Address Workers’ Concerns With Deeds – Nana Tells Mahama

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Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo

The 2016 Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has charged President Mahama to stop the lip-service, set his priorities right and respond to the growing concerns of Ghanaian workers.

In his May Day message, Nana Akufo-Addo lamented about the numerous problems confronting the Ghanaian worker, occasioned by the mismanagement of the economy and the fiscal indiscipline that has characterised the rule of the NDC government over the last six years, adding that workers “deserve better and the President must set his priorities right and respond to their concerns with deeds and not words.”

According to him, this year’s May Day celebrations come at a time “when the current state of our country, under this NDC government, is in disarray”, as Ghanaians, and most especially workers, are bearing the full brunt of the economic mismanagement.

An economy in serious decline, evident in the $912 million IMF bailout package with its anticipated job cuts, widespread and rampant corruption, indecisive leadership, as well as the crippling effects of “dumsor dumsor” which continues to cost the nation billions of Ghana cedis, Akufo-Addo said, are examples of the serious problems facing the nation.

As a result of these problems, he noted that “workers’ wages are only to see a 13% increase for the three-year period of the IMF bailout. This would, no doubt, make the Ghanaian worker poorer and poorer, as the cost of living gets ever higher than his or her take-home pay. Prior to this development, government, beginning this year, scrapped the 10% Cost of Living Allowance, despite the rising cost of living. Industries and small businesses are folding up because of ‘dumsor dumsor’, which has resulted in the loss of thousands of jobs.”

In spite of these difficulties, Nana Akufo-Addo urged the “anxious Ghanaian workforce” not to lose hope.

“Stay faithful to the Ghanaian enterprise. A bright future awaits you. The NPP has shown, from 2001 to 2009, that we have the blueprint to ensuring greater employment and rapid economic growth. We have shown through our policies that we are far better in responding to the welfare of the masses. Under the NPP, Ghana saw a significant, unprecedented expansion of the national economy, which led to higher real wages and more jobs,” he said.

He continued: “We remain committed to the enhancement of the dignity of the Ghanaian labour force. The structural transformation of the Ghanaian economy, with the goal of industrialising and adding value to our primary products, and an uncompromising adherence to value for money in the use of the public purse will be the means by which we will expand economic activity and public infrastructure to create the necessary numbers of high-paying jobs that will enhance the living standards of the mass of our people.”

Nana Akufo-Addo reassured Ghanaian workers about the commitment of the NPP to building a society of opportunities for the Ghanaian people, which will provide good education, good skills, good jobs and good pay for all its citizens.

“Together, we can build a nation that we can leave to our children and their children with pride and dignity. The wellbeing of the Ghanaian workforce and the future of their children are our priorities,” he concluded.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Via: -Daily Guide  

Diabetes Cases Increasing Among Urban Poor

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Diabetes, the condition where the body fails to produce enough insulin for proper functioning is gradually creeping into the urban poor with high numbers being recorded among this group.

According to the President of the National Diabetes Association of Ghana, Elizabeth Esi Denyoh, the disease which was once tagged as ‘rich people’s illness’ is now affecting the poor, especially those in the urban areas.

“We had a notion diabetes was a rich man’s disease but that was a myth, now we have more urban people coming up with diabetes in the urban areas,” she said.

Mrs Denyoh made these remarks during a free diabetes screening exercise for the Kasoa community in the Central Region aimed at early detection of the disease.

The exercise screened close to 4,000 people of the disease with 26 new cases being recorded.

She said the exercise had a team of nurses and counsellors who advised persons with the new cases to visit the hospital in order to begin treatment.

Mrs Denyoh, however, mentioned that those with the new cases were all unprepared to visit the hospitals “because they were just casual market women.”

She said it was important for everyone to get tested for diabetes, adding that “if you test positive, follow the treatment plan and take your diet regularly.”

Mrs Denyoh also called for greater government support for the activities of the association.

She said often, the association struggles to get funding for projects such as free screening and advocacy activities.

Some 450,000 people in Ghana are living with diabetes as at 2014, according to the International Diabetes Federation Africa.

The prevalence of the health condition among the adult population is pegged at 3.3 percent between the ages of 20 to 79 year with the figure estimated to increase in the future.

The disease can nonetheless be prevented with simple behavioural changes like controlling your weight, exercising, skipping sugar and bad fat and drinking less alcohol.

