Kenyan doctor cuts open wrong patient's head

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A Kenyan doctor has been suspended after cutting open the head of the wrong patient.

One patient needed surgery on a blood clot on the brain while the other just needed nursing for swelling, The Daily Nation reports.

But, the newspaper goes on to report that "a horror mix-up of identification tags saw the wrong man wheeled into theatre".

The doctors did not realise the mistake "until hours into the surgery, when they discovered there was no blood clot in the brain", the Nation adds.

Kenyatta National Hospital said it deeply regretted the mistake and suspended the doctor, reports the Standard newspaper.

But the doctor's colleagues have protested the suspension, reports The Star, arguing it should be the person who put on the identification tag that should be punished.

The Nation goes on to report that the two patients are in good condition. It adds that the one who had a clot might not undergo surgery after all, after he improved significantly.

BBC

NPRA calls for prosecutorial powers to deal with Tier 2 &3 defaulters 

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The National Pension Regulatory Authority (NPRA), established under the National Pensions Act, 2008, Act 766 is responsible for ensuring the compliance of the Act and approve, regulate, monitor trustees, pension fund managers, custodians and other institutions that deal with pensions as the Authority may determine.

Provision of pensions is seen by many as a fundamental economic and social importance particularly because of its role in providing retirement income security, hence the interest of contributors ought to be protected.

It is in this vein that NPRA as part of their commitment to reach out to the citizenry organized a training workshop for media about understanding the 3-Tier Pension Scheme and its emerging issues.

Explaining how more efficient as regulators they could be, the Chief Executive Officer of the NPRA, Hayford Attah Krufi mentioned categorically the need for prosecutorial powers to deal with entities and people who flout the requirements of tier 2 and 3 schemes.

According to him, in as much as they have to educate and sensitize the populace, a time comes when they have to enforce. And that the same way SSNIT could prosecute, NPRA ought to have that mandate.

“we need to be given the power to prosecute, as much as we have to educate and sensitize, it comes to a point where we have to enforce and there is a limit that we can go and that limit is the fact that we do not have prosecutorial powers,” he remarked.

Ghana, from the colonial era to date has had various pension schemes, notably the CAP 30 Pension Scheme, SSNIT Pension Scheme, Ghana Armed Forces Pension Scheme, Teacher Pension Ordinance 1995 as amended and Ghana Universities Staff Superannuation Scheme amongst others. 

This brought about some disparities in the system where some people do not contribute but enjoy pension, this gave rise to public workers’ agitations leading to setting up of Presidential Commission. 

The Commission recommended that the NPRA coming into office must unify all pensions schemes in Ghana. This, Mr. Hayford Attah Krufi mentioned that though it is a challenge, they are working assiduously to unify the schemes.

The authority has also developed a Consumer Protection Policy for the industry to protect the interest of  consumers. The policy shall become the benchmark for assessing the service providers’ dealing with contributors and the general public.

He also revealed that both tier 2 and 3 contribute about 10.9% of the country’s GDP and that as of last year ending, the investment they made was about GHC 8.5 billion and very sure it has increased two months into 2018.

Ghana |Atinkaonline.com |Patrick Ofoe Nudzi    

   
 

Govt releases GH¢88m to pay school feeding caterers

Daniel Opare
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The government has released GHc88 million to defray arrears owed caterers under the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP).

The disbursement covers the September- December, 2017.

Speaking in an interview with Atinka News, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Otiko Afisah Djaba, said it was in line with the government's demonstrable commitment to sustain and improve the programme.

According to Ms. Otiko Afisah Djaba the caterers should expect the monies to hit their accounts from Thursday 1st March, 2018 as the process to credit their accounts has commenced.

The Gender Minister also noted that Government has increased the amount per child from eighty pesewas (80p) to one Ghana Cedis (GHC1). More so, the number of school children benefiting from the programme has increased.

She reminded caterers that per the terms and conditions of their contract with the GSFP, "they have an obligation to serve the children one hot nutritious meal every school day and that no caterer will be paid for no services rendered".

Ms. Otiko Djaba urged the caterers not to stop cooking for the school children due to delays in releasing feeding money for payments, adding that Government is working tirelessly to ensure that the caterers are paid on time.

