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BoG Governor’s comment is provocative – Minority
Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga has described comments by the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr Ernest Addison condemning calls for his resignation and his description of protestors as hooligans as “loose talk” and provocative.
Dr Addison has been quoted by a portal, centralbanking.comto have said in an interview that he would not resign from his position following the Minority’s protest to demand his resignation on Tuesday.
The website quoted the BoG Governor as saying “the demonstration yesterday was completely unnecessary”, adding that neither him nor his deputies will leave their jobs.
He is further quoted to have called the demonstrators as hooligans who should have known how to better address their grievances.
“The Minority in parliament have many channels to channel their grievances”, Dr. Addison is further quoted by the website.
But according to Mr Ayariga, he is surprised at Dr Addison’s behaviour since the Minority was civil in their demand for his resignation.
He warned that there is even more to come to pile pressure on Dr. Ernest Addison and his deputies to resign.
“We have been very civil in our approach, to have the governor call us hooligans is clearly provocative and I have no doubt that going into the future, we might not be easily restrained when we come after the governor and his deputies.
“We did everything within the rules, we spoke to the police, met the police, the police took us to court, we complied and the demonstration was peaceful yet the central bank governor called us hooligans because we were being very nice – well, I have said it and I can assure him that since he has officially tagged us as hooligans, we will see how our future protests will look like,” he added.
Mr Ayariga pointed out that Dr Addison has no explanations for mismanaging that bank and destroying the finances of the country.
He also says he will refer the governor to the Special Prosecutor for allegedly inflating the contract for the construction of the controversial new central bank headquarters for his personal gain.
Source: www.myjoyonline.com
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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
