THE body of a former Assembly Member of Obakatse Electoral Area at Ashaiman Roman Down, Billy Tsinasi, 57, has been retrieved from the floods which has ravaged the Tema Municipal Area since Sunday.
family members who found the body were at the Ashaiman Police Station where they had conveyed it for documentation when the Daily Graphic got there.
They reported that Tsinasi, who was their breadwinner appeared to have been electrocuted when he attempted to walk through the flooded area to inspect his land located in the electoral area.
The Ashaiman Police Commander, Superintendent Peter Kobina, said the official figure of bodies retrieved in Ashaiman was 13 and efforts were being made to retrieve more missing bodies.
He said out of the 13 bodies, nine had been buried in line with the dictates of their muslim religion, but the remaining ones were at the morgue of the Tema General Hospital.
Superintendent Kobina told the Assembly Member for Obakatse Electoral Area, Mr Thomas Adongo, that most of the deaths occurred at the Roman Down area.
He said one other person had been reported missing in the area and a search party was on the lookout for a 10-year old girl Dzigbodi whose body was washed away in the big drain which flows into the Gbemi River.
The Chairman of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre, Mr Gabriel Atsu, said a 41-year-old man, Kofi Adatsi, who attempted to assist a victim also got drowned. He said the body had been deposited at the Tema morgue.
Presently Ashaiman is in a mess while people continue to salvage few things that they could lay their hands on.
More than 2,000 people in Ashaiman have been rendered homeless.
Anger is mounting among residents because of the Assembly’s decision to remove buildings located on low-lying grounds reserved for farming and those located close to storm drains in order to save life and property.
The areas, according to the concerned people, include the Ashaiman Roman Down agricultural lands and the dam site at Jericho, managed by the Irrigation Development Authority(IDA), which is under threat because of encroachment.
Huge permanent structures have been built at the Ashaiman Roman Down farm area, where farmers there have cultivated crops such as okro, tomatoes, corn and pepper and also reared animals like ducks, grasscutters and fowls.
The irrigation dam site where rice is cultivated in addition to crops and buildings were also flooded.
It was discovered that people occupying those buildings had vacated the houses which were alleged to have been constructed illegally.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
ENFORCE HUMAN TRAFFICKING ACT..Pleads Tema children (PAGE 11, JUNE 24, 2010)
Children from some selected Junior High Schools in the Tema Metropolis have called for the strict enforcement of the Human Trafficking Act, 2005, to ensure that children grow in a secured and protective environment.
The children made the call at a press briefing in Tema to commemorate this year’s African Union (AU) Day of the African Child. The programme was organised by the Abibiman Foundation through its Green Life Clubs which are set up in schools.
This year's AU Day of the African Child was on the theme “Planning and budgeting for children: Our collective responsibility”. Every year, the AU adopts themes and campaigns relating to the welfare and progress of African children.
The day was instituted on June 16, 1976, during the Apartheid era when a number of black school children were killed in South Africa, as they undertook a peaceful walk to draw attention to the inferior quality of their education and to demand their right to be taught in their own language.
Speakers at the forum in Tema stressed the need for the government and related agencies, as well as all those who have the interest of children at heart, to resolve to stop all forms of child labour, exploitation and trafficking, take positive steps to address inequalities and discrimination against children, including those with disability in order to promote their growth and development.
They contended that taking these steps would guarantee a sustainable future for the Ghanaian child and reaffirm the government’s commitment to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which was adopted in the year 2000 at the UN summit in New York.
The children said it was important to ensure that every child had equal rights and opportunities to growth and development, to save the children who are the future leaders of the nation .
Ms Yvonne Acheampong of the Green Life Club noted that it was worrying that the Ghanaian child continued to suffer from the rippling effect of poverty, illiteracy, maternal and child mortality , malaria and other diseases.
She said a number of children have become vulnerable to all forms of social vices as a result of poverty and pointed out that for that reason, most children were unable to access quality education and quality health care.
She commended the government for making giant strides in making education accessible to children,under the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education Programme, and through the provision of other incentives such as the capitation grant, school feeding programme, free school uniforms, text books and free bus ride for school crildren.
Ms Acheampong said although these have led to increase in school intake, there was still a lot to be done, adding that some children continued to study under trees, while the teacher- population was also inadequate.
She called on the government to uphold all international agreements and protocols relating to budgetary allocations for the achievement of the MDGs.
Ms Acheampong appealed to the group of Eight Developed countries to support developing countries to invest more in their education and health sectors.
The children made the call at a press briefing in Tema to commemorate this year’s African Union (AU) Day of the African Child. The programme was organised by the Abibiman Foundation through its Green Life Clubs which are set up in schools.
This year's AU Day of the African Child was on the theme “Planning and budgeting for children: Our collective responsibility”. Every year, the AU adopts themes and campaigns relating to the welfare and progress of African children.
The day was instituted on June 16, 1976, during the Apartheid era when a number of black school children were killed in South Africa, as they undertook a peaceful walk to draw attention to the inferior quality of their education and to demand their right to be taught in their own language.
Speakers at the forum in Tema stressed the need for the government and related agencies, as well as all those who have the interest of children at heart, to resolve to stop all forms of child labour, exploitation and trafficking, take positive steps to address inequalities and discrimination against children, including those with disability in order to promote their growth and development.
They contended that taking these steps would guarantee a sustainable future for the Ghanaian child and reaffirm the government’s commitment to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which was adopted in the year 2000 at the UN summit in New York.
The children said it was important to ensure that every child had equal rights and opportunities to growth and development, to save the children who are the future leaders of the nation .
Ms Yvonne Acheampong of the Green Life Club noted that it was worrying that the Ghanaian child continued to suffer from the rippling effect of poverty, illiteracy, maternal and child mortality , malaria and other diseases.
She said a number of children have become vulnerable to all forms of social vices as a result of poverty and pointed out that for that reason, most children were unable to access quality education and quality health care.
She commended the government for making giant strides in making education accessible to children,under the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education Programme, and through the provision of other incentives such as the capitation grant, school feeding programme, free school uniforms, text books and free bus ride for school crildren.
Ms Acheampong said although these have led to increase in school intake, there was still a lot to be done, adding that some children continued to study under trees, while the teacher- population was also inadequate.
She called on the government to uphold all international agreements and protocols relating to budgetary allocations for the achievement of the MDGs.
Ms Acheampong appealed to the group of Eight Developed countries to support developing countries to invest more in their education and health sectors.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
TEMA PRESS ABANDONED (PAGE 23, JUNE 24, 2010)
THE Tema Press, a former subsidiary of the Ghana Publishing Corporation, is now an abandoned edifice, though it was put on the divestiture list over 12 years ago.
The building, depicting colonial architecture, is sandwiched between several new warehouses at the Fishing Harbour Industrial Area and has two-storey offices, a detached printing section, an open hall and warehouses.
