The Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive,Mr Robert Kempes Ofosu-Ware, has cautioned fire victims to take education campaigns on fire prevention at work places and homes seriously to avoid destruction of property and human lives.
He gave this advice when the Tema Office of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in conjunction with the Tema Metropolitan Assembly presented relief items valued at GH¢10,000 to some 50 fire and flood victims in Tema, Ashaiman and Kpone- Katamanso.
The items included mattresses, cups, plates, cooking oil, rice, blankets, roofing sheets , roofing nails and cement.
Those who received the items included residents of Site One, Tema, whose structures were razed down on June 10, 2009 rendering several families homeless .
Mr Ofosu -Ware said the use of naked lights during power outages was dangerous, and that residents in illegal structures usually forgot that they were vulnerable to disasters.
He noted that they indulged in illegal electricity connections and also had electrical wires hanging dangerously on their houses .
Mr Ofosu-Ware urged them to contact the Ghana National Fire Service for assistance and direction as to how to handle electrical gadgets, and what to do in times of fire outbreaks while waiting for the arrival of fire personnel.
He said the relief items were not to replace all lost properties but to help give them some relief and reassure them of the assembly's concern about their plight.
Mr Ofosu-Ware reiterated that Tema did not experience any significant flooding but noted that there were some isolated cases at the outskirts, and therefore those affected were also to benefit from the gesture.
The assemblyman for the Padmore Electoral Area in Tema, Mr Asumah Mohammed, who received the items on behalf of the victims, expressed appreciation to the NADMO and the assembly for their concern.
He emphasised that the victims had learnt their lessons the hard way, and promised that they would take the pieces of advice of the chief executive seriously.
Some victims who were present at the presentation showed gratitude to the assembly for honouring its promise to support them when the disaster occurred.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
FISHERMEN KICK AGAINST REMOVAL OF SUBSIDY (BACK PAGE)
FISHERMEN along the country’s coast have dismissed suggestions that the removal of government subsidy on premix fuel will restore sanity into the fishing industry.
Explaining their position, chief fishermen in the various fishing communities said the problem with premix fuel was not with its distribution, but rather with the small quantity given to fishermen.
They insisted that removing the subsidy on it would rather increase their cost of production and deepen their current frustration.
At the Tema Canoe Beach, fishermen were of the view that removal of the subsidy would shoot up their production cost, which would also lead to higher prices for local fish and make it less competitive against imported fish.
They said instead of the abolition of subsidy on premix fuel, the government should be urged to endeavour to make more of the product available on the market.
Some of the fishermen were of the view that abolishing the subsidy on premix would further undermine the local industry, to the advantage of importers of frozen fish.
The Tema Chief Fisherman, Nii Odametey, in an interview with the Daily Graphic last Tuesday, also expressed his disappointment at statements which sought to blame fishermen for the shortage of the product on the market.
Nii Odametey said fishermen at the Tema Canoe Beach had no problem with the constitution of the premix committees put in place to manage distribution of premix to fishermen, but that their problem was with the lack of the product.
He said, for instance, that the Association of Canoe Fishermen in Tema had 300 registered members who were supplied with one tanker a week, out of which each fisherman had less than 10 gallons for a whole week of fishing.
Denying allegations that fishermen were diverting the fuel intended to boost their trade, the chief fisherman said the situation on the ground meant that the issue was not about distribution but rather about inadequate supplies.
A member of the premix committee at Kormantse and Abandze, Nana Kow Gyanye, said the last time they had premix was two months ago, adding that now they had to buy super petrol and mix it with engine oil.
In the Central and Western regions, the fishermen said they spent about GH¢350 on one fishing expedition and that if the subsidy was removed, they would spend about double that amount.
Mr J. E. Afful, one of the chief fishermen, said he spent more than GH¢5,000 on premix per trip but hardly made a good catch.
He said the idea of putting the subsidy on storage might be a good one but it would not serve the interest of fishermen now because of their present financial position.
He said the solution to the problem was to release the premix to the chief fishermen and their teams.
Explaining their position, chief fishermen in the various fishing communities said the problem with premix fuel was not with its distribution, but rather with the small quantity given to fishermen.
They insisted that removing the subsidy on it would rather increase their cost of production and deepen their current frustration.
At the Tema Canoe Beach, fishermen were of the view that removal of the subsidy would shoot up their production cost, which would also lead to higher prices for local fish and make it less competitive against imported fish.
They said instead of the abolition of subsidy on premix fuel, the government should be urged to endeavour to make more of the product available on the market.
Some of the fishermen were of the view that abolishing the subsidy on premix would further undermine the local industry, to the advantage of importers of frozen fish.
The Tema Chief Fisherman, Nii Odametey, in an interview with the Daily Graphic last Tuesday, also expressed his disappointment at statements which sought to blame fishermen for the shortage of the product on the market.
Nii Odametey said fishermen at the Tema Canoe Beach had no problem with the constitution of the premix committees put in place to manage distribution of premix to fishermen, but that their problem was with the lack of the product.
He said, for instance, that the Association of Canoe Fishermen in Tema had 300 registered members who were supplied with one tanker a week, out of which each fisherman had less than 10 gallons for a whole week of fishing.
Denying allegations that fishermen were diverting the fuel intended to boost their trade, the chief fisherman said the situation on the ground meant that the issue was not about distribution but rather about inadequate supplies.
A member of the premix committee at Kormantse and Abandze, Nana Kow Gyanye, said the last time they had premix was two months ago, adding that now they had to buy super petrol and mix it with engine oil.
