Page 45, July 11, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
MEMBERS of Parliament (MPs) have called on the Ministry of Health to intensify the promotion of the practice of family planning as its contribution to the country’s quest to attain a middle-income status by 2015.
They noted that the support and involvement of males in family planning were crucial for the achievement of the desired goals of the concept.
The MPs were contributing to a statement made on the floor of the House by the Chairman of the Population Caucus of the House, Ms Theresah Ameley Tagoe, to commemorate World Population Day, which fell yesterday.
The global theme for the celebration of the day was, “Family Planning is right — Let’s make it real”, while in Ghana the theme was, “Repositioning Family Planning is a must for national development — Let’s make it real”.
In her statement, Ms Tagoe noted that the right to plan one’s family was among the rights and fundamental freedoms that applied to every person everywhere.
She reminded the House that in 1994 the International Conference on Population and Development called on all countries to take steps to meet the family planning needs of populations and provide universal access to a full range of safe and reliable family planning methods by 2015.
Ms Tagoe, who is also the MP for Ablekuma South, stated that progress towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) was tracked using indicators related to family planning.
“Family planning is good for families, since smaller, healthier families can save for the education of their children and have a better chance of escaping from poverty,” she said.
She said lack of access to family planning information and services, especially for poor women in the rural areas, and the fact that many young people did not have access to separate, confidential and youth friendly services that could offer the needed information had contributed to low contraceptive use in Ghana.
“Mr Speaker, the result of this situation is that Ghana has a rapid population growth rate of 2.3 per cent, a high fertility rate of 4.4, a low contraceptive prevalence rate of 19 per cent and an unacceptably high maternal mortality ratio of 214 per 100,000 live births,” she said.
Ms Tagoe stated that as the country moved forward, it needed to promote family planning and place it high on its development agenda and called on Parliament, which is male dominated, to blaze the trail and contribute to the repositioning of family planning in the country.
Contributing to the statement, the Minority Spokesperson on Women and Children, Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, called on men to accept vasectomy as a family planning method.
She called on the Ministry of Health to intensify its education on the use of contraceptives in order to demystify the practice of family planning.
Other MPs who contributed to the statement were Mr Rashid Pelpuo (Wa Central), Mr Brandford Adu (Okere) and Mr Kwaku Balado-Manu (Ahafo-Ano South).
Friday, July 11, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Kyei heads pharmaceutical services
Page 54, July 10, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Ghana Health Service, in consultation with the Public Services Commission, has appointed Mr James Ohemeng Kyei as the Director of Pharmaceutical Services.
A letter signed by the Director-General of the GHS, Dr Elias Sory, stated that the appointment of Mr Kyei took effect from May 1, 2008.
He takes over from Mr Felix Yellu, who has attained the statutory retiring age.
Mr Kyei holds Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) degree from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and a Master of Science degree in Pharmaceutical Services and Medicine Control from the University of Bradford, West Yorkshire, U.K.
Until his new appointment, Mr Kyei, who has 33 years working experience in the health sector, was the Deputy Director of Pharmaceutical Services in the Western Region.
He worked at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, as the Cash-and-Carry Programme Manager for the Ashanti Region.
He has special interest in tuberculosis and health insurance and served as a resource person of the National Tuberculosis Control Programme and the Western Region GHS Focal Person on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
In January 1989, following the introduction of the district assembly concept, he was elected as the first Presiding Member of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) and held that office for three consecutive terms through re-election.
He represented the KMA at the National Consultative Assembly which prepared the 1992 Constitution.
Mr Kyei is married to Alice and they have five children.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Ghana Health Service, in consultation with the Public Services Commission, has appointed Mr James Ohemeng Kyei as the Director of Pharmaceutical Services.
A letter signed by the Director-General of the GHS, Dr Elias Sory, stated that the appointment of Mr Kyei took effect from May 1, 2008.
He takes over from Mr Felix Yellu, who has attained the statutory retiring age.
Mr Kyei holds Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) degree from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and a Master of Science degree in Pharmaceutical Services and Medicine Control from the University of Bradford, West Yorkshire, U.K.
