Sefwi Magajia Camp, a small community in the Sefwi-Wiawso District in the Western Region, was thrown into a state of mourning on Christmas eve when a four-year-old boy used his father’s shot-gun to shoot and kill his elder sister.
Eric Adukpo, 31, the father of the two minors, who is yet to come to terms with the death of his daughter, Mariama Adukpo, seven, has been arrested by the police for negligence and exposing the children to harm.
The incident occurred when the father had gone out to buy gentian violet from a chemical shop to treat the sores of Kelvin Adukpo, 4, while the mother had gone to the farm to pluck some pepper to prepare food for the family.
Kelvin, affectionately called Bouteflika, and Mariama were playing in the house and shortly after their parents had left home, he went for his father’s single-barrelled shot-gun, pointed it at his sister’s direction and pulled the trigger killing Mariama instantly.
According the Sefwi-Wiawao Police Divisional Commander, ACP Charles Oduro Botchwey, Mr Adukpo said he did not anticipate that his son could reach the loaded gun to cause any havoc.
He told the police he was shocked when he got home only to see his little daughter lifeless in a pool of blood with the gun lying by her side and Kelvin speechless.
“My son sustained some burns the previous day and I decided to get the gentian violet while their mother went to get some fresh pepper for food for the occasion (Christmas),” he told the police.
ACP Botchwey said the gun was loaded and placed in the room before the parents left the house.
He said it was not proper to leave two minors in the house with the weapon considering the curious behaviours of children.
The Divisional Commander said Mr Adukpo had since been granted bail because of his agony, adding that he was to report to the police on regular basis to assist in investigations.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
STAY CLEAR OF GALAMSEY...National security warns foreigners (BACK PAGE, DEC 28, 2010)
THE National Security Council will from next year get tough with foreigners engaged in galamsey operation in the Western Region and other parts of the country.
The Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Ms Sherry Aryeety, who said this during a tour of the Western Region, observed that galamsey activities tended to pollute water bodies and the environment, thereby endangering the lives of the people.
She warned foreigners not to take the country’s hospitality for granted and flout the laws of the country which prohibited them from engaging in small-scale mining.
Ms Aryeetey said following visits by officials of her ministry to the areas where foreigners were engaging in illegal mining activities with the connivance of some community members, the ministry had submitted a report to the National Security Council.
She said a national security committee, formed to deal with illegal mining by foreigners and other issues of environmental degradation, had been strategising on how to tackle the problem.
Ms Aryeetey said the recent arrest of some foreigners flouting the laws of the country by the Ghana Immigration Service was a clear indication that those engaged in illegal mining would be flushed out by the security.
“One thing foreigners need to know is that we cannot go to their country and act contrary to their laws; therefore, we will not allow our laws to be flouted,” she said.
She said if foreigners had to engage in illegal activities at the expense of the environment and communities, they must be stopped.
Ms Aryeetey said the ministry and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as an independent observer, would not operate from their offices, but move to the ground to ensure that the country’s laws were adhered to.
The minister later toured the resettlement and the plant site of the Adamus Resources Limited, operators of Nzema Gold Mines.
The Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Ms Sherry Aryeety, who said this during a tour of the Western Region, observed that galamsey activities tended to pollute water bodies and the environment, thereby endangering the lives of the people.
She warned foreigners not to take the country’s hospitality for granted and flout the laws of the country which prohibited them from engaging in small-scale mining.
Ms Aryeetey said following visits by officials of her ministry to the areas where foreigners were engaging in illegal mining activities with the connivance of some community members, the ministry had submitted a report to the National Security Council.
She said a national security committee, formed to deal with illegal mining by foreigners and other issues of environmental degradation, had been strategising on how to tackle the problem.
Ms Aryeetey said the recent arrest of some foreigners flouting the laws of the country by the Ghana Immigration Service was a clear indication that those engaged in illegal mining would be flushed out by the security.
“One thing foreigners need to know is that we cannot go to their country and act contrary to their laws; therefore, we will not allow our laws to be flouted,” she said.
She said if foreigners had to engage in illegal activities at the expense of the environment and communities, they must be stopped.
Ms Aryeetey said the ministry and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as an independent observer, would not operate from their offices, but move to the ground to ensure that the country’s laws were adhered to.
The minister later toured the resettlement and the plant site of the Adamus Resources Limited, operators of Nzema Gold Mines.
Monday, December 27, 2010
GOOD SAMARITAN CUT SHORT LIFE OF MAN (BACK PAGE, DEC 27, 2010)
An attempt by a Good Samaritan to break-up a fight between a couple in Debiso in the Sefwi Wiawso District of the Western Region turned tragic when he allegedly hit the husband to death with a stick.
The man, Kofi Moses, 37, who could not withstand Eric Derry, the husband pounding his wife, decided to separate them but to no avail.
He, therefore, hit the victim with a stick with the intention of saving the life of the woman.
The police said Derry retaliated by inflicting cutlass wounds on Moses but surprisingly Derry, fell to the ground unconscious and was rushed to the hospital for treatment but was pronounced dead.
Moses was arrested on a provisional charge of murder and placed in police custody pending investigations.
Meanwhile, the body of the deceased has since been deposited at the Enchi Government Hospital mortuary for autopsy.
The man, Kofi Moses, 37, who could not withstand Eric Derry, the husband pounding his wife, decided to separate them but to no avail.
He, therefore, hit the victim with a stick with the intention of saving the life of the woman.
The police said Derry retaliated by inflicting cutlass wounds on Moses but surprisingly Derry, fell to the ground unconscious and was rushed to the hospital for treatment but was pronounced dead.
Moses was arrested on a provisional charge of murder and placed in police custody pending investigations.
Meanwhile, the body of the deceased has since been deposited at the Enchi Government Hospital mortuary for autopsy.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
FIGHT OVER CHOP MONEY...Leads to baby's death (MIRROR, LEAD STORY, DEC 24, 2010)
From Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Sekondi
A DISPUTE over money for the up-keep of a child turned tragic when the three-month-old baby fell from the back of its mother and died instantly in a squabble between husband and wife.
The incident happened at the Kwesimintsim in Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis.
Confirming the incident, the Western Regional Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ghana Police Service, Ms Olivia Adiku, said the mother of the baby, Margaret Mensah, who lived elsewhere, went to her husband's house to receive money for the child's up-keep only to meet her husband, Daniel Acquainoo, in the company of another woman.
Margaret did not take kindly to the presence of the one she suspected to be her husband’s concubine and this resulted in some verbal exchanges between husband and wife.
The exchanges degenerated into fisticuffs while the child was tied to the mother's back.
The PRO said in the midst of the punches, Margaret's cloth got loose and the baby crashed to the ground.
She said after the feuding parties realised that the baby was unconscious, they jointly rushed him to the Kwesimintsim Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
A tearful Margaret then rushed to the Kwesimintsim Police to report the case, leading to the arrest of her husband and another person who the mother claimed was a witness to the incident.
The mother was also detained but was later granted bail, while investigations continue.
Meanwhile, the body of the baby has been deposited at the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital morgue awaiting autopsy.
A DISPUTE over money for the up-keep of a child turned tragic when the three-month-old baby fell from the back of its mother and died instantly in a squabble between husband and wife.
The incident happened at the Kwesimintsim in Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis.
Confirming the incident, the Western Regional Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ghana Police Service, Ms Olivia Adiku, said the mother of the baby, Margaret Mensah, who lived elsewhere, went to her husband's house to receive money for the child's up-keep only to meet her husband, Daniel Acquainoo, in the company of another woman.
Margaret did not take kindly to the presence of the one she suspected to be her husband’s concubine and this resulted in some verbal exchanges between husband and wife.
The exchanges degenerated into fisticuffs while the child was tied to the mother's back.
The PRO said in the midst of the punches, Margaret's cloth got loose and the baby crashed to the ground.
She said after the feuding parties realised that the baby was unconscious, they jointly rushed him to the Kwesimintsim Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
A tearful Margaret then rushed to the Kwesimintsim Police to report the case, leading to the arrest of her husband and another person who the mother claimed was a witness to the incident.
The mother was also detained but was later granted bail, while investigations continue.
Meanwhile, the body of the baby has been deposited at the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital morgue awaiting autopsy.
Monday, December 20, 2010
WOMAN, 88, IN RAPE ORDEAL (PAGE 3, DEC 20, 2010)
AN 88-year-old woman was rushed to the Essikado Government Hospital in coma last Friday after she had allegedly been raped by a 52-year-old man at Egyiresia, in Secondi.
Police sources told the Daily Graphic that the woman had been raped at Egyiresia, where she lived with her daughter, a kenkey seller.
They said Joseph Amoah, the suspect, had gone to the woman’s house, ostensibly to buy kenkey, but took advantage of the absence of the old woman’s daughter to rape the woman until she fell unconscious.
They said upon realising that the woman had become unconscious, Amoah “was hurriedly dressing up to flee when the woman’s daughter appeared on the scene and called for help”. But Amoah managed to escape from the scene.
The sources said the woman was rushed to the hospital, where she regained consciousness, and Amoah was later arrested and placed in police custody.
Police sources told the Daily Graphic that the woman had been raped at Egyiresia, where she lived with her daughter, a kenkey seller.
They said Joseph Amoah, the suspect, had gone to the woman’s house, ostensibly to buy kenkey, but took advantage of the absence of the old woman’s daughter to rape the woman until she fell unconscious.
They said upon realising that the woman had become unconscious, Amoah “was hurriedly dressing up to flee when the woman’s daughter appeared on the scene and called for help”. But Amoah managed to escape from the scene.
The sources said the woman was rushed to the hospital, where she regained consciousness, and Amoah was later arrested and placed in police custody.
CHINESE KILLS CHINESE OVER GH$400 (1C, DEC 18, 2010)
A DISPUTE between two Chinese galamsey operators at Wassa Akropong in the Western Region over GH¢400 degenerated into violence which claimed the life of one of them.
The deceased, Liu Xin Ping, 32, was allegedly stabbed in the chest by Chen Jing Guo, 44, an excavator operator, when Ping went to Guo’s residence to collect part of the money he had paid for excavator services which had not been fully accomplished.
The deceased was said to have rented an excavator from Guo and his wife, Lucy Chen, 33, for his galamsey operations and paid GH¢600 for the service.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on the incident, the Tarkwa Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Kwadwo Antwi-Tabi, said the excavator got stuck in the mud and, therefore, could not accomplish the service for which it had been hired.
He said Ping, accompanied by two others identified as Tan Hai Bing and Liu Xiao-Zhong, called on Guo at his residence at 11 p.m. to collect GH¢400 out of the GH¢600 he had paid for use of the excavator, since the task could not be completed.
After explaining his mission to Guo and his wife, Lucy, to whom the money had allegedly been paid, she denied ever collecting any money.
An argument, therefore, ensued between the couple, on one side, and the deceased and his friends, on the other.
In the midst of the commotion, Lucy is alleged to have pulled a registered pump-action gun and threatened to shoot Ping and his friends if they dared her.
In reaction, the three friends quickly reached into their car to pick a gun to counter Lucy’s aggression.
Chief Supt Antwi-Tabi said before they returned, Lucy had locked the door but her husband allegedly used a knife to stab the victim on the left side of his chest, killing him instantly.
The incident, which attracted a large crowd, was reported to the police by Lucy and the couple, along with Liu Xiao-Zhong and Tan Hai Bin, were subsequently arrested.
The deceased, Liu Xin Ping, 32, was allegedly stabbed in the chest by Chen Jing Guo, 44, an excavator operator, when Ping went to Guo’s residence to collect part of the money he had paid for excavator services which had not been fully accomplished.
The deceased was said to have rented an excavator from Guo and his wife, Lucy Chen, 33, for his galamsey operations and paid GH¢600 for the service.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on the incident, the Tarkwa Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Kwadwo Antwi-Tabi, said the excavator got stuck in the mud and, therefore, could not accomplish the service for which it had been hired.
He said Ping, accompanied by two others identified as Tan Hai Bing and Liu Xiao-Zhong, called on Guo at his residence at 11 p.m. to collect GH¢400 out of the GH¢600 he had paid for use of the excavator, since the task could not be completed.
After explaining his mission to Guo and his wife, Lucy, to whom the money had allegedly been paid, she denied ever collecting any money.
An argument, therefore, ensued between the couple, on one side, and the deceased and his friends, on the other.
In the midst of the commotion, Lucy is alleged to have pulled a registered pump-action gun and threatened to shoot Ping and his friends if they dared her.
In reaction, the three friends quickly reached into their car to pick a gun to counter Lucy’s aggression.
Chief Supt Antwi-Tabi said before they returned, Lucy had locked the door but her husband allegedly used a knife to stab the victim on the left side of his chest, killing him instantly.
The incident, which attracted a large crowd, was reported to the police by Lucy and the couple, along with Liu Xiao-Zhong and Tan Hai Bin, were subsequently arrested.
Friday, December 17, 2010
OIL NOW FLOWS AT JUBILEE FIELDS (MIRROR, PAGE 34, DEC 18, 2010)
From Timothy Gobah/Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi
President John Evans Atta Mills has reaffirmed his commitment to transparency and prudent management of the oil revenue to benefit all Ghanaians.
“This is a God-given natural resource belonging to all Ghanaians, including the generations unborn, and as I have always said and will continue to say, the oil revenue will be used for the benefit of all and not for the benefit of only a few persons,” he stressed.
President Mills said this when he symbolically pressed the knob on the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah to officially signify the beginning of oil drilling at the Jubilee Field.
The Jubilee Field, which started with the Deepwater Tano and West Cape Three Point licences, was discovered via the Mahogany-1 and Hyedua-1 exploration wells in June and August, 2007.
With the inauguration, the country had joined the large community of oil-producing countries, adding, “We must all glorify in what we have been able to achieve as a people.”
He said the search for oil began years ago, with successive governments playing significant roles, pointing out that under former President Rawlings, oil exploration was greatly intensified, with the requisite infrastructure established.
“President Rawlings laid a massive foundation for what we are witnessing today,” he said, and acknowledged President Kufuor’s regime under whom oil was discovered in commercial quantities.
The two former Presidents graced the occassion.
He said the oil and gas would be used to ensure the transformation of the national economy to a prosperous industrial nation.
He said there would be the establishment of petro-chemical industries, fertiliser and steel industries in the Western Region.
President Mills said his administration would create jobs to ensure a robust economy and further assured the Jubilee partners of a stable environment to operate.
He, however, charged the oil companies and the investor community to respect the country’s laws, rules and regulations and the need to uphold the law which allowed a percentage of Ghanaians to be employed in the oil industry.
He commended the Jubilee partners, which include Tullow PLC, Anadarko Petroleum, Kosmos Energy, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Sabre Oil and Gas and the E.O. Group, for working hard to ensure the realisation of the dream of Ghana becoming an oil-producing nation.
The Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, said it was obvious that specific employment opportunities would be created in the oil sector.
He said the discovery had created a regional identity, distinguishing the Western Region from others, while the region had become a convergence point for investors.
The Minister of Energy, Dr Joe Oteng-Agyei, acknowledged successive governments for keeping the dream of adding oil production to the country’s other God-given natural resources.
The President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, Awulae Attibrukusu III, reminded Ghanaians that the oil did not have the magic to change the country, adding that it was the prudent management of its revenue that would ensure that the benefit was felt by all.
President John Evans Atta Mills has reaffirmed his commitment to transparency and prudent management of the oil revenue to benefit all Ghanaians.
“This is a God-given natural resource belonging to all Ghanaians, including the generations unborn, and as I have always said and will continue to say, the oil revenue will be used for the benefit of all and not for the benefit of only a few persons,” he stressed.
President Mills said this when he symbolically pressed the knob on the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah to officially signify the beginning of oil drilling at the Jubilee Field.
The Jubilee Field, which started with the Deepwater Tano and West Cape Three Point licences, was discovered via the Mahogany-1 and Hyedua-1 exploration wells in June and August, 2007.
With the inauguration, the country had joined the large community of oil-producing countries, adding, “We must all glorify in what we have been able to achieve as a people.”
He said the search for oil began years ago, with successive governments playing significant roles, pointing out that under former President Rawlings, oil exploration was greatly intensified, with the requisite infrastructure established.
“President Rawlings laid a massive foundation for what we are witnessing today,” he said, and acknowledged President Kufuor’s regime under whom oil was discovered in commercial quantities.
The two former Presidents graced the occassion.
He said the oil and gas would be used to ensure the transformation of the national economy to a prosperous industrial nation.
He said there would be the establishment of petro-chemical industries, fertiliser and steel industries in the Western Region.
President Mills said his administration would create jobs to ensure a robust economy and further assured the Jubilee partners of a stable environment to operate.
He, however, charged the oil companies and the investor community to respect the country’s laws, rules and regulations and the need to uphold the law which allowed a percentage of Ghanaians to be employed in the oil industry.
He commended the Jubilee partners, which include Tullow PLC, Anadarko Petroleum, Kosmos Energy, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Sabre Oil and Gas and the E.O. Group, for working hard to ensure the realisation of the dream of Ghana becoming an oil-producing nation.
The Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, said it was obvious that specific employment opportunities would be created in the oil sector.
He said the discovery had created a regional identity, distinguishing the Western Region from others, while the region had become a convergence point for investors.
The Minister of Energy, Dr Joe Oteng-Agyei, acknowledged successive governments for keeping the dream of adding oil production to the country’s other God-given natural resources.
The President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, Awulae Attibrukusu III, reminded Ghanaians that the oil did not have the magic to change the country, adding that it was the prudent management of its revenue that would ensure that the benefit was felt by all.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
CULTURE GREETS FIRST OIL (SPREAD, DEC 16, 2010)
AFTER more than 50 years of prospecting for oil, Ghana’s quest to become an oil-producing country came alive with the launch of the first oil at a colourful durbar of the chiefs and people of the Western Region yesterday.
The event, which brought together the country’s two former Presidents, J.J. Rawlings and J.A. Kufuor, to an official function for the first time in many months, depicted the rich culture and traditions of the people in all the 10 regions.
When they arrived at the durbar grounds, the two former Presidents went round to exchange greetings with the chiefs and people, amid cheers from the crowd. Their presence underlined the beauty of unity in national discourse.
