Back (lead) April 25/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
GHANAIANS have been called upon to make some sacrifices by drastically cutting down on the use of petroleum products to reduce the government’s import bill on crude oil.
The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, who made the call, noted that rising crude oil prices on the international market were fast draining the government’s foreign reserves and gradually eroding the macro-economic gains chalked up over the years.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Accra on Wednesday, the Finance Minister said the high cost of crude oil had forced the government to resort to borrowing, both locally and internationally, to be able to continue to purchase oil.
“We are aware of the consequences of this borrowing option on the economy but we cannot also sit back and allow shortages in the system because there is no money,” he explained.
Ghana uses 60,000 barrels of crude oil a day and any reduction in crude oil imports will have grave consequences on the economy, as many activities will either slow down or grind to a halt.
Crude oil sold at $25 a barrel as of the end of 2001, as against the present price of about $118 a barrel on the US Mercantile market.
Although the minister did not confirm it, reports reaching the Daily Graphic indicate that the country’s foreign reserves, which used to stand at almost four months of import cover, have reduced drastically to about two months and are falling by the day because of the current crude oil price situation.
He said the Volta River Authority (VRA), which imports crude oil to run the thermal plant at Aboadze, was also badly feeling the pinch and wondered how many Ghanaians were ready to pay a little more for electricity to enable the authority to at least break even.
Mr Baah-Wiredu justified the rationale for the deregulation of the petroleum downstream sub-sector which, he said, was necessary “because now, to a large extent, we are paying near realistic prices for petroleum products”.
His explanation of the consequences of skyrocketing crude oil prices on the international market was clear enough to indicate that the government was not prepared to reduce the taxes on petroleum products to ease the burden of the high prices on consumers.
“Reducing the taxes means we have to reduce our expenditure, and I wonder which area we should reduce or cut to sacrifice for the reduction in the taxes on the petroleum products,” he said.
Mr Baah-Wiredu said the government was in a difficult situation as of now and was working around the clock, taking into consideration many options, all geared towards ensuring that the economic gains of the past were not eroded to take the country back to the period of extreme hardships.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Transport Sector Dev't Confab ends
Page 34 April 25/2008
Story & Picture: Charles Benoni Okine
The draft National Transport Policy is clear evidence of the government’s resolve to harmonise the activities of the transport sector to enable it to play its role as a growth facilitator to the other sectors of the economy, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, has said.
He was responding to concerns raised by the country’s development partners on the need for the government to harmonise the activities of the transport sector, which is now under three different ministries.
The Finance Minister was speaking at the closing of a two-day Transport Sector development partners conference held in Accra on Wednesday on the theme, “The transport sector, a catalyst for growth and development”.
The four major modes of transportation are now under three ministries, namely, the Ministry of Transportation, which takes charge of the road sector; the Ministry of Harbours and Railways and the Ministry of Aviation.
Mr Baah-Wiredu admitted that the way forward for the government now “is to develop medium to long-term strategies that aim at bringing all the different modes of transportation together in order to keep our towns and cities moving”.
“The best strategy to select will be the one that will give us overall value for money, with the quality and safety requirements we desire,” he added.
The Minister of Transportation, Dr Richard Anane, who delivered the closing address, said the experiences shared during the conference would guide the preparation towards the implementation of the next Transport Sector Development Programme (TSDP).
Dr Anane noted the dwindling support for the rail sector and called for serious consideration and support for rail infrastructure.
“The current state of the rail lines cannot support the haulage of bulk commodities, especially manganese and bauxite. The effect is that mining companies are resorting to the transportation of their products by road and, therefore, they are damaging the roads that have been constructed with government and donor partner support,” he added.
The Transportation Minister also raised the issue of lack of funds from the development partners to the aviation sector and reiterated his call for support for the sector to enable it to play its role.
Dr Anane used the occasion to assure the country’s development partners that the transport sector would be examined in an integrated manner to ensure value for money and the advantages of synergies.
The Resident Representative of the Ghana Country Office of the African Development Bank, Mr Alieu Jeng, said the TSDP highlighted the importance of transport infrastructure for the economic development of Ghana, adding, “We the development partners in the sector will continue to support meeting the funding requirements.”
He noted, however, that in order to ensure the successful implementation of the TSDP, the government would need to act fast in some critical areas such as institutional reforms.
“We have no doubt that necessary actions will be taken by the government to implement transport sector reforms that will contribute to sustaining strong economic growth and reducing poverty; This will support the objective of transforming Ghana into a middle-income country by 2015,” he added.
Story & Picture: Charles Benoni Okine
The draft National Transport Policy is clear evidence of the government’s resolve to harmonise the activities of the transport sector to enable it to play its role as a growth facilitator to the other sectors of the economy, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, has said.
He was responding to concerns raised by the country’s development partners on the need for the government to harmonise the activities of the transport sector, which is now under three different ministries.
The Finance Minister was speaking at the closing of a two-day Transport Sector development partners conference held in Accra on Wednesday on the theme, “The transport sector, a catalyst for growth and development”.
The four major modes of transportation are now under three ministries, namely, the Ministry of Transportation, which takes charge of the road sector; the Ministry of Harbours and Railways and the Ministry of Aviation.
Mr Baah-Wiredu admitted that the way forward for the government now “is to develop medium to long-term strategies that aim at bringing all the different modes of transportation together in order to keep our towns and cities moving”.
“The best strategy to select will be the one that will give us overall value for money, with the quality and safety requirements we desire,” he added.
The Minister of Transportation, Dr Richard Anane, who delivered the closing address, said the experiences shared during the conference would guide the preparation towards the implementation of the next Transport Sector Development Programme (TSDP).
Dr Anane noted the dwindling support for the rail sector and called for serious consideration and support for rail infrastructure.
“The current state of the rail lines cannot support the haulage of bulk commodities, especially manganese and bauxite. The effect is that mining companies are resorting to the transportation of their products by road and, therefore, they are damaging the roads that have been constructed with government and donor partner support,” he added.
The Transportation Minister also raised the issue of lack of funds from the development partners to the aviation sector and reiterated his call for support for the sector to enable it to play its role.
Dr Anane used the occasion to assure the country’s development partners that the transport sector would be examined in an integrated manner to ensure value for money and the advantages of synergies.
The Resident Representative of the Ghana Country Office of the African Development Bank, Mr Alieu Jeng, said the TSDP highlighted the importance of transport infrastructure for the economic development of Ghana, adding, “We the development partners in the sector will continue to support meeting the funding requirements.”
He noted, however, that in order to ensure the successful implementation of the TSDP, the government would need to act fast in some critical areas such as institutional reforms.
“We have no doubt that necessary actions will be taken by the government to implement transport sector reforms that will contribute to sustaining strong economic growth and reducing poverty; This will support the objective of transforming Ghana into a middle-income country by 2015,” he added.
Veep urges JICA to help build the private sector
Spread, April 24/ 2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
VICE-President Alhaji Aliu Mahama has urged the Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) to post some of its volunteers to the country to private industries to help build the private sector.
“While the government appreciates the enormous support of JICA for the public sector, we will also be happy if you could post some of your volunteers to help grow the private sector in the country,” he added.
Alhaji Mahama made the call when 12 new Japanese volunteers paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu, yesterday.
He said the government had been working hard over the last seven years to improve the expertise of the private sector because “the private sector is the engine of growth”.
He said Ghana was working relentlessly to become a middle-income country by 2015 and to attain that target smoothly, the role of the private sector was inevitable.
Alhaji Mahama said the private sector’s contribution to the economy of Japan was a force to reckon with and expressed the hope that should that expertise be shared with those in Ghana, it would go a long way to boost the economy.
He expressed the gratitude of the government and the people Ghana to the Japanese government for the volunteer support in many areas, particularly in education.
“In many areas of the country, your volunteers have been able to demystify the learning of mathematics and science in the minds of children,” he said.
Alhaji Mahama said this had been encouraging the children to erase the phobia of mathematics and science off their mind because for the country to be industrious, the learning of science and mathematics was unavoidable.
The Vice-President, who was visibly elated at the way the new volunteers expressed themselves in the local languages of the areas they had been posted to, encouraged them to give their best just like their predecessors.
He further encouraged them to endeavour to learn the culture and master the language of the people they found themselves among to enable them to be able to communicate and mingle well with the people.
Alhaji Mahama pledged the support of the government to ensure that the volunteers had a fruitful stay in the country to contribute their quota towards the uplift of the country.
Mr Yataka Nakumura, Counsellor, Head of Mission of the Japanese Embassy in Ghana, who presented the volunteers to the Vice-President, said Ghana hosted the highest number of Japanese volunteers in the world.
That, he said, was as a result of the friendliness and hospitality of the people, as well as the peace and stability that the country enjoyed.
He expressed the hope that the relationship between the two countries would grow stronger.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
VICE-President Alhaji Aliu Mahama has urged the Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) to post some of its volunteers to the country to private industries to help build the private sector.
“While the government appreciates the enormous support of JICA for the public sector, we will also be happy if you could post some of your volunteers to help grow the private sector in the country,” he added.
Alhaji Mahama made the call when 12 new Japanese volunteers paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu, yesterday.
He said the government had been working hard over the last seven years to improve the expertise of the private sector because “the private sector is the engine of growth”.
He said Ghana was working relentlessly to become a middle-income country by 2015 and to attain that target smoothly, the role of the private sector was inevitable.
Alhaji Mahama said the private sector’s contribution to the economy of Japan was a force to reckon with and expressed the hope that should that expertise be shared with those in Ghana, it would go a long way to boost the economy.
He expressed the gratitude of the government and the people Ghana to the Japanese government for the volunteer support in many areas, particularly in education.
“In many areas of the country, your volunteers have been able to demystify the learning of mathematics and science in the minds of children,” he said.
Alhaji Mahama said this had been encouraging the children to erase the phobia of mathematics and science off their mind because for the country to be industrious, the learning of science and mathematics was unavoidable.
The Vice-President, who was visibly elated at the way the new volunteers expressed themselves in the local languages of the areas they had been posted to, encouraged them to give their best just like their predecessors.
He further encouraged them to endeavour to learn the culture and master the language of the people they found themselves among to enable them to be able to communicate and mingle well with the people.
Alhaji Mahama pledged the support of the government to ensure that the volunteers had a fruitful stay in the country to contribute their quota towards the uplift of the country.
Mr Yataka Nakumura, Counsellor, Head of Mission of the Japanese Embassy in Ghana, who presented the volunteers to the Vice-President, said Ghana hosted the highest number of Japanese volunteers in the world.
That, he said, was as a result of the friendliness and hospitality of the people, as well as the peace and stability that the country enjoyed.
He expressed the hope that the relationship between the two countries would grow stronger.
Cabinet considers increase in road tolls
Back (lead) April 24/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE present minimum of GH5p paid as road user fees (road tolls) across the country is expected to be raised to GH50p by the close of the year.
The 1,000-per cent increase is to enable the Ministry of Transportation to raise enough funds for road maintenance and expansion in the country, according to the sector Minister, Dr Richard Anane.
He told the Daily Graphic that a proposal to that effect was currently before Cabinet, awaiting its approval before implementation.
Dr Anane was optimistic that the green light would be given before the end of the year, judging from the millions of Ghana cedis likely to be raised to support the sector’s accelerated development.
Consequently, he said, there would be more toll roads in the country, particularly the newly constructed ones.
He mentioned the Accra-Cape Coast , Kumasi-Techiman, Tema-Aflao, Techiman-Kintampo and Wenchi-Wa roads as some of the toll ones.
In justifying the rationale behind the proposal, Dr Anane said the cost of maintenance of roads and the amount needed to construct new ones and expand some of the existing ones was expensive.
“We cannot always rely on the country’s development partners to fund all the amount required for our infrastructural development,” he said.
Over the period 2002-2007, the government committed a total of $616.75 million to maintenance of the road network in the country. The amount was matched by development partners’ contribution of $219.61 million.
Within the period, the country also saw a road network expansion from the level of 48,630 kilometres in 2002 to the present level of 62,954 kilometres , a move which is in line with the government’s decentralisation policy and the creation of more political districts or municipalities.
It was against this background that the sector minister reiterated the need for the road user fees to be increased to enable the government to raise more funds from within to take care of the existing roads and also be able to fund some new ones.
Dr Anane said the country had not been able to achieve the Road Sector Development Programme (RSDP) road condition mix target of 59 per cent good, 27 per cent fair and 14 per cent poor by the end of the programme.
He attributed the failure partly to what he described as the “dilutional effect of the significant road network expansion” in the country.
Present statistics indicate that as of the end of 2007, the country had a total of 62, 954 kilometres of roads out of which 46 per cent was good, 35 per cent fair and 19 per cent poor.
Dr Anane said RSDP, the strategic investment programme which fully commenced in 2002, was winding down by June 27, 2008, pending the submission of the evaluation report on the performance of the programme.
He said the country and the people stood to gain if people paid a little more for the nation to have good things that would eventually lead to growth and greater development.
Dr Anane buttressed his points by saying that in spite of the fact that the government was unable to meet its targets as per the RSDP, there was enough evidence to prove that the frequency of trips to health facilities increased by about 180 per cent, while average household income per month also shot up three times.
Vehicle waiting times (minutes) reduced by about 100 per cent, with farm gate prices of major produce such as maize increasing by a maximum of 68 per cent.
With respect to savings in travel time to a health facility, the impact study recorded a saving time of about 60 per cent.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE present minimum of GH5p paid as road user fees (road tolls) across the country is expected to be raised to GH50p by the close of the year.
The 1,000-per cent increase is to enable the Ministry of Transportation to raise enough funds for road maintenance and expansion in the country, according to the sector Minister, Dr Richard Anane.
He told the Daily Graphic that a proposal to that effect was currently before Cabinet, awaiting its approval before implementation.
Dr Anane was optimistic that the green light would be given before the end of the year, judging from the millions of Ghana cedis likely to be raised to support the sector’s accelerated development.
Consequently, he said, there would be more toll roads in the country, particularly the newly constructed ones.
He mentioned the Accra-Cape Coast , Kumasi-Techiman, Tema-Aflao, Techiman-Kintampo and Wenchi-Wa roads as some of the toll ones.
In justifying the rationale behind the proposal, Dr Anane said the cost of maintenance of roads and the amount needed to construct new ones and expand some of the existing ones was expensive.
“We cannot always rely on the country’s development partners to fund all the amount required for our infrastructural development,” he said.
Over the period 2002-2007, the government committed a total of $616.75 million to maintenance of the road network in the country. The amount was matched by development partners’ contribution of $219.61 million.
Within the period, the country also saw a road network expansion from the level of 48,630 kilometres in 2002 to the present level of 62,954 kilometres , a move which is in line with the government’s decentralisation policy and the creation of more political districts or municipalities.
It was against this background that the sector minister reiterated the need for the road user fees to be increased to enable the government to raise more funds from within to take care of the existing roads and also be able to fund some new ones.
Dr Anane said the country had not been able to achieve the Road Sector Development Programme (RSDP) road condition mix target of 59 per cent good, 27 per cent fair and 14 per cent poor by the end of the programme.
He attributed the failure partly to what he described as the “dilutional effect of the significant road network expansion” in the country.
Present statistics indicate that as of the end of 2007, the country had a total of 62, 954 kilometres of roads out of which 46 per cent was good, 35 per cent fair and 19 per cent poor.
Dr Anane said RSDP, the strategic investment programme which fully commenced in 2002, was winding down by June 27, 2008, pending the submission of the evaluation report on the performance of the programme.
He said the country and the people stood to gain if people paid a little more for the nation to have good things that would eventually lead to growth and greater development.
Dr Anane buttressed his points by saying that in spite of the fact that the government was unable to meet its targets as per the RSDP, there was enough evidence to prove that the frequency of trips to health facilities increased by about 180 per cent, while average household income per month also shot up three times.
