Many, have in light of the fast-spreading coronavirus, asked for a lockdown of the country

The President for Institute of Liberty and Policy Innovation (ILAPI), Mr Peter Bismark, has stated that Ghana requires GH?15 billion for 28 days’ total lockdown to sustain the economy and protect the lives of its citizens.

He said those who are calling for a total lockdown should note that, it isn’t necessarily the best option for Ghana because should that happen, a stimulus package of over GH?15 billion would be needed for a 28-day lockdown.

“If it happens like that, it means that registered businesses and firms would have to shut down operations with employees going home, and go with salaries,” he said.

The president of ILAPI said the government would still have to ensure the continuation of salaries of public sector employment and provision of basic needs and other services, including electricity, essential services, water and food.

Mr Bismark said this in a release from the institute yesterday.

He said the informal economy would suffer from the lockdown because of loss of daily sales and income. The sector, he said, may not directly benefit from the emergency financial response but would reduce individual income and purchasing power.

According to him, since Ghana’s economy thrives on small and medium-scale enterprises, the government must spend more to support local businesses with some tax rebates, financial reliefs, refunds and social assistance.

Total lockdown

“As the market activities continue to drop and many Ghanaians are calling for a total lockdown, foward-looking fiscal and monetary measures are necessary to save the economy from impacts of the coronavirus pandemic,” he stated

Mr Bismark said the exponential growth of the number of cases is already causing a progressive lockdown.

“With this development, businesses would close and physical activities would cease. Because of inexplicable barriers that the coronavirus crisis brings, people may be prevented from doing useful things for income and wealth creation.”

He stated that in the process, businesses must be compensated and this would call for both critical fiscal and monetary measures.

“With a total lockdown, certain goods and services that people would otherwise buy and enjoy will be off-limit. It does not mean, however, that one would have stopped eating; instead, you make your food at home and due to this Ghanaians may now spend more money on other things,” the ILAPI boss stated.

He said switching from consumption to saving might be impossible at this time because the situation would encourage people to spend rather than save.

Mr Bismark said making readily available the package was important for private sector planning of business sustainability and job security in this COVID-19 pandemic.

He added that the critical areas to consider include businesses, jobs, internet connectivity, transport, fuel, tax compliance, raw materials, manufacturing, rent, health care, agriculture, security, utilities and occupational licenses.

Measures

The Vice-President of ILAPI, Mr Evans Badu Boampong, said the government must meet all the relevant business associations, including the manufacturing firms, to deliberate consciously on production capacity and job loss.

He said insurance companies could not remain same with our insurance premiums during lockdowns so the government again must meet the Insurance Commission as early as possible to make readily available partial payment to their clients to support them in times of the panic.

“They should also provide exclusive premiums to their clients to support government health interventions,” Mr Boampong said.

He said salaries of workers should not be subjected to full tax deductions, suggesting that at least 50% tax refund should be given workers while Ghana Water Company should consider opening taps for those who are even owing bills to ensure there is free flow of water to aid hand washing.

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture, through the Buffer Food Stock, Mr Boampong said, should develop an outline system to supply food to underprivileged homes and also support companies in Ghana (both local and foreign) to change their structure of production to produce some essential goods to avoid shortages during the lockdown,” he stated.

Mr Boampong said Ghana Grid Company Limited, Volta River Authority and Electricity Company of Ghana must ensure there was continuous supply of power since most institutions would be working from home and that tariffs should be reduced.

He said there are people who don’t even have a place to get locked inside, adding Ghana has a housing deficit of over 1.5 million. Therefore, the government must advance plans to shelter some millions of Ghanaians in hotels, motels, and guest houses among others.

“As a policy analysis organisation, we make these proposals based on a careful study of other nations which have implemented lockdowns due to COVID19. And we believe that these measures should suffice, though not completely, in helping manage the situation of a lockdown,” Mr Boampong said.

Bono Regional Chairman of NPP, Kwame Baffoe

Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe has stated that members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) do not have any genuine motives to help assist in fighting the novel Coronavirus in the country.

To him, it is Pharisaic on the part of the NDC to deprecate government’s measures put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19 when they were unable to even fight the outbreak of cholera during their tenure.

