OIL and Gas Development Corporation (OGDC), a United Kingdom-based company, has innovated a mini oil refinery exclusively designed to refine crude oil on site and supply the product to remote or climatically harsh regions for local use.
This is to add value to existing natural resources to meet domestic demands and create stable foreign revenue streams.
Speaking to the media at a forum in Tema, the President of the OGDC, Mr John Holland, explained that the mini refineries would be economically viable in countries where local crude was available because it could be cost-effective to apply the technology in areas with poor roads to remove the high cost involved in transporting refined fuels from urban centres.
He noted that the system had been built with features to encourage simplicity of design, modular construction, intuitive plant operator interfaces and reliability to ensure a successful mini refining operation.
He said with the assurance of having oil in Ghana, the OGDC was in the process of formalising its operations to start a $2 billion oil drilling project to be involved in deep water offshore and onshore oil and gas processing, refinery and petrochemical.
He stated that after receiving its documents, which were at the final processing stage, the OGDC would take about 14 to 16 months to complete the project and start production.
Mr Holland disclosed that the project would feed the new technology of refining oil on site in remote areas.
He disclosed that the project would create over 2,400 jobs for Ghanaians to be involved in the construction of the refinery and about 380 others in fabricating and constructing swamp barges.
Mr Holland said a leading Venture Capital organisation had mandated OGDC to manage four new drilling swamp barges for use on charter basis in the West African and South Asian oil and gas markets.
He said the OGDC recently signed a 100 per cent funding package with a leading United States investment and merchant banking organisation to project manage the design fabrication and construction of a new export refinery and offshore deep water rig repair and offshore support facility.
Mr Holland said discussions were ongoing between the OGDC and government officials to identify the most strategic locations for these facilities.
He said the OGDC had also been awarded its own allocation for the purchase of feed stock that would be required to effectively utilise the refinery.
He said in addition, talks had been held with representatives of neighbouring ECOWAS countries to establish processing agreements.
Meanwhile, the OGDC has opened offices in Tema, Nigeria, China, Brazil, among others, and will, in the future, open additional locations near its facilities.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
LET'S BUILD HUMAN CAPACITY FOR OIL INDUSTRY (PAGE 54)
THE discovery of oil in commercial quantities in Ghana has thrown a serious challenge to the technical sector of the country’s educational system, Dr Ali Abugre, the Deputy Managing Director in charge of Engineering and Management at the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), has observed.
He has, therefore, advocated the provision of proper infrastructure and systems in technical institutions and universities to build the human capacity to handle the country’s upstream sector of the oil Industry.
Dr Abugre was speaking at the first commendation service of the Tema Technical Institute (TTI) during which 269 students passed out after undertaking courses in various fields, including mechanical engineering craft practice, industrial mechanics, electrical installation works, welding, photography, tailoring, blocklaying and printing in both advanced and intermediate programmes.
The service was on the theme, “Technical education and training — A dependable source of effective industrial growth and self-employment”.
Dr Abugre was of the view that learning must be acquired by means of projects to ensure occupational competency to enable trainees to develop entrepreneurial thinking at end of their training.
He explained that on-the-job training programmes had ignored long-term strategic importance to the economy as a whole to meet career objectives and rather focused on the needs of the enterprise.
Dr Abugre called on employers organisations to play important roles in influencing training policy and governance, drawing attention to the need for long-term investment in continuous training.
He noted that vocational education and training had been seen as a solution to the absence of skilled labour to industry, as well as facilitating the transition from school to work for disadvantaged youth.
The Director of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Division of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Asamoah Duodu, indicated that there was an increasing importance now attached to technical and vocational education and training by most African governments, including Ghana.
He observed that that was reflected in the various poverty reduction strategy papers that governments had developed in collaboration with the World Bank.
Mr Duodu said the country’s reward system had disadvantaged those who entered technical and vocational institutions because consideration was given to those with university degrees, irrespective of the skills they had.
He stated that that had resulted in graduates of most technical institutes craving to enter the universities, instead of improving with the skills acquired.
Mr Duodu said that trend of affairs could adversely affect the country’s technical skills, with serious consequences for enrolment in the engineering and building programmes in polytechnics.
