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President Akufo-Addo says he is confident Ghana will succeed in its fight against the novel virus even though the citizenry now have a better understanding of its dynamism in the country. According to him, even though majority of people who contract the virus do not show any symptoms at all, the populace cannot afford to be complacence and let their guard down. Addressing the nation on Sunday, President Akufo-Addo said "Even though Ghanaians are not dying in the hundreds and thousands that were originally anticipated, we cannot afford to be complacent, and let our guard down. We can do it, if we work at it" He reminded the populace to remain focused, and adhere to the enhanced hygiene, social distancing and mask-wearing protocols, that have, and must, become part and parcel of the daily lives for the foreseeable future. President Akufo-Addo stressed that the wearing of masks is mandatory adding that leaving homes without a face mask, a face covering, or a face shield on is an offence. He further explained that the Police will be conducting random checks in the enforcement of the directive adding that defying the directive will attract severe sanctions. The President appealed to all wear their masks stressing that each citizen to take a personal challenge adding that it will help rid Ghana of the virus. "We continue to be indebted to our health workers, and express sorrow over the deaths of Dr. Harry Owusu Boateng, a paediatrician at the SDA Hospital in Kwadaso, Kumasi, and Sophia Addo, a nurse with the Ghana Manganese Company Hospital in Tarkwa, who both died in the line of duty. May their souls rest in peace" he said. H urged the media to continue its positive work of public education they have been engaged in, especially, now, as restrictions are being systematically eased. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

President Akufo-Addo has assured parents across the country that his Government is determined to protect the lives of the eight hundred thousand (800,000) students, teachers and non-teaching staff, who will be returning to school from tomorrow. According to him, since his government is doing everything possible to get a cure for the virus, students, teachers and non-teaching staff should bear in mind to adhere strictly to enhanced personal hygiene and social distancing protocols he has outlined. In his twelfth address the nation on measures put in place in the fight against covid-19, President Akufo-Addo said "I will be the last person to put the lives of the ‘Akufo-Addo graduates’ at risk. It bears repeating that they must all regularly wash their hands with soap under running water, refrain from shaking hands, and wear masks to protect themselves and others" He added that Monday, 22nd June, the next batch of students, who will be going back to school, are final year senior high school students (SHS 3), and second year Gold Track students. The President further explained that on Thursday, he held consultations with members of both the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), and the Association of Principals of Technical Institutes (APTI), to agree on the modalities for the return of the students. He said "Despite the short notice for the meeting, I was happy to see the impressive turnout of their executives from all parts of the country, and I am grateful for the wholehearted co-operation they pledged to Government" President Akufo-Addo also hinted that SHS 3 students will be in school for a total of six (6) weeks, before sitting for the WASSCE exams over a period of two (2) weeks. SHS 2 Gold Track students, who are returning to complete their first semester like their Green Track colleagues have done, will be in school for six (6) weeks, before going on vacation. He however noted that all one thousand, one hundred and sixty-seven (1,167) Senior High Schools in the country have been fumigated and disinfected. The President mentioned that each student, teaching and non-teaching staff, invigilator and school administrator, numbering some eight hundred thousand (800,000), will be provided with three (3) pieces of reusable face masks, i.e. two (2) being provided tomorrow, and the third within a fortnight. "Nonetheless, I encourage parents to provide their wards and children with at least one (1) face covering on their way to school. A total of eighteen thousand (18,000) Veronica Buckets, eight hundred thousand (800,000) pieces of two hundred millilitre sanitizers, thirty-six thousand (36,000) rolls of tissue paper, thirty-six thousand (36,000) gallons of liquid soap, and seven thousand, two hundred (7,200) thermometer guns have been distributed" he explained. President Akufo-Addo reiterated that a maximum of twenty-five students will be permitted in each class. He also noted that all day students in schools with boarding houses will be resident in these boarding houses, whilst day students, in schools without boarding facilities, will commute from home, and will be required to adhere to enhanced hygiene protocols; eating in dining halls will be in appropriate numbers; and no visitors to the schools will be allowed. He said "There will be no mass gatherings and no sporting activities. Religious activities, under the new protocols, will be permitted. Social distancing and the wearing of face masks are obligatory in our schools" President Akufo-Addo also mentioned that one dormitory block in each senior high school is to be used as an isolation centre, in the event of a student falling sick. He hinted that each SHS has been mapped to a health facility, and care will be provided to the sick by nurses assigned to these schools. "Through the National Food and Buffer Stock Company, enough food supplies have been distributed to all schools. Government is also making available three hundred and fifty (350) buses and eight hundred and forty (840) pickup vehicles to senior high schools that did not receive vehicles in 2016. For the first time in our nation’s history, Government will absorb the WASSCE examination fees of the three hundred and thirteen thousand, eight hundred and thirty-seven (313,837) SHS 3 students who will sit for the exam. GH¢75.4 million will be spent on this" he noted. The President further hinted that the SHS 3 students, also referred to by some as the ‘Akufo-Addo graduates’, are the first group of beneficiaries of Government’s Free Senior High School policy to sit the WASSCE exams. 