Story: Rose Hayford Darko, Tema
THE Majority Leader in Parliament and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh, has appealed to Ghanaians to analyse objectively the achievements of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and vote for it against any other party which has nothing to showcase.
He said the NPP must be voted back to power in the 2008 general election because of its record of development, style of governance and physical infrastructure.
Mr Aidooh was addressing polling station executive and party supporters of the Tema West Constituency of the NPP in Tema yesterday after a keep fit session through some principal streets of the municipality.
He declared his intention to stand again after being the Member of Parliament for the area for three terms and urged them to 'retire any competitor who will want to come into the game'.
Mr Aidooh noted that Ghanaians are peace-loving people and will want to vote peacefully and therefore appealed to them to support a party which would not thrive on insults.
He said the NPP government had instituted measures to accrue sufficient funds for the provision of jobs for the youth, stating that the talk time tax was an example and therefore appealed to Ghanaians to support the decision to tax talk time per minute to make the exercise a success.
Mr Aidooh said the opposition had made noise about certain decisions of the government because they could see the potential of its viability which will make them lose their stand of winning.
He emphasised that the NPP has respect for the mandate of the Electoral Commission and therefore will always abide by its decisions.
Mr Aidooh said the Government had passed the ROPAB into law but will not impose it on the EC noting that the EC is an independent, capable body and therefore could decide to use it for the 2008 elections.
He was, however, optimistic that the NPP will win the elections by a 60 per cent margin and therefore called on party sympathisers to ensure one touch victory.
Mr Aidooh said NPP would never rig elections to win but rather ensure that there was free and fair voting pattern to the satisfaction of the voting public.
He called on all peace-loving people to join hands with the NPP to develop the nation, create jobs for the youth and operate a sound economy for the country.
Mr Aidooh said it would be important for all Ghanaians to see the good work of the NPP which had started to manifest in the lives of the people.
The NPP National Women's Organiser, Mrs Rita Asobayire urged the youth to register massively to exercise their franchise during the 2008 elections.
She said all the noise making would be useless if they did not vote for the party.
Mrs Asobayire extended greetings from Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to the Tema East constituents and urged them to lift high the flag of the NPP to victory.
She reminded them that the pattern should be such that both the flag bearer and the member of parliament of the NPP were voted for simultaneously.
Mrs Asobayire said NPP had won elections from the grass-roots and not from the top and therefore expected that trend to follow for the 2008 elections.
She said the elections should be on issues and not on insults and advised the electorate to ensure that they did not use insulting language during the campaign.
Mrs Asobayire observed that the opposition NDC was deliberately creating confusion by blaming the NPP of unsubstantiated allegations and appealed to the people to overlook the moves to detract their attention and concentrate on moves which will make the NPP win one touch.
The Tema West Constituency Secretary of the NPP, Mr Harry Osei Owusu said the constituency executive and the party supporters had endorsed the decision of Mr Aidoo to stand again as the Member of Parliament of the Constituency.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
ASHAIMAN IRRIGATION PROJECT UNDER THREAT (Page 14)
Story: Rose Hayford Darko, Tema
LOCAL rice production at the Ashaiman irrigation development project site is under threat because of the rate at which estate developers have encroached on the land meant for the cultivation of rice.
The catchment areas of the dam have been turned into settlements and the encroachers continue to push in, ignoring the dangers of over flooding by the dam during the rainy seasons.
The encroachers have also constructed gutters through which waste water and solid waste are deposited into the reservoir, polluting the water and blocking the normal route of water for irrigation.
The project has a rice milling machine with the capacity of milling a hundred bags of paddy daily.
These were observed during a tour of the irrigation project site at the weekend after a media briefing by the Secretary of the Ashaiman Irrigation Farmers Co-operative Society, Mr Ben Kanati, on the situation on site.
The farmers have, therefore, called on the government to step in to prevent the intruders from destroying the land which was acquired by the government in 1962 for rice cultivation under the management of the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA).
He said the irrigation scheme was initiated 40 years ago with a land area of 155 hectares and was rehabilitated in 1999 by the Japan International Co-operation Agency, in collaboration with the Ghana Government.
Mr Kanati said the farmers also cropped cabbages, lettuce, okro, sweet and hot pepper and maize all-year round.