 

Ghana|Atinkaonline.com|Regina Asamoah|[email protected]

 

Int’l Women Day: Gender Ministry outlines activities to mark day

Daniel Opare
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The Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection has launch activities earmarked to commemorate this year’s International Women’s day slated for March 8, 2018.

The United Nation’s has announced this year’s theme as “Time is now: Rural and Urban Activists Transforming Women’s lives” to draw attention to the rights and activism of rural women, who make up over the 25% of the world’s population.

Speaking at the launch, Minister for Gender, Children and Social protection, Otiko Afisa Djaba stated that slight variation has been made to the global theme to focus on our   immediate concerns as Ghanaian women and the peculiar demands of our socio-cultural environment.

“With our theme, ‘#WomenToo: Press to Progress as Game changers’,  we  aim to use the days leading up to 8th March to undertake a series of activities and advocacy that will fix the spotlight firmly on the urgent need to refocus attention on institutional and socio-cultural barriers that are preventing women especially rural women from enjoying an adequate standard of living a life free of violence and harmful practices, access to land and productive assess, food security and nutrition, decent work , education and health, including sexual and reproductive health and rights”.

Madam Otiko Afisa Djaba intimated that as we countdown to the celebration of International Women Day 2018, she called on all citizens of Ghana to reflect on the state of women, who are our mothers, wives, sisters and daughters, and resolve to respect, protect and promote their rights as citizens, deserving of lives free of discrimination and violence in order to harness their full potentials for the development our dear nation.

According to her while we have made significant and tremendous progress as women, it is disheartening and dispiriting to learn that a despicable and dehumanizing practice like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)is on the upsurge in some parts of the Upper East Region. She however announced that her Ministry has launch a special campaign aimed at the total eradication of this heinous practice.

Outlining the programmes for the one-week long celebration culminating on the women’s day celebration on the 8th of March, she stated the following;

  • There will be media encounters from the 1st to 8th of March; there will be a public lecture as part of the Ghana at 60 celebrations on the topic ‘Prospects, Successes and Challenges of the Ghanaian Woman’
  • On Friday 2nd March, there will be a debate for secant cycle institutions in Accra on the theme ‘Behind every successful woman, there is a man’ at the GNAT Hall
  • On Saturday 3rd March, there will be fun games with various women groups including security agencies, Gender ladies, Female Caucus of Parliament and female Ambassadors in Ghana, Ministries at the El Wak Sports stadium
  • On Sunday 4thof March, there will be church service at the forecourt of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.
  • On Monday 5th of March there will be a “Media Storm’ to discuss issues on gender equality.
  • On Wednesday 6th March, there will be a route march and rally at the Independence Square. It will start at 7:00 am from the Obra Spot at Circle
  • On Thursday 8th March, there will be a Panel discussion organized by the First Lady, Mrs. Rebecca Akuffo Addo
  • On Friday 9th March, there will be a live band extravaganza to raise funds in support of ‘#Operation Get Off the Street Now for a Better Life”

 

Ghana|Atinkaonline.com|Regina Asamoah|[email protected]

 

“Operation Calm Life” enhanced to crush daring armed robbers 

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“Operation Calm Life,” which is a joint anti-armed robbery military and police operations has been enhanced with immediate effect according to Minister for information, Mustpaha Hamid.

Addressing the press Thursday, the minister said there will be heavy military and police presence in our major cities across the country starting from Thursday.

He revealed that Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, convened an emergency meeting of all heads of security agencies, service commanders and ministers responsible for the Interior, Defence and National Security and also the Senior Minister to deliberate on the recent spate of robberies in the country.

“Government takes a serious view of these events and has therefore put in place measures that will forestall these occurrences and ensure a better protection for life and property,” he said.


PRESS BRIEFING ON RECENT SPATE OF ARMED ROBBERIES

Today at exactly 9 a.m. the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, convened an emergency meeting of all heads of security agencies, service commanders and ministers responsible for the Interior, Defence and National Security and also the Senior Minister to deliberate on the recent spate of robberies in the country. Government takes a serious view of these events and has therefore put in place measures that will forestall these occurrences and ensure a better protection for life and property.

