Awutu-Senya MP assures constituents
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Awutu-Senya in the Central Region, Mr David Nana Larbie, has assured Ghanaians that the government is committed to its campaign promises and has therefore put in place measures to fulfil them before the end of its four-year mandate.
He said a number of social amenities and human-centred programmes that had been embarked on within the past one-and-a-half years were ample evidence that the government was capable of meeting its development targets to better the lives of ordinary Ghanaians.
“The Better Ghana Agenda is on course,” he said and called on Ghanaians to give the government the needed support to ensure the speedy achievement of the country’s development goals.
Nana Larbie gave the assurance when he toured a number of communities in his constituency to educate the people about deliberations in Parliament and also to interact with the people to know their concerns and aspirations.
He stated that the problems identified during his tour included the need to provide boreholes for communities without water and classrooms for schools under trees.
Nana Larbie gave the assurance that by the end of his first term in office, about 80 per cent of such schools under trees would be provided with classrooms.
He expressed concern about the deplorable nature of roads in the area and mentioned roads such as the Awutu-Obrakyire-Bontrase road as one of such roads.
Nana Larbie has built a community centre with part of his share of the common fund at Awutu Breku while the Ahentia D/A Junior High School has been renovated.
The MP added that he had also presented generators and televisions to a number of communities including Ahentia, Ayensuako and Fianko to enable them watch the on-going World Cup in South Africa.
In addition, 65 senior secondary school and tertiary students have been given scholarships ranging between GH¢200.00 and GH¢400.00 to enable them pursue their various academic courses.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Minority questions President's trip
Centre spread, June 26, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minority in Parliament has questioned the validity of the reason adduced by President John Atta Mills for his current trip to South Africa.
The Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, raised the issue at yesterday’s sitting of the House after the Speaker, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo, had informed the House that President Mills had travelled to South Africa.
According to the communication from the Presidency, which was read by the Speaker, the President left for South Africa on Thursday to consult his counterpart, Mr Jacob Zumah, on the upcoming African Union (AU) Summit scheduled for Kampala, Uganda.
The communication informed the House that the President was expected back home on Monday.
But when Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu caught the eye of the Speaker, he said it was unfortunate that the President did not inform the House before he embarked on the trip, even though the House had sat on Thursday.
He quoted Article 59 of the 1992 Constitution, which reads thus: “The President shall not leave Ghana without prior notification in writing, signed by him and addressed to the Speaker of Parliament.”
The Minority Leader said by extension, the notification in writing to the Speaker was meant for Parliament and the good people of the country and demanded that the President explain to Ghanaians why he took such an action.
Besides, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu told the House that the President’s reason for embarking on the trip was untenable, since President Zumah, with whom he was going to hold bilateral talks, was himself attending the G-8 Summit in Canada.
“Was the President candid to Ghanaians when he informed us that he was going to hold talks with the South African President? We demand answers. At an appropriate time, we will demand answers,” he stated.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu added that President Zumah was scheduled to return to South Africa the very day that President Mills was scheduled to return to Ghana and wondered whether he could really hold any bilateral talks with President Zumah.
On a point of order, the Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Rashid Pelpuo, said, “Madam Speaker, I know that the notification did not get to you only this morning.”
But the Speaker cut in and explained that even though the communication might had been brought to Parliament the day before, she had it only that morning.
Continuing, Mr Pelpuo explained that the Presidency was not just a personality but an institution and that even though the South African President might not be in the country, that did not prevent President Mills from holding talks with the South African Presidency.
But the NPP MP for New Juaben North, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, debunked the claim by Mr Pelpuo, explaining that in diplomatic circles, Presidents on such trips held talks with their counterparts and not even Vice-Presidents or other government officials.
He said President Mills should have been bold to inform Ghanaians that he was going to South Africa to watch the 1/16 stage match between Ghana and the United States in the ongoing World Cup tournament, instead of the reason he gave for the trip.
Commenting on the issue, Mrs Bamford-Addo said it was within the rights of MPs to demand the whereabouts of the President, adding that should the President have an explanation on his return, he might offer it.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minority in Parliament has questioned the validity of the reason adduced by President John Atta Mills for his current trip to South Africa.
The Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, raised the issue at yesterday’s sitting of the House after the Speaker, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo, had informed the House that President Mills had travelled to South Africa.
According to the communication from the Presidency, which was read by the Speaker, the President left for South Africa on Thursday to consult his counterpart, Mr Jacob Zumah, on the upcoming African Union (AU) Summit scheduled for Kampala, Uganda.
The communication informed the House that the President was expected back home on Monday.
But when Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu caught the eye of the Speaker, he said it was unfortunate that the President did not inform the House before he embarked on the trip, even though the House had sat on Thursday.
He quoted Article 59 of the 1992 Constitution, which reads thus: “The President shall not leave Ghana without prior notification in writing, signed by him and addressed to the Speaker of Parliament.”
The Minority Leader said by extension, the notification in writing to the Speaker was meant for Parliament and the good people of the country and demanded that the President explain to Ghanaians why he took such an action.
Besides, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu told the House that the President’s reason for embarking on the trip was untenable, since President Zumah, with whom he was going to hold bilateral talks, was himself attending the G-8 Summit in Canada.
“Was the President candid to Ghanaians when he informed us that he was going to hold talks with the South African President? We demand answers. At an appropriate time, we will demand answers,” he stated.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu added that President Zumah was scheduled to return to South Africa the very day that President Mills was scheduled to return to Ghana and wondered whether he could really hold any bilateral talks with President Zumah.
On a point of order, the Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Rashid Pelpuo, said, “Madam Speaker, I know that the notification did not get to you only this morning.”
But the Speaker cut in and explained that even though the communication might had been brought to Parliament the day before, she had it only that morning.
Continuing, Mr Pelpuo explained that the Presidency was not just a personality but an institution and that even though the South African President might not be in the country, that did not prevent President Mills from holding talks with the South African Presidency.
But the NPP MP for New Juaben North, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, debunked the claim by Mr Pelpuo, explaining that in diplomatic circles, Presidents on such trips held talks with their counterparts and not even Vice-Presidents or other government officials.
He said President Mills should have been bold to inform Ghanaians that he was going to South Africa to watch the 1/16 stage match between Ghana and the United States in the ongoing World Cup tournament, instead of the reason he gave for the trip.
Commenting on the issue, Mrs Bamford-Addo said it was within the rights of MPs to demand the whereabouts of the President, adding that should the President have an explanation on his return, he might offer it.
House wants eleborate briefing on floods
Page 14, June 26, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho has directed the leadership of the House to liaise with the government to fix a date for the House to be briefed on the recent floods that occurred in various parts of the country.
He said a statement on the floor of Parliament should give an elaborate plan on what measures were being adopted to deal with the situation, which he described as “a national calamity”.
The directive was made due to two statements made on the heavy downpour experienced in the country last Sunday, which resulted in the deaths of a number of people and caused extensive damage to property.
The Chairman of the Works and Housing Committee of Parliament, Mr David Tetteh Assumeng in the statement called for an inter-sectoral meeting to find a lasting solution to the problem.
He noted that that engineers should be brought on board while the Town and Country Planning Department and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) should be strengthened to enforce all legislation on building procedures.
“Madam Speaker, there is the need to free all water ways of illegal structures to avert future occurrences without politicisation,” he stressed and expressed his condolence to the bereaved families.
The Member of Parliament for Agona West, Mr Samuel Obodai also made a statement on the flood in his constituency, particularly Swedru.
He explained that in the constituency, particularly, Swedru and Agona Nyakrom, eleven lives were lost and that the entire Zabu Zongo Community became completely uninhabitable because almost all houses were submerged in the spill off from the banks of the Akora River.
“Madam Speaker, as I speak, there are scenes of collapsed buildings, fence walls, damaged roads and tilting electricity and telephone poles. The drains are choked with mangled wires. Culverts have been filled with debris and the smooth flow of water hampered,” he said.
He said homes and shops were flooded with water leading to the destuction of personal and vital documents.
Mr Obodai appealed to the government to speed up its action on the resettlement of the displaced.
Contributing to the statement, the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Alban Bagbin said Swedru was now a sad scene and a shadow of itself.
He gave the assurance that the government had begun the process to rehabilitate Swedru to enable it regain its former status.’
The Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu called on the President to declare a state of emergency at Swedru and Ashaiman so that more resources could be sought to assist in the rehabilitation of the two areas.
The MP for Tamale North, Alhaji Abubakari Sumani called on the government to be committed to its plans to rehabilitate the two disaster areas.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho has directed the leadership of the House to liaise with the government to fix a date for the House to be briefed on the recent floods that occurred in various parts of the country.
He said a statement on the floor of Parliament should give an elaborate plan on what measures were being adopted to deal with the situation, which he described as “a national calamity”.
The directive was made due to two statements made on the heavy downpour experienced in the country last Sunday, which resulted in the deaths of a number of people and caused extensive damage to property.
The Chairman of the Works and Housing Committee of Parliament, Mr David Tetteh Assumeng in the statement called for an inter-sectoral meeting to find a lasting solution to the problem.
He noted that that engineers should be brought on board while the Town and Country Planning Department and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) should be strengthened to enforce all legislation on building procedures.
“Madam Speaker, there is the need to free all water ways of illegal structures to avert future occurrences without politicisation,” he stressed and expressed his condolence to the bereaved families.
The Member of Parliament for Agona West, Mr Samuel Obodai also made a statement on the flood in his constituency, particularly Swedru.
He explained that in the constituency, particularly, Swedru and Agona Nyakrom, eleven lives were lost and that the entire Zabu Zongo Community became completely uninhabitable because almost all houses were submerged in the spill off from the banks of the Akora River.
“Madam Speaker, as I speak, there are scenes of collapsed buildings, fence walls, damaged roads and tilting electricity and telephone poles. The drains are choked with mangled wires. Culverts have been filled with debris and the smooth flow of water hampered,” he said.
He said homes and shops were flooded with water leading to the destuction of personal and vital documents.
Mr Obodai appealed to the government to speed up its action on the resettlement of the displaced.
Contributing to the statement, the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Alban Bagbin said Swedru was now a sad scene and a shadow of itself.
He gave the assurance that the government had begun the process to rehabilitate Swedru to enable it regain its former status.’
The Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu called on the President to declare a state of emergency at Swedru and Ashaiman so that more resources could be sought to assist in the rehabilitation of the two areas.
The MP for Tamale North, Alhaji Abubakari Sumani called on the government to be committed to its plans to rehabilitate the two disaster areas.
This Week in Parliament
Page 42 (Mirror), June 26, 2010
By Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
TWO sector ministers, the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration were in Parliament this week to answer questions.
Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, the Foreign Minister briefed the House on the decision that had been taken in respect of Ghanaians who were killed in The Gambia in 2005.
His briefing was in response to a question posed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Jaman South, Mr Yaw Maama Afful, who wanted to know whether compensation had been received by the government and whether the beneficiaries had been paid.
Answering the question, Alhaji Mumuni said the government of The Gambia had been absolved of any responsibility for the murder and disappearance of a number of Ghanaians in that country in 2005.
