Monday, 15th August, 2022

Page 2
Taiwan's foreign ministry tweeted an image of
members of the group being greeted at a Taipei airport
A
US congressional
delegation has
arrived for an unannounced
visit to
Taiwan, 12 days after
a tour of the island by House
Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Five members of Congress
will visit until Monday, said
Washington's de-facto embassy
in the capital Taipei.
China launched its largest-ever
military exercises
around Taiwan after Ms Pelosi's
visit earlier in August.
Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelensky
has accused
Russia of using
"nuclear blackmail"
at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear
power plant - Europe's largest.
Russia seized the plant in
March and has been accused
of turning it into a base from
where it hits nearby towns.
Both countries have traded
blame for shelling it in recent
days, prompting UN warnings
of a nuclear disaster.
Mr Zelensky says any Russian
soldier who shoots at or
under the cover of the plant will
be a "special target".
The six-nuclear reactor
Zaporizhzhia station is located
in the city of Enerhodar, on the
eastern bank of the Dnieper
River (Dnipro in Ukrainian) in
southern Ukraine.
Russia invaded Ukraine on
24 February, seizing the plant
within days. Moscow has kept
Ukrainian personnel to operate
the facility.
The UN has warned that
continued hostilities around
the station could lead to a nuclear
disaster affecting much of
Europe.
Russia has repeatedly
denied any wrongdoing at the
plant.
It says it seized control of
the plant to prevent leaks of
radioactive materials during
fighting in the region.
During his video address
late on Saturday, Mr Zelensky
said Russia had engaged in
"constant provocations" by
firing on the plant and said
forces stationed there had used
Beijing sees the self-governing
island as its own, renegade
territory that must be
reunited with the mainland.
It believes that mission
could be necessary with force,
if other attempts at unification
are unsuccessful.
Ms Pelosi became the most
senior American politician
to visit the island in 25 years
during her appearance earlier
this month.
Her brief, but controversial,
stopover was labelled "manic,
DAILY ANALYST Monday, 15th August, 2022
irresponsible and irrational" by
the Chinese foreign minister.
Speaking during a meeting
of south-east Asian foreign
ministers in Cambodia, Wang
Yi insisted that Taiwan would
"eventually return to the embrace
of the motherland".
Beijing continues to carry
out military drills near the
island. Earlier on Sunday, Taipei
said it had detected 22 Chinese
aircraft and six naval ships in
and around the Taiwan Strait.
At the height of China's
military exercises, Taiwan
accused its neighbour of trying
to change the status quo in the
region.
On Sunday, its foreign
ministry published photos of
members of the US congressional
delegation being greeted at
Ukraine war: Zelensky warns Russian
soldiers at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
it as a base to shell the cities
of Nikopol and Marhanets - on
the other bank of the river.
This was being done, the
president said, to "blackmail
our state and the entire free
world". But he stressed that
"Russian blackmail only mobilises
even more global efforts to
confront terror".
"Every Russian soldier who
either shoots at the plant, or
shoots under the cover of the
plant, must understand that he
is becoming a special target for
our intelligence, for our special
services, for our army," the
president said.
He added that "every day"
of Russia's occupation of the
plant "increases the radiation
threat to Europe".
Ukraine's defence intelligence
agency also accused Russia
of a provocation by parking
a Pion self-propelled heavy
artillery piece outside a nearby
town and painting a Ukrainian
flag on it, in an attempt to discredit
Kyiv.
A BBC investigation revealed
earlier this week that many of
the Ukrainian workers at the
site are being kept under armed
guard amid harsh conditions.
On Thursday, foreign minsters
from the G7 group of industrial
democracies demanded
that Russia withdraw from the
site immediately.
Their warning echoed statements
from the United Nations'
nuclear watchdog, the International
Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA), which called for an end
to "all military activities that
endanger nuclear security".
UN Secretary General António
Guterres has warned that
the situation at the plant could
"lead to disaster".
Global News
Congress team follows
Pelosi with second highlevel
visit in a month
an airport.
A statement from the American
Institute in Taiwan said
the team's visit was part of a
wider visit to the Indo-Pacific
region.
It added that the five members
- led by Democratic Senator
Ed Markey - would discuss
issues including regional security,
trade and investment with
Taiwanese leaders.
The group are due to meet
The blaze happened in Giza, which
lies just across the Nile from Cairo
Dozens of people
have died after a
fire broke out at a
church in Egypt,
many of them
crushed during a desperate
scramble to escape.
Officials say the number of
dead is at least 41, with dozens
injured. Children are believed to
be among the dead.
An electrical fire broke out
as 5,000 worshippers gathered
for Mass at the Coptic Abu Sifin
church, security sources told
Reuters.
The fire blocked an entrance,
causing a stampede, they said.
Fire services say the blaze
has been brought under control.
The exact cause of the fire is
not clear.
However, Father Farid
Fahmy, from another nearby
church in the Imbaba neighbourhood,
told the AFP news
agency that it was caused by a
short circuit.
"The power was out and
they were using a generator,"
he said. "When the power came
back, it caused an overload."
Worshippers have been explaining
their moments since
the blaze ignited.
President Tsai Ing-wen on
Monday.
President Tsai's office said
the month's second high-level
American visit signalled "firm
support" for Taiwan.
The US does not officially
recognise Taiwan - only a few
countries do - however, it does
maintain a strong relationship
with the island, which includes
selling weapons for Taiwan to
defend itself.
Egypt fire: Dozens dead
in Giza Coptic church
"People were gathering on
the third and fourth floor, and
we saw smoke coming from the
second floor. People rushed to
go down the stairs and started
falling on top of each other,"
Yasir Munir told Reuters.
"Then we heard a bang and
sparks and fire coming out of
the window," he said, adding
that he and his daughter were
on the ground floor and able to
escape.
Egyptian President Abdel
Fattah al-Sisi offered his "sincere
condolences to the families
of the innocent victims that
have passed on to be with their
Lord in one of his houses of
worship".
The prosecutor's office said
it had sent a team to the scene
to investigate the cause of the
blaze.
Giza lies just across the Nile
from Cairo and is part of the
Greater Cairo metropolis.
Coptic Christians make up
at least 10 million of Egypt's 103
million people.
Copts claims they face
discrimination and play a lesser
part in Egyptian public life than
their numbers justify.

DAILY ANALYST
Monday, 15th August, 2022 Page 3
GPRTU rubbishes
links with Zoomlion
Frontpage Stories
The Ghana Private
Road Transport Union
(GPRTU) has denied any
links with Zoomlion
Ghana Limited as far
as the mandatory towing levy is
concerned.
In a statement, the union
said claims by Mr Bright Simons,
Vice President of IMANI Ghana,
on Wednesday 10 August,
alleging that, the Ghana Private
Road Transport Union (GPRTU)
“has cut a deal with the waste
management experts Zoomlion
Ghana Limited to impose a
towing insurance service on our
members without a membership
ballot” is “untrue”.
“The leadership of GPRTU
wishes to inform the general
public, Bright Simons and his
likes that, the GPRTU has no such
relationship with Zoomlion in
connection with our life-saving
innovative towing insurance
policy which is aimed at bringing
sanity to reduce road fatalities.
Indeed, we are aware
that Zoomlion’s business is
waste management and so
our relationship with them
is purely along the lines of
waste collection. It is therefore
unfortunate that Bright
Simons will engineer such a
wild allegation to spark an
unnecessary uproar within our
rank and file.” A portion of the
statement said
Govt to support market
women with trucks
Read the full statement below
RE: ZOOMLION IN CHARGE
OF GPRTU MANDATORY TOWING
LEVY –BRIGHT SIMON ALLEGES
Accra, 11th August, 2022, – We
have read with disappointment
a story published by www.
ghanaweb.com and attributed
to Mr. Bright Simons, Honorary
Vice President of IMANI Ghana,
on Wednesday 10th August,
alleging that, the Ghana Private
Road Transport Union (GPRTU)
“has cut a deal with the waste
management experts Zoomlion
Ghana Limited to impose a
towing insurance service on our
members without a membership
ballot”.
