Lawyers representing Ghana’s Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, have asked the Daily Post newspaper to retract what they described as a false reportage on his son’s senior high school enrollment. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-outdoors-credit-union-to-support-informal-sector-pictures According to the lawyers from Beyuo & Co, the June 15, 2021 report by Daily Post titled: ‘Lies of Education Minister Exposed as his son’s teacher confirms he is in a private SHS’, was false and must therefore be retracted. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/facemask-coda-boss-urges-police-to-enforce-laws The lawyers also demanded that Daily Post offer an apology to the Minister for damaging his reputation. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/amplified-will-focus-on-amplifying-mentoring-youth-dev-t-activities-in-various-quarters-gov-t Read full details below : BEYUO & CO Barristers Solicitors Notaries Public 15 June 2021 The Managing Editor, The Daily Post Newspaper Accra Dear Sir, Demand for a Retraction and Apology Re: Lies of Education Minister Exposed as his son’s teacher confirms he is in a private SHS. We write as lawyers for Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Minister of Education, and refer to your 15 June 2021 publication of the Daily Post; Volume 11, Issue No 2837. On the front page of that newspaper, you culled a social media post of one Nana Osei Poku and published the following words underneath same, “Excerpts of Facebook posting by Nana Osei Poku, an employee of the Education Minister confirming the fact that the Minister has enrolled his son in a private senior High School. The posting meant to defend the Minister inadvertently exposed his lies as he contradicts his claim that he has no child in the private Senior High School” when you knew that claim to be false. Nowhere in the social media post has the said Nana Osei Poku, stated that our client has enrolled his child in a private SHS. However, with a view to damage our client’s reputation, you claimed that our client had lied about the enrollment of his son in a private SHS. The false allegation made on the front page of your newspaper has caused our client, who is a seasoned educationist of high repute deep embarrassment, as it has lowered his standing in the eyes of right-thinking members of society. Our client’s reputation has been damaged by your innuendo that as Minister for Education, he has no regard for the government’s free SHS policy for public Senior High Schools of which he has direct oversight responsibility that he has enrolled his own child in a private SHS which is excluded from the policy. We hereby on behalf of our client, demand that you forthwith cease and desist from making any further false claims about our client’s son’s enrollment in a private SHS and further demand that you publish in the National Dailies a retraction of the allegation made in your Tuesday 15 June 2021 issue of your newspaper, giving it the same prominence as the original defamatory publication, and render an unqualified apology to our client, failing which our client will seek legal redress without further recourse to you. Yours faithfully, Beyuo & Co Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum. cc: The Minister of Education Ministries Accra The Director-General National Media Commission Accra. Below are screenshots: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Former WBO super bantamweight champion Isaac Dogboe will take another step towards his push for a second world title on Saturday when he takes on Adam Lopez at the Virgin Kotel in Las Vegas. Dogboe made a successful return in July 2020 after his back-to-back defeats against Emmanuel Navarette in 2018 and 2019. The Ghanaian defeated Chris Avalos via an 8th round stoppage. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/bui-power-ceo-is-wrong-the-energy-minister-has-not-been-misled-by-gridco American Lopez holds a 15-2-0 record and is best noted for his performance against WBC super featherweight champion Oscar Valdes. Lopez dropped Valdez in the second round but got stopped under controversial circumstances in the 7th round. Isaac Digboe has been preparing in the United States under new trainer Barry Hunter and is regarded as the favorite going into Saturday’s fight. Experts however expect the fight to be a war given Lopez’s all-action style. The American is nicknamed “Glendale Gatti” after former featherweight Arturo Gatti whose all-action style endeared him to boxing fans. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-outdoors-credit-union-to-support-informal-sector-pictures Victory will take Dogboe closer to a world title shot but defeat will undo the gains made from the Chris Avalos victory. Credit: Myjoyonline.com

Weddings are special events for couples who are about to begin their marital journey. As an institution endorsed and blessed by the Almighty God, marriage comes with undefined glory, bliss, and integrity. Although this love-filled adventure can be unsettling especially when one is unaware of what is ahead and where or how it will end, many who get the opportunity to embark on this journey are left mesmerized. Couples spend time making their traditional marriages and weddings so special and memorable. Indeed, it is a memorable day! READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/unless-he-is-100-gay-there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-man-and-woman-being-besties-princess-shyngle We all at some point fantasized about our weddings whether grand or intimate. Having these thoughts in mind results in couples spending weeks, months, and in some cases years to plan their