Fear gripped the workers and people who operated their businesses in and around the Tema Mall in the Tema Industrial Area, when information about a bomb scare reached them .
Police presence could not even save the situation, as every passing vehicle was searched to ensure that no one hid any explosive on himself .
Speaking to the media on the premises of the mall, which houses the CAL Bank, Supt Victor Amedeker said about 9 a.m., the police had information from the bank about a bomb threat on its premises.
He said the caller, who remained anonymous, informed officials of the CAL Bank who received the call that the bomb would detonate between 12 noon and 2 p.m.
Upon receipt of that information, Supt Amedeker said the Tema Regional Command acted promptly and about 15 policemen were dispatched to the area, where they took positions, while information was relayed to the military to send equipment needed to track explosives.
In a short while, a team of military men arrived from the First Battalion of Infantry Ammunition Base with explosive detectors to scan the area .
After a fruitless search of the area using the scanning equipment, the military gave up and abandoned the operation about 2.30 p.m.
Supt Amedeker assured the officials of the bank to go about their duties without fear, noting that the equipment did not detect the presence of any explosive .
He warned the public to desist from circulating false information, especially using the technology, which has its good uses .
Sunday, February 28, 2010
PILFERING AT TEMA PORT TAKES NEW DIMENSION (PAGE 18, FEB 20, 2010)
THE Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), Mr Kofi Mbeah, has disclosed that pilfering at the Tema Port has taken a new dimension with the use of more sophisticated ways to deny importers of their goods.
He said a new surveillance technology was applied at the car park, and yet complete dashboards and other important gadgets were stolen from the cars.
Mr Mbeah, however, cautioned that with its renewed mandate, the GSA (formerly the Ghana Shippers Council (GSC) was conducting a research to uncover the techniques used by the pilferers who were suspected to be in league with some operators from within.
Mr Mbeah made these disclosures when members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Roads and Transport visited the offices and facilities of the authority to interact with its officials on its renewed mandate, strategic directions for the period 2009 to 2013 and innovations to support shippers .
He noted that over the years the GSA had operated without a backing law and, therefore, could not take legal action against offenders at the port .
He said there were over 20 different companies involved in the processes of clearing goods at the port and, therefore, it was wrong for every blame to be put on the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority when things went wrong .
He said with the new mandate and the new title, the authority could now prosecute any organisation through whose negligence cargoes of shippers got missing or damaged .
Mr Mbeah said it was time the role played by small and fragmented shippers was recognised because they contributed significantly to the revenue base of the economy .
He cited the case of importers of spare parts and those who went to the Far East to bring in general goods, stating that they needed to be protected .
He said as part of the measures to monitor the safe arrival of goods, the authority was about to start the construction of a Shippers Centre in Accra to provide every transport-related support in terms of technology for shippers.
He stated that the 10-storey building, expected to be completed in 30 months and estimated to cost $11 million, would be fitted with modern equipment to provide all data on the movement of cargo, time of shipment, arrival and all other relevant information until the cargo was delivered .
He explained that statistics available indicated that the Tema Port had experienced a consistent increase in cargo inflow over the last 10 years, with over 14 million tonnes passing through the port, falling drastically to 12 million tonnes in 2009 as a result of the global financial crisis .
Mr Mbeah disclosed that with the oil find, the authority had also acquired a 30-acre land at Apowa in the Western Region to partner the private sector to provide services for the oil companies .
He explained that the drilling itself was 63 km offshore and, therefore, the need for logistics downstream stating that the supply of logistics and associated businesses in safety and devoid of pollution would be crucial .
He cautioned that with the oil find, the government must not abandon cocoa, explaining that “with the abundance of oil, the tendency is to look down on cocoa”.
The Vice-Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Roads and Transport, Ibrahim Tanko, commended the authority for its renewed mandate, which gave it more powers to operate .
He said the concerns of the GSA would be debated to support it to execute its work, as it could now arbitrate on behalf of shippers and deal with various agencies at the port .
The Manager of the Tema branch of the GSA, who also oversees functions of the authority in the Eastern and Volta regions, Mrs Naa Densua Ayittey, conducted the committee members round to inspect facilities of the GSA at its Tema office.
He said a new surveillance technology was applied at the car park, and yet complete dashboards and other important gadgets were stolen from the cars.
Mr Mbeah, however, cautioned that with its renewed mandate, the GSA (formerly the Ghana Shippers Council (GSC) was conducting a research to uncover the techniques used by the pilferers who were suspected to be in league with some operators from within.
Mr Mbeah made these disclosures when members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Roads and Transport visited the offices and facilities of the authority to interact with its officials on its renewed mandate, strategic directions for the period 2009 to 2013 and innovations to support shippers .
He noted that over the years the GSA had operated without a backing law and, therefore, could not take legal action against offenders at the port .
He said there were over 20 different companies involved in the processes of clearing goods at the port and, therefore, it was wrong for every blame to be put on the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority when things went wrong .
He said with the new mandate and the new title, the authority could now prosecute any organisation through whose negligence cargoes of shippers got missing or damaged .
Mr Mbeah said it was time the role played by small and fragmented shippers was recognised because they contributed significantly to the revenue base of the economy .
He cited the case of importers of spare parts and those who went to the Far East to bring in general goods, stating that they needed to be protected .
He said as part of the measures to monitor the safe arrival of goods, the authority was about to start the construction of a Shippers Centre in Accra to provide every transport-related support in terms of technology for shippers.
He stated that the 10-storey building, expected to be completed in 30 months and estimated to cost $11 million, would be fitted with modern equipment to provide all data on the movement of cargo, time of shipment, arrival and all other relevant information until the cargo was delivered .
He explained that statistics available indicated that the Tema Port had experienced a consistent increase in cargo inflow over the last 10 years, with over 14 million tonnes passing through the port, falling drastically to 12 million tonnes in 2009 as a result of the global financial crisis .
Mr Mbeah disclosed that with the oil find, the authority had also acquired a 30-acre land at Apowa in the Western Region to partner the private sector to provide services for the oil companies .
He explained that the drilling itself was 63 km offshore and, therefore, the need for logistics downstream stating that the supply of logistics and associated businesses in safety and devoid of pollution would be crucial .
He cautioned that with the oil find, the government must not abandon cocoa, explaining that “with the abundance of oil, the tendency is to look down on cocoa”.
The Vice-Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Roads and Transport, Ibrahim Tanko, commended the authority for its renewed mandate, which gave it more powers to operate .
He said the concerns of the GSA would be debated to support it to execute its work, as it could now arbitrate on behalf of shippers and deal with various agencies at the port .
The Manager of the Tema branch of the GSA, who also oversees functions of the authority in the Eastern and Volta regions, Mrs Naa Densua Ayittey, conducted the committee members round to inspect facilities of the GSA at its Tema office.
GHANAIANS URGED TO UNITE (PAGE 29, FEB 19, 2010)
Ghanaians have been advised to unite and discard the notion that certain ethnic groups are superior to others to foster national cohesion.
Preaching at the induction service for diocesan officers of the Association of Methodist Brigades in Tema on Sunday, the Tema Diocesan Bishop of the Methodist Church, Rt Revd Winfred Hadel Yao Ametefe, expressed worry over the issue of ethnicity which had taken root in Ghana.
Preaching on the theme, ‘Oneness in Christ, Lessons from Corinth’, Rt Revd Ametefe stressed that “we did not decide ourselves to belong to specific tribes and parents, neither did we choose the day or year to be born”.
He noted that it was God’s prerogative that people were born into various tribes, adding that the attributes of all the tribes must be collectively exploited towards nation-building.
He observed that Ghanaians must belong to one nation and not be divided, stating that “Ghanaian citizenship should count first and not tribe because tribalism has created inferiority complex in society”.
Rt Revd Ametefe called on the brigade officers to give testimony of themselves publicly to prove that they had been called by God to serve.
He urged them to lay down their lives in the service by spending time and energy to seek spiritual glory for the church and those under their care.
He exhorted them to exercise their leadership with love, reminding the officers that they had been inducted and commissioned to lead and guide their members and be committed to the task ahead of them.
Rt Revd Ametefe appealed to patrons of the brigade to share wisdom, understanding and love with their members to enable them to do the work assigned to them.
The officers inducted included company captains, diocesan council of patrons, company patrons and the diocesan band unit.
There was a parade and band display after Rt Revd Ametefe had inspected a parade mounted by the Association of Methodist Brigades in the Tema Diocese.
Preaching at the induction service for diocesan officers of the Association of Methodist Brigades in Tema on Sunday, the Tema Diocesan Bishop of the Methodist Church, Rt Revd Winfred Hadel Yao Ametefe, expressed worry over the issue of ethnicity which had taken root in Ghana.
Preaching on the theme, ‘Oneness in Christ, Lessons from Corinth’, Rt Revd Ametefe stressed that “we did not decide ourselves to belong to specific tribes and parents, neither did we choose the day or year to be born”.
He noted that it was God’s prerogative that people were born into various tribes, adding that the attributes of all the tribes must be collectively exploited towards nation-building.
He observed that Ghanaians must belong to one nation and not be divided, stating that “Ghanaian citizenship should count first and not tribe because tribalism has created inferiority complex in society”.
Rt Revd Ametefe called on the brigade officers to give testimony of themselves publicly to prove that they had been called by God to serve.
He urged them to lay down their lives in the service by spending time and energy to seek spiritual glory for the church and those under their care.
He exhorted them to exercise their leadership with love, reminding the officers that they had been inducted and commissioned to lead and guide their members and be committed to the task ahead of them.
Rt Revd Ametefe appealed to patrons of the brigade to share wisdom, understanding and love with their members to enable them to do the work assigned to them.
The officers inducted included company captains, diocesan council of patrons, company patrons and the diocesan band unit.
There was a parade and band display after Rt Revd Ametefe had inspected a parade mounted by the Association of Methodist Brigades in the Tema Diocese.
COMMUNITY 21 RESIDENTS WARN TDC (PAGE 29, FEB 19, 2010)
MEMBERS of the Community 21 Landlords Association have declared their intention to resist all attempts by the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) to eject them from a parcel of land they have lawfully occupied since 1982.
According to them, they acquired the land from the TDC and had documents which empowered them to work on the property as they annually paid ground rents to the TDC .
Speaking to the Daily Graphic at Ashaiman, the Chairman of the association, Mr Ali Sikatse Ayornu, stated that TDC had intensified its efforts at ejecting 16 out of the 30 landowners from the parcel of land they had used for agricultural purposes as directed by the TDC.
He said the other 14 members had been granted permission to change the the use from farmland to a residential status .
Explaining, Mr Ayornu said in the year 2000, when members realised that the area was catching up with development, they applied to the TDC to change the use from farmland to residential .
Mr Ayornu stated that TDC did not respond, but rather wrote to some of their members after three months of their request to inform them about its decision to re-zone the land as a residential area.
He disclosed that according to the letter, TDC had indicated its intention to re-enter the land and therefore was terminating their farming activity and directed that they removed their structures .
Mr Ayornu noted that “those who occupied the land numbered 30, but had reduced to 16 landlords who were unfortunate to fall into the ‘cheat net’ of TDC”.
He was, however, saddened that landowners like the Afariwaa Farms and some officials of the TDC who were operating their agricultural ventures there had been granted the status to convert their plots to residential purpose.
Mr Ayornu, who showed some documents bearing the names of some TDC officials who benefited from the change to this reporter and also the original drawings of the area to prove their case, said his people were not taking kindly to the treatment being meted out to them.
