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Rapper, Eno Barony has dared AMG Musician, Medikal to face her 'man-to-woman' if he is ready for a beef and stop being a ghost writer. According to her, it is annoying to see people hiring others to do their dirty jobs whiles they sit back, relax and watch unconcerned. Speaking on an Accra-based television station, she said “Stop being a ghost writer and I am daring Medikal to face me if he is not a ‘man-woman’. I am calling for that Sowutuom ghost writer. If it’s worth it, I will battle MDK and I’m bigger than Sista Afia. She also added that her diss song really didn’t affect her personality but worth it to save a brand. Born Ruth Eno Adjoa Amankwah Nyame Adom, the rapper clarified that “Body Shaming” line was not referring to any female Artiste rather followers speculated and assumed she was dissing Sista Afia. “I started rapping before Strongman. Strongman is not my writer” she hinted. Eno revealed she learnt from Sarkodie and wouldn’t be news if she’s compared to Sarkodie because she knows her worth. She also jabbed Sista Afia saying her ‘WMT / UGN diss song can’t come from her. Eno also added that the rap in the track was too wack for her to believe. Rapper Eno clarified that she is not having any personal issues with Sista Afia and they are still colleagues in the industry. “I won’t sit down for people to dent my brand. ‘Argument Done’ is a track to prove to the world she’s a Rap Goddess hence no man or woman can battle her” she explained. Story by: Mandy Woods

As part of measures at fighting the coronavirus pandemic in the country, President Akufo-Addo has extended the ban on social gathering to the end of May. According to him, the move forms parts of measures at reducing the spread of the deadly coronavirus among citizens in the country. Addressing the nation on measures taken against the spread of coronavirus, President Akufo-Addo said “During this period, there will continue to be a ban on public gatherings such as the holding of conferences, workshops, parties, nightclubs, drinking spots, beaches, festivals, political rallies, religious activities and all sporting events” He added that all educational facilities, private and public, continue to remain closed. President Akufo-Addo stressed that there is still ban on funerals, other than private burials conducted with not more than 25 persons. He explained that it is noteworthy that the police are arresting and prosecuting persons, irrespective of their status in the society. “Anyone who flouts these regulations, will be dealt with. We cannot allow a few persons for their narrow, selfish interests, to jeopardise the health, well-being and safety of the larger population” he said. He warned that anyone who falls foul of the law will face its full rigours. Updating Ghanaians on the current case count of coronavirus, President Akufo-Addo said the country has now recorded 4700 cases with 22 deaths, 5 critically ill and 494 recoveries. He mentioned that Ghana has conducted 160,501 tests on the deadly coronavirus in the country. He added that about 5000 pieces of Personnel Protective Equipment will be provided to the media. “The coming on stream from the Noguchi and Komfo Anokye has stated that we have cleared our backlogs” he confirmed Story by Joshua Kwabena Smith

General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) is calling on churches to come together to protect its members in this time of coronavirus pandemic. According to him, the coronavirus pandemic which has taken over the world is not going down any time soon adding spiritual leaders should come together to protect the society. In a virtual service on Sunday, Dr. Otabil said: “Well, as you know, our world is going through some interesting days; the last few months from January, especially for us in Ghana, from March, have been extraordinary months as we have sought to mitigate the effect of this rampaging virus that is attacking men and women indiscriminately and just when we thought in Ghana that we were having control over the situation" He added the country is beginning to realise the virus has a mind of its own and does not seem to correspond to some of the efforts Ghanaians are making. He emphasised that every since the virus gained grounds in the country, things are getting a little uncomfortable for the citizenry. He added “It also means this is not the time for churches to consider gathering together in assemblies because the crisis before us is not going down and it’s important that as churches, we play our role in protecting society, which is made up of our members and ourselves as pastors, as part of society, and we trust that we will endure the arrangement as it is now" He stressed that although the virus may seem uncomfortable, it may not be suitable to Ghanaians. Dr. Otabil further explained that although the freedom of the citizenry is the price to pay for making the world a better place, he is calling on the public to be patient and wait till