The Minister of Information, Mrs Zita Okaikoi, has deplored the dominance of politics and sports on the airwaves and in the newspapers at the expense of other development issues.
She also called on chief executives of media houses to recruit qualified personnel and ensure balance, fair, objective and accurate reportage across every spectrum of society.
The minister said most radio stations in the country had relegated to the background issues about the environment and sanitation, health, education, agriculture, women and children, as well as many other vital development issues.
At the 15th anniversary celebration of the Twin-City Radio in Takoradi, the minister said problems facing communities, environment, health, education, women and children were equally important as compared to sport and politics.
She said considering the power of the mass media, it would be very important if more time was devoted to other issues apart from sports and politics.
“It is against this backdrop that you must be mindful of your limitations on rights, freedoms, especially in the interest of national security, public order and morality for the purpose of protecting the reputations and freedom of other persons,” she said.
The minister said to ensure high journalistic standards and practice, “I am making a passionate appeal to chief executives of media houses to recruit qualified staff. For at the end of the day, the credibility of any media house depends on accurate, fair, objective and balance reportage.”
The Deputy Western Regional Minister, Ms Betty Bosumtwi-Sam, urged the station as a public broadcaster not to take sides in any event of conflict between persons or groups of persons to consolidate the needed peace for national development.
She reminded Twin-City Radio that they were accountable to the public. “Therefore, you are expected to be objective, factual, fair and accurate in your reportage.”
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
CALL ON CHRISTIANS TO HELP FIGHT TRIBALISM (PAGE 31)
Christians have been urged to champion the fight against tribalism, hatred, gossip, and envy which have bedevilled the society.
The Grand Lady, Sister Victoria Yellu, who made the call at the 19th Western Regional Conference of the Noble Order of Knights and Ladies of Marshall, said such behaviours were a complete setback for the socio-economic development of the country.
She said some members of the Christian fraternity had adopted negative behaviours that had gone a long way to mar the aims and objectives for which the Noble Order and other forms of religious organisations were founded.
“Our society is Christian and Catholic for that matter, so as brothers and sisters, let us eschew hatred, gossip, envy, the pull-him-down attitude and tribalism, and rather live as one family, consoling and encouraging one another and sharing our joy,” she said.
Sister Yellu said every citizen of Ghana should welcome and embrace one another irrespective of one’s tribal, ethnic or religious background and desist from acts that portrayed Christianity in negative terms.
For his part, the Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, said religious organisations in the country had been one major partner of government in the areas of education, agriculture development, health promotion, water and sanitation.
“Government will, therefore, continue to see the Church as a major collaborator in its agenda to move the country forward,” he said.
The minister urged religious organisations to be the vanguard in reconciliation to strengthen the country’s democratisation process.
“If you use your podium to champion reconciliation and national unity, the country would be stronger to fight against indiscipline, ethnicity, tribalism and corruption,” he said.
The Vicar General of the Sekondi/Takoradi Diocese, Very Rev. Fr. Oric Awotwe-Dadson, said there were many problems such as injustice, lack of peace, social inequities, crave for power and corruption that had afflicted the world today.
He said the sad part of the situation was that many of these conflicts were associated with Africa and the earlier the answers were found to issues of conflicts, war and marginalisation the needed peace for the development across Africa would not be achieved.
The conference also had officials from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) who educated the congregation on environmental issues and the role of the Church in finding solutions to many environmental problems.
New regional executive members of the noble order were also elected into office.
The Grand Lady, Sister Victoria Yellu, who made the call at the 19th Western Regional Conference of the Noble Order of Knights and Ladies of Marshall, said such behaviours were a complete setback for the socio-economic development of the country.
She said some members of the Christian fraternity had adopted negative behaviours that had gone a long way to mar the aims and objectives for which the Noble Order and other forms of religious organisations were founded.
“Our society is Christian and Catholic for that matter, so as brothers and sisters, let us eschew hatred, gossip, envy, the pull-him-down attitude and tribalism, and rather live as one family, consoling and encouraging one another and sharing our joy,” she said.
Sister Yellu said every citizen of Ghana should welcome and embrace one another irrespective of one’s tribal, ethnic or religious background and desist from acts that portrayed Christianity in negative terms.
For his part, the Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, said religious organisations in the country had been one major partner of government in the areas of education, agriculture development, health promotion, water and sanitation.
“Government will, therefore, continue to see the Church as a major collaborator in its agenda to move the country forward,” he said.
The minister urged religious organisations to be the vanguard in reconciliation to strengthen the country’s democratisation process.
“If you use your podium to champion reconciliation and national unity, the country would be stronger to fight against indiscipline, ethnicity, tribalism and corruption,” he said.
The Vicar General of the Sekondi/Takoradi Diocese, Very Rev. Fr. Oric Awotwe-Dadson, said there were many problems such as injustice, lack of peace, social inequities, crave for power and corruption that had afflicted the world today.
He said the sad part of the situation was that many of these conflicts were associated with Africa and the earlier the answers were found to issues of conflicts, war and marginalisation the needed peace for the development across Africa would not be achieved.
The conference also had officials from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) who educated the congregation on environmental issues and the role of the Church in finding solutions to many environmental problems.
New regional executive members of the noble order were also elected into office.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
GHANA YET TO EXPLOIT MOST OF ITS MINERALS (PAGE 20)
THE Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mines Tarkwa (UMaT), Prof. D. Mireku-Gyimah, has stated that the mineral resources the country is endowed with are yet to be fully exploited
He said the country was potentially rich, since it was gifted with more natural resources than what were being extracted currently.
At the university’s first congregation at Tarkwa, Prof. Mireku-Gyimah said the country had witnessed the exploitation of gold, diamond, bauxite, manganese and, to some limited extent, salt, sand and gravel.
“But we also have iron, casseterite, asbestos, limestone, marbles, andalusite, mica, talc, silica, garnet, felspar, sandstone, beryl columbite, lithium, monazite, copper, kaoline, as well as oil and gas which we are yet to tap to the country’s advantage,” he observed.
Prof. Gyimah-Boadi said the challenge at the moment was how to use correct mining and processing methods to exploit those minerals in an environmentally friendly manner to minimise environmental damage.
He said dealing with challenge would enable the country to derive maximum socio-economic benefits from the resources it was endowed with and still keep her environment intact.
Prof. Mireku-Gyimah said it was due to mining that a country like Ghana, with such a high level of natural resource deposits, was considered potentially rich.
Prof. Mireku-Gyimah said the university had only two academic faculties, namely Mineral Resources Technology and the Faculty of Engineering, with various departments under them.
The vice-chancellor said since everything the institution did concerned engineering, the current focus was to establish well-equipped laboratories, lecture halls and student hostels to enhance the study environment of the students.
He said the university would do everything possible to ensure that the dreams of a modern college of agricultural engineering and food processing technology or college of animal husbandry, or college of rubber and bamboo, paper production technology, became a reality in the near future.
He said the country was potentially rich, since it was gifted with more natural resources than what were being extracted currently.
At the university’s first congregation at Tarkwa, Prof. Mireku-Gyimah said the country had witnessed the exploitation of gold, diamond, bauxite, manganese and, to some limited extent, salt, sand and gravel.
“But we also have iron, casseterite, asbestos, limestone, marbles, andalusite, mica, talc, silica, garnet, felspar, sandstone, beryl columbite, lithium, monazite, copper, kaoline, as well as oil and gas which we are yet to tap to the country’s advantage,” he observed.
Prof. Gyimah-Boadi said the challenge at the moment was how to use correct mining and processing methods to exploit those minerals in an environmentally friendly manner to minimise environmental damage.
He said dealing with challenge would enable the country to derive maximum socio-economic benefits from the resources it was endowed with and still keep her environment intact.
Prof. Mireku-Gyimah said it was due to mining that a country like Ghana, with such a high level of natural resource deposits, was considered potentially rich.
Prof. Mireku-Gyimah said the university had only two academic faculties, namely Mineral Resources Technology and the Faculty of Engineering, with various departments under them.
The vice-chancellor said since everything the institution did concerned engineering, the current focus was to establish well-equipped laboratories, lecture halls and student hostels to enhance the study environment of the students.
He said the university would do everything possible to ensure that the dreams of a modern college of agricultural engineering and food processing technology or college of animal husbandry, or college of rubber and bamboo, paper production technology, became a reality in the near future.
AKYEA LAUDS 3-YER SHS PROGRAMME (PAGE 20)
THE Chairman of the National Service Board, Mr W. Nkunu Akyea, has lauded the return to the three-year senior high school (SHS) system, and called for resources to ensure its success.
“The debate should go beyond the government going back to three years and to rather look at the fulfilment of the basic needs of today’s educational system,” he said.
Mr Akyea told the Daily Graphic in Takoradi that the brouhaha over changing from four to three years had clouded the real issues that undermined the system’s efficient and effective delivery.
He said problems with the country’s educational system were not with the three or four years or the number of years spent, but investing in the system to ensure its success was what mattered.
According to him, “The new educational system requires more classrooms and a strong basic level, investing in teachers, training facilities at training colleges and accommodations to help the system work.”
Mr Akyea said one of the cardinal points that the debate should focus on was the need for stronger foundation of schools.
He said while the debate was good and healthy, nobody thought of what was recommended in the Anamuah-Mensah report and the main aim of establishing the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
Mr Akyea said the good foundation recommended by the Anamuah-Mensah report would ensure the sterling performance of students at higher levels of education.
He said the objective of the GETFund was to provide finance to supplement the government’s efforts of ensuring quality education in the country.
Mr Akyea said the GETFund was to create the enabling environment for academic work as it had resulted in the building of residential and academic facilities for teachers and schools.
He said change in the educational system should not be seen as something new and that since the world was a dynamic place, change was inevitable.