While endorsing this outcome of the joint UN/ECOWAS fact-finding panel which cleared the regime of President Yahya Jammeh of complicity, the Ghana Government also accepted a donation of $500,000 from The Gambia for the funeral and burial rites for the six exhumed bodies that had been identified as those of Ghanaians.
Alhaji Mumuni stated that the amount was given to the government when the Gambian Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Co-operation and Gambians abroad led a seven-member Gambian delegation to Accra on January 7, this year.
He said, the exhumed bodies were at the morgue of the Police Hospital and indicated that a Ghanaian pathologist at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital was helping the ministry in attempts to identify them.
The Foreign Minister said contacts had been made with individuals who claimed to be relations of the victims adding that it was the hope of the government that at the end of it all, the bodies would be identified for them to be handed over to their families for fitting burials.
He added that after their burial, the $500,000 will be disbursed to persons deemed entitled to receive the amount.
For his part, the NPP MP for Offinso South, Mr Ben Abdallah Banda, asked the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh,the number of caterers of the School Feeding Programme who have been dismissed or had their appointments terminated in the Ashanti Region from January to December, 2009.
Mr Chireh told the House that it was the vision of the government to ensure transparency, strengthen management and operations of the School Feeding Programme explaining that the operation had, therefore been decentralised.
He stated that ownership of the programme lies with the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies and it was their prerogative to engage anyone they deemed fit without recourse to the ministry.
Mr Chireh said in recent past, the MMDAs had taken steps to regularise the appointment of caterers who were formally engaged without contracts and that called for all caterers within the programme to re-apply.
He said in the Ashanti Region in particular, during the regularisation process, 30 of the old caterers refused to re-apply and, therefore, could not continue to work for the programme.
In another development, two statements were made in the House on the recent flooding of some parts of the country.
The Member of Parliament for Shai Osudoku, Mr David Tetteh Assumeng and the MP for Agona West, Mr Samuel Obodai, made the two statements on the situation at Ashaiman and Agona Swedru, respectively.
MPs who contributed to these statements called for measures to be put in place to alleviate the plight of the victims of the floods.
At the end, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho directed the leadership of the House to liaise with the government to fix a date for the House to be briefed on measures being put in place to prevent the perennial flooding of certain parts of the country.
By Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
TWO sector ministers, the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration were in Parliament this week to answer questions.
Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, the Foreign Minister briefed the House on the decision that had been taken in respect of Ghanaians who were killed in The Gambia in 2005.
His briefing was in response to a question posed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Jaman South, Mr Yaw Maama Afful, who wanted to know whether compensation had been received by the government and whether the beneficiaries had been paid.
Answering the question, Alhaji Mumuni said the government of The Gambia had been absolved of any responsibility for the murder and disappearance of a number of Ghanaians in that country in 2005.
While endorsing this outcome of the joint UN/ECOWAS fact-finding panel which cleared the regime of President Yahya Jammeh of complicity, the Ghana Government also accepted a donation of $500,000 from The Gambia for the funeral and burial rites for the six exhumed bodies that had been identified as those of Ghanaians.
Alhaji Mumuni stated that the amount was given to the government when the Gambian Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Co-operation and Gambians abroad led a seven-member Gambian delegation to Accra on January 7, this year.
He said, the exhumed bodies were at the morgue of the Police Hospital and indicated that a Ghanaian pathologist at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital was helping the ministry in attempts to identify them.
The Foreign Minister said contacts had been made with individuals who claimed to be relations of the victims adding that it was the hope of the government that at the end of it all, the bodies would be identified for them to be handed over to their families for fitting burials.
He added that after their burial, the $500,000 will be disbursed to persons deemed entitled to receive the amount.
For his part, the NPP MP for Offinso South, Mr Ben Abdallah Banda, asked the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh,the number of caterers of the School Feeding Programme who have been dismissed or had their appointments terminated in the Ashanti Region from January to December, 2009.
Mr Chireh told the House that it was the vision of the government to ensure transparency, strengthen management and operations of the School Feeding Programme explaining that the operation had, therefore been decentralised.
He stated that ownership of the programme lies with the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies and it was their prerogative to engage anyone they deemed fit without recourse to the ministry.
Mr Chireh said in recent past, the MMDAs had taken steps to regularise the appointment of caterers who were formally engaged without contracts and that called for all caterers within the programme to re-apply.
He said in the Ashanti Region in particular, during the regularisation process, 30 of the old caterers refused to re-apply and, therefore, could not continue to work for the programme.
In another development, two statements were made in the House on the recent flooding of some parts of the country.
The Member of Parliament for Shai Osudoku, Mr David Tetteh Assumeng and the MP for Agona West, Mr Samuel Obodai, made the two statements on the situation at Ashaiman and Agona Swedru, respectively.
MPs who contributed to these statements called for measures to be put in place to alleviate the plight of the victims of the floods.
At the end, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho directed the leadership of the House to liaise with the government to fix a date for the House to be briefed on measures being put in place to prevent the perennial flooding of certain parts of the country.
BA Regional Minister briefs Parliament
Centre Spread, Jene 25, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, yesterday told Parliament that the celebration of the region’s 50th anniversary by the chiefs and the citizenry had been unanimous and overwhelming, since the celebration had been aimed at paying tribute to the founding fathers and those who toiled to give the region its status.
He was responding to questions concerning the anniversary, as well as the extent of damage caused to property at the Sunyani Residency on December 19, 2009 and what had caused the damage, posed to him by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Sunyani East, Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh.
Answering, the regional minister told the House that the total revenue received from both public and private sources amounted to GH¢462,894.42.
He explained that out of that amount, GH¢285,634.42 had been received from public sources, GH¢162,360 from private sources and GH¢14,900 from the sale of the BA@50 cloth.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo stated that GH¢413,563.98 out of the revenue had been spent on organising the anniversary
and broke down the amount spent as follows: Publicity and artistes, GH¢65,482.50; fuel and repairs, GH18,262.55; T&T and accommodation, GH¢21,901.45; consultancy, GH¢19,089.00; awards, GH¢27,580.50; BA@50 cloth, GH¢22,700, and grand durbar/climax, GH¢41,390.10.
The rest are: Quiz, GH¢12.096.50; projects (arch, statue/busts), GH¢93,806.14; trade and investment fair, GH¢23,022.24, and others, GH¢20,300.
That explanation did, however, not go down well with the MPs, particularly those on the Minority side, as they questioned why the amount spent on the anniversary cloth had far exceeded what had accrued from it.
They also wanted to know whether no revenue had accrued from the trade and investment fair.
Replying, Mr Nyamekye-Marfo stated that while some pieces of the cloth were still in the store, some district assemblies which collected some pieces were yet to pay up, while some were given on protocol.
On the investment fair, the regional minister explained that nothing accrued from it because it had been meant to showcase the investment potential of the region and not to make profit.
When questioned further as to whether he had no knowledge of the fact the some money had been collected from the exhibitors, he answered that he was not aware and promised to investigate to ascertain the authenticity or otherwise of the claim.
He told the House that in managing the BA@50 revenue and expenditure, he had been guided by the various established provisions and procedures in both the Financial Administration Act, 2003 (Act 654) and Regulation 39 (1) of Part II of the Financial Administration Regulation, 2004 (L.I. 1802) in relation to the discharge of his duties and responsibilities.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo added that in accordance with the provision of the Audit Service Act, 2000 (Act 554), the Auditor-General had been invited by the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) to carry out an audit of the celebration.
Answering the second question, he stated that the RCC had no record of any damage caused to any property at the residency on December 19, 2009 but admitted that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had held its regional congress at the residency on the said date.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, yesterday told Parliament that the celebration of the region’s 50th anniversary by the chiefs and the citizenry had been unanimous and overwhelming, since the celebration had been aimed at paying tribute to the founding fathers and those who toiled to give the region its status.
He was responding to questions concerning the anniversary, as well as the extent of damage caused to property at the Sunyani Residency on December 19, 2009 and what had caused the damage, posed to him by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Sunyani East, Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh.
Answering, the regional minister told the House that the total revenue received from both public and private sources amounted to GH¢462,894.42.
He explained that out of that amount, GH¢285,634.42 had been received from public sources, GH¢162,360 from private sources and GH¢14,900 from the sale of the BA@50 cloth.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo stated that GH¢413,563.98 out of the revenue had been spent on organising the anniversary
and broke down the amount spent as follows: Publicity and artistes, GH¢65,482.50; fuel and repairs, GH18,262.55; T&T and accommodation, GH¢21,901.45; consultancy, GH¢19,089.00; awards, GH¢27,580.50; BA@50 cloth, GH¢22,700, and grand durbar/climax, GH¢41,390.10.
The rest are: Quiz, GH¢12.096.50; projects (arch, statue/busts), GH¢93,806.14; trade and investment fair, GH¢23,022.24, and others, GH¢20,300.
That explanation did, however, not go down well with the MPs, particularly those on the Minority side, as they questioned why the amount spent on the anniversary cloth had far exceeded what had accrued from it.
They also wanted to know whether no revenue had accrued from the trade and investment fair.
Replying, Mr Nyamekye-Marfo stated that while some pieces of the cloth were still in the store, some district assemblies which collected some pieces were yet to pay up, while some were given on protocol.
On the investment fair, the regional minister explained that nothing accrued from it because it had been meant to showcase the investment potential of the region and not to make profit.
When questioned further as to whether he had no knowledge of the fact the some money had been collected from the exhibitors, he answered that he was not aware and promised to investigate to ascertain the authenticity or otherwise of the claim.
He told the House that in managing the BA@50 revenue and expenditure, he had been guided by the various established provisions and procedures in both the Financial Administration Act, 2003 (Act 654) and Regulation 39 (1) of Part II of the Financial Administration Regulation, 2004 (L.I. 1802) in relation to the discharge of his duties and responsibilities.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo added that in accordance with the provision of the Audit Service Act, 2000 (Act 554), the Auditor-General had been invited by the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) to carry out an audit of the celebration.
Answering the second question, he stated that the RCC had no record of any damage caused to any property at the residency on December 19, 2009 but admitted that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had held its regional congress at the residency on the said date.
My outfit has no record on cocoa diversion — AG
Page 14, June 24, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu has told Parliament that her outfit had no record about the diversion of 600 bags of sealed cocoa beans, which was meant for export, from the Western Region to Asabidie, a village in the Ofoase/Ayirebi Constituency in the Eastern Region.
The minister who was answering questions on the issue, therefore asked that the question might be directed to the minister of the interior since the matter might now be in the hands of the police.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ofoase/Ayirebi, Mr David Oppon-Kusi, who posed the question wanted to know about the status of the case, which was reported to the police by the youth of the village.
He explained that people were beginning to read all sorts of meanings into the case as a result of the lack of information about how far the matter had been dealt with since it was reported to the police some months ago.
Answering the question, Mr Mould such case had not been referred to the personnel for advice.
“Madam Speaker, it may be possible that the police are still investigating the matter and since it had not come to us, the question should be directed to the Minister of the Interior”, she suggested.
