The Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) will soon undertake an expansion programme to enable it to maintain consistency in its production processes.
As part of the programme, TOR is taking steps to install a new Crude Distillation Unit (CDU), increase its storage facilities and automate the gantry section for maximised production.
This is expected to increase its present capacity from 45,000 barrels to 145,000 barrels.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Tema, the Public Relations Manager of TOR, Mrs Aba Lokko, stated that the government’s intervention to settle part of the refinery’s debt had enhanced its credibility and would pave way for it to discuss its financing with financial institutions.
She said the refinery’s present capacity of 45,000 barrels could serve at most 65 per cent of the consuming population, with the remaining 35 per cent being supplemented by private suppliers.
She said the refinery would also be able to store more oil and be consistent in the supply after the expansion programme.
Mrs Lokko explained that with the expansion, the refinery would be able to satisfy more than 90 per cent of the public’s demand .
She said with the completion of work on the Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracker (RFCC), TOR was ready to receive crude oil for internal refining.
Mrs Lokko also explained that the refinery would be able to make available, various gases which it had hitherto imported.
She noted that the RFCC was used to compress its valuable products including Liquefied Petroleum gas (LPG) which recently became a scarce commodity on the market and that once there was no legislation barring cars from using the LPG, the refinery had a duty to satisfy the needs of people.
On the automation of the gantry, Mrs Lokko said the manual system in use at the refinery was not efficient, and, therefore, caused supply disruption at the distribution point.
She said the fully automated system would minimise the disruption in the supply of finished products.
TOR is collaborating with the private sector to appoint a consultant and go through tender, engineering and procurement processes for construction work to start on the new gantry and end by the end of the year and was optimistic that very soon, TOR would bounce back.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
H1N1 INFLUENZA AFFECTS MORE PUPILS AT TEMA PARENTS SCHOOL (PAGE 29, MARCH 22, 2010)
SIXTEEN pupils of the Tema Parents Association School have tested positive for bird flu after an initial three were found to have the H1N1 influenza virus last Monday
Reports from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) indicate that the 16 were part of 44 specimens from the pupils presented to the institute for testing.
Testing of the submitted specimen is ongoing to ascertain the status of over 150 pupils of the school whose phlegm specimen were taken and delivered to the centre.
Based on the results coming from the NMIMR, the authorities of the school have closed it down, except for the final-year students who attend classes.
Two pupils in classes five and six at the school tested positive for the H1N1 influenza after reporting at the Tema Polyclinic with fever and cold last weekend.
The Tema Metropolitan Directorate of Health took steps to prevent the spread of the disease and sent a team of health personnel to take specimen of the phlegm of the pupils who showed signs of fever, cold and coughs for immediate testing.
Classes were, therefore, suspended in the affected classrooms while awaiting results of tests from the NMIMR.
According to the Tema Metropolitan Health Director, Dr Ernestina Quainoo, the other results which were yet to be received would help the directorate to determine the severity of the situation.
She said the affected pupils were undergoing treatment.
When the Daily Graphic went to the school, the doors of the classrooms were locked.
Reports from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) indicate that the 16 were part of 44 specimens from the pupils presented to the institute for testing.
Testing of the submitted specimen is ongoing to ascertain the status of over 150 pupils of the school whose phlegm specimen were taken and delivered to the centre.
Based on the results coming from the NMIMR, the authorities of the school have closed it down, except for the final-year students who attend classes.
Two pupils in classes five and six at the school tested positive for the H1N1 influenza after reporting at the Tema Polyclinic with fever and cold last weekend.
The Tema Metropolitan Directorate of Health took steps to prevent the spread of the disease and sent a team of health personnel to take specimen of the phlegm of the pupils who showed signs of fever, cold and coughs for immediate testing.
Classes were, therefore, suspended in the affected classrooms while awaiting results of tests from the NMIMR.
According to the Tema Metropolitan Health Director, Dr Ernestina Quainoo, the other results which were yet to be received would help the directorate to determine the severity of the situation.
She said the affected pupils were undergoing treatment.
When the Daily Graphic went to the school, the doors of the classrooms were locked.
NEW CANTEEN FOR NAVY (PAGE 29, MARCH 22, 2010)
The Navy in Tema has through self-help constructed an over 200-seating capacity multi-purpose canteen at a cost of GH¢100,000 to serve personnel of the Eastern Naval Command.
The canteen would also provide space for informal meetings and interactions.
In an address read for him during the inauguration of the canteen, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Rear Admiral Mathew Quarshie, commended the personnel for their spirit of self-help.
He said such self-help projects would play a key role in the administration of the navy.
The CNS, therefore, called on all naval commanders in the country to promote and initiate self-help projects in their commands.
Rear Admiral Quarshie noted that commands which would take the initiative to undertake self-help projects would be supported by the Naval Administration.
He further noted that self-help projects also fostered the building of team spirit and unity of purpose in the navy.
He entreated all officers and Divisional Senior Rates to inspire confidence in the young personnel in order to motivate them to volunteer their individual skills and talents to support the vision of the Ghana Navy.
The CNS commended personnel who volunteered their services for the construction of the canteen and encouraged them to keep sacrificing for the job.
Rear Admiral Quarshie disclosed that a seed money of GH¢20,000 had been approved by the administration to support the Eastern Naval Command’s library self-help upgrading initiative.
He urged the personnel to initiate the construction of a drill and three weapon sheds through self-help to the training of recruits at the Command.
The Flag Officer Commanding the Eastern Naval Command, Commodore Albert Addison, who represented the CDS, inaugurated the canteen.
The Commanding Officer of the Tema Naval Base, Commander Emmanuel Ayesi Kwafo, thanked corporate organisations which supported the navy in cash and kind to construct the canteen.
He stated that the canteen would be opened to the general public for the hosting of social gatherings, indicating that food vendors who would operate at the canteen would be screened and certified to meet health standards.
Civilian workers of the command and officers and personnel who showed extreme commitment and skills towards the completion of the project were presented with awards.
The canteen would also provide space for informal meetings and interactions.
In an address read for him during the inauguration of the canteen, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Rear Admiral Mathew Quarshie, commended the personnel for their spirit of self-help.
He said such self-help projects would play a key role in the administration of the navy.
The CNS, therefore, called on all naval commanders in the country to promote and initiate self-help projects in their commands.
Rear Admiral Quarshie noted that commands which would take the initiative to undertake self-help projects would be supported by the Naval Administration.
He further noted that self-help projects also fostered the building of team spirit and unity of purpose in the navy.
He entreated all officers and Divisional Senior Rates to inspire confidence in the young personnel in order to motivate them to volunteer their individual skills and talents to support the vision of the Ghana Navy.
The CNS commended personnel who volunteered their services for the construction of the canteen and encouraged them to keep sacrificing for the job.
Rear Admiral Quarshie disclosed that a seed money of GH¢20,000 had been approved by the administration to support the Eastern Naval Command’s library self-help upgrading initiative.
He urged the personnel to initiate the construction of a drill and three weapon sheds through self-help to the training of recruits at the Command.
The Flag Officer Commanding the Eastern Naval Command, Commodore Albert Addison, who represented the CDS, inaugurated the canteen.
The Commanding Officer of the Tema Naval Base, Commander Emmanuel Ayesi Kwafo, thanked corporate organisations which supported the navy in cash and kind to construct the canteen.
He stated that the canteen would be opened to the general public for the hosting of social gatherings, indicating that food vendors who would operate at the canteen would be screened and certified to meet health standards.
Civilian workers of the command and officers and personnel who showed extreme commitment and skills towards the completion of the project were presented with awards.
PARLIAMENTARIANS TOUR TEMA PORT (PAGE 29, MARCH 22, 2010)
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises has commended the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA ) for being one of the outstanding state enterprises in the country.
They made the commendation during a working visit to the Tema Port to ascertain the status of the port and to find out plans being made by the GPHA to cope with activities of the oil industry as a result of the oil find.
The committee also discussed plans underway for the GPHA to create employment.
The Vice-Chairman of the committee, Mr Charles Hodogbey, said by virtue of the mandate of the committee, it was undertaking a project to find out the performance of institutions to be able to report to parliament.
Some concerns expressed by the committee include the cumbersome processes importers had to undergo in the clearance of goods from the port, loss of cargo to neighbouring countries and its financial effects on the port, among others.
The Director of Tema Port, Mr Richard Anamoo, disclosed that GPHA did not have the prerogative to reduce the clearing days at the port and also to determine any policy affecting cargo and transport.
He said loss of cargo and finances to the neighbouring countries was as a result of the axle load law but disclosed that very soon the same law would be applying in neighbouring Burkina Faso, and hoped that would address the problem.
On delays at the port, he explained that there were various bodies operating at the port, noting that all these fragmented bodies had legal backing and were statutory bodies recognised to operate in the port.
Mr Anamoo indicated that the GPHA had no statutory power to stop any organisation from operating in the port but to rather offer logistical support to enable them to work.
He confirmed that some of the bodies had overlapping responsibilities, which sometimes created misunderstanding between them as a result of repetitive processes.
Mr Anamoo commented on the delays in documentation as a result of clearance from some sector ministries and departments.
He cited for example some explosives which needed a clearance by the Interior Ministry and which as a result had been kept in the port area for a considerable length of time, noting that “this has exposed the port to risk”.
Mr Anamoo suggested that the government should set up one institution to work alongside the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) to be in charge of cargo arriving at the port instead of the several bodies currently checking goods resulting in delays in clearance.
He affirmed that cargoes needed to be checked because of several fraudulent practices including under-invoicing and high level of dishonesty which importers indulged in.
Mr Anamoo disclosed that the Ghana Shippers Authority had the mandate to handle complaints of importers and exporters and, therefore, urged people with problems to go to the authority for help.
The Director-General of the GPHA, Mr Nestor Galley, had earlier in a presentation stated that the Tema and Takoradi ports would be expanded to meet the challenges posed by the oil find.
