LORDINA PARTNERS OBUOBIA FOUNDATION TO DONATE TO GA SOUTH MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL

The First Lady, Mrs. Lordina Mahama continues to save lives of Ghanaians particularly the under privileged by donating medical supplies and equipment to health facilities across the country. 

Most rural clinics and hospitals lacking basic medical equipment to enable them deliver quality healthcare have been supported by the first lady through her foundation, Lordina Foundation with support from Medshare USA. 

The latest of such donations is a partnership of the Lordina and Obuobia Foundation, which donated an ambulance and medical supplies to the Ga South Municipal Hospital in Accra.

At a ceremony to hand over the items to the hospital, the Aspiring NDC Member of Parliament of the Weija Gbawe Constituency, Obuobia Darko Opoku stated that it was her greatest wish to see her constituency and its constituents having the best healthcare especially women and children.  

“I am very convinced that no life should be lost due to lack of any medical equipment, be it oxygen kits, ambulance, hospital beds or anything else” she emphasized.

Madam Obuobia noted that it is by this conviction that she pledged to herself to donate an ambulance and some medical equipment and accessories to the Ga South Municipal hospital which serves as the major health care facility in the whole municipality.

She asserted that “As an individual and a politician, nothing makes me happier than seeing smiles on the faces of others over a simple gesture from me, which goes a long way to transform their lives  and uplift their spirit.”

The Aspiring NDC MP for Weija Gbawe constituency pledged to work with the people in Weija Gbawe constituency to improve the quality of healthcare in the community and make Ga South Municipal Hospital one of the most enviable heath centre beyond the shores of Ghana after she has won the parliamentary elections hopefully.

 According to the Aspiring NDC MP for Weija Gbawe constituency, her foundation, the Obuobia Foundation has engaged in many interventions in the Weija Gbawe Constituency but healthcare has always been a topmost priority.

“On my recent campaign tour to the various electoral areas in the Weija-Gbawe constituency, I heard a very unfortunate and sad story about a pregnant woman who lost a twin at Tetegu because of inadequate access to healthcare” she narrated.

This story she said troubled her and encouraged her to promise the people of her constituency to lobby for CHIPS compound for them. “By God’s grace work has commenced on the project and it’s scheduled to be completed by November 2016” she stated. 

Aside the CHIPS compounds, the foundation has donated a 15,000 litre polytank to the Ga South Municipal Hospital to mitigate routine acute water shortage in the hospital. She also donated wheel chairs and white canes to persons with disabilities in Weija.

“I have reiterated my reasons for going into politics, that’s my passion for humanity. This I know may sound strange to many especially my opponents who think I do all these for political gains but that is far from the truth.” she asserted.
Madam Obuobia believes the donation which forms part of activities to mark her 39th birthday will help save lives of the citizenry and improve healthcare in the constituency.
She commended the first lady who she described as sympathetic and kindhearted for her support to the people of Ghana.

District Health Director of the Ga South Municipal Hospital Dr. Bright Davis Teye indicated that even though Government and the municipal Assembly has contributed significantly to developing health infrastructure in the municipality the hospital which has 583,250 population in its catchment area still has enormous needs.  
He said the municipality will continue to partner with civil organizations to improve healthcare delivery.

Dr. Bright Davis Teye was however thankful to the first lady Mrs. Lordina Mahama and Obuobia Darko Opoku for the donation saying that the ambulance, medical supplies and equipment will go a long way to improve healthcare delivery.

Dzaasetse and Acting Chief of Weija Nii Ogbedada Boafo Danyina-Nse who chaired the occasion commended the aspiring NDC MP for her enormous interventions in the Weija community and its environs. He asked the people to make the right choice come December 7 saying that “It is the person who climbs a good tree that deserves a push".

MONTIE THREE TO BE RELEASED THIS FRIDAY,AUGUST 26

President Mahama has remitted the
remitted  the remaining  prison  sentence  imposed  on  three  persons:  Salifu  Maase  (alias Mugabe),  Alistair  Nelson  and  Ako  Gunn  who  were  sentenced  to  4  months imprisonment  and  a fine  of  GHȻ10,000.00  each  for  contempt  of  court.  

A statement signed by the Communication's Minister Edward Omane Boamah said the  decision  of  His  Excellency  the  President  to  remit  their  sentences  on compassionate  grounds  follows  a  petition  submitted  to  him  by  the contemnors appealing to  the  President  to  exercise  his  prerogative  of  mercy even  as  they  continue  to  express  deep  remorse  and  regret  for  the unacceptable statements they made  against the  Judiciary.