“Stop comparing Ebola to COVID-19 for they are two separate diseases, you were the same people who could not control cholera outbreak during your administration. Under what circumstance can you help us fight COVID-19?” he quizzed.

Abronye DC, as he is affectionately called, pontificated on UTV’s late news that government cannot work with the opposition party’s recently announced reponse team, because the opposition party masterminded the possible widespread outbreak of the disease in Ghana.

“ . . As to whether we will work with NDC’s COVID-19 technical team, when you go to Nigeria their problem is Boko Haram, likewise Iran suffering from bombing each and every other day. Members of the NDC were those finding means to bring the disease into the country, especially when they called on government to evacuate Ghanaian students from China. How will government involve such people in curbing the outbreak?” he rhetorically asked.

The 70-year-old woman, arrived in Ghana on Sunday

A UK-based Ghanaian citizen who is one of some one thousand thirty people in mandatory quarantine upon arrival in Ghana, has called on the authorities to provide them with more information.

Ghana has, so far, recorded 68 cases of COVID-19 with two deaths.

The government, as part of measures to prevent further spread of the virus, has put a ban on all public gatherings.

Also, the government has given a directive that all persons who arrive in the country have to go through mandatory quarantine.

Narrating her experience on the Executive Breakfast Show (EBS) on Class91.3FM on Wednesday, 25 March 2020, Ms Susan said she was aware that restrictions had been placed and that she was going to be quarantined on arrival in Ghana but what she did not expect was the duration of the quarantine.

The seventy-year-old woman, who arrived in Ghana on Sunday, 22 March 2020, described communication to those of them in quarantine, as poor.

She told show host Benjamin Akakpo that: “When I got here, nobody said anything; in fact, I started asking from the airport after we’d been screened and seen to. Even coming to the hotel, they didn’t want to talk about where we were going. It’s been all sorts of things but communication has been very poor.”

“The question is: how long? I have a house here; I live in Kwabenya, they can escort me to my house. If they want to put some army officer at my gate, put some army officer at my gate to make sure that I’m actually in isolation. I have no problem being isolated, I am used to it. So, what is the problem? Why can’t someone say to us: ‘Madam, listen: you’re going to stay here for one month’.

“There have been things happening in this hotel, there’ve been two people who have had nervous breakdowns. A guy was threatening to burn down the hotel, which was the day before yesterday; I had to scream to be moved to another place. There’s a woman who, in the middle of the night, screams and people bang on people’s doors. Why, what is it? We’re all intelligent people, tell us; we’re not dogs. Even when you put a dog in quarantine, you go and visit it. You stand outside and you know it wags its little tail and it appreciates you being there. You know, we’re just being treated like some criminals or, I don’t have the words…”

Two Ghanaians have died from the coronavirus

The first case of the disease was recorded in August 1918 in the then commercial hub of Cape Coast.

An Accra-bound American vessel from Sierra Leone which had some of its crew members infected made a stop at Cape Coast and that’s where it began to spread.

From there the disease swept across the country like the biblical plague and by mid-December there were casualties all over with the North territory being the latest hit.

The spread of the disease was facilitated by the colonial transportation network.

In less than six months, official government figures pegged the death rate at 50,000 with the Northern part of the country being the hardest hit.

The Northern territories recorded over 28,700 deaths while Accra was assigned 655 deaths.

However, the numbers by the government were rubbished by historians and data analysts who pegged the number of deaths around 100,000.

Kuczynski, a data analyst said the number by the colonial masters was a misrepresentation of the number of deaths that actually occurred.

Coronavirus 101 years on

After more than a century of that devastating episode, Ghanaians have another virus staring them in the face.

From a virus which reportedly originated in China, the deadly disease has reached a pandemic status with over 15,000 deaths globally.

For Ghana, since recording its first two cases, the number has grown exponentially. In less than two weeks, 27 cases and two deaths have been recorded.

According to the World Health Organization, Ghana’s numbers in the first eight days far outweighs China Italy, Spain and UK who are three of the worst hit countries.

Experts are also warning that despite the measures taken by the government, they expect the numbers to increase significantly in the coming days.

Similarities

Both are respiratory-related disease which according to experts explain why the northern part of the country was badly hit as it was dry season.

