THE five-member committee of enquiry set up by the Ministry of the Interior to investigate the shooting incident at Ashaiman on June 3, 2008 held its inaugural sitting yesterday at Ashaiman.
The committee, chaired by Mr Justice C.J. Honyenuga, Justice of the Court of Appeal, has as its members Professor Ken Attafuah, a lawyer; Commissioner of Police Kwasi Nkansa (retd); Mrs Adelaide Annor-Kumi, lawyer and a Directoor at the MInistry of the Interior and Prof. Kofi Agyekum, a lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon.
The committee is to investigate the circumstances that led to the incident which culminated in the death of two people and injury to several others and submit its findings in two weeks.
Mr Justice Honyenuga said the committee was a fact-finding one that would expect witnesses before it to give evidence on conscience.
He said the investigative panel on the committee did not represent any interest group and gave the assurance that they would be unbiased and remain honest in the discharge of the task.
Mr Justice Honyenuga disclosed that the committee would allow legal representation, adding that all stakeholders including the transport unions, bereaved families, the police, injured victims, opinion leaders and chiefs would be welcomed.
He said the committee would also accept written documents and memoranda which should be submitted to the secretariats set up at the Ministry of the Interior and the Ashaiman District Assembly.
The Member of Parliament for Ashaiman, Mr Alfred Agbesi, indicated his intention to be counsel for the bereaved family of the 11-year-old boy, Moses Kasim, who died during the incident.
A member of the committee, Prof. Attafuah, explained that Mr Agbesi was one of the eminent people who the committee intended seeking opinions from and therefore requested that he could submit written document to it for reference purposes.
The first witness to appear before the committee was the Secretary of the Ghana Highway branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union, Mr Francis Kwaku Gomi, who gave evidence about what happened on June 2 and 3 when a misunderstanding erupted between the commercial drivers in Ashaiman and the police.
Led in evidence by Prof. Attafua, Mr Gorni said on June 2, after he had closed from work in the evening and was on his way home, he had a call from a colleague, Mr Djangma, who is the second trustee of the GPRTU, that some drivers had been arrested by the Ashaiman police MTTU but he only instructed that they must apply for bail.
Mr Gomi said he did not receive any feedback and therefore concluded that the arrested drivers had been bailed.
When asked by Prof. Attafuah what role he played at the GPRTU, he said his duties included ensuring that all disputes affecting highway members were resolved.
Mr Gomi said on June 3, he was informed on phone to keep away because the drivers were on a ‘peaceful demonstration’ as a result of the arrests the pervious day.
He said he, however, used some routes behind the Ashaiman Divisional Police building, which took him to the GPRTU offices in the Fire Service building.
He was not sure of the number of drivers arrested but said on consultation later the drivers were released at about 1 p.m..
When asked what he saw at the scene of the shooting, Mr Gomi said there were some strange things.
When asked what he meant by strange things, he said “bullets shells, empty water sachets, stones and sticks were scattered around”.
Mr Gorni said the relationship between the police and the drivers had been very cordial before and after the incident but appealed for the provision of adequate lorry parks and parking lots to eliminate illegal imposition of charges on drivers by the police.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
TEMA PARENTS ASSOCIATION MARKS 45TH ANNIVERSSARY (PAGE 11)
THE Tema Parents Association School (TEPAS) has donated assorted items worth GH¢4,000 to the Asutsuare Junction Basic School at Lorlovo in the Dangme West District.
The donation formed part of activities marking the school’s 45th anniversary celebration on the theme: “Holistic education”.
It included jumbo size mats, school uniforms for both boys and girls, tables for learning, shoes, assorted clothing, textbooks on various subjects, food items and beverages.
A playground of various playing materials was also mounted to afford the nursery and lower primary pupils the opportunity to play during break and games period.
The Headmistress of TEPAS, Mrs Leona Nsakie–Kassim, said the school had decided to adopt the Asutsuary Junction Basic School to support it occasionally.
Mrs Nsakie–Kassim spent time with the children at Lorlovo in the company of some students of TEPAS and recalled an earlier visit to the school when some of the pupils sat on the floor during classes and others did not have school uniforms.
She said the school decided to celebrate the anniversary with the underprivileged children who were facing some challenges through no fault of theirs.
Mrs Nsakie–Kassim asked the children to have vision in order to make the best out of the situation in which they found themselves.
The Headmaster of the Asutsuary Junction Basic School, Mr Lovelace Odonkor, expressed appreciation about the gesture of the staff and students of TEPAS and said it would help to alleviate some of the burden on the pupils’ parents.
He said the people of the area were peasants and shepherds who could not afford such needs as pocket money for their children.
Mr Odonkor said the school, which is currently not on the government’s school feeding programme, had a population of 576 pupils as against 455 last year.
He appealed to the authorities to consider including the school on the feeding programme to help solve some of the problems facing it.
Mr Odonkor noted that the poverty level in the area was high.
He regretted the issue of forced marriages that involved young girls from 12 years, a situation which he said contributed to the dropout of school by girls in the area and appealed to civil society to help curb the situation.
Mr Odonkor urged the Parent-Teacher Association of the school to join hands with the teachers to bring development to ensure growth and success of the pupils.
The Member of Parliament for the area, Mr David Tetteh Asorme, appealed to the Energy Ministry to consider the condition of the people and extend power to the area because it was strategically located on the highway to the Volta Region and was just about 18 km to the Kpong Hydro project.
He said he had provided 35 nine-metre electricity poles for almost a year now but the extension project had not been done.
An Assistant Director of Education at the Dangme West District Office, Ms Mercy Lamptey, commended TEPAS for supporting the poor and needy.
Ms Lamptey urged them to work harder, referring to their last Basic Education Certificate Examination results in which a candidate from the school had aggregate eight and won the President’s award for the district.
The donation formed part of activities marking the school’s 45th anniversary celebration on the theme: “Holistic education”.
It included jumbo size mats, school uniforms for both boys and girls, tables for learning, shoes, assorted clothing, textbooks on various subjects, food items and beverages.
A playground of various playing materials was also mounted to afford the nursery and lower primary pupils the opportunity to play during break and games period.
The Headmistress of TEPAS, Mrs Leona Nsakie–Kassim, said the school had decided to adopt the Asutsuary Junction Basic School to support it occasionally.
Mrs Nsakie–Kassim spent time with the children at Lorlovo in the company of some students of TEPAS and recalled an earlier visit to the school when some of the pupils sat on the floor during classes and others did not have school uniforms.
She said the school decided to celebrate the anniversary with the underprivileged children who were facing some challenges through no fault of theirs.
Mrs Nsakie–Kassim asked the children to have vision in order to make the best out of the situation in which they found themselves.
The Headmaster of the Asutsuary Junction Basic School, Mr Lovelace Odonkor, expressed appreciation about the gesture of the staff and students of TEPAS and said it would help to alleviate some of the burden on the pupils’ parents.
He said the people of the area were peasants and shepherds who could not afford such needs as pocket money for their children.
Mr Odonkor said the school, which is currently not on the government’s school feeding programme, had a population of 576 pupils as against 455 last year.
He appealed to the authorities to consider including the school on the feeding programme to help solve some of the problems facing it.
Mr Odonkor noted that the poverty level in the area was high.
He regretted the issue of forced marriages that involved young girls from 12 years, a situation which he said contributed to the dropout of school by girls in the area and appealed to civil society to help curb the situation.
Mr Odonkor urged the Parent-Teacher Association of the school to join hands with the teachers to bring development to ensure growth and success of the pupils.
The Member of Parliament for the area, Mr David Tetteh Asorme, appealed to the Energy Ministry to consider the condition of the people and extend power to the area because it was strategically located on the highway to the Volta Region and was just about 18 km to the Kpong Hydro project.
He said he had provided 35 nine-metre electricity poles for almost a year now but the extension project had not been done.
An Assistant Director of Education at the Dangme West District Office, Ms Mercy Lamptey, commended TEPAS for supporting the poor and needy.
Ms Lamptey urged them to work harder, referring to their last Basic Education Certificate Examination results in which a candidate from the school had aggregate eight and won the President’s award for the district.
Friday, July 25, 2008
GOVT LOSES $9m A YEAR OVER COOKING OIL IMPORTS (PAGE 14)
THE government of Ghana loses about $9 million every year on 40,000 metric tonnes of vegetable oils brought into the country by foods and vegetable importers, according to a Unilever Ghana Limited research.
The research also found out that in March 2008 alone, the state lost $226,440 on imported vegetable oil.
This was made known by the Marketing Director of Unilever, Mr Prince Obeng, when he briefed Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism who were at the Tema factory of the company to ascertain problems related to the use of crude palm oil for the manufacture of refined vegetable oil in the country as a follow-up to their recent tour of some palm plantations.
