IT is welcome news that a master plan has been designed for the expansion and redevelopment of the Takoradi Port to transform it into a modern and vibrant one to meet the challenges of the emerging oil and gas industry.
It is inevitable that the oil find in the Western Region will pose various challenges to the management of the Takoradi Port and that the port has to prepare itself very well to meet these challenges.
The port has gone through expansion and rehabilitation since it was constructed and that it is important to look at this to see whether it has had an impact on the operations of the port.
In 1986, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), with the support of the government, embarked on a major rehabilitation of the Tema and Takoradi Ports.
The project was carried out in two phases; with the first phase including the repair and rehabilitation of existing infrastructure and facilities, the removal of sunken vessels and other wrecks from the harbour basin and the supply of equipment including floating crafts, cargo handling equipment and vehicles.
It also included the institutional strengthening involving technical and management training.
The project which cost over US$ 106 million was funded by the World Bank and co-financed by the European Union, the Saudi Fund and the OCEF of Japan.
The second phase of the Port Rehabilitation Project which started in 1991 included the dredging of the port to designed depths, strengthening of berths, rehabilitation of the sawntimber shed number two in Takoradi, a master plan study was also carried out for the future development of the port.
The second phase which cost over 27 million Euros was financed by a European Union grant, which covered 80 per cent of the cost), with the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority bearing the remaining 20 per cent.
The construction of the Takoradi Port began in 1923 and on April 3 1928, the port was officially opened while formal operations began on December 3, 1928.
Between 1951 and 1956, the port had seen the extension of the lee breakwaters, construction of berths four, five and six, bauxite and oil berths and passenger terminal and the construction of sheds four, five and six.
The past and present performance of the Takoradi Port shows that in 1928, less than one million tonnes of cargo were handled at the port, while 1,153 small vessels called at the port in 1956 with turn-round time of 14 days , while 2.3 million tonnes of cargo were handled at the port.
In 1993, a total of 438 big vessels called at the port with turn-round time of 24 days, while 2.3 million tonnes of cargo were handled at the port.
In 2002, 463 big vessels called at the port with turn-round time of 16 days, while 3.4 million tonnes of cargo were handled at the port.
The year 2003 saw 494 vessels calling at the port and 3.8 million tonnes of cargo handled, while in 2004, 465 vessels called at the port and 4.2 million tonnes of cargo were handled.
The projection is that in the year 2010 more than 700 vessels are expected to call at the port and that more than seven million tonnes of cargo are expected to be handled at the Takoradi Port.
What has been narrated above is an indication that the Takoradi Port has seen some kind of expansion to improve on its operations and also to attract more vessels to the port.
Even the master plan which has been reviewed for the expansion and redevelopment of the Takoradi Port was conceptualised as far back as 1991.
The master plan for the expansion and redevelopment of the port had been developed since 2001 and was expected to be implemented in phases.
The expansion and redevelopment of the Takoradi Port is long overdue and with the oil find in the Western Region, this project has become very urgent as more and bigger vessels are expected to call at the port.
Already many supply vessels connected with the operations of the oil rigs at the Jubilee Field off Cape Three Points are using the port.
Critical steps were taken to further improve service delivery quality, increase port capacity to handle more vessels and cargo, and increase cargo throughput.
One of the steps was to ensure the speedy implementation of the port expansion and modernisation to enhance berthing capacity and operational efficiency through the Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) system..
The project was estimated to cost US$ 249,651 million and included the extension of the breakwater, dredging and reclamation, the construction of container berths and the improvement of the old berths.
It also included the extension of the bulk berth, the oil berth, small craft berth, revetment, pavement and provision of equipment, among others.
The benefits of the project were to expand the capacity of the port to handle more cargo and more vessels, improve cargo handling operations, reduce the cost of doing business, enhance the port’s capacity to compete favourably with its neighbours in the West African sub-region and increase its employment generating capacity.