In the Central and Western regions, the fishermen said they spent about GH¢350 on one fishing expedition and that if the subsidy was removed, they would spend about double that amount.
Mr J. E. Afful, one of the chief fishermen, said he spent more than GH¢5,000 on premix per trip but hardly made a good catch.
He said the idea of putting the subsidy on storage might be a good one but it would not serve the interest of fishermen now because of their present financial position.
He said the solution to the problem was to release the premix to the chief fishermen and their teams.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
4 HELD FOR ROBBERY (PAGE 38)
Four persons who allegedly attempted to steal from a frozen meat company in the Tema Industrial Area have been arrested by the Tema Regional Police.
The police are, however, on the lookout for four others who managed to escape.
Those arrested are Shaibu Abdulai, 37, Tahiru Yakubu, 45, Yaw Badu, 30, and John Kudzo, 28, the driver of the vehicle used in the operation.
They had in their possession cutters, a drilling machine, a chisel, screw drivers and hammers.
Briefing the newsmen in Tema, the Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Mr Augustine Gyening, said at midnight on July 25, 2009, the Police Buffalo Unit in Tema had intelligence information about the intention of some people to steal from the JAK warehouse, near the Tema Technical Institute, where frozen meat is kept for distribution to outlets.
He said with this tip-off, the police laid ambush in the area and saw a cargo truck, with registration number GW 1702 Z, approaching the warehouse.
Mr Gyening said the occupants got down, and with the use of the implements, opened the warehouse by cutting the heavy padlocks and other locking systems.
He said in the process, the police moved in to arrest them before they could escape.
According to Mr Gyening, the police would investigate the suspects and trace the source of the truck to find out if it was a stolen one.
ACP Gyening said through the Operation Calm Life launched by the police, crime, especially armed robbery, had gone down considerably in the Tema Region.
He, however, commended the public for supporting the police by giving them information about the suspicious movements of strange people, assuring them that their identity would be kept confidential .
According to Tema police statistics, 21 robberies were recorded by the end of June, 2009, while assault cases topped the list with 696 cases.
The police are, however, on the lookout for four others who managed to escape.
Those arrested are Shaibu Abdulai, 37, Tahiru Yakubu, 45, Yaw Badu, 30, and John Kudzo, 28, the driver of the vehicle used in the operation.
They had in their possession cutters, a drilling machine, a chisel, screw drivers and hammers.
Briefing the newsmen in Tema, the Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Mr Augustine Gyening, said at midnight on July 25, 2009, the Police Buffalo Unit in Tema had intelligence information about the intention of some people to steal from the JAK warehouse, near the Tema Technical Institute, where frozen meat is kept for distribution to outlets.
He said with this tip-off, the police laid ambush in the area and saw a cargo truck, with registration number GW 1702 Z, approaching the warehouse.
Mr Gyening said the occupants got down, and with the use of the implements, opened the warehouse by cutting the heavy padlocks and other locking systems.
He said in the process, the police moved in to arrest them before they could escape.
According to Mr Gyening, the police would investigate the suspects and trace the source of the truck to find out if it was a stolen one.
ACP Gyening said through the Operation Calm Life launched by the police, crime, especially armed robbery, had gone down considerably in the Tema Region.
He, however, commended the public for supporting the police by giving them information about the suspicious movements of strange people, assuring them that their identity would be kept confidential .
According to Tema police statistics, 21 robberies were recorded by the end of June, 2009, while assault cases topped the list with 696 cases.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
COMMUNITY 21 LANDLORDS PROTEST AGAINST SALE OF LANDS (PAGE 47)
Landlords in Community 21, near Ashaiman, have demonstrated against alleged multiple sale of land in the area by the Tema Development Corporation (TDC).
Placard-bearing demonstrators claimed that in 1982 the TDC allocated the plots on lease to them but the corporation had allegedly re-allocated their lands to some corporate entities.
The land, covering an area of approximately 120 acres, was leased to the landlords in 1982 for use as farm lands.
According to the protesters, they paid GH¢42 (¢420,000) in 1982 for the parcels of land.
Some of the placards read "TDC you have no plots here, Stop selling peoples plots, TDC Na Chop Tema land and We no go sit down , government step in ", among others.
Explaining the rationale for the protest, Mr Ali Ayornu Sikatse, a landlord and protester, said TDC had the mandate to lease lands to prospective applicants.
In 1982, he said, those on the land in Community 21 applied and were granted the entry permits and other necessary documents to cover the transaction after they had paid GH¢42.
He said they had since then paid ground rents and honoured their obligations as landlords to the TDC.
Mr Sikatse said suddenly TDC sent letters to individual landlords in 2001 to quit the land which they had duly purchased and had taken care of all these years.
He stated that on receiving the letters they protested and went to meet with the management of the TDC.
Mr Sikatse said it was then that they learnt that the TDC had sold the land to three foreign companies, which later demanded the refund of their monies from the corporation when they got to know that the land was owned by other people.
He said last Monday, July 13, 2009 they spotted some alleged encroachers, a bulldozer and another earth moving equipment on the site clearing the area .
Mr Sikatse said on finding out their mission they were told that the land had been sold to Home Finance Company (HFC), and therefore they were preparing the land for a project.
He alleged that the TDC claimed that the original landlords were not financially sound and capable of transforming the area into an appropriately developed area.
Mr Sikatse said the landlords had submitted a petition to the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing to intevene and save them from losing their hard earned property .
He appealed to the minister to immediately consider their petition as ordinary citizens of the nation who also deserved to be treated fairly .
