The Security Coordinator at the Tema Harbour, Lieutenant Colonel Ben Agudogo (Retd),has urged port security personnel to maintain high performance standards to protect and secure revenue generated at the port.
He said there was the need to guard against losses and leakages in the system, since these negative acts threatened the roles and objectives of the ports.
Lt Col Agudogo, made the statement when he unveiled a new camouflage uniform for the security personnel of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) in Tema.
Lt. Col. Agudodo who had earlier inspected a guard of honour mounted by 51 men and one officer, commended the management of the GPHA for investing in the security of the country's ports.
He cited examples of the provision of close circuit television (CCTV) to monitor vehicular and human activities around the port, the GCNET systems for monitoring transactions to minimise the numerous threats to revenue mobilisation, and the automatic identification system (AIS) for tracking vessel movements and transit goods.
Lt. Col. Agudogo reminded the security personnel that the provision and unveiling of the new camouflage uniforms was in line with the commitment of the GPHA to boost their confidence and enhance their efficiency.
He appealed to them to reciprocate the action of the management by working hard.
He also advised them to see other security agencies working at the port as partners complementing their efforts with the aim of achieving the same goal.
The acting Director General of GPHA, Mr Nestor Galley, called on the port security personnel to maintain a conducive security environment at the port to promote trade and to make itthe most preferred port and maritime gateway to West Africa.
He said as stated in the motto of the security department of the GPHA, the personnel must show strength and vigilance in the performance of their duties and also serve the public with courtesy.
He emphasised the need for the security personnel to weed out all criminal elements from the port and make the environment safe for genuine commercial activities.
The security contingent were trained at the Shai Hills by personnel from the First Infantry Battalion of Michel Camp.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
GAO LAGOON SERIOUSLY POLLUTED (PAGE 29)
The Gao Lagoon, which demarcates Tema and Kpone and has been of economic benefit to the people, is being extensively polluted with human excreta from an overflowing and damaged sewer conduit that needs rehabilitation.
This pollution is threatening fish life as fish in the lagoon have started dying.
A report by the Kpone Traditional Council has led to the arrest of four cesspool emptier drivers who had gone to dispose of liquid waste at the damaged and abandoned sewer conduit, which is flowing over into the lagoon.
A visit to the lagoon site showed a disgusting situation with flies having a field day while the waste continued to flow from the damaged sewer disposal conduit nearby.
According to the Kpone traditional priest, Numo Tetteh Leno, the lagoon, apart from being of economic benefit to the people, is also sacred.
He claimed that persistent complaints to the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) had not yielded any positive response and that the health hazard the residents were exposed to must be considered.
This is because some people ignore the health of the people and collect the dead fish for sale on the market.
Numo Leno said they observed the flow of the waste into the lagoon eight months ago and reported to the Waste Management Department of the TMA.
He said the people of Kpone were preparing to take some action to stop further disposal of waste at the site, and to forestall any eventuality the elders reported the conduct of the drivers of the cesspool emptiers to the Kpone Police Command for the necessary action to be taken.
Nii Leno said the broken-down sewer conduit could blast after a while if the disposal of human waste through the conduit was not stopped and repaired.
When the Kpone District Police Commander, Superintendent Laar Baman, was contacted, he confirmed the arrest of the four drivers, who work for private sanitation services companies, for polluting the lagoon and illegally disposing liquid waste at the site.
He gave their names as Francis Kwabena ,47, a driver of a truck with registration number GE 4809 V; Solomon Agoe, 25, who drives a truck with registration number ER 1961 W; Kwaku Nuamah, 39, who drives a truck with registration number GW 9699 U and Harrison Azaglo, 42, driver of truck number GR 4407 V.
Supt. Baman said the elders of Kpone reported to the police on Thursday, March 20, 2009 that some people were illegally dumping liquid waste into the conduit, which is no more in use.
He said when his men moved to the site, the four drivers were disposing of the waste through the broken conduit.
Supt Baman said the suspects had been granted bail and will be arraigned on Monday March 23, 2009.
The Co-ordinating Director of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly, Mr Kwaku Akpotosu, told the Daily Graphic that the Kpone site had been abandoned and funds were being sought to repair the broken conduit.
He said the repair of the conduit involved a huge capital outlay and therefore the assembly could not fund it and that discussions were underway to seek funding to rehabilitate many other sewerage conduits including that of Kpone.
Mr Akpotosu said the approved site in use at Santeo where disposal of liquid waste currently being done.
Mr Akpotosu said the assembly would monitor and ensure that people did not hide and go to dispose of waste at the Kpone site.
He appealed to all cesspool emptier drivers and sanitation services companies to stop using the Kpone disposal site or face the consequences of their actions.
This pollution is threatening fish life as fish in the lagoon have started dying.
A report by the Kpone Traditional Council has led to the arrest of four cesspool emptier drivers who had gone to dispose of liquid waste at the damaged and abandoned sewer conduit, which is flowing over into the lagoon.
A visit to the lagoon site showed a disgusting situation with flies having a field day while the waste continued to flow from the damaged sewer disposal conduit nearby.
According to the Kpone traditional priest, Numo Tetteh Leno, the lagoon, apart from being of economic benefit to the people, is also sacred.
He claimed that persistent complaints to the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) had not yielded any positive response and that the health hazard the residents were exposed to must be considered.
This is because some people ignore the health of the people and collect the dead fish for sale on the market.
Numo Leno said they observed the flow of the waste into the lagoon eight months ago and reported to the Waste Management Department of the TMA.
He said the people of Kpone were preparing to take some action to stop further disposal of waste at the site, and to forestall any eventuality the elders reported the conduct of the drivers of the cesspool emptiers to the Kpone Police Command for the necessary action to be taken.
Nii Leno said the broken-down sewer conduit could blast after a while if the disposal of human waste through the conduit was not stopped and repaired.
