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Trump holds low turnout rally amid virus fears
US President Donald Trump has held his first campaign rally since the US coronavirus lockdown began, in front of a smaller than expected crowd.
Mr Trump had boasted earlier this week that almost a million people had requested tickets for the event at Tulsa’s Bank of Oklahoma Center.
But the 19,000-seat arena was far from full and plans for him to address an outside “overflow” area were abandoned.
There had been concerns about holding the rally during the pandemic.
Coronavirus was one issue Mr Trump touched on in his wide-ranging, almost two-hour-long speech to cheering supporters in Oklahoma, a Republican heartland.
Mr Trump said he told officials to slow down coronavirus (COVID-19) testing because so many cases were being detected, in remarks later described as a joke.
Those attending the rally had to sign a waiver protecting the Trump campaign from responsibility for any illness. Hours before the event began, officials said six staff members involved in organising the rally had tested positive.
However, it is unclear why attendance was lower than initially anticipated. Mr Trump referred to those in the stadium as “warriors”, while blaming the media and protesters for keeping supporters away. There were some volatile scenes outside the venue but no serious trouble was reported.
Mr Trump’s re-election campaign event was one of the biggest indoor gatherings held in the US since the country’s COVID-19 outbreak began, and came at a time when Oklahoma is seeing a rise in confirmed cases.
More than 2.2 million cases of COVID-19 and 119,000 associated deaths have been reported in the US, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
In his opening remarks, Mr Trump said there had been “very bad people outside, they were doing bad things”, but did not elaborate. Black Lives Matter activists were among the counter-protesters to gather outside the venue before the event.
On the coronavirus response, Mr Trump said he had encouraged officials to slow down testing because it led to more cases being discovered. He described testing as a “double-edged sword”.
“Here is the bad part: When you do testing to that extent, you are going to find more people, you will find more cases,” he told the cheering crowd. “So I said ‘slow the testing down’. They test and they test.” -BBC
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President Mahama appoints Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana
President John Dramani Mahama has in accordance with Section 17 of the Bank of Ghana Act, 2002 (Act 612) as amended, appointed Mrs. Matilda Asante-Asiedu as the Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana.
This was revealed in a statement signed by Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye-Ofosu.
Mrs. Asante-Asiedu is a Chartered Banker and seasoned corporate leader who has served as Group Head, Retail Banking at Access Bank Ghana PLC.
Mrs Asante-Asiedu holds an MBA in Marketing from GIMPA Business School (2021), an MA inJournalism Studies from Cardiff University (2005), and diplomas in Journalism (Ghana Institute of Journalism, 1997) and Politics and Public Affairs Reporting (International Institute of Journalism,Berlin, 2000).
A Chartered Executive Banker (CIB-Ghana, 2024).
She has undertaken Executive Programmes at Said Business School at Oxford University (2023), Wharton School (2015) and Marquette University’s Les Aspin Centre (2003), among others.
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Prez Mahama is committed to open-up Afram Plains once and for all – Kwame Agbodza
The government is set to construct a 3.6km bridge over the River Afram in the Eastern Region, along with approximately 100km of road network.
This initiative, part of President Mahama’s “Big Push” infrastructure plan, aims to boost agricultural productivity, stimulate economic growth, and reduce poverty.
Some of the roads being considered included Mpraeso – Obomeng – Nkawkaw, Abooso – Mpaem, Mpaem – Kwahu – Adawso and Feyiase – Kwahu Tafo. The rest are, Ekye Amanfrom – Takoratwene, Takoratwene – Dome, Takoratwene – Donkorkrom and Donkorkrom – New Kyeiase.
Earlier today, the Minister for Roads and Highways, Mr.Kwame Agbodza, led a team of engineers to assess the proposed location of the bridge and some critical roads.
Speaking to the media at Donkorkrom after the assessment tour, Mr. Agbodza assured the people that President Mahama is “committed to opening up the Afram Plains once and for all.”
“The bridge when completed will connect Eastern, Ashanti and OTI regions in a very strategic way. It will open up the place for big time agriculture and investment in agro-processing,” he emphasized.
The project is expected enhance economic development, foster regional integration, generate income through agriculture and other sectors.
