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Resumption of commercial flights: WHO urges strong coronavirus safety measures

The Mawuena — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 17:45:09 +0000

As African countries begin to reopen borders and air spaces, it is crucial that governments take effective measures to mitigate the risk of a surge in infections due to the resumption of commercial flights and airport operations.

Many African governments acted swiftly, implementing confinement and travel restrictions in the early days of the pandemic.

In the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region, 36 countries closed their borders to international travel, eight suspended flights from countries with high COVID-19 transmission and others had partial or no restrictions.

So far Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Tanzania and Zambia have resumed commercial flights. The 15-member Economic Community of West African States is expected to open their airspace on 21 July.

While open borders are vital for the free flow of goods and people, initial analysis by WHO found that lockdowns along with public health measures reduced the spread of COVID-19.

Even with border restrictions, imported cases have sometimes brought back COVID-19 to countries which had not reported cases for a length of time. For example, Seychelles had not had a locally transmitted case since 6 April 2020, but in the last week 66 new cases – all crew members of an international fishing vessel – have been recorded.

“Air travel is vital to the economic health of countries,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “But as we take to the skies again, we cannot let our guard down. Our new normal still requires stringent measures to stem the spread of COVID-19.”

To resume international air travel, WHO recommends that countries assess the epidemiological situation to determine whether maintaining restrictions outweighs the economic costs of reopening borders if, for instance, there is widespread transmission of the virus. It is also crucial to determine whether the health system can cope with a spike in imported cases and whether the surveillance and contact tracing system can reliably detect and monitor cases.

It is important that countries have systems in place at points of entry including airports. Comprehensive entry and exit screening should be considered based on risk assessment and cost-benefit analysis, and as part of the overall national response strategy.

Such screening may target, as a priority, direct flights from areas with community transmission. In addition, observance of preventive measures such as personal hygiene, cough etiquette, physical distancing remains crucial. Passengers should be registered and followed up, and if they develop symptoms be advised to inform health authorities.

“The resumption of commercial flights in Africa will facilitate the delivery of crucial supplies such as testing kits, personal protective equipment and other essential health commodities to areas which need them most,” Dr Moeti said. “It will also ensure that experts, who can support the response can finally get on the ground and work.”

The impact of COVID-19 on airlines is likely to be severe. African airlines could lose US$ 6 billion of passenger revenue compared to 2019 and job losses in aviation and related industries could grow to 3.1 million, half of the region’s 6.2 million aviation-related employment, according to the International Air Transport Association.

In the worst-case scenario, international air traffic in Africa could see a 69% drop in international traffic capacity and 59% decline in a domestic capacity, according to an analysis by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

Together with the World Economic Forum, WHO held a virtual press conference today with Dr Moeti, Dr Amani Abou-Zeid, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy at the African Union Commission and Prosper Zo’o Minto’o, Regional Director, Western and Central African Office, International Civil Aviation Organization.

Source: Ghana Web

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1D1F can’t be truncated; let’s win 2020 polls to complete them – Akufo-Addo

The Mawuena — Sun, 28 Jun 2020 20:26:51 +0000

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged all Ghanaians to vote for him and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in this year’s presidential and parliamentary elections to enable his government continue the development of the country.

He said projects such as the One District One Factory (1D1F) initiative and the ongoing road projects, are likely to be truncated if the NPP does not win the elections hence, the need to vote for the governing party to complete all the factories being established.

Speaking during the unveiling of the ‘Nana-Bawumia’ ticket by the NPP for this year’s elections, on Saturday June 27, Mr Akufo-Addo said : “We have to win the elections to see our major projects through to conclusion. We dare not leave the many factories coming up under our 1D1F scheme, to be truncated.

“We dare not leave our roads to go unattended again, only to become part of the ‘Green Book’ propaganda. We dare not jeopardize the digitization schedule on which we have embarked.”

Mr Akufo- Addo further told the gathering that governments of the NPP always develop the local economy while those of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) destroy it.

To that end, he reiterated his call on Ghanaians to vote massively for him and the NPP in this year’s polls in order to take the development if the economy to another level.

said : “We grow the economy they shrink the economy, we create the properly regulated enabling atmosphere for businesses to flourish, they allow chancers, speculators to lure citizens into putting their moneys into dodgy enterprises.

“They bring our banks and financial sectors to near collapse, we have to clean up, shore up and restore confidence, they plunge us into dumso, we keep the lights on.”

For his part, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawmuia, noted that petroleum prices have increased under the Akufo-Addo administration by half of the rate that occurred under the NDC under the leadership of Mr John Mahama.

He said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration has better managed the economy including the petroleum sector, than what Ghanaians experienced previously.

Speaking during the event, he said : “They (NDC) should not only read the data but they should try and understand it so that they don’t mislead Ghanaians like their general mosquito tried to do on the Supreme Court verdict on Thursday.

“If they study the data they will realize that for our first term in office, we have not just performed better but we have performed overwhelmingly better across board.

“Any claim to better management of the economy must ultimately reflect in the lives of the people .

“How have we been able to reduce the sufferings of our people and make life easier for them after three and half years in office?

“ That is exactly what President Nana Akufo-Addo has done. We have ended the sufferings associated with dumsor, we have reduced electricity tariffs by 10.9% compared to a cumulative increase of 264% under the NDC.

“We have further reduced tariffs by 50% for the months of April May and June this year.

“We have provided free water for households in April, May and June, petroleum prices have increased by half the rate that they did under the NDC. We have doubled the capitation grant, established NABCo, created jobs and stopped the freeze on recruitment in the public sector.”

Source: GhanaWeb

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I hope to grow 100 entrepreneurs within a decade – McDan

The Mawuena — Sat, 27 Jun 2020 11:41:18 +0000

The Chief Executive Officer of the McDan Group, Daniel McKorley has envisioned to build some 100 businesspersons in the next decade.

This intention comes on the back of his quest to see entrepreneurs within the country’s startup ecosystem blossom.

Speaking on Joynews, Daniel McKorley said his outfit is hoping to give some 100 entrepreneurs a foot in the door.

“Micro businesses are a critical factor of the Ghanaian economy. I believe the business development ministry has them in mind. I am looking at building 10 businesses every year and in a period of 10 years, I will be having 100 CEOs under my umbrella, I think I should be proud of that.”

He further noted that most businesses need coaching rather than monetary capital.

“Most businesses that I come across, it is not money that they need. They rather need mentoring, coaching. Some of them already making money and all they need in addition is a sense of direction.”

On his part, the CEO indicated his hiring policies go beyond academic credentials.

Although he argues that certificates matter, he however believes that attitude to work supersedes academic credentials.

“I do not employ because of certificates but the attitude. You can see a very eloquent, good, smart young person but when you put them to work, it is a bit sad. The results are very appalling.”

He also noted that academic qualifications remain an important consideration when assessing candidates as a whole, but that will no longer act as a barrier to be recruited.

Source: GhanaWeb

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