Unemployed nurses have threatened to scale up their protest for employment after demonstrating in Accra on Wednesday, April 27.
Members of the Coalition of Unemployed Nurses and Midwives marched through some principal streets of the country’s capital to register their displeasure at government’s inability to get them posted after training.
The Coalition had intended to picket around the seat of government, the Flagstaff House, but was cautioned by the police to converge near the Kwame Nkrumah Circle and march to Hearts Park.
Numbering about 250, the nurses held placards some of which read: ‘Evidence-based Bonded Unemployed Nurses’, ‘Do we need to demonstrate before we are posted’, ‘A hungry nurse is a potential killer’, ‘Aban Paa B3n ni’ and ‘we have turned to slaves in our own country’, among others.
After their march, they presented their petition to government through the head of government’s legal department.
President of the Coalition Adams Masawudu expressed disappointment in the officer nominated to receive the petition.
According to Mr Masawudu, “if government fails to respond to our request within the next three weeks, we will organize another demonstration in the Ashanti Region and replicate it across the other regions.”
In all, 2,241 members are demanding employment, he indicated.
Some of the members failed to turn up for Wednesday’s protest due to financial constraints, the president observed.
Those who turned up, however, were from Volta, Brong Ahafo, Upper West, Greater Accra and Central regions.
Source: 3news.com|Ghana
Jerry John RawlingsFormer President Jerry John Rawlings has described as distasteful, tribalistic comments made by Madam Dzifa Attivor which has received round condemnation.
According to him, it was “unfortunate” for the former Transport Minister to claim that the New Patriotic Party has targeted Ewes and was burnt on jailing some key Ewes if it assumes office.
“Before making such unfortunate statements let’s remove the logs in our own eyes,” Mr. Rawlings advised Mrs Attivor.
He also rejected the tribal tagging of NPP presidential candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
“Whatever Nana Addo’s shortcomings, tribalism is not one of them.”
Below is the statement issued by the former president’s office
STATEMENT ON ETHNOCENTRIC COMMENTS BY DZIFA ATTIVOR
My attention has been drawn to a statement made by a former Minister for Transport, Dzifa Attivor at a political event at Wodoaba in the Volta Region.
I find it distasteful that aside making ethnocentric references accusing the NPP Presidential candidate of being tribalistic, she also insinuated that because I was the Founder of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the electorate in the Volta Region should vote for the party on that basis.
Before making such unfortunate statements let’s remove the logs in our own eyes.
I do not subscribe to the politics of ethnic bias and never have. While I may not be a fan of the NPP, I know their presidential candidate is not tribalistic or ethnocentric. Whatever Nana Addo’s shortcomings, tribalism is not one of them. Some known and respected Voltarians like Nutifafa Kuenyehia should be able to testify to his political nature.
As we draw closer to the next Presidential and Parliamentary elections we all as Ghanaians expect ALL PARTIES involved in the process to base their arguments and campaign rhetoric on the truth and desist from emotional and non-factual statements, especially where my name has to be mentioned.
I implore the electorate not to allow immature behaviour and pronouncements to cloud their judgement.
Thank you.
Story by Isaac Essel | 3news.com | Ghana
Suspended founding member of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP)
Dr. Nyaho Nyaho TamakloeSuspended founding member of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) Dr. Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe says the party has no future if they decide to stick with the current acting chairman Freddie Blay.
He squarely blamed the seeming division within the party on Mr. Blay.
Freddie Blay was appointed as acting chairman of the party after substantive chairman Paul Afoko was suspended indefinitely at an emergency NEC meeting at the party’s headquarters at Asylum Down in Accra on October 23, 2015.
In an interview with 3FM’s Sunrise Morning Show hosted by Winston Amoah, at his residence, the former Ghana Football Association Chairman bemoaned the party’s internal wrangling.
“We have no business or whatsoever in bringing somebody who doesn’t believe in our tradition to act as the chairman of our party.
“I find it very difficult to understand it and indeed I have had a lot of serious discussion with a lot of people and even people who don’t even belong to our tradition.
“How can you make such a fundamental mistake in politics and I am talking about Freddie Blay.
“He has no business whatsoever in the NPP and indeed all our woes are coming from that man, full stop.