He said TDC had succeeded in demarcating part of their land to a company and was in the process of giving the entire area to another company.
Mr Ayornu said they felt cheated when they saw an advert in the Daily Graphic put out in the name of the Ghana Free Zones Board in search of consultancy services in preparation for land user plan and architectural drawings for its proposed Free Zone residential accommodation at the Tema Community 21 on approximately 152 acres.
He alleged that TDC would want to turn its attention to their land at Community 21, because it had sold out all the lands at the Free Zones enclave in Tema.
Mr Ayornu called on the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing and all other stakeholders in the industry to come to their aid, alleging further that TDC had changed the original plan to suit them and would therefore be able to sell the land for bigger profit.
Members of the association argued that if the land would still be used for residential purposes, then nothing prevented the TDC from allowing them who had worked on the land for many years to change the user from agricultural land to residential purpose.
Mr Ayornu said the association had evidence of the indiscriminate sale of lands which the owners had developed, denouncing that TDC had paid off the other 14 landowners who were also members of the association .
He was of the opinion that they were being maltreated by the TDC because they did not belong to the elite class, and appealed to the human rights agencies to fight for them.
Mr Ayornu said the association would soon take steps to petition these agencies and also the President of the republic.
The Public Relations Officer of TDC, Mr Sammy Abakah, who the Daily Graphic spoke to, confirmed that TDC was ejecting the landlords, but would not give much details about the confrontation between the two parties.
He, however, said it was unfortunate that the situation had come to this level.
According to them, they acquired the land from the TDC and had documents which empowered them to work on the property as they annually paid ground rents to the TDC .
Speaking to the Daily Graphic at Ashaiman, the Chairman of the association, Mr Ali Sikatse Ayornu, stated that TDC had intensified its efforts at ejecting 16 out of the 30 landowners from the parcel of land they had used for agricultural purposes as directed by the TDC.
He said the other 14 members had been granted permission to change the the use from farmland to a residential status .
Explaining, Mr Ayornu said in the year 2000, when members realised that the area was catching up with development, they applied to the TDC to change the use from farmland to residential .
Mr Ayornu stated that TDC did not respond, but rather wrote to some of their members after three months of their request to inform them about its decision to re-zone the land as a residential area.
He disclosed that according to the letter, TDC had indicated its intention to re-enter the land and therefore was terminating their farming activity and directed that they removed their structures .
Mr Ayornu noted that “those who occupied the land numbered 30, but had reduced to 16 landlords who were unfortunate to fall into the ‘cheat net’ of TDC”.
He was, however, saddened that landowners like the Afariwaa Farms and some officials of the TDC who were operating their agricultural ventures there had been granted the status to convert their plots to residential purpose.
Mr Ayornu, who showed some documents bearing the names of some TDC officials who benefited from the change to this reporter and also the original drawings of the area to prove their case, said his people were not taking kindly to the treatment being meted out to them.
He said TDC had succeeded in demarcating part of their land to a company and was in the process of giving the entire area to another company.
Mr Ayornu said they felt cheated when they saw an advert in the Daily Graphic put out in the name of the Ghana Free Zones Board in search of consultancy services in preparation for land user plan and architectural drawings for its proposed Free Zone residential accommodation at the Tema Community 21 on approximately 152 acres.
He alleged that TDC would want to turn its attention to their land at Community 21, because it had sold out all the lands at the Free Zones enclave in Tema.
Mr Ayornu called on the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing and all other stakeholders in the industry to come to their aid, alleging further that TDC had changed the original plan to suit them and would therefore be able to sell the land for bigger profit.
Members of the association argued that if the land would still be used for residential purposes, then nothing prevented the TDC from allowing them who had worked on the land for many years to change the user from agricultural land to residential purpose.
Mr Ayornu said the association had evidence of the indiscriminate sale of lands which the owners had developed, denouncing that TDC had paid off the other 14 landowners who were also members of the association .
He was of the opinion that they were being maltreated by the TDC because they did not belong to the elite class, and appealed to the human rights agencies to fight for them.
Mr Ayornu said the association would soon take steps to petition these agencies and also the President of the republic.
The Public Relations Officer of TDC, Mr Sammy Abakah, who the Daily Graphic spoke to, confirmed that TDC was ejecting the landlords, but would not give much details about the confrontation between the two parties.
He, however, said it was unfortunate that the situation had come to this level.
CONGENIAL ATMOSPHERE NEEDED FOR LEARNING (PAGE 11, FEB 19, 2010)
Mr Stephen Yaw Manu, the Executive Director of AED-Ghana: Centre for Educational Development, Evaluation and Management, has called on teachers and parents to establish congenial atmosphere in schools and at home to promote learning for their children .
He said school-related gender based violence showed that children were sexually, physically and psychologically abused in schools and homes, and urged parents and teachers to show love and support to motivate children.
Mr Manu made the call at Katamanso when his organisation presented teaching and learning materials worth over $12,000 and GH¢4,164.85 to basic schools in two rural communities in the Tema metropolis in partnership with Regimanuel Gray Estates Limited.
Each of the pupils of the Katamanso Primary School, which has a population of about 300, was presented with a school bag, note book, pencil, eraser, pen, ruler and sharpener.
AED-Ghana, in partnership with Shell Ghana Limited also presented a set of over 1,810 library books to both Katamanso and Oyibi Primary schools to inculcate in the children the habit of reading.
The Executive Director of said the programme involved an accelerated system to consolidate improvement of education in the rural community and ways to further improve teaching by providing teaching materials and ensuring that the children from primary One to primary Six of the two schools benefited from the exercise.
Mr Manu said the organisation sought support to build their vocabulary base to enable them to read, write and express themselves well.
He said a meeting was organised with all stakeholders to establish a partnership between the community and the AED-Ghana.
Mr Manu stated that participants at the workshop comprised traditional rulers, unit committee and school management committee members, parents and teachers, among others .
As part of the partnership , he said the NGO had signed an agreement with the school at Katamanso to work together to achieve academic excellence.
Mr Manu expressed his gratitude to Regimanuel Gray and Shell Ghana for partnering the AED to support the schools.
The Metropolitan Director of Education, Mr Kwesi Hutchful, observed that education was key to development and, therefore, appealed to the people of Katamanso to take the education of their children seriously.
He commended Regimanuel Gray and Shell Ghana for their gesture and hoped it would help improve education in the area .
Mr Hutchful called on the teachers to instil discipline in the children to help society achieve the ultimate in education .
He charged the children to be respectful and take instructions from their teachers to upgrade themselves.
Mr Hutchful was optimistic that with the support of the NGO, in collaboration with the donor companies, children of Katamanso and Oyibi would improve on their status as far as education was concerned.
The Queen of Katamanso, Naa Afokor Ahiam, expressed the gratitude of the chief and people of Katamanso to the organisations and expressed the hope that the donor companies would assist the NGO to extend the support to cover the provision of a computer laboratory for the school at Katamanso.
The Greater Accra Regional Manager of Presbyterian Schools , Rev. Mrs Victoria Wayoe, received the materials for distribution to the children.
She thanked the AED –CEDEM for working hard to seek support to build education and especially selecting the rural area where the children needed them most .
Rev. Mrs Wayoe urged the children to read the books and take good care of the materials.
He said school-related gender based violence showed that children were sexually, physically and psychologically abused in schools and homes, and urged parents and teachers to show love and support to motivate children.
Mr Manu made the call at Katamanso when his organisation presented teaching and learning materials worth over $12,000 and GH¢4,164.85 to basic schools in two rural communities in the Tema metropolis in partnership with Regimanuel Gray Estates Limited.
Each of the pupils of the Katamanso Primary School, which has a population of about 300, was presented with a school bag, note book, pencil, eraser, pen, ruler and sharpener.
AED-Ghana, in partnership with Shell Ghana Limited also presented a set of over 1,810 library books to both Katamanso and Oyibi Primary schools to inculcate in the children the habit of reading.
The Executive Director of said the programme involved an accelerated system to consolidate improvement of education in the rural community and ways to further improve teaching by providing teaching materials and ensuring that the children from primary One to primary Six of the two schools benefited from the exercise.
Mr Manu said the organisation sought support to build their vocabulary base to enable them to read, write and express themselves well.
He said a meeting was organised with all stakeholders to establish a partnership between the community and the AED-Ghana.
Mr Manu stated that participants at the workshop comprised traditional rulers, unit committee and school management committee members, parents and teachers, among others .
As part of the partnership , he said the NGO had signed an agreement with the school at Katamanso to work together to achieve academic excellence.
Mr Manu expressed his gratitude to Regimanuel Gray and Shell Ghana for partnering the AED to support the schools.
The Metropolitan Director of Education, Mr Kwesi Hutchful, observed that education was key to development and, therefore, appealed to the people of Katamanso to take the education of their children seriously.
He commended Regimanuel Gray and Shell Ghana for their gesture and hoped it would help improve education in the area .
Mr Hutchful called on the teachers to instil discipline in the children to help society achieve the ultimate in education .
He charged the children to be respectful and take instructions from their teachers to upgrade themselves.
Mr Hutchful was optimistic that with the support of the NGO, in collaboration with the donor companies, children of Katamanso and Oyibi would improve on their status as far as education was concerned.
The Queen of Katamanso, Naa Afokor Ahiam, expressed the gratitude of the chief and people of Katamanso to the organisations and expressed the hope that the donor companies would assist the NGO to extend the support to cover the provision of a computer laboratory for the school at Katamanso.
The Greater Accra Regional Manager of Presbyterian Schools , Rev. Mrs Victoria Wayoe, received the materials for distribution to the children.
She thanked the AED –CEDEM for working hard to seek support to build education and especially selecting the rural area where the children needed them most .
Rev. Mrs Wayoe urged the children to read the books and take good care of the materials.
CPC HOSTS ANYAA SCHOOL CHILDREN (PAGE 29, FEB 16, 2010)
THE Cocoa Processing Company (CPC) at Tema, in conjunction with the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB), has played host to 100 children from the Anyaa Roman Catholic Basic School at Sowutoum in Accra as part of this year’s National Cocoa Day to inculcate in the children the habit of eating chocolate and increased patronage of the product.
The children were conducted round the factory and taken through the various production processes. They played musical chair, had dancing competition, painted their faces for fun and had acocoa lunch.
The Special Event Manager of the GTB, Mr Alex Boakye, said some children from needy communities had not had the opportunity to see the cocoa bean and how it was processed into chocolate.
He said the GTB initiated the Cocoa Day four years ago to encourage the Ghanaian populace to eat chocolate for their health and also to promote the country’s cocoa beans.
Mr Boakye said two groups of children were selected, noting that while one group was at the CPC factory at Tema, the other was touring the Mampong Akwapim Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm, Tafo Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) and Bunso, all in the Eastern Region.
He said it was to enable the children to learn about the country’s number one economic product.
Mr Boakye appealed to parents to eat chocolate and ensure that each child ate at least a bar of chocolate daily in order to achieve the targeted health benefits.
The Managing Director of the CPC, Mr Richard Armarh Tetteh, in a brief, told the children that the government saw the need to re-designate the Valentine’s Day with the National Chocolate Day to redirect their attention from how the day was perceived.
He said they must make good of the day by promoting the country’s cocoa instead of engaging in immoral activities.
Mr Tetteh said introduction of the day had seen a gradual increase in the consumption of chocolate, and urged the children to eat more chocolate for its health benefits.
He denied that chocolate had negative effects on the teeth, but said it was good for their health.
Mr Tetteh said the CPC had launched a sugar-free chocolate, which was on the market, to enable it to cover the entire population.
