From Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu,
Sekondi
The Western Regional Police Command has rebutted reports of an emerging militant group in the Western Region and assured the public that it had proactive measures in place to deal with such situations.
It said the police were on the ground on daily basis with intelligence on the ground in the communities and would, therefore, not be taken by surprise.
This follows reports that a group calling itself Cape Militia had emerged at Cape Three Points in the region, threatening mayhem if residents did not benefit from the oil revenues.
Speaking to The Mirror in Sekondi, the Western Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Hamidu Mahama, assured the nation that police intelligence was all over the districts and communities along the coast.
“We are always in touch with the people at the community level and the story reported by an Accra-based newspaper is not true,” he said.
“Our risk assessment covered all those areas even before the day of the first oil was announced and we are ready and the country should be rest assured,” he said.
He urged the media to take time to clear certain issues with the security agencies before going public in order not to send wrong signals to members of the larger community in the country and the world as a whole.
Alhaji Hamidu said the police was aware that peace was a priceless commodity and they would do everything to protect it.
Meanwhile, some chiefs in the affected communities have expressed shock at the story, describing it as baseless and calculated to discredit the people of the area.
“And we do not think that we will wait for an armed group to emerge in our communities and we will not report it to the law enforcement agencies.
“If we have issue with the oil revenue, which is yet to come or be declared, we will engage the state in a dialogue but not arm conflict,” they said.
Nana Kwesi Agyeman, chief of Lower Dixcove, said as a leader of the community, he would ensure that peace prevailed in the area.
The chief of Cape Three Points, Nana Akye-Kesse, expressed shock and questioned the motive for the publication.
Friday, October 29, 2010
EXPATRIATE SPITS ON COP (MIRROR, LEAD STORY, OCT 30, 2010)
From Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Sekondi
An expatriate worker who allegedly spat on a policeman and called him a black monkey when the policeman attempted to arrest him has finally been apprehended by the police.
Aankit Patel, who is said to be an American volunteer, was said to have engaged in the act after the policeman had tried to arrest him for allegedly jumping a red light in traffic.
The policeman later managed to arrest Patel and escorted his vehicle to the Central Police Station in Sekondi.
Upon his arrest, Patel was said to have confessed to the police that he had behaved rudely.
“I spat on him and called him a black monkey who was coming to extort money from me. I am sorry. I have apologised a million times to the officer, the Ghana Police Service and the great people of Ghana,” Patel was reported to have stated.
According to a police source, Patel jumped the red light at a traffic interception and ignored the police signal to pull over.
It said Patel met a slow moving traffice, so the policeman pursued and managed to call him to order.
It was in the course of arresting him that Patel allegedly engaged the policeman, Corporal William Donkor, in verbal exchanges.
“Is it not money you want, you black monkey? I can give you all the money you want. You came to arrest me because of money. How much do you want?” the suspect was said to have retorted.
When The Mirror got to the scene, angry onlookers expressed concern about the level of indiscipline in society, and also by some visitors to the country.
When contacted, the Western Regional Police Command confirmed the story and warned visitors to the country not to take the proverbial Ghanaian hospitality for granted.
“Traffic lights are universal and we expected the suspect to respect them. Even when he was at fault, he should have taken his time to listen to the officer,” one of the officials said.
The suspect was charged with offensive conduct and other traffic offences and would soon be arraigned.
An expatriate worker who allegedly spat on a policeman and called him a black monkey when the policeman attempted to arrest him has finally been apprehended by the police.
Aankit Patel, who is said to be an American volunteer, was said to have engaged in the act after the policeman had tried to arrest him for allegedly jumping a red light in traffic.
The policeman later managed to arrest Patel and escorted his vehicle to the Central Police Station in Sekondi.
Upon his arrest, Patel was said to have confessed to the police that he had behaved rudely.
“I spat on him and called him a black monkey who was coming to extort money from me. I am sorry. I have apologised a million times to the officer, the Ghana Police Service and the great people of Ghana,” Patel was reported to have stated.
According to a police source, Patel jumped the red light at a traffic interception and ignored the police signal to pull over.
It said Patel met a slow moving traffice, so the policeman pursued and managed to call him to order.
It was in the course of arresting him that Patel allegedly engaged the policeman, Corporal William Donkor, in verbal exchanges.
“Is it not money you want, you black monkey? I can give you all the money you want. You came to arrest me because of money. How much do you want?” the suspect was said to have retorted.
When The Mirror got to the scene, angry onlookers expressed concern about the level of indiscipline in society, and also by some visitors to the country.
When contacted, the Western Regional Police Command confirmed the story and warned visitors to the country not to take the proverbial Ghanaian hospitality for granted.
“Traffic lights are universal and we expected the suspect to respect them. Even when he was at fault, he should have taken his time to listen to the officer,” one of the officials said.
The suspect was charged with offensive conduct and other traffic offences and would soon be arraigned.
GAS PRODUCTION PROJECT TAKES OFF IN DECEMBER (PAGE 29, OCT 29, 2010)
THE country’s multi-million dollar gas production project has received a big boost with the award of a contract to pipe the natural gas to the shore.
The award went to Techip, the company which is currently working on the ongoing subsea structures for the jubilee project. The contract for the piping of the natural gas will cover the engineering, welding and installation of a 14 kilometer-long rigid steel flow lines.
The flow lines will be laid from the riser station at the Jubilee Fields with water depth of more than 900 meters deep.
According to the officer in charge of the gas commercialisation project at Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, (GNPC), Mr Victor Sunu-Attah, this will be followed with the extension of another 36km 12inches pipe from a 70 meters depth to the shore.
Mr Sunu-Attah maintained that even though the contract was awarded in the last half of the year it was still within schedule and explained that the project would commence by the end of December this year.
Mr Sunu-Attah said that after the completion of the piping project another 120km of 20-inch pipeline from Jomoro District to Aboadze as well as 38km of 12-inch pipeline from the plant to Effasu would be laid.
He said the commercialisation of the gas would accelerate economic development and support strategic activities within the petroleum processing industry in West Africa saying “The project would also restart the country’s strategic role as preferred exporter of power in the region”.
The Country Manager of Technip, Mr Stephan Sole said the project would also include the pipeline end termination (PLET), subsea structure to connect rigid flow line and flexible riser as well as the flow line that would constitute the deep water section of the pipeline.
He said Technip was occupying a leading position in the subsea-sector in the country would work within the time schedule.
The project, he said, would be carried out by one of its new pipe laying vessels Apache II with strict adherence to is safety and quality standards and this would be executed by the Technip group’s operating center in Paris, France and the flow line would be welded at Technip’s spool base in Mobile, Alabama.
He said the company was a world leader in the fields of project management, engineering and construction for the oil and gas industry, offering a comprehensive portfolio of innovative solutions and technologies.
The award went to Techip, the company which is currently working on the ongoing subsea structures for the jubilee project. The contract for the piping of the natural gas will cover the engineering, welding and installation of a 14 kilometer-long rigid steel flow lines.
The flow lines will be laid from the riser station at the Jubilee Fields with water depth of more than 900 meters deep.
According to the officer in charge of the gas commercialisation project at Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, (GNPC), Mr Victor Sunu-Attah, this will be followed with the extension of another 36km 12inches pipe from a 70 meters depth to the shore.
Mr Sunu-Attah maintained that even though the contract was awarded in the last half of the year it was still within schedule and explained that the project would commence by the end of December this year.
Mr Sunu-Attah said that after the completion of the piping project another 120km of 20-inch pipeline from Jomoro District to Aboadze as well as 38km of 12-inch pipeline from the plant to Effasu would be laid.
He said the commercialisation of the gas would accelerate economic development and support strategic activities within the petroleum processing industry in West Africa saying “The project would also restart the country’s strategic role as preferred exporter of power in the region”.
The Country Manager of Technip, Mr Stephan Sole said the project would also include the pipeline end termination (PLET), subsea structure to connect rigid flow line and flexible riser as well as the flow line that would constitute the deep water section of the pipeline.
He said Technip was occupying a leading position in the subsea-sector in the country would work within the time schedule.
The project, he said, would be carried out by one of its new pipe laying vessels Apache II with strict adherence to is safety and quality standards and this would be executed by the Technip group’s operating center in Paris, France and the flow line would be welded at Technip’s spool base in Mobile, Alabama.
He said the company was a world leader in the fields of project management, engineering and construction for the oil and gas industry, offering a comprehensive portfolio of innovative solutions and technologies.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
TEACHER JAILED 5 YEARS FOR RAPING STUDENT (BACK PAGE, OCT 28, 2010)
A senior high school teacher who raped a student at Prestea and blamed it on the devil and his uncontrollable libido has been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to the offence.
The convict, Eric Amankwah Marfo, told the Tarkwa Circuit Court that he had lured the victim into the room to discuss sex and that he had increased the volume of his sound system before raping her.
Marfo, who is a Home Economics teacher at the Prestea Senior High/Technical School, said while the music was playing, his neighbours thought he was celebrating the birth of his child while, in actual fact, he was having an affair with the student.
Passing judgement, the presiding judge, Mr Samuel Obeng Diawuo, deplored the conduct of the convict and said he had messed up his career.
The prosecution’s case was that the convict, who is married, sent for the student (name withheld) last Saturday and asked her to buy oranges for him.
On her return, the convict invited her to his room and engaged her in a discussion on sex before he forcibly had sex with her.
The prosecutor, Chief Inspector Edward Padi, said after going through the ordeal, the victim reported the case to her prefect and subsequently followed it up with a phone call to her parents, who reported Marfo to the police.
The convict, Eric Amankwah Marfo, told the Tarkwa Circuit Court that he had lured the victim into the room to discuss sex and that he had increased the volume of his sound system before raping her.
Marfo, who is a Home Economics teacher at the Prestea Senior High/Technical School, said while the music was playing, his neighbours thought he was celebrating the birth of his child while, in actual fact, he was having an affair with the student.
Passing judgement, the presiding judge, Mr Samuel Obeng Diawuo, deplored the conduct of the convict and said he had messed up his career.
The prosecution’s case was that the convict, who is married, sent for the student (name withheld) last Saturday and asked her to buy oranges for him.
On her return, the convict invited her to his room and engaged her in a discussion on sex before he forcibly had sex with her.
The prosecutor, Chief Inspector Edward Padi, said after going through the ordeal, the victim reported the case to her prefect and subsequently followed it up with a phone call to her parents, who reported Marfo to the police.
VRA FIXES DATE FOR SPILLAGE (SPREAD, OCT 28, 2010)
THE Volta River Authority (VRA) has indicated that the planned spillage of the Volta Lake will now take place on November 1, 2010 to avert any possible damage to the dam.
The decision is informed by the consistent rise in the water level, which now stands at 276.40ft, which is 1.4ft less than the allowable maximum level of the dam.
At a press conference in Takoradi yesterday, the Chief Executive Officer of VRA, Mr Kwaku Awotwi, said the spillage would be carried out in such a way that it would not be noticed and would not affect communities downstream of the lake.
“Considering the current rate of inflow, VRA intends to commence discharging small amounts of water in controlled manner in the event the lake level rises above 277ft, currently forecasted to be on or around that figure by November 1, 2010,” Mr Awotwi said,
However, as a safety measure, he said, VRA would be working with the communities along the lake and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).
To avert any possible disaster, Mr Awotwi said, the VRA would spill about 10,000 cubic feet of water per second and explained that at such a rate it would be difficult for the communities to notice the spillage.
The measure, he explained, was to ensure that VRA was not compelled to spill uncontrolled amount of water in the event that the lake level rose above 280ft, which is the maximum allowable level.
“This is to also obtain optimum protection for the communities downstream of the reservoir in line with meeting the objectives for the flood control,” Mr Awotwi added.
As a proactive measure, he said, the VRA had intensified its efforts at educating the general public on the exercise and the necessary precautionary measures in the event of any risk.
“We will ensure that communities are given sufficient notification and will provide continuous public announcements before, during and after the spillage.
The decision is informed by the consistent rise in the water level, which now stands at 276.40ft, which is 1.4ft less than the allowable maximum level of the dam.
At a press conference in Takoradi yesterday, the Chief Executive Officer of VRA, Mr Kwaku Awotwi, said the spillage would be carried out in such a way that it would not be noticed and would not affect communities downstream of the lake.