Although efforts have been made to protect the structures, parts of the building are crumpling due to lack of maintenance.
The press, a product of Dr Kwame Nkrumah's vision, was inaugurated in 1964 by Ghana’s first President and was expected to print books to ensure the steady supply of stationery to the many schools constructed under the education-for-all policy of the First Republic.
A visit to the premises of the press revealed its appalling state and erratic supply of electricity and water.
Some residents in the area that the Daily Graphic spoke to said some people sneaked into the premises to sleep there at night.
They claimed that security men often patrolled the area during the day and night to prevent intruders from entering and the head of the skeletal staff, Mr Joseph Nkrumah, who the Daily Graphic met at the press, confirmed that there was no activity at the press and explained that the Divestiture Implementation Committee (DIC) took over the administration and management of the press when the government listed it for divestiture.
He said the skeletal staff was made up of 11 people, including five watchmen who ensured that intruders did not loiter in the yard.
Mr Nkrumah said the DIC mandated them to take over the running of the premises until a potential buyer was found. He explained that they were also mandated to generate their own funds and, therefore, had rented out the six warehouses to cover overhead costs and salaries.
Mr Nkrumah named some of the organisations to whom some of the warehouses had been rented as Kingdom Books and Stationery Limited, the Ghana Education Service and Dizengoff Ghana Limited.
He said there was an accountant who handled the revenue so there was nothing illegal about the renting of the warehouses and hinted that a potential Ghanaian investor accompanied by some foreigners had visited the press so very soon, investment documentation would be completed.
He noted that with the monies accrued from the rents, the staff had maintained the structures and the premises to avoid the situation where squatters would convert the facility into their sleeping places.
The building, depicting colonial architecture, is sandwiched between several new warehouses at the Fishing Harbour Industrial Area and has two-storey offices, a detached printing section, an open hall and warehouses.
Although efforts have been made to protect the structures, parts of the building are crumpling due to lack of maintenance.
The press, a product of Dr Kwame Nkrumah's vision, was inaugurated in 1964 by Ghana’s first President and was expected to print books to ensure the steady supply of stationery to the many schools constructed under the education-for-all policy of the First Republic.
A visit to the premises of the press revealed its appalling state and erratic supply of electricity and water.
Some residents in the area that the Daily Graphic spoke to said some people sneaked into the premises to sleep there at night.
They claimed that security men often patrolled the area during the day and night to prevent intruders from entering and the head of the skeletal staff, Mr Joseph Nkrumah, who the Daily Graphic met at the press, confirmed that there was no activity at the press and explained that the Divestiture Implementation Committee (DIC) took over the administration and management of the press when the government listed it for divestiture.
He said the skeletal staff was made up of 11 people, including five watchmen who ensured that intruders did not loiter in the yard.
Mr Nkrumah said the DIC mandated them to take over the running of the premises until a potential buyer was found. He explained that they were also mandated to generate their own funds and, therefore, had rented out the six warehouses to cover overhead costs and salaries.
Mr Nkrumah named some of the organisations to whom some of the warehouses had been rented as Kingdom Books and Stationery Limited, the Ghana Education Service and Dizengoff Ghana Limited.
He said there was an accountant who handled the revenue so there was nothing illegal about the renting of the warehouses and hinted that a potential Ghanaian investor accompanied by some foreigners had visited the press so very soon, investment documentation would be completed.
He noted that with the monies accrued from the rents, the staff had maintained the structures and the premises to avoid the situation where squatters would convert the facility into their sleeping places.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
MOVES TO UNITE ASHAIMAN YOUTH FOUNDATION (PAGE 14, JUNE 22. 2010)
Youth groups in the Ashaiman Municipality, under the umbrella of the Ashaiman Youth Coalition (AYOC), have organised a breakfast meeting to unite them and strengthen the youth front for national development.
The former executive of the AYOC was dissolved and a new seven-member ad hoc committee was put in place to review the constitution of the coalition and act as the electoral college for the election of substantive executive members of the AYOC on July 1, 2010.
The committee was tasked to submit its report and findings to enable changes to be made for the election to take place.
The acting President of the AYOC and founding member, Mr Prince Mohammed, said the coalition had encountered setbacks since its inception in 2001 and had not been able to oversee the activities of the youth in Ashaiman, thus creating internal leadership problems.
He stated that some executive members had joined the groups with individual political intentions and, therefore, created tension which had given Ashaiman and its youth a bad name.
Mr Mohammed said with the new interventions, Ashaiman must begin to see different dimensions of good things to make it assume a good name befitting its status as a municipality.
He said AYOC was formed to bring all youth groups in Ashaiman together in unity to pursue its development hence the reason for the fight for a municipal status.
Mr Mohammed appealed to the youth in Ashaiman to help restore the vibrancy in the coalition and remove hatred, self-centred motives and political interests from it in order to build a just coalition of youth groups.
He commended the founding members of the coalition and urged them to help maintain peace and tranquillity in the Ashaiman Municipality.
The Municipal Chief Executive, Numo Adinortey Addison, swore in the seven-member committee and appealed to them to be fair and ensure that the constitution of the coalition was made viable for the growth of the youth in national development.
He appreciated the youth for using the AU Day to unite for what the day stood for.
Numo Addison said the AU Day was dedicated to the youth to enable them to know how the founding fathers of the country struggled to hold the continent together.
He said the youth in Ashaiman should commit themselves to the development of the municipality and consider its beginning and where it was now.
Numo Addison said as Africa focused on Ghana for the celebration of the day, the youth in Ashaiman should take the opportunity to strengthen the youth front for progress.
He announced that the assembly was setting up an integrated centre for employable skills to train the youth to become entrepreneurs.
Numo Addison urged the youth to show interest in the forthcoming district level elections to enable them to exhibit their vibrancy and youthful ideas in nation building.
The chairman of the ad hoc committee, Malam Abdul Karim Abass, thanked the youth for the trust reposed in him and the other committee members.
He said the members would work hard to ensure that they came out with a good working paper to enable the youth in Ashaiman to stand up in unity and in strength.
Malam Abass appealed to the youth groups to make inputs into the constitution to make it comprehensive and uniform.
The former executive of the AYOC was dissolved and a new seven-member ad hoc committee was put in place to review the constitution of the coalition and act as the electoral college for the election of substantive executive members of the AYOC on July 1, 2010.
The committee was tasked to submit its report and findings to enable changes to be made for the election to take place.
The acting President of the AYOC and founding member, Mr Prince Mohammed, said the coalition had encountered setbacks since its inception in 2001 and had not been able to oversee the activities of the youth in Ashaiman, thus creating internal leadership problems.
He stated that some executive members had joined the groups with individual political intentions and, therefore, created tension which had given Ashaiman and its youth a bad name.
Mr Mohammed said with the new interventions, Ashaiman must begin to see different dimensions of good things to make it assume a good name befitting its status as a municipality.
