The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has decried moves by some countries in Europe in not recognising Covishield, the Indian version of the AstraZeneca vaccine, being used by many African countries.

According to President Akufo-Addo, “one unfortunate development appears to be the recent measures on entry into some countries in Europe, which suggest that Covishield, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured in India, is not recognised by some countries in Europe.”

The President made this known on Wednesday, 22nd September 2021, when he took his turn to speak at the 76th United Nations General Assembly, currently ongoing in New York, in the United States of America.

His comments come on the heels of the “simplified travel measures” announcement by recently by the UK Government, and, indeed, by some countries in Europe, which comes into effect from 4th October.

The measures specify that persons who have received double-dose vaccines such as Oxford-AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna or the single shot Janssen vaccine “under an approved vaccination program in the UK, Europe, US or UK vaccine programme overseas” will be considered fully vaccinated.

The rules also consider persons who have received jabs under public health bodies in Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bahrain, Brunei, Canada, Dominica, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, New Zealand, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea or Taiwan as fully vaccinated.

“What is intriguing is the fact that this vaccine was donated to African countries through the COVAX facility. The use of vaccines as a tool for immigration control will be a truly retrogressive step,” the President noted.

Ghana, President Akufo-Addo said, has so far received five million doses, which have been administered to frontline health workers and those classified as being most at risk.

“Five million is not a figure to be sneered at, particularly when we consider the situation in many other African countries. We are grateful that our efforts at the management of the pandemic and vaccine distribution have been recognised, and we have received these amounts so far. We are still hoping to vaccinate twenty million of our people by the end of the year,” he said.

President Akufo-Addo continued, “Ghana agrees with the call of the Rome Declaration of Global Health for voluntary licensing and technology transfers to boost vaccine production. The Africa Union is working with WHO, WTO and other global partners to expand its vaccine manufacturing and deployment.”

He told the Assembly that Ghana recognised that vaccination is the way to protect populations, and revitalise societies.

In the case of Africa, the President stated that vaccinating seventy percent (70%) of the population in the shortest possible time, as is being done elsewhere in the world, means some nine hundred million Africans have to be vaccinated.

He stressed that the Afreximbank’s structuring of the Africa Vaccine Acquisition Taskforce’s two-billion-dollar acquisition of four hundred million Johnson & Johnson vaccines is part of the historic African Union’s COVID-19 Vaccine Development and Access Strategy.

“It is a critical milestone in our collective fight against the pandemic, in a continent suffering the worst brunt of vaccine nationalism. The Africa Vaccine Acquisition Taskforce vaccine programme, partly manufactured in South Africa, is the single largest and most far-reaching trade transaction since the entry into force of the African Continental Free Trade Area in January this year,” he added.

President Akufo-Addo described it as an “eloquent testimony” to the benefits of domestic production and pooled procurement in Africa, as envisioned by the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.

COVID-19 has been damaging
Recounting his statement at the 2017 UN General Assembly, where he indicated that he wanted to build an economy that was not dependent on charity and handouts, President indicated that the significant progress that had been made by Ghana between 2017 to 2020, where an average growth rate of 7% was recorded, had been eroded.

“In 2020, when the global economy and sub-Saharan Africa’s contracted by 3.5% and 2.1%, respectively, Ghana was one of the few countries that produced a positive growth rate. This is a testament to our determination to build a Ghana Beyond Aid,” he said.

However, he stated that many economies in Africa are in recession, as the virus’s impact on economies and livelihoods has been devastating.

“The latest numbers from the African Development Bank indicate that African economies, which contracted by 2.1% in 2020, are yet to return to pre-pandemic levels. More than thirty million Africans fell into extreme poverty in 2020, and nearly forty million could do so in 2021,” he said.

The social impact of the pandemic, President Akufo-Addo reiterated, “has been devastating; over one hundred and three million African jobs have been lost. Women, who account for forty percent (40%) of total employment, have been most hard hit.”

