A syndicate engaged in massive illegal power connection has been busted at Mataheko, near Afienya, during a joint swoop by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the police.
More than 60 houses were uncovered to be illegally connected to a private power network with the use of under-sized conductors.
The ECG team, in collaboration with the Afienya Police, arrested a 38-year-old man, Evans Zotorvie Tetteh, in connection with the illegal activity and it is investigating the matter to apprehend the other culprits.
According to the officer in charge of the Afienya Police Station, Inspector Daniel Kofi Tetteh, four other accomplices had been arrested and they are helping the police to uncover the deal and all others involved in it.
He said Zotorvie would be processed for court after the police had exhaustively investigated the case.
Under police escort, the suspect and the ECG team went to Mataheko, where it was discovered that Zotorvie had an improvised meter board placed behind his house, numbered PR/MT/196, from where all the connected clients were served.
Zotorvie claimed that he collected a flat rate of GH¢30 every month from each client.
The Tema Regional Director of the ECG, Mr Felix Fiebor, said Mataheko was a new settlement and had electric power at certain parts, while the rest of the community had an ongoing Ghana Electrical Development and Asset Project to provide power for them.
He said the suspect had his house in the area where there was power but he was disconnected two years ago after failing to pay his bills.
Mr Fiebor said Zotorvie took advantage of the situation and decided to involve others who did not have power to enrich himself.
He said an ECG monitoring team, while on its routine rounds, found the connections with undersized cables unusual, posing danger to lives and property.
He said a closer look made the team observe that the connections had been done illegally.
Mr Fiebor appealed to the public to report any suspicious connections to the ECG for action, noting that some of the fire outbreaks in recent times had been attributed to electrical faults.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
ASSEMBLY TO RECOVER UNPAID MASLOC LOANS (PAGE 21, APRIL 17, 2010)
The Ashaiman Municipal Assembly has declared its intention to recover the over GH¢ 242.064.30 owed the Municipal Micro finance and Small Loan Centre(MASLOC).
The Assembly has as a result been mandated by the Management of MASLOC to put in place a five member debt collection team to ensure a fast rate of repayment of the debt.
The Municipal Chief Executive, Numo Adinortey Addison, said these at the First Ordinary Meeting of the Third Session of the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly last Wednesday.
He explained that the government had recognized the important role of the private sector in promoting national development and therefore introduced the MASLOC.
Numo Addison said it was to provide loans to the small scale entrepreneur but was not happy that previous beneficiaries of the facility had failed to honour their loan commitment resulting in a colossal debt.
He stated that the strategy to employ the services of the five member team was also to ensure that beneficiaries lived up to their responsibilities.
Numo Addison said the Assembly performed significantly in the first quarter of the year and was optimistic that it would improve as it continued to steadily implement its strategies.
He stated that the Assembly was taking steps to strengthen the institution and structures and would build capacity of revenue collectors and create a billing unit to improve the Assembly’s revenue performance.
Numo Addison said with effect from May 1, 2010, the Ashaiman Municipal would commence with house numbering ,street naming and valuation of properties alongside the review of its data base.
He said in pursuance of government’s effort at encouraging the youth to go into agriculture , the Assembly had adopted the block farming concept to provide employment opportunities for the youth to empower them economically.
Numo Addison said the Municipality had been assigned the cultivation of rice and onions with a target of 30 hectares of onion and 50 hectares of rice.
He explained that the youth would be grouped into 5 to 10 people to attract an interest free loan.
He appealed to the youth to embrace the idea and ensure its success for the benefit of the nation and themselves.
The Presiding Officer of the Assembly, Mr Emmanuel Nikoi Dsane, called for collaboration among heads of the various departments in the Municipality.
He said the vision to move the Assembly forward would be achieved only through coordination without which the Assembly would lack growth.
Mr Dsane pointed out some lapses like lateness , grouping under trees during working hours and closing before time as attitudes affecting the general image and output of the Assembly.
The Assembly has as a result been mandated by the Management of MASLOC to put in place a five member debt collection team to ensure a fast rate of repayment of the debt.
The Municipal Chief Executive, Numo Adinortey Addison, said these at the First Ordinary Meeting of the Third Session of the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly last Wednesday.
He explained that the government had recognized the important role of the private sector in promoting national development and therefore introduced the MASLOC.
Numo Addison said it was to provide loans to the small scale entrepreneur but was not happy that previous beneficiaries of the facility had failed to honour their loan commitment resulting in a colossal debt.
He stated that the strategy to employ the services of the five member team was also to ensure that beneficiaries lived up to their responsibilities.
Numo Addison said the Assembly performed significantly in the first quarter of the year and was optimistic that it would improve as it continued to steadily implement its strategies.
He stated that the Assembly was taking steps to strengthen the institution and structures and would build capacity of revenue collectors and create a billing unit to improve the Assembly’s revenue performance.
