Environmental Health Department of the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly (KoKMA), have inspected some cowhouses (kraal) at Odawna and Osu, both communities in the Greater Accra Region. The move comes following the recent outbreak of Anthrax in some parts of the Northern Region of Ghana. In an exclusive interview with Thinknewsoline.com, Environmental Health Analyst, Samuel Maneen "We took it upon ourselves to inspect various kraal (cowhouses) at Odawna and Osu to see how the cows and cattle are being kept" "Some cattlemen have followed the right procedures while others haven't" He explained that cattlemen who are unable to mange their cows and cattles properly will loose their kraal and animals. He also revealed notices have been served to the various cattlemen. Mr. Maneen further explained aside serving the cattlemen notices, they have been given two weeks to respond. Mr. Maneen also noted that KoKMA will do everything possible to ensure that the anthrax disease does not find its way to its jurisdiction. Some cattlemen who spoke to Thinknewsonline.com expressed mixed feelings about the anthrax disease. They called for more education on the anthrax disease and its effects on the cows, cattles and consumers. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Ministry of Health in collaboration with Sanofi Ghana has launched an implementation of access to Diabetes care. The launch was held at Methodist Presbyterian Church at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra on Wednesday. Speaking at the MoH/Sanofi Ghana launch, Director of the National Diabetes Management and Research Centre (NDMRC), Dr. Yakoba Atiase said "This project will be two webinars, we'll look at the foundations of diabetes, we'll look at the hyperglycaemic emergencies" "Then there will be a pretest where the mentor mentees will take a test. Then they will have the modules run and these are videos that they will watch them in between the videos, they'll be case discussions with the mentors. And after all this is said and done" "There'll be another test to assess the uptake of our mentees in the project. In addition, there will also be additional contents, our mentees will have access to insulin pits, COVID slides or videos that we can share with our patients to you know, educate them on diabetes but importantly, and this is a summary of my site is exciting" "Staff at the town will be the second of April 27 Doctor the recorder will be Marcy and take doctors from tamale. Dr. heritor efficient will take doctors in Somalia as well, myself, I'll be taking doctors from the political teaching hospital and the president of them sort of snuck on Apollo will also take doctors from Colombo teaching hospital that is not Oh" She further noted that another aspect of this project is that Sanofi will make available insulin Triton at an affordable cost another fifths can correct me know if I'm wrong. insulin glargine will be found in the NHS when the project starts so our patients will have access to insulated lighter" "This is to make insulin initiating. Easy. We all know anybody who's seen diabetes here that insulin initiating can be quite a daunting task when you have to start patients on insulin. But gliding is a once daily insulin is easy, has a low risk of hypoglycemia. And the uptake for glycogen is low" "It has previously not been on the on NHS and so patients who were not, you know, financially stable couldn't afford it. So it's a very welcome news that initially it will now be on NHS and can be afforded by all in addition to this Sanofi is going to donate basic medical equipment to for sentence ABM machines, ECG machines, amongst others to call primary centres where this project is going to be taken." "And finally, there's going to be a patient up on a smartphone that patients have access to watch and learn about diabetes care, which is very, very useful and very, very good" "So the summary of a project in Ghana, I've said it all it's going to be in three regions but in four centres. There will be 170, nurses, pharmacists, dieticians, trainee the idea of school of pharmacists at GPS will be trained particularly in insulin therapy, insulin initiation, there'll be a patient there will be donation or basic medical equipments to our facilities" "And importantly, there'll be access to all patients of insulin driving on the NHS patients. At the end of it or helping out our mentees and our healthcare providers who partake in this course will be given a certificate like I said, Let's not certificate be the main thing. Let learning be the main thing. We are all this project" "It is said that the journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step as Dr. Baca was to you can see that the Ministry of Health has taken several steps in a few past few years to improve healthcare in NCDs particularly in diabetes. Mo use have been signed" "That was because that the doctor who last year and here we had a big spotlight on diabetes in Ghana earlier this year. So many steps have been taken, but I believe that this is also an additional step that is taking us to our destination of 1000 Miles" In an MoU which was signed in April this year, the country will also be able to purchase affordable high-quality Sanofi analogue insulin products for people living with diabetes. The partnership also provides for the deployment of diabetes management solutions at diabetes centres in Accra, Sunyani and Tamale where 500 healthcare professionals would benefit from a targeted medical training programme. In addition, Sanofi will co-develop a digital solution to help physicians, nurses, pharmacists and community healthcare workers to better support more than 5,000 people living with diabetes. The Director of Technical Coordination at the MoH, Dr Baffour Awuah, disclosed that the project was targeted at strengthening delivery of the country’s non-communicable diseases policy. “Sanofi is strengthening its long-standing commitment to improving access to diabetes care in low-and middle-income countries and underserved communities worldwide through a series of innovative partnerships with healthcare authorities in countries where comprehensive care has not previously been widely available,” he said. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Minister for Public Enterprises, Joseph Cudjoe has revealed that the Akufo-Addo administration is set to sell assets of some seventeen (17) defunct State-Owned-Enterprises (SOEs). He made these remarks while addressing Journalists in Accra on Wednesday. The Minister said "Governmentto sell assets of 17 defunct SOEs" He also revealed that cabinet has already approved of processes of evaluation of the assets of the said defunct SOEs. The Minister revealed that there are 175 specific entities operating in various sectors of the economy. "53 State Owned Enterprises (SOEs), 47 Joint Venture Companies (JVC) and 75 Other State Entities" He disclosed that the State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) accounts for 92% while the remaining 8% represented the state equity in joint venture companies. "I have had interactions with the Board and Management of the various entities and to date he has interacted with 44 entities" He further revealed that his visit helped solve pertinent issues relating to the entities. "I visited the Ghana Highway, Precious Minerals Marketing Commission, Forestry Commission etc" Story by: Bella Bridgette Aborjoe

The Member of Parliament for Damongo Constituency, and Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, has called on Ghanaians, residents of Ghana and visitors who come to the country to visit the Damongo Constituency, which he says is, arguably, the number one tourist destination in northern Ghana. He said the Constituency, which is made up of one hundred and four (104) towns, villages and communities, is home to several sites of historical significance, awe-inspiring landscapes, and cultural diversity, which makes the Constituency an exceptional destination for tourists seeking to immerse themselves in the beauty and traditions of Ghana and West Africa. Mr. Jinapor was speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, 12th July, 2023, when he made a statement on tourist attractions in the Damongo Constituency. He said "tourism offers a glimpse into our history, culture and nature, and thus should not be reserved for foreigners alone." He noted that there are several tourist attractions in the country, which if well patronised, will contribute substantially to our national economy. Tourism has become a major boost for many countries across Africa, such as Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Rwanda, and Zambia. On Tuesday, July 4, 2023, President Akufo-Addo commissioned the renovated and modernised Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, with a commitment to make Ghana the tourism hub of West Africa. Mr. Jianpor said this initiative, coupled with others, such as the Year of Return and Beyond the Return, shows Government’s commitment to promoting tourism in the country. Highlighting some of the tourist attractions in the Damongo Constituency, the Member of Parliament mentioned the Larabanga Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in Africa, mostly referred to as “the Mecca of West Africa.” The over six hundred (600) year old Mosque is said to have been built by one Ayuba, after Allah had revealed to him in a dream to build a mosque, which Allah himself had already laid the foundations. Inside the Mosque is an ancient Qur’an believed to have been delivered by Allah to the Imam of the Mosque in 1650. Mr. Jinapor also mentioned the Mystic Stone, also located at Larabanga. According to legend, when the colonial Government was contracting a road through Larabanga, they removed the stone, but came back the following day to find that the stone had returned to its previous position, and when this persisted, they were compelled to divert the road, and leave the stone in its position, which it has remained till date. Other tourist attractions cited by the Member of Parliament include the Mognori Eco Village, a community-based tourism project in Mognori, that provides a range of tourist activities such as guided nature walks, traditional and drumming and dancing and handicraft demonstrations, as well as the Mole National Park, the first, largest and most prestigious protected area in the country, which previously served as a Game Clearance Area, but currently hosts, various plant and animal species, including elephants, buffalos, lions, monkeys, and other rare and endangered species. This park also hosts West Africa’s first luxury safari lodge, the Zaina Lodge, which provides top-notch hospitality services with a unique cultural touch to visitors of the Park and its catchment areas. Mr. Jinapor said Damongo, which serves as the capital of the Constituency, the Savannah Region, as well as the Gonja Kingdom, and which hosts the famous Jakpa Skin, exudes cultural richness, and offers patrons rich cultural and historical experience of the Gonja people, including their festivals, such as the Damba and Fire (or Jintigi) Festivals. He said the centrality of the Damongo Constituency, makes it an exceptional place to lodge and connect to the other parts of northern Ghana. Mr. Jinapor thanked President Akufo-Addo and the Minister for Tourism, Hon. Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, for the special attention they have paid to tourism in the Damongo Constituency, and called on all and sundry, to patronise these sites for the rich experience they offer. Members who contributed to the Statement were enthused about the tourist attractions in the Constituency. The Member of Parliament for Ketu South, Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, urged the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, to take Mr. Jinapor’s Statement and explore the various tourist destinations for employment opportunities for the youth. Story by: Nadia Aidoo

