Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi
The Chief Executive Officer of K-San Law Firm, Mr Kwame Amoako, has called for an urgent convergence of legal experts in the country to put up a proposition of law that would deal with emerging oil industry.
He said with the emergence of the new industry there would be avenues for wealth creation and white colour crimes that the country needed strong and specialized legal framework to protect itself.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Takoradi, Mr Amoako said one of the first things to do was to ensure that there was a legal system that spelt clearly certain prohibited acts in the industry that the country frowns upon.
He said it would not be prudent to review the laws of the country at the moment, but the important thing to do at the moment was to assemble the country’s legal brains home and abroad to help put out a healthy proposition that would help the country and guide the investor community.
“It is very interesting to note that people were suggesting that Ghana was not ready for the oil boom and supporting their claims with lack of minor skills that people needed in order to be employed,” he said.
The CEO said the fact was that it was a corporate body that employs skill labour.
He said in view of the local content Ghanaians should be encouraged to set up there own businesses to employ the experts to work for them.
Mr Amoako said with local companies employing foreign experts, in no time the skills of these so-called experts would be transferred to enrich the country’s human resource capital needed for the sector.
Asked if that was not capital intensive, he said, in the contemporary world one did not need all the money to roll out a business plan, saying “even the business plan and contract at hand are enough to guarantee one loan from the bank to finance itself.”
He said the mentality of many African countries enriched with minerals deposit was that they did not have money to set up therefore they wanted foreigners to travel down to set up, extract and then pay them little.
“It is about time that we also set up the needed companies and employ the skills required to ensure that we took the lion’s share of what is rightfully ours,” he said.
“I therefore call on the government of the day to create the think tanks to come up with right policies which can be made into a law to protect the country’s interest,” he said.
Mr Amoako said what the country should not forget was that the only thing that could stop the foreigners from coming to visit any pain on the country was a very strong legal system for the sector.
Regulations he said could be rolled over by international laws or regulations but if the country had a law and the investors agree to do business in the country they had to abide by it and that was safe.
He said to improve other local content; existing companies must also upgrade their existing corporate and insurance laws to be able to meet the expectations of the companies that in order not lose business.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
ACCOMODATION FOR AIR FORCE OFFICERS
Story & Picture: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi
The Air Force Command has planned to build 50-bedroom accommodation for its staff to mark the commemoration of its golden jubilee celebration.
The command had also instituted provident fund aimed at taking care of the retirement needs of its officers and men as well as its civilian employee.
Speaking at Takoradi Air Force Station on his maiden visit, the Chief of Air Staff, Air-Vice Marshal, Michael Samson-Oje said, the visit was to introduce the team at the headquarters to other stations and to encourage the officers and airmen of the Air Force.
He visit was also to roll out the command’s vision that was aimed at teamwork to achieve its focus as well as be loyal to the Commander in Chief.
The air chief said the introduction of the provident fund was to ensure that officers and men planed towards their retirement which was the in the life of every worker.
That aside, he said the GAF, which was founded in 1959 is planning to build a 50-bedroom in Accra to solve part of its accommodation problem while they plan to build more to curb the accommodation problem.
He said the building would serve as memoriam to mark its 50 years of its existence and on the side of God and country.
Air-Vice Marshal Samson-Oje urged the officers to let teamwork and diligence to be part of their daily activities and to be loyal to the commander in chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, who is the President of the Republic of Ghana.
He also announced that with the discovery of oil, the government had directed that the command should select the appropriate aircraft and platforms that would be perfect for it to better protect the interest of the country.
The air chief said it was a fact that there some challenges such as accommodation and other logistics were needed for their daily activities and that plans are far advance in addressing some of this challenges as well as provide training for officers and men.
“My fellow brothers, we might have challenges, but with team work and dedication, there would be no challenge insurmountable in the interest of our dear country,” he said.
He reminded them that with the discovery of oil, there was a lot of attention to the region and urged them play the role that would expected of them.
The air chief also interacted with the team in Takoradi Station currently under the command of Group Captain Abass and urged them to ensure good civil military relations.
COMPANY SUPPORTS PALM FRUIT PRODUCERS
Picture & Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Busua
PANINVEST Group, a Ghanaian-Italian bio-energy company has reached an agreement with palm-fruit producers in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region to provide them with tools to add value to their product for export.
Under the agreement, the farmers would be given machines at no cost to enable them to extract the palm-oil and sell to the company at a competitive and a value added price.
According to the farmers, before they were approached by Paninvest, there were only two buyers who determine the price of their primary products.
This they said had demoralized many farmers who had contracted loans to expand their farms and that some had started cutting down their palm tree for palm wine and to cultivate other crops.
Speaking at the meeting with the farmers, chiefs and opinion leaders at Busua also in the Ahanta West district, the Country Director, Mr Samuel Martin Kyerematen, urged the farmers not to be discouraged.
“I can assure you that every component of the palm tree is useful, but unfortunately, we only know the palm tree for oil, soup, soap, and palm wine which constituted the minute part of what the tree could be used for,” he said.
He explained that the company did not intend setting up a huge factory to buy the primary product from them to add value to it, but rather provide them with manual and generator powered machines to enable them add value to the product before selling it.
Mr Kyerematen said the generators that would be used in powering these machines were designed to would use the palm oil as fuel instead of any of the petroleum products.
He said at the moment, Paninvest had started producing the machines which would be ready in September, this year.
“At the moment, the only problem is that we have to create a data base to know exactly how many farmers in the district and their output, how many are located at a particular area to inform shipment of the machines into the country.”
He said they would also create jobs, empower the people, build schools and work on the community roads as part of their corporate social responsibilities to their host communities.
The country director said when production begins; Paninvest Group would build a storage facility at the Takoradi Port to store the product for onward shipment.
The Chief of Ahantas, Otumfuor Baidoo-Bonsu XV, in his remarks thanked the company for their move to empower farmers to add value to their products and also ready market.
He assured the company that farmers in the district were into large scale palm plantation, adding “I can assure that with your help they would provide you with what ever quantity you would require.”
The Chief of Ahantas said it was sad that, during the bumper harvest, the prices of the palm fruit fall and the producers were left with no option than to sell them to existing companies at giveaway prices.
Otumfuor Baidoo-Bonsu who is also a Member of Council of State said such situations demoralize the farmers, therefore, giving them the machines to extract the oil and help control the price during the peak season, the farmers would not feel cheated again.
He said with the value addition, the farmers would preserve the product during the bumper harvest to ensure that they had a fair bargain.
He also urged the companies to also consider training some of the young ones technically to enable them service the machines incase it develops fault.
The Ahanta Chief assured the investors that, he would do everything possible to ensure that the data of the farmers are created to inform their preparations for the farmers.
COP IN HIGHWAY ROBBERY (MIRROR FRONT PAGE)
Gold robbery on the highway
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Sekondi
A Policeman and three civilians at Tarkwa Municipality in the Western Region have allegedly robbed an Indian businessman of 23.4kgs of gold bars worth $600,000 after spraying his eyes with hot pepper and assaulting his driver on the highway.
After the act at about 5:30am at the weekend the four then bolted in a waiting taxi cab and later went into a ditch but manage to escape with the booty, a mobile phone and pistol of the businessman.
However, suspects, G/L/CPL Frank Addo and Karim Osumanu the driver of the Opel taxi cab with the registration number GR 6147 T used in the act have been arrested and placed in police custody at Sekondi, while others are currently at large.
The suspect and the accomplices were said to have been monitoring the movement of the businessman and mounted an illegal road check at Bonsaso highway near the defunct Bonsa-Tyres where policeman stopped the vehicle of the businessman for a routine check.
The businessman, Mr Ashok Kothari, told the police that, he did not suspect anything criminal intent since it was a policeman who was stopping them.
He said the policeman walked to his side and ordered the driver to open the back door and that before the driver could open the door; the policeman kicked the driver in the abdomen and gave him blow on the face which sent the driver to the floor.
The businessman said before he could go to the aid of the driver the four sprayed his eyes with pepper and struggle with him over the bag.
Mr Kothari said he was over powered after the handle of the bag removed and they run into the waiting taxi with the gold bars and sped off.
The businessman said he managed to clean the pepper and chased them until they branched off the highway on a feeder road leading to one of the villages.
“I managed to ram into the rear of the taxi pushing it to ditch but before we could get to where the taxi landed, they had emptied the bag and runaway with the gold,” he said.
The suspected policeman later went to his room and called one of his colleague and told him that he went on an operation and should they asked of his whereabouts, he (the friend) should tell the station commander that he went out with him.
A source told the Daily Graphic that, Frank was arrested because while the businessman was chasing them, he (Frank) was sitting in front of the taxi used in the robbery and told the officer on duty on the highway that there were late for an operation.
Frank, who according to his unit, was detailed for bank guard duties at 7am at the weekend in their multi-coloured camouflage uniform, but because of the struggle and the bush he waded thought to get to his bungalow, he reported to work in the black uniform instead.
He was later identified and arrested together with the taxi driver are currently helping the Regional CID in their investigations and the search for his accomplices.
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Sekondi
A Policeman and three civilians at Tarkwa Municipality in the Western Region have allegedly robbed an Indian businessman of 23.4kgs of gold bars worth $600,000 after spraying his eyes with hot pepper and assaulting his driver on the highway.
After the act at about 5:30am at the weekend the four then bolted in a waiting taxi cab and later went into a ditch but manage to escape with the booty, a mobile phone and pistol of the businessman.
However, suspects, G/L/CPL Frank Addo and Karim Osumanu the driver of the Opel taxi cab with the registration number GR 6147 T used in the act have been arrested and placed in police custody at Sekondi, while others are currently at large.
The suspect and the accomplices were said to have been monitoring the movement of the businessman and mounted an illegal road check at Bonsaso highway near the defunct Bonsa-Tyres where policeman stopped the vehicle of the businessman for a routine check.
The businessman, Mr Ashok Kothari, told the police that, he did not suspect anything criminal intent since it was a policeman who was stopping them.
He said the policeman walked to his side and ordered the driver to open the back door and that before the driver could open the door; the policeman kicked the driver in the abdomen and gave him blow on the face which sent the driver to the floor.
The businessman said before he could go to the aid of the driver the four sprayed his eyes with pepper and struggle with him over the bag.
Mr Kothari said he was over powered after the handle of the bag removed and they run into the waiting taxi with the gold bars and sped off.
The businessman said he managed to clean the pepper and chased them until they branched off the highway on a feeder road leading to one of the villages.
“I managed to ram into the rear of the taxi pushing it to ditch but before we could get to where the taxi landed, they had emptied the bag and runaway with the gold,” he said.
The suspected policeman later went to his room and called one of his colleague and told him that he went on an operation and should they asked of his whereabouts, he (the friend) should tell the station commander that he went out with him.
A source told the Daily Graphic that, Frank was arrested because while the businessman was chasing them, he (Frank) was sitting in front of the taxi used in the robbery and told the officer on duty on the highway that there were late for an operation.
Frank, who according to his unit, was detailed for bank guard duties at 7am at the weekend in their multi-coloured camouflage uniform, but because of the struggle and the bush he waded thought to get to his bungalow, he reported to work in the black uniform instead.
He was later identified and arrested together with the taxi driver are currently helping the Regional CID in their investigations and the search for his accomplices.
HEADLESS BODY FOUND ALONG FOOTPATH (MIRROR PAGE 35)
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Sekondi
The people of Enchi Bokasi, a farming community in the Western Region are yet to recover from a shock after the discovery of headless body of a member of the community in the early hours of today by an unknown assailant.
The headless body of the deceased, Kwesi Ninji 37, was placed by the footpath leading to his farm and the head place about a mile from where the body was found wrapped in piece of cloth.
The body and the head had since been deposited at the Enchi Government hospital while investigation continues and assured the community of full protection.
According to the police, initial information from the family source indicated that, Ninji left home at about 5:30 am and at about 6:30 information went round that he had been beheaded.
The police continued that, the deceased’s family said he (the victim) said he had something to do and that he would be back as soon as he finish.
Asked how the managed to locate the body and the body which was place miles apart, the police said while the people were shouting, another farmer said he saw a bare-chested man running as someone was pursuing him.
