Month: July 2020

President of the Community Court of Justice, Justice Edward Amoako Asante has lamented over a practice where the court has never in its history received referrals from any member state unlike their counterpart, the Community parliament currently working on referrals from the Commission.

According to him, the development is worrisome and has implications for the development of the Community law and its integration into the member states.

He further pointed out that the court is encouraged by the exercise of referral power given the Community Parliament albeit by the ECOWAS Commission. “We look forward to working with the Parliament towards ensuring that we receive referrals from the national courts”.

Adding, this would benefit and impact on the integration project and strengthen the collaboration between both institutions in the service of the Community and furthering the delivery of Justice.

Just like the Parliament, the Court also has the power to entertain referrals under its original mandate as the principal legal organ of the Community. In this role, the Court is required to ensure the observance of law and the principles of equity in the interpretation and application of the provisions of the 1993 Revised Treaty and all other subsidiary legal instruments of the Community.

Again, under Article 10 of the Protocol on the Court, it is vested with the power to issue in advisory capacity, a legal opinion on matters that require the interpretation of the provisions of the Treaty, it contributes to the prevention of conflicts or disputes as to the interpretation of the provisions of the treaty, he stated.

In his goodwill message at the Second Extra Ordinary meeting being held virtually, he noted that the pandemic has forced the adjournment of seventy one (71) cases including the twenty-seven (27) judgments and twelve applications for accelerated hearing.

“We are compelled to update the court’s practice direction and develop infrastructure for the electronic filing of cases while building the capacity of staff and other stake holders for the effective application of the technology”.

He further added that it is increasingly becoming obvious that virtual session would be the order of the day for the foreseeable future beyond the pandemic for the court and the technology has benefited on improving citizens access to the court and saving transport and associated cost of traveling to Abuja, “not to talk about saving hotel expenses for both parties and the lawyers”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) Sanitation and Water Project with funding from the World Bank and support from the Sanitation and Water Resources Ministry,  is collaborating with InGenius Africa and Graphic Communications Group to sensitize Ghanaians on behavior change through corona life series to reduce the surge in COVID-19 cases.

On Tuesday, July 14 2020, GAMA launched an educational series designed to attract the needed attention of the Ghanaian masses purposely in the local Ghanaian languages with known actors and actress Micky Osei Berko and Gloria Sarfo.

The series would be in television, radio and social media on corona life to sensitize the Ghanaian public on improved sanitation, good hygiene and observing the recommended protocols on COVID-19 to effect willful behavior and attitudinal change.

Coordinator of GAMA Ing.  George Asiedu in his address applauded President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo’s government and the front-line health Ghanaian workers towards the fight against the spread of covid-19.

These efforts include the closure of our borders, partial lockdown, supply of PPEs, enhanced contact tracing, mass testing, setting up of isolation centers, supply of essential recommended drugs/medication for management of infected persons, implementation of social intervention and support services; including support to the vulnerable, provision of free electricity and water supply, as well as other relevant positive actions by government to reduce the economic impact of the pandemic on the individual and businesses
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He, however, noted that the nation continues to record increasing number of positive case standing at twenty-four thousand nine hundred and eighty-eight (24,988) with one hundred thirty-nine deaths (139) and twenty-one thousand sixty-seven recovery and discharge.

In as much as Ghana’s situation appeared much better compared to the global spread of covid-19, Ghana’s infection rate is (0.8) percent compared to (0.16) percent across the world, recovery rate of 84 percent compare to 55.2 percent worldwide and death rate of 0.6 percent compared to 3.9 percent.

Ing. Aseidu noted that since 2014 GAMA has been pursuing the objective of increasing access to improved sanitation and water supply targeting mainly the vulnerable and the low-income people in Greater Accra.

As the project has also facilitated behavior change campaigns on good hygiene improved sanitation safe water to over four hundred thousand people (400,00) in GAMA and supported two hundred and twenty-five thousand (225,000) low income beneficiaries with access to over thirty thousand (30,000) improved household toilets facilities.

Through Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) three hundred and sixty-eight thousand (368,000) low income beneficiaries access water supply through ten thousand and forty (10,040) new household water connections.

And also improve the educational lives of some two hundred and thirty-two thousand (232,000) school people in two hundred and forty-three (243) schools in GAMA through the provision of fit for purpose, disability friendly and gender sensitive school sanitation facilities with adequate water supply and hand washing facilities.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com