He said there were many young men and women drifting into the urban centres in search of jobs but because they had purely academic-oriented education, without any occupational skills, they had become unemployed.
Mr Duodu advised the graduates to apply the virtues they had learnt to their future endeavours to meet the challenges waiting for them.
He urged them to work hard and be submissive to their employers to gain the necessary experience, which would mould them into masters of their trades.
The principal of the institute, Mr George Provençal, said the 269 students had two to three years academic and practical training in their various fields.
They were also given industrial internship, educational field trips, among others, that went into effective technical training, he added.
He has, therefore, advocated the provision of proper infrastructure and systems in technical institutions and universities to build the human capacity to handle the country’s upstream sector of the oil Industry.
Dr Abugre was speaking at the first commendation service of the Tema Technical Institute (TTI) during which 269 students passed out after undertaking courses in various fields, including mechanical engineering craft practice, industrial mechanics, electrical installation works, welding, photography, tailoring, blocklaying and printing in both advanced and intermediate programmes.
The service was on the theme, “Technical education and training — A dependable source of effective industrial growth and self-employment”.
Dr Abugre was of the view that learning must be acquired by means of projects to ensure occupational competency to enable trainees to develop entrepreneurial thinking at end of their training.
He explained that on-the-job training programmes had ignored long-term strategic importance to the economy as a whole to meet career objectives and rather focused on the needs of the enterprise.
Dr Abugre called on employers organisations to play important roles in influencing training policy and governance, drawing attention to the need for long-term investment in continuous training.
He noted that vocational education and training had been seen as a solution to the absence of skilled labour to industry, as well as facilitating the transition from school to work for disadvantaged youth.
The Director of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Division of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Asamoah Duodu, indicated that there was an increasing importance now attached to technical and vocational education and training by most African governments, including Ghana.
He observed that that was reflected in the various poverty reduction strategy papers that governments had developed in collaboration with the World Bank.
Mr Duodu said the country’s reward system had disadvantaged those who entered technical and vocational institutions because consideration was given to those with university degrees, irrespective of the skills they had.
He stated that that had resulted in graduates of most technical institutes craving to enter the universities, instead of improving with the skills acquired.
Mr Duodu said that trend of affairs could adversely affect the country’s technical skills, with serious consequences for enrolment in the engineering and building programmes in polytechnics.
He said there were many young men and women drifting into the urban centres in search of jobs but because they had purely academic-oriented education, without any occupational skills, they had become unemployed.
Mr Duodu advised the graduates to apply the virtues they had learnt to their future endeavours to meet the challenges waiting for them.
He urged them to work hard and be submissive to their employers to gain the necessary experience, which would mould them into masters of their trades.
The principal of the institute, Mr George Provençal, said the 269 students had two to three years academic and practical training in their various fields.
They were also given industrial internship, educational field trips, among others, that went into effective technical training, he added.
TORGOME WOMEN UNDERTAKE ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT (PAGE 11)
Women in the Torgome Traditional Area near Akuse in the North Tongu District are engaged in an environmental protection project to manage the threat of floating aquatic weeds in the Volta basin to restore its vegetation to conserve biodiversity.
It is to equip the women with usable skills to improve on their living conditions and offer training and empowerment, while conserving the environment.
A local NGO, Witlov, which is involved in assisting women to acquire skills, has, accordingly, launched a project at Torgome to boost the morale of the women to use resources in their environment judiciously for a living.
The Chief Executive of Witlov, Mrs Ethel Mac Harrison, said other financially viable and environmentally safe projects, including the cultivation of mango, cassia, acacia and moringa plantations and vegetable farms along the banks of the Volta, formed part of the project.
She said the women would also be taught to create cage aquaculture to produce tilapia and its fingerlings.
"Due to the construction of the Akosombo and the Kpong dams, the growth of floating water weeds threaten the livelihood of the people, making the river inaccessible," she noted, but observed that "these disadvantages can be turned into organic manure to fertilise agricultural land when cleared".
Mrs Harrison said the NGO researched and realised that communities along the banks of the Volta River depended on the river for food but they were engaged in crude methods and hazardous environmental practices.
