The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, has challenged the board and management of the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) to extend their operations beyond the country’s borders.
He noted that the bank had the necessary personnel and with the current conducive economic environment it would open branches outside Ghana.
“I urge you to move the flag of Ghana beyond its shores. Yes your time has come. Today, with your remarkable achievements, GCB has the capacity to embark on international expansion,” he said.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Anthony Akoto-Osei, at the inauguration of the Takoradi main branch building of the Ghana Commercial Bank, Mr Baah-Wiredu noted that challenges led to the closure of the bank’s branch in Togo sometime ago, but the time was now right for the GCB to consider opening branches in the Gambia, Togo, La Cote d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso.
He said since the discovery of oil in commercial quantities in the Western Region, companies with foresight had started their strategic move to position themselves for the evolving business opportunities.
He was, therefore, happy to be part of GCB’s strategy of moving its old branch into a modern, more spacious and customer-friendly environment to attract a chunk of the oil business.
The Finance Minister said it was anticipated that Tullow, an oil exploration and development company, would spend close to GH¢3 billion in the next two to three years.
“The GCB is appreciated for its role in the development of this nation and the economy as a whole,” he said.
He added that the bank’s support of the national economy was immense and that its support for the oil sector, practically and literally, fuelled the engine of growth of the country.
According to him, the government, knowing the importance of the banking and finance sector, had facilitated the establishment of the first credit referencing bureau in the country to ensure the sustenance of the credit cycle of banks and as such the financial sector.
Mr Baah-Wiredu stated that the Italian government in a recent agreement with Ghana, would ensure the availability of credit for small and medium-scale enterprises (SME’s), saying “I know that SME’s feature firmly in GCB’s credit policy and l hope the injection of funds in the economy and targeted at SME’s will enable GCB to satisfy the demands of this special group”.
He said while some questioned the opening up of the economy to foreign banks, the performance of GCB in the last couple of years gave him confidence in that policy.
Mr Baah-Wiredu noted that in the face of intense competition, the bank had proved its mettle with achievements that were based on the vision and the strategy of leadership.
The Managing Director of the Ghana Commercial Bank, Mr L .N. Adu-Mante, appealed to the government to direct more business through the bank to build capacity for it to enhance its investments in areas of the country where other competitors would not and did no want to go.
“For this community service, we deserve government’s consideration and support,” he said.
He reiterated the bank’s commitment to expanding banking services for customers spread across the widest geographical coverage while offering a broad range of differentiated products and services through an efficient information technology system.
“Riding on the back of an efficient IT system, GCB will bring its expertise in oil financing to bear on the business in Takoradi and beyond,” he said.
“GCB already can boast the confidence of its correspondent banks who are in the international market and who through collaboration with GCB will address the financial requests of oil companies operating from this region with expediency.”
Mr Adu-Mante noted that with the shifting of business concerns to the oil region, there was the need for international banking standards in services and that the GCB was well poised for this.
According to the managing director, GCB was unique, since it was the only bank that could boast being the backbone of the national economy, with a national conscience and history.
He said the bank acknowledged the developments in the financial sector, which had led to the influx of more banks into the country.
That had come with an aggressive competition as the bank competed with others for the same business but the enormous growth witnessed in the economy and the oil find in the Western Region had thrown to the bank challenges, as well as opportunities.
“One’s survival in these dynamic developments is to strategise and adopt the right measures to win a chunk of the business,” he stated.
“That is why GCB is opening more branches and doing so strategically.”
Sunday, August 31, 2008
AHANTAMAN ASSOCIATION TO PROMOTE UNITY (PAGE 18)
THE chiefs and people of Ahanta in the Western Region have inaugurated the Ayindamane (Ahantaman) Development Association to promote economic activities and protect the heritage, tradition, customs, as well as the culture of the people.
The formation of the association has become necessary with the prospect of oil coming from or around the Ahanta land.
The association also seeks to promote the unity, peace and social cohesion, as well as the integrity of Ahantaman to ensure that the environment is properly managed and fairly utilised for the benefit of the people of Ahanta, the Western Region and the country as a whole.
Speaking at the launch on the theme, “Development through the promotion of education, industry and environment”, the Nigerian High Commissioner in Accra Mr Musiliu O. Obanikoro, said looking and reflecting on his country’s experiences after the oil exploration and that of Ghana, there was the need for both countries to share experiences on what Nigeria had gone through in so many years.
“You have the capacity to avoid the pitfall we have found ourselves in,” he stressed, adding that “unfortunately, we seek solutions to our problems when we reach the crisis point”.
Mr Obanikoro pointed out that his country had been described as an oil giant in Africa but there had been mismanagement of trillions of dollars since the 1960’s, saying “this you must try to avoid”.
He said in Nigeria, oil communities had not enjoyed the benefits from the oil for the past 40 years and that through persistent internal conflicts many oil communities had been torn apart.
In an address read on his behalf, the Western Regional Minister, Mr A. E. Amoah, said an initiative such as that of the Ahanta people needed the support of everybody.
As custodians, he said, the chiefs had important role to play and therefore urged them to put their heads together to put policies in place to ensure that the people benefit from the ventures that would be established as a result of the oil find.
Nana Nketsia, Omanhene of the Essikado Traditional Area who is the chairman of a 20-member Board of Trustees of the Association, emphasised that the launch of the association was not for the Ahanta people alone, but for the people in the region and humanity.
The formation of the association has become necessary with the prospect of oil coming from or around the Ahanta land.
The association also seeks to promote the unity, peace and social cohesion, as well as the integrity of Ahantaman to ensure that the environment is properly managed and fairly utilised for the benefit of the people of Ahanta, the Western Region and the country as a whole.
Speaking at the launch on the theme, “Development through the promotion of education, industry and environment”, the Nigerian High Commissioner in Accra Mr Musiliu O. Obanikoro, said looking and reflecting on his country’s experiences after the oil exploration and that of Ghana, there was the need for both countries to share experiences on what Nigeria had gone through in so many years.
“You have the capacity to avoid the pitfall we have found ourselves in,” he stressed, adding that “unfortunately, we seek solutions to our problems when we reach the crisis point”.
Mr Obanikoro pointed out that his country had been described as an oil giant in Africa but there had been mismanagement of trillions of dollars since the 1960’s, saying “this you must try to avoid”.
He said in Nigeria, oil communities had not enjoyed the benefits from the oil for the past 40 years and that through persistent internal conflicts many oil communities had been torn apart.
In an address read on his behalf, the Western Regional Minister, Mr A. E. Amoah, said an initiative such as that of the Ahanta people needed the support of everybody.
As custodians, he said, the chiefs had important role to play and therefore urged them to put their heads together to put policies in place to ensure that the people benefit from the ventures that would be established as a result of the oil find.
Nana Nketsia, Omanhene of the Essikado Traditional Area who is the chairman of a 20-member Board of Trustees of the Association, emphasised that the launch of the association was not for the Ahanta people alone, but for the people in the region and humanity.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
GOLDEN STAR ASSISTS MORE COMMUNITIES IN WR (PAGE 21)
GOLDEN Star (Bogoso/Prestea) Limited, a gold mining company operating at Prestea/Bogoso in the Prestea-Huni Valley District in the Western Region, has spent a total of $4,347,907 within the last eight years to provide social amenities for towns and villages in its catchment areas, as part of its community development agenda.
The community support programme covered areas such as education and sports, health, sanitation, provision of clean water and improvement of the communities’ infrastructure.
The projects include the construction of a library at Bogoso, a day care centre at Mbease-Nsuta, fencing of the Bogoso Sports Stadium, school projects at Juaben and the Prestea Senior High/Technical School, a weighing centre at Anfegya and aqua privy facilities at Kwame Niampah and Bolakyir.
The company has also completed two water projects for the Dumase and Himan/Ankobrah communities, as well as hand-dug wells fitted with hand pumps for the people of Mbease-Nsuta and Kumsono, road rehabilitation and construction of community centres in the stakeholder communities.
The General Manager of Golden Star (Bogoso/Prestea) Limited (GSBPL), Mr Nigel Tamlyn, made this known when members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Environment, Science and Technology visited the mine to acquaint themselves with the operations of the company, how they were affecting the environment, as well as the people in the company’s catchment area.
Members of the committee, chaired by Mr Kwame Owusu Frimpong, toured the mine and held a meeting with the chiefs, district assembly members, opinion leaders, as well as area council chairmen of the stakeholder communities, to share ideas on the operations of the mining company in the area.
Mr Tamlyn emphasised that the company had social responsibility to the stakeholder communities, adding that it had put policies and procedures in place to ensure that community relations were an integral part of its operations.
The Vice-President of the company, Mr Daniel Owiredu, stated that the mother company invested $90 million between 2003 and 2005 to restart the Golden Star (Wassa Mine) and constructed a new plant to process sulphide ore at a cost of $250 million.
He, however, stated that the new plant was experiencing operational difficulties.
Asked why the company was performing better in its Wassa Mine than the Bogoso/Prestea Mine as far as environmental issues were concerned, Mr Owiredu conceded that the situation had changed.
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Environment, Science and Technology, Mr Owusu Frimpong, said the committee was impressed with what was happening at the mine, saying that the communities had attested to it.
“We are happy about what we have seen and we hope we will see more in future,” he stressed.
Mr Frimpong stated that the committee had to ensure good environmental practices throughout the country, stressing that no mining company could run away from its social responsibilities.
The Vice-Chairman of the committee, Mr Joseph Yarni Labik, urged the communities to continue the good relationship with the company.
“You are the community leaders; try to iron out all differences that may arise. I am happy that you have established this good relationship,” he emphasised.