When the Kpone District Police Commander, Superintendent Laar Baman, was contacted, he confirmed the arrest of the four drivers, who work for private sanitation services companies, for polluting the lagoon and illegally disposing liquid waste at the site.
He gave their names as Francis Kwabena ,47, a driver of a truck with registration number GE 4809 V; Solomon Agoe, 25, who drives a truck with registration number ER 1961 W; Kwaku Nuamah, 39, who drives a truck with registration number GW 9699 U and Harrison Azaglo, 42, driver of truck number GR 4407 V.
Supt. Baman said the elders of Kpone reported to the police on Thursday, March 20, 2009 that some people were illegally dumping liquid waste into the conduit, which is no more in use.
He said when his men moved to the site, the four drivers were disposing of the waste through the broken conduit.
Supt Baman said the suspects had been granted bail and will be arraigned on Monday March 23, 2009.
The Co-ordinating Director of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly, Mr Kwaku Akpotosu, told the Daily Graphic that the Kpone site had been abandoned and funds were being sought to repair the broken conduit.
He said the repair of the conduit involved a huge capital outlay and therefore the assembly could not fund it and that discussions were underway to seek funding to rehabilitate many other sewerage conduits including that of Kpone.
Mr Akpotosu said the approved site in use at Santeo where disposal of liquid waste currently being done.
Mr Akpotosu said the assembly would monitor and ensure that people did not hide and go to dispose of waste at the Kpone site.
He appealed to all cesspool emptier drivers and sanitation services companies to stop using the Kpone disposal site or face the consequences of their actions.
ROTARY CLUB OF TEMA DONATES BOOKS TO SCHOOLS (PAGE 11)
THE Rotary Club of Tema in partnership with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and Brothers Brother Foundation (BBF) in the United States of America (USA), has distributed books of various disciplines worth over US$240.000 free of charge, to 60 selected schools across the country.
The schools include the New Somanya Methodist School, TI Ahmadiya Senior High School, Tarkwa Methodist Senior High School, Mampong School for the Blind, Bolgatanga Polytechnic and Benkum Senior High School, Larteh. Each school received a package of books valued at US$4,000.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Director of, Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Stephen Adu, at a ceremony in Tema to hand over the books, the Director-General of the GES, Mr Samuel Bannerman-Mensah, commended the Rotary Club of Tema for their immense contribution to the education sector.
He said the essence of book fairs was to enhance the reading habits of students and to broaden the knowledge of readers.
Mr Bannerman-Mensah observed that the social responsibility of creating a literate society through the exposure of the pupils, students and the public to the various types of books in the various disciplines was highly commendable and one worthy of emulation.
He was of the view that the different subject areas introduced would broaden the outlook of the students.
Mr Bannerman-Mensah said if education was important, then reading was equally important since one could not be educated, without showing great interest in reading.
He noted that it was practically impossible because the two were bedfellows and therefore, urged the students to cultivate a reading habit to broaden their memory.
The President of the Rotary Club, Mr Ben Aniagyei, disclosed that the club had in the past two years distributed one million two hundred and forty thousand books worth US$ 12.4 million to schools in the country.
He said in 2008 the club introduced an annual book fair as part of its literary month activities to create awareness and to draw the attention of schools and the public to the book distribution project.
Mr Ben Aniagyei said the 2009 project marked the second book fair in the series to help enhance patronage of the books.
He noted that March was celebrated as Literacy Month on the Rotary calendar and this had helped to lift the literacy efforts of promoting early childhood reading.
Mr Aniagyei appealed to pupils to cultivate the habit of reading and urged parents to assist to make reading a tool for making the youth knowledgeable.
The schools include the New Somanya Methodist School, TI Ahmadiya Senior High School, Tarkwa Methodist Senior High School, Mampong School for the Blind, Bolgatanga Polytechnic and Benkum Senior High School, Larteh. Each school received a package of books valued at US$4,000.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Director of, Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Stephen Adu, at a ceremony in Tema to hand over the books, the Director-General of the GES, Mr Samuel Bannerman-Mensah, commended the Rotary Club of Tema for their immense contribution to the education sector.
He said the essence of book fairs was to enhance the reading habits of students and to broaden the knowledge of readers.
Mr Bannerman-Mensah observed that the social responsibility of creating a literate society through the exposure of the pupils, students and the public to the various types of books in the various disciplines was highly commendable and one worthy of emulation.
He was of the view that the different subject areas introduced would broaden the outlook of the students.
Mr Bannerman-Mensah said if education was important, then reading was equally important since one could not be educated, without showing great interest in reading.
He noted that it was practically impossible because the two were bedfellows and therefore, urged the students to cultivate a reading habit to broaden their memory.
The President of the Rotary Club, Mr Ben Aniagyei, disclosed that the club had in the past two years distributed one million two hundred and forty thousand books worth US$ 12.4 million to schools in the country.
He said in 2008 the club introduced an annual book fair as part of its literary month activities to create awareness and to draw the attention of schools and the public to the book distribution project.
Mr Ben Aniagyei said the 2009 project marked the second book fair in the series to help enhance patronage of the books.
He noted that March was celebrated as Literacy Month on the Rotary calendar and this had helped to lift the literacy efforts of promoting early childhood reading.
Mr Aniagyei appealed to pupils to cultivate the habit of reading and urged parents to assist to make reading a tool for making the youth knowledgeable.
OVERLOADED ARTICULATED TRUCKS IMPOUNDED (BACK PAGE)
The Tema Axle Load Control Unit on Monday night impounded 40 articulated trucks and arrested their drivers on the Accra-Tema Motorway for loading beyond the permissible limit.
For some of the vehicles impounded, the excess load was about 68 kg beyond the permissible limit.
