THE Tarkwa/Nsuaem Municipal Assembly is undertaking many development projects in the municipality to raise the quality of life of the people.
The projects which are at various stages of completion, include the extension of water to the new Ghana Education Service (GES) office at Tarkwa at an estimated cost of GH¢27,375 and a three-unit classroom block at Benso.
Others are a school feeding programme block at Tarkwa-Banso, a three-unit classroom block for the Islamic school at Tarkwa and the rehabilitation of 45 stores at Tarkwa.
The rest are the construction of two culverts at Brenuakyim and Kwarekwano, the construction of police quarters at Tarkwa, drilling of 11 boreholes in the municipality, rehabilitation of nine-unit classroom block for the Presbyterian Primary School at Tarkwa and the construction of three-unit classroom block for Amantin and Esuoso.
The remaining projects include the construction of market sheds at Simpa and Dompim, the rehabilitation of street lights from Ahwitieso through Tarkwa to Liebher Company Junction, a distance of 25 kilometres at a cost of GH4881,941.50 and the purchase of refuse truck and installation of a generator set.
The Tarkwa/Nsuaem Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mrs Christina Kobinah, announced these at the municipal assembly meeting at Tarkwa.
She also informed the assembly that the indenture and site plans in respect of a land acquired at Ahwitieso for the assembly’s new office complex had been signed.
Mrs Kobiah said the procurement process had been re-initiated for the office complex building as recommended by the regional tender committee.
The Presiding Member of the assembly, Mr Robert Mensah, said the assembly had a wider and major role to play in the dissemination of government policies to the general assembly and the public.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
NGO INITIATES PROGRAMME ON OIL AND GAS OWNERHIP (PAGE 22, AUGUST 21, 2010)
THE Centre for Social and Community Advancement (CESCA), a Ghanaian non-profit making development organisation has initiated a programme to help dispel the misconceptions of exclusive ownership of the oil and gas find by the people in the Jomoro District.
The Jubilee Field is located in the sea area of Jomoro in the Nzema area.
The project, being implemented by CESCA and the Kumasi Institute of Technology and Environment (KITE), was organised for stakeholders at Half Assini and Ezinlibo all in the Jomoro District.
It is dubbed: “Facilitating improved stakeholder access to information on Ghana’s emerging petroleum industry”.
The project is also to help the people in the area to understand the manpower needs of the oil industry and which of the needs the people may be qualified for.
Speaking at one of such programmes at Half Assini, the Executive Chairman of CESCA, Mr Ketiboa K. Blay, explained that in developing messages for the project, they were guided by the deep and personal knowledge of the issues on the ground which largely had arisen from initial poor management of disclosure of information from 2007 to 2009.
He said they were also informed by the misconceptions of the people in the Nzema area of the oil and gas industry, the resultant expectations, which if not managed well with information and education, could be a source of negative consequences on the industry.
Mr Blay said oil and gas being minerals the 1992 Constitution gave ownership (including the jubilee oil and gas) to the state in trust of the people of Ghana.
He stated that oil and gas production impacted on some fish resource livelihood, but there were numerous alternative livelihoods identifiable which the people of the Nzema area could take advantage of.
“The oil and gas industry is highly technical. The Nzema area needs to rapidly build absorptive capacity to be effectively employable where there is an opening,” he said.
Mr Blay urged the Nzema people to think about how they could create transparent and accountable mechanisms for administering any benefits that might accrue to them for socio-economic development of the districts.
He conceded that there could be pollution, but the state agencies were being given the capacity to monitor, prevent and abate pollution, adding “Citizens’ vigilance would complement and make state agencies more effective in that endeavour”.
The Jomoro District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Nyianyi Kablan, urged the people to consider how much the country would earn from the oil and gas industry before thinking about royalties that would accrue to the people in the stakeholder communities.
“We should always be guided by the laws of the country pertaining to the oil and gas production,” he said.
The DCE said the people should be well educated on the laws for them to appreciate issues pertaining to the payment of royalties from the oil find.
The Jubilee Field is located in the sea area of Jomoro in the Nzema area.