Mr Akyea said the debate had provided the platform for people to ask questions as to how to do the right thing by providing the basic needs that would create the perfect environment for education to triumph.
He said “if we fail to embrace constant change to conform to the rest of the world, we would realise that before the student graduates, he or she is abreast of technology and time.”
He expressed the hope that the GETFund and the stronger government support would provide the basic teaching materials and facilities for the teacher to have a place to stay and have a peace of mind to work.
“The problem is lack of more classrooms and academic facilities so we should not be thinking about only the years,” Mr Akyea said.
“I will therefore stress that we take a look at the GETFund and the recommendation of the Ampomah-Mensah report instead of focusing on the number of years,” he said.
“The debate should go beyond the government going back to three years and to rather look at the fulfilment of the basic needs of today’s educational system,” he said.
Mr Akyea told the Daily Graphic in Takoradi that the brouhaha over changing from four to three years had clouded the real issues that undermined the system’s efficient and effective delivery.
He said problems with the country’s educational system were not with the three or four years or the number of years spent, but investing in the system to ensure its success was what mattered.
According to him, “The new educational system requires more classrooms and a strong basic level, investing in teachers, training facilities at training colleges and accommodations to help the system work.”
Mr Akyea said one of the cardinal points that the debate should focus on was the need for stronger foundation of schools.
He said while the debate was good and healthy, nobody thought of what was recommended in the Anamuah-Mensah report and the main aim of establishing the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
Mr Akyea said the good foundation recommended by the Anamuah-Mensah report would ensure the sterling performance of students at higher levels of education.
He said the objective of the GETFund was to provide finance to supplement the government’s efforts of ensuring quality education in the country.
Mr Akyea said the GETFund was to create the enabling environment for academic work as it had resulted in the building of residential and academic facilities for teachers and schools.
He said change in the educational system should not be seen as something new and that since the world was a dynamic place, change was inevitable.
Mr Akyea said the debate had provided the platform for people to ask questions as to how to do the right thing by providing the basic needs that would create the perfect environment for education to triumph.
He said “if we fail to embrace constant change to conform to the rest of the world, we would realise that before the student graduates, he or she is abreast of technology and time.”
He expressed the hope that the GETFund and the stronger government support would provide the basic teaching materials and facilities for the teacher to have a place to stay and have a peace of mind to work.
“The problem is lack of more classrooms and academic facilities so we should not be thinking about only the years,” Mr Akyea said.
“I will therefore stress that we take a look at the GETFund and the recommendation of the Ampomah-Mensah report instead of focusing on the number of years,” he said.
NURSES URGED TO BE GUIDED BY CODE OF ETHICS (PAGE 20)
THE Nurses and Midwifery Council has been urged to be guided by their code of ethics to enable it to erase the negative public perception about its members.
The African Representative for ICM/UNFPA Project, Dr Jemima Dennis-Antwi, who made the call in Takoradi, advised her colleagues, “We must all join hands to address this challenge to redeem the public image of nurses and midwives.”
Dr Dennis-Antwi was speaking at the seventh biennial general meeting of the Ghana Registered Midwives Association (GRMA) on the theme: “Achieving Millennium Development Goals 4,5 and 6; The Role of the Midwife.”
She said, they could portray a good image of themselves when nurses and midwives changed their attitudes to work by relating cordially with their clients.
She said “The continuous public outcry about the attitude of nurses and midwives towards patients had created negative publicity for the profession. “The bad publicity we are receiving is gradually sweeping under the carpet all our good works”, Dr Dennis-Antwi stressed.
Dr Dennis-Antwi said with self examination, ethics would become more recognised because of its great naturalness since it constituted the foundation for true humanism towards which nurses and midwives must strive if they really wanted the culture of the profession to be truly ethical.
Dr Dennis-Antwi said through midwives, pregnant women could get access to adequate information and support the control of their reproductive health.
She said the work of midwives and nurses was very important to communities by the adoption of culturally sensitive approaches that allowed them to apply their basic knowledge of child bearing practices of women to build the needed community trust.
For his part, the Minister of Health, Dr George Sipa Yankey, commended members of the GRMA for their service to God and country.
He said his ministry would do everything possible to ensure that the needed environment was created for the achievement of the MDGs.
There were solidarity messages from the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) and other players in the medical fraternity.
The African Representative for ICM/UNFPA Project, Dr Jemima Dennis-Antwi, who made the call in Takoradi, advised her colleagues, “We must all join hands to address this challenge to redeem the public image of nurses and midwives.”
Dr Dennis-Antwi was speaking at the seventh biennial general meeting of the Ghana Registered Midwives Association (GRMA) on the theme: “Achieving Millennium Development Goals 4,5 and 6; The Role of the Midwife.”
She said, they could portray a good image of themselves when nurses and midwives changed their attitudes to work by relating cordially with their clients.
She said “The continuous public outcry about the attitude of nurses and midwives towards patients had created negative publicity for the profession. “The bad publicity we are receiving is gradually sweeping under the carpet all our good works”, Dr Dennis-Antwi stressed.
Dr Dennis-Antwi said with self examination, ethics would become more recognised because of its great naturalness since it constituted the foundation for true humanism towards which nurses and midwives must strive if they really wanted the culture of the profession to be truly ethical.
Dr Dennis-Antwi said through midwives, pregnant women could get access to adequate information and support the control of their reproductive health.
She said the work of midwives and nurses was very important to communities by the adoption of culturally sensitive approaches that allowed them to apply their basic knowledge of child bearing practices of women to build the needed community trust.
For his part, the Minister of Health, Dr George Sipa Yankey, commended members of the GRMA for their service to God and country.
He said his ministry would do everything possible to ensure that the needed environment was created for the achievement of the MDGs.
There were solidarity messages from the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) and other players in the medical fraternity.
RURAL BANKS ASSIST AMENFIMAN SHS (PAGE 20)
THE Amenfiman Rural Bank has equipped the home economics department of the Amenfiman Senior High School (SHS) at Wassa Akropong in the Amenfi East District in the Western Region.
The equipment, including gas stoves, three gas cylinders and their accessories, a measuring scale and different sets of cooking utensils worth thousands of Ghana cedis, was aimed at enhancing teaching and learning at the department.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the bank, Mr Steven Ampong, who made the presentation, said the donation formed part of the bank’s social responsibility to support education and provide other development projects in its catchment area.
He said gone are the days when businesses focused on profit at the expense of their corporate social responsibilities.
Mr Ampong said the department was different from the other departments, and it was important that tools needed for enhancement of academic work was provided.
“We, therefore, identified that if we want to help provide the needed skilled manpower for the development of the country, we are left with no option than to support the development of education in the region, especially technical and vocational skills,” he said.
Mr Ampong said more assistance had been extended to other educational institutions in the community, including a six-bedroom accommodation facilities for primary schools and the renovation of the police station in the area.
He said the company’s support for the police was to improve the security situation in the area in view of the upsurge of crime in that part of the region.
He urged members of the community to patronise the services of the bank, and to ensure that the loans they had contracted from it were paid back in time.
The Headmistress of the school, Miss Faustina Adarkwa, who received the gift, was grateful to the bank for assisting the school at a time that it needed the facilities most.
She said the items would enhance teaching and learning. Madam Adarkwa used the opportunity to appeal for more assistance from other organisations.
The equipment, including gas stoves, three gas cylinders and their accessories, a measuring scale and different sets of cooking utensils worth thousands of Ghana cedis, was aimed at enhancing teaching and learning at the department.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the bank, Mr Steven Ampong, who made the presentation, said the donation formed part of the bank’s social responsibility to support education and provide other development projects in its catchment area.
He said gone are the days when businesses focused on profit at the expense of their corporate social responsibilities.
Mr Ampong said the department was different from the other departments, and it was important that tools needed for enhancement of academic work was provided.
“We, therefore, identified that if we want to help provide the needed skilled manpower for the development of the country, we are left with no option than to support the development of education in the region, especially technical and vocational skills,” he said.
Mr Ampong said more assistance had been extended to other educational institutions in the community, including a six-bedroom accommodation facilities for primary schools and the renovation of the police station in the area.
He said the company’s support for the police was to improve the security situation in the area in view of the upsurge of crime in that part of the region.
He urged members of the community to patronise the services of the bank, and to ensure that the loans they had contracted from it were paid back in time.
The Headmistress of the school, Miss Faustina Adarkwa, who received the gift, was grateful to the bank for assisting the school at a time that it needed the facilities most.
She said the items would enhance teaching and learning. Madam Adarkwa used the opportunity to appeal for more assistance from other organisations.
DON'T FRUSTRATE CLIENTS — KAMEL (PAGE 20)
THE Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Henry Ford Kamel, has urged officials of the Lands Commission not to frustrate their clients.
He said reforms in the land sector were being carried out to reduce or completely eradicate problems in the sector.
Addressing the staff of the Western Regional Lands Commission in Sekondi, he said “the reforms will work if those responsible for their implementation work hard.”
Mr Kamel stressed the need for collaboration between assemblies and the Land Commission to ensure that land development in the regions did not create additional social cost.
“The commission must always put its clients and the public at the centre of its operations and one of the key objectives was to reduce bureaucracy, inefficiencies and frustration of the public”, he said.
According to him, if such irregularities associated with registration of land transactions were removed, they would improve security of tenure for those who acquired land.
Mr Kamel said with the discovery of oil in the region, land issues in the area had become important.
The deputy minister said the effective implementation of the provision, in collaboration with the planning authority, would go a long way to speed up attempts at protecting the country’s waterways.
“The regional land commissions should therefore collaborate effectively with the assemblies to ensure that land development does not create additional social cost”, he stated.
Mr Kamel also advised land owners in the region to be careful when disposing of their lands.
