An entire family of nine in Algeria tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday, according to the Algeria’s health ministry.
The new cases meant Algeria has now recorded 17 confirmed coronavirus cases.
Algeria’s health ministry said the nine new cases were registered in a family living in the northern Blida district, some 30km (20 miles) from the capital, Algiers.
This family last month hosted relations from France who were tested positive for coronavirus after flying back to France.
Before Wednesday, Algeria had only recorded three cases but that quickly jumped to 8 before the family of nine tested for the virus.
So far Africa has recorded a total of 26 cases of the deadly virus, after a slow rate of outbreak.
Egypt (2), Algeria (17) and Nigeria (1) Tunisia (1) Morocco (1) and Senegal (4).
More than 90,000 cases and over 3,000 deaths have been recorded in some 60 countries worldwide. Africa has relatively reported of low outbreak rate.
The World Health Organization is hopeful countries in sub-Saharan Africa currently without testing equipment would soon have one to conduct more tests.
Victims of coronavirus often suffer from respiratory illness. The virus is a global public health emergency, according to the World Health Organisation.
The WHO has advised that people stay at home if they begin to feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache and a slight runny nose, until they recover.
District Chief Executive for Bongo, Peter Ayinbisa Ayamga has said one key measure to take the country to a desirable level of development is by mobilizing local resources and making judicious use of every bit of it.
Mr. Ayinbisa who said the country has made some tremendous gains over the years, underscored the need to tap into new areas of revenue sites for self-sustainability.The DCE said this during a colorful event to commemorate Ghana’s 63rd Independence Day celebration in Bongo in the Upper East Region.
He regretted that the country still faces challenges in the areas of education, health, housing, water, sanitation and many despite it’s 63 years of self-rule. But these developmental challenges, he believes can be overcome by “generating enough resources locally for accelerated development”.
Speaking under this year’s anniversary theme, ‘Consolidating Our Gains’ the DCE added that government through the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has committed itself to lead a transformational agenda that is geared towards making the country a self-sustaining one by the implementation of policies such as the 1 District 1 Factory, 1 Village 1 Dam, the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative among others.
Mr. Ayinbisa used the occasion to admonished citizens of the country to eschew the habit of waste and use of public resources for personal gains to the detriment of the overall development of the country.
“The government of today believes in moderation and economic use of resources with commitment to saving the public purpose for national development. We need to build a national consciousness, one that will deepen our desire for wanting to do something for Ghana and not what Ghana can do for us”He stated.
While calling on parents to make good use of government’s pro poor policy, the ‘Free Senior High School’ education, the DCE charged the Bongo District Director of Education and other stakeholders to take a second look at the dwindling educational performance in the district.
However,the District Director of Education, Madison Amokase declared a zero tolerance against indiscipline among teachers and students as a measure to improve the quality of education in the district.
March pass
Meanwhile,the anniversary celebration was graced by the Overlord of the Bongo Traditional Area,Naba Baba Salifu-Lemyaarum, retired educationist and son of Bongo, Robert Ajene and government representatives of Zeko and Zio from the Burkina Faso in attendance.
Over hundred vulnerable women have been empowered in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region to become financially independent.
Talensi is one of the poorest districts in the region with a high level of poverty as captured in reports by various organizations despite the presence of gold in the area.It also has a record of girls of school going age dropping out as a result of teenage pregnancy or migration to southern part of Ghana in search for non-existent greener pastures.
Most of the active class especially the women are unskilled thereby increasing dependency ratio in that area.It is in this vain that selected women have been equipped with sewing machines to begin a trade in order to address their monetary challenges.
The benevolence was extended by Shaanxi,a Chinese mining company providing support service to a local mining firm in that enclave.One Hundred and Ten Sewing Machines were donated to some selected women in the district.
The initiative, according to the company’s Public Relations Officer, Maxwell Wooma,was part of their corporate social responsibility geared towards alleviating poverty in their area of operation.
“The principal of corporate social responsibility is no longer defined by how much money a company contributes to charity, but by its overall involvement in activities that can improve the quality of lives of the environment. As a company, we are pleased to touch the lives of 110 women from the district with sewing machines. Each beneficiary shall go home with a brand new sewing machine.” He explained.
Mr. Wooma however used the opportunity to announce the Company’s readiness to venture into large scale mining and appealed to authorities for their cooperation as the district stands to benefit largely when their operations become successful.
A beneficiary whose name was given as Rita said “after dropping out of High School due to circumstances, I went to learn sewing but was wondering how to get a sewing machine. Now here I am gifted with a new one.”
Another beneficiary, named Lamisi gleefully added that “this machine will help me to begin my work as Seamstress because after passing out, I couldn’t buy one. Hmm! God will bless the workers of the company.”
Meanwhile, Upper East Regional Minister, Tangoba Abayage who was a special guest for the occasion, encouraged business partners as well as people in the region to support in the fight against illegal mining in the communities.
Stakeholders have been engaged in a training on Vigilantism and it’s related offences Act as well as a road-map and code of conduct to end political vigilantism.