The project, being implemented by CESCA and the Kumasi Institute of Technology and Environment (KITE), was organised for stakeholders at Half Assini and Ezinlibo all in the Jomoro District.
It is dubbed: “Facilitating improved stakeholder access to information on Ghana’s emerging petroleum industry”.
The project is also to help the people in the area to understand the manpower needs of the oil industry and which of the needs the people may be qualified for.
Speaking at one of such programmes at Half Assini, the Executive Chairman of CESCA, Mr Ketiboa K. Blay, explained that in developing messages for the project, they were guided by the deep and personal knowledge of the issues on the ground which largely had arisen from initial poor management of disclosure of information from 2007 to 2009.
He said they were also informed by the misconceptions of the people in the Nzema area of the oil and gas industry, the resultant expectations, which if not managed well with information and education, could be a source of negative consequences on the industry.
Mr Blay said oil and gas being minerals the 1992 Constitution gave ownership (including the jubilee oil and gas) to the state in trust of the people of Ghana.
He stated that oil and gas production impacted on some fish resource livelihood, but there were numerous alternative livelihoods identifiable which the people of the Nzema area could take advantage of.
“The oil and gas industry is highly technical. The Nzema area needs to rapidly build absorptive capacity to be effectively employable where there is an opening,” he said.
Mr Blay urged the Nzema people to think about how they could create transparent and accountable mechanisms for administering any benefits that might accrue to them for socio-economic development of the districts.
He conceded that there could be pollution, but the state agencies were being given the capacity to monitor, prevent and abate pollution, adding “Citizens’ vigilance would complement and make state agencies more effective in that endeavour”.
The Jomoro District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Nyianyi Kablan, urged the people to consider how much the country would earn from the oil and gas industry before thinking about royalties that would accrue to the people in the stakeholder communities.
“We should always be guided by the laws of the country pertaining to the oil and gas production,” he said.
The DCE said the people should be well educated on the laws for them to appreciate issues pertaining to the payment of royalties from the oil find.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
GOVT TO SET UP POLICE MARINE UNIT IN WR (PAGE 42, AUGUST 19, 2010)
THE government is to set up a police marine unit in the Western Region to ensure maximum security of the oil and gas fields at the West Cape Three Points.
Proposals have also been made for the training of security personnel and the provision of the necessary logistics, as well as accommodation for security operatives to perform their duties effectively and to protect the oil fields and maintain law and order in the region.
The Minister of the Interior, Mr Martin A.B.K. Amidu, announced this at separate meetings with security operatives at Elubo, Half Assini and Jaway Wharf in the Jomoro District in the Western Region as part of his two-day working visit to the region.
He said the government set up a ministerial subcommittee in charge of oil and gas to work out a security plan for the oil and gas sector and that all those measures were embodied in the security plan which had already been submitted to the government.
Mr Amidu stated that with the oil find, there would be an influx of people and goods into the region, so it was necessary to ensure that the security operatives were well equipped to undertake their duties effectively.
He reminded the security personnel that the District Security Committee (DISEC), chaired by the district chief executive, with all heads of security as members, was the head of security in the district.
Mr Amidu called for co-operation among members of the committee to enable them to take security matters seriously, stressing, “You are here for one purpose, the security of the district”.
He urged them to assume the control and command of the security in the district and hold regular security meetings to address matters of security concern.
Mr Amidu said the government had taken note of the problems of the security personnel and that all were embodied in the Oil and Gas Security Plan.
He, therefore, urged them to be patient enough and work with dedication.
The interior minister stressed that it was not the policy of his ministry for security operatives to intimidate civilians and implored the civilian population to co-operate with the security personnel to maintain law and order.
The Sector Commander of the Ghana Immigration Service, Mr F.Y. Sarpong called for review of the Immigration Act 2000 to legalise the new functions that the service was expected to play, which included checking of smuggling activities, apprehending drug and human traffickers and checking money laundering.
He said that would provide a very comprehensive legal framework, which would guide and regulate the conduct of operations of the service.
