Ghana will pilot a Pregnancy Registry in early 2026 to monitor vaccine safety among pregnant women and their babies.

The initiative, under the Maternal Immunization Safety Monitoring Programme, will track adverse events from vaccinations.

It will be led by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, with implementation by the Dodowa and Kintampo Health Research Centres.

Pregnant women in health facilities within the catchment areas of the two research centres will receive vaccines and be monitored for safety during pregnancy and after delivery.

Speaking at a stakeholder engagement in Accra, Dr Edwin Nkansah, Director of Vaccines, Vigilance, and Clinical Trials at the FDA, said the project aims to establish an effective system for evaluating vaccine safety in pregnant women.

“One of the things this project will do will be to monitor how pregnant women react at every state of their pregnancy when they receive a vaccine,” he said.

Dr Nkansah noted that the registry would provide the FDA with comprehensive data on vaccine effects on pregnant women and their children, ensuring proper monitoring of pharmaceutical products used during pregnancy.

Dr Frank Atuguba, Director of Dodowa Health Research Centre, said 150 women from the project areas had been selected for initial monitoring of maternal health records from early pregnancy until delivery.

He explained that the process would continue after vaccination.

“Generally, vaccines are the most cost-effective ways of preventing diseases, but there are some infections that can be effectively tackled by vaccinating a pregnant woman to protect the unborn child,” Dr. Atuguba said.

He added that the project would also include vaccine trials for Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Group B Streptococcal Pneumonia to protect both pregnant women and their babies in early life.

Madam Adeli Ashie, Chief Regulatory Officer at the FDA Safety and Monitoring Department, said pregnant women face a higher risk of contracting diseases that could lead to mortality.

She said the Pregnancy Registry aligned with the FDA’s mandate to monitor vaccine safety for pregnant women.

The Zuarungu Health Centre in the Bolgatanga East District of the Upper East Region urgently needs a surgical theatre—a situation that is hindering healthcare delivery and endangering lives.

Currently operating without a theatre, the facility is unable to perform critical surgical procedures such as cesarean sections, emergency operations, and other essential interventions.

As a result, patients—particularly expectant mothers, accident victims, and others in critical condition—are often referred to distant facilities, especially the Upper East Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga. These referrals lead to delays that sometimes prove fatal.

According to Harriette Yeribu, the Bolgatanga East District Director of the Ghana Health Service, the lack of a theatre has become a major bottleneck in efforts to provide timely and comprehensive care.

She made this disclosure in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Zuarungu, on the sidelines of a forum on citizen-driven health sector policy. The forum aimed to harness community structures for inclusive and quality education and healthcare.

It was organized by Rural Initiatives for Self-Empowerment Ghana (RISE-Ghana), a non-governmental organization, in partnership with the Bolgatanga East Evidence for Development Community of Practice (E4D-CoP).

The forum formed part of the Bolgatanga East Evidence for Development (E4D) project, with funding support from the Centre for Democratic Development Ghana (CDD-Ghana). It aimed to solicit citizen input to inform the District Medium-Term Development Plans in the health sector.

Yeribu said the lack of a theatre had placed immense pressure on the facility, which is already grappling with limited resources and understaffing.

“This health centre is the referral facility for all the CHPS compounds in the district. We have the personnel, including a medical doctor, but we do not have a theatre or a laboratory,” she lamented.

The District Director also indicated that many of the health facilities lack sustainable water and sanitation infrastructure, further limiting the ability of health workers to provide quality care.

“We need infrastructure expansion for the Zuarungu and Gambibgo health centres, accommodation for staff, and overall support to be able to deliver quality care,” she added.

Yeribu therefore appealed to the government, NGOs, and well-meaning individuals to support the construction of a fully equipped theatre and other infrastructure. She believes such investments would not only save lives but also enhance the overall quality of healthcare delivery in the area.

Shadrack A-obiliya, Project Officer at RISE-Ghana, noted that the project aims to involve community members in healthcare delivery to ensure sustainability and inclusiveness.

Medeama SC continued their recent good run in the Ghana Premier League following their win over Vision FC.

The Tarkwa-based side recorded a 3-1 win at the TNA Stadium on Friday night on matchday 30 of the top flight.

Medeama had a strong start to the game after Kingsley Braye scored after just two minutes into the game.

That lead, however, didn’t last long as the away side drew level immediately. Daniel Yemoh scored in the fifth to make it 1-1.

Both teams went into the break with the game at 1-1.

