Centre Spread, Nov 6, 2009
SENIOR Parliamentary Correspondent, Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah, left Accra last night for Sharm El-Sheikh to cover the special ministerial meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) which opens in the Egyptian city next Monday.
The meeting will review the implementation of various agreements signed between China and Africa since 2006 and outline a plan of action for the next three years.
A statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry and released in Accra yesterday said the meeting would also "give an overall review of the implementation of various co-operative agreements since the Beijing Summit and will chart the course for the development of China-Africa relations".
It said a number of bilateral agreements would be signed to boost economic and trade co-operation and new measures were expected to help Africa develop, as well as deal with the global economic crisis.
The meeting is expected to issue the Sharm El-Sheikh Declaration and also the Sharm El-Sheikh Action Plan for 2010-2012 as "a blueprint for bilateral co-operation in various areas in three years to come".
The FOCAC is one of three high-level meetings established by Chinese and African leaders at their inaugural summit in 2000. The other two meetings to take place between the Asian nation and African countries are a senior officials meeting and a conference of the Chinese follow-up committee with the African diplomatic missions in Beijing.
At the last FOCAC Summit in 2006, attended by 48 of the 53 members of the African Union, China and Africa adopted a number of resolutions which proclaimed the establishment of "a new type of strategic partnership". The partnership is based on "political equality and mutual trust, economic win-win co-operation and cultural exchanges" and calls for the promotion of two-way trade and investment and exploration of new modes of co-operation. Priority is placed on different areas of the economy, such as agriculture, infrastructure, industry, fishing, information technology, public health and personnel training to draw on each other's strengths for the benefit of the two peoples.
On trade development, China and Africa pledged to increase volumes to about US$100 billion by 2010, with Chinese President Hu Jintao announcing a package of aid and assistance measures to Africa, including US$3 billion of preferential loans in the next three years, and the exemption of debt owed by some African countries.
China gave an undertaking to establish a US$5 billion fund to encourage Chinese investment in Africa.
Significant progress has been made in the past three years to meet some of the targets set at the 2006 summit. By the first quarter of 2009, China had successfully cancelled 150 mature debts of 32 African countries.
Trade between China and Africa has also increased -- in 2008 the volume was about US$160 billion, a year-on-year increase of 45 per cent, surpassing the US$100 billion target set by 2010. Of the total volume, imports from Africa amounted to US$56 billion, up by 54 per cent over the previous year.
Chinese companies have been active in building infrastructure and providing loans and assistance for many African countries. Exchange visits of top government officials between China and Africa have expanded to include more people-to-people visits. The fourth meeting of the FOCAC is thus viewed with great importance to promote China-Africa relations.
Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and his Egyptian counterpart are expected to co-chair the meeting and some African Heads of State have been invited to attend, including President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe.
The first FOCAC ministerial conference was held in Beijing in October 2000. That was followed by a meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2003.
Beijing hosted the full China-Africa Summit in 2006.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Parliament worried over Kwabenya Land Fill project
Page 16, Nov 5, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE PARLIAMENTARY Select Committee on Local Government has expressed its disquiet over the delay in the completion of the Kwabenya Land Fill Project and urged the government to take a quick decision on the fate of the project.
The site, which was identified in 1991 had sparked intense agitation as locals and artisans engaged in stone cracking at the site vehemently opposed the project.
During a visit to the site, the Chairman of the Committee Mr Dominic Azumah, expressed concern over the delay and also expressed worry that people continued to encroach upon the land.
Presently, some private developers have encroached upon the land and when the team visited the place, some of them had their workers on site putting up structures.
“If we cannot continue with the project, we must take a final decision; if we can, we must start it now,” Mr Azumah stressed.
The Project Co-ordinator, Mr Daniel Aidoo, said the project formed part of the Urban Environment and Sanitation Project II to be funded by the World Bank and the Government of Ghana.
He said originally the project was expected to cover a land size of 465 acres but the size was reduced to 364 acres after agitation from some local people.
He explained that the project had primarily delayed because of the agitation of the local people, who had now agreed to accept compensation so that they can relocate to enable the project commence.
