Inside the HIV/AIDS crisis in Ghana: Identifying the most affected groups | AM Show

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Transcript
00:00:00 A very warm welcome to you on the AM show. Here we are, it's a Thursday morning, day
00:00:05 number four in the week and we're glad to have you as always. This is the AM show with
00:00:11 Bernice and Benjamin. Now coming up this morning, you know how we do it, the news will be served
00:00:15 to you shortly and right after that, aspiring parliamentary candidate on the ticket of the
00:00:20 governing NPP, the new patriotic party, John Manchiaquiti is our guest. And then from there,
00:00:27 we'll be looking at sports with Mubarak Haruna. He'll be bringing you the latest in that world
00:00:31 and then we get quickly into our big stories. Now, number one on the chopping board, we're
00:00:36 going to continue our conversation on how the Akosumbud dam spillage is affecting residents
00:00:41 living along the Volta River. We'll be hearing from some stakeholders who are working to
00:00:46 alleviate the plight of these people, members of parliament, district chief executives,
00:00:51 assembly people, among others. Also on our radar today, we'll be talking about HIV in
00:00:58 Ghana per the current release from the Ghana AIDS Commission. We'd focus on anti-retroviral
00:01:04 medication or ARTs, their supply to those who have been infected. Now, general care
00:01:10 for persons living with HIV will also be on the chopping board, as well as the need for
00:01:15 donation from corporate entities and individuals to support the commission in this quest to
00:01:19 achieve its objectives. All of that on our radar today. But speaking of the National
00:01:25 Science and Math quiz, yeah, the cookies are falling in their proper places, aren't they?
00:01:31 Today, the semifinals of the National Science and Math quiz will take place and we'll bring
00:01:35 you three live contests all the way from 9.30am. But before the contest, we'll be interacting
00:01:42 with some of our sponsors, Build Financial Technologies and BetaMalt. Look forward to
00:01:48 all of those conversations this morning on the AM Show. But up next, stay with us for
00:01:52 the news.
00:01:52 [music]
00:01:59 [music]
00:02:26 Welcome on the news belt of the AM Show. Let's get right into it. In our first story,
00:02:30 Vice President Dr. Mohamedou Baoumia is tasking engineers from the Volta River Authority and
00:02:35 officials from the National Disaster Management Organization with the responsibility of finding
00:02:41 a more sustainable approach to handling the spillage of excess water from the Akosumbu
00:02:45 Dam. Now, the VRA commenced the spillage of the dam on September the 15th due to the rising
00:02:50 levels of water leading to flooding downstream. Dr. Baoumia spoke with the chiefs and people
00:02:56 of Sokwe after touring some affected communities.
00:03:02 This is how the Vice President touched down in the Saftong district capital, Sudakofe.
00:03:07 His first point of call was New Bakpa, then Stukomboni and Sokwe, where he interacted
00:03:13 with chiefs and expressed his sympathy to flood victims. Dr. Baoumia described the devastation
00:03:20 of Prop G as a major disaster and challenged officials of the Volta River Authority to
00:03:25 find a more sustainable way of dealing with the spillage of the Akosumbu Dam, considering
00:03:31 the rising concerns of climate change.
00:03:33 This I am told is the biggest flooding disaster we have seen since 1963. So it's been 60
00:03:40 years since the last such disaster took place. And it has affected so many livelihoods, so
00:03:49 many people, so much property, so many farms, so many fishing, um, and so on. So it has
00:03:56 devastated our livelihoods around this area. And when I look at the community in Sokwe,
00:04:06 when I was coming in, so many places are flooded, so many houses. And it is a very sad event.
00:04:14 And as I am here with you, let me really express my sympathies. Babanami, we will take into
00:04:21 account all the needs that have been expressed, to be expressed a lot of needs for the community.
00:04:30 And we will take all of that into account as the community, as the government prepares
00:04:37 the support package to the community. It's very important that we look, as I have mentioned
00:04:44 it already to VRA, that we need to look for long-term solutions to this flood. Because
00:04:52 it will happen this year. We can deal with it now. What about next year? Because climate
00:05:03 change appears to be taking hold. A few years ago, we were all worried about the water levels
00:05:10 of the Volta Dam, that it was too low. Now we are worried that it is too high. And so
00:05:19 we need to look for engineering solutions to the spillage of the water out of the Volta
00:05:26 Dam, so that it doesn't affect the communities. Because if we don't look for long-term solutions,
00:05:34 we will have to be dealing with these disasters on a regular basis with climate change. So
00:05:41 I've challenged VRA and NADMO to really put their heads together and get the engineers
00:05:48 to work and look at how we can build a very efficient way of spilling the water over time.
00:05:55 Meanwhile to add to government efforts, the Vice President personally donated a sum of
00:06:01 160,000 Ghana cedis to the eight affected districts to support relief efforts. Here
00:06:07 is the Minister of Information Kodjopon Krumah presenting the cash donation to the Chiefs
00:06:11 and People of Sukwe. He's been travelling across some of the towns to see for himself
00:06:15 the impact of the relief efforts that we are putting in place. As he mentioned, the government
00:06:21 support is in various stages. First is the temporary support for our brothers and sisters
00:06:26 who have been displaced. And as he mentioned, there are 20 locations where the support is
00:06:31 going. And so even this morning, I do understand that part of our relief efforts that were
00:06:36 supposed to come here came here this morning, as they are going to various other locations.
00:06:43 And it will be done intermittently as the numbers are monitored, as the dates are monitored,
00:06:47 and as more support should be coming in that area. In addition to that, His Excellency
00:06:53 the Vice President in his own capacity, as he has been going around, has asked that we
00:06:59 make available to the eight communities or the eight districts that have been affected
00:07:07 by the spillage, his personal contribution of 160,000 Ghana cedis, which we are going
00:07:14 to give to the regional minister to be used to support the victims in the eight districts
00:07:22 that have been affected. This is in addition to the government of Ghana support. Reacting
00:07:27 to the donation, some traditional leaders of the affected communities say more relief
00:07:32 items are required. First of all, I would say that we thank the Vice President for passing
00:07:37 through at least to see whatever is going on. We all heard that he made a donation of
00:07:42 60,000, which is for the people of Slope. Honestly, we can't say we won't take it, but
00:07:50 it wouldn't be enough for those that have been affected with the spilling. If we look
00:07:56 at the community, it's about five communities and even more because yesterday it rained.
00:08:01 So the rain had caused even more destruction. So we are now to know why the rain has caused
00:08:10 the spillage, and then the rain has caused destruction too. So we don't really say, but
00:08:17 what we would do is if the government will be able to do more for our people, we are
00:08:21 not saying we wouldn't take whatever they are giving to us, but we would need more.
00:08:25 Instead of giving us pure water, we think it's manageable for them to give us polytanks
00:08:33 and fill the water or dig for water to flow down to give us pure water all the time. We
00:08:40 can't buy the pure waters they are giving to us because it's not even enough for drinking.
00:08:45 With the support of the Volta River Authority and other state agencies, the National Disaster
00:08:50 Management Organization is stepping up efforts to reach every affected Ghanaian across the
00:08:55 8th District. Carlos Kaloni, JOY News.
00:09:02 Now the Dufia of Adidome, Togbe, Kwasi'i, Kakaklolo, Ajaman V, is pushing for the establishment
00:09:09 of an effective disaster fund that will deal with major crises in the country. He says
00:09:14 a fund like that can alleviate the sufferings of affected people. Togbe Kakaklolo was speaking
00:09:19 to the press after the Tanka Owners Union of Ghana donated relief items worth 500,000
00:09:25 Ghana cedis to the affected residents. There's more in this report.
00:09:29 The flooding of various communities in the Volta region has stoked a debate on the preparedness
00:09:35 of the country to handle disasters of that magnitude. Thousands of people have been dislodged
00:09:41 from their homes, exposing them to many dangers. With NADMO, the country's disaster management
00:09:47 organization, struggling to contain the situation. Togbe Kwasi'i Kakaklolo Ajaman V, the Dufia
00:09:54 of Adidome, says it is time the nation considers establishing a workable disaster fund.
00:10:00 I know that we've been talking about disaster funds here and there, but I think that this,
00:10:07 what has happened now, should tell us something that as a nation, as a country, we need to
00:10:15 have a proper disaster management fund. So I'd like to appeal to the government. I know
00:10:25 the NADMO is quite stretched. Here, again, maybe corporate Ghana would also have to come
00:10:30 in. Individuals will need to come in so that we all support.
00:10:34 According to him, such a fund can help in dealing with the aftermath of such a disaster.
00:10:40 So that such funds, when such things happen, imagine that the water recedes and then goes.
00:10:49 What becomes of those who have lost their farms, those who have lost their homes? Some
00:10:53 homes are broken down. Such funds could be, I mean, could be tapped into and given to
00:10:59 people who, those who have lost their capital, their money, they could give them certain
00:11:03 capitals that can get them back on their feet.
00:11:07 The Tanka Owners Union of Ghana, responding to pleas for help, has donated 500,000 cities
00:11:12 worth of relief items to the affected residents. Ignatius Kukudu is Executive Secretary of
00:11:19 the union.
00:11:20 It's our hope and aspiration that we have been able to alleviate part of their suffering.
00:11:26 Because in the midst of all this, there will be hunger, there will be no food, people don't
00:11:33 have any access to food now. People don't have any access to anything.
00:11:42 Now the paramount chief of the Laura traditional area, Na Powele Kabo III, is worried that
00:11:47 some key projects started by government a few years ago have stalled. He cites the Laura
00:11:53 Senior High School Assembly Complex, the Laura Municipal Hospital and the Digbe Bridge projects
00:11:59 as examples. He spoke at the climax of the Kobene Festival where Rafik Salam now reports.
00:12:07 Laura Na Powele Kabo III first commended government for initiating some key projects in the traditional
00:12:15 area aimed at bettering the lives of the people.
00:12:18 It should be recalled that last year I reported that some projects which I consider as legacy
00:12:25 projects of government were ongoing and at various stages of construction in the traditional
00:12:32 area. These included Laura Senior High School Assembly Hall Complex, the Digbe Bridge Centre
00:12:41 and the Laura Municipal Hospital. He was optimistic that most of the aforementioned projects would
00:13:04 have been completed by the time they celebrate this year's festival. The projects, according
00:13:10 to him, have however significantly stalled.
00:13:14 I would like to report that these key intervention projects have significantly stalled and progress
00:13:23 is very slow in some cases. The Digbe Bridge project has not seen any movement towards
00:13:30 the start of construction as directed. This allows him to remain the game changer for
00:13:38 the development of the humanity and promotion of equal opportunities between our country
00:13:45 and our people.
00:13:47 Na Powele Kabo, who also doubles as the Vice President of the National House of Chiefs,
00:13:52 also spoke about challenges faced by the Laura Municipal Hospital in infrastructure and other
00:13:58 basic logistics.
00:14:00 For it to operate efficiently, the emergency work project initiated four years ago by the
00:14:07 Laura Development Authority, which is at a certain admissible level, should be completed
00:14:13 without any failure today. I am aware that the current planning of the hospital has prioritised
00:14:20 some much needed projects in relation to funding support.
00:14:24 Ghana is set to adopt a national plan on business and human rights to provide a roadmap for
00:14:36 proper business conduct, respect for human rights and good corporate governance.
00:14:41 Vice President Dr Mahmoud Boumia says this is essential to promote business transparency
00:14:46 and reduce corruption.
00:14:48 He was speaking at the 14th Biennial Conference of the Network of African National Human Rights
00:14:53 Institutions in Accra.
00:14:55 The 14th Biennial Conference of Network of African National Human Rights Institutions
00:15:02 is a platform for African Network of Human Rights Institutions and other actors to deliberate
00:15:08 on the situation of business and human rights in Africa.
00:15:12 According to the Network, in Africa, communities and individuals whose rights are affected
00:15:18 by business-related activities have faced major challenges in accessing timely and effective
00:15:24 remedies.
00:15:26 Speaking at the event, the Vice President of Ghana, Dr Mahmoud Boumia, noted that the
00:15:32 plan to adopt a national plan on business and human rights will provide a roadmap for
00:15:38 proper business conduct, respect for human rights and good corporate governance.
00:15:44 As national human rights institutions, I entreat you to continue to monitor business operations
00:15:52 and continue to investigate allegations of abuses and ensure that victims get needed
00:16:01 remedies.
00:16:02 The violations that do not get reported but come to your attention through your monitoring
00:16:11 and engagements take all the necessary steps available to you legally and in line with
00:16:19 Paris principles to see to it that they are addressed.
00:16:24 The Commissioner of Human Rights and Administrative Justice, SRAJ, Joseph Wittel, says the Commission
00:16:31 is liaising with the Attorney General's Department to ensure compliance on human rights
00:16:36 issues in the business arena.
00:16:39 The Attorney General put together a steering committee of 18 persons in the public sector,
00:16:44 private sector, civil society, a very multi-stakeholder steering committee to start the development
00:16:51 of the action plan.
00:16:53 They have gone through about all the 16 regions, they've met cross-sections of the public
00:16:59 and at the end of the day we have a draft which they are currently fine-tuning.
00:17:05 I must say that they also met with particular thematic groups, women, youth, disabled, trade
00:17:16 union congress and so many others.
00:17:18 So, there is now a workable draft that is being finalised before we then get the state
00:17:27 input and finally it will be validated and launched.
00:17:32 Karyn Obeng's report read to you.
00:17:35 [Pause]
00:17:40 Now, a series of activities has been planned to promote Asante heritage and culture among
00:17:46 the youth for socio-economic development.
00:17:49 The Asante Festival and Cultural Exhibition is an initiative of an NGO legacy foundation
00:17:55 focused on harnessing the power of traditional values in youth empowerment.
00:18:00 There's more in this report.
00:18:02 The Asante Festival and Cultural Exhibition aims to bring the youth together, encourage
00:18:08 reflection on their cultural heritage while fostering connections through etric fair.
00:18:14 With Ghana's abundant natural resources, economic triangulation is drifting the youth abroad.
00:18:20 Asante's leader, Mwame Mwafo Osai-Brin, to Chairman V, questions the rising brain drain
00:18:27 in the midst of abundance.
00:18:29 [Mwafo Osai-Brin speaking]
00:18:58 The Chief spoke at the unveiling of the Asante Festival and Cultural Exhibition.
00:19:03 Nana Kwame Chwebibintu is the General Manager of Legacy Foundation, organisers of the event
00:19:09 slated for December 24th.
00:19:11 The proposed event has the potential to foster long-term economic growth, minimising poverty
00:19:18 and improve quality of life in the Asante region.
00:19:22 The Asante Regional Chairman for the Chamber of Commons and Industry, Stephanie Champon,
00:19:27 emphasised the need to modernise and globalise Ghana's culture for socio-economic growth.
00:19:33 [Chairman Mwafo Osai-Brin speaking]
00:19:34 The good Asante culture needs to be developed, modernised, added value and globalised.
00:19:42 This is exactly what the developed countries did.
00:19:46 Some comfort is needed.
00:19:49 Let's go back to our rich culture, develop them, create jobs, wealth and dignity for Asante.
00:20:00 Deputy CEO of the Middle Development Authority, Vincent Frempong-Menu, affirmed the commitment
00:20:05 of the organisation in supporting initiatives like the Asante Festival for socio-economic enhancement.
00:20:12 [Vincent Frempong-Menu speaking]
00:20:33 For JOY News, Kofi Ansari's report, direct to you.
