THE Takoradi Polytechnic will from next year collaborate with two training institutions in the United States of America to mount new courses to train aircraft maintenance technicians .
Other new courses to be introduced will also cover the oil and gas sector to ensure that the school is well positioned to provide the needed skilled labour for the emerging industry in the country.
The two institutions are Maintenance Training Institute and Afrimetric Engineering Inc in Cincinnati and Ohio respectively .
The Rector of the Takoradi Polytechnic, Prof. Daniel A. Nyarko, who made this known at the school’s congregation in Takoradi, said the school would also be counting on the rich expertise of the Ghana Air Force to enrich the knowledge of the students who would be pursing programmes in that area.
In the areas of oil and gas, the rector said plans were well advanced to introduce the related courses aimed at training technicians for the industry.
He said the polytechnic was in the process of being accredited by the City and Guild as well as Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport both in the United Kingdom.
Prof. Nyarko said with the accreditation, Takoradi Polytechnic would be in the position to run specific technician courses to be certified by these organisations.
He said some of the technical areas that would be covered include specialised training in the field of welding, fabrication, logistics, transport, and warehousing among others which were in high demand by the oil industry.
Prof. Nyarko said in order to satisfy the demand on the country to supply the needed labour for the emerging oil industry, the polytechnic was well positioned to carefully design programmes that would satisfy this needs.
He said this year the polytechnic had also received accreditation from the National Accreditation Board to run new Bachelor of Technology programmes which would lead to the award of B-Tech Degrees in procurement and civil engineering.
The B-Tech programme he said was being run in collaboration with the Millennium Development Authority (MiDDA) and public procurement authority.
To support the expansion drive of the school to accommodate its dreams, he said the school had received tremendous support from the government through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for its infrastructural development.
Prof. Nyarko said the long-awaited school of applied arts complex is almost completed and expressed the hope that it would be ready for use by students during the 2010/2011 academic year.
He said other GETFund projects completed during the year under review included the network of internal roads that were tarred to give the institution a deserved face-lift, while ultra modern multimedia and library projects had been completed and handed over to the school for use come the next academic year.
The rector said all these facilities aimed at improving educational delivery when fully operational would position Takoradi Polytechnic as the academic hub for teaching, learning and research in the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
KOSMOS ENERGY ASSISTS SCHOOLS IN 3 DISTRICTS (PAGE 19, JUNE 29, 2010)
KOSMOS Energy Ghana, has presented 22,000 Ghana Education Service certified books to first and second cycle schools in three districts in the Western Region.
The books worth about $50,000 are for Mathematics, General Science, English Literature and a wide area of general reading to enhance education in the Jomoro, Ellembelle and Nzema East districts of the region.
In a statement, the Country Director of the Kosmos Energy, Mr Cavin Black said Kosmos’ focus was to be a good corporate citizen in the communities in which it operated.
He said the company regarded citizens of the communities, where it operated as key stakeholders of its business, saying “Our corporate citizenship is reflected in how we affect the world in which we operate, in the physical, social and economic dimensions.”
Mr Black said support through corporate philanthropy was one way Kosmos could help through a partnership with the communities to bring a real change in the communities. “We undertake such initiatives with the aim of maximizing social benefits and development.”
Kosmos Energy he said believed in the creation of a positive social change by providing intellectual capital through education and health initiatives.
Health and education, Mr Black said were very important to the development of communities, “with health we are guaranteed of healthy workforce as education enriches the human resource base of the corporate world”, adding that Kosmos’ focus this quarter was educational development.
“We are helping to meet the needs of our community schools by providing books and apart from the three districts a similar donation has been planned for the Western Regional School for the Deaf as well”.
“We also believe every child has the potential to succeed. Investing in high quality learning environments for children from the basic through secondary ensures that children entering school are ready to learn,” Mr Black said.
Mrs Nora Imbeah, the Inspector of Schools commended the company for the support and asked for more support to enable our schools have better libraries.
The books worth about $50,000 are for Mathematics, General Science, English Literature and a wide area of general reading to enhance education in the Jomoro, Ellembelle and Nzema East districts of the region.
In a statement, the Country Director of the Kosmos Energy, Mr Cavin Black said Kosmos’ focus was to be a good corporate citizen in the communities in which it operated.
He said the company regarded citizens of the communities, where it operated as key stakeholders of its business, saying “Our corporate citizenship is reflected in how we affect the world in which we operate, in the physical, social and economic dimensions.”
Mr Black said support through corporate philanthropy was one way Kosmos could help through a partnership with the communities to bring a real change in the communities. “We undertake such initiatives with the aim of maximizing social benefits and development.”
Kosmos Energy he said believed in the creation of a positive social change by providing intellectual capital through education and health initiatives.
Health and education, Mr Black said were very important to the development of communities, “with health we are guaranteed of healthy workforce as education enriches the human resource base of the corporate world”, adding that Kosmos’ focus this quarter was educational development.
“We are helping to meet the needs of our community schools by providing books and apart from the three districts a similar donation has been planned for the Western Regional School for the Deaf as well”.
“We also believe every child has the potential to succeed. Investing in high quality learning environments for children from the basic through secondary ensures that children entering school are ready to learn,” Mr Black said.
Mrs Nora Imbeah, the Inspector of Schools commended the company for the support and asked for more support to enable our schools have better libraries.
Monday, June 28, 2010
TAKORADI RUNAWAY SUBMERGED...due to abandoned drain project (PAGE 18, JUNE 26, 2010)
Danger looms at Takoradi Airport as uncompleted drain works by the Sekondi -Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly has redirected heavy current flood waters onto the runway posing threat to flight landing and takeoff.
As a result of the flood, the required distance or the length for landing by five domestic aircrafts operating between Accra and Takoradi has been reduced as the water has covered half of the runway.
This according to the air experts posed a serious danger to flight safety and must be rectified immediately to avert the looming disaster.
As a result of this development, all domestic flights carrying officials of the oil exploration and mining companies as well as investors in the metropolis have been cancelled leaving passengers stranded at the Takoradi Airport.
The operators said they incurred a lot of debt and passenger inconveniences as well as losing the confidence of their passengers which they said was a threat to the growth of the industry. Mr David Debe, the Area Supervisor/Dispatch officer for Antrak Air, one of the operators said the problem was having a lot of negative effects on their operations.
He said apart from losing revenue and passenger confidence, they incur additional cost to ensure that the passengers were comfortable until the water had subsided.
Mr Debe said other operators cancelled their flights and resorted to other means which they did not plan for.
Some of the stranded passengers told the Daily Graphic that they had other businesses to take care of but could not because of the delays casued by the floods.
When this reporter got to the runway half of it has been covered by the flood waters due to the abandoned drained project embarked on by the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly.
When contacted, the Air Force Station Commander said when they saw the problem coming they raised the issue with the authorities and it was agreed that the drain causing the problem now should be diverted. But that project, he said, was yet to be completed.
Officials of the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly said funds for the completion of the project had been channeled to another project since they were not allowed by the military authorities to follow the original plan since 2008.
It said even the drawings for the said diversion project was yet to be submitted to the assembly to enable it to source funding for its completion.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Takoradi Station Commander of the Ghana Air Force, Air Commodore I.A.R. Abass, said the situation was not the best. He explained that the situation had reduced the required length for safe landing and take-off.
He said since the runway had been reduced by the floods aircraft operators were left with no option than to cancel all flights.
‘’With the volume of water on the runway, if any aircraft made an attempt to land it would be a disaster so to be on the safer side all local flights had to be canceled’’, he said.
