THE family members of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, have called for the de-confiscation of the family houses seized after the 1966 coup.
They expressed the hope that as part of the centenary celebration of Nkrumah’s birthday, his home town, Nkroful, would be given the needed attention by providing it with many social amenities in memory of the late President.
The family head, Mr Adzobea Kpenyile, who made the appeal through the Daily Graphic at Nkroful, said the family houses at Nsuayem and Nkroful had not as yet been released to them and the situation was creating a problem for the family.
He said personnel of the Ghana Police Service were currently occupying one of the buildings at Nsuayem, while the one at Nkroful was being used as a museum.
Mr Kpenyile said at the moment the family members were many and so they needed more residential facilities, hence the appeal.
He stressed the need for the government to rehabilitate the buildings before returning them to the family.
Mr Kpenyile commended the government for its recognition of Dr Nkrumah through the celebration of his centenary.
Monday, October 12, 2009
MARITIME STUDENTS UNDERGO OFFSHORE OIL TRAINING (PAGE 31, OCT 3)
OIL industry players operating offshore in the country’s Jubilee Oil Fields have joined forces to train Ghanaians to properly manage the oil resources for the benefit of the country.
Tullow Oil and Swird Pacific Offshore, West Africa are currently collaborating to offer practical training to 20 students from the Regional Maritime University (RMU) on board Pacific Aurora, an offshore service vessel owned by Tallow.
Tullow has also put Pacific Aurora at the disposal of the RMU, which had hitherto not had a resident training vessel for the training of its students.
At the inaugural ceremony in Takoradi, Tullow assured Ghanaians that with its track record of collaboration with its partners and contractors it would ensure that there were appropriate, sustainable levels of local content in every aspect of its operations.
It would also help equip Takoradi Polytechnic and other selected tertiary institutions in the country to enable them to produce employable manpower for the country’s oil industry.
According to the President of Tullow Oil and the General Manager of the group, Mr Dai Jones, the company also had a training programme with Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) where currently 14 trainees had been sponsored to the UK.
The programme would equip the trainees with technical and managerial skills to lead in every aspect of oil industry.
“Today’s cadets programme signals another dimension to our partner effort. We and our partners on the Jubilee Field are providing opportunities for young Ghanaian mariners to acquire the practical training that will equip them not only to add value to their academic programmes but also make them world class resources,” he said.
Mr Jones said, “The Jubilee field is a sea based programme which requires Ghanaians to man the various vessels without which the oil resources cannot be exploited.”
He said as the company was on its promise for first oil next year, “It is crucial that we engage with all stakeholders to address the expectations. One of the expectations is that Ghanaians must fully participate in the industry at all levels of our operations.”
He said Tullow would be in Ghana for the next 30 years and that it would ensure that the real impact of the oil find would be the creation of new business opportunities nationally.
“We at Tullow recognised that entrepreneurial spirit of the Ghanaian and we are looking to their creativity and ingenuity to partner us in overcoming the challenges that we share,” he said.
He said the opportunities did not only exist on the rig but in agriculture as people need to provide for 10 to 12 vessels on the field at any time and other areas such as fresh water, laundry among others.
The Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo commended the training collaboration.
Tullow Oil and Swird Pacific Offshore, West Africa are currently collaborating to offer practical training to 20 students from the Regional Maritime University (RMU) on board Pacific Aurora, an offshore service vessel owned by Tallow.
Tullow has also put Pacific Aurora at the disposal of the RMU, which had hitherto not had a resident training vessel for the training of its students.
At the inaugural ceremony in Takoradi, Tullow assured Ghanaians that with its track record of collaboration with its partners and contractors it would ensure that there were appropriate, sustainable levels of local content in every aspect of its operations.
It would also help equip Takoradi Polytechnic and other selected tertiary institutions in the country to enable them to produce employable manpower for the country’s oil industry.
According to the President of Tullow Oil and the General Manager of the group, Mr Dai Jones, the company also had a training programme with Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) where currently 14 trainees had been sponsored to the UK.
The programme would equip the trainees with technical and managerial skills to lead in every aspect of oil industry.
“Today’s cadets programme signals another dimension to our partner effort. We and our partners on the Jubilee Field are providing opportunities for young Ghanaian mariners to acquire the practical training that will equip them not only to add value to their academic programmes but also make them world class resources,” he said.
Mr Jones said, “The Jubilee field is a sea based programme which requires Ghanaians to man the various vessels without which the oil resources cannot be exploited.”