The resolutions adopted in addressing the Vigilantism menace the country includes all parties to take the necessary steps in ensuring that their members refrain from vigilante activities, affirm their commitment to the political party code of conduct on political Vigilantism, and sign the Code during a public function organized by National Peace Council (NPC)in the presence of the Media.
Gender and Governance Programmes Manager at NORSAAC,an empowerment for change organization based in the Northern Region, Abubakari Kawusada explained that the workshop was aimed at bringing all parties and relevant stakeholders together on a round-table discussion to bring an end to Political Vigilantism and it’s related offenses as stipulated in Act 999.
The engagement according to him was timely taking into consideration the tensed political atmosphere ahead of the 2020 General Elections and called on all parties to cooperate with the process.
“The two documents have been finalized but yet Ghanaians know nothing about it and our interest as an organization was to unveil it to the people through representatives of organizations with the hope that these representatives will take it forward to their larger group and to their constituents” She said.
Upper East New Patriotic Party Regional Chairman,Anthony Namoo who was part of this engagement reaffirmed his party’s commitment and willingness to cooperate with the Road-map and Code of Conduct in ending the growing trend of vigilante activities.
Mr. Namoo indicated that the inclusion of the Peace Council as a moral authority in the country was crucial so far as the process was concerned towards election 2020.
He added that as a political party leader in the region, he would continue to play his leadership role by preaching peace to party youth supporters in and across the region.
“My message simply is that, they should keep behaving well, because there is no party that can get any vote by resorting to violence”. He said.
On his part,Youth Organizer of the opposition National Democratic Congress in the Upper East Region, Abraham Lambon, said in as much his party was ready to abide by the road-map,i was imperative on government to come clear on it’s position against vigilantism.
“We will do our best to educate our members on the to avoid or refrain from Vigilantism, but we are also encouraging all the stakeholders like the media and the Civil society to engage the government because there is saying that, if you are seeking for justice, you must come with equity”. He observed.
Meanwhile,Northern Regional Director for National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Alhaji Abdul-Razak Saani believed that most notable factors that pushed the youth into Vigilantism was unemployment exposing them to abuse by politicians for their interest.
“Those factors that drive our compatriot, our brothers and sisters to take part in Vigilante activities, the first one, we have the problem of employment which for me, is a key, most of the youth are not employed”
”So they are misused by politicians and secondly, some of our youth are so much committed to the party culture they belong to and will go any length to protect it” He observed.
Mr. Saani has therefore impressed upon Civil Society Organizations(CSOs) to add their inputs in addressing the security threats in the country.
The roads are decorated, the major streets being cleaned up, the stadium all clean and shiny, the stage is set, and it appears all that may be left is for the personalities and guests to arrive and the cameras to start rolling and then its all action.
It’s all excitement and businesses have started strategizing how to make the most of the big event in town, the first-ever Independence Day celebration being held in the Ashanti Region.
From the very first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to the very last before President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, all Independence Day anniversaries have been held in the capital of Ghana; the Greater Accra Region.
In 2019, there was a twist to that history, for the first time ever, the celebrations were taken out of the capital and sent to the Northern Region, Tamale specifically, as efforts to seal the Dagbon Peace Pact that had been achieved.
It worked, the President received a lot of applause and commendations and maybe, they just decided to take up the idea, move the occasion around the nation for every regional capital to have a little feel of the big occasion.
A visit by Ghanaweb’s team, a day before the event marked to take place at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium Friday, 6th March, showed the township is ready to welcome the celebrations.
A Security Analyst is advocating for Journalists in Ghana to be trained and equipped with weapons as part of measures in addressing insecurity in the Media space.
According to Dr. Kwesi Biney who was sharing his views on the wake of threats and deaths of Journalists in their line of duty,this will go a long in ensuring that reported cases of Journalists being and attacked and to the extreme, killed in their line of duty was reduced.
He told Host of Daybreak Upper East on A1 Radio,Samuel Mbura that, in as much as the security agencies were responsible for the safety of the public,there was a deficit in the police to civilian ratio making it impossible for them to carry out their work as expected.
The Analyst therefore identified the need for the Media in Ghana which has been exposed to all kinds of attacks to be allowed to use pain-inducing weapons intended to be less likely to kill a living target for self defense.
He however observed that,Ghana has not grown to a point that side-arms or guns can be given to Journalists because of lack of regulation and the serious security threat of weapons proliferation in the country.
“You people [Journalists] have to be given non lethal equipment ,things that can be used that cannot kill but can render the opponent weak for him or her to be apprehended like ;pepper spray,shockers. There are so many devices that are non-lethal”
“Until we grow up to a certain level of our economy and development that will be able to begin arms to journalists” He said.
The house of Investigative Journalist with EIB Network,Edward Adeti has been engulfed with fear and panic after an alleged assassination on his live has been uncovered.
Law enforcement officers have reportedly disclosed a fresh plot by a public servant (name withheld) who is bent on taking vengeance on Adeti and an undercover agent (name withheld) for his interdiction, had contracted a gang to assassinate the journalist or abduct his family if the elimination plan failed.
speaking on this latest development on Daybreak Upper East, the Journalist indicated that his family can no longer sleep with closed eyes because they feel insecure since they do not know what can happen to them at any moment.