In another development, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Hanna Tetteh told the House that her ministry’s objective to promote value addition and agro processing was aimed at addressing the problem of post harvest losses and the perennial glut, especially of tomatoes and other vegetables, fruits and food items.
She said that was the surest way of stabilising process and incomes of farmers.
Answering a question posed by the MP for Chiana/Paga, Mr Leo Alowe Kabah, she said it was in line with that objective that the government had revamped the erstwhile Pwalugu Tomato Factory, now known as the Northern Star Tomato Factory.
She said the revamping of the factory had made it fully operational and now had the capacity to fully run and process tomatoes throughout the tomato season, at a minimum production capacity of 250 metric tones per day.
Ms Tetteh said the ministry this year provided the factory with the necessary capital to enable it purchase the tomatoes from farmers for processing adding that tomato farmers in the area did not go through the unfortunate situation of tomato glut as happened in the past.
She explained that the ministry was collaborating with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to increase the production of tomatoes to feed the factory during the next season.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu has told Parliament that her outfit had no record about the diversion of 600 bags of sealed cocoa beans, which was meant for export, from the Western Region to Asabidie, a village in the Ofoase/Ayirebi Constituency in the Eastern Region.
The minister who was answering questions on the issue, therefore asked that the question might be directed to the minister of the interior since the matter might now be in the hands of the police.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ofoase/Ayirebi, Mr David Oppon-Kusi, who posed the question wanted to know about the status of the case, which was reported to the police by the youth of the village.
He explained that people were beginning to read all sorts of meanings into the case as a result of the lack of information about how far the matter had been dealt with since it was reported to the police some months ago.
Answering the question, Mr Mould such case had not been referred to the personnel for advice.
“Madam Speaker, it may be possible that the police are still investigating the matter and since it had not come to us, the question should be directed to the Minister of the Interior”, she suggested.
In another development, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Hanna Tetteh told the House that her ministry’s objective to promote value addition and agro processing was aimed at addressing the problem of post harvest losses and the perennial glut, especially of tomatoes and other vegetables, fruits and food items.
She said that was the surest way of stabilising process and incomes of farmers.
Answering a question posed by the MP for Chiana/Paga, Mr Leo Alowe Kabah, she said it was in line with that objective that the government had revamped the erstwhile Pwalugu Tomato Factory, now known as the Northern Star Tomato Factory.
She said the revamping of the factory had made it fully operational and now had the capacity to fully run and process tomatoes throughout the tomato season, at a minimum production capacity of 250 metric tones per day.
Ms Tetteh said the ministry this year provided the factory with the necessary capital to enable it purchase the tomatoes from farmers for processing adding that tomato farmers in the area did not go through the unfortunate situation of tomato glut as happened in the past.
She explained that the ministry was collaborating with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to increase the production of tomatoes to feed the factory during the next season.
Amenfi West MP expresses concern about deplorable roads
Page 13, June 23, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
A Minister of State at the President’s Office and Member of Parliament for Amenfi West, Mr John Gyetuah, has expressed concern about the neglect of roads in his constituency over the years.
He said the Amenfi West District, which is the second best cocoa producing district in the country deserved better treatment as a gesture towards its contribution towards the national economy.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Mr Gyetuah said the 69-kilometre Samreboi-Prestea road, the 40-kilometre Asankran-Breman road and the Asankragwa-Nyamennae road were in such deplorable states making it difficult for vehicles to use them.
In addition, the MP said almost all feeder roads in the area had become unmotorable as a result of the onset of the rains.
He said, for instance, the Nkenkasu Junction-Ohiampeanika road was in such a deplorable state that drivers had refused to ply it.
In addition, two bridges spanning over Sonka and River Bisaa had all collapsed making it difficult for passengers to get to either sides of the road.
Mr Gyetuah said some farmers in the Samreboi area harvested between 400-800 bags of cocoa per season and, therefore appealed to the government to rehabilitate roads in the area to alleviate their plight.
He said last week, over 40 vehicles got stuck on roads in the area, adding that women in labour were finding it difficult to get vehicles to nearby hospitals.
Mr Gyetuah said even though the Minister of Road and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu, visited the area last year to inspect the roads, nothing had been done to salvage the situation.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
A Minister of State at the President’s Office and Member of Parliament for Amenfi West, Mr John Gyetuah, has expressed concern about the neglect of roads in his constituency over the years.
He said the Amenfi West District, which is the second best cocoa producing district in the country deserved better treatment as a gesture towards its contribution towards the national economy.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Mr Gyetuah said the 69-kilometre Samreboi-Prestea road, the 40-kilometre Asankran-Breman road and the Asankragwa-Nyamennae road were in such deplorable states making it difficult for vehicles to use them.
In addition, the MP said almost all feeder roads in the area had become unmotorable as a result of the onset of the rains.
He said, for instance, the Nkenkasu Junction-Ohiampeanika road was in such a deplorable state that drivers had refused to ply it.
In addition, two bridges spanning over Sonka and River Bisaa had all collapsed making it difficult for passengers to get to either sides of the road.
Mr Gyetuah said some farmers in the Samreboi area harvested between 400-800 bags of cocoa per season and, therefore appealed to the government to rehabilitate roads in the area to alleviate their plight.
He said last week, over 40 vehicles got stuck on roads in the area, adding that women in labour were finding it difficult to get vehicles to nearby hospitals.
Mr Gyetuah said even though the Minister of Road and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu, visited the area last year to inspect the roads, nothing had been done to salvage the situation.
Redouble efforts to achieve afforestation targets — MP
Page 14, June 22, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Tano South, Mr Andrew Adjei-Yeboah has called on the government to redouble its efforts at achieving the objectives of the country’s afforestation programme.
He said the pace at which the programme was being implemented was not the best and intimated that any delay could spell doom for the timber industry.
The MP made these observations in an interview with the Daily Graphic after the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Collins Dauda had answered a question on the subject on the floor of Parliament last Friday.
The MP had asked the minister what the ministry was doing to assist the timber industry to get raw materials looking at the alarming rate at which the natural forest cover was being dissipated.
Mr Adjei-Yeboah noted that even though the country had an installed machinery capacity to process five million cubic metres of timber per annum, timber industries were allowed to process only one million cubic metres of timber.
He suggested that the government’s plan of planting trees on 30,000 hectares of land per annum should be increased to 60,000 to ensure that adequate supply of raw materials was provided the timber industry in future.
Mr Adjei-Yeboah also advised the government to provide incentive s to entice more people from the private sector to venture into tree plantation.
Answering the question, Alhaji Dauda stated that the government was tackling the problem of raw materials within the timber industry on a short-term, medium-term and long term basis.
He said the short-term, import levy on imported logs had been waived to enable competitive companies to import logs into the country, while the annual allowable cut of timber had been raised from one million cubic metres to two million cubic metres.
Alhaji Dauda said the ministry was also developing a Legislative Instrument (L.I) to ensure the issuance of permits in off-reserve and plantation areas, which did not qualify for the award of timber utilisation contracts.
He explained that for the long-term, the government was rigorously implementing the National Forestry Plantation Development Programme to make wood available with an annual target of 30,000 hectares.
In addition, the ministry was also promoting the less use of timber species explaining that out of the over 250 timber species found in the forest, only about 60 species were being utilised for commercial purposes.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Tano South, Mr Andrew Adjei-Yeboah has called on the government to redouble its efforts at achieving the objectives of the country’s afforestation programme.
He said the pace at which the programme was being implemented was not the best and intimated that any delay could spell doom for the timber industry.
The MP made these observations in an interview with the Daily Graphic after the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Collins Dauda had answered a question on the subject on the floor of Parliament last Friday.
The MP had asked the minister what the ministry was doing to assist the timber industry to get raw materials looking at the alarming rate at which the natural forest cover was being dissipated.
Mr Adjei-Yeboah noted that even though the country had an installed machinery capacity to process five million cubic metres of timber per annum, timber industries were allowed to process only one million cubic metres of timber.
He suggested that the government’s plan of planting trees on 30,000 hectares of land per annum should be increased to 60,000 to ensure that adequate supply of raw materials was provided the timber industry in future.
Mr Adjei-Yeboah also advised the government to provide incentive s to entice more people from the private sector to venture into tree plantation.
Answering the question, Alhaji Dauda stated that the government was tackling the problem of raw materials within the timber industry on a short-term, medium-term and long term basis.
He said the short-term, import levy on imported logs had been waived to enable competitive companies to import logs into the country, while the annual allowable cut of timber had been raised from one million cubic metres to two million cubic metres.
Alhaji Dauda said the ministry was also developing a Legislative Instrument (L.I) to ensure the issuance of permits in off-reserve and plantation areas, which did not qualify for the award of timber utilisation contracts.
He explained that for the long-term, the government was rigorously implementing the National Forestry Plantation Development Programme to make wood available with an annual target of 30,000 hectares.
In addition, the ministry was also promoting the less use of timber species explaining that out of the over 250 timber species found in the forest, only about 60 species were being utilised for commercial purposes.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Sege MP donates to communities
Page 14, Jume 21, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament for Sege, Mr Alfred Abayateye has donated television sets and generators worth GH¢8,000 to a number of communities in his constituency to enable the people watch the on-going World Cup in South Africa.
The beneficiary communities, who are all not hooked to the national grid included Kablevu, Kportitsekope, Goi Okorhuesisi, Talibanya, Ada Luta, Amuyaokope, Ayisah, Madavunu and Kpetuhor.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Mr Abayateye said that even though the beneficiary communities were remote, it was only fair that they were able to watch proceedings of the first World Cup event staged in Africa.
He stated that sports had become a unifying factor and every effort should be made to allow the youth, in particular have a feel of this historic event.
“This is my widow’s mite to make the people happy. This is a period during which Ghanaians forget about the political affiliations and any investment towards such a cause is in the right direction”.
Mr Abayateye commended officials and players of the national soccer team, the Black Stars for lifting the flag of Africa high in South Africa and expressed the hope that they would continue to work hard to win more laurels for Ghana and Africa.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament for Sege, Mr Alfred Abayateye has donated television sets and generators worth GH¢8,000 to a number of communities in his constituency to enable the people watch the on-going World Cup in South Africa.
The beneficiary communities, who are all not hooked to the national grid included Kablevu, Kportitsekope, Goi Okorhuesisi, Talibanya, Ada Luta, Amuyaokope, Ayisah, Madavunu and Kpetuhor.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Mr Abayateye said that even though the beneficiary communities were remote, it was only fair that they were able to watch proceedings of the first World Cup event staged in Africa.
He stated that sports had become a unifying factor and every effort should be made to allow the youth, in particular have a feel of this historic event.
“This is my widow’s mite to make the people happy. This is a period during which Ghanaians forget about the political affiliations and any investment towards such a cause is in the right direction”.
Mr Abayateye commended officials and players of the national soccer team, the Black Stars for lifting the flag of Africa high in South Africa and expressed the hope that they would continue to work hard to win more laurels for Ghana and Africa.
PNC, CPP must listen to members to unite, Says PNC MP for Sissala West
Page 14, June 18, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE People’s National Congress (PNC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Sissala West, Mr Haruna Bayirga has said that it will be a wise decision by the leadership of the PNC and the Convention People’s party (CPP) to listen to the call from their members in the regions and come together to present common candidates for the 2012 general elections.