Numo Addison said with effect from May 1, 2010, the Ashaiman Municipal would commence with house numbering ,street naming and valuation of properties alongside the review of its data base.
He said in pursuance of government’s effort at encouraging the youth to go into agriculture , the Assembly had adopted the block farming concept to provide employment opportunities for the youth to empower them economically.
Numo Addison said the Municipality had been assigned the cultivation of rice and onions with a target of 30 hectares of onion and 50 hectares of rice.
He explained that the youth would be grouped into 5 to 10 people to attract an interest free loan.
He appealed to the youth to embrace the idea and ensure its success for the benefit of the nation and themselves.
The Presiding Officer of the Assembly, Mr Emmanuel Nikoi Dsane, called for collaboration among heads of the various departments in the Municipality.
He said the vision to move the Assembly forward would be achieved only through coordination without which the Assembly would lack growth.
Mr Dsane pointed out some lapses like lateness , grouping under trees during working hours and closing before time as attitudes affecting the general image and output of the Assembly.
ASHAIMAN ASSEMBLY DEMOLISHES HOUSES ON STORM DRAIN (PAGE 21, APRIL 19, 2010)
THE Ashaiman Municipal Assembly has started a demolition exercise to clear all structures situated on a storm drain which passes through Community 22 to receive water flows from the Gbemi and Armatsuru streams.
About 250 houses have been earmarked for demolition during the exercise expected to last for five days.
Areas affected by the exercise are Ashaiman New Town, Moneomanye, Ashaiman Zone 5 , Lebanon , Jericho , Roman Down and the Irrigation Dam Site.
Residents of the area were able to remove their valuables before the start of the demolition exercise, which affected concrete and wooden structures.
When the Daily Graphic got to the scene, some residents were seen busily gathering their belongings while others were raining insults on the Assembly’s task force and making derogatory remarks about the demolishing gang.
Two bulldozers were used in the exercise and as one pulled down the houses, the other cleared the debris from the drain and levelled the sides of the storm drain .
Speaking to the Daily Graphic on site , the Municipal Chief Executive, Numo Adinortey Addison, said the Assembly met with the residents last year to inform them of the need to demolish structures which they had constructed on the storm drain.
He said radio announcements and discussions were made to further explain the reasons why the exercise was necessary.
Numo Addison said the area experienced flooding following the least rainfall because of human activity on the drain and over-grown vegetation.
He noted that flood water could not pass through the silted drain and had to over-flow its banks leading to loss of lives in the last two years.
He said the exercise would be extended to other areas of the municipality to ensure that development was controlled.
The Municipal Engineer, Mr Isaac Lamptey, who supervised the exercise, explained that the drain was heavily silted while the supposed 100ft buffer area had also been encroached upon.
He stated that the exercise would limit the buffer space to about 50 ft on each side of the storm drain and clear it of silt while waiting for work on it to start.
Mr Lamptey said the construction of a new storm drain was underway under the Urban Environment Sanitation Project(UESP) II.
He was optimistic that the exercise would be beneficial to the residents because they would now sleep and have their valuables safe when it rained.
About 250 houses have been earmarked for demolition during the exercise expected to last for five days.
Areas affected by the exercise are Ashaiman New Town, Moneomanye, Ashaiman Zone 5 , Lebanon , Jericho , Roman Down and the Irrigation Dam Site.
Residents of the area were able to remove their valuables before the start of the demolition exercise, which affected concrete and wooden structures.
When the Daily Graphic got to the scene, some residents were seen busily gathering their belongings while others were raining insults on the Assembly’s task force and making derogatory remarks about the demolishing gang.
Two bulldozers were used in the exercise and as one pulled down the houses, the other cleared the debris from the drain and levelled the sides of the storm drain .
Speaking to the Daily Graphic on site , the Municipal Chief Executive, Numo Adinortey Addison, said the Assembly met with the residents last year to inform them of the need to demolish structures which they had constructed on the storm drain.
He said radio announcements and discussions were made to further explain the reasons why the exercise was necessary.
Numo Addison said the area experienced flooding following the least rainfall because of human activity on the drain and over-grown vegetation.
He noted that flood water could not pass through the silted drain and had to over-flow its banks leading to loss of lives in the last two years.
He said the exercise would be extended to other areas of the municipality to ensure that development was controlled.
The Municipal Engineer, Mr Isaac Lamptey, who supervised the exercise, explained that the drain was heavily silted while the supposed 100ft buffer area had also been encroached upon.
He stated that the exercise would limit the buffer space to about 50 ft on each side of the storm drain and clear it of silt while waiting for work on it to start.
Mr Lamptey said the construction of a new storm drain was underway under the Urban Environment Sanitation Project(UESP) II.