1. “Operation Calm Life,” which is the joint anti-armed robbery military and police operations has been enhanced with immediate effect. In this regard there will be heavy military and police presence in our major cities across the country starting from today.

2. There will be surgical operations in certain areas, based on intelligence, whose purpose shall be to flash out criminals and suspected criminals.
3. There will be enhanced surveillance on financial institutions, forex bureaus and money vending points across our cities.

4. Government further directs that all financial institutions install CCTV cameras on their premises. Government will roll out a programme to link all these CCTV cameras to a National Operational Command Center.

5. The Ministry of Energy has been directed to accelerate the pace of its cities and communities lighting programme, in order to light up our cities and communities especially crime prone areas.

6. Government wishes to remind citizens that the Road Traffic Act, prohibits the mounting of and use of sirens on private vehicles. The police are on the lookout for citizens who violate traffic regulations with mounted sirens. The only category of people authorized by law to use sirens are, the President, Vice President, Heads of Security, ambulances and bullion vans and also selected categories of people who may be led by a military or police dispatch rider. Citizens are encouraged to report people who use sirens illegally.

Government regards the peace and security of our country as the basis for development and will stop at nothing to ensure that Ghanaians are safe and go about their lawful duties in peace and tranquility. We further encourage citizens to be vigilant and report suspicious characters in their communities to the law enforcement agencies.

Thank you for coming and God bless our homeland Ghana

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com 
 

Rawlings: I hope robbery and killings not politically motivated

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Ex-President Jerry Rawlings has suggested that the increasing cases of armed robbery could be politically motivated.

His assertion follows the increase in violent crimes in recent times as a case of armed robbery is recorded almost daily.

However, in a tweet Thursday, the one- time military leader suggested that the trend points to an orchestration to undermine the security services

“Let us hope the recent robbery and killings is downright plain robbery and not a politically motivated action from within or without, calculated to undermine those in charge of the security machinery in order to pave the way for certain parochial ambitions,” he tweeted.

 

Read full tweet:

 

 

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com 

Zoomlion partners AMA to embark on ‘Clean Accra Project’

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If there is any one waste management company in this country that wants to see government achieve its vision of a clean Accra, then that company is no other than Zoomlion Ghana Limited (ZGL).

As part of its contribution towards the President’s clean Accra and the entire country, Zoomlion has partnered city authorities, Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to embark on what is known as the ‘Clean Accra Project.’

The aim of this project is to make Ghana clean green and healthy.

Briefing the media, General Manager (GM), Zoomlion Accra Zone, Ernest Morgan Acquah, disclosed that the object of the "Clean Accra Project" is to support the President to achieve his vision of "Making Accra the Cleanest City in Africa".

The Clean Accra Project, he further explained, is not limited to his outfit’s core activities of sweeping and collection of waste, “but more importantly, we have moved further to intensify the desilting of drains and painting all road kerbs in the central business district (CBD) of the national capital—Accra.

Painting the road kerbs, he indicated, will complement efforts at beautifying Accra. 

According to him, painting of the kerbs was done when a festive occasion was approaching, ‘but now what is new is that we are doing it on regular basis.’   

“We are doing this till the end of the year so that we ensure that Accra is clean, green and healthy,” he disclosed.

In ensuring that especially hawkers do not make the kerbs dirty after painting, Mr. Morgan Acquah said this was the more reason why his Zoomlion had to partner Assembly to strictly enforce sanitation bye-laws and bring to book offenders.

‘And with AMA strictly enforcing the sanitation bye-laws obviously our attitudinal problem towards the environment would be minimized to the barest minimum,’ he said.

Though the project started with the central business district of Accra, the Accra Zone Zoomlion GM revealed that they have equally covered areas including Madina-Adentan highway, Trade Fair and Mallam.

According to Mr. Morgan Acquah, beginning next month the project would be replicated in the other regions.

‘…for now we have started with Accra and we will be doing the whole of Accra,’ he assured.

On resources for this huge project, Mr. Morgan Acquah stressed that Zoomlion has procured enough resources to ensure that the project becomes a success.

‘There are pick-ups, wheelbarrows among many other waste management equipment.’ 