According to the statement, the remission is effective August 26th, 2016.

Below is the full statement.
PRESIDENT GRANTS REMISSION  OF  SENTENCE TO THREE CONTEMNORS
 The  President  of  the  Republic  of  Ghana,  His  Excellency  John  Dramani Mahama  has,  in  consultation  with  the  Council  of  State and  in  exercise  of his  constitutional  powers  under  Article  72  of  the  Constitution,  remitted  the remaining  prison  sentence  imposed  on  three  persons:  Salifu  Maase  (alias Mugabe),  Alistair  Nelson  and  Ako  Gunn  who  were  sentenced  to  4  months imprisonment  and  a fine  of  GHȻ10,000.00  each  for  contempt  of  court.  

The remission  is effective  26th  August 2016 The  three  were  sentenced  on  27th  July  2016  and  have  served  part  of  the prison  sentences  imposed  on  them.  They  have  also  paid  the  GHȻ10,000.00 (ten thousand  Cedis) fines. 

The  decision  of  His  Excellency  the  President  to  remit  their  sentences  on compassionate  grounds  follows  a  petition  submitted  to  him  by  the contemnors appealing to  the  President  to  exercise  his  prerogative  of  mercy even  as  they  continue  to  express  deep  remorse  and  regret  for  the unacceptable statements they made  against the  Judiciary. 

His  Excellency,  President  Mahama  takes  this  opportunity  to  remind  all Ghanaians  of  the  need  to  respect  the  institutions  of  State  and  exercise freedom of speech  responsib ly mindful  of  the  need  to preserve  peace  and national unity. 

The  President  reminds  all  concerned  especially  persons  working  in  the media  or  appearing  on  its  platforms  to  be  circumspect  and  guard  against the  use  of  intemperate  language  which  has  the  potenti al  of  causing unnecessary tension  especially in  this  election  year.  

The  President  is  hopeful  that  all  will  draw  lessons  from  the  events  leading to the  conviction  of  the  three  persons and  bear  in  mind  the  consequences of injudicious utterances. 

Signed: EDWARD  K.  OMANE  BOAMAH 
 (DR.) ( Minister) 
Monday,  August  22,  2016 .
 Issued  in  Accra  on 

THE FIRST LADY IS NOT ACCOUNTABLE TO THE NPP

A Presidential Aide, Seidu Kpebu says the First Lady Mrs Lordina Mahama is not accountable to the opposition  New Patriotic Party . 

His comments comes after the Acting General Secretary of the NPP John Boadu, held a press conference to question    the source of Lordina Foundation's resources for its charity work undertaken across the country.

  According to the the General Secretary,  the First Lady must come out to account to Ghanaians the source of the funding of her charitable works. But Mr Kpebu who is also close to the First Lady said she has at every program made mention of her sponsors so the NPP can go back to the speeches, audios and videos of the programs  to determine the source of her resources. 

"Let it be known that the First Lady has always acknowledged her sponsors and partners in her speeches at all donation events. There is no single event that she failed to acknowledge the sponsors" he asserted. 

Mr Kpebu stated that the Lordina Foundation has a lot of offers for sponsorship, collaborations and partnership but the First Lady has always been meticulous in deciding which organization or individual to collaborate with.

" She has always acknowledged MedShare USA, Chinese Embassy, and the Turkish First Lady as among her sponsors. Those projects that the Foundation is facilitating, she has always stated same in her speeches" he noted.


The Presidential Aide indicated that the first lady Mrs Lordina Mahama has received many awards and each award came with a package, which she could have kept for her personal comfort but she has always decided to give them out to orphans, underprivileged and needy people in our society.

"If indeed the NPP were sincere in their quest, they would have first, contacted these publicly declared institutions, organisations and individuals she keep mentioning in her speeches" Mr Kpebu said.

The presidential Aide questions where the NPP is getting money or resources for their campaign. "Please tell Ghanaians. Remove the speck in your eyes before talking about the log in someone else’s" he said 

He also want the NPP to tell Ghanaians the source(s) of resources of Madam Rebecca Akufo Addo that enables her to be donating items in NPP branded polythene bags to patients in some hospitals in recent weeks. 

"Madam Rebecca Akufo-Addo is the wife of the flagbearer of the NPP and the party is a public institution hence accountable to Ghanaians " he stated. 

He said "it's obvious the  NPP is just diverting attention from the success story of the Lordina Foundation. And especially the successful campaign of President Mahama currently in Western region that is drawing multitude of crowds to listen to him.