He noted with concern that the abuse was strictly around the reservoir close to the water front, with the canal and the roads leading to the scheme turned into a refuse dump.
Mr Kanati said the farmers, in collaboration with GIDA, formed a task force to halt the activities of the encroachers but the task force was met with weapons and stones, creating a more fearful situation.
He said the “wire fencing around the dam has been destroyed and the land which belonged to GIDA is fast dwindling”.
Mr Kanati noted that apart from assisting farmers from Afife, Okyereko, Afram Plains and many more to mill their paddy, students from the country’s universities made yearly studies and produced data from the scheme to enhance their studies.
He said there was a research centre attached to the scheme which served 20 GIDA projects in the country.
Mr Kanati said Ashaiman farmers were among those selected to be trained by experts from Japan to ensure food security in Ghana and questioned why the project should be left to be jeopardised.
He appealed to the government to take immediate action against the developers to serve the scheme and its efforts to sustain food security in the country.
The Deputy Director of GIDA at the Ashaiman site, Mr Simon Apio, later in an interview, said the project had a fish hatchery for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture which served inland fishing projects.
Mr Apio said the irrigation project was moving away from flood irrigation to drip irrigation as a means of reducing the amount of water used on the project.
He was not happy with the aggression of encroachers who had attacked members of the task force and appealed to the chiefs and elders who hid behind the attacks on the farmers to consider the nation first.
Mr Apio said the IDA had made several moves and reported the incident to the Tema Development Corporation, the police and the Tema Municipal Assembly without success. He said the task force would, however, continue to go round to protect state property, despite the fierce attacks on it.
He said the situation had been reported to the headquarters of GIDA and called on all stakeholders to come to the aid of the scheme to make it realise its objectives.
The President of the Ashaiman Irrigation Farmers Co-operative Society, Mr Jordan Nyarku, said the collapse of the scheme would lead to unemployment.
LOCAL rice production at the Ashaiman irrigation development project site is under threat because of the rate at which estate developers have encroached on the land meant for the cultivation of rice.
The catchment areas of the dam have been turned into settlements and the encroachers continue to push in, ignoring the dangers of over flooding by the dam during the rainy seasons.
The encroachers have also constructed gutters through which waste water and solid waste are deposited into the reservoir, polluting the water and blocking the normal route of water for irrigation.
The project has a rice milling machine with the capacity of milling a hundred bags of paddy daily.
These were observed during a tour of the irrigation project site at the weekend after a media briefing by the Secretary of the Ashaiman Irrigation Farmers Co-operative Society, Mr Ben Kanati, on the situation on site.
The farmers have, therefore, called on the government to step in to prevent the intruders from destroying the land which was acquired by the government in 1962 for rice cultivation under the management of the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA).
He said the irrigation scheme was initiated 40 years ago with a land area of 155 hectares and was rehabilitated in 1999 by the Japan International Co-operation Agency, in collaboration with the Ghana Government.
Mr Kanati said the farmers also cropped cabbages, lettuce, okro, sweet and hot pepper and maize all-year round.
He noted with concern that the abuse was strictly around the reservoir close to the water front, with the canal and the roads leading to the scheme turned into a refuse dump.
Mr Kanati said the farmers, in collaboration with GIDA, formed a task force to halt the activities of the encroachers but the task force was met with weapons and stones, creating a more fearful situation.
He said the “wire fencing around the dam has been destroyed and the land which belonged to GIDA is fast dwindling”.
Mr Kanati noted that apart from assisting farmers from Afife, Okyereko, Afram Plains and many more to mill their paddy, students from the country’s universities made yearly studies and produced data from the scheme to enhance their studies.
He said there was a research centre attached to the scheme which served 20 GIDA projects in the country.
Mr Kanati said Ashaiman farmers were among those selected to be trained by experts from Japan to ensure food security in Ghana and questioned why the project should be left to be jeopardised.
He appealed to the government to take immediate action against the developers to serve the scheme and its efforts to sustain food security in the country.
The Deputy Director of GIDA at the Ashaiman site, Mr Simon Apio, later in an interview, said the project had a fish hatchery for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture which served inland fishing projects.
Mr Apio said the irrigation project was moving away from flood irrigation to drip irrigation as a means of reducing the amount of water used on the project.
