GENERAL NEWS
Covid-19 deaths: 6 bodies buried at Awodome cemetery
Environmental Health Officials in the Greater Accra Region have buried six Covid-19 infected bodies at the Awodome cemetery.
Although the officials planned for eight bodies, members of two families failed to show up in the first-ever Covid-19 public burial since the third wave hit Ghana.
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has recorded a total of 945 deaths since Covid-19 hit the country.
Speaking with JoyNews‘ Maame Esi Thompson, shortly after the burial, the Environmental Health Director of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Joseph Asitanga, cautioned the public against what he observed as a disregard for the Covid-19 protocols, reminding that the virus is real.
“I want to tell every Ghanaian that the Covid is real,” he said.
Five of the bodies were from the Greater Accra Regional Hospital and one from the Ga East Hospital.
The Health Director said the protocols of the burial demands that “when the person passes on and we are informed that it is Covid, details of the dead person is recorded in our office then we start the process.
“Bear in mind that the law does not permit us to give the bodies to the family members, so when a person passes on, we do much counselling for the family.
According to him, education is provided for the family “and we tell them that this is a pandemic, and therefore, a pandemic is handled by the government so we help to handle the body.
“We will do everything possible to help lay the person to rest so, at the mortuary level, the bodies are kept at a different session from the other bodies.”
He further explained that apart from disinfecting the body for burial, “we disinfect the whole area, the vehicle that will carry the body, the coffin, even the grave.
“The people who are to do the handling are adequately protected with the PPEs, you the media people, before you have access to come and join the programme, we must protect you.
“After we finish the covering [of the grave] we will disinfect the whole place again before we leave.”
Meanwhile, some aggrieved families of the deceased disagreed that their relatives died of Covid-19.
“She did not die of Covid because if it was, her children who attended to her at the hospital would have been quarantined,” one told JoyNews.
He quizzed, “Why then have the children been left to walk about in public? Then all of us would be affected by the virus so if we behave like this in this world, it’s very painful.”
Another relative said, “we lost her I think about 10 days ago. My sibling did not contract Covid-19 because if it were so, all those who were around her before her demise would have been isolated.
Meanwhile, some aggrieved families of the deceased disagreed that their relatives died of Covid-19.
“She did not die of Covid because if it was, her children who attended to her at the hospital would have been quarantined,” one told JoyNews.
He quizzed: “Why then have the children been left to walk about in public? Then all of us would be affected by the virus so if we behave like this in this world, it’s very painful.”
Another relative said, “we lost her I think about 10 days ago. My sibling did not contract Covid-19 because if it were so, all those who were around her before her demise would have been isolated.”
According to him, his sibling was diagnosed with kidney failure and my sibling died, “you said you were taking her to a special ward, just some few hours you said she had contracted Covid.”
Mr Asitanga, however, refuted the assertion, “it doesn’t pay any doctor, doctors don’t get a reward for labelling any family member as a Covid body, and we are the last end of solving the problem.”
He said until the medical report indicates that a person died of Covid, “we have no hand in the body.”
In a recent incident that happened at Evans Hotel, near Trasacco Valley, East Legon, member of parliament for Jomoro Constituency, Western Region is alleged to have been in a ferocious brawl with a diasporan family who came to Ghana for the Christmas holidays.
The victim, Olivia, an American giving her account on the incident, explains that Hon. Dorcas Affo-Toffey parked in a wrong spot at the hotel leaving little to no space for other patrons to park their cars. This attracted the security guard at post to confront the MP but he was met with series of insults and an order to back off.
Olivia further explains that they needed a space to park their car also so her boyfriend, who was in the car with her and her father decided to talk to Hon. Dorcas so she could do the needful. But he was equally met with more scorn and barbs. She (the MP) then ordered her bodyguard and a group of men and women she was with to beat them up and in the process got their car mangled at different spots and glasses cracked as well.
Olivia then added that she got hurt physically and her whole family are traumatized by the happenings. She lastly said she did not know the said woman was even a lawmaker until after the incident. She quizzed that if lawmakers are this lawless, who will fight for ordinary citizens?
Olivia shared that she has since reported the case to the police and hope due diligence will be done and the peppertrators be brought to book according to the law. She said the security camera of the hotel captured the whole event which corroborates with her story.
Minister of Jomoro Constituency, Western Region, Hon. Dorcas Affo-Toffey is yet to speak to the matter.
Watch the account of Olivia on the case and snippets of the incident from the CCTV of Evans Hotel.
Once known as the “Garden City,” of West Africa, Kumasi, a bustling city in Ghana, has sadly fallen from grace. The once pristine streets and lush greenery have been replaced by filth and neglect. It is disheartening to witness the deterioration of this once beautiful city, and even more concerning is the lack of action and care from its inhabitants. In this article, we will explore the reasons why nobody seems to care about the filth in Kumasi, and shed light on the detrimental effects it has on both the city and its residents.
Gone are the days when Kumasi was a shining example of cleanliness and order. Today, rubbish is disposed of haphazardly, and the streets are filled with a variety of waste. The market women and men, who were once the lifeblood of the city, contribute to the problem by making the inner city filthy while continuing to sell their goods amidst the mess. This lack of responsibility and disregard for hygiene is deeply concerning.
Understanding the causes of this filth epidemic is essential to tackle the issue effectively. One major reason is the lack of proper waste management systems and infrastructure. If people do not have convenient options for waste disposal, they are more likely to resort to dumping rubbish wherever they please.
Additionally, the absence of strict enforcement and penalties for littering further exacerbates the problem. It is a collective failure on the part of authorities, residents, and businesses.
The consequences of Kumasi’s filth extend far beyond the immediate eyesore. Firstly, the health hazards posed by uncollected garbage and unsanitary conditions cannot be ignored. Diseases and infections spread more easily in such environments, putting the well-being of residents at risk. Secondly, the city’s image and tourism potential are severely compromised. A dirty and neglected city fails to attract visitors, leading to economic losses for local businesses and residents alike. Lastly, the filth breeds a culture of apathy and indifference, perpetuating a cycle of neglect.
Addressing the filth in Kumasi requires a multi-faceted approach involving both the government and its citizens. Firstly, there needs to be a significant investment in waste management infrastructure, such as garbage collection systems, recycling facilities, and public waste bins. Moreover, strict enforcement of littering laws and appropriate penalties should be implemented to deter irresponsible behavior.
Source: MC Paa Saahene
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