Air Cdr. Abass said during the rehabilitation of the airport, GAF explained to the Metropolitan Assembly that it would be impossible to cut the runway to change the existing drain due to the short time the contractor had to finish for the CAN 2008 football tournament.
He said the decision was taken to divert the course in order not to touch the runway but the project is yet to be completed.
As a result of the flood, the required distance or the length for landing by five domestic aircrafts operating between Accra and Takoradi has been reduced as the water has covered half of the runway.
This according to the air experts posed a serious danger to flight safety and must be rectified immediately to avert the looming disaster.
As a result of this development, all domestic flights carrying officials of the oil exploration and mining companies as well as investors in the metropolis have been cancelled leaving passengers stranded at the Takoradi Airport.
The operators said they incurred a lot of debt and passenger inconveniences as well as losing the confidence of their passengers which they said was a threat to the growth of the industry. Mr David Debe, the Area Supervisor/Dispatch officer for Antrak Air, one of the operators said the problem was having a lot of negative effects on their operations.
He said apart from losing revenue and passenger confidence, they incur additional cost to ensure that the passengers were comfortable until the water had subsided.
Mr Debe said other operators cancelled their flights and resorted to other means which they did not plan for.
Some of the stranded passengers told the Daily Graphic that they had other businesses to take care of but could not because of the delays casued by the floods.
When this reporter got to the runway half of it has been covered by the flood waters due to the abandoned drained project embarked on by the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly.
When contacted, the Air Force Station Commander said when they saw the problem coming they raised the issue with the authorities and it was agreed that the drain causing the problem now should be diverted. But that project, he said, was yet to be completed.
Officials of the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly said funds for the completion of the project had been channeled to another project since they were not allowed by the military authorities to follow the original plan since 2008.
It said even the drawings for the said diversion project was yet to be submitted to the assembly to enable it to source funding for its completion.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Takoradi Station Commander of the Ghana Air Force, Air Commodore I.A.R. Abass, said the situation was not the best. He explained that the situation had reduced the required length for safe landing and take-off.
He said since the runway had been reduced by the floods aircraft operators were left with no option than to cancel all flights.
‘’With the volume of water on the runway, if any aircraft made an attempt to land it would be a disaster so to be on the safer side all local flights had to be canceled’’, he said.
Air Cdr. Abass said during the rehabilitation of the airport, GAF explained to the Metropolitan Assembly that it would be impossible to cut the runway to change the existing drain due to the short time the contractor had to finish for the CAN 2008 football tournament.
He said the decision was taken to divert the course in order not to touch the runway but the project is yet to be completed.
JUBILEE PAARTNERS TO CONSTRUCT CHEMICAL PLANT (PAGE 29, JUNE 26, 2010)
Tullow Ghana and its Jubilee partners have finally secured the lease from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) to construct a chemical depot for its projects offshore in the Jubilee fields.
According to the Tullow officials, the absence of the facility could have added $1million daily to the cost of production of which Ghana would have been the loser.
The Communications Manager of Tullow Ghana, Mr Gayheart Mensah, who confirmed this to the Daily Graphic said the lease had been granted the Jubilee partners to commence work.
He said the facilities would help with the smooth operations of the jubilee partners offshore and commended the GPHA and Ministry of Transport for the support towards the company’s dream of ensuring that the first oil was poured in the last quarter of the year.
Mr Gayheart Mensah said the prime focus of the jubilee project was to ensure safety through the use of world-class mode of operation.
He said the FPSO would help to process the hydrocarbons by separating all other components such as the gas, water and the crude, as well as serve as storage where processed crude would be stored.
Mr Mensah said one other important aspect of the move was the opportunity offered to supplier vessels to offload their content offshore before being taken to their various destinations.
He said the FPSO with its sophisticated nature would help in management and maintenance of wells for optimum production through the injection of gas back into the wells to enhance production.
The Communications Director said the FPSO was carefully chosen, since it would also avoid the costly laying of pipelines from the offshore to the coast, thereby minimising the impact it would have on the operations on the fishing communities.
The jubilee fields was discovered in June, 2007 and oil is due for production in the fourth quarter of this year.
Under phase one of the project, Tullow Ghana has 34.7 per cent shares, Kosmos 23. 49 per cent, Anadako Petroleum 23.49 per cent, the government of Ghana through Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) 13.75 per cent with Sabre Oil & Gas and EO Group taking 2.81 and 1.75 per cent respectively.
According to the Tullow officials, the absence of the facility could have added $1million daily to the cost of production of which Ghana would have been the loser.
The Communications Manager of Tullow Ghana, Mr Gayheart Mensah, who confirmed this to the Daily Graphic said the lease had been granted the Jubilee partners to commence work.
He said the facilities would help with the smooth operations of the jubilee partners offshore and commended the GPHA and Ministry of Transport for the support towards the company’s dream of ensuring that the first oil was poured in the last quarter of the year.
Mr Gayheart Mensah said the prime focus of the jubilee project was to ensure safety through the use of world-class mode of operation.
He said the FPSO would help to process the hydrocarbons by separating all other components such as the gas, water and the crude, as well as serve as storage where processed crude would be stored.
Mr Mensah said one other important aspect of the move was the opportunity offered to supplier vessels to offload their content offshore before being taken to their various destinations.
He said the FPSO with its sophisticated nature would help in management and maintenance of wells for optimum production through the injection of gas back into the wells to enhance production.
The Communications Director said the FPSO was carefully chosen, since it would also avoid the costly laying of pipelines from the offshore to the coast, thereby minimising the impact it would have on the operations on the fishing communities.
The jubilee fields was discovered in June, 2007 and oil is due for production in the fourth quarter of this year.
Under phase one of the project, Tullow Ghana has 34.7 per cent shares, Kosmos 23. 49 per cent, Anadako Petroleum 23.49 per cent, the government of Ghana through Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) 13.75 per cent with Sabre Oil & Gas and EO Group taking 2.81 and 1.75 per cent respectively.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
RURAL COMMUNITIES TO HAVE A FEEL OF WORLD CUP (GRAPHIC SPORTS, PAGE 11, JUNE 22, 2010)
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu
The Member of Parliament of Ellembele and Deputy Minister for Energy, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has presented a 42-inch Protech LCD Television set with HD satellite dish to three communities in the Ellembelle district in the Western Region.
The gesture was to enable the three communities in the district, namely, Atuabo, Tandan and Asasetre to watch live matches of the FIFA World cup.
Five communities in the northern part of the district without electricity, namely Asomase, Kwasikrom, Mantukwa, New Baseke and Aidoo Souazo have also taken delivery of 25 inch Panasonic Television with brand new generators from the member of parliament to enable them follow events at the tournament.
Hon. Buah noted that lack of electricity should not prevent people in the remote areas from watching the World Cup.
The District Chief Executive of Ellembelle, Danile K. Esun, who made the presentation on behalf of the member of parliament at Tandan, called on the people to take very good care of the gift since it had become a community property and therefore advised parents in the community to monitor the activities of their wards in order not to turn the gift into a nuisance since most school children may sneak to watch television instead of going to school.
He again prevailed upon them to call on the Assembly for any assistance they would need and also promised to fix their primary school which was, a deteriorating state.
The Chief of Tandan, Nana Ezah Kwame IV, thanked the MP for the kind gesture and promised to take good care of the gift to the benefit of all the community members.
END
The Member of Parliament of Ellembele and Deputy Minister for Energy, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has presented a 42-inch Protech LCD Television set with HD satellite dish to three communities in the Ellembelle district in the Western Region.
The gesture was to enable the three communities in the district, namely, Atuabo, Tandan and Asasetre to watch live matches of the FIFA World cup.