Vehicle waiting times (minutes) reduced by about 100 per cent, with farm gate prices of major produce such as maize increasing by a maximum of 68 per cent.
With respect to savings in travel time to a health facility, the impact study recorded a saving time of about 60 per cent.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Transport sector development partners confab opens
Page 14, April 23/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Director of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), Dr E. Aryeetey, has called on the government to incorporate measures that will ensure equity and balance in transportation infrastructure development between northern and southern Ghana into the national transport policy presently before Cabinet.
He said the policy implementation should also be done in a way that would positively impact poverty reduction and enhance income generation in every part of the country on an equal basis.
Dr Aryeetey made the call when he presented the keynote address at the opening of the annual transport sector development partners conference in Accra yesterday.
He noted that although poverty levels nation-wide had dropped in recent years, the rate of decline in the southern part of the country was far better than in the north.
The two day conference, on the theme, “Transport, a catalyst for growth and development”, is being attended by the country’s development partners in the transportation sector, the ministries of Harbours and Railways, Aviation and Transportation, including their various sector agencies, and it is to deliberate on the way forward to make the theme for the conference a reality.
The National Transport Policy document is to underpin investment in, planning and development of transport infrastructure and services in the country.
Dr Aryeetey said it was clear from the rate and level of transportation infrastructure development in the southern part of the country, compared with what went on in the north, that people in the south were bound to be better off than those in the north.
“It is very possible to use road development, for instance, to reduce poverty in an area”, he said, adding that road development had a positive impact on the people around where the road was found.
Dr Aryeetey, however, noted that in drawing up plans for road infrastructure development, there was the need to ensure that the communities through which the road was expected to pass would make use of it to benefit them and the nation at large.
The Minister of Harbours and Railways, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, in his presentation, called on the country’s development partners to critically consider support for the rail sector of the economy.
He said the sector required a huge financial outlay which the government would not be able to fund alone and, therefore, required donor assistance, adding that “the rail sector should not be an allergy for the development partners”.
On development in the aviation sector, the Minister of Aviation, Ms Gloria Akuffo, said the phase III project at the Kotoka International Airport to drive the airport further towards achieving its vision of becoming an aviation hub in the West African sub-region would commence before the end of the year.
She noted that the three regional airports located in Kumasi, Tamale and Takoradi had seen considerable physical infrastructural improvement.
“Safety and security, the bulwarks of aviation, have also experienced some improvement, with the assistance of some of our development partners, although a lot more required to be done if the closely related menaces of terrorism, drug trafficking and other resultant crimes are to be contained,” Ms Akuffo added.
The Minister for Transportation, Dr Richard Anane, for his part, called for greater collaboration between the various transport ministries to ensure effective implementation of the policy when passed.
He said there had been much improvement in road infrastructure in the country over the last few years and noted that a lot was being done to ensure that many more areas were reached.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Director of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), Dr E. Aryeetey, has called on the government to incorporate measures that will ensure equity and balance in transportation infrastructure development between northern and southern Ghana into the national transport policy presently before Cabinet.
He said the policy implementation should also be done in a way that would positively impact poverty reduction and enhance income generation in every part of the country on an equal basis.
Dr Aryeetey made the call when he presented the keynote address at the opening of the annual transport sector development partners conference in Accra yesterday.
He noted that although poverty levels nation-wide had dropped in recent years, the rate of decline in the southern part of the country was far better than in the north.
The two day conference, on the theme, “Transport, a catalyst for growth and development”, is being attended by the country’s development partners in the transportation sector, the ministries of Harbours and Railways, Aviation and Transportation, including their various sector agencies, and it is to deliberate on the way forward to make the theme for the conference a reality.
The National Transport Policy document is to underpin investment in, planning and development of transport infrastructure and services in the country.
Dr Aryeetey said it was clear from the rate and level of transportation infrastructure development in the southern part of the country, compared with what went on in the north, that people in the south were bound to be better off than those in the north.
“It is very possible to use road development, for instance, to reduce poverty in an area”, he said, adding that road development had a positive impact on the people around where the road was found.
Dr Aryeetey, however, noted that in drawing up plans for road infrastructure development, there was the need to ensure that the communities through which the road was expected to pass would make use of it to benefit them and the nation at large.
The Minister of Harbours and Railways, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, in his presentation, called on the country’s development partners to critically consider support for the rail sector of the economy.
He said the sector required a huge financial outlay which the government would not be able to fund alone and, therefore, required donor assistance, adding that “the rail sector should not be an allergy for the development partners”.
On development in the aviation sector, the Minister of Aviation, Ms Gloria Akuffo, said the phase III project at the Kotoka International Airport to drive the airport further towards achieving its vision of becoming an aviation hub in the West African sub-region would commence before the end of the year.
She noted that the three regional airports located in Kumasi, Tamale and Takoradi had seen considerable physical infrastructural improvement.
“Safety and security, the bulwarks of aviation, have also experienced some improvement, with the assistance of some of our development partners, although a lot more required to be done if the closely related menaces of terrorism, drug trafficking and other resultant crimes are to be contained,” Ms Akuffo added.
The Minister for Transportation, Dr Richard Anane, for his part, called for greater collaboration between the various transport ministries to ensure effective implementation of the policy when passed.
He said there had been much improvement in road infrastructure in the country over the last few years and noted that a lot was being done to ensure that many more areas were reached.
Gov't assures of peaceful transition
Spread (lead) April 21, 2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine, Pomadze.
THE Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has restated the government’s commitment to ensure a peaceful transition from this administration to the winner of this year’s general election.
The move, he said, was to ensure that the general stability, peace and progress of the nation was not compromised.
The Vice-President gave the assurance when he closed the Khilafat Ahmadiyya Centenary Jalsa (Convention) at Pomadze in the Central Region at the weekend.
Alhaji Mahama called on all religious bodies in Ghana to continue with their prayers for the nation to make that transition peaceful.
The convention, which began last Thursday and attended by thousands of Ahmaddis from many African countries, as well as parts of Asia and Europe, was on the theme: “Love for all, hatred for none”.
The Vice-President observed that in other countries, elections had been the defining moments that set the people on a slippery road to violence, death and even civil war, pointing out that although Ghana had been spared this scourge, the people must not be complacent.
Alhaji Mahama said the government had been and continued to be committed to the pursuit of pragmatic programmes in furtherance of the realisation of the principles of good governance, which included respects of human rights, political pluralism, equity, access to knowledge, information, education and health, as well as attitudes and values that foster responsibility, solidarity and tolerance.
The Vice-President made reference to the significance of the theme for the centenary celebrations, which, he said, was appropriate for the upcoming elections in the country.
“For me the theme envisages an environment devoid of exploitation and discrimination that creates imbalances in interpersonal, inter-communal and international relations,” he said.
Alhaji Mahama said the theme, therefore, imposed on all as a nation, the commitment to love and serve mankind irrespective of religion, ethnic and political affiliation.
He said of all the noble values of the Ahmadiyya Mission, the issue of tolerance was the keyword he most cherished.
The Vice-President said: “Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission as a religious organisation has practically demonstrated its preparedness to co-operate with all other religious bodies, Muslims and Christians alike, to achieve unity, harmony and peace for our country.”
In his remarks, the Supreme Head of the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, asked members of the mission to always have a forgiving heart.
He also asked them to repent of their sins and lead lives worthy of emulation at all times, since that was what God wanted from His children.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine, Pomadze.
THE Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has restated the government’s commitment to ensure a peaceful transition from this administration to the winner of this year’s general election.
The move, he said, was to ensure that the general stability, peace and progress of the nation was not compromised.
The Vice-President gave the assurance when he closed the Khilafat Ahmadiyya Centenary Jalsa (Convention) at Pomadze in the Central Region at the weekend.
Alhaji Mahama called on all religious bodies in Ghana to continue with their prayers for the nation to make that transition peaceful.
The convention, which began last Thursday and attended by thousands of Ahmaddis from many African countries, as well as parts of Asia and Europe, was on the theme: “Love for all, hatred for none”.
The Vice-President observed that in other countries, elections had been the defining moments that set the people on a slippery road to violence, death and even civil war, pointing out that although Ghana had been spared this scourge, the people must not be complacent.
Alhaji Mahama said the government had been and continued to be committed to the pursuit of pragmatic programmes in furtherance of the realisation of the principles of good governance, which included respects of human rights, political pluralism, equity, access to knowledge, information, education and health, as well as attitudes and values that foster responsibility, solidarity and tolerance.
The Vice-President made reference to the significance of the theme for the centenary celebrations, which, he said, was appropriate for the upcoming elections in the country.
“For me the theme envisages an environment devoid of exploitation and discrimination that creates imbalances in interpersonal, inter-communal and international relations,” he said.
Alhaji Mahama said the theme, therefore, imposed on all as a nation, the commitment to love and serve mankind irrespective of religion, ethnic and political affiliation.
He said of all the noble values of the Ahmadiyya Mission, the issue of tolerance was the keyword he most cherished.
The Vice-President said: “Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission as a religious organisation has practically demonstrated its preparedness to co-operate with all other religious bodies, Muslims and Christians alike, to achieve unity, harmony and peace for our country.”
In his remarks, the Supreme Head of the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, asked members of the mission to always have a forgiving heart.
He also asked them to repent of their sins and lead lives worthy of emulation at all times, since that was what God wanted from His children.
Accreditation of private universities will be withrawn - If they operate below required standards.
Education pg (lead) April 21, 2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine & Musah Jafaru
VICE President Alhaji Aliu Mahama has warned that the government will not hesitate to take appropriate measures to withdraw the accreditation of private universities which operate below the required standards.
“It is gratifying to note that a lot more individuals, companies and religious groups are answering the government’s call for private sector participation in tertiary education”, he stated.
He said “the government will continue to collaborate with the private sector in providing quality education to the population but will not sacrifice standards and efficiency”.
The Vice President gave the warning at the fourth congregation of the Islamic University College, Ghana (IUCG) in Accra, at the weekend and said there were reports of some private universities taking undue advantage of the government’s open policy on private sector participation in tertiary institutions to perform below standard, a situation the government finds unacceptable.
In all, 260 students graduated, 115 in Religious Studies and 145 in Business Studies. It was the first time that the congregation was held on the IUCG campus, as previous ones were held at the University of Ghana, Legon.
The University which started in 2001 with 51 students, now has 725 students, comprising 471 males and 254 females, which is the result of good academic record and expansion of infrastructure.
Alhaji Mahama said the attainment of education for all by 2015 as part of achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) was a collective effort by all and indicated that it was for that reason that the government invited the private sector to participate in the provision of tertiary education in the country.
He said through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and other interventions, the government would continue to provide basic infrastructure and facilities for both public and private tertiary institutions as and when required throughout the country without discrimination.
He mentioned the release of a 75-seater bus and computers from the GETFund to help ease the transportation challenges of the IUCG while at the same time promoting Information and Communication Technology (ICT) programmes at the college.
The Vice President commended the Ahlul bait Foundation of the Islamic Republic of Iran for its role in bringing the IUCG into being.
“Do not be overcome by the fear of the unknown so as to become petrified and unable to use the enormous knowledge and experience gathered during your four years of study here to your advantage”, he advised the new graduates adding that ; ”Life out there is definitely different from the protected and sheltered life within the walls of the university”.
The President of the Islamic University College of Ghana, Dr Gholam-Rheza Rahmani, urged the graduands to be patriotic and contribute to the socio-economic development of the country, saying that “Ghanaians and no one else can build Ghana”.
“Wherever they may find themselves in future, they should always remember what the country, Ghana, had done for them and think of what they can, in turn, do for her”, he stressed.
Dr Rahmani again asked the graduands to go back to their respective communities and work towards uplifting the standard of living of their people.
The Registrar of the IUCG, Alhaji R. Gbadamosi, said products of the College were serving in various parts of the country with distinction and in a manner that was making them proud.
He said the IUCG was to start a new programme in ICT and indicated that every other programme at the University had a backing in ICT education.
Alhaji Gbadamosi said by the beginning of the 2008/2009 academic year, the College would have two well equipped laboratories for the ICT education programmes, and thanked the GETfund for supporting the project.
The Iranian Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Vallioallah Mohammadi, lauded the good bilateral ties between the Republic of Ghana and the Islamic Republic of Iran, in the areas of education, agriculture and health and called for the strengthening of the relations.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine & Musah Jafaru
VICE President Alhaji Aliu Mahama has warned that the government will not hesitate to take appropriate measures to withdraw the accreditation of private universities which operate below the required standards.
“It is gratifying to note that a lot more individuals, companies and religious groups are answering the government’s call for private sector participation in tertiary education”, he stated.
He said “the government will continue to collaborate with the private sector in providing quality education to the population but will not sacrifice standards and efficiency”.
The Vice President gave the warning at the fourth congregation of the Islamic University College, Ghana (IUCG) in Accra, at the weekend and said there were reports of some private universities taking undue advantage of the government’s open policy on private sector participation in tertiary institutions to perform below standard, a situation the government finds unacceptable.
In all, 260 students graduated, 115 in Religious Studies and 145 in Business Studies. It was the first time that the congregation was held on the IUCG campus, as previous ones were held at the University of Ghana, Legon.
The University which started in 2001 with 51 students, now has 725 students, comprising 471 males and 254 females, which is the result of good academic record and expansion of infrastructure.
Alhaji Mahama said the attainment of education for all by 2015 as part of achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) was a collective effort by all and indicated that it was for that reason that the government invited the private sector to participate in the provision of tertiary education in the country.
He said through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and other interventions, the government would continue to provide basic infrastructure and facilities for both public and private tertiary institutions as and when required throughout the country without discrimination.
He mentioned the release of a 75-seater bus and computers from the GETFund to help ease the transportation challenges of the IUCG while at the same time promoting Information and Communication Technology (ICT) programmes at the college.
The Vice President commended the Ahlul bait Foundation of the Islamic Republic of Iran for its role in bringing the IUCG into being.
“Do not be overcome by the fear of the unknown so as to become petrified and unable to use the enormous knowledge and experience gathered during your four years of study here to your advantage”, he advised the new graduates adding that ; ”Life out there is definitely different from the protected and sheltered life within the walls of the university”.
The President of the Islamic University College of Ghana, Dr Gholam-Rheza Rahmani, urged the graduands to be patriotic and contribute to the socio-economic development of the country, saying that “Ghanaians and no one else can build Ghana”.
“Wherever they may find themselves in future, they should always remember what the country, Ghana, had done for them and think of what they can, in turn, do for her”, he stressed.
Dr Rahmani again asked the graduands to go back to their respective communities and work towards uplifting the standard of living of their people.
The Registrar of the IUCG, Alhaji R. Gbadamosi, said products of the College were serving in various parts of the country with distinction and in a manner that was making them proud.
He said the IUCG was to start a new programme in ICT and indicated that every other programme at the University had a backing in ICT education.
Alhaji Gbadamosi said by the beginning of the 2008/2009 academic year, the College would have two well equipped laboratories for the ICT education programmes, and thanked the GETfund for supporting the project.
The Iranian Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Vallioallah Mohammadi, lauded the good bilateral ties between the Republic of Ghana and the Islamic Republic of Iran, in the areas of education, agriculture and health and called for the strengthening of the relations.
Private power project ready to take off.
Front April 19/2008
Story: Nehemiah Owusu Achiaw & Charles Benoni Okine, Kpone
THE resolve by a private joint venture company to contribute additional power to augment the country’s energy generating capacity went a step further yesterday, when the sod was cut at Kpone near Tema for commencement of work on a power generating plant.
The 560 megawatt, gas-steamed combined cycle power generation plant, being developed by Sunon Asogli Power (Ghana) Limited, is a joint venture between Shenzhen Energy Group Company Limited of China, Strategic African Securities, owned by Togbui Afede XIV, Paramount Chief of the Asogli Traditional Area and the China-Africa Development Fund Company Limited.
