Northern Regional Minister Alhasan Saani Shaibu has commissioned a 1000 cubic meter Wastewater Treatment Plant at Gbalahi a suburb of Tamale in the Sagnarigu Municipality in the Northern Regional. "Only 2% of the faecal matter generated in the Tamale Metropolis is properly treated currently, the remaining 98% of it is diverted sadly and helplessly into people's farms which has a negative public health effect on the people" he lamented. He said Tamale is the fourth largest city in Ghana and the population growth rate stands at about 3.5 which has a ripling effect on waste generation. Hon. Shaibu said the New Patriotic Party government led by H. E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been strategic in implementing sustainable development policies that will address many teething problems of the country. The facility which was designed and constructed by Sewerage Systems Ghana Limited (SSGL) a member of the Jospong Group of Companies in partnership with Pureco of Hungary is a 20 million Euro project financed by the Hungary Exim Bank. The wastewater treatment plant which seeks to drastically reduce if not end the inappropriate sludge water disposal in the Tamale Metropolis will receive faecal sludge from Tamale and the adjoining municipal and district administrative areas such as Sagnarigu, Savelugu, Naton and Mion among others. The State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Mr. Tristan Azbej, was delighted the Hungary and Ghana relationship has is yielding results and hope it is sustained in the interest of the people of the two countries. He urged workers of the facility to manage it properly to last for the country. On her part, the Chief Operating Officer of the Environment and Sanitation cluster of the JGC, Mrs. Florence Larbi gave glory to God for making the dream a reality and appreciated the Ghana and Hungary partnership which was keenly led by the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources and the President of the Republic. She was hopeful that the partnership will continue for the benefit of the people of Ghana and Hungary. The COO who was read a speech on behalf of the Executive Chairman, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong also commended the Tolon Naa on whose land the facility is situated and all his royal able chiefs and people who flanked him at the colourful ceremony for the willful release of the land for the purpose. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Ghanaian Film Actress, Influencer, Enterprenuer and Master of Ceremonies (MC), Nikki Samonas has announced that she will be the host for the 'The Darling Factor', an influential talent show in the country. Nikki Samonas took to her Instagram account to make the announcement. In her post sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, she said "Happy to announce that I am the HOST for the most influential talent show in Ghana on Adom TV every Sunday at 8:30pm" Her post attracted lots of congratulatory messages from some colleague media personalities as well as followers. The Darling Factor is a show which unearth young men and women with great talents and skills. The show which airs on Adom TV is powered by Think Media Expert; an event and production house. The Darling Factor talent reality show will see seventeen (17) young talents battle it out for the ultimate prize. Profile The talented Ghanaian Actress is well-known in the Movie Industry as one of the most industrious and well respected personalities. Madam Samonas, in 2019 was hosted Women's Choice Awards, Golden Movie Awards Africa and Glitz Style Awards. She was also the host of Time With Celebs on TV3. She has also featured in numerous movies such as High Currency, Don Caritas, Beyonce 1 and 2, War of Roses, Desperate Measure, Red Label, Love and Bullets, DNA Test, Potato Potahto, 40 and Single, V Republic, The Will 1 and 2, Single and Not Searching and Coming To Africa. She has also featured in TV series such as Coffee Tea, Tanko Villa, All Walks Of Life, LaMaison Chiq, High Currency, Inspector Bediako and We Too. Nikki Samonas is Ghana's first UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador together with Kwame Annom. She also had a role as a High Level Influencer in the UNHCR's LuQuLuQu campaign. She was honoured by the 3G Awards 2019 in New York for her contribution to the Ghanaian movie and entertainment industry. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta will present the the Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2023 Financial Year in Parliament today. According to the Ministry of Finance, the presentation is in accordance with Section 28 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), In a statement issued by the Finance Ministry, it said "The presentation will provide an update on the implementation of the 2023 Budget, with insights into the economic and fiscal performance for the first half of the year" The statement further added that the Finance Minister will discuss policies implemented to stabilize the economy, promote growth and provide social protection for the vulnerable as outlined in the IMF-supported Post COVID-19 Programme for Economic Growth (PC-PEG). "In focusing on the outlook, the Statement will outline the critical imperatives to restore macroeconomic stability and accelerate our economic transformation" "The issues that will be highlighted include structural reforms in expenditure commitment control and arrears clearance; debt management; financial stability and a growth