Mr Aidoo said about 700 hundred stone crackers and 89 individuals and families were to be compensated and indicated that they had been formally written to with the compensation offer and they in turn had written in response.
He said the framework for the Environmental Impact Assessment had already been done and only needed to be upgraded.
He explained that somewhere in 2006, there were plans to commence payment of compensation but the World Bank requested for a Resettlement Action Plan before the payment of any compensation.
He said the site was an engineered land fill site that would serve the Greater Accra Region for close to between 20-25 years to be constructed at the cost of about $12 million dollars.
The team also visited a composting site being constructed by Zoomlion Ghana Limited in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
The facility, upon completion will cover an 80-acre land and will help in the effective management of waste.
The project, which is located at Medie in the Ga West and Akuapem South Districts has been strategically sited to serve some districts in the Greater Accra, Eastern and Central regions. The first phase of the project is to be completed in June 2010.
During a tour of the site by Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Local Government and Rural Development and some pressmen, the Head of the Composting and Recycling Unit, Mr George Rockson, said the first phase would focus on the sorting out of solid waste and the treatment of solid waste to produce compost.
He said the second phase would cover the treatment of liquid waste adding that faecal matter would also be aerobically treated to produce compost from the solid waste, and liquid fertiliser and biogas and fertiliser from the liquid waste.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE PARLIAMENTARY Select Committee on Local Government has expressed its disquiet over the delay in the completion of the Kwabenya Land Fill Project and urged the government to take a quick decision on the fate of the project.
The site, which was identified in 1991 had sparked intense agitation as locals and artisans engaged in stone cracking at the site vehemently opposed the project.
During a visit to the site, the Chairman of the Committee Mr Dominic Azumah, expressed concern over the delay and also expressed worry that people continued to encroach upon the land.
Presently, some private developers have encroached upon the land and when the team visited the place, some of them had their workers on site putting up structures.
“If we cannot continue with the project, we must take a final decision; if we can, we must start it now,” Mr Azumah stressed.
The Project Co-ordinator, Mr Daniel Aidoo, said the project formed part of the Urban Environment and Sanitation Project II to be funded by the World Bank and the Government of Ghana.
He said originally the project was expected to cover a land size of 465 acres but the size was reduced to 364 acres after agitation from some local people.
He explained that the project had primarily delayed because of the agitation of the local people, who had now agreed to accept compensation so that they can relocate to enable the project commence.
Mr Aidoo said about 700 hundred stone crackers and 89 individuals and families were to be compensated and indicated that they had been formally written to with the compensation offer and they in turn had written in response.
He said the framework for the Environmental Impact Assessment had already been done and only needed to be upgraded.
He explained that somewhere in 2006, there were plans to commence payment of compensation but the World Bank requested for a Resettlement Action Plan before the payment of any compensation.
He said the site was an engineered land fill site that would serve the Greater Accra Region for close to between 20-25 years to be constructed at the cost of about $12 million dollars.
The team also visited a composting site being constructed by Zoomlion Ghana Limited in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
The facility, upon completion will cover an 80-acre land and will help in the effective management of waste.
The project, which is located at Medie in the Ga West and Akuapem South Districts has been strategically sited to serve some districts in the Greater Accra, Eastern and Central regions. The first phase of the project is to be completed in June 2010.
During a tour of the site by Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Local Government and Rural Development and some pressmen, the Head of the Composting and Recycling Unit, Mr George Rockson, said the first phase would focus on the sorting out of solid waste and the treatment of solid waste to produce compost.
He said the second phase would cover the treatment of liquid waste adding that faecal matter would also be aerobically treated to produce compost from the solid waste, and liquid fertiliser and biogas and fertiliser from the liquid waste.
(Minority expresses concern about fuel price increase
Page 15, Nov 13, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minority in Parliament has expressed concern over the recent increases in fuel prices and noted that the Mills government is leading the country to a level of petroleum prices that Ghanaians cannot afford if the world price of crude oil continues to rise.
“We demand from the government of Prof Mills the promises he made — a drastic reduction in petroleum prices,” it said.