wedding devoid of unforeseen events that will mar the beauty of the occasion. Yes, many people have been successful in achieving this quest, but a lot has also failed. Beloved, some fail because of inadequate preparation and other factors. Some also fail because they lack knowledge about the whole process and other cases due to someone's deliberate mess! Have you witnessed a wedding ceremony where at a point, the officiating minister uttered the phrase "if anyone has any reason that prevents this couple from marrying, the person should come and say it"? Really? READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/opinion-the-james-town-bullion-van-attack-a-sad-story-of-a-police-officer-and-a-hawker Has it struck your mind that someone who has planned to 'spoil' the wedding can take advantage of the situation and cause a stir? We live in a society where it is easy for someone to step on the toes of others. It is also true that we have people who do not forgive people who have offended them. Don't you think when we give such unforgiving beings such an opportunity on a glorious and special day, depending on the nature of the offense, they can mess up the whole moment? READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/provide-fortified-armoured-vehicles-for-carting-currencies-or-lose-police-escort-igp-warns-banks How will you feel if someone just stood up from his/her seat and confidently walked through the crowd to testify against you, explaining why your marriage should be canceled? We have done this for a long, and it has caused havoc to many. I simply think we should cancel it. I agree that those who do that have genuine and justified reasons, but I am against it. I am not convinced about their reasons for putting up such an act. I simply can't comprehend because: 1. It is not biblical 2. It is not legal 3. It is culturally unaccepted and unreasonable. 4. It tends to taint the well-planned ceremony and brings about unnecessary tension. Our foes will always be unforeseen plans and undesiring schemes; they are just waiting for the opportunity to execute. As much as possible, we must prevent and deny them the golden opportunity to strike. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/amplified-will-focus-on-amplifying-mentoring-youth-dev-t-activities-in-various-quarters-gov-t As the popular saying goes, marriage is a journey and not a destination therefore events leading to that leap must be void of sneaky activities and ill intentions of vile individuals. In most churches, engagements and weddings are announced for about a month or more to create awareness. During these announcements, they can add that if someone has something against this marriage, they should see the leadership of the church or the family. If no one objects after one month, then there is no need to do that during the day of the wedding. My humble opinion. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/bui-power-ceo-is-wrong-the-energy-minister-has-not-been-misled-by-gridco I dedicate this to my distinguished officiating ministers who officiate marriages, with much love. Credit: Nana Owusu Nkrumah, Broadcast Journalist, Atinka Tv

The Ghana Police Service has placed a bounty of ¢20,000 on gunmen who shot to death a police officer and an eyewitness, during a robbery incident involving a bullion van at Adedenkpo, a suburb of James Town in Accra on Monday. In a video, the Service’s Director of Public Affairs, Supt. Sheilla Kessie Abayie-Buckman stated that although they are working earnestly to apprehend the criminals, they are calling on the general public to give information that would lead to the arrest of the culprits to receive the reward. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/unless-he-is-100-gay-there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-man-and-woman-being-besties-princess-shyngle She added that the identity of the informant will be confidential. On June 14, a police officer, Emmanuel Osei, and a hawker, Afua Badu, were attacked by a group of armed robbers who trailed a bullion van in a taxi and on a motorbike and upon arrival at a less crowded location, fired indiscriminately, killing them instantly. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/opinion-the-james-town-bullion-van-attack-a-sad-story-of-a-police-officer-and-a-hawker The driver of the vehicle was severely injured and was rushed to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for treatment. According to the doctors, the driver is responding to treatment. According to Dr. Fredrick Kwarteng, the 35-year-old victim, Eric Okyere, underwent surgery some hours after he was rushed to the hospital. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/provide-fortified-armoured-vehicles-for-carting-currencies-or-lose-police-escort-igp-warns-banks He further disclosed that several pellets were retrieved from his chest, limbs, and forearms. Meanwhile, the IGP, James Oppong-Boanuh has pledged that no stone will be left unturned in his quest to ensure the killers of Constable General, Emmanuel Osei, are arrested. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/amplified-will-focus-on-amplifying-mentoring-youth-dev-t-activities-in-various-quarters-gov-t He added that the police have deployed many security personnel on the roads to intensify patrols. Watch the video below: Credit: Myjoyonline.com