There was music to entertain the children who were accompanied by their teachers.
The children were conducted round the factory and taken through the various production processes. They played musical chair, had dancing competition, painted their faces for fun and had acocoa lunch.
The Special Event Manager of the GTB, Mr Alex Boakye, said some children from needy communities had not had the opportunity to see the cocoa bean and how it was processed into chocolate.
He said the GTB initiated the Cocoa Day four years ago to encourage the Ghanaian populace to eat chocolate for their health and also to promote the country’s cocoa beans.
Mr Boakye said two groups of children were selected, noting that while one group was at the CPC factory at Tema, the other was touring the Mampong Akwapim Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm, Tafo Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) and Bunso, all in the Eastern Region.
He said it was to enable the children to learn about the country’s number one economic product.
Mr Boakye appealed to parents to eat chocolate and ensure that each child ate at least a bar of chocolate daily in order to achieve the targeted health benefits.
The Managing Director of the CPC, Mr Richard Armarh Tetteh, in a brief, told the children that the government saw the need to re-designate the Valentine’s Day with the National Chocolate Day to redirect their attention from how the day was perceived.
He said they must make good of the day by promoting the country’s cocoa instead of engaging in immoral activities.
Mr Tetteh said introduction of the day had seen a gradual increase in the consumption of chocolate, and urged the children to eat more chocolate for its health benefits.
He denied that chocolate had negative effects on the teeth, but said it was good for their health.
Mr Tetteh said the CPC had launched a sugar-free chocolate, which was on the market, to enable it to cover the entire population.
There was music to entertain the children who were accompanied by their teachers.
FISHERMEN, FISHMONGERS PROTEST IN TEMA (PAGE 30, FEB 16, 2010)
Fishermen and fish mongers in Tema on Sunday took to the streets to protest against the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) for selling a parcel of land at the fishing harbour to a private investor.
According to the demonstrators who were clad in red and black, the land served as a fish market and also used by the fishermen as a place for mending their nets and canoes.
The fishermen, who claimed ownership of the land, alleged that GPHA had requested to take it over to lay blocks for the expansion of its activities, but after the completion of the block works, it refused to return the land to the fishermen and now intended selling it to Malaysians.
According to them the action sought to displace operators of more than 200 canoes at the Tema canoe beach and other people involved in the fishing business .
The demonstration ended with a press conference at which the fishermen and fishmongers were joined by an NGO–Corporate Social Responsibility Movement (CRSM)- to reaffirm their opposition to the transaction.
At the press conference, the fisherfolks claimed that the land had been a heritage passed on to them by their forefathers and pledged to resist any attempt by the GPHA to sell it.
When the Daily Graphic contacted the GPHA, the Public Affairs Manager for the Tema Port, Mrs Esther Donkor, confirmed the transaction but denied that the parcel of land in question belonged to the fishermen.
She explained that according to the acquisition Act which instituted the port in the late 1950s , all lands in the port area belonged to the GPHA, hence its initial name ‘Port Authority’.
Mrs Donkor said the GPHA had the duty to ensure that its clients involved in shipping business were given a place to operate from.
She said a company involved in the export of palm oil had contacted the GPHA for a place to locate its offices and warehouse to make shipment regular and were therefore granted the land which the fishermen are laying claim to.
Mrs Donkor was surprised that the fishermen were in red bands against the GPHA because a meeting was held between the Authority and the leadership of the fishermen to inform them and enable them to prepare to leave the land .
She said fishermen would be invited again to ensure that they understood the situation and ‘desist from claiming the land which legally did not belong to them’ .
The Executive Secretary of the CRSM, Mr Richster Nii Armarh Amarfio, who also addressed the press conference, said the sale of the parcel of land would lead to loss of livelihood for the people.
He stated that the people of Tema Manhean had already suffered as a result of their resettlement from the old site to the new town.
He said the Tema Manhean beach received huge numbers of migrant fishermen from all over the coastal line of Ghana stretching from Axim to Aflao, especially during the major seasons.
According to the demonstrators who were clad in red and black, the land served as a fish market and also used by the fishermen as a place for mending their nets and canoes.
The fishermen, who claimed ownership of the land, alleged that GPHA had requested to take it over to lay blocks for the expansion of its activities, but after the completion of the block works, it refused to return the land to the fishermen and now intended selling it to Malaysians.
According to them the action sought to displace operators of more than 200 canoes at the Tema canoe beach and other people involved in the fishing business .
The demonstration ended with a press conference at which the fishermen and fishmongers were joined by an NGO–Corporate Social Responsibility Movement (CRSM)- to reaffirm their opposition to the transaction.
At the press conference, the fisherfolks claimed that the land had been a heritage passed on to them by their forefathers and pledged to resist any attempt by the GPHA to sell it.
When the Daily Graphic contacted the GPHA, the Public Affairs Manager for the Tema Port, Mrs Esther Donkor, confirmed the transaction but denied that the parcel of land in question belonged to the fishermen.
She explained that according to the acquisition Act which instituted the port in the late 1950s , all lands in the port area belonged to the GPHA, hence its initial name ‘Port Authority’.
Mrs Donkor said the GPHA had the duty to ensure that its clients involved in shipping business were given a place to operate from.
She said a company involved in the export of palm oil had contacted the GPHA for a place to locate its offices and warehouse to make shipment regular and were therefore granted the land which the fishermen are laying claim to.
Mrs Donkor was surprised that the fishermen were in red bands against the GPHA because a meeting was held between the Authority and the leadership of the fishermen to inform them and enable them to prepare to leave the land .
She said fishermen would be invited again to ensure that they understood the situation and ‘desist from claiming the land which legally did not belong to them’ .
The Executive Secretary of the CRSM, Mr Richster Nii Armarh Amarfio, who also addressed the press conference, said the sale of the parcel of land would lead to loss of livelihood for the people.
He stated that the people of Tema Manhean had already suffered as a result of their resettlement from the old site to the new town.
He said the Tema Manhean beach received huge numbers of migrant fishermen from all over the coastal line of Ghana stretching from Axim to Aflao, especially during the major seasons.
NANOMAN COMMUNITY GETS POTABLE WATER (BACK PAGE, FEB 16, 2010
A US$17,000 water project has been completed at Nanoman, a farming community in the Tema metropolis, to increase the community’s access to potable water.
The project, comprising two boreholes, hand pumps and a water tank, was funded by the Rotary Club of Tema Meridian, in association with its foreign partners in California, USA, and Australia, with support from the Rotary Foundation.
In a speech read on his behalf the Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware, commended members of the Rotary Club of Tema Meridian for their gesture.
He called on the people to build partnerships with the private sector and other relevant bodies across the globe.
Mr Ofosuware said though the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) had the mandate to improve the standard of living of all residents, it had not been able to do so because of its budgetary constraints.
He appealed to the people of Nanoman to adopt good sanitation practices and keep the water safe to improve their health status.
The President of the Rotary Club of Tema Meridian, Mr Patrick Ansah, said the project was initiated two years ago.
He was of the view that the provision of water for the community would not only improve the quality of life of the people of Nanoman and its environs but also foster togetherness and understanding among them.
Mr Ansah appealed to the people to take good care of the project and put in place a maintenance plan that would ensure sustainability for the benefit of future generations.
The Assembly Member for Nanoman, Mr Emmanuel Hammond, appealed to the assembly to support the people with a basic school and also help in paying the salaries of care takers who were currently handling the nursery school in the community.
The project, comprising two boreholes, hand pumps and a water tank, was funded by the Rotary Club of Tema Meridian, in association with its foreign partners in California, USA, and Australia, with support from the Rotary Foundation.
In a speech read on his behalf the Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware, commended members of the Rotary Club of Tema Meridian for their gesture.
He called on the people to build partnerships with the private sector and other relevant bodies across the globe.
Mr Ofosuware said though the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) had the mandate to improve the standard of living of all residents, it had not been able to do so because of its budgetary constraints.
He appealed to the people of Nanoman to adopt good sanitation practices and keep the water safe to improve their health status.
The President of the Rotary Club of Tema Meridian, Mr Patrick Ansah, said the project was initiated two years ago.
He was of the view that the provision of water for the community would not only improve the quality of life of the people of Nanoman and its environs but also foster togetherness and understanding among them.
Mr Ansah appealed to the people to take good care of the project and put in place a maintenance plan that would ensure sustainability for the benefit of future generations.
The Assembly Member for Nanoman, Mr Emmanuel Hammond, appealed to the assembly to support the people with a basic school and also help in paying the salaries of care takers who were currently handling the nursery school in the community.
ASHAIMAN CELLS TO BE IMPROVED (1B, FEB 13, 2010)
Story: Rose Hayford Darko & Caroline Boateng
THE Estate Unit at the Police Headquarters is liaising with the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly to create ventilation holes in the cells at the Ashaiman Police Station.
It is expected that the exercise will include an expansion of the cells.
The Commander of the Ashaiman District Police, Supt Phillip Kobina, disclosed this when the three commissioners of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mr Justice Emile Short, Ms Anna Bossman and Mr Richard Quayson, visited the Ashaiman Police Station after the death of two inmates last week.
The cell was humid, hot and dark and rashes were seen on the skins of most of the inmates.
The inmates seized the opportunity of the visit to tell their story, trying to outdo one another with their cries.
“Complain! Complain! Emile Short! Emile Short! I have been here for years! They said I robbed someone! Where?”
Twenty-six inmates were in the cells at the time of the visit.
Fourteen had been taken to the Nsawam Prison in the morning, Supt Kobina said.
One inmate was 16, while another exhibited a strange behaviour, moaning and screaming.
Supt Kobina said the Ghana Prisons Service had been ordered by a Tema Circuit Court to take the sick inmate to a psychiatric hospital but the prison authorities had instead dumped him in the Ashaiman cells.
He also raised the challenges facing the police, including their inability to do anything with the prisoners once the courts had made a decision for their remand.
Justice Short, in his interaction with the press afterwards, described the situation as “dehumanising” and “sad”.
“Not even animals will be made to live like this,” he said.
He said he would be meeting with the Inspector General of Police to ensure that the minimum standard for suspects in the country’s cells were kept.
Meanwhile, Justice Short has further directed a detailed investigation of the circumstances which led to the death of the inmates last Monday.
THE Estate Unit at the Police Headquarters is liaising with the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly to create ventilation holes in the cells at the Ashaiman Police Station.
It is expected that the exercise will include an expansion of the cells.
The Commander of the Ashaiman District Police, Supt Phillip Kobina, disclosed this when the three commissioners of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mr Justice Emile Short, Ms Anna Bossman and Mr Richard Quayson, visited the Ashaiman Police Station after the death of two inmates last week.
The cell was humid, hot and dark and rashes were seen on the skins of most of the inmates.
The inmates seized the opportunity of the visit to tell their story, trying to outdo one another with their cries.
“Complain! Complain! Emile Short! Emile Short! I have been here for years! They said I robbed someone! Where?”
Twenty-six inmates were in the cells at the time of the visit.
Fourteen had been taken to the Nsawam Prison in the morning, Supt Kobina said.
One inmate was 16, while another exhibited a strange behaviour, moaning and screaming.
Supt Kobina said the Ghana Prisons Service had been ordered by a Tema Circuit Court to take the sick inmate to a psychiatric hospital but the prison authorities had instead dumped him in the Ashaiman cells.
He also raised the challenges facing the police, including their inability to do anything with the prisoners once the courts had made a decision for their remand.