Early in the morning, captains of industry and people from all walks of life had thronged the Takoradi Airport Base of the Ghana Air Force to participate in the historic occasion.
Thunderous applause greeted President John Evans Atta Mills and his entourage when they arrived at the base for the ceremony. Shortly after the exchange of greetings, the President was flown in a helicopter to the oil platform located about 65 nautical miles on the sea where he symbolically pressed the knob to officially declare the beginning of Ghana’s production of commercial oil.
On his return, the President was welcomed to the durbar grounds, which was decorated in national colours, with dancing and music by an array of entertainment groups, including the Ghana Dance Ensemble, the Noyam Dance and the Air Force Band.
The august audience which witnessed the occasion included Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, a former First Lady, representatives of political parties, ministers of state, the clergy, members of the Diplomatic community, top officials of the Jubilee partners, Members of Parliament and academia.
The “Ghanaianess” of the historic programme was also enriched with the presence of traditional rulers from all the various paramountcies across the Western Region dressed in their colourful regalia.
The programme, which was held offshore and onshore simultaneously, was watched on a giant screen mounted at the durbar grounds.
In a related development, Rose Hayford Darko reports from Tema that the offices of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) were decorated with the colours of the national flag to announce the celebration of the country's commercial production of oil.
The workers of the corporation mounted huge speakers and a big television screen to enable the public to witness the national event performed by President Mills to symbolise the commercial production of oil.
The workers said they were happy to be part of the historic occasion.
In an interview, two petroleum engineers at the GNPC, Mr Eugene Amissah and Mr Albert London-Nyewan, indicated that Ghana was blessed to have the oil which they described as one of the best in the world.
Mr Amissah said the future was bright, noting, “This is just the beginning and with our training, we should be able to take over and work hard for the future.”
The Principal Human Resource and Administrative Officer of the GNPC, Mr Edward Appiah-Brafoh, said the oil field would have only 120 direct employees but the industry would create indirect jobs in the hospitality industry and the security sector.
He stated that the GNPC would ensure that Ghana achieved maximum result from the oil flow and called on Ghanaians to manage their expectations, since the oil find was only a catalyst for development.
The event, which brought together the country’s two former Presidents, J.J. Rawlings and J.A. Kufuor, to an official function for the first time in many months, depicted the rich culture and traditions of the people in all the 10 regions.
When they arrived at the durbar grounds, the two former Presidents went round to exchange greetings with the chiefs and people, amid cheers from the crowd. Their presence underlined the beauty of unity in national discourse.
Early in the morning, captains of industry and people from all walks of life had thronged the Takoradi Airport Base of the Ghana Air Force to participate in the historic occasion.
Thunderous applause greeted President John Evans Atta Mills and his entourage when they arrived at the base for the ceremony. Shortly after the exchange of greetings, the President was flown in a helicopter to the oil platform located about 65 nautical miles on the sea where he symbolically pressed the knob to officially declare the beginning of Ghana’s production of commercial oil.
On his return, the President was welcomed to the durbar grounds, which was decorated in national colours, with dancing and music by an array of entertainment groups, including the Ghana Dance Ensemble, the Noyam Dance and the Air Force Band.
The august audience which witnessed the occasion included Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, a former First Lady, representatives of political parties, ministers of state, the clergy, members of the Diplomatic community, top officials of the Jubilee partners, Members of Parliament and academia.
The “Ghanaianess” of the historic programme was also enriched with the presence of traditional rulers from all the various paramountcies across the Western Region dressed in their colourful regalia.
The programme, which was held offshore and onshore simultaneously, was watched on a giant screen mounted at the durbar grounds.
In a related development, Rose Hayford Darko reports from Tema that the offices of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) were decorated with the colours of the national flag to announce the celebration of the country's commercial production of oil.
The workers of the corporation mounted huge speakers and a big television screen to enable the public to witness the national event performed by President Mills to symbolise the commercial production of oil.
The workers said they were happy to be part of the historic occasion.
In an interview, two petroleum engineers at the GNPC, Mr Eugene Amissah and Mr Albert London-Nyewan, indicated that Ghana was blessed to have the oil which they described as one of the best in the world.
Mr Amissah said the future was bright, noting, “This is just the beginning and with our training, we should be able to take over and work hard for the future.”
The Principal Human Resource and Administrative Officer of the GNPC, Mr Edward Appiah-Brafoh, said the oil field would have only 120 direct employees but the industry would create indirect jobs in the hospitality industry and the security sector.
He stated that the GNPC would ensure that Ghana achieved maximum result from the oil flow and called on Ghanaians to manage their expectations, since the oil find was only a catalyst for development.
Momentours day for Ghana...OIL FLOWS (LEAD STORY, DEC 16, 2010)
Story: Timothy Gobah & Moses Aklorbortu, Takoradi
HISTORY was made at 10:15 a.m. yesterday when the President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, symbolically turned the wheel on the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah to officially signify the beginning of oil production on a commercial scale at the Jubilee Field.
The Jubilee Field, which started with the Deepwater Tano and West Cape Three Points licences, was discovered via the Mahogany-1 and Hyedua-1 exploration wells in June and August, 2007.
The two wells were drilled five kilometres apart and intercepted a large continuous accumulation of light sweet crude in excellent quantities stacked in reservoir sandstone with net oil pays.
Addressing a colourful durbar to mark the historical event, the President reaffirmed his commitment to transparency and prudent management of the oil revenue to benefit all Ghanaians.
“This is a God-given natural resource belonging to all Ghanaians, including the generations unborn, and as I have always said and will continue to say, the oil revenue will be used for the benefit of all and not for the benefit of only a few persons,” he stressed.
President Mills said with the inauguration, the country had joined the large community of oil-producing countries, adding, “We must all glorify in what we have been able to achieve as a people.”
“It has not been an easy journey; there have been ups and downs, but, today, we thank God Almighty for making it possible for Ghana to officially pour out its first oil”, he said.
He said the search for oil began years ago, with successive governments playing significant roles, pointing out that under former President Rawlings, oil exploration was greatly intensified, with the requisite infrastructure established.
“President Rawlings laid a massive foundation for what we are witnessing today,” he said, and acknowledged
President Kufuor’s regime under whom oil was discovered in commercial quantities.
He said the oil and gas would be used to ensure the transformation of the national economy to a prosperous industrial nation.
He reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that every cent of the oil revenue would be used for the benefit of all Ghanaians and not for only a few persons.
He said there would be the establishment of petro-chemical industries, fertiliser and steel industries in the Western Region.
President Mills said his administration would create jobs to ensure a robust economy and further assured the Jubilee partners of a stable environment to operate.
He, however, charged the oil companies and the investor community to respect the country’s laws, rules and regulations and the need to uphold the law which allowed a percentage of Ghanaians to be employed in the oil industry.
He commended the Jubilee partners, which include Tullow PLC, Anadarko Petroleum, Kosmos Energy, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Sabre Oil and Gas and the E.O. Group, for working hard to ensure the realisation of the dream of Ghana becoming an oil-producing nation.
The Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, said it was obvious that specific employment opportunities would be created in the oil sector.
He said the discovery had created a regional identity, distinguishing the Western Region from others, while the region had become a convergence point for investors.
“It is, however, important to reflect on the fact that in the midst of our anxiety for investment from the industry, we should beware of the challenges as well,” he said.
The Minister of Energy, Dr Joe Oteng-Agyei, acknowledged successive governments for keeping the dream of adding oil production to the country’s other God-given natural resources.
He commended former Presidents Rawlings and Kufuor, for keeping the dream alive.
The President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, Awulae Attibrukusu III, reminded Ghanaians that the oil did not have the magic to change the country, adding that it was the prudent management of its revenue that would ensure that the benefit was felt by all.
HISTORY was made at 10:15 a.m. yesterday when the President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, symbolically turned the wheel on the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah to officially signify the beginning of oil production on a commercial scale at the Jubilee Field.
The Jubilee Field, which started with the Deepwater Tano and West Cape Three Points licences, was discovered via the Mahogany-1 and Hyedua-1 exploration wells in June and August, 2007.
The two wells were drilled five kilometres apart and intercepted a large continuous accumulation of light sweet crude in excellent quantities stacked in reservoir sandstone with net oil pays.
Addressing a colourful durbar to mark the historical event, the President reaffirmed his commitment to transparency and prudent management of the oil revenue to benefit all Ghanaians.
“This is a God-given natural resource belonging to all Ghanaians, including the generations unborn, and as I have always said and will continue to say, the oil revenue will be used for the benefit of all and not for the benefit of only a few persons,” he stressed.
President Mills said with the inauguration, the country had joined the large community of oil-producing countries, adding, “We must all glorify in what we have been able to achieve as a people.”
“It has not been an easy journey; there have been ups and downs, but, today, we thank God Almighty for making it possible for Ghana to officially pour out its first oil”, he said.
He said the search for oil began years ago, with successive governments playing significant roles, pointing out that under former President Rawlings, oil exploration was greatly intensified, with the requisite infrastructure established.
“President Rawlings laid a massive foundation for what we are witnessing today,” he said, and acknowledged
President Kufuor’s regime under whom oil was discovered in commercial quantities.
He said the oil and gas would be used to ensure the transformation of the national economy to a prosperous industrial nation.
He reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that every cent of the oil revenue would be used for the benefit of all Ghanaians and not for only a few persons.
He said there would be the establishment of petro-chemical industries, fertiliser and steel industries in the Western Region.
President Mills said his administration would create jobs to ensure a robust economy and further assured the Jubilee partners of a stable environment to operate.
He, however, charged the oil companies and the investor community to respect the country’s laws, rules and regulations and the need to uphold the law which allowed a percentage of Ghanaians to be employed in the oil industry.
He commended the Jubilee partners, which include Tullow PLC, Anadarko Petroleum, Kosmos Energy, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Sabre Oil and Gas and the E.O. Group, for working hard to ensure the realisation of the dream of Ghana becoming an oil-producing nation.
The Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, said it was obvious that specific employment opportunities would be created in the oil sector.
He said the discovery had created a regional identity, distinguishing the Western Region from others, while the region had become a convergence point for investors.
“It is, however, important to reflect on the fact that in the midst of our anxiety for investment from the industry, we should beware of the challenges as well,” he said.
The Minister of Energy, Dr Joe Oteng-Agyei, acknowledged successive governments for keeping the dream of adding oil production to the country’s other God-given natural resources.
He commended former Presidents Rawlings and Kufuor, for keeping the dream alive.
The President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, Awulae Attibrukusu III, reminded Ghanaians that the oil did not have the magic to change the country, adding that it was the prudent management of its revenue that would ensure that the benefit was felt by all.
Friday, December 10, 2010
PURCHASING CLERK DIES AFTER SEXUAL BOUT (MIRROR, PAGE 34, DEC 11, 2010)
From Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Sekondi
A 60-year-old purchasing clerk at Sefwi-Antobia in the Sefwi-Wiawso District of the Western Region is reported to have died after sleeping with his 20-year-old fiancé.
The deceased, Joe K. Adjei, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Sefwi-Wiawso Government Hospital, where he was rushed after his lover mustered courage and called for help.
The woman then reported the incident to the police and is now assisting with police investigations.
According to the police, the deceased visited the lady in the evening of November 30, 2010 and the incident occurred in the early hours of December 1, 2010.
The young lady was said to have told the police that the deceased was her fiancé and they had agreed to marry soon.
She said at about 5 a.m. on the fateful day, the deceased, after sleeping with her, started complaining about pains in his heart but before she could convey him to the hospital it was too late.
When contacted, the Sefwi-Wiawso Divisional Police Commander, ACP Charles Oduro Botchwey, said the lady was, therefore, arrested to help in their investigations but her claim of heart attack was confirmed by the deceased’s family.
He said the family confirmed that the deceased had a history of heart problems and they were also aware of the relationship between the young lady and the deceased.
The police said after initial investigation, the body of Adjei had been released to the family for burial.
A 60-year-old purchasing clerk at Sefwi-Antobia in the Sefwi-Wiawso District of the Western Region is reported to have died after sleeping with his 20-year-old fiancé.
The deceased, Joe K. Adjei, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Sefwi-Wiawso Government Hospital, where he was rushed after his lover mustered courage and called for help.
The woman then reported the incident to the police and is now assisting with police investigations.
According to the police, the deceased visited the lady in the evening of November 30, 2010 and the incident occurred in the early hours of December 1, 2010.
The young lady was said to have told the police that the deceased was her fiancé and they had agreed to marry soon.
She said at about 5 a.m. on the fateful day, the deceased, after sleeping with her, started complaining about pains in his heart but before she could convey him to the hospital it was too late.
When contacted, the Sefwi-Wiawso Divisional Police Commander, ACP Charles Oduro Botchwey, said the lady was, therefore, arrested to help in their investigations but her claim of heart attack was confirmed by the deceased’s family.
He said the family confirmed that the deceased had a history of heart problems and they were also aware of the relationship between the young lady and the deceased.
The police said after initial investigation, the body of Adjei had been released to the family for burial.
ICT CENTRE FOR 4BN BASIC SCHOOL (PAGE 11, DEC 8, 2010)
The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) of the Fourth Infantry Battalion (4BN) Basic School in Kumasi has commenced construction work on a GH¢55,000 Information and Communications Technology (ICT) centre for the school.
Major Budi Kumi, the Second-In-Command of 4BN on behalf of the Commanding Officer, performed a sod- cutting ceremony to signify commencement of construction work on the project which also includes a library and staff common room.
The ICT centre is to afford the basic school pupils the comfort and opportunity to use computers in the learning of ICT at first hand.
The Chairman of the PTA, Mr George M. K. Aduboffour, said the association had received support from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in the form of roofing sheets towards the ICT project and expressed the hope that more support would come from various organisations towards the project.
According to the Headmistress of the school, Mrs Augustina Boakye Yiadom, the school obtained 95.7 per cent in the 2010 B.E.C.E. results and said with maximum support, the school would obtain 100 per cent in 2011.
Also at the sod-cutting ceremony were Lt. Regina O. Sewornu, 4th Garrison Education Officer, parents, staff and pupils of the 4BN Basic School.
Major Budi Kumi, the Second-In-Command of 4BN on behalf of the Commanding Officer, performed a sod- cutting ceremony to signify commencement of construction work on the project which also includes a library and staff common room.
The ICT centre is to afford the basic school pupils the comfort and opportunity to use computers in the learning of ICT at first hand.
The Chairman of the PTA, Mr George M. K. Aduboffour, said the association had received support from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in the form of roofing sheets towards the ICT project and expressed the hope that more support would come from various organisations towards the project.
According to the Headmistress of the school, Mrs Augustina Boakye Yiadom, the school obtained 95.7 per cent in the 2010 B.E.C.E. results and said with maximum support, the school would obtain 100 per cent in 2011.
Also at the sod-cutting ceremony were Lt. Regina O. Sewornu, 4th Garrison Education Officer, parents, staff and pupils of the 4BN Basic School.
VRA ASSURES CONSUMERS OF CHEAPER POWER (BACK PAGE, DEC 8, 2010)
THE Volta River Authority (VRA) has assured the general public of increased power generation through cheaper means with the use of natural gas from the country’s oil fields, Nigeria and independent power producers (IPPs).
It said the interest expressed by IPPs would ensure that the set national target for power generation was achieved.
The Chief Executive of the VRA, Mr Kweku Andoh Awotwi, made this known at a durbar at Aboadze to climax activities marking the 10th anniversary of the Takoradi International Company (TICO).
He said the government was aware that the power sector could only grow with the participation of non-governmental agencies after a successful power sector reform which started in the mid-1990s.
He said currently, the VRA and IPPs were seriously working to relocate nearer to where the multi-million dollar dry gas plant is to be sited by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).
Mr Awotwi said there was no doubt that the flow would come with huge opportunities, as well as challenges which would be well-worked out to ensure that the success story of TICO was replicated.
He said the influx of investors into the energy sector would mean the extension of pipelines and storage plants, an expansion in port facilities and factories and positive ripple effects on other sectors of the regional and national economy.
The General Manager of TICO, Nana Osafo Agyei, said the company was committed to safe operations to support the country’s energy needs.
In a related development, 200 students from the Shama District and other parts of the Western Region have been handed scholarships worth GH¢450,000 by TICO.
The scholarship scheme, named Kramer Scholarship, catered for the beneficiaries, made up of 45 per cent females and 55 per cent males, in the basic, junior and senior high schools and tertiary students from the region.
Speaking at the presentation of the awards, Nana Osafo Agyei said apart from ensuring quality education, there was also the need to ensure that children were not left out of the classroom due to lack of funding.
The beneficiaries thanked TICO for the support and pledged to work hard to justify the need for continuous support from the company.
It said the interest expressed by IPPs would ensure that the set national target for power generation was achieved.
The Chief Executive of the VRA, Mr Kweku Andoh Awotwi, made this known at a durbar at Aboadze to climax activities marking the 10th anniversary of the Takoradi International Company (TICO).
He said the government was aware that the power sector could only grow with the participation of non-governmental agencies after a successful power sector reform which started in the mid-1990s.
He said currently, the VRA and IPPs were seriously working to relocate nearer to where the multi-million dollar dry gas plant is to be sited by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).
Mr Awotwi said there was no doubt that the flow would come with huge opportunities, as well as challenges which would be well-worked out to ensure that the success story of TICO was replicated.
He said the influx of investors into the energy sector would mean the extension of pipelines and storage plants, an expansion in port facilities and factories and positive ripple effects on other sectors of the regional and national economy.
The General Manager of TICO, Nana Osafo Agyei, said the company was committed to safe operations to support the country’s energy needs.
In a related development, 200 students from the Shama District and other parts of the Western Region have been handed scholarships worth GH¢450,000 by TICO.
The scholarship scheme, named Kramer Scholarship, catered for the beneficiaries, made up of 45 per cent females and 55 per cent males, in the basic, junior and senior high schools and tertiary students from the region.
Speaking at the presentation of the awards, Nana Osafo Agyei said apart from ensuring quality education, there was also the need to ensure that children were not left out of the classroom due to lack of funding.
The beneficiaries thanked TICO for the support and pledged to work hard to justify the need for continuous support from the company.
Monday, December 6, 2010
ALL STARS HOLD KESSBEN (BACK PAGE, DEC 6, 2010)
Angry Kessben FC fans revolted after their club’s 2-2 draw with visiting All Stars at Sekondi yesterday, requiring police intervention to disperse the crowd and restore calm.
