THE Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) has within two weeks recovered GH¢14 million owed it by oil marketing companies (OMCs).
THE Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Kwame Ampofo, who took office about four weeks ago said the debt collection was part of an initiative by the new management to recover all outstanding debts owed by the OMCs to prevent the refinery from collapse.
The CEO, who made this known in an interaction with the Daily Graphic on Sunday said the action was also to safeguard the operations of a number of banks who advance monies to the refinery.
He said there were too many irregularities in the refinery that needed drastic measures to turn around to relieve TOR from its huge debt to enable it to carry out its duties effectively to meet the demand of Ghanaians.
Dr Ampofo said for instance that the CEO of the refinery had an unlimited allocation of fuel, a situation, he said, led to abuse of the system at all levels.
He said the refinery spent a lot of money installing CCTV cameras in the premises but had to recruit a lot of security personnel.
Dr Ampofo said the refinery had the capacity to employ not more than 600 workers, but noted that there were over 1000 workers currently on the payroll of the company.
On the oil find, he said, the government was developing a local content to be imputed into the Oil and Gas Bill to be presented to Parliament soon.
Dr Ampofo explained that the local content were measures being put together to protect the indigenes of the local communities within the areas of operation and the general public for the country to reap the maximum benefit from the oil find.
He stated that the bill seeks to prevent oil companies from brining into the country certain kinds of workers such as drivers, cleaners and cooks among others.
It also seeks to prevent the outsourcing of some types of services to foreign companies, some of them he mentioned as transport companies and food vendors.
Dr. Ampofo said the idea was to create more job avenues for a lot of Ghanaians.
He said oil companies would be expected to register their enterprises in Ghana and must be in partnership with some other indigenous companies.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Tragedy,floods kill family of three in kumasi
PARTS of the Accra metroplis experienced heavy flooding again during Sunday’s downpour.
The rain which lasted for almost the whole day, affected both economic and church activities in the capital.
The streets were mostly empty in some areas with most residents staying indoors to avoid any mishap in the course of the downpour.
While the the main Odaw drain was filled to its brim, the Obetsebi Lamptey Circle, Mpramprom, under the Kaneshie overheard bridges, First Light, Dansoman junction and the Darkuman junction were affected.
The frontage of the PHC Motors, on the side of the Royal House Chapel and parts of the Graphic Road, among other places were also flooded.
All the major and minor drains were flooded making the flow of water difficult.
At the First Light, some younmen took advantage of the situation to charge GHC 1 to carry? stranded persons from one end of the road to the other.
These youngmen also were seen pushing vehicles that got stuck in the flood water for a fee. An elderly woman and the grand child died on June 19, during a heavy downpour.
During a tour of flood-prone areas last Thursday, the Head of Drainage and Flood Control at the Hydraulogical Services Department of the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Hosing, Mr Wise Ametefe Last At the First Light, said a major drain at First Light needed to be redesigned and expanded.
He said the drain which took water from Mataheko, Bubuashie and Darkuman was too narrow to take the volume of water from those areas.
Compounding the problem, he said, was the laying of a utility cable and choking of the drain by garbage and plastic wastes.
The rain which lasted for almost the whole day, affected both economic and church activities in the capital.
The streets were mostly empty in some areas with most residents staying indoors to avoid any mishap in the course of the downpour.
While the the main Odaw drain was filled to its brim, the Obetsebi Lamptey Circle, Mpramprom, under the Kaneshie overheard bridges, First Light, Dansoman junction and the Darkuman junction were affected.
The frontage of the PHC Motors, on the side of the Royal House Chapel and parts of the Graphic Road, among other places were also flooded.
All the major and minor drains were flooded making the flow of water difficult.
At the First Light, some younmen took advantage of the situation to charge GHC 1 to carry? stranded persons from one end of the road to the other.
These youngmen also were seen pushing vehicles that got stuck in the flood water for a fee. An elderly woman and the grand child died on June 19, during a heavy downpour.
During a tour of flood-prone areas last Thursday, the Head of Drainage and Flood Control at the Hydraulogical Services Department of the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Hosing, Mr Wise Ametefe Last At the First Light, said a major drain at First Light needed to be redesigned and expanded.
He said the drain which took water from Mataheko, Bubuashie and Darkuman was too narrow to take the volume of water from those areas.
Compounding the problem, he said, was the laying of a utility cable and choking of the drain by garbage and plastic wastes.
Accra hosts course on peace operations
A two-week International Peace Support Operations course intended to equip the military and civil society organisations to ensure peace and stability in Africa has opened at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Centre (KAIPTC) in Accra.
Ninety participants drawn from 13 African countries including Togo, Nigeria, Zambia, Cote d’Ivoire and some civil society organisations from Ghana are attending the course.
The course is being sponsored by the KAIPTC.
In an address at the ceremony of the programme, the Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. J. H. Smith (retd), said peace support operations had become necessary on the continent as a result of the numerous conflicts and crisis in recent times.
He said Ghana’s contribution to peacekeeping over the last four decades had been commended by the international community and added that the training would further enhance the capacity of personnel in their operations.
“Ghana has been in the forefront of contributing states in peacekeeping operations; today, the country is ranked seventh in troop contribution in the world with over 2,500 troops deployed on peacekeeping missions,” he said.
He said the nature of intra-state conflicts had necessitated a change from traditional peacekeeping to a new generation of multi-disciplinary and multi-dimensional peace support operations.
Lt. Gen. Smith commended the centre for initiating the programme and called on the participants to put in their best to make the course a fruitful one.
The Commandant of KAIPTC, AVM C.E.K. Dovlo, said the course was designed to address issues raised as conflicts became more complex and the peace overtures by the international community grew in complexity.
“Today’s peace support operations has seen increasing roles of different actors and participants as opposed to the dominance of the military in the old traditional peacekeeping or peace enforcement environment,” he said.
AVM Dovlo said the course would cover key elements and principal organs of the UN operations and participants would have the opportunity to learn the most up-to-date information about the UN system and the challenges faced during peacekeeping operations.
He urged the participants to share experience from their respective countries in order to increase their knowledge on peacekeeping operations in other countries.
Ninety participants drawn from 13 African countries including Togo, Nigeria, Zambia, Cote d’Ivoire and some civil society organisations from Ghana are attending the course.
The course is being sponsored by the KAIPTC.
In an address at the ceremony of the programme, the Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. J. H. Smith (retd), said peace support operations had become necessary on the continent as a result of the numerous conflicts and crisis in recent times.
He said Ghana’s contribution to peacekeeping over the last four decades had been commended by the international community and added that the training would further enhance the capacity of personnel in their operations.
“Ghana has been in the forefront of contributing states in peacekeeping operations; today, the country is ranked seventh in troop contribution in the world with over 2,500 troops deployed on peacekeeping missions,” he said.
He said the nature of intra-state conflicts had necessitated a change from traditional peacekeeping to a new generation of multi-disciplinary and multi-dimensional peace support operations.
Lt. Gen. Smith commended the centre for initiating the programme and called on the participants to put in their best to make the course a fruitful one.
The Commandant of KAIPTC, AVM C.E.K. Dovlo, said the course was designed to address issues raised as conflicts became more complex and the peace overtures by the international community grew in complexity.
“Today’s peace support operations has seen increasing roles of different actors and participants as opposed to the dominance of the military in the old traditional peacekeeping or peace enforcement environment,” he said.
AVM Dovlo said the course would cover key elements and principal organs of the UN operations and participants would have the opportunity to learn the most up-to-date information about the UN system and the challenges faced during peacekeeping operations.
He urged the participants to share experience from their respective countries in order to increase their knowledge on peacekeeping operations in other countries.
69 policemen prepare for duty in Dafur
SIXTY-NINE Officers of the Ghana Police Service selected for peacekeeping mission in Darfur have completed a two week pre-deployment training course in Accra.
The course was designed to equip the personnel with the necessary skills and knowledge of the mission.
The course was also designed to train them on the necessary precautionary measures to take while on the field to ensure their own safety and that of their colleagues.
At the closing ceremony, the Director General in charge of Administration and Welfare, COP M. A. Alhassan, urged the personnel to put into practice the the skills and knowledge they acquired during the training programme.
He said it was important for them to respect the traditions and culture of the host country to avoid any form of confrontation with the people in the communities where they served.
"You must also uphold the human right of those you have been tasked to protect and above all ensure your personal safety," he added.
COP Alhassan commended the governments of Germany, Denmark and Norway for their support in facilitating the course, assuring them that the personnel would perform to expectation.
In an interview, DSP Benjamin Agordzo, a course facilitator and member of the Mobile Training Team (MTT), said the participants were taken through operations of the United Nations, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU).
Other areas which were covered by the training were code of conduct, child protection, community policing and cultural awareness.
The participants were presented with certificates,and they are expected to leave for Darfur between July 20 and 25, 2009
The course was designed to equip the personnel with the necessary skills and knowledge of the mission.
The course was also designed to train them on the necessary precautionary measures to take while on the field to ensure their own safety and that of their colleagues.
At the closing ceremony, the Director General in charge of Administration and Welfare, COP M. A. Alhassan, urged the personnel to put into practice the the skills and knowledge they acquired during the training programme.
He said it was important for them to respect the traditions and culture of the host country to avoid any form of confrontation with the people in the communities where they served.
"You must also uphold the human right of those you have been tasked to protect and above all ensure your personal safety," he added.
COP Alhassan commended the governments of Germany, Denmark and Norway for their support in facilitating the course, assuring them that the personnel would perform to expectation.
In an interview, DSP Benjamin Agordzo, a course facilitator and member of the Mobile Training Team (MTT), said the participants were taken through operations of the United Nations, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU).
Other areas which were covered by the training were code of conduct, child protection, community policing and cultural awareness.
The participants were presented with certificates,and they are expected to leave for Darfur between July 20 and 25, 2009
Take good care of pregnancies
ABOUT 11 per cent of premature foetal deaths in Ghanaian are the result of the inability of parents to take good care of pregnancy, a former Director-General of Ghana Health Service, Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa, has said
Delivering the second public health lecture series of the Donewell Life Company Limited (DLCL) in Accra last Friday, Prof. Akosa said premature death did not start during adult life but it began from the womb when the baby was still unborn.
The lecture had the theme, "Why Ghanaians Die Prematurely," and was aimed at encouraging Ghanaians to practise healthy lifestyle.
Prof. Akosa is an advocate of healthy living. He has spoken extensively on the need to ban smoking in public places and the unbridled advertisement of cigarettes.
Prof. Akosa said the premature death of Ghanaians did not start when they were already adults.
"We have to start from the very basic level by taking care of the baby who is yet to be born."
To enhance the health of children, Prof. Akosa urged husbands to ensure that their wives were in perfect health before conception, in order for them to have safer pregnancy and delivery.
That, he explained, was important because a healthy mother was the first step towards achieving a healthy baby who would grow into a healthy adult, thereby ensuring a healthy nation.
With the current level of poverty in the country and the inability of families to have three square meals a day, Prof. Akosa suggested the use of beans as a dietary supplement for individuals.
He said though the life expectancy rate had increased from 40 since independence, to about 68, a lot still remained to be done in order to achieve health society toward national development.
Prof. Akosa said most Ghanaians die prematurely partly because of the country’s poor health system. "There are no ambulances in strategic locations to convey sick persons from their homes to hospitals; bad road networks result in foetal and preventable accidents on our roads and the care-free attitude of certain persons are all factors."
He also cautioned Ghanaians against the high-level consumption of alcohol and carbohydrates without corresponding exercise to burn it.
In an interview, the Managing Director of DLCL, Mr Samuel Oduro, said that the health of every individual was directly related to the development of the nation.
Mr Oduro said the public health lecture series formed part of the company‘s social responsibility and a way of addressing some of the health challenges Ghanaians were facing.
"Health, as we know, is life." That, he said, fit into the policy of the company to lead the crusade in creating the necessary public awareness in the country.
Delivering the second public health lecture series of the Donewell Life Company Limited (DLCL) in Accra last Friday, Prof. Akosa said premature death did not start during adult life but it began from the womb when the baby was still unborn.
The lecture had the theme, "Why Ghanaians Die Prematurely," and was aimed at encouraging Ghanaians to practise healthy lifestyle.
Prof. Akosa is an advocate of healthy living. He has spoken extensively on the need to ban smoking in public places and the unbridled advertisement of cigarettes.
Prof. Akosa said the premature death of Ghanaians did not start when they were already adults.
"We have to start from the very basic level by taking care of the baby who is yet to be born."
To enhance the health of children, Prof. Akosa urged husbands to ensure that their wives were in perfect health before conception, in order for them to have safer pregnancy and delivery.
That, he explained, was important because a healthy mother was the first step towards achieving a healthy baby who would grow into a healthy adult, thereby ensuring a healthy nation.
With the current level of poverty in the country and the inability of families to have three square meals a day, Prof. Akosa suggested the use of beans as a dietary supplement for individuals.
He said though the life expectancy rate had increased from 40 since independence, to about 68, a lot still remained to be done in order to achieve health society toward national development.
Prof. Akosa said most Ghanaians die prematurely partly because of the country’s poor health system. "There are no ambulances in strategic locations to convey sick persons from their homes to hospitals; bad road networks result in foetal and preventable accidents on our roads and the care-free attitude of certain persons are all factors."
He also cautioned Ghanaians against the high-level consumption of alcohol and carbohydrates without corresponding exercise to burn it.
In an interview, the Managing Director of DLCL, Mr Samuel Oduro, said that the health of every individual was directly related to the development of the nation.
Mr Oduro said the public health lecture series formed part of the company‘s social responsibility and a way of addressing some of the health challenges Ghanaians were facing.
"Health, as we know, is life." That, he said, fit into the policy of the company to lead the crusade in creating the necessary public awareness in the country.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Disability Council holds disability day
THE National Council for Persons with Disability has called on the public to embrace persons with disability to ensure their proper development and integration into society.
The Executive Chairman of the council, Mr Andrew Okaikoi, who made the call, said their integration was relevant because there was in each family at least one person with one form of disability or another.
He said this to mark the second National Day of persons with disability on the theme, “Hope for the future”.
Addressing pressmen and a section of persons with disability at the Alisa Hotel, Mr Okaikoi said the day brought into focus the government’s determination to ensure that issues about disability ceased to be a residual matter in national deliberations.
He said since the council was inaugurated by the President in April this year, a lot of peripheral work had been done in order to achieve the government’s objectives for setting it up.
He said the council had already held a series of discussions with members of the disability community to bring on board their concerns.
The chairman said the establishment of the council represented a giant step towards mainstreaming disability issues by giving them the needed national attention.
Mr Okaikoi said the council was in close contact with a number of organisations, including transport owners, the Pharmacy Council and the ministries, to include issues on disability in their deliberations.
In a related development, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has joined the government and the people of Ghana to commemorate the day and recognise the invaluable contributions of persons with disability to this nation.
