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General Secretary of the largest opposition party, National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia has expressed disappointment in the Electoral Commission of Ghana saying if it does not change from its deviant ways, it will lose its credibility to the citizenry. According to the General Secretary, he cannot fathom why the Electoral Commission was not questioned after its leadership defied the lockdown directive by the President and held a workshop for its members in Accra. Speaking on Accra-based Radio Station, Mr. Asiedu Nketia said “The President lifted the ban on movement but that of the social gathering was still on. The Electoral Commission defied the directive and held a meeting in a hotel holding a workshop inviting its members across the country to come. What happened to the social gathering directive?” He added although the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has its stands on the Electoral Commission, he is surprised the EC is being biased in its dealings. Mr. Asiedu Nketia added that he finds interesting how the Electoral Commission managed to announce its meeting date few days before President Akufo-Addo lifted the partial lockdown on movement. He challenged the Ghana Police to call to order persons who flouted the directives of the President during the period of lockdown. VOTER’S REGISTER / ELECTIONS Mr. Asiedu Nketia said “I will not discuss these Election matters until we are done with the covid-19 pandemic. I have a problem with those doing the politics of the elections. It is only when the President’s directive is not being respected. When will this virus go, we do not know so why focus on the election? We can’t focus on two things” The General Secretary added that since there is a divisive admonishing on-going, it will be prudent for politicians to refrain for commenting on the voter’s register/elections brouhaha. “The President said we are fighting an enemy, yet others are thinking about the voter’s register. This is contradictory. I will decline to talk about the Voter’s register. I don’t want to be led into the arena of controversy” he said. He further explained that since President Akufo-Addo has not called the NDC into his COVID-19 team, they will not force themselves. Mr. Asiedu Nketia mentioned that the division is not about the political parties adding the NDC Covid-19 team has generated some problems and submitted to the Presidency but have been declined audience. “They have been tossing and turning us. When we go to the Health Minister, We are told to see the Information Minister and vice versa on who to deliver it to” He noted the setting up of NDC COVID-19 team was towards the fulfilment of the President’s call of a united team against the pandemic. “There is nothing wrong with Mahama broadcasting and talking about his findings on Covid-19. We are even urging people to wear the nose mask. He even used the little he has on him to buy so items to people who are in need. It is surprising how people feel the Former President has no right to do what he is doing” he emphasised. Mr. Asiedu Nketia stated he was in no position to rate the President on his efforts on the fight against Covid-19 adding Government’s communication was below expectation. “They told us that the virus is not dangerous but it was a contradiction. The media interviewed lots of people but their response was not clear enough to educate or inform the masses. NCCE did not play any role” he said. GLOBAL APPLAUSE Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia said “President Akufo-Addo does not have a world wide applause. We listen to what we want to hear. Let us not forget that these people are not living here. We are here and should be very worried” NDC MANIFESTO / RUNNING MATE “Ghanaians are not ready to hear when NDC will disclose its manifesto or who our Running Mate is. They are rather looking at when the Covid-19 will be curbed” the General Secretary revealed. He challenged the President to pinpoint the short-falls of the opposition NDC in the health sector. 88 DISTRICT HOSPITALS He said “You can fool the people on the first time but not the second time”. Mr. Asiedu Nketia hinted Government can not build the hospitals questioning what stopped them from putting up the structures in the early year’s of their leadership. He advised Ghanaians to be vigilant and mindful adding the Akufo-Addo administration has nothing to offer and must be shown the exit after its first term. Story by Joshua Kwabena Smith

Media Personality and Social Media Influencer, Nana Aba Anamoah has got the internet talking after dropping a video of her new hairstyle. The video which saw the Celebrated Journalist flaunting her new braids has caught the attention of her followers and attracted lots of ‘love reactions and messages’. Thinknewsonline.com can confirm that Nana Aba Anamoah’s video on the Instagram has attracted 147,156 views, 146K love reactions and 592 comments whiles her Twitter handle has 35.6K views, 361 retweets and 6,243likes. Story by Maame Serwaa

The Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has debunked allegations from the opposition, National Democratic Congress (NDC) that Government has abandoned some projects started by Mahama Administration. According to him, Government has not abandoned the hospital projects rather it is working on some of them. The Minister said “The unfinished hospitals largely remain work in progress and we will give an update on where we picked them from and how far we have come with them”, Oppong Nkrumah. He added there are some hospitals which have been completed and are in use. Mr. Oppong Nkrumah further explained that although some are completed, the uncompleted ones are having financial and contractual difficulties hence its completion. “We will also give dates on when those in progress will be finished. It is to make the point that, some may be uncompleted still but they are not abandoned, it is work in progress, it will be finished by a particular time” he said. Background President Akufo-Addo in his 8th Address to the Nation on measures taken to curb coronavirus revealed that the virus has not caused discomfort in the lives of people but has also exposed the country’s deficiencies in the healthcare systems. President Akufo-Addo noted his Government will this year ensure that it puts up 88 hospitals in districts of the country to help combat the deadly novel coronavirus. Although this assertion from the President has received lots of backlash from the Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Ghanaians, it is bent on achieving this profit. Story by Maame Serwaa

The Member of Parliament for Juaboso in the Western Region, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has expressed disappointment in President Akufo-Addo for using the COVID-19 crisis as an avenue to unveil campaign promises ahead of the upcoming 2020 general elections. According to him, calls by President Akufo-Addo to build 88 new hospitals in districts in the country within a year is a dream which is impossible and unnecessary. Speaking on an Accra-based Radio Station, the MP said “What I have realised is that His Excellency the President is hiding behind the update of COVID-19 to launch his campaign. These are campaign promises. But we know that when it comes to campaign promises, the President has a certain history” He added that President Akufo-Addo has devised a strategy to win the votes of Ghanaians by making unrealistic promises with the pandemic which he knows will end up confusing the masses. The MP questioned the ruling Government on why it has not been able to construct a single hospital in districts across the country as promised in their 2016 Manifesto. “You have promise to build 88 hospitals; but the immediate question is that what correlation has it got with the fight against COVID-19?” he quizzed. The Member of Parliament however questioned Government why it has abandoned hospital projects started by Former President Mahama. He noted that although the abandoned hospitals are near completion, it is better to complete it than wasting money to build new ones. Meanwhile, Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has clarified that the hospitals built by the previous Government have not been left to its fate rather it is being worked on. Story by Joshua Kwabena Smith

Some senior officials in the Trump administration have agreed to new measures to restrict the global supply of chips to Huawei Technologies, at a time when the Covid-19 pandemic impacts economic growth around the world. Under the proposed rule change, foreign companies that use U.S. chip making equipment would be required to obtain a U.S. license before supplying certain chips to Huawei. Analysts say the proposed change of trade rules will backfire on U.S. companies as the later will develop their own supply chain. A report by the Boston Consulting Group states further escalation in U.S. export control to Huawei will result in and end the leadership of U.S. in semiconductor and will consequently decouple the US and Chinese technology industries. Driving Force of Development The semiconductor industry is widely recognized as a key driver and technology enabler for the whole electronics value chain. With expanding tech industry and deepening innovation culture, Africa has proved its potential to be a competitive force in technology in the future. How this unilaterally proposed change of rules by U.S. would hurt Africa’s fast growing technology industry? In 2019, the global market for semiconductors was projected to shrink by 12% due to growing economic uncertainties from the U.S.-China trade war. This year’s COVID-19 pandemic is further shaking up the global semiconductor industry. A new IDC report says the semiconductor industry will fall by 6%. The proposed move by some U.S. officials will create more uncertainties in the global industry of semiconductor, the centerpiece of ICTs that transform society for the better. These technologies which enable new technologies like artificial intelligence, 5G and the Internet of Things, have been playing a critical role in Africa’s social economic development. When the COVID-19 pandemic is behind us, ICTs and digital economy will also play a crucial role in economic recovery. Not Allowed To Cook In Your Own Kitchen With An American Pan If we look closely at the proposed change of rules, we can see that it aims for imposing restrictions on the use of equipment that has already been sold. This will severely undermine the basic principles of international trade. The post-sale rules change will ultimately erode trust in the global supply chain, nullifying established norms and regulations overnight. Needless to say, Africa will also be the victim. The global semiconductor value chain has taken decades to build. Semiconductor modules are highly interdependent, and no company or country can build up a comprehensive supply chain on their own. If these new rules were to take effect, even if merely one piece of US-origin equipment, say a screwdriver purchased from the US years ago, was used at any step in the production of chips, chipmakers outside of the US would have to seek approval from the US government. By way of example, this is equivalent to say one could not be allowed to make face mask during the coronavirus pandemic, because a pair of American scissors are used in the mask production line. This situation will further deteriorate the already hard-hit global economy, when we are in urgent need of an open, collaborative, and stable global value chain. Africa’s Share In Semiconductor According to a report by Deloitte, the global semiconductor industry is set to continue its robust growth well into the next decade due to emerging technologies such as autonomous driving, artificial intelligence (AI), 5G and Internet of Things, coupled with consistent spending on R&D and competition among key players. The global semiconductor sector market offers Africa opportunities not to be missed. With a massive growth in technology hubs across the continent-growing over 50% in the last several years, Africa needs to have a share in global semiconductors industry, to secure its competiveness in the future. Story by Edison Xie, Director of Media Affairs, Huawei Southern Africa Region

