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Alan Kyerematen’s withdrawal not a call for disunity- Team Bawumia
The campaign team for Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, flagbearer hopeful of New Patriotic Party (NPP), has said the withdrawal of the former Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Kyerematen, from the NPP presidential race, does not call for disunity within the party.
The team appealed to all supporters of Mr Kyerematen to throw their weight behind the Vice President in breaking the 8, despite the former minister’s decision to quit the party’s presidential race.
A statement released yesterday by a leading member of the Vice President’s campaign team, Mr Sammy Awuku, said “this is the time to reach out to each and every one to make the 2024 campaign and election victory possible to the NPP.
The team said though challenges been faced by the NPP and country appeared to be fearsome, there would be victory at the end.
The statement gave the assurance that Dr Bawumia and his team will carry along NPP supporters and sympathizers outside the party, to once again deliver victory in the forthcoming polls.
The statement said that although the journey to victory would not be easy, with all supporters coming on board to play their roles effectively, Dr Bawumia could surely lead the party in breaking the 8.
“To all the supporters of the candidates who couldn’t make it to the top 5 and supporters of aspirants who made it to the top 5, please let’s come together.
Let’s solve our problems together and once again position the NPP still as the party of choice ahead of the 2024 General Elections to deliver economic prosperity for our nation, Ghana,” the statement said.
The Alan Kyeremanten campaign team on Tuesday announced the shocking withdrawal of their candidate from the NPP presidential primaries schedule for November 4, 2023, after the just ended Super Delegate Conference to select the best first five out of the 10 aspirants.
Although Alan was able to take a slot in the first five, he stated that his withdrawal from the presidential race was due to the level of intimidation of varying intensity, directly and indirectly, unleashed on a significant number of delegates at various voting centers across the sixteen regions.
He however stated that, in the next coming weeks, he would provide an indication on the role to play in politics.
Mr Boakye Kyeremateng Agyarko who was a contestant of the Presidential race of the party, some few days ago also withdrew from the upcoming run-off election to determine the 5th position.
His decision came after the NPP announced that its National Council will constitute an electoral college to break the tie between him and his competitor Francis Addai Nimoh, who were both 5th in the just ended super delegate conference.
But in a press release, Mr Agyarko described it as unconstitutional for the National Council to shortlist a few individuals to represent the 955 individuals who participated in the first round.
He was of the view that, the establishment of an electoral college flout the party’s constitution.
BY BERNARD BENGHAN
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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.
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Traders, ‘Okada’ riders take over Circle pavement
• Korle-Bu CEO with staff of Nivaansh MediQas
Activities of traders and drug addicts are contributing to make the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange (Circle) area very uncomfortable and unsafe for commuters.
Day in and out, pedestrians are ‘ejected’ from the pavement created for their safety as traders preferred to sell their wares on that space.
That hinders the free movement of the pedestrians.
The small space left for the pedestrians are also shared with ‘Okada’ riders.
As if these woes are not enough for a commuter on a single day, they also have to navigate carefully to avoid clashes with drug addicts and the mentally challenged.
These people have turned the pavements into their places of abode, covering every inch of space with their wares.
Our photographer, Lizzy Okai, captures some of the unfriendly scenes the authorities must try and deal with to restore sanity to the area.
By Lizzy Okai