He stated that there was no way any of the fragmented Nkrumahist parties could win power alone.
“If we want to survive in the current political dispensation and win power to implement Nkrumahist ideals, then we have no choice but to unite,” he told the Daily Graphic in an interview.
Mr Bayirga, who is also the National Organiser of the PNC said the celebration of the centenary anniversary of the birth of Dr Kwame Nkrumah would be meaningless if the Nkrumahist did not unite and win power to implement his legacy.
“Policies, such as agriculture, education, industrialisation among others, implemented during the Nkrumah regime were still relevant for the economic survival of Ghana,” he said.
He said that the Nkrumahist tradition was the only one that could water down the tension between the NDC and the NPP.
The MP added that the Nkrumahist family could still boast of people such as Krobo Edusei, Kojo Botsio, Imoro Egala, among other who stood up behind Nkrumah in the 50s and 60s to champion the cause of Ghana and everything possible should be done for an Nkrumahist party to come back to power.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE People’s National Congress (PNC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Sissala West, Mr Haruna Bayirga has said that it will be a wise decision by the leadership of the PNC and the Convention People’s party (CPP) to listen to the call from their members in the regions and come together to present common candidates for the 2012 general elections.
He stated that there was no way any of the fragmented Nkrumahist parties could win power alone.
“If we want to survive in the current political dispensation and win power to implement Nkrumahist ideals, then we have no choice but to unite,” he told the Daily Graphic in an interview.
Mr Bayirga, who is also the National Organiser of the PNC said the celebration of the centenary anniversary of the birth of Dr Kwame Nkrumah would be meaningless if the Nkrumahist did not unite and win power to implement his legacy.
“Policies, such as agriculture, education, industrialisation among others, implemented during the Nkrumah regime were still relevant for the economic survival of Ghana,” he said.
He said that the Nkrumahist tradition was the only one that could water down the tension between the NDC and the NPP.
The MP added that the Nkrumahist family could still boast of people such as Krobo Edusei, Kojo Botsio, Imoro Egala, among other who stood up behind Nkrumah in the 50s and 60s to champion the cause of Ghana and everything possible should be done for an Nkrumahist party to come back to power.
This week in Parliament
Page 42, June 5 edition (Mirror)
By Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minister of the Interior,Mr Martin Amidu was visible in Parliament this week as he appeared before the House to answer questions and provide information on some pertinent national issues.
Last Tuesday, he was in the House to brief Members of Parliament on the alleged influx of Ghanaian refugees into neighbouring Togo.
The story, which was carried by the BBC, dominated the local media and that provided the basis for the minister to brief the House about the situation after initial investigation.
Mr Amidu told the House that until cogent evidence of the number of verifiable Ghanaian refugees on the Togo side of the border was obtained, any figure given as the number of Ghanaian refugees in Togo ought to be treated as mere speculation.
He stated that the Ghanaian authorities have been unable to obtain any list of registered refugees from the Togolese after an earlier visit by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) team or the visit of the assessment team to the Togo side.
Mr Amidu said a report from the Assessment Mission sent to the Bunkprugu-Yunyoo District indicated that most of the displaced persons remained in Ghana, while the team saw about 20 unoccupied tents when it visited the Togo side of the border.
He said it was observed that most of the internally displaced Ghanaians continued to live on the Ghana side of the border but often crossed over to Togo to receive food aid anytime food emergency supplies were being distributed at that side and thereafter return to Ghana.
Mr Amidu said it was estimated that the total population of the conflict area was about 2,000, with a registered voter population of 900, adding that it would, therefore, be highly unlikely that any realistic refugee figures from there could be higher than the total population of the community.
He assured the House that life was returning to normal in the area, as the people in the conflict community were busy farming and engaging in other economic ventures.
Mr Amidu also returned to the House last Wednesday to answer seven questions which had been filed by some MPs.
The NPP MP for Binduri, Mr Stephen Yakubu wanted to know when a police station would be built and made operational in Binduri, in addition to how the National Disaster Management Organisation distributed relief items to recent floods victims in Binduri.
Replying, Mr Amidu stated that the flooding in the Binduri Constituency in September, 2009 affected 172 people in six electoral areas.
He said in all, NADMO in December 2009 distributed 45 mattresses, 15 poly mats, 17 bales of second-hand cloths, nine cartons of cooking oil, 30 lanterns, 15 packets of matches, 105 plastic plates,30 plastic bowls, 11 bales of blankets and 30 plastic buckets.
He said NADMO was also liaising with the World Bank to get recovery items to promote livelihood support such as cereals, seedlings, fertiliser and pumping machines to farmers who lost most of their belongings.
On the police station, Mr Amidu stated that the government had approved and provided funds for the completion of 38 ongoing office and residential accommodation projects for the Police Service in the 2010 budget.
He stated, however, that the Binduri Constituency was not part of the package, adding that much as the police administration would want to provide a building for the police in the area in 2011, that would be contingent on budgetary approval.
The NPP MP for Sunyani East,Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh,Mr Amidu told the House that the residential accommodation being put up for the police in Sunyani is part of the 38 office and residential accommodation projects approved by the government for completion in the 2010 budget.
He said the project composed of four-storey buildings, with each containing eight flats.
Mr Amidu explained that work on the projects were ongoing and expected to be completed before the end of the year.
For his part, the NPP MP for Ablekuma North,Mr Justice Joe Appiah,wanted to know what real safety measures the ministry would take to ensure that both motorbike and pillion riders use crash helmets when travelling.
Replying, Mr Amidu said the Road Traffic Regulations states that “a person who rides or is ridden on a motorcycle on a road shall wear a protection crash helmet of a type prescribed by regulations.
He said that was the law which the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) enforces in its day-to-day traffic management and control duties across the country.
The minister explained however, that loop holes in the existing law have to be closed to make the law effective.
He said, for instance, the law had to be revised to compel the compulsory carriage of a spare helmet on all motor cycles for the use by pillion riders, saying that in that regard, motorbike dealers could be compelled to include the cost of two protective helmets of the prescribed shape, design and quality in the price of motorbikes.
The NPP MP for Asunafo South,Mr George Yaw Boakye also enquired from the minister the pragmatic steps the ministry was taking to ensure the security of teenage girls operating as porters (Kayayee) on the streets of Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi.
In his answer, Mr Amidu stated that the Ghana Police Service is providing security to the teenage porters through the day and night patrols.
He said in addition, the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) co-ordinates with the Social Welfare Department and some non-governmental organisations in providing social services to the kayayee.
Mr Amidu said the Community Police Unit had also intensified its educational campaigns and had been distributing police telephone numbers during visits to the kayayee in Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi, in addition to educating them on the dangers associated with their work.
He said in the long-term, the ministry intends to consult the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs to explore the feasibility of providing temporary shelters in the form of dormitories for the kayayee so as to ensure their adequate security.
By Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minister of the Interior,Mr Martin Amidu was visible in Parliament this week as he appeared before the House to answer questions and provide information on some pertinent national issues.
Last Tuesday, he was in the House to brief Members of Parliament on the alleged influx of Ghanaian refugees into neighbouring Togo.
The story, which was carried by the BBC, dominated the local media and that provided the basis for the minister to brief the House about the situation after initial investigation.
Mr Amidu told the House that until cogent evidence of the number of verifiable Ghanaian refugees on the Togo side of the border was obtained, any figure given as the number of Ghanaian refugees in Togo ought to be treated as mere speculation.
He stated that the Ghanaian authorities have been unable to obtain any list of registered refugees from the Togolese after an earlier visit by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) team or the visit of the assessment team to the Togo side.
Mr Amidu said a report from the Assessment Mission sent to the Bunkprugu-Yunyoo District indicated that most of the displaced persons remained in Ghana, while the team saw about 20 unoccupied tents when it visited the Togo side of the border.
He said it was observed that most of the internally displaced Ghanaians continued to live on the Ghana side of the border but often crossed over to Togo to receive food aid anytime food emergency supplies were being distributed at that side and thereafter return to Ghana.
Mr Amidu said it was estimated that the total population of the conflict area was about 2,000, with a registered voter population of 900, adding that it would, therefore, be highly unlikely that any realistic refugee figures from there could be higher than the total population of the community.
He assured the House that life was returning to normal in the area, as the people in the conflict community were busy farming and engaging in other economic ventures.
Mr Amidu also returned to the House last Wednesday to answer seven questions which had been filed by some MPs.
The NPP MP for Binduri, Mr Stephen Yakubu wanted to know when a police station would be built and made operational in Binduri, in addition to how the National Disaster Management Organisation distributed relief items to recent floods victims in Binduri.
Replying, Mr Amidu stated that the flooding in the Binduri Constituency in September, 2009 affected 172 people in six electoral areas.
He said in all, NADMO in December 2009 distributed 45 mattresses, 15 poly mats, 17 bales of second-hand cloths, nine cartons of cooking oil, 30 lanterns, 15 packets of matches, 105 plastic plates,30 plastic bowls, 11 bales of blankets and 30 plastic buckets.
He said NADMO was also liaising with the World Bank to get recovery items to promote livelihood support such as cereals, seedlings, fertiliser and pumping machines to farmers who lost most of their belongings.
On the police station, Mr Amidu stated that the government had approved and provided funds for the completion of 38 ongoing office and residential accommodation projects for the Police Service in the 2010 budget.
He stated, however, that the Binduri Constituency was not part of the package, adding that much as the police administration would want to provide a building for the police in the area in 2011, that would be contingent on budgetary approval.
The NPP MP for Sunyani East,Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh,Mr Amidu told the House that the residential accommodation being put up for the police in Sunyani is part of the 38 office and residential accommodation projects approved by the government for completion in the 2010 budget.
He said the project composed of four-storey buildings, with each containing eight flats.
Mr Amidu explained that work on the projects were ongoing and expected to be completed before the end of the year.
For his part, the NPP MP for Ablekuma North,Mr Justice Joe Appiah,wanted to know what real safety measures the ministry would take to ensure that both motorbike and pillion riders use crash helmets when travelling.
Replying, Mr Amidu said the Road Traffic Regulations states that “a person who rides or is ridden on a motorcycle on a road shall wear a protection crash helmet of a type prescribed by regulations.
He said that was the law which the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) enforces in its day-to-day traffic management and control duties across the country.
The minister explained however, that loop holes in the existing law have to be closed to make the law effective.
He said, for instance, the law had to be revised to compel the compulsory carriage of a spare helmet on all motor cycles for the use by pillion riders, saying that in that regard, motorbike dealers could be compelled to include the cost of two protective helmets of the prescribed shape, design and quality in the price of motorbikes.
The NPP MP for Asunafo South,Mr George Yaw Boakye also enquired from the minister the pragmatic steps the ministry was taking to ensure the security of teenage girls operating as porters (Kayayee) on the streets of Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi.
In his answer, Mr Amidu stated that the Ghana Police Service is providing security to the teenage porters through the day and night patrols.
He said in addition, the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) co-ordinates with the Social Welfare Department and some non-governmental organisations in providing social services to the kayayee.
