Features
Akan constituency MP Engr. Yao Gomado, a definition of selfless leadership
Engr. Yao Gomado
From denying himself the luxury and prestige of riding in a V8 Landcruiser vehicle like other Members of Parliament (MPs), to rather invest in the wellbeing of his constituents, Akan Constituency MP in the Oti Region, Engr. Yao Gomado, is setting an example as far as selfless leadership is concerned.
Voted into power in 2020 on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Engr. Gomado easily won the 2024 primaries to contest for another four years, owing to his unmatched track record as a first timer in areas including health, education, roads and most significantly, portable water for his constituents.
To address the acute water challenge within the constituency, Engr, Gomado with support from some non-governmental organisations, constructed 52 manual and 39 mechanised boreholes during his first term.
He also organised six consecutive free eye screening exercises which benefitted over 11,000 constituents and fully paid for surgeries for several people referred to the St. Joseph and St. Theresa Hospitals to restore their sights.
He also ensured the provision of ultramodern facilities at the St. Theresa Hospital Eye Clinic to operate efficiently.
On education, Engr. Gomado provided laptops, desktops and printers to the Kadjebi district directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES), donated 43-inch flat-screen television sets to the Kadjebi-Asato Senior High School (SHS), Dodi-Papase Senior High Technical School and Ahamansu Islamic Senior High School in order to ensure students were abreast of current news across the globe.
He also donated 1,440 mathematical sets to candidates of the 2021 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) as well as 1,260 and 1,600 sets to the 2022 and 2023 BECE candidates, respectively, aside organising Special Mock Examination with supervision from the GES to improve BECE results.
With the interventions, the results improved from 21 per cent in 2021 to the currently (2023) 70.7 per cent with expectation of an increase this year.
On roads, Engr. Gomado reshaped the Dapaa Junction via Dodo-Amanfrom to Dodo-Fie feeder roads as well as Dodo-Amanfrom to Dodi-Atta Kofi portions, using his four-year salary as collateral to purchase equipment for the construction.
Born on October 20, 1966, Mr Gomado started school at the Agbozome AME Zion Primary School and wrote his Common Entrance exams in 1978 after which he enrolled in the Royal Technical Institute (ROTECO) in Nungua where he studied Electrical Engineering Practice between 1978 and 1982.
He then went to Takoradi Polytechnic now Takoradi Technical University to study Electrical Engineering Technician Part Two in 1983.
While studying at ROTECO, young Gomado was living at Tema Community 5 and would usually walk to and from school since there was no money for transportation.
“I connect the beach road to Tema from Nungua through the Regional Maritime University (RMU) then the Regional Maritime Academy, and always admired the officers in the Navy uniform and students in the cadet uniform. That was where my dream of becoming a Marine Engineer was nursed. Eventually I gained admission to the Maritime Academy in 1985 to pursue Marine Electrical Engineering and graduated in 1987,” he narrated.
He began his career as a Merchant Navy Personnel with a Singaporean company before his national service at Akosombo Volta Lake Transport Company where he was attached to a German company that build the current tug boats and cargo barges that transport goods from the Akosombo port to Buipe.
Owing to his technical background, he was promoted to Junior Electrical Engineer in five months ahead of the 12 months mandatory cadetship and rose to Senior Marine Electrical Engineer.
From 1989 to 2011, Mr Gomado had sailed waters across the globe as Marine Electrical Engineer with shipping companies including Neptune Orient Lines, Singapore, Pacific Carriers Limited, Singapore and its sister company, PSM Perkapalan Sdn. Bhd, Malaysia.
In 2011, he decided to settle in Ghana and build his career since he had attained much experience and his expertise were needed at ports and shipyards/drydocks across the continent.
While in Ghana, he was instrumental in the contribution of the FPSO Evans Attah-Mills and J.A Kufuor in 2016 and 2017 respectively, as he was in charge of the calibration of welding and fabrication equipment working with Seaweed Engineering Limited in Takoradi.
Mr Gomedo then built a hotel in 2018 at Klagon in Accra where he hosted the executives of the Akan Constituency who were in the capital for Congress.
Moved by his generosity, the executives invited him to join the party and contest in the 2020 primaries where he won to begin his political life.
For him, it has been a smooth journey and looking forward to another four years of service to his people and making their livelihoods better.
He is also looking forward to contributing to the reduction of unemployment by the John Mahama led admiration with focus on the maritime sector as done in other developed countries owing to his experience in the sector for over 25 years.
“Universities must begin to provide courses that will provide immediate jobs for the youth, otherwise, they must be scrapped to avoid the many unemployed graduate situations in Ghana,” he advocated.
Mr Gomado is happily married with three children and describes himself as a politician, a musician, businessman and marine engineer who was inducted by the Institute of Engineering and Technology, Ghana in 2017.
He loves music and was in a band for some time. He released an album in 2007, and scheduled to release another one in coming days. He also loves football and athletics.
By Michael D. Abayateye
Features
The Palestinian martyr-Little Hind Rajab
THE wickedness of some people in our world is gradually getting out of bounds. From local arena to international arena, reports of wicked acts that defies logic, is on the rise.
