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New Juaben South MCE worried over theft of fixed metal gratings covering gutters in Koforidua
The Municipal Chief Executive of New Juaben South Municipality, Mr Isaac Appaw-Gyasi has expressed worry over the theft of fixed metal gratings used to cover gutters and drains in the central business district.
He said the Assembly has noticed with disdain that the metal gratings were being removed at night by some unscrupulous persons and sold to scrap dealers.
“The situation was unfortunate, especially when the Assembly is trying to ensure the safety of the citizenry by covering the drains to prevent people from falling into it, and some unscrupulous people are stealing them to rather make money for themselves. This is thwarting our efforts to ensure the safety of the citizenry and we call on persons engaged in such acts to desist from it,” he said.
Mr Appaw-Gyasi made this known at a town hall meeting organised in Koforidua by the Assembly in collaboration with Star Ghana Foundation and funded by the Botnor Foundation on Friday.
The meeting organised under the theme: “Promoting Civic Engagement” was organised under the “Our City Project” which was aimed at creating an accountability platform to enable discussions that concerned youth participation in local governance at the assembly level and allow the youth to interact with relevant stakeholders on accountability issues.
It was also aimed at enabling relevant stakeholders to critically reflect on appropriate measures to improve accountability to the youth.
Mr Appaw-Gyasi revealed that the Municipal Security Committee (MUSEC) had taken keen notice of the unfortunate incident and was on a manhunt for such persons.
“The assembly would not hesitate to deal with culprits when caught to serve as a deterrent to others,” he stated.
He called on community members in the municipality to ensure to help to stop the menace by cooperating with MUSEC and report to them of such persons who they see involved in such act.
The MCE revealed that the assembly was engaged in several projects such construction of roads, redevelopment of Jackson Park, and reconstruction of the Nsukwao drainage system among others.
He said the infrastructural development would give Koforidua a beautiful face-lift and enhance the economy of the area.
Mr Appaw-Gyasi further added that the town hall meeting was being organised as part of a partnership project between the assembly and the youth to encourage youth participation and ensure accountability as well as enhance service delivery.
He noted that the youth has a lot to offer and encouraged them to make their inputs known through such meetings and their assembly members “so that together, we develop this municipality and Ghana as a whole.”
The Assembly Member for Two Streams Electoral Area, Citizen Francis Tetteh during a meeting called on the assembly and stakeholders to ensure that youth who were trained in agribusiness, would be provided with the necessary funding and equipment to start their jobs.
Mr Appaw-Gyasi said this would help reduce unemployment in the municipality and enable the youth to start their jobs and employ other youths.
He said when adequate jobs were provided, it would help to reduce social vices including theft in the municipality.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua
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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.
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Traders, ‘Okada’ riders take over Circle pavement
• Korle-Bu CEO with staff of Nivaansh MediQas
Activities of traders and drug addicts are contributing to make the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange (Circle) area very uncomfortable and unsafe for commuters.
Day in and out, pedestrians are ‘ejected’ from the pavement created for their safety as traders preferred to sell their wares on that space.
That hinders the free movement of the pedestrians.
The small space left for the pedestrians are also shared with ‘Okada’ riders.
As if these woes are not enough for a commuter on a single day, they also have to navigate carefully to avoid clashes with drug addicts and the mentally challenged.
These people have turned the pavements into their places of abode, covering every inch of space with their wares.
Our photographer, Lizzy Okai, captures some of the unfriendly scenes the authorities must try and deal with to restore sanity to the area.
By Lizzy Okai