She outlined some of those methods as the use of chemicals in fishing, farming very closer to the river banks, sand winning at the river banks and depositing waste into the river and along the banks.
Mrs Harrison noted that as the communities along the river banks tried to harness those resources, they over-exploited them, causing massive degradation of the river, threatening the existence of the resources on which they depended for their livelihood and survival.
She said the over-exploitation had led to threats from the weeds which needed to be managed before any beneficial project could start and, therefore, appealed to the people to help alleviate the challenges facing them and other settlements in the Torgome area to conserve biodiversity of the Volta River.
Mrs Harrison petitioned traditional leaders to set up measures and regulations to mitigate those bad environmental practices.
She expressed her gratitude to the UNDP/GEF for assisting in making the project possible and commended clan leaders and citizens who had made land available to facilitate the project to stand by it and ensure that it went on smoothly because the people of the community were the beneficiaries.
She hoped they would not do anything that would hinder the future of the project and make it a model worth emulating in the area.
Mrs Harrison disclosed that Witlov had, for the past six years, been in partnership with women in the local communities to improve their lives and also lead decent lives.
She said the organisation had been able to recruit 120 women to involve them in the project at Torgome, with some men showing interest.
Mrs Harrison remarked that women could be very industrious and, therefore, they should not consider themselves as inferior to men.
She said the NGO was setting up a home for street girls and trying to entice the young women who indulged in excesses in the streets to undergo reformation at the home.
She was optimistic that continuous advocacy by women organisations would yield results in the future because it was a gradual process.
It is to equip the women with usable skills to improve on their living conditions and offer training and empowerment, while conserving the environment.
A local NGO, Witlov, which is involved in assisting women to acquire skills, has, accordingly, launched a project at Torgome to boost the morale of the women to use resources in their environment judiciously for a living.
The Chief Executive of Witlov, Mrs Ethel Mac Harrison, said other financially viable and environmentally safe projects, including the cultivation of mango, cassia, acacia and moringa plantations and vegetable farms along the banks of the Volta, formed part of the project.
She said the women would also be taught to create cage aquaculture to produce tilapia and its fingerlings.
"Due to the construction of the Akosombo and the Kpong dams, the growth of floating water weeds threaten the livelihood of the people, making the river inaccessible," she noted, but observed that "these disadvantages can be turned into organic manure to fertilise agricultural land when cleared".
Mrs Harrison said the NGO researched and realised that communities along the banks of the Volta River depended on the river for food but they were engaged in crude methods and hazardous environmental practices.
She outlined some of those methods as the use of chemicals in fishing, farming very closer to the river banks, sand winning at the river banks and depositing waste into the river and along the banks.
Mrs Harrison noted that as the communities along the river banks tried to harness those resources, they over-exploited them, causing massive degradation of the river, threatening the existence of the resources on which they depended for their livelihood and survival.
She said the over-exploitation had led to threats from the weeds which needed to be managed before any beneficial project could start and, therefore, appealed to the people to help alleviate the challenges facing them and other settlements in the Torgome area to conserve biodiversity of the Volta River.
Mrs Harrison petitioned traditional leaders to set up measures and regulations to mitigate those bad environmental practices.
She expressed her gratitude to the UNDP/GEF for assisting in making the project possible and commended clan leaders and citizens who had made land available to facilitate the project to stand by it and ensure that it went on smoothly because the people of the community were the beneficiaries.
She hoped they would not do anything that would hinder the future of the project and make it a model worth emulating in the area.
Mrs Harrison disclosed that Witlov had, for the past six years, been in partnership with women in the local communities to improve their lives and also lead decent lives.
She said the organisation had been able to recruit 120 women to involve them in the project at Torgome, with some men showing interest.
Mrs Harrison remarked that women could be very industrious and, therefore, they should not consider themselves as inferior to men.
She said the NGO was setting up a home for street girls and trying to entice the young women who indulged in excesses in the streets to undergo reformation at the home.