Another step was to increase private sector participation to expand the port’s capacity to handle more cargo in the areas of warehousing/transit shed facilities, equipment, road haulage facilities and rail haulage facilities.
The bottom line is to make the port attractive and the corridor user friendly through good security, efficient handling of cargo, good customer service, berthing, storage and haulage facilities, competitive price and quick clearance.
A stakeholders’ forum on the proposed expansion of the port had been held in Takoradi, where a presentation on the development proposals for the port was made for the public to make comments and ask questions on the project.
At the forum, the Minister of Transport, Mr Mike Hammah, said the ministry had a significant role to play in the successful exploitation of the oil and gas resources.
He said the Ministry of Transport was aware of the maritime demands of oil exploration and production, including the gas by-products and was determined to meet those demands.
He stressed that the situation now, where services needed by oil companies were being provided by existing oil service facilities in Abidjan for example, could not be allowed to persist forever.
The minister did not mince words, since if at least the first phase of the port expansion is not completed before the oil starts flowing in the last quarter of this year, most oil vessels and service providers will operate from Abidjan in Cote d’lvoire.
The Takoradi Port, therefore, should not be denied the revenue that will accrue to it if the it is used for those operations.
The Takoradi Port is located strategically between the Tema Port and Abidjan. It is well connected to its hinterland which makes it the preferred and ideal gateway to the middle and northern parts of Ghana and the Sahelian countries, namely Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali.
It is serviced by all the leading shipping lines and leading clearing and forwarding companies.
Annually, the port on the average, handles 600 vessels, 37 per cent of the total national sea-borne traffic, 62 per cent of national exports and 20 per cent of national imports.
Leading exports include manganese, bauxite, forest products and cocoa beans, while leading imports include clinker, wheat, petroleum products and containerised cargo.
With the completion of its three modern sheds, the port now has a covered storage area of 140,000m2 and an open storage area of 250,000m2.
In addition, there are also private warehouses in the port area. Together, the port has the capacity to store a variety of cargoes. The port has a container holding capacity of more than 5,000 TEUs.
According to historical facts, by the early 1980s, three companies were operating in the Tema and Takoradi Ports: The Ghana Ports Authority (GPA), Ghana Cargo Handling Company (GCHC) and the Takoradi Lighterage Company (TLC).
By 1983, the conditions at the ports had seriously deteriorated; adversely affecting port services, as a result of inadequate cargo handling equipment, deterioration of installations and lack of maintenance and dredging.
The poor state of repair resulted in extremely low loading and unloading rates, excessive ship turn-round time at berth and high demurrage and freight charges.
On June 26, 1986, the PNDC government merged the Ghana Ports Authority, Ghana Cargo Handling Company and the Takoradi Lighterage into one corporate body, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).
The GPHA was mandated to plan, build, develop, manage, maintain, operate and control the sea ports in Ghana.
The key functions of GPHA include providing and maintaining facilities necessary for the efficient and proper operations of the ports, as well as carrying on all the business of stevedoring, master porterage and lighterage services.
It is also to ensure the efficient management of ports in Ghana, and shifted from landlord to service port, and that GPHA did not only own infrastructure and superstructure, but also operated them.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
CHIEFS SHOULD REMAIN OUT OF PARTISAN POLITICS (PAGE 14, MAY 26, 2010)
PARTICIPANTS at a special forum on consultations towards a review of the constitution in Takoradi have maintained that chiefs should stay clear of active partisan politics to ensure their neutrality, as well as the respect they command, in their respective communities.
They noted that politics was full of insults and that chiefs were likely to be insulted by their political opponents if they were allowed to engage in active politics.
They also submitted that Members of Parliament (MPs) should focus on their core business of law making and not be appointed as ministers of state by the President or only a small percentage of MPs should be appointed as ministers, instead of the more than 50 per cent, as it pertained now.
Some of the participants also suggested that MPs should be given term limits and not permitted to remain MPs forever.