The drivers were to be put before court for overloading, causing damage to the road network and exposing other road users to imminent danger.
The trucks, which were on their way to Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, Kumasi and Tamale, were loaded with cement, rice, cocoa, iron rods and other goods.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic on the Motorway yesterday morning, the Chief Executive Officer of the unit, Mr Albert Owusu Ansah, said all the 40 drivers were arrested in one night’s operation and said the unit would step up the exercise to ensure safety and sanity on the road.
He explained that the weighing scale on the Motorway broke down and the unit had to wait for two months to take delivery of some imported parts, which allowed the drivers to take the law into their own hands during the period.
Mr Owusu Ansah said now that the weigh bridge was working, the unit would ensure that drivers complied with axle load limits.
He said some drivers were guilty of alcoholism, drug abuse, use of bad language and rudeness when they were arrested and appealed for support from the police to help check those truck drivers because most of the time they resisted arrest.
He expressed worry that some articulated truck drivers, including those in transit, used unapproved routes and created more problems for drivers of smaller vehicles.
Mr Owusu Ansah called on the drivers to desist from the practice and appealed to the police to redirect those trucks back onto the approved routes.
He also called on the Ghana Port authorities and production companies to ensure that vehicles were loaded up to the permissible limit before they left the ports and factory premises to avoid arrest.
He urged the various transport associations which oversaw the activities of truck drivers to organise refresher courses on enforcement to equip the drivers with the laws on the use of the road.
He suggested that the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority(DVLA) should consider the experience of drivers applying for licences to drive such category of trucks because of the nature of the work and the distances they covered.
At the time of the interview, the trucks were parked in the yard of the Axle Unit along the Motorway, while a police officer was busily taking down the particulars of the drivers to process them for court.
For some of the vehicles impounded, the excess load was about 68 kg beyond the permissible limit.
The drivers were to be put before court for overloading, causing damage to the road network and exposing other road users to imminent danger.
The trucks, which were on their way to Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, Kumasi and Tamale, were loaded with cement, rice, cocoa, iron rods and other goods.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic on the Motorway yesterday morning, the Chief Executive Officer of the unit, Mr Albert Owusu Ansah, said all the 40 drivers were arrested in one night’s operation and said the unit would step up the exercise to ensure safety and sanity on the road.
He explained that the weighing scale on the Motorway broke down and the unit had to wait for two months to take delivery of some imported parts, which allowed the drivers to take the law into their own hands during the period.
Mr Owusu Ansah said now that the weigh bridge was working, the unit would ensure that drivers complied with axle load limits.
He said some drivers were guilty of alcoholism, drug abuse, use of bad language and rudeness when they were arrested and appealed for support from the police to help check those truck drivers because most of the time they resisted arrest.
He expressed worry that some articulated truck drivers, including those in transit, used unapproved routes and created more problems for drivers of smaller vehicles.
Mr Owusu Ansah called on the drivers to desist from the practice and appealed to the police to redirect those trucks back onto the approved routes.
He also called on the Ghana Port authorities and production companies to ensure that vehicles were loaded up to the permissible limit before they left the ports and factory premises to avoid arrest.
He urged the various transport associations which oversaw the activities of truck drivers to organise refresher courses on enforcement to equip the drivers with the laws on the use of the road.
He suggested that the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority(DVLA) should consider the experience of drivers applying for licences to drive such category of trucks because of the nature of the work and the distances they covered.
At the time of the interview, the trucks were parked in the yard of the Axle Unit along the Motorway, while a police officer was busily taking down the particulars of the drivers to process them for court.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
BE WARY OF ELECTRICAL GADGETS WITHOUT MANUALS (PAGE 30)
The public has been warned against the use of electrical appliances which are sold on the streets without manuals.
According to an expert in electrocution and power conservation, market survey has indicated that most of the devices sold to the public especially on the streets are not properly packaged and do not have guideline resulting in inadequate knowledge of their use.
Users of electrical appliances have, therefore, been urged to ensure that extension cables, adapters and other electrical devices are examined by experts to avoid electrocution when being used.
A retired Director of VRA and an expert in energy conservation, Mr Godfred Duah Boateng, gave the advice when he put on the market a handbook titled, How to prevent electrocution in your home.
He said at the launch of the book at Tema that many of the electrical gadgets did not meet the specifications to prevent electrocution and this had been a concern to people in the profession.
Mr Boateng warned that many houses were in danger because they used the gadgets in one way or the other for the supply of power.
He said some of the electrical gadgets were built to take a certain amount of power but they had been connected to extension boards, which had adapters which exposed their users to danger.
Mr Boateng said most electrical wirings in the country were defective because there were no systems put in place to check, maintain or service them should there be problems.
He pleaded with the public to engage experts to give them advice on how to manage electricity.
Mr Boateng said people got electrocuted most of the time through wrong connection of domestic appliances, wrong wirings of their premises including poor earthing and use of inferior devices.
He said in other cases, electrocution was caused by ignorance and circumstances beyond the control of victims.
The 30-page handbook gave an insight to how to service electrical appliances and what to do in times of danger when handling electrical devices to ensure their safety.
Some of the defects discussed in the booklet exposed the dangers that loose contacts with faulty gadgets could cause to their users, and that fridges, air conditioners and overloaded motors could result in fire outbreaks.
The first copy of the booklet, which was launched by Mr Nick Opoku, a Board Member of the Accra Technical Training Centre, went for GH¢500.
The Customer Relations Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Dr Smart Yeboah, placed an order for 10,000 copies of the booklet, which he described as very useful to the company and its customers.
He appealed to the public to patronise the book and do what was right to conserve energy and avoid being electrocuted.
According to an expert in electrocution and power conservation, market survey has indicated that most of the devices sold to the public especially on the streets are not properly packaged and do not have guideline resulting in inadequate knowledge of their use.