00:20:37 [No audio]
00:20:46 That's our week up of the news this morning.
00:20:48 Thank you so much for staying, but we'd love it if you stayed further for the news review up next.
00:20:54 [Music]
00:21:14 Well, here we are on the newspaper review, and I'll be announcing my guest to you shortly.
00:21:21 But before I do that, just to let you know, Endpoint Homeopathic Clinic is aiding us,
00:21:26 bringing you this segment this morning, as they always do.
00:21:28 And guess what? They're offering free prostate screening, free female fertility screening as well.
00:21:34 And here's where you can locate them all across the country.
00:21:36 Here in Accra at Spintex opposite the Shell signboard.
00:21:39 If you're in Kumasi, Kronuma Abuehia, behind the Angel Educational Complex,
00:21:44 there's Takrade Anaji State, Temaa Community 22, Techiman Hansua, and there's Siama Nzema.
00:21:50 Their call line is 0244-867-068 or 0274-234-321.
00:22:01 Endpoint Homeopathic Clinic, the end to chronic disease.
00:22:06 Well, now, time for me to introduce my guest to you, joining me for the newspaper review this morning.
00:22:11 He's an aspiring parliamentary candidate on the ticket of the governing New Patriotic Party.
00:22:16 John Manche Akwete is our guest. He joins this conversation this morning.
00:22:22 Good morning, Chief.
00:22:23 Good morning, Ben. I hope you're doing well.
00:22:26 Right. And Ningo Prampram is the seat you are targeting.
00:22:31 Why not?
00:22:33 I like that. Why not?
00:22:36 I mean, why not when you have an MP who is not seen in the constituency?
00:22:41 Who's not seen in the constituency?
00:22:43 He's not seen anywhere in the constituency.
00:22:46 Has left the constituency to themselves.
00:22:49 Hasn't shown any leadership or any sorts.
00:22:53 It becomes necessary that young people like us who have lived in the constituency,
00:23:00 understand the needs of the people of the constituency,
00:23:02 go and inspire hope into the people and let them know that all is not lost.
00:23:07 And the assurance we have given them is resonating with them.
00:23:10 They believe that in 2024, change is inevitable.
00:23:15 OK, that's interesting. I mean, Ningo Prampram is an interesting constituency.
00:23:20 From ET Mensa and his multiple terms there to Sam George.
00:23:26 Yes, yes. The late ET Mensa, he's so rest in peace.
00:23:30 And then Sam George wresting it from him through means that were not exactly friendly at the time.
00:23:37 And now you also feel Sam is underperforming.
00:23:42 What do you think about his response, though, as far as the Akosombudam spillage?
00:23:46 You know, he's been speaking on that as well. What do you think?
00:23:50 What does he say? Well, there have been claims about using, for example,
00:23:54 the Saglemi affordable housing.
00:23:57 It's the people themselves who have asked for it, among other things.
00:24:01 And there have been thoughts about how we can use COVID-19 funding,
00:24:04 you know, to some of these purposes, because COVID-19 is no longer a pandemic.
00:24:09 And all of that. I mean, all these thoughts have come up.
00:24:12 The plight of the people of the Lothar region. Mpepe brings a lot of memories because when we're children,
00:24:17 I used to belong to the Church of Principles. We attended a lot of conventions there.
00:24:22 So Mpepe and its environs. It has a special place in your heart.
00:24:27 You know, in my life. So, I mean, we know what they are going through and we are with them.
00:24:33 And I understand that the Honourable Sam George also wants to appear to be concerned about their situation.
00:24:40 How do you know whether he's concerned or not? I mean, he's out talking about stuff.
00:24:44 So how do you determine this?
00:24:47 I mean, but when you have constituents who have more dire needs, then, for example,
00:24:53 our roads in New Ninggo and Old Ninggo, even into his own hometown, Ahyum,
00:25:01 you've not said anything about it. We've not heard you make any public statement about these things.
00:25:06 He doesn't construct roads, does he? I've had the benefit of...
00:25:12 No, I'm not necessarily tying that to him because he did not.
00:25:16 But I'm not necessarily saying these. I've had opportunity to host him here.
00:25:21 And so I know some of his responses in this and some of the things he has said about the roads in that community
00:25:26 and reaching out to the roads minister about certain things.
00:25:29 That's why I'm asking you, the Member of Parliament doesn't necessarily... He can only lobby.
00:25:33 Is that not the case? So do you think he has done anything?
00:25:35 And when you, if you become Member of Parliament, it will be the same. You will also only lobby.
00:25:42 Why are you so sure about that, Ben? You know what? Do you know what's interesting?
00:25:45 Let me tell you. That enclave. Do you know where Usibras is? Yes, I know Usibras.
00:25:49 I've worked there. So I know that enclave. I was using... I know the roads.
00:25:53 I know the problems in that constituency.
00:25:55 You know, let me make a very humble and special appeal to the roads minister.
00:26:00 Roads minister, since you came to power in 2017, you became minister, you have shown leadership.
00:26:07 You have, in fact, he has constructed the Dawatu Minya road.
00:26:14 First of all, it has never happened before. He has constructed the Lepuno to Minya road.
00:26:20 He has constructed the Minya to Ayatipa road. And the people are very excited.
00:26:24 But Honorable Minister, there are still more, especially the old Ningo and new Ningo township.
00:26:31 And one other important road, which is the Dawenya-Afinya road.
00:26:35 Honorable Minister, I'm appealing to you. Please, we know what you can do.
00:26:40 We are depending on you to fix that road because when you leave, we don't know who else will do this road for us.
00:26:46 So I'm using this medium to appeal to you. And also, when you get to the Afinya-Mataheko stretch,
00:26:52 there's a road inside Mataheko, especially when it rains. It's terrible.
00:26:57 We are pleading with him this morning on behalf of all the constituents of Ningo-Pram-Pram
00:27:04 to come to our aid and help us fix this road. We'll be very, very excited.
00:27:10 And the people have promised us that they know that they are confident in this government,
00:27:16 that it is the government that will fix. In fact, all the major infrastructure works in Ningo-Pram-Pram
00:27:21 were done by the MPP. Okay. Do you know... No, let me finish.
00:27:26 I will not go into that. I will leave the politics to you politicians.
00:27:30 It's not politics. I will not get into any of this. This is development.
00:27:33 We'll get into the papers. But yes, yes. This is development.
00:27:36 New Ningo and Old Ningo used to be separated by a lagoon. We call it a jungle lagoon.
00:27:42 For a long time, you had to cross with a canoe. JAKUFOR came to fix it for us.
00:27:47 I will speak with you. A sea defence project is going on in Ningo.
00:27:51 Are you saying, Mr Akwete, that the NDC has done nothing, absolutely nothing in that constituency?
00:28:00 And they have had so many terms in that constituency.
00:28:03 They've had so many terms. From ET Mensa to...
00:28:06 Oh, they've built a few school buildings.
00:28:11 I like how you guys play.
00:28:13 I'm talking about major infrastructure works, all done by the NPP.
00:28:18 The people believe that if anything meaningful, positive will happen to them, then it is the NPP government.
00:28:24 That's why I'm pleading with the Roots Minister this morning to come to our aid.
00:28:28 I'm not doing politics.
00:28:30 I've told you, I'll stay out of the politics.
00:28:33 Maybe someday, you know what we'll do, we'll get some judge and then get you in the studio
00:28:38 and unleash you people in terms of real ideas, no unnecessary banter, no insults,
00:28:46 a trade-off of ideas to talk about Ghana and with a focus as well on the constituency.
00:28:51 Would you like that?
00:28:52 Oh, why not? He will need a little orientation so he doesn't begin to chant...
00:28:56 He will need a little orientation.
00:28:57 Yes, I mean war songs and jamma, that's what he's making noise and all of that,
00:29:01 when the people need real development. That is what I'm offering them, actually.
00:29:06 Alright, alright. So if I asked you, right before we get into the papers, just make this very brief,
00:29:10 in 30 seconds, I'm putting you on the spot, I'm throwing a hot potato at you.
00:29:16 The members of your constituency are watching you this morning.
00:29:21 This is the widest broadcast network.
00:29:23 Obviously.
00:29:25 Tell them why, someday, they should vote for Mr Akwete.
00:29:32 But, ultimately, if I asked you, what are you going to bring that has never been seen before, what would you say?
00:29:39 Speak to your people.
00:29:41 Thank you very much. The people of Linguprampram, this is your son, your brother, John Mwanja Akwete.
00:29:48 I'm appealing to you this morning that you make me your next member of parliament.
00:29:54 You understand the issues we have been through since 1992,
00:29:58 we've voted for people we believe belong to our party,
00:30:02 and have left us in a state of despondency.
00:30:05 Our hopes have been dashed,
00:30:09 especially when we thought we were voting for a young man to come and revive our fortunes.
00:30:16 Unfortunately, seven years down the line, the story has not just been bad, but has been worse.
00:30:22 I am promising you hope.
00:30:24 I am promising to be a member of parliament who will be there for you, who will care for your needs.
00:30:29 Somebody who has lived with you.
00:30:31 Ben, I have lived in the constituency.
00:30:33 I have been a corn mill operator in the constituency.
00:30:36 I have schooled in the constituency.
00:30:38 The decision-makers, opinion leaders in the community right now are my classmates.
00:30:44 We will together merge forces and bring development to the Linguprampram constituency.
00:30:49 Young people who are looking for scholarships to go to school,
00:30:52 I don't have money in my pocket, but I will fight for your dreams to come true.
00:30:58 The water situation in Ningbo will improve.
00:31:01 The road network will be worked on.
00:31:04 I am promising you hope.
00:31:06 I am promising a new type of leadership, a leadership that cares for the needs of the people.
00:31:12 Thank you, Mr Akwete.
00:31:13 But do you know part of why I made you do that?
00:31:15 Please tell me.
00:31:17 So that, should you become a member of parliament someday?
00:31:21 In 2024.
00:31:23 And should you not fulfill some of the things you're saying, we can play this back to you.
00:31:30 Just as we play back to other people and this is your past, this is what you said.
00:31:37 You see how we go dig from Mr President to everybody else.
00:31:40 So we can have you, oh, he was on the AM show on this day and he was saying all of this.
00:31:45 So we can play back and then you can catch yourself.
00:31:50 I tell the organizers of my campaign that my campaigns should mostly be in church buildings.
00:31:57 Do you know why?
00:31:59 Because I can lie before them and lie before God.
00:32:02 But our politicians are known to do that.
00:32:04 In fact, when they go to religious gatherings, that is where they say things the most that they have not done.
00:32:10 No, Ben, I am not your regular politician.
00:32:13 Maybe I'm not a politician at all.
00:32:15 I have a special heart for people.
00:32:18 And the cares of people.
00:32:20 But all this rhetoric, the way you are sounding, we've heard it so many times.
00:32:23 Ben, look at my eyes properly.
00:32:25 You know that I've not come here to do politics.
00:32:27 When I go there, I tell them, no, I've not come here to do politics with them.
00:32:30 Do you know who my mentor is in politics?
00:32:32 Who?
00:32:33 It's Afenyo Maki.
00:32:34 Alexander Afenyo Maki.
00:32:36 When I look at what this man, look, this man is passionate about developing his constituency.
00:32:41 And these are the few steps I want to take.
00:32:44 So I've not come to do politics as usual.
00:32:46 Ningu, something good is coming to your doorstep.
00:32:49 Please embrace it.
00:32:50 Okay, so let's get into the papers now.
00:32:53 I like how we've started, but let's focus on the main thing, which is getting into the newspapers.
00:32:59 I have the Daily Graphic newspaper and the Business Finder.
00:33:02 What papers do you have?
00:33:03 I have the Daily Guide and the Guardian Times.
00:33:07 Right.
00:33:08 So I'll start with the Daily Graphic, since this is my first time doing this with you.
00:33:12 So you can see how we do it and then follow suit.
00:33:17 Extreme poverty increases.
00:33:18 That's according to the World Bank.
00:33:20 There's also apathy towards official corruption worrying.
00:33:23 That's according to the GBA.
00:33:25 And dam spillage.
00:33:27 World Bank votes $40 million for farmers.
00:33:30 And on the back page of the paper, MOBA 83 donates 1.4 million Ghana cities towards schools,
00:33:37 sports complex and Goyal PLC commissions five auto gas stations.
00:33:42 Let's start with. It's interesting that finally you hear the GBA speaking on some matters,
00:33:48 but let's go to page 13 for starters, and then I'll come to the front page and end from there.
00:33:56 And of course, I think I should also take something from page nine, the Gaza hospital blast and everything in between.
00:34:04 So the number of Ghanaians living in extreme poverty has increased since last year,
00:34:08 with over a quarter of the population presently living on less than two dollars.
00:34:12 That is 24 Ghana cities a day. The World Bank country director, Pierre Laporte, has said inflation of the past couple of years,
00:34:21 he said, had eroded the purchasing power of Ghanaian households as incomes had not kept pace.
00:34:27 Quoting him, he says, it is expected that the country, the current economic woes the country has endured,
00:34:34 may have pushed many more Ghanaians into poverty and food insecurity worsened by the last quarter of 2022,
00:34:40 when inflation was at its peak. He was speaking at a ceremony to mark end poverty day at the World Bank office in Accra yesterday.
00:34:50 So just imagine that. The number of Ghanaians living in extreme poverty increasing since last year,
00:34:57 with over a quarter of the population presently living on less than two dollars.
00:35:02 And if you know anything about salaries in Ghana, there's always this joke, fuel prices.
00:35:08 There's this cartoon I saw where you would see fuel prices, food prices and everything else growing,
00:35:13 becoming, you know, adults. And then the salary was down there. Salary was never growing.
00:35:21 Then there's also apathy towards official corruption, worrying the Ghana Association has called for the swift passage of the conduct of public officers bill to ensure the culture of accountability and integrity among public officers.
00:35:32 I don't know what we can do or what we will do to change the script, but maybe we need that iron hand and dedication.
00:35:39 All of us, because oftentimes we blame the politicians. And true, when it comes to corruption, but the technocrats.
00:35:46 Your take on these two stories. Which one do you want me to do first?
00:35:52 Oh, both of them. Let me let me talk about the poverty issue.
00:35:56 Then you see, Ghana is an interesting country to live in.
00:36:04 Sometimes, you know, I've done research for a very long time, for like 10 years of my life.
00:36:09 I've been engaging people and understanding their ways of living.
00:36:14 One day we went to a certain community, I'm not mentioning the name because of the things I'm going to say, and it was,
00:36:22 we were made to believe that it's a poor community. And so we went to live with them for three weeks.
00:36:28 Ben, then we realized that the people said we're poor. Majority of them had DSTV connections at home.
00:36:38 The people said they were poor?
00:36:39 They said they were poor.
00:36:40 And they had DSTV connections?
00:36:42 They had air conditions in their rooms. So doing our research, we had indicators.
00:36:51 At that point, we were confused because we didn't know whether to classify these people as poor or not.
00:36:56 Because they portray one thing and then, you know, when you live with them, you realize that it's something completely different.
00:37:04 That's not withstanding. Ben, there are people who are really suffering in this country.
00:37:09 But what are you insinuating? So if someone has...
00:37:12 What I'm trying to say is sometimes these...
00:37:14 Let me situate the conversation. If someone has a DSTV connection and uses an air conditioner, that is a sign of wealth.
00:37:22 Is that what you're saying?
00:37:23 It's a sign that you are not poor. So for example, if you pay, let's say, an average of 300 CD's to watch TV.
