News
Anaesthetist saves pregnant trader’s life at Kasseh Market
A principal certified registered anaesthetist, Ms Harriet Oteng, has been praised for her swift action to save the life of a pregnant trader, who collapsed at the Kasseh Market in the Ada East District.
The woman, Madam Grace Siawu from Sege, later delivered a healthy baby boy at the Ada East District Hospital following the intervention.
Ms Oteng, who has 13 years of professional experience, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that she encountered the woman shortly after work and had to administer first aid before rushing her to the hospital.
“She collapsed and was sweating profusely, struggling to breathe, and unable to speak,” Ms Oteng said, explaining that after reviewing the patient’s antenatal card and ruling out diabetes, she quickly gave her a soft drink to stabilise her condition.
Not fully satisfied with her temporary recovery, the anaesthetist abandoned her shopping agenda, placed the patient in her car, and drove her to the hospital, where she delivered safely the following day.
Expressing gratitude after her recovery and delivery, Madam Siawu said,
“This is how every health professional should be committed to saving lives, whether on duty or not.”
Traders and buyers who witnessed the incident also commended Ms Oteng for her selflessness, describing her as “a shining example of dedication beyond the hospital walls.”
The incident, observers said highlighted the vital role anaesthetists played in Ghana’s healthcare delivery system and supported calls for greater recognition and career progression within the specialised profession.
Ms Oteng appealed to the government to provide anaesthetists with opportunities to rise to managerial positions, noting their crucial role in resuscitation, pain management during surgery, and ensuring safe recovery.
“An anaesthetist takes full responsibility for the life of a patient on the surgical table, ensuring they return safely to their families, yet we are hardly considered for leadership opportunities in the health system.
She pleaded that the government should create space for these professionals to advance into managerial positions.
All 6 US crew members on refueling aircraft that crashed mid-air are confirmed dead, bringing total US killed in action to 13 during Operation Epic Fury.
Earlier report from the US Central Command(CENTCOM) noted that four out of the six had passed on.
However, in an update, they have confirmed that all 6 crew members have died.
The crew members aboard a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft went down in western Iraq.
The aircraft was lost while flying over friendly airspace March 12 during Operation Epic Fury.
The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. However, CENTCOM noted that the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.
They added that identities of the service members are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin have been notified.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission has announced a reduction in electricity and water tariffs for the second quarter of 2026.
According to the Commission, electricity tariffs will reduce by an average of 4.81 percent while water tariffs will go down by 3.06 percent.
The new tariffs will take effect from April 1, 2026.
In a press release issued on March 13, 2026, the Commission explained that the review forms part of its quarterly tariff adjustment mechanism which allows it to reflect changes in key economic indicators that affect the operations of utility service providers.
It noted that the quarterly review considers factors such as the exchange rate between the Ghana cedi and the United States dollar, the rate of inflation, the cost of fuel used in electricity generation, and the mix of electricity generation sources.
The Commission indicated that it applied a projected weighted average exchange rate of GHS11.1931 to one United States dollar for the second quarter of 2026.
This represents a 6.78 percent reduction from the previous quarter rate of GHS12.0067 to one dollar.
It explained that a three month average inflation rate of 4.17 percent was used for the review period, which reflects a downward change of 47.87 percent compared to the previous quarter.
The Commission further stated that the weighted average cost of gas used for power generation increased slightly to 8.0988 dollars per MMBtu, representing an increase of 2.84 percent from the previous rate.
It added that the electricity generation mix for the period remains unchanged, with 20.90 percent coming from hydro sources and 79.10 percent from thermal generation, as outlined in the 2025 Multi Year Tariff Order.
The Commission explained that these adjustments are meant to maintain the real value of tariffs so that utility service providers remain financially stable while continuing to deliver reliable services to consumers.
It announced that, for the first time, a commercial electric vehicle charging tariff has been introduced to support the transition to green energy.
According to the Commission, the new tariff is expected to encourage the growth of electric vehicle charging services in the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