Mr Obeng explained that some importers of refined vegetable oil adopted basic tricks of misrepresentation of figures and documents, false declaration at the port and re-routing of the imported goods.
He observed that the importers took advantage of the government and consumers because of the poor consumer protection systems in the country.
Mr Obeng said through underhand deals, the importers were able to reduce the prices of their goods to undercut products of local producers.
Showing members of the committee samples of the imported oils, Mr Obeng pointed out that most of them were saturated and, therefore, had health-related problems.
He said palm oil was the largest and strategic raw material for Unilever with 70 per cent of its turnover produced from it.
Mr Obeng, therefore, appealed to the committee to set in motion an investigative system to ensure that the inadequacies were checked to stop the practice of re-routing, false declaration and smuggling.
The Consumer Development Director of Unilever, Mr Kwaku Boateng, called on the government to consider setting up a palm oil Control Board to regulate quality, standard pricing and market behaviours of the product.
He said this could remove instances of glut of oil on plantations and be able to project and store oil in lean seasons.
Mr Boateng stated that Unilever had doubled its capacity in all departments, doubling production capacity and therefore gave the assurance that it could meet the entire demand of oil in the country.
The Chairman of the Select Committee, Mr J.B. Dankwa Adu, who led the team, said the committee was very concerned about the oil palm industry.
He said there were vast lands that could be cultivated to boost the oil palm sector for local industries to prevent importation of crude palm oil.
Mr Dankwa Adu urged Unilever to invest in the palm plantations to promote and sustain the sector to end the era of importation of refined vegetable oils.
He stated that when the committee visited the plantations, it was discovered that there was a glut on the farms and therefore called on the industries to make efforts to store the crude palm oil at the factory for use in the lean season.
The Select Committee members had earlier been briefed by the Chief Executive Officer of Unilever, Mr Charles Coffie, on the situation at the factory in Tema.
He commended them for visiting the factory even though they were on recess and promised to relate further with the committee to help solve problems in the sector.
The research also found out that in March 2008 alone, the state lost $226,440 on imported vegetable oil.
This was made known by the Marketing Director of Unilever, Mr Prince Obeng, when he briefed Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism who were at the Tema factory of the company to ascertain problems related to the use of crude palm oil for the manufacture of refined vegetable oil in the country as a follow-up to their recent tour of some palm plantations.
Mr Obeng explained that some importers of refined vegetable oil adopted basic tricks of misrepresentation of figures and documents, false declaration at the port and re-routing of the imported goods.
He observed that the importers took advantage of the government and consumers because of the poor consumer protection systems in the country.
Mr Obeng said through underhand deals, the importers were able to reduce the prices of their goods to undercut products of local producers.
Showing members of the committee samples of the imported oils, Mr Obeng pointed out that most of them were saturated and, therefore, had health-related problems.
He said palm oil was the largest and strategic raw material for Unilever with 70 per cent of its turnover produced from it.
Mr Obeng, therefore, appealed to the committee to set in motion an investigative system to ensure that the inadequacies were checked to stop the practice of re-routing, false declaration and smuggling.
The Consumer Development Director of Unilever, Mr Kwaku Boateng, called on the government to consider setting up a palm oil Control Board to regulate quality, standard pricing and market behaviours of the product.
He said this could remove instances of glut of oil on plantations and be able to project and store oil in lean seasons.
Mr Boateng stated that Unilever had doubled its capacity in all departments, doubling production capacity and therefore gave the assurance that it could meet the entire demand of oil in the country.
The Chairman of the Select Committee, Mr J.B. Dankwa Adu, who led the team, said the committee was very concerned about the oil palm industry.
He said there were vast lands that could be cultivated to boost the oil palm sector for local industries to prevent importation of crude palm oil.
Mr Dankwa Adu urged Unilever to invest in the palm plantations to promote and sustain the sector to end the era of importation of refined vegetable oils.
He stated that when the committee visited the plantations, it was discovered that there was a glut on the farms and therefore called on the industries to make efforts to store the crude palm oil at the factory for use in the lean season.
The Select Committee members had earlier been briefed by the Chief Executive Officer of Unilever, Mr Charles Coffie, on the situation at the factory in Tema.
He commended them for visiting the factory even though they were on recess and promised to relate further with the committee to help solve problems in the sector.
POLICE TO IMPOUND UNREGISTERED VEHICLES (PAGE 31)
Henceforth, all unregistered and unlicensed vehicles that ply the roads between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. will be impounded and the drivers prosecuted, ASP Kwesi Ofori, Director of Police Public Affairs, has announced.
He explained that most arrests made in connection with robbery and kidnapping involved unregistered and unlicensed vehicles.
ASP Ofori, who was addressing a press conference in Tema, said during that period, other vehicles would also be checked for suspicious and illegal movements.
He appealed to the media to help fight crime through education and also unearth some of the societal evils that went on the blind side of the police.
ASP Ofori said the media had a very important role to play to ensure that Ghanaians enjoyed peace and freedom to go about their daily responsibilities as law-abiding citizens.
The Tema Region has become a fertile area for robbers, kidnappers and car snatchers but he said the police in Tema have worked tirelessly to trap them down to bring the situation under control, ASP Ofori declared.
He stated that the police had a duty to perform and therefore they would not hesitate to deliver their services within the confines of the law.
He, therefore, appealed to the media and the public to assist the police to close in on the robbers and get rid of them.
Meanwhile, in their determination to check the use of unregistered vehicles to commit crimes, the Ashanti Regional Police Command has also announced that it will vigorously enforce the ban on the use of unregistered vehicles after 6 p.m., reports Enoch Darfah Frimpong from Kumasi.
DCOP K. A. Opare-Addo, who has just assumed duty as the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, told a press conference that unregistered vehicles such as those using “DV” and “DP” number plates posed a lot of security concerns to the police.
”DV” and “DP” number plates are normally issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to garage owners and car dealers.
The “DP” is issued to only assist in transporting a vehicle from the port to the house or a garage and that of the “DV” is used for transporting vehicles to the offices of DVLA for registration and test driving.
It is unlawful to use vehicles with ”DV” and “DP” number plates after 6 p.m. but it is common to see such vehicles plying the streets of Kumasi especially at night.
The commander said some owners of garages might be driving such vehicles to their homes after work but added that his outfit had initiated a series of interactions with operators of various garages in the metropolis to explore common areas of co-operation in the usage of “DV” and “DP” numbers after 6 p.m.
He said his outfit was considering providing owners of garages with ID cards that they would display to save their cars from being impounded at night when they come into contact with the police.
Flanked by the Deputy Regional Police Commander, ACP Kwasi Mensah Duku, who has also just been posted to the region, and the Regional Operations Commander, Chief Superintendent George Mensah, Mr Opare-Addo said his outfit was determined to check robberies in the region to enable the people to have the peace to operate.
He said the crime rate in the region had decreased, explaining that between January and July 2007, a total of 448 robberies were recorded as against 138 recorded in 2008 and urged the public to be security conscious.
He explained that most arrests made in connection with robbery and kidnapping involved unregistered and unlicensed vehicles.
ASP Ofori, who was addressing a press conference in Tema, said during that period, other vehicles would also be checked for suspicious and illegal movements.
He appealed to the media to help fight crime through education and also unearth some of the societal evils that went on the blind side of the police.
ASP Ofori said the media had a very important role to play to ensure that Ghanaians enjoyed peace and freedom to go about their daily responsibilities as law-abiding citizens.
The Tema Region has become a fertile area for robbers, kidnappers and car snatchers but he said the police in Tema have worked tirelessly to trap them down to bring the situation under control, ASP Ofori declared.
He stated that the police had a duty to perform and therefore they would not hesitate to deliver their services within the confines of the law.
He, therefore, appealed to the media and the public to assist the police to close in on the robbers and get rid of them.
Meanwhile, in their determination to check the use of unregistered vehicles to commit crimes, the Ashanti Regional Police Command has also announced that it will vigorously enforce the ban on the use of unregistered vehicles after 6 p.m., reports Enoch Darfah Frimpong from Kumasi.
DCOP K. A. Opare-Addo, who has just assumed duty as the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, told a press conference that unregistered vehicles such as those using “DV” and “DP” number plates posed a lot of security concerns to the police.
”DV” and “DP” number plates are normally issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to garage owners and car dealers.
The “DP” is issued to only assist in transporting a vehicle from the port to the house or a garage and that of the “DV” is used for transporting vehicles to the offices of DVLA for registration and test driving.
It is unlawful to use vehicles with ”DV” and “DP” number plates after 6 p.m. but it is common to see such vehicles plying the streets of Kumasi especially at night.