agenda, amongst others" "In line with usual practice, we wish to indicate that Government will undertake the Post-Budget Engagements to explain the various policy choices to the public" Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Ministry of Health has pleaded with Physician Assistants across the country to call off their strike as the government is working on finding ways to pay arrears owed to them. Members of the Ghana Physician Assistants Association on Thursday [July 27] intensified their strike by withdrawing emergency services at health centres across the country in protest against the proposed amendment of Act 857 which will subject the profession of Physician Assistants to the direction and supervision of a Medical Doctor. The Physician Assistants on Monday [July, 24] withdrew their services at OPDs to get authorities to address their concerns. Speaking on the issue, the Public Relations Officer of the Health Ministry, Isaac Baah Ofei says though some of the demands of the Physician Assistant are beyond the mandate of the Health Ministry, much effort is being made to resolve the matter. “Inasmuch as we share their sentiments, we are pleading with them that they should go back to work because there will be a time for all these reforms because some of the things they are demanding are far beyond the Ministry’s level.” “I will plead with them to be patient with the negotiations that we have done so far, and we are hopeful that the government is committed to ensuring that all these outstanding arrears are cleared. What we do here as a Ministry is to negotiate on their behalf, and we are hopeful that the government will pay all those arrears.” Credit: Citinewsroom

The Cape Coast District Court 2 has granted bail to the student at the centre of the assault case at the Adisadel College. The court presided over by His Lorship, Eric Oheneba Antwi Boasiako granted bail to the culprit to reappear before the court on August 2, 2023, as the court could not have the required number of persons to sit as jury over the juvenile case. The student was arrested by the Police in Cape Coast earlier this week, cautioned with causing harm and assault, and then released to the school’s Headmaster to be produced in court on Friday. The arrest came after a video showed the disturbing incident where one student violently attacked another in a dormitory. The authorities are taking swift action to address the incident and hold the perpetrator accountable for his actions. Meanwhile, the victim has been recalled to the school after he was initially suspended. The school is taking measures to ensure his well-being and recovery. Credit: Citinewsroom

The European Union and GIZ Ghana are providing technical support to the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA in the implementation of a comprehensive institutional and technical strengthening programme intended to deliver various capacity-building activities in the areas of marketing authorization, inspection of good manufacturing practice, the testing and lot release of vaccines, in readiness for effective regulation of vaccine manufacturing in Ghana. As part of this technical support, a team of FDA inspectors drawn from directorates responsible for Inspections, Quality Control, Marketing Authorization, and Industrial Support embarked on a customized and intensive Hands-on Vaccine Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) training programme. The three-week training programme was designed and delivered by the Biotech Training Facility, one of the leading training institutes on vaccines and biopharmaceuticals in Europe located in Leiden Bioscience Park, Netherlands. The key objective of the training was to equip the officers of the FDA with the requisite technical knowledge required for regulatory oversight of vaccines in general and specifically for locally manufactured vaccines to meet international standards of safety, quality, and efficacy. The first week of the training programme focused on foundational topics such as quality management systems, facility design for vaccine manufacturing, good documentation practices, data integrity and the qualification of equipment, facilities, and utilities for the production of bulk substances, upstream and downstream processing in vaccines among others. The second part of the training was delivered as an in-person programme at the Biotech Training Facility in Leiden, Netherlands. The world-class training center is furnished with state-of-the-art equipment, cleanrooms, laboratories and technical areas operated by highly experienced staff biomanufacturing. Training areas covered during these hands-on sessions included critical steps involving upstream fermentation cell culture and downstream purification processes, pathways for vaccine development, harvesting and clarification technologies for downstream purification. The team was also involved in various processes such as affinity chromatography, ion exchange, tangential flow filtration, diafiltration filtration, nano-filtration, viral clearance steps and formulations for biosafety and quality control of vaccines. Trainees had the opportunity to interact and learn from SMEs on utilities such as Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems and Bulk Water purification Systems for vaccine manufacturing and other related areas such as commissioning, qualification, and maintenance of these critical utilities. It is emerging that benefits of the hands-on Vaccine GMP training programme include, but