He disclosed that the authority was meeting to present a proposal on provision of facilities at the Takoradi port to stakeholders.
Mr Galley said the expansion would open up for small barges which would be providing services and logistics by shuttling to and from the coast to the drilling vessels.
He said GPHA had plans to redevelop the Takoradi port with the construction of a dedicated oil service terminal with facilities.
They made the commendation during a working visit to the Tema Port to ascertain the status of the port and to find out plans being made by the GPHA to cope with activities of the oil industry as a result of the oil find.
The committee also discussed plans underway for the GPHA to create employment.
The Vice-Chairman of the committee, Mr Charles Hodogbey, said by virtue of the mandate of the committee, it was undertaking a project to find out the performance of institutions to be able to report to parliament.
Some concerns expressed by the committee include the cumbersome processes importers had to undergo in the clearance of goods from the port, loss of cargo to neighbouring countries and its financial effects on the port, among others.
The Director of Tema Port, Mr Richard Anamoo, disclosed that GPHA did not have the prerogative to reduce the clearing days at the port and also to determine any policy affecting cargo and transport.
He said loss of cargo and finances to the neighbouring countries was as a result of the axle load law but disclosed that very soon the same law would be applying in neighbouring Burkina Faso, and hoped that would address the problem.
On delays at the port, he explained that there were various bodies operating at the port, noting that all these fragmented bodies had legal backing and were statutory bodies recognised to operate in the port.
Mr Anamoo indicated that the GPHA had no statutory power to stop any organisation from operating in the port but to rather offer logistical support to enable them to work.
He confirmed that some of the bodies had overlapping responsibilities, which sometimes created misunderstanding between them as a result of repetitive processes.
Mr Anamoo commented on the delays in documentation as a result of clearance from some sector ministries and departments.
He cited for example some explosives which needed a clearance by the Interior Ministry and which as a result had been kept in the port area for a considerable length of time, noting that “this has exposed the port to risk”.
Mr Anamoo suggested that the government should set up one institution to work alongside the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) to be in charge of cargo arriving at the port instead of the several bodies currently checking goods resulting in delays in clearance.
He affirmed that cargoes needed to be checked because of several fraudulent practices including under-invoicing and high level of dishonesty which importers indulged in.
Mr Anamoo disclosed that the Ghana Shippers Authority had the mandate to handle complaints of importers and exporters and, therefore, urged people with problems to go to the authority for help.
The Director-General of the GPHA, Mr Nestor Galley, had earlier in a presentation stated that the Tema and Takoradi ports would be expanded to meet the challenges posed by the oil find.
He disclosed that the authority was meeting to present a proposal on provision of facilities at the Takoradi port to stakeholders.
Mr Galley said the expansion would open up for small barges which would be providing services and logistics by shuttling to and from the coast to the drilling vessels.
He said GPHA had plans to redevelop the Takoradi port with the construction of a dedicated oil service terminal with facilities.
Friday, March 19, 2010
LEDZOKUKU MUNICIPALITY FACES CHRONIC WATER SHORTAGE (PAGE 29, MARCH 19, 2010)
PARTS of the Tema metropolis and the Ledzokuku Krowor Municipality have since last year experienced irregular flow of water, creating problems for residents.
Tema, for example, was uniquely planned and therefore water flows seamlessly as every household operates a water closet facility. However, in the Ledzokuku Krowor municipality, residents have to be served from water tankers, which are also irregular.
Some residents interviewed have, as a result, appealed to the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) to situate jumbo water tanks at selected areas to serve the public in times of water shortage.
They were of the view that the use of modern technology could help preserve water over a long period of time without fear of pollution and growth of fungus.
Those the Daily Graphic spoke with declared the need to use tanks produced with fibre technology instead of the galvanised and steel tanks.
It was gathered at the GWCL that provision of water had been the prerogative of the company, but the use of jumbo water tanks had been rather concentrated on rural communities .
The source said in 2008, the company imported some fiber glass tanks for some communities in the Volta Region, but after two weeks usage, the tanks developed leakages, leading to waste of resources .
It said beneficiaries from the fiber tanks were in the Sogakope , Dabala and Aflao communities in the Volta Region.
According to the GWCL, the fiber technology tank was not strong enough to withstand the climatic conditions in the country and could also not be repaired .
The source also saw the need to provide water to residents in times of shortage, but could not state the possibility of procuring the tanks.
A local company, Lanic Fiber Glass Technology Company at Pokuase, has confirmed that the imported fiber glass water tank was not strong enough for the country’s climate .
The company has denied that fiber glass technology could not be used in the country, and therefore, called on the GWCL to use the local product that had been reinforced to stand the country’s weather.
The Chief Executive of Lanic Fiber Glass Technology , Mr Ben Lamptey, stated that the company manufactured a ‘durable’ jumbo fiber glass water tank capable of containing 50,000 gallons of water on a pilot basis to the Tema International School about two years ago .
The tank, which was produced with fiber glass technology, was reinforced sufficiently to stand the tropical weather of the country with a guarantee period of 10 years.
Mr Lamptey explained that the technology used in the production of the fiber products by the company was unique and made the products durable .
He stated that fiber glass was a reinforced plastic and improved technology over galvanised, aluminium and steel.
Mr Lamptey appealed to the GWCL to adopt the use of items produced locally for longevity .
Mr Lamptey said the Lanic company undertook a study and found out that the burst tanks did not have the tropical climatic component to enable it to cope with the weather.
Mr Lamptey said for about two years since the tank was installed at the school it has continued to serve the students and had not developed any dent .
He said with the new technology, the company had gone into other products, including transparent roofing sheets , oil tanks, fiber glass furniture, phone booths ,cold store and boats, among others .
Mr Lamptey stated that products from fiber glass were corrosion resistant, non conductive, non magnetic and low maintenance.
The Maintenance Manager of the Tema International School, Mr Alex Tetteh, who spoke to the Daily Graphic at the school during a visit to look at the tank, said the Lanic fiber glass water tank installed some two years ago had helped to solve the water problems of the school .
The over 350 children population had on several occasions been sent home because of water shortage.
He noted that taps in the Tema metropolis sometimes ceased flowing unannounced for some days and had affected smooth operations at the school .
Mr Tetteh said since when the school procured the tank ,it had not had cause to effect any maintenance or repair work .
He confirmed that the tank was hygienic and did not grow fungus and did not rust, noting that the company once a while went to service it to ensure the water remained clean for human use.
Tema, for example, was uniquely planned and therefore water flows seamlessly as every household operates a water closet facility. However, in the Ledzokuku Krowor municipality, residents have to be served from water tankers, which are also irregular.
Some residents interviewed have, as a result, appealed to the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) to situate jumbo water tanks at selected areas to serve the public in times of water shortage.
They were of the view that the use of modern technology could help preserve water over a long period of time without fear of pollution and growth of fungus.
Those the Daily Graphic spoke with declared the need to use tanks produced with fibre technology instead of the galvanised and steel tanks.
It was gathered at the GWCL that provision of water had been the prerogative of the company, but the use of jumbo water tanks had been rather concentrated on rural communities .
The source said in 2008, the company imported some fiber glass tanks for some communities in the Volta Region, but after two weeks usage, the tanks developed leakages, leading to waste of resources .
It said beneficiaries from the fiber tanks were in the Sogakope , Dabala and Aflao communities in the Volta Region.
According to the GWCL, the fiber technology tank was not strong enough to withstand the climatic conditions in the country and could also not be repaired .
The source also saw the need to provide water to residents in times of shortage, but could not state the possibility of procuring the tanks.
A local company, Lanic Fiber Glass Technology Company at Pokuase, has confirmed that the imported fiber glass water tank was not strong enough for the country’s climate .
The company has denied that fiber glass technology could not be used in the country, and therefore, called on the GWCL to use the local product that had been reinforced to stand the country’s weather.
The Chief Executive of Lanic Fiber Glass Technology , Mr Ben Lamptey, stated that the company manufactured a ‘durable’ jumbo fiber glass water tank capable of containing 50,000 gallons of water on a pilot basis to the Tema International School about two years ago .
The tank, which was produced with fiber glass technology, was reinforced sufficiently to stand the tropical weather of the country with a guarantee period of 10 years.
Mr Lamptey explained that the technology used in the production of the fiber products by the company was unique and made the products durable .
He stated that fiber glass was a reinforced plastic and improved technology over galvanised, aluminium and steel.
Mr Lamptey appealed to the GWCL to adopt the use of items produced locally for longevity .
Mr Lamptey said the Lanic company undertook a study and found out that the burst tanks did not have the tropical climatic component to enable it to cope with the weather.
Mr Lamptey said for about two years since the tank was installed at the school it has continued to serve the students and had not developed any dent .
He said with the new technology, the company had gone into other products, including transparent roofing sheets , oil tanks, fiber glass furniture, phone booths ,cold store and boats, among others .
Mr Lamptey stated that products from fiber glass were corrosion resistant, non conductive, non magnetic and low maintenance.
The Maintenance Manager of the Tema International School, Mr Alex Tetteh, who spoke to the Daily Graphic at the school during a visit to look at the tank, said the Lanic fiber glass water tank installed some two years ago had helped to solve the water problems of the school .
The over 350 children population had on several occasions been sent home because of water shortage.
He noted that taps in the Tema metropolis sometimes ceased flowing unannounced for some days and had affected smooth operations at the school .
Mr Tetteh said since when the school procured the tank ,it had not had cause to effect any maintenance or repair work .
He confirmed that the tank was hygienic and did not grow fungus and did not rust, noting that the company once a while went to service it to ensure the water remained clean for human use.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
GAS SHORTAGE: ANY SOLUTION IN SIGHT? (SPREAD, MARCH 17, 2010)
Users of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for domestic, commercial and industrial purposes may heave a sigh of relief following an assurance by the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) that it would take delivery of gas yesterday.
