News
LifeCheck back-to-school programme supports 11,000 children …Offers free health screening in 6 c’nities in 2024 outreach
Over 16,000 people at Teshie and its environs have benefited from this year’s LifeCheck outreach held last Saturday and spearheaded by Empowerment Care Foundation.
Dubbed ‘Life Check 24,’ the exercise was aimed at improving the quality of life for the underprivileged in areas like Teshie, La, Tse Addo, Baatsonaa, Nungua and Spintex Road.
Organised by the Empowerment Worship Centre (EWC), the outreach themed ‘Compassion to Make a Difference,’ it had over 11,000 children receiving exercise books, more than 4,000 schools bags, 5,200 shoes and 100 kids were barbered under the Life Check back-to-school arm.
There was also a free health screening for eye care, dental care, ultrasound scans, minor surgical procedures, and free medication.
Also, over 500 people were registered on the National Health Insurance
Scheme (NHIS), while some adults were screened for hepatitis B, malaria, prostate conditions, typhoid, and blood sugar.
The Global Lead Pastor of EWC, Prophet Gideon Danso, said “Life Check 2024 aligned with the church’s mission to create positive change by touching and transforming lives and improving the quality of life for the underprivileged.”
He noted that the Empowerment Care Foundation had implemented various programmes since its inception in 2014, focusing on healthcare, education and other transformative initiatives.
“This is the 10th year LifeCheck is being held and since its inception, more than
52,000 people have attended, 28,000 people received medical care, over
52,000 individuals fed, and over 32,000 children given back-to-school items.
More than 11,000 have been registered on the NHIS and these figures exclude this year’s target of 15,000 which was exceeded,” he stated.
He said the church volunteers had donated over 50 pints of blood to the National Blood Bank to demonstrate their dedication to helping society.
He expressed the hope that the event was held twice a year to help people in need and assist students to go back to school but that, he said, would call for assistance from other organisations.
A beneficiary, Mrs Gift Mensah, expressed gratitude to EWC and Prophet Danso for showing them love and reducing some financial burden on them as their kids resume school.
BY Cecilia Lagba Yada
News
New BoG governor can’t engage in official duties – Afenyo-Markin to Mahama
The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo Markin has raised concerns over the assumption of official duties by Dr. Johnson Asiamah as Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG).
The former Deputy Governor was recently nominated by President John Dramani, on January 31, 2025, to serve as Governor, pending approval by the Council of State.
This follows a formal request by the current Governor, Dr. Ernest Addison, to proceed on leave ahead of his retirement on March 31, 2025.
However, in a letter to President Mahama dated February 4, Minority Leader raised serious concerns with Dr. Asiamah’s assumption of office in the absence of the Council of State.
“Your Excellency, it is my considered view that Dr. Johnson Asiamah should refrain from engaging in official duties at the Bank of Ghana until his nomination has been duly approved by the Council of State. While awaiting confirmation, he can seek any necessary briefings outside the formal assumption of office,” the letter noted.
He added, “I trust that due attention will be given to this matter to uphold the integrity of our institutional processes.”
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Read full statement below
News
Bagbin lifts suspension of four MPs
Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has lifted the suspension of four Members of Parliament (MPs) who were suspended after a clash during the vetting session on Thursday, January 30, 2025.
The altercation occurred between Minority and Majority MPs, escalating tensions in Parliament. The disagreement reached a peak after the suspension of the four MPs, triggering a debate over whether the vetting should proceed on January 31, 2025.
Following the suspension, the Minority MPs walked out, leaving only the Majority to continue with the vetting of nominees, including that of MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who had already undergone several hours of questioning by the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
The lifting of the suspension comes after a review of the incident. The four MPs – Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Jerry Ahmed Shaib and Alhassan Tampuli – are now expected to resume their parliamentary duties as normal. The move seeks to restore order in Parliament following the disruptions.
This was after both the majority leader and minority leader appealed to the Speaker of Parliament to lift the ban on the four MPs.
Alban Bagbin said, “So I have lifted the suspension order. I do so instantly and takes effect immediately. The affected Hon. Members are permitted now to enter the precincts of the house. I must say they actually complied with the orders.”
He assured that the investigations will continue, and the House will have the opportunity to make a decision.
He commended the security agencies for their support.
Source : Citinewsroom.com