ALSO READ Zoomlion kickstarts
proper handwashing
campaign in basic schools
The leadership of GPRTU
wishes to inform the general
public, Bright Simons and his
likes that, the GPRTU has no
such relationship with Zoomlion
in connection with our lifesaving
innovative towing
insurance policy which is aimed
at bringing sanity in order to
reduce road fatalities. Indeed,
we are aware that Zoomlion’s
business is waste management
and so our relationship with
them is purely along the lines of
waste collection. It is therefore
unfortunate that Bright Simons
will engineer such a wild
allegation in an effort to spark an
unnecessary uproar within our
rank and file.
The Leadership of GPRTU has
had broad consultations with our
members across the nation and
do not understand what Bright
Simons meant by “membership
ballot”. Over the years we have
taken decisions that have
kept us together as a union
without acrimony. It is therefore
unfortunate that a person of his
stature would be motivated to
put spanners in the wheels of a
carefully thought-through policy
which has been widely accepted
by the membership of the GPRTU.
We wish to state for the
record that between January
and June 2022, the National Road
Safety Commission has reported
that 1,300 persons have been
killed in road accidents in Ghana.
These fatalities were associated
with stationary and or broken
down vehicles on the road as
reported by the National Road
Safety Authority. The report
indicates that nearly 8,000 people
sustained various degrees of
injuries during the same period.
This according to the report
is even an improvement as
compared to previous years.
These frightening statistics
as put out by the National Road
Safety Authority motivated the
leadership of GPRTU to embark
on this initiative to help reduce
road carnage and protect road
users. The GPRTU is poised and
ready to implement the initiative
with Road Safety Management
Services Limited and other
stakeholders.
We have successfully
launched an app to aid members
to have access to towing vehicles
and, the over 2.6 million vehicles
operated by our members have
agreed to subscribe to the
initiative through the app with
details of their vehicles.
One would have thought that
a simple inquiry at the GPRTU
regarding this matter would
have settled and rendered the
tweet and the brouhaha it has
generated unnecessarily.
We call, therefore, for an
unqualified apology and also a
complete retraction from both
Ghanaweb and Bright Simons
on their false allegation to
bring peace and further request
their support for the successful
implementation of the project for
the safety of Ghanaian lives or we
will advise ourselves.
Signed
GODFRED ABULBIRE
(GPRTU SECRETARY)
President Nana Akufo-
Addo has given the
assurance that his
government is do
everything practically
possible to halt the rising food
prices in the country.
Speaking at the closing
ceremony of the 22 General
Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church of Ghana at Kwahu-
Abetifi in the Eastern region over
the weekend, President Akufo-
Addo said arrangements were
being made with market women
to provide trucks to evacuate food
stuff from rural markets to urban
centres to help reduce food prices
in the cities.
Furthermore, he said his
government was encouraging
companies and institutions to
engage in the manufacturing of
inorganic fertilizers to scale up
production to reduce the impact
of high cost and unavailability of
fertilizers as “ we advance rapidly
our plan to establish an organic
fertilizer plant in Ghana”.
Touching on the poor state
of the economy, he said his
President Nana Akufo-Addo
government was determined to
revive and return the economy
to the path of economic growth
recorded before the Covid-19
pandemic.
“The Akufo-Addo government
has not thrown up its hands
in despair. We are determined
to bring relief to the Ghanaian
people, and return the economy
to the high rate of growth that
characterized development in
the three years preceding the
COVID-19 outbreak and which
made our economy one of the
fastest growing in the world at
the time.”
“The approach to the IMF
is a major step in the short run
towards that goal. Other steps
will be taken in particular to
deal with the unacceptable
depreciation of the currency
-the Cedis. Reining in inflation
by bringing down food prices
is a major preoccupation of the
government and hopefully, this
season’s emerging successful
harvest will assist us in this
regard,” President Akufo-Addo
said..
Bawumia joins Ga Mashie
to Celebrate Homowo
Vice President Dr.
Mahamudu Bawumia
on Saturday joined
the chiefs and people
of Ga State (Ga
Mashie) to celebrate the 2022 Ga
Mashie Homowo festival.
He paid courtesy calls on
the Ga Mants, Nii Tackie Teiko
Tsuru, the Gbese Mants, Nii
Ayibontey, Sempe Mants, Nii
Adote Otintor, Nii Ahene Nunoo
III, Abola Mants and the Asere
Mants, Nii Nikoi Olai Amashi II.
Everywhere he went, the
Vice President was received with
spontaneous applause and cheers
from the enthusiastic gathering.
In a brief remark to the Sempe
chief and his people, Dr. Bawumia
started with the usual Homowo
greetings of 'Afi oo afi' before
explaining the purpose of his
visit; to pay homage to the chiefs
and people of the Ga State, saying
“it is a beautiful festival and
our Chiefs are the custodians of
our tradition and this is why on
behalf of the government and our
party I'm here to pay homage to
all the key chiefs in the Ga state.”
He encouraged the traditional
leadership headed by the Sempe
Mantse to keep up with the good
initiatives being undertaken in
the area, with a pledge to be a
partner in that regard.
“Please continue to do all the
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia exchanging
things you're doing to develop
the Ga state. I want to assure you
that we will be by your side to
support you to continue to do the
good work for the Ga state”, Dr.
Bawumia pledged.
He gave meaning to that
pledge by making a cash donation
to support the reconstruction of
the Sempe Mantse's palace, and
also presented assorted drinks to
support the festivities.
The occasion was also graced
by the National Chief Imam
of Ghana Sheikh Usman Nuhu
Sharubutu, and some members of
the Diplomatic Corps.
The traditional priest of
Sempe later prayed for the Vice
President, asking God to grant his
heart's desires.
Homowo
The Ga people celebrate
Homowo which is translated
as 'hooting at hunger' in
remembrance of a devastating
famine arising from a drought
that occurred in their history in
precolonial Ghana. The festival
starts in August with the planting
of crops (mainly maize and yam)
before the rainy season starts.
During this period, noisemaking
is prohibited or banned
since it is believed that it will
hinder the maturity of the crops.
Even though it is a Ga
traditional festival, many other
ethnic groups also partake in the
celebrations.

Page 4
DAILY ANALYST Monday, 15th August, 2022
PRINPAG retains Edwin
Arthur as President
The Elections Committee of the Private Newspaper
Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG) has declared
LAWYER ANDREW EDWIN ARTHUR Publisher
of the New Independent and Incumbent President as
the winner of the Presidential Elections held by the
Association in Accra on Friday, August 12, 2022.
Edwin Arthur secured 32 votes against his competitor,
Mr. David Tamakloe publisher of Whatsupnewsghana.com
who had 18 votes. Declaring the results, the Chairman of the
Elections Committee, Mr. Ben Assorow announced that all
unopposed candidates had a YES Vote of 94% with 6% NO Votes.
They were Mr. Michael Antwi-Agyei who won the position of
Vice-President; Mr. Emmanuel Opare-Djan who was retained
unopposed as National Organiser; whilst Mr. Jeorge Wilson
Kingson was elected to the newly-created position of Public
Affairs Officer.
In his remarks after the polls, the Chairman of the Elections
Committee Mr. Ben Assorow warmly commended the
PRINPAG members for their 100% turn out which is an inspiration
to the incoming Executives. He disclosed that the incoming
executives shall appoint an Acting Treasurer till nomination
is open for an election to elect a substantive Treasurer.
The losing Candidate, Mr. David Tamakloe assured PRINPAG
members of his support and readiness to represent the Association
at any level.
The President-elect, Mr. Edwin Arthur thanked all members
for their enthusiasm and overwhelming support at the
polls. He reiterated his commitment to the development of the
Association and assured that he will continue the PRINPAG
AGENDA of “Re-organization, Re-branding and Re-tooling” of
the Association.
The Swearing-in of the newly-elected Executives comes on
by the close of August.
Andrew Edwin Arthur, PRINPAG President-Elect
Police to reduce robbery
response time to 10 minutes
The Inspector-General of Police Dr. George Akuffo
Dampare says the Police Service is working to reduce
robbery response time to 10 minutes across the
country.
According to him, the initiative will be boosted
with the deployment of over 2000 personnel and motorbikes
across highways in the country in the coming days.
