Digital JUNE 1, 2020

Digital JUNE 1, 2020.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2020 7:14 AM Page 1

Digital JUNE 1, 2020.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2020 7:14 AM Page 2
02
PUBLIC SERVICE
CAMPAIGN
Tax is for development; Pay
your tax always because tax
evasion is criminal
CONTENT
ANNIVERSARIES
Good Friday — Fri, 10 Apr 2020
Easter Monday — Mon, 13 Apr 2020
Labour Day — Fri, 1 May 2020
DAILY HERITAGE MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2020
Published by: EIB
Network / Heritage
Communications Ltd.
Managing Editor:
William Asiedu:
0208156974
Acting Editor:
Kweku Gyasi Essel:
0244744973
ISSN: 0855-52307
VOL 7
Location: Meridian
House (Starr FM) Ring
Road. Box AD 676,
Adabraka, Accra,Ghana.
Telephone: +233-0302-
236051, 020-8156974
026-5653335
Adverts/Mktg:
Paul Ampong-Mensah
024-4360782
Fax: +233-0302-237156
Email:
news@dailyheritagegh.com.gh
heritagenewspaper@yahoo.co.uk
www.dailyheritage.com.gh
Maritime Authority blows
GHC19M on cutting of trees
• In Oti River as navigation on inland waters made easy
BY PHILIP ANTOH
philip.antoh@dailyheritage.com
THE CHIEF Executive
Officer of the Ghana
Maritime Authority, Mr
Thomas Alonsi, says the
Authority has spent
GHC19 million to remove
stumps from the Oti River to
ensure saftey navigation in inland waters.
Mr Alonsi said the amount was
paid for work done by the Kete Krachi
Timber Company on a 30-kilometre
stretch by way of cutting trees and the
removal of stumps from the Oti River
to make transportation easy.
Areas covered were Tumpanja to
Dzelokope, five kilometres;
Dzelokope to Dambai, seven kilometres;
and Dambai to Njari, 18 kilometers,
all totalling 30 kilometres.
He said the mandate of the Ghana
Maritime Authority included ensuring
safe transportation in inland waters
and that could only be achieved if the
trees or stumps that causesd accidents
on the river were removed.
"The stumps you see here pose a
great risk to people and commuters on
the lake because they are the result of
boat accidents on inland waters," the
CEO stated.
"Iam here in the company of the
board members of the Authority, the
Ghana Navy Commander, Real Admiral
Seth Amoama, and supporting
staff to pay a working visit to the
place to see the extent of work done.
•Mr Thomasi Alonsi , in front
He said the Authority commissioned
Kete Krachi Timber Company
to cut the trees and remove stumps
from the river to aid smooth transportation,
without any hitches, and a
year on, we are here to inspect the
workdone so far."
He hinted that similar work was
going on at Yeji in the Bono East Region.
Mr Alonsi said after this exercise,
"we are going to liaise with the Krachi
East Municipal Assembly to bring in
the Forestory Commission to assess
the economic value of the trees and a
decision would be made as to what to
do with them."
For his part, the Municipal Chief
Exective Officer of Krachi East, Mr
Patrick Charty Jilimah, expressed his
gratitude to the Authority, the Ghana
Navy and the entire people in this
catchment areas for their support
throughout the exercise.
Mr Jilimah said the removal of the
stumps and cutting of the trees had
made transportation on the lake easy
and accident-free
Go back to School
• CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2
love of country, we have borne with
them. I know, however, that we cannot
live with these restrictions forever, and
that it is imperative we find a safe way
to return our lives to normality, as other
nations across the globe are trying to
do.
This has informed the stakeholder
consultations that have occured over
the last few weeks with entities in the
health, labour, religious, chieftaincy, educational,
hospitality, transport, sports,
tourism and creative arts sectors. These
consultations have hinged on an analysis
of the data gathered and the adoption
of best practices and experiences
of other countries that have attempted
to move on in the wake of the pandemic.
A consensus has emerged from
these consultations that we should embark
on a strategic, controlled, progressive,
safe easing of restrictions to get
our lives and economy back to normal.
As I stated in my May Day address, a
month ago, I am now in a position to
outline the roadmap for easing safely
the restrictions. Ours is going to be a
phased approach, involving a selected
list of public gatherings, based on their
risk profile, socio-economic impact,
and, most importantly, our capacity to
enforce and to respond, in the event of
a flair up in our number of infections.
So, fellow Ghanaians, with effect
from Friday, 5th June, we will begin
Stage One of the process of easing restrictions.
An abridged format for religious
services can commence. Twenty-five
percent (25%) attendance, with a maximum
number of one hundred (100)
congregants, can worship at a time in
church or at the mosque, with a mandatory
one metre rule of social distancing
between congregants. In addition to the
mandatory wearing of masks for all persons
at all times in churches and
mosques, a register of names and contact
details of all worshippers and hand
washing facilities and sanitisers must be
provided, with a maximum duration of
one (1) hour for each service.
Religious institutions that are desirous
of opening their premises to
their members, such as churches,
mosques and others, must disinfect, fumigate
and put in place the requisite logistics
needed to guarantee safe opening
and operation. They must work with the
designated, regulatory bodies and undertake
test runs of the protocols I
have outlined. I would appeal to them,
in the case of Christians, on the first
Sunday of re-opening, i.e. 7th June, in
the case of the Adventists, Saturday, 6th
June, and in the case of Muslims, on the
first Friday, i.e. Sạlāt al-Jumuʿah on 5th
June, to dedicate their worship to
prayers for the nation in these challenging
times. The Minister for Religious
Affairs, will, tomorrow, Monday, 1st
June, outline, in detail, the specific
guidelines for the safe reopening of our
churches and mosques.
