Ab TV GH

Category: General News

  • Let’s support Ghana National Fire Service to succeed

    Let’s support Ghana National Fire Service to succeed

    Abtvgh / GNFS

    For longer than recorded history, fire has been a source of comfort but also a catastrophe for the human race.

    Early humans used fire to keep warm, cook food and frighten predators. Sitting around the fire also helped them to unite and strengthen family groups and consequently speeded up evolution.

    However, fire also posed great risks and challenges to early people, including the challenge of starting and controlling them, and grappling with the threat of burns and wildfires.

    Fire continues to be a basic everyday element of most people’s lives. This tendency of one of man’s best friends to turn into his worst enemy cannot be underplayed, as improper handling and use of fire has led to several accidents in homes, offices, schools and other public places, with very serious repercussions.

    Although it is the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) that is mandated to deal with fire outbreaks in the country, it is every citizen’s responsibility to ensure that fire is not even started at all.

    We all use fire for different purposes, such as cooking, welding, fabricating, preparing land for farming, even refining, moulding metals and burning unwanted materials.

    Fire is a good servant but a terrible master, the reason its usage is not left in the hands of children and why even adults ought to use it with utmost care to stop an outbreak from occurring.

    The Daily Graphic’s analysis of the fire statistics revealed that the loss and damage occurred from 59,933 reported incidents of fire outbreaks from 2013 to 2022.( See our front page lead story)

    The statistics further shows that 3,104 people died through fire-related incidents within the period, with 2,668 of such deaths occurring from road traffic crashes.

    The trend analysis also indicated that more than GH¢402 million worth of public and private property have been lost to fire outbreaks in the country in the past 10 years, the GNFS statistics revealed.

    The figure is less than the GH¢38.3 million worth of property that was salvaged by the GNFS within the same period.

    Though staggering, the situation may just be a tip of the iceberg as Mr Osafo-Affum said most fire outbreaks went unreported and, therefore, were not recorded by the service.

    Fortunately, as part of its mandate, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) is working on a new regulatory regime that will make it mandatory for private residential accommodation owners to acquire a fire safety permit before they put up buildings.

    The permit regime will ensure that residential accommodation owners incorporate fire safety mechanisms into the structure to make them safer for habitation.

    The move is meant to reduce the rising incidence of domestic fires in the country. The current fire permit regime is limited to commercial property.

    We of the Daily Graphic are happy to know that GNFS has started engagement with key stakeholders and experts on the initiative. The processes have started with the consultation of the various key stakeholders and per the implementation plan, we understand the permit will be rolled out in the next two years.

    The Daily Graphic believes that the initiative by the GNFS to implement measures to curb domestic fire outbreaks is a step in the right direction, given that fire disasters were inimical to sustainable development.

    Apart from avoiding a situation where another layer of bureaucracy will compound the current permit acquisition situation, implementing a fire permit regime for all persons seeking to put up private accommodation may only be effective in the urban areas of the country since the GNFS does not have the men to police enforcement.

    We must all help the GNFS in the successful implementation of this noble initiative. After all, the success of GNFS is the success of all.

  • Capping the number of Supreme Court judges

    Capping the number of Supreme Court judges

    Abtvgh/ high court/

    The number of judges on the Supreme Court has become a topical issue and one that always comes up during discussions on the review of the 1992 Constitution.

    There are two schools of thought on the issue, with one calling for a cap or a limit on the number of judges that can be appointed to the country’s apex court and the other advocating that the status quo must remain.

    Article 128(1) of the 1992 Constitution stipulates a minimum of nine judges, apart from the Chief Justice, who must be on the Supreme Court, but places no ceiling on the number the President can appoint.

    Currently, there are 12 Justices of the apex court, including the Chief Justice, with four more approved by Parliament and set to be sworn into office soon.

    At a seminar on constitutional review, organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) in October last year, both the Majority Leader and former Minority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu and Haruna Iddrisu, respectively, strongly advocated a cap on the number of Justices of the Supreme Court.

    They respectively called for a cap of between 13 and 15 judges with the explanation that the current system was the bane of good and efficient governance.

    On the other hand, proponents supporting the status quo include some legal luminaries and notable personalities such as the Chief Justice, Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah; a former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, and a former Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye.

