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Confirmed COVID-19 tally now 5,918 … 1,754 recover, 31 die
Ghana yesterday recorded 183 new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19), putting its total tally at 5,918.
According to the Ghana Health Service (GHS), deaths resulting from the virus have risen to 31 from 29,although the number of recoveries remains at 1,754.
As it stands, the country’s active cases are 4,128 with five persons in critical and moderately ill conditions at the various treatment centres.
Director General of the GHS, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, at a press briefing in Accra yesterday, explained that the new cases had come from six out of the 16 regions across the country.
The Greater Accra Region, which remains the country’s epicentre, leads the new infections with 108, Ashanti Region 63, Volta seven, Central two, Oti two and the Eastern Region, one.
The Accra Metropolitan Area, Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly, Ayawaso West, Ledzokuku and Tema Metropolis recorded highest numbers for the Greater Accra Region with Obuasi and Kumasi Metropolis leading the Ashanti Region’s figure.
The Savannah, Ahafo and the Bono East regions still remain the areas with no confirmed cases of the virus in Ghana.
Touching on the spike in the number of recoveries, Dr Kuma-Aboagye clarified that the “exponential recovery rate is because we have more cases and it takes about three weeks for people to recover so the backlog of people who have tested negative over the period is what is coming in to increase the recoveries.”
The Director-General indicated that Ghana’s recovery rate stands at 29.6 per cent with further breakdown of the recoveries to include the Greater Accra, 22 per cent, “Ashanti with 213 recoveries, (24 per cent), Central, 14 recoveries (2 per cent), Oti (28 per cent), Western, eight recoveries and with North East Region, they had two cases, one died and the other has recovered.”
Meanwhile Dr Kuma-Aboagye pointed out that in the event of COVID-19 related deaths, families and health workers were not allowed to touch or come into contact with the deceased.
“We do what we call supervised burials so we have trained environmental health service workers who handle and assist the families to undertake such burials to prevent infections,” he stated.
Adding his voice, Dr Badu Sarkodie, Director of Public Health, GHS, said all pathologists who perform autopsies on COVID-19 related bodies, are well equipped with right personal protective equipment to ensure utmost safety.
“We also advise they exercise extra caution in handling specific organs, especially the parts known to have the highest concentration of the virus like the respiratory and gastric terminal systems because it is quite risky to do autopsy in such areas.”
BY ABIGAIL ANNOH
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Ghana to locally refine its gold starting October 2025 – Sammy Gyamfi
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi, has announced that plans are far advanced for the establishment of a state-owned gold refinery in the country.
Speaking at the 2025 Minerals and Mining Convention, Mr Gyamfi said the refinery will process locally mined gold into bullion instead of exporting it in its raw state.
According to him, it is unacceptable that Ghana, despite being a leading gold producer in Africa, continues to export raw gold known as dore.
He explained that the Gold Board, working with the Bank of Ghana and local refineries, will from October 2025 begin refining gold locally.
He also disclosed that an ultramodern assay laboratory will be built to ensure international standards in testing gold quality.
Mr Gyamfi noted that the refinery will be wholly state-owned and will help Ghana move away from raw mineral exports to value addition.
This, he said, will boost foreign exchange earnings, create jobs, and position Ghana as a hub for gold refining and jewellery production in Africa.
The CEO stressed that the project forms part of government’s strategy to ensure the country benefits fully from its natural resources and to transform the mining sector into a driver of economic growth.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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There is strength in diversity; let’s live in peace – Zanetor Rawlings urges Ghanaians
Member of Parliament for Korle Klottey, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has urged Ghanaians, especially the youth, to value the peace the country enjoys and to see diversity as a source of strength.
Speaking at the National Youth Conference held at the Pentecost Convention Centre under the theme “Igniting Potential; Inspiring Change”, she warned against being lured into conflicts and divisions fueled by reckless statements from politicians, traditional leaders, religious figures, or academics.
According to her, many young people have no idea what it means to live in a country torn apart by war, and therefore must not take Ghana’s peace for granted.
She stressed that the harmony among different ethnic and regional groups should be protected at all costs, since it is peace that allows citizens to gather freely and safely.
Dr. Zanetor said Ghana’s development depends on embracing diversity and working together.
She urged the youth to tap into this strength so that Ghana would continue to shine as the “Black Star” of Africa and serve as an example for other nations.
She expressed appreciation to the participants for attending the conference and asked for God’s blessings on the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
