Over sixty head porters also known as “kayayes” lodging at Dangomba line; a prominent zongo community located within the Asokore Mampong Municipality of Ashanti region have stormed the premise of (NBU) to get themselves enroll into the Youth Enterprenurial and Employability Programme (YEEP) under the auspices of the No Business as Usual (NBU) Project.

It was a scene of enjoyment and excitement after turning up at a community reach out event organised on the 15th of March 2020 by the leadership of the European Union funded Project (NBU) in conjunction with officials of EMB Ahenfie, they expressed interest in the program, picked an application form and signed up for the training.
They were interviewed on the same day at the same spot jointly by executives of NBU and EMB Ahenfie.

Considering the laborious nature of their profession and how their strength quickly wears out with time, the Training Coordinator for NBU Project Shaibu Fuseini in a chatt with choicenews revealed that the focus of the training is to offer head porters more sustainable jobs despite their inability of them to pursue high academic qualifications.

Under YEEP, he explained that they will be trained on general self development skills and afterwards will be given the opportunity to study any vocation of their choice .

The training which is yet to kick-start will run on Sundays from 2:00pm to 4:00pm for three months at the hub of the project located at Sawaaba junction within the same Municipality.

Per the flexible arrangement made by officials, trainees will be bused from their area of jurisdiction (Dagomba line) every Sunday to the training centre at the expense of the project.

Credit:OMONO ASAMOAH EZRA FM

The conveyor of Youth Empowerment Summit, Mr. Clement Agyei Sarfo has expressed requisite concern about the need for each and every one of this country to be alarmed over this deadly disease.
According to him the rescent panic buying of groceries, foodstuffs and other petroleum protect can cause havoc to everybody irrespective of where u find yourself.

Mr.Clement Agyei Sarfo in his usual motivational write ups known as mental capsules urging the youth to stand up and make different to the society highlighted the following key points,

Exodus of people from ACCRA/KSI to areas that are not under lockdown.

2. The people on the move can easily spread virus on the various buses conveying them from one point to another.
3. Carriers of the virus traveling to the hinterlands can easily infect unsuspected people in those areas.
4. Health centres in the hinterlands are largely challenged in terms of infrastructure and logistics so any possible outbreak of COVID-19 would be very disastrous to the entire country.
5. Panic buying of groceries, foodstuffs and petroleum products is another time bomb waiting to explode in our faces. The likelihood of infection amidst people’s disregard for the social distancing protocols is very high. When people are in panic and frenzy mood they throw caution to the wind which is a precursor to unfettered spread of COVID-19.
6. The unchecked migration to areas that are not under lockdown can fuel community or the horizontal spread of COVID-19.
7. A lot of people in Ghana still think they are distant away from COVID-19. Many people are of the view that as long as they are far from ACCRA/KUMASI, they are “safe and exempted” which is why they are not taking any PRECAUTIONS against COVID-19.
8. A greater number of people are ignorant and misinformed about the LOCKDOWN imposed by the President of the land. A proof of the ignorance and misinformation of the people is the panic buying and mass urban-rural migration we are witnessing since the President made the announcement.
9. NB: Fellow Ghanaians we cannot afford to pay the same price Italy paid in relation to COVID-19 spread and havoc. At least we have the benefit of hindsight. We are in this together and we are either staying afloat together or sinking together. Let’s stay home, let’s stay focused on getting rid of the common enemy.

A group known as NPP Medical Team has raised serious concern about the government commitment to includes Retired Health Professionals to combat covid-19 pandemic.
According to them the commitment by the president of Ghana His.Excellence Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo is very applauding and for that matter there is the need for every well meaning Ghanaian to support the president in this difficult time to stop the spreading of this deadly virus.

In a press release issued and sign by Mr.Albert Opoku Deputy Health Director who is the chairman of NPP Medical Team reveals the reasons why the government shouldn’t interfere the retired health professionals into the fight of covid-19 deadly disease in this country.
According to them a report by the most available statistic from several studies pointing to the fact that the morbidity and morality rate of Covid-19 is very high among the aged so their inclusive will be a disastrous for this country.

A report by the medical expects say the new virus is killing people over 65 years at a much higher than the younger age group so we suggest the government and the ministry of health would have bringing in the health professionals who are waiting for their financial clearance from both private and public health institutions since they are the people with high immune system to fight the virus, “he said”.

