News
TB is in the air, watch out! – Doctor warns
Any persistent cough lasting more than two weeks should raise suspicion of tuberculosis (TB), a physician specialist at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge), Dr Woedem Tettey, has cautioned.
She said individuals who also experience unexplained weight loss, recurrent night sweats and difficulty in breathing should promptly seek medical attention and test for TB.
Dr Tettey gave the advice in an interview with The Spectator at a TB capacity-building workshop for journalists in Accra last Thursday.
Although TB is curable, she noted that delayed diagnosis could lead to serious health complications.
“The earlier the disease is detected, the better the outcome,” she said, explaining that prolonged untreated infection allows the bacteria to cause extensive damage to the lungs and other organs.
Dr Tettey said the lungs were the most affected by TB but the disease could also damage other parts of the body, including the spine, lymph nodes, kidneys and the brain.
“So if someone has been coughing for two weeks and is diagnosed early, that person stands a better chance of avoiding complications than someone who has been coughing for a whole year before it is picked up,” she explained.
She emphasised that early diagnosis, adherence to treatment and completion of medication greatly improved survival and recovery.
Dr Tettey also cautioned the public against stigmatising or discriminating against people diagnosed with TB, stressing that the disease was both preventable and curable.
“TB is in the air, so we are all at risk. That is why it is a public health issue. But with appropriate treatment and strict compliance with medication, a person can be cured and live a normal life,” she said.
Tuberculosis is a contagious airborne disease caused mainly by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and primarily affects the lungs. It spreads when people with active TB cough, sneeze or spit, releasing the bacteria into the air.
Health experts advise the public to practise proper cough etiquette, including covering the mouth and nose when coughing, and to seek medical care early when symptoms persist.
By Abigail Annoh
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The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has opened applications for members interested in contesting as its parliamentary candidates in the 2028 general elections.
In a statement issued on Thursday, October 29, 2026, the party said interested members must declare their intention to contest between Sunday, November 1, and Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
According to the statement signed by the party’s Communications Director, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, prospective candidates must complete an online form within the specified period.
The party said a non-refundable application fee of GH¢5,000 would be charged to each prospective candidate.
It added that all applicants would undergo vetting and screening to determine their eligibility to contest on the party’s ticket.
The NPP announced plans to organise capacity-building workshops for prospective candidates in December 2026. The workshops will be held across the Northern, Middle and Southern zones, with details of the venues to be announced later.
The party stressed that the guidelines would apply to all prospective candidates, including sitting NPP Members of Parliament who wish to contest again.
It further warned aspirants against starting campaign activities following the opening of the application process.
According to the statement, the existing directive prohibiting campaign activities remains in force until the party gives official clearance.
It cautioned that anyone who violates the directive would face appropriate sanctions under the party’s constitution and regulations.
The NPP said the process was designed to promote fairness, transparency and equal opportunities for all aspirants as it prepares to select candidates for all 276 constituencies ahead of the 2028 elections.
It urged prospective candidates to follow the guidelines and conduct themselves with discipline and respect for one another throughout the process.
The party said its broader objective was to strengthen unity within its ranks and rebuild public confidence ahead of the 2028 general elections.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
eputy Foreign Minister accompanies Veep to Shanghai to champion Global South reform, industrial drive
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, James Gyakye Quayson, accompanied Vice-President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang on a successful working visit to Shanghai, China, from 15th to 19th October 2026, at the invitation of the East China Normal University (ECNU).
The highlight of the visit was the 2026 Global South Academic Forum held on 17th October, which brought together over 200 scholars, policymakers, political party leaders and media professionals from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, under the theme “Global South Political Parties: Governance and Modernisation.”
In her keynote address, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang asserted that political independence is only truly the beginning, stating that “winning political power and governing effectively are related but not the same responsibility.” She called for stronger South-South cooperation, multilateralism and reform of the global financial architecture to end debt traps, ensure fair risk assessments and promote climate policies that respect different national circumstances.
On 18th October, she addressed a business forum with Chinese investors, linking Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy policy to industrialization. Warning that training youth without factories creates unemployment, she appealed for factories to be established in Ghana to serve the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) market, with priority on value addition in cocoa processing, shea butter, cashew, coconut and timber.
On October 19, Ghana’s Ambassador to China, Kojo Bonsu, hosted a dinner at the Shangri-La for the Vice-President, attended by members of the Ghanaian community and business leaders, who praised the thorough preparation by the Ghana Embassy staff for the visit.
Throughout the trip, Mr. Quayson coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to align the engagements with Ghana’s jobs and transformation agenda.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