He said they were also ready to go to court for the case to be determined, and therefore would welcome an amicable settlement.
Meanwhile the TDC has denied engaging in multiple sale of land.
The Public Relations Officer of the TDC, Mr Samuel Abeka, explained that the land at Community 21 was reserved to be given as a freezone area but the proposal could not go through.
Mr Abeka said the area had now become a buffer zone, noting that the plot allocated to the HFC was not supposed to be part of the farmland.
He suggested to the protesters to seek audience with the TDC’s management for a solution to the problem .
Placard-bearing demonstrators claimed that in 1982 the TDC allocated the plots on lease to them but the corporation had allegedly re-allocated their lands to some corporate entities.
The land, covering an area of approximately 120 acres, was leased to the landlords in 1982 for use as farm lands.
According to the protesters, they paid GH¢42 (¢420,000) in 1982 for the parcels of land.
Some of the placards read "TDC you have no plots here, Stop selling peoples plots, TDC Na Chop Tema land and We no go sit down , government step in ", among others.
Explaining the rationale for the protest, Mr Ali Ayornu Sikatse, a landlord and protester, said TDC had the mandate to lease lands to prospective applicants.
In 1982, he said, those on the land in Community 21 applied and were granted the entry permits and other necessary documents to cover the transaction after they had paid GH¢42.
He said they had since then paid ground rents and honoured their obligations as landlords to the TDC.
Mr Sikatse said suddenly TDC sent letters to individual landlords in 2001 to quit the land which they had duly purchased and had taken care of all these years.
He stated that on receiving the letters they protested and went to meet with the management of the TDC.
Mr Sikatse said it was then that they learnt that the TDC had sold the land to three foreign companies, which later demanded the refund of their monies from the corporation when they got to know that the land was owned by other people.
He said last Monday, July 13, 2009 they spotted some alleged encroachers, a bulldozer and another earth moving equipment on the site clearing the area .
Mr Sikatse said on finding out their mission they were told that the land had been sold to Home Finance Company (HFC), and therefore they were preparing the land for a project.
He alleged that the TDC claimed that the original landlords were not financially sound and capable of transforming the area into an appropriately developed area.
Mr Sikatse said the landlords had submitted a petition to the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing to intevene and save them from losing their hard earned property .
He appealed to the minister to immediately consider their petition as ordinary citizens of the nation who also deserved to be treated fairly .
He said they were also ready to go to court for the case to be determined, and therefore would welcome an amicable settlement.
Meanwhile the TDC has denied engaging in multiple sale of land.
The Public Relations Officer of the TDC, Mr Samuel Abeka, explained that the land at Community 21 was reserved to be given as a freezone area but the proposal could not go through.
Mr Abeka said the area had now become a buffer zone, noting that the plot allocated to the HFC was not supposed to be part of the farmland.
He suggested to the protesters to seek audience with the TDC’s management for a solution to the problem .
Monday, July 20, 2009
TOO MANY AGENTS IN DISTRIBUTION CHAIN (SPREAD, JULY 18)
ONE magnificent building that helps to define the landscape at the Tema Fishing Harbour is the Administration Block of the defunct State Fishing Corporation (SFC).
It is commonly referred to as ‘Corporation’, and remains a monument which reminds fishmongers of their good old days with SFC.
Since the collapse of the corporation in 1995, fish storage, preservation and distribution have changed hands with private individuals and companies.
Before its collapse, SFC went fishing with its own big vessels, numbering 20, preserved and stored fish in its 15,000-tonne capacity cold rooms and finally distributed through its cold vans to outlets in all the regional capitals.
The fish, found on the market now, are mostly imported and landed at the fishing harbour, where storage is provided by private cold storage companies which operate from the cold rooms of the divested SFC .
There are other clients who do fishing business at the entrance of the cold room, thereby making fish expensive because they add their profit before selling to fish mongers who do not have direct link with the agents.
In effect, after charging the agent for storage, the cold store operator delivers the fish on demand, but what has contributed most to the exhorbitant price is the number of middlemen between the agent and the monger.
Activities of some of these clients can be said to be a contributory factor to the high cost of fish on the market.
They have also infiltrated the beach and so, when canoe fishermen land their catch, they take stock before selling to the fishmongers at their own price.
Surprisingly, the fishermen themselves are not able to give the cost of fish on demand, but will only direct the buyer to find out from the women, who they describe as 'sit on the boat'.
Mr J.K. Nketiah one time Public Relations Manager of the SFC, outlined some of the factors that led to the collapse of the SFC.
Mr Nketiah stated that in the late 1970s, SFC flourished with a staff of 3,000, who were made up of fishing crew, engineers, administrators, salesmen, drivers, among others.
He disclosed that the Ghana Cold Stores merged with the SFC and adopted the name State Fishing Corporation to enable the two to operate under one umbrella. Mr Nketiah said at the peak of its operations, SFC extended its fishing activities to Angola and Mauritania with its 20 large fishing vessels .
He said these were the key areas where fish was in abundance, but after Angola’s independence, SFC lost its fishing rights at Angolan waters, heralding the beginning of the corporation's woes.
Mr Nketia said later on, Mauritania also came out with some stringent conditions, which compelled SFC to abrogate the agreement and withdraw from Mauritanian waters.
He said before then, plans were rife for the corporation to begin canning of sardines, but this had to be abandoned after losing fishing rights in both Angola and Mauritania.
Mr Nketiah disclosed that with the difficulty of getting sufficient fish in available fishing grounds, the finances of the corporation started to dwindle because the government was not in agreement with suggestions that prices of the commodity should be increased.