Mr. Adeti said though they were four people in his family,they feel there was another invisible occupant in the house tormenting them.
he however noted that despite the terrific situation, he was resolute to ensuring that things were done right in the interest of the public.
“We are four in the family.Myself,my wife,my two children but we are five in that house and who is the fifth person?Fear! there is fear living with us in that house, it is the number five person living with us. My family is afraid but I just lift my head above the waters to ensure that what should be done should be done. I’m an Edward, I’m not a Coward” He said.
Meanwhile,he has given the indication that, his family will be relocated if enough measures are not put in place to protect them.
Powerful and influential persons in society have been cautioned to work in the interest of the public or risk losing their jobs.
This caution to the aforementioned is coming from an Investigative Journalist with EIB Network,Eward Adeti.
The Journalist who has expressed dissatisfaction about the level and manner at which the vulnerable have be used as ‘cash cows’ by the affluent political class in the country said,he will not hesitate to sacrifice his life to expose such persons no matter the consequences.
“I keep saying it, if your job, I’m referring to people who are inflicting pain on innocent people, I’m referring to them now. If your job is to make innocent people suffer because of your own greed,then my job also is to make sure you lose that job” He cautioned.
He added that “If I die ,just one bullet , no one will live forever, yes I know it. I’m an Edward not a Coward and I will keep fighting“
Mr. Adeti made these comments in a radio interview on A1 Radio in response to an alleged threat of assassination on his live or an alternative of abducting his family if the death plot fails.
Edward Adeti was behind the story that led to the resignation of a Minister of State at the Presidency,Rockson Bukari to resign as a result of his alleged role of attempting to bribe him to drop a story involving high profile persons in Ghana.
His recent investigative piece captured a State Attorney allegedly subverting justice for monetary gains.The case is under trial in court and the State Attorney has interdicted.
The Parliamentary Elections Committee of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the northern region will today Wednesday, 4 March, 2020, begin a two day vetting of 22 aspiring candidates vying to represent the party in nine constituencies where the NPP has sitting Members of Parliament. The NPP closed nominations last month and candidates who successfully filed their nomination forms are expected to appear before the committee for scrutiny.
The NPP Northern Regional Secretary, Alhaji Sibdow Alhassan Yakubu confirmed to the A1 radio that, the two day vetting processes will commence today and hopefully end tomorrow Thursday, 5 March, 2020 in Tamale.
Candidates from Bimbila, Savelugu, Tolon, Wulensi and the Nanton constituencies are expected to face the elections committee on day one of the vetting process.
However, the Members of Parliament for the Bimbila and Savelugu constituencies, Hon Dominic Nitiwul and Alhaji Abdul Samed Gunu respectively are going into the elections unopposed. Similarly, the Majority Chief Whip and MP for Kpandai, Mathew Nyindam who is also going solo is first to appear at the committee.
Aspirants of the keenly contested Yendi constituency will take turns to submit themselves before the elections vetting committee before the incumbent MP for Gushegu, Dr Ziblim Iddi and his two contenders, Mahama Osman and Hardi Adams would also have their time at the committee.
Nevertheless, the three aspirants vying to unseat the incumbent legislator for Saboba, Hon Charles Bintim, are last to lock horns with the committee to close the vetting process in the northern region.
Meanwhile, members of the Northern Region Parliamentary Elections Committee include; Mr. Michael Omar Wardia (Chairman), Sammy Awuku, Joseph Kawaja, the NPP Northern Regional Chairman, Mr. Baantima Mohammed Samba and Alhaji Sibdow Alhassan Yakubu.
Some bigwigs of the party participating in the forthcoming elections include; Alhaji Farouk Aliu Mahama, son of late Vice President, Aliu Mahama for Yendi, Alhaji Baba Daney, Chattered Accountant also for Yendi, Deputy MASLOC CEO, Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama also for Yendi, Alhaji Kamaldeen Abudulai, Deputy National Communications Director for Nanton, Mr. Habib Iddrisu of the Free Zones Board for Tolon and Alhaji Jagbo Baako, a Tax Auditor at Ghana Revenue Authority also vying to incumbent MP for Tolon.
Reports making rounds online have it that a popular food vendor from Ughelli, Nigeria’s Delta State was burnt into ashes by an angry mob following accusations that she uses water from the mortuary to prepare her food.
The woman nicknamed ‘Mama Aroma’ is reported to be notorious in the area for preparing delicious meals that are in high demand.
Before her alleged death, the food vendor reportedly sold her Banga rice on a truck in the market where people form long queues to patronise her services.
According to local media reports, a mortuary worker who had been seeing her come to the mortuary at night to fetch the water which has been used to bath dead bodies decided to monitor her to ascertain what she uses it for.
‘Mama Aroma’ got into trouble when the said mortuary man followed her to her joint in the market and raised an alarm, prompting the youth to subject her to instant injustice.
It is further reported that some residents who had consumed her food pounced on her and beat her up before setting her ablaze.
