Funeral of Ga Manye: Court gives greenlight for burial rites to be held | News Desk
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NewsTranscript
00:00 We're coming to you live from our studios in Kokomlemle.
00:02 Coming up this morning, brace yourself for power outages in parts of the country.
00:07 The warning from Gritco as it announces shortage in gas supply to Tema at peak hours.
00:15 Also minority demands presidential inquiry into cancellation of GCPC contracts, which
00:21 has led to the award of $140 million judgment debt against Ghana.
00:29 We have details as the former power minister says government has exhibited high level of
00:36 incompetence in relation to this matter.
00:39 This particular contract should be terminated.
00:43 But even in terminating, we were so incompetent in process.
00:57 Last on our fear delegate series today, we'll be exploring what influences the interests
01:02 of delegates ahead of the NPP presidential primary.
01:05 We'll turn our attention to the Lodjokuku constituency.
01:11 We have details of all of these business coming up shortly.
01:36 My name is Ayeshi Bryant.
01:37 Let's settle for the details.
01:39 Brace yourself for power outages in parts of the country in the coming days.
01:43 That's the warning from Gritco.
01:45 In a statement released on 26th October 2023, the company said that power outages were as
01:51 a result of a shortage in gas supply to Tema at peak hours.
01:56 Head of Joy News' energy desk, Samuel Kodjoe-Breeze joins us with details of the statement.
02:01 Kodjoe, first, what's the supply gap?
02:07 Hello, Kodjoe-Breeze.
02:09 Okay.
02:10 So, Ayeshi, can you hear me now?
02:15 Loud and clear.
02:16 Good.
02:17 So, we understand that we have a gap of 550 megawatts power.
02:22 Now, as of Wednesday, it was 650 megawatts at peak time.
02:27 That's from 6 to 10 p.m.
02:30 And then yesterday, it was 550 megawatts.
02:33 So that is what it is.
02:34 And if nothing changes, this will continue.
02:38 Now, for people to understand what this means, if we have a shortfall of 550 megawatts, it's
02:45 like the whole of Asobe not producing and another power plant not producing.
02:51 It's really huge, Ayeshi.
02:52 So, how far are plans in restoring the supply, Kodjoe?
02:57 Well, we understand that we have a debt of around $13 million as of two months ago.
03:06 And WAPCO has been demanding this.
03:08 GMPC is the one responsible to pay.
03:10 They haven't.
03:11 We don't know why they have not paid.
03:14 Now, if this does not, you know, if nothing is done for it to be settled, then, of course,
03:19 WAPCO has not given any indication of restoring, you know, gas supply anytime soon.
03:26 And therefore, we cannot tell as of now when this would last.
03:31 Any ideas how widespread the outage is or will be?
03:37 If we say we have a shortfall of 550 megawatt power, it means that it can affect the whole
03:44 of Greater Accra.
03:45 It can affect central region and many parts of the country.
03:49 So it might be huge, Ayeshi.
03:51 That's interesting.
03:52 But do we know when regular power supply will be finally restored?
03:58 So I mean, once WAPCO is demanding the payment of their $13 million debt, I mean, that might
04:03 have even more, it might have increased because of the time that we got to know this information.
04:09 So if this is not paid and we are not able to lobby WAPCO to then accept our terms so
04:16 they can allow power and gas to flow from Pakkadi to Thamma through the reverse flow,
04:23 then of course, power cannot be restored anytime soon unless the country is able to get WAPCO
04:30 to agree to their terms.
04:32 That is only when we can tell.
04:34 But as we sit here, we don't know when power will be restored.
04:38 But we are still digging for more information.
04:40 So we are likely to get more so that we can update our viewers.
04:44 Kojo Brice is head of Energy Desk here at Jory News with those details.
04:48 Let's get on to other stories.
04:50 A minority in Parliament said President Eko Foadom has instituted an inquiry into events
04:56 leading to cancellation of the GCPC power agreement.
05:00 Determination of that contract has led to the award of $140 million in judgment debt
05:05 against a state with Ghanaian properties abroad at the risk of being auctioned to defray the
05:11 debt. Former Energy Minister Boakye Jako, who signed the termination letter, said that
05:16 he is not to blame as he acted on the decision of Cabinet.