The relief may, however, be short-lived, since the 5,000 metric tonnes of gas expected cannot be enough for a nation whose LPG requirement is in excess of the supply.
But TOR officials have assured the public that another consignment of 6,000 metric tonnes was expected 48 hours after the first delivery.
They are also confident that the two consignments will be augmented with additional supplies from the refinery to make LPG shortage throughout the country a thing of the past.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic the acting Managing Director of TOR, Dr Kwame Ampofo, confirmed that there had been shortage of the product on the market, adding that the leaking supply pipelines which hindered the discharge of the product from a vessel last Wednesday was partly responsible for the shortage.
He said the supply lines had been changed entirely and with that TOR now had the capacity to receive petroleum cargo without any hindrance.
Dr Ampofo was not happy that the nation had been hit by shortage of the product and gave the assurance that with TOR on the verge of completing repair works on its Residual Fuel Catalytic Cracker (RFCC), the nation would soon find all the petroleum products flooding the market.
Meanwhile, users of gas, particularly taxi drivers, have queued at gas filling stations in parts of Accra in anticipation of gas, report Seth J. Bokpe & Valentina Jovanovski.
The taxi drivers said they had not been able to work since there was shortage of gas.
According to them, they faced the problem of supporting their families, since they had not been able to work.
They also said they used LPG, instead of petrol, because it was less expensive and expressed the opinion that switching to petrol would significantly cut down their profits.
At the Amoh Gas Limited station at Achimota-Apenkwa, there was a long queue of gas cylinders waiting to be filled.
The attendant at the station, Mr Richard Adjei, said the station had run short of gas since last Thursday.
He said he had spent the whole day at TOR and had expected to get the gas supply back by Tuesday but he had been told he would have to wait until Wednesday.
Considering the uncertainty over when the gas supply would be restored, Mr Adjei added, “We do not know if Wednesday is the D-day.”
The situation was not any different at the Teshie Star Gas Filling Station.
The manager told the Daily Graphic in an interview that he had been out of stock for about a week, adding that he expected new delivery on Tuesday but, unfortunately, things did not work out as he had hoped.
At Anasset Gas, located at Awudome, the sign “We are sorry, no gas” was boldly displayed outside the station.
The manager, who spoke to the Daily Graphic on condition of anonymity, said the station ran out of gas on Friday but it had vehicles at TOR, ready to be filled with gas the moment it was available.
“The only information we have received so far from our representative there is that a ship has arrived with gas,” he said.
The Go Gas LPG Filling Station at Kawukudi in Accra had not had any gas for the past two weeks, according to a group of taxi drivers who had been waiting at the station every day for two weeks.
No attendants or workers for the gas company were present at the station for comment.
The relief may, however, be short-lived, since the 5,000 metric tonnes of gas expected cannot be enough for a nation whose LPG requirement is in excess of the supply.
But TOR officials have assured the public that another consignment of 6,000 metric tonnes was expected 48 hours after the first delivery.
They are also confident that the two consignments will be augmented with additional supplies from the refinery to make LPG shortage throughout the country a thing of the past.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic the acting Managing Director of TOR, Dr Kwame Ampofo, confirmed that there had been shortage of the product on the market, adding that the leaking supply pipelines which hindered the discharge of the product from a vessel last Wednesday was partly responsible for the shortage.
He said the supply lines had been changed entirely and with that TOR now had the capacity to receive petroleum cargo without any hindrance.
Dr Ampofo was not happy that the nation had been hit by shortage of the product and gave the assurance that with TOR on the verge of completing repair works on its Residual Fuel Catalytic Cracker (RFCC), the nation would soon find all the petroleum products flooding the market.
Meanwhile, users of gas, particularly taxi drivers, have queued at gas filling stations in parts of Accra in anticipation of gas, report Seth J. Bokpe & Valentina Jovanovski.
The taxi drivers said they had not been able to work since there was shortage of gas.
According to them, they faced the problem of supporting their families, since they had not been able to work.
They also said they used LPG, instead of petrol, because it was less expensive and expressed the opinion that switching to petrol would significantly cut down their profits.
At the Amoh Gas Limited station at Achimota-Apenkwa, there was a long queue of gas cylinders waiting to be filled.
The attendant at the station, Mr Richard Adjei, said the station had run short of gas since last Thursday.
He said he had spent the whole day at TOR and had expected to get the gas supply back by Tuesday but he had been told he would have to wait until Wednesday.
Considering the uncertainty over when the gas supply would be restored, Mr Adjei added, “We do not know if Wednesday is the D-day.”
The situation was not any different at the Teshie Star Gas Filling Station.
The manager told the Daily Graphic in an interview that he had been out of stock for about a week, adding that he expected new delivery on Tuesday but, unfortunately, things did not work out as he had hoped.
At Anasset Gas, located at Awudome, the sign “We are sorry, no gas” was boldly displayed outside the station.
The manager, who spoke to the Daily Graphic on condition of anonymity, said the station ran out of gas on Friday but it had vehicles at TOR, ready to be filled with gas the moment it was available.
“The only information we have received so far from our representative there is that a ship has arrived with gas,” he said.
The Go Gas LPG Filling Station at Kawukudi in Accra had not had any gas for the past two weeks, according to a group of taxi drivers who had been waiting at the station every day for two weeks.
No attendants or workers for the gas company were present at the station for comment.
SCHOOL CLOSED DOWN IN TEMA...Due to influenza attack (PAGE 30, MARCH 17, 2010)
Two pupils in classes five and six respectively at the Tema Parents Association School in Tema have tested positive to the HINI Influenza after reporting at the Tema Polyclinic with fever and cold.
Their identities have not been disclosed but they are said to be foreigners who had recently travelled outside the country with their parents.
As a result of the diagnosis, the Tema Metropolitan Directorate of Education has directed the school’s authorities to suspend classes for the pupils of the two classes until the final results from the Noguchi Memorial Centre were certified.
According to the Tema Metropolitan Director of Health, Dr Ernestina Quainoo, specimen had been taken from the phlegm of 150 children from the two classes and other children of the school who were experiencing slight coughs to the Noguchi Memorial Centre.
She explained that the influenza in the two children was detected when their parents took them to hospital over the weekend with symptoms of fever and cold.
Dr Quainoo said a team of medical personnel was dispatched to the school yesterday morning after the diagnosis at the Tema Polyclinic.
She said the two affected children were responding to treatment.
Dr Quainoo said the report on the specimen delivered to the Nogochi Centre was expected to be received today Wednesday March 17, 2010.
The Assistant Headmaster of the school, Mr Abraham Afer stated that the other classes were in session and advised parents to be patient, since medical personnel were controlling the situation .
He denied earlier reports that some parents had started withdrawing their children from the school due to panick.
A parent later told the Daily Graphic that her child developed high temperature at the weekend but was diagnosed with a respiratory infection making her uncomfortable after news about the presence of the influenza in the school went round.
Their identities have not been disclosed but they are said to be foreigners who had recently travelled outside the country with their parents.
As a result of the diagnosis, the Tema Metropolitan Directorate of Education has directed the school’s authorities to suspend classes for the pupils of the two classes until the final results from the Noguchi Memorial Centre were certified.
According to the Tema Metropolitan Director of Health, Dr Ernestina Quainoo, specimen had been taken from the phlegm of 150 children from the two classes and other children of the school who were experiencing slight coughs to the Noguchi Memorial Centre.
She explained that the influenza in the two children was detected when their parents took them to hospital over the weekend with symptoms of fever and cold.
Dr Quainoo said a team of medical personnel was dispatched to the school yesterday morning after the diagnosis at the Tema Polyclinic.
She said the two affected children were responding to treatment.
Dr Quainoo said the report on the specimen delivered to the Nogochi Centre was expected to be received today Wednesday March 17, 2010.
The Assistant Headmaster of the school, Mr Abraham Afer stated that the other classes were in session and advised parents to be patient, since medical personnel were controlling the situation .
He denied earlier reports that some parents had started withdrawing their children from the school due to panick.
A parent later told the Daily Graphic that her child developed high temperature at the weekend but was diagnosed with a respiratory infection making her uncomfortable after news about the presence of the influenza in the school went round.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
TEMA POLICE ARREST FRAUDSTER (PAGE 29, MARCH 15, 2010)
A 28-year-old self-styled businessman, Wisdom Ofori Asibey, has been arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department of the Tema Regional Police for defrauding 28 job seekers to the tune of GH¢ 4,600.
The suspect, who is currently in police custody, promised his victims that he would secure them jobs and demanded valid identification items such as driver’s licences, passports and police clearance letters, in addition to the monies.
Investigations to identify other victims who might have paid various sums of monies to the suspect for employment are ongoing.
Two people identified the suspect as the one who defrauded them after promising to geting them employed.
According to the Tema Regional Crime Officer, Supt Eric Amoako, personnel of the Customs Long Room branch of ECOBANK at the Tema Port, received complaints from the public that they had paid monies to a particular account number, but could not trace the account holder after the payments.
He said the bank, therefore, started to monitor the said account and detected that monies ranging between GH¢ 150 and GH¢250 were paid into the account at different times from January to March 2010.
Supt Amoako said the bank consequently blocked the account, which, at the time, had GH¢4,600 in it.
This, he said, was to compel the account holder to report to the bank.
He said the suspect, realising that his account had been blocked, went to enquire about it and was immediately arrested and handed over to the police.
Supt Amoako said investigations revealed that Asibey had operated the account since January 6 until March 5, 2010, when it was blocked.
He cautioned unemployed people to investigate the background of those who posed as employment agents before dealing with them.
The suspect, who is currently in police custody, promised his victims that he would secure them jobs and demanded valid identification items such as driver’s licences, passports and police clearance letters, in addition to the monies.
Investigations to identify other victims who might have paid various sums of monies to the suspect for employment are ongoing.
Two people identified the suspect as the one who defrauded them after promising to geting them employed.