She was optimistic that continuous advocacy by women organisations would yield results in the future because it was a gradual process.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
SUNON ASOGLI POWER PLANT ON COURSE TO MEET DEADLINE (BACK PAGE)
Work on the Sunon Asogli Power (Ghana) project at Kpone, near Tema, is progressing to meet the projected deadline of six months for the first phase to be completed.
A visit to the site showed the technical team and the engineers busily constructing the various structures to complete the project on schedule.
Structures to house the computer and the power generating sections had also been completed.
The workforce is made up of about 80 per cent local people who are people rendering direct labour with some Chinese performing the specialised functions.
The President, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor, on April 18, 2008 cut the sod for work to begin on the project.
The 560 megawatt power generation plant is a joint venture between Shenzhen Energy Group Companies Limited of China, Strategic African Securities and the China-Africa Development Fund Company Limited.
It is the first privately-owned power plant to be built in the country.
The first phase, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, is expected to generate 200 megawatts of power while the second phase, which commences immediately afterwards, will produce 360 megawatts, to be completed by the end of 2009.
A senior foreman on the project, Mr Cornelius Segbefia, confirmed that the project, which started three months ago, was 50 per cent complete.
He said work was moving according to schedule, adding that bungalows for staff and offices were also under construction.
Mr Segbefia said all materials for the work were in stock and, therefore, did not foresee any delay while the work progressed.
Mr Segbefia was optimistic that by the end of the year the project would be completed for it to complement the power needs of the country.
A visit to the site showed the technical team and the engineers busily constructing the various structures to complete the project on schedule.
Structures to house the computer and the power generating sections had also been completed.
The workforce is made up of about 80 per cent local people who are people rendering direct labour with some Chinese performing the specialised functions.
The President, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor, on April 18, 2008 cut the sod for work to begin on the project.
The 560 megawatt power generation plant is a joint venture between Shenzhen Energy Group Companies Limited of China, Strategic African Securities and the China-Africa Development Fund Company Limited.
It is the first privately-owned power plant to be built in the country.
The first phase, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, is expected to generate 200 megawatts of power while the second phase, which commences immediately afterwards, will produce 360 megawatts, to be completed by the end of 2009.
A senior foreman on the project, Mr Cornelius Segbefia, confirmed that the project, which started three months ago, was 50 per cent complete.
He said work was moving according to schedule, adding that bungalows for staff and offices were also under construction.
Mr Segbefia said all materials for the work were in stock and, therefore, did not foresee any delay while the work progressed.
Mr Segbefia was optimistic that by the end of the year the project would be completed for it to complement the power needs of the country.
Monday, July 7, 2008
MANAGEMENT EDUCATION PROGRAMME LAUNCHED (PAGE 57)
THE Ministry of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and President’s Initiatives is implementing a support programme to improve productivity and competitiveness of Ghanaian products on the international market.
To this end, a national quality management education and sensitisation programme to the country’s trade and industry has been launched.
The Deputy Minister of the sector, Mr Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, in a speech read for on his behalf at the launch of the programme in Tema, said the initiatives would focus on how small-and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) could achieve their goals to promote exports.
He mentioned some of the constraints confronting local products as the inability of some products to meet regulatory requirements and the inconsistencies in product quality.
Mr Agyemang-Manu said the new initiative was aimed at creating awareness of what consumers demanded in destination markets and what the legal requirements were.
He said the ministry had also launched a website that would give information to help exporters to meet the point of entry demands on the various international markets.
Mr Agyeman-Manu described the country’s trade policy as “outward looking”, noting that it addressed the challenges in the global markets, with its standards and demands that were required from the Ghanaian firms.
He observed that quality had become a very crucial element in successfully entering high-income markets which were valid for both consumer and industrial goods.
He also cautioned that industrialists must ensure its success by getting fully involved in the training of their staff, and not merely implementing the systems without cost.
He urged the SMEs to be quality-conscious to enable them meet the competition in the trade sector of the economy.
Mr Agyemang-Manu added that the workshops would present tools on how entrepreneurs would address issues of quality management systems in their companies.
He was of the view that such techniques would improve the performance of the SMEs.
The minister commended the Athena Foods Limited, manufacturers of fruit juices, for setting the pace in the search for quality management systems in Ghana.
