UTAG suspends strike; agrees to return to negotiation table

 The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has suspended its strike and has also agreed to return to the negotiation table.

This follows an emergency meeting, its leaders had with the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations and the National Labour Commission (NLC) on Wednesday, August 18, 2021.

President of UTAG, Prof. Charles Marfo speaking to Silver news said, both parties (Government and UTAG) have resolved to discontinue the legal processes concerning the protracted strike and have given themselves a one-month timeline to settle all outstanding issues.

According to him, the strike has brought a lot of standstill so he believes that when management in the various universities gives the order, things will get to normal”, National President of UTAG, Prof. Charles Marfo confirmed on the.

A Memorandum of Agreement signed by the government and UTAG and after the meeting noted that “both parties agree that there is a need to get back to the negotiating table from the week beginning Monday 23rd August 2021.”

During the period, government and UTAG will among other things negotiate the research component of the Book and Research Allowance, market premium, and non-basic allowance.

….PROF. MARFO…..

SRC President of University of Ghana, Legon, Kwame Amo Ntow Fianko speaking to Silbver news said, the management of the universities should give them at least one week for the student to psychologically prepare their mind for the exams.

…..NTOW FIANKO….

 

 

 

Minority demands accountability for GHS636M already allocated to Agenda 111 hospitals

The Minority in Parliament is asking for accountability for monies spent in the implementation of the government’s plan to build 111 hospitals across the country.

Ranking Member on Health at Parliament who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Juaboso constituency, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh speaking to the media said, the plan, christened Agenda 111, has already been backed with GHS600 million despite being launched on Tuesday, August 17, 2021.

This allocation is captured in the 2021 mid-year budget review in addition to GHS36 million released for the payment of consultancy fees, design, project management and coordination.

According to him, the Minority is however concerned that there are no details for the expenditure.

He added that, they are of view that, barring corruption, it is highly untenable for government to spend such a colossal sum on a project for which they are told no mobilization will be paid to contractors before the commencement of works.”

He noted that, the Minority is also worried that insufficient money is being allocated to the project.

He stressed that, despite the allocations indicated in the budget, the government said it has already set aside $100 million as commencement funding.

…..HON. AKANDOH…..

 

 

 

 

Agenda 111 must be embraced- Koku Anyidoho

President of the Atta Mills Institute, Samuel Koku Anyidoho has urged Ghanaians to embrace the Agenda 111 hospitals project launched by the President Akufo-Addo government.

The project launched by President Akufo-Addo on Tuesday, August 17, 2021, seeks to ensure that every district in the country boasts of befitting and well-equipped health facility to provide quality healthcare.

Commenting on the Agenda 111 project, Koku Anyidoho who is a former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) says it must be embraced.

According to him, expanding access to quality healthcare must be embraced.

He added that, “Under the Atta-Mills Better Ghana Agenda, we got a new University of Health & Allied Sciences to give us solid manpower. The new UG hospital was also built. We are getting additional 111 hospitals? God bless our Homeland.

Through the Agenda 111 Hospitals Project, the ruling government has set sight on completing the construction of 88 hospitals in 18 months.

When the project is completed in its entirety, Ghanaians in every district in the country will have access to quality health care in well-equipped facilities.

President Akufo-Addo says the project seeks to give employment to 20,000 health workers to dwindle down the number of unemployed Ghanaians sitting at home.

….KOKU ANYIDOHO FIRST…..

He again said, he hope that, the projects under the Agenda 111 is completed at the scheduled time.

….KOKU ANYIDOHO SECOND

 

Ejisu Krapa residents call for improved security after man’s body was found

Residents of Ejisu Krapa in the Ashanti Region are calling for improved security in the area after a dead body was found in the community on Wednesday, August 18, 2021.

The residents have been left in shock over the incident.

Police officers together with officials from the National Disaster Management Organisation visited the area and conveyed the body to the mortuary.

Assembly member of the area, Hon. Robert Boakye, aka, Hon. Krapa speaking to Nana Ampratwum on Silver fm Omanbapa morning show said, he is not sure if the person is from this community.

According to him, they think he came from a different community and the body was deposited here.

Hon. Krapa urged the community to be more security conscious as they appeal for support from the police.

He added that, the Police occasionally patrol from 8:30pm to 9:00 pm with their motorbikes and others, but they may never know the time anyone wants to do something bad in the community.

.…HON. KRAPA…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Public Sector demo: Low turnout due to lack of funding – Leader explains

The leader of the aggrieved public sector workers has explained the low turnout for the demonstration was due to inadequate increment in salaries.

Norbert Gborgbortsi said 90 percent of the funds used to organise the protest came from his own pocket.

According to them, they didn’t have funds to convey the people, 90% of the funds came from his own pocket; it is only 10% came from supporters.

Ahead of the demonstration, the leadership said they were expecting over 5,000 people. Based on this projected number, the police deployed over 200 personnel to provide security.

However, the aggrieved public sector workers, who hit the streets of Accra on Wednesday August 18, 2021, were not up to 100.

Many people, especially on social media, mocked the leaders for not pulling the crowd like the Fixthecountry demonstration.

But Mr. Gborgbortsi said the turnout of the demonstration has made him the “happiest man on earth.”

He explained that, those who came represent all public sector workers who were not bold enough to join the protest.

Citing vilification at the office and security as some reasons given by many for not joining, he maintained that their goals were met.

….MR. GBORGBORTSI…..

 

 

 

 

Covid-19: GHS introduce new intervention

The Ghana Health Service as part of its efforts to curb the spread of covid-19 in the country has introduced a new intervention to fight the covid-19.

The Director of Health Promotion at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Dacosta Aboagye speaking to the media said, the intervention is called “Peer to Peer enforcement strategy” which they believe it can help the fight.

Explaining how the intervention will work, he said, “No one should allow their pal or family members to come close to them, if they are not wearing the nose mask”.

The only way we can defeat the covid-19 is to wear the nose mask and adhere to all the safety protocols.

He added that, currently the active case recorded is 6,265 whiles 945 hence the need for Ghanaians to adhere to the covid-19 protocols.

…..DR. ABOAGYE FIRST…..

Touching on the donation of 249, 600 AstraZeneca doses from the UK government, Dr. Aboagye Dacosta said, this dose will be used to vaccines Ghanaians who took their first dose of the vaccines.

He noted that, Ghana is expecting another vaccines by next week hence the need for us to support the government.

…..DR. ABOAGYE SECOND……