He said as the company was on its promise for first oil next year, “It is crucial that we engage with all stakeholders to address the expectations. One of the expectations is that Ghanaians must fully participate in the industry at all levels of our operations.”
He said Tullow would be in Ghana for the next 30 years and that it would ensure that the real impact of the oil find would be the creation of new business opportunities nationally.
“We at Tullow recognised that entrepreneurial spirit of the Ghanaian and we are looking to their creativity and ingenuity to partner us in overcoming the challenges that we share,” he said.
He said the opportunities did not only exist on the rig but in agriculture as people need to provide for 10 to 12 vessels on the field at any time and other areas such as fresh water, laundry among others.
The Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo commended the training collaboration.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
TRINIDAD, TOBAGO TO HELP GHANA IN ENERGY SECTOR (PAGE 23, OCT 2)
Trinidad and Tobago has promised to place its expertise and more than 100 years experience in the oil and gas industry at the disposal of Ghana.
The country’s envoy to Ghana, Mrs Victoria Mendez-Charles, gave the assurance when she called on the Western Regional Co-ordinating Council on Wednesday.
She said Ghana had the potential to harness its latest discovery in addition to many of its natural resources to its advantage.
Trinidad and Tobago is said to be one of the wealthiest countries in the Caribbean due to maximum use of its large reserves of oil and gas, the exploitation of which dominates its economy.
She said about 99 per cent of the energy needs of Trinidad and Tobago were gas-powered, while the country exported petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas and chemicals, among other things.
Mrs Mendez-Charles said what Ghana needed at the moment was support to exploit its discovery to build a stronger economy.
She said it was very important that Ghana and Trinidad and Tobago collaborated to ensure that every benefit that would accrue from the oil find benefited the country.
She said her government was seeking to extend its technical expertise to Ghana, describing the country as one of the countries with which they had long-standing relations.
For her part, the Deputy Western Regional Minister, Ms Betty Bosumtwi-Sam, said the government was doing everything possible to ensure that the country’s natural resources were exploited to the benefit of the people of Ghana.
She said the country was ready to partner countries with the right approaches to the exploitation of the resources with maximum respect to laid down rules.
The deputy minister said in the same direction, the government was also setting the pace to ensure that the right environment was created for investors.
The country’s envoy to Ghana, Mrs Victoria Mendez-Charles, gave the assurance when she called on the Western Regional Co-ordinating Council on Wednesday.
She said Ghana had the potential to harness its latest discovery in addition to many of its natural resources to its advantage.
Trinidad and Tobago is said to be one of the wealthiest countries in the Caribbean due to maximum use of its large reserves of oil and gas, the exploitation of which dominates its economy.
She said about 99 per cent of the energy needs of Trinidad and Tobago were gas-powered, while the country exported petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas and chemicals, among other things.
Mrs Mendez-Charles said what Ghana needed at the moment was support to exploit its discovery to build a stronger economy.
She said it was very important that Ghana and Trinidad and Tobago collaborated to ensure that every benefit that would accrue from the oil find benefited the country.
She said her government was seeking to extend its technical expertise to Ghana, describing the country as one of the countries with which they had long-standing relations.
For her part, the Deputy Western Regional Minister, Ms Betty Bosumtwi-Sam, said the government was doing everything possible to ensure that the country’s natural resources were exploited to the benefit of the people of Ghana.
She said the country was ready to partner countries with the right approaches to the exploitation of the resources with maximum respect to laid down rules.
The deputy minister said in the same direction, the government was also setting the pace to ensure that the right environment was created for investors.
AWARDS SCHEME FOR POLICE OFFICERS (PAGE 38, OCTOBER 1)
The Police Administration has instituted an awards and commendation scheme for outstanding and hardworking officers of the Ghana Police Service.
The new District Police Commander of Kwesimintsim, DSP Ayamga Y. Akolgo, who made this known during his maiden meeting with officers of the station, urged police officers to be challenged by the institution of the scheme to exhibit a high sense of professionalism and carve a new image for the service.
"Recommendation under the scheme would be in respect of members of the service who have displayed exceptional zeal, devotion to duty or display of intelligence above the average or those who perform acts of outstanding courage in the execution of their duties”, he said.
DSP Akolgo said policing should be seen as a call to duty, which required every police officer to be duty-conscious and show a high sense of professionalism.
He said the Service Instructions stipulated that commendations, awards and good work should be entered, recorded and taken into consideration when examining the qualification of personnel for promotion.
The district commander said every police officer should be challenged to perform his or her duties, not only with the aim of winning the award but to help change the face of policing in the country.