all can safely gather. "We must not gather under Marshall law but safely gather and safely worship and have fellowship together as a church and I trust that day will come very quickly but if it tarries, we will wait for that day so that we can gather together as God’s people, not in an atmosphere of uncertainty but in an atmosphere of certainty of faith and trust in the Lord”, he noted. Dr. Otabil’s reaction comes after some spiritual leaders suggested measures to be put in place in churches to reduce the spread of the virus. President Nana Akufo-Addo, a month and half ago placed a ban on social gatherings which saw church services and other activities fall in the directives as the county fight against coronavirus. Thinknewsonline.com can confirm that 22 people have lost their lives killed 22 whiles 4,263 cases have been confirmed cases. Thinknewsonline.com is learning that the Christian leaders leading the fight against Covid-19 include Most Rev Dr Paul Boafo (Chairman, Christian Council of Ghana), Rev Prof Yaw Frimpong Manso (President, Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council), Most Rev Phillip Naameh (President, Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference) and Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams (President, National Association of Charismatic and Christian Churches). Some of the directives given include; handwashing and sanitisation before entering the church, social-distancing in seating arrangements, special sitting arrangement for the aged, no handshakes and the compulsory wearing of facemasks. Below is the full statement from the church leaders: PREPARATION TOWARDS REOPENING OF CHURCHES IN GHANA: GUIDELINES TO MITIGATE POTENTIAL SPREAD OF COVID-19 Submitted by: Heads of the Christian Ecumenical Bodies in Ghana BACKGROUND As the COVID-19 pandemic exacts global toll on lives and livelihoods, Ghana’s case count keeps increasing steadily since the first index case was reported on March 12, 2020, and the government’s response towards slowing and stopping the transmission, government issued several preventive protocols (social distancing, hand and respiratory hygiene practices), partial lockdown in epicentres, and imposed several restrictions on public gatherings including temporary suspension of communal Church activities. Impliedly, the suspension of religious gathering constitutes a form of lockdown, owing to the Church’s inability to congregate for communal worship. And following the President’s meeting with heads of churches and ecumenical councils on April 2020 at the Jubilee House where His Excellency the President charged the Christian leaders to develop modalities and guidelines to mitigate the spread of the virus should the ban on public gathering be lifted, the Christian leaders developed these intervention strategies. In assessing the Church’s readiness and capacity to comply with COVID-19 pandemic safety protocols, it is important to note that addressing COVID-19 “requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society response.” The Church being a major stakeholder is indispensable in the State’s overall COVID-19 containment and mitigation strategies. Given that 71% of Ghanaians identify as Christians, the Church, with its wide social network, access to communities, captive audience, unquestioned authority, and influential actors of public support for government measures is best placed to help in numerous ways with educating, counselling and sustaining the populace. 1. GUIDELINES TO MITIGATE POTENTIAL SPREAD OF COVID-19 As the Church prepares to come back for communal worship, the tables below show the potential risk areas and what to do to mitigate potential spread. RISK AREAS SPECIFIC AREAS Entrance points to churches 1. Doors 2. Door handles 3. Rails 4. Pillars Utility areas in the church 1. WC handles 2. Washroom door handles Seating arrangements in the church 1. Close seating arrangement in the church that breaches social distancing regulations 2. Group sitting e.g. the choir Nature of church building 1. Poorly-ventilated churches – having few and small windows 2. Entirely glass windows that impede free flow of air Nature of service 1. Handshakes during welcome sessions 2. Singing groups congregating at one side and singing 3. Group meetings – Sunday schools where teachers speak to small groups. Those in the front roll are at risk 4. Communion services where cups are handed to individuals 5. Communion service where many people drink from one cup 6. Communion services where packaged loaves are handed to individuals Devices and items 1. Microphones used commonly by more than one person, faucets, telephones 2. Money handled by more than one person through giving offering and tithes Vestries & Pastors’ offices 1. Door and seat handles 2. Rails 3. Poorly ventilated rooms 4. Common surfaces including Pastors’ tables SPECIFIC RISK AREAS INTERVENTIONS TO PUT IN PLACE Church Entrances and Lobbies 1. Hand washing: Make available hand-washing materials for all to wash hands before entering the church or touching rails, door handles and pillars. A running tap or Veronica bucket should be put at all entrances for every church member to wash hands before entering the church. Hands-free soap dispenser must be fitted to avoid cross-contamination. 