We will create 450,000 jobs-Akpaloo

Daniel Opare
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The Founder and Leader of Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), Kofi Akpaloo has promised 450,000 jobs if he becomes president .

The LPG’s manifesto is dubbed,”A Better Tomorrow, a new plan for jobs and wealth creation.”

Giving highlights of the manifesto on Atinka TV’s Morning Show, Ghana Nie, hosted by Nana Owusu Nkrumah, Akpaloo was optimistic that he will win the 2020 elections.

Hinting the public on the manifesto, he said before a child gets to age 18, every month he or she will be paid every month if he is elected as Ghana’s President.

Touching on the theme of the manifesto, Akpaloo said the party picked ‘Jobs and Wealth Creation’ because, it noticed that many young people who have completed tertiary education, senior high schools and and Junior high schools are still home.

“We recall that in 2017, about 500 persons only were allowed into the Immigration Service but those who bought the forms were over 8,000, who joined long queues to get employment.There are a lot more looking for jobs and so we at LPG can do a lot of things to help such people gain employment,” he said.

Some of the interventions to reduce unemployment, Akpaloo said include paying children and unemployed people monthly allowance.

“We will pump money into the economy for those who are doing business to get their capital. If you produce more and people do not buy it does not help, so we will also put money in people’s pockets so that they can buy,” he said.

Akpaloo added ,”If you are a contractor or a supplier who supplies things to government, when you present your certificate to the government, we will ensure that within one month, you will be paid. Because when you pay the contractor, he is not the only person who benefits, the banks do benefit, the workers also get their share, those who lend materials to the contractor also receive their money and all will help others to also have money in their pockets.”

For those who have already established themselves and need expansion, he said the party will support them with money to expand their businesses.

For fresh university graduates who are done with their national service, Akpaloo said companies including the Tobinco Group of Companies will be given the chance to employ them while the LPG supports the company with the paying of their SSNIT contributions for one year.

He stated that when he is voted for, cocoa will no more be exported after two years in government, explaining that,” We shall process the cocoa ourselves so that it will create 250,000 jobs.”

“We will use 18 months to build our own factories immediately we come to power because we want to build the world’s biggest chocolate manufacturing company in Ghana to create 150,000 jobs,” he said.

Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori

NDC will phase out Gambaga Witches Camp- Naana Opoku-Agyeman

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Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Vice Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has pledged that the next NDC administration will phase out all witch camps, particularly the Gambaga witch camp, to make the practice a thing of the past.

According to the running mate, the presence of witch camps is a dent on the country’s image and democratic status, adding that the practice of tagging of people, especially the elderly as witches, and relegating them to camps, would no longer be tolerated.

Professor Opoku-Agyemang made this known in an address to community members and inmates of the Gambaga Witches Camp during a visit to the East Mamprusi District, as part of her campaign tour of the North East region.

She explained that as part of measures towards the closure of the Gambaga camp, which has served as a refuge for ostracised women, the affected communities would be highly sensitized against the practice, while the inmates would be reintegrated into their communities.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said a future NDC government would apply the laws stringently to stop the practice in the country.

She described the recent lynching of a 90-year-old women in Kafaba in the Gonja East District of the Savanna Region, on suspicion of being a witch, as “highly unacceptable”

“We shall tackle this menace decisively.”

Touching on the welfare of inmates, the Vice Presidential candidate noted that an NDC Government would ensure their rehabilitation and integration into their communities before the closure of the camp.

She urged the youth in the area to desist from the practice, and rather protect and promote the welfare of the aged.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang also cited a number of stalled infrastructural projects in Gambaga, promising that the next NDC administration would complete all of its projects in the area that have been abandoned by the current government.

“All those interested in the all-inclusive development of the country should support the NDC to return to power,” she continued.

“The 2020 election campaign will be based on record, and not insults. We have done it before, and we will do it again.”

