The crusade tagged as access to mental health services – key to improving mental well being of persons affected with COVID-19, was to educate the public on the need to support people suffering from the virus.

Dr Esther Priscilla Biamah-Danquah, Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Health Director, stated that stigmatizing against people affected with COVID-19 was unacceptable.

She said this at community durbar attended by targeted groups including, religious leaders, departmental heads, market women, opinion leaders amongst others, converged at the Kpone Mount Senai Methodist church for the event.

She lamented that affected persons go through both psychological and emotional challenges, which presupposes that they needed to be helped and not stigmatized.

She said well-meaning citizens must marshal all resources to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic and its related mental health issues.

Dr Biamah-Danquah explained that funds were another challenge that the health directorate was faced with, she therefore called on benevolent organization to help in that regard.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr. Patrick Ziwu, Acting Executive Director, Human Right Advocacy Center, said about 6,099 officers have been trained to deal with stigmatization cases within the Greater Accra Region.

He explained that the stigmatization cases were very alarming, a situation he said needed some urgent attention by the various stakeholders.

Mr. Ziwu further added that in some situations the HRAC was compelled to engaged Community Youth Champions and Community Support Groups to help combat the stigma within the various communities.

Commissioning of Department of Factories Inspectorate

The Department of Factories Inspectorate was commissioned in the Kpone-Katamanso Municipality on Tuesday, 20th April 2021 at the premises of Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Assembly (KKMA). The theme for the event was “A resilient occupational safety & health systems in times of crisis”. The department was created to ensure that workers within the municipality work in a safe and healthy environment free from hazards.

The commissioning began with an opening address by the Chief Inspector of the Department of Factories Inspectorate Mr. Kingsley John Armah. In his remarks the Chief Inspector stated that the department which operates under the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations has the mandate, under Act 328/70, to inspect and ensure that every worker works in a safe and healthy environment. He added that since industries are spreading in recent times there is the need for the Department of Factories Inspectorate to expand. Mr. John Armah also said that the Factories Inspectorate would not only inspect factories but ensure that health and safety precautions are also complied in offices and even in households since people now working from home, to prevent accidents and diseases at workplaces. He mentioned some hazardous conditions workers go through which include poor sitting posture, injuries and exposure to poisonous substances. According to him, the Factories Inspectorate has the power to prosecute offenders and assured the public that the department would work within its means to ensure the reduction of accidents and diseases at workplaces within the municipality. He further thanked the Municipal Chief Executive and the Municipal Coordinating Director for ensuring the establishment of the department in Kpone.

Following the opening address, the Deputy Director of Planning Monitoring and Evaluation Mr. Ernest Berko gave his remarks. The Deputy Director in his presentation defined workers as people willing to contribute to national development through productive activities and for this reason workers deserve a conducive, non-hazardous environment. He added that Ghana, as a member of the International Labour Organization (ILO), is to ensure job creation, protection of the rights of workers, social protection and social dialogue. He stated the work of the Factories Inspectorate falls under social protection, therefore, the department is to ensure and promote decent work. Mr. Berko added that the department would check safety under prescribed standards. He also gave a history of certain laws that ensured workplace safety in the past such as the Factories Ordinance (1948), the Factories Act (1972), the Factories, Offices and Shops Act (1970) and finally the Department of Factories Inspectorate which was established in 1983. Mr. Berko mentioned that the Directorate would be manned by 3 inspectors. He tasked them to ensure safety at work to promote economic growth.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon. Solomon Appiah who led the commissioning of the department also tasked the Factories Inspectorate to ensure that people are employed on documentation and ensure that they comply to the collective agreement made with the Assembly. Hon. Appiah also assured the department that he would lead them to anywhere they face challenges and no culprit would be favoured. He further tasked the department to ensure the installation of cameras and fire extinguishers at workplaces, churches and households. After his speech, the MCE officially commissioned the department.

Also present at the event were the Municipal Coordinating Director (MCD) Mr. Michael Owusu Amoako, the Presiding Member Hon. Joseph Gbeze, Heads of Departments at KKMA, members of the media and staff members of the Assembly.