Mr.Albert Opoku revealed that most of the death in almighty Italy also have comorbid conditions, thus the presence of more than one disease in one person from 1 to 3 in addition to Covid-19 and most of their conditions are aged related stressing that their conditions range from cardiovascular,diabetes respiratory disorder and cancer for which all these conditions were identified in a studies in Italy and China. Throwing more light into his submission.

Mr.Albert Opoku indicated that in Italy for example 48.5% had three conditions in addition to Covid-19, 26.5% had 2 conditions and 25.1% had one condition and 0.8% died only from covid-19.

The chairman opined that according to a scientific advisor to Italy’s minister of health Prof.Walter recciardi the country mortality rate is far higher due to demographics the nation has the second oldest population worldwide.

They said in Ghana here the retirement age is 60 of which some go for extension meaning our average age of our retired health professionals may normally around 63 years which makes them more vulnerable to the condition at stake.

Bringing the curtail to and end the NPP Medical Team suggested to the Ministry of Health to give chance to the youthful health professionals and put the retired health professionals on so that in an unlikely event of serious outbreak or exponential increases in numbers of the affected persons, the country will have a young energetic and healthy team to help salvage the situation with minimal occupation hazards(risk of getting themselves infected).
Furthermore the team also suggested that MOH should have a team that would do thorough research into all the confirmed cases improve covid-19 knowledge into Ghana terms since morphology of the disease are into sub-Sahara, Africa may not be the same as other part of the world to help us manage the pandemic better.

In conclusion the powerful NPP Medical Team entreats all good people of this country to stay calm and follow all the measures been put in place by the president and Ministry of Health to all the senior citizens and the vulnerable groups are to stay at home if possible so they can protect themselves from the deadly covid-19 virus.

Filed by:Omono Asamoah EZRA FM & Simon Opoku Afriyie OTEC Fm

A group known as NPP Medical Team in Kumasi has raised serious concern about the government commitment to includes Retired Health Professionals to combat covid-19 pandemic.

According to them the commitment by the president of Ghana His.Excellence Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo is very applauding and for that matter there is the need for every well meaning Ghanaian to support the president in this difficult time to stop the spreading of this deadly virus.
In a press release issued and sign by Dr.Albert Opoku Deputy Health Director who is the chairman of NPP Medical Team reveals the reasons why the government shouldn’t interfere the retired health professionals into the fight of covid-19 deadly disease in this country.

According to them a report by the most available statistic from several studies pointing to the fact that the morbidity and morality rate of Covid-19 is very high among the aged so their inclusive will be a disastrous for this country. A report by the medical expects say the new virus is killing people over 65 years at a much higher than the younger age group so we suggest the government and the ministry of health would have bringing in the health professionals who are waiting for their financial clearance from both private and public health institutions since they are the people with high immune system to fight the virus, “he said”.

Dr.Albert Opoku revealed that most of the death in almighty Italy also have comorbid conditions, thus the presence of more than one disease in one person from 1 to 3 in addition to Covid-19 and most of their conditions are aged related stressing that their conditions range from cardiovascular,diabetes respiratory disorder and cancer for which all these conditions were identified in a studies in Italy and China. Throwing more light into his submission Dr.Albert Opoku indicated that in Italy for example 48.5% had three conditions in addition to Covid-19, 26.5% had 2 conditions and 25.1% had one condition and 0.8% died only from covid-19.

The chairman opined that according to a scientific advisor to Italy’s minister of health Prof.Walter recciardi the country mortality rate is far higher due to demographics the nation has the second oldest population worldwide.

They said in Ghana here the retirement age is 60 of which some go for extension meaning our average age of our retired health professionals may normally around 63 years which makes them more vulnerable to the condition at stake.

Bringing the curtail to and end the NPP Medical Team suggested to the Ministry of Health to give chance to the youthful health professionals and put the retired health professionals on standby so that in an unlikely event of serious outbreak or exponential increases in numbers of the affected persons, the country will have a young energetic and healthy team to help salvage the situation with minimal occupation hazards(risk of getting themselves infected).
Furthermore the team also suggested that MOH should have a team that would do thorough research into all the confirmed cases improve covid-19 knowledge into Ghana terms since morphology of the disease are into sub-Sahara, Africa may not be the same as other part of the world to help us manage the pandemic better.