Mr Amidu said the Community Police Unit had also intensified its educational campaigns and had been distributing police telephone numbers during visits to the kayayee in Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi, in addition to educating them on the dangers associated with their work.
He said in the long-term, the ministry intends to consult the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs to explore the feasibility of providing temporary shelters in the form of dormitories for the kayayee so as to ensure their adequate security.
PHC relaunches Land Rover
Page 55, June 3, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
LAND ROVER vehicles, which used to be one of the most preferred vehicles in Ghana in the 1960s, has been re-launched in the country.
The vehicles are now being offered for sale under the sole dealership of PHC Motors Limited.
At the re-launching ceremony in Accra, the Managing Director of the company, Mr Paul Kwabena Pepera said, there were special offers for customers to own new Land Rover vehicles through a trade-in scheme to allow customers to exchange their existing Land/Range Rover vehicles for the new 2010 models.
In addition, all orders of Land Rover vehicles placed between now and September, 2010 would enjoy a three-year free service from PHC Motors Limited.
He announced that his company had purchased a 12-acre plot of land in Kumasi to open a new spare parts and service centre, while plans were far advanced to develop a modern training centre, a technical motor institute and a vehicle test track on the land.
Mr Pepera said it was heart-warming that 14 years after the Land Rover dealership in the country was taken away from his company, it had won back the dealership.
He stated that the company had spent one year undergoing intensive training, amassing a healthy stock of spare parts and investing in the latest Land Rover diagnostic equipment, as well as assembling a team of experienced managers and technicians to handle the franchise.
Launching the vehicles, the Deputy Minister of Transport, Ms Dzifa Attivor, said projections from the National Road Safety Commission indicated that road accidents would take a third position on the league of causes of deaths by 2020 if nothing was done immediately about the current situation.
She noted that road accidents, which used to be sixth on the list of 10 major causes of deaths in the country, had now assumed a position prominence on the nation’s all-killer-factor list.
Ms Attivor said that road accidents had been compromised over the years largely because of poor vehicle maintenance, lack of adequate and genuine spare parts, including durable and reliable vehicle tyres, in addition to other human induced errors, such as drink-driving, fatigue, poor visibility, recklessness and general indiscipline.
The deputy minister indicated that the urgency of the situation called for concerted efforts from stakeholders, including vehicle manufacturers, drivers, vehicle distributors, passengers, pedestrians, commercial vehicle operators and owners and all road users.
She stated that Land Rover was one of the finest motor companies in the world with speciality in a wide range of luxury and commercial vehicles, including the world’s famous Range Rover and Defender models.
Ms Attivor said in deciding to appoint PHC Motors as its official dealer in Ghana, she had no doubt that Land Rover was mindful of PHC Motor’s sales-service located throughout the country.
The Regional Business Manager of Jaguar and Land Rover in South Africa, Mr Nigel Clarke, said PHC Motors Limited was chosen to deal in Land Rover vehicles because of its excellent after sales services.
He stated that the partnership with the company, would therefore ensure that customers would receive excellent services to put their Land Rover vehicles in good shape at all times.
Mr Clarke said the Land Rover was now back home in Ghana and urged Ghanaians to purchase Land Rover vehicles since they were ideal for the African terrain.
Present at the ceremony was the British High Commissioner to Ghana Dr Nicholas Westcott.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
LAND ROVER vehicles, which used to be one of the most preferred vehicles in Ghana in the 1960s, has been re-launched in the country.
The vehicles are now being offered for sale under the sole dealership of PHC Motors Limited.
At the re-launching ceremony in Accra, the Managing Director of the company, Mr Paul Kwabena Pepera said, there were special offers for customers to own new Land Rover vehicles through a trade-in scheme to allow customers to exchange their existing Land/Range Rover vehicles for the new 2010 models.
In addition, all orders of Land Rover vehicles placed between now and September, 2010 would enjoy a three-year free service from PHC Motors Limited.
He announced that his company had purchased a 12-acre plot of land in Kumasi to open a new spare parts and service centre, while plans were far advanced to develop a modern training centre, a technical motor institute and a vehicle test track on the land.
Mr Pepera said it was heart-warming that 14 years after the Land Rover dealership in the country was taken away from his company, it had won back the dealership.
He stated that the company had spent one year undergoing intensive training, amassing a healthy stock of spare parts and investing in the latest Land Rover diagnostic equipment, as well as assembling a team of experienced managers and technicians to handle the franchise.
Launching the vehicles, the Deputy Minister of Transport, Ms Dzifa Attivor, said projections from the National Road Safety Commission indicated that road accidents would take a third position on the league of causes of deaths by 2020 if nothing was done immediately about the current situation.
She noted that road accidents, which used to be sixth on the list of 10 major causes of deaths in the country, had now assumed a position prominence on the nation’s all-killer-factor list.
Ms Attivor said that road accidents had been compromised over the years largely because of poor vehicle maintenance, lack of adequate and genuine spare parts, including durable and reliable vehicle tyres, in addition to other human induced errors, such as drink-driving, fatigue, poor visibility, recklessness and general indiscipline.
The deputy minister indicated that the urgency of the situation called for concerted efforts from stakeholders, including vehicle manufacturers, drivers, vehicle distributors, passengers, pedestrians, commercial vehicle operators and owners and all road users.
She stated that Land Rover was one of the finest motor companies in the world with speciality in a wide range of luxury and commercial vehicles, including the world’s famous Range Rover and Defender models.
Ms Attivor said in deciding to appoint PHC Motors as its official dealer in Ghana, she had no doubt that Land Rover was mindful of PHC Motor’s sales-service located throughout the country.
The Regional Business Manager of Jaguar and Land Rover in South Africa, Mr Nigel Clarke, said PHC Motors Limited was chosen to deal in Land Rover vehicles because of its excellent after sales services.
He stated that the partnership with the company, would therefore ensure that customers would receive excellent services to put their Land Rover vehicles in good shape at all times.
Mr Clarke said the Land Rover was now back home in Ghana and urged Ghanaians to purchase Land Rover vehicles since they were ideal for the African terrain.
Present at the ceremony was the British High Commissioner to Ghana Dr Nicholas Westcott.
We need evidence to verify number of refugees—Amidu
Centre spread, June 2, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minister of the Interior, Mr Martin Amidu, yesterday told Parliament that until cogent evidence of the number of verifiable Ghanaian refugees on the Togo side of the border was obtained, any figure given as the number of Ghanaian refugees in Togo ought to be treated as mere speculation.
He stated that international best practice required that refugees be duly registered to facilitate the exchange of information for their eventual return and integration.
“We have been unable to obtain any list of registered refugees from the Togolese upon an earlier visit by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) team or the visit of the assessment team to the Togo side at the weekend,” he said.
Mr Amidu was briefing the House on the recent media report of the 3,500 Ghanaian refugees in Togo as a result of conflicts in certain communities in the Bunkprugu-Yunyoo District.
He explained that the conflict did not cover the whole district but was limited to three Bimoba clans who started fighting over a parcel of land at a village called Tobong as far back as January 2008.
He said the clans living 65 kilometres away from the Bunkprugu-Yunyoo District capital were the Dikporu, based at Kambatiak, the Nakuuks at Tabong and the Naadaungs at Gbankoni, all of whom share boundary with Togo.
He said the recent conflict among the three Bimoba clans was an intra-ethnic conflict which resulted in four deaths and the burning down of 360 houses, with a number of persons internally displaced.
The Interior Minister added that a report from the Assessment Mission sent to the Bunkprugu-Yunyoo District indicated that most of the displaced persons remained in Ghana, while the team saw about 20 unoccupied tents when it visited the Togo side of the border.
He said it was observed that most of the internally displaced Ghanaians continued to live on the Ghana side of the border but often crossed over to Togo to receive food aid anytime food emergency supplies were being distributed at that side and thereafter return to Ghana.
Mr Amidu said it was estimated that the total population of the conflict area was about 2,000, with a registered voter population of 900, adding that it would, therefore, be highly unlikely that any realistic refugee figures from there could be higher than the total population of the community.
He said the Ghanaian authorities were not in a position to deny that some Ghanaians did, in fact, cross over to the Togo side of the border in the heat of the conflict, as such people would not first report for a roll call before crossing over.
He said the ministry was working hard to resolve any misconceptions that the allegations of Ghanaian refugees in Togo had given rise to, adding that a team from the UNHCR (Ghana), the UNDP (Ghana) and an officer from the ministry left Accra yesterday to join the Northern Regional Security Council and a deputy co-ordinator of NADMO to visit the conflict area again.
He indicated that the government had dispatched a number of relief items to the conflict area to help alleviate the plight of the displaced persons in the area.
The items included 300 bags of rice, 300 bags of maize, 300 bags of beans, 100 cartons of soap and 100 cartons of cooking oil.
In addition to these, the regional allocation of 200 packets of roofing sheets, 5,000 mats and 1,000 pieces of mattresses had also been sent to the area for distribution to the displaced persons.
He assured the House that life was returning to normal in the area, as the people in the conflict community were busy farming and engaging in other economic ventures.
Commenting on the statement, the MP for Bunkprugu-Yunyoo, Mr Emmanuel Duut, said the clan that was engaged in conflict had its half brothers residing in Togo and it was, therefore, normal for them to cross over to Togo as a daily routine.
For his part, the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, said it was not for nothing that the Togolese officials erected tents at their side of the border and disapproved the assertion of the MP from the area.
“Are you, by this explanation, telling Ghanaians that the tents were erected for the glorification and beautification of the Togolese side of the border?” he asked, and called on the minister to explain to Ghanaians what was happening to the families of the four people who died as a result of the conflict.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minister of the Interior, Mr Martin Amidu, yesterday told Parliament that until cogent evidence of the number of verifiable Ghanaian refugees on the Togo side of the border was obtained, any figure given as the number of Ghanaian refugees in Togo ought to be treated as mere speculation.
He stated that international best practice required that refugees be duly registered to facilitate the exchange of information for their eventual return and integration.
“We have been unable to obtain any list of registered refugees from the Togolese upon an earlier visit by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) team or the visit of the assessment team to the Togo side at the weekend,” he said.
Mr Amidu was briefing the House on the recent media report of the 3,500 Ghanaian refugees in Togo as a result of conflicts in certain communities in the Bunkprugu-Yunyoo District.
He explained that the conflict did not cover the whole district but was limited to three Bimoba clans who started fighting over a parcel of land at a village called Tobong as far back as January 2008.
He said the clans living 65 kilometres away from the Bunkprugu-Yunyoo District capital were the Dikporu, based at Kambatiak, the Nakuuks at Tabong and the Naadaungs at Gbankoni, all of whom share boundary with Togo.
He said the recent conflict among the three Bimoba clans was an intra-ethnic conflict which resulted in four deaths and the burning down of 360 houses, with a number of persons internally displaced.
The Interior Minister added that a report from the Assessment Mission sent to the Bunkprugu-Yunyoo District indicated that most of the displaced persons remained in Ghana, while the team saw about 20 unoccupied tents when it visited the Togo side of the border.