Ibrahim Tanko’s side were back in the lead after the recess with Black Stars defender Kamaradini Mamudu scoring his third goal in two games to restore their advantage.

Despite a spirited effort, Vision were unable to get back into the game.

Medeama, utilized their home advantage late in the game when Abdul Salam came off the bench to score with just minutes away from the full time whistle.

With the 3-1 win, Medeama climb to fifth in the league table with 47 points while Vision sit 14th.

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Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and Nana Agyakoma Difie II, Queen mother of Mampong

Former Vice President of Ghana, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has extended his condolences to the Queen mother of Mampong, Nana Agyakoma Difie II, and the Mampong Traditional Council following the passing of the Paramount Chief of Mampong, Daasebre Nana Osei Bonsu II.

This was shared on the X page of Asante Nation on Friday, April 4, 2025.

Dr Bawumia, together with his team, visited the Palace of the occupant of the Silver Stool at Asante Mampong as part of their Thank You Tour, to commiserate with the queen mother, chiefs, and people of Mampong over the unfortunate loss.

Until his death, Daasebre Nana Osei Bonsu II served as the Vice President of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs and was the esteemed occupant of the Silver Stool, a position of immense traditional significance within the Asante Kingdom.

He was regarded as the second-in-command in the Ashanti traditional hierarchy and often acted on behalf of the Asantehene in matters of custom and tradition.

Before ascending to the Silver Stool, he was known as Oswald Gyimah-Kessie, a lawyer and economist by profession who also served as the Registrar of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

Daasebre Nana Osei Bonsu II was 86 years old.

Read the post below:

Former Vice President of the Republic, H.E Dr Mahamadu Bawumiah has visited the Palace of the occupant of the Silver Stool at Asante Mampong together with his team on their Thank You Tour, to commiserate with Nana Agyakoma Difie II, Queenmother of Mampong and the chiefs and… pic.twitter.com/b4dBFFFdme

— The Asante Nation (@Asante_nation) May 2, 2025

JKB/

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Ghana and DR Congo shared the spoils in an entertaining 1-1 draw in their opening Group C encounter, played at a lively tempo and filled with chances, physical battles, and individual brilliance – particularly from Ghana’s standout performer Hakim Sulemana.

The Black Satellites came flying out of the blocks and dominated the opening 15 minutes of the match, carving out early chances in the 9th and 13th minutes. Forwards Aziz Musibau and Opoku were lively in the attack, while Hakim controlled the midfield with authority. However, despite Ghana’s early control, it was DR Congo who opened the scoring in the 16th minute – their first real threat in the match. A swift, incisive move caught the Ghanaian defence flat-footed, and Congo slotted home to take a surprise lead against the run of play.

The goal did little to shake Ghana’s momentum. Musibau missed a big chance in the 21st minute before Ghana equalized through the same player just three minutes later, making it 1-1 in the 24th minute. It was a deserved goal after sustained pressure.

 The game balanced out from that point, with both sides enjoying spells of possession. Ghana’s Opoku missed a glaring chance in the 32nd minute, while DR Congo’s Messy Mubundu Manitu [in jersey number 10] impressed with his creativity. The Satellites’ Andrews Adjabeng also spurned a gilt-edged opportunity as the half wore on. Congo nearly snatched the lead again just before halftime, but Ghana had the better of the chances in this half overall, including a header over the bar in the 38th minute and another just before the break from Musibau.

The second half of the match was physical, very competitive and saw both teams missing a number of good opportunities. It picked up with an open, fast-paced rhythm. Both teams had chances in the early stages – Ghana saw a chance flagged offside in the 50th, before Musibau again missed a golden opportunity a minute later.

Ghana made their first change in the 59th minute, bringing on Jerry Afriyie for Andrews Adjabeng to inject fresh legs. Congo’s Ibrahim Matobo Mubalu [7] showed flashes of brilliance with his footwork, adding flair to the match. The encounter turned increasingly physical, with Ghana’s Phenyin-Denis Marfo [17] picking up a yellow card in the 66th minute for a tactical foul, adding to DaCosta’s earlier booking.

Opoku missed another key chance in the 70th minute, shooting over the bar from the edge of the area. DR Congo made a double substitution and nearly retook the lead from a well-worked free kick, only for Ghana’s goalkeeper Gidios Aseako to make a sharp save in the 75th minute.