Speaking at a public lecture on Policing at the Kwame Nkrumah
University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the IGP
said the service is committed to its responsibility of protecting
lives and properties in the country.
“We want to reduce robbery and crime response time to 10
minutes across the country, we believe this is possible and it
will be done. When was the last time you heard of robberies on
the major highways in the country, the Police have men patrolling
all those places.
“We are going to deploy about 2000 motorbikes and officers
to be patrolling all highways in the country,” the IGP noted.
Dr. Akuffo Dampare also said in order to enhance discipline
in the service, all officers now have their names sewed in their
uniforms permanently for easy identification by the public.
The IGP also revelled the Police Service has scaled up its
intelligence operations by committing adequate finance and
Human resources in the area.
“We have our intelligence officers all over the place, in the
Ubers, shops and all over the communities. It’s very expensive
but we need to get the job
Alan’s supporters
embark on health walk
Last Saturday , the streets
of Kumasi in the Ashanti
Region saw perhaps
the biggest health walk
in contemporary times.
Over 200,000 men and women
of all ages from different ethnic
and religious backgrounds
walked on the streets of Kumasi
to exercise their limbs and to
use the walk as an opportunity
to send a message to the current
Minister of Trade and Industry,
Mr. Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen,
that ‘Aduru ne so’ which
translates as, it is your turn.
Mr. Kyerematen is a prominent
founding member of the
ruling NPP and many people are
counting on him to contest the
office of flag-bearer in the NPP
and eventually the presidential
election of the Republic of Ghana
come 2024.
Though Mr. Kyerematen himself
has not officially declared his
interest in contesting the NPP
flag-beararship race, the mammoth
crowd at the walk showed
how Ghana was eager to have this
fine gentleman of the land to lead
the country to catapult it to the
next level of transformational
development with his great ideas.
Even before other potential
candidates will settle on their decision,
one thing that was prominent
among the answers given
by the crowd of health walkers
was that they know the focus of
Mr. Kyerematen, they understand
well the mantra of 'Job for the
People and Cash for the People'.
Some of the people intimated
that the unemployment rate
in Ghana was high and the fact
All new officers who
pass out of the police
training school can
now swim and drive
as the Police training
module has been reviewed
to make trainees more efficient
in responding to current crime
trends.
This was disclosed by the
Inspector-General of Police Dr.
George Akuffo Dampare at a
public lecture on Policing at the
Kwame Nkrumah University of
Science and Technology (KNUST).
According to the IGP, the police
training school module has
been changed to make it more
practical and effective.
“The training school module
has been changed to make it
75% practical and 25% theoretical.
Now all new police officers
who leave the training school
can swim and drive as part of
the training so they can meet
the criminals anywhere. If the
criminals choose to swim, the
officers will meet them. We are
taking all necessary measures to
ensure that we protect lives and
properties”.
The IGP also noted the Police
that more free SHS graduates will
be joining the job market soon
meant that Ghana required Alan
Kyerematen’s transformational
agenda to catapult the country
to the next level of sustainable
development.
Some of the placards and banners
at the walk read “Aduru wo
so”, “The right person for the job,
‘Yenim wo firi tete’ “Alan Mer3
nie, Asanteman hia wo, “Break
the 8 with the unifier,” “Practical
Economist, Adwadifo Adamfo,”
“Father for all,” among others.
The walk was organised by
Special Interest Groups in Ashanti
Region and was attended by
plans to introduce a virtual police
station to make it possible for the
public to file complaints online.
“We are looking forward to a
period where we will have virtual
police station. Where you don’t
have to show up at the police
station.
“You just make your complain
virtually and then we will send
you all the information. And we
can even virtually also invite the
suspect which is data processing.
“And we evaluate and think
many lovers of Alan Kyerematen,
who, for a long time, have been
waiting for an opportunity to express
their love and appreciation
for the man Alan Kyerematen.
The walk started early morning
at the Bekwai roundabout
and the participants walked with
lots of excitement. Most of them
understood what they were doing
and all participants were sure of
one thing, that Alan Kyerematen
becoming the next president of
Ghana will definitely inure to the
benefit of all party members in
particular and Ghana as a whole.
All new Police officers can
now swim and drive - IGP
that it is something that we can
virtually do than to show up at
the police station and be unattended
to and all that. So, we have
a lot of work to do, but internally
with a press of a button you can
send messages to every police officer
across the country instantly,”
the police chief said.
“From headquarters to regional
level we send documents
electronically that we need not to
find people to come pick it up and
do that,” Dr. Dampare added.

DAILY ANALYST
Monday, 15th August, 2022 Page 5
Ghana's political complexion
and the discolored patches
Ghana, formerly
known as the
Gold Coast is a
country located
in West Africa.
She has a notoriety for a
number of things which
include being the first sub-
Saharan African country to
disannex from British colonialism,
the hospitableness
of its citizens, and the relative
stability it has enjoyed
over a protracted period.
It is ranked as the most
peaceful country in West Africa,
2nd in Africa, and 38th
globally by the Institute
of Economics and Peace in
its 2021 Global Peace Index
report.
She is named after the
extinct but once prosperous
Ghana Empire, of the 7th to
13th century situated in the
North West of the modernday
country (modern-day
southeast of Mauritania and
western Mali).
Technically, Ghana is a
wealthy country, endowed
with immense resources.
The top cocoa producer also
has abundant gold, timber,
diamonds, bauxite, manganese,
oil, and lithium has
been discovered in commercial
quantities.
But Ghana has not been
an exception from the "Resource
Curse" that bedevils
many wealthy African countries
with the potential to
become extremely prosperous.
The resource curse
also called the paradox of
plenty was firstly coined by
Richard Auty in 1993 referring
to the failure of many
resource-rich countries
to benefit fully from their
natural resource wealth,
and for governments in
these countries to respond
effectively to public welfare
needs.
Good leadership has
eluded this beautiful country
and we have mostly settled
for mediocrity. Slowly
becoming a microcosm of
failed states.
Interethnic and intratribal
marriages may have
become popular in recent
times, but Ghana has a
Ghana as volatile. It thrives
on corruption and its
wheels are oiled by it.
A lot of our politicians
are well-read and exposed.
Books written by great authors
like Niccolò Machiavelli
with tried and tested
principles have been manuals
used to manipulate the
masses.
Instances are "Men are
so simple of mind, and so
much dominated by their
immediate needs, that a
deceitful man will always
find plenty who are ready to
be deceived".
"There is nothing more
important than appearing
to be religious".
"Cunning and deceit will
every time serve a man better
than force to rise from
a base condition to great
fortune".
"Therefore it is unnecessary
for a prince to have all
the good qualities I have
enumerated, but it is very
necessary to appear to have
them. And I shall dare to say
this also, that to have them
and always to observe them
is injurious, and that to appear
to have them is useful;
to appear merciful, faithful,
humane, religious, upright,
and to be so, but with a
mind so framed that should
you require not to be so, you
may be able and know how
to change to the opposite"
The political scene is
characterized by a majorfragile
facade of unity. In
reality, we are divided into
tribal lines. We don't need
an anthropologist to do indepth
research on this. We
are either faking oblivion or
deciding to live in denial.
The 2021 Population
and Housing Census by the
Ghana Statistical Service
put the literacy rate now at
69.8 percent. This is quite
impressive and indicates a
good number of Ghanaians
could be on top of issues.
Unfortunately, we have
become more partisan than
ever before. It may be for
the underlining condition
of tribalism. We are sharply
divided along tribal lines
and our tribal biases are
reflected in our choices. A
high literacy rate has not
been enough to alter our
tribal stances. Since there is
little political dealignment,
true accountability has
been nonexistent.
Our society has evolved
and our value system
has shifted. More prominence
is placed on money.
The source is disregarded
totally. Leaders are a reflection
of their society and as
most of us lament about
how corrupt our society
has become, let us accept
that it has been endorsed
by a majority of us from our
homes, churches, mosques,
and work settings.
I may describe the existing
political landscape in
ity of politicians stating
untruths, concealing the
truth, and paltering. They
cash in on the corruptibility
of electorates and play
on tribal cards to acquire
power. After all most are
blinded by partisanship.