They called for the curtailment of executive power, which made the President too powerful, particularly in the appointment of people to top positions in the country.
They suggested that the Judicial Council should be responsible for the appointment of the Chief Justice to ensure the independence of the Judiciary, as enshrined in the Constitution.
They also suggested that Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) should be elected to enable them to be committed to the people in their respective areas.
A senior citizen, Mr J.E. Amissah, proposed that those nominated by the President for ministerial positions should be vetted by the 25-member Council of State, since it was ridiculous for the Appointments Committee of Parliament to vet members of the committee who had been nominated by the President for them to later come back to vet others.
A consultant to the Commission, Mr Joseph Mantey, said it was important for all Ghanaians to help in the review of the Constitution, noting that it was the supreme law of the land but many Ghanaians had not had the opportunity to contribute to its making.
They noted that politics was full of insults and that chiefs were likely to be insulted by their political opponents if they were allowed to engage in active politics.
They also submitted that Members of Parliament (MPs) should focus on their core business of law making and not be appointed as ministers of state by the President or only a small percentage of MPs should be appointed as ministers, instead of the more than 50 per cent, as it pertained now.
Some of the participants also suggested that MPs should be given term limits and not permitted to remain MPs forever.
They called for the curtailment of executive power, which made the President too powerful, particularly in the appointment of people to top positions in the country.
They suggested that the Judicial Council should be responsible for the appointment of the Chief Justice to ensure the independence of the Judiciary, as enshrined in the Constitution.
They also suggested that Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) should be elected to enable them to be committed to the people in their respective areas.
A senior citizen, Mr J.E. Amissah, proposed that those nominated by the President for ministerial positions should be vetted by the 25-member Council of State, since it was ridiculous for the Appointments Committee of Parliament to vet members of the committee who had been nominated by the President for them to later come back to vet others.
A consultant to the Commission, Mr Joseph Mantey, said it was important for all Ghanaians to help in the review of the Constitution, noting that it was the supreme law of the land but many Ghanaians had not had the opportunity to contribute to its making.
LET'S DEVELOP INTEREST IN DEMOCRATIC DISPENSATION (PAGE 13, MAY 26, 2010)
THE Western Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Kusi Aboraah, has called on Ghanaians to develop a sustained interest in the country’s democratic dispensation.
This he said would enable Ghanaians to become active participants in the country’s constitutional democracy as it strived to attain a higher level in the rating of good governance.
He said attaining good governance could not be realised without participation as it was a very important characteristic and a key requirement of good governance.
Mr Aboraah made the call at the regional launch of the 10th annual Constitution Week of the commission in Sekondi, which was on the theme: “Enhancing constitutionalism through effective participation for good governance”.
He said that effective citizens participation was a major ingredient of constitutionalism in the country and a key cornerstone of good governance, adding “Lack of effective participation is the primary problem of social inequalities”.
“Citizens must therefore participate in community meetings, write to their elected representatives, follow the news associated with politics, vote during elections and tell unit committee and assembly members as well as parliamentarians the effects of their decisions on local and national development,” he said.
Mr Aboraah explained that in the context of good governance, participation was focused on the empowerment of citizens, particularly women, children, the aged and the physically challenged.
“It occurs at various levels; the grassroots, through local and civic institutions; at the regional and national levels, through flexible and decentralised form of government and also in the private sector”, he explained.
He said the acceptance of the 1992 Fourth Republican Constitution restored Ghana’s constitutional rule after a long period of political unrest.
The constitution, he said, had witnessed five successful general elections and so far the best of all the republican constitutions that the nation had witnessed.
“It is in recognition of this great achievement and the need to avoid recurrence of the events that characterised Ghana’s unfortunate past that the NCCE had been developing various strategies aimed at getting all Ghanaians to understand the need to ensure the survival of this Constitution by observing its contents.” he stated.
This he said would enable Ghanaians to become active participants in the country’s constitutional democracy as it strived to attain a higher level in the rating of good governance.