05:20 But NDC MP for Pro-Eastern, former Power Minister Kwabena Donkor, says the explanations are
05:26 not enough and that a full-blown presidential inquiry alongside a parliamentary probe can
05:32 help Ghana learn for the future as well as punish errant officials.
05:37 First of all, I call for two inquiries. One at the level of the presidency. The president
05:45 may institute an internal inquiry to unravel what led to this. You see, Cabinet is advisory
05:57 to the president. Cabinet is not the final decision-maker of the land in terms of executive
06:06 power. Cabinet is advisory to the president. So the president in Cabinet is a different
06:14 business because then the president has the power. And that is why I'm calling on the
06:19 president to institute an internal inquiry for two reasons. To know where we really went
06:27 wrong in terms of the process and what lessons that we have to learn as a nation at the level
06:34 of the executive to avoid a recurrence going forward. Ghana is a going concern. So that
06:41 is one.
06:42 Then at the level of the legislature, since the decision to terminate was taken by the
06:47 executive arm of government, it is the legislature that has oversight responsibility over the
06:53 executive. We also have to set up an inquiry to find out who was culpable and why this
07:02 happened and why we've been burdened with over $140 million liability.
07:12 Dr. Kwabena Donkor says the argument about excess capacity does not make sense as the
07:21 country could export the excess power to neighboring countries.
07:24 What we would have paid in capacity charges, worst case scenario, would have been far lower
07:30 than what we are paying today. That is the worst case scenario. But I disagree that we
07:34 didn't need the power. One of the objectives of the Mahama government then was to position
07:40 Ghana as a major power exporter. As we speak, the demand for power in Burkina Faso, we are
07:50 unable to meet the demand. There is also demand for power in Mali. And therefore, contracting
08:02 power generation was not just a matter of power generation.
08:08 Dr. Kwabena Donkor also insists government officials exhibited high level incompetence
08:13 in the termination of the contract.
08:17 The Mandi and the Jacobson plans, the government decided that, okay, rather than come on stream
08:25 in year X, you come on stream in year X plus two and you come on stream in year X plus
08:31 three. And exactly that happened. So this plant could have also been delayed if we were
08:39 so minded. But I sincerely believe that we went about this wrongly. And there may be
08:48 reasons that I do not know why they decided that this particular contract should be terminated.
08:56 But even in terminating, we were so incompetent in process. Even in termination, we displayed
09:10 incompetence in following the process set out by the contract. And that is part of our
09:15 problem.
09:16 Away from power, a violent clash between the youth of Ejira and a police military team
09:22 in June 2021 resulted in deaths and injuries, leaving the Ashanti regional town in a state
09:29 of insecurity. But Interior Minister Ambrose Derry says the establishment of a formed police
09:35 unit has helped improve security and ease tension as the government pays compensation
09:41 to bereaved families and affected victims.
09:44 Ejira residents, however, are disputing the minister's claim of improved security, saying
09:51 all is not rosy on him interior of our security that's visited the community and has more
09:56 in this report.
09:57 Now I can tell you that just as we acknowledge the police have expanded their area of operation,
10:06 crime has reduced in Ejira as reported and beyond. And we are going to make sure that
10:18 we continue to work together to make this police service more professional and more
10:26 accommodating.
10:27 Mr. Derry was speaking at the inauguration of a divisional police headquarters at Ejira
10:33 built in response to the recommendations of a ministerial committee tasked to investigate
10:39 the 2021 unrest in Ejira, which led to the death of two people. Two persons, Abdul Nassir
10:46 Yusuf and Mutala Mohamed, died following a clash between irate youth of Ejira and a
10:53 police military team. They were protesting the death of a social media activist, Ibrahim
11:00 Mohamed, also known as Kakamechu.
11:03 That June 28, 2021 incident also saw three persons, 20-year-old Luis Ayipa, Awal Mesbaw
11:12 and Nasif Nuhu, aged 16 and 30, respectively, injured. The Justice George Cummings Committee
11:21 in the 10-point recommendation called for the payment of compensation to bereaved and
11:26 affected families. It also called for structural expansion of the Ejira police station and
11:32 increase in personnel.
