July 15, 2022
2 mins read

Ghana’s June inflation rate rises to nearly 30%

Data released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) Wednesday indicated that Ghana’s inflation rate rose to 29.8 percent in June, compared with 27.6 percent a month earlier.

Samuel Kobina Annim, the Government Statistician, said at the monthly press briefing that the inflation rate for June was the highest reading since December 2003 and far above the target band of between 6 percent and 10 percent set by the Bank of Ghana, Xinhua news agency reported.

“At least 97 out of the 307 items recorded inflation rates higher than the national average with more than half being non-food items or locally produced items,” Annim added.

A youth group named “Arise Ghana” staged a two-day street protest on June 28 and 29 against the hardships and high cost of living in the West African country.

Teachers in public schools also commenced a nationwide indefinite strike on July 4, after negotiations with the government for Cost of Living Allowances broke down.

Marburg virus outbreak

 The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said its ready to control the spread of Marburg virus that has claimed two lives in Ghana.

The WHO defines Marburg as a highly infectious viral haemorrhagic fever in the same family as the more well-known Ebola virus disease. It has no known vaccines or treatments and has a fatality rate of 88 per cent.

The disease is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials.

The two patients from Ghana’s southern Ashanti region were both unrelated and showed symptoms including diarrhoea, fever, nausea and vomiting. However, the disease was identified only after their death, the WHO said.

It has sparked serious concerns among health authorities racing to identify potential contacts and squash the outbreak before it spreads.

The WHO said preparations for a possible outbreak response are being set up swiftly as further investigations are underway.

“The health authorities are on the ground investigating the situation and preparing for a possible outbreak response,” said Dr Francis Kasolo, WHO Representative in Ghana, in a statement.

ALSO READ:Ghanaian President urges efforts to root out terrorism in West Africa

“We are working closely with the country to ramp up detection, track contacts, and be ready to control the spread of the virus,” he added.

It is the first time the country has reported cases of Marburg virus, and only the second outbreak in West Africa. Guinea confirmed a single case in an outbreak that was declared over on September 16, 2021, five weeks after the initial case was detected.

Illness begins abruptly, with high fever, severe headache and malaise. Many patients develop severe haemorrhagic signs within seven days. Case fatality rates have varied from 24 to 88 per cent in past outbreaks depending on virus strain and case management, the WHO said.

“An outbreak of a filovirus such as Marburg is always a serious concern, especially in a setting that hasn’t managed outbreaks before, and when cases are diagnosed postmortem,” Tom Fletcher, an infectious disease consultant at the Royal Liverpool University hospital, was quoted as saying by the The Telegraph.

Previous Story

30 years on, Namibian initiative continues to ensure women empowerment

Next Story

US needs to ‘reorient, not rupture’ ties with Saudi

Latest from AFRICA NEWS

India, Namibia to Boost Ties During Modi Visit

This will be the first visit of Prime Minister Modi to Namibia, and the third-ever Prime Ministerial visit from India to Namibia….reports Asian Lite News Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s forthcoming visit to

Uganda’s President Museveni to seek reelection

The upcoming general elections will not only determine the presidency but also see voters elect lawmakers to the national assembly Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni is set to seek reelection for another term

Eritrea seeks to end UN probe into abuses

The mandate in question is held by the Special Rapporteur, a position currently occupied by Sudanese human rights lawyer Mohamed Abdelsalam Babiker In a rare and potentially precedent-setting move, Eritrea is attempting
Go toTop

Don't Miss

India’s UPI Set for Ghana Launch

The linking of Indian and Ghanaian instant payment systems will

UK, Ghana reaffirm commitment to tackle threats

Priti Patel and Kan-Dapaah agreed to strengthen law enforcement agency