News
Ahafo yet to record COVID-19 positive case … as national hits 7,303
The Ahafo Region is now the only one out of the 16 administrative regions in the country that has not recorded any COVID-19 case although the national tally has reached 7,303.
This was after its counterpart, the Bono East Region, recorded its first case this week, according to the Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service, Dr Badu Sarkodie.
At yesterday’s COVID-19 briefing in Accra, he said details would be made public in the ensuing days because information about the new case was received moments before the briefing.
As of May 26, Dr Sarkodie said 2,412 patients had recovered with the death toll at 34, bringing the active cases (persons known to be living with the virus currently) to 4,857.
He said the national tally went up after 186 new cases were recorded in 31 districts in four regions; Greater Accra had 140, Central-23, Ashanti -14 and Eastern, nine.
He said 14 of the active cases were severely ill but not on ventilators while three were critically ill.
Greater Accra, he said, continues to have the highest number of cases of 5,148 Ashanti – 1,099; Central- 360, Western Region – 344, Eastern- 117, Western North Region – 62 and Volta-59.
According to the director of public health, the Northern Region had recorded 36 cases, Oti – 26, Upper East Region-26, Upper West– 22North East– 2; Savannah– and Bono one each.
He described that fact that Tema and Obuasi, which had earlier been declared as hotspots for the virus, had not record any new cases, an indication that response actions by the management team were yielding results.
Asked why the country’s daily cases were not declining sharply, Dr Sarkodie explained that it was because people were not strictly adhering to the hygienic protocol.
He, therefore advised the public to play their part to reduce cases.
On the Wednesday’s mishap on the GHS website, in which the case count was changed after less than an hour, he said it was a technical error and he apologised for it.
BY JONATHAN DONKOR
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) has held its Fourth Quarter Ministerial Advisory Board Meeting to review progress, discuss key policy matters, and strengthen collaboration towards achieving its strategic goals.
The meeting brought together members of the Advisory Board, which was set up under Section 39 of the Civil Service Act, 1993 (PNDCL 327), and the Civil Service (Ministerial Advisory Board) Regulations, 2010 (L.I. 1961).
The Board serves as a platform for continuous engagement between the Ministry and its stakeholders.
Its role is to advise the sector Minister on policy planning and implementation, while ensuring that programmes on gender, social protection, and child welfare align with national priorities and government development goals.
The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, commended the Board for its consistent support and technical guidance in advancing the Ministry’s mandate.
She noted that the Ministry’s work in promoting gender equality, protecting the vulnerable, and ensuring the welfare of children and families depends on strong policies and effective partnerships.
Dr. Lartey stressed that the Advisory Board plays an important role in helping the Ministry deliver its mission in a sustainable and impactful way.
A major highlight of the meeting was a presentation on the Ministry’s achievements so far this year, followed by discussions on future policy direction and strategic focus areas.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has been unanimously elected as the Chairperson of the Africa Geopolitical Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
The election took place on October 19, 2025, during the ongoing 151st IPU Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. His victory places Ghana at the center of continental and global parliamentary diplomacy.
With this new role, Speaker Bagbin will coordinate and harmonize Africa’s collective positions on major IPU decisions and policies.
He will also serve as the continent’s chief representative on key issues such as governance, peace, security, and sustainable development.
Speaker Bagbin currently serves as the President of the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (COSPAL) and is the immediate past Chairman of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) International.
In his remarks after the election, he thanked African delegations for their confidence and unity, particularly commending Nigeria for seconding his nomination and Senegal for withdrawing its candidate in the spirit of cooperation.
He pledged to strengthen collaboration among African parliaments and promote transparency, democratic governance, and sustainable development through stronger legislative institutions.
He succeeds Ms. Angela Thokozile Didiza, Speaker of South Africa’s National Assembly, who served with distinction.
The Africa Geopolitical Group, formed in the early 1950s, serves as a continental branch of the IPU, ensuring fair representation of African countries in the Union’s committees and decision-making bodies.
It also coordinates Africa’s common positions on major parliamentary issues discussed at IPU assemblies.
By: Jacob Aggrey