In conclusion the powerful NPP Medical Team entreats all
good people of this country to stay calm and follow all the measures been put in place by the president and Ministry of Health to all the senior citizens and the vulnerable groups are to stay at home if possible so they can protect themselves from the deadly covid-19 virus.

Filed by: Omono Asamoah EZRA FM & Simon Opoku Afriyie OTEC FM

DAMAK sanitation Watch and Health a non governmental organization is appealing to the government to consider nationwide free water supply to improve the controlling of covid-19 pandemic.
DAMAKsanitation Watch and Health is a non governmental organization which is poised to ensure that eachvand every individuals irrespective of where one find him or herself will get access to portable drinking water and improving sanitation in the country.

The CEO of DAMAK sanitation Watch and Health in a phone in interview with choicemedia network Mr. Akgri M. Daniel said it’s high time government embark on a nationwide supply of portable water as a matter of urgency to ensure that people get water to wash their hands on time as directed by the WHO as one of the basic major preventive measures that one can use to protect himself from the deadly virus.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of DAMAK sanitation Health and Watch Mr.Akgri M.Daniel water played the most significant role in human life and one can not protect him or herself from this pandemic virus without getting accessible to clean water so the government should do all his best to ensure that good water must be provided to every households in the country.

We are appealing on government to consider using the fire service, military service, the police service etc water supply chanel to provide this escencial service making sure that people who find it difficult to get water have access.”he added.

We further appealing on the Ghana water company limited to put in place appropriate measures to enhance proper flow of water to reduce the challenge people go through over water.

In conclusion DAMAKsanitation Watch and Health further on advised the general public to adhere to the basic measures that have been outlined by the WHO as the key preventive tools in the covid-19 pandemic. These include, regular hand washing with running water and soap, use of alcoholic-based rub or sanitizers, covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing with tissue and properly dispose off etc.

Credit : Omono Asamoah EZRA FM

32 Executives manning the popular Ghana based European Union funded project-No Business as Usual (NBU) have pasted digital printouts, highlighting projects executed by the Asokore Mampong Municipal Assembly on ten billboards errected in ten electoral areas.

The billboards were mounted by officials of the project in areas including Asokore MAMPONG, Sewaaba, Adukrom, Akurem, Aboabo, Asawase, Akwatia line, New Zongo, Paakoso, Booban, Asabi
to serve as a platform that will showcase both completed and ongoing projects put up by government through the assembly within each electoral area.

Pasting of the graphics was carried out within the first week of February 2020, aimed at giving electorates and residents a pictorial knowledge on the assembly’s delivery and ultimately enhance social accountability.

Highlighted projected cover those executed within the year 2017.

Addressing the media, Vincent Ohene-Ntow (Program Manager SBs/PPPs, NBU Project) informed that the move will help create more awareness and encourage residents as they get to know that their taxes are effectively utilized for the development of their areas.

“Through this, they will even be encourage to pay their taxes”, he indicated.

“Under this system, they will not only rely on their regular attendats at town hall meetings to be informed about the delivery of the assembly. Regular visits to the notice boards will give them a feed”, he added.

Management of Asanko Gold Ghana Limited, a mining company in the Amansie South district, has donated some items wealth millions of Ghana cedis to Amansie South District Assembly to be used as preventive measure in the spreading of covid 19 virus.

The valuable items includes Veronica Buckets, Carbolic soap, hand sanitizers, liquid soaps, nose masks and hand gloves.
Coronavirus also known as convid19 for the past one month has caused untimely death to so many citizens worldwide while others are still in quarantine hospitals receiving medical treatment which the story is not different from that of Ghana.
Presenting the items is a short durbar held today at Manso Adubia the district capital of Amansie South District,

The General Manager of Asanko Gold Ghana Limited Mr. Charles Amoah mentioned that this donation is their widow’s might in trying to prevent the spread of the virus in the District as part of their cooperate social responsibility to improve the lives and health of the the people in which the company operates.

He stated that the Asanko Gold Mining Company is poised to to help the citizens of this country to prevent themselves from this deadly disease and one of the best thing is to support the health facilities with these items so they can use to control this virus. He emphasized that the district which is full of mining activities with a huge population with different ethical background so we are giving this to some of the health facilities in the district to make the virus effective control.

