The Food and Drugs Board (FDB) yesterday destroyed a large quantity of chicken thighs, wings and gizzards valued at GH¢200,000 at Kpone, near Tema.
The products, which were seized from some major frozen food importers comprised 2,500 cartons of chicken thighs and wings, as well as 777 boxes of gizzards.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic at the landfill site where two bulldozers were used in the destruction exercise, the Head of Import and Export Control Department of the FDB, Mr Emmanuel Yaw Kwarteng, said the products were not even fit for animal consumption and had to be destroyed.
He explained that at the beginning of December, 2010, the FDB, in collaboration with the security agencies undertook an operation to determine the wholesomeness of foods imported.
Mr Kwarteng said an inspection at the Servista Frozen Foods Company, revealed large quantities of gizzards in cold rooms.
He said the company was noted for being a major importer of animal products and some of them had already been distributed.
Mr Kwarteng said other smaller outlets which received products from Servista were also inspected and all the gizzards analysed there were found to be unwholesome and subsequently seized.
He disclosed that another importer of chicken products, Cocas Impex Company, received an import of 2,500 cartons of chicken but decided to contact the FDB to check on the status of the products .
According to Mr Kwarteng, when analysed it was detected that the chicken thighs could not even be used for poultry feed though they looked attractive.
He said the FDB would continue to monitor imports arriving at the port within the period and after the festivities to ensure that consumers bought healthy foods.
Mr Kwarteng cautioned traders who bought anything at unauthorised places to ensure that food items were wholesome .
He warned that the FDB would not shirk its responsibilities but ensure that they rid the markets and stores of all unwanted goods and foods.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
SHAI RURAL BANK MAKES PROFIT (PAGE 55, DEC 23, 2010)
THE Shai Rural Bank at Dodowa recorded a net profit of GH¢35,490.00 in 2009 as against the GH¢3,786.00 the bank recorded in 2008.
The Board Chairman of the bank, Mr Ebenezer Djagbletey Djanie, said at the 29th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the bank at Dodowa, that despite the challenging year the bank was able to meet its financial obligation to post the modest net profit.
He appealed to the shareholders of the bank to buy more shares to enable the bank to achieve more successes.
Mr Djanie said the bank’s assets had equally grown from GH¢1,540,910.00 in 2008 to GH¢2,367,876 representing a growth of 34.92 per cent over the previous year’s performance.
He said the bank currently operated two agencies located at Adentan and Ashaiman, which according to the Board Chairman contributed to the growth of the bank.
Mr Djanie said computerisation of operations of the Head Office at Dodowa in August 2009 had brought efficiency and effectiveness in the turnaround time of the bank and hinted that the Adentan and Ashaiman agencies would soon be hooked on to the computerised network.
Mr Djanie disclosed that the bank had introduced a Micro Finance Operations and had developed its mobile banking business to cover all clients within the community in which the bank operates.
That, he said, included loans for funeral, school fees, medical bills and church projects, among others .
The board chairman said the bank had plans to migrate from the current interest- based revenue to commission –based revenue such as the ATM and SMS banking.
The Managing Director of the ARB Apex Bank Ltd , Mr Eric Osei Bonsu, in a speech read on his behalf by the Head of Internal Control Department of the ARB APEX Bank, Mr Hyginus S. Zon, commended the bank for its achievements and said those achievements must be consolidated.
He emphasised that the banking industry was undergoing a rapid technological transformation with the introduction of electronic banking and expressed the hope that the bank would invest in ICT to improve its operational efficiency.
Mr Osei Bonsu said some of the innovations were :e-Zwich, Electronic Financial Analysis and Surveillance Systems (e FASS), Cheque Codeline Clearing (CCC) and Automated Clearing House (ACH).
He stated that the Apex Bank would also migrate its star product, the Apex Link Money Transfer Product onto an ICT Platform very soon to make it more efficient.
The Dangme West District Chief Executive, Mr Emmanuel Odoi Ayimi Lartey, commended the bank, and appealed to citizens of the area to patronise the services of the two rural banks in the district.
He noted that the presence of the two banks had contributed to the elimination of poverty in the area.
Mr Lartey further commended the Shai Rural Bank for instituting a scholarship scheme for the needy and urged shareholders to increase their shares.
The Board Chairman of the bank, Mr Ebenezer Djagbletey Djanie, said at the 29th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the bank at Dodowa, that despite the challenging year the bank was able to meet its financial obligation to post the modest net profit.
He appealed to the shareholders of the bank to buy more shares to enable the bank to achieve more successes.
Mr Djanie said the bank’s assets had equally grown from GH¢1,540,910.00 in 2008 to GH¢2,367,876 representing a growth of 34.92 per cent over the previous year’s performance.
He said the bank currently operated two agencies located at Adentan and Ashaiman, which according to the Board Chairman contributed to the growth of the bank.
Mr Djanie said computerisation of operations of the Head Office at Dodowa in August 2009 had brought efficiency and effectiveness in the turnaround time of the bank and hinted that the Adentan and Ashaiman agencies would soon be hooked on to the computerised network.
Mr Djanie disclosed that the bank had introduced a Micro Finance Operations and had developed its mobile banking business to cover all clients within the community in which the bank operates.
That, he said, included loans for funeral, school fees, medical bills and church projects, among others .
The board chairman said the bank had plans to migrate from the current interest- based revenue to commission –based revenue such as the ATM and SMS banking.
The Managing Director of the ARB Apex Bank Ltd , Mr Eric Osei Bonsu, in a speech read on his behalf by the Head of Internal Control Department of the ARB APEX Bank, Mr Hyginus S. Zon, commended the bank for its achievements and said those achievements must be consolidated.
He emphasised that the banking industry was undergoing a rapid technological transformation with the introduction of electronic banking and expressed the hope that the bank would invest in ICT to improve its operational efficiency.
Mr Osei Bonsu said some of the innovations were :e-Zwich, Electronic Financial Analysis and Surveillance Systems (e FASS), Cheque Codeline Clearing (CCC) and Automated Clearing House (ACH).
He stated that the Apex Bank would also migrate its star product, the Apex Link Money Transfer Product onto an ICT Platform very soon to make it more efficient.
The Dangme West District Chief Executive, Mr Emmanuel Odoi Ayimi Lartey, commended the bank, and appealed to citizens of the area to patronise the services of the two rural banks in the district.
He noted that the presence of the two banks had contributed to the elimination of poverty in the area.
Mr Lartey further commended the Shai Rural Bank for instituting a scholarship scheme for the needy and urged shareholders to increase their shares.
Monday, December 20, 2010
296 NYEP RECRUITS TO HELP IN TRAFFIC CONTROL (SPREAD, DEC 18, 2010)
The Ghana Police Service has mobilised 296 personnel from the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) to support the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) to control traffic in Accra and Tema.
They have been trained under the community policing module of the NYEP and would be engaged by the Police Service for the next two years.
Forty-nine of the trained personnel, made up of 10 females and 39 males, have been posted to Tema while the rest have been stationed in Accra.
The Commander of the MTTU, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Angwubutoge Awuni, who was in Tema to meet them, advised them to make discipline the hallmark of their work.
He said the police service needed disciplined people to be attached to the MTTU to help direct traffic especially during the Yuletide.
The MMTU boss noted that traffic had become a problem in the cities and stressed the need to have more hands to help make the roads safe for drivers, passengers and pedestrians.
ACP Awuni said some of the NYEP community policing personnel had been found to be habitual absentees when posted to duty points and warned that those who indulge in such behaviours would not be entertained.
He, however, said those found to be obedient and hardworking would be absorbed into the Police Service.
He advised them to be friendly to the public and said as peace officers, they were expected to maintain law and order.
He appealed to them to show commitment to their work and put up attitudes that would justify the confidence reposed in them.
The Tema Regional Police Commander, ACP Augustine Gyenning, asked the NYEP personnel to be mindful of the numerous road construction works going on in Tema, which has resulted in roadblocks and heavy traffic, and said they would need to work hard at the various road intersections to control vehicular movement.
They have been trained under the community policing module of the NYEP and would be engaged by the Police Service for the next two years.
Forty-nine of the trained personnel, made up of 10 females and 39 males, have been posted to Tema while the rest have been stationed in Accra.
The Commander of the MTTU, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Angwubutoge Awuni, who was in Tema to meet them, advised them to make discipline the hallmark of their work.
He said the police service needed disciplined people to be attached to the MTTU to help direct traffic especially during the Yuletide.
The MMTU boss noted that traffic had become a problem in the cities and stressed the need to have more hands to help make the roads safe for drivers, passengers and pedestrians.
ACP Awuni said some of the NYEP community policing personnel had been found to be habitual absentees when posted to duty points and warned that those who indulge in such behaviours would not be entertained.
He, however, said those found to be obedient and hardworking would be absorbed into the Police Service.
He advised them to be friendly to the public and said as peace officers, they were expected to maintain law and order.
He appealed to them to show commitment to their work and put up attitudes that would justify the confidence reposed in them.
The Tema Regional Police Commander, ACP Augustine Gyenning, asked the NYEP personnel to be mindful of the numerous road construction works going on in Tema, which has resulted in roadblocks and heavy traffic, and said they would need to work hard at the various road intersections to control vehicular movement.
Friday, December 17, 2010
ASHAISEC LAUNCHES 20TH ANNIVERSARY (MIRROR, PAGE 35, DEC 18, 2010)
From Rose Hayford Darko, Ashaiman
The Ashaiman Senior High School (Ashaisec), the premier secondary school in Ashaiman, is 20 years and has accordingly launched its 20th anniversary to celebrate pioneers, who through hard work, have brought the school to its present status .
It was themed ‘Accessibility to quality education – the need for parity in resource distribution’.
The school started with 30 students and three members of staff, without non-teaching staff and infrastructure to boost teaching and learning .
Twenty years later, the school now boasts a moderate infrastructure, a staff strength of 88 and student population of 1,450 made up of 733 boys and 717 girls .
The Ashaiman Municipal Director of Education, Ms Florence Quaye, who launched the anniversary, commended the founders of the school for ensuring that Ashaiman had a senior high school to promote education .
She said the growing student population buttressed the theme for the celebration which was evident with the ongoing construction works in the school .
Ms. Quaye noted that although government had the responsibility to provide infrastructure and financial resources for the promotion of quality teaching and learning ,the community in which the school was located had to be equally responsive to its needs .
She stated that government and other stakeholders had made bold attempts to improve on the infrastructure of the school to cater for the growing student population.
Ms Quaye said Ashaisec had a solid human resource with highly qualified, experienced and motivated staff who had inculcated in the students, discipline, honesty, self confidence, hardwork, patriotism and tolerance .
She commended both teachers and students for excelling in various activities including sports, culture and others which was a proof that the school was not concerned with only the academics but also the holistic training of the individual .
Ms Quaye cautioned the students to eschew negative practices and lift the banner of the municipality high .
The Headmaster of the school, Mr Emmanuel Ofoe Fiemawhle, outlined the highlights of the celebration which included debates, clean up exercises, health walk, float, symposium and speech and prize giving day.
The Ashaiman Senior High School (Ashaisec), the premier secondary school in Ashaiman, is 20 years and has accordingly launched its 20th anniversary to celebrate pioneers, who through hard work, have brought the school to its present status .
It was themed ‘Accessibility to quality education – the need for parity in resource distribution’.
The school started with 30 students and three members of staff, without non-teaching staff and infrastructure to boost teaching and learning .
Twenty years later, the school now boasts a moderate infrastructure, a staff strength of 88 and student population of 1,450 made up of 733 boys and 717 girls .
The Ashaiman Municipal Director of Education, Ms Florence Quaye, who launched the anniversary, commended the founders of the school for ensuring that Ashaiman had a senior high school to promote education .
She said the growing student population buttressed the theme for the celebration which was evident with the ongoing construction works in the school .
Ms. Quaye noted that although government had the responsibility to provide infrastructure and financial resources for the promotion of quality teaching and learning ,the community in which the school was located had to be equally responsive to its needs .
She stated that government and other stakeholders had made bold attempts to improve on the infrastructure of the school to cater for the growing student population.
Ms Quaye said Ashaisec had a solid human resource with highly qualified, experienced and motivated staff who had inculcated in the students, discipline, honesty, self confidence, hardwork, patriotism and tolerance .
She commended both teachers and students for excelling in various activities including sports, culture and others which was a proof that the school was not concerned with only the academics but also the holistic training of the individual .
Ms Quaye cautioned the students to eschew negative practices and lift the banner of the municipality high .
The Headmaster of the school, Mr Emmanuel Ofoe Fiemawhle, outlined the highlights of the celebration which included debates, clean up exercises, health walk, float, symposium and speech and prize giving day.
TEMA GES AWARDS 21 TEACHERS (MIRROR, PAGE 35, DEC 18, 2010)
From Rose Hayford Darko, Tema
THE Tema Metropolitan Directorate of Ghana Education Service (GES) has awarded 21 teachers for their hard work and dedication to duty at its Best Teachers Award ceremony in Tema.
The award winners were from the primary, junior high and senior high schools in various disciplines of Science , Mathematics , General subjects , vocational and technical categories .
Also awarded were some hard working and dedicated non-teaching staff at the Metropolitan office of the GES.
Those who came first in their categories took home a double door fridge, second positions had four burner standing gas cooker and the third place winners received 21 inch flat screen television sets.
The Deputy Director General of the GES, Mr Victor Adu-Mante, said the awards formed part of incentives meant to promote quality basic education in the country.
He said it was also to provide the opportunity as well as challenge for the basic and second cycle schools to strive for excellence.
Mr Mante called on school directors to properly manage their capitation grants and commended heads of senior high schools for their effort during the admission of first year students in the face of all odds; and assured them that GES recognised that motivation enhanced excellence.
The Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware, said the Assembly would continue to support and invest in education, adding that the Assembly would provide six pavillions and also meet the infrastructure needs of SHSs in the Metropolis.
Mr Ofosuware said work would soon begin on the construction of 10 new classroom blocks for schools throughout the metropolis with funding from the GetFund.
The Metropolitan Director of Education, Mr Kwesi Hutchful, appealed for decent accommodation for the GES and stressed the need to check the encroachment of school lands in the metropolis.
The Greater Accra Member of the Council of State, Mr Adjei Annang, who chaired the programme, accompanied Mr Mante to inspect a guard of honour mounted by the Navy Cadet of OLAM Senior High School with support from Chemu Senior Secondary School band.
THE Tema Metropolitan Directorate of Ghana Education Service (GES) has awarded 21 teachers for their hard work and dedication to duty at its Best Teachers Award ceremony in Tema.
The award winners were from the primary, junior high and senior high schools in various disciplines of Science , Mathematics , General subjects , vocational and technical categories .
Also awarded were some hard working and dedicated non-teaching staff at the Metropolitan office of the GES.
Those who came first in their categories took home a double door fridge, second positions had four burner standing gas cooker and the third place winners received 21 inch flat screen television sets.
The Deputy Director General of the GES, Mr Victor Adu-Mante, said the awards formed part of incentives meant to promote quality basic education in the country.
He said it was also to provide the opportunity as well as challenge for the basic and second cycle schools to strive for excellence.
Mr Mante called on school directors to properly manage their capitation grants and commended heads of senior high schools for their effort during the admission of first year students in the face of all odds; and assured them that GES recognised that motivation enhanced excellence.
The Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware, said the Assembly would continue to support and invest in education, adding that the Assembly would provide six pavillions and also meet the infrastructure needs of SHSs in the Metropolis.
Mr Ofosuware said work would soon begin on the construction of 10 new classroom blocks for schools throughout the metropolis with funding from the GetFund.
The Metropolitan Director of Education, Mr Kwesi Hutchful, appealed for decent accommodation for the GES and stressed the need to check the encroachment of school lands in the metropolis.
The Greater Accra Member of the Council of State, Mr Adjei Annang, who chaired the programme, accompanied Mr Mante to inspect a guard of honour mounted by the Navy Cadet of OLAM Senior High School with support from Chemu Senior Secondary School band.
NEW VESSEL TO DEEPEN TRADE DOCKS IN TEMA (PAGE 55, DEC 17, 2010)
A geared container vessel 'CMA CGM Africa One' with a capacity of 3,600 teu (twenty equivalent units) and designed to meet specifications of African ports for quick delivery of goods first docked at the Tema harbour.
The ship christened 'Nassau ' to link Asia to West Africa trade route is geared towards independent port operations with its own in-built cranes which maximise the loading of goods at shallow draft ports .
It is currently the largest vessel to enter the waters of Africa since 2007 when the largest vessel entered with a capacity of 2,500 teu .
It was built and delivered in August 2010 at the Hanjin Heavy Industries shipyard in Hong Kong.
Briefing the media on the vessel, the Commercial Manager for CMA CGM Group, on behalf of its subsidiary in Ghana ,Delmas Shipping Ghana, Mr Geoffrey Cole said the ship was one of the four to be delivered later .
He noted that the capacity of the vessels had been exclusively designed and built with flexibility considering the in built cranes , draught and length which made it operate autonomously where necessary in all major African ports irrespective of the level of equipment and the characteristics of the port .
Mr Cole said bigger vessels reduce cost per unit the freight rate of imported goods and, therefore, offered competitive rates for importers and exporters .
He said vessels of a certain draft and length had had difficulties in berthing at the Tema port, especially because of the varying berthing space, but the new vessels had their own mechanisms which made them fit in uniquely.
Mr Cole said with the four new container vessels ,delays in loading and discharging would be a thing of the past and make sea transport more dynamic .
The General Manager of the Delmas Shipping Ghana of the CMA CGM Group , Mr Hugh Curtis, observed that the innovative design of the vessel CMA CGM Africa One would allow a high quality service in African ports, especially Tema port which had one of the best levels of productivity in West Africa .
He said the vessel docked with 700 containers from Asia would sail with 800 containers for export .
Mr Curtis said the objective of introducing the bigger vessel was to have them operate directly between Asia and Africa to promote trade .
He disclosed that CMA CGM Group is a major stakeholder in the development of the Ghanaian economy and with the new big vessels entering its fleet,the Group had emphasised its commitment to Africa .
Mr Curtis stated that Ghana had a fast growing economy in the sub -Saharan region and had been an important market for the Group hence its four direct weekly services from Far East,Northern Europe and the Mediterranean operating as number one operator of exports out of the country carrying mainly cocoa, perishable goods ,foodstuff and timber whilst being a major carrier of Ghana's large variety of imported goods from Asia .
The Captain of the vessel,Andriy Pakholchuk from Ukraine in an interview said the technicalities of the vessel was comparably the same with other vessels but only needed a little more care to manoeuvre because of the size and weight .