An Accra Circuit Court has convicted Patience Asiedua, popularly known as Nana Agradaa after pleading guilty in court. The court presided over by Justice Emmanuel Essandor convicted and sentenced Nana Agradaa to a fine of GHS36,000 on the charge of operating a Television station without a license, and GHS10,000 on the charge of “charlatanic advertisement”. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/unless-he-is-100-gay-there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-man-and-woman-being-besties-princess-shyngle The self-acclaimed spiritualist now turned evangelist, changed her plea after she had earlier pleaded not guilty to charges of operating a TV station without authorization contrary to section 110 of the Electronic Transaction Act 2008, act 772, and Charlatanic advertisement (Sika Gari) contrary to section 137 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960. The sentences are to run concurrently. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/opinion-the-james-town-bullion-van-attack-a-sad-story-of-a-police-officer-and-a-hawker Nana Agradaa was arraigned in April 2021 following her arrest by the police and National Security intelligence operatives in collaboration with the National Communications Authority (NCA) at the premises of her satellite television station, Thunder TV, one of the two stations the NCA accused her of operating illegally without authorization. The Security operatives who carried the operation retrieved two pieces of equipment used for the illegal transmission from the premises of the station. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/provide-fortified-armoured-vehicles-for-carting-currencies-or-lose-police-escort-igp-warns-banks She was subsequently granted bail on April 22, 2021. The action against Nana Agradaa follows recent concerns about the broadcasting of inappropriate content in the media space by persons parading themselves as spiritualists. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/amplified-will-focus-on-amplifying-mentoring-youth-dev-t-activities-in-various-quarters-gov-t Watch the video below:

Cristiano Ronaldo has equaled the enviable record of Ghana star Asamoah Gyan after his brace against Hungary on Tuesday. Ronaldo scored two late goals as Portugal began their Euros title defense with a labored 3-0 victory against a spirited Hungary side in Budapest. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/unless-he-is-100-gay-there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-man-and-woman-being-besties-princess-shyngle The Hungarians deployed a tactic that worked until the 84th minute when Portugal got the breakthrough. Left-back Raphael Guerreiro’s deflected shot beat the goalkeeper. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/opinion-the-james-town-bullion-van-attack-a-sad-story-of-a-police-officer-and-a-hawker Portugal did not relent after scoring what could have been the winning goal, with their captain Ronaldo converting a penalty before rounding the goalkeeper for his second of the match. The two goals by Ronaldo made him only the second player to have scored at nine consecutive major international tournaments. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/provide-fortified-armoured-vehicles-for-carting-currencies-or-lose-police-escort-igp-warns-banks Gyan set the record in 2017 when his diving header helped Ghana to a 1-0 group stage victory against Mali at the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon. Gyan, currently playing the Ghana Premier League, would be proud his record has been equaled by no other than a player regarded by many as the greatest footballer of all time. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/amplified-will-focus-on-amplifying-mentoring-youth-dev-t-activities-in-various-quarters-gov-t Ronaldo can break the record at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Not only did Ronaldo equal Gyan’s record on Tuesday evening, but his goals also made him the top scorer in the history of the European championship, having broken Michel Platini’s record. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/bui-power-ceo-is-wrong-the-energy-minister-has-not-been-misled-by-gridco Credit: 3news.com

The National Communications Authority (NCA) together with the National Media Commission (NMC) have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) which they believe will help control content disseminated by the various media outlets in the country. According to the State Agencies, they will via the MoU ensure that the Ghanaian media operates on free and fairgrounds. Addressing Journalists, the Director-General of National Communications Authority (NCA), Joe Anokye said "As an Agency, we are charged with the responsibility of regulating and monitoring licensed and authorization holders, it had no power to regulate contents of media organizations, a situation he said had limited the Authority from undertaking stringent measures including; revoking licenses of broadcasters who churned out unwholesome contents" The Director-General also mentioned that the signed document will give the Authority enough power to deal drastically with offenders. “The NCA has punitive powers under the law but does not have the mandate to regulate content. Per Section 13 of Act 775, the NCA can suspend or revoke the frequency authorization, where it is in the public interest or because of National Security. So upon recommendation of the NMC, the NCA is able to legally apply sanctions. The key here is that if we work collaboratively together then the NMC knowing that the media content is not what it is supposed to be can work with the NCA based on the law that empowers the NCA to be able to apply the necessary sanctions,” Mr. Anokye hinted. It is emerging that Section 3 (d) of the National Communications Act, 2008, Act 769 expects the NCA to not only regulate but also monitor licensed and authorization holders to ensure they use it for its intended purpose. The NCA's Director-General also mentioned that the establishment of