Addressing a press conference in Parliament yesterday, the Deputy Ranking Member for Energy, Mr Kwame Amporfo Twumasi, noted that as if the suffering of Ghanaians as a result of the 30 per cent increase in petroleum prices four months ago was not enough, it was sad that the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) had increased fuel prices by five per cent recently.
He said the explanation by the government that it could not deliver on its promise to drastically reduce fuel prices due to the debt at the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) was untenable, since TOR was in debt when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration took over in 2001.
“Prof Mills stated for the record, when crude prices hovered around $65 per barrel, that if voted into power, his government would sell petrol at GH¢2.80 per gallon. What has happened to the promise?” he questioned.
Mr Twumasi, who is also the Member of Parliament for Nkoranza South, said the state of the economy currently was a clear replay of what pertained before 2001.
He also questioned the credibility of some companies which had surfaced in the supply of or attempt to supply both crude oil and refined petroleum products to Ghana under the Mills administration.
He said there was evidence to suggest that some of those companies had been hurriedly formed by some leading members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in an attempt to cash in on the importation of petroleum products, while Ghanaians continued to suffer high prices and little supply of petroleum products.
“The NDC is thus placing private commercial interest over national welfare and we ask that President Mills take immediate action to bring a stop to this,” he said.
Mr Twumasi also expressed concern over the fast declining image of the country as investor friendly due to the inhumane treatment meted out to certain individuals who partnered KOSMOS Energy to discover the country’s oil.
He explained that one Mr George Owusu had been extensively investigated by the law enforcement agencies, including the conduct of surprise searches in his house, offices and the going through of his computer and hard drive and personal accounts.
The MP added that it was worrisome that the Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC) was compelling KOSMOS to sell its stake to companies of the GNPC’s choice, as against companies that were known to have the clout that would make Ghana a top-class oil and gas producer at the world level.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Minority in Parliament has expressed concern over the recent increases in fuel prices and noted that the Mills government is leading the country to a level of petroleum prices that Ghanaians cannot afford if the world price of crude oil continues to rise.
“We demand from the government of Prof Mills the promises he made — a drastic reduction in petroleum prices,” it said.
Addressing a press conference in Parliament yesterday, the Deputy Ranking Member for Energy, Mr Kwame Amporfo Twumasi, noted that as if the suffering of Ghanaians as a result of the 30 per cent increase in petroleum prices four months ago was not enough, it was sad that the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) had increased fuel prices by five per cent recently.
He said the explanation by the government that it could not deliver on its promise to drastically reduce fuel prices due to the debt at the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) was untenable, since TOR was in debt when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration took over in 2001.
“Prof Mills stated for the record, when crude prices hovered around $65 per barrel, that if voted into power, his government would sell petrol at GH¢2.80 per gallon. What has happened to the promise?” he questioned.
Mr Twumasi, who is also the Member of Parliament for Nkoranza South, said the state of the economy currently was a clear replay of what pertained before 2001.
He also questioned the credibility of some companies which had surfaced in the supply of or attempt to supply both crude oil and refined petroleum products to Ghana under the Mills administration.
He said there was evidence to suggest that some of those companies had been hurriedly formed by some leading members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in an attempt to cash in on the importation of petroleum products, while Ghanaians continued to suffer high prices and little supply of petroleum products.
“The NDC is thus placing private commercial interest over national welfare and we ask that President Mills take immediate action to bring a stop to this,” he said.
Mr Twumasi also expressed concern over the fast declining image of the country as investor friendly due to the inhumane treatment meted out to certain individuals who partnered KOSMOS Energy to discover the country’s oil.
He explained that one Mr George Owusu had been extensively investigated by the law enforcement agencies, including the conduct of surprise searches in his house, offices and the going through of his computer and hard drive and personal accounts.
The MP added that it was worrisome that the Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC) was compelling KOSMOS to sell its stake to companies of the GNPC’s choice, as against companies that were known to have the clout that would make Ghana a top-class oil and gas producer at the world level.
Payment of one-time premium expected to begin 2010
Page 15, Nov 12, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE implementation of the one-time premium payment proposed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in its election 2008 manifesto is expected to begin by the later part of next year, the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, has announced.
He said currently a number of proposals were being studied by the ministry for one to be selected for presentation to cabinet.