Justice Short, in his interaction with the press afterwards, described the situation as “dehumanising” and “sad”.
“Not even animals will be made to live like this,” he said.
He said he would be meeting with the Inspector General of Police to ensure that the minimum standard for suspects in the country’s cells were kept.
Meanwhile, Justice Short has further directed a detailed investigation of the circumstances which led to the death of the inmates last Monday.
NCCE EMBARKS ON TAX EDUCATION (PAGE 29, FEB 12, 2010)
THE Tema Directorate of the Ghana National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has instituted programmes to educate the public on the district assembly concept, its bye-laws and fee-fixing resolutions.
This, according to the NCCE, was as a result of the ignorance exhibited by a majority of the people in various communities in the metropolitan area .
At Tema Manhean, a team from the NCCE met with taxpayers, made up of civil society, religious groups and representatives of various artisan associations who formed the economic base of the Tema Assembly at a forum to educate them on the need to meet their tax obligations.
Issues discussed included decentralisation, the Local Government Act 462, which gave power to the assemblies, the role of the assembly, tolls, basic rates, property rates and business operating licence.
The Metropolitan Director of the NCCE, Mr Ebenezer Tetteh Wayo, explained that the assembly laws were made for the people, but dissemination of the laws had not been effective and, therefore, people who found themselves working for the assembly were themselves ignorant of their responsibilities.
Mr Tetteh Wayo said on its rounds, the NCCE had observed that people in the metropolis lacked knowledge of activities of the assembly and, therefore, did not see the need to pay taxes imposed by the assembly.
He, therefore, appealed to residents of Tema Manhean to help the assembly provide the needed structures and the development for the community.
The forum, which had the objective of educating the people on the need to pay their tax, took a different turn when residents complained about the indiscriminate erection of structures, pollution, faecal flow, garbage and inadequate drains, blaming the assembly for a lack of supervision .
The Principal Field Officers of the Tema Metropolitan NCCE, Mr Enoch Adjei Mensah and Mr Alex Nii Annang, in their submissions, called on the people to report to the assembly anybody whose activities resulted in the creation of unsanitary conditions as well as those who erected structures on water courses and built without permit.
Mr Adjei Mensah stated that ignorance of the bye-laws had created room for cheating and exploitation by some revenue collectors, calling on traders to display their business certificates at their places of operation .
He took the people through some of the bye-laws and emphasised the need for every trader to have a certificate.
Mr Adjei Mensah called on property owners who did not see the need to pay property rates to rescind their decision, because the assembly needed that money to make the environment suitable for habitation.
Mr Alex Nii Annang disclosed that the TMA had set up a drains maintenance committee to ensure that all drains in the metropolis were cleared and new ones constructed to conform to expected standards.
The Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Kraku, who chaired the forum, commended the NCCE for taking up the task of educating the people on their responsibilities.
Nii Kraku appealed to the people in the Tema Traditional Area not politicise issues of development, but rather support the government to meet its ideals for development.
This, according to the NCCE, was as a result of the ignorance exhibited by a majority of the people in various communities in the metropolitan area .
At Tema Manhean, a team from the NCCE met with taxpayers, made up of civil society, religious groups and representatives of various artisan associations who formed the economic base of the Tema Assembly at a forum to educate them on the need to meet their tax obligations.
Issues discussed included decentralisation, the Local Government Act 462, which gave power to the assemblies, the role of the assembly, tolls, basic rates, property rates and business operating licence.
The Metropolitan Director of the NCCE, Mr Ebenezer Tetteh Wayo, explained that the assembly laws were made for the people, but dissemination of the laws had not been effective and, therefore, people who found themselves working for the assembly were themselves ignorant of their responsibilities.
Mr Tetteh Wayo said on its rounds, the NCCE had observed that people in the metropolis lacked knowledge of activities of the assembly and, therefore, did not see the need to pay taxes imposed by the assembly.
He, therefore, appealed to residents of Tema Manhean to help the assembly provide the needed structures and the development for the community.
The forum, which had the objective of educating the people on the need to pay their tax, took a different turn when residents complained about the indiscriminate erection of structures, pollution, faecal flow, garbage and inadequate drains, blaming the assembly for a lack of supervision .
The Principal Field Officers of the Tema Metropolitan NCCE, Mr Enoch Adjei Mensah and Mr Alex Nii Annang, in their submissions, called on the people to report to the assembly anybody whose activities resulted in the creation of unsanitary conditions as well as those who erected structures on water courses and built without permit.
Mr Adjei Mensah stated that ignorance of the bye-laws had created room for cheating and exploitation by some revenue collectors, calling on traders to display their business certificates at their places of operation .
He took the people through some of the bye-laws and emphasised the need for every trader to have a certificate.
Mr Adjei Mensah called on property owners who did not see the need to pay property rates to rescind their decision, because the assembly needed that money to make the environment suitable for habitation.
Mr Alex Nii Annang disclosed that the TMA had set up a drains maintenance committee to ensure that all drains in the metropolis were cleared and new ones constructed to conform to expected standards.
The Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Kraku, who chaired the forum, commended the NCCE for taking up the task of educating the people on their responsibilities.
Nii Kraku appealed to the people in the Tema Traditional Area not politicise issues of development, but rather support the government to meet its ideals for development.
Friday, February 26, 2010
LEKMA ORDERS CLOSURE OF UNDERGROUND WELLS (PAGE 18, FEB 6, 2010)
The Municipal Security Committee (MUSEC) of the Ledzokuku Municipal Assembly (LEKMA) has ordered the closure of all underground wells which supply water to tankers for sale to the public.
The MUSEC has directed water tanker operators to register with the Assembly and fill their tankers from hydrants operated by the Assembly.
Interacting with the media, the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Daniel Amartey Mensah, explained that the MUSEC decided to take the action when it found out that activities of underground well operators had posed challenges in the supply of water to residents of the municipality.
He explained that following the shortage of water in the municipality, the MUSEC involved a team of officials from the AVRL, police and the BNI to investigate causes leading to the shortage.
Mr Mensah said during the exercise many illegal connections and water wells which had no authority to operate were discovered.
He said water started flowing through pipelines when the task force detected the illegal connection and disconnected them, indicating that the illegal operators blocked the flow of water to residential areas, putting the health of the people at risk because there were no access openings to enable the operators to wash the wells.
Mr Mensah said the Assembly had met with the tanker drivers and operators of the wells and urged them to register with the Assembly and operate with waybills to legalise their operation.
He said the Assembly would, with support from the police, mount temporary barriers to check the waybills to ensure that the operators heeded to the directive.
Mr Mensah disclosed that the Assembly had put in place many strategies to ensure that there was discipline in the municipality.
He said these included the demolition of unauthorised structures which continued to spring up daily on government lands.
Mr Mensah explained that the municipality experienced massive flooding last year because of the siting of unauthorised structures on watercourses.
He appealed to residents to remove unauthorised structures to avoid being demolished.
Mr Mensah stated that owners of the structures would be made to pay for the cost involved in the demolition because in most cases the Assembly would have to rent heavy equipment to undertake the exercise.
He noted that the affected structures had already been marked with final warnings and stressed that the Assembly would not give any warnings again, adding that “the Assembly has given them ample time”.
Mr Mensah said structures on road shoulders reserved for drivers would also be demolished to make roads accessible to drivers who stopped for passengers.
He said refuse management had posed a lot of challenges to the Assembly because it had affected its financial standing.
Presently, he said, LEKMA conveyed refuse generated in the municipality to Sabah at Weija in the Ga South District.
Mr Mensah said LEKMA was working closely with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to prepare the Teshie Composite site, which is 75 per cent complete, for use.
He appealed to the management of the school feeding programme to extend the programme to the 28 basic schools in the municipality which were not benefiting from it.
Mr Mensah explained that there were 40 basic schools in the municipality but at moment only 12 were benefiting from the feeding programme.
The MUSEC has directed water tanker operators to register with the Assembly and fill their tankers from hydrants operated by the Assembly.
Interacting with the media, the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Daniel Amartey Mensah, explained that the MUSEC decided to take the action when it found out that activities of underground well operators had posed challenges in the supply of water to residents of the municipality.
He explained that following the shortage of water in the municipality, the MUSEC involved a team of officials from the AVRL, police and the BNI to investigate causes leading to the shortage.
Mr Mensah said during the exercise many illegal connections and water wells which had no authority to operate were discovered.
He said water started flowing through pipelines when the task force detected the illegal connection and disconnected them, indicating that the illegal operators blocked the flow of water to residential areas, putting the health of the people at risk because there were no access openings to enable the operators to wash the wells.
Mr Mensah said the Assembly had met with the tanker drivers and operators of the wells and urged them to register with the Assembly and operate with waybills to legalise their operation.
He said the Assembly would, with support from the police, mount temporary barriers to check the waybills to ensure that the operators heeded to the directive.
Mr Mensah disclosed that the Assembly had put in place many strategies to ensure that there was discipline in the municipality.
He said these included the demolition of unauthorised structures which continued to spring up daily on government lands.
Mr Mensah explained that the municipality experienced massive flooding last year because of the siting of unauthorised structures on watercourses.
He appealed to residents to remove unauthorised structures to avoid being demolished.
Mr Mensah stated that owners of the structures would be made to pay for the cost involved in the demolition because in most cases the Assembly would have to rent heavy equipment to undertake the exercise.
He noted that the affected structures had already been marked with final warnings and stressed that the Assembly would not give any warnings again, adding that “the Assembly has given them ample time”.
Mr Mensah said structures on road shoulders reserved for drivers would also be demolished to make roads accessible to drivers who stopped for passengers.
He said refuse management had posed a lot of challenges to the Assembly because it had affected its financial standing.
Presently, he said, LEKMA conveyed refuse generated in the municipality to Sabah at Weija in the Ga South District.
Mr Mensah said LEKMA was working closely with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to prepare the Teshie Composite site, which is 75 per cent complete, for use.
He appealed to the management of the school feeding programme to extend the programme to the 28 basic schools in the municipality which were not benefiting from it.
Mr Mensah explained that there were 40 basic schools in the municipality but at moment only 12 were benefiting from the feeding programme.
VEEP INSPECTS ROAD PROJECT IN TEMA (BACK PAGE, FEB 6, 2010)
Work on the 53-kilometre road network in Tema, Ashaiman and Kpone, estimated at GH¢30 million, has begun.
The project, which includes 20.10 km asphaltic surface, 33.1km bituminous surface seal, 18.30 km asphaltic road surface and 15 km of upgrade of unpaved road, is being funded by the government.
The Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, who inspected the work, disclosed that all traffic lights in the Tema metropolis would also be changed to a new system which would have a back-up of 48 hours during power outages.
He observed that most of the country’s urban areas were facing increasing traffic congestion due to the deplorable condition of the road network.
Mr Mahama noted that the decline in revenue estimates from the Ghana Road Fund had complicated the situation, leading to the steady deterioration of the road infrastructure.
He said accessible drainage systems, sidewalks, pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements were also affected by the shortfall.
He said expenditure on road maintenance was substantial, relative to the overall national budget, but it had not yielded the expected returns.
He said the government deemed it necessary to arrest the situation and save the road network and the economy from imminent collapse .
Mr Mahama said the government was committed to the needs of the vast majority of Ghanaians and would do all within its power legally to make the country a better place by 2012.
He said there would be transparency in the collection of road tolls and that there would be yearly publication of the results of the revenue generated and disbursement from the tolls.
The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu, who accompanied the Vice-President on his rounds, said the Tema metropolis had a total road network of 1,331km, made up of 572km paved and 759km unpaved.