Five communities in the northern part of the district without electricity, namely Asomase, Kwasikrom, Mantukwa, New Baseke and Aidoo Souazo have also taken delivery of 25 inch Panasonic Television with brand new generators from the member of parliament to enable them follow events at the tournament.
Hon. Buah noted that lack of electricity should not prevent people in the remote areas from watching the World Cup.
The District Chief Executive of Ellembelle, Danile K. Esun, who made the presentation on behalf of the member of parliament at Tandan, called on the people to take very good care of the gift since it had become a community property and therefore advised parents in the community to monitor the activities of their wards in order not to turn the gift into a nuisance since most school children may sneak to watch television instead of going to school.
He again prevailed upon them to call on the Assembly for any assistance they would need and also promised to fix their primary school which was, a deteriorating state.
The Chief of Tandan, Nana Ezah Kwame IV, thanked the MP for the kind gesture and promised to take good care of the gift to the benefit of all the community members.
END
Sunday, June 20, 2010
HOMOSEXUALS BARE TEETH (MIRROR, PAGE 34, JUNE 19, 2010)
From Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi
The Western Regional Capital has lately been rocked by many sexual scandals and unacceptable social vices including homosexuality, lesbianism as well as sexual molestation of underage children.
These activities have incurred the wrath of members of the Takoradi metropolis. Interestingly, a lawyer who is also gay has told The Mirror that there is no law in the country prohibiting association by the same sex. He said the Constitution of Ghana guaranteed freedom of association and expression, including choice of sexual partners and the free expression of sexual feelings.
According to the former Western Regional President of the Ghana Bar Association, Lawyer Augustine Arvoh Mensah, the proclamation of one’s position as a lesbian or gay does not constitute a crime.In the same way, he said organising meetings to discuss issues relating to ones chosen sexual orientation or having a get-together did not constitute any wrong doing.
“We could however, apply the Criminal Code Act 104 of the 1992 Constitution, if the people are caught in the act as it happened recently in one African country,” he said. However, gays and lesbians in the Western Region have said the demonstration by some religious groups in the region was an infringement on their rights as citizens of Ghana who were free to express themselves.
The fears of the religious bodies were that, the strong presence of gays and lesbians in the region is a threat to morality and uprightness,especially as they are seen openly in bars and holding meetings that carry on till day break. Interestingly, many of the people who participate in gay events and meetings in the twin-city, travel from Accra, Tema, Kumasi, as well as other neighbouring West African countries.
In spite of agitations by religious bodies, the gay and lesbian community seem not to be deterred, contending that they are backed by the law.In another development, there is the increasing incidences of male foreigners seen at various bars and hotels with young girls whose ages range from 14 to 15.
The management of some of the hotels who spoke to The Mirror under anonymity said even though they want these foreigners and gays and lesbians as clients, they however, think their conduct is reprehensible.The owner of a leading joint in Takoradi said she had on several occasions refused permission for her premises to be used as a meeting grounds for gays and lesbians.
"Some of my colleagues have allowed their premises to be used by these people because they are able to pay any huge amounts quoted to them," she said According to some hotel operators, what was also worrying was that there were some foreigners who always visited their hotels in the company of children some of whom could be found drinking liquor.
“Sometimes I have had to drive some of the children away by threatening them with the police. I am also a parent and I know how damaging it is for juveniles to be drinking alcohol,” one of the operators said. Quite recently at a beach resort in Takoradi, the behaviour of a group of expatriates incurred the anger of the attendants who drove them out of their premises.
“When they get to the bar, they move to less illuminated parts where they sit with the innocent children, while they fed them with alcoholic beverages,” said one attendant.“Our children are at risk and we need to get unscrupulus people who take advantage of them out of the system. Now, all of a sudden, gays and lesbians have found a home in the Western Region,” he lamented.
The Western Regional Capital has lately been rocked by many sexual scandals and unacceptable social vices including homosexuality, lesbianism as well as sexual molestation of underage children.
These activities have incurred the wrath of members of the Takoradi metropolis. Interestingly, a lawyer who is also gay has told The Mirror that there is no law in the country prohibiting association by the same sex. He said the Constitution of Ghana guaranteed freedom of association and expression, including choice of sexual partners and the free expression of sexual feelings.
According to the former Western Regional President of the Ghana Bar Association, Lawyer Augustine Arvoh Mensah, the proclamation of one’s position as a lesbian or gay does not constitute a crime.In the same way, he said organising meetings to discuss issues relating to ones chosen sexual orientation or having a get-together did not constitute any wrong doing.
“We could however, apply the Criminal Code Act 104 of the 1992 Constitution, if the people are caught in the act as it happened recently in one African country,” he said. However, gays and lesbians in the Western Region have said the demonstration by some religious groups in the region was an infringement on their rights as citizens of Ghana who were free to express themselves.
The fears of the religious bodies were that, the strong presence of gays and lesbians in the region is a threat to morality and uprightness,especially as they are seen openly in bars and holding meetings that carry on till day break. Interestingly, many of the people who participate in gay events and meetings in the twin-city, travel from Accra, Tema, Kumasi, as well as other neighbouring West African countries.
In spite of agitations by religious bodies, the gay and lesbian community seem not to be deterred, contending that they are backed by the law.In another development, there is the increasing incidences of male foreigners seen at various bars and hotels with young girls whose ages range from 14 to 15.
The management of some of the hotels who spoke to The Mirror under anonymity said even though they want these foreigners and gays and lesbians as clients, they however, think their conduct is reprehensible.The owner of a leading joint in Takoradi said she had on several occasions refused permission for her premises to be used as a meeting grounds for gays and lesbians.
"Some of my colleagues have allowed their premises to be used by these people because they are able to pay any huge amounts quoted to them," she said According to some hotel operators, what was also worrying was that there were some foreigners who always visited their hotels in the company of children some of whom could be found drinking liquor.
“Sometimes I have had to drive some of the children away by threatening them with the police. I am also a parent and I know how damaging it is for juveniles to be drinking alcohol,” one of the operators said. Quite recently at a beach resort in Takoradi, the behaviour of a group of expatriates incurred the anger of the attendants who drove them out of their premises.
“When they get to the bar, they move to less illuminated parts where they sit with the innocent children, while they fed them with alcoholic beverages,” said one attendant.“Our children are at risk and we need to get unscrupulus people who take advantage of them out of the system. Now, all of a sudden, gays and lesbians have found a home in the Western Region,” he lamented.
Friday, June 18, 2010
ELLEMBELE GETS MOBILE CLINIC (PAGE 46, JUNE 17, 2010)
A multi-purpose mobile clinic to cater for the health needs of people living in deprived communities in the Ellembele District of the Western Region has been handed over to the district assembly.
The dilapidated clinic of the Nkroful Agricultural Secondary School (NASS) has also been refurbished and equipped for use by the students and the staff of the school.
The projects were the personal initiative of the Member of Parliament for Ellembele, Mr Emmanuel K. Armah Buah, to help his people, with support from a team of young medical volunteers from New York in the United States.
The mobile clinic, which cost more than GH¢100,000, was provided with a dispensary, a communication facility, a consulting room, a doctor’s examination bed, a storage facility, oxygen, among others, and it will travel to the deprived communities to deliver health care.
Other supplies included cartons of medical supplies from various pharmaceutical companies, such as Kinapharma, Tobinco Pharmacy, M&G Pharmacy and Aryton Drugs, worth thousands of Ghana cedis to support the efforts of the MP to bring relief to the people.
The mobile clinic is expected to serve about 40 per cent of the population in the deprived communities where, as a result of the lack of good roads, health, transportation and telecommunication facilities, the inhabitants die from preventable diseases.