00:37:32 And those are... You're talking of the high end, because there are those who go for the very basic packages,
00:37:37 who pay maybe 100 CD's or less.
00:37:40 Let's say 100 CD's. You have that luxury of paying 100 CD's.
00:37:44 You have the luxury of buying prepaid credits for your electricity to use an air conditioner.
00:37:52 I'm not saying you can't say you are rich, but you can't also say you are poor.
00:37:57 The reason I'm saying this is that...
00:37:59 But again, I want to situate the conversation. If you look at the minimum wage, okay, someone could find a way.
00:38:05 And imagine someone who's living in a community which is very hot.
00:38:09 Do you know this?
00:38:10 No, no, no. You've decided not to mention the area and the community.
00:38:14 But I'm saying, assume that someone is living in a community and the fan is simply not working.
00:38:19 It's not cutting it for you. What would you do? You would do everything possible to get an alternative means, right?
00:38:24 I'm just trying to say that we cannot just look at those aspects and throw a blanket and say,
00:38:29 "These people are not poor."
00:38:30 I agree with you. But I also urge these researchers to go beyond the ticking box type of research.
00:38:37 Are you poor? Yes. How many times do you eat in a day? Once.
00:38:41 You take... No. Live with the people. Why stay there for two weeks?
00:38:45 Then you have a better understanding of what poverty really means.
00:38:50 It could even be a more dire situation than they have described in their paper.
00:38:55 But you see, poverty in itself is a mindset.
00:38:59 Do you know the average salary of a public servant in Ghana?
00:39:02 12A.
00:39:04 Let's say 1,500 Ghana citizens.
00:39:07 What it means is that the guy can't spend more than 50 cities a day.
00:39:13 But when you see these public servants, they don't look poor.
00:39:18 Ben, you get what I'm saying? Sometimes it's the management of the little resources that you have.
00:39:23 One of the people we think are poor in this country are artisans.
00:39:27 But Ben, when you call in a carpenter to work for you in a day, or let's say a mason,
00:39:33 the least they will take from you is 120 cities.
00:39:37 What it means is that masons earn more than the average public servant in this country.
00:39:43 That may be true, but how often will they get a job and take those 120 cities that you are talking about?
00:39:52 So they may get that once in a week, or once in two weeks, and you cannot...
00:39:57 That is no benchmark.
00:39:59 Yes, but you see, the point I'm making is that there are people who earn more,
00:40:03 but portray themselves as not having anything at all.
00:40:06 I agree.
00:40:07 You get it. And it's a very...
00:40:09 And there are also people in Ghana who earn so much, some of them through illicit means,
00:40:16 and act as though they have nothing, but...
00:40:18 Well, maybe yours is...
00:40:19 Who are sitting on massive wealth.
00:40:22 Yours is...
00:40:23 The other tale is also true.
00:40:25 Of course. I mean, I know a man who never buys a new shirt, but when you go to his house,
00:40:30 he says, "This is a very wealthy man."
00:40:32 The point I'm trying to make is that government policies, I believe,
00:40:37 should be channeled towards addressing some of these things.
00:40:40 Because sometimes when you travel, even within Accra, even in my constituency...
00:40:45 I have a picture I'll show to you later.
00:40:47 I went to one of the communities, Minya, just on Monday,
00:40:51 and on my way to one of the communities, I just stopped by to just interact with the people.
00:40:56 And the lady was telling me how they feed, you know, as a family.
00:41:01 And it raised so much emotions in me.
00:41:05 I believe that these things come to raise our awareness as a people.
00:41:12 I don't want these ad hoc poverty relief programs,
00:41:18 where you give people stipends at the end of the month or at the end of the week
00:41:22 to take care of themselves, and then that is all.
00:41:25 You're talking about social welfare, but the developed countries have done it effectively.
00:41:30 Food stamps, soup kitchens.
00:41:33 But that is not even sustainable. I'm talking about sustainable.
00:41:37 It's not sustainable in Ghana or where?
00:41:40 Because other countries have done it sustainably.
00:41:43 It looks sustainable.
00:41:45 You know what? If you look at how much we bleed every year,
00:41:48 per data from the Auditor General's department, the finance ministry, and all of that,
00:41:53 in terms of wastage, in terms of infractions, in terms of corruption, and all of that graft,
00:41:59 I think it can be done. It can more than be done.
00:42:02 I'm not doubting you at all.
00:42:04 What I'm saying is that our culture as a people also doesn't make...
00:42:07 You know when you go for funerals, the lady comes to take one pack of rice,
00:42:12 puts it in her bag, and comes back and says, "I didn't get some."
00:42:16 So making some of these ad hoc, hand-to-mouth type of...
00:42:21 Okay, so I get the point.
00:42:24 I was raising the point that, for example, in our fishing communities,
00:42:28 when you go to... You see that about 14 people sit in one canoe,
00:42:32 and then they come with a handful of fish.
00:42:36 It doesn't... They will continue to live in poverty,
00:42:39 and so we begin to industrialize some of these, what do you call it, community-based jobs.
00:42:47 The people cannot live beyond a certain means.
00:42:50 So government policy should also be targeted at some of these things.
00:42:53 What do you think, though, about the conduct of public officers' bail?
00:42:57 The GBA is saying it will ensure the accountability and integrity among public officials.
00:43:02 What's interesting, the 1992 constitution, it has some of these tenets in there.
00:43:06 Under Rawlings, we're all talking about probity, accountability, transparency.
00:43:10 Thirty years down the road, probity, accountability, transparency,
00:43:16 we've probably flushed it down, you know where.
00:43:20 Have we? I think there are.
00:43:23 Recently, when the unfortunate incidents of the...
00:43:28 Is that a Tuiseyan who was jailed?
00:43:30 Yeah.
00:43:31 Then I heard some people ranting about the jailed guy.
00:43:34 I said, "What about you guys? Are they the same people who call for accountability
00:43:38 and jailing corrupt people in their country and all of that?"
00:43:41 So I believe that it all comes from a cultural, you know, instincts as a people.
00:43:47 Right.
00:43:48 When somebody does wrong, so, I mean, let's come back to the room and talk about it.
00:43:54 Let's not wash our dirty linen outside.
00:43:57 So, prosecuting corrupt officials in this country, Ben, it's not like...
00:44:01 Would you accept that it has become very political, and it depends on,
00:44:05 depending on which party is in power, some people will be prosecuted
00:44:08 and others will be left off the hook.
00:44:10 But in political party manifestos, it's very prominent that when they come to arrest corrupt officials...
00:44:16 No, but I'm saying that if corruption... Corruption knows no tingcha.
00:44:22 It knows no colour. It knows no...
00:44:25 So, from all sides, we have seen and know people that are corrupt.
00:44:29 You were talking about some people who live in certain ways.
00:44:32 Look, if our tax people were really to look at the lifestyles of some of you politicians as well,
00:44:39 and the cars you drive, and the things you own, people own media entities.
00:44:43 People, before they came into politics, had never done any work.
00:44:48 On both sides, NDC and MPP, I could mention names, I just wouldn't do it.
00:44:52 And we knew them. All of a sudden, they went into politics, and now,
00:44:56 the cars they ride, the houses they own, the things they do,
00:45:00 what they are even able to pay to certain...
00:45:03 If I mention certain things, you know where I...
00:45:05 It is clear. We don't have the will. We've never had the will.
00:45:09 I think having the will itself is a daunting task, if you ask me.
00:45:14 Okay, so, Ben, I've built a relationship with you over the years.
00:45:19 You are caught in a corruption, and I have the power to prosecute you.
00:45:22 You think that's easy?
00:45:25 It is not. But I have said that since I am someone in the legal sphere, for example,
00:45:30 if ever I became a judge, and let's say my brother, my only living brother,
00:45:37 committed an offence, and it came to my court, and I knew that,
00:45:41 it's either I go the full mile with it, like I would treat anybody else,
00:45:47 or I'll recuse myself so that someone else will step in and do it.
00:45:50 There's no collaboration. It doesn't matter. It doesn't.
00:45:53 Ben, you know where all this...
00:45:55 It doesn't matter.
00:45:56 It's about having a proper overhaul of our 1992 Constitution.
00:46:01 I think our 1992 Constitution has...
00:46:04 Outlived its relevance?
00:46:05 Outlived its relevance, completely.
00:46:06 All of it, or some portion?
00:46:08 Majority of it.
00:46:10 Wow.
00:46:11 I mean, if the power given to the President still remains at it,
00:46:15 fighting corruption will be very difficult in this country.
00:46:18 If the power is given to the President?
00:46:20 President, yes.
00:46:21 But the President already has wide powers.
00:46:23 He's even created an office of the Special Prosecutor that is hemorrhaging in terms of logistics.
00:46:28 And it's humbled and still trying to...
00:46:31 I think it's because Kisiel Jabin is trying within his means to do what he can.
00:46:36 It's not trying.
00:46:37 I doff my hat to him on that.
00:46:38 No, the will for President Akufo-Addo to set up that office,
00:46:43 and even the person he appointed first,
00:46:46 should tell you that not all politicians...
00:46:48 Was it not all politics?
00:46:49 That Martin Hamidu was appointed Special Prosecutor.
00:46:53 There are some who would say that it was merely because he had bad blood with his own party,
00:46:57 and he was expected to go after members of his own party.
00:46:59 I mean, we know the rhetoric. Let's not pretend we don't.
00:47:01 But when you know the history of Martin Hamidu,
00:47:04 and even how he got appointed,
00:47:05 where people were trying to lobby,
00:47:07 I said, "No, the President had a personal conversation with me."
00:47:09 I said, "Look, I am appointing him."
00:47:11 Let's say I agree with you on everything you're saying.
00:47:14 In the end, we don't look at what has been done.
00:47:18 We look at the results.
00:47:19 Yes.
00:47:20 What are the results?
00:47:21 The results may not be what we all hoped for.
00:47:26 But the fact that, for the first time in our history,
00:47:30 a Special Prosecutor's Office has been created,
00:47:34 and a person like Martin Hamidu and Kisi Adjabeng have been appointed...
00:47:40 But you've heard their complaints, right?
00:47:41 About?
00:47:42 You can set up something and still starve it of oxygen,
00:47:45 and ensure that it doesn't... cosmetic.
00:47:47 The Special Prosecutor's Office I know is not starving of oxygen.
00:47:51 Let's get past that. We don't have too much time.
00:47:53 Let me just do this on the international front,
00:47:55 and then you'll do your two stories.
00:47:57 Yes.
00:47:58 Your two newspapers.
00:47:59 Gaza Hospital blast caused by foes.
00:48:01 That's according to Biden.
00:48:02 U.S. President Joe Biden arrived in Israel yesterday
00:48:04 pledging solidarity in its war against Hamas
00:48:08 and saying that a blast that killed huge numbers of Palestinians
00:48:11 at a Gaza hospital appeared to have been caused not by Israel,
00:48:14 but by its foes.
00:48:15 The fireball that engulfed the Al-Akhli, Al-Arabi hospital on Tuesday evening,
00:48:19 wrecked White House plans for Biden's emergency diplomatic mission
00:48:24 to the Middle East.
00:48:25 I've been reading reports from ballistic experts and human rights organizations.
00:48:29 It's still in there.
00:48:31 Some would say that on the back of what they've seen,
00:48:34 it doesn't look like the idea of the Israeli defense forces.
00:48:37 It could be anything, though, until we get a concrete report on this.
00:48:41 But whichever group did this, it's created a humanitarian crisis
00:48:45 with hundreds of people dying, according to Hamas,
00:48:47 and that's not the best.
00:48:48 And then, interestingly, Berlin synagogue targeted as a tax rise.
00:48:53 Berlin's Jewish community has been shaken by two petrol bombs
00:48:56 thrown at a synagogue amid a spike in anti-Semitic incidents
00:49:00 in some European countries.
00:49:02 Of course, Germany, with its own history of, you know...
00:49:06 You remember, what did they even call it?
00:49:08 The final solution, when the Führer, Hitler,
00:49:11 if you weren't blue-eyed and all of that, and you were a Jew, that was...
00:49:15 Anyway, quick thoughts on that, and then you come in with your...
00:49:17 So, Ben, you see, this Israel-Palestine issue will never end.
00:49:24 Oh, wait, wait, wait. It will never end?
00:49:26 It's intractable, but to say it will never end...
00:49:28 When will it end? It's even in the Bible that these things will continue.
00:49:32 Oh, you draw biblical allusions to it?
00:49:35 Of course, I believe so much in the Bible.
00:49:37 When you read the history behind all of this,
00:49:39 and you check what the Bible says about these two countries,
00:49:43 you know that Bible is just...
00:49:45 I find it difficult when people think they can find solutions
00:49:51 to some of these things.
00:49:53 There's no solution.
00:49:54 And, I mean, in this day and age, if two countries cannot sit down
00:49:58 and agree on a very simple matter,
00:50:00 and decide to throw bombs at each other...
00:50:03 Yesterday, I was watching CNN,
00:50:05 and I saw the ballistic aspects explanation,
00:50:08 and it was a mistake, and it wasn't targeted.
00:50:10 They didn't really mean to bomb the hospital.
00:50:12 On CNN, I was like, "But what's all this?"
00:50:15 Why tell you? I mean, nobody's a kid in this country.
00:50:18 And when you enter into some of these discussions,
00:50:21 you'll be seen as being biased towards...
00:50:23 So, for example, Biden flies from America
00:50:25 to come and announce that Israel, you didn't cause the problem.
00:50:29 Which, categorically, couldn't be.
00:50:31 And when there's an investigation, why won't you just wait for...
00:50:34 I mean, I don't have a problem, but to bomb a hospital...
00:50:36 Do you know what has been happening in the hospital?
00:50:38 It became like the...
00:50:40 It was a haven for people who were...
00:50:42 People go to these hospitals because
00:50:44 they know that those places will not be shelved.
00:50:47 They'll be avoided, like we've seen in Ukraine and Russia.
00:50:50 So, when people run from where the bombs are
00:50:53 and come and look for a safe haven, rather,
00:50:55 how is it that the only mistake that happened
00:50:58 was at that particular facility?
00:51:00 You get what I'm saying?
00:51:02 So, maybe the world leaders should just rise up,
00:51:04 but I honestly, Ben, I don't see an end to this.
00:51:08 - You don't? - I don't see an end.
00:51:10 Sometimes, when I see a local media carrying this into my...
00:51:13 I say, Charlie, guys, we have a lot of rules to fix.
00:51:15 We have a lot of Galam Si issue.
00:51:17 But you know that if you look at the Israeli-Arab War,
00:51:21 I believe in 1943, and the other one in 1973,
00:51:24 the Yom Kippur War,
00:51:26 you would realise that these things have the tendency,
00:51:29 if not dealt with, because Israel has its allies,
00:51:32 the US and Western countries.
00:51:35 - Yes. - Palestine has its allies.
00:51:38 Even in that sub-region, Israel has Egypt,
00:51:41 which it is very friendly.
00:51:43 The Arab countries are in there.
00:51:45 If we play the ostrich, someday it will come to haunt us.
00:51:48 In the next one month, we'll stop discussing this.
00:51:50 This will wash away. Until the resurface is again.
00:51:52 That's what I'm saying. This will...
00:51:54 But it doesn't wash away the effects of what has happened.
00:51:56 The effects will always be there.
00:51:58 Ben, you and I, how do we stop this?
00:52:01 Should we go and bring our guys from Burma?
00:52:03 That was a UN Security Council vote, though.
00:52:05 And Ghana voted in a certain direction
00:52:08 for humanitarian aid and windows to be opened.