Mr Labik made it clear that the committee would conduct thorough investigations on every petition or letter it would receive about the operations of the mine, before acting on it or discussing it on the floor of the House to avoid embarrassing the chiefs and people in the area.
A member of the committee, Mr J.B. Danquah, advised the communities not to see the mining company as the central government in the provision of development projects.
He also urged them to prioritise their needs to enable the company to assist them gradually.
The Divisional Chief of Mbease-Nsuta, Nana Adu Payin II, said the stool had released 5,006 acres of land to the mining company for the development of an oil palm plantation for people in the area.
He appealed to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to grant Golden Star (Bogoso/Prestea) a mining permit to start its Bogoso South Mining Project to help create more jobs and to limit illegal mining in the area.
The chief of Adaamanso, Nana Gyankwaw II, suggested that the mining companies should sign a social responsibility agreement with the traditional rulers and people before mining the gold.
The chief of Prestea-Nakaba, Nana Blakwofie, noted with concern that there was no doctor at the Prestea Government Hospital due to lack of accommodation.
He, therefore, appealed to the mining company to rehabilitate two bungalows in Prestea to accommodate doctors.
The community support programme covered areas such as education and sports, health, sanitation, provision of clean water and improvement of the communities’ infrastructure.
The projects include the construction of a library at Bogoso, a day care centre at Mbease-Nsuta, fencing of the Bogoso Sports Stadium, school projects at Juaben and the Prestea Senior High/Technical School, a weighing centre at Anfegya and aqua privy facilities at Kwame Niampah and Bolakyir.
The company has also completed two water projects for the Dumase and Himan/Ankobrah communities, as well as hand-dug wells fitted with hand pumps for the people of Mbease-Nsuta and Kumsono, road rehabilitation and construction of community centres in the stakeholder communities.
The General Manager of Golden Star (Bogoso/Prestea) Limited (GSBPL), Mr Nigel Tamlyn, made this known when members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Environment, Science and Technology visited the mine to acquaint themselves with the operations of the company, how they were affecting the environment, as well as the people in the company’s catchment area.
Members of the committee, chaired by Mr Kwame Owusu Frimpong, toured the mine and held a meeting with the chiefs, district assembly members, opinion leaders, as well as area council chairmen of the stakeholder communities, to share ideas on the operations of the mining company in the area.
Mr Tamlyn emphasised that the company had social responsibility to the stakeholder communities, adding that it had put policies and procedures in place to ensure that community relations were an integral part of its operations.
The Vice-President of the company, Mr Daniel Owiredu, stated that the mother company invested $90 million between 2003 and 2005 to restart the Golden Star (Wassa Mine) and constructed a new plant to process sulphide ore at a cost of $250 million.
He, however, stated that the new plant was experiencing operational difficulties.
Asked why the company was performing better in its Wassa Mine than the Bogoso/Prestea Mine as far as environmental issues were concerned, Mr Owiredu conceded that the situation had changed.
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Environment, Science and Technology, Mr Owusu Frimpong, said the committee was impressed with what was happening at the mine, saying that the communities had attested to it.
“We are happy about what we have seen and we hope we will see more in future,” he stressed.
Mr Frimpong stated that the committee had to ensure good environmental practices throughout the country, stressing that no mining company could run away from its social responsibilities.
The Vice-Chairman of the committee, Mr Joseph Yarni Labik, urged the communities to continue the good relationship with the company.
“You are the community leaders; try to iron out all differences that may arise. I am happy that you have established this good relationship,” he emphasised.
Mr Labik made it clear that the committee would conduct thorough investigations on every petition or letter it would receive about the operations of the mine, before acting on it or discussing it on the floor of the House to avoid embarrassing the chiefs and people in the area.
A member of the committee, Mr J.B. Danquah, advised the communities not to see the mining company as the central government in the provision of development projects.
He also urged them to prioritise their needs to enable the company to assist them gradually.
The Divisional Chief of Mbease-Nsuta, Nana Adu Payin II, said the stool had released 5,006 acres of land to the mining company for the development of an oil palm plantation for people in the area.
He appealed to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to grant Golden Star (Bogoso/Prestea) a mining permit to start its Bogoso South Mining Project to help create more jobs and to limit illegal mining in the area.
The chief of Adaamanso, Nana Gyankwaw II, suggested that the mining companies should sign a social responsibility agreement with the traditional rulers and people before mining the gold.
The chief of Prestea-Nakaba, Nana Blakwofie, noted with concern that there was no doctor at the Prestea Government Hospital due to lack of accommodation.
He, therefore, appealed to the mining company to rehabilitate two bungalows in Prestea to accommodate doctors.
Friday, August 22, 2008
GREL DONATES ELECTRIC POLES TO 4 COMMUNITIES (PAGE 26)
HE Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL) has donated 50 low tension electric poles worth GH¢12,000 to four rural communities within its catchment area in the Ahanta West District in the Western Region for their electrification projects.
The communities are Chavene, Aluado, Breman and Komanfokrom.
Last year, the company made a similar donation to the people of Boekrom in the district to embark on their electrification project.
Speaking at a ceremony to hand over the poles to the communities, the Human Resource and Administration Manager of GREL, Mr Joseph C. Garbrah, said the electrification projects would provide the opportunity for schoolchildren in the communities to study in the night.
He added that the facility would also promote the setting up of rural industries that would help in the alleviation of poverty in the area.
Mr Garbrah said since 2005 the company had provided many development projects, including school blocks, for the communities in its operational areas.
The company, he said, had provided scholarships to brilliant, needy students from the communities where it operated.
He stated that the company was interested in education and for that reason, it had been organising vacation classes for schoolchildren in the communities free of charge.
Mr Garbrah added that last year, the company organised vacation classes for 1,400 children in the area for a four-week period, adding that more children would benefit from the classes this year.
He, however, stressed the need for peaceful co-existence to enable the company to assist the people in their development efforts.
The Paramount chief of the Nsein Traditional Area and Chairman of the Association on whose Land GREL Operates , Awulae Agyefi Kwame II, urged people in the communities where the company had its rubber plantations not to be confrontational in their demand for assistance.
He advised the communities, which had not benefited from the company’s development assistance to put down their priorities and submit them to the association for discussion with GREL for consideration.
Awulae Agyefi noted with regret that more than 88 communities in the affected areas had not benefited from the royalties the rubber company had been paying to the present and previous governments.
The acting President of the Lower Dixcove Traditional Council, Nana Amoako Agyebu, appealed to the company to release part of its land to the people of Chavene to enable them to build more buildings to expand the community.
The communities are Chavene, Aluado, Breman and Komanfokrom.
Last year, the company made a similar donation to the people of Boekrom in the district to embark on their electrification project.
Speaking at a ceremony to hand over the poles to the communities, the Human Resource and Administration Manager of GREL, Mr Joseph C. Garbrah, said the electrification projects would provide the opportunity for schoolchildren in the communities to study in the night.
He added that the facility would also promote the setting up of rural industries that would help in the alleviation of poverty in the area.
Mr Garbrah said since 2005 the company had provided many development projects, including school blocks, for the communities in its operational areas.
The company, he said, had provided scholarships to brilliant, needy students from the communities where it operated.
He stated that the company was interested in education and for that reason, it had been organising vacation classes for schoolchildren in the communities free of charge.
Mr Garbrah added that last year, the company organised vacation classes for 1,400 children in the area for a four-week period, adding that more children would benefit from the classes this year.
He, however, stressed the need for peaceful co-existence to enable the company to assist the people in their development efforts.
The Paramount chief of the Nsein Traditional Area and Chairman of the Association on whose Land GREL Operates , Awulae Agyefi Kwame II, urged people in the communities where the company had its rubber plantations not to be confrontational in their demand for assistance.
He advised the communities, which had not benefited from the company’s development assistance to put down their priorities and submit them to the association for discussion with GREL for consideration.
Awulae Agyefi noted with regret that more than 88 communities in the affected areas had not benefited from the royalties the rubber company had been paying to the present and previous governments.
The acting President of the Lower Dixcove Traditional Council, Nana Amoako Agyebu, appealed to the company to release part of its land to the people of Chavene to enable them to build more buildings to expand the community.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
EDUCATIONAL REFORM IS TO CREATE PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS (PAGE 21)
THE Deputy Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Madam Benedicta Nana Biney, has emphasised that the current educational reform programme is meant to create functional and productive citizens with self confidence as well as a high sense of life.
What is equally important, she said, was the fact that the educational system would generate in the individual an awareness of societal values for national development.
“We are all aware of the fact that over the years, our youth learn very little about our values,”, she said, adding “But what we need to recognise is that no matter how much comfortable we may be with the existing state of affairs, the world and our society are going through rapid changes in all aspects of personal and national life”.
Madam Biney was speaking at the inauguration of the Naana Biney School Complex at Sefwi Wiawso.
The school complex was dedicated to Madam Biney as a result of her numerous contributions towards the improvement in the academic performance of students in the Sefwi Wiawso District when she was the district director of education.
She stressed that any system of education should be based on the recognition that it served the needs of the individual, the community in which one lived and the nation as a whole.
According to Madam Biney, the most important function of the education sector was to develop the full potential of the students to enable them to become well-balanced and productive individuals with the requisite knowledge, skills values and aptitudes.
She said for the country to cope with the effects of the rapid changes, particularly with respect to science and technology, the people must be prepared to face the challenges of change and invest in their children’s education.
“I wish to emphasise that our children are the future leaders hence we must equip them with the type of education that will give them knowledge and competencies that will enable them lead meaningful and rewarding lives,” Madam Biney stated.
