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COVID-19 update: Tertiary institutions reopen today …as govt airlifts, distributes PPEs to schools nationwide
Final year students of tertiary institutions are expected back in school today to complete their semester work and exit examination after staying home for weeks as part of measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.
This is in compliance with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s directive in his last televised address to the nation on May 31, during which he announced the phase opening of schools.
As part of safety measures, the government, through the military, on Saturday deployed quantities of Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) in readiness of their return.
The items include 600,000 facemasks, 1,700 Veronica buckets, 200,000 units of hand sanitisers, 3,400 liquid soap; 3,400 tissue paper bundles, and 900 thermometers.
The beneficiaries are 234 tertiary institutions which have a total of 128,316 students and 44,282 staff.
Already all the campuses have been disinfected by the Ministry of Education as part of measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
The Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah told journalists before the deployment that government had the safety of students at heart and had therefore put these measures in place to safeguard them.
He said similar arrangements would be made for final year senior and junior high school students before they resume school in the coming weeks to keep them out of harm’s way.
Meanwhile the various tertiary institutions have, over the last few days, put in place their own measures to protect their students and staff.
According to Dr Daniel Norris Bekoe, University Relations Officer of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science of Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, one student would be assigned to one room, all students would be provided with facemask and expected to wear it before allowed entry into every facility.
According to him, there would also be mandatory screening of all students upon arrival to the school while hand hygiene materials including buckets and sanitiser dispensers would be placed at vantage points
Out of the final student population of 13,000, he said only about 1,500 were expected in school including those offering human centered programmes, such as medicine.
Additionally those who could not participate in the vertical learning platforms would be given the opportunity to go to school to mop up and write final examination.
“All other students will continue their assessments and project works, quizzes online. By the end of June we should be done with all examination and by July 15 all results are supposed to be processed and submitted to college boards for consideration and we bring this semester to a close,” he said.
From the Central Region, David O. Yarboi-Tetteh, reports authorities of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) has established a COVID-19 Response Taskforce in collaboration with the Metropolitan Health Directorate to manage any suspected case of virus to prevent its spread among students and staff of institutions.
In addition to that, each halls of residence had allocated 10 rooms to serve as quarantine centres for the holding of suspect cases or persons who had come in contact with an infected person before they are moved to an isolation facility if they test positive.
Aside the university, the Zoomlion has disinfected other tertiary educational institutions, namely the Cape Coast Technical University (CCTU), Ola College of Education, Foso College of Education, Komenda College of Education and the Ajumako Campus of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW).
A visit to the campus of UCC last Friday, witnessed a number of university staff working frantically to ensure the institution’s readiness to welcome all final years to campus.
There are posters with the inscription, ‘No face masks, no entry’ at the halls of residence, library and the lecture halls.
In an interview with the Director of Public Affairs of UCC, Major Kofi Baah Bentum (rtd), he said, the institution had provided hotlines for students and staff of the university.
He said the university was ready to welcome all final year students and noted that the measures rolled out would help prevent the spread of the COVID-19.
He explained that, a number of policies including checking of temperature of all students, provision of washing sinks and Veronica buckets at designated points and provision of hand sanitisers would be provide by the university.
Similar arrangements had been made by CCTU, when Ghanaian Times contacted the Public Relations Officer Fred Opare Baako with the university partnering with the health directorate to isolate any confirmed case.
The situation was not different at the other tertiary institutions in the region such as the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Komenda College of Education, and Ola College of Education.
Source: Ghanaian Times
Entertainment
Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey
Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed concern over the manner the facility was destroyed.
In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.
“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the people destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.
When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.
He said he had previously contacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.
The demolition of the 20,000-seater Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.
According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, the action was taken after multiple notices were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.
Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.
Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.
He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.
Despite this, the demolition proceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.
Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his business but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.
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Youth urged to take proactive stance on ozone depletion
•Mr Joseph Amankwah, first counting from, some officials from EPA and UNDP in group picture with the student
Mr Joseph Amankwah, the Director of Ozone Layer and Climate Change at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has urged the youth to take a proactive stance on issues related to ozone depletion, emphasising that their future would be most affected by its consequences.
Speaking during a student engagement event at the Ghana Secondary School (GHANASS) in Koforidua, he highlighted the critical role young people played in tackling climate-related challenges.
Mr Amankwah explained that human activities, such as the use of certain chemicals, were significantly contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer and driving climate change.
He said it was important to educate the youth on these issues, encouraging them to share this knowledge with their families to foster a broader understanding and active participation in climate action.
He urged the education sector to integrate lessons on the ozone layer, the causes of its depletion, and its links to climate change into the curriculum.
The event, organised by the EPA in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was designed to foster environmental awareness and promote a sense of responsibility among young people.
Mr Amankwah noted that ozone layer depletion was affecting everyone, including children, as it alters weather patterns and threatens the natural environment.
He highlighted the need for young people to develop ‘green skills’ to adapt to the challenges of climate change and to understand ways to combat it.
He added that World Ozone Day, observed every September, would focus on youth engagement in environmental issues, to help them understand the long-term consequences of ozone depletion and climate change.
Mr Amankwah also discussed the harmful impact of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), a major chemical contributor to ozone depletion.
He explained that household appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners were common sources of CFC emissions in Ghana.
Many uncertified technicians work on these appliances, often releasing harmful chemicals into the atmosphere due to improper handling, he noted.
To address this, he urged appliance repairers to obtain proper certification and training, emphasising that unqualified repairs not only harm the environment but also endangered public health.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman,
Koforidua