He said AYOC was formed to bring all youth groups in Ashaiman together in unity to pursue its development hence the reason for the fight for a municipal status.
Mr Mohammed appealed to the youth in Ashaiman to help restore the vibrancy in the coalition and remove hatred, self-centred motives and political interests from it in order to build a just coalition of youth groups.
He commended the founding members of the coalition and urged them to help maintain peace and tranquillity in the Ashaiman Municipality.
The Municipal Chief Executive, Numo Adinortey Addison, swore in the seven-member committee and appealed to them to be fair and ensure that the constitution of the coalition was made viable for the growth of the youth in national development.
He appreciated the youth for using the AU Day to unite for what the day stood for.
Numo Addison said the AU Day was dedicated to the youth to enable them to know how the founding fathers of the country struggled to hold the continent together.
He said the youth in Ashaiman should commit themselves to the development of the municipality and consider its beginning and where it was now.
Numo Addison said as Africa focused on Ghana for the celebration of the day, the youth in Ashaiman should take the opportunity to strengthen the youth front for progress.
He announced that the assembly was setting up an integrated centre for employable skills to train the youth to become entrepreneurs.
Numo Addison urged the youth to show interest in the forthcoming district level elections to enable them to exhibit their vibrancy and youthful ideas in nation building.
The chairman of the ad hoc committee, Malam Abdul Karim Abass, thanked the youth for the trust reposed in him and the other committee members.
He said the members would work hard to ensure that they came out with a good working paper to enable the youth in Ashaiman to stand up in unity and in strength.
Malam Abass appealed to the youth groups to make inputs into the constitution to make it comprehensive and uniform.
Friday, June 18, 2010
SHIPPING FIRM ORGANISES HEALTH SCREENING EXERCISE IN TWO REGIONS (PAGE 29, JUNE 17, 2010)
A Shipping and Logistics Company in Tema, the Global Cargo and Commodities Limited, has organised a free Hepatitis B screening for residents in the Krachie, Wulensi and Kpandai districts in the Northern and Volta regions and educated the people on the dangers of the disease.
The exercise was also to make the people aware of their status and be educated to avoid being infested with the disease .
Those who were found to be positive after the tests were supported medically to manage the disease while others were vaccinated to prevent their being infected.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic on why the company embarked on the campaign, the Managing Director of Global Cargo and Logistics Company, Mr Jacob Gbati, noted that the decision emanated from a National Research report which declared the Northern and Volta regions as high on the Hepatitis B prevalent rate in the country.
He said the exercise attracted over 600 people out of which 83 were found to have been infected, including an 11-year-old girl.
The NKD laboratories under took the medical tests.
The exercise was also to make the people aware of their status and be educated to avoid being infested with the disease .
Those who were found to be positive after the tests were supported medically to manage the disease while others were vaccinated to prevent their being infected.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic on why the company embarked on the campaign, the Managing Director of Global Cargo and Logistics Company, Mr Jacob Gbati, noted that the decision emanated from a National Research report which declared the Northern and Volta regions as high on the Hepatitis B prevalent rate in the country.
He said the exercise attracted over 600 people out of which 83 were found to have been infected, including an 11-year-old girl.
The NKD laboratories under took the medical tests.
GRIDCO PROMISES TO STABILISE POWER SUPPLY (PAGE 23, JUNE 17, 2010)
Ghana Grid Company Ltd (GRIDCO) has initiated moves to regularise and stabilise the power supply system in Accra and its environs.
Contracted projects under the initiative include the stringing of a fourth transmission circuit 30 kilometre line from the main switch yard in Tema to the sub-station at Achimota at a cost of U$ 1.5 million to be undertaken by SAE Power Lines.
Another contract is to be awarded to Fedders Lloyd Corporation, an Indian company to upgrade the Mallam substation with additional two 66 megavolts ampere (MVA) transformers at a cost of U$5 million.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in an interview on the recent increase in tariffs and plans to satisfy the demand of consumers, the Public Affairs Manager of the GRIDCO, Mr Albert Quainoo, disclosed that the company was concerned about the power situation and, therefore, had started immediate plans to improve its services to its clients.
He stated that GRIDCO currently runs on three lines from Tema to Achimota with each running on a capacity of 215 MVA.
Mr Quainoo explained that anytime there was a problem, the company had to inconvenience consumers to undertake maintenance but said with the fourth line, there would be room for redundancy on the lines which would, therefore, not affect operations .
He said the redundancy would make it possible to take one line out for the maintenance without causing any outage .
Mr Quainoo said the additional two 66MVA transformers which would upgrade the Mallam substation was a World Bank funded project being implemented by GRIDCO in conjunction with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) .
He noted that under the project, one of the transformers would be mounted by the end of this year.
Mr Quainoo appealed to people operating in the areas where GRIDCO has its towers to stay away from the locations to enable the contractors to work within time .
He said the work would entail pulling of cables and equipment and, therefore, their presence would hinder work and deny the contractor the opportunity to complete the project on schedule .
Mr Quainoo was of the view that these projects would bring a lot of relief to customers noting that with the completion of the two projects customers in the Western part of Accra would have benefited from them.
Power outages in the country have been a concern to users of electrical gadgets and general clients while the operators have complained that obsolete equipment and low tariffs were some of bootle-necks hindering effective operation. .
Mr Quainoo gave the assurance that after these, other projects would follow.
Contracted projects under the initiative include the stringing of a fourth transmission circuit 30 kilometre line from the main switch yard in Tema to the sub-station at Achimota at a cost of U$ 1.5 million to be undertaken by SAE Power Lines.
Another contract is to be awarded to Fedders Lloyd Corporation, an Indian company to upgrade the Mallam substation with additional two 66 megavolts ampere (MVA) transformers at a cost of U$5 million.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in an interview on the recent increase in tariffs and plans to satisfy the demand of consumers, the Public Affairs Manager of the GRIDCO, Mr Albert Quainoo, disclosed that the company was concerned about the power situation and, therefore, had started immediate plans to improve its services to its clients.
He stated that GRIDCO currently runs on three lines from Tema to Achimota with each running on a capacity of 215 MVA.
Mr Quainoo explained that anytime there was a problem, the company had to inconvenience consumers to undertake maintenance but said with the fourth line, there would be room for redundancy on the lines which would, therefore, not affect operations .
He said the redundancy would make it possible to take one line out for the maintenance without causing any outage .
Mr Quainoo said the additional two 66MVA transformers which would upgrade the Mallam substation was a World Bank funded project being implemented by GRIDCO in conjunction with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) .
He noted that under the project, one of the transformers would be mounted by the end of this year.
Mr Quainoo appealed to people operating in the areas where GRIDCO has its towers to stay away from the locations to enable the contractors to work within time .