The fans started charging onto the field in apparent protest of an 88th minute penalty appeal ignored by referee Yaw Ametepe after Kessben striker, Hans Coffie, was brought down in the opponents box.
Emmanuel Dogbe shot Kessben FC ahead as early as the seventh minute, but Frank Sarfo Gyamfi levelled up for All Stars five minutes later.
The homesters mounted intense pressure on All Stars afterwards with Coffie leading the onslaught but failed to convert their chances till the break.
All Stars’ Fatau Mohammed made it 2-1 in the 50th minute and held on to the lead until the 89th minute when Coffie pulled even for Kessben.
Kessben blew a great chance to carry the day when referee Ametepe awarded an indirect freekick against goalkeeper Robert Dabuo after 86 minutes.
The fans started charging onto the field in apparent protest of an 88th minute penalty appeal ignored by referee Yaw Ametepe after Kessben striker, Hans Coffie, was brought down in the opponents box.
Emmanuel Dogbe shot Kessben FC ahead as early as the seventh minute, but Frank Sarfo Gyamfi levelled up for All Stars five minutes later.
The homesters mounted intense pressure on All Stars afterwards with Coffie leading the onslaught but failed to convert their chances till the break.
All Stars’ Fatau Mohammed made it 2-1 in the 50th minute and held on to the lead until the 89th minute when Coffie pulled even for Kessben.
Kessben blew a great chance to carry the day when referee Ametepe awarded an indirect freekick against goalkeeper Robert Dabuo after 86 minutes.
PROF ADEI OPTS FOR COLLATERAL (1B, DEC 6, 2010)
THE former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Professor Stephen Adei, has added his voice to the ongoing debate on whether to collateralise the oil revenue or not and said it was in the national interest to make such a move for national development.
He, however, indicated that the move should be backed by a comprehensive, non-partisan national development agenda and the process made more transparent.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic at Aboadze on the debate on whether the oil revenue should be collateralised or not, Prof. Adei said, “There is nothing wrong with that, since we have been into collateralisation all these years.”
To ensure transparency and national cohesion, he explained, there should be in place, as a matter of urgency, a 20-member team made up of representatives from all the political parties, academia and interest groups who would agree to a 10-year sustainable national development agenda and a proposal made to Parliament for debate and approval.
He said the proposed non-partisan group did not need any huge funding or support from external sources to function but rather a simple method to collect ideas and the issues debated and agreed upon by all for the way forward.
The debate, he advised, should not centre on the call by Vice-President John Mahama for collateralisation but rather the need for the formation of a long-term, non-partisan development plan which must be followed by successive regimes, irrespective of which government was in power, since all interest groups made inputs into that agenda.
Prof Adei said when that was done, “we will know our flow of income, when to pay back and the funds directed to what they were meant for, since no government will come and change it to serve its interest”.
He stressed that there was no problem with collateralisation, adding that it had been the practice and the oil was not different.
“What we must not forget is that anytime a country takes a loan, it is backed by collateral. The question, therefore, should be, how is it done? It is the process that should be transparent, not the collateralisation itself,” he emphasised.
He pointed out that the country had, over the years, been collateralising cocoa and other resources.
Touching on the issue of developing the country along non-partisan lines, Prof Adei said the Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Mr P.V. Obeng, had recently made such a proposal which, when thought through, would help this country and position it on the right path for development.
He, however, indicated that the move should be backed by a comprehensive, non-partisan national development agenda and the process made more transparent.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic at Aboadze on the debate on whether the oil revenue should be collateralised or not, Prof. Adei said, “There is nothing wrong with that, since we have been into collateralisation all these years.”
To ensure transparency and national cohesion, he explained, there should be in place, as a matter of urgency, a 20-member team made up of representatives from all the political parties, academia and interest groups who would agree to a 10-year sustainable national development agenda and a proposal made to Parliament for debate and approval.
He said the proposed non-partisan group did not need any huge funding or support from external sources to function but rather a simple method to collect ideas and the issues debated and agreed upon by all for the way forward.
The debate, he advised, should not centre on the call by Vice-President John Mahama for collateralisation but rather the need for the formation of a long-term, non-partisan development plan which must be followed by successive regimes, irrespective of which government was in power, since all interest groups made inputs into that agenda.
Prof Adei said when that was done, “we will know our flow of income, when to pay back and the funds directed to what they were meant for, since no government will come and change it to serve its interest”.
He stressed that there was no problem with collateralisation, adding that it had been the practice and the oil was not different.
“What we must not forget is that anytime a country takes a loan, it is backed by collateral. The question, therefore, should be, how is it done? It is the process that should be transparent, not the collateralisation itself,” he emphasised.
He pointed out that the country had, over the years, been collateralising cocoa and other resources.
Touching on the issue of developing the country along non-partisan lines, Prof Adei said the Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Mr P.V. Obeng, had recently made such a proposal which, when thought through, would help this country and position it on the right path for development.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
TEENAGER TO ANSWER FOR GIRLFRIEND'S DEATH (MIRROR, NOV 27, 2010, PAGE 34)
From Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Sekondi
A teenager, Anthony Amihere, is helping the police to unravel the cause of the death of his girlfriend at Himan in the Prestea Huni-Valley District of the Western Region.
The girl, Faustina Maame Abena, who is alleged to have run away from school to visit Amihere was said to have complained of stomach ache at about 2 a.m. whilst in bed with her 19-year-old boyfriend.
According to the Regional Public Relations Officer, Ms Olivia Adiku, Amihere rushed her to the Himan Health Centre but was later referred to the Prestea Government Hospital, where she was pronounced dead shortly on arrival.
The PRO said Amihere then reported to the police the next day and was accompanied to the house where the police retrieved two pairs of school uniform, a pair of sandals, a purse, pants and brazier belonging to the deceased.
Ms Adiku said the body had been deposited at the Government hospital at Tarkwa.
The PRO said the girl was a student of the Komfo Anokye Senior High School in Kumasi and left school last Thursday to visit Amihere at Himan.
She said the 18-year-old girl arrived safely and was welcomed by Amihere into his house, but while in bed the girl complained of stomach ache and was rushed to the health centre.
The PRO said Amihere was currently in police custody to help in investigations.
A teenager, Anthony Amihere, is helping the police to unravel the cause of the death of his girlfriend at Himan in the Prestea Huni-Valley District of the Western Region.
The girl, Faustina Maame Abena, who is alleged to have run away from school to visit Amihere was said to have complained of stomach ache at about 2 a.m. whilst in bed with her 19-year-old boyfriend.
According to the Regional Public Relations Officer, Ms Olivia Adiku, Amihere rushed her to the Himan Health Centre but was later referred to the Prestea Government Hospital, where she was pronounced dead shortly on arrival.
The PRO said Amihere then reported to the police the next day and was accompanied to the house where the police retrieved two pairs of school uniform, a pair of sandals, a purse, pants and brazier belonging to the deceased.
Ms Adiku said the body had been deposited at the Government hospital at Tarkwa.
The PRO said the girl was a student of the Komfo Anokye Senior High School in Kumasi and left school last Thursday to visit Amihere at Himan.
She said the 18-year-old girl arrived safely and was welcomed by Amihere into his house, but while in bed the girl complained of stomach ache and was rushed to the health centre.
The PRO said Amihere was currently in police custody to help in investigations.
POLICE INTERCEPS TRUCKLOAD OF WEE (MIRROR, NOV 27, 2010, PAGE 35)
From Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Sekondi
A KIA truck loaded with 158 jumbo size sacks and 31 huge packages of substance suspected to be “wee” covered with tubers of yam and heading towards neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire has been busted at the Samenye Security Check Point in the Jomoro District of the Western Region.
The suspects, Paul Kwao, Wuro Awudu and Opoku Rockson, owners of the consignment, attempted to bribe the duty officer in charge of the check point.
He declined the offer and told them that “in the face of the single spine improved pay and my age as a police officer, I will never dent the image of the service I have worked for all my life, I am sorry; I will arrest you.”
The suspects told the police that they paid their way right from the Brong Ahafo, Central and Western regions until they were busted at the last check point by Chief Inspector Emmanuel A. Kumi who refused to be influenced.
A police source at the check point told The Mirror that when the Kia truck arrived at the barrier, the substance was detected and the leader, Kwao, claimed ownership of the consignment and attempted to bribe the policemen on duty.
Chief Inspector Kumi, who was the most senior at the check point, told the suspects that a good name was better than riches and that he was due for retirement and he could not sacrifice his entitlement in exchange with a few cedis.
The source said the Chief Inspector then ordered the arrest of the truck and the three men and they were escorted to the district headquarters at Half-Assini.
Meanwhile, the Western Regional Police Commander, DCOP Alhaji Hamidu Mahama, has commended Chief Inspector Kumi and said that modern day policing had changed and people who think they could bribe the police should think again.
He said that like-minded people could succeed in bribing some elements in the service but not all of them.
A KIA truck loaded with 158 jumbo size sacks and 31 huge packages of substance suspected to be “wee” covered with tubers of yam and heading towards neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire has been busted at the Samenye Security Check Point in the Jomoro District of the Western Region.
The suspects, Paul Kwao, Wuro Awudu and Opoku Rockson, owners of the consignment, attempted to bribe the duty officer in charge of the check point.
He declined the offer and told them that “in the face of the single spine improved pay and my age as a police officer, I will never dent the image of the service I have worked for all my life, I am sorry; I will arrest you.”
The suspects told the police that they paid their way right from the Brong Ahafo, Central and Western regions until they were busted at the last check point by Chief Inspector Emmanuel A. Kumi who refused to be influenced.
A police source at the check point told The Mirror that when the Kia truck arrived at the barrier, the substance was detected and the leader, Kwao, claimed ownership of the consignment and attempted to bribe the policemen on duty.
Chief Inspector Kumi, who was the most senior at the check point, told the suspects that a good name was better than riches and that he was due for retirement and he could not sacrifice his entitlement in exchange with a few cedis.
The source said the Chief Inspector then ordered the arrest of the truck and the three men and they were escorted to the district headquarters at Half-Assini.
Meanwhile, the Western Regional Police Commander, DCOP Alhaji Hamidu Mahama, has commended Chief Inspector Kumi and said that modern day policing had changed and people who think they could bribe the police should think again.
He said that like-minded people could succeed in bribing some elements in the service but not all of them.
PASSENGER DIES IN TOILET (MIRROR, LEAD STORY, NOV 27, 2010)
From Moses Dotsey
Aklorbortu, Elubo
What could have passed as a normal stop over for passengers to rest and stretch turned bizarre, when a 60-year-old passenger visited the rest room only to be found dead in the toilet.
Oduro Yaw Edu, who was travelling on the bus from Abidjan to Kumasi, attended to nature’s call when the bus stopped at Elubo last Tuesday at about 2:10 p.m., but when he failed to join the bus after the expiry of the rest period, a search party made up of some passengers and the driver found him seated on the toilet, motionless.
According to the Western Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Ms Olivia Adiku, the driver, Mr N. Kweku Salifu, reported the incident to the police.
Ms Adiku said the body had been deposited at the government hospital at Half Assini.
The driver told the police that the bus stopped at Elubo for the passengers to rest but it was found later on that one of the passengers was missing.
Ms Adiku said the police were doing everything possible to ensure that the family of the deceased was contacted to establish his identity.
She appealed to the people who might be expecting a family member on that bus to contact the police administration in the Western Region for identification.
Aklorbortu, Elubo
What could have passed as a normal stop over for passengers to rest and stretch turned bizarre, when a 60-year-old passenger visited the rest room only to be found dead in the toilet.
Oduro Yaw Edu, who was travelling on the bus from Abidjan to Kumasi, attended to nature’s call when the bus stopped at Elubo last Tuesday at about 2:10 p.m., but when he failed to join the bus after the expiry of the rest period, a search party made up of some passengers and the driver found him seated on the toilet, motionless.
According to the Western Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Ms Olivia Adiku, the driver, Mr N. Kweku Salifu, reported the incident to the police.
Ms Adiku said the body had been deposited at the government hospital at Half Assini.
The driver told the police that the bus stopped at Elubo for the passengers to rest but it was found later on that one of the passengers was missing.
Ms Adiku said the police were doing everything possible to ensure that the family of the deceased was contacted to establish his identity.
She appealed to the people who might be expecting a family member on that bus to contact the police administration in the Western Region for identification.
VEEP LAUNCHES 5-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN (SPREAD, DEC 2, 2010)
A five-year National Strategic Plan to reduce all new HIV infections by half and virtually eliminate mother-to-child transmission of the virus was launched in Takoradi yesterday.
The new strategy, which takes into account the unique challenges that the country faces in addressing the epidemic, is also intended to sustain and scale up treatment for people living with HIV (PLHIV).
The plan, which is also to direct the implementation of national response to HIV and AIDS, was launched at this year’s World HIV/AIDS Day by Vice-President John Dramani Mahama, who expressed the delight that the strategic plan had set ambitious targets aimed at achieving universal access, as well as the targets Four, Five, and Six of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGS).
The Vice-President said he was of the strong conviction that the plan would guide the prioritisation and targeting of key population and regions in the country to ensure that HIV services were extended to areas where they were most needed.
Mr Mahama called on Ghanaians to lead healthy lifestyles and pursue behavioural changes on sustained basis to enhance national effort at fighting against the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Mr Mahama said a lot of awareness creation had been carried out and what was required now to reduce the rate of infection was for people to change their behaviours.
He challenged the public to be bold and go for the test to know their HIV/AIDS status so that those infected could receive timely medical care.
The Vice President said the fight against the pandemic required a joint action and called on all to join the fight against the spread.
The Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, said the choice of the Western Region was not because of the increase in the prevalence rate in the region but because of the commercial production of oil and its concomitant effect on the behavioural patterns of the people.
Mr Aidoo said the available statistics indicated that the HIV/AIDS situation in the region was worrying and called for appropriate interventions at various workplaces to forestall any possible negative effect on the people.
The Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr Angela El-Adas, urged the assembly members, traditional leaders and all stakeholders to work together to fight against the pandemic.
She expressed concern about the stigma and the discrimination against people living with the pandemic, stressing that “these people also have a right to life and responsibility to live and contribute to the nation’s development”.
As part of the celebration, various NGOs mounted stands to provide counselling and testing services to the public.
Earlier, a float was organised through the principal streets of the twin-city of Sekondi/Takoradi to create awareness.
The new strategy, which takes into account the unique challenges that the country faces in addressing the epidemic, is also intended to sustain and scale up treatment for people living with HIV (PLHIV).
The plan, which is also to direct the implementation of national response to HIV and AIDS, was launched at this year’s World HIV/AIDS Day by Vice-President John Dramani Mahama, who expressed the delight that the strategic plan had set ambitious targets aimed at achieving universal access, as well as the targets Four, Five, and Six of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGS).
The Vice-President said he was of the strong conviction that the plan would guide the prioritisation and targeting of key population and regions in the country to ensure that HIV services were extended to areas where they were most needed.
Mr Mahama called on Ghanaians to lead healthy lifestyles and pursue behavioural changes on sustained basis to enhance national effort at fighting against the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Mr Mahama said a lot of awareness creation had been carried out and what was required now to reduce the rate of infection was for people to change their behaviours.
He challenged the public to be bold and go for the test to know their HIV/AIDS status so that those infected could receive timely medical care.
The Vice President said the fight against the pandemic required a joint action and called on all to join the fight against the spread.
The Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, said the choice of the Western Region was not because of the increase in the prevalence rate in the region but because of the commercial production of oil and its concomitant effect on the behavioural patterns of the people.
Mr Aidoo said the available statistics indicated that the HIV/AIDS situation in the region was worrying and called for appropriate interventions at various workplaces to forestall any possible negative effect on the people.
The Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr Angela El-Adas, urged the assembly members, traditional leaders and all stakeholders to work together to fight against the pandemic.
She expressed concern about the stigma and the discrimination against people living with the pandemic, stressing that “these people also have a right to life and responsibility to live and contribute to the nation’s development”.
As part of the celebration, various NGOs mounted stands to provide counselling and testing services to the public.
Earlier, a float was organised through the principal streets of the twin-city of Sekondi/Takoradi to create awareness.
STMA ASKED TO OFFLOAD FOOTBALL CLUB (PAGE 29, DEC 1, 2010)
Members of the public have called on the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) to focus on development, instead of sinking money into running a football club, the Metro FC, owned by the assembly.
The residents were of the view that if the assembly was interested in sports development, it should support existing clubs such as Sekondi Eleven Wise, Tarkwa United and Sekondi Hassacas, or first and second-cycle schools in the metropolis.
They said running a football club of more than 30 players and officials would be a drain on the budget of the assembly, arguing that if the authorities were not able to raise money to support the players and run the club, they would dip their hands into the assembly’s funds for the upkeep of the club.
The assembly, they lamented, had to pay the players, feed them, purchase equipment and provide transport for them, all of which entailed a lot of money and a drain on the resources of the assembly.
Some of the people who spoke to the Daily Graphic said the assembly should rather create the favourable environment for the establishment of all kinds of businesses, including the formation of football clubs by people who desired to invest in sports.
They called on the assembly to offload the team to interested persons and focus on areas such as building modern markets, patching potholes and building schools and clinics for the urban poor.
They said even though the formation of the club came with certain benefits, such as unearthing talents and providing employment for the youth, it was too expensive a venture to invest public funds in.
“When the team travels to play competitive games, all the expenses are taken care of by the scanty resources of the assembly,” they said.
Information from an insider in the assembly indicated that it voted a lot of money to support the club in its struggle to qualify for the Premier League but it failed to qualify.
The insider said the projection had been to get sponsorship from corporate bodies but, interestingly, that support eluded the assembly.
“Therefore, we have to support it through internally generated funds, which should not be allowed. If we have budgetary support, there will be no problem, but where we have to support the club by ourselves, it is way outside our mandate,” he said.
The residents were of the view that if the assembly was interested in sports development, it should support existing clubs such as Sekondi Eleven Wise, Tarkwa United and Sekondi Hassacas, or first and second-cycle schools in the metropolis.