From Monday, 15th June, 2020, the
decision has been taken, after engagement
with the Teacher Unions, whose
co-operation I salute, to re- open
schools and universities to allow for
final year junior high, senior high and
university students to resume classes
ahead of the conduct of their respective
exit examinations. Indeed, final year
university students are to report to their
universities on 15th June; final year senior
high school (SHS 3) students, together
with SHS 2 Gold Track students,
on 22nd June; and final year junior high
school (JHS 3) students on 29th June.
JHS 3 classes will comprise a maximum
of thirty (30) students; SHS classes a
maximum of twenty-five (25) students;
and University lectures will take place
with half the class sizes.
All final year students of educational
and training institutions, which
are being managed by Ministries other
than the Education Ministry, are to return
to school on 15th June to complete
their exit examinations.
Again, prior to the opening of
schools and universities, the Ministry of
Education, and the heads of public and
private educational institutions, will fumigate
and disinfect their institutions.
Each student, teacher, and non- teaching
staff will be provided with re-usable
face masks by the Ministry of Education.
For the avoidance of doubt, all
other educational facilities, private and
public, for non-final year students, will
remain closed. The Minister for Education,
in the coming days, will outline, in
detail, the specific guidelines for the
safe reopening of our schools and universities.
Private burials, now with a maximum
of one hundred (100) persons,
can continue to be performed. Restaurants,
providing seated services, can operate
under appropriate social
distancing arrangements and hygiene
protocols. Individual, non-contact
sports can go ahead. Conferences,
workshops, weddings, and political activities,
except rallies, can now take
place, but with limited numbers not exceeding
one hundred (100) persons
present, with the appropriate social distancing
and hygiene protocols.
Market places, work places, public
transport, and constitutional and statutory
bodies such as the Electoral Commission,
the National Commission for
Civic Education and the National Identification
Authority, whose activities
were exempted from the outset from
these restrictions, must conduct their
activities in accordance with social distancing
and the necessary hygiene and
safety protocols.
Whilst we step up public education
of the protocols on public gatherings,
let me also state that regulatory agencies
will undertake random checks to ensure
• CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Digital JUNE 1, 2020.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2020 7:14 AM Page 3
DAILY HERITAGE MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2020
Go back to School
• Prez orders final-year university,
SHS and JHS students
BY MUNTALLA INUSAH
muntalla.inusah@dailyheritage.com.gh
ALL FINAL-YEAR students at
various levels of the country's
educational systems have been
given the green light to return
to school and complete their
final examinations at different
dates in June.
Starting from June 15, 2020 universities
final-year students are to report to school, while
Senior High School (SHS) final year students,
who are to write the West Africa Senior School
Certificate Examination, are to report to school
on June 22.
Junior High school (JHS) candidates who
are expected to write this year's Basic Education
Certificate Examination are to report to
school on June 29, 2020.
This was announced by President Nana
Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in a televised address
to the nation yesterday.
Also, the President directed the re-opening
of churches and mosques on Friday with 100
participants only under strict Covid-19 protocols.
Private burials are still in force but the number
of participants should not exceed 100.
Covid-19 cases now 8, 017
The President also confirmed that the country’s
case count of the novel COVID-19 had risen to
8,070. The recoveries had also increased to 2,947.
Per the new figures, 189 new cases have been
recorded since the last update and 106 persons have
recovered from the disease.
Below is the full address:
ADDRESS TO THE NATION BY THE
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, NANA
ADDO DANKWA AKUFO-ADDO, ON UP-
DATES TO GHANA’S ENHANCED RE-
SPONSE TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC,
ON SUNDAY, 31ST MAY, 2020.
Fellow Ghanaians, good evening.
I have come again, for the tenth (10th) time, into
your homes to speak to you about the Coronavirus pandemic,
share with you information about the fight
against the virus, and outline to you the decisions I have
taken about the next chapter of our common battle.
I thank each and every one of you for the collective
and individual effort you have put in to help contain the
spread of the disease on our shores.
The great majority of us continue to adhere to the
social distancing and enhanced hygiene protocols; we
have, as a result, altered our way of life to accommodate
these changes; and we continue to make sacrifices
to speed up the process of bringing our lives safely
back to a state of normalcy.
We have demonstrated not only
to ourselves, but also to the entire
world, that we are capable of charting
our own path towards containing
the spread of this disease. We must
all be proud that we have become a
reference point for others on how to
combat it.
In all of this, I say a special
ayekoo to our heroic healthcare
workers, our efficient teams of contact
tracers and testers, our farsighted
scientists, our professional
security personnel, and responsible
members of our media, who have
done a yeoman’s job over the last
eleven (11) weeks in the fight. Your
efforts are truly appreciated, and the
Ghanaian people will always be in
your debt.
When the first two cases were
confirmed on 12th March, 2020, we
took timely measures to attack the
virus. We decided that we would, (i)
limit and stop the importation of
the virus, (ii) contain its spread, (iii)
provide adequate care for the sick,
(iv) limit the impact of the virus on
social and economic life, and (v) use
the opportunity afforded by the
emergency to expand our domestic
capability and deepen our self-reliance.
To attain these objectives, and
respond to the clear evidence that
large gatherings provide the most
fertile grounds for the spread of the
virus, on 15th March, three (3) days
later, under the Imposition of Restrictions
Act, 2020, Act 1012, I
placed a ban on public gatherings
and closed down all schools and universities.
On 21st March, I closed all
our borders by land, air and sea.
Subsequently, on 27th March, I
placed restrictions on movement of
persons in the Greater Accra Metropolitan
Area, Tema, Kasoa, and the
Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area
and contiguous districts, for a period
of three (3) weeks.
In view of the obvious economic
difficulties that the tough
measures brought, I also announced
far-reaching reliefs to ease the economic
and social burden on households
and businesses. These
included subsidies on utilities for all,
tax reliefs and financial packages for
businesses, and incentives for our
frontline health workers.
•President Nana Akufo-Addo
Fellow Ghanaians, as at today,
Sunday, 31st May, under these measures,
we have conducted two hundred
and eighteen thousand, four
hundred and twenty-five (218,425)
tests; the number of positive cases
stands at eight thousand and seventy
(8,070); two thousand, nine hundred
and forty-seven (2,947) persons have
recovered; thirty-six (36) have sadly
died; thirteen (13) persons are severely
ill, with three (3) critically-ill
for which (1) is on a ventilator; and
five thousand and eighty-seven are
responding to treatment at home,
isolation centres and hospitals.
Our hospitalisation and death
rates have been, persistently, very
low, some of the lowest in Africa
and in the world. The Ghanaian
people are not dying of the virus in
the hundreds and thousands that
were earlier anticipated, and that are
being seen on a daily basis in some
other countries. Indeed, we are witnessing
a much milder manifestation
of the virus in the country, than was
initially feared. And, I dare say, that
it is the grace of God, and the measures
taken by Government that have
We have demonstrated not only to ourselves, but also to
the entire world, that we are capable of charting our own
path towards containing the spread of this disease. We
must all be proud that we have become a reference point
for others on how to combat it.
produced this result.
Our ability to trace, test, and
treat persons with the virus has improved
considerably; we now have a
large army of efficient contact tracers;
we have expanded the number
of testing facilities from two (2) to
ten (10) across the country; and we
have increased appreciably the number
of quarantine, isolation and
treatment centres. We have lessened
our dependence on
foreign imports, and scaled up
significantly domestic production
and distribution of personal protective
equipment to our healthcare
workers, evidenced in the provision
of four million, four hundred and
forty thousand, six hundred and
ninety (4,440,690) gloves; three million,
five hundred and twenty four
thousand, two hundred and five
(3,524,205) nose masks; sixty two
thousand, one hundred and ninetyfour
(62,194) goggles; one hundred
and nine thousand, eight hundred
and twenty-nine (109,829) litres of
sanitizers; eighty five thousand, nine
hundred and ninety-five (85,995)
head covers; eighty two thousand,
six hundred and fifty-five (82,655)
gowns; fifty three thousand, five
hundred and seventeen (53,517)
medical scrubs; and forty three
thousand, six hundred and thirtythree
(43,633) N-95 face masks.
As I have already said, everything
that has been achieved, so far, would
not have been possible without the
strong co-operation of you, the
Ghanaian people. I know, at firsthand,
the devasting impact the
measures employed to defeat the
virus has had on our social, religious,
cultural and economic lives, as well
as on our jobs, and the education of
our children, and yet, because of
• CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Digital JUNE 1, 2020.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2020 7:14 AM Page 4
DAILY HERITAGE DIGITAL MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2020
WWW.DAILYHERITAGE.COM.GH
StanChart, mPharma partner to support
widespread testing of Covid-19 in Ghana
STANDARD CHAR-
TERED Bank and
mPharma have presented
the Kumasi
Centre for Collaborative
Research in Tropical
Medicine (KCCR) with a
portable Polymerase Chain Reaction
(PCR) equipment donated by
the bank and diagnostic, extraction
kits and tubes donated by the
health logistics company.
The donation is meant to assist
in conducting widespread testing
and detection of Covid-19 and
comes on the back of rising cases
of the virus in Ghana.
Asiedua Addae, Head of Marketing,
Brand and Corporate Affairs,
Standard Chartered Bank,
Ghana, while presenting the donation
said, “Widespread testing is
key in the fight against Covid-19
and we are happy to present this
testing equipment to KCCR after
the first was presented to Noguchi
Memorial Institute for Medical
Research three weeks ago”.
Standard Chartered Bank has
committed ¢1 million to support
emergency relief and aid those affected
by Covid-19 in Ghana
through three key ways; helping
the vulnerable, assisting medical
frontline workers with PPEs and
bolstering widespread testing.
“At Standard Chartered Bank
Ghana, we live up to our brand
promise ‘Here for Good’ and
hope that the testing equipment
will enable more people to know
their Covid-19 status so they can
take care of themselves and their
families”.
Commenting on the partnership,
Gregory Rockson, Co-
Founder and CEO, mPharma,
said, “We are happy to partner
with Standard Chartered Bank in
this donation because we believe it
is important to do widespread and
faster testing especially for emergency
cases as we continue fighting
this pandemic”.
KCCR’s Scientific Director,
Professor Robert Phillips, thanked
Standard Chartered Bank and
mPharma for bolstering their testing
efforts and urged the public
not to forget that the Covid-19
virus is still at large.
“This portable testing equipment
works within short timelines
to deliver results and it is a
great blessing for KCCR as we
aim to respond to the pandemic
in an even greater way.
“We urge Ghanaians not to
relent in following the government’s
guidelines on social distancing
and hygiene”, he added.
Separately, Standard Chartered
Bank has also today donated
PPEs which included N95
masks, surgical gloves and coveralls
to the Department of Child
Health at the Korle-Bu Teaching
Hospital. This becomes the fifth
hospital to receive a donation of
PPEs as part of the ¢1 million
committed by the Bank.
As one of the integral treatment
centres for COVID-19 cases
in Ghana, it is essential that frontline
workers at the institution are
adequately resourced to protect
them and those they come into
contact with from being infected.
Source:
Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM
&Env.
Govt must hasten slowly in re-opening schools
• St. Mary’s Assistant Head suggests
The Assistant Headmistress
in charge of
Administration at St.
Mary’s Senior High
School, Mrs Sarah
Garshong, has
added her voice to the call on the
government to hasten slowly on
its decision to re-open schools on
a mass scale.
According to her, the re-opening
of schools should be a gradual
process, starting with the finalyear
students.
“The government must do it
gradually by allowing first the
final-year students who are due for
examinations,” she said.
Mrs Garshong made the call
when her school had its turn of
the national disinfestation and disinfection
of public senior high
schools (SHSs) undertaken by
Zoomlion Ghana Limited on Saturday.
The exercise, which was done
in the Greater Accra Region, saw a
number SHSs benefiting.
Some of the schools were Ideal
College, Mamprobi branch, Accra
Academy SHS, St Margaret Mary
SHS, and Sacred Heart Technical
Institute at Jamestown..
While the disinfestation was
targeted at getting rid of bed-bug
infestation, which has gained notoriety
in the SHSs across the
country, the disinfection bit was to
help contain the spread of the
novel coronavirus.
Using her school as an example,
Mrs Garshong admitted that it
would be very tough for them to
practise especially the
“physical/social distancing safety
protocol.”
She explained that this was because
her school had limited space
for its large student population.
“That will mean that students
will have to go to the dining hall in
batches in addition to other social
gatherings on campus, which
clearly will be difficult for us to
implement,” she admitted.
However, she pointed out that
when the final-year students are
allowed to come in first, “then we
are certain that we can practise
particularly the physical distancing
protocol in addition to the other
Covid-19 preventive protocols.”
On the disinfestation against
bed-bugs, Mrs Garshong said she
was optimistic that it will go a long
way to help the school get rid of
the bugs.
According to her, the school
has had to battle bugs for some
years now, adding that they sometimes
received help from some of
the parents in that regard.
To this end, she advocated a
regular disinfestation exercise
against bugs in SHSs.
That, she said, would prevent
the recurrence of the infestation
of these bugs and their attendant
health hazards.
She also called for the need for
teachers to be provided with PPE
in the event schools were reopened.
She commended GES and
Zoomlion for the initiative.
At the Sacred Heart Technical
Institute at Jamestown, Accra, the
Vice Principal in charge of Administration,
Wetse L. Odjidja,
stressed that a lot would change
when schools re-opened.
“Of course, we will still be in
abnormal times, and we will have
to observe all the Covid-19 protocols,”
he said.
He went on that the management
of the school would ensure
that students observed all the
safety protocols in the event
school re-opened.
“We will educate our students
to take personal hygiene seriously,”
Mr. Odjiidja assured.

Digital JUNE 1, 2020.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2020 7:14 AM Page 5
WWW.DAILYHERITAGE.COM.GH
NEWS
DAILY HERITAGE DIGITAL MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2020
14 members of Western Togoland campaigners
arrested in Kpando
BY FAISEL ABDUL IDDRISU, HO
SOLDIERS FROM the
66 Artillery Regiment
in Ho have arrested
some 14 people suspected
to be members
of the Homeland
Study Group Foundation in
Kpando on Saturday, 30 May,
2020.
The suspects include 11 men
and three women; one of whom is
carrying a two-year-old child.
According to Major Jalali Deen
Ibrahim, the Second-in-Command
at the 66 Artillery Regiment, the
suspects were picked following a
tip-off from the Bureau of National
Investigation (BNI).
"This morning, around 0800
hours, we got information that
some members of the Homeland
Study Group Foundation were
holding a meeting at Kpando-Aziavi
and so, when we got this information
from the BNI,
immediately we teamed up with
them. I sent about three patrols
"The number
was more than
what we have
here but obviously
some managed
to escape
but we got 14 of
them. Out of the
14, three are females
and 11
are males."
out to go and verify. Lo and behold,
they went and met the people
having their meeting and so
they picked them up.
"The number was more than
what we have here but obviously
some managed to escape but we
got 14 of them. Out of the 14,
three are females and 11 are
males."
Major Ibrahim further said,
"We had some evidence and documents
of intelligence of military
value, very important documents
which show their intentions and
plans, so we have picked those
plans up," adding that the BNI
also had same documents for their
investigations.
According to the military, the
group's meeting was intended to
roll out how it is going to carry out
its activities in the Volta and Oti
regions.
Following the arrest, the suspects
were sent to the Kpando
District police station but have
since been moved to the Regional
Police headquarters in Ho for further
investigation and prosecution.
Go back to school
4 More bodies retrieved
from Volta Lake
• READ FROM PAGE 2
conformity with these rules, and the security
services will be tasked to enforce
them. Should any institution fail to adhere
to these directives, its activity will
be immediately prohibited, and relevant
sanctions applied.
I have, by Executive Instrument,
provided for these new directions, and
extended the suspension of the remaining
public gatherings, as set out in
E.I. 64 of 15th March, until 31st July.
In here, I refer to the suspension of
sporting events, nightclubs, cinemas,
drinking spots, bars, beaches, festivals,
funerals, political rallies, and large
religious gatherings such as crusades,
pilgrimages and conventions.
Our border, by air, land and sea, remains
closed until further notice for
human traffic. However, given that
there are Ghana residents stranded
abroad, special dispensation is going to
be given for their evacuation back to
Ghana, where they will be subjected to
the mandatory quarantine and safety
protocols.
Fellow Ghanaians, it is said that
with greater freedom comes greater responsibility.
The introduction of this
phased opening up of our country
means that each and every one of us
must continue to remain vigilant, and
respect the enhanced hygiene and social
distancing protocols that have become
part and parcel of our daily
routine over the last three (3) months.
We cannot afford to let our guard
down, and ruin the successes we have
chalked over this period.
Yes, there exists the possibility of a
potential surge in infections. As a precautionary
measure, we have strengthened
further our existing national,
regional and district response teams,
with the support of the security forces,
to step up to deal with any eventuality.
Over recent weeks, we have learnt from
the cases at the fish processing plant in
Tema, and in the Obuasi municipality,
how to deal with such sudden spikes.
We will continue to learn, review and
adjust where and when we need to do
so. We will only proceed with this staggered
opening up of our country when
it is safe to do so.
Fellow Ghanaians, now, more than
•President Nana Akufo-Addo
ever, we must adhere to enhanced personal
hygiene and social distancing protocols,
wash our hands with soap under
running water, refrain from shaking
hands, and wear our masks whenever we
leave our homes. In the Ghanaian context,
it has been established that the cases
of comorbidity, i.e. underlying health conditions,
that are associated with almost all
the COVID-related deaths, are mainly diabetes
and hypertension. The risk factors
for these diseases are being overweight,
eating refined foods, too much salt and
sugar in meals, inadequate physical exercise,
excessive alcohol intake, and smoking.
It is, thus, crucial that we improve our
fitness levels, and adopt healthy eating
practices that incorporate our local food
stuffs, which boost our immune
systems. Persons with these diseases
must take extra precautions, and take their
treatment seriously.
I am calling upon the Ministry of Information,
the National Commission for
Civic Education and the media to intensify
public education of these protocols
and directions. I entreat all religious, traditional,
community and opinion leaders to
continue to partner with government in
engaging, mobilising and enforcing adherence
to social distancing and personal hygiene
practices in their respective
communities.
Fellow Ghanaians, as I stated in my
fifth (5th) address to the nation, we will
protect people’s lives, then their livelihoods.
It is this principle that guided
the decision to impose restrictions, and
continues to guide me today. The fact
of the matter is that the measures we
have taken appear, by the grace of
God, to be working, our healthcare system
is, so far, not overwhelmed, and,
you, the Ghanaian people, have largely
embraced the principles of social distancing,
the wearing of masks, and the
enhanced hygiene protocols, which are
our most effective defences against the
virus.
We have learnt many lessons from
this pandemic. The most obvious is
that we have to fortify urgently our
public health system. We have committed
to the implementation of ‘Agenda
88’, that is building, within a year, a
fully- equipped, functional district hospital
for each district that does not have
one, and a fully-equipped, functional
regional hospital for each of the new
regions, together with a new regional
hospital for the Western Region, and
the rehabilitation of Effia Nkwanta
Hospital in Sekondi. We have to empower
and increase the number of our
healthcare professionals across board.
Universal Health Coverage must become
reality for all Ghanaians, not a
slogan, for every Ghanaian deserves
good health and good healthcare. We
need to focus our energies on ensuring
access of poor people to decent housing.
We can no longer ignore this basic
requirement of social justice. We have
to make the things we use, and grow
the foods we eat. We have to come out
of this crisis better, stronger and more
united than before. Ghana, free, united,
socially just, self-reliant and productive,
that is the Ghana we are going to create
together after we have defeated this
virus.
Fellow Ghanaians, ultimately, the
Battle is the Lord’s, and, with faith in
Him, we will emerge from this greater
than before. We are one people, we are
Ghanaians, and we stand together
in joy and in times of trouble. We are a
people with an exceptional history, and
we are the proud promoters of the
Black Star of Africa. We have all gone
down together, we should all rise together.
This too shall pass!!
May God bless us all, and our
homeland Ghana, and make her great
and strong.
I thank you for your attention and
have a good night.
BY KOJO ANSAH
FOUR MORE dead bodies
have been retrieved from the
Volta Lake.
The bodies are part of people
who have died in a boat accident
which occured in Afram
Plains North District of the
Eastern Region.
The four -- two males and
two females including a girl --
were retrieved on Saturday
bringing the number to five.
About 25 passengers returning
from Dzemeni to Agalakope
on Thursday, about 5:00pm,
suffered a violent storm on the
lake which capsized the canoe,
according to the Donkokrom
Divisional Police Command .
About 10 persons were immediately
rescued .
An 18-year-old man who
was part of the victims, saved
himself but an attempt to save
his 60-year-old mother, Adjoa
Ahilehe, failed.
She was retrieved dead by
her son, who carried the body
to lodge a complaint at the police
station.
A joint team of Police and
National Disaster Management
Organisation could not progress
with rescue effort due to poor
visibility, hence resumed the
search for the missing passengers
together with local divers
on Friday and Saturday.
The dead bodies have been
deposited at Donkokrom Presbyterian
Hospital Morgue.
Assembly member for
Anidzi Electoral Area, Raphel
Kporxa, said though boat accidents
on the Volta lake were a
common phenomenon, last
Thursday's incident was the first
to be recorded in his electoral
area.
He said through the local
boat operators union, a request
had been made to the appropriate
bodies to supply them
with life jackets for the passengers.

Digital JUNE 1, 2020.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2020 7:14 AM Page 6
WWW.DAILYHERITAGE.COM.GH
DAILY HERITAGE MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2020
Editorial
When can our schools be safe for reopening?
THE ASSERTION by the Assistant
Headmistress in charge of Domestica activities
at the Asanteman Senior High School
(SHS) in Kumasi that observing the social
distancing protocol in the face of Covid 19
cannot be guaranteed by any school is a serious
matter that should be given the necessary
attention.
Mrs Georgina Osei says there is congestion
in the various schools as a result of the
Free SHS policy that makes it difficult to get
the space for students to practise social distancing.
Mrs Osei, therefore, suggested that to
protect students, they should be provided
Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and
also facilities , obviously classrooms, dormitories
and dining halls, should be increased.
The DAILY HERITAGE cannot agree
with Mrs Osei more.
However, her two suggestions are capital-intensive.
Besides, even though we need
less time to provide the PPE, how many
pieces could be given to a student and for
use over which period? Will it be disposable
or reusable? Also, even if what she is calling
for are provided, how could the students be
effectively supervised in the dormitories?
How long will it take to provide the physical
school facilities to make social distancing
easier?
These and other questions are prompting
all the stakeholders in education to see
the best way to ensure that students are safe
and protected from the coronavirus.
For the meantime, we should we should
agree with Ms Osei that it is not safe to reopen
the schools until the appropriate
safety measures are put in place for both
students and teachers.
It is public knowledge that the government
is consulting the experts to see the way
forward
In the meantime the Ghana Education
Service (GES) is running classes on television
for school children, but are they sure
every schoolchild is benefiting?
The best way should have been online
classes that can be played back at any time
so that children who missed the lessons for
various reasons such as power cut and
problems with internet connectivity can
play back the lessons at their convenience.
Besides, those who do not have computers
can fall on others for help.
The DAILY HERITAGE would like to
suggest that since there could be occurrences
that can disrupt various activities as
the emergence of Covid-19 has shown, the
GES and other stakeholders in education
should think of better ways of getting the
education system running in the face of disasters
such as epidemics and pandemics
without compromising quality. For instance,
we can forget about which schools children
attend and run classes for them in schools
close to where they live and reduce their
numbers and also run a number of streams,
both in our bid to ensure social distancing.
This way, we could also make use of the
teachers who are idle for no fault of theirs
and so would be paid no matter what.
After all, during the long vacation in normal
times, some teachers organise classes
for students from different schools. Therefore,
our suggestion cannot be completely
novel.
All is not lost. We can make amends for
the better.
However, our schools should remain
closed till the safety of the students, teachers
and non-teaching staff can be ensured.
Stop the bias
Appoint farmers to head Agric Ministry
• Angry farmer jabs Govt
NEWS DESK REPORT
DISAPPOINTED
BY the constant
failure on various
governments to
make farming attractive,
the Chief Executive Officer
of Aboboyaa Company
Limited and a farmer, Mr Gideon
Seidu popularly known as
Aboboyaa has descended heavily
on successive governments; the
ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP)
and the opposition National Democratic
Congress (NDC) for being
bias when it comes to issues of
Agriculture and the wellbeing of
farmers in the country.
According to the CEO, he's
very much disappointed in the way
these successive governments treat
farmers when they come into
power.
He said the failure to properly
manage farmers in the country is
attributed from the fact that
wrong people are appointed to
manage the Agricultural Ministry
describing it as 'funny and a joke.
"How can you just appoint
someone who has no knowledge
in Agricultural to head the Agricultural
Ministry as a minister? Do
you just do it because he attained
his degree in the western world,
does tha give him a knowledge to
manage agric," he angrily quizzed.
Expressing further disappointment,
Mr Seidu said being an agric
minister does not call for someone
who only put on nice suits and ties
without having any innovative
knowledge about farming.
He suggests that industrious
and knowledgeable farmers who
have been declared best farmers in
the various regions should be
brought up to form the Agricultural
Ministry.
"NDC, 'the yentie obiara party'
and the NPP, 'the all die be die
party' only come in to make talks
without doing anything better to
revive the Agric Ministry", he said.
•Mr Gideon Seidu popularly known as Aboboyaa
He asked authorities to ensure
that cocoa scholarships go to children
and wards of cocoa farmers
and not to children from affluent
parents who have never set foot
on any cocoa farm.
Mr Gideon, appealed to the
government to facilitate the granting
of loans to them for the expansion
of their farms.
"A lot more is needed to be
done. Lack of funds is a major setback
on increased production because
farmers lacked the resources
with which to expand their farms."
His comments comes after the
outspoken Assin Central Member
of Parliament, Mr Kennedy
Ohene Agyapong made an assertion
that only those who wish to
forever remain poor in life go into
farming since there's nothing better
done by the government to
boost farming.
Finalising his reservation, Mr
Seidu advised that farmers shouldn't
give up despite all these challenges
and that God is going to
bless them through that.

Digital JUNE 1, 2020.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2020 7:14 AM Page 7
WWW.DAILYHERITAGE.COM.GH
Politics
DAILY HERITAGE MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2020
PWDs calls on EC to soften stance
FROM: PATRICE SYLVESTER
SELORMEY, HO
pselormey2015@gmail.com
CONCERNED
PEOPLE with Disability
(PWDs) have
drawn the attention
of civil society organizations
(CSOs),
traditional leaders, religious bodies,
advocates for disability rights and all
political parties to reiterate their concerns
to the Electoral Commission
(EC) to avail itself with the comprehensive
list of frustrations of PWDs
and address them.
The EC is also urged to reconsider
its decision to discard the existing register
which was the basic evidence of
the eligibility of all registered voters.
In a press statement dated on
Wednesday, May 27, 2020 on the
brouhaha surrounding the decision of
EC to compile a new register for December
7, 2020 general election, and
signed by the General Secretary of
the concerned persons with disability
(PWDs), Edwin Kweku Andoh, and
three others, observed that PWDs in
Ghana continued to seek full social
inclusion and sustainable development
for all irrespective of their political,
ethnic and religious persuasions.
The statement noted that the interest
of PWDs must be of paramount
concern to the EC in the
discourse on the compilation of a
new voters register and further appealed
to the EC to rethink their persistent
stance to compile a new
register ahead of the 2020 general
election without their concerns and
frailties, especially in the midst of the
war against Covid-19 pandemic.
"We are calling on the EC to reconsider
its decision in response to
our call, which is exercised out of
civic duty that serves as our advocacy".
According to the statement, what
exactly compounds their (PWDs')
plight during this period is unwanted
violence that the new register could
cause and the effects on PWDs.
They referred to the hints, speculations
and threats of public violence
that the EC decision had already generated
in the media and said they abhorred
them.
"This uneasy cloud of violence is
generated out of the perception of
unfair handling of people's voting
rights, which can be dispelled by the
EC by reconsidering its pursuit of a
new and unpopular register and adopt
a position that works for all Ghanaians".
"The EC must know that children,
women, PWDs and the elderly are
known to be the most vulnerable in
violent situations. Therefore there
was the need for citizens' voice to be
taken into consideration in making a
firm decision on the compilation of a
new register".
It further noted that the arguments
and public discourse whether a
new voters' register is needed or not
should not be myopic from the perspective
of only the EC, NDC and
the NPP but all stakeholders, including
organizations dealing with disability.
The Concerned People With Disability
of Ghana said they were yet to
be informed about how agents who'
would function in the midst of Cvid-
19 pandemic, especially in the context
of the intended new voter registration
exercise would assist the
PWDs.
"The apparent endangerment (sic)
of PWDs that the registration exercise
will fester will actually constitute
a violation of the Persons With Disability
Act of 2006 (Act 715) and the
United Nations Convention of the
Rights of PWDs and asked when the
blind were going to receive their training.
"Apart from the possibility of
being disenfranchised, more persons
with disability have woken up to their
civic responsibility of exercising their
inalienable right to vote and more
blind persons are looking forward to
be trained to independently vote by
using tactile ballots," it stated.
The idea of the compilation of a
new voter's register for this year's
election has opened a can of worms
and pitted the EC against the NDC
and some political parties, who hold
the view that there was no need for a
new register when the current one has
no major defects and credibility issues.
They were joined in that position
by a coalition of 18 civil society organizations
(CSOs) who have also
made a case that the compilation of a
new register would be a drain on the
national coffers, especially.
In their view, the current register
can be used for the conduct of the
election; but the NPP and a number
of smaller political parties hold the
same view as the EC that there was
the need for a new register because
the current one has credibility issues,
including it being bloated.
The CPDWs noted they were worried
that the EC had presented to Parliament
a Constitutional Instrument
(CI) to amend CI 91 to make the
Ghana Card and passport somewhat
the only requirements for one to be
captured onto the new register for
2020 presidential and parliamentary
elections, explaining that many of
them did not have not the Ghana card
The release said the essence of
democracy would likely be defeated if
the new register was compiled in an
atmosphere that would not be
favourable for eligible Ghanaians to
participate in the process.
Don’t change to fit in
• Live FM presenter MzDru advises the youth
BY ERICA ARTHUR
UK-born Ghanaian
media entrepreneur,
MzDru, has advised
the youth to be content
with themselves
and not to change to
fit in where they cannot be.
According to the radio/TV host,
the youth of today should not be influenced
or try to change who they are to
be accepted, fit in or to please people;
rather they should be themselves and
appreciate who they are.
MzDru made this call on her radio
show ‘Live Breakfast Club (LBC)’ aired
on ‘Live919FM’, while celebrating her
birthday last Friday.
“You should always be who you are,
be yourself, and don’t change anything
about yourself to fit in or be accepted.
You should please yourself first and
not them.
"Be you no matter what. MzDru is
100% herself and not ready to be influenced
or be in any trend to please
anyone. It’s nice to be liked, but bending
over backward 24/7 to try to please
others is definitely no way to live."
She added that, "Making actions or
•MzDru
changing yourself based on pleasing
people can lead to feelings of dissatisfaction
and doubt, and can even cause
you serious harm.”
MzDru, whose tagline is ‘Your
Hostess with the Mostess’, explained
that, “It is good to be inspired by other
people’s personalities and their success
but don’t aspire to be like them. Success
is for everyone, you only need
God’s guidance and hard work to get
you up there.
“There are friends that will push
you outside of your comfort zone, and
that’s okay- good, even. But acting
solely on the desire to make someone
like you, without clear-sighted consideration
of your actions, is not the same
thing as a healthy venture outside of
your comfort zone, and it can give you
trouble in the long run. Most of all,
you won’t feel like yourself anymore,”
she said.
On the radio, she added, “When it
comes to matters of yourself, it’s not
selfish or egotistical to put your own
opinions first. You are allowed to like
yourself even if it seems like nobody
else does, and you never have to do
anything you’re not comfortable with.
The opinions and judgments of other
people come second. In the very end,
the one person that you have to spend
the most time with is yourself, so make
sure that you love who you are.”
About MzDru
Mz Dru Born Drusilla Lartey is of
Ghanaian and Jamaican descent.
She was born in London but raised
in North West London. Coming from
an area in London with so many different
reviews, Mz Dru decided to push
through the stereotypes and chase her
dreams of becoming a radio/ TV presenter
and voice-over artist in the hope
that her story would be able to one day
inspire and empower young girls like
her to never give up on their own
dreams but continue to stay true to
themselves.
Mz Dru's mission is to empower
people through her work and demonstrate
that creativity is still a requirement
for success, and she's only just
getting started
Mz Dru has been studying media
for over seven years and after receiving
her Bachelor's honors in Media Communications
at DE Montfort University,
she decided to make sure the
world knew her name. She started interning
at a radio station called Bang
Radio and after a few weeks of them
hearing her unique voice and learning
of her bubbly personality, she was
given her first drive time slot as a cohost.
Mz Dru has been presenting on the
radio for five years, starting at Bang
Radio, now known as the Beat London,
and moved to Pulse88. Alongside
radio, she has hosted numerous live
events.
They include beauty pageants like
Miss Ghana and Miss Pride of Africa,
awards shows like Ghana Music awards
and Black Women in Business awards.
She is the resident host for 'Soulful
Café' and has done a lot of red carpet
events as well as baby showers, weddings,
music events, and discussion
panels.
In 2018, after the passing of her father,
her best friend and biggest fan,
Mz Dru made it her mission to make
sure that this sad situation turned into
a positive thing and has made it a point
to do him proud in everything she
does.
The year 2018, to say the least, has
been a big turning point year in Mz
Dru’s career as 'the hostess with the
mostess' has hosted some big stages.
She co- hosted the biggest afro hair
and beauty show in London,

Digital JUNE 1, 2020.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2020 7:14 AM Page 8
DAILYHERITAGE.COM.GH
MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2020
Eto'o is Africa's greatest of all time
• Samuel Osei Kuffuor
FORMER GHANA defender
Samuel Osei
Kuffour has chosen
Camerounian legend
Samuel Et'o Fills as
Africa's greatest footballer
of all time because of his
consistency.
Kuffuor says he believes the
two-time Africa Cup of Nations
winner and three-time UEFA
Champions League winner stands
out among his peers on the continent.
“It’s difficult to say [who is the
greatest African Footballer of alltime]
because it’s a different generation
now,” Kuffour told
Goal.com
“When you look at my generation,
people may say [Augustine]
Jay-Jay Okocha of Nigeria was
brilliant. When you go to another
generation, people may say Eto’o
Agyeman Duah gets support
from William Amamoo
GHANA GOALKEEPER
William Amamoo has offered to
pay for the medical bills of former
Asante Kotoko SC, Obuasi
Goldfields and Hearts of Oak
defender Edward Agyemang
Duah.
Rambo, as he is affectionately
called in the Ghanaian football
community, has been battling a
stroke for sometime.
The defender late last year
was brilliant.
“For the generation ahead of
me, people may say George Weah
[of Liberia] was good, Kalusha
[Bwalya of Zambia]] was good.
“When you go to the next one,
they would say Rabah Madjer [of
Algeria] was great. Some people
may also say Mahmoud El Khatib
from Egypt was good. [You also
have] Lakhdar Belloumi [from Algeria]…
different, different generations.
“But for me, if you tell me to
choose one, I will choose [based
on] consistency. I don’t hate anybody,
but I have to be strong and
firm and choose.
“He may not have won the
world player of the year, but for
me, I think because of the consistency,
I’ll give you Samuel Eto’o
[as my best of all-time].”
cried for help since he had no financial
resources to continue
with his physiotherapy treatment.
"It is saddening to see a man
of his calibre in such a state. He
was one of the best centre-backs
of his time," Amamoo told
kickgh.
"Playing for Kotoko, Goldfields
and Hearts aptly corroborates
how good a footballer he
was in his hey days."
"He is currently in Accra undergoing
series of tests under
the watchful eye of my doctor;
Ellis Brown. My foundation is
willing to cater for every penny
that will arise from his medical
bills. He is a national hero and
so much deserves it."
Duah was part of the famous
Hearts' 64 battalion squad that
conquered Africa in 2000.
•Samuel Osei Kuffour and Samuel Et'o Fills
•Alhaji
Briamah Moro
Kofi Amoah’s
parting message to
football people
Hearts of Oak Board member
Alhaji Akambi exonerated over
alleged bribery scandal
•William
Amamoo
ACCRA HEARTS of Oak SC
Board Member, Alhaji Briamah
Moro, popularly known as Alhaji
Akambi, has been exonerated
by an investigative body set
up to unravel a bribery accusation
levelled against him, according
to reports in the media.
Alhaji Akambi was accused
of taking a GHC 200 before introducing
Nkoranza Warriors
Chief Executive Officer, Kuuku
Bartels, to the Board Chairman,
Togbe Afede.
His situation was compounded
by some section of
the fans who had raised concerns
that Alhaji Akambi had
influenced the signing of Emmanuel
Sarkodie from the Division
One club.
He was later accused of accepting
bribes from the Division
One club, and further
demanding a percentage on the
transfer of the player should
Hearts of Oak eventually sign
him [Sarkodie]
The three-member committee
is said to have finished with
its work and handed over their
findings to the Board.