According to the Tema Regional Crime Officer, Supt Eric Amoako, personnel of the Customs Long Room branch of ECOBANK at the Tema Port, received complaints from the public that they had paid monies to a particular account number, but could not trace the account holder after the payments.
He said the bank, therefore, started to monitor the said account and detected that monies ranging between GH¢ 150 and GH¢250 were paid into the account at different times from January to March 2010.
Supt Amoako said the bank consequently blocked the account, which, at the time, had GH¢4,600 in it.
This, he said, was to compel the account holder to report to the bank.
He said the suspect, realising that his account had been blocked, went to enquire about it and was immediately arrested and handed over to the police.
Supt Amoako said investigations revealed that Asibey had operated the account since January 6 until March 5, 2010, when it was blocked.
He cautioned unemployed people to investigate the background of those who posed as employment agents before dealing with them.
Friday, March 12, 2010
CHRISTIANS MUST HELP TEMA REGAIN PAST GLORY (PAGE 29, MARCH 12, 2010)
The Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware, has appealed to Christians to help in the crusade to restore Tema’s past glory as a beautiful and well- planned industrial city.
He said the existing partnership between the church and the state must continue to grow and urged Christians to reflect on their attitudes with the view to correcting and improving on them.
The MCE made the call when he addressed a congregation of the Full Gospel Church International (FGCI) in Tema to mark ‘Ghana Day’; an innovative celebration by the church to highlight the virtues and values of the founders of the nation.
The celebration, themed ‘Nurturing and Optimising a Maintenance Culture for National Development’, was also to instil patriotism and loyalty in the citizenry through the active involvement of the church.
As part of the celebration, the premises of the church was decorated with the colours of the Ghana flag and the congregation sang patriotic songs.
Mr Ofosuware commended the leadership of the FGCI for being innovative and recognising the existing partnership between the church and State .
He observed that society had placed premium on riches than individual values and, therefore, materialism had taken a better part of the people.
Mr Ofosuware explained that this had made the fight against corruption difficult, noting that the nation must be shaped by the values of her people and not their riches .
He noted that the founders of Ghana preached unity, selflessness and patriotism and questioned whether after 53 years of independence, the nation was united.
Mr Ofosuware urged the congregation to preach the word of God, promote unity and protect the environment since cleanliness is next to Godliness.
Mr Ofosuware stated that the church should incorporate into their plans, days on which members would plant trees along the roads that lead to the church premises and gave the assurance that the ‘assembly would provide seedlings for the exercise’ whenever they were ready.
The President of FGCI Rt Revd Mensah, denounced the lack of maintenance culture, ineffective legal framework , and use of political power to shield wrongdoers, which had affected national development and added that we should not blame any external forces for the challenges facing the nation .
Rt Revd Mensah asked ‘how can the lack of basic necessities of life like regular flow of water, electricity, sanitation, hunger, shelter, protection of life and property be blamed on external forces?
He noted that the laws of the nation must be made to work regardless of the political party in power.
Rt Revd Mensah said the ‘give it to God’ mentality was killing society and appealed to Ghanaians to critically examine issues affecting the nation .
He called on the government to ensure that institutions like the Fire Service and Police Service were provided with adequate materials to enable them to work and protect life and property, adding that ‘development depends on good governance.
He said the existing partnership between the church and the state must continue to grow and urged Christians to reflect on their attitudes with the view to correcting and improving on them.
The MCE made the call when he addressed a congregation of the Full Gospel Church International (FGCI) in Tema to mark ‘Ghana Day’; an innovative celebration by the church to highlight the virtues and values of the founders of the nation.
The celebration, themed ‘Nurturing and Optimising a Maintenance Culture for National Development’, was also to instil patriotism and loyalty in the citizenry through the active involvement of the church.
As part of the celebration, the premises of the church was decorated with the colours of the Ghana flag and the congregation sang patriotic songs.
Mr Ofosuware commended the leadership of the FGCI for being innovative and recognising the existing partnership between the church and State .
He observed that society had placed premium on riches than individual values and, therefore, materialism had taken a better part of the people.
Mr Ofosuware explained that this had made the fight against corruption difficult, noting that the nation must be shaped by the values of her people and not their riches .
He noted that the founders of Ghana preached unity, selflessness and patriotism and questioned whether after 53 years of independence, the nation was united.
Mr Ofosuware urged the congregation to preach the word of God, promote unity and protect the environment since cleanliness is next to Godliness.
Mr Ofosuware stated that the church should incorporate into their plans, days on which members would plant trees along the roads that lead to the church premises and gave the assurance that the ‘assembly would provide seedlings for the exercise’ whenever they were ready.
The President of FGCI Rt Revd Mensah, denounced the lack of maintenance culture, ineffective legal framework , and use of political power to shield wrongdoers, which had affected national development and added that we should not blame any external forces for the challenges facing the nation .
Rt Revd Mensah asked ‘how can the lack of basic necessities of life like regular flow of water, electricity, sanitation, hunger, shelter, protection of life and property be blamed on external forces?
He noted that the laws of the nation must be made to work regardless of the political party in power.
Rt Revd Mensah said the ‘give it to God’ mentality was killing society and appealed to Ghanaians to critically examine issues affecting the nation .
He called on the government to ensure that institutions like the Fire Service and Police Service were provided with adequate materials to enable them to work and protect life and property, adding that ‘development depends on good governance.
GRIDCO INSTALLS SUBSTATION TO IMPROVE POWER SUPPLY (PAGE 29, MARCH 12, 2010)
THE Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCO) is installing a 330kV substation to improve and ensure a stable and reliable power supply.
The first phase of the project, being funded jointly by the World Bank, The Kuwait Fund, the European Investment Bank and the Ghana Government at the cost of $80 million, is expected to be completed in the last quarter of this year.
When completed, the substation, the first of its kind in the country, will be linked to the old 161 kV lines, which are inadequate for ensuring stable power supply, to improve on the general energy situation.
The Director of Engineering at GRIDCO, Mr Norbert Anku, who made this known when the Minister of Energy, Dr Joe Oteng Adjei, inspected GRIDCO operations in Tema, said the first phase of the five-phase project would cover the area from Aboadze to Tema.
Mr Anku said the programme, under the West African Power Pool (WAPP) 330kV Transmission Backbone Project, would improve power transmission substantially.
He said the second phase would link up Tema , Lome and Benin, third phase –Aboadze to Prestea , fourth phase -Prestea and Cote Ivoire and the fifth would be from Prestea and Kumasi to Tema again.
The Chief Executive of GRIDCO, Mr Charles Darku, conducting the Minister round the 330kV substation, explained that the GRIDCO was poised to renew and expand the national grid and to proactively address the obsolescence and inadequacies in the grid system.
He said GRIDCO had plans to move the country to the hub of the West African Power Pool operations and was, therefore, working hard to establish a wholesale power market.
Mr Darku called for a ‘good ’ tariff from the public Utilities Regulatory Commission in the shortest possible time to enable GRIDCO receive the much needed funds to build a strong and financially healthy electric utility that was a pre-requisite for a strong economy.
He gave the assurance that GRIDCO was committed to working hard to restore the power system to its pristine status.
Mr Darku appealed to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take action against a steel company situated close to the new substation because of its effect on the installed insulators.
He explained that effect of smoke from the plant on the insulators could cause blasts at the substation.
The Energy Minister commended the workforce of GRIDCO for their hard work and assured them of the government’s support to build a new power system.
He said GRIDCO had made many strides in stabilising the national interconnected transmission network and increasing its interface with its numerous stakeholders over the period to help share information on the grid.
Dr Oteng –Adjei noted that the last 18 months had been challenging and encouraged Management of GRIDCO to extend their interaction to key consumer groups such as the Chamber of Commerce, Chamber of Mines, Ghana Employers Association and the Association of Ghana Industries.
He observed that the government was aware of the stress on the national transmission grid, resulting from an ageing infrastructure and a rapidly growing demand for electricity that averaged about seven per cent per annum.
Dr Oteng –Adjei said it was gratifying to note that GRIDCO’s Management had initiated various projects to renew the transmission system by replacing obsolete parts, rehabilitating some and expanding the lines and substations to help strengthen and stabilise the network.
He gave the assurance that the government would support GRIDCO’s project planning and investments that would prevent outages that might come as a result of the maintenance works on the lines or a fault on a transformer.
He was optimistic that through GRIDCO’s tie with the West African Power Pool programme, “Ghana can and would actually become a net exporter of electricity”.
The Energy Minister also toured the company’s System Control Centre, where all operational activities of substations were monitored.
Dr Oteng–Adjei also cut the tape to open a new office block, made up of 15 rooms, constructed at the cost of GHҐ450,000.
The first phase of the project, being funded jointly by the World Bank, The Kuwait Fund, the European Investment Bank and the Ghana Government at the cost of $80 million, is expected to be completed in the last quarter of this year.
When completed, the substation, the first of its kind in the country, will be linked to the old 161 kV lines, which are inadequate for ensuring stable power supply, to improve on the general energy situation.
The Director of Engineering at GRIDCO, Mr Norbert Anku, who made this known when the Minister of Energy, Dr Joe Oteng Adjei, inspected GRIDCO operations in Tema, said the first phase of the five-phase project would cover the area from Aboadze to Tema.
Mr Anku said the programme, under the West African Power Pool (WAPP) 330kV Transmission Backbone Project, would improve power transmission substantially.
He said the second phase would link up Tema , Lome and Benin, third phase –Aboadze to Prestea , fourth phase -Prestea and Cote Ivoire and the fifth would be from Prestea and Kumasi to Tema again.
The Chief Executive of GRIDCO, Mr Charles Darku, conducting the Minister round the 330kV substation, explained that the GRIDCO was poised to renew and expand the national grid and to proactively address the obsolescence and inadequacies in the grid system.