"We should be seen as law enforcement officers who derive inner satisfaction after placing our expertise at the disposal of our compatriots and performing our duty diligently and professionally in the interest of liberty and country", he said.
DSP Akolgo said the demands on the police to perform kept increasing daily as new challenges emerged, adding that "it is important for us to recognise that policing is a noble career in the world, so we must maintain its integrity and win public confidence."
"In our line of duty we should display a high sense of professionalism, civility in dealing with members of the public and respect the rights of suspects in our operational endeavours. Remember professionalism entails discipline, honesty, fairness, precision in judgement, neat appearance, lawful decisions and operations, and above all, service to country", he advised.
He said perpetrators of crime were always finding new ways of inflicting pain on the public, therefore "we as law enforcers need not sleep as the criminals are well awake and becoming more sophisticated by the day."
DSP Akolgo told the police personnel that "we have a duty to improve our performance and services, to be efficient and effective, as well as act in accordance with standard guidelines and regulations."
He urged the police to adopt a friendly posture and civility towards the public, but remain resolute, firm and tough on criminals, especially violent crime with high propensity to destroy life and property.
The new District Police Commander of Kwesimintsim, DSP Ayamga Y. Akolgo, who made this known during his maiden meeting with officers of the station, urged police officers to be challenged by the institution of the scheme to exhibit a high sense of professionalism and carve a new image for the service.
"Recommendation under the scheme would be in respect of members of the service who have displayed exceptional zeal, devotion to duty or display of intelligence above the average or those who perform acts of outstanding courage in the execution of their duties”, he said.
DSP Akolgo said policing should be seen as a call to duty, which required every police officer to be duty-conscious and show a high sense of professionalism.
He said the Service Instructions stipulated that commendations, awards and good work should be entered, recorded and taken into consideration when examining the qualification of personnel for promotion.
The district commander said every police officer should be challenged to perform his or her duties, not only with the aim of winning the award but to help change the face of policing in the country.
"We should be seen as law enforcement officers who derive inner satisfaction after placing our expertise at the disposal of our compatriots and performing our duty diligently and professionally in the interest of liberty and country", he said.
DSP Akolgo said the demands on the police to perform kept increasing daily as new challenges emerged, adding that "it is important for us to recognise that policing is a noble career in the world, so we must maintain its integrity and win public confidence."
"In our line of duty we should display a high sense of professionalism, civility in dealing with members of the public and respect the rights of suspects in our operational endeavours. Remember professionalism entails discipline, honesty, fairness, precision in judgement, neat appearance, lawful decisions and operations, and above all, service to country", he advised.
He said perpetrators of crime were always finding new ways of inflicting pain on the public, therefore "we as law enforcers need not sleep as the criminals are well awake and becoming more sophisticated by the day."
DSP Akolgo told the police personnel that "we have a duty to improve our performance and services, to be efficient and effective, as well as act in accordance with standard guidelines and regulations."
He urged the police to adopt a friendly posture and civility towards the public, but remain resolute, firm and tough on criminals, especially violent crime with high propensity to destroy life and property.
GAS FACTORY TO PRODUCE MORE JOBS (PAGE 34, SEPT 29)
The gas processing factory to be positioned between Effasu and Atuabo in the Western Region has been identified as one main aspect of the country’s oil find that will create numerous job openings.
The gas processing plant is expected to attract players in the banking, hospitality, insurance, electrical, services, legal, recruitment, technical, agriculture, real estate and other related services that would help address some aspects of employment.
The youth and the skilled labour in the region have, therefore, been urged to get ready to meet the challenge.
Mr Francis Amewudi, an engineer with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, was speaking in response to questions about the gas factory and employment at the last public hearing on the Environmental Impact Assessment and mitigation plan for oil companies at the Jubilee Oil Field Phase One.
The public hearings, which were held at Axim, Agona Nkwanta, Shama, Half Assini and Takoradi, were attended by chiefs and opinion leaders of the various communities who were briefed on the assessment presented by officials of the EPA and other organisations involved in the emerging oil industry.
The EIA deals with the health, social and economic implications of the oil find and future oil drilling in the communities.
He said the gas factory would process gas from the Jubilee fields to power the Aboadze Thermal Plant, Osagyefo Barge as well as for domestic use.
At the commencement of work in the area, he said “there would be the need for the financial sector to provide services to these companies and that would mean improvement of social infrastructure as well as complete transformation of the whole area”.