11:34 Three years after the incident, Ejira Heni, Burma Ossei Hediye II, led the traditional
11:43 authorities and mobilized residents to initiate construction of a divisional police headquarters
11:50 at the cost of 1.8 million Ghana cedis. This, according to the Ejira Heni, is to solve the
11:57 area's security concerns.
11:59 The committee, after weeks of investigations, made 10 recommendations. The 10 recommendations
12:09 was to call for expansion of Ejira police station and an increase in personnel.
12:18 While the government made strenuous efforts to provide solace to the injured and families
12:26 of the dead, I took bold decision to leave my efforts to Marblehurst Resources to help
12:35 provide requisite infrastructure that will facilitate increase of prisons in town.
12:44 From Ejira, my name is Oyegwe Ntegia. For join me.
12:52 "Fear delegates" has become a popular statement during internal party elections in Ghana.
12:58 It is believed that delegates are influenced in several ways in their voting decisions,
13:04 leading to the disappointment of some candidates. In today's episode of "Fear Delegates"
13:10 series, Nana Boache Iyadom interacts with some delegates in the Etrioma-Uwabija North
13:17 Tawinzi, in the Ashanti region, ahead of the NPP presidential primary.
13:22 I would not say fear delegates, fear human beings. Because the delegates haven't come
13:39 from a different planet. The delegates are all human beings, some are even my relatives.
13:46 All you know, you even the interviewer, you are also a delegate. So I could also be afraid of you.
13:52 So come November 4th, delegates across the country will be going to their various polling
14:14 stations to elect a flag bearer for the new patriotic party going into the 2024 general elections.
14:20 But let's get interactive with some of these delegates from the Etrioma-Uwabija North constituency.
14:26 Fear delegates they say, but is that still the case?
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20:56 - Delegates of Lejuku are also on the edge of their seats,
21:03 anxiously anticipating the forthcoming
21:06 November 4th Delegates Conference.
21:09 In today's installment of our series, We Are Delegates,
21:12 we introduce you to Stephen, a dedicated delegate
21:15 from Lejuku constituency.
21:17 We'll explore his views and experiences
21:19 as he prepares to cast his crucial vote
21:22 at the upcoming conference.
21:24 - My name is Stephen Kwabena.
21:27 I'm hoping to be a politician one day
21:29 because I had that kind of feeling and love for politics.
21:34 - Stephen Kwabena Ayensu is one of a few delegates
21:38 in the Lejuku constituency.
21:40 In 2023, he concluded his National Service Program
21:44 after earning his degree from the University of Education,
21:47 Winneba.
21:49 Currently, he finds himself among the ranks
21:51 of unemployed graduates.
21:53 His routine comprises aiding his parents
21:55 with household tasks and manning their shop.
21:58 He is eagerly looking forward
22:00 to the November 4th NPP Delegates Conference.
22:03 - Internal party politics is more rough and deadly
22:07 than the general politics or general elections.
22:10 - You don't want a showdown?
22:12 - So I'm looking at a showdown to the opponent,
22:14 which is the NDC.
22:16 I'm looking at a showdown internally.
22:18 - Following the Super Delegates Conference,
22:20 numerous developments have unfolded.
22:22 The most notable amongst them
22:24 is Alan Chomantien's decision
22:26 to part ways with the party,
22:28 citing unfairness within the party's election procedures.
22:31 For Stephen, this move comes as no surprise.
22:34 - As a student of politics, I didn't see that in the news.
22:37 I didn't expect that to come.
22:40 But when it happened, I didn't expect that as news.
22:44 When you look at the kind of campaign Alan was doing,
22:47 he was not focused on the delegates.
22:49 Even within the delegates,
22:51 they were even saying that he is not even ready to lead,
22:54 as compared to even Kennedy Japone,
22:56 who in the beginning, we all thought that he was joking.
22:59 - Top of his list of expectations
23:01 is a candidate that will create opportunities for party folks,
23:04 more importantly, can deliver a powerful blow
23:07 to the NDC in the 2024 elections.
23:10 - And every political party is going to do everything,
23:13 regardless, to win power.
23:15 So for me, I would look at a candidate
23:17 who prioritizes the party
23:20 and makes sure we are going to win power.