According to him, prices were controlled without considering the expenditures of the corporation, leading to financial losses.
Mr Nketiah said problems of the corporation were compounded with some unforeseen circumstances in the early 1980s and dragged on until its final demise.
He said during the divestiture, the SFC's regional cold stores were first to be sold out, missing out on the fact that they could have helped in storage now.
Mr Nketiah said some of the sold properties of the corporation included a three-storey Russian Complex meant for the canning section and training school in fishing. The cold rooms, the SFC workshops and the administration block were all sold out separately.
It is commonly referred to as ‘Corporation’, and remains a monument which reminds fishmongers of their good old days with SFC.
Since the collapse of the corporation in 1995, fish storage, preservation and distribution have changed hands with private individuals and companies.
Before its collapse, SFC went fishing with its own big vessels, numbering 20, preserved and stored fish in its 15,000-tonne capacity cold rooms and finally distributed through its cold vans to outlets in all the regional capitals.
The fish, found on the market now, are mostly imported and landed at the fishing harbour, where storage is provided by private cold storage companies which operate from the cold rooms of the divested SFC .
There are other clients who do fishing business at the entrance of the cold room, thereby making fish expensive because they add their profit before selling to fish mongers who do not have direct link with the agents.
In effect, after charging the agent for storage, the cold store operator delivers the fish on demand, but what has contributed most to the exhorbitant price is the number of middlemen between the agent and the monger.
Activities of some of these clients can be said to be a contributory factor to the high cost of fish on the market.
They have also infiltrated the beach and so, when canoe fishermen land their catch, they take stock before selling to the fishmongers at their own price.
Surprisingly, the fishermen themselves are not able to give the cost of fish on demand, but will only direct the buyer to find out from the women, who they describe as 'sit on the boat'.
Mr J.K. Nketiah one time Public Relations Manager of the SFC, outlined some of the factors that led to the collapse of the SFC.
Mr Nketiah stated that in the late 1970s, SFC flourished with a staff of 3,000, who were made up of fishing crew, engineers, administrators, salesmen, drivers, among others.
He disclosed that the Ghana Cold Stores merged with the SFC and adopted the name State Fishing Corporation to enable the two to operate under one umbrella. Mr Nketiah said at the peak of its operations, SFC extended its fishing activities to Angola and Mauritania with its 20 large fishing vessels .
He said these were the key areas where fish was in abundance, but after Angola’s independence, SFC lost its fishing rights at Angolan waters, heralding the beginning of the corporation's woes.
Mr Nketia said later on, Mauritania also came out with some stringent conditions, which compelled SFC to abrogate the agreement and withdraw from Mauritanian waters.
He said before then, plans were rife for the corporation to begin canning of sardines, but this had to be abandoned after losing fishing rights in both Angola and Mauritania.
Mr Nketiah disclosed that with the difficulty of getting sufficient fish in available fishing grounds, the finances of the corporation started to dwindle because the government was not in agreement with suggestions that prices of the commodity should be increased.
According to him, prices were controlled without considering the expenditures of the corporation, leading to financial losses.
Mr Nketiah said problems of the corporation were compounded with some unforeseen circumstances in the early 1980s and dragged on until its final demise.
He said during the divestiture, the SFC's regional cold stores were first to be sold out, missing out on the fact that they could have helped in storage now.
Mr Nketiah said some of the sold properties of the corporation included a three-storey Russian Complex meant for the canning section and training school in fishing. The cold rooms, the SFC workshops and the administration block were all sold out separately.
CLEAR ALL DRAINS — TEMA MCE (PAGE 29, JULY 17)
The Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Robert Kempes Ofosu-Ware, has charged the assembly's waste management officials to ensure that they cleared all the drains in the metropolis to prevent any blockage that could lead to flooding.
He also called on them to prevent fruits, coconuts and sugar cane sellers from dumping waste in drains.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic on Wednesday, Mr Ofosu-Ware said the assembly was making available internally generated funds of GH¢30,000 to repair a major road linking the one-way route on the market street in Community One.
He said the project was going through the necessary bidding for work to commence as soon as the weather permitted it.
Mr Ofosu-Ware said a tour of the major roads in the metropolis revealed that they were really in bad shape and needed to be repaired.
He said the Department of Urban Roads had submitted a proposal to its headquarters in Accra for approval for the rehabilitation works that would be undertaken within the metropolis, since the assembly did not have adequate funds to cater for such major works.
Mr Ofosu-Ware appealed to residents to exercise patience and wait for the rains to subside for work to begin, adding that the assembly was committed to providing the people with good services.
He said he, however, appreciated the challenges drivers and other road users faced and gave the assurance that the assembly had plans to meet their demands.
Mr Ofosu-Ware said the metropolis had so far not experienced any flooding, and pointed out that the assembly's waste management department was on the alert to ensure that indiscriminate dumping of waste was checked and continuous clearing done to prevent flooding.
Meanwhile, roads in the metropolis continue to deteriorate, widening the potholes and making drivers uncomfortable, thus posing danger to life and property.
He also called on them to prevent fruits, coconuts and sugar cane sellers from dumping waste in drains.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic on Wednesday, Mr Ofosu-Ware said the assembly was making available internally generated funds of GH¢30,000 to repair a major road linking the one-way route on the market street in Community One.
He said the project was going through the necessary bidding for work to commence as soon as the weather permitted it.
Mr Ofosu-Ware said a tour of the major roads in the metropolis revealed that they were really in bad shape and needed to be repaired.