He was not happy with the aggression of encroachers who had attacked members of the task force and appealed to the chiefs and elders who hid behind the attacks on the farmers to consider the nation first.
Mr Apio said the IDA had made several moves and reported the incident to the Tema Development Corporation, the police and the Tema Municipal Assembly without success. He said the task force would, however, continue to go round to protect state property, despite the fierce attacks on it.
He said the situation had been reported to the headquarters of GIDA and called on all stakeholders to come to the aid of the scheme to make it realise its objectives.
The President of the Ashaiman Irrigation Farmers Co-operative Society, Mr Jordan Nyarku, said the collapse of the scheme would lead to unemployment.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
GHA IMPORTS 4 WEIGHING SCALES ... (Page 43)
Story: Rose Hayford Darko, Tema
THE Ghana Highway Authority has imported four potable mobile weighing bridges at a cost of GH¢100,000 to monitor vehicle axle loads and check trucks which avoid the use of approved weighing points on the roads.
The equipment, which had arrived at the airport, were in the process of being cleared and would start operations immediately.
This was made known by the Director of Road Safety and Environment of the Ghana Highway Authority, Mr Joe Fred Peseo, in an interview at Tema when he inspected the Tema end of the motorway.
He expressed concern about the rate at which the country’s roads were deteriorating because of excessive loading of trucks.
He said about 100 drivers were prosecuted and fined a total of GH¢20,000 for having excessive axle load between August and December 2007 in Tema.
Mr Peseo said the Highway Authority had plans to construct a platform on the Tema-Accra beach road to be used at random to check the axle load of heavy duty vehicles which avoid the use of the motorway.
He further said an infrastructure was currently being constructed at the Tema Axle Control Station and upon its completion it would ensure that all excess loads were offloaded before trucks continued their trips.
A tour of the roads revealed that some of the heavy duty trucks conveying goods from the port and industries diverted their course from the use of the motorway to avoid being weighed on the bridge.
It was also observed that these trucks had also rendered the overpass linking the Accra Abattoir and the Ministry of Agriculture Livestock Breeding Unit on the motorway weak, though some obstacles had been mounted at both ends to prevent motorists from using it.
Mr Peseo appealed to drivers to adhere to laid down rules regarding the extent of loading and also ensure that their trucks were weighed to increase the lifespan of the roads.
THE Ghana Highway Authority has imported four potable mobile weighing bridges at a cost of GH¢100,000 to monitor vehicle axle loads and check trucks which avoid the use of approved weighing points on the roads.
The equipment, which had arrived at the airport, were in the process of being cleared and would start operations immediately.
This was made known by the Director of Road Safety and Environment of the Ghana Highway Authority, Mr Joe Fred Peseo, in an interview at Tema when he inspected the Tema end of the motorway.
He expressed concern about the rate at which the country’s roads were deteriorating because of excessive loading of trucks.
He said about 100 drivers were prosecuted and fined a total of GH¢20,000 for having excessive axle load between August and December 2007 in Tema.
Mr Peseo said the Highway Authority had plans to construct a platform on the Tema-Accra beach road to be used at random to check the axle load of heavy duty vehicles which avoid the use of the motorway.
He further said an infrastructure was currently being constructed at the Tema Axle Control Station and upon its completion it would ensure that all excess loads were offloaded before trucks continued their trips.
A tour of the roads revealed that some of the heavy duty trucks conveying goods from the port and industries diverted their course from the use of the motorway to avoid being weighed on the bridge.
It was also observed that these trucks had also rendered the overpass linking the Accra Abattoir and the Ministry of Agriculture Livestock Breeding Unit on the motorway weak, though some obstacles had been mounted at both ends to prevent motorists from using it.
Mr Peseo appealed to drivers to adhere to laid down rules regarding the extent of loading and also ensure that their trucks were weighed to increase the lifespan of the roads.
NDUOM KICK-STARTS CAMPAIGN .... (Page 44)
Story: Rose Hayford Darko & Anastasia Dzovor
THE Flag Bearer of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, has promised Ghanaians a more transformed economy if they vote him into power.
Dr Nduom said Ghana’s economy was started by Dr Nkrumah, whose economic policies were second to none and, therefore, his good work would be continued by his (Dr Nduom’s) administration to ensure that business boomed to build the economy of the country.