He was optimistic that the exercise would be beneficial to the residents because they would now sleep and have their valuables safe when it rained.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
GOVT ON COURSE TO DELIVER ON PROMISES (PAGE 16, APRIL 14, 2010)
A Deputy Minister for Information, Mr Sam Okudjeto Ablakwa, has met cadres of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Tema Metropolis and interacted with them on the Better Ghana Agenda set by the government .
He told them that the government was on course and would ensure that it delivered on its promises .
Mr Ablakwa said it was the duty of the cadres who formed the link between the party and the grass oots, to establish a communication channel to propagate the good work of the government .
He said the government had achieved a lot, but because of lack of information, many people did not know about those achievements .
Mr Ablakwa was not happy that even though documents on budgets, forums and policy statements were reproduced and the cadres were expected to pick and study them, that had not been done . He said the documents were educative and would keep them well informed.
Mr Ablakwa was of the view that the cadres would be helping to shape the nation if they had adequate information about the day-to-day occurrences in government circles .
He affirmed that the government had paid the chunk of the debt left by the previous government and said that was a clear sign that the NDC government was making headway.
On job creation , Mr Ablakwa said he still stood by the employment figures which were recently released and that these were credible, noting that these were figures produced by professional bodies. He said the figures were not concocted but collated from credible sources such as the Head of Civil Service and professional agencies involved in employment issues.
He announced that more jobs were in the pipeline, and added that the Ghana Investment Promotion Council (GIPC) had registered over 200 companies for the oil and gas industry.
Mr Ablakwa said that would create about 1,800 jobs by the year 2011 and explained that investors in areas such as the airline, hospitality and salt industries were interested in establishing industries that were oil and gas-related.
He said the country had huge potential in the area of job creation and assured the cadres that with their support, the government would be returned to power after the next general election .
The Tema United Cadre Front of the NDC has members drawn from Tema, Ashaiman, Prampram, Kpone, Katamanso and Ada .
A representative of the cadres, Nana Yaw Amanianpong, expressed the gratitude of the cadres and gave an assurance that they would carry the message to the grass roots.
He told them that the government was on course and would ensure that it delivered on its promises .
Mr Ablakwa said it was the duty of the cadres who formed the link between the party and the grass oots, to establish a communication channel to propagate the good work of the government .
He said the government had achieved a lot, but because of lack of information, many people did not know about those achievements .
Mr Ablakwa was not happy that even though documents on budgets, forums and policy statements were reproduced and the cadres were expected to pick and study them, that had not been done . He said the documents were educative and would keep them well informed.
Mr Ablakwa was of the view that the cadres would be helping to shape the nation if they had adequate information about the day-to-day occurrences in government circles .
He affirmed that the government had paid the chunk of the debt left by the previous government and said that was a clear sign that the NDC government was making headway.
On job creation , Mr Ablakwa said he still stood by the employment figures which were recently released and that these were credible, noting that these were figures produced by professional bodies. He said the figures were not concocted but collated from credible sources such as the Head of Civil Service and professional agencies involved in employment issues.
He announced that more jobs were in the pipeline, and added that the Ghana Investment Promotion Council (GIPC) had registered over 200 companies for the oil and gas industry.
Mr Ablakwa said that would create about 1,800 jobs by the year 2011 and explained that investors in areas such as the airline, hospitality and salt industries were interested in establishing industries that were oil and gas-related.
He said the country had huge potential in the area of job creation and assured the cadres that with their support, the government would be returned to power after the next general election .
The Tema United Cadre Front of the NDC has members drawn from Tema, Ashaiman, Prampram, Kpone, Katamanso and Ada .
A representative of the cadres, Nana Yaw Amanianpong, expressed the gratitude of the cadres and gave an assurance that they would carry the message to the grass roots.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
TMA TO DREDGE CHEMU LAGOON (PAGE 29, APRIL 13, 2010)
The Tema Municipal Assembly has inaugurated a nine-member committee to mobilise human and financial resources to dredge the Chemu Lagoon, which flows into the sea at the Tema Fishing Harbour, to forestall the perennial flooding of the choked lagoon.
The committee has a six-month mandate to complete its work of mobilising resources for the restoration programme.
The nine-member committee has Mr Enoch Mensah of the Tema Manhean Sub-Metro as its Chairman, Mr Seth Koranteng representing the Association of Industries, Mr Xola Ahadzi of the UESP11 and a representative from the Environmental Protection Agency. The other members are Nii Adjetey Din, Mr Sampson Aheto, Mr Peter Amuzu, Mr Frank Asante and Mr John Odonkor, the Metro Engineer, as Secretary to the committee.
The lagoon was initially used by the people of Manhean for their fishing activities, but it gradually became polluted and muddy with waste dumped into it when squatters emerged and settled along its banks, while some industries pumped their waste products into it.
Now, the lagoon is choked and a horrible stench emanates from it as the squatters continue to pollute it.
The Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware, who inaugurated the committee, observed that the Chemu Lagoon had lost its aquatic life and could be referred as a dead water body.
