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‘Donate blood to stock blood bank’
● Mrs Afua Dadzie, (right) with a blood donor
Mr. Stephen Kwaku Danso, a Blood Programme Officer with the National Blood Service, Accra, has urged Ghanaians to donate more blood in order to stock the National Blood Bank to save lives.
Lamenting on the low number of voluntary blood donors in the country, he said this posed danger to the healthcare system when blood was not available for transfusion during emergencies.
He observed that, in Ghana, less than one per cent of the population willingly donated blood during blood donation campaigns organised by corporate organisations, health facilities, and religious groups among others.
The low participation of individuals during blood donation campaigns isa very bad phenomenon which needs to be addressed by a constant awareness creation to educate the public on the need to give blood to help treat emergency life-threatening cases at the health facilities,” he said.
The Blood Programme Officer stressed that, it was very important to demystify myths surrounding blood donation because it was a national concern that should be tackled by all to help stock the National Blood Bank.
Mr. Danso made this call in an interview with The Spectator during an annual blood donationorganised by Lister Hospital and Fertility Centre, in Accra dubbed “100 pints blood donation campaign”.
He again said with worry that, “blood cannot be artificially manufactured in any form and shortage of blood at the National Blood Bank is disadvantageous to human survival during emergencies.”
He encouraged organisations and groups to alwaysorganise blood donation and champion the cause as a national concern to saving precious lives.
Mr. Danso told The Spectator that females and males between 17 and 60 years were eligible to donate blood.
Touching on the blood donation cycle per year, he said an individual could donate blood three times in a year “because blood donation can be done after every four months.”
He commended Lister Hospital and Fertility Centre for organising blood donation exercise every year as a viable alternative for stocking the National Blood Bank to save lives in critical conditions.
Mrs. AfuaDadzie, Business Development Manager at Lister Hospital and Fertility Centre said it was very important to organise blood donation as a health facility celebrating its 18 years anniversary of providing holistic healthcare to patients.
According to her, accident victims, sickle cell and cancer patients, pregnant women among other group of individuals are always in need of blood during stages of where blood was required to be transfused.
“You can have the best doctor, best health equipment and when blood is required for transfusion and blood is not available, you can die”, she said.
Mr. Christian Akrofi, a donor who participated in the “100 pints blood donation campaign”, pledge to donate blood every four months to help stock the National Blood Bank to save lives.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
The Ghana Tourism Development Company Limited (GTD) in collaboration with the Department of Organisation and Human Resource Management, University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) has marked the 2026 World Safety Day Celebration in Accra.
The event held on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at the Cedi Conference Centre, Legon was under the theme “Good Psychosocial Working Environment: A Pathway to Thriving Workers and Strong Organizations.”
The day is observed globally to promote safe and healthy working conditions and to raise awareness about both physical and psychological risks at the workplace.
The event formed part of efforts by stakeholders to deepen national conversations on workplace safety, particularly the growing concern about psychosocial well being.
In his keynote address, the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo stressed that workers must not be treated as machines but as human beings with dignity, rights and families.
He explained that unsafe work environments marked by fear, harassment, intimidation and excessive pressure reduce productivity and weaken organisations.
He noted that although physical hazards such as faulty equipment and unsafe buildings remain a concern, psychological risks including excessive workload, bullying, job insecurity and toxic communication are equally dangerous and must be addressed.
According to him, psychological hazards are real, measurable and preventable, and should be treated with the same urgency as physical risks.
He maintained that safe and healthy working conditions are not a luxury but a fundamental right that supports productivity and social justice.
Dr Pelpuo further stated that the government remains committed to strengthening occupational safety and health systems, adding that worker wellbeing is a core responsibility of leadership and not a public relations issue.
He urged employers to create environments where dignity is protected, and workers are empowered to speak without fear.
The Dean of University of Ghana Business School, Prof Ernest Y Tweneboah Koduah noted that the school is committed to shaping a better world of work that is equitable, productive and sustainable.
He announced that the school has secured accreditation from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission to introduce a programme in organisational health and safety.
He explained that gaps in workplace safety in Ghana are linked to weak enforcement, underreporting and limited professional training.
He added that the new programme will equip graduates with the skills to prioritise employee wellbeing as a key organisational responsibility.
Prof Tweneboah Koduah urged organisations to assess psychosocial risks, invest in human resource capacity and create environments where workers can openly discuss mental health concerns.
He emphasised that collaboration between academia and industry is essential to addressing workplace safety challenges.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, the Registrar of the University of Ghana, Emelia Naa Kwantsua Agyei Mensah described the event as historic, noting that it is the first time the university is marking the global observance.
She explained that the focus on psychosocial wellbeing reflects current realities in the world of work.
She stated that employee health, including mental and emotional wellbeing, directly affects productivity, morale and institutional performance.
Mrs Agyei Mensah added that the university is committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for staff and students, beyond minimum legal requirements.
She called on leaders to reflect on the kind of workplaces they create and to prioritise the wellbeing of employees.
CEO of the GTDC, Prof Kobby on his part noted that its participation aligns with its commitment under the Riyadh Declaration, which calls on member states to improve infrastructure and public safety, as well as enhance services, transport, connectivity and accessibility.
He indicated that the company intends to use the platform to highlight Ghana’s readiness to implement the declaration, with a strong focus on worker safety and wellbeing as a foundation for sustainable tourism development.
The event brought together policymakers, academics, industry players and students to discuss strategies for improving workplace safety and promoting healthier work environments across the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ghana Armed Forces has confirmed that an escort convoy protecting civilians was attacked in Binduri in the Upper East Region, leaving three people dead.
In a press release issued on April 27, 2026, the military said the convoy, which was escorting about 140 civilians from Bawku to Bolgatanga, came under gunfire from unknown attackers.
It said the attackers shot at the convoy several times, killing three of the civilians being escorted and injuring one other person.
According to the statement, soldiers returned fire and were able to repel the attack. In the process, seven of the assailants were killed.
The military added that during a follow-up operation, weapons and ammunition were retrieved from a suspect who had taken refuge in a mosque.
The items included a G3 rifle, two loaded magazines, and additional rounds of ammunition.
It said ten other suspects have been arrested and are assisting with investigations.
The Ghana Armed Forces cautioned the public against engaging the military or any security agency during operations.
It extended condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wished the injured person a speedy recovery.
By: Jacob Aggrey