Source: richnews

The President of the Republic of Ghana ,Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo,has appointed Hon.Osei Assibey Antwi ,the former Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) mayor as the new Executive Director of the National Service Scheme (NSS).

Hon.Osei Assibey Antwi left office as KMA mayor unconditionally after serving for four (4) years and 9 months without seeking re-appointment.

His tenure saw massive development in the city.He is expected to assume office immediately.

The new Executive Director of NSS,Osei Assibey Antwi,54 year holds MBA in Marketing and Chartered member of the Institute of Commercial Management. He is very grateful to H.E.Nana Addo Danquah for confidence reposed in him and reappointed him to serve in his government for the second time.

Source: richnews

Kumasi Asante Kotoko has confirmed Dr Prosper Narteh Ogum as their new Head Coach ahead of the 2021/22 league season.

It comes just 24 hours after the exit of Portuguese Coach Mariano Barreto.

Ogum will be assisted by former Liberty Professionals coach David Ocloo.

The former coach of WAFA has signed a two year deal with the Kumasi-based team and would be unveiled on Sunday, according to reports.

“We’re delighted to announce Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum as our new Head Coach,” the club said.

“The Sports Psychologist , Educationist and Coach joins us on a 2-year deal from WAFA, having previously handled UCC Soccer Team, Elmina Sharks, Dwarfs and Karela United.

Kumasi Asante Kotoko failed to win any silverware last season, despite replacing Coach Maxwell Konadu with Barreto.

Source: richnews

Nenebi Kofi Ayertey, a top Ghanaian journalist, has been honoured with a media award following his reporting last year which unearthed the lack of access of portable drinking water and no mobile network coverage in Wurapong a farming community near Klo Agogo in Yilo Agogo Krobo Municipality in Eastern Region of Ghana.

David Kofi Ayerteys story led the Cowbell Company of Ghana came to help the community construct an ultra modern mechanised borehole for the community.

Notifying David Kofi Ayertey about his good news reportage across the country especially in the remote areas which led the community to recognize his good work done.

The prize is dubbed the People Journalist for Informed Community 2021. Wurapong Assembly member Awarded Nenebi.

Soon after receiving the news, David said: “I feel humbled to be a recipient of such an important continental award conferred on me by Wurapong community.”

“I would like to thank all journalists who assisted me in piercing the stories together, and those who provided vital information,” the journalist said on Richnews.com.

Source: richnews

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Thursday, 9th September 2021, commissioned CH Global Limited, a cassava and yam processing factory operating under Government’s 1-District-1-Factory initiative, located in Addo Nkwanta, in the Krachi East District of the Oti Region.

With support from Ghana EXIM Bank to the tune of GH¢10 million, the facility will process yam into frozen chips and yam balls, under the brand name CH Foods, and will take advantage of available local raw materials in the catchment area.

The first phase of the project is estimated to process an average of 120 tubers of yam per hour, resulting in 60 bags of processed frozen yam chips and yam balls, requiring an annual production of 216,000 tubers of yam.

The implementation of phase two of the project, which is scheduled to start in 2022, will introduce a cassava processing line for the production of cassava fries and snacks, with a capacity to process some 700 metric tons of cassava per year.

The promoters told President Akufo-Addo some 254 people will be employed by the factory under the phase one, whilst the phase two will also create a significant number of direct and indirect employment opportunities for the youth in and around the district.

The President may wish to conclude his remarks by commending the Business Promoters and Traditional Authorities of the area for their unflinching support for the project as well as Ghana EXIM Bank for providing the loan facility for the establishment of this state-of-the-art factory at Addo Nkwanta in Krachi East District in the Oti Region.

As of September 2021, 278 1D1F projects are at various stages of implementation under the Initiative. Out of this number, 104 are currently in operation, 150 are under construction, and the remaining 24 are at the mobilization stage.