He noted that restoration of the lagoon required a huge financial outlay which the assembly could not provide, and, therefore, called for support from the government.
He said the problem of flooding had reached its peak, noting that during heavy downpour, life and properties of some national strategic installations, including that of the Tema Oil Refinery, got flooded.
Mr Ofosuware urged the committee to ensure that streams and storm drains along the Chemu lagoon were cleared of silt to avert flooding, while looking for sources of funding to restore the lagoon.
He reiterated that though the lagoon was of economic importance to the people of Tema Manhean, its unfolding events posed a great danger to life and property.
Mr Ofosuware urged the committee to work hard and come up with good results to save the water body.
The committee chairman gave the assurance that members would work fast to acquire the needed support to restore the Chemu Lagoon and appealed for assistance from individuals and organisations to support the programme.
The committee has a six-month mandate to complete its work of mobilising resources for the restoration programme.
The nine-member committee has Mr Enoch Mensah of the Tema Manhean Sub-Metro as its Chairman, Mr Seth Koranteng representing the Association of Industries, Mr Xola Ahadzi of the UESP11 and a representative from the Environmental Protection Agency. The other members are Nii Adjetey Din, Mr Sampson Aheto, Mr Peter Amuzu, Mr Frank Asante and Mr John Odonkor, the Metro Engineer, as Secretary to the committee.
The lagoon was initially used by the people of Manhean for their fishing activities, but it gradually became polluted and muddy with waste dumped into it when squatters emerged and settled along its banks, while some industries pumped their waste products into it.
Now, the lagoon is choked and a horrible stench emanates from it as the squatters continue to pollute it.
The Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware, who inaugurated the committee, observed that the Chemu Lagoon had lost its aquatic life and could be referred as a dead water body.
He noted that restoration of the lagoon required a huge financial outlay which the assembly could not provide, and, therefore, called for support from the government.
He said the problem of flooding had reached its peak, noting that during heavy downpour, life and properties of some national strategic installations, including that of the Tema Oil Refinery, got flooded.
Mr Ofosuware urged the committee to ensure that streams and storm drains along the Chemu lagoon were cleared of silt to avert flooding, while looking for sources of funding to restore the lagoon.
He reiterated that though the lagoon was of economic importance to the people of Tema Manhean, its unfolding events posed a great danger to life and property.
Mr Ofosuware urged the committee to work hard and come up with good results to save the water body.
The committee chairman gave the assurance that members would work fast to acquire the needed support to restore the Chemu Lagoon and appealed for assistance from individuals and organisations to support the programme.
Friday, April 9, 2010
NGO ORGANISES CAMPAIGN FOR CHILDREN (PAGE 29, APRIL 9, 2010)
A local Non- Governmental Organisation (NGO), Safe Child Ghana, is to embark on a campaign to educate children in the Tema Metropolis and Ashaiman Municipality on how to handle electrical gadgets to avoid electricution.
The campaign which will start on Monday, April 12 is in collaboration with the Volta River Authority (VRA), Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly.
It would involve education, open forums and inspection of electrical gadgets in schools.
The Chief Executive of the NGO , Safe Child Ghana, Mrs Eunice Gifty Baabu, disclosed this at a forum at Ashaiman during which the Ashaiman No 1 Primary School was presented with a computer with accessories and 150 books on electrical safety and other supplementary books worth GH¢2,500 for being the safest school in the area.
She said the school had all its sockets, plugs and electrical wirings properly covered to prevent shocks and injuries when children, out of ignorance, get in contact with them.
Mrs Baabu said the organisation, realizing the need to educate the youth on how to avoid injuries and death resulting from shocks, launched a competition last year on the theme “Safety Begins with you”, for pupils to practise safety both at school and at home.
She said a team which went round some schools found naked electrical wires and sockets, rendering them dangerous for use by the children.
Mrs Baabu said the organisation had set a target to minimise child injuries by 2015 and therefore would ensure that serious education campaigns would be undertaken to bring safety awareness to the children.
The Ashaiman Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Numo Adinortey Addison, who received the items on behalf of the school, appreciated the effort by the NGO to prevent injuries and shocks.
He called on other organisations to support the initiative of the NGO to help give children adequate education on how to prevent electric shocks and injuries .
The Municipal Director of Education, Mrs Florence Quaye, was full of praise for the service being rendered by the NGO and said, “we expect more organisations to join in educating the children on hazards .”
She said most parents were being educated on the proper use of electricity by their children from what they had learnt in school.
The Headteacher of the Ashaiman No 1A, Ms Janet Amankwa, expressed her joy for the school winning the competition on safety .
She said this would give her the urge to ensure that electrical gadgets in the school were all provided with safety covers to give credence to winning the competition.
The campaign which will start on Monday, April 12 is in collaboration with the Volta River Authority (VRA), Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly.
It would involve education, open forums and inspection of electrical gadgets in schools.