In this regard, she stressed that the country’s new educational reform was geared towards improvement in the quality of life of all children of school age.
“It is meant to give them self confidence, a sense of identity and principles of quality, access and management efficiency, she stated, adding “Remember also that the reform is specially designed to break psychological barriers and give equal opportunities to both boys and girls”.
Madam Biney urged teachers to understand children’s needs and create both social and academic experiences that would motivate learning by tapping into the development needs and information level of children.
She added that it was also crucial to provide children with opportunities that promoted mainstream practical skills.
The District Chief Executive for Sefwi Wiawso, Mr Yaw Attah-Boama, noted that education was not only important for national transformation, but also for individual self actualisation and enhancement.
He said education was the most effective tool in producing well disciplined, patriotic, skilful, talented, creative, resourceful and healthy citizens who could explore and transform efficiently both the human and natural resources of the country.
What is equally important, she said, was the fact that the educational system would generate in the individual an awareness of societal values for national development.
“We are all aware of the fact that over the years, our youth learn very little about our values,”, she said, adding “But what we need to recognise is that no matter how much comfortable we may be with the existing state of affairs, the world and our society are going through rapid changes in all aspects of personal and national life”.
Madam Biney was speaking at the inauguration of the Naana Biney School Complex at Sefwi Wiawso.
The school complex was dedicated to Madam Biney as a result of her numerous contributions towards the improvement in the academic performance of students in the Sefwi Wiawso District when she was the district director of education.
She stressed that any system of education should be based on the recognition that it served the needs of the individual, the community in which one lived and the nation as a whole.
According to Madam Biney, the most important function of the education sector was to develop the full potential of the students to enable them to become well-balanced and productive individuals with the requisite knowledge, skills values and aptitudes.
She said for the country to cope with the effects of the rapid changes, particularly with respect to science and technology, the people must be prepared to face the challenges of change and invest in their children’s education.
“I wish to emphasise that our children are the future leaders hence we must equip them with the type of education that will give them knowledge and competencies that will enable them lead meaningful and rewarding lives,” Madam Biney stated.
In this regard, she stressed that the country’s new educational reform was geared towards improvement in the quality of life of all children of school age.
“It is meant to give them self confidence, a sense of identity and principles of quality, access and management efficiency, she stated, adding “Remember also that the reform is specially designed to break psychological barriers and give equal opportunities to both boys and girls”.
Madam Biney urged teachers to understand children’s needs and create both social and academic experiences that would motivate learning by tapping into the development needs and information level of children.
She added that it was also crucial to provide children with opportunities that promoted mainstream practical skills.
The District Chief Executive for Sefwi Wiawso, Mr Yaw Attah-Boama, noted that education was not only important for national transformation, but also for individual self actualisation and enhancement.
He said education was the most effective tool in producing well disciplined, patriotic, skilful, talented, creative, resourceful and healthy citizens who could explore and transform efficiently both the human and natural resources of the country.
LAP WILL REDUCE CHIEFTAINCY DISPUTES — AMOAH (PAGE 20)
THE Western Regional Minister, Mr A.E. Amoah, has stated that the codification of the various customary rules as well as the implementation of the Land Administration Project (LAP) will ensure that chieftaincy disputes and land issues are reduced to the barest minimum.
He has, therefore, called on the traditional authorities to give their support to the efforts being made to codify the various customary rules across the country so that they could be accessible in the various traditional areas as we move from one part of the country to another.
Mr Amoah was addressing the general meeting of the Western Regional House of Chiefs in Sekondi.
He stressed that the differences arising from ethnic and cultural diversity should not retard the progress of the country, adding “On the contrary, it should be an asset that could impact positively on our development since it has the potential of giving us a wide range of ideas and values to choose from”.
That, Mr Amoah explained, was exactly what the Ascertainment of the Customary Law Project sought to do.
He stressed the need to approach the issue of the oil find as a region and not as ethnic groups, district assemblies or traditional areas.
“It is only when we have a united front and are ready to develop the industry in peace and harmony that investors will be interested in putting their money into the industry,” he explained.
Mr Amoah noted that closely connected with the oil find was the issue of the sale of land and therefore entreated the chiefs to work in close collaboration with the district assemblies to have the various areas properly zoned and serviced.
That, the regional minister noted, would give the chiefs a higher value for their land than they could obtain when sold in their current state.
He said as traditional rulers, the development of the region depended on them and therefore their activities should help promote peace and unity in their respective jurisdictions.
The President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, Awulae Attibrukusu III emphasised that there was great misconception about who owned land in the region.
This misconception, he said, had resulted in a situation where some divisional chiefs and even Adikrofo were claiming ownership of lands in their respective areas.
“It must interest you to know that some divisional chiefs and Adikrofo sign indentures on the sale of lands without recourse to the Paramount Chiefs,” Awulae Attibrukusu said, adding “This misconception is gaining wide currency, especially in the southern part of the region and if care is not taken, a time will come when the paramount stool will have no land to its credit”.
He said four years ago, the Western Region was ranked second in the whole country in terms of chieftaincy cases pending before the Judicial Committee, but today, as a result of the hard work of the committee, cases pending at the committee had reduced drastically.
Awulae Attibrukusu said the region had now been ranked ninth with only 16 cases pending before the Judicial Committee of the house.
He, therefore, appealed to all members of the house who qualified to sit on the Judicial Committee to come on board to enable the House to reduce the number of chieftaincy cases pending before the committee to a single digit.
He has, therefore, called on the traditional authorities to give their support to the efforts being made to codify the various customary rules across the country so that they could be accessible in the various traditional areas as we move from one part of the country to another.
Mr Amoah was addressing the general meeting of the Western Regional House of Chiefs in Sekondi.
He stressed that the differences arising from ethnic and cultural diversity should not retard the progress of the country, adding “On the contrary, it should be an asset that could impact positively on our development since it has the potential of giving us a wide range of ideas and values to choose from”.
That, Mr Amoah explained, was exactly what the Ascertainment of the Customary Law Project sought to do.
He stressed the need to approach the issue of the oil find as a region and not as ethnic groups, district assemblies or traditional areas.
“It is only when we have a united front and are ready to develop the industry in peace and harmony that investors will be interested in putting their money into the industry,” he explained.
Mr Amoah noted that closely connected with the oil find was the issue of the sale of land and therefore entreated the chiefs to work in close collaboration with the district assemblies to have the various areas properly zoned and serviced.
That, the regional minister noted, would give the chiefs a higher value for their land than they could obtain when sold in their current state.
He said as traditional rulers, the development of the region depended on them and therefore their activities should help promote peace and unity in their respective jurisdictions.
The President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, Awulae Attibrukusu III emphasised that there was great misconception about who owned land in the region.
This misconception, he said, had resulted in a situation where some divisional chiefs and even Adikrofo were claiming ownership of lands in their respective areas.
“It must interest you to know that some divisional chiefs and Adikrofo sign indentures on the sale of lands without recourse to the Paramount Chiefs,” Awulae Attibrukusu said, adding “This misconception is gaining wide currency, especially in the southern part of the region and if care is not taken, a time will come when the paramount stool will have no land to its credit”.
He said four years ago, the Western Region was ranked second in the whole country in terms of chieftaincy cases pending before the Judicial Committee, but today, as a result of the hard work of the committee, cases pending at the committee had reduced drastically.
Awulae Attibrukusu said the region had now been ranked ninth with only 16 cases pending before the Judicial Committee of the house.
He, therefore, appealed to all members of the house who qualified to sit on the Judicial Committee to come on board to enable the House to reduce the number of chieftaincy cases pending before the committee to a single digit.
INDIGENES OF WR DISSATISFIED WITH PACE OF DEVELOPMENT (PAGE 20)
INDIGENES of the Western Region feel neglected in terms of infrastructural development
They have expressed their regret that in spite of the tremendous contributions and sacrifices they have made towards national development, the region was virtually under developed.
The region accounts for 100 per cent of the rubber, bauxite and manganese produced in the country, while contributing about 60 per cent of gold production and about 57 per cent of cocoa.
The region is currently the leading producer of gold, while crude oil has been discovered in commercial quantities in the region recently.
It is against this backdrop that for the past three years, the Western Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) has been organising meet-the-press series to inform residents of the region and Ghanaians as a whole about the efforts being made to promote the development agenda of the region for the overall well-being of the inhabitants.
This year’s meet the press highlighted some of the achievements made pertaining to infrastructural development, since one of the major concerns of the people of the region is the state of the roads and the road network.
The total length of trunk roads in the region as of 2005 was 1,402 kilometres, representing 11 per cent of the national total length of trunk roads.
Out of the figure, 738 kilometres are tarred with 43.6 per cent in good condition, 18.6 per cent in fair condition, while the remaining 37.9 per cent is in poor condition. The remaining 665 kilometres has gravel surface.
The roads are being constantly maintained by the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) to make them motorable.
Since last year, a number of roads have been completed, while others are ongoing. Some of the completed roads are the 20-kilometre Mpataba-Half Assini road which was completed at a cost of GH¢6,881.00, the upgrading of the 7.9 kilometre Princess Town-Addedum Number One-Axim Junction-Elubo road completed at a cost of GH¢10,000.15 and the five-kilometre Teleku-Bokazo-Aniben Junction road, which was completed at a cost of GH¢8,473.00.
