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Thursday 28 March 2024

2021-04-07

[N] As Majority Leader be circumspect with your utterances

2021-03-19

[I] Goldman Sachs staff revolt at ‘98-hour week’
[I] Over half of staff go back to workplace
[I] Health chiefs confirm Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid jab safe to use
[S] Kotoko Signs Second Brazalian Player
[N] It Is A Blatant Lie That I’ve Declared My Prez Ambition-Agric Minister
[S] Accra Mayor to change face of sports in Greater Accra
[S] Ambassador Lutterodt charges GOC prez to tackle Martha Bissah issue
[S] Ben Nunoo-Mensah hits ground running for GOC
[S] Black Stars to Engage Uzbekistan In International Friendly
[N] House of Chiefs calls for collaboration with MMDCEs for development
[N] Baby Harvesting: More suspects picked
[N] Police pledge commitment to bringing Sheikh Maikano’s murderers to book
[B] ARB Apex Bank admitted to Ghana-Sweden Chamber of Commerce
[N] Desist from starting race ahead of time - Obiri Boahen to NPP presidential
[N] Gov’t announces construction of five interchanges in Ashanti
[N] Controversial textbooks: NPP urges NaCCA to enforce rules without fear or favour
[N] Staff working on Tamale interchange call off strike
[N] Newly proposed taxes a huge hindrance to businesses’ recovery
[N] Government can’t take a unilateral decision on salaries for public workers
[N] Ghana records 2 new Covid-19 variants; experts call for immediate action

2021-03-17

[S] First GFA safety and security seminar takes place today
[B] NDPC holds consultation medium term framework for 2022-2025 in Oti
[B] More investments recorded in Western Region despite COVID-19
[N] Ghana records 698 COVID-19 deaths
[N] NDC’s Ofosu Ampofo behaves like a toddler – Allotey Jacobs
[S] Don’t tax sports betting, ban it – Ato Forson to government
[N] Ama Benyiwaa Doe slams Allotey Jacobs; says he has no influence
[N] Approving Akufo-Addo’s ministers ‘regrettable and unfortunate’ – NDC caucus
[S] Don't rush Satellites players, warns GFA coaching boss
[N] Eastern Regional Hospital detains 246 patients for non-settlement of bills
[N] COVID-19 vaccination in Ghana: 1,000 reports received on adverse effects
[N] Ignore reports of rift between local, foreign staff at AfCFTA secretariat – Govt
[N] Remain calm, support our leadership in Parliament – NDC Council of Elders
[N] Ghana hasn’t recorded any case of blood clots from COVID-19 vaccination – FDA
[N] 9-year-old boy burnt to death as stepfather sets house ablaze
[B] Budget cuts for legislature, judiciary won’t be entertained – Speaker
[I] Half of UK managers back mandatory Covid vaccines for office work
[I] Brussels to propose Covid certificate to allow EU-wide travel

2021-03-16

[I] Nick Candy leads £1m drive to oust London mayor Sadiq Khan
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General News

[ 2015-04-22 ]

‘Public office holders must undergo psychological screening’
The Chief Psychiatrist of the Ghana Health Service
(GHS), Dr Akwasi Osei, has suggested that public
office holders should be made to undergo
psychological screening to determine whether they
are mentally fit to work in the interest of the
country.

He said it was only psychologically sound public
officers who could come up with sound policies and
laws, and sign agreements needed to advance the
country’s socio-economic development.

Speaking at the launch of the first anniversary
commemoration of the Mental Health Board in Accra
yesterday, Dr Osei said some of the laws passed,
policies and agreements signed by public officials
raised questions about the mental state of such
people when they were taking such decisions.

“They have to go for psychological screening to
ensure that they are of sound mind. When you look
at the policies, laws and international
agreements, there is something not right up
there,” he said.

The Mental Health Board is the governing body of
the Mental Health Authority (MHA), which was
established by the Mental Health Act 846 of 2012.

Activities lined up for the week-long celebration
include a public lecture, launch of the Mental
Health Fund, Muslim and Christian prayers and
services.

Workplace psychologists

Dr Osei, who is also the acting Chief Executive
Officer of the MHA, suggested that psychologists
should be employed at workplaces to offer their
services to workers.

He said the psychologists could address
psychological challenges facing workers and deter
depressed workers from engaging in criminal acts
or committing suicide.

Dr Osei added that it was the objective of the MHA
to clear all the streets in the country of mental
patients within the next two years.

He revealed that nine out of 10 patients who were
picked from the streets regained their sanity.

Statistics

A study conducted in 2009 showed that 41 per cent
of Ghanaians had psychological distress. Nineteen
per cent of the distress was moderate to severe;
enough to be considered mental disorder.

The 19 per cent translates into about 4.75 million
of the 25 million population. Of this figure, it
is estimated that 700,000 had a major disorder,
including schizophrenia and other psychotic
conditions.

Dr Osei indicated that the number of people with
psychological distress constituted a great loss to
the state.

“If we could prevent the 19 per cent of the
population from developing this distress and
disorder, we will save ourselves, as a nation, the
loss of seven per cent of GDP”, he said.

Policy on alcohol

Dr Osei indicated that the Ministry of Health was
coming out with a policy to regulate the sale,
advertising and use of alcohol.

He said under the policy, advertisements on
alcohol would be restricted to specific points in
time, while celebrities would not be allowed to
feature in those advertisements.

Source - Starrfmonline



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