The Chief Executive of the NGO , Safe Child Ghana, Mrs Eunice Gifty Baabu, disclosed this at a forum at Ashaiman during which the Ashaiman No 1 Primary School was presented with a computer with accessories and 150 books on electrical safety and other supplementary books worth GH¢2,500 for being the safest school in the area.
She said the school had all its sockets, plugs and electrical wirings properly covered to prevent shocks and injuries when children, out of ignorance, get in contact with them.
Mrs Baabu said the organisation, realizing the need to educate the youth on how to avoid injuries and death resulting from shocks, launched a competition last year on the theme “Safety Begins with you”, for pupils to practise safety both at school and at home.
She said a team which went round some schools found naked electrical wires and sockets, rendering them dangerous for use by the children.
Mrs Baabu said the organisation had set a target to minimise child injuries by 2015 and therefore would ensure that serious education campaigns would be undertaken to bring safety awareness to the children.
The Ashaiman Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Numo Adinortey Addison, who received the items on behalf of the school, appreciated the effort by the NGO to prevent injuries and shocks.
He called on other organisations to support the initiative of the NGO to help give children adequate education on how to prevent electric shocks and injuries .
The Municipal Director of Education, Mrs Florence Quaye, was full of praise for the service being rendered by the NGO and said, “we expect more organisations to join in educating the children on hazards .”
She said most parents were being educated on the proper use of electricity by their children from what they had learnt in school.
The Headteacher of the Ashaiman No 1A, Ms Janet Amankwa, expressed her joy for the school winning the competition on safety .
She said this would give her the urge to ensure that electrical gadgets in the school were all provided with safety covers to give credence to winning the competition.
Monday, April 5, 2010
TEMA POLICE HUNT FOR ARMED ROBBERS (PAGE 29, APRIL 5, 2010)
The Tema Regional Police Command is on the look out for two armed robbers who escaped arrest after an encounter with the Police in Tema and in the process sustained bullet wounds .
The Police have declared them wanted and appealed to health personnel at health facilities within and outside Tema to report anybody with gun shot wounds for immediate arrest .
According to a release signed by Chief Inspector Olivia Turkson of the Public Affairs Unit of the Tema Regional Police Command, on March 29, 2010, at about 1.30 p.m. two middle aged men went in separate vehicles to the Raphal Medical Centre to seek medical attention .
She said one drove a Toyota Prado car, while the other was in an Opel Astra and they parked at the hospital’s car park.
Chief Inspector Turkson said shortly after, another car , a black VW Jetta with registration number GT 2347 Z, approached and parked in between the two cars which belonged to the hospital, broke the side glasses of the two cars and made away with a lap top , personal effects and a school bag containing books .
She said at the end of the operation, the occupants of the VW car drove off.
Chief Inspector Turkson said an observer of the incident offered to assist a police man on duty nearby to chase the robbers .
She said during the chase, the armed robbers started to fire at the car which the police officer was using and this resulted in the exchange of gun shots which led to the robbers getting wounded and their car getting damaged.
Chief Inspector Turkson said the robbers sensing danger abandoned their car at Tema Community 8 near the Datus Complex Schools and fled.
She said a search on the abandoned car revealed a lap top and a printer together with five different number plates .
Chief Inspector Turkson said with the Easter very close , the car snatchers were back in town and cautioned drivers to be particular with movements of people around their cars.
She said when in doubt, the public could call the police on numbers 022-202936 or 022- 202937 for help .
The Police have declared them wanted and appealed to health personnel at health facilities within and outside Tema to report anybody with gun shot wounds for immediate arrest .
According to a release signed by Chief Inspector Olivia Turkson of the Public Affairs Unit of the Tema Regional Police Command, on March 29, 2010, at about 1.30 p.m. two middle aged men went in separate vehicles to the Raphal Medical Centre to seek medical attention .
She said one drove a Toyota Prado car, while the other was in an Opel Astra and they parked at the hospital’s car park.
Chief Inspector Turkson said shortly after, another car , a black VW Jetta with registration number GT 2347 Z, approached and parked in between the two cars which belonged to the hospital, broke the side glasses of the two cars and made away with a lap top , personal effects and a school bag containing books .
She said at the end of the operation, the occupants of the VW car drove off.
Chief Inspector Turkson said an observer of the incident offered to assist a police man on duty nearby to chase the robbers .
She said during the chase, the armed robbers started to fire at the car which the police officer was using and this resulted in the exchange of gun shots which led to the robbers getting wounded and their car getting damaged.
Chief Inspector Turkson said the robbers sensing danger abandoned their car at Tema Community 8 near the Datus Complex Schools and fled.
She said a search on the abandoned car revealed a lap top and a printer together with five different number plates .
Chief Inspector Turkson said with the Easter very close , the car snatchers were back in town and cautioned drivers to be particular with movements of people around their cars.
She said when in doubt, the public could call the police on numbers 022-202936 or 022- 202937 for help .
