Sports
Hearts battle Aduana Stars for first win
Accra Hearts of Oak will be in search of their first win when they welcome poor-performing Aduana Stars to the Accra Sports Stadium tomorrow in the Ghana Premier League week-three game.
The Phobians have gone two games without a win, playing goalless with Legon Cities and a 1-1 stalemate with West Africa Soccer Academy (WAFA).
The latter has had a sloppy start, having conceded a 3-1 defeat to King Faisal last Sunday and a point in their opener against Karela United. However, Hearts gaffer, Samuel Boadu remains optimistic his charges would bounce back to winning ways against the ‘Ogya boys’.
Dreams FC will host Accra Lions at the Theatre of Dreams, in Dawu today. Having picked up from their painful defeat to Asante Kotoko in their first game, Dreams FC punished Elmina Sharks 3-1 at the Ndoum Sports Stadium last Sunday and will be aiming to continue with their fine form, unlike the away team who will be eager to snatch their first victory – having drawn against Sharks on match-day one and a 3-1 defeat to Great Olympics last Sunday in the Accra derby.
In other games, Legon Cities will lock horns with the Olympics in a stiff contest at the Accra Sports Stadium. Despite losing key men including Gladson Awako and Michelle Otou, Oly has managed four points in two games.
Eleven Wonder will play host to Medeama SC at the Ohene Ameyaw Park in Techiman tomorrow, with Bechem United and Elmina Sharks slugging it out at the Nana Gyebour Park in Bechem. RTU will battle it out with WAFA at the Aliu Mahama Sports tomorrow as both could use this game to put smiles on the faces of their fans, having gone two games without a win.
Two in-form clubs – King Faisal and Ashantigold will clash at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium tomorrow, while Karela United will be at the Crosby Awuah Memorial Park in Aiyinase to engage Berekum Chelsea on the same day.
BY LINUS SIAW NARTEY
A Ghana Premier League (GPL) thriller is anticipated at the Baba Yara Stadium tomorrow as Asante Kotoko welcome Medeama SC for their week 12 top-liner.
Fourth placed Kotoko sits two points below Medeama SC who are third on the log. Their position on the log further adds another layer to the fiercest battle expected to unfold.
Before their second round game last season, the two sides shared two wins apiece in their last four league meetings in Kumasi. However, Coach Abdul Karim Zito inflicted a 3-2 victory on the Yellow and Mauves side with former striker Albert Amoah grabbing all three goals.
Tomorrow, Amoah will not be in action and since his departure from the club, Coach Zito’s side have found the going tough in front of goal, a factor that could determine this game.
Kotoko go into tomorrow’s fixture on the back of losing their unbeaten run in 11 games after being beaten 2-1 by Basake Holy Stars on Wednesday in their outstanding Week 3 league fixture.
Before that clash, the University of Ghana Sports Stadium will today host the game between Hearts of Oak and Vision FC.
Hearts coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani hopes his side will carry the day after two draws on the road while coach Nana Kweku Agyemang of Vision FC is also aiming to pick his first victory over the Phobians.
League leaders Aduana FC will trek to the Bibiani Dun’s Park to play as guests of Bibiani Gold Stars tomorrow while second placed Heart of Lions welcome Karela United to the Kpando Stadium.
At the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park, Bechem United will welcome Hohoe United, Berekum Chelsea will face Samartex FC at the Golden City Park in Berekum while Basake Holy Stars will host Nations FC at the Ampian AAK II Sports Arena in Azulewanu.
In other games, Swedru All Blacks will host Young Apostles at the Swedru Stadium with Eleven Wonders chasing their first victory of the season against Dreams FC on Monday at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium.
BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY
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Government has injected more than 3.4 billion cedis into the National Health Insurance Scheme after the removal of the cap on NHIS funding.
The Deputy Chief Executive responsible for Operations, Dr Senanu Kwesi Djokoto, told staff in Tamale that the move is the biggest investment in the Scheme since it was created in 2003.
He explained that the additional funds are already strengthening health financing across the country.
Dr Kwesi Djokoto addressed a trainer of trainers workshop on the ongoing reforms of the National Health Insurance Authority on Friday, November 21.
He noted that in 2024 the Scheme used 52 percent of its resources on claims and is using 65 percent this year, with plans to increase that figure again next year.
He explained that Executive Management, led by Chief Executive Dr Victor Asare Bampoe, is working to build a modern and efficient Scheme that focuses on people and meets its promise of providing fair access to quality health care.
Dr Kwesi Djokoto also outlined the Authority’s digital reforms, which are meant to bring health services closer to members and make the Scheme more resilient.
The initiatives form part of the Telehealth strategy and include the E pharmacy platform, which links patients to nearby pharmacies, the Biometric Membership Authentication System that verifies members seeking care, and a cashless system at registration centres.
He noted that these reforms are designed to improve access to quality health care and support Ghana’s goal of achieving Universal Health Care by 2030.
The Northern Regional Operations Manageress, Madam Fauzia Shingu Alhassan, welcomed participants on behalf of the Regional Director.
She stated that the training is part of reforms aimed at redefining the NHIS and making it sustainable.
She added that the digital upgrades represent major changes that will make the Scheme more efficient, accessible, and trustworthy.
The workshop brought together officials of the Ghana Health Service, the Christian Health Association of Ghana, private health providers, and a representative of the Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Mr Gaeten Adangabey.
The Acting Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Oswald Essuah Mensah, and the Acting Deputy Director of MIS, Mr Orison Aflu, took participants through the design of the digital platforms and how they will be rolled out next year.
Other officials present included the Acting Director of MIS, Mr Vitus Kaleo Bioh, Acting Director of the Claims and Illegal Payments Taskforce, Mr Isaac Gideon Akonde, the Head of Communication, Madam Faustina Dery, the Acting Deputy Director of Marketing, Madam Angela Asiedu, and the Acting Deputy Director of Client and Provider Relations, Madam Hamdiya Yakubu.
By: Jacob Aggrey
