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We’ll ease COVID-19 restrictions … if pandemic associated deaths reduce – President
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has appealed to the public to remain disciplined and adhere to the measures introduced by the government to fight the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
“The most effective method for us to deal with this virus is our own self discipline. The protocols of hygiene, social distancing, not shaking hands, protecting our selves, wearing the face masks…these are the short, medium and long term solution to the proliferation of the virus,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo said this when the chiefs and queen mothers of the Anlo Traditional Area in the Volta Region called on him at the Jubilee House in Accra yesterday.
He stressed the need to get the message of self discipline to everybody in the country so that everyone will be aware of the measures they need to take to protect themselves from the virus.
“If we adhere to these protocols, the hygiene, the social distancing, the washing of the hands and sanitisers, I’m confident that we will overcome this virus. But we need to work at it, and work at it together,” he said.
He entreated the public to always be on the guard and protect themselves and everyone around them against the outbreak of the pandemic.
President Akufo-Addo noted that the government will consider easing the restrictions imposed if the rate of deaths associated with the pandemic reduces.
“Fortunately for us, the number of people who have died from the disease is very small. Each death is unfortunate but nevertheless, the numbers in Ghana are small,” he said noting that the number of people in serious conditions is also very small.
“If it continues that way, then it gives us the opportunity to be looking at how we can ease many of the restrictions that is making life very difficult,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo pledged to construct a hospital and a police station for the people of Anlo and expressed gratitude to them for supporting his administration, especially in this COVID-19 crisis.
The leader of the delegation from Kome and Shime Traditional Area of Anlo, Togbui Kumasah Agbotadua, thanked the President for the recognition given to the people of the area with the creation of the Anloga District Assembly.
“We also thank you for giving us an indefatigable and hardworking son of ours as the Anloga District Chief Executive. Mr President we thank you very much,” he said.
He said the people of the area have faith in the leadership of President Akufo-Addo.
BY YAW KYEI
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Prof Alidu Seidu files nomination for Tamale Central seat
The newly elected parliamentary candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for Tamale Central, Prof Alidu Seidu, has submitted his nomination forms to the Electoral Commission.
As of 10:00 a.m. today, he was the only person who had filed to contest the seat.
Nomination of candidates will close at the end of the day.
Associate Professor and Head of the Political Science Department at the University of Ghana Legon, Prof. Alidu Seidu won the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primaries in the Tamale Central constituency with a landslide victory.
The elections, supervised by the party’s Elections and IT Directorate in the Northern Region, saw Prof. Seidu poll 840 votes out of the total valid ballots cast.
His closest contender, Lawyer Hanan Gundadow Abdul-Rahaman, secured 536 votes.
The other aspirants could not make significant gains, with Dr. Seidu Fiter obtaining 44 votes, Aliu Abdul-Hamid 23 votes, and the rest recording fewer than 10 votes each.
In all, 1,500 ballots were cast, with 6 ballots rejected and 7 spoilt ballots recorded.
The results were signed and declared by Dr. Arnold Mashud Abukari, NDC Northern Regional Director of Elections and IT.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) held parliamentary primaries in Tamale Central to choose a candidate for the upcoming by-election following the death of the sitting Member of Parliament, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed. Dr. Mohammed, who also served as Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, tragically died in a military helicopter crash in the Adansi Akrofuom District on August 6, 2025, alongside seven others.
His passing left the Tamale Central seat vacant, as required by Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
The Electoral Commission has scheduled the by-election for September 30, 2025. While the NDC moved quickly to open nominations and vet aspirants, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) announced it would not contest the seat, citing the need to respect the somber circumstances and promote national unity.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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Ghana to locally refine its gold starting October 2025 – Sammy Gyamfi
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi, has announced that plans are far advanced for the establishment of a state-owned gold refinery in the country.
Speaking at the 2025 Minerals and Mining Convention, Mr Gyamfi said the refinery will process locally mined gold into bullion instead of exporting it in its raw state.
According to him, it is unacceptable that Ghana, despite being a leading gold producer in Africa, continues to export raw gold known as dore.
He explained that the Gold Board, working with the Bank of Ghana and local refineries, will from October 2025 begin refining gold locally.
He also disclosed that an ultramodern assay laboratory will be built to ensure international standards in testing gold quality.
Mr Gyamfi noted that the refinery will be wholly state-owned and will help Ghana move away from raw mineral exports to value addition.
This, he said, will boost foreign exchange earnings, create jobs, and position Ghana as a hub for gold refining and jewellery production in Africa.
The CEO stressed that the project forms part of government’s strategy to ensure the country benefits fully from its natural resources and to transform the mining sector into a driver of economic growth.
By: Jacob Aggrey