He said the work would entail pulling of cables and equipment and, therefore, their presence would hinder work and deny the contractor the opportunity to complete the project on schedule .
Mr Quainoo was of the view that these projects would bring a lot of relief to customers noting that with the completion of the two projects customers in the Western part of Accra would have benefited from them.
Power outages in the country have been a concern to users of electrical gadgets and general clients while the operators have complained that obsolete equipment and low tariffs were some of bootle-necks hindering effective operation. .
Mr Quainoo gave the assurance that after these, other projects would follow.
Monday, June 14, 2010
SCRAP NOMINATIONS OF DCES (PAGE 14, JUNE 14, 2010)
STAKEHOLDERS at the Constitution Review Commission forum at Ashaiman have reached a consensus that nomination of Chief Executives and government appointees in the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies must be scrapped and replaced with a democratically elected system.
This would make the assembly non-partisan as subscribed in the Local Government law which set up the assemblies, they stated.
They expressed the view that government appointments in the assembly had swayed decisions to favour the political party in government and therefore did not portray a genuine position of the people they represented.
The forum, which was to sample the views of people at the grass roots for possible amendments in the constitution, was patronised by tribal heads in Ashaiman, community-based organisations, Non governmental organisations (NGO) Security services and head of decentralised organisations.
Reverend Professor Samuel K. Adjepong, a member of the commission led a four member team of officers from the Commission to meet the people and to document their views.
The forum came out with views on the electoral process in the country noting that it was shrouded in some secrecy and called for an amendment to make it transparent.
They explained that, the Electoral Commission must be made autonomous by having its own source of funding instead of relying on the government.
On the number of ministers appointed by the government, the forum called for review of article 78(2) which did not put a ceiling on the number of ministers that the President could appoint and number of ministries the President may establish.
They expressed the view that ministers must not be appointed from Parliament to enable parliamentarians concentrate on their work.
Other areas they touched on included the tenure of office of the President, the ban onchiefs in politics and the role of the police and funding.
Rev. Prof. Adjepong commended the people of Ashaiman for their comportment and having made input to the review process.
He said Ashaiman was the first place in Greater Accra where the commission had made a stop.
Rev. Prof. Adjepong noted that the commission had received 6000 submissions since it started its work and appealed to every citizen to take part in the discussion when the commission got to their district.
He said the constitution was the most sovereign document any country could have and therefore needed to take the exercise serious.
Numo Addison urged them to be free in expressing their views without any political motive to make the document fit into the new trend of affairs .
This would make the assembly non-partisan as subscribed in the Local Government law which set up the assemblies, they stated.
They expressed the view that government appointments in the assembly had swayed decisions to favour the political party in government and therefore did not portray a genuine position of the people they represented.
The forum, which was to sample the views of people at the grass roots for possible amendments in the constitution, was patronised by tribal heads in Ashaiman, community-based organisations, Non governmental organisations (NGO) Security services and head of decentralised organisations.
Reverend Professor Samuel K. Adjepong, a member of the commission led a four member team of officers from the Commission to meet the people and to document their views.
The forum came out with views on the electoral process in the country noting that it was shrouded in some secrecy and called for an amendment to make it transparent.
They explained that, the Electoral Commission must be made autonomous by having its own source of funding instead of relying on the government.
On the number of ministers appointed by the government, the forum called for review of article 78(2) which did not put a ceiling on the number of ministers that the President could appoint and number of ministries the President may establish.
They expressed the view that ministers must not be appointed from Parliament to enable parliamentarians concentrate on their work.
Other areas they touched on included the tenure of office of the President, the ban onchiefs in politics and the role of the police and funding.
Rev. Prof. Adjepong commended the people of Ashaiman for their comportment and having made input to the review process.
He said Ashaiman was the first place in Greater Accra where the commission had made a stop.
Rev. Prof. Adjepong noted that the commission had received 6000 submissions since it started its work and appealed to every citizen to take part in the discussion when the commission got to their district.
He said the constitution was the most sovereign document any country could have and therefore needed to take the exercise serious.
Numo Addison urged them to be free in expressing their views without any political motive to make the document fit into the new trend of affairs .
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
ROTARY CLUB BUILDS LIBRARY FOR GBETSILE (PAGE 46, JUNE 9, 2010)
THE Rotary Club of Tema has handed over a library stocked with books to the Gbetsile Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) School Complex in the Kpone-Katamanso Constituency to encourage pupils to cultivate the habit of reading.
The project cost GH¢26,500.
The books which included Literature, Science, Mathematics for Kindergarten up to the junior high school level were valued at GH¢10,000.
The Deputy Minister of Education, Mrs Elizabeth Amoah-Tetteh, who inaugurated the project, commended the Rotary Club of Tema for its role in promoting education at various levels.
She said Rotary had partnered the government in providing educational facilities and had helped in bringing education closer to rural communities.
Mrs Amoah-Tetteh said the provision of a library was the first step to education and a ladder to success.
She appealed to parents to show interest and build the confidence in their children. She also encouraged them to visit the library to research and make references.
Mrs Amoah-Tetteh appreciated the efforts of the school’s management team, the chief of Gbetsile and all sponsors for supporting the Rotary Club of Tema to build the library.
She affirmed the government’s determination to phase out the shift system and pupils learning under trees by providing the necessary facilities for teaching and learning.
The Member of Parliament for the area, Nii Afotey Agbo, in a speech read on his behalf, commended the Rotary Club of Tema for its efforts to uplift education at Gbetsile which is a rural community in the Tema Metropolis.
He called on the school authorities to liaise with the metropolitan Directorate of Education to employ a qualified librarian to run the library and provide adequate supervision and support to the children for the books to last longer.
The President of the Rotary Club of Tema, Mr John Bison, in an address recounted how the club solicited for support from both local and international sources to put up the library.
He commended the State Insurance Company for being the major sponsor of the project, Brothers’ Brother Foundation of the United States of America for making the intentions of the club a reality.
Mr Bisiw said the club had through its literacy programmes assisted deprived schools with quality books, organised book fairs to promote literacy among the youth and provide health amenities to communities beyond Tema.
He thanked the people, teachers and the chief of Gbetsile for the cordial relations and support and appealed to them to encourage the children to make good use of the library for their own benefit.
The chief of Gbetsile, Nii Kweku Teye, in his appreciation said the library would be put to good use.
He appealed to the Tema Metropolitan Assembly to help extend electricity to the school to enable the pupils benefit from other modern facilities.
The Tema Metropolitan Director of Education, Mr Kwesi Hutchful,on behalf of the school, later received 10 computers and a set of tennis equipment donated by the MP for the area, Nii Afotey Agbo.
He thanked the MP for the gesture and said it would give children in the rural community the opportunity to access quality reading materials to help them in their studies.
The children entertained the gathering through poetry recitals and cultural activities.
The project cost GH¢26,500.
