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KOICA contracts Medtronic Labs to provide free health screening in Upper East and North East Regions
Mr Kwabena Asante Offei (left), with Mr Seungmin Oh (Right) exchanging the agreement after the signing.
A total of 2,500 people in the Upper East and North East Regions are to receive free health screening for hypertension and diabetes and maternal health care, following an agreement signed on Monday between the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and Medtronic Labs Ghana.
Per the terms of the agreement, KOICA is to provide $75,000 in funding while Medtronic Labs Ghana would carry out the screening for the community.
Medtronic Labs Ghana will also provide standard kits that compromise BP machines and glucometers to ensure that patients are managed and treated well during the 12 months period of the programme.
The Senior Deputy Country Director of KOICA-Ghana, Mr Seungmin Oh, explained that the agreement forms part of the Phase II of the Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) embarked upon in the region.
He said 10 CHPS zones had been linked to three health centres and one district hospital to provide treatment to beneficiaries who may be screen and needed further treatment.
Mr Oh said, KOICA acknowledged the unique advantage that Medtronic labs would bring on board in implementing a comprehensive community-based screening, and referred patients to the nearest health facilities.
“We are confident that their digital solution willcontribute to raising awareness of Non Communicable Diseases such as hypertension and diabetes to general population, as well as early screening for pregnant mothers to prevent complications as a result of hypertension and gestation diabetes.
“We hope that collectively, we can support the health system strengthening, improve ownership, and eventually form a strong foundation to sustain quality healthcare in the country,” he said.
Mr Oh said Korea would continueto focus on improving primary healthcare delivery, and expressed confident that the screening would create public awareness to help address challenges in the health sector.
The Country Lead-Business Development and Partnership for Medtronic Labs, Mr Kwabena Asante Offei said, key objective of his outfit was to improve access to primary healthcare and ensure meaningful clinical outcomes.
He said the programme will go beyond diagnosis to provide a care model that aligned with Ghana’s primary healthcare delivery.
BY BERNARD BENGHAN
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President John Dramani Mahama to kick off 2025/26 Premier League season in Accra
The 2025/26 Premier League will officially kick off on Friday, September 12, 2025, at the Accra Sports Stadium, with the President of the Republic, John Dramani Mahama, performing the ceremonial kick-off ahead of the season opener between Accra Hearts of Oak and league debutants Hohoe United.
President Mahama will be joined by Football Association President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, members of the Executive Council and football fans from across the capital as the curtain rises on what promises to be one of the most exciting campaigns in recent years.
Giants Hearts of Oak will open their quest for a league title when they take on newly promoted Hohoe United under the floodlights of the Accra Sports Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:00 pm local time (19:00 GMT).
The Phobians, bolstered by new signings and a strong pre-season campaign, are eager to end a four-year run without an opening-day victory, while United will be aiming to make a statement in their first-ever top-flight match.
Before the main fixture, there will be a curtain-raiser between the Black Starlets (Ghana U-17) and Auroras FC, the youth side of Hearts of Oak, at 4:00 pm local time.
Adding to the celebratory atmosphere, top Afro-dancehall and reggae musician Stonebwoy (Livingstone Etse Satekla) will deliver a live performance at the venue, ensuring fans enjoy not only football but also top-class entertainment on opening night.
This season is expected to be one of the most competitive in recent memory, with traditional heavyweights, ambitious newcomers and revitalized clubs all targeting glory. From title races to survival battles, fans are set for months of excitement, drama and unforgettable moments.
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GES opens promotion applications for teaching staff
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has invited applications from qualified teachers and officers for promotion to higher ranks within the service.
In a notice signed by the Acting Deputy Director-General for Management Services, Prof. Smile Dzisi, the GES said the ranks available are Deputy Director, Assistant Director I, Assistant Director II and Principal Superintendent.
According to the statement, applicants must meet the minimum years of service required for each position.
Teachers seeking promotion to Deputy Director must have been promoted to Assistant Director I in or before 2021.
Similarly, those applying for Assistant Director I should have held the rank of Assistant Director II since 2021 or earlier.
Applicants for Assistant Director II must have been Principal Superintendents from 2021 or earlier, while those applying for Principal Superintendent must have been Senior Superintendent I since 2021 or before.
The GES stated that teachers with approved Master’s or PhD degrees may use their certificates to apply for promotion out of turn if the qualifications meet set conditions.
These include completing an approved course of study and obtaining the certificate after their previous promotion but not later than 2023.
Applicants are to complete the online application form and upload all required documents in PDF format, except for the passport-size photograph.
The application window runs from Thursday, September 11, to Thursday, October 2, 2025. The GES urged all applicants who had applied earlier to re-apply.
By: Jacob Aggrey