FIRST LADY CONTINUES TO SAVE LIVES

Despite being the second largest hospital in the greater Accra region and also noted for maternal healthcare , the La General hospital is challenged with maternal deaths, still births and early new born deaths. 

The hospital which has the total catchment population of 220 thousand as at half year has conducted over 2000 deliveries. 

 To help address this challenge, the First lady Mrs. Lordina Mahama through her foundation and Siemens Ghana has donated an Ultra Sound Scanner to the La General hospital to help in diagnosing pregnancy related abnormalities, which could have resulted in unexpected emergency.
  With this every pregnancy will be scanned at least three times during pregnancy to enable clinicians to plan delivery ahead of time to reduce maternal deal death.

The ultrasound machine which is Siemens Acuson X150 is capable of doing Obstetrics, Vaascular, Cerebrovascular, Abdomen, Urology and Musculoskeletal Exam.


The Lordina Foundation which has a goal to save lives in hospitals have donated medical supplies and equipment to deprive communities and so far many communities in all regions have benefitted from the donations as well as free medical health screening exercise across the country. 

At a colourful ceremony to hand over the Ultra Sound machine to the hospital the Minister of Health Alex Segbefia who represented the First Lady reiterated governments commitment towards safeguarding the health of the citizens and everyone living in Ghana. He indicated that the massive input the hospital is receiving is a testament to this and that it was everybody’s responsibility to ensure that these equipment are taken good care of and applied to the benefit of patients.

“Under Better Ghana Agenda, Government in an uncompromising way has rededicated itself among other to ensuring a healthier population with reduced maternal and infant mortality because we believe that if Ghanaians have increased access to quality integrated health services, increased availability of community-based health resources, strengthen and responsive health systems and improved governance and accountability in the health sector, then they will experience more equitable improvements in their health status and the reason why government will not hesitate to invest in health infrastructure” he stated.

The health Minister stated that one major challenge to accelerating the procurement of healthcare technologies by the ministry for better clinical service is the lack of long term secure funding for the purchase of spare parts. According to him the Ministry of Health has been under the burden of providing resources to fund all third party maintenance contracts on equipment it procured centrally under various projects and whose warranties had elapsed.

“The mobilization of resources for sustaining the installed base of medical equipment has become extremely difficult under the current economic climate where both government and private sectors budgets face a difficult battle for finite resources” he asserted.

Mr Segbefia said it has become necessary to set up a Medical Equipment support Fund with resource from internally generated funds of healthcare institutions for the servicing of recurrent costs including maintenance and long term payment of the credit facilities with which these capital equipment are procured.

Chief Executive Officer of Southern and Eastern Siemens Sabine Dall’omo said the global company was committed to playing a meaningful role in the development of the African continent and Ghana in particular.
 “We are confident that this donation of the ultrasound unit will improve diagnostic imaging of patients, support the hospital’s every day clinical requirements and contribute to affordable and accessible healthcare to Ghanaian citizens” she said.

Siemens used the opportunity of the programme to announced further investment in gas and steam projects Ghana over the next three to five years which will together with project partners will add hundreds MW to the national grid.

Medical Director of the La General Hospital, Dr. Ebenezer Oduro Mensah expressed gratitude to the First Lady Mrs. Lordina Mahama and Siemens Ghana for the donation of the Ultrasound scanner to the hospital saying that it will enhance service delivery as well as save lives.

Dr Oduro Mensah used the opportunity to thank the President John Dramani Mahama for the newly installed elevator for the hospital since it has reduced the burden of carrying sick and pregnant women on staircase.

PRESIDENT MUGABEEXPECTED IN GHANA NEXT WEEK

President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe is expected in Ghana for a four-day state visit next week.

 Mr Mugabe will be in Ghana from August 18 - 22 for a visit that is expected to open corporate Ghana to opportunities in Zimbabwe.

President John Mahama is expected to confer on Africa's longest serving President, the Millennium Life Time Achievement award for his role in Zimbabwe's liberation struggle from British colonial rule.

President Mugabe has "a special soft spot" for Ghana. His first wife Sarah Francesca (Hayfron) Mugabe was a Ghanaian who was much loved in Zimbabwe. She was the First Lady of Zimbabwe from 1987 until her death in 1992. She was popularly known as Amai (Mother).

The 92-year-old president will also meet with the Zimbabwean community in Ghana. President Robert Mugabe's last visit to Ghana was in 2007.