He said GRIDCO had plans to move the country to the hub of the West African Power Pool operations and was, therefore, working hard to establish a wholesale power market.
Mr Darku called for a ‘good ’ tariff from the public Utilities Regulatory Commission in the shortest possible time to enable GRIDCO receive the much needed funds to build a strong and financially healthy electric utility that was a pre-requisite for a strong economy.
He gave the assurance that GRIDCO was committed to working hard to restore the power system to its pristine status.
Mr Darku appealed to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take action against a steel company situated close to the new substation because of its effect on the installed insulators.
He explained that effect of smoke from the plant on the insulators could cause blasts at the substation.
The Energy Minister commended the workforce of GRIDCO for their hard work and assured them of the government’s support to build a new power system.
He said GRIDCO had made many strides in stabilising the national interconnected transmission network and increasing its interface with its numerous stakeholders over the period to help share information on the grid.
Dr Oteng –Adjei noted that the last 18 months had been challenging and encouraged Management of GRIDCO to extend their interaction to key consumer groups such as the Chamber of Commerce, Chamber of Mines, Ghana Employers Association and the Association of Ghana Industries.
He observed that the government was aware of the stress on the national transmission grid, resulting from an ageing infrastructure and a rapidly growing demand for electricity that averaged about seven per cent per annum.
Dr Oteng –Adjei said it was gratifying to note that GRIDCO’s Management had initiated various projects to renew the transmission system by replacing obsolete parts, rehabilitating some and expanding the lines and substations to help strengthen and stabilise the network.
He gave the assurance that the government would support GRIDCO’s project planning and investments that would prevent outages that might come as a result of the maintenance works on the lines or a fault on a transformer.
He was optimistic that through GRIDCO’s tie with the West African Power Pool programme, “Ghana can and would actually become a net exporter of electricity”.
The Energy Minister also toured the company’s System Control Centre, where all operational activities of substations were monitored.
Dr Oteng–Adjei also cut the tape to open a new office block, made up of 15 rooms, constructed at the cost of GHҐ450,000.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
UNILEVER DONATES TO TEMA SOS VILLAGE (PAGE 28, MARCH 11, 2010)
UNILEVER Ghana has presented books worth GH¢ 12,000 to the SOS Children’s Village in Tema in order to enhance the reading habit of the children in the Village.
The National Director of SOS, Mr Kojo Mattah, who received the books, said they would be distributed to cover the four SOS villages in the country.
He stated that there were SOS villages in Asiakwa , Kumasi and Tamale, in addition to the Tema Village.
Mr Mattah disclosed that there were 400 children in the four villages, with 157 of them being in the Tema Village alone.
He expressed the hope that the books would help the children to improve their reading habits instead of acquiring the habit of sitting before television sets at their leisure periods .
Mr Mattah explained that it had become the habit of some children to make television programmes their priority, at the expense of their academic work .
He was also of the opinion that if leisure hours were utilised profitably , children would acquire more knowledge through books .
Mr Mattah was grateful to Unilever and thanked its management for the donation which he described as ‘wonderful’, but appealed to other corporate organisations to offer more support to the children who were vulnerable.
The Public Affairs Manager of Unilever, Ms Bernice Natue, making the donation, said most of the books were English Literature books .
She explained that Unilever Ghana was responding to an appeal from the management of the Village for support during the recent opening of the Tamale Village.
Ms Natue said Unilever chose to extend care to the children of the SOS Villages because of their vulnerability, and also to ensure that they were educated adequately in order to impact positively on society.
The Tema Village Director, Mr Isaac Kojo Ackom, said the Tema SOS Village was the first to be established in the country in 1974.
He said with its expansion programme , the SOS Village was opened in January 2010, with 30 abandoned destitutes and orphaned children .
Mr Ackom said 80 per cent of the running cost of the SOS Village in Tema was borne by the SOS Kinderdorf International based in Austria, with 20 per cent cost generated internally .
He stated that the Village gave long-term care and most of the inmates were weaned off at the age of 26, after going through kindergarten, primary, JSS and tertiary education .
Mr Ackom said the books would be kept in the library for use by the children.
Some of the books were authored by Emily Bronte, Kobina Sekyi, and Edward Grayson.
There were also books on management in developing countries and Wordsworth Classics
The National Director of SOS, Mr Kojo Mattah, who received the books, said they would be distributed to cover the four SOS villages in the country.
He stated that there were SOS villages in Asiakwa , Kumasi and Tamale, in addition to the Tema Village.
Mr Mattah disclosed that there were 400 children in the four villages, with 157 of them being in the Tema Village alone.
He expressed the hope that the books would help the children to improve their reading habits instead of acquiring the habit of sitting before television sets at their leisure periods .
Mr Mattah explained that it had become the habit of some children to make television programmes their priority, at the expense of their academic work .
He was also of the opinion that if leisure hours were utilised profitably , children would acquire more knowledge through books .
Mr Mattah was grateful to Unilever and thanked its management for the donation which he described as ‘wonderful’, but appealed to other corporate organisations to offer more support to the children who were vulnerable.
The Public Affairs Manager of Unilever, Ms Bernice Natue, making the donation, said most of the books were English Literature books .
She explained that Unilever Ghana was responding to an appeal from the management of the Village for support during the recent opening of the Tamale Village.
Ms Natue said Unilever chose to extend care to the children of the SOS Villages because of their vulnerability, and also to ensure that they were educated adequately in order to impact positively on society.
The Tema Village Director, Mr Isaac Kojo Ackom, said the Tema SOS Village was the first to be established in the country in 1974.
He said with its expansion programme , the SOS Village was opened in January 2010, with 30 abandoned destitutes and orphaned children .
Mr Ackom said 80 per cent of the running cost of the SOS Village in Tema was borne by the SOS Kinderdorf International based in Austria, with 20 per cent cost generated internally .
He stated that the Village gave long-term care and most of the inmates were weaned off at the age of 26, after going through kindergarten, primary, JSS and tertiary education .
Mr Ackom said the books would be kept in the library for use by the children.
Some of the books were authored by Emily Bronte, Kobina Sekyi, and Edward Grayson.
There were also books on management in developing countries and Wordsworth Classics
FIRE GUTS TEMA MARKET (SPREAD, MARCH 11, 2010)
A portion of the Tema Community One Market got burnt early yesterday morning resulting in the destruction of goods running into several thousands of Ghana cedis.
The fire destroyed three metal container shops and two other wooden structures.
According to the Tema Regional Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, Mr Timothy Osafo-Affum, the station received a distress call at about 5:10 a.m. yesterday.
It took personnel about 20 minutes to bring the fire under control at about 5:35a.m.
When the Daily Graphic got to the scene at about 7:30a.m. a number of traders and sympathisers were on the market premises watching the destruction the fire had caused.
Mr Osafo-Affum told the Daily Graphic that the area would be isolated from power supply for investigations to be conducted into the cause of the fire.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Kempes Ofosuware, who was at the scene to ascertain the situation, expressed grave concern about illegal electrical connections in the market and cautioned traders that the assembly would not hesitate to prosecute traders found engaging in such practices.
He indicated that the assembly would put together a six-member committee made up of representatives of the market association, officials of the fire service, the Electricity Company of Ghana and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to investigate the immediate cause of the fire and make recommendations to the assembly.
The fire destroyed three metal container shops and two other wooden structures.
According to the Tema Regional Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, Mr Timothy Osafo-Affum, the station received a distress call at about 5:10 a.m. yesterday.
It took personnel about 20 minutes to bring the fire under control at about 5:35a.m.
When the Daily Graphic got to the scene at about 7:30a.m. a number of traders and sympathisers were on the market premises watching the destruction the fire had caused.
Mr Osafo-Affum told the Daily Graphic that the area would be isolated from power supply for investigations to be conducted into the cause of the fire.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Kempes Ofosuware, who was at the scene to ascertain the situation, expressed grave concern about illegal electrical connections in the market and cautioned traders that the assembly would not hesitate to prosecute traders found engaging in such practices.
He indicated that the assembly would put together a six-member committee made up of representatives of the market association, officials of the fire service, the Electricity Company of Ghana and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to investigate the immediate cause of the fire and make recommendations to the assembly.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
TOR REPAIRS CATALYTIC CRACKER (PAGE 31, MARCH 10, 2010)
The Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) is to commence production at 70 per cent installed capacity by the end of March 2010, after a shutdown due to the breakdown of the refinery’s Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracker (RFCC).
A consultant engineer from the manufacturing company, Elliot Turbomachinery in Europe, arrived at the weekend to undertake installation works on the RFCC which developed a technical fault about three weeks ago.
TOR had for the period of the shutdown, depended on imported finished petroleum products and also allowed recognised bodies to import to secure the market.
The acting Managing Director of TOR, Dr Kwame Ampofo, who made this known in Tema, explained that the wet gas compressor of the RFCC developed a technical fault and, therefore, could not compress the various gases.
TOR, therefore, delivered premix, fuel oil, LPG and aviation kerosene from the refinery while all others were supplied through pumping of the products to the Accra plains, Sahara and Cirrus depots and by ocean transfer to the Takoradi depot.
He said the manufacturers, Elliot Turbomachinery, had the sole responsibility for manipulating the equipment.
Dr Ampofo said TOR needed about $250,000 to pay for the cost of repairs and also settle an outstanding debt of about $400,000.
He said TOR owed the manufacturers the outstanding debt as result of a previous routine maintenance conducted on the plant.
Dr Ampofo said the refinery was in financial difficulties, but considering the importance of the equipment to the refinery, it managed to pay off the debt and maintenance cost from its own internally generated funds to have the faulty equipment replaced.
He said the seals of the Wet Gas Compressor components needed for the repair works were ordered from the manufacturers and airlifted to in Ghana on Tuesday, March 2, 2010.
Dr Ampofo disclosed that it would take two weeks to install the components and another one week during which period the RFCC would heat up for production to start and “normalcy to be restored to TOR”.