23:22 That is the first person as a delegate I would look at.
23:26 You can be in the political party from '92, from '90, whatever.
23:30 But we are going to look at your loyalty,
23:33 your service to the party,
23:35 and now how you are going to deal with delegates,
23:37 your message to delegates.
23:39 What we delegates are also going to benefit in the party.
23:42 - Among the four remaining candidates
23:44 vying to lead the NDP in the 2024 elections,
23:48 Stephen has firmly made up his mind.
23:50 - I believe in two candidates,
23:52 that when they come, the constituency level,
23:55 I believe in Dr. Bernardo Koboy leading the constituency,
23:58 sorry, the party here again, to capture the seat back for us.
24:01 And it's a fact. Wherever you go, everyone is calling for him.
24:04 For the presidential, I can tell boldly that Dr. Mahmoud Boumia
24:07 is ready because now politics is based on science and data.
24:10 - His decision is unwavering,
24:12 and not even a financial incentive will sway his determination.
24:16 - For you, let me ask you personally, Stephen,
24:19 will money change your mind or help you make a decision at all?
24:24 - No. No. Money cannot change my mind.
24:27 When you bring the money, I will take it.
24:29 When you are bringing me money, like, Stephen, take this money.
24:32 If you are giving me the money to go and vote for you,
24:35 I will let you know that, no, I'm not going to vote for you
24:38 because I've already decided. But if you are giving me money
24:41 because I'm a party member, you feel like I should take something,
24:44 that one, I will come with.
24:46 - So I'm sure you've heard this before, "Fear delegates, fear delegates, fear delegates."
24:49 You're a delegate. Should we be afraid of you? I mean, should they be afraid of you?
24:52 - Yes, they need to be afraid of delegates
24:55 because you might go to someone to campaign for the person.
24:58 When the person sees you, he will tell you that, "Oh, yes, yes, yes, I would vote for you."
25:02 "Oh, oyomo!" That's the word. "Oyomo, wedgewe!"
25:06 You see, but once you turn, another person comes in with a different story.
25:10 So you need to fear the delegates because in front of you,
25:13 he's not going to tell you boldly that, "Oh, metwa man," with surety.
25:16 Maybe because of what he will get at that moment.
25:18 - For Stephen and numerous other delegates,
25:21 this election signifies their sole opportunity to influence the party's direction
25:26 and they are determined not to miss it under any circumstance.
25:29 Their ultimate goal is to make a well-informed choice
25:33 that could potentially break the recurring eight-year political cycle for the MPP.
25:39 For JOY News, Michael Ashali.
25:42 - President of the Gwadangwe Council and member of the Central Planning Committee
25:48 for the upcoming funeral of the late Queen Mother of the Gwad States, Ni Ayukwe Otu, says
25:53 the purported order of interim injunction on the funeral has been set aside by a High Court
26:00 and has called on invited dignitaries to disregard what he describes as "distraction"
26:06 and joined them in giving a befitting farewell to the late Mother of the Gwad States this weekend.
26:12 Reading excerpts of the ruling, the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice said
26:16 the High Court in its ruling stated categorically that
26:20 the order of interim injunction was made in error.
26:23 He spoke at the press conference at the forecourt of the Gwamancha Palace in Accra.
26:29 - [Chanting]
26:36 - According to Mr Ayukwe Otu, the move by the disgruntled faction to go to court
26:41 for an injunction to be placed on the funeral only harms and frustrates the Gwad State,
26:47 considering the level of investment that has gone into the planning.
26:51 - When you do this sort of thing, you discourage people.
26:54 You know, we've worked, we've had people come to sign a book of condolence.
27:00 We've spent so much time, money, expense, travelling, going about, informing dignitaries,
27:11 prominent chiefs, politicians to come and mourn with us.
27:17 All these people are holding themselves in readiness to come only for that bombshell to be released.
27:24 - He also argued that the initial order, which purportedly placed an injunction on the funeral,
27:30 was in itself misinterpreted.
27:33 - We were in court this morning.
27:36 We argued against the injunction that was granted.
27:41 We asked that it be set aside.
27:44 And at the end of the day, we had this order made, which we want to share with you.