He said after the rains in 2009, there was drastic deterioration in the conditions of the roads in Tema and the metropolis had only 30 per cent of the network in good condition.
He said some critical areas that were identified to be included in the rehabilitation and upgrading project were the central business district, the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) road, the Kpone main road, the Ashaiman–Zenu road, the Tema Beach Road, the Meridian roads, Lashibi and Klagon roads, in addition to the defective traffic lights.
Mr Gidisu said the Road Fund was servicing a loan facility that was taken from the Social Security and National Insurance Trust in 2007 and he was optimistic that the increment in the tolls would facilitate the repayment of the loan, as well as support more road maintenance works.
He called on the assemblies to be proactive in their supervisory roles in the rehabilitation works to achieve the objective of the investment and appealed to the contractors working on the projects to adhere to quality specifications, since anything short of that would not be tolerated.
The chiefs and elders of Kpone and Tema witnessed the ceremony.
The project, which includes 20.10 km asphaltic surface, 33.1km bituminous surface seal, 18.30 km asphaltic road surface and 15 km of upgrade of unpaved road, is being funded by the government.
The Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, who inspected the work, disclosed that all traffic lights in the Tema metropolis would also be changed to a new system which would have a back-up of 48 hours during power outages.
He observed that most of the country’s urban areas were facing increasing traffic congestion due to the deplorable condition of the road network.
Mr Mahama noted that the decline in revenue estimates from the Ghana Road Fund had complicated the situation, leading to the steady deterioration of the road infrastructure.
He said accessible drainage systems, sidewalks, pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements were also affected by the shortfall.
He said expenditure on road maintenance was substantial, relative to the overall national budget, but it had not yielded the expected returns.
He said the government deemed it necessary to arrest the situation and save the road network and the economy from imminent collapse .
Mr Mahama said the government was committed to the needs of the vast majority of Ghanaians and would do all within its power legally to make the country a better place by 2012.
He said there would be transparency in the collection of road tolls and that there would be yearly publication of the results of the revenue generated and disbursement from the tolls.
The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu, who accompanied the Vice-President on his rounds, said the Tema metropolis had a total road network of 1,331km, made up of 572km paved and 759km unpaved.
He said after the rains in 2009, there was drastic deterioration in the conditions of the roads in Tema and the metropolis had only 30 per cent of the network in good condition.
He said some critical areas that were identified to be included in the rehabilitation and upgrading project were the central business district, the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) road, the Kpone main road, the Ashaiman–Zenu road, the Tema Beach Road, the Meridian roads, Lashibi and Klagon roads, in addition to the defective traffic lights.
Mr Gidisu said the Road Fund was servicing a loan facility that was taken from the Social Security and National Insurance Trust in 2007 and he was optimistic that the increment in the tolls would facilitate the repayment of the loan, as well as support more road maintenance works.
He called on the assemblies to be proactive in their supervisory roles in the rehabilitation works to achieve the objective of the investment and appealed to the contractors working on the projects to adhere to quality specifications, since anything short of that would not be tolerated.
The chiefs and elders of Kpone and Tema witnessed the ceremony.
MINISTER CAUTIONS OWNERS OF FISHING VESSELS (PAGE 47, JAN 28, 2010)
THE Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, has cautioned that owners of fishing vessels that operate without licences and competent crew will be arrested and prosecuted.
In an address read on his behalf at the opening of a training course for 120 crew members who operate on inshore vessels at the Tema Fishing Harbour, he said the ministry would also not renew or grant application for new fishing licences if all the conditions stated in the Fisheries Act were not met.
The opening programme was attended by executives of the Ghana Inshore Fisheries Association (GIFA) from fishing communities including Mumford, Apam, Sekondi and Takoradi.
Mr Ahwoi said the programme was a collaboration among the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), the National Fisheries Association of Ghana (NAFAG) and GIFA to equip the fishing crew with modern trends in fishing. Beneficiaries of the training included coxswains, boatswains and mechanics manning inshore fishing vessels.
Mr Ahwoi noted with concern the recent spate of accidents at sea involving inshore fishing vessels and appealed to all stakeholders of the fishing industry to declare 2010 a year of doing things the right way.
He said among the conditions set in the Fisheries Act before being issued with a licence were a valid seaworthy certificate for the fishing vessel, a valid safety certificate, a valid insurance policy for the vessel and the crew and qualified crew manning the vessel.
He hinted that the ministry was working hand in hand with the Ghana Navy and that they were in the process of acquiring a patrol boat for the Navy to facilitate its patrols and arrest of vessels which fished illegally in Ghana’s waters.
Mr Ahwoi emphasised that the ministry needed the concerted effort of all stakeholders to help weed out non- compliant fishers from the fishing industry.
The Tema Regional President of GIFA, Mr Joe Kramo, commended the government for instituting the training programme to support the growth in the industry.
He said in the lean and the fishing seasons, most vessels lay idle because of lack of knowledge of new trends in fishing.
Mr Kramo noted that they lacked dry-dock and cold storage facilities at the Tema Harbour and had to sail to Winneba for the facility.
He appealed to the government to assist the association to mount communication gadgets in the office for effective communication with fishermen at sea to save lives and property.
A Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, Nii Amasa Namoale, urged fishermen to have a unified front for their expectations to be met.
The Chairman of the Fisheries Commission, Mr Mike Akyeampong, disclosed that a fisheries regulatory law would soon be promulgated to regulate the Fisheries Act to ensure harmony and peace among artisanal, inshore and industrial fishing operators, noting that that would give the industry a new face.
The Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Kraku, appealed to fishermen to respect the stool and desist from going fishing on Tuesdays, which had been set aside to be observed as sacred.
In an address read on his behalf at the opening of a training course for 120 crew members who operate on inshore vessels at the Tema Fishing Harbour, he said the ministry would also not renew or grant application for new fishing licences if all the conditions stated in the Fisheries Act were not met.
The opening programme was attended by executives of the Ghana Inshore Fisheries Association (GIFA) from fishing communities including Mumford, Apam, Sekondi and Takoradi.
Mr Ahwoi said the programme was a collaboration among the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), the National Fisheries Association of Ghana (NAFAG) and GIFA to equip the fishing crew with modern trends in fishing. Beneficiaries of the training included coxswains, boatswains and mechanics manning inshore fishing vessels.
Mr Ahwoi noted with concern the recent spate of accidents at sea involving inshore fishing vessels and appealed to all stakeholders of the fishing industry to declare 2010 a year of doing things the right way.
He said among the conditions set in the Fisheries Act before being issued with a licence were a valid seaworthy certificate for the fishing vessel, a valid safety certificate, a valid insurance policy for the vessel and the crew and qualified crew manning the vessel.
He hinted that the ministry was working hand in hand with the Ghana Navy and that they were in the process of acquiring a patrol boat for the Navy to facilitate its patrols and arrest of vessels which fished illegally in Ghana’s waters.
Mr Ahwoi emphasised that the ministry needed the concerted effort of all stakeholders to help weed out non- compliant fishers from the fishing industry.
The Tema Regional President of GIFA, Mr Joe Kramo, commended the government for instituting the training programme to support the growth in the industry.
He said in the lean and the fishing seasons, most vessels lay idle because of lack of knowledge of new trends in fishing.
Mr Kramo noted that they lacked dry-dock and cold storage facilities at the Tema Harbour and had to sail to Winneba for the facility.
He appealed to the government to assist the association to mount communication gadgets in the office for effective communication with fishermen at sea to save lives and property.
A Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, Nii Amasa Namoale, urged fishermen to have a unified front for their expectations to be met.
The Chairman of the Fisheries Commission, Mr Mike Akyeampong, disclosed that a fisheries regulatory law would soon be promulgated to regulate the Fisheries Act to ensure harmony and peace among artisanal, inshore and industrial fishing operators, noting that that would give the industry a new face.
The Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Kraku, appealed to fishermen to respect the stool and desist from going fishing on Tuesdays, which had been set aside to be observed as sacred.
COURT ORDERS DESTRUCTION OF FAKE SANYO TVS (PAGE 31, JAN 26, 2010)
LARGE quantities of fake 14-inch and 21-inch Sanyo television sets were destroyed at the Kpone landfill site on the orders of an Accra High Court because of their poor quality and the hazard they posed to users.
The exercise was supervised by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and court officials.
The fake products, branded ‘Sanyo’ and imported from China, were seized from a shop in Accra when reports reached the original agents of the presence of ‘look-alike’ Sanyo products on the market.
The Commercial Court, presided over by Ms Justice Barbara Ackah-Yensu, at its sitting on November 20, 2009, ordered that all the retrieved fake television sets should be destroyed at an official destruction site because they amounted to illegal branding and infringement on the Copyright Law.
Briefing the press at the Kpone landfill site, Mr John Bisiw, the local manager of Sanyo Gulf, a division of Sanyo International, said a research team from the organisation discovered some branded Sanyo goods in the Accra Central Business District which were suspected to be fake.
He said samples of the television sets were purchased and examined by a team of factory experts from Japan, Indonesia and Dubai.
Mr Bisiw said they observed that the products were fake and could produce harmful emissions, contrary to the accepted levels, and, therefore, obtained a court judgement for the destruction of the seized goods.
He told the media that the shop owner escaped arrest and, therefore, could not help trace the importer of the fake TV sets.
Mr Bisiw said the fake television sets had no model and serial numbers, unlike the original products which had their logos manufactured with the cabinet.
The exercise was supervised by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and court officials.
The fake products, branded ‘Sanyo’ and imported from China, were seized from a shop in Accra when reports reached the original agents of the presence of ‘look-alike’ Sanyo products on the market.
The Commercial Court, presided over by Ms Justice Barbara Ackah-Yensu, at its sitting on November 20, 2009, ordered that all the retrieved fake television sets should be destroyed at an official destruction site because they amounted to illegal branding and infringement on the Copyright Law.
Briefing the press at the Kpone landfill site, Mr John Bisiw, the local manager of Sanyo Gulf, a division of Sanyo International, said a research team from the organisation discovered some branded Sanyo goods in the Accra Central Business District which were suspected to be fake.
He said samples of the television sets were purchased and examined by a team of factory experts from Japan, Indonesia and Dubai.
Mr Bisiw said they observed that the products were fake and could produce harmful emissions, contrary to the accepted levels, and, therefore, obtained a court judgement for the destruction of the seized goods.
He told the media that the shop owner escaped arrest and, therefore, could not help trace the importer of the fake TV sets.
Mr Bisiw said the fake television sets had no model and serial numbers, unlike the original products which had their logos manufactured with the cabinet.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
PILOT PROJECT TO REGISTER CANOES TAKES OFF IN TEMA (PAGE 19, JAN 23, 2010)
A pilot project to register all canoes at the Tema Canoe Beach for easy identification and compilation of data was yesterday launched in Tema.
The successful execution of the pilot project will pave the way for the registration and embossment of registration numbers on all canoes in the country.
The Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture in charge of Fisheries, Nii Amasa Namoale, who launched the project, said the fishing vessel register and the identification numbers would become useful instruments to assist the Fisheries Commission (FC) in compiling data on canoes and fishing landings, among others.
The launch, which was the first ever in the country, attracted chief fishermen, fishermen, district directors of the Ministry of Agriculture and officials of the FC.
Nii Namoale said the Fisheries Act, Act 625 of 2002, required all fishing vessels to be registered, noting that the present system of identifying canoes in the form of symbols and names such as ‘Sea never dry’, ‘God dey’, ‘Mankind’, among others, did not make canoe identification quick and accurate.