“What is most disturbing is that he belonged to a party and made sure the party was almost destroyed.
“Freddie Blay almost destroyed the Convention Peoples Party because I have known that party since I was an infant so how do we bring such a person in our fold.
“The fact that he destroyed the CPP is there and known to every person and he is coming to do the same thing in the NPP and the worst of it is that he has been placed close to our finances.
“Until Freddie Blay is kicked out of the NPP, we have no future”.
Story by Nana Afrane Asante | 3news.com | Ghana
The Paramount Chief of Bunkpurugu in the Northern region, Chief Alhassan Nasimong Abuba has called on residents to surrender weapons in their possession after a traditional right was performed to end the conflict between the feuding family.
Many have died as a result of gun shots with the recent one being the death of 27 year old Daniel Nyankpin during clashes between the two families on February 22, 2016. This was disclosed when TV3’s Zubaida Ismail visited his palace after a blood burial celebration to mark the end of conflict.
Weapons for almost a decade have been the only remedy for settling chieftaincy dispute between the Jamong and Jafok families of Bunkpurugu in the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo district.
However, after unsuccessful battles of guns, the two families have smoked the peace pipe through “blood burial” a traditional way of ending conflict.
Chief Alhassan Nasimong in an interview said “everybody should lay down their arms, let’s come together and see how we can develop our town.”
He also indicated that the position of the Jamong family in the palace is secured and he is optimistic his brothers will soon assume their rightful position.
He is urging the people of Bunkpurugu to relate to him as they used to especially the Jamong family as some saw him as a threat.
His contender and spokesperson for the Jamong family Elisha Naah also affirmed this when the news team called on him.
He said the battle is over, it is time to forge ahead and plan on acquiring wealth for the youth as we will hand over the mantle over to them soon, he said.
According to him, “we now want to the youth to know that the fight is over. We have to bring them all together and those of them in business should focus on their business to grow it so that we can acquire wealth.”
By 3news.com|Ghana
Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza has given the security forces a one-week deadline to find the killers of a senior general shot dead on Monday.
The killing of General Athanase Kararuza and his wife were “shameful acts,” he said on state television.
Their daughter was also wounded in the attack outside her school in the capital, Bujumbura.
More than 400 people have been killed in unrest since Mr Nkurunziza announced a year ago his bid for a third term.
He won elections in July, after surviving a coup attempt and mass protests to demand that he steps down.
General Kararuza was the latest in a string of high-ranking army officials who have been targeted by unidentified gunmen.
“He energetically fought against the coup plotters last year and exceptionally contributed in strengthening peace and security during and after elections,” Mr Nkurunziza said in a statement.
General Kararuza’s bodyguard was also killed in the shooting.
Security forces have also been accused of killing opponents and dumping them in mass graves by rights group Amnesty International.
Shortly after the attack in Bujumbura, the International Criminal Court announced that it was starting a preliminary investigation into the violence in Burundi.
This will decide whether a full-blown investigation will take place, which could result in charges against those accused of being behind the violence.
BBC Great Lakes reporter Robert Misigaro says the killing is a blow for President Nkurunziza because it shows that he cannot guarantee the safety of his officers.
On Sunday, the Minister for Human Rights Martin Nivyabandi survived a grenade attack as he was coming out of church.
Although both opposition and government forces are ethnically mixed, some fear that the violence could descend into a repeat of the genocidal killings which the country has previously experienced.
Mr Nkurunziza is the former leader of a Hutu rebel group which battled a Tutsi-dominated army for many years until he came to power in 2005 as part of a peace deal.
The African Union had said it would send a 5,000-strong peacekeeping force to the country even if the government did not accept it but it has since back-tracked.
Source BBC
The Electoral Commission says its new logo, which has generated hue and cry, represents a unified purpose and vision, and ultimately demonstrates the Commission’s independence.
Ahead of the launch of its five-year strategic plan Tuesday, the Commission explained the elements of the circular logo in a brochure distributed to participants of the event which will also see the EC answer questions on its preparedness for the 2016 elections.
“The whole identity represents a unified common purpose and vision and demonstrates our independence as an institution,” the Commission explained in the brochure.
The new logo, which emerged in April this year, was criticised by Ghanaians, as they wondered why the EC was introducing at an election year. The logo, which comes with blue-black background with what appears to be eight abstract humans with their hands up.