He was addressing market women and traders at the Tema Community 1 and Ashaiman markets as part of his campaign tour of the metropolis.
He said Nkrumah did not say “work and happiness” for nothing, but to build an economy that would involve the people.
The flag bearer talked about a campaign of ideas and not insults and therefore called on the market women to vote for the CPP for a booming business.
He assured the traders of his support to enable them to realise their gains after working hard to build the economy.
He noted that his message was simple and that was to encourage the people to vote for him and the party for a change in government and governance.
Dr Nduom was optimistic that he would not disappoint the electorate, emphasising that he was second to none among all other flag bearers.
Dr Nduom was hailed as he walked through the markets in Tema and Ashaiman, causing human traffic and shaking hands with the women who sang along with him, “We want change, we want change”.
He said he had come to continue with the good work of Dr Nkrumah without whom the people would not have had a well-planned city like Tema.
The flag bearer said he would improve on what the ‘architect’ started to make sure Ghana was reborn among the best of nations.
He also assured the traders that the CPP would vigorously revive the private sector to make the youth more useful.
He said the NPP and the NDC had been given the opportunity to run the administration of the country and so it was prudent for Ghanaians to give the CPP its turn to prove the difference in transforming the country’s economy.
The Greater Accra Chairman of the CPP, Mrs Susan Adu-Amankwah, who led the CPP Presidential candidate on his rounds, called on the electorate to vote Dr Nduom and the CPP for a sound and peaceful nation.
She said the CPP had changed colours and would want to prove to the people of Ghana that the party was alive and had been rekindled to face the numerous problems of the country.
At Communities 5 and 6,, the Secretary of the GPRTU, Mr Isaac Abban, congratulated the flag bearer and welcomed him to Tema with the prayer that he worked hard to achieve his aim.
Mr Abban, however assured him of their support for a successful campaign.
Madam Tsotsoo Amui, a fresh fish seller, hailed the flag bearer for including them in his campaign and shook hands with him, with the assurance that they were strongly behind him for a change.
At Ashaiman, Dr Nduom was hailed amidst singing and praises by the market women, after which he paid a courtesy call on a Chief at Ashaiman, Alhaji Mohammed Tindani.
He had earlier visited some satellite markets in Tema to interact with traders and workers.
THE Flag Bearer of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, has promised Ghanaians a more transformed economy if they vote him into power.
Dr Nduom said Ghana’s economy was started by Dr Nkrumah, whose economic policies were second to none and, therefore, his good work would be continued by his (Dr Nduom’s) administration to ensure that business boomed to build the economy of the country.
He was addressing market women and traders at the Tema Community 1 and Ashaiman markets as part of his campaign tour of the metropolis.
He said Nkrumah did not say “work and happiness” for nothing, but to build an economy that would involve the people.
The flag bearer talked about a campaign of ideas and not insults and therefore called on the market women to vote for the CPP for a booming business.
He assured the traders of his support to enable them to realise their gains after working hard to build the economy.
He noted that his message was simple and that was to encourage the people to vote for him and the party for a change in government and governance.
Dr Nduom was optimistic that he would not disappoint the electorate, emphasising that he was second to none among all other flag bearers.
Dr Nduom was hailed as he walked through the markets in Tema and Ashaiman, causing human traffic and shaking hands with the women who sang along with him, “We want change, we want change”.
He said he had come to continue with the good work of Dr Nkrumah without whom the people would not have had a well-planned city like Tema.
The flag bearer said he would improve on what the ‘architect’ started to make sure Ghana was reborn among the best of nations.
He also assured the traders that the CPP would vigorously revive the private sector to make the youth more useful.
He said the NPP and the NDC had been given the opportunity to run the administration of the country and so it was prudent for Ghanaians to give the CPP its turn to prove the difference in transforming the country’s economy.
The Greater Accra Chairman of the CPP, Mrs Susan Adu-Amankwah, who led the CPP Presidential candidate on his rounds, called on the electorate to vote Dr Nduom and the CPP for a sound and peaceful nation.
She said the CPP had changed colours and would want to prove to the people of Ghana that the party was alive and had been rekindled to face the numerous problems of the country.
