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‘Akufo-Addo will succeed despite challenges’
In spite of the rigorous opposition by certain political parties in the country, President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is bound to succeed convincingly as President of the Republic, Dr Kofi Amponsah-Bediako, a political scientist has said.
He explained that certain occurrences in the country would serve as useful lessons for the President to reorganise himself and improve upon his previous performance from January 7, 2017, to January 6, 2021.
“What this means is that President Akufo-Addo will be more successful during his second term as President of Ghana from January 7, 2021 to January 6, 2024,” he expatiated.
According to Dr Amponsah-Bediako who doubles as the Director of Corporate Communications at the Ghana Standards Authority, “the unsatisfactory performance by some parliamentary candidates in the NPP during the 2020 elections together with some DCEs who sabotaged some of the NPP MPs during the last elections all go to show that great lessons have been learnt from them.”
“The President will use them as a guide in the selection of ministers and DCEs as well as heads of agencies to assist him to produce better results than was experienced during the first term even though his performance in the previous term was marvelous.”
Dr. Amponsah-Bediako was of the view that the going would be tough, but with God on the side of President Akufo-Addo and all Ghanaians, the battle ahead would be won to the surprise of everyone in the country and the world as a whole.
He said, “The opposition NDC is bent on coming out with a tough time in parliament to make it difficult for the success of government business, but in spite of all these, things will miraculously go through to provide great success for the entire country.”
He advised that, “the opposition NDC should not merely think about gaining political scores in what they do, but think about the country as a whole and how all Ghanaians can move forward to achieve greater laurels.”
The slim majority in parliament for the NPP, he said, would pose some difficulty for the approval of some government policies, but “this is where the President will come out to outshine the minority parliamentarians whose interest will be linked merely to their selfish political agenda.”
He said: “It is true every political party aims at scoring political points and gaining some advantage for their political group. But this should not be done at the expense of Ghana’s interest which in my view should be the overriding principle at all times.”
Dr. Amponsah-Bediako said this should be the guiding principle for all the politicians as it has happened elsewhere like the United Kingdom, Canada, United States of America, among others, to make their country great and beautiful in the eyes of other nationalities who look upon such countries as enviable.
“If Ghana is to go places,” he said, “then this simple advice must be adhered to so that the pedestal of development for the country can be pushed higher and higher to an enviable level.”
The Director of Corporate Communications further advised Ghanaians to lend in their support to the President, who has very good intentions for the country and is prepared to do what he could to achieve greater success.
He described President Akufo-Addo as someone who is like “the egg of a dove that never gets spoilt, no matter what,” and stressed that, “no one should take President Akufo-Addo for granted because he has come at the right time to contribute to Ghana’s development in a special way that cannot be destroyed by anybody.”
Dr. Amponsah-Bediako said: “If such a person is bound to succeed then it will, therefore, be pointless and useless for anyone or any group of people to think that his efforts can be thwarted by any group with sinister motives.”
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GEXIM to host “SME GO” programme stakeholder sensitisation and fair on September 18
The Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM) in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ghana Enterprises Agency and Development Bank of Ghana will be hosting the final phase of the stakeholder sensitisation exercise on the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Growth and Opportunity (SME GO) Programme at the Bank’s headquarters located at the Africa Trade House, in Accra.
The stakeholder sensitisation event is scheduled to take place on Wednesday SSeptember18, 2024 at 10 am and will give attendees a deeper insight into the SME GO Programme with a focus on the dynamics of the programme, eligibility criteria application process and how the initiative seeks to assist Ghanaian SMEs to scale up and compete favorably in the international marketplace.
The confirmed speakers and dignitaries for the event will highlight how Ghanaian SMEs can leverage on the SME GO Programme to build the capacities and make them sustainable.
They include Hon. Abena Osei-Asare, Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Hon. K. T. Hammond, Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon. Nii Kwartei Titus Glover, Greater Accra Regional Minister as well as the Chief Executive Officers of the Ghana Enterprises Agency and Development Bank of Ghana.