2. Sanitisation: Make hand-sanitiser (preferably a dispenser) available at near church entrances, outside washrooms, pastors’ offices, vestries and lobbies for members to sanitize their hands. 3. Enforce hand washing and sanitization: have one person (usher) dedicated to the entrance to enforce the above, making sure that every church member at least, washes the hands for 20 seconds under running water and also sanitizes the hands after washing. Enforcement is more important than instituting the measures in order to achieve sustained compliance. In addition, churches should put up signs reminding people to wash hands, cough/sneeze into their elbows and remind people from the pulpit/stag. Utility areas 1. Clean utility areas, surfaces and items touched by different people routinely. Preferably clean surfaces every 1-2 hours depending on utilization. Door handles, WC handles, faucets, microphones. Seat arms/handles should be disinfected before and after service for the next session.? Sitting in churches 1. Observe social-distancing through seating arrangements: seating should be rearranged to allow social distancing rules. Contiguous seats should be 2 arms-length reach (2m). So should be the distance before and after one seat to ensure that cough, sneeze and talking from one church member does not predispose the neighbours to the virus particularly from asymptomatic carriers. 2. Provide separate seating areas for the aged and families. 3. Organise churches services in sessions: because of the need for social distancing as described above, there will invariably be the need to organize churches in more than one session with at least one hour in between services. Wear facemasks All citizens/church members including pastors, are to wear facemasks to enter churches. It is particularly important for those who will engage by talking e.g. pastors, Sunday school teachers etc. The mask will prevent droplet infections from getting to the others. For all others, it will also prevent them getting droplets from others in the church. Masks are to be kept on until one comes back home. This will reduce the risk of spread from asymptomatic carriers of the virus. Nature of building 1. All windows should be opened fully during church services to allow good ventilation. There should be no use of air conditioners. This will diffuse and reduce the concentration of the virus (should there be anyone infected) in the room. Nature of service 1. All handshakes are to be avoided in churches during this period of COVID-19. This leads to cross-contamination and spread of the virus. 2. All who speak in churches must wear N95 facemask during service. This will reduce the risk of spreading the virus to others. 3. Singers/Choristers: observe social-distancing and also avoid second row of singers. As much as possible prerecorded music may be used. 4. Communion Service: Offer individual cups for communion. Reduce hand-to-hand transmission by providing individual bread and cup servings. Hand hygiene and food safety precautions must strictly be observed by those who prepare these communions. 5. Giving/collection of offering and tithes: It is advisable not to pass offering bowls and baskets around. Items that are frequently handled can be sources of contaminants for the COVID-19 virus. The virus can be retained on the offering/tithe bowl for hours and can be passed on to others. The best option will be for a stationary bowl with a wide opening to be put in front or entry point where people do not need to handle the bowl before putting in their offering and tithes. Where practicable, churches should advice their members to use mobile money for offerings and tithes as this means of giving reduces the risk of transmission Education on COVID-19 1. Communicate with and educate church members, and persons in the communities that the church is located 2. Select members in the church should be trained and be made responsible for COVID-19 education and coordination of resources to help the church. 3. The church should mobilize resources to help individuals in need including church health facilities Presented by: Most Rev Dr Paul Boafo (Chairman, Christian Council of Ghana) Rev Prof Yaw Frimpong Manso (President, Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council) Most Rev Phillip Naameh (President, Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference) Archbishop Nicholas Duncan Williams (President, National Association of Charismatic and Christian Churches) Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Richard Brown, popularly known as Osebor, who has fathered Nana Aba’s only son, has a message for the people who always tag him as “Nana Aba’s baby daddy”. The fashionista who owns a popular boutique in Accra, showed up in 2017 as the man who fathered the 19-year-old son of the award-winning broadcaster, since then he keeps showing up in the news, fetching him a socialite status. However, Osebor, appears not to be enjoying his growing fame when he gets tagged as Nana Aba’s baby daddy. Speaking on how fans ride on Nana Aba’s reputation to troll his fashion sense, he said: “in everything then tag her to me, Nana Aba Anamoah's baby father, don't I have a name?” When asked if the tag bothers him, he said "of course it worries me" and whilst descending on his trolls in a video seen by pulse.com.gh, he emphasized that “ the time I was Don Papa Richie, Nana Aba Anamoah is nobody". Source: pulse.com.gh

Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central Constituency, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong on Happy FM last week alleged that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has rigged the old voters’ register to favor them hence, the need for a new one. According to Mr. Agyapong, “The NDC and vendor, Superlock Technologies Limited (STL) have put in place a system where the party effortlessly polls 1.5million votes even prior to the elections.” He went on to attribute the opposition NDC’s fight against the new voters’ register as an acknowledgment of the loss they will make if a new voters’ register is compiled. Speaking on Epa Hoa Daben show with Samuel Eshun, the national NDC Chairman Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo said the MP’s analysis doesn’t make sense hence Ghanaians should disregard it. “All Kennedy is saying doesn’t make sense, I don’t know the basis of his argument, and they use the same register to win elections. I don’t know the kind of mathematics he is doing.” He added that “the question is they should tell us why the register they use to win 2016 elections they want the same register to be changed. They should come out and answer Ghanaians” The EC was set to compile a new voters register prior to the Government of Ghana’s decision to close all of the country’s borders and impose restrictions on public gatherings and movement in response to the Coronavirus outbreak. Two weeks after President Akufo-Addo imposed a ban on all public gatherings and announced other “social distancing” directives in an effort to contain the spread of the novel Coronavirus, the EC announced that it was postponing the registration exercise indefinitely. Source: happyghana.com

Former Hearts of Oak Board Secretary, Ernest Thompson has lamented the club's financial woes and says 'he feels like crying' anytime he sees the team's rickety bus. The legal luminary is calling for the floatation of shares to ease the burden on Board chairman and majority shareholder Togbe Afede XIV. ''Everybody is waiting for Togbe to buy a bus for the team, if the club as a serious entity float shares, will get money and buy bus,'' Thompson said on Kumasi-based Nhyira FM. ''Even Pobiman project, we need money to have it done and where is the money? ''Hearts of Oak has a weak financial base and that is what stops the team from going for good players, which is bad. "Anytime, I see Hearts of Oak bus I feel like crying because I was involved in purchasing that bus. Why should the club be using such a bus at this time" ''Hearts shouldn't have been using this bus by now and training on poor pitches.'' Source: Ghana SoccerNet

Two female rappers in the Ghanaian Music Industry have gotten the internet buzzing for days after each Artiste dropped diss songs to each other, thinknewsonline.com can confirm. Rapper, Eno Barony has finally replied Sista Afia with heavy punchlines in a diss track. In video making viral on the internet, the ‘Queen of Bars’ in one of her lines in the song said “Me mb) wo romance, me b3twa wo doggy straight” Although it is unknown what sparked the misunderstanding between the two female Artistes, they seem not end the ‘beef’. Born Ruth Eno Adjoa Amankwah Nyame Adom, the Artiste and song writer in her diss song to Sista Afia also attacked AMG Rapper, Samuel Frimpong known as Medikal. She said “Ma fa me number ama wo ah, may3 baatan hunu. Hw3 mede as3m nam, m3n kasa y3 nso wo y3m ashi wo bram. 3ndi3 so wotuom erh, na wo Sotowuom good striker no na me hia no ne akyeayam nti mo enti mo ma no filla no” Whiles some followers are calling for an end to the diss battle, others are gingering them to continue going hard on each other. A section of social media user are calling on Rapper, Medikal to react to Eno Barony since she has disrespected him in her diss song. In other developments, Sista Afia has again come at Eno Barony for the second time. In her punchline, she said “I am a goal-getter, singer me punche tis3 Mayweather, punch on point, adey do better ky3n saaa rapper na washish3 s3 beef-burger. Court rise, obi ntser3 Yokozuna s3 ogye gyimi nas3 body na y3d3 rapi ah, nka ode bem” Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Flagbearer of the Progressive People's Party (PPP), Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom has condemned politicians in the country for doing politics in the midst of the global pandemic. According to the flagbearer who is stacked in the United States following the closure of Ghana's borders everyone should put politics aside to embrace the overall good of the nation. "For our survival as a nation, it is imperative to put aside the political considerations of just three months ago so that we fashion a new economic and social order. We have no choice." he said. He further cautioned Ghanaians about the necessity of togetherness in the country as it battles against the Coronavirus saying "The downfall of anyone should become a cause for worry for all. That is the essence of inclusiveness." He also lamented about his inability to join his alma matter to commensurate their 90 years Anniversary but expressed hope to be back as soon as the doors are opened. "COVID-19 prevented me from traveling to Ghana to observe the 90th Anniversary of St. Augustine's College, Cape Coast. I take from our motto "Omnia Vincit Labor" the need to persevere in order to triumph over this pandemic. "So I remain in the USA perhaps until July or whenever it will be safe to travel more than ten hours with hundreds of other people I don't know to see the shores of Ghana again. " The former Energy Minister during the erstwhile J. A Kuffour administration commended businesses in the country for their innovations during these hard times. "Ghanaians have a new reality, something not really new, self reliance. I am tempted to write that the indigenous people, companies, entrepreneurs are ready to move. What we have within our boundaries is all we have. "We should encourage the best in everyone and the necessity of our present reality will bring about many inventions." he noted. The comments of the flagbearer of PPP come off following Dr. Mahamud Bawumia's reply to Ex-President John Dramani Mahama about the management of the global pandemic. However, Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom has advised the two major political parties to stay away from such political discourse as that would undermine the efforts of the nation to build a resilient antidote against a virus that has killed 18 people in the country. "A Better Ghana", "Ghana Beyond Aid", "Prosperity in Peace". Does it matter which political party mouthed them first? NDC, NPP, PPP? Not when our very existence as a nation is at stake. In reality, asking who is better (worse) than someone else should be condemned. We must use the best of everyone because every citizen has some problem of some sort somewhere" Source: Modern Ghana

M.anifest has dismissed speculations that he is taking a swipe at other rappers in his new single ‘No Long Talk’ especially Sarkodie. According to him, the song is a special dedication to his fans who have been loyal to him since day one. He explained that he has taken on numerous genres in the past years and feels like it is time to give his core fans a work that encompasses what first drew them to him. These things, M.anifest said, are his rap and proving his lyrical supremacy. “A lot of times, a lot of the songs are very musical. The Gamble (his 2019 EP) is a concept they enjoy that but they want to get back to the essence,” he told Mamavi Owusu-Aboagye, host of the show. No Long Talk was released on Saturday, May 2, to fans’ applause. Many like always were impressed with the way he put his thought across with his lyrics. See some reactions below: Source: Myjoyonline.com

Deputy Minister of Information, Pious Enam Hadzide hit back at the largest opposition party, National Democratic Congress (NDC), saying the misinformation, deliberate distortions and warped analysis put out by its flagbearer, John Mahama has been bemoaned and roundly condemned by many well-meaning Ghanaians. According to him, since the NDC has no vital information on the Covid-19 cases, it was merely invited to offer cover to their Flagbearer who has been badly bruised by the politicization of the COVID-19 Pandemic started by him. Addressing Journalists in Accra, the Deputy Minister said “Just days ago, the Presidential Candidate of the NDC, Mr. John Mahama in one of his COVID-19 political broadcasts on Facebook, embarrassed himself by ignorantly questioning why the government had accessed an IMF facility, claiming that no other African country had done so – an outright fabrication from a man who occupied the high office of President a few years ago” He added that twenty (20) other African countries, including all the ones Mahama specifically listed, have accessed the IMF facility of $18 billion for African countries to help cushion them through the crisis. He however noted although the facility is interest-free and without the suffocating conditionalities the IMF imposed on Ghana when forced by a toxic mixture of incompetence and insensitivity, Mr. Mahama and the NDC went for a bail out and policy credibility. “Whiles it may ordinarily be