FDB DESTROYS UNWHOLESOME CHICKEN PRODUCTS (BACK PAGE, DEC 24, 2010)

The Food and Drugs Board (FDB) yesterday destroyed a large quantity of chicken thighs, wings and gizzards valued at GH¢200,000 at Kpone, near Tema.
The products, which were seized from some major frozen food importers comprised 2,500 cartons of chicken thighs and wings, as well as 777 boxes of gizzards.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic at the landfill site where two bulldozers were used in the destruction exercise, the Head of Import and Export Control Department of the FDB, Mr Emmanuel Yaw Kwarteng, said the products were not even fit for animal consumption and had to be destroyed.
He explained that at the beginning of December, 2010, the FDB, in collaboration with the security agencies undertook an operation to determine the wholesomeness of foods imported.
Mr Kwarteng said an inspection at the Servista Frozen Foods Company, revealed large quantities of gizzards in cold rooms.
He said the company was noted for being a major importer of animal products and some of them had already been distributed.
Mr Kwarteng said other smaller outlets which received products from Servista were also inspected and all the gizzards analysed there were found to be unwholesome and subsequently seized.
He disclosed that another importer of chicken products, Cocas Impex Company, received an import of 2,500 cartons of chicken but decided to contact the FDB to check on the status of the products .
According to Mr Kwarteng, when analysed it was detected that the chicken thighs could not even be used for poultry feed though they looked attractive.
He said the FDB would continue to monitor imports arriving at the port within the period and after the festivities to ensure that consumers bought healthy foods.
Mr Kwarteng cautioned traders who bought anything at unauthorised places to ensure that food items were wholesome .
He warned that the FDB would not shirk its responsibilities but ensure that they rid the markets and stores of all unwanted goods and foods.

SHAI RURAL BANK MAKES PROFIT (PAGE 55, DEC 23, 2010)

THE Shai Rural Bank at Dodowa recorded a net profit of GH¢35,490.00 in 2009 as against the GH¢3,786.00 the bank recorded in 2008.
The Board Chairman of the bank, Mr Ebenezer Djagbletey Djanie, said at the 29th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the bank at Dodowa, that despite the challenging year the bank was able to meet its financial obligation to post the modest net profit.
He appealed to the shareholders of the bank to buy more shares to enable the bank to achieve more successes.
Mr Djanie said the bank’s assets had equally grown from GH¢1,540,910.00 in 2008 to GH¢2,367,876 representing a growth of 34.92 per cent over the previous year’s performance.
He said the bank currently operated two agencies located at Adentan and Ashaiman, which according to the Board Chairman contributed to the growth of the bank.
Mr Djanie said computerisation of operations of the Head Office at Dodowa in August 2009 had brought efficiency and effectiveness in the turnaround time of the bank and hinted that the Adentan and Ashaiman agencies would soon be hooked on to the computerised network.
Mr Djanie disclosed that the bank had introduced a Micro Finance Operations and had developed its mobile banking business to cover all clients within the community in which the bank operates.
That, he said, included loans for funeral, school fees, medical bills and church projects, among others .
The board chairman said the bank had plans to migrate from the current interest- based revenue to commission –based revenue such as the ATM and SMS banking.
The Managing Director of the ARB Apex Bank Ltd , Mr Eric Osei Bonsu, in a speech read on his behalf by the Head of Internal Control Department of the ARB APEX Bank, Mr Hyginus S. Zon, commended the bank for its achievements and said those achievements must be consolidated.
He emphasised that the banking industry was undergoing a rapid technological transformation with the introduction of electronic banking and expressed the hope that the bank would invest in ICT to improve its operational efficiency.
Mr Osei Bonsu said some of the innovations were :e-Zwich, Electronic Financial Analysis and Surveillance Systems (e FASS), Cheque Codeline Clearing (CCC) and Automated Clearing House (ACH).
He stated that the Apex Bank would also migrate its star product, the Apex Link Money Transfer Product onto an ICT Platform very soon to make it more efficient.
The Dangme West District Chief Executive, Mr Emmanuel Odoi Ayimi Lartey, commended the bank, and appealed to citizens of the area to patronise the services of the two rural banks in the district.
He noted that the presence of the two banks had contributed to the elimination of poverty in the area.
Mr Lartey further commended the Shai Rural Bank for instituting a scholarship scheme for the needy and urged shareholders to increase their shares.