He said it was important to ensure that the people were ready for job openings that woud be created in the industry. Apart from those who would be employed to work during the setting up of the factory, he said there would be other openings after its completion.
The banks, insurance, hospitality and other service providers would require staff and that would be positive for the people.
There would also be an improvement in social infrastructure such as roads and other facilities that would make life comfortable for workers who would be employed.
The upstream petroleum industry, Mr Amewudi said, was very complex, technology based and capital intensive and employed only few technocrats at a time.
He said the greatest news was that Ghana had decided not to flare its gas deposit, but channel it for an onshore gas factory.
He said at the moment there was an ongoing survey to ensure that a good location was found for commencement of work.
Other speakers also described the oil industry as an area that could give birth to several businesses that would impact positively on the fortunes of the country.
The Government and External Affairs Officer for Tullow, Mr Kofi Esson, assured the chiefs and people of the area high environmental standards.
He took time to explain corporate social responsibility, how to handle emergency situations, among others. Officials of Environmental Protection Agency and other officials of the GNPC took turns to answer questions from the public.
The gas processing plant is expected to attract players in the banking, hospitality, insurance, electrical, services, legal, recruitment, technical, agriculture, real estate and other related services that would help address some aspects of employment.
The youth and the skilled labour in the region have, therefore, been urged to get ready to meet the challenge.
Mr Francis Amewudi, an engineer with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, was speaking in response to questions about the gas factory and employment at the last public hearing on the Environmental Impact Assessment and mitigation plan for oil companies at the Jubilee Oil Field Phase One.
The public hearings, which were held at Axim, Agona Nkwanta, Shama, Half Assini and Takoradi, were attended by chiefs and opinion leaders of the various communities who were briefed on the assessment presented by officials of the EPA and other organisations involved in the emerging oil industry.
The EIA deals with the health, social and economic implications of the oil find and future oil drilling in the communities.
He said the gas factory would process gas from the Jubilee fields to power the Aboadze Thermal Plant, Osagyefo Barge as well as for domestic use.
At the commencement of work in the area, he said “there would be the need for the financial sector to provide services to these companies and that would mean improvement of social infrastructure as well as complete transformation of the whole area”.
He said it was important to ensure that the people were ready for job openings that woud be created in the industry. Apart from those who would be employed to work during the setting up of the factory, he said there would be other openings after its completion.
The banks, insurance, hospitality and other service providers would require staff and that would be positive for the people.
There would also be an improvement in social infrastructure such as roads and other facilities that would make life comfortable for workers who would be employed.
The upstream petroleum industry, Mr Amewudi said, was very complex, technology based and capital intensive and employed only few technocrats at a time.
He said the greatest news was that Ghana had decided not to flare its gas deposit, but channel it for an onshore gas factory.
He said at the moment there was an ongoing survey to ensure that a good location was found for commencement of work.
Other speakers also described the oil industry as an area that could give birth to several businesses that would impact positively on the fortunes of the country.
The Government and External Affairs Officer for Tullow, Mr Kofi Esson, assured the chiefs and people of the area high environmental standards.
He took time to explain corporate social responsibility, how to handle emergency situations, among others. Officials of Environmental Protection Agency and other officials of the GNPC took turns to answer questions from the public.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
YOUTH MUST AVOID SHORTCUTS TO SUCCESS — WR MINISTER (SEPT 26, PAGE 13)
The youth of Ghana have been urged not to substitute hard work for the easy way of making money at the expense of their lives and the future of this country.
“There is no short cut to success in life, therefore, if you think that you can substitute hard work for success with “Sakawa” and other social vices then you have got it wrong,” the Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, made these remarks at the annual Kundum Festival at Axim.
The minister said, “Your youthful years are indeed the opportunity you have to prepare yourselves for life’s journey and not for quick money that could lead you into trouble at the end.”
He said the youthful age was a golden opportunity for every individual to utilise opportuinties needed for a stable life.
The Regional Minister said if the youth continued the quest to make quick money at the expense of hard work then the future of the country would be in jeopardy.
“We are in the country which is sovereign today because of the ideals and dream of the people who were once like us, young, energetic, enterprising and patriotic,” he said.
Mr Aidoo said the youth constituted the future of this country, and as much it was important if they were given the needed guidance and attention to enable them to play their rightful roles in society.
He reminded the youth that they held the key to the future of this country, saying “your resort to deviant and easy way of making money would only lead you to a very uncertain future,” he said.
“There is no short cut to success in life, therefore, if you think that you can substitute hard work for success with “Sakawa” and other social vices then you have got it wrong,” the Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, made these remarks at the annual Kundum Festival at Axim.