The company which operates in the free zone enclave in Tema has operated successfully, while managing within the constraints of quality systems; in about six years ago, it received organic certification from SKAL of Holland, followed with similar certifications from SGF of Germany, Coca-Cola, among others.
Mr Agyeman-Manu said the practice of quality management systems had afforded Athena Foods Limited the opportunity to achieve its goals.
He urged all other companies to emulate the success story of the Athena Foods Limited which was used as a showcase in the food processing sector to open new opportunities and to enter export markets, so as to be more competitive domestically to demonstrate Ghana’s ability to produce high quality goods to the outside world.
Inspection of the factory exposed a systematic production floor with technical markings and the exposure of workers to quality measures.
The Managing Director (MD) of Athena Foods Limited, Dr Tony Antwi Mensah, in a speech, called on industrialists to accept the initiative of quality systems by the Ministry of Trade and show their eagerness to support the programme.
Members of the National Steering Group, led by Mrs Goski Alabi, inspected the factory floor and were taken through the production lines by the MD of the Athena Foods Limited, where value was being added to turn pineapples into juices.
To this end, a national quality management education and sensitisation programme to the country’s trade and industry has been launched.
The Deputy Minister of the sector, Mr Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, in a speech read for on his behalf at the launch of the programme in Tema, said the initiatives would focus on how small-and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) could achieve their goals to promote exports.
He mentioned some of the constraints confronting local products as the inability of some products to meet regulatory requirements and the inconsistencies in product quality.
Mr Agyemang-Manu said the new initiative was aimed at creating awareness of what consumers demanded in destination markets and what the legal requirements were.
He said the ministry had also launched a website that would give information to help exporters to meet the point of entry demands on the various international markets.
Mr Agyeman-Manu described the country’s trade policy as “outward looking”, noting that it addressed the challenges in the global markets, with its standards and demands that were required from the Ghanaian firms.
He observed that quality had become a very crucial element in successfully entering high-income markets which were valid for both consumer and industrial goods.
He also cautioned that industrialists must ensure its success by getting fully involved in the training of their staff, and not merely implementing the systems without cost.
He urged the SMEs to be quality-conscious to enable them meet the competition in the trade sector of the economy.
Mr Agyemang-Manu added that the workshops would present tools on how entrepreneurs would address issues of quality management systems in their companies.
He was of the view that such techniques would improve the performance of the SMEs.
The minister commended the Athena Foods Limited, manufacturers of fruit juices, for setting the pace in the search for quality management systems in Ghana.
The company which operates in the free zone enclave in Tema has operated successfully, while managing within the constraints of quality systems; in about six years ago, it received organic certification from SKAL of Holland, followed with similar certifications from SGF of Germany, Coca-Cola, among others.
Mr Agyeman-Manu said the practice of quality management systems had afforded Athena Foods Limited the opportunity to achieve its goals.
He urged all other companies to emulate the success story of the Athena Foods Limited which was used as a showcase in the food processing sector to open new opportunities and to enter export markets, so as to be more competitive domestically to demonstrate Ghana’s ability to produce high quality goods to the outside world.
Inspection of the factory exposed a systematic production floor with technical markings and the exposure of workers to quality measures.
The Managing Director (MD) of Athena Foods Limited, Dr Tony Antwi Mensah, in a speech, called on industrialists to accept the initiative of quality systems by the Ministry of Trade and show their eagerness to support the programme.
Members of the National Steering Group, led by Mrs Goski Alabi, inspected the factory floor and were taken through the production lines by the MD of the Athena Foods Limited, where value was being added to turn pineapples into juices.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
NATIONAL QUALITY STEERING GROUP FORMED (PAGE 38)
THE Ministry of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and President’s Special Initiatives is implementing a support programme to improve the productivity and competitiveness of Ghanaian industries and products, both locally and internationally.
As a result, a national quality steering group has been formed to develop an operational framework for the integration of quality management into the country’s trade and industry through educational programmes.
The Deputy sector Minister, Mr Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, in a speech read on his behalf at the launch of a series of educational and sensitisation workshops in Tema, said the initiatives would focus on how SMEs could achieve their goals to promote the export business.