The day is also being marked to create increasing awareness and understanding of disability issues and also take the awareness further into action.
According to the commission, it was proud to see the publication of the Disability Act which was recently made available in audio format, in consideration of those with visual impairment.
“In order that persons with disability receive just and equitable treatment the same as all people, it is essential that the corresponding government acts are made accessible through many media.
“Disability has often been misunderstood as inability, which is simply untrue. The disabled do not need our pity, they need our compassion and support.
“Persons with disability are important contributors to our families, communities and nation and their rights and deserve to live with equal self worth and dignity,” it said.
To ensure that the disabled could access and enjoy the same fundamental human rights which protect all people, the commission unreservedly reiterated its urgent call on the government to put in place a comprehensive Action Plan which guaranteed all persons with disability the full benefit of the provisions of the Disability Act.
The Executive Chairman of the council, Mr Andrew Okaikoi, who made the call, said their integration was relevant because there was in each family at least one person with one form of disability or another.
He said this to mark the second National Day of persons with disability on the theme, “Hope for the future”.
Addressing pressmen and a section of persons with disability at the Alisa Hotel, Mr Okaikoi said the day brought into focus the government’s determination to ensure that issues about disability ceased to be a residual matter in national deliberations.
He said since the council was inaugurated by the President in April this year, a lot of peripheral work had been done in order to achieve the government’s objectives for setting it up.
He said the council had already held a series of discussions with members of the disability community to bring on board their concerns.
The chairman said the establishment of the council represented a giant step towards mainstreaming disability issues by giving them the needed national attention.
Mr Okaikoi said the council was in close contact with a number of organisations, including transport owners, the Pharmacy Council and the ministries, to include issues on disability in their deliberations.
In a related development, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has joined the government and the people of Ghana to commemorate the day and recognise the invaluable contributions of persons with disability to this nation.
The day is also being marked to create increasing awareness and understanding of disability issues and also take the awareness further into action.
According to the commission, it was proud to see the publication of the Disability Act which was recently made available in audio format, in consideration of those with visual impairment.
“In order that persons with disability receive just and equitable treatment the same as all people, it is essential that the corresponding government acts are made accessible through many media.
“Disability has often been misunderstood as inability, which is simply untrue. The disabled do not need our pity, they need our compassion and support.
“Persons with disability are important contributors to our families, communities and nation and their rights and deserve to live with equal self worth and dignity,” it said.
To ensure that the disabled could access and enjoy the same fundamental human rights which protect all people, the commission unreservedly reiterated its urgent call on the government to put in place a comprehensive Action Plan which guaranteed all persons with disability the full benefit of the provisions of the Disability Act.
E.P Women Food processing centre for Dodowa
THE Women in Fellowship of the Evangelical Presbyterian (EP) Church, Ghana is to establish a food processing centre at Dodowa in the Greater Accra Region to empower women to be economically self-reliant.
Facilities at the centre would include a gym intended to take care of the health needs of the women, a guidance and counselling department, financial department to facilitate the provision of credit facilities to the women and a library.
The Co-ordinator of the Women in Fellowship of the EP Church, Rev. Mrs N. Adepena, made this known when she addressed the annual convention of the West Volta Presbytery (WVP) of the EP Church at the Trade Fair in Accra.
Rev. Mrs Adepena said the establishment of the centre was to empower the women in order to create a better world for themselves and their families, hence the theme for the convention: "Empowering women for a better future".
She said when the centre became operational, it would make loans available to the women who had the potential to minimise, if not eradicate, poverty in the country.
Rev. Mrs Adepena stressed that the church recognised the immense contribution of women in building the church and the country, hence the need to empower them to make them socially, spiritually and economically viable.
The Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs, Madam Akua Sena Dansua, acknowledged the importance of the project and pledged the support of her ministry and that of the government to facilitate the early completion of the centre.
Madam Dansua stated that in the interest of national development and economic empowerment of women, partnership between the church and government was necessary to attain that vision.
The minister urged the leadership of the church not to neglect the physical and economic empowerment of women in the church as it was a possible way of eradicating many of the social vices in the society.
She tasked the women to be responsible towards the upbringing of their children in order to secure a brighter future for them.
Some local foods prepared by the women were on display at the convention.
Facilities at the centre would include a gym intended to take care of the health needs of the women, a guidance and counselling department, financial department to facilitate the provision of credit facilities to the women and a library.
The Co-ordinator of the Women in Fellowship of the EP Church, Rev. Mrs N. Adepena, made this known when she addressed the annual convention of the West Volta Presbytery (WVP) of the EP Church at the Trade Fair in Accra.
Rev. Mrs Adepena said the establishment of the centre was to empower the women in order to create a better world for themselves and their families, hence the theme for the convention: "Empowering women for a better future".
She said when the centre became operational, it would make loans available to the women who had the potential to minimise, if not eradicate, poverty in the country.
Rev. Mrs Adepena stressed that the church recognised the immense contribution of women in building the church and the country, hence the need to empower them to make them socially, spiritually and economically viable.
The Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs, Madam Akua Sena Dansua, acknowledged the importance of the project and pledged the support of her ministry and that of the government to facilitate the early completion of the centre.
Madam Dansua stated that in the interest of national development and economic empowerment of women, partnership between the church and government was necessary to attain that vision.
The minister urged the leadership of the church not to neglect the physical and economic empowerment of women in the church as it was a possible way of eradicating many of the social vices in the society.
She tasked the women to be responsible towards the upbringing of their children in order to secure a brighter future for them.
Some local foods prepared by the women were on display at the convention.
Danish govt to support
THE Danish Government has extended a $700,000 package to the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) to enhance its training programmes for the rest of 2009.
Announcing the package during a courtesy call on the Commandant of the KAIPTC, Air-Vice Marshall(AVM) C.E.K Dovlo in Accra, the Danish Ambassador, Mr Stig Barlyng, said the Danish government was committed to providing support to the centre periodically.
Mr Barlyng said his government had recognised the invaluable contribution of the centre to regional integration, peacekeeping, conflict management and resolution since its inception in 2004.
He pledged the commitment of the Danish government to enter into a long-term agreement with KAIPTC at the end of the year, when the current arrangement between Denmark and the centre expired at the end of 2009.
He advised the Ghana government to continue to maintain the ownership of the KAIPTC although it was a regional institution.
Mr Barlyng explained that his experience over the last few years about some regional and sub-regional bodies, indicated that most of those bodies did not work to expectation because of certain ambiguity about the true ownership of those regional bodies.
He called on the commandant of the centre to give more allocation to civilians on courses being run at the centre in order for the civilian community to appreciate the operations of the military and the centre.
The Ambassador again commended the management and staff of the centre for maintaining a clean and perfect landscape and said that, “this culture should be maintained.”
AVM Dovlo expressed his gratitude to the Danish government for the support, and promised the fund would be put to good use for the provision of training in conflict, crisis management among others to ensure peace and stability on the continent.
Contrary to public opinion that the centre charged fees on courses being run at the KAIPTC, the commandant said every programme at the centre had external funding, therefore, participants were not required to pay fees.
Announcing the package during a courtesy call on the Commandant of the KAIPTC, Air-Vice Marshall(AVM) C.E.K Dovlo in Accra, the Danish Ambassador, Mr Stig Barlyng, said the Danish government was committed to providing support to the centre periodically.
Mr Barlyng said his government had recognised the invaluable contribution of the centre to regional integration, peacekeeping, conflict management and resolution since its inception in 2004.
He pledged the commitment of the Danish government to enter into a long-term agreement with KAIPTC at the end of the year, when the current arrangement between Denmark and the centre expired at the end of 2009.
He advised the Ghana government to continue to maintain the ownership of the KAIPTC although it was a regional institution.
Mr Barlyng explained that his experience over the last few years about some regional and sub-regional bodies, indicated that most of those bodies did not work to expectation because of certain ambiguity about the true ownership of those regional bodies.
He called on the commandant of the centre to give more allocation to civilians on courses being run at the centre in order for the civilian community to appreciate the operations of the military and the centre.
The Ambassador again commended the management and staff of the centre for maintaining a clean and perfect landscape and said that, “this culture should be maintained.”
AVM Dovlo expressed his gratitude to the Danish government for the support, and promised the fund would be put to good use for the provision of training in conflict, crisis management among others to ensure peace and stability on the continent.
Contrary to public opinion that the centre charged fees on courses being run at the KAIPTC, the commandant said every programme at the centre had external funding, therefore, participants were not required to pay fees.
Floods blamed activities of car dealers
RESIDENTS around the Obetsebi Lamptey circle have attributed floods in that area to construction work undertaken by Audi Centre, dealers in Audi vehicles in Ghana.
The residents said the floods started after the Audi Centre re-aligned a gutter near its premises, thereby restricting the smooth flow of the flood waters.
Aside relocating the gutter, they said, the car dealers raised the level of the gutter.
As a result of this the Ghana Commercial Bank on the Ring Road West had to close down temporarily, causing a lot of inconvenience to account holders who transact business at the branch.
Mr Kofi Yeboah told the Daily Graphic that their businesses came to a stand still anytime it rained.
He said all efforts to get the management of Audi Centre and the contractor working on the project to do the right thing proved futile.
“With the onset of the rains, we hire water pumping machines every day to pump water out of the area,” he said.
Traders along that area the Daily Graphic spoke to lamented that not only did they spend money to hire the water pumping machines, but they also lost their customers to their competitors because the area became muddy, making it unattractive for business.
Another group of workers in the same area, who are also affected, said since the rains started they came to work and went back empty handed because they did no serious business.
They have, therefore, appealed to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the Greater Accra Regional Minister to take appropriate action to compel the management of the Audi Centre and the contractor working on the project to stop work and correct any anomaly caused by work on the drain.
The residents said the floods started after the Audi Centre re-aligned a gutter near its premises, thereby restricting the smooth flow of the flood waters.
Aside relocating the gutter, they said, the car dealers raised the level of the gutter.
As a result of this the Ghana Commercial Bank on the Ring Road West had to close down temporarily, causing a lot of inconvenience to account holders who transact business at the branch.
Mr Kofi Yeboah told the Daily Graphic that their businesses came to a stand still anytime it rained.
He said all efforts to get the management of Audi Centre and the contractor working on the project to do the right thing proved futile.
“With the onset of the rains, we hire water pumping machines every day to pump water out of the area,” he said.
Traders along that area the Daily Graphic spoke to lamented that not only did they spend money to hire the water pumping machines, but they also lost their customers to their competitors because the area became muddy, making it unattractive for business.
Another group of workers in the same area, who are also affected, said since the rains started they came to work and went back empty handed because they did no serious business.
They have, therefore, appealed to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the Greater Accra Regional Minister to take appropriate action to compel the management of the Audi Centre and the contractor working on the project to stop work and correct any anomaly caused by work on the drain.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Minister launches second Property Award
THE government has expressed its readiness to release tracts of land to private estate developers for the construction of affordable houses for low income earners.
The areas where government lands are available are Borteyman, Kpone and along the Akosombo road.
The Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Albert Abongo, announced this at the launch of the second Ghana Property Awards in Accra.
The awards scheme, which is scheduled for July 17, 2009, is on the theme, “Creating a sustainable income in today’s environmental and maintenance cultured industry”.
It also seeks to appreciate hard work and innovation and recognise deserving individuals and organisations in the property, building and construction industry.
The minister appealed to members of the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA) to commit some of their resources into affordable housing schemes to aid the government to provide affordable houses for Ghanaians.
“The Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, on behalf of the government, is ready to support you with land for the purpose of achieving this,” he said.
“It is also important that as stakeholders in the industry, we begin to play our respective roles in the delivery of housing in a way that will sustain our environment and ensure the sustainable utilisation of local building materials, as well as promoting the use of such materials,” Mr Abongo added.
For his part, the President of GREDA, Dr Alex Tweneboah, said the rationale behind the awards was to enhance standards and expose the industry to periodic public scrutiny.
He expressed worry over current standards in the building industry and said some of the professionals were delivering sub-standard jobs for their clients.
He underscored the need for players in the industry to be monitored so that those who were found wanting would be punished.
The Chief Executive Officer of Regimanuel Estate, Mr Emmanuel Botchway, bemoaned the lack of maintenance culture among Ghanaians and asked, “If we are not able to maintain properties belonging to the government, what about our own properties?”
Some of the award categories are Property Security Company of the Year, the Best Property Advertiser of the Year, the Property Personality of the Year, the Residential Developer of the Year and the Paint Company of the Year.
The areas where government lands are available are Borteyman, Kpone and along the Akosombo road.
The Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Albert Abongo, announced this at the launch of the second Ghana Property Awards in Accra.
The awards scheme, which is scheduled for July 17, 2009, is on the theme, “Creating a sustainable income in today’s environmental and maintenance cultured industry”.
It also seeks to appreciate hard work and innovation and recognise deserving individuals and organisations in the property, building and construction industry.
The minister appealed to members of the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA) to commit some of their resources into affordable housing schemes to aid the government to provide affordable houses for Ghanaians.
“The Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, on behalf of the government, is ready to support you with land for the purpose of achieving this,” he said.
“It is also important that as stakeholders in the industry, we begin to play our respective roles in the delivery of housing in a way that will sustain our environment and ensure the sustainable utilisation of local building materials, as well as promoting the use of such materials,” Mr Abongo added.
For his part, the President of GREDA, Dr Alex Tweneboah, said the rationale behind the awards was to enhance standards and expose the industry to periodic public scrutiny.
He expressed worry over current standards in the building industry and said some of the professionals were delivering sub-standard jobs for their clients.
He underscored the need for players in the industry to be monitored so that those who were found wanting would be punished.
The Chief Executive Officer of Regimanuel Estate, Mr Emmanuel Botchway, bemoaned the lack of maintenance culture among Ghanaians and asked, “If we are not able to maintain properties belonging to the government, what about our own properties?”
Some of the award categories are Property Security Company of the Year, the Best Property Advertiser of the Year, the Property Personality of the Year, the Residential Developer of the Year and the Paint Company of the Year.
New executives for Accra Premier Lions Club
A SEVENTEEN-member executive of the Accra Premier Lions Club was sworn into office last Thursday for 2009/2010.
The new President, Lion Dr Peter Asubonteng, who took over from Lion Seth Klaye, said his team was motivated by the selfless service of their predecessors who worked very hard to maintain the reputation of the club.
Dr Asubonteng, who joined the club in 2006 after reading a Daily Graphic publication about a donation the club had made to the Akropong School for the Blind in that year, said the club was committed to the service of mankind, which is the core of its operations in the country.
He said since the inception of the club in the country, members had been men and women of immense success in their work which not only met their needs but, by extension, that of the larger community.
The President said the club members had been people who had a passion for the needy in society, adding, "I have studied with admiration and joy the number of needy people whose lives have been touched by a single act of service embedded in our slogan."