The media, a supposed
fourth arm of government,
which is to keep the
populace informed and also
serve as a whip of the government
has come out to be
an aid in manipulating and
misinforming the people
over many years.
The media in the Ghanaian
political terrain is
vulnerable. Their independence
is easily compromised
because it is much
easier to influence most of
them. Most professionals
here are financially displaced
and work under very
challenging circumstances.
A lot of media institutions
are owned by politicians
or people in bed with
politicians. This sets the
tone and position of workers
in such establishments.
Besides, they don't receive
decent remuneration or
good conditions of service.
Consequently, wellmeaning
journalists have
come to find themselves in
the pockets of ambitious
and unethical politicians.
Most have been. affiliates to
one political party or more.
Now the pattern and
modus operandi of most
Ghanaian politicians have
become predictable. The
populace has lost trust in
most politicians and political
office holders. This air
of mistrust has made the
landscape very volatile and
Ghana must move cautiously.
Institutions that
were once very reputable
and seen as sacred in their
obligations seem to have
been infiltrated by partisan
political puppets over some
years now.
Religion was a restraining
belt, but it is equally
losing its grip quickly as
many have come to see a
lot of these religious leaders
as corrupt, unethical,
and morally warped. Easily
induced by money and visible
exploit their positions
to make more money.
Politicians may have to
earn their trust since many
people are waking up to the
fact that most of the electorates
are just a way to a
means for the politicians
to gain power. The charm is
waning off.
In summary, the political
climate in Ghana is one
of distrust. It is one that is
seen as an industry where
deceit is peddled for great
economic and financial potentials
and consequences
for the politician and those
who find favor with them.
Long Live Ghana.
By Dumenu Charles
Selorm

Page 6
DAILY ANALYST Monday, 15th August, 2022
from neutral bodies
– Yidana Zakaria
Mr Yidana Zakaria,
the North
East Regional
Minister,
has called on
stakeholders to identify key
neutral opinion leaders to
constantly sensitise people in
conflict areas for development to
thrive.
He said it was necessary to
seek engagements from neutral
bodies in curbing conflicts
among communities within
the northern belt of the country
because some of such conflicts
were fueled by chiefs and
traditional leaders, who were
expected to foster unity.
He made the call in Tamale
during a stakeholder meeting,
organised by the National
Development Authority (NDA).
The meeting was to co-create
a Medium Term Development
strategy for the northern zone
of the country in alignment
with strategic priorities of
development actors and to share
insights in planning the 2022
edition of the Northern Ghana
Development Summit and
Investment Fair.
It was attended by the
Northern, North East, Savannah,
Upper West and Upper East
Regional Ministers, and the
NDA’s development partners.
Mr Zakaria said the
intermittent communal conflicts
in the north had been a concern
over the years and hindered
development in the areas of
education and health and called
for continuous education on the
effects of conflicts in vulnerable
areas.
He called for intervention
from opinion and religious
leaders within the communities
to educate people on the
consequences of conflicts, saying
“Until we are able to address
the issues of conflict in the
northern part of this country,
we will continue to wallow in
the situations of poverty and its
Mr. Zakaria Yidana addressing the gathering
effects.”
He advised people of the
north to embrace peace and
acknowledge that peace was
instrumental in development,
adding that a problem in a
small community within the
north could compromise the
development of the whole area.
He said the international
community would not be pleased
to know that areas they wanted
to support engaged in conflicts.
The Regional Minister
further called on indigenes to
safeguard the peace of the north
and expressed displeasure over
people running to the southern
part of the country after creating
problems in the north.
Stop manufacturing
information
– ISD staff cautioned
Officers of the Information
Services Department
(ISD) have been
cautioned against
manufacturing information
and claiming it is true
reflection of citizens’ opinions or
feedback on policies and programmes
of the government.
Mr David Owusu Amoah, the
Acting Chief Information Officer,
ISD, who gave the caution, told
ISD officers that “If you manufacture
information, you are doing a
disservice to mother Ghana and
our relevance will be doubted.”
He was speaking at a training
workshop for Regional, Metropolitan,
Municipal and District
Information Officers drawn from
the five regions in the north on
data collection methodologies.
The two-day training, which
ended in Tamale on Saturday,
sought to enhance the research
skills of information officers to
conduct credible research over
time to help government review
and update its policies and programmes.
It was in line with the Memorandum
of Understanding signed
between the ISD and the Ghana
Statistical Service for the latter
to provide technical assistance to
the Research Division of the ISD
to conduct credible and reliable
research.
Besides the northern belt,
information officers from six
regions in the southern belt of
the country also benefited from
the training, leaving information
officers in the middle belt, who
would soon have their turn in
Kumasi.
Mr Amoah urged the information
officers to be steadfast to
their roles by going to the field
to gather information, and add
value to their research activities
to ensure that whatever information
they picked on the field
would be scientific and reliable.
Information officers work
to disseminate information on
policies and programmes of
government to the people and
gather data on people’s reaction
to government policies and programmes.
Mr Amoah urged them to
forge ahead to transform the ISD
such that its relevance would be
visible to all.
Tablets were presented to the
information officers during the
training to facilitate their work
to ensure improved performance.
Take advantage of “YouStart”
– Nurses and Midwives urged
Nurses and Midwives
should not put all
their trust in the
promise of Social and
National Insurance
Trust benefits but embrace the
“YouStart” programme to create
wealth and comfort even in their
retirement.
They have been charged to
be proactive and develop an entrepreneurial
mindset to create
value for money and make them
financially independent.
Mr Franklin Owusu-Karikari,
Director, Business Support and
Policy, National Entrepreneurship
and Innovation, gave the
advice in Accra at the closing
ceremony of a national Youth
Boot Camp for Nurses and Midwives
across the country to mark
International Youth Day which
falls on August 12.
The programme was organised
by the Ghana Registered
Nurses and Midwives Association
(GRNMA) on the theme:
“Intergenerational Solidarity in
Nursing and Midwifery: Creating
An Opportunity For All Ages in
Ghana.”
He said salaries alone cannot
sustain the socio-economic
expenditure of the citizenry and
encouraged all to have other
sources of income to meet the
rising expenditure pattern of the
individual.
Statistics revealed that 17.8
million people are unemployed,
of which 2.2 million people are
within the ages of 18-35.
Addressing the unemployment
issue, Mr Owusu- Karikari
said the Government introduced
the “YouStart” programme in
2020 as a vehicle to support the
youth to develop commercially
viable businesses, gain access to
capital, training and technical
skills to enable them operate
their businesses.
The YouStart programme,
he stated, would support young
graduates, school leavers and
small businesses with soft loans
of up to GHS 50,000 to expand
their enterprises.
The initiative provides the
youth-led enterprises with a
standard loan package of between
GHS100,000 to GHS 400,000 at
concessional rates for Small and
Medium Enterprises through the
financial institutions.
The Ghana Enterprises Agency
is implementing the programme
in its 16 regional offices,
business advisory and resource
centres across the country.
Mr Owusu-Karikari urged
health practitioners to seek for
information and build their
retirement future, saying, “you
need to take your destiny into
your hands and have other sources
of income.”
Dr Samuel Adjorlolo, Senior
Lecturer, School of Nursing and
Midwifery, University of Ghana,
Legon advised health professionals
to assist each other through
mentorship and training to provide
quality health care delivery.
Dr Adjorlolo called for unity
among them, stating that there
could not be growth in every
institution without togetherness
and social cohesion.
He called on the authorities to
review the 30 per cent admission
protocol reserved for the Ministry
of Health into the School of
Nursing and Midwifery to avoid
politicisation of the profession.
Mrs Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo,
the President, GRNMA, said the
Association would continue to
fight for the interest of its members
to better their socio-economic
circumstances.
She said the Association had
established a Youth Committee
to recognised the contribution of
young health professionals and
mentor them on issues relating
to their operations to improve
health care across the country.
Mrs Ofori-Ampofo advised
the participants to be agents of
change and impart positively on
the knowledge they acquired in
advancing the healthcare profession.
Mr Prince Opuni Frimpong,
Chairman, Greater Accra, GRNMA,
called on authorities to develop
strategic policies to connect and
support health professionals to
improve service delivery.

Monday, 15th August, 2022
DAILY ANALYST
Page 7
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
Mrs Adisa Tassa,
the Ayawaso East
Municipal Education
Director, has
urged parents and
guardians to complement the
efforts of teachers in promoting
reading culture in children.
She said every stakeholder
needed to get involved in the
upbringing of learners to instill
in them the love for reading to
enhance their creativity.
“The act of instilling the
culture of reading into children
should not only be left to teachers
and primary caregivers alone.
There is the need for parents to
also create a learning environment
in their homes to promote
reading among the children,” she
stated.
Mrs Tassa gave the advice
at the first ever reading festival
for children in Basic ‘1’ to ‘3’ in
Ghanaian and English languages
in the Ayawaso East Municipality
in Accra.
The schools which participated
in the reading programme
included Flagstaff House Basic,
St. Kizito Roman Catholic Basic,
Kanda Estate Basic and Alwaleed
Comprehensive Basic schools.
teachers – Parents advised
age and maintain public libraries
in the country and that the vision
was to connect Ghanaians to
learning resources.
Hajia Salma Sani Mohammed
Adams, the Municipal Chief
Executive for Ayawaso East, said;
“Reading enriches and expands
our vocabulary and develops the
skill of concentration whilst providing
us with pure enjoyment
and sheer pleasure.”
She urged teachers and
parents to support children in
their reading capabilities whilst
parents invest in providing them
with reading materials.
Mr. Nasser Toure Mahama, the
Member of Parliament for Ayawaso
East, Nima, and the guest
of honour, expressed gratitude to
the initiators of the programme,
saying it would form a firm foundation
for children to broaden
their horizon as they ascend the
academic ladder.
Kanda Estate Basic School
emerged as the overall winners
and they received a trophy
while the other four schools each
received a certificate of participation
Ṫhe winners will represent
the municipality at the regional
reading festival.
More speed boats needed to
expand galamsey fight on water
bodies – Minerals Commission
GH251,870 worth of properties
lost to fire in Central Region
The Central Region
lost an estimated
GH251,870.00 worth
of property to fire
outbreaks in the first
quarter of 2022.
This figure, represents about
66.8 per cent increase over last
year’s loss of GH161,602.00 during
the same period.
Division Officer (DOIII) Abdul
Wasiu Hudu, Central Regional
Public Relations Officer (PRO) of
the Ghana National Fire Service
(GNFS), disclosed this in an
interview with the Ghana News
Agency.
In all, June 2022 recorded the
highest figure of GH80,874, followed
by May GH74,096, March
GH30,712, January GH24,467,
February GH18,213 and April
GH13,508.
The region, however, recorded
an increase in fire outbreaks
from 428 in the first quarter of
2021 to 458 in 2022.
The seven per cent increase
was largely driven by bushfires,
domestic, vehicle collision, industrial
and commercial fires.
Over the same period, he said,
domestic fires increased from
107 to 116, vehicular from 31 to
36, commercial, from 48 to 58,
institutional from 11 to 17 while
rescue mission rose from zero to
six.
DOIII Hudu said that the
GNFS had diligently carried out
its task of managing fires by
undertaking rescue operations
and related matters but noted
sadly that in spite of frantic efforts
being made by the Service
to combat fire outbreaks in the
region, the menace was still on
the ascendancy.
He stated that section two of
PNDC Law 229 of 1990 prescribed
a fine of up to 250 penalty units
plus up to 12 months’ imprisonment
for a person who started a
fire that resulted in bush fire.
Although section five of
the same law mandated Metropolitan,
Municipal and District
Assemblies to institute bushfire
control sub-committees to regulate
the burning of vegetation
within their respective jurisdictions,
many assemblies in the
region had not fulfilled that
mandate.
He therefore encouraged
MMDAs in the region to fulfil the
legal requirement in their respective
areas.
Also, he said Legislative
Instrument 1724 Regulations
of 2003, made it mandatory for
all public residential facilities,
The programme was initiated
by the Ghana Education Service
in collaboration with the United
States Agency for International
Development (USAID) – partnership
for education: Learning and
the Ghana Library Authority.
It was on the theme: “Learn
to Read, Read to Learn.”
Mrs Tassa said children who
were good readers tend to achieve
better results, adding that reading
promotes achievement in all
subjects.
Mr Edward Addo-Yobo, the
Acting Greater Accra Regional
Director of the Ghana Library
Authority (GLA), said studies
conducted on early grade level
reading of children in Ghana indicated
that majority of learners
at primary level perform poorly
in reading.
He assigned some factors that
accounted for poor reading as
inadequate training of teachers
in developing literacy among
learners, insufficient reading materials,
time on task for reading
among others.
He said the mandate of the
GLA was to establish, equip, manhealth
institutions, schools and
training centres as well as other
places for large public assembly
to acquire fire certificates to enable
them to operate smoothly.
He also advised individuals
to acquire fire extinguishers as
a first aid appliance for their respective
homes, and They should
also be extra cautious in dealing
with fire outbreaks, saying it was
unfortunate that people usually
rushed to fire accident scenes
without any precautionary measures
and urged all to desist from
the practice.
“Drivers and car owners
should try as much as possible to
have serviceable fire extinguishers
in their vehicles all the time,
this will help tackle fires at the
early stage before the arrival of
firefighters,” he said.
The Minerals Commission
is asking for more
speed boats to expand
its fight against illegal
mining activities
(galamsey) on water bodies.
This appeal is coming at a
time when the Commission is investigating
alleged illegal mining
in the Offin river.
Government has deployed
speed boats with security officers
to patrol the river bodies to check
galamsey.
The new measure according
to the Commission is aimed at
permanently dealing with the issue
of illegal mining activities on
water bodies in the country.
Speaking at a press conference
in Accra, Chief Executive
Officer for the Minerals Commission,
Martin Kwaku Ayisi noted
that the security officers will
patrol the water bodies during
the day and night.
“We hope government will
give us more boats, so we cover
almost the tributaries and the
smaller streams that flow into
these river bodies. Now the
patrols will be happening 24/7.
So we have this firm belief that,
the officers will stay on the water
bodies so that within the next
year or so, we have more boats
all over the water bodies. That is
the only way we can avoid this
canker.”
The government says it is
hopeful that the introduction
of the speed patrol boats on
galamsey-affected water bodies
will yield the needed results.
In a bid to curb the activities
of illegal miners on water bodies,
government has commissioned
five-speed boats.
The move is also to take the
fight against galamsey to river
bodies across the country.
Speaking to journalists after
the commissioning of the boats,
the sector minister, Samuel Abu
Jinapor, expressed optimism,
adding that the move will be a
game changer in Ghana’s quest to
win the war on illegal mining.
“Most of the rivers in our
country stretch a great distance,
and it is almost impossible for
anyone to monitor these enclaves
to ensure that, we rid them of
illegal small-scale miners. With
the acquisition of these boats
and the recruitment of these
guards, it means that the major
rivers in our country are going to
be monitored constantly and is
going to be a major intervention
in clearing the river bodies of our
country”, the Minister said.

Page 8
Health
DAILY ANALYST Monday, 15th August, 2022
Minister of Health
has launched the
first ever National
Guidelines for
the diagnosis
and management of cardiovascular
diseases (CVD) in Ghana.
This makes Ghana the third
country in sub-Saharan Africa to
encode such guidelines.
The guidelines were developed
jointly by Ghanaian experts
and local institutions under the
coordination of the Ghana Heart
Initiative, a project implemented
by the Ministry of Health
(MoH), Ghana Health Service
(GHS), GIZ, with funding support
from the Bayer AG.
Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu,
the Minister of Health, speaking
at the event, said the guidelines
were an important element in
the sustainable strengthening
of Non-Communicable Diseases
(NCDs) management in Ghana.
“The Ghana Heart Initiative
is a great example of how
stakeholders can join forces to
address global health challenges.”
He said the development of
the National Guidelines for the
Management of Cardiovascular
Diseases was among the most
important results delivered
so far, as it institutionalized a
treatment standard for healthcare
professionals on all levels
of care.
Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye,
the Director General of the GHS,
urged health professionals to
embrace the use of the guidelines
in the management of cardiovascular
diseases to reduce
morbidity and mortality.
Mr Colin Tyrer, the Cluster
Guidelines for the management of
cardiovascular diseases launched
Division Head, Pharma South-
East and West Africa for Bayer
AG, expressed their commitment
to promote access to quality
healthcare in Ghana.
He said, “At Bayer, attaining
our vision of ‘Health for
All, Hunger for None’ means,
enabling broader patient access
to quality medicines and treatments
worldwide.
“In light of this, we are
committed to moving NCD care
forward: developing capacities,
enhancing awareness and improving
infrastructure to tackle
such diseases in West Africa.
The Ghana Heart Initiative
represents a lighthouse project
in this regard, helping us to
better understand access components
beyond drug availability
and serving as a foundation and
catalyst for subsequent initiatives
around NCDs capacity
building.” Mr Tyrer added.
the Director General of International
Services, Mr. Carsten
Schmitz–Hoffmann, speaking
on behalf of GIZ, said, “These
Guidelines have been developed
by Ghanaians for Ghanaians.”
Over one hundred experts
and health professionals from
various health institutions
across the country representing
all levels of care have joined
hands to produce this national
treatment standard for cardiovascular
diseases, ensuring a
direct ownership and meaning,”
he stated.
Dr. Alfred Doku, the Technical
Director GHI, highlighting milestones
attained by the initiative,
said the project since inception
had significantly strengthened
the Ghanaian health care system
through the development of CVD
training manuals which had
been used to train more than 650
health professionals.
This includes the supply of
basic equipment for diagnosis
and management of CVDs to
beneficiary health facilities, the
establishment of a CVD Support
and Call Centre, and the
improvement of nationwide
CVD related data collection and
management, he said.
The Ghana Heart Initiative is
currently being rolled out to 10
additional regions following the
successful pilot in the Greater
Accra Region.
Two Monkeypox Strains
Get New Names – WHO
Upper East gets five additional doctors
Dr Emmanuel Kofi
Dzotsi, the Upper
East Regional
Director of the
Ghana Health
Service (GHS) says the Region
was able to attract and retain
five additional Medical Officers,
in the first half of this year.
The Region had over the
years battled with shortage of
critical health staff, especially
Doctors who refuse postings to
the area.
In 2021 for instance, all 10
Medical Officers posted to the
Region refused to report.
“I am happy to announce
that during the half of 2022,
we were able to attract five
additional Medical Officers to
the Region. I hereby express my
sincere thanks and appreciation
to those Doctors for accepting to
come and work in the Region.”
Dr Dzotsi announced this
at the 2022 mid-year health
performance review meeting
of stakeholders in Bolgatanga,
the regional capital, on the
theme; “The role of quality data
in improving service delivery
outcomes.”
The Regional Director
assured health professionals
who still had doubts about
accepting postings to the
Region, saying “The Upper East
Region is a place to work. All the
myths about the Region are not
true, the Region is the best place
to work in.”
He appealed to the Regional
Coordinating Council, Municipal
and District Assemblies, and
other stakeholders to put in
place residential and office
accommodation, some monetary
incentive packages and comfort
items to attract and retain more
health staff in the Region.
He noted that the inadequate
numbers of critical human
resources such as Physician
and Surgical Specialists,
Medical Officers, Physician
Assistants, Midwives, Laboratory
Scientists among other health
professionals continued to
thwart their effort at achieving
some critical service indicators
and targets.
Dr Dzotsi said as of the
period under review, the Doctor
to population ratio in the Region
was 1:23,724 and that of nurses
was 1:290.
He said health personnel
who accepted postings and
worked in deprived areas in the
Region were given promotion
after two years, study leave with
pay after three years and early
postings out of the deprived
areas after serving for two years.
The Director said the
Region currently had 56
Medical Officers including
Obstetric and Gynaecological
Specialist, Physician and
Surgical Specialists and some
general practitioners stationed
at the Regional Hospital, while
the remaining Officers were
distributed across the Region.
The Regional Minister, Mr
Stephen Yakubu, said as part of
efforts to increase the number of
Doctors in the Region, the RCC
had directed all 15 Municipal and
District Assemblies to identify
and sponsor medical students,
and bond them to return and
serve.
The World Health
Organization (WHO)
has renamed two
monkeypox strains
with Roman numerals
so as not to draw unfavorable
attention to African countries.
The decision was made after
a group of global virologists
and public health experts
reached consensus on the new
terminology this week, according
to the WHO.
The organization said on
Friday that Roman numerals
will now be used for two clades
(or strains) of monkeypox: the
former Congo Basin (Central
African) clade will be referred to
as Clade one (I) and the former
West African clade as Clade two
(II)
İn addition , experts agreed
that Clade II consists of two
subclades (or substrains). Lowercase
alphanumeric characters
will be used for subclades.
In June, WHO Director
General Tedros Adhanom
Ghebreyesus announced that
the organization was going
to work on new names for
monkeypox in order to get rid
of the “discriminatory and
stigmatizing” nomenclature.
Earlier in June, over 30
scientists wrote a public letter
urging the medical community
to rename the virus to prevent
possible discrimination and
stigmatization. Scientists said
the WHO recommended avoiding
geographic regions and animals
in disease names. They also
suggested that the monkeypox
virus could not be called African.
In July, WHO Director-
General Ghebreyesus announced
that the global monkeypox
outbreak represents a
public health emergency of
international concern.
Most people usually recover
from monkeypox within a few
weeks without treatment. The
symptoms are initially flulike,
such as fever, chills, and
swollen lymph nodes, which are
then followed by a widespread
rash. According to the WHO,
the disease can be more severe
in young children, pregnant
women, and individuals who are
immunocompromised.
The monkeypox virus is
not easily transmitted and
usually spreads through close
physical contact, including
sexual contact, with an infected
individual. The virus can enter
the human body through broken
skin, the respiratory tract, eyes,
nose and mouth, and via bodily
fluids. Monkeypox is a zoonotic
disease (spread between animals
and people). It originates
in animals like rodents and
primates and occurs in remote
parts of Central and West Africa.
Over 31,000 cases of
monkeypox have been reported
worldwide across more than 70
countries, and so far, 12 deaths
have been attributed to the
disease.

DAILY ANALYST
Monday, 15th August, 2022 Page 9
How Intestinal Bacteria Help
Humans to Stay Healthy
Gut microbiota refers
to a diverse
community of
microorganisms
that colonize the
gut mucosa.
Humans are seeded with
their first microbes at birth,
both on the skin and in the
gut.
The initial seeding sets
the stage for a person’s
developing immune system,
influencing the risk for future
diseases.
SYMBIOSIS.
The gut microbiome
exists in a state of mutual
symbiosis with the human
host.
The microbes benefit
from the stable and nutrient-rich
environment of the
gut.
Humans do not possess
all the requisite genetic
codes for optimal metabolic
health promotion.
There are over 100
trillion bacteria in the gut
(belonging to about 400
bacterial species). The gut
microbiota encodes over
three million genes (far
greater than the genome in
humans) that can produce
various metabolites essential
for human health.
So, the gut microbiota
provides the human host
with metabolites that are
naturally not produced by
humans, but essential for
optimal human health.
Metabolites from the gut
microbiota:
• Help human host
to develop their immune
system.
• Help regulate host
metabolism
• Modulate host brain
functions.
• GUT DYSBIOSIS AND
SYSTEMIC DISEASES.
Dysbiosis is the alteration
of the composition of
human microbiota at given
site. Gut dysbiosis can lead
to alteration of the host
physiology resulting in the
pathogenic processes of
different diseases.
Gut dysbiosis leads to
poor gut-health. There is
loss of gut integrity and
immunity.
There is upregulation of
proinflammatory cytokines
and chemokines (due to loss
of Regulatory T cell anti-inflammatory
activities associated
with Gut dysbiosis).
Gram negative bacteria
generate lipopolysaccharides
(LPS), a marker of inflammation.
Overproduction
or abundance of gram-negative
bacteria in the gut can
cause inflammation
A Gut dysbiosis induces
a chronic state of systemic
low-grade inflammation
that plays a crucial role
in the pathophysiology of
chronic diseases. Gut dysbiosis
is associated with the
following:
. Cardiovascular diseases
(Atherosclerosis, HTN);
Metabolic disorders (Type 2
diabetes, Obesity); chronic
kidney diseases; Autoimmune
disorders, Neurological
disorders.
Association does not
mean causality; causality,
however, has been demonstrated
in rodent models.
THE SHORY CHAIN FAT-
TY ACIDS (SCFAs)
The 2- to 4- short chain
fatty acids (SCFAs), mainly,
Acetate, Propionate and
Butyrate, are generated by
bacterial fermentation of
dietary fibers and non-digestible
carbohydrates.
The SCFAs are readily absorbed
from the large intestines
into the bloodstream
to reach distant tissues like
liver, kidneys, fatty tissues.
Acetate readily crosses the
Blood-Brain Barrier to reach
the brain tissue.
The production of SCFA
is influenced by the pattern
of food intake and diet
mediated changes in the gut
microbiota.
The SCFAs are involved
in cellular energy production
and are known to affect
Lipids, Glucose, Cholesterol
metabolism.
The SCFAs improve insulin
sensitivity and therefore,
support the role of the
gut microbiota in glycemic
control.
About 90-95% of the
short chain fatty acids are
absorbed from the colon
into the systemic circulation
(only 5-10% of the short
chain fatty acids are lost in
stools).
SCFAs-MECHANISM OF
ACTIONS
SCFAs switch gene-expression
on and off by inhibiting
histone deacetylase
(HDAC).
By so doing, the SCFAs
upregulate anti-inflammatory
cytokines/chemokines;
down-regulate proinflammatory
cytokines.
SCFAs AND METABOLIC
SYNDROME
SCFAs not only protect
against diet-induced obesity,
but also inhibit insulin
resistance (Lin et al., 2012)
The SCFAs switch on the
genetic codes that help to
burn body fat as fuel for energy
production in the cells.
SCFAs AND INFLAMMA-
TIONS
SCFAs promote Regulatory
T (Treg) cells formation.
It is the Tregs that
suppress the production of
inflammatory cytokines by
inflammatory T-cells. So, the
SCFAs could be described as
Anti-inflammatory agents;
they help the human body
to control inflammations.
SCFAs AND ATHEROGEN-
ESIS
The SCFAs exert regulatory
control over the
production of enzymes
involved in cholesterol
generation, and those that
promote plaque-formation
in blood vessels.
Butyric acid downregulates
de novo lipogenesis,
ameliorate lipo-toxicity,
slows down atherosclerosis
progression, and stimulate
the burning of fats as fuel
for energy production in the
body cells.
GUT MICROBIOTA, AND
BRAIN HEALTH
SCFAs modulate brain
and behavioral health; they
influence maturation and
functions of microglia.
Altered SCFA production
has been implicated in a
variety of neurobehavioral
diseases including Autistic
spectrum disorder, and neurodegenerative
diseases like
Parkinson diseases.
Gram negative bacteria
generate Lipopolysaccharides
(LPS). On brain tissue,
LPS may activate immune
cells to induce inflammatory
cytokines that cause lowgrade
neuroinflammation.
SCFAs generate anti-inflammatory
cytokines that
prevent neuroinflammation.
Elderly persons have impaired
barrier functions of
both the intestinal wall and
the Blood-Brain Barrier.
Bacterial amyloid and
LPS may escape from intestine,
into the circulation;
enter the brain tissue to
promote neuroinflammation
that lead to neurodegenerative
diseases like
Parkinsons diseases, Multiple
sclerosis, Dementia.
GUT MICROBIOTA AND
HYPERTENSION
A healthy gut microbiome
generates the SCFAs.
SCFAs affect epithelial-,
immune-, nervous-, and vascular
functions to modulate
blood pressure
Studies indicate that gut
dysbiosis is associated with
hypertension:
. in hypertensive Rats
there is a reduction in microbial
richness and diversity
. There is a reduction in
butyrate- and acetate-producing
bacteria in hypertensives
. There is an increase in
Firmicutes bacteria phyla
relative to Bacteroidetes in
the gut
SCFA-receptors are
expressed in renal tissues;
intestinal dysbiosis activates
the renin-angiotensin
system (RAS) which contributes
to chronic kidney
diseases (CKD)
SCFAs affect blood pressure
by modulating local
RAS in the kidneys. Butyrate
inhibits Ang II-induced hypertension
by suppressing
the (pro)renin receptor and
intrarenal RAS
SCFA receptors (i.e.,
Gpr41, Olfr78) in the renal
Juxtaglomerular apparatus
mediate renin secretion in
response from gut microbiota
signals to lower baseline
blood pressure.
WESTERN DIETS
Western diets (high-protein,
high-fat, low-fiber
components) and the commercially
processed foods
promote Gut Dysbiosis and
decreased microbial diversity
in the gut.
Western diets, therefore,
promote obesity, metabolic
syndrome, chronic diseases
like cardiovascular diseases,
hypertension, and cancers
The high fructose sugary
drinks made from corn syrups
promote Gut dysbiosis
and, metabolic syndrome.
FOOD AS MEDICINE
High fiber diet serves as
fuel for gut microbiome. Gut
metabolome including the
SCFAs are essential products
for optimal gut function.
(High protein diets could
promote the formation of
harmful products in the
gut).
Therefore, a healthy
dietary pattern should include
high-fiber vegetables
like broccoli, spinach (and
other green-leafy vegetables),
nuts, seeds and whole
grains, and fresh farm produce
to help maintain gut
health.
Diets high in fiber (low in
animal proteins and animal
fats) that have been minimally
processed are good
for gut health. A healthy gut
promotes good health and
prevents the chronic diseases.
Indeed, you are what you
eat.
ALEX SARKODIE, MD

Page 10
The Ghana
International
Trade and Finance
Conference (GITFiC)
has called for
sustained sensitization of
the Ghanaian public and
the business community of
the benefits of the African
Continental Free Trade Area
(AfCFTA).
It said with intra-African
trade still very low, at less
than 20 per cent, the advent
of the AfCFTA was regarded
as a springboard to position
in the league of global trade
powerhouses.
The GITFiC made the call at
a press briefing on its 29-page
survey report titled: “Assessing
the AfCFTA Among the Business
Community in Ghana,” which
was undertaken within a period
of 12 weeks from February to
The Bank of Ghana has
directed all banks and
financial institutions
in the country to reject
all British £50 and £20
paper notes effective 31st August
2022.
The directive comes after
the Bank of England in the
United Kingdom declared that
the two paper banknotes will no
longer be legal tender starting
in October this year, because
they have been replaced with
polymer banknotes.
On its website, the Bank of
England said “30 September 2022
is the last day you can use paper
£20 and £50 notes. They have
been replaced by new polymer
£20 and £50 notes.”
Both the £20 and £50 paper
notes features the Queen of
England, but the new £50
polymer note features a picture
of British scientist Alan Turing
taken in 1961, according to the
bank of England, while the new
£20 note celebrate the works and
legacy of British artist, Turner.
The new £20 note has been in
Business
There must be sustained
of AfCFTA – GITFiC
April 2022.
The survey was to collect
and assess views of the business
community regarding the
framework of the AfCFTA, and
the designation of Accra as the
“commercial capital of Africa.”
Making a presentation on
the Report, Mr Gideon Adjandeh,
the Economic Researcher and
Policy Advocate at GITFiC said
a total of 4,800 questionnaires
were administered to business
enterprises in six sampled
regions of Ghana namely;
Greater Accra, Ashanti, Eastern,
Northern, Volta and Western
Regions.
“A non-disguised
questionnaire containing closeended
and open-ended questions
was developed to elicit the
perspectives of respondents” he
stated, and that the responses
were ranked on a blend of
Ghana Central Bank to
reject £20 and £50 paper
notes from August 31
circulation since October 2019,
while the £50 note has been in
use since June 2021. But both
will be of no use from October 1,
2022.
Following the BoG’s directive,
banks in Ghana have started
issuing circulars via SMS to all
their customers informing them
that the two paper banknotes
will longer be accepted at the
banks from August 31, 2022.
Techgh24 editor made a call
to Access Bank, upon receiving a
copy of the circular to get details
and a bank of official said per
the BoG’s directive, Ghanaians
are also on a deadline to spend
any £50 and £20 paper notes
they have between now and
September 30, when the two
paper notes would no longer
remain legal tender.
There is a countdown on the
website of the Bank of England
indicating 49 more days [from
today] left for you to use your £20
and £50 paper banknotes.
Meanwhile, as of today, the
British pound is equivalent to
GHS10.96.
DAILY ANALYST Monday, 15th August, 2022
the Likert scale and semantic
differential scale.
Mr Adjandeh said the
survey adopted a qualitative
approach, adding that, “a multistage
sampling approach was
used in the collection of data,
with a high sense of ethical
consideration and a total of 2,572
questionnaires was used for the
analysis.”
The study found that 34 per
cent of respondents have not
heard about the AfCFTA, and
the majority of respondents
(18.86 per cent) gained
information about it from the
radio and television while a
high rate of 66.5 per cent of
respondents indicated that the
implementation of the AfCFTA
would have a beneficial effect on
their businesses.
Mr Adjandeh said over 90 per
cent of respondents stated that
the sensitization of the AfCFTA
would be relevant to ensure that
Ghana harnesses the optimal
benefits under the preferences
presented by the continental
liberalized market.
“It is hoped that the findings
The Association of
Ghana Industries
(AGI) has initiated
talks with government
to push for tax
exemption on the importation
of raw materials and partially
manufactured goods into the
country by manufacturing
companies.
The move is to support and
protect investments made in the
country and ensure that goods
produced are affordable and able
to compete favourably on the
international market.
It would also cushion locally
produced goods from unfair
competition posed by cheap
imported goods.
Mr Humphrey Kwasi Ayim –
Darke, President of AGI, speaking
to the Ghana News Agency (GNA)
in an interview, said the current
tax regime was biased towards
manufacturing..
He added that some products
were enjoying tax exemptions
so it would be in the right
direction for raw materials
that were being imported for
manufacturing purposes to also
enjoy tax exemptions.
“All manufactured goods
must enjoy tax exemptions just
as agricultural machinery and
other equipment”, he stated.
This, he said would create
more jobs for the youth and
contribute to the manufacturing
sector increasing gross domestic
Mr. Gideon Adjandeh, the Economic
of this field survey would serve
as veritable reference for policy
makers and key players in the
AfCFTA ecosystem,” he stated.
Mr Selasi Koffi Ackom, the
Chief Executive Officer of GITFiC
said: “We at the GITFiC strongly
believe that, through sustained
help we can jointly change the
narrative on low sensitization
and spark the interest of the
business community and the
public on the vast opportunity
the Continental Free Trade Area
bring to the African Continent.
“Our vision was to serve
key stakeholders in trade and
industry.”
Mr Ackom said for GITFiC
to add layer to its vision as a
nexus serving both private and
public enterprises and entities
products.
According to him, globally,
manufacturing makes the
economy a real one and a
potential to ensure economic
growth and development.
It is in this light that the
government introduced the One
District, One Factory policy to
revamp industrialisation.
He indicated that the country
must endeavour to wean itself
from foreign supply to ensure
would launch a comprehensive
handbook on AfCFTA, which
would contain detailed and
simplified information on its
framework.
It would particularly delve
into key topics such as; the Rules
of Origin and Trade Remedies
among others as pertains in the
field of international trade, he
stated.
“The handbook has gone
under reviews from key
stakeholder institutions
including the African
Union under the Economic
Development Department
and under the auspices of His
Excellency Albert M. Muchanga;
Commissioner – Trade, Industry,
Tourism and Mining.”
Import of raw materials
must be tax exempted – AGI
socio-economic security.
Additionally, manufacturing
contributions to GDP had stalled
over the years and the youth
must endeavour to enter it to
improve their livelihoods.
Ms Akosua Amanoh, a
young entrepreneur in soap
manufacturing speaking to the
GNA called on the government
to ensure that the youth in the
small communities had a feel of
the 1D1F policy.

DAILY ANALYST
Monday, 15th August, 2022 Page 11
New Ghana forward,
Inaki Williams has
opened up on what
led to his decision
to switch his Spain
nationality to play for Ghana.
Last month, the Ghana
Football Association (GFA)
announced that the Athletic
Bilbao forward has become
eligible to play for the Black
Stars.
Speaking to the Spanish
press ahead of the start of
the new La Liga season, Inaki
Williams says beyond his
family’s role, Kurt Okraku was
instrumental in the process to
get him to switch nationality.
“It's something I've been
thinking about for many months
and I've had the help of my
family.
“The president of the
Ghanaian federation [Kurt
Okraku] is the one who pushed
hardest for me to be there,”
Inaki Williams said as quoted by
marca.
Inaki Williams added,
Sports
GFA president Kurt Okraku pushed
the hardest for me to switch to play
for Ghana – Inaki Williams
“Trains only run once and I got
on this one, which has more good
than bad.
“The decision has been
mature and consensual with my
family."
Kurt Okraku
Next month, Inaki Williams
will have his chance to play
for the Black Stars when he is
invited for the international
friendly matches.
Haaland defended
by Guardiola after
recording just
eight touches in
Man City's rout of
Bournemouth
Pep Guardiola has
backed Erling Haaland
despite the Manchester
City forward recording
just eight touches
during the club's Premier League
win over Bournemouth on Saturday.
City ran riot against the
Cherries, winning 4-0 to make it
two wins from two to start the
season.
Haaland, though, was not
among the scorers, and saw little
of the ball as Bournemouth sat
deep at the Etihad Stadium.
He did, however, provide
the assist for Ilkay Gundogan's
opening goal, and Guardiola
leapt to his summer signing's
defence post-match.
What did Guardiola say about
Haaland?
The City boss told a press
conference: “The most difficult
job in the world is when you are
in a striker and defenders defend
in areas like Bournemouth; they
have three central defenders and
two players in front and everyone
in the middle. How can you
survive like that? It’s so difficult.
“We will find many of these
situations, but it is a question
of time: the right moment, the
right tempo, the right movement.
But the quality of players
we have behind him, to assist
him, we will find him. I have no
doubt about that.”
What did Guardiola say about
De Bruyne?
Haaland may have struggled
on his home debut in the
Premier League, but Kevin De
Bruyne was at his devastating
best as he chipped in with a goal
and an assist for Phil Foden.
On De Bruyne's stunning
performance, Guardiola said,
“Kevin before last season was
just assist and assist and now
he is enjoying scoring goals. It is
important for us [that] not just
Julian [Alvarez] and Erling get
the goals.
“When I was in Munich he
played in Wolfsburg and I think
he was the best player in the
Bundesliga. Kevin was a really
good player before our arrival,
was good with us and will be
after us.”
Qatar to use some World
Cup players for Ghana
friendly in Austria
World Cup hosts,
Qatar, will
name some of
their regular
players for the
international friendly against
Ghana this month.
The Asian giants will play
Ghana, Morocco and Jamaica in
a four-nation tournament later
this month in Austria.
With the tournament being
played out of the international
window, Qatar will have the
advantage of naming a strong
team with most of their players
playing in the Qatari stars league.
Meanwhile, Ghana will travel
with the Black Galaxies for the
three games.
The tournament will be held
at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion in
Austria.
Qatar, North Africans
Morocco and the Raggae Boyz of
Jamaica will participate in the
preparatory games.
The Black Stars will engage
Jamaica first before playing Qatar
and Morocco.
The games will also serve
as preparations ahead of the
2022 FIFA World Cup, with
September's AFCON qualifiers
expected to be postponed.
The West African giants are
returning to the World Cup after
edging out Nigeria to qualify for
the tournament in Qatar this
November.
The Ghana Football
Association recently announced
the nationality switches of
six players as part of boosting
the team with quality before
November's World Cup.