The commander said some owners of garages might be driving such vehicles to their homes after work but added that his outfit had initiated a series of interactions with operators of various garages in the metropolis to explore common areas of co-operation in the usage of “DV” and “DP” numbers after 6 p.m.
He said his outfit was considering providing owners of garages with ID cards that they would display to save their cars from being impounded at night when they come into contact with the police.
Flanked by the Deputy Regional Police Commander, ACP Kwasi Mensah Duku, who has also just been posted to the region, and the Regional Operations Commander, Chief Superintendent George Mensah, Mr Opare-Addo said his outfit was determined to check robberies in the region to enable the people to have the peace to operate.
He said the crime rate in the region had decreased, explaining that between January and July 2007, a total of 448 robberies were recorded as against 138 recorded in 2008 and urged the public to be security conscious.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
GIVE HOTELS MAXIMUM SECURITY (PAGE 29)
THE security agencies have been urged to extend assistance to hotels to combat crime and protect the numerous guests who patronise the facilities, some residents of Tema have advocated.
They were of the view that some “crooked business tycoons” would want to use the hotels as their haven to operate in various illegal activities, noting that the management of the hotels would be able to locate such people.
The Daily Graphic was finding out the role of hotels in the fight against crime and the impact of police swoops on criminals in their hideouts.
It was gathered that hotels, especially obscurely located ones, were possible areas where leads to solve crimes could be got because many suspects were known to seek refuge in such hotels.
The police in Tema have, in recent times, swooped on the hideouts and dens of drug peddlers and made many arrests of suspect who were found with quantities of dried leaves and white substances suspected to be hard drugs. The police also, occasionally, found locally manufactured pistols.
Those interviewed claimed that the Tema Police must also trace the hideouts of robbers who raped, killed and looted personal property because their actions might be the result of indulgence in hard drugs.
Others commented on the springing up of drinking spots which could not be classified as hotels, bars or restaurants but were allegedly operated with only registered members and patronised by a certain class of people, adding that at those places alcoholic beverages were sold at double the real cost to prevent non members from going there.
They were of the view that some “crooked business tycoons” would want to use the hotels as their haven to operate in various illegal activities, noting that the management of the hotels would be able to locate such people.
The Daily Graphic was finding out the role of hotels in the fight against crime and the impact of police swoops on criminals in their hideouts.
It was gathered that hotels, especially obscurely located ones, were possible areas where leads to solve crimes could be got because many suspects were known to seek refuge in such hotels.
The police in Tema have, in recent times, swooped on the hideouts and dens of drug peddlers and made many arrests of suspect who were found with quantities of dried leaves and white substances suspected to be hard drugs. The police also, occasionally, found locally manufactured pistols.
Those interviewed claimed that the Tema Police must also trace the hideouts of robbers who raped, killed and looted personal property because their actions might be the result of indulgence in hard drugs.
Others commented on the springing up of drinking spots which could not be classified as hotels, bars or restaurants but were allegedly operated with only registered members and patronised by a certain class of people, adding that at those places alcoholic beverages were sold at double the real cost to prevent non members from going there.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
TRUST BANK DEMONSTRATES USE OF E-ZWICH (PAGE 29)
THE Lions Club of Tema, made up of professionals and business people, was at the weekend educated on the benefits and the usage of the e-zwich system.
The resource persons drawn from the Trust Bank (ttb), took members of the club through the handling of the point of sale (pos) equipment and the use of the smart card.
According to the Supervisor of the Electronic Funds Transfer Unit of the bank, Mr Ato Kwamina Wilberforce, the system would reduce fraud, eliminate counterfeit from the banking system and provide secured movement and payment of cash.
He gave the assurance that the introduction of the e-zwich system would not automatically remove cash from peoples pockets but will rather encourage the country to achieve its objectives of becoming a middle income one.
Mr Wilberforce said patrons also had the benefits of easy access to money 24 hours daily without any hindrance.
He noted that e-zwich card holders could keep track of their spending at any time, and therefore would remove doubts about further reconciliations.
Mr Wilberforce stated that as business people and professionals they had limited time and therefore writing of cheques could take more time than the use of the e-zwich system. He explained that the use of the e-zwich smartcard saved the card holder from any identification at the time of transaction.
Mr Wilberforce said the e-zwich smartcard frees card holders from carrying cash or cheques books.
He advised them to embrace the new system since cheques were not readily accepted by merchants for fear of fraud and forgery.
Mr Wilberforce said the security features of the e-zwich on the point of sale terminal was unique because the card holder would use biometrics fingerprint verification to access their accounts and every finger had different print, making it difficult for another person to access the account.
He said the account was immediately debited and the amount involved credited to the merchants account.
The Business Manager, Commercial and Consumer Banking of the Trust Bank, Mr Robert Danso-Boakye, observed that all banks in the country had joined the system to create an electronic payment platform after undergoing a successful experimentation.
He noted that it was the first payment system introduced by the central bank to further make banking easy and attractive for everybody.
Mr Danso-Boakye urged them to seek further clarification at any bank of their choice, and that the card had been designed to provide convenience, making purchases wherever the e-zwich smart poster was displayed.
He explained that those referred to as merchants were retailers who had agreed in conjunction with any bank to accept the e-zwich smart card for payment of goods and services.
The resource persons drawn from the Trust Bank (ttb), took members of the club through the handling of the point of sale (pos) equipment and the use of the smart card.
According to the Supervisor of the Electronic Funds Transfer Unit of the bank, Mr Ato Kwamina Wilberforce, the system would reduce fraud, eliminate counterfeit from the banking system and provide secured movement and payment of cash.
He gave the assurance that the introduction of the e-zwich system would not automatically remove cash from peoples pockets but will rather encourage the country to achieve its objectives of becoming a middle income one.
Mr Wilberforce said patrons also had the benefits of easy access to money 24 hours daily without any hindrance.
He noted that e-zwich card holders could keep track of their spending at any time, and therefore would remove doubts about further reconciliations.
Mr Wilberforce stated that as business people and professionals they had limited time and therefore writing of cheques could take more time than the use of the e-zwich system. He explained that the use of the e-zwich smartcard saved the card holder from any identification at the time of transaction.
Mr Wilberforce said the e-zwich smartcard frees card holders from carrying cash or cheques books.
He advised them to embrace the new system since cheques were not readily accepted by merchants for fear of fraud and forgery.
Mr Wilberforce said the security features of the e-zwich on the point of sale terminal was unique because the card holder would use biometrics fingerprint verification to access their accounts and every finger had different print, making it difficult for another person to access the account.
He said the account was immediately debited and the amount involved credited to the merchants account.
The Business Manager, Commercial and Consumer Banking of the Trust Bank, Mr Robert Danso-Boakye, observed that all banks in the country had joined the system to create an electronic payment platform after undergoing a successful experimentation.
He noted that it was the first payment system introduced by the central bank to further make banking easy and attractive for everybody.
Mr Danso-Boakye urged them to seek further clarification at any bank of their choice, and that the card had been designed to provide convenience, making purchases wherever the e-zwich smart poster was displayed.
He explained that those referred to as merchants were retailers who had agreed in conjunction with any bank to accept the e-zwich smart card for payment of goods and services.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
EXTEND MILITARY-POLICE PATROLS TO HOTELS (GRAPHIC, JULY 21, PAGE 29)
Security agencies have been urged to extend their crime combat operations to cover hotels to protect the numerous guests who patronise such facilities in the metropolis, some residents in Tema have advocated.
They were of the view that some ‘crooked business tycoons’ would want to use the hotels as their haven to engage in various illegal activities.
Some of the residents of Tema made the request when the Daily Graphic was finding out the role of the hotels in the fight against crimes and the impact of police swoops on criminals at their hideouts.
They told the Daily Graphic that hotels, especially those located in very obscure places, were possible areas where some criminal activities started and suspects who had been declared wanted also sought refuge.
The police in Tema have in recent times swooped on hideouts and dens of drug peddlers and arrested many suspects who were found with locally manufactured pistols, and quantities of dried leaves and white substances suspected to be hard drugs.
Most residents hold the view that some of the suspects who were arrested but did not have anything on them went back to the hideouts immediately they were released for lack of evidence.
Those interviewed claimed that the Tema police must locate the hideouts of robbers who rape, kill and loot personal properties because they must have engaged in such crimes after indulging in the hard drugs.
Others commented on the springing up of drinking spots, which could not be classified as hotels, bars or restaurants. “Patronage of such spots is limited to only registered members or ‘a certain class of people’ under the guise of going to drink alcoholic beverages, which are sold at double the real cost to prevent non members from going there,” they contended.
The Tema Regional Chairman of the Ghana Hoteliers Association, Nana Kofi Opei V, said support from the security agencies was necessary.