Award-winning gospel singer, Sonnie Badu says the Covid-19 pandemic has not affected him at all. According to him, because he is not travelling like he used to prior to the outbreak, he has more time to spend with his family. “It is very important that with everything that happens, you look for the positives and not the negative because, the negatives will quickly destroy you,” he said. Sonnie Badu on May 1, 2020 will hold a virtual concert in collaboration with the Embassy of Ghana in the USA, to entertain Ghanaians during this coronavirus pandemic.

Ten new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the Upper East Region. This brings the total number of cases in the region to 18. Out of the 18 cases, five were confirmed in the Bolga Municipality. These cases were confirmed after the contacts of a confirmed case were traced in the same municipality. This was confirmed in a letter from the Upper East Regional Health Directorate addressed to the Regional Minister and sighted by citinewsroom.com. At the national level, Ghana’s COVID-19 cases stand at 1,550. While 11 deaths have been recorded, 155 people have recovered from the disease. President Nana Akufo-Addo has announced the construction of hospitals in some 88 Districts across the country to boost the country’s healthcare delivery system in the wake of COVID-19. These hospitals are expected to augment the country’s testing and isolation centres for diseases like COVD-19. Source: Citinewsroom.com

President Akufo-Addo says he will soon announce an end to restrictions imposed on the public to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. However, that will happen after the modalities for which the restrictions were imposed have been followed satisfactorily by the public. These include the guidelines for maintaining proper hygiene practices in addition to the use of hand sanitiser and social distancing. Addressing the nation in a televised broadcast Sunday, April 26, President Akufo-Addo hinted these remaining sanctions may soon come to an end. “I shall be outlining, shortly, the path for bringing the restrictive measures, systematically, to an end, and defining the basket of measures for the revival and growth of our national economy. We have to own our future,” he stated. Last week, the President lifted a three-week restriction imposed on the movements of people in four major cities- Accra, Tema, Kasoa and Kumasi- which he said, enabled health authorities to scale up tracing and testing of persons who may have come into contact with those who had already tested positive. However, other restrictions, such as border closure, the ban on social gatherings, including religious gatherings, funerals, conferences and parties, remain in force. He commended organisations and individuals who have responded to the call to donate to the Covid-19 National Trust Fund as well as institutions leading the fight against the deadly vidurs. “…the unfettered assistance Ghanaians have given to each other, the help you have offered to those in need, the generosity of your contributions to the Covid-19 National Trust Fund, and the support and understanding you have given to the difficult measures Government has had to undertake,” he added. Ghana’s Covid-19 Situation As Of Now Ghana, as of Sunday, had recorded 1,550 cases of the Covid-19 with 155 recoveries while some 11 persons failed to win the battle with the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus. According to Health Service’s latest update, Greater Accra remained the epicenter with 1,347 cases followed by the Ashanti and Eastern regions which have recorded 69 and 57 cases, respectively. The Western and Western North are regions with the least cases recording one each. Meanwhile, four regions are yet to record cases of the Covid-19. These are Savanna, Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions, the Service indicated in its latest update. Source: Myjoyonline