Ghana | Ainkaonline.com | Vivian Adu Boatemaa

NDC will pay teachers, nurses more – Prof. Opoku-Agyemang

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Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Vice Presidential Candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has assured teachers of enhanced remuneration when the party returns to power after the December election.

She also assured teacher and nursing trainees of innovative financial interventions, including increased training allowances and educational loan facilities to facilitate their successful training.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, a former Minister of Education, gave the assurance during separate interactions with trainee teachers and representatives of teacher unions at the Gbewaa College of Education and trainee nurses at the Bolgatanga Nursing Training College and other professional bodies at Bolgatanga on Saturday, on her last day of her tour of the Upper East region.

The Vice Presidential candidate indicated that the yet-to-be launched NDC manifesto has a comprehensive action plan to proactively address the needs of trainee teachers and nurses.

“Our manifesto is of a different nature this time,” she said, adding that there are innovative policies that would enable the NDC government to build on its enviable achievements and do more for the teaching and nursing professions.

In addition, she said the new policy programmes in the manifesto, designed to enable Ghanaians to achieve their aspirations, has incorporated the views of the various teaching and nursing professional groups, as a measure to ensure an all-inclusive governance.

“We need to work together by listening to each other. We need to be non-discriminatory, we need to plan together.

“Today, when your leaders ask me what we will do when we come to power, I also ask them, what do you want us to do for you?

“We want to arrive together, so we must do things together,” Prof Opoku-Agyemang stated.

Responding to questions from the participants on various concerns including professional upgrading, recruitment and maternity leave, Prof Opoku-Agyemang explained that as part of the policy measures to be pursued by the next NDC government, the teacher upgrading structure would be streamlined and enhanced to ensure fairness, adding that Distance education students who are currently exempted from government teacher recruitment, would be offered equal recruitment opportunities.

Regarding maternity leave, the former Education Minister, said maternity leave for teachers, nurses and other professionals would be extended from the present three months to four months.

“Giving four months of maternity leave to women is in order,” the running mate stressed.

Construction of GNPC operational headquarters commences in Takoradi

Daniel Opare
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The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Wednesday, 19th August 2020, cut the sod for the commencement of construction of the Operational Headquarters of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation.

This, is in fulfillment of a key manifesto pledge made by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to the people of the Western Region, in the run-up to the conduct of the December 2016 elections, a pledge reiterated by then President-Elect Akufo-Addo to the Western Regional House of Chiefs on 27th December 2016.

Indeed, on page forty-four (44) of the 2016 NPP Manifesto, the NPP pledged to position Western Region “into a regional oil services hub with a first-class port facility, as well as positioning it as an efficient centre for back-office support for the oil industry in the West African region, including the relocation of the headquarters of GNPC to the region.”

“Nananom, I am here, this afternoon, to cut the sod for the commencement of construction works on a seven-storey modern office complex, spanning about seven thousand (7,000) square metres of floor space, to be used as the operational headquarters of GNPC,” he said.

But for the protracted search for a suitable land for this office, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the President told the gathering that the project would have been, by now, at an advanced stage.

“I appreciate the effort of the Western Regional Minister, the Western Regional House of Chiefs, and the Regional Lands Commission, for making it possible for this project to commence. Once completed, the building will have a three hundred (300)-seater auditorium, a gymnasium, a cafeteria and a business centre on the ground Floor,” he said.

The President continued, “The upper floors will provide office spaces for GNPC and other potential tenants, especially in the oil and gas value chain. The building will also have a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification, and will achieve energy efficiency through the use of solar energy. It will be a smart office, and it will be one of the most advanced buildings, and, indeed, one of a kind in Sekondi-Takoradi.”

To be constructed at a cost of twenty-five million dollars, over a two-year period, the President urged the contractor, Messrs Sienna Services, to ensure a timely delivery of the project.

Expressing his delight at the many projects being undertaken by GNPC, through the GNPC Foundation headquartered in Takoradi in the Western Region, President Akufo-Addo said the Foundation has also been focused on capacity building, through the awards of scholarships, research funding for universities, and training of artisans.

