News
COV1D collapses my business… blind man laments
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected several people badly in so many ways but that of Seth Kwame Ajimi a.k.a Skanjimi seems more terrible as he has to struggle as a blind person and a drinking spot owner.
Unless there is a divine intervention, the 59-year-old man would continue to wallow in financial difficulty. In an interview with The Spectator, he described his situation in this COVID-19 era as “terrible.”
Mr. Ajimi who became blind 11 years ago as a result of a domestic accident said that going through life as a physically challenged had been compounded by the coronavirus pandemic.
He explained that before now, “blind people could conveniently touch surfaces and people to help them with their movement but the outbreak of the deadly disease has put them at the disadvantage.”
“Now we are told to avoid touching surfaces and also practise social distancing so you understand me when I say life has not been easy,” he explained.
The Operator of the Skanjimi Spot located in the Kpone Katamanso Municipality of the Greater Accra Region said that his business which entailed the sale of food and drinks was affected when a railway line was constructed around his spot but he was managing to survive until March last year when there was the COVID-19 and subsequently a lockdown and this had put him in an awkward situation.
“That was when I fell flat on the floor. I had to send some of my workers away and run the place with the help of a boy who helps me with my movement and one staff,” he lamented.
He said persons who operated bars, spots, pubs among other related businesses had been ordered not to run full time but nothing or little had been done to support people like him.
The visually impaired said that people hardly patronised his spot these days yet he had to “squeeze” to pay his bills and provide hygiene materials to keep his place safe from the coronavirus in order to protect himself and his customers.
He said that he had been trying to put up a chamber and hall building when business was good but it had stalled because he could hardly raise money from his business to continue the project.
Mr. Ajimi said he feared his current landlord may be compelled to eject him for his inability to promptly pay rent and called on the public to support him in both cash and kind to survive, hoping to come out of the wood since “the downfall of a man is not the end of his life”.
From Dzifa Tetteh, Kpone
News
Avoid Johannesburg CBD unless travel there is necessary – Ghana’s High Commission in South Africa
Ghana’s High Commission in South Africa has urged Ghanaians to take note of a significant protest currently taking place in the Johannesburg Central Business District (CBD) today, Wednesday, 29 April 2026 by the March and March over unemployment and undocumented foreign nationals.
According to them, this has already led to major traffic disruptions and interruptions to normal business activities in the CBD
Given the nature of the protest, the High Commission noted that there is a heightened risk of tension, particularly toward foreign nationals.
“Please advise all to exercise caution throughout the day. It is advisable to avoid the Johannesburg CBD unless travel there is absolutely necessary. Those who live in Johannesburg are urged to remain indoors or in secure locations and limit unnecessary movement,” It stated.
Additionally, they added that “Members of the community should also be reminded not to engage with protesters under any circumstances, even if approached or provoked, and to prioritize their personal safety at all times. Carrying valid identification and relevant documentation is essential.”
Ghanaians in South Africa have been urged to stay in close communication “with members of our community and check in on individuals who may be particularly vulnerable. Parents and guardians should ensure that children remain in safe environments and avoid travel through affected areas.”
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
An aide to former Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has criticised the government over ongoing power outages, urging authorities to prioritise solutions instead of explanations.
His comments come in response to recent remarks by Energy Minister John Abdulai Jinapor regarding challenges in the power sector.
Speaking on the issue on Channel One TV, Mr. Aboagye questioned the government’s justification that ongoing transformer upgrades and system expansions are responsible for the outages.
He argued that such maintenance work has been carried out in the past without causing widespread disruption.
He said the situation does not make sense, insisting that it is possible to upgrade infrastructure without plunging the entire country into darkness.
According to him, Ghanaians are more concerned about having stable electricity than listening to explanations.
“Your talking means nothing to us. Give us power,” he said.
Mr. Aboagye added that the power situation is affecting lives and livelihoods across the country.
He claimed that businesses are shutting down, people are losing their jobs, and some lives are being put at risk due to the outages.
He pointed to rising costs, noting that consumers are paying more for electricity despite the unstable supply.
The former Vice President’s aide further criticised the government for what he described as a lack of respect for citizens, saying the focus should be on delivering reliable power rather than assigning blame.
By: Jacob Aggrey
