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More stranded Ghanaians to be evacuated home-Foreign Ministry
More Ghanaians who have become stranded across the world due to COVID-19 border closures are expected to be evacuated in the coming weeks, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has indicated.
The Deputy Sector Minister, Charles Owiredu, who disclosed this at yesterday’s COVID-19 briefing in Accra, said the 230 compatriots who arrived from Kuwait on Saturday were the first cohort of the stranded people.
The others, he said would be evacuated in cohorts because to bring all of them at a go would be overwhelming, adding that the plan was not to bring all Ghanaians living abroad, back home but only those who needed to come.
“The government cannot make a decision saying all of these people should come in at the same time. It is going to be very chaotic if you look at the numbers. So the decision was taken that let’s start with those from Kuwait,” he said.
Mr Owiredu fell short of mentioning the number of people expected home but said the figure was rising because more people were registering with the country’s 63 missions abroad including US, UK, Holland, Germany and Ukraine.
According to him, one cohort of the stranded persons comprised persons who travelled outside the country on their own and were willing to pay for their flight home and the cost of quarantine.
Another category, he said were persons who attended conferences and other national assignments, students who were on government scholarships and completed schools and others who lacked finances to return home.
“We have a fluid situation, the numbers keep rising,” the deputy minister said adding that they would be evacuated in cohorts to reduce the pressure on the government as well as ensure their safety.
On the cost of evacuation, Mr Owiredu, explained that the government was not taking responsibility since majority of people who desired to be brought back home have agreed to finance the trip.
In the case of the first cohort of returnees, he said the government of Kuwait offered to bear the cost of their evacuation while Ghana, provided some food on their arrival as well as the cost of quarantine.
The Kuwait returnees were in quarantine while the COVID-19 medical team had started testing them even though they tested negative in Kuwait.
The deputy minister recounted that the decision to evacuate stranded compatriots followed distress calls following the closure of borders to contain the coronavirus pandemic.
He said President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, after a meeting with the sector ministry and ambassadors, directed that data should be collated on subsequent evacuation.
Ghana’s air, sea and land borders were closed on Sunday, March 22, 2020, following an order by President Akufo-Addo as part of efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo extended the closure, which did not apply to goods, to the end of May and is expected to either ease or extend it this weekend.
Within the past few weeks, scores of foreign nationals have been evacuated from the country by their native countries including UK, USA and South Africa as part of their respective COVID-19 measures.
BY JONATHAN DONKOR
President John Dramani Mahama has cautioned that the rapid growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) could worsen the spread of misinformation across the world if not managed responsibly.
Speaking at the International Conference on Information Integrity in Paris, the President said AI tools such as deepfakes and synthetic media are increasingly being used to manipulate information and distort public perception.
He warned that the misuse of AI poses a serious threat to democracy, public health, and global stability, adding that protecting information integrity must be treated with the same urgency as national security and economic development.
“We are back to win the global war against misinformation and disinformation. Disinformation is not an abstract issue, it shapes elections, distorts public health responses, fuels conflict, and undermines the fight against climate change,” he pointed out.
President Mahama said false information continues to erode public confidence in science and government policy, even a decade after the signing of the Paris Climate Accord.
He noted that while AI presents huge opportunities for innovation and growth, it must be used responsibly to ensure that technological progress builds, rather than destroys, public trust.
“Our collective task must be to harness AI responsibly, promote transparency, and ensure that technology strengthens, not weakens, our societies,” he said.
The conference brought together world leaders, media experts, and technology innovators to discuss ways to protect information integrity and strengthen democracy in the digital age.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has announced a city-wide clean-up exercise scheduled for Saturday, November 1, 2025, as part of efforts to promote cleanliness and public health in the metropolis.
The exercise, which starts at 6:00 a.m., forms part of the government’s vision to undertake monthly nationwide clean-up activities.
It is expected to bring together residents, traders, and transport operators to help make Kumasi cleaner and more environmentally friendly.
According to the Assembly, the clean-up will focus on key parts of the Central Business District and surrounding areas.
The operational zones include Zoo Roundabout through Pampaso to Otumfuo Roundabout, Otumfuo Roundabout through Acheamfour Market, MTN Roundabout to St. Louis College, Otumfuo Roundabout to Dr. Mensah, Boss FM through Central Market, Asafo Interchange, and Asafo Market stretch, as well as Roman Hill Down through Aboabo Station to Alabar.
During the exercise, all trading activities and vehicular movement within these areas will be suspended to ensure smooth operations.
The KMA urged all traders, commercial drivers, and residents to comply with the directive and actively take part in cleaning their surroundings.
The Assembly announced that if traders and shop owners participate fully, the exercise will end at 11:00 a.m.
However, those who fail to take part will have their shops and trading activities remain closed until 2:00 p.m.
By: Jacob Aggrey