Alongside the stakeholder sensitisation event, GEXIM will be hosting a special edition of its popular SME Fair dubbed “SME GO Mart” at the forecourt of the Africa Trade House, from 8am to 8pm.
The theme for the “SME GO Mart” is “Celebrating Ghanaian SMEs” and it will provide a platform for Ghanaian entrepreneurs to showcase various top-quality Made-In-Ghana products.
Over hundred Ghanaian entrepreneurs with unique products have been confirmed to participate in the fair.
They will be exhibiting several unique and authentic products at unbeatable prices including food and ingredients, beverages, skin and beauty care products, textiles, apparel, garments, leather footwear, slippers, and many others.
In July 2024, the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Finance launched the SME GO Programme, a ground breaking initiative which sought to provide Ghanaian SMEs with the needed funds, requisite technology and knowledge as well as other relevant resources and tools to aid their growth to become international giants.
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Zipline, GHS reduce maternal mortality in Ashanti Region by 56.4% – Study
A recent impact assessment study on aerial logistics to improve maternal health and emergencies has revealed a remarkable reduction in maternal mortality by 56.4% in Ghana’s Ashanti Region, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Zipline and the Ghana Health Service (GHS).
This was revealed at the National Ghana Health Service Research Conference organized by the Ghana Health Service in partnership with Zipline. The study, which focused on the impact of aerial logistics in healthcare, also noted a 19.9% increase in antenatal visits and a 25% rise in in-facility births, signaling a significant boost in maternal health outcomes.
The success according to the study is attributed to the on-demand availability of blood and essential medical supplies provided by Zipline’s innovative drone delivery system. This consistent access to critical resources has increased patient confidence in the healthcare system, encouraging more mothers to seek necessary care throughout their pregnancies.
Speaking on the highlight of the study, the Research Officer at Ashanti Regional Health Directorate stated, “the significant decrease in maternal mortality we’ve seen is a clear indication of the vital role that reliable access to medical supplies plays in healthcare. The ability to deliver blood and essential medicines exactly when they’re needed has transformed how mothers in the Ashanti Region perceive and engage with the healthcare system.”
“It’s an achievement that speaks to the importance of introducing technology in healthcare delivery. Mothers now feel more confident in seeking care, knowing that they will receive the support they need throughout their pregnancies,”he stated.
The study examined data from 191 health facilities, including hospitals, health centers, and Community-based Health and Planning Services (CHPS) Compounds. Among these, 99 facilities were served by Zipline’s aerial logistics, while 91 were not. The research employed adjusted rates for various key indicators, such as antenatal consultations, emergency visits, referrals, live births, hysterectomies, maternal deaths, and neonatal deaths, as the main dependent variables.
The qualitative aspect of the study aimed to describe and analyze the changes in satisfaction levels among healthcare providers and patients, perceived quality of care in maternal health and emergencies, and experiences related to the use of aerial logistics. In-depth interviews were conducted with 22 patients and 23 healthcare providers at the participating facilities.
Globally, maternal mortality remains a critical public health challenge, with stark disparities between high-income and low-to-middle-income countries (LMICs).
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the majority of maternal deaths occur in LMICs, often due to preventable causes. In Ghana, particularly in the Ashanti Region, the problem is critical, reflecting the broader challenges faced across the African continent. Beyond this, socio-economic, geographic, and infrastructural factors intensify the risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth, highlighting the urgent need for innovative solutions to improve maternal health outcomes.
As maternal mortality continues to pose a challenge in low-to-middle-income countries, the success seen in Ghana’s Ashanti Region offers a promising model for other regions and nations striving to improve maternal health outcomes through innovative solutions.
Zipline is poised to continue leading the way in revolutionizing healthcare delivery, ensuring that every mother has access to the life-saving resources, no matter where she lives.
