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Don’t let your guard down, COVID-19 still prevalent – Dr Amponsa-Achiano
● Dr Amponsa-Achiano speaking to the media
The Manager of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Kwame Amponsa-Achiano, has called on the public not to let their guards down as COVID-19 is still prevalent and dangerous.
Consequently, he urged those who have not taken the COVID-19 vaccine to do so to protect themselves from the life-threatening disease.
“Currently about 45 per cent of the population had been vaccinated and we need more people to come out and take the vaccine because COVID-19 is not gone,” he stated.
He made the remarks at BudgIT Ghana’s COVID-19 Transparency and Accountability Project (CTAP) forum held in Accra on Friday.
BudgIT Ghana is a civil organisation focused on citizen and institutional engagements to facilitate societal change.
The CTAP initiative, sought to bring together stakeholders in the health sector to dialogue on vaccine equity, distribution and accountability following studies conducted by the outfit on the subject.
According to Dr Amponsa-Achiano, the meeting would go a long way to ensure that majority of the population were vaccinated.
“For now, 14.2 million persons had taken at least a single dose of the vaccine, though our target is 18.6 million of eligible persons,” he stated.
He added that, 11.1 million people had also been fully vaccinated and urged those who took only a single dose to complete the dosage required.
“As far as we are concerned, we had gone far though we are yet to achieve our target. The challenge is that people think COVID-19 is gone. There are also people who are just not bothered, while misinformation about the vaccine is also a challenging factor,” he stressed.
“We are trying to make COVID-19 vaccine a routine one so that people can walk into health centres and take it just like a child’s vaccination is done. We would also continue to engage the public,” he said.
The Country Manager for BudgIT Ghana, Mr Felix Ankrah added that it was essential to ensure accountability as far as vaccine distribution was concerned.
“We would continue to work with stakeholders to ensure an even distribution of vaccines across the country,” he stated.
The issue of vaccine shortage, he said, would be a thing of the past if the government and other stakeholders worked together.
CTAP Project Lead for BudgIT Ghana, Jennifer Moffat explained that, they were also committed to setting the agenda for robust primary healthcare in Ghana.
By Michael D. Abayateye
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Prof. Mike Oquaye accuses gov’t of ‘secret trial’ of Chief Justice
Former Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, has criticised the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) over what he described as the mishandling of the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo.
He is unhappy with the constitutional provision requiring the hearing of the Chief Justice’s case to be held in-camera.
“I am concerned about certain issues that I consider vital, particularly the trial in-camera provision. You will ask yourself what the rationale is for that provision in our constitution, what is its purpose, and if we are to give it a purposeful interpretation, where shall we go? The purpose is it to benefit the people of Ghana as a whole, that the Chief Justice must be trial in-camera…”
He added, “From the very beginning, the constitution tells us justice belongs to the people, it emanates from the people, justice belongs to all of us people, one may say that this provision could be advarance to the one that says trial must be done in-camera.” he said in an exclusive interview with JoyNews.
Prof. Oquaye also raised concerns about the transparency and integrity of the process.
He argued that the judiciary must be insulated from political interference, adding that the current handling of the matter risks eroding confidence in the rule of law.
The Chief Justice was recently suspended following allegations of misconduct, after which a formal petition was submitted to President John Mahama, prompting the formation of a committee to investigate the matter.
The proceedings, however, have largely been conducted in-camera, drawing criticism from sections of the public and some legal minds.
While the NDC government maintains that the suspension was carried out in accordance with constitutional provisions, Prof. Quaye argues that the secrecy surrounding the process undermines the principles of accountability and due process.
Source:Myjoyonline.com
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Committee on Roads and Transport engages Transport Ministry
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Roads and Transport has paid a familiarization visit to the Ministry of Transport and its agencies to perform its legislative oversight and foster collaboration in Ghana’s transport sector.
The visit by the 17-member Committee led by its Chairman, Isaac Adjei Mensah, who is also the Member of Parliament for the Wassa East Constituency in the Western Region, was aimed at getting updates on ongoing projects and foster direct dialogue with agencies under the Ministry’s purview.
The Chairman of the committee described the visit as “a strategic and symbolic gesture” and emphasized the importance of direct engagement with sector leadership to enable informed legislative support.
The Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe outlined some reforms including a framework to regularize commercial motorcycle operators, popularly known as Okada by lowering the minimum rider age from 25 years to 21 years, which is near completion and will soon be presented to Parliament.
He also mentioned the reviving of Ghana’s national carrier via a public-private partnership, upgrading airport infrastructure, studying coastal routes to ease road congestion, opening a new DVLA branch in Adenta, and upgrading the Ghana Civil Aviation Training Academy.
The minister also disclosed that the ministry is in the process of procuring new buses for Metro Mass and STC.
The other Members of the visiting Committee were Chiwitey Dari Andrew, Vice Chairperson and MP for Sawla/Tuna/Kalba; Osei Nyarko Kennedy, MP for Akim Swedru and the Ranking Member; Francis Asenso-Boakye, MP for Bantama; Frimpong Kwame Ohene, MP for Asante Akim North; Cudjoe Doyoe Comfort, Ada MP; Marfo Ahenkorah Kofi, MP for Achiase; Mahama Toure Naser, Ayawaso East MP; Ziedeng Anwataazumo Bede, MP for Lawra and Mubarak Seid, MP for Sunyani East.
The Committee also visited the Civil Aviation Authority and the Civil Aviation Training Centre to be acquainted with its functions and operations.