“Considering the current rate of inflow, VRA intends to commence discharging small amounts of water in controlled manner in the event the lake level rises above 277ft, currently forecasted to be on or around that figure by November 1, 2010,” Mr Awotwi said,
However, as a safety measure, he said, VRA would be working with the communities along the lake and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).
To avert any possible disaster, Mr Awotwi said, the VRA would spill about 10,000 cubic feet of water per second and explained that at such a rate it would be difficult for the communities to notice the spillage.
The measure, he explained, was to ensure that VRA was not compelled to spill uncontrolled amount of water in the event that the lake level rose above 280ft, which is the maximum allowable level.
“This is to also obtain optimum protection for the communities downstream of the reservoir in line with meeting the objectives for the flood control,” Mr Awotwi added.
As a proactive measure, he said, the VRA had intensified its efforts at educating the general public on the exercise and the necessary precautionary measures in the event of any risk.
“We will ensure that communities are given sufficient notification and will provide continuous public announcements before, during and after the spillage.
Faces of female aspirants -- In district assembly elections -- DORIS ESI COFIE
In Shama-Junction Electoral area, in the Shama District of the Western Region, Dories Esi Cofie said she would so everything to ensure continuous development of the area.
As a teacher, she said one of the serious problems she saw lack of educational facility in Ituma community in the Shama District, “I have therefore managed to bring school to the community which is taking care of the needs of the children.”
“Been an assembly member is not just for the sake of it, but to ensure that we help in deliberations that will advance the course of the district and to use our negotiation power source for funding and lobby the assembly for attention for our area,” she said.
She said one of the important things for the people in one of her communities was water and she had provided pipe borne water for people of Atse Village and public toilet for Public Toilet for the people Shama-Kumasi.
Work on Shama-Junction-Market she said was in progress and when elected she would continue to work closely with the assembly which had shown so much interest in the completion of the project to work on the market.
She said through her initiative, Komfoeku also had a six classroom which was supported by the Ghana Education Trust Fund. She called on the people of her electoral area to vote for her to continue her work.
4.
JOANA RITA YANKSON
An incumbent member for Mempeasem-Ngyiresia electoral Joana Rita Yankson, a business woman said she could use her strong bargaining power to lobby for development for her area.
She said during her term, she had lobbied for household toilets with the support from an NGO for the people of her community.
She said through the same support she managed to construct a water kiosk for the people to save the people from hardship they went through having access to water even though they were in the metropolis.
Joana said she also managed to lobby cement foundation for some cement for the completion of the junior high school block for Ngyiresia community.
She said the completion of the project had saved the community the problem the children went through in their quest to access education.
“I also managed to get support from the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly in the area of streetlight to Ngyiresian Penyin New Site,” she said.
Madam Yankson said one of the problems for women in the community was access to loan since they could not compete with companies in the traditional banking system.
She said loan was contracted from Daasgift Foundation to the women in the community to ensure that they stayed in business.
The aspiring said she was also involved in the lobbying for support for 17 needy children in Mempeasem.
As a teacher, she said one of the serious problems she saw lack of educational facility in Ituma community in the Shama District, “I have therefore managed to bring school to the community which is taking care of the needs of the children.”
“Been an assembly member is not just for the sake of it, but to ensure that we help in deliberations that will advance the course of the district and to use our negotiation power source for funding and lobby the assembly for attention for our area,” she said.
She said one of the important things for the people in one of her communities was water and she had provided pipe borne water for people of Atse Village and public toilet for Public Toilet for the people Shama-Kumasi.
Work on Shama-Junction-Market she said was in progress and when elected she would continue to work closely with the assembly which had shown so much interest in the completion of the project to work on the market.
She said through her initiative, Komfoeku also had a six classroom which was supported by the Ghana Education Trust Fund. She called on the people of her electoral area to vote for her to continue her work.
4.
JOANA RITA YANKSON
An incumbent member for Mempeasem-Ngyiresia electoral Joana Rita Yankson, a business woman said she could use her strong bargaining power to lobby for development for her area.
She said during her term, she had lobbied for household toilets with the support from an NGO for the people of her community.
She said through the same support she managed to construct a water kiosk for the people to save the people from hardship they went through having access to water even though they were in the metropolis.
Joana said she also managed to lobby cement foundation for some cement for the completion of the junior high school block for Ngyiresia community.
She said the completion of the project had saved the community the problem the children went through in their quest to access education.
“I also managed to get support from the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly in the area of streetlight to Ngyiresian Penyin New Site,” she said.
Madam Yankson said one of the problems for women in the community was access to loan since they could not compete with companies in the traditional banking system.
She said loan was contracted from Daasgift Foundation to the women in the community to ensure that they stayed in business.
The aspiring said she was also involved in the lobbying for support for 17 needy children in Mempeasem.
Faces of female aspirants -- In district assembly elections -- MARGARET TAKYI
Ms Margaret Takyi, a teacher, said one reason why she wants to contest this year’s assembly election was to offer her selfless service to the people in the Kofi Gyan Electoral Area in the Prestea Huni-Vally District Assembly.
She said if given the nod, she would continue the projects already initiated: The electrification project and to educate the people to ensure that the high electricity bill was reduced.
She said education form the basis for everything if this world, therefore, aside the electrification project, she would raise fund for the completion of the six classroom block with as store, an office and 52 pieces of dual desk provided by the assembly.
Ms Takyi said the No.16 Acqua Privy toilet project at Yareyeya and the market stalls at Akodom yet to be commissioned would be executed.
“I will also ensure that the No.2 CHIP Compound at Huri-Amo to be completed to ensure the health needs of the people in the community is addressed,” she assured.
She said she is very much aware of the importance of service and would do everything to ensure that at the end of her turner if she should win became unforgettable.
The aspiring member said she would also work hard to protect the interest of women and children and encourage the community to take interest in education of their children.
Ms Takyi promised to play active role in the assembly to ensure equal development of the area.
She said if given the nod, she would continue the projects already initiated: The electrification project and to educate the people to ensure that the high electricity bill was reduced.
She said education form the basis for everything if this world, therefore, aside the electrification project, she would raise fund for the completion of the six classroom block with as store, an office and 52 pieces of dual desk provided by the assembly.
Ms Takyi said the No.16 Acqua Privy toilet project at Yareyeya and the market stalls at Akodom yet to be commissioned would be executed.
“I will also ensure that the No.2 CHIP Compound at Huri-Amo to be completed to ensure the health needs of the people in the community is addressed,” she assured.
She said she is very much aware of the importance of service and would do everything to ensure that at the end of her turner if she should win became unforgettable.
The aspiring member said she would also work hard to protect the interest of women and children and encourage the community to take interest in education of their children.
Ms Takyi promised to play active role in the assembly to ensure equal development of the area.
Faces of female aspirants -- In district assembly elections, CYNTHIA SONEKAN
CYNTHIA SONEKAN
A self motivated business woman and assembly member for Bortogyena electoral area in the Mpohor Wassa East of the Western Region, Ms Cynthia Sonekan, is seeking re-election in the upcoming district assembly election slated for December 2010.
Miss Sonekan is also a member of the Women-In-Law and Development in Africa’s (WiLDAF) Literacy Volunteer programme and had offered herself to protect the interest of members of her community.
With creative and action oriented attitude, she has successfully raised more than GHc3,000 from Barclays Bank and used the money to provide portable water for the Wassa Mampong community.
She also provided Bortogyena with public address system, 15 bicycles for pupils from far communities to attend school, 60 bags of cement from Ghacem Foundation and the completion of three unit classroom blocks her electoral area.
In the Wassa Mampong Community, Ms Sonekan became very popular and was described by the chiefs and people of the community as loving and God sent.
She said “Water is life and whoever brings water brings life. Members of the community especially women spend a whole day looking for water and it is heartwarming for to see the people hitherto struggle for water now have one of the life’s most indispensable commodity water close to them.”
Already member of the assembly and a member of WiLDAF, Ms Sonekan used her position to embark on community outreach to educate the people on marital, domestic violence, intestate succession law.
“The very people I help with my “little legal skills” turnout to campaign for me during the local government elections and I won,” she said.
Ms Sonekan said if retained, should continue to render selfless service to members of the community help to ensure that only the best came to the people.
“I will not let the people down; I will be an active member of the assembly to and work together with other member to ensure that the right decisions were taking in the interest of the people.
A self motivated business woman and assembly member for Bortogyena electoral area in the Mpohor Wassa East of the Western Region, Ms Cynthia Sonekan, is seeking re-election in the upcoming district assembly election slated for December 2010.
Miss Sonekan is also a member of the Women-In-Law and Development in Africa’s (WiLDAF) Literacy Volunteer programme and had offered herself to protect the interest of members of her community.
With creative and action oriented attitude, she has successfully raised more than GHc3,000 from Barclays Bank and used the money to provide portable water for the Wassa Mampong community.
She also provided Bortogyena with public address system, 15 bicycles for pupils from far communities to attend school, 60 bags of cement from Ghacem Foundation and the completion of three unit classroom blocks her electoral area.
In the Wassa Mampong Community, Ms Sonekan became very popular and was described by the chiefs and people of the community as loving and God sent.
She said “Water is life and whoever brings water brings life. Members of the community especially women spend a whole day looking for water and it is heartwarming for to see the people hitherto struggle for water now have one of the life’s most indispensable commodity water close to them.”
Already member of the assembly and a member of WiLDAF, Ms Sonekan used her position to embark on community outreach to educate the people on marital, domestic violence, intestate succession law.
“The very people I help with my “little legal skills” turnout to campaign for me during the local government elections and I won,” she said.
Ms Sonekan said if retained, should continue to render selfless service to members of the community help to ensure that only the best came to the people.
“I will not let the people down; I will be an active member of the assembly to and work together with other member to ensure that the right decisions were taking in the interest of the people.
VRA fixes date for spillage (page 49)
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Aboadze
Volta River Authority has announced its plan-spill of the Volta Lake to by November 1, 2010 in smaller quantities to avert any disaster for communities as the current level stands at 277ft.
They have also assured the country that they quantities that would spill would not be noticed and would not have any effect on communities downstream of the lake.
However, as a safety measure, VRA would be working with the communities along the lake and the National Disaster Management Organization, districts to be on the standby for any eventuality.
It said it would spilling about 10,00 cubic feet per second which would be difficult to noticed.
Speaking to the media in Takoradi, the Chief Executive of VRA Mr. Kwaku Awotwi said “considering the current rate of inflow, VRA intends to commence discharging small amounts of water in controlled manner in the event the lake level rises above 277ft, currently forecasted to be on or around that figure by November 1, 2010.
He said the current level of lake as at today, October 27 was 276.40ft which is the highest on the record of VRA therefore it was important to spill a step below the maximum level.
The measure he said was to ensure that VRA was not forced to spill uncontrolled amount of water in the event that the lake level rises above 280ft which was the maximum allowable level.
“This is to also optimum protection for the communities downstream of the reservoir in line with meeting the objectives for the flood control,” Mr Awotwi added.
He further explained that the small discharge currently planned, was not expected that any communities downstream will be affected, “however, VRA is collaborating closely with the communities, district assemblies and NADMO to provide appropriate and adequate information when the need arises and mitigate any effects accordingly.”
As a proactive measure, he said VRA was intensifying its communication efforts to the general public especially those from downstream most likely to be at risk, saying:
“We will ensure that communities are given sufficient noticification and will provide continuous public announcements before, during and after the spillage.
The chief executive also explained that could be using the same channel of generating units which would be increase 10,000 cubic feet per second.
Therefore the spill would not carry that amount of pressure that could rush people out of communities downstream.
He expressed the hope that with the signs of the rainy season over they had to still monitor until the said date in November to spill.
Volta River Authority has announced its plan-spill of the Volta Lake to by November 1, 2010 in smaller quantities to avert any disaster for communities as the current level stands at 277ft.
They have also assured the country that they quantities that would spill would not be noticed and would not have any effect on communities downstream of the lake.
However, as a safety measure, VRA would be working with the communities along the lake and the National Disaster Management Organization, districts to be on the standby for any eventuality.
It said it would spilling about 10,00 cubic feet per second which would be difficult to noticed.
Speaking to the media in Takoradi, the Chief Executive of VRA Mr. Kwaku Awotwi said “considering the current rate of inflow, VRA intends to commence discharging small amounts of water in controlled manner in the event the lake level rises above 277ft, currently forecasted to be on or around that figure by November 1, 2010.
He said the current level of lake as at today, October 27 was 276.40ft which is the highest on the record of VRA therefore it was important to spill a step below the maximum level.
