KUMAWU ROAD NOT FOR VOTES- ROADS MINISTER

Mr. Kwasi Amoako-Atta, the Minister for Roads and Highways, has denied claims that the construction of Kumawu roads aims to gain votes in the upcoming by-election. He clarified that the procurement process started before the former Member of Parliament's passing.

The road works extend beyond Kumawu, raising doubts about their relevance to the by-election. The Minister assured that construction would continue afterward and urged the public not to be swayed by propaganda. He emphasized ongoing road projects across Ghana, requesting patience.

Approximately 20 kilometers of internal roads in Kumawu and other areas are earmarked for construction. He encouraged citizens to express concerns peacefully.

ORIGINAL STORY BY YUSSIF IBRAHIM-GNA

TUBERCULOSIS KILLS 4000 DAILY IN GHANA

Ms Cynthia Atuobi of Hope for Future Generations (HFFG) has urged the Ghanaian government to invest in efforts to end tuberculosis (TB) in the country. Speaking during a stakeholders engagement event, she emphasized the importance of investing in TB-affected communities and civil society to enable their active participation in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and support services. Ms Atuobi highlighted the high number of daily TB-related deaths and called for collaborative efforts among various stakeholders to address the issue. The "TBImpact Ghana" project, funded by Stop TB Geneva and implemented by HFFG, aims to strengthen community systems and expand community-led interventions for TB control.

The project coordinator, Ms Doris Lomokie Dornor, stressed the need for political declarations to align with on-the-ground actions to bridge the gap between commitments and actual implementation. She encouraged Ghanaians to download the TBImpactGH app for comprehensive information on TB and emphasized the collective responsibility of the society in fighting against the disease. Mr Wisdom Klenyuie, Volta Regional TB Coordinator, expressed optimism that TB could be eliminated by 2030 with the right strategies in place.

ORIGINAL STORY BY - EWOENAM KPODO,GNA

IMF APPROVES $3BILLIONS LOAN FOR GHANA

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved Ghana's request for a $3 billion loan-support program. An immediate disbursement of $600 million will be provided to support Ghana's three-year Post COVID-19 Programme for Economic Growth (PC-PEG). The loan aims to restore macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability.

The approval follows months of negotiations and the government's efforts to address its economic challenges. The loan program focuses on reforms to enhance domestic revenue mobilization, improve public financial management, and address issues in the energy and cocoa sectors. It also aims to promote inclusive growth, job creation, and alleviate exchange rate pressures.

The IMF highlights the importance of debt restructuring with external creditors. While the loan is seen as providing policy credibility and short-term economic management assistance, it is not a complete solution to Ghana's economic crisis. Some economists suggest cutting waste and controlling government spending.

Ghana experienced economic difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to public dissatisfaction and protests. The government is committed to revitalizing the economy and promoting rapid economic growth.

EC postpones upcoming voter registration exercise

The Electoral Commission (EC) has postponed its compilation of a new voter register as a result of the novel Coronavirus pandemic.

Dr. Serebour Quaicoe, Director of Electoral Services told journalists after an Inter-Party Advisory Committee meeting, Wednesday, that the outfit is collaborating with health experts to decide on a more favourable date.

“We had planned to do the registration on the 18th but because of the pandemic, we can't do it on the 18th, so, we are observing what is happening around Ghana and the global issue...so, when it gets to a time that we think the situation is fertile for us to commence with the registration then we can do it," Dr. Quaicoe explained.

The IPAC meeting was organised in two sets. This was in compliance with the social distancing directive from the President as part of measures to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country.

The compilation of a new voter register for the 2020 elections was scheduled to begin on April 18, this year. The commission had also expressed hope it will complete the exercise by May 30, 2020.

The exercise which has been assigned a budget of GHS390 million faced opposition from some political parties and civil society organisations.

The Inter-Party Resistance Against the New Voters Register, a coalition of six political parties, kicked against the plan, citing cost, time and credibility as the basis for its opposition.

Regardless, Dr. Serebour Quaicoe justified the plan.

He said: “We have made it very clear that the current biometric system is not good enough for future activities. We are having a lot of challenges with it. In addition to that, a lot of people have found it difficult to have their fingerprints picked up by the machine so we intend to introduce the facial recognition [option] in addition so that if your fingerprint fails, your image will be used for verification.”

Ghana has recorded 68 cases with 3 deaths.

In his 3rd address to the nation, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on March 21 announced measures his government has put in place to fight the pandemic.

Among others, he mentioned that "all our borders, that is by land, sea and air, will be closed to human traffic for the next two weeks, beginning midnight on Sunday. Anybody who comes into the country, before midnight on Sunday, will be mandatorily quarantined and tested for the virus. This closure will not apply to goods, supplies and cargo."

"Secondly, the Ministry of Health will not only step up its contact tracing efforts, but will also see to it that all persons who have been identified as having come into contact with infected persons are tested for the virus. More personal protection equipment are being procured to beef up supplies for our frontline health workers. Fifty thousand additional test kits have been ordered, and are expected in the country very shortly."

Meanwhile, health minister Kwaku Agyeman Manu has announced that the country is expecting about 30,000 protective equipment to aid in the fight against coronavirus.