He urged the regional land Commission to closely regulate land disposal in the region.
The deputy minister said his ministry was mindful of the numerous functions enshrined in the commission’s Act 2008, but he was hopeful that the team in region would perform creditably.
He said reforms in the land sector were being carried out to reduce or completely eradicate problems in the sector.
Addressing the staff of the Western Regional Lands Commission in Sekondi, he said “the reforms will work if those responsible for their implementation work hard.”
Mr Kamel stressed the need for collaboration between assemblies and the Land Commission to ensure that land development in the regions did not create additional social cost.
“The commission must always put its clients and the public at the centre of its operations and one of the key objectives was to reduce bureaucracy, inefficiencies and frustration of the public”, he said.
According to him, if such irregularities associated with registration of land transactions were removed, they would improve security of tenure for those who acquired land.
Mr Kamel said with the discovery of oil in the region, land issues in the area had become important.
The deputy minister said the effective implementation of the provision, in collaboration with the planning authority, would go a long way to speed up attempts at protecting the country’s waterways.
“The regional land commissions should therefore collaborate effectively with the assemblies to ensure that land development does not create additional social cost”, he stated.
Mr Kamel also advised land owners in the region to be careful when disposing of their lands.
He urged the regional land Commission to closely regulate land disposal in the region.
The deputy minister said his ministry was mindful of the numerous functions enshrined in the commission’s Act 2008, but he was hopeful that the team in region would perform creditably.
Friday, August 21, 2009
DONT USE SKILLS TO INTIMATE CIVILIANS (PAGE 29)
Newly trained naval recruits have been told not to use the skills and knowledge they acquire during training to intimidate civil society.
The Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, who made the call at the passing out ceremony for naval recruits at the Western Naval Command said: “In your career as military personnel, you may come under a lot of pressure and temptation to assist friends or other acquaintances to accomplish their private ambitions.”
He said some of the temptations included the collection of private debts, harassment and molestation of innocent civilians, and advised the recruits that they were not private debt collectors, and that they must not allow themselves to be used by selfish individuals for their own selfish purposes.
The regional minister urged the recruits not to also use their uniforms to intimidate, molest, extort or act in a manner that would put fear in the very people the military had been constitutionally mandated to protect.
He said it was an indisputable fact that the country had enjoyed a long period of stability and peace, which had translated into the progress and development which had attracted international attention among the comity of nations.
“Our democratic culture needs to be consolidated to make it possible for more socio-economic developments to reach all corners of our dear country at a faster rate,” he said.
To achieve that, the minister said, as naval personnel, they could contribute in a big way by remaining vigilant and loyal to the Constitution, the government and the Ghana Armed Forces.
He said the navy was expected to intensify its patrol in the near future due to the country’s oil discovery and exploitation. “With this the navy can only meet these challenges with improved human resource and the government was also doing everything possible to equip the navy to carry out their duties.”
The minister commended the recruits for their smart turnout and display of skills and readiness to help protect mother Ghana.
In all , 99 recruits passed out, and four who distinguished themselves during training were presented with awards.
The Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, who made the call at the passing out ceremony for naval recruits at the Western Naval Command said: “In your career as military personnel, you may come under a lot of pressure and temptation to assist friends or other acquaintances to accomplish their private ambitions.”
He said some of the temptations included the collection of private debts, harassment and molestation of innocent civilians, and advised the recruits that they were not private debt collectors, and that they must not allow themselves to be used by selfish individuals for their own selfish purposes.
The regional minister urged the recruits not to also use their uniforms to intimidate, molest, extort or act in a manner that would put fear in the very people the military had been constitutionally mandated to protect.
He said it was an indisputable fact that the country had enjoyed a long period of stability and peace, which had translated into the progress and development which had attracted international attention among the comity of nations.
“Our democratic culture needs to be consolidated to make it possible for more socio-economic developments to reach all corners of our dear country at a faster rate,” he said.
To achieve that, the minister said, as naval personnel, they could contribute in a big way by remaining vigilant and loyal to the Constitution, the government and the Ghana Armed Forces.
He said the navy was expected to intensify its patrol in the near future due to the country’s oil discovery and exploitation. “With this the navy can only meet these challenges with improved human resource and the government was also doing everything possible to equip the navy to carry out their duties.”
The minister commended the recruits for their smart turnout and display of skills and readiness to help protect mother Ghana.
In all , 99 recruits passed out, and four who distinguished themselves during training were presented with awards.
KNUST, UDS TO RUN DEGREE COURSES IN MIDWIFERY (PAGE 29)
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and the University for Development Studies will from next year start the Bachelor’s degree in midwifery.
The programme, which will commence in June 2010, forms part of the government’s drive to increase the number of health training institutions in the country to turnout more staff for the sector.
Speaking at the seventh Biennial meeting of the Ghana Registered Midwives Association (GRMA), the Minister of Health, Dr George Sipa-Adjah Yankey, said the ministry was also working on a diploma programme at the University of Ghana for midwives.
He said the government placed premium on human resource development to enhance national growth.
He said the role of midwives was very important to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals 4, 5 and 6 before the end of the year 2015.
He said the ministry was doing everything to ensure that pregnant women queuing to receive medical attention became a thing of the past.
“I was personally at Korle-Bu Teaching and Ridge hospitals to witness women waiting for their turn to be delivered of their babies and were being judged on the basis of who had ever had a child,” he said.
Dr Yankey said that should not be said of a country trying to eliminate infant and maternal mortality during and after child birth.
He said plans were far advanced to ensure that private health facilities were accredited under the National Health Insurance Scheme.
The minister called on midwives to upgrade themselves by adopting modern technologies.
For her part, the president of the Ghana Registered Midwives Association, Mrs Ernestina Djokoto, welcomed the plan to introduce the programme for upgrading themselves.
She said as part of the quest of the world to eliminate problems associated with childbirth, special focus was directed at the global shortage of midwives.
She said to achieve MDGs 4, 5, and 6 it would require global attention and deemed it appropriate for the introduction of midwifery programmes at the three universities in the country.
The president of the association said it was important that they paid special attention to the development of midwives since they provided about 71 per cent of antenatal care and handled 41 per cent of deliveries in the country.
She said the main goal of the association was to advance the provision of quality maternal and new-born care service delivery to ensure that midwives provided adequate professional services in order to save the lives of mothers and their babies across the country.
Mrs Djokoto used the opportunity to appeal to members of the association to put service first and work together as a team for mother Ghana.
The programme, which will commence in June 2010, forms part of the government’s drive to increase the number of health training institutions in the country to turnout more staff for the sector.
Speaking at the seventh Biennial meeting of the Ghana Registered Midwives Association (GRMA), the Minister of Health, Dr George Sipa-Adjah Yankey, said the ministry was also working on a diploma programme at the University of Ghana for midwives.
He said the government placed premium on human resource development to enhance national growth.
He said the role of midwives was very important to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals 4, 5 and 6 before the end of the year 2015.
He said the ministry was doing everything to ensure that pregnant women queuing to receive medical attention became a thing of the past.
“I was personally at Korle-Bu Teaching and Ridge hospitals to witness women waiting for their turn to be delivered of their babies and were being judged on the basis of who had ever had a child,” he said.
Dr Yankey said that should not be said of a country trying to eliminate infant and maternal mortality during and after child birth.
He said plans were far advanced to ensure that private health facilities were accredited under the National Health Insurance Scheme.
The minister called on midwives to upgrade themselves by adopting modern technologies.
For her part, the president of the Ghana Registered Midwives Association, Mrs Ernestina Djokoto, welcomed the plan to introduce the programme for upgrading themselves.
She said as part of the quest of the world to eliminate problems associated with childbirth, special focus was directed at the global shortage of midwives.
She said to achieve MDGs 4, 5, and 6 it would require global attention and deemed it appropriate for the introduction of midwifery programmes at the three universities in the country.
The president of the association said it was important that they paid special attention to the development of midwives since they provided about 71 per cent of antenatal care and handled 41 per cent of deliveries in the country.
She said the main goal of the association was to advance the provision of quality maternal and new-born care service delivery to ensure that midwives provided adequate professional services in order to save the lives of mothers and their babies across the country.
Mrs Djokoto used the opportunity to appeal to members of the association to put service first and work together as a team for mother Ghana.
GOVT TO UPGRADE FACILITIES AT EFFIA-NKWANTA HOSPITAL (PAGE 29)
THE government is to upgrade the facilities at the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi to reflect its status as a referral hospital.
This is to enable the facility to handle cases that require urgent attention, the Health Minister, Dr George Sipa-Adjah Yankey, has said in Takoradi
He said the days of looking on helplessly at cases that required urgent attention would be a thing of the past.
He said apart from upgrading the regional hospital, all other health facilities at the district level would also be taken care of.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic after addressing the annual conference of the Ghana Midwives Association in Takoradi, the minister said the abandoned accident and emergency unit at the hospital would also be completed to serve the purpose for which it was intended.
He said one of the problems of hospitals across the country was inadequate staff, and gave the assurance that the ministry was also doing everything possible to increase the intake into nursing training colleges.
The minister said facilities at the midwifery and nurses training colleges would be improved to ensure that more staff were trained and placed at the disposal of the health sector.
The minister used the opportunity to commend health workers for demonstrating the sense of duty that led to the resolution of various issues in the past few months.
“In the recent past the issue of salary between the ministry and the doctors were resolved without putting premium on the patients ” he said.
Dr Yankey said the government was doing everything possible to ensure that proactive measures were taken to avert future occurrences of withdrawal of services by the health workers.
He said the health of the people was very important to the government since it was only a healthy population that would develop the nation
This is to enable the facility to handle cases that require urgent attention, the Health Minister, Dr George Sipa-Adjah Yankey, has said in Takoradi
He said the days of looking on helplessly at cases that required urgent attention would be a thing of the past.