are not limited to helping the realization of the vision of the President – Ghana becoming a vaccine manufacturing hub. "Ensuring more officers are well trained and prepared to conduct thorough Good Manufacturing Practice Inspections when facilities are established for local production as well as inspection of foreign vaccine manufacturing facilities" "Guaranteed access to safe and efficacious vaccines which will protect the public and enhance the fight against infectious diseases in the country" "Knowledge transfer to other officers internally, and Strengthen the capacity of personnel in the Industrial Support Department to assist local manufacturers to comply with GMP requirements in the near future" This comprehensive training programme will in the long term enhance the capacity of officers of the Authority in providing the needed regulatory oversight to support the vision of Ghana becoming a vaccine manufacturing hub in Africa. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Information reaching Thinknewsonline.com indicates that some residents living in communities close to the University of Cape Coast (UCC) have threatened to embark on a mega demonstration if President Akufo-Addo fails to remove the Vice-Chancellor. According to the residents, the mega demonstration will be held on August 4. It comes following the VC, Council Chairman, other members of the council including the VC's alleged NPP political appointees' mad rush of school lands in the community. The residents say an extention for the VC will help him continue his corrupt lifestyle and disrespect for chiefs as well as other members of the community who work in the University. These communities have also held series of discussions with the Vice-Chancellor and has not yielded which has led to past demonstrations and the upcoming mega demonstration. Thinknewsonline.com has gathered that Chair and other members of the council of University of Cape Coast (UCC) are using what has been described as inappropriate means to extend the tenure of Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong. According to sources, the compromised Council Chair is perniciously working to extend the tenure of the VC for more than a year before his expiration of term of office. The extension of term of office of the VCwhen approved will have a propensity to destabilize the already fragile and polarized University environment. It is emerging that the UCC which has enjoyed some stability and calmness is at a tipping point. Over the last three (3) years of Prof. Boampong's Vice-Chancellorship, the University has experienced levels of nepotism, divide and rule, vindictiveness, poor human relationships, poor communication, misuse of resources and wasteful expenditure. The residents and majority of members of staff who spoke on anonymity are also calling on President Akufo-Addo to remove the VC and Council Chair. It is also emerging that VC with assistance from the Council Chair has imposed some fear in all heads of departments and sectional heads likewise persons with positions in the University. Sources have also revealed that the VC has percentage in budgets allocated departments in the Institution. It is alleged that the percentages given to the VC are used in funding political activities of the Akufo-Addo led administration which is geared at helping the NPP break the 8. Monies said to be used to paid as allowances to staffs of the University are diverted and invested in some unapproved selfish investment dealing which goes to the VC when it yields dividends. All these, sources reveal are to the detriment of staffs who for fear of being victimised are quiet and have remained mute likewise uncommunicative about the development. Sources say government's immediate intervention is needed to bring sanity among students and staffs of the University as well as residents living close to the school. In a latest development, the 2019 and 2020 Retirees Association of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in the Central Region have also threatened to stage a demonstration against the UCC Vice-Chancellor, and management of the university over undue deduction from their end of their service benefits. The retirees in a resolution issued on 29th July 2019 said when they were about exiting UCC from active service, the pro-vice chancellor announced to a gathering of the retirees that there’s a proposal from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to deduct tax from their end of service benefit. This proposal did not go well with the retirees but the pro-vice chancellor and the unions agreed to sit with GRA to see to the waiving of the tax. However, the retirees went home without their end of service benefit. In order to resolve this, a decision was taken at meeting of all Vice-Chancellors that 10% should be deducted from the benefits and 90% paid to the retirees. However, the management of the University have issued a letter indicating that 17%, 25%  and 35% would be deducted from the benefits of junior staff, senior staff and the senior members respectively. In a press briefing in Cape Coast, group secretary, Peter Aubyn said "We want management of UCC to reverse any form of deduction taken from their end of service benefit in the form of taxes to reduce the financial burden on some retirees" “We the 2019 and 2020 retirees demand strongly that our monies deducted as tax should be paid back to us without delay, and therefore we give University of Cape Coast management two weeks to respond to our demands urgently, failure of which may push us to stage demonstration against the Vice Chancellor,” “We do not understand why after serving our nation actively for various number of years as active and consistent payers, we should pay another tax at the end of our service when we are terminally leaving active service…we are in pain appealing to the Ministry of Education and President of the nation to call the management of cape coast university to order,” Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