ONE DIE, SEVERAL WOUNDED IN GAS FIRE (PAGE 29, APRIL 5, 2010)
One died, several people also sustained various degrees of injury, while about seven structures were razed down when fire gutted a gas terminal which operated from a one-storey building at Tema Manhean about 9.15 p.m. on Wednesday, March 31, 2010.
Also burnt were two gas tankers which reportedly exploded when they were offloading gas into a reserved tank at the station, resulting in the fire–outbreak.
The deceased, who was identified as Alfred Otoo, an attendant at the Redeemer Gas Point and Agapet Filling Station where the fire started, died at the Tema General Hospital early on Thursday morning.
When the Daily Graphic got to the scene, electricity connection to Tema Manhean had been disconnected, there was stampede, as residents were running away from the vicinity, and drivers were ensuring that their vehicles got to safe grounds. There were reports that some children had been knocked down in the process as there was fear and panic among residents.
According to an eyewitness, about 9.15 p.m. on that day, residents heard a blast at the gas station, suddenly followed by fire which engulfed the discharging terminal and other structures at the facility.
He said the deceased, in an attempt to save his life, ran through the fire but he sustained serious burns and died the following morning at the Tema General Hospital.
The devastating fire spread fast because there was gas in the reserves and the area was near the beach.
It took the combined efforts of personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service, the Tema Oil Refinery Fire Brigade and the Eastern Naval Command about two hours to bring the fire under control.
The Tema Regional Fire Service Commander, Mr Gilford Tetteh Adams, said there was heightened suspicion that there had been a leakage on the gas facility.
He noted that the GNFS would conduct investigations to identify where the leakage was, noting that the least opening on a gas facility could be dangerous.
Mr Adams cautioned operators of gas terminals to obtain the necessary fire certificates and fire fighting equipment.
As of midday on Thursday, fire personnel were found cooling off the area with water to ensure that no hidden fire came up.
They were also in the process of dislodging gas reserves to ensure that there was nothing left in the tanks.
Mr Adams said the personnel would be positioned there for some time till normalcy was restored.
The Deputy Director of Nursing Services in charge of Surgical Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Tema General Hospital, Madam Paula Payel, confirmed the death of the deceased.
She said two other victims of the fire who sustained various degrees of injury were on admission at the hospital, while a third surviving victim whose condition was critical had been transferred to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
Also burnt were two gas tankers which reportedly exploded when they were offloading gas into a reserved tank at the station, resulting in the fire–outbreak.
The deceased, who was identified as Alfred Otoo, an attendant at the Redeemer Gas Point and Agapet Filling Station where the fire started, died at the Tema General Hospital early on Thursday morning.
When the Daily Graphic got to the scene, electricity connection to Tema Manhean had been disconnected, there was stampede, as residents were running away from the vicinity, and drivers were ensuring that their vehicles got to safe grounds. There were reports that some children had been knocked down in the process as there was fear and panic among residents.
According to an eyewitness, about 9.15 p.m. on that day, residents heard a blast at the gas station, suddenly followed by fire which engulfed the discharging terminal and other structures at the facility.
He said the deceased, in an attempt to save his life, ran through the fire but he sustained serious burns and died the following morning at the Tema General Hospital.
The devastating fire spread fast because there was gas in the reserves and the area was near the beach.
It took the combined efforts of personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service, the Tema Oil Refinery Fire Brigade and the Eastern Naval Command about two hours to bring the fire under control.
The Tema Regional Fire Service Commander, Mr Gilford Tetteh Adams, said there was heightened suspicion that there had been a leakage on the gas facility.
He noted that the GNFS would conduct investigations to identify where the leakage was, noting that the least opening on a gas facility could be dangerous.
Mr Adams cautioned operators of gas terminals to obtain the necessary fire certificates and fire fighting equipment.
As of midday on Thursday, fire personnel were found cooling off the area with water to ensure that no hidden fire came up.
They were also in the process of dislodging gas reserves to ensure that there was nothing left in the tanks.
Mr Adams said the personnel would be positioned there for some time till normalcy was restored.
The Deputy Director of Nursing Services in charge of Surgical Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Tema General Hospital, Madam Paula Payel, confirmed the death of the deceased.
She said two other victims of the fire who sustained various degrees of injury were on admission at the hospital, while a third surviving victim whose condition was critical had been transferred to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
LANDGUARDS ENCROACH ON TDC LANDS (PAGE 29, APRIL 1, 2010)
The Managing Director of the Tema Development Corporation (TDC), Mr Joe Abbey, has expressed concern about the activities of land guards who have encroached on large tracts of land belonging to the corporation .
He said the activities of the land guards, who have pistols and other harmful implements, posed a great danger to the TDC and the public.
Briefing the Parliamentary Select Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises during a visit to the TDC Mr Abbey said the corporation had alerted the police and the Southern Command of the Military for assistance in curbing the activities of the land guards .