Mr Sarpong stated that due to lack of buffer zones at the Elubo border, miscreants who were staying along the River Tano took advantage of the situation to establish cocoa purchasing and fertiliser shops just about 10 metres away from the river, which demarcates Ghana and Cote d’lvoire.
He said a study conducted by the Border Patrol Unit of the Ghana Immigration Service revealed that most of the aforementioned products always cut across the Tano River at ungodly hours.
According to Mr Sarpong, personnel of the unit intercepted some of the products but could not arrest those that were already on the river en-route to Cote d’lvoire.
He said it would be prudent if the unit was provided with a speed boat and officers trained to man the boat and swim to help arrest the culprits and enemies of the state.
Proposals have also been made for the training of security personnel and the provision of the necessary logistics, as well as accommodation for security operatives to perform their duties effectively and to protect the oil fields and maintain law and order in the region.
The Minister of the Interior, Mr Martin A.B.K. Amidu, announced this at separate meetings with security operatives at Elubo, Half Assini and Jaway Wharf in the Jomoro District in the Western Region as part of his two-day working visit to the region.
He said the government set up a ministerial subcommittee in charge of oil and gas to work out a security plan for the oil and gas sector and that all those measures were embodied in the security plan which had already been submitted to the government.
Mr Amidu stated that with the oil find, there would be an influx of people and goods into the region, so it was necessary to ensure that the security operatives were well equipped to undertake their duties effectively.
He reminded the security personnel that the District Security Committee (DISEC), chaired by the district chief executive, with all heads of security as members, was the head of security in the district.
Mr Amidu called for co-operation among members of the committee to enable them to take security matters seriously, stressing, “You are here for one purpose, the security of the district”.
He urged them to assume the control and command of the security in the district and hold regular security meetings to address matters of security concern.
Mr Amidu said the government had taken note of the problems of the security personnel and that all were embodied in the Oil and Gas Security Plan.
He, therefore, urged them to be patient enough and work with dedication.
The interior minister stressed that it was not the policy of his ministry for security operatives to intimidate civilians and implored the civilian population to co-operate with the security personnel to maintain law and order.
The Sector Commander of the Ghana Immigration Service, Mr F.Y. Sarpong called for review of the Immigration Act 2000 to legalise the new functions that the service was expected to play, which included checking of smuggling activities, apprehending drug and human traffickers and checking money laundering.
He said that would provide a very comprehensive legal framework, which would guide and regulate the conduct of operations of the service.
Mr Sarpong stated that due to lack of buffer zones at the Elubo border, miscreants who were staying along the River Tano took advantage of the situation to establish cocoa purchasing and fertiliser shops just about 10 metres away from the river, which demarcates Ghana and Cote d’lvoire.
He said a study conducted by the Border Patrol Unit of the Ghana Immigration Service revealed that most of the aforementioned products always cut across the Tano River at ungodly hours.
According to Mr Sarpong, personnel of the unit intercepted some of the products but could not arrest those that were already on the river en-route to Cote d’lvoire.
He said it would be prudent if the unit was provided with a speed boat and officers trained to man the boat and swim to help arrest the culprits and enemies of the state.
GAS PROCESSING PLANT FOR DOMUNLI LAGOON (PAGE 42, AUGUST 19, 2010)
PLANS are far advanced for the construction of a gas processing plant near the Domunli Lagoon in the Jomoro District in the Western Region.
The Ghana National Petroleum Company has engaged surveyors who are now on the field demarcating the boundaries of a proposed site for the project.
The Jomoro District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Victor Nyianyi Kablan, announced this at the second ordinary meeting of the fourth session of the fifth assembly at Half Assini.
He said there was no doubt that the oil find would mark the turning point of the fortunes of the district.
Mr Kablan further announced that the Ministry of Health had approved the construction of a polyclinic at Elubo in the Jomoro District.
He said the assembly had identified a 30-acre land for the construction of the project, adding that preliminary works for the proper acquisition of the land had begun.
The DCE said in support of education delivery and as part of the government’s poverty reduction strategy, a total of 76,204 exercise books were allocated to the district.