He said the Department of Urban Roads had submitted a proposal to its headquarters in Accra for approval for the rehabilitation works that would be undertaken within the metropolis, since the assembly did not have adequate funds to cater for such major works.
Mr Ofosu-Ware appealed to residents to exercise patience and wait for the rains to subside for work to begin, adding that the assembly was committed to providing the people with good services.
He said he, however, appreciated the challenges drivers and other road users faced and gave the assurance that the assembly had plans to meet their demands.
Mr Ofosu-Ware said the metropolis had so far not experienced any flooding, and pointed out that the assembly's waste management department was on the alert to ensure that indiscriminate dumping of waste was checked and continuous clearing done to prevent flooding.
Meanwhile, roads in the metropolis continue to deteriorate, widening the potholes and making drivers uncomfortable, thus posing danger to life and property.
MORE PATRONISE LOCAL RICE (BACK PAGE, JULY 17, 2009)
MARKETING and patronage of local rice in the country have increased substantially as a result of the introduction of new technologies to farmers and improved varieties of the produce by the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA).
Consequently, some farmers who abandoned rice cultivation in favour of maize and vegetable farming are said to have returned to rice farming.
The Project Manager of the Research Centre of GIDA, Nii Ofoe Hanson, told the Daily Graphic during a visit to the Ashaiman Irrigation Farmers Co-operative Society (AIFCS) irrigation site, that the centre had recorded modest increase in the patronage and marketing of local rice.
He said the centre had collaborated with the AIFCS to boost rice production by setting up demonstration farms to provide practical training in new techniques of rice cultivation to farmers.
Currently, the farmers at the Ashaiman rice growing irrigation site cultivate 51 hectares, but efforts are underway to increase the acreage.
Rice production at the site can increase if all the main canal structures are activated to irrigate 74 hectares, which are yet to be utilised.
Mr Hanson said an assessment by experts had revealed that GIDA would need GH¢400,000 to rehabilitate the damaged and subsequently abandoned structures.
He rejected the notion that local rice was full of stones and said GIDA had a de-stoner which removed all foreign materials from the cultivated rice before marketing.
Mr Hanson said presently, local rice farmers at Ashaiman, Asutsuare, Okyereko, Nobewem, Afife and Tono were among those actively engaged in rice production and, therefore, called on the government to target all individual rice farmers in its effort to encourage rice production locally.
He appealed to the government to show total commitment to the sector by offering the farmers credit facilities to maximise production ,and said some farmers who had abandoned the rice business in favour of vegetables and maize cultivation had returned to rice cultivation because of the patronage.
The Secretary to the AIFCS, Mr Ben Kanatsi, expressed concern about the encroachment on the GIDA lands supposed to serve as a buffer zone for the irrigation dam.
He said the lateral intended to take water from the main canal to supply water to rice farms had been turned into washing bays by the encroachers.
Mr Kanatsi said the soap in the water from activities of the encroachers had affected cultivation and growth of rice.
Consequently, some farmers who abandoned rice cultivation in favour of maize and vegetable farming are said to have returned to rice farming.
The Project Manager of the Research Centre of GIDA, Nii Ofoe Hanson, told the Daily Graphic during a visit to the Ashaiman Irrigation Farmers Co-operative Society (AIFCS) irrigation site, that the centre had recorded modest increase in the patronage and marketing of local rice.
He said the centre had collaborated with the AIFCS to boost rice production by setting up demonstration farms to provide practical training in new techniques of rice cultivation to farmers.
Currently, the farmers at the Ashaiman rice growing irrigation site cultivate 51 hectares, but efforts are underway to increase the acreage.
Rice production at the site can increase if all the main canal structures are activated to irrigate 74 hectares, which are yet to be utilised.
Mr Hanson said an assessment by experts had revealed that GIDA would need GH¢400,000 to rehabilitate the damaged and subsequently abandoned structures.
He rejected the notion that local rice was full of stones and said GIDA had a de-stoner which removed all foreign materials from the cultivated rice before marketing.
Mr Hanson said presently, local rice farmers at Ashaiman, Asutsuare, Okyereko, Nobewem, Afife and Tono were among those actively engaged in rice production and, therefore, called on the government to target all individual rice farmers in its effort to encourage rice production locally.
He appealed to the government to show total commitment to the sector by offering the farmers credit facilities to maximise production ,and said some farmers who had abandoned the rice business in favour of vegetables and maize cultivation had returned to rice cultivation because of the patronage.
The Secretary to the AIFCS, Mr Ben Kanatsi, expressed concern about the encroachment on the GIDA lands supposed to serve as a buffer zone for the irrigation dam.
He said the lateral intended to take water from the main canal to supply water to rice farms had been turned into washing bays by the encroachers.
Mr Kanatsi said the soap in the water from activities of the encroachers had affected cultivation and growth of rice.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
GPHA TO INVEST $50M ON OIL FIND (PAGE 25, JULY 13)
The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority will by September, this year start a $50 million project at the Takoradi Port to facilitate the prospecting of oil in the Western Region.
The proposed construction of the facility is projected to cover a period of one and a half years.
This was disclosed by the Director-General of the GPHA, Mr Nestor Galley, at a forum with the media at Tema last Wednesday.
He said it was the intention of the authority to place priority on the oil prospects and, therefore, it would not relent on its efforts to provide the needed infrastructure to ensure that the country did not rely on any neighbouring country for support.
Mr Galley said land for the project was available and that the project comprised the building of jumpers, pipes to pump the oil and hoses which will make the port well-equipped for the drilling of the oil.