He also used the opportunity to urge Ghanaians to ensure that ‘we, in our own small ways, also play our parts in ensuring that Ghana becomes a clean and health country.’

 

 

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

Massive shake-up hits Police command following rise in armed robbery  

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The Inspector General of Police has made massive changes to  the command structure of the Service following the upsurge  of violent crime in the capital.

According to a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs, David Eklu, the Eastern Regional Police commander DCOP Simon Afeku is now the substantive Director General of Police Operations, which was previously headed by Dr. George Akuffo Dampare.

COP Christian Tetteh Yohunu has been moved from Director General in charge of Special Duties to Director General in Charge of Police Intelligence.

 

Below is the full statement:  

 

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

Bring NDC back in 2020 – Kuntu Blankson urges NDC faithful’s as he “eyes” Ekumfi seat

Daniel Opare
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A Former MP for Ekumfi and 1st Deputy Majority Chief Whip of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Hon George Kuntu Blankson has called on all faithful’s of the umbrella family to close their ranks to help the party secure victory in 2020 which is an inch closer.

According to the former Legislator, this is the time for the NDC leaders to do soul searching, address the weaknesses and re-claim its founding principles if it is to be unbeatable in 2020. According Kuntu Blankson if NDC leaders, members and stakeholders don’t do cautious introspection and openly show remorse for the betrayal of the people’s trust it might not recover in time for 2020.

Speaking after registering for his membership at the just ended NDC membership reregistration exercise at his Branch at Ekumfi Otuam, his hometown, the former District Chief Executive for Mfansteiman posited that     unresolved grievances among members of the party need to be worked on to reduce unnecessary battles and factions that could cause serious damage to the fortunes of the NDC ahead of the 2020 general elections.

“Some people within our ranks and files are at loggerheads and don’t talk to each other from the branch, constituency, regional and national level. We should not continue to pretend that there are no problems in our party, there are and are several of them that contributed to our defeat, “he stated.

While admitting that in every grouping there are bound to be agreements and disagreements, the Former Board Chairman of the Ghana Airport Company Ltd under whose watch the Kotoka International Airport received massive facelift ,is of the  believe , there is much to be done to solve some of the disunity and infighting within the NDC  

“Any attempt to allow divisions and factions will certainly spell doom for the NDC, which ordinarily should be the voice of the people now and the alternative platform for us to come to power in 2020, especially as the New Patriotic Party, (NPP) is clearly disappointing the citizens in the manner and way they are carrying on with governance,” he added.

He appealed passionately to the leadership of the NDC to shelve all differences and resort to dialogue, which for him, is the best option for a harmonious resolution of the internal issues of the party.

Ghana | atinkaonline.com

Obiri Boahene’s outcry misplaced, we don't give cars to executives – John Boadu

Daniel Opare
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The acting General Secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu, has asked the general public to disregard reports that the party disbursed GHC50 billion for its  2017 Delegates Conference in Cape Coast.

A secret recording of the controversial politician, has gone viral. In the recording Obiri Boahen alleged that the Flagstaff House, gave the NPP GHC50 billion old cedis to hold last year’s National Conference at Cape Coast in the Central Region.

In the said recording, Obiri Boahen expressed his displeasure in the executives of the NPP for giving him only GHC5000 out of the alleged GHC50 given them. He also stated that he had completely been neglected by the party and that as General Secretary, he has no official vehicle.  

Speaking to Ekourba Gyasi on Atinka AM Drive, The acting General Secretary of the NPP described his deputy’s assertion as mischievous adding that executives of the NPP do not receive salaries or anything of that sort.

Commenting on Obiri Boahen’s “car” allegation, John Boadu stated that the party is not distributing cars to its executives.

“Per the party’s constitution, it is only the General Secretary and National Organizer who are full time employees of the party. Even with that ,  they are not paid ”, he added.

He added that it would have been a different issue if those persons had been given vehicles and he (Obiri Boahen) has not been given.

According to him,  even though  Obiri Boahen has admitted that he lied in the audio, he will still appear before the Steering Committee of the party  which has been tasked to immediately look into the matter and make appropriate recommendations.

Ghana | atinkaonlinae.com | Vivian Adu Boatemaa

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