    At a similar IEA event late last year, the Chief Justice and Justice Akuffo said limiting the number of judges could negatively affect the efficient administration of justice due to the scope of work of the Supreme Court under the 1992 Constitution.

    They argued that the number of judges at the SC could only be capped if access to the court was limited.

    Sharing similar sentiments, Prof. Oquaye said the capping of the judges must be followed by other amendments to the Constitution.

    According to him, putting a limit on the number of justices of the Supreme Court, without amending the constitutional provision on the automatic right of appeal to the apex court, would be counter-productive. Such a situation, he said, would mean the Supreme Court would be inundated with so many cases without the manpower to adequately deal with those cases.

    The conversation on the capping of Supreme Court judges is an important national discourse that could help improve the administration of justice and promote judicial independence.

    Those against the capping have a strong case, especially regarding the manpower the court needs to deal with the myriad of cases that come before the court.

    Under the 1992 Constitution, the Supreme Court has about 10 jurisdictions. It is the court solely vested with the power to interpret and enforce the Constitution.

    This jurisdiction can be activated by any Ghanaian. It has supervisory jurisdiction to ensure that other courts act fairly and in consonance with procedure and it is the final court of appeal, which is as of right in criminal and civil cases.

    The Supreme Court also has original jurisdiction over Presidential Election petitions, is the final appellate court in chieftaincy matters and determines the quantum of compensation that should be paid to an individual wrongfully incarcerated.

    Obviously, the workload on the highest court of the land is enormous and any wholesome capping on the judges could be counterproductive.

    However, we must be mindful of the fact that our democracy is still growing and there is a high propensity for abuse by the Executive arm of government due to the lack of ceiling and the packing of the court with its favourites.

    We have a Constitution that has made the Executive President so powerful and almost a monarch with unchallenged powers as said by the Majority Leader at the IEA event. Checks and balances, although essential features of the Constitution, sometimes exist only in print and can be relegated to the background for a President to have his way. The Executive and the Legislature have basically become political institutions with partisan considerations taking premium over national interest.

    The Judiciary is one institution that is supposed to be thoroughly independent to be able to stand up to protect the Constitution and ensure that rule of law prevails. Allowing a system that does not restrict the number of justices a President can lawfully appoint to the highest court of the land is not only inimical to our progress as a nation, but can eventually weaken the Judiciary, the custodian of our democracy.

    The Daily Graphic therefore calls for a review of the 1992 Constitution to fill this gap in our Constitution.

    The cap m­­­ust, however, be followed by other amendments that will either reduce the mandate of the Supreme Court or ensure that access to the court is somehow restricted in a manner that would not defeat the Constitution, the hopes and aspirations of the people.

  • National Cathedral to cost over GH¢1bn not $400M – Ablakwa alleges

    National Cathedral to cost over GH¢1bn not $400M – Ablakwa alleges

    Abtvgh

    The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, says the National Cathedral project will cost over GH¢1 billion and not the $400 million earlier projected by the government.

    The legislator explained that the cost of compensations, demolition, tax waivers, consultancy, coupled with other stuff needed for the construction of the National Cathedral is estimated to cost GH¢1 billion.

    Speaking to Abtvgh, Mr. Ablakwa bemoaned the waste of taxpayers’ money on the project.

    “The taxes are being misused, GH₵339,003,064.86 million cash withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund, but that is not all. My estimation is that billions will be used, because the cost of compensation, demolition, contracts escalations and all the tax waivers have not been added. So what’s going on here? The project will cost over GH₵1 billion and not the budgeted $400 million by the government,” the legislator emphasised.

    The MP for North Tongu pointed out that the government paid a whopping GH₵28.2 million to American consultant Cary Summers to coordinate the Bible Museum and the Biblical gardens for some artifacts for the Cathedral.

    This, Mr. Ablakwa asked if the country is wealthy enough to dole out this huge sum of money to Cary Summers.

    “In the latest revelation I made, GH₵28.2 million has been paid to one Cary Summers who is an American consultant. What’s the correlation with the Cathedral? Did Jesus Christ pass through the United States, because of this consultancy from the US, for the National Cathedral, we just hand over GH₵28.2 million to him. Can you believe that? Jesus Christ! Are we [Ghanaians] that wealthy that we don’t know what to do with our money? Are we under some curse?” Mr. Ablakwa asked.