Hitherto, the people in those deprived communities engaged in self-medication and purchased drugs from quack healthcare providers, while many women died during delivery due to lack of health personnel and access to health facilities.
In a statement prior to the inauguration of the mobile clinic, Mr Buah, who is also a Deputy Energy Minister, said it was sad that people could die from preventable illnesses.
“We, as public servants, must rededicate ourselves to the plight of the poor, respond to the voices of the people and address the concerns of the underprivileged in our society,” he said.
He said it was about time voters were given hope in hopeless situations, adding, “I must say that the plight of the poor should guide our politicians to aspire and help people in deprived communities who continue to vote for us but die from preventable diseases.”
The MP said it was the fervent wish of the government to meet the health and educational needs of the people, saying, “But before they get to us, we have to move to ensure that we support those whose efforts drive the economy of Ghana and feed the people.”
Aside from the mobile clinic, he said, the government was working hard on the district hospital project, noting that he would ensure that it was delivered.
The Deputy Western Regional Director of Health, Dr Kwaku Karikari, commended the MP and the medical volunteers and expressed the hope that the facility would promote health care in the district.
The dilapidated clinic of the Nkroful Agricultural Secondary School (NASS) has also been refurbished and equipped for use by the students and the staff of the school.
The projects were the personal initiative of the Member of Parliament for Ellembele, Mr Emmanuel K. Armah Buah, to help his people, with support from a team of young medical volunteers from New York in the United States.
The mobile clinic, which cost more than GH¢100,000, was provided with a dispensary, a communication facility, a consulting room, a doctor’s examination bed, a storage facility, oxygen, among others, and it will travel to the deprived communities to deliver health care.
Other supplies included cartons of medical supplies from various pharmaceutical companies, such as Kinapharma, Tobinco Pharmacy, M&G Pharmacy and Aryton Drugs, worth thousands of Ghana cedis to support the efforts of the MP to bring relief to the people.
The mobile clinic is expected to serve about 40 per cent of the population in the deprived communities where, as a result of the lack of good roads, health, transportation and telecommunication facilities, the inhabitants die from preventable diseases.
Hitherto, the people in those deprived communities engaged in self-medication and purchased drugs from quack healthcare providers, while many women died during delivery due to lack of health personnel and access to health facilities.
In a statement prior to the inauguration of the mobile clinic, Mr Buah, who is also a Deputy Energy Minister, said it was sad that people could die from preventable illnesses.
“We, as public servants, must rededicate ourselves to the plight of the poor, respond to the voices of the people and address the concerns of the underprivileged in our society,” he said.
He said it was about time voters were given hope in hopeless situations, adding, “I must say that the plight of the poor should guide our politicians to aspire and help people in deprived communities who continue to vote for us but die from preventable diseases.”
The MP said it was the fervent wish of the government to meet the health and educational needs of the people, saying, “But before they get to us, we have to move to ensure that we support those whose efforts drive the economy of Ghana and feed the people.”
Aside from the mobile clinic, he said, the government was working hard on the district hospital project, noting that he would ensure that it was delivered.
The Deputy Western Regional Director of Health, Dr Kwaku Karikari, commended the MP and the medical volunteers and expressed the hope that the facility would promote health care in the district.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
The case of 3 stowaways...CHINESE CREW FACE PROSECUTION (1B, JUNE 1, 2010)
THE Western Regional Police Command is in the process of securing an order from the Attorney-General’s Department for the prosecution of the captain and crew of the Chinese merchant vessel from which three Ivorian nationals were thrown into the ocean.
The vessel, MV Run Ning 3, has been impounded and is currently docked at the Takoradi Port, while investigations continue.
However, the agents of the vessel have been taking responsibility for the well-being of the two surviving stowaways — Omar Secei, 33, and Djiba Kamarah, 22 — by providing them with food, clothing, shelter and health care.
Omar Secei, the one who is on admission, is said to be responding to treatment at the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority Hospital in Takoradi.
A third stowaway, identified by Kamarah as Kondah Aziz, got drowned and his body is yet to be washed ashore.
According to the police, there are international maritime laws that the Attorney-General has to look at to ensure that the suspects are properly charged and put before court.
The Western Regional Crime Officer, Mr James Kofi Abraham, told the Daily Graphic that they would proceed to court and properly remand the suspects.
When contacted, officials at the Ivorian Embassy in Ghana described the act of the ship’s crew as barbaric and unfair.
It would be recalled that the stowaways, who joined the ship in Cote d’Ivoire, were rescued by a Ghana Navy ship in Ghanaian territorial waters.
Kamarah and Secei had to swim for more than 12 hours in deep waters until personnel of the Ghana Navy rescued them.
The vessel, MV Run Ning 3, has been impounded and is currently docked at the Takoradi Port, while investigations continue.
However, the agents of the vessel have been taking responsibility for the well-being of the two surviving stowaways — Omar Secei, 33, and Djiba Kamarah, 22 — by providing them with food, clothing, shelter and health care.
Omar Secei, the one who is on admission, is said to be responding to treatment at the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority Hospital in Takoradi.
A third stowaway, identified by Kamarah as Kondah Aziz, got drowned and his body is yet to be washed ashore.
According to the police, there are international maritime laws that the Attorney-General has to look at to ensure that the suspects are properly charged and put before court.
The Western Regional Crime Officer, Mr James Kofi Abraham, told the Daily Graphic that they would proceed to court and properly remand the suspects.
When contacted, officials at the Ivorian Embassy in Ghana described the act of the ship’s crew as barbaric and unfair.
It would be recalled that the stowaways, who joined the ship in Cote d’Ivoire, were rescued by a Ghana Navy ship in Ghanaian territorial waters.
Kamarah and Secei had to swim for more than 12 hours in deep waters until personnel of the Ghana Navy rescued them.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
COMMUNITIES TO BENFIT FROM OUR OPERATIONS — ADAMUS RESOURCES (PAGE 31, JUNE 15, 2010)
Adamus Resources Limited, operators of Nzema Golds, has assured the communities in which it operates that the company will ensure that the community benefited from its operations.
The company, which is a gold exploration entity, is likely to pour its first gold by the end of the first quarter of next year.
This came to light when the Member of Parliament for the area, Mr Emmanuel Kofi Buah, toured the facilities in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region.
The project comprises a Greenfield development of open-pit mining operations, a processing facility and associated infrastructure to mine and process ore from defined resources in concessions including Salman-Akanko and Anwia-Bokazo deposits.
Current estimates show that the project has a minimum life of 10 years and is capable of producing on average of 100,000 ounces of gold per year.
Mr Mark Addo, the Business Development Director of Adamus, said the company would be guided by the historical precedents of gold mining in the country to ensure the socio-industrial harmony needed for the growth of the company, the community and the country.
He said the construction work was more than 20 per cent completed and expressed the hope that the construction work would be completed by October this year.
He said that would be followed by the fixtures and fittings.
Mr Addo said to ensure that the community benefited from its operations, the company would work closely with the community.
He said the current work force of the company was about 700 and said most of them were employed from the local communities.
The business development director said their mission was not to exploit and leave the people in abject poverty but to ensure transparency, respect the cultural values of the people and be socially and environmentally responsible in their operations.
“People have invested in our operations and they look forward to results not at the expense of the people but through co-operation and sensitivity to the needs of the people,” he said.
Mr Addo said the expectations of the community were very high and that every effort would be made to meet those expectations, adding that apart from employing the people, most of them would be trained for other jobs and professions.
“Mining has many faces and it is our corporate policy that those who bid for our contracts should employ their personnel from the communities in the Nzemamanle,” he said.