Information reaching Thinknewsonline.com indicates that Veteran Nollywood Actress Cynthia Okereke has been reported dead. According to sources, the Late Nollywood Actress passed on in her sleep yesterday. More to follow..... Story by: Thinknewsonline.com

The Ghana Geological Survey Authority (GGSA) says its attention has been drawn to a suspected earth tremor event at Twifo-Mampong in the Central Region of Ghana on June 30. The event was said to have been reported by various media outlets across the country. The Authority in a communique noted that monitoring records from it's network of seismic stations located across the country did not record any major earth tremor event from the stations on the said date. However, minor earth disturbances recorded during the period did not have the potential to cause the impact that was recorded. It is emerging that an investigation by a Team of Seismologists and Geoscientists from the GGSA, together with the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Robert Agyemang Nyantakyi, Assembly Members and Officials from NADMO on July 11 revealed that, the event was a landslide which occurred after a heavy downpour the previous day, June 29. Residents in the area confirmed that no ground shaking was felt by anyone in the town. The landslide event took place on a steep hill within farmlands which are primarily used for cocoa plantations. As a result, several cocoa trees were destroyed. The geological materials observed at the site were highly weathered metasediments, which were saturated from the heavy downpour, resulting in the movement of materials in multiple locations along the slopes of the hill. The area where the landslide occurred was far away from settlements and thus, did not affect lives and property. Nonetheless, the event serves as a caution for potential development along the slopes of the hill to be avoided and the need for proper enforcement of land-use planning. It advised the public to stop development along slopes of hills, as such areas may not be stable for infrastructural development. In addition, Metropolitan and Municipal District Assemblies (MMDAs) should enforce effective land-use planning to ensure public safety. Farmers in the affected areas have been asked to return to their farming activities. The farmers have been urged to stay away from such areas when there are signs of rainfall events. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The 2023/24 Ghana Premier League season has been scheduled to kick off on September 20, 2023, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) have announced. The matchday one will kick off on Wednesday at the various venues. Medeama SC who are the champions of the 2022/23 season will hope to improve their performance to defend their title. Meanwhile, King Faisal, Tamale City and Kotoku Royals suffered relegation from the top flight. Nations FC, Heart of Lions and Bofoakwa Tano have been promoted to the topflight from the Division One League. The Premier League fixtures are expected to be announced later this month. Credit: Modern Ghana

The Food and Drugs and Authority (FDA) says it has suspended the operations of Samdoe Enterprise, a water-producing company located at Community 18, Spintex Road,Accra. According to the FDA, the premises of Samdoe Enterprise was closed down as the company has been engaged in the production and distribution and unregistered brands of water products in an unlicensed, unhygienic manufacturing facility. In a communique signed by its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Delese Mimi Darko, she said "Th unregistered water products are as follows: (i) Perfect Ice Drinking Water; (ii) Aqua Link Drinking Water (iii) Leaders Drinking Water" She added that the Authority’s Inspection Team uncovered major safety and quality issues, including operation in an unsuitable wooden structure, presence of open drains with algae and fungi growth, dirty filters and no pest control regime. The Authority is therefore cautioning the public not to consume any of unregistered brands listed above. "The public is once again reminded to check the registration status of regulated products from the FDA website - http://fdaghaa.gov.gh or through the ProPer platform - https://bit.ly/ProPerFDa before purchase Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Information reaching Thinknewsonline.com a joint technical task-force comprising EOCO, Bank of Ghana (BOG), Cyber Security Authority (CSA) and Ghana Police Service conducted a swoop in three (3) different suburbs in the Greater Accra Region where a total of four hundred and twenty-two (422) Ghanaian and three (3) foreign nationals were arrested. The swoop was held on June 10. According to EOCO, in all, six hundred and fifty-four (654) mobile phones, twenty-two (22) laptop computers and about eight hundred (800) sim cards were retrieved as part of the exercise. In a communique issued by the Executive Director of EOCO, COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, she said "This followed complaints about the activities of unlicensed online loan application platforms and their threat to the unsuspecting public" EOCO added that it is enjoined to collaborate with relevant state agencies to safeguard the integrity of the financial markets in Ghana. The communique revealed that further investigations into these complaints have led to the identification of one hundred and fifty (150) unlicensed digital loan application platforms whose owners/administrators resort to the use of death threats. it is also emerging that non-consensual distribution of private messages, images and videos mainly accessed through authorized permissions granted by unsuspecting victims who patronize these digital platforms were also used. COP Maame Tiwa Addo-Danquah reiterated that her outfit will ensure the enforcement of relevant laws on the operations of the financial markets in Ghana. EOCO however cautioned the general public to desist from having any form of engagements with unlicensed financial entities who ply their trade online. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Waste Management giant, Zoomlion Ghana Limited has supported informal waste pickers and it's own staff among other waste managers to build their capacities in waste material recovery at the Kingdom of Thailand to help create a circular economy in Ghana. The concept of a circular economy creates a production and consumption system which involves recycling of waste materials to last as long as possible. The team has begun an intensive two-weeks training in urban mining/waste recovery at the Asean Institute of Recycling and the Wongpanit International company Limited in the province of Phitsanulok in Thailand. A Communications specialist with the Jospong Group of Companies, Mrs. Isabella Gyau Orhin who is with the team in Thailand in an interview disclosed that “the concept of circular economy offers opportunities by reducing waste and creating employment opportunities. The Jospong Group is committed to developing Ghana’s recycling ecosystem where there is Zero tolerance for waste material hence the need to learn from global standards”. “The team comprised of informal waste pickers who have demonstrated commitment in waste recovery, selected leaders of the church of Pentecost who are leading the Church's Environmental Care Campaign in Ghana and waste management technocrats within the Jospong Group .” Mrs. Orhin explained that “the choice of Phitsanulok known as the City of Recycling in Thailand was strategic as their Zero waste model of using recycling to create a circular economy utilizes simple technologies and encourages community participation which is in line with Jospong Group ’s mission of improving people’s lives and their environment.” A Senior Government Advisor and Senator of Thailand, General Vichit Yathip in his welcome address encouraged the team to implement Thailand’s circular economy model as done by the Wongpanit International company through waste recycling. “The Wongpanit business model is sustainable and has created employment opportunities for the people of Thailand and also saves the environment from pollution”, he emphasized. The President of Wongpanit Group, Dr. Somthai Wongcharoen who has been crowned in Thailand as “The King of Recycling” in his statement expressed his excitement for the partnership between the Jospong Group and the Wongpanit Group as both businesses are inclined towards saving the environment and creating employment for their people. He said the team is being trained in “urban mining business with recycling” which will help convert waste to valued resources in areas of plastics waste, paper waste, metal scrap, electronic waste, glass scrap and innovations in creating value from municipal solid waste according to the circular economy concept. Dr. Somthai added that during his visit to Ghana he noticed huge opportunities to grow the economy of Ghana through the circular economy concept hence the training is heavily based on “hands-on experience and practicals.” The Coordinator of the Environmental Care Campaign of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Samuel Gakpetor, said the model will work well with the aggregators trained by the Church of Pentecost. "As a church we are interested in the total wellbeing of our members and not only in their spiritual lives. Since the Church has become the centre of the lives of our members, we must endeavour to add value to every facet of their values, he hinted. Thus, this concept of recycling will create jobs for church members and help improve their economic situations." The 30 - member team is working with Wongpanit and its franchise outlets in Thailand to help easily implement the model in Ghana. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Ministry of Finance says it is happy to announce that it has settled all outstanding coupons and principal payments up until June 19. The Ministry made these known in a statement released on July 10. It said "The Ministry of Finance hereby announces that it has made good its promise and settled all outstanding coupons and principal payments up until 19th June, 2023" "Instructions have also been sent for payment of coupons falling due up until today, 10th July, 2023" "The Ministry of Finance takes this opportunity to thank all bondholders for their continuous support during this period of tight liquidity" “Government is confident that in working with all stakeholders, we shall restore macroeconomic stability, achieve inclusive economic growth, and transform the Republic.” Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

A member of the Individual Bondholders forum, Mr Franklin Cudjoe has announced that their planned picketing at the Ministry of Finance over the nonpayment of the outstanding arrears on coupons and principals of individual bondholders, has been suspended. The bondholders had threatened to picket at the Finance Ministry today Monday, July 11 to demand the payment of outstanding principals and coupons after they accused the government of failing to honor the agreed payment plan outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Coalition of Individual Bondholders Groups (CIBG). But the plan has been suspended following the statement issued by the Finance Ministry that the arrears have been paid. The Ministry of Finance stated that it has settled all the outstanding arrears on coupons and principals of individual bondholders up until 19th June. The Ministry in a statement issued on Monday, July 10 said “The Ministry of Finance takes this opportunity to thank all bondholders for their continuous support during this period of tight liquidity. “Government is confident that in working with all stakeholders, we shall restore macroeconomic stability, achieve inclusive economic growth, and transform the Republic”, the statement added. Commenting on this in a Facebook post, Mr Franklin Cudjoe who is also the Founding President of Imani Africa said “AT 11:40 PM on July 10 government issued a press statement reassuring payments of all outstanding coupons. Planned picketing suspended. Media briefing will be done.” Credit: 3news.com