They said running a football club of more than 30 players and officials would be a drain on the budget of the assembly, arguing that if the authorities were not able to raise money to support the players and run the club, they would dip their hands into the assembly’s funds for the upkeep of the club.
The assembly, they lamented, had to pay the players, feed them, purchase equipment and provide transport for them, all of which entailed a lot of money and a drain on the resources of the assembly.
Some of the people who spoke to the Daily Graphic said the assembly should rather create the favourable environment for the establishment of all kinds of businesses, including the formation of football clubs by people who desired to invest in sports.
They called on the assembly to offload the team to interested persons and focus on areas such as building modern markets, patching potholes and building schools and clinics for the urban poor.
They said even though the formation of the club came with certain benefits, such as unearthing talents and providing employment for the youth, it was too expensive a venture to invest public funds in.
“When the team travels to play competitive games, all the expenses are taken care of by the scanty resources of the assembly,” they said.
Information from an insider in the assembly indicated that it voted a lot of money to support the club in its struggle to qualify for the Premier League but it failed to qualify.
The insider said the projection had been to get sponsorship from corporate bodies but, interestingly, that support eluded the assembly.
“Therefore, we have to support it through internally generated funds, which should not be allowed. If we have budgetary support, there will be no problem, but where we have to support the club by ourselves, it is way outside our mandate,” he said.
TAXI DRIVERS STILL TRANSFER GAS INTO THEIR TANKS AT GAS STATIONS (PAGE 29, DEC 1, 2010)
AS if selling gas to vehicles in a hazardous manner in the Twin-City is not dangerous enough, most owners of gas stations appear not to care about the activities of taxi drivers within their premises.
Apart from blocking the streets with long queues of vehicles wanting to buy gas meant for domestic use, these taxi drivers transfer the gas from one vehicle to another, using plastic pipes, in the yard where the gas is sold, thereby putting the lives of the public at risk.
Some of the sales points where these activities take place are the gas stations on the Sekondi/Takoradi main road, the gas station near the Western Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) and the one near the Military Base at Apremdo.
When the Daily Graphic visited one of the stations, taxi drivers were seen transferring gas from one vehicle to another, in the full glare of the operators of that station, without any condemnation from them.
According to some of the drivers, should there be any fire outbreak, it would be the taxis that would catch fire, not the station.
As typical of the Ghanaian, the various agencies responsible for the enforcement of the law are waiting until disaster strikes for a committee to be set up to investigate it.
The indiscriminate siting of LPG stations in the Sekondi/Takoradi metropolis and their mode of operation are not the best.
Some residents called on the government to ensure that vehicles which came into the country designed to use petrol were not converted to use gas.
They also argued that those gas stations which wanted to sell the product to taxi drivers should have separate sales points for taxis and other commercial vehicles.
The use of gas was intensified in 1990s and the product was heavily subsidised by the government in its bid to curtail the rate of deforestation and promote healthier cooking options.
But now LPG has become the main fuel for commercial vehicles.
Apart from blocking the streets with long queues of vehicles wanting to buy gas meant for domestic use, these taxi drivers transfer the gas from one vehicle to another, using plastic pipes, in the yard where the gas is sold, thereby putting the lives of the public at risk.
Some of the sales points where these activities take place are the gas stations on the Sekondi/Takoradi main road, the gas station near the Western Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) and the one near the Military Base at Apremdo.
When the Daily Graphic visited one of the stations, taxi drivers were seen transferring gas from one vehicle to another, in the full glare of the operators of that station, without any condemnation from them.
According to some of the drivers, should there be any fire outbreak, it would be the taxis that would catch fire, not the station.
As typical of the Ghanaian, the various agencies responsible for the enforcement of the law are waiting until disaster strikes for a committee to be set up to investigate it.
The indiscriminate siting of LPG stations in the Sekondi/Takoradi metropolis and their mode of operation are not the best.
Some residents called on the government to ensure that vehicles which came into the country designed to use petrol were not converted to use gas.
They also argued that those gas stations which wanted to sell the product to taxi drivers should have separate sales points for taxis and other commercial vehicles.
The use of gas was intensified in 1990s and the product was heavily subsidised by the government in its bid to curtail the rate of deforestation and promote healthier cooking options.
But now LPG has become the main fuel for commercial vehicles.
POLICE INCREASE PATROL IN TWIN-CITY (PAGE 29, DEC 1, 2010)
THE police in the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) have increased their day and night patrols to combat petty crimes and also be in readiness for the Christmas festivities next month and beyond.
At the moment, there is police presence in every part of the metropolis and also at various pedestrian crossings to ensure public safety.
Now night patrols are no longer limited to highways but extended to the communities and residential areas.
At various traffic intersections, the police are always at hand to control traffic when the lights go out.
Among the officers deployed is the Western Regional Police Commander, DCOP Alhaji Hamidu Mahama, who, from time to time, is seen at traffic intersections directing traffic.
The Western Region and its capital have attracted the attention of the corporate world, which has led to an increase in business, for which reason it became necessary for the police to change strategies to meet the changing trends.
DCOP Mahama said by way of equipping the police, the Police Administration had allocated three armoured 4X4 vehicles to the region, adding that two of the vehicles had been deployed to the difficult areas in the region and one stationed in the troubled spot at Anaji in the metropolis.
He said what the public should understand was that policing was no longer the sole responsibility of the Police Service but a shared one.
“Under the democratic policing agenda, there is the need for public participation in crime combat by volunteering information to the police for quick action,” he said.
He said criminals lived in the communities, adding, “We drink and chat with them but deep down some of us know what they do which causes great discomfort to other members of society.”
The regional commander appealed to the public to volunteer information on criminals to the police, noting, “I want to assure the public that the police are friendlier than before; they are your brothers and sisters and so approach them with open hearts.”
When the Daily Graphic visited the various police stations in the metropolis, information picked was that petty crime had gone down, as the police were all over the areas where, under normal circumstances, they would not be.
Some members of the public the Daily Graphic spoke to said they had gained some form of confidence in the police due to the fact that at any given time a policeman was around, a development which had helped avert crime.
“Their uniforms alone are a deterrent to people who wish to commit one crime or another,” they said.
They commended the regional police command for the insightful measures to prevent criminals from visiting pain on the public.
At the moment, there is police presence in every part of the metropolis and also at various pedestrian crossings to ensure public safety.
Now night patrols are no longer limited to highways but extended to the communities and residential areas.
At various traffic intersections, the police are always at hand to control traffic when the lights go out.
Among the officers deployed is the Western Regional Police Commander, DCOP Alhaji Hamidu Mahama, who, from time to time, is seen at traffic intersections directing traffic.
The Western Region and its capital have attracted the attention of the corporate world, which has led to an increase in business, for which reason it became necessary for the police to change strategies to meet the changing trends.
DCOP Mahama said by way of equipping the police, the Police Administration had allocated three armoured 4X4 vehicles to the region, adding that two of the vehicles had been deployed to the difficult areas in the region and one stationed in the troubled spot at Anaji in the metropolis.
He said what the public should understand was that policing was no longer the sole responsibility of the Police Service but a shared one.
“Under the democratic policing agenda, there is the need for public participation in crime combat by volunteering information to the police for quick action,” he said.
He said criminals lived in the communities, adding, “We drink and chat with them but deep down some of us know what they do which causes great discomfort to other members of society.”
The regional commander appealed to the public to volunteer information on criminals to the police, noting, “I want to assure the public that the police are friendlier than before; they are your brothers and sisters and so approach them with open hearts.”
When the Daily Graphic visited the various police stations in the metropolis, information picked was that petty crime had gone down, as the police were all over the areas where, under normal circumstances, they would not be.
Some members of the public the Daily Graphic spoke to said they had gained some form of confidence in the police due to the fact that at any given time a policeman was around, a development which had helped avert crime.
“Their uniforms alone are a deterrent to people who wish to commit one crime or another,” they said.
They commended the regional police command for the insightful measures to prevent criminals from visiting pain on the public.
PETTY TRADERS TAKE OVER PAVEMENTS IN TAKORADI (PAGE 29, DEC 1, 2010)
Petty traders using containers converted into kiosks have taken over pavements in the Sekondi/Takoradi metropolis.
The same situation which led to massive decongestion in the metropolis in 2007-2008 has now assumed an alarming proportion, making driving and the movement of pedestrians very difficult.
From the Ahenfie Hotel towards the Railways quarters, there is no pavement as petty traders have taken over, while from the National Investment Bank traffic light towards the Market Circle, it is trading galore on both sides of the road.
From the Sekondi Taxi Rank towards the Presby Church, there is serious trading on both sides, and the same could be said of the Collins Avenue and other parts of the metropolis where serious business takes place.
Another aspect that makes the situation very nasty is that many concrete slabs used to cover the drains are broken and are yet to attract the attention of the metro authorities or the responsible unit of the assembly.
Where there are metal covers, some have been stolen, while the rest have become rusty and are a potential danger to pedestrians.
That aside, the new phenomenon is that, hawkers have devised a new way of marketing their wares by displaying them on “metal trucks” normally used in carrying loads which they push round the market to attract customers
When the new metropolitan chief executive was appointed, he took the initiative to clear the central business district of traders, but a year down the line the number of traders had increased.
According to those selling on the pavements, the metro officers compelled them to pay official tolls and, therefore, they had every right to be where they were.
In some parts of the metropolis, hawkers even put their seats on the streets while they display their wares on the pavement.
The Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), during the 2007-2008 decongestion, spent an unspecified amount of money pulling down all unauthorised structures sited all over the metropolis.
The “metal trucks” serving as mobile marketing facilities were seized and there was order as pedestrians could move freely without sharing the street dangerously with vehicles.
In 2009, after the declaration of war on filth by the President of the Republic, the military, the police, prison officers and prisoners joined the metropolitan assembly to carry out a clean-up exercise.
But the STMA has failed to maintain the exercise and the city, experiencing increasing number of visitors and the relocation of businesses has become more congested than before.
The same situation which led to massive decongestion in the metropolis in 2007-2008 has now assumed an alarming proportion, making driving and the movement of pedestrians very difficult.
From the Ahenfie Hotel towards the Railways quarters, there is no pavement as petty traders have taken over, while from the National Investment Bank traffic light towards the Market Circle, it is trading galore on both sides of the road.
From the Sekondi Taxi Rank towards the Presby Church, there is serious trading on both sides, and the same could be said of the Collins Avenue and other parts of the metropolis where serious business takes place.
Another aspect that makes the situation very nasty is that many concrete slabs used to cover the drains are broken and are yet to attract the attention of the metro authorities or the responsible unit of the assembly.
Where there are metal covers, some have been stolen, while the rest have become rusty and are a potential danger to pedestrians.
That aside, the new phenomenon is that, hawkers have devised a new way of marketing their wares by displaying them on “metal trucks” normally used in carrying loads which they push round the market to attract customers
When the new metropolitan chief executive was appointed, he took the initiative to clear the central business district of traders, but a year down the line the number of traders had increased.
According to those selling on the pavements, the metro officers compelled them to pay official tolls and, therefore, they had every right to be where they were.
In some parts of the metropolis, hawkers even put their seats on the streets while they display their wares on the pavement.
The Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), during the 2007-2008 decongestion, spent an unspecified amount of money pulling down all unauthorised structures sited all over the metropolis.
The “metal trucks” serving as mobile marketing facilities were seized and there was order as pedestrians could move freely without sharing the street dangerously with vehicles.
In 2009, after the declaration of war on filth by the President of the Republic, the military, the police, prison officers and prisoners joined the metropolitan assembly to carry out a clean-up exercise.
But the STMA has failed to maintain the exercise and the city, experiencing increasing number of visitors and the relocation of businesses has become more congested than before.
BONYERE YOUTH KICK AGAINST GAS PLANT (BACK PAGE, NOV 30, 2010)
RESIDENTS of Bonyere in the Jomoro District in the Western Region have mobilised to resist the siting of a gas plant in the area for the production of gas from the Jubilee Oil Fields.
The youth, who claim they have not been consulted over the location of the project, also expressed concern that the siting of the gas plant in the town would lead to the destruction of economic trees on their farmlands and subsequently the loss of their livelihood.
It took the intervention of the Western Regional Police Commander, DCOP Alhaji Hamidu Mohammed, to restrain the youth.
They accused officials of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and the Volta River Authority (VRA), who are undertaking the project, to have started surveying the land for the gas plant without consultation with the generality of the people, sparking the agitation against the project.
To weather the storm, the regional commander engaged the two parties at a meeting at which officials of the GNPC and the VRA agreed to engage the people and brief them about the essence and prospects of the gas project, while the youth also accepted to “lay down their arms”.
Addressing members of the National Peace Council (NPC) at Elmina in the Central Region, DCOP Hamidu stressed the need to promote peace among stakeholders in the extractive industry.
The encounter was sponsored by the UNDP and attended by some members of the NPC, including Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV, the Omanhene of Techiman Traditional Area; Bishop Francis Lodonu, the Catholic Archbishop of Ho; Mrs Georgina Baiden, a retired educationist; Professor Irene Odotei, a former Director of the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana; Sheikh Mahmoud Gedel, a representative of the Chief Imam, and Professor Kofi Agyekum, a senior lecturer at the Linguistics Department, University of Ghana.
DCOP Alhaji Hamidu acknowledged that the production of oil in the Western Region would pose some security challenges but stressed the need for all parties to work towards ensuring peace.
He expressed concern about the involvement of people in authority, including politicians and chiefs, in the galamsey business, saying such attitude made the fight against illegal mining very difficult.
A resource person and former Chief Director of the Ministry of the Interior, Mr Edwin Barnes, stressed the need for collaboration between police and immigration officers to monitor and bring to justice foreigners who did not use their work permits for purposes for which they were granted.
Another resource person and senior lecturer at the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, Dr Kumi Ansa-Koi, observed that there were serious shortcomings in the regulatory framework for the mining sector, pointing out that the discovery of oil could worsen the already bad situation.
He, therefore, stressed the need for the nation to learn from history and manage the oil sector very carefully in order to avoid the pitfalls in the mining sector and in other oil economies across the world.
In a contribution, an official of WACAM, an environmental and human rights non-governmental organisation (NGO) working in mining communities, Mrs Hannah Koranteng, said there were serious environmental concerns in oil production that needed to be addressed.
She recalled that within two weeks in August, this year, four dead whales were washed ashore at Jomoro, a situation she described as very serious because it was rare to even find one dead whale being washed ashore in a year.
The Research Officer of the NPC, Mr Emmanuel Sowatey, said the workshop formed part of initiatives by the NPC to promote and facilitate a dialogue process between mining companies and their host communities with a view to ensuring lasting peace.
The youth, who claim they have not been consulted over the location of the project, also expressed concern that the siting of the gas plant in the town would lead to the destruction of economic trees on their farmlands and subsequently the loss of their livelihood.
It took the intervention of the Western Regional Police Commander, DCOP Alhaji Hamidu Mohammed, to restrain the youth.
They accused officials of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and the Volta River Authority (VRA), who are undertaking the project, to have started surveying the land for the gas plant without consultation with the generality of the people, sparking the agitation against the project.
To weather the storm, the regional commander engaged the two parties at a meeting at which officials of the GNPC and the VRA agreed to engage the people and brief them about the essence and prospects of the gas project, while the youth also accepted to “lay down their arms”.
Addressing members of the National Peace Council (NPC) at Elmina in the Central Region, DCOP Hamidu stressed the need to promote peace among stakeholders in the extractive industry.
The encounter was sponsored by the UNDP and attended by some members of the NPC, including Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV, the Omanhene of Techiman Traditional Area; Bishop Francis Lodonu, the Catholic Archbishop of Ho; Mrs Georgina Baiden, a retired educationist; Professor Irene Odotei, a former Director of the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana; Sheikh Mahmoud Gedel, a representative of the Chief Imam, and Professor Kofi Agyekum, a senior lecturer at the Linguistics Department, University of Ghana.
DCOP Alhaji Hamidu acknowledged that the production of oil in the Western Region would pose some security challenges but stressed the need for all parties to work towards ensuring peace.
He expressed concern about the involvement of people in authority, including politicians and chiefs, in the galamsey business, saying such attitude made the fight against illegal mining very difficult.
A resource person and former Chief Director of the Ministry of the Interior, Mr Edwin Barnes, stressed the need for collaboration between police and immigration officers to monitor and bring to justice foreigners who did not use their work permits for purposes for which they were granted.
Another resource person and senior lecturer at the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, Dr Kumi Ansa-Koi, observed that there were serious shortcomings in the regulatory framework for the mining sector, pointing out that the discovery of oil could worsen the already bad situation.
He, therefore, stressed the need for the nation to learn from history and manage the oil sector very carefully in order to avoid the pitfalls in the mining sector and in other oil economies across the world.
In a contribution, an official of WACAM, an environmental and human rights non-governmental organisation (NGO) working in mining communities, Mrs Hannah Koranteng, said there were serious environmental concerns in oil production that needed to be addressed.
She recalled that within two weeks in August, this year, four dead whales were washed ashore at Jomoro, a situation she described as very serious because it was rare to even find one dead whale being washed ashore in a year.
The Research Officer of the NPC, Mr Emmanuel Sowatey, said the workshop formed part of initiatives by the NPC to promote and facilitate a dialogue process between mining companies and their host communities with a view to ensuring lasting peace.
Test-run at Jubilee field...OIL POURS...Between 20,000 and 80,000 barrels per day (LEAD STORY, NOV 29, 2010)
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi
BETWEEN 20,000 and 80,000 barrels of crude oil are being pumped per day as part of the ongoing test-run of equipment at the Jubilee Field.
The quantity will be increased to 100,000 barrels when mainstream production is attained by the end of the first quarter of 2011.
The Head of Economic Evaluation at the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Mr Kwame Ntow, made this known to the Daily Graphic in Takoradi over the weekend.
He said production would increase gradually over approximately six months to a plateau level of 120,000 barrels per day.
Mr Ntow said the first phase of the Jubilee project had been successfully completed for production off the coast of the country at the cost of $3.35 billion.
The cost excludes that for the production platform, the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah, which is currently on lease at $393,000 a day, with an open option to partners for outright purchase after two years.
The FPSO, which is currently receiving the gradual flow of the oil, is operated by MODEC, which caters for its maintenance and other activities.
Mr Ntow said there had been some savings on the cost of development and production after the GNPC had pushed for the utilisation of the project, since the blocks were located in the same area.
