News
13 final year SHS students in 4 schools test COVID-19 positive
Thirteen final year students in senior high schools in the country have tested positive for the global pandemic, the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) few days after returning to school, the Ministry of Education has confirmed.
The cases were recorded in the Greater Accra and the Central Regions.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra yesterday, the Deputy Minister of Education, in charge of Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, confirmed that six students at the Accra Girls Senior High School tested positive. In addition, a teacher at the school together with his wife had also tested positive for the COVID-19.
Two other students from Odorgonor SHS equally tested positive for the disease in Accra.
In the Ashanti Region, three students at the Konongo Wesley SHS had tested positive for the COVID-19.
Meanwhile in the Central Region, the Mfantsipim School recorded two confirmed cases of the COVID-19, the Deputy Minister said, bringing the total number of students who have tested positive for the COVID-19 to 13.
According to the Deputy Minister, the students had been isolated and their parents had been informed to ensure it brings down the anxiety.
According to Dr Adutwum, 648 contacts tracing had been done and the people had been isolated, with a number of them tested by the Ghana Health Service.
He said counsellors had been provided at the Accra Girls Senior High School to support them psychologically.
“In the midst of all the anxiety, it is difficult for students to even learn, but counsellors are on sight now, looking at ways that they can help the students to recompose themselves and begin to take a look at the preparation that is ahead of them,” Dr Adutwum said.
“Everything possible is being done to make sure the safety of the children are protected,” he stated.
Meanwhile, a joint statement issued by the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS), said a team of 200 personnel, drawn from the two institutions, regional and district directorates of education had been spread all over the country and were closely monitoring the situation.
The statement signed by Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, Director General of the GES and Dr Patrick Kuma Aboagye, Director-General, GHS, assured all health institutions to which senior high schools had been mapped with health facilities to ensure that any suspected cases were promptly dealt with in accordance with the laid-down protocols.
It noted that school heads and selected school staff had been trained, and would continue to receive further training and support on Covid-19 issues and management, adding that all schools had been provided with the necessary logistics needed to fight this pandemic, including Veronica buckets, sanitisers, face masks, tissue paper and the schools have been disinfected as well.
“If any student is affected, the parent will be notified and given the opportunity to visit,” it stated.
Source: Ghanaian Times
News
Government takes further actions against illegal mining
Government in its continued efforts to clamp down on the long-standing menace of Illegal Small-Scale Mining, has concluded operational measures to intensify the ongoing “Operation Halt”.
This was contained in a statement issued by the ministry of Information on Wednesday October 9, 2024.
According to the government, the initiative is led by the Ghana Armed forces, to rid the river bodies of all forms of mining activities.
This phase of the operation will be done in conjunction with the Small-Scale Miners Association of Ghana.
As part of the measures, the government has reasserted that river bodies and forest reserves remain red zones.
Additionally, the government has reiterated its commitment to the fight against illegal small-scale mining and calls on all stakeholders to join the fight.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
News
Breaking: Organised Labour suspends strike
Barely twenty-four hours to Organized Labour’s nationwide strike, its leadership have backtracked on their action by suspending the industrial action.
The strike, had garnered the backing of various unions, and aimed at pressuring the government to take decisive action on illegal mining (galamsey) and other pressing issues.
They arrived at this crucial decision during an emergency meeting held on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, where union leaders assessed the situation and agreed to call off the industrial action.
The decision to suspend the strike comes as a surprise to many, as unions had appeared resolute in their stance during previous meetings and public statements.
However, in the submission to union members, the Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Joshua Ansah, indicated that the President had directed the Lands Minister to submit a request to Parliament for the revocation of L.I. 2462.
He mentioned that this, along with the deployment of soldiers to assist in the fight and the establishment of 14 courts for the trial of all arrested illegal miners showed enough commitment on the government’s part.
This notwithstanding, he added that the Organised Labour would continue to monitor the implementation and government’s commitment to fighting illegal mining.
Organised Labour had initially planned the indefinite strike to compel the government to declare a state of emergency and ramp up efforts to address the environmental devastation caused by illegal mining.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