The books which included Literature, Science, Mathematics for Kindergarten up to the junior high school level were valued at GH¢10,000.
The Deputy Minister of Education, Mrs Elizabeth Amoah-Tetteh, who inaugurated the project, commended the Rotary Club of Tema for its role in promoting education at various levels.
She said Rotary had partnered the government in providing educational facilities and had helped in bringing education closer to rural communities.
Mrs Amoah-Tetteh said the provision of a library was the first step to education and a ladder to success.
She appealed to parents to show interest and build the confidence in their children. She also encouraged them to visit the library to research and make references.
Mrs Amoah-Tetteh appreciated the efforts of the school’s management team, the chief of Gbetsile and all sponsors for supporting the Rotary Club of Tema to build the library.
She affirmed the government’s determination to phase out the shift system and pupils learning under trees by providing the necessary facilities for teaching and learning.
The Member of Parliament for the area, Nii Afotey Agbo, in a speech read on his behalf, commended the Rotary Club of Tema for its efforts to uplift education at Gbetsile which is a rural community in the Tema Metropolis.
He called on the school authorities to liaise with the metropolitan Directorate of Education to employ a qualified librarian to run the library and provide adequate supervision and support to the children for the books to last longer.
The President of the Rotary Club of Tema, Mr John Bison, in an address recounted how the club solicited for support from both local and international sources to put up the library.
He commended the State Insurance Company for being the major sponsor of the project, Brothers’ Brother Foundation of the United States of America for making the intentions of the club a reality.
Mr Bisiw said the club had through its literacy programmes assisted deprived schools with quality books, organised book fairs to promote literacy among the youth and provide health amenities to communities beyond Tema.
He thanked the people, teachers and the chief of Gbetsile for the cordial relations and support and appealed to them to encourage the children to make good use of the library for their own benefit.
The chief of Gbetsile, Nii Kweku Teye, in his appreciation said the library would be put to good use.
He appealed to the Tema Metropolitan Assembly to help extend electricity to the school to enable the pupils benefit from other modern facilities.
The Tema Metropolitan Director of Education, Mr Kwesi Hutchful,on behalf of the school, later received 10 computers and a set of tennis equipment donated by the MP for the area, Nii Afotey Agbo.
He thanked the MP for the gesture and said it would give children in the rural community the opportunity to access quality reading materials to help them in their studies.
The children entertained the gathering through poetry recitals and cultural activities.
ASMA PREPARES BLUEPRINT FOR DEVELOPMENT OFMUNICIPALITY (PAGE 29, JUNE 9, 2010)
The Ashaiman Municipal Assembly (ASMA) has prepared a blueprint to serve as a road map to help develop and achieve the objectives of the assembly.
The document has education, health, security and environmental issues as priorities that must be tackled without delay.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic ,the Ashaiman Municipal Chief Executive, Numo Adinortey Addison, appealed to all stakeholders within and outside the municipality to contribute and support the implementation of the programme to enable the assembly achieve its vision to transform Ashaiman into a modern city.
The municipal chief executive, who took over the administration the ASHMA in May 2009, said the assembly had been able to complete a streetlight project from the Adjei-Kojo underpass to the timber market roundabout and construct roads and a drainage system under the Urban, Environmental and Sanitation Project (UESP) at the market square and the Taboo electoral areas.
He said the assembly had graded some selected roads in the municipality, decongested the main business district of the municipality, created a new market and lorry station, cleared drains and supplied 525 desks to schools in the municipality.
Numo Addison expressed concern about challenges facing the Ashaiman Municipal Health Directorate and the Ashaiman Polyclinic in particular.
He made a special appeal to non-governmental organisations, corporate bodies, philanthropists and community-based organisations to go to the aid of the Ashaiman Health Directorate and the Polyclinic.
Numo Addison said the assembly would soon raise funds to assist the Ashaiman Polyclinic to procure an ambulance and a scanning machine.
On sanitation, Numo Addison said the assembly had, since it was created, accumulated a debt of GH¢700,000 which must be paid back to private waste management contractors.
He said Ashaiman had plans to privatise waste collection to prevent any further debts.
Numo Addison commended the Municipal Security Committee for the peace and security the metropolis was enjoying as a result of the decrease in the crime rate in the municipality.
He also congratulated the police and all security agencies in the municipality on the good work they were doing.
Numo Addison said the assembly was ensuring that all ongoing projects were completed in the shortest time.
These include the construction of school blocks, a two-unit ward at the polyclinic, rehabilitation of the assembly hall, library and ICT centre at the Ashaiman Senior High School, youth in agriculture and provision of over 750 jobs for the youth.
He commended the women’s group of the Ashaiman Circuit of the Methodist Church for donating food items, toiletries, bedding, treatment equipment and plastic products to the Ashaiman Polyclinic to assist in promoting good health at the clinic.
Numo Addison called on other social groups to support and emulate the gesture of the group.
The document has education, health, security and environmental issues as priorities that must be tackled without delay.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic ,the Ashaiman Municipal Chief Executive, Numo Adinortey Addison, appealed to all stakeholders within and outside the municipality to contribute and support the implementation of the programme to enable the assembly achieve its vision to transform Ashaiman into a modern city.
The municipal chief executive, who took over the administration the ASHMA in May 2009, said the assembly had been able to complete a streetlight project from the Adjei-Kojo underpass to the timber market roundabout and construct roads and a drainage system under the Urban, Environmental and Sanitation Project (UESP) at the market square and the Taboo electoral areas.
He said the assembly had graded some selected roads in the municipality, decongested the main business district of the municipality, created a new market and lorry station, cleared drains and supplied 525 desks to schools in the municipality.
Numo Addison expressed concern about challenges facing the Ashaiman Municipal Health Directorate and the Ashaiman Polyclinic in particular.
He made a special appeal to non-governmental organisations, corporate bodies, philanthropists and community-based organisations to go to the aid of the Ashaiman Health Directorate and the Polyclinic.
Numo Addison said the assembly would soon raise funds to assist the Ashaiman Polyclinic to procure an ambulance and a scanning machine.
On sanitation, Numo Addison said the assembly had, since it was created, accumulated a debt of GH¢700,000 which must be paid back to private waste management contractors.
He said Ashaiman had plans to privatise waste collection to prevent any further debts.
Numo Addison commended the Municipal Security Committee for the peace and security the metropolis was enjoying as a result of the decrease in the crime rate in the municipality.
He also congratulated the police and all security agencies in the municipality on the good work they were doing.
Numo Addison said the assembly was ensuring that all ongoing projects were completed in the shortest time.
These include the construction of school blocks, a two-unit ward at the polyclinic, rehabilitation of the assembly hall, library and ICT centre at the Ashaiman Senior High School, youth in agriculture and provision of over 750 jobs for the youth.