He said it was observed that most of the internally displaced Ghanaians continued to live on the Ghana side of the border but often crossed over to Togo to receive food aid anytime food emergency supplies were being distributed at that side and thereafter return to Ghana.
Mr Amidu said it was estimated that the total population of the conflict area was about 2,000, with a registered voter population of 900, adding that it would, therefore, be highly unlikely that any realistic refugee figures from there could be higher than the total population of the community.
He said the Ghanaian authorities were not in a position to deny that some Ghanaians did, in fact, cross over to the Togo side of the border in the heat of the conflict, as such people would not first report for a roll call before crossing over.
He said the ministry was working hard to resolve any misconceptions that the allegations of Ghanaian refugees in Togo had given rise to, adding that a team from the UNHCR (Ghana), the UNDP (Ghana) and an officer from the ministry left Accra yesterday to join the Northern Regional Security Council and a deputy co-ordinator of NADMO to visit the conflict area again.
He indicated that the government had dispatched a number of relief items to the conflict area to help alleviate the plight of the displaced persons in the area.
The items included 300 bags of rice, 300 bags of maize, 300 bags of beans, 100 cartons of soap and 100 cartons of cooking oil.
In addition to these, the regional allocation of 200 packets of roofing sheets, 5,000 mats and 1,000 pieces of mattresses had also been sent to the area for distribution to the displaced persons.
He assured the House that life was returning to normal in the area, as the people in the conflict community were busy farming and engaging in other economic ventures.
Commenting on the statement, the MP for Bunkprugu-Yunyoo, Mr Emmanuel Duut, said the clan that was engaged in conflict had its half brothers residing in Togo and it was, therefore, normal for them to cross over to Togo as a daily routine.
For his part, the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, said it was not for nothing that the Togolese officials erected tents at their side of the border and disapproved the assertion of the MP from the area.
“Are you, by this explanation, telling Ghanaians that the tents were erected for the glorification and beautification of the Togolese side of the border?” he asked, and called on the minister to explain to Ghanaians what was happening to the families of the four people who died as a result of the conflict.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
4 ministers to answer questions
Page 3, May 29, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
FOUR sector ministers are expected to appear before Parliament next week to answer a total of 28 questions which have been filed by some Members of Parliament (MPs) from both sides of the House.
They are the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Alban Bagbin; the Minister for the Interior, Mr Martin Amidu; the Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, and the Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu.
Prominent among the 28 questions is the one by the MP for North Tongu, Mr Charles Hodogbey, who has been scheduled to ask Mr Bagbin on Tuesday to disclose the identities of the beneficiaries under the protocol allocations of the government prime lands in Accra.
The MP has also asked the minister about his ministry’s plan to reduce the dependence on the use of imported materials in the building and construction industry in the country.
The Majority Leader, Mr Cletus Avoka, told the House when he presented the Business Statement for next week that Mrs Catherine Ablema Afeku, NPP MP for Evalue Gwira, would also ask Mr Bagbin whether there was any plan to rehabilitate and reconstruct the Axim Sea Defence Wall.
The NDC MP for Ablekuma Central, Mr Theophilus Tetteh Chaie, will ask two questions; one on measures being put in place to ensure that the annual flooding in parts of Abossey Okai Spare Parts and Mataheko Takoradi Station areas become a thing of the past and stop the annual flooding in the area.
Other MPs to ask questions during the week are Mr George Yaw Boakye, NPP, Asunafo South; Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh, NPP, Sunyani East; Mr Justice Joe Appiah, NPP, Ablekuma North; Ms Esther Obeng-Dappah, NPP, Abirem; and Mr Stephen Yakubu, NPP, Binduri.
The NPP MP for Atwima-Nwabiagya, Mr Benito Owusu-Bio, will also ask the Minister of Education an urgent question to ascertain when a new six-classroom block will be constructed for Nfensi D/A Primary School to enable the school to relocate from the present church building it is currently using.
Meanwhile, Mr Avoka has expressed concern about the frequent lateness by some MPs to the sitting of the House.
When the Speaker entered the Chamber yesterday at 10.10 am, there were only 15 MPs out of the 230 present.
The Majority Leader told the House that from now on, proceedings would begin at exactly 10 am and called on the MPs to endeavour to be seated before the Speaker entered the chamber.
In another development, Mr Avoka made a statement to pay tribute to the late Chiana Pio, Pe Rowland Adiali Ayagitam.
He stated that the late chief stood for justice, freedom of expression, and care for the weak and vulnerable and always upheld the will of the people.
Mr Avoka said as a pragmatic leader, Pe Ayagitam’s commitment and dedication to democracy were highly acknowledged.
He said the late chief’s contribution had seen a peaceful handover of power from one political party to another, adding that by that act Ghana had become a beacon of hope for other African countries.
“Indeed, Ghanaians have lost a patriot, renowned chief and a distinguished statesman, whose commitment to democracy is worthy of emulation,” he stated.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
FOUR sector ministers are expected to appear before Parliament next week to answer a total of 28 questions which have been filed by some Members of Parliament (MPs) from both sides of the House.
They are the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Alban Bagbin; the Minister for the Interior, Mr Martin Amidu; the Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, and the Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu.
Prominent among the 28 questions is the one by the MP for North Tongu, Mr Charles Hodogbey, who has been scheduled to ask Mr Bagbin on Tuesday to disclose the identities of the beneficiaries under the protocol allocations of the government prime lands in Accra.
The MP has also asked the minister about his ministry’s plan to reduce the dependence on the use of imported materials in the building and construction industry in the country.
The Majority Leader, Mr Cletus Avoka, told the House when he presented the Business Statement for next week that Mrs Catherine Ablema Afeku, NPP MP for Evalue Gwira, would also ask Mr Bagbin whether there was any plan to rehabilitate and reconstruct the Axim Sea Defence Wall.
The NDC MP for Ablekuma Central, Mr Theophilus Tetteh Chaie, will ask two questions; one on measures being put in place to ensure that the annual flooding in parts of Abossey Okai Spare Parts and Mataheko Takoradi Station areas become a thing of the past and stop the annual flooding in the area.
Other MPs to ask questions during the week are Mr George Yaw Boakye, NPP, Asunafo South; Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh, NPP, Sunyani East; Mr Justice Joe Appiah, NPP, Ablekuma North; Ms Esther Obeng-Dappah, NPP, Abirem; and Mr Stephen Yakubu, NPP, Binduri.
The NPP MP for Atwima-Nwabiagya, Mr Benito Owusu-Bio, will also ask the Minister of Education an urgent question to ascertain when a new six-classroom block will be constructed for Nfensi D/A Primary School to enable the school to relocate from the present church building it is currently using.
Meanwhile, Mr Avoka has expressed concern about the frequent lateness by some MPs to the sitting of the House.
When the Speaker entered the Chamber yesterday at 10.10 am, there were only 15 MPs out of the 230 present.
The Majority Leader told the House that from now on, proceedings would begin at exactly 10 am and called on the MPs to endeavour to be seated before the Speaker entered the chamber.
In another development, Mr Avoka made a statement to pay tribute to the late Chiana Pio, Pe Rowland Adiali Ayagitam.
He stated that the late chief stood for justice, freedom of expression, and care for the weak and vulnerable and always upheld the will of the people.
Mr Avoka said as a pragmatic leader, Pe Ayagitam’s commitment and dedication to democracy were highly acknowledged.
He said the late chief’s contribution had seen a peaceful handover of power from one political party to another, adding that by that act Ghana had become a beacon of hope for other African countries.
“Indeed, Ghanaians have lost a patriot, renowned chief and a distinguished statesman, whose commitment to democracy is worthy of emulation,” he stated.
Need for new education system
Centre spread, May 26, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE President of Mission Africa Incorporated, Reverend Dr Kodjoe Sumney, has called for a shift from the colonial educational system in African countries to a new system that will provide the youth with skills and knowledge for inventions.
He noted that the present system, whereby African countries had become consumers of all manner of goods, including second-hand items, from other continents, was a blot on the image of the continent.
Speaking at the Seventh African Union (AU) Day National Prayer Conference held at the forecourt of Parliament House yesterday, Rev Dr Sumney said there was the need for an educational system that would equip the youth with skills to create employment, in place of the one that trained students only to come out to seek for jobs.
Hundreds of people from all parts of the country attended the prayer conference, which was held on the theme, “Anointing for innovation, scientific invention and job creation for African youth”.
It was organised by Mission Africa Incorporated, a non-profit organisation, in conjunction with Parliament and the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, to mark the AU Day.
Students from second-cycle and tertiary institutions, parliamentarians and members of the Christian community attended the prayer conference.
Rev Dr Sumney said the time had come for Africa to take its destiny into its own hands and venture into the technological world to invent and produce items that could compete with those that were being produced outside the continent.
He said it was only that which would ensure the economic liberation of Africa.
He stated that our forebears did well to win political independence for the continent, adding, however, that political freedom was not enough if it was not accompanied by economic independence.
“Africa now has no choice but to move to another level of its development. We cannot wait, since doing so will spell the doom of the continent,” he said.
Rev Dr Sumney said it was unfortunate that Africa was still in the doldrums and attributed the situation to complacency, explaining that instead of seeking economic independence, African countries thought that achieving political independence was enough.
He called for the intensification of intra-African trade and the consumption of goods produced on the continent in order to generate employment for the teeming youth.
For his part, an international evangelist, Dr Lawrence Tetteh, called on Ghanaians to put a stop to the politicisation of all issues, since “Ghana is not for only the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC)”.
“Ghana is about unity. Let us unite and push forward the country’s development agenda in order to be the torchbearer of Africa,” he said.
He called on the media to be responsible in their reportage, since any infraction on their part could erode the few gains the country had made so far.
The Majority Chief Whip, Mr Gershon Gbediame, on behalf of the Speaker, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo, said besides making laws, Parliament would continue to collaborate with religious bodies to pray to seek God’s intervention in the country’s development.
Present at the function was the Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Okraku I.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE President of Mission Africa Incorporated, Reverend Dr Kodjoe Sumney, has called for a shift from the colonial educational system in African countries to a new system that will provide the youth with skills and knowledge for inventions.
He noted that the present system, whereby African countries had become consumers of all manner of goods, including second-hand items, from other continents, was a blot on the image of the continent.
Speaking at the Seventh African Union (AU) Day National Prayer Conference held at the forecourt of Parliament House yesterday, Rev Dr Sumney said there was the need for an educational system that would equip the youth with skills to create employment, in place of the one that trained students only to come out to seek for jobs.
Hundreds of people from all parts of the country attended the prayer conference, which was held on the theme, “Anointing for innovation, scientific invention and job creation for African youth”.
It was organised by Mission Africa Incorporated, a non-profit organisation, in conjunction with Parliament and the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, to mark the AU Day.
Students from second-cycle and tertiary institutions, parliamentarians and members of the Christian community attended the prayer conference.
Rev Dr Sumney said the time had come for Africa to take its destiny into its own hands and venture into the technological world to invent and produce items that could compete with those that were being produced outside the continent.
He said it was only that which would ensure the economic liberation of Africa.