The measure he said was to ensure that VRA was not forced to spill uncontrolled amount of water in the event that the lake level rises above 280ft which was the maximum allowable level.
“This is to also optimum protection for the communities downstream of the reservoir in line with meeting the objectives for the flood control,” Mr Awotwi added.
He further explained that the small discharge currently planned, was not expected that any communities downstream will be affected, “however, VRA is collaborating closely with the communities, district assemblies and NADMO to provide appropriate and adequate information when the need arises and mitigate any effects accordingly.”
As a proactive measure, he said VRA was intensifying its communication efforts to the general public especially those from downstream most likely to be at risk, saying:
“We will ensure that communities are given sufficient noticification and will provide continuous public announcements before, during and after the spillage.
The chief executive also explained that could be using the same channel of generating units which would be increase 10,000 cubic feet per second.
Therefore the spill would not carry that amount of pressure that could rush people out of communities downstream.
He expressed the hope that with the signs of the rainy season over they had to still monitor until the said date in November to spill.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
COCOA FARMERS INTER-CROP WITH COMMERCIAL TREES (BACK PAGE, OCT 27, 2010)
Cocoa farmers in the Western Region have introduced innovations by interspersing cocoa trees with timber species to maximise returns on their agricultural ventures.
The initiative, which has been made possible under the farm forest project of CARE-Ghana, is also intended to save the dwindling timber species and forest cover in the region.
So far about 700,000 highly valued economic trees, including Mahogany, Afram, Wawa, Odum, and Emire, have been planted in the cocoa farms.
More than $400,000 has so far been spent on the project, which began about two years ago in more than 50 communities in the Jomoro, Sefwi Wiawso, Juaboso, Wassa Amenfi, and Sefwi Akontobrah districts, as well as the Tarkwa Nsuaem municipality.
The visiting Royal Prince of Denmark, Prince Joachiem, who is also the patron of CARE- Denmark, which is supporting the project, has inspected some of the pilot farms in some of the communities.
The farmers who signed onto the project earlier are reaping the benefits now as timber companies have already deposited huge sums of money awaiting the trees to mature.
Mr Ben Arthur of CARE-Ghana office in the Western Region said the focus of the project was to ensure that the farmers, apart from the benefits of bumper cocoa harvest, could also sell the timber to gain extra income in future.
He said research had shown that the timber species could be planted in between the cocoa trees and that while the farmer harvested the fruits from the cocoa tree he would also have the opportunity of harvesting these trees after 25 years or more.
Prince Joachim commended the farmers for embracing the project to preserve and protect nature.
The initiative, which has been made possible under the farm forest project of CARE-Ghana, is also intended to save the dwindling timber species and forest cover in the region.
So far about 700,000 highly valued economic trees, including Mahogany, Afram, Wawa, Odum, and Emire, have been planted in the cocoa farms.
More than $400,000 has so far been spent on the project, which began about two years ago in more than 50 communities in the Jomoro, Sefwi Wiawso, Juaboso, Wassa Amenfi, and Sefwi Akontobrah districts, as well as the Tarkwa Nsuaem municipality.
The visiting Royal Prince of Denmark, Prince Joachiem, who is also the patron of CARE- Denmark, which is supporting the project, has inspected some of the pilot farms in some of the communities.
The farmers who signed onto the project earlier are reaping the benefits now as timber companies have already deposited huge sums of money awaiting the trees to mature.
Mr Ben Arthur of CARE-Ghana office in the Western Region said the focus of the project was to ensure that the farmers, apart from the benefits of bumper cocoa harvest, could also sell the timber to gain extra income in future.
He said research had shown that the timber species could be planted in between the cocoa trees and that while the farmer harvested the fruits from the cocoa tree he would also have the opportunity of harvesting these trees after 25 years or more.
Prince Joachim commended the farmers for embracing the project to preserve and protect nature.
OH NO, THESE ILLEGAL MINERS (1B, OCT 27, 2010)
EQUIPMENT mounted on River Ankobra by illegal miners, believed to be Chinese, and their Ghanaian accomplices at Adansi in the Wassa Amenfi East District in the Western Region.
The miners continue to pollute the river with dangerous chemicals such as mercury and cyanide, thereby endangering the lives of thousands of people in communities who depend on the river for their main source of drinking water.
In addition to the mining machinery, which they have mounted on the river, they also use heavy-duty earth-moving machines to divert part of the river in order to carry out their mining activities.
The illegal miners operate at night to escape being arrested by the Wassa Amenfi East Assembly and the security agencies.
After polluting the diverted water, it is then released back into the main river which flows down to the communities from the Amenfi East areas through Dominase to the estuary in the Ellembelle District.
When the Daily Graphic got to Dekoto in the Wassa Amenfi East District, after an hour and half drive on a torturous road, the colour of the water which the people drink had changed to yellow.
Their activities have also created serious environmental problems since the green vegetative cover in these communities in the deepest part of the northern part of the Western Region and large tract of farmlands have been destroyed.
Monday, October 25, 2010
KESSBEN THRASH BA STARS 3-1 (BACK PAGE, OCT 25, 2010)
Kessben FC yesterday maintained their lead after handing BA Stars a 3-1 defeat at the Sekondi Stadium amidst rowdy scenes by fans in the stands.
Kessben’s goals were scored by James Boadu in the sixth and 65th minutes and a contentious penalty well executed by Hans Kwofie in the 46th minute.
BA Stars piled pressure on the homesters after the opener and scored their goal on the 27th minute through Daniel Larbi-Coomson.
A 75th minute BA Stars goal disallowed by referee E.R. Biney caused pandemonium in the stands, requiring the intervention of the police to bring things under control.
Kessben’s goals were scored by James Boadu in the sixth and 65th minutes and a contentious penalty well executed by Hans Kwofie in the 46th minute.
BA Stars piled pressure on the homesters after the opener and scored their goal on the 27th minute through Daniel Larbi-Coomson.
A 75th minute BA Stars goal disallowed by referee E.R. Biney caused pandemonium in the stands, requiring the intervention of the police to bring things under control.
JUBILEE FIELD 92% READY (PAGE 3, OCT 25, 2010)
Work on the installation of equipment at the Jubilee Field for the commercial production of oil is 92 per cent complete, the Director of Exploration and Production at the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Mr Thomas Manu, has said.
The few remaining installations, constituting eight per cent of the total work, will be completed by the end of this month.
At the moment, all the subsea production equipment has been installed on the sea bed by Technip.
Additionally, eight out of the nine flexible risers have been installed, giving high hopes to the country and the Jubilee partners that the first oil will flow in the last quarter of the year.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Mr Manu said the fixing of the production equipment on top of the wells was a good sign and an indication that the first oil would be produced this quarter.
He said work had progressed steadily according to plan and that at the moment the company doing the subsea installation was linking the risers from the seabed to the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah.
Mr Manu said after the installation, there would be a period of testing and inauguration of the equipment before the commencement of production.
Asked if the 120,000 barrels of oil a day would be produced from the initial stage, he said it would take some months to reach that target.
“It will be a gradual process before it is opened for the full production of our daily target of 120,000bd,” he said.
Production is expected to double to 240,000 barrels a day after the completion of Phase II in 2014.
Ghana’s share, represented by the ,GNPC, is 13.75 per cent.
Other partners in the project include Tullow Ghana, 34.70 per cent; Kosmos, 23.49 per cent; Anadarko, 23.49 per cent; Sabre, 2.81 per cent and the E. O. Group, 1.75 per cent.
The few remaining installations, constituting eight per cent of the total work, will be completed by the end of this month.
At the moment, all the subsea production equipment has been installed on the sea bed by Technip.
Additionally, eight out of the nine flexible risers have been installed, giving high hopes to the country and the Jubilee partners that the first oil will flow in the last quarter of the year.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Mr Manu said the fixing of the production equipment on top of the wells was a good sign and an indication that the first oil would be produced this quarter.
He said work had progressed steadily according to plan and that at the moment the company doing the subsea installation was linking the risers from the seabed to the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah.
Mr Manu said after the installation, there would be a period of testing and inauguration of the equipment before the commencement of production.
Asked if the 120,000 barrels of oil a day would be produced from the initial stage, he said it would take some months to reach that target.
“It will be a gradual process before it is opened for the full production of our daily target of 120,000bd,” he said.
Production is expected to double to 240,000 barrels a day after the completion of Phase II in 2014.
Ghana’s share, represented by the ,GNPC, is 13.75 per cent.
Other partners in the project include Tullow Ghana, 34.70 per cent; Kosmos, 23.49 per cent; Anadarko, 23.49 per cent; Sabre, 2.81 per cent and the E. O. Group, 1.75 per cent.
AOWIN-SUAMAN EXCEEDS REVENUE TARGET (PAGE 29, OCT 23, 2010)
THE Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Asutifi Rural Bank Limited, Mr Kofi Bonsu Boakye-Boateng has suggested to the ARB Apex Bank Limited to establish what he termed “ a mini Stock Exchange” solely for Rural and Community Banks (RCBs) where the share of these banks could be traded.
That, he said would enable the RCBs to raise the needed capital and also enable non-resident citizens desirous to have some kind of investment back home to own shares in these banks.
Mr Boakye-Boateng made the suggestion at the 22nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the bank at Acherensua in the Asutifi District of the Brong Ahafo Region.
He noted that one area posing a serious challenge to most RCBs was the build-up of the appropriate minimum stated capital level of GH¢150,000 set up by the Bank of Ghana and one of the ways to meet this requirement was the proposed “mini stock exchange” .
Mr Boakye-Boateng further proposed that another way shareholders could help to build share capital for their banks was to publicly convert cash donations and cash gifts at social functions into quantities that are equivalent to ordinary shares for the beneficiary.
Presenting the report of the bank for the year under review, Mr Anthony Yaw Oppong, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, said the bank made profit after tax of Gh¢51,107.73 for the year ended December 31, 2009.
He indicated that the total assets of the bank also increased from GH¢1,299,722.88 in 2008 to GH¢2,121,059.58 in 2009.
Mr Francis Boateng, who deputised for the Managing Director of ARB Apex Bank Limited, Mr Eric Osei Bonsu, commended the bank for its impressive performance over the years.
He advised the board and management of the bank to strive to always improve on services to maintain the ever- growing competition in the banking industry and urged the bank to brace up for the challenge of migrating from manual operation to a computerised environment.
Mr Osei-Bonsu further advised rural banks to keep abreast of issues at the banking front and embrace corporate mergers and commended the Asutifi Rural Bank for including merger talks in its agenda and expressed the hope that it would be among the first rural banks to embrace and take steps to merge with some other rural banks.
That, he said would enable the RCBs to raise the needed capital and also enable non-resident citizens desirous to have some kind of investment back home to own shares in these banks.
Mr Boakye-Boateng made the suggestion at the 22nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the bank at Acherensua in the Asutifi District of the Brong Ahafo Region.
He noted that one area posing a serious challenge to most RCBs was the build-up of the appropriate minimum stated capital level of GH¢150,000 set up by the Bank of Ghana and one of the ways to meet this requirement was the proposed “mini stock exchange” .
Mr Boakye-Boateng further proposed that another way shareholders could help to build share capital for their banks was to publicly convert cash donations and cash gifts at social functions into quantities that are equivalent to ordinary shares for the beneficiary.
Presenting the report of the bank for the year under review, Mr Anthony Yaw Oppong, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, said the bank made profit after tax of Gh¢51,107.73 for the year ended December 31, 2009.
He indicated that the total assets of the bank also increased from GH¢1,299,722.88 in 2008 to GH¢2,121,059.58 in 2009.
Mr Francis Boateng, who deputised for the Managing Director of ARB Apex Bank Limited, Mr Eric Osei Bonsu, commended the bank for its impressive performance over the years.
He advised the board and management of the bank to strive to always improve on services to maintain the ever- growing competition in the banking industry and urged the bank to brace up for the challenge of migrating from manual operation to a computerised environment.
Mr Osei-Bonsu further advised rural banks to keep abreast of issues at the banking front and embrace corporate mergers and commended the Asutifi Rural Bank for including merger talks in its agenda and expressed the hope that it would be among the first rural banks to embrace and take steps to merge with some other rural banks.
Friday, October 22, 2010
ALL SET FOR MULTI-MILLION GAS PROJECT AT BONYERE IN WR (PAGE 19, OCT 22, 2010)
THE multi-million dollar gas processing plant at Bonyere in readiness for the first natural gas from the Jubilee Field in the Western Region has received the full backing of landowners and chiefs from Nzemaland.