He said the vessel was capable of making a trip under 30 days from Asia to Ghana and also had a compartment for passengers who would want to experience sea journey and all the comfort that went with it.
Some importers and exporters who were on board the vessel said they were happy to have a direct service to enable them do fast business void of demurrage.
The ship christened 'Nassau ' to link Asia to West Africa trade route is geared towards independent port operations with its own in-built cranes which maximise the loading of goods at shallow draft ports .
It is currently the largest vessel to enter the waters of Africa since 2007 when the largest vessel entered with a capacity of 2,500 teu .
It was built and delivered in August 2010 at the Hanjin Heavy Industries shipyard in Hong Kong.
Briefing the media on the vessel, the Commercial Manager for CMA CGM Group, on behalf of its subsidiary in Ghana ,Delmas Shipping Ghana, Mr Geoffrey Cole said the ship was one of the four to be delivered later .
He noted that the capacity of the vessels had been exclusively designed and built with flexibility considering the in built cranes , draught and length which made it operate autonomously where necessary in all major African ports irrespective of the level of equipment and the characteristics of the port .
Mr Cole said bigger vessels reduce cost per unit the freight rate of imported goods and, therefore, offered competitive rates for importers and exporters .
He said vessels of a certain draft and length had had difficulties in berthing at the Tema port, especially because of the varying berthing space, but the new vessels had their own mechanisms which made them fit in uniquely.
Mr Cole said with the four new container vessels ,delays in loading and discharging would be a thing of the past and make sea transport more dynamic .
The General Manager of the Delmas Shipping Ghana of the CMA CGM Group , Mr Hugh Curtis, observed that the innovative design of the vessel CMA CGM Africa One would allow a high quality service in African ports, especially Tema port which had one of the best levels of productivity in West Africa .
He said the vessel docked with 700 containers from Asia would sail with 800 containers for export .
Mr Curtis said the objective of introducing the bigger vessel was to have them operate directly between Asia and Africa to promote trade .
He disclosed that CMA CGM Group is a major stakeholder in the development of the Ghanaian economy and with the new big vessels entering its fleet,the Group had emphasised its commitment to Africa .
Mr Curtis stated that Ghana had a fast growing economy in the sub -Saharan region and had been an important market for the Group hence its four direct weekly services from Far East,Northern Europe and the Mediterranean operating as number one operator of exports out of the country carrying mainly cocoa, perishable goods ,foodstuff and timber whilst being a major carrier of Ghana's large variety of imported goods from Asia .
The Captain of the vessel,Andriy Pakholchuk from Ukraine in an interview said the technicalities of the vessel was comparably the same with other vessels but only needed a little more care to manoeuvre because of the size and weight .
He said the vessel was capable of making a trip under 30 days from Asia to Ghana and also had a compartment for passengers who would want to experience sea journey and all the comfort that went with it.
Some importers and exporters who were on board the vessel said they were happy to have a direct service to enable them do fast business void of demurrage.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
KPONE REJECTS DEAD BODIES (1B, DEC 13, 2010)
bereaved families who sent the bodies of their relatives for burial at the Kpone Public Cemetery were disappointed when they were prevented from doing so by the youth of the town.
Some of the families had to look for alternative burial grounds around Tema, while about nine of the bodies were sent back to the morgue.
Personnel from the Police Buffalo Unit of the Tema Regional Police who had been detailed to the Kpone Cemetery to enforce the law could not help the mourners, as the Kpone youth, numbering more than 400, refused to yield.
Wearing red armbands and headgear and armed with rods and machetes, the youth sang war songs to deter the mourners.
They refilled the graves with sand, barricaded the entrance to the cemetery and burnt tyres there to prevent vehicles from driving in.
Mourners had to redirect their vehicles to avoid any confrontation with the demonstrators and that created heavy traffic on the Tema-Aflao road.
The protest followed a resolution passed and read at a press conference held last week by the coalition of youth groups in Kpone to resist the continued use of their land “as a dumping ground by the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA)” and the indiscriminate sale of their lands by the Tema Development Corporation (TDC).
At the press conference, the coalition indicated that it would resist all attempts by the TDC to forcibly acquire Kpone land and use it against the people’s wish.
According to the spokesman for the coalition, Mr William Josiah, the people of Kpone were fed up with the use of the area “as a waste basket for the people of Tema” and would use demonstrations to say “enough is enough”.
He said the action would be extended to other sites which had illegally been acquired as sanitation concerns and landfill sites.
Mr Josiah said the people of Kpone now needed land to support their growing population and called on the TDC to release all lands belonging to the Kpone Stool.
He said Kpone became landless after the 1952 compulsory acquisition of its land by the then government which ceded 17,000 acres of the land, representing almost 90 per cent of Kpone lands, to the TDC.
He said all appeals to the TDC to release the unused lands to the people had proved futile, noting that the demonstration was an extension of that demand.
He said in spite of the sacrifice, no good thing had been extended to Kpone to benefit the people, only “bad things like public refuse dumps and cemeteries”.
“We are not fools, but even if we were, we are now wide awake,” Mr Josiah said.
The Chief Environmental Health Officer of the TMA, Mr Peter Amuzu, reacting to the action by the Kpone youth, said as a temporary measure, the Environmental Health Department of the TMA had decided to provide space for some of the bereaved families at the Community 9 Cemetery which had been closed to enable them to bury their corpses later.
He said he had led a delegation to the Kpone Traditional Council (KTC) to discuss plans to use an area originally demarcated for a cemetery but now cultivated by farmers from Kpone but that had been also met with stiff resistance from the farmers.
Mr Amuzu said the Kpone Cemetery covered an area of 240 square feet, with 7,200 bodies already buried there.
Some of the families had to look for alternative burial grounds around Tema, while about nine of the bodies were sent back to the morgue.
Personnel from the Police Buffalo Unit of the Tema Regional Police who had been detailed to the Kpone Cemetery to enforce the law could not help the mourners, as the Kpone youth, numbering more than 400, refused to yield.
Wearing red armbands and headgear and armed with rods and machetes, the youth sang war songs to deter the mourners.
They refilled the graves with sand, barricaded the entrance to the cemetery and burnt tyres there to prevent vehicles from driving in.
Mourners had to redirect their vehicles to avoid any confrontation with the demonstrators and that created heavy traffic on the Tema-Aflao road.
The protest followed a resolution passed and read at a press conference held last week by the coalition of youth groups in Kpone to resist the continued use of their land “as a dumping ground by the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA)” and the indiscriminate sale of their lands by the Tema Development Corporation (TDC).
At the press conference, the coalition indicated that it would resist all attempts by the TDC to forcibly acquire Kpone land and use it against the people’s wish.
According to the spokesman for the coalition, Mr William Josiah, the people of Kpone were fed up with the use of the area “as a waste basket for the people of Tema” and would use demonstrations to say “enough is enough”.
He said the action would be extended to other sites which had illegally been acquired as sanitation concerns and landfill sites.
Mr Josiah said the people of Kpone now needed land to support their growing population and called on the TDC to release all lands belonging to the Kpone Stool.
He said Kpone became landless after the 1952 compulsory acquisition of its land by the then government which ceded 17,000 acres of the land, representing almost 90 per cent of Kpone lands, to the TDC.
He said all appeals to the TDC to release the unused lands to the people had proved futile, noting that the demonstration was an extension of that demand.
He said in spite of the sacrifice, no good thing had been extended to Kpone to benefit the people, only “bad things like public refuse dumps and cemeteries”.
“We are not fools, but even if we were, we are now wide awake,” Mr Josiah said.
The Chief Environmental Health Officer of the TMA, Mr Peter Amuzu, reacting to the action by the Kpone youth, said as a temporary measure, the Environmental Health Department of the TMA had decided to provide space for some of the bereaved families at the Community 9 Cemetery which had been closed to enable them to bury their corpses later.
He said he had led a delegation to the Kpone Traditional Council (KTC) to discuss plans to use an area originally demarcated for a cemetery but now cultivated by farmers from Kpone but that had been also met with stiff resistance from the farmers.
Mr Amuzu said the Kpone Cemetery covered an area of 240 square feet, with 7,200 bodies already buried there.
NO FIRE HYDRANTS AT TEMA MAJOR MARKETS (PAGE 18, DEC 11, 2010)
IT has been found that the four major markets in the Tema Metropolitan area have no water hydrants and therefore stand the risk of being razed in case of a fire outbreak.
The markets, located at Tema community One, Tema Newtown, European Market at Community Two and the Ashaiman main market, do not also have big openings at the entrances to enable fire vehicles to enter during fire outbreaks.
This was observed when a team of fire personnel from the Tema Regional Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and the Electricity Company of Ghana, Tema Region, went the markets to locate the hydrants to service them for any eventuality.
At the European Market at Tema Community Two, it was detected that a building had been situated on the only hydrant.
The owner had been given a permit by the Tema Metropolitan Assembly to construct a storey building on the site.
The Ashaiman and the Tema Newtown markets did not have water hydrants at all and the Tema main market at Community One had its two hydrants encroached on with shops and sheds.
All the markets had loose and naked electrical wiring, posing danger to the patrons of the market.
The Tema Regional Fire Officer, Mr Clifford Tetteh Adams, who led the team, blamed the various assemblies for overlooking the safety aspects of the markets.
He said the GNFS had written several letters to the assemblies to co-operate with them to demolish structures which had been erected on the hydrants.
Mr Adams said the fire tenders could carry a certain quantity of water which will need to be replenished after a short period of use.
Mr Adams called on the assemblies to expand the entrances for vehicles to enable the GNFS to put out fires effectively, even with its resources available.
He stated that after a reminder to the assemblies, the GNFS will make revolutionary moves to demolish the structures to save life and property in times of fire.
Mr Adams said with the harmattan setting in, the weather was ripe for fires.
The team mounted a campaign to educate the traders, especially those involved in the operation of chop bars in the markets.
The traders were educated on how to prevent fires by ensuring that their gas bottles were sealed safely without leakage and also desist from engaging in illegal electricity connections.
The Operations Engineer of ECG in Tema, Mr Francis Atsyatsya, and Mr Emmanuel Appoe of the Protection and Control Unit of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) said they were not happy with what they saw at the markets.
Mr Appoe said the ECG will embark on an operation to disconnect the wires and disclosed that all those found guilty would be made to pay for power consumed over the period.
He explained that illegal connections were done without expert advice and therefore posed danger to lives and property and appealed to the traders to desist from the practice and apply for meters from the ECG.
The Public Relations Officer of the Tema GNFS, Mr Timothy Affum, said the exercise will continue in other industries to ensure that they had fire certificates and were operating within the rules.
The markets, located at Tema community One, Tema Newtown, European Market at Community Two and the Ashaiman main market, do not also have big openings at the entrances to enable fire vehicles to enter during fire outbreaks.
This was observed when a team of fire personnel from the Tema Regional Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and the Electricity Company of Ghana, Tema Region, went the markets to locate the hydrants to service them for any eventuality.
At the European Market at Tema Community Two, it was detected that a building had been situated on the only hydrant.
The owner had been given a permit by the Tema Metropolitan Assembly to construct a storey building on the site.
The Ashaiman and the Tema Newtown markets did not have water hydrants at all and the Tema main market at Community One had its two hydrants encroached on with shops and sheds.
All the markets had loose and naked electrical wiring, posing danger to the patrons of the market.
The Tema Regional Fire Officer, Mr Clifford Tetteh Adams, who led the team, blamed the various assemblies for overlooking the safety aspects of the markets.
He said the GNFS had written several letters to the assemblies to co-operate with them to demolish structures which had been erected on the hydrants.
Mr Adams said the fire tenders could carry a certain quantity of water which will need to be replenished after a short period of use.
Mr Adams called on the assemblies to expand the entrances for vehicles to enable the GNFS to put out fires effectively, even with its resources available.
He stated that after a reminder to the assemblies, the GNFS will make revolutionary moves to demolish the structures to save life and property in times of fire.
Mr Adams said with the harmattan setting in, the weather was ripe for fires.
The team mounted a campaign to educate the traders, especially those involved in the operation of chop bars in the markets.
The traders were educated on how to prevent fires by ensuring that their gas bottles were sealed safely without leakage and also desist from engaging in illegal electricity connections.
The Operations Engineer of ECG in Tema, Mr Francis Atsyatsya, and Mr Emmanuel Appoe of the Protection and Control Unit of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) said they were not happy with what they saw at the markets.
Mr Appoe said the ECG will embark on an operation to disconnect the wires and disclosed that all those found guilty would be made to pay for power consumed over the period.
He explained that illegal connections were done without expert advice and therefore posed danger to lives and property and appealed to the traders to desist from the practice and apply for meters from the ECG.
The Public Relations Officer of the Tema GNFS, Mr Timothy Affum, said the exercise will continue in other industries to ensure that they had fire certificates and were operating within the rules.
Friday, December 10, 2010
VALCO REACTIVATES OPERATIONS (PAGE 51, DEC 8, 2010)
THE Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO) has been reactivated for operations after being shut down for two years.
Consequently, the smelter plant is expected to produce its first primary aluminium metal of 80,000 metric tonnes in January 2011.
The Managing Director of VALCO, Mr Emmanuel Lartey, announced this when the Minister of Energy, Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei, visited the plant in Tema yesterday.
He said VALCO had 20,000 metric tonnes of alumina ready and was stockpiling carbon to start smelting.
He added that the designed capacity of the smelter plant was 200,000 metric tonnes of primary aluminium metal per year when all the five lines were in operation.
He said currently the long-term London Metal Exchange price of aluminium was estimated at $2,500 per tonne, noting that the long-term potential sales revenue of VALCO would be $500 million per annum.
Mr Lartey said for a start, the company would produce to feed local companies downstream before exporting to the international market.
Dr Oteng-Adjei said the government viewed VALCO as one of the critical agents which served as an anchor for Ghana's integrated industrial development strategy through aluminium, saying it was in the light of this that President Mills, in July 2009, tasked him to facilitate the conduct of a study of VALCO.
The minister said verifiable evidence from the study indicated that a properly mainstreamed VALCO held a significant place in the country's economic transformation agenda.
He said the reactivation of VALCO provided a unique opportunity to create 8,000 direct jobs and 40,000 indirect jobs in the over 150 downstream industries and the several other companies engaged in aluminium fabrication and use, as well as service provision activities.
Dr Oteng-Adjei said with the activation of VALCO, the downstream industries would source their raw materials locally, without the attendant huge freight and other costs associated with the importation and clearing of their basic raw materials from other countries.
Consequently, the smelter plant is expected to produce its first primary aluminium metal of 80,000 metric tonnes in January 2011.
The Managing Director of VALCO, Mr Emmanuel Lartey, announced this when the Minister of Energy, Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei, visited the plant in Tema yesterday.
He said VALCO had 20,000 metric tonnes of alumina ready and was stockpiling carbon to start smelting.
He added that the designed capacity of the smelter plant was 200,000 metric tonnes of primary aluminium metal per year when all the five lines were in operation.
He said currently the long-term London Metal Exchange price of aluminium was estimated at $2,500 per tonne, noting that the long-term potential sales revenue of VALCO would be $500 million per annum.
Mr Lartey said for a start, the company would produce to feed local companies downstream before exporting to the international market.
Dr Oteng-Adjei said the government viewed VALCO as one of the critical agents which served as an anchor for Ghana's integrated industrial development strategy through aluminium, saying it was in the light of this that President Mills, in July 2009, tasked him to facilitate the conduct of a study of VALCO.
The minister said verifiable evidence from the study indicated that a properly mainstreamed VALCO held a significant place in the country's economic transformation agenda.
He said the reactivation of VALCO provided a unique opportunity to create 8,000 direct jobs and 40,000 indirect jobs in the over 150 downstream industries and the several other companies engaged in aluminium fabrication and use, as well as service provision activities.
Dr Oteng-Adjei said with the activation of VALCO, the downstream industries would source their raw materials locally, without the attendant huge freight and other costs associated with the importation and clearing of their basic raw materials from other countries.
ASHAIMAN SHS LAUNCHES 20TH ANNIVERSARY (PAGE 11, DEC 8, 2010)
THE Ashaiman Senior High School (ASHAISEC), which is the premier secondary school in Ashaiman, is 20 years and has accordingly launched its 20th anniversary to celebrate pioneers who through hard work, have brought the school to its present status.
It was themed “Accessibility to quality education – the need for parity in resource distribution”.
The school started with 30 students and three members of staff to boost teaching and learning .
Twenty years on the school now boasts of moderate infrastructure, a staff strength of 88 and a student population of 1,450 made up of 733 boys and 717 girls .
The Ashaiman Municipal Director of Education, Ms Florence Quaye, who launched the anniversary commended the founders of the school for ensuring that Ashaiman had a senior high school to make secondary education accessible to the people.
She noted that although government had the responsibility to provide infrastructure and financial resources for the promotion of quality teaching and learning in schools, the communities in which schools were located, also had to be equally responsive to the needs of such institutions.
She stated that government and other stakeholders have made bold attempts to improve on infrastructure in the school to cater for the teeming student population.
Ms Quaye said the school had a solid human resource capacity with highly qualified, experienced and motivated staff who had inculcated in the students, discipline, honesty, self-confidence, hardwork, patriotism and tolerance.
She commended both teachers and students for excelling in activities including sports, culture symposia and others which is a proof that the school is not concerned with only academic issues but also the holistic training of the individual.
Ms Quaye called on the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), the Board, old students of the school and corporate bodies to poll resources to make ASHAISEC grow .
She cautioned the students to eschew negative practices adding that “you can be agents of change wherever you find yourselves to move Ashaiman forward, as indicated by the school’s motto ‘modernisation calls for change’ .”
The Headmaster of the school, Mr Emmanuel Ofoe Fiemawhle, described the celebration as historic and emphasised their commitment to train quality students to become future leaders.
He, therefore, called on government to provide adequate support in terms of infrastructure and teaching materials to enable the school authorities perform their roles creditably.
Mr Fiemawhle mentioned that some of the highlights of the celebration of the anniversary were debates, clean-ups, health walk, float and symposium .
He stated that a speech and prize giving day will climax the anniversary on December 11th 2010. AS
It was themed “Accessibility to quality education – the need for parity in resource distribution”.
The school started with 30 students and three members of staff to boost teaching and learning .
Twenty years on the school now boasts of moderate infrastructure, a staff strength of 88 and a student population of 1,450 made up of 733 boys and 717 girls .
The Ashaiman Municipal Director of Education, Ms Florence Quaye, who launched the anniversary commended the founders of the school for ensuring that Ashaiman had a senior high school to make secondary education accessible to the people.
She noted that although government had the responsibility to provide infrastructure and financial resources for the promotion of quality teaching and learning in schools, the communities in which schools were located, also had to be equally responsive to the needs of such institutions.