Nana Opei said Tema and its environs, apart from boasting numerous features that attracted tourists, could be a fertile grounds for suspicious characters.
He said as of June 26, 2008 the branch had 148 registered members with six others on its waiting list with eight others yet to make any moves to register.
Nana Opei said people with bad intentions could sneak into the country through the eastern corridor especially with the oil find and leave without being seen.
The hotel business, he noted, was a private sector player, which had provided employment for many people in various spheres of life.
The Meridian Hotel which overlooked the harbour and was abandoned some 40 years ago became the haven for drug addicts and pushers and served as a den for immoral activities.
The state-owned facility had to be abandoned after some leakage were found but could not be remedied because the plan on the project could not be traced.
Investigations led to the discovery that the edifice with its new Malaysians owners had plans to provide a modern restaurant, office complex, shopping mall and swimming pools.
The abandoned structure became a security risk until the Malaysians took over to ensure that people kept away from it.
There are other hotel projects springing up in the metropolis which makes it prudent for the police to take note of all of them and check their books for genuine guests.
The residents of Tema have called for a strong collaboration between the police and the operators of hotels to expose criminals who used their premises to achieve their parochial objectives.
The police have to act to alert criminals that they could not use hotels as their hiding places before many such facilities spring up.
The Deputy Executive Director of the Ghana Tourist Board, Mr Edwin Owusu Mensah, had said at the Second National Executive Council meeting of the Ghana Hoteliers Association that the board would before the end of the year set up an office in Tema to handle all issues pertaining to the hospitality industry.
They were of the view that some ‘crooked business tycoons’ would want to use the hotels as their haven to engage in various illegal activities.
Some of the residents of Tema made the request when the Daily Graphic was finding out the role of the hotels in the fight against crimes and the impact of police swoops on criminals at their hideouts.
They told the Daily Graphic that hotels, especially those located in very obscure places, were possible areas where some criminal activities started and suspects who had been declared wanted also sought refuge.
The police in Tema have in recent times swooped on hideouts and dens of drug peddlers and arrested many suspects who were found with locally manufactured pistols, and quantities of dried leaves and white substances suspected to be hard drugs.
Most residents hold the view that some of the suspects who were arrested but did not have anything on them went back to the hideouts immediately they were released for lack of evidence.
Those interviewed claimed that the Tema police must locate the hideouts of robbers who rape, kill and loot personal properties because they must have engaged in such crimes after indulging in the hard drugs.
Others commented on the springing up of drinking spots, which could not be classified as hotels, bars or restaurants. “Patronage of such spots is limited to only registered members or ‘a certain class of people’ under the guise of going to drink alcoholic beverages, which are sold at double the real cost to prevent non members from going there,” they contended.
The Tema Regional Chairman of the Ghana Hoteliers Association, Nana Kofi Opei V, said support from the security agencies was necessary.
Nana Opei said Tema and its environs, apart from boasting numerous features that attracted tourists, could be a fertile grounds for suspicious characters.
He said as of June 26, 2008 the branch had 148 registered members with six others on its waiting list with eight others yet to make any moves to register.
Nana Opei said people with bad intentions could sneak into the country through the eastern corridor especially with the oil find and leave without being seen.
The hotel business, he noted, was a private sector player, which had provided employment for many people in various spheres of life.
The Meridian Hotel which overlooked the harbour and was abandoned some 40 years ago became the haven for drug addicts and pushers and served as a den for immoral activities.
The state-owned facility had to be abandoned after some leakage were found but could not be remedied because the plan on the project could not be traced.
Investigations led to the discovery that the edifice with its new Malaysians owners had plans to provide a modern restaurant, office complex, shopping mall and swimming pools.
The abandoned structure became a security risk until the Malaysians took over to ensure that people kept away from it.
There are other hotel projects springing up in the metropolis which makes it prudent for the police to take note of all of them and check their books for genuine guests.
The residents of Tema have called for a strong collaboration between the police and the operators of hotels to expose criminals who used their premises to achieve their parochial objectives.
The police have to act to alert criminals that they could not use hotels as their hiding places before many such facilities spring up.
The Deputy Executive Director of the Ghana Tourist Board, Mr Edwin Owusu Mensah, had said at the Second National Executive Council meeting of the Ghana Hoteliers Association that the board would before the end of the year set up an office in Tema to handle all issues pertaining to the hospitality industry.
Monday, July 21, 2008
KAKASUNANKA ABANDONS TOILET (PAGE 47)
A fully completed six-seater modern toilet facility has been abandoned for the past four years at Kakasunanka near Tema because it is said to be sitting on a main waterline from the Kpong Water Works that serves communities in Tema and Accra.
The toilet has now become an attraction as one approaches the Michel Camp barracks on the way from the Afienya toll booth end, standing tall in overgrown bushes with the ‘closed down’ sign showing glaringly.
Ironically, another water closet facility that is near completion and supposed to replace the abandoned one has also been left to the wrath of the weather because, according to the contractor, the Tema Metropolitan Assembly owed him an undisclosed amount for work done.
When the Assembly Member for the Kakasunanka Electoral Area Mr Samuelson Alenge, was contacted, he confirmed that the Assembly initiated the project for the area but later realised it was a health hazard.
He said it was noted that in case of any leakage the treated water passing through the line could be contaminated with affluent from the facility.
Mr Alenge could not confirm or deny if there was a survey and site analysis before the structure was put up but said it was unfortunate that such a situation had come up.
He was also not happy that work on the new one to replace it had also been abandoned because of the indebtedness of the Assembly to the contractor.
When asked what facility served the people in the absence of the two facilities, Mr Alenge said the absence of a public facility had created an unsanitary condition because people attended to the call of nature anywhere in the bush around.
He said some opinion leaders and the youth in the area made up of nine communities had decided to protest against the Assembly and the contractor to relieve them of their predicament.
Mr Alenge said his call for action to be taken on the project had not yielded any result as the structure continued to be abandoned in the bush while the new one was yet to be fitted with certain accessories.
He disclosed that the Assembly had plans to convert the abandoned completed structure that could not be used as a toilet facility into a revenue office to collect tolls for the Assembly.
Some members of the community who the Daily Graphic spoke to were not happy about the situation and appealed to the authorities to go to their aid to complete the new one for their use.
A source at the Tema Metropolitan Assembly confirmed that the projects had been abandoned but could not tell when work would start to complete the new one because of lack of funds.
The toilet has now become an attraction as one approaches the Michel Camp barracks on the way from the Afienya toll booth end, standing tall in overgrown bushes with the ‘closed down’ sign showing glaringly.
Ironically, another water closet facility that is near completion and supposed to replace the abandoned one has also been left to the wrath of the weather because, according to the contractor, the Tema Metropolitan Assembly owed him an undisclosed amount for work done.
When the Assembly Member for the Kakasunanka Electoral Area Mr Samuelson Alenge, was contacted, he confirmed that the Assembly initiated the project for the area but later realised it was a health hazard.
He said it was noted that in case of any leakage the treated water passing through the line could be contaminated with affluent from the facility.
Mr Alenge could not confirm or deny if there was a survey and site analysis before the structure was put up but said it was unfortunate that such a situation had come up.
He was also not happy that work on the new one to replace it had also been abandoned because of the indebtedness of the Assembly to the contractor.
When asked what facility served the people in the absence of the two facilities, Mr Alenge said the absence of a public facility had created an unsanitary condition because people attended to the call of nature anywhere in the bush around.
He said some opinion leaders and the youth in the area made up of nine communities had decided to protest against the Assembly and the contractor to relieve them of their predicament.
Mr Alenge said his call for action to be taken on the project had not yielded any result as the structure continued to be abandoned in the bush while the new one was yet to be fitted with certain accessories.
He disclosed that the Assembly had plans to convert the abandoned completed structure that could not be used as a toilet facility into a revenue office to collect tolls for the Assembly.
Some members of the community who the Daily Graphic spoke to were not happy about the situation and appealed to the authorities to go to their aid to complete the new one for their use.
A source at the Tema Metropolitan Assembly confirmed that the projects had been abandoned but could not tell when work would start to complete the new one because of lack of funds.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
UK STUDENTS VISIT TEMA MANTSE (PAGE 21)
Four officials and 10 students from Rossington All Saint College in Doncaster in the United Kingdom are in Ghana on a Greenwich Meridian partnership programme between the school and the Akodzo Junior High School in Tema that involves the study of culture between the two counties.
The 14-member delegation, led by the head of the college, Mr David Russel, paid a courtesy call on the Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Kraku.
They were treated to traditional singing and dancing blended with local games by an all-women group of Tema Manhean.