Dr Kunbuor, who has been nominated by the President as the substantive minister, made the announcement when he appeared before Parliament to answer some questions which had been filed by some Members of Parliament (MPs).
The MP for Techiman South, Mr Simons Addai, had asked the minister why the NHIS secretariat at Techiman had increased the annual premium from GH¢14.00 to GH¢18.00.
Dr Kunbuor explained in an answer to a supplementary question that if the proposal for the one-time NHIS premium was accepted by Cabinet, it would be placed before Parliament to seek the approval of the House.
Answering the main question, the deputy minister stated that the Techiman Mutual Health Insurance Scheme charged premiums within the range of GH¢7.20 to GH¢48.00 provided for in the NHIS policy document.
He explained that though the minimum premium within the scheme remained at GH¢7.20, the scheme’s assessment of registrants put a bulk of its membership in a payment range between GH¢14.00 and GH¢18.00.
Dr Kunbuor stated that out of the amount charged, GH¢4.00, was for registration and the processing of applications, including the issuance of the new NHIS identity cards.
He added that the effective premiums charged ranged between GH¢10.00 for the renewal of membership and GH¢14.00 for new membership and it was not the case that the premium had been increased.
Answering another question posed by the MP for Dormaa East, Mr Yaw Ntow-Ababio, the minister said that funding constraints had made it difficult for the ministry to keep pace with the rehabilitation of health centres nationwide.
The MP wanted to ascertain when the Dormaa Akwamu Health Centre, which was constructed in 1962, would be rehabilitated.
Dr Kunbuor said that efforts were, however, being made to rehabilitate the Dormaa Akwamu Health Centre with both internally generated funds and funds from the central government sources.
He explained that the rehabilitation of the centre, among others, had been prioritised in the capital development plan of the ministry for 2009 to 2012.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE implementation of the one-time premium payment proposed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in its election 2008 manifesto is expected to begin by the later part of next year, the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, has announced.
He said currently a number of proposals were being studied by the ministry for one to be selected for presentation to cabinet.
Dr Kunbuor, who has been nominated by the President as the substantive minister, made the announcement when he appeared before Parliament to answer some questions which had been filed by some Members of Parliament (MPs).
The MP for Techiman South, Mr Simons Addai, had asked the minister why the NHIS secretariat at Techiman had increased the annual premium from GH¢14.00 to GH¢18.00.
Dr Kunbuor explained in an answer to a supplementary question that if the proposal for the one-time NHIS premium was accepted by Cabinet, it would be placed before Parliament to seek the approval of the House.
Answering the main question, the deputy minister stated that the Techiman Mutual Health Insurance Scheme charged premiums within the range of GH¢7.20 to GH¢48.00 provided for in the NHIS policy document.
He explained that though the minimum premium within the scheme remained at GH¢7.20, the scheme’s assessment of registrants put a bulk of its membership in a payment range between GH¢14.00 and GH¢18.00.
Dr Kunbuor stated that out of the amount charged, GH¢4.00, was for registration and the processing of applications, including the issuance of the new NHIS identity cards.
He added that the effective premiums charged ranged between GH¢10.00 for the renewal of membership and GH¢14.00 for new membership and it was not the case that the premium had been increased.
Answering another question posed by the MP for Dormaa East, Mr Yaw Ntow-Ababio, the minister said that funding constraints had made it difficult for the ministry to keep pace with the rehabilitation of health centres nationwide.
The MP wanted to ascertain when the Dormaa Akwamu Health Centre, which was constructed in 1962, would be rehabilitated.
Dr Kunbuor said that efforts were, however, being made to rehabilitate the Dormaa Akwamu Health Centre with both internally generated funds and funds from the central government sources.
He explained that the rehabilitation of the centre, among others, had been prioritised in the capital development plan of the ministry for 2009 to 2012.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
'Reform international financial system'
Page 31, Nov 10, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt
DELEGATES at the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) held in Sham El-Sheikh, Egypt, have called for the reform of the international financial system to ensure development in a fair, just, inclusive and orderly manner.
They also called for an increasing representation and voice of developing countries and opposition to protectionism in all forms, stressing that FOCAC would always stand to uphold an open and free trade and investment environment.