She stated that government and other stakeholders have made bold attempts to improve on infrastructure in the school to cater for the teeming student population.
Ms Quaye said the school had a solid human resource capacity with highly qualified, experienced and motivated staff who had inculcated in the students, discipline, honesty, self-confidence, hardwork, patriotism and tolerance.
She commended both teachers and students for excelling in activities including sports, culture symposia and others which is a proof that the school is not concerned with only academic issues but also the holistic training of the individual.
Ms Quaye called on the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), the Board, old students of the school and corporate bodies to poll resources to make ASHAISEC grow .
She cautioned the students to eschew negative practices adding that “you can be agents of change wherever you find yourselves to move Ashaiman forward, as indicated by the school’s motto ‘modernisation calls for change’ .”
The Headmaster of the school, Mr Emmanuel Ofoe Fiemawhle, described the celebration as historic and emphasised their commitment to train quality students to become future leaders.
He, therefore, called on government to provide adequate support in terms of infrastructure and teaching materials to enable the school authorities perform their roles creditably.
Mr Fiemawhle mentioned that some of the highlights of the celebration of the anniversary were debates, clean-ups, health walk, float and symposium .
He stated that a speech and prize giving day will climax the anniversary on December 11th 2010. AS
Monday, December 6, 2010
CONTANMINATED FISHMEAL AT ASHAIMAN MARKET (MIRROR, DEC 4, 2010, PAGE 35)
From Rose Hayford Darko, Ashaiman
CONTAMINATED fishmeal has flooded the Ashaiman timber market where many poultry farmers buy their fishmeal.
The contaminated fishmeal is alleged to contain saw dust, sand and other foreign materials and farmers who fed their chicks with it had experienced high mortality rates among the birds on their farms.
Also affected are fish hatchery operators whose fingerlings are unable to survive after being fed with the contaminated fishmeal.
Investigations conducted by The Mirror confirmed that the traders rebagged the sacks of certified dealers with the contaminated ones .
An Official of the Food and Drugs Board (FDB), who confirmed the situation, said some culprits were found rebagging the sacks with the contaminated stuff but they managed to abscond, escaping police arrest.
Mr James Lartey, Communications Manager of the FDB, advised poultry farmers to buy from certified dealers to avoid any contaminations on their farms as the Board monitored the situation .
A poultry farmer, Mr Daniel Kissiedu of Kisbenz and Menz Poultry Limited at Gbetsile near Ashaiman, said only 170 out of his 700 chicks survived the contaminated fishmeal only after administering antibiotics on them at an extra cost.
Mr Kissiedu, however, said just five out of another consignment of 1,500 chicks died when he changed the fishmeal and fed the chicks with those bought from the Ghana Protein Limited.
Another farmer, who is engaged in hatchery at Akuse, Mr Daniel Marfo, said his company was compelled to buy the fishmeal from the open market because Ghana Protein Limited was unable to satisfy the market with its product 'which qualifies to be the best of all'.
He appealed to the Ministry of Agriculture to monitor the fishmeal on the market to weed out the contaminants and save their farms from such huge losses.
Meanwhile, Ghana Protein Limited, the only mechanised fishmeal producing company in the country, is considering relocating from Ghana to Brazil because of lack of co-ordination in the supply of fish from the Pioneer Food Cannery (PFC) and the Customs Division of the Revenue Authority(CEPS) at the port.
According to Mr Anthony Adu-Nketia, an Administrator of Ghana Protein Limited, though the company had the capacity to produce 360 tonnes of fishmeal daily it now produced only 29 tonnes because of unfair allocation of fish from the supply agencies .
He explained that the company used raw and steamed offal from PFC and uncleared fish which were auctioned by the CEPS at the port for fishmeal and not for human consumption .
Mr Adu-Nketia said the uncleared fish which were unwholesome did not get to the fishmeal companies but found their way to the market for sale for consumption, denying the companies of raw materials .
He said the company’s workforce of 150 had been cut to 50 and appealed to the Minsitry of Agriculture to intervene and streamline the supply chain of the fish to enable the company to satisfy the market with hygienic products, adding that the company also had machinery for fish pellets to serve fish farmers to boost aqua culture .
CONTAMINATED fishmeal has flooded the Ashaiman timber market where many poultry farmers buy their fishmeal.
The contaminated fishmeal is alleged to contain saw dust, sand and other foreign materials and farmers who fed their chicks with it had experienced high mortality rates among the birds on their farms.
Also affected are fish hatchery operators whose fingerlings are unable to survive after being fed with the contaminated fishmeal.
Investigations conducted by The Mirror confirmed that the traders rebagged the sacks of certified dealers with the contaminated ones .
An Official of the Food and Drugs Board (FDB), who confirmed the situation, said some culprits were found rebagging the sacks with the contaminated stuff but they managed to abscond, escaping police arrest.
Mr James Lartey, Communications Manager of the FDB, advised poultry farmers to buy from certified dealers to avoid any contaminations on their farms as the Board monitored the situation .
A poultry farmer, Mr Daniel Kissiedu of Kisbenz and Menz Poultry Limited at Gbetsile near Ashaiman, said only 170 out of his 700 chicks survived the contaminated fishmeal only after administering antibiotics on them at an extra cost.
Mr Kissiedu, however, said just five out of another consignment of 1,500 chicks died when he changed the fishmeal and fed the chicks with those bought from the Ghana Protein Limited.
Another farmer, who is engaged in hatchery at Akuse, Mr Daniel Marfo, said his company was compelled to buy the fishmeal from the open market because Ghana Protein Limited was unable to satisfy the market with its product 'which qualifies to be the best of all'.
He appealed to the Ministry of Agriculture to monitor the fishmeal on the market to weed out the contaminants and save their farms from such huge losses.
Meanwhile, Ghana Protein Limited, the only mechanised fishmeal producing company in the country, is considering relocating from Ghana to Brazil because of lack of co-ordination in the supply of fish from the Pioneer Food Cannery (PFC) and the Customs Division of the Revenue Authority(CEPS) at the port.
According to Mr Anthony Adu-Nketia, an Administrator of Ghana Protein Limited, though the company had the capacity to produce 360 tonnes of fishmeal daily it now produced only 29 tonnes because of unfair allocation of fish from the supply agencies .
He explained that the company used raw and steamed offal from PFC and uncleared fish which were auctioned by the CEPS at the port for fishmeal and not for human consumption .
Mr Adu-Nketia said the uncleared fish which were unwholesome did not get to the fishmeal companies but found their way to the market for sale for consumption, denying the companies of raw materials .
He said the company’s workforce of 150 had been cut to 50 and appealed to the Minsitry of Agriculture to intervene and streamline the supply chain of the fish to enable the company to satisfy the market with hygienic products, adding that the company also had machinery for fish pellets to serve fish farmers to boost aqua culture .
HIV/AIDS INFECTION IN TEMA GOES UP (PAGE 36, DEC 6, 2010)
STATISTICS show that the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS infection in Tema has doubled from two per cent last year to four per cent, which is twice the average national prevalent rate.
This means that one person out of 25 people is HIV positive in the Tema Metropolis.
The theme chosen for the day in Tema was “Act aware: Stop the prejudice to protect yourself and others” as against the main theme: “Universal Access and Human Rights. Action now.”
The Group Medical Advisor at Unilever Ghana, Dr Kwaku Sarkodie, made this disclosure at Tema during the celebration of the World Aids Day in Tema.
He said residents of Tema were at a higher risk than anywhere in Ghana today and called for intensified effort to educate the public on the need to ensure safe practices to avoid being infected.
Addressing a cross-section of students drawn from first and second cycle schools in the metropolis, community based organisations, peer educators and the public at a programme to mark the day, Dr Sarkodie said UNAIDS statistics indicated the disease had stabilised and new HIV infections were declining while mortality rate was still high.
He said 90 per cent of infected people in Ghana were between 15 and 49 years which represented the economic sector of the nation.
Dr Sarkodie appealed to residents in Tema to redouble their effort to reduce the present rate.
The Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware, in an address read for him, said the youth represented the window of hope for the nation and, therefore, needed to exercise restraint in conducting themselves sexually.
He noted that the rate of prevalence in the metropolis was alarming, stating that Tema has 2,462 people living with AIDs made up of 758 males and 1,704 females .
Mr Ofosuware said it was in the right direction that the Day was dedicated to schoolchildren who were more vulnerable and needed to be educated more on the disease.
He said it was the responsibility of all to get involved in creating awareness that the virus was still infecting and affecting people.
Mr Ofosuware called on the students to desist from indiscriminate sexual activities, suggesting that HIV/AIDS clubs must be formed in all schools in the metropolis to keep the youth well informed.
He reminded them of the Yuletide which he said was close and advised that it was observed in line with the teachings of the Bible to avoid over-indulgence which would lead them to misbehave.
Mr Ofosuware urged corporate bodies to factor the youth in their contingency budgets to help educate them.
At Ashaiman, the day was marked with a durbar of students, chiefs, assembly members, market women, traders and heads of departments in the municipality.
The HIV/AIDS Co-ordinator in Ashaiman, Mrs Patience Boni, who represented the Municipal Director of Health for Ashaiman, declared that records as of June, 2010, indicated that 3,053 pregnant women were tested for the virus and 167 tested positive .
She said voluntary counselling and testing had 133 people testing positive out of 984 people who subjected themselves to the testing.
Mrs Boni said all those who tested positive had been referred for management.
She urged people to take advantage of the free counselling and testing to know their status to prevent the spread of the disease.
That, she said, called for behavioural change and the expansion of services for the Prevention to Mother to Child Transmission (PTMCT).
The Municipal Chief Executive, Numo Adinortey Addison, cautioned against stigmatising people living with HIV which obviously is against their fundamental human rights.
He called on all infected persons not to despair as a result of the government’s commitment to ensure that Anti Retroviral drugs were made available at less cost, urging them to commit themselves to the treatment course to enable them live healthy lives.
There were sketches and poetry recitals by the students on the need to abstain from sex or be protected with condoms.
This means that one person out of 25 people is HIV positive in the Tema Metropolis.
The theme chosen for the day in Tema was “Act aware: Stop the prejudice to protect yourself and others” as against the main theme: “Universal Access and Human Rights. Action now.”
The Group Medical Advisor at Unilever Ghana, Dr Kwaku Sarkodie, made this disclosure at Tema during the celebration of the World Aids Day in Tema.
He said residents of Tema were at a higher risk than anywhere in Ghana today and called for intensified effort to educate the public on the need to ensure safe practices to avoid being infected.
Addressing a cross-section of students drawn from first and second cycle schools in the metropolis, community based organisations, peer educators and the public at a programme to mark the day, Dr Sarkodie said UNAIDS statistics indicated the disease had stabilised and new HIV infections were declining while mortality rate was still high.
He said 90 per cent of infected people in Ghana were between 15 and 49 years which represented the economic sector of the nation.
Dr Sarkodie appealed to residents in Tema to redouble their effort to reduce the present rate.
The Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware, in an address read for him, said the youth represented the window of hope for the nation and, therefore, needed to exercise restraint in conducting themselves sexually.
He noted that the rate of prevalence in the metropolis was alarming, stating that Tema has 2,462 people living with AIDs made up of 758 males and 1,704 females .
Mr Ofosuware said it was in the right direction that the Day was dedicated to schoolchildren who were more vulnerable and needed to be educated more on the disease.
He said it was the responsibility of all to get involved in creating awareness that the virus was still infecting and affecting people.
Mr Ofosuware called on the students to desist from indiscriminate sexual activities, suggesting that HIV/AIDS clubs must be formed in all schools in the metropolis to keep the youth well informed.
He reminded them of the Yuletide which he said was close and advised that it was observed in line with the teachings of the Bible to avoid over-indulgence which would lead them to misbehave.
Mr Ofosuware urged corporate bodies to factor the youth in their contingency budgets to help educate them.
At Ashaiman, the day was marked with a durbar of students, chiefs, assembly members, market women, traders and heads of departments in the municipality.
The HIV/AIDS Co-ordinator in Ashaiman, Mrs Patience Boni, who represented the Municipal Director of Health for Ashaiman, declared that records as of June, 2010, indicated that 3,053 pregnant women were tested for the virus and 167 tested positive .
She said voluntary counselling and testing had 133 people testing positive out of 984 people who subjected themselves to the testing.
Mrs Boni said all those who tested positive had been referred for management.
She urged people to take advantage of the free counselling and testing to know their status to prevent the spread of the disease.
That, she said, called for behavioural change and the expansion of services for the Prevention to Mother to Child Transmission (PTMCT).
The Municipal Chief Executive, Numo Adinortey Addison, cautioned against stigmatising people living with HIV which obviously is against their fundamental human rights.
He called on all infected persons not to despair as a result of the government’s commitment to ensure that Anti Retroviral drugs were made available at less cost, urging them to commit themselves to the treatment course to enable them live healthy lives.
There were sketches and poetry recitals by the students on the need to abstain from sex or be protected with condoms.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
REPLACE TEMA SEWER LINES (PAGE 36, NOV 29, 2010)
THE President of the Full Gospel Church International, Rt. Revd Samuel Mensah, has appealed to the Tema Metropolitan Assembly to replace sewer lines in the Metropolis to avoid any future environmental disaster.
He said frequent blockage and subsequent explosion of some sewer lines in Tema, which exposed faecal materials, must be taken seriously and a solution must be found to it.
Rt. Revd Mensah who was speaking to the Daily Graphic in Tema on recent developments in the Metropolis noted that the sewer lines had outlived their lifespan and, therefore, must be changed.
He acknowledged the good work of the Assembly and commended the Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware, for the efforts he is making to give Tema a facelift.
He explained that the ongoing asphalt projects on some major roads in the metropolis and filling of pot holes in the communities were commendable.
Rt. Revd Mensah said roads in Tema had seen some improvement as promised by the Chief Executive when he took Office in 2009 and urged him on to do more to bring Tema to its status as the industrial city of the country.
He noted that Mr Ofosuware had shown commitment to the work he had been tasked to do.
Rt. Revd Mensah noted that while performing his duty, the Chief Executive, Mr Ofosuware, must take note of the sewer system and slums which were rapidly emerging.
He cautioned that the road works must be closely monitored to ensure that the contractors did good and quality work.
Rt. Revd Mensah called on the Metropolitan Engineers to insist on specifications which would make the work last with regard to their intended life span.
On the slums, Rt. Revd Mensah acknowledged the need for people to be housed but noted that indiscriminate, unsightly and unplanned structures must be pulled down.
He stated that the efforts of the Assembly would come to naught if slums were encouraged, adding that the beauty of the harbour city would be tarnished.
Rt. Revd Mensah urged residents to help the Assembly to execute its planned projects by paying their levies and rates.
The Head of the Waste Management Department of the Assembly, Mr Edward Mba, in an interview, said sewer lines linking households in the metropolis were over-aged and would need to be changed at a cost running into millions of Ghana Cedis.
He said the capacity of the pumping station could not cope with the increasing population and needed to be increased while the treatment plant needed to be rehabilitated.
Mr Mba noted that there were several sewer lines connected to the pumping station which, with gravity, sent the house to house waste to the treatment plant.
He stated that there were some communities which were not hooked on to the sewer system because the capacity of the pumping station could not accommodate them.
Mr Mba said the capacity of the pumping station needed to be increased to have all the sewer lines hooked on it.
He stated that the pumping station and sewer lines were installed in the 1950s to serve the modern township of Tema but had never been changed or rehabilitated over the years.
He said frequent blockage and subsequent explosion of some sewer lines in Tema, which exposed faecal materials, must be taken seriously and a solution must be found to it.
Rt. Revd Mensah who was speaking to the Daily Graphic in Tema on recent developments in the Metropolis noted that the sewer lines had outlived their lifespan and, therefore, must be changed.
He acknowledged the good work of the Assembly and commended the Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware, for the efforts he is making to give Tema a facelift.
He explained that the ongoing asphalt projects on some major roads in the metropolis and filling of pot holes in the communities were commendable.
Rt. Revd Mensah said roads in Tema had seen some improvement as promised by the Chief Executive when he took Office in 2009 and urged him on to do more to bring Tema to its status as the industrial city of the country.
He noted that Mr Ofosuware had shown commitment to the work he had been tasked to do.
Rt. Revd Mensah noted that while performing his duty, the Chief Executive, Mr Ofosuware, must take note of the sewer system and slums which were rapidly emerging.
He cautioned that the road works must be closely monitored to ensure that the contractors did good and quality work.
Rt. Revd Mensah called on the Metropolitan Engineers to insist on specifications which would make the work last with regard to their intended life span.
On the slums, Rt. Revd Mensah acknowledged the need for people to be housed but noted that indiscriminate, unsightly and unplanned structures must be pulled down.
He stated that the efforts of the Assembly would come to naught if slums were encouraged, adding that the beauty of the harbour city would be tarnished.
Rt. Revd Mensah urged residents to help the Assembly to execute its planned projects by paying their levies and rates.
The Head of the Waste Management Department of the Assembly, Mr Edward Mba, in an interview, said sewer lines linking households in the metropolis were over-aged and would need to be changed at a cost running into millions of Ghana Cedis.
He said the capacity of the pumping station could not cope with the increasing population and needed to be increased while the treatment plant needed to be rehabilitated.
Mr Mba noted that there were several sewer lines connected to the pumping station which, with gravity, sent the house to house waste to the treatment plant.
He stated that there were some communities which were not hooked on to the sewer system because the capacity of the pumping station could not accommodate them.
Mr Mba said the capacity of the pumping station needed to be increased to have all the sewer lines hooked on it.
He stated that the pumping station and sewer lines were installed in the 1950s to serve the modern township of Tema but had never been changed or rehabilitated over the years.
TEMa RESIDENTS EDUCATE ON HARZARDS OF FIRE (PAGE 36, NOV 29, 2010)
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) in Tema has, in collaboration with Cirrus Oil Services Limited organised a fire safety sensitisation exercise for traders at the Community One Central Market to educate them on fire hazards and the need to prevent them.
The traders were also taken through various aspects of putting off fire, flammable items and the different types of fire.
As part of the exercise, the Tema branch of the Ghana National Fire Service and the Tema Oil Refinery Fire Brigade jointly had a simulation exercise at the premises of the company where the loading gantry of Cirrus was deemed to be engulfed with fire.
A siren was sounded for the workers to assemble at an emergency point, while the internal safety personnel made efforts to put off the fire before the arrival of the Fire Service personnel who managed to bring the fire under control during the simulation exercise.
The Health,Safety and Environment Co-ordinator at Cirrus Oil Services Limited, Mr Divine Kweku Tetteh, said the company was observing a week-long celebration of safety with the theme: ‘Health and Safety – a commitment for life’ to create awareness among its workers and the public to be fire conscious.
