Esnewsgh

 Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has taken a swipe at the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama for describing the ‘One Village-One Dam’ policy as a scam. According to him, Mr. Mahama’s claims that the dams built are of low quality are false. Rather, Dr. Bawumia said they have built 10 new dams at Bole, the hometown of John Mahama. “If John Mahama is not seeing the dams up North, then he is not touring there well. We have 10 in his hometown in Bole his own backyard. Chiefs and opinion leaders up North really appreciate the construction of dams so far. We are being lauded everywhere”. he said in an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Wednesday. On the NPP’s promises, Dr. Bawumia said the NPP has fulfilled 80 percent of its campaign promises. “We have fulfilled about 80% of our campaign promises so far. Everything is on the delivery tracker. We know the value of the 1V1D policy that is why the promise was made. It has been benefici...

 The presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr John Dramani Mahama, says the next government will invest in senior high school education to eliminate the double-track system. Mr. Mahama said he will ensure that all students attend school at the same time and get adequate contact hours from their teachers. Addressing the queenmother and elders of Berekum on Monday, September 28, 2020, Mr. Mahama said his government will abolish the double track system by completing the remainder of the 200 Community Day Senior High Schools as well as invest in new schools and additional infrastructure such as dormitories, libraries, and classrooms in existing schools. He added that private schools in deprived communities will also be enrolled for the Free SHS programme to give students in those communities equal opportunity. Mr Mahama, who repeated his promise to implement a Free Primary Healthcare for all to eliminate cost as a barrier to universal healthcare when elected...

  The chiefs and people of Anlo in the Volta Region have called on the State to bring to book persons involved in the recent disturbances on the region’s road to deter others from such acts in the future. A secessionist group calling itself Western Togoland Restoration Front (WTRF) on Friday dawn blocked roads and burnt lorry tyres to prevent vehicular movement from other parts of the country into the region in what they said was their attempt to “assert their sovereignty on the Volta Region. The group also issued a press release making demands of the government including; negotiations with them, withdrawal of all security agencies and a ban on all political activities in the area. In a press release issued on September 27 and signed by His Royal Highness Torgbui Sri III, the Awoamefia of Anlo State, said the Anlos “condemn in no uncertain terms, the recent disturbances on the Accra-Aflao roads” and reaffirmed their support for the unity and sanctity of the sovereign state of Ghana...

 Mother of former President Jerry John Rawlings, Madam Victoria Agbotui has died at age 101. Multiple sources close to the Rawlings’ family confirmed this information to Esnewsgh.blogspot.com  The sorces noted that Madam Agbotui had been unwell for some time now. She celebrated her 101st birthday on September 9, 2020. Born in 1919, Madam Victoria Agbotui came into the limelight following her son’s ascension to power in 1979. She was also the head of the catering department at the presidency during her son’s reign. Victoria Agbotui hailed from Dzelukope near Keta in the Volta Region.

The Electoral Commission has extended the voter exhibition exercise from Friday, September 25 to Sunday, September 27, 2020. “The Commission is of the view that this extension will allow even more stakeholders to check and verify their voter registration details,” the Commission said in a statement. It believes the extensionwill be “instrumental for the achievement of a clean and credible voters register.” The Commission further urged the public “to take advantage of the extension by making time to verify their registration details.” Voters may verify their registration details by visiting their exhibition centres or by sending their Voter ID Numbers to the shortcode 1422. The EC is also expected to hold a crucial Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting later on Thursday morning over the controversies marring the exhibition exercise. Political parties, accredited civil society groups, donor partners and officials of the Electoral Commission are expected to participate in this mee...

 The Accra Region Commander of the Ghana Police Service, DCOP Afful Boakye-Yiadom has urged police personnel across the country to reduce their sexual activities in the run-up to this year’s general election. This, according to him, will give members of the service the needed energy to undertake their activities around the upcoming presidential and parliamentary election. “Control yourself, we all need the energy to work during the election I, therefore, advise all of you to eat well, reduce your sexual rounds for you to get the energy to work well before, during and after 2020 elections.” He was speaking after a route march organised by the Police service to assure the public of its readiness ahead of the elections. The Director-General in charge of Operations of the Ghana Police service DCOP Kwaku Boadu-Peprah also cautioned police personnel to desist from engaging in partisan political activities in the lead up to the 2020 general elections. “As a policeman, you are not supposed...

 The Suhum Magistrate Court has remanded into Police Custody a 32-year-old Burkina driver who was driving the Articulated truck that crashed two buses killing 14 passengers on the spot at Kyekyewere stretch of the Accra to Kumasi highway. The plea of the accused, Seni Baguian, was not taken when put before the court Wednesday, September 16, 2020. He will reappear on September 22, 2020. Meanwhile, the Eastern Regional Police Command says a full investigation is ongoing to unravel the cause of the fatal accident. According to the Acting Public Relations Officer of the Eastern Regional Police Command Sargeant Francis Gomado, the Tuesday accident occurred about 4:50am when the accused driver in charge of the DAF Articulated truck with registration number 3339T1 03BF for the head and 11JL6112 BF for the trailer loaded with bags of flour from Accra towards Kumasi direction lost control of the steering wheel while descending a hill and crashed with a Kia bus with registration number GT 49...