He stated that our forebears did well to win political independence for the continent, adding, however, that political freedom was not enough if it was not accompanied by economic independence.
“Africa now has no choice but to move to another level of its development. We cannot wait, since doing so will spell the doom of the continent,” he said.
Rev Dr Sumney said it was unfortunate that Africa was still in the doldrums and attributed the situation to complacency, explaining that instead of seeking economic independence, African countries thought that achieving political independence was enough.
He called for the intensification of intra-African trade and the consumption of goods produced on the continent in order to generate employment for the teeming youth.
For his part, an international evangelist, Dr Lawrence Tetteh, called on Ghanaians to put a stop to the politicisation of all issues, since “Ghana is not for only the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC)”.
“Ghana is about unity. Let us unite and push forward the country’s development agenda in order to be the torchbearer of Africa,” he said.
He called on the media to be responsible in their reportage, since any infraction on their part could erode the few gains the country had made so far.
The Majority Chief Whip, Mr Gershon Gbediame, on behalf of the Speaker, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo, said besides making laws, Parliament would continue to collaborate with religious bodies to pray to seek God’s intervention in the country’s development.
Present at the function was the Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Okraku I.
Govt committed to transparent management of oil revenue
Page 13, May 31, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minister of Information, Mr John Tia Akologu, has assured Ghanaians about the government’s commitment to the transparent management of the revenue that will accrue from the country’s oil find.
He said the resolve of the government was evident in all the processes leading to the drafting of the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill during which consultative meetings were held throughout the country to solicit inputs and comments from the general public.
Mr Akologu was addressing a day’s capacity building and sensitisation workshop for media practitioners on the emerging oil and gas industry in Accra on Wednesday.
It was organised by the Kumasi Institute of Technology and Environment (KITE) in collaboration with the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) and the Oil and Gas Stakeholders Network (OGSN).
Mr Akologu said that the government had agreed to the extension of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiatives (EITI) principles to the management of petroleum revenue.
He said many oil-producing countries were often linked with poverty and instability as a result of the mismanagement of oil revenue.
The minister of information noted that Ghana had been fortunate enough because it had the opportunity to learn from the experience of others.
“We do not have to wait to be reminded that oil wealth offers major opportunities, but can also lead to many problems if mismanaged”, he stated.
He called on media practitioners to avail themselves of the number of workshops being organised by both the government and non-governmental organisations to have an in-depth knowledge of the oil and gas industry to be able to report accurately.
In a speech read on his behalf, the President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Mr Ransford Tetteh, reminded the media practitioners that they had a watch-dog role to play to ensure transparency and accountability in the oil industry right from its embryonic stages.
“The media must be on the front-line of disseminating impartial news to ensure transparency and good governance in the industry to provide the necessary blessings to Ghana’s economy”.
He said the GJA believed that such training workshops were capable of making a real difference in helping journalists understand the industry for them to also help the citizenry to understand the oil and gas industry better.
In his remarks, a member of the Oil and Gas Stakeholders Network (OGSN) and the Chief Executive Officer of Karlindom Innovations, Mr Augustine Ampoma-Gudom, called on the government to engage the media and civil society to professionally manage the heightened expectation of the masses before the production of the oil in the last quarter of the year.
He said that it would be difficult for the government to explain why the price of fuel must go up when the international price surges at a time Ghana was producing oil, if the masses were not properly educated.
Mr Ampoma-Gudom also advised the GJA to develop stronger ties with NGOs and international initiatives such as the EITI in promoting good governance and proper stewardship in the oil and gas sector.
“Posterity will not forgive the generation of today if we fail to put in place concrete structures to ensure that we obtain enough benefit from our oil find.”
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minister of Information, Mr John Tia Akologu, has assured Ghanaians about the government’s commitment to the transparent management of the revenue that will accrue from the country’s oil find.
He said the resolve of the government was evident in all the processes leading to the drafting of the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill during which consultative meetings were held throughout the country to solicit inputs and comments from the general public.
Mr Akologu was addressing a day’s capacity building and sensitisation workshop for media practitioners on the emerging oil and gas industry in Accra on Wednesday.
It was organised by the Kumasi Institute of Technology and Environment (KITE) in collaboration with the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) and the Oil and Gas Stakeholders Network (OGSN).
Mr Akologu said that the government had agreed to the extension of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiatives (EITI) principles to the management of petroleum revenue.
He said many oil-producing countries were often linked with poverty and instability as a result of the mismanagement of oil revenue.
The minister of information noted that Ghana had been fortunate enough because it had the opportunity to learn from the experience of others.
“We do not have to wait to be reminded that oil wealth offers major opportunities, but can also lead to many problems if mismanaged”, he stated.
He called on media practitioners to avail themselves of the number of workshops being organised by both the government and non-governmental organisations to have an in-depth knowledge of the oil and gas industry to be able to report accurately.
In a speech read on his behalf, the President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Mr Ransford Tetteh, reminded the media practitioners that they had a watch-dog role to play to ensure transparency and accountability in the oil industry right from its embryonic stages.
“The media must be on the front-line of disseminating impartial news to ensure transparency and good governance in the industry to provide the necessary blessings to Ghana’s economy”.
He said the GJA believed that such training workshops were capable of making a real difference in helping journalists understand the industry for them to also help the citizenry to understand the oil and gas industry better.
In his remarks, a member of the Oil and Gas Stakeholders Network (OGSN) and the Chief Executive Officer of Karlindom Innovations, Mr Augustine Ampoma-Gudom, called on the government to engage the media and civil society to professionally manage the heightened expectation of the masses before the production of the oil in the last quarter of the year.
He said that it would be difficult for the government to explain why the price of fuel must go up when the international price surges at a time Ghana was producing oil, if the masses were not properly educated.
Mr Ampoma-Gudom also advised the GJA to develop stronger ties with NGOs and international initiatives such as the EITI in promoting good governance and proper stewardship in the oil and gas sector.
“Posterity will not forgive the generation of today if we fail to put in place concrete structures to ensure that we obtain enough benefit from our oil find.”
Samia Nkrumah — To follow dad's path
Frontpage (Mirror), May 28, 2010
By Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
“IT is painful for me to see that Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s name is being used as a brand all over without his ideals and ideas being translated into action.”
The only daughter of the Ghana’s first President and Member of Parliament (MP) for Jomoro, Ms Samia Yaaba Nkrumah, made this comment when she spoke to the Mirror against the background of the recent centenary celebration of the birth of Dr Nkrumah.
The anniversary was climaxed by a large gathering of people across the African continent and beyond in Accra to celebrate the life of Dr Nkrumah, who has been acclaimed as Africa’s Man of the Millennium.
But while some people see the celebration as a waste of public funds, others are of the opinion that a nation that does not honour its heroes is not worth dying for.
“There is no question about the fact that the life of Nkrumah is worth celebrating, since he gave so much for the people,” Samia said, adding, however, that what was important was for the present generation to know what the man stood for.
“If the celebration served that purpose to teach the youth about his ideals, then it is good,” he said.
But Samia noted that what was missing all these years was the inability of those who had branded his name to implement programmes, projects and ideals that the Africa’s Man of the Millennium stood for.
“Kwame Nkrumah stood for social justice, economic self-reliance through the promotion of local industrialisation and the delivery of the basic and urgent needs of the people,” she noted.
She explained that her father’s African Union project was tied up with economic self-reliance which African countries had not been able to achieve over the years, saying that it was unthinkable that “we are not able to do anything for ourselves”.
Samia wondered why African countries continued to accept the conditionalities of the Breton Wood institutions and called on African leaders to always go into negotiations by presenting alternative programmes for the solution of the problems of their countries.
On her political career, she stated that she had not regretted taking the decision to return to her roots to seek election to represent her people in Parliament.
She said her decision was to revive her father’s dreams and principles, saying that would continue to guide her.
On whether she was achieving her father’s dream, Samia said, “We are at the initial stage,” explaining that “we have to depend on a strong Nkrumahist party that will be able to stand as an alternative to the NPP and the NDC”.
She said there was every indication that Ghana needed a third force party and to do that Nkrumahist parties had to come together to have what she called “an expanded Nkrumahist base”.
She revealed that one of the steps she was taking was to lead the CPP, since she believed that she “could be the rallying point for the Nkrumahist unity”.
She said the Nkrumahist family had the golden opportunity to reclaim its lost glory and called on members to remain united in order to become unstoppable in their quest to stage a comeback.
She said the time had come for the Nkrumahist parties to cease to be bargaining chips and rather position themselves in such a manner that Ghanaians would have the courage to vote for the CPP.
Samia said the objective of the united Nkrumahist front in the 2012 elections should not be to win the presidency but rather increase its representation in Parliament as a launch pad for future elections.
Currently, she is the only CPP representative in Parliament.
Turning to her childhood life, Ms Samia stated that although her father was a busy man, he was also family man who related cordially with his children once he was at home.
She said the 1966 coup that ousted his father’s regime was a blow to the family because “it separated us and changed our lives forever”, explaining that the coup “uprooted” them from their home and background to a new environment.
Samia thanked God that her mother, the late Fathia Nkrumah, agreed to relocate to Ghana in 1975 upon the invitation of the then military Head of State, General Kutu Acheampong, saying that that decision was decisive, since between 1975 and 1983, she had the opportunity to school in Ghana, during which she learnt more about her home country.
Samia, the second child of Fathia and Kwame Nkrumah, relocated to Ghana from her Italy base where she made a living out of lecturing, consultancy and journalism.
Her brothers, Gamel and Sekou, were children residing with their mother, Fathia, at the Flagstaff House in Accra when the military overthrew their father in a coup on February 24, 1966.
With the assistance of the Egyptian Government, Fathia, on the same day, left with her children to resettle in Egypt where she (Fathia) hailed from.
Samia attended Achimota School briefly but also stayed, schooled and worked in various parts of the world.
The first President’s children have visited Ghana on countless occasions and the youngest son, Sekou, who resides in Accra, caused a stir in political circles last year when he announced his decision to join the National Democratic Congress (NDC), while Gamel, a journalist, still resides in Egypt.
But Samia said she respected Sekou’s decision to join the NDC, since Nkrumah’s nuclear family was a democratic one.
She said she would forever be grateful to her elder brother, Gamel, whom she said had helped her immensely in her political career, while staying at the back stage.
On her half-brother, Dr Francis Nkrumah, Samia said he had paid his dues to society and his chosen profession, medicine.
By Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
“IT is painful for me to see that Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s name is being used as a brand all over without his ideals and ideas being translated into action.”
The only daughter of the Ghana’s first President and Member of Parliament (MP) for Jomoro, Ms Samia Yaaba Nkrumah, made this comment when she spoke to the Mirror against the background of the recent centenary celebration of the birth of Dr Nkrumah.
The anniversary was climaxed by a large gathering of people across the African continent and beyond in Accra to celebrate the life of Dr Nkrumah, who has been acclaimed as Africa’s Man of the Millennium.
But while some people see the celebration as a waste of public funds, others are of the opinion that a nation that does not honour its heroes is not worth dying for.
