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Pantang Hospital employees put their lives in danger by living in a dilapidated structure

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Pantang Hospital employees put their lives in danger by living in a dilapidated structure

Several squatters and Pantang hospital employees are forced to occupy unfinished and dilapidated buildings at the risk of their lives.

The Ministry of Health declared the structures unsafe following a structural integrity test in 2021.

The structure was originally built to house hospital staff, but nursing students and other community members have turned the dilapidated and worn-out structure into their home, despite hospital management’s warnings to vacate the building.

A visit to Pantang on March 16, 2023, revealed that the structure was still in use despite its deplorable condition.

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Pantang Hospital employees put their lives in danger by living in a dilapidated structure

There were various types of cracks and leaks, exposed and rusted iron rods, and exposed wires.

All of the stairs connecting the ground floor to the other floors were completely destroyed. One of the stairs in the Okonkwo Building was made of rotten wood, and the structure was crooked, but the building’s occupants continued to use it unconcerned.

Delali Tomegah, an environmental officer with the Pantang hospital, said he was given the accommodation by the hospital when asked if he came to live in the building of his own free will.

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Pantang Hospital employees put their lives in danger by living in a dilapidated structure

“The walling of the hospital affected my accommodation, so the hospital authorities asked me to move into the building.”

He has lived in the building for two years and believes the structure is sound.

“The structure is very strong, but from the outside, it appears weak. It only appears to be old; with a little TLC, it will look brand new.”

A resident – name withheld – stated that, while she is terrified that the building will collapse, she has no choice.

“I am scared the building may collapse on us one day, but we have nowhere to go”.

Doris Attiogbe, a mother of two, told Citi News about her dangerous living conditions.

“The building soaks the water anytime it rains, I don’t know about the other tenants though. The cement component along the stairs has recently begun to fall off.”

She added that after 5 years in the building and numerous evacuation notices, she is now ready to leave.

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Pantang Hospital employees put their lives in danger by living in a dilapidated structure

Dr Frank Baning, the hospital’s Medical Director, denied that the hospital’s management had authorised their stay.

“I can tell you for a fact that none of them, at least not that I am aware of, will be able to show you that they were given a letter to go and live in such a structure, and I have been at the helm of affairs since 2016.”

He also stated that the hospital is situated on an earthquake fault line in Ghana.

“I am the one pushing for it to be demolished because I’m afraid that if you are not careful, one of these days it will collapse on staff and that’s been one of my fears. You know we fall within the fault lines. Anytime there is one of those earth tremors, we at the Pantang Hospital usually feel it here, so you can just imagine if the scale goes up a little what will happen to that building. So those are some of the fears, and we won’t ask staff to live in a place like that.”

Dr Baning went on to say that the fact that residents live in the building rent-free indicates that their stay was not approved by hospital management.

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Pantang Hospital employees put their lives in danger by living in a dilapidated structure

He added that they were unable to evict them as planned because the occupants had filed an appeal with the Ministry of Health.

“They petitioned my bosses, that is the mental health authority and the Ministry [of Health] so as far as I’m concerned, it’s been taken up by a higher institution than Pantang hospital and [it is] being dealt with. So I would say the best people to talk to would be the Ministry because they went to petition them”.

“The minister delegated the Deputy Minister of health to come here and resolve the issue, they all saw it and said no it must come down. The municipal assembly put together a team made of engineers and security people to come and take a look and the conclusion is that it should be pulled down.”

Source: citinewsroom.com

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Premix explosion in Anomabo injures two people

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"Recognising the urgency of the situation, firefighters immediately deployed foam solution to combat the premix fuel induced blaze, effectively containing the fire and preventing its further spread," the statement went on to say. Concerned neighbours brought the injured to the Anomabo hospital for medical care. An investigation is presently underway to determine the cause of the fire.

A fire devastated a premix station in Anomabo in the Mfantseman Municipality of the Central Region, injuring two persons and destroying many structures.

The event occurred at about 8:05 a.m. on Thursday, May 2, 2024.

The quick response of the firemen stopped the fire from spreading to neighbouring regions and causing damage.

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) stated that two pumps were despatched from the ManKessim and Cape Coast Metropolitan Fire Stations.

“Recognising the urgency of the situation, firefighters immediately deployed foam solution to combat the premix fuel induced blaze, effectively containing the fire and preventing its further spread,” the statement went on to say.