He commended the women’s group of the Ashaiman Circuit of the Methodist Church for donating food items, toiletries, bedding, treatment equipment and plastic products to the Ashaiman Polyclinic to assist in promoting good health at the clinic.
Numo Addison called on other social groups to support and emulate the gesture of the group.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
MAN ARRESTED FOR STEALING OIL FROM TRANSFORMERS (PAGE 18, JUNE 5, 2010)
A middle-aged man suspected to have been stealing oil from electricity transformers in the Sakumono and Parakuo estates, leading to power outages in those areas, has been arrested by the police.
The alleged operation of the suspect, who gave his name only as Yaw, was said to have plunged the Sakumono and Parakuo estates into darkness for six days and cost the nation GH¢26,000.
According to the Nungua District Manager of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Mr Anthony Esiape, the company observed consistent power outages in the Sakumono and Parakuo estates.
He said initial investigations showed that the power outages were due to lack of oil in a transformer located in the Sakumono area but because the ECG had been ensuring that there was always oil in the transformer, there was suspicion that someone was mischievously tampering with the oil.
Mr Esiape said the ECG alerted the residents of those areas, who arrested the suspect, who was allegedly found filling his car with two yellow gallons of oil on Saturday May 29, 2010.
According to Mr Esiape, some of the residents saw the suspect, who allegedly brought eight more gallons from his Opel Kadett car, with registration number GR 9665D, to fill with oil.
He said the residents raised an alarm and two officials of the ECG, Mr Isaac Odai and Jackson Hall, who were called to verify the product, confirmed that it was oil which served as a coolant and insulation for the transformer.
Mr Esiape said the suspect was therefore handed over to the Sakumono police for further investigation.
He said the ECG recently had to replace the transformer at a cost of GH¢26,000 to restore power to the residents because oil which maintained the transformer had been drained off.
The alleged operation of the suspect, who gave his name only as Yaw, was said to have plunged the Sakumono and Parakuo estates into darkness for six days and cost the nation GH¢26,000.
According to the Nungua District Manager of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Mr Anthony Esiape, the company observed consistent power outages in the Sakumono and Parakuo estates.
He said initial investigations showed that the power outages were due to lack of oil in a transformer located in the Sakumono area but because the ECG had been ensuring that there was always oil in the transformer, there was suspicion that someone was mischievously tampering with the oil.
Mr Esiape said the ECG alerted the residents of those areas, who arrested the suspect, who was allegedly found filling his car with two yellow gallons of oil on Saturday May 29, 2010.
According to Mr Esiape, some of the residents saw the suspect, who allegedly brought eight more gallons from his Opel Kadett car, with registration number GR 9665D, to fill with oil.
He said the residents raised an alarm and two officials of the ECG, Mr Isaac Odai and Jackson Hall, who were called to verify the product, confirmed that it was oil which served as a coolant and insulation for the transformer.
Mr Esiape said the suspect was therefore handed over to the Sakumono police for further investigation.
He said the ECG recently had to replace the transformer at a cost of GH¢26,000 to restore power to the residents because oil which maintained the transformer had been drained off.
SUPPORT EFFORTS TO BUILD STRONG FAMILY STRUCTURE...FOMWAG tells Muslim women (PAGE 11, JUNE 5, 2010)
The Greater Accra President of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Association in Ghana (FOMWAG), Hajia Sirina Keltu, has urged Muslim women to be mindful of various efforts to build a strong family structure and contribute meaningful to these efforts to help produce responsible and righteous youth for the nation.
She said research had shown that children who were abandoned and without good parenting were likely to be deviant in society and would grow to become bad parents themselves, thereby building a vicious cycle.
Hajia Sirina, who made the remarks at the inauguration of the Ashaiman branch of FOMWAG, stated that Islam adores pious women, adding that FOMWAG was an umbrella of all Muslim women associations in Ghana, which aimed at mobilising,educating and helping Muslim women to contribute their quota to national development.
She called on Muslim women to stand by the truth and shun dishonesty and falsehood, adding that since the woman serves as the family’s first instructor,she should be educated to enable her educate children.
She said giving children a solid foundation in Islamic education would go a long way to shape their lives in future, stressing that if the family structure is strong and upright, the children will be responsible and righteous citizens.
Hajia Sirina said FOMWAG believed that the most important role of a good Muslim woman was the one who lived in conformity with tenets of Islam, stressing that such women are obedient, sincere and avoided all forms of corrupt practices.
Inaugurating the Ashaiman branch of the FOMWAG, the National Vice-President,Hajia Fati Suleman outlined the objectives of the association and appealed to the women to strive to make significant moves to build their image in society and in national development.
Hajia Fati later swore in executive members of the association.
She said research had shown that children who were abandoned and without good parenting were likely to be deviant in society and would grow to become bad parents themselves, thereby building a vicious cycle.
Hajia Sirina, who made the remarks at the inauguration of the Ashaiman branch of FOMWAG, stated that Islam adores pious women, adding that FOMWAG was an umbrella of all Muslim women associations in Ghana, which aimed at mobilising,educating and helping Muslim women to contribute their quota to national development.
She called on Muslim women to stand by the truth and shun dishonesty and falsehood, adding that since the woman serves as the family’s first instructor,she should be educated to enable her educate children.
She said giving children a solid foundation in Islamic education would go a long way to shape their lives in future, stressing that if the family structure is strong and upright, the children will be responsible and righteous citizens.
Hajia Sirina said FOMWAG believed that the most important role of a good Muslim woman was the one who lived in conformity with tenets of Islam, stressing that such women are obedient, sincere and avoided all forms of corrupt practices.
Inaugurating the Ashaiman branch of the FOMWAG, the National Vice-President,Hajia Fati Suleman outlined the objectives of the association and appealed to the women to strive to make significant moves to build their image in society and in national development.
Hajia Fati later swore in executive members of the association.
STOREY BUILDING COLLAPSES (1B, JUNE 5, 2010)
A FOUR-STOREY building situated along the Spintex Road, near Tema, collapsed yesterday stirring conflicting reports on the number of casualties.
While some eyewitnesses feared as many as six persons, including a four-year-old boy, could have been buried under the debris of officials of the Natioanal Fire Service said only two masons, Isaac Nartey and Derick Oppong sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the Sakumono Hospital
The Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, Mr Prince Anaglate, said the two told their rescuers that they were in the building when the building collapsed .
Mr Anaglate commented on the quality of materials used in constructing the building, noting that the concrete had little cement in it and called for experts to be involved in projects of this nature .
On the wreckage, Mr Anaglate conceded that only 15 per cent of the rescue work had been done but disclosed that since the victims were out the search exercise would be abandoned .
An eyewitness however said the calamity occurred when labourers were preparing to commence work on the multi-purpose shop attached to the Fish Up Filling Station and feared there were more people in there. The property belonged to one George Kwame-Gyan.
When the Daily Graphic arrived at the scene yesterday afternoon, personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the police and a large number of volunteers were making frantic efforts to rescue those who were believed to have been buried under the debris.
