AM News with Benjamin Akakpo on JoyNews (20-10-23)
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NewsTranscript
00:00 Let's head for the news now and in our first story.
00:03 Tests conducted on 10 major rivers across the country
00:08 have revealed high levels of dangerous heavy metals.
00:12 The Odin and Cobra, Tano, Ofin and six others
00:16 presented dangerous levels of lead, arsenic,
00:20 chromium and cadmium.
00:22 Almost all major rivers and streams across the country
00:25 are highly polluted by irresponsible mining.
00:29 Erastus Asaridonko has excerpts in his latest documentary,
00:33 Poisoned for Gold.
00:34 The milky brown color of the rivers and streams
00:39 flowing across the country indicate suspended particles,
00:43 including poisonous heavy metals.
00:45 Two years ago, residents of Eusiegio
00:50 in the Ahanta West District of the Western region
00:53 were drinking the polluted water,
00:55 but soon they started experiencing strange afflictions
00:59 as recounted by Theodora Yamwa,
01:02 a nurse in charge of the town's chips compound.
01:05 - Some of them came there with frequent urinating
01:10 and also burning sensation when they are urinating.
01:15 And also some came with skin rashes.
01:19 - We fetched samples from the Tano, Brim, Butire, Ofin
01:25 Nenuru, Ancobra, Pra
01:27 and other polluted sources of water
01:30 to be tested for heavy metals at the Sheath Laboratory
01:34 of the KNUST's chemistry department.
01:37 After a week of testing, the results were in.
01:42 - For standard sick,
01:45 we use the World Health Organization standards.
01:48 - The World Health Organization pegs
01:50 the acceptable standard for arsenic at 0.0050 milligrams
01:55 per liter, while the US and Ghana pegs it
02:01 at 0.010 milligram per liter.
02:04 The Oda, Brim, Pra, Ancobra, Nenuru, Ofin,
02:11 Eshri, Butire, Subri and Tano registered
02:15 between 0.216 and 0.444 milligrams per liter.
02:20 Which is 0.434 milligrams higher than acceptable levels.
02:25 This is 20.6 to 55.6% higher
02:33 than acceptable levels in water using the American
02:37 and Ghanaian standards.
02:39 Dr. Eugene Ansah explains the test results.
02:44 - All these water samples that are coming from
02:48 our water bodies in Ghana were found to be acidic
02:52 in nature, that is having a pH less than seven.
02:56 It means that it has got a corrosive effect
02:59 and whenever you drink it, you have irritations.
03:02 In the truth, drinking water is expected to be neutral.
03:07 In terms of toxic metals, lead was ranked
03:11 as the highest toxic metal present in Ghana.
03:16 Lead is a toxic metal that is present
03:19 in all these water samples.
03:22 And should anybody drink this water or even swim
03:27 in these waters, then they are exposed to high levels of lead.
03:32 The other metals include chromium, cadmium and arsenic
03:37 and all these samples could not pass the quality standards.
03:43 (water splashing)
03:46 - Now with our next story, Upper West Regional Minister,
03:56 Dr. Hafiz Bin Salih has reiterated government's commitment
04:00 to ensuring that terrorists and their elements
04:03 are watered off from the country.
04:05 He explains the government is aware of their threats
04:09 and has initiated the Gulf of Guinea Social Cohesion Project
04:13 in order to economically liberate the people
04:15 from the trappings of these terrorist groups.
04:18 Rafiq Salam reports from Waa.
04:20 - The Gulf of Guinea Northern Region Social Cohesion
04:25 so-called project seeks to contribute
04:27 to the prevention of conflict spillover
04:29 from the Sahelian countries by improving the social
04:33 and economic resilience of the targeted northern region
04:36 and strengthening regional dialogue
04:38 across the Gulf of Guinea countries.
04:41 The project is being funded by the World Bank
04:44 with an amount of 450 million United States dollars
04:48 and implemented in four countries,
04:50 namely Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo and Benin.
04:55 Ghana will receive 150 million US dollars
04:59 out of the total amount earmarked for the project.
05:02 48 municipalities and districts
05:05 in the Northern Gulf of the country
05:07 are benefiting from the project.
05:09 In the Upper West Region, all 11 municipalities
05:12 and districts have been enrolled into the project.