In a communiqué jointly presented by the Foreign Minister of China, Mr Yang Jiechi, and his Egyptian counterpart, Mr Ahmed Abu Alghet, at the end of the meeting, the delegates said, "We will continue to advance the Doha Round of trade negotiations on the basis of observing the negotiating mandate, sticking to the development agenda and respecting the existing outcomes," and called for an early and successful conclusion of the negotiations by taking into account the interest of African countries.
It stated that African countries were greatly encouraged by China's sustained, steady and fast economic growth and appreciated the significant actions taken by that country in response to the financial crisis.
"We believe that these actions have not only contributed to stabilising the world economy but also helped the African economy towards achieving recovery and growth," it said.
It expressed concern over the effect of the financial crisis on developing economies, noting that if nothing was done, it would be impossible for fragile economies, particularly those in Africa, to achieve targets of the Millennium Development Goals.
It, therefore, called on the international community, particularly developed countries, to pay particular attention to the negative impact of the crisis and adopt measures to mitigate its effects by fulfilling their commitments in aid, debt relief, promoting and increasing investment, opening up and accessing market and assisting developing countries to promote economic growth to achieve sustainable development.
The communiqué said China applauded Africa's achievement in strengthening governance, resolving regional conflicts, advancing poverty relief and development and speeding up the integration process.
"China reaffirms its support for African countries in their efforts to strengthen themselves through unity and resolve Africa's problems. It appreciates the positive role of African countries, the African Union (AU) and other regional organisations," it added.
The communiqué added that the two sides would continue to hold onto the decade-long co-operation between China and Africa, saying that that co-operation had produced fruitful results and delivered considerable benefits to their peoples.
"It is a good example of South-South co-operation," it noted.
It said China would continue to cut and cancel debts owed her by African countries, expand investment in Africa and further open China's market to strengthen practical co-operation with Africa.
The two-day forum was attended by African foreign ministers, diplomats and their counterparts from China.
It was held on the theme, "Deepening the new type of China-Africa Strategic Partnership for sustainable development".
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt
DELEGATES at the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) held in Sham El-Sheikh, Egypt, have called for the reform of the international financial system to ensure development in a fair, just, inclusive and orderly manner.
They also called for an increasing representation and voice of developing countries and opposition to protectionism in all forms, stressing that FOCAC would always stand to uphold an open and free trade and investment environment.
In a communiqué jointly presented by the Foreign Minister of China, Mr Yang Jiechi, and his Egyptian counterpart, Mr Ahmed Abu Alghet, at the end of the meeting, the delegates said, "We will continue to advance the Doha Round of trade negotiations on the basis of observing the negotiating mandate, sticking to the development agenda and respecting the existing outcomes," and called for an early and successful conclusion of the negotiations by taking into account the interest of African countries.
It stated that African countries were greatly encouraged by China's sustained, steady and fast economic growth and appreciated the significant actions taken by that country in response to the financial crisis.
"We believe that these actions have not only contributed to stabilising the world economy but also helped the African economy towards achieving recovery and growth," it said.
It expressed concern over the effect of the financial crisis on developing economies, noting that if nothing was done, it would be impossible for fragile economies, particularly those in Africa, to achieve targets of the Millennium Development Goals.
It, therefore, called on the international community, particularly developed countries, to pay particular attention to the negative impact of the crisis and adopt measures to mitigate its effects by fulfilling their commitments in aid, debt relief, promoting and increasing investment, opening up and accessing market and assisting developing countries to promote economic growth to achieve sustainable development.
The communiqué said China applauded Africa's achievement in strengthening governance, resolving regional conflicts, advancing poverty relief and development and speeding up the integration process.
"China reaffirms its support for African countries in their efforts to strengthen themselves through unity and resolve Africa's problems. It appreciates the positive role of African countries, the African Union (AU) and other regional organisations," it added.
The communiqué added that the two sides would continue to hold onto the decade-long co-operation between China and Africa, saying that that co-operation had produced fruitful results and delivered considerable benefits to their peoples.
"It is a good example of South-South co-operation," it noted.