The ongoing road projects include the 4.9 kilometre Ataneata Junction-Huni Valley road being constructed at an estimated cost of GH¢7,373.74, the 10 kilometre Oseikojokrom-Benchima road which will cost GH¢13,198.27, the six-kilometre Sefwi Bekwai by Pass-Addendum Number One and Two roads estimated at GH¢10,383.64 and the five-kilometre Sefwi Wiawso-Akontombra road that would cost GH¢13,045
The total length of feeder roads identified in the region as of 2006 was 5,818.6 kilometres. Out of this, 3,011.6 kilometres are engineered, while 418.4 kilometres are partially engineered and the remaining 2,388.6 kilometres are unengineered.
Out of that stretch of roads, only 86.8 kilometres has bitumen surface, which represents 1.49 per cent.
From October to date, the Department of Feeder Roads has been undertaking a number of projects towards the improvement of feeder roads in the region.
About 43 of such feeder road projects have been undertaken. Most of the projects have been completed, while work on others are in progress with others terminated for poor work or delay of their projects.
On the agricultural sector of the region, about 233 agricultural extension agents (AEAs) have been deployed to carry out daily farm visits to interact with farmers in order to offer the necessary guidance and advice.
To ensure the attainment of the desired results, the staff of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) have been given training in crops and livestock, planning, monitoring and evaluation.
Consequently, more than 90 per cent of the staff are practising improved technology by way of demonstration, with 643 of such demonstrations set up by the AEAs in crops, livestock, food and nutrition.
Besides, 14,972 farmers in the region have been sensitised to HIV/AIDS, while more than 12,843 farmers have been trained in various agricultural topics in crops, livestock and non-traditional activities such as grass-cutter production and marketing.
In all, about 62 per cent of the farmers have been provided with new ideas and those technologies are being used in their farming activities.
Touching on the cocoa hi-tech, Since the introduction of the cocoa high technology (hi-tech) fertiliser to farmers, the government has put in a lot of efforts to increase cocoa production and that has paid off very well in the Western Region.
More than 80,000 cocoa farmers from the cocoa growing districts received 127,030 and 733,840 bags of Asaase Wura cocoa fertilisers for 2006 and 2007, respectively to fertilise 158,730 hectares of cocoa farms.
As regards mass spraying, 1,978 spraying gangs have so far been formed to carry out the exercise in the region.
Concerning coconut production in the region, about 800 hectares out of the 3,000 hectares of land devastated by coconut disease have been rehabilitated and another 1,200 hectares of aged coconut trees were fertilised in the Nzema East and Jomoro Districts.
Coconut yields have, therefore, increased from an average of 72 nuts to 120 nuts per tree per year and had given employment to more than 2,000 coconut farmers and processors.
Speaking at the meet the press, the Western Regional Minister, Mr A.E. Amoah, said the government was committed to the improvement of the road network in order to open up the hinterland for rapid socio-economic development.
He said the region’s total access to potable water was about 37.2 per cent as against the national average of 24.9 per cent .
Comparatively, Mr Amoah said, access to potable water was not much of a problem in the urban areas, adding that currently pipe-borne water was available in 17 districts in the region.
Mr Amoah said the percentage of coverage of potable water in the region was expected to increase from 37.2 to 41 by the end of this year.
Touching on electricity, the regional minister stated that the coverage of electricity in the region was not as one expected.
As of December, 2006, only a little over 40 per cent of the region had been connected to the national electricity grid.
He said a total of 53 major and minor electricity projects had been undertaken in towns and villages in the region with most of them being completed while others were going on.
The regional minister, however, noted with concern that some of the power projects were at a standstill.
They have expressed their regret that in spite of the tremendous contributions and sacrifices they have made towards national development, the region was virtually under developed.
The region accounts for 100 per cent of the rubber, bauxite and manganese produced in the country, while contributing about 60 per cent of gold production and about 57 per cent of cocoa.
The region is currently the leading producer of gold, while crude oil has been discovered in commercial quantities in the region recently.
It is against this backdrop that for the past three years, the Western Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) has been organising meet-the-press series to inform residents of the region and Ghanaians as a whole about the efforts being made to promote the development agenda of the region for the overall well-being of the inhabitants.
This year’s meet the press highlighted some of the achievements made pertaining to infrastructural development, since one of the major concerns of the people of the region is the state of the roads and the road network.
The total length of trunk roads in the region as of 2005 was 1,402 kilometres, representing 11 per cent of the national total length of trunk roads.
Out of the figure, 738 kilometres are tarred with 43.6 per cent in good condition, 18.6 per cent in fair condition, while the remaining 37.9 per cent is in poor condition. The remaining 665 kilometres has gravel surface.
The roads are being constantly maintained by the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) to make them motorable.
Since last year, a number of roads have been completed, while others are ongoing. Some of the completed roads are the 20-kilometre Mpataba-Half Assini road which was completed at a cost of GH¢6,881.00, the upgrading of the 7.9 kilometre Princess Town-Addedum Number One-Axim Junction-Elubo road completed at a cost of GH¢10,000.15 and the five-kilometre Teleku-Bokazo-Aniben Junction road, which was completed at a cost of GH¢8,473.00.
The ongoing road projects include the 4.9 kilometre Ataneata Junction-Huni Valley road being constructed at an estimated cost of GH¢7,373.74, the 10 kilometre Oseikojokrom-Benchima road which will cost GH¢13,198.27, the six-kilometre Sefwi Bekwai by Pass-Addendum Number One and Two roads estimated at GH¢10,383.64 and the five-kilometre Sefwi Wiawso-Akontombra road that would cost GH¢13,045
The total length of feeder roads identified in the region as of 2006 was 5,818.6 kilometres. Out of this, 3,011.6 kilometres are engineered, while 418.4 kilometres are partially engineered and the remaining 2,388.6 kilometres are unengineered.
Out of that stretch of roads, only 86.8 kilometres has bitumen surface, which represents 1.49 per cent.
From October to date, the Department of Feeder Roads has been undertaking a number of projects towards the improvement of feeder roads in the region.
About 43 of such feeder road projects have been undertaken. Most of the projects have been completed, while work on others are in progress with others terminated for poor work or delay of their projects.
On the agricultural sector of the region, about 233 agricultural extension agents (AEAs) have been deployed to carry out daily farm visits to interact with farmers in order to offer the necessary guidance and advice.
To ensure the attainment of the desired results, the staff of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) have been given training in crops and livestock, planning, monitoring and evaluation.
Consequently, more than 90 per cent of the staff are practising improved technology by way of demonstration, with 643 of such demonstrations set up by the AEAs in crops, livestock, food and nutrition.
Besides, 14,972 farmers in the region have been sensitised to HIV/AIDS, while more than 12,843 farmers have been trained in various agricultural topics in crops, livestock and non-traditional activities such as grass-cutter production and marketing.
In all, about 62 per cent of the farmers have been provided with new ideas and those technologies are being used in their farming activities.
Touching on the cocoa hi-tech, Since the introduction of the cocoa high technology (hi-tech) fertiliser to farmers, the government has put in a lot of efforts to increase cocoa production and that has paid off very well in the Western Region.
More than 80,000 cocoa farmers from the cocoa growing districts received 127,030 and 733,840 bags of Asaase Wura cocoa fertilisers for 2006 and 2007, respectively to fertilise 158,730 hectares of cocoa farms.
As regards mass spraying, 1,978 spraying gangs have so far been formed to carry out the exercise in the region.
Concerning coconut production in the region, about 800 hectares out of the 3,000 hectares of land devastated by coconut disease have been rehabilitated and another 1,200 hectares of aged coconut trees were fertilised in the Nzema East and Jomoro Districts.
Coconut yields have, therefore, increased from an average of 72 nuts to 120 nuts per tree per year and had given employment to more than 2,000 coconut farmers and processors.
Speaking at the meet the press, the Western Regional Minister, Mr A.E. Amoah, said the government was committed to the improvement of the road network in order to open up the hinterland for rapid socio-economic development.
He said the region’s total access to potable water was about 37.2 per cent as against the national average of 24.9 per cent .
Comparatively, Mr Amoah said, access to potable water was not much of a problem in the urban areas, adding that currently pipe-borne water was available in 17 districts in the region.
Mr Amoah said the percentage of coverage of potable water in the region was expected to increase from 37.2 to 41 by the end of this year.
Touching on electricity, the regional minister stated that the coverage of electricity in the region was not as one expected.
As of December, 2006, only a little over 40 per cent of the region had been connected to the national electricity grid.
He said a total of 53 major and minor electricity projects had been undertaken in towns and villages in the region with most of them being completed while others were going on.
The regional minister, however, noted with concern that some of the power projects were at a standstill.
WIAWSO-BENKYEMA ROAD REPAIRED (PAGE 20)
THE 44.4 kilometre Sefwi Wiawso-Benkyema Junction road rehabilitation project has been completed to open up the Sefwi area.
The project, undertaken at a cost of 30,509,803.71 euros and over GH¢10 million, was funded with a mixed credit facility of 35 per cent grant from the Dutch Government and 56 per cent Export Credit Agency (ECA) covered loan.
The government supplemented with nine per cent of the cost of the project.
The original contract period for the double surface dressing road was 28 months but was extended by six-and-a-half months making the total completion period 34.5 months.
A 20-metre bridge has been constructed on the Sui River in addition to 90 cross culverts and 140 access culverts while 5,712 metres of u-drains have been laid with 5,782.17 metres of stone pitched drains also laid.
With the construction of the road, the travel time between Sefwi Wiawso and Benkyema Junction, which was four hours before the road construction, is now 35 minutes.
It is on record that the contractors for the road project, Messrs Interbeton BV Group Company of Royal BAM Group, constructed the first five kilometres, starting from the Tano River Bridge to Domeabra on discount.
