THE Tema General Hospital (TGH) now has a separate block for its pharmacy department to avoid overcrowding and congestion in the existing facility which is in the main out-patients block.
The new pharmacy which is located near the fevers unit of the hospital has a conference room, counselling unit, drug information unit, four store rooms and three offices and was constructed at GH¢270,000.
It was initiated by the Head of the Pharmacy department of the hospital, Mr Stephen Adase.
Speaking at the ceremony to officially open the pharmacy, the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr (Mrs) Charity Sarpong, said the project was funded through the hospital’s internally generated funds.
She said the hospital had not seen any major renovation since it was established over 50 years ago.
That, Dr Sarpong noted, had created overcrowding and congestion at the existing facilities. He also hinted that most of the departments leaked but the pharmacy was the worst hit.
“This has led to extensive destruction of drugs stocked for distribution to patients,” she lamented.
According to her, the old pharmacy department had a limited space for the client population that visited the facility daily.
While commending the staff for strides made to ensure the completion of the expanded facility, Dr Sarpong paid glowing tribute to the officials of GR Pharma, Tobinco Pharmacy and Ernest Chemist for providing furnishing and drug stock for the department.
She appealed to the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) to speed up the processes of upgrading the facility into a regional hospital as it has become a referral point for all forms of cases in and out of Tema.
The Director General of the Ghana Health Services, Dr Ellias Sory, who inaugurated the project with the assistance of the Tema Mantse Nii Adjei Kraku challenged other health institutions to emulate the effort made by the management of the Tema General Hospital and take the initiative instead of waiting for funding from the GHS .
He called for better maintenance practices towards the project to extend the lifespan of the facility.
Dr Sory was of the view that maternal deaths that occurred at health facilities were not necessarily from complications and negligence but also from unhygienic conditions at the centres.
He explained that this has been identified as a major threat to the efforts of the GHS to fight against maternal and child mortality.
Dr Sory called for greater collaboration between hospital staff, management and the general public towards clients who trooped to health facilities daily for solutions to their health needs.
The Tema Mantse Nii Adjei Kraku who chaired the function praised the management of the hospital for their initiative .
He said the construction of the facility had come at an opportune time to serve the numerous referred and accident cases owing to its proximity to main roads leading to the Volta and Eastern Regions.
Nii Kraku re-echoed earlier calls for the adoption of good maintenance cultures.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
MOVE TO SAVE LIVES ON VOLTA LAKE (PAGE 18, SEPT 28, 2010)
ONE hundred and ten trainees have undergone a two-week intensive life saving training at the Eastern Naval Command to help save lives and property on the lake.
The training, a component of the Volta Lake Enhancement Project, focussed on basic life saving programmes such as boat work, survival drill, foot drill, life saving skills, voice communication and physical education.
The programme was put together by Zoil Services Limited, a subsidiary of waste management company Zoomlion, in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport, with support from the Ghana Navy, Ghana Maritime Authority, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and the Ministry of Tourism, among others.
The trainees, drawn from the Northern, Volta, Eastern, Brong Ahafo, Western and the Greater Accra regions were made up of 30 females and 81 males.
Addressing the passing out ceremony at Tema, the Deputy Transport Minister, Mrs Dzifa Attivor, said the deployment of life guards on the Volta Lake under the Volta Lake Transport Enhancement Project has significantly reduced incidents of boat disasters in the country .
According to Mrs Attivor, the commencement of the project has ensured absolute safety of inland watercourses.
She commended partner agencies and the Parliamentary select committee on youth and transport for ensuring a smooth realisation of the programme.
Mrs Attivor charged the graduates to ensure total commitment and prove themselves worthy of calling.
She noted that as a major stakeholder in the transport business, the Ministry considered human resource development as a key factor aimed at achieving government’s development goals, “hence our commitment to improve transportation on the lake to satisfactorily serve the communities towards the enhancement of their social, economic and cultural activities.”
The General Manager of Zoil Services, Mr Samuel Alex Opoku-Manu, noted that frequent boat disasters on inland watercourses necessitated the introduction of the programme with the objective to addressing such disasters.
He explained that the mechanism and structures had been developed to ensure constant patrolling on the lake, supervision and regulation of boat operators were also taken into account to ensure future disasters were prevented.
He said the programme, since its inception, had distributed 10,000 life jackets to regular commuters on the lake while the supply of an additional set of 2,600 was underway at various landing and boarding sites.
“And while we ensure that lives and property were protected, Zoil services has commissioned three speed boats procured for the purposes of patrolling and monitoring on the lake,” he added.
He announced the commitment of ZOIL Services towards the purchase of additional three speed boats and commended the government for making available resources that had effectively improved the programme.
