News
SHSs reopen today! … as heads pledge to support govt to enforce COVID-19 protocols after disinfection of schools by Zoomlion
The Headmasters and headmistresses of senior high schools (SHSs) and junior high schools (JHSs) in the Ashanti Region have given assurance of their readiness to support government to enforce the COVID-19 safety protocols in their schools to protect the final-year students to write their exit examinations.
They gave the assurance when Zoomlion Ghana Limited last Wednesday extended its nationwide disinfection of SHSs and JHSs to the Ashanti Region.
The exercise, collaboration between the Ministry of Education and Zoomlion Ghana Limited, was part of measures by the government to protect students and pupils in SHSs and JHSs respectively from contracting the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in his 10thh address to the nation on measures on COVID-19 directed final-year students of both JHSs and SHSs to go back to school.
In the case of final-year SHS students and Form Two Gold Track Students, they are expected to report back to school today while final-year JHS pupils are expected to resume on June 29.
The President’s directive is to allow final-years of SHSs and JHSs to be prepared to write their exit examinations.
The exercise in the Ashanti Region started in earnest on Tuesday, June 16, and was aimed at getting rid of germs, bacteria and viruses in the both the SHSs and JHSs.
Among the schools which benefited from the exercise were the Adventist Senior High School, Our Lady of Apostles School, Asem Cluster of Schools, Atonsu Bethel Presby Experimental School etc.
Addressing journalists at the Atonsu Bethel Presby Experimental School, the headmaster of the school, Rev. James Dapaah, indicated that his school was earnestly putting plans in place in readiness for the re-opening.
According to him, his school has 129 final-year pupils, adding that in observing the social distancing protocol, the pupils would be divided into groups and would be accommodated in the Form 1 and 2 classrooms.
He disclosed that the school had decided to put the pupils in groups of 25 to ensure that the social and physical distancing protocol was observed to protect them against COVID-19.
At the Asem Cluster of Schools in the Asokwa Municipal Assembly of Kumasi, the headmaster of the school, Mr Samuel Asare Kwarteng, hinted that his school was counting on the support of the government to make available the needed personal protection equipment.
The administrator of Our Lady of Apostle, Madam Anne Andoh, which school also benefited from the exercise, disclosed that her school as part of measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19 had engaged the services of a nurse who would be tasked to take temperatures of every student and staff members.
“And instead of 28 pupils in each class, we have resolved to reduce the number to 14,” she added.
Source: Ghanaian Times
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