He stated that the new system would form the basis for extending support to artisanal fishermen and would provide good records of fish caught within a particular period to ascertain the level of catch in the country.
He said 1,000 canoes were expected to be registered to start the project and provide an improved fisheries monitoring system for the industry.
A representative from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Dr Brahim Kembe, in an address read on his behalf, said it was the FAO’s major concern to put in place management measures in artisanal fishing for food security in Ghana.
He said Ghana’s domestic fisheries production of 440,000 metric tonnes could generate revenue of $1 billion annually.
Dr Kembe said the FAO considered the launch of the embossment project as one critical step in the management process and urged all stakeholders to give it the necessary support.
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashietey, commended the FAO and other development partners and donors for the special support they had given to the fishing sub-sector and the embossment exercise in particular.
The Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Kraku, called on the government to assist in dredging the landing sites which were currently choked.
There was a demonstration of the embossment process on some of the canoes at the beach.
The successful execution of the pilot project will pave the way for the registration and embossment of registration numbers on all canoes in the country.
The Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture in charge of Fisheries, Nii Amasa Namoale, who launched the project, said the fishing vessel register and the identification numbers would become useful instruments to assist the Fisheries Commission (FC) in compiling data on canoes and fishing landings, among others.
The launch, which was the first ever in the country, attracted chief fishermen, fishermen, district directors of the Ministry of Agriculture and officials of the FC.
Nii Namoale said the Fisheries Act, Act 625 of 2002, required all fishing vessels to be registered, noting that the present system of identifying canoes in the form of symbols and names such as ‘Sea never dry’, ‘God dey’, ‘Mankind’, among others, did not make canoe identification quick and accurate.
He stated that the new system would form the basis for extending support to artisanal fishermen and would provide good records of fish caught within a particular period to ascertain the level of catch in the country.
He said 1,000 canoes were expected to be registered to start the project and provide an improved fisheries monitoring system for the industry.
A representative from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Dr Brahim Kembe, in an address read on his behalf, said it was the FAO’s major concern to put in place management measures in artisanal fishing for food security in Ghana.
He said Ghana’s domestic fisheries production of 440,000 metric tonnes could generate revenue of $1 billion annually.
Dr Kembe said the FAO considered the launch of the embossment project as one critical step in the management process and urged all stakeholders to give it the necessary support.
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashietey, commended the FAO and other development partners and donors for the special support they had given to the fishing sub-sector and the embossment exercise in particular.
The Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Kraku, called on the government to assist in dredging the landing sites which were currently choked.
There was a demonstration of the embossment process on some of the canoes at the beach.
MODERN LANDFILL SITE FOR KPONE (PAGE 30, JAN 22, 2010)
Construction of a modern solid waste disposal facility to improve waste management in the Tema metropolis is to start at the Kpone landfill site next month .
The World Bank sponsored project is estimated to cost GH¢ 5.5 million and will displace about 400 people who engaged in stone quarrying and scavenging at the site .
A compensation package of GH¢401.55 per person would be paid to the affected persons for one month to serve as a mitigation measure to ensure that those who were directly affected by the project were taken care of in respect of a possible loss of their source of livelihood.
This was announced at a forum of chiefs , elders and youth groups at Kpone to educate the people on the project,
The new facility, which is expected to be completed within 18 months, would have leachate collection pipes which would be directed into manholes and treatment plants as a measure to check underground water contamination .
The civil engineer of the Metropolitan Development Collaborative Limited, Mr Justice Isaac Mintah, said other facilities to be constructed at the site include discharge pits , drainage systems, weigh bridges, offices and access roads .
He said the smoke emitting from the landfill is not only a nuisance to industries in the vicinity, but also posed health risks among other to scavengers and workers who worked unprotected at the site.
Mr Mintah noted that the new site would have gas collection facility, where harmful gases produced from the refuse would be channelled and possibly used for other purposes .
The Project Co–ordinating Officer, Mrs Alice Addai – Yeboah, said the Tema Metropolitan Assembly would allocate portions of the site to the affected people as a resettlement assistance.
He stated, however, that the beneficiaries would be required to sign an agreement to ensure the return of the land at the appropriate time .
She explained that the compensation package for the stone quarriers and scavengers was arrived at after, series of meetings and deliberations between the Tema Metropolitan Assembly and the leaders of the affected people .
Mrs Addai- Yeboah noted that the resettlement package was part of conditions set by the World Bank for the funding of the project.
The Co-ordinating Director of the TMA , Mr Kwaku Akportosu, confirmed that the assembly would pay the compensation before the start of the project in February 2010.
He said the project was important to the assembly as it would ensure proper waste management and disposal in the metropolis and minimise health risks associated with the current landfill site .
Mr Akportosu said dumping of refuse at the old landfill site was started several years ago to fill galleys, created by contractors during the construction of the Tema Harbour .
He stated that the site posed health risks to people as many tons of filth from Tema and its environs were deposited at the site daily
Elders of the Kpone Traditional Council and representatives of some youth groups appealed to the assembly to extend the compensation package to cover landowners and residents .
They explained that as landowners, they needed to benefit specially from the project for giving out land adding that compensation should not only be granted to the stone quarriers .
The elders and youth groups also suggested that stakeholders of the project especially the TMA, must intensify education for residents of Kpone on the project before construction started to ensure a smooth take-off
Slides on the designs of the new project, proposed site characteristics and other features of the proposed modern solid waste management facility were presented to participants at the forum which was held at Kpone .
The World Bank sponsored project is estimated to cost GH¢ 5.5 million and will displace about 400 people who engaged in stone quarrying and scavenging at the site .
A compensation package of GH¢401.55 per person would be paid to the affected persons for one month to serve as a mitigation measure to ensure that those who were directly affected by the project were taken care of in respect of a possible loss of their source of livelihood.
This was announced at a forum of chiefs , elders and youth groups at Kpone to educate the people on the project,
The new facility, which is expected to be completed within 18 months, would have leachate collection pipes which would be directed into manholes and treatment plants as a measure to check underground water contamination .
The civil engineer of the Metropolitan Development Collaborative Limited, Mr Justice Isaac Mintah, said other facilities to be constructed at the site include discharge pits , drainage systems, weigh bridges, offices and access roads .
He said the smoke emitting from the landfill is not only a nuisance to industries in the vicinity, but also posed health risks among other to scavengers and workers who worked unprotected at the site.
Mr Mintah noted that the new site would have gas collection facility, where harmful gases produced from the refuse would be channelled and possibly used for other purposes .
The Project Co–ordinating Officer, Mrs Alice Addai – Yeboah, said the Tema Metropolitan Assembly would allocate portions of the site to the affected people as a resettlement assistance.
He stated, however, that the beneficiaries would be required to sign an agreement to ensure the return of the land at the appropriate time .
She explained that the compensation package for the stone quarriers and scavengers was arrived at after, series of meetings and deliberations between the Tema Metropolitan Assembly and the leaders of the affected people .
Mrs Addai- Yeboah noted that the resettlement package was part of conditions set by the World Bank for the funding of the project.
The Co-ordinating Director of the TMA , Mr Kwaku Akportosu, confirmed that the assembly would pay the compensation before the start of the project in February 2010.
He said the project was important to the assembly as it would ensure proper waste management and disposal in the metropolis and minimise health risks associated with the current landfill site .
Mr Akportosu said dumping of refuse at the old landfill site was started several years ago to fill galleys, created by contractors during the construction of the Tema Harbour .
He stated that the site posed health risks to people as many tons of filth from Tema and its environs were deposited at the site daily
Elders of the Kpone Traditional Council and representatives of some youth groups appealed to the assembly to extend the compensation package to cover landowners and residents .
They explained that as landowners, they needed to benefit specially from the project for giving out land adding that compensation should not only be granted to the stone quarriers .
The elders and youth groups also suggested that stakeholders of the project especially the TMA, must intensify education for residents of Kpone on the project before construction started to ensure a smooth take-off
Slides on the designs of the new project, proposed site characteristics and other features of the proposed modern solid waste management facility were presented to participants at the forum which was held at Kpone .
PUPILS PETITION AMERICAN EMBASSY (PAGE 11, JAN 22, 2010)
PUPILS from the Martin Luther King Junior School in Ashaiman have petitioned the Cultural Affairs Office of the American Embassy in Accra to launch an annual celebration of Rev. Dr Martin Luther King Jnr day in Ghana.
The pupils who were bearing placards, said the celebration would create the platform for remembering Dr Luther King for his good works of love, service to humanity and his support in the celebration of Ghana’s independence in 1957.
On behalf of his mates, a Junior High School 3 student of the school, Master Caleb Elikem Toxla, delivered the petition to the American Embassy, which was copied to the Ministry of Information, Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture, National Commission for Civic Education, the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana and the Kofi Annan International Peace-Keeping and Training Centre among others .
The pupils and teachers went on float through some principal streets of Ashaiman displaying the placards to create awareness before they delivered the petition to the appropriate institutions.
Some of the inscriptions on the placards were ‘Honour Martin Luther King’ , ‘Celebrate Ghana’s heroes’, ‘Democracy is tolerance,’ ‘God bless Africa’ and ‘Africa must live in unity’.
The pupils noted that the celebration would promote and keep the dreams of Dr Luther King alive to strengthen African-American relations.
The pupils were of the view that the school had set the pace for the celebration of heroes to inspire the youth to aspire for greatness.
It suggested that major streets and national monuments should be named after great heroes to honour them.
The Director of the school, Mr Emmanuel Max-Voy called on all human rights organisations to support the cause.
Dr Luther King, who was assassinated on April 4, 1968, was an American clergyman, activist and prominent leader in the African –American civil rights movement who struggled for racial justice, anti-racism, human rights and peace.
The third Monday of every January has been set aside by the American Government to honour the life and achievements of Dr Luther King.
The pupils who were bearing placards, said the celebration would create the platform for remembering Dr Luther King for his good works of love, service to humanity and his support in the celebration of Ghana’s independence in 1957.
On behalf of his mates, a Junior High School 3 student of the school, Master Caleb Elikem Toxla, delivered the petition to the American Embassy, which was copied to the Ministry of Information, Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture, National Commission for Civic Education, the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana and the Kofi Annan International Peace-Keeping and Training Centre among others .
The pupils and teachers went on float through some principal streets of Ashaiman displaying the placards to create awareness before they delivered the petition to the appropriate institutions.
Some of the inscriptions on the placards were ‘Honour Martin Luther King’ , ‘Celebrate Ghana’s heroes’, ‘Democracy is tolerance,’ ‘God bless Africa’ and ‘Africa must live in unity’.
The pupils noted that the celebration would promote and keep the dreams of Dr Luther King alive to strengthen African-American relations.
The pupils were of the view that the school had set the pace for the celebration of heroes to inspire the youth to aspire for greatness.
It suggested that major streets and national monuments should be named after great heroes to honour them.
The Director of the school, Mr Emmanuel Max-Voy called on all human rights organisations to support the cause.
Dr Luther King, who was assassinated on April 4, 1968, was an American clergyman, activist and prominent leader in the African –American civil rights movement who struggled for racial justice, anti-racism, human rights and peace.
The third Monday of every January has been set aside by the American Government to honour the life and achievements of Dr Luther King.
TOR ASSURES OF FUEL SUPPLY (1B, JANUARY 21, 2010)
The management of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) has given the assurance that in spite of the fire outbreak which destroyed the Loading Gantry of the refinery, fuel supply to consumers will not be interrupted.