00:52:11 Unfortunately, there were those who also said that, no.
00:52:16 And those who abstained.
00:52:18 I think we should...
00:52:20 Some of these things, where we are...
00:52:22 Countries are becoming more nationalistic these days.
00:52:25 Let's concentrate on our problems and fix it.
00:52:29 Let's do the headlines from The Daily Guide
00:52:31 and The Ghanaian Times Newsweek.
00:52:33 Alright, I have in front of me
00:52:35 the President telling us young people to go into farming.
00:52:39 So, go into farming, and not just youth.
00:52:42 31 Ekuwa prostitutes arrested in Zima.
00:52:46 This is an interesting one.
00:52:48 Yeah, we did that story yesterday, actually.
00:52:50 Oh, okay. I didn't see it.
00:52:52 The damning slums NDC lies on, Galamzee.
00:52:55 One dead, 3,300 displaced in Makango Flats.
00:52:59 And I'm saddened by your pains, Baumier to flood victims.
00:53:04 Back page. May I do the back page too?
00:53:07 Yes, please.
00:53:08 Jordan blames US mollying on inexperience.
00:53:12 One man supporter refused misconduct allegations.
00:53:14 Jude Bellingham commits future to Real Madrid.
00:53:18 Maguire blasts England fans.
00:53:23 As for Harry Maguire,
00:53:25 I'm a Man U fan, so the heartache he's given me,
00:53:30 I don't even want to start over.
00:53:32 Maguire!
00:53:34 You know, so where should we start from?
00:53:37 I think...
00:53:38 We have very limited time, actually.
00:53:40 I think the President's call for young people to enter into agric.
00:53:45 I think John D'Amello is a very good example.
00:53:47 Yes, if we industrialize agric.
00:53:50 I mean, most of us,
00:53:51 Kennedy-Japon has been preaching this.
00:53:53 And people seem to be passionate about it.
00:53:55 But I believe strongly that farming is one of the panaceas to our economic growth.
00:54:01 Since you mentioned Kennedy-Japon,
00:54:02 are you supporting him as your party goes on?
00:54:05 I'm supporting the New Patriotic Party.
00:54:06 You're supporting the New Patriotic Party.
00:54:08 But you believe in Kennedy-Japon.
00:54:09 I like him.
00:54:10 You like him.
00:54:11 Yes, I like Kennedy-Japon.
00:54:12 Let's look at the Ghanaian Times then.
00:54:13 I like Dr. Baumier too.
00:54:15 And I like Akutu, the agric minister.
00:54:18 You like all of them.
00:54:19 They're all my friends.
00:54:20 [Laughter]
00:54:22 Ghanaian Times.
00:54:23 Okay, so arrest, prosecute, powers behind GALAMSE,
00:54:27 GBR appeals to government.
00:54:28 Okay.
00:54:29 And President launches youth in a great for sustainable employment project.
00:54:32 Government to sanction business over violation of human rights.
00:54:37 That's according to Vice President, His Excellency, Dr. Baumier.
00:54:43 Back page, I have everywhere,
00:54:44 and that's caused me to transform global agri-food system.
00:54:48 And Japan grants $289,000 for entities to undertake projects.
00:54:56 Okay.
00:54:57 All right, so that's how we're going to cap it off.
00:54:59 Any final words before we go?
00:55:00 The same similar stories here in the Business Finder.
00:55:02 Agri-food to absorb 200,000 youth for lifetime--
00:55:05 Babin, what are your impressions about the government's inroads in agri-food in the country?
00:55:12 I've seen a lot being spoken of.
00:55:15 I've seen a lot being put out like 1D, 1F, planting for food and jobs and all of that.
00:55:24 The results, though, especially in this inflation-hit economy,
00:55:28 the cost of food and everything, I don't know.
00:55:31 I honestly don't know because you remember when Dr. Akutu was still minister
00:55:36 and was talking about a bunch of plantain being this and that,
00:55:39 even in the rural areas, it wasn't going for that.
00:55:42 And we went to the markets and all of that.
00:55:43 So I don't know.
00:55:45 Food sufficiency is everybody's issue because it is a national security matter.
00:55:50 That's true.
00:55:51 So I don't know.
00:55:52 That's what I'll say on this.
00:55:53 But, Manje, we're grateful that you joined us.
00:55:56 I have to say a few words to my constituents.
00:55:58 30 seconds. Let's go.
00:55:59 So a special one to Joanne of Lalwetu Electoral Area.
00:56:03 Yesterday was a bad day.
00:56:05 Auntie Joanne, thank you for your support.
00:56:07 And to all my constituents, I believe that together we can fight a very good fight
00:56:12 and win the constituency for the new patriotic party for the first time.
00:56:17 And good morning to my mother.
00:56:18 She's doing the watching this morning.
00:56:20 Oh, mommy. Good morning.
00:56:22 Good morning.
00:56:23 And let me just seize this opportunity to wish a very happy birthday to my own niece,
00:56:28 Mary Antoinette de Youngster.
00:56:31 Oh, you're my favorite.
00:56:32 I know Papa is not going to like this, but I love you guys.
00:56:35 Happy, happy 16th birthday to you.
00:56:38 God richly bless and keep you.
00:56:40 And may he let you fulfill your purpose in life.
00:56:45 We were joined for this discussion by aspiring parliamentary candidate for Ningo Pampam
00:56:49 on the ticket of the governing new patriotic party, John Manje Akwetey.
00:56:53 Now, before we get into sports, Endpoint Homeopathic Clinic helping us to bring you this segment.
00:56:58 They're offering free prostate screening if you're a man, free female fertility screening as well.
00:57:04 Locate them here in Accra at Spintex opposite the Shell signboard.
00:57:07 There's Kumase Kronumwabwe here behind the Angel Educational Complex.
00:57:11 There's Takrati Anaji State Tema Community 22, Techimman Hanswaye and Siaman Zama.
00:57:15 Their call lines 0244-867-068 or 0274-234-321.
00:57:24 Endpoint Homeopathic Clinic, the end to chronic disease.
00:57:28 Bringing us to the end of the news review and the start of sports.
00:57:31 But put it there, senior.
00:57:33 Thank you so much for joining this morning and have a great day.
00:57:37 Sports is up next with Mubarak Haruna.
00:57:41 [MUSIC]
00:58:01 Thank you for staying with us on the AM Show.
00:58:04 We start with our very first conversation and we're going to be talking about HIV in Ghana.
00:58:10 By the current release from the Ghana AIDS Commission, there are a number of issues that have cropped up.
00:58:18 We'd also be focusing on antiretroviral medication supply to those infected.
00:58:25 We'll talk about general care as far as those living with HIV and the need for donations from corporate entities and individuals to support the commission in its quest to achieve its objectives.
00:58:38 We'll be looking at all of that this morning.
00:58:44 And let me get to our guests joining the conversation in the studio with us this morning.
00:58:53 We have Dr. Treme Itiahene, Director General, Ghana AIDS Commission.
00:58:58 He joins us for this conversation.
00:59:01 Doc, a very good morning to you.
00:59:03 Thank you and good morning to you as well.
00:59:06 Now, the last time you came through, we had quite a conversation about where we stand as a country when it comes to HIV.
00:59:14 I would like you to go back to reminding us of how far we've come, yes, but how much more we have to do.
00:59:23 And that uptick in infections, especially concerning those who don't even know they have been infected, what does the picture look like?
00:59:34 Thank you once again.
00:59:37 The total number of people estimated to have HIV in Ghana is about 355,000.
00:59:47 And of this number, we have young people, in fact, from age zero to whatever age you may imagine.
01:00:00 And so these people are the people we all see in this country.
01:00:10 If you talk about every profession or social organization, every community, every region, every district, we have people living with HIV in all those places.
01:00:27 So it is basically widespread across the length and breadth of the country.
01:00:31 Yes, the data is quite clear.
01:00:34 There is no single community in this country that doesn't have HIV.
01:00:39 There is no social group in this country that doesn't have HIV.
01:00:43 So if you talk about religion, yes, we have a number of people in the churches.
01:00:51 In fact, more than 80% of people who live with HIV are churchgoers.
01:00:59 And so there are, among the Muslims, if you talk about work, every workplace, every organization, you may find HIV person there.
01:01:13 And so it's widespread. And why it is so is the fact that -- let me first talk about the fact that we have high numbers of new infections.
01:01:28 In 2022, we had almost 16,600 people who got infected in 2022.
01:01:43 That is concerning because that number is too high for the country.
01:01:48 And it is so because we have a number of factors working against us.
01:01:57 Although the efforts we have made, the investment we have made, brought about declining trends in the new infections.
01:02:06 However, the level of decline is not significant enough to get us to the targets that we've set for ourselves for 2025.
01:02:21 And it is so because young people have been -- and I believe the social media has contributed to this, which in my view, the social media has.
01:02:32 If there is any word like "misempowered" young people, to the extent that many of them have become, you know, quite liberated when it comes to sex.
01:02:45 There is a particular video where a young lady was asked that -- oh, there is -- ladies believe that some guys are stingy.
01:03:00 And the lady said, "Oh, no guy is stingy."
01:03:06 He said, "Why?" He said, "Well, if you open your thighs, he will open his wallet."
01:03:14 And she went ahead to say that, "If you don't invest in a closed bank, you invest in an open bank, so a guy will open his wallet when you open your thighs."
01:03:34 And if this is the mindset --
01:03:36 How old will this person be?
01:03:39 1920, maximum 21. So I ask myself, if this is the mindset of young people, I can use a case to generalize, but the evidence is quite clear that we have seen more and more young people going into prostitution.
01:03:59 Prostitution has become so common in our country.
01:04:03 You have young people at the age of, let's say, 10 in prostitution.
01:04:12 Now people see their bodies as a source of income, that they can use their bodies, you know, to raise income.
01:04:24 Some have, you know, desperate situations, so maybe it's for livelihood, but for most of them, it's for luxury.
01:04:35 And that is very concerning.
01:04:38 I mean, we hear of young ladies who are doing all kinds of things for something as mundane as an iPhone or phone, gadgets, because it's a status symbol.
01:04:51 Even in domain, even having a free ride on Prager, no, media, they are going to highlight these things that I'm mentioning, but honestly, that shouldn't be the focus.
01:05:04 It's happening everywhere in this country, and unfortunately for us, the subregion, you know, many people in the subregion think that Ghana is more prosperous, it's a safe haven for them.
01:05:19 So they move here, and some of them cannot find the jobs they anticipated to have.
01:05:25 They go into prostitution.
01:05:27 So you have so many people who are being trafficked into Ghana just for prostitution.
01:05:32 Our students, both males and females, are involved in prostitution.
01:05:39 And besides that, the mining activities in the country also contribute to the increasing numbers of new infections in the country.
01:05:50 Besides that, we have a number of businesses that, you know, use sex to sell their products.
01:06:01 And all these are contributing in sustaining high numbers of new infections in the country.
01:06:07 And we as a people have to decide whether we want to eliminate HIV or we want it to grow exponentially in the country.
01:06:19 Why? Because we have all the tools and we are doing everything that gives us the opportunity to end AIDS and eliminate and achieve epidemic control of HIV in this country.
01:06:36 But why are we not getting there?
01:06:38 Yes, because these behaviors among the population is one of it.
01:06:47 And of course, we also have financial challenge.
01:06:52 As I have always said, we only have a third of the money we need for the AIDS response.
01:06:59 And that third is coming from our donors. And our donors determine what the money should be used for.
01:07:09 So about 64% of that money is going into procurement of HIV commodities like anti-retroviral medicines, mainly anti-retroviral medicines.
01:07:22 Government is supposed to buy the test kits, the reagents, the condoms and the others.
01:07:28 In addition to complementing the contribution of donors in procuring anti-retroviral medicines.
01:07:40 And the rest of the donor money, the chunk of it, is going into key population programs.
01:07:49 And so there is very little to do prevention because if we can reduce new infections, then we should be able to reduce to scale up prevention activities.
01:08:01 And Doc, that brings me to this. I mean, I remember way back when you had the ABCs and abstinence, being faithful, condom use.
01:08:10 You remember the campaigns on TV and all of that because that was what we had access to then.
01:08:15 Now we have social media. Of course, there's the negative use of social media.
01:08:19 We've seen the twerking videos and people doing, young people doing all kinds of things which allude to what you said, the negative side of social media.
01:08:28 But can't we also capitalize on the positives of it to sell the message of the dangers inherent in those lifestyles?
01:08:35 And because back then it was so, people were much more cautious, especially in the 90s, 80s and 90s.
01:08:42 The stigma was there when you had these. People had so many misconceptions.
01:08:46 Those ads and things helped disabuse the minds of people. Are we tapping into those as well as the AIDS Commission?
01:08:53 Yes, we are. We have all the social media handles. The problem is the following.
01:09:00 The following?
01:09:01 Yes, we do not have. My team is, I don't have a team with the skill to really boost the following of the commission.
01:09:15 Are you logistically constrained in that regard?
01:09:18 Severely, severely challenged. And so we are hoping that we'll be able to bring on board somebody with the needed skills to really help us expand our reach on the social media.
01:09:35 But of course, anyone who feels that they can help us in this area will be very happy to.
01:09:45 I see, I just went on Instagram. I see Ghana AIDS Commission and then I see Ghana AIDS. Which one is you? I'm following you now.
01:09:53 Ghana AIDS Commission.
01:09:54 Okay. And I guess if all of us were to do that and spread the word, I'm sure it would help matters.
01:10:02 So I just followed the Ghana AIDS Commission. And when I see your posts, I will share them as well.
01:10:07 Thank you.
01:10:08 So moving from there, right before I get into the antiretroviral treatments, the ARTs and everything that is happening, what is the status?
01:10:16 I've always been curious. What is the status of mother to child transmission as of now?
01:10:22 Because these are supposed to prevent that, right? But I've also heard instances where the transmissions actually do occur. What's the status of that?
01:10:30 Mother to child transmission is an important component of the prevention program we have in the country.
01:10:40 And every mother or pregnant woman is tested for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis, of course, along with other diseases,
01:10:52 when they visit the ANC for the first time during their pregnancy time.
01:10:59 And so we have about 87% of mothers living with HIV receiving antiretroviral treatment.
01:11:13 87%?
01:11:15 87%, yes, receiving antiretroviral medicines to prevent the mother to child transmission.
01:11:24 What happens with the remaining 13%?
01:11:27 Yes, so some of them do not, we are not able to cover them. Either they are unreachable or they are not willing.
01:11:40 They're not willing to take the ARTs.
01:11:42 Of course, there are some challenges in that area as well.
01:11:47 But with respect to the babies, we expect that the mother-baby pair should be on treatment.
01:11:53 And so that the baby, if it has HIV, can also, you know, grow and mature and live a normal life like everyone else,
01:12:05 with the help of antiretroviral medicines.
01:12:08 But we need to confirm the HIV status of that baby.
01:12:13 We do antibody tests, but we have to also have the PCR test to actually determine whether the antibodies are not from the mother,
01:12:30 or from, I mean, due to his own immune, you know, mechanisms.
01:12:37 And so we need to know for a fact that the baby has HIV before he's given antiretroviral medicine.
01:12:47 But they are often given prophylaxis until PCR test results have been released.
01:12:54 But the challenge there is that the coverage is very low.
01:12:59 The coverage is very low. It's about 40%.
01:13:06 And so majority of the children don't get the benefit of knowing their HIV status as early as possible,
01:13:17 and if they are positive, being put on treatment.