The MP, who is also the Deputy Energy Minister, commended the company and urged them to live in a peaceful atmosphere to ensure the development of the area.
The company, which is a gold exploration entity, is likely to pour its first gold by the end of the first quarter of next year.
This came to light when the Member of Parliament for the area, Mr Emmanuel Kofi Buah, toured the facilities in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region.
The project comprises a Greenfield development of open-pit mining operations, a processing facility and associated infrastructure to mine and process ore from defined resources in concessions including Salman-Akanko and Anwia-Bokazo deposits.
Current estimates show that the project has a minimum life of 10 years and is capable of producing on average of 100,000 ounces of gold per year.
Mr Mark Addo, the Business Development Director of Adamus, said the company would be guided by the historical precedents of gold mining in the country to ensure the socio-industrial harmony needed for the growth of the company, the community and the country.
He said the construction work was more than 20 per cent completed and expressed the hope that the construction work would be completed by October this year.
He said that would be followed by the fixtures and fittings.
Mr Addo said to ensure that the community benefited from its operations, the company would work closely with the community.
He said the current work force of the company was about 700 and said most of them were employed from the local communities.
The business development director said their mission was not to exploit and leave the people in abject poverty but to ensure transparency, respect the cultural values of the people and be socially and environmentally responsible in their operations.
“People have invested in our operations and they look forward to results not at the expense of the people but through co-operation and sensitivity to the needs of the people,” he said.
Mr Addo said the expectations of the community were very high and that every effort would be made to meet those expectations, adding that apart from employing the people, most of them would be trained for other jobs and professions.
“Mining has many faces and it is our corporate policy that those who bid for our contracts should employ their personnel from the communities in the Nzemamanle,” he said.
The MP, who is also the Deputy Energy Minister, commended the company and urged them to live in a peaceful atmosphere to ensure the development of the area.
Friday, June 11, 2010
MEN 'DELIVERING' BABIES UNDER NHIS (MIRROR, PAGE 34, JULY 12, 2010)
From Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu,
Takoradi
Men are ‘delivering’ babies under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) as clinical audit of the scheme has uncovered new ways that some people have adopted to defraud the system at accredited public and private hospitals.
Financial claims by women, who, under the Free Maternal Care (FMC), had spontaneous vaginal delivery at the accredited hospitals across the country, were fraudulently classified under caesarian delivery which attracted higher premium.
The names of those who made the claims were then submitted and the claims running into millions of Ghana cedis were paid accordingly. But the NHIS has vowed to recover each pesewa that had been lost through the bogus claims.
Mr Sylvester Mensah, Chief Executive of the scheme, who announced this, said the scheme would not relent in its efforts to clear the system of people whose focus had noticeably been to sabotage the efforts of providing affordable health care to the people of Ghana.
He explained that some of the bills submitted in the name of women, who had been delivered of babies were questionable. The auditors therefore decided to cross-check the claims and discovered the fraud.
Mr Mensah said it was shocking to realise that many of the people whose names were given as women, who had been delivered under the FMC were actually men and not women.
That aside, he said some of the ‘women’, the service providers claimed had been delivered of babies were dead many years ago and were never in the hospitals for delivery or anywhere near the maternity block.
Again, “the women, who the service providers claim were delivered through caesarian section actually had spontaneous vaginal delivery. The women raised their dresses to show that there was no cut on their bodies,” he said.
Asked how men’s names were substituted for women, he said the names were generated from the computers without even looking to see if the names could be those of men.
He said from the month of July, the scheme would no longer run individual accounts for schemes, but a consolidated account with Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) and the Agricultural Development Banks (ADB) for the various schemes to operate with unique codes.
This, he said, was to avert unwarranted payments that could run the scheme down.
Mr Mensah also said the scheme would also look at disaccrediting some private members of the service providers who referred card holders to their own clinics.
He explained that some doctors referred patients to privately owned clinics thereby billing the scheme twice.
“Instead of attending to the patients with the scheme, these medical doctors who have their facilities registered under the scheme refer their patients to their facilities,” he said.
“They will be billed by the hospitals they first visited and the second facility with the same sickness making it double billing,” he said.
The chief executive said with the engagement of the clinical audits system, huge amounts unduly siphoned from the scheme had been recovered.
“Also more than 35 scheme managers and officers had been interdicted, about four of the officers are in police custody charged for fraud,” he said.
He urged officers to avoid spreading negative things about the one-time payment and work for the success of scheme.
Takoradi
Men are ‘delivering’ babies under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) as clinical audit of the scheme has uncovered new ways that some people have adopted to defraud the system at accredited public and private hospitals.
Financial claims by women, who, under the Free Maternal Care (FMC), had spontaneous vaginal delivery at the accredited hospitals across the country, were fraudulently classified under caesarian delivery which attracted higher premium.
The names of those who made the claims were then submitted and the claims running into millions of Ghana cedis were paid accordingly. But the NHIS has vowed to recover each pesewa that had been lost through the bogus claims.
Mr Sylvester Mensah, Chief Executive of the scheme, who announced this, said the scheme would not relent in its efforts to clear the system of people whose focus had noticeably been to sabotage the efforts of providing affordable health care to the people of Ghana.
He explained that some of the bills submitted in the name of women, who had been delivered of babies were questionable. The auditors therefore decided to cross-check the claims and discovered the fraud.
Mr Mensah said it was shocking to realise that many of the people whose names were given as women, who had been delivered under the FMC were actually men and not women.
That aside, he said some of the ‘women’, the service providers claimed had been delivered of babies were dead many years ago and were never in the hospitals for delivery or anywhere near the maternity block.
Again, “the women, who the service providers claim were delivered through caesarian section actually had spontaneous vaginal delivery. The women raised their dresses to show that there was no cut on their bodies,” he said.
Asked how men’s names were substituted for women, he said the names were generated from the computers without even looking to see if the names could be those of men.
He said from the month of July, the scheme would no longer run individual accounts for schemes, but a consolidated account with Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) and the Agricultural Development Banks (ADB) for the various schemes to operate with unique codes.
This, he said, was to avert unwarranted payments that could run the scheme down.
Mr Mensah also said the scheme would also look at disaccrediting some private members of the service providers who referred card holders to their own clinics.
He explained that some doctors referred patients to privately owned clinics thereby billing the scheme twice.
“Instead of attending to the patients with the scheme, these medical doctors who have their facilities registered under the scheme refer their patients to their facilities,” he said.
“They will be billed by the hospitals they first visited and the second facility with the same sickness making it double billing,” he said.
The chief executive said with the engagement of the clinical audits system, huge amounts unduly siphoned from the scheme had been recovered.
“Also more than 35 scheme managers and officers had been interdicted, about four of the officers are in police custody charged for fraud,” he said.
He urged officers to avoid spreading negative things about the one-time payment and work for the success of scheme.
IS THE INCREASE IN UTILITY TARRIFS JUSTIFIED?...Vkews from Sekondi-Takoradi (PAGE 31, MIRROR, JUNE 12, 2010)
In actual fact, I am not against the increase; my difficulty is the over-politicisation of the increment which has clouded the real debate.
The days when we enjoyed free things are over and if we continue paying less for utility service charges in the name of poor working conditions then we will end up doing nothing for this country.
Because of the politicisation of the increment it seems consumers want to oppose anything that comes from the government.
If we continue saying that the economy is bad and that things should be as they are, how will the central government generate revenue to fix the economical problems?
We all know that both the Ghana Water Company and the Electricity Company of Ghana cannot look for funds from the Ghana Stock Exchange. The inability of government to attract private investors into these sectors is largely due to the fact that consumers are not paying for the real cost of what they use.