He noted that the construction would increase the number of supply points to enable the GPHA provide maximum supporting services.
Mr Galley enumerated some challenges facing the authority which included the loss of rendering services to importers from Lome in Togo.
He explained that in recent times about one million cargo imports which hitherto passed through the Tema Port had been diverted through the Lome Port though facilities and structures at Ghanaian ports were better than those in Lome.
Mr Galley added that officials from the Tema Port had been charged to investigate causes of the diversion to enable the authority make amends and bring back its clients.
He said GPHA was talking to investors to further develop the port and that had resulted in the repair of four axle bridges at the Tema Port. That, he said, would quicken the pace of weighing transit trucks, check overloading and ease congestion on the port premises.
Mr Galley was not happy about the insistence of transit truck drivers that they be allowed to overload their trucks, noting that it was affecting the country’s road network.
He stated that the decision to implement the axle load policy was a general agreement between all ECOWAS countries which had benefited from the European Union (EU) funds.
Mr Galley pointed out that instead of the 25 years duration, the country’s road network lasted only five years, which made it inconsistent with the agreement.
He said the drivers were not to carry loads beyond 30 tons but they were loading beyond 75 tons, which affected the roads.
Mr Galley indicated that the stakeholders in the road sector were involved in education to make the drivers understand the need for the policy and commended the media for their role of keeping them on their toes.
He also appealed to the media to always contact the authority for information to help maintain the good image of the country and make it attractive for transacting business.
The proposed construction of the facility is projected to cover a period of one and a half years.
This was disclosed by the Director-General of the GPHA, Mr Nestor Galley, at a forum with the media at Tema last Wednesday.
He said it was the intention of the authority to place priority on the oil prospects and, therefore, it would not relent on its efforts to provide the needed infrastructure to ensure that the country did not rely on any neighbouring country for support.
Mr Galley said land for the project was available and that the project comprised the building of jumpers, pipes to pump the oil and hoses which will make the port well-equipped for the drilling of the oil.
He noted that the construction would increase the number of supply points to enable the GPHA provide maximum supporting services.
Mr Galley enumerated some challenges facing the authority which included the loss of rendering services to importers from Lome in Togo.
He explained that in recent times about one million cargo imports which hitherto passed through the Tema Port had been diverted through the Lome Port though facilities and structures at Ghanaian ports were better than those in Lome.
Mr Galley added that officials from the Tema Port had been charged to investigate causes of the diversion to enable the authority make amends and bring back its clients.
He said GPHA was talking to investors to further develop the port and that had resulted in the repair of four axle bridges at the Tema Port. That, he said, would quicken the pace of weighing transit trucks, check overloading and ease congestion on the port premises.
Mr Galley was not happy about the insistence of transit truck drivers that they be allowed to overload their trucks, noting that it was affecting the country’s road network.
He stated that the decision to implement the axle load policy was a general agreement between all ECOWAS countries which had benefited from the European Union (EU) funds.
Mr Galley pointed out that instead of the 25 years duration, the country’s road network lasted only five years, which made it inconsistent with the agreement.
He said the drivers were not to carry loads beyond 30 tons but they were loading beyond 75 tons, which affected the roads.
Mr Galley indicated that the stakeholders in the road sector were involved in education to make the drivers understand the need for the policy and commended the media for their role of keeping them on their toes.
He also appealed to the media to always contact the authority for information to help maintain the good image of the country and make it attractive for transacting business.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
GIVING COCONUT A FRESH FACE (SPREAD)
COCONUT sellers in and around Tema have tapped into the reserve of their ingenuity and marketing skills, resorting to the use of alum to bleach the skin of coconut to maintain its freshness and attraction to customers.
But their numerous customers are worried about the implications of alum for their health.
For years, consumers of coconut have displayed their dislike for the produce, especially when its colour changes from white to brown after the green hard cover has been removed.
In a Daily Graphic survey in Tema, Manhean, Kpone and Ashaiman coconut sellers in the metropolis confirmed that they were applying alum solution on coconut to maintain its freshness.
The survey revealed that coconut sellers who could not afford carrying cans of alum solution with them rather dipped their coconut in alum solution before setting off to sell to the public.
Those who sold the coconut on pushed-trucks always hid the plastic buckets and containers under the trucks and dipped the coconut in it before selling to the public.
The sellers, however, said that they were not aware of any possible effects of the chemicals on the juice or coconut.
Some of the consumers, who usually saw the sellers pouring the alum solution on the coconut, complained of a possible harmful effect on them.
Rather, customers go in for the produce, whose green cover has not been peeled or the ones which have not been affected by the alum solution.
In separate interviews, a seller, Kwame Akakpowho, said he was compelled to apply the alum solution when sales were bad or slow, and usually applied the alum while waiting for customers.
He said the colour of the coconut changed from off-white to brown after its green hard cover had been peeled off, making the fruit rather unattractive to customers.
Mr Akakpowho said there was the need to keep the fruit white as much as possible to attract customers because of the varying preferences of customers for fresh fruits.
Some customers, who the Daily Graphic spoke to were not happy that the sellers were adding alum solution to whiten the coconut.
They said they patronised coconut for its freshness, partly because of the widely held view that the coconut juice had the potential to heal some aspects of cardiovascular diseases.
Other customers were, however, of the view that the use of alum could not pose any health hazards, because coconut had a hard protective shell or cover to prevent the fruit from any chemical.
When the Daily Graphic contacted Dr Kaku Kyiamah, a scientist, he said the use of the solution should not be a problem so long as it was prevented from getting into contact with the juice and the lining of the coconut.