a good thing for the NDC minority to have found their bearing and a voice several weeks after Ghana started confronting and containing the COVID-19 pandemic, it is pathetic that even upon hindsight the minority is still unable to offer any pragmatic alternatives but merely rehash those same lame queries that Mr. Mahama has asked during his political broadcasts on facebook” he said. Mr. Hadzide hinted that several weeks into COVID-19 and after several media engagements; both at the Presidential and other levels, it is disappointing that such deep levels of unawareness is being exhibited by the minority. He explained that it is disappointing for the minority to say it is unaware of the public education is ongoing across the various Metropolitan, Municipal and Districts Assemblies (MMDAs). GHANAIANS STUCK ABROAD Touching on Ghanaians in Abroad, the Deputy Minister of Information said” It is shocking, even embarrassing, that the NDC is still latching onto their very bogus proposal that the government should have repatriated Ghanaian students from Wuhan! The students themselves have spoken to several media outlets and shown gratitude for the much wiser decision of the Akufo-Addo government” He noted that schools have in fact reopened in Wuhan and not a single Ghanaian student in China was infected by Covid19. He stressed instead of conceding that the government exercised far superior judgement - as we always have – the NDC keeps repeating the bankrupt and expired proposal. He said “Under the able leadership of President Akufo-Addo, monthly stipends for Ghanaian students studying abroad on Government Scholarship have been paid upfront and in advance. Yes, the second quarter i.e. April, May and June have already been paid. This administration inherited an accumulated arrears of one year from the NDC and Mr. Mahama” Hon. Hadzide also stated that whiles Governments has declined the invitation of the NDC to engage in a blind and partisan banter on COVID-19, it is also imperative that for their education, it restate some of the facts around Ghana’s very effective and successful COVID-19 Response Plan. The Deputy Minister of Information also emphasized that very early into the global outbreak, President Akufo-Addo constituted a COVID-19 Task Force made up of technical persons, including Epidemiologists, Virologists, Medical Doctors, Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service Officials and Security Heads among others. “The COVID-19 task force is coordinated by a former Deputy Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Dr. Asamoah Baah. It is this task force of persons of reputable background knowledge, and expertise that advice H. E. the President on the policy options in fighting COVID-19 and not politicians masquerading as medical doctors in partisan COVID-19 teams” he noted. He justified that claims from the NDC saying ‘Science has been relegated to the background’ and that the President seems more interested in his re-election than in the safety and life of Ghanaians is false and without basis. He said “The NDC cannot be allowed to approbate and reprobate on this matter. In one breath they claim, the scientist at Noguchi and all other testing facilities deserves this nation’s thanks for the commitment they have shown in this national effort so far and in another breath indict them by claiming that they misuse scientific terminologies without empirical basis” He stressed that President Akufo-Addo has led from the front and continues to address the nation honestly and regularly. “President Akufo-Addo addressed the Nation and announced Ghana’s preparedness way before Ghana recorded its initial cases. The President announced an initial investment of GH¢35 million into our preparedness. This has now being ramped up to some $100 million for Ghana’s response” he explained Hon. Hadzidze debunk claims by the NDC that the Government made no provisions for the eventuality of an outbreak in Ghana is not just unfortunate but also unfounded. He said “It is regrettable the minority in Ghana’s Parliament has lowered the bar on public discourse by making serious and yet unsubstantiated allegations. They claim that blatant falsehoods have been told to garnish the administration’s image without providing an iota of evidence. In asking the question couldn’t Ghana have close its borders earlier, the NDC Minority suggest that by January 20, 2020, the WHO declared COVID-19 a global health emergency” “What they deliberately did not add was that the WHO recommended that there was no reason for measure that unnecessarily interfere with international travel and trade at the time. For the records, the WHO declared COVID-19 global pandemic on 11th March, 2020. Subsequently and when there was reasonably sufficient basis, Ghana’s borders were close on March 22, 2020” he added. Hon. Hadzide outlined that to limit and stop importation of cases, a number of steps were introduced including, enhanced screening and surveillance at our points of entry to