The Managing Director of TOR, Dr Kwame Ampofo, who gave the assurance when two deputy ministers of Energy, Mr Emmanuel Kofi Buah and Dr Kwabena Donkor, paid a visit to the refinery, therefore, advised the public against any panic buying.
The two deputy ministers were at the refinery to confer with the management and assess the extent of damage caused by the fire outbreak.
Dr Ampofo explained that fuel supply to the depots was done through direct pumping which did not need the loading rack nor the services of the tankers before being delivered.
Interacting with journalists, Mr Buah commended personnel of the emergency support services for promptly responding to calls that salvaged the situation last Tuesday morning.
He noted that looking at the strategic importance of TOR, the government would pursue measures to prevent the recurrence of such an incident in the future.
He said the government was saddened by the fire and expressed condolences to the families of the deceased workers of the refinery.
Dr Donkor appealed to the media to assist in assuring the nation of continuous supply of fuel through the various storage depots across the country.
Earlier in the day, officials from the National Petroleum Authority, led by the Chairman of the board, Mr Kojo Fynn, had also visited the fire scene.
They expressed satisfaction with the measures put in place by the management of TOR to ensure safety while investigations continued.
The Managing Director of TOR, Dr Kwame Ampofo, who gave the assurance when two deputy ministers of Energy, Mr Emmanuel Kofi Buah and Dr Kwabena Donkor, paid a visit to the refinery, therefore, advised the public against any panic buying.
The two deputy ministers were at the refinery to confer with the management and assess the extent of damage caused by the fire outbreak.
Dr Ampofo explained that fuel supply to the depots was done through direct pumping which did not need the loading rack nor the services of the tankers before being delivered.
Interacting with journalists, Mr Buah commended personnel of the emergency support services for promptly responding to calls that salvaged the situation last Tuesday morning.
He noted that looking at the strategic importance of TOR, the government would pursue measures to prevent the recurrence of such an incident in the future.
He said the government was saddened by the fire and expressed condolences to the families of the deceased workers of the refinery.
Dr Donkor appealed to the media to assist in assuring the nation of continuous supply of fuel through the various storage depots across the country.
Earlier in the day, officials from the National Petroleum Authority, led by the Chairman of the board, Mr Kojo Fynn, had also visited the fire scene.
They expressed satisfaction with the measures put in place by the management of TOR to ensure safety while investigations continued.
HAVOC AT TOR...As Fire kills one worker, destroys nine tankers (LEAD STORY)
Story: Rose Hayford Darko & Della Russel Ocloo, Tema
A huge inferno engulfed the Loading Gantry of the Tema Oil Refinery yesterday, claiming the life of a worker of the plant and injuring two others.
Also destroyed in the blaze were company equipment and nine fuel tankers.
The charred body of the worker has been conveyed to the Police Hospital, while the two injured workers, identified as Humphery Ahiekpor, 57, and Samuel Okine, 30, are receiving treatment at the Tema General Hospital.
The deceased worker, Thomas Ebo Fryer, 60, was said to be due for retirement in March this year.
Two of the nine tankers were burnt beyond recognition.
The equipment which was affected by the fire, whose cause is yet to be determined, included meters, pipe systems and an automatic fire splinker system.
It was a run-for-your-life scene, as smoke blended with flames could be sighted from afar.
According to eyewitness accounts, the vicinity of the refinery became charged when the fire started, with tanker drivers moving their vehicles, while workers ran helter-skelter for their lives.
They said the tankers were being loaded with premix fuel for distribution to outlets in the country when the incident occurred.
The fire also caused a panic situation as hawkers, drivers and workers of other industries in the vicinity took cover.
All vehicles moving towards the industrial area were directed to return.
Briefing the media after the fire had been brought under control, the Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Mr Albert Gaisie, said the Tema Fire Station had a call after 10 a.m. concerning the fire outbreak.
He said the Ghana National Fire Service promptly mobilised six fire tenders, with support from nine other stakeholders, including the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), the Volta River Authority (VRA), the Immigration Service and the Tema Oil Refinery Fire Brigade, to fight the raging fire.
Mr Gaisie said it took the team 20 minutes to bring the fire under control, although smoke continued to emanate from the burnt tankers.
A huge inferno engulfed the Loading Gantry of the Tema Oil Refinery yesterday, claiming the life of a worker of the plant and injuring two others.
Also destroyed in the blaze were company equipment and nine fuel tankers.
The charred body of the worker has been conveyed to the Police Hospital, while the two injured workers, identified as Humphery Ahiekpor, 57, and Samuel Okine, 30, are receiving treatment at the Tema General Hospital.
The deceased worker, Thomas Ebo Fryer, 60, was said to be due for retirement in March this year.
Two of the nine tankers were burnt beyond recognition.
The equipment which was affected by the fire, whose cause is yet to be determined, included meters, pipe systems and an automatic fire splinker system.
It was a run-for-your-life scene, as smoke blended with flames could be sighted from afar.
According to eyewitness accounts, the vicinity of the refinery became charged when the fire started, with tanker drivers moving their vehicles, while workers ran helter-skelter for their lives.
They said the tankers were being loaded with premix fuel for distribution to outlets in the country when the incident occurred.
The fire also caused a panic situation as hawkers, drivers and workers of other industries in the vicinity took cover.
All vehicles moving towards the industrial area were directed to return.
Briefing the media after the fire had been brought under control, the Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Mr Albert Gaisie, said the Tema Fire Station had a call after 10 a.m. concerning the fire outbreak.
He said the Ghana National Fire Service promptly mobilised six fire tenders, with support from nine other stakeholders, including the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), the Volta River Authority (VRA), the Immigration Service and the Tema Oil Refinery Fire Brigade, to fight the raging fire.
Mr Gaisie said it took the team 20 minutes to bring the fire under control, although smoke continued to emanate from the burnt tankers.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
CADRES CALL FOR MODESTY AT NDC CONGRESS (PAGE 23, JAN 16, 2010)
The United Cadre Front of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Tema Sub-region (UCF- Tema ) has called on the National Executive Committee (NEC) to ensure transparency, probity, accountability and modesty at the Tamale congress.
They urged the NEC not to hesitate to name and shame and, if possible, cause the arrest of any person or a group of persons whose activities would break any laws of the land. A statement released in Tema and signed by Nana Yaw Amaniampong who is in charge of the Public Relations and Media Affairs of the UCF , said the cadres in Tema would support every legitimate cause during and after the congress.
The cadres commended the NEC for the smooth and transparent manner in which it had conducted itself so far in the run-up to the congress and also congratulated party members who were contesting various positions for comporting themselves .
The statement appealed to all delegates to be ‘mindful of the political environment we are operating within and elect men and women of courage , integrity and character to match the hostile opposition notch to notch ’.
The cadres advised contestants and their supporters to note that “no individual is bigger than the NDC” and called on them to conduct themselves in ‘a civil , ethically democratic and noble manner ’ in the run-up to ,during and after the congress .
The cadres were of the beliefopinion that the upcoming congress in Tamale would be incident-free and the NDC would come out more united, “even stronger than before we entered Tamale”, The statement added that it was only in unity of purpose that the party could retain political power to prosecute the “Better Ghana Agenda” to benefit all Ghanaians.
The statement appealed to media representatives to be circumspect in their reportage on events at the congress and be guided by good journalistic ethics and standards of truthfulness , accuracy , objectivity, impartiality, fairness and circumspection .
They urged the NEC not to hesitate to name and shame and, if possible, cause the arrest of any person or a group of persons whose activities would break any laws of the land. A statement released in Tema and signed by Nana Yaw Amaniampong who is in charge of the Public Relations and Media Affairs of the UCF , said the cadres in Tema would support every legitimate cause during and after the congress.
The cadres commended the NEC for the smooth and transparent manner in which it had conducted itself so far in the run-up to the congress and also congratulated party members who were contesting various positions for comporting themselves .
The statement appealed to all delegates to be ‘mindful of the political environment we are operating within and elect men and women of courage , integrity and character to match the hostile opposition notch to notch ’.
The cadres advised contestants and their supporters to note that “no individual is bigger than the NDC” and called on them to conduct themselves in ‘a civil , ethically democratic and noble manner ’ in the run-up to ,during and after the congress .
The cadres were of the beliefopinion that the upcoming congress in Tamale would be incident-free and the NDC would come out more united, “even stronger than before we entered Tamale”, The statement added that it was only in unity of purpose that the party could retain political power to prosecute the “Better Ghana Agenda” to benefit all Ghanaians.
The statement appealed to media representatives to be circumspect in their reportage on events at the congress and be guided by good journalistic ethics and standards of truthfulness , accuracy , objectivity, impartiality, fairness and circumspection .
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
TEMA LIONS CLUB SUPORTS DEAF SCHOOL (PAGE 11, JAN 13
THE State School for the Deaf at Adjei Kojo is unable to currently cope with the demand by parents to get their children who have hearing problem to be enorolled there.
This is because the number of applications are far more than what the school can accommodate.
Currently the school has a student population of 286 all of whom are day students while about 300 are on the waiting list.
This was disclosed by the headmaster of the institution, Mr Michael Cudjoe, when the Lions Club of Tema had a day’s interaction with the students and also presented items worth over GH¢1,500 to them as part of activities marking the Club’s Christmas celebrations.
According to Mr Cudjoe, though parents had expressed interest in enrolling their children at the institute, the school authorities found it difficult to accept them because of lack of space.
The school has two uncompleted buildings which were aimed at providing room for more students but lack of funds has delayed the project.
Mr Cudjoe appealed to the government and public-spirited people to assist the school to provide the children with proper care to help them contribute to society.
He said the students were taken through formal education by teachers with special training and also provided food by the school.
Mr Cudjoe noted that most of them were intelligent and were graded accordingly at the end of their Junior High School examination, adding that some had made it to the tertiary level.
He thanked the Lions Club of Tema for their gesture and extended the appreciation to other groups which had earlier demonstrated similar love and concern.
The President of the Tema Lions Club, Mr Henry Boakye, commended the school authorities for the good work it was doing and said the students needed such support to enable them to play their roles as future leaders of the nation.
He said the Club deemed it a privilege to interact with the hearing impaired children of the school.
On behalf of the Club, Mr Boakye pledged to continue to support the school with monthly eye-screening exercises among others. Items presented included biscuits, soya chunks, chocolates, toffees and a variety of fruit drinks.
This is because the number of applications are far more than what the school can accommodate.
Currently the school has a student population of 286 all of whom are day students while about 300 are on the waiting list.
This was disclosed by the headmaster of the institution, Mr Michael Cudjoe, when the Lions Club of Tema had a day’s interaction with the students and also presented items worth over GH¢1,500 to them as part of activities marking the Club’s Christmas celebrations.
According to Mr Cudjoe, though parents had expressed interest in enrolling their children at the institute, the school authorities found it difficult to accept them because of lack of space.
The school has two uncompleted buildings which were aimed at providing room for more students but lack of funds has delayed the project.
Mr Cudjoe appealed to the government and public-spirited people to assist the school to provide the children with proper care to help them contribute to society.
He said the students were taken through formal education by teachers with special training and also provided food by the school.
Mr Cudjoe noted that most of them were intelligent and were graded accordingly at the end of their Junior High School examination, adding that some had made it to the tertiary level.
He thanked the Lions Club of Tema for their gesture and extended the appreciation to other groups which had earlier demonstrated similar love and concern.
The President of the Tema Lions Club, Mr Henry Boakye, commended the school authorities for the good work it was doing and said the students needed such support to enable them to play their roles as future leaders of the nation.