He said the assembly, in collaboration with the district education directorate, had distributed the books to pupils in the various schools in the district.
Mr Kablan added that a total of 2,239 school uniforms of various sizes had been supplied to the district for distribution to the schoolchildren.
He said the assembly had also supplied 300 mono desks to some schools and 200 more were yet to be handed over by the contractor to the assembly for distribution to the schools.
Mr Kablan said the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) was financing a six-unit classroom block for the Half Assini Senior High School to absorb the increase in enrolment occasioned by the reduction in the duration of the Senior High School (SHS) from four to three years.
He said the district assembly would provide a similar block for the Annor Adjaye SHS.
The Presiding Member of the Jomoro District Assembly, Mr Francis Ehwie Armah, urged candidates for the forthcoming district assembly elections to conduct their campaigns with utmost decency to avoid any breach of the peace which the district had been enjoying over the years.
The Ghana National Petroleum Company has engaged surveyors who are now on the field demarcating the boundaries of a proposed site for the project.
The Jomoro District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Victor Nyianyi Kablan, announced this at the second ordinary meeting of the fourth session of the fifth assembly at Half Assini.
He said there was no doubt that the oil find would mark the turning point of the fortunes of the district.
Mr Kablan further announced that the Ministry of Health had approved the construction of a polyclinic at Elubo in the Jomoro District.
He said the assembly had identified a 30-acre land for the construction of the project, adding that preliminary works for the proper acquisition of the land had begun.
The DCE said in support of education delivery and as part of the government’s poverty reduction strategy, a total of 76,204 exercise books were allocated to the district.
He said the assembly, in collaboration with the district education directorate, had distributed the books to pupils in the various schools in the district.
Mr Kablan added that a total of 2,239 school uniforms of various sizes had been supplied to the district for distribution to the schoolchildren.
He said the assembly had also supplied 300 mono desks to some schools and 200 more were yet to be handed over by the contractor to the assembly for distribution to the schools.
Mr Kablan said the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) was financing a six-unit classroom block for the Half Assini Senior High School to absorb the increase in enrolment occasioned by the reduction in the duration of the Senior High School (SHS) from four to three years.
He said the district assembly would provide a similar block for the Annor Adjaye SHS.
The Presiding Member of the Jomoro District Assembly, Mr Francis Ehwie Armah, urged candidates for the forthcoming district assembly elections to conduct their campaigns with utmost decency to avoid any breach of the peace which the district had been enjoying over the years.
UNIVERSITY INSTITUTES INTERNATIONAL MINING CONFERENCE (PAGE 42, AUGUST 19, 2010)
THE University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in the Western Region has instituted a Biennial International Mining and Mineral Conference.
The conference would serve as a platform for academics and professionals in the mining, petroleum and allied industries to share their views and experiences on how to address challenges facing the industries.
The first of the biennial conferences has ended at the university at Tarkwa during which participants from Ghana, South Africa, Oman Republic, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and the United States of America presented 86 papers.
Topics treated at the conference included innovation in mining technology and equipment selection, advances in mineral extraction, geomatic and geological developments, salt and petroleum production, environmental issues and artisanal small-scale mining, sustainable development and corporate social responsibility, mechanical and electrical applications and general aspects of mining.
The three-day conference, attended by 171 participants was on the theme: “Innovations in mining and mineral processing: Expanding the frontiers of mining technology”.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology in Akure, Nigeria, Professor Adebisi M. Balogun, emphasised that the laws governing the operations of oil prospecting companies should be well articulated without loopholes.
He said sharing of oil wealth among stakeholders was a major problem that resulted in lopsidedness in the distribution of oil wealth in Nigeria.
Professor Balogun stated that the system in which the government alone took the decision on utilising the windfall in any manner it deemed appropriate without recourse to other stakeholders was inappropriate and needed to be revised.
Speaking on the topic: “Harnessing petroleum resources to develop the agricultural sector: The Nigerian experience,” he explained that agriculture was still a dominant sector of the Nigerian economy and that from the early 1950s to the early 1970s, the sector was a source of employment to about 80 per cent of the labour force.