01:13:21 But that problem is being currently resolved.
01:13:24 But it has to be as rapid as possible.
01:13:27 Because Ghana in 2012 was seen in the whole world to be the first African country to eliminate mother to child.
01:13:37 We were right on that part.
01:13:38 We were right. And we still are right, because you have more than 95%,
01:13:44 between 95% and 98% of pregnant women visiting ANC.
01:13:50 So with the high, almost universal, yes, coverage of ANC, we should be able to help eradicate mother to child transmission.
01:14:05 But unfortunately, the problem of equipment is the main reason.
01:14:14 There is a stopgap measure where the samples are taken to places where we have facilities,
01:14:23 where we have the test machines, the PCR machines to test and get the results back to the mothers.
01:14:31 But there are here too a few challenges.
01:14:35 But hopefully by next year, we're going to get more point of care machines
01:14:46 that will enable more and more babies to be tested in health facilities near them.
01:14:53 Let me just, and we're hoping as we do this, we're hoping that those multinational corporations,
01:15:01 those big corp entities will also come to the aid of the Ghana AIDS Commission.
01:15:08 The Ghana AIDS Commission needs aid, logistically, funding-wise, in many ways.
01:15:15 And that is how we can also help. Let's not always make it that big corp is going in a certain direction.
01:15:20 How about channeling some of your resources in there for them, for the health of the nation?
01:15:25 A healthy population, obviously, will be able to work and give you the money that you big corp, you need.
01:15:32 Daniel Encephal says, may you get the needed funds for the good work you are doing.
01:15:37 People appreciating your work, Doc. But this one, Gadago Franklin Rex says,
01:15:43 the major problem of the testing regime is the health providers.
01:15:47 In the current dispensation, before you get home after testing,
01:15:51 your result is waiting for you at home and in your community.
01:15:55 People in fear of the stigma decide not to test. Is this a real problem?
01:16:02 Is this real?
01:16:03 I don't understand what he means by your results is waiting for you.
01:16:07 So you've gone for the test, which is supposed to be private.
01:16:09 Yes.
01:16:10 Before you get home, before you get to your community, somebody, they say, they say.
01:16:16 That's very unfortunate, if that is true.
01:16:21 We know of a few incidents of this nature.
01:16:27 But my advice to health care professionals is that it's against the law to disclose somebody's HIV status to a third party without his or her consent.
01:16:41 I mean, anything medical, even medical, anything medical.
01:16:45 Even staying away from the seriousness of HIV, anything medical, you have no right to share that information.
01:16:51 I'm happy you are mentioning this because it's an ethical issue.
01:16:58 And as a practitioner, as a health care practitioner, your reputation goes with everything you do.
01:17:06 And so if you unethically handle situations of this nature, then it is not good.
01:17:15 And the Ghana Health Service has a patient charter.
01:17:19 And in the patient charter, we've ensured that these matters are fully addressed.
01:17:25 And so if they go against these rules, then we expect the Ghana Health Service to take the necessary action and ensure that such people are sanctioned.
01:17:37 But I just want to assure Ghanaians that the Ghana AIDS Commission's Act 2016, that is Act 938, clearly states that nobody should disclose your HIV status to a third party without your consent.
01:17:59 And if that happens to you, you reserve the right to have redress.
01:18:09 And you can do so legally.
01:18:11 And the commission will stand with you and work with you all through the process, all through the legal process.
01:18:21 Let's talk about, we've spoken about some of the specific matters, but in terms of general care of those living with HIV in Ghana, assume someone learns today that he or she has been infected.
01:18:37 What happens from there as far as the Ghana Health Service, the Ghana AIDS Commission is concerned?
01:18:44 What happens from there?
01:18:46 So the policy we operate now since 2016 is test and treat.
01:18:54 Now HIV is handled like we do for malaria.
01:19:00 When you have the malaria parasite in your blood, then you must be given anti-malaria drugs right away.
01:19:09 It's the same way that HIV is being handled.
01:19:13 So you test once the test results is confirmed that indeed you are HIV positive.
01:19:21 They will offer you the antiretroviral treatment right away.
01:19:25 And even if it must delay, it mustn't go beyond one week.
01:19:34 Yes, it mustn't go beyond one week so that the person, because the drug is the only medicine that can suppress the virus first, keep the person alive and productive.
01:19:50 And so we leave no chance.
01:19:52 Speaking of which, you remind me of Magic Johnson.
01:19:54 Yes.
01:19:55 I always look at him and I'm like, wow.
01:19:58 You know, some people feel getting HIV is a death sentence.
01:20:01 Actually, if you take proper care of yourself, this gentleman since I was in the 80s, and he's been, he continued with his career up to a point.
01:20:09 Yes.
01:20:10 And you see him today and if no one told you he had it, he wouldn't know.
01:20:15 Yes, that's right.
01:20:18 And we have so many people in Ghana who has been on treatment for 20 years, 21 years.
01:20:25 And they are alive, they are strong, they are working, they are living normal lives.
01:20:31 If you don't know they have HIV, I mean, nothing shows, I mean, you would think that they are one of the healthiest people in the community.
01:20:41 Which is why stigmatizing them is so wrong.
01:20:43 Yes, it's so wrong.
01:20:45 And so, antiretroviral medicine is the only way you can keep yourself alive, healthy, productive, and even reproductive.
01:20:57 Where your baby too will not have HIV, will be HIV negative.
01:21:02 And so we encourage everyone who is on antiretroviral treatment to adhere to treatment.
01:21:11 And if they are virally suppressed, maintain their viral suppressed status by adhering to treatment.
01:21:18 That is the only way that if you are a woman and you want to have HIV free baby, you can have it.
01:21:26 Because when you are virally suppressed, the possibility of passing the virus to your unborn baby,
01:21:34 or during delivery of breastfeeding, will be quite negligible.
01:21:40 And so you need to remain on treatment.
01:21:46 Let's look at these little bits, not little so to speak, but final bits to conclude the conversation.
01:21:54 The ARTs are free.
01:21:56 Yes, everything about HIV services are free. All HIV services are free.
01:22:04 And I intentionally bring that up because some people may also think, "Oh, and I'm now going to, the ARTs are free."
01:22:10 I think it's the same with, is it tuberculosis or something of the sort?
01:22:14 Yeah, tuberculosis are also free. The services for tuberculosis patients are free, yes.
01:22:20 Right. So let's create that awareness. It is free.
01:22:24 If you find that you are infected, the state is willing to, and that's why so much in terms of funds is pumped into this.
01:22:35 But there are other aspects that you have to look at.
01:22:37 Let me throw in this. It is free, but how they get to the facility to collect the medicine,
01:22:45 what causes them in terms of transportation.
01:22:50 And unfortunately, because of stigma, many people travel far distances to collect their medicines.
01:22:58 When we have more than almost 600 health facilities across the country where people can receive,
01:23:08 it's quite close to them. Every district, every district hospital, we have some polyclinics, we have health centers.
01:23:18 Even now, the arrangement is being made for them to receive it at the cheap compound.
01:23:24 And so why would you travel and incur cost?
01:23:27 But I need to indicate that because of delays in reimbursing service providers by the National Health Insurance Authority,
01:23:40 some facilities have decided to charge people living with HIV for some of the services.
01:23:47 Wow. That is happening?
01:23:49 Yes. For example, lab services, laboratory services. And that is costing them a lot.
01:23:58 Out-of-pocket payment relating to HIV treatment by persons living with HIV in Ghana
01:24:08 cost them out-of-pocket payment was in 2019 was almost $22 million.
01:24:19 $2,200 it is.
01:24:21 No, $22 million.
01:24:23 Oh, wow.
01:24:24 Yes. In 2020, it increased to $28 million. In 2021, it went up to $32 million.
01:24:38 Now, this is very worrying because it's supposed to be free.
01:24:43 But because we do not have the money, you know, we have huge funding gap of about $89 million a year.
01:24:52 These people are being made to pay for the services that they are supposed to receive for free.
01:24:59 And so that is the more reason why we need to bridge the funding gap.
01:25:05 Why? Somebody will say that, but why? We all go to hospital and we pay.
01:25:12 So why should persons living with HIV be treated differently?
01:25:17 Yes, they have to be treated differently because HIV is not exactly like every other disease.
01:25:26 We're all at risk. Once they are at risk, we are at risk.
01:25:31 If they do not have the medicines, it means the viral load is going to increase.
01:25:36 And they will become more infectious. New infections will therefore increase.
01:25:43 They will become sick, develop AIDS and die.
01:25:49 And so...
01:25:50 You're talking about the burden on our hospital facilities.
01:25:52 Exactly. At some point, more than 40% of hospital beds were occupied by HIV patients.
01:26:02 We don't want to get there.
01:26:04 Now, the other reason is that when they do not have the money to pay or go and take their medicines,
01:26:12 what happens is that some of them discontinue treatment.
01:26:17 They discontinue. So we have a high number of what we call "lost to follow-up".
01:26:23 People who are on treatment but can no longer be traced within three months or more.
01:26:31 And that number is more than 30% of the people who are on treatment.
01:26:38 Currently? More than 30%?
01:26:40 Yes. And so that is very worrying because if they are not adhering to treatment,
01:26:48 what will happen is that it's not only the viral load that is going to increase or having disease progression.
01:26:58 It is also possible they will develop resistance to the drugs that we have.
01:27:04 And so if they are on first-line drugs and they develop resistance for first-line drugs,
01:27:10 we will need to move them to second-line, which is more costly, which is more expensive than the first-line drugs.
01:27:16 And secondly, we know the fiscal challenges we are having now,
01:27:21 and we have to be efficient in managing their response.
01:27:27 And therefore we need to cut out these issues to ensure that people living with HIV
01:27:35 can continuously receive their medicines and adhere to treatment so that they remain virally suppressed
01:27:43 and prevent disease progression and escalation in new infections.
01:27:50 Okay. Let me just bring in these bits to wrap the conversation.
01:27:55 But before I get to the final bits, I just want you to tell us about how to assist those we know in our communities that have HIV or AIDS.
01:28:07 And I pose this question because of, one, the stigma and sometimes help people could give that they don't
01:28:13 because there are some misconceptions about our brothers and sisters living with AIDS.
01:28:19 How more can we assist them so that they attain their full potential, even with this situation?
01:28:29 Yes. HIV, people living with HIV can live normal lives like everyone else if they are on treatment.
01:28:41 But sometimes some of them wait for too long doing, you know, healing shopping.
01:28:49 They often will go to herbalist and spiritualist, and by the time they get to know their status, it's too late.
01:28:58 And sometimes, too, the policy is that every person walking into any health facility must be offered testing, HIV testing.
01:29:13 But this is not done. And even during the consultation, some of the doctors do not even consider HIV.
01:29:22 And so by the time some of them get to know their HIV status, it's too late for them.
01:29:30 But of course, if they are put on treatment immediately, they recover and live normal lives.
01:29:38 And so what we are saying is that they need help.
01:29:42 Some of them, especially the children who have been orphaned by AIDS, some of them don't have carers or somebody looking after them.
01:29:56 Such people need help.
01:29:58 And as I was saying, some of them travel far to receive their antiretroviral medicines,
01:30:05 and sometimes they don't even have the money to go because they may have spent their life saving on, you know, battling the disease before they get to know.
01:30:17 So they are often poor and they need help.
01:30:22 And one thing that they need most is food because good nutrition is very important for the management of HIV-related diseases.
01:30:36 And so nutrition is a number one priority that I would want all Ghanaians to consider for people living with HIV.
01:30:48 And some do not have, you know, livelihood.
01:30:52 They don't have any jobs.
01:30:54 And so we have to help them, you know, stand or live to be financially independent by helping them engage in some economic activities.
01:31:08 But these are some of the things the Commission do for -- does for them when we have funding.
01:31:17 Because now you have a number of young people who live with HIV.
01:31:23 Some are out of school and they have no jobs.
01:31:27 And so if they are supported in any income generation or land trade, it will at least give them a better future.
01:31:37 So we can all find ways and means of lending a helping hand.
01:31:41 Exactly.
01:31:42 And in a way, lending a helping hand to ourselves.
01:31:44 Yes.
01:31:45 As we help them, we help ourselves.
01:31:47 But the interesting thing is that people always stigmatize those they know live with HIV.
01:31:54 But there may be some people who are so close to us that we love so much and we don't know.
01:32:01 Because the people who live with HIV are just like any one of us.
01:32:05 Just like the rest of us.
01:32:06 Yes.
01:32:07 Some are well-to-do.
01:32:08 Some are poor.
01:32:09 Some are in, you know, high positions.
01:32:13 But the point is you don't need to know.
01:32:17 He's a human being.
01:32:19 Exactly.
01:32:20 He's a friend.
01:32:21 He's a brother.
01:32:22 He's an uncle.
01:32:23 He's a father.
01:32:24 He's a mother.
01:32:25 That is what is most important.
01:32:27 You know, it reminds me of an image I saw once where, you know, in a war-torn community, they were asking a child, "Are you Christian, Muslim, you know, Jew?"
01:32:37 And the child said, "I am hungry."
01:32:40 That was there.
01:32:42 It's not my religion.
01:32:44 The child was being, "I don't understand. I'm hungry."
01:32:47 That's the language I understand.
01:32:49 To cap off the conversation, though, I have reached out, but I want you to reach out to those entities, big corp, small corp, that can assist you.
01:32:59 I mean, if all of us do our and we help the cause, things will get better logistically.
01:33:07 What do you think, though, about the COVID-19 kitty?
01:33:10 Because some have said that, "Look, we're still paying the COVID-19 levy.
01:33:13 Yesterday, I went somewhere.
01:33:14 COVID-19, we're paying, but the pandemic has passed."
01:33:18 Are you looking forward to seeing some of that channeled to you?
01:33:21 Is that a practical, one of the practical means of getting support to you?
01:33:26 Yes, there is an advocacy to repurpose the COVID-19 recovery levy.
01:33:32 The governing board of the commission met just last week and came up with a resolution.
01:33:41 One of the points in that resolution is that COVID-19 recovery levy should be repurposed for HIV.
01:33:51 It is something that we need the voices of well-meaning Ghanaians to support it.
01:33:59 Do you support it?
01:34:00 Yes, 100 percent, because we have National HIV and AIDS Fund set up by law in 2016,
01:34:09 and the fund has not been resourced.
01:34:11 And looking at the huge funding gap of 67 percent, what else can we ask for?
01:34:19 We need government to come up with a source of funding which is dedicated,
01:34:26 because the fund, according to the law, has no dedicated source.
01:34:31 It only has to rely on budgetary allocations every year by the Minister for Finance,
01:34:36 but so far that has not been done.
01:34:38 And so we need a dedicated source.
01:34:40 And when we're talking about HIV, it's an incurable infectious disease,
01:34:45 so it's going to be with us for a very long time,
01:34:48 because antiretroviral medicines making people live normal lives
01:34:53 and have their normal life expectancy.
01:34:57 So now we are talking about aging with HIV,
01:35:02 and aging with HIV means it's not HIV-related conditions that kill those who are aging.
01:35:10 It is rather non--what do you call it?--noncommunicable diseases.
01:35:18 So there are a whole lot of issues about HIV,
01:35:22 and we should never forget that HIV is disproportionately affecting
01:35:30 the most economically active population in this country.
01:35:35 So if we ignore HIV by way of denying it the needed funds,
01:35:43 we are actually putting our economy and our national development as a whole
01:35:49 at a very serious risk.
01:35:51 And so it is important that corporate Ghana and individuals support.