The police said a group of young men chased the said man only to find the head of the deceased wrapped in a piece of cloth in the middle of the footpath.
The police said investigations are currently ongoing and assured members of the community of their protection.
In a related development, a man who was offering his nephew and his friend for money ritual at Setwi Bokpa also in the Western Region have also been arrested by the police.
According to the police, the suspect, Sampson Essuah a.k.a. Ahumka approached a taxi driver and his friend at a drinking bar to solicit for his help him use the nephew for money ritual.
The taxi driver and his friend who were initially surprised feign interest in the deal and reported the matter to the police and the suspect was arrested.
The suspect is currently helping the police in their investigations.
The people of Enchi Bokasi, a farming community in the Western Region are yet to recover from a shock after the discovery of headless body of a member of the community in the early hours of today by an unknown assailant.
The headless body of the deceased, Kwesi Ninji 37, was placed by the footpath leading to his farm and the head place about a mile from where the body was found wrapped in piece of cloth.
The body and the head had since been deposited at the Enchi Government hospital while investigation continues and assured the community of full protection.
According to the police, initial information from the family source indicated that, Ninji left home at about 5:30 am and at about 6:30 information went round that he had been beheaded.
The police continued that, the deceased’s family said he (the victim) said he had something to do and that he would be back as soon as he finish.
Asked how the managed to locate the body and the body which was place miles apart, the police said while the people were shouting, another farmer said he saw a bare-chested man running as someone was pursuing him.
The police said a group of young men chased the said man only to find the head of the deceased wrapped in a piece of cloth in the middle of the footpath.
The police said investigations are currently ongoing and assured members of the community of their protection.
In a related development, a man who was offering his nephew and his friend for money ritual at Setwi Bokpa also in the Western Region have also been arrested by the police.
According to the police, the suspect, Sampson Essuah a.k.a. Ahumka approached a taxi driver and his friend at a drinking bar to solicit for his help him use the nephew for money ritual.
The taxi driver and his friend who were initially surprised feign interest in the deal and reported the matter to the police and the suspect was arrested.
The suspect is currently helping the police in their investigations.
ZOOMLION SUPPORTS MOSQUITO SPRAYING EXERCISE
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi
Zoomlion, a private waste management company in the country has presented 340 mosquito spraying machines to its field workers in all the 17-district in the Western Region.
The machines formed part of the 500 pieces allocated to the region to ensure the eradication of mosquito and to enhance the operations of National Mosquito Control Programme.
The move was reechoing the need to ensure that cases of malaria in hospitals in the region and the country as a whole was reduced to ensure healthy workforce and increase in productivity.
The officials also educate the people on the need to change their attitudes on indiscriminate dumping of solid waste into drains.
Speaking the ceremony, the Minister of health, Dr Sepa Yankey, commend the company and was hopeful that the country could eliminate malaria through attitudinal change.
He said every year, a lot of fund was committed to malaria control programmes and treatment as well as decrease in productivity as a result of its effects on the people.
Dr Yankey said everybody was aware of the effects of dirty environment, therefore it was very important to work towards elimination.
“At the moment what we need is team work to clean the environment and to ensure that wastes are deposit at the designated places,” he said.
The Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Addo, said the reason why a little had been achieved after vigorous campaign was due to the lack of the will power for people to change their ways.
He said the presentation of the machines and the campaign had provided another opportunity to change for the better.
The regional minister gave the assurance that, his office could collaborate with the ministry of health and Zoomlion to ensure the people benefited and incidents of malaria was reduced and eventually completely eliminated.
“But I must say that, no amount of mosquito spraying will give us the outcomes we expect if we are not repaired to change our attitude towards the way we treat our environment,” he said.
Mr Addo urged the assemblies to ensure that they became active part of the process to ensure a healthy country to ensure increase in productivity.
Zoomlion, a private waste management company in the country has presented 340 mosquito spraying machines to its field workers in all the 17-district in the Western Region.
The machines formed part of the 500 pieces allocated to the region to ensure the eradication of mosquito and to enhance the operations of National Mosquito Control Programme.
The move was reechoing the need to ensure that cases of malaria in hospitals in the region and the country as a whole was reduced to ensure healthy workforce and increase in productivity.
The officials also educate the people on the need to change their attitudes on indiscriminate dumping of solid waste into drains.
Speaking the ceremony, the Minister of health, Dr Sepa Yankey, commend the company and was hopeful that the country could eliminate malaria through attitudinal change.
He said every year, a lot of fund was committed to malaria control programmes and treatment as well as decrease in productivity as a result of its effects on the people.
Dr Yankey said everybody was aware of the effects of dirty environment, therefore it was very important to work towards elimination.
“At the moment what we need is team work to clean the environment and to ensure that wastes are deposit at the designated places,” he said.
The Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Addo, said the reason why a little had been achieved after vigorous campaign was due to the lack of the will power for people to change their ways.
He said the presentation of the machines and the campaign had provided another opportunity to change for the better.
The regional minister gave the assurance that, his office could collaborate with the ministry of health and Zoomlion to ensure the people benefited and incidents of malaria was reduced and eventually completely eliminated.
“But I must say that, no amount of mosquito spraying will give us the outcomes we expect if we are not repaired to change our attitude towards the way we treat our environment,” he said.
Mr Addo urged the assemblies to ensure that they became active part of the process to ensure a healthy country to ensure increase in productivity.
HASMAL BEAT WISE (BACK PAGE)
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Sekondi
The second half of the match between Hasaacas and Eleven Wise was halted for about 15 minutes due to a spontaneous brawl which spilled over into the stands.
The police also had their share of the spoil in a serious confrontation with the club officials, resulting in the firing of tear gas.
It all started when a player of Wise tried to break into a human chain form by the players of Hasaacas as they held each other’s hand on their way to the pitch.
Minutes later, Charles Nartey of Hasaacas was seen exchanging fierce blows with goalkeeper, Mohammed Alhassan of Wise in the goal area.
This triggered a spontaneous reaction from fans of both sides who also engaged each other in a free for all.
When the dust settled, though, Hasaacas held onto their 12th minute goal scored by Joe Agyeman.
Both teams displayed good football as the game swung from one end of the pitch to the other, with Wise struggle in vain to cancel the lone goal
The second half of the match between Hasaacas and Eleven Wise was halted for about 15 minutes due to a spontaneous brawl which spilled over into the stands.
The police also had their share of the spoil in a serious confrontation with the club officials, resulting in the firing of tear gas.
It all started when a player of Wise tried to break into a human chain form by the players of Hasaacas as they held each other’s hand on their way to the pitch.
Minutes later, Charles Nartey of Hasaacas was seen exchanging fierce blows with goalkeeper, Mohammed Alhassan of Wise in the goal area.
This triggered a spontaneous reaction from fans of both sides who also engaged each other in a free for all.
When the dust settled, though, Hasaacas held onto their 12th minute goal scored by Joe Agyeman.
Both teams displayed good football as the game swung from one end of the pitch to the other, with Wise struggle in vain to cancel the lone goal
Thursday, June 25, 2009
NZULEZU SUBMERGED IN FLOOD (BACK PAGE)
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Nzulezu
The stilt village on River Amanzule, popularly known as Nzulezu near Beyin in the Jomoro District of the Western Region have submerged due to the increasing flow of rain water into that river.
But the inhabitants insist on staying to rebuild their collapsed stilt houses despite the warning from the metrological department of more rains in the months ahead.
At the time of the incident, the inhabitants of the village and some tourists were asleep when the water level went up swallowing the stilt buildings above knee and destroying the weak buildings as well as properties worth thousands of Ghana Cedi.
The only stilt gust house for visitors who wished to spend the night with the people had its floors completely wash away by the heavy current at the time of the flood while other structures were lifted from the piece of wood supporting the buildings above the water.
More than ten other houses, shops, power generators and drinking bars on the river were destroyed by the high current flood waters, but there were no casualties as the people claimed the felt the water through the stilt floors of their houses and kept wake until the water level went down.
The town of Beyin and its surrounding communities were not spared as well.
At Peace-Town near Amuzule in the northern part of Half-Assini, more than 100 people have been displaced as the whole community had relocated to their relatives on higher grounds.
More than 13 houses at Peace Town and Bonyire have submerged in the water and residents have also relocated.
When the Daily Graphic news team got to Tekenta, the road was divided into two parts by the flood waters, passengers have to get down and cross to the trench created by the flood to the other side before boarding another vehicles to the district capital.
The people of Nzulezu and all other affected parts of the district are appealing for help to contain the situation.
However, a delegation made up of officials of National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and Regional Coordinating Council, and the District chief Executive, Mr Nyianyi Kablan were led by the Deputy Western Regional Minister, Ms Betty Busumtwi-Sam to the affected areas.
They elders of the town claimed the loss in the flood was not quantifiable and fear to worse was yet to come.
Some parts of Tekenta and Adu, Anlotuape are currently confined at the roads have been rendered unmotorable and very torturous.
There had been a huge trenches created by the flood thereby limiting the movement of vehicles to the area.
The Deputy Minister, sympathized with the people and said to be on the safer aside, those at low lands should move to the safer ground.
The Deputy Minister advices those at Nzulezu to ensure that while they prepare to put up new structures they should elevate it higher than the current level to avert any disaster in the future.
“I must also urge you to protect lives of your women and children since you have resorted to remain and build your houses, we are all aware of the economic and social benefits of your community to the country and to your community and we would do what we can to support you, we need you alive,” she said.
The chief of the area, Awulae Annor Adjaye III, the Paramount Chief of West Traditional Area appealed to the Department of Feeder Roads to come to the aid of the people and support those at Nzulezu to rebuild their structures and the construction of trenches to carry away future flood.
LIONS HOLD HASMAL (BACK PAGE)
Kpando Heart of Lions yesterday held Hasaacas to a gruelling 2-2 draw in their tough Glo Premier League match at the Sekondi Stadium.
The visitors took a 2-0 commanding lead, one in each half, through Gladson Awako and Stephen Owusu in the 42nd and 47th minutes respectively.
Hasaacas, however, fought back to reduce the deficit in the 60th minute through Edwin Gyimah.
As Lions seemed set to run away with a crucial away win, Gyimah struck again to secure a vital point for the relegation-threatened homesters.
The visitors took a 2-0 commanding lead, one in each half, through Gladson Awako and Stephen Owusu in the 42nd and 47th minutes respectively.
Hasaacas, however, fought back to reduce the deficit in the 60th minute through Edwin Gyimah.
As Lions seemed set to run away with a crucial away win, Gyimah struck again to secure a vital point for the relegation-threatened homesters.
Monday, June 22, 2009
WISE SUPPORTERS ASSULT GRAPHIC CAMERAMAN (BACK PAGE)
SEKONDI Eleven Wise yesterday beat visiting Sporting Mirren 2-1 at the Sekondi Sports Stadium further down relegation waters.
John Antwi snatched the opener for Wise on the 49th minute, followed by James Bissiew's strike on the 75th minutes.
Nicholas Coffie, however pulled one back for Mirren after 77 minutes.
There was nasty incident early in the second half when about 15 supporters of Wise descended on Daily Graphic Cameraman, Mr Fred Otoo, in the inner perimeter, claiming he was a known "jujuman" in town who was preventing them from scoring.
As the cameraman clearly identified himself with his official ID card, the fans kept heckling him till the police went to his rescue.
John Antwi snatched the opener for Wise on the 49th minute, followed by James Bissiew's strike on the 75th minutes.
Nicholas Coffie, however pulled one back for Mirren after 77 minutes.
There was nasty incident early in the second half when about 15 supporters of Wise descended on Daily Graphic Cameraman, Mr Fred Otoo, in the inner perimeter, claiming he was a known "jujuman" in town who was preventing them from scoring.
As the cameraman clearly identified himself with his official ID card, the fans kept heckling him till the police went to his rescue.
WISE, ALL STARS DRAW (BACK PAGE)
IN-FORM Sekondi Eleven Wise shared points with visiting All Stars in the goalless Premier League match played at the Sekondi Sports Stadium.
All Stars who have struggled since the start of the season, mounted incessant pressure during the later stages of the match, but their efforts were thwarted by goalkeeper, Mohammed Alhassan of Wise.