“It is supporting artisanal training for masons, mechanics, carpenters, electricians, hairdressers, dressmakers etc. to enable them obtain certification from the National Vocational Training Institute. It is good that the Western Region is benefitting from many of the initiatives undertaken by the GNPC Foundation, as the oil and gas resources that generate the revenues of the Corporation are currently located off the shores of the Western Region,” he added.

Thanking the Chiefs for their support, President Akufo-Addo said “I look forward to commissioning this building upon its completion, God willing, in 2022, because ‘One Good Term Deserves Another’. Hopefully, by the grace of God, it will be four more for Nana and the NPP.”

Ghana| Atinkaonline.com

Collaborate with stakeholders'-Education Minister to School Reopening Committee

Daniel Opare
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The Minister of Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has called for collaboration with all stakeholders ahead of government’s plans to reopen schools following the shut down in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak.

Dr. Prempeh made this call earlier today when he inaugurated a 10-member committee in Accra to deliberate and advise on modalities for the re-opening of schools in the pre-tertiary subsector for the approval of the President.

He told the committee that in its deliberations, it must ensure that all stakeholders are brought on board in drawing up its recommendations for transmission to the President and thanked them for accepting this important national assignment.

In reply, the chairman of the Committee, Prof. Dominic Fobih, a former Minister of Education and currently the chairman of the GETFund Board of Trustees, thanked the Minister for entrusting them with this responsibility and assured him that the committee would be diligent in all its deliberations and learn lessons from the recent limited reopening for final year students.

The committee is expected to report to the Minister on Monday 21st September 2020 on its recommendations.

Ghana| Atinkaonline.com

COVID-19: Ghana's cases shoot up to 43,094; 256 deaths

Daniel Opare
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Ghana’s coronavirus (COVID-19) has shot up to 43,094 after recording 101 new cases.

According to the Ghana Health Service, out of the total number of recorded positive cases, 40,963 persons have recovered whiles the number of deaths has also risen to 256.

The active cases, has however dropped to 1,875.

Below is a Cumulative Cases per Region

(Case Count from Highest to Lowest)

Greater Accra Region – 21,445

Ashanti Region – 10,668

Western Region – 2,924

Eastern Region – 2,109

Central Region – 1,836

Bono East Region – 730

Volta Region – 646

Western North Region – 598

Ahafo Region – 490

Northern Region – 489

Bono Region – 480

Upper East Region – 282

Oti Region – 229

Upper West Region – 88

Savannah Region – 62

North East Region – 18

Ghana| Atinkaonline.com

WAEC admits core maths 2 paper leaked; launches investigation

Daniel Opare
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The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has admitted that one of papers in the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) leaked minutes before it was written.

In addition, a list of a yet-to-be-finalised version of an examiners’ list for the examination was put on social media.

It mentioned Mathematics (Core) 2 Paper as the paper that leaked but explained that the questions were posted on social media platforms after the release of the papers from the WAEC strong rooms.

According to Daily Graphic, the Head of National Office (HNO) of WAEC, Mrs Wendy Enyonam Addy-Lamptey, said it had instituted investigations into the leakage of the paper.

With regards to the examiners list, she said “the disturbing development” had been reported the matter to the Cyber Crime Department of the Ghana Police Service.

Mrs Addy-Lamptey stated that the council’s monitoring of the WASSCE indicated that the widespread activities of rogue websites were in full force with fake versions of questions being circulated on various social media platforms as authentic.

She displayed some of the fake versions of the Integrated Science (2&1), Social Studies (2&1), Chemistry (3), Practical Alternative A, and Economics (2&1) papers, which were in circulation on social media platforms as compared to those written.