By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri

 

 

Via: -Daily Guide  

Leukaemia Advocacy Group Launched

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CHRONIC MYELOID Leukaemia Advocates of Ghana (CMLAG), a non-for-profit organisation aimed at creating awareness and supporting patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia in Ghana, has been launched.

The advocacy group, comprising doctors, patients and members of the public, would focus on supporting patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia and their relatives by sharing knowledge and best practices while running joint campaigns and educating advocates.

CMLAG would also provide a platform for patients, family, friends, researchers, physicians and donors to come together to discuss clinical and non-clinical issues and treatment advances for patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia.

Furthermore, information about patients’ experiences, psychological issues, new research, clinical trials, and discussions of current treatment practices and alternative treatments would be made available by the group.

Chronic myeloid leukaemia is an uncommon type of cancer of the blood cells and bone marrow.

In CML, the bone marrow produces too many white cells called granulocytes. These cells gradually crowd the bone marrow interfering with normal blood cell production.

Dr Benneh Akwasi Kuma, a consultant haematologist and a member of the advocacy group said, “Our course is driven by the fact that people do not know about the disease and most of our patients are coming in late.

As time goes on without treatment, the disease becomes more aggressive and difficult to treat.”

She noted that people suffering from the disease and are not receiving treatment might suffer symptoms such as hearing defects while others have bloated stomachs that tend to be misconnected as pregnancy.

According to the association, close to 100 cases are recorded each year with almost all on medication. Individuals between the ages of 40 to 70 years have the tendency to acquire the disease, but emphasis is not placed on hereditary.

She, therefore, urged the public to visit the hospital regularly when they find abnormalities in the health for early detection and treatment of diseases such as chronic myeloid leukaemia.

By Angela Dzidzornu

 

 

 

Via: -Daily Guide  

GWCL Inaugurates Adentan Office

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Benjamin Angenu being assisted to cut the tape to open the new office.

Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has inaugurated its office in the Adentan District in a brief ceremony held at Ogbojo, Accra.

The GWCL Regional Chief Manager for Accra East, Jacob Ziema Yendor, indicated that the new office is expected to receive applications for new connections as well as address the complaints of the public, among others.

Mr Yendor averred that the new office which is the eighth in the Accra East region would also receive payments from users.

He revealed that the opening of the new office would bring their services of the company closer to the people, noting that in the past clients had to use the Legon office, which has 23,000 registered clients.

According to him, the Adentan Municipality has for more than two decades experienced challenges with the supply of water, stating that with the completion of works in the Kpong Head Water project, the municipality has finally been hooked onto the national lines to receive potable water for 24 hours.

He also appealed to people to report cases of leakages and illegal connections to the district office for prompt action.

The Adentan Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Benjamin Angenu, said the acute water challenges had also been addressed.

 

The new office

The MCE reiterated that development is a shared responsibility and called on all to show commitment, adding that in asmuch as one demands accountability from government, one equally owes it a duty to perform civic responsibilities by paying bills and reporting people who do illegal connections to the company.

Mr Angenu gave the assurance that the municipal authorities would continue to ensure that residents in the municipality enjoyed social amenities that would make lives comfortable for them.

The MCE appealed to the people to be judicious in the use of water and ensure that they maintained good and hygienic environment to avoid any outbreak of diseases.

By Solomon Ofori

 

 

Caption:

 

INSET the new office

Via: -Daily Guide  

Muslims Call For Succession Plan

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Alhaji Suallah Abdallah Quandah

MUSLIM COMMUNITIES in Ghana are advocating a succession plan for nominating, selecting and installing successive national chief imams.

Currently, there is no laid down succession plan for choosing a national chief imam when it becomes vacant.

The latest to have added his voice to the call is the Brong-Ahafo Executive Secretary of the National Peace Council, Alhaji Suallah Abdallah Quandah.

Speaking at the Tijaniyya Muslim Council of Ghana Annual Quranic Recitation at Prang in the Pru District which was attended by Muslim clerics, Islamic scholars from all over the country as well some politicians, including the Convention People’s Party (CPP) National Chairman, Samia Nkrumah and the Vice Presidential Candidate of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, he indicated that “there is no doubt people are nursing the hopes of becoming future national chief imam.”

Exhorting the current National Chief Imam, Sheik Nuhu Sharubutu, the Regional National Peace Council boss said the National Chief Imam has contributed significantly in unifying all Muslims in Ghana under one leadership and has promoted peace and unity among all Muslims groups, while using his distinguished office to ensure peaceful co-existence between Muslims and Christians in the country.