05:16 Upper West Region Minister, Dr. Abis Bin Salih
05:19 at a short ceremony to hand over 52 motorbikes,
05:23 15 laptops and five pickups to five MDAs,
05:27 so-called zonal office
05:28 and the Upper West Region Coordinating Council
05:30 noted that the so-called project is a game changer,
05:34 pledging the support of the Upper West RCC
05:37 to make it successful.
05:39 - It will liberate our people economically
05:43 so that they are not entrapped to go,
05:48 to be attracted to do things
05:51 that will go against the sovereignty of our nation.
05:56 As you may be aware, terrorists are knocking on our doors
06:01 and if people, young people are there
06:04 and they don't have anything to do,
06:06 then they can be lured to do things
06:09 that will go against their communities
06:11 and indeed the entire country.
06:13 - So-called zonal coordinator
06:14 for the Upper West and Savannah regions,
06:16 David Yenki disclosed that the various beneficiary districts
06:21 have so far awarded 67 projects
06:24 and is hopeful that work will begin
06:26 before the end of the month.
06:28 - Right now, the 11 districts in Upper West Region
06:34 have outlined and have started awarding 67 sub-projects
06:39 and these 67 sub-projects are supposed to be started
06:44 latest by close of this month.
06:47 There are no contractors have received their award letters
06:50 and so this equipment and vehicles that you have seen here
06:54 are actually going to facilitate implementation
06:57 and monitoring of this sub-project
06:59 so that we ensure that those critical infrastructure
07:02 that we want to, that the community people to get
07:07 will be delivered according to the prescriptions
07:10 and prosecutions of the World Bank and the Ministry.
07:13 - Though the project is yet to fully start,
07:15 one municipal chief executive, Alaji Sakotai Romaine,
07:19 on behalf of colleague MDCEs,
07:21 is hopeful that the project will achieve
07:24 its intended purpose.
07:26 - All the intended projects under this SOCO
07:29 are all tailored towards the needs of the people
07:32 because need assessments were made from the communities
07:35 and from the people and they told us exactly
07:38 what they want in their communities
07:39 and that is exactly what we are doing.
07:42 - Reporting for JNews, Rafik Salam.
07:46 Wah!
07:46 - Now to promote proper hand washing
07:53 among school-going children,
07:55 the Tichiman Municipal School Health Education's
07:58 program unit of the Ghana Education Service
08:00 has, together with the Ghana Health Services,
08:02 held an educational program with some selected schools
08:06 in the Sansama community.
08:08 The SHEP coordinator, Mary Wuntemach, says,
08:12 "This will create awareness of the benefits of hand washing
08:16 and raise the students' ability and confidence
08:18 in washing hands at school,
08:20 which would ultimately minimize infections among children."
08:23 And Asabit Hasmul.
08:25 - The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic
08:29 necessitated unprecedented, significant,
08:32 and sustained infection prevention and control measures
08:35 to reduce the risk of exposure and prevent transmission.
08:39 Aggressive hand washing with soap and running water
08:42 was among the various prevention protocols
08:45 adapted to mitigate the spread of the pandemic.
08:48 This hand washing protocol held experts say
08:51 reduces the transmission of microorganisms,
08:54 increases patient safety,
08:56 and decreases healthcare-associated infections.
09:00 Sadly, however, rigorous hand washing,
09:03 as seen in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic,
09:05 is slowly fading away,
09:07 a situation that exposes many to several health risks.
09:11 Tichiman Municipal School Health Education program
09:14 coordinator, Mary Wuntemach,
09:15 who, as part of the Global Hand Washing Day,
09:18 instituting measures capable of sensitizing school children
09:21 within the Sansama community
09:22 on the need to adopt hand washing
09:24 with soap and running water as a way of life.
09:28 - After COVID, it looked as if
09:30 we have reduced the hand washing.
09:32 And you agree with me, when COVID came,
09:34 a lot of diseases, especially diarrhea in Ghana,
09:38 chlorella, you never heard of it.
09:41 And it was just because of proper hand washing.
09:44 That is why we decided to come to Sansama,
09:47 so that we'll educate the children
09:49 how to wash their hands properly.
09:51 And as they go back,
09:52 and their parents who come from the farm,
09:55 they will also then give them the information
09:59 of how to wash their hands properly, and all the time.
10:03 - She was quick to have admonished corporate institutions
10:06 to reintroduce Veronica Barkers at their premises
10:09 and make hand washing part of their respective protocols.