At Communities 5 and 6,, the Secretary of the GPRTU, Mr Isaac Abban, congratulated the flag bearer and welcomed him to Tema with the prayer that he worked hard to achieve his aim.
Mr Abban, however assured him of their support for a successful campaign.
Madam Tsotsoo Amui, a fresh fish seller, hailed the flag bearer for including them in his campaign and shook hands with him, with the assurance that they were strongly behind him for a change.
At Ashaiman, Dr Nduom was hailed amidst singing and praises by the market women, after which he paid a courtesy call on a Chief at Ashaiman, Alhaji Mohammed Tindani.
He had earlier visited some satellite markets in Tema to interact with traders and workers.
TEMA PORT TO FINE TRUCK DRIVERS ...(Page 13)
Rose Hayford Darko, Tema
The Tema Port has instituted fines on truck drivers who fail to leave the port and the Transit Truck Park (TTP) within a specified time as a means to pursue a decongestive exercise in and around the port.
Details of the fines have not been given but the Tema Port Public Relations Manager, Mrs Esther Gyebi-Donkor, told the Daily Graphic that they were heavy enough to deter the drivers from using the terminals as resting areas.
Some drivers especially those in transit to Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger contribute to the congestion at the port by refusing to leave for their destinations even after they have been loaded.
Mrs Gyebi-Donkor told the Daily Graphic at the port that in previous times, the trucks were allowed to park in the inner perimeters of the port while they waited for documentation to be completed and loaded. This, she said, resulted in congestion.
Mrs Gyebi-Donkor stated that the Port Management took into consideration the numerous clearing difficulties and their related economic problems that congestion created and, therefore, initiated policies to decongest the port.
The port authorities, therefore, set up terminals outside the port and inaugurated the Golden Jubilee Devanning Terminal, as well as the Transit Truck Park (TTP).
She called on importers and transporters to adhere strictly to the recommendations made by the stakeholders to bring sanity into the port’s operations. Mrs Gyebi-Donkor said some of these new reforms put in place at the Tema Port had started yielding results and for the first time in six years since the reforms were initiated, the port was not congested at the close of the year 2007 compared to previous years.
The Tema Port was usually congested with human and vehicular activities with all available space filled with goods, making it easy for dubious businesses to thrive during festive seasons.
She said the port experienced an increased vessel traffic last year but the situation was contained because of the new arrangements.
She explained that all containerised goods including cars were handled at the Golden Jubilee Devanning Terminal where the importers went for their goods.
Mrs Gyebi-Donkor noted that there were some goods which were cleared straight onto the trucks, making it unnecessary for the trucks to queue at the port waiting to load.
She noted that apart from the Golden Jubilee Terminal there were other terminals located outside the main harbour which also offered similar services.
Mrs Gyebi-Donkor said that in the near future the Tema Port would become a first-class port with international acclamation in the sub-region.
She had high hopes for the port to satisfy the needs of stakeholders and make record times in ship turnaround to enable importers to pay less for handling and other port charges.
A visit to the port showed that the devanning areas that could contain imported goods and pedestrian movement within the port were restricted.
Some trucks had, however, turned an opening along the main Accra-harbour road into their waiting centres and sometimes this had posed danger to road users.
The Tema Port has instituted fines on truck drivers who fail to leave the port and the Transit Truck Park (TTP) within a specified time as a means to pursue a decongestive exercise in and around the port.
Details of the fines have not been given but the Tema Port Public Relations Manager, Mrs Esther Gyebi-Donkor, told the Daily Graphic that they were heavy enough to deter the drivers from using the terminals as resting areas.
Some drivers especially those in transit to Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger contribute to the congestion at the port by refusing to leave for their destinations even after they have been loaded.
Mrs Gyebi-Donkor told the Daily Graphic at the port that in previous times, the trucks were allowed to park in the inner perimeters of the port while they waited for documentation to be completed and loaded. This, she said, resulted in congestion.
Mrs Gyebi-Donkor stated that the Port Management took into consideration the numerous clearing difficulties and their related economic problems that congestion created and, therefore, initiated policies to decongest the port.
The port authorities, therefore, set up terminals outside the port and inaugurated the Golden Jubilee Devanning Terminal, as well as the Transit Truck Park (TTP).