  The flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, is calling on critics of his promise to legalise the okada business to stop acting like “ostriches.” According to him, the business has come to stay. Mr. Mahama made these comments on Monday, September 14, 2020, when he was met by the leadership of the okada business at the premises of Class FM where he had an interview. He added that okada is the only means of transport for some people in some parts of the country. “When I announced our intention to legalise okada and regulate it, there were varied opinions on it. We cannot behave like ostriches with our heads in the sand because it’s a business that has come to stay and sustaining many people. We like it or not, it is reality and so it’s better we legalise and regulate and make it safe so that they can become part of our transport modes.” “There are some people who ride motorcycles to work every day because that is the means of transport t...

National Chairman of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union(GPRTU) Nana Nimako Bresiama has disclosed that his outfit will work hand in hand with any Gov't Who have the plight of Drivers at heart and willing to improve the welfare and standard of of all Unions. Speaking in a press meeting, he explained that GPRTU as a mother of all Driver Unions, they are only interested in ensuring peace in the country especially as Elections approaches to allow them go by their day to day activities. He cautioned drivers to respect the road traffic regulations and drive safe. He said this when the Concerned Drivers Association paid a Courtesy call to the Greater Accra regional office of the GPRTU.  Adding up the Greater Accra Regional Working Committee Member who also double as a Branch Chairman of the GPRTU in Accra - Akuapim, Kofi Afful called on all drivers union to disregard speculations that there's is disunity among members of the GPRTU. Peace and Unity have prevailed after a successful...

 United Nations have officially reacted to the fake awards organized by Dr. UN and given to the likes of Sarkodie, Berla Mundi, DBlack and others. After the award ceremony, it has been trending for a reason that it was a scam and in line with that the United Nations have cleared air on the award  saga. United Nations have officially dissociated itself from the fake awards organized by Dr UN. In a press issued, the entity wrote: “Disclaimer: The attention of the UN in Ghana has been drawn to news reports of an award purported to be associated with the UN and the Kofi Annan Foundation. The UN in Ghana wishes to state categorically that the UN has no affiliation with the “Blueprint Global Challenge Awards”, nor with the organizers. The UN advises that all genuine UN notices follow strict rules and procedures and are announced/published on UN websites. We advise the general public to access genuine information by visiting the relevant UN agencies’ website or the UN Ghana website a...

  Government has generated a total of $37,050 from Covid-19 testing of travellers coming into Ghana since reopening the Kotoka International Airport on September 1. According to the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, the Airport Health officials have so far conducted a total of 247 Covid-19 tests since the re-opening of the airport to travellers. Giving the breakdown, Dr Kuma-Aboagye said 217 tests were conducted on day one of the reopening and 30 tests the following day. Dr Kuma-Aboagye made the disclosure during a press conference by the Information Ministry on the status of Covid-19 cases in the country. He, however, stated that none of the travellers have tested positive for Covid-19. Speaking on the status of the country’s Covid-19, the GHS Director-General said the country’s active cases have drastically reduced to 856. Meanwhile, the total case count is 44, 713 with 43,557 recoveries and 280 deaths.

The Zimbabwean government has announced that schools will be reopened in two weeks for students who will sit for examinations later in the year. Those preparing to sit for Cambridge examinations will resume on 14 September. Students preparing for Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) exams scheduled for 1 December, will return to school on 28 September. The cabinet made the decision after consultations with education and health officials. Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the two weeks were enough for measures to be put in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Zimbabwe has 6,559 confired cases of Covid-19 according to the country's health ministry. The World Health Organization and Unicef last month urged African nations to consider reopening schools safely to secure the future of children who were being affected by the long closure.  

 This pronouncement by the president had private schools kicked against the move, insisting they can keep the children safe, hence they should be allowed back in school But justifying the government’s decision, the Deputy Director-General in charge of Management Services at the Ghana Education Service, Anthony Boateng, explained that: “Kindergarten one (KG1) to class three (P3) pupils cannot go to school because their curriculum is to be taught primarily through play”. “In fact, their sitting arrangements, their interactions in the classroom, whatever they do, revolves around play and interaction and that’s contact, and under COVID-19, the primary role everybody is expected to play now is to keep social-distancing.” He continued: “It was going to be very difficult to teach these children minus play, and again, at that age, KG1 at age 4, how do you expect them to wear a mask? How do you expect them to keep social distancing? We are looking at a the situation where at that level some...