Lady Gee Foundation, a non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) has donated some items to the residents in the Ningo Prampram community in the Greater Accra Region. According to the foundation, the move forms parts of its corporate and social responsibilities adding that it is ensuring that residents in the community do not contract the deadly COVID-19. In an exclusive interview with thinksnewsonline.com, Founder, Lady Gee said “We are not in normal times. It came to our notice that this community lacks lots of personal hygiene equipments hence this donation” She added that she believes the items presented will be distributed accordingly. Lady Gee pleaded with the Queenmothers to use their local languages as means of communicating in order for residents to under and have a better understand of the harmful nature of the Coronavirus. Thinknewsonline.com has gathered that the items presented to the Queenmothers include; nose masks, veronica buckets, hand sanitizers, liquid soaps, tissue papers amongst others. Receiving the donation, Queen mother of Prampram, Naana Osabu Abey I, lauded the Lady Gee Foundation for their kind gesture. Naana Osabu Abey I added that she will ensure the items are shared equally among the residents. She further called on other Philanthropists and Organisations to emulate from Lady Gee Foundation. Meanwhile, Ghana has recorded 1550 cases of COVID-19. According to the Ghana Health Service's website, despite the 1550 cases, the country has recorded 11 deaths and 155 recoveries. Story by Joshua Kwabena Smith

President Akufo-Addo has revealed that 17 out 67 persons who were arrested for allegedly entering Nkwanta from the Greater Accra Region have tested positive for Coronavirus. According to President Akufo-Addo, the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) intercepted 2 Cargo vehicles on the Nkawkaw stretch carrying these persons. In his 8th Address to the Nation on measures taken against the spread of Coronavirus, he said “These seventeen (17) were the result of interceptions near Nkwanta by officers of the Immigration Service and other security personnel of two (2) cargo vehicles that had on 2 board a total of sixty-seven (67) passengers, who were illegally entering the Region from Accra during the period of the ‘lockdown’, and all of whom were tested, with seventeen (17) proving positive” He added that the country is still very much in unchartered territory, and, clearly, the citizenry still has some way to go towards ridding ourselves of the virus. The President hinted that the country registered a modest success i.e an important battle to trace and test many of persons who had come into contact with infected persons. He also mentioned that the country will not rest on its laurels and also not let its guard down. President says he is confident the country will pursue its strategy of enhanced 3Ts i.e tracing and testing to allow the health professionals identify infected person, isolate and treat them. He urged Ghanaians to join the frontline health professionals in their fight at eradicating the pandemic. “Government has enabled domestic production and supply of protective equipment to our health workers to increase significantly – they have received, in recent days, nine hundred and five thousand, and thirty-one (905,031) nose masks, thirty one thousand, six hundred and thirty (31,630) medical scrubs” he noted. He further revealed that thirty one thousand, four hundred and seventy-two (31,472) gowns, forty-six thousand, eight hundred and seventy (46,870) head covers, and eighty-three thousand, five hundred (83,500) N-95 face masks are part of the enabled domestic production and supply of protective equipment to our health workers. He however lauded the Minister for Health, Kwaku Agyemang Manu for his tireless efforts. “I have as of Saturday 25th April,2020, issued directives to guide the production and mandatory wearing of face mask. We should all comply to the directives as the Regional Coordinating Council for Greater Accra, Ashanti Region and Central Region are demanding for their residents” he hinted. President Akufo-Addo says he is confident that together, all the protocols will prove effective in helping each other to avoid contracting the virus. He said “We are told by the Scientists that the virus mode of transport is human-contact, ie. Talking. Singing, Coughing, Sneezing and thereby sending droplets of the virus from the infected person. This is more reason each one of us must adhere strictly to these directives” Story by Mandy Woods

President Akufo-Addo has extended the lockdown restrictions on social gathering by two weeks. This according to the President forms part of measures at combating and reducing the spread of coronavirus among the citizenry in the country. In his 8th Address to the Nation on measures taken against the spread of Coronavirus, he said “I have, accordingly, by Executive Instrument, extended for another two (2) weeks the suspension of all public and social gatherings, as set out in E.I 64 of 15th March 2020, effective tomorrow, 1 am, Monday, 27th April” He added that this directive was based on a consensus supported by data and science adding that he has met with some stakeholders to discuss on how to resolve the existing issues and restrictions on public gatherings. The President further hinted that the meeting forms part of the Nation’s sacrifices and measures at defeating the deadly coronavirus pandemic which has gained grounds in the country. “I met with the Chairperson and Members of the Council of State, the President and Members of the Standing Committee of the National House of Chiefs, representatives of organised labour, i.e. the leadership of the Trades Union Congress, the leadership of the Christian Community, the leadership of the Muslim Community, the President and Executive Committee of the Ghana Medical Association, representatives and leaders of the Media” he revealed. President Akufo-Addo added that the leadership of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), and its affiliated associations were also not left out of the meeting. The President also applauded Commercial Drivers (Trotro, Taxis, Buses) for operating with limited number of passengers. He also commended Supermarkets such as Palace, Shoprite and Melcom for implementing as well as working on social distancing use of hand sanitizers likewise wearing of mask. The President also congratulated market women, especially Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, where social distancing and cleanliness is well observed. “This is the time for sacrifice so that we do not have to bear a greater cost in the future” Worriedly, he talks about some few Ghanaians from the west African national, despite the close of borders tries to enter the country illegally” he said. Story by Maame Serwaa Asante