    However, the National Cathedral Secretariat in a statement said “with regard to the amount paid to the consulting firm, Messrs Sir David Adjaye and Associates in relation to the Cathedral project, release made by the Ministry is in the total amount of GH¢113,040,564.86”.

    Read a portion of the National Secretariat’s statement

  • National Cathedral Secretariat denies paying US consultant GH¢28m

    National Cathedral Secretariat denies paying US consultant GH¢28m

    Abtvgh

    The National Cathedral Secretariat has denied making payments to the tune of GH¢28 million to Cary Summers, an American consultancy firm as charges to allegedly organize a fundraiser in the United States for the National Cathedral project.

    The Member of Parliament for the North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, had accused the Secretariat of seeking the services of the firm that specializes in organizing Christian fundraisers to help it raise money to complete the project which subsequently led to the alleged payments.

    The Secretariat was also accused of paying the architect for the project, Sir David Adjaye thirty-four percent of the total contract sum.

    “The Akufo-Addo Govt & Cathedral Secretariat gave out a colossal GHS28.2million of taxpayer funds to Mr. Cary Summers, an American consultant & CEO of the Nehemiah Group who’s raised less than GHS800k in 3 years,” he posted on his Twitter handle.

    More shocking revelations on the scandalous Cathedral project. The Akufo-Addo Govt & Cathedral Secretariat gave out a colossal GHS28.2million of taxpayer funds to Mr. Cary Summers, an American consultant & CEO of the Nehemiah Group who’s raised less than GHS800k in 3 years.

    But the Secretariat in a six-point press release denied all the allegations.

    To the accusation of paying Cary Summers GH¢28 million as consultancy fees, the Secretariat explained that: “there is no contract for Cary Summers, but rather the Nehemiah group—of which Cary Summers, the founding President of the Museum of the Bible in Washington DC, and one of the world’s leading experts on religious theme parks, is the CEO. And this contract is for a set of consultancy services, the most important being the coordination of work on the National Cathedral’s Bible Museum of Africa, and the Biblical Gardens of Africa. As we have indicated, the integration of the Bible Museum –the largest in the world when completed – and the Biblical Gardens are aimed at transforming Ghana into a hub for international pilgrimage and tourism.”

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    “The work of the National Cathedral’s Bible Museum and Biblical Gardens involves some of the leading global firms, who between them have worked on some of the major museums in the world. They include: Kubik Maltbie; PRD; Cortina Productions; JMC. The payments to the Nehemiah group, therefore, is not to Cary Summers to organize a fundraiser, but to these world-class firms for their work on the Bible Museum and Biblical Gardens.”

    The Secretariat said there is neither anything sinister nor hidden about the said contract which is breeding the rumours because “the National Cathedral Secretariat submitted a copy of the report of the completed Concept Design of the Bible Museum and Biblical Gardens to Parliament on December 15, 2022. And we indicated to Parliament that the full concept design report, and all related documentation, is available upon request to the Secretariat.”

    The release added that despite these rumours and many others, “the Board and Management of the National Cathedral Project remain focused and committed to the completion of the National Cathedral, and would continue to do so with diligence, integrity, excellence, and accountability.”

    Read the full release below:

    But the Secretariat in a six-point press release denied all the allegations.

    To the accusation of paying Cary Summers GH¢28 million as consultancy fees, the Secretariat explained that: “there is no contract for Cary Summers, but rather the Nehemiah group—of which Cary Summers, the founding President of the Museum of the Bible in Washington DC, and one of the world’s leading experts on religious theme parks, is the CEO. And this contract is for a set of consultancy services, the most important being the coordination of work on the National Cathedral’s Bible Museum of Africa, and the Biblical Gardens of Africa. As we have indicated, the integration of the Bible Museum –the largest in the world when completed – and the Biblical Gardens are aimed at transforming Ghana into a hub for international pilgrimage and tourism.”

    “The work of the National Cathedral’s Bible Museum and Biblical Gardens involves some of the leading global firms, who between them have worked on some of the major museums in the world. They include: Kubik Maltbie; PRD; Cortina Productions; JMC. The payments to the Nehemiah group, therefore, is not to Cary Summers to organize a fundraiser, but to these world-class firms for their work on the Bible Museum and Biblical Gardens.”