He charged the graduates to deliver the responsibilities attached to the training and be committed and devoted to duty as their role was very crucial to their communities and the nation as a whole.
The Flag Officer Commanding the Eastern Naval Command, Commodore Albert Bentil Addison, earlier in his welcome address, observed that the successful rescue of people and a vehicle which fell over the ferry a week after graduation by the last batch justified the sustainability of the programme.
He challenged the implementation agencies of the programme to develop follow-up modules for assessment and subsequent evaluation. The Deputy Minister, Mrs Ativor, later presented the graduates with certificates.
The training, a component of the Volta Lake Enhancement Project, focussed on basic life saving programmes such as boat work, survival drill, foot drill, life saving skills, voice communication and physical education.
The programme was put together by Zoil Services Limited, a subsidiary of waste management company Zoomlion, in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport, with support from the Ghana Navy, Ghana Maritime Authority, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and the Ministry of Tourism, among others.
The trainees, drawn from the Northern, Volta, Eastern, Brong Ahafo, Western and the Greater Accra regions were made up of 30 females and 81 males.
Addressing the passing out ceremony at Tema, the Deputy Transport Minister, Mrs Dzifa Attivor, said the deployment of life guards on the Volta Lake under the Volta Lake Transport Enhancement Project has significantly reduced incidents of boat disasters in the country .
According to Mrs Attivor, the commencement of the project has ensured absolute safety of inland watercourses.
She commended partner agencies and the Parliamentary select committee on youth and transport for ensuring a smooth realisation of the programme.
Mrs Attivor charged the graduates to ensure total commitment and prove themselves worthy of calling.
She noted that as a major stakeholder in the transport business, the Ministry considered human resource development as a key factor aimed at achieving government’s development goals, “hence our commitment to improve transportation on the lake to satisfactorily serve the communities towards the enhancement of their social, economic and cultural activities.”
The General Manager of Zoil Services, Mr Samuel Alex Opoku-Manu, noted that frequent boat disasters on inland watercourses necessitated the introduction of the programme with the objective to addressing such disasters.
He explained that the mechanism and structures had been developed to ensure constant patrolling on the lake, supervision and regulation of boat operators were also taken into account to ensure future disasters were prevented.
He said the programme, since its inception, had distributed 10,000 life jackets to regular commuters on the lake while the supply of an additional set of 2,600 was underway at various landing and boarding sites.
“And while we ensure that lives and property were protected, Zoil services has commissioned three speed boats procured for the purposes of patrolling and monitoring on the lake,” he added.
He announced the commitment of ZOIL Services towards the purchase of additional three speed boats and commended the government for making available resources that had effectively improved the programme.
He charged the graduates to deliver the responsibilities attached to the training and be committed and devoted to duty as their role was very crucial to their communities and the nation as a whole.
The Flag Officer Commanding the Eastern Naval Command, Commodore Albert Bentil Addison, earlier in his welcome address, observed that the successful rescue of people and a vehicle which fell over the ferry a week after graduation by the last batch justified the sustainability of the programme.
He challenged the implementation agencies of the programme to develop follow-up modules for assessment and subsequent evaluation. The Deputy Minister, Mrs Ativor, later presented the graduates with certificates.
Monday, September 27, 2010
4 DIE IN TEMA INFERNO (1B, SEPT 27, 2010)
FOUR died and a huge investment was destroyed on Saturday when fire engulfed the Midland International Company, an ethanol (alcohol) storage warehouse in the Tema Port area but outside the customs-bonded zone.
Also burnt were an alcohol discharging tanker truck with registration number GT 2193 W, which was discharging ethanol, a parked pickup, which was burnt beyond recognition, the offices and office equipment and some storage facilities.
The company, which has six huge tanks in which it stored imported ethanol for companies, including Kasapreko Company, an alcoholic beverage-producing company, caught fire late in the evening of Saturday, September 25, 2010, when contract welders and an engineer were working on one of the tanks.
The burnt bodies of three of the victims, who were welders, were recovered by the fire personnel. A fourth victim, the engineer, Mike Safo Mensah of M&S Engineering Company, who contracted the welders, was rushed to the hospital in a critical condition but died later in the night of Saturday.
When the Daily Graphic got to the scene at about 5p.m. on Saturday, a burnt body of one of the victims had been recovered while the other two were recovered on Sunday morning about 8:30 a.m.
Narrating the incident to the Daily Graphic at the fire scene, a shivering and disturbed security officer of Midland, Mr James Arthur, who was on duty with another colleague at the time of the fire but escaped unhurt, said at about 4:15 p.m. on Saturday as the welders were working on the tanks by scrapping the rusts off the tanks and doing some welding maintenance, they heard a blast followed by fire.