This followed an initial protest by farmers after they were said to have been misinformed by an NGO that a chunk of their land would be taken and crops destroyed without appropriate compensation paid to them.
The communities were said to have acted on that after a survey at the project site in Bonyere indicated that some individual farms would be affected and started to demonstrate against the establishment of the plant.
But at a meeting with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), the Ministry of Energy, chiefs and the district assembly at the weekend, the people said, “We have rescinded our earlier protest against the commencement of work and we do not want the project to be relocated to another district.”
The project, which is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency, will address issues such as environmental and social impact assessment studies for the offshore aspect of the project to be carried out by Continental Shelf Associates.
Also the resettlement framework policy study contract which will take care of the environmental and social management framework study has been awarded.
For his part, the Deputy Minister of Energy, Mr Emmanuel Kofi Arma Buah, who brokered the deal, said the aim of the government was to protect the interest of the country and the people living in the area.
He said the natural gas project would generate employment and create new infrastructure to support a vibrant petroleum and petrochemical industry in the country.
The deputy minister said the commercialisation of the gas would also provide a new economic growth pole for the country and proposed a local co-ordinating team to support the project.
For their part, the chiefs and people said Western Nzema was not against investment in the area or any part of the region; rather what happened was due to miscommunication.
The Omanahen of the Western Nzema Traditional Area, Awulae Annor Adjae, expressed disappointment at the action and called on all to ensure peace and to support the project.
This followed an initial protest by farmers after they were said to have been misinformed by an NGO that a chunk of their land would be taken and crops destroyed without appropriate compensation paid to them.
The communities were said to have acted on that after a survey at the project site in Bonyere indicated that some individual farms would be affected and started to demonstrate against the establishment of the plant.
But at a meeting with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), the Ministry of Energy, chiefs and the district assembly at the weekend, the people said, “We have rescinded our earlier protest against the commencement of work and we do not want the project to be relocated to another district.”
The project, which is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency, will address issues such as environmental and social impact assessment studies for the offshore aspect of the project to be carried out by Continental Shelf Associates.
Also the resettlement framework policy study contract which will take care of the environmental and social management framework study has been awarded.
For his part, the Deputy Minister of Energy, Mr Emmanuel Kofi Arma Buah, who brokered the deal, said the aim of the government was to protect the interest of the country and the people living in the area.
He said the natural gas project would generate employment and create new infrastructure to support a vibrant petroleum and petrochemical industry in the country.
The deputy minister said the commercialisation of the gas would also provide a new economic growth pole for the country and proposed a local co-ordinating team to support the project.
For their part, the chiefs and people said Western Nzema was not against investment in the area or any part of the region; rather what happened was due to miscommunication.
The Omanahen of the Western Nzema Traditional Area, Awulae Annor Adjae, expressed disappointment at the action and called on all to ensure peace and to support the project.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
UNCONTROLLED MOVEMENT OF ANIMALS TROUBLES MOTORISTS (PAGE 29, OCT 21, 2010)
Local herdsmen in Sekondi/Takoradi are making driving in the metropolis unsafe due to the uncontrolled movement of animals on the streets.
Some animals are also left to move indiscriminately in the metropolis without herdsmen.
The herdsmen move the animals from the New Takoradi side of the metropolis to graze without considering the inconveniences to the motoring public in the twin-city.
In their quest to move these animals, mainly cattle, sheep and goat, the herdsmen ignore all drivers and allow the animals to cross the roads.
In a very rude manner, these herdsmen hurl insults at motorists who try to draw their attention to the need to keep the animals off the road.
Recently, at the Paa Grant Roundabout in Takoradi, traffic was halted for more than 30 minutes to allow the animals cross the road. Interestingly, the roundabout links emergency centres of Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital, Kwesimintsim Polyclinic and Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) Hospital, as well as the fire station.
Residents have appealed to city authorities and the relevant institutions to take positive steps to address the problem.
Some animals are also left to move indiscriminately in the metropolis without herdsmen.
The herdsmen move the animals from the New Takoradi side of the metropolis to graze without considering the inconveniences to the motoring public in the twin-city.
In their quest to move these animals, mainly cattle, sheep and goat, the herdsmen ignore all drivers and allow the animals to cross the roads.
In a very rude manner, these herdsmen hurl insults at motorists who try to draw their attention to the need to keep the animals off the road.
Recently, at the Paa Grant Roundabout in Takoradi, traffic was halted for more than 30 minutes to allow the animals cross the road. Interestingly, the roundabout links emergency centres of Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital, Kwesimintsim Polyclinic and Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) Hospital, as well as the fire station.
Residents have appealed to city authorities and the relevant institutions to take positive steps to address the problem.
NAVY VOWS TO ENFORCE FISHERIES LAW (PAGE 29, OCT 21, 2010)
The Western Naval Command, in collaboration with the National Fisheries Commission, has vowed to enforce the new Fisheries Law to protect fish stock.
In this respect, fishermen who employ unacceptable means of fishing, such as use of light, dynamite and poisonous substances, have been warned to desist from the practice or face arrest and prosecution.
The Flag Officer Fleet (FOF) of the Western Naval Command in charge of Ghana Navy Ship, Commodore Godson Zowonoo, gave the warning when Navy officers arrested seven boats using high powered generators for fishing.
He said the naval vessels were on a normal patrol in the night to protect the country's coasts and they encountered the boats which were carrying the high- powered generators in order to produce light to attract fish.
Commodore Zowonoo said the Fisheries Regulations 2010 (LI 1968) which came into force last August states that, "A person shall not within the fishery waters of this country use any fishing method that aggregates fish by light attraction, including use of portable generator, switchboard, bulbs beyond 500 watts or bulbs whose cumulative light intensity attracts fish and long cable to facilitate light production or any other contrivance for the purpose of aggregating fish by light."
He said the Navy would not look on unconcerned for fishermen to break the law with impunity.
Commodore Zowonoo said some of the boats arrested had inscriptions or names such as 'Nyame Boa', 'Nkansah', '205 Aboasie', '150 Messiah', 'Accra Boys', 'Thank You Jesus' and 'King Jesus,'.
"Now the fisheries regulation is in operation and we urge all fishermen to abide by these regulations so that the fishing industry could be preserved for future generations," he said.
In this respect, fishermen who employ unacceptable means of fishing, such as use of light, dynamite and poisonous substances, have been warned to desist from the practice or face arrest and prosecution.
The Flag Officer Fleet (FOF) of the Western Naval Command in charge of Ghana Navy Ship, Commodore Godson Zowonoo, gave the warning when Navy officers arrested seven boats using high powered generators for fishing.
He said the naval vessels were on a normal patrol in the night to protect the country's coasts and they encountered the boats which were carrying the high- powered generators in order to produce light to attract fish.
Commodore Zowonoo said the Fisheries Regulations 2010 (LI 1968) which came into force last August states that, "A person shall not within the fishery waters of this country use any fishing method that aggregates fish by light attraction, including use of portable generator, switchboard, bulbs beyond 500 watts or bulbs whose cumulative light intensity attracts fish and long cable to facilitate light production or any other contrivance for the purpose of aggregating fish by light."
He said the Navy would not look on unconcerned for fishermen to break the law with impunity.
Commodore Zowonoo said some of the boats arrested had inscriptions or names such as 'Nyame Boa', 'Nkansah', '205 Aboasie', '150 Messiah', 'Accra Boys', 'Thank You Jesus' and 'King Jesus,'.
"Now the fisheries regulation is in operation and we urge all fishermen to abide by these regulations so that the fishing industry could be preserved for future generations," he said.
POLICE GRAB CATTLE DEALER WITH AK47 RIFLES (PAGE 29, OCT 21, 2010)
The Western Regional Police Command has arrested a cattle dealer who had in his possession two AK47 rifles fully loaded with ammunition.
The suspect, Saliu Mohammed, was arrested after he approached a policeman and asked if he could help him procure some AK47 rifles with fully loaded magazines.
The policeman therefore feigned interest in the deal and promised to get him two, each for GH¢400.00 .
The suspect, who was in the company of an agent from Takoradi, was arrested after he paid for the gun and skilfully dismantled and packed the weapon. His accomplice, however, managed to escape.
The suspect told the police that he was a trader who brought animals from the north to the south to sell and then used the money to purchase arms for the north.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Alhaji Hamidu Mahama, said they had information about the activities of some people buying guns and transporting them to the north. He said they did not take the issue lightly and therefore pursued it.
He said through their investigation, they were able to locate where the transaction would be taking place and sent men to lay ambush around the area.
He said fortunately the buyer appeared and the deal was struck after the amount and the place were agreed upon.
Alhaji Mahama said at about 10a.m. on the day in question, the suspect appeared with a guarantor, since he could not raise the GH¢800.00 for the two guns.
The regional commander gave an assurance that his men were ready to protect the interest of the public. He urged members of the general public to ensure that criminal activities were reported to the police, saying "public co-operation was vital to modern-day policing and the police value information from the public".
The regional police commander said the suspect had been remanded in custody, stressing that the police would intensify investigations to arrest his accomplice.
The suspect, Saliu Mohammed, was arrested after he approached a policeman and asked if he could help him procure some AK47 rifles with fully loaded magazines.
The policeman therefore feigned interest in the deal and promised to get him two, each for GH¢400.00 .
The suspect, who was in the company of an agent from Takoradi, was arrested after he paid for the gun and skilfully dismantled and packed the weapon. His accomplice, however, managed to escape.
The suspect told the police that he was a trader who brought animals from the north to the south to sell and then used the money to purchase arms for the north.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Alhaji Hamidu Mahama, said they had information about the activities of some people buying guns and transporting them to the north. He said they did not take the issue lightly and therefore pursued it.
He said through their investigation, they were able to locate where the transaction would be taking place and sent men to lay ambush around the area.
He said fortunately the buyer appeared and the deal was struck after the amount and the place were agreed upon.
Alhaji Mahama said at about 10a.m. on the day in question, the suspect appeared with a guarantor, since he could not raise the GH¢800.00 for the two guns.
The regional commander gave an assurance that his men were ready to protect the interest of the public. He urged members of the general public to ensure that criminal activities were reported to the police, saying "public co-operation was vital to modern-day policing and the police value information from the public".
The regional police commander said the suspect had been remanded in custody, stressing that the police would intensify investigations to arrest his accomplice.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
TIDAL WAVES DISPLACE MANY ON WEST COAST (BACK PAGE, OCT 19, 2010)
HIGH tidal waves sweeping the coastline of the Western Region have rendered many people homeless and caused damage to many canoes at Dixcove in the Ahanta West District.
More than 500 houses have so far been damaged by the high waves.
The community was selected in 2008 as one of 14 other landing beaches to be provided fishing ports with quays, administrative buildings, net mending sheds, ice making plants, fuel depots, toilets and power stations.
The project is, however, yet to begin.
The chief of Lower Dixcove, Nana Kwesi Agyemang, described the situation as serious and expressed the fear that there could be an outbreak of a disease.
He said the only solution was the construction of the sea defence and landing beach, as well as the relocation of some of the houses that were on the verge of collapse.
More than 500 houses have so far been damaged by the high waves.
The community was selected in 2008 as one of 14 other landing beaches to be provided fishing ports with quays, administrative buildings, net mending sheds, ice making plants, fuel depots, toilets and power stations.
The project is, however, yet to begin.
The chief of Lower Dixcove, Nana Kwesi Agyemang, described the situation as serious and expressed the fear that there could be an outbreak of a disease.
He said the only solution was the construction of the sea defence and landing beach, as well as the relocation of some of the houses that were on the verge of collapse.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
ADVERTISERS ERECT BILLBOARDS INDISCRIMINATELY (PAGE 23, OCT 18, 2010)
SOME outdoor advertisers and telecommunication service providers in the Twin-City of Sekondi/Takoradi have erected billboards indiscriminately in some parts of the city to catch the attention of the public.
Apart from these billboards obstructing motorists because they are erected at junctions and block the view of drivers, they also pose a danger to the public, since the structures are thought to be weak and need urgent maintenance.
As the clamour for billboard space continues, some agencies, have actually designed smaller boards that are hanging on public facilities such as electricity and streetlight poles which is also dangerous when it is raining or there is a wind storm.