27:50 Upon reading the affidavit filed by the applicants and opposed to by the first defendant applicant,
27:56 and upon hearing Ayukwe Otu square, counsel for defendant's applicants,
28:01 I am of the view that the order of interim injunction granted on 25th October, 2023, was made in error.
28:09 The applicants failed to give the court the true state of affairs.
28:13 In fairness to the parties, therefore, the order of interim injunction granted on 25th October, 2023, is hereby set aside.
28:21 Any party desirous of proceeding may come on notice to the other party for a proper evaluation,
28:29 for a proper evaluation of the evidence from both sides.
28:33 Now, the importance of this is that the order that people are misinterpreting has been set aside.
28:40 The ruling which was given by the same judge who gave the initial interim injunction,
28:45 now paves the way for this weekend's funeral for the late queen mother of the Ghana state,
28:51 Na Dede Omaydru III.
28:55 More than 10,000 nurses and midwives sought clearance from the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association
29:09 to leave Ghana for better opportunities abroad.
29:12 This is according to data from the association that captures the phenomenon from January to July 2023.
29:20 In response to this trend, a former senior advisor to the joint UN program on HIV/AIDS, Dr Emilio Tempo,
29:28 has cautioned against speculative overseas escapades for greener pastures.
29:34 He was speaking at the launch of her memoir titled Perseverance. There's more in this report.
29:40 A significant number of Ghanaians have embarked on journeys to advanced countries in pursuit of better opportunities
29:48 driven by the economic constraints in the country.
29:51 According to statistics provided by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association,
29:56 from January to July 2023, more than 10,000 of their members have requested clearance form from the association to travel abroad.
30:06 Out of this group, approximately 4,000 have successfully relocated to other countries in pursuit of greener pastures.
30:14 In response to this increasing trend, a former senior advisor to the joint UN program on HIV/AIDS, Dr Emilio Tempo,
30:23 advised young Ghanaians to ensure they have a well-thought-out plan before considering relocation.
30:30 I think for anybody to think they're going out of the country to find an easy pasture, forget it.
30:36 If you can, get your first degree here because the quality of the first degree you will get in a Ghana institution
30:42 surpasses what you can get in a lot of other places outside.
30:46 Get your first degree and then look to go do your master's or go somewhere else.
30:51 Don't go sell in the market in Europe or the US. That's not a productive use of your time.
30:58 Speaking about the inspiration behind the title of her memoir, Perseverance, which delves into her life journey,
31:05 Dr Tempo indicated that she chose the title because it better describes her life journey.
31:11 My whole life has been about perseverance, you know, challenges every step of the way.
31:17 I couldn't think of a better word, you know, because, yeah, too many challenges.
31:24 And yet I felt that I always have to find ways around whatever the challenge was.
31:30 And you can only do that if you persevere, if you, you know, go against the mold, make mistakes along the way.
31:39 And I said that it's okay to make mistakes. You're not going to be perfect and it's okay.
31:44 But you have to look at the goal ahead and work towards it.
31:48 Former chairperson of the National Media Commission, Nana Kweisi-Jan Apentin, read excerpts of the book.
31:55 But her A-level results in physics meant she could not gain admission to the medical school.
32:02 She decided to participate in a year-long remedial program at Cape Coast University.
32:08 But just in that year, the medical school refused to consider candidates from that program.
32:19 Eventually, after crying for two weeks, she entered, she decided to enter Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology to read for a degree in agricultural science.
32:33 Professor Emerita Tetsuwa Manu, who had the privilege of reading the book, pointed out that there are valuable lessons that everyone can learn from it.
32:43 So this is about an individual life, but it's got lessons for all of us.
32:49 You know, perseverance means that there are difficulties, there are roadblocks, but you find ways to overcome them.
32:57 And sometimes you have to like go lower if you like, you have to lower your expectations to be able to get to where we are.
33:06 But also it's also about maintaining standards.
33:10 Perseverance doesn't mean that you lower your standards of excellence, you know, but you really struggle to get to it.
33:18 The book highlights the power of perseverance in the face of all odds.
33:22 Esther Nkrumah's report read to you.
33:26 David Seed, Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Anthony Adofo Afuzu, has appealed to the managers of the Northern Electricity Company, NETCO, to rescind its decision that led to the disconnection of major health facilities, including the Bono East Regional Cold Room, as part of its mass revenue mobilization and disconnection exercise.
33:50 He said the situation is adversely affecting general health care, as thought vaccines worth several millions of cedis are likely to go waste.
34:01 And as Savit has more.
34:03 The Northern Electricity Distribution Company has as part of its mass revenue mobilization and disconnection exercise disconnected power supply to some major health facilities across the Bono East enclave.
34:16 And this includes the Regional Cold Room, which is under the Bono East Regional Health Directorate.
34:22 The issue of electricity supply to our facilities as Ghana Health Service has been a source of concern for us.
34:31 I mean, we understand the ECGs and NETCO and all the others in that domain.
34:36 They also need money to pay for the power that they procure.
34:40 But then it should be done in a context that certain areas are critical.
34:44 I mean, and some way need to be found that they are not made victims of a system.
34:52 And that is our concern because we've negotiated with them about this.
34:56 But then along the line, then you go back again.
34:59 You look like that's the underbelly of the crocodile.
35:02 And then you try to hit and then you try to see his arm twisting technique to try and get your money.
35:07 But I don't think it's the best move.
35:09 And I think they need to rethink around it.
35:12 The situation, according to the Deputy Director General of the Ghana Health Service, is Dr. Anthony Adolfo Ofusu, is worrying
35:19 and continue to serve as a threat to general health care, which will in the long term contribute to epidemics in children who may not be vaccinated due to this decision.
35:29 This cold room stores vaccines that are being bought by the government themselves and then partners at huge cost.
35:37 And you all remember the uproar that we had in the country with a vaccine shortage.
35:44 I mean, when there was a shortage, because what it means is that children do not get vaccinated and then it will lead to epidemics.
35:52 So disconnecting cold rooms in a bid to recover your money from the government, I don't think it's a wise decision.
36:01 And I think we need to rethink about it.
36:04 He was, however, quick to send a passionate appeal to managers of the Northern Electricity Distribution Company to rescind his decisions
36:11 by reconnecting the various health installations across the region, adding that health is critical.
36:17 And even though NETCO needs the monies to survive, there is currently no budget to take care of that.
36:23 My plea to them that they should understand that, I mean, these are critical facilities that are needed for the whole public health.
36:35 And because the bottom line is that we have we do not have a location in our budget to pay for it.
36:41 So we need to find a way of negotiating the way in which it will be conducive for.
36:46 We understand that they also have bills to pay, but then, I mean, you should understand that health is critical.
36:53 And we need to understand how we can, without using this arm twisting technique that they are using.
36:59 Reporting for Joinings, Anas Sabit, Tichimaru.
37:10 The most vulnerable segments of population, children and the elderly, are facing a growing threat from a silent and invisible killer air pollution.
37:20 Health experts in the country are sounding their alarm, calling on government and citizens to act to combat these deadly pollutants.
37:29 Michael Ashale brings you the latest in our ongoing coverage of the critical issue of air quality in Ghana.
37:37 Accra is one of Africa's fastest growing cities.
37:49 It seems that everyone in the capital is always on the move.
37:53 But that very movement is putting them at risk.
37:56 Air pollution is the second biggest threat to health in Ghana, according to the World Health Organization.
38:01 Factories and waste burning are to blame for a lot of pollutants, but transport, especially the old fleet of trotters, is the biggest single contributor.
38:11 Some of the particles emitted in this smoke are so tiny they can enter the bloodstream with lethal consequences over time.
38:18 It's not easy. It's a difficult moment. It's challenging breathing, especially at night when you are asleep.
38:25 Ruben Alexander has asthma, a life threatening illness that constricts airways.
38:33 Now 44 and an accountant to the University of Ghana Medical School in Kuala Lumpur, Otu says he was first diagnosed as a child.
38:41 It was not a big surprise. Otu's mother had fought asthma for years before it finally took her life.
38:47 Soon after, Otu's doctors told him he too had the disease. He is one of a growing number of Ghanians with respiratory illnesses and a range of ailments, including heart conditions, that doctors say are worsened by toxic air.
39:02 Otu has to think all day, every day, about avoiding triggers.