Until his new appointment, Mr Kyei, who has 33 years working experience in the health sector, was the Deputy Director of Pharmaceutical Services in the Western Region.
He worked at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, as the Cash-and-Carry Programme Manager for the Ashanti Region.
He has special interest in tuberculosis and health insurance and served as a resource person of the National Tuberculosis Control Programme and the Western Region GHS Focal Person on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
In January 1989, following the introduction of the district assembly concept, he was elected as the first Presiding Member of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) and held that office for three consecutive terms through re-election.
He represented the KMA at the National Consultative Assembly which prepared the 1992 Constitution.
Mr Kyei is married to Alice and they have five children.
Vodafone pact before Parliament
Page: Centre Spread, July 10, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE agreement between the government and Vodafone International Holdings B.V, a UK-based telecommunication company, for the sale and purchase of 70 per cent ordinary shares of the Ghana Telecommunication Company Limited for $900 million, was laid before Parliament for consideration yesterday.
The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes, referred the agreement to the Joint Committee on Finance and Communications soon after it had been laid for consideration and report.
The House is expected to approve the agreement before it rises on July 18, 2008.
Already, the Minority in Parliament has expressed disappointment at what it terms “the general lack of openness and transparency in the privatisation of Ghana Telecom”.
At a press conference it organised last week, the Minority asked why the government exclusively negotiated with only Vodafone, without considering other bidders who could have made higher offers.
It described the situation as “a breach of established norms and standards for the privatisation of a telecommunication entity as required by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU)”.
The Minority Ranking Member of the Committee of Communications, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, who addressed the press, said after the advertisement for the sale of GT, offers were received from prospective buyers, including Egypt Telecom, France Telecom, Globacom and a local Ghanaian-led consortium.
He said France Telecom’s bid was the highest and negotiations began with it, but in December 2007 those negotiations stalled at the due diligence stage, primarily as a result of what he described as the unrealistic asset valuation expectations of the government.
He said France Telecom’s offer was estimated at $550 million for 60 per cent shares.
Mr Haruna said in January 2008, the government announced an indefinite suspension of the sale due to its inability to reach satisfactory terms with any of the bidders.
According to him, in March 2008 overtures were made to Vodafone UK for its offer.
“Vodafone’s offer, as we were told from government’s own sources, was $960 million, with stringent caveats still far below the Minority’s expectations of $1.5 billion or more for the value of GT,” he said.
He said, however, that in the 2007 supplementary budget, the government had projected to earn $500 million from the combined sale of GT and Westel, adding that ”the Minority did not hesitate in describing those figures as abysmally low and unrealistic”.
Mr Haruna said Ghana Telecom was the only company with fixed communication assets and noted that fixed communication assets were central to the provision of broadband services, a critical need for utilising ICT for economic growth and social progress.
Given that position taken by the Minority, even before the matter was brought before the House, debate on the agreement is expected to be conducted with either side taking an entrenched position.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE agreement between the government and Vodafone International Holdings B.V, a UK-based telecommunication company, for the sale and purchase of 70 per cent ordinary shares of the Ghana Telecommunication Company Limited for $900 million, was laid before Parliament for consideration yesterday.
The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes, referred the agreement to the Joint Committee on Finance and Communications soon after it had been laid for consideration and report.
The House is expected to approve the agreement before it rises on July 18, 2008.
Already, the Minority in Parliament has expressed disappointment at what it terms “the general lack of openness and transparency in the privatisation of Ghana Telecom”.
At a press conference it organised last week, the Minority asked why the government exclusively negotiated with only Vodafone, without considering other bidders who could have made higher offers.
It described the situation as “a breach of established norms and standards for the privatisation of a telecommunication entity as required by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU)”.
The Minority Ranking Member of the Committee of Communications, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, who addressed the press, said after the advertisement for the sale of GT, offers were received from prospective buyers, including Egypt Telecom, France Telecom, Globacom and a local Ghanaian-led consortium.
He said France Telecom’s bid was the highest and negotiations began with it, but in December 2007 those negotiations stalled at the due diligence stage, primarily as a result of what he described as the unrealistic asset valuation expectations of the government.