One hundred and sixty-five (165) out of the 278 projects, that is 60% of the factories, are new projects, whilst 113 companies are existing projects being supported, representing 40%.

Rationale for 1D1F
With unemployment being one of the main issues confronting the nation, the 1D1F initiative is seeking to address the youth unemployment challenge, as well as underdevelopment among peri urban and rural communities, by attracting private sector investments into the development activities of these communities.

1D1F programme is designed to transform the industrial landscape of the country, and build the capacities of local enterprises to produce high quality products for both the local and foreign markets.

The establishment of CH Global in Addo-Nkwanta of the Krachi East District in the newly created Oti Region is a demonstration of Government’s commitment to support the private sector under the One District One Factory Initiative.

Source: richnews

The District Chief Executive for Afigya kwabre South, Hon Christian Adu Poku A.P.C has inculcate hope to the the ruling New Patriotic Party sympathizers that, breaking the eight has become phenomenal with NPP and it seems to capture the center stage of every gathering when members of the Elephant fraternity meet.

All members of the party have realized that the term break the eight is feasible and that it needs little efforts from all and sundry to do justice to the slogan.

Ideally, the mantra will not go uncontested and unquestioned. How prepared is the party to break the jinx of this eight year recycling syndrome of NPP and NDC. It has become so synonymous that when NPP rules for eight Years, it is the turn of NDC. No, Ghanaians should now think beyond the normal and choose a party that have their interest at heart. The baton changing spree of political power will only plunge this country into deep gullies. If indeed we are ready for real development then the party that has shown signs of true development, addressing the needs of the people, taking hard decisions that will push the country forward ; such is the party that should be supported.

Hon Christian Adu Poku said, the NPP has demonstrated beyond all reasonable doubts that they are poised and ready to continue with governance and to steer the affairs of this country to a higher pedestal.

Comparing the exploits of the previous administration to the current one, there is no doubt that the current administration has performed par excellence. Consolidating the gains of NPP and communicating to Ghanaians, the eight year jinx can be broken.

It is incumbent upon all to work in whatever way to make sure the jinx is broken. The reason is simple, NDC assuming office after this government who has made monumental strides despite COVID-19 is absolutely suicidal. Any time NPP is in government the mess of NDC are cleared and real development is seen but strong propaganda puts NPP off their guard and NDC gets the opportunity to come back only to destroy the gains. It is time to say never again. NDC should remain in opposition. Tha back and forth of governance in the country’s political dispensation only spells for doom. This country should not be made to go back again.

Looking at the gains chalked by Nana Akuffo Addo and his government it is just prudent to maintain the NPP government in power. No, not at all, no one should fall for the propaganda of the NDC who are clearly behind certain journalists and some CSOs who are fighting tooth and nail to support the NDC get access of the seat of government for their selfish gains.

All Ghanaians should think deep between these two parties, compare their records and sustain the NPP government in power to improve our lot.

Source: Hon. CHRISTIAN ADU-POKU.

The National Chairman of Friends of Dr Kwaku Oteng, society- Ghana has urged Ghanaians to celebrate the living legends before they pass on.

Chairman James Arthur Darko said, Ghanaians don’t celebrate legends enough while they are alive hence the time has come to celebrate our legends who have chopped numerous success contributing to the drastic reduction of unemployment.

Speaking in a news conference during the official Launching of Friends of Dr Kwaku Oteng society- Ghana urged Ghanaian to honor and celebrate the living legends as they has set the pace.

However, the director in charge of monitoring Mrs Abigail Owusu added that, the good work of Dr Kwaku Oteng in years ago has positively impacted lives of Ghanaian citizenry and business which he deserved to be honoured.
She described him as THE LIFE CHANGING LEGEND, with a new phenomenal to instill hope in many life have largely expand business creation among the youth and woman.

Mrs Abigail Owusu said, the visionary nation builder Dr Kwaku Oteng who has become a father,a bread winner and ciunsellor to many, did not seek to apportion blame but instead took full responsibility for the age long problem and set out to address the youth unemployment deficit through sour sourcing job creation in his quest to support the country economy growth is worth to remember his life before death.

