Ghana's Health Minister on leave as Doctors’ crisis deepens

Joy News

Health Minister Joseph Yieleh Chireh has been granted a leave of absence by President John Mills.

This was disclosed to Joy News by Communications Minister Haruna Iddrisu who has been asked to take provisional oversight of a ministry now in 'chaos'.

Doctors have withdrawn their services and have vowed not to accept even emergency cases at the various public hospitals.

Pharmacists are also threatening strike following botched negotiation on the SSSS.

It appeared rather unusual that the sector minister would voluntarily proceed on leave during a period like this.

But Iddrisu insists there is nothing wrong with the decision.

He explained Yieleh Chireh had long requested for his leave even before the doctors announced their strike and the president granted his wish.

He is expected to be back after a week.

Agogo: Man killed as residents demand immediate recall of soldiers from the area

Source: Joy Online


The Agogo Police Command has confirmed a shooting incident that occurred Thursday 13th October 2011, claiming one life.

The Agogo District Police Commander, Deputy Supt Nana Yawson said on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem on Friday that the victim was shot on his farm in a village called Bontire, but died on his way to hospital.

The deceased has been identified as Agya Kwame Abu who is reported to be in his late 40s. The body has since been deposited at Agogo Hospital.

The mother of the deceased, Maame Abunua, has also accused the Fulani Herdsmen of killing her son.

She said her late son was her fourth child whom she described as a hardworking farmer.

Adwoa Kuma, one of the 11 children of the deceased also said her father was killed by Fulani herdsmen on his farm without any provocation.

Meanwhile, DSP Yawson called for public collaboration to get the killers of the deceased.

The Youth of Agogo have threatened to burn down a community center that serves as a shelter for soldiers sent to protect the residents for their failure to protect them and have asked them to leave the town.

In response, Supt Nana Yawson has advised the youth to petition the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) for the removal of the soldiers since they were not there at the invitation of the police but the REGSEC.

Since the deployment of soldiers to Agogo over two months ago, four indigenes have been allegedly killed by Fulani herdsmen.

Fulani herdsmen around the Afram Plains area including Agogo and Kwahu areas have been terrorising residents and raping women.

Residents of Agogo have agitated for the evacuation of the Fulani herdsmen from the area, staging series of demonstrations to register their displeasure over the activities of Fulani herdsmen.

President of Agogo residents in Abroad, Anyan Kusi also told Adom Fm that several attempts to resolve the heinous activities of the Fulani herdsmen have proven futile, and accused the government of doing little to protect the citizens.

The Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem north in the Ashanti Region, Kwame Anyimadu Antwi said security personnel guarding the residents have failed to protect the indigenes and supported the call by the residents that the soldiers should leave Agogo area.

Ghana Economy May Grow as Much as 12% in 2012 on Oil Exports

Ghana’s economy may expand 8 percent to 12 percent next year as Africa’s newest oil exporter expects rising output of crude to boost revenue, said Deputy Finance Minister Seth Terkper.

“Oil revenue will be significant,” he said in an interview in Accra, the capital, yesterday. The forecast is greater than the International Monetary Fund’s 7.3 percent growth for 2012 made last month. This year, growth is seen at 13.5 percent, the fastest rate in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the Washington- based lender. The Ghana Statistical Service gave a provisional projection yesterday of 13.6 percent.

Production at Ghana’s Jubilee oil field began in December, the country’s first output of crude for export, propelling growth to a rate of 31 percent in the first three months of this year and 34 percent in the second quarter, the Ghana Statistical Service said Sept. 22.

A target to produce 120,000 barrels a day by the end of the year may not be met, according to the Finance Ministry. The output forecast is likely to be met next year, adding the delayed revenue to the country’s economy, Terkper said.

Ghana wants to sustain the 12 percent growth rate beyond next year by “adding value to our crude,” Terkper said.

In August, Ghanaian lawmakers approved a $3 billion loan from the China Development Bank, $800 million of which will be spent on developing a natural-gas industry in the country’s Western region. Ghana has 3 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves, Nana Asafu-Adjaye, managing director of the Ghana National Petroleum Corp., said Oct. 6.

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