He noted that in recent times many Ghanaian products had been refused entry into certain international markets because they could not meet the entry test of regulatory requirements, while others had not been consistent enough to make the producer a reliable long-term supplier.
Mr Agyemang-Manu said the new initiative was aimed at creating awareness of what consumers demanded in destination markets and what the legal requirements were.
He said the ministry had also launched a website — www.sps-tbt-ghana.org — that would give information to help exporters to meet the point of entry demands.
The deputy minister described the country’s trade policy as “outward looking”, noting that it addressed the challenges that global markets, with their standards and demands, were imposing on Ghanaian firms.
He observed that quality had become a very crucial element in successfully entering high-income markets.
He cautioned industrialists to ensure its success by getting fully involved in training staff, and not merely implementing the systems without cost .
He urged the SMEs to be quality conscious to enable them to meet the competition in the trade sector of the economy of the country.
Mr Agyemang-Manu commended Athena Foods Limited, manufacturers of fruit juices and concentrates, for setting the pace in the search for quality management systems in Ghana.
The company, which operates in the free zones enclave in Tema, has operated successfully and six years ago it received organic certification from SKAL of Holland, followed by similar certifications from SGF
of Germany, Coca Cola, among others.
Mr Agyemang-Manu said the practice of quality management systems had afforded Athena Foods to achieve its goals.
He urged all other companies to emulate the success story of the Athena, which was used as the showcase in the food processing sector, to open new opportunities to enter export markets.
The Managing Director of Athena Foods, Dr Tony Antwi Mensah, called on other industrialists to accept the initiative of quality systems by the Ministry of Trade and show their eagerness to support the programme.
He cautioned that the enthusiasm must be supported with a sustainable programme to ensure that proper understanding and consistency was made to build up the capacity of the initiative and deliverance of quality goods.
Members of the National Steering Group, led by Mrs Goski Alabi, inspected the factory floor and were taken through the production lines by Dr Antwi Mensah.
Other members of the Quality Institute include representatives from all regulatory bodies involved in the production, export and consumption sectors of the economy.
As a result, a national quality steering group has been formed to develop an operational framework for the integration of quality management into the country’s trade and industry through educational programmes.
The Deputy sector Minister, Mr Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, in a speech read on his behalf at the launch of a series of educational and sensitisation workshops in Tema, said the initiatives would focus on how SMEs could achieve their goals to promote the export business.
He noted that in recent times many Ghanaian products had been refused entry into certain international markets because they could not meet the entry test of regulatory requirements, while others had not been consistent enough to make the producer a reliable long-term supplier.
Mr Agyemang-Manu said the new initiative was aimed at creating awareness of what consumers demanded in destination markets and what the legal requirements were.
He said the ministry had also launched a website — www.sps-tbt-ghana.org — that would give information to help exporters to meet the point of entry demands.
The deputy minister described the country’s trade policy as “outward looking”, noting that it addressed the challenges that global markets, with their standards and demands, were imposing on Ghanaian firms.
He observed that quality had become a very crucial element in successfully entering high-income markets.
He cautioned industrialists to ensure its success by getting fully involved in training staff, and not merely implementing the systems without cost .
He urged the SMEs to be quality conscious to enable them to meet the competition in the trade sector of the economy of the country.
Mr Agyemang-Manu commended Athena Foods Limited, manufacturers of fruit juices and concentrates, for setting the pace in the search for quality management systems in Ghana.
The company, which operates in the free zones enclave in Tema, has operated successfully and six years ago it received organic certification from SKAL of Holland, followed by similar certifications from SGF
of Germany, Coca Cola, among others.
Mr Agyemang-Manu said the practice of quality management systems had afforded Athena Foods to achieve its goals.
He urged all other companies to emulate the success story of the Athena, which was used as the showcase in the food processing sector, to open new opportunities to enter export markets.
The Managing Director of Athena Foods, Dr Tony Antwi Mensah, called on other industrialists to accept the initiative of quality systems by the Ministry of Trade and show their eagerness to support the programme.