The eyewitness, Richard Apenu, who narrowly escaped the accident, told the Daily Graphic that he had information yesterday morning that some labourers were being recruited to work on the building and went to join about seven others in search of work as casual labourers.
He said after waiting for some time, word came that the one responsible for the registration would delay in coming to the site, due to the early rains, adding that because he (the eyewitness) lived in the neighbourhood, he decided to go home and come back later.
According to Richard, no sooner had he arrived home than he heard a loud bang, followed by information that the “building we were expected to work on that morning had collapsed”.
He said he went back to the spot and in the company of passers-by and attempted to rescue the victims but that did not yield any result.
According to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Marian Osei-Adu, who is in charge of the Sakumono District, her outfit received a distress call about 9 a.m. yesterday that a building under construction had collapsed on six people.
She said she quickly rushed her men to the spot, in the company of the owner of the place, Mr George Kwame-Gyan, who arranged for some machines to rescue those who might have been buried under the debris.
She said the GNFS and NADMO were informed and they swiftly responded to the call.
She expressed the hope that bigger excavators would be brought in to do the work because what was on site could hardly cope.
ASP Osei-Adu refuted the allegation that some bodies had been retrieved and sent to the hospital, adding, “The police did not meet any retrieved body because we organised for the excavators.”
Mr Prince Anaglate, said because of the difficulty in digging into the debris, firemen were using extricating machines to cut the iron rods in the collapsed structures to enable the excavators to lift the slabs of the building.
He said the uncompleted storey building had been roofed and had cement blocks packed on the second floor to enable the workers to have easy access to them while they worked.
While some eyewitnesses feared as many as six persons, including a four-year-old boy, could have been buried under the debris of officials of the Natioanal Fire Service said only two masons, Isaac Nartey and Derick Oppong sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the Sakumono Hospital
The Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, Mr Prince Anaglate, said the two told their rescuers that they were in the building when the building collapsed .
Mr Anaglate commented on the quality of materials used in constructing the building, noting that the concrete had little cement in it and called for experts to be involved in projects of this nature .
On the wreckage, Mr Anaglate conceded that only 15 per cent of the rescue work had been done but disclosed that since the victims were out the search exercise would be abandoned .
An eyewitness however said the calamity occurred when labourers were preparing to commence work on the multi-purpose shop attached to the Fish Up Filling Station and feared there were more people in there. The property belonged to one George Kwame-Gyan.
When the Daily Graphic arrived at the scene yesterday afternoon, personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the police and a large number of volunteers were making frantic efforts to rescue those who were believed to have been buried under the debris.
The eyewitness, Richard Apenu, who narrowly escaped the accident, told the Daily Graphic that he had information yesterday morning that some labourers were being recruited to work on the building and went to join about seven others in search of work as casual labourers.
He said after waiting for some time, word came that the one responsible for the registration would delay in coming to the site, due to the early rains, adding that because he (the eyewitness) lived in the neighbourhood, he decided to go home and come back later.
According to Richard, no sooner had he arrived home than he heard a loud bang, followed by information that the “building we were expected to work on that morning had collapsed”.
He said he went back to the spot and in the company of passers-by and attempted to rescue the victims but that did not yield any result.
According to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Marian Osei-Adu, who is in charge of the Sakumono District, her outfit received a distress call about 9 a.m. yesterday that a building under construction had collapsed on six people.
She said she quickly rushed her men to the spot, in the company of the owner of the place, Mr George Kwame-Gyan, who arranged for some machines to rescue those who might have been buried under the debris.
She said the GNFS and NADMO were informed and they swiftly responded to the call.
She expressed the hope that bigger excavators would be brought in to do the work because what was on site could hardly cope.
ASP Osei-Adu refuted the allegation that some bodies had been retrieved and sent to the hospital, adding, “The police did not meet any retrieved body because we organised for the excavators.”
Mr Prince Anaglate, said because of the difficulty in digging into the debris, firemen were using extricating machines to cut the iron rods in the collapsed structures to enable the excavators to lift the slabs of the building.
He said the uncompleted storey building had been roofed and had cement blocks packed on the second floor to enable the workers to have easy access to them while they worked.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
TEMA ASSEMBLY DISCUSSES DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES (PAGE 23, JUNE 3, 2020)
The Metropolitan Planning Co-ordinating Unit of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly has held a one-day stakeholders forum to identify and assess the needs and problems of the metropolis to determine its development and growth path for 2010-2013.
The forum, the first in a series, would also come up with outputs that would enhance similar processes already undertaken and those yet to be taken.
The participants were drawn from the traditional councils of Tema and Kpone, state and public enterprises, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), corporate entities, assembly members and a cross-section of residents.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware, who opened the forum, said the proposed programme and projects would be funded by the government, donors and grants and support from the assembly’s internally generated funds.
Mr Ofosuware commended the gathering for the high turnout and said it was important to have input from all stakeholders in the metropolis to build a vibrant and successful community.
He explained that the forum would enable the city’s planners to plan the development of the metropolis to improve the living standards of residents.
Mr Ofosuware said the TMA prepared its Medium Term Development Plan Strategy to improve and sustain the standard of living of the people through effective participation.
He said over the years, the TMA had implemented activities with its development partners and the government to provide opportunities for the citizens to participate in the local decision-making process.
Mr Ofosuware explained that the programme was intended to deepen the decentralisation programme and improve quality service delivery to ensure the total development of the metropolis.
He called on the stakeholders to make useful inputs to help shape policies and strategies that would lead to the selection of development programmes and projects for the metropolis.
The Planning Officer for the metropolis, Mr Kofi Taylor-Appiah, said Act 479 of the National Development Planning Commission empowered metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies to hold fora at the various levels to solicit inputs for development.
He said it also provided the legal framework for the formulation and execution of plans, programmes and strategies for effective mobilisation of resources for the overall development of the districts, municipalities and metropolises.
The presentation gave the outline of the physical and natural environment of the Tema Metropolis and its demographic characters.
The population of the metropolis grew at an annual rate of 2.6 per cent from 298,432 in 2009 to 387,045 in 2010.
It is estimated that the population growth would reach 418,444 by the end of the planning period in 2013.
The stakeholders gave various views on the development of the metropolis and expressed the wish to be included in the planning of the area’s development for it to become the vibrant city befitting Tema.
The Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Kraku, and the Kpone Mantse, Nii Tetteh Otu, were present at the forum.
The forum, the first in a series, would also come up with outputs that would enhance similar processes already undertaken and those yet to be taken.
The participants were drawn from the traditional councils of Tema and Kpone, state and public enterprises, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), corporate entities, assembly members and a cross-section of residents.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware, who opened the forum, said the proposed programme and projects would be funded by the government, donors and grants and support from the assembly’s internally generated funds.