He said apart from upgrading the regional hospital, all other health facilities at the district level would also be taken care of.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic after addressing the annual conference of the Ghana Midwives Association in Takoradi, the minister said the abandoned accident and emergency unit at the hospital would also be completed to serve the purpose for which it was intended.
He said one of the problems of hospitals across the country was inadequate staff, and gave the assurance that the ministry was also doing everything possible to increase the intake into nursing training colleges.
The minister said facilities at the midwifery and nurses training colleges would be improved to ensure that more staff were trained and placed at the disposal of the health sector.
The minister used the opportunity to commend health workers for demonstrating the sense of duty that led to the resolution of various issues in the past few months.
“In the recent past the issue of salary between the ministry and the doctors were resolved without putting premium on the patients ” he said.
Dr Yankey said the government was doing everything possible to ensure that proactive measures were taken to avert future occurrences of withdrawal of services by the health workers.
He said the health of the people was very important to the government since it was only a healthy population that would develop the nation
Thursday, August 20, 2009
LANDSLIDE THREATENS TAKORADI PORT WORKERS (PAGE 38)
The lives of hundreds of workers and users of the Takoradi Port are threatened as a result of a landslide which occurred there recently.
The landslide affected the land and roads in the area and has weakened some structures, some of which can cave in and cause considerable damage to lives and property.
A visit to the port by the Daily Graphic revealed that the resultant erosion had exposed the roots of some trees which stood dangerously on a weak base.
Part of the foundation of the building that houses the Ghana Navy Supply Depot had eroded while the structures had developed cracks. Some individuals are also likely to lose their properties.
The debris from the landslide had been cleared and officials of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) have advised users of the port to beware of the danger the situation poses.
There are two routes to the Takoradi Port and the shortest route is the one currently in bad shape. The situation is, therefore, affecting vehicular and human traffic to and from the port.
Some workers who use the route to the port daily are surprised that nothing much is being done about the situation.
The landslide affected the land and roads in the area and has weakened some structures, some of which can cave in and cause considerable damage to lives and property.
A visit to the port by the Daily Graphic revealed that the resultant erosion had exposed the roots of some trees which stood dangerously on a weak base.
Part of the foundation of the building that houses the Ghana Navy Supply Depot had eroded while the structures had developed cracks. Some individuals are also likely to lose their properties.
The debris from the landslide had been cleared and officials of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) have advised users of the port to beware of the danger the situation poses.
There are two routes to the Takoradi Port and the shortest route is the one currently in bad shape. The situation is, therefore, affecting vehicular and human traffic to and from the port.
Some workers who use the route to the port daily are surprised that nothing much is being done about the situation.
RAP DOCTOR JABS AT HEPATITIS (SHOWBIZ, PAGE 7)
By Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu
Okyeame Kwame, the “Rap Doctor” will on Saturday, lead a personal campaign to offer free Hepatitis B screening in the twin-city of Sekondi-Takoradi.
Launching the campaign in Takoradi this week, the multiple Ghana Music Awards winner said his focus will be at the Takoradi Central Market where his team will educate residents of the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis and its environs about the disease.
Okyeame Kwame said his organisation, the Okyeame Kwame Foundation, an NGO, is embarking on screening, education and counselling in collaboration with Radio Maxx, a local FM Station in Takoradi.
He said he was alarmed by the fact that Hepatitis B was one of the major health problems and one of the nine most deadly diseases in the world.
Okyeame Kwame said the situation where people go to the health facilities to seek cure for their ailment only when they were sick should be a thing of the past. He said the time had come for us to be proactive to ensure good health to help in the development of Ghana.
He said he derives a lot of admiration from his fans, saying “If I have to maintain my market share in the music industry, I also have an equal responsibility to ensure a healthy society since the strength of a nation lies in the health of the citizenry.”
The Chief Executive Officer of Radio Maxx, Mr Kwame Adu Mante disclosed that other artists on the campaign trail will include Bradez and Andy of Mentor one fame.
Okyeame Kwame, the “Rap Doctor” will on Saturday, lead a personal campaign to offer free Hepatitis B screening in the twin-city of Sekondi-Takoradi.
Launching the campaign in Takoradi this week, the multiple Ghana Music Awards winner said his focus will be at the Takoradi Central Market where his team will educate residents of the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis and its environs about the disease.
Okyeame Kwame said his organisation, the Okyeame Kwame Foundation, an NGO, is embarking on screening, education and counselling in collaboration with Radio Maxx, a local FM Station in Takoradi.He said he was alarmed by the fact that Hepatitis B was one of the major health problems and one of the nine most deadly diseases in the world.
Okyeame Kwame said the situation where people go to the health facilities to seek cure for their ailment only when they were sick should be a thing of the past. He said the time had come for us to be proactive to ensure good health to help in the development of Ghana.
He said he derives a lot of admiration from his fans, saying “If I have to maintain my market share in the music industry, I also have an equal responsibility to ensure a healthy society since the strength of a nation lies in the health of the citizenry.”
The Chief Executive Officer of Radio Maxx, Mr Kwame Adu Mante disclosed that other artists on the campaign trail will include Bradez and Andy of Mentor one fame.
SPORTIVE, OKWAWU DRAW AGAIN (BACK PAGE)
Tema Real Sportive and Okwawu United yesterday settled for a 1-1 draw in their Middle League Zone three clash at the Sekondi Gyandu Park.
Sportive drew first blood when Victor Aryeetey put them ahead on the 30th minute.
With defeat staring them in the face, the soccer mountainers doubled their efforts and kept their opponents under pressure but failed to find the net.
Okwawu had to wait until the 80th minute to draw level through Safo Antwi whose drive zoomed straight into the net.
Sportive drew first blood when Victor Aryeetey put them ahead on the 30th minute.
With defeat staring them in the face, the soccer mountainers doubled their efforts and kept their opponents under pressure but failed to find the net.
Okwawu had to wait until the 80th minute to draw level through Safo Antwi whose drive zoomed straight into the net.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
YOUTH URGED TO BE AGENTS OF CHANGE (PAGE 16)
THE youth in the country have been called upon to position themselves as agents of change instead of instruments for violence and disorder in society.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Tarkwa-Nsuaem, Mrs Christiana Kobina, who made the call, said the role of the youth could not be negated as far as the quest for sustainable national progress was concerned.
At the Western Regional celebration of the International Youth Day, she said the Professor John Evans Atta Mills-led government was very much committed to the empowerment and development of the youth.
The MCE said in many instances the youth were deceived to use violence approach to issues that could have been addressed through dialogue.
That situation, she said, tended to create bad image for the youth, stressing that “the government’s aim of investing in people was in line with its quest to make every sector of the economy attractive to the youth.
Mrs Kobina, therefore, urged the youth to channel their energies into productive activities that would improve their lifestyle and contribute meaningfully towards the socio-economic development of the country.
Mrs Kobina said the theme for the celebration, “Sustainability, a challenge to our youth,” did not only refer to the maintenance of environmental balance and renewal, but also the three facets of life, which were environment, society and economy.
She said the government was leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the youth had strong foundation to feed the job market and to take bold steps to go into entrepreneurship.
“Skill development would feature strongly on our agenda to position you well for mother Ghana,” Mrs Kobina said.
The Regional Youth Co-ordinator, Papa Assan, advised the youth to desist from acts that would destroy their future and paint them negatively in the eyes of the public.
Mr Assan said hopefully by the end of this year, the youth policy would be passed, which would help spell out the clear direction the youth should go.
The Municipal Youth Co-ordinator, Mr Adjei Sowah, assured the youth that the assembly had put in place a mechanism to involve them in its development plans.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Tarkwa-Nsuaem, Mrs Christiana Kobina, who made the call, said the role of the youth could not be negated as far as the quest for sustainable national progress was concerned.
At the Western Regional celebration of the International Youth Day, she said the Professor John Evans Atta Mills-led government was very much committed to the empowerment and development of the youth.
The MCE said in many instances the youth were deceived to use violence approach to issues that could have been addressed through dialogue.
That situation, she said, tended to create bad image for the youth, stressing that “the government’s aim of investing in people was in line with its quest to make every sector of the economy attractive to the youth.
Mrs Kobina, therefore, urged the youth to channel their energies into productive activities that would improve their lifestyle and contribute meaningfully towards the socio-economic development of the country.
Mrs Kobina said the theme for the celebration, “Sustainability, a challenge to our youth,” did not only refer to the maintenance of environmental balance and renewal, but also the three facets of life, which were environment, society and economy.
She said the government was leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the youth had strong foundation to feed the job market and to take bold steps to go into entrepreneurship.
“Skill development would feature strongly on our agenda to position you well for mother Ghana,” Mrs Kobina said.
The Regional Youth Co-ordinator, Papa Assan, advised the youth to desist from acts that would destroy their future and paint them negatively in the eyes of the public.
Mr Assan said hopefully by the end of this year, the youth policy would be passed, which would help spell out the clear direction the youth should go.
The Municipal Youth Co-ordinator, Mr Adjei Sowah, assured the youth that the assembly had put in place a mechanism to involve them in its development plans.
Monday, August 17, 2009
TEENAGER STABS FRIEND TO DEATH (PAGE 47)
WHAT began as a misunderstanding between a teenager, Nanabenyin Kwesi Adu, and his friend over GH¢50 and Indian hemp turned strategic when the friend allegedly stabbed him to death in New Takoradi, a fishing community in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis.
The friend, Kwaku Nyameye, who gave his age as 17, is currently in police custody.