Mr Tetteh noted that the company had operated for 862 days without any incident.
He explained that since July 2008 when the company started operating, it had not suffered any accident.
Mr Tetteh said as part of the safety programme, the company deemed it necessary to go to the market where fire had in recent times destroyed property belonging to the traders and the government, to educate the operators at the markets on safety measures.
The Chief Executive Officer of Cirrus Oil Services Limited, Mrs Ivy Appiah Owusu, said safety should be incorporated in all activities, especially when the company deals in oil, which is highly flammable .
She noted that when investments grow without safety measures, all invested items would come to nothing if consumed by fire.
The Tema Metropolitan Fire, Mr William Abaka Blankson, said in the third quarter of 2010, Tema experienced 47 fires.
He said in July, there were 11 fire outbreaks which caused damage to property estimated to cost GH¢12,350.00, while in August, damages caused by fire was GH¢ 30,560.00 in 18 fires.
Mr Blankson said in September, Tema had 18 fires which damaged property estimated to cost GH¢111,440.00
He said they were mostly domestic, vehicular and electrical fires.
Mr Blankson commended the Cirrus Oil Services for its decision to engage the public in fire education to help minimise fires which in recent times were on the increase.
He called on the public to be cautious to avoid the occurrence of fires to save life and property .
The Metropolitan Fire Officer, Mr Blankson and the Operations Officer of the GNFS in Tema, Mr Mark Quarcoo, conducted the simulation exercise at the premises.
The traders were also taken through various aspects of putting off fire, flammable items and the different types of fire.
As part of the exercise, the Tema branch of the Ghana National Fire Service and the Tema Oil Refinery Fire Brigade jointly had a simulation exercise at the premises of the company where the loading gantry of Cirrus was deemed to be engulfed with fire.
A siren was sounded for the workers to assemble at an emergency point, while the internal safety personnel made efforts to put off the fire before the arrival of the Fire Service personnel who managed to bring the fire under control during the simulation exercise.
The Health,Safety and Environment Co-ordinator at Cirrus Oil Services Limited, Mr Divine Kweku Tetteh, said the company was observing a week-long celebration of safety with the theme: ‘Health and Safety – a commitment for life’ to create awareness among its workers and the public to be fire conscious.
Mr Tetteh noted that the company had operated for 862 days without any incident.
He explained that since July 2008 when the company started operating, it had not suffered any accident.
Mr Tetteh said as part of the safety programme, the company deemed it necessary to go to the market where fire had in recent times destroyed property belonging to the traders and the government, to educate the operators at the markets on safety measures.
The Chief Executive Officer of Cirrus Oil Services Limited, Mrs Ivy Appiah Owusu, said safety should be incorporated in all activities, especially when the company deals in oil, which is highly flammable .
She noted that when investments grow without safety measures, all invested items would come to nothing if consumed by fire.
The Tema Metropolitan Fire, Mr William Abaka Blankson, said in the third quarter of 2010, Tema experienced 47 fires.
He said in July, there were 11 fire outbreaks which caused damage to property estimated to cost GH¢12,350.00, while in August, damages caused by fire was GH¢ 30,560.00 in 18 fires.
Mr Blankson said in September, Tema had 18 fires which damaged property estimated to cost GH¢111,440.00
He said they were mostly domestic, vehicular and electrical fires.
Mr Blankson commended the Cirrus Oil Services for its decision to engage the public in fire education to help minimise fires which in recent times were on the increase.
He called on the public to be cautious to avoid the occurrence of fires to save life and property .
The Metropolitan Fire Officer, Mr Blankson and the Operations Officer of the GNFS in Tema, Mr Mark Quarcoo, conducted the simulation exercise at the premises.
PERI URBAN AREAS OF TEMA LACK AMENITIES (PAGE 36, NOV 29, 2010)
Some communities in the peri-urban areas of the Tema Metropolis lack basic amenities, good roads and social service facilities though they continue to form the base of the metropolis.
They have no roads, markets, lorry parks and well planned demarcated housing projects .
The acquisition area of Tema has seen a significant growth as far as development is concerned and has a historical background dating back to decades.
As the Tema Development Corporation (TDC), was tasked with the development of well planned and demarcated houses ,the Local Government Act 54 of 1961 paved the way for the Department of Town Planning to oversee the day to day social services for the towns and its various settlements.
These demarcations were to enable the planning authorities to have adequate control over such settlements.
A survey conducted by the Daily Graphic in the peri-urban areas indicated that, some of these communities which come under the Tema Metropolitan Assembly have been neglected and lacked basic amenities which are to enable them move within the pace of development planning of the Metropolis.
Some of the communities under the Tema Metropolitan Assembly are Sasabi, Kakasunanka One and Two, Gbetsile, Okushieblie, Appolonia, Katamansu, Saaki, Kpoi-ete and Zenu .
Others are Bawaleshie, Kpone, Sewrepor, Mataheko, Manhean, Lashibi, Adjei-Kojo and Sakumono, among others.
Development has, however, been located mainly in the Tema township to the detriment of these communities which add up to make the Metropolis, therefore, giving developers the opportunity to indiscriminately put up structures which do not conform to building regulations .
People in these communities are mostly farmers and fishermen who have contributed in many diverse ways to lift high the name of Tema by winning the district and regional fishermen and farmers awards some years back.
The Tema development area was re-demarcated in the 1980’s for easy access for planning, but from all indications this has not brought any significant change.
With the district level elections around the corner, people in these areas are looking forward to elect assembly members who are conscious of initiating development projects .
The Tema Metropolitan Development Planning Officer, Mr Kofi Taylor Appiah in an interview with Daily Graphic confirmed that the peri-urban communities lacked amenities but explained that the people had refused to pay their levies, liquid and solid waste management fees and their property rates.
He said the assembly was already burdened with the rising cost of waste collection in the Metropolis stating that about 80 per cent of the Assembly’s common fund and internally generated funds went into waste collection.
Mr Taylor–Appiah said the Assembly had a four year medium term development plan for 2010-2013 to provide markets, lorry parks, classroom blocks, roads, drains and health posts for some communities in the Metropolis .
He said the assembly would rely on the needs of the people to undertake the project after consultation with them.
Mr Taylor-Appiah said population had far exceeded development, therefore, rendering the existing facilities inadequate .
He said Tema was currently operating dangerously on an over 40 year old sewer pumping station which is not able to contain the workload of the liquid waste .
Mr Taylor –Appiah said the Assembly would need to look for funds to replace the pumping station .
He stated that the Assembly would embark on public fora in all the peri-urban areas to educate them on the need to pay their levies .
Mr Taylor-Appiah said it was the intention of the TMA to open up the Metropolis to ensure that the people were brought closer for transparency. He said the Assembly’s financial base had dwindled considerably because of the inability of some companies to honour their obligations to the Assembly.
He reiterated the governments policy on public toilets and noted that the Assembly would no more provide such facilities in the metropolis and asked landlords to put up places of convenience for their tenants .
Mr Taylor- Appiah appealed to people living in the peri-urban areas to conform to the Local Government Act which demanded that they fulfilled their tax obligations to enable the Assembly provide the needed amenities.
They have no roads, markets, lorry parks and well planned demarcated housing projects .
The acquisition area of Tema has seen a significant growth as far as development is concerned and has a historical background dating back to decades.
As the Tema Development Corporation (TDC), was tasked with the development of well planned and demarcated houses ,the Local Government Act 54 of 1961 paved the way for the Department of Town Planning to oversee the day to day social services for the towns and its various settlements.
These demarcations were to enable the planning authorities to have adequate control over such settlements.
A survey conducted by the Daily Graphic in the peri-urban areas indicated that, some of these communities which come under the Tema Metropolitan Assembly have been neglected and lacked basic amenities which are to enable them move within the pace of development planning of the Metropolis.
Some of the communities under the Tema Metropolitan Assembly are Sasabi, Kakasunanka One and Two, Gbetsile, Okushieblie, Appolonia, Katamansu, Saaki, Kpoi-ete and Zenu .
Others are Bawaleshie, Kpone, Sewrepor, Mataheko, Manhean, Lashibi, Adjei-Kojo and Sakumono, among others.
Development has, however, been located mainly in the Tema township to the detriment of these communities which add up to make the Metropolis, therefore, giving developers the opportunity to indiscriminately put up structures which do not conform to building regulations .
People in these communities are mostly farmers and fishermen who have contributed in many diverse ways to lift high the name of Tema by winning the district and regional fishermen and farmers awards some years back.
The Tema development area was re-demarcated in the 1980’s for easy access for planning, but from all indications this has not brought any significant change.
With the district level elections around the corner, people in these areas are looking forward to elect assembly members who are conscious of initiating development projects .
The Tema Metropolitan Development Planning Officer, Mr Kofi Taylor Appiah in an interview with Daily Graphic confirmed that the peri-urban communities lacked amenities but explained that the people had refused to pay their levies, liquid and solid waste management fees and their property rates.
He said the assembly was already burdened with the rising cost of waste collection in the Metropolis stating that about 80 per cent of the Assembly’s common fund and internally generated funds went into waste collection.
Mr Taylor–Appiah said the Assembly had a four year medium term development plan for 2010-2013 to provide markets, lorry parks, classroom blocks, roads, drains and health posts for some communities in the Metropolis .
He said the assembly would rely on the needs of the people to undertake the project after consultation with them.
Mr Taylor-Appiah said population had far exceeded development, therefore, rendering the existing facilities inadequate .
He said Tema was currently operating dangerously on an over 40 year old sewer pumping station which is not able to contain the workload of the liquid waste .
Mr Taylor –Appiah said the Assembly would need to look for funds to replace the pumping station .
He stated that the Assembly would embark on public fora in all the peri-urban areas to educate them on the need to pay their levies .
Mr Taylor-Appiah said it was the intention of the TMA to open up the Metropolis to ensure that the people were brought closer for transparency. He said the Assembly’s financial base had dwindled considerably because of the inability of some companies to honour their obligations to the Assembly.
He reiterated the governments policy on public toilets and noted that the Assembly would no more provide such facilities in the metropolis and asked landlords to put up places of convenience for their tenants .
Mr Taylor- Appiah appealed to people living in the peri-urban areas to conform to the Local Government Act which demanded that they fulfilled their tax obligations to enable the Assembly provide the needed amenities.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
FDB RECEIVES MINI LABORATORY (PAGE 29, NOV 25, 2010)
THE Food and Drugs Board (FDB) has received a mini laboratory from the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Germany, to help analyse food products for the presence of vitamins and minerals to ensure good health for Ghanaians .
The pocket size equipment which has been validated for food analysis will check for fortified food items within seven minutes instead of the five hours as existed previously to reduce deficiencies and malnutrition by 30 per cent in the country.
The equipment, known as 'i Check Chromo' and its accessories cost 8,520 Euros and it is the first to be produced as a sample for Ghana.It is yet to be produced on commercial basis .
Introducing the equipment to stakeholders in Tema, the Project Manager, Mr Richard Odum Nyumuah, said the FDB had introduced a logo to be pasted on fortified products to assure consumers of the genuineness of the product .
He said producers and importers who would display for sale or import products without complying with the laid down regulations would be sanctioned and the products re-exported to its source of importation.
Mr Nyumuah stated that the Ministry of Health had noted that most imported and locally produced cooking oils lacked vitamin A after refining.
This, he said, led to increase in deficiencies which made people to rely on supplementation.
Mr Nyumuah said wheat flour was one of the food items that needed to be fortified with minerals, zinc, iron, vitamins A and B and folic acid .
He said GAIN in line with the project gave support of $1.8 million to flour producing companies in the country to institute measures to fortify their products .
Mr Nyumuah noted that the FDB would soon promote the logo to educate the public on the need to look out for the fortified logo .
The Head of Import and Export Unit of FDB, Mr Emmanuel Kwarteng, said the introduction of the equipment was a milestone in the operations of the FDB in the ports and at the border crossings.
He was of the view that the operations with the food analysing equipment would ensure safe and efficacious medicines and food products on the market to assure consumers of good health .
Mr Kwarteng commended the Customs Division of the National Revenue Authority, members of the Customs Clearing Agencies and the National Security for their vigilance which had exposed some dubious deals at the ports.
He cautioned the public against the use of food and drugs which had not been approved by the board and appealed to the public to inform it of any shady deals. Mr Kwarteng said herbal preparations were not excluded and called for support to help control the inflow of sub -standard products into the country.
The Head of Food Laboratory Unit of the FDB, Mr Cheetham Mingle, demonstrated how the equipment works.
The pocket size equipment which has been validated for food analysis will check for fortified food items within seven minutes instead of the five hours as existed previously to reduce deficiencies and malnutrition by 30 per cent in the country.
The equipment, known as 'i Check Chromo' and its accessories cost 8,520 Euros and it is the first to be produced as a sample for Ghana.It is yet to be produced on commercial basis .
Introducing the equipment to stakeholders in Tema, the Project Manager, Mr Richard Odum Nyumuah, said the FDB had introduced a logo to be pasted on fortified products to assure consumers of the genuineness of the product .
He said producers and importers who would display for sale or import products without complying with the laid down regulations would be sanctioned and the products re-exported to its source of importation.
Mr Nyumuah stated that the Ministry of Health had noted that most imported and locally produced cooking oils lacked vitamin A after refining.
This, he said, led to increase in deficiencies which made people to rely on supplementation.
Mr Nyumuah said wheat flour was one of the food items that needed to be fortified with minerals, zinc, iron, vitamins A and B and folic acid .
He said GAIN in line with the project gave support of $1.8 million to flour producing companies in the country to institute measures to fortify their products .
Mr Nyumuah noted that the FDB would soon promote the logo to educate the public on the need to look out for the fortified logo .
The Head of Import and Export Unit of FDB, Mr Emmanuel Kwarteng, said the introduction of the equipment was a milestone in the operations of the FDB in the ports and at the border crossings.
He was of the view that the operations with the food analysing equipment would ensure safe and efficacious medicines and food products on the market to assure consumers of good health .
Mr Kwarteng commended the Customs Division of the National Revenue Authority, members of the Customs Clearing Agencies and the National Security for their vigilance which had exposed some dubious deals at the ports.
He cautioned the public against the use of food and drugs which had not been approved by the board and appealed to the public to inform it of any shady deals. Mr Kwarteng said herbal preparations were not excluded and called for support to help control the inflow of sub -standard products into the country.
The Head of Food Laboratory Unit of the FDB, Mr Cheetham Mingle, demonstrated how the equipment works.
AYUBA WINS FIDE;ITY BANK DRAW (PAGE 23, NOV 25, 2010)
THE Deputy Managing Director of the Fidelity Bank, Mr Jim Baiden, has reiterated the need for Ghanaians to cultivate the culture of savings to guarantee their financial independence .
He said “some people, even in this era have never stepped into a banking hall and continue to hide their monies at home” .
Mr Baiden appealed to the citizenry to change their attitude and start patronising the banks .
Speaking at the second draw of the Fidelity Bank's 'Go for Gold 'promotion at Tema, Mr Baiden said personnel of the bank had embarked on a door to door campaign to educate people to patronise the bank.
A customer of the Kumasi Adum branch of the bank,Yakubu Ayuba , won the bank's second monthly draw representing one in a series of six draws to be held by the bank to reward customers .
He was rewarded with a 42 inch Plasma flat screen television, while the second and third place winners received a table top fridge and a 4G IPOD respectively .
The ultimate prize at stake after the six draws is a 24-carat one kilogram gold bar worth $60,000 and other prizes.
Mr Baiden said 10 customers from across the country were rewarded last month from the draw and urged new and old customers of the bank to join the promotion for attractive rewards .
He also stated that the bank had 21 branches in the country where they could go and open an account to join the raffle .
The Director of Administration and Human Resources at the Chamber of Mines , Mrs Evelyn Adei Sarpong, commended the bank for using gold, which is a cherished commodity in Ghana, for the promotion.
She was of the view that, the use of gold to reward the winner will go a long way to impact on the winner's life noting that 'you are setting the pace for the banking industry.
Mrs Sarpong stated that, this was the first time in the history of banking in Ghana that a bank was giving away a gold bar as a gift to its customer .
She noted that with this, Ghanaians who had gold in their possession would be reminded of its value and therefore protect it .
Ten tickets belonging to customers from Kumasi, Tem, Accra, Tamale and Takoradi won the raffle with Yakubu Ayuba from Kumasi, Adum branch winning the first prize.
He said “some people, even in this era have never stepped into a banking hall and continue to hide their monies at home” .
Mr Baiden appealed to the citizenry to change their attitude and start patronising the banks .
Speaking at the second draw of the Fidelity Bank's 'Go for Gold 'promotion at Tema, Mr Baiden said personnel of the bank had embarked on a door to door campaign to educate people to patronise the bank.
A customer of the Kumasi Adum branch of the bank,Yakubu Ayuba , won the bank's second monthly draw representing one in a series of six draws to be held by the bank to reward customers .
He was rewarded with a 42 inch Plasma flat screen television, while the second and third place winners received a table top fridge and a 4G IPOD respectively .
The ultimate prize at stake after the six draws is a 24-carat one kilogram gold bar worth $60,000 and other prizes.
Mr Baiden said 10 customers from across the country were rewarded last month from the draw and urged new and old customers of the bank to join the promotion for attractive rewards .
He also stated that the bank had 21 branches in the country where they could go and open an account to join the raffle .
The Director of Administration and Human Resources at the Chamber of Mines , Mrs Evelyn Adei Sarpong, commended the bank for using gold, which is a cherished commodity in Ghana, for the promotion.
She was of the view that, the use of gold to reward the winner will go a long way to impact on the winner's life noting that 'you are setting the pace for the banking industry.
Mrs Sarpong stated that, this was the first time in the history of banking in Ghana that a bank was giving away a gold bar as a gift to its customer .
She noted that with this, Ghanaians who had gold in their possession would be reminded of its value and therefore protect it .
Ten tickets belonging to customers from Kumasi, Tem, Accra, Tamale and Takoradi won the raffle with Yakubu Ayuba from Kumasi, Adum branch winning the first prize.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
CULTIVATE THE HABIT OF SAVING — BAIDEN (PAGE 18, NOV 13, 2010)
THE Deputy Managing Director of the Fidelity Bank, Mr Jim Baiden, has reiterated the need for Ghanaians to cultivate the habit of saving.
“Some people even in this era have never stepped into a banking hall and continue to hide their money at home,” he said, stressing that there was the need for the citizenry to change their attitude and start to patronise the banks.