He said TOR had its own arrangement of crude supplies and this would enable it to have a stock of two million barrels of crude every two months and, therefore, gave an assurance that there would be regular availability of petroleum products on the market.
Dr Ampofo stated that there was also a government-to-government arrangement for supply of the commodity on the 90-day credit basis.
He commended workers of TOR for their commitment and sacrifices, noting that through their ingenuity, the refinery had continued to function.
Dr Ampofo said after the inferno at TOR, engineers, supported by the workers, fabricated loading bays to enable the refinery to continue to supply products to the OMCs for distribution in the country.
He noted that the ultimate goal of TOR was to replace the burnt gantries with modern automated facility.
Dr Ampofo said as a result of this, TOR was collaborating with Gazprom and Kampac Oil Company to achieve a speedy execution of the project.
He was optimistic that by the end of the year 2010, the new gantry would be in place to start operation.
A consultant engineer from the manufacturing company, Elliot Turbomachinery in Europe, arrived at the weekend to undertake installation works on the RFCC which developed a technical fault about three weeks ago.
TOR had for the period of the shutdown, depended on imported finished petroleum products and also allowed recognised bodies to import to secure the market.
The acting Managing Director of TOR, Dr Kwame Ampofo, who made this known in Tema, explained that the wet gas compressor of the RFCC developed a technical fault and, therefore, could not compress the various gases.
TOR, therefore, delivered premix, fuel oil, LPG and aviation kerosene from the refinery while all others were supplied through pumping of the products to the Accra plains, Sahara and Cirrus depots and by ocean transfer to the Takoradi depot.
He said the manufacturers, Elliot Turbomachinery, had the sole responsibility for manipulating the equipment.
Dr Ampofo said TOR needed about $250,000 to pay for the cost of repairs and also settle an outstanding debt of about $400,000.
He said TOR owed the manufacturers the outstanding debt as result of a previous routine maintenance conducted on the plant.
Dr Ampofo said the refinery was in financial difficulties, but considering the importance of the equipment to the refinery, it managed to pay off the debt and maintenance cost from its own internally generated funds to have the faulty equipment replaced.
He said the seals of the Wet Gas Compressor components needed for the repair works were ordered from the manufacturers and airlifted to in Ghana on Tuesday, March 2, 2010.
Dr Ampofo disclosed that it would take two weeks to install the components and another one week during which period the RFCC would heat up for production to start and “normalcy to be restored to TOR”.
He said TOR had its own arrangement of crude supplies and this would enable it to have a stock of two million barrels of crude every two months and, therefore, gave an assurance that there would be regular availability of petroleum products on the market.
Dr Ampofo stated that there was also a government-to-government arrangement for supply of the commodity on the 90-day credit basis.
He commended workers of TOR for their commitment and sacrifices, noting that through their ingenuity, the refinery had continued to function.
Dr Ampofo said after the inferno at TOR, engineers, supported by the workers, fabricated loading bays to enable the refinery to continue to supply products to the OMCs for distribution in the country.
He noted that the ultimate goal of TOR was to replace the burnt gantries with modern automated facility.
Dr Ampofo said as a result of this, TOR was collaborating with Gazprom and Kampac Oil Company to achieve a speedy execution of the project.
He was optimistic that by the end of the year 2010, the new gantry would be in place to start operation.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
TOR FIGHTS PREMIX CANKER (BACK PAGE, MARCH 9, 2010)
The Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) says it will not allow trucks without the ‘Premix Fuel’ inscription on them to load fuel at the refinery from March 15, 2010.
According to the Acting Managing Director of TOR , Dr Kwame Ampofo, only trucks with the inscription would be allowed to load to prevent diversions and adulteration.
“Only branded trucks with the inscription Premix would be allowed to load from the refinery,” he stressed.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic concerning reactions to diversions and adulteration of the premix product, which is solely meant for the fishing industry , Dr Ampofo said this information had been communicated to the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) registered to lift premix fuel from the refinery long before the recent incident of adulteration occurred .
He explained that trucks meant to lift premix fuel could not be engaged in the lifting of other petroleum products because of fear of adulteration as a result of leftover of previous products in the tanks.
Dr Ampofo stated that the refinery had to rely on the request of specific quantity from the National Premix Committee for supply to the OMCs before distribution to the fishermen.
He said TOR currently turned out 80 trucks of premix oil every week with one truck containing 13,500 litres of the product .
Dr Ampofo said recent incidents of adulteration of petrol with premix fuel would not have been detected if the colour had not changed to blue.
He observed that the problem of tracing the movement of the premix trucks would be solved if the branding of the trucks was made conspicuous to the public.
Dr Ampofo cautioned the OMCs to ensure that they observed the date to avoid any embarrassment from the refinery loading point.
He gave the assurance that the refinery was gearing up to start production on its maximum scale and did not envisage any shortage of the product.
According to the Acting Managing Director of TOR , Dr Kwame Ampofo, only trucks with the inscription would be allowed to load to prevent diversions and adulteration.
“Only branded trucks with the inscription Premix would be allowed to load from the refinery,” he stressed.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic concerning reactions to diversions and adulteration of the premix product, which is solely meant for the fishing industry , Dr Ampofo said this information had been communicated to the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) registered to lift premix fuel from the refinery long before the recent incident of adulteration occurred .
He explained that trucks meant to lift premix fuel could not be engaged in the lifting of other petroleum products because of fear of adulteration as a result of leftover of previous products in the tanks.
Dr Ampofo stated that the refinery had to rely on the request of specific quantity from the National Premix Committee for supply to the OMCs before distribution to the fishermen.
He said TOR currently turned out 80 trucks of premix oil every week with one truck containing 13,500 litres of the product .
Dr Ampofo said recent incidents of adulteration of petrol with premix fuel would not have been detected if the colour had not changed to blue.
He observed that the problem of tracing the movement of the premix trucks would be solved if the branding of the trucks was made conspicuous to the public.
Dr Ampofo cautioned the OMCs to ensure that they observed the date to avoid any embarrassment from the refinery loading point.
He gave the assurance that the refinery was gearing up to start production on its maximum scale and did not envisage any shortage of the product.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
TEMA FIRE SERVICE PREPARES FOR COMPETITION (PAGE 18, MARCH 6, 2010)
Personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) in the Tema Region have undertaken a district exercise to select the best team to represent Tema in a Regional Extrication Challenge competition in June 2010.
The competition was aimed at selecting a team to represent Ghana in an international competition on extrication challenges, at the instance of the World Extrication Organisation (WEO) based in the UK.
Personnel involved in the competition were drawn from ,Tema, Ada, Ashaiman ,Dodowa and Industrial Fire stations .
The fire personnel were supervised and judged by experts referred to as ‘Assessors’ who took into consideration the expert handling of equipment, effective rescue operation, pre-hospital care and the swiftness with which personnel undertook the exercise .
According to the Tema Regional Public Relations Officer of the GNFS, Mr Timothy Osafo-Affum, the competition was aimed at strengthening the men in the performance of their duties.
Mr Affum said the WEO had among its regulations the need for every participating district to have an extricating equipment .
He said this called for a collaborative competition because in the Tema Region only Tema and Ada had the equipment, and therefore would deny those who lacked access to the equipment from taking part in the competition .
He said Ghana had benefited in terms of equipment and training from the World Extrication Organisation to enable GNFS to build an internal extrication team at the various stations.
Mr Affum said membership of the competition had made personnel of the GNFS one of the best in the world.
He explained that the WEO considered the rescue of accident victims very crucial hence the need to train more fire personnel to save lives.
The Tema Regional Commander of the GNFS, Mr Gilford T.Adams, in an interaction with the media said accident level in the region was mounting, noting that from January 2010 to the end of February 2010 , the station had recorded nine accidents ,72 casualties and two deaths on the motorway .
He cautioned drivers to be careful on the motorway, noting that road works had rendered the road rough and bumpy, and that ‘the DVLA has a role to play by ensuring that only road worthy vehicles were allowed on the roads’.
Mr Adams said it was unfortunate that people who reported accidents did not give adequate information on the location and the nature of accidents.
He appealed to the public to help the GNFS to save situations in time by stating if it was flood , fire or accident to enable the personnel to prepare adequately to handle it .
Mr Adams also called on drivers to adhere to sirens, which according to the law, was an indication to give way to traffic, which would enable firemen to arrive at accident scenes on time to bring situations under control .
Mr Adams said Ghana had one of the best fire service in the world but unfortunately it lacked equipment with which to work .
He said Tema currently needed two extrication vehicles to be stationed at the motorway and on the Ada road to save lives and property .
Mr Adams was happy that the GNFS was a member of the WEO which had afforded Ghana the opportunity to take part in the competition for the past three years .
He commended the firemen for their smart turnout and the seriousness they attached to the programme. .
The competition was aimed at selecting a team to represent Ghana in an international competition on extrication challenges, at the instance of the World Extrication Organisation (WEO) based in the UK.
Personnel involved in the competition were drawn from ,Tema, Ada, Ashaiman ,Dodowa and Industrial Fire stations .
The fire personnel were supervised and judged by experts referred to as ‘Assessors’ who took into consideration the expert handling of equipment, effective rescue operation, pre-hospital care and the swiftness with which personnel undertook the exercise .
According to the Tema Regional Public Relations Officer of the GNFS, Mr Timothy Osafo-Affum, the competition was aimed at strengthening the men in the performance of their duties.
Mr Affum said the WEO had among its regulations the need for every participating district to have an extricating equipment .
He said this called for a collaborative competition because in the Tema Region only Tema and Ada had the equipment, and therefore would deny those who lacked access to the equipment from taking part in the competition .
He said Ghana had benefited in terms of equipment and training from the World Extrication Organisation to enable GNFS to build an internal extrication team at the various stations.
Mr Affum said membership of the competition had made personnel of the GNFS one of the best in the world.