Realising the gravity of his act after allegedly stabbing Master Adu twice at the back of his neck and once on the left side of his rib, Nyameye, who became scared, broke down in tears and shouted for help. Adu was rushed to the Effia-Nkwanta Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Moments after the victim was pronounced dead, those who rushed the victim to the hospital handed him over to the Takoradi Central District Police Command.
The suspect and his friend were residents of New Takoradi who carried out menial jobs at the New Takoradi Canoe Landing Beach for their daily bread.
According to an eyewitness, the two bought Indian hemp from a peddler around 6:00am at a beach last Saturday, but some misunderstanding ensued between them over who should take the lion’s share of the ‘wrappers’ and who should keep the GH¢50 change.
Nyameye was said to have pulled a kitchen knife and stabbed Adu at the back of his neck and the left rib, resulting in deep cuts.
The police confirmed the story and said the suspect was currently in custody pending further investigations, while the body had been deposited at the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital mortuary.
The friend, Kwaku Nyameye, who gave his age as 17, is currently in police custody.
Realising the gravity of his act after allegedly stabbing Master Adu twice at the back of his neck and once on the left side of his rib, Nyameye, who became scared, broke down in tears and shouted for help. Adu was rushed to the Effia-Nkwanta Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Moments after the victim was pronounced dead, those who rushed the victim to the hospital handed him over to the Takoradi Central District Police Command.
The suspect and his friend were residents of New Takoradi who carried out menial jobs at the New Takoradi Canoe Landing Beach for their daily bread.
According to an eyewitness, the two bought Indian hemp from a peddler around 6:00am at a beach last Saturday, but some misunderstanding ensued between them over who should take the lion’s share of the ‘wrappers’ and who should keep the GH¢50 change.
Nyameye was said to have pulled a kitchen knife and stabbed Adu at the back of his neck and the left rib, resulting in deep cuts.
The police confirmed the story and said the suspect was currently in custody pending further investigations, while the body had been deposited at the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital mortuary.
OKWAWU, JETS DRAW 1-1 (BACK PAGE)
Former Premier League side Okwawu United, were yesterday held to a gruelling 1-1 draw by Mighty Jets in their Zone three Middle League clash at the Sekondi Gyandu Park.
In a match characterised by crude tackles, Takoradi-based referee Cecil Fletcher gave the marching-off orders to Eric Nkansah of Okwawu United after he elbowed a player of Jets.
Only five minutes after kick-off Jets player Allan Glover was rushed to the Effia-Nkwanta Hospital after a crude tackle was visited on him.
Okwawu drew first blood when Jacob Safo-Antwi put them ahead in the 43rd minute after the Soccer Mountainers had earlier missed chances.
Jets drew level in the 70minute through Benard Cofie.
In a match characterised by crude tackles, Takoradi-based referee Cecil Fletcher gave the marching-off orders to Eric Nkansah of Okwawu United after he elbowed a player of Jets.
Only five minutes after kick-off Jets player Allan Glover was rushed to the Effia-Nkwanta Hospital after a crude tackle was visited on him.
Okwawu drew first blood when Jacob Safo-Antwi put them ahead in the 43rd minute after the Soccer Mountainers had earlier missed chances.
Jets drew level in the 70minute through Benard Cofie.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
MAN ARRESTED IN TAKORADI FOR STEALING IN ACCRA (PAGE 30)
AN 18-year-old boy who broke into the flat of a businessman at Dansoman SSNIT Flats in Accra and escaped to the Western Region has been arrested by the police.
He made away with the man’s laptop, digital cameras, three passports with visas, two DVD players, watches, documents, indentures and other belongings.
The suspect, Ebenezer Amo Tandoh, after fleeing to Takoradi, called the victim to demand a ransom before the release of the items.
The suspect, after hours of negotiations, then gave an account number to the victim to deposit GH¢1,000 before the release of the items.
The victim then reported him to the police, who then informed the bank after confirming that the suspect had an account with the said bank.
According to the suspect, he went to the bank to check his balance and realised that the victim had deposited the money he demanded into his account, but he did not withdraw it.
“I went back to the bank last Tuesday to withdraw the money and the machine swallowed my ATM Card. I, therefore, went into the banking hall to go through the manual process, when I was arrested,” he told the police.
He confessed that he lived with the victim at SSNIT Flats at Dansoman in Accra, saying “I broke into the house when he was away, but I did not find money. I, therefore, decided to collect the items, including his complementary card.”
He told the police that he had sold the laptop, the digital cameras and the watches in Accra and made some money out of it.
On his arrest, Tandoh was said to be involved in other similar offences, explaining that the police found several mobile phone chips on him.
The police have since brought him to the Dansoman District Police Command in Accra, where the case was first reported.
He made away with the man’s laptop, digital cameras, three passports with visas, two DVD players, watches, documents, indentures and other belongings.
The suspect, Ebenezer Amo Tandoh, after fleeing to Takoradi, called the victim to demand a ransom before the release of the items.
The suspect, after hours of negotiations, then gave an account number to the victim to deposit GH¢1,000 before the release of the items.
The victim then reported him to the police, who then informed the bank after confirming that the suspect had an account with the said bank.
According to the suspect, he went to the bank to check his balance and realised that the victim had deposited the money he demanded into his account, but he did not withdraw it.
“I went back to the bank last Tuesday to withdraw the money and the machine swallowed my ATM Card. I, therefore, went into the banking hall to go through the manual process, when I was arrested,” he told the police.
He confessed that he lived with the victim at SSNIT Flats at Dansoman in Accra, saying “I broke into the house when he was away, but I did not find money. I, therefore, decided to collect the items, including his complementary card.”
He told the police that he had sold the laptop, the digital cameras and the watches in Accra and made some money out of it.
On his arrest, Tandoh was said to be involved in other similar offences, explaining that the police found several mobile phone chips on him.
The police have since brought him to the Dansoman District Police Command in Accra, where the case was first reported.
YOUTH FORUM HELD IN TWIN-CITY (PAGE 30)
MORE than 100 youth in the Western Region have attended a forum on how to team up and create innovations that will help speed national development.
At the end of the day’s forum in the twin city, the youth pledged to channel their exuberance into meaningful contribution to the development of the country, instead of engaging in acts that create bad impressions about them.
They were of the view that due to misuse of their life, they were mostly classified as violent.
The forum, according to the Regional Youth Coordinator, Papa Assan, was important to whip up the can-do-spirit of the youth to align themselves to the Better Ghana agenda.
Mr Assan said the expectation of the regional secretariat was that the participants would be more informed about national and regional priorities to enable them to appreciate and respond to various opportunities available to them in the region.
He observed that the challenges facing the youth today required multi-sectoral approach to solve them, saying “the youth are partners in development and it is appropriate that their voices are heard and integrated in development agenda.”
The regional co-ordinator said when people, who were affected by today’s policies and programmes, took part in the future formulation of such policies the possibility of their success would be high.
He said “that is why it is important to include them in all levels of decision-making and national governance, especially in discussions of issues that affect them.”
The Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, said the phenomenon of globalisation had created tremendous potential for economic and social development.
“However, it has also contributed to heightened inequalities and problems associated with urbanisation. Some of the challenges that are being faced by the youth include poor or non-existence of access to good education opportunities, high rate of unemployment, significant vulnerability to HIV/AIDS infection and drug abuse,” he said.
As a result, the minister said the youth needed support and guidance in combating many of the challenges facing them to ensure that their intellect was channeled into their personal and socio-economic development, of their communities and of the country as a whole.
He said the government considered issues regarding development of the youth very important and would do everything possible to ensure that the enabling environment was created for them to succeed
The minister said concerns of young people needed an integral dimension of design, implementation, evaluation of policies and programmes to empower them.
He said these would be factored in the agenda of various metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies to address some of the challenges.
The minister said, “We are convinced that investing in young people effectively means contributing resource for training them to contribute effectively towards national development.”
At the end of the day’s forum in the twin city, the youth pledged to channel their exuberance into meaningful contribution to the development of the country, instead of engaging in acts that create bad impressions about them.
They were of the view that due to misuse of their life, they were mostly classified as violent.
The forum, according to the Regional Youth Coordinator, Papa Assan, was important to whip up the can-do-spirit of the youth to align themselves to the Better Ghana agenda.
Mr Assan said the expectation of the regional secretariat was that the participants would be more informed about national and regional priorities to enable them to appreciate and respond to various opportunities available to them in the region.
He observed that the challenges facing the youth today required multi-sectoral approach to solve them, saying “the youth are partners in development and it is appropriate that their voices are heard and integrated in development agenda.”
The regional co-ordinator said when people, who were affected by today’s policies and programmes, took part in the future formulation of such policies the possibility of their success would be high.
He said “that is why it is important to include them in all levels of decision-making and national governance, especially in discussions of issues that affect them.”
The Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, said the phenomenon of globalisation had created tremendous potential for economic and social development.
“However, it has also contributed to heightened inequalities and problems associated with urbanisation. Some of the challenges that are being faced by the youth include poor or non-existence of access to good education opportunities, high rate of unemployment, significant vulnerability to HIV/AIDS infection and drug abuse,” he said.
As a result, the minister said the youth needed support and guidance in combating many of the challenges facing them to ensure that their intellect was channeled into their personal and socio-economic development, of their communities and of the country as a whole.
He said the government considered issues regarding development of the youth very important and would do everything possible to ensure that the enabling environment was created for them to succeed
The minister said concerns of young people needed an integral dimension of design, implementation, evaluation of policies and programmes to empower them.
He said these would be factored in the agenda of various metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies to address some of the challenges.
The minister said, “We are convinced that investing in young people effectively means contributing resource for training them to contribute effectively towards national development.”
DON'T BEND RULES ON LAND ACQUISITION (PAGE 30)
MEMBERS of the reconstituted Lands Commission have been advised not to use their positions to bend the rules of land acquisition and registration.