All Stars who have struggled since the start of the season, mounted incessant pressure during the later stages of the match, but their efforts were thwarted by goalkeeper, Mohammed Alhassan of Wise.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
SOCIAL WELFARE DEPT EMBARKS ON ANTI-CHILD LABOUR CAMPAIGN (PAGE 19)
Officials of the Social Welfare Department have embarked on a campaign to educate cocoa, mining, quarrying and fishing communities about the effects of depriving children of good health, education and clean environment.
It is on the theme, “Give girls a chance: End child labour now”.
At a sensitisation programme to mark World Day Against Child Labour at Tumentu in the Western Region, the Metropolitan Director of Social Welfare, Mrs Deborah Daisy Kwabla, said ensuring early development of children was very important for children to grow into healthy and responsible adulthood.
She said children involved in fishing, mining, quarrying, carrying heavy loads and those working in hotels, markets and entertainment spots were exposed to immoral practices, describing that as a major setback to their development.
Mrs Kwabla said the theme for the campaign was to draw attention to the issue of child labour, which include exposing children to chemicals through the use of fertilisers and other insecticide applications on the farm.
She said the focus this year was on the girl child, since in most cases, the girl child was the worst victim in child labour, adding that the aim was to give the girl child equal rights.
“As we mark the World Day Against Child Labour, our focus should be drawing the attention to this social canker and trying to minimise it if not eradicate it,” the metro director said.
She said the reason for celebrating the day at Tumentu was to ensure that the message got to the community and also for the department to listen to them so that together, they could help address the problem of child labour.
The community leaders expressed gratitude to the Social Welfare officials for choosing Tumentu for the celebration and assured them that they would change their attitude towards children, especially the girl child.
It is on the theme, “Give girls a chance: End child labour now”.
At a sensitisation programme to mark World Day Against Child Labour at Tumentu in the Western Region, the Metropolitan Director of Social Welfare, Mrs Deborah Daisy Kwabla, said ensuring early development of children was very important for children to grow into healthy and responsible adulthood.
She said children involved in fishing, mining, quarrying, carrying heavy loads and those working in hotels, markets and entertainment spots were exposed to immoral practices, describing that as a major setback to their development.
Mrs Kwabla said the theme for the campaign was to draw attention to the issue of child labour, which include exposing children to chemicals through the use of fertilisers and other insecticide applications on the farm.
She said the focus this year was on the girl child, since in most cases, the girl child was the worst victim in child labour, adding that the aim was to give the girl child equal rights.
“As we mark the World Day Against Child Labour, our focus should be drawing the attention to this social canker and trying to minimise it if not eradicate it,” the metro director said.
She said the reason for celebrating the day at Tumentu was to ensure that the message got to the community and also for the department to listen to them so that together, they could help address the problem of child labour.
The community leaders expressed gratitude to the Social Welfare officials for choosing Tumentu for the celebration and assured them that they would change their attitude towards children, especially the girl child.
Friday, June 19, 2009
FISHERMEN BESIEGE JUBILEE OILFIELD (MIRROR PAGE 34)
From Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu,
Sekondi
Fisherman suspected to be Ghanaians and Ivorians, based in neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire have besieged the rigs at the Jubilee Oilfields, West of Cape Three Point.
Their activities were posing serious threats to the rigs as one of the rigs use thrusters instead of anchors and controlled by computers.
According to the drilling managers, their fears are that, if nets of these fishermen entangle the propellers it would thwart the progression of work in the oilfields.
According to the Drill Manager, Mr Alan Doworkpor, if the thrusters are faulted by the fishermen, activities would come to a standstill and the rigs would have to be moved to Duala for servicing at a high cost to the nation.
Apart from that, the Drill Manager said the lives of the fishermen could also be in danger since the thrusters could drag them under the water which had very swift current.
Mr Doworkpor said the location of the rig was more than 65 nautical miles away from the coast; therefore it was not a place where artisan fishermen with canoes should ply their activities.
“It is a fact that rigs all over the world attract fishes due to the high light and food particles, but with the location and the cost involved in the drilling, it will be best for the fishermen to keep off the oil fileds due to the risk at high seas.”
He said the current at the high seas where the rig was located was very dangerous and the canoes were not built for such adventures. That aside, the fishermen set fire and cook their food and that could catch fire if any gas should escape.
Mr Doworkpor said on many occasions, supply vessels to the rig had to rescue some of the fishermen who had travelled that far.
However, many of the fishermen The Mirror spoke to said they were aware of the terrible nature of the oilfield, and how much it was draining the government as well as how important the discovery was to the country.
“We are not responsible for that, the people of Cote d’Ivoire and some of our colleagues resident there are responsible for the current fishing activities at the rig,” they said.
They challenged the Ghana Navy to arrest the said fishermen and question them and it would surprise them to note that they were from neighbouring countries.
Sekondi
Fisherman suspected to be Ghanaians and Ivorians, based in neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire have besieged the rigs at the Jubilee Oilfields, West of Cape Three Point.
Their activities were posing serious threats to the rigs as one of the rigs use thrusters instead of anchors and controlled by computers.
According to the drilling managers, their fears are that, if nets of these fishermen entangle the propellers it would thwart the progression of work in the oilfields.
According to the Drill Manager, Mr Alan Doworkpor, if the thrusters are faulted by the fishermen, activities would come to a standstill and the rigs would have to be moved to Duala for servicing at a high cost to the nation.
Apart from that, the Drill Manager said the lives of the fishermen could also be in danger since the thrusters could drag them under the water which had very swift current.
Mr Doworkpor said the location of the rig was more than 65 nautical miles away from the coast; therefore it was not a place where artisan fishermen with canoes should ply their activities.
“It is a fact that rigs all over the world attract fishes due to the high light and food particles, but with the location and the cost involved in the drilling, it will be best for the fishermen to keep off the oil fileds due to the risk at high seas.”
He said the current at the high seas where the rig was located was very dangerous and the canoes were not built for such adventures. That aside, the fishermen set fire and cook their food and that could catch fire if any gas should escape.
Mr Doworkpor said on many occasions, supply vessels to the rig had to rescue some of the fishermen who had travelled that far.
However, many of the fishermen The Mirror spoke to said they were aware of the terrible nature of the oilfield, and how much it was draining the government as well as how important the discovery was to the country.
“We are not responsible for that, the people of Cote d’Ivoire and some of our colleagues resident there are responsible for the current fishing activities at the rig,” they said.
They challenged the Ghana Navy to arrest the said fishermen and question them and it would surprise them to note that they were from neighbouring countries.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
VAT SERVICE LOCKS UP 19 DEFAULTING FIRMS (PAGE 21)
THE Takoradi office of the Valued Added Tax Service
(VAT) has locked up the premises of 19 defaulting companies in the Western Region in an action to recover GH¢1.08 million owed it.
The affected companies are in the service, manufacturing, retail and other sectors who failed to honour their tax obligations.
The debts consist of payment returns that traders filed but failed to pay the declared amount, as well as accumulated interest, penalties and the assessment of tax audit.
According to officials, as a result of the non-payment, the Takoradi office has fallen short of its revenue target by 29 per cent.
According to officials, the exercise was aimed at recovering taxes to make up deficits to achieve mid-year projections.
Mrs Emelia Asam, the Deputy Regional Manager, told the media in Takoradi that 13 of the defaulters were within the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis with a debt profile of more than GH¢874,000 while six located in Tarkwa accounted for GH¢297,000.
Mrs Asam said it was not the wish of the VAT Service to always use distress action to recover debts, but the affected companies failed to honour their tax obligations.
She explained that the tax collected by these companies did not form part of their operational capital and that for a speedy development of the county it was just right for the companies to honour their tax obligations.
She said before the VAT Service embarked on the action, the affected companies were given notice through the service’s field workers, as well as electronic and print advertisements, at a cost to the service.
“But many of the companies failed to meet the deadline given them which left us with no other option than to seal their premises,” she said.
Mrs Asam appealed to other companies to take steps to clear their debts before the service completed its investigations.
She also urged companies registered with the service to submit their monthly returns within the stipulated time to avoid payment of interest, penalties and closure of their premises.
(VAT) has locked up the premises of 19 defaulting companies in the Western Region in an action to recover GH¢1.08 million owed it.
The affected companies are in the service, manufacturing, retail and other sectors who failed to honour their tax obligations.
The debts consist of payment returns that traders filed but failed to pay the declared amount, as well as accumulated interest, penalties and the assessment of tax audit.
According to officials, as a result of the non-payment, the Takoradi office has fallen short of its revenue target by 29 per cent.
According to officials, the exercise was aimed at recovering taxes to make up deficits to achieve mid-year projections.
Mrs Emelia Asam, the Deputy Regional Manager, told the media in Takoradi that 13 of the defaulters were within the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis with a debt profile of more than GH¢874,000 while six located in Tarkwa accounted for GH¢297,000.
Mrs Asam said it was not the wish of the VAT Service to always use distress action to recover debts, but the affected companies failed to honour their tax obligations.
She explained that the tax collected by these companies did not form part of their operational capital and that for a speedy development of the county it was just right for the companies to honour their tax obligations.
She said before the VAT Service embarked on the action, the affected companies were given notice through the service’s field workers, as well as electronic and print advertisements, at a cost to the service.
“But many of the companies failed to meet the deadline given them which left us with no other option than to seal their premises,” she said.
Mrs Asam appealed to other companies to take steps to clear their debts before the service completed its investigations.
She also urged companies registered with the service to submit their monthly returns within the stipulated time to avoid payment of interest, penalties and closure of their premises.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
TWIN-CITY SERVICE PROVIDERS OVERWHELMED BY DEMAND (PAGE 31)
Service providers on the twin-city of Sekondi/Takoradi, especially those in water supply and those in the hospitality industry are overwhelmed by the high demand for more services.
The just-ended oil and gas conference hosted by the twin-city has exposed a lack readiness of the hospitality industry to provide world or semi-world class facilities to meet expectations of customers.
Some of the participants who took part in the three-day conference came from various African countries and across the world. There were very much shocked that the taps in their hotel rooms had suddenly ceased flowing.
Some claimed they really had a hard time before getting water to take their bath before going to the conference hall at the Raybow International Hotel in Takoradi.
To the embarrassment of the host, some took the microphone and questioned the readiness of the country’s hospitality service sector.
They questioned the ability of the Ghana Water Company Limited to meet the demands of the growing population.
The other sad aspect of it was when these guests from Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Britain, etc. raised questions regarding the readiness of the service industry to take advantage of the oil find.
Other questions asked were about the preparedness of the banking and financial sector in general to meet the demands of the find as there was congestion at the banking halls.
It is normal for one in the twin-city to walk to an ATM machine to find that either there is no money in the machine or it is clearly malfunctioning. Similarly, it is normal for one to turn on the tap and nothing flows.
With the oil find, there will be a need for a convenient place such as a dynamic financial service, insurance and security, accommodation and office space for an investor to transact his/her business. How ready are the local investors in taking advantage of all these opportunities to meet the increasing demands?
From all indications, demand for services in the metropolis is going to be faster than expected.
Oil was discovered in 2007, but the services sector in the twin-city, where all the activities would take place, is missing and various service providers in the areas of water and power supply, telecommunications and the hospitality industry must not lag behind in these propitious times.
The just-ended oil and gas conference hosted by the twin-city has exposed a lack readiness of the hospitality industry to provide world or semi-world class facilities to meet expectations of customers.
Some of the participants who took part in the three-day conference came from various African countries and across the world. There were very much shocked that the taps in their hotel rooms had suddenly ceased flowing.
Some claimed they really had a hard time before getting water to take their bath before going to the conference hall at the Raybow International Hotel in Takoradi.
To the embarrassment of the host, some took the microphone and questioned the readiness of the country’s hospitality service sector.
They questioned the ability of the Ghana Water Company Limited to meet the demands of the growing population.
The other sad aspect of it was when these guests from Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Britain, etc. raised questions regarding the readiness of the service industry to take advantage of the oil find.
Other questions asked were about the preparedness of the banking and financial sector in general to meet the demands of the find as there was congestion at the banking halls.