He explained that the WEO considered the rescue of accident victims very crucial hence the need to train more fire personnel to save lives.
The Tema Regional Commander of the GNFS, Mr Gilford T.Adams, in an interaction with the media said accident level in the region was mounting, noting that from January 2010 to the end of February 2010 , the station had recorded nine accidents ,72 casualties and two deaths on the motorway .
He cautioned drivers to be careful on the motorway, noting that road works had rendered the road rough and bumpy, and that ‘the DVLA has a role to play by ensuring that only road worthy vehicles were allowed on the roads’.
Mr Adams said it was unfortunate that people who reported accidents did not give adequate information on the location and the nature of accidents.
He appealed to the public to help the GNFS to save situations in time by stating if it was flood , fire or accident to enable the personnel to prepare adequately to handle it .
Mr Adams also called on drivers to adhere to sirens, which according to the law, was an indication to give way to traffic, which would enable firemen to arrive at accident scenes on time to bring situations under control .
Mr Adams said Ghana had one of the best fire service in the world but unfortunately it lacked equipment with which to work .
He said Tema currently needed two extrication vehicles to be stationed at the motorway and on the Ada road to save lives and property .
Mr Adams was happy that the GNFS was a member of the WEO which had afforded Ghana the opportunity to take part in the competition for the past three years .
He commended the firemen for their smart turnout and the seriousness they attached to the programme. .
AUCTION UNCLAIMED CONTAINERS (PAGE 18, MARCH 6, 2010)
The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Ghana has called on relevant agencies to gazette and auction all unclaimed containers at the Tema Port in order to generate revenue for the government
The institute observed with concern the loss of revenue, as hundreds of containers piled up at the Tema Harbour, with some having overstayed for well over three years carrying goods.
According to the CILT, by law, most of these containers should automatically become government property, and therefore called for prompt action to gazette and auction them to companies and the general public to ease cargo space in the port. It said this would make room for more cargoes, while generating more revenue for the government.
The institute noted that shipping lines could have their empty containers, which had been locked up for years, back for new businesses, while the terminal operators could also have their cargo space freed .
The National President of the CILT, Mr Cletus Kuzagbe, who was of the view that the revenue agencies were ‘sitting on gold’, made the remarks when a six-member committee of the Tema branch of the CILT was inducted into office to promote, encourage and co-ordinate the study and advancement of the science and art of transport industry.
Mr Kuzagbe stated that the fast rate of growth in the demand for transportation and its accompanying effect of increase in congestion, called for a proactive action to remove frustrations in the transport and logistic sector of the economy.
He has, therefore, called for the development of the inland water course and railway system to move freight efficiently and timely .
Mr Kuzagbe called on members to seize new opportunities to meet the emerging challenges in the global environment .
He emphasised the need to consider the potential for co-ordination in the transport modes in order to make significant contributions to the success of a growing and healthy economy .
Mr Kuzagbe said the cost involved as a result of delays, due to congestion, was enormous, and called for action to rectify the situation to make transportation of goods and services more effective and efficient .
He urged members of the institute to brace themselves with the right competencies in order to utilise the scarce resources entrusted to them and to plan the sector well to avoid losses, of which Ghana would be the final beneficiary .
Mr Kuzagbe appealed to the Ministry of Roads and Highways to find a lasting solution to the heavy traffic at the Tema Motorway, and also called on the Tema Metropolitan Assembly to relocate the lorry park on the main harbour road near the Mankoadze Roundabout .
He advised the newly elected executives of the institute to bring up interesting and educative topics on current and relevant issues that would be beneficial to their areas of operation .
The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority , Mr Emmanuel Martey, called on the CILT to advise the relevant authorities on the logistical and transport issues on the discovery of commercial quantities of oil and gas resources in Ghana .
He explained that the discovery had generated tremendous excitement across the entire spectrum of the citizenry for investment, jobs and national opportunities.
Mr Martey called for increased consultation between the institute and the relevant government agencies and other industry stakeholders to help fashion out appropriate policy on issues affecting the transport and logistics sector in Ghana.
He said there was a strong linkage between oil and gas exploitation and transport, noting that logistics for oil and gas often involved the coastal movement of personnel and materials to and from the oil platforms , storage of machinery parts and structured execution of shipments .
This, Mr Martey, said they had imposed tremendous responsibilities on the institute to ensure greater benefits from the process.
The Chairman of the newly elected executive of the Tema branch of the CILT , Mr Adjei Sam Kumi of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), thanked members of the institute for the confidence reposed in them, and gave an assurance that they would work hard to uplift the image of the institute .
The executive was sworn in by the Deputy Chief Executive of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, Mr Emmanuel Martey.
The institute observed with concern the loss of revenue, as hundreds of containers piled up at the Tema Harbour, with some having overstayed for well over three years carrying goods.
According to the CILT, by law, most of these containers should automatically become government property, and therefore called for prompt action to gazette and auction them to companies and the general public to ease cargo space in the port. It said this would make room for more cargoes, while generating more revenue for the government.
The institute noted that shipping lines could have their empty containers, which had been locked up for years, back for new businesses, while the terminal operators could also have their cargo space freed .
The National President of the CILT, Mr Cletus Kuzagbe, who was of the view that the revenue agencies were ‘sitting on gold’, made the remarks when a six-member committee of the Tema branch of the CILT was inducted into office to promote, encourage and co-ordinate the study and advancement of the science and art of transport industry.
Mr Kuzagbe stated that the fast rate of growth in the demand for transportation and its accompanying effect of increase in congestion, called for a proactive action to remove frustrations in the transport and logistic sector of the economy.
He has, therefore, called for the development of the inland water course and railway system to move freight efficiently and timely .
Mr Kuzagbe called on members to seize new opportunities to meet the emerging challenges in the global environment .
He emphasised the need to consider the potential for co-ordination in the transport modes in order to make significant contributions to the success of a growing and healthy economy .
Mr Kuzagbe said the cost involved as a result of delays, due to congestion, was enormous, and called for action to rectify the situation to make transportation of goods and services more effective and efficient .
He urged members of the institute to brace themselves with the right competencies in order to utilise the scarce resources entrusted to them and to plan the sector well to avoid losses, of which Ghana would be the final beneficiary .
Mr Kuzagbe appealed to the Ministry of Roads and Highways to find a lasting solution to the heavy traffic at the Tema Motorway, and also called on the Tema Metropolitan Assembly to relocate the lorry park on the main harbour road near the Mankoadze Roundabout .
He advised the newly elected executives of the institute to bring up interesting and educative topics on current and relevant issues that would be beneficial to their areas of operation .
The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority , Mr Emmanuel Martey, called on the CILT to advise the relevant authorities on the logistical and transport issues on the discovery of commercial quantities of oil and gas resources in Ghana .
He explained that the discovery had generated tremendous excitement across the entire spectrum of the citizenry for investment, jobs and national opportunities.
Mr Martey called for increased consultation between the institute and the relevant government agencies and other industry stakeholders to help fashion out appropriate policy on issues affecting the transport and logistics sector in Ghana.
He said there was a strong linkage between oil and gas exploitation and transport, noting that logistics for oil and gas often involved the coastal movement of personnel and materials to and from the oil platforms , storage of machinery parts and structured execution of shipments .
This, Mr Martey, said they had imposed tremendous responsibilities on the institute to ensure greater benefits from the process.
The Chairman of the newly elected executive of the Tema branch of the CILT , Mr Adjei Sam Kumi of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), thanked members of the institute for the confidence reposed in them, and gave an assurance that they would work hard to uplift the image of the institute .
The executive was sworn in by the Deputy Chief Executive of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, Mr Emmanuel Martey.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
TEMA ROTARY CLUB DELIBERATE ON OIL FIND (PAGE 29, MARCH 4, 2010)
THE Rotary Club of Tema has organised a lecture for its members to update them on the oil find at Cape Three Points in the Western Region and its effects on the average Ghanaian.
The lecture, with the topic ‘Oil Find in Ghana: Avoiding the pitfalls of the Niger Delta at Cape Three Point’, was in recognition of the month of February, which was observed according to the tradition of Rotary International as a period set aside for World Peace and Understanding’. The celebration was linked with the oil find in Ghana.
The Head of Programmes at the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development, Mr E. Kojo Pumpuni Asante, noted that there was the need to manage the high expectations of the people to avoid any situation that would bring about devastating impact on development.
He explained that many Ghanaians had high hopes of ‘making it big’ because of the oil find but cautioned that it was dangerous and therefore advised that the expectation should be properly and expertly managed.
Mr Asante said there were lessons to be learnt from the experience of some oil-resourced African countries experiencing ‘curses’ instead of being blessed with the oil find.
He noted that oil was an exhaustible resource and should be treated as an asset and not an income, explaining that there was the need to use the resources generated wisely.
Mr Asante called for the need to maximise the funds that would accrue from oil to the State by providing sustainable infrastructure to be managed for the future.
He stated that there could be investment in critical sectors of the economy like health, agriculture, education and to provide sound base for key institutions like the police service, human resource, adequate technical capacity, fire service and the judiciary.
Mr Asante was of the opinion that the country could experience a reversal of fortune rather than an additional economic fortune if the focus was shifted to oil to the neglect of other important areas, including cocoa and agriculture in general.
He described as unfortunate the general perception that the oil find would transform the lives of the people overnight, explaining that the main drilling activity would be undertaken offshore at a distance that would be prohibited and out of bounds to those who would have nothing to do with the activity. Mr Asante said Ghana, like many other Africans countries, had not taken the best out of its extractive sector, made up of the forestry, mining and fishing, for the benefit of its people and cautioned that the oil find might not yield much if the attitude did not change.
He called for prudent measures to ensure adequate technical capacity to handle oil development and regulation to be able to deal with the oil resource.
Mr Asante said Ghana could avoid pitfalls in its energy policies, if revenue management policy and law and local content among other policies were put in place to eliminate misuse of the oil revenue.