Some of those acts of humanitarian service, he said, ranged from eye screening outreach programmes, de-worming exercises to intellectual impactation of the club members on the youth.
"Our vision for this Lionistic year is to construct a simple but modern toilet facility for the Kitson-Mills Primary School at Korle Gonno," Dr Asubonteng said.
The President said pupils of that school had to cross the street to use a nearby public toilet in the community, explaining that that had affected school attendance, as some failed to return to school after visiting the facility.
He admonished his colleagues to be servant leaders by serving as much as leading the group. “Challenges and tension times may come but I urge you to remain calm and patient to take the right steps,” he said.
A Past District Governor of the club, Lion Nelson Agbesi, charged the new leadership to put in place measures that would maintain the reputation of the club and also work to the service of the needy in society.
The new President, Lion Dr Peter Asubonteng, who took over from Lion Seth Klaye, said his team was motivated by the selfless service of their predecessors who worked very hard to maintain the reputation of the club.
Dr Asubonteng, who joined the club in 2006 after reading a Daily Graphic publication about a donation the club had made to the Akropong School for the Blind in that year, said the club was committed to the service of mankind, which is the core of its operations in the country.
He said since the inception of the club in the country, members had been men and women of immense success in their work which not only met their needs but, by extension, that of the larger community.
The President said the club members had been people who had a passion for the needy in society, adding, "I have studied with admiration and joy the number of needy people whose lives have been touched by a single act of service embedded in our slogan."
Some of those acts of humanitarian service, he said, ranged from eye screening outreach programmes, de-worming exercises to intellectual impactation of the club members on the youth.
"Our vision for this Lionistic year is to construct a simple but modern toilet facility for the Kitson-Mills Primary School at Korle Gonno," Dr Asubonteng said.
The President said pupils of that school had to cross the street to use a nearby public toilet in the community, explaining that that had affected school attendance, as some failed to return to school after visiting the facility.
He admonished his colleagues to be servant leaders by serving as much as leading the group. “Challenges and tension times may come but I urge you to remain calm and patient to take the right steps,” he said.
A Past District Governor of the club, Lion Nelson Agbesi, charged the new leadership to put in place measures that would maintain the reputation of the club and also work to the service of the needy in society.
26 attend food safety workshop in Accra
A THREE-DAY capacity training programme to ensure food safety in the hospitality industry began in Accra on Friday as part of preparations towards the upcoming World Tourism Day to be hosted by Ghana.
The programme, which is being organised by the African Management Services Company (AMSCO) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ghana Tourist Board (GTB), and International Finance Corporation, is expected to address issues of food safety in the hotel and food processing industry.
Twenty-six participants from Ghana and Nigeria are attending the programme.
Addressing the opening session, the Deputy Executive Director of the GTB, Mr Edwin Owusu-Mensah, said the growth rate of the tourism sector called for adequate measures to ensure that the industry met international standards.
He said a food safety audit conducted by the GTB and the Food and Drugs Board in some selected hotels and food processing joints showed that the standards of food safety in the hospitality industry had fallen. He, therefore, commended AMSCO and other partners for the training programme and called for its extension to other areas of the country.
The President of the World Food Safety Organisation, Mr Guy Kurkjian, who is in the country to lend his support to the training programme, said: “The training has become necessary as a result of the many issues of food safety challenges players in the industry were facing.”
He charged the participants to take the training seriously in order to be able to design appropriate food safety programmes for their respective jobs and to improve standards in the industry.
The interim Regional Manager of AMSCO, Mr A.S. Mani, said in order to achieve the needed impact of the training, AMSCO had established the baseline of a number of participating hotels and intended tracking the impact of the intervention later.
Mr Mani stressed that food safety management system HACCP/ISO 22000 was the cornerstone of safety to ensure food safety along the food chain.
He urged the participants to use the opportunity to share experience with one another in order to improve service delivery in their respective countries and hotels.
The programme, which is being organised by the African Management Services Company (AMSCO) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ghana Tourist Board (GTB), and International Finance Corporation, is expected to address issues of food safety in the hotel and food processing industry.
Twenty-six participants from Ghana and Nigeria are attending the programme.
Addressing the opening session, the Deputy Executive Director of the GTB, Mr Edwin Owusu-Mensah, said the growth rate of the tourism sector called for adequate measures to ensure that the industry met international standards.
He said a food safety audit conducted by the GTB and the Food and Drugs Board in some selected hotels and food processing joints showed that the standards of food safety in the hospitality industry had fallen. He, therefore, commended AMSCO and other partners for the training programme and called for its extension to other areas of the country.
The President of the World Food Safety Organisation, Mr Guy Kurkjian, who is in the country to lend his support to the training programme, said: “The training has become necessary as a result of the many issues of food safety challenges players in the industry were facing.”
He charged the participants to take the training seriously in order to be able to design appropriate food safety programmes for their respective jobs and to improve standards in the industry.
The interim Regional Manager of AMSCO, Mr A.S. Mani, said in order to achieve the needed impact of the training, AMSCO had established the baseline of a number of participating hotels and intended tracking the impact of the intervention later.
Mr Mani stressed that food safety management system HACCP/ISO 22000 was the cornerstone of safety to ensure food safety along the food chain.
He urged the participants to use the opportunity to share experience with one another in order to improve service delivery in their respective countries and hotels.
International Peace Support Operations course in Accra
A two-week International Peace Support Operations course intended to equip the military and civil society organisations to ensure peace and stability in Africa has opened at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Centre (KAIPTC) in Accra.
Ninety participants drawn from 13 African countries including Togo, Nigeria, Zambia, Cote d’Ivoire and some civil society organisations from Ghana are attending the course.
The course is being sponsored by the KAIPTC.
In an address at the ceremony of the programme, the Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. J. H. Smith (retd), said peace support operations had become necessary on the continent as a result of the numerous conflicts and crisis in recent times.
He said Ghana’s contribution to peacekeeping over the last four decades had been commended by the international community and added that the training would further enhance the capacity of personnel in their operations.
“Ghana has been in the forefront of contributing states in peacekeeping operations; today, the country is ranked seventh in troop contribution in the world with over 2,500 troops deployed on peacekeeping missions,” he said.
He said the nature of intra-state conflicts had necessitated a change from traditional peacekeeping to a new generation of multi-disciplinary and multi-dimensional peace support operations.
Lt. Gen. Smith commended the centre for initiating the programme and called on the participants to put in their best to make the course a fruitful one.
The Commandant of KAIPTC, AVM C.E.K. Dovlo, said the course was designed to address issues raised as conflicts became more complex and the peace overtures by the international community grew in complexity.
“Today’s peace support operations has seen increasing roles of different actors and participants as opposed to the dominance of the military in the old traditional peacekeeping or peace enforcement environment,” he said.
AVM Dovlo said the course would cover key elements and principal organs of the UN operations and participants would have the opportunity to learn the most up-to-date information about the UN system and the challenges faced during peacekeeping operations.
He urged the participants to share experience from their respective countries in order to increase their knowledge on peacekeeping operations in other countries.
Ninety participants drawn from 13 African countries including Togo, Nigeria, Zambia, Cote d’Ivoire and some civil society organisations from Ghana are attending the course.
The course is being sponsored by the KAIPTC.
In an address at the ceremony of the programme, the Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. J. H. Smith (retd), said peace support operations had become necessary on the continent as a result of the numerous conflicts and crisis in recent times.
He said Ghana’s contribution to peacekeeping over the last four decades had been commended by the international community and added that the training would further enhance the capacity of personnel in their operations.
“Ghana has been in the forefront of contributing states in peacekeeping operations; today, the country is ranked seventh in troop contribution in the world with over 2,500 troops deployed on peacekeeping missions,” he said.
He said the nature of intra-state conflicts had necessitated a change from traditional peacekeeping to a new generation of multi-disciplinary and multi-dimensional peace support operations.
Lt. Gen. Smith commended the centre for initiating the programme and called on the participants to put in their best to make the course a fruitful one.
The Commandant of KAIPTC, AVM C.E.K. Dovlo, said the course was designed to address issues raised as conflicts became more complex and the peace overtures by the international community grew in complexity.
“Today’s peace support operations has seen increasing roles of different actors and participants as opposed to the dominance of the military in the old traditional peacekeeping or peace enforcement environment,” he said.
AVM Dovlo said the course would cover key elements and principal organs of the UN operations and participants would have the opportunity to learn the most up-to-date information about the UN system and the challenges faced during peacekeeping operations.
He urged the participants to share experience from their respective countries in order to increase their knowledge on peacekeeping operations in other countries.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
The Hunger Project holds review workshop
THE Women Empowerment Project (WEP), an initiative of The Hunger Project Ghana (THP-Ghana), has held its annual review workshop at Bunso in the Eastern Region.
Sixty-two trained women selected from the Eastern, Volta, Ashanti, Central and Greater Accra Regions, who have been trained in various aspects of leadership, legal, education, and economic empowerment issues of women, attended the ceremony.
Known as animators, the women, who serve as volunteers, carry out community level education and sensitisation programmes in their respective areas of operation.
The Bunso review workshop was to assess the activities of the animators of WEP, progress made and challenges faced in the year under review.
As part of the review, the women also considered how to achieve certain aspects of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through the WEP initiatives in their operational areas.
Although scientific data is yet to be compiled by the THP on the activities of WEP, initial indications are that enormous success has been made by the women in the eradication of hunger and poverty, the first target of the MDGs, in their communities.
At the Akotekrom Epicentre made up of rural communities in Ningo-Prampram in the Eastern Region, through the WEP and support from THP, women in the area have established a community farm to support women in that community to gain economic empowerment.
The community farm is expected to feed the food bank of the epicentre in that community and the initiative has helped to complement the income of women in the community.
In many communities, particularly those in the Easter Region, access to land for farming activities, has increased for women as a result of THP’s initiative.
The leader of the Adunsua Bebease Epicentre at Nkawkaw, Madam Comfort Twumwah, said she facilitated the reunion of seven boys from Abor in the Volta Region with their family.
She said the epicentre, in collaboration with other epicentres nearby, hosted various programmes on Obuoba FM and Live FM to educate women and the public on issues affecting women.
In their report, Madam Rose Sekyi and Madam Augustina Ampere from the Banka Epicentre in the Ashanti Region, said until a year ago, the pass rate of female pupils in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) was zero, but the interventions of WEP, the number of girls who enrolled in senior high schools (SHS) had increased from zero to eight in the year under review.
The animators from the Awate community said they mobilised women in the community to mould cement blocks which they sold to the VRA for the construction of KVIP for the community.
The animators also used proceeds from the sale of the cement blocks to finance electrification project in that community.
Despite these remarkable achievements by the animators, they are faced with a number of challenges, including lack of access to agricultural information and agricultural extension services by many women in some selected communities, particularly the Eastern Region.
According to the animators, in some instances, the effort by the women to educate people on the importance of family planning was hampered by certain religious beliefs in some communities.
In her presentation after the two-day workshop, the Country Director of THP-Ghana, Dr Naana Agyeman-Mensah, said women who aspired into leadership positions, particularly politics, must of necessity let their voices be heard in their communities.
"The political parties will choose persons who have worked hard at the grassroot level. You must therefore begin to participate at the local level in community activities for you to create that identity for yourself", she advised.
Dr Agyeman-Mensah said THP-Ghana was making positive impact in its operational areas but admitted, "The task facing the THP in trying to eradicate poverty and ensuring food security is very huge and it will take a lot of effort and collaboration to tackle it”.
Sixty-two trained women selected from the Eastern, Volta, Ashanti, Central and Greater Accra Regions, who have been trained in various aspects of leadership, legal, education, and economic empowerment issues of women, attended the ceremony.
Known as animators, the women, who serve as volunteers, carry out community level education and sensitisation programmes in their respective areas of operation.
The Bunso review workshop was to assess the activities of the animators of WEP, progress made and challenges faced in the year under review.
As part of the review, the women also considered how to achieve certain aspects of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through the WEP initiatives in their operational areas.
Although scientific data is yet to be compiled by the THP on the activities of WEP, initial indications are that enormous success has been made by the women in the eradication of hunger and poverty, the first target of the MDGs, in their communities.
At the Akotekrom Epicentre made up of rural communities in Ningo-Prampram in the Eastern Region, through the WEP and support from THP, women in the area have established a community farm to support women in that community to gain economic empowerment.
The community farm is expected to feed the food bank of the epicentre in that community and the initiative has helped to complement the income of women in the community.
In many communities, particularly those in the Easter Region, access to land for farming activities, has increased for women as a result of THP’s initiative.
The leader of the Adunsua Bebease Epicentre at Nkawkaw, Madam Comfort Twumwah, said she facilitated the reunion of seven boys from Abor in the Volta Region with their family.
She said the epicentre, in collaboration with other epicentres nearby, hosted various programmes on Obuoba FM and Live FM to educate women and the public on issues affecting women.
In their report, Madam Rose Sekyi and Madam Augustina Ampere from the Banka Epicentre in the Ashanti Region, said until a year ago, the pass rate of female pupils in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) was zero, but the interventions of WEP, the number of girls who enrolled in senior high schools (SHS) had increased from zero to eight in the year under review.
The animators from the Awate community said they mobilised women in the community to mould cement blocks which they sold to the VRA for the construction of KVIP for the community.
The animators also used proceeds from the sale of the cement blocks to finance electrification project in that community.
Despite these remarkable achievements by the animators, they are faced with a number of challenges, including lack of access to agricultural information and agricultural extension services by many women in some selected communities, particularly the Eastern Region.
According to the animators, in some instances, the effort by the women to educate people on the importance of family planning was hampered by certain religious beliefs in some communities.
In her presentation after the two-day workshop, the Country Director of THP-Ghana, Dr Naana Agyeman-Mensah, said women who aspired into leadership positions, particularly politics, must of necessity let their voices be heard in their communities.
"The political parties will choose persons who have worked hard at the grassroot level. You must therefore begin to participate at the local level in community activities for you to create that identity for yourself", she advised.
Dr Agyeman-Mensah said THP-Ghana was making positive impact in its operational areas but admitted, "The task facing the THP in trying to eradicate poverty and ensuring food security is very huge and it will take a lot of effort and collaboration to tackle it”.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Church of Christ Ministers fellowship inaugurated
THE Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Nii Amasah Namoale, has said that some members of the clergy in the country have lost credibility as a result of their political affiliation.
He explained that it was not wrong for a minister of the gospel to belong to a political party, but, "you must watch your utterances when you mount the pulpit as leaders of the church." he added.
Nii Namoale said this in his presentation at the inauguration of the Church of Christ Ministers Fellowship (COCMINFIL) in Accra.
He said that the work of the pastor must be to the service of the members of the congregation and not to exploit them for the selfish interest of the pastor.