39:07 You encounter different kinds of cars with their smoke from the exhaust pipes very bad and they are not the best.
39:19 The journey is far from comfortable and with the emission of poisonous gas from the carbon-fuelled engines, not even his nose mask can save him.
39:28 Protect myself from the dust in the system, the dust in the weather conditions in around here. It would help me to at least have a clean breath of air.
39:41 So that's why I normally put on my nose mask. And especially when I use the trow trow and stuff, people might come in with all sorts of perfumes in which might not be the best for me.
39:54 Air pollution has been associated with several diseases, notably respiratory diseases, acute ones as well as chronic respiratory disorders, lung function disorders, cardiovascular diseases.
40:11 And even in recent times, there are linkages with adverse reproductive health outcomes like miscarriages, low birth weight, premature deaths, deaths and infertility in males.
40:29 Dr. Carl Osei has been monitoring the impact of air pollution on Ghana's growing population. He is the program manager of the Occupational and Environmental Health Unit at the Ghana Health Service.
40:42 He says the effects of dirty air are far-reaching for many groups of Ghanaians.
40:48 We know that the children, okay, usually are more vulnerable because their lungs are not well developed. And they stay closer to the ground where you have some of these pollutants in higher concentration.
41:08 So, they are more vulnerable as well as the aged, the elderly who are also not able to handle the effects of this air pollution as well as the strong adults.
41:25 Then also, we can talk about those who have pre-existing chronic lung diseases, chronic obstructive lung diseases. Okay, these are exacerbated when they are exposed to air pollution.
41:44 The WHO says that 99% of the world's population is breathing polluted air. Children and the elderly are most at risk when exposed to these pollutants. And UNICEF is concerned, especially for children in Ghana.
42:00 If you look at pregnant women, it has an impact on them, on the developing baby in the womb, on when the babies are born. They may have low birth weight. Some die. Children have pneumonia. So, even 50% of children who die from pneumonia, it is from air pollution.
42:17 Dr. Yimano Chamanteng Amua is a health specialist with UNICEF. He explains the strong link between air pollution and infant mortality in Ghana.
42:28 Children are a group of people who are developing. So, their ability to withstand harmful things is lower than the adult. Again, children breathe in more air at any given time than an adult.
42:44 So, if an adult, in a minute, you are breathing about 20 times or 18 times, a child will go higher than that. So, imagine if there are harmful things in the air that you are breathing, then because the child is taking in more air, or more of that harmful substance, that child is going to be impacted.
43:01 And they develop the diseases faster. I mentioned that when we talk about children, especially those under five, pneumonia and asthma, they can get this just from air pollution.
43:12 WHO estimates 28,000 people died prematurely every year in Ghana as a result of air pollution. Poor air quality is mainly caused by cooking, using wood and charcoal, road transport/embed methods of farming, open waste burning, energy generation, accidental fires and industry.
43:33 The good news is that there are things people can do to reduce their exposure. Dr. Osei says the easiest is to wear a good nose mask.
43:42 Within the limitations of some of these protective equipment like the respirators, the N95, at least you can reduce the black carbon and other particulate emissions. And I think by doing that, we can also minimize exposure.
44:06 Experts also recommend reducing exposure to traffic and waste burning as much as possible. But Dr. Osei says the real changes will come when government passes laws to regulate emissions and enforces them.
44:20 We should also check the emissions from the exhaust. Very important because there are some vehicles on the road that should not even be on the road. You know, especially the diesel vehicles, you know, it contains, the emissions contain a lot of black carbon, which we know is also very harmful for us.
44:43 For us, for example, we would be interested to see how exposure to schools, school children, you know, you go moving around heavy traffic, the planning and the location of some of our infrastructure, you know, has to be regulated.
45:03 UNICEF's Dr. Chomantien Amuwa says tackling the transport sector can greatly improve the air quality crisis. And also if we can look at public transportation and improve it and look at other ways like rail line in the cities.
45:18 According to the Clean Air Fund, Accra could raise over $28 million in 2024 alone by implementing clean air measures. This story was a collaboration with new narrators. Funding was provided by the Clean Air Fund, which had no say in the story's content. For Joy News, Michael Ashadi.