The co-ordinator of the programme, code-named 'Dreams and Teams’, Mr Adu Ayeh, explained that the partnership was sponsored by the British Council to expose British students to the culture of other children in other countries.
He said the two schools had been in the relationship for the past three years during which period visits had been exchanged.
Mr Ayeh said the relationship had led to the presentation of learning materials to the Akodzo school.
Mr Ayeh commended the British Council for the initiative to make available sponsorship package for the future leaders to have first-hand information about each other's country.
He said the British students, who enjoyed playing local games like 'ampe', taught their Ghanaians counterparts how to work on the computer.
Nii Adjei Kraku expressed appreciation for the relationship between the schools, which had been made possible because of the identical locations of the communities associated with the Greenwich Meridian.
He called for the need to have and strengthen a relationship among students of the two schools and appealed to the British Council to extend the programme to cover as many children as possible in Tema Manhean.
Nii Kraku disclosed that the people of Tema had instituted an education fund, which offers scholarships to the needy, and appealed to the leadership of the delegation to enhance the fund by extending a hand to the needy in Tema.
Mr Russell was installed as a development chief of Tema under the stool name Nii Adjetey Angmukeba, which was explained to mean “brought by the mystic (Greenwich)”.
He thanked the chief and elders of Tema and said he was prepared to honour invitations to their traditional celebrations when possible.
The 14-member delegation, led by the head of the college, Mr David Russel, paid a courtesy call on the Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Kraku.
They were treated to traditional singing and dancing blended with local games by an all-women group of Tema Manhean.
The co-ordinator of the programme, code-named 'Dreams and Teams’, Mr Adu Ayeh, explained that the partnership was sponsored by the British Council to expose British students to the culture of other children in other countries.
He said the two schools had been in the relationship for the past three years during which period visits had been exchanged.
Mr Ayeh said the relationship had led to the presentation of learning materials to the Akodzo school.
Mr Ayeh commended the British Council for the initiative to make available sponsorship package for the future leaders to have first-hand information about each other's country.
He said the British students, who enjoyed playing local games like 'ampe', taught their Ghanaians counterparts how to work on the computer.
Nii Adjei Kraku expressed appreciation for the relationship between the schools, which had been made possible because of the identical locations of the communities associated with the Greenwich Meridian.
He called for the need to have and strengthen a relationship among students of the two schools and appealed to the British Council to extend the programme to cover as many children as possible in Tema Manhean.
Nii Kraku disclosed that the people of Tema had instituted an education fund, which offers scholarships to the needy, and appealed to the leadership of the delegation to enhance the fund by extending a hand to the needy in Tema.
Mr Russell was installed as a development chief of Tema under the stool name Nii Adjetey Angmukeba, which was explained to mean “brought by the mystic (Greenwich)”.
He thanked the chief and elders of Tema and said he was prepared to honour invitations to their traditional celebrations when possible.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
COMPANY DEVELOPS MINI-REFINERY (SPREAD)
THE Oil and Gas Development Corporation (OGDC), one of the oil companies which has applied to prospect for oil in Ghana, has developed a mini- oil refinery.
Briefing the media in Tema, Mr John Holland, the President of the UK-based OGDC, said the mini refinery had been designed to refine crude oil on site.
He explained that the refinery was economically viable because it could operate on site, thereby cutting down on the high cost of lifting the crude oil to a refinery.
He told the media that as soon as the OGDC received its operating licence, the OGDC would formalise its $2-billion deep water and onshore oil and gas drilling project.
He disclosed that the project would create more than 2,400 jobs for Ghanaians, who will be involved in the construction of the refinery and the fabrication of swamp barges.
Mr Holland said a leading venture capital organisation had mandated the OGDC to manage four drilling swamp barges for use on charter basis in West African and South Asian oil and gas markets.
Meanwhile, the OGDC has opened offices in Tema, Nigeria, China and Brazil.
Briefing the media in Tema, Mr John Holland, the President of the UK-based OGDC, said the mini refinery had been designed to refine crude oil on site.
He explained that the refinery was economically viable because it could operate on site, thereby cutting down on the high cost of lifting the crude oil to a refinery.
He told the media that as soon as the OGDC received its operating licence, the OGDC would formalise its $2-billion deep water and onshore oil and gas drilling project.
He disclosed that the project would create more than 2,400 jobs for Ghanaians, who will be involved in the construction of the refinery and the fabrication of swamp barges.
Mr Holland said a leading venture capital organisation had mandated the OGDC to manage four drilling swamp barges for use on charter basis in West African and South Asian oil and gas markets.
Meanwhile, the OGDC has opened offices in Tema, Nigeria, China and Brazil.
Friday, July 11, 2008
UK COMPANY DESIGNS MINI OIL REFINERY (PAGE 35)
OIL and Gas Development Corporation (OGDC), a United Kingdom-based company, has innovated a mini oil refinery exclusively designed to refine crude oil on site and supply the product to remote or climatically harsh regions for local use.
This is to add value to existing natural resources to meet domestic demands and create stable foreign revenue streams.
Speaking to the media at a forum in Tema, the President of the OGDC, Mr John Holland, explained that the mini refineries would be economically viable in countries where local crude was available because it could be cost-effective to apply the technology in areas with poor roads to remove the high cost involved in transporting refined fuels from urban centres.
He noted that the system had been built with features to encourage simplicity of design, modular construction, intuitive plant operator interfaces and reliability to ensure a successful mini refining operation.
He said with the assurance of having oil in Ghana, the OGDC was in the process of formalising its operations to start a $2 billion oil drilling project to be involved in deep water offshore and onshore oil and gas processing, refinery and petrochemical.
He stated that after receiving its documents, which were at the final processing stage, the OGDC would take about 14 to 16 months to complete the project and start production.
Mr Holland disclosed that the project would feed the new technology of refining oil on site in remote areas.
He disclosed that the project would create over 2,400 jobs for Ghanaians to be involved in the construction of the refinery and about 380 others in fabricating and constructing swamp barges.
Mr Holland said a leading Venture Capital organisation had mandated OGDC to manage four new drilling swamp barges for use on charter basis in the West African and South Asian oil and gas markets.
He said the OGDC recently signed a 100 per cent funding package with a leading United States investment and merchant banking organisation to project manage the design fabrication and construction of a new export refinery and offshore deep water rig repair and offshore support facility.
Mr Holland said discussions were ongoing between the OGDC and government officials to identify the most strategic locations for these facilities.
He said the OGDC had also been awarded its own allocation for the purchase of feed stock that would be required to effectively utilise the refinery.
He said in addition, talks had been held with representatives of neighbouring ECOWAS countries to establish processing agreements.
Meanwhile, the OGDC has opened offices in Tema, Nigeria, China, Brazil, among others, and will, in the future, open additional locations near its facilities.
This is to add value to existing natural resources to meet domestic demands and create stable foreign revenue streams.
Speaking to the media at a forum in Tema, the President of the OGDC, Mr John Holland, explained that the mini refineries would be economically viable in countries where local crude was available because it could be cost-effective to apply the technology in areas with poor roads to remove the high cost involved in transporting refined fuels from urban centres.
He noted that the system had been built with features to encourage simplicity of design, modular construction, intuitive plant operator interfaces and reliability to ensure a successful mini refining operation.
He said with the assurance of having oil in Ghana, the OGDC was in the process of formalising its operations to start a $2 billion oil drilling project to be involved in deep water offshore and onshore oil and gas processing, refinery and petrochemical.
He stated that after receiving its documents, which were at the final processing stage, the OGDC would take about 14 to 16 months to complete the project and start production.
Mr Holland disclosed that the project would feed the new technology of refining oil on site in remote areas.
He disclosed that the project would create over 2,400 jobs for Ghanaians to be involved in the construction of the refinery and about 380 others in fabricating and constructing swamp barges.
Mr Holland said a leading Venture Capital organisation had mandated OGDC to manage four new drilling swamp barges for use on charter basis in the West African and South Asian oil and gas markets.
He said the OGDC recently signed a 100 per cent funding package with a leading United States investment and merchant banking organisation to project manage the design fabrication and construction of a new export refinery and offshore deep water rig repair and offshore support facility.
Mr Holland said discussions were ongoing between the OGDC and government officials to identify the most strategic locations for these facilities.
He said the OGDC had also been awarded its own allocation for the purchase of feed stock that would be required to effectively utilise the refinery.
He said in addition, talks had been held with representatives of neighbouring ECOWAS countries to establish processing agreements.
Meanwhile, the OGDC has opened offices in Tema, Nigeria, China, Brazil, among others, and will, in the future, open additional locations near its facilities.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
LET'S BUILD HUMAN CAPACITY FOR OIL INDUSTRY (PAGE 54)
THE discovery of oil in commercial quantities in Ghana has thrown a serious challenge to the technical sector of the country’s educational system, Dr Ali Abugre, the Deputy Managing Director in charge of Engineering and Management at the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), has observed.
