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Over 50 per cent of pregnant women anaemic – GSS
A pregnant woman
A survey conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has shown that over 50 per cent of pregnant women in the country are anaemic.
The report, dubbed ‘The 2022 Demographic and Health Survey,’ showed that children aged six -59 months in households were eligible for anaemia testing.
It revealed that anaemia prevalence is highest in the Northern region with 69 per cent and 35 per cent in Ahafo.
The Survey showed that anaemia prevalence among children had declined from 78 per cent in 2008.
Anaemia among adults has several negative health consequences, such as fatigue and lethargy.
Touching on caesarean operations, the Survey revealed that deliveries were more common in urban areas, representing 27 per cent compared to 15 per cent in rural areas.
The report said over one in five, representing 21 per cent of live births in the two years preceding the Survey, were delivered through a caesarean operation.
On HIV knowledge, the report revealed that two per cent of women aged 15–49 had sex with more than one partner in the 12 months before the survey.
Of these women, 12 per cent reported using a condom during their last sexual intercourse.
The report also showed that 15 per cent of men aged 15–49 had sex with more than one partner in the 12 months before the survey.
Dr Chris Opoku Fofie, Deputy Director in charge of Reproductive and Child Health at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), said the Survey would provide timely information to the authorities and develop comprehensive policies to address any anomalies in the report.
He said anaemia among pregnant women was the major concern because it could lead to increased maternal mortality and poor birth outcomes.
He called on the government to invest in health education for the public to be abreast of preventive measures.
Dr Kyeremeh Atuahene, Director-General of Ghana Aids Commission, urged the government to create an enabling legal policy to address the HIV/AIDS menace.
—GNA
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Prof Alidu Seidu files nomination for Tamale Central seat
The newly elected parliamentary candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for Tamale Central, Prof Alidu Seidu, has submitted his nomination forms to the Electoral Commission.
As of 10:00 a.m. today, he was the only person who had filed to contest the seat.
Nomination of candidates will close at the end of the day.
Associate Professor and Head of the Political Science Department at the University of Ghana Legon, Prof. Alidu Seidu won the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primaries in the Tamale Central constituency with a landslide victory.
The elections, supervised by the party’s Elections and IT Directorate in the Northern Region, saw Prof. Seidu poll 840 votes out of the total valid ballots cast.
His closest contender, Lawyer Hanan Gundadow Abdul-Rahaman, secured 536 votes.
The other aspirants could not make significant gains, with Dr. Seidu Fiter obtaining 44 votes, Aliu Abdul-Hamid 23 votes, and the rest recording fewer than 10 votes each.
In all, 1,500 ballots were cast, with 6 ballots rejected and 7 spoilt ballots recorded.
The results were signed and declared by Dr. Arnold Mashud Abukari, NDC Northern Regional Director of Elections and IT.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) held parliamentary primaries in Tamale Central to choose a candidate for the upcoming by-election following the death of the sitting Member of Parliament, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed. Dr. Mohammed, who also served as Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, tragically died in a military helicopter crash in the Adansi Akrofuom District on August 6, 2025, alongside seven others.
His passing left the Tamale Central seat vacant, as required by Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
The Electoral Commission has scheduled the by-election for September 30, 2025. While the NDC moved quickly to open nominations and vet aspirants, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) announced it would not contest the seat, citing the need to respect the somber circumstances and promote national unity.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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Ghana to locally refine its gold starting October 2025 – Sammy Gyamfi
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi, has announced that plans are far advanced for the establishment of a state-owned gold refinery in the country.
Speaking at the 2025 Minerals and Mining Convention, Mr Gyamfi said the refinery will process locally mined gold into bullion instead of exporting it in its raw state.
According to him, it is unacceptable that Ghana, despite being a leading gold producer in Africa, continues to export raw gold known as dore.
He explained that the Gold Board, working with the Bank of Ghana and local refineries, will from October 2025 begin refining gold locally.
He also disclosed that an ultramodern assay laboratory will be built to ensure international standards in testing gold quality.
Mr Gyamfi noted that the refinery will be wholly state-owned and will help Ghana move away from raw mineral exports to value addition.
This, he said, will boost foreign exchange earnings, create jobs, and position Ghana as a hub for gold refining and jewellery production in Africa.
The CEO stressed that the project forms part of government’s strategy to ensure the country benefits fully from its natural resources and to transform the mining sector into a driver of economic growth.
By: Jacob Aggrey