Concerned neighbours brought the injured to the Anomabo hospital for medical care.

An investigation is presently underway to determine the cause of the fire.

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Government to open the Kumasi International Airport on May 10

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With a capacity to accommodate over 800,000 people per year, largely from the northern and central belt areas, the airport is well-positioned to fulfil the growing demand for airline travel. Contractors have announced intentions to enlarge the runway and destroy obsolete infrastructure once the new terminal is operating. During a recent tour of the project, Transport Minister Kwaku Ofori Asiamah expressed satisfaction with the development, as did Ghana Airport Company Limited management and Board Members. However, he expressed worries about the facility's long-term upkeep and emphasised its significance to the socioeconomic growth of the Ashanti Region and Ghana as a whole.

Expectations are high as the government prepares to open the Kumasi Airport, officially Nana Agyemang Prempeh I International Airport, on May 10, 2024.

President Akufo-Addo will commission the project alongside the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Minister of Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, and the Managing Director of Ghana Airport Company Limited, Yvonne Nana Afiriyie Opare, among other dignitaries.

The Kumasi Airport is expected to begin full operations in June of this year, after its inauguration on May 10.

The facility, presently managed by the Ghana Airport Company Limited, is now undergoing equipment testing that is required for both domestic and international flights.

With a capacity to accommodate over 800,000 people per year, largely from the northern and central belt areas, the airport is well-positioned to fulfil the growing demand for airline travel.

Contractors have announced intentions to enlarge the runway and destroy obsolete infrastructure once the new terminal is operating.

During a recent tour of the project, Transport Minister Kwaku Ofori Asiamah expressed satisfaction with the development, as did Ghana Airport Company Limited management and Board Members.

However, he expressed worries about the facility’s long-term upkeep and emphasised its significance to the socioeconomic growth of the Ashanti Region and Ghana as a whole.

He said that the airport’s arrival will relieve the burden of foreign travellers from Ashanti, Bono, Ahafo, and the Northern and Upper Regions of the country, as they will no longer need to go to Accra to access an international airport.

During a recent courtesy call to the Manhyia Palace by the Transport Minister and the Board and Management of the Ghana Airport Company Limited, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II congratulated the government on the project’s completion.

He stated that given the Ashanti Region’s active economic activity, a project such as the International Airport will surely create jobs and strengthen the region’s local economy.

Phase II of the project, which began in 2018, comprises the construction of a new terminal building capable of handling one million passengers per year, two boarding bridges, a road network, a perimeter fence, a substation, and a parking lot, among others.





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The traumatic experience of a Ghanaian bisexual

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According to him, these attacks have become more intense this year as a result of Ghana's parliament passing anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. Ibrahim was attacked just as arguments around the passing of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill heated up, and he was attacked again shortly after the bill was passed in February. The first incident happened on January 22nd, about 5 p.m., near the Sen Cinema Mosque in Alajo North, Accra. Ibrahim was the target of another violent attack four months later, on April 12, 2024, during the 3music Sallafest Concert at Alajo T Junction in Accra.

A Ghanaian man, using the alias Ibrahim for safety concerns, has boldly told his tragic story of being repeatedly assaulted in his community because of his sexual orientation.

Ibrahim, a Muslim, has described being targeted several times by assailants in his community over the years.

According to him, these attacks have become more intense this year as a result of Ghana’s parliament passing anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.

Ibrahim was attacked just as arguments around the passing of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill heated up, and he was attacked again shortly after the bill was passed in February.

The first incident happened on January 22nd, at about 5 p.m., near the Sen Cinema Mosque in Alajo North, Accra.

Ibrahim was the target of another violent attack four months later, on April 12, 2024, during the 3music Sallafest Concert at Alajo T Junction in Accra.

Ibrahim claims that the assaults were motivated by his sexual orientation, which had previously gone unnoticed in his society.

Ibrahim has resorted to secluding himself within for protection since he lives in constant fear of additional attacks.

He laments the absence of a support network in his village, with just a few understanding people living outside its borders.

However, the dread of repercussions keeps him from finding consolation or company outside of his close environs.

In an exclusive interview, Ibrahim described his terrible sense of loneliness and the psychological toll of the ongoing danger of violence.

He must navigate his everyday existence beneath the shadow of dread, unable to freely interact with the world around him for fear of serious bodily damage.

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