It later came up that the new logo looks like that of a Turkish educational institution; something that caused a section of Ghanaians to demand an explanation from the designers on whether the logo is original, copied or modified for the EC.
Many interpretations were given to the controversial logo with some claiming it is an embodiment a wheel of fortune and that the colours represent the various political parties.
However, the Commission has given a different interpretation of the new logo, which approval is unclear. Prior to its official unveiling, the logo was used in its official brochures.
The EC explains that the circles in the logo represents unity, singular and unified in its purpose which it said is “our democracy”, adding the blue of the circle also represents the stability and independence of the Commission.
“The inward moving arrows reflect all the people of Ghana and equally coming together for the common purpose- the right to select their political leadership,” the Commission added.
The red, gold and green colours, it said, represents Ghana.
Clearly, the explanation is likely to generation further discussions in the coming days.
By Stephen Kwabena Effah|tv3network.com|GhanaTwitter @steviekgh
Hundreds of residents of Najong Number one in the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo District of the Northern Region have fled the community following threats of attack on their lives.
The people of Najong are said to be sympathetic to one of the two feuding factions – Tamon and Baok communities – over a land dispute that sparked a conflict Sunday morning resulting in the death of one person and burning of houses in Sayeegu.
According to the people, they received messages on Monday that the people of Bimbagu, who are sympathetic to the Tamon, were planning to launch an attack on their lives.
They have thus fled to other neighbouring communities within the area to seek refuge until the tension is calmed, the District Chief Executive, Sampoa Timothy Laari has confirmed to TV3.
” I had several calls last night from residents about a plan by the people of Bimbagu to attack Najong and we did not sleep the whole night. People were packing their belongings and leaving,” he said.
He told TV3 he would this morning visit the area to meet with the assembly members of Bimbagu and Najong in a bid to resolve their differences to forestall any attack
Sympathizers of the Chiefs of Tamong and Baok, Batikpolo Single and Pakabiuk Loaka respectively, have been up against each other as a result of a land boundary at Sayeegu which is being claimed by the two chiefs.
By Zubaida Ismail|tv3network.com|Ghana
The excessive heat being experienced in parts of Ghana has been described as normal by the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMA).
According to the agency, observations made indicated that temperatures all over Ghana were within the normal range of 20-43 degrees Celsius experienced within this season.
However, residents are complaining about excessive heat during the day and night which, in their view, is abnormal.
The panic is accentuated by a message being circulated on social media platforms that Ghana and some African countries are experiencing a heat wave.
What is a heat wave?
The Principal Meteorologist at the GMA, Mr Joe Tetteh Portuphy, in an interview with the Daily Graphic, said Ghana was not experiencing a heat wave.
“A heat wave is experienced when the temperature is high and humidity is also very high. It is defined as an extended period of hot weather relative to the expected conditions of the area at the time of the year. But when you compare temperatures with the relative humidity, it does not show that we have the corresponding figures to get a heat wave in Ghana,” he explained.
Mr Portuphy further indicated that current records showed that minimum and maximum temperatures in the coastal, middle and northern areas were between 23.8°C and 43.6°C, while the humidity level was between 50 and 80 per cent, adding that at places where the temperature was high, the humidity was low, and vice versa.
“Also, when the daily maximum temperature of more than five consecutive days exceeds the average maximum temperature by five degrees, then we have a heat wave. But, currently in Ghana, no observation has been made at any station of a temperature exceeding five degrees,” he further explained.
Why Ghana is hot
On why the sun is hot currently, he explained that the clouds which could cover the sun’s rays were not forming and so the direct rays of the sun were beaming on Ghana.
That, he said, was also because there were no rains, a situation which would persist for a long while.
In addition, Mr Portuphy said after March 21, 2016, the sun crossed the Equator on its way towards the Northern Hemisphere, making Ghana hot within the period.
On why there was heat during the night, the meteorologist said during the night, the clouds blocked the outgoing radiation and that made the atmosphere very warm.
He noted that Ghana would endure the hot weather for a while due to the little rain that would be experienced this year.
To keep the body temperature cool, he advised the public to drink lots of water to keep the body hydrated, bath with cold water and also wear light-coloured clothes.