He said France Telecom’s offer was estimated at $550 million for 60 per cent shares.
Mr Haruna said in January 2008, the government announced an indefinite suspension of the sale due to its inability to reach satisfactory terms with any of the bidders.
According to him, in March 2008 overtures were made to Vodafone UK for its offer.
“Vodafone’s offer, as we were told from government’s own sources, was $960 million, with stringent caveats still far below the Minority’s expectations of $1.5 billion or more for the value of GT,” he said.
He said, however, that in the 2007 supplementary budget, the government had projected to earn $500 million from the combined sale of GT and Westel, adding that ”the Minority did not hesitate in describing those figures as abysmally low and unrealistic”.
Mr Haruna said Ghana Telecom was the only company with fixed communication assets and noted that fixed communication assets were central to the provision of broadband services, a critical need for utilising ICT for economic growth and social progress.
Given that position taken by the Minority, even before the matter was brought before the House, debate on the agreement is expected to be conducted with either side taking an entrenched position.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Parliament approves 3 loan agreements
Page 31, July 9, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT has approved three loan agreements totalling $127 million between the government and the International Development Agency (IDA) for the implementation of a number of development programmes in the country.
The first, an $80 million loan, is for the implementation of Ghana’s component of the West Africa Transport and Transit Facilitation Project.
Under the project, Ghana is to rehabilitate the 103-kilometre Buipe-Tamale road, construct four rest stops along the Tema-Paga road corridor, procure Information Communication Technology equipment to fully equip two transit checkpoints and rest stops.
A Satellite Transit Truck Village will also be constructed along the Tema Port.
The four rest stops would be constructed for transit trucks at the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) intervening stations at Savelugu, Sakam, Kintampo and another one to be sited between Kumasi and Nsawam.
The second agreement, which is a $25 million loan to finance the Agricultural Development Policy Operation, would be used for the implementation of the Food and Agriculture Sector Development Policy (FASDEP).
The policy seeks to address the existing challenges in the sector and to ensure food security, emergency preparedness and the application of science and technology in food development, among others.
This is to ensure food safety and good agricultural practices in line with international standards and to achieve projected growth targets.
The third loan of $22 million will provide additional assistance in support of the Community-based Rural Development Project (CBRDP), which is aimed at strengthening the capacity of rural communities to enhance their quality of life by improving their productive assets and rural infrastructure and to access key support services from private and public sources.
According to the report of the Finance Committee of Parliament, which deliberated on the loan, the project, which is currently ongoing, had been rated satisfactory since its commencement in 2004.
The report said, however, that persistent rains during August and September, 2007 caused massive flooding in the three northern regions as a result of which the World Bank and the government reviewed the impact of the floods and discussed how ongoing and planned projects might be adopted to accelerate help to the affected areas.
The Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Professor George Yaw Gyan-Baffour, moved the motion for the approval of the three loan agreements and he was seconded by the Chairman of the Finance Committee, Nii Adu Daku Mante.
While Members of Parliament from the Majority side, who contributed to the debate on the loans, commended the government for its efforts to improve the lots of the people, those from the Minority side asked the government to use the loans for the purpose for which they were intended.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT has approved three loan agreements totalling $127 million between the government and the International Development Agency (IDA) for the implementation of a number of development programmes in the country.
The first, an $80 million loan, is for the implementation of Ghana’s component of the West Africa Transport and Transit Facilitation Project.
Under the project, Ghana is to rehabilitate the 103-kilometre Buipe-Tamale road, construct four rest stops along the Tema-Paga road corridor, procure Information Communication Technology equipment to fully equip two transit checkpoints and rest stops.
A Satellite Transit Truck Village will also be constructed along the Tema Port.
The four rest stops would be constructed for transit trucks at the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) intervening stations at Savelugu, Sakam, Kintampo and another one to be sited between Kumasi and Nsawam.
The second agreement, which is a $25 million loan to finance the Agricultural Development Policy Operation, would be used for the implementation of the Food and Agriculture Sector Development Policy (FASDEP).
