News
334 health workers in UWR receive incentive packages
Dr Punguyire speaking at the meeting
Incentive packages to entice staff of the Ghana Health Service to accept postings to deprived areas have been instituted in the Upper West Region (UWR).
In all, a total of 334 staff serving in deprived communities in the UWR have been given study leave to pursue further training in the next academic year.
In addition to this package, some 508 clinical staff serving in various capacities in deprived areas were promoted last year to the next grade ahead of their colleagues in the cities.
The Regional Director for Health Services in the region, Dr. Damien Punguyire, speaking at the annual review meeting of the Regional Health Directorate at Wa, said the incentive systems were to attract more staff to rural areas.
The meeting brought together stakeholders to deliberate on the successes and challenges of the service in the region.
Dr. Punguyire projected that the difficulty in getting people to accept postings to deprived areas would be eliminated if staff were motivated with such incentives to help improve nurse and doctor to population ratios, respectively.
With the posting of 20 more doctors to the region, he noted that the doctor-to-patient ratio stood at one doctor to 9,897 patients and said the increase would boost healthcare delivery in the region.
Touching on the theme for the meeting, the director was upbeat about the number of pregnant women who attended antenatal care and said it had led to a decline in maternal mortalities from 28 in 2021 to 16 last year.
He mentioned that a lot more people were becoming aware of their Human Immuno Virus (HIV) status, and 88 per cent of them were undergoing antiretroviral therapy.
He said data from the region suggested that access to health services is not a problem, but the quality of the services is; hence, the focus should be on access to quality health services.
The Regional Minister, Dr. Hafiz Bin Salih, said that despite the remarkable strides made in reducing maternal and infant mortality, it was sad to know that about 300,000 women the world over died as a result of pregnancy-related problems.
He called for a responsive healthcare delivery system to augment the government’s efforts at providing the necessary human resources and infrastructure to eliminate maternal mortalities.
From Lydia Darlington Fordjour, Wa
Ghanaian cinema continues to break boundaries as Vibes The Movie has received an official nomination at the prestigious Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TINFF) in Toronto.
This latest international recognition is another proud moment for Ghana and a powerful testament to the creativity, originality, and global appeal of Ghanaian storytelling.
Directed by Big Ghun and starring Jeffrey Nortey, Vibes The Movie evolved from the hugely successful social media series, where the beloved characters Obolo Tui and Lil Pui captured the hearts of millions with their unique blend of rap, comedy, and relatable stories about the everyday struggles and ambitions of Ghanaian youth.
The film has already brought honour to Ghana on the international stage, most recently winning an Outstanding Achievement Award at the American Motion Pictures Festival in the United States.
The Chronicle noted that the film was recognized for its originality, craftsmanship, and storytelling impact among a competitive pool of global entries.
Now, with a nomination at TINFF in Canada, Vibes The Movie continues its remarkable journey from the streets of Accra to some of the world’s most respected film platforms.
The nomination underscores the growing global appreciation for authentic African stories and confirms that Ghanaian filmmakers are making a significant mark in international cinema.
As Vibes The Movie flies the Black Star high in Toronto, Ghana celebrates yet another cultural achievement that showcases the country’s talent, resilience, and storytelling excellence to the world
A prominent member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has broken silence on the deep-seated internal machinations within the party, warning that the continuous victimization of members could severely jeopardize unity ahead of the general elections.
In a post on the party’s internal democratic processes, the former National Entrpreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) boss, Kofi Ofosu Nkansah revealed how personal ambitions were stifled by party elites in the Asante Akyem Central constituency, despite overwhelming grassroots support.
According to the aggrieved party member, the decision to run for the parliamentary seat was not a self-serving agenda but a direct response to a call to service by the local constituents.
“My Asante Akyem Central people loved my politics and approached me to come and serve them as MP,” he stated.
He added that “But my own party elders blocked me and supported the incumbent MP to cheat through the system as if I was an outsider.”
The unfair playing field he revealed led to a massive financial distress. The stalwart disclosed incurring massive debts across two consecutive primary election cycles, alongside other personal challenges.
Despite the systemic sabotage, Kofi Ofosu Nkansah noted that he remained loyal, continuously defending both the NPP party and the government’s policies at all levels.
“Seeing what’s going on in the current polling station elections in several constituencies, it seems not much has changed,” he warned.
“The victimization of those who want to challenge current or former MPs should stop,” he stated.
With the general elections approaching, he cautioned,”You don’t treat party people anyhow and expect unconditional unity for the general elections.”
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