45:44 And we're still live on Joy News. That's coming to you from our studios in Gokomle. Let's take a break and we'll return. There's business.
45:57 Hi, good morning. Welcome to business. My name is Darrell. We are taking you to the Ashanti region now where we are hearing reports of a fire outbreak at the market. Our correspondent, Nana Abouachie Adam, is there for us with the latest. If you can hear me, what can you report?
46:20 We are currently here at Anloga market. This place is popularly known as the Anloga market. Unfortunately, there is an outbreak just this morning over here with three buildings affected. You can see fire tenders trooping in and making sure that they are able to quench the fire.
46:37 Sad news for residents living here at Anloga. Fire tenders continue to troop in to make sure that they quench the fire and also make sure that everything goes on smoothly in the next hour or two. When I spoke to the fire officer, he told me that very soon they will be able to bring the fire down.
46:54 Right now, what I can report is that the unfortunate incident happened around 10am. Three buildings have been affected. Fire tenders are in to make sure that everything is smooth. Let me paint a picture of what is going on right here for you. You can see a number of people surrounded here on the street of Anloga.
47:13 It is so sad and unfortunate for them. People living in these buildings affected by the fire have been moved out. It is alleged that what led to the outbreak is a gas explosion that led to the outbreak. That we cannot verify. We will leave it to fire attenders or fire officers here to make sure that the fire is down.
47:32 People or residents in these three buildings have been moved out. Fire tenders are in to make sure that everything comes down smoothly in the next hour or two. Let us get interactive with some of these residents who witnessed what happened here at Anloga at around 10am this morning.
47:50 Let us get interactive with some of these residents who witnessed what happened here at Anloga at around 10am this morning.
48:18 What time did the fire service arrive?
48:21 Around 8.30am. We were told that the fire service would arrive at around 8.30am. We were told that the fire service would arrive at around 8.30am. We were told that the fire service would arrive at around 8.30am.
48:39 What did you tell your family? What did you tell your family?
48:48 We told them that we were going to the fire service and that we were going to the hospital. We told them that we were going to the hospital and that we were going to the hospital.
49:05 We told them that we were going to the hospital and that we were going to the hospital.
49:11 He is explaining what led to the outbreak. He says that it started around 8.30am. They tried calling in fire tenders but they did not arrive on time.
49:19 This led to the unfortunate spread of the outbreak here this very morning.
49:24 We should get people to speak to us because they must explain to us what really led to the outbreak, especially residents.
49:30 We still paint a picture to you of what led to the outbreak this morning or what things look like here at Anloga.
49:37 Three story buildings have been affected. It is alleged that it is through a gas explosion that we witnessed this particular explosion.
49:46 Fire tenders are inside to make sure that everything comes down in the next hour or two. That is according to the fire officer I spoke to earlier.
49:55 They are still trying their best to make sure that the fire does not spread to other houses or other buildings.
50:01 Let's get people to talk to...
50:04 What is the reason for the fire?
50:07 The fire is spreading to other houses.
50:10 The fire service officers are not paying attention to the fire.
50:14 They are not paying attention to the fire.
50:17 They are not paying attention to the fire.
50:20 They are not paying attention to the fire.
50:23 They are not paying attention to the fire.
50:26 They are not paying attention to the fire.
50:29 The fire service officers arrived earlier and they would not have the fire spreading this wide.
50:35 Some residents in the nearby house are trying to push the building to make sure that it does not spread into their house.
50:43 The fire is still ongoing. It is quite huge here.
50:47 Fire tenders are not enough.
50:50 They are also trying to help to make sure that everything goes on smoothly and the fire does not spread into their houses.
50:56 I have another person here with me.
50:59 I have another person here with me.
51:02 I have another person here with me.
51:05 I have another person here with me.
51:08 A very terrible situation there at the Angolagan market.
51:11 I am not yet bringing this up to speed.
51:14 He will bring us updates subsequently.
51:17 That's it for this segment. Aisha, we are back to wrap up.
51:20 That's it for this segment. Aisha, we are back to wrap up.
51:23 Log on to mygiannolive.com for more of the news and updates of all the developing stories.
51:28 See you again at 12.
51:30 [Music]