The Deputy Western Regional Minister, Ms Betty Bosumtwi-Sam, who made the call, said with the oil find in the region, demand for had had surged, “therefore, if the rules are bent to the advantage of one party or another, it would create unnecessary litigation, thereby thwarting development.”
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the Regional Lands Commission in Sekondi, the minister said land issues were very sensitive and, on many occasions, had led to disputes and conflicts with dire consequences.
She said a situation such as that would not only create unrest, but would also thwart development, adding that “it is, therefore, important that you do exhaustive deliberation before you take decisions that affect land allocation and its related issues.”
“If you work meticulously on the issues that will come before you, I am sure you can help minimise land disputes if not eliminate them altogether,” she said.
The deputy minister reminded the new members that management of land went beyond mere allocation of plots, collection of revenue and processing of documents.
“It also entails decisions made about land, implementation of those decisions for the optimum utilisation of land for accelerated development and elimination of litigations which impede growth,” she said.
Ms Bosumtwi-Sam observed that the task before the commission was a daunting one that required a multi-sectoral approach.
The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Henry Ford Kamel, said reforms in the sector were being pursued with very good intentions.
Members of the commission promised to do everything possible to ensure that due diligence was followed to ensure minimal or complete elimination of litigation across the region.
The Deputy Western Regional Minister, Ms Betty Bosumtwi-Sam, who made the call, said with the oil find in the region, demand for had had surged, “therefore, if the rules are bent to the advantage of one party or another, it would create unnecessary litigation, thereby thwarting development.”
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the Regional Lands Commission in Sekondi, the minister said land issues were very sensitive and, on many occasions, had led to disputes and conflicts with dire consequences.
She said a situation such as that would not only create unrest, but would also thwart development, adding that “it is, therefore, important that you do exhaustive deliberation before you take decisions that affect land allocation and its related issues.”
“If you work meticulously on the issues that will come before you, I am sure you can help minimise land disputes if not eliminate them altogether,” she said.
The deputy minister reminded the new members that management of land went beyond mere allocation of plots, collection of revenue and processing of documents.
“It also entails decisions made about land, implementation of those decisions for the optimum utilisation of land for accelerated development and elimination of litigations which impede growth,” she said.
Ms Bosumtwi-Sam observed that the task before the commission was a daunting one that required a multi-sectoral approach.
The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Henry Ford Kamel, said reforms in the sector were being pursued with very good intentions.
Members of the commission promised to do everything possible to ensure that due diligence was followed to ensure minimal or complete elimination of litigation across the region.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
DOCTORS FOR NATIONAL SERVICE...To ensure even spread of personnel (LEAD STORY)
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu
DOCTORS and other health professionals who pass through the country’s tertiary educational system will from next service year perform one-year national service under the National Service Scheme.
However, some doctors disagree, saying the doctors posted would not be able to handle serious cases when they come face to face with complications.
The Executive Director of the scheme, Mr Vincent Senam Kuagbenu, who made this known at a forum of service personnel in Takoradi, said from the records, some young doctors had refused posting to community and district health centres after their training and internship.
He also announced that about 65,000 youth under the scheme, made up of 40,000 new service personnel and 25,000 under the voluntary service scheme, would be deployed across the country.
Mr Kuagbenu assured the personnel that the scheme had put measures in place to ensure that their allowances did not delay.
He said the scheme would be working together with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to ensure that doctors and nurses and other health professionals who completed their training were posted under the scheme to various communities to appreciate how urgent their services were required in these communities.
Mr Kuagbenu said the law establishing the national service scheme required that anybody who passed through the country’s tertiary institutions should go through the posting to serve in any part of the country.
But under the current situation, he said, it had been difficult for doctors to do national service after their eight years training and internship, especially to communities where they were needed.
However, when the Daily Graphic contacted some doctors for their reaction, they claimed that their two years as housemen should cover up for the national service.
They were of the view that after the training and housemanship, a doctor who was posted to the communities might not be able to handle serious situations.
The service personnel, who also lauded the announcement, claimed that if doctors were made to go through the national service, they would appreciate what those in the countryside had to face daily.
One of them who pleaded anonymity said during the era of the old educational system, students who wanted to became doctors went through national service after sixth form.
He said under the current system where they were admitted to university after senior high school, they should be made to serve like any other student.
DOCTORS and other health professionals who pass through the country’s tertiary educational system will from next service year perform one-year national service under the National Service Scheme.
However, some doctors disagree, saying the doctors posted would not be able to handle serious cases when they come face to face with complications.
The Executive Director of the scheme, Mr Vincent Senam Kuagbenu, who made this known at a forum of service personnel in Takoradi, said from the records, some young doctors had refused posting to community and district health centres after their training and internship.
He also announced that about 65,000 youth under the scheme, made up of 40,000 new service personnel and 25,000 under the voluntary service scheme, would be deployed across the country.
Mr Kuagbenu assured the personnel that the scheme had put measures in place to ensure that their allowances did not delay.
He said the scheme would be working together with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to ensure that doctors and nurses and other health professionals who completed their training were posted under the scheme to various communities to appreciate how urgent their services were required in these communities.
Mr Kuagbenu said the law establishing the national service scheme required that anybody who passed through the country’s tertiary institutions should go through the posting to serve in any part of the country.
But under the current situation, he said, it had been difficult for doctors to do national service after their eight years training and internship, especially to communities where they were needed.
However, when the Daily Graphic contacted some doctors for their reaction, they claimed that their two years as housemen should cover up for the national service.
They were of the view that after the training and housemanship, a doctor who was posted to the communities might not be able to handle serious situations.
The service personnel, who also lauded the announcement, claimed that if doctors were made to go through the national service, they would appreciate what those in the countryside had to face daily.
One of them who pleaded anonymity said during the era of the old educational system, students who wanted to became doctors went through national service after sixth form.
He said under the current system where they were admitted to university after senior high school, they should be made to serve like any other student.
Monday, August 10, 2009
ODENEHO GYAPONG ABABIO DENIES ALLEGATION (PAGE 16)
THE immediate past President of the National House of Chiefs, Odeneho Gyapong Ababio II has denied media reports that he was sidelined during the recent tour by President John Evans Atta Mills to the Western Region.
He described the publication in “The Chronicle”, an Accra based newspaper as an erroneous attempt to embarrass him and create separation between him the sitting president.
Speaking at a news conference in Sekondi, Odeneho Gyapong Ababio said the publication also stated that he was sidelined by President Mills because he openly campaigned for the then ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) during the last general election.
He said he had no intention of litigating the matter, but the purpose of the news conference was to set the records straight and to deny that he was sidelined.
“I can tell you for a fact that, as a chief, I took part in the voting processes, but my vote was secret and I have not campaigned for any political party,” he stressed.
Odeneho Gyapong Ababio, who is also the Paramount Chief of Sefwi-Bekwai Traditional Area, said as a paramount chief, he received leaders of the various political parties and wished them well but he did not take any side.
He explained that when Prof. Mills arrived in the region, “I was given an invitation to attend the function at 10 a.m. but the time later changed to 3 p.m. so I returned to my traditional area to inform my sub-chiefs and elders to attend the durbar both in the southern and northern parts of the region”, he said.
“We prepared with our cultural ‘kete” dance and moved to the durbar grounds at Sefwi and I was part of the chiefs who welcomed the President; we even had a chat for about two minutes before he moved to the next chief” Odeneho Gyapong Ababio said.
He emphasised that he was shocked that the paper reported that he was sidelined.
“I can tell you that at the durbar grounds, there were chiefs from four paramount areas and traditionally, it is the Omanhene who takes the mike to welcome the President or VVIPs and that was done”, the Omanhene said.
Odeneho Gyapong Ababio stressed that during President Mills’ campaign tour of the area, he promised that he would be the president for all Ghanaians and he had fulfilled that promise through his open approach to issues.
Odeneho Gyapong Ababio used the opportunity to advise journalists to be circumspect in their reportage since they occupied very important positions and played very significant role of strengthening the country’s democratic process.
He described the publication in “The Chronicle”, an Accra based newspaper as an erroneous attempt to embarrass him and create separation between him the sitting president.
Speaking at a news conference in Sekondi, Odeneho Gyapong Ababio said the publication also stated that he was sidelined by President Mills because he openly campaigned for the then ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) during the last general election.
He said he had no intention of litigating the matter, but the purpose of the news conference was to set the records straight and to deny that he was sidelined.
“I can tell you for a fact that, as a chief, I took part in the voting processes, but my vote was secret and I have not campaigned for any political party,” he stressed.
Odeneho Gyapong Ababio, who is also the Paramount Chief of Sefwi-Bekwai Traditional Area, said as a paramount chief, he received leaders of the various political parties and wished them well but he did not take any side.
He explained that when Prof. Mills arrived in the region, “I was given an invitation to attend the function at 10 a.m. but the time later changed to 3 p.m. so I returned to my traditional area to inform my sub-chiefs and elders to attend the durbar both in the southern and northern parts of the region”, he said.
“We prepared with our cultural ‘kete” dance and moved to the durbar grounds at Sefwi and I was part of the chiefs who welcomed the President; we even had a chat for about two minutes before he moved to the next chief” Odeneho Gyapong Ababio said.
He emphasised that he was shocked that the paper reported that he was sidelined.
“I can tell you that at the durbar grounds, there were chiefs from four paramount areas and traditionally, it is the Omanhene who takes the mike to welcome the President or VVIPs and that was done”, the Omanhene said.
Odeneho Gyapong Ababio stressed that during President Mills’ campaign tour of the area, he promised that he would be the president for all Ghanaians and he had fulfilled that promise through his open approach to issues.
Odeneho Gyapong Ababio used the opportunity to advise journalists to be circumspect in their reportage since they occupied very important positions and played very significant role of strengthening the country’s democratic process.
