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MTN, Samsung, present 500 phones to support contact tracing activities
MTN Ghana has partnered Samsung Ghana to present 500 pieces of ‘Samsung Galaxy A2 Core’ smartphones to support government and the Ghana Health Service as they lead the fight against COVID -19 through enhanced contact tracing.
The phones come with 500 MTN SIM cards and a total of 3,000GB data. Each of the phones will be loaded with 500MB data every month for a period of six months.
The presentation was jointly made by the representatives of Samsung Electronics West Africa and MTN Ghana.
The Minister of Information, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah (MP) and the Chief Director of the Ministry, Mrs Mamle Andrews received the items at the premises of the Ministry of Information after a brief ceremony was organised to hand over the devices.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Managing Director of Samsung Electronics West Africa, Ghana, Eugene Nahm said, “As COVID-19 continues to make its way across the country, our thoughts are with the people of Ghana. We are, therefore, happy to provide these resources to support government and health officials in the fight against this global pandemic. We believe that all companies should unite to work together with the country’s leaders and cooperate now more than ever.”
In her address, the Senior Manager – Consumer Marketing at MTN, Nana Asantewaa Amegashie said, “The partnership with Samsung has presented another opportunity to MTN to commit more resources to the fight against COVID-19.
“This presentation of the data package and the SIM cards is an addition to free online access to over 200 educational websites to support online studies. It adds to MTN Foundation’s commitment to provide GH¢5 million worth of medical supplies to support government’s efforts in fighting the disease.”
The Minister of Information expressed his appreciation to Samsung and MTN Ghana for their noble gesture to help fight against COVID-19.
Again, the presentation to the Ministry of Information follows a presentation made to the Noguchi Memorial Institute a few weeks ago to support the Institute to meet the growing demand in records taking, storage and management of essential COVID- 19 data.
The presentation to Noguchi comprised one Dell Server, five HP laptops and accessories, five headsets, a black and white printer, a colour printer and two all-in- one Lenovo desktop computer.
Troubled and anxious citizens in Damongo of the Savannah Region have expressed concerns about the number of young people, believed to be under the age of 18, involved in ‘shisha’ smoking in pubs and drinking spots within the township.
Eyewitnesses say the minors were seen patronising nightlife venues, where Shisha smoking happen in the open.
The situation has sparked renewed public concern over the enforcement of child protection laws and regulations governing the operations of entertainment centres in the municipality and country as a whole.
An eyewitness, who spoke to The Spectator on conditions of anonymity for security reasons, noted that the situation was becoming increasingly common.
“This is not a one-off incident. It is becoming very common, but residents like us cannot openly report or speak about it because our lives will be at risk,” he said.
Under Ghanaian law, minors were prohibited from patronising Shisha.
Public health experts have consistently warned that shisha use exposes users to harmful substances that can negatively affect brain development, respiratory health, and overall well-being, particularly among young people.
The residents believe the alleged incidents point to broader challenges relating to youth supervision, substance abuse, and weak enforcement of existing regulations and have called on municipal authorities, security agencies, and regulatory bodies to intensify monitoring of pubs and entertainment centres to ensure compliance with the law.
In an effort to address the menace, Mr Salisu Be-Awurbi, the Savannah Regional Minister, has led public education campaigns, engaged security agencies, and supported enforcement actions to address the rising use of illicit substances in the region.
Wura Kelly Seidu Boresah I, the Chief of Damongo, has also called on all stakeholders including parents, community leaders, institutions, and young people to actively support efforts to curb drug abuse, warning that the rising consumption of hard drugs poses a serious health threat to the future of the youth in the Savannah Region.
He also cautioned individuals involved in the sale and distribution of illicit drugs to immediately desist from the practice, stressing that offenders will face arrest and prosecution in accordance with the law.
From Geoffrey Buta, Damongo, Savannah Region
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Dr Theresa Baffour, an advocate for ending violence and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SAHM SAHW Foundation, has said that society plays a critical and pivotal role in breaking the cycle of domestic violence.
According to her, domestic violence is a major contributor of making women, who are mostly the victims, mentally derailed and unable to engage in economic activities.
She said this when the foundation called on the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, to solicit support for the initiative by the “Strong and Healthy Minds, Strong and Healthy Women” (SAHM SAHW) to combat domestic violence within the Ga State.
The visit was occasioned by the fact that domestic violence cases have become quite prevalent in the Ga communities and is retarding growth.
According to her, the canker was an impediment to national development because the victims were usually tortured and would have to go through series of therapies to return to the right state of mind.
Dr Baffour mentioned that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) places a mental toll on women, and was, therefore, important to break the cycle through comprehensive mental health support, crisis intervention and empowerment programmes in communities with high rates of GBV.
This intervention, she underscored, would help in empowering the denigrated victim of domestic violence to soundly heal, build and thrive.
Dr Baffour added that the initiative would provide holistic, trauma-informed mental health care and advocacy for young women affected by domestic violence.
According to her, the above statement would create safe spaces for healing and equipping them with entrepreneurial skills for renewed hope and empowered life.
The Ga Mantse pledged his support for the laudable initiative to combat domestic violence and also acknowledged the need to address it in the Ga State.
Further endorsement came from Justice Julia Naa-Yarley Adjei Amoah, Chief of Staff at the Office of the Ga Mantse, as she commended the team of SAHM SAHW Foundation for taking a bold step to end the canker in the Greater Accra.
She added that it was a step in the right direction to save vulnerable women from torture, stress and emotional abuse.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
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