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Re-opening of SHSs on Monday, June 22 Govt rolls out COVID-19 safety protocols …as President tasks CHASS to ensure strict adherence
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged the Conference of Heads of Assisted Senior High Schools (CHASS) to ensure that the coronavirus (COVID-19) safety protocols are strictly adhered to when schools resume on Monday, June 22, 2020
In a meeting with the members of CHASS at the Jubilee House in Accra yesterday, President Akufo-Addo stressed the need for the heads of the schools to ensure that students, teachers and non-teaching staff wear facemasks, observe social distancing protocols and practise good hygiene.
Following the outbreak of the coronavirus in the country, school activities in all educational institutions across the country were suspended on March 16, 2020.
The government has lifted the ban and has asked final year students in the universities, senior and junior high schools to return to school and complete their academic education, while observing the safety protocols.
Already university students have resumed lectures. Final year students in the lower educational institutions are expected to go back to school on Monday.
In all, about 800,000 people comprising students, teachers, and non-teaching staff are expected in school from Monday. The government has taken a decision to supply 2.4 million facemasks to the various schools.
“We need to do whatever we can to ensure the pandemic does not undermine the prospect of students,” he said, adding, “it’s not going to be easy because you are going to operate in different circumstances.”
President Akufo-Addo said the government would not relent on its efforts to fight against the COVID-19 but added that “there is a need to find a way to open up societies and get back to normal.”
The Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, said by Sunday, all the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) would have been distributed to the various schools.
In the five northern regions, he said distribution will be done by the Ghana Airforce, and added that distribution in the other regions will be done through “trucking system”.
The Senior Minister said the zones established by the Ministry of Education in its administration of education in the country will be used for the distribution of the PPEs.
“There are five categories of beneficiaries of these PPEs. All students, teaching staff, non-teaching staff, all invigilators, are going to be beneficiaries of the PPEs. Meaning we are going to include the district education officers and all the people who are going to be responsible for administering education and examinations,” he said.
Mr Osafo-Maafo said nobody in the education system will be left out in the distribution of the PPEs.
Source: Ghanaian Times
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Speaker of Parliament inaugurates open Parliament Steering Committee, launches action plan
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has launched the Open Parliament Steering Committee and the Open Parliament Action Plan.
The ceremony was under the theme “Achieving Gender Equality: Action by Action.”
The Speaker highlighted the critical role Parliament plays in translating the will of the people into inclusive legislation, responsive policies, and accountable governance.
“The International Day of Parliamentarianism is worth celebrating, as it offers an opportunity not only to recognise and promote achievements in strengthening democratic governance, but also to pause and reflect on the remaining gaps in institutionalising parliamentary democracy,” he said.
He noted that the event was scheduled to coincide with the International Day of Parliamentarianism to reinforce the importance of open and inclusive governance.
The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, stated that the International Day of Parliamentarianism is intended to recognise the vital role Parliaments play globally as pillars of democratic governance.
He noted that this marks the first time Ghana is formally observing the day.
“The gravity of our observance is further accentuated as we convene to witness the launch of the Open Parliament Action Plan by the Open Government Partnership Caucus,” he said.
Delivering a statement on behalf of the Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Deputy Minority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei, described the Open Parliament Action Plan as a transformative initiative aimed at strengthening the relationship between Parliament and the public.
She said the plan represents a bold commitment to making Parliament more transparent, accessible, and responsive to the needs of Ghanaians.
The Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, described the launch as a key milestone in the effort to build a citizen-focused and accountable Parliament.
He added that the International Day of Parliamentarianism is a call to action to recommit to the highest standards of public service and democratic accountability.
The inauguration was attended by a wide range of stakeholders, including the Majority and Minority Members of Parliament, members of the Open Parliament Steering Committee, the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Caucus, Parliamentary Network Africa, representatives from civil society organisations, members of the diplomatic corps, traditional and religious leaders, student bodies, the Parliamentary Press Corps, and other media partners.
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NACOC declares drug menace a national emergency
The Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Interior has paid a working visit to the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) to engage with its leadership and assess operational challenges hampering the fight against illicit drugs.
In a detailed presentation, Dr. Basha Ligbi, Head of the Commission’s Research Bureau, highlighted critical setbacks including broken body scanners at airport terminals, inadequate office infrastructure, overcrowded detention facilities, and deteriorating vehicles.
He also called for the Commission’s headquarters to be reclassified as a security zone, citing growing security risks due to private encroachment and nearby high-rise developments.
Director General of NACOC, Brigadier General Maxwell Obiba Mantey, described the escalating drug trade as a national emergency, warning that drug barons now rival armed robbers in threat level and are gaining influence at the highest levels.
He appealed for stronger institutional support and morale-boosting interventions to preserve the integrity of NACOC officers.
Chairman of the Committee and MP for Builsa North, James Agalga, assured the Commission of the Committee’s commitment to escalate the concerns to Parliament and engage key justice sector stakeholders to fast-track reforms in support of NACOC’s mandate.
