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GMA calls for urgent scale up of COVID testing, contact tracing
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has asked the government to take a raft of measures to tackle rising Covid-19 cases and prevent a fourth wave.
In a press statement, the Association called for an urgent scale-up of Covid-19 testing and contact tracing for all positive cases “as well as strict isolation and management of all infected persons to help break the chain of transmission.”
“The Ministry of Health/Ghana Health Service and the National Commission for Civic Education should re-launch and intensify COVID-19 education. The GMA also urges all media houses to continue their good works on COVID-19 public education till the virus is defeated,” the Ghana Medical Association.
Recent figures released by the Ghana Health Service reveal there is a surge in the country's coronavirus case count driven by the Omicron variant.
In its latest update, the Service indicated that at least 437 new coronavirus cases have been confirmed pushing the country’s active case count to 1,954.
Ghana government considering compulsory vaccination amid rising COVID cases
Presidential Advisor on Health, Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare, has disclosed that the government is considering compulsory vaccination under the Public Health Act as COVID-19 cases spike in many parts of the country.
He told Asaase News on Thursday, December 23, 2021, that compulsory vaccination would be the only option if are getting sick and the hospitals are very choked.
“The Health Minister has already invoked the Public Health Act, but we have not come out publicly to say that we are going to compulsorily vaccinate anybody. We are trying to vaccinate as many people as much as possible, using all sort of ways that we are using to convince the people.
“When the need be, because if for example, a lot of people are getting sick and the hospitals are very choked, and people are dying, I don’t think any government will sit down and watch that to happen,” he said.
Accountant General truncates processing of salary arrears for GES, GHS
The Controller and Accountant General has served notice for non-payment of 4% salary arrears for some Ghana Education Service, GES and Ghana Health Service, GHS staff.
The Accountant General said the last two months' arrears of the 4% salary increment for 2021 was expected to be paid as part of salaries for December 2021.
While this has been processed for all Public Servants on the payroll, only 40% of GES staff and 20% of GHS staff were paid the aforementioned arrears.
They explained that this was due to a system performance hitch that was going to unduly delay the payment of December salaries for the entire public servants beyond the scheduled pay date.
Accountant General announces dates for payment of 2022 salaries, wages
The Controller and Accountant-General's Department has announced dates for payment of 2022 salaries and wages.
A statement from the Department said, "Notice is hereby given that the year 2022 Salaries and Wages of Civil Servants, the Ghana Education Service and all other Public Servants paid by the Controller and Accountant-General's Department will be on the dates indicated."
Christmas: Dec. 27, 28 declared public holidays
A statement from the Interior Ministry has declared December 27 and 28 as public holidays for the celebration of Christmas.
According to the statement, "In view of the fact that 25th and 26th December 2021 fall on a Saturday and a Sunday, his Excellency, the President of the Republic of Ghana, has by Executive Instrument in accordance with Section 2 of the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act declared Monday, 27th December and Tuesday, 28th December 2021 as additional Public holidays and should be observed as such throughout the country.
Dualisation begins on sections of Accra Kumasi Road to ease traffic
The Ministry of Roads and Highways will begin the construction of by-roads on sections of the Accra Kumasi road to ease traffic on Congestion on the road.
The by-passes will be constructed at Osino, Anyinam, Konongo among others which are currently single carriage roads and experience heavy congestion.
The Ministry of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Attah said this when he opened the Kwafokrom–Apedwa section of the Accra-Kumasi Highway, currently being dualised to traffic.
The opening of the 31.7 km road is to ease traffic flow on the Highway throughout the festive season.
James Franco admits sleeping with students from his acting school
Actor James Franco has admitted having sex with students from his acting school, almost four years after sexual misconduct allegations were made.
The 43-year-old agreed to pay $2.2m (£1.6m) in July after being sued for engaging in "sexually-charged behaviour towards female students".
Speaking on The Jess Cagle Podcast, he said that while teaching, he "did sleep with students, and that was wrong".
He said he had not started the school to lure women for sexual purposes.
Franco was nominated for best actor at the Oscars in 2011 for his starring role in 127 Hours, directed by Danny Boyle, and is also known for his roles in Pineapple Express and the Spider-Man films.
The actor said he had remained quiet over the allegations relating to his school for years because "there were people that were upset with me and I needed to listen".