He said attaining good governance could not be realised without participation as it was a very important characteristic and a key requirement of good governance.
Mr Aboraah made the call at the regional launch of the 10th annual Constitution Week of the commission in Sekondi, which was on the theme: “Enhancing constitutionalism through effective participation for good governance”.
He said that effective citizens participation was a major ingredient of constitutionalism in the country and a key cornerstone of good governance, adding “Lack of effective participation is the primary problem of social inequalities”.
“Citizens must therefore participate in community meetings, write to their elected representatives, follow the news associated with politics, vote during elections and tell unit committee and assembly members as well as parliamentarians the effects of their decisions on local and national development,” he said.
Mr Aboraah explained that in the context of good governance, participation was focused on the empowerment of citizens, particularly women, children, the aged and the physically challenged.
“It occurs at various levels; the grassroots, through local and civic institutions; at the regional and national levels, through flexible and decentralised form of government and also in the private sector”, he explained.
He said the acceptance of the 1992 Fourth Republican Constitution restored Ghana’s constitutional rule after a long period of political unrest.
The constitution, he said, had witnessed five successful general elections and so far the best of all the republican constitutions that the nation had witnessed.
“It is in recognition of this great achievement and the need to avoid recurrence of the events that characterised Ghana’s unfortunate past that the NCCE had been developing various strategies aimed at getting all Ghanaians to understand the need to ensure the survival of this Constitution by observing its contents.” he stated.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
GREL ASSISTS SEKONDI CENTRAL PRISON (PAGE 29, MAY 26, 2010)
GHANA Rubber Estates Limited (GREL) has presented a 29-inch colour television, a video deck and stabiliser worth GH¢ 800 to the Sekondi Central Prison for the education of the inmates on the HIVAIDS disease, as well as their general entertainment.
The presentation formed part of the company’s sustainable development programmes for communities and other organisations
Last year, the company also set up an HIV AIDS Solidarity Fund with contributions from all employees of the company,realising an amount of GH¢ 6,828 to assist HIVAIDS-positive patients to access medical care.
Speaking at a short ceremony to present the items to the prisons authority in Sekondi, the Human Resource and Administrative Manager of GREL, Mr J.C Garbrah, said the company had trained 24 peer counsellors who were currently working in the communities in the company’s catchment areas.
He said HIV AIDS outreach programmes were organised at the company’s HIVAIDS centre at its clinic at Abura, in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region for workers and members of the communities to test their HIVAIDS status.
Mr Garbrah said the company would co-operate with the Ghana Prisons Service to intensify HIV/AIDS education in the prisons.
The Western Regional Commander of the Prisons Service, Deputy Director of Prisons Patrick Darko Missah, expressed his appreciation to GREL for the assistance, adding that the items would be used for their intended purpose.
The presentation formed part of the company’s sustainable development programmes for communities and other organisations
Last year, the company also set up an HIV AIDS Solidarity Fund with contributions from all employees of the company,realising an amount of GH¢ 6,828 to assist HIVAIDS-positive patients to access medical care.
Speaking at a short ceremony to present the items to the prisons authority in Sekondi, the Human Resource and Administrative Manager of GREL, Mr J.C Garbrah, said the company had trained 24 peer counsellors who were currently working in the communities in the company’s catchment areas.
He said HIV AIDS outreach programmes were organised at the company’s HIVAIDS centre at its clinic at Abura, in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region for workers and members of the communities to test their HIVAIDS status.
Mr Garbrah said the company would co-operate with the Ghana Prisons Service to intensify HIV/AIDS education in the prisons.
The Western Regional Commander of the Prisons Service, Deputy Director of Prisons Patrick Darko Missah, expressed his appreciation to GREL for the assistance, adding that the items would be used for their intended purpose.