He said all that they saw was fire blazing through the company’s yard, which they tried to put out. Mr Arthur said the fire became intense and they, therefore, made a distress call to various Fire Service centres, which acted promptly.
He said the victims could not escape because they were up on the tanks and needed to descend by a number of steps during which period the fire engulfed the ground area of the tank.
Mr Arthur confirmed that the company had eight huge tanks six of which contained alcohol and with two filled with water because of the explosive nature of the alcohol.
Mr Arthur also said the company had two main water hydrants which the Fire personnel used in putting out the fire. It took a combined team of fire personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service , Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and the Tema Oil Refinery Fire Brigade over six hours of vigorous fighting to bring the blazing fire under control.
The Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service office in Tema, Mr Timothy Affum, said it took the personnel a hectic time to fight the fire because there was a leaking valve letting out alcohol, which countered the force of the water they used in putting out the fire.
He said there was no tall equipment to enable the fire fighters to control the fire from heights while the pressure from the hydrants was low and therefore could not shoot high.
Mr Affum said the fire was finally put out at about 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, noting that investigations would be conducted for the cause of the fire.
There were officials from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, led by the Director of Ports, Mr Richard Anamo, to ensure the safety of other warehouses in the area and to prevent the fire from spreading to affect other property in the area .
They were of the view that the welders probably tampered with some safety measures while welding or the leaking valve let out some alcohol that had contact with the welding fire.
The Public Relations Officer of the GPHA Headquarters, Ms Joana Addah, emphasised that the Midland International Ghana Ltd was located on the premises of the GPHA but outside the bonded area of the port.
She allayed the fears of importers who had their goods stocked in the port that the fire did not affect any imported consignment in the port.
Meanwhile importers continue to rush to the port to verify if their goods were affected.
The heavy presence of the police, the army and the navy was felt as they warded off people to safeguard life and property in the area.
Also burnt were an alcohol discharging tanker truck with registration number GT 2193 W, which was discharging ethanol, a parked pickup, which was burnt beyond recognition, the offices and office equipment and some storage facilities.
The company, which has six huge tanks in which it stored imported ethanol for companies, including Kasapreko Company, an alcoholic beverage-producing company, caught fire late in the evening of Saturday, September 25, 2010, when contract welders and an engineer were working on one of the tanks.
The burnt bodies of three of the victims, who were welders, were recovered by the fire personnel. A fourth victim, the engineer, Mike Safo Mensah of M&S Engineering Company, who contracted the welders, was rushed to the hospital in a critical condition but died later in the night of Saturday.
When the Daily Graphic got to the scene at about 5p.m. on Saturday, a burnt body of one of the victims had been recovered while the other two were recovered on Sunday morning about 8:30 a.m.
Narrating the incident to the Daily Graphic at the fire scene, a shivering and disturbed security officer of Midland, Mr James Arthur, who was on duty with another colleague at the time of the fire but escaped unhurt, said at about 4:15 p.m. on Saturday as the welders were working on the tanks by scrapping the rusts off the tanks and doing some welding maintenance, they heard a blast followed by fire.
He said all that they saw was fire blazing through the company’s yard, which they tried to put out. Mr Arthur said the fire became intense and they, therefore, made a distress call to various Fire Service centres, which acted promptly.
He said the victims could not escape because they were up on the tanks and needed to descend by a number of steps during which period the fire engulfed the ground area of the tank.
Mr Arthur confirmed that the company had eight huge tanks six of which contained alcohol and with two filled with water because of the explosive nature of the alcohol.
Mr Arthur also said the company had two main water hydrants which the Fire personnel used in putting out the fire. It took a combined team of fire personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service , Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and the Tema Oil Refinery Fire Brigade over six hours of vigorous fighting to bring the blazing fire under control.
The Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service office in Tema, Mr Timothy Affum, said it took the personnel a hectic time to fight the fire because there was a leaking valve letting out alcohol, which countered the force of the water they used in putting out the fire.
He said there was no tall equipment to enable the fire fighters to control the fire from heights while the pressure from the hydrants was low and therefore could not shoot high.
Mr Affum said the fire was finally put out at about 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, noting that investigations would be conducted for the cause of the fire.
There were officials from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, led by the Director of Ports, Mr Richard Anamo, to ensure the safety of other warehouses in the area and to prevent the fire from spreading to affect other property in the area .
They were of the view that the welders probably tampered with some safety measures while welding or the leaking valve let out some alcohol that had contact with the welding fire.
The Public Relations Officer of the GPHA Headquarters, Ms Joana Addah, emphasised that the Midland International Ghana Ltd was located on the premises of the GPHA but outside the bonded area of the port.
She allayed the fears of importers who had their goods stocked in the port that the fire did not affect any imported consignment in the port.
Meanwhile importers continue to rush to the port to verify if their goods were affected.
