Hot!
Hughton’s AFCON mission squad
• Hughton – Big task on hand
Last week, newly-appointed coach of the Black Stars, Christopher William Gerard Hughton, unveiled his squad for a Nations Cup double-header next week – leaving many generally satisfied.
Imperatively, the Hughton assembled about 90 per cent of the team that played in the Qatar 2022 World Cup tournament in line with the nation’s vision of consistency.
It is what the Ghanaian long-suffering disciple expected. It is in the right direction.
And, indeed, for the first time in a while, the thunders of disapproval that usually echoes such national team announcements, palpably appear reticent or hushed.
Whenever that happens, the coach would be having a feeling of satisfaction running through his veins.
Of course, many were thrilled seeing the likes of Majeed Ashimeru and Joseph Paintsil handed return call-ups.
The duo were stupendously rich in form last term, but despite their imposing outing with their club side, were side-lined from the World Cup, where Ghana failed to progress beyond the opening stages.
There was anger directed at the Ghana Football Association (GFA) after the disconcerting early exit, and Hughton – who was then serving as Technical Director of the team, may have weighed his options pretty well before storming out with his list.
The team, that includes player-of-the-moment – Mohammed Kudus, as well as Kamaldeen Sulemana, Salis Samed, Osman Bukari among other technically-gifted young talents, would have the first task of taking on the Black Antelopes of Angola at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Thursday, in the first leg encounter of the 2023 African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Four days later, the Stars would storm Luanda for the reverse fixture as the four-time champions furiously look to secure a place at next year’s AFCON – to be hosted by Cote d’Ivoire.
Though a formidable collection, many would have wished Hughton called up – one or two home-based players – at least for strategic reasons. Failing to invite a ‘local’ player as we called them, has some negative repercussion on the domestic front. It tells the world that our domestic league is so bereft of quality to the extent that we cannot have a single player good enough to don the national colours. Bad advertisement for the local game!
Indeed, it would be difficult to convince many that our league is so poor to produce just one player to contest for a position. Well, let us give the benefit of the doubt to Chris Hughton. After all, we reprimanded him to be his own man – not so?
Having said that, the 64-year-old experienced coach – who has handled respected English teams like Newcastle, Tottenham, Brighton & Hove Albion, is presently thinking about putting up a compelling performance over two legs – and eventually sealing off a place in Cote d’Ivoire, it would also not be out of place, to keep his eyes on the Holy Grail.
Ghana has been without the AFCON trophy for 41 years (the last one was clinched in Libya ‘82); this is the painful misery Hughton must continue to trumpet into the ears of his charges.
Come 2024, that stygian-silence-jinx must be broken – and this would come with meticulous planning, commitment, dedication and hardwork. And, it must take a concerted effort, too, from all stakeholders, to achieve that golden goal.
By John Vigah
Hot!
GEXIM to host “SME GO” programme stakeholder sensitisation and fair on September 18
The Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM) in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ghana Enterprises Agency and Development Bank of Ghana will be hosting the final phase of the stakeholder sensitisation exercise on the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Growth and Opportunity (SME GO) Programme at the Bank’s headquarters located at the Africa Trade House, in Accra.
The stakeholder sensitisation event is scheduled to take place on Wednesday SSeptember18, 2024 at 10 am and will give attendees a deeper insight into the SME GO Programme with a focus on the dynamics of the programme, eligibility criteria application process and how the initiative seeks to assist Ghanaian SMEs to scale up and compete favorably in the international marketplace.
The confirmed speakers and dignitaries for the event will highlight how Ghanaian SMEs can leverage on the SME GO Programme to build the capacities and make them sustainable.
They include Hon. Abena Osei-Asare, Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Hon. K. T. Hammond, Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon. Nii Kwartei Titus Glover, Greater Accra Regional Minister as well as the Chief Executive Officers of the Ghana Enterprises Agency and Development Bank of Ghana.
Alongside the stakeholder sensitisation event, GEXIM will be hosting a special edition of its popular SME Fair dubbed “SME GO Mart” at the forecourt of the Africa Trade House, from 8am to 8pm.
The theme for the “SME GO Mart” is “Celebrating Ghanaian SMEs” and it will provide a platform for Ghanaian entrepreneurs to showcase various top-quality Made-In-Ghana products.
Over hundred Ghanaian entrepreneurs with unique products have been confirmed to participate in the fair.
They will be exhibiting several unique and authentic products at unbeatable prices including food and ingredients, beverages, skin and beauty care products, textiles, apparel, garments, leather footwear, slippers, and many others.
In July 2024, the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Finance launched the SME GO Programme, a ground breaking initiative which sought to provide Ghanaian SMEs with the needed funds, requisite technology and knowledge as well as other relevant resources and tools to aid their growth to become international giants.
Hot!
Zipline, GHS reduce maternal mortality in Ashanti Region by 56.4% – Study
A recent impact assessment study on aerial logistics to improve maternal health and emergencies has revealed a remarkable reduction in maternal mortality by 56.4% in Ghana’s Ashanti Region, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Zipline and the Ghana Health Service (GHS).
This was revealed at the National Ghana Health Service Research Conference organized by the Ghana Health Service in partnership with Zipline. The study, which focused on the impact of aerial logistics in healthcare, also noted a 19.9% increase in antenatal visits and a 25% rise in in-facility births, signaling a significant boost in maternal health outcomes.
The success according to the study is attributed to the on-demand availability of blood and essential medical supplies provided by Zipline’s innovative drone delivery system. This consistent access to critical resources has increased patient confidence in the healthcare system, encouraging more mothers to seek necessary care throughout their pregnancies.
Speaking on the highlight of the study, the Research Officer at Ashanti Regional Health Directorate stated, “the significant decrease in maternal mortality we’ve seen is a clear indication of the vital role that reliable access to medical supplies plays in healthcare. The ability to deliver blood and essential medicines exactly when they’re needed has transformed how mothers in the Ashanti Region perceive and engage with the healthcare system.”
“It’s an achievement that speaks to the importance of introducing technology in healthcare delivery. Mothers now feel more confident in seeking care, knowing that they will receive the support they need throughout their pregnancies,”he stated.
The study examined data from 191 health facilities, including hospitals, health centers, and Community-based Health and Planning Services (CHPS) Compounds. Among these, 99 facilities were served by Zipline’s aerial logistics, while 91 were not. The research employed adjusted rates for various key indicators, such as antenatal consultations, emergency visits, referrals, live births, hysterectomies, maternal deaths, and neonatal deaths, as the main dependent variables.
The qualitative aspect of the study aimed to describe and analyze the changes in satisfaction levels among healthcare providers and patients, perceived quality of care in maternal health and emergencies, and experiences related to the use of aerial logistics. In-depth interviews were conducted with 22 patients and 23 healthcare providers at the participating facilities.
Globally, maternal mortality remains a critical public health challenge, with stark disparities between high-income and low-to-middle-income countries (LMICs).
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the majority of maternal deaths occur in LMICs, often due to preventable causes. In Ghana, particularly in the Ashanti Region, the problem is critical, reflecting the broader challenges faced across the African continent. Beyond this, socio-economic, geographic, and infrastructural factors intensify the risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth, highlighting the urgent need for innovative solutions to improve maternal health outcomes.
As maternal mortality continues to pose a challenge in low-to-middle-income countries, the success seen in Ghana’s Ashanti Region offers a promising model for other regions and nations striving to improve maternal health outcomes through innovative solutions.
Zipline is poised to continue leading the way in revolutionizing healthcare delivery, ensuring that every mother has access to the life-saving resources, no matter where she lives.