Receiving the items, the District Chief Executive, Hon. William Bediako Asante, expressed his delight for items donated by the company. He assured them that the items would be used judiciously in order to prevent the spread of the virus.

He said already the Assembly had spotted some markets and other facilities that need urgent attention and we will make sure these items are going to be distributed as urgent as immediately to avoid people getting contact with the virus.

He said the District Assembly under his leadership has outline so many preventive measures to curtail the spreading of this virus adding that there is going to be a fumigation exercise in all the market and other choke areas which he appealed to the good people of Amansie South District to cooperate with the Assembly to make the president vision of preventing this virus becomes reality.

In conclusion Hon.William Asante Bediako extend his hand to all well-to-do individuals and companies in the District to emulate the gesture by Asanko Gold since we are not in normal times.

Present at the presentation ceremony was the District Health Director, Mr. Ofosu-Kwabi Nasas, who also said that there are about Twenty Health facilities in the District that are in dire need of these items and assured both the DCE and the company that the items would be put to good use.

Filed by Omono Asamoah EZRA FM & Simon Opoku Afriyie OTEC

More and more states in the United States are buying into the idea of locking down due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Connecticut and New Jersey are the latest to join Illinois and California which earlier ordered lockdowns to combat the spread of the virus.

The virus has claimed nearly 230 lives in the US and created havoc in families of more than 18,500 people continues to do more harm as countries continue to confirm cases
Globally more than 275,000 patients have tested positive for the respiratory illness and more than 11,000 have died.

A ban on non-essential travel across the US-Canada border came into effect overnight.

Connecticut, Illinois, and New York on Friday announced measures directing tens of millions of people to stay at home.

The restrictions order most workplaces to close and require residents to remain inside except for trips to grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations.

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Four people in the same family have died from coronavirus in the US state of New Jersey, with three more relatives in hospital.
Grace Fusco, 73, and six of her adult children fell ill after attending a large family gathering.

Nearly 20 other relatives are now self-quarantining and waiting to find out if they have also been infected.
The death toll across the US has continued to rise, as experts warn against any kind of social gathering.
The four family members who died are Grace Fusco and her children Rita Fusco-Jackson, Carmine Fusco and Vincent Fusco.

Rita Fusco-Jackson, a Catholic school teacher, 55, died on Friday. She had no underlying health issues, according to state health commissioner Judith Persichilli.
New Jersey health officials said Ms Fusco-Jackson was the second person to die from Covid-19 in the state, and the first fatality had also recently attended a Fusco family gathering.

Carmine Fusco died on Wednesday, followed hours later by his mother, Grace Fusco.
US, Canada and Mexico restrict border traffic
According to the New York Times, Grace Fusco died without knowing that two of her children had already succumbed to the deadly respiratory illness sweeping the planet.
On Thursday, Vincent Fusco died in the same hospital where his mother had recently passed.

According to family member Paradiso Fodera, 19 family members who attended the same dinner are now self-isolating, and have waited nearly a week to learn the results of their virus tests.
“Why don’t the family members who are not hospitalised have the test results? This is a public health crisis,” Ms Fodera told CNN.

She continued: “Why should athletes and celebrities without symptoms be given priority over a family that has been decimated by this virus?”
“This is an unbearable tragedy for the family.”
Source; BBC

Credit OMONO ASAMOAH EZRA FM

Following some speculations by the section of Ghanaians on government plans to lockdown this country,

The Minister of Information Hon.Kwadwo Oppong Nkrumah in a tweet has debunked the speculations that the president of Ghana His.Excellence Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo has not taken any decision to lockdown this country over the deadly corona virus.

According to him the president after consultations with his advisers has concluded that things are getting better and he assures the general public that Ghana is not going to lockdown.

He stated that the president of the Republic of Ghana, H.E Nana Addo Dunkwa has just concluded a meeting of the Covid-19 response committee . H.E. Will address the nation tonight with latest updates and measures.

But no he will not be announcing a lockdown so don’t panic. Case management reports show that the active cases are responding very well to treatment awaiting final cure tests. Our front line response workers at hospitals and ports are doing well so far.”concluded “.

Credit: OMONO ASAMOAH EZRA FM