The heavy presence of the police, the army and the navy was felt as they warded off people to safeguard life and property in the area.
UNWHOLESOME FISH PROCESSED INTO FISHMEAL (PAGE 23, SEPT 27, 2010)
The Food and Drugs Board (FDB) has granted a request from Daireson Company Limited, a fish processing company located at Tema, to process expired goldfish which was to be destroyed by the board two months ago, into fish meal.
The 2,000 cartons of imported fish were declared unwholesome when it arrived at the Tema Port and was detained by the Customs, Excise Preventive Service (CEPS) at the Tema Container Terminal (TCT).
It was later detected that the cargo had been moved and stored at the Greenwich Cold Store at Tema Fishing Harbour.
Concerned about public consumption of the unwholesome fish, the FDB stepped in and put a detention order on the cold store to ensure that the fish was not sold to the public.
The acting Deputy Chief Executive of the FDB, Mr J. Odame Darkwa, told the Daily Graphic that following an application from the fish meal company and further analysis on the expired fish, the commodity was found 'good' for fish meal .
A letter signed by Mr Odame Darkwa on behalf of the Chief Executive of the FDB acknowledging receipt of an application requesting to convert the fish into animal feed indicated that the Food and Drugs Board agreed to the request based on the condition that officials of FDB would supervise the carting of the commodity from the cold store and the conversion of the fish into the feed at the processing plant at a fee to be determined by the FDB.
As a result of the negotiation, the fish processing company, Daireson Ltd, has started the production of fish meal at their site near Tema Manhean, under close supervision of the FDB.
The Head of the Drugs Unit of the FDB, Mr Vigil Edmund Prah-Ashun, said they would supervise the milling of the expired fish.
A Director of Daireson Company, Mr Sammed Bawa, said the fish would go through steaming and drying before it is milled .
He indicated that the company had been operating for over four years and depended on waste from the Pioneer Fish Cannery and unwholesome fish from coldstores .
Mr Bawa said the company paid GH¢8,000 to CEPS for the two 40-footer container consignment of unwholesome fish and gave the assurance that he would co-operate with the FDB to ensure that the fish did not enter the market.
The 2,000 cartons of imported fish were declared unwholesome when it arrived at the Tema Port and was detained by the Customs, Excise Preventive Service (CEPS) at the Tema Container Terminal (TCT).
It was later detected that the cargo had been moved and stored at the Greenwich Cold Store at Tema Fishing Harbour.
Concerned about public consumption of the unwholesome fish, the FDB stepped in and put a detention order on the cold store to ensure that the fish was not sold to the public.
The acting Deputy Chief Executive of the FDB, Mr J. Odame Darkwa, told the Daily Graphic that following an application from the fish meal company and further analysis on the expired fish, the commodity was found 'good' for fish meal .
A letter signed by Mr Odame Darkwa on behalf of the Chief Executive of the FDB acknowledging receipt of an application requesting to convert the fish into animal feed indicated that the Food and Drugs Board agreed to the request based on the condition that officials of FDB would supervise the carting of the commodity from the cold store and the conversion of the fish into the feed at the processing plant at a fee to be determined by the FDB.
As a result of the negotiation, the fish processing company, Daireson Ltd, has started the production of fish meal at their site near Tema Manhean, under close supervision of the FDB.
The Head of the Drugs Unit of the FDB, Mr Vigil Edmund Prah-Ashun, said they would supervise the milling of the expired fish.
A Director of Daireson Company, Mr Sammed Bawa, said the fish would go through steaming and drying before it is milled .
He indicated that the company had been operating for over four years and depended on waste from the Pioneer Fish Cannery and unwholesome fish from coldstores .
Mr Bawa said the company paid GH¢8,000 to CEPS for the two 40-footer container consignment of unwholesome fish and gave the assurance that he would co-operate with the FDB to ensure that the fish did not enter the market.
TEMA TRADITIONAL COUNCIL CALLS FOR SUSPENSION OF PROJECT (PAGE 18, SEPT 25, 2010)
The Tema Traditional Council (TTC) has appealed to the government to suspend all activities concerning the construction of a proposed oil refining project at the canoe beach of the Tema Fishing Harbour until concerns about sustainable livelihood for the fishermen is resolved.
They claimed that WILMAR, the oil company’s decision to commence the project was made unilaterally by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority without the consent of the people of Tema .
The council raised these concerns in a press release statement issued and signed by the Mankralo, Nii Adjetey Agbo; Shippi Nii Armah Somponu, Ashaiman Chief Fisherman; Nii Adjierteh Mattor, Awudum Chief Fisherman; Nii Odamatey, Ashaman Akawshongtse; Nii Tetteh Tsru Orkoor and Nii Adjei Kwame Awudum Akwashongtse .