Users of electrical appliances have, therefore, been urged to ensure that extension cables, adapters and other electrical devices are examined by experts to avoid electrocution when being used.
A retired Director of VRA and an expert in energy conservation, Mr Godfred Duah Boateng, gave the advice when he put on the market a handbook titled, How to prevent electrocution in your home.
He said at the launch of the book at Tema that many of the electrical gadgets did not meet the specifications to prevent electrocution and this had been a concern to people in the profession.
Mr Boateng warned that many houses were in danger because they used the gadgets in one way or the other for the supply of power.
He said some of the electrical gadgets were built to take a certain amount of power but they had been connected to extension boards, which had adapters which exposed their users to danger.
Mr Boateng said most electrical wirings in the country were defective because there were no systems put in place to check, maintain or service them should there be problems.
He pleaded with the public to engage experts to give them advice on how to manage electricity.
Mr Boateng said people got electrocuted most of the time through wrong connection of domestic appliances, wrong wirings of their premises including poor earthing and use of inferior devices.
He said in other cases, electrocution was caused by ignorance and circumstances beyond the control of victims.
The 30-page handbook gave an insight to how to service electrical appliances and what to do in times of danger when handling electrical devices to ensure their safety.
Some of the defects discussed in the booklet exposed the dangers that loose contacts with faulty gadgets could cause to their users, and that fridges, air conditioners and overloaded motors could result in fire outbreaks.
The first copy of the booklet, which was launched by Mr Nick Opoku, a Board Member of the Accra Technical Training Centre, went for GH¢500.
The Customer Relations Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Dr Smart Yeboah, placed an order for 10,000 copies of the booklet, which he described as very useful to the company and its customers.
He appealed to the public to patronise the book and do what was right to conserve energy and avoid being electrocuted.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
TEMA POLICE PROBE ABDUCTION CASE (PAGE 3)
THE Tema Regional Police Command is investigating a case in which a 38-year-old man, Eric Amoah, is alleged to have been abducted by military personnel from his residence on January 1, 2009.
The victim, who was later released, was conveyed to the Tema General Hospital after he had collapsed on his way home and currently he has difficulty in walking and uses a walking stick.
The Tema Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) John Kudalor, who confirmed the incident, said the police had written to the Military Command at the Military Academy and Training School (MATS), Teshie, for the release of one of the accused persons whose name came up in initial investigations.
He said the police were initially given a wrong address which led to delays in investigations but that was later corrected and a reminder was sent to give a specific date for the release of the military man for investigations to begin.
ACP Kudalor explained that the police had a way of dealing with some institutions such as the military.
Narrating the incident to the Daily Graphic, Amoah said about 6.15 a.m. on January 1, 2009, he had come out of his parents’ house, number AP 58 at Tema Community 7, when he saw three men approaching.
He said he knew one of them to be married to the younger sister of his expatriate boss's wife.
Amoah said he, therefore, welcomed him and wanted to know why the early morning visit, to which the military man replied that they needed him for questioning at the Tema Community 4 Police Station.
He said before he could even inform his parents, who were in the house, the men held him by his trousers and dragged him into a waiting private car.
He said he met a lady and one other man who was driving and they took him to the Community 11 traffic light area, instead of the Community 4 Police Station.
There, the man he knew alighted and left them, while the two unknown men took him through the main Afienya road before branching off to Gbetsile where the lady got down, leaving the two strange men with him.
He said they took him to a quiet area where there were uncompleted houses and instructed him to get down.
Amoah said he noticed a pistol tucked in the trousers of one of them when they asked him to come out of the car.
He said the two men questioned him as they hit and kicked his abdomen and legs and shouted that if he refused to tell the truth about what he knew about his boss's property, “he would see”.
He denied knowledge of his boss’s property and after several hours of beating, he was asked to enter the car again, with the warning that they were giving him the chance to think over it to repeat the assault.
Amoah said he was conveyed to a point at Community 4 and left there, after which his parents, who had reported his strange disappearance to the Tema Community 8 Police, found him and conveyed him to the hospital.
He said he fainted and could not recall anything until he recovered at the Tema General Hospital.
Amoah said he was grateful to the police for their co-operation during his predicament but called for the investigations to be completed soon to enable him to overcome the trauma he was going through.
The victim, who was later released, was conveyed to the Tema General Hospital after he had collapsed on his way home and currently he has difficulty in walking and uses a walking stick.
The Tema Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) John Kudalor, who confirmed the incident, said the police had written to the Military Command at the Military Academy and Training School (MATS), Teshie, for the release of one of the accused persons whose name came up in initial investigations.
He said the police were initially given a wrong address which led to delays in investigations but that was later corrected and a reminder was sent to give a specific date for the release of the military man for investigations to begin.
ACP Kudalor explained that the police had a way of dealing with some institutions such as the military.
Narrating the incident to the Daily Graphic, Amoah said about 6.15 a.m. on January 1, 2009, he had come out of his parents’ house, number AP 58 at Tema Community 7, when he saw three men approaching.
He said he knew one of them to be married to the younger sister of his expatriate boss's wife.
Amoah said he, therefore, welcomed him and wanted to know why the early morning visit, to which the military man replied that they needed him for questioning at the Tema Community 4 Police Station.
He said before he could even inform his parents, who were in the house, the men held him by his trousers and dragged him into a waiting private car.
He said he met a lady and one other man who was driving and they took him to the Community 11 traffic light area, instead of the Community 4 Police Station.
There, the man he knew alighted and left them, while the two unknown men took him through the main Afienya road before branching off to Gbetsile where the lady got down, leaving the two strange men with him.
He said they took him to a quiet area where there were uncompleted houses and instructed him to get down.
Amoah said he noticed a pistol tucked in the trousers of one of them when they asked him to come out of the car.
