Citi FM, OccupyGhana petition Nana Addo over ‘health crisis’

Citi FM and OccupyGhana have petitioned President Nana Akufo-Addo to demand the operationalization of all newly built but abandoned healthcare facilities.

The petitioners are also pushing for a comprehensive Emergency Response System (ERS) in Ghana.

The two petitioners contend that the matters at hand have “reached a crisis point.” “The matters now require drastic measures, one of which is our request herein that the President takes urgent steps to operationalise the facilities and institute the ERS throughout Ghana.”

They urged the president to “put in place and publish a clear roadmap with timelines for addressing the matters.”

The work of the Citi Breakfast Show is highlighted for its advocacy and tracking of abandoned healthcare facilities.

This has revealed that “although an amount of $1 billion has been committed to various facilities, some that are completed are not in use while others have either been abandoned or fallen behind the scheduled date of completion with no remedial actions being taken.”

It is the conviction of the petitioners that the facilities, when operationalised, will “reduce pressure on the existing tertiary and regional referral facilities and add about a 4000-bed capacity to the existing nationwide figure of about 20,000 beds.”

The University of Ghana Medical Centre, the first phase of which was recently opened, was among newly built healthcare facilities that was sitting idle over 18 months after it was commisioned, because of a spat between the government and the University of Ghana over who should manage the facility.

The 1,000-bed maternity & paediatric block at KATH that has been abandoned for over four decades, the Police Hospital in Accra and the KNUST Teaching Hospital are some of the projects noted in the petition, that have been abandoned.

The no-beds syndrome has left healthcare providers with no option but to treat emergency cases on the floor or chairs in some cases.

This is after the death of 70-year-old man who was turned away by seven hospitals over a lack of beds prompted the Ghana Health Service to direct that emergency cases be treated regardless of the medical logistics.

The petition also includes an 11 point plan for a comprehensive emergency service system that includes the provision of an adequate number of ambulances for the population, improved support to the National Health Insurance Scheme, the establishment of an ERS Command Centre and the provision of more community hospitals.

The petitioners maintain that “poor health care is a gross violation of the inherent right of the people to good healthcare.”

“We believe that the President has a sacred duty to ensure that the right thing is done. That is why we are calling for a direct action by the President to ensure that these matters are addressed by, first, ensuring that all identified facilities are operationalised forthwith, and second, instituting a workable plan for emergency healthcare in Ghana.”

Give us evidence to probe exam leakage – Parliament to Law students

The Chairman of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament Ben Abdallah has urged angry law students to provide evidence of the alleged exam leakage to his committee in order for them to probe their claims.

Some students of the Ghana School of Law are upset over an alleged leakage of their exams after the supposed questions together with answers and marking scheme were seen on social media hours before the exams. The students say the development suggests that some of their colleagues had access to the exams papers before they started writing the paper.

Spokesperson for the irate law students Yaa Opoku told Francis Abban on the Morning Starr Monday that the Independent Examination Body (IEB) of the General Legal Council must be dissolved over the issue.

“We are very angry, extremely angry. As students, we are on various platforms and questions kept flying onto the platforms. We got to the exam hall and the questions dropped just as was shown to us. It was shocking. The questions just didn’t drop, they dropped with answers and marking schemes. Our major concern is with the IEB. Over the years, they have proven to be incompetent and for that matter, the Board should be dissolved,” she lamented.

Commenting on the development, Mr. Abdallah said his colleagues were equally concerned when issue came to their attention.

“The issue of the leakage came to our attention after the students wrote the exams. We all passed comments on this because exams are to be fair. We will need evidence to pursue this case. Listening to Yaa Opoku the students had access to the questions, answers and marking schemes. As far as I am concerned, this issue remains an allegation until proven otherwise”.

We don’t take delight in strikes – Ghana Medical Association

Dr Frank Serebour, Vice-President of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), has said doctors do not take pleasure in using strikes as a bargaining tool.

According to him, although they are aware of the adverse effects of their industrial action, they have no option than to resort to same since government has failed to listen to their concerns.

Doctors in the country have threatened an indefinite strike, effective Monday, 6 August 2018, until a list of their demands are met by government.

All doctors in the public sector will withdraw their outpatient services until August 19 and heighten the industrial action by withdrawing emergency services from 20 August until 27 August when they declare a full-blown strike if their demands are still not met.

The GMA arrived at this decision at their 4th National Executive Council meeting held at Jirapa in the Upper West Region from 27 – 28 July 2018.

According to the GMA, the issue of doctors having suffered reduced pensions following their migration onto the single spine pay policy; and non-payment of conversion differences, is still outstanding since December 2011, in spite of the NLC’s compulsory arbitration award which binds both parties and subsequent directive from the NLC to government to correct same.