The statement said the parcel of land in question had been used exclusively by the fishermen since 1959 when the people of Tema were resettled.
It claimed that the land is a replacement for the landing beaches of the people at the old Tema, in accordance with clauses 26 and 27 of the terms of resettlement when government acquired their land for the construction of the harbour .
The statement further indicated that the Acquisition Act merely gave the GPHA administrative and managerial oversight of the land and “not absolute ownership of the canoe beach” as such the authourity could not arbitrarily give the land away without the consent of the people .
The chiefs denied reaching any terms with the WILMAR Consultant, Mr Alex Asiedu, and added that they had not concluded any agreement with the laison committee of the council .
The chiefs explained that the traditional council was surprised and disappointed that the GPHA negotiated and approved terms and conditions of the said land with WILMAR long before they had any discussions with them .
The statement noted that the leasing of the land which had been used by the fisher folk for the past 52 years without their consent generated resistance from the fisher folk and other citizens .
Despite recognising the existence of a 17-member committee which was discussing the said project with the GPHA and WILMAR, the chiefs called for the suspension of the project to enable the committee finish its work and submit the report to ensure fruitful discussions on the matter .
They claimed that WILMAR, the oil company’s decision to commence the project was made unilaterally by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority without the consent of the people of Tema .
The council raised these concerns in a press release statement issued and signed by the Mankralo, Nii Adjetey Agbo; Shippi Nii Armah Somponu, Ashaiman Chief Fisherman; Nii Adjierteh Mattor, Awudum Chief Fisherman; Nii Odamatey, Ashaman Akawshongtse; Nii Tetteh Tsru Orkoor and Nii Adjei Kwame Awudum Akwashongtse .
The statement said the parcel of land in question had been used exclusively by the fishermen since 1959 when the people of Tema were resettled.
It claimed that the land is a replacement for the landing beaches of the people at the old Tema, in accordance with clauses 26 and 27 of the terms of resettlement when government acquired their land for the construction of the harbour .
The statement further indicated that the Acquisition Act merely gave the GPHA administrative and managerial oversight of the land and “not absolute ownership of the canoe beach” as such the authourity could not arbitrarily give the land away without the consent of the people .
The chiefs denied reaching any terms with the WILMAR Consultant, Mr Alex Asiedu, and added that they had not concluded any agreement with the laison committee of the council .
The chiefs explained that the traditional council was surprised and disappointed that the GPHA negotiated and approved terms and conditions of the said land with WILMAR long before they had any discussions with them .
The statement noted that the leasing of the land which had been used by the fisher folk for the past 52 years without their consent generated resistance from the fisher folk and other citizens .
Despite recognising the existence of a 17-member committee which was discussing the said project with the GPHA and WILMAR, the chiefs called for the suspension of the project to enable the committee finish its work and submit the report to ensure fruitful discussions on the matter .
Friday, September 24, 2010
TEMA TO IMPLEMENT PILOT PLASTIC PROJECT (PAGE 18, SEPT 24, 2010)
ENVIRONMENTALISTS from Ghana and the United States have met in Tema to brainstorm and seek ways to protect and restore ocean and coastal waters from waste.
As part of the meeting ,Tema has been proposed to have a demonstration project to reduce the amount of plastic waste and other trash entering the Gulf of Guinea through research and education to protect natural marine resources and keep the beaches clean.
The proposed project will consider an incentive package for residents to make it self sustaining and also increase the capacity of organisations in Ghana to recycle plastics.
Environmentalists and representatives of various organisations involved in the protection of the marine ecosystem and human health in the Gulf of Guinea who made the recommendation at a one-day workshop called for community involvement in the project.
Participants were drawn from research institutions in the United States and Ghana, Waste Management departments of Assemblies, fishermen, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Fisheries Commission, NGOs and plastic recycling companies .
The workshop, on the theme "Protecting the marine Ecosystem and Human Health in the Gulf of Guinea from uncontrolled disposal of plastics and other Metropolitan wastes," is to serve as a back up for a six-month research programme after which foreign and local resource funding will be sought to start the project.
With support from the United Nations University, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the USA, Africa Navy Partnership Station, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US State Department, the project will focus on the Metropolis of Tema where marine activities have attracted marine waste because of the ports .
The Foreign Affairs Specialist at the National Oceanic & Fisheries Atmospheric Administration, Keith E. Chanon, in outlining plans to be adopted, said the project would incorporate some components including the analysis of the amount and constituents of solid waste entering the ocean from the city of Tema and its projected fate and transport.
He noted that outreach and education to inform the public about the value of marine resources, impact of trash on these resources and human health and the benefits of segregating wastes and recycling, would form part of the project component.
Mr Chanon said the experts would introduce a plastic waste thermal processor to increase and expand the recycling capacity of the Metropolis.
