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Check your health status regularly… Non-communicable diseases show no symptoms – Health expert
Professor Peter Lamptey (inset) making his presentation while
the audience listen attentively
A professor in Global Non- Communicable Diseases (NCDs) at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine- England, Professor Peter Lamptey, has noted that issues on NCDs must be addressed both nationally and internationally, especially through financial support in order to curb the risk of increase.
He stated that Africa was currently experiencing a triple disease burden; endemic and epidemic, current and future pandemic (HIV, COVID) and lastly the explosive burden of NCDs thus the situation would worsen if immediate measures were not taken.
Professor Lamptey on Wednesday, at the 2023 Harvard University Joseph S. Agyepong Distinguished Lecture on Public Health in Africa at the University of Ghana- Legon, in Accra.
The professor was speaking on the topic: “Combatting Non Communicable Diseases: Africa’s Greatest Health Challenges.”
Despite the fact that NCDs were not transmissible, he noted that some were caused by infections such as gastric and cervical cancers amongst others, adding that Ghanaians must give it the requisite attention.
He mentioned some underlining risk factors of NCDs such as the usage of tobacco, unhealthy diet, the harmful use of alcohol, air pollution and insufficient physical activities.
“Looking at the long exposure of NCDs it is unlikely for one to recover as compared with someone infected with communicable diseases such as COVID-19 or HIV,” he said.
Again, Professor Lamptey cited some cultural perceptions and negligence of Ghanaians that impeded public health workers while discharging their duties in the prevention of NCDs.
He advised that people should regularly check their health status by visiting health facilities “since NCDs did not exhibit any symptoms and it could take decades before patients could identify the symptoms.”
He further said that people who presumed to be healthier because they felt and looked well, should be careful
Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies, Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong and his wife, Adelaide Siaw Agyepong donated GHc500, 000 to support NCDs advocacy in Ghana.
This was due to the fact that not much money had been committed towards the education of the general public to trigger behavioural change.
The 4th edition of the annual lecture, co-hosted by the Harvard University CAS, formed part of activities of the University of Ghana’s 75th Anniversary.
On her part, Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, said the University looked forward to pragmatic measures which could address NCDs from an African perspective.
By Yunusah Essandoh
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GEXIM deepens relations with US EXIM Bank
A management team of the Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM) led by the Acting Chief Executive, Sylvester Mensah met with the leadership of the Export–Import Bank of the United States (US EXIM) on Wednesday April 23, 2025 in Washington DC, United States of America.
The Acting President and Chairman of US EXIM, Mr. James C. Cruse and Vice President, International Relations, Ms. Isabel Galdiz received the GEXIM delegation, which included Deputy CEO for Banking, Mr. Moses Klu Mensah and Head of International Cooperation, Mr. Jonathan Christopher Koney at the headquarters of US EXIM.
The meeting offered the GEXIM team the opportunity to share the strategic direction of the Bank in line with the resetting agenda of the President of the Republic, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama for the repositioning of the Ghanaian economy into an export-led one by providing the requisite investment to Ghanaian businesses.
Mr. James C. Cruse expressed US EXIM’s eagerness to deepen its existing relations with GEXIM and proposed the signing of a new Cooperative Framework Agreement following the expiration of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2019 to utilize US EXIM’s medium term loan guarantees to procure machinery by GEXIM for qualified Ghanaian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
Mr.Sylvester Mensah thanked the Acting President and Chairman of US EXIM for hosting the GEXIM delegation and reaffirmed the Ghanaian government’s commitment to strengthening trade and investment between Ghana and its global partners for economic transformation of Ghana with GEXIM playing a pivotal role.
The two teams will be meeting on the sidelines of the 2025 US EXIM Annual Conference on 29th and April 30, 2025 to explore possible areas of collaboration and matching Ghanaian businesses to American companies. The meeting ended with an exchange of gifts.
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Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation –Pres.Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has expressed concern over the misuse of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) for personal financial gain by individuals in leadership positions.
Speaking during a meeting with Chief Executives of specified entities under the State Interest and Governance Authority (SIGA) on Thursday, March 13, the President directly attributed the dire state of SOEs to their leadership, accusing chief executives, management teams, and governing boards of prioritising personal enrichment over organisational efficiency.
He pointed to bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures as factors draining public funds while SOEs continue to rely on government bailouts.
“Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation by appointees. The chief executives, management, and boards of these enterprises are responsible for this situation. Some SOEs have become perennial loss-makers, draining public funds with bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures while relying on government bailouts as if entitled to them. Many of these entities are at their lowest point in the entire history of the Fourth Republic,” he said.
President Mahama further noted that many SOEs have been plagued by inefficiencies, corruption, and mismanagement, leading to consistent financial losses. He cited the 2023 State Ownership Report by the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), which highlighted systemic inefficiencies and wasteful expenditures within these entities.
He therefore reaffirmed his commitment to reforming under-performing SOEs and ensuring they serve national interests.
He warned that loss-making SOEs will no longer be tolerated and will either be merged, privatised, or closed.
“I will assess you based on your performance. If you do not align with the pace of the reset agenda, you may be asked to step aside. If that adds to the horror movie, so be it,” he added.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
