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4,500 Accra basic schools undergo disinfection by Zoomlion
Ahead of the reopening of Basic Schools on Monday, June 29, 2020, Zoomlion Ghana Limited yesterday began a nationwide disinfection of schools to create a conducive environment for teaching and learning activities to take place.
The waste management company was expected to disinfect 4,500 schools in the Greater Accra Region alone before next week Monday, Mr Ernest Morgan Acquah, Greater Accra General Manager of Zoomlion told journalists in an interview.
This, he said, was in line with government’s directives to ensure the health and safety of basic school pupils and teachers.
It is recalled that academic activities in basic schools in Ghana came to a halt few months ago, in the wake of the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, also known as (COVID-19).
Since then, some schools started online teaching with the aim to cover the syllabi for the third term.
More than 500,00,000 final year pupils sitting for the 2020 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) are expected back in school next Monday to prepare for the examination which begins in September.
Zoomlion, is therefore, expected to complete spraying of classrooms, staff common rooms, library, washrooms and premises of beneficiary schools by Sunday, June 28, 2020.
At Christ Ebenezer Preparatory School, Mrs Rita Ofosu Yeboah, General Manager of the school said reopening of basic schools could help prepare the final year students for the upcoming BECE examination, noting that most pupils from that school did not participate in online learning introduced by other schools during the lockdown.
On observance of preventive measures against the spread of COVID-19, she said management had already educated Parents’ Teacher Association (PTA) and pupils on social distancing, hand washing with soap and use of face masks.
She said the school was waiting to receive face masks, alcohol-based sanitisers and paper tissue.
But the story was different at the Odorkor SDA Basic School with Mr Theo Mensah, a teacher at the school stating that Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) such as Veronica buckets, liquid soap, hand sanitisers and paper tissue had been procured for use by pupils and teachers from Monday, June 29, 2020.
Mr Abdul Wahab Haruna, a teacher at Odorkor “7” Basic School told journalists he was glad that government had fulfilled its promise to disinfect basic schools prior to the resumption of academic activities.
Zoomlion Ghana Limited had earlier this year, carried out disinfection of markets, lorry stations, drains, schools including specialised facilities such as the Akropong School for the Blind, universities, senior high schools, technical institutions and many others.
The company was executing the project under the auspices of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
Source: Ghanaian Times
The Ghana Tourism Development Company Limited (GTD) in collaboration with the Department of Organisation and Human Resource Management, University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) has marked the 2026 World Safety Day Celebration in Accra.
The event held on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at the Cedi Conference Centre, Legon was under the theme “Good Psychosocial Working Environment: A Pathway to Thriving Workers and Strong Organizations.”
The day is observed globally to promote safe and healthy working conditions and to raise awareness about both physical and psychological risks at the workplace.
The event formed part of efforts by stakeholders to deepen national conversations on workplace safety, particularly the growing concern about psychosocial well being.
In his keynote address, the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo stressed that workers must not be treated as machines but as human beings with dignity, rights and families.
He explained that unsafe work environments marked by fear, harassment, intimidation and excessive pressure reduce productivity and weaken organisations.
He noted that although physical hazards such as faulty equipment and unsafe buildings remain a concern, psychological risks including excessive workload, bullying, job insecurity and toxic communication are equally dangerous and must be addressed.
According to him, psychological hazards are real, measurable and preventable, and should be treated with the same urgency as physical risks.
He maintained that safe and healthy working conditions are not a luxury but a fundamental right that supports productivity and social justice.
Dr Pelpuo further stated that the government remains committed to strengthening occupational safety and health systems, adding that worker wellbeing is a core responsibility of leadership and not a public relations issue.
He urged employers to create environments where dignity is protected, and workers are empowered to speak without fear.
The Dean of University of Ghana Business School, Prof Ernest Y Tweneboah Koduah noted that the school is committed to shaping a better world of work that is equitable, productive and sustainable.
He announced that the school has secured accreditation from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission to introduce a programme in organisational health and safety.
He explained that gaps in workplace safety in Ghana are linked to weak enforcement, underreporting and limited professional training.
He added that the new programme will equip graduates with the skills to prioritise employee wellbeing as a key organisational responsibility.
Prof Tweneboah Koduah urged organisations to assess psychosocial risks, invest in human resource capacity and create environments where workers can openly discuss mental health concerns.
He emphasised that collaboration between academia and industry is essential to addressing workplace safety challenges.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, the Registrar of the University of Ghana, Emelia Naa Kwantsua Agyei Mensah described the event as historic, noting that it is the first time the university is marking the global observance.
She explained that the focus on psychosocial wellbeing reflects current realities in the world of work.
She stated that employee health, including mental and emotional wellbeing, directly affects productivity, morale and institutional performance.
Mrs Agyei Mensah added that the university is committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for staff and students, beyond minimum legal requirements.
She called on leaders to reflect on the kind of workplaces they create and to prioritise the wellbeing of employees.
CEO of the GTDC, Prof Kobby on his part noted that its participation aligns with its commitment under the Riyadh Declaration, which calls on member states to improve infrastructure and public safety, as well as enhance services, transport, connectivity and accessibility.
He indicated that the company intends to use the platform to highlight Ghana’s readiness to implement the declaration, with a strong focus on worker safety and wellbeing as a foundation for sustainable tourism development.
The event brought together policymakers, academics, industry players and students to discuss strategies for improving workplace safety and promoting healthier work environments across the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Minister for Energy, John Abdulai Jinapor, has praised engineers and technical teams working to restore electricity after a fire at the Akosombo Substation disrupted power supply.
He said this after visiting the facility on Monday night to assess ongoing repair works following the incident, which affected the control room and caused the loss of more than 1,000 megawatts of power to the national grid.
During the visit, he interacted with engineers and technicians who have been working continuously under difficult conditions to restore operations.
He said he was impressed by their dedication, courage, and professionalism despite the challenges.
The minister commended the teams for their resilience and sacrifice, noting that their efforts reflect a strong sense of duty and commitment to national service.
He assured them of the government’s full support as they continue with the restoration work.
He also assured the public that authorities are doing everything possible to restore stable electricity supply as soon as possible.
By: Jacob Aggrey