The government buys power from the producers at a very high rate and sells it at low prices. How can the utility companies, therefore, sustain their operation if the government continues to absorb the excess cost?
The best thing I recommend to my compatriots is that they should learn to control the usage of utilities such as water and electricity. They should switch off all gadgets when necessary and only put on lights when it is absolutely necessary.
That aside the ECG and Ghana Water should also find a way of eliminating the waste in the system.
Personally, I have no problem with the adjustments but the responsibility on the part of users as well as producers is very critical and we have to look at it dispassionately, devoid of politics.
I don’t have a problem with the 89 per cent increase in electricity and 36 per cent in water. What I am advocating for is a corresponding increase in the salaries of workers.
The service providers should also work on eliminating the waste in the system to ensure that when we are talking about real cost it would be minus waste.
I am a pensioner and sympathise with the ordinary man on the street who has difficulty in paying his bills. If workers are paid good salaries and the waste in the system is eliminated, nobody would complain about the increases.
Many people work in the private sector, and most of these private sector companies do not even pay the minimum wage. Therefore, how do we expect such people to survive?
The sad aspect of the situation is that, when the increment was announced, instead of people talking about the issue in a non-partisan manner to ensure that we all contribute to the debate, it was coloured with politics.
One other interesting thing is that when the debate on the increase in tariffs was ongoing we were comparing it to countries in the West African sub-region and saying that we in Ghana were paying less.
But the facts are that the income levels and taxes in those countries are different from ours, therefore, the best thing to do is to work on removing the waste in the system.
In Takoradi, where I live, streetlights are on throughout the day when they should be off. The system is just bad. Ghana Water Company and the ECG/VRA first have to ensure that things are put right before going to the consumer to ask for more.
It is only natural that when people become appreciative of an act or work done, they will be willing to give more. However, when they are not sure of the sustainability of the service delivery and are asked to pay more money, they will naturally resist.
The increase in utility charges should be withdrawn. The service providers should straighten their system before the increment takes effect. I am a mechanic and I use electricity a lot.
My colleagues and I are not ready to pay. I think the percentage increase should be reduced and the Public Utility and Regulatory Commission ( PURC) must get the utility companies to put their act right to eliminate waste.
The problems they had to deal with is not about increment, meaning that if they had been able to prevent 50 per cent of the waste in their line of operation, this increment would not have been necessary.
Sometimes one reports to work, but there is no light and one therefore has to wait endlessly, meanwhile one has to eat, pay school fees, water bills and address other social needs.
The best thing the government can do is to rather task the utility companies to ensure that there is no waste in the system.
I am not a salaried worker and it is difficult for me to get money to pay for what I use at my workplace and home. Therefore, if I decide to charge more who would come to my shop to seek my services?
They should rather suspend the increment because we are not ready now. Life has become rough and tough for some of us.
If income levels are good and service deliveries efficient, nobody will complain; we will all embrace it without complaining.
Our salaries are meagre with no substantial increment and I don’t understand why we are being asked to pay more. Life has become very unbearable for some of us.
I have school fees to pay, my family to feed, and the extended family system we practise in Ghana also requires that one extends a helping hand to the deprived in one's family.
For three years, I have not seen any increase in my income, but when there is a general increase in any utility tariff, it affects me a lot.
It is sad and very unfair that there are people who do not have money to even pay for three-square meals a day but we want to increase tariffs without considering the social discomfort that this will cause them.
If income levels are good, business is booming and commerce and industry moving with the corresponding increase in trading we would not have a problem with the increases.
As it is, we are operating at a loss. That aside, many people do not have jobs and if higher tariffs are forced down our throats, many may not survive.
We all agree that the government is doing its best to ensure that social services are there for people to access, but the fact is that the waste is too much.
If anything, the tariff increment should be shelved for the meantime, because our economic situation is not good enough.
We are operating at a loss; the increment in utility tariffs would as a matter of fact throw those of us in the hospitality industry out of business since we cannot pass on the new cost to our customers.
I have to buy water to ensure that my guests are comfortable or have access to water as and when they need it.
When the light goes off, I have to make sure I fuel the generator to supply the whole facility with power to ensure that I do not create any discomfort for the guests lodging at my facility.
Therefore, if we have to pay extra cost for the service that is already not reliable then some of us would have to fold up.
The best thing to do at the moment is to suspend the adjustments. We in the hospitality industry cannot pay the extra cost because it is difficult to look for additional money to buy extra water and diesel to power our plants.
We are not saying there should not be an upward adjustment of tariffs, but all other factors should be taken into consideration. We pay huge taxes and our overhead cost is so high, while many of our services are provided on credit.
It takes quite sometime for us to recoup the money we spend on the services we provide.
The new tariff would have a negative rippling effect on the employees of the facility and that is not good enough for the development agenda of the government and the private sector.
The service companies should look for more funds to improve their efficiency level to ensure regular services to the customers before we talk about payment.
The upward adjustment in utility tariffs is not justifiable. Nothing is moving. What is going to happen with the increment is that prices of goods and services will go up since people are going to factor it into the unit price of goods and services.
Therefore, the consumers of other services would be the next victims. I was surprised when a taxi driver told me I had to pay more because prices of water and electricity have been increased and they have to work hard to ensure that they meet the challenges that the increment would bring.
The utility service providers’ claim that they want consumers to pay the right prices to enable them give better services is untrue.
The service providers should just get back and purge themselves of the waste they are generating.
The increment is too high and something has to be done urgently else some of us would be thrown out of business in no time.
I am a service provider and the situation is very bad. Electricity is taking a chunk of my income and I am running at a loss.
We have other taxes as well as workers salaries to pay, therefore, the increase in electricity and water tariffs will push our businesses out of gear.
We are not against the increase but if the services they provide improve, we would not hesitate to pay the new rate. But that does not mean we should pre-finance it. I run a bar, if the light goes off, I have to buy petrol to power my generator.
Our drinks have to be chilled and the music we play enables people to relax after a hard day’s work.
Are we going to charge people extra for just a bottle of drink?
That notwithstanding if water is not flowing, we have to buy it. Therefore if I have to go through all these things and I am not getting the required service then it is disturbing.
I have workers and I cannot let them down. We create, share and pay taxes to government. But if our business operations are grinding to a halt then we have to sit up.
I must be honest with you that I am not happy with the increment. For the sake of my job, it is important that the PURC suspends the increase and urge the utility companies to clean their system.
The days when we enjoyed free things are over and if we continue paying less for utility service charges in the name of poor working conditions then we will end up doing nothing for this country.
Because of the politicisation of the increment it seems consumers want to oppose anything that comes from the government.
If we continue saying that the economy is bad and that things should be as they are, how will the central government generate revenue to fix the economical problems?
We all know that both the Ghana Water Company and the Electricity Company of Ghana cannot look for funds from the Ghana Stock Exchange. The inability of government to attract private investors into these sectors is largely due to the fact that consumers are not paying for the real cost of what they use.
The government buys power from the producers at a very high rate and sells it at low prices. How can the utility companies, therefore, sustain their operation if the government continues to absorb the excess cost?
The best thing I recommend to my compatriots is that they should learn to control the usage of utilities such as water and electricity. They should switch off all gadgets when necessary and only put on lights when it is absolutely necessary.
That aside the ECG and Ghana Water should also find a way of eliminating the waste in the system.
Personally, I have no problem with the adjustments but the responsibility on the part of users as well as producers is very critical and we have to look at it dispassionately, devoid of politics.
I don’t have a problem with the 89 per cent increase in electricity and 36 per cent in water. What I am advocating for is a corresponding increase in the salaries of workers.
The service providers should also work on eliminating the waste in the system to ensure that when we are talking about real cost it would be minus waste.