Alhaji Suallah Quandah, therefore, called for stakeholders’ consultation and leadership dialogue comprising regional chief imams, leaderships of all the Muslims sects such as Tijaniyya, Ahlussuna as well as Islamic scholars, Muslim professionals and clerics to draw up the succession plan.

He further urged government to play a facilitative role in the exercise saying, “If it is not done and the unexpected happens one day, it will cost the government several billions of cedis to provide security and maintain peace, law and order.”

Alhaji Suallah Quandah said the National Peace Council is mandated to prevent, manage, resolve and to build sustainable peace in the country.

“Therefore if the National Peace Council has a reason to believe there is a likelihood of an issue resulting into violence, it is within its mandate to early warn for stakeholders to do something to prevent violence from occurring,” he added.

He seized the opportunity to call on Muslims to live in peace with one another and also respect and tolerate the views of other religions to ensure peace and development in Ghana.

FROM Fred Tettey Alarti-Amoako, Sunyani

Email: fredttet@yahoo.com

 

 

Via: -Daily Guide  

KEK Insurance Celebrates Founder

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Lydia Lariba Bawa

KEK INSURANCE Group, one of the Ghana’s largest insurance broking and consulting firms, has held its fifth anniversary and public lecture in memory of the late founder, Kwesi Essel-Koomson, in Accra.

The late Mr Essel-Koomson passed away on April 29, 2010.

He was celebrated for his positive impact towards the insurance industry as well as his hard work and contribution to the lives of young ones; for which he established Mother Theresa Girls’ School.

He served on a number of associations and boards, including National President of the Old Vandals Association (OVA) of the Commonwealth Hall, Board Member of the Senya Secondary School, Chairman of the Union Rural Bank and Vice President for the African Insurance Brokers Association (AIBA).

He was also a board member of the Ghana Reinsurance Company from 2004 to 2005.

On the double occasion, Commissioner of Insurance, Lydia Lariba Bawa, gave a lecture in memory of the late KEK boss on the theme: ‘No Premium, No Cover, The Journey So Far’.

Speaking on the rationale for the implementation of the No Premium No Cover (NPNC), she said the Ghana insurance market was saddled with a lot of challenges, some of which were as a result of the huge levels of premium debts on the books of insurance companies.

According to her, it is one of the bold initiatives by the NIC to roll out the policy unto the Ghanaian market and thus position the industry for stability, safety, and financial soundness.

Ms Bawa said the NPNC directives have helped the industry to improve liquidity, customer service, reduce fraud, improve validity of reported premium income and led to cleaner balance sheets.

“There is no doubt that the policy has come to stay, the NIC will not relent on its effort in seeing to the successful enforcement of the directive to address the liquidity, solvency and claims payment of insurers,” she noted.

The Commissioner of Insurance urged insurance broking companies to learn from the KEK story and structure their companies in a way that allows the companies to live beyond their founders.

KEK Insurance Group was established in the year 1985 and became the leading broker in the country two years after.

The Group, guided by the portrayal of hard work, professional standards and discipline seeks to fulfill the vision of maintaining high professional and ethical standards and positive growth.

By Angela Dzidzornu

 

 

Via: -Daily Guide  

MTN Rewards 10,000 Customers

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MTN Ghana has announced that it will reward over 10,000 loyal customers each month as part of the on-going ‘M’afe Nie’ promotion.

The 100-day promotion that started from March is expected to end in May.

It would give Pay-as-You-Go customers the chance to win fantastic prizes monthly.

During the presentation of the first batch of prizes to winners at the MTN Service Centre office, Chief Marketing Officer, Rahul De, stated that his outfit held the ‘M’afe Nie’ promotion to add value to customers’ experience.

“As telecoms service provider, we live our vision of leading the delivery of a bold new digital world. We will continue to invest in infrastructure and technology and our operations to ensure that the distinct customer experience that makes the lives of our customers a whole lot brighter,” he said.

Several subscribers won prizes ranging from power banks, Nokia Lumia phones, iphone 6+ phones, 32-inch Samsung LED TVs and KIA Rio car.

Gertrude Asamoah, a teacher from Kumasi won the ultimate prize of a three-bedroom house while the second and third winners-Prince Borbie and Sunday Olawele both received keys to KIA Rio brand new cars.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Via: -Daily Guide