It is normal for one in the twin-city to walk to an ATM machine to find that either there is no money in the machine or it is clearly malfunctioning. Similarly, it is normal for one to turn on the tap and nothing flows.
With the oil find, there will be a need for a convenient place such as a dynamic financial service, insurance and security, accommodation and office space for an investor to transact his/her business. How ready are the local investors in taking advantage of all these opportunities to meet the increasing demands?
From all indications, demand for services in the metropolis is going to be faster than expected.
Oil was discovered in 2007, but the services sector in the twin-city, where all the activities would take place, is missing and various service providers in the areas of water and power supply, telecommunications and the hospitality industry must not lag behind in these propitious times.
TWO PROJECTS INAUGURATED AT TAKORADI AIR FORCE (PAGE 29)
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice-Marshall Michael Samson-Oje, has inaugurated two projects for the junior ranks at the Takoradi Air Force Station.
The projects include six-room quarters, a gymnasium and a physiotherapy centre. The facility has beds, a bath house and a reservoir to ensure uninterrupted flow of water.
The gymnasium is equipped with modern gadgets to enhance the physical training of the staff to ensure their good health.
The Chief of Air Staff assured the officers and the airmen that the command was doing everything possible to provide them with good service conditions, and urged them to be loyal and work as a team.
He said the new Takoradi station commander also has plans to improve the station further, including creation of a range of training purposes.
*Air Vice-Marshal Samson-Oje cutting the tape to inaugurate the new quarters for the junior ranks.
*Air Vice-Marshal Samson-Oje cutting the tape to inaugurate the new gymnasium and the physiotherapy centre for the junior ranks.
The projects include six-room quarters, a gymnasium and a physiotherapy centre. The facility has beds, a bath house and a reservoir to ensure uninterrupted flow of water.
The gymnasium is equipped with modern gadgets to enhance the physical training of the staff to ensure their good health.
The Chief of Air Staff assured the officers and the airmen that the command was doing everything possible to provide them with good service conditions, and urged them to be loyal and work as a team.
He said the new Takoradi station commander also has plans to improve the station further, including creation of a range of training purposes.
*Air Vice-Marshal Samson-Oje cutting the tape to inaugurate the new quarters for the junior ranks.
*Air Vice-Marshal Samson-Oje cutting the tape to inaugurate the new gymnasium and the physiotherapy centre for the junior ranks.
TAKORADI MARKET NOW FREE FROM HEAVY TRAFFIC (PAGE 29)
TRAFFIC has now begun to flow freely on the street around the Takoradi Central Market in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis.
This followed the clearing of hawkers off the pavement and shoulders of the road.
Shop owners, shoppers, passers-by and customers of various financial institutions located around the market who hitherto had to battle with the hawkers to get to their various destinations are now able to move freely.
The exercise was carried out by the assembly without any force or fierce confrontation which characterised such exercises in the past.
The assembly used the Information Services Department (ISD) vans to educate the hawkers on the need to move away from the pavements and the shoulders of the streets. Interestingly, the traders complied and moved away.
However, the other problem the assembly is yet to tackle is vehicular parking at various street corners. This has resulted in some form of traffic after the traders had relocated, thus making driving around the market circle rather uncomfortable.
Opposite the Market Circle Police Station, there are shops with spacious frontage marked as parking spaces. This same area is used by the Metro Mass Transit buses and other commercial vehicles for passengers to disembark.
Vehicles park at these spaces for longer hours, and if the park is full, the buses have no option than to stop in the middle of the road for passengers to alight.
As a result, the traffic situation behind these buses mounts, resulting in a stream of heavy traffic.
The hawkers selling around the market were not the only cause of the congestion, but also the haphazard parking of vehicles.
According to the assembly by-laws, people visiting the market are expected to park their vehicles at designated areas.
The other problem has to do with the activities of commercial drivers, especially taxi drivers who compete for passengers around the market. Their main objective is the profit they make. They care less about parking according to the by-laws and the safety of passengers.
Ironically, the passengers, in whose interest the bye-laws are supposed to protect, deliberately refuse to make use of available bus terminals and are themselves guilty of the offence of standing anywhere to board vehicles.
One of the biggest problems facing the metropolitan assembly is its inability to create a lorry park for all commercial vehicles. But that notwithstanding, there are various bus terminals for the mini-buses and the taxis that shuttle between Kwesimintsim, Anaji, Sekondi, Adienbra, Kweikuma, Beach Road, Takoradi Harbour and other parts of the metropolis.
The problem, however, is that most passengers find it difficult to go to these taxis and the mini-bus terminals to board vehicles to their destinations. From their offices, they stand by the road side waiting for any coming taxi or “trotro”.
Unfortunately, those are the people one expects to have known better, but they are the worse culprits.
The shoulders of the road around Nkrumah Roundabout and the Goil Filling Station have been turned into a lorry station.
From 4p.m. onwards, one has to be extremely careful, especially when one is driving at the frontage of the Zenith Bank. This is to keep one’s car away from being hit by a taxi or a trotro.
From that same location, towards All-Needs, a popular shopping centre in Takoradi, taxi drivers have turned both shoulders of the road into bus stops.
Besides, mini-buses plying Takoradi-Cape Coast road and other towns along the Accra-Takoradi highway also line up at the traffic light near this same shop.
Interestingly, because the traffic light at the intersection is not functioning, some drivers queue behind it and clamour for passengers, and other motorists who are not aware of these drivers’ machination are compelled to join the queue, thinking it is the normal traffic.
The Central Motor Traffic and Transport Unit of the Takoradi Central Police carried out many swoops at the place to flush out such cunning drivers, but they will return after a day or two.
To ensure sanity on the roads, the police must as well arrest passengers who stand by the roadside to board vehicles to and from their workplaces, because if the passengers don’t stand by the roadside, the trotro and the taxi drivers will also not stop for anybody.
This might seem strange, but it will help solve part of the problem.
This followed the clearing of hawkers off the pavement and shoulders of the road.
Shop owners, shoppers, passers-by and customers of various financial institutions located around the market who hitherto had to battle with the hawkers to get to their various destinations are now able to move freely.
The exercise was carried out by the assembly without any force or fierce confrontation which characterised such exercises in the past.
The assembly used the Information Services Department (ISD) vans to educate the hawkers on the need to move away from the pavements and the shoulders of the streets. Interestingly, the traders complied and moved away.
However, the other problem the assembly is yet to tackle is vehicular parking at various street corners. This has resulted in some form of traffic after the traders had relocated, thus making driving around the market circle rather uncomfortable.
Opposite the Market Circle Police Station, there are shops with spacious frontage marked as parking spaces. This same area is used by the Metro Mass Transit buses and other commercial vehicles for passengers to disembark.
Vehicles park at these spaces for longer hours, and if the park is full, the buses have no option than to stop in the middle of the road for passengers to alight.
As a result, the traffic situation behind these buses mounts, resulting in a stream of heavy traffic.
The hawkers selling around the market were not the only cause of the congestion, but also the haphazard parking of vehicles.
According to the assembly by-laws, people visiting the market are expected to park their vehicles at designated areas.
The other problem has to do with the activities of commercial drivers, especially taxi drivers who compete for passengers around the market. Their main objective is the profit they make. They care less about parking according to the by-laws and the safety of passengers.
Ironically, the passengers, in whose interest the bye-laws are supposed to protect, deliberately refuse to make use of available bus terminals and are themselves guilty of the offence of standing anywhere to board vehicles.
One of the biggest problems facing the metropolitan assembly is its inability to create a lorry park for all commercial vehicles. But that notwithstanding, there are various bus terminals for the mini-buses and the taxis that shuttle between Kwesimintsim, Anaji, Sekondi, Adienbra, Kweikuma, Beach Road, Takoradi Harbour and other parts of the metropolis.
The problem, however, is that most passengers find it difficult to go to these taxis and the mini-bus terminals to board vehicles to their destinations. From their offices, they stand by the road side waiting for any coming taxi or “trotro”.
Unfortunately, those are the people one expects to have known better, but they are the worse culprits.
The shoulders of the road around Nkrumah Roundabout and the Goil Filling Station have been turned into a lorry station.
From 4p.m. onwards, one has to be extremely careful, especially when one is driving at the frontage of the Zenith Bank. This is to keep one’s car away from being hit by a taxi or a trotro.
From that same location, towards All-Needs, a popular shopping centre in Takoradi, taxi drivers have turned both shoulders of the road into bus stops.
Besides, mini-buses plying Takoradi-Cape Coast road and other towns along the Accra-Takoradi highway also line up at the traffic light near this same shop.
Interestingly, because the traffic light at the intersection is not functioning, some drivers queue behind it and clamour for passengers, and other motorists who are not aware of these drivers’ machination are compelled to join the queue, thinking it is the normal traffic.
The Central Motor Traffic and Transport Unit of the Takoradi Central Police carried out many swoops at the place to flush out such cunning drivers, but they will return after a day or two.
To ensure sanity on the roads, the police must as well arrest passengers who stand by the roadside to board vehicles to and from their workplaces, because if the passengers don’t stand by the roadside, the trotro and the taxi drivers will also not stop for anybody.
This might seem strange, but it will help solve part of the problem.
OIL FIND INCREASES POPULATION IN TWIN-CITY (PAGE 29)
POPULATION of the twin-city of Sekondi/Takoradi has over the past two years, after announcement of the oil find, been experiencing a significant increase.
The number of visitors trooping in the metropolis seeking to do business or looking for greener pastures has also seen enormous increase.
Many financial institutions such as the banks and insurance companies, which hitherto had their head offices only in Accra, Kumasi and Tema, have now opened branches in the twin-city.
Other businesses from Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and other parts of the world whose businesses have a direct link with oil drilling activities are also taking their positions to help in achieving the country’s hope in commercially producing oil by 2010.
It is sad, however, that facilities in the metropolis have not seen any correspondent expansion to contain the current flow in traffic to the metropolis.
Hitherto, it took one less than five minutes to drive from Sekondi to the central business district of Takoradi, but now one can remain in traffic for more than 20 minutes.
Besides, companies and their employees are seriously looking for space for their offices and residential accommodation.
A two-bedroom apartment now attracts rent of between GH¢ 100 and GH¢150 and a single room or a bed seater costs about GH¢40 or GH¢50 a month, depending on the location and the facilities available.
This has, therefore, brought to the fore the need to give serious attention to real estate development as anyone who ventures into that field would never regret.
There is the need to redevelop the metropolis to accommodate those who are relocating.
For example, Whindo, Asseke and Kanssawurodu, which were peri-urban communities of the metropolis, now find themselves in the middle of it and there is the need to extend facilities to those areas.
The chiefs and people of the various peri-urban communities are willing to give out land to investors who want to put up malls such as the Accra Mall, office complexes and residential accommodation.
These would help ease congestion in the central business district, around which all economic activities revolve.
The construction of the stadium at Essipon has transformed the face of the community tremendously, and the chiefs and people of the place are now seeking to attract investors there.
Therefore, to ensure a speedy development and expansion of the metropolis, there is a need for new companies seeking to relocate in the metropolis to move to other parts of it such as Soforkom or Kojokrom.
According to the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), there are limited offshore oil drilling opportunities, but there are onshore opportunities such as support services in the areas of catering/restaurants, transportation/freight, ICT support, travel, insurance, banking, accommodation, stationery and office supplies, construction, electrical services and chemicals.
Many of these service providers who started moving into the metropolis and are clamouring for space in the central business district of Takoradi should rather turn to the periphery of the metropolis.
Currently, some of the oil companies relocating to the metropolis have found refuge at the country’s military base, which is not good enough.
Some of the companies are at the Naval Base in Sekondi, because the commercial port in Takoradi is not big enough to contain them.
A drive through Sekondi exposes very old structures that are residential facilities, and some landlords are willing to go into partnership with real estate agencies to pull down their old structures and put up high-rise buildings for a mutual benefit.
The number of visitors trooping in the metropolis seeking to do business or looking for greener pastures has also seen enormous increase.
Many financial institutions such as the banks and insurance companies, which hitherto had their head offices only in Accra, Kumasi and Tema, have now opened branches in the twin-city.
Other businesses from Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and other parts of the world whose businesses have a direct link with oil drilling activities are also taking their positions to help in achieving the country’s hope in commercially producing oil by 2010.