He said it would have been more expensive if the players had unilaterally been allowed to develop their own fields.
An official source at Tullow, the lead operators of the project, told the Daily Graphic that in-country infrastructure work in Accra and Takoradi was essentially complete for both the project installation and subsequent production.
It said the major sub-sea equipment installation was also completed, including the laying of all flow lines and control umbilicals and the deployment of all sub-sea trees on the Phase I wells for production.
The project is said to be the fastest ever full-scale deep water development and a major collaborative effort between the field partners and contractors, both local and foreign.
It is also said to have set a new industry benchmark for the world to follow.
More than 40 kilometres of sub-sea flow lines have been connected to 17 oil production and water and gas injection wells to the FPSO.
Aside from that, about 28 kilometres of umbilicals will control the wells and ensure optimum production, amidst the use of the latest technology.
The partners include the government of Ghana, through the GNPC, Tullow Ghana, Cosmos Energy, Anadarko, Sabre and the E.O. Group.
In a related development, the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) has been assured of constant supply of crude from the Jubilee Fields under the domestic supply obligation (DSO) aspect of the contract.
Mr Ntow said TOR would also receive part of a mandatory 18.75 per cent of the crude, made up of five per cent royalty to the State and the State’s share of 13.75 per cent through the GNPC as a member of the partners.
He said TOR's agreement in lifting crude oil from other countries would, however, still hold, noting that the supply from the Jubilee fields would be made available upon request from the refinery at the world market price.
BETWEEN 20,000 and 80,000 barrels of crude oil are being pumped per day as part of the ongoing test-run of equipment at the Jubilee Field.
The quantity will be increased to 100,000 barrels when mainstream production is attained by the end of the first quarter of 2011.
The Head of Economic Evaluation at the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Mr Kwame Ntow, made this known to the Daily Graphic in Takoradi over the weekend.
He said production would increase gradually over approximately six months to a plateau level of 120,000 barrels per day.
Mr Ntow said the first phase of the Jubilee project had been successfully completed for production off the coast of the country at the cost of $3.35 billion.
The cost excludes that for the production platform, the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah, which is currently on lease at $393,000 a day, with an open option to partners for outright purchase after two years.
The FPSO, which is currently receiving the gradual flow of the oil, is operated by MODEC, which caters for its maintenance and other activities.
Mr Ntow said there had been some savings on the cost of development and production after the GNPC had pushed for the utilisation of the project, since the blocks were located in the same area.
He said it would have been more expensive if the players had unilaterally been allowed to develop their own fields.
An official source at Tullow, the lead operators of the project, told the Daily Graphic that in-country infrastructure work in Accra and Takoradi was essentially complete for both the project installation and subsequent production.
It said the major sub-sea equipment installation was also completed, including the laying of all flow lines and control umbilicals and the deployment of all sub-sea trees on the Phase I wells for production.
The project is said to be the fastest ever full-scale deep water development and a major collaborative effort between the field partners and contractors, both local and foreign.
It is also said to have set a new industry benchmark for the world to follow.
More than 40 kilometres of sub-sea flow lines have been connected to 17 oil production and water and gas injection wells to the FPSO.
Aside from that, about 28 kilometres of umbilicals will control the wells and ensure optimum production, amidst the use of the latest technology.
The partners include the government of Ghana, through the GNPC, Tullow Ghana, Cosmos Energy, Anadarko, Sabre and the E.O. Group.
In a related development, the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) has been assured of constant supply of crude from the Jubilee Fields under the domestic supply obligation (DSO) aspect of the contract.
Mr Ntow said TOR would also receive part of a mandatory 18.75 per cent of the crude, made up of five per cent royalty to the State and the State’s share of 13.75 per cent through the GNPC as a member of the partners.
He said TOR's agreement in lifting crude oil from other countries would, however, still hold, noting that the supply from the Jubilee fields would be made available upon request from the refinery at the world market price.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
TRADERS IN TAKORADI MARKET OPERATE UNDER HORRIBLE CONDITIONS (PAGE 18, NOV 23, 2010)
Both traders and hawkers in and around the Takoradi Central Market are operating in a very hazardous condition which poses serious threat to the health of unsuspecting consumers.
This is due to the unauthorised extensions that have been made in the market. The market is so crowded and the gutters are very dirty. Others who did not get space in the market are selling on the huge drains outside.
Interestingly, the Apremudo and Sekondi markets which were supposed to be alternative market places for the metropolis is actually under-utilised by traders.
A visit to the central business area indicated that the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly appears to be focusing on revenue mobilisation without a corresponding effort at providing infrastructure.
The description of the sanitation situation in the market currently is not the best to serve as a trading area for the public to buy foodstuffs for consumption.
This is due to the unauthorised extensions that have been made in the market. The market is so crowded and the gutters are very dirty. Others who did not get space in the market are selling on the huge drains outside.
Interestingly, the Apremudo and Sekondi markets which were supposed to be alternative market places for the metropolis is actually under-utilised by traders.
A visit to the central business area indicated that the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly appears to be focusing on revenue mobilisation without a corresponding effort at providing infrastructure.
The description of the sanitation situation in the market currently is not the best to serve as a trading area for the public to buy foodstuffs for consumption.
BAR OPERATORS DEPLORE COCGA/MUSIGA TACTICS (PAGE 18, NOV 23, 2010)
Bar operators in the Sekondi/Takoradi have deplored the move by the Western Regional Musician Union of Ghana to collect what it terms Copyright Licence Fees for playing their music at their bars.
The bar operators said there was no prior notice about the intended fee which has been fixed at GH¢500.00 and that they do not make profit to that effect even in a year round operation.
It said initially a letter was sent to the operators which stated that, “The interim Copyright Management Team (ICMT) is a body set up by Honourable Attorney-General and Minister of Justice in accordance with the Copy Right (Amendment) Act, (2009) Act 788 to manage the affairs of COSGA.”
Then the next day, COSGA members stormed their premises with police to enforce the law to pay or have their businesses closed down.
According to some of the operators, the approach adopted by the COSGA/MUSIGA Western Region was not the best.
They said the claim by COSGA/MUSIGA was good and they would be ready to contribute to the development of music in the country but, “it was wrong for COSGA/ MUSIGA to invade our premises with police to close our businesses down.”
One of the operators, Esther Hagan, called on the COSGA/MUSIGA Western Region to educate the people so that a compromise could be reached but not to employ what she described as dictatorial tactics to achieve their target.
She said from the letter that was given to them, requesting the payment of copyright licence fees, part of it stated that “The ICMT hereby requested you to settle your bill immediately.”
Ms Hagan said, unfortunately, there had not been any meeting to agree on anything only to give them letters and the next day .
When contacted, the Chairperson of the Western COSGA, Rev Lititia Anim-Wiredu, said they had taken into account the concerns of the bar operators and would pass the message on to Accra.
At the moment, the operations have been suspended.
The bar operators said there was no prior notice about the intended fee which has been fixed at GH¢500.00 and that they do not make profit to that effect even in a year round operation.
It said initially a letter was sent to the operators which stated that, “The interim Copyright Management Team (ICMT) is a body set up by Honourable Attorney-General and Minister of Justice in accordance with the Copy Right (Amendment) Act, (2009) Act 788 to manage the affairs of COSGA.”
Then the next day, COSGA members stormed their premises with police to enforce the law to pay or have their businesses closed down.
According to some of the operators, the approach adopted by the COSGA/MUSIGA Western Region was not the best.
They said the claim by COSGA/MUSIGA was good and they would be ready to contribute to the development of music in the country but, “it was wrong for COSGA/ MUSIGA to invade our premises with police to close our businesses down.”
One of the operators, Esther Hagan, called on the COSGA/MUSIGA Western Region to educate the people so that a compromise could be reached but not to employ what she described as dictatorial tactics to achieve their target.
She said from the letter that was given to them, requesting the payment of copyright licence fees, part of it stated that “The ICMT hereby requested you to settle your bill immediately.”
Ms Hagan said, unfortunately, there had not been any meeting to agree on anything only to give them letters and the next day .
When contacted, the Chairperson of the Western COSGA, Rev Lititia Anim-Wiredu, said they had taken into account the concerns of the bar operators and would pass the message on to Accra.
At the moment, the operations have been suspended.
SEKONDI POLICE ARREST FOUR ROBBERS (PAGE 18, NOV 23, 2010)
The Sekondi Police have arrested four suspected armed robbers, who robbed passenger buses and shot one passenger dead at Yawbrea-Nkwanta in the Aowin Suaman District of the Western Region.
They were arrested within 24 hours after the robbery.
The robbery took place in the early hours of November 1 and 7, 2010, and according to the leader, in each operation, they had GH¢1,400.00 as their share of the booty.
The leader of the group said to be an ex-convict confessed to the police that they were responsible for the two robberies.
Their names were given as Ebenezer Anima Bulu aka. Nolie 36; Kwesi Amo, Philip Buabeng, aka Allo, 23 who is the leader, and Shaibu Mumuni, aka Wahabu, 25.
According to the Western Regional Police Commander, DCOP Alhaji Hamidu Mahama, the robbers attacked and killed one passenger aboard a Ford Bus with registration number AS 3655-10 heading towards Kumasi from Enchi.
He said the robbers used a 207 Benz Bus to block the road and robbed the passengers of the buses of all their money and mobile phones
The Regional Commander said, Buabeng told the investigators that they were responsible for the first and second robbery and they shared the booty and had GH¢1,400 from each operation.
The commander said it was sad that the passenger had to die after he had unmasked one of the robbers and held him until he was hit by another robber who shot him in the process.
He said while the deceased was holding the robber, he fired more than 47 bullets before the magazine fell off the gun but it was later fixed by the robber leading to the killing of the passenger.
He said after killing the passenger they were not able to rob the remaining passengers as “the four then took to their heels and run into the bush, but police intelligence with the support of the public led to their arrest within 24hours,” he said.
He explained that when Buabeng was arrested, he mentioned the names of the remaining three leading to their arrest.
Currently, the police are trying to recover the locally manufactured gun and the AK47 that was used in killing one of the passengers.
Alhaji Hamidu said their problem used to be logistics, but at the moment, the Inspector General of Police had allocated armoured vehicles that would be deployed to the danger zones to ensure that the region was made a no go area for armed robbery.
They were arrested within 24 hours after the robbery.
The robbery took place in the early hours of November 1 and 7, 2010, and according to the leader, in each operation, they had GH¢1,400.00 as their share of the booty.
The leader of the group said to be an ex-convict confessed to the police that they were responsible for the two robberies.
Their names were given as Ebenezer Anima Bulu aka. Nolie 36; Kwesi Amo, Philip Buabeng, aka Allo, 23 who is the leader, and Shaibu Mumuni, aka Wahabu, 25.
According to the Western Regional Police Commander, DCOP Alhaji Hamidu Mahama, the robbers attacked and killed one passenger aboard a Ford Bus with registration number AS 3655-10 heading towards Kumasi from Enchi.
He said the robbers used a 207 Benz Bus to block the road and robbed the passengers of the buses of all their money and mobile phones
The Regional Commander said, Buabeng told the investigators that they were responsible for the first and second robbery and they shared the booty and had GH¢1,400 from each operation.
The commander said it was sad that the passenger had to die after he had unmasked one of the robbers and held him until he was hit by another robber who shot him in the process.
He said while the deceased was holding the robber, he fired more than 47 bullets before the magazine fell off the gun but it was later fixed by the robber leading to the killing of the passenger.
He said after killing the passenger they were not able to rob the remaining passengers as “the four then took to their heels and run into the bush, but police intelligence with the support of the public led to their arrest within 24hours,” he said.
He explained that when Buabeng was arrested, he mentioned the names of the remaining three leading to their arrest.
Currently, the police are trying to recover the locally manufactured gun and the AK47 that was used in killing one of the passengers.
Alhaji Hamidu said their problem used to be logistics, but at the moment, the Inspector General of Police had allocated armoured vehicles that would be deployed to the danger zones to ensure that the region was made a no go area for armed robbery.
DON'T CONVERT JUBILEE PARK INTO CAR PARK (PAGE 18, NOV 23, 2010)
RESIDENTS in the Twin-City of Sekondi/Takoradi have expressed concern about the decision of the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) to convert part of the Jubilee Park into public car park.
They are of the view that the Jubilee Park which was constructed at over GH¢450,000 for national and public ceremonies would eventually be converted into a car park.
The STMA recently announced that it would convert part of the park into a car park in its bid to clear the metropolis of congestion.
The residents say converting the Jubilee Park for use by cars would defeat the purpose for building the facility.
Mr Kojo Nti, a resident, argued that like the Independence Square in Accra, the Jubilee Parks in the various regions should not desecrated fo any other purpose.
A search by the Daily Graphic indicated that, as a result of indiscriminate allocation and sale of land acquired by the government during the construction of the Takoradi Harbour, there is very little land left for any meaningful development.
Now that the need for land has become one of the biggest issues in the metropolis due to the discovery of oil in the region, there is an urgent need for the Regional Lands Commission and the chief of Takoradi to coordinate to ensure that some space is allocated for a car park.
Some residents are also questioning the rationale behind the sale of governement residential quarters for private people to convert into private offices and car parks at a time when the metropolitan authorities are having difficulty in finding appropriate space for a public car park.
There has been an increase in the number of corporate bodies and the population in the metropolis.
As a result, private homes in the metropolis have been converted into offices and shops and tenants are been ejected from their rented premises without prior notice.
This is because of the competitive offers coming from the corporate world to convert these buildings into offices, which are so enticing that landlords can not resist.
The tenants or the poor workers in the metropolis would have had some respite if the assembly had gathered some will to eject the tenants at the railways quarters which some companies have expressed interest in the place. Some of these companies have expressed their willingness to build alternative accommodation for the current occupants of these quarters.
At the moment, there are many applications, before the Metropolitan Assembly for the relocation of the people to ensure the construction of modern office includings multi-purpose car parks.
But successive Chief Executive failed to take these laudable initiatives to change the face of the metropolis.
Another issue of concern which is the talk among residents here is the provision of toilet facilities at the Takoradi Central Market. At the moment, there is neither a toilet nor urinal at the market, therefore most women who sell in the market and shops in the central business district have cups or chamber-pots which they use and empty their contents into gutters in front of their shops.
It is the hope of the residents that the assembly would find ways to solve the congestion problem rather than the conversion of the national symbol into a car park.
They are of the view that the Jubilee Park which was constructed at over GH¢450,000 for national and public ceremonies would eventually be converted into a car park.
The STMA recently announced that it would convert part of the park into a car park in its bid to clear the metropolis of congestion.
The residents say converting the Jubilee Park for use by cars would defeat the purpose for building the facility.
Mr Kojo Nti, a resident, argued that like the Independence Square in Accra, the Jubilee Parks in the various regions should not desecrated fo any other purpose.
A search by the Daily Graphic indicated that, as a result of indiscriminate allocation and sale of land acquired by the government during the construction of the Takoradi Harbour, there is very little land left for any meaningful development.
Now that the need for land has become one of the biggest issues in the metropolis due to the discovery of oil in the region, there is an urgent need for the Regional Lands Commission and the chief of Takoradi to coordinate to ensure that some space is allocated for a car park.
Some residents are also questioning the rationale behind the sale of governement residential quarters for private people to convert into private offices and car parks at a time when the metropolitan authorities are having difficulty in finding appropriate space for a public car park.
There has been an increase in the number of corporate bodies and the population in the metropolis.
As a result, private homes in the metropolis have been converted into offices and shops and tenants are been ejected from their rented premises without prior notice.
This is because of the competitive offers coming from the corporate world to convert these buildings into offices, which are so enticing that landlords can not resist.
The tenants or the poor workers in the metropolis would have had some respite if the assembly had gathered some will to eject the tenants at the railways quarters which some companies have expressed interest in the place. Some of these companies have expressed their willingness to build alternative accommodation for the current occupants of these quarters.
At the moment, there are many applications, before the Metropolitan Assembly for the relocation of the people to ensure the construction of modern office includings multi-purpose car parks.
But successive Chief Executive failed to take these laudable initiatives to change the face of the metropolis.
Another issue of concern which is the talk among residents here is the provision of toilet facilities at the Takoradi Central Market. At the moment, there is neither a toilet nor urinal at the market, therefore most women who sell in the market and shops in the central business district have cups or chamber-pots which they use and empty their contents into gutters in front of their shops.
It is the hope of the residents that the assembly would find ways to solve the congestion problem rather than the conversion of the national symbol into a car park.
EPA MUST CHECK SITING OF LPG STATIONS IN TWIN-CITY (PAGE 18, NOV 23, 2010)
Operators of some liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stations which have found a huge market in private and commercial vehicles have ignored all safety measure thereby exposing the lives of public and the environment to great danger.
One of these gas stations located on the Sekondi/Takoradi main highway is a potential danger to lives and property.
Tropic Gas is located in a welding and fabrication, auto mechanics workshop, whose operations in proximity to the gas station is dangerous.
That aside, next to the this gas station is a Shell Fuel Station and another workshop in close proximity. In case of fire, there will be a disaster, since the petrol station, the houses, a timber company Primewood, a school and hotel around it may not be spared.
When the Daily Graphic visited the station at about 8a.m. on November 16, 2010, there were many commercial and private vehicles and although discharge of gas was ongoing, owners were eager to buy gas, oblivious of the dangers.
There was also a long queue of domestic users with their cylinders waiting to be served. This reporter entered the yard as a normal customer and did not find any fire extinguishers in the immediate vicinity.
While the gas was being discharged, the level of gas escape became a concern to many around, prompting the manager of the Shell filling station to come out of her office to express her displeasure at the activities of the gas station.
When an official was asked if they had fire extinguishers, he replied in the affirmative but was not able to show this reporter any of the extinguishers since they were not positioned as required by EPA.
When contacted, an official of the Western Regional Office of the EPA, Mr George Diawuo said the agreement for issuing permit to the Tropical Gas was based on the condition that, the owner would relocate the welders and other artisans on the land but till date nothing had been done.
It said even the permit for the operating this particular station had expired and yet to renew it, therefore, the place was to cease operation.
Mr Diawuo, said apart from Tropic Gas and Nab Gas many others dotted around the metropolis were operating against the requirements of the EPA.