He said the government was in the process of developing the agricultural sector to make it attractive for the youth, and noted that “when we are able to produce enough to feed ourselves, we can then export the rest to generate foreign capital to support the economy while creating job for the jobless.”
He, therefore, appealed to the youth to make themselves available for such projects for the country to grow more to feed her people.
On his presentation on the theme, “Synergy, A Tool for Organisation Development” An Evangelist of the church, Mr John Tamakloe, said the need for professionalism by the leadership of the church necessitated the theme and the lecture.
Mr Tamakloe explained that for a greater productivity of any organisation, including the church, there was the need for an inter dependent role by all the stakeholders in the industry.
He told the pastors that they would only succeed in their calling when they as pastors identified their own gifts and that of other members in the church and harness it for the good of all.
For his part, a UK based Management Consultant, Mr Noble Kumawu called on the leadership of the church to concentrate their efforts on developing the human resource base of the church, “things don’t get done in the church, because pastors focus on the task rather than the people.”
Mr Kumawu also said that it was important that the leaders of the church today paid attention to the standards they, as pastors, had set for the members to follow and maintain.
A seven member team led by Mr Isaac Arthur as its chairman was also put in place to lead the fellowship for the next four years, including Mr Charles Nii Odotei Odoi, Mr Joseph Appiah and Paul Ntim Maanoh. The rest are, Mr Solomon Antwi Mireku, Mr Isaac Desmond Donkoh and Mr Hubert Willie Gley.
PIX 1
An elder of the Church, Mr Douglas Boateng, congratulating the executive shortly after their inauguration.
He explained that it was not wrong for a minister of the gospel to belong to a political party, but, "you must watch your utterances when you mount the pulpit as leaders of the church." he added.
Nii Namoale said this in his presentation at the inauguration of the Church of Christ Ministers Fellowship (COCMINFIL) in Accra.
He said that the work of the pastor must be to the service of the members of the congregation and not to exploit them for the selfish interest of the pastor.
He said the government was in the process of developing the agricultural sector to make it attractive for the youth, and noted that “when we are able to produce enough to feed ourselves, we can then export the rest to generate foreign capital to support the economy while creating job for the jobless.”
He, therefore, appealed to the youth to make themselves available for such projects for the country to grow more to feed her people.
On his presentation on the theme, “Synergy, A Tool for Organisation Development” An Evangelist of the church, Mr John Tamakloe, said the need for professionalism by the leadership of the church necessitated the theme and the lecture.
Mr Tamakloe explained that for a greater productivity of any organisation, including the church, there was the need for an inter dependent role by all the stakeholders in the industry.
He told the pastors that they would only succeed in their calling when they as pastors identified their own gifts and that of other members in the church and harness it for the good of all.
For his part, a UK based Management Consultant, Mr Noble Kumawu called on the leadership of the church to concentrate their efforts on developing the human resource base of the church, “things don’t get done in the church, because pastors focus on the task rather than the people.”
Mr Kumawu also said that it was important that the leaders of the church today paid attention to the standards they, as pastors, had set for the members to follow and maintain.
A seven member team led by Mr Isaac Arthur as its chairman was also put in place to lead the fellowship for the next four years, including Mr Charles Nii Odotei Odoi, Mr Joseph Appiah and Paul Ntim Maanoh. The rest are, Mr Solomon Antwi Mireku, Mr Isaac Desmond Donkoh and Mr Hubert Willie Gley.
PIX 1
An elder of the Church, Mr Douglas Boateng, congratulating the executive shortly after their inauguration.
Work begins on $400,000 hostel for RMU
WORK has begun on the construction of a four storey hostel for the Regional Maritime University (RMU) at the cost of $400,000.
The project which is being financed by the Gambia will ease problem of accommodation facing the university.
Mr Lamin Bojang who is in the country to attend the 4th Board of Governors meeting of RMU laid a slab at the opening ceremony in Nungua, Accra yesterday.
Performing the ceremony, Mr Bojang said his country was committed to contributing its quota of resourcing the university to acceptabe standards in the world.
The RMU is a sub regional institution being run jointly by four West African countries to provide universal education to civilians and military personnel in the marine industry and other related studies.
The countries are Ghana, Liberia, Cameroon, Sierra Leone and the Gambia.
According to Mr Bojang the absence of adequate financial resource had been a perennial problem to the university like other tertiary institutions in the sub region.
Mr Bojang, therefore, called on the management of the university to put in place measures that would help generate capital internally to support the contribution of member states.
He noted also that the current teaching staff of the university must be upgraded in order to meet the accreditation requirements of the remaining member states who were yet to give accreditation to the school.
The Minister of Transport, whose speech was read on his behalf by his deputy Mrs Dzifa Ativor, said the regular review of programmes of the university and the adoption of appropriate strategies and plans had resulted in the early transformation of the institution into a regional University.
Mr Hammah stressed that the success story of the university should accord political leaders within the sub region the opportunity to forge closer partnership to develop the economy of countries within the sub region.
The minister regretted that the contribution of Ghana to the university has not been forth coming, a situation he said was not good for the development of RMU.
Mr Hammah noted that by the end of April this year, the university had received only 14 per cent of member states’ financial contribution totalling $169,808.
“This picture is rather unfortunate, we need to do something drastic about this gloomy situation since every institution thrives on a vibrant financial resource,” he added.
To this end, the minister pledged his personal commitment to making Ghana’s contribution to the school a regular one to meet the demands of the university.
For his part, the Chairman of RMU Mr Binyah Kesselly said that as the institution strives to maintain an international reputation, the consistence and continued financial support would determine the outcome of the efforts of the member states of the university.
Mr Kesselly said in order to sustain the development efforts of RMU, the goal of the institution in the year’s ahead must be self sustaining to attain and maintain the development and leadership in the world of maritime academia.
The chairman stressed that the RMU must strategically prioritise the growth and development of the maritime resources to harness the power of training the requisite human and infrastructural capacities of member states.
Mr Kesselly also presented accreditation to the RMU from the Liberian institute of higher education.
CAPTION
The Rector of RMU Capt Aaron Turkson laying the slab at the construction site at the University. With him are some members of the board of the University.
The project which is being financed by the Gambia will ease problem of accommodation facing the university.
Mr Lamin Bojang who is in the country to attend the 4th Board of Governors meeting of RMU laid a slab at the opening ceremony in Nungua, Accra yesterday.
Performing the ceremony, Mr Bojang said his country was committed to contributing its quota of resourcing the university to acceptabe standards in the world.
The RMU is a sub regional institution being run jointly by four West African countries to provide universal education to civilians and military personnel in the marine industry and other related studies.
The countries are Ghana, Liberia, Cameroon, Sierra Leone and the Gambia.
According to Mr Bojang the absence of adequate financial resource had been a perennial problem to the university like other tertiary institutions in the sub region.
Mr Bojang, therefore, called on the management of the university to put in place measures that would help generate capital internally to support the contribution of member states.
He noted also that the current teaching staff of the university must be upgraded in order to meet the accreditation requirements of the remaining member states who were yet to give accreditation to the school.
The Minister of Transport, whose speech was read on his behalf by his deputy Mrs Dzifa Ativor, said the regular review of programmes of the university and the adoption of appropriate strategies and plans had resulted in the early transformation of the institution into a regional University.
Mr Hammah stressed that the success story of the university should accord political leaders within the sub region the opportunity to forge closer partnership to develop the economy of countries within the sub region.
The minister regretted that the contribution of Ghana to the university has not been forth coming, a situation he said was not good for the development of RMU.
Mr Hammah noted that by the end of April this year, the university had received only 14 per cent of member states’ financial contribution totalling $169,808.
“This picture is rather unfortunate, we need to do something drastic about this gloomy situation since every institution thrives on a vibrant financial resource,” he added.
To this end, the minister pledged his personal commitment to making Ghana’s contribution to the school a regular one to meet the demands of the university.
For his part, the Chairman of RMU Mr Binyah Kesselly said that as the institution strives to maintain an international reputation, the consistence and continued financial support would determine the outcome of the efforts of the member states of the university.
Mr Kesselly said in order to sustain the development efforts of RMU, the goal of the institution in the year’s ahead must be self sustaining to attain and maintain the development and leadership in the world of maritime academia.
The chairman stressed that the RMU must strategically prioritise the growth and development of the maritime resources to harness the power of training the requisite human and infrastructural capacities of member states.
Mr Kesselly also presented accreditation to the RMU from the Liberian institute of higher education.
CAPTION
The Rector of RMU Capt Aaron Turkson laying the slab at the construction site at the University. With him are some members of the board of the University.
Maritime university to run courses in oil safety
The Regional Maritime University (RMU) will begin a comprehensive course on safety in oil and gas exploration in August this year.
The Rector of the university, Capt Aaron Turkson, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic, explained that the course was being introduced to meet the needs of captains in the oil and gas industry for workers to secure safety skills training before they were engaged.
The training programme is expected to be run in collaboration with SMTC Malaysia, which is scheduled to provide the facilities and resources needed for the training.
Capt Turkson indicated that the training programme would employ stimulations, situational examples and imageries relevant to exploration and production operations in the industry.
The rector said the oil and gas industry was one of the most highly regulated industries in the world in terms of safety.
“The necessary measures must be put in place to achieve the maximum safety of employees in the industry,” he added.
He said even the most minor graze or cut would be recorded and the causes investigated. “Statistically, one is much safer working offshore than in many onshore industries,” he stated.
The rector indicated that the industry as a whole operated under very strict safety standards and government regulations to ensure the well-being of workers.
Therefore, companies, industry associations, communities and governments must collaborate to implement programmes that would help make the Ghanaian petroleum industry as safe as possible, he said.
The Rector of the university, Capt Aaron Turkson, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic, explained that the course was being introduced to meet the needs of captains in the oil and gas industry for workers to secure safety skills training before they were engaged.
The training programme is expected to be run in collaboration with SMTC Malaysia, which is scheduled to provide the facilities and resources needed for the training.
Capt Turkson indicated that the training programme would employ stimulations, situational examples and imageries relevant to exploration and production operations in the industry.
The rector said the oil and gas industry was one of the most highly regulated industries in the world in terms of safety.
“The necessary measures must be put in place to achieve the maximum safety of employees in the industry,” he added.
He said even the most minor graze or cut would be recorded and the causes investigated. “Statistically, one is much safer working offshore than in many onshore industries,” he stated.
The rector indicated that the industry as a whole operated under very strict safety standards and government regulations to ensure the well-being of workers.
Therefore, companies, industry associations, communities and governments must collaborate to implement programmes that would help make the Ghanaian petroleum industry as safe as possible, he said.
Ghana Life to support housing sector
THE Ghana Life Insurance Company Limited has decided to roll out substantial investment in real estate to provide decent and affordable accommodation to low, middle and high income earners.
The Chairman of the company, Ing. Cyril U. O. Ajagu, made this known when he led a delegation of the company to pay a courtesy call on Mr Ibrahim Awal, the Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, in Accra yesterday.
He said the investment in real estate development represented the company’s contribution towards sustaining the Ghanaian economy.
Ing. Ajagu, who is also the President of Conau Holding Plc, Nigeria, is in the country to inaugurate the multipurpose headquarters building of the company in Accra.
He said the housing sector formed an essential part of every economy and every effort must be put in place to address the challenges in the sector by providing houses to solve the acute accommodation problem facing the country.
Ing. Ajagu said the introduction of mortgage housing system in the country by Ghana Life Insurance was to enable as many workers as possible to own houses thereby making life a little better for them.
He commended the Daily Graphic for its consistent growth over the years and indicated the company’s willingness to partner with the GCGL for their mutual benefit.
Accordingly, he agreed to a suggestion by Mr Awal for the two organisations to embark on an effective educational programme to educate Ghanaians on the benefit of insurance.
Mr Awal had early on bemoaned the absence of sustained educational programmes by the insurance companies in the country, adding that it was for this reason why many didn’t buy insurance products.
“Ghanaians must be made to understand insurance and its importance to them in order for them to appreciate it,” he said.
Mr Awal said the Daily Graphic would support this initiative by making columns available in all eight of its publications to provide education on insurance to the public.
The Ghana Life Insurance team included Mr Ivan Avereyireh, Managing Director of Ghana Life Insurance Company; Dr Ausbeth Ajagu, a director; Mr Eric Adane, a consultant; Mrs Gloria Mbanefo, Solicitor Secretary of Universal Insurance Plc of Nigeria; and Mr Alphonse Okpor, Managing Director of African Alliance of Nigeria.
The Chairman of the company, Ing. Cyril U. O. Ajagu, made this known when he led a delegation of the company to pay a courtesy call on Mr Ibrahim Awal, the Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, in Accra yesterday.
He said the investment in real estate development represented the company’s contribution towards sustaining the Ghanaian economy.
Ing. Ajagu, who is also the President of Conau Holding Plc, Nigeria, is in the country to inaugurate the multipurpose headquarters building of the company in Accra.
He said the housing sector formed an essential part of every economy and every effort must be put in place to address the challenges in the sector by providing houses to solve the acute accommodation problem facing the country.
Ing. Ajagu said the introduction of mortgage housing system in the country by Ghana Life Insurance was to enable as many workers as possible to own houses thereby making life a little better for them.
He commended the Daily Graphic for its consistent growth over the years and indicated the company’s willingness to partner with the GCGL for their mutual benefit.
Accordingly, he agreed to a suggestion by Mr Awal for the two organisations to embark on an effective educational programme to educate Ghanaians on the benefit of insurance.
Mr Awal had early on bemoaned the absence of sustained educational programmes by the insurance companies in the country, adding that it was for this reason why many didn’t buy insurance products.
“Ghanaians must be made to understand insurance and its importance to them in order for them to appreciate it,” he said.
Mr Awal said the Daily Graphic would support this initiative by making columns available in all eight of its publications to provide education on insurance to the public.
The Ghana Life Insurance team included Mr Ivan Avereyireh, Managing Director of Ghana Life Insurance Company; Dr Ausbeth Ajagu, a director; Mr Eric Adane, a consultant; Mrs Gloria Mbanefo, Solicitor Secretary of Universal Insurance Plc of Nigeria; and Mr Alphonse Okpor, Managing Director of African Alliance of Nigeria.
‘NYC will pursue more ICT-oriented programmes’
THE acting Co-ordinator of the National Youth Council (NYC), Dr Sekou Nkrumah, has assured the youth that the council will pursue more Information, Communication and Technology (ICT)-oriented vocational and technical training at the various youth centres to meet the manpower needs of the country.
He said the kind of training being provided at the youth centres was not enough to meet the ICT needs of the country.
Dr Nkrumah gave assurance at the British Council last Saturday at a budget conference as part of the National Youth Budget Project organised by the Youth Empowerment for Africa (YEA). The youth budget project is partly being sponsored by the GTZ Good Financial Governance Programme.
The one-day conference was on the theme, “Only an informed youth will create the political climate to make changes in policy”.