The HNO described as worrying the activities of the operators of such rogue websites, which had lots of student followers and were therefore, in a position to deceive students and some members of the general public to part with handsome cash for those fake papers.
CoronaLife Web Series

She assured all stakeholders and the members of the public that the council’s marking process, which had been tested over the years ensured fairness and had a rigorous process, which would make it difficult for an examiner to be compromised.

Process

She said the process involved in the marking of scripts included the exclusion of school names on script envelopes, swapping of scripts across regions, vetting of scripts marked by assistant examiners by team leaders, vetting of team leaders’ scripts by the chief examiners and the cross-checking of all marked scripts.

Mrs Addy-Lamptey added that unlike examiners who carried scripts home to mark, the cross-checking of scripts was done under supervision by venue co-ordinators and subject officers at designated venues.

She said apart from revising the list of the yet to be finalised examiners, the elaborate checks and counter-checks as part of the council’s procedures, “will ensure the leak does not compromise our marking.”

Apology

The HNO apologised unreservedly to all examiners whose contact details were inadvertently circulated in the public domain, reiterating the council’s commitment to safeguard the integrity and credibility of its examinations and certificates respectively.

Mrs Addy-Lamptey gave the assurance that the council would continue to roll out various measures to deal with those illegal activities in order to ensure fairness to all candidates and maintain the integrity of examination.

Advice to candidates

She advised candidates writing the examination to make sure they prepared well before entering the examination halls and always rely on their strengths and not any external help, most of which were always fake.

The HNO reminded the candidates that there was no short cut to examination success and advised them to desist from such external assistance because such acts could jeopardise their future.

She appealed to all stakeholders, particularly the supervisors, invigilators and the security officials detailed to the various examination centres to exhibit the highest professionalism in carrying out their respective responsibilities.

Cancellation

Reacting to calls for the Mathematics Core Paper to be cancelled, she explained that the council did not just cancel an examination paper, but did so on the advice of the Ghana Examinations Committee, Chaired by the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) with institutional representations.

She mentioned some of the institutions as the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), Conference of Heads of Private Second Cycle Schools, the National Board for Professional and Technician Examination (NAPTEX), the National Teaching Council (NTC), representative each from six public universities and Rectors of Polytechnics.

Mrs Addy-Lamptey mentioned that other notable high profile personalities on the committee included the Registrar of WAEC, the HNO of WAEC, the Executive Secretary of the National Inspectorate Board (NIB), the Deputy Director-General of the GES in charge of Quality and Access, the Executive Secretary of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) among others.

She explained that WAEC, as a body, could not take any unilateral decision without the express approval of the committee, describing the call as misplaced, “because we only implement the decisions of the committee.”

Ghana| Atinkaonline.com

Akufo-Addo commends Zoomlion boss for helping to control the spread of COVID-19

Daniel Opare
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0

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has lapped praise upon the Executive Chairman of Jospong Groups of Companies (JGC), Dr Joseph Siaw-Agyepong, for the role Zoomlion Ghana Limited (ZGL), a subsidiary of JGC, is playing in the country’s effort to contain the spread of the new coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

He described Zoomlion’s sustained effort in helping to control the spread of the virus as a ‘patriotic intervention.’

President Akufo-Addo made the commendation on Wednesday when he cut the sod for the commencement of a solid and liquid waste treatment facility in Asaakae in the Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipal Assembly (EKMA), Western Region.

Following that commendation, Zoomlion will on Thursday (August 20, 2020) begin the second phase of disinfecting tertiary institutions across the country.

The exercise will kick-start in the Western Region.

According to the President, the Asaakae solid and liquid waste facility is estimated to cost 60 million Euros

The project, which is going to be executed by waste management expert, Zoomlion Ghana Limited (ZGL), and its partners–Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources (MSWR), Sewerage Systems Ghana Limited (SSGL), Pureco and Komptech—would serve the people over 2 million people in EKMA.

He reiterated that the issue of sanitation was very important to his government.

“That is why the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources was set up and mandated to ensure proper sanitation across the country,” he said.