The policy seeks to address the existing challenges in the sector and to ensure food security, emergency preparedness and the application of science and technology in food development, among others.
This is to ensure food safety and good agricultural practices in line with international standards and to achieve projected growth targets.
The third loan of $22 million will provide additional assistance in support of the Community-based Rural Development Project (CBRDP), which is aimed at strengthening the capacity of rural communities to enhance their quality of life by improving their productive assets and rural infrastructure and to access key support services from private and public sources.
According to the report of the Finance Committee of Parliament, which deliberated on the loan, the project, which is currently ongoing, had been rated satisfactory since its commencement in 2004.
The report said, however, that persistent rains during August and September, 2007 caused massive flooding in the three northern regions as a result of which the World Bank and the government reviewed the impact of the floods and discussed how ongoing and planned projects might be adopted to accelerate help to the affected areas.
The Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Professor George Yaw Gyan-Baffour, moved the motion for the approval of the three loan agreements and he was seconded by the Chairman of the Finance Committee, Nii Adu Daku Mante.
While Members of Parliament from the Majority side, who contributed to the debate on the loans, commended the government for its efforts to improve the lots of the people, those from the Minority side asked the government to use the loans for the purpose for which they were intended.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Don’t underrate religion in conflict resolution- Rev. Palmer-Buckle
Page 16, July 3, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Most Reverend Charles Palmer-Buckle has asked Parliamentarians in the West African sub-region not to underrate the role and influence of religion in conflict resolution.
“Religion is an indispensable tool in our socialisation and so religious culture must be allowed and included to help in our search for the best practice of conflict prevention, conflict management and lasting conflict resolution,” he said.
Addressing the opening session of a four-day training programme for selected members of the ECOWAS Parliament on conflict prevention and management in Accra yesterday, Most Rev Palmer-Buckle said a careful observation of all traditional festivals in the sub-region showed the very crucial role religion played in such festivals.
Dubbed “Strengthening the capacity of the ECOWAS Parliament to prevent and manage conflicts”, the purpose of the project is to develop the capacity of the MPs to enable them effectively exercise an their role in preventing and managing conflicts in the West Africa.
The project would carry out a series of seminars, training workshops and working group initiatives to develop seed institutional mechanisms, individual and organisational capacities and a strategic plan for conflict prevention and management role of the ECOWAS Parliament.
In her remarks, the In-Country Co-ordinator of the Parliamentary Centre, organisers of the training workshop, Ms Marilyn Aniwa noted that conflict was a phenomenon that occured when people with competing interests sought to fulfil those interests at the expense of others.
She stated that although democratic institutions could not completely resolve tensions, democracy could serve as a system of managing conflict and peace building.
Ms Aniwa said that Parliament, which represented a broad spectrum of the masses was uniquely designed top to address contentious issues and relationships.
She, therefore charged the participants to use their knowledge and influence to ensure that emerging conflicts within the sub-region did not escalate, thereby reducing the impact of violence conflicts on economic development.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Most Reverend Charles Palmer-Buckle has asked Parliamentarians in the West African sub-region not to underrate the role and influence of religion in conflict resolution.
“Religion is an indispensable tool in our socialisation and so religious culture must be allowed and included to help in our search for the best practice of conflict prevention, conflict management and lasting conflict resolution,” he said.
Addressing the opening session of a four-day training programme for selected members of the ECOWAS Parliament on conflict prevention and management in Accra yesterday, Most Rev Palmer-Buckle said a careful observation of all traditional festivals in the sub-region showed the very crucial role religion played in such festivals.
Dubbed “Strengthening the capacity of the ECOWAS Parliament to prevent and manage conflicts”, the purpose of the project is to develop the capacity of the MPs to enable them effectively exercise an their role in preventing and managing conflicts in the West Africa.
The project would carry out a series of seminars, training workshops and working group initiatives to develop seed institutional mechanisms, individual and organisational capacities and a strategic plan for conflict prevention and management role of the ECOWAS Parliament.
In her remarks, the In-Country Co-ordinator of the Parliamentary Centre, organisers of the training workshop, Ms Marilyn Aniwa noted that conflict was a phenomenon that occured when people with competing interests sought to fulfil those interests at the expense of others.
