Another week, another round of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic that has become the main issue people are talking about.
Ghana’s airwaves have been filled with a lot of issues related to the many changes the disease has brought in the system.
Once again, let’s have a look at the top issues discussed in the week on major platforms in Accra. Before that however, a look at the numbers in Accra and other parts of Ghana.
Accra & The Numbers
The numbers have shot up since the last week. Additional cases have been recorded and now Ghana’s case count stands at 6,617 with 31 deaths and 1,978 recoveries.
Sadly, Accra stands with the most recorded cases having a total of 4,780 positive cases; more that half of the total number. Accra needs to be extra cautious.
In the other regions, the Ashanti Region follows the Greater Accra Region with a total of 1,010 cases. The Central and Western Regions have overtaken the Eastern Region which has stood as the region with the third highest level of recorded cases with 297 and 208 cases respectively. Eastern Region is now the fourth highest with 106 cases, Western-North follows with 61, Volta Region,45; Northern Region, 34; Oti Region, 26; Upper-East Region, 26, Upper-West, 21; North East, 2 and Bono Region, 1. Ahafo and Bono-East Regions have no recorded cases yet.
The Elections Debate
The debate on an election this year has been one of the top discussions this week. The Electoral commission plans to go on with limited voters registrations as well as the compilation of a new voter’s register. But the controversy has been the needed documents that one is required to produce for registration. According to the EC, only passport and Ghana Card will be accepted. This has raised a lot of debate. Another one that has raised issues for the NDC especially is the EC’s move to continue with the new register’s compilation against the oppositions they have raised.
The commission maintains that the preventive etiquette of social distancing and measures like 25 people per time will be implemented during the exercise. Many are worried that accepting the passport and Ghana Card only will be at the disadvantage of many. The NDC has levelled allegations against the ruling NPP that they are in all these conniving with the EC and National Identification Authority to make the elections go in their favour. Meanwhile, the NPP has also maintained that with or without a new voters’ register they will still win the impending elections.
Ga-West Municipality Enforces Wearing of Nose Mask
On Tuesday, the Ga-West Municipal Assembly led by the MCE, Mr. Clement Nii Wilkinson, went round the municipality to enforce restrictions on the wearing of nose masks in the municipality. Following this, this, offenders were slapped with fines as fines for minor offences in the municipality have also been raised from GHS5 to GHS 20.
Read: Ga West assembly enforces wearing of nose masks
Prior to this however, the assembly had undertaken several weeks of sensitization and also distributed 10,000 nose masks residents in the area.
Minister’s Press Briefing
At Tuesday’s press briefing, the minister for information dispelled the notion that was going around that schools were going to return soon. This has become a key issue because schools in Ghana has for the first time been forced to undertake teaching and learning virtually. Many teacher unions have also spoken against schools going back to learn amid the outbreak.
At Wednesday’s press briefing, the Ghana Health Service revealed that more patients were going to recover in a space of 3 weeks. According to the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma Aboagye, this result comes because of healthcare and medication were responded on time.
At Thursday’s press briefing, the minister of health countered the news that had made waves in the week that Ghana had received delivery of the COVID-19 Organics produced in Madagascar and believed to be a cure for the disease. According to Mr. Oppong Nkrumah, that was not the case a Ghana is yet to receive delivery of the drug.
At a press briefing yesterday, the information minister, Kojo Oppong Nkumah revealed that some 245 Ghanaians deportees in Kuwait will be coming into the country via a chartered flight today.
Members of Parliament Undergo Mandatory Testing
Members of the Ghanaian parliament were made to undergo mandatory testing for the COVIS-19 disease following a directive from the speaker, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye. The results will however not be made known.
Read: All Members of Parliament & staff to undergo mandatory testing beginning from today
Read Also: Results of MPs’ COVID-19 test won’t be made public — Medical Director
Government Officially Launches GHS1bn Stimulus Support
President Akufo-Addo launched officially government’s 1 billion cedis stimulus support aimed at helping businesses in the country survive the shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the amount, a total of GHS 600 million has been dedicated to supporting Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises whiles banks receive the remaining GHS 400 million.
Read: Govt will protect jobs – Prez Akufo-Addo declares at stimulus package launch
The launch was held at the Jubilee House. Interested applicants can call the number 0302477777 to make an application.
The New Tema Motorway
A week ago, the new Tema Motorway was opened to traffic. The breathtaking design of the road has given many road users quite a time to deal with navigation. Have a vieew of the new motorway here.