Speaking at the second draw of Fidelity Bank's 'Go for Gold promotion’ in Tema, Mr Baiden said personnel of the bank had embarked on a door-to-door campaign to educate people to patronise banking services.
A customer of the Kumasi Adum branch of the bank, Yakubu Ayuba, won the second monthly draw, representing one of a series of six draws to be held by the bank to reward its customers.
He was presented with a 42-inch Plasma flat screen television set, while the second and third winners received a table- top fridge and a 4G iPOD, respectively.
The ultimate prize at stake after the six draws is a 24-carat, one kilogramme gold bar worth $60,000 and other prizes.
Mr Baiden said 10 customers from across the country were rewarded last month from the draw and urged new and old customers of the Fidelity Bank to join the promotion for attractive rewards.
He stated that the bank had 21 branches in the country where prospective customers could go and sign up to join the raffle.
The Director of Administration and Human Resource at the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Mrs Evelyn Adei Sarpong, commended the bank for using gold, which is a cherished commodity in Ghana, for the promotion.
Ten tickets belonging to customers from Kumasi, Tema, Accra, Tamale and Takoradi won the raffle.
“Some people even in this era have never stepped into a banking hall and continue to hide their money at home,” he said, stressing that there was the need for the citizenry to change their attitude and start to patronise the banks.
Speaking at the second draw of Fidelity Bank's 'Go for Gold promotion’ in Tema, Mr Baiden said personnel of the bank had embarked on a door-to-door campaign to educate people to patronise banking services.
A customer of the Kumasi Adum branch of the bank, Yakubu Ayuba, won the second monthly draw, representing one of a series of six draws to be held by the bank to reward its customers.
He was presented with a 42-inch Plasma flat screen television set, while the second and third winners received a table- top fridge and a 4G iPOD, respectively.
The ultimate prize at stake after the six draws is a 24-carat, one kilogramme gold bar worth $60,000 and other prizes.
Mr Baiden said 10 customers from across the country were rewarded last month from the draw and urged new and old customers of the Fidelity Bank to join the promotion for attractive rewards.
He stated that the bank had 21 branches in the country where prospective customers could go and sign up to join the raffle.
The Director of Administration and Human Resource at the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Mrs Evelyn Adei Sarpong, commended the bank for using gold, which is a cherished commodity in Ghana, for the promotion.
Ten tickets belonging to customers from Kumasi, Tema, Accra, Tamale and Takoradi won the raffle.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
CENTRAL UNIVERSITY TO OPEN TEACHING HOSPITAL (BACK PAGE, NOV 18, 2010)
THE Central University College is to establish a teaching hospital and to offer medical attention to communities in its catchment area.
The 200-bed hospital will be equipped with facilities to handle referral cases.
At present, the university runs medical programmes such as nursing, pharmacy and physician assistants but sends the students to other hospitals for practical training.
The President of the Central University College (CUC), Professor Victor Patrick Yao Gadzekpo, made this known at the swearing-in ceremony of a 13-member executive committee of the college’s branch of the Physician Assistants Students Association of Ghana (PASAG).
He said the location of the university on the main Accra-Aflao road made it convenient to receive cases, including accident victims.
He explained that it became difficult for the college to start the physician assistants’ degree programme and was grateful that it had finally begun.
Professor Gadzekpo said the ratio of 2000 medical practitioners to the country’s estimated population of 24 million called for urgent steps to be taken to train more professionals to fill the gap.
He stated that the university was founded on the Word of God and, therefore, had compassion to extend its services to communities that lacked medical facilities.
Professor Gadzekpo called on the first batch of graduates, who have entered the job market after their graduation in October, 2010, to be committed to their work and exhibit different work ethics at their workplaces.
The outgoing President of the PASAG, Mr Shaibu Mohammed, called for international networking to pave the way for affiliation of the physician assistants programme with institutions outside the country.
The incoming President, Mr Emile Asiedu, expressed his gratitude to the students for the trust reposed in him and assured them of hard work to build a strong association.
The 200-bed hospital will be equipped with facilities to handle referral cases.
At present, the university runs medical programmes such as nursing, pharmacy and physician assistants but sends the students to other hospitals for practical training.
The President of the Central University College (CUC), Professor Victor Patrick Yao Gadzekpo, made this known at the swearing-in ceremony of a 13-member executive committee of the college’s branch of the Physician Assistants Students Association of Ghana (PASAG).
He said the location of the university on the main Accra-Aflao road made it convenient to receive cases, including accident victims.
He explained that it became difficult for the college to start the physician assistants’ degree programme and was grateful that it had finally begun.
Professor Gadzekpo said the ratio of 2000 medical practitioners to the country’s estimated population of 24 million called for urgent steps to be taken to train more professionals to fill the gap.
He stated that the university was founded on the Word of God and, therefore, had compassion to extend its services to communities that lacked medical facilities.
Professor Gadzekpo called on the first batch of graduates, who have entered the job market after their graduation in October, 2010, to be committed to their work and exhibit different work ethics at their workplaces.
The outgoing President of the PASAG, Mr Shaibu Mohammed, called for international networking to pave the way for affiliation of the physician assistants programme with institutions outside the country.
The incoming President, Mr Emile Asiedu, expressed his gratitude to the students for the trust reposed in him and assured them of hard work to build a strong association.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
TECHNICAL, VOCATIONAL TEACHERS ATTEND WORKSHOP (PAGE 61, NOV 15, 2010)
A two-week capacity building workshop for 30 technical and vocational teachers and policy makers has opened in Tema.
The workshop, which is being organised by the Department of Education, Culture, Science and Technology of the ECOWAS Commission, is also intended to update the knowledge of the participants on employable skills and enhance technical and vocational education locally.
The ECOWAS international resource person, Mr Joshua Mallet, said the programme was the first to be held in Ghana, although it had been going on in other ECOWAS countries .
He was hopeful to see a competency-based technical expertise that would fit into the growing industrialisation of member states .
Mr Mallet said Ghana was the only African country which had a council for Technical, Vocational and Educational Teachers (TVET), which is an indication of the government's determination to make education a priority .
An Assistant Director of Education at the Ministry of Education, Tertiary Division, Mr Cephas Adjei-Mensah, said the government had fashioned out a new policy to promote technical and vocational education and training as a way of skills development.
He said that vision had been articulated in various documents, including the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) 2003 - 2005, the Education Strategic Plan 2003-2015 and the government’s White Paper on the report of the Education Review Committee (2004) .
Mr Adjei-Mensah said the TVET policy framework of Ghana recommended that competency-based training (CBT) be delivered to serve as a model to all TVET programmes .
He said that curriculum development experts, skilled instructors and competent teachers with workplace experience would serve as the cornerstone to the acquisition of employable skills by all categories of learners.
He underscored the critical role of TVET and called for the institutionalisation of training of trainers and continuous development programmes for technical teachers within national TVET systems.
The workshop, which is being organised by the Department of Education, Culture, Science and Technology of the ECOWAS Commission, is also intended to update the knowledge of the participants on employable skills and enhance technical and vocational education locally.
The ECOWAS international resource person, Mr Joshua Mallet, said the programme was the first to be held in Ghana, although it had been going on in other ECOWAS countries .
He was hopeful to see a competency-based technical expertise that would fit into the growing industrialisation of member states .
Mr Mallet said Ghana was the only African country which had a council for Technical, Vocational and Educational Teachers (TVET), which is an indication of the government's determination to make education a priority .
An Assistant Director of Education at the Ministry of Education, Tertiary Division, Mr Cephas Adjei-Mensah, said the government had fashioned out a new policy to promote technical and vocational education and training as a way of skills development.
He said that vision had been articulated in various documents, including the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) 2003 - 2005, the Education Strategic Plan 2003-2015 and the government’s White Paper on the report of the Education Review Committee (2004) .
Mr Adjei-Mensah said the TVET policy framework of Ghana recommended that competency-based training (CBT) be delivered to serve as a model to all TVET programmes .
He said that curriculum development experts, skilled instructors and competent teachers with workplace experience would serve as the cornerstone to the acquisition of employable skills by all categories of learners.
He underscored the critical role of TVET and called for the institutionalisation of training of trainers and continuous development programmes for technical teachers within national TVET systems.
TMA DONATES TO OLDIES LEAGUE (GRAPHIC SPORTS, PAGE 11, NOV 12, 2010)
The Tema Metropolitan Assembly has donated 10 footballs and a cheque for GH¢2,000 to support an impending ‘oldies league’ for retired footballers in Greater Accra.
The league has been packaged to have the retired footballers play in a fortnightly match to boost soccer in the country .
The Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware, presenting the cheque and the footballs to the Retired National Footballs Association said it was refreshing to have the retired footballers energizing themselves to promote the sport .
He said as footballers, they contributed positively to soccer in the country through their efforts to lift the nation’s flag on the international scene .
Mr Ofosuware explained that the present achievements of the country’s soccer was as a result of the efforts of the retired players .
He commended them for their achievements and urged them to continue to shine ‘in your corner ’.
Mr Ofosuware said the donation was the modest contribution of the Assembly, adding that ‘we would be monitoring the game.
Mr Willie Klutse, a retired ace footballer in showing appreciation for the gesture, said it had come at the right time .
He said the support will pay off some of their transportation and financial needs .
Mr Klutse said the Retired National Footballers Association is made up of individual players in Premier or Division one clubs .
He said the Association had been able to organize players from Chorkor extending to Tema in the Greater Accra .
Mr Klutse said the membership is 2000 retired footballers who have been grouped in 16 teams for the impending league .
He said the Association also had plans to bring the retired footballers together for coaching courses to teach basic techniques of football to the youth to have fore knowledge of the sport.
Mr Daniel Owusu, a retired footballer, Awuley Quaye and Mohammed Polo, were present to receive the donation .
The league has been packaged to have the retired footballers play in a fortnightly match to boost soccer in the country .
The Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware, presenting the cheque and the footballs to the Retired National Footballs Association said it was refreshing to have the retired footballers energizing themselves to promote the sport .
He said as footballers, they contributed positively to soccer in the country through their efforts to lift the nation’s flag on the international scene .
Mr Ofosuware explained that the present achievements of the country’s soccer was as a result of the efforts of the retired players .
He commended them for their achievements and urged them to continue to shine ‘in your corner ’.
Mr Ofosuware said the donation was the modest contribution of the Assembly, adding that ‘we would be monitoring the game.
Mr Willie Klutse, a retired ace footballer in showing appreciation for the gesture, said it had come at the right time .
He said the support will pay off some of their transportation and financial needs .
Mr Klutse said the Retired National Footballers Association is made up of individual players in Premier or Division one clubs .
He said the Association had been able to organize players from Chorkor extending to Tema in the Greater Accra .
Mr Klutse said the membership is 2000 retired footballers who have been grouped in 16 teams for the impending league .
He said the Association also had plans to bring the retired footballers together for coaching courses to teach basic techniques of football to the youth to have fore knowledge of the sport.
Mr Daniel Owusu, a retired footballer, Awuley Quaye and Mohammed Polo, were present to receive the donation .
HOMEOPATHIC, HERBAL CLINIC OPENED IN TEMA (PAGE 18, NOV 9, 2010)
A New homeopathic facility, Gilead Homeopathic and Herbal Clinic, has been opened in Tema.
Addressing the ceremony, a Registrar of the Traditional and Herbal Medicine Practice Council at the Ministry of Health (MoH), Togbui Hlortsi Akakpo, stressed the need for herbal practitioners to register with the Council and be certified by the MoH.
He said those who failed to do so would be considered to be operating illegally.
Togbui Akakpo also said it was important to test the potency of their herbal medicine “to build the confidence of the people in using such medicine.”
He explained that according to records from the MoH, seven out of every 10 persons sought alternative health care such as herbal medicine and pointed out that the government was putting in place structures and the necessary support to encourage the practice of alternative medicine .
He cautioned the management of such facilities to engage only qualified people to render quality service to their clients and not to just create employment.
Togbui Akakpo appealed to all herbal medicine practitioners to insist on rendering quality and standard service to the public, adding that “the MoH would be ready to assist you to address the challenges you encounter in your operations as herbal practitioners”.
The Executive Director of the Clinic, Rev. Dr Eric Tetteh, said the facility had a staff of 14 trained herbalists and nurses.
He said it rendered diagnostic and massaging services, as well as consulting and dispensary, and had out-patients and counselling departments.
Rev Dr Tetteh disclosed that the clinic treated infertility in men and women, fibroid, cardiovascular diseases, sexually transmitted diseases, stroke, skin diseases and sexual weakness among others.
The President of the Full Gospel Church International, Rt. Revd Samuel Mensah, commended the management of the clinic and urged them to work hard to satisfy the needs of the people.
He said the opening of the clinic had come at a time when Ghanaians needed to step up efforts to promote access to health care.
Rt. Revd Mensah urged them to counsel people to change from their negative behaviour and appealed to people in the medical field to desist from travelling abroad for greener pastures and rather help build the nation.
He urged the management to ensure that the staff at the clinic were adequately trained.
The clinic was opened to the public for free screening for various ailments.
Addressing the ceremony, a Registrar of the Traditional and Herbal Medicine Practice Council at the Ministry of Health (MoH), Togbui Hlortsi Akakpo, stressed the need for herbal practitioners to register with the Council and be certified by the MoH.
He said those who failed to do so would be considered to be operating illegally.
Togbui Akakpo also said it was important to test the potency of their herbal medicine “to build the confidence of the people in using such medicine.”
He explained that according to records from the MoH, seven out of every 10 persons sought alternative health care such as herbal medicine and pointed out that the government was putting in place structures and the necessary support to encourage the practice of alternative medicine .
He cautioned the management of such facilities to engage only qualified people to render quality service to their clients and not to just create employment.
Togbui Akakpo appealed to all herbal medicine practitioners to insist on rendering quality and standard service to the public, adding that “the MoH would be ready to assist you to address the challenges you encounter in your operations as herbal practitioners”.
The Executive Director of the Clinic, Rev. Dr Eric Tetteh, said the facility had a staff of 14 trained herbalists and nurses.
He said it rendered diagnostic and massaging services, as well as consulting and dispensary, and had out-patients and counselling departments.
Rev Dr Tetteh disclosed that the clinic treated infertility in men and women, fibroid, cardiovascular diseases, sexually transmitted diseases, stroke, skin diseases and sexual weakness among others.
The President of the Full Gospel Church International, Rt. Revd Samuel Mensah, commended the management of the clinic and urged them to work hard to satisfy the needs of the people.
He said the opening of the clinic had come at a time when Ghanaians needed to step up efforts to promote access to health care.
Rt. Revd Mensah urged them to counsel people to change from their negative behaviour and appealed to people in the medical field to desist from travelling abroad for greener pastures and rather help build the nation.
He urged the management to ensure that the staff at the clinic were adequately trained.
The clinic was opened to the public for free screening for various ailments.
22 COMPLETE TRAINING IN PORT MANAGEMENT (PAGE 18, NOV 9, 2010)
TWENTY-TWO people drawn from six organisations involved in port operations have completed a year’s training programme aimed at equipping them with modern port management skills.
The training programme, dubbed “Train-For-Trade”, was facilitated by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Dublin Port Company experts and local experts from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), and sought to foster economic development.
The 22 participants were drawn from organisations such as the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), MOL Ghana, Ghana Shippers Authority, Ghana Maritime University, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) and Advanced Stevedoring Company.
Participants were taken through International Trade and Transport modules, Organisation of a Port System, Future Challenges to Ports, Methods and Tools of Management, Technical Management and Human Resource Development, among others.
The UNCTAD Project Expert, Mr Mark Assaf, commended the GPHA for its role in the training programme.
He said the Modern Port Management training was implemented by UNCTAD in port communities of English-speaking developing countries in co-operation with Dublin Port Company, and with support from Irish Aid participating ports on a pilot base.
Other countries involved in the programme include Tanzania, Indonesia, Malaysia and Maldives.
The Director-General of the GPHA, Mr Nestor Galley, expressed appreciation to UNCTAD, Irish Aid and Dublin Port Company for extending the training programme to Ghana and called on all companies at the port to get involved in the project to improve the knowledge of their staff.
He indicated that the programme, which was organised on a pilot basis, was a good investment because at the end of the course, participants would appreciate the industry better.
The participants were awarded certificates and presented with books on the maritime industry to enhance their knowledge.
Mr Galley also indicated that the GPHA had renewed the participation contract in order to develop the industry and expand it to cover many people.
A lecturer in the Port and Shipping Department of the Ghana Maritime University, Mrs Felicity Ankomah Sey, was adjudged the best participant. She was given certificates of merit, maritime books and a laptop as her award.
Officials from Dublin Port Company, represented by a Director, Mr John Moore, and an evaluation team made up of Mr Patrick Madger and Mr John Hoy from Irish AID evaluated the course.
The training programme, dubbed “Train-For-Trade”, was facilitated by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Dublin Port Company experts and local experts from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), and sought to foster economic development.
The 22 participants were drawn from organisations such as the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), MOL Ghana, Ghana Shippers Authority, Ghana Maritime University, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) and Advanced Stevedoring Company.
Participants were taken through International Trade and Transport modules, Organisation of a Port System, Future Challenges to Ports, Methods and Tools of Management, Technical Management and Human Resource Development, among others.
The UNCTAD Project Expert, Mr Mark Assaf, commended the GPHA for its role in the training programme.
He said the Modern Port Management training was implemented by UNCTAD in port communities of English-speaking developing countries in co-operation with Dublin Port Company, and with support from Irish Aid participating ports on a pilot base.
Other countries involved in the programme include Tanzania, Indonesia, Malaysia and Maldives.
The Director-General of the GPHA, Mr Nestor Galley, expressed appreciation to UNCTAD, Irish Aid and Dublin Port Company for extending the training programme to Ghana and called on all companies at the port to get involved in the project to improve the knowledge of their staff.
He indicated that the programme, which was organised on a pilot basis, was a good investment because at the end of the course, participants would appreciate the industry better.
The participants were awarded certificates and presented with books on the maritime industry to enhance their knowledge.
Mr Galley also indicated that the GPHA had renewed the participation contract in order to develop the industry and expand it to cover many people.
A lecturer in the Port and Shipping Department of the Ghana Maritime University, Mrs Felicity Ankomah Sey, was adjudged the best participant. She was given certificates of merit, maritime books and a laptop as her award.
Officials from Dublin Port Company, represented by a Director, Mr John Moore, and an evaluation team made up of Mr Patrick Madger and Mr John Hoy from Irish AID evaluated the course.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
POLICE MOUNT SEARCH FOR ECG ENGINEER (PAGE 51, NOV 4. 2010)
THE Police in Tema have mounted a search for an engineer of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), George Gbafah, who allegedly connived with officials of Melody Industries Limited, a Chinese-owned company at the Tema Heavy Industrial Area, to consume more than GH¢107,154.23 energy through illegal connection.