GOLDEN STAR TO REACTIVATE PRESTEA MINE (BACK PAGE, MAY 25, 2010)
GOLDEN Star (Bogoso/Prestea Mines) Limited is to reactivate its underground mine at Prestea in the Prestea/Huni Valley District of the Western Region within the next 15 months to generate employment.
The company has already recruited 30 people to be trained at the AngloGold Ashanti Training School in Obuasi in the Ashanti Region to work in the underground mine.
It has invested US$40.8 million on exploration, care and maintenance of the underground mine since 2002, as well as dewatering the mine.
The General Manager of Golden Star (Bogoso/Prestea Mines), Mr Nigel Tamlyn, announced this at the company’s engagement with the media in the Western Region at the weekend.
He said illegal mining activities had led to several openings in the underground mine, with water entering it, while blasting by the illegal gold mining operators nearly caused the collapse of the Bondaye Shaft.
Mr Tamlyn said since 1999, US$493 million had been invested in the Bogoso operations.
He said the company acquired the Bogoso Mine when it was insolvent in 1999 and the Prestea surface mining rights which extended the mine life of the Bogoso operations in 2001.
He said in 2003, it entered into a joint venture with Prestea Gold Resources when it was insolvent, extending the life of the underground mine.
He said after investing US$ 275 million in 2007, Golden Star (Bogoso/Prestea Mines) completed the construction of its sulphide processing plant, extending the mine life again.
The Operations Manager of Golden Star Oil Palm Plantations Limited, Mr Isaac Quarm, explained that it was established in April 2006 as a subsidiary of Golden Star Resources Limited in pursuance of the mother company’s corporate social responsibility.
That, he said, was to promote the development of oil palm plantations in the mining communities using the small-holder concept, in partnership with the traditional authorities, the affected farmers and the plantations industry.
A total of 132 farmers, Mr Quarm said, had been allocated four-hectare plots each, adding that the traditional rulers had promised 8,774 hectares of land for the development of oil palm plantations, out of which 6,698 hectares had been offered.
The company has already recruited 30 people to be trained at the AngloGold Ashanti Training School in Obuasi in the Ashanti Region to work in the underground mine.
It has invested US$40.8 million on exploration, care and maintenance of the underground mine since 2002, as well as dewatering the mine.
The General Manager of Golden Star (Bogoso/Prestea Mines), Mr Nigel Tamlyn, announced this at the company’s engagement with the media in the Western Region at the weekend.
He said illegal mining activities had led to several openings in the underground mine, with water entering it, while blasting by the illegal gold mining operators nearly caused the collapse of the Bondaye Shaft.
Mr Tamlyn said since 1999, US$493 million had been invested in the Bogoso operations.
He said the company acquired the Bogoso Mine when it was insolvent in 1999 and the Prestea surface mining rights which extended the mine life of the Bogoso operations in 2001.
He said in 2003, it entered into a joint venture with Prestea Gold Resources when it was insolvent, extending the life of the underground mine.
He said after investing US$ 275 million in 2007, Golden Star (Bogoso/Prestea Mines) completed the construction of its sulphide processing plant, extending the mine life again.
The Operations Manager of Golden Star Oil Palm Plantations Limited, Mr Isaac Quarm, explained that it was established in April 2006 as a subsidiary of Golden Star Resources Limited in pursuance of the mother company’s corporate social responsibility.
That, he said, was to promote the development of oil palm plantations in the mining communities using the small-holder concept, in partnership with the traditional authorities, the affected farmers and the plantations industry.
A total of 132 farmers, Mr Quarm said, had been allocated four-hectare plots each, adding that the traditional rulers had promised 8,774 hectares of land for the development of oil palm plantations, out of which 6,698 hectares had been offered.
Monday, May 10, 2010
ECOWAS PARLIAMENT TO BE ELECTED DIRECTLY (PAGE 14, MAY 10, 2010)
REPRESENTATIVES of member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament will be elected by direct universal adult suffrage by the end of 2010 as part of measures to make the parliament effective in the sub-region.
Whereas before and now, this privilege was bestowed only on elected national parliamentarians, by the end of the year, citizens of the community other than Parliamentarians of national parliaments shall be eligible to contest to become members of the Community Parliament.
It is envisaged that a directly elected parliament will play a more prominent role in the integration process beyond the present role of providing advice to the heads of state, the council of ministers and other community institutions.
It is also expected that the parliament’s role in the integration process will initially begin with co-decision, before it transforms into direct law making.
The reforms are aimed at giving concrete and actual legislative powers to the ECOWAS Parliament and make it relevant and purposeful as well as improving its public image and the quality of democracy within the sub-region.
The Leader of Ghana’s Representatives to the ECOWAS Parliament and Minister of Information, Mr John Tia Akologo, announced this at a press conference in Takoradi.
The press conference was to highlight activities of the ECOWAS Parliament and steps being taken to broaden grassroots participation in the selection process of future parliamentarians who will serve on the ECOWAS Parliament.
Mr Akologo said in pursuit of the above objective, the Community Parliament charged the adhoc committee on the Election of Members through Direct Universal Adult Suffrage and the Enhancement of Powers of Parliament to draw up a framework, identifying challenges and also propose solutions to the holding of direct elections of Parliamentarians by the end of the year.
He said the sub-committee in its report which was adopted by the Community Parliament decided to adopt the practice and electoral laws applicable in the respective member states as the mode of election for the Community.
“The electoral bodies of respective countries would be responsible for the delineation of national constituencies on the basis of national exigencies, having due regard to 30 per cent gender balance for an eligible place”, he explained.
Mr Akologo further explained that the decision was premised on considerations such as the prohibitive cost of establishing a new form of electoral roll and the 2010 time frame, adding “The authority of heads of states and governments of ECOWAS Parliament was expected to consider and approve the report at its meeting last January. Each member state would be a constituency and maintain the number of seats allocated to it”.
He said a well defined structure that would ensure free and fair elections would be made available in due course, adding that for now, it was important to let the good people of Ghana know the new course that the ECOWAS Parliament would be charting this year.
“A process that is fairer, more open and transparent and more likely to promote participation and choice from grassroots will be instituted”, he stated.
“A final decision on the adoption of the universal adult suffrage would be made soon, l believe at the plenary session of the ECOWAS meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, in May this year”, he said.
The Deputy Western Regional Minister, Ms Betty Busumtwi-Sam, said it was a good idea that ECOWAS member states were to participate fully in the activities of the ECOWAS Parliament.
This, she said would promote democracy, accountability and transparency, since the people would now be involved in the elections of their own representatives.
Present at the press conference were some of Ghana’s representatives to the ECOWAS Parliament, including Mr Simon Osei-Mensah, MP for Bosomtwe, Mr Michael Nyaunu, MP Lower Manya Krobo, Mr Kwaku Balado Manu, MP Ahafo Ano South, Mr Francis Yaw Osei-Sarfo, MP Krachi West and Ms Elizabeth Sackey, MP Okaikoi North.
The ECOWAS Parliament or Community Parliament was formed in 2000 and has its headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria.
Presently as constituted, the ECOWAS Parliament is an assemblage of members of Parliament from the 15 ECOWAS member states and serves as a forum for discussion, dialogue and consensus.
It has 120 seats as per the protocol that establishes it. However, at present its membership is 108 as a result of the withdrawal of Mauritania, which has five seats from the community and the inability of La Cote D’voire which has seven seats to assume its seat.
Each member has a guaranteed minimum of five seats and the remaining seats are shared on the basis of population.
Nigeria has 35 seats; Ghana has eight seats, Cote D’voire seven seats and Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, Niger and Senegal have six seats each, while Benin, Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Togo have five seats each.
The parliament is headed by a Speaker and four deputy speakers and the position of the Speaker is allocated to member states on a rotational basis.
At the moment, the Republic of Niger holds the position. The current Parliament is transitional and its role is advisory and consultative, which means that it does not as of now have legislative powers since its members are not directly elected.
Representatives are elected by their national Parliament to the Community Parliament.
Whereas before and now, this privilege was bestowed only on elected national parliamentarians, by the end of the year, citizens of the community other than Parliamentarians of national parliaments shall be eligible to contest to become members of the Community Parliament.
It is envisaged that a directly elected parliament will play a more prominent role in the integration process beyond the present role of providing advice to the heads of state, the council of ministers and other community institutions.
It is also expected that the parliament’s role in the integration process will initially begin with co-decision, before it transforms into direct law making.
The reforms are aimed at giving concrete and actual legislative powers to the ECOWAS Parliament and make it relevant and purposeful as well as improving its public image and the quality of democracy within the sub-region.
The Leader of Ghana’s Representatives to the ECOWAS Parliament and Minister of Information, Mr John Tia Akologo, announced this at a press conference in Takoradi.
The press conference was to highlight activities of the ECOWAS Parliament and steps being taken to broaden grassroots participation in the selection process of future parliamentarians who will serve on the ECOWAS Parliament.
Mr Akologo said in pursuit of the above objective, the Community Parliament charged the adhoc committee on the Election of Members through Direct Universal Adult Suffrage and the Enhancement of Powers of Parliament to draw up a framework, identifying challenges and also propose solutions to the holding of direct elections of Parliamentarians by the end of the year.
He said the sub-committee in its report which was adopted by the Community Parliament decided to adopt the practice and electoral laws applicable in the respective member states as the mode of election for the Community.
“The electoral bodies of respective countries would be responsible for the delineation of national constituencies on the basis of national exigencies, having due regard to 30 per cent gender balance for an eligible place”, he explained.
Mr Akologo further explained that the decision was premised on considerations such as the prohibitive cost of establishing a new form of electoral roll and the 2010 time frame, adding “The authority of heads of states and governments of ECOWAS Parliament was expected to consider and approve the report at its meeting last January. Each member state would be a constituency and maintain the number of seats allocated to it”.
He said a well defined structure that would ensure free and fair elections would be made available in due course, adding that for now, it was important to let the good people of Ghana know the new course that the ECOWAS Parliament would be charting this year.
“A process that is fairer, more open and transparent and more likely to promote participation and choice from grassroots will be instituted”, he stated.
“A final decision on the adoption of the universal adult suffrage would be made soon, l believe at the plenary session of the ECOWAS meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, in May this year”, he said.
The Deputy Western Regional Minister, Ms Betty Busumtwi-Sam, said it was a good idea that ECOWAS member states were to participate fully in the activities of the ECOWAS Parliament.
This, she said would promote democracy, accountability and transparency, since the people would now be involved in the elections of their own representatives.
Present at the press conference were some of Ghana’s representatives to the ECOWAS Parliament, including Mr Simon Osei-Mensah, MP for Bosomtwe, Mr Michael Nyaunu, MP Lower Manya Krobo, Mr Kwaku Balado Manu, MP Ahafo Ano South, Mr Francis Yaw Osei-Sarfo, MP Krachi West and Ms Elizabeth Sackey, MP Okaikoi North.
The ECOWAS Parliament or Community Parliament was formed in 2000 and has its headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria.
Presently as constituted, the ECOWAS Parliament is an assemblage of members of Parliament from the 15 ECOWAS member states and serves as a forum for discussion, dialogue and consensus.
It has 120 seats as per the protocol that establishes it. However, at present its membership is 108 as a result of the withdrawal of Mauritania, which has five seats from the community and the inability of La Cote D’voire which has seven seats to assume its seat.
Each member has a guaranteed minimum of five seats and the remaining seats are shared on the basis of population.
Nigeria has 35 seats; Ghana has eight seats, Cote D’voire seven seats and Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, Niger and Senegal have six seats each, while Benin, Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Togo have five seats each.
The parliament is headed by a Speaker and four deputy speakers and the position of the Speaker is allocated to member states on a rotational basis.
At the moment, the Republic of Niger holds the position. The current Parliament is transitional and its role is advisory and consultative, which means that it does not as of now have legislative powers since its members are not directly elected.
Representatives are elected by their national Parliament to the Community Parliament.
Friday, May 7, 2010
ADAMUS TO RESETTLE 2,000 (BACK PAGE , MAY 7, 2010)
TWO thousand people who are likely to be affected by the mining activities of the Adamus Resources Limited, operators of the Nzema Gold Project at Nkroful in the Ellembelle District in the Western Region, are to be resettled.
The company has acquired 150 acres to build 700 houses to provide alternative accommodation to the people of Salman, a community located near the company’s gold processing plant.
The operations of the processing plant can endanger the health and well-being of the community.
The Resettlement Manager of Adamus Resources Limited, Dr Stephen Yirenkyi, made this known at a ceremony during which the management of Jesus Open Doors Limited, General contractors for Adamus, presented a brand new 30-seater Nissan Civilian bus to the people of Salman.
The bus, worth GH¢113,000, is intended for the people to run commercial transport to finance their development projects.
According to Dr Yirenkyi, earth works at the resettlement site had been completed and that work on the project is expected to start by the middle of this month.
He said the company would come up with a resettlement scheme that would improve the living conditions of people in the community, adding that the company had very good plans for the people in the area.
Dr Yirenkyi explained that resettlement did not only mean the construction of new houses for the affected community, but also to ensure the social and economic resettlement towards a change in the socio-economic lives of the affected people.
He said the company was using local contractors to enhance their economic empowerment, since there was wisdom in it, adding that the company would also be environmentally responsible in all its operations.
The District Chief Executive for Ellembelle, Mr Daniel Kemambeku Eshun, said local contractors would perform very well when given the chance.
He said he would continue to be an advocate for the use of local contractors by the mining companies for most of their operations.
Mr Eshun called on the mining companies to assist the local contractors to build their capacity for them to live up to expectation when given the chance.
The Chief Executive Officer of Jesus Open Doors Limited, Mr Francis Coffie, said he would use part of the proceeds of every contract he executed in the community to assist the people of the Ellembelle District in their developmental activities.
The company has acquired 150 acres to build 700 houses to provide alternative accommodation to the people of Salman, a community located near the company’s gold processing plant.
The operations of the processing plant can endanger the health and well-being of the community.
The Resettlement Manager of Adamus Resources Limited, Dr Stephen Yirenkyi, made this known at a ceremony during which the management of Jesus Open Doors Limited, General contractors for Adamus, presented a brand new 30-seater Nissan Civilian bus to the people of Salman.
The bus, worth GH¢113,000, is intended for the people to run commercial transport to finance their development projects.
According to Dr Yirenkyi, earth works at the resettlement site had been completed and that work on the project is expected to start by the middle of this month.
He said the company would come up with a resettlement scheme that would improve the living conditions of people in the community, adding that the company had very good plans for the people in the area.
Dr Yirenkyi explained that resettlement did not only mean the construction of new houses for the affected community, but also to ensure the social and economic resettlement towards a change in the socio-economic lives of the affected people.
He said the company was using local contractors to enhance their economic empowerment, since there was wisdom in it, adding that the company would also be environmentally responsible in all its operations.
The District Chief Executive for Ellembelle, Mr Daniel Kemambeku Eshun, said local contractors would perform very well when given the chance.
He said he would continue to be an advocate for the use of local contractors by the mining companies for most of their operations.
Mr Eshun called on the mining companies to assist the local contractors to build their capacity for them to live up to expectation when given the chance.
The Chief Executive Officer of Jesus Open Doors Limited, Mr Francis Coffie, said he would use part of the proceeds of every contract he executed in the community to assist the people of the Ellembelle District in their developmental activities.
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