The GMA also accused government of not fully implementing their condition of service document signed in October 2015.

The Association also bemoaned the “inequitable distribution of critical healthcare staff which has resulted in most deprived communities not receiving the desired standard of care.”

They are calling on government to consider the incentive packages recommended by the GMA at its Annual General Conference held in Tamale in November 2010.

Speaking on Ghana Yensom hosted by Chief Jerry Forson on Accra 100.5FM on Monday, 30 July, Dr Serebuor said: “It is not as if we take delight in fighting for a better condition of service, we don’t take delight in strike at all but the situation demands that we do this to achieve our purpose.”

He added: “We don’t sit and say we are just thinking about ourselves, we think of Ghanaians and at the same time we also think about ourselves, we are also workers who are entitled to certain benefits.”

COPIED FROM 
www.ghanaweb.com 

News making the headlines in the newsapapers, July 30th, 2018

 Daily Graphic

• Catholic Bishops fight corruption

• Victims of human trafficking get state shelter

• Prez allays fears about double intake

• 16-page Greater Works supplement inside

• UMB averts cyber attack

• Parliament approves $2bn barter deal with China

Daily Guide

• Bettty defends Woyome GHC51m fraud

• MPs approve $2bn Chinese deal for roads, railways

• Law school exams leaked

• UMB cyber attack

Samira Bawumia lands new ambassadorial role

The Second Lady of Ghana has been handed an ambassadorial position by the World Habitat Ambassadors Foundation (WHAF) and she dazzled in a very beautiful dress as the honor was conferred on her to mark the occasion.

In a post on Instagram to announce the honor, the Second Lady posted pictures of herself and captioned them, “I am honored to be named the World Habitat Humanitarian Ambassador and to be awarded for Global Excellence in Leadership, Humanitarian and Philanthropic activities in Africa and Investiture by World Habitat Ambassadors Foundation (WHAF)”, she revealed.

“The World Habitat Ambassadors Foundation (WHAF) is an NGO committed to working towards sustainable development goals and core values in dedication to achieving urban development.

Thank you to the WHAF for the award and the Ghana High Commission in Abuja for hosting the presentation of the award”, she continued.

Samira Bawumia who has been admired for her way of dressing once again did not disappoint when she had to be conferred with her new ambassadorial role.

Samira Bawumia has over the period showed her high fashion sense and has ‘slayed’ in her outfit any time she had to make a public appearance.

Speaking in an interview on Accra-based Starr FM to commemorate the According to the Second Lady, the businesses of her dressmakers had seen a remarkable boom and invariably, it has made their lives comfortable by creating more jobs for them.

She said the dressmaking industry was booming because of the many talents who made dresses for her that got others talking whenever she stepped out.




I am honoured to be named the World Habitat Humanitarian Ambassador and to be awarded for Global Excellence in Leadership, Humanitarian and Philanthropic activities in Africa and Investiture by World Habitat Ambassadors Foundation (WHAF). The World Habitat Ambassadors Foundation (WHAF) is an NGO committed to working towards sustainable development goals and core values in dedication to achieving urban development. Thank you to the WHAF for the award and the Ghana High Commission in Abuja for hosting the presentation of the award.

NEWS MAKING HEADLINES IN THE NEWSPAPERS

Stories making headlines on the front pages in the major newspapers include:

Daily Graphic:

- Truck runs into traders* 1 killed, 6 injured

- Ghanaians mourn Former Vice-President

Publisher:

- As Amissah-Arthur goes home..Asiedu Nketia weeps

- Truck runs over traders at Ashaiman

Weekend Today:

- Actress Zynell Zuh stuns in new birthday photos

- Taipei and Accra to host WTCA confabs

Chronicle:

- Palm wine you drink could be dangerous!

- Ghana mourns Amissah-Arthur

- Funny names of villages excite MPs

Daily Guide:

- ‘Wicked’ cop caged for assaulting a woman

- Truck kills girl in Ashaiman

Stop harassing students sexually - Director tells teachers

Teachers who have been sexually harassing students have been warned to desist from such acts. Any teacher found culpable will be made to face the law.

The warning was issued by the Eastern Regional Director of Education, Gertrude Mensah, at the maiden Best School, Teacher and Students’ Award ceremony in Koforidua.

She said the educational sector is grateful for the Wesleyan Mission's support towards quality education in Ghana.

She said as stewards, it is important to uphold, sustain and maintain the cherished enviable ethos and standards of teaching and learning.

A Former Director General of Ghana Education Service, Very Rev. Ama Afo Blay, appealed to religious bodies to come out with innovations to support government’s effort in transforming the educational system in the country.

The award ceremony saw 14 teachers, 16 students and 21 schools receiving refrigerators, computers, gas cylinders, set of school band, citations and books as rewards.