Friday, August 7, 2009
CREW OF US NAVAL SHIP ASSIST ESSIKADO COMMUNITY
THE crew of the United States Naval ship, HSV2 Swift, under the African Partnership Station (APS), have presented medical items worth more than $10,000 to the Essikado Government Hospital near Sekondi.
They also spent time to paint the hospital as part of their voluntary service to maintain good relationships with communities.
The crew members who are from Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon, the US Navy and other African countries, also interacted with the chiefs and people of Essikado.
The Commander of the ship, Commander John Tolg of the US Navy, said the focus of the APS was to afford member countries the opportunity to share ideas on how to ensure maritime safety.
He said the move to interact with people and undertake community projects was meant to establish a good relationship between the US Navy and civilians.
“As we seek peace and safety in the maritime domain, it is also important that those on shore are made aware of the challenges and what the team under the APS is doing to combat drug trafficking and illegal fishing,” he said.
He said the APS had been very beneficial to each member country, saying, “Because each country has a style of carrying out its activities, we learn from one another.”
The Paramount Chief of the Essikado Traditional Area, Nana Kobina Nketsiah V, commended the US Navy for making time to interact with people in communities and undertaking projects aimed at supporting those communities.
They also spent time to paint the hospital as part of their voluntary service to maintain good relationships with communities.
The crew members who are from Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon, the US Navy and other African countries, also interacted with the chiefs and people of Essikado.
The Commander of the ship, Commander John Tolg of the US Navy, said the focus of the APS was to afford member countries the opportunity to share ideas on how to ensure maritime safety.
He said the move to interact with people and undertake community projects was meant to establish a good relationship between the US Navy and civilians.
“As we seek peace and safety in the maritime domain, it is also important that those on shore are made aware of the challenges and what the team under the APS is doing to combat drug trafficking and illegal fishing,” he said.
He said the APS had been very beneficial to each member country, saying, “Because each country has a style of carrying out its activities, we learn from one another.”
The Paramount Chief of the Essikado Traditional Area, Nana Kobina Nketsiah V, commended the US Navy for making time to interact with people in communities and undertaking projects aimed at supporting those communities.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
WRC CALLS FOR MORE PROTECTION FOR WATER BODIES (SPREAD)
The Water Resources Commission (WRC) has called for a comprehensive institutional and legal framework to protect water bodies in the country.
The commission identified pollution, lack of a legal framework, improper land use and the inadequate reliable management of information as some of the difficulties associated with the safety and protection of water resources in the country.
An official of the commission, Mr Stephen Acheampong-Boateng, made the call on behalf of the commission at a workshop for a cross-section of the public, journalists, information officers, as well as officials from the district, municipal and metropolitan assemblies, in Takoradi in the Western Region.
Mr Acheampong-Boateng underscored the need for attitudinal change to arrest the situation, and said although there were laws to protect water bodies, their enforcement was weak, making it easy for people to destroy water bodies with impunity.
“If people followed the procedure and were educated on the importance of these water bodies to our existence things would have been different.
“If we continue, crop yield will reduce while waterborne diseases and cost of potable water production will increase,” he said.
For her part, Mrs Adwoa Munkua Dako, the Public Relations Officer of the commission, said WRC was mandated, among others, to make regulations for water resource management under Article 12 of Act 522.
She said Section 35 (1) of the Act also provided that the commission could by legislative instrument (LI) make regulations for prevention of existing use of water, controlling any change in the watercourse, current or cross current of any contained surface water.
Mrs Dako said the commission discharged its mandate by monitoring water quality, creating public awareness, developing policies, setting up of basin board and assessing groundwater, among others.
The commission, Mrs Dako said, also worked to foster co-operation with other stakeholders in the management of trans-boundary water resources and promote dialogue towards the establishment of permanent mechanisms for the management of international river basins.
She reminded the district assemblies, as custodians of natural resources, to work together with the Water Resources Commission to promote the safety and protection of water bodies.
The commission identified pollution, lack of a legal framework, improper land use and the inadequate reliable management of information as some of the difficulties associated with the safety and protection of water resources in the country.
An official of the commission, Mr Stephen Acheampong-Boateng, made the call on behalf of the commission at a workshop for a cross-section of the public, journalists, information officers, as well as officials from the district, municipal and metropolitan assemblies, in Takoradi in the Western Region.
Mr Acheampong-Boateng underscored the need for attitudinal change to arrest the situation, and said although there were laws to protect water bodies, their enforcement was weak, making it easy for people to destroy water bodies with impunity.
“If people followed the procedure and were educated on the importance of these water bodies to our existence things would have been different.
“If we continue, crop yield will reduce while waterborne diseases and cost of potable water production will increase,” he said.
For her part, Mrs Adwoa Munkua Dako, the Public Relations Officer of the commission, said WRC was mandated, among others, to make regulations for water resource management under Article 12 of Act 522.
She said Section 35 (1) of the Act also provided that the commission could by legislative instrument (LI) make regulations for prevention of existing use of water, controlling any change in the watercourse, current or cross current of any contained surface water.
Mrs Dako said the commission discharged its mandate by monitoring water quality, creating public awareness, developing policies, setting up of basin board and assessing groundwater, among others.
The commission, Mrs Dako said, also worked to foster co-operation with other stakeholders in the management of trans-boundary water resources and promote dialogue towards the establishment of permanent mechanisms for the management of international river basins.
She reminded the district assemblies, as custodians of natural resources, to work together with the Water Resources Commission to promote the safety and protection of water bodies.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
THEFT OF SOUP, CAR BATTERIES RAMPANT AT TWIN-CITY (PAGE 29)
Some youth in some parts of the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis have resorted to breaking into people’s vehicles and kitchens and making away with cooked foods, soup and car batteries.
Some residents of Kweikuma have alleged that whenever they prepare food for the family, they realise the next day that thieves have broken into their kitchens and taken away pots containing the food.
Those who park their vehicles in front of their houses have also complained of the theft of their car batteries and car tapes in the night.
As a result of the alleged thefts, most residents who do not live in walled premises are compelled to carry the cooked food to their bedrooms for the fear of losing it to thieves in the night.
Some Assembly members have attributed the thefts to the high rate of unemployment in their electoral areas and expressed surprise that most of the youth were not just unemployed but also unemployable because they lacked employable skills.
Some of the Assembly members, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they had managed to get some of the youth to acquire skills but had abandoned the programmes in search of quick money.
They said two youth had been arrested in connection with some thefts in other parts of the metropolis.
One of them was seriously assaulted after he was apprehended for stealing soup and car batteries at dawn last Wednesday, but was saved by the police.
The Regional Police Command said they had received some complaints and were intensifying their patrols in the communities to ensure that the citizens were safe.
Some residents of Kweikuma have alleged that whenever they prepare food for the family, they realise the next day that thieves have broken into their kitchens and taken away pots containing the food.
Those who park their vehicles in front of their houses have also complained of the theft of their car batteries and car tapes in the night.
As a result of the alleged thefts, most residents who do not live in walled premises are compelled to carry the cooked food to their bedrooms for the fear of losing it to thieves in the night.
Some Assembly members have attributed the thefts to the high rate of unemployment in their electoral areas and expressed surprise that most of the youth were not just unemployed but also unemployable because they lacked employable skills.
Some of the Assembly members, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they had managed to get some of the youth to acquire skills but had abandoned the programmes in search of quick money.
They said two youth had been arrested in connection with some thefts in other parts of the metropolis.
One of them was seriously assaulted after he was apprehended for stealing soup and car batteries at dawn last Wednesday, but was saved by the police.
The Regional Police Command said they had received some complaints and were intensifying their patrols in the communities to ensure that the citizens were safe.
HIV/AIDS SENSITISATION WORKSHOP FOR MARKET WOMEN (PAGE 29)
The Ghana AIDS Commission and National Disaster Management Committee have organised an HIV/AIDS sensitisation programme for more than 1,500 market women and porters in the twin-city of Sekondi/Takoradi.
The focus was to ensure that various segments of the society were made aware of the importance of voluntary counselling and testing, self-discipline and non-stigmatisation of people living with the disease.
The Regional Director of NADMO, Mr Kofi Nyonkopa Arthur, said the regional office had over the years embarked on a campaign to help drum home the message of the need to support the national quest in reducing the pandemic.
He said awareness of the pandemic had been created across the world and at least everyone was aware of the dangers and the socio-economic effects on countries.
Mr Arthur said the NADMO-Ghana Aids Commission (GAC) collaboration was to re-echo the importance of self-control and the need to encourage people to test and know their status to avail themselves of the necessary interventions to manage their lives so that they could continue to contribute to the development of the country.
“It is very important for us to note that for a country to develop, its citizens have to be very healthy and of a sound mind,” he said.
He said Sekondi/Takoradi was chosen for the campaign because of its fast growing nature and commended the porters and traders who participated in it in their numbers.
Mrs Effie Josiah, a senior nursing officer at the Public Health Department of the regional hospital at Effia-Nkwanta took time to answer questions from the porters about how to be responsible.
She said the government had put in place certain interventions at various health facilities but the public were not availing themselves of them.
Mrs Josiah said it was gratifying that porters, traders and other members of the general public took time off their schedules to listen and partake in the counselling and testing segment.
Participants thanked the NADMO and GAC for the programme and assured them of their commitment to the fight the pandemic.
The focus was to ensure that various segments of the society were made aware of the importance of voluntary counselling and testing, self-discipline and non-stigmatisation of people living with the disease.
The Regional Director of NADMO, Mr Kofi Nyonkopa Arthur, said the regional office had over the years embarked on a campaign to help drum home the message of the need to support the national quest in reducing the pandemic.
