WOMEN ARE DYING

Alex Segbefia, Health Minister

Some findings that women are avoiding hospitals because they can’t afford what the hospitals demand of them are troubling indeed.

There is a free maternal health programme in place under which pregnant women are entitled to: exemption from paying NHIS premium; exemption of payment of registration fees; waiving the period between registration and accessing the services; free medical care and medicines during delivery; and free medical services and care for the newborn baby on the mother’s ticket.

But a recent study by SEND-Ghana has revealed that a lot of women who go into labour, especially in the northern regions, avoid health facilities due to illegal fees - a situation that contributes to the rise in maternal mortality.

According to the study, there are a number of hidden or unapproved charges at the various facilities that prevent poor pregnant women from fully enjoying the benefits offered by the policy.

Pregnant women who report to the hospitals are compelled to provide a list of items before being admitted to the health facilities for delivery, but many cannot afford these, thereby forcing them to avoid the hospitals and sometimes unfortunately losing their lives.

Stated one woman who was forced to deliver at home. “It’s not all of us who can get the items demanded by the facilities, and when you do not provide them you are mishandled. In fact, this small girl was delivered at home because my husband could not afford the items requested.”

Most Pretty Gender Minister Oye Lithur

The SEND study shows that at some facilities in the four regions targeted - the Upper West, Upper East, Northern and the Greater Accra Regions -- clients are charged between GHC3 and GHC4 for items such as specimen bottles for laboratory tests, and they also pay for pregnancy test kits.

In Greater Accra, the report noted, facilities charge even higher amounts that range between GHC30 and GHC100 without receipts.

“Clients are often compelled to provide a list of items before being admitted for supervised delivery. This list is displayed at the facility for all pregnant women to provide. A rough estimate of the items runs into hundreds of Ghana cedis,” the report said.

“The disturbing question is how many pregnant women will be able to afford these items considering the level of poverty in the three regions of the north. This is enough to prevent many pregnant women from going to the facility,” Siapha Kamara, CEO of SEND-Ghana, said at the report’s launch in Accra.

“Clients are often compelled to provide a list of items before being admitted for supervised delivery. This list is displayed at the facility for all pregnant women to provide. A rough estimate of the items runs into hundreds of Ghana cedis,” the report said.

“The disturbing question is how many pregnant women will be able to afford these items considering the level of poverty in the three regions of the north. This is enough to prevent many pregnant women from going to the facility,” Siapha Kamara, CEO of SEND-Ghana, said at the report’s launch in Accra.

The SEND’s findings make for uncomfortable reading, but it offers a needed peep into what is happening behind clear good policies. They are unfortunately not the only ones and authorities will do well to explore whatever additional measures would be needed to ensure that access to health is available to all regardless of wealth status.

Editorial

Erdogan’s Visit

The visit of President Erdogan of Turkey to Ghana at this time must be very interesting for different reasons.

First, just before he enplaned for Ghana, he was engaged in a bitter struggle with Journalists in his own country over his refusal, to release a Turkish Journalist from jail on court orders.

Tayyip Erdogan, a vendor of terrorism

Erdogan has publicly stated that he is involved in the illegal act of overthrowing the legitimate government of Syria.

Reports from all credible human rights institutions from around the world, say that his government is systematically abusing the rights of Kurds and his political opponents.

Even the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has been very reluctant to grant Turkey under Erdogan membership.

The United States of America and other western powers have also openly disagreed with Erdogan and his government on their policies in the Middle East and in the Persian Gulf.

It is indeed strange that in spite of all these facts the Government of Ghana has embraced Erdogan and his regime.

It is our hope that during his stay in Accra, President Mahama will advise his Turkish counterpart to abide by international law and refrain from his subversive activities in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf.

That may be the only useful outcome of this visit.

PRESIDENT MAHAMA AND THE USA

President John Dramani Mahama

For the very first in Ghana’s history, a sitting President has openly and proudly declared that Ghana is an ally of the United States of America.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra, President John Mahama justified the decision by his government to harbor two Guantanamo Bay detainees by claiming that Ghana is an ally of the USA.

He went on to praise the alliance between the two countries which has yielded beneficial results.

According to him, these beneficial results have included training and equipment for security personnel and the sharing of intelligence on terrorism.

This intelligence he claimed has made it possible to keep an eye on some possible trouble makers.

All of Ghana’s past leaders, including even those from the Danquah- Busia tradition have been at pains to emphasize the non-aligned basis of Ghana’s foreign policy.

POSITIVE ACTION IS RELEVANT TODAY!

Dr Kwame Nkrumah

By Duke Nii Amartey Tagoe

The Socialist Forum of Ghana has called on oppressed workers to continue in the fight against the system of capitalism that protects neo-colonial capitalists and is designed to exploit worker’s labour, and the pillage of  Ghana’s resources in favour of foreign finance capital.

In a statement issued in Accra to mark the 56^th anniversary of Positive Action declared by the foremost exponent of African unity and the champion of Ghana’s independence struggle, Kwame Nkrumah, the vibrant Leftist group said “Positive Action goes to prove that non-violent means of struggle against an oppressor class is possible and can also be victorious.”

The full text of the statement is published below unedited.

On the 8th of January, 1950 that is some 56 years ago, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, leader of the CPP declared Positive Action day a milestone in the Independence struggle against British Imperialism and the colonial rule. This red letter day signaled the continuation of the struggle and its entry into a decisive stage when the use of non-violent struggle like strikes, boycotts, peaceful demonstrations, non-cooperation were employed by the workers and people of the then Gold Coast led by their vanguard party to fight and eventually expel the foreign colonialists from the shores of our great country.

Many were those who lost their lives, livelihood, jobs, freedoms and even places in school for demanding freedom from foreign oppression. Within a year and a half, the CPP and the people won a great majority at the polls and their leader incarcerated by the British was released to head an African Cabinet in the first internal home rule in Black Africa.

The lessons of Positive Action are that a determined people who are on the side of right will always win against the most determined enemy no matter how powerful he might be. It also goes to prove that non-violent means of struggle against an oppressor class is possible and can also be victorious.

Positive Action brought certain awareness to the ordinary person and made it possible for them to take their destiny into their hands and acquire the confidence to stand up for their rights. As we mark Positive Action Day, we salute the gallant workers of that era for standing up to become the vanguard of the struggle for freedom and justice and to show an alternative way opposed to the method by the elite.

Positive Action demonstrates that the oppressed masses of Ghana can mobilize themselves to defeat neo-colonial capitalist state and to build a new society based on the principles of social justice and democracy.

…………………….

Justice Kofi Henaku

Secretary

Socialist Forum of Ghana

Editorial

Judgment Day

Ghana has entered into another election year and the political parties have started troubling our ears with a cacophony about their achievements and what they may do in future.

The people of Ghana are listening to these noises not so much because they change anything.

Indeed the value of the current exercises in noise making is just entertainment and amusement.

After all, we know that very few of the promises politicians make in election campaigns are kept.

The competition is now about who kept more promises than the other and judgment day is fast approaching.

On November 7 this year the people will make up their minds about which politician should be entrusted with running the affairs of the state.

That would be the judgment day.