Professor Balogun said starting from the early 1970s when Nigeria began to export crude oil, the importance of agriculture began to wane.
He said attention virtually shifted to the oil sector which increasingly accounted for the bulk of foreign exchange earnings.
“As a result of inflow of ‘petro-dollars’, Nigeria increasingly relied on importation of food and agricultural raw materials instead of investing in and strengthening the agricultural sector,” he added.
“Despite the rich endowment of extensive arable land, a large body of surface and underground water, rich soil nutrient profile, a large number of institutions offering courses in agriculture, an intimidating pool of well-trained experts in all specialities of agriculture and a large population of about 150 million, Nigeria is still miles away from being food sufficient,” Professor Balogun lamented.
Professor Balogun said the country expended over US$3 billion annually in the importation of some food staples to supplement local supply.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr Joyce R. Aryee, said the mining companies must constantly evolve and adapt to the changing needs and expectations of the society or risk losing their social licence to operate.
She said the companies were expected to be responsible stewards of community resources.
Dr Aryee stated that corporate social responsibility was not an option but a necessity that enabled the companies to plough back some of their earnings to help improve the living conditions of the people.
She mentioned some of the key targets of corporate social responsibilities as economic empowerment, infrastructural development, environment, education and training, and health and safety.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Mines and Technology, Professor Daniel Mireku-Gyimah, said the university was motivated to achieve its vision since the country was endowed with abundant mineral resources which could be exploited for national development.
He said so far, the country had been exploiting mainly gold, diamond, bauxite and manganese and, to some limited extent, salt and gravel.
“But we also have iron, casseterite, asbestos, limestone, marble, andalusite, barite, mica, talc, silica, garnet, feldspar, sandstone, beryl, columbite, lithium, monazite, copper and kaolin and we have oil and gas, all of which are yet to be exploited,” Prof. Mireku-Gyimah said.
The major challenge, he said, was how to exploit those mineral resources in an environmentally friendly manner so that we could prevent or minimise environmental damage and maximise the socio-economic benefits of mining.
The conference would serve as a platform for academics and professionals in the mining, petroleum and allied industries to share their views and experiences on how to address challenges facing the industries.
The first of the biennial conferences has ended at the university at Tarkwa during which participants from Ghana, South Africa, Oman Republic, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and the United States of America presented 86 papers.
Topics treated at the conference included innovation in mining technology and equipment selection, advances in mineral extraction, geomatic and geological developments, salt and petroleum production, environmental issues and artisanal small-scale mining, sustainable development and corporate social responsibility, mechanical and electrical applications and general aspects of mining.
The three-day conference, attended by 171 participants was on the theme: “Innovations in mining and mineral processing: Expanding the frontiers of mining technology”.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology in Akure, Nigeria, Professor Adebisi M. Balogun, emphasised that the laws governing the operations of oil prospecting companies should be well articulated without loopholes.
He said sharing of oil wealth among stakeholders was a major problem that resulted in lopsidedness in the distribution of oil wealth in Nigeria.
Professor Balogun stated that the system in which the government alone took the decision on utilising the windfall in any manner it deemed appropriate without recourse to other stakeholders was inappropriate and needed to be revised.
Speaking on the topic: “Harnessing petroleum resources to develop the agricultural sector: The Nigerian experience,” he explained that agriculture was still a dominant sector of the Nigerian economy and that from the early 1950s to the early 1970s, the sector was a source of employment to about 80 per cent of the labour force.
Professor Balogun said starting from the early 1970s when Nigeria began to export crude oil, the importance of agriculture began to wane.
He said attention virtually shifted to the oil sector which increasingly accounted for the bulk of foreign exchange earnings.
“As a result of inflow of ‘petro-dollars’, Nigeria increasingly relied on importation of food and agricultural raw materials instead of investing in and strengthening the agricultural sector,” he added.