Dr Kyiamah noted that the alum had the property to prevent the coconut from fungal attacks and other harmful organisms.
He stated that it was even used in making water free from its muddy condition and also killing organic matters and, therfore, could not be said to be poisonous if used in moderation.
Dr Kyiamah, however, was quick to add that the alum solution could penetrate the inner chamber of the coconut if the supposed hard shell was tender.
But their numerous customers are worried about the implications of alum for their health.
For years, consumers of coconut have displayed their dislike for the produce, especially when its colour changes from white to brown after the green hard cover has been removed.
In a Daily Graphic survey in Tema, Manhean, Kpone and Ashaiman coconut sellers in the metropolis confirmed that they were applying alum solution on coconut to maintain its freshness.
The survey revealed that coconut sellers who could not afford carrying cans of alum solution with them rather dipped their coconut in alum solution before setting off to sell to the public.
Those who sold the coconut on pushed-trucks always hid the plastic buckets and containers under the trucks and dipped the coconut in it before selling to the public.
The sellers, however, said that they were not aware of any possible effects of the chemicals on the juice or coconut.
Some of the consumers, who usually saw the sellers pouring the alum solution on the coconut, complained of a possible harmful effect on them.
Rather, customers go in for the produce, whose green cover has not been peeled or the ones which have not been affected by the alum solution.
In separate interviews, a seller, Kwame Akakpowho, said he was compelled to apply the alum solution when sales were bad or slow, and usually applied the alum while waiting for customers.
He said the colour of the coconut changed from off-white to brown after its green hard cover had been peeled off, making the fruit rather unattractive to customers.
Mr Akakpowho said there was the need to keep the fruit white as much as possible to attract customers because of the varying preferences of customers for fresh fruits.
Some customers, who the Daily Graphic spoke to were not happy that the sellers were adding alum solution to whiten the coconut.
They said they patronised coconut for its freshness, partly because of the widely held view that the coconut juice had the potential to heal some aspects of cardiovascular diseases.
Other customers were, however, of the view that the use of alum could not pose any health hazards, because coconut had a hard protective shell or cover to prevent the fruit from any chemical.
When the Daily Graphic contacted Dr Kaku Kyiamah, a scientist, he said the use of the solution should not be a problem so long as it was prevented from getting into contact with the juice and the lining of the coconut.
Dr Kyiamah noted that the alum had the property to prevent the coconut from fungal attacks and other harmful organisms.
He stated that it was even used in making water free from its muddy condition and also killing organic matters and, therfore, could not be said to be poisonous if used in moderation.
Dr Kyiamah, however, was quick to add that the alum solution could penetrate the inner chamber of the coconut if the supposed hard shell was tender.
RESIDENTS URGED TO BE ON THE ALERT (PAGE 18)
The Tema Metropolitan Office of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), has called on people who reside in disaster prone areas in the metropolis to be on the alert and inform the security agencies of any danger of flooding for protection.
He said although the situation was not alarming in the Tema metropolis, the organisation was concerned about the problems the rains had caused in some communities.
In order to mitigate the effects of any catastrophe, NADMO and the Tema office of the Information Services Department (ISD), have sent public announcements to those areas to caution the residents to be aware of possible danger.
Areas where the announcements were made included the Tema Newtown, Community 20 and Community 5.
The Tema Office Co-ordinator of NADMO,Mr Joseph Dennis Abraham- Reynolds, told the Daily Graphic in Tema that the walls of drains at the Tema Newtown which collapsed as a result of the pressure from run-off and erosion, had created a situation of flooding in the area.
He said a team from his office and the Tema Metropolitan Assembly Maintenance Section had inspected the drainage and were putting together materials to rectify the situation.
Mr Abraham -Reynolds said another source of flooding was the rivers Onukpa Wahe and Mamahuma, which flowed into the residential community 20 area and fed with water from the Akwapim ridge.
He said the flooding of the two rivers could have devastating consequences for the people in the community.
The Metropolitan Co-ordinator of NADMO said the two rivers flowed under bridges on the motorway.
Mr Abraham- Reynolds cautioned people in the flood prone areas in the metropolis to avoid standing near fence walls and in eroded levels to avoid being harmed by any collapsing structure.
He reiterated that though the situation was not alarming, residents must take precautions against future occurrences and avoid indiscriminate dumping of constructional debris and waste materials into watercourse to avoid blockage of the sewer lines and drains .
Mr Abraham -Reynolds appealed to residents to adhere strictly to sanitation rules to save lives and property, warning that with more rains being expected as predicted by the meteorological department, residents must ensure that they did the right things.
He said although the situation was not alarming in the Tema metropolis, the organisation was concerned about the problems the rains had caused in some communities.
In order to mitigate the effects of any catastrophe, NADMO and the Tema office of the Information Services Department (ISD), have sent public announcements to those areas to caution the residents to be aware of possible danger.
Areas where the announcements were made included the Tema Newtown, Community 20 and Community 5.
The Tema Office Co-ordinator of NADMO,Mr Joseph Dennis Abraham- Reynolds, told the Daily Graphic in Tema that the walls of drains at the Tema Newtown which collapsed as a result of the pressure from run-off and erosion, had created a situation of flooding in the area.
He said a team from his office and the Tema Metropolitan Assembly Maintenance Section had inspected the drainage and were putting together materials to rectify the situation.
Mr Abraham -Reynolds said another source of flooding was the rivers Onukpa Wahe and Mamahuma, which flowed into the residential community 20 area and fed with water from the Akwapim ridge.