He said another problem confronting the TDC was an overlap in the functions of the TDC and Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), which was a contributory factor to the encroachment of lands and loss of open spaces.
Mr Abbey stated that TDC had made an appeal to the sector minister to initiate discussions on the issue to streamline roles of the two organisations. He, therefore, appealed to Parliament to consider raising the issue on the floor of the House.
He said the TDC and the TMA had agreed to merge two permit processes as a first step in the streamlining of their roles and suggested that the responsibilities of the TMA and TDC should be well-defined to avoid duplication.
He said the TDC was reviewing its activities to boost its performance as stipulated in the performance contract signed with the State Enterprises.
Mr Abbey said as part of the review, the TDC was considering the redevelopment of some old communities in Tema and explained that some abandoned projects, including the TDC Club House, would be rehabilitated, with private sector partnership for early completion.
The Chairman of the Select Committee, Mr Prince Hayibor said the visit was educative and urged the management of TDC to work hard to sustain the corporation .
He said the activities of the land guards, who have pistols and other harmful implements, posed a great danger to the TDC and the public.
Briefing the Parliamentary Select Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises during a visit to the TDC Mr Abbey said the corporation had alerted the police and the Southern Command of the Military for assistance in curbing the activities of the land guards .
He said another problem confronting the TDC was an overlap in the functions of the TDC and Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), which was a contributory factor to the encroachment of lands and loss of open spaces.
Mr Abbey stated that TDC had made an appeal to the sector minister to initiate discussions on the issue to streamline roles of the two organisations. He, therefore, appealed to Parliament to consider raising the issue on the floor of the House.
He said the TDC and the TMA had agreed to merge two permit processes as a first step in the streamlining of their roles and suggested that the responsibilities of the TMA and TDC should be well-defined to avoid duplication.
He said the TDC was reviewing its activities to boost its performance as stipulated in the performance contract signed with the State Enterprises.
Mr Abbey said as part of the review, the TDC was considering the redevelopment of some old communities in Tema and explained that some abandoned projects, including the TDC Club House, would be rehabilitated, with private sector partnership for early completion.
The Chairman of the Select Committee, Mr Prince Hayibor said the visit was educative and urged the management of TDC to work hard to sustain the corporation .
ASHAIMAN MARKET EXTENSION PROJECT BEGINS (PAGE 29, APRIL 1, 2010)
The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, has cut the sod for the commencement of work on a GH¢200,000 market extension project to decongest the Ashaiman Central Market.
The project, comprising the construction of market sheds, pavements and places of convenience to serve the traders, will on completion be named the Nii Adjor Market.
The deputy minister also inspected rehabilitation works at the Ashaiman Senior High School assembly hall.
Mr Ankrah was on a tour of the Ashaiman Municipality, as part of a one-day working visit to the Tema Metropolis to familiarise himself with projects being undertaken by the assemblies.
Speaking at a meeting with the core staff of the assembly and assembly members of the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly, he said the Local Government Ministry inherited debts from the previous administration and pointed out that the government was streamlining the assemblies’ financial situation.
He said Ashaiman was of great significance to the country because of its cosmopolitan nature and pointed out that “if you touch Ashaiman, you would be touching every part of the country”.
He urged the assembly to work hard to ensure that the government’s effort at revamping the economy was made possible.
Mr Ankrah said the government was ensuring that agriculture was modernised to make food cheaper, which in the end would put money into the people’s pocket.
He urged the youth to be responsible, disciplined and be ready to take initiatives to help the government to build the nation.
He stated that block farming, youth in agriculture and the National Youth Employment Programme, were all aimed at providing jobs for the youth, and advised them to take advantage of those programmes to improve their living standards.
Mr Ankrah called on the youth to be law-abiding and patronise the government’s job-creation policies by training adequately to fit into positions which would need professional qualification, and cautioned that anyone who would want to hide under political cover to break the law would be dealt with.
The Ashaiman Municipal Chief Executive, Numo Adinortey Addison, said although the assembly inherited some debts in respect of refuse collection from the previous administration, its work was on course.
He said apart from decongesting, the Assembly was initiating projects to provide infrastructure for education, a library, pavements, drains and well-planned markets for trading activities.
Mr Addison later took the deputy minister through the principal streets of Ashaiman to enable him to have an overview of the decongestive exercise in the municipality.
Mr Ankrah urged the various heads of decentralised departments in the metropolis, as well as subcommittee chairpersons of the assembly and assembly staff to work hard to accelerate the pace of development in the area.
He said the assemblies and assemblymembers were strategic agents of the country’s decentralisation process, and pointed out that with the assemblies harnessing their resources efficiently, and with the judicious use of resources, the assemblies could achieve their goals in support of the nation’s efforts to become a middle income earner.
Mr Ankrah urged them to perform their core functions with diligence and avoid using their positions to abuse their offices,which may tarnish the image of the assembly.