On the Apremdo-Kwesimintsim-Takoradi roads all in the metropolis, 14 of the aluminium streetlights poles have fallen to the ground due to the activities of these advertisers.
It is critical to note that while the metropolitan assembly or contractors are yet to replace these poles, advertising agencies are still busily fixing new ones on streetlight poles on the Kofi Annan Road in Takoradi.
One resident, Mr Kojo Prah questioned why telecommunications companies have painted buildings and other structures in the metropolis with their colours and questioned the role of the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly in the face of all these aggressive marketing strategies and asked if there were no bye-laws to regulate these activities.
When contacted, an official of the assembly could not explain why the streetlight poles that have fallen on the ground have not been replaced.
On the issue of telecommunication companies painting buildings with their colours, the source said it was illegal to paint private property without consulting the assembly and explained that they were doing everything possible to ensure that standards were met by the advertising agencies.
Apart from these billboards obstructing motorists because they are erected at junctions and block the view of drivers, they also pose a danger to the public, since the structures are thought to be weak and need urgent maintenance.
As the clamour for billboard space continues, some agencies, have actually designed smaller boards that are hanging on public facilities such as electricity and streetlight poles which is also dangerous when it is raining or there is a wind storm.
On the Apremdo-Kwesimintsim-Takoradi roads all in the metropolis, 14 of the aluminium streetlights poles have fallen to the ground due to the activities of these advertisers.
It is critical to note that while the metropolitan assembly or contractors are yet to replace these poles, advertising agencies are still busily fixing new ones on streetlight poles on the Kofi Annan Road in Takoradi.
One resident, Mr Kojo Prah questioned why telecommunications companies have painted buildings and other structures in the metropolis with their colours and questioned the role of the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly in the face of all these aggressive marketing strategies and asked if there were no bye-laws to regulate these activities.
When contacted, an official of the assembly could not explain why the streetlight poles that have fallen on the ground have not been replaced.
On the issue of telecommunication companies painting buildings with their colours, the source said it was illegal to paint private property without consulting the assembly and explained that they were doing everything possible to ensure that standards were met by the advertising agencies.
PROBE TAX PAYMENTS OF OPERATORS OF JUBILEE FIELDS ...Oil and Gas service providers (PAGE 29, 0CT 16, 2010)
THE Ghana Oil and Gas Service Providers Association (GOSPA) has called on the government to institute a probe into the payment of taxes by operators in the Jubilee Fields to ensure that the country obtains the needed revenue.
According to the association, instead of investigating the issue, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is rather defending rotators who fly in to work on oil rigs and fly out of the country after every 28 days without paying taxes.
It has, therefore, called on the government, as a matter of urgency, to take the concerns raised in the Daily Graphic report on taxes, visa and work permits seriously.
The GRA, in a statement, cleared the oil companies of any possible revenue loss to the state.
At a press conference in Takoradi, it said the portion of the statement issued by the GRA showed clearly their lack of understanding of the operations of the oil and gas sector and that if they had taken their time to investigate the issue raised in the Daily Graphic publication the paper would have been vindicated.
“We also want to question in what capacity the GRA issued the statement as the spokesperson for the oil companies or legal officers?” the Executive Secretary of the association, Mr Nuety Agyeman stated.
He said the Ghana Income Tax Law quoted by GRA that foreign nationals who were employees of contractors , their affiliates and subcontractors should be exempt from income tax and withholding tax liabilities if they had been resident in Ghana for 30 days or less in any calendar year was wrong.
The Executive Secretary said “we stand by the Daily Graphic story and we can prove that the rotators both onshore and offshore work more than 200 days in a year and not 30 days as stated by GRA”.
GSOPA explained that all the rotators that the GRA referred to worked for more than 28 days in the country since they were still employees of the company even though they fly off to rest. "They are paid when they are off and return after 28 days and work. Therefore they have work more than 200 days in Ghana and we can prove it."
He said since they returned to the country and worked every other month, the section quoted by the GRA that “Foreign National Employees of Contractor, its Affiliates and its Subcontractors shall be exempt from the income tax and withholding tax liabilities if they are resident in Ghana for thirty (30) days or less in any Calendar Year” did not apply to the rotators.
“These rotators actually return to the country and do many 28-day sessions and get paid as continuing employees," he said.
GOSPA also called on the government to institute a probe into the claim by Tullow that within the last 20 months it had awarded $154.7 million worth of contracts to local contractors and service providers for the offshore Jubilee and Deep Tano projects. GRA should audit the said local companies to ensure that they appropriated taxes to the state.
A manifest of one of the rigs shows that some personnel onboard (POB), who were foreign nationals, made many trips in and out of the country. For example, on December 22, 2009, an assistant driller occupying cabin 332A went off after 28 days and came back on board the same rig on March 19, 2010 to occupy the same cabin.
Also, a hydraulic engineer, who was also on board the same rig on December 22, 2009 and occupying cabin 318A, went off and came back on March 19 2010.
These rotators have worked in the country for more than a year and were the same people whose particulars appeared on December 22, 2009 and were said to have left Takoradi Airport on Monday, October 11, 2010.
In the earlier story, the Communications Manager of one of the oil companies confirmed that some staff members of his outfit, whom he referred to as ‘rotators’, came into the country, worked and left after 28 days and returned after about a month or two to work again.
According to the association, instead of investigating the issue, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is rather defending rotators who fly in to work on oil rigs and fly out of the country after every 28 days without paying taxes.
It has, therefore, called on the government, as a matter of urgency, to take the concerns raised in the Daily Graphic report on taxes, visa and work permits seriously.
The GRA, in a statement, cleared the oil companies of any possible revenue loss to the state.
At a press conference in Takoradi, it said the portion of the statement issued by the GRA showed clearly their lack of understanding of the operations of the oil and gas sector and that if they had taken their time to investigate the issue raised in the Daily Graphic publication the paper would have been vindicated.
“We also want to question in what capacity the GRA issued the statement as the spokesperson for the oil companies or legal officers?” the Executive Secretary of the association, Mr Nuety Agyeman stated.
He said the Ghana Income Tax Law quoted by GRA that foreign nationals who were employees of contractors , their affiliates and subcontractors should be exempt from income tax and withholding tax liabilities if they had been resident in Ghana for 30 days or less in any calendar year was wrong.
The Executive Secretary said “we stand by the Daily Graphic story and we can prove that the rotators both onshore and offshore work more than 200 days in a year and not 30 days as stated by GRA”.
GSOPA explained that all the rotators that the GRA referred to worked for more than 28 days in the country since they were still employees of the company even though they fly off to rest. "They are paid when they are off and return after 28 days and work. Therefore they have work more than 200 days in Ghana and we can prove it."
He said since they returned to the country and worked every other month, the section quoted by the GRA that “Foreign National Employees of Contractor, its Affiliates and its Subcontractors shall be exempt from the income tax and withholding tax liabilities if they are resident in Ghana for thirty (30) days or less in any Calendar Year” did not apply to the rotators.
“These rotators actually return to the country and do many 28-day sessions and get paid as continuing employees," he said.
GOSPA also called on the government to institute a probe into the claim by Tullow that within the last 20 months it had awarded $154.7 million worth of contracts to local contractors and service providers for the offshore Jubilee and Deep Tano projects. GRA should audit the said local companies to ensure that they appropriated taxes to the state.
A manifest of one of the rigs shows that some personnel onboard (POB), who were foreign nationals, made many trips in and out of the country. For example, on December 22, 2009, an assistant driller occupying cabin 332A went off after 28 days and came back on board the same rig on March 19, 2010 to occupy the same cabin.
Also, a hydraulic engineer, who was also on board the same rig on December 22, 2009 and occupying cabin 318A, went off and came back on March 19 2010.
These rotators have worked in the country for more than a year and were the same people whose particulars appeared on December 22, 2009 and were said to have left Takoradi Airport on Monday, October 11, 2010.
In the earlier story, the Communications Manager of one of the oil companies confirmed that some staff members of his outfit, whom he referred to as ‘rotators’, came into the country, worked and left after 28 days and returned after about a month or two to work again.
Friday, October 15, 2010
BIZARRE...Prison Officer to wed dead girlfriend (LEAD STORY, MIRROR, OCT 16, 2010)
From Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi
A prison officer at the Sekondi Prisons Barracks had the rude shock of his life at dawn on October 2, this year, when he woke up and found his girlfriend dead on his matrimonial bed.
Before he could recover from the impact of his predicament, the family of the deceased requested the prison officer, Isaac Martey, who is married, to wed the deceased in accordance with their tradition before they allow him to bury her.
The police, however, insist that they will only investigate the criminal aspect of the case and leave the marriage and burial of the corpse to the prison officer and the family of the deceased to sort out.
The police have, however, arrested the officer to help them in their investigations into the case.
According to the police, Martey lives with his wife at the barracks but she travelled out of town and he took advantage of her absence and invited his lover into his matrimonial home.
They said Martey left his duty post after close of work and went home to attend to his visitor. After some time, they both retired to bed.
At dawn the next day, the officer called his girlfriend to prepare for her journey back home. But after several efforts to wake her up proved unsuccessful, he realised that the woman was dead.
He then became alarmed and called for support to help resuscitate the woman, but that did not yield any results. The case was then reported to the police in Sekondi, who took the body to the morgue after assessing the situation.
The police gathered that the deceased was not feeling well and attended hospital on September 29, 2010 before visiting the officer on October 1, 2010.
The police are currently investigating the death of the young lady, who was said to be resident in Sekondi as they await the post-mortem report from Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital.
A prison officer at the Sekondi Prisons Barracks had the rude shock of his life at dawn on October 2, this year, when he woke up and found his girlfriend dead on his matrimonial bed.
Before he could recover from the impact of his predicament, the family of the deceased requested the prison officer, Isaac Martey, who is married, to wed the deceased in accordance with their tradition before they allow him to bury her.
The police, however, insist that they will only investigate the criminal aspect of the case and leave the marriage and burial of the corpse to the prison officer and the family of the deceased to sort out.
The police have, however, arrested the officer to help them in their investigations into the case.
According to the police, Martey lives with his wife at the barracks but she travelled out of town and he took advantage of her absence and invited his lover into his matrimonial home.
They said Martey left his duty post after close of work and went home to attend to his visitor. After some time, they both retired to bed.
At dawn the next day, the officer called his girlfriend to prepare for her journey back home. But after several efforts to wake her up proved unsuccessful, he realised that the woman was dead.
He then became alarmed and called for support to help resuscitate the woman, but that did not yield any results. The case was then reported to the police in Sekondi, who took the body to the morgue after assessing the situation.
The police gathered that the deceased was not feeling well and attended hospital on September 29, 2010 before visiting the officer on October 1, 2010.
The police are currently investigating the death of the young lady, who was said to be resident in Sekondi as they await the post-mortem report from Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital.
WASTE CONTRACTORS LACK EQUIPMENT (PAGE 18, OCT 15, 2010)
MONTHS after residents questioned the competency of some of the waste collectors in the Twin-city of Sekondi/Takoradi, the Metropolitan Assembly is yet to halt the operations of some of these ill-equipped contractors.
With the increase in population and the volume of waste generated in a day, the rickety equipment of the contractors cannot cope with the volume of refuse generated.
The few communal containers are actually very rusty and inadequate to carry waste from the points of collection to the dumping site at Sofokrom.
Some of the companies have resorted to the use of wheelbarrows in the collection of waste in the metropolis, while some of the drivers use carpet to patch parts of the containers used in carting garbage.
On October 4, 2010, at about 10 a.m. a vehicle of one of the companies which had no registration number was conveying waste to Sofokrom through Sekondi and it littered the street from Takoradi until it finally branched off to the dump site.
Some residents who were interviewed by the Daily Graphic said the collection of waste should be done in a manner devoid of pollution.
With the increase in population and the volume of waste generated in a day, the rickety equipment of the contractors cannot cope with the volume of refuse generated.
The few communal containers are actually very rusty and inadequate to carry waste from the points of collection to the dumping site at Sofokrom.
Some of the companies have resorted to the use of wheelbarrows in the collection of waste in the metropolis, while some of the drivers use carpet to patch parts of the containers used in carting garbage.
On October 4, 2010, at about 10 a.m. a vehicle of one of the companies which had no registration number was conveying waste to Sofokrom through Sekondi and it littered the street from Takoradi until it finally branched off to the dump site.
Some residents who were interviewed by the Daily Graphic said the collection of waste should be done in a manner devoid of pollution.