He said the two men questioned him as they hit and kicked his abdomen and legs and shouted that if he refused to tell the truth about what he knew about his boss's property, “he would see”.
He denied knowledge of his boss’s property and after several hours of beating, he was asked to enter the car again, with the warning that they were giving him the chance to think over it to repeat the assault.
Amoah said he was conveyed to a point at Community 4 and left there, after which his parents, who had reported his strange disappearance to the Tema Community 8 Police, found him and conveyed him to the hospital.
He said he fainted and could not recall anything until he recovered at the Tema General Hospital.
Amoah said he was grateful to the police for their co-operation during his predicament but called for the investigations to be completed soon to enable him to overcome the trauma he was going through.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
REVIEW LAW ON CHAINSAW OPERATIONS (PAGE 22)
From Rose Hayford Darko, Ashaiman.
Members of the Domestic Lumber Trade Association of Ghana ( DOLTA ) have appealed to the government to review the law which prohibits the use of chainsaw in turning wood into lumber for commercial purposes.
They claimed that the law, LI 1649, had become ineffective and discriminatory as it had promoted indiscriminate felling of trees and corruption, since the chainsaw operators had rather had a field day hiding in the forest and indiscriminately felling trees.
The National President of the Association, Mr Victor Kobla Nyadi, made the appeal at a press conference organised by the association in Ashaiman to explain the true picture of what happened in the wood sector.
He said currently 85 per cent of wood sold at the various timber markets was chainsawn, with the remaining 15 per cent from the sawmills which were supposed to supply 100 per cent wood to the local market.
Mr Nyadi noted that without chainsawn products, the local market situation would be chaotic.
He said the association had resolved to register, in collaboration with forestry officers, all chainsaw operators and help them to form co-operatives to streamline their operations.
He said they had started an afforestation project across the country to restore forest resources which had been depleted as a result of the indiscriminate felling of trees.
Mr Nyadi disclosed that the association had also decided to extend support to the government in its efforts to save forest resources.
He called on the district, municipal and metropolitan assemblies to set up a machinery to bring into their fold all chainsaw operators to educate them, along with the collection of levies to support government’s afforestation programmes.
An executive member of the association, Mr Louis Attah Attakey, stressed the need for stakeholders to work together in the formulation of regulatory policies which would help develop the sector.
Members of the Domestic Lumber Trade Association of Ghana ( DOLTA ) have appealed to the government to review the law which prohibits the use of chainsaw in turning wood into lumber for commercial purposes.
They claimed that the law, LI 1649, had become ineffective and discriminatory as it had promoted indiscriminate felling of trees and corruption, since the chainsaw operators had rather had a field day hiding in the forest and indiscriminately felling trees.
The National President of the Association, Mr Victor Kobla Nyadi, made the appeal at a press conference organised by the association in Ashaiman to explain the true picture of what happened in the wood sector.
He said currently 85 per cent of wood sold at the various timber markets was chainsawn, with the remaining 15 per cent from the sawmills which were supposed to supply 100 per cent wood to the local market.
Mr Nyadi noted that without chainsawn products, the local market situation would be chaotic.
He said the association had resolved to register, in collaboration with forestry officers, all chainsaw operators and help them to form co-operatives to streamline their operations.
He said they had started an afforestation project across the country to restore forest resources which had been depleted as a result of the indiscriminate felling of trees.
Mr Nyadi disclosed that the association had also decided to extend support to the government in its efforts to save forest resources.
He called on the district, municipal and metropolitan assemblies to set up a machinery to bring into their fold all chainsaw operators to educate them, along with the collection of levies to support government’s afforestation programmes.
An executive member of the association, Mr Louis Attah Attakey, stressed the need for stakeholders to work together in the formulation of regulatory policies which would help develop the sector.
INTERVENE TO ADDRESS CONCERNS OF NDC YOUTH (PAGE 15)
THE youth working committee of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ashaiman has appealed to President J.E.A Mills to intervene to address the concerns of the youth in the area.
It said such a move would motivate the youth to work harder to support the party in future elections.
They claimed to have been abandoned after the 2008 Election in which they played a vital role of ensuring the victory of the party.
Addressing a press conference at Ashaiman, Imam Abdul Karim Abass, said the youth had been compelled by unavoidable circumstances to publicly voice out their grievances.
He claimed that during his campaign for the flagbearership posistion, President Mills assured them of a ministerial seat which they expected would go to their Member of Parliament, Mr Alfred Agbesi.
The youth claimed that the promise was reiterated by Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, the National Organiser and now the Eastern regional minister, with specific references to some ministries.
Imam Abass questioned what had happened to the “famous promise at Queen's hotel where the President gave the assurance”.
He indicated that supporters of the NDC in Ashaiman had become subject of ridicule before the people and therefore appealed to him to salvage the situation.
Imam Abass stated that currently there was apprehension in Ashaiman and members were dejected and disappointed, complaining that since 1992, Ashaiman had not had its fair share of political appointments.
He noted that the claim of Ashaiman being dear to the heart of the NDC had been proven wrong .
Imam Abass said the youth of Ashaiman had sacrificed enough for the party at their peril and therefore deserved a better deal .
He stated 'we shall no more tolerate it' adding 'we no go sit down make you cheat us everyday'.
The youth of the NDC also decried the moves by some people in government to impose candidates on them as the municipal chief executive for Ashaiman.
They claimed that they would vehemently resist all external influence and imposition of candidates on them.
The youth called on the President to consider the list presented by the Ashaiman opinion leaders and not to yield to any external force.
They expressed confidence in him and promised to continue to work assiduosly to uplift the standard of the party.
It said such a move would motivate the youth to work harder to support the party in future elections.
They claimed to have been abandoned after the 2008 Election in which they played a vital role of ensuring the victory of the party.