10:13 - So I think that in our banks and other institutions,
10:18 we should be able to bring back Veronica Barkers.
10:21 So let's, our institution should keep on
10:26 encouraging people to wash their hands
10:28 by providing soap, water, and then tissue
10:33 for all customers who come around to wash their hands.
10:36 So we all live healthy.
10:38 - Chief of the area, Nana Afuna Yebua,
10:41 who acted as the chairman of the location,
10:44 promised to serve as an ambassador for hand washing,
10:47 and is hopeful that the act, if adopted,
10:50 would help minimize infections across the area.
10:53 - We are going to compare, in fact, from here,
10:56 we are going to the parish,
10:57 to compare to the people, to the communities.
11:00 Yarn festival, a prophecy, whatever it is,
11:03 we are now going to inculcate it into our system,
11:06 so that whenever we meet,
11:07 people will know the essence of washing hands,
11:09 or cleaning hands.
11:10 So when that is done,
11:12 definitely we are going to reduce disease
11:14 and germs in our society.
11:15 So we are going to do that.
11:17 We will make sure that that is done
11:19 in our various parishes and hosts,
11:20 so that people will adopt that.
11:23 - Assemblyman for Sansoma Electoral Area,
11:25 Nuhu Abdurazak, also emphasized that the move
11:28 fits into his sanitation project,
11:30 and noted that enough education will be carried out
11:33 to help sensitize the populace.
11:36 - Being a stakeholder of this community,
11:39 I'm going to take it right away from you.
11:41 Already I started doing something,
11:43 and this one, too, has also come to join.
11:46 That means it is going to be a process, not an event.
11:49 And that is to say that right from here,
11:51 any occasion where I will have the chance,
11:54 I will be educating the people
11:56 the continuous way of washing hands before eating.
12:01 And that is why, you know, if you want to speak to God,
12:03 you speak to the children.
12:04 We've just started with the children.
12:06 - This year's Global Handwashing Day
12:08 was marked under the theme,
12:10 "Clean hands are within reach."
12:13 - I'm going to submit, "Joy News."
12:16 Teach me.
12:16 - Now in our final story, on five consecutive occasions,
12:23 the Presbyterian Boys' SHS has reached the finals
12:27 of the National Science and Math Quiz.
12:30 They beat Infantapim School and Ketah SHS
12:33 in a heated battle of intellect.
12:36 Jacqueline Ansamayabwa caught up with the schools
12:38 after the contest.
12:41 - We are in the final contest
12:42 with the seven-time champion, that is Prasek Legon,
12:46 leading with some 44 points.
12:48 But let me move to, we have Ketah Senior High School.
12:51 They were very optimistic right now.
12:53 Ketah, now how are you feeling right now,
12:56 knowing that you put up quite an impressive performance today?
12:59 - Okay, for us, God has taken us very far
13:03 when we even least expected it.
13:04 So all I want to say is,
13:06 we thank God for taking us this far.
13:08 And it is what it is.
13:10 Next year, we are coming back stronger
13:13 and we are thanking God for how far He has made this contest.
13:16 Thank you very much.
13:18 - All right, what about you?
13:19 I hope you are not down.
13:21 You are okay with your mark?
13:22 - No, no, no, no, no, no, I am not.
13:23 I am not at all, because you could see that
13:25 the contest was a beautiful one.
13:27 Yeah, these are big schools coming together.
13:29 Even though it didn't end how we expected and all,
13:33 but we are very proud of our guys.
13:35 They did very well.
13:36 We also, you could see, 89, 89, 89.
13:39 (imitates explosion)
13:40 - So what should we expect from KETA next year?
13:43 - We are coming for the trophy.
13:44 - You see, when we began, we left it in the hands of God.
13:47 And next year, everything is still in the hands of God.
13:50 - And we are coming for the trophy.
13:51 - No problem.
13:52 - That's the promise?
13:53 - Yes, we are coming for the trophy.
13:54 - That's the promise.
13:54 - We are coming strong next year.
13:55 We are coming strong next year, don't worry.
13:57 - That is students, all students and students
14:00 from KETA Senior High School.
14:02 But I am here with the winners themselves.
14:04 That is Prasek, Legon, and they won this contest
14:08 with some 44 points.
14:10 And I believe you are a trainer.
14:11 You are part of the trainers.
14:12 How are you feeling right now?
14:15 - Big relief, a very big relief.
14:17 - You know, Infanta Pim nearly gave you a run for your money.
