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Deputy Health Minister calls for stronger use of technology in malaria prevention
The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah has called for stronger use of technology in malaria prevention, urging African countries to focus on stopping the disease at its source rather than relying mainly on treatment.
She made the remarks while delivering the keynote address at a regional workshop on Tech Enabled Larval Source Management held at The Palms by Eagle Hotel in Accra.
The two day event brought together health officials, technical experts and innovators from across the continent.
The workshop was organised by the National Malaria Elimination Programme of the Ghana Health Service in partnership with AGAMAL and SORA Technology.
It was held under the theme Prevention at the Source.
In her address, the Deputy Minister stressed Ghana’s commitment to shifting toward proactive prevention strategies that target mosquito breeding sites before malaria transmission occurs.
“If we are to end malaria, we must outpace it,” she stated.
She explained that advances in technology now make it possible to predict, detect and respond to malaria risks with greater precision.
She added that prevention at the source is both a strategy and a responsibility.
The Deputy Minister commended the collaboration between public health institutions and technology partners. She emphasised that eliminating malaria will require cooperation among countries, shared expertise and strong political support.
She noted that the workshop demonstrated Africa’s growing role in developing its own solutions to public health challenges.
Participants were introduced to a range of digital tools designed to improve larval source management.
These included drone mapping and artificial intelligence systems to help identify mosquito breeding grounds, digital micro planning to guide resource allocation using real time data, and real time monitoring systems to support faster field interventions.
The event also served as a platform for knowledge exchange, with stakeholders discussing how digital innovation can improve malaria control efforts. Officials indicated that such approaches could help make prevention more targeted, efficient and community focused.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ahyiresu and Abofrem, two quiet communities in the Atwima Mponua District, have been shaken to the core by a chilling midnight drama that reads like a nightmare.
A pastor and a young mother stand accused of attempting to bury a five‑month‑old baby girl alive, a crime that has ignited outrage and disbelief across the township.
According to police, Apostle Richmond Akwasi Frimpong, 36, Head Pastor of the Anointed Grace Prayer Ministry at Kuffour Camp, conspired with his uncle Emmanuel Appiah, 53, and the child’s mother, 23‑year‑old Beatrice Agyapomaa, to dispose of the infant, Anaya Achiaa, under the cover of darkness.
A fourth suspect, Emmanuel Donkor, remains on the run.
The suspects were caught near a refuse dump around 10 pm on April 9, 2026, after a vigilant resident, Akwasi Twezor, noticed their suspicious movements.
When confronted, they claimed the child was already dead and had palace approval for burial. But Twezor’s instincts proved right—the baby was still alive, gasping faintly for breath.
Chief Linguist, Nana Yaw Badu, later confirmed that Frimpong had misled him earlier in the evening, securing permission for burial by falsely declaring the child dead.
The infant was rushed to the Abofrem Clinic, where she is now responding well to treatment. Police described her as “very beautiful.”
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Evelyn Yitamkey, Commander of DOVVSU in Bibiani, confirmed that the suspects have been provisionally charged.
Frimpong faces attempted murder and conspiracy charges, while Agyapomaa and Appiah are charged with conspiracy and abetment.
They were remanded by the Bibiani Circuit Court, presided over by Judge Frank Asiedu Nimako, to assist investigations.
The docket has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department for advice, ASP Yitamkey indicated.
The attempted crime has provoked fury among residents, many suspecting ritual motives aimed at bolstering the pastor’s influence.
Crowds attempted to attack the suspects outside court, but police intervention prevented mob justice.
The Assembly Member for Ahyiresu, Yusuf Suleiman, has assured residents that justice will be pursued swiftly.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
The forecourt of the African University of Communications and Business (AUCB) in Accra came alive on Friday with colour, creativity and innovation, as Level 300 students transformed the space into a lively exhibition of ideas.
Under the theme “Building meaningful brands beyond the logo,” the students invited patrons into a world where ordinary products were reimagined through storytelling, design and purpose.
From scented candles to innovative food concepts, each stand told a unique story, one that went beyond aesthetics to capture identity, value and human connection.
For many of the students, the event was more than just an academic exercise; it was a moment to dream out loud.
Guided by their lecturer, Peter Wonders, they explored what it truly means to build a brand in today’s competitive world where trust, consistency and experience matter just as much as logos and slogans.
Chairman of the occasion, Nana Kum Gyata VI, in his remarks said a brand is what people say about you when you are not present.
At the end of the presentations, awards were presented to deserving groups with Vida Nyaneba emerging as the overall best branding student.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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