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4,500 Accra basic schools undergo disinfection by Zoomlion

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 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).

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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.

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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.

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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

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Ghana should not be importing toothpicks – Haruna Iddrisu

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Minister for Education Haruna Iddrisu has questioned why Ghana continues to import toothpicks despite having the resources to produce them locally.

Speaking in Parliament, Mr. Iddrisu, who previously served as Minister for Trade and Industry, said he feels ashamed that the country still depends on imports for such a basic product.

“I have been Minister for Trade and Industry before and I carry the shame. How come that in Ghana we cannot produce toothpicks and we have to import them?” he asked.

According to him, Ghana has enough resources to support local businesses to manufacture products such as toothpicks instead of relying on imports. He said the country should encourage private sector investment in manufacturing to create jobs and reduce dependence on foreign goods.

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Mr. Iddrisu alleged that some people who received government support under private sector initiatives failed to use the funds for their intended purpose.

“If you want, Honorable Kojo, because you… I can’t go there. There are people who took money in the name of the private sector and said they were going to farm. That money never went to their farms. You know that,” he told Parliament.

On job creation, the Education Minister said he agreed with the views expressed by a colleague on the need to create more employment opportunities. However, he argued that the One District, One Factory (1D1F) programme did not provide the solution to Ghana’s employment challenges.

Mr. Iddrisu made the remarks during parliamentary proceedings while contributing to discussions on job creation and the country’s industrial development.

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By: Jacob Aggrey

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There was no discussion of any GH¢55 million – Dennis Miracles Aboagye denies EOCO statement

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New Patriotic Party (NPP) communications officer, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has dismissed reports linking him to an alleged GH¢55 million case, insisting that no such issue was raised during his detention by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).

In a Facebook post after his release from EOCO custody, Mr Aboagye stated that at no point during his detention was he questioned about any GH¢55 million.

“For the records: There was no discussion of any GH¢55 million with me by EOCO. None,” he wrote.

According to him, he was detained for four days, a day after announcing his intention to contest for the position of National Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party.

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Mr Aboagye alleged that false narratives were circulated about his arrest but expressed confidence that the truth would eventually prevail.

He thanked NPP supporters who demonstrated and called for his release, saying news of the protests reached him while he was in detention and encouraged him.

Mr Aboagye indicated that the support shown by party faithful strengthened his resolve and reaffirmed his commitment to serve the NPP.

He maintained that his detention had not discouraged him from pursuing his political ambition.

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“If the intention was to break me, it has failed. If the intention was to scare me, it has failed spectacularly,” he stated.

Mr Aboagye expressed appreciation to his legal team, the leadership of the NPP and all supporters who stood by him throughout his detention.

He reiterated his determination to lead the party’s Communications Directorate, declaring that he remained “ready to win” and committed to what he described as the party’s mission to “command the narrative.”

By: Jacob Aggrey

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