She stated that although democratic institutions could not completely resolve tensions, democracy could serve as a system of managing conflict and peace building.
Ms Aniwa said that Parliament, which represented a broad spectrum of the masses was uniquely designed top to address contentious issues and relationships.
She, therefore charged the participants to use their knowledge and influence to ensure that emerging conflicts within the sub-region did not escalate, thereby reducing the impact of violence conflicts on economic development.
Give PNC chance — Mahama
Page 16, July 3, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE flag bearer of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Dr Edward Nasigre Mahama, has urged Ghanaians to give the party a chance to implement its humane policies.
He said since both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had failed them, the PNC should be given the mandate during the December elections.
Dr Mahama said the rising unemployment problem, which both the NDC and the NPP could not solve, was an indication of their lack of understanding of the dynamics of the situation.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Dr Mahama said PNC would focus on the provision of job opportunities for the youth to reduce unemployment if it was given the mandate during the December elections.
“Give the PNC your mandate and we will not fail you”, he said.
He also has called the media to be fair to all political parties in their reportage of events leading to the December elections.
He noted that the actions or inaction of the media would go a long way to determine the outcome of the elections and, therefore, reminded them of their crucial role.
“It is incumbent on the media to pay attention to the visions and aspirations of the all political parties to help the citizens make good decisions about who to choose to govern the country”, he said.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the PNC flag bearer attributed the change in government during the 2008 elections to the role played by the media.
Dr Mahama said that the PNC had a lot to offer Ghanaians and appealed to the media to ensure that the party’s activities were extensively covered by the various press houses to make it an obvious choice of the people during the forthcoming elections.
He stated that it would be sad if the media focused its attention on only the NPP and the NDC, which had failed to liberate the people from the problems confronting them.
“The PNC is the only alternative now and it is important for the media to give it the necessary attention”, he stated.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE flag bearer of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Dr Edward Nasigre Mahama, has urged Ghanaians to give the party a chance to implement its humane policies.
He said since both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had failed them, the PNC should be given the mandate during the December elections.
Dr Mahama said the rising unemployment problem, which both the NDC and the NPP could not solve, was an indication of their lack of understanding of the dynamics of the situation.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Dr Mahama said PNC would focus on the provision of job opportunities for the youth to reduce unemployment if it was given the mandate during the December elections.
“Give the PNC your mandate and we will not fail you”, he said.
He also has called the media to be fair to all political parties in their reportage of events leading to the December elections.
He noted that the actions or inaction of the media would go a long way to determine the outcome of the elections and, therefore, reminded them of their crucial role.
“It is incumbent on the media to pay attention to the visions and aspirations of the all political parties to help the citizens make good decisions about who to choose to govern the country”, he said.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the PNC flag bearer attributed the change in government during the 2008 elections to the role played by the media.
Dr Mahama said that the PNC had a lot to offer Ghanaians and appealed to the media to ensure that the party’s activities were extensively covered by the various press houses to make it an obvious choice of the people during the forthcoming elections.
He stated that it would be sad if the media focused its attention on only the NPP and the NDC, which had failed to liberate the people from the problems confronting them.
“The PNC is the only alternative now and it is important for the media to give it the necessary attention”, he stated.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Oblogo dumping site full, New dump can last only 18 months
Frontpage, July 2, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
Authorities in the national capital are overwhelmed by the issue of where to dump 2,000 tonnes of refuse generated by residents daily.
The Oblogo refuse dump, which is currently being used by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), has been declared full and it will, therefore, be closed down next month.
The AMA Chief Executive, Mr Stanley Nii Adjiri-Blankson, who announced this yesterday, stated that the assembly had, therefore, found a temporary site at Saba, near Weija for use by the end of August this year.
He was briefing members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Local Government on the operations of the assembly and the state of affairs of the metropolis.
According to him, the temporary site at Saba would be able to contain the refuse generated within the city for only 18 months, after which the assembly would have no other place to dump waste.
“If that happens, it will be difficult for us to collect the waste generated in the city and the situation will not augur well for the health of residents,” he said.