President Akufo-Addo has announced that his Government will this year be constructing Eighty-eight (88) hospitals in the districts across as part of measures at combating the deadly Coronavirus Pandemic. According to him, the hospitals when completed will each be equipped with one hundred bed hospital, with accommodation for doctors, nurses, and other health workers. In his 8th address to the nation on measures taken against the spread of Coronavirus, President Akufo-Addo said “There are eighty-eight (88) districts in our country without district hospitals; we have six (6) new regions without regional hospitals; we do not have 5 infectious disease control centres dotted across the country, and we do not have enough testing and isolation centres for diseases like COVD-19. We must do something urgently about this. That is why Government has decided to undertake a major investment in our healthcare infrastructure, the largest in our history. We will, this year, begin constructing eighty-eight (88) hospitals in the districts without hospitals” Explaining the breakdown of the 88 hospitals across the country, President Akufo-Addo disclosed that Ten (10) will be situated in the Ashanti, Nine (9) in Volta, Nine (9) in Central, Eight (8) in Eastern, Seven (7) in Greater Accra. He further added that Seven (7) will be in the Upper East, Five (5) in Northern, Five (5) in Oti, Five (5) in Upper West, Five (5) in Bono, Four (4) in Western North, Four (4) in Western, Three (3) in Ahafo, Three (3) in Savannah, Two (2) in Bono East, and Two (2) in North East Regions. President Akufo-Addo also noted that his Government has also put in place plans for the construction of six (6) new regional hospitals in the six (6) new regions, and the rehabilitation of the EffiaNkwanta Hospital, in Sekondi, which is the regional hospital of the Western Region. “We are going to beef up our existing laboratories and establish new ones across every region for testing. We will establish three (3) infectious disease control centres for each of the zones of our country, i.e. Coastal, Middle Belt, and Northern, with the overall objective of setting up a Ghana Centre for Disease Control” he noted. President Akufo-Addo hinted that the recent, tragic CSM outbreak, with over forty (40) deaths, has reaffirmed the need for ready access to such infectious disease control centres, even though, in our time, nobody should die of the disease. He appealed to Ghanaians to make early reporting a requirement adding that the citizenry must do well to heed this call. President Akufo-Addo also explained that Government is bent on making such investments in the healthcare system not because it is going to be easy, but because it is self-evidently necessary to serve the needs of 21st century Ghana. He said “The three (3) Development Authorities, the Zongo Development Fund, and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies will be tasked to place health infrastructure amongst their highest priorities in the coming years” Speaking on the strict measures at the various borders in the country, President Akufo-Addo warned unpatriotic citizens to refrain from their unacceptable behaviours and activities. “We cannot continue to allow a few persons, who are motivated by their own selfish, money-making interests, to endanger the lives of the rest of the population. Not only will persons who enter our country illegally be strictly dealt with, but so will Ghanaians who facilitate their entry” he said. He reminded citizens that being a Ghanaian must mean that we look out for each other adding that just as the virus has disrupted our daily lives, it has also exposed the deficiencies of our healthcare system, because of years of under-investment and neglect. He further explained that whilst maternal, new-born, adolescent health and nutrition remain Government’s top priorities, it will pay much attention to chronic, noncommunicable diseases such as heart diseases, diabetes, and asthma, which have proved to be the common risk factors for the eleven (11) deaths we have recorded from the virus. He highlighted that it also important to address mental health issues, and the crucial role of emergency services, to which new fleet of ambulances and drones are responding. He said “We must emphasise preventive and promotive aspects of health, in addition to care for the sick. The virus has also revealed the unequal distribution of healthcare facilities, as we have tended to focus our infrastructure on Accra and one or two of our other big cities. But, as we have seen, epidemics and pandemics, when they emerge, can spread to any part of our country” President Akufo-Addo says he is confident that the country will succeed in its fight against the deadly Coronavirus Pandemic. Story by Joshua Kwabena Smith