“Despite the rich endowment of extensive arable land, a large body of surface and underground water, rich soil nutrient profile, a large number of institutions offering courses in agriculture, an intimidating pool of well-trained experts in all specialities of agriculture and a large population of about 150 million, Nigeria is still miles away from being food sufficient,” Professor Balogun lamented.
Professor Balogun said the country expended over US$3 billion annually in the importation of some food staples to supplement local supply.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr Joyce R. Aryee, said the mining companies must constantly evolve and adapt to the changing needs and expectations of the society or risk losing their social licence to operate.
She said the companies were expected to be responsible stewards of community resources.
Dr Aryee stated that corporate social responsibility was not an option but a necessity that enabled the companies to plough back some of their earnings to help improve the living conditions of the people.
She mentioned some of the key targets of corporate social responsibilities as economic empowerment, infrastructural development, environment, education and training, and health and safety.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Mines and Technology, Professor Daniel Mireku-Gyimah, said the university was motivated to achieve its vision since the country was endowed with abundant mineral resources which could be exploited for national development.
He said so far, the country had been exploiting mainly gold, diamond, bauxite and manganese and, to some limited extent, salt and gravel.
“But we also have iron, casseterite, asbestos, limestone, marble, andalusite, barite, mica, talc, silica, garnet, feldspar, sandstone, beryl, columbite, lithium, monazite, copper and kaolin and we have oil and gas, all of which are yet to be exploited,” Prof. Mireku-Gyimah said.
The major challenge, he said, was how to exploit those mineral resources in an environmentally friendly manner so that we could prevent or minimise environmental damage and maximise the socio-economic benefits of mining.
RETAIL SHOP AT ELUBO WILL UNDERMINE SECURITY — TRADERS ASSOCIATION (PAGE 35, AUGUST 19, 2010)
CONSTRUCTION of a retail shop/warehouse by Diplo FZ Limited, a Lebanese company within the ‘no man’s land’ or a buffer zone between the Ghana and Cote d’lvoire border, near the Elubo border post in the Jomoro District in the Western Region is likely to undermine security of the area.
The huge building, which has been completed and expected to be inaugurated by the end of this year, is located very close to the security fence of the Elubo border post.
The duty free shop/warehouse has also been constructed on a pedestrian pathway leading to the Elubo border and therefore, it is likely that people would be inconvenienced by the activities of the company, if they were allowed to operate in the security area.
It was also noted that in 1998, a certain company started the construction of a building outside the security fence wall for a similar purpose but national security was alerted and the project stopped.
An inspection of the security zone by media practitioners indicated that the uncompleted old structure which was stopped is still in existence, while the newly completed building is located behind the old structure.
The people of Elubo, particularly the Elubo Traders Association, are therefore, apprehensive of the situation and have called on the authorities to stop the project immediately in the interest of national security and the Elubo town.
Speaking at a news conference on the situation, the Secretary of the Elubo Traders Association, Mr Evans Ampomah Dacosta, stated categorically that the operation of the Lebanese company outside the security fence would not only be inimical to the security of the nation, but would also breed smuggling and subversive activities, and therefore, should not be countenanced.
“We the traders of Elubo condemn in no uncertain terms any Ghanaian who is toying with our livelihood by helping the Lebanese in their quest,” he stressed.
Mr Ampomah Dacosta said the claim that the Lebanese would sell limited items and not retail was a figment of somebody’s imagination.
He explained that Diplo FZ Limited, a subsidiary of Forwin Ghana Limited came to Elubo as a wholesaler of drinks and that just about four years, it started selling everything, including tomato paste, black thread used by women to plait their hair, mobile phones and machetes.
Mr Ampomah Dacosta, therefore, urged the government to think about the security of the country, the interest of Ghanaian traders, as well as the interest of the land owners, the people of Elubo and the Elubo town.
“Without the Ivorians entering Elubo to buy, there will be no Elubo and this can only come about if the Lebanese will be allowed to operate behind the security fence where the Ivorian traders will get everything to buy without entering Elubo,” he emphasised.