the Broadcast Monitoring System will grant the Authority access to get to know the KPRIs for the licenses that it had likewise authorizations given out, both for TV and radio. He cautioned the public to desist from running any radio, television, print, and online without authorization from the NCA. On his part, Chairman for the National Media Commission (NMC), Yaw Boadu Ayeboafoh said "The Commission had been vilified for being inactive even though it had no power to enforce anything beyond asking offenders to render apology or retract stories that were deemed inappropriate. But it was found out that for instance, within the Electronic Communications Act, there are provisions there that if properly applied can be useful for all of us, and therefore, there was the need to work together, even as we work towards legislation that will eventually transfer power to the NMC,” He pleaded with media practitioners to be mindful of their utterances or write-ups to ensure the safety of all. The Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said "I am urging the NCA and the NMC to implement agreements of the cooperation to address infractions and sanitize the broadcast airspace" The Minister charged that NMC to bring the public to the known whenever it intends to revoke the license of any media house to avoid misconception and mistrust. Present at the signing ceremony were President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Ronald Affail Monney, Executive Secretary, Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA), Gloria Hiadzi, Director, Public Relations, Ghana Armed Forces, Colonel Aggrey-Quarshie, and Executive Director, Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Sulemana Braimah. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Persistent rural poverty in Northern Ghana also affects families’ nutrition. In spite of Ghana’s tremendous recent advances against poverty overall, poor nutrition in the northern regions, particularly among young children, could limit further progress for rural families. The Feed the Future Advancing Local Leadership, Innovation, and Networks (ALL-IN) program has just launched a three-year $449,833 research project led by the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) at the University of Ghana that uses communications by cell phone to strengthen nutrition among young children in Northern Ghana. This project, supported by USAID, is testing whether this approach reinforces a prominent USAID program focused on nutrition and resilience. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/amplified-will-focus-on-amplifying-mentoring-youth-dev-t-activities-in-various-quarters-gov-t “Mobile phones can be a powerful tool to change behaviors that directly impact a family’s welfare,” said Robert Darko Osei, an associate professor at ISSER and the project’s lead principal investigator. Messaging by Mobile Phone to Improve Family Nutrition The USAID Resiliency in Northern Ghana (RING) project is an integrated project under the Feed the Future initiative that seeks to improve the livelihoods and nutritional status of vulnerable rural families. RING-I, implemented from 2012 to 2019, was designed to increase the consumption of diverse quality foods, improve nutrition and hygiene among women and children, and strengthen local networks of vulnerable households. RING-II, currently underway, promotes families’ wellbeing and resilience through improved farming practices. This Feed the Future ALL-IN project is evaluating the impacts of the RING project on household nutrition and resilience to shocks in Northern Ghana and adds messages by cell phone to encourage and reinforce the project’s nutrition-based interventions. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/provide-fortified-armoured-vehicles-for-carting-currencies-or-lose-police-escort-igp-warns-banks The project is designed as a randomized controlled trial, which makes it possible to identify the true impacts of the interventions by comparing outcomes like food security and household income between households who received the interventions and households who did not. The project includes about 1,800 households with children under two years old across 12 communities in Northern Ghana. Research partners include Image-AD, Northwestern University, and the USAID Resiliency in Northern Ghana Project (RING). “While communication on its own may not improve nutrition and also reduce poverty, it could be a vital strategy in shifting household behaviors and spending,” said Osei. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/opinion-the-james-town-bullion-van-attack-a-sad-story-of-a-police-officer-and-a-hawker Research to Support Development Policy in Northern Ghana This Feed the Future ALL-IN evaluation of the USAID RING project and nutrition-related messaging by cell phones could lay the foundation for expanding Ghana’s development agenda focused on poverty and inequality in the northern regions. The research team is also testing the cost-effectiveness of using a mobile phone platform to speed up behavior change. “This research team understands the context and culture in the region, are closely related to policymakers, and understand the intricacies of policy,” said David Ameyaw, co-director of Feed the Future ALL-IN and president and CEO of the International Centre for Evaluation and Development. “All of this is critical to ensuring that this project’s high-quality evidence has a positive impact on national policy.” Feed the Future ALL-IN was established by USAID as a partnership between International Centre for Evaluation and Development (ICED), with offices in Nairobi, Kenya and Accra, Ghana, and the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Markets, Risk & Resilience (MRR) based at the University of California, Davis. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/unless-he-is-100-gay-there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-man-and-woman-being-besties-princess-shyngle Feed the Future ALL-IN funds researchers at African institutions to lead large-scale international research collaborations, leveraging their local knowledge, skills, and ideas to build actionable evidence for promoting resilience and inclusive agricultural growth. Credit: USAID Resiliency