Addressing a press conference at Ashaiman, Imam Abdul Karim Abass, said the youth had been compelled by unavoidable circumstances to publicly voice out their grievances.
He claimed that during his campaign for the flagbearership posistion, President Mills assured them of a ministerial seat which they expected would go to their Member of Parliament, Mr Alfred Agbesi.
The youth claimed that the promise was reiterated by Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, the National Organiser and now the Eastern regional minister, with specific references to some ministries.
Imam Abass questioned what had happened to the “famous promise at Queen's hotel where the President gave the assurance”.
He indicated that supporters of the NDC in Ashaiman had become subject of ridicule before the people and therefore appealed to him to salvage the situation.
Imam Abass stated that currently there was apprehension in Ashaiman and members were dejected and disappointed, complaining that since 1992, Ashaiman had not had its fair share of political appointments.
He noted that the claim of Ashaiman being dear to the heart of the NDC had been proven wrong .
Imam Abass said the youth of Ashaiman had sacrificed enough for the party at their peril and therefore deserved a better deal .
He stated 'we shall no more tolerate it' adding 'we no go sit down make you cheat us everyday'.
The youth of the NDC also decried the moves by some people in government to impose candidates on them as the municipal chief executive for Ashaiman.
They claimed that they would vehemently resist all external influence and imposition of candidates on them.
The youth called on the President to consider the list presented by the Ashaiman opinion leaders and not to yield to any external force.
They expressed confidence in him and promised to continue to work assiduosly to uplift the standard of the party.
TEACHERS ADVISED TO JOIN CREDIT UNIONS (PAGE 17)
TEACHERS have been advised to join credit unions to ensure sound economic development before and after active service.
They have therefore been urged to reduce spending and cultivate the habit of saving, to enable them to generate funds for shelter and more useful things that will make them retire in dignity.
The General Manager of the Credit Union Association (CUA ), Mr Emmanuel Oduro Darko, gave the advise at the second annual general meeting of the Tema Metropolitan Teachers' Co-operative Credit Union in Tema at the weekend.
The meeting was on the theme, 'Dynamism, key to sustainable growth of teachers' credit union'.
Mr Oduro Darko commended teachers who had taken up the challenge.
The union, which started with 100 teachers, currently has 1,500 members drawn from schools in the metropolis.
Mr Oduro Darko said teachers had demonstrated how united they could be towards their economic development.
Mr Oduro Darko noted that the Credit Union Movement was confronted with some challenges due to the current change in competitive environment as a result of the increasing number of competitors .
He said commercial banks with large infrastructure, internal systems and capital were entering the micro finance field and were capable of expanding rapidly.
The General Manager asked the Board and Management of the union to increase its shares and introduce new products and services, based on the needs of members .
The Manager of the Tema Teachers Co-operative Union, Mr Stanley Attor, said the image of the union had improved consistently over the period under review.
He said many teaching and non-teaching personnel in educational institutions had joined the union while teachers in the Dangme East and West had requested to become members .
Mr Attor observed that there was an increased level of awareness among teachers of their rights and responsibilties and also the benefits of accumulating monies for self sufficiency.
Giving the history of the Teachers Co-operative Union of Tema, the Vice Chairman, Miss Georgina Arthur, said membership mobilisation was carried mainly through a fora created by the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT).
She said the union owed its gratitude to Mr Robert Addotey, who is now a board member, for initiating the move towards the formation of the union.
Special messages of commendation were delivered on behalf of the General Secretary of GNAT, Mrs Irene Duncan-Adanusa, and the Tema Metropolitan Director of Education, Mrs Victoria Opoku.
They have therefore been urged to reduce spending and cultivate the habit of saving, to enable them to generate funds for shelter and more useful things that will make them retire in dignity.
The General Manager of the Credit Union Association (CUA ), Mr Emmanuel Oduro Darko, gave the advise at the second annual general meeting of the Tema Metropolitan Teachers' Co-operative Credit Union in Tema at the weekend.
The meeting was on the theme, 'Dynamism, key to sustainable growth of teachers' credit union'.
Mr Oduro Darko commended teachers who had taken up the challenge.
The union, which started with 100 teachers, currently has 1,500 members drawn from schools in the metropolis.
Mr Oduro Darko said teachers had demonstrated how united they could be towards their economic development.
Mr Oduro Darko noted that the Credit Union Movement was confronted with some challenges due to the current change in competitive environment as a result of the increasing number of competitors .
He said commercial banks with large infrastructure, internal systems and capital were entering the micro finance field and were capable of expanding rapidly.
The General Manager asked the Board and Management of the union to increase its shares and introduce new products and services, based on the needs of members .
The Manager of the Tema Teachers Co-operative Union, Mr Stanley Attor, said the image of the union had improved consistently over the period under review.
He said many teaching and non-teaching personnel in educational institutions had joined the union while teachers in the Dangme East and West had requested to become members .
Mr Attor observed that there was an increased level of awareness among teachers of their rights and responsibilties and also the benefits of accumulating monies for self sufficiency.
Giving the history of the Teachers Co-operative Union of Tema, the Vice Chairman, Miss Georgina Arthur, said membership mobilisation was carried mainly through a fora created by the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT).
She said the union owed its gratitude to Mr Robert Addotey, who is now a board member, for initiating the move towards the formation of the union.
Special messages of commendation were delivered on behalf of the General Secretary of GNAT, Mrs Irene Duncan-Adanusa, and the Tema Metropolitan Director of Education, Mrs Victoria Opoku.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
JOINT SECURITY NAB 95 SUSPECTED CRIMINALS (PAGE 29)
The Tema Regional Police Command, with support from the Police Headquarters and National Security, has rounded up 95 suspected criminals from their hideouts in the Tema metropolis.
They included a 25-year-old woman, Adam Damatta, who allegedly supplied the criminals with hard drugs including Indian hemp gin (bitters).