It is the first privately owned power plant in the country and is expected to boost the energy needs of the country to avert any future crisis as was experienced last year as a result of the low level of water in the Volta Lake.
The first phase of the project, which has been 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 after, will produce 360 megawatts and is expected to be completed by next year.
The project, which will offer direct employment opportunities to about 1,000 people, suffered a major setback last year, when the initial piece of land meant to house it was claimed by the Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO) Limited, a matter which eventually landed in court.
A new parcel of land was, however, secured for the project to kick off.
The President — who was there with his vice, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, and other senior government officials — praised the managers of the plant, Sunon Asogli Power (Ghana) Limited for their foresight.
Addressing the sod-cutting ceremony, attended by a large number of people from Kpone, Tema and the Asogli State, President Kufuor recalled the serious energy crisis that confronted the country as a result of the reduction of the water level of the Akosombo Dam, the main source of the country’s energy.
He said as part of the policy intervention to solve the energy crisis, the government initiated short, medium and long-term measures towards the attainment of energy sufficiency for the country.
President Kufuor said as part of the measures, the government sought to encourage private participation in the energy sector, noting that the Sunon Asogli Power Generation Plant project, spearheaded by Togbe Afede, was an example of private sector involvement in energy delivery.
He commended Togbe Afede for his initiative and said his example was worthy of emulation by others.
He reaffirmed the government’s support for the project and expressed the hope that the first phase of the project would be completed by the end of the year.
President Kufuor expressed the hope that more investors would be attracted to the energy sector.
The Chairman of Shenzhen Energy Group Company Limited, Mr Gao Zimin, said the project was a demonstration of the increasing trade and economic relations between Ghana and China.
Togbe Afede said the project would contribute to making Ghana a net exporter of energy.
Nii Tetteh Otu II, Kpone Mantse and President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure that the operations of the company did not degrade or affect the community in any way.
“We have a small river near us that serves as a major source of livelihood for the people and we will not want it polluted with any form of waste,” he stated.
He expressed delight at the project and pledged the commitment of the people to live in harmony to ensure that the project served the interest of the entire nation.
In a related development, the Vice-President said the coming into force of the project was a manifestation of the government’s resolve to allow the private sector into the energy generation process in the country.
Responding to a toast from the Shenzhen Energy Group at a welcoming dinner for the Chinese group, Alhaji Mahama described the project as a mark to further strengthen the existing cordial bilateral relations between the two countries.
He said the commitment of China towards the economic development of the country was manifest in its support for Ghana in many areas, adding, "During our energy crisis China quickly rallied to the country's support by providing funds for the construction of the Bui dam and city."
The President of the China-Africa Development Fund, Mr Chi Jianxin, expressed delight at the project and said the fund felt committed to support Ghana to come out of its energy crisis.
Story: Nehemiah Owusu Achiaw & Charles Benoni Okine, Kpone
THE resolve by a private joint venture company to contribute additional power to augment the country’s energy generating capacity went a step further yesterday, when the sod was cut at Kpone near Tema for commencement of work on a power generating plant.
The 560 megawatt, gas-steamed combined cycle power generation plant, being developed by Sunon Asogli Power (Ghana) Limited, is a joint venture between Shenzhen Energy Group Company Limited of China, Strategic African Securities, owned by Togbui Afede XIV, Paramount Chief of the Asogli Traditional Area and the China-Africa Development Fund Company Limited.
It is the first privately owned power plant in the country and is expected to boost the energy needs of the country to avert any future crisis as was experienced last year as a result of the low level of water in the Volta Lake.
The first phase of the project, which has been 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 after, will produce 360 megawatts and is expected to be completed by next year.
The project, which will offer direct employment opportunities to about 1,000 people, suffered a major setback last year, when the initial piece of land meant to house it was claimed by the Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO) Limited, a matter which eventually landed in court.
A new parcel of land was, however, secured for the project to kick off.
The President — who was there with his vice, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, and other senior government officials — praised the managers of the plant, Sunon Asogli Power (Ghana) Limited for their foresight.
Addressing the sod-cutting ceremony, attended by a large number of people from Kpone, Tema and the Asogli State, President Kufuor recalled the serious energy crisis that confronted the country as a result of the reduction of the water level of the Akosombo Dam, the main source of the country’s energy.
He said as part of the policy intervention to solve the energy crisis, the government initiated short, medium and long-term measures towards the attainment of energy sufficiency for the country.
President Kufuor said as part of the measures, the government sought to encourage private participation in the energy sector, noting that the Sunon Asogli Power Generation Plant project, spearheaded by Togbe Afede, was an example of private sector involvement in energy delivery.
He commended Togbe Afede for his initiative and said his example was worthy of emulation by others.
He reaffirmed the government’s support for the project and expressed the hope that the first phase of the project would be completed by the end of the year.
President Kufuor expressed the hope that more investors would be attracted to the energy sector.
The Chairman of Shenzhen Energy Group Company Limited, Mr Gao Zimin, said the project was a demonstration of the increasing trade and economic relations between Ghana and China.
Togbe Afede said the project would contribute to making Ghana a net exporter of energy.
Nii Tetteh Otu II, Kpone Mantse and President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure that the operations of the company did not degrade or affect the community in any way.
“We have a small river near us that serves as a major source of livelihood for the people and we will not want it polluted with any form of waste,” he stated.
He expressed delight at the project and pledged the commitment of the people to live in harmony to ensure that the project served the interest of the entire nation.
In a related development, the Vice-President said the coming into force of the project was a manifestation of the government’s resolve to allow the private sector into the energy generation process in the country.
Responding to a toast from the Shenzhen Energy Group at a welcoming dinner for the Chinese group, Alhaji Mahama described the project as a mark to further strengthen the existing cordial bilateral relations between the two countries.
He said the commitment of China towards the economic development of the country was manifest in its support for Ghana in many areas, adding, "During our energy crisis China quickly rallied to the country's support by providing funds for the construction of the Bui dam and city."
The President of the China-Africa Development Fund, Mr Chi Jianxin, expressed delight at the project and said the fund felt committed to support Ghana to come out of its energy crisis.
Kwame Nkrumah Circle - A place of total disorder
Metro ( lead) April 18/2008
Article & picture: Charles Benoni Okine
THE first President of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, was honoured posthumously with the mounting of a roundabout otherwise called a circle and named ‘Kwame Nkrumah Circle’. which is now popularly and simply called ‘Circle’. And the name Circle is now stretched to refer to the vicinity of the monument as well.
That monument called Circle is well kept. Beautiful flowers and grass have been grown in it to make it attractive. The water fountain in it is also well maintained and made to run on special occasions to add colour and beauty to the area.
The Circle is so nice that some companies sometimes fight to gain control of it to be able to advertise their products there. Quite apart from the fact that Circle itself looks neat, the companies clamour for advertising space because it occupies a very strategic position in the city.
However, it is a fact that the vicinity referred to as Circle is one of the most chaotic and lacks order. Circle can be judged to be one of the prime areas in the country, where ‘professional’ rogues and pick-pockets are found. It is also an area where one encounters both severe pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
To sum it all, Circle has become the most lawless area in the capital as compared to many such circles in the country.
In constructing the Circle-Achimota road, the architects, in their wisdom, provided a huge pedestrian overpass to prevent people from either crossing the busy street to impede free traffic flow or to save people from being knocked down by speeding vehicles. The architects also provided a wall instead of pavements to separate the carriageways running in opposite directions, a move to provide enough space for more vehicles to ply the street.
To ensure the smooth movement of pedestrians, for instance, well laid out pavements and pedestrian walkways have been provided and fenced to control the smooth movement of people and also prevent them from getting into the streets.
To add beauty to the place, the walls around the pavements have been whitewashed with the taxpayers money, all to ensure that the Circle befits the status of the personality it has been named after.
Circle under an authority
Many years ago, a man, Salifu Amankwah, of blessed memory, was given the mandate to take charge of the area.
What a beauty Circle was in those days and all those who quite remember those days would attest to this fact. Salifu would simply not allow anybody to walk in areas which had not been designated for human beings. Sometimes, Salifu could be found painting the walls himself and no one dared walk on any of the walls. He would simple not allow the rogues and pick-pockets to have their way around the area. Commercial vehicles dared not stop and pick passengers anyhow to cause avoidable and most often senseless traffic congestion.
Most of the time, he was brutish and harsh on offenders but as to whether he was right in doing so or not, the sight of Circle today can tell.
But Circle, since the demise of Salifu has not been the same because there is total chaos and no one seems to be in charge.
Pedestrian walkways
It starts with the pedestrian walkways and the railings provided around the walkways. People, most often well respected personalities in long sleeve shirts, well pressed trousers and neck ties scale the railings apparently to cross the dual carriageways.
One amazing thing about the area is how ‘sensible’ people refuse to use the pedestrian overpass but scale the walls in the middle of the road. This unfortunate act is committed by not only ‘gentlemen’ but ‘ladies’ alike, who sometimes disregard that fact that they are wearing a skirt and, therefore, such adventures could expose their private parts to the public.
Any time, so far as Circle is concerned, is peak hour and the rogues and pick-pockets are on hand to pick mobile phones from the bags and pockets of whoever they find a suitable prey. The worse of it is where they, regardless of who is watching, brutally assault their prey and collect their money or bags from them.
Sometimes they pretend to fight so that when people gather to watch, other members of their gang will have their way to rob unsuspecting people of their belongings.
Commercial transport situation
As a result of the strategic nature of the area, one could easily find a commercial vehicle from Circle to almost any part of the country and even beyond the borders of the country.
The lorry stations at Circle are too small to accommodate the large number of the commercial vehicles operating from the place. As a result, they are forced to park and load on the streets. In the end, they occupy at least two of the three lanes provided to ensure smooth flow of vehicles.
Sometimes, when the police are not at hand to control the drivers, most of them behave as if they were creatures without conscience by deliberately occupying all the three lanes, thereby worsening the vehicular traffic congestion situation in the area, particularly opposite the Ebony Restaurant and towards Caprice as well as the lanes towards the main commercial vehicle station near the Orion Cinema.
Hawking.
Hawking has been one of the problems the Accra Metropolitan Authority (AMA) has to deal with. Sometimes they swoop on the hawkers to free the area and other times, they pretend nothing is happening.
Circle today has one of the largest number of hawkers in the country selling all kinds of things, from vegetables to car parts.
Instead of positioning themselves away from the pavements, they have rather found that place to be more business friendly.
Interestingly enough, several millions of Ghana cedis has been spent to provide a market meant to contain all the hawkers in the area to free the pavements and the sidewalks. The facility, which is just a few metres away, has been hijacked by market women and other traders whose capital for business set-up is far more than what the hawkers can afford.
Conclusion.
The city authority has bye-laws and it is as if those supposed to enforce the laws are not aware of what they need to do.
The nature of many Ghanaians is that unless they are forced to do the right thing, they will never behave rationally.
Much as it is nobody’s intention to make people poor in the country, what people need to do to find money to fend for themselves should simply not be at the expense of laid-down rules and the law. In a country where the rule of law is cherished, such lawlessness should not be seen in the political context.
The city is heading towards what the state may not be able to contain in the nearest future and the earlier those in authority reason, the better for us all.
For Circle, the AMA needs to respect the personality the area was named after and do what it is obliged by law to do. For instance, it should have some of its guards on hand to ensure the use of the over-pass and subsequently have a noticeboard advising pedestrians to use the over-pass and also specify the penalty for offenders.
The sensible drivers and all those respectable pedestrians in the area have had enough and somebody needs to think straight to get the right thing done.
Article & picture: Charles Benoni Okine
THE first President of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, was honoured posthumously with the mounting of a roundabout otherwise called a circle and named ‘Kwame Nkrumah Circle’. which is now popularly and simply called ‘Circle’. And the name Circle is now stretched to refer to the vicinity of the monument as well.
That monument called Circle is well kept. Beautiful flowers and grass have been grown in it to make it attractive. The water fountain in it is also well maintained and made to run on special occasions to add colour and beauty to the area.
The Circle is so nice that some companies sometimes fight to gain control of it to be able to advertise their products there. Quite apart from the fact that Circle itself looks neat, the companies clamour for advertising space because it occupies a very strategic position in the city.
However, it is a fact that the vicinity referred to as Circle is one of the most chaotic and lacks order. Circle can be judged to be one of the prime areas in the country, where ‘professional’ rogues and pick-pockets are found. It is also an area where one encounters both severe pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
To sum it all, Circle has become the most lawless area in the capital as compared to many such circles in the country.
In constructing the Circle-Achimota road, the architects, in their wisdom, provided a huge pedestrian overpass to prevent people from either crossing the busy street to impede free traffic flow or to save people from being knocked down by speeding vehicles. The architects also provided a wall instead of pavements to separate the carriageways running in opposite directions, a move to provide enough space for more vehicles to ply the street.
To ensure the smooth movement of pedestrians, for instance, well laid out pavements and pedestrian walkways have been provided and fenced to control the smooth movement of people and also prevent them from getting into the streets.
To add beauty to the place, the walls around the pavements have been whitewashed with the taxpayers money, all to ensure that the Circle befits the status of the personality it has been named after.
Circle under an authority
Many years ago, a man, Salifu Amankwah, of blessed memory, was given the mandate to take charge of the area.
What a beauty Circle was in those days and all those who quite remember those days would attest to this fact. Salifu would simply not allow anybody to walk in areas which had not been designated for human beings. Sometimes, Salifu could be found painting the walls himself and no one dared walk on any of the walls. He would simple not allow the rogues and pick-pockets to have their way around the area. Commercial vehicles dared not stop and pick passengers anyhow to cause avoidable and most often senseless traffic congestion.
Most of the time, he was brutish and harsh on offenders but as to whether he was right in doing so or not, the sight of Circle today can tell.
But Circle, since the demise of Salifu has not been the same because there is total chaos and no one seems to be in charge.
Pedestrian walkways
It starts with the pedestrian walkways and the railings provided around the walkways. People, most often well respected personalities in long sleeve shirts, well pressed trousers and neck ties scale the railings apparently to cross the dual carriageways.
One amazing thing about the area is how ‘sensible’ people refuse to use the pedestrian overpass but scale the walls in the middle of the road. This unfortunate act is committed by not only ‘gentlemen’ but ‘ladies’ alike, who sometimes disregard that fact that they are wearing a skirt and, therefore, such adventures could expose their private parts to the public.
Any time, so far as Circle is concerned, is peak hour and the rogues and pick-pockets are on hand to pick mobile phones from the bags and pockets of whoever they find a suitable prey. The worse of it is where they, regardless of who is watching, brutally assault their prey and collect their money or bags from them.
Sometimes they pretend to fight so that when people gather to watch, other members of their gang will have their way to rob unsuspecting people of their belongings.
Commercial transport situation
As a result of the strategic nature of the area, one could easily find a commercial vehicle from Circle to almost any part of the country and even beyond the borders of the country.
The lorry stations at Circle are too small to accommodate the large number of the commercial vehicles operating from the place. As a result, they are forced to park and load on the streets. In the end, they occupy at least two of the three lanes provided to ensure smooth flow of vehicles.
Sometimes, when the police are not at hand to control the drivers, most of them behave as if they were creatures without conscience by deliberately occupying all the three lanes, thereby worsening the vehicular traffic congestion situation in the area, particularly opposite the Ebony Restaurant and towards Caprice as well as the lanes towards the main commercial vehicle station near the Orion Cinema.
Hawking.
Hawking has been one of the problems the Accra Metropolitan Authority (AMA) has to deal with. Sometimes they swoop on the hawkers to free the area and other times, they pretend nothing is happening.