The conference which brought together a number of youth associations and individuals in the capital was under the chairmanship of Dr William Ahadzie of the Department of Sociology of the University of Ghana, Legon.
Dr Nkrumah said government was in the process of expanding the vocational and technical schools in the country to enable the unemployed youth to have a better education.
He again mentioned that “the nature of facilities at the training centres across the country make teaching and learning very difficult and need to be upgraded to provide the state-of–the-art training for the youth”.
“Government is also embarking on total mobilisation of the youth across the country in order to put them to effective productive work for economic development of the country.
Mr King Kojo Sarfo of the YEA, who presented a paper on, “Youth Involvement in Budget Work”, said the YEA had attracted maximum attention and amassed strength to engage the youth in promoting advocacy towards accessibility of budget information and advancing civic participation in the budgetary process.
Mr Sarfo stressed that the National Youth Budget Project (NYBP) intended to equip the majority of the youth with the knowledge and skills required to engage in public policy dialogue and decision making on national budget at the national level.
He told the Daily Graphic that the aim of the conference was to build the capacity of the youth in order for them to contribute meaningfully toward national policies and other documents of interest to the youth.
Mr Sarfo explained that the project would focus on “promoting youth involvement in budget work and advocating civic participation in tracking and evaluation of the national budget”.
Adding “the youth of the country must begin to take particular interest in issues concerning the budget and how to hold governments accountable in that regard”.
According to him, the NYBP is an initiative which embodies various budget activities aimed at promoting youth development and contributing to the construction of essential pillars of democracy.
The project, which was initially designed for three years, would provide platform for all stakeholders of youth development and the blueprint for adequate resource allocation in developing and implementing youth programme and policies.
The NYBP will not be of benefit to only the youth, but also to a large section of the population, who according to the 2000 Housing Census, form about 33 per cent of the total population of the country.
Though education will be the main focus of the project, it also seeks to initiate policies geared toward poverty eradication and youth development.
Mr Kwaku Lartey of GTZ gave a presentation on the overview of the 2009 budget, while the Head, Budget Development Unit, Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Ms Eva Mends, exposed the youth to the numerous opportunities in budgeting process.
He said the kind of training being provided at the youth centres was not enough to meet the ICT needs of the country.
Dr Nkrumah gave assurance at the British Council last Saturday at a budget conference as part of the National Youth Budget Project organised by the Youth Empowerment for Africa (YEA). The youth budget project is partly being sponsored by the GTZ Good Financial Governance Programme.
The one-day conference was on the theme, “Only an informed youth will create the political climate to make changes in policy”.
The conference which brought together a number of youth associations and individuals in the capital was under the chairmanship of Dr William Ahadzie of the Department of Sociology of the University of Ghana, Legon.
Dr Nkrumah said government was in the process of expanding the vocational and technical schools in the country to enable the unemployed youth to have a better education.
He again mentioned that “the nature of facilities at the training centres across the country make teaching and learning very difficult and need to be upgraded to provide the state-of–the-art training for the youth”.
“Government is also embarking on total mobilisation of the youth across the country in order to put them to effective productive work for economic development of the country.
Mr King Kojo Sarfo of the YEA, who presented a paper on, “Youth Involvement in Budget Work”, said the YEA had attracted maximum attention and amassed strength to engage the youth in promoting advocacy towards accessibility of budget information and advancing civic participation in the budgetary process.
Mr Sarfo stressed that the National Youth Budget Project (NYBP) intended to equip the majority of the youth with the knowledge and skills required to engage in public policy dialogue and decision making on national budget at the national level.
He told the Daily Graphic that the aim of the conference was to build the capacity of the youth in order for them to contribute meaningfully toward national policies and other documents of interest to the youth.
Mr Sarfo explained that the project would focus on “promoting youth involvement in budget work and advocating civic participation in tracking and evaluation of the national budget”.
Adding “the youth of the country must begin to take particular interest in issues concerning the budget and how to hold governments accountable in that regard”.
According to him, the NYBP is an initiative which embodies various budget activities aimed at promoting youth development and contributing to the construction of essential pillars of democracy.
The project, which was initially designed for three years, would provide platform for all stakeholders of youth development and the blueprint for adequate resource allocation in developing and implementing youth programme and policies.
The NYBP will not be of benefit to only the youth, but also to a large section of the population, who according to the 2000 Housing Census, form about 33 per cent of the total population of the country.
Though education will be the main focus of the project, it also seeks to initiate policies geared toward poverty eradication and youth development.
Mr Kwaku Lartey of GTZ gave a presentation on the overview of the 2009 budget, while the Head, Budget Development Unit, Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Ms Eva Mends, exposed the youth to the numerous opportunities in budgeting process.
Reach out to the informal sector-President
THE President, Prof. J.E.A. Mills, has advised the captains in the insurance industry to reach out to the informal sector where businesses urgently need insurance policies to protect themselves from unforeseen circumstances.
Prof. Mills said insurance could keep low-income families from falling below the poverty line in the event of calamities.
President Mills gave the advice at the inauguration of a multi-purpose corporate head office for the Ghana Life Insurance Company Limited in Accra.
The President, whose speech was read on his behalf by a Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Fifi Kweytey, commended the insurance industry for been a reliable partner for national development.
Prof. Mills said the introduction of the insurance laws by the government was aimed at ensuring adequate capitalisation of insurance companies, improving corporate governance and ensuring adequate protection of policy holders, among other things.
Additionally, the President said the rationale for the separation of life insurance from non-life insurance was to make the mobilisation of funds for effective long-term national development possible.
He urged the players in the insurance industry to design products that were simple, easy to understand and easily accessible to bring on board the large portion of the population who did not appreciate the inherent benefits of insurance to do so.
Prof. Mills also commended the management and staff of Ghana Life Insurance Company for their remarkable effort in revamping the company to regain its position in the life insurance industry.
“In recognition of the support of the insurance industry, government has also put in place measures to ensure the smooth operation of the industry,” he said.
In his address, the Chairman of the company, Ing Cyril Ajagu, said the company had introduced onto the Ghanaian market tailor-made products that were targeted at all segments of the society to assist in the economic well-being of the policy holders.
Ing Ajagu said insurance policies were to enable those within the informal sector to have something they could depend on during difficult times.
“The repositioning of Ghana Life Insurance, therefore, is to make life comfortable for Ghanaians when the need be,” he added.
To achieve that objective, the chairman hinted that the company was setting up a robust and modern Information and Communication Technology (ICT) system to help them to deliver a timeous and quality service to its policy holders.
Ing Ajagu said as part of the revamping process, “we have brought on board seasoned professionals who will drive the vision of the company”.
Ing Ajagu, who is also the President of Conau Nigeria Limited, a majority shareholder of Ghana Life Insurance, said the vision was to make the company the most prominent life insurance company in Ghana and a leading global player by the year 2015.
For his part, Mr Kofi Andoh of the Insurance Commission said the life assurance industry in Ghana had seen a tremendous growth in the past partly due to the improvement in the macroeconomic environment and the emergence of appropriate products on the market.
Prof. Mills said insurance could keep low-income families from falling below the poverty line in the event of calamities.
President Mills gave the advice at the inauguration of a multi-purpose corporate head office for the Ghana Life Insurance Company Limited in Accra.
The President, whose speech was read on his behalf by a Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Fifi Kweytey, commended the insurance industry for been a reliable partner for national development.
Prof. Mills said the introduction of the insurance laws by the government was aimed at ensuring adequate capitalisation of insurance companies, improving corporate governance and ensuring adequate protection of policy holders, among other things.
Additionally, the President said the rationale for the separation of life insurance from non-life insurance was to make the mobilisation of funds for effective long-term national development possible.
He urged the players in the insurance industry to design products that were simple, easy to understand and easily accessible to bring on board the large portion of the population who did not appreciate the inherent benefits of insurance to do so.
Prof. Mills also commended the management and staff of Ghana Life Insurance Company for their remarkable effort in revamping the company to regain its position in the life insurance industry.
“In recognition of the support of the insurance industry, government has also put in place measures to ensure the smooth operation of the industry,” he said.
In his address, the Chairman of the company, Ing Cyril Ajagu, said the company had introduced onto the Ghanaian market tailor-made products that were targeted at all segments of the society to assist in the economic well-being of the policy holders.
Ing Ajagu said insurance policies were to enable those within the informal sector to have something they could depend on during difficult times.
“The repositioning of Ghana Life Insurance, therefore, is to make life comfortable for Ghanaians when the need be,” he added.
To achieve that objective, the chairman hinted that the company was setting up a robust and modern Information and Communication Technology (ICT) system to help them to deliver a timeous and quality service to its policy holders.
Ing Ajagu said as part of the revamping process, “we have brought on board seasoned professionals who will drive the vision of the company”.
Ing Ajagu, who is also the President of Conau Nigeria Limited, a majority shareholder of Ghana Life Insurance, said the vision was to make the company the most prominent life insurance company in Ghana and a leading global player by the year 2015.
For his part, Mr Kofi Andoh of the Insurance Commission said the life assurance industry in Ghana had seen a tremendous growth in the past partly due to the improvement in the macroeconomic environment and the emergence of appropriate products on the market.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
GIFEX OPENS IN ACCRA
President J.A. Kufuor has stated that the future of the forest industry depends on the expansion of the forest resource through plantation development.
He said that informed the government to embark on a special initiative on plantation development which presently had a total land area of over 140,000 hectares under cultivation.
The President, whose speech was read on his behalf by the Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines, Mrs Esther Obeng Dapaah, at the opening of the 12th Ghana International Furniture and Woodworking Industry Exhibition (GIFEX 08), said the government had improved the forest governance structure in the country and hoped that would ultimately support the industry to source for only legal timber to process for both domestic and export markets.
He urged the key players in the industry to explore opportunities within the global timber industry, such as the increased trade in secondary processed products and temperate hardwoods.
the Chairman of the GIFEX 08 Council, Prof. Nii Ashie Kotey, said the Forestry Commission saw GIFEX as a potential vehicle for promoting value added processing that could position Ghana as the hub for furniture and joinery production in the ECOWAS sub-region.
He added that the exhibition offered a unique opportunity for service providers and manufacturers of wood products, related goods and other industrial products to showcase their goods and services. At the same time it provided a platform for investment.
Prof. Kotey disclosed that Ghana had entered into a voluntary partnership agreement (VPA) with the European Union, under which there were proposed supporting measures to develop the use of lesser used species and bamboo and rattan.
He further said under the VPA, there would be skills development and the transfer of appropriate technology in the processing of bamboo and rattan to increase the forest sector's contribution to national development.
Touching on the theme of the exhibition, “100 Years of Forestry and 50 years of Industrialisation in Ghana”, Prof. Kotey said it was paramount because of the challenges facing the industry after so many years of existence.
He said during the period of the exhibition, there would be a series of symposiums and workshops to discuss issues relevant to the industry.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Timber Millers Association, Mr E.K.K. Acquah-Moses, said the return of GIFEX was a good move for the timber industry and appealed to the organisers to strive to sustain it.
He pointed out that there were too many challenges confronting the industry, such as the unfair allocation of resources, adding, “We are grappling with the institution of more acceptable methods of resource allocation.”
He announced that the industry had decided to form an Industrial Development Board, in partnership with the Forestry Commission, following which it would contribute 0.5 per cent of its export earnings to a fund to be managed by the board with the aim of accelerating afforestation efforts.
He urged the exhibitors to use the platform provided by GIFEX to create more business opportunities for networking and establishing new business contacts.
He said that informed the government to embark on a special initiative on plantation development which presently had a total land area of over 140,000 hectares under cultivation.
The President, whose speech was read on his behalf by the Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines, Mrs Esther Obeng Dapaah, at the opening of the 12th Ghana International Furniture and Woodworking Industry Exhibition (GIFEX 08), said the government had improved the forest governance structure in the country and hoped that would ultimately support the industry to source for only legal timber to process for both domestic and export markets.
He urged the key players in the industry to explore opportunities within the global timber industry, such as the increased trade in secondary processed products and temperate hardwoods.
the Chairman of the GIFEX 08 Council, Prof. Nii Ashie Kotey, said the Forestry Commission saw GIFEX as a potential vehicle for promoting value added processing that could position Ghana as the hub for furniture and joinery production in the ECOWAS sub-region.
He added that the exhibition offered a unique opportunity for service providers and manufacturers of wood products, related goods and other industrial products to showcase their goods and services. At the same time it provided a platform for investment.
Prof. Kotey disclosed that Ghana had entered into a voluntary partnership agreement (VPA) with the European Union, under which there were proposed supporting measures to develop the use of lesser used species and bamboo and rattan.
He further said under the VPA, there would be skills development and the transfer of appropriate technology in the processing of bamboo and rattan to increase the forest sector's contribution to national development.
Touching on the theme of the exhibition, “100 Years of Forestry and 50 years of Industrialisation in Ghana”, Prof. Kotey said it was paramount because of the challenges facing the industry after so many years of existence.
He said during the period of the exhibition, there would be a series of symposiums and workshops to discuss issues relevant to the industry.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Timber Millers Association, Mr E.K.K. Acquah-Moses, said the return of GIFEX was a good move for the timber industry and appealed to the organisers to strive to sustain it.
He pointed out that there were too many challenges confronting the industry, such as the unfair allocation of resources, adding, “We are grappling with the institution of more acceptable methods of resource allocation.”
He announced that the industry had decided to form an Industrial Development Board, in partnership with the Forestry Commission, following which it would contribute 0.5 per cent of its export earnings to a fund to be managed by the board with the aim of accelerating afforestation efforts.
He urged the exhibitors to use the platform provided by GIFEX to create more business opportunities for networking and establishing new business contacts.
ECONOMY STILL ROBUST ..World Bank, others declare as Baah-Wiredu is honoured
THE World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) have said that Ghana’s economy is still robust and can withstand any likely difficulties from the fallout of the world economic crisis.
The three institutions, however, stressed the need for the country to focus more on domestic revenue mobilisation.
At the launch of the Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu Finance and Economic Journalist of the Year Award and economic seminar series in Accra yesterday, the institutions called for more expenditure control in government business.
The Country Director of the World Bank, Mr Ishac Diwan, said the world financial crisis was likely to threaten development in most emerging economies.
He cautioned that the fall in commodity prices would have a negative impact on the country’s economy and, therefore, called for an alternative and more proactive way of mobilising local resources for the economy.
The Resident Representative of the IMF, Mr Arnold McIntyre, said the good news for Ghana was that the country was not as exposed as some Eastern European countries, most of whose economies were linked to those of the developed nations.
He added that the flow of foreign direct investments would slow as a result of the credit crisis because some foreign business partners might fail to get access to funding to complete agreed deals.
Mr McIntyre also said remittances from the Diaspora would decline because of likely economic contraction and unemployment in the industrialised economies.