He noted that the project component would document the lifecycle of solid waste to be able to establish the quantities and constituents of waste entering the ocean.
Mr Chanon stated that a technology device that was used to compact and process plastics would be provided to assist in recycling plastic waste from ships landing in the port of Tema as well as to increase domestic recycling.
Professor Chris Gordon of the Environment and Sanitation Institute who facilitated the workshop said marine debris has been a problem along shorelines and in coastal waters, estuaries and oceans throughout the world.
He observed that more people moved near the nation's coasts each year so there was the need to control the disposal of trash and waste.
Participants gave varied suggestions through which waste disposal into the sea and along the beaches could be stopped.
They called for clean-up exercises and a reduction of waste generated and a check against the indiscriminate dumping of debris into watercourses and coastlines.
As part of the meeting ,Tema has been proposed to have a demonstration project to reduce the amount of plastic waste and other trash entering the Gulf of Guinea through research and education to protect natural marine resources and keep the beaches clean.
The proposed project will consider an incentive package for residents to make it self sustaining and also increase the capacity of organisations in Ghana to recycle plastics.
Environmentalists and representatives of various organisations involved in the protection of the marine ecosystem and human health in the Gulf of Guinea who made the recommendation at a one-day workshop called for community involvement in the project.
Participants were drawn from research institutions in the United States and Ghana, Waste Management departments of Assemblies, fishermen, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Fisheries Commission, NGOs and plastic recycling companies .
The workshop, on the theme "Protecting the marine Ecosystem and Human Health in the Gulf of Guinea from uncontrolled disposal of plastics and other Metropolitan wastes," is to serve as a back up for a six-month research programme after which foreign and local resource funding will be sought to start the project.
With support from the United Nations University, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the USA, Africa Navy Partnership Station, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US State Department, the project will focus on the Metropolis of Tema where marine activities have attracted marine waste because of the ports .
The Foreign Affairs Specialist at the National Oceanic & Fisheries Atmospheric Administration, Keith E. Chanon, in outlining plans to be adopted, said the project would incorporate some components including the analysis of the amount and constituents of solid waste entering the ocean from the city of Tema and its projected fate and transport.
He noted that outreach and education to inform the public about the value of marine resources, impact of trash on these resources and human health and the benefits of segregating wastes and recycling, would form part of the project component.
Mr Chanon said the experts would introduce a plastic waste thermal processor to increase and expand the recycling capacity of the Metropolis.
He noted that the project component would document the lifecycle of solid waste to be able to establish the quantities and constituents of waste entering the ocean.
Mr Chanon stated that a technology device that was used to compact and process plastics would be provided to assist in recycling plastic waste from ships landing in the port of Tema as well as to increase domestic recycling.
Professor Chris Gordon of the Environment and Sanitation Institute who facilitated the workshop said marine debris has been a problem along shorelines and in coastal waters, estuaries and oceans throughout the world.
He observed that more people moved near the nation's coasts each year so there was the need to control the disposal of trash and waste.
Participants gave varied suggestions through which waste disposal into the sea and along the beaches could be stopped.
They called for clean-up exercises and a reduction of waste generated and a check against the indiscriminate dumping of debris into watercourses and coastlines.
Monday, September 20, 2010
YOUTH ON RAMPAGE...Venicles, offices, chief's palace vandalised (BACK PAGE, SEPT 18, 2010)
AN angry mob of fishermen and youth of Tema Manhean went on rampage yesterday firing locally manufactured pistols and hurling stones.
In the ensuing melee a number of vehicles were smashed and burnt.
The rioters vandalised and set ablaze two pick-ups and a Toyota 4-runner belonging to the Tema Traditional Council, a Komatsu Bulldozer and a Toyota Tacoma.
Also vandalised and set ablaze was the Toa office yard from where the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) operated, but fire fighters from the Ghana National Fire Service arrived promptly to bring the fire under control.
The mob resisted all attempts by the police to control the situation and rather engaged them in a shoot-out that made the police call for reinforcement and support from the 1st Battalion of Infantry, Michel Camp, and the Ghana Navy.
Other offices visited by the mob were the Tema East Sub-Metro and the Meridian FM.
The mob, on seeing the security reinforcement, ran and sought refuge at the beach at Abonkor, an area in Tema Manhean.
Fifteen suspects were arrested during the operation and sent to the Tema Regional Police Command.
A wrapped substance suspected to be moringa powder, laced with cocaine and 'wee', was found on one of them.
Giving a background to what the police termed 'indiscipline', the Tema Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Augustine Gyenning, said the Tema Metropolitan Assembly pulled down some structures in an area at the fishing harbour.
He said when the workers returned there yesterday morning to burn the debris and clear the land the mob attacked them.