The EKMA solid and liquid waste treatment facilities, he said, was a testimony of the good relations between the government and the private sector.

“It is in line with my government policy of creating an enabling environment for the private sector to bridge the infrastructure gap,” the President said.

The President said when completed, the project will help reduce the high rate of plastics and other solid waste.

“Equally important is the fact that it will provide jobs for the people, potable water, good roads, which will help improve the water and sanitation situation in the municipality,” he said.

He urged the relevant state institutions to ensure that the construction of the project was carried out to the right specifications.

To this end, the President commended Jospong Group of Companies for its partnership with the government to improve sanitation in the country.

The Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Mrs Cecilia Abena Dapaah, explained that the two waste treatment facilities will help improve and sustain the gains made in the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) space.

She said her ministry over the last three-and-a-half years has enjoyed a fruitful relations with members of the Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA), Ghana.

She particularly signalled out Zoomlion for commendation, noting that the company has provided her outfit with pick-ups to help in monitoring to ensure that there is sanitation in the environment.

She reaffirmed that her ministry will continue to pursue water and sanitation policies that will inure to the benefit of the good people of this country.

For his part, the Western Regional Minister, Dr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, described the project as a huge one which provide jobs to over 250 people.

While praising the President for gracing the occasion, the Executive Chairman, Jospong Group of Companies, Dr Joseph Siaw-Agyepong, disclosed that the project will sit on a 200-acre land.

He went on to add that it will comprise a 400-ton solid waste recycling and composting plant, 1000 cubic metres wastewater treatment facility to serve about 2 million people and a staff quarters that will accommodate 250 staff members.

Other facilities are a training and research centre laboratory and 7.5 kilometre road from Asaakae to the site, he said.

“When completed, it will create about 250 jobs for the indigenous and indirect jobs of 1500.”

According to Dr Siaw-Agyepong, both treatment facilities will be completed within 11 months.

“The solid waste treatment will be completed by 3 months and the liquid waste treatment will be completed by 8 months,” he revealed.

Ghana/Atinkaonline.com

President Akufo-Addo cuts sod for €32million 100-bed Shama District Hospital

Daniel Opare
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0

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has cut the sod for the construction of a 100-bed District Hospital at Shama.

According to President Akufo-Addo, “today’s event is yet another important milestone of Government’s commitment to guarantee access to healthcare facilities for all Ghanaians, no matter where they live, and to improve their health and wellbeing.”

The President stated that “Once completed, the facility will contribute to addressing the persistent challenges of high maternal and child health morbidity and mortality in our country. It will also accelerate our progress towards the achievement of the SDGs through enhanced access to quality maternal and child health services”.

Cutting the sod for the commencement of construction, on Wednesday, 19th August 2020, he said that Government has secured an amount of thirty-two million euros (€32 million) from Standard Chartered Bank, with a credit guarantee from Sinosure China, and an insurance cover some one million, nine hundred and sixty thousand euros (€1,960,812.28) for the project.

This 100-bed hospital, which will also comprise sixteen-units of accommodation for hospital workers, will be constructed by Poly Changda, which has extensive experience in China and other parts of Africa in the construction of healthcare facilities.

Upon completion, the two-storey, one hundred bed Shama District Hospital will have the following components: an accident and emergency unit; out-patient department with consulting rooms, physiotherapy unit, and adjunct facilities for dental, ophtalmology and ear, nose and throat treatments; in-patient wards for males, females and paediatrics; maternity ward with a well-designed neo-natal intensive care Unit (NICU); three (3) theatres for general cases, obstetrics and emergencies.