He said Ghana was likely to experience a reduction in exports, which would result in lower income by 2009.
The Country Manager of the IFC, Imoni Akpofure, said the best Ghana could do in the midst of the global crisis was to prepare for any negative effects, adding that what experts had been able to do so far was guess what would happen next.
She said the real problem in Ghana was the absence of domestic and global credit for small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), adding that although Ghana had been insulated from the crisis, banks were no longer prepared to risk lending to new companies.
International donors, she said, maintained that they would honour their commitments but it remained to be seen how long that would continue as their economies shrank.
The Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, said the ministry had put in place measures to cushion the economy until 2010 when the expected oil revenue would begin to flow.
He said those measures included reducing government expenditure and domestic borrowing and focusing on domestic resource mobilisation.
The minister said while the country should cut spending by the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), it also had to maintain investment in infrastructural projects.
He concluded that politicians must decide between investing, for example, in education, and offering tax cuts, saying it was up to Ghanaians to choose what to prioritise.
Announcing the Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu Finance and Economic Journalist of the Year award, Mr Diwan and the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Ransford Tetteh, said the award was in recognition of innovation and excellence in finance and economic journalism.
The chairperson, Ms Ajoa Yeboah-Afari, said the late minister was liked and admired by all and that many had a lot of stories to tell about the late minister.
She, therefore, suggested for a compilation of the various stories that are being told on the late minister in a book.
In his goodwill statement, Mr Tetteh said the award would lay the foundation for good economic journalism in the country.
“The late Baah-Wiredu was willing to speak to any journalist at any time and also made sure that he spoke to the understanding of the general public,” Mr Tetteh stated, adding, “This made him one of the finest ministers of our time.”
Mr Tetteh stressed that the association would make sure that the award would ensure excellence in financial journalism.
The three institutions, however, stressed the need for the country to focus more on domestic revenue mobilisation.
At the launch of the Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu Finance and Economic Journalist of the Year Award and economic seminar series in Accra yesterday, the institutions called for more expenditure control in government business.
The Country Director of the World Bank, Mr Ishac Diwan, said the world financial crisis was likely to threaten development in most emerging economies.
He cautioned that the fall in commodity prices would have a negative impact on the country’s economy and, therefore, called for an alternative and more proactive way of mobilising local resources for the economy.
The Resident Representative of the IMF, Mr Arnold McIntyre, said the good news for Ghana was that the country was not as exposed as some Eastern European countries, most of whose economies were linked to those of the developed nations.
He added that the flow of foreign direct investments would slow as a result of the credit crisis because some foreign business partners might fail to get access to funding to complete agreed deals.
Mr McIntyre also said remittances from the Diaspora would decline because of likely economic contraction and unemployment in the industrialised economies.
He said Ghana was likely to experience a reduction in exports, which would result in lower income by 2009.
The Country Manager of the IFC, Imoni Akpofure, said the best Ghana could do in the midst of the global crisis was to prepare for any negative effects, adding that what experts had been able to do so far was guess what would happen next.
She said the real problem in Ghana was the absence of domestic and global credit for small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), adding that although Ghana had been insulated from the crisis, banks were no longer prepared to risk lending to new companies.
International donors, she said, maintained that they would honour their commitments but it remained to be seen how long that would continue as their economies shrank.
The Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, said the ministry had put in place measures to cushion the economy until 2010 when the expected oil revenue would begin to flow.
He said those measures included reducing government expenditure and domestic borrowing and focusing on domestic resource mobilisation.
The minister said while the country should cut spending by the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), it also had to maintain investment in infrastructural projects.
He concluded that politicians must decide between investing, for example, in education, and offering tax cuts, saying it was up to Ghanaians to choose what to prioritise.
Announcing the Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu Finance and Economic Journalist of the Year award, Mr Diwan and the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Ransford Tetteh, said the award was in recognition of innovation and excellence in finance and economic journalism.
The chairperson, Ms Ajoa Yeboah-Afari, said the late minister was liked and admired by all and that many had a lot of stories to tell about the late minister.
She, therefore, suggested for a compilation of the various stories that are being told on the late minister in a book.
In his goodwill statement, Mr Tetteh said the award would lay the foundation for good economic journalism in the country.
“The late Baah-Wiredu was willing to speak to any journalist at any time and also made sure that he spoke to the understanding of the general public,” Mr Tetteh stated, adding, “This made him one of the finest ministers of our time.”
Mr Tetteh stressed that the association would make sure that the award would ensure excellence in financial journalism.
OIL BOOM ...Gains from it our choice — Leticia Obeng
THE President of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, Dr Leticia Obeng, has said economic prosperity from the discovery of oil is a choice Ghanaians would have to make.
She said managing the oil revenue for the country’s good should, therefore, become the decision and responsibility of all Ghanaians.
Dr Obeng said this when she delivered an address at the 49th Founder’s Week Lecture of the academy in Accra yesterday. It was on the theme: “Challenges of Natural Resources”.
She said the deterioration of resources in rural areas had contributed to the mass migration to urban centres where unexpected population pressure had resulted in extensive unplanned peri-urban settlements.
Dr Obeng said according to the Stockholm Conference on Environment in the early 70s, a clear realisation emerged that the earth’s population was not only using up its share of the earth’s resources but was also degrading them.
She said a number of issues had critically affected actions by the UN to solve the problem, adding that “the most serious has been the increase in human population and the overwhelming demand that it has put on natural resources”.
In the period after the Stockholm Conference on Environment, Dr Obeng said the UN launched the environmental strategy known as Development Without Destruction to promote an emphatic approach to meet the challenges of the environment.
The strategy, she said, emphasised the need for using the resources of the earth for development to improve the quality of life, without degrading the environment.
Dr Obeng, therefore, called for the promotion and safe management of the resources of the human environment and to protect and conserve them for future generations.
The Chairman for the occasion and Immediate Past President of the academy, Nana S.K.B. Asante, called on all stakeholders to put in place prudent measures to protect the environment.
She said managing the oil revenue for the country’s good should, therefore, become the decision and responsibility of all Ghanaians.
Dr Obeng said this when she delivered an address at the 49th Founder’s Week Lecture of the academy in Accra yesterday. It was on the theme: “Challenges of Natural Resources”.
She said the deterioration of resources in rural areas had contributed to the mass migration to urban centres where unexpected population pressure had resulted in extensive unplanned peri-urban settlements.
Dr Obeng said according to the Stockholm Conference on Environment in the early 70s, a clear realisation emerged that the earth’s population was not only using up its share of the earth’s resources but was also degrading them.
She said a number of issues had critically affected actions by the UN to solve the problem, adding that “the most serious has been the increase in human population and the overwhelming demand that it has put on natural resources”.
In the period after the Stockholm Conference on Environment, Dr Obeng said the UN launched the environmental strategy known as Development Without Destruction to promote an emphatic approach to meet the challenges of the environment.
The strategy, she said, emphasised the need for using the resources of the earth for development to improve the quality of life, without degrading the environment.
Dr Obeng, therefore, called for the promotion and safe management of the resources of the human environment and to protect and conserve them for future generations.
The Chairman for the occasion and Immediate Past President of the academy, Nana S.K.B. Asante, called on all stakeholders to put in place prudent measures to protect the environment.
Ghana’s sea level to rise by 2020
AN Environmental expert, Dr Steve Duadze, has indicated that there is likelihood of a rise in the sea level in Ghana by 2020.
He has, therefore, advised people in the coastal areas to be mindful of such natural phenomenon and take appropriate measures to check its possible effect.
Delivering a public lecture on the theme, “Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Strategies for Ghana”, Dr Duadze said the quantity of dry land of the earth surface was likely to reduce by the year 2020 as a result of the increasing sea level.
The lecture was organised by the Department of Environment and Development Studies of the Central University College.
Dr Duadze, who is also a senior lecturer at the department, advised residents along coastal towns such as Keta, Ada, Cape Coast to adopt appropriate measures to mitigate the effect of the rising sea level on human life.
According to him, if the current sea-level rise was not checked, agricultural activities in those areas might be adversely affected.
Dr Duadze said sea-level rise of 2.1 mm per year had been observed over the last 30 years, and indications were that the sea would register a rise of 5.8 cm by 2020, 16.5cm by 2050 and 34.5cm by 2080.
Dr Duadze again predicted a decrease in the rainfall pattern of the country on an average of 2.8 per cent by the year 2020, 10.9 per cent by 2050 and 18.6 per cent by 2080.
He explained that increased global temperature would cause the melting of glaciers, leading to a significant rise in average sea level and exposing low-lying coastal cities and cities located by tidal rivers to frequent and serve flood.
Dr Duadze cautioned again that if the rate of fossil fuel consumption and deforestation did not change or reduce, warming trends were likely to continue, and global temperature might continue to increase between 1.4 and 5.8 degrees Celsius.
“Averagely, it is estimated that temperature will continue to rise by about 0.6 by 2020, 2.0 by 2050 and 3.9 by 2080,” he said.
On health, Dr Duadze mentioned that guinea worm and diarrhoea cases, including cholera, were likely to increase with reduced rainfall and increased temperature.
He stressed that though increase in air temperature and reduced rainfall were indications of a decline in the number of malarial cases, it may only be shifting from one location to another.
Dr Duadze said agriculture was likely to be the heaviest hit by the global climate change as a result of decline in soil fertility due to unpredictable changes in rainfall pattern and temperature.
Increased incidence of pest attacks resulting from increase in temperature, loss of cropland due to erosion and desertification, coastal erosion destroying some valuable coastal agricultural land and increased demand for irrigation were just a few of the expected impacts of climate change.
After painting a very gloomy picture of the effect of climate change of the various sectors of the economy he gave the assurance that there was solution only if the government was prepared to put in place effective policies to curb the situation.
Dr Duadze recommended the harvesting and storage of water in a more improved and simple surface facility such as ponds, tanks, dugouts and small reservoirs for use in the dry months of the year.
He again proposed the damming of rivers and streams for a more sustainable water availability.
He said the provision and design of suitable water management and drainage facilities in irrigated crop fields, fish farms, residential areas and homes must be of prime concern to the government.
Dr Duadze also called for a more holistic approach to fish farming problem through close co-operation with managers of forestry, water and other resources to ensure adequate management practices of the environment.
He said in order to eradicate poverty and create a healthy population, more fish storage facilities should be established to reduce post-harvest losses, retain wholesomeness and ensure stable pricing on the market.
He has, therefore, advised people in the coastal areas to be mindful of such natural phenomenon and take appropriate measures to check its possible effect.
Delivering a public lecture on the theme, “Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Strategies for Ghana”, Dr Duadze said the quantity of dry land of the earth surface was likely to reduce by the year 2020 as a result of the increasing sea level.
The lecture was organised by the Department of Environment and Development Studies of the Central University College.
Dr Duadze, who is also a senior lecturer at the department, advised residents along coastal towns such as Keta, Ada, Cape Coast to adopt appropriate measures to mitigate the effect of the rising sea level on human life.
According to him, if the current sea-level rise was not checked, agricultural activities in those areas might be adversely affected.
Dr Duadze said sea-level rise of 2.1 mm per year had been observed over the last 30 years, and indications were that the sea would register a rise of 5.8 cm by 2020, 16.5cm by 2050 and 34.5cm by 2080.
Dr Duadze again predicted a decrease in the rainfall pattern of the country on an average of 2.8 per cent by the year 2020, 10.9 per cent by 2050 and 18.6 per cent by 2080.
He explained that increased global temperature would cause the melting of glaciers, leading to a significant rise in average sea level and exposing low-lying coastal cities and cities located by tidal rivers to frequent and serve flood.
Dr Duadze cautioned again that if the rate of fossil fuel consumption and deforestation did not change or reduce, warming trends were likely to continue, and global temperature might continue to increase between 1.4 and 5.8 degrees Celsius.
“Averagely, it is estimated that temperature will continue to rise by about 0.6 by 2020, 2.0 by 2050 and 3.9 by 2080,” he said.
On health, Dr Duadze mentioned that guinea worm and diarrhoea cases, including cholera, were likely to increase with reduced rainfall and increased temperature.
He stressed that though increase in air temperature and reduced rainfall were indications of a decline in the number of malarial cases, it may only be shifting from one location to another.
Dr Duadze said agriculture was likely to be the heaviest hit by the global climate change as a result of decline in soil fertility due to unpredictable changes in rainfall pattern and temperature.
Increased incidence of pest attacks resulting from increase in temperature, loss of cropland due to erosion and desertification, coastal erosion destroying some valuable coastal agricultural land and increased demand for irrigation were just a few of the expected impacts of climate change.
After painting a very gloomy picture of the effect of climate change of the various sectors of the economy he gave the assurance that there was solution only if the government was prepared to put in place effective policies to curb the situation.
Dr Duadze recommended the harvesting and storage of water in a more improved and simple surface facility such as ponds, tanks, dugouts and small reservoirs for use in the dry months of the year.
He again proposed the damming of rivers and streams for a more sustainable water availability.
He said the provision and design of suitable water management and drainage facilities in irrigated crop fields, fish farms, residential areas and homes must be of prime concern to the government.
Dr Duadze also called for a more holistic approach to fish farming problem through close co-operation with managers of forestry, water and other resources to ensure adequate management practices of the environment.
He said in order to eradicate poverty and create a healthy population, more fish storage facilities should be established to reduce post-harvest losses, retain wholesomeness and ensure stable pricing on the market.
NGO donates to Bawjiase orphanage
A NON-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Love for Children Campaigners, has donated GH¢2,000 and assorted items worth GH¢800 to the Bawjiase Orphanage in the Central Region.
The items which included toothpaste, bread, bags of rice and other items was to complement what the home had to offer the children.
According to the Executive Director of the NGO, Prophetess Elizabeth Ansah Jamson, the items were the NGO’s annual contribution to the children, who through no fault of theirs had become orphans.
Prophetess Ansah Jamson said the NGO was established by the Israel King of Jews Church as the church's contribution to make life at the home worth living for the children.
For his part, the Founder and General Overseer of the Israel King of Jews Church, Prophet Nakoa Ansah Jamson bemoaned the situation in the country where many people had a lot to live on while others had nothing to eat even for a day.
Prophet Ansah Jamson advised the government to promulgate a law that would mandate churches and organisations to contribute a quota of their income for the upkeep of orphanages in the country.
That, he said, would reduce the burden on the keepers of the home.
He also appealed to individuals and organisations to go to the aid of the home to facilitate the holistic upbringing of the children.
Prophet Ansah Jamson called on the public to disabuse their minds of the notion that spiritual churches only abused the rights of persons who were brought to their places of worship. "I don’t chain people here; I only use messages from God and His word to address social issues," he added.
He pledged the support of the NGO and the church to help the home.
Mrs Emma Boafo who received the items and cash, said support from NGOs and individuals were only sent to some selected homes in the country, and indicated "we all need the support and donations to keep the home functioning".