She called on importers and transporters to adhere strictly to the recommendations made by the stakeholders to bring sanity into the port’s operations. Mrs Gyebi-Donkor said some of these new reforms put in place at the Tema Port had started yielding results and for the first time in six years since the reforms were initiated, the port was not congested at the close of the year 2007 compared to previous years.
The Tema Port was usually congested with human and vehicular activities with all available space filled with goods, making it easy for dubious businesses to thrive during festive seasons.
She said the port experienced an increased vessel traffic last year but the situation was contained because of the new arrangements.
She explained that all containerised goods including cars were handled at the Golden Jubilee Devanning Terminal where the importers went for their goods.
Mrs Gyebi-Donkor noted that there were some goods which were cleared straight onto the trucks, making it unnecessary for the trucks to queue at the port waiting to load.
She noted that apart from the Golden Jubilee Terminal there were other terminals located outside the main harbour which also offered similar services.
Mrs Gyebi-Donkor said that in the near future the Tema Port would become a first-class port with international acclamation in the sub-region.
She had high hopes for the port to satisfy the needs of stakeholders and make record times in ship turnaround to enable importers to pay less for handling and other port charges.
A visit to the port showed that the devanning areas that could contain imported goods and pedestrian movement within the port were restricted.
Some trucks had, however, turned an opening along the main Accra-harbour road into their waiting centres and sometimes this had posed danger to road users.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
SOMOTEX OPENS 14TH SHOWROOM IN TEMA (Page 18)
Story: Rose Hayford Darko & Anasthasia Dzovor, Tema
Somotex Ghana Limited has opened its 14th showroom in Tema to showcase innovative top quality range of electronic products to customers in the eastern part of the country.
The products include water dispensers, power generators, beverage coolers, air conditioners, refrigerators and cassette players.
Cutting the tape to declare the outlet opened, the Managing Director, Mr Joel Hyde, noted that it was the intention of the company to bring all brands of electronic products under one roof to the benefit of customers to make shopping accessible and easier.
He said the company currently had branches in Tamale, Kumasi , Takoradi and Accra where the prices remained the same notwithstanding its location.
Mr Hyde noted that Adenta branch in Accra was the last to be opened last week before that of Tema to honour the request by customers in the municipality.
He explained that the company stood for quality as captured in its motto which is ‘Somovision, your world of electronics’.
Mr Hyde therefore urged the public to patronise the company’s goods for their needs to be supplied at affordable prices.
He mentioned that the company dealt in brands like LG, Philips, Tamashi, Sony and Panasonic, among others.
Mr Hyde was of the view that Somovision, the mother company of Somotex, would maintain the lead in the market of supplying electronic products .
He commended their customers for their assistance and patronage of their outlets throughout the country.
Mr Hyde pledged to reciprocate the support of their clients by working hard to maintain the lead position in the delivery of quality service at affordable cost.
The Senior Manager of Somotex Ghana Limited, Mr Pallav Rastogi, disclosed that Somotex had for the past 40 years served the Ghanaian community faithfully by supplying a variety of goods, and that Somovision had for 10 years provided services solely in the electronic industry .
He stated that with all brands of quality under the same roof, customers had the choice to decide on which product to purchase, and, therefore, urged the public to save time and energy by shopping at their outlets.
Mr Rastogi, however, appreciated the tremendous response that the company had had from the public and appealed to them to ensure that they gave their comments to enable the company improve on its services.
He was optimistic that the company would continue to spread its wings to cover as many areas as possible to prove their worth for the public to enjoy.
The occasion was graced by the winners of the Miss Universe 2007 pageant who joined in the tape-cutting to declare the shop open
Somotex Ghana Limited has opened its 14th showroom in Tema to showcase innovative top quality range of electronic products to customers in the eastern part of the country.
The products include water dispensers, power generators, beverage coolers, air conditioners, refrigerators and cassette players.
Cutting the tape to declare the outlet opened, the Managing Director, Mr Joel Hyde, noted that it was the intention of the company to bring all brands of electronic products under one roof to the benefit of customers to make shopping accessible and easier.
He said the company currently had branches in Tamale, Kumasi , Takoradi and Accra where the prices remained the same notwithstanding its location.