    The Secretariat said there is neither anything sinister nor hidden about the said contract which is breeding the rumours because “the National Cathedral Secretariat submitted a copy of the report of the completed Concept Design of the Bible Museum and Biblical Gardens to Parliament on December 15, 2022. And we indicated to Parliament that the full concept design report, and all related documentation, is available upon request to the Secretariat.”

    The release added that despite these rumours and many others, “the Board and Management of the National Cathedral Project remain focused and committed to the completion of the National Cathedral, and would continue to do so with diligence, integrity, excellence, and accountability.”

    Read the full release 

  • Let’s create HIV-free nation for children

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) observes that although strides have been made in the HIV response, children are still affected by the epidemic.

    Pediatric HIV is the infection of HIV in neonates, children and adolescents. Globally, approximately 1.8 million children and adolescents below 15 years are said to be living with the disease, with 91 per cent of them residing in sub-Saharan Africa. As of 2021, roughly 14.9 million children under 18 had lost one or both parents to AIDS-related causes. Millions more have been affected by the epidemic through a heightened risk of poverty, homelessness, school dropout, discrimination and loss of opportunities, as well as COVID-19. These hardships the UNICEF says include prolonged illness and death.  Of the estimated 650,000 people who died of AIDS-related illnesses in 2021, UNICEF further reveals that 110,000 or approximately 17 per cent were children under 20 years. In Ghana, as of 2017, about 33,000 children were living with HIV and AIDS, majority of them infected by mother-to-child transmission. In 2019, there were 19,931 cases of new HIV infections, with 3,317 of them being children. However, the estimated number of annual AIDS deaths was 14,181, out of which 2,769 were children aged zero to 14 years. The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) records that in 2019 alone, 2,791 babies were born HIV positive. Also, from the 2018 national estimates, the estimated number of people living with HIV and AIDS was 334,713, out of which 29,514, that is 8.8 per cent, were children between the ages of zero and 14 years. There were also 19,931 cases of new HIV infections, with 3,317 of them being children. However, the estimated number of annual AIDS deaths was 14,181, out of which 2,769 were children aged zero to 14 years.

    According to the National STIs and AIDS Control Programme (NACP), the HIV population among children aged one to four years was 7,699 in 2020, while new infections in children of the same age group in 2021 were 443.

    As a country, Ghana has, over the years, increased the number of health facilities providing services for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV by 7.5 per cent, from 3,750 facilities in 2017 to 4,056 in 2018.

    The PMTCT is the main strategy to reduce HIV transmission from HIV-infected mothers to infants.

    The strategies being employed currently are said to be generating demand for PMTCT services, the provision of HIV testing services (HTS) for pregnant women and linking HIV-positive pregnant women to care and the provision of treatment, care and support for HIV-positive mothers and HIV-exposed infants (HEIs).

    Today, HIV treatment is far advanced. One or both parents living with HIV can still have babies who are HIV negative. There are medicines and formulations that suppress the virus and render it impotent called antiretroviral medicines (ARVs). 

    The number of pregnant women living with HIV who delivered and received ARVs in 2018 was 12,950, with approximately 87.5 per cent of them being newly initiated during their current pregnancy. 

    However, the estimated coverage of pregnant women living with HIV who received ARVs for preventing mother-to-child transmission was 78.9 per cent.

    The ARVs are to help in the reduction of new HIV infections, but, according to the Programmes Manager of the NACP, Dr Stephen Ayisi Addo, pregnant women were not adhering to them.

    He has, therefore, advised pregnant mothers to get tested for HIV during antenatal clinics (ANCs) for those who will test positive to be quickly put on treatment to prevent the transmission of the disease to their babies.

    The Daily Graphic would want to identify itself with this advice, as it is vital that mothers who go for antenatal services ensure that they test to know their HIV status and enrol onto treatment, if tested positive, to ensure that no baby is born with HIV. This way, the nation can have a generation who will be free of HIV.

    The paper also calls for continuous capacity building and training of health personnel to create awareness and the need for virological tests to be carried out for all HIV-exposed infants.

    At all ANCs and health centres, pregnant women are offered prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV services in order to protect the mothers and their unborn babies and, therefore, the paper encourages all HIV-positive mothers to take full advantage of these services to ensure that their babies are born HIV free.