She expressed gratitude to the leaders of the church and the NGO for the donation and called on others to follow their example.
Mrs Boafo said the home had over the years struggled to take care of the children in the orphanage and, therefore, needed assistance for their upkeep.
The items which included toothpaste, bread, bags of rice and other items was to complement what the home had to offer the children.
According to the Executive Director of the NGO, Prophetess Elizabeth Ansah Jamson, the items were the NGO’s annual contribution to the children, who through no fault of theirs had become orphans.
Prophetess Ansah Jamson said the NGO was established by the Israel King of Jews Church as the church's contribution to make life at the home worth living for the children.
For his part, the Founder and General Overseer of the Israel King of Jews Church, Prophet Nakoa Ansah Jamson bemoaned the situation in the country where many people had a lot to live on while others had nothing to eat even for a day.
Prophet Ansah Jamson advised the government to promulgate a law that would mandate churches and organisations to contribute a quota of their income for the upkeep of orphanages in the country.
That, he said, would reduce the burden on the keepers of the home.
He also appealed to individuals and organisations to go to the aid of the home to facilitate the holistic upbringing of the children.
Prophet Ansah Jamson called on the public to disabuse their minds of the notion that spiritual churches only abused the rights of persons who were brought to their places of worship. "I don’t chain people here; I only use messages from God and His word to address social issues," he added.
He pledged the support of the NGO and the church to help the home.
Mrs Emma Boafo who received the items and cash, said support from NGOs and individuals were only sent to some selected homes in the country, and indicated "we all need the support and donations to keep the home functioning".
She expressed gratitude to the leaders of the church and the NGO for the donation and called on others to follow their example.
Mrs Boafo said the home had over the years struggled to take care of the children in the orphanage and, therefore, needed assistance for their upkeep.
Ghana Science Association launches 50th anniverssary
THE 50th anniversary of the Ghana Science Association (GSA) has been launched with a call on scientists to provide the needed expertise to support the government‘s agenda of formulating science and technology policies to ensure a sustainable development of the economy.
The Deputy Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr E. K. Omane Boamah, who made the call at the launch, said the government would adopt measures to set up institutes of science and technology to address the technological challenges the country was facing.
He said it would soon establish science, technology and innovation funds to provide the needed funds for research and development programmes.
He said the government had identified the Central and Eastern regions for the establishment of theme parks for the exhibition of scientific innovations of Ghanaians and the development of science and technology in those areas.
He assured scientists of an annual Science Congress which would provide a platform for them to deliberate on issues for the promotion and advancement of science and technology in the country.
In his presentation, the Chairman of the West African Examinations Council, Prof J. S. Djangmah, cited the case of India where the government, by an act of Parliament, set up over 13 institutes of technology to train scientists and engineers with the aim of developing a skilled workforce to support the economy of that country.
He urged the GETFund to make funds available to institutions of higher learning for the training of scientists and technologists to fill the gaps in teaching at the graduate and undergraduate levels of the educational system.
For his part, the Honorary National President of the GSA, Dr Alfred Owusu, said the formation of the science association some 50 years ago broadened the scope of its activities from the mere reading of papers to its involvement in national affairs.
He outlined some of the achievements of the GSA over the past 50 years as the planning and establishment of the Ghana Academy of Sciences (GAS), now known as the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS).
The anniversary, which is on the theme, “Celebrating Ghana Science Association in Fifty years of Ghana’s Development: Achievements, Challenges and the Future”, will focus on some of the achievements of the association and how to build an innovative scientific association in the country.
A number of activities have been outlined for the celebration in the form of seminars, workshops, public lectures, among others. The climax will be in August 2009.
In a related development, Prof Marian Ewurama Addy has launched a five-year strategic plan for the association.
The Deputy Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr E. K. Omane Boamah, who made the call at the launch, said the government would adopt measures to set up institutes of science and technology to address the technological challenges the country was facing.
He said it would soon establish science, technology and innovation funds to provide the needed funds for research and development programmes.
He said the government had identified the Central and Eastern regions for the establishment of theme parks for the exhibition of scientific innovations of Ghanaians and the development of science and technology in those areas.
He assured scientists of an annual Science Congress which would provide a platform for them to deliberate on issues for the promotion and advancement of science and technology in the country.
In his presentation, the Chairman of the West African Examinations Council, Prof J. S. Djangmah, cited the case of India where the government, by an act of Parliament, set up over 13 institutes of technology to train scientists and engineers with the aim of developing a skilled workforce to support the economy of that country.
He urged the GETFund to make funds available to institutions of higher learning for the training of scientists and technologists to fill the gaps in teaching at the graduate and undergraduate levels of the educational system.
For his part, the Honorary National President of the GSA, Dr Alfred Owusu, said the formation of the science association some 50 years ago broadened the scope of its activities from the mere reading of papers to its involvement in national affairs.
He outlined some of the achievements of the GSA over the past 50 years as the planning and establishment of the Ghana Academy of Sciences (GAS), now known as the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS).
The anniversary, which is on the theme, “Celebrating Ghana Science Association in Fifty years of Ghana’s Development: Achievements, Challenges and the Future”, will focus on some of the achievements of the association and how to build an innovative scientific association in the country.
A number of activities have been outlined for the celebration in the form of seminars, workshops, public lectures, among others. The climax will be in August 2009.
In a related development, Prof Marian Ewurama Addy has launched a five-year strategic plan for the association.
GT Bank launches e Friday
THE Guaranty Trust Bank (Ghana) Limited (GTBank) has launched a campaign dubbed e-friday to encourage the public to use electronic banking for their financial transactions.
The Minister of Communications, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, who launched the campaign, said Information and Communications Technology (ICT) had become important to the economy and must be embraced by all.
He noted that ICT was transforming the world at a very fast pace and that its use had become a vital element for economic development, wealth creation and poverty alleviation.
The minister said for ICT to have any meaningful impact on the development of the nation, it must be seen in all aspects of the economy.
"To this end, the government intends to use ICT as a driver for its socio-economic development and has outlined policies and programmes to develop and support the ICT industry in the country," he stressed.
He said the Electronic Transactions Act 772 and the Electronic Communication Act 775 were enacted to create the necessary regulatory environment that would enable businesses such as the banks to operate in a fair and friendly marketplace.
Mr Haruna challenged GTBank to continue to observe regulations of the Bank of Ghana and the laws of the country and provide quality service for Ghanaians.
The Managing Director (MD) of the bank, Mr Dollop Ogundimu, said the campaign was in response to feedback from clients for effective banking services.
He said the feedback was that those e-products were a very important aspect of the ongoing revolution in the banking industry.
"Our customers have recognised the ease and convenience inherent in these products and want to share them with the world at large," he added.
For his part, the Chairman of the board of directors, Alhaji Yusif Ibrahim, said the bank had positioned itself to offer customers quality and convenient service, hence the introduction of the e-banking services.
He said the bank had invested heavily in technology in order to be ahead of competition in the banking industry and called for patronage of its services.
The Minister of Communications, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, who launched the campaign, said Information and Communications Technology (ICT) had become important to the economy and must be embraced by all.
He noted that ICT was transforming the world at a very fast pace and that its use had become a vital element for economic development, wealth creation and poverty alleviation.
The minister said for ICT to have any meaningful impact on the development of the nation, it must be seen in all aspects of the economy.
"To this end, the government intends to use ICT as a driver for its socio-economic development and has outlined policies and programmes to develop and support the ICT industry in the country," he stressed.
He said the Electronic Transactions Act 772 and the Electronic Communication Act 775 were enacted to create the necessary regulatory environment that would enable businesses such as the banks to operate in a fair and friendly marketplace.
Mr Haruna challenged GTBank to continue to observe regulations of the Bank of Ghana and the laws of the country and provide quality service for Ghanaians.
The Managing Director (MD) of the bank, Mr Dollop Ogundimu, said the campaign was in response to feedback from clients for effective banking services.
He said the feedback was that those e-products were a very important aspect of the ongoing revolution in the banking industry.
"Our customers have recognised the ease and convenience inherent in these products and want to share them with the world at large," he added.
For his part, the Chairman of the board of directors, Alhaji Yusif Ibrahim, said the bank had positioned itself to offer customers quality and convenient service, hence the introduction of the e-banking services.
He said the bank had invested heavily in technology in order to be ahead of competition in the banking industry and called for patronage of its services.
Police prevent ‘Sakawa’ race at La
THE Police last Sunday, May 25, 2009 raided the La Trade Fair site and prevented a group of people described as ‘Sakawa boys’ from engaging in a motor and car race.
Unhappy by the action of the police, the spectators, numbering more than 4,000 pelted the police personnel with stones which compelled them to call for reinforcement.
In the ensuing confrontation, the police took away two motorbikes and arrested two boys for their alleged involvement in the stone-throwing spree in which the windscreen of a police pickup with registration number GP 2406 was smashed.
The action by the police was motivated by an incidence at a similar show by the group on Sunday, May 17, 2009 in which a 26-year-old woman was killed in an accident.
The woman, whose name was given by the La Police as Mary Ayeley Oboshie-Sai, died shortly after she was knocked down by a trotro vehicle. The driver of the vehicle was said to be imitating movements of the group at the show.
In an interaction, some of the spectators said they would not be deterred by the police and that the police’s action would only prevent them from the day’s event.
Even though some of the people told the Daily Graphic that the race was put together by some benevolent individuals in the community as a means of creating entertainment for the folks in the area, it was later found out that the show was rather organised by some ‘Sakawa boys’.
When contacted at the La Police Station, the Divisional Commander, DSP Yao Tettehgah, confirmed the death of the young woman in an accident, but assured the public that the police acted to stop the race in the interest of the public, and called for their co-operation to curb the activities of the such boys.
DSP Tettegah said the organisers of the programme had no permission to put up such a programme and mentioned that it was dangerous for the public.
Unhappy by the action of the police, the spectators, numbering more than 4,000 pelted the police personnel with stones which compelled them to call for reinforcement.
In the ensuing confrontation, the police took away two motorbikes and arrested two boys for their alleged involvement in the stone-throwing spree in which the windscreen of a police pickup with registration number GP 2406 was smashed.
The action by the police was motivated by an incidence at a similar show by the group on Sunday, May 17, 2009 in which a 26-year-old woman was killed in an accident.
The woman, whose name was given by the La Police as Mary Ayeley Oboshie-Sai, died shortly after she was knocked down by a trotro vehicle. The driver of the vehicle was said to be imitating movements of the group at the show.
In an interaction, some of the spectators said they would not be deterred by the police and that the police’s action would only prevent them from the day’s event.
Even though some of the people told the Daily Graphic that the race was put together by some benevolent individuals in the community as a means of creating entertainment for the folks in the area, it was later found out that the show was rather organised by some ‘Sakawa boys’.
When contacted at the La Police Station, the Divisional Commander, DSP Yao Tettehgah, confirmed the death of the young woman in an accident, but assured the public that the police acted to stop the race in the interest of the public, and called for their co-operation to curb the activities of the such boys.
DSP Tettegah said the organisers of the programme had no permission to put up such a programme and mentioned that it was dangerous for the public.
Fire at slam
THERE was a fire outbreak at the Konkomba Market at Agbogbloshie in Accra yesterday afternoon destroying many of the buildings in the slum.
But, instead of coming together to fight the fire, the members of the community took to stone throwing at one another, thwarting the efforts of personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service from putting out the fire as early as possible.
There were no casualties but an unspecified number of the residents sustained various degrees of injuries.
A number of wooden structures within 50 metres square of the slum were burnt down, destroying all the properties in them.
The cause of the fire is yet to be established, but it was suspected to have started from a room of one of the residents.
An eyewitness told the Daily Graphic that one of the inmates of the room was smoking near to a gas cylinder.
According to the eyewitness, the smoker threw the piece of cigarette towards the direction of the cylinder.
In the process, the gas cylinder caught fire and exploded. The fire spread to the other wooden structures in the slum.
As soon as there was the explosion, the resident who was smoking, apparently shocked by the incident, jumped from the top of the wooden storey building and fled.
It was very difficult for the personnel from the Fire Service to get the location of the fire as there was no thoroughfare to the place of the fire.
It took the personnel about two hours to bring the fire under control.
But, instead of coming together to fight the fire, the members of the community took to stone throwing at one another, thwarting the efforts of personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service from putting out the fire as early as possible.
There were no casualties but an unspecified number of the residents sustained various degrees of injuries.
A number of wooden structures within 50 metres square of the slum were burnt down, destroying all the properties in them.
The cause of the fire is yet to be established, but it was suspected to have started from a room of one of the residents.
An eyewitness told the Daily Graphic that one of the inmates of the room was smoking near to a gas cylinder.
According to the eyewitness, the smoker threw the piece of cigarette towards the direction of the cylinder.
In the process, the gas cylinder caught fire and exploded. The fire spread to the other wooden structures in the slum.
As soon as there was the explosion, the resident who was smoking, apparently shocked by the incident, jumped from the top of the wooden storey building and fled.
It was very difficult for the personnel from the Fire Service to get the location of the fire as there was no thoroughfare to the place of the fire.
It took the personnel about two hours to bring the fire under control.
Govt compiles data on disabled
THE government is compiling data on all disabled persons for the formulation and implementation of policies for their development and welfare, the Minister of Information, Mrs Zita Okaikoi, has said.
Mrs Okaikoi was speaking during a courtesy call on her by the Ghana Federation of Disabled in Accra on Wednesday to inform the government of the forthcoming International Trade Fair by persons with disability.
The visit was also meant to solicit her assistance towards the organisation of the week-long event scheduled to take place in Accra from November 25 to December 4, 2009.
Mrs Okaikoi assured the leadership of the federation of the government's commitment to making life better for them.
The minister appealed to the public, particularly families of disabled persons, not to neglect them, since that could resort in their begging on the street.
Such a neglect and begging, she said, could be dangerous to the well-being and development of disabled persons.
Mr Okaikoi implored the federation to bring their peers who were outside their organisation to become members to enable them to benefit from programmes that would be jointly initiated by the government and the federation.
The Executive Director of the Ghana Federation of Disabled, Ms Rita Kyeremaa Kusi, said delegations from the 13 participating countries in the forthcoming fair would be accompanied by first ladies of the respective countries.
Ms Kusi said persons and organisations who had over the years contributed to the welfare of persons with disability would also be honoured.
On behalf of the federation, she appealed to the Ministry of Information to include in its education and publicity programmes, facilities such as Braille that would enable them to have easy access to information from the government.
She appealed to the government to ensure that public places such as hospitals and ministries provided facilities that were friendly to disabled persons.
The fair will showcase various products by the disabled in Africa.
Participants will be drawn from 13 African countries including Tunisia, Uganda, Mali, Senegal, Morocco, Zambia and South Africa.