Again, another symptom of coronavirus is pneumonia and same can also be said about influenza.

In controlling the influenza, affected persons were quarantined and social distancing was preached, similar to what is happening now.

Similarly, self-isolation and social distancing are the most used words now.

Large gatherings were discouraged, schools and other agencies were closed down just as it is happening now.

Government action

There was little action from the British government who according to historians acted negligibly and lackadaisically toward the virus.

The government had no ‘consistent or even remotely successful policy of dealing with the disease’.

The government is said to have made no attempts to ‘cordon off the Northern territories’ despite repeated calls from chiefs and prominent Ghanaians.

There were little or too few doctors to deal with the overwhelming number of cases that were recorded across every nook and cranny of the country.

Coronavirus

The government has adopted a number of radical measures to curtail the spread of the virus.

From an initial allocation of $100,000 million, the government has moved on to shut down all of the country’s borders to human traffic, closed down schools and ban all forms of social gatherings with membership of 25 or more.

The government has also procured over 50,000 test kits and also embarked on an elaborate awareness campaign to sensitize Ghanaians on the preventive measures the must adhere to.

Despite these efforts by the government, some Ghanaians, particularly, the opposition NDC have not been impressed.

The leader of the party told the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Sunday that he owes Ghanaians a ‘proper plan and not prayers.’

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The victim was found with severe gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead on arrival

A murder investigation is underway after a young girl was fatally shot at Aboabo bus stop, near Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

The incident happened during the wee hours of Sunday, Dailymailgh.com can report.

The victim has been named as Diana Adomako, who until her death, was a pupil of the Aboabo Middle School ‘B’ JHS.

She was found at the scene of shooting with severe gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead on the spot, police said.

“You could see blood spattered at the scene. The incident drew the attention of some police officers who started patrolling the area to maintain calm,” reported Mohammed Aminu, a local journalist with Kumasi-based Zuria FM.

The Criminal Investigation Department in the Ashanti Region has since taken over investigations.

It is gathered that a search is underway for a man in his early 20s who residents named as Amadu, as the one suspected to have committed the crime.

Police believe more than one assailant may have been involved and are exploring the possibility that the murder was gang-related. The incident has since left residents in a state of shock.

“This area has been the hub for known criminals in the Kumasi Metropolis for some time now. Our thoughts are with the grieving family but we pray that the police will swiftly make an arrest”, a resident told Dailymailgh.com.

The remains of the deceased has been deposited at a hospital morgue.

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A class six (6) pupil has drowned in the Volta River. The incident occurred at Mamakope a fishing community near Atimpoku in the Eastern region.

The body of the deceased, Ayuba Zebelo, has been deposited at the VRA Hospital.

Currently, all schools in Ghana have been shut down by the government as a preventive measure to control the spread of coronavirus which has infected 16 people in the country as of March 20, 2020.

Starr News has gathered that, the deceased pupil went to to the riverside with his 15-year-old friend -Godfred, to wash their cloth after which they decided to swim. Godfred attempted to save his friend who was drowning but nearly got drowned as a result.

A local fisherman on the river who saw the children drowning quickly paddled his canoe to the scene and managed to rescue the 15-year-old.

The deceased who was later retrieved was pronounced dead on arrival at the VRA Hospital.

The Asuogyaman District Public Relations Officer of the National Disaster Management Organization, NADMO, Eric Asare confirmed the incident to Starr News with additional information that “both went to the riverside to wash their cloth then later decided to swim and unfortunately the incident happened. So a certain fisherman on the river saw them.

“Eventually, Godfred the 15-year-old JHS 1 student who went to the riverside with him tried to rescue the deceased but they were both drowning but when the fisherman got there he was only able to save Godfred”.

Many people continue to drown in the Volta River in spite of the continuous public education on safety precautions by NADMO.

“This is not the first time and I don’t think this will be the last. Because we’ve done lots of education for them to use life jackets but they don’t listen. They always think they know how to swim”.

A World Health Organization report in 2018 indicated that drowning is the 3rd leading cause of unintentional death worldwide, accounting for 7% of all injury-related deaths. An estimated 360,000 annual drowning deaths are recorded globally with children and women with increasing access to water most at risk of drowning.