“There is no question about the fact that the life of Nkrumah is worth celebrating, since he gave so much for the people,” Samia said, adding, however, that what was important was for the present generation to know what the man stood for.
“If the celebration served that purpose to teach the youth about his ideals, then it is good,” he said.
But Samia noted that what was missing all these years was the inability of those who had branded his name to implement programmes, projects and ideals that the Africa’s Man of the Millennium stood for.
“Kwame Nkrumah stood for social justice, economic self-reliance through the promotion of local industrialisation and the delivery of the basic and urgent needs of the people,” she noted.
She explained that her father’s African Union project was tied up with economic self-reliance which African countries had not been able to achieve over the years, saying that it was unthinkable that “we are not able to do anything for ourselves”.
Samia wondered why African countries continued to accept the conditionalities of the Breton Wood institutions and called on African leaders to always go into negotiations by presenting alternative programmes for the solution of the problems of their countries.
On her political career, she stated that she had not regretted taking the decision to return to her roots to seek election to represent her people in Parliament.
She said her decision was to revive her father’s dreams and principles, saying that would continue to guide her.
On whether she was achieving her father’s dream, Samia said, “We are at the initial stage,” explaining that “we have to depend on a strong Nkrumahist party that will be able to stand as an alternative to the NPP and the NDC”.
She said there was every indication that Ghana needed a third force party and to do that Nkrumahist parties had to come together to have what she called “an expanded Nkrumahist base”.
She revealed that one of the steps she was taking was to lead the CPP, since she believed that she “could be the rallying point for the Nkrumahist unity”.
She said the Nkrumahist family had the golden opportunity to reclaim its lost glory and called on members to remain united in order to become unstoppable in their quest to stage a comeback.
She said the time had come for the Nkrumahist parties to cease to be bargaining chips and rather position themselves in such a manner that Ghanaians would have the courage to vote for the CPP.
Samia said the objective of the united Nkrumahist front in the 2012 elections should not be to win the presidency but rather increase its representation in Parliament as a launch pad for future elections.
Currently, she is the only CPP representative in Parliament.
Turning to her childhood life, Ms Samia stated that although her father was a busy man, he was also family man who related cordially with his children once he was at home.
She said the 1966 coup that ousted his father’s regime was a blow to the family because “it separated us and changed our lives forever”, explaining that the coup “uprooted” them from their home and background to a new environment.
Samia thanked God that her mother, the late Fathia Nkrumah, agreed to relocate to Ghana in 1975 upon the invitation of the then military Head of State, General Kutu Acheampong, saying that that decision was decisive, since between 1975 and 1983, she had the opportunity to school in Ghana, during which she learnt more about her home country.
Samia, the second child of Fathia and Kwame Nkrumah, relocated to Ghana from her Italy base where she made a living out of lecturing, consultancy and journalism.
Her brothers, Gamel and Sekou, were children residing with their mother, Fathia, at the Flagstaff House in Accra when the military overthrew their father in a coup on February 24, 1966.
With the assistance of the Egyptian Government, Fathia, on the same day, left with her children to resettle in Egypt where she (Fathia) hailed from.
Samia attended Achimota School briefly but also stayed, schooled and worked in various parts of the world.
The first President’s children have visited Ghana on countless occasions and the youngest son, Sekou, who resides in Accra, caused a stir in political circles last year when he announced his decision to join the National Democratic Congress (NDC), while Gamel, a journalist, still resides in Egypt.
But Samia said she respected Sekou’s decision to join the NDC, since Nkrumah’s nuclear family was a democratic one.
She said she would forever be grateful to her elder brother, Gamel, whom she said had helped her immensely in her political career, while staying at the back stage.
On her half-brother, Dr Francis Nkrumah, Samia said he had paid his dues to society and his chosen profession, medicine.
Church assists needy institutions
Page 22,May 28, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THIS year’s edition of the Annual Gift Festival of the Seventh Day Sabbath Church of Christ has been held at Asamankese.
The church distributed various items worth GH¢80,000 to needy institutions and individuals, including widows and the physically challenged.
The items included 1,500 full pieces of cloth, 500 boxes of Key soap, 100 bags of rice, seven wheelchairs, 30 white canes, a number of pairs of sandals and toiletries.
Some of the beneficiary institutions were the Swedru Mothers’ Care, Koforidua Deaf and Dumb School and the Akyem Osenase and Akwatia SOS.
The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Mohammed Ahmed Baba Jamal, who was the guest of honour for the ceremony, praised the church for its commitment to the welfare of the needy in society.
He called on other religious institutions to learn from the example of the Seventh Day Sabbath Church of Christ to complement the efforts of the government to provide the needs of the people.
The Founder and Head Pastor of the church, Apostle Ephraim Danso, said the church would continue with its annual gifts festival to bring smiles to the faces of the needy in society.
He said it was a command from God for Christians to support the needy and urged all religious leaders to obey that command and use their wealth to the benefit of the needy.
Present at the function was the Omanhene of Akwatia, Osabarima Kofi Boateng.
* Picture: Apostle Danso (4th left) admiring some of the items distributed to the needy. Also in the picture are Evangelist Okoh Agyeman (second left), the Assistant Leader of the church, and Pastor Jonathan Darko, the Project Manager of the church, while Mr Baba Jamal (down) presents a wheelchair to one of the beneficiaries.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THIS year’s edition of the Annual Gift Festival of the Seventh Day Sabbath Church of Christ has been held at Asamankese.
The church distributed various items worth GH¢80,000 to needy institutions and individuals, including widows and the physically challenged.
The items included 1,500 full pieces of cloth, 500 boxes of Key soap, 100 bags of rice, seven wheelchairs, 30 white canes, a number of pairs of sandals and toiletries.
Some of the beneficiary institutions were the Swedru Mothers’ Care, Koforidua Deaf and Dumb School and the Akyem Osenase and Akwatia SOS.
The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Mohammed Ahmed Baba Jamal, who was the guest of honour for the ceremony, praised the church for its commitment to the welfare of the needy in society.
He called on other religious institutions to learn from the example of the Seventh Day Sabbath Church of Christ to complement the efforts of the government to provide the needs of the people.
The Founder and Head Pastor of the church, Apostle Ephraim Danso, said the church would continue with its annual gifts festival to bring smiles to the faces of the needy in society.
He said it was a command from God for Christians to support the needy and urged all religious leaders to obey that command and use their wealth to the benefit of the needy.
Present at the function was the Omanhene of Akwatia, Osabarima Kofi Boateng.
* Picture: Apostle Danso (4th left) admiring some of the items distributed to the needy. Also in the picture are Evangelist Okoh Agyeman (second left), the Assistant Leader of the church, and Pastor Jonathan Darko, the Project Manager of the church, while Mr Baba Jamal (down) presents a wheelchair to one of the beneficiaries.
Tarrifs to go up
Page 19, May 28, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Collette Brown
ELECTRICITY tariffs are expected to go up by a minimal margin following the passage of the Public Utilities Regulatory (Amendment) Bill, 2010 by Parliament to ensure that a levy is imposed on electricity and natural gas transmission.
The bill, which is to replace the Public Utilities Regulatory Act, 1997 (Act 538), is aimed at generating additional funds for the operations of the PURC and the Energy Commission.
According to the report of the Joint Committee of Mines and Energy, and Works and Housing of Parliament, the impact of the levy on consumers will be minimal, since consumers who consume between 0 and 50kWh per month (Lifeline consumers) would pay only 0.05 pesewas.
On the other hand, average households that consume about 200kWh per month or GH¢ 30.00 per month would pay 0.25 pesewas.
A Minister of State at the Presidency, Mr Kwadjo Likpalomor Tawiah, who moved the motion for the passage of the bill, told the House that both the PURC and the Energy Commission faced operational challenges as a result of inadequate funding to purchase the requisite equipment to monitor standards set for the utilities by the regulator.
In addition, the two institutions have high staff attrition as a result of poor remuneration, thus necessitating the passage of the bill to provide a more reliable source of funding for monitoring and enforcement of standards among the utility companies.
The Chairman of the Works and Housing Committee of Parliament, Mr David Assumeng Tetteh, who seconded the motion, observed that part of the mandate of the PURC was to receive complaints from the general public and ensure that those concerns were addressed by the commission or the utility companies.
Unfortunately, the PURC currently has offices in only four out of the 10 regions due to financial constraints and in order that it met its mandate it was important that it established its presence in all the regional and district capitals.
Contributing to the motion, the NDC Member of Parliament for Asawase, Alhaji Muntaka M. Mubarak, called on the PURC to ensure that meters were provided to families residing in compound houses, since the use of single meters in such houses did not allow poor families to enjoy subsidies meant for lifeline consumers.
For his part, the NPP MP for Old Tafo, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, expressed his delight that the PURC and the Energy Commission were being provided with reliable funding to enable them to perform their functions as expected of them.
He compared the PURC to its counterparts in other countries and wondered why such an important institution had been left “to become a beggar”.
The bill received overwhelming support from both sides of the House after a lengthy debate.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Collette Brown
ELECTRICITY tariffs are expected to go up by a minimal margin following the passage of the Public Utilities Regulatory (Amendment) Bill, 2010 by Parliament to ensure that a levy is imposed on electricity and natural gas transmission.
The bill, which is to replace the Public Utilities Regulatory Act, 1997 (Act 538), is aimed at generating additional funds for the operations of the PURC and the Energy Commission.
According to the report of the Joint Committee of Mines and Energy, and Works and Housing of Parliament, the impact of the levy on consumers will be minimal, since consumers who consume between 0 and 50kWh per month (Lifeline consumers) would pay only 0.05 pesewas.
On the other hand, average households that consume about 200kWh per month or GH¢ 30.00 per month would pay 0.25 pesewas.
A Minister of State at the Presidency, Mr Kwadjo Likpalomor Tawiah, who moved the motion for the passage of the bill, told the House that both the PURC and the Energy Commission faced operational challenges as a result of inadequate funding to purchase the requisite equipment to monitor standards set for the utilities by the regulator.
In addition, the two institutions have high staff attrition as a result of poor remuneration, thus necessitating the passage of the bill to provide a more reliable source of funding for monitoring and enforcement of standards among the utility companies.
The Chairman of the Works and Housing Committee of Parliament, Mr David Assumeng Tetteh, who seconded the motion, observed that part of the mandate of the PURC was to receive complaints from the general public and ensure that those concerns were addressed by the commission or the utility companies.
Unfortunately, the PURC currently has offices in only four out of the 10 regions due to financial constraints and in order that it met its mandate it was important that it established its presence in all the regional and district capitals.
Contributing to the motion, the NDC Member of Parliament for Asawase, Alhaji Muntaka M. Mubarak, called on the PURC to ensure that meters were provided to families residing in compound houses, since the use of single meters in such houses did not allow poor families to enjoy subsidies meant for lifeline consumers.
For his part, the NPP MP for Old Tafo, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, expressed his delight that the PURC and the Energy Commission were being provided with reliable funding to enable them to perform their functions as expected of them.
He compared the PURC to its counterparts in other countries and wondered why such an important institution had been left “to become a beggar”.
The bill received overwhelming support from both sides of the House after a lengthy debate.
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