He cautioned that the enthusiasm must be supported with a sustainable programme to ensure that proper understanding and consistency was made to build up the capacity of the initiative and deliverance of quality goods.
Members of the National Steering Group, led by Mrs Goski Alabi, inspected the factory floor and were taken through the production lines by Dr Antwi Mensah.
Other members of the Quality Institute include representatives from all regulatory bodies involved in the production, export and consumption sectors of the economy.
Friday, July 4, 2008
KNIGHTS OF ST JOHN CELEBRATE DAY AT ASHAIMAN (PAGE 20)
THE Third District Commandery and the District Three and Four Ladies of the Knights of St John International, Accra, have celebrated the St John the Baptist Feast Day at Ashaiman to commemorate the day.
The colourful ceremony was observed with the formation of parade by the Knights, trooping of colours of St John and inspection of guard of honour by the Principal Celebrant, Very Rev Monsignor Jonathan Ankrah of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, and celebration of Mass.
In an address, the Very Rev Ankrah, who is also the Episcopal Vicar for Juridical Matters and Director of Pastoral Centre, urged the members to critically examine themselves to understand what the church stood for.
He noted that some of their behaviours had turned away potential converts who preferred to join other churches with consequences of marrying from their new places.
Very Rev Ankrah, who led a team of five other celebrants, was of the view that they could entice new members only if they changed their lifestyle.
He urged them to build up their spiritual gains to reap benefits that would help the Catholic Church to grow.
Very Rev Ankrah advised them to organise programmes according to the teachings of the church to encourage more in the community to register with the church.
The Regimental Commander of the Knights, Col Larry Kofi Tandjie, said all that life was about was to accept flaws, apologise for them and move on instead of trying to shift blame.
He gave the assurance that members would ensure that they changed their ways of doing things to attract new converts to the church willingly.
Col Tandjie called on members of the church to offer their services to the church in particular and the nation at large.
Other celebrants were the Very Rev Fr John Schiltz, SVD, Rev Father Capt Benjamin Ohene, Rev Fr Lt Samuel Filton-Mensah, Rev Fr Lt Matthias Kotoka Amuzu and Rev Father Lt David Arko Amissah.
The Knights were drawn from the Greater Accra Region with their cadets and junior auxiliaries.
The presidents of the District Three and Four Ladies, Sisters Belinda Dogbatse and Regina Nelson, made special presentations to the Arch Diocese for Seminarians of the church and the church itself.
The colourful ceremony was observed with the formation of parade by the Knights, trooping of colours of St John and inspection of guard of honour by the Principal Celebrant, Very Rev Monsignor Jonathan Ankrah of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, and celebration of Mass.
In an address, the Very Rev Ankrah, who is also the Episcopal Vicar for Juridical Matters and Director of Pastoral Centre, urged the members to critically examine themselves to understand what the church stood for.
He noted that some of their behaviours had turned away potential converts who preferred to join other churches with consequences of marrying from their new places.
Very Rev Ankrah, who led a team of five other celebrants, was of the view that they could entice new members only if they changed their lifestyle.
He urged them to build up their spiritual gains to reap benefits that would help the Catholic Church to grow.
Very Rev Ankrah advised them to organise programmes according to the teachings of the church to encourage more in the community to register with the church.
The Regimental Commander of the Knights, Col Larry Kofi Tandjie, said all that life was about was to accept flaws, apologise for them and move on instead of trying to shift blame.
He gave the assurance that members would ensure that they changed their ways of doing things to attract new converts to the church willingly.
Col Tandjie called on members of the church to offer their services to the church in particular and the nation at large.
Other celebrants were the Very Rev Fr John Schiltz, SVD, Rev Father Capt Benjamin Ohene, Rev Fr Lt Samuel Filton-Mensah, Rev Fr Lt Matthias Kotoka Amuzu and Rev Father Lt David Arko Amissah.
The Knights were drawn from the Greater Accra Region with their cadets and junior auxiliaries.
The presidents of the District Three and Four Ladies, Sisters Belinda Dogbatse and Regina Nelson, made special presentations to the Arch Diocese for Seminarians of the church and the church itself.
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