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Govt has supplied COVID-19 safety kits to SHSs in V/R, Oti regions -GES

The Government has supplied adequate coronavirus (COVID-19) safety kits to all senior high schools (SHS) in the Volta and Oti regions.
The Volta Regional Director of Education, Madam Enyonam Afi Amafuga disclosed this to the Ghanaian Times in an interview in Ho on Saturday when the items were delivered.
Madam Amafuga who is also in charge of the Oti Region said that the consignments were first handed over to the Municipal and District Chief Executives, for onward delivery to the Zonal Directors of Education.
From that stage the District Directors of Education would then collect the items for the schools, she added.
The Regional Director of Education giving the breakdown of the supplies said they included 1,350 Veronica buckets; 566 infrared thermometers; 2,700 gallons of liquid soap; 2,700 boxes of tissue paper; 53,379 sanitisers and 150,137 face masks for the Volta Region.
For Oti, she said, they included 360 Veronica buckets; 164 infrared thermometers, 720 gallons of liquid soap; 720 packs of tissue paper, 12,211 sanitisers and 36,636 masks.
About 50,000 final year and ‘Second Year Gold’ SHS students are expected to return to school in the Oti and Volta regions on today.
Meanwhile 37,675 third year Junior High School (JHS) students are also expected back in school at the end of this month.
Madam Amafuga said that the items would be distributed among the students and staff on Monday, adding that academic work would commence smoothly on Tuesday.
She stated that a task force had been appointed to monitor activities at the various campuses to ensure strict compliance to COVID-19 safety procedures.
Meanwhile, the government is also set to supply senior high schools (SHS) with ‘special’ cellular phones for use by students.
“This is to prevent them from congregating around the old phone booths on the campuses, as a measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” said Madam Amafuga, in an earlier interview.
Source: Ghanaian Times
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High Court issues bench warrant for disputed Akwatia MP following contempt conviction

A Koforidua High Court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Ernest Yaw Kumi, the presumed winner of the Akwatia parliamentary seat in the Eastern region, after convicting him of contempt of court.
The court issued the bench warrant for Kumi’s arrest after he failed to attend court.
The conviction comes after he disobeyed an interim injunction against him on January 7, prohibiting him from being sworn in and admitted as the Member of Parliament-elect for the Akwatia constituency due to an ongoing legal contest over his election.
Mr Kumi presented himself in Parliament to be sworn in on January 7, 2025.
The Judge, Justice Senyo Amedahe held that the convict, throughout the hearing of the contempt case, failed to appear in court in person.
He also rejected a letter from the minority side of Parliament claiming the MP was busy with parliamentary duties, hence his continuous absence from court.
The judge rejected the letter, insisting he would be going against his own ruling should he accept the letter from the minority caucus.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
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Asset declaration is good, but lifestyle audit is key among public officials – Domelevo to Mahama

Former Auditor General Daniel Yaw Domelevo has commended President John Mahama for declaring his assets but stressed the need for a lifestyle audit to effectively curb corruption among public officials.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday, February 18, he acknowledged the President’s move as a “good gesture” but raised concerns about the process.
“It is good to see that the President has declared his assets,” he said.
According to him, “I was not too happy seeing the envelope being given to the Auditor General because that goes more or less to support what people have all along been saying—that you put your declaration in an envelope, seal it, and give it to the Auditor General, which is not the case anyway.”
“This should have gone through the entire process so that they capture it because you are supposed to verify the signature and be sure that the form has been properly completed. That at least should have been done, but it was not done,”he said.
While appreciating President Mahama’s directive for his appointees and public office holders to declare their assets by March 31, Domelevo expressed reservations about the timeline.
“To be honest with you, I think March 31 is too far away because the Constitution provides that it should be declared before you take office,” he argued.
He added that “Some will argue that Act 550 allows six months, but Act 550 contradicts the Constitution. I have a letter in my possession, written by former Attorney General Gloria Akuffo, confirming that the provisions of subsection 4(1) of Act 550 contradict the Constitution. However, we have all been upholding and following that.”
Daniel Domelevo was particularly pleased with Mahama’s commitment to hold non-compliant officials accountable.
“I’m also happy the President says those who don’t declare are going to be punished or asked to leave office. I think that will cut across everybody, and that will be good,” he stated.
However, the former Auditor General stated that asset declaration alone is insufficient in tackling corruption.
“This declaration is good. We must add to it what we call a lifestyle audit and the reversal of the burden of proof,” Mr Domelevo insisted.
“If we don’t do these two things so that we can audit and find out ‘how did you get this money?’, people are going to hide their resources or their assets with their families and friends. Everybody who is suspected of being an ally of a political or public office holder must be subjected to a lifestyle audit,” he concluded.
Source: Myjoyonline.com