296 NYEP RECRUITS TO HELP IN TRAFFIC CONTROL (SPREAD, DEC 18, 2010)

The Ghana Police Service has mobilised 296 personnel from the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) to support the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) to control traffic in Accra and Tema.
They have been trained under the community policing module of the NYEP and would be engaged by the Police Service for the next two years.
Forty-nine of the trained personnel, made up of 10 females and 39 males, have been posted to Tema while the rest have been stationed in Accra.
The Commander of the MTTU, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Angwubutoge Awuni, who was in Tema to meet them, advised them to make discipline the hallmark of their work.
He said the police service needed disciplined people to be attached to the MTTU to help direct traffic especially during the Yuletide.
The MMTU boss noted that traffic had become a problem in the cities and stressed the need to have more hands to help make the roads safe for drivers, passengers and pedestrians.
ACP Awuni said some of the NYEP community policing personnel had been found to be habitual absentees when posted to duty points and warned that those who indulge in such behaviours would not be entertained.
He, however, said those found to be obedient and hardworking would be absorbed into the Police Service.
He advised them to be friendly to the public and said as peace officers, they were expected to maintain law and order.
He appealed to them to show commitment to their work and put up attitudes that would justify the confidence reposed in them.
The Tema Regional Police Commander, ACP Augustine Gyenning, asked the NYEP personnel to be mindful of the numerous road construction works going on in Tema, which has resulted in roadblocks and heavy traffic, and said they would need to work hard at the various road intersections to control vehicular movement.

ASHAISEC LAUNCHES 20TH ANNIVERSARY (MIRROR, PAGE 35, DEC 18, 2010)

From Rose Hayford Darko, Ashaiman

The Ashaiman Senior High School (Ashaisec), the premier secondary school in Ashaiman, is 20 years and has accordingly launched its 20th anniversary to celebrate pioneers, who through hard work, have brought the school to its present status .
It was themed ‘Accessibility to quality education – the need for parity in resource distribution’.
The school started with 30 students and three members of staff, without non-teaching staff and infrastructure to boost teaching and learning .
Twenty years later, the school now boasts a moderate infrastructure, a staff strength of 88 and student population of 1,450 made up of 733 boys and 717 girls .
The Ashaiman Municipal Director of Education, Ms Florence Quaye, who launched the anniversary, commended the founders of the school for ensuring that Ashaiman had a senior high school to promote education .
She said the growing student population buttressed the theme for the celebration which was evident with the ongoing construction works in the school .
Ms. Quaye noted that although government had the responsibility to provide infrastructure and financial resources for the promotion of quality teaching and learning ,the community in which the school was located had to be equally responsive to its needs .
She stated that government and other stakeholders had made bold attempts to improve on the infrastructure of the school to cater for the growing student population.
Ms Quaye said Ashaisec had a solid human resource with highly qualified, experienced and motivated staff who had inculcated in the students, discipline, honesty, self confidence, hardwork, patriotism and tolerance .
She commended both teachers and students for excelling in various activities including sports, culture and others which was a proof that the school was not concerned with only the academics but also the holistic training of the individual .
Ms Quaye cautioned the students to eschew negative practices and lift the banner of the municipality high .
The Headmaster of the school, Mr Emmanuel Ofoe Fiemawhle, outlined the highlights of the celebration which included debates, clean up exercises, health walk, float, symposium and speech and prize giving day.

TEMA GES AWARDS 21 TEACHERS (MIRROR, PAGE 35, DEC 18, 2010)

From Rose Hayford Darko, Tema

THE Tema Metropolitan Directorate of Ghana Education Service (GES) has awarded 21 teachers for their hard work and dedication to duty at its Best Teachers Award ceremony in Tema.
The award winners were from the primary, junior high and senior high schools in various disciplines of Science , Mathematics , General subjects , vocational and technical categories .
Also awarded were some hard working and dedicated non-teaching staff at the Metropolitan office of the GES.
Those who came first in their categories took home a double door fridge, second positions had four burner standing gas cooker and the third place winners received 21 inch flat screen television sets.
The Deputy Director General of the GES, Mr Victor Adu-Mante, said the awards formed part of incentives meant to promote quality basic education in the country.
He said it was also to provide the opportunity as well as challenge for the basic and second cycle schools to strive for excellence.
Mr Mante called on school directors to properly manage their capitation grants and commended heads of senior high schools for their effort during the admission of first year students in the face of all odds; and assured them that GES recognised that motivation enhanced excellence.
The Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware, said the Assembly would continue to support and invest in education, adding that the Assembly would provide six pavillions and also meet the infrastructure needs of SHSs in the Metropolis.
Mr Ofosuware said work would soon begin on the construction of 10 new classroom blocks for schools throughout the metropolis with funding from the GetFund.
The Metropolitan Director of Education, Mr Kwesi Hutchful, appealed for decent accommodation for the GES and stressed the need to check the encroachment of school lands in the metropolis.
The Greater Accra Member of the Council of State, Mr Adjei Annang, who chaired the programme, accompanied Mr Mante to inspect a guard of honour mounted by the Navy Cadet of OLAM Senior High School with support from Chemu Senior Secondary School band.