He has, therefore, advocated the provision of proper infrastructure and systems in technical institutions and universities to build the human capacity to handle the country’s upstream sector of the oil Industry.
Dr Abugre was speaking at the first commendation service of the Tema Technical Institute (TTI) during which 269 students passed out after undertaking courses in various fields, including mechanical engineering craft practice, industrial mechanics, electrical installation works, welding, photography, tailoring, blocklaying and printing in both advanced and intermediate programmes.
The service was on the theme, “Technical education and training — A dependable source of effective industrial growth and self-employment”.
Dr Abugre was of the view that learning must be acquired by means of projects to ensure occupational competency to enable trainees to develop entrepreneurial thinking at end of their training.
He explained that on-the-job training programmes had ignored long-term strategic importance to the economy as a whole to meet career objectives and rather focused on the needs of the enterprise.
Dr Abugre called on employers organisations to play important roles in influencing training policy and governance, drawing attention to the need for long-term investment in continuous training.
He noted that vocational education and training had been seen as a solution to the absence of skilled labour to industry, as well as facilitating the transition from school to work for disadvantaged youth.
The Director of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Division of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Asamoah Duodu, indicated that there was an increasing importance now attached to technical and vocational education and training by most African governments, including Ghana.
He observed that that was reflected in the various poverty reduction strategy papers that governments had developed in collaboration with the World Bank.
Mr Duodu said the country’s reward system had disadvantaged those who entered technical and vocational institutions because consideration was given to those with university degrees, irrespective of the skills they had.
He stated that that had resulted in graduates of most technical institutes craving to enter the universities, instead of improving with the skills acquired.
Mr Duodu said that trend of affairs could adversely affect the country’s technical skills, with serious consequences for enrolment in the engineering and building programmes in polytechnics.
He said there were many young men and women drifting into the urban centres in search of jobs but because they had purely academic-oriented education, without any occupational skills, they had become unemployed.
Mr Duodu advised the graduates to apply the virtues they had learnt to their future endeavours to meet the challenges waiting for them.
He urged them to work hard and be submissive to their employers to gain the necessary experience, which would mould them into masters of their trades.
The principal of the institute, Mr George Provençal, said the 269 students had two to three years academic and practical training in their various fields.
They were also given industrial internship, educational field trips, among others, that went into effective technical training, he added.
He has, therefore, advocated the provision of proper infrastructure and systems in technical institutions and universities to build the human capacity to handle the country’s upstream sector of the oil Industry.
Dr Abugre was speaking at the first commendation service of the Tema Technical Institute (TTI) during which 269 students passed out after undertaking courses in various fields, including mechanical engineering craft practice, industrial mechanics, electrical installation works, welding, photography, tailoring, blocklaying and printing in both advanced and intermediate programmes.
The service was on the theme, “Technical education and training — A dependable source of effective industrial growth and self-employment”.
Dr Abugre was of the view that learning must be acquired by means of projects to ensure occupational competency to enable trainees to develop entrepreneurial thinking at end of their training.
He explained that on-the-job training programmes had ignored long-term strategic importance to the economy as a whole to meet career objectives and rather focused on the needs of the enterprise.
Dr Abugre called on employers organisations to play important roles in influencing training policy and governance, drawing attention to the need for long-term investment in continuous training.
He noted that vocational education and training had been seen as a solution to the absence of skilled labour to industry, as well as facilitating the transition from school to work for disadvantaged youth.
The Director of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Division of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Asamoah Duodu, indicated that there was an increasing importance now attached to technical and vocational education and training by most African governments, including Ghana.
He observed that that was reflected in the various poverty reduction strategy papers that governments had developed in collaboration with the World Bank.
Mr Duodu said the country’s reward system had disadvantaged those who entered technical and vocational institutions because consideration was given to those with university degrees, irrespective of the skills they had.
He stated that that had resulted in graduates of most technical institutes craving to enter the universities, instead of improving with the skills acquired.
Mr Duodu said that trend of affairs could adversely affect the country’s technical skills, with serious consequences for enrolment in the engineering and building programmes in polytechnics.
He said there were many young men and women drifting into the urban centres in search of jobs but because they had purely academic-oriented education, without any occupational skills, they had become unemployed.
Mr Duodu advised the graduates to apply the virtues they had learnt to their future endeavours to meet the challenges waiting for them.
He urged them to work hard and be submissive to their employers to gain the necessary experience, which would mould them into masters of their trades.
The principal of the institute, Mr George Provençal, said the 269 students had two to three years academic and practical training in their various fields.
They were also given industrial internship, educational field trips, among others, that went into effective technical training, he added.
TORGOME WOMEN UNDERTAKE ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT (PAGE 11)
Women in the Torgome Traditional Area near Akuse in the North Tongu District are engaged in an environmental protection project to manage the threat of floating aquatic weeds in the Volta basin to restore its vegetation to conserve biodiversity.
It is to equip the women with usable skills to improve on their living conditions and offer training and empowerment, while conserving the environment.
A local NGO, Witlov, which is involved in assisting women to acquire skills, has, accordingly, launched a project at Torgome to boost the morale of the women to use resources in their environment judiciously for a living.
The Chief Executive of Witlov, Mrs Ethel Mac Harrison, said other financially viable and environmentally safe projects, including the cultivation of mango, cassia, acacia and moringa plantations and vegetable farms along the banks of the Volta, formed part of the project.
She said the women would also be taught to create cage aquaculture to produce tilapia and its fingerlings.
"Due to the construction of the Akosombo and the Kpong dams, the growth of floating water weeds threaten the livelihood of the people, making the river inaccessible," she noted, but observed that "these disadvantages can be turned into organic manure to fertilise agricultural land when cleared".
Mrs Harrison said the NGO researched and realised that communities along the banks of the Volta River depended on the river for food but they were engaged in crude methods and hazardous environmental practices.
She outlined some of those methods as the use of chemicals in fishing, farming very closer to the river banks, sand winning at the river banks and depositing waste into the river and along the banks.
Mrs Harrison noted that as the communities along the river banks tried to harness those resources, they over-exploited them, causing massive degradation of the river, threatening the existence of the resources on which they depended for their livelihood and survival.
She said the over-exploitation had led to threats from the weeds which needed to be managed before any beneficial project could start and, therefore, appealed to the people to help alleviate the challenges facing them and other settlements in the Torgome area to conserve biodiversity of the Volta River.
Mrs Harrison petitioned traditional leaders to set up measures and regulations to mitigate those bad environmental practices.
She expressed her gratitude to the UNDP/GEF for assisting in making the project possible and commended clan leaders and citizens who had made land available to facilitate the project to stand by it and ensure that it went on smoothly because the people of the community were the beneficiaries.
She hoped they would not do anything that would hinder the future of the project and make it a model worth emulating in the area.
Mrs Harrison disclosed that Witlov had, for the past six years, been in partnership with women in the local communities to improve their lives and also lead decent lives.
She said the organisation had been able to recruit 120 women to involve them in the project at Torgome, with some men showing interest.
Mrs Harrison remarked that women could be very industrious and, therefore, they should not consider themselves as inferior to men.
She said the NGO was setting up a home for street girls and trying to entice the young women who indulged in excesses in the streets to undergo reformation at the home.
She was optimistic that continuous advocacy by women organisations would yield results in the future because it was a gradual process.
It is to equip the women with usable skills to improve on their living conditions and offer training and empowerment, while conserving the environment.
A local NGO, Witlov, which is involved in assisting women to acquire skills, has, accordingly, launched a project at Torgome to boost the morale of the women to use resources in their environment judiciously for a living.
The Chief Executive of Witlov, Mrs Ethel Mac Harrison, said other financially viable and environmentally safe projects, including the cultivation of mango, cassia, acacia and moringa plantations and vegetable farms along the banks of the Volta, formed part of the project.
She said the women would also be taught to create cage aquaculture to produce tilapia and its fingerlings.
"Due to the construction of the Akosombo and the Kpong dams, the growth of floating water weeds threaten the livelihood of the people, making the river inaccessible," she noted, but observed that "these disadvantages can be turned into organic manure to fertilise agricultural land when cleared".
Mrs Harrison said the NGO researched and realised that communities along the banks of the Volta River depended on the river for food but they were engaged in crude methods and hazardous environmental practices.
She outlined some of those methods as the use of chemicals in fishing, farming very closer to the river banks, sand winning at the river banks and depositing waste into the river and along the banks.
Mrs Harrison noted that as the communities along the river banks tried to harness those resources, they over-exploited them, causing massive degradation of the river, threatening the existence of the resources on which they depended for their livelihood and survival.