He said the Club deemed it a privilege to interact with the hearing impaired children of the school.
On behalf of the Club, Mr Boakye pledged to continue to support the school with monthly eye-screening exercises among others. Items presented included biscuits, soya chunks, chocolates, toffees and a variety of fruit drinks.
MORE COMMUNITIES TO ENJOY ELECTRICITY (PAGE 31, JAN 12, 2010)
Electricity is to be extended to 4,000 more communities in the country over the next four years under the rural electrification programme.
The Minister of Energy, Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei, who announced the plan during a visit to the Material Management Unit of the ministry in Tema, said this year the government would pursue a vigorous policy of rural electrification to accelerate rural development.
He indicated that funds for the programme had already been provided, noting that current challenges in the energy sector were being handled to enable consumers to enjoy regular supply.
Dr Oteng-Adjei said at the close of last year, 65 per cent of Ghanaians enjoyed electricity and he was hopeful that within the next four years, supply would be extended to cover 85 per cent of the population.
He noted that by 2020, Ghana would have attained a 100 per cent access to electricity.
The minister stated that some communities which had not been connected to the national grid had been provided with solar power and that, he said, would be extended to other areas.
He said his visit was to ensure that materials were made available for the projected programme and take note of what was needed in that direction.
The items the minister inspected included containers of meters, a consignment of transformers and other electrical equipment.
He advised officials at the unit to take good care of the equipment and ensure their maximum security to prevent pilfering.
The minister and his two deputies were conducted round the unit by Mr Gabriel Quain, the Director of Power at the ministry.
The Minister of Energy, Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei, who announced the plan during a visit to the Material Management Unit of the ministry in Tema, said this year the government would pursue a vigorous policy of rural electrification to accelerate rural development.
He indicated that funds for the programme had already been provided, noting that current challenges in the energy sector were being handled to enable consumers to enjoy regular supply.
Dr Oteng-Adjei said at the close of last year, 65 per cent of Ghanaians enjoyed electricity and he was hopeful that within the next four years, supply would be extended to cover 85 per cent of the population.
He noted that by 2020, Ghana would have attained a 100 per cent access to electricity.
The minister stated that some communities which had not been connected to the national grid had been provided with solar power and that, he said, would be extended to other areas.
He said his visit was to ensure that materials were made available for the projected programme and take note of what was needed in that direction.
The items the minister inspected included containers of meters, a consignment of transformers and other electrical equipment.
He advised officials at the unit to take good care of the equipment and ensure their maximum security to prevent pilfering.
The minister and his two deputies were conducted round the unit by Mr Gabriel Quain, the Director of Power at the ministry.
SPORTS RESIST SPORTS PROJECT IN TEMA (PAGE 18, JAN 9, 2010)
A large number of squatters have resisted attempts by the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) to eject them from an open area at Tema Community 3 Site ‘B’ which had originally been demarcated for an indoor sports complex sponsored by Korea.
As a result, a task force from the TDC forcefully used a bulldozer to clear the area for the project to take off.
According to the squatters who do not have permits, the land did not belong to the TDC but the Department of Game and Wildlife because the area consists of wetlands preserved for migrating birds.
They said their resistance stemmed from the fact that they suspected the land had been sold to the Koreans and they felt cheated.
The illegal occupants of the wooden structures on the land in question said they had lived there for years and, therefore, would not quit the place .
The Managing Director of the TDC, Mr Joe Abbey, revealed that the area was earmarked for a social centre for Community 3 Site ‘B’.
A visit to the site revealed that the Methodist, Presbyterian and the Assemblies of God churches had all established branches near a school located there.
Explaining the situation, Mr Abbey said he was contacted by the Korean Community in Tema who told him that they were allocated land some years ago for a sports complex to be funded by the Korean government.
He said when he called for the site plan he realised that the claim was true but he wanted to be sure that it would be used for the intended purpose and initiated further investigation.
Mr Abbey said a representative of the Korean Embassy confirmed the need for the land, which would benefit all Tema residents and not the Koreans alone.
He said apart from the Tema Sports Stadium, the port city did not have any other sporting facility and, therefore, TDC granted them permission to go ahead with the project.
Mr Abbey said information later reached his office that when the Koreans went to clear the land for the project to take off, the encroachers hooted at them so they left and reported the incident to the TDC.
He said the TDC task force had to accompany the investors to eject the squatters for the project, which was beneficial to the people, to take place.
Mr Abbey was not happy that people decided to develop slums at any available space and later claimed to have been allocated the land, though they did not have any permit.
He warned those who were still encroaching on lands illegally and at unauthorised areas to start packing to avoid ejection.
As a result, a task force from the TDC forcefully used a bulldozer to clear the area for the project to take off.
According to the squatters who do not have permits, the land did not belong to the TDC but the Department of Game and Wildlife because the area consists of wetlands preserved for migrating birds.
They said their resistance stemmed from the fact that they suspected the land had been sold to the Koreans and they felt cheated.
The illegal occupants of the wooden structures on the land in question said they had lived there for years and, therefore, would not quit the place .
The Managing Director of the TDC, Mr Joe Abbey, revealed that the area was earmarked for a social centre for Community 3 Site ‘B’.
A visit to the site revealed that the Methodist, Presbyterian and the Assemblies of God churches had all established branches near a school located there.
Explaining the situation, Mr Abbey said he was contacted by the Korean Community in Tema who told him that they were allocated land some years ago for a sports complex to be funded by the Korean government.
He said when he called for the site plan he realised that the claim was true but he wanted to be sure that it would be used for the intended purpose and initiated further investigation.
Mr Abbey said a representative of the Korean Embassy confirmed the need for the land, which would benefit all Tema residents and not the Koreans alone.
He said apart from the Tema Sports Stadium, the port city did not have any other sporting facility and, therefore, TDC granted them permission to go ahead with the project.
Mr Abbey said information later reached his office that when the Koreans went to clear the land for the project to take off, the encroachers hooted at them so they left and reported the incident to the TDC.
He said the TDC task force had to accompany the investors to eject the squatters for the project, which was beneficial to the people, to take place.
Mr Abbey was not happy that people decided to develop slums at any available space and later claimed to have been allocated the land, though they did not have any permit.
He warned those who were still encroaching on lands illegally and at unauthorised areas to start packing to avoid ejection.
Monday, February 22, 2010
TOR LADIES ASSOCIATION DONATES TO TEMA ORPHANAGE (PAGE 29, JAN 07, 2010)
MISSIONARIES of Charity, a Catholic Home at Tema, has received donations of food and other items from various organisations and individuals for the up-keep of inmates who are orphans and AIDs patients .
The items include second hand clothing, bags of rice , toilet rolls, candies, cooking oil, fruit drinks, biscuits, fresh fruits, plastic buckets, bowls, among others.
The home caters for 30 adult AIDs patients, five children living with HIV and 15 orphans.
In her remarks after receiving items worth over GH¢1,500 from the Tema Oil Refinery Ladies Association (TORLA), Rev. Sister Nirola said benevolent societies and good-spirited people had supported the Home, in addition to the support from the mother organisation.
She commended those who extended support to the Home and said that confirmed the kind of services the Home rendered to society.
The President of the association, Mrs Victoria Ahenkorah, who led the group of ladies from TOR to do the presentation, said the donation was part of their social responsibility programme, through which they were able to put smiles on the faces of the less-privileged.
The items include second hand clothing, bags of rice , toilet rolls, candies, cooking oil, fruit drinks, biscuits, fresh fruits, plastic buckets, bowls, among others.
The home caters for 30 adult AIDs patients, five children living with HIV and 15 orphans.
In her remarks after receiving items worth over GH¢1,500 from the Tema Oil Refinery Ladies Association (TORLA), Rev. Sister Nirola said benevolent societies and good-spirited people had supported the Home, in addition to the support from the mother organisation.
She commended those who extended support to the Home and said that confirmed the kind of services the Home rendered to society.
The President of the association, Mrs Victoria Ahenkorah, who led the group of ladies from TOR to do the presentation, said the donation was part of their social responsibility programme, through which they were able to put smiles on the faces of the less-privileged.
LEDZOKUKU KROWOR MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY MAKES SAVINGS (PAGE 30, JAN 07, 2010)
The Ledzokuku Krowor Municipal Assembly (LEKMA) collected GH¢ 3,700,807.96 out of its projected total revenue of GH¢ 5,829,170.97 at the end of November 2009.
Expenditure during the same period also stood at GH¢ 2,341,472 . 62 leaving a positive variance of GH¢ 1,359,335.84.
Addressing the 3rd Ordinary Meeting of the General Assembly at Nungua on Tuesday, January 5, 2010 , the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Daniel Amartey Mensah, stated that the assembly would continue to be prudent in its financial management .
He noted that the creation of the Ledzokuku - Krowor Municipal Assembly was significant because of the numerous projects and programmes aimed at benefiting the people .
Mr Mensah gave the assurance that this year, the assembly would pursue activities that would further enhance and bring remarkable improvement into the lives of the municipality’s residents .
He expressed gratitude to all stakeholders for their support and cooperation which made it possible for the assembly to overcome its initial difficulties .
Mr Mensah said the stage was set for the assembly to forge ahead with unity, a common purpose, commitment and determination to meet the aspirations of the people in the municipality . He noted that one of the biggest challenges facing the assembly was how to handle the people who continued to build at inappropriate sites, such as waterways, proposed roads, open spaces and public places.
Mr Mensah said the net effect of these challenges was the creation of slums and inaccessible settlements .
He disclosed that the assembly was constituting task forces to monitor physical developments within the Nungua and Teshie communities on daily basis. The MCE disclosed that the LEKMA had qualified for a District Development Facility (DDF) and would soon access this fund to undertake development projects in the municipality.
He enumerated some of the assembly’s proposed development projects for January to March 2010, which included roadworks, renovation of a community library at Teshie and completion of a three-unit classroom block of the Anglican School at Nungua.
The assembly also revised its fees and fixed new rates for the year 2010.
Expenditure during the same period also stood at GH¢ 2,341,472 . 62 leaving a positive variance of GH¢ 1,359,335.84.
Addressing the 3rd Ordinary Meeting of the General Assembly at Nungua on Tuesday, January 5, 2010 , the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Daniel Amartey Mensah, stated that the assembly would continue to be prudent in its financial management .
He noted that the creation of the Ledzokuku - Krowor Municipal Assembly was significant because of the numerous projects and programmes aimed at benefiting the people .
Mr Mensah gave the assurance that this year, the assembly would pursue activities that would further enhance and bring remarkable improvement into the lives of the municipality’s residents .
He expressed gratitude to all stakeholders for their support and cooperation which made it possible for the assembly to overcome its initial difficulties .
Mr Mensah said the stage was set for the assembly to forge ahead with unity, a common purpose, commitment and determination to meet the aspirations of the people in the municipality . He noted that one of the biggest challenges facing the assembly was how to handle the people who continued to build at inappropriate sites, such as waterways, proposed roads, open spaces and public places.
Mr Mensah said the net effect of these challenges was the creation of slums and inaccessible settlements .
He disclosed that the assembly was constituting task forces to monitor physical developments within the Nungua and Teshie communities on daily basis. The MCE disclosed that the LEKMA had qualified for a District Development Facility (DDF) and would soon access this fund to undertake development projects in the municipality.
He enumerated some of the assembly’s proposed development projects for January to March 2010, which included roadworks, renovation of a community library at Teshie and completion of a three-unit classroom block of the Anglican School at Nungua.
The assembly also revised its fees and fixed new rates for the year 2010.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)