01:35:57 And we are making arrangements before--
01:36:01 next month is going to be World AIDS Day month, Awareness Month.
01:36:08 Now this month is for cancer.
01:36:11 Next month, November, is for HIV.
01:36:14 And so we are going to have a series of activities within November.
01:36:18 And during that time, we will want to have the National HIV and AIDS Fund launched.
01:36:27 And that is the time that we will want the president to receive donations
01:36:32 from corporate bodies and individuals who want to present their checks to the president
01:36:41 as their contribution to the AIDS Fund.
01:36:45 For the individuals, it's easier to do it by the USSD code.
01:36:53 You just dial 9898--sorry, *9898# and follow the prompts.
01:37:00 A new slowdown on that.
01:37:02 *9898#.
01:37:06 Follow the prompts, and you can do it on MTN and Vodafone.
01:37:10 We are working to bring on board Tigo as well, Airtel Tigo as well.
01:37:19 And so dial *9898#, follow the prompts on MTN and Vodafone, and do your donation.
01:37:28 So far, a number of people have attempted to do that.
01:37:33 We don't know why they don't end up--
01:37:36 the majority of them did not end up donating, but the few who did--
01:37:41 and we have just about 100 people or more, you know,
01:37:46 donating an average of 20 Ghana CDs.
01:37:51 We are very grateful to those people.
01:37:54 We thank you very much for your donation.
01:37:57 We say no amount is too small.
01:38:01 If we have 3 million people donating 20 CDs, you know, every month,
01:38:07 that is going to help a lot.
01:38:11 And so we encourage everybody to donate.
01:38:14 My staff came up with--they said charity begins at home.
01:38:21 And so if we are asking the public to donate to the AIDS fund,
01:38:26 then we must start it.
01:38:28 So they said that junior staff should pay 20 CDs a month,
01:38:35 managers should pay 50 CDs a month,
01:38:39 directors 100 CDs, and director general 150 Ghana CDs a month.
01:38:47 I didn't participate in that conversation because--no.
01:38:52 So when I was told, I was really impressed.
01:38:56 And this is an idea that came from NPA.
01:39:00 They said, okay--
01:39:01 National Petroleum Authority.
01:39:02 National Petroleum Authority.
01:39:04 I'm happy to mention their name.
01:39:07 They said, well, we will get our staff to, you know, contribute monthly,
01:39:13 and the company will also match up what the staff contribute.
01:39:19 And so let's all see HIV as a workplace issue, as an industrial issue,
01:39:27 as a commercial issue, because the people who work in these places
01:39:33 are the most economically active population who are disproportionately
01:39:38 affected by HIV.
01:39:40 And so if you want to reduce, you know, absenteeism resulting from illnesses
01:39:49 associated with HIV or any other infectious disease,
01:39:54 you have to join hands with the Ghana AIDS Commission to prevent this.
01:40:01 Fortunately, the services, all HIV services are for free.
01:40:06 So we are treating your employees for free so that they can continue to serve you,
01:40:12 they can continue to work for you, produce for you, to make profit.
01:40:16 So it's important you also contribute to the AIDS fund.
01:40:20 Thank you so much, Doc.
01:40:22 So on social media, Ghana AIDS Commission.
01:40:24 Is it across the board?
01:40:26 Ghana AIDS Commission.
01:40:27 Yes.
01:40:28 Instagram, I followed you.
01:40:29 Wales.
01:40:30 Are you on Facebook?
01:40:31 Facebook, YouTube, and I think Twitter.
01:40:36 X, okay, now X.
01:40:38 Okay.
01:40:39 And Instagram, because I saw you there.
01:40:40 Yes, and Instagram as well.
01:40:42 So all across social media, you can find the Ghana AIDS Commission.
01:40:46 Let us, a little, like he said, if even all of us were donating 20 CDs,
01:40:51 it may not be 20 CDs you can donate, but if even 3 million people were donating that,
01:40:56 that's just about what, 60 million?
01:41:00 3 million people by, or is it 6 million?
01:41:03 I think so.
01:41:04 Whichever the case may be, that would be a lot of money that would be able to,
01:41:08 you know, assist the Ghana AIDS Commission in its work.
01:41:13 And together we can all do it.
01:41:16 Thank you so much, Dr. Treme Etiahine.
01:41:19 He is Director General, Ghana AIDS Commission,
01:41:21 and he joined us in the studio on this all-important conversation.
01:41:29 Stay with us on the AM Show.
01:41:30 There's a lot more that we'll be bringing your way shortly.
01:41:34 There's still that conversation going on when it comes to the Akosu Ubudan.
01:41:38 We'll just take a sneak peek at that as the Vice President also gets there,
01:41:44 among other things, other discussions we'll have this morning.
01:41:47 Of course, there's no science and math quiz also in the offing.
01:41:51 So stay. We'll be right back.
01:41:52 [Music]
01:42:12 PEDJA, a literary festival in Accra, brings together authors, poets,
01:42:18 various performers, and many other literary stalwarts from Ghana, Africa,
01:42:24 and across the globe for a colorful celebration of literature and art.
01:42:29 This three-day festival features a wide variety of events, such as readings,
01:42:34 expert-led workshops, performances, book releases,
01:42:38 and even literary prize presentations.
01:42:41 Director of the Writers' Project of Ghana and Director of the PEDJA Literary Festival,
01:42:46 Dr. Martin Egbola-Ogba, stated that they were privileged to have many people
01:42:52 from manifold countries and continents participating in this year's festival.
01:42:57 For this year, we are fortunate to have nationalities from practically every continent.
01:43:03 We have from Singapore, someone who used to be a director of the biggest literary festival in Singapore.
01:43:10 Yes, Yao Kai Chai, he's joining us.
01:43:13 We have someone from Iceland, you know, and then, of course, the Netherlands.
01:43:21 We have people from the United States.
01:43:23 And there's something very interesting this year, too.
01:43:26 We have connected strongly with the Caribbean, and so we have a delegation from Curacao,
01:43:31 which is a Caribbean island, joining us.
01:43:33 Diana Ferris, a South African poet and author, shared the experience of how she came to write the poem
01:43:40 "I Have Come to Take You Home" as well as some of her other works.
01:43:45 It was at the time of scientific racism, George Cuvier, the big scientist from France,
01:43:50 then made a plaster cast of her body, and then he went to write books and seminars
01:43:58 on how all this showed that the size of a brain, the size of a genitalia.
01:44:04 I heard a voice calling out, "I want to go home. I want to go home."
01:44:09 And it's just there with tears running down my cheek that I turned to my desk
01:44:14 and I wrote the first line of a poem, "I've come to take you home."
01:44:21 Farai Mutsingwa, a Zimbabwean novelist, also explained the distinct shifts
01:44:26 in the Zimbabwean writing style and shared his thoughts on the contemporary literary landscape in Africa.
01:44:33 Zimbabwean writing has, from the 70s, late 70s, early 80s, had to do with the war.
01:44:40 Having come out of the war, integrating into a new society after the war,
01:44:44 we rode that phase for a bit, and then there was the phase, I would say, from about 20 years ago,
01:44:51 where the country was going through the political turmoil, the land invasions, the economy tanking,
01:44:56 so there was literature writing that, writing the strife, the hardship, writing the immigration.
01:45:02 Interacting with some volunteering organizers and book lovers at the British Council of Ghana,
01:45:07 they shared their infectious enthusiasm for literature and the arts,
01:45:12 coupled with their sheer excitement about the fair.
01:45:15 I love literature so much, and everywhere there's books, writers, poets, everything just counts me in.
01:45:21 What I love about Page Hour Festival is that it brings together a lot of different writers from across Africa,
01:45:28 and I want to experience that variety of literature in Africa.
01:45:33 Just to see the amount of resources, the archive, the rich history, it's really been sensational.
01:45:38 At the W.E.B. Dubois Memorial Center in the cantonment's enclave,
01:45:43 some participants shared what their expectations were of the 2023 Page Hour Festival.
01:45:50 The program of the Page Hour Festival is really very, very interesting.
01:45:54 It's very broad, so I'm sure that I will be able to learn a lot, to give also a lot,
01:46:01 because we will be presenting also, we will be performing, and to take back home as much as possible.
01:46:08 It is impacting, and I think it's going to continue to do that.
01:46:11 For me, Page Hour is an opportunity to discover, and also meet up with peers.
01:46:18 I'm expecting to just be exposed to new ways of thinking, I think is what I'm most excited about.
01:46:44 This is how the Vice President touched down in the Saftong District Capital, Sougakofe.
01:46:50 His first point of call was New Bakpa, then Stukomboni and Tsukwe,
01:46:55 where he interacted with chiefs and expressed his sympathy to flood victims.
01:47:00 Dr. Bomiya described the devastation of property as a major disaster,
01:47:05 and challenged officials of the Volta River Authority to find a more sustainable way
01:47:10 of dealing with the spillage of the Akosombo Dam, considering the rising concerns of climate change.
01:47:16 This, I am told, is the biggest flooding disaster we have seen since 1963.
01:47:23 So it's been 60 years since the last such disaster took place,
01:47:28 and it has affected so many livelihoods, so many people, so much property,
01:47:35 so many farms, so many fishing implements and so on.
01:47:41 So it has devastated our livelihoods around this area.
01:47:46 And when I look at the community in Tsukwe, when I was coming in,
01:47:50 so many places are flooded, so many houses.
01:47:54 And it is a very sad event.
01:47:57 And as I am here with you, let me really express my sympathies.
01:48:03 Babanami, we will take into account all the needs that have been expressed.
01:48:10 To be expressed a lot of needs for the community,
01:48:14 and we will take all of that into account as the community,
01:48:18 as the government prepares the support package to the community.
01:48:23 It is very important that we look, as I have mentioned it already to VRA,
01:48:30 that we need to look for long-term solutions to this flood.
01:48:36 Because it will happen this year.
01:48:40 We can deal with it now. What about next year?
01:48:45 Because climate change appears to be taking hold.
01:48:50 A few years ago, we were all worried about the water levels of the Volta Dam,
01:48:56 that it was too low.
01:48:58 Now we are worried that it is too high.
01:49:01 And so we need to look for engineering solutions to the spillage of the water out of the Volta Dam,
01:49:10 so that it doesn't affect the communities.
01:49:13 Because if we don't look for long-term solutions,
01:49:17 we will have to be dealing with these disasters on a regular basis with climate change.
01:49:24 So I've challenged VRA and NADMO to really put their heads together
01:49:30 and get the engineers to work and look at how we can build a very efficient way of spilling the water over time.
01:49:39 Meanwhile, to add to government efforts,
01:49:41 the Vice President personally donated a sum of 160,000 Ghana cedis to the eight affected districts to support relief efforts.
01:49:50 Here is the Minister of Information, Kojo Ponkruma, presenting the cash donation to the chiefs and people of Sugbe.
01:49:56 He's been travelling across some of the towns to see for himself the impact of the relief efforts that we are putting in place.
01:50:02 As he mentioned, the government support is in various stages.
01:50:05 First is the temporary support for our brothers and sisters who have been displaced.
01:50:10 And as he mentioned, there are 20 locations where the support is going.
01:50:14 And so even this morning, I do understand that part of our relief efforts that were supposed to come here, came here this morning,
01:50:22 as they are going to various other locations.
01:50:26 And it will be done intermittently as the numbers are monitored, as the days are monitored, and as more support should be coming in that area.
01:50:33 In addition to that, His Excellency the Vice President, in his own capacity, as he has been going around,
01:50:40 has asked that we make available to the eight communities, or the eight districts, that have been affected by the spillage,
01:50:51 his personal contribution of 160,000 Ghana cedis, which we are going to give to the regional minister,
01:50:59 to be used to support the victims in the eight districts that have been affected.
01:51:06 This is in addition to the government of Ghana support.
01:51:10 Reacting to the donations, some traditional leaders of the affected communities say more relief items are required.
01:51:16 First of all, I would say that we thank the Vice President for passing through, at least, to see whatever is going on.
01:51:22 We all heard that he made a donation of 60,000, which is for the people of Skopje.
01:51:29 Honestly, we can't say we won't take it, but it wouldn't be enough for those that have been affected with the spilling.
01:51:38 If we look at the community, it's about five communities and even more, because yesterday it rained.
01:51:44 So the rain had caused even more destruction.
01:51:48 So we are now to know where the rain has caused the spillage, and then the rain has caused destruction too.
01:51:57 So we don't have anything, but what we would do is if the government would be able to do more for our people,
01:52:03 we are not saying we wouldn't take whatever they are giving to us, but we would need more.
01:52:08 Instead of giving us pure water, we think it's manageable for them to give us polytanks and fill the water,
01:52:17 or dig for water to flow down, to give us pure water all the time.
01:52:23 But we can't buy the pure water they are giving to us, because it's not even enough for drinking.
01:52:28 With the support of the Volta River Authority and other state agencies,
01:52:32 the National Disaster Management Organization is stepping up efforts to reach every affected Ghanaian across the 8th District.
01:52:40 Carlos Kaloni, JOY News.
01:52:44 [Music]
01:53:02 It's a pleasure to have you on this edition of the AM Show.
01:53:05 Thank you so much for making time to be a part.
01:53:08 I'm Bernice Abubey-Doolan. So much earlier you saw my colleague Benjamin Akapu
01:53:14 interacting with Dr. Tremie Tiyahene on the issues around HIV/AIDS prevalence in Ghana,
01:53:21 the availability of antiretroviral drugs for persons living with HIV, and how to reduce infections.
01:53:30 It's now time to bring you a quick update on what's happening in the Volta region on the spillage of the Kusumwe Pond Dam,
01:53:40 which has led to flooding in the area.
01:53:42 And this morning I've been joined by Amos Ahosu. He's Assembly Member for the Mepe Electoral Area.
01:53:50 Good morning to you. Thank you so much for your time this morning.
01:53:54 So we understand that the Vice President has toured parts of the Volta region which have been flooded as a result of the spillage.
01:54:04 And we also understand that relief items have started trickling in.
01:54:08 What can you tell us about what you've received so far in terms of relief?
01:54:13 Yes, thanks so much for the opportunity and good morning to our cherished listeners.
01:54:18 Actually, we were heavily supported by the National NADMOR.
01:54:24 The last time the President was also here, Honorable Ufudeswa Abdrafwa, you know this is his constituency.
01:54:32 So he has been supporting just yesterday some rice, oil, anything you can think of, water.
01:54:41 He has been trying his best in that area. Philanthropies, organization bodies, churches, they are all helping in their small way.
01:54:52 They are all helping. They are helping.
01:54:54 And actually we started having things, but looking at the situation, we still need more.
01:55:01 We were told that the spillage will likely end any time soon, but we are yet to receive a concrete confirmation because the rains have still been coming in.
01:55:17 What are you able to tell us about the flood situation proper? Is it getting worse or the water has begun to recede? What have you noticed?
01:55:27 Yeah, actually it has stopped. It has reached before. It's still there and it's not moving. It's not going back. It's not coming on through.
01:55:37 So it will be our premise which is that it's still so and it will go back finally.
01:55:42 Right. So the situation is not getting worse at least. Right.
01:55:46 So how are the items being distributed?
01:55:50 We know that there are some people who have moved to safer ground. There are others who are also in shelters.
01:55:58 How is the distribution of relief items happening?
01:56:03 Yeah, some of the relief items, when they brought them, they sent it to my traditional authorities.
01:56:09 They will take delivery of it before sharing it.
01:56:12 Other bodies, when they come, they go on their own to distribute whatever.