When she was arrested the combined team found 32 wrapped pieces of Indian hemp and four bottles of hemp bitters in her possession.
The police seized quantities of Indian hemp and substances suspected to be cocaine, a pistol, bicycles and motorbikes during the operation.
The Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) John Kudalor, said as part of the Police Administration's programme to weed out wrongdoers from the system, the Tema Police in collaboration with the Police Headquarters and National Security organised the swoop last Saturday and Sunday through the Tema township, Sakumono, Ashaiman, Adjei Kojo, and Tema New Town.
He said though some of the suspected criminals were able to escape arrest after abandoning their bicycles and motorbikes, the police was able to apprehend the 95 from different areas before they could flee.
DCOP Kudalor expressed happiness that two robbers who had escaped arrest three months ago were among those apprehended.
He said the security patrol team encountered the two, Aminu Moro, 27 years, and Numo Holy, 22, on the motorway but when the police attempted to search them, Moro swerved them and got away in a standby taxi with a bag suspected to contain ammunition.
DCOP Kudalor said when Holy was put before court, he denied all charges and was, therefore, discharged for lack of evidence.
He said this time the two accomplices robbed a woman who had returned from the bank after withdrawing some money meant for her workers.
DCOP Kudalor said they were not lucky this time and they were arrested during the operation and the police retrieved a pistol from them.
He said the police now had compelling evidence against the suspects so they would screen the culprits and those found to be culpable would be prosecuted.
DCOP Kudalor said the police would continue to make their presence felt in the communities to ensure that criminals got reformed or were arrested.
He appealed to people who withdrew money from the banks to be wary of the movements of criminals around the premises of financial institutions.
DCOP Kudalor said the patrols would continue to safeguard life and property in the metropolis and called on residents to report all suspicious movements for prompt attention in order to reduce crime in the society.
They included a 25-year-old woman, Adam Damatta, who allegedly supplied the criminals with hard drugs including Indian hemp gin (bitters).
When she was arrested the combined team found 32 wrapped pieces of Indian hemp and four bottles of hemp bitters in her possession.
The police seized quantities of Indian hemp and substances suspected to be cocaine, a pistol, bicycles and motorbikes during the operation.
The Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) John Kudalor, said as part of the Police Administration's programme to weed out wrongdoers from the system, the Tema Police in collaboration with the Police Headquarters and National Security organised the swoop last Saturday and Sunday through the Tema township, Sakumono, Ashaiman, Adjei Kojo, and Tema New Town.
He said though some of the suspected criminals were able to escape arrest after abandoning their bicycles and motorbikes, the police was able to apprehend the 95 from different areas before they could flee.
DCOP Kudalor expressed happiness that two robbers who had escaped arrest three months ago were among those apprehended.
He said the security patrol team encountered the two, Aminu Moro, 27 years, and Numo Holy, 22, on the motorway but when the police attempted to search them, Moro swerved them and got away in a standby taxi with a bag suspected to contain ammunition.
DCOP Kudalor said when Holy was put before court, he denied all charges and was, therefore, discharged for lack of evidence.
He said this time the two accomplices robbed a woman who had returned from the bank after withdrawing some money meant for her workers.
DCOP Kudalor said they were not lucky this time and they were arrested during the operation and the police retrieved a pistol from them.
He said the police now had compelling evidence against the suspects so they would screen the culprits and those found to be culpable would be prosecuted.
DCOP Kudalor said the police would continue to make their presence felt in the communities to ensure that criminals got reformed or were arrested.
He appealed to people who withdrew money from the banks to be wary of the movements of criminals around the premises of financial institutions.
DCOP Kudalor said the patrols would continue to safeguard life and property in the metropolis and called on residents to report all suspicious movements for prompt attention in order to reduce crime in the society.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
CHIEFS URGED TO LAUNCH RURAL INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION (PAGE 38)
TRADITIONAL rulers have been urged to launch a rural industrial revolution to modernise indigenous technologies and promote local industries.
Dr Felix Onabajo, a lecturer at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Leads City University in Nigeria, who made the call, said traditional rulers hitherto used blacksmiths and goldsmiths in producing farm implements, local industrial equipment and jewellery.
He was speaking at a summit held under the auspices of the Certified Institute of Public Administrators and the Agency for Good Governance & Social Development (AGGSODEV) at Ashaiman.
It was attended by a cross-section of Ghanaian traditional rulers in Tema and Ashaiman and their counterparts from some states in Nigeria.
Speaking on the theme: “The role of traditional rulers in a growing democracy: Issues, challenges and prospects”, Dr Onabajo said the local manufacture of tools had helped to create jobs for the people at the local level.
He stressed that those implements could be modernised to boost rural industrialisation in the economies.
Dr Onabajo noted that the practice of occupying the people had successfully curbed rural-urban migration in the past.
He was of the view that rural development could be achieved without urbanisation because raw materials were readily available, coupled with the organisational capabilities of traditional rulers.
Dr Onabajo observed that a lot of the negative societal tendencies could be brought under control through the vision and hard work of traditional rulers by intensifying education against them at local level.
Dr Onabajo noted that such practices could encourage micro financing bodies to grant credit facilities to the people to go into entrepreneurship.
Dr Onabajo called on them to eradicate discrimination against women, emphasising that it had deterred most of the female gender from achieving their optimum.
He said though constitutional legislation in some countries did not allow their traditional rulers to be actively involved in politics, it did not mean they should sit on the fence and, therefore, urged them to be part of the electoral systems to support the right candidates.
Dr Onabajo dismissed the notion that traditional rulers had become glorified advisors to governments and called on them to sit up to their responsibilities to ensure that they become the vehicle for development and civilisation at the local levels.