Mr Hyde noted that Adenta branch in Accra was the last to be opened last week before that of Tema to honour the request by customers in the municipality.
He explained that the company stood for quality as captured in its motto which is ‘Somovision, your world of electronics’.
Mr Hyde therefore urged the public to patronise the company’s goods for their needs to be supplied at affordable prices.
He mentioned that the company dealt in brands like LG, Philips, Tamashi, Sony and Panasonic, among others.
Mr Hyde was of the view that Somovision, the mother company of Somotex, would maintain the lead in the market of supplying electronic products .
He commended their customers for their assistance and patronage of their outlets throughout the country.
Mr Hyde pledged to reciprocate the support of their clients by working hard to maintain the lead position in the delivery of quality service at affordable cost.
The Senior Manager of Somotex Ghana Limited, Mr Pallav Rastogi, disclosed that Somotex had for the past 40 years served the Ghanaian community faithfully by supplying a variety of goods, and that Somovision had for 10 years provided services solely in the electronic industry .
He stated that with all brands of quality under the same roof, customers had the choice to decide on which product to purchase, and, therefore, urged the public to save time and energy by shopping at their outlets.
Mr Rastogi, however, appreciated the tremendous response that the company had had from the public and appealed to them to ensure that they gave their comments to enable the company improve on its services.
He was optimistic that the company would continue to spread its wings to cover as many areas as possible to prove their worth for the public to enjoy.
The occasion was graced by the winners of the Miss Universe 2007 pageant who joined in the tape-cutting to declare the shop open
WATER METERS NOW TARGET OF THIEVES( PAGE 25, PUBLISH DEC 24TH 2007....METRO NEWS)
Rose Hayford Darko , Tema .
Water meter valves imported and installed in homes by the Ghana Water Company Limited to measure quantity of water used by consumers has now become a target for thieves in the Tema Region .
Residents had ignorantly complained of broken pipelines and waste of water only to realize that the flow of water was from pipelines linking the meters due to its removal by thieves .
The Daily Graphic investigations have shown that as many as about 30 water meters were stolen from some house in a month at dawn .
This figure represented reported cases as booked in the station diary of the Tema Community eight Police Station and recorded in the district office of GWCL complaints books making the situation serious if other communities were added .
The Investigations revealed that some residents did not go to the police but reported to the offices of the GWCL in Tema .
Some of the residents the Daily Graphic spoke to were not happy with the situation because this could lead to payment of increased tariff .
A resident of Tema Community seven Madam Phyllis Adzovor who also had her meter stolen said about a month ago , she was woken by an unusual noise at about 3a.m. which she later found out was water gushing out from the pipeline linking the meter .
She said a closer look revealed that the meter had been removed leaving a gap where the water gushed out .
Madam Phyllis said her neighbour also had his water gushing out at the same time which meant they all had their meters stolen at the same time at dawn .
She was not happy that when they reported the incident to the GCWL , they were asked to go and replace the meter themselves but unfortunately could not get them on the market .
Madam Phyllis said they have at the moment blocked the gap with a hose and continue to use the water without any meter connections .
She also said no official of the GWCL had gone to the house to inspect the pipeline and appealed to the Water Company to assist them get new meters .
The Public Relations Officer of the Tema Region GWCL , Mr N. Appiah Dadson confirmed that stealing of the meters was very rampant in the Region especially in the Communities 7, 8 ,9, Sakumono and Ashiaman area.
He said the meters were stolen because of a small brass component which the thieves melted for the production of rings and related products .
Mr Dadson noted that meters were imported with Ghana hard earned foreign money and therefore condemned the activities of the thieves .
He also confirmed a document sighted by the Daily Graphic signed by the Tema Central District Manager of the GWCL , Mr Joe Tettevi and addressed to the Regional Chief Manager of the Aqua Vitens Rand Limited alerting them of the spate of stealing of water meters in the Region and therefore called for announcements to be made through the print and electronic media to educate the public to protect their meters .
Mr Dadson could not however confirm that the advert was made but disclosed that the installed meter was the property of the GWCL and therefore could not be sold to another consumer when stolen .
He noted that consumers would therefore be surcharged for the installation of new meters depending on its availability because it was imported .
