituency or national level, only leads to division and impedes cooperation. “I don’t feel the same strong commitment anymore,” Mr. Kufuor said. He added, “I used to compare commitment to a religion. I don’t sense that now” According to him, it is crucial to avoid practices that divide and emphasize factions within the party. He believes that unity is necessary to maintain the strength and effectiveness of the party. The concerns raised by the former President are in response to the resignation of a prominent NPP member, Alan Kyerematen. Kyerematen intends to run as an independent candidate in the 2024 presidential election. Furthermore, Kwadwo Mpiani, a former Chief of Staff in the Kufuor administration, recently expressed dissatisfaction with the NPP. Mpiani claimed that the party essentially gave all power to one person, Nana Akufo-Addo, when the chairman and general secretary, Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong, respectively, were “unconstitutionally” removed from their positions. Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email apexnewsgh@gmail.com