Mr Adjiri-Blankson stated that the only option for the assembly was to complete the preparation of the Kwabenya Landfill Site which would be able to last for more years.
He explained, however, that the current stand-off between the assembly and residents of Kwabenya had prevented it from going on with the preparations for the use of the site.
Mr Adjiri-Blankson, therefore, appealed to the committee to assist the assembly to resolve the stand-off to enable it to use the site to ensure a clean environment within the metropolis.
He also touched on the springing up of unauthorised structures all over the metropolis and said the problem was being tackled with the recruitment of additional building inspectors to control physical development.
The chief executive added that one major problem confronting the assembly was the re-emergence f recalcitrant hawkers on pavements and streets after the assembly had spent millions of cedis to construct a magnificent shopping mall at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle.
“The reality on the ground is that most of the hawkers you see on the streets own stalls at the mall but for no apparent reason they have openly refused to occupy the stalls,” he said.
On revenue generation by the assembly, Mr Adjiri-Blankson said it undertook an exercise to collect its business operating permit fees in the latter part of 2006.
He stated that within a period of three months it was able to collect more than GH¢1.1 million, against a collection of GH¢200,000 within the same period in the previous year.
He added that the assembly had also completed the revaluation of properties in the metropolis and gave the assurance that through the exercise the assembly would increase its revenue from property rates from GH¢1.9 million to about GH¢6.5 million.
“We are also taking measures to reduce to the barest minimum the leakage in our financial system in order to achieve maximum revenue targets,” he said.
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Local Government, Mr Isaac Edumadze, commended the assembly for its efforts and gave the assurance that the committee would lobby the appropriate authorities to solve the problems facing the AMA.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
Authorities in the national capital are overwhelmed by the issue of where to dump 2,000 tonnes of refuse generated by residents daily.
The Oblogo refuse dump, which is currently being used by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), has been declared full and it will, therefore, be closed down next month.
The AMA Chief Executive, Mr Stanley Nii Adjiri-Blankson, who announced this yesterday, stated that the assembly had, therefore, found a temporary site at Saba, near Weija for use by the end of August this year.
He was briefing members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Local Government on the operations of the assembly and the state of affairs of the metropolis.
According to him, the temporary site at Saba would be able to contain the refuse generated within the city for only 18 months, after which the assembly would have no other place to dump waste.
“If that happens, it will be difficult for us to collect the waste generated in the city and the situation will not augur well for the health of residents,” he said.
Mr Adjiri-Blankson stated that the only option for the assembly was to complete the preparation of the Kwabenya Landfill Site which would be able to last for more years.
He explained, however, that the current stand-off between the assembly and residents of Kwabenya had prevented it from going on with the preparations for the use of the site.
Mr Adjiri-Blankson, therefore, appealed to the committee to assist the assembly to resolve the stand-off to enable it to use the site to ensure a clean environment within the metropolis.
He also touched on the springing up of unauthorised structures all over the metropolis and said the problem was being tackled with the recruitment of additional building inspectors to control physical development.
The chief executive added that one major problem confronting the assembly was the re-emergence f recalcitrant hawkers on pavements and streets after the assembly had spent millions of cedis to construct a magnificent shopping mall at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle.
“The reality on the ground is that most of the hawkers you see on the streets own stalls at the mall but for no apparent reason they have openly refused to occupy the stalls,” he said.
On revenue generation by the assembly, Mr Adjiri-Blankson said it undertook an exercise to collect its business operating permit fees in the latter part of 2006.
He stated that within a period of three months it was able to collect more than GH¢1.1 million, against a collection of GH¢200,000 within the same period in the previous year.
He added that the assembly had also completed the revaluation of properties in the metropolis and gave the assurance that through the exercise the assembly would increase its revenue from property rates from GH¢1.9 million to about GH¢6.5 million.
“We are also taking measures to reduce to the barest minimum the leakage in our financial system in order to achieve maximum revenue targets,” he said.
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Local Government, Mr Isaac Edumadze, commended the assembly for its efforts and gave the assurance that the committee would lobby the appropriate authorities to solve the problems facing the AMA.
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