Already, the police have arrested the Assistant Manager of the Chinese company, Hao Lin also known as Maxwell, to help in their investigations.
The Tema Regional Director of the ECG, Mr Felix Fiebor, told the Daily Graphic that during an operation to check illegal connection in Tema last Friday and acting upon a tip off, a team from the National Revenue Loss Control Unit of the Company went to the Melody Industries Limited, producers of mineral water bottles, on Tuesday October 26, 2010 to inspect the electrical lines.
During the operation it was detected that the company was producing without meters, meaning that it was accumulating losses to the ECG.
He said the lines were disconnected on Tuesday and officials of the company asked to report and settle their indebtedness.
Mr Fiebor said when the team went back in the company of the police to ensure that the lines had not been reconnected, the factory was surprisingly found in full production.
The ECG officials immediately disconnected the lines and ordered that all the machines be put off.
A closer examination of the factory revealed that the company had mounted its own transformer and connected fresh lines to two new ECG project poles.
During interrogation, the Assistant Manager said George Gbafa was the one who did the connections for them.
In another development, the team disconnected other illegal connections at the Tema Light Industrial Area, where an Indian company, Zeetech Limited, produced sachet water packs.
The company had connected the cables directly to the circuit breakers and was, therefore, operating outside the meters, resulting in a loss of GH¢71,590 over a period of 18 months.
The Manager, Mr Francis Selvaraj, was not at the factory when the team went on the operation at the company but there was information later that he had gone to make part payment to avoid prosecution.
When the resident electrician of the company, Mr Teye Mama, was questioned, he explained that he did the illegal connections to save the company from going bankrupt.
A chain of 10 huge containers which had been converted into cold stores were also disconnected at the fishing harbour.
The owners of the containers allegedly put off the cold stores during the day and put them on in the night to freeze fish, and therefore, avoided the watchful eyes of the ECG officials.
The original owners allegedly disappeared to avoid being picked up by the police and their representatives were sent to the Community One Police Station.
Mr Fiebor appealed to the public to help arrest people who had illegally connected power to their homes and factories.
He said the ECG lost 30 per cent of every amount of power sold out, resulting in losses to the company.
Mr Fiebor said the ECG would not shield any official who would condone illegalities.
Already, the police have arrested the Assistant Manager of the Chinese company, Hao Lin also known as Maxwell, to help in their investigations.
The Tema Regional Director of the ECG, Mr Felix Fiebor, told the Daily Graphic that during an operation to check illegal connection in Tema last Friday and acting upon a tip off, a team from the National Revenue Loss Control Unit of the Company went to the Melody Industries Limited, producers of mineral water bottles, on Tuesday October 26, 2010 to inspect the electrical lines.
During the operation it was detected that the company was producing without meters, meaning that it was accumulating losses to the ECG.
He said the lines were disconnected on Tuesday and officials of the company asked to report and settle their indebtedness.
Mr Fiebor said when the team went back in the company of the police to ensure that the lines had not been reconnected, the factory was surprisingly found in full production.
The ECG officials immediately disconnected the lines and ordered that all the machines be put off.
A closer examination of the factory revealed that the company had mounted its own transformer and connected fresh lines to two new ECG project poles.
During interrogation, the Assistant Manager said George Gbafa was the one who did the connections for them.
In another development, the team disconnected other illegal connections at the Tema Light Industrial Area, where an Indian company, Zeetech Limited, produced sachet water packs.
The company had connected the cables directly to the circuit breakers and was, therefore, operating outside the meters, resulting in a loss of GH¢71,590 over a period of 18 months.
The Manager, Mr Francis Selvaraj, was not at the factory when the team went on the operation at the company but there was information later that he had gone to make part payment to avoid prosecution.
When the resident electrician of the company, Mr Teye Mama, was questioned, he explained that he did the illegal connections to save the company from going bankrupt.
A chain of 10 huge containers which had been converted into cold stores were also disconnected at the fishing harbour.
The owners of the containers allegedly put off the cold stores during the day and put them on in the night to freeze fish, and therefore, avoided the watchful eyes of the ECG officials.
The original owners allegedly disappeared to avoid being picked up by the police and their representatives were sent to the Community One Police Station.
Mr Fiebor appealed to the public to help arrest people who had illegally connected power to their homes and factories.
He said the ECG lost 30 per cent of every amount of power sold out, resulting in losses to the company.
Mr Fiebor said the ECG would not shield any official who would condone illegalities.
ASHAIMAN MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY CONSTRUCTS DRAINS (PAGE 18, NOV 2, 2010)
THE Ashaiman Municipal Assembly has intensified efforts to educate residents on the need to desist from the indiscriminate dumping of refuse to prevent flooding in the municipality
The assembly is also constructing drains in the various electoral areas to enhance the free flow of running water.
Speaking in an interview with the Daily Graphic after rains caused floods in some parts of Accra recently, the Public Relations Officer of the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly, Mr Kwasi Adu-Gyamfi, said although the municipality did not experience any floods during last rains, “the Assembly is determined to prevent loss of lives and properties, hence the need to collaborate with the residents to adopt habits that will eliminate the dumping of refuse into drains and gutters.”
He said under the programme, which involves the assembly members of the 11 electoral areas in the municipality, residents would dialogue on how to keep their surroundings clean, since the indiscriminate dumping of refuse constituted 90 per cent of the causes of flooding.
The programme will also tackle erection of structures on watercourses.
Mr Adu-Gyamfi announced that the assembly had authorised the task-force led by the Municipal Engineer, Mr Isaac Lamptey, to inspect and demolish unauthorised structures which were springing up along drains and prohibited areas.
He said according to recommendations by the security task-force which inspected flooded areas in the municipality after the June 20, 2010, down pour that caused floods in the area, a distance of 50 ft must be left on each side of storm drains and roads to prevent disasters in future.
A visit to Ashaiman Newtown where the Gbemi and Amatsuru rivers flooded their banks showed that the displaced residents had returned and were putting up in dilapidated structures.
Storm drains at Community 22 and Roman Down where the rivers flooded, because of garbage, have been cleared.
The PRO noted that the assembly had been given a tipper truck, pay loader and a caterpillar to be used to clear storm drains regularly.
He said before the assembly received this support, it hired some equipment and also tasked the Zoomlion to clear the gutters at a cost.
Mr Adu –Gyamfi stated that the assembly had funded a street light project in all the 11 electoral areas at a total cost of GH¢360,783.28, which is near completion, to improve security in the area.
He said the beneficiary areas were Market Square, Assenso, Mantseman, Niiman, Manmomo, Taboo, Tulaku, Obakatse and Tsinagber electoral areas.
Mr Adu-Gyamfi said the project was undertaken by three electrical contractors namely Matthew Electrical Works, Prefos Ltd and Alexis Brothers Electrical works under the supervision of personnel from the Works Department of the assembly and the assembly members.
He also indicated that work had started on the construction of the road networks from the Ashaiman central business area to Zenu, covering a distance of 4.8 kilometres, with funds from the government, while other roads in the municipality had been awarded on contract.
Mr Adu-Gyamfi appealed to the residents to help the assembly to build a positive image for Ashaiman to attract investments and tourists to help in developing the municipality.
The assembly is also constructing drains in the various electoral areas to enhance the free flow of running water.
Speaking in an interview with the Daily Graphic after rains caused floods in some parts of Accra recently, the Public Relations Officer of the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly, Mr Kwasi Adu-Gyamfi, said although the municipality did not experience any floods during last rains, “the Assembly is determined to prevent loss of lives and properties, hence the need to collaborate with the residents to adopt habits that will eliminate the dumping of refuse into drains and gutters.”
He said under the programme, which involves the assembly members of the 11 electoral areas in the municipality, residents would dialogue on how to keep their surroundings clean, since the indiscriminate dumping of refuse constituted 90 per cent of the causes of flooding.
The programme will also tackle erection of structures on watercourses.
Mr Adu-Gyamfi announced that the assembly had authorised the task-force led by the Municipal Engineer, Mr Isaac Lamptey, to inspect and demolish unauthorised structures which were springing up along drains and prohibited areas.
He said according to recommendations by the security task-force which inspected flooded areas in the municipality after the June 20, 2010, down pour that caused floods in the area, a distance of 50 ft must be left on each side of storm drains and roads to prevent disasters in future.
A visit to Ashaiman Newtown where the Gbemi and Amatsuru rivers flooded their banks showed that the displaced residents had returned and were putting up in dilapidated structures.
Storm drains at Community 22 and Roman Down where the rivers flooded, because of garbage, have been cleared.
The PRO noted that the assembly had been given a tipper truck, pay loader and a caterpillar to be used to clear storm drains regularly.
He said before the assembly received this support, it hired some equipment and also tasked the Zoomlion to clear the gutters at a cost.
Mr Adu –Gyamfi stated that the assembly had funded a street light project in all the 11 electoral areas at a total cost of GH¢360,783.28, which is near completion, to improve security in the area.
He said the beneficiary areas were Market Square, Assenso, Mantseman, Niiman, Manmomo, Taboo, Tulaku, Obakatse and Tsinagber electoral areas.
Mr Adu-Gyamfi said the project was undertaken by three electrical contractors namely Matthew Electrical Works, Prefos Ltd and Alexis Brothers Electrical works under the supervision of personnel from the Works Department of the assembly and the assembly members.
He also indicated that work had started on the construction of the road networks from the Ashaiman central business area to Zenu, covering a distance of 4.8 kilometres, with funds from the government, while other roads in the municipality had been awarded on contract.
Mr Adu-Gyamfi appealed to the residents to help the assembly to build a positive image for Ashaiman to attract investments and tourists to help in developing the municipality.
UNILEVER FOUNDATION HONOURS EIGHT FEMALE GRADUATES (PAGE 11, NOV 2, 2010)
UNILEVER Ghana Foundation has rewarded eight best female graduates of some public tertiary institutions in the country for their exceptional performance in various fields during the 2008/2009 academic year .
They are Hilda Heidi Akati from Koforidua Polytechnic, Jennifer Azuma Aduah, Bolgatanga, Janet Tse, Takoradi, Leticia Gyamfuaa Sarfo, Sunyani, Joana Addae, Kumasi and Christabel Serwah Amporfo, Accra Polytechnic.
The others are Juliet Ankomah and Juliet Aaferemwin Yirerong ,who are best graduating students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and were honoured for their excellent performance in human Biology and Microbiology respectively.
The Chairman of the Foundation, Mr Andrew Evans-Quayson, congratulated the graduates on holding the name of women high.
He said the Foundation had since its inception two years ago, invested GH¢70,000.0 in its women empowerment programme covering 455 females from the country’s universities and polytechnics.
According to Mr Evans-Quayson, besides the excellence awards, the Foundation sponsors girls in public senior high schools from across the country to participate in Science, Maths, Technology and innovation clinics undertaken by the Ghana Education Service (GES).
He said the Foundation also sponsors entrepreneurial skills training for women in small and medium enterprises in semi-urban areas .
Mr Evans-Quayson, said empowering women was a positive step to ensure equal education for both boys and girls, as well as improve access to health for children and mother to curb infant and maternal mortality, stressing that the focus of the award on female excellence was in line with women empowerment programmes.
Mr Evans- Quayson noted that Unilever would award people for excellence and encourage more women to strive for excellence .
He stated that the Foundation had invested GH¢300,000 in the provision of water system and public places of convenience to serve nine communities in the three regions in the north and three communities in the Sene district of the Brong Ahafo Region and seven communities in the Birim North District of the Eastern Region.
Mr Evans-Quayson was of the view that, it would be difficult to achieve Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 4, which aims at reducing child mortality rate, if women were not empowered to appreciate the essence of health and hygiene and its role in safe maternity.
The graduates, who were presented with certificates, products of the company and undisclosed sum, expressed their appreciation to Unilever for recognising their efforts
The award winners were taken round the factory on a guided tour by the Corporate Relations Manager of Unilever, Ms Bernice Natue, to observe the production processes.
They are Hilda Heidi Akati from Koforidua Polytechnic, Jennifer Azuma Aduah, Bolgatanga, Janet Tse, Takoradi, Leticia Gyamfuaa Sarfo, Sunyani, Joana Addae, Kumasi and Christabel Serwah Amporfo, Accra Polytechnic.
The others are Juliet Ankomah and Juliet Aaferemwin Yirerong ,who are best graduating students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and were honoured for their excellent performance in human Biology and Microbiology respectively.
The Chairman of the Foundation, Mr Andrew Evans-Quayson, congratulated the graduates on holding the name of women high.
He said the Foundation had since its inception two years ago, invested GH¢70,000.0 in its women empowerment programme covering 455 females from the country’s universities and polytechnics.
According to Mr Evans-Quayson, besides the excellence awards, the Foundation sponsors girls in public senior high schools from across the country to participate in Science, Maths, Technology and innovation clinics undertaken by the Ghana Education Service (GES).
He said the Foundation also sponsors entrepreneurial skills training for women in small and medium enterprises in semi-urban areas .
Mr Evans-Quayson, said empowering women was a positive step to ensure equal education for both boys and girls, as well as improve access to health for children and mother to curb infant and maternal mortality, stressing that the focus of the award on female excellence was in line with women empowerment programmes.
Mr Evans- Quayson noted that Unilever would award people for excellence and encourage more women to strive for excellence .
He stated that the Foundation had invested GH¢300,000 in the provision of water system and public places of convenience to serve nine communities in the three regions in the north and three communities in the Sene district of the Brong Ahafo Region and seven communities in the Birim North District of the Eastern Region.
Mr Evans-Quayson was of the view that, it would be difficult to achieve Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 4, which aims at reducing child mortality rate, if women were not empowered to appreciate the essence of health and hygiene and its role in safe maternity.
The graduates, who were presented with certificates, products of the company and undisclosed sum, expressed their appreciation to Unilever for recognising their efforts
The award winners were taken round the factory on a guided tour by the Corporate Relations Manager of Unilever, Ms Bernice Natue, to observe the production processes.
Friday, October 29, 2010
RAIL BACK ON TRACK...Accra-Tema revamped...Other cities to be linked (LEAD STORY, OCT 29, 2010)
PRESIDENT John Atta Mills yesterday inaugurated a $23-million diesel engine train service with a capacity of 600 passengers on an expanded Accra-Tema rail network.
The President was one of the passengers on the train’s inaugural journey from Tema to Accra on the rail line which has been expanded at a cost of $14.7 million.
He used the occasion to assure Ghanaians that the railway sector would receive a major boost during the next two years to link various parts of the country, especially the rural communities where foodstuffs and mineral ore and cash crops could be transported to urban communities and the ports for export.
The President said the complete overhaul of the country’s infrastructural network, especially the rail sector, was uppermost in the scheme of activities of the government during its tenure of office, adding that, “we promise to work assiduously in actualising that objective”.
He said the government expected the Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA) to come up with innovations which would ensure that comfortable passenger coaches were rolled out to ensure that workers, especially those in the urban centres, availed themselves of the coaches during and after work.
He told the large gathering that the improvement of the rail sector would in no small measure reduce pressure on the country’s roads, which suffered massive deterioration after few years of construction.
President Mills catalogued other advantages of the rail sector over road transport as the avoidance of traffic jams, which have become a permanent feature of the country’s urban roads and other stretches of highways, and the carrying of bulk goods and precious metals at cheaper rates.
He urged the GRDA to devise more appropriate ways of maintaining the coach to prolong its lifespan, as well as maximise the needed revenue from its operations.
Apparently unhappy about the trading of insults among Ghanaians of late, the President asked the people to direct their energies into productive ventures, which is what would ensure the reconstruction of the country and renewal of the society.
He said the use of abusive language, especially on the airwaves, had the potential of sending wrong signals to the youth, who might perceive insults as a good thing and indulge in them when they grew into adults.
He said differences among the various political groupings should not degenerate into the use of intemperate language, which is not part of the country’s traditional values.
The Minister for Transport, Mr Mike Hammah, said the new train service was expected to ease traffic congestion within the Accra-Tema Metropolis and move commuters safely and conveniently to their destinations.
He noted that with the revamping process being vigorously pursued, the railway company would soon be able to stand on its feet and wean itself from government financial support.
Mr Hammah commended the contractor on the rail line project, M/S Amandi Investments, for the level of professionalism and competence exhibited during the period of execution.
The Board Chairman of the Ghana Railway Company Limited, Dr Clement Hammah, gave the assurance that the company would justify the investments made by the government to improve the country’s rail sector.
Mr Dan Markin, Board Chairman of the Ghana Railways Development Authority, said the authority was in discussion for the extension of other rail lines in the country and appealed to the public to assist the authority by being watchdogs to safeguard and protect the investment made by the government.
The President was one of the passengers on the train’s inaugural journey from Tema to Accra on the rail line which has been expanded at a cost of $14.7 million.
He used the occasion to assure Ghanaians that the railway sector would receive a major boost during the next two years to link various parts of the country, especially the rural communities where foodstuffs and mineral ore and cash crops could be transported to urban communities and the ports for export.
The President said the complete overhaul of the country’s infrastructural network, especially the rail sector, was uppermost in the scheme of activities of the government during its tenure of office, adding that, “we promise to work assiduously in actualising that objective”.
He said the government expected the Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA) to come up with innovations which would ensure that comfortable passenger coaches were rolled out to ensure that workers, especially those in the urban centres, availed themselves of the coaches during and after work.
He told the large gathering that the improvement of the rail sector would in no small measure reduce pressure on the country’s roads, which suffered massive deterioration after few years of construction.
President Mills catalogued other advantages of the rail sector over road transport as the avoidance of traffic jams, which have become a permanent feature of the country’s urban roads and other stretches of highways, and the carrying of bulk goods and precious metals at cheaper rates.
He urged the GRDA to devise more appropriate ways of maintaining the coach to prolong its lifespan, as well as maximise the needed revenue from its operations.
Apparently unhappy about the trading of insults among Ghanaians of late, the President asked the people to direct their energies into productive ventures, which is what would ensure the reconstruction of the country and renewal of the society.
He said the use of abusive language, especially on the airwaves, had the potential of sending wrong signals to the youth, who might perceive insults as a good thing and indulge in them when they grew into adults.
He said differences among the various political groupings should not degenerate into the use of intemperate language, which is not part of the country’s traditional values.
The Minister for Transport, Mr Mike Hammah, said the new train service was expected to ease traffic congestion within the Accra-Tema Metropolis and move commuters safely and conveniently to their destinations.
He noted that with the revamping process being vigorously pursued, the railway company would soon be able to stand on its feet and wean itself from government financial support.