She said the over-exploitation had led to threats from the weeds which needed to be managed before any beneficial project could start and, therefore, appealed to the people to help alleviate the challenges facing them and other settlements in the Torgome area to conserve biodiversity of the Volta River.
Mrs Harrison petitioned traditional leaders to set up measures and regulations to mitigate those bad environmental practices.
She expressed her gratitude to the UNDP/GEF for assisting in making the project possible and commended clan leaders and citizens who had made land available to facilitate the project to stand by it and ensure that it went on smoothly because the people of the community were the beneficiaries.
She hoped they would not do anything that would hinder the future of the project and make it a model worth emulating in the area.
Mrs Harrison disclosed that Witlov had, for the past six years, been in partnership with women in the local communities to improve their lives and also lead decent lives.
She said the organisation had been able to recruit 120 women to involve them in the project at Torgome, with some men showing interest.
Mrs Harrison remarked that women could be very industrious and, therefore, they should not consider themselves as inferior to men.
She said the NGO was setting up a home for street girls and trying to entice the young women who indulged in excesses in the streets to undergo reformation at the home.
She was optimistic that continuous advocacy by women organisations would yield results in the future because it was a gradual process.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
SUNON ASOGLI POWER PLANT ON COURSE TO MEET DEADLINE (BACK PAGE)
Work on the Sunon Asogli Power (Ghana) project at Kpone, near Tema, is progressing to meet the projected deadline of six months for the first phase to be completed.
A visit to the site showed the technical team and the engineers busily constructing the various structures to complete the project on schedule.
Structures to house the computer and the power generating sections had also been completed.
The workforce is made up of about 80 per cent local people who are people rendering direct labour with some Chinese performing the specialised functions.
The President, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor, on April 18, 2008 cut the sod for work to begin on the project.
The 560 megawatt power generation plant is a joint venture between Shenzhen Energy Group Companies Limited of China, Strategic African Securities and the China-Africa Development Fund Company Limited.
It is the first privately-owned power plant to be built in the country.
The first phase, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, is expected to generate 200 megawatts of power while the second phase, which commences immediately afterwards, will produce 360 megawatts, to be completed by the end of 2009.
A senior foreman on the project, Mr Cornelius Segbefia, confirmed that the project, which started three months ago, was 50 per cent complete.
He said work was moving according to schedule, adding that bungalows for staff and offices were also under construction.
Mr Segbefia said all materials for the work were in stock and, therefore, did not foresee any delay while the work progressed.
Mr Segbefia was optimistic that by the end of the year the project would be completed for it to complement the power needs of the country.
A visit to the site showed the technical team and the engineers busily constructing the various structures to complete the project on schedule.
Structures to house the computer and the power generating sections had also been completed.
The workforce is made up of about 80 per cent local people who are people rendering direct labour with some Chinese performing the specialised functions.
The President, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor, on April 18, 2008 cut the sod for work to begin on the project.
The 560 megawatt power generation plant is a joint venture between Shenzhen Energy Group Companies Limited of China, Strategic African Securities and the China-Africa Development Fund Company Limited.
It is the first privately-owned power plant to be built in the country.
The first phase, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, is expected to generate 200 megawatts of power while the second phase, which commences immediately afterwards, will produce 360 megawatts, to be completed by the end of 2009.
A senior foreman on the project, Mr Cornelius Segbefia, confirmed that the project, which started three months ago, was 50 per cent complete.
He said work was moving according to schedule, adding that bungalows for staff and offices were also under construction.
Mr Segbefia said all materials for the work were in stock and, therefore, did not foresee any delay while the work progressed.
Mr Segbefia was optimistic that by the end of the year the project would be completed for it to complement the power needs of the country.
Monday, July 7, 2008
MANAGEMENT EDUCATION PROGRAMME LAUNCHED (PAGE 57)
THE Ministry of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and President’s Initiatives is implementing a support programme to improve productivity and competitiveness of Ghanaian products on the international market.
To this end, a national quality management education and sensitisation programme to the country’s trade and industry has been launched.
The Deputy Minister of the sector, Mr Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, in a speech read for on his behalf at the launch of the programme in Tema, said the initiatives would focus on how small-and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) could achieve their goals to promote exports.
He mentioned some of the constraints confronting local products as the inability of some products to meet regulatory requirements and the inconsistencies in product quality.
Mr Agyemang-Manu said the new initiative was aimed at creating awareness of what consumers demanded in destination markets and what the legal requirements were.
He said the ministry had also launched a website that would give information to help exporters to meet the point of entry demands on the various international markets.
Mr Agyeman-Manu described the country’s trade policy as “outward looking”, noting that it addressed the challenges in the global markets, with its standards and demands that were required from the Ghanaian firms.
He observed that quality had become a very crucial element in successfully entering high-income markets which were valid for both consumer and industrial goods.
He also cautioned that industrialists must ensure its success by getting fully involved in the training of their staff, and not merely implementing the systems without cost.
He urged the SMEs to be quality-conscious to enable them meet the competition in the trade sector of the economy.
Mr Agyemang-Manu added that the workshops would present tools on how entrepreneurs would address issues of quality management systems in their companies.
He was of the view that such techniques would improve the performance of the SMEs.
The minister commended the Athena Foods Limited, manufacturers of fruit juices, for setting the pace in the search for quality management systems in Ghana.
The company which operates in the free zone enclave in Tema has operated successfully, while managing within the constraints of quality systems; in about six years ago, it received organic certification from SKAL of Holland, followed with similar certifications from SGF of Germany, Coca-Cola, among others.
Mr Agyeman-Manu said the practice of quality management systems had afforded Athena Foods Limited the opportunity to achieve its goals.
He urged all other companies to emulate the success story of the Athena Foods Limited which was used as a showcase in the food processing sector to open new opportunities and to enter export markets, so as to be more competitive domestically to demonstrate Ghana’s ability to produce high quality goods to the outside world.
Inspection of the factory exposed a systematic production floor with technical markings and the exposure of workers to quality measures.
The Managing Director (MD) of Athena Foods Limited, Dr Tony Antwi Mensah, in a speech, called on industrialists to accept the initiative of quality systems by the Ministry of Trade and show their eagerness to support the programme.
Members of the National Steering Group, led by Mrs Goski Alabi, inspected the factory floor and were taken through the production lines by the MD of the Athena Foods Limited, where value was being added to turn pineapples into juices.
To this end, a national quality management education and sensitisation programme to the country’s trade and industry has been launched.
The Deputy Minister of the sector, Mr Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, in a speech read for on his behalf at the launch of the programme in Tema, said the initiatives would focus on how small-and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) could achieve their goals to promote exports.
He mentioned some of the constraints confronting local products as the inability of some products to meet regulatory requirements and the inconsistencies in product quality.
Mr Agyemang-Manu said the new initiative was aimed at creating awareness of what consumers demanded in destination markets and what the legal requirements were.
He said the ministry had also launched a website that would give information to help exporters to meet the point of entry demands on the various international markets.
Mr Agyeman-Manu described the country’s trade policy as “outward looking”, noting that it addressed the challenges in the global markets, with its standards and demands that were required from the Ghanaian firms.
He observed that quality had become a very crucial element in successfully entering high-income markets which were valid for both consumer and industrial goods.
He also cautioned that industrialists must ensure its success by getting fully involved in the training of their staff, and not merely implementing the systems without cost.
He urged the SMEs to be quality-conscious to enable them meet the competition in the trade sector of the economy.
Mr Agyemang-Manu added that the workshops would present tools on how entrepreneurs would address issues of quality management systems in their companies.
He was of the view that such techniques would improve the performance of the SMEs.
The minister commended the Athena Foods Limited, manufacturers of fruit juices, for setting the pace in the search for quality management systems in Ghana.
The company which operates in the free zone enclave in Tema has operated successfully, while managing within the constraints of quality systems; in about six years ago, it received organic certification from SKAL of Holland, followed with similar certifications from SGF of Germany, Coca-Cola, among others.
Mr Agyeman-Manu said the practice of quality management systems had afforded Athena Foods Limited the opportunity to achieve its goals.
He urged all other companies to emulate the success story of the Athena Foods Limited which was used as a showcase in the food processing sector to open new opportunities and to enter export markets, so as to be more competitive domestically to demonstrate Ghana’s ability to produce high quality goods to the outside world.
Inspection of the factory exposed a systematic production floor with technical markings and the exposure of workers to quality measures.
The Managing Director (MD) of Athena Foods Limited, Dr Tony Antwi Mensah, in a speech, called on industrialists to accept the initiative of quality systems by the Ministry of Trade and show their eagerness to support the programme.
