NCA, GAEC focus attention on masts

Page 17, Thurs June 25, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah

DEPUTY Minister of Communications, Mr Gideon Quarcoo yesterday told Parliament that the National Communication Authority and the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission were collaborating in a study to determine whether masts erected by telecommunications companies emit harmful radiation.
He said although the ministry was concerned about the multiplicity of communication masts in the country, there was the need to establish the harmful nature or otherwise of radiation emitted before posing severe restrictions on the erection of such masts in residential areas.
Answering a question posed by the MP for Weija, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, on the Ministry’s policy on the siting of communications masts in the country, the deputy minister stated that the siting of communications masts in residential areas was spelt out in section 57 of the Electronic Communications Act (ECA), 2008 and also Section 98 of the L.I. 1719 of the National Communications Regulations, 2003.
“Section 57 of the ECA, 2008 requires permission and payment of appropriate compensation to landowners. Where there are disputes, the National Communications Authority is required to step in to assist dispute resolution,” the deputy minister stated.
He added that Section 98 of the L. I. 1719 also required any person intending to construct a mast or tower to get clearance from the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, obtain permits and certificates from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Town and District Planning Committees and where feasible, allow co-location.
The Minister of Agriculture, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi was also in Parliament to answer questions posed by the Mr Augustine Collins Ntim, MP for Offinso North on the Akomadam Irrigation Project Complex and Mr Simons Addai on the Tanoso Dam.
While Mr Collins Ntim wanted to know what measures had been put in place to ensure that the Akomadam Irrigation Project Complex, with about 1000 irrigable lands was completed for the use of farmers.
Mr Addai also enquired from the minister why work on the Tanoso Dam had come to a standstill.
The minister told the House that the site was handed over to the contractor on September 24, 2005 and the contractor mobilised equipment and personnel and work started on October 10, 2006.
He said although civil works were completed on December 31, 2008, the work had not been handed over to the farmers because the installation of pumps and sprinklers which were under separate contracts were outstanding.
He said the contract for pumps, was awarded to Kirloskar Brothers Limited, a company from India while the contract on the farm equipment was awarded to Jain Irrigation Systems Limited also from India.
Mr Ahwoi said there had been delays in the shipment and delivery of the equipment to the country, adding that the pumps had arrived in the country and have since been installed.
“What is left is the electrical connection from the transformer to the pumps and Kirloskar Engineers and Northern Electrification Unit from Techiman are currently working on that,” he stated.
The minister added that engineers from Jain Irrigation Systems were also working fixing lateral lines and sprinklers in the field and expressed the hope that works would be completed by the end of June.
On the Tanoso Irrigation Project, the minister stated that the site was handed over to the contractor on September 24, 2005 and the contractor mobilised equipment and personnel with work commencing on October 10, 2005.
He said rehabilitation works were programmed for completion within a year, precisely by December 31, 2006, and indicated that although civil works were completed on December 31, 2007, the community requested an extension of the scope of works.
He said the extra works were completed on December 31, 2008, however, the project had not been handed over to the farmers because installations of pumps and sprinklers which were under separate contracts were outstanding.
He however, indicated that the contractors were feverishly working to ensure the speedy completion of works and expressed the hope that the project would be handed over to the farmers before the commencement of the dry season.