He said what the EPA was trying to do was to first educate them and then move in to enforce the law.
Officials of the Ghana National Fire Service also deplored the operations of these fuel stations and said the safety practices were far below the required standard and in case of fire the effect would be difficult to contain.
One of these gas stations located on the Sekondi/Takoradi main highway is a potential danger to lives and property.
Tropic Gas is located in a welding and fabrication, auto mechanics workshop, whose operations in proximity to the gas station is dangerous.
That aside, next to the this gas station is a Shell Fuel Station and another workshop in close proximity. In case of fire, there will be a disaster, since the petrol station, the houses, a timber company Primewood, a school and hotel around it may not be spared.
When the Daily Graphic visited the station at about 8a.m. on November 16, 2010, there were many commercial and private vehicles and although discharge of gas was ongoing, owners were eager to buy gas, oblivious of the dangers.
There was also a long queue of domestic users with their cylinders waiting to be served. This reporter entered the yard as a normal customer and did not find any fire extinguishers in the immediate vicinity.
While the gas was being discharged, the level of gas escape became a concern to many around, prompting the manager of the Shell filling station to come out of her office to express her displeasure at the activities of the gas station.
When an official was asked if they had fire extinguishers, he replied in the affirmative but was not able to show this reporter any of the extinguishers since they were not positioned as required by EPA.
When contacted, an official of the Western Regional Office of the EPA, Mr George Diawuo said the agreement for issuing permit to the Tropical Gas was based on the condition that, the owner would relocate the welders and other artisans on the land but till date nothing had been done.
It said even the permit for the operating this particular station had expired and yet to renew it, therefore, the place was to cease operation.
Mr Diawuo, said apart from Tropic Gas and Nab Gas many others dotted around the metropolis were operating against the requirements of the EPA.
He said what the EPA was trying to do was to first educate them and then move in to enforce the law.
Officials of the Ghana National Fire Service also deplored the operations of these fuel stations and said the safety practices were far below the required standard and in case of fire the effect would be difficult to contain.
ELUBO RICE IMPORTERS GIVEN GREEN LIGHT (BACK PAGE, NOV 25, 2010)
Rice importers have now received the green light from the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to clear their imported rice, which has been locked up at the Elubo Border Entry Point.
Official correspondence from the Office of the Commissioner General in Accra to customs officials at the Elubo Border endorsed the initial agreement between the rice importers and officials of the GRA to clear the rice at $0.75 per kilogramme instead of $0.97.
A fax message signed by Mr George Bankson, Commissioner General, giving the go-ahead to the Assistant Commissioner at the border to proceed to clear the goods indicated that after clearing the impounded rice, the customs officials at the border post should revert to collecting $0.97 per kilogramme on imported rice.
That was because the $0.75 per kilo being duty charged now on the rice was only a special dispensation from the Customs Division to the rice importers.
For more than a month, truckloads of imported rice have been locked up at the Elubo Border as a result of the inability of the small-scale importers of the commodity to pay the appropriate tariffs imposed by the Customs Division of the GRA.
Some of the importers claimed they had been unable to raise the money because what Customs Division was asking them to pay was higher than what pertained at the Tema Port.
Commenting on the problem in an interview, the Commissioner of the Customs Division of GRA, Mr E.D. Larnyo, said that if the local importers wanted to attract lower tariff valuation, then the importers should consider consolidating their consignment.
“Under the consolidation, they all give their required quantities to one person, who will travel to the suppliers in Cote d’Ivoire or their country of choice and import it and pay the required tariff, which is likely to be lower based on the world market price,” he said.
Mr Larnyo said if the importers adopted the approach where everybody wanted to import rice in smaller quantities, then the Customs Division would be left with no option than to apply retail valuation of $0.97 per kilogramme.
He said they would hold series of education programmes for the importers to understand the system and that all the customs officials wanted was to ensure that the needed tariffs were collected for the state.
Meanwhile, the local importers have expressed their gratitude to GRA and the government and promised to engage customs officials to ensure that lasting solution is found to the impasse.
“We have lost millions in revenue and interest on our loans, so for now we will like to clear what we have here and pay off our loan and then we can take it up from there,” they said.
Official correspondence from the Office of the Commissioner General in Accra to customs officials at the Elubo Border endorsed the initial agreement between the rice importers and officials of the GRA to clear the rice at $0.75 per kilogramme instead of $0.97.
A fax message signed by Mr George Bankson, Commissioner General, giving the go-ahead to the Assistant Commissioner at the border to proceed to clear the goods indicated that after clearing the impounded rice, the customs officials at the border post should revert to collecting $0.97 per kilogramme on imported rice.
That was because the $0.75 per kilo being duty charged now on the rice was only a special dispensation from the Customs Division to the rice importers.
For more than a month, truckloads of imported rice have been locked up at the Elubo Border as a result of the inability of the small-scale importers of the commodity to pay the appropriate tariffs imposed by the Customs Division of the GRA.
Some of the importers claimed they had been unable to raise the money because what Customs Division was asking them to pay was higher than what pertained at the Tema Port.
Commenting on the problem in an interview, the Commissioner of the Customs Division of GRA, Mr E.D. Larnyo, said that if the local importers wanted to attract lower tariff valuation, then the importers should consider consolidating their consignment.
“Under the consolidation, they all give their required quantities to one person, who will travel to the suppliers in Cote d’Ivoire or their country of choice and import it and pay the required tariff, which is likely to be lower based on the world market price,” he said.
Mr Larnyo said if the importers adopted the approach where everybody wanted to import rice in smaller quantities, then the Customs Division would be left with no option than to apply retail valuation of $0.97 per kilogramme.
He said they would hold series of education programmes for the importers to understand the system and that all the customs officials wanted was to ensure that the needed tariffs were collected for the state.
Meanwhile, the local importers have expressed their gratitude to GRA and the government and promised to engage customs officials to ensure that lasting solution is found to the impasse.
“We have lost millions in revenue and interest on our loans, so for now we will like to clear what we have here and pay off our loan and then we can take it up from there,” they said.
RICE WAR NOT OVER (1B, NOV 24, 2010)
TRUCKLOADS of imported rice are still locked up at the Elubo Border, a week after the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) slashed the duty on the commodity from $0.97 per kilogramme to $0.75.
The tariff reduction was to pave the way for small-scale rice importers to clear thousands of bags of rice locked up at the Ghana-Cote d’Ivoire border.
With the directive not yet adhered to by customs officials, several bags of rice which have been heaped at the border for the past four weeks have started going bad due to excessive heat and intermittent rains.
At the time the Daily Graphic got to the border last Monday, more than 138 bags of rice that were emitting an offensive odour were being prepared for destruction.
The GRA, in apparent reaction to complaints over high tariffs by small-scale rice importers, on November 15, 2010 slashed the duty at the Elubo Border from $0.97 per kilogramme of rice to $0.75.
This was as a result of a meeting between officials of the GRA and local importers of rice at Elubo.
Border officials told the Daily Graphic that they had not complied with the directive from the GRA because they had not received any official communication from the Authority.
They said they needed official letters from the Commissioner General of the GRA and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to be able to comply with the directive.
“What happened at the meeting was just verbal. We would need an official fiat for us to go ahead,” one of the officers said.
Some of the importers told the Daily Graphic that they were at the verge of losing their capital.
When contacted, officials at the CEPS Headquarters in Accra said they were waiting for the directive from the Commissioner General before they could allow the goods to be cleared.
The tariff reduction was to pave the way for small-scale rice importers to clear thousands of bags of rice locked up at the Ghana-Cote d’Ivoire border.
With the directive not yet adhered to by customs officials, several bags of rice which have been heaped at the border for the past four weeks have started going bad due to excessive heat and intermittent rains.
At the time the Daily Graphic got to the border last Monday, more than 138 bags of rice that were emitting an offensive odour were being prepared for destruction.
The GRA, in apparent reaction to complaints over high tariffs by small-scale rice importers, on November 15, 2010 slashed the duty at the Elubo Border from $0.97 per kilogramme of rice to $0.75.
This was as a result of a meeting between officials of the GRA and local importers of rice at Elubo.
Border officials told the Daily Graphic that they had not complied with the directive from the GRA because they had not received any official communication from the Authority.
They said they needed official letters from the Commissioner General of the GRA and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to be able to comply with the directive.
“What happened at the meeting was just verbal. We would need an official fiat for us to go ahead,” one of the officers said.
Some of the importers told the Daily Graphic that they were at the verge of losing their capital.
When contacted, officials at the CEPS Headquarters in Accra said they were waiting for the directive from the Commissioner General before they could allow the goods to be cleared.
MAN'S HAND CHOPPED OFF (PAGE 3, NOV 22, 2010)
A caretaker at a building site at Mpatado in the Sekondi/Takoradi metropolis who suspected a man of stealing five iron rods has done the unthinkable by chopping off the suspected thief’s right hand.
Egya Kojo Mensah, the caretaker, later took the victim, Kofi Badu, to the police station.
For carrying out this Sharia-like justice, Egya Mensah has been placed in police custody, while the victim is currently on admission at the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital and is said to be responding to treatment.
Apart from his right hand, Badu sustained multiple cuts at his back and chest as a result of the attack on him by Egya Mensah.
Badu told the Daily Graphic on his hospital bed that he had been mistaken for a thief, explaining that he was an auto mechanic and that he had visited his aunt who lived in the area where Egya Mensah is the caretaker of a building.
Egya Mensah told the police that the stealing of iron rods from the site had been going on for some time, for which reason he decided to deal with anybody he caught.
According to the Kwesimintsim District Commander of Police, Deputy Superintendent of Police P. Ayamga Akolgo, Egya Mensah said he is the caretaker of a building project at Mpatado, where he had lost many iron rods.
He told the police that immediately he realised that a quantity of iron rods had gone missing, he and another man decided to search the whole area but they did not find the culprit.
The district commander said the suspect and the other man who is currently being sought for by the police later saw Badu in the area and gave him a hot chase.
He said Egya Mensah first slashed Badu’s back and later chopped off his right hand, before taking him to the police station.
Egya Kojo Mensah, the caretaker, later took the victim, Kofi Badu, to the police station.
For carrying out this Sharia-like justice, Egya Mensah has been placed in police custody, while the victim is currently on admission at the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital and is said to be responding to treatment.
Apart from his right hand, Badu sustained multiple cuts at his back and chest as a result of the attack on him by Egya Mensah.
Badu told the Daily Graphic on his hospital bed that he had been mistaken for a thief, explaining that he was an auto mechanic and that he had visited his aunt who lived in the area where Egya Mensah is the caretaker of a building.
Egya Mensah told the police that the stealing of iron rods from the site had been going on for some time, for which reason he decided to deal with anybody he caught.
According to the Kwesimintsim District Commander of Police, Deputy Superintendent of Police P. Ayamga Akolgo, Egya Mensah said he is the caretaker of a building project at Mpatado, where he had lost many iron rods.
He told the police that immediately he realised that a quantity of iron rods had gone missing, he and another man decided to search the whole area but they did not find the culprit.
The district commander said the suspect and the other man who is currently being sought for by the police later saw Badu in the area and gave him a hot chase.
He said Egya Mensah first slashed Badu’s back and later chopped off his right hand, before taking him to the police station.
Monday, November 22, 2010
RICE HEAP AT ELUBO -- For non-payment of tariffs (LEAD STORY)
Truck loads of imported rice have been locked up at the Elubo Border for the past four weeks as a result of the inability of the small-scale importers of the commodity to pay the appropriate tariffs imposed by the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS).
Some of the importers told the Daily Graphic at the border that they had been unable to raise the money because what CEPS was asking them to pay was higher than what pertained at the Tema Port.
They claimed that CEPS had directed them to pay a unit price of $0.97 per kilogramme for the imported perfumed rice, while broken rice attracted $0.42 per kilogramme.
According to the importers, their counterparts who imported through the Tema Port were made to pay $0.41 per kilo for perfumed rice and $0.39 per kilo for broken rice.
They said as a result of the disparity, some importers had resorted to smuggling, thereby denying the State the much needed revenue.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the Chairman of the Association of Small-Scale Importers, Mr Solomon Kojo Kwesi, demanded an explanation from CEPS as to why all importers, whether using Tema or Elubo, would not be given the same rates.
According to a document sighted by the Daily Graphic, smuggling eased significantly before the introduction of the new tariffs and that as of the end of September this year, revenue for the State at the Elubo Border was 67 per cent above the annual target.
From the document, total revenue collected for the State by CEPS from January to September 2010 when the directive was given amounted to more than GH¢4.3 million, compared to GH¢1.4 million which was collected in 2009 when smuggling was at its peak.
There is a chaotic situation at the Elubo entry point, as the importers who entered the country thinking they would pay the same tariffs as applied at the Tema Port could not go back with their goods, since that would amount to re-exporting, which they said they could not afford.
The small-scale importers said the new development was outrageous and uncompetitive, describing it as a deliberate attempt to ruin their businesses.
When contacted, CEPS officials said they were working on the situation and would soon resolve it.
Some of the importers told the Daily Graphic at the border that they had been unable to raise the money because what CEPS was asking them to pay was higher than what pertained at the Tema Port.
They claimed that CEPS had directed them to pay a unit price of $0.97 per kilogramme for the imported perfumed rice, while broken rice attracted $0.42 per kilogramme.
According to the importers, their counterparts who imported through the Tema Port were made to pay $0.41 per kilo for perfumed rice and $0.39 per kilo for broken rice.
They said as a result of the disparity, some importers had resorted to smuggling, thereby denying the State the much needed revenue.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the Chairman of the Association of Small-Scale Importers, Mr Solomon Kojo Kwesi, demanded an explanation from CEPS as to why all importers, whether using Tema or Elubo, would not be given the same rates.
According to a document sighted by the Daily Graphic, smuggling eased significantly before the introduction of the new tariffs and that as of the end of September this year, revenue for the State at the Elubo Border was 67 per cent above the annual target.
From the document, total revenue collected for the State by CEPS from January to September 2010 when the directive was given amounted to more than GH¢4.3 million, compared to GH¢1.4 million which was collected in 2009 when smuggling was at its peak.
There is a chaotic situation at the Elubo entry point, as the importers who entered the country thinking they would pay the same tariffs as applied at the Tema Port could not go back with their goods, since that would amount to re-exporting, which they said they could not afford.
The small-scale importers said the new development was outrageous and uncompetitive, describing it as a deliberate attempt to ruin their businesses.
When contacted, CEPS officials said they were working on the situation and would soon resolve it.
Ghanaian delegation gets inside look at U.S. Africa Command headquarters
STUTTGART, Germany - A delegation of media representatives from Ghana visited U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) headquarters as part of an orientation program to offer an in-depth look at the command's mission, February 22-26, 2010.
The group consisted of four prominent Ghanaian journalists, an information officer with the Ghanaian Ministry of Information, a public affairs officer from the Ghanaian Navy, and a media specialist from the U.S. Embassy in Accra.
The weeklong visit to the command, in which they met with senior staff members to discuss the command's programs and activities, culminated in interviews with the deputy to the commander for military operations, Vice Admiral Robert Moeller, and the commander of U.S. Africa Command, Gen. William Ward.
Ward told the group he was pleased they were able to visit the command.
"(It is), for us, a command that we want you to know; we don't want you to be wondering about it. We want it to very well understood," Ward said.
The delegation received in-depth briefings on the command, its programs and how it conducts military-to-military activities with Ghana and other African nations.
Ward was also able to clarify misunderstood issues about the command, such as how it works with the militaries in Africa and basing.
"We recognize, we appreciate and we respect the sovereignty of our partner nations," Ward explained. "In no way do we envision directing the navies of Africa, the armies of Africa, the air forces of Africa, the governments of Africa to do anything that they would not do for themselves. We have no design, no intent of telling you what to do, absolutely not."
One journalist, Samuel Appiah Darko, of Ghana's Joy FM radio, indicated that his listeners still wonder "what AFRICOM is all about" and whether it intends to establish bases in Africa.
Since the command was created more than two years ago, it has been widely misrepresented that it would establish American bases in Africa. In that period of time... Ward said, "We have done absolutely nothing that would substantiate that impression, and we're not going to do anything. There is no intention of setting up bases in Africa."
Explaining the Africa Partnership Station (APS) maritime program was a key focus area of the visit. APS, in its third year, focuses on building cooperative partnerships with African nations' maritime services in order to achieve common international goals.
The 2010 program brings together an international team of maritime experts from 21 nations - nine European, 10 African, and one South American -- to offer assistance in addressing maritime safety and security challenges such as unlawful, unregulated and illegal fishing, piracy and illicit trafficking. It is expected that more than 1,700 maritime experts will participate in dozens of workshops seminars and professional exchanges.
Ghana is serving as a main hub for the APS flag ship, the USS Gunston Hall. The Gunston Hall will spend the month of March in Ghana, working with the Ghanaian Navy and neighboring countries' navies on various maritime training and familiarization activities. A Ghanaian officer is embedded on the staff, and when Gunston Hall arrives in Sekondi, Ghana, and will take on trainees and ship riders from navies of neighboring nations.
George Nayken of the Ghana News Agency has covered previous United States ship visits to Ghana. He said he was thankful to the command for hosting the group and for the access they were provided.
He said there has been "a lot of suspicion and fear about the command. But I believe if more public education were to take place, people would not fear the command.
"We need more education on the command," added Nayken, who has covered previous United States ship visits to Ghana. "The U.S. military is not trying to impose itself on Africa."
During the week, the visitors traveled to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, to meet Major General Ron Ladnier, U.S. Air Forces Africa and 17th Air Force commander. They also toured American Forces Network-Europe studios in Mannheim, Germany, and met with the European Stars and Stripes staff in Kaiserslautern, Germany. In addition, they met with Ambassador J. Anthony Holmes, U.S. Africa Command's deputy to the commander for civil-military activities.
This summer, Ghana is hosting Exercise Africa Endeavor, U.S. Africa Command's annual communications exercise that focuses on interoperability and information sharing among African partner nations. The goal is to develop command, control, and communication tactics that can be used by the Africa Union in support of humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and peacekeeping missions. In 2009, the exercise was held in Gabon, with 25 African nations participating.