Russia has attacked Ukraine and as a result, the economies of many countries have been negatively impacted. Residential apartments which have no military purpose. Just sheer wickedness and cruelty.
After this came the Brutal attack on Gaza by the Israel Defence Forces. Hospitals were bombed, buildings were razed down and civilians were deliberately targeted which is a war crime according to the Geneva Convention.
The IDF will release pamphlets in the skies informing them to move to certain specified areas. They move there with their families only to be bombed again without warning.
It was one of such movement from one place to another that, the family of a 5 year Palestinian girl called Hind Rajab and her family, travelling in a vehicle, were shot at by an IDF Tank.
This wounded girl managed to call emergency services to come and save them.
The sad thing is that while this brave little girl kept talking to the emergency response person on the phone, telling them that they should come quickly and that she was afraid.
She further told the response team on phone that any time she tries to speak, blood comes into her mouth and it soils her dress and she dies not want her mum to scold her so they should come quickly.
The response team rushed as usual to her location but they were also shot and killed, the driver and his assistant, in a vehicle clearly marked as an ambulance. Ten days later when they got to her location, Hind Rajab and her family were dead and their vehicle was riddled with 335 bullets.
The wickedness with which the IDF waged the war against Hamas, the administrative authority in Gaza, was unbelievable, given the damage to civilians both collateral and in most cases deliberate.
There are reports of some Doctors from the US and other countries, who have described how children they attended to, who were brought in dead, had evidence of sniper bullets.
A report by one of the media platforms, indicated that one of the IDF snipers who died recently, had bragged about shooting children in the abdomen so they will suffer before dying.
What baffles me in all these atrocities, is why Jews who have been saved by a collective action of the world, from Hitler and his Nazis from destruction, infamously known as the Holocaust, is now visiting mayhem on others, namely the Palestinians.
One begins to wonder if Hitler was right after all and that he saw something that the rest of the world did not notice about the Jews. I must admit that it is not all Jews that are racist. It is the Zionist who are the problem with their Talmud which teaches that Jesus is burning in hot feaces.
They deliberately teach their children to hate other people who are not Jews especially the Palestinians. They do not consider the Palestinians as humans and therefore they believe they have the God given right to treat them anyway anyhow.
Hind Rajab’s death has pricked the conscience of the world and countries which used to blindly support Israel, are now putting pressure on them to observe a ceasefire as part of a peace negotiation.
Let the world through the UN show that it does not support barbarism and that the illegal occupation of Palestinian lands by Israel, must come to an end.
NB: ‘CHANGE KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
Features
Angioplasty: A comprehensive overview of the procedure and its applications
Angioplasty is a minimally invasive medical procedure used to widen narrowed or blocked arteries or blood vessels. The procedure involves the insertion of a catheter, a small tube, into the affected artery, followed by the inflation of a balloon to widen the artery. In some cases, a stent, a small mesh tube, may be placed to keep the artery open.
Indications for Angioplasty
Angioplasty is often used to treat conditions such as:
1. Coronary artery disease: Narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart.
2. Peripheral artery disease: Narrowing or blockage of the arteries in the legs or arms.
3. Atherosclerosis: Buildup of plaque in the arteries, which can lead to narrowing or blockage.
The Angioplasty Procedure
The angioplasty procedure typically involves the following steps:
1. Preparation: The patient is given local anesthesia and may be sedated to help them relax.
2. Insertion of the catheter: A small incision is made in the skin, and a catheter is inserted into the affected artery.
3. Guidance: The catheter is guided to the affected area using imaging techniques such as fluoroscopy or angiography.
4. Inflation of the balloon: The balloon on the catheter is inflated to widen the artery.
5. Stent placement: A stent may be placed to keep the artery open.
6. Removal of the catheter: The catheter is removed, and the incision site is closed.
Benefits of Angioplasty
Angioplasty offers several benefits, including:
1. Improved blood flow: Angioplasty can help improve blood flow to the affected area, reducing symptoms such as chest pain or leg pain.
2. Minimally invasive: Angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure, which means that it requires only a small incision and can reduce recovery time.
3. Reduced risk of complications: Angioplasty can reduce the risk of complications associated with more invasive surgical procedures.
Potential Risks and Complications
While angioplasty is generally a safe procedure, there are potential risks and complications, including:
1. Bleeding or hematoma: Bleeding or bruising at the incision site.
2. Artery damage: Damage to the artery during the procedure.
3. Restenosis: Narrowing or blockage of the artery again after the procedure.
Conclusion
Angioplasty is a highly effective procedure for treating narrowed or blocked arteries or blood vessels. While it carries some risks and complications, the benefits of improved blood flow and reduced symptoms make it a valuable treatment option for many patients.
References:
1. American Heart Association. (2020). Angioplasty and Stenting.
2. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2020). Angioplasty and Stent Placement.
3. Mayo Clinic. (2020). Angioplasty: What You Need to Know.
4. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. (2019). Angioplasty and Stenting in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of angioplasty, including its indications, procedure, benefits, and potential risks and complications.
By Robert Ekow Grimmond-Thompson
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