News coming in indicates that more cash has been reportedly found at the private and official residence of Former Sanitation and Water Resources Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah. According to sources, it took officers of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) bout five (5) hours to count the said amount of money found. Tjinknewsonline.com has gathered that the search were done at both her Abelemkpe and Cantonments residences. It will be recalled that Madam Dapaah was arrested on Monday by the OSP and subjected to hours of questioning bothering on alleged corruption. Her private residences were searched before she was granted bail later in the evening. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Sports Minister, Mustapha Ussif has revealed that 'gridiron', a popular sports played in America and known by many 'American football' will soon be introduced to schools in Ghana. The Minister made these known while addressing Journalists in Accra on Wednesday. Explaining further, the Sports Minister said "We are excited to introduce this new sport to our children in the schools" The Minister hinted that the sports is being spearheaded by Vice President, Mahamudu Bawumia. He also revealed that Dr. Bawumia partnered the NFL to hold a special talent development among some ten (10) selected schools in Ghana last year. “The partnership with the NFL continues and later this year, the number of participating schools is expected to increase in the 2nd edition of the developmental NFL Flag Football Competition, which will also select the best players for next year’s Pro Bowl.” He added that ten (10) young Ghanaians were also chosen to represent Africa at the 2023 Pro Bowl, a special tournament which precedes the famous Super Bowl. "Remarkably, these young Ghanaians placed 4th behind experienced participants like the USA, Mexico and Australia" Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Government Spokesperson on Governance and Security, Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah has condemned the action of some Adisadel College students captured in a video making waves on the Internet. Dr. Boakye-Danquah took to his social media handle to share his thoughts. He said "Murderous behaviour of students in viral video is uncharacteristic of Santaclausians" “I haven’t followed much of what happens in my alma mater since I completed about 22 years ago,” he wrote on Facebook on Tuesday, July 25, “but for the regular school WhatsApp groups.” “We held our school ode and anthem in such great esteem that it guided our behavior.” Condemning the act in no uncertain terms, Dr Boakye-Danquah disclosed that the legacy of his 2001 year group to provide CCTv cameras in all houses will begin. He said this project will “ensure that our children are kept safe in the school”. Dr Boakye-Danquah further wished the injured student well. Background It will be recalled that, two students were captured in a video where one was spotted neck-choking another. The uncharacteristic behaviour left the victim hitting his head against the metallic bed frame. This, left to a swell on the victim’s face. It is emerging that some students who were around refused to come to the aid of the victim but rather made commentaries and laughed. Thinknewsonline.com has gathered that both the suspect and victim have been suspended by the school. Investigations has however commenced. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Parliamentary Candidate hopeful for the New Patriotic Party in the Abuakwa North Constituency Palgrave Boakye-Danquah is mourning the sudden demise of the Assembly member for Old Tafo Ahenbronum Electoral Area, Kwabena Addo Sarpong. Mr Addo Sarpong, popularly called B. Marley, was killed on Friday, July 21 by a hit-and-run driver at the OPASS Junction. The Assemblyman was said to be returning from Koforidua on his motorbike when he was hit by an unknown vehicle. The body was immediately deposited at the morgue while police mounted search for the runaway driver. A vigil was held for him on Sunday, July 23 at Old Tafo Station. Taking to his Facebook page on Sunday, Dr Boakye-Danquah paid tribute to the member of his party in the Abuakwa North Constituency, saying “your works spoke volumes about you”. “You’re going to be deeply missed by the entire constituency of Akyem Abuakwa North.” Credit: 3news.com

New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate hopeful for Abuakwa North Constituency in the Eastern Region Dr Palgrave Frimping Boakye-Danquah has paid tribute to former minister of state Dr Sherry Hanny Ayittey. Sherry Ayittey died on Saturday, July 22 after a short illness. Until her death, she was a National Vice Chairperson of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Dr Boakye-Danquah said they last met on Friday, May 26 when they had a “last connect and conversation”. “You were such a LADY and a true democrat,” he tweeted on Sunday, July 23. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith