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Kidney dialysis pricing increases unlawful – Mintah Akandoh

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If the hospital reverts to its previous pricing, he believes the dialysis clinic would have to close within days. The cost hike might be duplicated in other regional hospitals around the country in the near future. However, Mintah Akandoh of JoyFM Midday News stated that the hospital's fees and charges are governed by the Fees and Charges Act, and that any price increase must be approved by parliament. However, it is an expensive procedure that many Ghanaians cannot afford.

Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Ranking Member of Parliament’s Health Committee, has called the increase in the price of kidney dialysis treatment at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital as unlawful.

He claims that the hospital cannot modify its fees or charges without first contacting Parliament, as required by law.

His remark comes in the wake of a recent increase in the cost of renal dialysis therapy at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital from 380 to 765.

Mustapha Salifu, KBTH’s Public Relations Officer, noted that the increase is due to high taxes and import levies on consumables.

According to Mr Salifu, the government has abolished the tax exemption on these consumables, necessitating the need to raise the price to pay the expense of the service.

If the hospital reverts to its previous pricing, he believes the dialysis clinic would have to close within days.

The cost hike might be duplicated in other regional hospitals around the country in the near future.

However, Mintah Akandoh of JoyFM Midday News stated that the hospital’s fees and charges are governed by the Fees and Charges Act and that any price increase must be approved by parliament.

However, it is an expensive procedure that many Ghanaians cannot afford.

“To start with it is illegal because every public health facility, their fees and charges must be regulated by what we call Fees and Charges Act. So your fees and charges must be approved by parliament. You just can’t sit at the hospital and fix fees or charges anyhow,” he said.

According to him, no such problem has been brought before the Health Committee, hence the price increase is unlawful.

“And I am not aware from where I sit as a Ranking Member on Parliament’s Health Committee, I am not aware and I don’t know and we have not done such a thing, we have not approved that 765 they want to charge.

“So please, in as much as I agree that there’s high inflation, in as much as I agree there’s economic hardship going on, I think that citizens must not pay for the recklessness of government,” he said.

He has previously urged the government to reinstate the tax exemption on consumables in order to cut the cost of medical care.

 “We are calling on government to, as a matter of urgency, restore the tax exemptions on these items that have necessitated the astronomical increase in the cost of dialysis.

“It is quite unconscionable, highly unacceptable, we are talking about health care, we are talking about dialysis, something that you need not less than two or three times within a week, and you’re moving the price from 380 ghana cedis to 765.

“The government is so insensitive to the extent that now we’re pushing people into the grave. How can we do this? How?”

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14 injured, father and son killed in an accident

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About 14 people on board the commercial truck with registration number CR-553-16 were injured to varying degrees and were brought to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH) for treatment. The remains have been sent to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital mortuary for autopsy and preservation. The Jukwa Police Command has also opened an inquiry into the accident.

An overspeeding car killed a man and his two-year-old kid near Jukwa on the Twifu Praso-Cape Coast Highway.

The two were riding their motorcycles when the truck drove over them, killing them on the spot.

According to an eyewitness, the minibus driver lost control while attempting to overtake another vehicle, crashing with a motorbike and veering off into the jungle.

About 14 people on board the commercial truck with registration number CR-553-16 were injured to varying degrees and were brought to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH) for treatment.

The remains have been sent to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital mortuary for autopsy and preservation.

The Jukwa Police Command has also opened an inquiry into the accident.

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Anti-LGBTQ Bill: Supreme Court adjourns case indefinitely

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Prior to the adjournment, the court dismissed a preliminary objection submitted by the Speaker's counsel, Thaddeus Sory. The attorneys for the plaintiff, television journalist Richard Sky, attempted to change one of the reliefs in the request for injunction, but Mr Sory objected.

The Supreme Court has put the lawsuit against the Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, better known as the Anti-LGBTQ Bill, on hold indefinitely.

During a hearing on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, the Supreme Court ruled that the documents filed by Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin’s counsel included intemperate language.

The judge ordered the legal team to produce fresh documents.

Before the adjournment, the court dismissed a preliminary objection submitted by the Speaker’s counsel, Thaddeus Sory.

The attorneys for the plaintiff, television journalist Richard Sky, attempted to change one of the reliefs in the request for an injunction, but Mr Sory objected.

After consideration, the Apex Court presided over by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, concluded that the preliminary objection was superfluous.

Justice Torkornoo stated that each side has the right to present their case as they see appropriate, and chastised the Speaker’s team, saying, “You have wasted our time and energy for no reason.”

Richard Sky, a journalist, and Amanda Odoi, a researcher, have launched separate lawsuits against the measure, which is currently awaiting President Nana Akufo-Addo’s signature.

Mr Sky claims that Parliament’s approval of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill is illegal and requests that the highest court declare the bill null and invalid.

Dr. Odoi has also voiced concerns about several sections of the proposed bill.

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Reports of withdrawal from Ghana did not emanate from us – Société Générale

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"We do not wish to comment more. But, frankly, I insist that the papers are not from SG Ghana," he said. According to widely circulating claims, Société Générale would depart Ghana's banking business after 20 years. Société Générale has signed agreements with Saham Group to transfer its Moroccan businesses. Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, and Chad were among the African nations withdrawn from in 2023. Citing its long-standing presence in Africa, Société Générale intends to focus its resources on regions where it can establish itself as a major bank, in accordance with its overarching plan announced on its website on April 12, 2024.

French bank Société Générale has categorically dismissed speculations of its exit from the Ghanaian banking industry, characterising them as unfounded conjecture.

The bank explained that it is revamping its operations to reflect worldwide market conditions better.

Addressing shareholder worries over the purported departure during the 44th Annual General Meeting, Société Générale’s Managing Director, Hakim Ouzzani, stated that the reports did not come from the bank itself.

“Some speculations have spread about SG Ghana. However, it is crucial to inform all of our stakeholders and shareholders that the news item being disseminated in the media was not released by the group or SG Ghana.

“We do not wish to comment more. But, frankly, I insist that the papers are not from SG Ghana,” he said.

According to widely circulating claims, Société Générale would depart Ghana’s banking business after 20 years.

Société Générale has signed agreements with Saham Group to transfer its Moroccan businesses. Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, and Chad were among the African nations withdrawn from in 2023.

Citing its long-standing presence in Africa, Société Générale intends to focus its resources on regions where it can establish itself as a major bank, per its overarching plan announced on its website on April 12, 2024.

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