It will also be fitted with a theatre with a 6-bed intensive care unit and a recovery ward; pharmacy and laboratory with the requisite equipment for effective diagnosis and analysis; diagnostic services to include a CT scan; public health department, with the necessary logistics for health education and improvement in our lifestyles; hospital administration; kitchen, laundry, CSSD, maintenance and a logistics building; mortuary; offices for the district director and the health management team; meeting rooms; library; stores; and public health spaces

President Akufo-Addo, in his remarks, noted that the project components include two-year post warranty maintenance; training on medical equipment and new technologies introduced; provision of seed capital to provide 6-months stock of hospital consumables; provision of a utility truck and an ambulance for hospital operations; and provision of ICT facilities to include the relevant software towards achieving a paper-light records management.

He urged all partners, with a stake in the construction of the project, to work assiduously, and ensure that the project is delivered on time and on budget.

“Nananom, I am delighted and honoured by your presence here, and I assure all of you that this project is a sign of greater things to come for Shama, and, indeed, for the whole nation. Government’s commitment to the total development of Ghana is absolute,” he said, adding that “hopefully, with four more for Nana, I expect that all of us, gathered here, will be present again, God-willing, for the commissioning of this project, once it is completed”.

Ghana| Atinkaonline.com

Prez cuts sod for first ever waste treatment facilities in Sekondi-Takoradi

Daniel Opare
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0

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has cut sod for the commencement of the construction of the Sekondi-Takoradi Solid and Liquid Waste Facility, estimated to cost 60 million Euros, in Asaakae in the Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipal Assembly (EKMA), Western Region.

The project, which is going to be executed by waste management expert, Zoomlion Ghana Limited (ZGL), and its partners–Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources (MSWR), Sewerage Systems Ghana Limited (SSGL), Pureco and Komptech—would serve the people over 2 million people in EKMA.

Speaking at a brief ceremony yesterday, President Akufo-Addo reiterated that the issue of sanitation was very important to his government.

“That is why the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources was set up and mandated to ensure proper sanitation across the country,” he said.

The EKMA solid and liquid waste treatment facilities, he said, was a testimony of the Good relations between the government and the private sector.

“It is in line with my government policy of creating an enabling environment for the private sector to bridge the infrastructure gap,” the President said.

According to President Akufo-Addo, the project when completed will help reduce the high rate of plastic and other solid waste.

“Equally important is the fact that it will provide jobs for the people, potable water, Good roads, which will help improve the water and sanitation situation in the municipality,” he said.

He urged the relevant state institutions to ensure that the construction of the project is carried out to the right specifications.

To this end, the President commended Jospong Group of Companies for its partnership with the government to improve sanitation in the country.

He again applauded the company, particularly for helping in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic in the country.

“Indeed, your efforts in the fight against COVID-19 is a patriotic intervention,” he expressed.

The Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Mrs Cecilia Abena Dapaah, explained that the two waste treatment facilities will help improve and sustain the gains made in the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) space.

She said her ministry over the last three-and-a-half years has enjoyed a fruitful relations with members of the Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA), Ghana.

She particularly signalled out Zoomlion for commendation, noting that the company has provided her outfit with pick-up to help in monitoring the environment.

She reaffirmed that her ministry will continue to pursue water and sanitation policies that will minute to the benefit of the Good people of this country.

For his part, the Western Regional Minister, Dr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, described the project as a huge one which provide jobs to over 250 people.

While praising the President for gracing the occasion, the Executive Chairman, Jospong Group of Companies, Dr Joseph Siaw-Agyepong, disclosed that the project will sit on a 200-acre land.

He went on to add that it will comprise a 400-ton solid waste recycling and composting plant, 1000 cubic metres wastewater treatment facility to serve about 2 million people and a staff quarters that will accommodate 250 staff members.

Other facilities are a training and research centre laboratory and 7.5 kilometre road from Asaakae to the site, he said.

“When completed, it will create about 250 jobs for the indigenous and indirect jobs of 1500.”

According to Dr Siaw-Agyepong, both treatment facilities will be completed within 11 months.

“The solid waste treatment will be completed by 3 months and the liquid waste treatment will be completed by 8 months,” he revealed.

Ghana| Atinkaonline.com

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