Mr Hammah commended the contractor on the rail line project, M/S Amandi Investments, for the level of professionalism and competence exhibited during the period of execution.
The Board Chairman of the Ghana Railway Company Limited, Dr Clement Hammah, gave the assurance that the company would justify the investments made by the government to improve the country’s rail sector.
Mr Dan Markin, Board Chairman of the Ghana Railways Development Authority, said the authority was in discussion for the extension of other rail lines in the country and appealed to the public to assist the authority by being watchdogs to safeguard and protect the investment made by the government.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
BOY, 10, DROWNS RESCUING A SHEEP (1B, OCT 28, 2010)
Story: Rose Hayford Darko & Della Russel Ocloo, Tema
A 10-year-old boy, Anas Malik, got drowned in a reservoir belonging to the Ghana Water Company Limited near the Tema Secondary School (TEMASCO) when he attempted to rescue a sheep that had been trapped in it.
The incident, according to eyewitnesses, occurred about 5:30 p.m. last Tuesday when the boy jumped into the reservoir filled with water after the stray animal had fallen into it.
Anas Malik, a Class Four pupil of the Anglican School at Tema Community One, was said to be playing on the nearby children’s park when the incident occurred.
His body, together with the dead animal, was retrieved from the reservoir by officials of the Ghana National Fire Service about 7 a.m. yesterday.
The Crime Officer of the Community One Police Station, DSP Reynolds Manteaw, who confirmed the incident, said the body had been released to the family for burial, in accordance with Islamic tradition, after an autopsy had been conducted on it at the Tema General Hospital.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Mr Bawa Ustarz, the boy’s guardian, said his nephew had gone to the Tema Children’s Park to play after returning from school.
According to him, the family became alarmed when, around 10 p.m., he had still not returned home, prompting them to file a complaint at the police station after a search party had fruitlessly combed the entire community looking for him.
Mr Bawa said the search team continued to search around the children’s park and its surrounding communities for Anas on Wednesday morning, during which they were informed of a body lying in the reservoir.
He said a close examination by family members among the search team revealed the body to be that of the deceased.
The Assembly Member for the Padmore Electoral Area, Mr Asumah Mohammed Danladi, indicated that the latest drowning was the third in two years, with two children aged 9 and 11 also having got drowned in the same reservoir.
“Several vehicles have also fallen into the trench which has been left uncovered over the last 35 years, resulting in fatal accidents,” he lamented.
Mr Danladi appealed to the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) and the Department of Urban Roads to, as a matter of urgency, cover the trench along the stretch to avert future disasters.
A 10-year-old boy, Anas Malik, got drowned in a reservoir belonging to the Ghana Water Company Limited near the Tema Secondary School (TEMASCO) when he attempted to rescue a sheep that had been trapped in it.
The incident, according to eyewitnesses, occurred about 5:30 p.m. last Tuesday when the boy jumped into the reservoir filled with water after the stray animal had fallen into it.
Anas Malik, a Class Four pupil of the Anglican School at Tema Community One, was said to be playing on the nearby children’s park when the incident occurred.
His body, together with the dead animal, was retrieved from the reservoir by officials of the Ghana National Fire Service about 7 a.m. yesterday.
The Crime Officer of the Community One Police Station, DSP Reynolds Manteaw, who confirmed the incident, said the body had been released to the family for burial, in accordance with Islamic tradition, after an autopsy had been conducted on it at the Tema General Hospital.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Mr Bawa Ustarz, the boy’s guardian, said his nephew had gone to the Tema Children’s Park to play after returning from school.
According to him, the family became alarmed when, around 10 p.m., he had still not returned home, prompting them to file a complaint at the police station after a search party had fruitlessly combed the entire community looking for him.
Mr Bawa said the search team continued to search around the children’s park and its surrounding communities for Anas on Wednesday morning, during which they were informed of a body lying in the reservoir.
He said a close examination by family members among the search team revealed the body to be that of the deceased.
The Assembly Member for the Padmore Electoral Area, Mr Asumah Mohammed Danladi, indicated that the latest drowning was the third in two years, with two children aged 9 and 11 also having got drowned in the same reservoir.
“Several vehicles have also fallen into the trench which has been left uncovered over the last 35 years, resulting in fatal accidents,” he lamented.
Mr Danladi appealed to the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) and the Department of Urban Roads to, as a matter of urgency, cover the trench along the stretch to avert future disasters.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
40 VEHICLES IMPOUNDED FOR VIOLATING ROAD SAFETY RULES (PAGE 29, 0CT 28, 2010)
A task force made up of personnel from the Tema Regional police Command, Driver and Vehicle licensing Authority (DVLA) in Tema and the Road Safety Commission on Tuesday impounded about 40 commercial and private vehicles for violation of road safety regulations.
The drivers who are to be processed for court were arrested for driving on the shoulders of the road causing traffic jam, driving without licences, careless driving, overloading, drink driving, underage drivers and heavy duty trucks loaded with chippings that had not been covered, which posed danger to other road users.
The exercise was also to check roadworthiness of vehicles and fake documentation.
The task force which undertook the exercise on the main road linking the Ashaiman Timber Market and the Motorway Roundabout, was on the road before 8am, and by 10 am, 40 vehicles had been arrested for various offences. The vehicles were escorted to the Ashaiman Divisional Police Command park whilst the drivers waited to be processed for court.
The Tema DVLA Director, Alhaji Iddrisu Huseini, who was part of the task force, said from his technical point of view at least one vehicle out of 20 which used the road during the period they were around was not roadworthy.
He explained that some had their certificates expired while others had worn-out tyres with others having used transparent waterproof materials as a substitute for damaged windscreens.
Alhaji Huseini noted that when vehicles were not roadworthy passengers suffered the risk most and appealed to passengers to ensure that they played greater roles in checking drivers on the road.
He said the number of vehicles arriving in the country kept on increasing, stating that every year the number of vehicles registered increased by about 80 per cent and the greater number of the vehicles operated in Accra and Tema.
The Regional Police MTTU Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Daniel Ansong Dankyi, who led the exercise, said it was targeting to achieve discipline on the road from now and beyond Christmas and warned that those arrested would be processed for court.
He said a number of indisciplined practices were recorded on the road during this period of the year, stressing that during the third quarter of the year, the police recorded 109 accidents in the region involving 188 vehicles, which caused 37 deaths, with 97 people suffering various degrees of injury.
The Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Inspector Olivia Turkson, said the exercise was undertaken to bring sanity on the road.
She said it would also be used as a platform to educate the drivers on the need to observe road traffic regulations to prevent accidents and therefore appealed to the public to co-operate with the police to make the exercise a success.
Chief Inspector Turkson commended the DVLA for providing a vehicle for the exercise.
The drivers who are to be processed for court were arrested for driving on the shoulders of the road causing traffic jam, driving without licences, careless driving, overloading, drink driving, underage drivers and heavy duty trucks loaded with chippings that had not been covered, which posed danger to other road users.
The exercise was also to check roadworthiness of vehicles and fake documentation.
The task force which undertook the exercise on the main road linking the Ashaiman Timber Market and the Motorway Roundabout, was on the road before 8am, and by 10 am, 40 vehicles had been arrested for various offences. The vehicles were escorted to the Ashaiman Divisional Police Command park whilst the drivers waited to be processed for court.
The Tema DVLA Director, Alhaji Iddrisu Huseini, who was part of the task force, said from his technical point of view at least one vehicle out of 20 which used the road during the period they were around was not roadworthy.
He explained that some had their certificates expired while others had worn-out tyres with others having used transparent waterproof materials as a substitute for damaged windscreens.
Alhaji Huseini noted that when vehicles were not roadworthy passengers suffered the risk most and appealed to passengers to ensure that they played greater roles in checking drivers on the road.
He said the number of vehicles arriving in the country kept on increasing, stating that every year the number of vehicles registered increased by about 80 per cent and the greater number of the vehicles operated in Accra and Tema.
The Regional Police MTTU Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Daniel Ansong Dankyi, who led the exercise, said it was targeting to achieve discipline on the road from now and beyond Christmas and warned that those arrested would be processed for court.
He said a number of indisciplined practices were recorded on the road during this period of the year, stressing that during the third quarter of the year, the police recorded 109 accidents in the region involving 188 vehicles, which caused 37 deaths, with 97 people suffering various degrees of injury.
The Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Inspector Olivia Turkson, said the exercise was undertaken to bring sanity on the road.
She said it would also be used as a platform to educate the drivers on the need to observe road traffic regulations to prevent accidents and therefore appealed to the public to co-operate with the police to make the exercise a success.
Chief Inspector Turkson commended the DVLA for providing a vehicle for the exercise.
Monday, October 25, 2010
E P YOUTH BUILDERS MARKS BIENNIAL RALLY (PAGE 18, OCT 23, 2010)
THE Tema Zone of the West Volta Presbytery of the Lorenze Wolf Evangelical Presbyterian Church Christian Youth Builders (CYB), has held a thanksgiving service to mark the second Biennial Rally of the Tema Zone.
Activities marking the celebration included Bible quiz, clean-up exercises, blood donation and sporting activities.
An Associate Pastor of the Lorenze Wolf congregation of the West Volta Presbytery Rev. Dzandu Helidor, who preached at the thanksgiving service urged Christians to help society fight crimes such as adultery, stealing at work places, pilfering and other social vices.
Rev. Dzandu was speaking on the topic “ Rejoice over the repentant sinner” and the theme was "Striving for Newness in Christ,- A challenge for all”.
He said although the scriptures abhors such conducts, God forgives repentant sinners because of His kindness to mankind.
He called on Christians to appreciate this kindness and close the chapter on committing of sins.
Rev. Dzandu appealed to the youth to desist from anti-social vices and direct their energies to the work of Christ and national development.
The Zonal Secretary of the CYB, Mr Michael Asempa called on the church to equip the youth with employable skills to reduce unemployment and poverty among members of the congregation.
He said the society had acquired land to put up a resource centre to train people in employable skills like dress-making, catering, block-laying and engineering .
Mr Asempa mentioned lack of funds as a major challenge to the project and appealed to patrons of the CYB, benevolent societies and NGOs to extend support to the CYB to enable it complete the resource centre.
Mr Jimmy Fugah, who chaired the programme commended the membership of the CYB for undertaking a project to train unemployed youth in the church, and called on the church to get involved to make the project a reality because its success would benefit the entire congregation and the youth as a whole.
The three-day event brought together seven youth groups from the E.P Church in the West Volta Presbytery
Activities marking the celebration included Bible quiz, clean-up exercises, blood donation and sporting activities.
An Associate Pastor of the Lorenze Wolf congregation of the West Volta Presbytery Rev. Dzandu Helidor, who preached at the thanksgiving service urged Christians to help society fight crimes such as adultery, stealing at work places, pilfering and other social vices.
Rev. Dzandu was speaking on the topic “ Rejoice over the repentant sinner” and the theme was "Striving for Newness in Christ,- A challenge for all”.
He said although the scriptures abhors such conducts, God forgives repentant sinners because of His kindness to mankind.
He called on Christians to appreciate this kindness and close the chapter on committing of sins.
Rev. Dzandu appealed to the youth to desist from anti-social vices and direct their energies to the work of Christ and national development.
The Zonal Secretary of the CYB, Mr Michael Asempa called on the church to equip the youth with employable skills to reduce unemployment and poverty among members of the congregation.
He said the society had acquired land to put up a resource centre to train people in employable skills like dress-making, catering, block-laying and engineering .
Mr Asempa mentioned lack of funds as a major challenge to the project and appealed to patrons of the CYB, benevolent societies and NGOs to extend support to the CYB to enable it complete the resource centre.
Mr Jimmy Fugah, who chaired the programme commended the membership of the CYB for undertaking a project to train unemployed youth in the church, and called on the church to get involved to make the project a reality because its success would benefit the entire congregation and the youth as a whole.
The three-day event brought together seven youth groups from the E.P Church in the West Volta Presbytery
Sunday, October 17, 2010
ANKAFUL HOSPITAL DECLARES WAR ON DRUG ABUSE (PAGE 46, OCT 18, 2010)
The Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital in the Central Region has instituted an annual regional educational programme to declare war on drugs to save young people from addiction.
The programme, which has come as a result of the rate at which young people are being admitted at the hospital for drug use, takes the form of symposia and cultural performances for students in various senior high schools.
The medical team has already been to Cape Coast and Takoradi and plans to cover the Ashanti and northern sectors of the country soon.
More than 500 students from senior high schools in Tema, Nungua and Ashaiman took part in the Tema programme.
A clinical psychologist at the Ankaful Hospital, Dr Kojo Sagoe, expressed concern over the high rate of youth indulgence in cocaine, marijuana and alcohol.
He said hospital records showed that people between 13 and 35 abused drugs, while those in the range of 60 also indulged in drugs and alcohol.
Dr Sagoe said the situation spelt doom for the next generation and, therefore, called for serious efforts to reverse the trend.
Speaking on the theme: “The drug epidemic facing our youth”, he said the drug epidemic was a ticking time bomb in the heart of civilisation, adding, “We need to act fast or we lose our future generation.”
He said many people started abusing drugs because of the lack of information on their harmful effects and, therefore, experimented with them.
He advised parents to spend more time with their children and endeavour to make them their priority.
He said some effects of drug addiction included low intelligence quotient, suicidal tendencies, isolation, withdrawal and the tendency to commit crime.
Dr Sagoe suggested the inclusion of education on drugs and their effects in the school curriculum to sensitise the youth to abstain from their use .
A Registered Mental Nurse at the Ankaful Hospital, Ms Diana Ahiabor, said people abusung drugs were living dangerously because the drugs affected them morally and spiritually.
She explained that the programme was to create awareness among the youth to save them from falling into the trap of abusing drugs.
Ms Ahiabor tasked various organisations and churches to collaborate with state institutions in the fight against drug abuse to save the youth who were the future managers of the nation.
The programme, which has come as a result of the rate at which young people are being admitted at the hospital for drug use, takes the form of symposia and cultural performances for students in various senior high schools.
The medical team has already been to Cape Coast and Takoradi and plans to cover the Ashanti and northern sectors of the country soon.
More than 500 students from senior high schools in Tema, Nungua and Ashaiman took part in the Tema programme.
A clinical psychologist at the Ankaful Hospital, Dr Kojo Sagoe, expressed concern over the high rate of youth indulgence in cocaine, marijuana and alcohol.
He said hospital records showed that people between 13 and 35 abused drugs, while those in the range of 60 also indulged in drugs and alcohol.
Dr Sagoe said the situation spelt doom for the next generation and, therefore, called for serious efforts to reverse the trend.
Speaking on the theme: “The drug epidemic facing our youth”, he said the drug epidemic was a ticking time bomb in the heart of civilisation, adding, “We need to act fast or we lose our future generation.”
He said many people started abusing drugs because of the lack of information on their harmful effects and, therefore, experimented with them.
He advised parents to spend more time with their children and endeavour to make them their priority.
He said some effects of drug addiction included low intelligence quotient, suicidal tendencies, isolation, withdrawal and the tendency to commit crime.
Dr Sagoe suggested the inclusion of education on drugs and their effects in the school curriculum to sensitise the youth to abstain from their use .
A Registered Mental Nurse at the Ankaful Hospital, Ms Diana Ahiabor, said people abusung drugs were living dangerously because the drugs affected them morally and spiritually.
She explained that the programme was to create awareness among the youth to save them from falling into the trap of abusing drugs.
Ms Ahiabor tasked various organisations and churches to collaborate with state institutions in the fight against drug abuse to save the youth who were the future managers of the nation.
GPHA WORKERS URGED TO CLOSE RANKS (PAGE 46, OCT 18, 2010)
Workers of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) have been advised to close their ranks to save the nation from losing billions of cedis through diversion of business to competing West African ports.
According to them, for the first time in the records of the GPHA, it recorded losses in the three consecutive quarters of 2009, leading to great losses to the nation, with their attendant job losses.
Addressing a press briefing which had in attendance shop stewards representing workers’ leaders in the various sub-divisions of the GPHA in Tema, Mr Emile Asiedu, a representative of the workers, cautioned workers not to do anything that would be misinterpreted by the international community and other vested port operators to mean that the ports in Ghana were not safe for business.
He said the GPHA was a strategic state asset and any misinformation on it would not augur well for the nation .
Mr Asiedu said the last quarter of the year was the normal peak period for port work since many ships called at the ports.
He was of the view that the level of work now was assuring and that “the GPHA has its head above water”, compared with last year when they felt that the port was being threatened by the fate that befell some state-owned enterprises.
He said workers were meeting their work contracts with the authority and called for peace to prevail.
He denied that there was tension among the workers, noting that workers of private operators in the port also referred to themselves as port workers which could be misleading.
Mr Asiedu said the GPHA had structures in place to address the concerns of staff which should be channelled through the shop stewards, the local unions and finally relayed to management and that they would not act without any justification.
He denied that the workforce was contemplating embarking on any industrial action and called on people who wanted to write about the GPHA to cross-check their facts.
He explained that being one of the highest revenue generators, the GPHA would need the support of all people to work assiduously to move the country forward.
Mr Asiedu called for co-operation from the community to assist those entrusted with the responsibility of managing the port to do so honourably in a peaceful atmosphere to generate enough revenue for national development .
The press briefing was attended by some workers of the authority.
According to them, for the first time in the records of the GPHA, it recorded losses in the three consecutive quarters of 2009, leading to great losses to the nation, with their attendant job losses.
Addressing a press briefing which had in attendance shop stewards representing workers’ leaders in the various sub-divisions of the GPHA in Tema, Mr Emile Asiedu, a representative of the workers, cautioned workers not to do anything that would be misinterpreted by the international community and other vested port operators to mean that the ports in Ghana were not safe for business.
He said the GPHA was a strategic state asset and any misinformation on it would not augur well for the nation .
Mr Asiedu said the last quarter of the year was the normal peak period for port work since many ships called at the ports.
He was of the view that the level of work now was assuring and that “the GPHA has its head above water”, compared with last year when they felt that the port was being threatened by the fate that befell some state-owned enterprises.
He said workers were meeting their work contracts with the authority and called for peace to prevail.
He denied that there was tension among the workers, noting that workers of private operators in the port also referred to themselves as port workers which could be misleading.
Mr Asiedu said the GPHA had structures in place to address the concerns of staff which should be channelled through the shop stewards, the local unions and finally relayed to management and that they would not act without any justification.
He denied that the workforce was contemplating embarking on any industrial action and called on people who wanted to write about the GPHA to cross-check their facts.
He explained that being one of the highest revenue generators, the GPHA would need the support of all people to work assiduously to move the country forward.
Mr Asiedu called for co-operation from the community to assist those entrusted with the responsibility of managing the port to do so honourably in a peaceful atmosphere to generate enough revenue for national development .
The press briefing was attended by some workers of the authority.
TEMA CANOE OPERATORS URGE GPHA TO RESCIND DECISION (PAGE 18, OCT 16, 2010)
BOAT owners and fishmongers at the Tema canoe beach have called on the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) to rescind its decision to lease out the parcel of land where they operate their business to an international palm-oil processing company, Wilmar Limited, to prevent the reoccurrence of any confrontation.
According to them, over 11,000 people would be out of employment while poverty will be on the rise , if the GPHA carried out its plan.
The fishermen made the call at a sensitisation forum organised by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority to address their concerns .
Some youth and fishermen went on the rampage on September 17, 2010 and destroyed property running into thousands of Ghana cedis in an attempt to protect the land from being developed by the company.
They claimed that two people, Emmanuel Mantey Martey 26, and Annan Abo, 24, died during the shoot-out on the day of the incident and called on the authorities to release the over 23 suspects who were still in police custody to ease tension in the area.
The fishermen vowed to chase out any one who would make any attempt to develop the land.
They claimed that fishermen and the government were partners in development, hence the need for peace to prevail in the area.
The forum was attended by fishermen and fishmongers from the area, who made various contributions.
A contributor, Woleinye Korkor, said their great grandfathers lived in Tema at the Old Meridian Hotel site long before being re-located to their present place .
She noted that during the 50 years celebration of the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) , Ghanaians were deceived into believing that Tema was celebrating 50 years of existence, explaining that their great grandfathers lived in the area and were fishermen long before TDC was established to manage the city.
She said the beach stretches from Benin through Tema to Axim but Tema has been a converging point for many fishermen hence the presence of visiting fishermen swelling up the population of those involved in the industry.
Woleinye appealed to the government to step in and stop the GPHA from taking the land away from them, since that would lead to collapse of the fishing industry.
Another contributor Woleinye Naa Kale, said the fishermen had been cheated for too long, noting that 'this is the only land left for us to operate our businesses to cater for our children and households .'
Woleinye Kale said they would fight with their blood to recover the land.
The Management of GPHA was represented by the Public Affairs Manager , Mr Oscar Cudjoe. He called on the people to exercise restraint and stop any violence. He assured them that their concerns would be conveyed to stakeholders.
Mr Cudjoe said all wrong actions would be corrected to put to rest all matters which triggered the disturbances.
According to them, over 11,000 people would be out of employment while poverty will be on the rise , if the GPHA carried out its plan.
The fishermen made the call at a sensitisation forum organised by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority to address their concerns .
Some youth and fishermen went on the rampage on September 17, 2010 and destroyed property running into thousands of Ghana cedis in an attempt to protect the land from being developed by the company.
They claimed that two people, Emmanuel Mantey Martey 26, and Annan Abo, 24, died during the shoot-out on the day of the incident and called on the authorities to release the over 23 suspects who were still in police custody to ease tension in the area.
The fishermen vowed to chase out any one who would make any attempt to develop the land.
They claimed that fishermen and the government were partners in development, hence the need for peace to prevail in the area.
The forum was attended by fishermen and fishmongers from the area, who made various contributions.
A contributor, Woleinye Korkor, said their great grandfathers lived in Tema at the Old Meridian Hotel site long before being re-located to their present place .
She noted that during the 50 years celebration of the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) , Ghanaians were deceived into believing that Tema was celebrating 50 years of existence, explaining that their great grandfathers lived in the area and were fishermen long before TDC was established to manage the city.
She said the beach stretches from Benin through Tema to Axim but Tema has been a converging point for many fishermen hence the presence of visiting fishermen swelling up the population of those involved in the industry.
Woleinye appealed to the government to step in and stop the GPHA from taking the land away from them, since that would lead to collapse of the fishing industry.
Another contributor Woleinye Naa Kale, said the fishermen had been cheated for too long, noting that 'this is the only land left for us to operate our businesses to cater for our children and households .'
Woleinye Kale said they would fight with their blood to recover the land.
The Management of GPHA was represented by the Public Affairs Manager , Mr Oscar Cudjoe. He called on the people to exercise restraint and stop any violence. He assured them that their concerns would be conveyed to stakeholders.
Mr Cudjoe said all wrong actions would be corrected to put to rest all matters which triggered the disturbances.
CHRISTIAN NGO SUPPORTS RURAL COMMUNITIES (PAGE 15, OCT 16, 2010)
A Christian non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Meaningful Life International (MLI), is making impact on the lives of some deprived rural communities in the country by supporting them with boreholes and free medical care.
The communities dotted across the country include Jumpo in the Nkwanta District of the Volta Region, Opijua in Kokomba South, Yadodo in the Wulensi District of the Northern Region, Chasea and Sietore in the Jirapa District of the Upper West Region and Kpakplabuni communities, as well as Jyanvuuri in the Wa East District.
Other beneficiary communities are some cocoa farming communities in the Ashanti, Eastern and Brong Ahafo regions and Ga Rural.
An industrial technologist and Chief Executive of the Meaningful Life International, Pastor Godwin Ahlijah, told the Daily Graphic that the gospel was not just about preaching but also improving upon the living conditions of deprived people.
He said: ' There is the need to empower individuals to fulfil their God-given dreams'.
Pastor Ahlijah also stressed the need for the local people to be oriented to basic management and creativity skills to free their minds from poverty, which was mind-related.
He said the MLI had trained the local people in basic management techniques to enable them to undertake maintenance and repair works on the boreholes.
Pastor Ahlijah said they were also encouraged to form water committees.
He explained that one of the objectives of the Meaningful Life International was to support the needy in deprived communities. He announced that MLI would embark on a project to operate a mobile medical van system which would provide affordable medical care and educate rural folks on their health needs in support of the efforts of the government in providing quality and affordable healthcare to the underprivildged in the country.
Pastor Ahlijah said in line with the vision, the Meaningful Life International had with support from its local and foreign partners completed the first phase of the medical centre off the Afienya road at a cost of US$ 430,000 to serve as the hub of the operations of the mobilie Medical Van.
The Executive Director said the medical centre would have a 52-bed ward, a well-equipped surgical theatre, intensive care unit, conference facility for the training of health personnel and modern facilities estimated to cost over US$ 800,000 when completed.
Pastor Ahlijah said water-related diseases were some of the major challenges rural dwellers suffered and this called for the provision of potable water to enable the people to access clean and disease -free water.
He said a medical team led by Dr (Mrs) Lenusia Ahlijah of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital made the assessment when the team visited many rural areas including cocoa- growing villages in the West Akim District in collaboration with the Meaningful Life International. Some of the communities visited included: Mensah Krom, Roll Call on the Asamankese-Nsawam road and Akyease among others.
Pastor Ahlijah said the medical team, made up of laboratory technicians, nurses, doctors and community health nurses numbering about 20, went on each trip.
Pastor Ahlijah expressed the view that the mobile medical van system would help expand programmes of the MLI and enable the medical team to treat the rural dwellers at their doorsteps while referring those in critical condition to hospitals at a minimal fee.
He said the MLI was considering to partner the National Health Insurance Scheme to offer healthcare-related services for a minimal fee.
Pastor Ahlijah called on all Christian organisations to join hands to support the deprived in society not only by providing them with health care and potable water, but also construct educational facilities to help accommodate the ever- increasing number of schoolchildren.
The communities dotted across the country include Jumpo in the Nkwanta District of the Volta Region, Opijua in Kokomba South, Yadodo in the Wulensi District of the Northern Region, Chasea and Sietore in the Jirapa District of the Upper West Region and Kpakplabuni communities, as well as Jyanvuuri in the Wa East District.
Other beneficiary communities are some cocoa farming communities in the Ashanti, Eastern and Brong Ahafo regions and Ga Rural.
An industrial technologist and Chief Executive of the Meaningful Life International, Pastor Godwin Ahlijah, told the Daily Graphic that the gospel was not just about preaching but also improving upon the living conditions of deprived people.
He said: ' There is the need to empower individuals to fulfil their God-given dreams'.
Pastor Ahlijah also stressed the need for the local people to be oriented to basic management and creativity skills to free their minds from poverty, which was mind-related.
He said the MLI had trained the local people in basic management techniques to enable them to undertake maintenance and repair works on the boreholes.
Pastor Ahlijah said they were also encouraged to form water committees.
He explained that one of the objectives of the Meaningful Life International was to support the needy in deprived communities. He announced that MLI would embark on a project to operate a mobile medical van system which would provide affordable medical care and educate rural folks on their health needs in support of the efforts of the government in providing quality and affordable healthcare to the underprivildged in the country.
Pastor Ahlijah said in line with the vision, the Meaningful Life International had with support from its local and foreign partners completed the first phase of the medical centre off the Afienya road at a cost of US$ 430,000 to serve as the hub of the operations of the mobilie Medical Van.
The Executive Director said the medical centre would have a 52-bed ward, a well-equipped surgical theatre, intensive care unit, conference facility for the training of health personnel and modern facilities estimated to cost over US$ 800,000 when completed.
Pastor Ahlijah said water-related diseases were some of the major challenges rural dwellers suffered and this called for the provision of potable water to enable the people to access clean and disease -free water.
He said a medical team led by Dr (Mrs) Lenusia Ahlijah of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital made the assessment when the team visited many rural areas including cocoa- growing villages in the West Akim District in collaboration with the Meaningful Life International. Some of the communities visited included: Mensah Krom, Roll Call on the Asamankese-Nsawam road and Akyease among others.
Pastor Ahlijah said the medical team, made up of laboratory technicians, nurses, doctors and community health nurses numbering about 20, went on each trip.
Pastor Ahlijah expressed the view that the mobile medical van system would help expand programmes of the MLI and enable the medical team to treat the rural dwellers at their doorsteps while referring those in critical condition to hospitals at a minimal fee.
He said the MLI was considering to partner the National Health Insurance Scheme to offer healthcare-related services for a minimal fee.
Pastor Ahlijah called on all Christian organisations to join hands to support the deprived in society not only by providing them with health care and potable water, but also construct educational facilities to help accommodate the ever- increasing number of schoolchildren.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
SUPERVISE SMALL-SCALE FISH MEAL PRODUCERS (PAGE 38, OCT 11, 2010)
WITH Christmas approaching , poultry and livestock farmers have intensified their business activities to attract buyers. However, all is not rosy for some poultry farmers who claim they have to incur additional costs in the purchase of drugs for the treatment of poultry and livestock diseases.
An interaction with some poultry farmers with the Daily Graphic in Tema and its environs, indicate that poultry farmers have to invest more in the purchase of antibiotics to keep their birds healthy leading to an increase in the prices of poultry produced locally, while the markets for those engaged in the sale of imported chicken, has become lucrative.
After the interaction with the poultry farmers, this reporter followed up with a visit to some drying sites at Tema New Town to find out how fish meal was processed, and that revealed that the it was done under unhygienic conditions.
Some workers of the small-scale fish meal companies disclosed that drying was done either by spreading fresh unwholesome or steamed fish gathered from the beaches and offal on the ground.
Apart from the environmental pollution caused by their activities as a result of the stench from the fish, the drying process attracts migrating birds, and vultures and creates an unsightly scene.
The unhygienic way of producing fish meal goes on despite the fact that Ghana Protein Ltd., a company located in the heavy industrial area in Tema and engaged in the production of fish meal, has a capacity to produce 360 tons daily but cannot meet the market demand because of lack of materials to feed the mill. The company presently produces at less than 30 per cent capacity.
Speaking in an interview with the Daily Graphic, a Manager of the company Mr Anthony Adu–Nketia expressed concern about the activities of some fish meal producers noting that the blame of high cost of running poultry farms must be put at the doorstep of those people.
He called on the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to streamline the operations of all registered companies engaged in the production of fish meal to ensure that they practised under hygienic conditions to reduce the cost involved in operating poultry farms.
On their operations, Mr Adu-Nketia said the company employed 50 workers who operated the machines which produced the fish meal but had not met the market demands, adding that the activities of indigenous fish meal producers had made it difficult for the factory to have adequate raw materials and that has thereby affected their operations.
He said the company imported fish meal from South Africa and Senegal and other places to augment its production and were in the process to install equipment to boost aqua culture.
The General Manager of Ghana Protein Ltd. Mr Fabrice Pizano said the company was the only mechanised fish meal producing factory in Ghana and operated with international standards.
He said the market would be streamlined if the ministry intensified animal and poultry health education to create awareness among operators in the industry.
He called for more support to enable the company install adequate equipment to generate products from their operations for export and in the production of pharmaceuticals including cosmetics and Omega H3 products .
Some people interviewed by the Daily Graphic said many Ghanaians had turned to the consumption of fish and therefore called for strict measures to supervise those in the business and curb the situation where some people diverted unwholesome fish to the market.
They also urged the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to take a critical look at how animal feed products are produced in the country to boost the livestock and poultry industry.
An interaction with some poultry farmers with the Daily Graphic in Tema and its environs, indicate that poultry farmers have to invest more in the purchase of antibiotics to keep their birds healthy leading to an increase in the prices of poultry produced locally, while the markets for those engaged in the sale of imported chicken, has become lucrative.
After the interaction with the poultry farmers, this reporter followed up with a visit to some drying sites at Tema New Town to find out how fish meal was processed, and that revealed that the it was done under unhygienic conditions.
Some workers of the small-scale fish meal companies disclosed that drying was done either by spreading fresh unwholesome or steamed fish gathered from the beaches and offal on the ground.
Apart from the environmental pollution caused by their activities as a result of the stench from the fish, the drying process attracts migrating birds, and vultures and creates an unsightly scene.
The unhygienic way of producing fish meal goes on despite the fact that Ghana Protein Ltd., a company located in the heavy industrial area in Tema and engaged in the production of fish meal, has a capacity to produce 360 tons daily but cannot meet the market demand because of lack of materials to feed the mill. The company presently produces at less than 30 per cent capacity.
Speaking in an interview with the Daily Graphic, a Manager of the company Mr Anthony Adu–Nketia expressed concern about the activities of some fish meal producers noting that the blame of high cost of running poultry farms must be put at the doorstep of those people.
He called on the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to streamline the operations of all registered companies engaged in the production of fish meal to ensure that they practised under hygienic conditions to reduce the cost involved in operating poultry farms.
On their operations, Mr Adu-Nketia said the company employed 50 workers who operated the machines which produced the fish meal but had not met the market demands, adding that the activities of indigenous fish meal producers had made it difficult for the factory to have adequate raw materials and that has thereby affected their operations.
He said the company imported fish meal from South Africa and Senegal and other places to augment its production and were in the process to install equipment to boost aqua culture.
The General Manager of Ghana Protein Ltd. Mr Fabrice Pizano said the company was the only mechanised fish meal producing factory in Ghana and operated with international standards.
He said the market would be streamlined if the ministry intensified animal and poultry health education to create awareness among operators in the industry.
He called for more support to enable the company install adequate equipment to generate products from their operations for export and in the production of pharmaceuticals including cosmetics and Omega H3 products .
Some people interviewed by the Daily Graphic said many Ghanaians had turned to the consumption of fish and therefore called for strict measures to supervise those in the business and curb the situation where some people diverted unwholesome fish to the market.
They also urged the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to take a critical look at how animal feed products are produced in the country to boost the livestock and poultry industry.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
FIRE SERVICE TO GET MODERN EQUIPMENT (PAGE 19, OCT 2, 2010)
THE government is expecting in the country very soon modern fire fighting equipment ordered for the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS).
The first consignment of the equipment is expected to arrive from the United States of America (USA) by December, this year.
The Minister of the Interior, Mr Martin Amidu, who announced this, said the government would soon sign a €9.7 million partnership agreement with the Government of Belgium to supply 75 fire tenders, including hydraulic platforms, to enable fire personnel to fight fire from heights of about 36 floors of buildings.
Already, he said, Parliament has given approval for the government to secure a concessionary loan for the purchase of modern equipment for the fire service.
Mr Amidu made this known when he led a delegation from the Interior ministry and the GNFS to inspect what remained of the Midland International Company, which was gutted by fire, killing four persons in the process.
He was conducted round and briefed by Mr Jecty Obese, the Managing Director of Midland International Company.
Mr Amidu expressed surprise at the extent of damage caused by the fire and called on the GNFS to conduct intensive investigation into circumstances that led to the incident and present its report as early as possible.
He said the law required that GNFS give approval before any operation was conducted at areas where inflammable materials were kept.
Mr Amidu said the ministry would ensure that its mandate of saving lives and property was fulfilled and, therefore, appealed to Ghanaians to learn the rudiments of how to prevent fire to safeguard property.
The minister and his delegation later went to the residence of Mike Safo-Mensah, 40, the deceased engineer of M&B Engineering Company, who perished in the fire incident last Saturday, to console the bereaved family.
A spokesman for the bereaved family, Mr Emmanuel Opare Asiedu, thanked the minister and his delegation for their concern.
The Chief Fire Officer of the GNFS, Mr William Acquaye Brown, and the Deputy Fire Officer in charge of Tema, Mr Godwin Damalie, were part of the delegation.
The first consignment of the equipment is expected to arrive from the United States of America (USA) by December, this year.
The Minister of the Interior, Mr Martin Amidu, who announced this, said the government would soon sign a €9.7 million partnership agreement with the Government of Belgium to supply 75 fire tenders, including hydraulic platforms, to enable fire personnel to fight fire from heights of about 36 floors of buildings.
Already, he said, Parliament has given approval for the government to secure a concessionary loan for the purchase of modern equipment for the fire service.
Mr Amidu made this known when he led a delegation from the Interior ministry and the GNFS to inspect what remained of the Midland International Company, which was gutted by fire, killing four persons in the process.
He was conducted round and briefed by Mr Jecty Obese, the Managing Director of Midland International Company.
Mr Amidu expressed surprise at the extent of damage caused by the fire and called on the GNFS to conduct intensive investigation into circumstances that led to the incident and present its report as early as possible.
He said the law required that GNFS give approval before any operation was conducted at areas where inflammable materials were kept.
Mr Amidu said the ministry would ensure that its mandate of saving lives and property was fulfilled and, therefore, appealed to Ghanaians to learn the rudiments of how to prevent fire to safeguard property.
The minister and his delegation later went to the residence of Mike Safo-Mensah, 40, the deceased engineer of M&B Engineering Company, who perished in the fire incident last Saturday, to console the bereaved family.
A spokesman for the bereaved family, Mr Emmanuel Opare Asiedu, thanked the minister and his delegation for their concern.
The Chief Fire Officer of the GNFS, Mr William Acquaye Brown, and the Deputy Fire Officer in charge of Tema, Mr Godwin Damalie, were part of the delegation.
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