Circle today has one of the largest number of hawkers in the country selling all kinds of things, from vegetables to car parts.
Instead of positioning themselves away from the pavements, they have rather found that place to be more business friendly.
Interestingly enough, several millions of Ghana cedis has been spent to provide a market meant to contain all the hawkers in the area to free the pavements and the sidewalks. The facility, which is just a few metres away, has been hijacked by market women and other traders whose capital for business set-up is far more than what the hawkers can afford.
Conclusion.
The city authority has bye-laws and it is as if those supposed to enforce the laws are not aware of what they need to do.
The nature of many Ghanaians is that unless they are forced to do the right thing, they will never behave rationally.
Much as it is nobody’s intention to make people poor in the country, what people need to do to find money to fend for themselves should simply not be at the expense of laid-down rules and the law. In a country where the rule of law is cherished, such lawlessness should not be seen in the political context.
The city is heading towards what the state may not be able to contain in the nearest future and the earlier those in authority reason, the better for us all.
For Circle, the AMA needs to respect the personality the area was named after and do what it is obliged by law to do. For instance, it should have some of its guards on hand to ensure the use of the over-pass and subsequently have a noticeboard advising pedestrians to use the over-pass and also specify the penalty for offenders.
The sensible drivers and all those respectable pedestrians in the area have had enough and somebody needs to think straight to get the right thing done.
Measures to ensure food security
Spread lead April 18/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE government has announced a number of interventions to ensure food security in the country.
The interventions announced by the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Ernest Debrah, included the provision of new rice seedlings and fertiliser at affordable cost to farmers .
According Mr Debrah, the government was also meeting with market women and transport owners to find ways of minimising the effect of transportation cost on food items carted from the hinterland into the urban areas on the prices of those items.
Speaking during his turn at the weekly ‘Meet The Press’ series in Accra yesterday, Mr Debrah further asked Ghanaians not to panic over soaring food prices on the international market, as there was enough to meet local demand.
He said the government was also keeping a close eye on locally produced food items to ensure that they were not smuggled outside the country to create artificial shortage that might impact negatively on their prices.
The assurance by the Food and Agriculture Minister comes at a time when governments across the developing world are scrambling to boost farm imports and restrict exports in an attempt to forestall rising food prices and social unrest.
Explaining the rationale for the intervention regarding the issue of fertiliser, Mr Debrah said only five per cent of farmers in Ghana used fertilisers, saying the high cost of the product on the international market was likely to force down the number of farmers who used it.
He said it was against that background that the government had intervened not only to ensure access to the product but also to make prices more affordable to encourage those already using it to continue doing so, while encouraging others to join.
On rice, he made it clear that the country was not in a position to produce enough to meet the demand because of the lack of land and the issue of “comparative advantage” in rice production.
However, he said the government would begin the distribution of ‘nerica’ seeds, which research had identified could be grown in areas where cassava could also grow on a large scale.
Mr Debrah said the government would soon complete a feasibility study on how to irrigate the Accra Plains to grow more rice to augment production from other areas of the country.
“We want to tap the Volta Lake to help provide all-year round water for such a project. We anticipate that it will be very viable to provide food for the region,” he said.
He said many more areas, including inland valleys in the country, had also been identified to be appropriate for rice production, noting, “We are going to ensure that these interventions work for us.”
Mr Debrah expressed regret that although there was enough locally produced rice on the market, many Ghanaians preferred the imported one, adding that local rice had been bagged in foreign sacks to outsmart unsuspecting consumers.
The minister said the ministry had also identified the imbalance in the production of certain staples, including maize, cassava, yam, among others, on a regional basis.
He said, for instance, that the Greater Accra Region, with a population of about 3.9 million people, fell short in the production of all the staples, while the three northern regions, with a population less than that of Accra, was producing more staples above what they could consume.
It was against that background that the government was working to ensure that the imbalance was addressed at less cost to areas with food production deficits, Mr Debrah said.
“Apart from rice, millet and sorghum, the country produced in excess of national demand in the major staples,” he said.
He asked Ghanaians to reduce the intake of foreign imported food such as rice and sweet potatoes to avoid the effect of the soaring food prices on the world market.
Mr Debrah said the country had large stocks of locally produced food items, including cassava, yams, rice and maize, at affordable prices and noted that unless the taste for foreign foods was curtailed, Ghanaians would feel the pinch of what pertained on the international market.
The minister said the time had come for Ghanaians to capitalise on the situation to use every available land space to grow food to add to the export stock.
“What is happening is a clear misfortune for others but we can take advantage of the situation to make more money,” he added.
Mr Debrah said it was now time for people to do more backyard farming to grow some vegetables and other staples that could grow on small pieces of land to reduce their budget on food.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE government has announced a number of interventions to ensure food security in the country.
The interventions announced by the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Ernest Debrah, included the provision of new rice seedlings and fertiliser at affordable cost to farmers .
According Mr Debrah, the government was also meeting with market women and transport owners to find ways of minimising the effect of transportation cost on food items carted from the hinterland into the urban areas on the prices of those items.
Speaking during his turn at the weekly ‘Meet The Press’ series in Accra yesterday, Mr Debrah further asked Ghanaians not to panic over soaring food prices on the international market, as there was enough to meet local demand.
He said the government was also keeping a close eye on locally produced food items to ensure that they were not smuggled outside the country to create artificial shortage that might impact negatively on their prices.
The assurance by the Food and Agriculture Minister comes at a time when governments across the developing world are scrambling to boost farm imports and restrict exports in an attempt to forestall rising food prices and social unrest.
Explaining the rationale for the intervention regarding the issue of fertiliser, Mr Debrah said only five per cent of farmers in Ghana used fertilisers, saying the high cost of the product on the international market was likely to force down the number of farmers who used it.
He said it was against that background that the government had intervened not only to ensure access to the product but also to make prices more affordable to encourage those already using it to continue doing so, while encouraging others to join.
On rice, he made it clear that the country was not in a position to produce enough to meet the demand because of the lack of land and the issue of “comparative advantage” in rice production.
However, he said the government would begin the distribution of ‘nerica’ seeds, which research had identified could be grown in areas where cassava could also grow on a large scale.
Mr Debrah said the government would soon complete a feasibility study on how to irrigate the Accra Plains to grow more rice to augment production from other areas of the country.
“We want to tap the Volta Lake to help provide all-year round water for such a project. We anticipate that it will be very viable to provide food for the region,” he said.
He said many more areas, including inland valleys in the country, had also been identified to be appropriate for rice production, noting, “We are going to ensure that these interventions work for us.”
Mr Debrah expressed regret that although there was enough locally produced rice on the market, many Ghanaians preferred the imported one, adding that local rice had been bagged in foreign sacks to outsmart unsuspecting consumers.
The minister said the ministry had also identified the imbalance in the production of certain staples, including maize, cassava, yam, among others, on a regional basis.
He said, for instance, that the Greater Accra Region, with a population of about 3.9 million people, fell short in the production of all the staples, while the three northern regions, with a population less than that of Accra, was producing more staples above what they could consume.
It was against that background that the government was working to ensure that the imbalance was addressed at less cost to areas with food production deficits, Mr Debrah said.
“Apart from rice, millet and sorghum, the country produced in excess of national demand in the major staples,” he said.
He asked Ghanaians to reduce the intake of foreign imported food such as rice and sweet potatoes to avoid the effect of the soaring food prices on the world market.
Mr Debrah said the country had large stocks of locally produced food items, including cassava, yams, rice and maize, at affordable prices and noted that unless the taste for foreign foods was curtailed, Ghanaians would feel the pinch of what pertained on the international market.
The minister said the time had come for Ghanaians to capitalise on the situation to use every available land space to grow food to add to the export stock.
“What is happening is a clear misfortune for others but we can take advantage of the situation to make more money,” he added.
Mr Debrah said it was now time for people to do more backyard farming to grow some vegetables and other staples that could grow on small pieces of land to reduce their budget on food.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Real estate developers must use quality wiring accesories
Business page April 17/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Managing Director of Batimat (Gh). Limited, Mr Khalil El Ali, has called on real estate developers and building contractors to use high quality wiring accessories to protect their investments from fire.
“Using substandard switches and electric plugs among others could easily cause fire to destroy all the investments put into the structures”, he added, and commended the Ghana Standards Board (GSB) for coming out with standards for the importation of similar products into the country.
Mr Ali made the call at the launch of one of the world’s leading brands in wiring accessories, legrand, as the latest addition to its array of household and office equipment in Accra.
The French-made accessories mostly switches, push-buttons and control units, come in more than 50,000 forms meant to fit into any condition.
“We should be able to spend a little more to save our properties we spend a whole lot of money to put up because it is worth it”, he emphasised.
Mr Ali said there were many inferior wiring accessories on the market which easily sparked fire and without doubt, attributed the many fires in the country to the use of sub-standard brands.
He said Batimat as the sole distributor of the legrand brand of wiring accessories had managed to negotiate affordable prices for the products to meet the pockets of all.
“What we have may be slightly higher than what is on the market but it is because of the quality and that should not deter potential customers but rather drag them to buy quality products”.
Mr Ali said the company was going to adopt an innovative marketing strategy to get the product to the people.
He said the aim of the company was to capture the market within the next one and a half years adding that “I know Ghanaians love quality and would want to spend when they believe in the product and the brand”.
Mr Ali reiterated his appreciation to the GSB for its resolve to wipe out the brands of wiring accessories from the market to save the properties and investments of the people.
He said in order to prove the quality of the brand, the company would guarantee the product acquired from the company for a minimum of two years.
The Area Sales Manager of the Gulf of Guinea for legrand, Mr Ludovic Maileau described the accessories as one of the best on the international market.
Using a powerpoint illustration, he said the brand had been made from high quality products which prevented sparks that could easily start fire.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Managing Director of Batimat (Gh). Limited, Mr Khalil El Ali, has called on real estate developers and building contractors to use high quality wiring accessories to protect their investments from fire.
“Using substandard switches and electric plugs among others could easily cause fire to destroy all the investments put into the structures”, he added, and commended the Ghana Standards Board (GSB) for coming out with standards for the importation of similar products into the country.
Mr Ali made the call at the launch of one of the world’s leading brands in wiring accessories, legrand, as the latest addition to its array of household and office equipment in Accra.
The French-made accessories mostly switches, push-buttons and control units, come in more than 50,000 forms meant to fit into any condition.
“We should be able to spend a little more to save our properties we spend a whole lot of money to put up because it is worth it”, he emphasised.
Mr Ali said there were many inferior wiring accessories on the market which easily sparked fire and without doubt, attributed the many fires in the country to the use of sub-standard brands.
He said Batimat as the sole distributor of the legrand brand of wiring accessories had managed to negotiate affordable prices for the products to meet the pockets of all.
“What we have may be slightly higher than what is on the market but it is because of the quality and that should not deter potential customers but rather drag them to buy quality products”.
Mr Ali said the company was going to adopt an innovative marketing strategy to get the product to the people.
He said the aim of the company was to capture the market within the next one and a half years adding that “I know Ghanaians love quality and would want to spend when they believe in the product and the brand”.
Mr Ali reiterated his appreciation to the GSB for its resolve to wipe out the brands of wiring accessories from the market to save the properties and investments of the people.
He said in order to prove the quality of the brand, the company would guarantee the product acquired from the company for a minimum of two years.
The Area Sales Manager of the Gulf of Guinea for legrand, Mr Ludovic Maileau described the accessories as one of the best on the international market.
Using a powerpoint illustration, he said the brand had been made from high quality products which prevented sparks that could easily start fire.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Conduct environmental audit at Teberebie
Back page April 16, 2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
AN environmental non-governmental organisation (NGO), FoodFirst Information and Action Network (FIAN), has called on the government to conduct an environmental audit of the mining town of Teberebe and its surrounding areas in the Western Region to ascertain the impact of polluted streams and other water bodies on the lives of the people within the community.
The NGO alleged that the streams and water bodes in the area were being heavily polluted with faecal and chemical waste discharges by Anglogold Ashanti, a situation which had made the only source of drinking water for the inhabitants unsafe.
Using a video documentary to buttress his points, Mr Mike Anane, the Co-ordinator of FIAN, told a press conference in Accra yesterday that the mining company was seriously violating the rights of the people in the area and called for an independent investigation into its activities to avoid a clash between the people and the company.
On the issue of waste water, he said the NGO took samples of water for testing at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) where it was confirmed that they were polluted.
Mr Anane produced a report of the analytical report signed by Dr J.A. Ampofo, the Head of the Microbiology, Environmental Biology and Health Division of the CSIR, which read, "The effluents from the pipes at Mile 5 (bungalows) and Mile 6 (bungalows and offices) supplied for analyses are not bacteriologically safe to be discharged into the environment as they are heavily contaminated with pathogenic bacteria and possibly other micro-organisms."
The report further stated, "It is important for these effluents to receive pre-treatment before discharging them into the environment."
"In their current state, they can only be used to irrigate crops, sports fields, public parks and trees but not crops likely to be eaten uncooked. There should not expose these effluents to humans,” the report said.
Present to support the allegations of the NGO were some inhabitants from the mining community and a chief, who also added their voices to the claims of the NGO.
The documentary, which lasted for more than two hours, showed how the community was being degraded by the activities of the company.
There were pictures of pipelines laid from the bungalows of the company in an area called Mile 5/6 which led straight into the tributary of a stream the people depended on.
Interestingly, there were some used condoms being discharged from the pipes.
"FIAN wishes to point out that the discharge of sewerage into the water bodies at Teberebe by Anglogold Ashanti violates the right to water of the communities that rely on the water resources in the area," Mr Anane said.
He also raised the issue of the dumping of waste rock close to the community, which he said generated a lot of dust which covered the few acres of land left for the people for farming, while at the same time creating lung problems for the communities.
Mr Anane said Ghana was a signatory to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, for which reason it should not sit back to allow a mining company of such repute as Anglogold Ashanti to violate the rights of the people.
He said the laws on environmental pollution were explicit and unambiguous and asked that they should be enforced vigorously in the interest of the people.
The chief and some of the inhabitants of the area admitted that the company had provided them with electricity, water and school and had also instituted a micro-credit scheme under which qualified people got GH¢50 to start or expand their businesses.
However, they were very dissatisfied with the manner in which the company treated them with its discharge of waste and called for a more mature way of doing so, adding that they should be compensated for farmlands which were taken away from them.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
AN environmental non-governmental organisation (NGO), FoodFirst Information and Action Network (FIAN), has called on the government to conduct an environmental audit of the mining town of Teberebe and its surrounding areas in the Western Region to ascertain the impact of polluted streams and other water bodies on the lives of the people within the community.
The NGO alleged that the streams and water bodes in the area were being heavily polluted with faecal and chemical waste discharges by Anglogold Ashanti, a situation which had made the only source of drinking water for the inhabitants unsafe.
Using a video documentary to buttress his points, Mr Mike Anane, the Co-ordinator of FIAN, told a press conference in Accra yesterday that the mining company was seriously violating the rights of the people in the area and called for an independent investigation into its activities to avoid a clash between the people and the company.
On the issue of waste water, he said the NGO took samples of water for testing at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) where it was confirmed that they were polluted.
Mr Anane produced a report of the analytical report signed by Dr J.A. Ampofo, the Head of the Microbiology, Environmental Biology and Health Division of the CSIR, which read, "The effluents from the pipes at Mile 5 (bungalows) and Mile 6 (bungalows and offices) supplied for analyses are not bacteriologically safe to be discharged into the environment as they are heavily contaminated with pathogenic bacteria and possibly other micro-organisms."
The report further stated, "It is important for these effluents to receive pre-treatment before discharging them into the environment."
"In their current state, they can only be used to irrigate crops, sports fields, public parks and trees but not crops likely to be eaten uncooked. There should not expose these effluents to humans,” the report said.