1.2 million children, the highest such enrolment in our nation’s history, because of this policy, are currently in senior high schools. He took a moment and considered what would have happened to the four hundred thousand (400,000) more students, who have entered Senior High School between 2017 and 2019, without this policy in place. He said "We introduced Free SHS because history, and the experiences of developed nations, have shown that the most efficient way to empower the population, and, thereby, guarantee the future of the nation, is by investing in education and skills training of the youth. This is because it is the people of Ghana, Ghanaians like you and I, and especially the youth of today, who are going to build Ghana" The President hinted that without an educated populace, it will be difficult to transition from the status of a developing to a developed nation. "Summing it up, that most noble Ghanaian, James Kwegyir Aggrey, said, a hundred years ago, and I quote, 'I want all my people, my country women and men to be educated …, and thus render Africa indispensable in intellectual, spiritual and commercial products of the world'” he noted. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Saturday organised its Parliamentary Primaries as part of it preparedness for the upcoming December election. The seven hours election is said to have produced lots of surprises as many big shots have lost their slot to new comers. ThinkNewsOnline has gathered that Deputy Communications Minister, Vincent Odotei lost his spot at La Dadekotopon in the Greater Accra Region. He pulled 376 votes whiles his challenger, Joseph Gerald Tetteh Nyanyofio got 543 votes. Deputy Chief of Staff, Francis Asenso Boakye on the other hand axed the Member of Parliament (MP) of Bantama, Daniel Okyem Aboagye at Bantama in Kumasi. Below is the full list of MPs who lost Saturday primaries: GREATER ACCRA REGION Vincent Sowah Odotei – La Dadekotopon Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh – Ablekuma North Ahmed Arthur – Okaikwei South Alhaji Habib Saad – Bortianor Ngleshie Amanfro Kofi Brako -Tema Central CENTRAL REGION Abraham Odoom – Twifo Atti Morkwa Anthony Effah – Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa ASHANTI REGION Daniel Okyem Aboagye – Bantama Constituency Collins Owusu Amankwah – Manhyia North Constituency Kwabena Owusu Aduomi – Ejisu Constituency Kwame Asafu-Adjei – Nsuta/Kwamang/Beposo Kennedy Kankam – Nhyiaeso Constituency Ben Abdallah Banda – Offinso South Constituency WESTERN REGION Ato Panford-Shama Constituency Joe Mensah – Kwesimintsim constituency Alex Agyeku-Mpohor Constituency Patrick Bogyako Kwame Saime- Amenfi East Constituency UPPER WEST REGION Godfred Bayong Tangu-Wa East Constituency Patrick Adama-Sissala West Ridwan Abass-Sissala East EASTERN REGION Mark Assibey-Yeboah – New Juaben South Constituency Seth Kwame Acheampong – Mpraeso constituency William Agyapong Qauitoo – Akim Oda Constituency Opare Ansah – Suhum Constituency Ama Sey- Akwatia Constituency Kwabena Ohemeng- Tinyase Kade Constituency Robert Kwasi Amoah – Achiase Constituency NORTHERN REGION Charles Bintin – Saboba Constituency Alhaji Wahab Wumbei – Tolon Constituency BONO REGION Dr. Kwabena Twum Nuamah – Berekum East Constituency Kwasi Sabi – Dormaa East Constituency NORTH-EAST REGION Dr. Sagre Bambangi – Walewale Constituency UPPER EAST REGION Joseph Kofi Adda – Navrongo Central Constituency Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Sources close to ThinkNewsOnline have revealed that the frontline workers at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the University of Ghana Medial Centre (UGMC) will be working on empty stomach after a 100K donation from Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) which was allocated for the provision of their food has gone waste. According to sources, although the non-ICU patients are being fed 3-square meals, the frontline workers who regularly work 12hr shifts, do not have that privilege. ThinkNewsOnline's source said "At least, there's no breakfast, lunch, or supper for ICU frontline workers at UGMC. A memo was sent recently informing them. GCB's 100K donation (see attached photo) was partly to pay for lunch of ICU staff and volunteers. The bottom of the money is finished" It is emerging that when the COVID-19 fight started, there were arrangements for regular food and water for the frontline workers but with numbers of patients increasing - especially the critical and severely ill - it is quite sad that these important things have been cut. "You would recall that there was a public appeal for mattresses this week. That's because he had been informed that the frontline workers are unable to get individual mattresses to sleep on between shifts. Ashfoam made a donation of 8 mattresses that same day" Source said. "What happens is that when they clock off, these volunteers and staff of the ICU now have to go and look for food, themselves. Not to blame anyone. I am only concerned about making sure these people get better for their hard work" source further revealed. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Amid wild celebrations after winning the Dome-Kwabenya Parliamentary Primaries' seat on Saturday, some scores of delegates who could not hide their joy ended up violating President Akufo-Addo's directives on social distancing. Counting over 100, the over excited delegates chanted and danced to good music whiles others were spotted clinging on each other devoid of the vast spread of coronavirus in the country. Despite flouting the protocols, ThinkNewsOnline can confirm that some of the delegates captured had their nose masks on. ThinkNewsOnline also gathered that as part of measures put in place to help reduce the spread of the novel virus, each polling centre was provided with hand sanitizers, veronica buckets, tissue papers and soaps. Watch pictures below: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Ghana's High Commissioner to India, H.E. Mike Oquaye Jnr has revealed that although he enjoyed the fight for the position of Member of Parliament (MP) for the Dome Kwabenya Constituency, he could not win. According to him, despite matching the sitting MP boot for boot in all nine centres, he eventually lost to her. Accepting defeat, the High Commissioner said "I have fought a good fight. I did not win the race" He added that he believes the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) needs heal. With what seems to be a narrow win for Lawyer Sarah Adwoa Safo, ThinkNewsOnline can confirm that Ghana's High Commissioner to India, Mike Oquaye Jnr lost by only 8 votes. He congratulated Honourable Adwoa Safo on her victory and assured of working with her for the betterment of the constituency, party and the nation. "Thanks to all and congratulations to Hon. Adwoa. God bless" he said. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Minister of Communication, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has cracked the whip on male Parliamentarians saying their over dominance in the quest for power is making it difficult for women to contest and win elections. According to her, it is about time male Parliamentarians cut some slug for their female counterparts. In an exclusive with ThinkNewsOnline, Madam Ursula Ekuful said "We need to seriously consider the affairs of the affirmative action process in selecting our candidate into Parliament. This is gruesome that it leaves so many scares, you need more time to heal the wounds. We don't have that time so if we can work to ensure that more women get into parliament in an easier manner" She added that having more women in Parliament will be good for the NPP party, country and legislature as well. The Minister of Communication who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West also added that she is happy, Honourable Adwoa Safo had the majority votes in the just ended Parliamentary Primaries in the Dome Kwabenya Constituency which has helped her retain her seat. "We are too few so I was a little concerned that the few women in parliament were being so hotly contested" she noted. The MP for Ablekuma West also mentioned that although she is friends with both contestants, she is happy the keenly fought contest saw Adwoa Safo emerge as the winner. "It does not mean that Mike Oquaye Jnr is not a good candidate. It means that Adwoa is slightly ahead of him in this Constituency but he lives to fight another day" she said. She hinted that thd open declaration of support for Honourable Adwoa Safo by Mike Oquaye Jnr will go a long way to help shape the party as it prepares towards the December 2020 general elections. The Minister of Communication said "He accepting the defeat peacefully tells us that he is a great son of the party. He has put his love for the party above his personal ambition so we thank him. If he had not been gentle, it would have brought lots of misunderstandings in the Constituency" She added that she is looking forward to MP and High Commissioner working together to defeat the NDC. "They joining forces can only help the Constituency and heal the winds here. The party and the Constituency sits in the middle that is part of the reasons why I came to support whichever candidate women and to let them know that ultimately it is the party that is the winner. Yes, losing an election is not easy but very painful but they need to look beyond that and focus on what they can do as a greater good for the NPP"she noted. The MP for Ablekuma further reminded followers from both camps that the elections are over adding that if the majority has chosen Adwoa Safo, they should rally behind her in the larger interest of the party. ThinkNewsOnline can confirm that Honourable Adwoa Safo has emerged victor in the just ended Parliamentary Primaries in the Dome Kwabenya Constituency. She won with a slim margin of eight votes. Honourable Adwoa Safo in her speech thanked the delegates for voting for her and assured to continue from where she stopped. His Excellency Mike Oquaye Jnr on the other hand congratulated the incumbent MP and pledged to support her in all her endeavours. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Ghanaian Hi-Life Legend, Ronald Kweku Dei better known by his stage name, Bisa K’dei has expressed disappointment in the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GAMBRO) saying he was recently just ‘MoMoed’ GHc500 as his 2016 whole year royalties. According to Bisa K’dei, although he knows GAMBRO stands for Musician, he has little or less interest in their affairs. Responding to fellow Artiste, Akoo Nana’s claims that GAMBRO is being unfair to Musicians in the country, the Hi-Life Legend said “There is no smoke without fire so if my brother has said this then I think there is an issue, I feel we have to address. The last time, I received royalties was recently when they called and asked for my Momo number of which I said I don’t have. I gave them one of my boys’ and all they sent was just GHc500 as my 2016 whole year royalties for my songs, ‘Mansa’ and ‘Brother Brother’” Although he declined to speak on the unfair treatment meted out to local Artists in the country by GAMBRO, Bisa K’dei noted that he feels there are matters which needs to be addressed adding that his colleagues in the Industry should come together and demand answers. He says he is confident that if the issues are addressed, there will be positive vibes. Bisa K’dei also hinted that although he is part of MUSIGA, he does not remember his last time associating himself with the organisation “‘Mentafo’ is legendary because it is part of the songs that made me who I am today” he revealed. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Prolific Songwriter and Musician, Ronald Kweku Dei known in showbiz as Bisa K'dei has hinted that he is the preferred King in the Ghanaian Hi-Life Music Industry. According to him, although some Artists are claiming to be kings, there will always be a 'King' among the others. In an exclusive on the On-Spot Show on Think Tv, the genius said "If we are to talk about kingship, everyone is a king in their own rights, so it is ok for someone to say he is a king. No matter what you do there will be kings and queens and we are trying to work" Bisa K'dei added that all he needs is just support adding that if local Artists supports each other, the Ghanaian Music Industry will travel farther than expected. He also called for unity amongst the Artists in the Industry. Mr. Kweku Dei also used the opportunity to caution the populace to adhere to the directives and protocols given by the President on measures taken to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. He also explained that the covid-19 has caused a great discomfort adding that his European/African tours and some shows had to be cancelled due to the closure of the borders likewise banning of flights. He hinted that although he has lost a lot, he is still in the studio working on his new album likewise himself. "I am still working of the features so I will not disclose any names but the gist is I featured an International Artiste. That is surprise" he revealed. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Sensational Hi-Life Songwriter and Musician, Ronald Kweku Dei known in showbiz as Bisa K'dei has revealed that he does not care if no Artiste in the Ghanaian Music Industry acknowledges him, he will blow his own trumpet. According to him, although he has written lots of songs for some Artistes, he will not bother if he is lauded for his good works. In an exclusive interview on the On-Spot Show on Think Tv, the Hi-Life Legend said "Coming to Sista Afia's issue, she is not the only one I write songs for. I have been written songs for Artistes, Efya, Becca, Chingum, Pimp-pinaa among others" He added that it will not make sense for an individual to praise him or herself adding that if no Artiste will praise him, he will blow his own trumpet. The Legend further revealed that writing a song is beautiful as a Songwriter is compelled to crack his brain and bring out his best adding that when he sits back then listen to the songs being sung, he beats his chest and smile. He said "That makes a Songwriter very original. Your songs will never fade. People will still listen to you no matter what" Watch video below: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Ghanaian Actor, Kwadwo Nkansah known in showbiz as Lil win has revealed that although he is not a church member of Prophet Nigel Gaisie, he had no option than to believe his prophecy. According to him, since men of God are not to be doubted, he listened and heed to the prophecy. Speaking on an Accra-based television station, the Actor said “Men of God are not to be doubted. I believed his prophecy. He asked me if I know Zack! Zack and I said yes, he was my former Manager” He further explained that since he is a child of God, he only went to Prophet Nigel Gaisie's all-night service to listen to the word of God adding that he did not know things were going to be revealed. The celebrated Actor stressed that although he and his former Manager are no more, he is still in good terms with him. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Ghanaian Actor, Kwadwo Nkansah known in showbiz as Lilwin has disclosed that he does not know what led to the break up between he and his former, Manager. According to him, he only heard his former manager speaking on a Kumasi-based radio station saying, he (Lil win) failed to answer his calls when he needed urgently for a project. The Actor said "If I say I know what led to the break-up then it is a lie. I only heard him speaking on a Kumasi-based radio station saying, he (Lil win) failed to answer his calls when he needed urgently for a project" Lil win added that in the said interview, he over-heard his manager saying, he (Lil win) captured on screens on a live programme whiles his audience was needed for an upcoming contract. "Mr. Despite was cutting sod for the construction of a police station at Yamoase and I was asked to grace the occasion. My phone was in my pocket so I did not hear. I returned his call on four occasions and he did not answer any of them" Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith