Odi News Network

Director of GHS, Anthony Nsiah-Asare The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has declared a public health emergency following the detection of the poliovirus type-2 in the Northern Region capital, Tamale. A public health emergency, according to the WHO, is "an occurrence or imminent threat of an illness or health condition, caused by bioterrorism, epidemic or pandemic disease, or (a) novel and highly fatal infectious agent or biological toxin, that poses a substantial risk of a significant number of human facilities or incidents or permanent or long-term disability.” The declaration of a state of public health emergency allows the government to suspend state regulations and change the functions of state agencies. Following the declaration, the GHS has detailed field investigations to identify the possible source of infection and determine the extent of geographic spread. Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare, Director of the GHS, explained in a statement issued on Wednesday, July 10 that the detectio

Ibrahim Mahama owns Exton Cubic mining company The Supreme Court has set July 31 to rule on an application filed by the Attorney General asking the justices to quash a decision by a High Court in a case between the mining company, Exton Cubic and the state. On February 8, 2019, the High Court ruled that, the Natural Resources Minister John Peter Amewu had no power to revoke the mining licenses granted to Exton Cubic to prospect for bauxite. The motion filed ex-parte by the Deputy Attorney General Godfred Dame says the ruling by High Court presided over by Justice Ackaah Boafo in the case could undermine efficient administration of justice. He said the company breached several processes in its acquisition of a mining license, a situation that makes it impossible for Exton Cubic to be deemed to have a “mining right as required by law.” Arguing their case before the Supereme Court on Wednesday, Mr Dame said the proceedings of the high court was in violation of Act 703 section 27(1), s

File Photo Ghanaians no longer need a visa to travel to South Africa. This is because the South African Government has added Ghana to the list of its visa-free countries. This was captured in a post on South Africa’s Home Affairs Twitter handle. Other countries that were added to the list of visa-free countries include Qatar, United Arab Emirates, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Cuba and Sao Tome and Principe. A separate statement from the Home Affairs Minister, Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi said: “Out of the 193 countries who are member states of the United Nations, the Department has granted visa-free status to 75 countries.” He said, out of the number “16 are in our [African] continent and are SADC members and 59 are from all over the world.” He went on further to announce seven countries that have been added to the visa-free list which included Ghana. Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi said they “will immediately enter into discussions with them about how a visa-free regime will work. We still have some

Attorney-General, Gloria Akuffo Ms Gloria Afua Akuffo, the Attorney-General has asked the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to open itself to the public but to avoid running commentary on its investigations. According to her speaking in public about their investigations could only frustrates their efforts as well as give out too much information to criminals to change their mode of operations. “Criminals are always waiting to cover their tracks and therefore coming out to speak constantly about a matter, makes it easier for them to cover up and therefore frustrating the outcome of the investigations,” she stressed. She advised that the statutory body should avoid following rumours and suspicions so as not to not embarrass themselves. Ms Akuffo said this at EOCO’s maiden national stakeholders’ forum in Accra aimed at interacting with stakeholders and share information on cases investigated, prosecutions and convictions obtained as well as recoveries and confiscations made.