Mugabe rose to prominence in the 1960s as the leader of the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) during the conflict against the conservative white minority government of Rhodesia now Zimbabwe.

He has been President of the country since 1987.

BOLGATANGA MUNICIPALITY HAS STRATEGIC ROLE TO TRANSFORM GHANA'S TOURISM SECTOR .... SAY FIRST LADY

The First Lady, Mrs. Lordina Mahama has observed that the Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East Region has a strategic role to play in government's quest to transform the tourism industry into a leading foreign exchange earner thereby contributing significantly to the country's economic development. 

She further noted that the municipality, known as the largest producer of leather works and straw baskets in the country could use its vibrant art and crafts industry to boost the country's tourism industry and increase its contribution to the national economy.

The First Lady made the observation when the Lordina Foundation with the support of its international partners, MedShare of the United States presented medical equipment and supplies to the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital at Bolgatanga. 
The equipment includes hospital and theatre beds, plastic adhesives, syringes, masks, gloves, electrical orthopaedic beds, plastic bandages and Urological products. 

The presentation at Bolgatanga yesterday brings to ten the number of regions who had so far benefitted from the Lordina foundation's nationwide medical outreach programme to support health facilities in mainly deprived communities of the country.

As part of the programme, a free medical screening exercise on breast cancer and syphilis, HIV testing and counseling for residents of the region who are mainly women was carried out.
The programme, dubbed "Prevention of mother-to-child transmission-the key to an HIV free generation and keeping mothers alive campaign" was being sponsored by the Ghana Chapter of the Organization of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA) and the Ghana Aids Commission.   

Mrs. Mahama announced that the government through the Ministry of Tourism has evolved strategies to come up with programmes to create  "stronger linkages and cohesion between the crafts and tourism sectors along an integrated value chain which the Municipality has a key role to play".
She indicated further that the Ministry of Tourism and key players in the creative industry were working on strategies to among other things facilitate the training of artisans on the basic principles of business tourism which allowed the artisans to be more successful in reaching out to tourism markets locally and abroad.

"Ghana can use crafts and tourism to attract tourists from all over the World into the country in order to turn the tourism industry into a leading foreign exchange earner contributing significantly to our Gross Domestic Product", she stressed.
Mrs. Mahama intimated that "handicrafts are also hugely important in our non-traditional exports and could contribute largely to our economic development of the country and there was therefore the need to preserve cultural heritage, traditional skills and talents which are associated with people's lifestyles and history".

She pointed out that there were cultural tourists in the World who were usually keen on learning about the history and local culture of a people hence emphasis must also be placed on cultural tourism.
The First Lady assured that government was committed to completing the expansion of the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital so that it would serve as a training center for nurses and midwives and other health personnel.
She appealed to the chiefs and elders of the community to advise the youth in the region to be circumspect and not to engage in violent acts that would mar the peace in the country before, during and after the general elections.
She said as a mother  “I would not want to see any woman or child suffer because whenever there was violence anywhere in the world they suffer the most”.
The Regional Medical Director, Dr. Kofi Issah who received the items indicated that the equipment would be put to good use to help improve on health indicators in the region particularly among women and children who are the most vulnerable in deprived communities.
He said the hospital had achieved 98 per cent of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PTMTC) and out of 12 babies born by HIV/AIDS positive mothers only one tested positive to the disease.

For his part, the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Albert Abongo indicated that the Lordina foundations campaign  to reduce mother-to-child transmission in HIV infection had yielding positive results as her efforts has gained international recognition.

The First Lady was accompanied by the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection,Nana Oye Lithur,  t Member of Parliament for Navrongo Central, Mr. Mark Owen Woyongo and the National Women's Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Hajia Joyce Zenabu.

PARLIAMENT APPROVES 37MILLION DOLLAR LOAN FOR CONSTRUCTION OF OBESTEBI INTERCHANGE

 Parliament has approved the contracting of two loan facilities  totally 37 million dollars for  the construction of an interchange at the Obestsebi Lamptey circle, near the Kwame Nkrumah interchange in Accra.

 The Chairman of the Finance Committee, James Afedzi said the Obetsebi-Lamptey gets flooded during the rainy season due to the poor drainage system around it. He said the construction of the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange will significantly improve traffic flow but the size of road around the round about. 

The construction is thus meant to avert the potential threat of traffic jams around there. 

The facilities will be contracted from HSBC Bank Plc of the UK. IT consists of a 22 million dollar supported credit agreement and a 17 point two milion dollar commercial credit agreement.