It said China would continue to cut and cancel debts owed her by African countries, expand investment in Africa and further open China's market to strengthen practical co-operation with Africa.
The two-day forum was attended by African foreign ministers, diplomats and their counterparts from China.
It was held on the theme, "Deepening the new type of China-Africa Strategic Partnership for sustainable development".
China announces measures to improve ties with Africa
Page 17, Nov 9, 2009
From Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt
THE Chinese Prime Minister, Mr Wen Jiabao has announced eight new measures to improve on the country’s relation with Africa.
Addressing the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC), which opened in the Egyptian tourism city, Sham El-Sheikh , he announced that China would build up the financing capacity of African countries with the provision of $10 billion in concessional loans and support Chinese financial institutions in setting up a $1 billion special loan for small and medium-sized African businesses.
The meeting, which is being co-chaired by the Egyptian President, Mr Hosni Mubarak and the Chinese Prime Minister, is expected to give an overall review of the implementation of the various co-operative agreements between China and Africa and chart a new course for the development China-African relations.
A number of bilateral agreements are expected to be signed to boost economic and trade co-operation and help Africa develop as well as deal with the global economic crisis.
Ghana's delegation to the meeting is led by the Vice President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, who is accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni.
The meeting is expected to issue the Sharm El-Sheikh Declaration and also an action plan for 2010-2012 as a blueprint for bilateral co-operation in various areas within the next three years.
Mr Wen said "We will further open up China's market to African products. We will phase out in zero-tarrif treatment to 95 per cent of the products from least developed African countries having diplomatic relations with China starting with 60 per cent of products within 2010".
He added that China would also assist Africa in the agricultural sector by increasing the number of agricultural technology demonstration centres built by China in Africa to 20 and send 50 agricultural technology teams to Africa, train 2,000 agricultural technology personnel in order to strengthen Africa's ability to ensure food security.
On human resource and education, Prime Minister Wen announced that China would build 50 China-Africa friendship schools and train 1,500 school principals and teachers on the continent adding that by 2012, China would increase the number of Chinese scholarships in Africa to 5,500 and train a total of 20,000 professionals of various fields over the next three years.
He said the Chinese people cherished sincere friendship towards African people and China's support to Africa's development "is concrete and real".
“Whatever change may take place in the world, our friendship with Africa will not change, our commitment to deepening mutual beneficial co-operation and achieving common development with Africa will not change and our policy of supporting Africa's economic and social development will not change, he declared.
Giving accounts of the benefits of the FOCAC so far, Mr Wen said the two sides had strengthened economic co-operation explaining that China-Africa trade exceeded $100 billion and the number of African countries trading with China grew to 53.
He stated that China had begun the construction of six economic and trade co-operation zones in Africa adding that nearly 1,600 Chinese enterprises had started businesses with a direct investment stock of $7.8 billion.
Mr Wen said the plan to cancel 168 debts owed by 33 African countries was about to be completed while $5 billion of concessional loans would be fully in place soon. The China-Africa Development Fund, whose first tranche reached $1 billion, had also become operational as scheduled.
In addition, he said exchanges and co-operation in culture, education, health and human resources had grown rapidly, explaining that China would by the end of the year complete the training of 15,000 people of different professions for African countries.
Mr Wen called on the international community not to waiver in its resolve to help Africa achieve the Millennium Development Goals (Mugs) saying that "It should take credible steps to honour the commitment of assistance to enable Africa to actively foster an enabling external environment of international economy, trade and finance.
"The co-operation between China and Africa is indispensable to the growth of the world" he declared and urged the international community to recognise the peculiar problem of the Africa and assist the continent to achieve its Millennium Development Goals (Mugs).
For his part, the Egyptian President, Mr Hosni Mubarak expressed optimism that the Sham El-Sheikh Forum would lift the relations between China and Africa to a higher level.
Eight heads of state, five Prime Ministers and Vice Presidents, among others addressed the opening session of the forum which was held at the plush Maritime Congress Centre in the heart of Sham El Sheikh.
From Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt
THE Chinese Prime Minister, Mr Wen Jiabao has announced eight new measures to improve on the country’s relation with Africa.