It is sad, however, that facilities in the metropolis have not seen any correspondent expansion to contain the current flow in traffic to the metropolis.
Hitherto, it took one less than five minutes to drive from Sekondi to the central business district of Takoradi, but now one can remain in traffic for more than 20 minutes.
Besides, companies and their employees are seriously looking for space for their offices and residential accommodation.
A two-bedroom apartment now attracts rent of between GH¢ 100 and GH¢150 and a single room or a bed seater costs about GH¢40 or GH¢50 a month, depending on the location and the facilities available.
This has, therefore, brought to the fore the need to give serious attention to real estate development as anyone who ventures into that field would never regret.
There is the need to redevelop the metropolis to accommodate those who are relocating.
For example, Whindo, Asseke and Kanssawurodu, which were peri-urban communities of the metropolis, now find themselves in the middle of it and there is the need to extend facilities to those areas.
The chiefs and people of the various peri-urban communities are willing to give out land to investors who want to put up malls such as the Accra Mall, office complexes and residential accommodation.
These would help ease congestion in the central business district, around which all economic activities revolve.
The construction of the stadium at Essipon has transformed the face of the community tremendously, and the chiefs and people of the place are now seeking to attract investors there.
Therefore, to ensure a speedy development and expansion of the metropolis, there is a need for new companies seeking to relocate in the metropolis to move to other parts of it such as Soforkom or Kojokrom.
According to the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), there are limited offshore oil drilling opportunities, but there are onshore opportunities such as support services in the areas of catering/restaurants, transportation/freight, ICT support, travel, insurance, banking, accommodation, stationery and office supplies, construction, electrical services and chemicals.
Many of these service providers who started moving into the metropolis and are clamouring for space in the central business district of Takoradi should rather turn to the periphery of the metropolis.
Currently, some of the oil companies relocating to the metropolis have found refuge at the country’s military base, which is not good enough.
Some of the companies are at the Naval Base in Sekondi, because the commercial port in Takoradi is not big enough to contain them.
A drive through Sekondi exposes very old structures that are residential facilities, and some landlords are willing to go into partnership with real estate agencies to pull down their old structures and put up high-rise buildings for a mutual benefit.
GFZB ACQUIRES LAND BANK (PAGE 32)
THE Ghana Free Zones Board (GFZB) has established a 3,200-acre land bank at sea-front areas in the Shama District in the Western Region for the emerging onshore oil industry.
The Chief Executive of the GFZB, Mr Edward Dwomoh Appiah, said the location of the land bank offered opportunities to investors in three focal areas of investment support in downstream refinery, distribution and transit.
In specific terms, he said the GFZB had positioned its land bank in Shama as the dedicated industrial park for the petroleum sector and to offer land for tank farms, storage yards for logistics, haulage contractors, manufacturers of chemical inputs and accessories for petroleum exploration, land for the siting of refineries, among others.
Mr Appiah, who announced this at the Oil and Gas Conference in Takoradi, said the location was also perfect for supply- chain business services, as well as dominant operators in exploration, chemical production, manufacturing of by-products, including plastics and jellies for export.
That aside, he said it offered the opportunity for job creation and investment support in skills development and capacity building, services for employers and employees in the petroleum sector.
He said the act which established the free zones programme was for the promotion of economic development and provide for the regulation of activities in free zones and related purposes.
He told the participants of the conference that GFZB had, over the past 12 years, achieved considerable success.
“It has been able to attract about $2.869 billion capital investments, generated over 27,000 jobs, exported about $5.54 billion in terms of value of goods and services and licensed 205 companies,” he said.
He reminded investors that Ghana’s free zones programme did not cover the regular upstream exploration and production activities of the petroleum and mining sectors.
In an example he said, “Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone in Nigeria is famous as the world’s only dedicated free zone for oil and gas. That bold initiative by Nigeria has been a major success story, supporting the local community by its creation of jobs and infrastructure development,” he said.
He said Onne had also attracted major players in the industry, becoming the fastest growing oil and gas free in the world. The GFZB had, therefore, chosen to be very specific and focused in its approach into that new field.
The Chief Executive of the GFZB, Mr Edward Dwomoh Appiah, said the location of the land bank offered opportunities to investors in three focal areas of investment support in downstream refinery, distribution and transit.
In specific terms, he said the GFZB had positioned its land bank in Shama as the dedicated industrial park for the petroleum sector and to offer land for tank farms, storage yards for logistics, haulage contractors, manufacturers of chemical inputs and accessories for petroleum exploration, land for the siting of refineries, among others.
Mr Appiah, who announced this at the Oil and Gas Conference in Takoradi, said the location was also perfect for supply- chain business services, as well as dominant operators in exploration, chemical production, manufacturing of by-products, including plastics and jellies for export.
That aside, he said it offered the opportunity for job creation and investment support in skills development and capacity building, services for employers and employees in the petroleum sector.
He said the act which established the free zones programme was for the promotion of economic development and provide for the regulation of activities in free zones and related purposes.
He told the participants of the conference that GFZB had, over the past 12 years, achieved considerable success.
“It has been able to attract about $2.869 billion capital investments, generated over 27,000 jobs, exported about $5.54 billion in terms of value of goods and services and licensed 205 companies,” he said.
He reminded investors that Ghana’s free zones programme did not cover the regular upstream exploration and production activities of the petroleum and mining sectors.
In an example he said, “Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone in Nigeria is famous as the world’s only dedicated free zone for oil and gas. That bold initiative by Nigeria has been a major success story, supporting the local community by its creation of jobs and infrastructure development,” he said.
He said Onne had also attracted major players in the industry, becoming the fastest growing oil and gas free in the world. The GFZB had, therefore, chosen to be very specific and focused in its approach into that new field.
Friday, June 12, 2009
HELP TRANSFORM TWIN-CITY (PAGE 28)
The new Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Kobina Pra-Anan, has officially assumed work, with a call on the residents of the twin-city to get ready to be part of the transformation process in the metropolis.
He told the Daily Graphic that the metropolitan assembly would relocate occupants of buildings belonging to the assembly to make way for high-rise buildings to accommodate more people and offices.
He said present-day demands on the assembly required that available land must be properly utilised for the maximum benefit of residents.
The MCE said the Market Circle, which was built in the colonial era, would also give way to a modern market structure which would prohibit certain old fashioned trading practices.
He said special market days would be introduced at such centres as Apramdu, Sekondi, as well other satellite markets, to send the message across that there were other markets for traders to do business apart from the Takoradi Central Market.
Plans, he said, were far advanced for the construction of the model market and the assembly had been meeting with the architects to discuss them.
The MCE said one of the important things they were looking at was how to ensure that the project, when completed, would make room for greater demand on the facility for decades to come.
He said the Apramdu and Takoradi markets were going to be improved to make them more attractive to traders to ensure that they still continued their activities there, taking into consideration the time frame for the completion of the central market project.
Asked how the assembly would manage to get people off the assembly’s properties to give way for the high-rise buildings and get hawkers off the shoulders of the markets, he said the assembly would come up with resettlement packages for those who would be affected.
“The assembly has made some checks and these had shown clearly that the properties still belonged to the assembly. Through careful negotiations reason will prevail on both sides for the development of the metropolis to be carried out faster than expected,” he said.
Mr Pra-Anan said the focus of the assembly was to ensure that a perfect environment was created for residents, adding that moves by the assembly were neither to victimise anybody nor stop people from going about their economic activities.
He told the Daily Graphic that the metropolitan assembly would relocate occupants of buildings belonging to the assembly to make way for high-rise buildings to accommodate more people and offices.
He said present-day demands on the assembly required that available land must be properly utilised for the maximum benefit of residents.
The MCE said the Market Circle, which was built in the colonial era, would also give way to a modern market structure which would prohibit certain old fashioned trading practices.
He said special market days would be introduced at such centres as Apramdu, Sekondi, as well other satellite markets, to send the message across that there were other markets for traders to do business apart from the Takoradi Central Market.
Plans, he said, were far advanced for the construction of the model market and the assembly had been meeting with the architects to discuss them.
The MCE said one of the important things they were looking at was how to ensure that the project, when completed, would make room for greater demand on the facility for decades to come.
He said the Apramdu and Takoradi markets were going to be improved to make them more attractive to traders to ensure that they still continued their activities there, taking into consideration the time frame for the completion of the central market project.
Asked how the assembly would manage to get people off the assembly’s properties to give way for the high-rise buildings and get hawkers off the shoulders of the markets, he said the assembly would come up with resettlement packages for those who would be affected.
“The assembly has made some checks and these had shown clearly that the properties still belonged to the assembly. Through careful negotiations reason will prevail on both sides for the development of the metropolis to be carried out faster than expected,” he said.
Mr Pra-Anan said the focus of the assembly was to ensure that a perfect environment was created for residents, adding that moves by the assembly were neither to victimise anybody nor stop people from going about their economic activities.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
TAKE A LOOK AT FACILITIES AT POLICE BARRACKS (PAGE 29)
One of the things the new Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Quaye, has to look at is the facilities at the various police stations in the Sekondi/Takoradi metropolis.
At the moment, the rains are here, occupants of the various barracks in the metropolis cannot cook for their families, bath, or attend to the call of nature because there are no kitchens, water, toilet facilities, bath houses and other basic social amenities at the barracks.
There are no toilet facilities to serve those who visit the satellite police stations under the control of the Central Police Station.
Visitors to various police stations have to stand behind buildings to pass water.
It is a fact that Mr Quaye just took office as the IGP but the fact also remains that he has been in the system long enough to know its problems.
The police do not have an officers’ mess, since the place designated for such a purpose on the beach road in Takoradi has been sold to a church.
Therefore, these problems should not be new to the police administration.
At the Takoradi Central Market or Market Circle Police Station, there is no urinal for the use by officers. Where they use as a police station was an old market stall with very poor ventilation which had been converted into a police station.
Therefore, should an officer develop stomach problem or respond to the call of nature he has to abandon the duty post and go in search of a place of convenience.
At the central police barracks, part of the nine blocks is waterlogged and for years officers and their families have had to walk through mud to get to their rooms.
This came to the notice of the Daily Graphic when the reporter passed through the barracks recently. There are no kitchens, and the wives of police officers are compelled to cook in the open.
If the police station at Effiekuma should collapse today, it should not be news, Mr IGP, because the old mud house that was converted into a police station is very weak.
On many occasions policemen have been blamed for non-performance, but the hell the policemen and their families go through at the various police barracks and stations is so much that they would be left with little time to think about society.
In the metropolis, police have to take public transport with suspects in handcuffs, or walk in public with the suspects.
A tour of the police facilities shows clearly that if the officers had other options they would have abandoned their posts.
This reporter was at one of the police stations where he asked an officer to show him their “gents” or urinal. In response the officer asked the reporter if he was a stranger. “Master,” he said, “it is better you go behind the building and urinate or you will do it on yourself.”
If the basic facilities such as a urinal cannot be provided for the police at their workplaces and decent accommodation is not in place how do Ghanaians expect them to perform to the best of their ability?
The issue of accommodation is no more news, according to some of the officers. Many blame the police administration for not making any effort in the past to take into consideration the needs of the personnel before recruiting new personnel.
“Every recruitment exercise the police undertake they employ carpenters, masons, plumbers, tailors, auto and electronic mechanics, engineers and architects, among others.
“But for no reason, tailors have become administrators. Masons, plumbers, carpenters are presently doing general police duties,” said a frustrated policeman.
If what the said officers are saying is true, what is the job of the tailor in the police service, why would the police advertise for the procurement of police accoutrements and maintenance work on police buildings?
Can’t the tailors in the police service make all the police uniforms, and would the masons and architects not be able to take care of maintenance at the various barracks and provide basic urinal facilities for police stations?
Why are the masons in the police service not made to carry out maintenance works at various police barracks and the poor officers have to use their meagre salary to carry out maintenance works?
The problems at various police stations in the metropolis are the same all over the country.
At some of the remote parts of the region, the officers do not even have water to drink. At some of the stations, they do not have pens and station diary.
There is the need to provide better facilities for our policemen to work so that in return we would expect efficient and effective policing from them.