The Sefwi Wiawso-Benkyema Road project is the first phase of the 125.4-kilometre Sefwi Wiawso-Oseikojokrom road rehabilitation project.
The road passes through settlements such as Boako, Anyinabrim, Punikrom, Sefwi Camp, Dantano, Domeabra, Mile 82, Suiano, Afrimkrom, Asafo and Asawinso.
A team of engineers of the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) from Accra and Takoradi as well as those of the contractors, Interbeton BV, have undertaken a substantial completion inspection tour of the road project prior to its takeover by the GHA.
Briefing the team before the inspection, the Resident Engineer of the GHA in charge of the project, Mr Shelter Yao Lotsu, said the major challenge of the project had been the unpredictable weather and excessive rainfall in the area, which made it almost impossible to carry out construction activities for weeks.
He said most of the gravel deposits in the area were lying under existing cocoa farms that had to be destroyed to facilitate the extraction of the material resulting in huge payment of compensation to the affected farmers.
Mr Lotsu said the impatience of the farmers in demanding sometimes immediate payment, posed serious challenge to the project team resulting in some instances, demonstrations and lockouts of the contractor’s yard.
He stated that the district assembly occasionally assisted in controlling such volatile situations when they occurred.
The Deputy Chief Executive of the GHA in charge of maintenance, Mr John Kwasi Danso, told the Daily Graphic after the inspection that the work was satisfactory as it was done in accordance with the project specifications.
The Project Manager of Interbeton BV, Mr Joost Keessen, said the contractors had some difficulties in the implementation of the project but at the same time had learnt something from the challenge.
Mr Keessen said money spent on a branch road to the Sefwi Asafo Hospital was well spent, since the road to the hospital was very bad.
He stressed the need for regular maintenance of the entire road, adding that “maintenance is very important so the GHA pays special attention to that”.
The Director of Contracts of GHA, Mr M.A. Abbey, said “we are very impressed about the quality of work done”.
The General Manager of Interbeton BV, Mr Albert J. Van Warmerdam, said “we are happy and proud of the whole project”.
The project, undertaken at a cost of 30,509,803.71 euros and over GH¢10 million, was funded with a mixed credit facility of 35 per cent grant from the Dutch Government and 56 per cent Export Credit Agency (ECA) covered loan.
The government supplemented with nine per cent of the cost of the project.
The original contract period for the double surface dressing road was 28 months but was extended by six-and-a-half months making the total completion period 34.5 months.
A 20-metre bridge has been constructed on the Sui River in addition to 90 cross culverts and 140 access culverts while 5,712 metres of u-drains have been laid with 5,782.17 metres of stone pitched drains also laid.
With the construction of the road, the travel time between Sefwi Wiawso and Benkyema Junction, which was four hours before the road construction, is now 35 minutes.
It is on record that the contractors for the road project, Messrs Interbeton BV Group Company of Royal BAM Group, constructed the first five kilometres, starting from the Tano River Bridge to Domeabra on discount.
The Sefwi Wiawso-Benkyema Road project is the first phase of the 125.4-kilometre Sefwi Wiawso-Oseikojokrom road rehabilitation project.
The road passes through settlements such as Boako, Anyinabrim, Punikrom, Sefwi Camp, Dantano, Domeabra, Mile 82, Suiano, Afrimkrom, Asafo and Asawinso.
A team of engineers of the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) from Accra and Takoradi as well as those of the contractors, Interbeton BV, have undertaken a substantial completion inspection tour of the road project prior to its takeover by the GHA.
Briefing the team before the inspection, the Resident Engineer of the GHA in charge of the project, Mr Shelter Yao Lotsu, said the major challenge of the project had been the unpredictable weather and excessive rainfall in the area, which made it almost impossible to carry out construction activities for weeks.
He said most of the gravel deposits in the area were lying under existing cocoa farms that had to be destroyed to facilitate the extraction of the material resulting in huge payment of compensation to the affected farmers.
Mr Lotsu said the impatience of the farmers in demanding sometimes immediate payment, posed serious challenge to the project team resulting in some instances, demonstrations and lockouts of the contractor’s yard.
He stated that the district assembly occasionally assisted in controlling such volatile situations when they occurred.
The Deputy Chief Executive of the GHA in charge of maintenance, Mr John Kwasi Danso, told the Daily Graphic after the inspection that the work was satisfactory as it was done in accordance with the project specifications.
The Project Manager of Interbeton BV, Mr Joost Keessen, said the contractors had some difficulties in the implementation of the project but at the same time had learnt something from the challenge.
Mr Keessen said money spent on a branch road to the Sefwi Asafo Hospital was well spent, since the road to the hospital was very bad.
He stressed the need for regular maintenance of the entire road, adding that “maintenance is very important so the GHA pays special attention to that”.
The Director of Contracts of GHA, Mr M.A. Abbey, said “we are very impressed about the quality of work done”.
The General Manager of Interbeton BV, Mr Albert J. Van Warmerdam, said “we are happy and proud of the whole project”.
Monday, August 18, 2008
NPP'S DEVELOPMENT AGENDA UNPARALLED (PAGE 14)
The NPP government under the leadership of President J.A. Kufuor has created 1.7million jobs, built 205 clinics and hospitals as well as expanded education opportunities and infrastructure unparalleled in the history of the country.
The Ministers of Education, Science and Sports, Manpower and Employment as well as the Deputy Minister of Health, who gave separate accounts of the record of their ministries at the 16th annual conference of the NPP in Sekondi on Saturday, said the performance of the NPP in the past seven and half years in office was impressive and should be the basis for voters to retain the government in power.
The Minister of Manpower and Employment, Nana Akomea, said in the first six years of its tenure, the government created 1.7million new jobs and increased wages by about 622 per cent.
Nana Akomea used extensively the Ghana Living Standard Survey (GLSS) of 1999 and 2005, Ghana Job Tracking Report, the World Bank Report Memorandum of 2008, Ghana Population Census and the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Report to support his assertion.
He said the GLSS of 1999 indicated that job opportunities within that period amounted to 6,798,000 but a similar survey conducted in 2005 showed that job openings increased to 9,124,000.
Job opportunities generated from Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from 2001 to 2008 amounted to 86,200 compared to 64,000 created from the FDI from 1994 to 2000, he said.
In the case of wages, he said the national daily minimum wage had been increased from ¢3117 in 2000 to ¢22,500 (GH¢2.25 new Ghana cedis) representing an increase of 622 per cent.
Nana Akomea said although the economy had registered tremendous growth and improvement in the last eight years in history, there was still more work to be done.
In October 2006, the government launched the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) to provide employment opportunities to the youth.
So far, the Minister said, a total of 108,000 young people had been employed under the NYEP and the government was taking measures to institutionalise the NYEP.
He said the problem of timely payment of ¢6.4billion wages of the workers under the NYEP had been solved following arrangement between the government and a commercial bank.
For the first time, Nana Akomea said, a National Youth Employment had been fashioned out and currently the draft policy document was being considered by the Cabinet.
“The last eight years had been impressive. We have to continue this if we are to move forward,” he stated.
Presenting what the government had achieved in the education sector, Professor Dominic Fobih, the Minister of Education, Science and Sports, said the government had performed creditably in the education sector.
Before 2001 when the NPP government came into office, he said, the education sector was characterised by the poor school infrastructure and lack of implementation of the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE).
The effect of those conditions, he said, was that many children, who should have been in school, could not get access to education.
To reverse the appalling situation in the sector, Professor Fobih, said the government pursued a strategy to rehabilitate and construct new classroom blocks to provide decent accommodation for effective teaching and learning.
Besides, the government sought to provide accommodation for teachers, upgraded teacher training colleges to diploma awarding institutions and provided logistics such as transport to enhance academic work and management of schools.
The result of all those measures and many others, he said, was that enrolment at all levels had increased tremendously.
Mr Abraham Dwumah Odoom, Deputy Minister of Health, said the trust of the health policy had been to promote preventive medicine and healthy life styles instead of curative medicine.
While promoting preventive medicine, he said the government had built 205 clinics and hospitals over the period of its tenure to enhance health care.
As a result of effective health interventions, some diseases were reducing and the brain drain which was a prominent feature of the health sector had virtually abated.
He said indications were that those health personnel who travelled to seek greener pastures abroad were now returning home because of the attractive salary packages introduced by the government.
In addition to the provision of health facilities, Mr Odoom, said the government’s introduction of the National Health Insurance Scheme was making waves in the health sector, and that the scheme had been hailed as one of the best in the world.
For his part, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, who represented the Majority leader, said the NPP had increased its presence in Parliament from 1992 when it had no representation in the House to 128 in 2005.
The Ministers of Education, Science and Sports, Manpower and Employment as well as the Deputy Minister of Health, who gave separate accounts of the record of their ministries at the 16th annual conference of the NPP in Sekondi on Saturday, said the performance of the NPP in the past seven and half years in office was impressive and should be the basis for voters to retain the government in power.
The Minister of Manpower and Employment, Nana Akomea, said in the first six years of its tenure, the government created 1.7million new jobs and increased wages by about 622 per cent.
Nana Akomea used extensively the Ghana Living Standard Survey (GLSS) of 1999 and 2005, Ghana Job Tracking Report, the World Bank Report Memorandum of 2008, Ghana Population Census and the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Report to support his assertion.
He said the GLSS of 1999 indicated that job opportunities within that period amounted to 6,798,000 but a similar survey conducted in 2005 showed that job openings increased to 9,124,000.
Job opportunities generated from Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from 2001 to 2008 amounted to 86,200 compared to 64,000 created from the FDI from 1994 to 2000, he said.
