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Ghana attains 75% COVID-19 recovery rate – GHS
Ghana now has a 75 per cent COVID-19 recovery rate, following the recuperation of 10,907 patients as of yesterday, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye has revealed.
At the COVID-19 press briefing in Accra yesterday, he said all the patients in three out of the 16 administrative regions in the country; Savannah, Northern and Upper West, numbering 37, 61 and 35 respectively, had recovered.
According to him, the majority of the recovered patients were from the Greater Accra Region, where 76 per cent of its 8,075 cases, the highest in the country, had recovered.
He said about 67 per cent of the 2, 867cases in Ashanti had recovered; almost half of Bono East’s 33 cases were free of the virus with Central recording 83 per cent recovery of 794 cases and Eastern, 56 per cent of 400 cases.
Dr Kuma-Aboagye disclosed that the rest of the regions including the Upper East, Volta Region, Western, and Western North had recovery rates ranging between 96 and eight per cent.
“Those who have recovered are free of the virus and they will not be able to transmit the virus to any other person. We isolate only patients who can transmit the virus”, he said and urged the public to not stigmatise them.
Of the 95 people that have died so far, he said majority of them were males more than 60 years with only three per cent less than 15 years, adding that comorbidity was responsible for their demise.
For his part, the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, said the government was engaging the Ghana Police Service to ensure a “purposive” interpretation of Executive Instrument (E.I 164) on wearing of nose mask.
That, he said, would help lay to rest concerns over whether persons who ride in their private vehicles alone were supposed to wear the mask or not following some confrontation between police and drivers.
Signed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on June 15, 2020, in line with powers granted him by Imposition of Restrictions Act, 2020 (Act 1012), the EI is part of measures to control the spread of COVID -19 in the country.
Per the law, people who do not wear face masks in public could be sentenced to jail terms from four to 10 years or pay a fine between GH¢12,000 and GH¢60,000.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah said the engagement with the police had become important because the government wanted to ensure that the intention behind the law, which was to stop the spread of the virus, was not defeated.
Responding to concerns that the fine was hash, he said it had been instituted to deter people from flouting the law, stating that “The mere fact that the sanctions are there, would make people comply”
Source: Ghanaian Times
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GBBF assistant treasurer, Aurora Commodore-Toppar eyes GOC Treasure slot at Elective Congress on Saturday
The Assistant treasurer of the Ghana Basketball Federation (GBBF), Madam Aurora Commodore-Toppar, has set her sights on becoming the next assistant treasurer of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) at the upcoming Elective Congress on Saturday.
The daughter of the former Chief Executive Officer of Accra Hearts of Oak, Mr. Emmanuel Martey Commodore-Mensah, will be vying for the position against Bernard Quartey of the Ghana Boxing Federation and Edward Patrick Nii Lante Banerman of the Handball Association of Ghana.
Having had her nomination approved by the GOC’s Electoral Commission, the well-seasoned banker, with over 15 years of rich working experience, believes she is well-suited and positioned to help structure the finances of this esteemed organisation.
In a chat with Spectator Sports, the captain of the bronze-winning 2024 University of Ghana basketball team at the 11th African University Games in Zaire, Nigeria, revealed her commitment to effective and accurate financial management, growth, and development of all associated sports federations.
She said, “I am committed to the growth of the GOC, and I want to offer my financial knowledge to aid in ensuring that the GOC operates with the highest standards of financial governance and set-up.”
According to her, the mission is to help promote the GOC’s agenda widely, and having served for over two decades in sports—especially basketball—in various capacities and roles, she believes this experience will help protect the GOC’s finances.
“If elected as assistant treasurer, I will do my utmost, together with the treasurer, to manage the GOC’s finances, including accounting and financial reporting among others,” she added.
According to her, “Accurate financial record-keeping has been a problem across the board; I will help eradicate this issue.”
Aurora Commodore-Toppar stands for transparency, hard work, and an inclusive work culture, she further added.
The former Aburi Girls’ Secondary School basketball team captain has played pivotal roles in improving sports in the country—especially basketball—including being a member of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the 2023 Africa Games, an LOC member for the recently concluded Hoop Rave SHS competition, a project lead for FIBA’s “Her World, Her Rules” initiative, chair for the 2024 Fetu Afahye Basketball Tournament, and founder of the Stomp De Yard Basketball Tournament, among others.
BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY
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113 Cardinals hold 3rd General Congregation in Rome
The 113 Cardinals present in Rome held the third General Congregation on Thursday morning, and announced who will deliver the two pre-conclave meditations.
The Cardinals decided that Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández will celebrate the Mass on the sixth day of the Novemdiales, instead of Cardinal Kevin Farrell.
They agreed that Fr. Donato Ogliari, O.S.B., Abbot of St. Paul Outside the Walls, will deliver the first meditation on Monday, and that Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, Preacher Emeritus of the Papal Household, will deliver the second meditation at the beginning of the conclave, whose starting date has not yet been decided.
The Cardinals began a conversation about the Church and the world, deciding to hold the next General Congregation on Friday morning at 9:00 AM.
The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, told journalists that 61,000 people have paid their respects to the late Pope Francis as of 1:00 PM on Thursday, adding that St. Peter’s Basilica should close at midnight on Thursday, unless large crowds are still queuing to enter.
Following the Pope’s funeral on Saturday, April 26, a Rosary will be held in front of the Basilica of St. Mary Major on Saturday at 9:00 PM.
Mr. Bruni said the burial service for Pope Francis will take place in private.
Starting the morning of Sunday, April 27, the faithful may begin to visit the tomb of Pope Francis at the Marian Basilica.
