News
KAAG embarks on cleanup exercise in Accra
The KOICA Alumni Association of Ghana (KAAG), last Saturday embarked on a massive cleanup exercise at the Vienna City Beach in Accra.
The five-hour cleanup exercise was part of the Association’s initiative of raising awareness on the need to keep the country’s beaches and oceans clean, for relaxation and pleasure.
The Association rid the beach of debris to mitigate the problem caused by ocean debris and the danger that plastic pollution poses to marine life.
The President of KAAG, Madam Lovia Afoakwa said the exercise was to ensure the ocean becomes clean to make it easier for fishers to make a living.
“This beach cleaning exercise is aligned to the Government of Ghana’s desire to conserve our water bodies as was emphasized at the recently held national blue economy summit, and also in our small way, contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals especially goals 6, 13, 14, and 15.
Interestingly, around the time Ghana held its first blue economic summit, Korea also held its first international cooperation conference on oceans and fisheries. So we continue to have things in common” she said.
Madam Afoakwa said cleaning the beaches was not a one-man responsibility but a task for all and sundry to embark on a similar initiative in promoting a clean environment.
She urged the public to stop littering, and indiscriminate dumping of refuse into the ocean and open spaces, and appealed to all residents and corporate institutions to keep their surroundings clean at all times to prevent environmental pollution.
The Country Director for Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Mr Seungmin applauded the Association for embarking on such an initiative, and said, KOICA was also committed and working with Civil Society Organisations in promoting good sanitation practice
BY BERNARD BENGHAN
The State through the Attorney General (AG) has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court challenging the suspension of the trial in the case of The Republic v Hanan Aludiba and Faiza Seidu.
On Monday, the Court of Appeal suspended the trial in the case. But the prosecution says it has filed an appeal against the suspension order.
According to the update, the law does not allow a criminal trial to be suspended simply because an accused person has complained about some of the charges on the charge sheet, particularly when those complaints were dismissed as meritless.
It argues that if the Court of Appeal’s decision is allowed to stand, no prosecution will ever be possible, since all it would take for a trial to be suspended is an accused person complaining about anything on the charge sheet.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The Ministry of Health has announced enhanced surveillance and preparedness measures following reports of Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Kenya and Nigeria.
In a press release signed by the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the ministry indicated that Ghana had not recorded any Ebola case but was strengthening measures to prevent the virus from entering the country and ensure the early detection and management of suspected cases.
The measures include increased screening at points of entry, particularly the Accra International Airport, simulation exercises to assess emergency readiness, monitoring of travellers from high risk areas and improved laboratory preparedness.
The ministry is also working with relevant agencies and partners to strengthen coordination, sensitise healthcare workers and educate the public on Ebola prevention.
According to the release, Ebola symptoms may develop between two and 21 days after exposure. They include high fever, severe headache, extreme fatigue, sore throat and chills, with unexplained bleeding and confusion possible in later stages.
The ministry explained that the virus spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person or contaminated materials, and is not airborne.
It urged anyone who develops symptoms after travelling to an affected area or coming into contact with a suspected or confirmed case to seek immediate medical attention and disclose their travel history to health workers.
Travellers from affected areas will have their health monitored for 21 days, while the public has been advised to practise good hand hygiene, avoid contact with people showing unexplained symptoms and rely on official health updates.
The Ministry of Health urged the public to remain calm and cooperate with health authorities as Ghana strengthens its preparedness and response measures.
By: Jacob Aggrey