He said the flooding of the two rivers could have devastating consequences for the people in the community.
The Metropolitan Co-ordinator of NADMO said the two rivers flowed under bridges on the motorway.
Mr Abraham- Reynolds cautioned people in the flood prone areas in the metropolis to avoid standing near fence walls and in eroded levels to avoid being harmed by any collapsing structure.
He reiterated that though the situation was not alarming, residents must take precautions against future occurrences and avoid indiscriminate dumping of constructional debris and waste materials into watercourse to avoid blockage of the sewer lines and drains .
Mr Abraham -Reynolds appealed to residents to adhere strictly to sanitation rules to save lives and property, warning that with more rains being expected as predicted by the meteorological department, residents must ensure that they did the right things.
Friday, July 3, 2009
TEMA PORT IS CONGESTED (PAGE 15)
THE importation of vehicles through the Tema Port has increased, with 20,991 vehicles entering the country in the first quarter of this year.
The vehicles include saloon cars, mini buses, buses, trailer units and utility vehicles.
However, clearance of these vehicles has not been consistent with the rate of their importation, thereby creating congestion at the port.
A visit to the port indicated that every available space, including the Jubilee Park and the transit yard, has been filled with cars of various makes and types.
The yard of Safe Bond is filled to capacity with fairly good cars and some damaged ones that need to be cleared but have been left at the mercy of the elements.
It was observed during the visit that most of the cars were overage, some damaged as a result of accidents, while others were rusty.
A source at the port told the Daily Graphic that there were over 5,000 imported containers which were unclaimed over a long period at the dedicated container terminal of the Meridian Port Services Ltd, creating problems for the companies handling new arrival of containers.
Commenting on the situation when contacted, the Public Affairs Manager of the Tema Port, Mrs Esther Gyebi-Donkor, said the port was congested as a result of the unclaimed containers and vehicles.
She said some importers failed to clear their goods after realising that the import duty was beyond what they could afford.
In the case of cars, she said considering the number of cars imported between January and March 2009, the port might become more congested than ever if the rate of imports remained the same.
She said many imported cars and containers had been abandoned because the state of the cars and the cost involved in clearing them discouraged their owners who felt there was no need to clear them anymore.
Mrs Gyebi-Donkor said the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) had no mandate to take any action against the importers who abandoned their containers and cars and only had to wait for the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) to take action after three months, as stipulated by law.
She was of the view that a total ban on the importation of such scrap into the country would help maintain a clean environment at the port.
The present system of imposition of penalties, she said, had not achieved the expected objectives.
Mrs Gyebi-Donkor explained that CEPS was the only agency with the mandate to seize over-stayed uncleared containers and vehicles.
She emphasised that the congestion had negatively affected the smooth operations of the GPHA and defeated the objective of making the Tema Port the most preferred in the sub-region.
On the congestion created by the containers, she partly blamed transit containers which were not being moved because the articulated transit truck drivers would not yield to the demand to weigh the trucks to enforce the stipulated permissible axle load weight as the law demanded.
She said the action of the drivers would not affect the port because the law was being enforced in all countries in the sub-region.
Mrs Gyebi-Donkor said some of the truck drivers had refused to cart the goods, thereby delaying the clearance of some of the containers in transit.
The vehicles include saloon cars, mini buses, buses, trailer units and utility vehicles.
However, clearance of these vehicles has not been consistent with the rate of their importation, thereby creating congestion at the port.
A visit to the port indicated that every available space, including the Jubilee Park and the transit yard, has been filled with cars of various makes and types.
The yard of Safe Bond is filled to capacity with fairly good cars and some damaged ones that need to be cleared but have been left at the mercy of the elements.
It was observed during the visit that most of the cars were overage, some damaged as a result of accidents, while others were rusty.
A source at the port told the Daily Graphic that there were over 5,000 imported containers which were unclaimed over a long period at the dedicated container terminal of the Meridian Port Services Ltd, creating problems for the companies handling new arrival of containers.
Commenting on the situation when contacted, the Public Affairs Manager of the Tema Port, Mrs Esther Gyebi-Donkor, said the port was congested as a result of the unclaimed containers and vehicles.
She said some importers failed to clear their goods after realising that the import duty was beyond what they could afford.
In the case of cars, she said considering the number of cars imported between January and March 2009, the port might become more congested than ever if the rate of imports remained the same.
She said many imported cars and containers had been abandoned because the state of the cars and the cost involved in clearing them discouraged their owners who felt there was no need to clear them anymore.
Mrs Gyebi-Donkor said the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) had no mandate to take any action against the importers who abandoned their containers and cars and only had to wait for the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) to take action after three months, as stipulated by law.
She was of the view that a total ban on the importation of such scrap into the country would help maintain a clean environment at the port.
The present system of imposition of penalties, she said, had not achieved the expected objectives.
Mrs Gyebi-Donkor explained that CEPS was the only agency with the mandate to seize over-stayed uncleared containers and vehicles.
She emphasised that the congestion had negatively affected the smooth operations of the GPHA and defeated the objective of making the Tema Port the most preferred in the sub-region.
On the congestion created by the containers, she partly blamed transit containers which were not being moved because the articulated transit truck drivers would not yield to the demand to weigh the trucks to enforce the stipulated permissible axle load weight as the law demanded.
She said the action of the drivers would not affect the port because the law was being enforced in all countries in the sub-region.
Mrs Gyebi-Donkor said some of the truck drivers had refused to cart the goods, thereby delaying the clearance of some of the containers in transit.
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