“The heat is not normal”
To bear the excessive heat, some people carry fans to fan themselves during the day, while others use umbrellas to protect them from the scorching sun.
In interviews to ascertain how some residents of Accra felt about the heat, some people complained about the excessive heat which in their view was not normal.
“The handkerchief is not even enough to wipe the sweltering sweat and so I am now using a face towel which can soak the sweat very well. This is not normal,” a trader, Mr Desmond Addison, said.
“This heat cannot be normal. We are used to heat in Ghana but in recent times the heat we are experiencing is different. You can feel it burning your skin and it causes severe headache”, another trader, Mr Kojo Osei, said.
Iced water business booms
For “iced water” sellers on the streets, it is the time for them to make enough sales, although they are terribly affected by the heat.
“Now I am making more than I used to because the demand for cold water and drinks is very high,” Ms Asana Mohammed said.
A hawker who sells around the 37 Military Hospital who gave her name as Akua also said sales were better than before.
The message
The message being circulated on social media reads: “The continent is currently experiencing a heat wave. Please stay indoors as much as possible especially between 12pm and 3pm daily. The temperature will rise up till 40 degrees Celsius. This can easily cause dehydration and sun stroke. (Ps: This phenomenon is due to the sun directly positioned above the equator).
“Please keep everyone inclusive of yourself hydrated. Everyone should be consuming about 3 litres of fluid every day. Monitor everyone’s blood pressure as frequent as possible. Many may get heat stroke. Take cold showers as frequent as possible. Reduce meat intake and increase fruits and vegetables.
“Heat wave is no joke! Place a new unused candle outside in an exposed area. If candle can melt, it’s in dangerous level. Always place a pail or 2 of water half-filled in living room & in every room to keep temperature moist. Always check lips, eye balls for moisture.”
Similar situations are said to be prevalent in some parts of the country.
From Tamale, Zadok Kwame Gyesi reports that due to changing climatic conditions, many parts of the Northern Region have become very hot during the mornings, afternoons and evenings.
Temperatures range between 29 and 39 degree Celsius.
Many people in the Tamale metropolis have now resorted to the wearing of sunglasses in order to protect their eyes from the sun’s rays.
In an interview, the Northern Regional Director of the GMA, Mr Jacob Lambon, said the temperature in the region would reach a maximum of 41 degree Celsius this year.
Source: Daily Graphic | Ghana
About 200 people with various forms of body defects in the Ashanti Region have been screened to benefit from a free plastic surgery to correct their deformities.
According to the organisers, most people are unable to afford the cost involved in plastic surgery even though they are in critical need of it to correct their conditions.
GALAXY Foundation is funding the exercise to be conducted by the GRAFT Foundation, a non-governmental organization founded by the Head of Plastic Surgery and Burns at the 37 Military Hospital Dr Kwame Abrokwaa-Yankyera.
An amount of GHC1.8 million is expected to be injected into the exercise that is scheduled to is scheduled to take place on May 27 to June 6, 2016.
Dr Abrokwaa-Yankyera noted even with the help of the National Health Insurance, reconstructive plastic surgery is still expensive, thus depriving a lot of people from having the chance to correct their defects and live a normal life.
“Some people even try to end their life because they are unable to afford the cost of a plastic surgery in order to correct their condition whilst others are also not aware that their conditions can be corrected.
“That is the why this Foundation was therefore formed to bring relief and change the lives of people who cannot afford to pay for plastic surgery but need the services”, he noted.
Dr Abrokwaa-Yankyera advised the public to visit the hospital any time they realized something unusual on any part of their body because people attribute some defects to witchcraft.
He also tasked them to take advantage of the Foundation’s free plastic surgery to correct their conditions.
GRAFT Foundation has since 2013 been able to bring hope to over 400 persons by correcting their defects, in eight out of the 10 regions in the country.
Seventy persons in Ivory Coast have also benefited from the free services as part of the Foundation’s ECOWAS Outreach.
Project Coordinator of the Foundation and also a plastic surgeon at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr BreinardAnanesaid look to extending the free services to other parts of the country since not everyone can travel to Kumasi and Accra to benefit.