FORMER CHIEF ACCOUNTANT, FOUR OTHERS JAILED (PAGE 18, OCT 15, 2010)
A Former Chief Accountant and accounts officer of Department of Urban Roads in the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) and four officials of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have been given various jail terms for defrauding the state to the tune of more than GH¢126,000.
The convicts are to serve their term of imprisonment as well as pay the full amount to the government chest through IRS.
They are, Awutu Ellies Kaati, Chief Accountant/finance officer of STMA who was jailed five years and is to pay GH¢40,000; Forson Glover Senior IRS staff had three years and is to pay GH¢20,000; Edmond Seidu IRS staff, would serve four-years and pay GH¢20,000.
Another IRS staff, Mahama Sulemana will serve five-years and refund GH¢40,000 while Martin Evih and Joshua K. Yanney will serve six months and 2 month as well as pay GH¢16,300 and GH¢1,500 respectively.
The amount, according to the Principal State Prosecutor, Mr George Kpodo, was withholding tax collected from various companies in the metropolis and diverted it into another account which the convicts had opened for their dubious deals.
The officials of the two state institutions also cashed some of the monies over the counter at the Takoradi Branch of the Bank of Ghana even though the payments were meant for IRS and forged receipts were issued to cover it.
Examination of the cheques involved indicated that the payees on the cheques were altered from the “IRS” to read: “Irvering Rams Saka (IRS), others in the name of Metro Roads Engineer, Tarib Enterprise for no work done.
The rest were written in the name of one “Francis R Asiedu” who is non existent. The prosecutor said other cheques were written in the names of “Kwaka Ent,” Jaysem and “Improved Macadams.”
The state prosecutor said the fictitious and fraudulent deals of the convicts were discovered by the audit check in 2006 of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
Mr Kpodo said the evidence after the findings by PAC in 2006, led to the discovery of Glover who was a senior staff at the IRS who collected blank IRS receipt from Edmond Seidu, Martin Evih and Joshua Yanny and sent them to an accountant at the Urban Roads.
Before passing judgement, the Supervising High Court Judge, Rubbin Batu said, the fact that the monies would be paid did not warrant their freedom, adding that once the offence had been committed, they had to face the punishment accordingly.
The convicts are to serve their term of imprisonment as well as pay the full amount to the government chest through IRS.
They are, Awutu Ellies Kaati, Chief Accountant/finance officer of STMA who was jailed five years and is to pay GH¢40,000; Forson Glover Senior IRS staff had three years and is to pay GH¢20,000; Edmond Seidu IRS staff, would serve four-years and pay GH¢20,000.
Another IRS staff, Mahama Sulemana will serve five-years and refund GH¢40,000 while Martin Evih and Joshua K. Yanney will serve six months and 2 month as well as pay GH¢16,300 and GH¢1,500 respectively.
The amount, according to the Principal State Prosecutor, Mr George Kpodo, was withholding tax collected from various companies in the metropolis and diverted it into another account which the convicts had opened for their dubious deals.
The officials of the two state institutions also cashed some of the monies over the counter at the Takoradi Branch of the Bank of Ghana even though the payments were meant for IRS and forged receipts were issued to cover it.
Examination of the cheques involved indicated that the payees on the cheques were altered from the “IRS” to read: “Irvering Rams Saka (IRS), others in the name of Metro Roads Engineer, Tarib Enterprise for no work done.
The rest were written in the name of one “Francis R Asiedu” who is non existent. The prosecutor said other cheques were written in the names of “Kwaka Ent,” Jaysem and “Improved Macadams.”
The state prosecutor said the fictitious and fraudulent deals of the convicts were discovered by the audit check in 2006 of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
Mr Kpodo said the evidence after the findings by PAC in 2006, led to the discovery of Glover who was a senior staff at the IRS who collected blank IRS receipt from Edmond Seidu, Martin Evih and Joshua Yanny and sent them to an accountant at the Urban Roads.
Before passing judgement, the Supervising High Court Judge, Rubbin Batu said, the fact that the monies would be paid did not warrant their freedom, adding that once the offence had been committed, they had to face the punishment accordingly.
OIL COMPANIES URGED TO HELP DEVELOP TWIN CITY (PAGE 18, OCT 15, 2010)
THE discovery of oil in the Western Region definitely has positive implications for national development, but one key problem resulting from the oil discovery is congestion in the Sekondi/Takoradi metropolis which has become the centre of activities for the co-ordination of offshore oil activities.
Most of the oil companies have their offices in the metropolis which has brought about increase in cost of living as rent and other activities are now priced in dollars.
At a forum organised by the Nana Kobina Nketsia IV Foundation, in Takoradi, the traditional leaders re-emphasised their call on oil companies to help in the infrastructural development of the city.
Later in a communiqué read in Takoradi by the President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, Awulae Attibrukusu III said some of the magnificent office complexes and residential facilities found in the cities should also be built in the communities to improve the standard of living of the people and give them hope.
“We are aware that Ghana is a unitary state, but it is also not wrong for us to ask the mining and oil companies to have their headquarters in the communities or regions the resource is found,” he added.
He said they acknowledged the government’s efforts in respect of legislation such as the petroleum exploration and production and revenue management bills. “But after days of discussions we are asking for accelerated development of the economic potential of the region in mining, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, tourism and manufacturing and the relocation of head offices to the regions,” he said.
He said there was also the need for oil companies to work closely with the communities to come up with an acceptable plan of development, adding that “We call on the government to establish a Western Regional Development Fund to ensure accelerated development of the region”.
He said the chiefs also demanded that the oil companies produced a comprehensive plan to show how they would respond to ecological and social problems that might emanate from the emerging oil and gas industry.
Awulae Attibrukusu said since Ghana was working towards a middle income status, developmental challenges in the various communities, such as low literacy, diseases, poverty and high rate of unemployment were expected.
The deliberations at the forum centred on the potential impact of the oil and gas industry on the other sectors of the economy, such as forestry, solid minerals, Agriculture, fisheries, spatial planning, prevention of ecological and social disasters, health and safety as well as a rapid response of the industry to disasters, among others.
The forum was facilitated by the Nana Kobina Nketsia IV Trust in partnership with Skyy Media Group, the World Bank and others.
Most of the oil companies have their offices in the metropolis which has brought about increase in cost of living as rent and other activities are now priced in dollars.
At a forum organised by the Nana Kobina Nketsia IV Foundation, in Takoradi, the traditional leaders re-emphasised their call on oil companies to help in the infrastructural development of the city.
Later in a communiqué read in Takoradi by the President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, Awulae Attibrukusu III said some of the magnificent office complexes and residential facilities found in the cities should also be built in the communities to improve the standard of living of the people and give them hope.
“We are aware that Ghana is a unitary state, but it is also not wrong for us to ask the mining and oil companies to have their headquarters in the communities or regions the resource is found,” he added.
He said they acknowledged the government’s efforts in respect of legislation such as the petroleum exploration and production and revenue management bills. “But after days of discussions we are asking for accelerated development of the economic potential of the region in mining, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, tourism and manufacturing and the relocation of head offices to the regions,” he said.
He said there was also the need for oil companies to work closely with the communities to come up with an acceptable plan of development, adding that “We call on the government to establish a Western Regional Development Fund to ensure accelerated development of the region”.
He said the chiefs also demanded that the oil companies produced a comprehensive plan to show how they would respond to ecological and social problems that might emanate from the emerging oil and gas industry.
Awulae Attibrukusu said since Ghana was working towards a middle income status, developmental challenges in the various communities, such as low literacy, diseases, poverty and high rate of unemployment were expected.
The deliberations at the forum centred on the potential impact of the oil and gas industry on the other sectors of the economy, such as forestry, solid minerals, Agriculture, fisheries, spatial planning, prevention of ecological and social disasters, health and safety as well as a rapid response of the industry to disasters, among others.
The forum was facilitated by the Nana Kobina Nketsia IV Trust in partnership with Skyy Media Group, the World Bank and others.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
ADAMUS TRAINS YOUTH TO ACQUIRE SKILLS (GRAPHIC BUSINESS, PAGE 8, OCT 12, 2010)
by Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Esiama
Adamus Resources, operators of Nzema gold mine and the Australian Government have made available more than GHc57,000 training for young artisans in its catchment areas to polish their skill and add value to their output.
The training which is currently taking place at the Kikam Technical Institute will train the youth in the areas of Mechanical Engineering, furniture and wood work, building and construction, plumbing, welding and fabrication, electrical installation.
The company and high commission supplied the training materials and other items needed for the training, as well as the cost of training and settlement of the trainees after the training.
The Australian High Commissioner to Ghana Mr William Billy Williams who visited the trainees urged them to ensure that the skills acquired at the institute affected positively in the lives of the people within their communities.
He said the main objective of the training initiative between the company and the Australia government was to provide employable skills to the youth in the selected areas.
Mr Williams said, the current programme, which was on-going was the continuations of earlier training programme which saw more than 58 youth from these areas trained in computer training, catering and home management as well as textile and soap making among others.
“As results, Australia expects to increase its development assistance to Africa by more than 20 per cent to AUD$200.9 million in 2010/2011,” he said.
The Business Development Manager of Adamus, Mr Mark Addo said the company was been guided by the country’s sad historical president in exploration of its natural resources.GB
Adamus Resources, operators of Nzema gold mine and the Australian Government have made available more than GHc57,000 training for young artisans in its catchment areas to polish their skill and add value to their output.
The training which is currently taking place at the Kikam Technical Institute will train the youth in the areas of Mechanical Engineering, furniture and wood work, building and construction, plumbing, welding and fabrication, electrical installation.
The company and high commission supplied the training materials and other items needed for the training, as well as the cost of training and settlement of the trainees after the training.
The Australian High Commissioner to Ghana Mr William Billy Williams who visited the trainees urged them to ensure that the skills acquired at the institute affected positively in the lives of the people within their communities.
He said the main objective of the training initiative between the company and the Australia government was to provide employable skills to the youth in the selected areas.
Mr Williams said, the current programme, which was on-going was the continuations of earlier training programme which saw more than 58 youth from these areas trained in computer training, catering and home management as well as textile and soap making among others.
“As results, Australia expects to increase its development assistance to Africa by more than 20 per cent to AUD$200.9 million in 2010/2011,” he said.
The Business Development Manager of Adamus, Mr Mark Addo said the company was been guided by the country’s sad historical president in exploration of its natural resources.GB
Monday, October 11, 2010
GHANA LOSING MILLIONS ...In income tax revenue (LEAD STORY, OCT 11, 2010)
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi
GHANA is said to be losing millions of dollars in tax revenue from expatriate workers employed by the oil companies, including Tullow Oil and other partners in the Jubilee Oil Fields.
Some mining companies are also said to have engaged such expatriates, who do not pay tax by virtue of the immigration particulars they bear and because the offending employer companies do not use local recruiting companies and agents.
The Daily Graphic has gathered that the expatriates fly into the country with B2-tourist and B1-business visas, which do not permit them to work in the country.
The said workers then fly offshore and out of Ghana after 28 days without paying any taxes from their earnings to the state.
The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) confirmed to the Daily Graphic that some of the expatriate staff working on the oil rigs did not have the requisite permits but added that as of now, no framework had been developed to deal with the situation.
The ideal situation was to ensure that these expatriates applied for work and residential permits and their salaries paid through Ghanaian banks, a GIS official told the Daily Graphic.
The Daily Graphic has sighted records from local recruitment agents that provide services to the partners on the oil rigs that show deductions of up to 25 per cent income tax to the state.
The records do not, however, capture the details of expatriate staff, who are said to form the majority of people working on the rigs because they are paid directly by the Jubilee Oil Field partners.
This means that Ghana could have raked in millions of dollars in income tax revenues if these expatriates were engaged by local agents and their salaries paid through them locally to attract the appropriate tax to cushion the economy.
Some of the industry practitioners have laid part of the blame on local institutions such as GIS for the lapses.
According to the GIS, the expatriates were without the appropriate permits but the service was working hard to ensure that they secured the requisite permits before working.
The oil companies are said to have capitalised on that, and expatriates who come to work offshore in Ghana are made to fly back to their countries after every 28 days with dollar salaries paid straight into their accounts.
The Head of Public Relations of GIS, Mr Francis Palm-Beti, told the Daily Graphic that the GIS was currently working in collaboration with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and the Ministry of Energy to work out which permits to issue.