The Abusuapanyin of the Royal Asona Stool Clan of Elubo, Nana J.B. Mensah, stated that when the construction of the building was started, an order from national security was given to stop work.
He said following the order, the Lebanese company feigned compliance and stopped the work for sometime.
Nana Mensah said the company came back to the project in full swing and completed it within a period of less than two months.
He said further investigations had revealed that whilst the structure was erected outside the security fence or in the ‘no man’s land’, the original security fence had been redirected.
“This behaviour of the Lebanese and his collaborators is seen by many in our area as an affront to our sovereignty and a threat to our national security,” Nana Mensah said, adding “Remember that our fears are genuine since we are the front-line targets in case of any eventuality”.
The huge building, which has been completed and expected to be inaugurated by the end of this year, is located very close to the security fence of the Elubo border post.
The duty free shop/warehouse has also been constructed on a pedestrian pathway leading to the Elubo border and therefore, it is likely that people would be inconvenienced by the activities of the company, if they were allowed to operate in the security area.
It was also noted that in 1998, a certain company started the construction of a building outside the security fence wall for a similar purpose but national security was alerted and the project stopped.
An inspection of the security zone by media practitioners indicated that the uncompleted old structure which was stopped is still in existence, while the newly completed building is located behind the old structure.
The people of Elubo, particularly the Elubo Traders Association, are therefore, apprehensive of the situation and have called on the authorities to stop the project immediately in the interest of national security and the Elubo town.
Speaking at a news conference on the situation, the Secretary of the Elubo Traders Association, Mr Evans Ampomah Dacosta, stated categorically that the operation of the Lebanese company outside the security fence would not only be inimical to the security of the nation, but would also breed smuggling and subversive activities, and therefore, should not be countenanced.
“We the traders of Elubo condemn in no uncertain terms any Ghanaian who is toying with our livelihood by helping the Lebanese in their quest,” he stressed.
Mr Ampomah Dacosta said the claim that the Lebanese would sell limited items and not retail was a figment of somebody’s imagination.
He explained that Diplo FZ Limited, a subsidiary of Forwin Ghana Limited came to Elubo as a wholesaler of drinks and that just about four years, it started selling everything, including tomato paste, black thread used by women to plait their hair, mobile phones and machetes.
Mr Ampomah Dacosta, therefore, urged the government to think about the security of the country, the interest of Ghanaian traders, as well as the interest of the land owners, the people of Elubo and the Elubo town.
“Without the Ivorians entering Elubo to buy, there will be no Elubo and this can only come about if the Lebanese will be allowed to operate behind the security fence where the Ivorian traders will get everything to buy without entering Elubo,” he emphasised.
The Abusuapanyin of the Royal Asona Stool Clan of Elubo, Nana J.B. Mensah, stated that when the construction of the building was started, an order from national security was given to stop work.
He said following the order, the Lebanese company feigned compliance and stopped the work for sometime.
Nana Mensah said the company came back to the project in full swing and completed it within a period of less than two months.
He said further investigations had revealed that whilst the structure was erected outside the security fence or in the ‘no man’s land’, the original security fence had been redirected.
“This behaviour of the Lebanese and his collaborators is seen by many in our area as an affront to our sovereignty and a threat to our national security,” Nana Mensah said, adding “Remember that our fears are genuine since we are the front-line targets in case of any eventuality”.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
CONSTRUCTION OF SHOPS IN BUFFER ZONE ANGERS TRADERS (PAGE 3, AUGUST 14, 2010)
CONSTRUCTION of a retail shop/warehouse by Diplo FZ Limited, a Lebanese company within the ‘no man’s land’ or a buffer zone between the Ghana and Cote d’lvoire border near the Elubo border post in the Jomoro District of the Western Region has irked the sensibilities of traders in the area.
At a press conference at Elubo to express their concerns about the project, the local traders contended that the huge building had the potential to compromise security along the Elubo section of the border.
The huge building, which has been completed and is expected to be opened by the end of this year, is located on a pedestrian pathway very close to the security fence of the Elubo border post.
