Story: Kwame Asiedu Marfo, Takoradi
13/03/08
The Axim Road Community Co-operative Credit Union (ARCCU) in Takoradi has granted a total loan of GH¢1,299,000 out of about GH¢1,432,000 total savings to its members.
The union’s net surplus went up from GH¢33,000 in 2006, representing 69 per cent, to GH¢59,000 or 78 per cent last year.
Liquid investment of the union also increased from GH¢230,000 to GH¢390,000, representing 70 per cent, while total assets increased from GH¢1,040,000 to GH¢1,820,000, an increase of 75 per cent.
The Chairman of ARCCU, Mr Isaac Sam-Cudjoe, announced this at the eighth annual general meeting of the union in Takoradi.
The active membership of the union has increased from 2,974 to 3,711, representing a growth of 25 per cent.
He said the board of directors had entreated all members, especially those who had defaulted, to pay up their loans for others to benefit.
He added that management would be compelled to take stringent measures to retrieve all loans.
Mr Sam-Cudjoe said the board remained committed to improving the size of dividend paid on members’ shares.
This year, he said, based on the sustained increase in the net surplus, the board recommended ten per cent to be paid on members’ shares as against six per cent last year.
Furthermore, he said the board remained proactive and focused on improving services rendered to members.
He said the board had also provided logistics to promote effective work on the part of the staff.
"Our credit union is also active in micro-financing business’’, he said, adding that “currently, over 500 of our members are patronising the product.’’
He added that in order to strengthen, monitor and improve its operations, the board had ordered Saving Boxes to be given to members.
Mr Sam-Cudjoe therefore appealed to members who would benefit from these boxes to make effective use of them by saving regularly.
Even though the union had been doing well over the years, he said there were a few challenges confronting it.
One of the challenges, he said, was loan recovery, adding: "Our loan monitoring and recovery have to be strengthened in order to reduce delinquency to a reasonably low level".
Also, he said savings mobilisation was a challenge and anticipated that the union would have net savers, explaining that "members will regularly save more".
Another challenge, he said, was the establishment of a permanent office which would build confidence, good image and goodwill among members.
"Our consistent and sustained achievements reflect our good leadership skills and it is imperative to keep it working for the benefit of our members", he added.
The Manager of ARCCU, Mr Alexander Odoikwei Sackeyfio, said in the wake of the government’s strategy in poverty alleviation, management of the credit union was looking forward to providing services that would go a long way to creating wealth for the ordinary person.
He said management’s agenda was to provide training to all levels of staff to sharpen their skills in service delivery and also to use the electronic system in the delivery of their services.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Axim credit union helps members
Story: Kwame Asiedu Marfo, Takoradi
13/03/08
The Axim Road Community Co-operative Credit Union (ARCCU) in Takoradi has granted a total loan of GH¢1,299,000 out of about GH¢1,432,000 total savings to its members.
The union’s net surplus went up from GH¢33,000 in 2006, representing 69 per cent, to GH¢59,000 or 78 per cent last year.
Liquid investment of the union also increased from GH¢230,000 to GH¢390,000, representing 70 per cent, while total assets increased from GH¢1,040,000 to GH¢1,820,000, an increase of 75 per cent.
The Chairman of ARCCU, Mr Isaac Sam-Cudjoe, announced this at the eighth annual general meeting of the union in Takoradi.
The active membership of the union has increased from 2,974 to 3,711, representing a growth of 25 per cent.
He said the board of directors had entreated all members, especially those who had defaulted, to pay up their loans for others to benefit.
He added that management would be compelled to take stringent measures to retrieve all loans.
Mr Sam-Cudjoe said the board remained committed to improving the size of dividend paid on members’ shares.
This year, he said, based on the sustained increase in the net surplus, the board recommended ten per cent to be paid on members’ shares as against six per cent last year.
Furthermore, he said the board remained proactive and focused on improving services rendered to members.
He said the board had also provided logistics to promote effective work on the part of the staff.
"Our credit union is also active in micro-financing business’’, he said, adding that “currently, over 500 of our members are patronising the product.’’
He added that in order to strengthen, monitor and improve its operations, the board had ordered Saving Boxes to be given to members.
Mr Sam-Cudjoe therefore appealed to members who would benefit from these boxes to make effective use of them by saving regularly.
Even though the union had been doing well over the years, he said there were a few challenges confronting it.
One of the challenges, he said, was loan recovery, adding: "Our loan monitoring and recovery have to be strengthened in order to reduce delinquency to a reasonably low level".
Also, he said savings mobilisation was a challenge and anticipated that the union would have net savers, explaining that "members will regularly save more".
Another challenge, he said, was the establishment of a permanent office which would build confidence, good image and goodwill among members.
"Our consistent and sustained achievements reflect our good leadership skills and it is imperative to keep it working for the benefit of our members", he added.
The Manager of ARCCU, Mr Alexander Odoikwei Sackeyfio, said in the wake of the government’s strategy in poverty alleviation, management of the credit union was looking forward to providing services that would go a long way to creating wealth for the ordinary person.
He said management’s agenda was to provide training to all levels of staff to sharpen their skills in service delivery and also to use the electronic system in the delivery of their services.
13/03/08
The Axim Road Community Co-operative Credit Union (ARCCU) in Takoradi has granted a total loan of GH¢1,299,000 out of about GH¢1,432,000 total savings to its members.
The union’s net surplus went up from GH¢33,000 in 2006, representing 69 per cent, to GH¢59,000 or 78 per cent last year.
Liquid investment of the union also increased from GH¢230,000 to GH¢390,000, representing 70 per cent, while total assets increased from GH¢1,040,000 to GH¢1,820,000, an increase of 75 per cent.
The Chairman of ARCCU, Mr Isaac Sam-Cudjoe, announced this at the eighth annual general meeting of the union in Takoradi.
The active membership of the union has increased from 2,974 to 3,711, representing a growth of 25 per cent.
He said the board of directors had entreated all members, especially those who had defaulted, to pay up their loans for others to benefit.
He added that management would be compelled to take stringent measures to retrieve all loans.
Mr Sam-Cudjoe said the board remained committed to improving the size of dividend paid on members’ shares.
This year, he said, based on the sustained increase in the net surplus, the board recommended ten per cent to be paid on members’ shares as against six per cent last year.
Furthermore, he said the board remained proactive and focused on improving services rendered to members.
He said the board had also provided logistics to promote effective work on the part of the staff.
"Our credit union is also active in micro-financing business’’, he said, adding that “currently, over 500 of our members are patronising the product.’’
He added that in order to strengthen, monitor and improve its operations, the board had ordered Saving Boxes to be given to members.
Mr Sam-Cudjoe therefore appealed to members who would benefit from these boxes to make effective use of them by saving regularly.
Even though the union had been doing well over the years, he said there were a few challenges confronting it.
One of the challenges, he said, was loan recovery, adding: "Our loan monitoring and recovery have to be strengthened in order to reduce delinquency to a reasonably low level".
Also, he said savings mobilisation was a challenge and anticipated that the union would have net savers, explaining that "members will regularly save more".
Another challenge, he said, was the establishment of a permanent office which would build confidence, good image and goodwill among members.
"Our consistent and sustained achievements reflect our good leadership skills and it is imperative to keep it working for the benefit of our members", he added.
The Manager of ARCCU, Mr Alexander Odoikwei Sackeyfio, said in the wake of the government’s strategy in poverty alleviation, management of the credit union was looking forward to providing services that would go a long way to creating wealth for the ordinary person.
He said management’s agenda was to provide training to all levels of staff to sharpen their skills in service delivery and also to use the electronic system in the delivery of their services.
Mining company assists university
Story: Kwame Asiedu Marfo, Tarkwa
10/03/08
ANGLOGOLD Ashanti (Iduapriem Mine) has donated Uniazial and Triazial Compression Testing equipment worth (£60,000) to the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) at Tarkwa. The equipment is used for testing the strength of rocks.
At a brief ceremony to present the equipment at a ceremony at Tarkwa, the Managing Director of the company, Mr David Kwesi Renner, said the university was one of the company’s constituents, so it had to contribute to its development, as well as the training of the students.
“We decided to look for equipment to be used for the training of students and we settled on this equipment,” he said.
Mr Renner said the equipment would also generate revenue for the university.
He expressed the hope that the equipment would be put to good use for the benefit of the students and the university.
The Pro Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Newton Atta Amegbey, expressed his gratitude to the mining company for the donation.
He said the equipment would assist in the teaching and research activities of the institution.
Professor Amegbey acknowledged that the Ghana Chamber of Mines had assisted the university in diverse ways.
“We are here for the mining industry and we assure you that we will use the equipment judiciously,” he said.
10/03/08
ANGLOGOLD Ashanti (Iduapriem Mine) has donated Uniazial and Triazial Compression Testing equipment worth (£60,000) to the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) at Tarkwa. The equipment is used for testing the strength of rocks.
At a brief ceremony to present the equipment at a ceremony at Tarkwa, the Managing Director of the company, Mr David Kwesi Renner, said the university was one of the company’s constituents, so it had to contribute to its development, as well as the training of the students.
“We decided to look for equipment to be used for the training of students and we settled on this equipment,” he said.
Mr Renner said the equipment would also generate revenue for the university.
He expressed the hope that the equipment would be put to good use for the benefit of the students and the university.
The Pro Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Newton Atta Amegbey, expressed his gratitude to the mining company for the donation.
He said the equipment would assist in the teaching and research activities of the institution.
Professor Amegbey acknowledged that the Ghana Chamber of Mines had assisted the university in diverse ways.
“We are here for the mining industry and we assure you that we will use the equipment judiciously,” he said.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Bia District Assembly holds meeting
Story: Kwame Asiedu Marfo, Essam
07/03/08
THE Bia District Assembly in the Western Region mobilised a total of GH¢97,746 from its internally generated sources of revenue last year.
The amount showed an increase of 8.6 per cent of the assembly’s target of GH¢89,988 for the year.
The significant increase in the assembly’s revenue collection from internal sources was the result of contracting a private company in Accra called Matphijoe Consult and Business Services, to collect the property rate on its behalf.
For the first time since the creation of the assembly, last year was the only time the assembly was able to maximise the collection of property rates from companies and organisations.
The Bia District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Benjamin Armah, announced this at a special assembly meeting at Essam to deliberate on the draft budget estimates and fee-fixing for 2008.
He said the assembly received an amount of GH¢690,648 out of its share of the District Assemblies Common Fund of GH¢1,070, 000 for 2007.
Touching on stool land revenue, Mr Armah stated that out of the projected amount of GH¢97,000, the assembly received GH¢50,500, representing 52 per cent of the figure.
He added that last year, the assembly undertook 16 projects, which included the construction of a slaughterhouse at Debiso at the cost of ¢737,252 and a ten-seater aqua privy toilet facility at Essam. Both projects are 45 per cent complete.
According to him, the assembly was constructing an Area Council office at Adabokrom, a two-bedroom staff quarters and five-bedroom chalets at Essam as well as a five-room office block for decentralised departments.
“It is also constructing an Area Council block at Elluokrom at a cost of GH¢34,307 and a three-unit classroom block, office and store, staff bungalows, a KVIP public toilet and a urinal at Kumkumso at the cost of GH¢49,240,” Mr Amoah added.
Other projects under construction include three-unit classroom block each at Oseikrom and Akatiso at a total cost of GH¢73,664 as well as a three-unit teachers’ accommodation each at Essam and Debiso at a total cost of GH¢152,860 as well as a GH¢342,930 District Education office at Essam and the extension of electricity to the DCE’s new residential area at Debiso at a cost of GH¢38,214.
07/03/08
THE Bia District Assembly in the Western Region mobilised a total of GH¢97,746 from its internally generated sources of revenue last year.
The amount showed an increase of 8.6 per cent of the assembly’s target of GH¢89,988 for the year.
The significant increase in the assembly’s revenue collection from internal sources was the result of contracting a private company in Accra called Matphijoe Consult and Business Services, to collect the property rate on its behalf.
For the first time since the creation of the assembly, last year was the only time the assembly was able to maximise the collection of property rates from companies and organisations.
The Bia District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Benjamin Armah, announced this at a special assembly meeting at Essam to deliberate on the draft budget estimates and fee-fixing for 2008.
He said the assembly received an amount of GH¢690,648 out of its share of the District Assemblies Common Fund of GH¢1,070, 000 for 2007.
Touching on stool land revenue, Mr Armah stated that out of the projected amount of GH¢97,000, the assembly received GH¢50,500, representing 52 per cent of the figure.
He added that last year, the assembly undertook 16 projects, which included the construction of a slaughterhouse at Debiso at the cost of ¢737,252 and a ten-seater aqua privy toilet facility at Essam. Both projects are 45 per cent complete.
According to him, the assembly was constructing an Area Council office at Adabokrom, a two-bedroom staff quarters and five-bedroom chalets at Essam as well as a five-room office block for decentralised departments.
“It is also constructing an Area Council block at Elluokrom at a cost of GH¢34,307 and a three-unit classroom block, office and store, staff bungalows, a KVIP public toilet and a urinal at Kumkumso at the cost of GH¢49,240,” Mr Amoah added.
Other projects under construction include three-unit classroom block each at Oseikrom and Akatiso at a total cost of GH¢73,664 as well as a three-unit teachers’ accommodation each at Essam and Debiso at a total cost of GH¢152,860 as well as a GH¢342,930 District Education office at Essam and the extension of electricity to the DCE’s new residential area at Debiso at a cost of GH¢38,214.
Bia District Assembly holds meeting
Story: Kwame Asiedu Marfo, Essam
07/03/08
THE Bia District Assembly in the Western Region mobilised a total of GH¢97,746 from its internally generated sources of revenue last year.
The amount showed an increase of 8.6 per cent of the assembly’s target of GH¢89,988 for the year.
The significant increase in the assembly’s revenue collection from internal sources was the result of contracting a private company in Accra called Matphijoe Consult and Business Services, to collect the property rate on its behalf.
For the first time since the creation of the assembly, last year was the only time the assembly was able to maximise the collection of property rates from companies and organisations.
The Bia District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Benjamin Armah, announced this at a special assembly meeting at Essam to deliberate on the draft budget estimates and fee-fixing for 2008.
He said the assembly received an amount of GH¢690,648 out of its share of the District Assemblies Common Fund of GH¢1,070, 000 for 2007.
Touching on stool land revenue, Mr Armah stated that out of the projected amount of GH¢97,000, the assembly received GH¢50,500, representing 52 per cent of the figure.
He added that last year, the assembly undertook 16 projects, which included the construction of a slaughterhouse at Debiso at the cost of ¢737,252 and a ten-seater aqua privy toilet facility at Essam. Both projects are 45 per cent complete.
According to him, the assembly was constructing an Area Council office at Adabokrom, a two-bedroom staff quarters and five-bedroom chalets at Essam as well as a five-room office block for decentralised departments.
“It is also constructing an Area Council block at Elluokrom at a cost of GH¢34,307 and a three-unit classroom block, office and store, staff bungalows, a KVIP public toilet and a urinal at Kumkumso at the cost of GH¢49,240,” Mr Amoah added.
Other projects under construction include three-unit classroom block each at Oseikrom and Akatiso at a total cost of GH¢73,664 as well as a three-unit teachers’ accommodation each at Essam and Debiso at a total cost of GH¢152,860 as well as a GH¢342,930 District Education office at Essam and the extension of electricity to the DCE’s new residential area at Debiso at a cost of GH¢38,214.
07/03/08
THE Bia District Assembly in the Western Region mobilised a total of GH¢97,746 from its internally generated sources of revenue last year.
The amount showed an increase of 8.6 per cent of the assembly’s target of GH¢89,988 for the year.
The significant increase in the assembly’s revenue collection from internal sources was the result of contracting a private company in Accra called Matphijoe Consult and Business Services, to collect the property rate on its behalf.
For the first time since the creation of the assembly, last year was the only time the assembly was able to maximise the collection of property rates from companies and organisations.
The Bia District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Benjamin Armah, announced this at a special assembly meeting at Essam to deliberate on the draft budget estimates and fee-fixing for 2008.
He said the assembly received an amount of GH¢690,648 out of its share of the District Assemblies Common Fund of GH¢1,070, 000 for 2007.
Touching on stool land revenue, Mr Armah stated that out of the projected amount of GH¢97,000, the assembly received GH¢50,500, representing 52 per cent of the figure.
He added that last year, the assembly undertook 16 projects, which included the construction of a slaughterhouse at Debiso at the cost of ¢737,252 and a ten-seater aqua privy toilet facility at Essam. Both projects are 45 per cent complete.
According to him, the assembly was constructing an Area Council office at Adabokrom, a two-bedroom staff quarters and five-bedroom chalets at Essam as well as a five-room office block for decentralised departments.
“It is also constructing an Area Council block at Elluokrom at a cost of GH¢34,307 and a three-unit classroom block, office and store, staff bungalows, a KVIP public toilet and a urinal at Kumkumso at the cost of GH¢49,240,” Mr Amoah added.
Other projects under construction include three-unit classroom block each at Oseikrom and Akatiso at a total cost of GH¢73,664 as well as a three-unit teachers’ accommodation each at Essam and Debiso at a total cost of GH¢152,860 as well as a GH¢342,930 District Education office at Essam and the extension of electricity to the DCE’s new residential area at Debiso at a cost of GH¢38,214.
Jomoro District roads to be developed
Story: Kwame Asiedu Marfo, Bonyere
07/03/08
THE government is to construct the 2.70 kilometre road from Bonyere Junction to Bonyere township in the Jomoro District in the Western Region at a cost of GH¢1.4 million.
It will also construct the 2.15 kilometre road from Ezinlibo Junction to Ezinlibo township at a cost of GH¢5,400.
The District Chief Executive for Jomoro, Mr Martin Yamekeh Ackah, announced these when he visited Bonyere and Ezinlibo to interact with the people in the two communities.
He said Bonyere would also benefit from the European Union (EU) water project.
Mr Ackah, therefore, urged the people to pay their contribution of five per cent of the total cost of the project for it to take off soon.
He said a police station under construction at Bonyere would be completed soon for inauguration.
Mr Ackah made it clear to the people that the government was doing everything possible to develop the deprived communities.
He urged the people, especially parents to take advantage of the Capitation Grant, the School Feeding Programme and the President’s Special Initiative on Distance Learning to send their children of school age to school.
Mr Ackah advised them to register with the National Health Insurance Scheme for them to enjoy free medical care.
The DCE also asked the unemployed youth in the area to take full advantage of the National Youth Employment Programme in order to earn some income.
He presented 1,500 pieces of energy saving bulbs to the people of Bonyere and 150 exercise books to the Bonyere Methodist Junior High School on behalf of the Jomoro District Assembly.
He also donated 700 pieces of energy saving bulbs to the people of Ezinlibo and 150 exercise books to the Ezinlibo District Council Junior High School.
The Safohene of Ezinlibo, Mr Nelson Yankey, on behalf of the chiefs and people, appealed to the Jomoro District Assembly to provide the town with toilet facilities, additional electricity poles and good drinking water.
07/03/08
THE government is to construct the 2.70 kilometre road from Bonyere Junction to Bonyere township in the Jomoro District in the Western Region at a cost of GH¢1.4 million.
It will also construct the 2.15 kilometre road from Ezinlibo Junction to Ezinlibo township at a cost of GH¢5,400.
The District Chief Executive for Jomoro, Mr Martin Yamekeh Ackah, announced these when he visited Bonyere and Ezinlibo to interact with the people in the two communities.
He said Bonyere would also benefit from the European Union (EU) water project.
Mr Ackah, therefore, urged the people to pay their contribution of five per cent of the total cost of the project for it to take off soon.
He said a police station under construction at Bonyere would be completed soon for inauguration.
Mr Ackah made it clear to the people that the government was doing everything possible to develop the deprived communities.
He urged the people, especially parents to take advantage of the Capitation Grant, the School Feeding Programme and the President’s Special Initiative on Distance Learning to send their children of school age to school.
Mr Ackah advised them to register with the National Health Insurance Scheme for them to enjoy free medical care.
The DCE also asked the unemployed youth in the area to take full advantage of the National Youth Employment Programme in order to earn some income.
He presented 1,500 pieces of energy saving bulbs to the people of Bonyere and 150 exercise books to the Bonyere Methodist Junior High School on behalf of the Jomoro District Assembly.
He also donated 700 pieces of energy saving bulbs to the people of Ezinlibo and 150 exercise books to the Ezinlibo District Council Junior High School.
The Safohene of Ezinlibo, Mr Nelson Yankey, on behalf of the chiefs and people, appealed to the Jomoro District Assembly to provide the town with toilet facilities, additional electricity poles and good drinking water.
Aowin Suaman people jubilate-Over road construction project
Story: Kwame Asiedu Marfo, Enchi
07/03/08
THE euphoria, cheers and jubilation of the chiefs and people of the Aowin Suaman District of the Western Region when President J.A. Kufuor cut the sod for the construction of the Asankragwa-Enchi road, indicated the importance people in the district attach to road construction.
Many people in the numerous towns and villages stood by the roadside to wave and cheer the President’s convoy to and from Enchi.
The 56.4-kilometre road has deteriorated to the extent that plying it during the rainy season is difficult, which has forced vehicles to instead use the Asankragwa-Samreboi road to Enchi, a much longer distance.
Even though the road plays a very important role in conveying cocoa to the Takoradi port, timber logs to the port and various sawmills as well as foodstuffs to the market centres, it has been neglected for a very long time.
During the rainy season, many articulated trucks loaded with bags of cocoa and cargo trucks conveying farm produce, are stuck in the mud, blocking the busy road completely.
It was, therefore, a great sigh of relief to the people in the area when the President broke the ground for the official commencement of the reconstruction work on the road.
The project involves the reconstruction of the 56.4-kilometre two-lane carriageway of bitumen-surfaced road from Asankragwa in the Wassa Amenfi West District to Enchi in the Aowin Suaman District.
It has a design life of 15 years for an equivalent standard axle load of 13 tonnes and a designed speed of 80 kilometres per hour for the highway.
The proposed improvement of the road will result in the increase in the pavement strength, traffic operations, safety of both motorised and non-motorised road users as well as the capacity at junctions.
The estimated GH¢24 million project, which is being executed by Messrs Top International Engineering Corporation (Ghana) Limited, is expected to be completed in three years. The project is being funded solely by the government.
President Kufuor noted that Western Region is the economic hub of the country as far as the production of cocoa and timber is concerned. He added that the discovery of oil in commercial quantities had also made the region more important economically.
He stressed that the government would continue to ensure the rapid development of the region.
President Kufuor said the current cocoa production of 700,000 tonnes was expected to hit 1,000,000 tonnes within the next two years.
The Minister of State at the Ministry of Transportation, Mr Godfrey Bayon Tangu, said when completed, the road would enhance the economic and social conditions of the people, stressing that it would also facilitate the transportation of the nation’s main cash crop, cocoa, for which the Western Region is the major producer.
He said the export of other commodities for which the region was well noted such as lumber would also be enhanced.
Mr Tangu further stated that the completion of the project would result in a significant reduction in travel time from about two-and-a-half hours to one hour as well as vehicle operating cost and thereby promote economic activity in the project area.
“It is therefore anticipated that the expected increase in economic activity in agricultural production and the marketing of agricultural produce will help to generate employment within the two districts,’’ he said.
Mr Tangu said further that the perennial problem of heavy trucks getting stuck in the mud or breaking down on the road whenever there was even a slight rain, would be over upon completion of the project.
The minister said the completion of the road would also contribute to the government’s long- term goal of rehabilitating the national route 12 in order to facilitate increased trade with its northern sub–regional neighbours of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
He hinted motorists and travellers using the road that when construction works were in full swing, they would experience some inconveniences on the road.
Mr Tangu, therefore, appealed to motorists, people who live along the road corridor and other stakeholders to exercise caution and follow safety measures that the contractor would put in place during the construction period.
The minister assured motorists as well as the general public that “we will ensure that the necessary environmental, safety and traffic management measures are taken into consideration to minimise the expected inconveniences during the construction stage of the road.’’
Mr Tangu reiterated the commitment of the Ministry of Transportation and its agencies to ensure that all planned as well as approved road programmes were implemented to enable the government to achieve its objective of poverty reduction and wealth creation.
07/03/08
THE euphoria, cheers and jubilation of the chiefs and people of the Aowin Suaman District of the Western Region when President J.A. Kufuor cut the sod for the construction of the Asankragwa-Enchi road, indicated the importance people in the district attach to road construction.
Many people in the numerous towns and villages stood by the roadside to wave and cheer the President’s convoy to and from Enchi.
The 56.4-kilometre road has deteriorated to the extent that plying it during the rainy season is difficult, which has forced vehicles to instead use the Asankragwa-Samreboi road to Enchi, a much longer distance.
Even though the road plays a very important role in conveying cocoa to the Takoradi port, timber logs to the port and various sawmills as well as foodstuffs to the market centres, it has been neglected for a very long time.
During the rainy season, many articulated trucks loaded with bags of cocoa and cargo trucks conveying farm produce, are stuck in the mud, blocking the busy road completely.
It was, therefore, a great sigh of relief to the people in the area when the President broke the ground for the official commencement of the reconstruction work on the road.
The project involves the reconstruction of the 56.4-kilometre two-lane carriageway of bitumen-surfaced road from Asankragwa in the Wassa Amenfi West District to Enchi in the Aowin Suaman District.
It has a design life of 15 years for an equivalent standard axle load of 13 tonnes and a designed speed of 80 kilometres per hour for the highway.
The proposed improvement of the road will result in the increase in the pavement strength, traffic operations, safety of both motorised and non-motorised road users as well as the capacity at junctions.
The estimated GH¢24 million project, which is being executed by Messrs Top International Engineering Corporation (Ghana) Limited, is expected to be completed in three years. The project is being funded solely by the government.
President Kufuor noted that Western Region is the economic hub of the country as far as the production of cocoa and timber is concerned. He added that the discovery of oil in commercial quantities had also made the region more important economically.
He stressed that the government would continue to ensure the rapid development of the region.
President Kufuor said the current cocoa production of 700,000 tonnes was expected to hit 1,000,000 tonnes within the next two years.
The Minister of State at the Ministry of Transportation, Mr Godfrey Bayon Tangu, said when completed, the road would enhance the economic and social conditions of the people, stressing that it would also facilitate the transportation of the nation’s main cash crop, cocoa, for which the Western Region is the major producer.
He said the export of other commodities for which the region was well noted such as lumber would also be enhanced.
Mr Tangu further stated that the completion of the project would result in a significant reduction in travel time from about two-and-a-half hours to one hour as well as vehicle operating cost and thereby promote economic activity in the project area.
“It is therefore anticipated that the expected increase in economic activity in agricultural production and the marketing of agricultural produce will help to generate employment within the two districts,’’ he said.
Mr Tangu said further that the perennial problem of heavy trucks getting stuck in the mud or breaking down on the road whenever there was even a slight rain, would be over upon completion of the project.
The minister said the completion of the road would also contribute to the government’s long- term goal of rehabilitating the national route 12 in order to facilitate increased trade with its northern sub–regional neighbours of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
He hinted motorists and travellers using the road that when construction works were in full swing, they would experience some inconveniences on the road.
Mr Tangu, therefore, appealed to motorists, people who live along the road corridor and other stakeholders to exercise caution and follow safety measures that the contractor would put in place during the construction period.
The minister assured motorists as well as the general public that “we will ensure that the necessary environmental, safety and traffic management measures are taken into consideration to minimise the expected inconveniences during the construction stage of the road.’’
Mr Tangu reiterated the commitment of the Ministry of Transportation and its agencies to ensure that all planned as well as approved road programmes were implemented to enable the government to achieve its objective of poverty reduction and wealth creation.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Sefwi Akontombra District inaugurated
Story: Story: Kwame Asiedu Marfo, Sefwi-Akontombra
THE newly created 17-member Sefwi-Akontombra District Assembly in the Western Region was inaugurated on Friday amid traditional drumming, brass band music and dancing.
The euphoria that welcomed the inauguration was a clear indication that the creation of the new district was the wish of the chiefs and people in this predominantly cocoa growing area.
The district is among the four new districts created in the Western Region and 31 in the country. This brings the number of districts in the region to 17.
Other new districts in the region are Shama, Ellembele and Prestea-Hunni Valley.
The Deputy Western Regional-Minister, Mr Kwasi Blay, swore in the Assembly members after which he read the inaugural speech of President J.A. Kufuor.
In a brief speech, Mr Blay said the government had specially designed packages for the newly created districts to ensure that the required infrastructural facilities were constructed for their effective functioning.
He announced that seven kilometres of the Akontombra town roads would be tarred by the end of this year while the eight-kilometre Nsawora–Bodi Junction road would also be developed.
According to Mr Blay, the 25 kilometre Edwenase-Akontombra road had been awarded on contract.
The District Chief Executive for Sefwi-Wiawso, Mr Appiah Kubi Baidoo, said the government had fulfilled its promise to create more districts to facilitate socio-economic development.
He urged the people in the district to offer constructive criticisms, which would move the district forward.
THE newly created 17-member Sefwi-Akontombra District Assembly in the Western Region was inaugurated on Friday amid traditional drumming, brass band music and dancing.
The euphoria that welcomed the inauguration was a clear indication that the creation of the new district was the wish of the chiefs and people in this predominantly cocoa growing area.
The district is among the four new districts created in the Western Region and 31 in the country. This brings the number of districts in the region to 17.
Other new districts in the region are Shama, Ellembele and Prestea-Hunni Valley.
The Deputy Western Regional-Minister, Mr Kwasi Blay, swore in the Assembly members after which he read the inaugural speech of President J.A. Kufuor.
In a brief speech, Mr Blay said the government had specially designed packages for the newly created districts to ensure that the required infrastructural facilities were constructed for their effective functioning.
He announced that seven kilometres of the Akontombra town roads would be tarred by the end of this year while the eight-kilometre Nsawora–Bodi Junction road would also be developed.
According to Mr Blay, the 25 kilometre Edwenase-Akontombra road had been awarded on contract.
The District Chief Executive for Sefwi-Wiawso, Mr Appiah Kubi Baidoo, said the government had fulfilled its promise to create more districts to facilitate socio-economic development.
He urged the people in the district to offer constructive criticisms, which would move the district forward.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
NYEP EMPLOYS 374 IN JOMORO DISTRICT (PAGE 23)
Story: Kwame Asiedu Marfo, Anlomatupe
THE National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) has employed 374 people under the different modules in the Jomoro District of the Western Region.
The District Co-ordinator of the NYEP, Mr Mathew A. Ndah, announced this when he accompanied the Jomoro District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Martin Yamekeh Ackah, to interact with the people of Anlomatuope and also know their problems.
He said 240 people had been employed under the Community Teaching Assistants module and said they had been helping to enhance teaching and learning in various schools in the district.
Mr Ndah said schools which did not have teachers were now benefiting greatly from the services of the teaching assistants.
Under the Health Extension Workers (HEW) module, Mr Ndah said 60 young people from the district had been registered and trained and were now helping to address the problem of shortage of staff in health facilities in the district.
He said the health extension workers were providing adequate extension services at the basic level of health care for the communities and health centres, as well as door-to-door primary healthcare services, adding that they offered home-based care to the communities.
Touching on the Community Protection Unit, Mr Ndah said 23 able-bodied and energetic young people had been employed and trained to assist the regular police in performing their duties, such as directing traffic, patrolling the neighbourhood, fighting criminal activities, liaising with opinion leaders, fostering community relations and forging partnerships in their respective communities.
On sanitation and waste management, the co-ordinator said 41 people had been engaged by Zoomlion Ghana Limited, the waste management experts, while 10 had been employed as sanitary guards to help keep the communities in the district clean.
Mr Ndah assured the people that more unemployed youth would be employed when the district started implementing the remaining modules.
He, therefore, advised the youth who had not applied for employment under the programme to visit the youth employment office at the Jomoro District Assembly for forms and apply without delay.
Mr Ackah explained the importance of the National Health Insurance Scheme, which had replaced the cash-and-carry system, the Capitation Grant, the School Feeding Programme, the NYEP and the President’s Special Initiatives, especially that on distance learning, to the people.
He urged parents to take advantage of the Capitation Grant and the School Feeding Programme to enrol their children, especially the girls, in school.
The DCE said it was the dream of the government that every child of school age was in school and that was why it had introduced those programmes to provide children with a solid foundation for their future development.
Mr Ackah explained that the NYEP was to offer employment opportunities to the unemployed and underemployed who registered with the programme.
The Odikro of Anlomatuope, Nana Nreda Morkeh, thanked the Jomoro District Assembly for providing the town with some development projects, such as pipe-borne water, roofing sheets for its community shed, the gravelling of the road from the junction to the town, the construction of a modern school block, as well as the provision of electric poles for the its electrification project.
THE National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) has employed 374 people under the different modules in the Jomoro District of the Western Region.
The District Co-ordinator of the NYEP, Mr Mathew A. Ndah, announced this when he accompanied the Jomoro District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Martin Yamekeh Ackah, to interact with the people of Anlomatuope and also know their problems.
He said 240 people had been employed under the Community Teaching Assistants module and said they had been helping to enhance teaching and learning in various schools in the district.
Mr Ndah said schools which did not have teachers were now benefiting greatly from the services of the teaching assistants.
Under the Health Extension Workers (HEW) module, Mr Ndah said 60 young people from the district had been registered and trained and were now helping to address the problem of shortage of staff in health facilities in the district.
He said the health extension workers were providing adequate extension services at the basic level of health care for the communities and health centres, as well as door-to-door primary healthcare services, adding that they offered home-based care to the communities.
Touching on the Community Protection Unit, Mr Ndah said 23 able-bodied and energetic young people had been employed and trained to assist the regular police in performing their duties, such as directing traffic, patrolling the neighbourhood, fighting criminal activities, liaising with opinion leaders, fostering community relations and forging partnerships in their respective communities.
On sanitation and waste management, the co-ordinator said 41 people had been engaged by Zoomlion Ghana Limited, the waste management experts, while 10 had been employed as sanitary guards to help keep the communities in the district clean.
Mr Ndah assured the people that more unemployed youth would be employed when the district started implementing the remaining modules.
He, therefore, advised the youth who had not applied for employment under the programme to visit the youth employment office at the Jomoro District Assembly for forms and apply without delay.
Mr Ackah explained the importance of the National Health Insurance Scheme, which had replaced the cash-and-carry system, the Capitation Grant, the School Feeding Programme, the NYEP and the President’s Special Initiatives, especially that on distance learning, to the people.
He urged parents to take advantage of the Capitation Grant and the School Feeding Programme to enrol their children, especially the girls, in school.
The DCE said it was the dream of the government that every child of school age was in school and that was why it had introduced those programmes to provide children with a solid foundation for their future development.
Mr Ackah explained that the NYEP was to offer employment opportunities to the unemployed and underemployed who registered with the programme.
The Odikro of Anlomatuope, Nana Nreda Morkeh, thanked the Jomoro District Assembly for providing the town with some development projects, such as pipe-borne water, roofing sheets for its community shed, the gravelling of the road from the junction to the town, the construction of a modern school block, as well as the provision of electric poles for the its electrification project.
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