I am a pensioner and sympathise with the ordinary man on the street who has difficulty in paying his bills. If workers are paid good salaries and the waste in the system is eliminated, nobody would complain about the increases.
Many people work in the private sector, and most of these private sector companies do not even pay the minimum wage. Therefore, how do we expect such people to survive?
The sad aspect of the situation is that, when the increment was announced, instead of people talking about the issue in a non-partisan manner to ensure that we all contribute to the debate, it was coloured with politics.
One other interesting thing is that when the debate on the increase in tariffs was ongoing we were comparing it to countries in the West African sub-region and saying that we in Ghana were paying less.
But the facts are that the income levels and taxes in those countries are different from ours, therefore, the best thing to do is to work on removing the waste in the system.
In Takoradi, where I live, streetlights are on throughout the day when they should be off. The system is just bad. Ghana Water Company and the ECG/VRA first have to ensure that things are put right before going to the consumer to ask for more.
It is only natural that when people become appreciative of an act or work done, they will be willing to give more. However, when they are not sure of the sustainability of the service delivery and are asked to pay more money, they will naturally resist.
The increase in utility charges should be withdrawn. The service providers should straighten their system before the increment takes effect. I am a mechanic and I use electricity a lot.
My colleagues and I are not ready to pay. I think the percentage increase should be reduced and the Public Utility and Regulatory Commission ( PURC) must get the utility companies to put their act right to eliminate waste.
The problems they had to deal with is not about increment, meaning that if they had been able to prevent 50 per cent of the waste in their line of operation, this increment would not have been necessary.
Sometimes one reports to work, but there is no light and one therefore has to wait endlessly, meanwhile one has to eat, pay school fees, water bills and address other social needs.
The best thing the government can do is to rather task the utility companies to ensure that there is no waste in the system.
I am not a salaried worker and it is difficult for me to get money to pay for what I use at my workplace and home. Therefore, if I decide to charge more who would come to my shop to seek my services?
They should rather suspend the increment because we are not ready now. Life has become rough and tough for some of us.
If income levels are good and service deliveries efficient, nobody will complain; we will all embrace it without complaining.
Our salaries are meagre with no substantial increment and I don’t understand why we are being asked to pay more. Life has become very unbearable for some of us.
I have school fees to pay, my family to feed, and the extended family system we practise in Ghana also requires that one extends a helping hand to the deprived in one's family.
For three years, I have not seen any increase in my income, but when there is a general increase in any utility tariff, it affects me a lot.
It is sad and very unfair that there are people who do not have money to even pay for three-square meals a day but we want to increase tariffs without considering the social discomfort that this will cause them.
If income levels are good, business is booming and commerce and industry moving with the corresponding increase in trading we would not have a problem with the increases.
As it is, we are operating at a loss. That aside, many people do not have jobs and if higher tariffs are forced down our throats, many may not survive.
We all agree that the government is doing its best to ensure that social services are there for people to access, but the fact is that the waste is too much.
If anything, the tariff increment should be shelved for the meantime, because our economic situation is not good enough.
We are operating at a loss; the increment in utility tariffs would as a matter of fact throw those of us in the hospitality industry out of business since we cannot pass on the new cost to our customers.
I have to buy water to ensure that my guests are comfortable or have access to water as and when they need it.
When the light goes off, I have to make sure I fuel the generator to supply the whole facility with power to ensure that I do not create any discomfort for the guests lodging at my facility.
Therefore, if we have to pay extra cost for the service that is already not reliable then some of us would have to fold up.
The best thing to do at the moment is to suspend the adjustments. We in the hospitality industry cannot pay the extra cost because it is difficult to look for additional money to buy extra water and diesel to power our plants.
We are not saying there should not be an upward adjustment of tariffs, but all other factors should be taken into consideration. We pay huge taxes and our overhead cost is so high, while many of our services are provided on credit.
It takes quite sometime for us to recoup the money we spend on the services we provide.
The new tariff would have a negative rippling effect on the employees of the facility and that is not good enough for the development agenda of the government and the private sector.
The service companies should look for more funds to improve their efficiency level to ensure regular services to the customers before we talk about payment.
The upward adjustment in utility tariffs is not justifiable. Nothing is moving. What is going to happen with the increment is that prices of goods and services will go up since people are going to factor it into the unit price of goods and services.
Therefore, the consumers of other services would be the next victims. I was surprised when a taxi driver told me I had to pay more because prices of water and electricity have been increased and they have to work hard to ensure that they meet the challenges that the increment would bring.
The utility service providers’ claim that they want consumers to pay the right prices to enable them give better services is untrue.
The service providers should just get back and purge themselves of the waste they are generating.
The increment is too high and something has to be done urgently else some of us would be thrown out of business in no time.
I am a service provider and the situation is very bad. Electricity is taking a chunk of my income and I am running at a loss.
We have other taxes as well as workers salaries to pay, therefore, the increase in electricity and water tariffs will push our businesses out of gear.
We are not against the increase but if the services they provide improve, we would not hesitate to pay the new rate. But that does not mean we should pre-finance it. I run a bar, if the light goes off, I have to buy petrol to power my generator.
Our drinks have to be chilled and the music we play enables people to relax after a hard day’s work.
Are we going to charge people extra for just a bottle of drink?
That notwithstanding if water is not flowing, we have to buy it. Therefore if I have to go through all these things and I am not getting the required service then it is disturbing.
I have workers and I cannot let them down. We create, share and pay taxes to government. But if our business operations are grinding to a halt then we have to sit up.
I must be honest with you that I am not happy with the increment. For the sake of my job, it is important that the PURC suspends the increase and urge the utility companies to clean their system.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
TWIN-CITY CHOKED WITH FILTH, VEHICULAR TRAFFIC (PAGE 23, JUNE 2, 2010)
The Twin-City of Sekondi/Takoradi has been engulfed by filth and very heavy vehicular and human traffic.
Many of the street corners in the metropolis, pavements and bus stops have been turned into rubbish dumps and commercial vehicles are forced to use part of the streets as terminals.
Information available to the Daily Graphic indicates that the Sekondi -Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly owes the waste collectors.
Apart from this, the assembly’s own waste departments are not equipped to handle the worsening situation.
Mud and sand from the recent floods in the metropolis settled at one of the busy bus stops on the Sekondi/Takoradi High Street, therefore, “trotros” and taxicabs plying the road have to use part of the street as a parking lot.
Even though some residents cleared the choked gutters, the waste had been left on the shoulders of the street and this eventually ends up in the gutters again.
The city authorities have actually lost control of the situation and in many parts of the city rubbish has piled up and is emitting a very bad odour which is a threat to the health of residents.
Residents of New Site in the Twin-City who were interviewed said when the sun shines after it has rained they find it very difficult to eat or breathe due to the stench.
That aside, many of the well-designed pedestrian walkways on the shoulders of the street have been turned into rubbish dumps and pedestrians are forced to share the streets with the vehicles, which is dangerous.
Besides, the number of vehicles in the metropolis has increased and there is little or no parking space for them. As a result visitors to the central business district have to park on the street corners and walk long distances to transact business.
To control the traffic situation, the metropolitan assembly has been clamping vehicles that park on the shoulders of the street.
When the Daily Graphic contacted the assembly to find out why it has been clamping the vehicles when it had not provided enough parking lots for the visitors to the metropolis, the writer was told that the clamping was to raise more revenue for the assembly, and not only to deter people from parking there.
One of the officers who clamps the vehicles said if there was no space for them to park, the vehicle owners should not come into the metropolis with their vehicles.
Shop owners also said their sales are declining because shoppers or visitors to their shops complain of lack of parking spaces for vehicles.