At the moment, the rains are here, occupants of the various barracks in the metropolis cannot cook for their families, bath, or attend to the call of nature because there are no kitchens, water, toilet facilities, bath houses and other basic social amenities at the barracks.
There are no toilet facilities to serve those who visit the satellite police stations under the control of the Central Police Station.
Visitors to various police stations have to stand behind buildings to pass water.
It is a fact that Mr Quaye just took office as the IGP but the fact also remains that he has been in the system long enough to know its problems.
The police do not have an officers’ mess, since the place designated for such a purpose on the beach road in Takoradi has been sold to a church.
Therefore, these problems should not be new to the police administration.
At the Takoradi Central Market or Market Circle Police Station, there is no urinal for the use by officers. Where they use as a police station was an old market stall with very poor ventilation which had been converted into a police station.
Therefore, should an officer develop stomach problem or respond to the call of nature he has to abandon the duty post and go in search of a place of convenience.
At the central police barracks, part of the nine blocks is waterlogged and for years officers and their families have had to walk through mud to get to their rooms.
This came to the notice of the Daily Graphic when the reporter passed through the barracks recently. There are no kitchens, and the wives of police officers are compelled to cook in the open.
If the police station at Effiekuma should collapse today, it should not be news, Mr IGP, because the old mud house that was converted into a police station is very weak.
On many occasions policemen have been blamed for non-performance, but the hell the policemen and their families go through at the various police barracks and stations is so much that they would be left with little time to think about society.
In the metropolis, police have to take public transport with suspects in handcuffs, or walk in public with the suspects.
A tour of the police facilities shows clearly that if the officers had other options they would have abandoned their posts.
This reporter was at one of the police stations where he asked an officer to show him their “gents” or urinal. In response the officer asked the reporter if he was a stranger. “Master,” he said, “it is better you go behind the building and urinate or you will do it on yourself.”
If the basic facilities such as a urinal cannot be provided for the police at their workplaces and decent accommodation is not in place how do Ghanaians expect them to perform to the best of their ability?
The issue of accommodation is no more news, according to some of the officers. Many blame the police administration for not making any effort in the past to take into consideration the needs of the personnel before recruiting new personnel.
“Every recruitment exercise the police undertake they employ carpenters, masons, plumbers, tailors, auto and electronic mechanics, engineers and architects, among others.
“But for no reason, tailors have become administrators. Masons, plumbers, carpenters are presently doing general police duties,” said a frustrated policeman.
If what the said officers are saying is true, what is the job of the tailor in the police service, why would the police advertise for the procurement of police accoutrements and maintenance work on police buildings?
Can’t the tailors in the police service make all the police uniforms, and would the masons and architects not be able to take care of maintenance at the various barracks and provide basic urinal facilities for police stations?
Why are the masons in the police service not made to carry out maintenance works at various police barracks and the poor officers have to use their meagre salary to carry out maintenance works?
The problems at various police stations in the metropolis are the same all over the country.
At some of the remote parts of the region, the officers do not even have water to drink. At some of the stations, they do not have pens and station diary.
There is the need to provide better facilities for our policemen to work so that in return we would expect efficient and effective policing from them.
ESSIKADO HONOURS OUTGOING WESTERN NAVAL COMMANDER (PAGE 29)
The chiefs and people of Essikado have honoured the outgoing commander of the Western Naval Command, Commodore Frank Daley, at a ceremony at Essikado.
Commodore Daley, who was also the Garrison Commander, has been reassigned to Nigeria as defence advisor.
The chiefs and people of Essikado presented him with Kente cloth and a piece of land to be developed to ensure that the bond between the Ghana Navy and the host community grow much stronger.
The Paramount Chief of the Essikado Traditional Area, Nana Kobina Nketsiah V, described Commodore Daley as a fine officer who had developed rapport between his men and the community.
He said one of the greatest things he admired was the good civil-military relationship that currently existed between the army and civil society.
Nana Nketsiah said the first president of Ghana had a huge dream for the Ghana Navy but unfortunately he did not live long enough to realise it.
He assured the Western Naval Command of the traditional council’s support to foster a stronger bond in the discharge of their duties.
Nana Nketsiah urged the outgoing commander to always consider Essikado and Sekondi as his second home.
“You have displayed qualities that have positioned you well to represent Ghana as a defence advisor,” Nana Nketia said.
For his part, the outgoing commander said he thought the visit was for him to bid farewell to the host chief and to introduce his successor to him “but I am highly overwhelmed by the appreciation showed me by the chiefs and people of Essikado, who I consider as my brothers and sisters”.
He said the command was working to protect the interest of the people and the country as a whole, and that he did not know that people were watching with such admiration.
He thanked the chief and people of Essikado for their gesture and urged them to accord his successor, Commodore Timothy Appiah, the same level of co-operation they gave him.
Commodore Daley, who was also the Garrison Commander, has been reassigned to Nigeria as defence advisor.
The chiefs and people of Essikado presented him with Kente cloth and a piece of land to be developed to ensure that the bond between the Ghana Navy and the host community grow much stronger.
The Paramount Chief of the Essikado Traditional Area, Nana Kobina Nketsiah V, described Commodore Daley as a fine officer who had developed rapport between his men and the community.
He said one of the greatest things he admired was the good civil-military relationship that currently existed between the army and civil society.
Nana Nketsiah said the first president of Ghana had a huge dream for the Ghana Navy but unfortunately he did not live long enough to realise it.
He assured the Western Naval Command of the traditional council’s support to foster a stronger bond in the discharge of their duties.
Nana Nketsiah urged the outgoing commander to always consider Essikado and Sekondi as his second home.
“You have displayed qualities that have positioned you well to represent Ghana as a defence advisor,” Nana Nketia said.
For his part, the outgoing commander said he thought the visit was for him to bid farewell to the host chief and to introduce his successor to him “but I am highly overwhelmed by the appreciation showed me by the chiefs and people of Essikado, who I consider as my brothers and sisters”.
He said the command was working to protect the interest of the people and the country as a whole, and that he did not know that people were watching with such admiration.
He thanked the chief and people of Essikado for their gesture and urged them to accord his successor, Commodore Timothy Appiah, the same level of co-operation they gave him.
NON-FUNCTIONAL STREETLIGHTS POSE INSECURITY IN TWIN-CITY (PAGE 29)
One of the biggest problems facing the twin-city of Sekondi/Takoradi presently is the security of residents, which is threatened by the malfunctioning of street and community lights at night.
Thieves move into communities and dark street corners at night, breaking into vehicles and removing batteries and other accessories from vehicles parked in front of houses at night.
Students, nurses and residents who walk alone at night either from work or group studies also become victims of these nocturnal attacks.
Prior to the 2008 African Cup of Nations tournament, the dark twin-city was illuminated. That was after the Ministry of Energy had awarded a contract for the rehabilitation of existing streetlights and the installation of new ones in the metropolis in view of the expected visitors for the tournament.
Today, about 90 per cent of the street lights have gone off and the only illumination at night is the reflection of light from various homes along the streets.
In the recent past, the Western Regional Police Command had to introduce night patrols to control the crime wave in the night but they have not been effective.
Residents in the twin-city, therefore, would want an improvement in streetlighting to improve security.
Street lights on the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly road from the Paa Grant Roundabout to Sekondi are completely off, and so are those on the Nkontompo-Sekondi road, Paa Grant Roundabout linking the Kwesimintsim, Kofi Annan roads, among others.
Information available to the Daily Graphic indicates that the contract for the installation of the street lights in the metropolis was awarded to a foreign company last year before the Africa Cup of Nations tournament by the then Ministry of Energy.
Under the contract, the contractors were supposed to provide street lights and also ensure their proper maintenance. But at the moment, the contractors are said to be complaining about lack of payment.
Therefore, the safety and security of the people at the moment are dependent on how fast funds will be made available to the contractor to carry out maintenance of the lights.
The situation is such that the purpose for which the street lights were installed has been defeated.
When contacted, the metropolitan assembly officials said the lights were supposed to have been handed over to the assembly after its completion but the contractor was yet to do so.
To ensure the safety and security of the people in the metropolis, especially students and nurses who are the worst victims, the Ministry of Energy is being urged to get back to the contractor to ensure that the right thing is done.
Thieves move into communities and dark street corners at night, breaking into vehicles and removing batteries and other accessories from vehicles parked in front of houses at night.
Students, nurses and residents who walk alone at night either from work or group studies also become victims of these nocturnal attacks.
Prior to the 2008 African Cup of Nations tournament, the dark twin-city was illuminated. That was after the Ministry of Energy had awarded a contract for the rehabilitation of existing streetlights and the installation of new ones in the metropolis in view of the expected visitors for the tournament.
Today, about 90 per cent of the street lights have gone off and the only illumination at night is the reflection of light from various homes along the streets.
In the recent past, the Western Regional Police Command had to introduce night patrols to control the crime wave in the night but they have not been effective.
Residents in the twin-city, therefore, would want an improvement in streetlighting to improve security.
Street lights on the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly road from the Paa Grant Roundabout to Sekondi are completely off, and so are those on the Nkontompo-Sekondi road, Paa Grant Roundabout linking the Kwesimintsim, Kofi Annan roads, among others.
Information available to the Daily Graphic indicates that the contract for the installation of the street lights in the metropolis was awarded to a foreign company last year before the Africa Cup of Nations tournament by the then Ministry of Energy.
Under the contract, the contractors were supposed to provide street lights and also ensure their proper maintenance. But at the moment, the contractors are said to be complaining about lack of payment.
Therefore, the safety and security of the people at the moment are dependent on how fast funds will be made available to the contractor to carry out maintenance of the lights.
The situation is such that the purpose for which the street lights were installed has been defeated.
When contacted, the metropolitan assembly officials said the lights were supposed to have been handed over to the assembly after its completion but the contractor was yet to do so.
To ensure the safety and security of the people in the metropolis, especially students and nurses who are the worst victims, the Ministry of Energy is being urged to get back to the contractor to ensure that the right thing is done.
NON-FUNCTIONAL STREETLIGHTS POSE INSECURITY IN TWIN-CITY (PAGE 29)
One of the biggest problems facing the twin-city of Sekondi/Takoradi presently is the security of residents, which is threatened by the malfunctioning of street and community lights at night.
Thieves move into communities and dark street corners at night, breaking into vehicles and removing batteries and other accessories from vehicles parked in front of houses at night.
Students, nurses and residents who walk alone at night either from work or group studies also become victims of these nocturnal attacks.
Prior to the 2008 African Cup of Nations tournament, the dark twin-city was illuminated. That was after the Ministry of Energy had awarded a contract for the rehabilitation of existing streetlights and the installation of new ones in the metropolis in view of the expected visitors for the tournament.
Today, about 90 per cent of the street lights have gone off and the only illumination at night is the reflection of light from various homes along the streets.
In the recent past, the Western Regional Police Command had to introduce night patrols to control the crime wave in the night but they have not been effective.
Residents in the twin-city, therefore, would want an improvement in streetlighting to improve security.
Street lights on the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly road from the Paa Grant Roundabout to Sekondi are completely off, and so are those on the Nkontompo-Sekondi road, Paa Grant Roundabout linking the Kwesimintsim, Kofi Annan roads, among others.
Information available to the Daily Graphic indicates that the contract for the installation of the street lights in the metropolis was awarded to a foreign company last year before the Africa Cup of Nations tournament by the then Ministry of Energy.
Under the contract, the contractors were supposed to provide street lights and also ensure their proper maintenance. But at the moment, the contractors are said to be complaining about lack of payment.
Therefore, the safety and security of the people at the moment are dependent on how fast funds will be made available to the contractor to carry out maintenance of the lights.
The situation is such that the purpose for which the street lights were installed has been defeated.
When contacted, the metropolitan assembly officials said the lights were supposed to have been handed over to the assembly after its completion but the contractor was yet to do so.
To ensure the safety and security of the people in the metropolis, especially students and nurses who are the worst victims, the Ministry of Energy is being urged to get back to the contractor to ensure that the right thing is done.
Thieves move into communities and dark street corners at night, breaking into vehicles and removing batteries and other accessories from vehicles parked in front of houses at night.
Students, nurses and residents who walk alone at night either from work or group studies also become victims of these nocturnal attacks.