Articulating the position of the traders, Mr Evans Ampomah Dacosta, the Secretary of the Elubo Traders Association, said the traders were apprehensive about the project and called for the project to be stopped immediately in the interest of national security and the Elubo township.
Dacosta stated categorically that the operation of the Lebanese company outside the security fence would not only be inimical to the security of the nation but would also encourage smuggling and other subversive acts and, therefore, should not be countenanced.
“We the traders of Elubo totally condemn in no uncertain terms any Ghanaian who is toying with our livelihood by supporting the Lebanese against the national interest,” he stressed.
Mr Ampomah Dacosta said the claim that the Lebanese would sell limited items and not retail was a figment of somebody’s imagination.
He explained that Diplo FZ Limited, a subsidiary of Forwin Ghana Limited, came to Elubo as a wholesaler of drinks and that just about four years ago it started selling everything including tomato paste, black tread used by women to plait their hair, mobile phones and machetes.
He, therefore, urged the government to consider the security of the country, the interest of Ghanaian traders, the interest of the landowners, the people of Elubo and the Elubo township.
“Without the Ivorians entering Elubo to buy, there will be no Elubo and this can only come about if the Lebanese will be allowed to operate behind the security fence where the Ivorian traders will get everything to buy without entering Elubo,” he emphasised.
The Abusua Panyin of the Royal Asona Stool Clan of Elubo, Nana J.B. Mensah, noted that when the construction of the building was started, the national security gave an order for work on the project to be stopped.
He said the Lebanese first feigned obedience or compliance and stopped the work for sometime but later on continued in full swing.
He said further investigations revealed that whilst the structure was erected outside the security fence or in the ‘no man’s land’, the original security fence had been redirected.
This behaviour of the Lebanese and his collaborators is seen by many in our area as an affront to our sovereignty and a threat to our national security,” he said, adding, “Remember that our fears are genuine, since we are the front-line targets in case of any eventuality”.
At a press conference at Elubo to express their concerns about the project, the local traders contended that the huge building had the potential to compromise security along the Elubo section of the border.
The huge building, which has been completed and is expected to be opened by the end of this year, is located on a pedestrian pathway very close to the security fence of the Elubo border post.
Articulating the position of the traders, Mr Evans Ampomah Dacosta, the Secretary of the Elubo Traders Association, said the traders were apprehensive about the project and called for the project to be stopped immediately in the interest of national security and the Elubo township.
Dacosta stated categorically that the operation of the Lebanese company outside the security fence would not only be inimical to the security of the nation but would also encourage smuggling and other subversive acts and, therefore, should not be countenanced.
“We the traders of Elubo totally condemn in no uncertain terms any Ghanaian who is toying with our livelihood by supporting the Lebanese against the national interest,” he stressed.
Mr Ampomah Dacosta said the claim that the Lebanese would sell limited items and not retail was a figment of somebody’s imagination.
He explained that Diplo FZ Limited, a subsidiary of Forwin Ghana Limited, came to Elubo as a wholesaler of drinks and that just about four years ago it started selling everything including tomato paste, black tread used by women to plait their hair, mobile phones and machetes.
He, therefore, urged the government to consider the security of the country, the interest of Ghanaian traders, the interest of the landowners, the people of Elubo and the Elubo township.
“Without the Ivorians entering Elubo to buy, there will be no Elubo and this can only come about if the Lebanese will be allowed to operate behind the security fence where the Ivorian traders will get everything to buy without entering Elubo,” he emphasised.
The Abusua Panyin of the Royal Asona Stool Clan of Elubo, Nana J.B. Mensah, noted that when the construction of the building was started, the national security gave an order for work on the project to be stopped.
He said the Lebanese first feigned obedience or compliance and stopped the work for sometime but later on continued in full swing.
He said further investigations revealed that whilst the structure was erected outside the security fence or in the ‘no man’s land’, the original security fence had been redirected.
This behaviour of the Lebanese and his collaborators is seen by many in our area as an affront to our sovereignty and a threat to our national security,” he said, adding, “Remember that our fears are genuine, since we are the front-line targets in case of any eventuality”.
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