NEW VESSEL TO DEEPEN TRADE DOCKS IN TEMA (PAGE 55, DEC 17, 2010)

A geared container vessel 'CMA CGM Africa One' with a capacity of 3,600 teu (twenty equivalent units) and designed to meet specifications of African ports for quick delivery of goods first docked at the Tema harbour.
The ship christened 'Nassau ' to link Asia to West Africa trade route is geared towards independent port operations with its own in-built cranes which maximise the loading of goods at shallow draft ports .
It is currently the largest vessel to enter the waters of Africa since 2007 when the largest vessel entered with a capacity of 2,500 teu .
It was built and delivered in August 2010 at the Hanjin Heavy Industries shipyard in Hong Kong.
Briefing the media on the vessel, the Commercial Manager for CMA CGM Group, on behalf of its subsidiary in Ghana ,Delmas Shipping Ghana, Mr Geoffrey Cole said the ship was one of the four to be delivered later .
He noted that the capacity of the vessels had been exclusively designed and built with flexibility considering the in built cranes , draught and length which made it operate autonomously where necessary in all major African ports irrespective of the level of equipment and the characteristics of the port .
Mr Cole said bigger vessels reduce cost per unit the freight rate of imported goods and, therefore, offered competitive rates for importers and exporters .
He said vessels of a certain draft and length had had difficulties in berthing at the Tema port, especially because of the varying berthing space, but the new vessels had their own mechanisms which made them fit in uniquely.
Mr Cole said with the four new container vessels ,delays in loading and discharging would be a thing of the past and make sea transport more dynamic .
The General Manager of the Delmas Shipping Ghana of the CMA CGM Group , Mr Hugh Curtis, observed that the innovative design of the vessel CMA CGM Africa One would allow a high quality service in African ports, especially Tema port which had one of the best levels of productivity in West Africa .
He said the vessel docked with 700 containers from Asia would sail with 800 containers for export .
Mr Curtis said the objective of introducing the bigger vessel was to have them operate directly between Asia and Africa to promote trade .
He disclosed that CMA CGM Group is a major stakeholder in the development of the Ghanaian economy and with the new big vessels entering its fleet,the Group had emphasised its commitment to Africa .
Mr Curtis stated that Ghana had a fast growing economy in the sub -Saharan region and had been an important market for the Group hence its four direct weekly services from Far East,Northern Europe and the Mediterranean operating as number one operator of exports out of the country carrying mainly cocoa, perishable goods ,foodstuff and timber whilst being a major carrier of Ghana's large variety of imported goods from Asia .
The Captain of the vessel,Andriy Pakholchuk from Ukraine in an interview said the technicalities of the vessel was comparably the same with other vessels but only needed a little more care to manoeuvre because of the size and weight .
He said the vessel was capable of making a trip under 30 days from Asia to Ghana and also had a compartment for passengers who would want to experience sea journey and all the comfort that went with it.
Some importers and exporters who were on board the vessel said they were happy to have a direct service to enable them do fast business void of demurrage.

KPONE REJECTS DEAD BODIES (1B, DEC 13, 2010)

bereaved families who sent the bodies of their relatives for burial at the Kpone Public Cemetery were disappointed when they were prevented from doing so by the youth of the town.
Some of the families had to look for alternative burial grounds around Tema, while about nine of the bodies were sent back to the morgue.
Personnel from the Police Buffalo Unit of the Tema Regional Police who had been detailed to the Kpone Cemetery to enforce the law could not help the mourners, as the Kpone youth, numbering more than 400, refused to yield.
Wearing red armbands and headgear and armed with rods and machetes, the youth sang war songs to deter the mourners.
They refilled the graves with sand, barricaded the entrance to the cemetery and burnt tyres there to prevent vehicles from driving in.
Mourners had to redirect their vehicles to avoid any confrontation with the demonstrators and that created heavy traffic on the Tema-Aflao road.
The protest followed a resolution passed and read at a press conference held last week by the coalition of youth groups in Kpone to resist the continued use of their land “as a dumping ground by the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA)” and the indiscriminate sale of their lands by the Tema Development Corporation (TDC).
At the press conference, the coalition indicated that it would resist all attempts by the TDC to forcibly acquire Kpone land and use it against the people’s wish.
According to the spokesman for the coalition, Mr William Josiah, the people of Kpone were fed up with the use of the area “as a waste basket for the people of Tema” and would use demonstrations to say “enough is enough”.
He said the action would be extended to other sites which had illegally been acquired as sanitation concerns and landfill sites.
Mr Josiah said the people of Kpone now needed land to support their growing population and called on the TDC to release all lands belonging to the Kpone Stool.
He said Kpone became landless after the 1952 compulsory acquisition of its land by the then government which ceded 17,000 acres of the land, representing almost 90 per cent of Kpone lands, to the TDC.
He said all appeals to the TDC to release the unused lands to the people had proved futile, noting that the demonstration was an extension of that demand.
He said in spite of the sacrifice, no good thing had been extended to Kpone to benefit the people, only “bad things like public refuse dumps and cemeteries”.
“We are not fools, but even if we were, we are now wide awake,” Mr Josiah said.
The Chief Environmental Health Officer of the TMA, Mr Peter Amuzu, reacting to the action by the Kpone youth, said as a temporary measure, the Environmental Health Department of the TMA had decided to provide space for some of the bereaved families at the Community 9 Cemetery which had been closed to enable them to bury their corpses later.
He said he had led a delegation to the Kpone Traditional Council (KTC) to discuss plans to use an area originally demarcated for a cemetery but now cultivated by farmers from Kpone but that had been also met with stiff resistance from the farmers.
Mr Amuzu said the Kpone Cemetery covered an area of 240 square feet, with 7,200 bodies already buried there.