ensure that persons with manifested symptoms were identified and isolated. He added that this was escalated to the issuance of a travel advisory to ban non Ghanaians and persons without Ghanaian residence permit from coming into Ghana from countries with significant recorded cases. “Data from port authorities indicated that there was a drastic decline in arrival numbers. This was followed by mandatory quarantine of persons who were not affected by the ban. Ghana also closed its air, land and sea borders subsequently” he hinted. Story: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Ghanaian Doctors & Dentists Association-UK (GDDA-UK) has donated personal protective equipment (PPEs) to some selected hospitals both on Accra and the Northern Region as part of efforts to support COVID-19 Outbreak Response in Ghana. According to them, the move forms part of their support to fellow Doctors in the country assigned to treat and cure patients suffering from the novel corornavirus pandemic. Presenting the items, President of GDDA-UK, Dr. Wiliam Kedjanyi said “These items here is our support to our brothers and sisters at the war front battling with the virus as frontline health workers. We believe these will help in diverse ways to make their operation run very smooth” He added he is confident, the items when delivered will boost the confidents of his colleagues to work extra hard for the betterment of the nation. Receiving the items, Medical Director of Lekma Hospital thanked GDDA-UK for their kind gesture. The items for both hospitals were received by the Member of Parliament for Ledzokuku Constituency, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye. The PPEs worth GHc52,500 were distributed to Lekma Hospital in the Greater Accra Region and Yendi Municipal Hospital in the Northern Region Some sanitizers were also presented to Ledzokuku Constituency. Story by: Mandy Woods

"Sometimes, the little rock is within our shoes, and we blame the track for slowing down. Remove the stone and run again, carefully and being aware about the reason for losing the race" (Shahenshah Hafeez Khan) Just when we were about to go to bed on Wednesday, social media was awashed with a circular signed by the NDC National Chairman, Mr. Ofosu Ampofo, invoking some aspects of the NDC constitution as solid grounds for suspending the veteran politician and Social Commentator: Bernard Allotey Jacobs, immediate past NDC Regional Chairman of the Central region of Ghana. Educated Fisherman, as his close allies affectionately calls him is believed to be from the CPP stock as evidenced in most NDC veteran politicians. He was part of the alliance between some elements of CPP and that of Jerry John Rawlings in 1992. After winning the elections of 1992, Allottey stayed put in NDC and never joined the changed new alliance between the same CPP stock and that of the New Patriotic Party in 1996. He was a close personal person of the late Professor J. E. A Mills. Bernard Allottey Jacobs was very instrumental in getting the NDC to win a majority of seats in Central Region in 2008. Before then, he had been suspended by the NDC in Central Region for some frivolous reasons. After toiling and going round begging for resources to help the NDC move from 2 seats ( Ekumfi & Twifo Attimorkwa) in 2004 to win a whooping majority in 2008, Uncle Allottey rose from being a reporter and newspaper man of the Democrat Newspaper to a major stakeholder in the Geopolitical space of Central Region. For the records, he had and still maintains close friends with people from within the NPP and other political parties. I got to know him in 2006 at Uncle Biney's Newspaper stand in Cape Coast. From within the NDC, perhaps, no one knows the geopolitical space of central region in NDC than Uncle Allottey. He showed great humility even after he grew very powerful during the reign of Prof. Mills. Allottey Becomes NDC Central Regional Chairman Right after the 2012 elections, his popularity within the ranks and file of NDC had soared beyond the roofs and in 2013 won a landslide victory over incumbent Adu Yeboah. He was the man to see if any "mpuntu" would get to your constituency. He made resources and put it at the disposal of a majority of people in central region irrespective of their party colours. He is on record to have been paying school fees, helping to bring some infrastructure especially school buildings to most part of central region. Whenever you met him at a chopbar, you are sure Allottey would pay your bills even if you are in NPP. He took on board a lot of younger people and threw them into his party. I used to tease him out on his take on some candidates within the region and he never got it wrong in the selection of NDC Candidates for Parliamentary seats. Somewhere in 2008, I attended an NDC delegate congress at Batanyaa and saw a major potential of David Abaka Yawson Snr. He told me one Dadzie was going to win because he knew even though Abaka Yawson was popular amongst the delegates, that my