In the case of wages, he said the national daily minimum wage had been increased from ¢3117 in 2000 to ¢22,500 (GH¢2.25 new Ghana cedis) representing an increase of 622 per cent.
Nana Akomea said although the economy had registered tremendous growth and improvement in the last eight years in history, there was still more work to be done.
In October 2006, the government launched the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) to provide employment opportunities to the youth.
So far, the Minister said, a total of 108,000 young people had been employed under the NYEP and the government was taking measures to institutionalise the NYEP.
He said the problem of timely payment of ¢6.4billion wages of the workers under the NYEP had been solved following arrangement between the government and a commercial bank.
For the first time, Nana Akomea said, a National Youth Employment had been fashioned out and currently the draft policy document was being considered by the Cabinet.
“The last eight years had been impressive. We have to continue this if we are to move forward,” he stated.
Presenting what the government had achieved in the education sector, Professor Dominic Fobih, the Minister of Education, Science and Sports, said the government had performed creditably in the education sector.
Before 2001 when the NPP government came into office, he said, the education sector was characterised by the poor school infrastructure and lack of implementation of the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE).
The effect of those conditions, he said, was that many children, who should have been in school, could not get access to education.
To reverse the appalling situation in the sector, Professor Fobih, said the government pursued a strategy to rehabilitate and construct new classroom blocks to provide decent accommodation for effective teaching and learning.
Besides, the government sought to provide accommodation for teachers, upgraded teacher training colleges to diploma awarding institutions and provided logistics such as transport to enhance academic work and management of schools.
The result of all those measures and many others, he said, was that enrolment at all levels had increased tremendously.
Mr Abraham Dwumah Odoom, Deputy Minister of Health, said the trust of the health policy had been to promote preventive medicine and healthy life styles instead of curative medicine.
While promoting preventive medicine, he said the government had built 205 clinics and hospitals over the period of its tenure to enhance health care.
As a result of effective health interventions, some diseases were reducing and the brain drain which was a prominent feature of the health sector had virtually abated.
He said indications were that those health personnel who travelled to seek greener pastures abroad were now returning home because of the attractive salary packages introduced by the government.
In addition to the provision of health facilities, Mr Odoom, said the government’s introduction of the National Health Insurance Scheme was making waves in the health sector, and that the scheme had been hailed as one of the best in the world.
For his part, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, who represented the Majority leader, said the NPP had increased its presence in Parliament from 1992 when it had no representation in the House to 128 in 2005.
NPP TAKES TWIN-CITY BY STORM (PAGE 13)
THE New Patriotic Party (NPP) at the weekend took the twin city of Sekondi/Takoradi by storm as it held its 16th annual delegates conference in the city.
Over 1,500 delegates as well as ministers of state, some members of the Diplomatic Corp, the party’s overseas delegations from the United States of America, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada and Cote d’Ivoire were also present.
Others were a 57-member delegation from the Tertiary Education Students Confederation (TESCON) of the NPP which invaded the twin city to attend the two-day conference on the theme: “We are moving forward”.
Virtually the entire twin city was awash with all kinds of NPP paraphernalia, which were being sold by hawkers who had come from all over the country. Every available space in all the hotels in the twin city were booked.
There were traffic jams on most of the principal streets as a result of the increase in human and vehicular traffic, particularly in Takoradi.
The problem was aggravated when the NPP presidential aspirant, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, decided to ride through some of the principal streets in Takoradi on Friday.
At the Takoradi Central Market, known as Market Circle, the whole place came to s standstill when the convoy of the flag bearer and his running mate decided to go round the market to fraternise with the market women.
The market women brought the convoy to a standstill as they danced the kangaroo dance in front and along side the vehicle carrying Nana Akufo-Addo, who stood in his open top car to wave and acknowledge cheers from the people in the area, after addressing executives of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU).
It took the security personnel a hectic time to create an opening for the convoy to move.
From the Market Circle, Nana Akufo-Addo moved straight to the Holy Child College at Fijai where he addressed qualified certificate ‘A’ teachers and unqualified and untrained teachers who were undergoing training in basic education for their diploma awards known as “Top Ups”.
The situation at the college was not different as by the time the NPP flag bearer and his running mate arrived at the college, it had already been besieged by people from across the country.
On Saturday at the Sekondi College where the conference was held, people had started trooping to the college as early as six o’clock in the morning while others spent the night there.
When the Daily Graphic arrived at the college as early as 7.30a.m. the whole place had been decorated with NPP colours and party paraphernalia.
A giant size effigy of an elephant had been mounted and this attracted many party faithful and other observers.
The traditional and cultural activities were not left out as there were live cultural displays and traditional dancers to grace the occasion.
Addressing the gathering at the Holy Child College at Fijai on Friday evening, Nana Akufo-Addo stressed that without a good educational system "we should forget about development". He said “We have excellent teachers who can impart knowledge to the students”.
The NPP flag bearer said the government had doubled the budget allocation for education and increased salaries of teachers.
He said the government was already trying to modernise all the 38 teacher training colleges in the country.
Over 1,500 delegates as well as ministers of state, some members of the Diplomatic Corp, the party’s overseas delegations from the United States of America, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada and Cote d’Ivoire were also present.
Others were a 57-member delegation from the Tertiary Education Students Confederation (TESCON) of the NPP which invaded the twin city to attend the two-day conference on the theme: “We are moving forward”.
Virtually the entire twin city was awash with all kinds of NPP paraphernalia, which were being sold by hawkers who had come from all over the country. Every available space in all the hotels in the twin city were booked.
There were traffic jams on most of the principal streets as a result of the increase in human and vehicular traffic, particularly in Takoradi.
The problem was aggravated when the NPP presidential aspirant, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, decided to ride through some of the principal streets in Takoradi on Friday.
At the Takoradi Central Market, known as Market Circle, the whole place came to s standstill when the convoy of the flag bearer and his running mate decided to go round the market to fraternise with the market women.
The market women brought the convoy to a standstill as they danced the kangaroo dance in front and along side the vehicle carrying Nana Akufo-Addo, who stood in his open top car to wave and acknowledge cheers from the people in the area, after addressing executives of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU).
It took the security personnel a hectic time to create an opening for the convoy to move.
From the Market Circle, Nana Akufo-Addo moved straight to the Holy Child College at Fijai where he addressed qualified certificate ‘A’ teachers and unqualified and untrained teachers who were undergoing training in basic education for their diploma awards known as “Top Ups”.
The situation at the college was not different as by the time the NPP flag bearer and his running mate arrived at the college, it had already been besieged by people from across the country.
On Saturday at the Sekondi College where the conference was held, people had started trooping to the college as early as six o’clock in the morning while others spent the night there.
When the Daily Graphic arrived at the college as early as 7.30a.m. the whole place had been decorated with NPP colours and party paraphernalia.
A giant size effigy of an elephant had been mounted and this attracted many party faithful and other observers.
The traditional and cultural activities were not left out as there were live cultural displays and traditional dancers to grace the occasion.
Addressing the gathering at the Holy Child College at Fijai on Friday evening, Nana Akufo-Addo stressed that without a good educational system "we should forget about development". He said “We have excellent teachers who can impart knowledge to the students”.
The NPP flag bearer said the government had doubled the budget allocation for education and increased salaries of teachers.
He said the government was already trying to modernise all the 38 teacher training colleges in the country.
WINNING TEAM ...Says President of Nana Akufo Addo & Dr Bawumia ticket (LEAD STORY)
This is the winning team”, President J. A. Kufuor declared on Saturday when he presented the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP’s) presidential pair for the December elections to an impressive gathering of party loyalists in Sekondi.
Addressing the opening session of the 16th delegates conference of the party, he asked the party faithful to work their hearts out to support Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to win the general election, pointing out that the attributes of Nana Akufo-Addo were complemented by the expertise of the running mate.
“My good friends, we are lucky to have a winning team comprising a flag bearer whose political maturity and sagacity is complemented by the financial and economic expertise of the running mate,” he said.
He said the ruling party had the best candidate in the person of Nana Akufo-Addo, hailing him as “ the man of destiny and the man needed at this moment to move Ghana forward”.
“I urge us all, to work our hearts out to support his campaign so that come January 2009, he will be the President of the Republic of Ghana,” he added.
The delegates congress was intended to deliberate on strategies to win the December elections and also introduce Dr Bawumia, who was nominated by Nana Akufo-Addo and received the endorsement of the National Executive Council of the party last Thursday as the running mate of the flag bearer for the December, 2008 general election.
President Kufuor extended his warm felicitations and goodwill to Dr Bawumia and said the selection of the running mate was the prerogative of the flag bearer, who does in consultation with the National Executive Council.
Explaining that the selection was based on a host of factors, the combination and totality of which should enhance the party’s fortunes at the elections, the President said Dr Bawumia was from a family with roots had gone deep in the politics of the country since the run-up to the country’s independence.
President Kufuor said as an outstanding economist and banker with both local and international experience, Dr Bawumia would bring to the ticket a wide network of professional colleagues, associates and friends to support the cause of the NPP and deliver as Vice President. “It goes without saying that his handsome face and youthfulness are also invaluable assets,” he added.
Turning his attention to the newly selected running mate, President reminded Dr Bawumia that his selection as the running mate of the Akufo-Addo ticket was a distinct honour and great responsibility that the party had entrusted to him at this critical time.
“With the help of Allah, we urge you to do everything in your power to vindicate this great party for selecting you for this very high office,” he said.
With the selection of Dr Bawumia as the running mate, the President said what was important henceforth was for the party faithful to support the ticket firmly and work whole-heartedly to secure the mandate of the national electorate and have the party returned to power.
“Now my fellow Kukrudites, our party is fully set for the December elections. The destiny of Ghana is in our hands and we must not fail the sons and daughters of this great nation, who have forged a winning partnership with us since our government has been privileged to lead our country,” he stated.
Turning his attention to the record of the party in last seven-and-a-half years that it had been in government, President Kufuor said the government had encouraged private sector participation in national development, upheld the rule of law, freedom of expression, and good governance, and stabilised the tottering economy it inherited from the previous administration.
He debunked suggestions that the record of previous and current administrations should not be compared by the electorate and used as the yardstick for their voting preferences.
President Kufuor said the reduction in inflation, the stability of the cedi, $8billion debt relief from the HIPC initiative, over-subscription of the Ghana’s Euro-bond on the London Stock Exchange, foreign direct investment, acquisition of Volta Aluminum Company (VALCO) and massive infrastructural development were some of the achievements of the NPP in government.
Others, he said, were the construction of trunk and feeder roads, educational reforms, National Health Insurance Scheme, capitation grant, school feeding and school bussing programmes, the Metro Mass Transport System, expansion of tertiary institutions, the Millennium Challenge Account, the relatively peaceful labour front and free medical care for pregnant women.
With the programmes the government had initiated in education and other sectors, the President said, the NPP would lead Ghana forward into prosperity.
He dismissed criticisms against the government by some opponents about its record of good governance, transparency and accountability and said the critics had glossed over efforts of the government to check corruption such as the promulgation of the Procurement Law and transparent conduct of the sale of the 70 per cent of the government share in Ghana Telecom(GT).
He asked whether the sale of Tema Dry Docks, Cement Works, Ashanti Goldfields, Nsawam Cannery, Star Hotel, Atlantic Hotel, Meridian Hotel, City Hotel and almost the entire GIHOC complex was debated as the GT sale had been done and asked where the proceeds from the sale of those crown jewels were.
President Kufuor said it was the Akufo-Addo presidency which would be able to continue the good works and build on the foundation which had been laid by his presidency and asked the party faithful to support the flag bearer to win the general election.
The National Chairman of the NPP, Mr Peter Mac Manu, said the decisions that would be taken at the annual conference would go a long way to affect the party and indicated that the members believed in the supremacy of the party.
He noted that the conduct of the parliamentary primaries was very challenging, since they attracted many candidates and appealed to those who lost or were disqualified not to allow their emotions to over-ride them.
“We must be as a unified party more than before. Do not allow our internal conflicts to usurp our strength and destroy the party,” he stressed, adding that “the failure of the NPP would be the failure of Ghana and Africa”.
He said the NPP was a political party that represented the good rather than the bad.
He said the party took part in the voter registration seriously and that it would continue to work with the Electoral Commission towards a free, fair, and credible election.
The National Chairman urged the members of the party to rise up and intensify the political campaign so that come December 7, 2008, the electorate would vote massively for the NPP
Addressing the opening session of the 16th delegates conference of the party, he asked the party faithful to work their hearts out to support Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to win the general election, pointing out that the attributes of Nana Akufo-Addo were complemented by the expertise of the running mate.
“My good friends, we are lucky to have a winning team comprising a flag bearer whose political maturity and sagacity is complemented by the financial and economic expertise of the running mate,” he said.
He said the ruling party had the best candidate in the person of Nana Akufo-Addo, hailing him as “ the man of destiny and the man needed at this moment to move Ghana forward”.
“I urge us all, to work our hearts out to support his campaign so that come January 2009, he will be the President of the Republic of Ghana,” he added.
The delegates congress was intended to deliberate on strategies to win the December elections and also introduce Dr Bawumia, who was nominated by Nana Akufo-Addo and received the endorsement of the National Executive Council of the party last Thursday as the running mate of the flag bearer for the December, 2008 general election.
President Kufuor extended his warm felicitations and goodwill to Dr Bawumia and said the selection of the running mate was the prerogative of the flag bearer, who does in consultation with the National Executive Council.
Explaining that the selection was based on a host of factors, the combination and totality of which should enhance the party’s fortunes at the elections, the President said Dr Bawumia was from a family with roots had gone deep in the politics of the country since the run-up to the country’s independence.
President Kufuor said as an outstanding economist and banker with both local and international experience, Dr Bawumia would bring to the ticket a wide network of professional colleagues, associates and friends to support the cause of the NPP and deliver as Vice President. “It goes without saying that his handsome face and youthfulness are also invaluable assets,” he added.
Turning his attention to the newly selected running mate, President reminded Dr Bawumia that his selection as the running mate of the Akufo-Addo ticket was a distinct honour and great responsibility that the party had entrusted to him at this critical time.
“With the help of Allah, we urge you to do everything in your power to vindicate this great party for selecting you for this very high office,” he said.
With the selection of Dr Bawumia as the running mate, the President said what was important henceforth was for the party faithful to support the ticket firmly and work whole-heartedly to secure the mandate of the national electorate and have the party returned to power.
“Now my fellow Kukrudites, our party is fully set for the December elections. The destiny of Ghana is in our hands and we must not fail the sons and daughters of this great nation, who have forged a winning partnership with us since our government has been privileged to lead our country,” he stated.
Turning his attention to the record of the party in last seven-and-a-half years that it had been in government, President Kufuor said the government had encouraged private sector participation in national development, upheld the rule of law, freedom of expression, and good governance, and stabilised the tottering economy it inherited from the previous administration.
He debunked suggestions that the record of previous and current administrations should not be compared by the electorate and used as the yardstick for their voting preferences.
President Kufuor said the reduction in inflation, the stability of the cedi, $8billion debt relief from the HIPC initiative, over-subscription of the Ghana’s Euro-bond on the London Stock Exchange, foreign direct investment, acquisition of Volta Aluminum Company (VALCO) and massive infrastructural development were some of the achievements of the NPP in government.
Others, he said, were the construction of trunk and feeder roads, educational reforms, National Health Insurance Scheme, capitation grant, school feeding and school bussing programmes, the Metro Mass Transport System, expansion of tertiary institutions, the Millennium Challenge Account, the relatively peaceful labour front and free medical care for pregnant women.
With the programmes the government had initiated in education and other sectors, the President said, the NPP would lead Ghana forward into prosperity.
He dismissed criticisms against the government by some opponents about its record of good governance, transparency and accountability and said the critics had glossed over efforts of the government to check corruption such as the promulgation of the Procurement Law and transparent conduct of the sale of the 70 per cent of the government share in Ghana Telecom(GT).
He asked whether the sale of Tema Dry Docks, Cement Works, Ashanti Goldfields, Nsawam Cannery, Star Hotel, Atlantic Hotel, Meridian Hotel, City Hotel and almost the entire GIHOC complex was debated as the GT sale had been done and asked where the proceeds from the sale of those crown jewels were.
President Kufuor said it was the Akufo-Addo presidency which would be able to continue the good works and build on the foundation which had been laid by his presidency and asked the party faithful to support the flag bearer to win the general election.
The National Chairman of the NPP, Mr Peter Mac Manu, said the decisions that would be taken at the annual conference would go a long way to affect the party and indicated that the members believed in the supremacy of the party.
He noted that the conduct of the parliamentary primaries was very challenging, since they attracted many candidates and appealed to those who lost or were disqualified not to allow their emotions to over-ride them.
“We must be as a unified party more than before. Do not allow our internal conflicts to usurp our strength and destroy the party,” he stressed, adding that “the failure of the NPP would be the failure of Ghana and Africa”.
He said the NPP was a political party that represented the good rather than the bad.
He said the party took part in the voter registration seriously and that it would continue to work with the Electoral Commission towards a free, fair, and credible election.
The National Chairman urged the members of the party to rise up and intensify the political campaign so that come December 7, 2008, the electorate would vote massively for the NPP
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
EXTEND TAKORADI AIRPORT RUNWAY (PAGE 25)
The Motor Traffic and Transport Unit of the Ghana Police Service need to check the activities of truck drivers in the twin-city of Sekondi/Takoradi to ensure their compliance with road safety regulations.
The indiscipline on the part of the drivers, coupled with their impatience on the roads, make the roads unsafe in the metropolis.
When the trucks break down the drivers and mechanics place warning signals, mostly tree branches and triangles, and begin to repair them right in the middle of the road.
Many months after the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan authorities relocated the trucks to a park at Apowa in the Ahanta West District, partly because of the Ghana 2008 tournament, and as result of a series of publications on the reckless parking of vehicles in some strategic places in the metropolis, many of them have returned to parking in the metropolis.
Some of the haulage truck drivers are gradually resuming the use of the shoulders of the roads as parking lots. The worst culprits are those still using the road from the Port roundabout to Harbour View area.
They park on both sides of the filling station, popularly known as Axim-Road Shell Station, and in front of KQ Spot, a popular bar in Takoradi, for several days.
Interestingly, the cocoa belongs to a cocoa licensed buying company that has a mini warehouse behind the fuel station, and most of the time the haulage trucks of the company’s drivers obstruct the flow of traffic when turning to enter the premises of the warehouse.
When the trucks arrive in the metropolis and it is not their turn to offload the cocoa they park on the shoulders of the road in front of the fuel station.
Any visitor to the metropolis who is confronted with the traffic congestion should not conclude that there is traffic in Takoradi. It is either that there is repair works taking place on a haulage truck in the middle of the road, a church holding traffic for their members to cross, or commercial drivers using the lay-bys as loading bays.
When contacted, the Western Regional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of Police, Assistant Superintendent of Police Adusa Poku, said the problem could largely be attributed to the absence of towing trucks for such heavy duty trucks.
“I have received a lot of complaints from members of the public; the least we can do is to provide some form of support until the mechanics finish repairing the vehicles and move them away,” he said.
For those who have resumed parking on the shoulders of the roads, the MTTC commander said it was a serious problem the unit was trying to deal with.
He warned that the unit would act swiftly to stop the practice.
The indiscipline on the part of the drivers, coupled with their impatience on the roads, make the roads unsafe in the metropolis.
When the trucks break down the drivers and mechanics place warning signals, mostly tree branches and triangles, and begin to repair them right in the middle of the road.
Many months after the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan authorities relocated the trucks to a park at Apowa in the Ahanta West District, partly because of the Ghana 2008 tournament, and as result of a series of publications on the reckless parking of vehicles in some strategic places in the metropolis, many of them have returned to parking in the metropolis.
Some of the haulage truck drivers are gradually resuming the use of the shoulders of the roads as parking lots. The worst culprits are those still using the road from the Port roundabout to Harbour View area.
They park on both sides of the filling station, popularly known as Axim-Road Shell Station, and in front of KQ Spot, a popular bar in Takoradi, for several days.
Interestingly, the cocoa belongs to a cocoa licensed buying company that has a mini warehouse behind the fuel station, and most of the time the haulage trucks of the company’s drivers obstruct the flow of traffic when turning to enter the premises of the warehouse.
When the trucks arrive in the metropolis and it is not their turn to offload the cocoa they park on the shoulders of the road in front of the fuel station.
Any visitor to the metropolis who is confronted with the traffic congestion should not conclude that there is traffic in Takoradi. It is either that there is repair works taking place on a haulage truck in the middle of the road, a church holding traffic for their members to cross, or commercial drivers using the lay-bys as loading bays.
When contacted, the Western Regional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of Police, Assistant Superintendent of Police Adusa Poku, said the problem could largely be attributed to the absence of towing trucks for such heavy duty trucks.
“I have received a lot of complaints from members of the public; the least we can do is to provide some form of support until the mechanics finish repairing the vehicles and move them away,” he said.
For those who have resumed parking on the shoulders of the roads, the MTTC commander said it was a serious problem the unit was trying to deal with.
He warned that the unit would act swiftly to stop the practice.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES SHOWS THE WAY (PAGE 44)
GOLDEN Star Resources, a mining company, has established 487 hectares of oil palm plantations for select farmers in four different communities in its operational areas in the Western Region as part of its corporate social responsibility.
The company is expected to develop 1,000 hectares by the end of this year, planted with 100,000 hybrid oil palm seedlings, and also achieve a cropping rate of 1,000 hectares per annum. About US$1.2 million has already been spent on the project and it is expected that US$1.5 million will be spent on the project at the end of this year.
The communities are Bogoso, Akyempim, Chujah and Maase-Nsuta.
At Bogoso, the company has established a 275-hectare oil palm plantation and allocated four hectares each to 69 smallholder farmers in the community. The project, which was established on a pilot basis two years ago, has been rolled out to the other communities for the benefit of the people.
The chiefs, as well as a host of family heads, have released 14,000 hectares of land for the projects and the company has targeted to develop 10,000 hectares in the years ahead.
When the target is achieved, it is expected that the plantations will support up to 3,000 smallholder farmers in the communities.
To ensure the effective management of the plantations, Golden Star Oil Palm Plantation Limited (GSOPP), a limited liability company, has been formed to see to the day-to-day activities of the farmers.
The company proposes to set up a palm oil processing plant to process the palm fruits into crude palm oil to be sold to big companies such as Unilever Ghana.
Speaking at a ceremony to allocate the Bogoso plantation to the smallholder farmers, the Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines, Madam Esther Obeng Dapaah, commended the mining company for the establishment of the plantations, noting that the initiative would provide a viable alternative livelihood for the people in the beneficiary communities.
“We are very fortunate for the project, since, after the end of the mines, there will be still employment for the communities,” she said.
Madam Dapaah pointed out that the project had been successful as a result of the good relationship existing between the communities and the mining company, saying, “Without this co-operation, this project would not have been achieved.”
The President and Chief Executive Officer of Golden Star Resources Limited, Mr Tom Mair, said the success of the project was an indication of what could be accomplished when people worked together and put aside all differences and focused on their mutual goals and a spirit of co-operation prevailed.
He stressed that the Golden Star Oil Palm Plantation was the company’s major project in the areas of alternative livelihood and sustainable development.
“When we conceived of a project which will thrive in this community long after mining has come to an end, we concluded that we should think of an agricultural project which will involve as many of the community members as possible,” he explained, adding, “Our first hurdle in the realisation of that aim was the acquisition of land for the project.”
Mr Mair stressed that Golden Star Resources believed in supporting sustainable projects in its catchment communities which would provide an effective and imaginative response to the problem of unemployment, adding, “We noted in the process that unemployment and poverty are the key factors that attract and still attract many of the community members into ‘galamsey’ lifestyles.”
Therefore, he said the company concluded that by providing safer and more permanent jobs, it could gradually wean the youth off the unpleasant and deleterious effects of galamsey.
“We believe that the key to long-term development in any mining community lies in a realistic and convincing system that contributes positively to the community and gives the youth a reason to live for tomorrow in realistic hope,” he stressed.
Mr Mair said the company was looking for a development partner to complement its financial contribution to the project and fully transform the GSOPP into a self-sustaining entity that would continue long after mining had come to an end in the area.
The Executive Director of the GSOPP, Mrs Mary Ankomah Boakye-Boateng, said it was not easy at the beginning of the project, since the people did not appreciate what was ahead of them.
She said the project was unique, since no mining company in Africa had developed oil palm plantations for communities in its catchment area.
According to her, 220 people had been employed to work on the plantations and they were receiving about GH¢100 at the end of each month.
The Chairman of the Smallholders Association, Mr Daniel Owiredu, who highly commended the company for the plantations, said the people initially opposed the establishment of the plantations because they did not realise the benefits they were going to derive from it.
The company is expected to develop 1,000 hectares by the end of this year, planted with 100,000 hybrid oil palm seedlings, and also achieve a cropping rate of 1,000 hectares per annum. About US$1.2 million has already been spent on the project and it is expected that US$1.5 million will be spent on the project at the end of this year.
The communities are Bogoso, Akyempim, Chujah and Maase-Nsuta.
At Bogoso, the company has established a 275-hectare oil palm plantation and allocated four hectares each to 69 smallholder farmers in the community. The project, which was established on a pilot basis two years ago, has been rolled out to the other communities for the benefit of the people.
The chiefs, as well as a host of family heads, have released 14,000 hectares of land for the projects and the company has targeted to develop 10,000 hectares in the years ahead.
When the target is achieved, it is expected that the plantations will support up to 3,000 smallholder farmers in the communities.
To ensure the effective management of the plantations, Golden Star Oil Palm Plantation Limited (GSOPP), a limited liability company, has been formed to see to the day-to-day activities of the farmers.
The company proposes to set up a palm oil processing plant to process the palm fruits into crude palm oil to be sold to big companies such as Unilever Ghana.
Speaking at a ceremony to allocate the Bogoso plantation to the smallholder farmers, the Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines, Madam Esther Obeng Dapaah, commended the mining company for the establishment of the plantations, noting that the initiative would provide a viable alternative livelihood for the people in the beneficiary communities.
“We are very fortunate for the project, since, after the end of the mines, there will be still employment for the communities,” she said.
Madam Dapaah pointed out that the project had been successful as a result of the good relationship existing between the communities and the mining company, saying, “Without this co-operation, this project would not have been achieved.”
The President and Chief Executive Officer of Golden Star Resources Limited, Mr Tom Mair, said the success of the project was an indication of what could be accomplished when people worked together and put aside all differences and focused on their mutual goals and a spirit of co-operation prevailed.
He stressed that the Golden Star Oil Palm Plantation was the company’s major project in the areas of alternative livelihood and sustainable development.
“When we conceived of a project which will thrive in this community long after mining has come to an end, we concluded that we should think of an agricultural project which will involve as many of the community members as possible,” he explained, adding, “Our first hurdle in the realisation of that aim was the acquisition of land for the project.”
Mr Mair stressed that Golden Star Resources believed in supporting sustainable projects in its catchment communities which would provide an effective and imaginative response to the problem of unemployment, adding, “We noted in the process that unemployment and poverty are the key factors that attract and still attract many of the community members into ‘galamsey’ lifestyles.”
Therefore, he said the company concluded that by providing safer and more permanent jobs, it could gradually wean the youth off the unpleasant and deleterious effects of galamsey.
“We believe that the key to long-term development in any mining community lies in a realistic and convincing system that contributes positively to the community and gives the youth a reason to live for tomorrow in realistic hope,” he stressed.
Mr Mair said the company was looking for a development partner to complement its financial contribution to the project and fully transform the GSOPP into a self-sustaining entity that would continue long after mining had come to an end in the area.
The Executive Director of the GSOPP, Mrs Mary Ankomah Boakye-Boateng, said it was not easy at the beginning of the project, since the people did not appreciate what was ahead of them.
She said the project was unique, since no mining company in Africa had developed oil palm plantations for communities in its catchment area.
According to her, 220 people had been employed to work on the plantations and they were receiving about GH¢100 at the end of each month.
The Chairman of the Smallholders Association, Mr Daniel Owiredu, who highly commended the company for the plantations, said the people initially opposed the establishment of the plantations because they did not realise the benefits they were going to derive from it.
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