The minister said, “Your youthful years are indeed the opportunity you have to prepare yourselves for life’s journey and not for quick money that could lead you into trouble at the end.”
He said the youthful age was a golden opportunity for every individual to utilise opportuinties needed for a stable life.
The Regional Minister said if the youth continued the quest to make quick money at the expense of hard work then the future of the country would be in jeopardy.
“We are in the country which is sovereign today because of the ideals and dream of the people who were once like us, young, energetic, enterprising and patriotic,” he said.
Mr Aidoo said the youth constituted the future of this country, and as much it was important if they were given the needed guidance and attention to enable them to play their rightful roles in society.
He reminded the youth that they held the key to the future of this country, saying “your resort to deviant and easy way of making money would only lead you to a very uncertain future,” he said.
SELFISH LEADERSHIP, BANE OF NATION'S DVE — VEEP (SEPT 25, PAGE 16)
THE Vice-President, John Dramani Mahama, has said corruption, selfish leadership, greed and lack of patriotism on the part of political leaders have left the country poorer, decades after the death of its far-sighted leader, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
He said the life of Dr Nkrumah should teach all, particularly those in the public service, to avoid graft, corruption and plundering of the nation’s resources when given the opportunity to serve.
The Vice-President was speaking at a colourful durbar of chiefs and people of the Nzema area as part of the Centenary Birthday Celebration of the country’s first President.
“Today, the unfortunate situation is that the spirit of patriotism and sacrifice is lacking,” he observed.
As a result, Mr Mahama said, such acts had left the people with a deep sense of distrust of their leaders,” he lamented.
“We can only change our nation’s circumstances, if we all put our shoulders to the wheel and give a little shove to move our nation in the direction of progress and prosperity in a transparent and accountable manner,” the Vice-President said.
He said Dr Nkrumah was a selfless leader who valued human dignity, as well as the welfare of mankind above material gains and possession, adding that that was why he was not obsessed with material gains and did not believe in property-owning democracy.
He said the centenary celebration of Nkrumah was a call on all, particularly the youth, to aspire to higher values of sacrifice and commitment to ideals of service to one’s nation.
According to the Vice-President, ideas, good deeds and meritorious service to one’s community and country could leave an enduring legacy after one’s death, which is more fulfilling than corruption and acts that rob the country.
He was not happy with the low level of development in the region and assured the people that the government was doing everything possible to better their lot.
Mr Mahama said the minister of roads and highways was in northern part of the region to assess the conditions of the roads following the recent flooding.
He said the minister would continue to tour various parts of Nzemaland to enable the government to map out strategies to tackle the problem within the short, medium and long term.
The ceremony was attended by chiefs across the region, heads of corporate institutions, district chief executives, members of Parliament and members of the diplomatic corps, and members of various political parties.
He said the life of Dr Nkrumah should teach all, particularly those in the public service, to avoid graft, corruption and plundering of the nation’s resources when given the opportunity to serve.
The Vice-President was speaking at a colourful durbar of chiefs and people of the Nzema area as part of the Centenary Birthday Celebration of the country’s first President.
“Today, the unfortunate situation is that the spirit of patriotism and sacrifice is lacking,” he observed.
As a result, Mr Mahama said, such acts had left the people with a deep sense of distrust of their leaders,” he lamented.
“We can only change our nation’s circumstances, if we all put our shoulders to the wheel and give a little shove to move our nation in the direction of progress and prosperity in a transparent and accountable manner,” the Vice-President said.
He said Dr Nkrumah was a selfless leader who valued human dignity, as well as the welfare of mankind above material gains and possession, adding that that was why he was not obsessed with material gains and did not believe in property-owning democracy.
He said the centenary celebration of Nkrumah was a call on all, particularly the youth, to aspire to higher values of sacrifice and commitment to ideals of service to one’s nation.
According to the Vice-President, ideas, good deeds and meritorious service to one’s community and country could leave an enduring legacy after one’s death, which is more fulfilling than corruption and acts that rob the country.
He was not happy with the low level of development in the region and assured the people that the government was doing everything possible to better their lot.
Mr Mahama said the minister of roads and highways was in northern part of the region to assess the conditions of the roads following the recent flooding.
He said the minister would continue to tour various parts of Nzemaland to enable the government to map out strategies to tackle the problem within the short, medium and long term.
The ceremony was attended by chiefs across the region, heads of corporate institutions, district chief executives, members of Parliament and members of the diplomatic corps, and members of various political parties.
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