"It's been a very good experience ... getting to know things first hand," said Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, a journalist with the Graphics Communications Group, which publishes the largest daily newspaper in Ghana, the Ghana Graphic, during his visit to AFN-Europe.
He said before visiting the command, he didn't know what to believe and indicated there is "so much misinformation out there. We've received the message; the command is not what people say (it is)."
Ghana is the largest African peacekeeping contributor nation to multinational peacekeeping operations, and the sixth-largest among all peacekeeping contributing nations. It is supporting peacekeeping missions in Liberia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Darfur, the Central African Republic, Chad, and Cote d'Ivoire.
Ghana is one of eight African nations that participate in the U.S. National Guard's State Partnership Program, in which the Ghanaian military conducts partnership, training and familiarization activities with the North Dakota National Guard. Since this program was inaugurated in 2004 with Ghana, the two nations' militaries have shared well over 70 events together.
Ghana is also home to the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Center, which focuses on conflict prevention and peace studies. U.S. Africa Command has a liaison officer at the center and conducts a logistics seminar there called Partnership for Integrated Logistics Operations and Tactics, or PILOT. It is a joint Canadian government/U.S. Africa Command initiative aimed at building long-term operational logistics planning capacity within the African Union Standby Force.
The delegation members were:
Samuel Appiah Darko - Joy FM
R. Harry Reynolds - New Times Corporation
Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu - Graphic Communications Group
George Nayken - Ghana News Agency
Lieutenant Commander Veronica Arhin, Ghanian Navy
Gordon Deku Zaney - Information Services Department, Ministry of Information
Joyce Okyere Asiedu - US Embassy-Accra Media Specialist
The group consisted of four prominent Ghanaian journalists, an information officer with the Ghanaian Ministry of Information, a public affairs officer from the Ghanaian Navy, and a media specialist from the U.S. Embassy in Accra.
The weeklong visit to the command, in which they met with senior staff members to discuss the command's programs and activities, culminated in interviews with the deputy to the commander for military operations, Vice Admiral Robert Moeller, and the commander of U.S. Africa Command, Gen. William Ward.
Ward told the group he was pleased they were able to visit the command.
"(It is), for us, a command that we want you to know; we don't want you to be wondering about it. We want it to very well understood," Ward said.
The delegation received in-depth briefings on the command, its programs and how it conducts military-to-military activities with Ghana and other African nations.
Ward was also able to clarify misunderstood issues about the command, such as how it works with the militaries in Africa and basing.
"We recognize, we appreciate and we respect the sovereignty of our partner nations," Ward explained. "In no way do we envision directing the navies of Africa, the armies of Africa, the air forces of Africa, the governments of Africa to do anything that they would not do for themselves. We have no design, no intent of telling you what to do, absolutely not."
One journalist, Samuel Appiah Darko, of Ghana's Joy FM radio, indicated that his listeners still wonder "what AFRICOM is all about" and whether it intends to establish bases in Africa.
Since the command was created more than two years ago, it has been widely misrepresented that it would establish American bases in Africa. In that period of time... Ward said, "We have done absolutely nothing that would substantiate that impression, and we're not going to do anything. There is no intention of setting up bases in Africa."
Explaining the Africa Partnership Station (APS) maritime program was a key focus area of the visit. APS, in its third year, focuses on building cooperative partnerships with African nations' maritime services in order to achieve common international goals.
The 2010 program brings together an international team of maritime experts from 21 nations - nine European, 10 African, and one South American -- to offer assistance in addressing maritime safety and security challenges such as unlawful, unregulated and illegal fishing, piracy and illicit trafficking. It is expected that more than 1,700 maritime experts will participate in dozens of workshops seminars and professional exchanges.
Ghana is serving as a main hub for the APS flag ship, the USS Gunston Hall. The Gunston Hall will spend the month of March in Ghana, working with the Ghanaian Navy and neighboring countries' navies on various maritime training and familiarization activities. A Ghanaian officer is embedded on the staff, and when Gunston Hall arrives in Sekondi, Ghana, and will take on trainees and ship riders from navies of neighboring nations.
George Nayken of the Ghana News Agency has covered previous United States ship visits to Ghana. He said he was thankful to the command for hosting the group and for the access they were provided.
He said there has been "a lot of suspicion and fear about the command. But I believe if more public education were to take place, people would not fear the command.
"We need more education on the command," added Nayken, who has covered previous United States ship visits to Ghana. "The U.S. military is not trying to impose itself on Africa."
During the week, the visitors traveled to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, to meet Major General Ron Ladnier, U.S. Air Forces Africa and 17th Air Force commander. They also toured American Forces Network-Europe studios in Mannheim, Germany, and met with the European Stars and Stripes staff in Kaiserslautern, Germany. In addition, they met with Ambassador J. Anthony Holmes, U.S. Africa Command's deputy to the commander for civil-military activities.
This summer, Ghana is hosting Exercise Africa Endeavor, U.S. Africa Command's annual communications exercise that focuses on interoperability and information sharing among African partner nations. The goal is to develop command, control, and communication tactics that can be used by the Africa Union in support of humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and peacekeeping missions. In 2009, the exercise was held in Gabon, with 25 African nations participating.
"It's been a very good experience ... getting to know things first hand," said Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, a journalist with the Graphics Communications Group, which publishes the largest daily newspaper in Ghana, the Ghana Graphic, during his visit to AFN-Europe.
He said before visiting the command, he didn't know what to believe and indicated there is "so much misinformation out there. We've received the message; the command is not what people say (it is)."
Ghana is the largest African peacekeeping contributor nation to multinational peacekeeping operations, and the sixth-largest among all peacekeeping contributing nations. It is supporting peacekeeping missions in Liberia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Darfur, the Central African Republic, Chad, and Cote d'Ivoire.
Ghana is one of eight African nations that participate in the U.S. National Guard's State Partnership Program, in which the Ghanaian military conducts partnership, training and familiarization activities with the North Dakota National Guard. Since this program was inaugurated in 2004 with Ghana, the two nations' militaries have shared well over 70 events together.
Ghana is also home to the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Center, which focuses on conflict prevention and peace studies. U.S. Africa Command has a liaison officer at the center and conducts a logistics seminar there called Partnership for Integrated Logistics Operations and Tactics, or PILOT. It is a joint Canadian government/U.S. Africa Command initiative aimed at building long-term operational logistics planning capacity within the African Union Standby Force.
The delegation members were:
Samuel Appiah Darko - Joy FM
R. Harry Reynolds - New Times Corporation
Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu - Graphic Communications Group
George Nayken - Ghana News Agency
Lieutenant Commander Veronica Arhin, Ghanian Navy
Gordon Deku Zaney - Information Services Department, Ministry of Information
Joyce Okyere Asiedu - US Embassy-Accra Media Specialist
MAN'S HAND CHOPPED OFF (P3.)
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Kwesimintsim
A caretaker at a building site at Mpatado in the Sekondi Takoradi metropolis who suspected a man of stealing iron rods has done the unthinkable by chopping off the suspected thief's right hand.
Egya Kojo Mensah, the caretaker, later took the victim, Kofi Badu, to the police station.
For carrying out this Sharia-like justice, Egya Mensah has been placed in police custody, while the victim is currently on admission at the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital and is said to be responding to treatment.
Apart from his right hand, Badu sustained multiple cuts at his back and chest as a result of the attack on him by Egya Mensah.
Badu told the Daily Graphic on his hospital bed that he had been mistaken for a thief, explaining that he was an auto mechanic and that he had visited his aunt who lived in the area where Egya Mensah is the caretaker of a building.
Egya Mensah told the police that the stealing of iron rods from the site had been going on for some time, for which reason he decided to deal with anybody he caught.
According to the Kwesimintsim District Commander of Police, Deputy Superintendent of Police P. Ayamga Akolgo, Egya Mensah said he is the caretaker of a building project at Mpatado, where he had lost many iron rods.
He told the police that immediately he realised that a quantity of iron rods had gone missing, he and another man decided to search the whole area but they did not find the culprit.
The district commander said the suspect and the other man who is currently being sought for by the police later saw Badu in the area and gave him a hot chase.
He said Egya Mensah first slashed Badu's back and later chopped off his right hand, before taking him to the police station.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
JUBILEE PARTNERS FUND TWO HOSPITALS (PAGE 19, NOV 13, 2010)
TWO health institutions in the Sekondi/Takoradi metropolis have received a total of GH¢850,000 for the construction of a maternity ward and the completion of an accident and emergency unit.
They are the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital and Essikado Government Hospital.
The funds were provided by the Jubilee Partners, a group of oil and gas companies operating in the Western Region, to support healthcare delivery of the two hospitals, which take care of more than 400 communities in the metropolis and beyond.
Out of the amount, GH¢600,000 will be used for the construction of a seven-ward maternity block for Essikado Hospital.
The Jubilee Patners, led by Tullow Ghana, have decided to provide modern equipment for the Essikado Hospital after the completion of the maternity block, which will comprise four main wards and three side wards.
The remaining GH¢250,000 will be used to complete the accident unit at the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital, whose construction has stalled because of lack of funds.
The Medical Director of the Effia-Nkwantah Hospital, Dr Paul Ntodi, said the move by the oil companies to help provide facilities at the regional hospital was welcoming to the management.
He said the current state of the emergency unit at the hospital was very bad, particularly because it had a limited space and was not in a position to handle serious emergency cases.
“Therefore, the completion of the project at the new unit will not only help to ease congestion but also create the avenue for the expansion of the current out-patient department,” he said.
At Essikado, the acting Medical Superintendent, Dr N.K. Ametewee, commended Jubilee Partners for the support.
The Head of Public Affairs of Tullow, Dr Tony Aubynn, said the company was committed to the improvement in the lives of the people in its operational areas.
He gave the assurance that the Jubilee Partners would make every effort under their corporate social responsibility to assist the two health institutions.
They are the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital and Essikado Government Hospital.
The funds were provided by the Jubilee Partners, a group of oil and gas companies operating in the Western Region, to support healthcare delivery of the two hospitals, which take care of more than 400 communities in the metropolis and beyond.
Out of the amount, GH¢600,000 will be used for the construction of a seven-ward maternity block for Essikado Hospital.
The Jubilee Patners, led by Tullow Ghana, have decided to provide modern equipment for the Essikado Hospital after the completion of the maternity block, which will comprise four main wards and three side wards.
The remaining GH¢250,000 will be used to complete the accident unit at the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital, whose construction has stalled because of lack of funds.
The Medical Director of the Effia-Nkwantah Hospital, Dr Paul Ntodi, said the move by the oil companies to help provide facilities at the regional hospital was welcoming to the management.
He said the current state of the emergency unit at the hospital was very bad, particularly because it had a limited space and was not in a position to handle serious emergency cases.
“Therefore, the completion of the project at the new unit will not only help to ease congestion but also create the avenue for the expansion of the current out-patient department,” he said.
At Essikado, the acting Medical Superintendent, Dr N.K. Ametewee, commended Jubilee Partners for the support.
The Head of Public Affairs of Tullow, Dr Tony Aubynn, said the company was committed to the improvement in the lives of the people in its operational areas.
He gave the assurance that the Jubilee Partners would make every effort under their corporate social responsibility to assist the two health institutions.
ARMED ROBBERS KILL PASSENGER ON TARKWA-KUMASI BUS (BACK PAGE, NOV 13, 2010)
Armed robbers yesterday shot dead a passenger during an attack on a Tarkwa-Kumasi-bound bus.
The robbers struck at Yawbrea-Nkwanta in the Aowin Suaman District of the Western Region and one of the passengers, Asua Mesu, 30, a sand contractor and farmer who attempted to disarm one of the robbers of an AK47 rifle, was shot at close range.
The incident occurred after the armed robbers had allegedly robbed passengers on a 207 Benz bus and used the bus to block the road at Yawbrea-Nkwanta.
According to Mr Bafour Asare, a driver of one of the buses that was attacked, his was the last vehicle to stop at the blockade. He said, “the robbers came to my car and ordered the passengers and I to come out of the vehicle, which we did”.
He said the robbers made him lie on the ground after collecting GH¢400.00 and a mobile phone from him, They then conducted a search on the passengers but got only a few mobile phones and money.
Suspecting that the passengers might have hidden the money on the bus, the robbers moved into the bus to search it. In the process, Mesu jumped on the robber holding the AK47 rifle and struggled with him and just when he (Mesu) was about overpowering the robber, another robber hit his head with a club, sending him sprawling to the ground.
“The magazine containing the ammunition fell from the gun, but the robbers managed to pick and fix it, cocked the gun and shot him in front of the other passengers,” he said.
The driver confirmed that there had been armed robbery attacks on the road recently but his colleagues convinced him that the police were patrolling the road and so it was safe to travel, adding that he least expected the attack because at the time of the incident, it was almost 6 a.m.
Mr Asare said after shooting the passenger, the robbers then aborted their intention to rob more vehicles and fled into the bush.
The Enchi District Police Commander, Mr Isaac Akligbe, who confirmed the incident said the attack was the second in less than 12 days.
He said as a result of that the police in the district had intensified its intelligence gathering and extended its patrol hours in the Enchi area.
Mr Akligbe said the police had patrolled the area throughout the night and returned to base but just when they were preparing some suspects for court, they had a distress call that there had been an attack on a passenger bus.
He assured the public that the police would do everything possible to apprehend the suspects and also ensure more police presence on the road.
He, however, appealed to the public not to struggle with armed robbers because they risk losing their lives when they did so.
The robbers struck at Yawbrea-Nkwanta in the Aowin Suaman District of the Western Region and one of the passengers, Asua Mesu, 30, a sand contractor and farmer who attempted to disarm one of the robbers of an AK47 rifle, was shot at close range.
The incident occurred after the armed robbers had allegedly robbed passengers on a 207 Benz bus and used the bus to block the road at Yawbrea-Nkwanta.
According to Mr Bafour Asare, a driver of one of the buses that was attacked, his was the last vehicle to stop at the blockade. He said, “the robbers came to my car and ordered the passengers and I to come out of the vehicle, which we did”.
He said the robbers made him lie on the ground after collecting GH¢400.00 and a mobile phone from him, They then conducted a search on the passengers but got only a few mobile phones and money.
Suspecting that the passengers might have hidden the money on the bus, the robbers moved into the bus to search it. In the process, Mesu jumped on the robber holding the AK47 rifle and struggled with him and just when he (Mesu) was about overpowering the robber, another robber hit his head with a club, sending him sprawling to the ground.
“The magazine containing the ammunition fell from the gun, but the robbers managed to pick and fix it, cocked the gun and shot him in front of the other passengers,” he said.
The driver confirmed that there had been armed robbery attacks on the road recently but his colleagues convinced him that the police were patrolling the road and so it was safe to travel, adding that he least expected the attack because at the time of the incident, it was almost 6 a.m.
Mr Asare said after shooting the passenger, the robbers then aborted their intention to rob more vehicles and fled into the bush.
The Enchi District Police Commander, Mr Isaac Akligbe, who confirmed the incident said the attack was the second in less than 12 days.
He said as a result of that the police in the district had intensified its intelligence gathering and extended its patrol hours in the Enchi area.
Mr Akligbe said the police had patrolled the area throughout the night and returned to base but just when they were preparing some suspects for court, they had a distress call that there had been an attack on a passenger bus.
He assured the public that the police would do everything possible to apprehend the suspects and also ensure more police presence on the road.
He, however, appealed to the public not to struggle with armed robbers because they risk losing their lives when they did so.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
OIL TO POUR — FIRST DROP NEXT MONTH (1B, NOV 15, 2010))
INSTALLATIONS between the seabed and the Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) platform which will lead to the commencement of gradual oil production on the Jubilee Field are about 99 per cent complete.
This makes it certain that Ghana’s first oil will be poured in the first week of next month, as installations have almost been completed, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) has given the assurance.
The final installation works, including inauguration and testing, which has to do with the gradual opening of the production valves for full production, are also ongoing.
The company working on the offshore subsea installations, Technip, is confident that work on the subsea installation is within schedule.
The Engineering Manager of the GNPC, Mr F.B . Ackah, who made this known in an interview with the Daily Graphic, said there would be gradual production, which would not be up to 120,000 barrels per day, after the subsea installation.
He said there was the need to ensure that the facility was not forced to produce at full capacity immediately but made to carry out gradual opening after current ongoing testing.
The Country Manager of Technip, Mr Stephanie Solé, said the installation would be ready for the commencement of production by the end of November 2010.
At the moment, the company is in the process of putting what it described as finishing touches to what it started since the arrival of the Deep Pioneer, a multi-purpose deepwater support vessel which carried out the subsea installations.
Mr Solé assured Ghanaians that after the completion of the installations, systematic production could start in a very safe manner.
Under Phase I of the Jubilee Project currently ready for production, 17 wells were drilled, out of which nine were for production, two for gas injection wells and six for water injection wells.
Since the arrival of the Deep Pioneer, there has been the installation of seven miles of umbilicals, 42 rigid jumpers (6.25 to 12.75”), 29 miles rigid flow-lines, 19 Christmas trees, 26 PLETs, 91 electrical flying leads, 24 hydraulic flying leads, as well as eight manifolds and two risers bases.
The Phase I of the Jubilee Project has more than 800 million barrels of world-class sweet crude oil and has an upside of 1.5 billion barrels, with accompanying ratio of 1,000 to 1,200 gas-to-oil ratio.
This makes it certain that Ghana’s first oil will be poured in the first week of next month, as installations have almost been completed, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) has given the assurance.
The final installation works, including inauguration and testing, which has to do with the gradual opening of the production valves for full production, are also ongoing.
The company working on the offshore subsea installations, Technip, is confident that work on the subsea installation is within schedule.
The Engineering Manager of the GNPC, Mr F.B . Ackah, who made this known in an interview with the Daily Graphic, said there would be gradual production, which would not be up to 120,000 barrels per day, after the subsea installation.
He said there was the need to ensure that the facility was not forced to produce at full capacity immediately but made to carry out gradual opening after current ongoing testing.
The Country Manager of Technip, Mr Stephanie Solé, said the installation would be ready for the commencement of production by the end of November 2010.
At the moment, the company is in the process of putting what it described as finishing touches to what it started since the arrival of the Deep Pioneer, a multi-purpose deepwater support vessel which carried out the subsea installations.