He explained that people with the B2-tourist visa were not supposed to work at all and those with B1-business visa were in the category of people who could come to the country to help install and train people on new machinery or equipment purchased abroad.
Under Immigration Regulation on requirements for assignments ranging between 30 days and a year, it is stated that frequent visitors to Ghana to engage in short-term assignments, such as consultancies, provision of technical services, maintenance, repairs, auditing and internships/attachments would not require work permits.
However, such persons are expected to have applied for and obtained a Business Visa (B-1 Category) prior to arrival. Such assignments shall not exceed three months.
In addition, the regulations state that: “For an assignment of up to six (6) months a requisite dispensation may be granted by the Director of Immigration on application. For assignments ranging from six months to one year, a work permit is required”. These workers are often referred to as “Rotators”.
Mr Palm-Beti expressed the hope that very soon, the GIS and the other stakeholders would come up with the appropriate permit for the expatriates, particularly the rotators.
An expatriate industry source, however, suggested that even with the absence of such a permit, the economy of Ghana could make some temporary gains if the payment of salaries to the expatriate staff were at least passed through the local banking system.
“I am shocked to see that the laws of Ghana are being relaxed to favour other people to the detriment of your economy; the country is losing billions in dollars,” he said.
But officials of Tullow Oil told the Daily Graphic that its expatriate staff paid taxes, irrespective of the recruiting agency.
“Every local and expatriate employee of Tullow Ghana Limited — whether permanent, contract or rotator — pays taxes as stipulated by the laws of Ghana.
“Tullow Ghana Limited withholds the applicable percentage of tax and pays to the government,” the Communications Manager of Tullow, Mr Gayheart Edem Mensah, said.
Mr Mensah said all Tullow employees residing and working in the country had the requisite permits, with none coming into the country with a tourist visa.
“We ensure that everyone who comes here to work for us comes with at least a Business Visa, as stipulated in the Ghana Immigration Regulations,” the Tullow communications manager said.
On the issue of the rotators, Mr Mensah said the practice was very common in the oil industry right up from Angola to Equatorial Guinea and Brazil, among others, and that the system was rather critical to oil exploration and production, and particularly in virgin oil countries like Ghana.
He confirmed that some staff of Tullow, who he referred to as ‘rotators’, came into the country, worked and left after 28 days; they returned in about a month or two, work for another 28 days and return.
“Strictly, therefore, they are not residents, and that is why they come in with Business Visas, which per the regulation quoted above, permits them to do some work of limited duration,” Mr Mensah explained.
He said managing immigration issues relating to the Rotator was a grey area and came under the knotty challenges that the company, the authorities and other stakeholders were trying to resolve.
He said the existing government policies for the extractive industry appeared inadequate for the oil industry due to certain peculiarities.
According to Mr Mensah, Tullow has, nevertheless, submitted the required documentation on the matter to the appropriate institutions for their advice and action.
“It needs to be pointed out though that the accelerated development of the Jubilee Field would not have been possible without the skills and experience of the Rotators, we have had a lot of meetings and correspondence on this issue, and we are hopeful it will be resolved soon,” he stated.
GHANA is said to be losing millions of dollars in tax revenue from expatriate workers employed by the oil companies, including Tullow Oil and other partners in the Jubilee Oil Fields.
Some mining companies are also said to have engaged such expatriates, who do not pay tax by virtue of the immigration particulars they bear and because the offending employer companies do not use local recruiting companies and agents.
The Daily Graphic has gathered that the expatriates fly into the country with B2-tourist and B1-business visas, which do not permit them to work in the country.
The said workers then fly offshore and out of Ghana after 28 days without paying any taxes from their earnings to the state.
The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) confirmed to the Daily Graphic that some of the expatriate staff working on the oil rigs did not have the requisite permits but added that as of now, no framework had been developed to deal with the situation.
The ideal situation was to ensure that these expatriates applied for work and residential permits and their salaries paid through Ghanaian banks, a GIS official told the Daily Graphic.
The Daily Graphic has sighted records from local recruitment agents that provide services to the partners on the oil rigs that show deductions of up to 25 per cent income tax to the state.
The records do not, however, capture the details of expatriate staff, who are said to form the majority of people working on the rigs because they are paid directly by the Jubilee Oil Field partners.
This means that Ghana could have raked in millions of dollars in income tax revenues if these expatriates were engaged by local agents and their salaries paid through them locally to attract the appropriate tax to cushion the economy.
Some of the industry practitioners have laid part of the blame on local institutions such as GIS for the lapses.
According to the GIS, the expatriates were without the appropriate permits but the service was working hard to ensure that they secured the requisite permits before working.
The oil companies are said to have capitalised on that, and expatriates who come to work offshore in Ghana are made to fly back to their countries after every 28 days with dollar salaries paid straight into their accounts.
The Head of Public Relations of GIS, Mr Francis Palm-Beti, told the Daily Graphic that the GIS was currently working in collaboration with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and the Ministry of Energy to work out which permits to issue.
He explained that people with the B2-tourist visa were not supposed to work at all and those with B1-business visa were in the category of people who could come to the country to help install and train people on new machinery or equipment purchased abroad.
Under Immigration Regulation on requirements for assignments ranging between 30 days and a year, it is stated that frequent visitors to Ghana to engage in short-term assignments, such as consultancies, provision of technical services, maintenance, repairs, auditing and internships/attachments would not require work permits.
However, such persons are expected to have applied for and obtained a Business Visa (B-1 Category) prior to arrival. Such assignments shall not exceed three months.
In addition, the regulations state that: “For an assignment of up to six (6) months a requisite dispensation may be granted by the Director of Immigration on application. For assignments ranging from six months to one year, a work permit is required”. These workers are often referred to as “Rotators”.
Mr Palm-Beti expressed the hope that very soon, the GIS and the other stakeholders would come up with the appropriate permit for the expatriates, particularly the rotators.
An expatriate industry source, however, suggested that even with the absence of such a permit, the economy of Ghana could make some temporary gains if the payment of salaries to the expatriate staff were at least passed through the local banking system.
“I am shocked to see that the laws of Ghana are being relaxed to favour other people to the detriment of your economy; the country is losing billions in dollars,” he said.
But officials of Tullow Oil told the Daily Graphic that its expatriate staff paid taxes, irrespective of the recruiting agency.
“Every local and expatriate employee of Tullow Ghana Limited — whether permanent, contract or rotator — pays taxes as stipulated by the laws of Ghana.
“Tullow Ghana Limited withholds the applicable percentage of tax and pays to the government,” the Communications Manager of Tullow, Mr Gayheart Edem Mensah, said.
Mr Mensah said all Tullow employees residing and working in the country had the requisite permits, with none coming into the country with a tourist visa.
“We ensure that everyone who comes here to work for us comes with at least a Business Visa, as stipulated in the Ghana Immigration Regulations,” the Tullow communications manager said.
On the issue of the rotators, Mr Mensah said the practice was very common in the oil industry right up from Angola to Equatorial Guinea and Brazil, among others, and that the system was rather critical to oil exploration and production, and particularly in virgin oil countries like Ghana.
He confirmed that some staff of Tullow, who he referred to as ‘rotators’, came into the country, worked and left after 28 days; they returned in about a month or two, work for another 28 days and return.
“Strictly, therefore, they are not residents, and that is why they come in with Business Visas, which per the regulation quoted above, permits them to do some work of limited duration,” Mr Mensah explained.
He said managing immigration issues relating to the Rotator was a grey area and came under the knotty challenges that the company, the authorities and other stakeholders were trying to resolve.
He said the existing government policies for the extractive industry appeared inadequate for the oil industry due to certain peculiarities.
According to Mr Mensah, Tullow has, nevertheless, submitted the required documentation on the matter to the appropriate institutions for their advice and action.
“It needs to be pointed out though that the accelerated development of the Jubilee Field would not have been possible without the skills and experience of the Rotators, we have had a lot of meetings and correspondence on this issue, and we are hopeful it will be resolved soon,” he stated.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
CAL BANK SERVICE PERSONS DONATE TO ORPHANAGE (PAGE 19, OCT 9, 2010)
National Service persons attached to the Cal Bank have presented items worth more than GH¢7,000 to Egyam Orphanage Foundation in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region.
The items includes three desktop computers, bags of rice, plates, cooking oil, laundry soap, tinned tomatoes and fish, stationery, biscuits, packs of soya milk, sugar, soft drinks, insecticides, detergents, laundry baskets, plastic chairs, toothpaste, aluminum and plastic bowls, ice chest and other items, with support from corporate bodies and the Cal Bank.
Apart from the presentation, the service persons also went on a float through the principal streets of the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis to educate people on the importance of blood donation.
The group later converged on the Blood Bank of the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital where they donated a pint of blood each.
The Director of Human Resource at the Cal Bank, Mr Samuel Boafo, said the focus was to reach out to the less privileged in the communities they operated.
He said the service persons from various branches in the country had instituted the support scheme with the bank to solicit public support for the needy.
Mr Boafo said the focus of supporting the orphanages was for the national service persons to come face to face with the plight of the less privileged in society, which would encourage them to appreciate the needs of society.
The Administrator of the orphanage, Mr Daniel Payne, thanked the service persons and the bank, as well as other donors for their support.
He said the items would help them to take good care of the children.
Mr Payne said the orphanage had been in existence for the past four years, but was officially opened on December 27, 2007 with the focus to help the less privileged.
He said the orphanage, which started with 32 children, now had 51 children made up of 32 boys and 19 girls.
He appealed to authorities to help them construct the road leading to the orphanage and also for constant support from philanthropists.
The items includes three desktop computers, bags of rice, plates, cooking oil, laundry soap, tinned tomatoes and fish, stationery, biscuits, packs of soya milk, sugar, soft drinks, insecticides, detergents, laundry baskets, plastic chairs, toothpaste, aluminum and plastic bowls, ice chest and other items, with support from corporate bodies and the Cal Bank.
Apart from the presentation, the service persons also went on a float through the principal streets of the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis to educate people on the importance of blood donation.
The group later converged on the Blood Bank of the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital where they donated a pint of blood each.
The Director of Human Resource at the Cal Bank, Mr Samuel Boafo, said the focus was to reach out to the less privileged in the communities they operated.
He said the service persons from various branches in the country had instituted the support scheme with the bank to solicit public support for the needy.
Mr Boafo said the focus of supporting the orphanages was for the national service persons to come face to face with the plight of the less privileged in society, which would encourage them to appreciate the needs of society.
The Administrator of the orphanage, Mr Daniel Payne, thanked the service persons and the bank, as well as other donors for their support.
He said the items would help them to take good care of the children.
Mr Payne said the orphanage had been in existence for the past four years, but was officially opened on December 27, 2007 with the focus to help the less privileged.
He said the orphanage, which started with 32 children, now had 51 children made up of 32 boys and 19 girls.
He appealed to authorities to help them construct the road leading to the orphanage and also for constant support from philanthropists.
DOUBLE AGONY...Clerk steals company's GH¢140,000 for lotto...Banker-tobanker operator vanishes with winnings (LEAD STORY, OCT 9, 2010)
A PURCHASING clerk of a cold store in Takoradi who allegedly used GH¢140,000 belonging to his employer to stake lotto has been arrested by the Western Regional Police.
Although the suspect, Moses Amoah, won GH¢30,000 from the gamble, the “banker to banker” operator he staked from has disappeared after realising that he could not pay the prize money.
According to the police, the suspect used about GH¢20,000 of his employer’s money meant for suppliers to stake lotto every week until his alleged activity was detected.
Amoah was responsible for making payments to suppliers of the cold store in Tema and was instructed to cash cheques for the payments because the suppliers were unwilling to accept cheques.
According to the police, Amoah cashed the cheques but did not make the payments to the suppliers.
Investigations conducted by the police revealed that all the monies paid through the suspect had not reflected in the accounts of his employers.
The police said anytime Amoah returned from Tema, he would complain of sickness and immediately leave for home.
When his employers asked him for the receipts, he often promised to file the receipts later when he came to the office.
Later the employers became suspicious and asked the suppliers why they were not issuing receipts to cover payments and new consignments.
It was then that the management of the cold store realised how much money had been given to Amoah to make payments for which no receipts had been issued.
The employers then reported the matter to the police, leading to his arrest.
Although the suspect, Moses Amoah, won GH¢30,000 from the gamble, the “banker to banker” operator he staked from has disappeared after realising that he could not pay the prize money.