Present to support the allegations of the NGO were some inhabitants from the mining community and a chief, who also added their voices to the claims of the NGO.
The documentary, which lasted for more than two hours, showed how the community was being degraded by the activities of the company.
There were pictures of pipelines laid from the bungalows of the company in an area called Mile 5/6 which led straight into the tributary of a stream the people depended on.
Interestingly, there were some used condoms being discharged from the pipes.
"FIAN wishes to point out that the discharge of sewerage into the water bodies at Teberebe by Anglogold Ashanti violates the right to water of the communities that rely on the water resources in the area," Mr Anane said.
He also raised the issue of the dumping of waste rock close to the community, which he said generated a lot of dust which covered the few acres of land left for the people for farming, while at the same time creating lung problems for the communities.
Mr Anane said Ghana was a signatory to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, for which reason it should not sit back to allow a mining company of such repute as Anglogold Ashanti to violate the rights of the people.
He said the laws on environmental pollution were explicit and unambiguous and asked that they should be enforced vigorously in the interest of the people.
The chief and some of the inhabitants of the area admitted that the company had provided them with electricity, water and school and had also instituted a micro-credit scheme under which qualified people got GH¢50 to start or expand their businesses.
However, they were very dissatisfied with the manner in which the company treated them with its discharge of waste and called for a more mature way of doing so, adding that they should be compensated for farmlands which were taken away from them.
Defective Traffic Lights, cause of accidents
Metro page April 16, 2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
This avoidable accident happened last Saturday afternoon at the intersection between the Boomerang Night Club and the GhanaTelecom headquarters on the Nkrumah Circle/Achimota road.
There were minor injuries just because there was luck on the side of the all the passengers. They could have perished.
This accident happened because the traffic lights at that intersection have simply not been functioning for a long time and it is as if the authorities, either Ghana Highway Authority, the Department of Urban Roads or the Accra Metropolitan Authority (AMA) is not aware of the consequences of non-functioning traffic lights or they have deliberately turned a blind eye to such a serious danger.
As soon as the accident occurred, there were near physical exchanges as each party tried to blame the other for not being patient. They argued with each other, claiming to have the right of way, but that could not bring back their damaged vehicles nor instantly heal their injuries and pain.
In recent times, many traffic lights within the city have not been functioning. Most of them, even on the highways, have been off for more than a year and it is unfortunate that in spite of the many radio and print media appeals to the authorities to live up to expectation, they have simply turned a deaf ear to the calls.
In many areas, such accidents have not only resulted in injuries, no matter how minor, but unfortunately many innocent and precious lives have been lost.
It is amazing that nobody is prepared to take those in charge to task to perform this simple duty of ensuring that these lights work constantly to avoid such calamities.
This lackadaisical attitude makes one wonder why the lights were mounted in the first place by these authorities when the roads were constructed.
Is it because somebody or a group of people were interested in bloating the construction cost of the road project only to take a bigger share of the “Kick back” or it is simply because there are no competent people to manage this simple thing.
If the authorities cannot manage these traffic lights, then it is a pity and they need to bow their heads in shame. Whoever is in charge deserves not another day in office because of his/her gross incompetence and lack of regard for precious human lives.
While one wishes that those in charge do not get involved in such accidents because of their gross negligence, lack of regard for human lives and incompetence, it is hoped that they simply live up to expectation because their attitudes towards work is just unfortunate and unacceptable and the ministries in-charge must back up now.
Pic: The two vehicles surrounded by many people acting as judges and road traffic experts, trying to lay blame on each of the driver’s doorstep, minutes after the accident. Pic; Charles Benoni Okine
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
This avoidable accident happened last Saturday afternoon at the intersection between the Boomerang Night Club and the GhanaTelecom headquarters on the Nkrumah Circle/Achimota road.
There were minor injuries just because there was luck on the side of the all the passengers. They could have perished.
This accident happened because the traffic lights at that intersection have simply not been functioning for a long time and it is as if the authorities, either Ghana Highway Authority, the Department of Urban Roads or the Accra Metropolitan Authority (AMA) is not aware of the consequences of non-functioning traffic lights or they have deliberately turned a blind eye to such a serious danger.
As soon as the accident occurred, there were near physical exchanges as each party tried to blame the other for not being patient. They argued with each other, claiming to have the right of way, but that could not bring back their damaged vehicles nor instantly heal their injuries and pain.
In recent times, many traffic lights within the city have not been functioning. Most of them, even on the highways, have been off for more than a year and it is unfortunate that in spite of the many radio and print media appeals to the authorities to live up to expectation, they have simply turned a deaf ear to the calls.
In many areas, such accidents have not only resulted in injuries, no matter how minor, but unfortunately many innocent and precious lives have been lost.
It is amazing that nobody is prepared to take those in charge to task to perform this simple duty of ensuring that these lights work constantly to avoid such calamities.
This lackadaisical attitude makes one wonder why the lights were mounted in the first place by these authorities when the roads were constructed.
Is it because somebody or a group of people were interested in bloating the construction cost of the road project only to take a bigger share of the “Kick back” or it is simply because there are no competent people to manage this simple thing.
If the authorities cannot manage these traffic lights, then it is a pity and they need to bow their heads in shame. Whoever is in charge deserves not another day in office because of his/her gross incompetence and lack of regard for precious human lives.
While one wishes that those in charge do not get involved in such accidents because of their gross negligence, lack of regard for human lives and incompetence, it is hoped that they simply live up to expectation because their attitudes towards work is just unfortunate and unacceptable and the ministries in-charge must back up now.
Pic: The two vehicles surrounded by many people acting as judges and road traffic experts, trying to lay blame on each of the driver’s doorstep, minutes after the accident. Pic; Charles Benoni Okine
GMA checks overloading of boats
Back page April 15, 2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) has put its navy guards on the major loading stations of the Volta Lake on alert to avoid overloading of boats, particularly during this windy periods on the lake.
The stations are Abotoase, Yeji, Dzemeni, Kete Krachi and Dambai.
The Director-General of the GMA, Mr Peter Issaka Azumah, told the Daily Graphic that the move was necessary to ensure that boat owners did not load beyond the stipulated loading marks on the boats that ply the lake.
He was answering questions as to measures the authority was taking to avoid boat accidents on the lake as the winds on the lake became stronger this year.
"For the past three years, there has not been any record of a boat capsizing on the lake because the guards never allow the boat owners to overload them," he stressed.
Mr Azumah said it was the resolve of the authority to keep a clean sheet as far as boat accidents on the lake were concerned.
In time past, the months of April and May had been terrible for boat owners and passengers plying the lake due to strong winds.
Since the boats were often overloaded with goods and passengers, the heavy winds on the lake made navigation difficult and in the end, the boats usually hit tree stumps in the lake and capsized.
Mr Azumah recalled the exercise by the authority to mark all the boats plying the lake to indicate the maximum loading point and said "this has been successful because the boat owners seem to be complying".
Mr Azumah said the regular education for the boat owners and passengers, mostly market women, was yielding results.
"It is an exercise we are sustaining because such campaigns must be regular," he said.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) has put its navy guards on the major loading stations of the Volta Lake on alert to avoid overloading of boats, particularly during this windy periods on the lake.
The stations are Abotoase, Yeji, Dzemeni, Kete Krachi and Dambai.
The Director-General of the GMA, Mr Peter Issaka Azumah, told the Daily Graphic that the move was necessary to ensure that boat owners did not load beyond the stipulated loading marks on the boats that ply the lake.
He was answering questions as to measures the authority was taking to avoid boat accidents on the lake as the winds on the lake became stronger this year.
"For the past three years, there has not been any record of a boat capsizing on the lake because the guards never allow the boat owners to overload them," he stressed.
Mr Azumah said it was the resolve of the authority to keep a clean sheet as far as boat accidents on the lake were concerned.
In time past, the months of April and May had been terrible for boat owners and passengers plying the lake due to strong winds.
Since the boats were often overloaded with goods and passengers, the heavy winds on the lake made navigation difficult and in the end, the boats usually hit tree stumps in the lake and capsized.
Mr Azumah recalled the exercise by the authority to mark all the boats plying the lake to indicate the maximum loading point and said "this has been successful because the boat owners seem to be complying".
Mr Azumah said the regular education for the boat owners and passengers, mostly market women, was yielding results.
"It is an exercise we are sustaining because such campaigns must be regular," he said.
Feasibility study on ports expansion begins
Spread (lead) April 14, 2008
Story & Pix: Charles Benoni Okine, Tema
A feasibility study to provide a master plan for the development and expansion of the country’s two major ports in Tema and Takoradi has taken off.
Funded by the United States Trade and Development Agency (UNTDA) at a cost of $698,150, the study will specifically analyse the development of container facilities for the Tema Port and the development of a concession at the Takoradi Port.
The plan, when developed, will see the development of four berths, eight gantry cranes, cargo handling equipment, dredging and improved cargo storage facilities at the Tema Port, while the Takoradi Port will have approximately two container berths with four cranes, three bulk goods berths, one oil berth, one multi-purpose berth, cargo handling equipment and dredging.
Speaking to the press shortly after a tour of the project site in Tema at the weekend, the visiting US Deputy Secretary for Transportation, Vice-Admiral Thomas J. Barret, said, “It is the intention of the US to help Ghana to develop its infrastructure, both at the ports and on the roads, to make the country more competitive in the sub-region.”
On the tour were the Minister of Harbours and Railways, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi; the Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) Mr Peter Issaka Azumah; the Director-General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Mr Ben Owusu-Mensah; the Press Attaché at the US Embassy in Ghana, Mr Ben East, among other top ranking officials from both the US Embassy and the GPHA.
In addition to the estimated US exports of approximately $191 million, the study is also expected to lead to significant development benefits for Ghana, particularly regarding the improvement of basic infrastructure and an increased capacity for trade.
Admiral Barret dismissed allegations that the US was interested in helping Ghana to develop its ports, particularly the one in Takoradi, because of the oil find.
“The US has been supporting Ghana to build its infrastructure before the oil discovery was made and the intention is not because of the oil but to ensure that Ghana’s ports are developed to enhance trade and reduce the cost of doing business at the ports,” he added.
Admiral Barret said it had always been the intention of the US to maintain the partnership and enhance trade between the two countries.
He said in doing so, there was the need for that trade to be cost effective and that could be realised through an improvement in transportation.
He said there would be greater dialogue between the two countries for the rapid development of the road sector.
Admiral Barret commended the government for the pragmatic steps it had taken to improve the ports and mentioned, for instance, the recent provision of a refrigeration facility for the storage of fresh fruits and vegetables for export, among others.
The Vice-President of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), Ms Maureen Harrington, said the US government was committing up to $200 million to enable the country to improve its agriculture.
Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi, in an answer to a question from the US delegation about how the country was positioning itself to be the maritime hub in the sub-region, said the government had invested and continued to invest in infrastructural developments at the ports.
He admitted that the ports in some neighbouring countries were much ahead but indicated that “the government is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that we match them and overtake them in the next few years”.
Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi said the container terminals at the ports were being rapidly expanded, while the rail network was also on the verge of being rehabilitated and revamped to meet traffic demands.
Story & Pix: Charles Benoni Okine, Tema
A feasibility study to provide a master plan for the development and expansion of the country’s two major ports in Tema and Takoradi has taken off.
Funded by the United States Trade and Development Agency (UNTDA) at a cost of $698,150, the study will specifically analyse the development of container facilities for the Tema Port and the development of a concession at the Takoradi Port.
The plan, when developed, will see the development of four berths, eight gantry cranes, cargo handling equipment, dredging and improved cargo storage facilities at the Tema Port, while the Takoradi Port will have approximately two container berths with four cranes, three bulk goods berths, one oil berth, one multi-purpose berth, cargo handling equipment and dredging.
Speaking to the press shortly after a tour of the project site in Tema at the weekend, the visiting US Deputy Secretary for Transportation, Vice-Admiral Thomas J. Barret, said, “It is the intention of the US to help Ghana to develop its infrastructure, both at the ports and on the roads, to make the country more competitive in the sub-region.”
On the tour were the Minister of Harbours and Railways, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi; the Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) Mr Peter Issaka Azumah; the Director-General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Mr Ben Owusu-Mensah; the Press Attaché at the US Embassy in Ghana, Mr Ben East, among other top ranking officials from both the US Embassy and the GPHA.
In addition to the estimated US exports of approximately $191 million, the study is also expected to lead to significant development benefits for Ghana, particularly regarding the improvement of basic infrastructure and an increased capacity for trade.
Admiral Barret dismissed allegations that the US was interested in helping Ghana to develop its ports, particularly the one in Takoradi, because of the oil find.
“The US has been supporting Ghana to build its infrastructure before the oil discovery was made and the intention is not because of the oil but to ensure that Ghana’s ports are developed to enhance trade and reduce the cost of doing business at the ports,” he added.
Admiral Barret said it had always been the intention of the US to maintain the partnership and enhance trade between the two countries.
He said in doing so, there was the need for that trade to be cost effective and that could be realised through an improvement in transportation.
He said there would be greater dialogue between the two countries for the rapid development of the road sector.
Admiral Barret commended the government for the pragmatic steps it had taken to improve the ports and mentioned, for instance, the recent provision of a refrigeration facility for the storage of fresh fruits and vegetables for export, among others.
The Vice-President of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), Ms Maureen Harrington, said the US government was committing up to $200 million to enable the country to improve its agriculture.
Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi, in an answer to a question from the US delegation about how the country was positioning itself to be the maritime hub in the sub-region, said the government had invested and continued to invest in infrastructural developments at the ports.
He admitted that the ports in some neighbouring countries were much ahead but indicated that “the government is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that we match them and overtake them in the next few years”.
Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi said the container terminals at the ports were being rapidly expanded, while the rail network was also on the verge of being rehabilitated and revamped to meet traffic demands.
Veep calls for economic use of land
Spread April 12, 2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
VICE-President Aliu Mahama has called on architects and building contractors to make economic use of land space by incorporating basements for vehicular parking and other facilities in their structural designs.
He observed that many structures in the country did not have such facilities, a situation which compelled people to use the streets as parking lots, only to worsen the already bad traffic situation in many areas.
Alhaji Mahama made the call yesterday when he inspected the Defence Headquarters building presently under construction near the Burma Camp in Accra.
The $6.8 million project is being funded by the Chinese government, with counterpart funding from the Ghana government.
The five-storey structure, including a basement for parking and switch rooms, is expected to house the entire workforce of the Ministry of Defence and some senior rank officers of the Ghana Armed Forces.
Work on the project, which occupies 7,610 square metres of land, is 70 per cent complete and it is expected to be inaugurated in October this year.
Workers on the project, made up of some Chinese and Ghanaians, were seen busily working hard to ensure that the project was completed on schedule.
The Vice-President and his entourage took time to inspect the uncompleted rooms.
“There seems to be much land available today but we may run out of it if we do not ensure that what we have and use today is judiciously utilised,” Alhaji Mahama said.
He commended the architects of the Defence Headquarters for their foresight and expressed the hope that many others would incorporate basement designs in their structural drawings in the future.
He said the country had enjoyed friendly relations with China in the past, adding that “these have been strengthened in recent times and we are joyous about it”.
He said China had become one of the pillars of the country’s economic development because it continued to provide funds and resources for key projects in the country.
The Vice-President mentioned, for instance, the Bui Dam project, which, when completed in some six years’ time, was expected to bring to an end the country’s energy challenges.
“The government and the people of Ghana are grateful to China and we hope that this bond of friendship will continue forever,” he said.
Alhaji Mahama expressed the hope that other projects such as hospitals and schools that the Chinese government had promised to undertake for the country would come on in due course.
The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Yu Wenzhen, said China had no regret for its stronger ties with Ghana, stressing that it was the intention of the Chinese government to assist Ghana in any way possible to enable it to achieve its dreams of becoming a middle-income country by the target date it had set for itself.