Prior to the 2008 African Cup of Nations tournament, the dark twin-city was illuminated. That was after the Ministry of Energy had awarded a contract for the rehabilitation of existing streetlights and the installation of new ones in the metropolis in view of the expected visitors for the tournament.
Today, about 90 per cent of the street lights have gone off and the only illumination at night is the reflection of light from various homes along the streets.
In the recent past, the Western Regional Police Command had to introduce night patrols to control the crime wave in the night but they have not been effective.
Residents in the twin-city, therefore, would want an improvement in streetlighting to improve security.
Street lights on the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly road from the Paa Grant Roundabout to Sekondi are completely off, and so are those on the Nkontompo-Sekondi road, Paa Grant Roundabout linking the Kwesimintsim, Kofi Annan roads, among others.
Information available to the Daily Graphic indicates that the contract for the installation of the street lights in the metropolis was awarded to a foreign company last year before the Africa Cup of Nations tournament by the then Ministry of Energy.
Under the contract, the contractors were supposed to provide street lights and also ensure their proper maintenance. But at the moment, the contractors are said to be complaining about lack of payment.
Therefore, the safety and security of the people at the moment are dependent on how fast funds will be made available to the contractor to carry out maintenance of the lights.
The situation is such that the purpose for which the street lights were installed has been defeated.
When contacted, the metropolitan assembly officials said the lights were supposed to have been handed over to the assembly after its completion but the contractor was yet to do so.
To ensure the safety and security of the people in the metropolis, especially students and nurses who are the worst victims, the Ministry of Energy is being urged to get back to the contractor to ensure that the right thing is done.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
DON'T USE FUEL PRICING FOR POLITICS — KWESI BINEY (PAGE 16)
THE former District Chief Executive (DCE) for Ahanta West in the Western Region, Mr Kwesi Biney, has called on politicians not to use fuel pricing for politics since that has the potential of destroying the economy.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Takoradi yesterday, Mr Biney said “the recent increases in petroleum prices by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) were the right thing to do if we should maintain a healthy economy”.
He said the NDC government was panicking over the increase in petroleum prices because it criticised the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration when it was in opposition.
“If the Ghanaian economy should remain resilient and stable, then politicians of all the political divides should not play politics with petroleum pricing,” Mr Biney emphasised.
“As harsh as it may be, it is the real fact and it is about time we learnt to pay the real prices to ensure that we do not derail the progress of the country,” he said.
According to him, if the real fuel prices were paid, it would stop the government from unnecessary borrowing.
Mr Biney said the public outcry over the petroleum price increases was due to politicisation by the ruling and the opposition parties.
“If we have to continue to heavily subsidise petroleum products, inflation will continue to be high and that would seriously affect the development of the nation,” he said.
He expressed concern that for the many years that the country had subsidised fuel prices, some unpatriotic citizens had taken undue advantage of the situation to smuggle the product to neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire, Togo and Burkina-Faso.
“I must state that no political party should capitalise on the current fuel price increases to make political capital out of it, but the real issues should be explained to the people to understand the dynamics of the situation in which we have found ourselves,” he said.
He said one of the biggest and courageous steps former President John Agyekum Kufuor took was to finish the process of deregulating the petroleum sector.
“If we Ghanaians force the government to resort to borrowing to support only one sector—petroleum — then what will happen to the other sectors of the economy that are equally important to the citizenry?” he asked.
Mr Biney, who is also a senior journalist, said what the major political parties such as the NDC, the NPP, the Convention People’s Party (CPP), as well as various pressure groups, could do for the country was to educate Ghanaians on the real facts concerning fuel pricing.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Takoradi yesterday, Mr Biney said “the recent increases in petroleum prices by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) were the right thing to do if we should maintain a healthy economy”.
He said the NDC government was panicking over the increase in petroleum prices because it criticised the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration when it was in opposition.
“If the Ghanaian economy should remain resilient and stable, then politicians of all the political divides should not play politics with petroleum pricing,” Mr Biney emphasised.
“As harsh as it may be, it is the real fact and it is about time we learnt to pay the real prices to ensure that we do not derail the progress of the country,” he said.
According to him, if the real fuel prices were paid, it would stop the government from unnecessary borrowing.
Mr Biney said the public outcry over the petroleum price increases was due to politicisation by the ruling and the opposition parties.
“If we have to continue to heavily subsidise petroleum products, inflation will continue to be high and that would seriously affect the development of the nation,” he said.
He expressed concern that for the many years that the country had subsidised fuel prices, some unpatriotic citizens had taken undue advantage of the situation to smuggle the product to neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire, Togo and Burkina-Faso.
“I must state that no political party should capitalise on the current fuel price increases to make political capital out of it, but the real issues should be explained to the people to understand the dynamics of the situation in which we have found ourselves,” he said.
He said one of the biggest and courageous steps former President John Agyekum Kufuor took was to finish the process of deregulating the petroleum sector.
“If we Ghanaians force the government to resort to borrowing to support only one sector—petroleum — then what will happen to the other sectors of the economy that are equally important to the citizenry?” he asked.
Mr Biney, who is also a senior journalist, said what the major political parties such as the NDC, the NPP, the Convention People’s Party (CPP), as well as various pressure groups, could do for the country was to educate Ghanaians on the real facts concerning fuel pricing.
Monday, June 8, 2009
FARMER FIRES AT DAUGHTER (MIRROR, PAGE 29)
From Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi
A 58-year-old farmer at Apimanim in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region who decided to end his daughter's life for her alleged persistent stealing has found himself on the wrong side of the law.
Opanyin Menidawodo fired at his 15-year-old daughter with his shotgun when he detected that his GH¢100 was missing on May 30, 2009. He narrowly missed her but the bullet hit the left hand of his nephew, chopping off his thumb and forefinger.
The suspect told the police that the girl, who is in JSS, had for some time been pilfering from his room, adding that he could no longer tolerate her behaviour when he could not find his money.
According to the police, the suspect returned from farm that day to take the money to solve some family problems, only to discover that it had vanished into thin air.
“I asked my daughter but she would not admit her crime and give me the money. I, therefore, decided to kill her to free her from the behaviour," he allegedly told the police.
The police said the nephew, Steven Quayson, had gone to the aid of the girl when the suspect pulled the gun and was hit by the bullet.
Steven was rushed to the Dixcove Government Hospital where he is said to be responding to treatment.
The daughter, who managed to escape, is now living with her aunt in the same town.
Meanwhile, the suspect was arraigned in court last Monday and remanded in police custody to re-appear on June 11, 2009.
A 58-year-old farmer at Apimanim in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region who decided to end his daughter's life for her alleged persistent stealing has found himself on the wrong side of the law.
Opanyin Menidawodo fired at his 15-year-old daughter with his shotgun when he detected that his GH¢100 was missing on May 30, 2009. He narrowly missed her but the bullet hit the left hand of his nephew, chopping off his thumb and forefinger.
The suspect told the police that the girl, who is in JSS, had for some time been pilfering from his room, adding that he could no longer tolerate her behaviour when he could not find his money.
According to the police, the suspect returned from farm that day to take the money to solve some family problems, only to discover that it had vanished into thin air.
“I asked my daughter but she would not admit her crime and give me the money. I, therefore, decided to kill her to free her from the behaviour," he allegedly told the police.
The police said the nephew, Steven Quayson, had gone to the aid of the girl when the suspect pulled the gun and was hit by the bullet.
Steven was rushed to the Dixcove Government Hospital where he is said to be responding to treatment.
The daughter, who managed to escape, is now living with her aunt in the same town.
Meanwhile, the suspect was arraigned in court last Monday and remanded in police custody to re-appear on June 11, 2009.
EXTRACTIVE FIRMS MUST CHANGE ATTITUDE (PAGE 21)
THE Paramount Chief of the Essikado Traditional Area, Nana Kobina Nketsiah V, has deplored the establishment of the head offices of the various extractive companies in the national capital.
He described the situation as very pathetic and incomprehensible, adding that the Western Region, apart from generating the lion’s share of the country’s wealth, was also noted for its industrial harmony.
Speaking at an oil and gas conference in Takoradi, Nana Nketsiah said with such an appetite for the national capital, those extractive industries were completely cut off from the region where their activities impacted on the people most.
He said the railway company which was once the backbone of the country’s economy had its headquarters in Takoradi.
The paramount chief, who is also a lecturer at the University of Cape Coast, said it was about time most of those companies had their source deeply rooted in the region.
According to him, a number of chiefs and concerned citizens from the region had been meeting over the prospects of the oil find and how it could help change the way of development in the region and the country as a whole.
“I am glad to inform the gathering that some communities have already planned towards the proper reconstruction of their communities to accommodate the potential for businesses relating to the oil find,” he said.
He said the chiefs had the overall welfare of the region and the country at heart, saying, “We need to secure the future, which will be the key to the future security of our stools and our communities.”
Nana Nketsiah used the opportunity to appeal to the extractive companies to consider the region in the siting of their headquarters.
He described the situation as very pathetic and incomprehensible, adding that the Western Region, apart from generating the lion’s share of the country’s wealth, was also noted for its industrial harmony.
Speaking at an oil and gas conference in Takoradi, Nana Nketsiah said with such an appetite for the national capital, those extractive industries were completely cut off from the region where their activities impacted on the people most.
He said the railway company which was once the backbone of the country’s economy had its headquarters in Takoradi.
The paramount chief, who is also a lecturer at the University of Cape Coast, said it was about time most of those companies had their source deeply rooted in the region.
According to him, a number of chiefs and concerned citizens from the region had been meeting over the prospects of the oil find and how it could help change the way of development in the region and the country as a whole.
“I am glad to inform the gathering that some communities have already planned towards the proper reconstruction of their communities to accommodate the potential for businesses relating to the oil find,” he said.
He said the chiefs had the overall welfare of the region and the country at heart, saying, “We need to secure the future, which will be the key to the future security of our stools and our communities.”
Nana Nketsiah used the opportunity to appeal to the extractive companies to consider the region in the siting of their headquarters.
INVESTORS EXPRESS INTEREST IN GAS INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT (PAGE 39)
MORE investors have expressed interest in the estimated $1 billions gas infrastructure development concept of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) at Etwiabo in the Western Region.
When the facility is established, it will convey gas from the Jubilee Oil Fields to power the Osagyefo Barge at Effasu and another 10-inch, 123-kilometre lean gas pipeline from east of Effasu to power the Takoradi Thermal Plant.
Speaking at the just ended oil and gas conference, Mr Michael Aryeetey the Senior Geologist at GNPC said the move was to ensure that the infrastructure was in place to coincide with the country’s first oil discovery to avoid gas flaring.
He said the onshore gas development was GNPC led project and estimated at $1 billion, while the offshore first phase jubilee development project by the oil company was estimated at $3.1 billion.
He said the facility would support the country’s declaration of “zero tolerance for gas flaring” and to smoothen the process of economic development of the country with the availability of reliable gas supplies.
Mr Aryeetey said interested investors after the publication, had submitted their proposal to GNPC before the deadline which was May 31, 2009.
“At the moment, the evaluation of those bids are ongoing and very soon GNPC would come up with a list of those who had won to commence work immediately onshore,” he said.
Mr Aryeetey said the main focus was to ensure that the investors came up with innovations since they were working to meet the 2010 deadline.
Mr Aryeetey said initially, Samsung did some studies and they made enough information available to the bidders to help them.
He said the bigger picture of GNPC’s focus was to position onshore as full petrochemical industry, “but at the moment, we will need a plant to process the wet gas from the Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) positioned offshore.”
Mr Aryeetey said after processing the gas it would then be channelled to the Osagyefo and Takoradi power plants.
When the facility is established, it will convey gas from the Jubilee Oil Fields to power the Osagyefo Barge at Effasu and another 10-inch, 123-kilometre lean gas pipeline from east of Effasu to power the Takoradi Thermal Plant.
Speaking at the just ended oil and gas conference, Mr Michael Aryeetey the Senior Geologist at GNPC said the move was to ensure that the infrastructure was in place to coincide with the country’s first oil discovery to avoid gas flaring.