Two were reported from Greater Accra Region and one from Ashanti Region.

Three more confirmed cases of the global pandemic, coronavirus have been recorded in the Greater Accra Regional capital, Accra and Ashanti Region.

Three (3) new COVID-19 cases confirmed on the 20th March 2020. Two were reported from Greater Accra Region and one from Ashanti Region.

1. 55-year-old Ghanaian woman; resident of the UK; returned to Ghana within two weeks; sample confirmed positive in the laboratory

2. 84-year-old Ghanaian lady resident of the United Kingdom; came back to Ghana within the past two (2) weeks; developed symptoms and sample confirmed positive in the laboratory

3. 27-year-old Chinese male; returned to Ghana (Ashanti Region) in the past two weeks; developed symptoms and sample confirmed positive in the laboratory.

This brings to a total of nineteen (19) confirmed cases in Ghana, with no death. Contact tracing has started in all these confirmed cases.

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Some 83 pharmacy students of the University of Ghana who have been quarantined on campus since one of their mates tested positive for coronavirus are complaining of neglect by health authorities handling the pandemic in Ghana.

According to the students, since they were put into isolation last week, there have been no provision of how they will feed or even obtain basic personal items for their upkeep.

Some of the students who spoke to Starrfm.com.gh Friday said there are times they have been pushed to come out and buy their own food or fall on friends to get them groceries.

“They have just neglected us, we are on our own. Recently, I had to go out and get food for myself which means I found myself among other students and that worries me a lot. But if we don’t do that, we actually can’t get food to eat.

“They say we should be indoors in our respective hostels until the 14-day period but how do we survive until then when there is no arrangement put in place to ensure that we can at least get something to eat and someone is really supervising this exercise, ” a worried student in quarantine told Starrfm.com.gh Friday.

Officials of the Ghana Health Service have declined calls to comment on the development.

Ghana, today recorded five more cases of the deadly COVID-19 disease bringing the total number of cases to 16.

The Ghana Health Service in an update said all five were reported from Greater Accra region.

The first is a 29-year-old Ghanaian lady resident of Accra with no history of travel. Sample taken from her confirmed positive in the laboratory.

The second is a 34-year-old Ghanaian lady resident of Accra who had contact of a confirmed case at her place of work.

Also, a 53-year-old Ghanaian male, resident of Tema with no history of travel, no evidence of close contact with a confirmed case. Samples confirmed positive in the laboratory.

A 41-year-old Ghanaian male who arrived in Ghana by KLM on the 15 March 2020; indicated exposure with family members in Amsterdam exhibiting respiratory symptoms and also on the flight with some passengers sneezing and coughing.

The fifth person is a 36-year-old Ghanaian male resident of Paris, France; date of arrival in Ghana unconfirmed with no evidence of contact with an infected person.

This brings to a total of sixteen (16) confirmed cases in Ghana, with no death.

The coronavirus pandemic has now infected more than 246,777 people around the globe after doubling in less than two weeks.

Source: starrfm.com.gh

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A 20-year-old man has been hauled before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly impregnating a 15-year-old girl at the Arts Center in Accra.

Emmanuel Teye has since December 2018 had countless number of sex with the victim at the Black Star Square Sea shore in Accra.

Charged with defilement, Teye, a student pleaded guilty.

The court presided over by Mrs. Christina Cann however deferred Teye’s sentence to March 23.

Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Kofi Atimbire said the complainant is a 49-year-old trader residing at Sukura and the victim is a Junior High School pupil living with her aunty at the Arts Centre.

Chief inspector Atimbire said Teye also lives with his mother in the same vicinity with the victim.
Prosecution said investigations

disclosed that Teye has been having sex with the victim since the period mentioned above till October 25, last year which had resulted in pregnancy

The prosecution said during the month of February this year, the victim developed some changes in her body and her aunty took her to the hospital where it was confirmed that she was pregnant.

He said when the victim was asked as to who was responsible for the pregnancy, she mentioned Teye’s name.

Mr Atimbire said on March 3, this year, the complainant reported the matter to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit in Accra and a medical report form was issued to the victim to seek further medical attention.

He said when the Police arrested Teye, he admitted the offence in his cautioned statement.