01:56:19 Even yesterday, when we got the vaccine, we received the items.
01:56:24 We met with the traditional authorities and they started the distribution. So that is what is happening now.
01:56:30 Right. And we also understand that there were concerns by one of the traditional leaders in the area about the spread of infections.
01:56:42 And because people have to use polluted water for many of the things they have to do, washing and all that.
01:56:50 Do you have any relief in terms of medical assistance?
01:56:57 The Ghana Medical Association was coming over. We understand that the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana has also made some donations.
01:57:03 What can you tell us about meeting the health needs of those who have been displaced?
01:57:08 Yeah, the health needs are much needed. Much, much needed.
01:57:13 The last time I had a meeting with the health directorate, they've created a mobile clinic for the safe haven.
01:57:23 So I learned that a woman is being delivered there and they are taking care of the people in that manner.
01:57:30 But another aspect of it is the water that is heavily being polluted now that we can't drink, you can't bathe with it, you can't do anything with it.
01:57:41 So the health implications that it is bringing now is a very, very big, major concern.
01:57:47 Because it started breeding mosquitoes already. Cholera was coming, typhoid, and other communicable diseases. Name them.
01:57:59 It's not the best. The situation is not the best.
01:58:03 So if authorities are listening and they can assist us in that manner, fine.
01:58:08 Because the health center that was created, actually they need a safety basic tablet to operate with.
01:58:17 This health center, the displaced persons visiting it for free, are they being catered for without any charge?
01:58:27 Yeah, actually if you have health insurance, you'll be catered for for free.
01:58:33 But many of them say that they've lost many of their items in the floodwaters.
01:58:39 They've lost their health insurance cards as well.
01:58:42 So how are those persons being catered for? Do they have to pay to access health care?
01:58:47 Yeah, actually because the records is there that they have health insurance cards, they will look at it.
01:58:54 I don't know how they are going about it anyway. But that's what I know.
01:58:58 Right. Thank you for your time this morning. Emo Zahosu is assembly member for the Mepa electoral area,
01:59:04 one of the areas that has been badly affected by floods as a result of the spillage of water from the Akosombo and Bon dams.
01:59:14 We will be monitoring the situation.
01:59:16 But some persons living along the Volta River in the Buno East region have had to stay on their farms for more than three weeks due to floods in the area.
01:59:26 They say they are yet to receive relief items from government agencies.
01:59:30 Nnamaya Ojima has more on the following report.
01:59:33 In the pro-east district are affected by the flood.
01:59:40 Faisal is the last among residents of Vutudeke to evacuate their homes after the floods.
01:59:53 The flood waters have taken over the whole community.
01:59:56 I'm the last person to evacuate because my home was on a hill, so I was the last to be affected.
02:00:02 A piece of farmland is cleared for the construction of a hut for shelter.
02:00:10 With support from other community members, the wooden structure is nearing completion.
02:00:16 Dried grass is used to roof the structure for habitation, but he fears his property may be destroyed should it rain again.
02:00:25 I'm now going to other people's homes for polythene bags to cover my properties.
02:00:36 If it rains, I would have to seek shelter from another individual's home.
02:00:42 I'm not going to be able to live without my family.
02:00:47 Faisal's family is one of the over 500 families of Vutudeke to be affected by the flood.
02:00:55 Already, some families have completed their shelters.
02:00:59 Fanti Okra is the hardest hit community by the flood.
02:01:10 I don't know if you go to Bungaba or Sidi Sabo.
02:01:13 An overwhelmed assembly member, Mohamed, sheds tears.
02:01:18 My house is now filled by victims of floods. We are in need of help now.
02:01:26 Many continue to count their losses as the flood waters are yet to recede.
02:01:34 The NDC parliamentary candidate for the area, Emmanuel Kwekubuam, is leading efforts to solicit support for the victims.
02:01:42 Not even the district office of NADMO, they tell you they don't have anything.
02:01:46 The region doesn't equally have anything.
02:01:49 And please, please, this is a very serious national disaster.
02:01:54 Please, don't let us wait because health authorities are even warning us of possible water-related diseases.
02:02:04 So please, don't let us wait until the unfortunate happens.
02:02:09 Some of us have gone to their aid with something small, some water, bags of water,
02:02:18 and then places where they can sleep with some bags that they can use for their tents.
02:02:24 But it's still not enough.
02:02:26 Joy News investigations have revealed the Pro-East District Assembly have been able to secure a piece of land to resettle the Fanti Okra community.
02:02:37 For Joy News, Nanaia Ojima, reporting.
02:02:45 Right, so just to paint a clearer picture for you if you're not too familiar with what exactly is happening,
02:02:52 it is that the Volta River, which sources from parts of Burkina Faso down through places like Buno, the Savannah region,
02:03:00 because you have the Black Volta, the White Volta, and the Red Volta, all coming in, feeding into the Okosumbo Dam,
02:03:08 which has then caused the dam to overflow, not overflow, for the levels of the water to rise rather, I beg your pardon,
02:03:17 and then the VRE authorities need to spill.
02:03:21 So those in parts of the Volta and the Eastern region down south are having floods because of the spillage of the Okosumbo and Bon Dams.
02:03:33 But those in the Pro-East, Savannah, and in the northern sector are dealing with floods caused by the overflow of the Volta River.
02:03:45 And so that's just a picture so that you can get a clear understanding of what is happening.
02:03:50 But I've been joined by Alhaji Abdolaye Adams. He's the DCE for Pro-East.
02:03:55 Good morning to you and thank you so much for your time.
02:03:58 Clearly, the devastation is evident for all to see.
02:04:04 Your members or the residents in your constituency have been asking for support.
02:04:16 Has any support come and in what form?
02:04:20 Thank you very much, my sister.
02:04:23 Yes, it has been like that. In our part, what we've been able to do for now is get a place for them to relocate temporarily
02:04:31 whilst we wait for other support from the top with individuals who have some.
02:04:39 And then NGOs, we are dealing with people who have such support for us to come to our aid.
02:04:45 As you see, the situation is tough.
02:04:48 So as an assembly, we've been able to acquire land for the people temporarily.
02:04:54 But looking at things, when we got the place for them, they think that that place would have been nice for them
02:05:01 so that they don't go back to the place even if the water situation there is some
02:05:06 or if the place has come back to normalcy because it might overflow.
02:05:11 So they think that where we have gotten for them to temporarily stay there for life.
02:05:18 But you know, if it's a situation that they should stay there for life, we need to go back to the anonymous
02:05:24 and then speak to them because I don't think an anonymous will give the land to us for free.
02:05:29 Now that it is temporary, it's something small that will be for anonymous to pay for the place.
02:05:36 So we are calling on people to leave their house to come to our aid.
02:05:43 Sorry, Mr Adams, if you could just speak up a little. It's quite a struggle hearing you.
02:05:50 But I would just like to find out if residents of Pro-East or other communities around
02:05:56 were informed about the danger ahead with regards to the flooding situation or it came as a surprise.
02:06:05 I think it is a situation that has been coming in time. There is heavy rain and the river overflows.
02:06:13 Those who live very close to the lake, it normally happens to them.
02:06:18 So it is something that has been, this is not the first time we have experienced this.
02:06:22 It has been happening. But at this time, this time it has come more than it has been coming.
02:06:27 That is why the situation is like this as we see.
02:06:31 There was no warning whatsoever from NADMO, you didn't receive any indication from the Ghana Meteorological Agency
02:06:39 for example about heavy rains which would possibly cause floods, right?
02:06:43 Actually for that one, I can't speak to that. But what I know is that the NADMO who are in charge of that
02:06:53 they have been doing all these things anytime there is a situation to them.
02:06:58 Has NADMO been there since the floods began?
02:07:03 Yes, please.
02:07:05 Okay, and what have they been telling you? Do you need to evacuate more people?
02:07:11 Is the flooding situation getting worse?
02:07:16 Yes, some people, as of yesterday I went to a place in Yeji called Pinti Kofensiano.
02:07:22 Some of them have been relocated. The things as we see, it has not stopped as it is now.
02:07:29 What that means is that we should expect more.
02:07:33 For now, those of our brothers who are in the villages, they have been relocated to the higher grounds as it is.
02:07:41 But by then, you know, they have some of their houses being roofed with iron sheets.
02:07:46 But the situation as it is now, they are not in a position to do that.
02:07:49 They are living in these grass houses at the higher ground.
02:07:53 So we think if you get these iron sheets or whatever, they can sort of rebuild and then get the peace for themselves
02:08:05 so that they can be happy once again.
02:08:08 So who is facilitating these evacuations in the communities?
02:08:16 Yes, I led. I went alone.
02:08:19 But for those of our brothers in the villages where I visited, they have already been relocated.
02:08:25 At the time, the day I even got there, when I got there, the youth were already on the higher grounds
02:08:31 preparing these such houses for themselves.
02:08:35 But those in town, you know, because it is in town, you don't have a place just behind you to move
02:08:42 because the people's houses are also behind you.
02:08:46 They cannot go back to them.
02:08:48 So that is where you need to get a place somewhere.
02:08:51 Fortunately for us, we have gotten a place, but it is a temporary place for them.
02:08:55 We need two ministers to be able to make the place very well, for them to be able to fit well.
02:09:03 And has any official, apart from Natmo, we know that the MP for the area has also raised concerns
02:09:14 even in terms of averting this in the future, trying to create other pathways for the water,
02:09:21 have useful purposes for the water.
02:09:24 Has there been any engagement? So for your DCE, has there been any engagement at that level?
02:09:32 Hello, Marita, I can't hear you now.
02:09:39 Can you hear me now, please?
02:09:41 Yes, I can hear you.
02:09:42 All right.
02:09:44 Please, did you get my question?
02:09:47 No, please.
02:09:48 I was asking if there have been any engagements on what to do to avert this in the future.
02:09:54 I know the MP for the area, Mr. Kwabena Donkor, Dr. Kwabena Donkor has been complaining about this situation
02:10:04 and suggested ways the water can be useful instead of it causing this havoc.
02:10:10 And I'm asking if there have been any engagements about what to do to prevent the water from flooding homes
02:10:17 and get other useful purposes for it.
02:10:20 No, Marita, as I said, this is the year that's calmed down ever.
02:10:26 So this is the time that we are now trying to look at how we can do it in the future.
02:10:33 So that is why we are looking at evacuating them completely from that place,
02:10:38 because we think that it will be okay.
02:10:41 So we are thinking of completely for now taking them off of that place to the higher ground
02:10:47 so that that place, they don't go back, if even at all, the situation of the water is a little bit okay.
02:10:54 So that is what we are thinking for now.
02:10:56 But I think we need to engage more so that we see how we can stop this from occurring in the future.
02:11:05 I think it's a good call for us to sit down with colleagues of this community.
02:11:12 So that I have started, that is why I'm going to see an anonymous and I told them,
02:11:17 I don't think that that place is a good place for them to be,
02:11:21 if even at all the situation is going to stop, they shouldn't go back there.
02:11:24 And anonymous have also bought into the idea.
02:11:26 So we have started at that level.
02:11:28 That is why we have been giving for a sense by a team of fiscal planners to go
02:11:33 and then design the place, which we have done.
02:11:36 So that is why I'm calling for well-wishers who are looking at how the NGOs
02:11:42 and those who have something in their hands to come to us,
02:11:45 because if we have to be better mentally, then we need to take stock of the anonymous.
02:11:50 Because I don't think it will be given to us for free.
02:11:53 So that is what I think for now.
02:11:55 So that at a higher level, the situation of maybe we're looking at the situation of the spillage or whatever,
02:12:06 can also be stopped at that level.
02:12:08 But at my level here, we are talking about completely taking them from that place
02:12:12 so that we don't experience such a thing again in future, because it has been happening.
02:12:16 By this time around, it has been overwhelmed.
02:12:20 Thank you for your time this morning.
02:12:22 Abdoulaye Adams is GCE for ProEast.
02:12:25 And if you just joined the program and you're wondering why ProEast is also flooded,
02:12:30 it's because of heavy rains that have caused flooding part of the Volta River upstream,
02:12:37 which has caused the water levels in the Kosovo Dam to rise, leading to the spillage,
02:12:44 which is causing the flooding down south.
02:12:46 So it's not only Mepha, parts of the eastern region, Angola,
02:12:51 and the other places that are affected as a result of this situation with high volumes of water caused by heavy rains.
02:12:59 Also, one person, unfortunately, has been reported dead and 3,300 displaced in Makango.
02:13:07 And this is due to heavy rains that has resulted in the overflow of the Black Volta,
02:13:11 which all is part of the Volta River, Black Volta, White Volta, Red Volta.
02:13:15 So we have quite a situation on our hands and we need to touch base with all those who've been affected by the floods.
02:13:21 So stay with us here on the AM Show.
02:13:23 We'll be reaching out to all these communities and finding out how they are coping.
02:13:28 Just watching the AM Show.
02:13:29 I'll be back with more, especially on the Innocence Movement.
02:13:34 [Music]
02:13:54 It's ten minutes after nine.
02:13:56 I'm grateful that you could stay with us here on the AM Show.
02:13:59 And you know, today is the big day for the nine schools that have qualified to the semis of the NSMQ 2023.
02:14:07 And it promises to be an exciting one.
02:14:10 I'll be telling you about the schools that will be competing, just in case you've forgotten.
02:14:14 But let's go to Kumasa now and touch base with Jacqueline Ansomayobua.
02:14:20 She's been on the ground for us since the prelims started.
02:14:23 And she's looking forward to what today's going to look like.
02:14:26 Hello, Jacquie.
02:14:28 That is the finale.
02:14:29 Well, let me start with you.
02:14:31 How are you feeling this morning?
02:14:33 I'm fine.
02:14:34 You're fine.
02:14:35 All right. But I have one of the trainers here.
02:14:37 Say, kindly join me.
02:14:38 How well do you think Achimota is prepared this morning?
02:14:42 Achimota is very well prepared for this stage.
02:14:45 And we are ready to give our best.
02:14:47 But you're meeting two girls schools.
02:14:49 And they have some high scoring points.
02:14:52 Do you see any threat there?
02:14:54 Well, as you know, with Science and Maths Quiz, it's not about scores.
02:14:58 It's about answering questions that you get on the stage.
02:15:02 You could see what happened with Mpraiso and Wesley girls.
02:15:06 You could see what happened to Kufrida Sektek.
02:15:08 So it's contest after contest.
02:15:10 And you've been able to compose yourself well, answer, and then take advantage of any slip.
02:15:16 So that is exactly what we are prepared for.
02:15:18 All right. So what are we expecting from Achimota this morning?
02:15:22 Achimota school is head of all the hosts, the glory of the coast.
02:15:26 You shouldn't expect anything but the best.
02:15:28 Anything but the best.
02:15:29 Now, I have this young lady here.
02:15:31 I call her the face of Achimota right now.
02:15:34 How are you feeling?
02:15:35 I've been speaking to you several.
02:15:36 How are you feeling this morning?
02:15:38 Great.
02:15:39 Great.
02:15:40 How confident are you this morning about Achimota?
02:15:43 I'm at the max.
02:15:45 You're at the max.
02:15:46 What are we expecting from them?
02:15:47 Nothing but the best.
02:15:49 Nothing but the best.
02:15:50 Are you sure that today, after the contest, Achimota is moving on to the finale?
02:15:54 That's the next stage?
02:15:56 We are prepared.
02:15:58 And we leave the rest to God.
02:16:00 But we are confident and we are hoping for the best.
02:16:03 All right.
02:16:04 Now, before I let you go back inside, I know we still have to start the contest.
02:16:08 I'll let you sing your school anthem.
02:16:10 We all want to be in the spirit right now.
02:16:12 So are we ready?
02:16:13 All right. So let's go.
02:16:16 [Singing]
02:16:18 [Singing]
02:16:22 [Singing]
02:16:26 [Singing]
02:16:30 [Singing]
02:16:33 [Singing]
02:16:37 [Singing]
02:16:41 [Singing]
02:16:45 [Singing]
02:16:49 [Singing]
02:16:53 [Singing]
02:16:58 [Singing]
02:17:01 [Singing]
02:17:05 [Singing]
02:17:09 [Singing]
02:17:13 [Singing]
02:17:17 [Singing]
02:17:21 [Singing]
02:17:26 But before I let you go, I want to speak to one of your teachers, who is also an old student.
02:17:30 How are you feeling right now, knowing that Achimota is right here at the semifinals today?
02:17:34 It's a great feeling. It's really a great feeling.
02:17:37 One thing I want to say is that we are not underrating any of the schools we are meeting.
02:17:42 Because to be in the semifinals, it means you are also one of the best.
02:17:47 So we've put in our best, we've trained, and we know at the end of the day,
02:17:50 we believe we are going to emerge as the winners of this contest.
02:17:55 Winners of this contest and moving forward?
02:17:57 Moving forward into the finals and coming stronger.
02:18:00 I said it in one of my interviews that the trophy is going home.
02:18:04 We are the pioneers.
02:18:05 It's been a while. It's been a very long time.
02:18:07 We are the pioneers of NSMQ and we hope and believe this year we will shine.
02:18:14 With what you said, are you not basing on past glory?
02:18:18 Because someone would be like, "Okay, Achimota is talking based on some past glory."
02:18:22 That was a long time ago.
02:18:23 Well, even at the early stages when this contest started, a lot of schools didn't believe in us.
02:18:28 But you can see we are making progress from contest to contest.
02:18:33 So I think things are changing and we will surely shine.
02:18:37 Okay, alright. Now that is Achimota School. Thank you guys so much.
02:18:40 I also have Wesley Girls, some of the students and the all students.
02:18:45 And they are also joining today's contest, as I said earlier, with St. Louis and Achimota.
02:18:50 Hello ladies, how are you?
02:18:53 Two of you should join.
02:18:54 Alright. Let me talk to the all students first.
02:18:56 How excited are you this morning?
02:18:58 We are quite excited for the contest to begin.
02:19:02 Well, knowing that your school is currently at this stage, how do you feel about that?
02:19:06 We are excited that God has brought us to where we are right now.
02:19:10 So yes, we are quite excited.
02:19:12 Alright. Now, you are currently a student.
02:19:15 What are the expectations you have from your girls this morning?
02:19:19 I expect them to do their best and that with God, their best will be their best.
02:19:25 And then by God's grace, we will win this contest.
02:19:28 Well, there are two girls schools here today. You, then St. Louis.
02:19:32 Do you see any threat looking at St. Louis too?
02:19:36 Because in their previous contest, they did exceedingly great.
02:19:39 Looking at them, do you see them as a threat in any way?
02:19:42 We are not looking at any school. We are just hoping that we will win this contest by God's grace.
02:19:50 Okay. What about you?
02:19:53 Just as she said, as long as we have God on our side, we believe that our best will be enough to win this contest.
02:20:00 I keep asking this question, especially to every girls school that we have had so far.
02:20:04 Currently in the semis, you are my first interview right now.
02:20:08 Do you think this year, your school will be the first female?
02:20:13 In 30 years, National Science and Maths School has been in existence for 30 years.
02:20:18 Do you think you can do that?
02:20:19 Because your school has been, this is not the first time you have been to the semifinals and moving forward.
02:20:24 Do you think this year there is going to be a difference?
02:20:27 If God's will for us to get to the finals, we will get there.
02:20:30 And if God's will for us to win, we will also win by God's grace.
02:20:34 You are an old student. Just as I asked that, do you think your school will be able to live up to that tax?
02:20:39 We are just trusting God for the best.
02:20:41 You are trusting God for the best. I see you want to speak.
02:20:43 Do you think your girls school is making that mark this year?
02:20:46 I agree with her. We are trusting God.
02:20:52 Okay. Alright. Sure. So thank you ladies so much.
02:20:54 And I will see you inside and all the best to you.
02:20:57 Now I have the ladies from Louisville. Kindly join me here.
02:21:01 The ladies that are taking the flag high, they are hoisting the flag of Ashanti region very very high this morning.
02:21:08 And they were very super excited. I came to meet a lot of them here.
02:21:11 And some of you should come right by my side here.
02:21:14 How are you ladies feeling? But let me talk to your old students. Kindly join me here.
02:21:18 How are you feeling?
02:21:19 I am very excited to be here because it is not easy to be in the semifinal stage of the contest.
02:21:25 So I am very very excited to be here.
02:21:27 The last time we saw your school in the semis was about 13 years ago.
02:21:32 And you guys are back. How are you feeling about that? 13 solid years.
02:21:38 That was a great comeback I would say because it is not easy.
02:21:41 And I will commend the girls and their performance. They did very very well and we are really proud of them.
02:21:48 Okay. Now you are currently a student. How are you feeling about this?
02:21:52 You have been able to kick out your Ashanti regional champions and also Central regional champions.
02:21:58 How are you feeling about all these?
02:22:00 I am so enthusiastic and excited for this. I mean it has been so long and I am very happy this is happening in my time.
02:22:09 I mean we are ready for this.
02:22:11 It feels like a great win for you.
02:22:13 A very great win. This is our year, St. Louis. This is our year.
02:22:16 This is your year. Are you all agreeing with her that this year a girls school is winning?
02:22:22 Yes.
02:22:23 And it is going to be St. Louis?
02:22:24 Yes. By the grace of God.
02:22:26 How positive are we about that?
02:22:29 Okay. We started from the prelims and we have reached the semis.
02:22:34 And we are not ready to go back. And we know that God is on our side.
02:22:37 So definitely we are going to the finals and we are bringing the trophy home.
02:22:41 Okay. Now I know this is your contest but your boys school is also contesting today.
02:22:45 What do you have to tell them?
02:22:49 Well, we wish them all the very best and it would be very nice to meet them in the finals.
02:22:55 But then, whatever God says is what is coming to pass.
02:23:01 The all students, you guys strongly believe in the alliance that you have.
02:23:05 The Akata Slopsa, right?
02:23:08 Now, in case, assuming you guys qualify to the next stage and you meet them,
02:23:14 what should they expect from St. Louis?
02:23:16 When we get there, we are going to put the alliance somewhere and beat them.
02:23:22 Come again. Come again.
02:23:24 When we go there, we are going to put the alliance somewhere and fight them.
02:23:29 So they should forget about the alliance.
02:23:32 When we get there. When we get there. For a while.
02:23:35 What word do you have to tell them? What do you have to tell your boys?
02:23:37 Their contest is the next one. They are meeting city rivals, that is Pempe College.
02:23:41 What are you wishing? What is something that you want to tell them right now?
02:23:45 I wish them the very best.
02:23:47 And I would say as they always showed in their past contests, they should be consistent.
02:23:52 And I believe that they are going to see it through.
02:23:54 And also, consistency is key.
02:23:56 And then I believe that our girls have been very consistent from the beginning.
02:24:01 So I believe that Achimota School and then Wesley Girls School are no match for us.
02:24:06 And I believe we are going to see it through.
02:24:08 Alright. She said they are no match for their school.
02:24:10 But I have this young lady here. I spoke to her during the last contest.
02:24:15 That is the quarter finals.
02:24:16 And she said something. She was like, "No, you don't need to underestimate in this school."
02:24:19 Do you remember that?
02:24:20 Yeah, clearly.
02:24:22 What are you telling us this morning?
02:24:24 The contest hasn't started yet.
02:24:27 But we believe that God is with us and we have the favor of God.
02:24:31 So we will win.
02:24:33 So are you telling my viewers right now that they shouldn't underestimate Saint Louis?
02:24:38 Yeah.
02:24:39 Alright. So what are you coming up with this morning?
02:24:41 What are we expecting from your girls?
02:24:43 The best.
02:24:44 The best.
02:24:45 Alright. But before I let you go, I want that morale from you girls this morning.
02:24:50 I know this morning you came here all enthusiastic.
02:24:52 And I must say, they are quite a lot in the auditorium right now.
02:24:56 But before you go, let's sing your school anthem.
02:24:59 Are you ready for that?
02:25:00 Yes.
02:25:01 Okay. So let's go.
02:25:02 [Singing]
02:25:15 [Singing]
02:25:38 Interesting. We see how it goes today between Achimota, Wesley Girls and Saint Louis Senior High School.
02:25:45 That's the first contest for the day.
02:25:47 And as you can see, the contestants are ready.
02:25:50 We are just waiting for the quiz mistress.
02:25:52 But in the studio, I've been joined by Benjamin Tando.
02:25:56 He's sales manager for Build Financial Technologies.
02:25:59 Those who make it possible for us to bring you a live coverage of the NSMQ.
02:26:04 Hello, Benjamin. How are you?
02:26:05 Hi, Bernice. I'm doing well.
02:26:07 All right. I'm doing good.
02:26:08 So Benjamin's school is out at Esado College.
02:26:12 Sorry about that, Benjamin.
02:26:13 Right off the bat.
02:26:16 Sorry about that. But hey, tell us about Build Financial Technologies.
02:26:19 Right. So Build is a fintech.
02:26:22 It was started by three accountants and then one tech genius.
02:26:27 I call him a genius because he built everything from scratch.
02:26:29 So they sat down one day and decided that the foreign software was not giving the local businesses enough coverage
02:26:36 with regards to the different aspects of their business.
02:26:38 So they decided to set it up somewhere in 2016.
02:26:42 Came live officially somewhere in 2018.
02:26:45 And we've been moving strong.
02:26:47 We currently have over 10,000 businesses on the platform.
02:26:51 And we've personally worked with a whole lot of them.
02:26:54 I personally have worked with over 150 businesses to keep them on track with their business finances.
02:27:00 All right. So tell us how it operates and what kind of businesses you're looking for
02:27:05 to put on board.
02:27:07 Great. So with Build software, it's a cloud-based software.
02:27:11 So access with internet connection on your laptop or the mobile app on your phone.
02:27:15 Now, when you are on the software, you can monitor your incomes with invoices.
02:27:19 You can record expenses.
02:27:21 Then we have a POA system for retail businesses as well.
02:27:23 So supermarkets, all those people.
02:27:26 And then we have a payroll feature.
02:27:27 Now, what it does is it automatically calculates POA and SNIT for you
02:27:31 and then give you tax and SNIT reports to that effect, making your statutory payments very easy.
02:27:37 Then the final thing, so like the crown of the whole thing,
02:27:40 is that the software automatically prepare financial reports for you.
02:27:44 Therein, making you ready for investments, loans, any aspect of that as well.
02:27:50 So you don't have to struggle to do all those things.
02:27:52 It's like a one-stop financial app that does everything that you need to do.
02:27:58 Fantastic. So if there's a business owner watching us, what does it take to be on board?
02:28:04 So very few steps. You just go to our website, www.build.africa, and then you create a free account.
02:28:12 www.build.africa.
02:28:16 Exactly. And then you click on "Create Free Account" at the top right corner.
02:28:20 And then you go through three simple steps of your first details, second details,
02:28:24 and then your business details, and then you're good to go.
02:28:27 Right. So tell us why BUILD is interested in the NSFQ.
02:28:31 So, I mean, we are all past students at my firm, and we're all rooting for our schools.
02:28:37 But the ideal thing, and I mean, I know you're laughing because my school is out,
02:28:41 but the ideal thing is that science and tech go hand in hand.
02:28:45 So we decided to fund the next generation of tech experts from our end,
02:28:50 so that in the few years to come, some of the geniuses on this context will be in our firm working with us.
02:28:58 Right. So you're interested because, I mean, this is related to what you do.
02:29:02 Exactly.
02:29:03 So, I mean, you've been around for some time, but I think this is your first time sponsoring the NSFQ.
02:29:08 Yes.
02:29:09 Are we likely to see more future partnerships?
02:29:11 Yes.
02:29:12 How has it been for you so far with your partnership of the NSFQ?
02:29:15 It's been really, really good. We're getting a lot of coverage. I mean, the context is worldwide beloved.
02:29:23 I mean, people here, people in the States, they are all watching, and we are getting calls,
02:29:27 we're getting engagement, and we are very excited about what is yet to come.
02:29:30 Okay. Adesco is out, but which school are you hoping to make it to?
02:29:35 You just repeated that again.
02:29:37 Which school are you rooting for?
02:29:40 So, I may be a bit partial on this, but I like the colors of Achimota. They're very similar to ours.
02:29:47 So I'm hoping they take it today.
02:29:48 But that makes sense.
02:29:49 Yeah.
02:29:50 Because the black and white and the black and white.
02:29:52 Exactly.
02:29:53 Okay. I get it. I get it. I get it. So that's Benjamin Tando.
02:29:56 He's Sales Manager at Build Financial Technologies, and he's been sharing what they do.
02:30:01 So they say sign up for free. But what are beyond what I get as a person sign on to this,
02:30:11 what are the other benefits of being on the platform?
02:30:16 Wonderful. I'm glad you asked. So for this particular period, we are celebrating our anniversary just next month.
02:30:23 And in light of that, we are offering up to 50% discount for all businesses from now to the end of December.
02:30:30 And then that's for our software packages for six months and above.
02:30:34 And then for our accounting support packages, we are offering up to 20% discount.
02:30:40 I didn't mention that earlier. So our accounting support package comes hand in hand.
02:30:43 You get the full software in addition to a virtual accountant to help you with all your bookkeeping, your taxes, payroll, all of that.
02:30:51 So you get all these benefits. And for those listening or watching today, you get, let me see, for the first 50.
02:30:58 The last time I gave about 200. We got a lot of calls. So I'm going to give you 50 this time around.
02:31:03 So for the first 50, we'll give you a little higher than the 50% discount.
02:31:06 Those who are calling between today and tomorrow. And then you get a free in-person set up and onboarding by myself and my beautiful team.
02:31:14 All right. That's fantastic. So give Build Financial Technologies a call. Is there any number to call?
02:31:19 Yes. So our number is 0303 947 832. 0303 947 832.
02:31:28 If someone wants to visit your offices and they have more questions to ask, where can they locate you?
02:31:32 Yes. So they can locate us as ARS Runabout, East Lagoon, first floor of the Meditap Pharmacy.
02:31:39 Right. So that's it. Benjamin Tandor, Sales Manager, Build Financial Technologies.
02:31:44 And as you can see, the quiz mistress has arrived and we will be zooming into that contest anytime soon.
02:31:52 That one between Wesley Gale Senior High School, Achi Mota and St. Louis.
02:31:58 And if you've been watching the competition, these three schools have proven that they are a school to watch.
02:32:06 But after that, we have Opokuwari School, Pope John's Seminary and Prempec College.
02:32:12 That will be the second contest of the day. And the third will be between Keta SHTS, Infantapim School and Presec Lagoon.
02:32:24 Today, your dial is locked on Joy because we are bringing you all these fixtures, interesting ones right here on the Joy News Channel.
02:32:34 And it's the NSMQ 2023. Do stay with us when we come back. We'll be taking you live to KNUSD for the competition.
02:32:44 [Music]

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