He said all the plastic surgeons in Ghana are based in Accra and Kumasi, making it difficult for other people who need the services of the plastic surgeons to have easy access to them.
Ibrahim Abubakar|tv3network.com|Ghana
Nii Allotey Brew Hammond is the National Chairman of the PPPThe National Chairman of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Nii Allotey Brew Hammond, says the disappointed Ghanaian voter will not look beyond voting for the PPP in the upcoming November 7 polls.
The PPP is looking to canvass 200,000 votes in the Greater Accra Region and more in the other regions to ensure that its flagbearer, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, wins this year’s election.
Speaking on 3FM’s Sunrise morning show, Mr. Hammond said the present government has not done enough to deserve a second term in office.
He was of the firm belief that the disappointed Ghanaian voter will have no choice but to vote for the PPP.
“We are going to get those votes from the Ghanaian voter who is disappointed in the present government.
“The Ghanaian voter who is listening to the President going around on an accounting tour tooting what they have done meanwhile they are unable to feed themselves, send their wards to school, find decent accommodation and also their roads are so bad.
“I had to travel from Wa to Bolga but I had to go through Tamale because the link between Wa and Bolga is so bad that you are discouraged from travelling on that stretch and this has been like that for more than four years.
“The road between Bolga and Timpali is so horrible and I wonder how pregnant women are able to survive that journey from Timpali to Wa to seek medical attention.
“There is despair everywhere you go and those people are embracing the Progressive Peoples Party because they recognise that we are coming in with policies to ensure their well being and not some other people’s benefits.”
By Nana Afrane Asante|tv3network.com|Ghana
Unemployed nurses have threatened to scale up their protest for employment after demonstrating in Accra on Wednesday, April 27.
Members of the Coalition of Unemployed Nurses and Midwives marched through some principal streets of the country’s capital to register their displeasure at government’s inability to get them posted after training.
The Coalition had intended to picket around the seat of government, the Flagstaff House, but was cautioned by the police to converge near the Kwame Nkrumah Circle and march to Hearts Park.
Numbering about 250, the nurses held placards some of which read: ‘Evidence-based Bonded Unemployed Nurses’, ‘Do we need to demonstrate before we are posted’, ‘A hungry nurse is a potential killer’, ‘Aban Paa B3n ni’ and ‘we have turned to slaves in our own country’, among others.
After their march, they presented their petition to government through the head of government’s legal department.
President of the Coalition Adams Masawudu expressed disappointment in the officer nominated to receive the petition.
According to Mr Masawudu, “if government fails to respond to our request within the next three weeks, we will organize another demonstration in the Ashanti Region and replicate it across the other regions.”
In all, 2,241 members are demanding employment, he indicated.
Some of the members failed to turn up for Wednesday’s protest due to financial constraints, the president observed.
Those who turned up, however, were from Volta, Brong Ahafo, Upper West, Greater Accra and Central regions.
Source: 3news.com|Ghana 
The Paramount Chief of Bunkpurugu in the Northern region, Chief Alhassan Nasimong Abuba has called on residents to surrender weapons in their possession after a traditional right was performed to end the conflict between the feuding family.
Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza has given the security forces a one-week deadline to find the killers of a senior general shot dead on Monday.
The Electoral Commission says its new logo, which has generated hue and cry, represents a unified purpose and vision, and ultimately demonstrates the Commission’s independence.
However, the Commission has given a different interpretation of the new logo, which approval is unclear. Prior to its official unveiling, the logo was used in its official brochures.
The EC explains that the circles in the logo represents unity, singular and unified in its purpose which it said is “our democracy”, adding the blue of the circle also represents the stability and independence of the Commission.
“The inward moving arrows reflect all the people of Ghana and equally coming together for the common purpose- the right to select their political leadership,” the Commission added.
The red, gold and green colours, it said, represents Ghana.
Clearly, the explanation is likely to generation further discussions in the coming days.
By Stephen Kwabena Effah|tv3network.com|Ghana
Twitter @steviekgh
Hundreds of residents of Najong Number one in the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo District of the Northern Region have fled the community following threats of attack on their lives.
The excessive heat being experienced in parts of Ghana has been described as normal by the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMA).
About 200 people with various forms of body defects in the Ashanti Region have been screened to benefit from a free plastic surgery to correct their deformities.