Mr Dadson disclosed that consumers who had their meters stolen would be billed estimated flat rates ,considering their previous bills .
He denied that the GWCL officials had asked consumers who had fallen victims to the stealing to buy their own meters because as he put it ‘the meter which is imported cannot be bought on the open market and each of the installed meters had serial numbers .’
Mr Dadson said once it a criminal offence to steal , it was proper for victims to report the incident to the police for investigations and therefore urged those who had not reported yet to do so to avoid being held responsible for the loss of the item which was the property of the GWCL .
He said the location of every meter was known and therefore any change in locations would be an indication that it was stolen and therefore the user would be arrested and prosecuted .
He disclosed that there were plans to change the component which had made the meter attractive to thieves and therefore the situation would soon be remedied .
Meanwhile some residents who were victims have appealed to the GWCL to locate their meters at convenient places and secure them to make it difficult for the thieves to break in .
Water meter valves imported and installed in homes by the Ghana Water Company Limited to measure quantity of water used by consumers has now become a target for thieves in the Tema Region .
Residents had ignorantly complained of broken pipelines and waste of water only to realize that the flow of water was from pipelines linking the meters due to its removal by thieves .
The Daily Graphic investigations have shown that as many as about 30 water meters were stolen from some house in a month at dawn .
This figure represented reported cases as booked in the station diary of the Tema Community eight Police Station and recorded in the district office of GWCL complaints books making the situation serious if other communities were added .
The Investigations revealed that some residents did not go to the police but reported to the offices of the GWCL in Tema .
Some of the residents the Daily Graphic spoke to were not happy with the situation because this could lead to payment of increased tariff .
A resident of Tema Community seven Madam Phyllis Adzovor who also had her meter stolen said about a month ago , she was woken by an unusual noise at about 3a.m. which she later found out was water gushing out from the pipeline linking the meter .
She said a closer look revealed that the meter had been removed leaving a gap where the water gushed out .
Madam Phyllis said her neighbour also had his water gushing out at the same time which meant they all had their meters stolen at the same time at dawn .
She was not happy that when they reported the incident to the GCWL , they were asked to go and replace the meter themselves but unfortunately could not get them on the market .
Madam Phyllis said they have at the moment blocked the gap with a hose and continue to use the water without any meter connections .
She also said no official of the GWCL had gone to the house to inspect the pipeline and appealed to the Water Company to assist them get new meters .
The Public Relations Officer of the Tema Region GWCL , Mr N. Appiah Dadson confirmed that stealing of the meters was very rampant in the Region especially in the Communities 7, 8 ,9, Sakumono and Ashiaman area.
He said the meters were stolen because of a small brass component which the thieves melted for the production of rings and related products .
Mr Dadson noted that meters were imported with Ghana hard earned foreign money and therefore condemned the activities of the thieves .
He also confirmed a document sighted by the Daily Graphic signed by the Tema Central District Manager of the GWCL , Mr Joe Tettevi and addressed to the Regional Chief Manager of the Aqua Vitens Rand Limited alerting them of the spate of stealing of water meters in the Region and therefore called for announcements to be made through the print and electronic media to educate the public to protect their meters .
Mr Dadson could not however confirm that the advert was made but disclosed that the installed meter was the property of the GWCL and therefore could not be sold to another consumer when stolen .
He noted that consumers would therefore be surcharged for the installation of new meters depending on its availability because it was imported .
Mr Dadson disclosed that consumers who had their meters stolen would be billed estimated flat rates ,considering their previous bills .
He denied that the GWCL officials had asked consumers who had fallen victims to the stealing to buy their own meters because as he put it ‘the meter which is imported cannot be bought on the open market and each of the installed meters had serial numbers .’
Mr Dadson said once it a criminal offence to steal , it was proper for victims to report the incident to the police for investigations and therefore urged those who had not reported yet to do so to avoid being held responsible for the loss of the item which was the property of the GWCL .
He said the location of every meter was known and therefore any change in locations would be an indication that it was stolen and therefore the user would be arrested and prosecuted .
He disclosed that there were plans to change the component which had made the meter attractive to thieves and therefore the situation would soon be remedied .
Meanwhile some residents who were victims have appealed to the GWCL to locate their meters at convenient places and secure them to make it difficult for the thieves to break in .
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