He said awareness of the pandemic had been created across the world and at least everyone was aware of the dangers and the socio-economic effects on countries.
Mr Arthur said the NADMO-Ghana Aids Commission (GAC) collaboration was to re-echo the importance of self-control and the need to encourage people to test and know their status to avail themselves of the necessary interventions to manage their lives so that they could continue to contribute to the development of the country.
“It is very important for us to note that for a country to develop, its citizens have to be very healthy and of a sound mind,” he said.
He said Sekondi/Takoradi was chosen for the campaign because of its fast growing nature and commended the porters and traders who participated in it in their numbers.
Mrs Effie Josiah, a senior nursing officer at the Public Health Department of the regional hospital at Effia-Nkwanta took time to answer questions from the porters about how to be responsible.
She said the government had put in place certain interventions at various health facilities but the public were not availing themselves of them.
Mrs Josiah said it was gratifying that porters, traders and other members of the general public took time off their schedules to listen and partake in the counselling and testing segment.
Participants thanked the NADMO and GAC for the programme and assured them of their commitment to the fight the pandemic.
REGULATORY BODY NEEDED FOR TRANSPORT SECTOR (PAGE 29)
Stakeholders in the transport industry in the Western Region have called for the establishment of a regulatory body to take a second look at the over-liberalisation of the transport industry in the country.
The Western Regional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service, Mr George Adusa-Poku, described the current over-liberalised system as chaotic.
He said another problem facing the industry was the recklessness on the roads in the region and blamed drivers of commercial vehicles belonging to personnel of the security agencies for the insurgence.
Mr Adusa-Poku said the police, prisons, army and personnel of other security agencies were the owners of most vehicles with offending drivers because “these drivers think they are above the law. They stop and load anywhere and even confront officers on duty with abusive language”.
This, he said, would not help the country’s commercial transport sector or bring about the needed safety on the roads and that if the industry was regulated to determine the number of vehicles that could be on the road at a time, which vehicle could be used as a taxi and where it could ply, it would bring some sanity to the system.
Mr Adusa-Poku said vehicles, especially taxis in the system, were too many and that many of them were not in a good shape or fit to be put on the road.
Besides the regulatory body, the regional MTTU commander stressed the need for passengers to change their attitudes and ensure that they did not patronise vehicles which picked passengers indiscriminately and at unauthorised places.
“It is about time passengers knew that drivers had relegated their safety to the background for the sake of the profit they would make,” he said.
He said when one visited the various terminals in the metropolis and other parts of the region, there were many vehicles waiting for their turn to load, and if passengers made use of the terminals they would not load passengers along the roads.
“If they did not get passengers along the roads, they would be compelled to come back to the station and load but if they get passengers on the street, the drivers would not go to the terminals to await for their turn to load,” he said.
The Western Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Alhaji Hamidu Mahama, called for closer collaboration to ensure that sanity prevails on the road.
He said the country could not afford to lose its rich human resources to preventable accidents and that drivers should be mindful of the importance of their activities to the economy.
Other officials from the Ghana Private Road Transport Union and the Road Safety Commission called for a concerted effort to curb the carnage on the roads and the chaotic scenes in the metropolis.
The Western Regional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service, Mr George Adusa-Poku, described the current over-liberalised system as chaotic.
He said another problem facing the industry was the recklessness on the roads in the region and blamed drivers of commercial vehicles belonging to personnel of the security agencies for the insurgence.
Mr Adusa-Poku said the police, prisons, army and personnel of other security agencies were the owners of most vehicles with offending drivers because “these drivers think they are above the law. They stop and load anywhere and even confront officers on duty with abusive language”.
This, he said, would not help the country’s commercial transport sector or bring about the needed safety on the roads and that if the industry was regulated to determine the number of vehicles that could be on the road at a time, which vehicle could be used as a taxi and where it could ply, it would bring some sanity to the system.
Mr Adusa-Poku said vehicles, especially taxis in the system, were too many and that many of them were not in a good shape or fit to be put on the road.
Besides the regulatory body, the regional MTTU commander stressed the need for passengers to change their attitudes and ensure that they did not patronise vehicles which picked passengers indiscriminately and at unauthorised places.
“It is about time passengers knew that drivers had relegated their safety to the background for the sake of the profit they would make,” he said.
He said when one visited the various terminals in the metropolis and other parts of the region, there were many vehicles waiting for their turn to load, and if passengers made use of the terminals they would not load passengers along the roads.
“If they did not get passengers along the roads, they would be compelled to come back to the station and load but if they get passengers on the street, the drivers would not go to the terminals to await for their turn to load,” he said.
The Western Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Alhaji Hamidu Mahama, called for closer collaboration to ensure that sanity prevails on the road.
He said the country could not afford to lose its rich human resources to preventable accidents and that drivers should be mindful of the importance of their activities to the economy.
Other officials from the Ghana Private Road Transport Union and the Road Safety Commission called for a concerted effort to curb the carnage on the roads and the chaotic scenes in the metropolis.
COUNTRY LOSES MILLIONS TROUGH FISHY WOOD IMPORTS (PAGE 29)
The country is said to be losing millions of cedis in revenue as some timber and other importers have resorted to wrong descriptions to get wood products into the country in order to evade tax.
This followed the waiver of levies imported on logs and sawn lumber imported into the country to supplement the needs of the timber industry.
Some importers are alleged to be using wrong harmonised codes to describe processed woods as logs and sawn lumber, thereby unduly enjoying the waiver.
Others who also import processed wood into doors, frames, tables, among others, describe them as “Rotten Wawa” in order not to attract high tariffs.
As a result of these developments, the Timber Industry Development Division (TIDD) of the Forestry Commission, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) and the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) have joined forces to eliminate such acts.
At a meeting in Takoradi to discuss the way forward, the collaborators agreed that working in isolation, coupled with the non-sharing of information, gave such importers the chance to cheat the system to enrich themselves at the expense of the state.
They agreed that as a matter of urgency, they would share information since they all worked on a common platform for the country and would ensure that before importers or exporters brought in goods or exported them out of the country, the various entities had knowledge of what covering documents they would look out for.
In his presentation, the Head of Grading and Inspection Department of the TIDD, Mr B. I. Ahmed, said the country started importing commercial timber products such as pipe poles, raw curls, sliced/rotary veneers, logs and sawn lumber of various species for further processing since 1998.
He said available information which warranted the collaboration between the GPHA, CEPS and TIDD indicated that some importers of wood products brought in taxable species and branded them as rotten Wawa in order to evade tax.
Mr Ahmed said the commencement of the importation of these logs and lumber into the country was meant to supplement what was produced locally to meet the needs of the industry and ensure the sector did not lay off workers as the country’s stocks had dwindled drastically.
That, he said, should not give importers the chance to give wrong codes and brands to their imported products in order to evade tax which was much needed to speed up the country’s development.
“We have to realise that log imports were also to ease pressure on the country’s forests, sustain employment, keep industries running and avert the threat of companies relocating to other countries,” he said.
Mr Ahmed said importation of logs and sawn lumber meant further processing in the country to create and sustain jobs.
With other challenges at the moment, he said, importers of the wood products always failed to submit their documents to the TIDD for inspection.
The Executive Director of the TIDD, Mr N. Attah, expressed the hope that with the collaboration, wrong application of the harmonised codes leading to misnaming and misclassification of timber products to evade tax could be curbed.
CEPS and GPHA officials also gave a pledge to support such collaborative efforts to ensure that the due process was followed and proper documents attached to the imports and exports.
This followed the waiver of levies imported on logs and sawn lumber imported into the country to supplement the needs of the timber industry.
Some importers are alleged to be using wrong harmonised codes to describe processed woods as logs and sawn lumber, thereby unduly enjoying the waiver.
Others who also import processed wood into doors, frames, tables, among others, describe them as “Rotten Wawa” in order not to attract high tariffs.
As a result of these developments, the Timber Industry Development Division (TIDD) of the Forestry Commission, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) and the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) have joined forces to eliminate such acts.
At a meeting in Takoradi to discuss the way forward, the collaborators agreed that working in isolation, coupled with the non-sharing of information, gave such importers the chance to cheat the system to enrich themselves at the expense of the state.
They agreed that as a matter of urgency, they would share information since they all worked on a common platform for the country and would ensure that before importers or exporters brought in goods or exported them out of the country, the various entities had knowledge of what covering documents they would look out for.
In his presentation, the Head of Grading and Inspection Department of the TIDD, Mr B. I. Ahmed, said the country started importing commercial timber products such as pipe poles, raw curls, sliced/rotary veneers, logs and sawn lumber of various species for further processing since 1998.
He said available information which warranted the collaboration between the GPHA, CEPS and TIDD indicated that some importers of wood products brought in taxable species and branded them as rotten Wawa in order to evade tax.
Mr Ahmed said the commencement of the importation of these logs and lumber into the country was meant to supplement what was produced locally to meet the needs of the industry and ensure the sector did not lay off workers as the country’s stocks had dwindled drastically.
That, he said, should not give importers the chance to give wrong codes and brands to their imported products in order to evade tax which was much needed to speed up the country’s development.
“We have to realise that log imports were also to ease pressure on the country’s forests, sustain employment, keep industries running and avert the threat of companies relocating to other countries,” he said.
Mr Ahmed said importation of logs and sawn lumber meant further processing in the country to create and sustain jobs.
With other challenges at the moment, he said, importers of the wood products always failed to submit their documents to the TIDD for inspection.
The Executive Director of the TIDD, Mr N. Attah, expressed the hope that with the collaboration, wrong application of the harmonised codes leading to misnaming and misclassification of timber products to evade tax could be curbed.
CEPS and GPHA officials also gave a pledge to support such collaborative efforts to ensure that the due process was followed and proper documents attached to the imports and exports.
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