ACP Gyenning said the police were called to ensure that there was peace, but were met with attacks from the mob, who were mostly fishermen and some youth.
He said the mob attacked and shot at the police with locally manufactured pistols, noting that 'the police ensured that lives were not lost during the scuffle and gave the assurance that they would do their best to protect lives and property”.
ACP Gyenning said the police would continue to patrol the area to deter any mob attacks on innocent people.
Some of the residents told the Daily Graphic that the incident was as a result of the sale of a parcel of land to a foreign oil company to put up a factory.
They claimed that the land was the only area left for them to do their fishing business on.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic on phone, the Chief Fisherman, Nii Adjeiter Mator, said the fishermen did not go to sea because of the mob action.
He said he was in support of the action taken by the youth, noting that the land was for the people of Tema Manhean, who had engaged in activities there for the past 51 years.
He said he did not see why it had to be taken away from them.
Nii Mator said 'the sale of the land had made the government unpopular among the fisherfolk'.
The Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Krakue, had taken refuge at an unknown destination, and so was not present when the mob attacked the palace.
His palanquin and drums were seized by the mob and deposited in the middle of the road leading to the palace.
The chief’s son, Richard Adjei Adjetey Krakue, a student who was present when the mob attacked the palace, said they came with knives and pistols, calling for the blood of his father.
He said he and two others, Asafoanye Nabla and Joshua Addo, hid to avoid being harmed, while the mob smashed windows, doors, plastic chairs, vehicles and some decorative structures, including statues of two of the lions mounted at the frontage of the palace.
Richard said the mob explained that his father, Nii Adjei Krakue, had a hand in the sale of the land.
He said his father went on air on Meridian FM to announce his innocence to the citizens before taking refuge.
At the TMA Sub -Metro offices at Manhean, the mob destroyed computers and other office equipment.
The Daily Graphic could not meet any senior citizen of Tema Manhean to talk to because they had all taken refuge to avoid the wrath of the youth.
At a press conference held by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority later in the day, management explained that the land in question was the property of the authority as embodied in the Tema Township Acquisition Act 1952.
Addressing the media, the Director General of GPHA, Mr Nestor Galley, said the authority only leased out a portion of the land to the oil refining company WILMA Africa, to enable it to put up structures for its operations.
He says the Tema Traditional Council and the GPHA have set up a 17-member committee to consider some aspects of employment opportunities, among others, for the natives when the company starts work.
In the ensuing melee a number of vehicles were smashed and burnt.
The rioters vandalised and set ablaze two pick-ups and a Toyota 4-runner belonging to the Tema Traditional Council, a Komatsu Bulldozer and a Toyota Tacoma.
Also vandalised and set ablaze was the Toa office yard from where the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) operated, but fire fighters from the Ghana National Fire Service arrived promptly to bring the fire under control.
The mob resisted all attempts by the police to control the situation and rather engaged them in a shoot-out that made the police call for reinforcement and support from the 1st Battalion of Infantry, Michel Camp, and the Ghana Navy.
Other offices visited by the mob were the Tema East Sub-Metro and the Meridian FM.
The mob, on seeing the security reinforcement, ran and sought refuge at the beach at Abonkor, an area in Tema Manhean.
Fifteen suspects were arrested during the operation and sent to the Tema Regional Police Command.
A wrapped substance suspected to be moringa powder, laced with cocaine and 'wee', was found on one of them.
Giving a background to what the police termed 'indiscipline', the Tema Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Augustine Gyenning, said the Tema Metropolitan Assembly pulled down some structures in an area at the fishing harbour.
He said when the workers returned there yesterday morning to burn the debris and clear the land the mob attacked them.
ACP Gyenning said the police were called to ensure that there was peace, but were met with attacks from the mob, who were mostly fishermen and some youth.
He said the mob attacked and shot at the police with locally manufactured pistols, noting that 'the police ensured that lives were not lost during the scuffle and gave the assurance that they would do their best to protect lives and property”.
ACP Gyenning said the police would continue to patrol the area to deter any mob attacks on innocent people.
Some of the residents told the Daily Graphic that the incident was as a result of the sale of a parcel of land to a foreign oil company to put up a factory.
They claimed that the land was the only area left for them to do their fishing business on.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic on phone, the Chief Fisherman, Nii Adjeiter Mator, said the fishermen did not go to sea because of the mob action.
He said he was in support of the action taken by the youth, noting that the land was for the people of Tema Manhean, who had engaged in activities there for the past 51 years.
He said he did not see why it had to be taken away from them.
Nii Mator said 'the sale of the land had made the government unpopular among the fisherfolk'.
The Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Krakue, had taken refuge at an unknown destination, and so was not present when the mob attacked the palace.