He said the onshore gas development was GNPC led project and estimated at $1 billion, while the offshore first phase jubilee development project by the oil company was estimated at $3.1 billion.
He said the facility would support the country’s declaration of “zero tolerance for gas flaring” and to smoothen the process of economic development of the country with the availability of reliable gas supplies.
Mr Aryeetey said interested investors after the publication, had submitted their proposal to GNPC before the deadline which was May 31, 2009.
“At the moment, the evaluation of those bids are ongoing and very soon GNPC would come up with a list of those who had won to commence work immediately onshore,” he said.
Mr Aryeetey said the main focus was to ensure that the investors came up with innovations since they were working to meet the 2010 deadline.
Mr Aryeetey said initially, Samsung did some studies and they made enough information available to the bidders to help them.
He said the bigger picture of GNPC’s focus was to position onshore as full petrochemical industry, “but at the moment, we will need a plant to process the wet gas from the Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) positioned offshore.”
Mr Aryeetey said after processing the gas it would then be channelled to the Osagyefo and Takoradi power plants.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
NATIONAL SECURITY ASSURED OF LOGISTICS (PAGE 15)
THE government has given assurance that it will provide the needed logistic to the National Security to protect the country’s interest at the oil fields.
The Minister of Energy, Dr Oteng-Adjei, who gave the assurance said the Ghana Navy and the Ghana Army would be considered seriously and equipped to undertake that task.
Speaking at the oil and gas conference in Takoradi, the minister said ensuring maximum security for the oil industry and its associated industries was of great concern to the government.
He said first and foremost, the immediate attention would be to review the country’s policy on environment with a view of putting in place the requisite plans and actions to manage the resources to ensure sustainability.
Mr Oteng-Adjei said the classic example of sustainability was to meet today’s needs without diminishing the capacity of future generations to continue.
For the government, security and sustainability would be at the heart of policy making for the new industry—a non-labour intensive industry which was also dependent on finite resources.
“The expansion of recoverable reserves, the efficient and careful management of production and the maximisation of environmental impact, are primary consideration from the government’s perspective for sustainable development of the country,” he said.
Dr Oteng-Adjei said to achieve that objective, the government would provide the necessary support for the National Security to protect the country’s interest.
He called on the players in the industry to be transparent in their dealings.
The minister said the expectations of the people were high therefore, every player should ensure that they were transparent, diligent and accountable for the benefit of all Ghanaians.
“We must not forget that it may be achieved through institutional reforms and transparent regulations by the establishment of an oil revenue management authority as well as the creation of oil revenue fund,” the minister said.
The Minister of Energy, Dr Oteng-Adjei, who gave the assurance said the Ghana Navy and the Ghana Army would be considered seriously and equipped to undertake that task.
Speaking at the oil and gas conference in Takoradi, the minister said ensuring maximum security for the oil industry and its associated industries was of great concern to the government.
He said first and foremost, the immediate attention would be to review the country’s policy on environment with a view of putting in place the requisite plans and actions to manage the resources to ensure sustainability.
Mr Oteng-Adjei said the classic example of sustainability was to meet today’s needs without diminishing the capacity of future generations to continue.
For the government, security and sustainability would be at the heart of policy making for the new industry—a non-labour intensive industry which was also dependent on finite resources.
“The expansion of recoverable reserves, the efficient and careful management of production and the maximisation of environmental impact, are primary consideration from the government’s perspective for sustainable development of the country,” he said.
Dr Oteng-Adjei said to achieve that objective, the government would provide the necessary support for the National Security to protect the country’s interest.
He called on the players in the industry to be transparent in their dealings.
The minister said the expectations of the people were high therefore, every player should ensure that they were transparent, diligent and accountable for the benefit of all Ghanaians.
“We must not forget that it may be achieved through institutional reforms and transparent regulations by the establishment of an oil revenue management authority as well as the creation of oil revenue fund,” the minister said.
JOMORO CHIEFS, PEOPLE COMMEND SAMIA (PAGE 16)
THE chiefs and people in the Jomoro Constituency have commended their Member of Parliament (MP), Ms Samia Yaba Nkrumah, for her continuous support for the constituency before and after the 2008 general election.
According the residents, Ms Samia had kept her word of her commitment to the constituency.
They were appreciative of the many development projects the MP had initiated in the constituency, mentioning in particular water and sanitation, education, electricity, among others.
The constituents described her as a replica of her father, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, who was the first President of Ghana.
In an interaction with the Daily Graphic in Jomoro, Ms Nkrumah said one of the things she would like to confront head-on was the issue of water and sanitation, which were very dear to the hearts of the people in the area.
So far, she has supported three communities, namely, Beyin, Ngelekazo and Ekebaku, with GH¢6,500 under the Community Water and Sanitation Agency Initiative, towards which the communities were to contribute five per sent.
Ms Samia Yaba said aside that she had also constructed a mechandised borehole at a cost of GH¢7,000 for the people of New Town Wharf.
The MP said she had also contributed GH¢2,800 for the completion of water projects for New Nzulezo and Nuba communities.
Ms Samia Yaba said she had distributed 380 bags of cement to 13 communities for the rehabilitation of their school buildings.
The beneficiary communities include Tweakor, Mpataba, New Town, Mpasem, Akpolornu, Twene, Abyeza and Ahobre.
The MP said she had also provided four packets of roofing sheets for communities like Bentenlebo, Bonyere, Beyin and Nsuano.
She said one of the reasons for becoming a legislator was to serve the people and that she would lobby the party’s friends in government and well-meaning members in society to supplement the efforts of the government to develop the constituency.
“I have not yet received my share of the MPs common fund but I have earmarked a number of development projects which the money would be used for.
The projects include Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centre, vocational training institutes, water and sanitation.
“My focus on ICT and education is to ensure that the people of my constituency have access to skilled training to enable them to fend for themselves or seek decent jobs if need be,” she said.
According the residents, Ms Samia had kept her word of her commitment to the constituency.
They were appreciative of the many development projects the MP had initiated in the constituency, mentioning in particular water and sanitation, education, electricity, among others.
The constituents described her as a replica of her father, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, who was the first President of Ghana.
In an interaction with the Daily Graphic in Jomoro, Ms Nkrumah said one of the things she would like to confront head-on was the issue of water and sanitation, which were very dear to the hearts of the people in the area.
So far, she has supported three communities, namely, Beyin, Ngelekazo and Ekebaku, with GH¢6,500 under the Community Water and Sanitation Agency Initiative, towards which the communities were to contribute five per sent.
Ms Samia Yaba said aside that she had also constructed a mechandised borehole at a cost of GH¢7,000 for the people of New Town Wharf.
The MP said she had also contributed GH¢2,800 for the completion of water projects for New Nzulezo and Nuba communities.
Ms Samia Yaba said she had distributed 380 bags of cement to 13 communities for the rehabilitation of their school buildings.
The beneficiary communities include Tweakor, Mpataba, New Town, Mpasem, Akpolornu, Twene, Abyeza and Ahobre.
The MP said she had also provided four packets of roofing sheets for communities like Bentenlebo, Bonyere, Beyin and Nsuano.
She said one of the reasons for becoming a legislator was to serve the people and that she would lobby the party’s friends in government and well-meaning members in society to supplement the efforts of the government to develop the constituency.
“I have not yet received my share of the MPs common fund but I have earmarked a number of development projects which the money would be used for.
The projects include Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centre, vocational training institutes, water and sanitation.
“My focus on ICT and education is to ensure that the people of my constituency have access to skilled training to enable them to fend for themselves or seek decent jobs if need be,” she said.
BURY POLITICAL DIFFERENCES — ABU SAKARA (PAGE 14)
The first Vice-Chairman of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Dr Abu Sakara, has stated that until the country’s decentralisation process fully evolves, the newly appointed metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) as well as Members of the Parliament (MPs) must work for the public good.
“Elections are over parties contested on partisan lines and the people of Ghana have chosen those who should represent them in Parliament and the government has also appointed chief executives which the various assemblies have accepted, so it is now time to work as a team for the interest of the people who voted us into office,” he said.
Dr Sakara was speaking during a thank-you durbar in the Jomoro Constituency in honour of Ms Samia Yaaba Nkrumah, the Convention People’ Party (CPP) Member of Parliament (MP).
He asked the MPs and MMDCEs across the country to ensure that the interest of the people superseded their party’s interest.
“This means that there should be a cordial relationship between MPs and DCEs irrespective of their political affiliations, ” he said
He said there were instances in the past when differences between MPs and their DCES had thwarted the progress of their respective communities.
The CPP First Vice-Chairman said until the decentralisation system fully evolved and the MMDCEs competed on their own strength, and MPs retained their seats based on their performances, they should work as a team irrespective of their political affiliations.
He thanked the people of Jomoro for voting massively for Ms Nkrumah as their MP, and gave the assurance that recapturing the Jomoro seat marked a new beginning for the party.
“Ms Nkrumah’s victory means that the spirit of Nkrumah has been rekindled to take up its position in national politics,” Dr Sakara said.
He assured the people that the CPP would ride on the back of Samia’s victory to create the needed environment for the party to triumph in the area, the region and the country as a whole.
For her part, Ms Nkrumah urged the people not to lose hope in the party and “remember that one day Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s CPP would come back to power.
‘’Under no circumstances should any of you lose hope. the future of the party is very bright and with unity, dedication and brotherliness, CPP would become stronger than before,” she said.
Ms Nkrumah also congratulated the Jomoro DCE on his appointment and confirmation, and gave a pledge to work together with him and the assembly and at the same time lobby the government to ensure that members of her constituency had their fair share of the national cake.
“I, therefore, appeal for peace, love and understanding among the party’s supporters and members of the CPP across the country to ensure that the interest of the people of the constituency is served”, she said, and reminded the people that “there is a lot of work to be done, and we have to start somewhere as a team in order not to disappoint the people who had reposed trust in us through the ballot boxes.”
The function was attended by a section of the party’s executives, members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the constituency and chiefs from various parts of the constituency, who defied the late afternoon downpour, and converged on the park to welcome their MP.
“Elections are over parties contested on partisan lines and the people of Ghana have chosen those who should represent them in Parliament and the government has also appointed chief executives which the various assemblies have accepted, so it is now time to work as a team for the interest of the people who voted us into office,” he said.
Dr Sakara was speaking during a thank-you durbar in the Jomoro Constituency in honour of Ms Samia Yaaba Nkrumah, the Convention People’ Party (CPP) Member of Parliament (MP).
He asked the MPs and MMDCEs across the country to ensure that the interest of the people superseded their party’s interest.
“This means that there should be a cordial relationship between MPs and DCEs irrespective of their political affiliations, ” he said
He said there were instances in the past when differences between MPs and their DCES had thwarted the progress of their respective communities.
The CPP First Vice-Chairman said until the decentralisation system fully evolved and the MMDCEs competed on their own strength, and MPs retained their seats based on their performances, they should work as a team irrespective of their political affiliations.
He thanked the people of Jomoro for voting massively for Ms Nkrumah as their MP, and gave the assurance that recapturing the Jomoro seat marked a new beginning for the party.
“Ms Nkrumah’s victory means that the spirit of Nkrumah has been rekindled to take up its position in national politics,” Dr Sakara said.
He assured the people that the CPP would ride on the back of Samia’s victory to create the needed environment for the party to triumph in the area, the region and the country as a whole.
For her part, Ms Nkrumah urged the people not to lose hope in the party and “remember that one day Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s CPP would come back to power.
‘’Under no circumstances should any of you lose hope. the future of the party is very bright and with unity, dedication and brotherliness, CPP would become stronger than before,” she said.
Ms Nkrumah also congratulated the Jomoro DCE on his appointment and confirmation, and gave a pledge to work together with him and the assembly and at the same time lobby the government to ensure that members of her constituency had their fair share of the national cake.
“I, therefore, appeal for peace, love and understanding among the party’s supporters and members of the CPP across the country to ensure that the interest of the people of the constituency is served”, she said, and reminded the people that “there is a lot of work to be done, and we have to start somewhere as a team in order not to disappoint the people who had reposed trust in us through the ballot boxes.”
The function was attended by a section of the party’s executives, members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the constituency and chiefs from various parts of the constituency, who defied the late afternoon downpour, and converged on the park to welcome their MP.
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