The Congolese continued to exploit space on the wings, while Ghana pushed forward with a flurry of corners around the 79th and 81st minutes, none of which were capitalized on. Ghana made a triple substitution in the 82nd minute, aiming to find a late winner, but it was Congo who threatened more in the final moments.

A defensive lapse from Ghana in the 84th minute almost cost the Satellites, but Goalkeeper Aseako was alert to the threat and thwarted it. Joseph Aidoo [25] was booked in the 87th minute for a reckless challenge. Congo threatened to nick the result towards the end of the match, but they were denied by some heroic defending by the Satellites, who had one final corner in stoppage time but couldn’t make it count.

Ghana’s Hakim Sulemana was named Player of the Match. The Ghanaian midfielder was tireless in both attack and defence, dictating play and showing maturity and composure throughout.

In the other Group C opening match, the Central African Republic battled defending Champions to a 1-1 draw in an uncompromising encounter.

Ghana’s next match will be on Monday, May 5, 2025, when the Satellites come up against Senegal, in a game where both countries would want to win to brighten their chances of qualifying for the quarterfinals of the competition.

Attorney General Dr Dominic Ayine has announced that significant progress has been made in investigations, with Prof Ameyaw Ekumfi set to be charged next week.

He stated that it has been established that the $2 million payment made by the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund was unauthorized, with only former CEO Solomon Asamoah and former board chairman Prof. Ameyaw Ekumfi aware of and involved in the transaction.

Both Asamoah and Ekumfi will face charges, with some board members offering to testify as prosecution witnesses.

Dr Ayine said he is considering their offers.

“Significant progress has been made in other investigations being conducted in relation to the ORAL Briefs presented to me in February.

“The investigations by the National Intelligence Bureau have been equally thorough under the direction of its Director General, Mr. Alhassan Kipo and guided by the team in my Office.

“In respect of the Skytrain matter, we have completed investigations and will be filing charges hopefully next week.

“We have established that the Two Million United States Dollars (US$2,000,000.00) paid by the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund was paid without board approval.

“The only persons who knew and acted on the payment were the former CEO, Mr. Solomon Asamoah and the former board chairman, Prof Ameyaw Ekumfi.

“Both will be charged next week. Some of the board members have offered to testify as witnesses for the prosecution and I am considering their offers,” AG said while briefing the media.

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By Iddi Yire, GNA Special Correspondent in Libreville, Gabon

Libreville (Gabon), May 02, GNA – Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama Friday arrived in the Gabonese capital of Libreville, to attend the inauguration of Gabonese President-elect General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema.

President-elect Nguema, the outgoing military leader, won the April 12 Gabonese Presidential election with 90.35 per cent of the valid votes cast.

He will serve a seven-year term.

President Mahama’s participation in the event scheduled for Saturday, May 3, is in pursuit of Ghana’s long-standing foreign policy of good neighbourliness.

 He is being accompanied by Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs; Mr Prosper Douglas Bani, the National Security Advisor; Dr Callistus Mahama, the Executive Secretary to the President and Mr Stan Xoese Dogbe, the Deputy Chief of Staff at the Presidency in-charge of Operations.

Gabon, a major oil-producing country in Central Africa, has a population of about 2.3 million.

In August 2023, Nguema led a coup that ended 56 years of rule by former President Ali Bongo and his family. 

He has pledged to boost agriculture, industry, and tourism, while diversifying the economy, according to Reuters news agency report.

GNA

ACP Grace Akrofi Asiedu, Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service

Investigations into the kidnapping of two Ghanaian women, who were recently recovered in Nigeria after a viral video brought attention to their plight, are still ongoing, according to the Ghana Police Service.

Three individuals were arrested in Nigeria and five others in Ghana as a result of the rescue, which was accomplished through a concerted cross-border operation by security services from both Ghana and Nigeria.

The arrests, according to authorities, are part of a larger operation targeting an alleged international abduction organization.

The Ghana Police Service’s Director of Public Affairs, ACP Grace Ansah-Akrofi, stated in an interview with Channel One Newsroom on Friday, May 2, that the victims are safe and healthy, but warned that the full details of the case are still unknown.

Once investigations are complete, ACP Ansah-Akrofi stated, any pertinent information will be shared, including whether a ransom was demanded.

She added that the police will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available and emphasized that the case is being handled based on the current facts.

“The victims have been rescued and they are well. They are alive and well. We’re yet to complete our investigations. As soon as our investigations are over, we will give the public full details of the whole incident.

“And other dynamics that the public needs to know, we will draw everyone’s attention to them accordingly. In the meantime, we’re dealing with the case as it is, and we will keep the public updated in due course,” citinewsroom.com quotes ACP Grace Ansah-Akrofi as saying.

KA

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…as Sulemana moves to Energy Ministry

President John Mahama has appointed Edmond B. Kombat to the position of Acting Managing Director, the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), following the reassignment of Dr. Yussif Sulemana to the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition. This was contained in a letter dated Tuesday, April 29, 2025 and signed by the Executive Secretary to the President, Dr. Callistus Mahama.

Dr. Sulemana is expected to serve as a Technical Advisor at the Ministry, after a brief tenure at the helm of the state-owned refinery.The leadership change comes at a crucial moment for TOR, which continues to grapple with legacy debt, prolonged operational downtime, and a dire need for capital investment, with Mr. Kombat’s appointment signalling a renewed push to reposition the refinery as a cornerstone of the nation’s energy strategy.

Mr. Kombat, a lawyer and experienced energy strategist, was named Deputy Managing Director of TOR earlier this year. His elevation to the acting managing director role is seen by many as part of broader efforts to stabilise leadership and restore TOR’s operational relevance.

A co-founder and former Director of Research and Policy at the Institute for Energy Security (IES), Kombat brings a unique mix of technical, financial, and legal expertise. He holds a Master of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School and was called to the Ghana Bar in 2022.  He previously served as Special Assistant to a former TOR Managing Director, where he played a central role in attracting a reported US$110 million in investment and spearheading operational reforms credited with saving the country some US$300 million.

In brief comments following his appointment, Mr. Kombat said: “TOR remains a strategic national asset. I am committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure its turnaround and long-term sustainability.”

The refinery, with a nameplate capacity of 45,000 barrels per day, has operated below potential for years, hindered by ageing infrastructure, unreliable crude oil supply, and recurring financial constraints. Ghana currently imports the vast majority of its refined petroleum products, a trend that officials have said undermines energy security and drains foreign exchange reserves.

Mr. Kombat’s professional background spans the public and private sectors. In addition to his leadership at IES, he previously worked as an energy analyst at TOR and as a business and energy analyst at the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST). He also completed a stint as a Summer Analyst at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in 2013.

His appointment is expected to usher in a new phase of strategic engagement with investors, regulatory stakeholders, and industry partners. With Ghana’s fuel consumption rising steadily and global oil markets remaining volatile, TOR’s revival is increasingly seen as a national imperative. Mr. Kombat is expected to focus on improving crude procurement, optimising plant efficiency, and securing new sources of funding.

While TOR’s challenges remain complex, observers say the leadership transition offers a fresh opportunity to reimagine the future of the refinery and its role in Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector. The appointment has been well received by staff, who see Mr.  Kombat’s elevation as a step toward stability and renewed purpose.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

Ghana’s Black Satellites were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opening Group C fixture at the TotalEnergies CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt 2025 on Friday.

The Satellites, who played under the floodlights at the New Suez Stadium, were stunned by Samuel Ntanda’s header, which gave DR Congo a surprise 16th-minute lead.

Ghana responded through Musibau Aziz eight minutes later but despite sustained pressure in the second half, they couldn’t find a winner.

It was a scrappy but competitive affair, as both sides looked to assert early dominance in a group where holders Senegal had earlier been held 1-1 by Central African Republic.

Ntanda gave the Congolese the lead after rising highest to nod home Messy Manitu’s pinpoint cross, capping off a bright opening spell by the Central Africans.

But Ghana quickly regrouped and equalised when Emmanuel Mensah whipped in a dangerous cross that was met by Aziz, whose low finish left the goalkeeper with no chance.

Ghana began to take control after that, with Abdul Sulemana and Andrews Adjabeng linking well down the flanks. Aziz nearly had a second just before the break but his close-range header was brilliantly saved.
The second half was a more tense, physical battle.

Congo DR’s substitutions helped them regain some control, while Ghana brought on key forward Jerry Afriyie in search of more attacking threat.
The Black Satellites saw several shots fly just off target, including a late header from Afriyie.

Ghana had more possession and created the better chances, but DR Congo remained organised and showed real commitment to hold firm under pressure.

Both teams made late substitutions, but the scoreline remained unchanged despite Ghana’s push for a late winner.

The result leaves Group C wide open after matchday one, with all four teams tied on one point.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.