His goals was not to only to enrich himself or creating job to meet his his immediate family demand as a business man but to create more job to meet our ever increasing future generations, such a man needs to be celebrated,she said.

Source: richnews

The Afari hospital project was conceived in 2008 during the latter part of former President John Agyekum Kuffour’s administration and under the leadership of Hon. Ken Dapaah as the Defence Minister. Parliament gave approval in November 2008 for the 500-bed-capacity hospital to be constructed at Sofoline in Kumasi at a cost of US$180 million. However, we (New Patriotic Party-NPP) lost power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 2008. When NDC came to power, they decided to change the original site of the project to Tamale and we (NPP’s Minority in Parliament) objected the idea. So, the project site was again changed from Tamale to the 37 Military Hospital in Accra. A sod-cutting ceremony, for instance, was done for the project to begin at the 37 Military Hospital in August 2010.

However, shortly after the project commenced, the contractor was asked to stop work because a new location had been found for the project—Afari. It is important to state that we drafted the contract such that if we changed the site of the location of the hospital, we would have to pay some monies to the contractor. This is because changing the site will affect even the drawings of the project and other technical things, including adding up cost. Because of the changes of location of the project, actual work on the hospital finally began in 2015 after the land had been prepared for the project in 2014 although the project should have started in 2008. Now, the project is about 95% complete and we are hopeful that it will be completed at the end of this year.

Hon Kofi Amankwaa Manu added that, they needed to pay the contractor some money, about US$36 million. However, our Defence Minister, Hon. Dominic Nitiwul, together with the consultants on the project had negotiated with the contractor to bring down the money to US$19 million and as we speak, the Finance Ministry is currently conducting value for money analysis on the said US$19 million.

I must say that because we have not paid the money, it has somehow affected the speed of the contractor on the project. However, the project has not been abandoned and workers are still on site working on the facility. It is untrue to say that materials such as MRI Machine and CT Scan Machine procured for the hospital have been left at the mercy of the weather on the site to rot. The MRI Machine and CT Scan Machine have not even been transported to the project site at Afari; they are at a bonded warehouse in Tema. The only machines outside the hospital are the air-handling and extractor fans — they are outdoor items and are properly covered.

All the oxygen cylinders at the site are in their casing and they are being fixed — it is a lie to say that about US$38 million worth of items procured for the hospital had been left to rot at the site. Items on site will not even amount to US$1 million. We want to throw a challenge to Onua TV and TV3 of the Media General to join us to go to the project site on Monday to carry activities there live for Ghanaians to see who is lying. We will pay for all the cost they will incur to carry out that live coverage.

Source: richnews

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Sunday, 5th September 2021, commissioned the GH¢6.7 million Sefwi Akontombra rice processing factory, as part of his 2-day tour of the Western-North Region.

The rice factory is a state-of-the-art rice facility, with the capacity to produce between 1.5 and 2.8 tonnes of processed rice per hour. The processing plants installed at the factory include modern parboiling, milling and packaging plants.

It has a standby generator plant and a mechanised borehole to supply the facility with water. It also has a fully furnished office accommodation for staff, a conference room, laboratory and a canteen/kitchen.

The Sefwi Akontombra Rice Factory was constructed under the 1-District-1-Factory Common User Facility (CUF), which is an agro-industrial factory established by the Rural Enterprises Programme (REP) under the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

The factory, President Akufo-Addo was told, will employ some employ about 118 people including management professionals, factory floor workers and plantation workers who will work on a nucleus rice farm.

In addition, over 600 farmers from Sefwi Akontombra District and neighbouring communities will be directly engaged to supply paddy rice for processing.

With funding from the African Development Bank, the Rural Enterprises Programme (REP) has established five (5) of these CUFs nationwide.