He was not happy with the rush for land in the Cape Three Points area in the wake of the oil find.
Mr Asante expressed fear that with the activities of investors, the local people might, in the end, have no land left for their use.
This, according to him, could lead to a revolt and lawlessness among the local people. The President of the Rotary Club of Tema, Mr John Bisiw, who chaired the programme, called for transparency in the dissemination of information on the oil find and insisted that relevant information on the it should be made available to members and the public at large to create awareness that would prepare them adequately to understand any future occurrence in the oil industry in the country.
The lecture, with the topic ‘Oil Find in Ghana: Avoiding the pitfalls of the Niger Delta at Cape Three Point’, was in recognition of the month of February, which was observed according to the tradition of Rotary International as a period set aside for World Peace and Understanding’. The celebration was linked with the oil find in Ghana.
The Head of Programmes at the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development, Mr E. Kojo Pumpuni Asante, noted that there was the need to manage the high expectations of the people to avoid any situation that would bring about devastating impact on development.
He explained that many Ghanaians had high hopes of ‘making it big’ because of the oil find but cautioned that it was dangerous and therefore advised that the expectation should be properly and expertly managed.
Mr Asante said there were lessons to be learnt from the experience of some oil-resourced African countries experiencing ‘curses’ instead of being blessed with the oil find.
He noted that oil was an exhaustible resource and should be treated as an asset and not an income, explaining that there was the need to use the resources generated wisely.
Mr Asante called for the need to maximise the funds that would accrue from oil to the State by providing sustainable infrastructure to be managed for the future.
He stated that there could be investment in critical sectors of the economy like health, agriculture, education and to provide sound base for key institutions like the police service, human resource, adequate technical capacity, fire service and the judiciary.
Mr Asante was of the opinion that the country could experience a reversal of fortune rather than an additional economic fortune if the focus was shifted to oil to the neglect of other important areas, including cocoa and agriculture in general.
He described as unfortunate the general perception that the oil find would transform the lives of the people overnight, explaining that the main drilling activity would be undertaken offshore at a distance that would be prohibited and out of bounds to those who would have nothing to do with the activity. Mr Asante said Ghana, like many other Africans countries, had not taken the best out of its extractive sector, made up of the forestry, mining and fishing, for the benefit of its people and cautioned that the oil find might not yield much if the attitude did not change.
He called for prudent measures to ensure adequate technical capacity to handle oil development and regulation to be able to deal with the oil resource.
Mr Asante said Ghana could avoid pitfalls in its energy policies, if revenue management policy and law and local content among other policies were put in place to eliminate misuse of the oil revenue.
He was not happy with the rush for land in the Cape Three Points area in the wake of the oil find.
Mr Asante expressed fear that with the activities of investors, the local people might, in the end, have no land left for their use.
This, according to him, could lead to a revolt and lawlessness among the local people. The President of the Rotary Club of Tema, Mr John Bisiw, who chaired the programme, called for transparency in the dissemination of information on the oil find and insisted that relevant information on the it should be made available to members and the public at large to create awareness that would prepare them adequately to understand any future occurrence in the oil industry in the country.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
SETTLE RIVALRY BETWEEN TMA AND TDC (PAGE 30, MARCH 2, 2010)
Some Residents of the Tema Metropolitan Area have appealed to the sector Ministries to investigate the rivalry between the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) and the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) to set clearly their development functions to save the metropolis from becoming a slum.
Lack of co-ordination between the TMA and the TDC because of some conflicting description of functions in the Act which set up the Assembly and the Act which set up TDC has contributed immensely to indiscriminate development in the Metropolis.
Squatters and illegal developers have chosen to defend themselves by declaring either of the two organisations as the authority which issued permits to them for developments or to erect structures.
This phenomenon has extended to school lands, recreational parks, green belts, social centres and portions of the Community 9 cemetery.
Some residents hold the view that the Tema Metropolis has become the most convenient place for people who have been displaced as a result of the various demolition exercises in Accra and Nungua.
The Daily Graphic, in various interviews with the city authorities, realised that the blame game between the TDC and the TMA had made it difficult for both of them to demolish the illegal structures because many of the squatters affected had some documentation covering their structures.
Residents have, therefore, called for investigations into the roles of the two organisations to solve the problem.
While the TDC blamed the TMA for issuing permits instead of licences the TMA blamed the TDC for giving permits without collaborating with it.
This situation, according to both organisations, had given rise to illegal development and fast rate of encroachments in the metropolis.
The residents the Daily Graphic spoke with expressed sadness at the rate of encroachments in Tema and called on the TDC and TMA to come together to solve the problems of the metropolis.
Some referred to the numerous media reports that gave indications that the TMA was ready to demolish illegal structures to ensure some sanity in development practices in the metropolis.
They claimed that soon Tema would be engulfed in wooden structures in the name of shops and business centres.
The Metropolitan Engineer, Mr Victor Mensah, recently took media personnel round some areas to show them the extent of encroachments in the metropolis with the view to taking steps to have them removed.
The areas included buffer zones reserved to circulate gas generated from liquid waste running from the metropolis through the pumping station, wet lands
Other rounds by the Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashietey, also took the media and a team of assembly officials to inspect some liquid waste manholes which had been sealed by illegal developers.
He ordered the Assembly to ensure that all illegal structures were cleared to enable Tema recapture its glory and even called for the relocation of second-hand car dealers who operated along the Motorway-harbour road to the Kpone Kokompe area, where they have been offered land to sell their cars on.
It was observed during the various rounds that Tema was in the process of seeing many ‘sodom and Gomorrah’ residential areas very soon.
The decision to remove all illegal structures and demolish temporary structures on reserved lands was confirmed by the Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware, and the Metropolitan Co-ordinating Director, Mr Kwaku Akpotosu, at separate interviews.
They claimed that the Metropolitan Engineer had been tasked to draw up a programme for the exercise.
In an interview with the Public Relations Officer of TDC, Mr Sammy Abaka, he said the TDC could not be held responsible for the encroachments.
According to him, TDC planned the city for TMA to manage for the collection of property rates and business fees.
Mr Abaka emphasised that TDC had its shortcomings but blamed the TMA more for the indiscriminate erection of wooden structures occupied by squatters.
He confirmed that some individuals had taken the law into theirhands and put up structures on any available space without permit from either TMA or TDC.
Mr Abeka was of the view that the situation could be brought under control if the two organisations could agree to come to terms to rid the metropolis of encroachment and illegal developers along ceremonial roads, and in wetlands, playgrounds, and social centres among others.
Meanwhile, the number ofthose who have had access to reserved lands in the green belts and school parks continues to expand because of the inaction of the authorities to stop them.
Lack of co-ordination between the TMA and the TDC because of some conflicting description of functions in the Act which set up the Assembly and the Act which set up TDC has contributed immensely to indiscriminate development in the Metropolis.
Squatters and illegal developers have chosen to defend themselves by declaring either of the two organisations as the authority which issued permits to them for developments or to erect structures.
This phenomenon has extended to school lands, recreational parks, green belts, social centres and portions of the Community 9 cemetery.
Some residents hold the view that the Tema Metropolis has become the most convenient place for people who have been displaced as a result of the various demolition exercises in Accra and Nungua.
The Daily Graphic, in various interviews with the city authorities, realised that the blame game between the TDC and the TMA had made it difficult for both of them to demolish the illegal structures because many of the squatters affected had some documentation covering their structures.
Residents have, therefore, called for investigations into the roles of the two organisations to solve the problem.
While the TDC blamed the TMA for issuing permits instead of licences the TMA blamed the TDC for giving permits without collaborating with it.
This situation, according to both organisations, had given rise to illegal development and fast rate of encroachments in the metropolis.
The residents the Daily Graphic spoke with expressed sadness at the rate of encroachments in Tema and called on the TDC and TMA to come together to solve the problems of the metropolis.
Some referred to the numerous media reports that gave indications that the TMA was ready to demolish illegal structures to ensure some sanity in development practices in the metropolis.
They claimed that soon Tema would be engulfed in wooden structures in the name of shops and business centres.
The Metropolitan Engineer, Mr Victor Mensah, recently took media personnel round some areas to show them the extent of encroachments in the metropolis with the view to taking steps to have them removed.
The areas included buffer zones reserved to circulate gas generated from liquid waste running from the metropolis through the pumping station, wet lands
Other rounds by the Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashietey, also took the media and a team of assembly officials to inspect some liquid waste manholes which had been sealed by illegal developers.
He ordered the Assembly to ensure that all illegal structures were cleared to enable Tema recapture its glory and even called for the relocation of second-hand car dealers who operated along the Motorway-harbour road to the Kpone Kokompe area, where they have been offered land to sell their cars on.
It was observed during the various rounds that Tema was in the process of seeing many ‘sodom and Gomorrah’ residential areas very soon.
The decision to remove all illegal structures and demolish temporary structures on reserved lands was confirmed by the Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware, and the Metropolitan Co-ordinating Director, Mr Kwaku Akpotosu, at separate interviews.
They claimed that the Metropolitan Engineer had been tasked to draw up a programme for the exercise.
In an interview with the Public Relations Officer of TDC, Mr Sammy Abaka, he said the TDC could not be held responsible for the encroachments.
According to him, TDC planned the city for TMA to manage for the collection of property rates and business fees.
Mr Abaka emphasised that TDC had its shortcomings but blamed the TMA more for the indiscriminate erection of wooden structures occupied by squatters.
He confirmed that some individuals had taken the law into theirhands and put up structures on any available space without permit from either TMA or TDC.
Mr Abeka was of the view that the situation could be brought under control if the two organisations could agree to come to terms to rid the metropolis of encroachment and illegal developers along ceremonial roads, and in wetlands, playgrounds, and social centres among others.
Meanwhile, the number ofthose who have had access to reserved lands in the green belts and school parks continues to expand because of the inaction of the authorities to stop them.
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