Members of the National Steering Group, led by Mrs Goski Alabi, inspected the factory floor and were taken through the production lines by the MD of the Athena Foods Limited, where value was being added to turn pineapples into juices.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
NATIONAL QUALITY STEERING GROUP FORMED (PAGE 38)
THE Ministry of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and President’s Special Initiatives is implementing a support programme to improve the productivity and competitiveness of Ghanaian industries and products, both locally and internationally.
As a result, a national quality steering group has been formed to develop an operational framework for the integration of quality management into the country’s trade and industry through educational programmes.
The Deputy sector Minister, Mr Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, in a speech read on his behalf at the launch of a series of educational and sensitisation workshops in Tema, said the initiatives would focus on how SMEs could achieve their goals to promote the export business.
He noted that in recent times many Ghanaian products had been refused entry into certain international markets because they could not meet the entry test of regulatory requirements, while others had not been consistent enough to make the producer a reliable long-term supplier.
Mr Agyemang-Manu said the new initiative was aimed at creating awareness of what consumers demanded in destination markets and what the legal requirements were.
He said the ministry had also launched a website — www.sps-tbt-ghana.org — that would give information to help exporters to meet the point of entry demands.
The deputy minister described the country’s trade policy as “outward looking”, noting that it addressed the challenges that global markets, with their standards and demands, were imposing on Ghanaian firms.
He observed that quality had become a very crucial element in successfully entering high-income markets.
He cautioned industrialists to ensure its success by getting fully involved in training staff, and not merely implementing the systems without cost .
He urged the SMEs to be quality conscious to enable them to meet the competition in the trade sector of the economy of the country.
Mr Agyemang-Manu commended Athena Foods Limited, manufacturers of fruit juices and concentrates, for setting the pace in the search for quality management systems in Ghana.
The company, which operates in the free zones enclave in Tema, has operated successfully and six years ago it received organic certification from SKAL of Holland, followed by similar certifications from SGF
of Germany, Coca Cola, among others.
Mr Agyemang-Manu said the practice of quality management systems had afforded Athena Foods to achieve its goals.
He urged all other companies to emulate the success story of the Athena, which was used as the showcase in the food processing sector, to open new opportunities to enter export markets.
The Managing Director of Athena Foods, Dr Tony Antwi Mensah, called on other industrialists to accept the initiative of quality systems by the Ministry of Trade and show their eagerness to support the programme.
He cautioned that the enthusiasm must be supported with a sustainable programme to ensure that proper understanding and consistency was made to build up the capacity of the initiative and deliverance of quality goods.
Members of the National Steering Group, led by Mrs Goski Alabi, inspected the factory floor and were taken through the production lines by Dr Antwi Mensah.
Other members of the Quality Institute include representatives from all regulatory bodies involved in the production, export and consumption sectors of the economy.
As a result, a national quality steering group has been formed to develop an operational framework for the integration of quality management into the country’s trade and industry through educational programmes.
The Deputy sector Minister, Mr Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, in a speech read on his behalf at the launch of a series of educational and sensitisation workshops in Tema, said the initiatives would focus on how SMEs could achieve their goals to promote the export business.
He noted that in recent times many Ghanaian products had been refused entry into certain international markets because they could not meet the entry test of regulatory requirements, while others had not been consistent enough to make the producer a reliable long-term supplier.
Mr Agyemang-Manu said the new initiative was aimed at creating awareness of what consumers demanded in destination markets and what the legal requirements were.
He said the ministry had also launched a website — www.sps-tbt-ghana.org — that would give information to help exporters to meet the point of entry demands.
The deputy minister described the country’s trade policy as “outward looking”, noting that it addressed the challenges that global markets, with their standards and demands, were imposing on Ghanaian firms.
He observed that quality had become a very crucial element in successfully entering high-income markets.
He cautioned industrialists to ensure its success by getting fully involved in training staff, and not merely implementing the systems without cost .
He urged the SMEs to be quality conscious to enable them to meet the competition in the trade sector of the economy of the country.
Mr Agyemang-Manu commended Athena Foods Limited, manufacturers of fruit juices and concentrates, for setting the pace in the search for quality management systems in Ghana.
The company, which operates in the free zones enclave in Tema, has operated successfully and six years ago it received organic certification from SKAL of Holland, followed by similar certifications from SGF
of Germany, Coca Cola, among others.
Mr Agyemang-Manu said the practice of quality management systems had afforded Athena Foods to achieve its goals.
He urged all other companies to emulate the success story of the Athena, which was used as the showcase in the food processing sector, to open new opportunities to enter export markets.
The Managing Director of Athena Foods, Dr Tony Antwi Mensah, called on other industrialists to accept the initiative of quality systems by the Ministry of Trade and show their eagerness to support the programme.
He cautioned that the enthusiasm must be supported with a sustainable programme to ensure that proper understanding and consistency was made to build up the capacity of the initiative and deliverance of quality goods.
Members of the National Steering Group, led by Mrs Goski Alabi, inspected the factory floor and were taken through the production lines by Dr Antwi Mensah.
Other members of the Quality Institute include representatives from all regulatory bodies involved in the production, export and consumption sectors of the economy.
Friday, July 4, 2008
KNIGHTS OF ST JOHN CELEBRATE DAY AT ASHAIMAN (PAGE 20)
THE Third District Commandery and the District Three and Four Ladies of the Knights of St John International, Accra, have celebrated the St John the Baptist Feast Day at Ashaiman to commemorate the day.
The colourful ceremony was observed with the formation of parade by the Knights, trooping of colours of St John and inspection of guard of honour by the Principal Celebrant, Very Rev Monsignor Jonathan Ankrah of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, and celebration of Mass.
In an address, the Very Rev Ankrah, who is also the Episcopal Vicar for Juridical Matters and Director of Pastoral Centre, urged the members to critically examine themselves to understand what the church stood for.
He noted that some of their behaviours had turned away potential converts who preferred to join other churches with consequences of marrying from their new places.
Very Rev Ankrah, who led a team of five other celebrants, was of the view that they could entice new members only if they changed their lifestyle.
He urged them to build up their spiritual gains to reap benefits that would help the Catholic Church to grow.
Very Rev Ankrah advised them to organise programmes according to the teachings of the church to encourage more in the community to register with the church.
The Regimental Commander of the Knights, Col Larry Kofi Tandjie, said all that life was about was to accept flaws, apologise for them and move on instead of trying to shift blame.
He gave the assurance that members would ensure that they changed their ways of doing things to attract new converts to the church willingly.
Col Tandjie called on members of the church to offer their services to the church in particular and the nation at large.
Other celebrants were the Very Rev Fr John Schiltz, SVD, Rev Father Capt Benjamin Ohene, Rev Fr Lt Samuel Filton-Mensah, Rev Fr Lt Matthias Kotoka Amuzu and Rev Father Lt David Arko Amissah.
The Knights were drawn from the Greater Accra Region with their cadets and junior auxiliaries.
The presidents of the District Three and Four Ladies, Sisters Belinda Dogbatse and Regina Nelson, made special presentations to the Arch Diocese for Seminarians of the church and the church itself.
The colourful ceremony was observed with the formation of parade by the Knights, trooping of colours of St John and inspection of guard of honour by the Principal Celebrant, Very Rev Monsignor Jonathan Ankrah of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, and celebration of Mass.
In an address, the Very Rev Ankrah, who is also the Episcopal Vicar for Juridical Matters and Director of Pastoral Centre, urged the members to critically examine themselves to understand what the church stood for.
He noted that some of their behaviours had turned away potential converts who preferred to join other churches with consequences of marrying from their new places.
Very Rev Ankrah, who led a team of five other celebrants, was of the view that they could entice new members only if they changed their lifestyle.
He urged them to build up their spiritual gains to reap benefits that would help the Catholic Church to grow.
Very Rev Ankrah advised them to organise programmes according to the teachings of the church to encourage more in the community to register with the church.
The Regimental Commander of the Knights, Col Larry Kofi Tandjie, said all that life was about was to accept flaws, apologise for them and move on instead of trying to shift blame.
He gave the assurance that members would ensure that they changed their ways of doing things to attract new converts to the church willingly.
Col Tandjie called on members of the church to offer their services to the church in particular and the nation at large.
Other celebrants were the Very Rev Fr John Schiltz, SVD, Rev Father Capt Benjamin Ohene, Rev Fr Lt Samuel Filton-Mensah, Rev Fr Lt Matthias Kotoka Amuzu and Rev Father Lt David Arko Amissah.
The Knights were drawn from the Greater Accra Region with their cadets and junior auxiliaries.
The presidents of the District Three and Four Ladies, Sisters Belinda Dogbatse and Regina Nelson, made special presentations to the Arch Diocese for Seminarians of the church and the church itself.
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