According to the police, the suspect used about GH¢20,000 of his employer’s money meant for suppliers to stake lotto every week until his alleged activity was detected.
Amoah was responsible for making payments to suppliers of the cold store in Tema and was instructed to cash cheques for the payments because the suppliers were unwilling to accept cheques.
According to the police, Amoah cashed the cheques but did not make the payments to the suppliers.
Investigations conducted by the police revealed that all the monies paid through the suspect had not reflected in the accounts of his employers.
The police said anytime Amoah returned from Tema, he would complain of sickness and immediately leave for home.
When his employers asked him for the receipts, he often promised to file the receipts later when he came to the office.
Later the employers became suspicious and asked the suppliers why they were not issuing receipts to cover payments and new consignments.
It was then that the management of the cold store realised how much money had been given to Amoah to make payments for which no receipts had been issued.
The employers then reported the matter to the police, leading to his arrest.
Friday, October 8, 2010
KESSBEN WHIP NEW EDUBIASE (BACK PAGE, OCT 7, 2010)
Kessben FC yesterday beat visiting New Edubiase United 3-1 to bag the three maximum points in their sixth week Glo Premier League clash at the Sekondi Stadium.
The first two goals by Kessben were scored under five minutes through James Boadu in 30 seconds and Hans Kwofie in the fifth minute.
New Edubiase, who were outplayed in the first 45 minutes managed to pull a goal back in the 30th minute when Stephen Manu capitalised on the miscommunication in the defence of the host and scored.
The first two goals by Kessben were scored under five minutes through James Boadu in 30 seconds and Hans Kwofie in the fifth minute.
New Edubiase, who were outplayed in the first 45 minutes managed to pull a goal back in the 30th minute when Stephen Manu capitalised on the miscommunication in the defence of the host and scored.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
MAN CRASHED TO DEATH BY ANCHOR (PAGE 51, OCT 6, 2010)
A 29-year-old man met his untimely death when he attempted to disengage an anchor chain of an old oil tanker at the coast at Sekondi for a Chinese company.
The victim, Rock Asiwome Lumorvi, was one of the three persons who had been contracted by Shan-Ju, dealers in scrap metal, to prepare the vessel MV Africa Wave for it to be moved to Tema to be dismantled.
The police said in their attempt to disengage the heavy chain which had been used to anchor the ship off the coast of Sekondi, the anchor went off leading to the incident.
The police said the victim, who was then helping to disengage the anchor, was hit by the heavy chain, killing him instantly.
The vessel, which was anchored near the breakwater of Home Port of the Western Naval Command, Sekondi, was sold to a Chinese scrap company after it had served its term as an oil tanker.
When contacted a family member, Mr Seth Vormawor, said the family only heard about the incident through somebody.
“We later managed to get hold of the Chinese company, Shan-Ju, and its management admitted the accident and promised to co-operate with the family,” he said.
He said the company had apologised for the unfortunate incident and promised to help ameliorate the suffering of the deceased’s family.
Mr Vormawor said the company had indicated to pay compensation to the family of the deceased on terms which both sides were yet to agree on.
The vessel, MV Africa, is still at the anchorage off the coast of Sekondi pending conclusion of investigation by police.
The police said the remaining three persons later abandoned the job and reported the incident to the police, who later went to convey the body to the Effia-Nkwantah Regional Hospital morgue for autopsy.
The victim, Rock Asiwome Lumorvi, was one of the three persons who had been contracted by Shan-Ju, dealers in scrap metal, to prepare the vessel MV Africa Wave for it to be moved to Tema to be dismantled.
The police said in their attempt to disengage the heavy chain which had been used to anchor the ship off the coast of Sekondi, the anchor went off leading to the incident.
The police said the victim, who was then helping to disengage the anchor, was hit by the heavy chain, killing him instantly.
The vessel, which was anchored near the breakwater of Home Port of the Western Naval Command, Sekondi, was sold to a Chinese scrap company after it had served its term as an oil tanker.
When contacted a family member, Mr Seth Vormawor, said the family only heard about the incident through somebody.
“We later managed to get hold of the Chinese company, Shan-Ju, and its management admitted the accident and promised to co-operate with the family,” he said.
He said the company had apologised for the unfortunate incident and promised to help ameliorate the suffering of the deceased’s family.
Mr Vormawor said the company had indicated to pay compensation to the family of the deceased on terms which both sides were yet to agree on.
The vessel, MV Africa, is still at the anchorage off the coast of Sekondi pending conclusion of investigation by police.
The police said the remaining three persons later abandoned the job and reported the incident to the police, who later went to convey the body to the Effia-Nkwantah Regional Hospital morgue for autopsy.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
MAN, 68, SETS HIMSELF ABLAZE (BACK PAAGE, OCT 5, 2010)
A 68-year-old farmer of Sefwi-Amafie is said to have died after setting himself ablaze near a refuse dump.
According to the police, the man, Kweku Gyampo, after setting himself ablaze, could not stand the heat and, therefore, started calling for help, which came too late.
It said he allegedly soaked his dress with kerosene and lit a match resulting in the fire. The empty bottle of kerosene and the remaining match sticks were at the scene of the incident.
The police said because the incident took place in the night, it was too late for the members of the community to hear his cry for him to be rescued.
It said the few people who heard his cry and went to the scene to quench the fire rushed him to the Sefwi-Wiawso Government Hospital but he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Family members of the deceased expressed shock and dismay at the sudden decision of Gyampo to kill himself.
“He did not show any sign that he was facing any problem or he had a problem that we the family members failed to appreciate,” a family member was said to have told the police.
The body had since been deposited at the Sefwi-Wiawso Government Hospital pending further investigation and autopsy.
According to the police, the man, Kweku Gyampo, after setting himself ablaze, could not stand the heat and, therefore, started calling for help, which came too late.
It said he allegedly soaked his dress with kerosene and lit a match resulting in the fire. The empty bottle of kerosene and the remaining match sticks were at the scene of the incident.
The police said because the incident took place in the night, it was too late for the members of the community to hear his cry for him to be rescued.
It said the few people who heard his cry and went to the scene to quench the fire rushed him to the Sefwi-Wiawso Government Hospital but he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Family members of the deceased expressed shock and dismay at the sudden decision of Gyampo to kill himself.
“He did not show any sign that he was facing any problem or he had a problem that we the family members failed to appreciate,” a family member was said to have told the police.
The body had since been deposited at the Sefwi-Wiawso Government Hospital pending further investigation and autopsy.
Monday, October 4, 2010
DRIVER RAMS VEHICLE INTO COP AT CHECKPOINT (PAGE 3, OCT 4, 2010)
A MEMBER of the Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) stationed at Takoradi was killed on the spot, when the driver of a BMW saloon car ignored signals to stop and rammed his vehicle through a checkpoint at Shama.
The police had mounted a barrier at the checkpoint when the driver, Abukari Ahmed, ignored signals to stop and ran over L/Cpl George Ananga.
In an attempt to escape, Ahmed, with two other occupants of the BMW with registration number WR 1220 V, ran into a ditch and was subsequently arrested. The two passengers, however, absconded.
The driver of the BMW is alleged to have knocked Ananga, ran over his legs and dragged him on the road for about 100 metres before throwing him into the bush where he was said to have crushed his head on the ground.
Ananga was rushed to Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
When the police searched the car, they found empty cans of alcoholic beverages.
According to the Western Regional Police Commander, Alhaji Hamidu Mahama, his men were on duty at one of the dangerous spots on the Accra-Takoradi highway, between Shama- Kumasi and Assoko Assaman when the incident happened.
Alhaji Mahama said while his men were trying to locate where their colleague had been dumped, the driver sped off and later got involved in an accident after which the other occupants escaped.
The Regional Commander said after hours of interrogation, Ahmed admitted the ownership of the vehicle and that he was the one driving at the time of the accident.
The body of the deceased has since been deposited at the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital.
The police had mounted a barrier at the checkpoint when the driver, Abukari Ahmed, ignored signals to stop and ran over L/Cpl George Ananga.
In an attempt to escape, Ahmed, with two other occupants of the BMW with registration number WR 1220 V, ran into a ditch and was subsequently arrested. The two passengers, however, absconded.
The driver of the BMW is alleged to have knocked Ananga, ran over his legs and dragged him on the road for about 100 metres before throwing him into the bush where he was said to have crushed his head on the ground.
Ananga was rushed to Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
When the police searched the car, they found empty cans of alcoholic beverages.
According to the Western Regional Police Commander, Alhaji Hamidu Mahama, his men were on duty at one of the dangerous spots on the Accra-Takoradi highway, between Shama- Kumasi and Assoko Assaman when the incident happened.
Alhaji Mahama said while his men were trying to locate where their colleague had been dumped, the driver sped off and later got involved in an accident after which the other occupants escaped.
The Regional Commander said after hours of interrogation, Ahmed admitted the ownership of the vehicle and that he was the one driving at the time of the accident.
The body of the deceased has since been deposited at the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
UKAID PROVIDES 3 MILLION POUNDS FOR 2010 CENSUS (PAGE 46, OCT 4, 2010)
UKaid of the Department for International Development (DFID) of the United Kingdom has announced a £3million grant to support the 2010 population and housing census as well as the country’s statistical development plan.
About £2million, the equivalent of GH¢4.5million, will be for the post-enumeration survey and dissemination of the census information.
The fund has been channelled into a World Bank trust fund designed to accept funds from a variety of development partners.
Mr Jim Drummond, the Director for Western and Southern Africa of UKaid, who announced this when he met the enumerators in Takoradi, said post enumeration was a good system to check the level of coverage and accuracy of the data collected.
“This is good practice in census undertaking around the world and the dissemination of the census reports is vital to ensure that the results are widely available, well used and provides value for money,” he said.
He said census was crucial to updating information on social, demographic, economic and housing characteristics of the country’s population and lauded Ghana for travelling the path that would provide her with good data to come up with feasible development plans.
“It will help provide the basis for the design and implementation of strong development plans and programmes that can meet people’s needs,” he said.
Mr Drummond added that the census was essential for the government to be able to provide services such as health and education facilities where they were most needed.
“It is also important for the government to be able to understand where it is making progress, and where it is not, ” he said.
The UKaid Director also met beneficiaries from the Government of Ghana’s Livelihoods Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme in the Shama District of the Western Region.
LEAP is providing social welfare payments to the most vulnerable people in Ghana. It is already providing grants to 35,000 households.
UKaid has been supporting the government of Ghana’s objective to reach about 164,000 very poor households by 2012/13.
Mr Drummond said his visit to the area had afforded him first hand information about the benefits the LEAP programme was bringing to the poorest and most vulnerable people in the country.
He said the visit was also to ensure that the money was reaching the people who needed it most.
He added: “LEAP is a great example of why the census matters – better information on the population of Ghana will help to ensure that LEAP payments are directed to the poorest people.”
About £2million, the equivalent of GH¢4.5million, will be for the post-enumeration survey and dissemination of the census information.
The fund has been channelled into a World Bank trust fund designed to accept funds from a variety of development partners.
Mr Jim Drummond, the Director for Western and Southern Africa of UKaid, who announced this when he met the enumerators in Takoradi, said post enumeration was a good system to check the level of coverage and accuracy of the data collected.
“This is good practice in census undertaking around the world and the dissemination of the census reports is vital to ensure that the results are widely available, well used and provides value for money,” he said.
He said census was crucial to updating information on social, demographic, economic and housing characteristics of the country’s population and lauded Ghana for travelling the path that would provide her with good data to come up with feasible development plans.
“It will help provide the basis for the design and implementation of strong development plans and programmes that can meet people’s needs,” he said.
Mr Drummond added that the census was essential for the government to be able to provide services such as health and education facilities where they were most needed.
“It is also important for the government to be able to understand where it is making progress, and where it is not, ” he said.
The UKaid Director also met beneficiaries from the Government of Ghana’s Livelihoods Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme in the Shama District of the Western Region.
LEAP is providing social welfare payments to the most vulnerable people in Ghana. It is already providing grants to 35,000 households.
UKaid has been supporting the government of Ghana’s objective to reach about 164,000 very poor households by 2012/13.
Mr Drummond said his visit to the area had afforded him first hand information about the benefits the LEAP programme was bringing to the poorest and most vulnerable people in the country.
He said the visit was also to ensure that the money was reaching the people who needed it most.
He added: “LEAP is a great example of why the census matters – better information on the population of Ghana will help to ensure that LEAP payments are directed to the poorest people.”
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