Addressing the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC), which opened in the Egyptian tourism city, Sham El-Sheikh , he announced that China would build up the financing capacity of African countries with the provision of $10 billion in concessional loans and support Chinese financial institutions in setting up a $1 billion special loan for small and medium-sized African businesses.
The meeting, which is being co-chaired by the Egyptian President, Mr Hosni Mubarak and the Chinese Prime Minister, is expected to give an overall review of the implementation of the various co-operative agreements between China and Africa and chart a new course for the development China-African relations.
A number of bilateral agreements are expected to be signed to boost economic and trade co-operation and help Africa develop as well as deal with the global economic crisis.
Ghana's delegation to the meeting is led by the Vice President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, who is accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni.
The meeting is expected to issue the Sharm El-Sheikh Declaration and also an action plan for 2010-2012 as a blueprint for bilateral co-operation in various areas within the next three years.
Mr Wen said "We will further open up China's market to African products. We will phase out in zero-tarrif treatment to 95 per cent of the products from least developed African countries having diplomatic relations with China starting with 60 per cent of products within 2010".
He added that China would also assist Africa in the agricultural sector by increasing the number of agricultural technology demonstration centres built by China in Africa to 20 and send 50 agricultural technology teams to Africa, train 2,000 agricultural technology personnel in order to strengthen Africa's ability to ensure food security.
On human resource and education, Prime Minister Wen announced that China would build 50 China-Africa friendship schools and train 1,500 school principals and teachers on the continent adding that by 2012, China would increase the number of Chinese scholarships in Africa to 5,500 and train a total of 20,000 professionals of various fields over the next three years.
He said the Chinese people cherished sincere friendship towards African people and China's support to Africa's development "is concrete and real".
“Whatever change may take place in the world, our friendship with Africa will not change, our commitment to deepening mutual beneficial co-operation and achieving common development with Africa will not change and our policy of supporting Africa's economic and social development will not change, he declared.
Giving accounts of the benefits of the FOCAC so far, Mr Wen said the two sides had strengthened economic co-operation explaining that China-Africa trade exceeded $100 billion and the number of African countries trading with China grew to 53.
He stated that China had begun the construction of six economic and trade co-operation zones in Africa adding that nearly 1,600 Chinese enterprises had started businesses with a direct investment stock of $7.8 billion.
Mr Wen said the plan to cancel 168 debts owed by 33 African countries was about to be completed while $5 billion of concessional loans would be fully in place soon. The China-Africa Development Fund, whose first tranche reached $1 billion, had also become operational as scheduled.
In addition, he said exchanges and co-operation in culture, education, health and human resources had grown rapidly, explaining that China would by the end of the year complete the training of 15,000 people of different professions for African countries.
Mr Wen called on the international community not to waiver in its resolve to help Africa achieve the Millennium Development Goals (Mugs) saying that "It should take credible steps to honour the commitment of assistance to enable Africa to actively foster an enabling external environment of international economy, trade and finance.
"The co-operation between China and Africa is indispensable to the growth of the world" he declared and urged the international community to recognise the peculiar problem of the Africa and assist the continent to achieve its Millennium Development Goals (Mugs).
For his part, the Egyptian President, Mr Hosni Mubarak expressed optimism that the Sham El-Sheikh Forum would lift the relations between China and Africa to a higher level.
Eight heads of state, five Prime Ministers and Vice Presidents, among others addressed the opening session of the forum which was held at the plush Maritime Congress Centre in the heart of Sham El Sheikh.
Parliament worried over Kwabenya Landfill
Page 16, Nov 5, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE PARLIAMENTARY Select Committee on Local Government has expressed its disquiet over the delay in the completion of the Kwabenya Land Fill Project and urged the government to take a quick decision on the fate of the project.
The site, which was identified in 1991 had sparked intense agitation as locals and artisans engaged in stone cracking at the site vehemently opposed the project.
During a visit to the site, the Chairman of the Committee Mr Dominic Azumah, expressed concern over the delay and also expressed worry that people continued to encroach upon the land.
Presently, some private developers have encroached upon the land and when the team visited the place, some of them had their workers on site putting up structures.
“If we cannot continue with the project, we must take a final decision; if we can, we must start it now,” Mr Azumah stressed.