Mr Yu was of the view that all the projects promised would come to fruition, adding, “All that will go a long way to make the relationship between the two countries stronger and better.”
On the inspection tour were the Minister of Defence, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, the Chief of the Defence Staff, Lt Gen J.B. Danquah, and other high-ranking military officers.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
VICE-President Aliu Mahama has called on architects and building contractors to make economic use of land space by incorporating basements for vehicular parking and other facilities in their structural designs.
He observed that many structures in the country did not have such facilities, a situation which compelled people to use the streets as parking lots, only to worsen the already bad traffic situation in many areas.
Alhaji Mahama made the call yesterday when he inspected the Defence Headquarters building presently under construction near the Burma Camp in Accra.
The $6.8 million project is being funded by the Chinese government, with counterpart funding from the Ghana government.
The five-storey structure, including a basement for parking and switch rooms, is expected to house the entire workforce of the Ministry of Defence and some senior rank officers of the Ghana Armed Forces.
Work on the project, which occupies 7,610 square metres of land, is 70 per cent complete and it is expected to be inaugurated in October this year.
Workers on the project, made up of some Chinese and Ghanaians, were seen busily working hard to ensure that the project was completed on schedule.
The Vice-President and his entourage took time to inspect the uncompleted rooms.
“There seems to be much land available today but we may run out of it if we do not ensure that what we have and use today is judiciously utilised,” Alhaji Mahama said.
He commended the architects of the Defence Headquarters for their foresight and expressed the hope that many others would incorporate basement designs in their structural drawings in the future.
He said the country had enjoyed friendly relations with China in the past, adding that “these have been strengthened in recent times and we are joyous about it”.
He said China had become one of the pillars of the country’s economic development because it continued to provide funds and resources for key projects in the country.
The Vice-President mentioned, for instance, the Bui Dam project, which, when completed in some six years’ time, was expected to bring to an end the country’s energy challenges.
“The government and the people of Ghana are grateful to China and we hope that this bond of friendship will continue forever,” he said.
Alhaji Mahama expressed the hope that other projects such as hospitals and schools that the Chinese government had promised to undertake for the country would come on in due course.
The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Yu Wenzhen, said China had no regret for its stronger ties with Ghana, stressing that it was the intention of the Chinese government to assist Ghana in any way possible to enable it to achieve its dreams of becoming a middle-income country by the target date it had set for itself.
Mr Yu was of the view that all the projects promised would come to fruition, adding, “All that will go a long way to make the relationship between the two countries stronger and better.”
On the inspection tour were the Minister of Defence, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, the Chief of the Defence Staff, Lt Gen J.B. Danquah, and other high-ranking military officers.
¢100 to boost water supply in G. Accra, Ashanti.
Back (lead) April 12, 2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
TWO major water projects in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions will kick-off by June this year at a total cost of over $100 million to boost potable water supply in the two regions.
The projects involve the rehabilitation of the Owabi and Barekese water treatment plants in the Ashanti Region to add 6.0 million gallons more, and improvements on the old Kpong Water Works in the Greater Accra Region.
The Accra rural project, dubbed the ATMA Rural Water Supply System, is in two parts (North and South of Kpong), and will produce a total of 9.3 million gallons a day.
Mr Michael Agyemang, Chief Manager of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), told the Daily Graphic that the projects would soon begin and were expected to curb the water shortage problems in the two areas.
He said new water transmission lines would be laid in Kumasi, and that the high lift pumping station would also be modernised and expanded,” adding that “the present production capacity stands at 21 million gallons against a demand of 30 million gallons a day”.
Mr Agyemang further said the project also involved the construction of a new water booster station with a reservoir while there would also be the rehabilitation and extension of distribution networks of various sizes.
He said the company was also ensuring that users of the facility were metered to enable the company to recoup its investment under the project.
As a result, he said, there would be installation of 20,000 consumer meters, installation of zonal meters and small booster stations for high elevation areas while a sludge treatment plant would also be constructed.
About the ATMA Rural project, Mr Agyemang gave the scope of works in the South of Kpong project to include construction of reservoirs, distribution and transmission pipelines, as some of the works to be undertaken.
He said 6.2 million gallons of water was expected to be produced, and expressed the hope that the inhabitants to be supplied would have enough to carry out their activities.
Mr Agyemang said the North of Kpong project would have similar works undertaken but that would produce 3.1 million gallons a day.
Areas to benefit from the two projects are Dawa, Dawhenya, Michael Camp, Afienya and Kpone where the government’s affordable housing project was presently being undertaken.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
TWO major water projects in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions will kick-off by June this year at a total cost of over $100 million to boost potable water supply in the two regions.
The projects involve the rehabilitation of the Owabi and Barekese water treatment plants in the Ashanti Region to add 6.0 million gallons more, and improvements on the old Kpong Water Works in the Greater Accra Region.
The Accra rural project, dubbed the ATMA Rural Water Supply System, is in two parts (North and South of Kpong), and will produce a total of 9.3 million gallons a day.
Mr Michael Agyemang, Chief Manager of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), told the Daily Graphic that the projects would soon begin and were expected to curb the water shortage problems in the two areas.
He said new water transmission lines would be laid in Kumasi, and that the high lift pumping station would also be modernised and expanded,” adding that “the present production capacity stands at 21 million gallons against a demand of 30 million gallons a day”.
Mr Agyemang further said the project also involved the construction of a new water booster station with a reservoir while there would also be the rehabilitation and extension of distribution networks of various sizes.
He said the company was also ensuring that users of the facility were metered to enable the company to recoup its investment under the project.
As a result, he said, there would be installation of 20,000 consumer meters, installation of zonal meters and small booster stations for high elevation areas while a sludge treatment plant would also be constructed.
About the ATMA Rural project, Mr Agyemang gave the scope of works in the South of Kpong project to include construction of reservoirs, distribution and transmission pipelines, as some of the works to be undertaken.
He said 6.2 million gallons of water was expected to be produced, and expressed the hope that the inhabitants to be supplied would have enough to carry out their activities.
Mr Agyemang said the North of Kpong project would have similar works undertaken but that would produce 3.1 million gallons a day.
Areas to benefit from the two projects are Dawa, Dawhenya, Michael Camp, Afienya and Kpone where the government’s affordable housing project was presently being undertaken.
Ghana will learn from experienced oil producers
Spread April 11, 2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
GHANA will spare no effort at tapping the experiences of oil-producing countries, particularly those in Africa, to ensure better management of its oil revenues and other related issues, the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has stated.
He said the oil find marked a turning point in the country’s economic development and noted that unless lessons of others with the rich resource were drawn, the country might not benefit fully from it.
Alhaji Mahama made the statement yesterday when he received a special message from the Angolan President, Mr Carlos Dos Santos at the Castle, Osu, on behalf of President J.A. Kufuor.
It was delivered by the Angolan Deputy Minister of External Affairs, Mr Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti.
Although the contents of the message were not disclosed, it was believed to be centred on the quest for Ghana’s support for the Angolan candidate for the top position of the International Tribunal on Laws of the Sea.
Alhaji Mahama said oil had transformed many countries, while in others, it had created more problems.
He said it was against this background that the experiences of those countries that had had some tough times in managing the oil resource was necessary.
The Vice President said Ghana and Angola had enjoyed fruitful relations and expressed the hope that the attempt to seek that information on oil resource management would further strengthen the relations.
He said there were many Ghanaians working in Angola in many other sectors, including housing, adding that “this is a sign of good brotherliness and we hope to make it stronger”.
Mr Chikoti, for his part, extended the felicitations of his President to President Kufuor, who is currently in India attending the India/Africa Summit.
He said Angola’s relations with Ghana dated back many years and all efforts would be made to strengthen them.
Mr Chikoti said Angola was prepared to share its experiences in the management of oil to ensure that Ghana benefited fully from its newly found resource.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
GHANA will spare no effort at tapping the experiences of oil-producing countries, particularly those in Africa, to ensure better management of its oil revenues and other related issues, the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has stated.
He said the oil find marked a turning point in the country’s economic development and noted that unless lessons of others with the rich resource were drawn, the country might not benefit fully from it.
Alhaji Mahama made the statement yesterday when he received a special message from the Angolan President, Mr Carlos Dos Santos at the Castle, Osu, on behalf of President J.A. Kufuor.
It was delivered by the Angolan Deputy Minister of External Affairs, Mr Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti.
Although the contents of the message were not disclosed, it was believed to be centred on the quest for Ghana’s support for the Angolan candidate for the top position of the International Tribunal on Laws of the Sea.
Alhaji Mahama said oil had transformed many countries, while in others, it had created more problems.
He said it was against this background that the experiences of those countries that had had some tough times in managing the oil resource was necessary.
The Vice President said Ghana and Angola had enjoyed fruitful relations and expressed the hope that the attempt to seek that information on oil resource management would further strengthen the relations.
He said there were many Ghanaians working in Angola in many other sectors, including housing, adding that “this is a sign of good brotherliness and we hope to make it stronger”.
Mr Chikoti, for his part, extended the felicitations of his President to President Kufuor, who is currently in India attending the India/Africa Summit.
He said Angola’s relations with Ghana dated back many years and all efforts would be made to strengthen them.
Mr Chikoti said Angola was prepared to share its experiences in the management of oil to ensure that Ghana benefited fully from its newly found resource.
Water treatment plant for Teshie
Back (lead) April 10, 2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
A water desalination plant to transform sea water into potable water to augment water supply in Accra will be constructed at Teshie-Nungua by November this year.
The project, which will be implemented on a pilot scheme by a foreign company, Aqualyng Ghana Limited, under the supervision of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), will produce 4.4 million gallons of water a day.
The Chief Manager in charge of Public Relations at the GWCL, Mr Michael Agyemang, told the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday that the project would be on a build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) basis as part of efforts to find a lasting solution to the perennial water problem in Accra.
He said the site for the project was being prepared, adding that the technical details had already been reviewed by GWCL to suit the Ghanaian terrain.
The project comes at a time when the water situation in many parts of urban Accra has become challenging as a result of the phenomenal growth in the population.
“The project will serve areas that fall within the water supply end of the distribution network of both the Weija and Kpong treatment plants,” Mr Agyemang said.
Presently, water supply from the two plants is about 80 million gallons a day, as against demand for about 140 million gallons.
Mr Agyemang said the people of Teshie-Nungua and its environs, including La, had suffered a lot in the past because the water supplied from the two treatment plants did not get to them.
He said Aqua Vitens Rand Limited (AVRL), acting on behalf of the GWCL, had acquired water tankers that supplied water to the people in the area.
He said the AVRL had also mounted more than 20 water tanks at vantage points to supply water in those areas.
He pointed out the government, and for that matter the GWCL, had been concerned about the situation and was doing a lot to meet the challenges.
Mr Agyemang said other projects were underway in many parts of the country and expressed the hope that when they were completed, the current water crisis would abate.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
A water desalination plant to transform sea water into potable water to augment water supply in Accra will be constructed at Teshie-Nungua by November this year.
The project, which will be implemented on a pilot scheme by a foreign company, Aqualyng Ghana Limited, under the supervision of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), will produce 4.4 million gallons of water a day.
The Chief Manager in charge of Public Relations at the GWCL, Mr Michael Agyemang, told the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday that the project would be on a build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) basis as part of efforts to find a lasting solution to the perennial water problem in Accra.
He said the site for the project was being prepared, adding that the technical details had already been reviewed by GWCL to suit the Ghanaian terrain.
The project comes at a time when the water situation in many parts of urban Accra has become challenging as a result of the phenomenal growth in the population.
“The project will serve areas that fall within the water supply end of the distribution network of both the Weija and Kpong treatment plants,” Mr Agyemang said.
Presently, water supply from the two plants is about 80 million gallons a day, as against demand for about 140 million gallons.
Mr Agyemang said the people of Teshie-Nungua and its environs, including La, had suffered a lot in the past because the water supplied from the two treatment plants did not get to them.
He said Aqua Vitens Rand Limited (AVRL), acting on behalf of the GWCL, had acquired water tankers that supplied water to the people in the area.
He said the AVRL had also mounted more than 20 water tanks at vantage points to supply water in those areas.
He pointed out the government, and for that matter the GWCL, had been concerned about the situation and was doing a lot to meet the challenges.
Mr Agyemang said other projects were underway in many parts of the country and expressed the hope that when they were completed, the current water crisis would abate.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Water Treament Plant for Teshie
Back pg (lead) April 10/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
A water desalination plant to transform sea water into potable water to augment water supply in Accra will be constructed at Teshie-Nungua by November this year.
The project, which will be implemented on a pilot scheme by a foreign company, Aqualyng Ghana Limited, under the supervision of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), will produce 4.4 million gallons of water a day.
The Chief Manager in charge of Public Relations at the GWCL, Mr Michael Agyemang, told the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday that the project would be on a build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) basis as part of efforts to find a lasting solution to the perennial water problem in Accra.
He said the site for the project was being prepared, adding that the technical details had already been reviewed by GWCL to suit the Ghanaian terrain.
The project comes at a time when the water situation in many parts of urban Accra has become challenging as a result of the phenomenal growth in the population.
“The project will serve areas that fall within the water supply end of the distribution network of both the Weija and Kpong treatment plants,” Mr Agyemang said.
Presently, water supply from the two plants is about 80 million gallons a day, as against demand for about 140 million gallons.
Mr Agyemang said the people of Teshie-Nungua and its environs, including La, had suffered a lot in the past because the water supplied from the two treatment plants did not get to them.
He said Aqua Vitens Rand Limited (AVRL), acting on behalf of the GWCL, had acquired water tankers that supplied water to the people in the area.
He said the AVRL had also mounted more than 20 water tanks at vantage points to supply water in those areas.
He pointed out the government, and for that matter the GWCL, had been concerned about the situation and was doing a lot to meet the challenges.
Mr Agyemang said other projects were underway in many parts of the country and expressed the hope that when they were completed, the current water crisis would abate.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
A water desalination plant to transform sea water into potable water to augment water supply in Accra will be constructed at Teshie-Nungua by November this year.
The project, which will be implemented on a pilot scheme by a foreign company, Aqualyng Ghana Limited, under the supervision of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), will produce 4.4 million gallons of water a day.
The Chief Manager in charge of Public Relations at the GWCL, Mr Michael Agyemang, told the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday that the project would be on a build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) basis as part of efforts to find a lasting solution to the perennial water problem in Accra.
He said the site for the project was being prepared, adding that the technical details had already been reviewed by GWCL to suit the Ghanaian terrain.
The project comes at a time when the water situation in many parts of urban Accra has become challenging as a result of the phenomenal growth in the population.
“The project will serve areas that fall within the water supply end of the distribution network of both the Weija and Kpong treatment plants,” Mr Agyemang said.
Presently, water supply from the two plants is about 80 million gallons a day, as against demand for about 140 million gallons.
Mr Agyemang said the people of Teshie-Nungua and its environs, including La, had suffered a lot in the past because the water supplied from the two treatment plants did not get to them.
He said Aqua Vitens Rand Limited (AVRL), acting on behalf of the GWCL, had acquired water tankers that supplied water to the people in the area.
He said the AVRL had also mounted more than 20 water tanks at vantage points to supply water in those areas.
He pointed out the government, and for that matter the GWCL, had been concerned about the situation and was doing a lot to meet the challenges.
Mr Agyemang said other projects were underway in many parts of the country and expressed the hope that when they were completed, the current water crisis would abate.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Dual Citizenship will enhance ROPAA implementation
Political pg (lead), Wednesday April 9, 2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine, Back from USA
SOME Ghanaians living in the United States of America (USA) have said that the passage of the Dual Citizenship Bill by Parliament can enhance transparency in the implementation of the Representation of the People’s Amendment Act (ROPAA).
According to them, if Ghanaians in the Diaspora were granted dual citizenship status, it would be easier for the Electoral Commission (EC) to cross-check their true identities with the authorities of the countries in which they resided.
The Ghanaians, who were speaking in separate interviews when the Daily Graphic sought their views on the inability of the EC to implement ROPAA this election year, said much as they did not feel too disappointed about the inability of the EC to implement ROPAA, the concerns raised over the verification of the true identifies of Ghanaians living abroad during voting could be better solved when the issue of dual citizenship was finalised.
The ROPAA was passed by Parliament last year to make it possible for Ghanaians living abroad to vote in their respective countries of abode in general election organised by the EC.
However, this will not be possible on December 7, this year because, according to the EC, no arrangement had yet been made to open the voters register for Ghanaians outside the country to register and cast their ballots there.
Mr Prince Obeng, who presently resides at Worcester in the State of Massachusetts, indicated, for instance, that “once our names have been captured in the database of the US, there is no way the right number of people who vote can be bloated”.
He said the US had an effective system of monitoring such names and indicated that the government of Ghana could only liaise with the US to assist in getting the right number of Ghanaians who had voted.
Mr Obeng was of the view that the process could be replicated in both developed and under-developed countries where Ghanaians lived.
“Ghanaians living in the Diaspora need to be part of the electoral process back home but they are being denied this because of the high level of mistrust among the various political parties,” he said.
He said Ghanaians in the Diaspora were being made to bear the brunt of the absolute lack of trust and described the phenomenon as most unfortunate.
He said while Ghana looked to other countries such as the US to enhance its development process, there was the need for Ghanaian politicians to learn to trust one another and eschew all manner of mistrust which went a long way to undermine the integrity of Ghanaians and the government.
Mr Erasmus Acquah, an engineer working with one of the leading civil engineering firms in Worcester, could not hide his disappointment at the inability of the government to ensure the implementation of ROPAA.
“I feel disappointed because we contribute to the growth of the economy through our remittances and, therefore, we should have a say in the selection of who governs Ghana,” he added.
Mr Acquah also supported the suggestion that the Dual Citizenship Bill, when passed, could help with easy identification.
He, however, took a swipe at journalists who, he claimed, were not favourable to the implementation of ROPAA.
According to him, not much was being done to get the government to provide the necessary support and logistics to get the EC to implement ROPAA.
He said the implementation of the law should not be about cost to the nation because “voting is a right and not a privilege”.
From New York, Mr Bright Ninsey, a hotel supervisor, wondered why the government had delayed with the passage of the Dual Citizenship Act and noted that it was not the best for Ghanaians living in the Diaspora.
He said the dual citizenship status of Ghanaians living abroad could help the government to track its citizens and also give a fair idea about how many Ghanaians were living outside the country, as far as the implementation of ROPAA was concerned.
Mr Pina Quartey, a factory worker at the Bronx, one of the popular provinces of the New York State, said, “We want to vote and we must be given that recognition as Ghanaians and not Americans.”
“This government, we know, is very action-oriented but it is disappointing because it has played down our request to grant us dual citizenship status,” he said.
Mr Daniel Numah of Atlanta, for his part, was not too keen on the passage of ROPAA but was of the view that the Dual Citizenship Bill needed to be passed for Ghanaians to play a role in issues of national concern.
He shared the view that the bill, when passed, could help give the EC the correct number of people who might vote at a time because the US system could help with the identification.
Mr Kwaku Asiamah, formerly of the US Navy in Virginia, said, “I have sent plenty money back home and anytime the economy is bad in Ghana, I am told to send more.”
He was of the view that should he have a say in who governed the country by being allowed to cast his vote, he would vote for those who were capable of managing the economy better to reduce the pressure on him back in the US.
Mr Asiamah said if Ghanaians had any issues of vote rigging, the Dual Citizenship Bill, when passed, could help and urged the government to demonstrate its commitment to its promise to see that bill through for use in subsequent elections as far as the implementation of ROPAA was concerned.
A source at the EC told the Daily Graphic that although the commission had received some funds to do some preliminary work on the implementation of ROPAA, the team that went on the trip to ascertain the possibility of implementing the law this year had not yet presented its report.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine, Back from USA
SOME Ghanaians living in the United States of America (USA) have said that the passage of the Dual Citizenship Bill by Parliament can enhance transparency in the implementation of the Representation of the People’s Amendment Act (ROPAA).
According to them, if Ghanaians in the Diaspora were granted dual citizenship status, it would be easier for the Electoral Commission (EC) to cross-check their true identities with the authorities of the countries in which they resided.
The Ghanaians, who were speaking in separate interviews when the Daily Graphic sought their views on the inability of the EC to implement ROPAA this election year, said much as they did not feel too disappointed about the inability of the EC to implement ROPAA, the concerns raised over the verification of the true identifies of Ghanaians living abroad during voting could be better solved when the issue of dual citizenship was finalised.
The ROPAA was passed by Parliament last year to make it possible for Ghanaians living abroad to vote in their respective countries of abode in general election organised by the EC.
However, this will not be possible on December 7, this year because, according to the EC, no arrangement had yet been made to open the voters register for Ghanaians outside the country to register and cast their ballots there.
Mr Prince Obeng, who presently resides at Worcester in the State of Massachusetts, indicated, for instance, that “once our names have been captured in the database of the US, there is no way the right number of people who vote can be bloated”.
He said the US had an effective system of monitoring such names and indicated that the government of Ghana could only liaise with the US to assist in getting the right number of Ghanaians who had voted.
Mr Obeng was of the view that the process could be replicated in both developed and under-developed countries where Ghanaians lived.
“Ghanaians living in the Diaspora need to be part of the electoral process back home but they are being denied this because of the high level of mistrust among the various political parties,” he said.
He said Ghanaians in the Diaspora were being made to bear the brunt of the absolute lack of trust and described the phenomenon as most unfortunate.
He said while Ghana looked to other countries such as the US to enhance its development process, there was the need for Ghanaian politicians to learn to trust one another and eschew all manner of mistrust which went a long way to undermine the integrity of Ghanaians and the government.
Mr Erasmus Acquah, an engineer working with one of the leading civil engineering firms in Worcester, could not hide his disappointment at the inability of the government to ensure the implementation of ROPAA.
“I feel disappointed because we contribute to the growth of the economy through our remittances and, therefore, we should have a say in the selection of who governs Ghana,” he added.
Mr Acquah also supported the suggestion that the Dual Citizenship Bill, when passed, could help with easy identification.
He, however, took a swipe at journalists who, he claimed, were not favourable to the implementation of ROPAA.
According to him, not much was being done to get the government to provide the necessary support and logistics to get the EC to implement ROPAA.
He said the implementation of the law should not be about cost to the nation because “voting is a right and not a privilege”.
From New York, Mr Bright Ninsey, a hotel supervisor, wondered why the government had delayed with the passage of the Dual Citizenship Act and noted that it was not the best for Ghanaians living in the Diaspora.
He said the dual citizenship status of Ghanaians living abroad could help the government to track its citizens and also give a fair idea about how many Ghanaians were living outside the country, as far as the implementation of ROPAA was concerned.
Mr Pina Quartey, a factory worker at the Bronx, one of the popular provinces of the New York State, said, “We want to vote and we must be given that recognition as Ghanaians and not Americans.”
“This government, we know, is very action-oriented but it is disappointing because it has played down our request to grant us dual citizenship status,” he said.
Mr Daniel Numah of Atlanta, for his part, was not too keen on the passage of ROPAA but was of the view that the Dual Citizenship Bill needed to be passed for Ghanaians to play a role in issues of national concern.
He shared the view that the bill, when passed, could help give the EC the correct number of people who might vote at a time because the US system could help with the identification.
Mr Kwaku Asiamah, formerly of the US Navy in Virginia, said, “I have sent plenty money back home and anytime the economy is bad in Ghana, I am told to send more.”
He was of the view that should he have a say in who governed the country by being allowed to cast his vote, he would vote for those who were capable of managing the economy better to reduce the pressure on him back in the US.
Mr Asiamah said if Ghanaians had any issues of vote rigging, the Dual Citizenship Bill, when passed, could help and urged the government to demonstrate its commitment to its promise to see that bill through for use in subsequent elections as far as the implementation of ROPAA was concerned.
A source at the EC told the Daily Graphic that although the commission had received some funds to do some preliminary work on the implementation of ROPAA, the team that went on the trip to ascertain the possibility of implementing the law this year had not yet presented its report.
Don't Rush to sell Cape Three Points Lands'
News pg (31), Wednesday April 9/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE government has asked landowners, particularly traditional rulers within the oil rich Cape Three Points area of the Western Region, to tread cautiously with the sale of land to avoid future conflicts.
Consequently, it has also urged the various assemblies to urgently see to the planning and proper demarcation of the area to avoid haphazard developments.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic on how the government intended to address the issue of the rush and unco-ordinated sale of lands in the area, the Deputy Energy Minister, Mr Kwame Ampofo-Twumasi, said, “The government accords traditional rulers the fullest respect as landowners but they need to ensure consistency in the sale after it had been properly demarcated by the various assemblies.”
He said the scramble for land in the area was not out of place, neither was it a surprise, but said there was the need for the authorities to exercise maximum restraint in their dealings.
“The government is aware that the oil find has made the area attractive and, therefore, there will be many investors ready to position themselves in readiness for brisk business,” Mr Ampofo-Twumasi said.
The Daily Graphic has published reports of some traditional rulers and landowners in the Cape Three Points area selling large parcels of land to developers, without recourse to proper area planning, a practice which has raised fears of future conflicts when full-scale oil production starts.
The Deputy Energy Minister said in all oil-producing countries, business in many forms was brisk and that Ghana was bound to attract similar businesses in the nearest future.
He said there were investors who were ready to buy the land in readiness for business in the future, noting that the sale still needed to be cautiously done.
Mr Ampofo-Twumasi said should the area be demarcated to suit the various businesses that were likely to crop up, the landowners would have better prices for their land.
He told the chiefs that people buying the land now might do so at a cheaper price and resell it later at a higher value, a situation which might spark the conflicts.
He said the ministry intended to hold another forum in the Western Region for the people to educate them on the potential benefits if they were able to avoid the unco-ordinated sale of land.
He said they must also be aware of the need to properly demarcate the area to avoid wanton developments which might jeopardise the entire beauty of the community.
Mr Ampofo-Twumasi recalled that during the first oil and gas forum, the general concentration was on the use of the revenue likely to accrue from the sale of oil. However, he noted that there were other serious issues, such as land sale, that had arisen but noted that the government was keeping a close eye on the developments to ensure that the practice would not affect the peace in the area in the future.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
THE government has asked landowners, particularly traditional rulers within the oil rich Cape Three Points area of the Western Region, to tread cautiously with the sale of land to avoid future conflicts.
Consequently, it has also urged the various assemblies to urgently see to the planning and proper demarcation of the area to avoid haphazard developments.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic on how the government intended to address the issue of the rush and unco-ordinated sale of lands in the area, the Deputy Energy Minister, Mr Kwame Ampofo-Twumasi, said, “The government accords traditional rulers the fullest respect as landowners but they need to ensure consistency in the sale after it had been properly demarcated by the various assemblies.”
He said the scramble for land in the area was not out of place, neither was it a surprise, but said there was the need for the authorities to exercise maximum restraint in their dealings.
“The government is aware that the oil find has made the area attractive and, therefore, there will be many investors ready to position themselves in readiness for brisk business,” Mr Ampofo-Twumasi said.
The Daily Graphic has published reports of some traditional rulers and landowners in the Cape Three Points area selling large parcels of land to developers, without recourse to proper area planning, a practice which has raised fears of future conflicts when full-scale oil production starts.
The Deputy Energy Minister said in all oil-producing countries, business in many forms was brisk and that Ghana was bound to attract similar businesses in the nearest future.
He said there were investors who were ready to buy the land in readiness for business in the future, noting that the sale still needed to be cautiously done.
Mr Ampofo-Twumasi said should the area be demarcated to suit the various businesses that were likely to crop up, the landowners would have better prices for their land.
He told the chiefs that people buying the land now might do so at a cheaper price and resell it later at a higher value, a situation which might spark the conflicts.
He said the ministry intended to hold another forum in the Western Region for the people to educate them on the potential benefits if they were able to avoid the unco-ordinated sale of land.
He said they must also be aware of the need to properly demarcate the area to avoid wanton developments which might jeopardise the entire beauty of the community.
Mr Ampofo-Twumasi recalled that during the first oil and gas forum, the general concentration was on the use of the revenue likely to accrue from the sale of oil. However, he noted that there were other serious issues, such as land sale, that had arisen but noted that the government was keeping a close eye on the developments to ensure that the practice would not affect the peace in the area in the future.
No Subvention for Railway Company
Metro (lead), April 9/2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
The government will not put the Ghana Railway Company (GRC) back on subvention in spite of the company’s financial challenges, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Minister of Harbours and Railways, has said.
The capital expenditures of the company in terms of rail track and coach maintenance will still be taken up by the government to free some funds for the company to settle other expenses, particularly workers’ salaries.
The minister told the Daily Graphic shortly after inaugurating a seven-member committee of enquiry to look into allegations of financial impropriety levelled against the Managing Director of the company.
His answer was in response to a question regarding the next line of action for the company once it had been clearly established that until the government paid the workers, the company would not be able to do so because of the worsening financial situation of the once vibrant company.
The committee, chaired by Mr A.K. Obbin, Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Transportation, will also look into the management and operations of the Estate Division of the company, all transfers by management since July 2006, financial regulations of the company in relation to the signing of cheques and any other relevant matters relating to the allegations levelled against the managing director of the company.
The committee, which is expected to complete its work in 21 days, was set up as part of a memorandum of understanding reached between the unionised workers of the company and the ministry after the latter had embarked on a two-month industrial action.
Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi said the company had no excuse for its inability to raise enough funds to take care of whatever salaries there was to pay, and any other expenses.
He said as the strike was over, the company was going to increase the haulage of manganese and bauxite to enable it to generate more funds for its operations.
On the commuter services of the company particularly on the Achimota/Asapotsonaa route that commenced late last year, the sector minister admitted that that shuttle had not been profitable.
He, however, ruled out the possibility of increasing the fares in the interim.
Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi said the company had made some request for financial assistance to enable it to buy some fuel to run its operations and noted that the request was being considered.
Earlier before the inaugurating the committee he said the GRC had the potential for improving the country’s economy.
“Indeed, the advantages to be derived from a functioning, efficient and modernised railway system cannot be overemphasised,” he said, and added: “This explains the significant efforts made by the government to provide financial support to the GRC in spite of the company’s status as a limited liability company.”
Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi called for industrial harmony, saying that “industrial harmony is a sine qua non for any meaningful transformation of the railway system in Ghana”.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine
The government will not put the Ghana Railway Company (GRC) back on subvention in spite of the company’s financial challenges, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Minister of Harbours and Railways, has said.
The capital expenditures of the company in terms of rail track and coach maintenance will still be taken up by the government to free some funds for the company to settle other expenses, particularly workers’ salaries.
The minister told the Daily Graphic shortly after inaugurating a seven-member committee of enquiry to look into allegations of financial impropriety levelled against the Managing Director of the company.
His answer was in response to a question regarding the next line of action for the company once it had been clearly established that until the government paid the workers, the company would not be able to do so because of the worsening financial situation of the once vibrant company.
The committee, chaired by Mr A.K. Obbin, Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Transportation, will also look into the management and operations of the Estate Division of the company, all transfers by management since July 2006, financial regulations of the company in relation to the signing of cheques and any other relevant matters relating to the allegations levelled against the managing director of the company.
The committee, which is expected to complete its work in 21 days, was set up as part of a memorandum of understanding reached between the unionised workers of the company and the ministry after the latter had embarked on a two-month industrial action.
Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi said the company had no excuse for its inability to raise enough funds to take care of whatever salaries there was to pay, and any other expenses.
He said as the strike was over, the company was going to increase the haulage of manganese and bauxite to enable it to generate more funds for its operations.
On the commuter services of the company particularly on the Achimota/Asapotsonaa route that commenced late last year, the sector minister admitted that that shuttle had not been profitable.
He, however, ruled out the possibility of increasing the fares in the interim.
Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi said the company had made some request for financial assistance to enable it to buy some fuel to run its operations and noted that the request was being considered.
Earlier before the inaugurating the committee he said the GRC had the potential for improving the country’s economy.
“Indeed, the advantages to be derived from a functioning, efficient and modernised railway system cannot be overemphasised,” he said, and added: “This explains the significant efforts made by the government to provide financial support to the GRC in spite of the company’s status as a limited liability company.”
Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi called for industrial harmony, saying that “industrial harmony is a sine qua non for any meaningful transformation of the railway system in Ghana”.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Fifty-three Immigration Officers pass out
Spread April 4/2008
Story: Joe Okyere & Charles Benoni Okine, Assin Fosu
THE government has sourced funds from its development partners to procure communication and surveillance equipment to be installed at all the country’s entry points.
The move is intended, among others, to enhance the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), particularly in this election year.
Vice-President Aliu Mahama, who announced this at a passing-out parade for 53 newly commissioned cadet officers of the GIS, which included three Liberians, at the GIS Training School at Assin Fosu in the Central Region yesterday, also asked personnel of the service to discharge their duties more professionally to ensure an incident-free general election to preserve the unity and social cohesion in the country.
The fourth Liberian among the trainees was reported to have died before the end of the six-month course and the Vice-President requested a minute’s silence in his honour.
Seven of the cadet officers won awards for distinguishing themselves, both academically and on the field of training, with Joseph Martei Quarshie emerging as the Overall Best Cadet Officer.
The Vice-President entreated the service to collaborate with the other security agencies to design mechanisms which would regulate the flow of people into the country to avoid undermining national security.
He said as a front-line agency, the GIS was expected to enhance its role by providing timely and quality services for its clients.
The Vice-President said the ability of the GIS to achieve that would re-affirm Ghana’s emerging status as a preferred destination for international business capital and transaction.
He said the government was also committed to equipping the Border Patrol Unit of the service with all the necessary logistics to improve its deterrent and apprehension capabilities.
“I am aware that preparatory works for the construction of residential accommodation for immigration personnel have been completed and contracts awarded for actual work to begin,” he said.
Alhaji Mahama asked the new graduates to discharge their duties strictly according to the rules of the service.
Story: Joe Okyere & Charles Benoni Okine, Assin Fosu
THE government has sourced funds from its development partners to procure communication and surveillance equipment to be installed at all the country’s entry points.
The move is intended, among others, to enhance the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), particularly in this election year.
Vice-President Aliu Mahama, who announced this at a passing-out parade for 53 newly commissioned cadet officers of the GIS, which included three Liberians, at the GIS Training School at Assin Fosu in the Central Region yesterday, also asked personnel of the service to discharge their duties more professionally to ensure an incident-free general election to preserve the unity and social cohesion in the country.
The fourth Liberian among the trainees was reported to have died before the end of the six-month course and the Vice-President requested a minute’s silence in his honour.
Seven of the cadet officers won awards for distinguishing themselves, both academically and on the field of training, with Joseph Martei Quarshie emerging as the Overall Best Cadet Officer.
The Vice-President entreated the service to collaborate with the other security agencies to design mechanisms which would regulate the flow of people into the country to avoid undermining national security.
He said as a front-line agency, the GIS was expected to enhance its role by providing timely and quality services for its clients.
The Vice-President said the ability of the GIS to achieve that would re-affirm Ghana’s emerging status as a preferred destination for international business capital and transaction.
He said the government was also committed to equipping the Border Patrol Unit of the service with all the necessary logistics to improve its deterrent and apprehension capabilities.
“I am aware that preparatory works for the construction of residential accommodation for immigration personnel have been completed and contracts awarded for actual work to begin,” he said.
Alhaji Mahama asked the new graduates to discharge their duties strictly according to the rules of the service.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Invest potential revenue from oil
pg 15. Tues. April 1, 2008
Story: Charles Benoni Okine, Atlanta
A Ghanaian Professor of Economics at the Southern Connecticut State University in the United States of America (USA), Professor Samuel Kojo Andoh, has advised the government to invest in the potential revenue from the oil find to diversify the economy to enable it to maximise the contributions from other sectors.
According to him, the excitement over the find was likely to tempt the government and Ghanaians alike to be over-dependent on the expected revenues from the oil just like cocoa, to the neglect of other vibrant sectors of the economy, a phenomenon which is termed the ‘Dutch Disease”.
Professor Andoh, who is also the Finance Chairperson of the university, gave the advise in an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic in Atlanta, Georgia.
He said in developing the economy, it was necessary to explore all sectors and the natural resource the country is endowed with and not only what was perceived to be the most lucrative ones.
The Economics Professor said the important legacies the present generation could leave for the next generation, was to diversify the sources of energy so that the country is not dependent on just oil or hydro but on renewable, sustainable and dependable energy sources”.
That, he stated, would ensure that the long-term development was not interrupted by the vagaries of the weather, oil politics and the ups and downs which characterised some of the country’s sources of revenue — gold, cocoa and timber in particular.
Professor Andoh,who had been a visiting lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), was answering some questions on how Ghana could maximise the benefits from the oil find without leaving the other sectors to wallow in abject neglect.
Since the discovery of oil by Komos Energy, an American oil exploration company and others in Ghanaian waters about eight months ago, experts in many areas have poured out their advice on how the country could make the find a blessing and not a curse.
Professor Andoh said having oil was good but it could easily distort an economy and create long-term problems.
“As the oil sector expands and starts employing more people, economic activity in the other sectors of the economy could decline,” he warned.
Professor Andoh further observed that the other sectors could decline because the oil sector tended to pay higher salaries, thus more attractive to the workforce.
He explained that “one can easily see cocoa farmers and fishermen moving from farming into the oil sector; the nascent manufacturing sector could suffer as well, as resources get diverted to the oil sector.”
The professor of economics warned that “if this happens, we would have substituted one dependency for another.”
Indeed, he said “it is not unusual for the discovery and exploitation of such an important natural resource (a bonanza) to actually cause an economy to do worse,” referring to the “Dutch disease.”
As a result, Professor Andoh said “it is important for us not to lull ourselves into a false sense of security by thinking that we will always have oil and that the revenues from it is the solution to our problems.”
“A good strategy will be to observe what Botswana has done with its diamonds and what Nigeria has done with its oil. Smart wealthy people smooth their earnings over their lifetime (in reference to Botswana) and do not increase their expenditure when there is a spike in their income — the case of neighbouring Nigeria.
“As Ghana exploits oil for export and local use, it should always have an eye on what will happen when the oil runs out,” he warned and added that “it is also important to bear in mind that with the high oil prices, comes the real possibility of alternatives being developed which could cause the price of oil to decline in the long-run and cause havoc with oil revenue-dependent economies.”
Professor Andoh, however, noted that it was heartening to observe that the government was aware of the potential problems and was reviewing models across the world from which to adopt a good one.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine, Atlanta
A Ghanaian Professor of Economics at the Southern Connecticut State University in the United States of America (USA), Professor Samuel Kojo Andoh, has advised the government to invest in the potential revenue from the oil find to diversify the economy to enable it to maximise the contributions from other sectors.
According to him, the excitement over the find was likely to tempt the government and Ghanaians alike to be over-dependent on the expected revenues from the oil just like cocoa, to the neglect of other vibrant sectors of the economy, a phenomenon which is termed the ‘Dutch Disease”.
Professor Andoh, who is also the Finance Chairperson of the university, gave the advise in an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic in Atlanta, Georgia.
He said in developing the economy, it was necessary to explore all sectors and the natural resource the country is endowed with and not only what was perceived to be the most lucrative ones.
The Economics Professor said the important legacies the present generation could leave for the next generation, was to diversify the sources of energy so that the country is not dependent on just oil or hydro but on renewable, sustainable and dependable energy sources”.
That, he stated, would ensure that the long-term development was not interrupted by the vagaries of the weather, oil politics and the ups and downs which characterised some of the country’s sources of revenue — gold, cocoa and timber in particular.
Professor Andoh,who had been a visiting lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), was answering some questions on how Ghana could maximise the benefits from the oil find without leaving the other sectors to wallow in abject neglect.
Since the discovery of oil by Komos Energy, an American oil exploration company and others in Ghanaian waters about eight months ago, experts in many areas have poured out their advice on how the country could make the find a blessing and not a curse.
Professor Andoh said having oil was good but it could easily distort an economy and create long-term problems.
“As the oil sector expands and starts employing more people, economic activity in the other sectors of the economy could decline,” he warned.
Professor Andoh further observed that the other sectors could decline because the oil sector tended to pay higher salaries, thus more attractive to the workforce.
He explained that “one can easily see cocoa farmers and fishermen moving from farming into the oil sector; the nascent manufacturing sector could suffer as well, as resources get diverted to the oil sector.”
The professor of economics warned that “if this happens, we would have substituted one dependency for another.”
Indeed, he said “it is not unusual for the discovery and exploitation of such an important natural resource (a bonanza) to actually cause an economy to do worse,” referring to the “Dutch disease.”
As a result, Professor Andoh said “it is important for us not to lull ourselves into a false sense of security by thinking that we will always have oil and that the revenues from it is the solution to our problems.”
“A good strategy will be to observe what Botswana has done with its diamonds and what Nigeria has done with its oil. Smart wealthy people smooth their earnings over their lifetime (in reference to Botswana) and do not increase their expenditure when there is a spike in their income — the case of neighbouring Nigeria.
“As Ghana exploits oil for export and local use, it should always have an eye on what will happen when the oil runs out,” he warned and added that “it is also important to bear in mind that with the high oil prices, comes the real possibility of alternatives being developed which could cause the price of oil to decline in the long-run and cause havoc with oil revenue-dependent economies.”
Professor Andoh, however, noted that it was heartening to observe that the government was aware of the potential problems and was reviewing models across the world from which to adopt a good one.
Company to meet community leaders
Pg 31. Tues. April 1/08
Story: Charles Benoni Okine, New York
THE President of Kosmos Energy, Mr Jim Musselman, has stated that the company will meet all the chiefs and opinion leaders within the community in which it operates to ascertain their immediate needs before embarking on its social responsibility programme.
“We need to seriously involve them to know what they want, which is their priority; this is important to ensure that we give them what they want and not do what we perceive to be their needs,” he added.
Mr Musselman, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the company, was speaking in a telephone interview from his base in Dallas, Texas on the company’s strategies for its social responsibility programmes.
“We believe that we need to give some of what we are getting back to the communities within which we are operating and I can assure Ghanaians we will not toy with that,” he added.
The issue of insensitivity to social responsibilities by oil exploration companies has been one of the major causes of conflicts between the communities and such companies in many oil producing countries such as Nigeria.
But Mr Musselman stated that “this will not happen in Ghana because we have a track record when it comes to that and we do not have any problems as far as that is concerned in the countries we drill oil”.
He said the company believed in education and expressed the hope that the provision of schools would be one of the major priorities of the communities when they met the chiefs to discuss their priorities.
On environmental issues, the President of Kosmos said the company was very alert to its responsibilities of ensuring that it mopped up any spills to prevent any adverse effect to the environment.
He said the company operated within internationally acceptable standards and would work to maintain its track record as far as protecting the environment within which it operated was concerned.
The issue of environmental safety was one of the major topics that were raised during the National Oil and Gas Forum called at the instance of President Kufuor barely a month ago to, among others, solicit the views of experts and representatives of the public to make the oil discovery in the country a blessing and not a curse.
Mr Musselman described the forum as an innovation and one that the company least expected to happen.
“The government, led by President Kufuor, did the right thing because of his concern for the country and we believe that was a brilliant idea which must be emulated by other oil producing countries,” he added.
Mr Musselman said the resource was for the entire country and revenues accruing from it must go to the benefit of all and noted that it was against this background that the company applauded the government for the move to plan ahead of full production.
He was optimistic that the full production would begin within the next four to five years because of the intensified nature of the exploration activities.
Meanwhile, Mr Musselman said the company was working hard towards starting production by the middle of next year in smaller quantities while exploration of other wells continued.
“Full production is not instantaneous; It is a process and the company was working steadily according to plan to reach that stage,” he said.
He said the company was presently working on the Jubilee fields also within the Cape Three Points of the Tano Basin to get more leads as to what was expected from its area of operation.
Mr Musselman said having drilled two successive wells within a year, the company was poised to drill up to eight by the end of the year.
He said the three companies working on the Cape Three Points, including Tullow and Anadarko, had put together resources to lease a rig that would work in the country for a long period.
Mr Musselman called for patience as the company did its best to explore the oil resource, adding that when full production starts, it could last between 35 and 40 years.
Story: Charles Benoni Okine, New York
THE President of Kosmos Energy, Mr Jim Musselman, has stated that the company will meet all the chiefs and opinion leaders within the community in which it operates to ascertain their immediate needs before embarking on its social responsibility programme.
“We need to seriously involve them to know what they want, which is their priority; this is important to ensure that we give them what they want and not do what we perceive to be their needs,” he added.
Mr Musselman, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the company, was speaking in a telephone interview from his base in Dallas, Texas on the company’s strategies for its social responsibility programmes.
“We believe that we need to give some of what we are getting back to the communities within which we are operating and I can assure Ghanaians we will not toy with that,” he added.
The issue of insensitivity to social responsibilities by oil exploration companies has been one of the major causes of conflicts between the communities and such companies in many oil producing countries such as Nigeria.
But Mr Musselman stated that “this will not happen in Ghana because we have a track record when it comes to that and we do not have any problems as far as that is concerned in the countries we drill oil”.
He said the company believed in education and expressed the hope that the provision of schools would be one of the major priorities of the communities when they met the chiefs to discuss their priorities.
On environmental issues, the President of Kosmos said the company was very alert to its responsibilities of ensuring that it mopped up any spills to prevent any adverse effect to the environment.
He said the company operated within internationally acceptable standards and would work to maintain its track record as far as protecting the environment within which it operated was concerned.
The issue of environmental safety was one of the major topics that were raised during the National Oil and Gas Forum called at the instance of President Kufuor barely a month ago to, among others, solicit the views of experts and representatives of the public to make the oil discovery in the country a blessing and not a curse.
Mr Musselman described the forum as an innovation and one that the company least expected to happen.
“The government, led by President Kufuor, did the right thing because of his concern for the country and we believe that was a brilliant idea which must be emulated by other oil producing countries,” he added.
Mr Musselman said the resource was for the entire country and revenues accruing from it must go to the benefit of all and noted that it was against this background that the company applauded the government for the move to plan ahead of full production.
He was optimistic that the full production would begin within the next four to five years because of the intensified nature of the exploration activities.
Meanwhile, Mr Musselman said the company was working hard towards starting production by the middle of next year in smaller quantities while exploration of other wells continued.
“Full production is not instantaneous; It is a process and the company was working steadily according to plan to reach that stage,” he said.
He said the company was presently working on the Jubilee fields also within the Cape Three Points of the Tano Basin to get more leads as to what was expected from its area of operation.
Mr Musselman said having drilled two successive wells within a year, the company was poised to drill up to eight by the end of the year.
He said the three companies working on the Cape Three Points, including Tullow and Anadarko, had put together resources to lease a rig that would work in the country for a long period.
Mr Musselman called for patience as the company did its best to explore the oil resource, adding that when full production starts, it could last between 35 and 40 years.
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