The Director-General of AGGSODEV, Dr Felix Lowen, explained that the organisation decided to use the forum for traditional rulers, as most governments in Africa counted much on the support of traditional rulers in mobilising the grass-roots population for sustained democracy.
He noted that absolute powers of traditional rulers had gravely eroded after the advent of democratic institutions especially after the attainment of political independence and self-rule from the Western powers.
Dr Lowen was of the view that traditional rulers still had instrumental roles to play in suggesting ideas that could help in the evolution of a democratic culture, a virile economy and stability.
The Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Kraku, remarked that it was refreshing to remind the traditional rulers of some of the important things that they could do to help the economies of their countries to build the African continent.
He appealed to his colleague chiefs to revive the gains of traditional rulership to bring back the dignity of the institution.
Nii Kraku, who chaired the summit, called for more educational programmes to enlighten the traditional rulers.
Dr Felix Onabajo, a lecturer at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Leads City University in Nigeria, who made the call, said traditional rulers hitherto used blacksmiths and goldsmiths in producing farm implements, local industrial equipment and jewellery.
He was speaking at a summit held under the auspices of the Certified Institute of Public Administrators and the Agency for Good Governance & Social Development (AGGSODEV) at Ashaiman.
It was attended by a cross-section of Ghanaian traditional rulers in Tema and Ashaiman and their counterparts from some states in Nigeria.
Speaking on the theme: “The role of traditional rulers in a growing democracy: Issues, challenges and prospects”, Dr Onabajo said the local manufacture of tools had helped to create jobs for the people at the local level.
He stressed that those implements could be modernised to boost rural industrialisation in the economies.
Dr Onabajo noted that the practice of occupying the people had successfully curbed rural-urban migration in the past.
He was of the view that rural development could be achieved without urbanisation because raw materials were readily available, coupled with the organisational capabilities of traditional rulers.
Dr Onabajo observed that a lot of the negative societal tendencies could be brought under control through the vision and hard work of traditional rulers by intensifying education against them at local level.
Dr Onabajo noted that such practices could encourage micro financing bodies to grant credit facilities to the people to go into entrepreneurship.
Dr Onabajo called on them to eradicate discrimination against women, emphasising that it had deterred most of the female gender from achieving their optimum.
He said though constitutional legislation in some countries did not allow their traditional rulers to be actively involved in politics, it did not mean they should sit on the fence and, therefore, urged them to be part of the electoral systems to support the right candidates.
Dr Onabajo dismissed the notion that traditional rulers had become glorified advisors to governments and called on them to sit up to their responsibilities to ensure that they become the vehicle for development and civilisation at the local levels.
The Director-General of AGGSODEV, Dr Felix Lowen, explained that the organisation decided to use the forum for traditional rulers, as most governments in Africa counted much on the support of traditional rulers in mobilising the grass-roots population for sustained democracy.
He noted that absolute powers of traditional rulers had gravely eroded after the advent of democratic institutions especially after the attainment of political independence and self-rule from the Western powers.
Dr Lowen was of the view that traditional rulers still had instrumental roles to play in suggesting ideas that could help in the evolution of a democratic culture, a virile economy and stability.
The Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Kraku, remarked that it was refreshing to remind the traditional rulers of some of the important things that they could do to help the economies of their countries to build the African continent.
He appealed to his colleague chiefs to revive the gains of traditional rulership to bring back the dignity of the institution.
Nii Kraku, who chaired the summit, called for more educational programmes to enlighten the traditional rulers.
ASHAIMAN NDC DISAPPOINTED (PAGE 13)
The Ashaiman Constituency of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has expressed disappointment at being neglected in the appointment of ministers of state.
According to the constituency, they ranked third highest in voting for the NDC in the 2008 election, which added to its victory, and therefore deserved a fair treatment and recognition just as others.
Addressing a press conference on behalf of the constituency, the Constituency Secretary, Baba Ibrahim, explained that during the electioneering, President John Evans Atta Mills promised them at a rally in Ashaiman that if voted into power, he would ensure that they were compensated for their support by appointing their Member of Parliament, Mr Alfred Agbesi, as a minister of state.
He said President Atta Mills had, however, not fulfilled his promise and therefore called on him to remember Ashaiman in his last list of names.
Baba Ibrahim said the people of Ashaiman voted massively during the last elections and even followed up to Tain in the Brong Ahafo Region to support the party.
He noted that the party in Ashaiman had been very loyal and did not rely on the mother party for finances.
The constituency secretary commended MrAgbesi for being a source of support financially in times of difficulties.
Baba Ibrahim said if their concerns were not heeded, members of the party in the constituency would be a laughing stock of their political opponents.
He appealed to the President to honour their MP and appealed to former President Jerry John Rawlings to intercede on their behalf.
According to the constituency, they ranked third highest in voting for the NDC in the 2008 election, which added to its victory, and therefore deserved a fair treatment and recognition just as others.
Addressing a press conference on behalf of the constituency, the Constituency Secretary, Baba Ibrahim, explained that during the electioneering, President John Evans Atta Mills promised them at a rally in Ashaiman that if voted into power, he would ensure that they were compensated for their support by appointing their Member of Parliament, Mr Alfred Agbesi, as a minister of state.
He said President Atta Mills had, however, not fulfilled his promise and therefore called on him to remember Ashaiman in his last list of names.
Baba Ibrahim said the people of Ashaiman voted massively during the last elections and even followed up to Tain in the Brong Ahafo Region to support the party.
He noted that the party in Ashaiman had been very loyal and did not rely on the mother party for finances.
The constituency secretary commended MrAgbesi for being a source of support financially in times of difficulties.
Baba Ibrahim said if their concerns were not heeded, members of the party in the constituency would be a laughing stock of their political opponents.
He appealed to the President to honour their MP and appealed to former President Jerry John Rawlings to intercede on their behalf.
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