News
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua
The parents of the four-year-old girl living on oxygen at Koforidua have heaved a partial sigh of relief as the Koforidua Central Hospital has taken upon itself to bear half of the cost of the oxygen needed daily by Elita Asare Jnr, to survive.
The plight of Elita coupled with the appeal by her parents for support in diverse ways from institutions and individuals, was published by this paper two weeks ago.
This publication has engendered some quick responses from good-natured people who have made some cash donations in support of the ailing little girl who needs such generous offers to survive.
Moved by the plight of the little girl, the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Arko Akoto-Ampaw said,“the hospital will take half of the cost till she gets her own oxygen concentrator.”
She said that, the hospital had already given the parents two cylinders to be used for refilling and hence would continue to help by taking half of the cost of oxgyen till she got her oxygen concentrator which may cost between Ghc9,000 and GHc10,000.
Meanwhile, a philanthropist, Mr. Fred Amaglo has donated Ghc1,000 to the parents of little Elita to help them get her the oxygen concentrator.
According to him, he was touched by the story of the little girl hence his support and hope that the story would touch other kind hearts to enable her parents to gather the needed money to buy the oxygen concentrator .
Ms. Dorcas Ansah, Rev Isaac Asante, Mr. Daniel Folivi, Ms. Samira Halidu and Mr. Oliver Cromwell have also donated some amounts of money to support the little girl .
The parents of Elita, Mr and Mrs Asare expressed their appreciation to the Koforidua Central Hospital for the gesture.
Mrs Mary Asare said she was encouraged by the responses and hoped that her
daughter would get better soon and appealed for more support to enable them to buy the oxygen concentrator for their daughter.
The Spectator, in its edition of Saturday, April 24, 2020, published the story of Elita who was born a pretern at 33 weeks with her twin sister, Elisa, and may have to live on oxygen for either a long time or for life.
Doctors at the Koforidua Central Hospital diagnosed her of a lung disease that made it difficult for her to breathe.
The only way to help her is to have a lung transplant, but in its absence, she would have to live on oxygen for life.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua
News
NPP condems arrest of Okatakyie Afrifa Mensah
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has condemned the arrest and detention of Okatakyie Afrifa Mensah by operatives of the National Security.
In a statement signed by the General Secretary, Justin Kodua noted that “This unlawful action by the marauding operatives of the National Security is the latest installment of the ongoing series of state-sponsored attacks on the media by the NDC government, in their desperate attempt to silence the media and curtail press freedom.”
According to the him, “The Party condemns in no uncertain terms this state-sponsored lawlessness and commends the many well-meaning Ghanaians who spoke loudly against this shameful conduct by the National Security. We also commend the young people and the team of lawyers who stormed the National Security Secretariat this evening to see to the release of the abducted journalist.”
“The NPP wishes to remind President Mahama and his government that the Ghana that was bequeathed to them on January 7, 2025, was a free country. It was the bastion of democracy, underpinned not only by the existence of functioning democratic institutions but also by our unflinching commitment to upholding press freedom as enshrined in Chapter 12 of the 1992 Constitution,” they added.
Read the full statement below
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 19, 2025
*NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY CONDEMNS THE UNLAWFUL ARREST OF VETERAN JOURNALIST, OKATAKYIE AFRIFA MENSAH BY NATIONAL SECURITY OPERATIVES*
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) condemns the unlawful arrest and detention by operatives of the National Security, of Okatakyie Afrifa Mensah, a veteran journalist, who has been critical of the John Mahama administration.
This unlawful action by the marauding operatives of the National Security is the latest installment of the ongoing series of state-sponsored attacks on the media by the NDC government, in their desperate attempt to silence the media and curtail press freedom.
The Party condemns in no uncertain terms this state-sponsored lawlessness and commends the many well-meaning Ghanaians who spoke loudly against this shameful conduct by the National Security. We also commend the young people and the team of lawyers who stormed the National Security Secretariat this evening to see to the release of the abducted journalist.
The NPP wishes to remind President Mahama and his government that the Ghana that was bequeathed to them on January 7, 2025, was a free country. It was the bastion of democracy, underpinned not only by the existence of functioning democratic institutions but also by our unflinching commitment to upholding press freedom as enshrined in Chapter 12 of the 1992 Constitution.
In line with this commitment, the country also went through the painstaking process of repealing the Criminal and Seditious Libel Law in 2001, a process that was spearheaded by the immediate past President, H.E Nana Addo Akufo-Addo, who was then the Attorney General of the Republic.
It is therefore completely repugnant and unacceptable for the John Mahama administration to be using State Security to intimidate political opponents as well as media personnel in a bid to silence all critical voices This, in fact, is an egregious affront to our democratic and constitutional tenets.
We call on the Ghana Journalist Association, the Media Foundation of West Africa, Civil Society Organizations, and all stakeholders to join us in demanding an immediate cessation of this tyranny and growing culture of state-sponsored attacks on the media.
Enough is enough.
…Signed…
JUSTIN KODUA FRIMPONG
GENERAL SECRETARY
News
We have built enough buffers to pay all DDEP obligations – Finance Minister Ato Forson
Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has assured banks that the government has built sufficient financial buffers to meet all Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) obligations this year.
Speaking at a high-level meeting with over 22 Managing Directors of banks, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and restoring confidence in the financial sector.
“We do not intend to default,” Dr. Forson declared.
“All outstanding holdouts have been paid, and we have put in place the necessary buffers to ensure that every single DDEP obligation for this year will be met.”
The Minister explained that these buffers were created through fiscal discipline, strategic investment cuts, and prudent resource allocation.
As part of this approach, the government has reset goods and services expenditure to 2023 levels and is working to achieve a primary surplus of 1.5% to sustain economic stability.
He also announced plans to submit a fiscal responsibility rule to Parliament, which will set a debt ceiling that the Ministry of Finance cannot exceed.
This measure aims to prevent excessive borrowing and reinforce financial discipline.
Beyond ensuring timely DDEP payments, Dr Forson revealed that the government is taking deliberate steps to reduce reliance on the Treasury bill market.
By improving coordination between fiscal and monetary policies, the government aims to stabilize interest rates and ease liquidity pressures on the banking sector.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