His palanquin and drums were seized by the mob and deposited in the middle of the road leading to the palace.
The chief’s son, Richard Adjei Adjetey Krakue, a student who was present when the mob attacked the palace, said they came with knives and pistols, calling for the blood of his father.
He said he and two others, Asafoanye Nabla and Joshua Addo, hid to avoid being harmed, while the mob smashed windows, doors, plastic chairs, vehicles and some decorative structures, including statues of two of the lions mounted at the frontage of the palace.
Richard said the mob explained that his father, Nii Adjei Krakue, had a hand in the sale of the land.
He said his father went on air on Meridian FM to announce his innocence to the citizens before taking refuge.
At the TMA Sub -Metro offices at Manhean, the mob destroyed computers and other office equipment.
The Daily Graphic could not meet any senior citizen of Tema Manhean to talk to because they had all taken refuge to avoid the wrath of the youth.
At a press conference held by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority later in the day, management explained that the land in question was the property of the authority as embodied in the Tema Township Acquisition Act 1952.
Addressing the media, the Director General of GPHA, Mr Nestor Galley, said the authority only leased out a portion of the land to the oil refining company WILMA Africa, to enable it to put up structures for its operations.
He says the Tema Traditional Council and the GPHA have set up a 17-member committee to consider some aspects of employment opportunities, among others, for the natives when the company starts work.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
TOR SUFFERS MAJOR SETBACK (PAGE 3, SEPT 14, 2010)
THE Tema Oil Refinery suffered a major setback when its utility section mistakenly pumped sea water into the boilers which serve the plant, causing severe damage to the refinery’s two operative giant boilers, the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and the Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracker (RFCC) .
Workers of the refinery have, for almost two weeks now, been working around the clock to restore the plant by pumping out the salty water which has diluted the products, causing a huge loss to the company.
According to a source at the refinery, the sea water was supposed to be pumped for fire service operations when it was mistakenly pumped into the boilers of the plant, displacing the chemically based water and causing damage to the CDU, RFCC and the boilers.
The source was of the view that somebody must be made to answer for the situation that had led to a shutdown for almost two weeks without production.
The Daily Graphic learnt that it would cause the refinery so much resource to complete the work because all the chemicals would have to be put back afresh after pumping out the diluted water in the equipment.
The source said the situation caused an automatic shutdown of the plant and discarded the hue and cry about the shutdown by management for lack of crude.
Some of the workers told the Daily Graphic that they were suspicious of ‘saboteurs’ at the plant and called on the government to set up a committee to investigate the situation and deal with the culprits.
They said the three managers in charge of the utility section should be held responsible for the damage caused to the refinery.
Some of the workers were furious and threatened to embark on a strike at the appropriate time to ensure that sanity prevailed at the refinery.
The Public Relations Officer of the refinery, Mrs Aba Lokko, declined to talk about the situation but indicated that the salty water situation had been rectified and was hopeful that the plant would start operations before the end of this week.
She confirmed that the workers were indeed angry, noting that it did not have anything to do with the shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) on the market.
Mrs Lokko said management was concerned about how to restore the plant before looking for any culprit.
She said the refinery had sufficient stock of fuel and therefore did not suffer any shortage of the product on the market.
Workers of the refinery have, for almost two weeks now, been working around the clock to restore the plant by pumping out the salty water which has diluted the products, causing a huge loss to the company.
According to a source at the refinery, the sea water was supposed to be pumped for fire service operations when it was mistakenly pumped into the boilers of the plant, displacing the chemically based water and causing damage to the CDU, RFCC and the boilers.
The source was of the view that somebody must be made to answer for the situation that had led to a shutdown for almost two weeks without production.
The Daily Graphic learnt that it would cause the refinery so much resource to complete the work because all the chemicals would have to be put back afresh after pumping out the diluted water in the equipment.
The source said the situation caused an automatic shutdown of the plant and discarded the hue and cry about the shutdown by management for lack of crude.
Some of the workers told the Daily Graphic that they were suspicious of ‘saboteurs’ at the plant and called on the government to set up a committee to investigate the situation and deal with the culprits.
They said the three managers in charge of the utility section should be held responsible for the damage caused to the refinery.
Some of the workers were furious and threatened to embark on a strike at the appropriate time to ensure that sanity prevailed at the refinery.
The Public Relations Officer of the refinery, Mrs Aba Lokko, declined to talk about the situation but indicated that the salty water situation had been rectified and was hopeful that the plant would start operations before the end of this week.
She confirmed that the workers were indeed angry, noting that it did not have anything to do with the shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) on the market.
Mrs Lokko said management was concerned about how to restore the plant before looking for any culprit.
She said the refinery had sufficient stock of fuel and therefore did not suffer any shortage of the product on the market.
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