Party, the NPP can easily beat him and retain the seat come 2008 so he was around to make sure Dadzie wins! Dadzie actually won and went ahead to give us the biggest margin in both 2008 & 2012. A change of Dadzie's candidature and the NPP regained the Abura Asebu Kwamankese Constituency Seat in 2016. He might have limited formal education but trust me, Allottey knows native politics. NDC LOST WHOOPINGLY UNDER HIS CHAIRMANSHIP IN 2016 Prior to 2016, we put our acts together as a Party, put in the necessary structures to neutralized Uncle Allottey. I would not put any of such measures here in the public domain but would give out just two! Before 2012, Allottey had a field day at Peace FM as the sole fante representative and he was hitting on point till we came together to present theme current Regional Minister, Hon. Kwamena Duncan to neutralize him on peace FM. Second, perhaps, the best gift the NDC gave the NPP in Central region was making Ato Forson, MP of (Ajumako Enyan Essiam) the Campaign Coordinator of Central Region! The day the announcement came out, I told some friends we shall win all the 23 seats in Central region. To me, it was crazy for the NDC to have a sitting MP who was contesting for a seat as campaign Coordinator as against a regional chairman elected by his people to coordinate party activities including campaigns within the region. That was a big tactical miscalculations that the NDC paid dearly in December 2016. See, in politics, the regional chairman is the link between the constituency and the national campaign. Making Ato Forson, (a sitting member of parliament,) who works under the supervision of the Regional Chairman, the Coordinator meant; 1. John Mahama never saw Allottey as any serious person relevant in helping him win central region. 2. Allottey would now have to report to Ato Forson for onward transmission to NDC Accra. These two points presented psychological challenges. Some of us studied it and punched holes in it fanning it till the cracks widened. With a dent ego, I never saw Uncle Allottey play any significant role. Mahama was just concerting across the region through helicopters giving us a field day on the ground. In fact on one occasion he jetted into Denkyira West as the NPP Presidential Candidate was on foot to Denkyira East. By the time Mahama got to Diaso, most of the electorate were at Ofin-Dunkwa dancing to "Nana nana oy3 winner ooo" in front of the palace in a mammoth rally. As soon as the helicopter passed over, come and see hooting! So dear reader, where would you think the campaign Coordinator would be a few days to elections day? a. Follow the NDC Flagbearer to far away Diaso? b. Stay in his Ajumako Constituency to fight a stronger NPP Candidate in the person of Ransford Kwesi Nyarko? Your guess is as good as mine. As someone who is very much interested in political research, I followed the NDC Flagbearer, then President Mahama to almost everywhere he visited in central region. They spent most part of their time insulting Akufo Addo and the NPP. For two hours at Yamoranza market, it was to explain how osono y3 aboa ( the elephant is an animal ) by Mr. Beautiful and some comedians. They took the shine out of my Uncle Allottey. How can someone like Mr. Beautiful be given a platform whilst the versatile and grassroot man, Allottey stays at the sides watching? Victory has a hundred fathers and defeat is an orphan ( popularized by John F. Kennedy but coined by Ciano 1903-44). In the end, the NDC lost by 10th December, 2016. Allottey was singled out for blame. Like a lamb, he was offered sheepishly to the alter to be slaughtered. The people who took the decision to make Ato Forson, the campaign Coordinator over Allottey never got blamed! The people who took the decision to put Mr. Beautiful on the platform over Allottey, never got blamed! The people who took the decision to fly Mahama above the votes in the skies never got blamed! The PC who went to bed and had no strategy to counter the superior strategy of the NPP in the various constituencies never got blamed! Poor old Uncle Allottey was singled out for the failure of NDC in central region and got slaughtered. Today, is seemed no more relevant to the NDC to the point a wrong article within the NDC constitution on reforms is alleged to be quoted as basis for suspending the once powerful Allottey Jacobs. Lessons for up and coming politicians As young persons, we should learn from the examples of Allottey. I would not say this is an NDC matter. It shows how our society treat once useful people when you are no longer useful to their course. All young persons whether NDC or NPP must learn from this. That many people would come out to claim how they played centre roles to bring success but no one would come out to say the role they played in losing any elections in this country. When you go to bed tonight, ponder over Allottey Jacobs issue and ask yourself whether this can't happen to you. Good evening. Credit: By Kofi Karikari-Bondzie (Asebu).