The 1D1F CUF factories are located in Savelugu (rice processing; Nkran Nkwanta in the Dormaa West District of the Bono Region (rice processing); Akontombra in the Sefwi Akontombra District of the Western North Region (rice processing); Dompim in the Tarkwa Nsueam Municipality of the Western Region (Oil Palm processing); and in Nsuta in the Sekyere Central District of the Ashanti Region (Maize processing).

The Sefwi Akontombra CUF is expected to be owned by farmer-based organisations and other value chain actors within the selected commodities.

The CUFs will be managed by top-notched management professionals and technicians who will be recruited competitively by the Ministry of Trade and Industry through REP to ensure that profitability and growth of the factory.

Source: richnews

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Saturday, 4th September 2021, as part of his 2-day tour of the Western Region, cut the sod for the commencement of work on the reconstruction of the 67-kilometre Agona Nkwanta – Tarkwa Road.

Being funded with a 95-million-euro facility from Deutsche Bank AG, Frankfurt, Germany, the project is expected to be completed by 31st August 2024, i.e. 36 months.

The Road project, once completed will link Tarkwa, one of the major economic centres of Ghana, to the port city of Takoradi and to the national route, N1, which links Ghana to Cote D’Ivoire.

It also connects the mineral and agricultural rich lands in the Western, Ashanti, Western North and Central Regions to Takoradi, as it serves as the shortest and most efficient route for the transportation of gold, manganese, bauxite, timber as well as agricultural goods like cocoa, rubber and timber, to Takoradi.

Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony, President Akufo-Addo noted that the reconstruction of the road, being undertaken by Messrs Rango-Gabriel Couto, a wholly owned Ghanaian company, forms part of a comprehensive plan of action being taken by Government to improve the road network in the Western Region, and, indeed, in all parts of the country.

Specific to the Western Region, Government has embarked on the construction of the PTC Interchange in Takoradi, which is the first interchange in the western part of Ghana, and is estimated to be completed by June 2023.

Construction of the Sekondi, Adiembra and other selected roads around the Takoradi Harbour have been awarded, and works are expected to commence in October this year, with the construction of the Adwofua-Osei Kojokrom also ongoing and 18% complete. Additionally, the construction of Elubo-Enchi road, and the construction of the Yamatwa Junction-Yamatwa is ongoing and 12% complete.

Dixcove Landing Beach
At Dixcove, President Akufo-Addo inspected ongoing work on the Dixcove Landing Beach, a project whose construction commenced a year ago.

With the break water and marine work some 90% complete, the project co-ordinator indicated to the President that reclamation and demolition works are also completed, with onshore facilities will commence in early October 2021. It is expected that, these works will be completed in the next 6 months.

Once completed, the facility will bring a lot of relief to the fishermen and the fisherfolk, who constitute a greater number of the population.

Other ancillary facilities that will complement the fish landing site include ice making plants, water supply and electricity supply, washing facilities and toilets for the fisher folk, net mending sheds, as well as nursery and day care facilities for the women.

It will be recalled that during his tour of the Western Region in 2019, the President symbolically cut the sod for the construction of eleven (11) modern landing sites along the coast.

The other nine (9) beneficiary towns are Moree, Mumford, Winneba, Senya Beraku, Gomoa Fetteh and Elmina in the Central Region, Teshie and James Town in the Greater Accra Region, and Keta in the Volta Region.

Bogoso Polyclinic
At Bogoso, the President inspected ongoing work on the construction of the 46-bed Bogoso Polyclinic, which is being constructed by VAMED Nederland BV.

The turnkey project started on 4th February 2020, is currently 75% complete, and is expected to be completed in December 2021.

When completed, the polyclinic will be fitted with a mother and child health centre, residential accommodation for doctors and nurses, neonatal unit, delivery wards, pharmacy, obstetrics unit, x-ray facility, laboratory, first aid room, emergency room, and recovery and consulting rooms.

Source: richnews