14:20 I realized you were all praying.
14:22 How were you feeling at that moment?
14:24 - Me, at that moment--
14:24 - When Infanta Pim was leading.
14:25 - At that moment where I was praying,
14:27 I just felt this sense of peace around me.
14:31 And then, like, I just had to keep praying
14:33 because I didn't want to,
14:35 I mean, anything I saw could have happened.
14:36 And then we trusted God that God is good
14:39 to give us this victory.
14:40 So I just had to still keep my trust in Him
14:42 and not lose my faith,
14:43 even though things were not going as planned.
14:45 So I just like to thank God for everything.
14:47 Just like to thank God for everything.
14:49 It's a very big relief, I mean,
14:50 being in the finals five consecutive times
14:52 is a big relief.
14:53 And I'd like to thank God for everything.
14:55 - All right, now moving forward,
14:57 we are just a step away to the finale.
15:00 What should we expect from your boys?
15:02 - Nothing but the best from God.
15:06 - So you are an old student, right?
15:08 How are you feeling right now?
15:09 - I'm feeling so happy.
15:11 I'm so happy.
15:12 This gives me nostalgia.
15:13 It's like last year's finals.
15:15 I mean, at the start,
15:17 we knew that Infanta Pim would give us a good contest.
15:20 And I'll say for those today,
15:21 they actually gave us a good contest.
15:23 But we proved to them that we are the reigning champions.
15:26 Yes.
15:26 - Yeah, I realized at a point you were all praying
15:28 because it became very tight at a point.
15:31 We realized that Infanta Pim was leading.
15:33 Personally, I thought today wouldn't be your day,
15:36 but then you guys pulled through.
15:38 At that point, when the scores were close,
15:41 how were you feeling then?
15:42 - Honestly. - Were you scared?
15:44 - Honestly, honestly, I was very scared.
15:46 I was very scared, but we know that this year,
15:49 our mantra is our God is great.
15:51 So we're clinging on to that mantra.
15:53 And at the end of everything,
15:55 God proved himself worthy for us.
15:57 Yes.
15:58 So we are very happy.
15:59 - Okay, so these two gentlemen, I spoke to them earlier.
16:02 How are you feeling right now?
16:05 You are sweating.
16:06 - Sweating, it's the love of Presec.
16:08 You know, we always believe in God to deliver for us.
16:11 I told you earlier in the interview that
16:13 it's not by our might, it's not by our power,
16:14 it's not by our intelligence,
16:15 but by the grace of God, our help has to win.
16:17 And that is what we have done, yeah.
16:19 - You are meeting Ashamota, you are meeting Owas.
16:23 What should we expect from you?
16:24 Are we clinging on to the trophy this time around?
16:28 - You see, there's an agenda ongoing
16:30 that every young man and woman should learn.
16:34 Presec, we've always said that we trust in God.
16:37 And when you trust in God,
16:38 this is the kind of results you are going to see.
16:41 And so we are telling every young man,
16:42 every young woman out there that,
16:44 look, just put your trust in God.
16:46 Put in the hard work, be diligent,
16:49 and then excellence will be count.
16:51 Excellence will be your portion.
16:53 Ashamota and Okokuwari,
16:54 we are going back to do our homework.
16:56 We are going back to work hard, because it's not over.
16:59 We are taking the eighth trophy.
17:01 Eighth is written, and we believe in a great God.
17:04 And we know that our God is faithful.
17:06 And so we are taking the eighth trophy.
17:07 So we are going to do our hard work,
17:09 and we'll meet them at the National Theater.
17:11 - Okay, all right.
17:12 These are still students from Presec, Lagon.
17:15 And just as I said,
17:16 currently they are the school with the highest scoring point,
17:20 44 points in the semifinals,
17:23 with Ashamota having some 41 points,
17:26 and with Owas having some 38 points.
17:30 So they are still leading the semifinals.
17:32 They led also in the quarterfinals,
17:35 that is for Presec, Lagon.
17:37 They're still leading the path.
17:38 The big question remains that which of these three schools
17:41 would be winning this year?
17:42 (upbeat music)
17:45 (upbeat music)
17:47 (upbeat music)
17:51 (upbeat music)
17:54 (upbeat music)
17:57 (upbeat music)
17:59 (upbeat music)
18:02 (upbeat music)
18:05 (upbeat music)
18:07 (dramatic music)