“They harass our customers too much. For example if a customer is coming to buy goods worth GH¢10 and he or she will have his or her vehicle tyres clamped and asked to pay GH¢40.00 before the vehicle is released, they will not come”, one of the shop owners said.
Many of the street corners in the metropolis, pavements and bus stops have been turned into rubbish dumps and commercial vehicles are forced to use part of the streets as terminals.
Information available to the Daily Graphic indicates that the Sekondi -Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly owes the waste collectors.
Apart from this, the assembly’s own waste departments are not equipped to handle the worsening situation.
Mud and sand from the recent floods in the metropolis settled at one of the busy bus stops on the Sekondi/Takoradi High Street, therefore, “trotros” and taxicabs plying the road have to use part of the street as a parking lot.
Even though some residents cleared the choked gutters, the waste had been left on the shoulders of the street and this eventually ends up in the gutters again.
The city authorities have actually lost control of the situation and in many parts of the city rubbish has piled up and is emitting a very bad odour which is a threat to the health of residents.
Residents of New Site in the Twin-City who were interviewed said when the sun shines after it has rained they find it very difficult to eat or breathe due to the stench.
That aside, many of the well-designed pedestrian walkways on the shoulders of the street have been turned into rubbish dumps and pedestrians are forced to share the streets with the vehicles, which is dangerous.
Besides, the number of vehicles in the metropolis has increased and there is little or no parking space for them. As a result visitors to the central business district have to park on the street corners and walk long distances to transact business.
To control the traffic situation, the metropolitan assembly has been clamping vehicles that park on the shoulders of the street.
When the Daily Graphic contacted the assembly to find out why it has been clamping the vehicles when it had not provided enough parking lots for the visitors to the metropolis, the writer was told that the clamping was to raise more revenue for the assembly, and not only to deter people from parking there.
One of the officers who clamps the vehicles said if there was no space for them to park, the vehicle owners should not come into the metropolis with their vehicles.
Shop owners also said their sales are declining because shoppers or visitors to their shops complain of lack of parking spaces for vehicles.
“They harass our customers too much. For example if a customer is coming to buy goods worth GH¢10 and he or she will have his or her vehicle tyres clamped and asked to pay GH¢40.00 before the vehicle is released, they will not come”, one of the shop owners said.
ADAMUS RESOURCES TO CONSTRUCT NEW ROAD (SPREAD, JUNE 2, 2010)
Adamus Resources Limited, a gold mining company, is to construct a road from its operational site to link the main Elubo-Takoradi highway.
The company and its sub-contractors are to employ labour from the communities of their operations.
At the fourth public hearing on the operations of the company in the Salman community, its management gave an assurance that it would not use the existing access roads in the communities because of the possible effects the heavy equipment would have on the roads.
The new road, it said, would also ensure that traffic congestion and road accidents were reduced to the barest minimum.
The Business Development Director of the company, Mr Mark Addo, said the design for the road had been done and precautions taken to reduce the environmental impact of the road construction.
“The area has many rivers and streams passing through its rich forests and we will use enough culverts to ensure that we do not divert the free flow of these water bodies,” he said.
He said even though the company had held a series of public hearings organised by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it was important to notify the community to be aware of the new developments.
Mr Addo said social and industrial harmony was very important to its operations and it would always consult the people to ensure that they were part of decision-making at all levels.
The people commended Adamus for working closely with them and employing the youth from Nzemaland.
The company and its sub-contractors are to employ labour from the communities of their operations.
At the fourth public hearing on the operations of the company in the Salman community, its management gave an assurance that it would not use the existing access roads in the communities because of the possible effects the heavy equipment would have on the roads.
The new road, it said, would also ensure that traffic congestion and road accidents were reduced to the barest minimum.
The Business Development Director of the company, Mr Mark Addo, said the design for the road had been done and precautions taken to reduce the environmental impact of the road construction.
“The area has many rivers and streams passing through its rich forests and we will use enough culverts to ensure that we do not divert the free flow of these water bodies,” he said.
He said even though the company had held a series of public hearings organised by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it was important to notify the community to be aware of the new developments.
Mr Addo said social and industrial harmony was very important to its operations and it would always consult the people to ensure that they were part of decision-making at all levels.
The people commended Adamus for working closely with them and employing the youth from Nzemaland.
COURT ADJOURNS LIMESTONE CASE (PAGE 51, JUNE 2, 2010
THE legal battle involving two investors and an Accra-based lawyer over a multi-million dollar limestone extracting project at Nawuley in the Jomoro District of the Western Region was yesterday adjourned to June 8, 2010.
The lawyers for the Accra-based lawyer, Mr J.E. Jainie, who is against the project asked the court for sometime to enable them to study the motion opposing the injunction filed by the counsel for the two companies leading to the adjournment.
Mr Janie, who is also an elder of one of the seven stool families at Nawuley is seeking an injunction to halt the project estimated at $120 million in the Nawuley community,
The premises of the Sekondi High Court was besieged by chiefs, opinion leaders and youth from the Nawuley community to lend their support for the two embattled investors, Ghacem Limited and Multiwall Paper Sacks Limited.
The adjournment, however, did not go down well with the sympathisers, who arrived in Sekondi at about 6 a.m. in four buses.
The lawyers for the Accra-based lawyer, Mr J.E. Jainie, who is against the project asked the court for sometime to enable them to study the motion opposing the injunction filed by the counsel for the two companies leading to the adjournment.
Mr Janie, who is also an elder of one of the seven stool families at Nawuley is seeking an injunction to halt the project estimated at $120 million in the Nawuley community,
The premises of the Sekondi High Court was besieged by chiefs, opinion leaders and youth from the Nawuley community to lend their support for the two embattled investors, Ghacem Limited and Multiwall Paper Sacks Limited.
The adjournment, however, did not go down well with the sympathisers, who arrived in Sekondi at about 6 a.m. in four buses.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
NCA TO INSPECT TELECOM FACILITIES (SPREAD, JUNE 1, 2010)
THE National Communications Authority (NCA) is to embark on a nation-wide inspection of facilities belonging to service providers in the telecommunication industry.
This is to ensure that inferior structures, especially masts, put up by the service providers are decommissioned to secure the safety of the communities where those structures are sited.
The move has become necessary following the collapse of a telecommunication mast at Mpintsim in the Sekondi/Takoradi metropolis last week that caused massive disruption of power in 13 communities.
Officials of the NCA made this known to the Daily Graphic after visiting the site of the collapsed mast yesterday.
It was detected during the visit that the steel used in the construction of the mast was of inferior quality.
The NCA officials said the owners of the facility, who failed to maintain the 10-year-old structure, leading to its collapse, would be sanctioned.
According to them, as part of a new measure, every communication or Internet service provider would have to obtain a structural licence which would ensure that the right company was contracted, as well as the right materials obtained, before structures such as masts could be mounted.
This is to ensure that inferior structures, especially masts, put up by the service providers are decommissioned to secure the safety of the communities where those structures are sited.
The move has become necessary following the collapse of a telecommunication mast at Mpintsim in the Sekondi/Takoradi metropolis last week that caused massive disruption of power in 13 communities.
Officials of the NCA made this known to the Daily Graphic after visiting the site of the collapsed mast yesterday.
It was detected during the visit that the steel used in the construction of the mast was of inferior quality.
The NCA officials said the owners of the facility, who failed to maintain the 10-year-old structure, leading to its collapse, would be sanctioned.
According to them, as part of a new measure, every communication or Internet service provider would have to obtain a structural licence which would ensure that the right company was contracted, as well as the right materials obtained, before structures such as masts could be mounted.
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