Mr Ofosuware commended the gathering for the high turnout and said it was important to have input from all stakeholders in the metropolis to build a vibrant and successful community.
He explained that the forum would enable the city’s planners to plan the development of the metropolis to improve the living standards of residents.
Mr Ofosuware said the TMA prepared its Medium Term Development Plan Strategy to improve and sustain the standard of living of the people through effective participation.
He said over the years, the TMA had implemented activities with its development partners and the government to provide opportunities for the citizens to participate in the local decision-making process.
Mr Ofosuware explained that the programme was intended to deepen the decentralisation programme and improve quality service delivery to ensure the total development of the metropolis.
He called on the stakeholders to make useful inputs to help shape policies and strategies that would lead to the selection of development programmes and projects for the metropolis.
The Planning Officer for the metropolis, Mr Kofi Taylor-Appiah, said Act 479 of the National Development Planning Commission empowered metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies to hold fora at the various levels to solicit inputs for development.
He said it also provided the legal framework for the formulation and execution of plans, programmes and strategies for effective mobilisation of resources for the overall development of the districts, municipalities and metropolises.
The presentation gave the outline of the physical and natural environment of the Tema Metropolis and its demographic characters.
The population of the metropolis grew at an annual rate of 2.6 per cent from 298,432 in 2009 to 387,045 in 2010.
It is estimated that the population growth would reach 418,444 by the end of the planning period in 2013.
The stakeholders gave various views on the development of the metropolis and expressed the wish to be included in the planning of the area’s development for it to become the vibrant city befitting Tema.
The Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Kraku, and the Kpone Mantse, Nii Tetteh Otu, were present at the forum.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
ASSEMBLY, NGO TO IMPROVE SANITATION IN ASHAIMAN (PAGE 29, JUNE 2, 2010)
The Ashaiman Municipal Assembly in collaboration with a non-governmental organisation (NGO) has launched a partnership project to provide improved sanitation facilities in slums in the municipality.
The project is estimated to cost GH¢1.5 million.
The NGO, TREND, is to work with the assembly and the community, represented by the assembly members for the management of the facilities.
The project, which is made up of four different types of 12-seater water closet facilities at four different locations, will let the people have easy access to the facility and bring to a halt the numerous take over of ‘toilets’ in the municipality.
Ashaiman presently has 18 public places of convenience.
The Municipal Chief Executive, Nii Adinortey Addison ,in an address at the launch of the project, said Ashaiman was an urban centre with challenging sanitation problems.
He said attempts to have ‘toilets’ provided in homes have not been successful, and therefore, there was the need to provide adequate toilet facilities to serve the people.
Nii Addison appealed to residents of the municipality to support the project by ensuring that when completed, those put in charge would account for the proceeds to enable the assembly to provide more facilities in the municipality.
The Urban Planner /Researcher of TREND, Mr Benedict Tuffour, in a presentation said the TREND represented –Tripartite Partnership (TAP) project.
This, he explained, meant that the project was for the project co-ordinators, the assembly and the community, adding that no one group would have the legal capacity to take over the facilities.
Mr Tuffour said the project was being funded by the African Development Bank , Netherlands Water Partnership Partners (NWPP), TREND and the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly.
He said Ashaiman needed over 60 public toilets to adequately meet the demands of the people and that residents would be adequately served if the project increased the capacity of the facilities.
He said the facilities would have improved washroom services, water kiosks and water storage facilities .
Mr Tuffour noted that the construction of the facilities was scheduled to begin in January 2011 and would be completed by August 2011.
He said TREND was building the capacity of the assembly members and some selected local people to enable them to take care of the facilities when completed.
Meanwhile, the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly has organised a programme to educate residents on the need to meet their tax obligations for improved amenities.
The Municipal Chief Executive, Nii Adinortey Addison, expresed concern about the poor payment of levies resulting in the inability of the assembly to implement its development projects .
He said the assembly was able to collect only 21 per cent of its set revenue target last year and appealed to residents to pay their tolls, property rates, and other levies to enable the assembly meet its obligations.
Nii Addison said Ashaiman was expanding rapidly and therefore had to work hard to be able to collect revenue to finance its development programmes.
He said with support from the Social Investment Fund ( SIF) the assembly had engaged 50 volunteers to assist in the collection of revenue and also educate residents on the need to pay their rates .
Nii Addison said the SIF was to ensure that poor communities gained under the urban poverty reduction project (UPRP).
The project is estimated to cost GH¢1.5 million.
The NGO, TREND, is to work with the assembly and the community, represented by the assembly members for the management of the facilities.
The project, which is made up of four different types of 12-seater water closet facilities at four different locations, will let the people have easy access to the facility and bring to a halt the numerous take over of ‘toilets’ in the municipality.
Ashaiman presently has 18 public places of convenience.
The Municipal Chief Executive, Nii Adinortey Addison ,in an address at the launch of the project, said Ashaiman was an urban centre with challenging sanitation problems.
He said attempts to have ‘toilets’ provided in homes have not been successful, and therefore, there was the need to provide adequate toilet facilities to serve the people.
Nii Addison appealed to residents of the municipality to support the project by ensuring that when completed, those put in charge would account for the proceeds to enable the assembly to provide more facilities in the municipality.
The Urban Planner /Researcher of TREND, Mr Benedict Tuffour, in a presentation said the TREND represented –Tripartite Partnership (TAP) project.
This, he explained, meant that the project was for the project co-ordinators, the assembly and the community, adding that no one group would have the legal capacity to take over the facilities.
Mr Tuffour said the project was being funded by the African Development Bank , Netherlands Water Partnership Partners (NWPP), TREND and the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly.
He said Ashaiman needed over 60 public toilets to adequately meet the demands of the people and that residents would be adequately served if the project increased the capacity of the facilities.
He said the facilities would have improved washroom services, water kiosks and water storage facilities .
Mr Tuffour noted that the construction of the facilities was scheduled to begin in January 2011 and would be completed by August 2011.
He said TREND was building the capacity of the assembly members and some selected local people to enable them to take care of the facilities when completed.
Meanwhile, the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly has organised a programme to educate residents on the need to meet their tax obligations for improved amenities.
The Municipal Chief Executive, Nii Adinortey Addison, expresed concern about the poor payment of levies resulting in the inability of the assembly to implement its development projects .
He said the assembly was able to collect only 21 per cent of its set revenue target last year and appealed to residents to pay their tolls, property rates, and other levies to enable the assembly meet its obligations.
Nii Addison said Ashaiman was expanding rapidly and therefore had to work hard to be able to collect revenue to finance its development programmes.
He said with support from the Social Investment Fund ( SIF) the assembly had engaged 50 volunteers to assist in the collection of revenue and also educate residents on the need to pay their rates .
Nii Addison said the SIF was to ensure that poor communities gained under the urban poverty reduction project (UPRP).
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