On display during the exhibition by the disabled will be products such as batik and tie-dye, wood work, fashion and dressmaking.
PIXY
The Minister of Information, Mrs Zita Okaikoi, explaining a point to the leadership while Mr Robert Frimpong Manso (standing) interpret to the deaf. With them are from right, Ms Rita Kyeremaa Kusi, the Executive Director of the Federation of Disabled and Mr Obeng Asamoah.
Mrs Okaikoi was speaking during a courtesy call on her by the Ghana Federation of Disabled in Accra on Wednesday to inform the government of the forthcoming International Trade Fair by persons with disability.
The visit was also meant to solicit her assistance towards the organisation of the week-long event scheduled to take place in Accra from November 25 to December 4, 2009.
Mrs Okaikoi assured the leadership of the federation of the government's commitment to making life better for them.
The minister appealed to the public, particularly families of disabled persons, not to neglect them, since that could resort in their begging on the street.
Such a neglect and begging, she said, could be dangerous to the well-being and development of disabled persons.
Mr Okaikoi implored the federation to bring their peers who were outside their organisation to become members to enable them to benefit from programmes that would be jointly initiated by the government and the federation.
The Executive Director of the Ghana Federation of Disabled, Ms Rita Kyeremaa Kusi, said delegations from the 13 participating countries in the forthcoming fair would be accompanied by first ladies of the respective countries.
Ms Kusi said persons and organisations who had over the years contributed to the welfare of persons with disability would also be honoured.
On behalf of the federation, she appealed to the Ministry of Information to include in its education and publicity programmes, facilities such as Braille that would enable them to have easy access to information from the government.
She appealed to the government to ensure that public places such as hospitals and ministries provided facilities that were friendly to disabled persons.
The fair will showcase various products by the disabled in Africa.
Participants will be drawn from 13 African countries including Tunisia, Uganda, Mali, Senegal, Morocco, Zambia and South Africa.
On display during the exhibition by the disabled will be products such as batik and tie-dye, wood work, fashion and dressmaking.
PIXY
The Minister of Information, Mrs Zita Okaikoi, explaining a point to the leadership while Mr Robert Frimpong Manso (standing) interpret to the deaf. With them are from right, Ms Rita Kyeremaa Kusi, the Executive Director of the Federation of Disabled and Mr Obeng Asamoah.
GAAS launches 50th Anniversary
THE Vice President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, has assured the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) that the government will soon construct a modern office complex to house the academy.
This, the Vice President said, would facilitate the work of the academy and help it to carry out its mandate while contributing to the socio-economic advancement of the country. GAAS is currently located on the premises of CSIR in Accra.
The Vice President gave the assurance when he launched the six-month long 50th anniversary celebration of the GAAS.
Mr Mahama said that as a developing nation, the country needed an innovative means of tackling the challenges that confronted it and “we will need your expertise in this direction to develop the nation”.
Mr Mahama said the Prof Atta Mills administration recognised the important role science played in the development of a nation and so would not neglect its responsibilities towards the academy.
He commended the fellows of the academy for their contributions to national development over the last 50 years.
“I say this with the assurance that the next 50 years ahead of you would witness a more meaningful impact of your existence than before,” he stressed.
The Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey Enyo, in his address, admitted that unless there was the political will at all levels to support the work of the academy, it would be impossible for it to attain its mandate.
Mr Tettey Enyo said in order for the country to achieve middle income status by the year 2020, there should be a deliberate effort to develop a stable science and technology institute.
He therefore urged the GAAS to develop scientific methods by which modern technology could be delivered to the poorer groups in the country.
The minister again commended the fellows of the institute for presenting to the government various advisory reports on Agriculture, the Economy, Environment and Higher Education and promised they would be acted upon.
This, he said, would help in achieving the objectives of the academy, which include the creation, acquisition, dissemination and utilisation of knowledge for national development.
The President of GAAS, Prof Reginald Fraser Amonoo, told the Daily Graphic that the academy had over the last five decades presented a number of lectures and held public presentations on a number of public issues of national concern.
Prof Amonoo said that as part of the mandate of the academy, it had promoted the study and the extension and dissemination of knowledge of all the sciences.
The president, who also chaired the launch, said discussions on including junior fellows in the academy were on-going, stressing that that would help the younger generation to have a better understanding of the sciences and their role in national development.
Prof Amonoo appealed to the general public for financial support as government support was not enough to run the academy and also carry out its mandate. “There are a lot still to be done by the academy. However, our greatest limitation has been the financial resource to achieve our ambitions.”
The honorary secretary of the Academy, Prof S. K. A. Danso said the academy, within the last couple of decades and within the context of the environment it found itself, had broadened the scope of its activities to include roundtable discussions as a platform for public discussion of topical issues that would impact on policy formulation.
Prof Danso mentioned some of the activities lined up for the celebration as public forum on constitutional review in Ghana, inaugural lecture, annual lecture and the 5th African Science Academies Development Initiative Conference.
All these would be climaxed with an awards and dinner dance in November 2009.
PIX
The Vice President with some of the fellows of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences
This, the Vice President said, would facilitate the work of the academy and help it to carry out its mandate while contributing to the socio-economic advancement of the country. GAAS is currently located on the premises of CSIR in Accra.
The Vice President gave the assurance when he launched the six-month long 50th anniversary celebration of the GAAS.
Mr Mahama said that as a developing nation, the country needed an innovative means of tackling the challenges that confronted it and “we will need your expertise in this direction to develop the nation”.
Mr Mahama said the Prof Atta Mills administration recognised the important role science played in the development of a nation and so would not neglect its responsibilities towards the academy.
He commended the fellows of the academy for their contributions to national development over the last 50 years.
“I say this with the assurance that the next 50 years ahead of you would witness a more meaningful impact of your existence than before,” he stressed.
The Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey Enyo, in his address, admitted that unless there was the political will at all levels to support the work of the academy, it would be impossible for it to attain its mandate.
Mr Tettey Enyo said in order for the country to achieve middle income status by the year 2020, there should be a deliberate effort to develop a stable science and technology institute.
He therefore urged the GAAS to develop scientific methods by which modern technology could be delivered to the poorer groups in the country.
The minister again commended the fellows of the institute for presenting to the government various advisory reports on Agriculture, the Economy, Environment and Higher Education and promised they would be acted upon.
This, he said, would help in achieving the objectives of the academy, which include the creation, acquisition, dissemination and utilisation of knowledge for national development.
The President of GAAS, Prof Reginald Fraser Amonoo, told the Daily Graphic that the academy had over the last five decades presented a number of lectures and held public presentations on a number of public issues of national concern.
Prof Amonoo said that as part of the mandate of the academy, it had promoted the study and the extension and dissemination of knowledge of all the sciences.
The president, who also chaired the launch, said discussions on including junior fellows in the academy were on-going, stressing that that would help the younger generation to have a better understanding of the sciences and their role in national development.
Prof Amonoo appealed to the general public for financial support as government support was not enough to run the academy and also carry out its mandate. “There are a lot still to be done by the academy. However, our greatest limitation has been the financial resource to achieve our ambitions.”
The honorary secretary of the Academy, Prof S. K. A. Danso said the academy, within the last couple of decades and within the context of the environment it found itself, had broadened the scope of its activities to include roundtable discussions as a platform for public discussion of topical issues that would impact on policy formulation.
Prof Danso mentioned some of the activities lined up for the celebration as public forum on constitutional review in Ghana, inaugural lecture, annual lecture and the 5th African Science Academies Development Initiative Conference.
All these would be climaxed with an awards and dinner dance in November 2009.
PIX
The Vice President with some of the fellows of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences
Beacon Reading Club
IN an effort to promote the culture of reading among Ghanaians, a reading club, known as Beacon Books Forum, will on Saturday June 6, 2009 promote reading through interview programmes on radio and articles in the newspapers at the premises of Sunny FM at North Ridge in Accra.
Members of the club will discuss the best selling first novel of the African Writers Series, “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe, as part of activities marking its second anniversary celebration.
All those who attend will enjoy 5 per cent discount on books they buy from Beacon Books Company during the programme, among other activities..
The reading club which was established two years ago was to create a friendly environment where members of the club could network and exchange ideas for contiuous learning and personal development through reading.
A co-founder of the club, Mr Ebow Spio, said the club sought to inspire and equip members to develop themselves by reading a wide range of quality and mind stimulating books that would develop the person.
This philosophy he said was based on the appreciation of the Chinese proverb that says, “A book holds a house of gold”.
The club currently has a regular membership of 150 people from varied backgrounds, predominantly young business executives, graduates and students from tertiary institutions.
The club has over the last two years held a number of reading competitions and also reviewed a number of books on various topics including, leadership, change, finance and investment.
Members of the club, have, among others reviewed the books namely; “31 Days to Financial Independence” by Daniel Ogbarmey Tetteh, “12 Keys to Financial Success” by Stephen Adei and “Pathways of Success: 21 sure steps to the way to the top” by Dr Mensa Otabil.
Mr Spio said books for reading and reviews were selected based on recommendations of members of the club to ensure that the books selected appealed to majority of the members.
He noted that members of the club had developed a passion and appetite for reading, adding that, by this development, most members of the club have established their own libraries at home.
According to Mr Spio, members have testified that their association with Beacon Book Forum and more importantly reading and applying the knowledge and principles from the books that they have discussed, have had positive influence on their lives.
For instance, a member said he started investing in mutual funds such as EPACK after he had appreciated the importance of personal finance and investment and understood how the numerous investment instruments on the Ghanaian Stock Market worked, after participating in one of the reading programmes.
Members of the club will discuss the best selling first novel of the African Writers Series, “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe, as part of activities marking its second anniversary celebration.
All those who attend will enjoy 5 per cent discount on books they buy from Beacon Books Company during the programme, among other activities..
The reading club which was established two years ago was to create a friendly environment where members of the club could network and exchange ideas for contiuous learning and personal development through reading.
A co-founder of the club, Mr Ebow Spio, said the club sought to inspire and equip members to develop themselves by reading a wide range of quality and mind stimulating books that would develop the person.
This philosophy he said was based on the appreciation of the Chinese proverb that says, “A book holds a house of gold”.
The club currently has a regular membership of 150 people from varied backgrounds, predominantly young business executives, graduates and students from tertiary institutions.
The club has over the last two years held a number of reading competitions and also reviewed a number of books on various topics including, leadership, change, finance and investment.
Members of the club, have, among others reviewed the books namely; “31 Days to Financial Independence” by Daniel Ogbarmey Tetteh, “12 Keys to Financial Success” by Stephen Adei and “Pathways of Success: 21 sure steps to the way to the top” by Dr Mensa Otabil.
Mr Spio said books for reading and reviews were selected based on recommendations of members of the club to ensure that the books selected appealed to majority of the members.
He noted that members of the club had developed a passion and appetite for reading, adding that, by this development, most members of the club have established their own libraries at home.
According to Mr Spio, members have testified that their association with Beacon Book Forum and more importantly reading and applying the knowledge and principles from the books that they have discussed, have had positive influence on their lives.
For instance, a member said he started investing in mutual funds such as EPACK after he had appreciated the importance of personal finance and investment and understood how the numerous investment instruments on the Ghanaian Stock Market worked, after participating in one of the reading programmes.
Dr Akwetey on conflicts in Africa
THE Executive Director of Institute for Democratic Governance, Dr Emmanuel Akwetey, has stated that the conflicts in Africa during elections could be attributed to the divisions within the people which the politicians focus on during campaigning.
Dr Akwetey said politicians resorted to that strategy to win political power, particularly from people they shared one form of relationship or the other, but that had the potential for negatively dividing the country.
Dr Akwetey said this at a two-day workshop on “Elections in Africa: Lessons from the Ghanaian experience”, organised by the Africa Advisory Board of the Open Society Institute at its bi-annual meeting in Accra.
“We must not encourage this practice in Africa as it has the possibility of developing into tribal and other forms of conflicts in Ghana and other parts of the continent as seen in some African nations,” he said.
Dr Akwetey told the participants drawn from some civil society organisations on the continent that the media played a significant role in the peace and stability that Ghana enjoyed during the 2008 election.
He described the desire of the political parties themselves to ensure peace before, during and after the election as worthy of emulation by other African countries to promote peace during elections in their respective countries.
He stressed that the openness of the Electoral Commission (EC) to the media, civil society organisations, sub-regional and international bodies worked towards the success of the 2008 general election in Ghana.
Dr Akwetey explained that the election went the way it did because of the transparency of the process and the willingness of the relevant stakeholders to respect the outcome of the election.
He stated that as a result of the constructive role played by the media and the EC, members of the general public were adequately informed on the electoral process and the results as they came.
He recommended that, for elections in any country, particularly in Africa, to be successful, there should be constructive collaboration among the relevant actors in the electoral process.
He said an independent EC, the media and all the political parties must work in unity to ensure the success of the elections.
On the way forward for Ghana, Dr Akwetey called for a careful look at transitional management as had been the case in elections management.
Dr Akwetey said it was important that much attention was paid to the management of the transitional process as it had the potential for developing into a different thing if not managed properly.
“What we are witnessing in the country today after a successful election is due to the weak transitional process we have in the country,” he added.
Dr Akwetey said politicians resorted to that strategy to win political power, particularly from people they shared one form of relationship or the other, but that had the potential for negatively dividing the country.
Dr Akwetey said this at a two-day workshop on “Elections in Africa: Lessons from the Ghanaian experience”, organised by the Africa Advisory Board of the Open Society Institute at its bi-annual meeting in Accra.
“We must not encourage this practice in Africa as it has the possibility of developing into tribal and other forms of conflicts in Ghana and other parts of the continent as seen in some African nations,” he said.
Dr Akwetey told the participants drawn from some civil society organisations on the continent that the media played a significant role in the peace and stability that Ghana enjoyed during the 2008 election.
He described the desire of the political parties themselves to ensure peace before, during and after the election as worthy of emulation by other African countries to promote peace during elections in their respective countries.
He stressed that the openness of the Electoral Commission (EC) to the media, civil society organisations, sub-regional and international bodies worked towards the success of the 2008 general election in Ghana.
Dr Akwetey explained that the election went the way it did because of the transparency of the process and the willingness of the relevant stakeholders to respect the outcome of the election.
He stated that as a result of the constructive role played by the media and the EC, members of the general public were adequately informed on the electoral process and the results as they came.
He recommended that, for elections in any country, particularly in Africa, to be successful, there should be constructive collaboration among the relevant actors in the electoral process.
He said an independent EC, the media and all the political parties must work in unity to ensure the success of the elections.
On the way forward for Ghana, Dr Akwetey called for a careful look at transitional management as had been the case in elections management.
Dr Akwetey said it was important that much attention was paid to the management of the transitional process as it had the potential for developing into a different thing if not managed properly.
“What we are witnessing in the country today after a successful election is due to the weak transitional process we have in the country,” he added.
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