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Food and Drugs and Authority (FDA), Delese Mimi Darko has hinted that her outfit like other National Regulatory Authorities globally is using the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) pathway to ensure timely access to quality and safe medical products including vaccines during pandemics. According to her, although time is of the essence during pandemics, the EUA pathway subjects all medical product applications to rigorous quality, safety and efficacy assessments prior to approvals. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/unless-he-is-100-gay-there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-man-and-woman-being-besties-princess-shyngle In a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), it said “To date, the FDA has authorized the importation, distribution, and use of the three Covid-19 vaccines; ie; Sputnik V, Covishield and Johnson & Johnson” The statement also added that all the vaccines have been authorized for use in several countries around the world. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/opinion-the-james-town-bullion-van-attack-a-sad-story-of-a-police-officer-and-a-hawker It further mentioned that the Sputnik V has been authorized in 71, Covishield in 170 and Johnson % Johnson in 74 countries respectively. “On arrival of consignments, the FDA inspects each batch for compliance with the manufacturer’s instructions on product handling and storage to ensure that the integrity of the cold chain has been maintained during transportation. Furthermore, samples are also taken for analysis, to ensure that critical quality attributes comply with the approved release specifications from the manufacturer. All these processes are completed before vaccines, including vaccines from the COVAX Facility, donation from MTN and the recently imported Sputnik V are formally released to the Ministry of Health” it noted. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/provide-fortified-armoured-vehicles-for-carting-currencies-or-lose-police-escort-igp-warns-banks The FDA says it takes notice of recent remarks by some commentators which seek to suggest that the vaccines being deployed by the Ghana Health Service are not efficacious. Below is a copies of the release: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), James Oppong-Boanuh has visited the family of the police officer who was murdered by armed robbers at Adedenkpo, a suburb of James Town in Accra on Monday. According to a report filed by JoyNews’ Manuel Koranteng, the deceased Constable General Emmanuel Osei would have turned 26 years on June 25. Known to many as Kobby, the late Emmanuel Osei passed out of the National Police Academy and Training School less than a year ago. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/unless-he-is-100-gay-there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-man-and-woman-being-besties-princess-shyngle Mr. Oppong-Bonuah was accompanied by some personnel of the police command to commiserate with the bereaved family over their loss. He gave the assurance that the police will ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous crime are brought to book. Clad in black and red, family members and sympathizers gathered to mourn the untimely death of their loved one which occurred in a ghastly manner. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/amplified-will-focus-on-amplifying-mentoring-youth-dev-t-activities-in-various-quarters-gov-t Many were drowning in tears as the police arrived to share their condolence. On Monday, June 15, Emmanuel Osei and an eyewitness, Afua Badu were murdered by armed robbers at Adedenkpo, a suburb of James Town in Accra while transporting money in a bullion van. The robbers trailed the victims in a taxi and on a motorbike, popularly called, ‘okada’. Upon arrival at a less crowded location, the armed robbers fired indiscriminately, killing the police officer on board instantly. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/bui-power-ceo-is-wrong-the-energy-minister-has-not-been-misled-by-gridco Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police has engaged several stakeholders in the banking sector to address the recent murder of the police officer who was tasked to escort a vehicle carrying cash. At the meeting held with the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr. Ernest Addison, Executives of the Ghana Association of Bankers, and Managing Directors of banks in Ghana, the decision to use standardized equipment for Cash in Transit (CIT) services was reiterated. This decision will be effective on June 30, 2021. A press statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, Superintendent of Police, Sheila Kessie Abayie-Buckman, indicated that other issues discussed during the meetings include; provision of “protective gear for police officers on bank security duties, security background assessment of staff used for cash duties, security of vaults and banking premises, among others.” READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/facemask-coda-boss-urges-police-to-enforce-laws These measures they say are to prevent the loss of lives of police officers while carrying out their duties. Therefore, the Police administration has entreated all security personnel to remain calm as they put up measures to keep them safe from all sorts of attacks. “The Police Administration, therefore, assures its officers and the general public of the Administration’s commitment to protecting the lives of police officers in the discharge of their constitutionally-mandated duty of maintaining law and order,” portions of the press statement read. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/unless-he-is-100-gay-there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-man-and-woman-being-besties-princess-shyngle Below is a video and pics: Credit: Myjoyonline.com