Mr Solé assured Ghanaians that after the completion of the installations, systematic production could start in a very safe manner.
Under Phase I of the Jubilee Project currently ready for production, 17 wells were drilled, out of which nine were for production, two for gas injection wells and six for water injection wells.
Since the arrival of the Deep Pioneer, there has been the installation of seven miles of umbilicals, 42 rigid jumpers (6.25 to 12.75”), 29 miles rigid flow-lines, 19 Christmas trees, 26 PLETs, 91 electrical flying leads, 24 hydraulic flying leads, as well as eight manifolds and two risers bases.
The Phase I of the Jubilee Project has more than 800 million barrels of world-class sweet crude oil and has an upside of 1.5 billion barrels, with accompanying ratio of 1,000 to 1,200 gas-to-oil ratio.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
UNIDENTIFIED EXPATRIATE WASHED ASHORE (MIRROR, PAGE 21, NOV 13, 2010)
From Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu,
Half-Assini
The police in the Jomoro District of the Western Region are struggling to determine the nationality of a young expatriate lady whose body was found at the coastline of the district.
The police said because the deceased could not be identified, she would be buried without any ceremony.
The body was washed ashore with almost all her hair off, exposing parts of her skull and parts of the body suspected to have been eaten by fish.
The police said they tried to locate either friends or establish the nationality of the lady but there was no identity card or any clue on her.
They said they went to hotels and guest houses in the area to find out if there was any missing guest or any foreigner who had not returned to their facility but there was no information to that effect.
The police said they were left with no option than to seek a court order for the burial of the deceased at an identifiable location where in future her grave could be identified if they had information on her.
The police are keeping the clothes the lady wore before her death, which could also be a clue to identifying the body if the family should show up one day.
Asked who would be responsible for the burial, the police said they had to take care of any expenses and that for the sake of international diplomacy, the police had to ensure the burial was decent.
Half-Assini
The police in the Jomoro District of the Western Region are struggling to determine the nationality of a young expatriate lady whose body was found at the coastline of the district.
The police said because the deceased could not be identified, she would be buried without any ceremony.
The body was washed ashore with almost all her hair off, exposing parts of her skull and parts of the body suspected to have been eaten by fish.
The police said they tried to locate either friends or establish the nationality of the lady but there was no identity card or any clue on her.
They said they went to hotels and guest houses in the area to find out if there was any missing guest or any foreigner who had not returned to their facility but there was no information to that effect.
The police said they were left with no option than to seek a court order for the burial of the deceased at an identifiable location where in future her grave could be identified if they had information on her.
The police are keeping the clothes the lady wore before her death, which could also be a clue to identifying the body if the family should show up one day.
Asked who would be responsible for the burial, the police said they had to take care of any expenses and that for the sake of international diplomacy, the police had to ensure the burial was decent.
UNDERGROUND WATER POLLUTED (PAGE 21, MIRROR, NOV 13, 2010)
From Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Busia Beach
Traces of heavy metals and arsenic substance have been found in underground water and river bodies in the Western Region, putting the lives of residents who depend on them at risk.
The Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) which announced this at Busua attributed this to the activities of illegal miners.
The Water Supply Engineer of CWSA, Mr Joseph Jona, said increase in these illegal mining activities in the region did not only threaten the lives of water consumers but also threatened the existing water bodies and underground water.
He said there was the need to ensure that such activities were curbed immediately to safeguard lives and underground water reserves.
Mr Jona said other major challenges facing the CWSA were the delays in payment of bills by offices of ministries, departments and agencies in the districts.
He said the delays made it impossible for them to access ready funds to improve their services.
The supply engineer said as a way forward, they were developing a comprehensive documentary on the water situation in the region, where more than 70 per cent of the population was dependent on their services.
He said the total coverage for the region in terms of water to deprived communities was 44.20 per cent as of the end of December, 2009.
“However water supply coverage on successful completion of ongoing projects by the end of this year is estimated to increase to 56.70 per cent,” he said.
Mr Jona expressed his gratitude to other stakeholders such as World Vision International, Water Aid, R&C, an Italian NGO, Care International, the government through the assemblies and some mining, as well as cocoa companies, and support from the donor community.
The Chairman of the Water Board, Mr Francis Yaw Gyarko, acknowledged the challenges and the dangers posed by the activities of illegal miners in the region.
Members of the board were later conducted round some of the facilities in the Agona West District.
Traces of heavy metals and arsenic substance have been found in underground water and river bodies in the Western Region, putting the lives of residents who depend on them at risk.
The Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) which announced this at Busua attributed this to the activities of illegal miners.
The Water Supply Engineer of CWSA, Mr Joseph Jona, said increase in these illegal mining activities in the region did not only threaten the lives of water consumers but also threatened the existing water bodies and underground water.
He said there was the need to ensure that such activities were curbed immediately to safeguard lives and underground water reserves.
Mr Jona said other major challenges facing the CWSA were the delays in payment of bills by offices of ministries, departments and agencies in the districts.
He said the delays made it impossible for them to access ready funds to improve their services.
The supply engineer said as a way forward, they were developing a comprehensive documentary on the water situation in the region, where more than 70 per cent of the population was dependent on their services.
He said the total coverage for the region in terms of water to deprived communities was 44.20 per cent as of the end of December, 2009.
“However water supply coverage on successful completion of ongoing projects by the end of this year is estimated to increase to 56.70 per cent,” he said.
Mr Jona expressed his gratitude to other stakeholders such as World Vision International, Water Aid, R&C, an Italian NGO, Care International, the government through the assemblies and some mining, as well as cocoa companies, and support from the donor community.
The Chairman of the Water Board, Mr Francis Yaw Gyarko, acknowledged the challenges and the dangers posed by the activities of illegal miners in the region.
Members of the board were later conducted round some of the facilities in the Agona West District.
JEALOUSY...Farmer kills girlfriend's ex-husband (LEAD STORY, MIRROR, NOV 13, 2010)
From Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu,
Sefwi-Fuachiekrom
A settler farmer at Sefwi-Fuachiekrom in the Western Region caused a stir in the town when he shot and killed the ex-husband of his girlfriend in the full glare of the girlfriend and his stepdaughter.
After killing his rival, Kwesi Atta-Kwame, 25, a Beninois, and a friend, Theophanous Tawiah, also 25, reported to the police that they had fought with an unknown person and shot him in the process.
According to the Western Regional Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Chief Inspector Olivia Adiku, who briefed The Mirror, the two men claimed they had seen Ameyaw Atamuda, the deceased, on their farm and a fight had ensued, during which the deceased had pulled a knife which scratched Atta-Kwame.
After investigations, however, the police discovered that the deceased had been killed by the two and his body dumped in a bush near his cocoa farm.
According to Chief Inspector Adiku, investigations also showed that the deceased’s ex-wife and his daughter, who were traumatised by the incident, had since left the town for an unknown destination.
She said before the discovery of the body, the suspects had been asked to lead the police to the scene but they took the investigators to a different location.
She said the body of the deceased was found in a state of decomposition, with multiple gunshot wounds on it.
“We combed everywhere but we could not find the body. The suspects said the deceased had bolted after he had been shot and could not tell if he died or not,” the police said.
According to the police PRO, it was after the discovery of the body that it was realised that Atta-Kwame and his accomplice had actually killed the ex-husband of his girlfriend.
The unregistered shotgun which was used in the act has since been retrieved.
The suspects have been remanded by a court to reappear on December 7, 2010.
Sefwi-Fuachiekrom
A settler farmer at Sefwi-Fuachiekrom in the Western Region caused a stir in the town when he shot and killed the ex-husband of his girlfriend in the full glare of the girlfriend and his stepdaughter.
After killing his rival, Kwesi Atta-Kwame, 25, a Beninois, and a friend, Theophanous Tawiah, also 25, reported to the police that they had fought with an unknown person and shot him in the process.
According to the Western Regional Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Chief Inspector Olivia Adiku, who briefed The Mirror, the two men claimed they had seen Ameyaw Atamuda, the deceased, on their farm and a fight had ensued, during which the deceased had pulled a knife which scratched Atta-Kwame.
After investigations, however, the police discovered that the deceased had been killed by the two and his body dumped in a bush near his cocoa farm.
According to Chief Inspector Adiku, investigations also showed that the deceased’s ex-wife and his daughter, who were traumatised by the incident, had since left the town for an unknown destination.
She said before the discovery of the body, the suspects had been asked to lead the police to the scene but they took the investigators to a different location.
She said the body of the deceased was found in a state of decomposition, with multiple gunshot wounds on it.
“We combed everywhere but we could not find the body. The suspects said the deceased had bolted after he had been shot and could not tell if he died or not,” the police said.
According to the police PRO, it was after the discovery of the body that it was realised that Atta-Kwame and his accomplice had actually killed the ex-husband of his girlfriend.
The unregistered shotgun which was used in the act has since been retrieved.
The suspects have been remanded by a court to reappear on December 7, 2010.
HELP IDENTIFY CORPSE OF DROWNED WHITE LADY (PAGE 46, NOV 10, 2010)
THE police in the Jomoro District have been struggling to establish the identity and nationality of a young white woman whose body was washed ashore at Jomoro in the Western Region, on October 16, this year.
According to the police, the body of the woman, believed to have drowned, was washed ashore with almost all her long hair pulled off and parts of the body eaten by fish.
The police said their efforts to unravel the identity or nationality of the lady had been undermined by the fact that no identity card or anything to provide a clue was found on her.
They said they had enquired from hotels and guest houses in the area whether any guest had gone missing or any foreigner had checked in and not returned to their facility but there was no information to that effect.
The police said they were left with no other option than to secure a court order to bury the body.
They were of the view that the body had been in the water for more than three days and could not be kept any longer.
They said the police would, however, keep the clothes found on the body for further investigations.
According to the police, the body of the woman, believed to have drowned, was washed ashore with almost all her long hair pulled off and parts of the body eaten by fish.
The police said their efforts to unravel the identity or nationality of the lady had been undermined by the fact that no identity card or anything to provide a clue was found on her.
They said they had enquired from hotels and guest houses in the area whether any guest had gone missing or any foreigner had checked in and not returned to their facility but there was no information to that effect.
The police said they were left with no other option than to secure a court order to bury the body.
They were of the view that the body had been in the water for more than three days and could not be kept any longer.
They said the police would, however, keep the clothes found on the body for further investigations.
COCOA NO GO AREA (1B, NOV 10, 2010)
THOUSANDS of bags of cocoa and large quantities of foodstuffs are locked up in the northern part of the Western Region following perennial rains that have virtually rendered most of the roads in the area non-usable.
This has heightened fears that cocoa farmers in the area may send their produce to neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire for sale.
At the moment, the Enchi-Elubo road, which is used to transport cocoa and other farm produce from the area to buying centres, is cut off as a result of the rains, while the road from Samreboi through Mumuni-Camp to Prestea is not usable.
The most affected areas include Aowin Suaman, Amenfi West and East, Tikobo, Enchi and Elubo.
Other roads which have timber logs serving as bridges on them have been declared unsafe to be used because the logs are rotten.
On its visit to some of the affected areas, the Daily Graphic found that some of the roads had been completely swept away, leaving trenches in the middle of the roads.
Although the district chief executives in the affected areas managed to rally some support for the roads to be reshaped, the rains would not permit the contractors to undertake any serious work.
Even the roads that were awarded on contract by the Ministry of Roads and Highways could not be completed because of the bad weather.
The District Chief Executives (DCEs) in those cocoa-producing areas have, therefore, called on the sector ministry to intervene to help save the situation.
“The situation is now beyond our control and we need support from the national level,” they said.
Asked if the situation would not spark off the smuggling of cocoa to Cote d’Ivoire, the DCEs said the producer price announced recently by the government had significantly discouraged the practice.
They said the best thing to do now was to ensure that the roads were in good shape to help move the produce to the ports for shipment.
This has heightened fears that cocoa farmers in the area may send their produce to neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire for sale.
At the moment, the Enchi-Elubo road, which is used to transport cocoa and other farm produce from the area to buying centres, is cut off as a result of the rains, while the road from Samreboi through Mumuni-Camp to Prestea is not usable.
The most affected areas include Aowin Suaman, Amenfi West and East, Tikobo, Enchi and Elubo.
Other roads which have timber logs serving as bridges on them have been declared unsafe to be used because the logs are rotten.
On its visit to some of the affected areas, the Daily Graphic found that some of the roads had been completely swept away, leaving trenches in the middle of the roads.
Although the district chief executives in the affected areas managed to rally some support for the roads to be reshaped, the rains would not permit the contractors to undertake any serious work.
Even the roads that were awarded on contract by the Ministry of Roads and Highways could not be completed because of the bad weather.
The District Chief Executives (DCEs) in those cocoa-producing areas have, therefore, called on the sector ministry to intervene to help save the situation.
“The situation is now beyond our control and we need support from the national level,” they said.
Asked if the situation would not spark off the smuggling of cocoa to Cote d’Ivoire, the DCEs said the producer price announced recently by the government had significantly discouraged the practice.
They said the best thing to do now was to ensure that the roads were in good shape to help move the produce to the ports for shipment.
Friday, November 12, 2010
RESIDENTS REMOVE ROAD SIGNS, CULVERTS (PAGE 23, NOV 8, 2010)
MOST road signs in the Sekondi/Takoradi metropolis, especially, the central business district have been removed, while markings on the road have been blocked by traders who have displayed their wares on the road.
The shop owners have displayed their goods in front of their shops on the pavements an action which forces pedestrians to walk on the road, which is also risky.
Some shop owners have also erected canopies to cover the road signs, causing road safety problems for motorists.
All the signs on the road in front of Avor Hotel in Takoradi, had been removed while the one alerting motorists of a traffic light ahead has been covered with a canopy in front of a shop. Obviously, the shop owners do not see the importance of these road signs.
Some of the shop owners who spoke to the Daily Graphic said since they paid tax to the assembly, they had to operate their businesses in a manner that would enable them to accrue maximum profit to enable them to pay their taxes.
The shop owners have displayed their goods in front of their shops on the pavements an action which forces pedestrians to walk on the road, which is also risky.
Some shop owners have also erected canopies to cover the road signs, causing road safety problems for motorists.
All the signs on the road in front of Avor Hotel in Takoradi, had been removed while the one alerting motorists of a traffic light ahead has been covered with a canopy in front of a shop. Obviously, the shop owners do not see the importance of these road signs.
Some of the shop owners who spoke to the Daily Graphic said since they paid tax to the assembly, they had to operate their businesses in a manner that would enable them to accrue maximum profit to enable them to pay their taxes.
OIL FIND PRODUCES MIXED RESULTS (PAGE 23, NOV 8, 2010)
THE oil find could be said to be a blessing for the country.
Residents of the Twin-city of Sekondi/Takoradi, can however talk about some worrying issues when discussing the oil find.
Although the oil find has revitalised the long-lost vibrant economic activities in the metropolis, it has also resulted in increase in the cost of living which they have described as too high above the reach of the ordinary man.
There has been at increase in rents, prices of goods and services, while congestion has been created resulting in pressure on limited social amenities.
The rent of a three or two-bedroom house which used to be about GH¢50 and GH¢60 respectively, now is about GH¢100 with landlords demanding rent advance for three or four years, while other landlords charge rents in dollars.
Apart from utilities such as water, electricity and telephone, the prices of goods and services are determined by traders based on their profit margins.
The price of fish has also gone up. At the Sekondi landing beach, only takes the presence of oil service providers in their T-shirt to trigger the prices for fish.
Kojo K. Nsiah, a security man said he and other tenants were forced out of their house because the area was to be rehabilitated and rented out to an oil company.
“I was forced to separate from my family because I cannot compete, I have to perch with a friend to go to work and my salary is not more than GH¢90.00 so raising money to pay rent is a problem,” he lamented.
A drive through the metropolis indicate that most roads in the city are full of heavy duty trucks of oil companies, which are carting pipes and other logistics to the Navy Port at Sekondi or Takoradi Port.
One can count about eight different companies and other oil service providers located from the Paa Grant road to Nkrumah Roundabout.
There are other similar companies at the Shipper’s Authority Roundabout leading to the Takoradi Port.
City authorities seem to be overwhelmed by the situation and have not been able to come out with a solution to the problem of congestion.
Some residents have therefore appealed to the metropolitan assembly and the city authorities through its town and country planning unit to work effectively to ensure sanity on the roads and other commercial areas in the Twin-city.
They said that was necessary to ensure a conducive atmosphere in the central business district for other commercial activities.
Residents of the Twin-city of Sekondi/Takoradi, can however talk about some worrying issues when discussing the oil find.
Although the oil find has revitalised the long-lost vibrant economic activities in the metropolis, it has also resulted in increase in the cost of living which they have described as too high above the reach of the ordinary man.
There has been at increase in rents, prices of goods and services, while congestion has been created resulting in pressure on limited social amenities.
The rent of a three or two-bedroom house which used to be about GH¢50 and GH¢60 respectively, now is about GH¢100 with landlords demanding rent advance for three or four years, while other landlords charge rents in dollars.
Apart from utilities such as water, electricity and telephone, the prices of goods and services are determined by traders based on their profit margins.
The price of fish has also gone up. At the Sekondi landing beach, only takes the presence of oil service providers in their T-shirt to trigger the prices for fish.
Kojo K. Nsiah, a security man said he and other tenants were forced out of their house because the area was to be rehabilitated and rented out to an oil company.
“I was forced to separate from my family because I cannot compete, I have to perch with a friend to go to work and my salary is not more than GH¢90.00 so raising money to pay rent is a problem,” he lamented.
A drive through the metropolis indicate that most roads in the city are full of heavy duty trucks of oil companies, which are carting pipes and other logistics to the Navy Port at Sekondi or Takoradi Port.
One can count about eight different companies and other oil service providers located from the Paa Grant road to Nkrumah Roundabout.
There are other similar companies at the Shipper’s Authority Roundabout leading to the Takoradi Port.
City authorities seem to be overwhelmed by the situation and have not been able to come out with a solution to the problem of congestion.
Some residents have therefore appealed to the metropolitan assembly and the city authorities through its town and country planning unit to work effectively to ensure sanity on the roads and other commercial areas in the Twin-city.
They said that was necessary to ensure a conducive atmosphere in the central business district for other commercial activities.
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