In Tema, Mr Ankrah commended the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) for working to achieve its targets and urged the assembly not to relent its efforts in addressing problems confronting the metropolis.
He said the government had set up an inter-sectoral committee to streamline levies chargeable by the assemblies for consistency in the levying system and also announced that an electronic naming system would soon be introduced into the country, to help people locate places easily.
On waste management, the deputy minister pointed out that the period of constructing landfill sites was over and advised assemblies to contract investors who would import modern technologies for the management of waste.
The TMA Chief Executive, Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware, enlightened the deputy minister on the assembly’s four-year development starting this year and said the TMA had initiated action to remove all unauthorised structures to maintain sanity in the metropolis and also develop green belts to beautify the city.
He stated that the assembly had taken steps to ensure that the public complied with the processes for the acquisition of permit and planning schemes through education and increased development control and task force operations for orderliness in physical development.
He said the assembly had bought one new vehicle for its works department, and employed 40 additional labourers to assist in cleaning the metropolis, and pointed out that 45 Metropolitan Guards were undergoing training at the National Police Training School (NPTS), as part of efforts to increase the number of guards for the assembly.
He later took the deputy minister round to inspect some projects including the Tema –Kpone road and school projects under construction.
The project, comprising the construction of market sheds, pavements and places of convenience to serve the traders, will on completion be named the Nii Adjor Market.
The deputy minister also inspected rehabilitation works at the Ashaiman Senior High School assembly hall.
Mr Ankrah was on a tour of the Ashaiman Municipality, as part of a one-day working visit to the Tema Metropolis to familiarise himself with projects being undertaken by the assemblies.
Speaking at a meeting with the core staff of the assembly and assembly members of the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly, he said the Local Government Ministry inherited debts from the previous administration and pointed out that the government was streamlining the assemblies’ financial situation.
He said Ashaiman was of great significance to the country because of its cosmopolitan nature and pointed out that “if you touch Ashaiman, you would be touching every part of the country”.
He urged the assembly to work hard to ensure that the government’s effort at revamping the economy was made possible.
Mr Ankrah said the government was ensuring that agriculture was modernised to make food cheaper, which in the end would put money into the people’s pocket.
He urged the youth to be responsible, disciplined and be ready to take initiatives to help the government to build the nation.
He stated that block farming, youth in agriculture and the National Youth Employment Programme, were all aimed at providing jobs for the youth, and advised them to take advantage of those programmes to improve their living standards.
Mr Ankrah called on the youth to be law-abiding and patronise the government’s job-creation policies by training adequately to fit into positions which would need professional qualification, and cautioned that anyone who would want to hide under political cover to break the law would be dealt with.
The Ashaiman Municipal Chief Executive, Numo Adinortey Addison, said although the assembly inherited some debts in respect of refuse collection from the previous administration, its work was on course.
He said apart from decongesting, the Assembly was initiating projects to provide infrastructure for education, a library, pavements, drains and well-planned markets for trading activities.
Mr Addison later took the deputy minister through the principal streets of Ashaiman to enable him to have an overview of the decongestive exercise in the municipality.
Mr Ankrah urged the various heads of decentralised departments in the metropolis, as well as subcommittee chairpersons of the assembly and assembly staff to work hard to accelerate the pace of development in the area.
He said the assemblies and assemblymembers were strategic agents of the country’s decentralisation process, and pointed out that with the assemblies harnessing their resources efficiently, and with the judicious use of resources, the assemblies could achieve their goals in support of the nation’s efforts to become a middle income earner.
Mr Ankrah urged them to perform their core functions with diligence and avoid using their positions to abuse their offices,which may tarnish the image of the assembly.
In Tema, Mr Ankrah commended the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) for working to achieve its targets and urged the assembly not to relent its efforts in addressing problems confronting the metropolis.
He said the government had set up an inter-sectoral committee to streamline levies chargeable by the assemblies for consistency in the levying system and also announced that an electronic naming system would soon be introduced into the country, to help people locate places easily.
On waste management, the deputy minister pointed out that the period of constructing landfill sites was over and advised assemblies to contract investors who would import modern technologies for the management of waste.
The TMA Chief Executive, Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware, enlightened the deputy minister on the assembly’s four-year development starting this year and said the TMA had initiated action to remove all unauthorised structures to maintain sanity in the metropolis and also develop green belts to beautify the city.
He stated that the assembly had taken steps to ensure that the public complied with the processes for the acquisition of permit and planning schemes through education and increased development control and task force operations for orderliness in physical development.
He said the assembly had bought one new vehicle for its works department, and employed 40 additional labourers to assist in cleaning the metropolis, and pointed out that 45 Metropolitan Guards were undergoing training at the National Police Training School (NPTS), as part of efforts to increase the number of guards for the assembly.
He later took the deputy minister round to inspect some projects including the Tema –Kpone road and school projects under construction.
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