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Lydia Baaba Dsane-Selby has hinted that her outfit is working tirelessly to deal with the activities of illegal payments by patients to health officials at some health centers across the country. According to her, the NHIA has call centers that are ready to do follow-ups on reports of illegal payments and take back monies paid. Addressing Journalists in Accra, she said “On illegal payment, we have a call center, those who call, we follow up at the facility and we have been able to take the money back and give it back to the person quite a few times but what we find is patients are very reluctant to report perceived wrongdoings at health facilities. We all know what we feel about a hospital and health care, you never know when your turn will come so people feel very reluctant to report but the few who do, we are able to get their money back. We are working on what we can do to halt illegal payment” READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/unless-he-is-100-gay-there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-man-and-woman-being-besties-princess-shyngle She also hinted those patients who visit health centers should devoid of being reluctant when they observe or fall victims to such illegal activities. The CEO also hinted that her outfit has a policy that ensures that if people default by more than three (3) months after renewal, they serve a month's waiting period. “I think that is the policy in most Insurance Systems. Only people who are exempted from that are pregnant women and children under five (5). We all know that children under five (5) can be seriously ill sometimes in the space of an hour and we can’t afford to wait and obviously for pregnant women, it is free and we need to get them treated. Everybody else will serve a one (1) month waiting period and our system is hard-wired, you can’t pay somebody within NHIA to takeaway that unless they register you as a pregnant woman or a child under five (5)” she noted. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/opinion-the-james-town-bullion-van-attack-a-sad-story-of-a-police-officer-and-a-hawker Dr. Dsane-Selby also revealed that a few have tried but her outfit managed to arrest the staff of which they have been sanctioned. Speaking on the synergy of the Ghana Card and the NHIS card, she said “At our NHIA launch last year, we publicized the seven steps to link your Ghana card to your NHIS if you have one already. The challenge is people have different names, different dates of births, and all sorts, so the 5 or 6 key indicators are completely different between the two cards they are holding. So only about 100,000 people who have been able to do the link by mobile phone themselves” She revealed that her outfit is piloting in four districts in Accra adding that if people visit the office and get the link done, they can be able to use their Ghana card afterward. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/provide-fortified-armoured-vehicles-for-carting-currencies-or-lose-police-escort-igp-warns-banks “I know the hospitals have been trained to accept the Ghana card in all the clinics. It’s the same mobile technology that they will use to authenticate you when you go there. It’s the same *929# and then you follow the seven steps which will link the two cards” Speaking on pre-auditing, she revealed that the NHIA has claims processing centers that look at all submitted claims. “Obviously, if you submit it electronically, we have some level of Artificial Intelligence that does a lot of the vetting. If it manual then, unfortunately, our staff have to manually go through. That is why we give ourselves two months from the date of submission to be able to pay the claims.” READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/amplified-will-focus-on-amplifying-mentoring-youth-dev-t-activities-in-various-quarters-gov-t On her part, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Blood Service (NBS), Dr. Justina K. Ansah said “We as a country are not self-sufficient for blood, we need just 1% of the population to donate blood so we will be sufficient but we realized that our blood collection per index is 5, meaning instead of 10 people, we get only 5” She mentioned adequacy as one of the problems adding that it has contributed to the NBS not having lots of voluntary donors. “Covid really affected us. As of 2019, voluntary donations were 33% and at the end of 2020, it was 17% which is very bad. What could have happened is that there was no blood available or the blood group needed for that person was not them because we need to have all the blood groups available at every time” she said. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/bui-power-ceo-is-wrong-the-energy-minister-has-not-been-misled-by-gridco She later appealed to the public to voluntarily donate blood to help save the lives of persons in need. “So my appeal is that we are doing a lot of education to get people between 17 to 60 to donate but people who cannot donate, you can have advocates, people to donate and I think that if we all put our hands to the plow, we will have enough of the blood groups so that if anyone wants blood, it will be available” Dr. Justina K. Ansah concluded. Below is a video: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Practitioners in the pest and vector control business have launched their Association to regulate their activities. The Association termed “Pest and Vector Control Association of Ghana (PEVAG)” which was formed in March 2020 and currently has over 150 member companies nationwide aims to bring together the various industry players, ensure standardization, help improve their operations through capacity building, and solidify the efforts of state agencies to combat the increasing spate of pest and vector infestation in our cities. Over the years, there has been an overwhelming increase in pests and vectors in our major towns and cities due to urbanization and globalization which sometimes leads to overcrowding. This has contributed significantly to the spread of preventable diseases and deaths. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/unless-he-is-100-gay-there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-man-and-woman-being-besties-princess-shyngle Against this background, the PEVAG was officially unveiled on Tuesday, June 25, 2021, in Accra by the Jospong Group of Companies/ Zoomlion to deal with the challenges associated with pests and vector control in the country. Speaking at the ceremony the Mayor of Accra Nii Adjei Sowah emphasized that “today is a very important day for those of us who manage many markets and big towns in the country where often time we have had to fumigate the markets”. According to him, the Association would go a long way to help regulate the services of pest and Vector control officers in the country. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/opinion-the-james-town-bullion-van-attack-a-sad-story-of-a-police-officer-and-a-hawker “Pest and vector control is good but as we don’t Know the chemical used in their work there is the need for standardization and regularizations of their services”, the Mayor stressed He indicated that he was at the forefront with Zoomlion during the disinfection exercise adding that he is optimistic about the formation of the Association and the benefits that will be derived from it. Nii Adjei Tawiah, therefore, expressed his commitment to support the work of the PEVAG in order for them to achieve their goal. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/provide-fortified-armoured-vehicles-for-carting-currencies-or-lose-police-escort-igp-warns-banks On his part, the Executive Chairman of Jospong Group of Companies/ Zoomlion Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong explained that the Association’s ultimate goal is to protect the interest of Ghanaians. He said the Association will enable members to be equipped with all the pest and Vector control rudiments as they go about their activities. He said all members will be trained and certified as well as linked to institutions for businesses. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/amplified-will-focus-on-amplifying-mentoring-youth-dev-t-activities-in-various-quarters-gov-t Dr. Agyepong later commended President Akufo Addo for having faith in the private sector adding that the Covid-19 is subsiding due to the effort of the government in getting the local companies to disinfect. “The covid situation has immensely improved. This achievement is due to the remarkable effort by the government by using the local companies. I want to commend the President for this”, Dr. Agyepong stressed. He also commended the Health Minister for his efforts at combatting the covid-19 pandemic. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/bui-power-ceo-is-wrong-the-energy-minister-has-not-been-misled-by-gridco “Today the evidence is that the disease is under control due to the hard work of the health Minister” he averred The Minister for Health Hon. Kwaku Agyeman Manu on his part called on all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to prioritize the pest and vector control management in their respective Assemblies. He said the current happenings in the global arena warrants the prioritization of pests and Vector control before it gets out of hand. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-outdoors-credit-union-to-support-informal-sector-pictures The Health Minister emphasized however that there was the need to regulate the work of the Association in order to get the desired results. He indicated that the formation of PEVAG is in furtherance with government’s commitment to curb the increase of the pest and pathogens in the country. He later expressed optimism about the capacity building of the members which he said will help in streamlining their activities. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/facemask-coda-boss-urges-police-to-enforce-laws Mr. Agyemang Manu, therefore, commended the Association for its objective adding that “the Ministry is ready to work with all stakeholders to create an enabling environment to increase public-private partnerships”. The launch was graced by the Ministry of Local government and Rural Development and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) represented by Mr. Frank Rajja and Mr. Ebenezer Appah Sampong respectively who all expressed their commitment to support PEVAG achieve their utmost objective of fighting pest and vectors to protect the citizenry Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith