THE Takoradi Polytechnic will sign a memorandum of understanding next year, to begin the training of aircraft maintenance technicians with the assistance of the Aircraft Maintenance Training Institute of Florida, in the United States of America, the Rector of the Takoradi Polytechnic, Rev. Professor Daniel A. Nyarko has announced.
He said the polytechnic was expected to secure accreditation from the City and Guilds of the United Kingdom soon to run specialised training programmes in the fields of welding, fabrication, logistics, transport, freight forwarding and clearing, and warehousing, among others.
Rev. Prof. Nyarko said the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) through the Canadian High Commission in Ghana, was working out a similar package for the Takoradi Polytechnic.
The Rector announced this at the 10th congregation of the polytechnic in Takoradi at the weekend.
“We cherish these collaborative relationships. A lot more institutions and individuals are showing remarkable interests in Takoradi Polytechnic and are holding talks with us towards collaboration to run new programmes or assist us in human resource and infrastructural development,” he said.
In order to take advantage of the current goodwill, he said a new outfit to be known as the Office of International Programmes and External Relations would be created next year to co-ordinate all such activities.
He said plans were far advanced for the Bachelor of Technology degree to be awarded in conjunction with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and the University of Cape Coast as appropriate and that the polytechnic had been assured of affiliation by the two universities.
“Takoradi Polytechnic hoped to receive accreditation from the National Accreditation Board (NAB) to run a new Bachelor of Technology programme in Civil Engineering soon”, he assured.
For the 2010/2011 academic year, he said the institution had introduced two new programmes in printing and procurement.
The Rector noted that efforts at placing Takoradi Polytechnic on the world map of technological institutions required that academic quality assurance was given priority attention.
To this end, he said the polytechnic had strengthened itself and would continue to upgrade the capacities of its human resource at the Academic Quality Assurance Unit towards achieving efficiency and effectiveness.
In 2011 and the years ahead, he said Takoradi Polytechnic would strive to be ISO-9001 compliant in terms of its quality management system, just as it was required of all tertiary institutions in Kenya.
He explained that such rigorous academic quality assurance measures had, to a large extent, helped to eliminate the incidence of victimisation of students by lecturers and had reduced human errors too in its record-keeping.
Rev. Prof. Nyarko said a new Information and Communication Technology (ICT) software designed to manage student admissions, registration, and academic records would be installed in January 2011 to enhance its quality management system.
He expressed the polytechnic’s sincere gratitude to Tullow Ghana Limited and the Jubilee Partners for their approved initial two-year assistance for the new Mechanical and Electrical Engineering programmes about to begin.
The support, he explained, comes in the form of investment in new laboratory equipment, syllabi for process operations and instrumentation and control at the Higher National Diploma (HND) level.
He, therefore, appealed to the Ghana National Petroleum Company to help fast-track the process for the polytechnic.
Rev. Prof. Nyarko said the recent developments on the labour front in the polytechnics called for a sober reflection on the relevance of polytechnic education to the socio-economic development of the country.
“If we accept that polytechnics have a key role to play in meeting the middle and high-level manpower needs of the country, then the polytechnic lecturer deserves better conditions of service than it is currently the case,” he pointed out.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Thursday, December 30, 2010
2 GHACEM FACTORIES TO INCREASE PRODUCTION CAPACITIES (PAGE 22, DEC 30, 2010)
GHACEM Limited is to increase the production capacities of its two factories in Takoradi and Tema at a cost of 20 million Euros, to produce quality cement to meet the rising demand, particularly in the Western Region as a result of the oil find.
The management of the company has anticipated that various forms of infrastructure relating to housing, road construction, offices, bridges and more would be undertaken to support the emerging oil and gas industry.
The current capacity of the Takoradi plant is in excess of 1.2 million tonnes per year, which is the same as that of the present production capacity in Tema.
The expansion will provide additional 650,000 tonnes to increase the capacity in Takoradi to 1.9 million tonnes per annum.
Similarly, the Tema factory would be expanded with additional 650,000 tonnes per annum and it is expected to take off from the first quarter of 2011 and will be commissioned in the third quarter of 2012, while the expansion of the Takoradi factory is expected to take off soon.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ghacem Limited, Mr Jean Marc-Junon, announced this at the meet-the-press session in Takoradi.
He said the board and management of Ghacem would like to associate themselves with the success of the emerging oil and gas industry.
“In this context, we see a clear need to increase the production capacity of the Takoradi plant,” he stated.
Mr Marc-Junon said the expansion programmes in Tema and Takoradi demonstrated Ghacem’s efforts in consolidating its position as the leading cement manufacturer in Ghana.
“Ghacem has been in existence for the past 43 years and is committed to the production of quality and affordable cement in Ghana,” he emphasised.
Mr Marc-Junon said as already demonstrated for the past six years, Ghacem was committed to the use of local raw materials for the production of cement in the country.
“Ghacem’s first use of local limestone was in 2004 with supplies from the Eastern Region and our cement has since that time been produced with local component of about 25 per cent,” he explained.
Mr Marc-Junon said Ghacem had already started mining and supplying limestone from the Jomoro District in the Western Region to the Takoradi factory, in collaboration with Multiwall Paper Sacks Limited, a company belonging to Dr J.A. Addison, an Industrialist.
He said the combination of regional limestone supplies and considerable expanded capacity at Takoradi factory clearly showed Ghacem’s commitment to the Western Region.
The board chairman emphasised that Ghacem would continue to value the importance of corporate social responsibility and uphold the donation of cement to deprived communities in respect of education and health infrastructure development through the initiative of Ghacem Cement Foundation.
According Mr Marc-Junon, since the inception of the Ghacem Cement Foundation in 2002, a total of 270,000 bags of cement with an equivalent market value of about GH¢2,700,000 had been donated to about 1,600 deprived communities across the length and breadth of the country.
He stated that Ghacem was not against competition, adding “indeed competition enables every producer to improve on its productivity for the betterment of the final consumer.”
Mr Marc-Junon, however, stressed that what Ghacem was appealing for was competition on a level playing field for all competitors, adding “Ghacem will therefore continue to petition where there is a clear case of unfair trade practices culminating in unfair competition.”
Giving a brief background of Ghacem, the Managing Director, Mr Morten Gade, said the company was established in 1967 as a joint venture between the government and Norcem, and later became Scancem.
He said Scancem became the majority shareholder of Ghacem in 1992 and that in 1999, Scancem became part of Heidelberg Cement Group I Germany.
Mr Gade said the company recognised the importance of good partnership with key stakeholders in its business such as the media.
The management of the company has anticipated that various forms of infrastructure relating to housing, road construction, offices, bridges and more would be undertaken to support the emerging oil and gas industry.
The current capacity of the Takoradi plant is in excess of 1.2 million tonnes per year, which is the same as that of the present production capacity in Tema.
The expansion will provide additional 650,000 tonnes to increase the capacity in Takoradi to 1.9 million tonnes per annum.
Similarly, the Tema factory would be expanded with additional 650,000 tonnes per annum and it is expected to take off from the first quarter of 2011 and will be commissioned in the third quarter of 2012, while the expansion of the Takoradi factory is expected to take off soon.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ghacem Limited, Mr Jean Marc-Junon, announced this at the meet-the-press session in Takoradi.
He said the board and management of Ghacem would like to associate themselves with the success of the emerging oil and gas industry.
“In this context, we see a clear need to increase the production capacity of the Takoradi plant,” he stated.
Mr Marc-Junon said the expansion programmes in Tema and Takoradi demonstrated Ghacem’s efforts in consolidating its position as the leading cement manufacturer in Ghana.
“Ghacem has been in existence for the past 43 years and is committed to the production of quality and affordable cement in Ghana,” he emphasised.
Mr Marc-Junon said as already demonstrated for the past six years, Ghacem was committed to the use of local raw materials for the production of cement in the country.
“Ghacem’s first use of local limestone was in 2004 with supplies from the Eastern Region and our cement has since that time been produced with local component of about 25 per cent,” he explained.
Mr Marc-Junon said Ghacem had already started mining and supplying limestone from the Jomoro District in the Western Region to the Takoradi factory, in collaboration with Multiwall Paper Sacks Limited, a company belonging to Dr J.A. Addison, an Industrialist.
He said the combination of regional limestone supplies and considerable expanded capacity at Takoradi factory clearly showed Ghacem’s commitment to the Western Region.
The board chairman emphasised that Ghacem would continue to value the importance of corporate social responsibility and uphold the donation of cement to deprived communities in respect of education and health infrastructure development through the initiative of Ghacem Cement Foundation.
According Mr Marc-Junon, since the inception of the Ghacem Cement Foundation in 2002, a total of 270,000 bags of cement with an equivalent market value of about GH¢2,700,000 had been donated to about 1,600 deprived communities across the length and breadth of the country.
He stated that Ghacem was not against competition, adding “indeed competition enables every producer to improve on its productivity for the betterment of the final consumer.”
Mr Marc-Junon, however, stressed that what Ghacem was appealing for was competition on a level playing field for all competitors, adding “Ghacem will therefore continue to petition where there is a clear case of unfair trade practices culminating in unfair competition.”
Giving a brief background of Ghacem, the Managing Director, Mr Morten Gade, said the company was established in 1967 as a joint venture between the government and Norcem, and later became Scancem.
He said Scancem became the majority shareholder of Ghacem in 1992 and that in 1999, Scancem became part of Heidelberg Cement Group I Germany.
Mr Gade said the company recognised the importance of good partnership with key stakeholders in its business such as the media.
ANGLOGOLD ASHANTI HONOURS 217 EMPLOYEES (PAGE 30, DEC 30, 2010)
ANGLOGOLD Ashanti (Iduapriem Mine) Limited has honoured 217 of its employees in acknowledgement of their hard work, steadfastness, honesty and diligence of service rendered to the mining company.
The workers, who have worked between five years and 20 years received a total of 116 table top fridges, 35 double-door fridges, 30 deep freezers, 20 21-inch colour television sets, 20 bags of cement, five four-burner gas cookers and 19.5 packets of roofing sheets, all valued at GH¢100,000.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, the Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti (Iduapriem Mine) Limited, Mr Billy Mawasha, said the long service awards commenced in 1995 to reward deserving employees who had served between five and 30 years.
He said in 2004, the qualifying years for the award was changed to five, 10, 15 and 20 years of service and so was the value of items.
Mr Billy Mawasha said the company believed that “people are the business and it is for this reason that the company has this time round put premium in honouring its employees who have demonstrated commitment to duty, even in difficult and good times alike all over the years.”
“The loyalty and dedication of our employees came to the fore when we were faced with the tailings storage facility challenge,” he said, adding that “employees galvanised themselves to quickly provide an interim tailings storage facility which has kept us going thus far.”
“Indeed, the concern and support from employees to management during those challenging times was up and beyond, for which we say ‘ayekoo’ to the gallant workers of Iduapriem,” he stressed.
Mr Mawasha emphasised that their continued commitment over the years represented the foundation of the future they were striving to achieve for Iduapriem and urged the workers to put in everything to enable the company to achieve its annual target of 20 days additional bonus.
The managing director said the recognition should serve as a motivation for them to work even harder and smarter to change the fortunes of the company, adding that “there is still work to be done. Long service award, however, does not mean retirement. It is just a token of our appreciation for the value you have added to Iduapriem over this years.”
Mr Mawasha assured the workers that the company would continue to create a conducive environment for employees to reach the highest level in their career, and that it would not relent in its effort to ensure that welfare programmes designed for the workers were sustained and improved upon as the company produced more to justify the increase.
The workers, who have worked between five years and 20 years received a total of 116 table top fridges, 35 double-door fridges, 30 deep freezers, 20 21-inch colour television sets, 20 bags of cement, five four-burner gas cookers and 19.5 packets of roofing sheets, all valued at GH¢100,000.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, the Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti (Iduapriem Mine) Limited, Mr Billy Mawasha, said the long service awards commenced in 1995 to reward deserving employees who had served between five and 30 years.
He said in 2004, the qualifying years for the award was changed to five, 10, 15 and 20 years of service and so was the value of items.
Mr Billy Mawasha said the company believed that “people are the business and it is for this reason that the company has this time round put premium in honouring its employees who have demonstrated commitment to duty, even in difficult and good times alike all over the years.”
“The loyalty and dedication of our employees came to the fore when we were faced with the tailings storage facility challenge,” he said, adding that “employees galvanised themselves to quickly provide an interim tailings storage facility which has kept us going thus far.”
“Indeed, the concern and support from employees to management during those challenging times was up and beyond, for which we say ‘ayekoo’ to the gallant workers of Iduapriem,” he stressed.
Mr Mawasha emphasised that their continued commitment over the years represented the foundation of the future they were striving to achieve for Iduapriem and urged the workers to put in everything to enable the company to achieve its annual target of 20 days additional bonus.
The managing director said the recognition should serve as a motivation for them to work even harder and smarter to change the fortunes of the company, adding that “there is still work to be done. Long service award, however, does not mean retirement. It is just a token of our appreciation for the value you have added to Iduapriem over this years.”
Mr Mawasha assured the workers that the company would continue to create a conducive environment for employees to reach the highest level in their career, and that it would not relent in its effort to ensure that welfare programmes designed for the workers were sustained and improved upon as the company produced more to justify the increase.
WORLD AIDS DAY HELD IN TAKORADI (PAGE 22, DEC 30, 2010)
IT was not for nothing that the 2010 World AIDS Day was held in Takoradi and the Western Region as a whole.
The reasons are that due to the discovery of oil and gas, the anticipation is that there would be an influx of people to Sekondi/Takoradi and the region in general.
The expectation is that there would be high population density in the twin-city and the region and an increase in the risk of HIV/AIDS infections.
The World AIDS Day was held on the theme: “Universal access and human rights: Action now.”
Available statistics indicate that the HIV/AIDS situation in the region is not encouraging and therefore, if appropriate intervention activities are not undertaken at the various workplaces and enterprises level, the negative effect may be too enormous to bear.
The regional HIV/AIDS prevalence rate has been erratic and cannot therefore be ignored as far as the effect of the HIV/AIDS virus is concerned.
For instance, in 2004, the region recorded a prevalence rate of 4.7 per cent as against 3.2 per cent in 2005.
In 2006, the prevalence rate rose to 4.3 per cent and with the unrelenting efforts by community based organisations (CBOs), non governmental organisations (NGOs), district assemblies and other agencies, it reduced to 3.2 per cent and 2.9 per cent in 2007 and 2008, respectively.
Unfortunately, the region recorded a 3.1 per cent prevalence rate in 2009, and what is more frightening is the unpleasant indication from the health sector report that the situation is likely to aggravate to much higher levels in 2010 and beyond if efforts at fighting the pandemic are not intensified.
Speaking at the function, the Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, said that the choice of the region was not only because of the increase in the HIV incidence rate from 2.9 per cent in 2008 to 3.1 per cent in 2009, but also due to the fact that oil and gas had been found within the borders of the region.
He, therefore, said any negative impact that might arise from the oil and gas industry, as far as the behaviour of men and women was concerned, among others, would certainly have other telling effects on the regional economy before it trickled down to other parts of the country.
He said this year’s World AIDS Day should provide an opportunity for all individuals, communities and political leaders to take action towards making universal access a reality, adding that “it is also about increasing awareness, fighting, injustice and improving education.”
“On this day, we are filled with hope and concern. Hope because significant progress has been made towards universal access. Fewer children are born with HIV and a significant proportion of infected people are receiving treatment,” he stated.
Mr Aidoo said HIV/AIDS activities over the years had received strong political support from the national, regional and district levels, and down to the communities.
“I am, therefore, excited by the initiative of the Ghana AIDS Commission to deepen the knowledge of Ghanaians and find compelling solutions to confront any undesired situation when the production of the oil begins,” he said.
Mr Aidoo said it was important for people in the Western Region to prepare and plan against the challenges.
That, he said, could be achieved holistically when they all put their heads together to plan programmes and projects that would effectively deal with the HIV menace, while reducing its disastrous effects on the economy of the region.
“In line with this, management of ministries, departments and agencies, institutions and enterprises in the region are required to address the impact of HIV/AIDS on their workers, especially as it is reflected in such psychological manifestations as anger, depression, panic, blame, demoralisation and loss of direction, denial and sometimes tendencies resulting from stress,” he stressed.
Mr Aidoo urged them to formulate workplace policies and ensure that they were implemented to the benefit of their staff.
He said the protection of human rights was fundamental to combating the global HIV and AIDS menace, especially in Ghana, in view of the speculation of a higher incidence level due to the oil and gas find.
The Regional Minister stressed that the violation of human rights of people living with HIV, women and girls, men who had sex with men, injecting drug users and female sex workers, must therefore end.
He said the Regional Co-ordinating Council, through the Regional AIDS Committee, would also continue to provide the necessary leadership for the regional response and adopt an even more holistic strategy to respond to the pandemic in order to contribute significantly to the national response.
“Our resolve to prevent new infections and further reduce the current regional prevalence rate of 3.1 per cent must be nurtured to reality,” he emphasised.
The reasons are that due to the discovery of oil and gas, the anticipation is that there would be an influx of people to Sekondi/Takoradi and the region in general.
The expectation is that there would be high population density in the twin-city and the region and an increase in the risk of HIV/AIDS infections.
The World AIDS Day was held on the theme: “Universal access and human rights: Action now.”
Available statistics indicate that the HIV/AIDS situation in the region is not encouraging and therefore, if appropriate intervention activities are not undertaken at the various workplaces and enterprises level, the negative effect may be too enormous to bear.
The regional HIV/AIDS prevalence rate has been erratic and cannot therefore be ignored as far as the effect of the HIV/AIDS virus is concerned.
For instance, in 2004, the region recorded a prevalence rate of 4.7 per cent as against 3.2 per cent in 2005.
In 2006, the prevalence rate rose to 4.3 per cent and with the unrelenting efforts by community based organisations (CBOs), non governmental organisations (NGOs), district assemblies and other agencies, it reduced to 3.2 per cent and 2.9 per cent in 2007 and 2008, respectively.
Unfortunately, the region recorded a 3.1 per cent prevalence rate in 2009, and what is more frightening is the unpleasant indication from the health sector report that the situation is likely to aggravate to much higher levels in 2010 and beyond if efforts at fighting the pandemic are not intensified.
Speaking at the function, the Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, said that the choice of the region was not only because of the increase in the HIV incidence rate from 2.9 per cent in 2008 to 3.1 per cent in 2009, but also due to the fact that oil and gas had been found within the borders of the region.
He, therefore, said any negative impact that might arise from the oil and gas industry, as far as the behaviour of men and women was concerned, among others, would certainly have other telling effects on the regional economy before it trickled down to other parts of the country.
He said this year’s World AIDS Day should provide an opportunity for all individuals, communities and political leaders to take action towards making universal access a reality, adding that “it is also about increasing awareness, fighting, injustice and improving education.”
“On this day, we are filled with hope and concern. Hope because significant progress has been made towards universal access. Fewer children are born with HIV and a significant proportion of infected people are receiving treatment,” he stated.
Mr Aidoo said HIV/AIDS activities over the years had received strong political support from the national, regional and district levels, and down to the communities.
“I am, therefore, excited by the initiative of the Ghana AIDS Commission to deepen the knowledge of Ghanaians and find compelling solutions to confront any undesired situation when the production of the oil begins,” he said.
Mr Aidoo said it was important for people in the Western Region to prepare and plan against the challenges.
That, he said, could be achieved holistically when they all put their heads together to plan programmes and projects that would effectively deal with the HIV menace, while reducing its disastrous effects on the economy of the region.
“In line with this, management of ministries, departments and agencies, institutions and enterprises in the region are required to address the impact of HIV/AIDS on their workers, especially as it is reflected in such psychological manifestations as anger, depression, panic, blame, demoralisation and loss of direction, denial and sometimes tendencies resulting from stress,” he stressed.
Mr Aidoo urged them to formulate workplace policies and ensure that they were implemented to the benefit of their staff.
He said the protection of human rights was fundamental to combating the global HIV and AIDS menace, especially in Ghana, in view of the speculation of a higher incidence level due to the oil and gas find.
The Regional Minister stressed that the violation of human rights of people living with HIV, women and girls, men who had sex with men, injecting drug users and female sex workers, must therefore end.
He said the Regional Co-ordinating Council, through the Regional AIDS Committee, would also continue to provide the necessary leadership for the regional response and adopt an even more holistic strategy to respond to the pandemic in order to contribute significantly to the national response.
“Our resolve to prevent new infections and further reduce the current regional prevalence rate of 3.1 per cent must be nurtured to reality,” he emphasised.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
MPOHOR WASSA EAST, KADJEBI HONOUR BEST FARMERS (PAGE 22, DEC 24, 2010)
MR Emmanuel Egan from Domama in the Mpohor Wassa East District in the Western Region was adjudged the best district farmer at the 26th Farmers’ Day celebration held at Mpohor.
He received machetes, a wall clock, a radio cassette player, a pair of wellington boots, a sewing machine, full piece wax print, a spraying machine , a corn mill and a certificate.
A total of 29 farmers, institutions and organisations in the Mpohor Wassa East District received various awards in recognition of their hard work at this year’s ceremony.
Speaking at the function, the Mpohor Wassa East District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Anthony Bassaw, said a number of interventions had been initiated to enable farmers increase productivity.
He said the interventions included the mass cocoa spraying programme.
Mr Bassaw said the government was determined to support the cocoa sector to improve productivity by providing inputs and other chemicals to help increase cocoa yield in the country.
He said the District Cocoa Disease and Pests Control Project (CODAPEC) received inputs which were subsequently distributed to the existing 57 cocoa spraying gangs.
The DCE said the inputs included 54,000 litres of premix fuel, 2,600 boxes of Akatemaster insecticide, 1,100 boxes or 13,200 litres of Sidalco liquid fertiliser and 113 pieces of spraying machines.
In another development, Mr Thomas Fordjour-Ababio, the Headmaster of Kadjebi-Asato Senior High School was adjudged the Kadjebi District Best Farmer in small ruminants at this year’s farmers’ day at Asato-Kosamba, reports Emmanuel Modey.
For his prize, Mr Fordjour-Ababio took home a radio cassette recorder, a pair of wellington boots, bars of key soap, wax print, machetes and a spraying machine.
He was among the 18 outstanding farmers who were honoured at the ceremony.
Mr Fordjour-Ababio is engaged in large-scale poultry and crop production.
He received machetes, a wall clock, a radio cassette player, a pair of wellington boots, a sewing machine, full piece wax print, a spraying machine , a corn mill and a certificate.
A total of 29 farmers, institutions and organisations in the Mpohor Wassa East District received various awards in recognition of their hard work at this year’s ceremony.
Speaking at the function, the Mpohor Wassa East District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Anthony Bassaw, said a number of interventions had been initiated to enable farmers increase productivity.
He said the interventions included the mass cocoa spraying programme.
Mr Bassaw said the government was determined to support the cocoa sector to improve productivity by providing inputs and other chemicals to help increase cocoa yield in the country.
He said the District Cocoa Disease and Pests Control Project (CODAPEC) received inputs which were subsequently distributed to the existing 57 cocoa spraying gangs.
The DCE said the inputs included 54,000 litres of premix fuel, 2,600 boxes of Akatemaster insecticide, 1,100 boxes or 13,200 litres of Sidalco liquid fertiliser and 113 pieces of spraying machines.
In another development, Mr Thomas Fordjour-Ababio, the Headmaster of Kadjebi-Asato Senior High School was adjudged the Kadjebi District Best Farmer in small ruminants at this year’s farmers’ day at Asato-Kosamba, reports Emmanuel Modey.
For his prize, Mr Fordjour-Ababio took home a radio cassette recorder, a pair of wellington boots, bars of key soap, wax print, machetes and a spraying machine.
He was among the 18 outstanding farmers who were honoured at the ceremony.
Mr Fordjour-Ababio is engaged in large-scale poultry and crop production.
Monday, December 20, 2010
VEEP URGES T-POLY TO INTRODUCE OIL, GAS COURSES (SPREAD, DEC 20, 2010)
THE Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, has called on the Takoradi Polytechnic to re-strategise and produce expertise that will be at the forefront of the oil and gas production to make the application of the local content factor more meaningful.
He said many opportunities existed in oil production such as the installation of gas processing and thermal plants, electricity transmission engineering, catering services and aviation services and that it behoved the polytechnic to train students in those areas.
Mr Mahama was addressing the 10th Congregation of the Takoradi Polytechnic in Takoradi at the weekend.
The polytechnic successfully turned out 2,318 graduates, who were awarded Higher National Diplomas (HND) and 71 civil engineering graduates, who received competency-based training (CBT) certificates.
He noted that the polytechnic, as an agent of development, should focus on its mission to produce more graduates to contribute towards the rapid socio-economic development of the country.
He advised the students to be innovative thinkers and think outside the box rather than accepting the status quo.
He announced that the government was coming out with a programme which would make financing the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) smoother than it was now.
The Chairman of the Takoradi Polytechnic Council, Dr George K.T. Oduro, said the recent inauguration of commercial oil operations in the country posed a great challenge to the Takoradi Polytechnic in terms of running programmes that were relevant to the oil and gas industry.
Aware of this challenge, he said the polytechnic had initiated a process of introducing an oil and gas HND and a certificate programme in conjunction with Tullow Oil Company.
Dr Oduro expressed regret that out of a student population of 8,500, less than 5,000 were residential students as a result of inadequate hostel facilities.
He was of the view that the GETFund was inadequate in meeting the needs of all public tertiary institutions and that it was worrying that some public-spirited individuals and institutions continued to call on government to review the GETFund Law to extend the facilities to private universities.
“Indeed, l acknowledge the contribution of private universities in the provision of education in Ghana but considering the current resource challenges facing polytechnic education in the country, l appeal to the government to hasten slowly in heeding these calls,” he appealed.
He said many opportunities existed in oil production such as the installation of gas processing and thermal plants, electricity transmission engineering, catering services and aviation services and that it behoved the polytechnic to train students in those areas.
Mr Mahama was addressing the 10th Congregation of the Takoradi Polytechnic in Takoradi at the weekend.
The polytechnic successfully turned out 2,318 graduates, who were awarded Higher National Diplomas (HND) and 71 civil engineering graduates, who received competency-based training (CBT) certificates.
He noted that the polytechnic, as an agent of development, should focus on its mission to produce more graduates to contribute towards the rapid socio-economic development of the country.
He advised the students to be innovative thinkers and think outside the box rather than accepting the status quo.
He announced that the government was coming out with a programme which would make financing the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) smoother than it was now.
The Chairman of the Takoradi Polytechnic Council, Dr George K.T. Oduro, said the recent inauguration of commercial oil operations in the country posed a great challenge to the Takoradi Polytechnic in terms of running programmes that were relevant to the oil and gas industry.
Aware of this challenge, he said the polytechnic had initiated a process of introducing an oil and gas HND and a certificate programme in conjunction with Tullow Oil Company.
Dr Oduro expressed regret that out of a student population of 8,500, less than 5,000 were residential students as a result of inadequate hostel facilities.
He was of the view that the GETFund was inadequate in meeting the needs of all public tertiary institutions and that it was worrying that some public-spirited individuals and institutions continued to call on government to review the GETFund Law to extend the facilities to private universities.
“Indeed, l acknowledge the contribution of private universities in the provision of education in Ghana but considering the current resource challenges facing polytechnic education in the country, l appeal to the government to hasten slowly in heeding these calls,” he appealed.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
LEGAL CHANGES WILL MAKE DLE EFFECTIE — MRS ADJALO (PAGE 13, DEC 13, 2010)
A MEMBER of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Rebecca Kabukie Adjalo, has explained that changes to the legal framework for the district level elections (DLE) are geared towards making the conduct of the elections more manageable and less expensive, while at the same time making the sub-structures more effective.
She said with regard to printing of ballot papers for elections, the printers develop plates which are very expensive and time consuming.
She further explained that in the upcoming district level elections, about 12,270 plates shall be developed, including 6,135 for the district assembly and 6,135 for the unit committee elections.
Mrs Adjalo who is in charge of the Western Region was speaking at a briefing of district officers of the Electoral Commission (EC), the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the Information Services Department (ISD) on the theme: “Harnessing the resources of the EC, NCCE and ISD for improved citizen participation in the 2010”.
The briefing was to upgrade the knowledge of the officers on the legal framework for the district level elections in the light of the changes to the law and share ideas on communication strategies required for effective public education and improve participation in the district level elections.
She said the second peculiar challenge was the inadequate interest of the media in doing public education, adding that the zeal with which the media publicise general elections was almost non-existence with the district level elections.
“Since DLE is non-partisan, there is formal absence of voter education machinery of political parties, because the individual candidates do their own campaigns,” she noted.
Mrs Adjalo said there were also constraints in having adequate numbers of platforms mounted to introduce candidates in the communities that constitute the electoral area.
She added that the time and resources available to the Commission were always not enough to mount the required number of platforms for the candidates.
According to her, the challenges of the 2010 district level elections had been further compounded by the changes to the legal framework for the elections.
Mrs Adjalo said with the brief period between the legal changes, (LI 1983 and CI 68 in November 2010) and the elections on 28th December, 2010; it becomes very difficult to inform the citizenry adequately of the legal changes by way of public education.
She said the Commission was also faced with the constraint of timely release of funds by the government.
She stressed that the challenges of the time called for a proactive stance by the Electoral Commission which was not only charged by the constitution in Article 45 to “conduct and supervise all public elections and referenda” but also to educate the people on the electoral process and its purpose.
The Western Regional Director of EC, Mr Steve Opoku-Mensah said the meeting was of specific significance, coming at such a critical period before the district level elections.
He said it would give them the opportunity to strategise to whip up the interest of Ghanaians to participate actively in the upcoming district level elections, since turnout at district level elections in the country had always been lower than that of the Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
She said with regard to printing of ballot papers for elections, the printers develop plates which are very expensive and time consuming.
She further explained that in the upcoming district level elections, about 12,270 plates shall be developed, including 6,135 for the district assembly and 6,135 for the unit committee elections.
Mrs Adjalo who is in charge of the Western Region was speaking at a briefing of district officers of the Electoral Commission (EC), the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the Information Services Department (ISD) on the theme: “Harnessing the resources of the EC, NCCE and ISD for improved citizen participation in the 2010”.
The briefing was to upgrade the knowledge of the officers on the legal framework for the district level elections in the light of the changes to the law and share ideas on communication strategies required for effective public education and improve participation in the district level elections.
She said the second peculiar challenge was the inadequate interest of the media in doing public education, adding that the zeal with which the media publicise general elections was almost non-existence with the district level elections.
“Since DLE is non-partisan, there is formal absence of voter education machinery of political parties, because the individual candidates do their own campaigns,” she noted.
Mrs Adjalo said there were also constraints in having adequate numbers of platforms mounted to introduce candidates in the communities that constitute the electoral area.
She added that the time and resources available to the Commission were always not enough to mount the required number of platforms for the candidates.
According to her, the challenges of the 2010 district level elections had been further compounded by the changes to the legal framework for the elections.
Mrs Adjalo said with the brief period between the legal changes, (LI 1983 and CI 68 in November 2010) and the elections on 28th December, 2010; it becomes very difficult to inform the citizenry adequately of the legal changes by way of public education.
She said the Commission was also faced with the constraint of timely release of funds by the government.
She stressed that the challenges of the time called for a proactive stance by the Electoral Commission which was not only charged by the constitution in Article 45 to “conduct and supervise all public elections and referenda” but also to educate the people on the electoral process and its purpose.
The Western Regional Director of EC, Mr Steve Opoku-Mensah said the meeting was of specific significance, coming at such a critical period before the district level elections.
He said it would give them the opportunity to strategise to whip up the interest of Ghanaians to participate actively in the upcoming district level elections, since turnout at district level elections in the country had always been lower than that of the Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
Friday, December 10, 2010
ILLITERACY RATE HIGH IN WESTERN REGION (PAGE 35, DEC 8, 2010)
THE literacy level in the Western Region is 54.3 per cent. Female literacy level is 45.4 per cent, lower than that of male which is 64.4 per cent.
More than half (57.6 per cent) of the people currently in school are at the primary level while junior high school attendance is 15.2 per cent.
There is, therefore, a very high attrition rate between primary and junior high school (JHS) levels.
According to a presentation by a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon, Professor Ivan Addae-Mensah, and Mr George B. Mettle on “Analysis of District Data and Implications for Planning—Western Region,” the region had seen some improvements in educational attainment and enrolment rates at the basic level over the last two decades.
They said people with basic education increased from 28 per cent in 1984 to 34 per cent in 2000 while over 70 per cent of the population in most districts had attained basic education.
However, the two professionals said that enrolment and attainment levels beyond basic were not very encouraging.
Apart from Shama-Ahanta East Metropolis now (Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis) and Wassa West (Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality) which recorded relatively low levels of illiteracy, all the districts have levels much higher than the regional average of 45.7 per cent, with the highest illiteracy levels in Juaboso, Bia and Aowin-Suaman Districts.
The region has about 1,320 primary schools, out of which 1,240 are public and 80 private; 694 JHS, about half the number of primary schools, and this constitutes 10.9 per cent of the total number of JHS in the country.
There are 42 senior high schools (SHS) in the region and most of them are concentrated in the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis, where 36 per cent of the localities in the metropolis have such schools.
The situation is more serious in Jomoro, Nzema East and Mpohor Wassa East where more than 40 per cent of children in such communities have to travel 30 kilometres or more before attending SHS.
It was to help improve and promote education in the region that the Western Regional Co-ordinating Council, in collaboration with the chiefs and other stakeholders, established the Western Regional Education Trust Fund in 2005 and formed a Board of Trustees for the fund.
The 11-member Board of Trustees of the Western Regional Education Trust Fund has been re-constituted to promote the development of education in the region.
The objectives of the board are to assist brilliant, needy pupils and students, particularly in the public educational institutions, through the award of scholarships, bursaries and grants.
The board is also to improve the provision of teaching and learning materials, equipment and tools in schools.
Besides, the board is to provide incentives for the teaching and non-teaching staff who distinguished themselves and support special teaching and learning programmes and in-service training courses, especially in Mathematics, Science and English.
The main area of concern shall be primary education, even though the other levels of education could be considered depending on particular circumstances.
It is the conviction that when the primary level of education is strengthened through the provision of adequate resources, it will automatically make the other levels of education improve.
In the performance of its duties, the Board of Trustees of the Western Regional Education Trust Fund shall, among others, hold in trust for the people of the Western Region all funds, revenues and assets accruing in the name of the fund.
The board, without prejudice, will determine, approve and authorise the disbursement of benefits from the fund and, at a stakeholders meeting every July, present a report on its stewardship and financial statement on the trust fund.
Inaugurating the re-constituted Board of Trustees, the Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, said the avowed aim of the board was to improve upon the present state of education in the region.
“You will agree with me that education in the region is beset with a number of challenges,” he said.
Mr Aidoo mentioned some of the challenges as children in basic schools who could not continue their education beyond the JHS owing to a number of reasons including financial constraints, while others from the deprived areas were unable to better their education due to inadequate resources in the schools.
Mr Aidoo observed that there were some children who should be in school but were out of school owing to the influence of “galamsey” activities in the mining areas and also fishing activities in the coastal communities.
“Now that the oil boom is around the corner, l hope many more children from the oil producing areas are not going to allow themselves to be distracted by oil related activities, which are likely to affect their education,” he said.
“They will rather avail themselves of the educational opportunities in the region so that they can be well positioned in the good jobs that the oil find will bring,” the regional minister added.
He, therefore, implored members of the board to deliberate on some of those issues and come out with acceptable strategies to address them since all those issues combined to affect education delivery in the region.
The Western Regional Director of Education, Mrs Rebecca Afiba Dadzie, called for interventions which would help strengthen basic education in the region.
That, she said, would help to get more students to the second-cycle and tertiary educational institutions.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Nana Adu Gyamfi, said with the calibre of members of the board, they would deliver to ensure the promotion and improvement of education in the region.
More than half (57.6 per cent) of the people currently in school are at the primary level while junior high school attendance is 15.2 per cent.
There is, therefore, a very high attrition rate between primary and junior high school (JHS) levels.
According to a presentation by a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon, Professor Ivan Addae-Mensah, and Mr George B. Mettle on “Analysis of District Data and Implications for Planning—Western Region,” the region had seen some improvements in educational attainment and enrolment rates at the basic level over the last two decades.
They said people with basic education increased from 28 per cent in 1984 to 34 per cent in 2000 while over 70 per cent of the population in most districts had attained basic education.
However, the two professionals said that enrolment and attainment levels beyond basic were not very encouraging.
Apart from Shama-Ahanta East Metropolis now (Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis) and Wassa West (Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality) which recorded relatively low levels of illiteracy, all the districts have levels much higher than the regional average of 45.7 per cent, with the highest illiteracy levels in Juaboso, Bia and Aowin-Suaman Districts.
The region has about 1,320 primary schools, out of which 1,240 are public and 80 private; 694 JHS, about half the number of primary schools, and this constitutes 10.9 per cent of the total number of JHS in the country.
There are 42 senior high schools (SHS) in the region and most of them are concentrated in the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis, where 36 per cent of the localities in the metropolis have such schools.
The situation is more serious in Jomoro, Nzema East and Mpohor Wassa East where more than 40 per cent of children in such communities have to travel 30 kilometres or more before attending SHS.
It was to help improve and promote education in the region that the Western Regional Co-ordinating Council, in collaboration with the chiefs and other stakeholders, established the Western Regional Education Trust Fund in 2005 and formed a Board of Trustees for the fund.
The 11-member Board of Trustees of the Western Regional Education Trust Fund has been re-constituted to promote the development of education in the region.
The objectives of the board are to assist brilliant, needy pupils and students, particularly in the public educational institutions, through the award of scholarships, bursaries and grants.
The board is also to improve the provision of teaching and learning materials, equipment and tools in schools.
Besides, the board is to provide incentives for the teaching and non-teaching staff who distinguished themselves and support special teaching and learning programmes and in-service training courses, especially in Mathematics, Science and English.
The main area of concern shall be primary education, even though the other levels of education could be considered depending on particular circumstances.
It is the conviction that when the primary level of education is strengthened through the provision of adequate resources, it will automatically make the other levels of education improve.
In the performance of its duties, the Board of Trustees of the Western Regional Education Trust Fund shall, among others, hold in trust for the people of the Western Region all funds, revenues and assets accruing in the name of the fund.
The board, without prejudice, will determine, approve and authorise the disbursement of benefits from the fund and, at a stakeholders meeting every July, present a report on its stewardship and financial statement on the trust fund.
Inaugurating the re-constituted Board of Trustees, the Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, said the avowed aim of the board was to improve upon the present state of education in the region.
“You will agree with me that education in the region is beset with a number of challenges,” he said.
Mr Aidoo mentioned some of the challenges as children in basic schools who could not continue their education beyond the JHS owing to a number of reasons including financial constraints, while others from the deprived areas were unable to better their education due to inadequate resources in the schools.
Mr Aidoo observed that there were some children who should be in school but were out of school owing to the influence of “galamsey” activities in the mining areas and also fishing activities in the coastal communities.
“Now that the oil boom is around the corner, l hope many more children from the oil producing areas are not going to allow themselves to be distracted by oil related activities, which are likely to affect their education,” he said.
“They will rather avail themselves of the educational opportunities in the region so that they can be well positioned in the good jobs that the oil find will bring,” the regional minister added.
He, therefore, implored members of the board to deliberate on some of those issues and come out with acceptable strategies to address them since all those issues combined to affect education delivery in the region.
The Western Regional Director of Education, Mrs Rebecca Afiba Dadzie, called for interventions which would help strengthen basic education in the region.
That, she said, would help to get more students to the second-cycle and tertiary educational institutions.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Nana Adu Gyamfi, said with the calibre of members of the board, they would deliver to ensure the promotion and improvement of education in the region.
Monday, December 6, 2010
MINISTRY DRAWS PLANS FOR RAILWAY PROJECT (PAGE 67, DEC 6, 2010)
A Master Plan for the rehabilitation and construction of a nationwide railway project is being developed by the Ministry of Transport to be executed by the China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation.
The project is to integrate new railway lines with existing ones from Nsawam to Kumasi, Ejisu to Paga and Tamale to Yendi.
It also includes the supply of rolling stock, as well as the integration of the Tema-Accra and Accra-Nsawam railway lines on standard gauge and the rehabilitation of the existing Accra-Nsawam rail line, including the supply of diesel units.
The Deputy Minister of Transport, Mrs Dzifa Aku Attivor, who announced the programme in Takoradi, noted that the operation of modern rail services had become highly competitive and that the survival of the Ghana Railway Services would require utmost efficiency and reliability.
Addressing the national executive council meeting of the Railway Workers Union in Takoradi, Mrs Attivor said the projects to be executed by the China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation are expected to commence in 2011 under public-private partnership arrangements.
She said the rehabilitation of the Western Rail line was scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2011 and expected to be completed within one year, adding that offers had been received from some companies for the development of the Tema-Akosombo-Buipe Multimodal Transport and the Suburban Railway Services within the Accra-Tema metropolis under public-private partnership arrangements.
Mrs Attivor said it was the intention of the government to extend the commuter train services to densely populated areas such as Dansoman, Kasoa and Winneba on the Western Corridor and to Dodowa on the Eastern Corridor.
“Even as we are working to fulfil our side of the agreement, it is our expectation that workers demonstrate great dedication, honesty, hardwork and sacrifice, so that together we help build a better Ghana”, she advised the workers.
The project is to integrate new railway lines with existing ones from Nsawam to Kumasi, Ejisu to Paga and Tamale to Yendi.
It also includes the supply of rolling stock, as well as the integration of the Tema-Accra and Accra-Nsawam railway lines on standard gauge and the rehabilitation of the existing Accra-Nsawam rail line, including the supply of diesel units.
The Deputy Minister of Transport, Mrs Dzifa Aku Attivor, who announced the programme in Takoradi, noted that the operation of modern rail services had become highly competitive and that the survival of the Ghana Railway Services would require utmost efficiency and reliability.
Addressing the national executive council meeting of the Railway Workers Union in Takoradi, Mrs Attivor said the projects to be executed by the China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation are expected to commence in 2011 under public-private partnership arrangements.
She said the rehabilitation of the Western Rail line was scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2011 and expected to be completed within one year, adding that offers had been received from some companies for the development of the Tema-Akosombo-Buipe Multimodal Transport and the Suburban Railway Services within the Accra-Tema metropolis under public-private partnership arrangements.
Mrs Attivor said it was the intention of the government to extend the commuter train services to densely populated areas such as Dansoman, Kasoa and Winneba on the Western Corridor and to Dodowa on the Eastern Corridor.
“Even as we are working to fulfil our side of the agreement, it is our expectation that workers demonstrate great dedication, honesty, hardwork and sacrifice, so that together we help build a better Ghana”, she advised the workers.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
HELP DEVELOP OSEIKOJOKROM — NANA OSEI (PAGE 42, DEC 2, 2010)
THE Chief of Oseikojokrom in the Bia District in the Western Region, Nana Osei Kojo, has called on the government to give the border town a facelift since many people visit it as a tourist destination.
He said even though schoolchildren and United Nations peace keepers from Cote d’lvoire usually visited the town for excursion or as tourists, the roads of the town and the local market did not befit the status of the town.
Nana Osei made the call when the Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, visited the town as part of a four-day official working visit to the Bia District.
Nana Osei stressed the need for the government to extend water and electricity supplies to the newly developing parts of the town.
Mr Aidoo advised the chiefs in the area to make a layout for the orderly development of the town.
He also urged them to assist the government to curb the smuggling of cocoa to neighbouring Cote d’lvoire.
The regional minister later addressed security personnel at the Oseikojokrom Border Post and urged them to be vigilant by reporting all suspicious characters and activities to the National Security Council for prompt action, to ensure that the sovereignty of the nation was secured.
He said last year, everyone was embarrassed by the cocoa smuggling activities which was so alarming in the region, particularly at Elubo, Ahimakrom, Oseikojokrom, Enchi and Dadieso.
The Base Commander of Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), Chief Collector D.Y. Biyam, said the security personnel at the Border Post were enjoying stable and peaceful environment, and co-operation from other security personnel of the Cote d’lvoire side of the border.
He said smuggling of cocoa was under control, and added that there was virtually no smuggling at the border.
Mr Biyam said the terrible nature of the road network in the area had become disincentive to people who wanted to do business at the border.
He said even though schoolchildren and United Nations peace keepers from Cote d’lvoire usually visited the town for excursion or as tourists, the roads of the town and the local market did not befit the status of the town.
Nana Osei made the call when the Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, visited the town as part of a four-day official working visit to the Bia District.
Nana Osei stressed the need for the government to extend water and electricity supplies to the newly developing parts of the town.
Mr Aidoo advised the chiefs in the area to make a layout for the orderly development of the town.
He also urged them to assist the government to curb the smuggling of cocoa to neighbouring Cote d’lvoire.
The regional minister later addressed security personnel at the Oseikojokrom Border Post and urged them to be vigilant by reporting all suspicious characters and activities to the National Security Council for prompt action, to ensure that the sovereignty of the nation was secured.
He said last year, everyone was embarrassed by the cocoa smuggling activities which was so alarming in the region, particularly at Elubo, Ahimakrom, Oseikojokrom, Enchi and Dadieso.
The Base Commander of Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), Chief Collector D.Y. Biyam, said the security personnel at the Border Post were enjoying stable and peaceful environment, and co-operation from other security personnel of the Cote d’lvoire side of the border.
He said smuggling of cocoa was under control, and added that there was virtually no smuggling at the border.
Mr Biyam said the terrible nature of the road network in the area had become disincentive to people who wanted to do business at the border.
ASSEMBLIES OF GOD BUILDS GUEST HOUSE NEAR TAKORADI (PAGE 18, NOV 30, 2010)
THE Western Regional Council of the Assemblies of God Church has embarked on the construction of a three-storey building comprising 86 suites at Ituma, near Takoradi, to be used as a guest house.
The building will enable church leaders as well as the public to have an opportunity to retreat and reflect on various ventures and endeavours.
The first phase of the five-year project, comprising the construction of the sub structure, is estimated to cost GH¢ 50,000 and it is located on a 12-plot lan.
At a short ceremony to cut the sod for the commencement of the project, the acting Western Regional Superintendent of the church, Reverend Francis Wusu Grand, said he believed that the project would be of enormous help to people in the Sekondi/Takoradi metropolis.
He said the Assemblies of God Church had a holistic mission of taking care of the spiritual and material needs of the society.
Reverend Grand stressed that the church would need the financial and prayer support of all members in the region to ensure the successful completion of the project.
The building will enable church leaders as well as the public to have an opportunity to retreat and reflect on various ventures and endeavours.
The first phase of the five-year project, comprising the construction of the sub structure, is estimated to cost GH¢ 50,000 and it is located on a 12-plot lan.
At a short ceremony to cut the sod for the commencement of the project, the acting Western Regional Superintendent of the church, Reverend Francis Wusu Grand, said he believed that the project would be of enormous help to people in the Sekondi/Takoradi metropolis.
He said the Assemblies of God Church had a holistic mission of taking care of the spiritual and material needs of the society.
Reverend Grand stressed that the church would need the financial and prayer support of all members in the region to ensure the successful completion of the project.
TAKORADI NOW EXPENSIVE CITY...Due to oil discovery (PAGE 18, NOV 30, 2010)
THE discovery of oil and gas in commercial quantities at the West Cape Three Points in the Western Region in 2007 has triggered the high cost of living in Takoradi and its immediate environs in recent times.
Since the oil find three years ago, the cost of living in Takoradi and surrounding communities has been on the ascendancy.
The discovery of oil has brought in its wake an upward review of prices of all items, goods and services being provided in the city.
The most affected items include food, office and residential accommodation as well as land for real estate development.
As a result of the oil find and in anticipation of making good business when commercial production of oil many companies, including financial and banking institutions, have moved in to open branches of their offices in Takoradi to take advantage of the “black gold”.
Also many oil and gas related companies have found their way into Takoradi. This has obviously increased the population in Takoradi and its environs, thereby putting pressure on the inadequate housing and office accommodation in the city.
Landlords have started charging exorbitant prices on their houses in anticipation of ejecting tenants to enable the landlords to rent such houses to the oil companies as well as financial and banking institutions.
High prices of goods and services, as well as residential and office accommodation are now having the characteristics of gold mining communities and towns such as Tarkwa, Obuasi, Bibiani, Bogoso, Prestea.
These characteristics are gradually creeping into Takoradi and its surrounding communities as a result of the discovery of the “black gold” in the Western Region.
Land acquisition in Takoradi and nearby communities, districts and municipalities in the areas of the Jubilee Oil Fields at Cape Three Points have also become a lucrative venture for land owners.
Some open spaces in Takoradi have been offered for the construction of office accommodation for oil or oil related companies and shopping malls.
The emerging petroleum industry is also affecting the prices of hotel accommodation in Takoradi, as some of the leading hotels in the “oil city” have reviewed their prices upwards.
The prices range between GHc 120.00 and GHc 310.00 and are likely to go up in the future when there would be an influx of people in the city to do business in the oil and gas industry.
To sum it up, the cost of living in Takoradi and its environs is gradually becoming unbearable as prices of goods and services as well as office and residential accommodation continue to rise.
So residents of Takoradi should be prepared and condition themselves to face the hard days ahead when the country’s oil and gas are in full production.
Since the oil find three years ago, the cost of living in Takoradi and surrounding communities has been on the ascendancy.
The discovery of oil has brought in its wake an upward review of prices of all items, goods and services being provided in the city.
The most affected items include food, office and residential accommodation as well as land for real estate development.
As a result of the oil find and in anticipation of making good business when commercial production of oil many companies, including financial and banking institutions, have moved in to open branches of their offices in Takoradi to take advantage of the “black gold”.
Also many oil and gas related companies have found their way into Takoradi. This has obviously increased the population in Takoradi and its environs, thereby putting pressure on the inadequate housing and office accommodation in the city.
Landlords have started charging exorbitant prices on their houses in anticipation of ejecting tenants to enable the landlords to rent such houses to the oil companies as well as financial and banking institutions.
High prices of goods and services, as well as residential and office accommodation are now having the characteristics of gold mining communities and towns such as Tarkwa, Obuasi, Bibiani, Bogoso, Prestea.
These characteristics are gradually creeping into Takoradi and its surrounding communities as a result of the discovery of the “black gold” in the Western Region.
Land acquisition in Takoradi and nearby communities, districts and municipalities in the areas of the Jubilee Oil Fields at Cape Three Points have also become a lucrative venture for land owners.
Some open spaces in Takoradi have been offered for the construction of office accommodation for oil or oil related companies and shopping malls.
The emerging petroleum industry is also affecting the prices of hotel accommodation in Takoradi, as some of the leading hotels in the “oil city” have reviewed their prices upwards.
The prices range between GHc 120.00 and GHc 310.00 and are likely to go up in the future when there would be an influx of people in the city to do business in the oil and gas industry.
To sum it up, the cost of living in Takoradi and its environs is gradually becoming unbearable as prices of goods and services as well as office and residential accommodation continue to rise.
So residents of Takoradi should be prepared and condition themselves to face the hard days ahead when the country’s oil and gas are in full production.
DON'T IMPORT USED UNDERGARMENTS (PAGE 18, NOV 30, 2010)
Over 130 used clothes dealers and importers in the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis have been educated on the health implications that the sale of used undergarments pose to members of the public who use them.
The education was undertaken by the Ghana Standards Board (GSB), which has intensified its public education on the enforcement of the Legislative Instrument (LI) 1586, 1994 which prohibits the importation, distribution and sale of used undergarments, such as brassieres, pants, handkerchiefs and singlets.
The banned items also include, used mattresses and sanitary ware such as bathtubs, sinks, water closets or toilet bowls, among others.
The Ghana Standards Board has over the years observed that, importers of used clothing have been importing used undergarments which have been prohibited by the Ministry of Trade and Industry as stipulated in the LI 1586, 1994.
These prohibited goods are hidden among other used clothing such as shirts, trousers and jackets in the bales, thus making it difficult to detect them at the ports of entry, and are openly sold at the markets and along some streets in towns and villages in the country.
The GSB has, therefore, been working hard to stem the importation of these used undergarments through public education on the dangers of wearing used undergarments, engaging with stakeholders especially, the association of importers and dealers in used clothing and also intensification of market surveillance.
Speaking at the forum, the Director of the Inspectorate Division of the Ghana Standards Board, Mr F.Kofi Nagetey, said from February next year, all consignments of used clothing would be inspected by the Ghana Standards Board before they are released to the importers.
He said any consignment of used goods found to contain any used undergarments would be confiscated and destroyed.
Mr Nagetey added that the board would also organise swoops with the security agencies to get rid of used undergarments on the markets.
“The Ghana Standards Board believes that if all stakeholders work together, we shall be able to bring to the barest minimum, the importation and clearance of these used undergarments”, he noted.
He said used undergarments were a source of micro-organisms that could cause skin infection.
Mr Nagetey explained that the exercise was not meant to destroy anybody’s business, but was being done because of the risk involved in the patronage of used undergarments by some people.
He stressed that the programme would be intensified and sustained.
The Director of Trade Facilitation of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Mr Ntim Donkoh said the LI 1586, 1994 was meant to protect the health and safety of consumers.
He said that though a law had been passed, those banned undergarments continued to be patronised on the open market, adding that the government would continue to enforce the law.
The education was undertaken by the Ghana Standards Board (GSB), which has intensified its public education on the enforcement of the Legislative Instrument (LI) 1586, 1994 which prohibits the importation, distribution and sale of used undergarments, such as brassieres, pants, handkerchiefs and singlets.
The banned items also include, used mattresses and sanitary ware such as bathtubs, sinks, water closets or toilet bowls, among others.
The Ghana Standards Board has over the years observed that, importers of used clothing have been importing used undergarments which have been prohibited by the Ministry of Trade and Industry as stipulated in the LI 1586, 1994.
These prohibited goods are hidden among other used clothing such as shirts, trousers and jackets in the bales, thus making it difficult to detect them at the ports of entry, and are openly sold at the markets and along some streets in towns and villages in the country.
The GSB has, therefore, been working hard to stem the importation of these used undergarments through public education on the dangers of wearing used undergarments, engaging with stakeholders especially, the association of importers and dealers in used clothing and also intensification of market surveillance.
Speaking at the forum, the Director of the Inspectorate Division of the Ghana Standards Board, Mr F.Kofi Nagetey, said from February next year, all consignments of used clothing would be inspected by the Ghana Standards Board before they are released to the importers.
He said any consignment of used goods found to contain any used undergarments would be confiscated and destroyed.
Mr Nagetey added that the board would also organise swoops with the security agencies to get rid of used undergarments on the markets.
“The Ghana Standards Board believes that if all stakeholders work together, we shall be able to bring to the barest minimum, the importation and clearance of these used undergarments”, he noted.
He said used undergarments were a source of micro-organisms that could cause skin infection.
Mr Nagetey explained that the exercise was not meant to destroy anybody’s business, but was being done because of the risk involved in the patronage of used undergarments by some people.
He stressed that the programme would be intensified and sustained.
The Director of Trade Facilitation of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Mr Ntim Donkoh said the LI 1586, 1994 was meant to protect the health and safety of consumers.
He said that though a law had been passed, those banned undergarments continued to be patronised on the open market, adding that the government would continue to enforce the law.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
MINING AREAS NEED STRATEGIC SPATIAL PLANS (PAGE 18, NOV 13, 2010)
THE Ghana Chamber of Mines has suggested to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to develop strategic spatial plans for the mining areas.
The chamber noted that due to the absence of spatial, functional and development planning policies for mining areas, the mining industry was finding it difficult to act as a catalyst for turning the mining districts into centres of development or growth poles.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr Joyce R. Aryee, made the suggestion during an interaction with the Western Region press corps in Takoradi.
She said the mining industry had experienced civil, social and environmental engineers who could assist in community development initiatives such as road building, construction and environmental management.
Dr Aryee also said the chamber believed that with the deliberate legislation, the country should in future, boast of prospering mining originated enclaves in the respective mining areas.
Touching on royalties, she said the chamber was advocating for 30 per cent of the royalties to be returned to mining areas and specific infrastructural projects in order to catalyse the socio-economic development of mining districts.
She noted that the Mineral Development Fund (MDF), which had been in existence since 1991 was meant to make available a portion of the mineral royalties to be used directly for the benefit of mining communities for research and other projects related to mining.
However, she said only 10 per cent of the mineral royalties paid by mining companies went into the MDF, while another nine per cent was paid to host communities, with the district assemblies getting 55 per cent, traditional councils 20 per cent and stools 25 per cent.
“The proportion of the total mineral revenue, which goes directly to the five district assemblies represent only 5.5 per cent of total mineral royalty payments”, she said, adding “This amount is woefully inadequate for the stimulation of infrastructural development in the mining communities”.
Dr Aryee said last year a total of GH¢1,873,106.00 was paid to traditional councils, while GH¢ 2,341,382.00 went to the stools with GH¢5,151,041.00 paid to metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies in the mining areas.
She said the mining sub-sector contributed about GH¢319 million to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), representing 18 per cent of the total collections in 2009.
The mining sector, she added, also paid GH¢125 million in corporate tax to the IRS, representing 17 per cent of the total company tax collected in 2009.
According to Dr Aryee producing member companies returned about 76 per cent of the US$ 2.384 million mineral revenue to the country through the Bank of Ghana and the commercial banks in 2009.
She said this was an increase on the 63 per cent returned in 2008 and the aggregate average of 20 per cent companies were required to return to Ghana.
“The significantly high proportion of mineral revenue returned to the country underscored the extent to which the mining industry positively affected the local economy", she explained.
She said the industry deployed US$ 311 million of its fund for labour related costs and US$ 512 million on capital expenditure.
She said producing member companies also paid to the state, and voluntarily contributed to host communities and the general public a total amount of US$ 166 million.
Dr Aryee said the industry directly employed 12,294 people, out of which 98 per cent were Ghanaians and two per cent expatriates.
Touching on the railways, she noted that the state of the Western rail lines continued to affect the exploitation of bulk minerals such as manganese and bauxite.
“Bulk mineral producers are forced to haul ore from their respective mines (Nsuta and Awaso) to the Takoradi Port mainly by road because of the state of the rail”, she added.
She noted that the establishment of the Ghana Railways Development Authority offered hope for the efficient running of the country’s rail network, especially the Western rail lines.
Also, she said the government’s US$ 2 million package for the rehabilitation of the Western rail lines should help improve the logistical options of the bulk mineral producers.
She said the chamber would continue to integrate the industry into the local economy, champion the attraction of Ghanaian investors into mining and encourage government to mainstream mining as a growth pole for development.
She said the chamber would continue to pursue the quest for mining to be repositioned as a catalyst for development rather than as a source of revenue only.
She noted that opportunities abounded for the country to harness the potential linkages between the mining industry and secondary industries in the country.
Dr Aryee said the chamber would also continue to work with stakeholders to implement principles of collaborative decision-making and shared responsibility for the resolution of social, environment and development issues related to mining.
The chamber noted that due to the absence of spatial, functional and development planning policies for mining areas, the mining industry was finding it difficult to act as a catalyst for turning the mining districts into centres of development or growth poles.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr Joyce R. Aryee, made the suggestion during an interaction with the Western Region press corps in Takoradi.
She said the mining industry had experienced civil, social and environmental engineers who could assist in community development initiatives such as road building, construction and environmental management.
Dr Aryee also said the chamber believed that with the deliberate legislation, the country should in future, boast of prospering mining originated enclaves in the respective mining areas.
Touching on royalties, she said the chamber was advocating for 30 per cent of the royalties to be returned to mining areas and specific infrastructural projects in order to catalyse the socio-economic development of mining districts.
She noted that the Mineral Development Fund (MDF), which had been in existence since 1991 was meant to make available a portion of the mineral royalties to be used directly for the benefit of mining communities for research and other projects related to mining.
However, she said only 10 per cent of the mineral royalties paid by mining companies went into the MDF, while another nine per cent was paid to host communities, with the district assemblies getting 55 per cent, traditional councils 20 per cent and stools 25 per cent.
“The proportion of the total mineral revenue, which goes directly to the five district assemblies represent only 5.5 per cent of total mineral royalty payments”, she said, adding “This amount is woefully inadequate for the stimulation of infrastructural development in the mining communities”.
Dr Aryee said last year a total of GH¢1,873,106.00 was paid to traditional councils, while GH¢ 2,341,382.00 went to the stools with GH¢5,151,041.00 paid to metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies in the mining areas.
She said the mining sub-sector contributed about GH¢319 million to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), representing 18 per cent of the total collections in 2009.
The mining sector, she added, also paid GH¢125 million in corporate tax to the IRS, representing 17 per cent of the total company tax collected in 2009.
According to Dr Aryee producing member companies returned about 76 per cent of the US$ 2.384 million mineral revenue to the country through the Bank of Ghana and the commercial banks in 2009.
She said this was an increase on the 63 per cent returned in 2008 and the aggregate average of 20 per cent companies were required to return to Ghana.
“The significantly high proportion of mineral revenue returned to the country underscored the extent to which the mining industry positively affected the local economy", she explained.
She said the industry deployed US$ 311 million of its fund for labour related costs and US$ 512 million on capital expenditure.
She said producing member companies also paid to the state, and voluntarily contributed to host communities and the general public a total amount of US$ 166 million.
Dr Aryee said the industry directly employed 12,294 people, out of which 98 per cent were Ghanaians and two per cent expatriates.
Touching on the railways, she noted that the state of the Western rail lines continued to affect the exploitation of bulk minerals such as manganese and bauxite.
“Bulk mineral producers are forced to haul ore from their respective mines (Nsuta and Awaso) to the Takoradi Port mainly by road because of the state of the rail”, she added.
She noted that the establishment of the Ghana Railways Development Authority offered hope for the efficient running of the country’s rail network, especially the Western rail lines.
Also, she said the government’s US$ 2 million package for the rehabilitation of the Western rail lines should help improve the logistical options of the bulk mineral producers.
She said the chamber would continue to integrate the industry into the local economy, champion the attraction of Ghanaian investors into mining and encourage government to mainstream mining as a growth pole for development.
She said the chamber would continue to pursue the quest for mining to be repositioned as a catalyst for development rather than as a source of revenue only.
She noted that opportunities abounded for the country to harness the potential linkages between the mining industry and secondary industries in the country.
Dr Aryee said the chamber would also continue to work with stakeholders to implement principles of collaborative decision-making and shared responsibility for the resolution of social, environment and development issues related to mining.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
WESTERN REGION ROADS TO BE REPAIRED (PAGE 42, NOV 17, 2010)
THE Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, has assured the people in the Sefwi area that the government is making frantic efforts to reconstruct the Benchimaa Junction-Oseikojokrom trunk road to facilitate the movement of people and carting of agricultural produce from the area to the marking centres.
He said the government had secured a loan facility for the construction of the first 43-kilometres of the road under the first phase of the project.
Mr Aidoo said the proposal for the construction of the road was to be submitted to cabinet for discussion after which it would be sent to Parliament for approval.
He said after Parliamentary approval, the project would be advertised for contractors to show interest after which it would go through valuation and bidding and subsequently awarded on contract.
Mr Aidoo announced this when he paid separate courtesy calls on the chiefs and elders of Elluokrom, Asuontaa, Adjoafua, Kwamebikrom, Debiso, Essam, Oseikojokrom and Yawmatwa as part of his four-day official visit to the Bia District.
The chiefs had complained bitterly about the poor road network in the district, particularly the Benchimaa-Oseikojokrom trunk road which is in very deplorable state.
It was detected during inspection tour that most of the bailey bridges on the road, especially the one spanning River Benchimaa had virtually caved in making it difficult for the carting of cocoa, timber, food stuffs to the marketing centres and the movement of people.
Some farmers in the district were seen using donkeys for the carting of cocoa to the buying centres since drivers found it very difficult to use the roads as a result of its poor condition, especially during the current rainy season.
Mr Aidoo said regular routine maintenance would be carried out to make the road motorable before the actual reconstruction started.
He said the government was seeking another loan for the reconstruction of the second phase of the Benchimaa Junction-Oseikojokrom road.
According to him, another facility was being sought from the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) for the construction of cocoa roads in the district.
Mr Aidoo stated that some roads in the region, such as Samreboi-Prestea and Dadieso-Africa ones, had been rendered impassable as a result of the continuous heavy rains.
He said the reconstruction of the Benchimaa Junction-Oseikojokrom road would open up the area for rapid socio-economic development, stressing that the government would not disappoint the Sefwi people.
The Regional Minister recognised that the people in the Sefwi area had lent their unflinching support for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government even when it was in opposition by helping the party to regain power.
He said the upward review of the producer price of cocoa was to discourage smuggling of the commodity to the neighbouring countries, and therefore, urged the cocoa farmers to assist the government to achieve that objective.
The chief of Elluokrom, Nana Ahoin Panyini, commended the government for increasing the producer price of cocoa, and also praised it for its policies and programmes towards the development of the country.
He appealed to the government to re-demarcate the Bia District since it was very large for effective and efficient administration.
Nana Panyini also called for the construction of the drainage system to check erosion in the town.
The chief of Asuontaa, Nana Kojo Samah, appealed to the government for the provision of a school, a market, potable water and a health post.
At Essam, the chief Nana Baffour Ennin expressed concern about the slow down of many development projects which were started some years back and called for their reactivation.
He mentioned the construction of the district hospital which was not progressing as expected.
Nana Ennin said the construction of the hospital was very important since most of the people in the district were farmers, who had to seek medical attention at either Sefwi Asafo or Dormaa Ahenkro in the Brong Ahafo Region.
He mentioned the other projects as the Jubilee school, Essam market and the Essam-Kwamebikrom road.
He said the government had secured a loan facility for the construction of the first 43-kilometres of the road under the first phase of the project.
Mr Aidoo said the proposal for the construction of the road was to be submitted to cabinet for discussion after which it would be sent to Parliament for approval.
He said after Parliamentary approval, the project would be advertised for contractors to show interest after which it would go through valuation and bidding and subsequently awarded on contract.
Mr Aidoo announced this when he paid separate courtesy calls on the chiefs and elders of Elluokrom, Asuontaa, Adjoafua, Kwamebikrom, Debiso, Essam, Oseikojokrom and Yawmatwa as part of his four-day official visit to the Bia District.
The chiefs had complained bitterly about the poor road network in the district, particularly the Benchimaa-Oseikojokrom trunk road which is in very deplorable state.
It was detected during inspection tour that most of the bailey bridges on the road, especially the one spanning River Benchimaa had virtually caved in making it difficult for the carting of cocoa, timber, food stuffs to the marketing centres and the movement of people.
Some farmers in the district were seen using donkeys for the carting of cocoa to the buying centres since drivers found it very difficult to use the roads as a result of its poor condition, especially during the current rainy season.
Mr Aidoo said regular routine maintenance would be carried out to make the road motorable before the actual reconstruction started.
He said the government was seeking another loan for the reconstruction of the second phase of the Benchimaa Junction-Oseikojokrom road.
According to him, another facility was being sought from the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) for the construction of cocoa roads in the district.
Mr Aidoo stated that some roads in the region, such as Samreboi-Prestea and Dadieso-Africa ones, had been rendered impassable as a result of the continuous heavy rains.
He said the reconstruction of the Benchimaa Junction-Oseikojokrom road would open up the area for rapid socio-economic development, stressing that the government would not disappoint the Sefwi people.
The Regional Minister recognised that the people in the Sefwi area had lent their unflinching support for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government even when it was in opposition by helping the party to regain power.
He said the upward review of the producer price of cocoa was to discourage smuggling of the commodity to the neighbouring countries, and therefore, urged the cocoa farmers to assist the government to achieve that objective.
The chief of Elluokrom, Nana Ahoin Panyini, commended the government for increasing the producer price of cocoa, and also praised it for its policies and programmes towards the development of the country.
He appealed to the government to re-demarcate the Bia District since it was very large for effective and efficient administration.
Nana Panyini also called for the construction of the drainage system to check erosion in the town.
The chief of Asuontaa, Nana Kojo Samah, appealed to the government for the provision of a school, a market, potable water and a health post.
At Essam, the chief Nana Baffour Ennin expressed concern about the slow down of many development projects which were started some years back and called for their reactivation.
He mentioned the construction of the district hospital which was not progressing as expected.
Nana Ennin said the construction of the hospital was very important since most of the people in the district were farmers, who had to seek medical attention at either Sefwi Asafo or Dormaa Ahenkro in the Brong Ahafo Region.
He mentioned the other projects as the Jubilee school, Essam market and the Essam-Kwamebikrom road.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
BIA ASSEMBLY UNDERTAKES MORE DEV PROJECTS (PAGE 36, NOV 10, 2010)
THE Bia District Assembly has embarked on many development projects throughout the district to improve the living conditions of residents, who are predominantly cocoa farmers.
The projects, some of which started about three years ago, cover local government, education, health, sanitation, water, roads, as well as manpower development.
Some of them have been completed, while others are at various stages of completion.
They are being financed with money from the District Assemblies Common Fund, the District Development Fund, the Stool Lands Secretariat, HIPC funds, the Ghana Education Trust Fund and Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).
The projects include the construction of a modern cocoa clinic at Sefwi Debiso, which is being funded by the COCOBOD.
The project, which was started in 2009, is 90 per cent completed and comprises a two-storey doctors’ quarters, an out-patient department and administration block, a labour ward, male and female wards and a laundry.
Others are the construction of the Bia District Hospital at Essam at an estimated cost of GH¢131,311,030, which is about 80 per cent completed, the construction of a CHPS compound and an out-patient department at Akaatiso.
The assembly is putting up a central administration block and an assembly hall complex at Essam at an estimated cost of GH¢901,293 and five-room chalets at Essam at a cost of GH¢79,966.
It has also completed the construction of area council office blocks at Elloukrom and Kaase at a cost of GH¢34,307.92 and GH¢49,643.20, respectively.
The assembly is constructing offices for decentralised departments at Essam at an estimated cost of GH¢51,878 and has also completed the provision of streets lights for the people of Essam, Debiso and Oseikojokrom at a cost of GH¢43,125.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Juaboso, Mr Solomon Fiakye, who is also acting as the DCE for Bia as a result of the death of the substantive DCE, made these known when the Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, inspected some of the projects during a four-day working visit to the district.
Mr Fiakye said the assembly was also renovating the Oseikojokrom market at a cost of GH¢42,550 and constructing market sheds at Essam at a cost of GH¢36,000.
He said it was also constructing classroom blocks, offices and stores at Asemnyinakrom, Adjoafua, Essam, Debiso, Tigare, Elluokrom and Ntosue, adding that a slaughterhouse was under construction at Debiso, while a 12-seater aqua privy public place of convenience was being put up at Yawmatwa and a meat shop at Debiso.
The assembly is undertaking the construction of mechanised boreholes fitted with pumps at the assembly’s new residential area and office blocks at Essam and Debiso, as well as the supply of small town water and sanitation facilities for the people of Essam, Debiso, Adjoafua, Yawmatwa, Kofie Ponkor, Adabokrom, Oseikojokrom and GNTC.
According to Mr Aidoo, it was government policy for every district assembly to have a district hospital to ensure effective health delivery.
He stated that the new districts were lagging behind in the provision of health facilities, office and residential accommodation.
The projects, some of which started about three years ago, cover local government, education, health, sanitation, water, roads, as well as manpower development.
Some of them have been completed, while others are at various stages of completion.
They are being financed with money from the District Assemblies Common Fund, the District Development Fund, the Stool Lands Secretariat, HIPC funds, the Ghana Education Trust Fund and Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).
The projects include the construction of a modern cocoa clinic at Sefwi Debiso, which is being funded by the COCOBOD.
The project, which was started in 2009, is 90 per cent completed and comprises a two-storey doctors’ quarters, an out-patient department and administration block, a labour ward, male and female wards and a laundry.
Others are the construction of the Bia District Hospital at Essam at an estimated cost of GH¢131,311,030, which is about 80 per cent completed, the construction of a CHPS compound and an out-patient department at Akaatiso.
The assembly is putting up a central administration block and an assembly hall complex at Essam at an estimated cost of GH¢901,293 and five-room chalets at Essam at a cost of GH¢79,966.
It has also completed the construction of area council office blocks at Elloukrom and Kaase at a cost of GH¢34,307.92 and GH¢49,643.20, respectively.
The assembly is constructing offices for decentralised departments at Essam at an estimated cost of GH¢51,878 and has also completed the provision of streets lights for the people of Essam, Debiso and Oseikojokrom at a cost of GH¢43,125.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Juaboso, Mr Solomon Fiakye, who is also acting as the DCE for Bia as a result of the death of the substantive DCE, made these known when the Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, inspected some of the projects during a four-day working visit to the district.
Mr Fiakye said the assembly was also renovating the Oseikojokrom market at a cost of GH¢42,550 and constructing market sheds at Essam at a cost of GH¢36,000.
He said it was also constructing classroom blocks, offices and stores at Asemnyinakrom, Adjoafua, Essam, Debiso, Tigare, Elluokrom and Ntosue, adding that a slaughterhouse was under construction at Debiso, while a 12-seater aqua privy public place of convenience was being put up at Yawmatwa and a meat shop at Debiso.
The assembly is undertaking the construction of mechanised boreholes fitted with pumps at the assembly’s new residential area and office blocks at Essam and Debiso, as well as the supply of small town water and sanitation facilities for the people of Essam, Debiso, Adjoafua, Yawmatwa, Kofie Ponkor, Adabokrom, Oseikojokrom and GNTC.
According to Mr Aidoo, it was government policy for every district assembly to have a district hospital to ensure effective health delivery.
He stated that the new districts were lagging behind in the provision of health facilities, office and residential accommodation.
Friday, November 12, 2010
MINING COMPANY TRAINS 141 YOUTH (PAGE 42, NOV 8, 2010)
ADAMUS Resources Limited, in collaboration with the Australian High Commission, has trained a total of 141 youth from 15 communities in the company’s operational areas in the Ellembelle District and the Nzema East Municipality in the Western Region under its youth capacity building training programme.
The company, which is developing the Nzema Gold Project, has chosen youth education and skills development as part of its social responsibility, since it believe that youth education and skills development are key bedrock of socio-economic development of any nation as they help build the foundation for poverty alleviation in the long run.
The company has collaborated with the Australian High Commission to spend over US$ 100,000 to train the youth in its mining communities in carpentry, welding and fabrication mechanical, plumbing, masonry and electrical installation since 2008.
Fifty youth have completed a six-month training under the third phase of the programme and have passed out at the Kikam Technical Training Institute in the Ellembelle District.
At the graduation ceremony, the acting General Manager of Adamus Resources Limited, Mr Attie Roux, said about 60 per cent of the 141 trained were self-employed and 24 per cent were working with various organisations, including the company and its sub-contractors, while the remaining were either continuing their education or looking for jobs.
“This has been a very successful programme and the company plans to seek accreditation for the programme to ensure future graduates get recognition in seeking jobs and in furthering their education,” he said.
Mr Rous added that the company saw youth education and technical skills development as sustainable investment.
The general manager stressed that the company was committed to broadening its engagements in development projects and capacity building in the local communities, adding that technical skills development would be one of the key areas of funding to build a sustainable legacy for the company and the youth in the mining communities.
Mr Roux said although Adamus Resources was yet to commence production, the company had spent about US$290,000 since 2007 on social responsibility, community development and donations.
The Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr William Williams, said the commission had a legacy of investing in people and that the skills the beneficiaries had acquired would help them contribute to the national economy.
He said his outfit would continue to invest in more of such programmes to ensure the training of many youth in the country.
The paramount chief of the Nzema East Traditional Area, Awulae Amihere Kpanyili, appealed to the company and the Australian High Commission to continue to sponsor more of such training programmes and also assist the communities in their development efforts to ensure mutual relationship and co-existence.
The company, which is developing the Nzema Gold Project, has chosen youth education and skills development as part of its social responsibility, since it believe that youth education and skills development are key bedrock of socio-economic development of any nation as they help build the foundation for poverty alleviation in the long run.
The company has collaborated with the Australian High Commission to spend over US$ 100,000 to train the youth in its mining communities in carpentry, welding and fabrication mechanical, plumbing, masonry and electrical installation since 2008.
Fifty youth have completed a six-month training under the third phase of the programme and have passed out at the Kikam Technical Training Institute in the Ellembelle District.
At the graduation ceremony, the acting General Manager of Adamus Resources Limited, Mr Attie Roux, said about 60 per cent of the 141 trained were self-employed and 24 per cent were working with various organisations, including the company and its sub-contractors, while the remaining were either continuing their education or looking for jobs.
“This has been a very successful programme and the company plans to seek accreditation for the programme to ensure future graduates get recognition in seeking jobs and in furthering their education,” he said.
Mr Rous added that the company saw youth education and technical skills development as sustainable investment.
The general manager stressed that the company was committed to broadening its engagements in development projects and capacity building in the local communities, adding that technical skills development would be one of the key areas of funding to build a sustainable legacy for the company and the youth in the mining communities.
Mr Roux said although Adamus Resources was yet to commence production, the company had spent about US$290,000 since 2007 on social responsibility, community development and donations.
The Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr William Williams, said the commission had a legacy of investing in people and that the skills the beneficiaries had acquired would help them contribute to the national economy.
He said his outfit would continue to invest in more of such programmes to ensure the training of many youth in the country.
The paramount chief of the Nzema East Traditional Area, Awulae Amihere Kpanyili, appealed to the company and the Australian High Commission to continue to sponsor more of such training programmes and also assist the communities in their development efforts to ensure mutual relationship and co-existence.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
ADOPT MEASURES TO COPE WITH INFLUX OF PEOPLE...Aidoo urges assemblies (PAGE 35, NOV 4, 2010)
THE Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, has stressed the need for metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies in the region to think about measures to be put in place to cope with the influx of people into the region when the drilling of the oil starts.
He stated that a lot of resources would be available to meet the increasing needs of people in the region.
Mr Aidoo said for instance that there would be increase in the demand for social amenities such as schools, hospitals, water facilities, energy supply among others, as the towns grew.
“We must eschew all corrupt tendencies and ensure that people derive maximum benefits from any public venture,” he said, adding “Again let me remind all and sundry that the NDC believes that corruption thrives in a system that is not transparent or unaccountable and irresponsive to the needs and concerns of our people”.
This was contained in an address read on Mr Aidoo’s behalf by the Western Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr David Yaro, at the opening ceremony of a four-day workshop on financial regulation management and accounting for 105 officials from metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies in the region.
The workshop organised by the Local Government Service in conjunction with the Institute of Local Government, was meant to explain the concept and importance of revenue mobilisation, explain the theory of physical decentralisation systems, to review the key reforms and trend of public finance and also to enable participants to understand the roles and relationship between central and local government.
It was attended by district co-ordinating directors, presiding members, budget analysts, finance officers, internal auditors and chairmen of finance and administrative subcommittees of the various assemblies in the region.
Mr Aidoo said as social democrats, the government sought to partner all citizens to eradicate corruption, deepen political accountability and transparency in governance and enhance the discourse of budgets and procedures adopted in public accounts.
“It is for these reasons that workshops like these are very useful. It will surely enhance your knowledge and enable all of us to strive to do the right things to avoid embarrassing situations,” he said.
The regional minister stressed that as managers of their respective assemblies, they were expected to live above board in their administration by attaining a good knowledge of the laws in order to eliminate waste so as to make savings for further development.
He explained that the workshop was a tool to sharpen the participants’ administrative and managerial skills so that they could do what was expected of them.
“Permit me to say that the task ahead of us and the challenges that we encounter as we endeavour to implement these financial regulations are insurmountable,” Mr Aidoo stated.
He said, “As we go through these four-day training session some of our difficulties will be addressed so that we leave here with a better understanding of the subject matter”.
He stated that a lot of resources would be available to meet the increasing needs of people in the region.
Mr Aidoo said for instance that there would be increase in the demand for social amenities such as schools, hospitals, water facilities, energy supply among others, as the towns grew.
“We must eschew all corrupt tendencies and ensure that people derive maximum benefits from any public venture,” he said, adding “Again let me remind all and sundry that the NDC believes that corruption thrives in a system that is not transparent or unaccountable and irresponsive to the needs and concerns of our people”.
This was contained in an address read on Mr Aidoo’s behalf by the Western Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr David Yaro, at the opening ceremony of a four-day workshop on financial regulation management and accounting for 105 officials from metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies in the region.
The workshop organised by the Local Government Service in conjunction with the Institute of Local Government, was meant to explain the concept and importance of revenue mobilisation, explain the theory of physical decentralisation systems, to review the key reforms and trend of public finance and also to enable participants to understand the roles and relationship between central and local government.
It was attended by district co-ordinating directors, presiding members, budget analysts, finance officers, internal auditors and chairmen of finance and administrative subcommittees of the various assemblies in the region.
Mr Aidoo said as social democrats, the government sought to partner all citizens to eradicate corruption, deepen political accountability and transparency in governance and enhance the discourse of budgets and procedures adopted in public accounts.
“It is for these reasons that workshops like these are very useful. It will surely enhance your knowledge and enable all of us to strive to do the right things to avoid embarrassing situations,” he said.
The regional minister stressed that as managers of their respective assemblies, they were expected to live above board in their administration by attaining a good knowledge of the laws in order to eliminate waste so as to make savings for further development.
He explained that the workshop was a tool to sharpen the participants’ administrative and managerial skills so that they could do what was expected of them.
“Permit me to say that the task ahead of us and the challenges that we encounter as we endeavour to implement these financial regulations are insurmountable,” Mr Aidoo stated.
He said, “As we go through these four-day training session some of our difficulties will be addressed so that we leave here with a better understanding of the subject matter”.
PEF HOLDS SEMINAR ON OIL FOR MEDIA PRACTITIONERS (PAGE 35, NOV 3, 2010)
THE Private Enterprise Foundation (PEF) in partnership with the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has organised a day’s seminar for over 20 media practitioners in the Western Region on the opportunities in the country’s emerging oil and gas industry for local participation.
The aim of the dialogue was to ensure that the media, a key partner in promoting local content and participation, fully understands the issues in the emerging oil and gas industry.
This is in recognition that a knowledgeable and active media is critical to having an informed and engaged public and business community so that appropriate policies will be put in place by the government for the benefit of the people.
In an address read on behalf of the Director General of the Private Enterprise Foundation (PEF), Dr Osei Boeh-Ocansey, he observed that simply developing local content policies following existing international best practice would not help in increasing local content and high participation in the oil industry.
He said it was easy for the multi-national oil companies to circumvent the local contents provisions by claiming that local companies did not meet the requirements to do business with them.
Dr Boeh-Ocansey , therefore, said the foundation would like to call on the government to support the private sector in terms of training in the areas of standards and skills development, and other aspects of business development.
“For us at PEF, as a country, we should clearly define standards appropriate for Ghana, clearly communicate these to the local companies, what assistance can be provided in helping local companies meet these standards and how to monitor compliance of utilisation of local content in the oil and gas industry,” he emphasised.
Dr Boeh-Ocansey added that the foundation recommended that the country should focus on standards and skills development for operators of local enterprises because that was crucial to achieving the 90 per cent local content target by the government by 2020.
He stated that the oil and gas discovery in the country had raised the hopes of the government and the general public and as such, there were high expectations from the people of Ghana about the future of the economy and the impact of the discovery on their economic livelihoods.
He said in other African countries that discovered oil ahead of Ghana, it was said that in most cases, oil discovery was a “curse rather than a blessing,” adding “This may be because the people in particular and the economy as a whole did not derive the maximum benefits from the revenue generated.”
The director-general said a key development objective of the government regarding Ghana’s oil discovery was to grow the economy rapidly to achieve accelerated development and industrialisation.
“It is anticipated that the development of the oil and gas industry would be a source of accelerated growth, poverty reduction and general prosperity to the people of Ghana,” he said.
Dr Boeh-Ocansey said the active involvement of Ghanaians in the oil and gas development through local content and participation had become a major policy issue.
He said it was the desire of the government and the people that the control as well as the benefits in oil and gas discovery and production would remain with Ghanaians.
Dr Boeh-Ocansey added that for the people of Ghana to actively participate in the oil and gas sector, they needed to be aware of the opportunities in the sector that they could take advantage of.
A former President of the Ghana Institution of Engineers, Dr Robert Adjaye, in his presentation, mentioned some of the challenges to local content as relatively undeveloped industrial base, inadequate infrastructure, lack of comprehensive and integrated national capacity building programme, as well as inadequate training centres and institutions and the poor concept of time and quality.
The Vice President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Mr Affail Monney urged the journalists to play their watchdog role properly to ensure transparency and accountability in the emerging oil and gas discovery.
“Journalists in the Western Region have to serve as the eyes, ears and mouth of the entire nation as far as the oil discovery is concerned,” he stressed.
The aim of the dialogue was to ensure that the media, a key partner in promoting local content and participation, fully understands the issues in the emerging oil and gas industry.
This is in recognition that a knowledgeable and active media is critical to having an informed and engaged public and business community so that appropriate policies will be put in place by the government for the benefit of the people.
In an address read on behalf of the Director General of the Private Enterprise Foundation (PEF), Dr Osei Boeh-Ocansey, he observed that simply developing local content policies following existing international best practice would not help in increasing local content and high participation in the oil industry.
He said it was easy for the multi-national oil companies to circumvent the local contents provisions by claiming that local companies did not meet the requirements to do business with them.
Dr Boeh-Ocansey , therefore, said the foundation would like to call on the government to support the private sector in terms of training in the areas of standards and skills development, and other aspects of business development.
“For us at PEF, as a country, we should clearly define standards appropriate for Ghana, clearly communicate these to the local companies, what assistance can be provided in helping local companies meet these standards and how to monitor compliance of utilisation of local content in the oil and gas industry,” he emphasised.
Dr Boeh-Ocansey added that the foundation recommended that the country should focus on standards and skills development for operators of local enterprises because that was crucial to achieving the 90 per cent local content target by the government by 2020.
He stated that the oil and gas discovery in the country had raised the hopes of the government and the general public and as such, there were high expectations from the people of Ghana about the future of the economy and the impact of the discovery on their economic livelihoods.
He said in other African countries that discovered oil ahead of Ghana, it was said that in most cases, oil discovery was a “curse rather than a blessing,” adding “This may be because the people in particular and the economy as a whole did not derive the maximum benefits from the revenue generated.”
The director-general said a key development objective of the government regarding Ghana’s oil discovery was to grow the economy rapidly to achieve accelerated development and industrialisation.
“It is anticipated that the development of the oil and gas industry would be a source of accelerated growth, poverty reduction and general prosperity to the people of Ghana,” he said.
Dr Boeh-Ocansey said the active involvement of Ghanaians in the oil and gas development through local content and participation had become a major policy issue.
He said it was the desire of the government and the people that the control as well as the benefits in oil and gas discovery and production would remain with Ghanaians.
Dr Boeh-Ocansey added that for the people of Ghana to actively participate in the oil and gas sector, they needed to be aware of the opportunities in the sector that they could take advantage of.
A former President of the Ghana Institution of Engineers, Dr Robert Adjaye, in his presentation, mentioned some of the challenges to local content as relatively undeveloped industrial base, inadequate infrastructure, lack of comprehensive and integrated national capacity building programme, as well as inadequate training centres and institutions and the poor concept of time and quality.
The Vice President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Mr Affail Monney urged the journalists to play their watchdog role properly to ensure transparency and accountability in the emerging oil and gas discovery.
“Journalists in the Western Region have to serve as the eyes, ears and mouth of the entire nation as far as the oil discovery is concerned,” he stressed.
GOLDEN STAR SPENDS $500,000 ON PROJECTS (PAGE 42, NOV 3, 2010)
GOLDEN Star (Wassa Mine) Limited has spent a total of US$500,000 on community projects on education, water and sanitation for the people in its area of operation.
The General Manager of Golden Star (Wassa Mine), Mr Neale Laffin announced this at the inauguration of a US$ 81,000 16-seater aqua privy public place of convenience for the people of Mpohor in the Mpohor Wassa East District in the Western Region.
He said the company had spent over US$150,000 on various development projects at Mpohor alone.
Mr Laffin mentioned some of the projects as the dislodging of seven different heaps of waste dumps at Mpohor in an environmentally friendly way, the disinfecting of all domestic water wells, the mechanisation of water systems and the construction of the 16-seater aqua privy public place of convenience.
Mr Laffin said Golden Star Resources, the mother company paid US$ 6,695,796 in royalties to the government within the first two quarters of this year, out of which Golden Star (Wassa Mine) paid US$ 3,412,471.
“This we believe will assist the government and its functionaries to bend easily towards communities from which the resources were taken and put up more infrastructure for their development,” he said.
The general manager stated that the company had also provided scholarships to 42 brilliant, needy students in second-cycle educational institutions, adding that 35 more students would join the scheme this academic year.
To address the issue of employment of local community members, he said the company had initiated a youth apprenticeship training programme in employable skills development in masonry, carpentry and mobile phone repairs.
Mr Laffin said 60 youth across the company’s three operational sites would benefit when it takes off this month at Ningo, near Benso in the district.
He said the Golden Star Oil Palm Plantation Project was growing strong and that the company had spent US$ 2,586,362 on about 790 hectares and 411 associated contract workers.
According to Mr Laffin, Golden Star (Wassa Mine) by policy was committed to being a part of the community in which it operated by maintaining and building strong community relationships.
He said those relationships were based on mutual respect and recognition of each others’ rights along with an active partnership and long term commitment to the betterment of the community.
The District Chief Executive for Mpohor Wassa East, Mr Anthony Bassaw, appealed to the company to expand its scholarship scheme to cover more students in its communities.
He also urged the company to assist the Mpohor Wassa East District Assembly to provide Mpohor a deserving market.
The paramount chief of Mpohor Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwaw Entsie, also enjoined the company to construct a hostel for the Mpohor Senior High School.
He urged the company to find a lasting solution to the high level of blasting over which people in the area had expressed serious concern.
The General Manager of Golden Star (Wassa Mine), Mr Neale Laffin announced this at the inauguration of a US$ 81,000 16-seater aqua privy public place of convenience for the people of Mpohor in the Mpohor Wassa East District in the Western Region.
He said the company had spent over US$150,000 on various development projects at Mpohor alone.
Mr Laffin mentioned some of the projects as the dislodging of seven different heaps of waste dumps at Mpohor in an environmentally friendly way, the disinfecting of all domestic water wells, the mechanisation of water systems and the construction of the 16-seater aqua privy public place of convenience.
Mr Laffin said Golden Star Resources, the mother company paid US$ 6,695,796 in royalties to the government within the first two quarters of this year, out of which Golden Star (Wassa Mine) paid US$ 3,412,471.
“This we believe will assist the government and its functionaries to bend easily towards communities from which the resources were taken and put up more infrastructure for their development,” he said.
The general manager stated that the company had also provided scholarships to 42 brilliant, needy students in second-cycle educational institutions, adding that 35 more students would join the scheme this academic year.
To address the issue of employment of local community members, he said the company had initiated a youth apprenticeship training programme in employable skills development in masonry, carpentry and mobile phone repairs.
Mr Laffin said 60 youth across the company’s three operational sites would benefit when it takes off this month at Ningo, near Benso in the district.
He said the Golden Star Oil Palm Plantation Project was growing strong and that the company had spent US$ 2,586,362 on about 790 hectares and 411 associated contract workers.
According to Mr Laffin, Golden Star (Wassa Mine) by policy was committed to being a part of the community in which it operated by maintaining and building strong community relationships.
He said those relationships were based on mutual respect and recognition of each others’ rights along with an active partnership and long term commitment to the betterment of the community.
The District Chief Executive for Mpohor Wassa East, Mr Anthony Bassaw, appealed to the company to expand its scholarship scheme to cover more students in its communities.
He also urged the company to assist the Mpohor Wassa East District Assembly to provide Mpohor a deserving market.
The paramount chief of Mpohor Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwaw Entsie, also enjoined the company to construct a hostel for the Mpohor Senior High School.
He urged the company to find a lasting solution to the high level of blasting over which people in the area had expressed serious concern.
SPEAK OUT AGAINST INSULTS (1B, NOV 2, 2010)
Christian leaders have been charged to rise up and speak against “the culture of insults”, which is creeping into Ghanaian politics.
Speaking at the opening of the Catholic Bishops Conference at Sefwi Wiawso yesterday, the President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference, The Most Rev Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, charged men of God not to be silent and allow “the noble art of politics to be dragged into the quagmire of insults, character assassinations and threats of violence”.
“I think the church will have to call to order the traditionally and culturally unacceptable culture of insults being perpetrated on our airwaves,” he added.
The Most Rev Palmer-Buckle described the phenomenon as very dangerous for the political development of the country, which, according to him, was known to be peaceful and its people peace-loving.
“Surely, if we want to cultivate peace, we shall have to protect the dignity of this nation and of each and every person in it. We also have to protect the sacredness of the various political high offices in the country”.
Speaking on the theme “If you want to cultivate peace protect creation”, The Most Rev Palmer-Buckle said the yearly problems that parents and their children faced to get admission to senior high schools was an issue which should engage the attention of all.
He said last April, the Catholic Church organised the first national forum on education, where it dealt with the many problems and challenges facing education in the country and especially obstacles the church found in the development and delivery of education.
“We shall have to revisit this sector once again in the face of the present hue and cry,” he said.
The Most Rev Palmer-Buckle said media reports of armed robbery, murder, rape, defilement, fraud and corruption were also disturbing.
“Are we losing our moral compass? We have cause to worry about our human and social ecology. We have to work at protecting creation, namely human beings, if we are to have lasting peace in this country,” he said.
Touching on the theme, he said the church had repeatedly and unceasingly called the attention of all and sundry, especially the government and the governed, to the mindless exploitation of the country’s natural resources, which is resulting in the wanton degradation and destruction of the environment all in the name of development.
He said from the present state of things, the Sefwi area, for instance, which is endowed with many natural resources, was being made a “destroyed paradise” as a result of human greed and indiscipline in how people were exploiting the God-given wealth and heritage.
He said God had endowed Ghana with many natural resources in the form of gold, manganese, diamond, bauxite and recently rich deposits of oil and gas off-shore and on land.
“We have to protect all these as stewards and custodians,” The Most Rev Gabriel Palmer-Buckle said.
Speaking at the opening of the Catholic Bishops Conference at Sefwi Wiawso yesterday, the President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference, The Most Rev Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, charged men of God not to be silent and allow “the noble art of politics to be dragged into the quagmire of insults, character assassinations and threats of violence”.
“I think the church will have to call to order the traditionally and culturally unacceptable culture of insults being perpetrated on our airwaves,” he added.
The Most Rev Palmer-Buckle described the phenomenon as very dangerous for the political development of the country, which, according to him, was known to be peaceful and its people peace-loving.
“Surely, if we want to cultivate peace, we shall have to protect the dignity of this nation and of each and every person in it. We also have to protect the sacredness of the various political high offices in the country”.
Speaking on the theme “If you want to cultivate peace protect creation”, The Most Rev Palmer-Buckle said the yearly problems that parents and their children faced to get admission to senior high schools was an issue which should engage the attention of all.
He said last April, the Catholic Church organised the first national forum on education, where it dealt with the many problems and challenges facing education in the country and especially obstacles the church found in the development and delivery of education.
“We shall have to revisit this sector once again in the face of the present hue and cry,” he said.
The Most Rev Palmer-Buckle said media reports of armed robbery, murder, rape, defilement, fraud and corruption were also disturbing.
“Are we losing our moral compass? We have cause to worry about our human and social ecology. We have to work at protecting creation, namely human beings, if we are to have lasting peace in this country,” he said.
Touching on the theme, he said the church had repeatedly and unceasingly called the attention of all and sundry, especially the government and the governed, to the mindless exploitation of the country’s natural resources, which is resulting in the wanton degradation and destruction of the environment all in the name of development.
He said from the present state of things, the Sefwi area, for instance, which is endowed with many natural resources, was being made a “destroyed paradise” as a result of human greed and indiscipline in how people were exploiting the God-given wealth and heritage.
He said God had endowed Ghana with many natural resources in the form of gold, manganese, diamond, bauxite and recently rich deposits of oil and gas off-shore and on land.
“We have to protect all these as stewards and custodians,” The Most Rev Gabriel Palmer-Buckle said.
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT: NEW POLICY LAUDABLE (PAGE 42, NOV 1, 2010)
IN 1994, the government of Ghana adopted the Forest and Wildlife Policy as a working document for its forest and wildlife protection.
From this policy, the Wildlife Division developed clearly defined futuristic objectives and strategies for the wildlife sector in its Community and Collaborative Wildlife Management Policy of 2000.
One of the key strategies in this policy is to encourage the conservation of major ecosystems and wildlife outside protected areas, using local community institutions as well as devolving authority for managing these resources to the local authorities.
This is a significant shift from the previous policy which was geared mainly towards the complete protection of protected areas with very little involvement of local communities.
The Wildlife Division thus could not draw on the support of these key stakeholders to fulfil its mandate.
Due to the lack of support, most areas outside protected areas have virtually been depleted of wildlife resources as a result of over exploitation and habitat degradation.
The pressure on the protected areas is therefore increasing and it is subsequently leading to the depletion of the nation’s store of biodiversity.
Conservationists all over the world have since the late 1970s and early 1980s, been searching for practicable and sustainable alternatives to traditional militant approach of conserving natural resources.
Consequently, Community Based Natural Resource Management approaches that seek to involve the local people who bear the cost of conservation, are being implemented by many nations, including Ghana.
The unique goal of these approaches is to empower the local people by according them the necessary power to be at the centre stage of natural resources management by utilising their own capacity to guarantee their livelihood security and environmental conservation.
This position is premised on the recognition by many experts that conservation areas and values in many countries will survive better if human concerns of subsistence, survival, livelihood, income generation, social recognition, among other pertinent issues are addressed.
The concept of communities managing their wildlife resources through Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs) has therefore been accepted and it is being implemented by local communities in the sustainable management of natural resources.
This is a significant demonstration of the government’s willingness to allow local communities to manage their own natural resources.
The CREMA is a geographically defined area which includes one or more communities that have agreed to manage natural resources in a sustainable manner, and it is based on the establishment of areas where wildlife management is incorporated into existing land use systems.
It is also a community based organisation that is built on existing community decision making structures with an executive body and a constitution that guides the activities and regulations of the CREMA.
One of such CREMAs has been established for the people of the Cape Three Points and Princess Town in the Ahanta West District in the Western Region, bringing to 10 the number of CREMAs in the region. There are five around the Ankasa Conservation Area and the other four around Bia Conservation Area.
Most forest reserves in the Western Region are under serious siege from chain-saw operators, illegal gold miners as well as farmers who are plundering the region’s forest resources with impunity.
In the Afoa Hills, Tano Suraw and Anhwiaso South Forest Reserves in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai District, farming activities are being carried out in those reserves.
It is also the same story in the Tano Anwia, Suhuma, Sui River and KRHI Forest Reserves.
While in the Bia, Dissue River, Muro River, Tano Suhien, Subri River and Bonsa River Forest Reserves, illegal chain-saw and felling of trees are also being carried out there in addition to illegal mining in the River Bonsa.
Unfortunately, most chiefs are said to be guilty of complicity in these unacceptable situations because as it is generally known, the illegal farmers in the forest reserves are mostly settler farmers from other parts of the country who got access to the reserves through the chiefs after paying drinks and other rents.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Cape Three Points/Princess Town CREMA at the Cape Three Points, the Director of Operations- Wildlife Division, Mr Alex Akwoviah, said the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources had pledged its support to continuously work through the Forestry Commission to strengthen and build the capacity of those recognised community institutions to sustainable manage their natural resources.
He therefore, urged the Ahanta West District Assembly and other stakeholders to continue supporting the newly established Cape Three Points/Princess Town CREMA to successfully manage their natural resources.
Mr Akwoviah was convinced that as more CREMAs were established in the country, depletion of wildlife resources would be controlled thereby facilitating a better protection for protected areas since the pressure on them would be reduced with adequate resources for use by local communities.
Mr Akwoviah congratulated members of the Cape Three Points/Princess Town CREMA for the patience, commitment and sacrifice they had made to get to that stage.
He urged the Ahanta West District Assembly to work with the CREMA in enforcing the rules and regulations governing the CREMA.
He also appealed to all conservation, non-governmental organisations as well as development partners to assist the CREMA in whatever capacity they could to make the programme a shining example of community participation in wildlife management throughout Africa.
The director expressed profound gratitude to the French government for supporting the Wildlife Division and CARE International, through the Community Forest Biodiversity Programme from which the facilitation of the establishment of the CREMA was funded.
He further commended traditional authorities, the district assembly and all communities forming the CREMA for collaborating with the management and staff of the Forestry Services Division, Conservation Foundation, CARE International and Wildlife Division to establish the Cape Three Points/Princess Town CREMA in the district.
From this policy, the Wildlife Division developed clearly defined futuristic objectives and strategies for the wildlife sector in its Community and Collaborative Wildlife Management Policy of 2000.
One of the key strategies in this policy is to encourage the conservation of major ecosystems and wildlife outside protected areas, using local community institutions as well as devolving authority for managing these resources to the local authorities.
This is a significant shift from the previous policy which was geared mainly towards the complete protection of protected areas with very little involvement of local communities.
The Wildlife Division thus could not draw on the support of these key stakeholders to fulfil its mandate.
Due to the lack of support, most areas outside protected areas have virtually been depleted of wildlife resources as a result of over exploitation and habitat degradation.
The pressure on the protected areas is therefore increasing and it is subsequently leading to the depletion of the nation’s store of biodiversity.
Conservationists all over the world have since the late 1970s and early 1980s, been searching for practicable and sustainable alternatives to traditional militant approach of conserving natural resources.
Consequently, Community Based Natural Resource Management approaches that seek to involve the local people who bear the cost of conservation, are being implemented by many nations, including Ghana.
The unique goal of these approaches is to empower the local people by according them the necessary power to be at the centre stage of natural resources management by utilising their own capacity to guarantee their livelihood security and environmental conservation.
This position is premised on the recognition by many experts that conservation areas and values in many countries will survive better if human concerns of subsistence, survival, livelihood, income generation, social recognition, among other pertinent issues are addressed.
The concept of communities managing their wildlife resources through Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs) has therefore been accepted and it is being implemented by local communities in the sustainable management of natural resources.
This is a significant demonstration of the government’s willingness to allow local communities to manage their own natural resources.
The CREMA is a geographically defined area which includes one or more communities that have agreed to manage natural resources in a sustainable manner, and it is based on the establishment of areas where wildlife management is incorporated into existing land use systems.
It is also a community based organisation that is built on existing community decision making structures with an executive body and a constitution that guides the activities and regulations of the CREMA.
One of such CREMAs has been established for the people of the Cape Three Points and Princess Town in the Ahanta West District in the Western Region, bringing to 10 the number of CREMAs in the region. There are five around the Ankasa Conservation Area and the other four around Bia Conservation Area.
Most forest reserves in the Western Region are under serious siege from chain-saw operators, illegal gold miners as well as farmers who are plundering the region’s forest resources with impunity.
In the Afoa Hills, Tano Suraw and Anhwiaso South Forest Reserves in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai District, farming activities are being carried out in those reserves.
It is also the same story in the Tano Anwia, Suhuma, Sui River and KRHI Forest Reserves.
While in the Bia, Dissue River, Muro River, Tano Suhien, Subri River and Bonsa River Forest Reserves, illegal chain-saw and felling of trees are also being carried out there in addition to illegal mining in the River Bonsa.
Unfortunately, most chiefs are said to be guilty of complicity in these unacceptable situations because as it is generally known, the illegal farmers in the forest reserves are mostly settler farmers from other parts of the country who got access to the reserves through the chiefs after paying drinks and other rents.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Cape Three Points/Princess Town CREMA at the Cape Three Points, the Director of Operations- Wildlife Division, Mr Alex Akwoviah, said the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources had pledged its support to continuously work through the Forestry Commission to strengthen and build the capacity of those recognised community institutions to sustainable manage their natural resources.
He therefore, urged the Ahanta West District Assembly and other stakeholders to continue supporting the newly established Cape Three Points/Princess Town CREMA to successfully manage their natural resources.
Mr Akwoviah was convinced that as more CREMAs were established in the country, depletion of wildlife resources would be controlled thereby facilitating a better protection for protected areas since the pressure on them would be reduced with adequate resources for use by local communities.
Mr Akwoviah congratulated members of the Cape Three Points/Princess Town CREMA for the patience, commitment and sacrifice they had made to get to that stage.
He urged the Ahanta West District Assembly to work with the CREMA in enforcing the rules and regulations governing the CREMA.
He also appealed to all conservation, non-governmental organisations as well as development partners to assist the CREMA in whatever capacity they could to make the programme a shining example of community participation in wildlife management throughout Africa.
The director expressed profound gratitude to the French government for supporting the Wildlife Division and CARE International, through the Community Forest Biodiversity Programme from which the facilitation of the establishment of the CREMA was funded.
He further commended traditional authorities, the district assembly and all communities forming the CREMA for collaborating with the management and staff of the Forestry Services Division, Conservation Foundation, CARE International and Wildlife Division to establish the Cape Three Points/Princess Town CREMA in the district.
Friday, October 22, 2010
URGENT STEPS NEEDED TO SAFEGUARD WATER RESOURCES (PAGE 20, OCT 25, 2010)
THE Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Alban S.K Bagbin says that unless measures are taken to safeguard water sources, the volume of water available to the country will reduce drastically.
Currently, he said, the current average annual volume of water of 40billion cubic meters represented only 29 per cent of the volume of water recorded in 1960.
Mr Bagbin said from 1960 to 2010, the quantity of raw water available to Ghanaians had reduced by a factor of three, due to increase in population.
Mr Bagbin said this when he addressed members of the Western Regional Security Council, heads of departments, metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives in the region.
He said the country’s population had grown from 6.5 million to an estimated 23 million now and explained that by the annual population rate, this reduction factor would have doubled to six by 2050, which meant that the water available to Ghanaians would have reduced by a factor of six.
“This means that today, the quantity of water available to us, per person, has reduced to about a third of what it was in 1960, and will further shrink to a sixth by 2050”, he explained, adding “in order words, the water available to us today is only 29 per cent of the 1960 value, and will be only 16 per cent by 2050”. Mr Bagbin said aggravating the situation was the pollution of the water resources resulting from our own activities like timber felling, bad farming practices such as bush burning and improper use of various agro-chemicals, car washing, dumping of waste into or near water courses and illegal gold mining activities, popularly known as ‘galamsey’.
He said statistics on water in the country from measurements taken on all river systems in Ghana such as the Volta, Tano, Ayensu, Densu, Ankobra and others had it that the average annual volume of water available to the country was about 40 billion cubic meters per year.
This, he said, was the amount that was replenished to the people annually through rainfall.
In addition to these surface water resources, he said, we also had groundwater and its quality was generally good except for some cases of localised pollution and areas with high levels of iron, fluoride and other minerals.
He said salinity in certain groundwater occurrences was also found, especially in some coastal aquifers, adding that “this notwithstanding , we can conclude that if properly conserved, managed and distributed, the surface and groundwater resources of the country should be adequate to meet current and future demands”.
Mr Bagbin said Ghana had signed up to achieve the targets set under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which cut across all sectors of the country’s development agenda.
He said for the MDG target for water and sanitation, it was expected that Ghana would have provided access to 76 per cent of the population with improved water by the year 2015 and that by the end of 2009, more than 59 per cent of the country’s population had access to improved drinking water supply.
“Our minimum target is to achieve the MDG goal of 76 per cent coverage by 2015. I wish to emphasise that this is the minimum we as a government wish to achieve. Our target is to reach 85 per cent by 2015 and universal access by 2025, ” he said.
He noted that if Ghanaians were truly committed to improving the quality of life of the people for a’ Better Ghana’, improving access to water was the one sure way to go.
Mr Bagbin said this would directly result in increased productivity by the farmers and workforce, higher enrolment and retention of girls in school, and enhancement in women’s dignity and ability to lead.
He said it would also result in the reduction in morbidity and mortality rates, reduction in pre and post-natal risks and prevention of water borne diseases.
He said to achieve the above objectives, it required dedication and tenacity of purpose.
Therefore, he added that it was incumbent on every member of the team, which included not only staff and members of agencies under the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, but also non governmental organisations, water and sanitation practitioners, the development partners and, everybody, to religiously apply himself or herself to the task, since water was everybody’s business.
Currently, he said, the current average annual volume of water of 40billion cubic meters represented only 29 per cent of the volume of water recorded in 1960.
Mr Bagbin said from 1960 to 2010, the quantity of raw water available to Ghanaians had reduced by a factor of three, due to increase in population.
Mr Bagbin said this when he addressed members of the Western Regional Security Council, heads of departments, metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives in the region.
He said the country’s population had grown from 6.5 million to an estimated 23 million now and explained that by the annual population rate, this reduction factor would have doubled to six by 2050, which meant that the water available to Ghanaians would have reduced by a factor of six.
“This means that today, the quantity of water available to us, per person, has reduced to about a third of what it was in 1960, and will further shrink to a sixth by 2050”, he explained, adding “in order words, the water available to us today is only 29 per cent of the 1960 value, and will be only 16 per cent by 2050”. Mr Bagbin said aggravating the situation was the pollution of the water resources resulting from our own activities like timber felling, bad farming practices such as bush burning and improper use of various agro-chemicals, car washing, dumping of waste into or near water courses and illegal gold mining activities, popularly known as ‘galamsey’.
He said statistics on water in the country from measurements taken on all river systems in Ghana such as the Volta, Tano, Ayensu, Densu, Ankobra and others had it that the average annual volume of water available to the country was about 40 billion cubic meters per year.
This, he said, was the amount that was replenished to the people annually through rainfall.
In addition to these surface water resources, he said, we also had groundwater and its quality was generally good except for some cases of localised pollution and areas with high levels of iron, fluoride and other minerals.
He said salinity in certain groundwater occurrences was also found, especially in some coastal aquifers, adding that “this notwithstanding , we can conclude that if properly conserved, managed and distributed, the surface and groundwater resources of the country should be adequate to meet current and future demands”.
Mr Bagbin said Ghana had signed up to achieve the targets set under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which cut across all sectors of the country’s development agenda.
He said for the MDG target for water and sanitation, it was expected that Ghana would have provided access to 76 per cent of the population with improved water by the year 2015 and that by the end of 2009, more than 59 per cent of the country’s population had access to improved drinking water supply.
“Our minimum target is to achieve the MDG goal of 76 per cent coverage by 2015. I wish to emphasise that this is the minimum we as a government wish to achieve. Our target is to reach 85 per cent by 2015 and universal access by 2025, ” he said.
He noted that if Ghanaians were truly committed to improving the quality of life of the people for a’ Better Ghana’, improving access to water was the one sure way to go.
Mr Bagbin said this would directly result in increased productivity by the farmers and workforce, higher enrolment and retention of girls in school, and enhancement in women’s dignity and ability to lead.
He said it would also result in the reduction in morbidity and mortality rates, reduction in pre and post-natal risks and prevention of water borne diseases.
He said to achieve the above objectives, it required dedication and tenacity of purpose.
Therefore, he added that it was incumbent on every member of the team, which included not only staff and members of agencies under the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, but also non governmental organisations, water and sanitation practitioners, the development partners and, everybody, to religiously apply himself or herself to the task, since water was everybody’s business.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
NHIS REGISTERS 1,338,160 PEOPLE...In Western Region (PAGE 35, OCT 19, 2010)
THE National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has so far registered a total of 1,338,160 people in the Western Region.
The figure represents about 61 per cent of the estimated 2010 population of 2,558,100 in the region. There are 15 mutual health schemes operating in the 17 administrative metropolitan, municipal and districts assemblies in the region.
The Western Regional Manager of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Mr Francis Asante-Mensah, announced this at a meeting of the regional heads of boards and departments in Sekondi.
He said returns from the various schemes indicated that the schemes were growing fast and that claims had been paid up to June, 2010.
He mentioned lack of suitable office accommodation for some of the schemes as some of the challenges and appealed to the metropolitan, municipal and the district assemblies to see the schemes as their own and provide them with suitable office accommodation.
Mr Asante-Mensah said the difficult terrain of the region posed a challenge during monitoring while the high poverty level of some of the residents in the region had made it difficult for them to enrol on the schemes.
He said between now and next year, about 80 per cent of people in the region would be educated on the one-time payment of premium while the staff would embark on a membership drive.
Mr Asante-Mensah appealed to the Western Regional Co-ordinating Council and the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly to fast track the acquisition of land for the construction of the office complex for the NHIA.
The Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, expressed concern about the numerous agitation and demonstrations going on, stressing “These do not augur well for the investment drive of the country.”
He said the Western Region had become the focus of many investors as a result of the recent oil discovery so nothing should be done to scare them.
The regional minister also raised concern about the situation where people were organising fraudulent training courses in the oil sector in the region with the conviction that they would be offered employment on the oil rig at the end of the training programmes.
He warned the civil servants and heads of government organisations not to get involved in such quack training programmes.
The figure represents about 61 per cent of the estimated 2010 population of 2,558,100 in the region. There are 15 mutual health schemes operating in the 17 administrative metropolitan, municipal and districts assemblies in the region.
The Western Regional Manager of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Mr Francis Asante-Mensah, announced this at a meeting of the regional heads of boards and departments in Sekondi.
He said returns from the various schemes indicated that the schemes were growing fast and that claims had been paid up to June, 2010.
He mentioned lack of suitable office accommodation for some of the schemes as some of the challenges and appealed to the metropolitan, municipal and the district assemblies to see the schemes as their own and provide them with suitable office accommodation.
Mr Asante-Mensah said the difficult terrain of the region posed a challenge during monitoring while the high poverty level of some of the residents in the region had made it difficult for them to enrol on the schemes.
He said between now and next year, about 80 per cent of people in the region would be educated on the one-time payment of premium while the staff would embark on a membership drive.
Mr Asante-Mensah appealed to the Western Regional Co-ordinating Council and the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly to fast track the acquisition of land for the construction of the office complex for the NHIA.
The Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, expressed concern about the numerous agitation and demonstrations going on, stressing “These do not augur well for the investment drive of the country.”
He said the Western Region had become the focus of many investors as a result of the recent oil discovery so nothing should be done to scare them.
The regional minister also raised concern about the situation where people were organising fraudulent training courses in the oil sector in the region with the conviction that they would be offered employment on the oil rig at the end of the training programmes.
He warned the civil servants and heads of government organisations not to get involved in such quack training programmes.
Monday, October 18, 2010
GOVT TO SPEND $12M ON FOUR WATER PROJECTS IN WR (SPREAD, OCT 18, 2010)
THE government has secured more than US$ 12 million from the International Development Agency (IDA) of the World Bank, for the rehabilitation and improvement of five water systems in the Western Region.
The execution of the project is expected to improve the water supply in the region because of the envisaged growth and economic expansion that might result from the commercial production of oil and gas in the region.
The five beneficiary communities are Axim, Aboso, Elubo, Bogoso and Prestea.
The rehabilitation of the water system at Axim is expected to cost US$ 2,547,690.00 and that of Aboso will cost US$ 2,465,236.00 while the work at the Bogoso will cost US$ 2,229,120.00.
In the case of Elubo, the project will cost US$ 1,732,107.00 and that of Prestea will be rehabilitated at the cost of US$ 2,965,971.00.
The Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Alban S.K. Bagbin, who announced this in Sekondi last Saturday, said contract negotiations for the projects were far advanced for the project to begin next year.
Apart from the short-term measure, he said the government was undertaking extensive studies to assess the water resources potential of the region.
Mr Bagbin said studies currently underway included the assessment of the Ankobra and Tano rivers and the assessment of underground water potential in the region.
That, he explained, was in recognition of the industrial and commercial potential of the Western Region, which had long been established and enhanced by the recent discovery of oil and gas.
Addressing members of the Western Regional Security Council, metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) and heads of departments on the water situation, Mr Bagbin said the water supply system at Inchaban in the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis appeared to have reached its abstraction limit and that River Pra would serve as another source to complement the Inchaban system.
Under the long-term investment plan for 2025, he said the major works to be undertaken were the Sekondi/Takoradi Water Supply System and the Essiama Enclave.
“It is worthy to recall that the President of Ghana, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, in his recent visit to China, secured support from the Government of China for the Sekondi/Takoradi Water Supply System”, he said.
“In all these efforts, government expects from the staff of the Ghana Water Company Limited absolute dedication in delivering services to the people”, he added.
Touching on Rural and Small Towns Water Supply, he said the percentage of people in the region with access to potable water was 63 per cent in the urban areas and 44.2 per cent in the rural areas.
However, he said the recently completed 20 Small Towns Project funded by the European Union (EU) and facilitated through the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA), as well as other currently ongoing projects were expected to increase the water coverage to 56.7 per cent in the rural areas at the end of 2010.
Mr Bagbin said despite those improvements in water coverage, a disturbing issue that had engaged the attention of the ministry had to do with proper management of the systems in the small towns and rural areas, which unfortunately become non-functional after a few years of operation.
The situation, he said, was not acceptable, and urged the district assemblies to exercise their due oversight control to ensure that the facilities were operational at all times, or with minimal downtime.
The execution of the project is expected to improve the water supply in the region because of the envisaged growth and economic expansion that might result from the commercial production of oil and gas in the region.
The five beneficiary communities are Axim, Aboso, Elubo, Bogoso and Prestea.
The rehabilitation of the water system at Axim is expected to cost US$ 2,547,690.00 and that of Aboso will cost US$ 2,465,236.00 while the work at the Bogoso will cost US$ 2,229,120.00.
In the case of Elubo, the project will cost US$ 1,732,107.00 and that of Prestea will be rehabilitated at the cost of US$ 2,965,971.00.
The Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Alban S.K. Bagbin, who announced this in Sekondi last Saturday, said contract negotiations for the projects were far advanced for the project to begin next year.
Apart from the short-term measure, he said the government was undertaking extensive studies to assess the water resources potential of the region.
Mr Bagbin said studies currently underway included the assessment of the Ankobra and Tano rivers and the assessment of underground water potential in the region.
That, he explained, was in recognition of the industrial and commercial potential of the Western Region, which had long been established and enhanced by the recent discovery of oil and gas.
Addressing members of the Western Regional Security Council, metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) and heads of departments on the water situation, Mr Bagbin said the water supply system at Inchaban in the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis appeared to have reached its abstraction limit and that River Pra would serve as another source to complement the Inchaban system.
Under the long-term investment plan for 2025, he said the major works to be undertaken were the Sekondi/Takoradi Water Supply System and the Essiama Enclave.
“It is worthy to recall that the President of Ghana, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, in his recent visit to China, secured support from the Government of China for the Sekondi/Takoradi Water Supply System”, he said.
“In all these efforts, government expects from the staff of the Ghana Water Company Limited absolute dedication in delivering services to the people”, he added.
Touching on Rural and Small Towns Water Supply, he said the percentage of people in the region with access to potable water was 63 per cent in the urban areas and 44.2 per cent in the rural areas.
However, he said the recently completed 20 Small Towns Project funded by the European Union (EU) and facilitated through the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA), as well as other currently ongoing projects were expected to increase the water coverage to 56.7 per cent in the rural areas at the end of 2010.
Mr Bagbin said despite those improvements in water coverage, a disturbing issue that had engaged the attention of the ministry had to do with proper management of the systems in the small towns and rural areas, which unfortunately become non-functional after a few years of operation.
The situation, he said, was not acceptable, and urged the district assemblies to exercise their due oversight control to ensure that the facilities were operational at all times, or with minimal downtime.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
SHS STUDENTS SENSITISED TO OIL AND GAS (PAGE 11, OCT 13, 2010)
THE Kumasi Institute of Technology and Environment (KITE), a non-governmental organisation has organised a sensitisation forum on the country’s emerging oil and gas industry for some selected senior high schools in the Western Region.
The forum which was on the theme: "Ghana’s Emerging Petroleum: What Every Student Needs to Know", was to facilitate improved stakeholder access to relevant information on Ghana’s emerging petroleum industry.
The schools were also given 50 copies each of KITE’s two publications on the oil and gas industry to be kept in their libraries.
The schools were the Takoradi Senior High School, Archbishop Porter Girls Senior High School, Fijai Senior High School, Ghana Senior High Technical School, Takoradi Business/Technical College, Takoradi Technical Institute, Bompeh Senior High/Technical School and Sekondi College.
The rest were Ahantaman Senior High School, Saint John’s College, Diabene Senior High/Technical School, Methodist Senior High/Vocational School, Shama Senior High School, Baidoo Bonsoe Senior High School, Saint Mary’s Boys Senior High School and Holy Child College of Education.
In his presentation, the Executive Director of KITE, Mr Ishmael Edjekumhene said everywhere in the world, particularly in the developing countries where oil was found, there were some challenges.
These challenges, he said, were how to manage the high expectations of the people, and the countries’ resources to make the people happy, as well as how to manage the environmental consequences.
He urged the students to share the information they had received with their colleagues who were not at the forum.
He noted that prospecting for oil was a very risky and expensive venture, since oil exploration, development and production were capital intensive and not labour intensive and as such, not a major direct employer.
Mr Edjekumhene advised the students to be realistic in their expectations and not to change their courses because they wanted direct employment in the oil and gas industry.
He explained that although the oil field was located in the territorial waters of Ghana, the oil industry was global in character and very competitive.
A tutor at the Takoradi Senior High School, Ms Beatrice Klutse advised the students to be careful when choosing their future career.
The forum which was on the theme: "Ghana’s Emerging Petroleum: What Every Student Needs to Know", was to facilitate improved stakeholder access to relevant information on Ghana’s emerging petroleum industry.
The schools were also given 50 copies each of KITE’s two publications on the oil and gas industry to be kept in their libraries.
The schools were the Takoradi Senior High School, Archbishop Porter Girls Senior High School, Fijai Senior High School, Ghana Senior High Technical School, Takoradi Business/Technical College, Takoradi Technical Institute, Bompeh Senior High/Technical School and Sekondi College.
The rest were Ahantaman Senior High School, Saint John’s College, Diabene Senior High/Technical School, Methodist Senior High/Vocational School, Shama Senior High School, Baidoo Bonsoe Senior High School, Saint Mary’s Boys Senior High School and Holy Child College of Education.
In his presentation, the Executive Director of KITE, Mr Ishmael Edjekumhene said everywhere in the world, particularly in the developing countries where oil was found, there were some challenges.
These challenges, he said, were how to manage the high expectations of the people, and the countries’ resources to make the people happy, as well as how to manage the environmental consequences.
He urged the students to share the information they had received with their colleagues who were not at the forum.
He noted that prospecting for oil was a very risky and expensive venture, since oil exploration, development and production were capital intensive and not labour intensive and as such, not a major direct employer.
Mr Edjekumhene advised the students to be realistic in their expectations and not to change their courses because they wanted direct employment in the oil and gas industry.
He explained that although the oil field was located in the territorial waters of Ghana, the oil industry was global in character and very competitive.
A tutor at the Takoradi Senior High School, Ms Beatrice Klutse advised the students to be careful when choosing their future career.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
FIASEMAN BANK DECLARES PROFIT (PAGE 22, OCT 12, 2010)
THE Fiaseman Rural Bank Limited at Bogoso in the Prestea-Huni Valley District in the Western Region recorded a profit of GH¢331,593.28 in 2009, representing 77.32 per cent as against GH¢187,009.67 recorded in 2008.
The bank granted loans and advances of GH¢2,159,142.71 to 2,300 of its customers in the year under review as against GH¢1,726,574.31 given out in 2008.
Forty-eight of the 2,300 loan beneficiaries were women, which emphasised the bank’s inclination towards gender economic empowerment.
The bank’s total investment increased from GH¢1,874,250.70 to GH¢3,413,792.04, representing 82.15 per cent growth, while total shareholders’ funds increased from GH¢780,023 in 2008 to GH¢1,076,819.59, showing a growth of 38.05 per cent.
Total deposit of the bank also grew from GH¢3,458,434.80 in 2008 to GH¢5,193,185.99, which was achieved through aggressive deposit mobilisation drive and quality customer service delivery.
The bank declared a dividend of GH¢75,540.25 to be paid to the shareholders for 2009 as against GH¢44,275.44 paid in 2008.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the bank, Osagyefo Nana Amanfo Edu VI, announced these at the 22nd annual general meeting of shareholders of the bank at Bogoso.
He said the bank, in collaboration with the Community Based Rural Development Project (CBRDP), provided credit and technical assistance in support of small-scale fish farming in some parts of the catchment area of the bank.
He said a total of GH¢16,386.26 had already been disbursed to beneficiaries under the scheme.
Osagyefo Edu said the bank spent a total of GH¢3,900 on its corporate social responsibilities during the year under consideration as against GH¢2,100 spent in 2008, representing an increase of about 86 per cent.
He said under the bank’s new policy to increase community support, it had set aside an amount of GH¢15,108.05 this year, which formed five per cent of the year 2009 profit after taxation to honour and fulfil its social responsibility obligation.
The bank granted loans and advances of GH¢2,159,142.71 to 2,300 of its customers in the year under review as against GH¢1,726,574.31 given out in 2008.
Forty-eight of the 2,300 loan beneficiaries were women, which emphasised the bank’s inclination towards gender economic empowerment.
The bank’s total investment increased from GH¢1,874,250.70 to GH¢3,413,792.04, representing 82.15 per cent growth, while total shareholders’ funds increased from GH¢780,023 in 2008 to GH¢1,076,819.59, showing a growth of 38.05 per cent.
Total deposit of the bank also grew from GH¢3,458,434.80 in 2008 to GH¢5,193,185.99, which was achieved through aggressive deposit mobilisation drive and quality customer service delivery.
The bank declared a dividend of GH¢75,540.25 to be paid to the shareholders for 2009 as against GH¢44,275.44 paid in 2008.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the bank, Osagyefo Nana Amanfo Edu VI, announced these at the 22nd annual general meeting of shareholders of the bank at Bogoso.
He said the bank, in collaboration with the Community Based Rural Development Project (CBRDP), provided credit and technical assistance in support of small-scale fish farming in some parts of the catchment area of the bank.
He said a total of GH¢16,386.26 had already been disbursed to beneficiaries under the scheme.
Osagyefo Edu said the bank spent a total of GH¢3,900 on its corporate social responsibilities during the year under consideration as against GH¢2,100 spent in 2008, representing an increase of about 86 per cent.
He said under the bank’s new policy to increase community support, it had set aside an amount of GH¢15,108.05 this year, which formed five per cent of the year 2009 profit after taxation to honour and fulfil its social responsibility obligation.
Monday, October 11, 2010
PARTNERSHIP HAS POTENTIAL TO PROTECT TIMBER RESOURCES (PAGE 67, OCT 11, 2010)
THE President of the Ghana Institute of Foresters (GIF), Dr K. Asamoah Adam, has observed that the partnership agreement between Ghana and European Union to stop illegal logging, has the potential to be one of the effective tools to protect the timber resources of the country.
The Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) is a legally binding agreement between the European Union and partner countries to stop illegal logging.
Dr Adam, has therefore, stressed the need for timber operators to fully understand the agreement to enable them to contribute to its successful implementation.
He pointed out that Article 16 of the VPA seeks the active involvement of all stakeholders in the timber industry in the implementation of the agreement.
Dr Adam made the observation at a day’s workshop on the timber industry/VPA awareness creation and implementation for timber operators in Takoradi.
The workshop was organised by the Ghana Timber Association (GTA) and the Ghana Timber Millers’ Organisation (GTMO) to educate their members on the Voluntary Partnership Agreement which is scheduled for implementation in the country, in December this year.
The VPA is a bilateral agreement between the European Union (EU) and wood exporting countries, aimed at improving forest governance and ensuring that the wood importer to the EU market has complied with the legal requirements of the partner country.
Although there is no obligation for any country to enter into a VPA, once agreed upon, they are legally binding on both parties, committing them to trading in wood products that can be verified as legal.
Dr Adam stated that unsustainable logging, including execessive cutting, illegal logging, inefficient logging and milling had led to a high rate of forest destruction, culminating in environmental degradation and rural poverty.
He said there had been global actions for the promotion of sustainable forest management.
That, he said, included the ecosystem approach that focused on resource as a whole and not components of the ecosystem.
Dr Adam, who is also a board member of the Forestry Commission said it was one of the objectives of the VPA to ensure that all timber from partner countries had been verified as fully legally compliant.
He added that it would also ensure good governance and transparency as well as policy and legal reforms to better capture revenue and rents.
He said there would be public and private procurement policies that recognised efforts to ensure supply of legally harvested forest products.
Dr Adam added that there would be promotion of Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT)-licensed products on the European timber market.
He also indicated that there would be a prolonged life span of forest resources as a result of the reduction in illegal logging.
The acting Director of the Timber Validation Department of the Forestry Commission, Mr Chris Beeko, further explained that the VPA was a new system of measuring and reporting compliance to the legal standard or the existing law.
He said it was an improved system of collecting, collating and reconciling transaction data along the entire process chain, and also a history of change in ownership and custody of export consignments.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Timber Millers’ Organisation, Mr E.E.Acquah-Moses, urged the timber operators to regard the VPA as an effort towards sustainable forest management in the country.
The Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) is a legally binding agreement between the European Union and partner countries to stop illegal logging.
Dr Adam, has therefore, stressed the need for timber operators to fully understand the agreement to enable them to contribute to its successful implementation.
He pointed out that Article 16 of the VPA seeks the active involvement of all stakeholders in the timber industry in the implementation of the agreement.
Dr Adam made the observation at a day’s workshop on the timber industry/VPA awareness creation and implementation for timber operators in Takoradi.
The workshop was organised by the Ghana Timber Association (GTA) and the Ghana Timber Millers’ Organisation (GTMO) to educate their members on the Voluntary Partnership Agreement which is scheduled for implementation in the country, in December this year.
The VPA is a bilateral agreement between the European Union (EU) and wood exporting countries, aimed at improving forest governance and ensuring that the wood importer to the EU market has complied with the legal requirements of the partner country.
Although there is no obligation for any country to enter into a VPA, once agreed upon, they are legally binding on both parties, committing them to trading in wood products that can be verified as legal.
Dr Adam stated that unsustainable logging, including execessive cutting, illegal logging, inefficient logging and milling had led to a high rate of forest destruction, culminating in environmental degradation and rural poverty.
He said there had been global actions for the promotion of sustainable forest management.
That, he said, included the ecosystem approach that focused on resource as a whole and not components of the ecosystem.
Dr Adam, who is also a board member of the Forestry Commission said it was one of the objectives of the VPA to ensure that all timber from partner countries had been verified as fully legally compliant.
He added that it would also ensure good governance and transparency as well as policy and legal reforms to better capture revenue and rents.
He said there would be public and private procurement policies that recognised efforts to ensure supply of legally harvested forest products.
Dr Adam added that there would be promotion of Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT)-licensed products on the European timber market.
He also indicated that there would be a prolonged life span of forest resources as a result of the reduction in illegal logging.
The acting Director of the Timber Validation Department of the Forestry Commission, Mr Chris Beeko, further explained that the VPA was a new system of measuring and reporting compliance to the legal standard or the existing law.
He said it was an improved system of collecting, collating and reconciling transaction data along the entire process chain, and also a history of change in ownership and custody of export consignments.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Timber Millers’ Organisation, Mr E.E.Acquah-Moses, urged the timber operators to regard the VPA as an effort towards sustainable forest management in the country.
Friday, October 8, 2010
HELP REPAIR TARKWA ROADS...MCE appeals to mining companies (PAGE 22, OCT 8, 2010)
THE Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mrs Christina Kobina, has appealled to mining companies operating in the municipality to intervene in the rehabilitation of the Tarkwa town roads since the situation is assuming embarrassing proportions.
“Desperate situations call for desperate measures and l would like to appeal for assistance to improve Tarkwa town roads,” she emphasised.
Mrs Kobina made the appeal at the zone three safety and first aid competition which was organised under the auspices of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, the inspectorate division of the Minerals Commission and Gold Fields Ghana (Tarkwa Mine) Limited at Tarkwa.
Mining companies which participated in the competition are Gold Fields Ghana (Tarkwa Mine), Ghana Manganese Company (GMC), Golden Star (Bogoso/Prestea Mine) Limited and AngloGold Ashanti (Iduapriem Mine) Limited.
Mrs Kobina stated that the situation was assuming embarrassing proportions and that something urgent needed to be done whilst waiting on the central government to assist.
She said the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Assembly had taken the issue up with the Ghana Highway Authority, the Department of Urban Roads in Accra, the Ministry of Roads and Highways, stressing that something urgent had been conceived.
“However, until that comes, we in the town and the municipality are those suffering. I stay here, most of you and your staff stay here and the situation is simply unbearable,” she stressed.
Mrs Kobina acknowledged that Gold Fields Ghana and other companies pay their taxes to the government, in addition to their social responsibility commitments to their communities, adding “All that notwithstanding, Tarkwa town roads need the intervention of the mining companies in and around Tarkwa”.
She commended Gold Fields Ghana and the other mining companies for the good work they have done in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality, stressing
The General Manager of Gold Fields Ghana (Tarkwa Mine) Limited, Mr Alfred Baku, explained that the competition was an annual event by the various mining companies to demonstrate how the companies were prepared in case of any accident at the mines.
He said Gold Fields Ghana was committed to the theme of the competition, which was: “If it must be mined, it must be mined safely,” and would do everything possible to achieve the objective.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr Joyce Aryee in an address read on her behalf, expressed concern about the use of cyanides by illegal gold miners in processing gold in the various communities.
She said that needed urgent attention, and therefore, called on the National Security to take the necessary steps to nip the “worrying situation in the bud”.
AngloGold Ashanti (Iduapriem Mine) came first with 81.5 points at the end of the competition, followed by Gold Fields Ghana with 72 points, while Ghana Manganese Company placed third with 71 points, with Golden Star (Bogoso/Prestea Mine) placing fourth with 56.5 points.
AngloGold Ashanti (Iduapriem Mine), therefore, qualified to represent zone three in the national competition.
“Desperate situations call for desperate measures and l would like to appeal for assistance to improve Tarkwa town roads,” she emphasised.
Mrs Kobina made the appeal at the zone three safety and first aid competition which was organised under the auspices of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, the inspectorate division of the Minerals Commission and Gold Fields Ghana (Tarkwa Mine) Limited at Tarkwa.
Mining companies which participated in the competition are Gold Fields Ghana (Tarkwa Mine), Ghana Manganese Company (GMC), Golden Star (Bogoso/Prestea Mine) Limited and AngloGold Ashanti (Iduapriem Mine) Limited.
Mrs Kobina stated that the situation was assuming embarrassing proportions and that something urgent needed to be done whilst waiting on the central government to assist.
She said the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Assembly had taken the issue up with the Ghana Highway Authority, the Department of Urban Roads in Accra, the Ministry of Roads and Highways, stressing that something urgent had been conceived.
“However, until that comes, we in the town and the municipality are those suffering. I stay here, most of you and your staff stay here and the situation is simply unbearable,” she stressed.
Mrs Kobina acknowledged that Gold Fields Ghana and other companies pay their taxes to the government, in addition to their social responsibility commitments to their communities, adding “All that notwithstanding, Tarkwa town roads need the intervention of the mining companies in and around Tarkwa”.
She commended Gold Fields Ghana and the other mining companies for the good work they have done in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality, stressing
The General Manager of Gold Fields Ghana (Tarkwa Mine) Limited, Mr Alfred Baku, explained that the competition was an annual event by the various mining companies to demonstrate how the companies were prepared in case of any accident at the mines.
He said Gold Fields Ghana was committed to the theme of the competition, which was: “If it must be mined, it must be mined safely,” and would do everything possible to achieve the objective.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr Joyce Aryee in an address read on her behalf, expressed concern about the use of cyanides by illegal gold miners in processing gold in the various communities.
She said that needed urgent attention, and therefore, called on the National Security to take the necessary steps to nip the “worrying situation in the bud”.
AngloGold Ashanti (Iduapriem Mine) came first with 81.5 points at the end of the competition, followed by Gold Fields Ghana with 72 points, while Ghana Manganese Company placed third with 71 points, with Golden Star (Bogoso/Prestea Mine) placing fourth with 56.5 points.
AngloGold Ashanti (Iduapriem Mine), therefore, qualified to represent zone three in the national competition.
GOLD INING, MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO NATIONAL DEVELOPENT (PAGE 22, OCT 8, 2010)
GOLD mining is a major contributor to the development of the country, and has provided jobs for majority of the youth within the communities of the mining companies, most of which are found in the Western Region.
However, recent events in the mining sector pose a threat to life and the environment.
Some of the high risk factors which confront the mining companies include handling, usage and disposal of hazardous chemicals used in processing gold and explosives emanating from blast in both open and underground mines.
Other hazards include fall-offs and collapse of mines which kill or trap miners underneath, as well as accidents emanating from the use of heavy machinery and equipment.
A looming threat to the gold mining industry is the illegal gold mining activities which have been allowed to continue.
The delay in arresting this menace has emboldened the illegal miners who cause havoc to the environment by polluting water bodies with mercury and leaving large craters filled with water which is an unsuspecting farmers’ nightmare.
It is against this backdrop that the mining companies organise first aid and safety competitions every year to create awareness on safety issues and sound environmental management in the mining communities.
This year’s zone one first aid and safety competition was organised under the auspices of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, the inspectorate division of the Minerals Commission and the Golden Star (Wassa Mine) Limited at Akyempim in the Mpohor Wassa East District in the Western Region.
Gold mining companies which participated in the competition were Golden Star (Wassa Mine), Gold Fields Ghana (Damang Mine) and AngloGold Ashanti (Obuasi Mine).
The event was on the theme: “If it must be mined, it must be mined safely”.
Speaking at the ceremony, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Mpohor Wassa East, Mr Anthony Bassaw, said it was imperative for the mining companies to adhere to modern safety practices at all times within the mining sector to achieve an incident free mining environment.
He said safety and first aid issues must be seen as management issues that should permeate the rank and file of all staff, contractors and people living within the mining zones.
“These contractors, sub-contractors and other people engaged by mining companies to complement their activities through the provision of services must be adequately educated to understand and adhere to safety and first aid rules and policies of the mining companies,” he said.
Mr Bassaw stated that the shortfall of those contractors and sub-contractors remained the shortfalls of the mother company, adding that strict supervision of contractors was required to achieve a safe mining environment for all.
He said the operations of illegal small-scale miners posed a threat to life and was a major setback to sustainable environmental management, adding “We know “galamsey” is an illegal activity and that its operations are not regulated by any person or institution”.
“A time has come for us as a nation to evaluate our thoughts and actions and take a firm decision on the issue of “galamsey” once and for all,” Mr Bassaw stressed.
He called for concerted effort to stop it and save the environment and water bodies.
Mr Bassaw urged government agencies responsible for regulating the mining sector to design regulations to control the safety and general management of the environment in a sustainable manner.
In an address read on her behalf, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr Joyce R. Aryee, said last year, the mining industry contributed about GH¢319 million to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) collection, representing 18 per cent of service’s total collection.
She said minerals’ contribution to gross export earnings was about 48 per cent, a significant contribution to the country’s balance of payments position.
Dr Aryee said the mining sub-sector grew at a remarkable rate of eight per cent, which compared favourably with the 5.5 per cent recorded in 2008.
“By this performance, the mining sector came second, behind the electricity and water sub-sector, which recorded nine per cent growth in the industrial sector in 2009,” she added.
Dr Aryee said the producing member companies returned about 76 per cent of their total mineral revenue to the country through the Bank of Ghana and the commercial banks in 2009.
She said that compared favourably with the 63 per cent they returned in 2008 and the aggregate average of 20 per cent they were required to return to the country.
Dr Aryee explained that the significantly high proportion of mineral revenue returned to the country underscored the extent to which the mining industry positively affected the local economy.
According to her, the producing member companies also paid to the state and voluntarily contributed to the host communities and the general public a total amount of US$166 million.
She said the responsiveness of mining companies to their social responsibilities motivated them to contribute both in cash and in kind to the development of their host communities.
“Indeed, mining companies’ interest in their host communities have been expanded to include social investment projects where they collaborate with the communities to fund projects that yield both social and economic returns to the communities,” the CEO added.
However, recent events in the mining sector pose a threat to life and the environment.
Some of the high risk factors which confront the mining companies include handling, usage and disposal of hazardous chemicals used in processing gold and explosives emanating from blast in both open and underground mines.
Other hazards include fall-offs and collapse of mines which kill or trap miners underneath, as well as accidents emanating from the use of heavy machinery and equipment.
A looming threat to the gold mining industry is the illegal gold mining activities which have been allowed to continue.
The delay in arresting this menace has emboldened the illegal miners who cause havoc to the environment by polluting water bodies with mercury and leaving large craters filled with water which is an unsuspecting farmers’ nightmare.
It is against this backdrop that the mining companies organise first aid and safety competitions every year to create awareness on safety issues and sound environmental management in the mining communities.
This year’s zone one first aid and safety competition was organised under the auspices of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, the inspectorate division of the Minerals Commission and the Golden Star (Wassa Mine) Limited at Akyempim in the Mpohor Wassa East District in the Western Region.
Gold mining companies which participated in the competition were Golden Star (Wassa Mine), Gold Fields Ghana (Damang Mine) and AngloGold Ashanti (Obuasi Mine).
The event was on the theme: “If it must be mined, it must be mined safely”.
Speaking at the ceremony, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Mpohor Wassa East, Mr Anthony Bassaw, said it was imperative for the mining companies to adhere to modern safety practices at all times within the mining sector to achieve an incident free mining environment.
He said safety and first aid issues must be seen as management issues that should permeate the rank and file of all staff, contractors and people living within the mining zones.
“These contractors, sub-contractors and other people engaged by mining companies to complement their activities through the provision of services must be adequately educated to understand and adhere to safety and first aid rules and policies of the mining companies,” he said.
Mr Bassaw stated that the shortfall of those contractors and sub-contractors remained the shortfalls of the mother company, adding that strict supervision of contractors was required to achieve a safe mining environment for all.
He said the operations of illegal small-scale miners posed a threat to life and was a major setback to sustainable environmental management, adding “We know “galamsey” is an illegal activity and that its operations are not regulated by any person or institution”.
“A time has come for us as a nation to evaluate our thoughts and actions and take a firm decision on the issue of “galamsey” once and for all,” Mr Bassaw stressed.
He called for concerted effort to stop it and save the environment and water bodies.
Mr Bassaw urged government agencies responsible for regulating the mining sector to design regulations to control the safety and general management of the environment in a sustainable manner.
In an address read on her behalf, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr Joyce R. Aryee, said last year, the mining industry contributed about GH¢319 million to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) collection, representing 18 per cent of service’s total collection.
She said minerals’ contribution to gross export earnings was about 48 per cent, a significant contribution to the country’s balance of payments position.
Dr Aryee said the mining sub-sector grew at a remarkable rate of eight per cent, which compared favourably with the 5.5 per cent recorded in 2008.
“By this performance, the mining sector came second, behind the electricity and water sub-sector, which recorded nine per cent growth in the industrial sector in 2009,” she added.
Dr Aryee said the producing member companies returned about 76 per cent of their total mineral revenue to the country through the Bank of Ghana and the commercial banks in 2009.
She said that compared favourably with the 63 per cent they returned in 2008 and the aggregate average of 20 per cent they were required to return to the country.
Dr Aryee explained that the significantly high proportion of mineral revenue returned to the country underscored the extent to which the mining industry positively affected the local economy.
According to her, the producing member companies also paid to the state and voluntarily contributed to the host communities and the general public a total amount of US$166 million.
She said the responsiveness of mining companies to their social responsibilities motivated them to contribute both in cash and in kind to the development of their host communities.
“Indeed, mining companies’ interest in their host communities have been expanded to include social investment projects where they collaborate with the communities to fund projects that yield both social and economic returns to the communities,” the CEO added.
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