The Project Co-ordinator, Mr Daniel Aidoo, said the project formed part of the Urban Environment and Sanitation Project II to be funded by the World Bank and the Government of Ghana.
He said originally the project was expected to cover a land size of 465 acres but the size was reduced to 364 acres after agitation from some local people.
He explained that the project had primarily delayed because of the agitation of the local people, who had now agreed to accept compensation so that they can relocate to enable the project commence.
Mr Aidoo said about 700 hundred stone crackers and 89 individuals and families were to be compensated and indicated that they had been formally written to with the compensation offer and they in turn had written in response.
He said the framework for the Environmental Impact Assessment had already been done and only needed to be upgraded.
He explained that somewhere in 2006, there were plans to commence payment of compensation but the World Bank requested for a Resettlement Action Plan before the payment of any compensation.
He said the site was an engineered land fill site that would serve the Greater Accra Region for close to between 20-25 years to be constructed at the cost of about $12 million dollars.
The team also visited a composting site being constructed by Zoomlion Ghana Limited in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
The facility, upon completion will cover an 80-acre land and will help in the effective management of waste.
The project, which is located at Medie in the Ga West and Akuapem South Districts has been strategically sited to serve some districts in the Greater Accra, Eastern and Central regions. The first phase of the project is to be completed in June 2010.
During a tour of the site by Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Local Government and Rural Development and some pressmen, the Head of the Composting and Recycling Unit, Mr George Rockson, said the first phase would focus on the sorting out of solid waste and the treatment of solid waste to produce compost.
He said the second phase would cover the treatment of liquid waste adding that faecal matter would also be aerobically treated to produce compost from the solid waste, and liquid fertiliser and biogas and fertiliser from the liquid waste.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE PARLIAMENTARY Select Committee on Local Government has expressed its disquiet over the delay in the completion of the Kwabenya Land Fill Project and urged the government to take a quick decision on the fate of the project.
The site, which was identified in 1991 had sparked intense agitation as locals and artisans engaged in stone cracking at the site vehemently opposed the project.
During a visit to the site, the Chairman of the Committee Mr Dominic Azumah, expressed concern over the delay and also expressed worry that people continued to encroach upon the land.
Presently, some private developers have encroached upon the land and when the team visited the place, some of them had their workers on site putting up structures.
“If we cannot continue with the project, we must take a final decision; if we can, we must start it now,” Mr Azumah stressed.
The Project Co-ordinator, Mr Daniel Aidoo, said the project formed part of the Urban Environment and Sanitation Project II to be funded by the World Bank and the Government of Ghana.
He said originally the project was expected to cover a land size of 465 acres but the size was reduced to 364 acres after agitation from some local people.
He explained that the project had primarily delayed because of the agitation of the local people, who had now agreed to accept compensation so that they can relocate to enable the project commence.
Mr Aidoo said about 700 hundred stone crackers and 89 individuals and families were to be compensated and indicated that they had been formally written to with the compensation offer and they in turn had written in response.
He said the framework for the Environmental Impact Assessment had already been done and only needed to be upgraded.
He explained that somewhere in 2006, there were plans to commence payment of compensation but the World Bank requested for a Resettlement Action Plan before the payment of any compensation.
He said the site was an engineered land fill site that would serve the Greater Accra Region for close to between 20-25 years to be constructed at the cost of about $12 million dollars.
The team also visited a composting site being constructed by Zoomlion Ghana Limited in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
The facility, upon completion will cover an 80-acre land and will help in the effective management of waste.
The project, which is located at Medie in the Ga West and Akuapem South Districts has been strategically sited to serve some districts in the Greater Accra, Eastern and Central regions. The first phase of the project is to be completed in June 2010.
During a tour of the site by Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Local Government and Rural Development and some pressmen, the Head of the Composting and Recycling Unit, Mr George Rockson, said the first phase would focus on the sorting out of solid waste and the treatment of solid waste to produce compost.
He said the second phase would cover the treatment of liquid waste adding that faecal matter would also be aerobically treated to produce compost from the solid waste, and liquid fertiliser and biogas and fertiliser from the liquid waste.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)