Another event-filled week has come to an end and ‘Accra This Week’ brings you major highlights that made top discussions and news in the week.
Once again, the issues happening have largely got to do with the Covid-19 disease which has become a global pandemic. With regards to the finding of an antidote disease,today’s highlights quickly touches Madagascar, the African country which might have brought the world a breather in the past week.
Right from Monday, Madagascar made headlines with reports of a doctor, Dr. Jerome Munyagi’s “breakthrough” drug in partnership with the Malagasy Institute of Applied Research. Bearing the brand name COVID Organics, the drug as at Monday had cured 2 Covid-19 patients already. As at Friday, May 1st, the drug had treated 92 out of the 128 cases of Covid-19, the country had recorded with no deaths. Experts want to be sure the drug is the answer to this havoc that has wrecked the world in the name of Covid-19 disease. Africa will surely celebrate with Madagascar should this go through.
Now back to Ghana.
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The week started with a Covid-19 update address to the nation by President Akufo-Addo. As usual, issues he touched on have been part of the top discussions for the week under review. Before this however, let’s have a look once again at the Covid-19 case count in Ghana especially that of Accra and the standings.
COVID-19 Cases; Accra in Perspective
In our highlights, a week ago, the case count of Covid-19 in Ghana stood at 1,279. Today, the numbers stand at 2,074; and additional 795 cases. In the special case of Accra, it stood as the highest with a total number of 1089 recorded cases. This number has shot up to 1795 cases as at 11:52 GMT Saturday. This indicates an increase of 706 additional cases in just a week. This number is more than half of the cases recorded country-wide. Deaths stand at 17 with recoveries shooting up to 212. Like we always end this part of the wrap, “Accra must be extra careful”.
88 New Hospitals
One of the high spots was the president’s pledge to build some 88 new hospitals across the country as a means of expanding the country’s health capacity. Two major issues have come out of this so far; Ghana’s capacity to build at such a time and existing hospitals that have been abandoned. Some believe that this is only a political ploy to get the President and his New Patriotic Party ahead of their political competitors.
Read: Gov’t abandons major hospitals projects, but vows to build 88 new hospitals in 12 months
The second issue has to do with allegations of some existing health facilities that have been abandoned because they were started by the erstwhile administration under the leadership of John Dramani Mahama and his National Democratic Congress administration. The last subject matter has got to do with the issue of Ghana’s capacity to get this done at such a time when the country will definitely face economic downturns like other countries around the world via a common enemy; Covid-19.
In the same address, the president announced the extension of the ban on social gatherings for another two weeks.
Read Also: 22 new Hospitals plan was underway before President announced the 88 – Health Minister
Over 200 Bikes Impounded
Some 300 motorbikes in Accra were impounded, Monday in a police operation dubbed ‘Operation Social Distancing’. These motorbikes largely operating on commercial basis popularly called “Okada” were seized because the riders did not adhere to the social distancing protocols that made demanded they take no passengers. Whiles some of the riders were arrested, others bolted away leaving their motor bikes behind. According to a report by grapic.com.gh, the same raid had earlier led to the imposition of some 130 bikes and arrests.
Minister’s Press Briefing
The press briefings at the Ministry for Information which has indeed become a major feature every week this week saw some major issues being addressed. The high spot issue of the hospitals government intends to build was addressed as the minister for information and health clearly confirmed that the government has not abandoned any of the hospital projects started by the erstwhile administration. In an interview on Accra-based Citi Fm, Tuesday, the information minister is quoted; “The unfinished hospitals largely remain work in progress and we will give an update on where we picked them from and how far we have come with them”.
Tuesday; the press briefing and all wait for clarity on the matter. The minister for health clarified the matter saying ““On assumption of office on January 7, 2017, the government, in the pursuit of continuity, never abandoned any health facility that was begun by the previous government…”
Read: Government has not abandoned health projects — Minister of Health
Also speaking at the briefing, the Minister Works and Housing, Mr. Samuel Atta-Akyea made revelations of government’s intention to intervene in the situation of tenants who especially stand to be evicted from their homes over their inability to pay rents.
Read: Govt to bail out tenants hard hit by COVID-19 — Atta Akyea
According to him, the government had the capacity to do that. Mr. Atta-Akyea thus called on landlords to be patient with tenants as evicting tenants in such times is “unGhanaian”.
Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital To Embark on Mass Burial
One of Ghana’s top health facilities in Accra, the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital announced plans to hold a mass burial for unclaimed bodies in the hospital’s morgue. This is to aid the decongestion of the mortuary. The public was given a one month ultimatum to come claim the bodies of their dead relatives.
Read: Korle Bu reiterates warning on mass burial of unclaimed bodies
May Day Indoors
One of the days Ghanaians look forward to every year (especially the holiday it comes with) is the ‘May Day’ celebrations aimed at putting focus on workers across the length and breadth of the country. Just like major events have been forced by the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s celebration was also celebrated indoors. Unlike the normal workers’ parade organized throughout the country, this year’s had to resort to going virtual as well. The president addressed the nation via Television transmission yesterday.
Extensioin of Border Closure
As part of delivering his May Day speech, President Akufo-Addo announced the extension on the closure of Ghana’s borders from 4th May to 31st May, a period of about a month. He however clarified that this did not affect goods, supply and cargo
Read: Highlights: New Measures Put In Place For Ghana’s Fight Against Covid-19
Other News
We end this week’s highlights with some news on construction the construction of a 24kkm road in Accra. The road as explained by the roads minister, Mr. Kwesi Amoako-Atta would develop a new link into Adjirigano Boundary Road from East Legon that would also see the building of a culvert and widening of the road, which would be connected to the Block Factory area, a report by myjoyonline.com said. This will also further reduce the traffic at the East Legon tunnel.
Read: Government is working on Easing Traffic in some part of Accra -Kwesi Amoako Atta
Read Also: Visually impaired students raise concerns about e-learning
