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Takyi goofed but…
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Ussif Mustapha (in white) speaking with Takyi during the car presentation
THE few days before the Black Bombers (Ghana national boxing team) departure to Dakar, Senegal for Paris 2024 Olympic Games was quite distractive.
The team camped for a period of time; away from the prying eye of the media and they enjoyed relative peace.
They had the focus and concentration needed for such a high profile competition.
And, then, the announcement of the invitation of boxing celebrity, Seth ‘Freezy MacBones’ Gyimah into the team was made. That ‘blew their cover’ and started attracting the attention of the media and the general public.
First, the public’s focus was the circumstances around his invitation, as it came few weeks after Olympic Games bronze medalist, Samuel Takyi, announced a return to the amateur ranks.
For the first time, Ghana had two professionals staging returns to the amateur level of the sport.
Takyi, who was Ghana’s sole medalist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games had left to join the professional rank and even won his first few fights under the Bazooka Boxing Promotions.
So, the announcement of his comeback came as a surprise.
But when the storm over the two seemed to have settled, the team’s camp was hit with another dispute with Takyi as a lead character.
Although it was well explained to him that he would have to ‘fight’ for a position in the team and everyone agreed, his absence in the final team that left Accra to Dakar on Wednesday has attracted different interpretations.
With the above explanation, it was clear Takyi was not included because he failed to make the mark.
And that was fair!
But Takyi’s decision to hold the entire nation to ransom by demanding arrears owed him by the state, and unequivocally declaring that until payment was made to him, he would not fight for Ghana, plainly fuelled another school of thought that he stepped on some big toes and was paying the price for that.
As an ardent follower of boxing with a fair understanding of the rules that governs it, I would respect the decision of the technical team led by Coach Ofori Asare to leave him out. I am doing so because of my
enormous respect for him and belief that there was no underhand dealings.
That, notwithstanding, it is important to also consider the views of the boxer who genuinely felt the state owed him US$20,000 for his efforts that won the nation a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Eventually, it proved to be true but as to how he got the amount owed him wrong still beat imagination.
Before traveling to Tokyo, athletes were promised various sums of money depending on the medals they win at the Games.
With a bronze medal feat, Takyi came home dreaming about pocketing a whopping US$50,000.
That amount was exact but the breakdown suggested that other factors would reduce the cash component to US$10,000.
Rightly, when the team arrived and called on the presidency, Takyi’s package, just like the other boxers that rode on his popularity, were announced.
For his reward, he was given a car which according to the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS) cost $20,000, leaving an amount of $30,000; out of which he received $10,000 in cash while $20,000 was to go into a fund to aid his career development.
Obviously, that is one area a lot of the athletes kick against behind the scenes but have not mustered the courage to spill it out.
Following that was the MoYS response that captured every detail of the ‘transaction’ to clear its image and that of the government.
“The attention of the Ministry of Youth and Sports has been drawn to media publication on the demands from Mr Samuel Takyi with respect to the promise of US$20,000 made to him by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.”
It stated that: “The government of Ghana has fufilled its pledge to the Tokyo Olympics team, including Mr Samuel Takyi. The promise was made up of $150,000 detailed as follows.
Of that amount, $100,000 was for the team made up of 14 athletes and seven coach¬es and $50,000 for Takyi for winning the bronze medal.
By Andrew Nortey
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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.
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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.
